Post by Arsenal on Feb 8, 2024 13:48:58 GMT -8
As the Kingdom withdraws from the area, the assembled members of the Children all stare at what remains of what several of them used to call home. The sound of a Kawasaki Ninja crotch rocket firing up and driving off at speed breaks the silence, a Nissan 350Z engine joining the chorus and rapidly leaving the area as well. As soon as the noise has dissipated, Sariel falls to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably. With the eyes of the new Harbinger, Xaria Linette, Lord Lucifer, Ramiel, Ananiel, Maiko Adachi, Zachary Sears, Aerynn Maguire and Ashley Kenyon all still focused on the two burning buildings, Aniel falls to her knees next to Sariel.
Aniel: Were… were they… still.. Inside?
Ashley squints and then reaches down, pulling a Glock 26 from her boot and raising it to the ready.
Ashley Kenyon: How many were here?
Ramiel: Angels…
AnAniel: Demons…
Both Twins: Or both? [/font]
Her gaze remaining unmoved, Ashley only nods slightly.
Ashley Kenyon: All of the above?
Aniel: Aside from us, only Ari and Tami were here. They were both feeling ill so Sati and Sami went on the mission prescribed for Sati and Tami. Ari and Sami were to oversee reeducation today. Brookie was returning tonight from her trip. Blackie and Red are not due until Monday.
She pauses, quickly doing the math in her head.
Aniel: Thirty demons, twelve in reeducation…
Ashley nods and puts her hand on Sariel’s shoulder.
Ashley Kenyon: This ain’t y’all’s fault…
Maiko moves in quickly to hug the still sobbing Sariel, Xaria moving in to do the same. Ashley glances to Aerynn and nods to her before heading in.
Zachary Sears: Und where are you going?
Ashley nods to Lord Lucifer.
Ashley Kenyon: Somebody has to go find out if there’s anyone left down there…
Lord Lucifer manages a nod, his anger still pulsating through his body. Ashley starts for the burning ruins, Aerynn walking behind her with a matching Glock in her hands. The two members of Mayhem slowly make their way around and start checking black-robed bodies on the ground. Each time, one looks up to the other and shakes her head.
Aerynn Maguire: This one’s gone…
Ashley checks another pair and shakes her head as well.
Ashley Kenyon: These two as well, that’s make six so far…
The next three go the same. As they walk to one lying closer to the path leading to what used to be a barn, Ashley kneels and checks him.
Ashley Kenyon: Shit…
Aerynn has a closer look and frowns.
Aerynn Maguire: Whut bae wit this one, Lass?
Ashley shakes her head and gently closes the dead man’s eyes.
Ashley Kenyon: I talked to this one a couple of days ago. His name was Tommy, he was from some little shitsplat in Texas. His daddy wailed on his ass until he started wailin’ on others the same way. The Children got him when he was twenty-one, before he’d graduated to the next step, and he kind of admitted there was gonna be one if they hadn’t taken him when they did. He was one of the older ones here, dated back almost to the very beginning. He spoke in hushed tones about the whole endeavor the way a drug addict talks about rehab when it works, you know? Like a guy who knew he’d been saved from himself and was grateful for the second chance he was being given. He genuinely believed in their cause, saw the Angels as his “sponsors” so to speak…
She closes her eyes and lays her hand on the dead man’s chest. After silently praying she makes the sign of the cross over him and nods sadly.
Ashley Kenyon: He was honestly astonished anyone had done what that bastard was able to do to us and Sariel and yet, it didn’t shake his faith at all. He was sure Rivers was going to make Valdy and this piece of shit, Sathanas, see the light again, that he would save them all.
Opening her eyes, Ashley stands up and nods to the dead man.
Ashley Kenyon: He deserved better than this…
Aerynn nods slowly.
Aerynn Maguire: Ye bae havin’ second thoughts then?
Ashley shakes her head, glaring down at the corpse at their feet.
Ashley Kenyon: Fuck no…
She nods to the dead man again, fire in her eyes.
Ashley Kenyon: This kind of betrayal… that fucking pud juggler deserves a bullet in the head!
She starts to walk away and then pauses before glancing back.
Ashley Kenyon: Actually, no, the fucker deserves a bullet in each ankle, then one in each knee, then one in each shoulder, then one in the balls and one up the ass and then, maybe, if we’re feeling benevolent, he can have one in the head to end his suffering before we pull out the serving spoons and start exposing his vital organs to daylight in alphabetical order!
