Agent Orange

[Oya]

"Smoke", spoke Oya as he smelled the odor seeping into the room. Great, not only were they incompetent enough not to realize who Oya was, but they were also stupid enough to start a fire inside of their building. Oya prayed that their was at least one smart person in the station with the brains to put the fire out.

"Fire", shouted one of the men as the guards in the station began to scramble to look for it. The gaurdsmen with the key looked on with confusion as he wondered weather or not to let the prisoners out. If it was a fire that could not be contained the prisioners could end up being burned alive if he did not let them out. However if he let them out and the fire could be contained he would have just let out criminals without a good reason. Their could even be a chance that he could be punished for it. Normally one would just simply go with the idea of simply keeping the prisoners inside. No skin off their bones. However a man with a conscious would not sleep well with their deaths on his head. Many of the people inside the cells were not their for murder or robbery. Many prisoners were their for petty thief and owing debts they could not pay off. Letting a man burn alive for simply being poor or drunk did not sit well with the guard.

"What do I do", spoke the man as he stared their torn by the two decisions. The mass of prisoners started screaming to the man to let them go and to open their cells. Their screams weighted heavy on the man's conscious, but also pushed him into a corner. He did not want to let all of them go.

"First aces the situation", spoke Oya. His words stood out like a light in the darkness as his voice was calm and his demeanor radiated that of a man in charge. "First aces the situation", spoke Oya again when he knew he had the man's full attention. "Determine weather on not if it is a fire, or simply smoke created for another reason. If it is a fire that is going out of control then come back here and let us out. If not simply keep us in our cells and deal with the problem", spoke the pirate. The man was surprise by Oya's calm tone and logical approach to it. Oya words convinced him and the man quickly moved to aces the situation and walked out the room.

"No", shouted many of the prisoners as they turned to Oya and began cursing. Oya however payed them no mind. The pirate had no intention of staying in his cell any longer and decided to use this moment to break out. As soon as the man walked out the door Oya got up from his bed and pulled the mattress and sheets from the frame. Using the wood as a lever he popped the henge on the cell and broke out.

"Now lets go find Xigshaw", spoke Oya to himself as he walked out the door and into the smoke.

[Mystigan]

Mystigan woke from his nap with the smell of smoke in his nostrils. He quickly bolted up and looked around for the guardsmen. None were visible as the smoke began to fill the station, but Mystigan could hear one saying "I must assess the situation..." as if he were trying to remember an order. The smoke was almost suffocating in the room he currently inhabited, but there was no heat of fire, nor light of flames... This wasn't a fire, but the smoke was just as deadly as flames over a period of time. Mystigan felt his way toward the door using his robe as a filtration device to keep as much smoke out of his lungs as he could, and managed to find a handle when a short red-tressed boy pushed through it saying something about "Xigshaw". Mystigan followed through the doorway and without smoke to obscure his vision the boy known as Agent Orange was plainly visible right in front of the acolyte who'd been hunting him.

What luck! He muttered in astonishment and drew out his spell tome. The boy seemed to be headed toward the harbor and the streets had been cleared due to the station seaping smoke. He had an easy target now. Mystigan walked toward the boy opening his spell book and raising his arm to draw out the light magic he needed and quickly sent one bolt of light directly for the lad's back. He didn't appear to be in any hurry and made the target an even easier one.

[Vincent]

"Stay here," the officer told Vincent as he went to check the source of the smoke. Vincent sat a moment but thought better of it and headed for the door. If the building is on fire he'd need to get outside and fast. Besides he couldn't feel at ease in there.

Opening the front entrance door he emerged into the sunlight. It blinded him a moment, the jail was surprisingly dark. He looked around for others but saw no one. Walking around the building he found it curious there was no fire.

Looking up he suddenly noticed a man on the roof. His blood ran cold in panic. Who was that? It was too difficult to tell from here. What if it's the man from earlier.

Wait he wasn't wanted by anyone. He got himself into this situation. It wasn't his place to get mixed up. But then another thought pulled him back. He can't abandon people. It wasn't right.

Taking a deep breath, his heart racing he began to scale the building hoping to go unnoticed and perhaps there would be no one on the roof after all. To his dismay, this wouldn't be the case.

[Oya]

"Alright come to papa", spoke Oya as he grabbed Xigshaw by its hilt. Lucky for him the guards did not have the time to properly store Xigshaw in their vault. Magic weapons were fickle and Xigshaw did not like the hands touching him. The axe denied the strength that it would usually grant and made the weapon extraordinary heavy. The guardsmen struggled to move it to the armory and by the time he reached it the smoke had began to pour into the building.

Now with Xigshaw back into his hand Oya could start to really think on this situation. It was strange. His boys should not have been here yet if, and if they saw his signal from earlier. Why the crap was there so much smoke in here. From the lack of heat he could tell it was not a big fire. That only meant that somebody uses something to do this. To what purpose he was not sure, but it was clear they wanted people out the building. It was probably somebody after someone's head. Thought he doubted it was his own. He was already in jail and there was no point in trying to kill a already captured man.

