18/01/04 - Rock... meet Kain
Characters: Rock_Howard, Terry_Bogard, Johnny_C
*TOMOEDA: COMMERCIAL DISTRICT*
As the day has worn on Rock Howard has very simply decided that now was the time
to buy the bike he wanted, yes. Finally he was going to get one that he wanted,
even if it looked a little suspicious to Terry and the others he was getting
tired of the distrust, warnings, and lecturing. Today he was going to do
something for himself and no one was going to ruin that.
As Rock strolls through the commercial district, he might at one point notice a
rather hideously dressed young woman casually leant up against a lamppost.
Whether he sees her or not, she lifts one hand to wave and grins over at him.
The time has come.
Rock has his hands in the pockets of his jacket as he walks and almost misses
the person. But the wave catches his eye and he turns lifting a hand out of the
jacket to wave back and he stands there silently.
Talena, after waiting for a moment for Rock to come over to -her-, shrugs and
kicks off from the lamppost, striding over across the street. She stops in front
of Rock, flipping her shades down and peering at him. "Hey, babe. Miss me?"
Rock blushes slightly, "Well uh...yes?" He pats his pocket, "I was just goin'
to pick out a bike actually."
Talena makes a face, "What, right now? 'Coz.. there's a good reason why I'm
here." She pauses to flip some gum up into her mouth, chewing as she speaks,
"And I think you know what that reason is?"
Rock's eyes narrow, then widen, "I see...hmmm....It can wait then if it's that
important." he nods to himself and to her.
Talena gives a toothy grin, "Great stuff! It's a little way outta town, so we'll
need to take the 'copter." She pushes her shades back up before stepping around
Rock and nodding towards the park. "Come with me, Rocky baby. You ever flown
before?"
Rock says, "Uh...not really no...this would be my...well uh...I don't know I
guess first real time." He turned to follow, "I've taken the train more often
than flying."
Talena grins, "It's pretty easy. Not a long trip anyway.. you'll love it!" She
then strides off in the direction of the park, hands burying themselves in the
pockets of her jacket.
*TOMOEDA: PENGUIN PARK*
The park is deathly silent, and dominated by an unmarked helicopter that sits
near the entrance, blades whirring quietly as it sits in 'standby'. The side
windows are blacked out, and so it is impossible to see who the driver is
without heading around to the front of the vehicle. Talena heads up to the door
and hops onto the leg of the 'copter before easing herself inside. Moving along
a seat, she beckons to Rock.
Rock follows and follows suit for getting into the copter, though he kinda
stumbles in and almost falls into Talena's lap, he blushes and scoots back in
the seat remaining red as he waits for the chopper to lift off.
Talena smirks as Rock almost falls into her lap, glancing over at him and
raising an eyebrow. "And here we are on our first date. Moving a little quickly,
aren't you babe?" She winks and then looks back to the front of the copter.. a
curtain hangs across to obscure view of the mysterious pilot. Talena kicks the
back of what must be his chair, "Okay, let's go. Drop as at the bottom - I know
ya hate flying all the way up there. We can walk."
Rock turns even redder in the face and scratches the back of his head with a
nervous grin, "Eh heh heh heh...." he sits back and tries to relax.
The helicopter takes off in usual style, all whooshing blades and thunderous
winds. Shivering a bit, Talena leans across Rock to slam the door, obviously
brushing against him a bit in the process. Always helps.... once the chopper is
up, the view across NeoTokyo is breathtaking, particularly when the helicopter
has completed its journey to the south-west, brushing past a snow-capped
mountain and spinning down towards its base. Talena, who has remained silent for
the trip, grins and whips the door open again - wind and snow smacking around
inside the vehicle. "This is where we get off, Rocky!" She calls above the
noise, before jumping the last few feet to the ground, just before the
helicopter sets down. Instead of staggering from the impact, she nonchalantly
tucks her hands into her pockets and stands waiting for Rock to disembark.
