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Post by Duke Bippwatt on Apr 27, 2011 21:38:35 GMT -5
When Grace woke up, there was a largeish suitcase at the end of the bed. In it were an assortment of clothes. All of them were her size and styles she liked. A note was on the top.
"Grace. I took the liberty of getting you some clothes and a suitcase. If you come to the private nook, there is a full breakfast there."
When she entered the room, Nikolai was just laying out an array of pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs of all cooking methods. "Hey! A good morning to you!" He pulled a chair out. "Please. Got all sorts of things to fill us up for the trip." He pours a glass of OJ for both of them.
When she sits down, he starts asking how much she wants. "Don't be shy. We have plenty of food."
Derak raced along the sidewalk, halfway across the city from Nikolai's house. He had to shake this tail. If he didn't, he might drag some nasty persons back. He ducked into an allyway and crouched behind a dumpster. He drew his .45 and checked the chamber.
Seconds later, a trio of men carefully edged into the ally. They each drew a gun, none of them being such a large one as his own. They fired randomly, hoping to draw him out. But he had other ideas. He reached around the dumpster and blind fired, his gun kicking heavily in his hand. He heard a scream off pain. One hit.
Then, he turned. Unleashing the inner wolf, he leapt over the dumpster and slammed bodily into one of the two men left. He ripped the man's throat out. Brutal and swift, the man died quickly. The third man point his gun at Derak and fired. At point-blank range, the man easily hit him. The bullet punched into Derak's left haunch.
Luckly, the bullet wasn't silver. Derak rolled with the impact and got his paws under him and charged the last gunman. He fell on him with a salvo of claws and teeth.
Once they were dispatched, he shifted back. He gathered his gun and clothes. He quickly dressed and put his holster on. He shoved his gun into it and headed home.
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Post by Lady Amira Nuit on May 2, 2011 15:22:41 GMT -5
Grace smiled as she awake. Seeing the suitcase she got up and read the note. An even bigger smiled crossed her face. She then took a shower and got dressed and headed down stairs to find Nikolai. See all the food she walked over and sat. "You've out done yourself," she said looking at all the food with an awe in her eye. Looking around she then said, "I'd like some eggs and bacon to start with. The maybe the pancakes after." He placed the food in front of her as her stomach began to make noises. She didn't realize how hungery she really was and so began to dig in.
"Oh man," said with a mouth full, "This is so good. I thought my mother could cook but wow." Then she blushed. "Sorry. That came out weird. Just saying you're the best cook I've had. Well, to eat your food." She looked down at her food. "I'll just eat now." She began to eat more. Then as she finished he placed pancakes in front of her with the bottle of syrup. She placed some on her food began to eat as she drank her OJ. Again so good. Then looking around she said, "Just noticed that Derak isn't here. Is he still sleeping? Oh and he is coming with us too or our we on our own? We really didn't talk about that very much I dont think." She cut into her food and began to eat it down. She had at least 4 pieces on her plate and it was so good she didnt want to stop. Looking at some sauage she grabbed one and began to eat that too. He said not to be sigh, she thought to herself. She was doing that just fine.
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Post by Duke Bippwatt on May 2, 2011 18:02:29 GMT -5
Nikolai smiled. "He might come in with his truck, following us down. He has a the equivlent of a whole platoons armory worth of weapons in that thing." He grimanced and looked at Grace. "I let him tote the big guns. I just use my nine milimeter, if I need to." He hesitated. "Like last night."
Then his eyes widened. "Crap! I forgot to call the security company." He stood up, wiping his mouth with the fabric napkin. He grabbed his cell phone and dialed a number, walking into another room.
A few minutes later, he came back into the room. "Check that off the list. And now, we can finish breakfast." He sat down and finished his breakfast.
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Post by Lady Amira Nuit on May 11, 2011 14:02:15 GMT -5
As Grace finished she sat back smiling at him. "That was wonderful Nikolai. Thank you so much." She then leaned forward still smiling at him. "So, do you want me to help you clean this up or what?" She was one for keeping things neat and cleaned so she would be happy to help if he didn't have anyone to clean up so she just wanted and then would wait for his next orders so they could get out of here to go meet Ardolf.
..........................
Ardolf stood on his front proch looking out into the woods. Ariel came out and handed him a cup of coffee.
"She will be great," Ariel said taking a sip of her own cup of coffee.
"I know," Ardolf said looking down at his cup, "But, I just don't understand. Greek was so much in love. How could he let something like this happen and when? It doesn't make sense."
"Well you said around the time of the full moon he was very wild."
