Dragonball M, Chapter 2: Lighthouse! Across the Shores of Shattered Time!

[Tami]

She breaks through the blasts, unharmed, and kicks Meagan across the face, sending her flying in a cork screw like manner.

As soon as she was struck, Meagan knew she was in danger of a ring-out. Fighting through the pain to stay conscious, she summoned her Ki and used it to push herself downward. Landing hard on the arena floor, mere inches from the edge, she bought herself time the best way she knew how, by going invisible and pushing herself up off the floor and moving quickly into a better position clsoer the center of the arena.

[Cthulhu_of_R'lyeh]

The situation had certainly grown more dire as time had been whittled away with a chainsaw. It was only a matter of time before the Doctor sent another of his lackeys to confront them and to kill Jinzi to stop him from undoing all he had worked toward.

As desperate as he was, there was no option that was off-limits.

"Our hands are tied until the others return from the tournament," she replied. "Even after that, we still have... two or three more timelines to straighten out before we can even consider making an action against the Doctor."

She wondered, then, what there was for them to do in the meantime besides wait. It served no purpose and only wasted valuable seconds.

"So, what do we do in the interim?"

Ishtar was silent a moment as she considered the possible avenues available to them now.

Tracking down the Doctor and confronting him now was certainly one. There were likely enough breadcrumbs to follow now that his 'children' -- for lack of a better term were relegated to varying states of dismemberment -- surely enough of the man's influence would remain to fashion a serviceable pathway back to him. As was shoring up defenses so that they might weather the Doctor's assault long enough to complete the original task.

Given what had just happened, however ... this seemed a poor choice; with Parsley's point serving to close any of the more proactive, options.

Ishtar sighed.

"It seems we do not have much of a choice, but to wait on the others." She finally responded, the frustration in her voice evident. "At the least though ... healing the injured, waiting for Etrina to wake up; and speaking with Ochazuke are perhaps the first things we should do."

It seemed most of the fighters were healed however, when Ishtar bothered to look, which left the latter two. Of which the first was nothing more than more waiting ... leaving the latter.

The Oni sighed, again.

"So ... speaking with Ochazuke. I believe he brought a corpse for me to look at."

[grampagen]

The smallest channel which carried the Doctor's voice. It should have been impossible without his chaff. That gated probability, upon which the smallest ripples shook silently announced something just below the surface. Insignificant. Subtle.

No less real.

When his spirit mingled with that sublime force, following its course there his sense-awareness crept into the small rift.

What is this?

Nothing could have prepared him for what he found there.

His mind flies away. Far out, into space, Ochazuke’s mind flies down the thread that connects Koolard to the Doctor. Space and time bend as the connection goes far deeper into space, into a place long forgotten. Ochazuke sees ancient factories of the First Race and an asteroid field protecting it and the ancient ship yards therein.

The Doctor does not know he has traced this connection.

The pursuit of truth, far from a single, simplistic reveal, was a matter of measured expectations. So often there had never been a single answer produced from such discovery that was to his satisfaction.

Histories remained shrouded, purpose and spirit concealed by changing times. What great passions and miseries filled the hearts of people were rendered, waned, and faced, ever in flux, ever subject to Time's cruel forward march. Where this man who professed to become its master - become its slayer - with his fingers pulling the course of things into countless divergent fragments, one might expect the means of his reach to be an endless cradle of invention.

Connected by that thin sensuous tether, Ochazuke was drawn from an awareness in his prescence to a complete disconnection from his bearing. What linked him to the Doctor's location was a metaphysical keyhole; and what he saw behind it pulled at his soul and twist. Hurtling directionless, there in the distance, ebbing silently were titanic fortresses of cold steel.

Just like Wilhelm's archive, by now he would recognize these jutting towers anywhere. The piercing spires of the First Race. The dire armada that fell over Capital City less than a week ago and split into the chaff loomed silently between jagged space rock, suspended about a glowing, otherworldly engine.

There will be no matter to the truth without the composure to bear it. The seemingly eternal expanse of slowly expanding metal glowing with an unknown energy filled him with a chill where he beheld it.

