Hidden: Change

Part the second.
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"Herod."

"Yes mom?"

"Honey, could you run this down to the bank later today? I'm running late and this can't wait until tomorrow."

"Sure, I'll get to it on my way back from school."



Sensation

Hurt

Pain

Danger

Anger


A flash of dark.

A cocoon blackness.

A shattering of glass that echoed within the mind.

With a roar that announced that something unearthly had arrived, the fallen one lost no time surveying his immediate surroundings. That he had be dragged out of his stasis early meant that the life of his vassal was ebbing. That meant he was in danger once more.

Only he wasn't.

A score pair of eyes stared in terror at him, all of them human, none immortal. And a pair that was almost unseeing. At his feet his vassal, crumpled against the wall. Blood pooled around his feet from a small hole in his chest. The blood streaks on the wall showed that the hole went through him and that he had fallen against the wall before falling.

Anger that had ebbed now once again filled the fallen one. His healing was incomplete and his forced return had announced his presence to all creation. He would be noticed and would be hunted again.

But before he fled again, vengeance.

The screams started as soon as he flexed his wings.



"So what happened here?"

"Eyewitness reports state that four men hurried into the bank at about three p.m., shortly followed by the kid a minute later."

"The kid who was shot?"

"Yes sir. Shortly after there was a gunshot, an 'animal roar that echoed around town' and then a whole lot of screaming and multiple gunshots. Correlating data showed that almost immediately after, we received a call for an ambulance. The first car arrived soon after."

"What did they see?"

"A car pulling out of the parking lot and the bank manager hurrying out, asking them to come inside. He was detained until after backup arrived. We identified the car as the suspects getaway vehicle and hve units in pursuit. After it was determined that there were no hostages, the SWAT team went inside. What they found was confusing."

"The place was trashed, the four men had multiple lacerations and broken bones and were unconscious. The boy was bleeding on the ground with a gunshot wound and with half the wall painted in his blood. Some of the bank employees were clustered around him and did what they could with a first aid kit. Bullets and shell casings were all over the floor but all the bank employees were shaken but fine. No one had any recollection of what happened between the time the boy was shot and when the first car arrived. The boy is in critical condition and his mother has been notified."

"That's it?!"

"Yes sir... the only other odd thing is that had the paramedic puzzled was that although the kid was shot in the chest, his lung appeared to be fine. Sir... well the bullet went right through him. Forensics found it embedded in the wall amongst the blood."

"... ...alright, let me chew on this a bit. Dismissed."



The fallen one was once more in healing. But before he had vanished, he wondered at the changed he had undergone and of 'mercy'.

Hidden: Salvation for the Damned

Part the First.
----------------------------

He lay crumpled in a heap against the rough brick wall at the end of an alley. His black skin cracked and oozing poisoned blood, shuddering as he drew breath. His authority and power now so much ashes and all the more painful from their absence. His pursuers, from both sides of the war, will soon draw upon him to reduce him to dust and cast his memory to the ages.

"How ironic, a fall... after the Fall..."

As he gathered what remained of his strength for the final confrontation, an unexpected intrusion occurred.

"Will you get better, mister?"

The fallen one stiffened as he stared at what was suppose to be an impossibility. His powers must be almost thoroughly gone for a mere child to notice him. And for him to not run screaming in terror, the child must either be exceptionally strong of will, naive to the extreme or undeniably witless. Perhaps a combination of the three.

Nonetheless, this child impressed him. Though in what way, he could not decide. He was so seldom impressed. "Go! They will be here soon. This is no place for you!"

The child, a boy of no more than five looked on unafraid but concerned. "What about you mister?"

"It is too late! Go Now!" Anger filled him, had he fallen so low that even children would defy him?

"Do you need to hide? Can I help?"

Such an earnest question, innocent and without guile. Almost impossible for him believe. It had been so long since he'd last heard such honesty that he almost forgot the feeling of lightness that went with it. So unlike the weight of lies he and his followers had surrounded themselves with for an eternity.

