Topic: The Governor Rhy'Din Needs, But Not the One It Wants

Dyarhk · Date: 2011-04-26 11:54 EST

The Governor Rhy'Din Needs, But Not the One It Wants

Tiraru Serem: A lush planet of well nurtured greens in every direction. Dyarhk fancied such planets, and they were always plentiful across the many realms. Tiraru Serem however was a little closer however than he would have liked to experience such surroundings, but he had no choice. This planet was the slightly inferior brother planet to Tirraru Supreme where Dyarhk had been sentenced to live out the remainder of his days not interfering with otherworldly characters, such as those in Rhy'Din, which would have conflicted with the parameters of consequences he faced when he committed the terrible act of banishing himself to the realm of Embrus in the place of one Brian Ravenlock. It was because of this Dyarhk garnered a special hatred of Tirraru, regarding it as his own personal hell; and certainly so after what he had gone through there with Jessica Wong.

It was approaching midnight as Dyarhk looked out a window from his room in a very modernized log inn. It was situated in an old ghost town that very much looked like one that was haunted at night. It did not look like a place one would want to be caught walking around at this hour. Fortunately Dyarhk could find no one walking about. His always present concern for others, occasionally fluctuating in potency, was nevertheless put at ease seeing the empty streets and rather large town square vacant. He walked away from the window and deeper into the confines of his warmly lit room.

The kettle didn't even get the chance to whistle. Dyarhk neither wanted to wait or for it to make noise. Surely the water was hot enough by now. Hotter than it was before those minutes ago when it hadn't been on the stove. A cup was poured and that had a teabag draping its string and flavor-tag over the side of it before it was placed back on the stove, this time on a separate burner. He picked it up and began watching the clear water darken the more he dipped the teabag up and down, but he couldn't pay so much attention to it, he was looking over to the fireplace with a thousand worries in those green glinting eyes.

?What's that?? a poorly dressed man asked in one of the chairs there in the living room where Dyarhk had just entered.

?Tea.? was his short and appropriately interested response. He walked some feet more to the fireplace and stopped, still worrying.

?You could have offered me a cup. Jeez. You sure aren't as friendly; not like I heard.? the man got up to go clink around the shelf that had all the upside-down cups and wall-leaned saucers placed to it. A howl from outside drew both their attention, Dyarhk's lastly. ?Woooh. Spooky out there, huh.?

?It's more than that. I don't exactly feel safe here. Let's get to business. You said you might be able to secure some territory here on Serem for those two-thousand Rhy'Din refugees?? Dyarhk had many burdens on his shoulders lately. The candlelight flickered the shine of the golden axe known infamously in Dwarven lore as The Gods' Edge. He didn't wander so far without it these days; not with the protection it more than made up for in its weight.

?Hey. I wouldn't have called you all the way out here if I wasn't sure about your little problem here, Palliator. There's more than enough land for your refugees.? the man, Reihner, reassured, or tried to, but Dyarhk's forearm just rest upon that mantle over the fireplace and he dipped his forehead to it.

St. Aldwin was beautiful country, and Dyarhk was much more comfortable with seeing people in need of help take refuge where at least a friend of his called home. But Dyarhk did not wish to burden anyone, he did not wish to burden Alain; and nothing came from this little predicament but problems. The citizens of Rhy'Din in need of lodgings were lost in governmental hell as far as paperwork was concerned. The people could just not get official aid. The falling of the site they had all lived in was now under ulterior commands, and the primary problem had been ?where? they had taken refuge up until now; the Northern woods above the Scathachian temples.

He sighed instead of solidifying to his tastes just how that tea had turned out. The cup was then placed onto that mantle along with his arm so he might reach into his breast pocket and produce the man's business card with his back to him. The lightning was dim, but his sharpened eyes made it out just fine: Edward Spartan ? Realtor ? Interspace Estate Agency. Dyarhk stared at it long and intently. ?...Hey, Ed. How long have you been working for the Outerspace Estate Agency?? he asked.

?Not all that long, to be honest with you. Hey, this stuff is actually pretty good. I might have to buy some of this English Breakfast blend myself. Where'd you get it?? Edward asked, quick to change the subject. Dyarhk was already way ahead of the game.

He shook his head. It was unimportant if Edward saw him do it or not. ?They were here when I got the room.? was all his response had been; quiet. ?Say Edward, who else have you done realty with??

The man took even longer to respond and this time acted even more oblivious to the obvious digging. ?Here and there. A bunch of freelance work. There were so many firms, I couldn't tell you which ones. Not so much of establishing a reputable resume as much as it was putting food on the table.?

?Must've been rough.? Dyarhk flipped the card over to read the number that had been written on the back, different from the number actually printed on the face of the card; the undocumented contact number that had setup this meeting.

Edward chuckled, ?Yeah, well... ya get by. I think this deal of ours is going to make a nice accomplishment to jot down for extra flair to my future employers.?

Dyarhk looked over to him with worrisome green eyes. ?You don't see yourself staying with the Outerspace Estate Agency that much longer??

?It's not that. The Outerspace Estate Agency is a fine organization. I plan to stay under their employ for as long as they'll have me. It just helps to have a backup plan sometimes.? Edward took a relaxed slouch in that chair with a perfect focus on the man at the fireplace.

There was a long pause from Dyarhk, looking down at the business card and reading it once more, keeping his eyes down there. ?You might be more eligible for a promotion, Edward, if you remembered the name of your own firm. It's Interspace Estates Agency, not Outer.?

Edward blinked a few times before a pause where words were not quite so summonable, then he laughed. ?It's late, Dyarhk. The brain slows down, you start talking nonsense. I've been pulling all-nighters as it is, trying to secure this land for you. Ya gotta cut me some slack somewhere.? another nervous chuckle. Dyarhk looked up finally from the card and stared the man down with a look of a man who saw the red hands of another.

?Hey, gotta put food on the table, right? Say, just how were you planning on doing that, Ed? Gonna take up some second job? Work nights? Tell me... who really hired you??

Edward gulped without being noticed, even sweat without drawing attention to it, but he couldn't hide the shakiness of his voice. ?I'm not sure I get what you mean, Dyarhk.? just as he was thrown his crumpled up business card at him. Dyarhk was unfuriated, which got Edward's pistol drawn on him.

?You should really get your fake information down first, Ed!! Kinda throws off your little plan when you can't even keep your story straight!? he huffed and he puffed, but he did not take any steps closer or make any sudden movements for that matter. The gun was comfortably fixed on him from Edward's lap, but it had been fixed on him nonetheless. A deep sigh came out from Edward.

?It appears I have been had. But I didn't need the stupid fake agency to bring you in. That, just like the gun are what you might call overkill. Just getting you back to Tirraru was enough to seal your fate. And soon you'll be dead, and I really will become a property manager. I'll pick out my own country, how much acreage, even negotiate the price for it. I should be quite set.? Edward made comfortable his gun hand by tossing his wrist around slowly in a few circles for inevitably bringing it back to point at Dyarhk.

?What's the price on my head? Or the big money question: Who put it there?? the Palliator asked, making fists down at his sides.

?I'll give you a hint, her name's plastered all over Tirraru Supreme. As for the price, for word to reach all the way to Rhy'Din, you can imagine the figures.? Edward chuckled while Dyarhk clenched his teeth.

?Wong.? he growled, not so much with anger, but with fear as well. Edward looked a little surprised by this.

?What's the matter??

?Ed, listen to me very carefully. I need to know if Wong knows where we are. Now does she??? he asked with such concern in his shout.

Dyarhk · Date: 2011-04-26 11:56 EST

?Jeez, what's with all the worry. Why does it matter who kills you as long as I get paid?? Ed snickered, peeling back the drapes with that pistol snout to gaze outside at the streets below. No changes outside, but a knock came to the door anyway. Both men's attention was given to it, and both then reacted differently. Dyarhk sprang for his axe and made it to the tune of Ed's slow and successive shots after him very haphazard and poorly aimed.

?Hey now. It's a little late to turn an escape out of this, hero.? a smiling Edward continued to shoot that pistol at the man holed up behind that sun-colored shield that could scarcely be called an axe. One bullet in his wild spray managed to ping the axe and produce the only unsure look on Ed's face. Well, let's not call it the only unsure face, because just then the door had been shot at its hinges and then kicked fiercely open by body-armored women, dressed and armed to the teeth, and pointing their precision man-slaughtering rifles at none other than the only man in sight: Ed.

Sporting a chest painted in red laser rifle sights, ?Ladies. You're a little early. I was gonna have him all wrapped up when you ?? he didn't get to finish. His chest was peppered with suppressed rifle rounds and he was dead before he hit the ground. This was cue to the infiltration team to enter and disperse, checking the other rooms. There was a laundry room down to the left of the kitchen space where Ed met his speedy demise, and both the kitchen leading to the breakfast nook where he lay, as well as a hall from the room entrance that led to the living area where Dyarhk was. The Palliator did not waste time getting to Edward Spartan of the Interspace Estate Agency's gun.

Making over with that axe in tow he stood it up in-front of both Ed and himself while he took his pistol and ran a check over it, using his shoulder to fight that axe that was sparking like the 4th of July on its other side from gunfire. ?Dammit, Ed.? Dyarhk scoffed. The poor dark alley operative looking for an early retirement was truly careless in his gunfire, only saving him five rounds to turn the tide of this corner he'd been backed into. Things became truly scary, when the shooting stopped.

His lentil green eyes bounced frantically like an unwilling caged bird. Every passing second was another second these hardened killers of Wong spent to sneak into a more perfect position for the killshot he'd never see coming. A lightning-fast peek over that axe identified three whole positions before he tucked back behind cover and braced with more gunfire against his sun-colored iron shield that just so happened to have a long hilt on it.

?That's definitely the team leader. CType. Always give those the automatic shotgun. But why me, Wong??? Dyarhk questioned against such loud gunfire. Then there came those shotty rounds. They pushed hard against that axe, and they were not very far away. He counted a burst of three before summoning that lightning quickness again to stick both gun arm and gaze over that axe and place a bullet square in the visor of the shotgunner, CType and team leader of this assault. Almost immediately she moaned out painfully, but it was more to malfunctioning electronics that sparked and fritzed right against her corneas that evoked the pain, not a bullet wound. A shotgun fell to the floor rather loudly.