The shape of the stars slowly seared into his mind. Here on this edge of a divergent space so alien, his thoughts and heart stilled as the permeating presence of this horrid vision resonated across the psionic link.

“Not at all. That’s why I’ve been buying time.”

Koolard’s face goes slack and then the remains explode in a massive fireball meant to engulf Parsley and Totoma in the exploding cyborg’s near limitless energy heart.

The distant cold there set him staring solitarily into the darkness was interrupted by a burning white. A flash rose with an awful burning.

When Ochazuke came to, he found he'd reflexively raised his guard, still suspended there in the air. Cold sweat coursed down heavy, shaking limbs, and when he opened his eyes, a long shadow stretched over that section of the forest.

In hindsight, Parsley should have seen it coming. He was being far too forthcoming about his master plan; too much so if he planned on letting them go. And why would he let them go; they were, after all, much stronger than he anticipated, and critical to foiling his intentions.

The explosion was massive and powerful. Just from a casual initial scan, she wasn't sure if she was going to survive or not.

No, she could, but the others wouldn't. Dash definitely, being as close to the epicenter as she was. In fact, she was the closest.

Damn it.

No more time to waste. Every action had to lead directly and fluidly into another. Any wasted motion was going to waste what precious seconds she had left.

Parsley dashed toward Dash and pushed her. With every ounce of her Super Saiyan strength, she shoved her through the woods and away from the explosion. Her movements placed her directly in front of Totoma. Her aura flared, a bright golden fire fighting against the overwhelming white of Koolard's and the Doctor's final act of desperation. That flame shimmered with a white glow that tinge its outer edge.

The reflective properties of her Ultra Reflection technique wrapped themselves around her, extending as far as aura could to protect both herself and Totoma and push the explosion back on itself. With hope, she was in time and they would both escape without injury. If not, well, at least they would still get a zenkai.

Parsley had reacted faster than him, getting dash out of the way in a rough, but effective, manner. If the moment hadn't been so short-lived and dangerous, he would have praised her heroic instinct--and likely drawn the saiyaness' ire in the process. But he didn't have the time. As strong as Parsley was, she may not be able to take the brunt of things alone, and to be honest, he didn't like being protected when he could do something.

In a split second, Totoma advanced, placing himself next to Parsley, raising his hands and adding to the defense with his Razorback technique, its emerald glow melding with the golden-white glow of Parsley's own energy field.

A more mundane light from the Doctor's spiteful parting. But before two Super Saiyans, he had left them with a final challenge.

You see this as a test of your resolve, this life a trial for you alone.

In tandem, the shield rose, and their two mightiest bore the detonation upon their backs a shattered heart of unlimited energy. When the last of the weapon's energies subsided, it was they who remained. Dare they test the Doctor's resolve?

Ask yourself. You should know better than to test ours.

His right hand remained numb from the expenditure of the Genki Dama; warmth returned to it slowly when he curled the fingers into a fist. With much work to be done, with a haggard grunt Ochazuke turned about-face on a return flight to the Lookout.

[bruceleegreyhulk]

"Alright, Althena?" Blizzar whispered, his voice shaky slightly due to whatever effect Incenio placed upon him. "Enough for now...I need you to do two more favors....alert Held that I am nearby....and use your clairvoyance," he commented, wincing at the term. "This Incenio wishes to take many lives...so I need you to show him the joy of life being created. Give him a firsthand account of the Todian reproductive and birth cycle from your perspective. Can you do this?"

" Held, Blizzar is near by ," Althena said. Althena uses her Clairvoyance to show Incenio a scene of her and a much smaller Toadian who is a male laying on top of her. The scene in question is quite boring.

The male in the scene that Althena is showing to Incenio just seems to lay there on Althena for what seems to be like hours . When he finally gets off Althena is shown in the scene shoot out dozens and dozens of eggs from her backside. Which the male is shown collecting in a skin pouch on his back.

After this other scene is show of the male Toadian incubating the eggs and Althena watching as they hatch. Althena in the scene is shown looking at her offspring who are just Toadlings that haven't yet mature into Toadians. She is shown doing things with the male Toadian and looking after her children as they develop inside the male Toadian's skin pouch.


