NISA Saga ~

[Empty Overture]

Empty turned towards the new voice. Could she be the leader? Definitely not what I expected. he thought with a slight grin. He forced himself to stop smiling, and stood in uniformity with the rest of the recruits. Alright, Miss Leader. Let's hear what you have to say.

[Quillbell]

Quill paced up and down the line of recruits, studying them with a practiced eye. She came to a stop in front of the boy with ears and a tail.

Miyagawa stood at attention as best he could, but his posture was very poor.

Quill took a moment to look the child up and down before asking, "And who the hell are you?"

"Miyagawa, a traveler who's very lost," he answered.

Quill's eyes narrowed. Another time traveler? He doesn't seem very dangerous, but I've got to deal with him somehow. Looking around, she spotted Necro off to the side and called out to him.

"Hey, Necro. Could you deal with this for me? We've got another traveler on our hands, and I've got recruits to kick into shape."

Empty turned towards the new voice. Could she be the leader? Definitely not what I expected. he thought with a slight grin. He forced himself to stop smiling, and stood in uniformity with the rest of the recruits.

Quill spotted the momentary smile. She walked over and stared straight into Empty's face, eyes hard.

"Something funny, recruit?"

[Empty Overture]

Quill spotted the momentary smile. She walked over and stared straight into Empty's face, eyes hard.

"Something funny, recruit?"

"Not one bit. Today's just a good day, is all." Empty replied, sounding more serious than he has been. "If there was something funny, I'd be sure to share it with the others, ma'am." he said, unblinking.

[Necrofantasia]

Quill's eyes narrowed. Another time traveler? He doesn't seem very dangerous, but I've got to deal with him somehow. Looking around, she spotted Necro off to the side and called out to him.

"Hey, Necro. Could you deal with this for me? We've got another traveler on our hands, and I've got recruits to kick into shape."

Necro cast an exasperated gaze at the Commander. So now I'm just a babysitter for this kid? Well, the Commander knows best. It's not like I could convince her to deal with this herself. And she does have the other recruits. He motioned to the child. "Hey, you. Yes, you, of the feline persuasion. Get over here. You're coming with me."

[Quillbell]

"Not one bit. Today's just a good day, is all." Empty replied, sounding more serious than he has been. "If there was something funny, I'd be sure to share it with the others, ma'am." he said, unblinking.

Quill smiled. It wasn't a nice smile.

"See, that's where you're wrong, recruit. Today is most definitely not a good day. In fact, it is a very bad day. And you know why? Because it's your very first day of training, that's why." Still talking, she resumed her pacing.

"By this time tomorrow, you're going to be aching in places you didn't even know you had. This will be a learning experience for every single Goddamn one of you. You either learn, or you get left behind. Am I clear?!"

[vampko]

Necro cast an exasperated gaze at the Commander. So now I'm just a babysitter for this kid? Well, the Commander knows best. It's not like I could convince her to deal with this herself. And she does have the other recruits. He motioned to the child. "Hey, you. Yes, you, of the feline persuasion. Get over here. You're coming with me."

Well this works out.. He made his way over to the man, "where are we going?"

[Empty Overture]

Quill smiled. It wasn't a nice smile.

"See, that's where you're wrong, recruit. Today is most definitely not a good day. In fact, it is a very bad day. And you know why? Because it's your very first day of training, that's why." Still talking, she resumed her pacing.

"By this time tomorrow, you're going to be aching in places you didn't even know you had. This will be a learning experience for every single Goddamn one of you. You either learn, or you get left behind. Am I clear?!"

So, that's the kind of woman she is? That's the kind of leader? I'd hate to break it to her, but it's still a good day. It is to me. Aching? Pain? It's a learning experience, right? Bring it. Empty showed no signs of his current thoughts, and simply resumed to listen to the leader type woman who was pacing in front of the recruits.

[Mirodude]

Miro would've sighed, but he was used to heavy training anyway. He saluted again, "Yes Mamm!" He exclaimed

[Quillbell]

Quill sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. She surveyed the recruits once more and smiled. I was a genuine smile this time.

"Good. I apologize for the theatrics, but I find that anybody who hasn't left at this point is truly committed. I wasn't exaggerating when I said that it would be hard, but anything worth doing is going to be difficult. You men and women have, by joining this rebellion, committed yourselves to fight for your country; the country that has been beaten, tied up, and subjugated by the man who calls himself emperor. You people have refused to take the easy way out, refused to simply ignore the threat that faces us. You've cast away the safety of ambivalence and, for this, I thank you." Quill clasped her hands behind her back, standing rigid at parade rest.

"You have chosen to put your lives in my hands. As leader of the rebellion, I will promise you now that I will never betray that trust. I will train you, arm you, educate you, and, most importantly, lead you. I accept responsibility for each and every one of you, now that you have become one of my people."

[Necrofantasia]

Well this works out.. He made his way over to the man, "where are we going?"

Necro frowned and motioned for the child to follow him. "We're going to my office. But on the way there, let's walk and talk." He started the trek to his office, not even bothering to look if he was being followed. "The Commander is a very cautious young lady. We've had some incidents with travelers in recent times and we aren't taking any chances with you. Also, if you are from someplace far, far away, you probably aren't aware that your cat ears could be a problem. You see, the Ethrelian Emperor has a set of them as well. They're kind of a symbol of the decadence and corruption in this country. If you have a hat or something, I'd advise using it to cover them up."

