Well, fairly little attention for us. None of us are as adept at slipping away in a crowd as we'd like. Douglas is too tall, Chase Summers is too much of a scamp on those rollerblades of his, and CyberBoy... well CyberBoy is liable to attract notice anywhere he goes mid-summer. Something about the heavy trenchcoat, sunglasses and nearly every inch of exposed skin clothed in black. Not exactly the typical outfit for a day that had potential to be over a hundred. Then again I suppose it was wiser than exposing most of his mechanical innards to the general populace. CyberBoy had reconstructive surgery BURO style. He was lucky actually, very few of them lived. Lived to be fired and sent back to life as a drugde. CyberBoy found his way to the Netherworld. And we found him there. He's been with us for six years now. He laughs and says the Prof only keeps an outdated model like him around to tinker on like an antique car. I think we're the only family he's ever had. Last year I caught Chase teaching him how to play catch. I've never seen him so happy.

Well, this little family was now headed to a family meeting. And to see Dad.

Chase reached the building long before any of us and spent the waiting doing stunts off the stairs. I swear my heart leapt at least six times as the damn kid nearly shattered every bone in his body falling and then bouncing back up. I absolutely refused to run, catch up and stop the little brat so he had scraped both his knees, one wrist and an elbow before mastering a leap and glide down the railing of the sixteen step platform. One day that boy was going to kill himself.

Chase was still attempting dares when Ken pushed open the double doors and strode through them. Douglas followed behind him, then paused in the doorway to hold it open for me. I entered, thanking him, then looked back to see CyberBoy watching Chase and waiting to enter with him. I think CyberBoy had a little brother once.

The elevator ride up was silent save for the crackings of gum by Chase. I held my tongue. He -knows- Master Tso hates it when he rollerblades inside the office. Then again, this poor kid, barely twelve and he's had more than a dozen guns pointed at him in seriousness. If I'd gone through that at twelve I'd probably do more than rollerblade in private places to release stress. That kids gonna be old too soon if he stays here much longer. Hell, maybe he already was. Older than any other twelve year olds I knew. Than again, I didn't know any other twelve year olds.

Master Tso sat in a deep black leather chair behind a desk. His beard was trimmed, and he sat in a fitted charcoal grey suit. A strange thing to see him in, as used to his practice gi as I was. He nodded to us all as we entered, one brow rising at Douglas's familiar form, but he extended a hand in an arc about the room and gestured to the chairs. Before folding his hands together.

He smiled faintly, his voice sounding far older than he. "Please, all of you, have a seat." He waited, patiently as I chose the couch, Douglas choosing a seat next to mine. Ken sank into an armchair opposite Master Tso, and next to CyberBoy. Chase stole a seat upon a bookshelf, earning a look from Master Tso which he promptly ignored as he began to fiddle with one of the wheels of his right skate. He saw us all settled then let his eyes go skyward his forefingers tapping together. "A situation has arisen. Buro forces have invaded and cornered a section of the city, half a block of office buildings on the lower west side. So far, the occupation hasn't spread to the media but we have been informed of sixteen deaths. None that we know of are Inner-Walkers, but it is possible. It has been publicized as a gas leakage to explain the closing off of that part of the city, but military forces are under way to being assembled. It has great potential to become a bloodbath."

'I hate those words. More than anything. I hate those words.'

He pauses, lowering his eyes to us. Douglas is scowling, slightly, the expression seeming at odds with his normal refinement. Ken looks stern, but I can see the excitement leaking into his eyes. Chase is preoccupied with the tightening of a wheel. He seems oblivious to Master Tso's watchful eyes. CyberBoy... he's much harder. Deciphering emotions on him is as easy as deciphering Ken's handwriting.

"I am sending you on a reconnaissance mission into the secured block. I need an accurate count of the force holding it. The Arcanowave they are armed with and what they are doing here. I have no secured way of getting you into the compound, but there is a tunnel that runs under that area of the city. We can get you to a mile away from the area undetected. The rest will need to be covered underground. The tunnel runs alongside a parking garage, one that will likely be empty at this time due to the occupation." He took a deep breath and his eyes panned the room for another reaction. There was none. "From our technical quarter it has been determined that the space between the tunnel and a catwalk of the parking garage is thin enough to be lasered through. You will enter the restricted area through there and hopefully will be able to leave through it as well, undetected."