"That he was but he was always so careful. We all have to be. That's why it doesn't make sense. He had to have had sex with another woman before or when Amira was born." He sighed.
Ariel put her arms around him. "Which is why she needs you all the more. She wants to know about her family. This girl isnt the one to be angry at. Greek is and he is dead. Please my love do not take any angry out on this girl. She is innocent in all this."
He turned to her and put his arms around her. "I know my sweet. I will try." He then kissed her. "I love you."
"I love you too."
"Is everything ready?"
Ariel nodded. "Yes. It all set and things are ready for training too."
"Good." They turned and just enjoyed the morning sun rise.
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Post by Duke Bippwatt on May 11, 2011 23:18:39 GMT -5
Nikolai chuckled as she mentioned the mess. "Nah. No need." He smiled as a syrup bottle lifted by some unknown means. "It's funny. Ever since Derak and I helped this clan of pixies out of a tough bind with a swarm of faeries, messes seem to clean themselves." His tone sarcastically suggested that he had no clue what happened to the messes.
As Nikolai said this, a small figure, only about three inches tall sat down on the other side of Graces plate, looking wistfully at the extra syrup.
"Ah, if I could but have a wee bit of that tasty amber fluid you human's excel at making!" The small man, with large wings at least three time his own size, spoke with a slight Irish brogue that might have been faked.
Nikolai chipped in. "You know that I could care less, right, Ranx? Do what you want with it, as long as your happy." He looked at Grace. "They like sweet things.", he said simply.
About 30 minutes later, Nikolai had tossed their two suitcases into the trunk of his car. Not the one he had driven last nigh, however. This one was newer. A hybrid, even.
"Alright. Ready to hit the road?"
"sh*t !"
Derak was still at least an hours walk from his truck which was an hours drive from the house. And he had picked up yet another tail. He would be lucky to get home with any ammo left at this rate.
He decided to pretend to drop something. Keys should work. He dropped them and then stopped and bent down to pick them up. His wolf's senses were the only thing that saved him.
Someone rushed up behind him and dropped a garrote over his head. Before they could pull it tight, though, Derak fell into his attacker and slipped out from under the wire. He spun around and threw a nasty uppercut to the man's gut, then a foot to the groin.
As expected, the man doubled over into knee range. Derak snapped his knee up from the kick and it smashed into the man's face. The would-be killer fell to the ground and Derak picked his keys back up and ran, borrowing of the wolf's natural speed and endurance. If he could keep this up, he would get to his truck in record time.
Because he was so focused on keeping his speed up, he failed to notice the man who stuck his leg out and tripped Derak.
Derak flew over the man's leg, falling head first. He sprawled onto the ground about five meters from the man. The man walked up to him, flanked by two walls of meat. Obviously bodyguards.
Derak recovered fast and drew his gun, only to find it slapped effortlessly out of his hand by one of the bodyguards. The force of the slap snapped Derak's wrist. The crackle of bones was loud in the silence of the street. Derak gritted his teeth and ignored the pain.
Then the man spoke. "My dear man. Don't try to resist. It will only result in the breaking of that pathetic human body of yours. Take him. Alive, if possible."
Derak rose an eyebrow and then felt fear. Why did they want him alive? Then he latched onto the wording of the man's middle sentance. It will only resuly in the breaking of that pathetic human body of your. He felt elation They don't know I'm a werewolf!
Derak cracked out a sharp line of harsh laughter. He let roll out of him. His laughter became almost deafening.
The man looked disappointed. "Come now. Laughing at such a time is hardly appropriate. Well, from your POV, at least." He gestured. "Go on. Take him."
"I don't think so." Derak shifted then, quickly finding a balance point between human and wolf. That form was his own creation in a way. Werewolf's had been shifting parts of themselves for eons. But no one had thought to blend human and wolf into a perfect fighting machine.
Derak bulked up, gaining at least another hundred pounds. His hands became psudo-paw's, keeping the general shape of hands, but ending in claws, which were themselves at least another inch longer than normal. His legs attained a wolf's back bent knee's, allowing him to jump better, but kept the size and power of human legs, allowing him to stand on two legs, rather than all fours.
Once the shift had finished, he saw the expression on the faces of the three men. They had had no idea. And, to make matters even better, they though he was some kind of Mega-wolf, given his current form. In that moment, he wished he had Niko's talent for all of thirty seconds. Just long enough to know what they were thinking.
Then, he growled and leaped into battle.