The Male Toadian in the scene is shown giving his and Althena's offspring nutrients. The development process is slow, and bunch of scenes flash by to show that it takes nine months for Althena's offspring to undergo a metamorphosis into Toadians. The metamorphosis that happens in the next scene is something spectacular.

It is sight to behold. Akin to that of a caterpillar morphing into a butterfly. Another scene is shown off Althena comfort her children and telling them stories. As she comforts them Althena's skin turns yellow indicating the joy she has in being with her children.

The next scenes show Althena doing your basic motherly stuff and being a good mother to her children. She is even shown in one scene singing her children a lullaby. Althena shows Incenio one last scene from her memories .

It is a scene of Althena going form Toadian residence to Toadian residence giving gifts. In the scene Althena is wearing a very bright red and white outfit , and is carrying a huge sack filled with gifts. Toadian children are shown in the scene with bright yellow colors indicting that they are overjoy at seeing Althena who they call the Great Santa Morana.

[Sub-Zero MKA]

Totoma gave them his usual two finger salute-wave as he stood up. "Yep. Bet you two can't wait to tell everyone on Vocado what happened her... what with the super saiyans running around." Knowing these two, they'd taken the chance to snap some pictures that would no doubt be spread around reaaally quickly. "Anyway, I've been thinking..."

He paused for a moment. "You two still fight criminals in the meat market, right? That's a good thing, but a lot of the crimes there committed out of sheer desperation... I was thinking that, maybe, revitalizing the area might be an even better way to fight crime! Ya know... jobs... better housing... things like that. Might be a good project for someone with enough business sense..." Pinach's blossoming business savvy hadn't gone unnoticed by the Just Saiyan--not just any kid could have managed to market the Just Saiyan to the various saiyan worlds so effectively. And as he recalled, the boy had recently purchased an amusement park here on Earth...

Heh.

Totoma was about to continue when Seri wandered up. "Um, I heard your mom was going to take everyone to Vocado? My mom and dad are there, so... can I go along too?"

"Well, of course, I'm sure mo--er, Tasure would be more than willing. Right?"

"Hm," replied his mother from nearby.

"Er, yes, well, there you have it... but you should go say good-bye to the friends you've made here. It's only just." Mostly that... space-elf girl with the huge, er, muffins and... Parsley, maybe. The girl, Seri, seemed to have some measure of admiration for the prodigy.

Seri nodded. "Okay! I'll be right back!" And with that, she left to go find... everyone she wanted to say goodbye to that was actually here--mostly Nevanlinna and Parsley.

"Now then... I hope you'll be able to help that girl find her parents. Can I count on you for that?"

Pinach thought hard over what Just Saiyan proposed to him. In all the years they had been kicking butt and keeping crime off the streets of the Meat Market, it never occurred to them that the true solution was to tear it all down and build from the ground up, so to speak. It made sense; the people there were desperate. Desperation drove even the most honest man to the most heinous of actions.

The way to save the Meat Market was to rebuild it and make it even better. But, beyond just making new buildings, they had to make new jobs for the people there. And schools so the kids there could get their education. If it was to survive and not just fall back into the old ways, the future generations needed to be better educated.

After thinking it over, Pinach nodded. "That's a great idea, Just Saiyan! When we get home, we can talk to Maiz about it so she can talk to Sarada and the rest of the council."

When Seri showed up, it turned out she was going with them, and that her parents were on Vocado too! He knew that her parents had been killed during a Tuffle invasion of her homeworld, but since everyone killed by the Tuffles was resurrected and sent to Vocado, that was where her parents were.

It was up to him and Rutaba to help find them. A righteous mission for two heroes. "You can count on us, Just Saiyan!"

"We'll find her parents in no time!" Rutaba added.

[Sub-Zero MKA]

Ishtar was silent a moment as she considered the possible avenues available to them now.

Tracking down the Doctor and confronting him now was certainly one. There were likely enough breadcrumbs to follow now that his 'children' -- for lack of a better term were relegated to varying states of dismemberment -- surely enough of the man's influence would remain to fashion a serviceable pathway back to him. As was shoring up defenses so that they might weather the Doctor's assault long enough to complete the original task.