[vampko]

Necro frowned and motioned for the child to follow him. "We're going to my office. But on the way there, let's walk and talk." He started the trek to his office, not even bothering to look if he was being followed. "The Commander is a very cautious young lady. We've had some incidents with travelers in recent times and we aren't taking any chances with you. Also, if you are from someplace far, far away, you probably aren't aware that your cat ears could be a problem. You see, the Ethrelian Emperor has a set of them as well. They're kind of a symbol of the decadence and corruption in this country. If you have a hat or something, I'd advise using it to cover them up."

"I see...I've never had to cover these before, but it would be foolish to go against advice like that. I'll take care of that soon enough," he answered. "The tail might be a bit difficult to hide, but I'm sure I can sort something out.

Still, does that mean there could be others like ourselves out there? I'll have to find out something, it might generate an awkward response, but it's best to get stuff like this out of the way early on...of course, even if this emperor doesn't have that problem, that wouldn't necessarily mean anything, since, unlike sis, I don't have the thirst. Course, I also am a joke when it comes to magic... "Also, does the emperor have any strange habits? Possibly something that would require him to drink the blood of somebody? And I completely understand about being cautious."

[Ubiquitor]

Matters were progressing as planned; nevertheless, many of the details did not quite make sense. Oh well, that is the boss-man's way.

Just then Zeke had a nagging feeling; something was peculiar about that man that had just passed by him.

That is preposterous. It was probably just a trick of the mind.


**************************************************

"Silly, silly Sigmund; have you already forgotten your vow? Oh bother! Did you not make that vow mere moments ago? Oh, this is rather dreadful! You fancy yourself a man of honour and yet you forget your word so very easily. I wonder what that says of your character?"

Sigmund took a long look at the speaking silhouette, then responded, "Charlotte?"

Immediately realizing his error, Sigmund corrected himself saying, "Pardon my mistake; hmm, why ever would you come here, madam?"

With feigned pouting, the elegant woman slowly approached Sigmund and said, "Oh, I can think of one reason."

Smirking and looking quite content with himself, Sigmund responded, "Ah, Celeste, it is so very good to so you again."

With a sultry smile, the elegant woman swiftly moved in for a kiss, "The feeling is mutual, my love."

...

Turning her head to face Sigmund, Celeste asked, "So, have you given thought to my request?"

Without turning to face her, Sigmund responded, "Certainly. And yes, I agree that he must die, but..."

Celeste inquired, "Oh, but what? Why do you hesitate?"

"I simply realize the futility in this request of yours."

"Oh, won't you do it... for me?"

"What really is the point of it? You are dead. Nothing I do will bring you back."

Sigmund sighed, "This is a farce; I realize that now. If my suspicions are correct, then these are my heart's true desires. How utterly revolting. It would seem as if a fiend such as myself only deserves to suffer."

Closing his eyes and offering his hand, Sigmund asked to the vast void, "Shall we proceed? Yes, I believe we shall."


**************************************************

Charlotte shuddered; she was in no way fond of being trapped in a room as seemed to be her current predicament. Such predicaments invariably led her to think of mother, and she was in no way fond of thinking about that horrible, horrible woman.

Her lower lip trembling, Charlotte motioned with her index finger for Sterling to come to her. Bluntly, she stated, "I need to get out of this room."

Sterling responded, "That would not be advisable, milady."

Charlotte retorted, "I care not for your opinions nor how the task is accomplished; I need to leave this room. If you must, challenge the guard to a duel of fisticuffs; surely you will win."

Unmoved, Sterling responded, "Again, that would not be advisable, milady."

Pouting, Charlotte responded, "Oh Sterling, this is truly unbearable. It feels as if we have been waiting for an eternity. This treatment is most dreadful and quite inhumane."

Spoiler:

@Vampko: Sneaky, sneaky multiverse linker. Anyway, I have one request: I request that your inventor NOT invent a suit that provides the user with powerful telekinetic abilities; the possession of said suit/powers is Ethrelia's gimmick and I hope that it will remain her gimmick throughout the infinite vastness of time prior to her existence in the story.

[Ringwraith]

Matters were progressing as planned; nevertheless, many of the details did not quite make sense. Oh well, that is the boss-man's way.

Just then Zeke had a nagging feeling; something was peculiar about that man that had just passed by him.

That is preposterous. It was probably just a trick of the mind.

A man decked in entirely in black, with an outfit almost looking like he just stepped out of an old film noir, complete with hat, was strolling idly down the street, all the while looking around with the curiosity of some stereotypical tourist, just without the camera or horrible T-shirt that looks like they fell into a trifle en route to gawking at the next landmark.

[Ubiquitor]

A man decked in entirely in black, with an outfit almost looking like he just stepped out of an old film noir, complete with hat, was strolling idly down the street, all the while looking around with the curiosity of some stereotypical tourist, just without the camera or horrible T-shirt that looks like they fell into a trifle en route to gawking at the next landmark.

The business-suit clad young man chuckles at the sight of this individual, "I don't usually comment on pedestrians, but really, do ya fancy yourself some sorta gangster or a 'hard-boiled' detective?"

[Ringwraith]

The business-suit clad young man chuckles at the sight of this individual, "I don't usually comment on pedestrians, but really, do ya fancy yourself some sorta gangster or a 'hard-boiled' detective?"

"Well, someone's been catching up on last century's movies I see." The singled-out man said a moment before deftly turning to face the source of the comment. "Though I suppose having to hear such sudden remarks are the price one has to pay for wearing something not currently in favour with the masses." He continued as a small half-smile appeared on his rather ordinary, twenty-something face.