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Post by Lady Amira Nuit on May 14, 2011 22:30:42 GMT -5
Grace smiled down at the tiny man. "Oh my god he is so cute." She wanted to hold the tiny creature in her hand but she thought against it. She was happy now just staring at him then smiled at Nikolai. Then a little time past and they were outside. "I'm ready when you are." She hopped into the car and waited for him. Looking around she began to feel butterflies in her stomach because in a few hours she was going to meet her half sisters god father. She began to feel excited as well. When he got in she looked at him and smiled nervsly. "I hope he is a cool guy. I feel so many butterflies in my stomach right now. After all is time of looking I finally get a true lead thanks to yo. I own you big." She leaned over and with out hesitation gave him a very quick peck on the cheek hoping it would be fine because she had been waiting to do that sense last night when he got off the phone with Ardolf last night.
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Post by Duke Bippwatt on May 17, 2011 18:08:58 GMT -5
Nikolai's eyes widened a bit after getting a peck on the cheek. He looked to the passenger seat and quirked an eyebrow at Grace. Then, he turned back to the wheel, put the keys in the ignition and turned them.
He opened the garage door and pulled out into the road. He punched their destination into the on board GPS and got on the freeway, headed for the Night Rain Forest. He wanted to get there quickly, so he merged to the HOV lane and pressed a bit harder on the pedal. He set the cruise control and gripped the wheel with his knees for a moment. He reached over and opened the glove compartment and withdrew a pair of gloves. He straightened, closing the door to the box.
With a pair of swift, well trained motions, he tugged the gloves on and headed for the toll road. It should cut about an hour or so off their trip. He would deal with the emotions and thoughts that tended to hover around them as he could.
In an effort to make the time pass faster, he tried to start a conversation. "So. Did you hear about the fire downtown? They say that a warehouse with some fuel tanks started the blaze."
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Post by Lady Amira Nuit on May 19, 2011 10:24:24 GMT -5
Grace was staring out the window at the passing cars. A family of four with camping gear on top. She let out a very low sigh. To have a fun family adventure but yet to those that were a creature like her, they be dead as soon as night fell on them. But, that wasn't what was really focused on. She was focused on the bright smiling faces. All so happy while they drove, enjoying with being with each other. She was so longing for family like that. Well her mom was great but she was only human. She wanted to learn how to be in her werewolf form and to run with them like a wolf pack. A smile crossed her face.
As the car with the family got off she watched until they disappeared then turned and focused on Nikola's words. "No, I didn't hear about it? Was anyone hurt?" She realized with the surprise conversation started he either didn't like silence or he was making the time pass. That's what her step father did many times just to make the time move faster and to Grace surprise it worked. So she'd go with it on any subject he picked, she didn't care. Her mind wanted to be distracted but she focused it on his words. After all he was starting to grow on her.
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Post by Duke Bippwatt on May 19, 2011 17:22:45 GMT -5
"I don't think so. They are still searching the wreckage. It consumed at least three other warehouses. The firefighters think it was intentional. I don't think anyone got hurt, though. At the very least, no large number of people was hurt, I know that. Also, it was in the middle of the night, so everyone was likely asleep."
He drove on, thinking for a moment. "I think I need to buy a couple hundred stocks in a local fire sprinkler company." He smiled. "The hard part to getting rich isn't the getting rich, it's staying rich." His smile vanished. "With this fire, people are going to be freaked about fire safety for awhile. So, if I buy stocks now, before it spikes, then I can get them fairly cheep. Once the stocks level out, I sell them for a profit. And my money regenerates. Not to mention, I got a couple hundred thousand siting in a savings account, just saving that compound interest up."
He reached behind Grace's seat and grabbed a small object. It appeared to be small box, about the size of a paperback book. He set it on the dashboard and left his hand over it, muttered a couple of words under his breath and then he let go of the wheel!
He climbed into the back seat and russeled about. "Ah! Here it is!" He climbed back into the front with a laptop and popped it open and booted it. A screen with lots of text popped up, saying things like HAL client start------[OK]
It eventually came to a stop on a line saying. normandy login:
Nikolai types in next to this. normandy login: nikolai It then moves to a new line and says. password: He types this in, but Grace doesn't see any text, not even stars, to indicate that it is responding. But, Nikolai hits enter and it gives a short line of text. It says
"Life is a virgin, cause a b*tch is too easy."
Nikolai quirks his lip at this and then mumbles something. The line now says. normandy/nikolai/home 01.35: Here, Nikolai types startx. The screen flashes and comes up with a more familiar screen. While it doesn't have any shortcuts or any other icons on the screen, it at least doesn't have gobs of text.