She waves her free hand around to indicate everyone in the area.
Ashley Kenyon: These people trusted them…
She points accusingly in the direction the vehicle carrying “Workout Man” had gone.
Ashley Kenyon: They were in the trenches with them, went to war with them! They called each other brothers and sisters! They called Joshua “Father” and Maiko “Mother” and they were supposed to be making the world a better place! They were supposed to be doing what they did for this one…
She nods gravely and then points at the barn.
Ashley Kenyon: Where was that chance for the ones in there? Where was that concern for innocents when the Kingdom were here? For Sativa’s cousin?
She turns and glares in the direction that “Abs” had gone.
Ashley Kenyon: Doubts…?
Ashley turns back to Aerynn.
Ashley Kenyon: Hell no, Rynn, I know more now than I ever have before why we agreed to this and why we’re fighting…
She nods, pointing down to the dead man yet again.
Ashley Kenyon: If they’ll do this to a guy who wasn’t even tangentially involved? If they’ll do this to their own…
She nods and points even more emphatically at the corpse.
Ashley Kenyon: This is why you sent Seán and Siobhan off with Khary. What you were worried about Rivers doing, this guy will do without a second thought and he won’t care that they’re innocent little three-year-olds! He’ll just see it as collateral damage and so much the better because of how Rivers always talks about actual little children! We’re doing this for Maiko, but we’re also doing this for Seán and Siobhan, for Ciaran and Alicia, for Little Missy, for Liv and CJ, for Jami and DJ, for Little RJ, for Pénélope, Christian and Jacques, for everyone else that they could hurt just to fuck with Rivers because Valdy decided his pud was bigger and Rivers wasn’t gonna give him the rub and tug he really, really wanted anymore!
She kneels down, folding her hands together and putting on a bad a European accent.
Ashley Kenyon: “Oh please, Sire, can we do it the old ways because it made my willy so much harder that way because I had no power of my own and it made me feel like such a man to take others’ power from them!”
Aerynn nods her agreement.
Aerynn Maguire: Aye, tha bae true…
She pauses and looks into the burning barn as Ashley stands back up.
Aerynn Maguire: D’ye think ennyone made it out o’ there?
Ashley nods to the footpath that led behind into a field with some trees bhind what was left of the barn.
Ashley Kenyon: Let’s go look. If they did, they would have gone for the only cover they could…
Aerynn nods and the two women head to the path, guns at the ready.
Aerynn Maguire: Whut happens if we find…
She trails off without finishing the thought, knowing she likely needn’t do so.
Ashley Kenyon: Then we get the joyful assignment of telling Rivers, Maiko, Sariel, Ramiel, Ananiel, Aniel and Xaria that their family is gone…
Aerynn steels herself as they continue down the path. They move quickly, each covering a different side with their gun as they go. Finally, they come to the tree and find what looks like a pile of bodies.
Ashley Kenyon: Fuck me, that’s Armaros over there…
Ashley hurries over to the man in the white robe while Aerynn sees a woman with blonde hair in a white one as well lying under two black robed bodies.
Aerynn Maguire: Aye, I’ve found Tamiel…
Ashley ebnds down and checks Armaros.
Ashley Kenyon: Holy shit… he’s alive…
Aerynn reaches her target and leans down.
Aerynn Maguire: Tamiel is as well!!!
Ashley quickly starts checking the others in black robes.
Ashley Kenyon: They all are…
She shakes her head and reaches or a small radio.
Ashley Kenyon: Twoey… we’ve found the two Angels. They’re fucked up but alive. Got some demons with them, looks they were able to get them away before that fucker could take them all…
Maiko’s voice comes back over the radio.
Maiko Adachi: ...Where Pool…?
Ashley glances up.
Ashley Kenyon: By the trees out back, looks like the blast knocked them all out as they were trying to get clear…
A few seconds later, an unmistakable voice replaces Maiko’s.
Lord Lucifer: Remain there, we will join you shortly.
Ashley nods angrily.
Ashley Kenyon: We ain’t goin’ nowhere…
Ashley stands up and glances over to Aerynn who does the same.
Aerynn Maguire: Tha lot deserves tae roast…
Ashley nods.
