The Encompassing Dark
~SHADOW~
*Arriving home from the Gallery she steps into the kitchen to see
what Jack was making for dinner.. Talking to him a few minutes.
Finding out if Ace and Lyta were around.. Finally she leaves to
go change.. Running a top art gallery she had to dress the part..
It was the worst thing about the job.. Sighing she starts to head
up the stairs.*
~TOSHA~
*a slender black woman steps through airport security, pausing
briefly to show her company ID to the guards, she smiles and
chats briefly with them before passing on, the black bag at her
side unsearched...she continues on unmolested then turns into a
bathroom..minutes later a young brunette in a miniskirt leaves,
carrying at her side a black bag.once outside the terminal she
flags down a taxi, she leans over the door revealing an ample
amount of exposed cleavage that the driver cannot help but stare
at as he nods mutely to her directions, She smiles and pats him
lightly on the arm before crawling into the back seat...an hour
later he drops her off in front of a down town Macdonalds...she
stands for a long moment looking around before turning and
entering the fast food restaurant, she orders a meal, then before
leaving she heads to the bathroom....moments later a tall blond
brit leaves the bathroom, a large black bag in her hand*
*Once upstairs she quickly changes into jeans and t-shirt.. Her
eyes falling on to the bracelet on the dresser. It had been a
long time since she had heard from any of the other runners.. In
one way she kinda liked that.. Less chance that she would be
found by G.U.A.R.D. Then again if she did have problems would she
be able to call on anyone for help? Sighing she picks up the
bracelet. She would have to start spending time with other
runners Now was not the time to go it alone.. She had known that
when she had tried to find a way to contact in the first place.*
*She walks down the street, the heavy bag slung casually over her
shoulder...this was a good a place to lay low for a bit as
any...besides, she need time to think...it would be a while
before her final payment came in for the last job...it would
probably be a while before the body was found, though she had
told her employer where it was...it was up to them to let the
info be leaked...she trusted these ones, she had worked for them
many times before...they never saw her, she never saw them, in
fact they probably thought she was male.... a slight chuckle
leaves her lips at the thought...none of her clients had met her,
and none would...that made things too risky*
*The phone rings just as she is heading out of her bedroom.
Picking it up she groans.. One of her best clients had finally
decided on a purchase and wanted it now.. Tonight for a party she
was throwing.. As much as she hated it she knew she would need to
meet the woman at the gallery. It wasn’t good to throw a
million dollar account away.. Picking up her keys and as an after
thought the teleport bracelet she heads out. Letting Jack know
she was leaving.. It takes only a few minutes to get to her
downtown gallery this late at night.*
*She'd only been in the country for a few weeks, but already she
had some contacts, some pretty good ones thanks to Alan.....now
that had been a strange meeting....what were the odds that she
would meet a freak like her, she had always thought she was
unique, a one of a kind anomaly...and now it seems she was just
one of many and of all the silly things she seemed to have a
wimpy power...but she didn't need any, she lived on her own wits
and skills long enough, she was fine, and wasn't hunted like this
Alan claimed to be...at least not currently...and she didn't plan
on messing up any jobs so she wouldn't be hunted anytime soon
either...she sees a payphone as she randomly rounds a corner and
throws her bag heavily down at its base while she searches her
pockets for a quarter* Might as well see what messages I got
*Pulling up to park at the curb she sees a young woman at the
payphone.. Something about the woman made her nervous. She
didn’t have to look of someone going to party in Dallas
Alley or Deep Ellum. There was something almost predatory about
her.. Frowning she walks over to open the door to the gallery.