Yes, this child could help him. He could now see a path of salvation. A path requiring at least a decade before his return to full strength. At least a decade before vengeance against the betrayers. Yes, this child could hide him. He would have to make sacrifices of course. Limit his influence upon the child to nothing at all. Shut down all his links to his former powerbase. Erase all traces of his presence from existence. Yes. This child could save him.

"Yes..." The child would have to made aware of the weight of his offer... but time was pressing. In any case, he would not bring even influence to bear upon this child. Mostly out of necessity and partly out of... gratitude.

Such an unfamiliar concept one long abandoned and forgotten to the ages. Odd that it should return now. Or maybe not so odd, since his life was in peril.

"If you would help me, you will have to have no reservations."

The child nodded, and showed no concerned over the word if he were unfamiliar with it.

"What is your name, child?"

"Herod."

Raising from the floor to his full height, he towered mightily over the boy. He marveled how one so small could be his salvation.

He hesitated. What if this was a trap? This boy a lure? His enemies in the shadows?

No, he could feel them now. At the edge of his awareness but drawing closer. This was no trick, the boy was genuine. He had to hurry. He looked deep into the boy's eyes. "Are you afraid?"

The guileless child gently shook his head.

""You will be..."

Webbed wings, cracked and torn, rose up and casted a black shadow over the two but the boy did not flinch.

With a sudden gentleness the wings fell and both were sheathed in black.

For a long moment all was still.

Then the chrysalis pulsed.

Twice.

Once more and evaporated, leaving just the boy.

As red faded from the boys eyes, so to did all the traces of the demon.

No longer seeing anyone else in the alley, Herod turned and left.


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Kinda inspired by NXE, partly popped into my head one day while idly daydreaming. There'll be more to this.

Reverse Empire Pt. 3

"Hi gang, sis." Traavin could see several emotions play across the face of his old comrades; surprise, joy, shock, revulsion, fear, anger. On the face of his sister, he saw only unbridled fury. That was the only emotion he knew how to deal with; keep the conference table between them and wait until she calmed down.

With a snarl, Traarel threw herself across the table, arms outstretched. From his point of view, she was standing across the room one moment and halfway to him a blink of an eye later. The next thing Traavin felt was a familiar pair of hands wrapped very familiarly around his throat. Then the rest of Traarel crashed into him sending the both of them to the ground.

"I'm gonna kill you!" Traarel declared and proceeded to make good on her announcement. From his position Traavin could only hope she would relent before she really did choke the life out of him. Rage had lent her strength far beyond anything he had seen before.

From behind her, two pairs of hand locked onto her arms and managed to pry them from around her brother's neck. Zlen and Herrin, the largest in their group, strained to pull Traarel back. They mostly succeeded. Since her legs remained locked around Traavin, he was dragged along with his sister.

After almost a full minute of struggling the four of them were spent and gasping for breath. A sudden intake of breath from Yerrin drew everyone's attention. They redirected their gazes to the door when they realized that was where she was staring at.

A middle aged man stood in the doorway. Average height, gray hair, nondescript facial features, he looked unremarkable. Except for the uniform and rank insignia and his bearing. Even though only one of them recognized his face, everyone knew who he was. Only one man wore the Imperial Internal Intelligence emblem as a badge of rank, the director of the III.

When he saw that he had everyone's attention, he drew in a deep breath and thundered.

"YOU IDIOTS!"

The stormtrooper guards outside the room flinched, barely, despite the abolishment not being directed at them. Everyone inside the room were shocked into silence.

"Lieutenant 'Clay', stand up."

Suitable cowed, Traavin shot to his feet and stood at attention. The faces of some of the others darkened at this display of obedience. As the most vocal of the group (and short-tempered), Traarel was prepared to give her brother an earful when the director shot her a look.

Traarel returned the look and managed to hold it until the director grunted in approval. He broke eye contact and addressed the entire room. "Sit."

Not seeing much in the way of options, the rebel group reluctantly chose their seats and sat around the table. The director came around to the head of the table and sat down.