Nikolai open his browser and types in a site name. Once it loads, he starts clicking and typing like crazy. During all of this, the little box on the dash continues glowing and the car seems to drive itself.
Derak lunged at the next wall of muscle. One down, three to go. But then, four small pin pricks lance pain down Derak's back. He arches his back and reaches back. He picks the dart out of his back and feels a little woozy. But, he shakes it off and finishes off the last of the two bodyguards. Now, for this fool. Then, four more pin pricks send more lances of pain down his back. Now he feels incredible tired. He takes six bounding steps towards the idiot who seemed to want to take him alive. Then, he collapsed.
He fell to his knees and then crumpled to the side. Just before he blacked out, the man comes to stand over him.
"Not so tough now, are you?" Then Derak lost himself in the tranquilizer.
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Post by Lady Amira Nuit on May 20, 2011 13:56:10 GMT -5
Grace nodded as he talked. She knew nothing about what he was talking about. Stocks of stuff to buy and sale? She wasn't one to want to be rich with money either. Sure it got you around like it did Nikola but she would always find a way and a safe one at that. But she was glad that she was with him. He had done so much for her so far she really wanted to do something for him in return.
Suddenly he reached back and grabbed a box. She watched in amazment as the car began to drive it self. Then she kept her eyes on him as he grabbed a laptop from the back seat. "You just keep on amazing me. Do you know that?" She just smiled at him and watching him as he did his thing. Then she started to think about Ardolf again still excited about this whole adventure.
...............................
Ardolf and Ariel got done cleaning and sat down on the couch. They sat beside each other as they cuddled.
"I love you," Ariel said to him.
"I love you too," he said back. They kissed and began to watch tv still awaiting for Nikola and Grace to show.
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Post by Duke Bippwatt on May 20, 2011 18:15:58 GMT -5
((TIME ACCEL!))
Nikolai turned in the small, overgrown driveway, dodging a tree. He slid the car onto a small loamy pad of dirt and shifted to park. He turned the key back and pulled it out. He sat for a moment, glanced at Grace.
"We're here." He got out of car and went around to the back. Popping open the trunk, he pulled out the two suitcases. He set them on the ground and dove into the back seat, grabbing his laptop bag and a long, tall and wide plastic box type thing.
He slid the strap for the laptop bag onto his shoulder and connected the two suitcases to the crate and wheeled the contraption to the front door of the dwelling.
He rang the doorbell.
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Post by Lady Amira Nuit on May 22, 2011 18:34:21 GMT -5
Grace sat in the seat as they pulled up in silence. She was glued to the seat unable to move or speak. As Nikolai got out, grabbed their bags, she just watched as he walked up to the door. Grace decided she really did need to get out. So stepping out she went upto the door and stood next to him and waited.
****
Ardolf stood at the living room window looking out as they drove up. He watched the girls hesitation and felt the butterflies flutter violently in his stomach as she finally stepped out of the car. She was a vision. A slipt image of Amira but Grace had Blonde hair. Amira's was black. Still he could tell they were sisters.
Suddenly he jumped by a hand touching his shoulder. He spun seeing Ariel sweet eyes staring at him. "Time to greet her love."
Ardolf nodded. He went over to the door, reached for the door knob and opened it. He smiled at his old friend and shook his hand then he turned to Grace. "Hello Grace. Its nice to finally meet you."
Grace was pale. Ardolf looked like a father. A nice looking midaged man with a strong build. No wonder he was Amira's god father. Then popping out of her thoughts she said, "It's nice to meet you too."
"Wont you both please come in." Ardolf stepped back to let them enter then closed the door. Ariel was staying in front of the stairs. "This is Ariel. My girl friend."
She hugged Nikolai like an old friend then she hugged Grace. "Its good to meet you Grace. I'm sure you have lots of questions just like we do." She smiled big hooking her arm in Graces and began to walk her into the kitchen. "But first something to eat."
Ardolf watched the girls leave then he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. Turning to Nikolai he said, "God she looks and sounds like Amira. Almost dead on. Those eyes. Their Greeks eyes." The shock had hit home for him. Why did Greek have sex with another woman? How could this? But, the proof stood in his kitchen. It was still so hard to take in though. Sighing his eyes began to water. "I feel betrayed, sick, sad... Why? Why did he do it? Amy was his life. He loved her to no end. So why did he have sex with another woman?" The question hung their with no answer to give out. He looked at Nikolai but he couldn't focus on him. Suddenly everything went black. It was to much to bare and it forced him to pass out.
