[endermage]

Weber passed out again after only a few moments of consciousness. As he fell back into the blackness of exhaustion his last thoughts were praying for Karin's safe return.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"My name is Karin, you...insane thing...." said Karin as she began to come to terms with her own mortality," I'm fine with dying today, I tried my best to survive but in the end I could only save the others."

Karin heard as the last digits of the countdown rolled away. Five...four...three...two...one...Zero.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It Weber had been awake he would have heard a squealing noise like something metal being bent a direction it was not supposed to bend followed by a crash like breaking glass and light pouring out from where the courtyard used to be.

[83],[83]

[Freezair]

Nara felt the bump of a shockwave roll through behind the metal. She saw the door buckle, but other than the warping crunch, it was silent.

Tobias looked up at the crumpled sheet sadly. He passed a gloved paw over its surface.

"...Sorry I kept getting your name wrong..."

"Well... it's over," Nara said, sighing. "I... It's done. He's gone. ...They're gone..."

Adam bowed his head. "Gee. That was... awfully... Err, something."

Tobias frowned. Nonchalantly, he reached for his back pocket, perhaps looking for a handkerchief.

His expression immediately changed.

"What the...?" he said. He pulled his coat off in a flash, held the back pocket open, and peered inside.

"Uh, guys? I think that bomb did something... Really weird to my coat pockets." He passed the jacket over to Nara, whose eyes grew wide in shock as she looked inside.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Ahhh... light. He had forgotten how good it felt to be pure energy. As the soul of Light, nothing felt better to him than blending in with the photons and relaxing in light.

"And it's just you and I together here, Earthy," he said. "Isn't this EXCITING? We'll--"

He looked around. He realized something was wrong.

"...Earth? Earth? Where are you...?"

He couldn't see her. Not even the scraps of a soul that had been her, once.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

[64, 84, 114]

((Cheesy? Yes. But I've always wanted to do that. XP))

[endermage]

Karin had seen as the device had gone off. She had seen all the matter get smashed together into energy but it seemed as if she was watching it on television or something, like she wasn't a part of it.

As suddenly as she had felt this strange feeling she was dropped, not from a height, into the warehouse from where the adventure had started.

She looked around disoriented and then saw her friends,"GUYS! Wait...why am I not dead...am I dead...did you not get out in time?"

"No....I saved you...." said a voice from behind Karin. She turned and saw a man dressed all in white, wearing no shoes with a Treasure Roosken at his feet.






"You were a goner," said the Roosken,"But Maxwell got here just in time...you owe him a lot....well and me as well....I think we deserve a reward...."

"Photion...can you stop being a selfish idiot for two minutes," said Maxwell, rubbing his temples,"These people are important....we shouldn't make them angry."

"You may have taken a vow of poverty, but that doesn't mean I have...." said Photion clacking his claws on the concrete floor,"Fork over a reward lady...."

"Excuse my RUDE friend...." said Maxwell,"He is....stupid..."

"HEY!" said Photion.

[84],[84],[1]

[Freezair]

Nara, Adam, and Tobias all blinked, confused.

Adam spoke up first. "What the hell?!"

"Did you guys come out of the weird place in my pocket?" Tobias asked.

"How..." Nara stammered. "How did you get in... and get Karin out? And what are...?" She looked at Maxwell and Photion, eyes wide.

"...Actually... never mind. Perhaps I don't want to know what's going on here after all."

[65, 85, 115]

((Photion is made of win and love already.))

[endermage]

Maxwell saw the faces of the others as they strained to understand how what happened and thought they looked silly.

"I have to say..." said Karin,"I really don't understand what happened either...can you tell me why I'm not dead?"

"Oh that's easy..." said Maxwell," I sensed someone with a good soul in danger and used my power to pull you out of the bubble as the bomb triggered...."

"Don't forget..." said Photion,"I slowed down time so you would be able to do that...and it wasn't easy! Manipulating time in folded space takes a lot of energy. Fork over some KS...I deserve it..."

"And why did you do this..." said Karin, ignoring the Roosken,"Why risk yourself for a stranger?"

"Let me put it this way," said Maxwell,"I have the ability to see potential, and while all of you have the potential to do some amazing good...Karin's death would result in the worst possible situation....not that I wouldn't have saved any of you..."

Karin looked somewhat flabbergasted,"What? Why am I important?"

"That's what I said!" said Photion.

"Karin, you are important because of what you do..." said Maxwell,"Look at what you have done to this rag-tag group of strangers, the selfish hero is worried about the lives of others, the frighted game-show host has shown how courageous he can be, the police officers have learned to work with civilians for the greater good...Karin, you are the kind of person that everyone want's to help...you inspire people...The Gift wouldn't let me NOT save you."

"The Gift?" said Karin still having a difficult time understanding what was happening.