Given what had just happened, however ... this seemed a poor choice; with Parsley's point serving to close any of the more proactive, options.

Ishtar sighed.

"It seems we do not have much of a choice, but to wait on the others." She finally responded, the frustration in her voice evident. "At the least though ... healing the injured, waiting for Etrina to wake up; and speaking with Ochazuke are perhaps the first things we should do."

It seemed most of the fighters were healed however, when Ishtar bothered to look, which left the latter two. Of which the first was nothing more than more waiting ... leaving the latter.

The Oni sighed, again.

"So ... speaking with Ochazuke. I believe he brought a corpse for me to look at."

Frustration was evident, and understandable, when the Oni gave her response. They had no choice but to wait until Sarada and the others returned from the tournament. In the meantime, all they could do was come to one accord as to the facts of their present situation, and formulate something resembling a plan using those facts.

"I would like to examine the body, as well, when he returns with it." She could, perhaps, learn something interesting about it. Also, she was hungry.

[grampagen]

The air grew chill as it blew past him, and it seemed to thin as Ochazuke climbed in altitude. Quick, steaming breaths stung his throat where he drew them hastily through his clenched teeth.

Now that the chaff had cleared, the many who were stranded would have a way back home. Drawn in to face the first invading force, perhaps they were compelled to fight, to seek a challenge.

But now, even though the spaces between probabilities had cleared and the blind path of the Doctor's ambitions had dimmed, rather than relief, he only felt his pulse quicken.

His flight fell silent as he felt the air split before him. His figure disappeared into the clouds and with a tearing burst of noise, thunder seemed to split through and part them as he moved hastily to the Lookout.

Ishtar was silent a moment as she considered the possible avenues available to them now.

Tracking down the Doctor and confronting him now was certainly one. There were likely enough breadcrumbs to follow now that his 'children' -- for lack of a better term were relegated to varying states of dismemberment -- surely enough of the man's influence would remain to fashion a serviceable pathway back to him. As was shoring up defenses so that they might weather the Doctor's assault long enough to complete the original task.

Given what had just happened, however ... this seemed a poor choice; with Parsley's point serving to close any of the more proactive, options.

Ishtar sighed.

"It seems we do not have much of a choice, but to wait on the others." She finally responded, the frustration in her voice evident. "At the least though ... healing the injured, waiting for Etrina to wake up; and speaking with Ochazuke are perhaps the first things we should do."

It seemed most of the fighters were healed however, when Ishtar bothered to look, which left the latter two. Of which the first was nothing more than more waiting ... leaving the latter.

The Oni sighed, again.

"So ... speaking with Ochazuke. I believe he brought a corpse for me to look at."

No sooner than Ishtar had spoken did he set foot upon the split surface of the Guardian's watchtower. With hurried steps he joined the assembly wordlessly, tearing his cloak from his shoulders.

"The Chaff is hardly his sole means of passage." The obelisks of black steel pierced against the edges of his memory as they did this reality not a week ago. He cast a glance at the Namekian wizard Pike and the Alternate Zaofan as he approached. "And now that he knows why his people have not returned, he'll be watching closer..."

He set his cloak upon a clearing; Glacia's black blood stained a withered corner of the tattered fabric where he laid it down. A capsule rest his shuddering hand.

"A single moment provides any number of divergences. He wears at our strength, assured that he has nothing to do but wait just a bit longer to replenish his forces."

Casting the Capsule before him, the grisly contents were revealed. Glacia's remains, the ring ebbing still upon the twisted remains of her finger, and the excised heart from the corpse of his living weapon.

"And all he'll do is continue to take, to steal more lives to suit his purpose."

Without a further word, he cast his view on this ruined thing. Staring once more into the stilled, glassy eyes, he examined it further, tracing any figments of the energy that surrounded the Doctor through his brief proxy manifestation.

[MrSandman]

Ishtar was silent a moment as she considered the possible avenues available to them now.