*FOOT OF THE MOUNTAIN*
Rock however staggers to the door of the copter once it's open and hops,
stumbling only a little but he regains his balance and tucks his hands into his
jacket shivering against the cold, "What the hell kinda place is this!?
Everest?!"
Talena laughs and shakes her head, earrings bouncing crazily - already buffeted
by the wind. "Not even close! Still.. hope you're ready for a little trek, it's
a little ways to where we're going..." she points up at a ledge HIGH up on the
mountain. "I do it all the time, but y'know.." she shrugs a little, as this
explains what she just said.
Rock sighs, "Yeah, yeah, let's just get moving...damn it's fucking cold!"
Talena nods and chews happily, "Gonna get a hell of a lot colder. Want some
gum?" She offers a rumpled packet of strawberry gum, pushing out a stick for
Rock to take if he so chooses... though by the look of the stuff putting it
anywhere near your mouth would be a BAD idea.
Rock says, "Uh....I'm good, but thanks anyway." he chuckles nervously.
Talena shrugs, tucks the foul stuff away, and then heads up the mountainside,
walking quite happily despite her stilettoes. "'K. Let's make tracks."
*CLIFF OUTLOOK*
Talena leads Rock up the mountain... eventually reaching a ledge. She strides
happily onto it and, not out of breath or apparently feeling the effects of
cold, leans up against the side of the mountain, ignoring the breathtaking view
as she grins over at Rock. "See! Not that bad, am I right?"
Rock is only phased by the cold slightly, though he gasps a little for breath,
"Yeah...sure...whatever you say. Heh." He gives a thumbs up.
Talena gives a couple of cheerful nods, pausing to spit out her overchewed gum
before she turns around and shoves on the wall she had been leaning on
previously. As expected in these kinds of situations, a section of the rock
swings inwards with a light click. "As if
*DEEP IN THE MOUNTAINSIDE*
The darkness inside the mountain is almost complete, only a few inches are
invisible in front of your eyes. And.. where Talena has gone there is no clue,
not even the sound of her footsteps.
Rock stumbles forwards feeling through the darkness, hands outstretched, blind
steps taken.
If Rock feels around him, he might notice he's in a straight, narrow passage.
The walls are rough stone, but not jagged, and feel as if they may have been
smooth once.. long ago. Anyway.. for now the passage seems perfectly straight.
Rock feels his ways along the passageway, "Talena?" he calls down, she was
faster than she looked apparently.
Nothing. Not a sound. But.. gradually the passage seems to widen out. The
atmosphere is becoming less oppressive, the air less musty. And there is light
up ahead, not a great deal of light but any means... but light.
Rock stumbles towards the light readying himself for anything that may attack
him.
Just before Rock reaches the light, it suddenly snuffs out. The passage is
plunged back into deep darkness. But not before Rock might have cause to notice
a passage branching off from the main one, the branch coming off just before
reaching the source of the light. From the brief glimpse Rock would have had,
this second passage is wider but less structured - more like a hole blown into
the mountain, hunks of earth and stone covering its floor and the walls far from
smooth.
Rock grits his teeth and stumbles forwards trying to find the opening. At this
point he didn't care, he wanted answers, he wanted them now, and this was
pissing him off. His ki flared around his hands as ethereal blue flames as he
moved.
Almost in reactance to the flaring of Rock's ki, a fire suddenly flickers to
life halfway down the side branch a wall of flames that blazes across the width
of the cluttered passage and lights up the entire area around Rock, except for
the room where light had flared previously. From behind the flames a deep voice
echoes, "Once more he comes into my sights. The cursed offspring of a demon,
forged from forbidden love." The flames flicker away, but their light remains.
Standing behind the wall of fire as it splutters away into the earth is a huge
man; tall, broad of shoulder and incredibly muscular beneath the thick black
cloak he currently holds around himself. His face is covered with a horned mask,
a strange mixture of the ancient and the futuristic, with glowing green light
blazing in the eye sockets. More obvious than anything is the heavy aura of
power that emanates from him, like a vice-grip on your senses.