"My abilities...I'm sorry if I've put too much pressure on you..." said Maxwell looking away.

"How do you know all this?" said Karin, replacing her awe with distrust.

"The Gift tells me lots of things..." said Maxwell,"For example, I know the reason you don't trust yourself...because you don't know what THEY did to you..."

"Shut up...." said Karin angrily.

"Gods..." said Photion,"You are SO bi-polar..."

[85],[85],[2]

[Freezair]

"Ooooh!" said Tobias. "I know what this is! This is the climactic... thing, isn't it? This is where you tell us how we've all used our special powers, but it's not about the strength of our magic, it's about the strength of our hearts! ...Right?"

Even Nara had to crack a grin. "It certainly is looking that way. Father, er... I'm sorry, we didn't catch your name. Thank you very much. But however did you get around the constraints of the Fold?"

"Hey, I think he said it," Adam said. "Something about him manipulating time...?"

[66, 86, 116]

[endermage]

"Yes...do explain," said Karin with greater curiosity, he embarrassment relived by her friends.

"How can I explain..." said Maxwell,"My name is Maxwell and I am the last of the Order of the Amber Sea. My power is drawn from a place in between space and time. The folded space actually strengthened my power by creating a place where the power I use pooled in the folded space. I was able to phase through the barrier and Photion used his power to slow down time so we could grab you and get out before you were destroyed..."

"Can we have the cash NOW?" said Photion with a smirk.

"Photion if you don't shut up I'll ring your neck and serve you for dinner!" said Maxwell with a fury.

Karin looked at him with a look that said she did not approve,"It's the only what he'll listen to me...." said Maxwell with a weak grin.

[86],[86], [3]

[Freezair]

"...Man, speakin' of, I'm gettin' hungry," Adam said. As if to emphasize this point, his stomach rumbled deeply. He looked piteously up at Nara. "What's say we get out of here, tell the precinct the Snicky Theif eluded us, and get some grub?"

"I hardly think it's appropriate for us to just abandon Father Maxwell like this. He did save our friend's life. And I'm not ready to abandon the thief just like that. But." She looked at Maxwell. "As thanks, I will be willing to buy us all dinner. I hope the captain will aprove." She looked sideways at Adam, as if she expected him to take the blame should things go wrong.

Tobias cleared his throat. "Well! For the record, I am Tobias de la Rue, and this here are Officers Nara Sumas and Adam Redford."

"But you can call me Dips," Adam said.


[67, 87, 117]

[endermage]

Karin nodded in agreement,"You're right Nara...we should get something to eat so we have our strength to catch this guy...if he even exists..."

Karin looked down at the unconscious body of Weber,"I should wake him up...shouldn't I..."

"No..." said Weber as he struggled to stand,"I'm awake...what happened...did I pass out again...and what do you mean by "if he even exists"?"

"Yeah...um when we were attacked the guy got the jump on you and knocked you out." said Karin as she helped the lucain to stand," And by "if he even exists" I mean that there might not be a Snicky thief...I feel like our leads are taking us all over the place...we should get some food and talk about this more closely."

"Thank you for inviting Photion and I to dinner we would be delighted to join you," said Maxwell bowing kindly,"But there is no need to call me 'Father', Maxwell shall suffice..."

"And if he was a 'Father' he'd be terrible...he can't do that 'no sex' thing they are supposed to do....he's such a tart..." said Photion.

"Photion!" cried Maxwell in anger,"Can you not talk like that in front of people we don't know!"

"Well you were getting all hippie on them and I was thinking that they might want a break from the "you are REALLY important to the nature of the universe" garbage.", said Photion with a sneer, or at least as much of a sneer as someone with a beak could have.

"Nice to met everyone, Tobias, Nara, Dips...and of course it's 'delightful' to meet you Karin...." said Photion.

"The only reason I didn't say anything is because I don't trust either of you....I'm watching you..." said Karin.

"Yeah, yeah....put a cork in it scale face...." said Photion.

[87],[87], [4]

[Freezair]

((OHMIGAWD. BUUUUUUUURRN. *seriously laughing self sick here* Photion. I. Love. You.))

Adam snickered as Photion talked back to Maxwell. He nearly burst, trying to hold back a laugh as Photion made snide insinuations about Maxwell's--well, everything, really.

He felt a paw smack the back of his head. He looked to his left and saw Nara glowering at him.

"That sounds good to me," she said, still looking at Adam. Then she turned her attention back toward Maxwell. "If you'll follow me--and Karin--we'll show you out of here. I think I know of a place where we can stop for food, as well."

Tobias hiked up his pants, adjusting his belt, and bustled after her.

Nara smiled down at him when her came up beside her. "And! Now that we're taking a break, we can help you get to a bus station and get home."