AS Oya prepared to walk through the door way outside he placed Xigshaw on his back. No reason to carry it like a weapon. The large axe already made him stand out. Holding it as if he was going to battle would only hurt him more. "Finally", spoke Oya as he pushed through the door and cleared through the smoke. A couple of guardsmen were outside looking at the building trying to find a fire. The civilians had cleared the street by order of the guards and night seemed to be rolling in. If there was a time to try and escape this was it. Oya moved out the door way and immediately took a right. He began to walk toward the harbor in a attempt to move away from the guard. Suddenly a great pain and a stinging sensation rippled across the pirates back.

"What the", spoke Oya as he stumbled. Oya had not realized it yet, but he was just shot by a bolt of light magic. The energy stung like heated sand, but the blow seemed to have been dampened. Xigshaw, Oya's trusty magic axe, had taken most of the blow itself. The massive weapon on his back served as a shield and kept him from taking full damage.

"Who dares", shouted Oya as he placed his hand on Xigshaw and turned around. He was sure that he was in the middle of a scene now, but at this point Oya did not care. He just simply wanted to smash in the skull of whoever just shot him with magic.

[Ryuzaki]

"...How foolish. You have come to challenge me? Then perhaps it is time I showed you fear... Fear, pain, anguish... I thrive on the pain of others. It nourishes me, young one. I suck in your hatred, your insecurities, your trepidation... And it fuels me. It makes me stronger.

Hah. We are similar, are we not? You are young, with the sword, and... You too bear the silver hair, the mark of potential. It is a shame it will be cut short."

Casting aside the guard's helmet, Ryu let his silver hair free, simultaneously shedding the rest of the unnecessary armor and kicking it aside.

Drawing Gemini, the thief bowed briefly and respectfully to the idiot child, then raised his blade and assumed a ready stance.

"We shall begin now. Give it your all... Or give in to me. You could go far as my protege, young silver. Very far... The choice is yours."

The thief's left hand held the sparkling blade Gemini. His right was extended.

"Kneel and take my hand. Become my apprentice. I will teach you the ways of the alleys, of the shadows, of the fog... I will teach you well, hone your skills... You will become a fine swordsman, young silver. Perhaps even finer than I. You only have to want to."

[Kyle]

Kyle was once again surprised by the stupidness of the people before him. He saw the man from earlier attack his mark right in the street. It might have worked if it had been an alleyway or anyplace but the streets where guards were starting to go to was just a horrible idea. Where else would guards and people trying to put out the fire go? And the two on the roof, could Near be more indiscreet? He was starting to attract the attention of the guards and what was he doing with that kid? Would he try to kill him too? Oh well, with all the guards here everyone was going to have trouble getting things done. Another mark ruined by Near.

[Vincent]

Vincent was terrified to realize he just challenged the assassin that had attacked them so openly. This was a tight spot. Would his journey end before it had even begun to pick up speed? What was he talking about their hair color for? Was it special or was this man a narcissist? In time a number of people would make comments to his hair color after all.

What was all this about fear and hate being sustenance? Vincent was growing more and more terrified that this man was insane and what he might do to him. It was scare tactics and flowery speech but it was effectively psyching Vincent out. The assassin drew a blade the likes Vincent would only see in this man's hands. It was impressive and terrifying. The blade was curved and good for chopping cleanly while the back was made to puncture and tear. Neither option was a pleasant thought.

He drew his iron sword feeling the weight bearing down on his wrist. It was relatively light but it was still awkward. Holding it two handed he raised the blade up and out toward the opponent. His 'stance' if one could call it as such left much to be desired. Become his protege? It was interesting. He came asking if he could be pointed to a master but here one was asking him. But he was an assassin.

"No! I won't do it!" Sealing his fate he thought, but if there is one thing he had yet to learn of fate it was that it has it's course and no matter how you fight it, it always prefers its natural order. The assassin's hand was stretched out to him invitingly. No, more like a lure. Vincent didn't dare trust it.

Vincent hesitated a moment before deciding to try and take the man off guard. He decided upon a very stupid course of action, he rushed in screaming choreographing his attack.

[Oya]

"Hey what is going on over there", shouted a guard as he brought attention to Mystigan and Oya's battle. The guards ware already on high alert with the smoking of the station. A battle outside of the station was not something Oya wanted to attempt. He was already wanted and giving them a reason to cut him down was not in his plans for the day. At the same time he did not want to be thrown in prison again. It was advantages at the beginning, but being separated from Xigshaw could prove to be troublesome later. Rather than deal with the situation Oya took option B. Using the power of hims magical smashing stick Oya increased the strength in his legs and jumped up onto the station.

"Thank whatever god you pray too", shouted Oya as he jumped from that building to the next. Oya was keen to get out of town, or at least stay out of the guard's hands till his boys came with reinforcements.

As Oya jumped from building to building a Ship came into port. The sails were black and the flag was marked with the crossing skulls. From its deck pirates swarmed the city. Their goal was to find Oya, pillage, and plunder. Leading the units was a sub commander Tomas who directed their efforts against the guards.