Rock clenches his fists more, the Ki flaring brighter, "GRANT!" he stalks
towards the giant and stops near him, "So, are you the one from my world or
Terry's?" he narrows his eyes, glaring at the giant, he had no desire to fight
him again.
Grant stands firm, cloak fluttering lightly from some hidden source of wind. His
'eyes' flare in the darkness as it settles once again, "You are the second I
have seen. Will you be the second to fall or will you fulfil your destiny? The
power burns within you... but will it be enough?"
Rock says, "That a threat?" his hands go for the zippers of his sleeves, if
Grant wants to get serious Rock will certainly do so right back.
A deep laugh echoes from within the mask, and if possible those green optics
seem to glitter with mirth. "Not a threat, wolf cub. A warning. I have seen the
powers of your other self, and they were great indeed, but they did not surpass
those of my friend and master. Or.. of yours. But they could." The eyes narrow,
a low growl coming from Grant as he smiles beneath his mask, "They so easily
could."
Rock hmmphs and releases his sleeves, "I don't care about him, in his world he
was one thing, in mine I am my own."
Grant lets the cloak fall from his shoulders. Underneath he is clad in familiar
attire. As the heavy cloak falls to the floor behind him he folds his arms
across his gigantic chest, regarding for Rock for several long moments before he
gives another low growl... he sounds.. pleased. "Then you choose your own
destiny? You are a remarkable young man, Rock Howard. Remarkable indeed." He
turns away, his glowing eyes no longer lighting up the darkness around Rock.
"Now go to meet whatever destiny you choose. Your path lies not down this road,
but the one you turned from. Kain awaits."
Rock narrows his eyes and turns walking back down the passage way and back
towards where he had seen the first light. His ki still flares around his hands
as he moves.
Grant departs in the same manner he arrived, flames blazing around him and
lighting the passageways. The light hangs on even after the flames have
departed, making Rock's path to the room he disregarded previously a great deal
easier... curiously the light does not penetrate that room. It is still plunged
into darkness, but the entrance is visible.
Rock stands at the entrance, it is time to meet this destiny of his head on, and
with little hesitation he steps inside the Ki around his hands burning more as
he walks, he will meet Kain for himself, and from there he will choose.
Light flares, blazing out with a blinding intensity before toning down to
something like the intensity of a summer's day. It shines on a circular chamber,
which feels far more ancient than any of the other passages here, an aura of
disquieting peace descending on all who enter. The walls are mostly bare, though
in places patches of colourful mosaic still cling desperately to the earth and
rock. The floor is laid with polished stone tiles, obviously recently retouched
as they glow in the unnatural light, creating a mystic, ethereal shimmering
effect, rather like walking on water. One other thing remains, the icing on the
cake of this mysterious and beautiful chamber: worked into the flow of the floor
at placed at the 'back' of the chamber, opposite the entrance, is an elaborate
and beautiful altar carved from the rock of the mountain and garnished with a
myriad of precious stones and expensive metalwork. What the altar depicts is
unclear, some kind of winged creature belonging to the long forgotten myths of
an equally long forgotten culture, with a wingspan a half dozen metres across
and a majestically thrown back head, like that of a bird but with other curious
features worked in - like the three pronged tongue that lances out from inside
its beak. Altogether a very odd piece of work, but somehow enchantingly
beautiful. Standing at the base of the altar, framed between two thick wax
candles, is a man. He is tall with long blonde hair, not small of build but with
a stylish effeminate grace that makes seem as if he was. This is accentuated by
the long robe of white silk, Chinese in style, which he currently wears draped
about his person, open at the chest to reveal a vest of the same material
underneath, decorated with vague swirling patterns, beautifully stitched in fine
golden thread. A smile touches his lips as he sees Rock, red eyes lighting up
with friendly pleasure. After a moment he speaks, his voice a slightly seductive
purr, culture and grace shining through in his manner. "Rock, nephew of my
blood. Welcome."
