Saint Joseph School

Prizes

Smoke fills the air, floating away as the wind takes it. Jaygo slowly limps out of the burning bunker, careful not to hit anything on the way out. Flames licked their way out the door. Jaygo dives away and cries out in pain, blood soaking the right side of his chest, hs shirt hangs in tatters, several deep cuts trace along his ribs. He pulls out another small green pill, a painkiller, and downs it quickly, fighting the urge to heave it back up. The Council base had been better defended then his Intel had suggested. it mattered not in the end, he still had his prize. Leaning down he pick up the small satchel on the ground. Opening it carefully he checks to make sure everything is still there. Eight baseball sized bombs rest tightly inside the little satchel, he smiles, it was all worth it for these. hearing sirens in the distance, Jaygo begins the laborious trek home.


Kings Row was once one of the most prosperous districts in the entire city, that was way too many years ago long before Jaygo was born. the abandoned factory was once home to a rather mean group of Skulls, most of which were enjoying the luxurious accommodations of the Zig. Dust covers everything, debris is scattered across most of the floor. only a small area is cleared off. It's covered by a small blue tarp, which once removed, reveals a small collection of metal boxes. His prize collection, the boxes were Sky Raider tech, environmentally sealed they wouldn't open with out a DNA sample from the owner, any attempt to pry open the boxes would result in a shock large enough to kill several grown men. Placing his thumb on the pad, he feels a slight prick as the machine determines if he has access. A small hiss brings a smile to his face, the box opens like a flower, the sides folding out, allowing Jaygo entry.

This box, one of five in the room is almost empty, several custom slots were cut into the foam padding, allowing for a perfect fit. His armored breastplate sits snugly in one such cut out. His ribs throb slightly, as if reminding him of his mistake in not taking extra protection. He opens the satchel and places each small bomb into special round cut outs,forcing them into place. Next comes his CBX-9 Pistol, generously given to him by the Countess Crey, although she didn't know it. He pulls out a small medical scanner and runs it along his ribs. Slowly the wounds close, not completely healed, just given an additional boost. He replaces the box and once again places his thumb on the pad. Servos whine as the box once again folds together.

Satisfied that everything is in order, Jaygo throws the tarp back over the boxes and wanders to the door, stepping into the early morning haze. Tomorrow.... the blood hunt begins tomorrow[/b]

as requested, Jaygo, my bit...

_____

The far wall is the wrong color and her neck hurts.

She blinks at it. No, it doesn't change to the color it's supposed to be, remaining this odd green shade when it really ought to be some tilted color of blue. The angle of the light on it is wrong as well, coming from behind instead of streaming into her eyes. Did she fall asleep on the couch again or something?

Under her cheek, something shifts and an arm tightens around her shoulders.

She sits up slowly, untangling herself with infinite care.

Jai is still sleeping. He's half braced against the arm of the couch, his face turned away so that all she can see is the curve of jaw and his hair, wild and messy. His shirt is rumpled, pulling away from the waistband of his jeans. She can even see the impression where her cheek was resting on his chest.

He must have held her all night.

The television is blank static now, the only noise in this alien space.

As carefully as moonrise she stands, her armor creaking faintly. It seems a miracle but Jai doesn't stir, his hand lax now in his lap where it's fallen away. The empty bottle of rum is still standing on the floor.

She swallows, tasting faint bile. So much care and she deserves none of it. When is he going to see that she doesn't deserve it?

She feels pulled tightly enough to break, exhausted from days of grief. Nothing will be right, ever again. Her eyes burn but she can't cry anymore. She's cried enough to drown rivers.

She walks to the window, holding her elbows. Under her empty gaze the dawn creeps over the walls, touching things with tentative fingers. She remembers dew on her armor not so long ago, waking up to find herself alone in the center of a battlefield. Her eyes track a shadow, motion picking itself out of the morning haze.

Arcing over the wall a graceful form lands in the courtyard, going down to one knee with the kinetic force. He's wearing civilian clothes, something strung over his shoulder; a backpack maybe or weapon. He stands after a moment and starts to walk purposefully away.

The light changes, his profile facing the dorms. She is suddenly awake as ice crystallizes in her blood.

Jaygo.

Her mouth is dry, her heart hammers. Jaygo.

The crucifix rises in her eyes, stained and red. He is the one. He could have prevented everything. He was the one that killed Lycia, that let Solomon take her, break her, destroy her. Jaygo is the one who betrayed them all.

She is across the room in a soundless rush. She doesn't even look at the sleeping boy.

She knows where he's going, although she couldn't say how. She runs down the hallway even as the ice wind starts to trail across her shoulders, down her arms. It is early enough but the dorms are never empty; eyes track her as she runs. Some are even close enough to know which room she came from. Not that it would matter if she understood. She is down the wide stairs and out the doors into the cool morning without breaking stride.

Swiftly then, across the green space. Her heart is pounding with something like fear, something like exultation.

He is the one. He is the one that needs to pay.

She knows where he is going. Her thighs tense, coil, and the top of the wall is under her feet. She springs and twists, landing in front of him without a word. She rises into a crouch even as her fists tighten, as demon light begins to grow between her fingers.