[Ryuzaki]

"No? Well. I don't often grant mercy, but I see potential in you. Perhaps we will meet again sometime, my young silver. Until then, I will leave you with a memory of me."

As the young swordsman charged, Ryuzaki's wrist turned, and without any other movement, he caught the young swordsman's blade and held it still, sword against sword.

"But why would you be so foolish as to rush straight on into your doom? You must analyze, my young silver. Analyze, and find the weaknesses your opponent wishes to mask. Then, you must exploit them. But you are young, and afraid... Your fear weakens you, doesn't it? You must overcome that for when we meet again."

With a quick motion, Ryu pulled out a throwing knife and sliced a small, clean cut on the boy's hand. It was a light incision, but it would leave a scar. A reminder.

Then, smiling, Ryu said his final words to the youngling.

"When you are ready to learn... Seek out Near."

With a backhanded stroke, the thief sent the boy off the roof's edge into a pile of hay and compost below. Sheathing his weapons, he leaped onto another roof, then dropped down and disappeared into the alley, fading away like a ghost.

[Ryu Exits Thread]

[Vincent]

Analyze he would. Just as the dagger marked his hand so too did the encounter mark his mind, the feelings of it, the actions, the sights, all of it. He took it all in by observation. He would remember it and never make the same mistakes again. Who was he kidding? He had no talent. He just needed to count his blessings now that he wasn't killed.

He was dazed and lying in a haystack. How conveniently placed, perhaps the universe wasn't done with him yet. Who or what was Near? No, not the universe. He was saved by having silver hair. He let out a sigh of relief. He climbed out of the hay stack and looked at his bleeding hand. What was that for? He wondered.

The man was right though. He was terrified. That fear crippled him. On the other hand the assassin felt nothing like some sociopath. He still charged him though. He had courage, a comforting thought. Or maybe he was just stupid. Not so comforting.

His heart was still racing when he heard commotion elsewhere in the city. It seemed to be coming from the docks. Things were bad here. He needed out. He ran in the opposite direction feeling like a coward. He swore to himself to grow strong enough to not do this again. Next time he would stay to the end. Even if it meant risking everything. With one final look he fled before he was pulled back into the conflicts.

[Exit Thread]

[Kyle]

Kyle watched as guards began to put order to things. His mark jumped up onto a roof? How was hat even possible? Was there some type of fancy magic? That would make things harder in the future, if only there was some way to neutralize magic. . . Kyle also noticed that the boy that had tried to approach Near was being assaulted, and falling off a building into a cart of hay. What? When did that cart get there? It was weird that they moved a cart of Hay into an area where they thought a fire might be. People were weird. Maybe he should check on the boy though.

Near was a horrible person, it was a shame that he managed to get away from this unscathed, attacking a person in broad daylight in a crowded street is pretty stupid after all. At least the people in the area will be on the look out for him in the future, that should ruin some of his jobs.

Suddenly a large mass of guards, a small army's worth, ran by heading towards the dock while it looked like they were getting in a formation. What for? There was a bunch of shouting but he could only pick up a few words, apparently there were pirates here. The pirates were probably making a big mistake to attack a city of this size, and the guards seemed out for blood.

[Oya]

"Lets see", spoke Oya as he stared out from atop a building. Using Xigshaw this way was quite effective. The guards were bewildered boost in jumping power and Oya could move much farther and faster this way. Not to mention he did not have to worry about guards blocking streets and people getting in his way. There was a commotion near the docks and Oya pretty much knew what it was. He turned his gaze and saw his ship anchored into port. The skirmishers were already out causing trouble while the more heavy units were preparing to land. Oya could also see the enemy moving into formation. It was amazing what one could see from atop buildings.

"Better get to the ship", spoke Oya as he jumped from the house and landed on the roof of another. He needed to hurry if he wanted to keep troop loss to a minimum.

[Kyle]

Kyle looked around at the chaos coming upon the town, there was nothing left for him to do here. The guards were going to fight the pirates, but he would be of little help so it was time to leave. He first check his pack making sure he had his supplies. Meat, check, bow, check, arrows, check. Cooking herbs and spices, check. healing salve, check. Well it seemed that he had everything he needed and it was time to hit the road. He felt bad for those that were in this town when it went up.

[Exit thread]

[Oya]

Chaos consumed the port as Oya jumped down from a nearby home. The guards formation was broke near the docks and the battle became a fight of man on man combat. Oya boys were holding their own and were starting to gain a edge. However Oya had no intentions of fighting this city, or at least at this time. They were going to need to save their strength. The city of heroes was their goal not this blot on the tip of Bern. Wasting men here would mean less soldiers for the seige.

"Oya", shouted the commander as they saw the young pirate move into the area of the battle. Weilding Xigshaw Oya smashed a couple of the guardsmen before he fell back to the ship. "Call the retreat", spoke Oya. "We don't need to wast men here."

"Understood", spoke a pirate as they pulled by their forces and set back out to sea. Sacae awaited.

[End Thread]