The gunfire on his axe had to be regarded now as one of the attackers from the hall had entered into the living room from it now and was providing fire at the open angle of his defense. Again, another situation he couldn't leave the way it was for long. ?These aren't CTypes, but they're just as effective at this range. I'll be lucky if I.... no, it'll have to be more than luck.? he grinned death in the face before giving two rounds to that unwanted hall monitor and crippled her as well, but he did not make the retreat back behind his axe unscathed. A shot arm now required clenching; clenching he couldn't give it since his makeshift riot shield needed constant holding. ?Two shots left.? he counted in his head the threats still in the room.

By now the CType was recollecting herself. Her electronic enhancements were probably discarded now and she was fighting helmetless, also probably very beautiful underneath. This was the common knowledge of those that had gone to war with Wong and her armies of lab-grown, genetically enhanced women. Nothing lovelier will ever whisper a bullet down your ear, or wrap your neck in finer legs until it crunches. They were truly killing machines, all of them. Dyarhk couldn't switch gun hands, and it was absolutely for the reason he wasn't ambidextrous. Those remaining two shots were his living or dying, and he wasn't about to throw those faint chances away.

He was able to stand with that axe now, though still somewhat in a crouch, but there was a perfect stand that could be accomplished where he was still protected from any picking off bullets at his shoulders or feet, and this was it. Though the shooters, which were at least three now, still took their shots at him hoping to cause some sort of buckling in his defense, he did not waver so easily. He was where he needed to be at last. He tossed that 250kg weapon out just in-front of him and superman-kicked the face of it out, still establishing that heroism connection that made the weapon weightless in the pure-hearted's hands. It flew out and crashed into one of the women pinning her down under its tremendous weight that she grunted to try and move. Perhaps with some time-consuming effort, she'd be able to.

That wasn't Dyarhk's primary concern at the moment, though. Making the decision to throw his axe rendered him completely unprotected. And now, here he was face to face with an unarmed and very formidable looking CType. Dyarhk wouldn't risk hand to hand with her, not when he had a gun. But it might have been a train of thought too late as his gun pointed at her was quickly re-guided and a series of attacks to that whole arm had been delivered mostly before he even realized it. Their speed and lethality was remarkable, it always send a chill down his spine, which was why he couldn't afford to pull punches with this femme fatale.

The pistol clanked to the breakfast nook table and Dyarhk's fists flew on the offensive into a very move-reading guard of the woman in-front of him. The only one of the women that wore two separate colors of her body armor. The rest had all been black, whereas she wore black with rank-distinguishing arm guards. Finally Dyarhk slipped up, or so it seemed, and his wrist was twisted quite badly. But this required both of the woman's hands when this grunt escaped his lips, and when it did so, so did fly out the back of his tightly made fist into her face and knock her against the kitchen cabinets at the back where she hit the ground this time. Dyarhk recoiled that injured hand, fortunately not the one that could point and shoot efficiently, the one that now took that pistol off that table.

?Hah... hah...? he panted, counting off the two remaining women in the hall, a bullet for each of them if things went so picture perfect as they surely never did. He recuperated moments behind the island in the kitchen that was already shot up pretty bad. One final look given to Ed the Realtor before he heard more shooting coming from the hall just outside his room. He dove with his aim out to see one of his remaining two pursuers fatally shot in the torso by a powerful rifle knocking her into the doorway where she sunk to the floor for her final moments. Dyarhk kept that aim focused as the source of the fatality came into sight. Another CType, but this time one he knew: Corea. Both focused their aims on one another instinctively. The situation changed drastically.

?Watch out! One to your left!? Dyarhk called as she stepped in, avoiding a point blank gunshot in exchange for snapping her sudden knife hand into the final bioroid's throat and watching her sink as well, only much bloodier than how her companion went.

?My mistress put a hit out on you. You don't want to know how many guns from Tirraru are after you.? the sunshiny blond said coming into the room quickly and ever on guard. She tossed Dyarhk a fully loaded Wong Service Magnum (WSM) which he was more than happy to trade for his tired luger. ?Masterson's already dead, I see.? she gave a look over the island she was now in-front of to regard the man who had gone as Edward Spartan. ?His real name was Benny Masterson. He actually did you a huge favor. He misled nearly every single bounty collector to thinking you were somewhere else. ? wanted to collect on you himself.? a toss of that short blond hair to perfect the range view of her gaze. ?I came as soon as I heard.?

?Not here to collect yourself, are you?? Dyarhk ran a habitual check over the weapon.

?We can exchange flirty whose-side-are-you-on dramatizations after we've gotten you out of here.? she said, heading to the doorway of the kitchen, and Dyarhk right behind her with his twisted wrist holding that axe much more awkwardly with the assistance of his whole arm rather than the grip on the end of it. His other hand held that pistol readily.

?Thanks for coming to get me.? he said up behind her.

?That's not necessary. It was an action that did not require thinking from me.? she said back to him, meeting their eyes, and with her rifle pointing a completely different direction, something she never did.

?...Corea.? a whisper from the Palliator without a hand to grab her with, so he leaned forward into her already approaching lean; but an interruption came in the quick burst of another rifle. Support team number 1 was already coming up the stairs and in need of suppressing fire. Corea squinted an eye closes to the wall and looked through her red lensed scope during her quick peek-a-boo out into the hall. Bullets sprayed the carpet of the top step they were behind and sides of the stairs, not to mention the wall behind it all.

?Go! I'll cover you.? she said authoritatively. Firing her second string of shots, Dyarhk took off down the hall in the opposite direction and rounded the corner, completely out of sight. Corea continued ducking in and out of fire to keep any kill hungry shots from sneaking up and over those stairs and popping into either her or the back-turned man during his run. But now that she was back behind cover and reloading her rifle, she caught her breath looking down that hall where he had ran and where there was no sign of now.

Dyarhk · Date: 2011-04-26 11:57 EST

It got quiet before he popped out finally and shot out with that Wong Service Magnum. He hadn't fired a gun in what felt like ages, and it was not a Palliator model handgun, so he had to figure out where he was shooting and fast. If he killed someone, and he hoped he wouldn't have to, he wanted to have the final say, not a stray bullet. His unusual stance on killing; it changed so after becoming a father. Suddenly, his life was worth more than building the stakes higher when an easy out could be produced with the pull of a trigger or the swing of a sword, or even the abandonment of a war. It was all about what was worth dying over now, and that list of things plummeted almost completely after his daughter took her first breath. This harkened the subject matter to the moment, and he called over to Corea.

?Don't pull any punches you don't have to, Corea. Let's just get the hell out of here.? he gave a few more supporting shots while she backed up to him and shot down the hall simultaneously until he gave her a strong yang by her collective shirts with his gun hand. A sneaky green eye of hers and some blond bangs peeked around the corner and down the hall at their attackers that seemed to have no wounded during this now silent moment.

?Don't worry. I'm capable of being just as effective and only crippling them.? rifle discarded and she drew her own service magnum.

A sly grin plastered on Dyarhk's lips. ?Alright then, my hero. How do we get out of here??

No more shots came down that hall, but a remote grenade rolled down the hall and blinked its ever-rolling camera at the two of them as she grabbed his gun hand authoritatively and led him down the dead-end hall like their lives depended on it. ?This way!?

Dyarhk had a panicky moan as she dragged him along, but her run was much stouter. He hadn't seen these class of explosives yet, and looking back at the thing rolling after them and gaining on them was something Corea couldn't let happen. After a certain amount of time, she aimed that pistol of hers back and shot the thing, triggering its explosion immediately. The hall filled with flame and outside glass sprinkled down on the stone road before the soft land of Corea and less than soft land of the Palliator with that cumbersome axe. Bullets rained down even on the street, and the man's hand was taken once more as he was led to a sneakily parked jeep just on the outside of everything.

?Hop in!? Corea shouted, swinging through the always-rolled down window on the driver's side while Dyarhk tossed that Dwarven axe in the back and took to opening the passenger door for a change; expeditiously, mind you. Slamming that door shut and her slamming the pedal down they gained some serious momentum in reverse gear before she whipped the vehicle around and even briefly on two wheels to get them facing the other direction and not without a few extra bullet holes in the back spare tire and trunk gate.

Gunshots finally drowned out under the sound of the racing engine. Dyarhk was able to take a deep breath and finally cover that shot arm. Corea, now able to allot herself the time to do something as well, chose to address that wound.

?You're shot. How bad is it?? she asked, peeling her eyes off the road for perhaps far too long to look over.

?It's fine. I'll dress it up something pretty and then put up with it.? he said, beginning already to tear a nice strip out of his shirt.

?Good. I was going to ask you hold on for a while. It's unsafe to visit any standard medical facilities, either here on Serem or Huyglen. If my mistress really does want to kill you, then the fairy forest will be the first place she checks.? Corea made a quick turn where this stone road merged with a much smoother and paved one.

?What about Marissa? You don't think she's in danger? Jessica might use her someway to ??

?I do not think so. After repeated meeting with Miss Wong, I do not think she will endanger the child in any way. Besides, it is likely she figures she can outwit us herself.? Corea looked over to him.

?...Dammit.? Dyarhk punched the glovebox. ?That was gonna be a dream come true scenario for two-thousand people; not to mention me.? looking out the window, that freshly bandaged arm of his draping outside over the door while the air beat it. ?Instead I walk right into an ambush. Why the hell would Jessica of all people.....? he bit his lower lip and continued to watch the shady trees move by so quickly.

?...Where to?? she asked. The look it got her back was a sure one.

The clock was not so different back on Rhy'Din than it had been on Tirraru Serem. Huyglen would have been a different story, but fortunately their destination was much different than that of the fairy world. A night in a Rhy'Din inn, and very low profile, at that. Outside of Rhy'Din City and in one of the smaller, lesser known inns was where Dyarhk and Corea made their way. But walking up to the establishment still wasn't far enough out to get them out of the politics of the city itself. Nailed to a news wall on the way inside was an advertisement for Rhy'Din's 2011-2012 governor, and it got the most curious of looks from Dyarhk.

Corea hadn't gotten two hip sways in the door when she was displaying that constant alertness and concern over the man behind her. ?Dyarhk? What is it?? she asked.

A pause came from him but he eventually wavered. He looked fished out of a deep drown of thoughts, but was soon on his way inside with her, taking the posted noticement in with him. Corea's unpainted little nails showed up on that innkeeper's desk and Dyarhk's arm soon accompanied it. ?We'd like a suite, please.? her soft voice cast out to the man so ready for procedural room issuance.