Rock stops a few feet away from the base of the altar, his eyes are slits at
first as he stands and stares this man over, this is...yes...His uncle. Kain R.
Heinlein. He felt something surge in him in Kain's presence and he grips his
wrist as the ki in one hand flares brighter tan ever, and he grunts gripping it
and mentally screaming at himself to stop, when the blue flame dies he looks up
at the man eyes filled with far too many emotions to read, he is silent unsure
of what to say.
Kain slowly steps down from the altar, light shimmering on his robe and hair.
Deep inside, his own fires rage at the flaring of Rock's power.. but outwardly
he is calm, graceful, beautiful. "You have many questions, nephew. Many things
have begun to puzzle and disturb you.. which is why I have felt it necessary to
intervene." He places one arm on his stomach and bows at the waist, "My
greetings. I am sorry this couldn't have happened sooner... I had to be sure,
after all." His pleasant smile turns to a slightly bitter smirk, something
flickering in those red eyes.. but it is soon gone, the man appearing serene
once again.
Rock releases his hand and tenses, though still winded, "Sure of what? That I
wouldn't kill you right when I saw you? Or something else huh?" he regains his
own composure though the ki flaring obviously has made him lose some of his own
fire, if he can't control his own ki how can he trust it in a fight against
Kain...?
Kain pauses for a moment, then nods, turning away from Rock to face the altar.
"That you might risk such an assault was a very real possibility. That your..
friend and mentor might do so was even more likely. But no matter, you are here
and he is not. Good that he trusts you, isn't it?" He looks over his shoulder at
Rock, giving a small smile.
Rock stands there, "That depends now doesn't it?" he shakes his hand out
regaining full composure now.
Kain gives a light shrug, turning his head away again and spreading his arms to
other side, basking in the unnaturally bright light. "Such a magnificent world.
So many things to discover, so much lying forgotten and wasted. The signs of the
weak, fallen to the strong. You find this place beautiful, I trust?"
Rock nods slowly, "Yes...what...what is it?"
Kain spins around to face Rock, keeping his arms out-stretched, framing him
against the altar... almost echoing it, with arms spread instead of wings. "I
have no idea." He smiles widely, "A destroyed civilisation, beliefs nobody holds
any more. But still it stands.. a monument to their weakness. Sad or pathetic?"
He doesn't wait for an answer, dropping his arms and assuming a more casual
stance, "You must make your own decision on that count. Now.. refreshment? You
have travelled some way to reach me, after all..."
Rock blinks, Kain was obviously trying to wheel and deal, but at the same time,
he came here to learn the truth so that was what he was going to do. Cautiously
he nodded, "How do I know that you won't poison or drug me? You may be my
uncle, but trusting you isn't as easy as I'd like."
Kain slowly nods, then smirks, "In truth, you don't know. How could you? But ask
yourself this, Rock.. where would you be without risk? What would life be
without danger, without testing oneself? Would you be as strong as you are now
without ever having taken a risk?" He spreads his hands, palms facing upwards.
"Of course not. You would be a boy lost on the streets.. one who never went to
seek out his father, never saw his untimely death, -never met- with Terry
Bogard. You would be nothing!" He lowers his hands with a pleasant smile, "Now..
refreshment? Jack Daniel's and coke was, I believe, your drink of choice?"
Rock blinks and nods slowly, "I see your point..." he sighs, "Yes, it is, and a
refreshment would be welcome." he's wary though.
Kain whips one arm out to the side, clicking his fingers. "Mr. Leyland! Sorry to
keep you waiting. The drinks, if you please?" He looks over Rock's shoulder,
towards the room's entrance.
Rock quirks an eyebrow and turns to look over his shoulder.
Dr Leyland stumbles in from a well-concealed doorway with a angered look upon
his face. In his hands he holds a glass of red wine and Jack 'n' Coke. As he
makes his way towards his employer, he mumbles to himself, "I'm supposed to be
brining you the report, not brining you your drinks..." Once he approaches the
two, he passes them the drinks and says, "Here sir..."