"We know of your plan to infiltrate the IBN complex. We know of your intention to broadcast the 'truth' of the Menikha Massacre and the Ravch Incident. We also know of the cells that each of you are leaders of. What we do not know is how a group of people as smart as yourselves can be so stupid when it comes to proper security measures."

"Is this what this is all about? You round us all up to ask us that?!"

"Herrin Pierner. I'll excuse this interruption because of the disorientation the method of bringing you here has caused. Learn to listen before opening your mouth."

"Since you were all prepared to commit communal suicide in two hours, we stepped in. Every member of your 'resistance movement' have been rounded up and are held in this building."

Tempers flared and more than one of them were ready to make their displeasure known but Traavin managed to get their attention and motion for them to wait.

"Getting to the point. We are not your enemy."

"WHAT!?" Pydid, quiet all throughout the rebel meeting, the reunion and the lecture finally burst out. The speed at which he rose to a stand propelled the chair on which he was sitting into the wall. "You round us all up, throw us into prison, make people 'disappear' to hush dissenters, execute military personnel and you have the GALL to say you are not our enemy?!"

"Pydid, sit down." Traavin quietly spoke. "You are not aware of the whole story. None of you are. Nor was I before."

Although he held no power over them, especially since he seemingly went over to the enemy's side, Pydid did as he was told. He had looked up to and believed in their former leader. Even now, Traavin still commanded his respect.

The director let the whole incident pass before continuing as if uninterrupted. "You seek the overthrow of the galactic council. As do we."

"WE, do not kidnap or hold summary executions!"

"Herrin, keep qui-"Traavin started but was waved down by the director.

"WE do so because they were necessary." The director continued before he was interrupted again. "We employ most of the kidnappees, Traavin here for example. And every real execution were to remove genuine monsters and tyrants. Every false execution were for the benefit of the council."

Shocked looks all around were all the response the group had for the moment.

"You're lying." Traarel accused.

"Major 'Wellstone' can testify for us." The director casually indicated the tall blonde III officer who had escorted all of the youths to the room.

Fully half of the occupants of the room jumped in their seats. No one had heard the major come in.

"You may know me better as Chienca Ghilegi." 'Wellstone' said without ceremony.

Recognition was visible on all of their faces. Chienca Ghilegi was the most well known of III's targets. Everyone of the youths knew her story by heart. Their organization was based in part on hers. The largest resistance movement since the Imperial Reformation. All of that organization 'disappeared' almost overnight by III's hand.

"I wasn't really executed. Shortly after the declaration from the council of us being outlaws and malcontents, 'Triple-Eye' approached me with a proposal. My public execution for the continuation of our work under the aegis of 'Triple-Eye'."

"Contrary to popular belief, Lagazor was not exterminated. We absorbed the organization and have worked hand in glove ever since."

Major 'Wellstone' nodded to the director. "We were not the first, nor the last. That is how 'Triple-Eye' has managed to grow so rapidly. We recruited every serious rebel and opposition group to the council. All 'atrocities' committed by 'Triple-Eye' and the Imperial Military Command since the Reformation were staged for the benefit of the council."

Traavin interjected, "In short, the joke's on them."

"Now we come to the focal point of this meeting. We are impressed with the resourcefulness, diligence and dedication you all have managed to keep secret from almost everyone." The director looked at each of the assembled youths in turn. "We want 'Volcanic Snow' to join the Imperial Internal Intelligence. Soon, we will be able to start a second Reformation, this time a peaceful one."

All of youths shared a look and the same thought; They were not alone, not anymore.

"Though you might want to change the name of your group. That's an awful name." Major 'Wellstone' mused.

The eyes of all the youths locked on to Traavin who couldn't help but blush.


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Well, that's the end. Hope it was entertaining =)

Reverse Empire Pt. 2

The first sensation to returned to her was taste. It was as if someone had fed her cotton, cotton laced with a slightly coppery tang.

With a start Yerrin tried to push herself into a sitting position on her cot. She almost fell back down as her head spun from the sudden movement.

