Falling (Open)

[Orion]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrCOtW2VTWs&feature=relmfu

Orion stood in front of a number of people. At his feet was a body, broken, bloody, but still breathing, though quite obviously unconscious. Said body was angering the people in front of him by sight alone. Orion was carrying a backpack with him, forgoing his weapon for the tools within it. In his hand he held a bottle of everclear, his left hand in his pocket fidgeting with a box-like object.

"So I take it, then, that attacking members of the Experiments is the norm?"
"You people aren't human! And some of your kind has done horrible things to our friends!"
"So you judge all of us by the actions of some? So uncivilized."

Orion shook his head before taking a strike-anywhere match out of his pocket.

"Last chance. Back off, before I get serious."

The group of men, about 5, advanced a few steps. Orion sighed before striking the match. He had warned them.

It's not even a fight

He took a swig of the everclear before tossing it at the lead man, the bottle shattering on his head and dousing it in alcohol. As the man stumbled back, his arms flailing and keeping his buddies behind accidentally, Orion stepped forward and tossed the lit match at the man's head.

The effect was instantaneous. Hair, eyebrows, mustache, face, whatever, it was all set alight by the alcohol. The man screamed as he felt the intense flames devouring his skin. Orion ignored his screams, bringing his right leg around to slam into the man's head, sending him careening back into his allies. As he did so, Orion allowed the backpack to slip from his shoulders and fall to the ground. The man and his friends tumbled, all screaming, though it varied from pain to horror to rage.

Orion frowned. He wasn't this cold-hearted before about his enemies. As the men struggled to help their friend, he wondered how far he was falling...

[Marcus Prasad]

{OOC} I'm gonna go ahead and make a few assumtions here, let me know if you take issue with them. {OOC}

'Well, wasen't this just a powder keg ready to blow?'

So focused on each other, the two parties never did see the powerfully athletic built man saunter over with all the cool confidence of a pack Alpha in it's own territory. Garbed in Black Jeans, a dark green tweed shirt and his trademark black bomber jacket and flatcap, Marcus approached the throng, eyebrows raised at the sight of a man with his head on fire.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE"
The man hollared with almost physical force. Moveing casualy to situate himself between Orion and the wrathful throng, Marcus turned to face the crowd and raised his hands.
"It would please me to let you fine young gentlemen know that you are all currently standing in Crow Militia controlled territory. Please disperse now in a calm civil manner before I call the hammer down and have you all arrested."
Though the man spoke with a pleasently cheerful voice, there was an obvious layer of cold iron behind it as well as his eyes that sent a shiver through the throng.

After a tense second of two of indecision, the crowd decided that Marcus and the threat of Crow intervention(Which was a complete bluff by the way) was more than they could handle. So slowly and with much hateful backwards glares the crowd departed, leaving Marcus and Orion alone.

A Perfect oppourtunity for the Man to Whirl around and suckerpunch Orion clean in the guts, sending the boy speeding into the dumpster behind him.
"Are you FUCKING INSANE BOY!?!"
The man would roar. His face tinged red with fury as the veins in his neck bulged.
"Getting into fights I can understand, but you just lit that mans head on fire! Explain yourself!"
The demand was simple and the will behind it expected to be obeyed. If the crows were going to maintain order in thier little foothold, then they damn well couldn't have some crazy eyed loner lighting people on fire.

He may not be a member yet, but he was still an ally recognized by Unfettered himself. If there was any way he could lend a hand, then he would do so.

[Orion]

So, the man that Orion had met before appeared. And he seemed to be backing the men down with threats of Crow intervention. Let's see... what was his name... Marcus! That was it. As the men backed down and carried their fallen away, Marcus seemed to be holding himself back for a moment. And then suddenly he was in Orion's face and Orion felt a by now normal feeling in his gut.

...shit.

And Orion went flying, though he caught himself before he hit the dumpster, skidding backwards as his breath was forcibly exhaled. Coughing a moment, he listened as Marcus began to berate him for his actions.

"Getting into fights I can understand, but you just lit that mans head on fire! Explain yourself!"
"You could at least be nice enough to hit me in the face... then I'd have breath to answer you...

Breathing deeply a moment, Orion came to a stand and looked at Marcus directly.

"So, you ask why I set his head on fire? Because that little gang that you sent running did the same to some of my friends. Few people can tell the difference between Barker and Free, or more importantly, monstrous animals from the somewhat minorly altered. So, people adopted the old ways of dealing with the Devil's men, as they saw it: burning at the stake. I merely returned the favor."

Orion began walking towards the dumpster he had been sent flying at, ruffling through it.

"And now I have to actually go hunt them out of their holes without bait. Thanks."

Implicit sarcasm out the ass? Hell yeah. Orion was mildly irritated. He had been hoping to keep his actions relatively personal, and not involve the Experiments. But it seemed that he was being forced into it.