Her client pulling up in her limo at the same time.. Smiling she
turns to greet her client.. Mentally keeping track of the woman
on the phone..*
*she sees the woman pull up at the curb only paying partial
attention to her, then notices the limo puling up shortly
afterwards..she half dismisses them as she dials up her remote
answering service, then easily dismisses them as she listens
carefully to a message regarding her latest job ..a smile crosses
her lips as she listens to the amount dropped in her account.*
nice bonus * the smile drops from her lips as she feels someone
watching her, and gradually she turns, the phone still up to her
ear, her eyes raking her surroundings until they land on Zora,
there's something there, she doesn’t trust that one, she's
too wary*
*It doesn’t take long to conclude her business with the
client.. Getting her driver to carry the painting out to the car
she opens the door for him. Looking over to see if the woman that
was on the phone earlier was still around.. Unconsciously she
draws shadows towards her.. As it was late in the day, early in
the evening, most people would dismiss it as a trick of the
lights.. Smiling she tells the client good night and her hopes
that her party was a success. As soon as the client was gone she
locks up moving towards her car..*
*She hangs up as she notes everyone leaving the building....there
was something definitely there that she didn't like, she just
didn't know what, or why......she leans over bag for a second as
if putting something in it, then as you lock up she hefts it to
her shoulder and turns down the street...she rounds the corner,
and presses into the shadows, merely watching..trying to figure
out why the uneasy feeling...she had learnt a long time ago its
better to trust your instincts...even if it means over
reacting...it quite often means staying alive*
*While walking to the car she had let her senses search out for
the woman.. When she moves into the shadows Z smiles. This was
perfect.. Reaching her car she seems to get in.. Instead she uses
the shadows in the car to move to where Tosha is.. Although she
doesn’t step out of the shadows a voice is heard right
behind Tosha.. Seeming to come out of the wall itself.* You
wouldn’t be casing the place now would you? Cause if you
are.. I would advice against it
she merely stands watching...she sees the girl get in the car
then a voice seems to come from the wall....a snarl is on her
face and she instinctively drops and evades any shots, putting
some distance between her and the unknown...the bag dropped
carelessly at her feet, echoing of well padded metal.....she
palms a small gun, keeping it well hidden from sight..she knew
something was up...she just wasn't sure what*
*The shadows seem to move out to surround the bag. The bag then
starts to sink into the shadows. By this time Z had already moved
just in case the woman had taken a shot at her.. Her voice seems
to echo down the alley seeming to come from all directions.* Ah..
Now what do we have here I definately don’t think you here
for the clubs, I’m warning you.. Try anything funny and you
will regret it..
*She winces slightly as she notices the bag moving away but makes
no move to retrieve it...her computer wasn't in it, that was safe
elsewhere...all that bag had was some weapons, and
explosive...nothing too major, nothing traceable..she was tempted
to shoot, but it was futile, never shoot at what you can't
see....besides...that would alert the neighbours* Only one doing
anything funny is you...*she can hear the voice echoing down the
alley, but that was an old trick, one assassins used all the
time...she instead turned her head searching the darkness out of
the sides of her eyes, looking for anything vaguely solid....this
had to be a trick...someone was there somewhere*
*She was right.. Someone was there.. Just not how she thought.. Z
was safely tucked way in the shadows. Tosha would see nothing but
shadows.. That is until Z spooks any alley cat to see what Tosha
would do.. While she waited she pulled the bag too her looking
through it to see what the woman carried. Brows raising at the
number of weapons and explosives.. A chuckle then a her soft
voice is heard...* Ace would love this stuff..
*someone had to be in the shadows...she just didn’t' know
where..she hears the chuckle and sighs* enough is enough *the
words are almost whispered as she moves with unnatural speed
pulling from inside her jacket one of the many surprises she
keeps hidden....potassium flares... harmless and useless little
pellets until they contact water..as the vial is whipped form her
jacket she flips the top off and throw the whole thing in a
nearby puddle..instantly causing them to flare up whitely.....she
knows enough to avert her gaze to avoid night blinding, and
spotting...the flare up is brief, maybe a minute at most but
hopefully enough to allow her to spot the person*
*That would have worked if Z had been in the shadows, but Z was
IN the shadows.. All the flare does is block her access to the
alley. Although a cry is heard quickly cut off as the shadows
disappear only to sound again as the shadows reappear as the
flare dies down.. As the shadows reappear Z`s arm seems to appear
right out of the building itself.. In her light blindness she had
moved and her arm stuck out of the shadow.*
*She spins her head, trying to locate the source of the scream,
but to her disappointment and shock she doesn't see it...the
light dies and almost like magic the arm appears..without even
thinking about it..she reacts and grabs it pulling it towards her
and twisting it up and hopefully behind the forthcoming body, the
knee coming up to impact with a kidney*
*Caught off guard she is easily pulled forward. With her arm
twisted up she is unable to stop the knee impacting not in the
kidney, but a little higher. One of the problems of being so
short With a cry of pain she reaches out with her other hand to
steady herself against the wall.. At the same time she acts
instinctively to pull the shadows around her and Tosha. Tosha
would soon find herself in the murky blackness of the shadows
themselves..*
What do you want? *her British accent rolling thickly off her
tongue..holding the arm taut behind the girls body, she kicks a
foot forward, trying to take out your legs..the murky darkness
surrounds them, blocking everything from Toshas sight, this
frightens her slightly...but being a mercenary she's learnt to
hide it well, her only reaction being to tighten her grip upon
the arm....she can see nothing now, can only feel the body which
she holds trapped...as the darkness remains, seeming to cling a
slight touch of worry enters her voice*What are you doing?What is
this?