Tracking down the Doctor and confronting him now was certainly one. There were likely enough breadcrumbs to follow now that his 'children' -- for lack of a better term were relegated to varying states of dismemberment -- surely enough of the man's influence would remain to fashion a serviceable pathway back to him. As was shoring up defenses so that they might weather the Doctor's assault long enough to complete the original task.

Given what had just happened, however ... this seemed a poor choice; with Parsley's point serving to close any of the more proactive, options.

Ishtar sighed.

"It seems we do not have much of a choice, but to wait on the others." She finally responded, the frustration in her voice evident. "At the least though ... healing the injured, waiting for Etrina to wake up; and speaking with Ochazuke are perhaps the first things we should do."

It seemed most of the fighters were healed however, when Ishtar bothered to look, which left the latter two. Of which the first was nothing more than more waiting ... leaving the latter.

The Oni sighed, again.

"So ... speaking with Ochazuke. I believe he brought a corpse for me to look at."

Track: Urth's Fount

Fingers crack into the cold stone floor of the lookout, and with the slow steady increase in power to accompany it comes a low guttural growl.

Behind Ishtar, Etrina was pushing herself up off the ground. Though dased and confused, negative energy was already beginning to radiate off her. "Whe....Where......"

Etrina blinked, looking around, her face growing into a scowl. "....Where....is she.....that bitch......Damn it....and that monster.....I've got to kill her.....I've got to kill it......rrrhhhgg....."

[Sub-Zero MKA]

Track: Urth's Fount

Fingers crack into the cold stone floor of the lookout, and with the slow steady increase in power to accompany it comes a low guttural growl.

Behind Ishtar, Etrina was pushing herself up off the ground. Though dased and confused, negative energy was already beginning to radiate off her. "Whe....Where......"

Etrina blinked, looking around, her face growing into a scowl. "....Where....is she.....that bitch......Damn it....and that monster.....I've got to kill her.....I've got to kill it......rrrhhhgg....."

A burst of negative energy attracted Parsley's attention away from the steadily approaching Ochazuke.

A guttural growl followed the sound of fingernails carving into the tiled floor of the Lookout plaza. She turned and looked, and beheld some... strange looking creature. That no one was alarmed by its presence seemed to lend itself to it being a familiar ally.

The voice that came from its mouth proved it.

Etrina? What did she do to herself? This form was odd, but powerful. Was it magical, like much of Etrina's power? Or was it perhaps related to that... state she found herself in days ago? Whatever the cause, she seemed to be on the brink of losing her composure.

"She's already dead," she stated plainly. "You missed her death."

No sooner than Ishtar had spoken did he set foot upon the split surface of the Guardian's watchtower. With hurried steps he joined the assembly wordlessly, tearing his cloak from his shoulders.

"The Chaff is hardly his sole means of passage." The obelisks of black steel pierced against the edges of his memory as they did this reality not a week ago. He cast a glance at the Namekian wizard Pike and the Alternate Zaofan as he approached. "And now that he knows why his people have not returned, he'll be watching closer..."

He set his cloak upon a clearing; Glacia's black blood stained a withered corner of the tattered fabric where he laid it down. A capsule rest his shuddering hand.

"A single moment provides any number of divergences. He wears at our strength, assured that he has nothing to do but wait just a bit longer to replenish his forces."

Casting the Capsule before him, the grisly contents were revealed. Glacia's remains, the ring ebbing still upon the twisted remains of her finger, and the excised heart from the corpse of his living weapon.

"And all he'll do is continue to take, to steal more lives to suit his purpose."

Without a further word, he cast his view on this ruined thing. Staring once more into the stilled, glassy eyes, he examined it further, tracing any figments of the energy that surrounded the Doctor through his brief proxy manifestation.

At last, the man arrived with Ishtar desired quarry - and Parsley's lunch - in tow. She took a step forward to examine the creature more closely, Observational Focus analyzing its make up. It was obviously Arcosian, or at least partly so.