Tobias frowned.

"...What?"

"It's just..." He looked away. "I'm kinda gettin' interested. I wanna see if there even IS a theif, or if we're just gettin' our chains yanked all over. What's REALLY going on. You know?"

Nara frowned. "I'm sorry. But as a civilian--"

"WILL YOU CUT IT OUT WITH THE CIVILIAN STUFF!" He huffed. "Where are you from, woman? Massachusetts or freakin' Evelon?! You're on an adventure! Admit it! Acknowledge it! Go along for the damn ride!"

"I..."

Adam snickered to Photion. "Owned," he said. Then, on the side, "So, how'd you get stuck with THAT joker, eh...?"

[68, 88, 118]

[endermage]

Photion snorted at Adam's comment,"The little Meji could pull a house out of his bum..."

"Tobias..." said Karin," Nara is only looking out for your well being. There is no need to yell. And Nara, you have to realize that whatever is happening here involves all of us now. My thought is that this is an organized attack and now that Tobias has been seen with us it's dangerous for him to be alone. We have to figure out what is happening, why this is happening, and who is responsible. We have to stick together and make a statement to the crime syndicate that we are coming for them."

"Gods you sound JUST LIKE MAXWELL." said Photion,"You both make everything so serious. You should relax. Let's get some food and then Maxwell and I will be on our way. I only need one obsessive nut case in my life."

"No. We are involved now." said Maxwell, his eyes glowing slightly,"We must aid these people in deconstructing this crime syndicate." Maxwell's eyes stopped glowing.

"Oh come on!", said Photion,"Is that the new 'calling'? Seriously, most of these people suck really hard. But this Adam guy is super cool, maybe there is a reason to stick around."

[88],[88],[5]

[Freezair]

"IT'S DANGEROUS TO GO ALONE! TAKE THIS," Adam snickered to Photion. "+10 80's points for me, right?"

Tobias rolled his eyes. "I can NOT pull houses out of my coat, thank you very much." Then he looked at his pockets with a sigh. They were still cavernously large, and still seemed to open ON a cavern. "...Well. PROBABLY not, anyway."

Nara tried to ignore the snickering and general snarkiness in the atmosphere. She sighed as Karin spoke. "Well, I suppose you're right. I don't suppose I trust Aravalle not to go gallivanting around, even as a Sygriff. ...Turn down the street here; the restaurant is this way."

Streetlights popped in overhead, and crosswalks with mild traffic appeared. Civilization seemed to be reappearing around them.

[69, 89, 119]

[endermage]

"Where are we going to eat?" asked Weber, his paws rubbing his droopy eyes. Unknown to Weber his exhaustion was due to having three  transformations in the same day.

"I'm not sure...", said Karin,"I bet Nara has someplace in mind..."

"Well," said Maxwell,"Anywhere is fine with me...as long as we get to eat. I've burned up a lot my energy today..."

"Well I care where we eat!", said Photion, scurrying around Maxwell's feet,"We deserve a 5 star resturant for all the work we did! I want some king crab or lobster..."

Maxwell sighed.

[89],[89],[6]

[Freezair]

"I hate to agree with him," Nara mumbled, "but seafood does sound good..."

"Ack! No seafood, please,"Tobias said. "I'm allergic! Crab makes me puff up like a balloon."

"And I hate the smell," Adam said. He looked down at Photion. "But I admit, I do like cheese biscuits..."

"Well, if Tobias is allergic, we probably shouldn't go to a seafood restaurant. However." She looked at Maxwell. "The place we are going IS a very good Italian restaurant, so you'll still be able to get something good. It's right over here..."

A green and red overhang hung over the door of a small brown building, with a red sign flashing. "GIOVANNI'S," it said.

"I promise you, you'll like it," she said. She got in the line and waited for a waiter to approach them.

[70, 90, 120]

[endermage]

"But we saved your lives! Heroes get to choose where we eat! I don't care if the fluff butt puffs up so much we have to put him in a bloody parade!" said Photion angrily,"I work so hard to save people I don't even know and you have the indecency to deny..."

"Photion," said Maxwell,"Shut up. This will be fine, thank you for inviting us Nara, Karin..."

Karin, wasn't listening, she was accessing the Network if anyone noticed. She was scanning through the files using the search terms "Maxwell", "Photion", and "Order of the Amber Sea". She found one file referencing a lost civilization  that had an "Order of the Amber Sea" which were supposed to protect a sacred location called the Coleus Garden. The information suggested that the entire civilization disappeared and the only evidence that it even could of potentially exist in severely damaged tomes.

While Karin was being a snoop Weber was still feeling somewhat drowsy and couldn't seem to shake it. "Can someone," Weber began,"tell me what has been happening, I think there is something wrong with me...."

[90],[90],[7]