?That will be forty crowns for one night.? fanning himself with a folding fan. Corea produced the currency and Dyarhk snatched the offered key thereafter. Then it was up the stairs to the designated room. A key jingled in the slot before the certain microscopic depth set the easily disrupted tumblers just right and the turn flowed. A lovers' sweet opened before them, less with the heart-shaped theme and more of an intimate layout of assorted areas. The bedspread was a Fall orange and of a plushness Corea was instantly drawn to, going over to place a hand and then seat upon.

?We ought to be safe here for the night. Least until we can figure out what's going on.? he placed their large tote bag that shared both of their hurriedly packed belongings together. Clothes, guns, all the necessities. He walked over and tugged the balcony drapes closed. ?One thing I do know, though. Those people are still homeless. That could have been it, Corea. That could have been the answer to everything.? he summoned a great deal of strength to make that sigh a silent one.

Corea had just tugged that shirt of hers up and off exposing a white tank underneath and impressive bosom, not to mention a mess of blond hair until a few shakes made a fix of it. She regarded him curiously. ?Why do you care so much?? plainly asked. Such a simple question, and it should have had an answer just as simple, but he could not produce one.

?...I don't know. Maybe, because I left them when the whole ordeal in Adenna was going down. Maybe I want to save myself by doing what I think is right; what I think I'm still responsible for. I don't know, Corea.? he joined her, but on the opposite side of that bed. She watched him, folding that shirt over her pants with her fists still inside it.

?What's that?? she asked with a gesture of her head to point at that election paper he'd taken. Evey Dyarhk was unsure of why he held it.

?The Rhy'Din election's coming up. I don't know... Politics isn't really my scene.? a handful of black locks were taken, and his other hand was given Corea's reassuring hold.

?You should sleep on it. We'll get that wrist looked at in the morning. Can you make it until then?? the softest of words rolled off the most luscious of worrisome, puckered out lips.

Dyarhk released that grip on his head to look up and over at her. A laugh. ?You're right. This is no small decision. But I don't know who I can trust, and I don't want to see this fall upon Alain, if I can help it. If I can take control of the situation, maybe I can supersede that nonsense that's got those citizens rim-rocked,? a tilt of head, ?Then, of course, there's the rest of the term to think about. That's a long seat in office.? he read the paper.

Corea pushed those pants off her curvy hips and then made easy work of the rest of their removal. A more pink than transparent pair of silk-like panties covered much of her rear, and there was one let's say, to be spoken of. The bedspread and sheet were tugged back on her side, then she did the same for his, adjusting at both their pillows not unlike how this was performed by her back at home. Dyarhk simply watched as she navigated on hands and knees in her nightwear with feasting eyes.

?Know what you're getting into if you decide to do this. I wouldn't say it's unfamiliar territory for you. Like you, I am not accustomed to Rhy'Din's politics. But what I know of a governor is very befitting of you. You like to help people, and find the best possible solutions for problems. Sometimes... you make people realize their potential, and see things maybe, they haven't seen yet.? saying this now while walking naked knees across the bed over to him. ?Sometimes you show a person something so great, they think they'll never be able to pay you back for it.? she whispered. She'd spoken a speech worthy of a board's ears and tears together, and in true, her green eyes were sparkling, not with sadness, mind you, but a very strong coming out of emotions. Those eyes ran all over his face, but it was his own pupils of a color so similar that she kept returning to the most.

Dyarhk looked up at her, his good hand lifting and opening and all too quickly being given the both of hers. He returned her whispers, ?Maybe he thinks he owes her just as much, and that they should just call it even.? he fired a wink at her.

The distance between them never closed so quickly.

Dyarhk · Date: 2011-04-30 05:42 EST

Sky Net

?So you're going to run for Governor?? a white-bearded fellow asked Dyarhk The Palliator in a Rhy'Din City office.

?Yeeep.? Dyarhk took a deep breath and looked at the elderly and educated fellow on these proceedings that might as well have been his doctor, and he, admitted just then to knowingly continuing on with some bad habit that brought about this medical problem. But it wasn't a medical problem now, was it; and the man wasn't a doctor. So it was just 'What are you doing here?' looks that were given to the Palliator, and him back looks of 'I'm not sure, but I'm doing it.'

The elderly fellow sighed and removed his glasses; his desk clean, but he didn't imagine it being that way long. ?Are you aware of how these proceedings have gone in the past??

Dyarhk looked sad. He wanted to be capable, knowing and able in this campaign, but he figured honesty was his best policy. And there it was, he knew none of this. ?Not exactly.?

On the man's desk was a dippy bird and Newton's Cradle, both indicators of stuck-up, bigshot corporate businessmen, at least in Dyarhk's eyes. But this man was timid, aggravated, obviously, but very friendly and genuine as well. Also on his desk was his name: Arnold L. (Louise) Poundstone. Dyarhk would forgo his normal reminding of the man how silly his name was.

?Well... I'll tell you what I will do for you. I have some copies here in my office you might find useful. Even more useful than these though, are copies at the Archives. Here.? the man never offered something that was not so readily available. He gave to him after at least one minute, a piece of paper; on it, were aisle numbers, book numbers, and page numbers. The man knew them by heart, asserting finally for Dyarhk he was also an experienced old aggravated, friendly and genuine man. ?You got a lot of reading to do, son.?

Dyarhk stood up and accepted the piece of paper and held it in both his hands at his lower chest. ?Yeah... I suppose I do.?

He left his office and headed back to the front of the building where Corea had been waiting in the lobby on a chair that looked comfortable enough to assure him he could take the time he had and not worry about her. On his way out he passed by the office of the Chicken Avenger, The Doom, or Head C*ck in Charge as it was sometimes known; if it was even still working here of if that was even its office anymore. He'd surely find out in due time. Right now he had a lot of reading to do. He stepped out into the lobby and spotted Corea who was just doing the same and coming to a stand.

?We gotta make another stop for some preferred reading.? he smiled to her holding up that slip of paper. He was regarded then with curiosity. The day wasn't over yet.

Dyarhk smiled out on the streets. The weather was so nice, so cool; and even the buildings that normally brought him sadness and dilemmas were now a testament to Rhy'Din's rate of recovery. Corea could not entirely place what it was that made him so happy, though she was half right when she suspected the breeze of wind that even produced a close-eyed smile on her own, normally indifferent face.

There had been the museum, public library which housed many of a one Theron's catalogs, but it had been the Archives he was interested in, and the building he was directed to did not look so old as some of these others. A brick warehouse type structure stood before him, built with a Romanesque influence and with round roman arches and of such an unoffensive color red he couldn't quite explain how well the building sat with him. He turned to Corea then outside its front door.

?You don't have to stay here. I'm probably going to crackdown to bookwork for a few hours. You should head back to Huyglen until I figure out what I'm going to do. Check on Marissa. You could even go to Adenna and spend some time with Kellie and Kara.? he gripped the sides of his jaw and combed his hand down and off it to double-check on the smoothness of his most recent shave, but more rather to make sure Harris' Alpha cologne hadn't resurfaced its unusual side-effect that caused him to grow an outrageous lumberjack beard; thank the gods, it hadn't.

Corea's blond hair blew in another breeze helping make this day one of the coolest and most enjoyable in Rhy'Din thus far this year, and it did little to dissuade her analyzing of him. Her plush lips together formed a cute smirk. She was ahead of him on this one. ?Marissa's long since been in bed, and I don't think Seiri will take very kind to my showing up before Kellie and Kara are about to be put to bed themselves.? those lips pursed now. She'd love to hear his excuse. The Huyglen clock was eight hours ahead of the Rhy'Din RST, and since it was almost sundown, it meant Marissa was sleeping well into the night. As for Kara and Kellie, they fell under the RST also, and were rapidly approaching bedtime. Dyarhk hadn't thought that one out very far.

The look he shared with Corea was an apologetic one, one she read as him acknowledging the innocence of his trying to lose her. It had been her wasting her time he was worried about, and she realized this. She took his hands, one after the other, and in no hurry for that matter looked back up to him. ?I want to stay.? taking his concerns into consideration and speaking out against them. She'd made her mind up, he'd just have to accept that.

Dyarhk · Date: 2011-04-30 05:43 EST

He did not sigh. He knew he might be so easily read, and if it was figured out then she had already made up her mind. He squeezed her hands, ?Okay.? the word came out hushed.

As cool as it had been outside, it was even cooler making the transition inside. Neither Dyarhk's boots or Corea's smaller ones got much attention, but they were all that was heard on this polished white tile floor; that and the air-whooshing of the glass door sliding back to a close from where it has been pushed open. They stood in a giant-desked lobby that was the start of a crossroads, three directions, to be precise. Faculty offices to the left, a hallway that turned to the right at their immediate center, and to the right before that was the lavatory; large, wide wooden doors designated with male and female stick figures. Corea was instantly reminded of Wong's facilities, and she lingered over at those restroom doors a moment while Dyarhk placed his forearm onto that large desk and smiled to the older man seated at it. Here we go.

?Hi. I'm from coming from the governor's office? Mr. Poundstone sent me here to pull some old records for study.? he showed the paper in his other hand from his own proximity rather than offer it to him. The man pulled his glasses down to assess the man.

?Poundstone, eh. Can't review these documents just in off the streets without an appointment and clearance. Let's see,? offering his hand for the paper slip, ?What's your name, son??

?Dyarhk, just Dyarhk. I... don't have a last name.? he said with a frown, handing over the paper. Already he was feeling like he wasn't measuring up, not like the other candidates were sure to. The man reviewed the selections, some of them he knew, some of them he had to type into the computer. But he figured out what was going on before long, ?Ah, you're running in the election. Okay. Give me one second.? the man pushed from the desk in his roller chair and exposed its very luxurious leather seat and then his fine brown Oxfords stepped pleasantly to the ear one after the other as he made down the long hall in the center. Dyarhk and Corea met back the short distance to one another at the center of the lobby.

?What now?? she asked, taking a deep, unsure breath.

?I don't know. I'm just as new to this as you are.? looking from the hall to the door, thinking; thinking that perhaps he should walk out right now, but he didn't. Good thing too, cause any time he would've had to do that was wasted, and the elderly man returned with a much younger looking man dressed very nicely in an open gray suit with red tie.

?Welcome to Rhy'Din's still reasonably new Preservation of Records Center.? the new man approached Dyarhk's eager-to-shake hand while the desk attendant returned to that nice chair. They shook hands while Corea held her own together in-front of her.

?It's nice to meet you, and you are?? Dyarhk asked inquisitively, unable to spot any nametag. Of course, why would he wear one in an establishment regulated by the government. It was all suits and ties from here on, bills and paperwork, stamps and ink pens. It was no place for a warrior, but that was why he was prepared to make the conversion from sword to pen, especially since he had heard hearsay that one was more powerful than the other.