"What a curiously disgusting creature," she commented. "Being Frost Demon is bad enough, but there seems to be more to her than that. Or rather, there was." This was further disconcerting evidence of what the Doctor was capable of. "The creature I and those with me fought in Capital City was an amalgamation of Saiyan, Promethean, and some sort of wolf creature. I suspect this thing is a similar confection, which means the Doctor is capable of merging genetics to create all new beings. All the strengths, none of the weaknesses. Add in cybernetics to sure it up."

It was an almost perfect process. Fortunately, he was unable to watch the battle from afar, so he couldn't learn from his creatures' shortcomings and failures. Still, there was no telling what or who he had waiting in the shadows, and what he could concoct in the near future.

[KingofPie]

"Ah...finally made it..." Sasheem panted as he arrived at the lookout, his body reforming itself still from his splattering against the chaff...which was now gone. You're welcome aliens. Not that the ungrateful jabronis would thank him, anyway.

The Majin slapped the right side of his head, forcing his eye to pop in correctly. ...Left arm was looking a little...flattened, however. An easy fix. He bit his thumb, breathing into it not unlike simeone blowing up a baloon. His left arm slowly began to inflate and pop back into the 3D plane, so to speak.

In the midst of this reformation, he felt it once more. That malevolent energy...the other Majin! He had forgotten about it when they were dealing with that stupid yeti, but now was the perfect time to find it. The source wasn't far. Still on the Lookout...all he had to do was turn the corner and...

Track: Urth's Fount

Fingers crack into the cold stone floor of the lookout, and with the slow steady increase in power to accompany it comes a low guttural growl.

Behind Ishtar, Etrina was pushing herself up off the ground. Though dased and confused, negative energy was already beginning to radiate off her. "Whe....Where......"

Etrina blinked, looking around, her face growing into a scowl. "....Where....is she.....that bitch......Damn it....and that monster.....I've got to kill her.....I've got to kill it......rrrhhhgg....."

...

Well now. This wasn't what Sasheem expected. A surprise he couldn't make heads or tails of. Etrina...that insufferably snide spellslinger was the Majin? Ignoring the equally insufferable jabrOni nearby, he began to investigate just what he wa looking at here.

Sasheem rose a brow and observed the mage. She certainly seemed...murderous enough. It was enough to make the Majin laugh out loud. Perhaps someone finally understood. That neverending instinctual desire to tear everything apart...unless it was some form of alluring cuisine. He never thought it'd be her.

His eyes narrowed. There! On her foreheard, there it was...the mark of the Majin. That distinctive M that had indicated someone as one of their own. Truth be told, Sasheem had virtually no idea what it meant, only that it appeared on his belt no matter what. Perhaps on finding out how Etrina tapped into this power would lead him into finding out more about the Majin...and potentially lead to more power for himself.

Sasheem began to poke Etrina in the shoulder with a stick. If she tried anything stupid in response to his provocation...well he was sure could figure out some way to protect himself, even in his weakened state.

[Cthulhu_of_R'lyeh]

Frustration was evident, and understandable, when the Oni gave her response. They had no choice but to wait until Sarada and the others returned from the tournament. In the meantime, all they could do was come to one accord as to the facts of their present situation, and formulate something resembling a plan using those facts.

"I would like to examine the body, as well, when he returns with it." She could, perhaps, learn something interesting about it. Also, she was hungry.

Ishtar offered Parsley a nod, though felt there was nothing to add besides it.

Parsley had an eye for appraisal that was reminiscent of Ochazuke's own; she had no issues allowing the Princess to turn it toward the corpse when it appeared.

No sooner than Ishtar had spoken did he set foot upon the split surface of the Guardian's watchtower. With hurried steps he joined the assembly wordlessly, tearing his cloak from his shoulders.

"The Chaff is hardly his sole means of passage." The obelisks of black steel pierced against the edges of his memory as they did this reality not a week ago. He cast a glance at the Namekian wizard Pike and the Alternate Zaofan as he approached. "And now that he knows why his people have not returned, he'll be watching closer..."

He set his cloak upon a clearing; Glacia's black blood stained a withered corner of the tattered fabric where he laid it down. A capsule rest his shuddering hand.

"A single moment provides any number of divergences. He wears at our strength, assured that he has nothing to do but wait just a bit longer to replenish his forces."