*By pulling them into the shadows nothing existed.. Not the
building she had reached out for not anything.. Already starting
to fall the kick to her legs takes her down.. Her arm wrenching
painfully. She wasn’t much of a fighter and she knew it..
Keep to the shadows and use them to take out opponents. That was
her motto. Once someone had a hold of her it was a different
story. Still.. She had a few tricks.. Her voice is filled with
pain as she fights to push it back long enough to get away.*
Shadows.. Your in the shadows
*As you fall she lets herself go down to one knee, keeping a firm
grip on the arm the entire time...no matter what happened she
wasn't letting go....this was something solid..and somehow this
one was responsible for this...darkness, shadows as she called
them..* No kidding, what did you do? *Her hand runs lightly over
your frame searching for weapons, or something to tie you
with...most of her stuff was in her bag, and she didn't see that
around, she didn't see anything......right now...this woman was
everything....a threat? definitely, but from what? a client? a
victim? a competitor? she just didn't know...and things were
definatley not in her favor right now...* what are you? *She
places a knee in the centre of your back*
*The woman was good she had to give her credit. Most would have
totally freaked out by now.. There were no weapons on Z. Nor
anything to use to tie her up..* I pulled us into the shad...
*Her words are cut off as a knee is placed in her back. Wincing
in pain once more.* Right now I’m the person that holds your
life in her hands If you don’t get off me and let me go
I’ll leave you here. Without me you can’t get out of
the shadows *She tried to sound forceful and in charge despite
being the one pinned down. She could have moved anywhere in the
shadows, but not without taking Tosha with her. Not as long as
she had a hold of her.*
*she didn't like this shadows deal..it was freaking her out...but
had learnt a long time ago not to panic...panic only gets you
killed...and they way she saw it this one she had claimed to
control and at this point she controlled the woman.* nice
try....you control them, I control you *she accents this last
point by removing her knee from your back and hauling you to your
feet..she doesn’t know where she is, but your leading her
out*...if I'm not getting out, you are not
*She could hear the controlled panic in the woman’s voice..
Laughing despite the pain as she is pulled to her feet..* You
want out.. Ok.. They don’t seem to move but the shadows peel
away to show they are no longer in the alley. They are still in
an alley, but not the one they had been in..* Is this better?
*Even as she speaks the shadows start to close in around them
once more..*
*Her grip doesn't loosen when they part...instead it
tightens*...where are we? *the shadows close in again and her
grip tightens* I know one way to end this for sure *in her other
hand appears the berretta she had earlier palmed..she presses the
cold steel against the side of your face...letting you know its
there* I'm sure this would end it all .....now what are you? *a
thought briefly surfaces, a conversation she had had with
another, "..there are thousands.." after all these
years without encountering any..what were the odds that she would
encounter two?..* are you...*..what was it they were
called...*Runner?
*The berretta changed a few things, but she doesn’t let
anything show.. She tries to go through ideas in her head to get
away from the woman when she asks if Z is a runner.. Startled the
shadows fall away and they are once more back in the original
alley.* A what? *She tries to hide her surprise.* Um..
Haven’t run in years.
*a light almost vicious chuckle leaves her lips as she obviously
startles your with the question* you've answered my
question....*she smiles and lowers the gun, but retains her
grip...knowing that they were at something of an impasse.*
Where's my bag?
*She was somewhat relieved when the gun is moved away, but the
woman still maintained her grip. Shakes her head* Sorry.. No can
do.. Just who are you? *She wasn’t about to give this woman
more weapons if she were a member of G.U.A.R.D. Just how did she
know about Runners any way.*
Who I am doesn't matter *she chuckles lightly* we seem to be at
an impasse..I don't know who you are...and you don’t' know
who I am....She leans forward a little, putting some weight on
the arm, the gun once more coming into view*.now where the hell
is my bag?