?Bill Albright. I'm Master of Records here at this center. What can I do for you today?? eager to help a man out, he smiled his mustached face over to the cleanly shaven man. He was husky, definitely filling out that suit, but evidently youthful, lacking glasses often seen on such overseers and caretakers of such offices. Not a hair of gray in that sleeked back head of his, but one might suspect he's not far from it. He was certainly in either his thirties or forties.

?Bill. Nice to meet you. I'm Dyarhk, this is Corea. I think I'm running for governor. But I need to know more. Mr. Poundstone sent me here with some homework. I was wondering if you'd be able to help me out.? pleading eyes from the Palliator.

?Arnold, huh. Alright. Let's pull your items, shall we? If you'll both follow me?? he waved to his desk attendant and gave his back to Dyarhk and Corea, starting on down that central hall that turned right; and it wasn't until they made that turn that Dyarhk finally knew what became of the rest of the building. There was one more short hall and then large double doors to the left, and once those opened, the cubical shape of the brick, six-or-so story building all made sense. It was an enormous reading room that unfolded before them, occupied only by three or so hardly noticeable archive maintainers and an always present out-of-city surveyors and of course members from the neighboring libraries of Rhy'Din City.

Dyarhk · Date: 2011-04-30 05:44 EST

?The walls have reinforced concrete, so you've got plenty of peace and quiet. The atrium structure overhead diffuses the light from outside. A student from Ravensheart designed it.? he looked back, rather proud, ?There's three floors of books and you'll find the tapes upstairs as well. If you find anything you'd like to look through there's a viewing room with a television in the back. As for audio recordings, I can fetch you a wireless set should you find anything in that department.? smiling back to them while he continued to walk them through the aisles.

Dyarhk and Corea followed at a very befuddled pace. It was a lot to take in. ?Where exactly are we heading, Bill?? he asked.

?Well,? he looked at the paper knowing immediately what books were on it. The passages, not so much, ?Some of these files are actually in our archival storage in the back. I'll pull those for you, and you can go ahead and find yourself a workspace. We have mostly reproductions of the original manuscripts from Rhy'Din's Public Library, but many still require protection behind lock and key, so you won't be able to leave with any of these. Senior Archivist over at the Public Library, Charles Tibbelt, was kind enough to help us with the reprints; it's what got us on our feet. Now we generate enough income to put the money to other uses, like charities. We've got so many fundraisers we had to hire a manager strictly for them.? another look back with that proud smile.

?I see...? Dyarhk looked back to Corea sternly. An overflow of money in one of the governmental buildings would be something he'd have to investigate. He was determined, even if he did not land the position, to clean up as much of Rhy'Din as he could, starting with those refugees. Corea, always greatly interested and concerned when it came to something he was showing interest himself in, offered a look no different from these feelings she was having. Those curious eyes followed him to one of the many empty tables and particularly near a very comfortable couch. He pulled a chair back as she did and they both took a seat watching the Master of Records turn down a hall at the very back of the reading room.

This was where it began. Files were brought out, some were new books with very old print pages, and others were just very standard dossiers. Dyarhk's eyes didn't know what to look at first, nor did his hands what to grab, but he consulted his paper after giving Bill a reassuring nod when he's asked if that's all he'll be requiring. Corea helped spread the papers out and make the desk look perhaps more loaded than it actually was, but she had a system. She was a much quicker reader than Dyarhk.

He didn't know how to skim, spot out what was important bits, or read in a reasonable amount of time. But like a classless fighter in the ring with a proven skillful opponent, you can triumph sometimes just on heart alone, and this is exactly what happened as Corea began to discuss less and less with Dyarhk, then lean differently in her chair, then put her head on the desk. As the evening ran on and the chandeliers overhead became more noticeable with the setting of the sun, Corea had migrated over to that comfortable looking couch and taken to lying down on it.

Dyarhk looked tolled, but he kept on reading. The 2010 debate between Cor, Dris and defending governor Matt Simon was an especially interesting log, one he looked back in his chair and contemplated waking Corea up to show to her, but he decided against it. He took a moment to be thankful he'd met Matt and could apply a face to the words he was reading. He could do that with everyone but Dris. Dyarhk was mostly off-world during his term, and deeply regretted not seeing his efforts in office after reading how impressive his plans and intentions had been. Though why Cor bowed out so early, he made curious stares into the paper.

?There's a lot of holes in these records. What's here might be true; it probably is, but what good is it if you cut out what you want?? he put the dossier down to take a handful of bangs and comb them tightly back with aggravation. He was not so upset at the issue, but more because he had been reading so long. At least it was the final words of that log that put a smile on his face. He was thoroughly impressed by Dris' and Matt's defending why they should be voted for, again, in Matt's case. Matt was another governor he wasn't around to experience, likewise, another regret. But at least he was present for some of Kitty's duration. He sighed something fierce though. It wasn't going to help his case any that he didn't know any finer details about the governors or their implementations into the community.

One thing he took particular interest into though, had been Dris' staffing system. He knew Brian Ravenlock had been Minister of Citizen Resources, but beyond that, he didn't know how it tied in. Now it was clear as a bell. Rhy'Din didn't seem like it was in that poor of shape, and why would it be? Dris' had a team that was tailored specifically to their respective positions. His council of Minsters definitely stood out, and he made copies for the fourth time over at that fat white printer, holding down those clean new prints down on the scanner top.

While he was up he stretched waiting for the copies to spit out. He looked back at Corea and regarded her new sleeping position, now with her back to him. He sighed. Of course there was Kitty's term to brush up on next. He rubbed his eyes. He had a lot of work to do.

Dyarhk · Date: 2011-05-04 14:31 EST

(The unspecified chapter of 'Tendered' and the sorceress character was inspired directly by Alysia Skye's character and character information read from her profile details at the time of this post. For fun.)

It had been a little over an hour after closing time for the Preservation of Records Center, but the place remained well lit and alive. Dyarhk contributed greatly to the reading room's activity, but there were others as well, like the security crew that were setting up a tabletop role-playing table on the second floor. It was thanks to these men that the shuffling of papers and silence of thought were not so prominent when they sat out a stereo system on the wide railing to play classical orchestral pieces on recording from throughout Rhy'Din's history.

Bill Albright came through the reading room several times that night, always down the central walkway. Seen much more than the receptionist up-front, Bill walked around much of these grounds with a frequency that supported his position of Master of Records.

The men above's campaign of dungeoneering with their party was barely able to pick, what with one of the men getting very into the story being laid before them by their ?dungeon master.? He rose from his chair and drew an imaginary sword from behind his back with a smile he was trying to hide for sake of keeping his spot of acting intact. ?Lay a hand on him and you'll deal directly with me, demon!? he said. Corea shook her head at the noises she heard coming from their game, to that, in particular. She was awake now, though still laying out on that couch and reading one of Dyarhk's favorite dark fantasy mangas: ?Tendered,? something she never was caught reading herself. But hours drug out in this place very long, and most people would do most anything, to pass them.

Tendered was the story of a swordsman, and one Dyarhk related to in that he dealt with powerful foes and beautiful women, though the character in the story dealt with both far better than he did in real life, but that was further fondness for the story. Corea just thought it was cheesy, given the particularly thrust romantic scene she had stumbled upon. Further reading gave a roll of the eyes from her as she dropped the book from right before her face to her risen knees there on that couch.

A sorceress woman, pale as the white fog blanketing an evil lake, was haunting evilly the site where her long since passed lover had met his demise. The story's hero, Allman, ran into her, and briefly exchanged a bout of magicks before he closed the distance between them and turned it into a sword fight. Though not as proficient with her suddenly drawn dirk, the sorceress met his sword with it and the two stared one another the short distance between them. The book was somewhat of an omnibus, combining several of the story's released books into one, and the next page, being the start of a new one, was in full color, and detailed the continuation of the fight immediately from where it left off.

The sorceress wore red and black, and had crystal blue eyes that looked very sorrowful. Allman's eyes were anything but distinct, they were brown, screeching normalcy, another hero trait Dyarhk could relate with.

?You know nothing of the pain I've suffered these past hundred years.? the sorceress angrily lashed said words out at the hero, Allman.

?No...I do.? was his response. To a person coming into the story having not read the previous chapters, like Corea, this scene was particularly hilarious, especially given the abrupt kiss that seemingly ended the fight right then and there. A few flips through the next pages and a blush came to the highs of Corea's cheeks. Yep, they weren't ?fighting? anymore.

?Ah-hah!? Dyarhk said, suddenly getting her attention.

Dyarhk read over a running method that he had been looking for, and it seemed just now, he'd finally found it. ?Lieutenant governor,? running partner, and the various jobs and responsibilities that could be entrusted to one, as well as the power it could be given, accordingly. It made the most sense to Dyarhk, though he very much wanted to apply Dris' system of Ministers in some fashion. But a lieutenant governor was read something he was sure he wanted, and he knew exactly who he wanted for it. The book placed face-down on the printer while the bar of light read it over and spat out his copies.

Corea's eyes slowly opened as she was shook softly to a state of consciousness. The crystal chandeliers overhead glinted warm and comfortably to the hands placed on her shoulders that pulled her out of her slumber. Dyarhk looked over her with a very curious concern when she did not ascend to any alertness he suspected she would have, instead she tiredly watched him and would do so until he spoke.

?Hey. How you doing?? he asked softly.

Corea's hands slowly linked together and her arms reached up to initiate a most slow stretch. When she sighed and they fell back down she blinked sparkly green eyes still so vastly unique from Dyarhk's own of the same color over to him. ?Fine. What's going on?? she asked innocently; it did not suit her so well as it would have any more average person to say.
Corea always had to know what was going on. She worked intelligence as a CType or ?Commander Type? bioroid under Wong's employ. She had to know where all potential attacks could come from and by whom, and create the most beneficial casualty-less scenario imaginable. Dyarhk might suspect she had gotten careless, that is until a situation unfolded and he would surely learn otherwise.

?We have a quick stop to make. Back on Tirarru.? Dyarhk presented a bundle of papers as the excuse, on them it read ?Lieutenant Governor Submission Form.?

Dyarhk · Date: 2011-05-06 13:12 EST

Welcome to the Sky Net!

Tirraru Supreme, he had finally made it. Despite a setback or two getting an electronic clearance code checked out on their shuttle, they made it nice and safely onto Tier 2 with little trouble. Dyarhk hadn't helped co-pilot a JECO class shuttle in some two years, but that's what he found himself doing lately with this run for governor, things he wouldn't normally.