Casting the Capsule before him, the grisly contents were revealed. Glacia's remains, the ring ebbing still upon the twisted remains of her finger, and the excised heart from the corpse of his living weapon.

"And all he'll do is continue to take, to steal more lives to suit his purpose."

Without a further word, he cast his view on this ruined thing. Staring once more into the stilled, glassy eyes, he examined it further, tracing any figments of the energy that surrounded the Doctor through his brief proxy manifestation.

And no sooner had she begun wondering, did Ochazuke arrive and offer that which was sought after. Though when the man offered his words, as well, there was no denying that he'd found something.

To which Ishtar offered another nod.

"I am sure he suspected, which is why he sent his ... children. Though there is certainly no denying what we are after, in the moment. Which is what what little time we have left must be made well use of." And when the corpse of Glacia was revealed, battered, broken, and oh so bloody; the Oni's own golden eyes fixed upon the heart that had been bound in time runes ... and for a moment those gathered around might've seen the faintest flicker of elation.

"I thank you, for this." The Oni muttered, before kneeling, hands reaching out to place her palms upon the corpse ... and for a moment her thoughts returned to Ilargi; where five-thousand years prior she had served as a Priestess, and Embalmer:

... after the body had been washed, the Oni begun the arduous process.

After cutting a small in the woman's side -- the left or right mattered little -- whereupon the organs were removed and set aside, the only organ remaining being the heart ... as it was the core of a person; and would be needed upon entering the next life. A notion that Ishtar herself found queer, given her understanding ... and yet it was a rite she honored all the same.

Only after the brain was removed with a long hooked device and cast aside -- for it was not the brain, but the heart that mattered in the next life -- did the next step begin ... the organs, and corpse itself packed tightly with a salt mixture, whereupon it was left to desiccate ... and only after this task was accomplished, would the Oni return for the to finish.

"How curious ..."

The memory cut off by the words, Ishtar slipped her hand within the corpse, and a moment later the heart was pulled from the chest cavity.

Bringing it to her face then, the golden-eyed Oni stared down at the organ a moment, before she spoke for the benefit of the others.

"The Doctor was clever. The heart was bound runes that only one who manipulated time itself could manage ... a list short enough as to number no more than a handful. Who was it, I wonder ? An alternate self or one known to me ?"

An answer she would hopefully find, in short order.

Track: Urth's Fount

Fingers crack into the cold stone floor of the lookout, and with the slow steady increase in power to accompany it comes a low guttural growl.

Behind Ishtar, Etrina was pushing herself up off the ground. Though dased and confused, negative energy was already beginning to radiate off her. "Whe....Where......"

Etrina blinked, looking around, her face growing into a scowl. "....Where....is she.....that bitch......Damn it....and that monster.....I've got to kill her.....I've got to kill it......rrrhhhgg....."

A sound at her back however, disrupted the Oni's focus ... and the taste on her tounge as magic began to permeate the immediate area; was one she had been expecting sooner.

"Etrina," Ishtar stated, firmly.

"There is no threat left. Erosa lives, and her would be assassin lies cut open on a slab before us." One would hope the words might be enough; yet as far gone as the girl had been during the fight, and the way her breath came ragged and almost ... hungry. There was unlikely to be a pleasant resolution.

Especially not after Hastur had offered its 'blessing'.

All the same however, the Oni tried words before she offered a fist.

"Come, Etrina. There is much to discuss, and a ring I feel; with your name on it."

[bruceleegreyhulk]

A small adorable robot approaches Ochazuke , " Hello there I am Mr. Gazakai. I'm here to ask you the one know as Ochazuke on the behave of my creator Qaztoh . If you be so kind as to give me the remains of the one know as Glacia? My creator Qaztoh wants to study them," Mr. Gazkai said as he points at Glacia's remains.

[MrSandman]

"She's already dead," she stated plainly. "You missed her death."

".....after what she did...she was mine..........I can't even avenge her properly............" Etrina turned her eye to the speaker, view focusing until she realized whom was speaking to her and contempt poured from every fiber of her being. ".....You......Hah.......Hahaha.......Come to look down on me now too......I'm not someone to be looked down at....I'm....I'm...."