Rock accepts his drink and stares at this new person whose appeared.
Kain raises an eyebrow, "Mr. Leyland, since my drinks cabinet was directly in
the path from your laboratory to here, it seemed little bother to ask this of
you. The report is not required just yet, however." He nods and takes his glass
of wine between two fingers, "Much obliged. Now, this is my nephew Rock Howard.
Rock, Arryl Leyland - he made it possible for me to be here, and has been a
great help to me in many other ways."
Rock hmms and nods the man, "I see...Interesting."
Dr Leyland nods his head to Rock. "Yes, hello Mr Howard..."
Kain nods, crossing one arm across his chest and sipping his wine before
speaking again. "More about Mr. Leyland's wonderful work later. First, I wish to
know exactly what you learned from my.." he smirks, "Other self. Did you ever
have the fortune to cross paths?" He raises an eyebrow, giving Rock a curiously
inquiring look as he awaits an answer... though there is something mocking in
his confident manner, as if this question is somehow meaningless.
Rock hmmphs and kicks his glass back taking a large gulp, "No, my Terry had the
dubious honor of despatching you while I was occupied with your hulking behemoth
of a partner."
Kain smiles broadly, trying to convey amusement whilst irritation and annoyance
flicker across his eyes. "Mr. Bogard does have a rather unique and effective way
of dealing with problems. He is.. quite unique. I wonder if he understood the
gravity of the secrets he was keeping from you?" Kain muses this last to
himself, glancing heavenward thoughtfully. Unconsciously, the hand across his
chest closes on something held in a pocket stitched just inside his robe.. the
shape of a small pendant or necklace briefly outlined before he stops grasping.
Rock notes the motion, "And what was he keeping from me?" the moment of truth,
he mentally braces himself for anything that may come.
Dr Leyland nervously puts his hand through his hair and checks his watch before
putting his hands in the pockets of his blood stained lab coat, waiting rather
impatiently, to get back to his work...
A sadness seems to descend on Kain. He half-turns away, reaching inside his robe
and withdrawing whatever it was he had clutched at previously. He hands the
object towards Rock, holding it by the delicate chain it is attached to... it is
a locket, a small and simple silver locket. "He was keeping -her- from you. The
woman who should have been with you all your life, the mother you never knew...
my dear sister."
Rock blinks and takes the locket opening it and gazing into it at the picture.
Tears fill his eyes, "But...she died...I was there the day she...she didn't wake
up...she wasn't breathing...She was cold..."
Kain turns back to Rock, gazing at him intently. "No!" he states, shaking his
head once, "Rock, my nephew, my blood... she lives. She is very much alive and
well.. but kept from us. Chained, entombed.. unable to return to the physical
world."
Rock blinks looking up, "What!?" he stares, "Where!? Where is she!?"
Kain smiles, turning his gaze heavenward. The ceiling above rises up in a
conical shape, tapering eventually to a sharp point through with the tiniest
piece of sky can be glimpsed. "She is up there. But she is alive, and one day
she will return." He looks back to Rock, a fanatical gleam in his eyes, "But
without you it cannot be possible! The power lies within you, all of it! The
power she -entrusted- to -you-, Rock. Have you never realised?"
Rock blinks and stares at Kain, "But...I can't...I can't control this power, my
father's blood is uncontrollable..."
Kain laughs, throwing his head back for a moment. He looks to off one side,
shaking his head, "Not your father's blood, Rock... that has not surfaced in you
until now, I know that. It is the power you have always held." He glances
sidelong at the young fighter, keeping his head turned away. "Have you never
wondered... your ki is so different, unique.. far more than that of others. You
had the wrong teacher from the outset, he has made you powerful but..." Kain
clenches a fist, holding it up and glancing down at it. "You could have been so
much more, and you will be... Rock." He turns to face Rock fully, spreading his
arms slightly to either side. "In you lies the power to defeat the gods
themselves! With my help... anything will be possible."