Gregory Finder: Age: 41 Hair: Brown Eye Color: Blue Height: 6'0? Current Status: Lead Detective of the 18th District Telo Kale Yukon City Police Department, C.U. (Corruption Unit), main floor. This man had to be Dyarhk's lieutenant governor, there were no other choices. He was perfect for the job. He had worked with him before in the amazing revival of law enforcement in a crime-run city, ended a powerful larceny ring and restored much of the planet's livelihood. Dyarhk had heard many promotions had come his way, particularly that of Chief of C.U., where he worked, but that didn't interest Gregory. He enjoyed making the difference where he always had, as a Detective. What was the condition down there now? These were things Dyarhk wondered as he helped navigate that shuttle into their designated docking bay.

?Turning on docking guideline readers.? Dyarhk said, flipping a switch quick enough to get his hands back on the W-shaped yoke of this particular JECO unit's steering column.

?And...we're in the tier's tractor. Powering down.? Corea said, disengaging all engines and primary flight systems. She pushed her chest and shoulders out of her harness and went to sequence the shuttle door with the outer door, but her hand was grabbed.

?You okay?? he asked.

?Of course. I'm fine.? she stared over to him and the hand of hers he held.

He nodded. ?Okay.? rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb several times. ?Thanks for coming back out here.?

She smiled, ?...It was an action that did not require thinking.? teasingly, she removed her playfully seductive look from him and did not see his warm regard back to her, recalling the last time she'd strung those specific words together.

They made a system. Dyarhk carried the three tote bags, all the weight, and Corea sped them through all Tier 2's checkpoints. Standing out on the autowalk giving thoughtful glances to space, he had to try and think of the last time he was out here. Ironically, he hadn't necessarily broken atmosphere in the aircraft Matt flew him home in once, but he was fairly certain it was a spaceworthy craft; and ironic because, Matt was now his competition. Though he did not know it yet.

The sliding white doors opened and even more white unfolded before their eyes. It was quiet, and made their footsteps loud as they crossed into the long white hall of their particular docking bay that fed into the enormous mouth of the terminal where so many people usually trafficked. In a working, functioning system, they would have. But this had been one of those civilizations that had gone under during a rule that was too greatly influenced from fantasy, a fate Rhy'Din was very much at risk of in his eyes. This top of the line space installation had been meant for space colonization and migration, but instead, only the wealthiest made it out, and profit still strongly benefited their empty residencies staying empty rather than a middle class or lower class family moving in. It was the way of things.

?Reminds me the last time we were here...? Dyarhk said, readjusting the lone tote over his shoulder as he looked over to Corea who looked back at him. She didn't say anything, she just looked into his eyes. He could have meant several things, she thought, like the fact that she had nearly died here last time, or that they shared a kiss the one time she let her guard down; it was probably that.

They needed to get from one part of this terminal to the other and secure a ride down to the first and last tier built around the planet; this meant crossing the gargantuan Wong Christmas Tree in the main lobby. It was here a few people finally shewed, standing up on those second floor balconies overhead and just outside of their rooms. When a shuttle docked in Tier 2 from the outside, it was never something expected or to be regarded as friendly.

True, Dyarhk and Corea's being there was most unusual, so they were not wrong in their suspicions. But they were all of them dangerous men and women that had come into their wealth. They had maimed and murdered to get there and they'd maim and murder to keep it. Dyarhk and Corea were only fortunate many of them knew what they looked like, and all of them knew who they were. Tirraru's transformation was done with few enough hands for this to be so. Still, it could only be hoped that they went through here without pulling attention to themselves. It would help, of course, if Dyarhk knew how to do this.

?Give me one second, Corea.? he said, breaking off from her as they passed by the Wong Christmas Tree. Corea seldom made a face to pull rank on him, but she did when he said this.

?Dyarhk. We must keep moving.?

?I'll be right there, I just want to see who I'm running against.? he said, approaching a public access database with web links even as far as Rhy'Din's own intra and extra-nets. These computers were so advanced, lag-free, and easy to navigate, that Dyarhk was just a few thumb and pointer-finger screen touches away from the official announcement of the closing of the candidacy nominations.

?Dyarhk!? Corea yelled, even with a stomp of her foot. There were no bullets zinging at him, but give it time and some group would be sure to approach them and give them no choice but to force a confrontation.

?Okay! Okay! Let me print it out.? he had already touched the print button and yanked out the almost receipt-like dispensed copy before clearing the window and his search and all proof of his being there by spamming the back button with his thumb. Time well spent since Corea was tugging him down to the 700s lane where planetary re-entry was done.

It felt good to be back in sureness. A man, Gavin Wakeman, had become one of Tirraru's leading military leaders and was spearheading an insertion operation on Dyarhk and Corea's suggestion. The airspace of Tirraru had become incredibly dangerous, and anything attempting to fly through its skies was at risk of being shot down. This was where Operation: Sky Net came in. But first, they had to hop tiers some 40,00 ft. and from there see about setting foot on ground. Gavin had setup a quaint shuttle, properly approved and scheduled for tier transference in half an hour from the present time. They would be leaving now.

The only persons they did communications with were the shuttle attendants themselves, and Corea did not let them out of her sights. She kept her service magnum always ready to be drawn, even when they were seated opposite two of them inside the much smaller, yet luxurious transference shuttle.

?You two visiting Tier 1 on business or pleasure?? the man asked, eying the two suspiciously.

?Business, and that is our own, none of yours.? Corea sat cross-legged, intimidating his snooping gaze away. Dyarhk rolled his eyes, having planted those tote bags beside his chair he now sat. Corea sure didn't want this to be an awkward-less trip, and though it wasn't, it was a safe, encounter-less one.

In the interspace between tiers, it was a nearly perfectly sealed off space of void that poisoned the clouds into a luscious pink instead of a blue you might expect. A lack of oxygen and expenditures from both tiers into the space that turned the trapped air into the chemical-infected pink color that it was. It was really quite magical, but understandingly deadly as well. The unique gravity here made travel very cheap from tier to tier. Why then, was it so hard to get on Tier 2? A lot of reasons. For one, you had to be evil enough.

Arriving on the first tier of the planet, the one it was first known for, there was a noticeable drop in quality stepping out from the shuttle's umbilical connecting it to the dock. It looked somewhat like a nightmarish hospital with rustic green and gold walls and floors. A lot of the Tier 1 building interiors were like this, but they hadn't always been. A lot of its shinier qualities had been relocated on its younger and more extravagant tier above, the one that now controlled it.

Dyarhk retook the bags in a similar fashion he had to begin with and walked down this hall ahead of the awaiting guide after giving a nod to him; it seemed he knew his way, he'd done this before. He made a classy hurried move down a long fleet of green metal stairs while Corea was not far behind him getting a quick debriefing by the man assigned to meet them at Tier 1. But she never let Dyarhk get ahead of her, not when he was targeted so recently and all the more likely to become targeted again now that he was running for governor. Nothing got a message across like killing someone in the political party. It was for this reason she called out to the man getting somewhat ahead of her, ?Dyarhk. Wait up a second.?

Returning the man's paper to him of the Tier 1 scaffolding blueprints, heavy with red ink notations, she sped down those steps and rounded the corner only to bump into the man's back she was pursuing. He shuffled slightly with the push and looked back curiously.

?Oh, Dyarhk... I'm sorry. You should stay close.? she said.

?I'm right here.? he beamed over to her, unknowing of any danger that could be set up blocks away. 97% of the time, there never was. But Corea was ever-looking out for that nefarious 3% looking to make a much more amazing reveal of itself.

?Okay. Let's go meet up with Gavin.? grabbing a handful of his shirt at his neck and leading him not out the front door, but out the side one.

Dyarhk · Date: 2011-05-15 20:42 EST

"Welcome to the Sky Net!"

?You are now at 30,000 ft. of Tirraru's atmosphere. You will feel sick and you will feel pain. You have all been given two tablets to help prevent decompression sickness and hypoxia. You will take them now. In a moment you will fasten yourselves to the construction navigation sliders of Tier 1. They are old, they are unsafe and they are fast. You will keep your S.N.S.es on all times. Outside you will experience temperatures of 20 below. That suit has saved my life and it will save yours today when you do your job.

?At this moment in time there is no safe access into Tirraru air space due to the Wong Laser Science Lab built onto the interior of the tier. Your objective is to disable the processing tracker eye and disrupt its analyzer. You have four magazines of Electric crystal-tipped 7.62 mm casings. You are not infants. You are not handicapped. You can count. Expend your munitions wisely. Outside you may want to get scared, but you will not get scared. You get scared and that tracking eye launches a Wong missile directly onto itself and us, and I don't feel like dying over something stupid.

?Now, you will do one last gear and weapons check. If you have something you do not need, or forgot something you did, then return to the lockers and change, you are done for the day and off my team. It seems we're going to be risking our lives today. Let's hope it's for a good cause.? Gavin Wakeman said, with a particularly nasty glare to Dyarhk as he walked past him and Corea.

?Heh. You could swear he was saying that directly at me.? Dyarhk mumbled over to Corea with a challenging smirk at the retired and active again commander of Tirraran Defense.

?Maybe that is because he was.? Corea said rather plainly, unable to get the novelty of joking down fully. But it was a work in progress. She zipped her S.N.S. suit up to her chin and pulled the bolt back on her electric repulsor rifle just aching to wreak some electronic carnage.

“To your stations, men! If you get killed out here today, just know you died in one of the coolest battles imaginable. You'll be dizzy on missile exhaust chemicals whizzing around you trying hard as they can to crash into you, and the lack of oxygen up here is sure doesn't help you trying to get a lock-on. Once the panels flip, you're heat signatures will be on the blip! Now let's get out there and create a pathway through the Sky Net!? Gavin roared, walking down and saying go, go, go, go, to all the men. They did as his successive finger points said and laid down on the panels that were built onto ongoing tracks that just went on as far as the eye could see down the long deck in the sewer-like darkness of the planetary shell's underground.

Dyarhk popped one of the oxygen expulsion tablets and made a face afterward. He hated taking capsules that large, but it certainly didn't help that those specific capsules just did something really unsettling inside you, and as long as they were keeping you alive you felt it. Him and Corea laid down on the panel and she gave a toss of her blond hair as she gave her belt over to him and awaited his clicking the two ends together. He seemed neglected to do so.