His green eyes are hooded, empty. She looks at him and feels nothing. For once she feels nothing at all. He adjusts the strap at his shoulder and frowns with all his old arrogance.

"I don't have time for this."

(( ok so this was supposed to be done and posted a few days ago.. Work has caused this to be posponed until now. but it's done and I can continue with my story.. LET IT BE KNOWN that this happens BEFORE the spontaneious return of Lycia. had I known ahead of time I would have found a way to get this out sooner. again this is BEFORE Lycia comes back.. so don't fill this thread with ' but she's not dead' posts..))

Good Morning Sunshine

The sun was still an hour or so away, a slight fog covered the ground, it had been another cool night in the city, vague shapes moves in the distance. Jaygo hops the wall like always, the motion is so fluid it seems like a natural action. The students of St Joe's have been scaling this wall since it was built. It holds as many secrets as any piece of architecture can. Slowly, as to not aggravate his side any, Jaygo stands and creeps towards the dorms. A form, drifting gracefully in the air, lands with a slight thump in front of him. He stops, knowing what will likely come next. The temperature had dropped at least 10 degrees in the last second or so. Standing there with a hint of madness in her eyes, Stasis, looking as stunning as ever. Jaygo sighs heavily, this could be bad, I need to choose my words carefully. "I don't have time for this"

She stands there, her hands flexing slightly. Her breath is visible in the air. Her head cocks to the side, recognition flashes in her eyes, " Jaygo." It seems as if the storm has passed, her shoulders relax a bit, hands no longer white knuckled. " Jaygo". He adjusts one of the straps on his shoulder, playing with the fit a bit. He doesn't even see her swing. The blow is wild and filled with rage, connecting with his cheek with such a force that his head snaps back at an unnatural angle. He stumbles back, feet sliding on a patch of fresh ice, and lands hard on the pavement. " YOU GOD DAMNED BASTARD"

Stasis stalks forward, a new fire in her eyes, the air almost freezing around her. Her hands glow with an Eire light, Jaygo stumbles to his feet, blinking heavily, trying to clear his vision. " Wait.. God damn it." He steps back , his hands up trying to get her to stop... "I know your mad." A quick kick forces his hands down to block, while she swings with her left hand. He fumbles for footing and again falls, a slight trickle of blood flowing out of his nose.

" I'm not... mad" She replies advancing slowly as he tried to scoot away. Jaygo's movements have taken him back to the wall, where he uses it for support to stand, he look back, judging the time ti will take for her to get to him. " You knew didn't you... You knew what was happening... he told you" Her advance gains speed as she moves in. Her movements gracefully yet dangerous. Jaygo can't help but compare her to one of the great cats of Africa, every movement calculated, every action meaning full. His momentary distraction allows her to get with in striking distance, a quick body shot doubles him over, the wind gone from his lungs. " You lied Jaygo. You knew he was coming for us and you did NOTHING. " An uppercut stands Jaygo back up, his head swimming, he seems barely able to keep his footing . "always so sure .. always so damned sure you know what you're doing...and LISH died for that!"

Stasis grabs his shirt, not ready to let him fall and slams her fist into his face again. heaving angry red mark on his cheek. " you god-damned BASTARD!" The last hit seem to Focus him a bit, his eyes zero in on hers. " yeah.. fine I knew...he told me he was coming" She blinks back tears her eyes wide at his confession. a queer hiccuping sob escapes her mouth. " why didn't you tell us, Jaygo? said something .. warned us. something" He looks around, several students had filed into the courtyard watching, albeit from a good distance away. "BECAUSE I thought I could handle it."

Her fist hammers into him. " always so damned arrogant, Jaygo .. always you know best."

Jaygo's nose 's a small well of blood, and both of his lips are split wide. " I didn't think... think it'd be her ..I thought he was bluffing." She pulls him in close, her voice little more than a whisper, her body is arctic. ice forms in the air as she speaks.

" like you? you bluff.. you say one thing and you mean another... you're just like him...he follows the God in his mind .. who are you following? " She pushes him into the wall. and wipes her hands, like she might catch something by touching him. He's hurt, not just psychically, but emotionally.

" so what.. You kick my ass and everything is better. It doesn't bring her back Tara" Jaygo places one hand on the wall. he's not going to fall no matter how much she wants him to. A low growl rumbles out of her, a fist shoots our, connecting hard, sending him crashing into the wall.

"You don't .. have the right to call me by my name. I could pound you into the ground .. and she's still dead, but I'll. FEEL. better!" she is shaking with rage, tears flow from her eyes and crystallize on her cheeks. Stasis waits as he pushes off the wall standing eye to eye with her again

"so come on do it" Jaygo spreads his arms wide. " I'm not going to fight you Tara"

" Don't call me TARA.", she grabs him once again, raining blows down onto him. She's crying now, sobbing like a little girl. "Jaygo .. she's dead, she's dead and its all YOUR fault, YOU killed her .. you let .. her go .. i TRUSTED you!..how could you do this .. to me? you were my FRIEND! " Stasis throws him to the ground and kneels, her face buried he her hands, her crying echoes off the building in the courtyard