There is a long pause, and a sigh. "Though I am sorry to say it is not likely. This mission is dangerous, and could prove fatal. I want you all to know you have the right to say no." His eyes passed over the room again. I schooled my face to be expressionless. Douglas did the same though he managed it far better than I. Ken said nothing, but he nodded and his fingers slid inside his jacket for a second, I think to brush against his two closest friends. CyberBoy nodded as well, though his face was far better at being expressionless than either Douglas or I. Chase raised his eyes from his skates and trained them on Master Tso for a long time. Master Tso nodded. "Someone will be needed who can navigate his way among the catwalks easily to take information back and forth to the checkpoint. I had you in mind, you have proved invaluable in past circumstances. It will, of course, be understood if you wish to refuse." Master Tso inclined his head again ever so slightly his eyes still on Chase. Everyone's eyes were on Chase for a moment, though only Master Tso and CyberBoy could be caught at it. No worry could be seen through those mechanical eyes of CyberBoy's, but I saw his fingers twitch, and worry practically fell off him in waves. Chase's eyes met Master Tso's, and after a long moment he nodded. Tension raced through CyberBoy's shoulders as Master Tso returned Chase's nod. "Very well." the old man said as his eyes passed over us all again. "You will be assigned a few more members and given final instructions this eve at 18:00 hours. You have from now until then to prepare your supplies." He stood and withdrew a handful of envelopes, sealed and tossed them to the edge of the desk. "There's one for each of you. Read them carefully. Report back here before 18:00 hours. If you need to aquisition any supplies have your request in by ten for anything difficult, three for anything we regularly have on hand. I'm sending a medic as well." He stepped around the desk and his legs took him to the door, he paused in the doorway, turnng back to us and looking us over again. "Good luck to you all. May the chi flow with you. Much depends on this." A flicker crossed his face. "If I do not see you all again, fare well." And he strode from the room.

We were still for a long while. Ken was the first to rise and retrieve his letter. Chase was second, bounding off the bookcase and thumping his skates across the floor. He snatched his letter and CyberBoy's passing it to him. Douglas left the couch a full second before I and we reached the desk simultaneously. I found my letter and opened it. The others were opened as easily. The room was silent as we each tore through our letters. Some were pages. Some were only one. Mine was three and rather blatant about what I was to retrieve and eloquent in the descriptions of people I might recognize. I noticed Douglas's was seven pages. I didn't know if that was good or bad.

The rustle of papers stopped and there was a long quiet. Then Chase skated towards the door swinging through it with speed. "Anybody up for breakfast?" he said, looking back at us duringhis backwards skate towards the elevator. CyberBoy followed him and I shrugged. Yeah, sure breakfast would be fine. Douglas followed behind me and Ken was last out of the room, pausing to pick up the other envelopes which he dropped off with the secretary downstairs. She was one of us. She'd see them delivered. There was time. It was barely seven thirty.

Breakfast was a quick affair, filled with nervous chatter about nonsensical subjects. We went to a place that knew us, they're not always certain about CyberBoy but they don't get upset about his appearance at least. And one of the waitresses has a tender for Chase so she stuffs him full of food. It's good for him. He needs some mothering sometimes.

After breakfast we said hasty goodbyes and each made our way to collect supplies for that night. Douglas offered me a ride home, but I chose to walk. I often walk the length of the Lady's Park, a calming really, before the storm. And the storm would break that eve. I knew that well enough. My instructions had been precise. I was to locate and identify the power sources of the place, find a vantage point from which the place could be taken, and make certain the technical support survived the expedition and returned with the collected information of each party. On a second priority it was said one of the men who was in the party had been identified Dr. Carl Vallers, the oldest apprentice of Dr. Curtis Boatman. If he was here things were serious. Very serious. My letter gave me further instructions to pick up a package at our lab. It would include pictures I could recognize him by and more importantly, a container of ST-322 mixed with Cyanide DNSO. I was to administer it in private, wait until he slept the sleep of the just, sabotage what I could and retreat to a vantage point. While the ST-322 put him out the rest of the mixture would stop his life systems. I was to leave a vial of a popular 2056 drug, half empty about him and apply it to him as needed. With any luck, by the time he was found, I would be long away and he would look like a drug overdose. Luck. There was the key. I, unlike the others, was instructed to stay behind in the captured zone. Whether or not the mission went off smoothly. For me, there would be no returning until the block was taken back.