?I hate this part.? he frowned and clicked the buckle allowing Corea to give a comforting and yet not so comforting little thing of a smile over to him while she tightened the belt firmly.

?LAUNCHING IN 4, 3, 2!!!? Gavin shouted with his fingers up and when it got down to two he flung his head back and the silence and stillness were joined with the blast of rockets that soon took the place of both settings. One after the other the panels shot out behind the ones that just took off moments before them. Dyarhk squinted his eyes as they rocketed off at blazing speeds. The faint overhead lights shone so rapidly it made a long angelical line that led to the abrupt and stomach-jarring reversal of the panels flipping to the underbelly of the actual tier itself and exposing them to the atmospheric pressure. Immediately, they were lucky to be alive. So much those little pills did.

The wind blasted Dyarhk and Corea's hair and eyes as they tried to adjust to the sunlight. It took some time to get used to, time they didn't have. Corea was already trying to get her rifle into a ready to use position. The large targeting eye looked like a cannon in the distance, and it was in the distance. It was like trying to take a precision shot on a roller coaster, a really unstable, crappy roller coaster.

?It's no good. I'm not going to be able to get off a shot in time before it launches a cluster of missiles at us.? Corea said a little louder than she was used to. Dyarhk seemed to be assessing this. He grabbed his own rifle and un-clipped one of their belts.

?I'll take care of the missiles. You blind this cyclops. Okay?? he looked over to her, blind himself with a mop of black hair completely obscuring his vision. If it had just been a little shorter, he'd have seen Corea looking right back at him with a look of worry, but she understood.

?Careful on the Sky Net.? she said.

?I'll do my part!? he yelled back before dropping down. Like any suspended nets, they were hard to move around on and they were depressed upon greatly. Not only that, but the gusts of wind were tremendous and lifted the black net entirely and instilled the fear you might get splattered on the roof of the tier. This wouldn't happen, cause the net did not reach it, but it had enough snap on its gusts sometimes to get you there and give you a nice concussion all the way down to the ground if you happened to let go during one of those breezes. Dyarhk made a face. This was not a good way to perform an operation like this.

Those strong gusts never completely stopped, but they did become brief enough for the Palliator to discern if he was going to take a shot and stay alive with the rest of this team then he had to do it now. He slipped his rifle and opposite arm into the cutouts in the net and wrapped them several times for a super snug stability. Then it was peering through a perfectly still scope on a rocking boat. The missiles had indeed launched and were flying outward, but they'd turn in soon enough.

The machine gun fired two bursts then three when Dyarhk finally found his target and one of the missiles short-circuited. Free falling didn't occur too terribly long before it blew up in the sky and awaited to be joined by the rest of its pack. Now that he'd found the setting that worked in the distance and the windage, the other missiles seemed to get confused and explode a lot faster than had taken their lead missile. Before long the skies were clear and Corea was presumed somewhere off in the distance doing her job.

Those panels moved so gosh darn fast, it was hard to make out where she was or if she was even alive. But it turned out she was when the cannon search eye began to look around confused before seeming to die and just droop as a few explosions began to peek out upon it.

Gavin Wakeman couldn't believe his dry eyes when he saw this happening. He almost forgot to call in the order when he saw this and what this meant. He issued the order immediately for return to the tier interior and recalling of his team. It was a casualty-less mission.

All the panels flipped back to the sides they were supposed to be facing like those grates on that first castle of Super Mario World, only with substantially less lava. Gavin was up and walking down the lane looking over his still strapped men and with a very determined look on his face. He was looking for the team that was responsible for this assembly. His difficulty came with Dyarhk and Corea being separated.

?Where's the Palliator?!? Gavin shouted down the lanes.

?Here I am, Sir. Did I do something wrong?? he asked sarcastically as he came to stand and let his rifle hang at his chest with just a single hand on it.

?If you don't get on that shuttle down to the planet right now you will! Where's that administrative assistant of yours?? Gavin asked.

?She should be coming. Any second now.? Dyarhk smiled, looking over Gavin's shoulder seeing Corea coming back and looking like she just got out of a battle with a static electricity monster. Gavin frowned at the sight of her. The team was ready to go now.

?Alright. I'll prepare the transport. You two follow me.? Gavin said walking away from the two, and Dyarhk who was hovering a hand over her troll doll hair to see if it had a life of its own before she grabbed it and jerked it back to his side.

They weren't in the shuttle long before Gavin began ordering them around and telling them how to gain ?official? re-entry. They weren't out of the woods yet. Dyarhk threw his tote bag to the back of the cockpit seats and got to unzipping that S.N.S. suit more to allow him some air to breathe.

?You've got forty-five seconds of fuel to spend at max speed, and that's going to be just enough time to outrun the reprogramming of the cannon. It's been a pleasure running this op for you both. I wish you luck on those lives you're trying to save off-world, Palliator. That's always a worthwhile cause. Good luck to you both.? Gavin saluted the two of them with Dyarhk saluting back with a hand over the back of Corea's headrest while she powered up the systems. Gavin headed out with the door air-sipping shut behind him.

?We better not let the man down, Corea. He sounded real proud of us.? he said coming up to take a seat beside her and put a whole new complicated design of seatbelts on.

?We should have time to spare; provided the fuel estimates he gave were accurate. Are you ready?? Corea asked taking hold of the control stick.

?We're wasting time, Corey!?

The stick was lifted suddenly which, of course, dipped the nose of the shuttle down and broke the fragile lines holding it against the tier exterior. They broke off with a none-too damaging sound and began their plummet through the skies awaiting their jets to kick in, and they were not far off from doing just that.

Corea had her game face on while Dyarhk grabbed the nearest things he could and braced himself for impact on a flight that had just started. The shuttle and all its flame resistant tiles had already begun to fall apart and peel off. It was not a pretty sight, and it was not a durable shuttle, and the situation in all its tension was pushed to the max when Corea drove that steel acceleration lever to the back of its steel shifter space.
Those jets at the back of the shuttle shone a white flame in their cores and tipped the back of it back and forth trying to keep the nose pointed forward despite the great influence from those powerful rockets to avert and spin out of control like crazy. Corea grit her gorgeous teeth trying to keep control on the stick. ?Dyarhk...!? she just began to ask for help when he grabbed onto the passenger side control stick and evened out the playing field for the great resistance that had been ganging up on her alone.

?...Thanks.? she forced a smile on her strained face precariously adorned by beads of sweat.

?Don't worry about it. I figure it's a good time to tell you in case this thing turns into a fireball of death that you're my favorite administrative assistant.? his bulky arms kept that stick steady, but it was not easy. He didn't show the lack of ease that this required, of course, looking over for a reaction from Corea.

?I've memorized your combat patterns and frequency of hunger strikes, but your encrypted humor still eludes me. What do you mean??

?It's nothing so complicated. I suppose if it's anything it's you're not stupid enough to get it. That's a good thing.? he reassured her before looking out the cockpit before them as the whole cabin lit up with the white light of entering the actual flight-capable skies. A few gunshot bangs much louder than gunshots spat from the overrun and given out jets at the back of the shuttle. The thing had run its last legs into stumps and in its dying breath it obeyed the controls given to it and guided its nose up for a crash on the surface to its underbelly.

Tirraran police both robotic and human made to the horrible smoking crash scene in ample time and were very quick to point their new-grade rifles at the air-lock door when it unlocked and was kicked open by none other than the expressive Palliator holding his hands out. ?Ahhh!!! Freedom!? much to his surprise when the rifles c*cked in his face.

Corea put a bead out on one of the riflemen with her own gun, but it was too little too late. Still, she was prepared to negotiate some sort of escape, so she kept her rifle on one of the men targeting the man she was crouched behind, awaiting his word almost.

?Gentlemen, gentlemen. There's no need for that. We're here on a diplomatic mission!? Dyarhk smiled magnificently as the soldiers all looked at one another; even Corea was perplexed.

Dyarhk · Date: 2011-05-20 23:41 EST

One crash landed shuttle's cleaned up mess later...

?I still don't believe you came all the way for that.? Gregory Finder said, Lead Detective of the 18th District Telo Kale Yukon City Police Department, C.U. (Corruption Unit), main floor.

?See, Greg? This is exactly what I'm talking about. Look how perceptive you are. You're perfect for my lieutenant governor.? Dyarhk said sitting in his old office chair at the good old TKYC P.D. Well, it wasn't really an office, it was just a desk for doing desk work with a little name plate on it, only he didn't have that anymore. It was ?Jack Ryland's? desk. He was stuffing his face from a disposable container steaming with piping hot Chinese food from just the quaintest little restaurant down the corner. Now that they were on the surface, things were surprisingly more pleasant than they had been in the air space.

Gregory shook his head walking past the very complacent Corea sitting up on her old desk and picking casually at her own order of food. ?You're actually serious about this? What in the worlds will having me on your ballot do?? he crossed his arms and their rolled up sleeves with a chuckle. It wasn't funny, but it made such little sense that it almost was.

Dyarhk quite eating just a moment to look up sharply at him, over his Chinese. ?You've got the experience, Greg. Telo Kale Yukon could not have returned to legitimate business dealings without you. You know how politicians work, you know how they think. Likewise, you can get inside the head of a criminal and run down their wrongdoings as well. But the most important reason, why you do all this, is because you're a community man. You want people to have neighbors they can confide in; depend upon, if they need to. There's a sense of togetherness you strive for in the people that has my plans for Rhydin written all over it.?

?And what do you have planned for Rhydin??

A long pause and stare between the two men with Corea looking back and forth between them. ?Would anyone like my egg roll?? she asked very softly. Dyarhk quickly took it and placed it in the styrofoam depression his now-eaten egg roll had been in.

?I'll show you. Soon as I'm done eating. I can't tell you how much I've missed the Tirraran cheese wontons.? the Palliator said partaking of one from his to-go he had been eating out of.

Dyarhk · Date: 2011-05-24 19:32 EST

Gregory wiped his face with a hand then gestured to him to continue; it wasn't like he was at work, or anything. He was heading over to let Cohen, his partner, telling her what they were here for, leaving Dyarhk and Corea not so very but kind of alone.

?If Detective Finder is unable to assist you in your campaign, our trip will have been quite needless.? Corea spoke with a tiny bite of food in her mouth, something she would have never done a few years ago prior to meeting Dyarhk.

?He'll say yes.? was his immediate, confident response. ?Tirraru's not the mayhem central it once was. And I need all the political aid I can get my hands on if I'm going to relocate those people.?

?...Seiri has brought up a good point before. What about after their relocation, if it is successful? You do not seem to be giving anything else such devout attention.? Corea poked another tiny piece of her sauce-slathered chicken.