Damn. Wish he had remembered his halberd. Which he sort of had: it was lying wrapped up in cloth underneath some paper in there. He had planned this. He grabbed it up, and the familiar weight comforted him. Ever since receiving it from the Experiments, he's been keeping it close on his person.

He turned back to Marcus, slinging it across the back of his neck so he held the end handle with his right hand, casually holding it, walking forward to retrieve his back-pack over where he dropped it, near Marcus.

"So, if you don't mind, I have some unfinished business to deal with."

OOC: Double Halberd Snake Spear Of Orion: (+1 Strength, +1 Dexterity, +5 Charisma [+10 Charisma If Wielded By Orion], +2 All Statistics To Experiment NPCs In Thread).

Now equipped. Various techniques have different statistics as well. IE:

*Basic Attack: Overhead Swing: +12 Strength, -5 Dexterity.
*Basic Attack: Snake Spear Stab: +3 Dexterity.
*Basic Attack: Counterweight: +1 Strength, +1 Dexterity.
*Special Attack (Once Per Thread): Hunt Of Orion: Upon A Successful Stab, The Wielder May Augument His Dexterity By 5% Of The Victim's Constitution.

[Marcus Prasad]

You could at least be nice enough to hit me in the face... then I'd have breath to answer you...

"Trust me, It's harder to talk through a broken jaw."
Marcus fired back, alittle cooler than before. The punch did wonder's for Marcus' temperment., he was much calmer now. In fact it would seem to others as if he had gone from calm to rage back to calm again in the span of a few minutes.

"So, if you don't mind, I have some unfinished business to deal with."

'Of all the bull headed bullshit!'
With arms crossed, Marcus watched Orion as he recovered and began to gather his things.
"And I am so not letting that happen."
He spat back as he moved to block Orions path.
If Marcus seemed fazed by the Spear that Orion was carrying, he sure as hell didn't show it. The fact was, he had already analyzed and included it within his threat assessment of the young boy.
A Small voice that sang from his very blood began to whisper the question of how well he would do against such a weapon.

"Trust me man, this isn't the way."
He pleaded.
"Normally I'd be all for busting some assholes skulls but you cant just go off the handle like this. Not in this enviroment anyway. You'll only make them want to hit you back even harder. You wanna do this right? We haul them into the authorities and show this city that we are still in control. That Barker hasen't completely broken us!"

[Orion]

Orion began to laugh, all the while shifting his grip slightly on his weapon.

"Barker hasn't won; but he hasn't lost, either. What authorities? The old government? Fuck that, they have no power anymore. Barker himself? He'd just as soon enslave me as look at me. Your Crows?"

Orion's laugh died away, eyes hardening, as he brought his halberd around to hold it in two hands, just in case he did need to use it.

"Sorry, but while I hold no enmity for the Crows, I hold no will to listen to them. I aid the Experiments, and the crimes those men did were committed against the Experiments. If I told the higher-ups, then the exact same thing would be happening, only with a lot more brutal methods and a much more powerful show of force then just one man.

"You think I'm bad? I warned them at least. I didn't aim to kill them. If some others were in the same position, there would be no warning: only hunting. Killing, in gruesome ways. You ever seen a guy get ripped in half pure physical force? Or ripped in half just by the power of someone's mind? Watch him scream as fire tears apart his lungs, his blood freezes in his veins, electricity overloading every sense he has?

"That's what would happen. You really wanna see that happen? If that was allowed to happen, there would be even more fear and hate of the Experiments. I can't let that happen. So, move aside..."

Orion's grip tightened as his feet slid a bit apart, settling into a combat stance.

"Or, Crow territory or no, strength level or no, I will make you move."

In all honesty, Orion was bluffing, but he didn't show it. He really didn't want to fight the man: He had no real reason, and the man was faster and stronger then Orion. Not a fight he would willingly pick. However, it was either Orion went through, or the Experiments brought the hammer. Not. Happening.

[Marcus Prasad]

Seeing Orion taking stance got Marcus' blood up as the animal brain inside perceived it as a threat display. This was going to go bad FAST if he couldn't diffuse the situation. The last thing he wanted right now was a fight, but to hear that there was an entire organization with seemingly supernatural powers who were effectively a Sword of Damocles hovering over humanities head got him angry. Slapping his palm against his forehead to hide the deep breath he was taking, he realized that he had no other option but to try and talk Orion down.

"Human beings fear what we don't understand, it’s in our nature. As long as they see you guys fighting alongside Barker then they will always view you as the enemy and will NEVER leave you guys alone. Tearing into them isn't going to help you either. You're just going to attract more of the worse kind of attention."

If Orion was right, then these ‘experiments’ represented a clear and present threat to what little stability that every single anti Barker organization was fighting for. What frustrated Marcus was that if he was able to come to that conclusion, then half the city probably had as well, which would mean that the Experiments were under EVERYONES crosshairs.