Rock widens his eyes and grips the locket in his hands closing his eyes, there
are two fires within him, he can tell the difference now and the difference is
startling, the wild fire of Geese rages brightly, but behind it and brighter is
the other flame, the wings, the raw energy... "And if I refuse?" ah always the
question from our brave intrepid hero? However Rock already knows what he wants,
and it's in the palm of his hand, it's there inside as well.
Kain smiles sadly, lowering his arms and looking down at the floor. For few long
moment he says nothing, then looks up to Rock and slowly nods. "If.. if you
refuse, nothing bad will come of it. My quest will continue alone... though
without the strongest member of my family, of -her- family.. there will be
little I can do. I am not gifted with the power you are, but I will continue to
fight for what I believe in." He shakes his head, eyes flaring with incredible
anger, "She should never have died. Your father -did- love her, that much is
true, but he betrayed her, cast her aside. She was not weak, but she was forced
to become so - through neglect, through sheer idiocy! She deserves another
chance, Rock, and inside you rests that chance. All of her power and..." he
sighs, looking off to the side, "I will not lie. You will also need all of his,
the demon who allowed her to die... his power is the destructive force that must
be nurtured within you if we are to enter Marie's resting place and bring her
back... the -combination- of those two powers mean you can do this, that -we-
can do this. Together, my nephew." He looks back to Rock, extending one hand,
palm out and fingers lightly curled, offering it to the young fighter...
Rock stands there Terry had kept too much from him, this much was true...and if
he could grow stronger then...yes, this was the ay, he needed to control his
power, he'd need both flames united if he were ever to fully surpass Terry. He
reached out and accepted his uncle's hand.
Dr Leyland glances at his watch again as he thinks to himself, (I should be back
in the lab, not being forced to watch a family reunion.)
Kain smiles as his hand is taken, gripping Rock's fingers firmly within his own.
"You've made the right decision, Rock. The path to victory, to a better world,
lies in these two hands." His smile broadens, eyes gleaming as he tightens the
grip for a second before releasing. "Your mother will be brought back to us...
but." He looks across to Leyland, nodding his head before looking to Rock again.
"A lot lies on our way in that path. We must sharpen our teeth, train, become
stronger.. much will happen. Your power will come naturally, mine... less so.
But I must match your strength if we are to succeed - teamwork, the mark of a
true wolf." He smiles slyly, "The pack can succeed where a lone wolf cannot."
Rock nods slowly understanding, "I see..." he knows that this is what Terry
feared, but Terry didn't know the truth as he did.
Kain nods, "And this is not the place to train, not the place to sharpen our
teeth. I thought it might be, I came here with your predecessor to seek
enlightenment... Mr. Leyland." He indicates the doctor with a wave of his hand,
"He developed a way to travel between worlds, between this world and my own
specifically but... with the theory in place the possibilities are endless. Mr.
Leyland, you have the device with you?"
Dr Leyland grins, happy to finally getting the opportunity to show off his
device. Out of his pocket he produces a small cylindrical tube with several
buttons going down the side of the shaft. At the end of the tube is a small
transmitter, making the device look like a badly constructed remote control.
"This is the R66-1 Interdimentional Teleportation device. I've designed it
specifically to weaken the fabric of space time around a localised event, thus
allowing you to travel from one world to the next..."
Kain smirks softly, "Pay attention to the metaphorical ideas you may have
heard... 'one world to the next'... Rock, not only is this the way we will
return to my world... it is our gateway to the world occupied by my dear sister,
your mother."
Rock nods slowly, "I see...But then...why do you need me if you have this?"
A frown touches Kain's brow. He crosses his arms, leaning back on his heels.
"Rock, getting there may be one thing... but what mere mortal would be allowed
to venture into that world. You think the gods would allow it? -You-, Rock, have
the potential power to gain entry. And only you - were I to train my hardest for
a thousand years I could never equal what you have, what you -are-. You are the
key to bringing Marie back to us!"