Ashley Kenyon: That one in particular deserves the kind of shit I’ve heard Khary dishes out when he, “goes fishing…”
Aerynn nods her agreement.
Aerynn Maguire: Aye, an’ I’ll bae helpin’!
Ashley grits her teeth in anger as she takes in the whole of the scene before them.
Ashley Kenyon: You and me both, Rynn. You and me both…
Aniel: Were… were they… still.. Inside?
Ashley squints and then reaches down, pulling a Glock 26 from her boot and raising it to the ready.
Ashley Kenyon: How many were here?
Ramiel: Angels…
AnAniel: Demons…
Both Twins: Or both? [/font]
Her gaze remaining unmoved, Ashley only nods slightly.
Ashley Kenyon: All of the above?
Aniel: Aside from us, only Ari and Tami were here. They were both feeling ill so Sati and Sami went on the mission prescribed for Sati and Tami. Ari and Sami were to oversee reeducation today. Brookie was returning tonight from her trip. Blackie and Red are not due until Monday.
She pauses, quickly doing the math in her head.
Aniel: Thirty demons, twelve in reeducation…
Ashley nods and puts her hand on Sariel’s shoulder.
Ashley Kenyon: This ain’t y’all’s fault…
Maiko moves in quickly to hug the still sobbing Sariel, Xaria moving in to do the same. Ashley glances to Aerynn and nods to her before heading in.
Zachary Sears: Und where are you going?
Ashley nods to Lord Lucifer.
Ashley Kenyon: Somebody has to go find out if there’s anyone left down there…
Lord Lucifer manages a nod, his anger still pulsating through his body. Ashley starts for the burning ruins, Aerynn walking behind her with a matching Glock in her hands. The two members of Mayhem slowly make their way around and start checking black-robed bodies on the ground. Each time, one looks up to the other and shakes her head.
Aerynn Maguire: This one’s gone…
Ashley checks another pair and shakes her head as well.
Ashley Kenyon: These two as well, that’s make six so far…
The next three go the same. As they walk to one lying closer to the path leading to what used to be a barn, Ashley kneels and checks him.
Ashley Kenyon: Shit…
Aerynn has a closer look and frowns.
Aerynn Maguire: Whut bae wit this one, Lass?
Ashley shakes her head and gently closes the dead man’s eyes.
Ashley Kenyon: I talked to this one a couple of days ago. His name was Tommy, he was from some little shitsplat in Texas. His daddy wailed on his ass until he started wailin’ on others the same way. The Children got him when he was twenty-one, before he’d graduated to the next step, and he kind of admitted there was gonna be one if they hadn’t taken him when they did. He was one of the older ones here, dated back almost to the very beginning. He spoke in hushed tones about the whole endeavor the way a drug addict talks about rehab when it works, you know? Like a guy who knew he’d been saved from himself and was grateful for the second chance he was being given. He genuinely believed in their cause, saw the Angels as his “sponsors” so to speak…
She closes her eyes and lays her hand on the dead man’s chest. After silently praying she makes the sign of the cross over him and nods sadly.
Ashley Kenyon: He was honestly astonished anyone had done what that bastard was able to do to us and Sariel and yet, it didn’t shake his faith at all. He was sure Rivers was going to make Valdy and this piece of shit, Sathanas, see the light again, that he would save them all.
Opening her eyes, Ashley stands up and nods to the dead man.
Ashley Kenyon: He deserved better than this…
Aerynn nods slowly.
Aerynn Maguire: Ye bae havin’ second thoughts then?
Ashley shakes her head, glaring down at the corpse at their feet.
Ashley Kenyon: Fuck no…
She nods to the dead man again, fire in her eyes.
Ashley Kenyon: This kind of betrayal… that fucking pud juggler deserves a bullet in the head!
She starts to walk away and then pauses before glancing back.
Ashley Kenyon: Actually, no, the fucker deserves a bullet in each ankle, then one in each knee, then one in each shoulder, then one in the balls and one up the ass and then, maybe, if we’re feeling benevolent, he can have one in the head to end his suffering before we pull out the serving spoons and start exposing his vital organs to daylight in alphabetical order!
She waves her free hand around to indicate everyone in the area.
Ashley Kenyon: These people trusted them…
She points accusingly in the direction the vehicle carrying “Workout Man” had gone.