Finally managing to prop herself against the wall, Yerrin tried to take stock of her situation. She then realized that she had been fed cotton. Spitting out the cotton pad, she noted it had what looked like dried blood along one side. Feeling the inside of her mouth with her tongue, she was relieved to find that it had nothing to do with her teeth and that they were all still there.

It took a moment longer for it to come to her but she remembered the circumstances that led to her being in this detention cell.

"Oh no.. Pradran... Traarel, Zlen, Pydid..."

Before she could ponder further the fate of the others, a low rumble reverberated through the walls and set her teeth on edge. The door on the far side of the cell slid open to reveal a lone Imperial Internal Intelligence officer. Despite her concern for the others, Yerrin recoiled and tried to back away from the apparition of terror.

The tall blonde III officer entered and strode to the center of the room. Dressed in a close cut black uniform, she managed to scare the wits out of the youth in front of her without doing anything. For a long moment the officer just stared silently at the teen who kept her back pressed against the wall.

"Come with me." The blonde turned and stepped back into the dark corridor and out of sight.

At first Yerrin tried to convince herself that the III officer was an illusion. She didn't really come in and the door wasn't really open. It was a futile gesture, the door still gaped open and the officer had snuck a peek to see if she was following.

Hesitantly, Yerrin uncurled and slid off the cot. She didn't want to follow the blonde but she knew that this politeness was only an empty gesture. If she didn't follow on her own they would just drag her out. Coming to a decision, the rebel teen stood up and schooled her expression. If she was being led to her execution, she would meet her end with dignity.

A ghost of a smile touched the face of the III officer when she saw the change and the new determination in her eyes. She nodded to her left as Yerrin stepped out of her cell. "This way."

Yerrin was surprised. First, the intelligence officer was surprisingly gentle with her commands. Second, it was only the two of them in the corridor. The two towering imperial stormtroopers she was expecting as escorts were nowhere to be seen. Third, the officer was unarmed.

A briefly considered plan to overpower her captor was discarded. Who knew if she really was unarmed. Besides, the blonde was much taller and looked formidable enough to take on a stormtrooper unarmed.

The two entered a turbolift and were whisked to an upper level. Yerrin grew uneasy as she noticed the officer studying her with an unreadable expression. The end of the trip came abruptly and Yerrin let out the breath she'd been holding when the scrutiny ended.

They emerged into bright corridor and took a right turn, coming face to face with a pair of stormtroopers. The blonde palmed the door behind the troopers open and ushered Yerrin in. "In here."

She needn't had bothered as Yerrin had caught sight of one of the figures within. "PRADRAN!!"

"YERRIN!"

The two siblings embraced and were joined by all the others of their rebel group except Traarel. Herrin was the one who noticed and moved over to her. "Traarel, are you alright? You've been uncharacteristically quiet."

"I... I don't know. The last thing I remembered before, after the pulse grenade went off.. I thought I sa-" Whatever she was about to say was cut off as she saw who had just stepped into the conference room. Traarel's face went white before colouring in fury. "YOU TRATIOR!!"

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Part 3 (the conclusion) to come soon. ^ ^

Reverse Empire Pt. 1

AN: Borrows most of the base setting from Star Wars but has nothing to do with it otherwise. Don't expect this to be just another Star Wars fanfic. =)

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"Alright, tonight then." The speaker, a young human male who didn't look like he was out of his teens paused for dramatic effect. "By this time tomorrow the Empire wouldn't be able to hide the atrocities they've committed in the name of galactic unity any longer."

An even younger teenage boy swallowed nervously before asking, "Are you sure we can pull it off? The Imperial Broadcasting Net is as heavily defended as any military fortress."

"We have to, or we'll be no better than the Senate!" The girl, the eldest of the youths assembled there declared vehemently. Her expression hardened before continuing in a quieter voice, "Or the monsters who killed my brother soon after he showed us the truth..."