*Winces as pressure is put on her arm once more.* There *The bag
seems to emerge from the shadows a little ahead of them. The
shadows cling to the bag as if reluctant to let it go.*
Good *She forces you over towards the bag and once more takes
your legs out from underneath you forcing you down to the ground,
her grip never easing on the arm....the gun is once more pocketed
and a knee finds its way into your back as her free hand
struggles with the zipper...finally the bag opens, the hand
reaches in pulling out a cellphone....holding it awkwardly she
dials the number of a contact.....* ...its me.*she pauses,
listening to the voice on the other end*..yeah, the jobs
done...need a favour ...no, not that...I need ya to contact my
source....yeah...give him this number, I can always grab a new
phone later....get him to call thanks *she hangs up the phone and
leans back slightly, easing up the pressure on Zoras back* well
we might have a solution to this problem soon..or if nothing
else..... a disposal
*Stumbles as she is pushed once more finding herself on face down
on the ground with a knee in her back. She hears the bag opened
and the woman making a call.* Fine, but we wait where I’m
comfortable.. *With that she pulls the shadows back around them.
The woman had more advantages than she did. She wanted at least
one...*
.~ABYSS~
*He’s right in the middle of the super bowl when his phone
rings. Figuring on ignoring it, the damned thing just keeps
ringing. Looking over to it with a lightly disgusted look to his
face. He grab the receiver.* This better be good.....*The person
on the other end apologizes profusely, then gives him a number to
call. Sighing heavily as he scrambles around for a bit of paper
to write the number down on.* Got it...*He hangs up, then dials
the other number. Waiting until the cellphone is picked up...*
What? I’m in the middle of something here.... This had
better be good.*Talking to TOSHA.*
~TOSHA~
*The shadows close in once more and the pressure she taken off of
Zora returns...she hated this shadows crap..the phone doesn't
even finish the first ring before its answered* Hello? *she
breathes a sigh of relief as she hears ABYSS* well I owe you
another then..I've got a bit of a dilemma here....I seem to be in
a bit of a predicament....I'm in Dallas...I've encountered what I
think might be one of those Runners you told me about.... In fact
I've sorta got her pinned her, but she too seems to have
entrapped me...I could kill her and end it all quickly, but then
I end up with disposal problems ....I don't know Dallas......can
you maybe help me clean up a little? This time I might even
actually have something to pay you with *...and in fact she
did...a new EMP weapon she had just aquired, it was a primary
tester from the middle east that was payment for a job, a cool
little toy, but she didn't have too much use for it*
~SHADOW~
*Oh this was just great..* Kill me here and you have a problem
getting out.. *No way would she let the shadows go now.*
~ABYSS~
*His brows furrow slightly on the other end of the phone. What
the hell was she doing catching Runners!!!* The hell you doin`?!
And what sorta clean up, you`re not to kill another runner. I
don`t know who`s payin` ya for this, but we don`t kill our own.
What`s her name?*If he knew her, then he would have her spared,
otherwise she`d have to be dealt with obviously, he knew there
were bad Runners as well as good ones. TOSHA would obviously have
to learn this game a little better.* We /try/ not to kill our
own, if you get my meaning. Put, put her on the phone.
~TOSHA~
*she scowls at the phone* she went for me first, I don't take
kindly to being attacked..as for pay unfortunatley noone or she'd
be gone.....I don't know *She nudges ZORA with her knee* what
your name? *while waiting for the answer she goes back to the
phone* I just finished a job, I was looking for some time
off...and this one jumped me...she's lucky I didn't kill her to
start.....*Her voice takes on an edge of steel* fine don't kill
your own..but if shes one of yours.. shes got a lot to learn
*Frustration shows in her voice* Hey at least I called someone
who would know before I did anything...fine *she shakes her head
as she puts the phone up against ZORAS ear* TALK!
~TOSHA~
*She couldn`t help it.. Hearing the woman`s tirade on the phone
she starts to chuckle.. Laughing harder as her frustration
shows.. Tries to stop laughing as the phone is shoved against her
ear..* Y..Yeesss *She wasn`t sure who was on the other end, but
was sure it would be an interesting conversation..*
~ABYSS~
*Growing a might impatient with a woman who owes him.... TWICE...