Ashley Kenyon: They were in the trenches with them, went to war with them! They called each other brothers and sisters! They called Joshua “Father” and Maiko “Mother” and they were supposed to be making the world a better place! They were supposed to be doing what they did for this one…
She nods gravely and then points at the barn.
Ashley Kenyon: Where was that chance for the ones in there? Where was that concern for innocents when the Kingdom were here? For Sativa’s cousin?
She turns and glares in the direction that “Abs” had gone.
Ashley Kenyon: Doubts…?
Ashley turns back to Aerynn.
Ashley Kenyon: Hell no, Rynn, I know more now than I ever have before why we agreed to this and why we’re fighting…
She nods, pointing down to the dead man yet again.
Ashley Kenyon: If they’ll do this to a guy who wasn’t even tangentially involved? If they’ll do this to their own…
She nods and points even more emphatically at the corpse.
Ashley Kenyon: This is why you sent Seán and Siobhan off with Khary. What you were worried about Rivers doing, this guy will do without a second thought and he won’t care that they’re innocent little three-year-olds! He’ll just see it as collateral damage and so much the better because of how Rivers always talks about actual little children! We’re doing this for Maiko, but we’re also doing this for Seán and Siobhan, for Ciaran and Alicia, for Little Missy, for Liv and CJ, for Jami and DJ, for Little RJ, for Pénélope, Christian and Jacques, for everyone else that they could hurt just to fuck with Rivers because Valdy decided his pud was bigger and Rivers wasn’t gonna give him the rub and tug he really, really wanted anymore!
She kneels down, folding her hands together and putting on a bad a European accent.
Ashley Kenyon: “Oh please, Sire, can we do it the old ways because it made my willy so much harder that way because I had no power of my own and it made me feel like such a man to take others’ power from them!”
Aerynn nods her agreement.
Aerynn Maguire: Aye, tha bae true…
She pauses and looks into the burning barn as Ashley stands back up.
Aerynn Maguire: D’ye think ennyone made it out o’ there?
Ashley nods to the footpath that led behind into a field with some trees bhind what was left of the barn.
Ashley Kenyon: Let’s go look. If they did, they would have gone for the only cover they could…
Aerynn nods and the two women head to the path, guns at the ready.
Aerynn Maguire: Whut happens if we find…
She trails off without finishing the thought, knowing she likely needn’t do so.
Ashley Kenyon: Then we get the joyful assignment of telling Rivers, Maiko, Sariel, Ramiel, Ananiel, Aniel and Xaria that their family is gone…
Aerynn steels herself as they continue down the path. They move quickly, each covering a different side with their gun as they go. Finally, they come to the tree and find what looks like a pile of bodies.
Ashley Kenyon: Fuck me, that’s Armaros over there…
Ashley hurries over to the man in the white robe while Aerynn sees a woman with blonde hair in a white one as well lying under two black robed bodies.
Aerynn Maguire: Aye, I’ve found Tamiel…
Ashley ebnds down and checks Armaros.
Ashley Kenyon: Holy shit… he’s alive…
Aerynn reaches her target and leans down.
Aerynn Maguire: Tamiel is as well!!!
Ashley quickly starts checking the others in black robes.
Ashley Kenyon: They all are…
She shakes her head and reaches or a small radio.
Ashley Kenyon: Twoey… we’ve found the two Angels. They’re fucked up but alive. Got some demons with them, looks they were able to get them away before that fucker could take them all…
Maiko’s voice comes back over the radio.
Maiko Adachi: ...Where Pool…?
Ashley glances up.
Ashley Kenyon: By the trees out back, looks like the blast knocked them all out as they were trying to get clear…
A few seconds later, an unmistakable voice replaces Maiko’s.
Lord Lucifer: Remain there, we will join you shortly.
Ashley nods angrily.
Ashley Kenyon: We ain’t goin’ nowhere…
Ashley stands up and glances over to Aerynn who does the same.
Aerynn Maguire: Tha lot deserves tae roast…
Ashley nods.
Ashley Kenyon: That one in particular deserves the kind of shit I’ve heard Khary dishes out when he, “goes fishing…”
Aerynn nods her agreement.
Aerynn Maguire: Aye, an’ I’ll bae helpin’!
Ashley grits her teeth in anger as she takes in the whole of the scene before them.
Ashley Kenyon: You and me both, Rynn. You and me both…