Rock blinks but nods slowly it seems Jack was right, his potential is much more
than he thought.
Dr Leyland nervously puts the device away, hoping to avoid the topic of
activating the device when he still hasn't fully tested it yet...
Kain nods, watching Rock intently. "You feel it. I know you do... the power to
surpass us all. Your mentor, strong though he is, is nothing to what you are.
Were you to realise your potential, you could sweep him away without a thought."
He gives a slow, sly smile. "And you will.. it will be the first obstacle we
must overcome. Terry Bogard's shadow looms over you, Rock, over everything that
you do. You are judged by -his- merits, by the techniques -he- has taught you.
Where is the justice in that?" He shakes his head in answer, "There is none. And
this will be corrected before we leave."
Rock nods slowly, "Yes, yes it will Uncle. It will be corrected." he would
crawl out from underneath Terry's shadow even if it killed him.
Kain inclines his head for a moment, in a light bow to Rock. "I'm glad we see
eye to eye on so many things. I was worried you would go the way of your
predecessor..."
Rock narrows eyes, "Oh? And how was that?"
Kain looks at the floor, slowly expelling a breath... a few moments later he
turns a measured gaze on Rock. "He betrayed me. When.. when his master came for
him he obeyed the call. He returned a few days later and tried to kill me, using
all of his power. You have seen the side passage? The one without brickwork?" He
nods to the entrance of the chamber.
Rock nods, "Yes I have." he cracks his knuckles slowly.
Kain slowly nods, "That, and the cavern beyond, were carved from the mountain
during our battle." He smiles, placing a hand over his heart, digging the
fingers in slightly. The smile falters and he swallows, "He almost killed me.
Almost had the better of me... but being still in thrall to Terry Bogard he
failed to draw on his true power... why his master did not come with him I..
well, I suppose it can be said that not all people are as trustworthy as they
seem."
Rock hmms and nods slowly, "I see. So what happened to him? Did you kill him?"
Kain gives a short, bitter laugh, turning his head to one side. "You think I had
a choice? He was set on my death, and however I tried to talk things through he
would not see sense." He clenches a fist slowly, curling the fingers into a
tight ball and glaring down at it. "Sent by a master who didn't understand the
situation to end something which.. would have made life so much better for him."
Suddenly he smiles and looks back across to Rock, "It's why I was so happy when
you showed up... overwhelmed with joy, in fact, but I had to wait in case the
same thing happened again. I hid away so that Mr. Bogard believed me dead and
buried, sending Talena to watch you in my stead."
Rock says, "Terry doesn't understand a thing. Plus he is not MY Terry. He is
my...as you called him, Predecessor's."
Dr Leyland puts his hand through his hair again as he glances back and forth
between the two men. "Gentlemen? If I may be so bold as to ask, since we all
seem to be on the same page here, shall I state the progress of the Gevauden
Units so I can get back to my work, or will there be anything else you require
of me?"
Rock says, "Gevauden units?" he blinks looking at the scientist.
Kain nods and is about to say something when Leyland speaks. His eyes flare for
a moment as Rock looks away, but he quickly calms and gives a pleasant smile.
"It won't be necessary, Mr. Leyland. We can discuss the Units a little later, in
my office."
Dr Leyland glares at Kain a moment. (Then what the hell am I doing here??? We're
wasting time!)
Rock blinks, he'll have to ask later, but he notes the name of the units and
turns back to his Uncle.
Kain frowns, looking heavenward for a moment. He looks back to Leyland with a
nod, "Very well. Give your report, I shall explain this matter to Rock after you
have left." He looks to Rock with a small smile, "It is time you were treated
less like a stupid child and more like the man you are."
Rock says, "Yes it is. I'm glad you see that."
Dr Leyland releases a sigh, letting all that pent up rage wash with it. "Sir,
the mark IV units seem to be vastly superior to the previous models. For
starters, we no longer have to involve forcing the subjects into surgery. The
process now takes under 20 minutes to complete. Theoretically we could generate
an entire army in a single day now... Our studies also show an almost 15%
increase in output strength on the new subjects..."