He growls slightly as the phone is in transit from TOSHAs ear to
SHADOWS... Waiting for someone on the other end to say somthing.
He pulls a lit cigarette away from his liips. Blowing the smoke
into the phone as though the person on the other end could smell
the rancid stench.* You sound familiar.... S`your name sweetie?*A
big piggish yes, but ALAN had never one any awards for his
congenial manner.*
~TOSHA~
*as the chuckle leaves ZORA she can't help but to grind her knee
in a little bit*
~SHADOW~
*Getting her laughter a little under control she listens to the
man on the other end of the phone. She is usually good with
voices, but this one eludes her.* Names Zora.. Or Shadow if you
want the file name.. Who`s this? *She knew few of the other
Runners.. Her thoughts of earlier coming back to haunt her.. She
really should have cultivated more contacts Her life and really
the other woman`s life depended on the man on the phone.. If he
hadn`t heard of her..*
~ABYSS~
*He thinks for a moment, placing the familiar voice with faces
he`d seen. He`d seen this person before, even heard her name once
or twice amoung member of the lair. Then a slight face flashes
across his mind from a long ago battle.* This would be ALAN...
Abyss by filename.. Hang on, i`ll get you out of this. Put the
other woman back on the phone.*His voice holding a stern edge
that would seem as though it wasn`t going to take this womans
death as an answer to this problem. This one had tried to save
his life. He remembers seeing it. Waiting until the phone is back
to TOSHAs ear.* Leave her go.... I know her, and I owe her.
~TOSHA~
Shadow? *a half chuckle of amusement a the name* nice name *she
snatches the phone back once ZORAs finished...and talks to ALAN
herself* so? one of yours? *She snorts almost in disgust owe her?
*she snickers* well your paid..she lives *with that said she
moves off of Zoras back and releases her arm* She better get me
out of this damn shadow
~SHADOW~
*Smiles as Tosha chuckles at her name.. At least the woman had a
sense of humor.. Not that it would help her out of this situation
if the man didn`t know.. She barely hears the man`s name before
Tosha takes the phone back.. Alan? Abyss? Stunned she shakes her
head whispering softly.* Can`t be.. He`s dead.. I couldn`t save
him.. *She doesn`t even seem to realize that Tosha has moved off
of her. She had just been on the phone with a dead man..*
~ABYSS~
*HARDLY considering himself paid for the debt that TOSHA owes
him. Seeing as she now owes him another for disturbing him and to
get her out of this mess it would seem.* Riiiiiight..*Is the last
thing he says before there`s a resounding CLICK on the other end
of the phone. That would be himm hanging up....*
~TOSHA~
*she half growls half chuckles as ALAN hangs up..she can't blame
him, she'd probably do the same...She glances over in the
direction where Zora should be, the shadows still hanging thick
around them* Not get rid of this stuff and we'll go our own
ways..he doesn't owe you anything anymore
~SHADOW~
What *Still shocked at having talked to a man she thought dead
she shakes her head looking over to where the shadows told her
Tosha was..* Oh.. Yeah.. *The shadows drop immediately leaving
them in the now dark alley.* He didn`t owe me anything to begin
with.. I didn`t do anything.. *She doesn`t make a move to get up
and while she is looking in Tosha`s direction it doesn`t look
like she sees her.*
~TOSHA~
*she visibly relaxes as the shadows vanish, but her gaze reamains
warily upon you.* he thought you did...*She spots her bag and
walk over to it, hefting it to her shoulder..she looks over
towards you, having no idea why you are on the ground, just
guessing that you might be in shock...she shrugs slightly, it
doesn't bother her...she turns to head out the alley, words
tossed almost carelessy over her shoulder* Next time don't attack
first
~SHADOW~
I tried to save his life once, but I couldn`t revive him.. *She
starts to stand her hand moving to the wall to steady herself.
Wincing from the pain in the arm Tosha had twisted. Using the
wall as a guide she starts to walk back up the alley following
Tosha.* As I recall I didn`t attack.. Just asked a question..
~TOSHA~
Well he's alive and kicking now, could be why he thought he owed
you...*she shrugs as she turns to head up the street* did in my
books..and thats not a smart move
*Chuckles* Perhaps.. but if you hadn`t of blinded me it might
have been a bit different.