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Post by Duke Bippwatt on May 22, 2011 19:04:14 GMT -5
Nikolai cringed as Ardolf passed out. He grabbed an arm, having felt the flood of emotions and thoughts reaching a peak that the mind needed to dump.
Pulling him back up, Nikolai rustled in the pockets of his duster. He pulled out a small vial and popped the cap on it. He waved it under Ardolf's nose.
"Smelling Salts.", he said to himself. "Come on, Ardolf. Now is a really bad time to be passing out."
Nikolai kept it under Ardolf's nose until he woke.
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Post by Lady Amira Nuit on May 24, 2011 16:45:56 GMT -5
Ardolf awoke suddenly. "Wha...what happen?" But Ardolf new the answer. He just didn't want to except it the offal truth. Nikolai helped him stand but Ardolf still felt light headed. When standing in place for a few moments, then he helped Ardolf over to the kitchen doorway where they over Ariel speaking to Grace.
***
Grace followed Ariel into the kitchen. She sat her down at the table then walked over to the fridge. She opened it and grabbed two coked and walked back over to Grace. She placed to coke in front of her as she sat and opened her own. Ariel took a long deep sip the replaced the can on the table. She finally turned her attention to Grace. "You look like her. Even sound like her. Its amazing."
"Really?" Grace asked her eyes lighting up like a kid seeing a christmas tree for the first time. "Is that good?"
"Depends who you ate love." She took another sip. "See for what I can see its a good thing but for Ardolf, its different. Greek and him were like brothers. He knew all of his secrets and that goes for the other way around. At least he thought he had. Your proof Greek was not loyal to Amira mother. Though you mean no harm it does cut deep for him and it might cut deeper for Amira."
"Well, maybe if he can explain his actions to them then everything might be..."
"Greek's dead," Arolf said standing at the doorway with Nikolai holding him up.
Ariel quickly stood and rushed over to Ardolf side. She flatted at Nikolai but Ardolf's expression said it wasn't his fault. So instead she and Nikolai helped Ardolf over to the chair and across the table from Grace. They other two also took a seat.
Ardolf could not focus on Grace just yet He looked out the sliding door behind her at the woods. He let out a low sigh. "Greek and Amy died shortly after Amira was born I was helping them to protect Amira at any cost. They both died. 3 years after that the bad guys found me and I'm still unsure how but then two beings showed up and took her from..." suddenly it was as if a light bulb went on over Ardolf head. "That son of a..." he looked towards Ariel then at Nikolai. "I can't believe I didn't see it before."
"See what?" Ariel asked.
But Ardolf's eyes were fixed on Nikolai. "Peanut lied to me. That no good to timing angel of a demon lied. He made me think that they found me but it wasn't true. I gave Amira up without a fight." He hit the table with his fist making the girls jump. "Dammit! How could I be so blind?" He looked around then back at Nikolai. "Id like you to come with us to Red Blood when we decide to leave. I want your help to knock his teeth in!" He finally looked at Grace. Her wide eyes just starting at him. "I'm sorry. Its just been bad. All so bad. To much to get into right now." He shook his head. "I still need to get my head wrapped around the sight and thought of you. I'm sorry." He stood and walked out. Starting up the steps he headed for his bedroom and such the door behind him. He layed flat on his back on the bed just staring up at the ceo.
....
Ariel was shocked with Ardolf behavior. She looked toward Nikolai and motioned him to follow Ardolf and talk some sense into him. When he was gone Ariel turned to Grace who had tears in her eyes. Ariel took the girl in her arms. "Shhh, my sweet child. Its ok. Ardolf isn't usually like this." She pulled back looking the girl in her watery eyes. "Just give him a little time. Trust me, ok? Everything always works itself out. Don't worry." She took the girl in her arms again and just held her. It would take some time for all of them so they just needed to play the waiting game. All would work out. It always did.
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Post by Duke Bippwatt on May 24, 2011 18:15:37 GMT -5
Nikolai didn't even wait for Ariel to tell him to follow Ardolf. He was a friend. Niko prowled the house, found Ardolf's room by pure virtue of the fact that there were so many emotions and thought whirling about in it.
He knocked and opened the door. He stepped inside and closed the door.
"What's going on, Ardolf. Who's Peanut? Name sounds familiar, but I don't think I've ever met him. And what are you blind to? I guess I just don't know the whole story here. Why are you so freaked out?"
Nikolai rummaged in his duster pockets again and found note pad and pen. He always did this when he needed to record possibly vital information. He found a set of clean sheets and readied.
"From the top. Start at the beginning. With Greek."
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