I let out a deep breath. For me, there might be no returning. But that was a thought to entertain at another time. Now, I had a file to retrieve. So I quickened my pace, but not so much that it wasn't a lovely walk.

'Mr. Slater,
Your assignment is more skewed than any other. I had hoped that you would see fit to join our crew in this assignment. We are not truly allies and yet in this we need to be. As you have agreed to this mission, here are your priorities.

First off, see to the safety of our Technical support Kale Evans. He is a good man, and well trained, but he has not the knowledge of firearms and offense needed for such an assignment. He is, however, the only capable of fufilling the electrical and engineering manuvering needed for this endeavor.

Next come the twins, Marcus and Martin Bryars students of mine, well trained in their respective arts. The first is a student of the shadow's companion. The second studied both the path of light and of the sharpened scales. They are both well skilled, but not as trained as I would like for this mission and I would ask that you watch for impulsive behaviour. Their loyalty is not in question save it's secondariness to their loyalty for each other. I believe that if one were to fall the other would stay by his side instead of following an ordered retreat.

Next on my list is Ken Tsao, a man of so many talents and a'...

Finally the seventh and last page continued.

'Finally and most concerning to you, Ms. Li has been ordered to remain in the zone after the retreat of the team. Her dispatch of Dr. Vallers is crucial to this assignment as is her tactical analysis. But I fear for the vulnerability of her position. I try not to throw away the lives of my students recklessly. This impromptu mission will be endangering a good many of them. I am counting on you to lessen that danger.

There will be a four day interval between her finalizing his demise and our entrance into the fortress. During this time I fear her positon may be discovered. If such happens I am hoping that you will consider remaining in a proximity to her such that you can alert us. The speed of the descent on the area can be hastened if either she or Kale Evans are endangered.

I know you have personal interest in this war. I know who and what you are Mr. Slater. I am hoping that your concern for Ms. Li will interfere in your priorities concerning the Lodge. There will be time enough for us to cross on opposit sides. If you can help them, I ask that you would.

Sincerely,
Master Tso'

Douglas looked at the letter again and sighed. Damn. Damn damn damn. Why was it that when things went so smoothly they had to be all confused. This damn war had a habit of doing that to him. Dammit all to hell. He sighed again, then opened his desk drawer and pulled out a beautiful set of guns, cleaned them carefully and loaded them. Things always got so confusing. He slid the guns away and picked up the phone. Time to pull some strings.

...The city was silent. Strange really, it almost never is and I've been around long enough to know. I watched Ms. Li on part of her assignment. I wouldn't have seen her save I knew her location. These little computers hold a lot more than one would realize. I knew she was secluding herself in the old downtown office building, a place with real history. If my estimate was right, Ms. Li would be curled up in sleep. She always slept after an assignment, as if by sleeping she could forget it. The poor girl, she'd get used to it.

Then there was noise, alarms going off. My eyes rose. BURO teams running all over the place. Alarms. Dammit, they discovered him already. Well, Angel is the best at what she does. She'll be alright.

Then suddenly a loud wailing rose. The scuffling and howling sounds, the hissing and spitting. Abominations. May the fates take pity on us they were releasing the abominations in the blocked off section of the city. Damn and blast. Angel, I had to get to Angel and get us both out of here. A BURO team she could hide from, but abominations? Blast and hell. I rose form my secured place and headed towards the rooftop. Those damn creatures could sniff out anything. Even her. I'd better get to her first. Gods help us all if I didn't.

I awoke with the strange sound reverberating through the duct. At first there was confusion at to my whereabouts. Then remembrance came crashing down upon me with full weight. And my mind registered those sounds. I had heard them before. Those snarlings and growls were from an abomination. I listened a bit longer. Not just one. Hell, a whole team of them. Good gods above what had I done. I scampered down the duct to remove the closest trip wire and as I did I heard the scraping sound of another being triggered. Hell, I thought to myself and pulled back into a shadow from which I could see part of the duct. Rat, rat, rat please let it be a rat.

It wasn't a rat. It was Douglas. I moved into view.

"What the hell is happening?" I asked hurriedly as I rushed towards him, undoing the trip wire as I went.

Douglas's face was severe. "They've released the abominations. I've gotten in touch with Kar Fai, but they can't be here for a while. We have to get up into the highest most remote part of the city and away from the wind. Hell! Those damn creatures are tearing apart the city." He took my hand and we left the duct heading up towards the roof. "Come on, they're not far from here and god knows how well they'll pick up a scent."