Another girl, with an obvious resemblance to the nervous teen, placed a hand on her shoulder. "We know. He was an inspiration to us al-"

"SHUT UP!!" The first girl shrieked as she violently shrugged off the hand on her shoulder. "That idiot had to get himself captured! He knew what Internal Imperial Intelligence would do to 'dissidents'."

The remaining two youths in the room were almost shocked out of their seats at the outburst. The younger of the two boys tried to placate the girl. "Calm down Traarel, Traavin knew what he was getting into and decided to act for the greater good."

"Yes, as will we all. Tonight." The largest of the teens intoned solemnly. "Herrin, will there be anything else?"

"No, that's it for the agenda." The first speaker answered. "We are adjourned."

Just as the meeting broke, a muffled cry came from behind the only door of the room. It was immediately followed by the unmistakable whine of a blaster discharge.

"WE'VE BE MADE!!"

Despite how prepared they were for this very eventuality, everyone in the room were caught flatfooted as the door crashed open to reveal a towering figure in white armor.

Even as Herrin and Traarel raised their pistols, the stormtrooper disappeared from the doorway and a small metallic sphere was tossed into the room.

Everyone recognized what it was, and everyone knew that there was no way to hide in a room of that size.

Herrin and Traarel had just enough time to share a look before the pulse grenade went off in a noiseless blue flash.

While the stun weapon knocked everybody else out instantly, Traarel remained conscious long enough to see a III officer step cautiously into the room. Just as everything faded to black, she saw the last person she ever expected to see.

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Wanted to write the whole thing in one go but it's getting waaaay too late. I'll finish up tomorrow. Or maybe later than that; This is already turning out to be much longer than I expected it to be.

A rambling tale.

Just something off the top of my head, no planned structure, plot or characters. I.E.: Another experiment.

=================================================

It was a dark and stormy night, the thunder loud and lightning bright.

At a chilly and snowy height, there sat a damp and freezing knight.

With his fire and armor bright, in this gloomy and moody night.

For when he took his only bite, he saw a truly sorry sight.

His laptop only had a byte, what a totally wretched night.



=================================================

Okay, maybe there is a structure to this, but it's not in the story. =P It was kinda fun to type this up, but also a pain to think it up.

...

I think I better stop, or this rhyming wouldn't stop.

...

Damnit!



Edit: Removed the rhyming aid, for it's not a reading aid. ...aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Knowing Thyself (Perspective Change)

I have watched him for a month now and as far as I could tell, he seemed to be stable enough. He could accept and adapt to unexpected situations, he is not intransigent.

Ah, he is moving into the REM cycle of sleep. I can finally talk to him now.

With a smile of glee I am unable to keep from my face, I cloak myself with his image and announced myself. "Hello. So I finally get to meet you."

I let myself fade into view and it took a moment of staring before he could find his voice and ask me the question that was undoubtably on his mind. "Who are you?"

"I am you." While that is not exactly true, it is close enough that does not really matter.

"Wha?!"

The expression of bafflement and wide-eyed realization on his face was priceless. I just could not help it, I laughed. "I am you, from another dimension."

I waited a little for him to get used to the idea before I revealing more. "As you may have notice, we are actually in your subconciousness and you are actually asleep."

"You're just a dream?" The look of disappointment on his face made me chuckle.

"No."

"No matter how many times I explain this, it never gets old." I mused aloud. Since a detailed explanation would take too long, I decide to save it for another time. "I'm using a device to send my conciousness into yours so that I can meet myselves."

He seemed to be at a loss for words again, openly staring at me and with his mouth partially open.

"There are so many variations that I dispair of ever meeting us all." I continued, as much to myself as to him.

"Wh.. how are... we? I mean what are we like?" It was a little while before he could get his bearings again but he seemed to be accepting of this, enthusiastically so I believe. This is far better than I had hoped.

"Oh there will never be enough time to discribe us all." I lamented but I proceeded to tell him of some of whom I had met. I told him about those who were of very different ages, beginning with the very young of whom the youngest was an infant and finishing with the story of a great-grandfather.