?There's nothing I'm more prepared for than the unexpected in the governor's office. But everyone has a special skill they plan to bring to that position. I don't think any of the candidates are wrong, we're just different. If I don't get to help them out directly, mark my words, I'll get one of them to. Do you want your fortune cookie??

Corea extended her container into his reach and he procured the plastic-wrapped cookie and began to open it.

?You told me once... when you and Minister Ravenlock had spoken at ground zero, you were going to stop risking your life for others. I do not see this change yet.?

Dyarhk just looked at her. He knew she was right. He knew she deserved an answer. ?I said I was going to stop risking my life for a great many people. But you, the kids, Seiri... I don't think I'll ever step down if it means protecting you. But... I know what you meant. I am here doing it still, aren't I. I can't tell you why I am, Corea. People need help, and I am within the means to give it to them, just as I would want were I in their shoes. But beyond that, I feel it's the right thing to do.? he said crunching the cookie and taking a look at the fortune inside:

Listen to your friends at this difficult point in your life.

Dyarhk · Date: 2011-05-24 19:36 EST

It was an average work day for the faculty at the TKYC Police Dept. that day, and by average, it was decently loaded with work. Filing never went by swimmingly or without a great deal of time. It was unfortunate, then, to work in filing. For the detectives, it was a slightly shorter day. Detective Finder checked out early that day with his partner Detective Cohen staying late like she did on occasion just to review everything over. She had the time.

Gregory's condo was situated on a high floor of a very elaborate and expensive apartment house. On its top floors purple neon lights shone down to Telo Kale Yukon City and shone upon its citizens why it was one of the finest (and tallest) the city had to offer. Gregory led the twosome the first steps into his abode before flipping on the light switch to illuminate the expansive kitchen space and wide living room it connected fluidly to, after a few minor carpeted steps.

?You can take your shoes off.? he said.

?Oh. Well if you insist.? Dyarhk made a smirk behind his back before he took those boots off. Him and Corea looked very touristy in standards pants and t-shirts. It was all they had to change into at the precinct out of their S.N.S. suits, and it didn't seem to bother anyone quite as bad as it did Gregory.

?You know, I think I have some clothes you two might fit in. Dyarhk, I think we're about the same size. Corea, I'm not sure if some of my ex's clothes will fit you.? Gregory said already taking off his suit jacket and his tie. They both got draped over a dining room chair.

?I will look into that then.? Corea said quietly slipping out of her red athletic sneakers and walking socked feet beside Gregory and then following his pointing finger down the hall that led to both a bathroom and a bedroom. The two men were alone.

?Can I get you a drink?? Gregory asked, going over to his highly glass-oriented bar.

?I'm fine, thanks.? Dyarhk walked up to him, ?Thanks for having us over. You could have just turned us away, you know.? he smiled.

?Well I figured I'd at least humor this insane request of yours,? pouring himself a glass with a barely noticeable amount. ?That was a long way to come, and with the A.I. that's taken over the old tier now it was a big risk you took coming back here. Not that I thought we'd seen the last of you.?

?Of course not.?

Gregory looked at him and held onto his glass a moment. ?There has to be more to this refugee thing than just helping out, Dyarhk.?

The Palliator ran his eyes over the living room and its inviting furniture. Even the carpet looked like it could be laid upon enjoyably. Yep, this sure wasn't the place Gregory used to call home. He'd moved up in the world, quite literally, but he wasn't so inclined to do the same at work. He'd been offered the position of captain over detective, but he chose to remain where he was, on the streets. His faith in the people to do their job now was what reassured him to keep doing his. Everyone could do their part now that corruption was out. It's been working so far.

?You might be right. But I do not think so. Something is driving me, though; something stronger than I've felt in a great while. I'd prefer to let people fend for themselves, especially at this point in my life. My kids' safety, and the safety of their mothers... they're my only priority, on-top of looking out more for myself now. Funny how that happens, Greg. You watch where you step when you've got something to lose. These aren't cavalier days anymore.? Dyarhk grabbed onto his shirt and tugged it; a display of not liking being in it. Gregory watched him discerningly, still there at the bar.

?You live in Huyglen now. That should be the society, the people you're concerned about; where your kids will grow up.? Gregory said.

?Rhydin's going to be apart of their lives whether I like it or not. Adenna's there, and Seiri will fight me for time with them there. I can only hope to improve the state of things.?

?You think I can drop what I'm doing here and run off to sit behind a desk in Rhydin?? Gregory asked.

?You know Tirraru's docile enough now. The street crime's gone way down. But you're right, I am asking a lot. We might be able to work something out.? he ran a hand back through his hair and exhaled out through ballooned cheeks. ?You know what, I'll have that drink after all.?

Gregory poured it for him.

Dyarhk · Date: 2011-06-04 06:20 EST

The full night skyline of the New York City-like metropolis of Telo Kale Yukon was magnificently shown out Gregory's balcony with strangely ambient noises of traffic down below on the always-busy streets. No doubt where a great deal of the weekly living fee went. The skyscraper that was this enormous apartment complex stood defiantly over much of the city, but there were still just a few conglomerate structures that rose over it. Hardly a gripe.
Dyarhk walked out to join the esteemed detective, buttoning just a few remaining buttons up on one of his shirts he would be borrowing. The man had fine taste since the suit was his ritualistic work attire. His dress shirts were of a very fine quality, and not unlike the DeCausey silks and fine cottons he was used to. Funny it was not a DeCausey shirt he was putting on, what being with the actual proprietor of the business residing here on Tirraru. But Pearle DeCausey hadn't yet reached the acclaim of fashion design he had in Rhydin.

?A little snug, but I managed to fit into it without too much trouble.? Dyarhk told Gregory as he walked over to him and was handed his glass by Gregory. A slight gust blew at his hair as he looked the horrific, yet mystifying distance down in blackness to the well lit streets below.

?Not bad, considering.? Gregory gave his appraisal, unusually positive.

Corea was inside and laid out on the couch kicking her naked legs idly and finding herself gazing her sparkling green eyes through that glass sliding door that revealed Dyarhk and Gregory on the other side in the night air. She was wearing a purple babydoll t-shirt and white shorts she'd simply put together out of the other woman's meek selection. She'd done her best with what fashion sense she thought she had, but to be perfectly honest, she was interested in developing her taste. Though, one could tell by looking at her, the uncertainty, and nervousness on her features at what she had put on.

Dyarhk pulled his eyes off her to present a deep breath to Gregory and his growing concerns. ?You see what I have laid out. I'm no good at this politics game. I'm so dense when it comes to stuff like this I can't tell you how many meetings I've probably walked away from making enemies when I thought I've made friends. It's so utterly different from anything else. The gravity's heavier, words don't mean what they would normally, a million other things considered. I wouldn't do it like that. It's too complicated. It sets up for disaster too quick and needlessly. I'd have people sit down and say the words they mean, show respect, be friendly, be cordial, and talk things out like they're there to do. There's already too many problems, that's why they have those damn meetings in the first place.? a cant of his head. He took a small taste from his glass before admiring the neon skyline once more.

?It's not easy.? Gregory held onto his arms back there at the corner of the balcony and seemed to find something humorous about what Dyarhk had said, ?You got that right.? Gregory had done this, he knew what it was about. Dyarhk was able to come into Tirraru and help derail these politicians here because he was an unknown and the method called for it. A political campaign was entirely different; everything was in the open, and Dyarhk was seeing this now. ?Okay. I'll entertain this. What would you have me do, if I went with you??

?I've got a lot of places to visit concerning this, win or lose. You could call it spreading awareness, but I'm going to right this wrongdoing. I do feel somewhat obligated after I left Devotion abruptly to help Adenna in the Chains crisis. But now this can't be ignored by anyone, not with a human heart.? Dyarhk looked over to Gregory who was understanding of this and would have been of even the noblest of causes, but if they still required him leaving, it was with a hesitant step he was not ready to approach just yet.

?I don't know, Dyarhk. How is my going to help you any different than you going to help Adenna and creating the same problem in Rhydin here on MY world?? Gregory asked. Dyarhk frowned.

?I hope the same evils would not be at work in more than one place.?

?But that's just it, Dyarhk. You have to be there to stop them. You weren't. I'm not about to stop what I'm doing because, why, it works?? I'm not sold. We can get you back to Rhydin, or Huyglen or wherever you and Corea need to go. But you'll be the only ones. This is my district, Dyarhk. I'm going to protect it. You go protect yours.? he said leaving his glass on the rail and heading inside and past a very perplexed Corea, onto his bedroom.

Dyarhk stepped in and shut out the loud winds and the noisy cars from down below with the simple sliding of a glass door. Corea remained on the couch, in fact, she decided to get settled in more after seeing that look on his face. Things hadn't gone well with Gregory; he'd been told no, and that was something Dyarhk was not going to take for an answer.

?How long are you predicting we will be here visiting on Tirraru?? Corea asked laid out on the couch and applying her skills in mathematics to compile a bill of all these polished and shiny pieces of furniture and frivolous knickknacks Gregory had indulged in to decorate his ?now? a bachelor's pad. It was not inexpensive so far.

Dyarhk had walked on by her with an air of aggravation and into the kitchen, taking care of both his own and Gregory's glasses that had served as containers for beverages to a meeting that did not go so well only moments ago. He rinsed them out and placed them in his dishwasher before he returned to the marble counter-top and tried to figure out a way to convince Gregory to return with him.
?He's right, Corea. If he leaves it'll be just like what I did. If I had remained with Devotion I could have confronted Vanderhorst and his bureau before things got as bad as they did. Without anyone to answer for them, they were able to sink all sorts of hooks into those poor people.?

Corea leaned up and exposed that head of blond hair and that purple babydoll shirt, both of which were new on her. She laid her arms on-top of one another over the couch's back and her chin on-top of them to observe Dyarhk doing OCD-related activities in a kitchen that was not his. ?Tidying up Gregory's kitchen is not going to convince him,? to elicit a look over to her before she spoke again, ?If you hadn't gone, Seiri's son would have been compromised, and there is no telling what would have happened to her if you hadn't shielded her from that spider bite.?

She was right. Both of those things most certainly should have taken precedence over the people. But, that was absolutely not what the case was here. Could it become the case? That was what he risked taking Gregory away. Dyarhk knew nothing would probably come of his brief absence, but if something did, it would all be on him. He tapped his finger on the counter in thought while Gregory came out from the hall with some bed linens in his arms.