We scurried to the roof, fleeing the howlings below us. When we leapt from that roof to another I could swear their bellowing got louder. The city was being lit with spotlights whirling about. Damn. Damn damn and damn again. No time for cursing though, we had to get across that void on a jump. No time for pulling yourself across on a rope. The brick, gods below the brick is lose, my footing, I lost my footing. Down, I was going down. Twenty five stories, my god, my Jareth, I was soon to see my Jareth again. Then I felt a jolt and the world got still. As light enveloped me and I heard the frantic wailings of the beasts below, the shouts of BURO operatives I looked up. And there was Douglas, a firm grip around my wrist, holding me from the long descent. He lifted me to safety, then pushed me towards the edge again. "Go!" he yelled as the first shots towards us rang out.

We sprinted across the rooftops, never again losing our ground and yet the lights stayed with us and the howls of the abominations... I still have nightmares of that night. Those creatures, my god what could have posessed a man that he would build such a thing. Such monsters. Their howls were heard, reverberated through every inch of the buildings as we sprinted across it. And things were troubled. It would be light in three more hours. And that was longer than I could keep up this kind of pace. And there was no way out. As we came upon the end of the row of buildings shapes rose up before us. Quickly we dashed to the side, and I leaped for the safety cables I had erectedthe first day, cables to tie myself into if I was crossing from one side of the street to another. Normally I don't need them, but I always set them up as a precaution. Thank the fates. Douglas leapt after me catching closely to me.

Damn and blast those creatures followed us onto the ropes. I whipped out my gun and turned to Douglas. "Cut it. Cut the rope." He didn't even question the insane order. Instead he drew a knife and sliced it through and then we both held on as quicker than a meteor we shot towards the building opposite us. I straightened my gun arm, firing an entire clip into the window we were rocketing towards. Boots first, Douglas and I entered the building, shattering the broken windows into sparkling shimmers about us. We let go of the rope rolling out of the way, and heedless of cuts we were up and off a few seconds later. We made it down flights and flights of stairs before we got backed into a road, frightening odds at each side. Back to back, Douglas and I stood together, him facing the onslaught of two abominations, and myself the arcanowave technology of a BURO squad. This was decidedly bad.

It got worse. They attacked all at once instead of one at a time like honorable fools do. Dammit, I miss the day and age of honorable fools. It was gruesome. Horrifying. Sanguine. I emptied two more clips, then when I ran out of bullets I tossed the gun aside and proceeded with my sword. It's a beautiful sword, but this night it was crimson soaked. And they kept coming. I killed perhaps a dozen or more andthere was no end to them. Like bloodless hordes of monsters that haunt a child's dreams these monsters kept coming. But bloodless they were not, and by the time the first bullet pierced my body I was soaked in the blood of the fallen. After that bullet I slowed down some, it was partially the wound, partially the tiring and partially the sense of hopelessness that began to settle in me. I kept on fighting, but I could feel the sword getting heavier in my hands. And worse still, I could feel Douglas's breaths becoming more labored. He too, Douglas the invincable was tiring. Once, as I managed to roll out of the way of an armored claw I saw that Douglas had worked his way through nine abominations, bodies piled upon the side, but each time one went down another stepped into it's place. My god, there was no ending. I felt another bullet sink into me and then a third and another. After the fifth I stopped counting, the numbe had spread and it was hard enough to keep my feet, I took the sword for balance as I stared across the guns. Then my world began to shake.

Tired. Tired, god tired. Angel stands at my back, covering it's every inch cutting through rows and rows of BURO opratives as I cut through their pets. How many has she killed? Twenty? Fifty? A hundred, a thousand, a million, an eternity. It matters not, the blood keeps spilling and yet I can feel her. She, like myself, feels the pull. The pull of weariness. Tired, my god tired. Must fight on. Must, I am guarding her back. She falls. My gods above she has fallen I... the world is shaking and yet it's not, I have not been run through I...

The barrier! The barrier has fallen! Those new figures... the new figures are Dragons! Silver Dragons not my blessed brethren yet blessed all the same. The wave of creatures and soldiers ebbs towards the new fight leaving us here. My god, my Angel, Angel awaken, awaken we are saved. Tired, I feel tiredness pouring over me. Everything ebbs from my body as I sink next to her fallen form. Angel awaken and see the light.

See the Family Photo Album.