He seemed to be very accepting of it all, so I decided to test him. "There was one of us who had active psionic abilities, another who was a skilled old shadow warrior and yet another who was military advisor of the country. She was only slightly more accepting of this than you."

"Wow." He replied, a little overwhelmed. But only for a moment, he caught on fast enough. His gaze which had drifted to the ground suddenly snapped back to my face. "Wait. 'She'?"

This is why I have wanted to meet him for so long, he is so naturally funny. I laughed again as I answered him. "Yes, 'she'. Some of us were born female."

"How do we look?" I could not say that I was not expecting the question, I had heard the same query from others before after all. And as such, I had an answer prepared.

"I can only say, not too bad." I had decided to try the cryptic approach to observe his reaction but I was surprised at his silence. It seemed that he was more contemplative than I had allowed for, especially with one arm folded under an elbow and the other under his chin.

"I am sure you have questions for me." I prodded, hoping to initiate the questions I was sure to come.

He asked a question, but it was not a question I had anticipated. I had expected the obvious ones about our female selves but he had surprised me again."Have you spoken with everyone of us this way?"

At this question, I lost my smile.

"No." I did not want to say anymore but I could not stop myself. "Not everyone. Most of us can accept the idea of multiple dimensions. A slightly smaller number can accept that there are multiple version of us. Not all of them however, can accept the reality of meeting ourselves."

I could see that he was deep in thought. I could have stopped there, I should have stopped there. ButI did not.

I suppose I was looking for something, punishment or maybe judgement. I couldn't tell. After keeping the secrets to myself for five years, I revealed my sins.

"I... drove one to murder.. and another to suicide." With this admission, his eyes raised to stare directly into mine. I met his gaze, and continued.

"The first - who was also the first one I met - decided somehow that everyone was expandable. That he could kill anyone but they were never really dead since there were others out there. It started with his brother and he had no remorse."

I do not know what it was that made me stop then but I was grateful. He did not say anything but I knew, that he knew what I have been doing these past five years. The first was committed to an asylum. In his padded cell he cries but does not know why. He believes that those that he had killed were still alive but does not know why nobody believes him. I visit but do not meet him. He has been receiving treatment and it has slowly been having an effect on him. If he were to see me again, everything would be undone. He may be released, in time. But he would forever remain a reminder of my shame.

"The other... could not bear with it, the knowledge that he was just one of many. Dispite the fact that we were all different and the evidence that I had showed him, he threw himself off a building." Although I had observed him for a week beforehand to avoid the mistake I had made with the first, I had not expected him to cling to his individuality so strongly. To be so distraught at the thought of the existance of others like him, it was frightening. My endeavours to reassure him only drove him further away. One day, before entering the second stage of sleep, I saw in his mind the decision. The climb. The fall. The return to consciousness in a hospital bed. And the horror of surviving.

"He survived it, I saw it as he went to sleep, at the stage when his mind was storing and remembering all that had happened that day. I did not talk to him that time, I was just too shocked. And after that look into his mind, I could not contact him again."

There is nothing to serve as a memorial for him, but I won't forget. I can not allow myself to forget. I finally drop my gaze. And as I did I saw that his hands were clenched into fists. I am unconcerned for that, there was no way he could hurt me. And even if he could, I deserve far worse.

As I waited for him to pass judgement I could not help but wonder why only he had asked that question.

I do not know how long I spent waiting in silence, but I was alerted to his impending awakening.

"I have to leave, you will be waking up soon."

I had not expected him to say anything, not after so much silence. After my revelations I would not have expected anything more than a frosty 'good riddence'. So I was completely surprised at what he told me. "You can come back, anytime."

Now I was the one who was at a loss for words. No dismissial. No judgement. I smile my thanks and flashed him a gesture I had learned from watching him. A fist with a raised thumb pointed upwards.

The answering smile I received told me I got it right. And that maybe one day, I may have absolution.

I will be back. As I fade from his mind, I let my cloak fall.

If his actions are any indications, he may be able to accept the truth about me sooner than I had anticipated.

I look forward to our next meeting.