?Look, it's late. I got the spare, but just the one. One of you can use the sofa. Do you need some blankets or anything?? Gregory asked with concerning eyes.

?Is the spare bedroom insufficient for sleeping two?? Corea asked innocently, smoothing the purple wrinkle of her shirt at her abdomen.

?Huh? You two sleep in the same bed?? Gregory asked with a most disgusted and confused look on his face, and there Dyarhk was covering up his own after he'd smacked onto it.

?We can.? she replied quicker than Dyarhk had prepared to explain.

?Well... by all means.? Gregory took it overly easy, which meant he didn't care to make sense of it, argue, or anything else. He dropped the linens off to the chair that sat back against the wall just before the wall turned to create the hallway down to the bedrooms, the hallway he soon walked to go change and begin his bedtime regimen.

?What is wrong, Dyarhk?? she asked as he put his hand on the back of her couch. He knew she didn't know any different.

?It's that monogamy thing again. See, right now I look like a bastard for fooling around when I'm with Seiri. I'm not. But that's how it looks.?

?This is confusing.? she said looking pleadingly up at him.

Dyarhk just looked bored of the whole world and their interpretive skills. ?I know, Corea. No one knows why they do it.? he followed Gregory down that hall and then deviated from his pathway to enter the spare bedroom, asking his question all along the walk. ?Do you have a bedside heater anywhere??

?Yeah I got one for ya. Why don't you come in here and get it?? Gregory called from the other room.

Dyarhk smiled. ?No... no, you're going to hit me.?

Corea · Date: 2011-09-09 07:51 EST

Corea canted her head, effectively between the two though some great distance away and granted the quieter confines of the living room. She thought the exchange between the men as: Curious.

Dyarhk flipped on the tiny lamp inside that lit the room predictably low, but he did not dislike it. It was rather nice for him. He unmade the top of the bed after weakly tossing the throw pillows to a flimsy white woven clothes basket. A few pressed hands on the mattress showed his approval and surprise at the softness. ?Huh.?

?Isn't there anyone in Rhydin more suitable for this, Dyarhk? I think you're wasting your time.? Gregory said, calling from his bathroom now where he checked twice or so his reflection while he prepared his toothbrush.

?Possibly; probably. But no one I know and can get on my ballot quick enough.? Dyarhk gave an excessive pillow to what he was mentally referring to as ?Corea's side.?

Corea herself had come into the room and done a very different appraisal of it than Dyarhk when he came in. Dyarhk wanted a bed that worked, a lamp that worked to let him see if the bed worked, and a night stand to put his gun holster and keys and other affects. Corea had been very interested in developing a fashion sense about herself. She heard it was womanly to care about such things, and was beginning to force a habit of deciding if things looked good or not, and if they did, why they did.

?This room looks inviting.? she tried it out.

Dyarhk gave her a most worried look of confusion.

?You two aren't breaking anything in there, are you?? Gregory called like the intrusive parent he was regrettably transformed into.

?Noooo.? Dyarhk called back like the not-so innocent child feigning innocence that he was happily transformed. Corea's naked legs suddenly intruded into the amiable lamp lighting that caught Dyarhk off-guard but only for a moment. He curiously peeked out the door, across the hall to Gregory's room. ?I'll make a deal with you, Gregory. I won't keep you out more than a fortnight. How's that sound??

A toothbrushing Gregory stomped bare feet all the way across his fuzzy carpet to meet Dyarhk in the hall specially for that one, his speaking slurred with a mouth full of white minty foam. ?You don't get it, do you? It's not just about that, Dyarhk! I'm trying to make you realize something.? then he drew a blank as Corea stepped up and made unusual the sight of his ex girlfriend's shirt being worn only in the company of underwear. It had derailed his train of thought drastically.

?Listen, Gregory. You help people. It's what you do. I do it too, but you can do it through the channels I can't, through the channels I need it done. Now Tirraru's doing just fine. You bring in a couple broke up fights and stolen items every day. I'm not putting this on you, Greg. But these people could sure use your help. I need your help.? he stared at him, and Gregory stared right back before a sigh conquered his best defense.

?We'll talk about it in the morning. Get some sleep. I owe you two at least that for getting here like you did. You're lucky to be alive, you know. But I'm sure you already know that. Whatever..? he waved off to the troublesome duo and closed his door.

Dyarhk looked over to Corea's curious face with her toothbrush still in her mouth. ?He's right. I think I'll lay down.? passing the woman with a hand on her shoulder until it fell off from the distance.

Corea watched him and walked back out in the hall to finish her brushing back in the bathroom. A gasp taken of that minty and stinging cleanliness was heard and signaled the freedom in her mouth to resume talking. But it did not come yet. A light switch in the hall flipped leaving only a nightlight from the living room to weakly attempt at illuminating that hall carpet. She walked back into the bedroom and closed their door with her back.

?You weren't the only one who has been doing some reading, Dyarhk...? Corea began. Dyarhk seated upon the bed now looked surprised and over to her. ?Attacks on the governor's life are always present; and have been in every governor's tenure. The attention is enormous. Every action is brought under the microscope. The danger... it's all so, ? ? Corea jerked her head to the side. Some horrific image in her mind. That was what truly interrupted her, though Dyarhk spoke up before she could finish.

?I'm aware. That's why I'm here for Gregory. He can share this burden with me. I don't plan on making him the target in my stead. That's the farthest thing from my mind. But I am confident if he joined us then we could work together to improve the problems facing those in Rhydin who can do nothing about them. If he can be in the people's eye, then they will realize attacking one man would only be worthless. Then attacking two would only reveal four more in our place. And then eight more. The community will stand beside us. And together we'll say no attacks will bring us down, or deter our ambitions for peace.?

Corea stared so hard at him. Listening. One of the hardest things for her to understand had been the human imagination. Dreams. Hopes. Beliefs. And here before her was a man who had none of this he spoke of, but he saw it all so vividly in hid mind like it were a reality. This was something she fought very, very hard to understand. She wouldn't object to it. She wanted to see if Dyarhk would be the man to show her that dreams are the seeds of the future. ?Dyarhk... ? ?

?Corea,? he interrupted, ?Have you taken a good look around you, lately??

? ? Uh..? she did so. ?Um. Yes, I had, actually.? she looked down. Her voice softened. ?I had been looking around earlier. This room is decorated rather nicely. I was looking to see if there were any styles or patterns I could remember in case I ever get the chance to decorate a room.? her cheeks reddened. She couldn't believe Dyarhk had fished so well for such information.

Dyarhk just smiled and steadily began laughing louder. Though, he was aware of Gregory trying to sleep across the hall. ?You're such a girl. Have I ever told you that?? He couldn't believe it. He shook his head.

Corea thought about that. Had he actually said that? That exactly? ?No... as a matter of fact.? she held onto her elbow behind her back. ?Am I really? That's what I've been working so hard at lately. There are things I'm supposed to have skill and interest in; being a woman. It's not easy. ? ?

?I can imagine.? Dyarhk reclined and laced his fingers behind his head despite a pillow being behind them.

?But it is something I think I am enjoying. I was known, back with Helen, Nella and the others.. for my kills and excellence in combat. That was destruction. Destroying things. And I was good at it. Creating things? That is an even harder challenge. And I think those are the ones that shine the most; even if it is so simple a thing as decorating a room, or picking out a fancy dress.?

Dyarhk laughed again.

?I don't think there is anything funny about that.? Corea frowned.

?I'm sorry,? he shook his head with an apologetic grin softly on his lips. ?It's just, you're absolutely right. I believe the same thing.? He looked over to her to accentuate his seriousness. It was important. ?Towers are remembered for how they went up. Not how they were torn down. Lives are precious because of how they were lived. Not how they ended. And something made is so much more beautiful than something broken; and if it is repaired, it shows someone loved it; that there is never a useless state of being. We can all be repaired if we become broken.? he closed his eyes and smiled to the romantic ideal.

Corea walked over and leaned a naked thigh against the bed and observed him closer. The underlying motive of this was that she enjoyed being close to him. Something she'd yet to speak out on.

?I think we'll sleep good tonight. Time's never been this slow for me to actually stop and realize how different things have become. I'm not on a lonely battlefield anymore; asking a sword for guidance. You're not loading rounds into a rifle; rounds that had a man's name on every one of them. Things are different now.? his hand lazily dropped down, like it were tired, but actually had a plan. He took hold of the woman's wrist, still lazily, and adjusted accordingly to hold onto her hand loosely. She watched his actions with hungry eyes. This was a man she thought a great deal of.

?A lot has changed.? she whispered. A silent question; one he answered by pulling her onto the bed.

?A lot has remained the same.? her form pressed against his and adjustments were made in rubbing slides. Nose to nose, their eyes reintroduced themselves to one another at close proximity. The bedside lamp that could be called nothing other than cute gave them their quiet light. They simultaneously brushed each others' bangs to the side they had gone to so many times before.

?I used to think going to bed was just recovering the energy for tomorrow's labor, not letting the mind catch up with all the day's thoughts, not ? ? Corea found a finger pressed to her lips.

The silencer observed her, now quiet. Corea spoke up again. Much quieter.

?It's been harder to get to sleep at night ever since that night you came into my life. First, waiting to see if you'd pull through in the mountains. Then, before I knew it, unable to get to sleep because of excitement... because I couldn't wait to see you tomorrow.? she stared at him. Dyarhk need choose his words very carefully in response to that. Corea looked just about to close the distance depending on what he said.

?Excitement... I'd say that's a pretty human emotion, wouldn't you?? assuming stroking her cheek with the backs of his knuckles. ?I waited on you, too. I guess that makes us even.?

?Let me look after you... like that time.? so soft he could barely hear her. She was drunken in her support over-top of him. Her words had such a short distance to fall spoken into his mouth. And then a woman's deep breath could be heard being sucked in through her nose. Her lips taken over the other man's. Her rarely displayed eyelashes stretched long and curved beneath eyes closed so meaningfully.

What was it to be human? It had no small answer, but that did not mean Dyarhk did not know it. In-fact, it was very obvious. Having and showing emotions was the short answer. Looking at things for what they were and then some. Defying indifference. Compassion. Love. Kissing someone hard because you want them to know you mean it. Writing statements and declarations with that metaphorical ink on that metaphorical paper boldly so it stands the test of time, apart from its neighboring words, and never fades away.
The woman found herself grinding against the man and experiencing delicate kisses followed up by a return to the hard and colorful kisses rushed back up against him like a growing tide. For her, this was what it meant to be human.