Joan thought quietly for a moment after Reiko and Cisne had made comment on her heighten senses. They were right, Joan could hear something that would usually be unnoticeable, and noticed something that was hardly there to be noticed. What more she remembered being severely injured, or at least hurting as if she was. Yet now here she sat with her two friends who, while not as injured, were still worse off then she was. It didn’t make any sense after the reckless way she had fought, while both Reiko and Cisne had done well to keep their cool during the conflict. Cornelius’ sudden comments broke Joan from her train of thought, however, and Cisne’s next comment did so further. Joan did feel the slight change in temperature, and looked out the window to notice what looked like bits of snow be carried on the wind. She stood and walked over to the balcony window and opened the sliding door to take a look. Joan wish she hadn’t as a horrible smell like sulfur and smoke flooded her nose causing her to grab her nose and mouth before walking further out. Joan looked east but saw nothing, then looked to her right toward the west where she saw the horrid sight; flames rising up a tower near the center of the city, and what looked like lava spitting from some of the windows.
Joan rushed back in, not bothering to close the door in her hurried panic. She turned on the TV and checked as most of the local news channels were showing the bizarre fire. One of channel she saw it; a monster enwrapped in the flames of the building. Cornelius watched as well and did not bear his normal smile, but rather a look of concentrated intrigue. When a smile did finally cross his face it was a rather wicked one as the green memory memory appeared in his hand. He looked forward at a bit of exposed flesh on Joan’s lower back and was tempted to test the device on Joan, but the phantasm quickly quelled his curiosity and vanished back into the watch, realizing such a test might not be wise. Joan spoke now concerned as she bit her thumb nail, not sure what to do. “I’ve use a lot of my TicTocs against Arik earlier, and neither of you girls are in top conditions. Not that any of our powers would be of much use against that thing. Even so…we should go try to help get people to safety and see if there is a way to fight back against that thing.” It was only as Joan said this that one of the camera men who was retreating accidently caught a glimpse of a man watching from a building near by. The shot was only about a second long, but either Cisne or Reiko, if not both, would see the figure of a man in a blue coat with white hair watching the inferno from a building top.
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The locust undead was enraged from the multiple explosions it had just endured, but was terrified as it looked up to see Sakaki, bow in hand. The arrow like blasts pierced straight through The locust who reached for the impact points as if to ensure they were really their. It then let out one last cry as fire and smoke erupted from its body in an unnatural explosion. As the smoke clear the creature lay on it’s back surrounded by small, fiery debris and was covered in its own, green blood. Its belt then popped open to reveal a symbol that was much like a number five. Ebony appeared beside Sakaki, having walked up as the creature fell and tapped the side of Sakaki’s belt where a small card holder was attached. Yes again, as if by instinct, Sakaki knew what was inside the contained, and knew what to do. The locust made one last attempt to beg for its freedom, but its words did not form, and it could not move.
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The magma dopant emerged from the burning tower as lava trailed behind it from each step. It looked around at the people as they stared on in horror and fear. He could feel his power growing, he could feel his hatred rising as he looked at each and every one of their faces. How many had laughed at him, how many had just shrugged him off as a failure, and how many contributed to his pain with their indifference!? The dopant could only see red as it marched forward intent to attack anyone he got near. The police appeared now, as did the fire fighters. They tried with their bullets and their water, both of which only slowed down the efreet as it marched forward wanting to burn and melt, and consume more. Any left near by or watching over the many news broadcasts who weren’t frightened or panicked before found themselves as such when the dopant grabbed a police car and started to melt it with the heat coming from it’s being. When the police began to run, so did anyone left still watching in awe or disbelief. The dopant let out a gurgled laugh and marched forward again as flames began to rise from his form.
Xeph watched from not far away, he was intrigued by the monster he had helped to create and wondered if this mind altering effect would occur on any who used the memory unprotected. Truly this creature was powerful, but would good would this power do for Xeph or those who relied a sound mind or intellect. Perhaps the drivers were the answer, but they were designed only for the most refined memories, and the mass produced versions he had in his possession would be very much incompatible. Xeph knew then what he would his next step would be, and hoped he would find sufficient supplies in castle doran to accomplish his nest set goal. “Gaia Driver…it should not be a chore to create.”