Kain smiles, "Very good. And, to move away from the units briefly, how are the
advanced ki techniques we were attempting to implant? Any progress, or are the
workings as erratic as ever?"
Dr Leyland nervously pulls out a small notebook and flips over several pages,
"Well sir, the progress would go much quicker if you weren't making me do
reconnaissance as well as over see the various projects... But we are showing
minimal signs of success..."
Rock hmms to himself.
Kain waves a hand irritably, "Fine, then you had better get back to work. And if
the reconnaissance is too much, you may stop. It will most likely no longer be
necessary anyway, between Miss Talon and Mr. Kurokami we have that side of
things covered to an adequate degree. And how is Miss Nanawasa? Still alive I
hope?"
Rock tries to figure out names, it's rather obvious who Miss Talon is, and Mr.
Kurokami could by Ryuji...Nanawasa, that was a new one.
Dr Leyland releases another sigh at the thought of not having to pretend to be a
psychiatrist anymore. He was dreading his Monday appointment. "Miss Nanawasa is
stable. We've had to put her on level three life support to maintain her vital
signs, but we feel the bathorian infusion process is nearing success. We should
have the process perfected by the end of the week, if not sooner..."
Kain smiles, stroking through his hair with one hand. "Most excellent, Mr.
Leyland. I will never regret my decision to employ you, and rest assured you
still have full protection from your esteemed rival when we finally return to my
world. You have nothing to worry about. Now.. you have many duties to be
continuing with. We shall speak again in due course."
Dr Leyland nods at Kain, "Thank you Mr Heinlein. I'll keep you informed of any
further developments..." As he turns to walk away he glances at Rock and smiles,
"Your Uncle is a good man, his ideas are revolutionary! He's going to change
this world..." With that he hurries out of site.
Rock nods slowly, "So I've heard." he looks over at Kain again, "Now Uncle, you
were saying?"
Kain nods, moving to sit on the high step that surrounds the altar, resting his
hands to either side of him. "Indeed. Rock.. I, or rather my employees, have not
been entirely honest with you. Fabrications have been made that I am not proud
of, but they were unfortunately necessary."
Rock narrows eyes, "Oh? Were they?" he follows his Uncle, but does not sit,
yet.
Kain smiles slightly, giving another nod. "Yes, they were. Your suspicions may
have been aroused, on more than one occasion, by the creatures that have been
following you around? Or.. perhaps I should say 'people', though in mind they
are far from being such.."
Rock says, "Considering their attacks and constant stalking, yes. I am quite
irritated with them."
Kain sighs and looks at Rock seriously, "They belong, or used to belong, to me."
Rock clenches a fist, "What?" his first takes a dangerous edge, but it's
obvious he's restraining himself.
Kain flicks his eyes away for a moment, towards the doorway, before he sighs
again and stands up. "Part of my forces, the elite troops I have been working
on, that unfortunately decided to go renegade." He smirks a little bit, "Or not
so much decided, as were forced to do so because of a computer malfunction.
Their orders were scrambled thanks to your predecessor, whose attacks took out
our main computer network."
Rock says, "I see. Well..I do not plan on doing the same to you Uncle. I am not
him."
Kain nods, "Very well... this has been a pleasant meeting, nephew, one I was
dreading that has none the less turned out to be more than satisfactory." He
smiles and offers a hand, "I will ensure your path to the exit is lit, and once
outside you will find Miss Talon waiting to take you home. I will try and make
your trip next time.. something less of an ordeal."
Rock nods, and accepts the hand, "Thank you Uncle, for the truth."
Kain inclines his head, "And thank you for accepting such for what it truly is.
Despite the nature of your upbringing, you have grown into something your mother
would be proud of. Now farewell, and remember that Miss Talon will be around
should you need to contact me again."
Rock nods slowly and turns to walk back to the entrance with a, "Fare well, and
I will remember that." before he leaves.
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