Marcus’ stomach suddenly lurched as a horrific sense of déjà vu took hold of him. His mind had already begun to draw parallels between the Experiments faction and the reformist or ‘Green’ faction of which he himself had lead back in 552’s civil war!

“Did you guys ever stop to consider that this was what Barker wanted in the first place? Because even if it wasn’t all a part of his plan, you bet your god damn ass he’s smart enough to capitalize on you guys running roughshod through what’s left of humanity. I’m telling you from experience Orion, violence will only lead to a war that neither side can afford to fight! You guys NEED to try another approach.”

He paused, hoping that his words would at least be considered and hopefully not laughed outright at.

"Join in our fight against Barker. Alongside us regular folk. Put yourself out there as Hero's instead of the villians everyone mistakenly believes you are."

[Orion]

Orion's weapon came to be vertical to the ground, Orion's stance loosening, as he considered Marcus's words, and then his own, before answering.

"Look, Marcus... to be quite honest, at least half the Experiments actually do try to be diplomatic, or at the very least stay out of the way of normal humans. However, aside from those regulars who have pledged themselves to our cause, most of us interact rarely with others. I'm one of the few exceptions, both because I've been like this and accustomed to it for a few years, and my role within the Experiments.

"Most of them would just like their own little world and stay the hell out of the way. Honestly, a lot of what we're trying to do is subvert those under Barker's command. It's difficult, but we are trying. Others of us are also trying to make alliances. However, there are at least one faction who disapproves. They attack any human on sight, and in all honesty, they don't stop at beat down; they aim to kill.

"Most of us would listen to your logic, like I am. Some of them may even agree. However... that one faction will always be a bad light. They will not listen to logic, and we don't know how much sway they have. What we do know is that we cannot cast them out, for if we do, we'll lose what little of our forces we have. So, sadly, while you make excellent points...

"I'm afraid that they won't do any good."

[Marcus Prasad]

Well this was defiantly a case of 'ask and ye shall receive'.
Either Orion trusted Marcus FAR more than he expected, or most of what he was telling him was common knowledge. The question was, how much of what, was what.

"Quick question then for ya dude. How much support and influence does this dangerous faction hold amongst you guys, compared to the less hostile one?"
Marcus asked, crossing his arms. This could be a simply a dangerous minority within the group. If so, then they could be isolated and contained.

And if necessary, exterminated.

Worse case scenario though was that they held a position of authority amongst the Experiments and if that was the case, then they could case significant problems that would take more than Marcus had at the moment to solve.

'Tread carefully boyo. Easiest way to see the breaks in the ice.'

[Zyxon Kinet]

Zyxon had been listening for a while in the distance - observing the conversation from head burning to logical explanations. However, he didn't see it going anywhere. He decided to finally show himself, so he stood up out of his hiding place and advanced towards the two. One, Orion, which he had met before, and two, a new man. As he advanced on the two, dark orange robe fluttering in the light breeze and staff and hand, he was wondering if he'd be remembered.

"I heard that the violent ones are a bit... controlling" Zyxon chimed in. "They don't play well with others, right?"

He didn't wait for a response. Instead, he continued, "I'm Zyxon Kinet... You sir," he said as he pointed to the unfamiliar man, "are a liar. And you..." Zyxon shifted his gaze to Orion. "I haven't seen you in a while."

Though his hood was up and face hard to see, he knew that he should still be recognizable.

[Orion]

Orion's eyes narrowed at the newcomer.

"Zyxon... the hell are you doing here? Wait, stupid question, don't answer that. New question: Why the hell didn't you show up earlier? Your a Crow, and last I checked you guys didn't travel alone."

Orion was unsure of whether or not Marcus was officially a member of the Crows. His interests leaned that way, but it was unsure if he was. Zyxon, though, is a member of the Crows, though he had disappeared for some time. Now he was back, and calling Marcus a liar?

Orion's grip tightened on his halberd, turning back to Marcus, though he spoke to both.

"A liar? What exactly is he lying about? In any case, Zyxon is partially correct. The violent ones have some influence, but it's unofficial, seeing as we can't officially acknowledge them. The amount of sway they have is also unknown, hence why they are a threat to humans, though not enough for the Experiments to permanently put them down."

[Marcus Prasad]

"Did you just call me a liar?"
Marcus asked. Not angrily, more....bemused. In his early years he would have straight up shattered the kids jaw out of principle. It's amazing how rude people were these days!
You don't just go up to random people and call them Liars.

Even if there was a chance it could be true.

After listening to Orions explanation on the Dark faction within the experiments, Marcus shook his head. Were they hoping that they could just ignore the problem and hope it went away? If they didnt know what this Aggresive faction could do, then why havent they tried to find out?

They seemed to know each other, these two. Marcus decided to keep quiet and watch them both. No point getting upset over small fish, besides he had heard more than enough from Orion to paint a pretty damn good picture of how the experiments worked.