*Poke*

"I'm Etrina..."

*Poke*

"...S....Stol...."

*Poke Poke Poke*

Sasheem began to poke Etrina in the shoulder with a stick. If she tried anything stupid in response to his provocation...well he was sure could figure out some way to protect himself, even in his weakened state.

*Poke Poke*

".........GGAHHH!!"

In that moment, as Sasheems stick managed to jab itself in a particularly sensitive place.....Etrinas Rage Broke.

Tapping into Speed and Strength far beyond her human form, the Mage spun....all 4 of her Foci flanking her sides immediately at a mental command, and proceeded to brutally pummel the majin into the lookout floor with with fists while her foci did the same by repeatedly bodyslaming into him.

A small adorable robot approaches Ochazuke , " Hello there I am Mr. Gazakai. I'm here to ask you the one know as Ochazuke on the behave of my creator Qaztoh . If you be so kind as to give me the remains of the one know as Glacia? My creator Qaztoh wants to study them," Mr. Gazkai said as he points at Glacia remains.

Etrinas ears perk and she stops beating a dead horse long enough to crack her neck turning her head back towards the little robot, eyes bloodshot.

".....what you say......"

Etrina walked over, pulled back her leg and kicked the little robot like a football....launching him clear off the lookout.

"BITCH SHE IS MINE, DEAD OR ALIVE!"

[KingofPie]

".....after what she did...she was mine..........I can't even avenge her properly............" Etrina turned her eye to the speaker, view focusing until she realized whom was speaking to her and contempt poured from every fiber of her being. ".....You......Hah.......Hahaha.......Come to look down on me now too......I'm not someone to be looked down at....I'm....I'm...."

*Poke*

"I'm Etrina..."

*Poke*

"...S....Stol...."

*Poke Poke Poke*



*Poke Poke*

".........GGAHHH!!"

In that moment, as Sasheems stick managed to jab itself in a particularly sensitive place.....Etrinas Rage Broke.

"Uh, heh, whoops," Sasheem shrugged. "But, now that Sasheem has your attention, maybe you can...Hey, what's with that stupid look on your fa-"

Tapping into Speed and Strength far beyond her human form, the Mage spun....all 4 of her Foci flanking her sides immediately at a mental command, and proceeded to brutally pummel the majin into the lookout floor with with fists while her foci did the same by repeatedly bodyslaming into him.

"-AGRGAHaglAgHholduppwaiIiiitjusthrhaAHHHHHH!!!!!!"

[bruceleegreyhulk]

".....after what she did...she was mine..........I can't even avenge her properly............" Etrina turned her eye to the speaker, view focusing until she realized whom was speaking to her and contempt poured from every fiber of her being. ".....You......Hah.......Hahaha.......Come to look down on me now too......I'm not someone to be looked down at....I'm....I'm...."

*Poke*

"I'm Etrina..."

*Poke*

"...S....Stol...."

*Poke Poke Poke*



*Poke Poke*

".........GGAHHH!!"

In that moment, as Sasheems stick managed to jab itself in a particularly sensitive place.....Etrinas Rage Broke.

Tapping into Speed and Strength far beyond her human form, the Mage spun....all 4 of her Foci flanking her sides immediately at a mental command, and proceeded to brutally pummel the majin into the lookout floor with with fists while her foci did the same by repeatedly bodyslaming into him.





Etrinas ears perk and she stops beating a dead horse long enough to crack her neck turning her head back towards the little robot, eyes bloodshot.

".....what you say......"

Etrina walked over, pulled back her leg and kicked the little robot like a football....launching him clear off the lookout.

"BITCH SHE IS MINE, DEAD OR ALIVE!"

Mr. Gazakai flies back to the Lookout , " Sorry but your behavior is illogical. I Mr. Gazkai I'm only here to help. So Mr. Gazaki wants to know why are you so interesting In the remains of the one know as Glacia? Are you perhaps a researcher who wants to do research on the one know as Glacia's remains ?" Mr. Gazkai said.