Post by Delilah A. Black on Jan 13, 2013 23:16:57 GMT -8
Three days after the talk with 'Unfettered'...
Delilah stood upon the roof of the Crows nest, moving her body in slow, deliberate motions. To the untrained eye, it would look as though the mechanic was simply moving through a series of kata (though even this wasn't true; she was just letting the technique and the art flow through her. There was no rhyme or reason to her strikes and shifts in balance). But to some one who knew her or someone perceptive enough to be able to read the expression on her face, they might be able to tell from her blank expression that she was deep in meditation.
Outwardly, her arms and legs seemed to move as if through water, or pulled by strings. Here was a palm to the chest of her invisible foe. There a sharp kick to the inside of the thigh, followed by a knee and then a dropping elbow to the back of a nonexistent head. The grace and fluidity of her motions belied their lethality. The snail's pace was to practice precision and timing: speed enhanced technique when properly applied.
Inwardly, her mind churned in the same waves and valleys her body moved in. Her meditative state allowed her to be in two places at once with a happy medium in the middle.
It was in this medium that she allowed her consciousness to reside for the time being as she thought things over. Removed from the wild fluctuation of her emotions and external factors that may try to distract her, Delilah could think in peace.
What do I want?
A reasonable, secure question. What DID she want? Peace. Stability. Strength and the wisdom to use it. A better life for her son. A life with Stu. To help and protect as many as she could.
In the depths of her mind, Delilah smirked at herself. Lofty.
The higher I climb, the higher my aim.
She turned her foot on a forty five degree angle and brought her other foot around in a semi-circle until it was behind her, dumping her invisible opponent onto the ground and finishing him with a heel-kick to the head.
What does 'HE' want?
"Unfettered". An alliance, massive on scale, with the Crows, Militia, Dragons, Gods and Experiments, unified against the Barker threat.
The very idea made her heart beat quicken.
Do you want what he asks of you?
On this, Delilah was not immediately sure, so she backtracked, thinking about the logic of the thing without making her emotions a factor.
The reason he asked me is not because I am the strongest, the fastest, the smartest. He asks this of me because I have the best chance at maintaining this alliance.
But...
But?
Yes, 'but'. I am the best choice, considering my relationships with all who would be involved. I can be the pin that turns the gears of war, to help change the tide of battle. The wire that connects all the lights. I want this.
But without me, the alliance would still be secured. I have faith in "Unfettered" and his abilities. He would make it work.
...but I don't want him to be burdened with anything else. He's already doing far to much.
Don't pretend to be all altruistic about this; I know why you want this. You want the power. You want to be stronger. You can't hide your selfishness from me.~[/i]
Ah, yes. The little sing-song of the Dark Woman. She had wondered when she would once again rear her head. Delilah swept her leg backward as if taking out someone's leg and then a punch to their face, knocking them out. If they were real, anyway.
You're right. I can't pretend. I want to help as many people as I can, and for that I need strength. Power. I know in my heart that if someone other than those I trust were to adopt this role, they might abuse that ability. I KNOW I won't; I have my family at stake, all my hard work. One little slip and it would all come tumbling down. My son's future rides on this, same as the future of everyone else who survived this damn mess. I don't want to leave that in the hands of someone else.
Why? Why must it be you?
Finally, Delilah opened her eyes and her body came to a passive standing position. She blinked a few times and set her jaw.
"It has to be me. Someone else might've gotten it wrong."
She looked out at the setting sun and let a breath push slowly past her lips. She would be sacrificing much for this venture. But she had made up her mind: and she knew this would all be worth it in the end. For her future.For everyone.
She hoped.
This could be the end of you.
"I know."
You put yourself and everyone you love at risk by singling yourself out.
"So much as I always have. Now, even my death would serve a purpose, should it come to that."
You've made up your mind, then.
"Of course."
But something was bothering her, a niggling little sense of unease in the back of her mind. She thought back to John Strike's words...
...and spun on her heel, striding inside again.
She would need strength if she was to survive this. And she knew of the men who might be able to give her answers. [/size]
