02 - The Darkest Night

<< The Dark Messiah

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There is a Vampire trying to make Europe his personal fiefdom. Akio and Yuko are trying to find him, and he has a young female Wechselbalg and male Vampire to keep on the straight and narrow. Michael has his own brand of justice, and this world is now understanding the Patriach is back.

02/1 - 18 EUROPE, THE DUKE

02/1 Out on a feeding expedition, the Duke (William Renaud, Michael’s son) finds a young mother, Sarah, walking home with her child, Sarah recognizes the Duke, knows what will happen to her, and sends Michael, her son, to their hotel room for safety. The Duke feeds, leaving her dry and dead.

02/5 Bryon Donnington guides ships into Duke’s landing fields, The Duke has planning meeting with Gerard (his Second), as to why two were pack tokens were missing from hi map. “They missed two meetings”. Assuming they had broken their agreement with him, the Duke had their firstborns fed to Nosferatu. William senses trouble ahead, thinks back on his history with Michael (entombed him, left him to die) with his two children (Valerie, Donovan),his activities in Europe (to Conquer his known world at that time), and with Gerard. Senses trouble coming in Europe with Michael back (and he, William, will need another safe place), and decides to hide for a while.

02/7 The Duke was anticipating a victory when the pack went to attack Paris, and so said, to Gerard, “We will head out tonight and take out any remaining humans. If the Rehbolson Pack is unsuccessful by mid-morning, send in the rest on my command. I wish to have Paris in my control before I go out at midnight, is that understood?” The Duke then went off to sleep the day away (Could not stand the sun). Gerard scopes the fight, and sees that the weres are losing. He notifies other local packs to join the fight, so 2000 other were get ready to battle.

02/12, 13 GERARD'S PLANS Gerard has other plans for himself, as well. First Paris, then old France, and then Germany would fall, and eventually there would only be one trusted human running the empire during the day. And only one trusted to get close enough to the Duke to help him sleep a final time, making the assassin the most powerful man in all of Europe. The blood the Duke had shared with him already provided him with a superior body; he didn’t need hundreds of years to enjoy himself before someone else had the crown. But he wanted enough years to make all of his slaving for the Duke worth it. Plans meeting with some of his cohorts before meeting with Duke later on that evening. The Duke, under the City in the Catacombs, hears ruckus of fight above, thinks it is his victory being created, smiles, goes back to sleep.

02/17, 18 Gerard, anticipating his picnic meeting with the Duke, sees slaughter of weres, decides he needs data, information, and safety, so descends to Catacombs to find the Duke.

02/1 AKIO'S SEARCH Akio flies into New York, reads minds, especially police, finds that Michael was on the ArchAngel, an air dirigible, that was just then leaving for Europe. Akio calls Eve, requests a Pod, delivered. One New Yorker saw him and pod, a tower control person, Sherry Logstrum.

02/2 - 7 FLIGHT TO EUROPE

02/2 It is decided to awaken Michael, tell him or pirates. Michael decides to go to ship, convince them to desist, or kill them. Mark and Jacqueline to guard ship while he is gone. Michael leaves, goes to Folly, ½ mile away, and does not see three sleds already coming from Folly to ArchAngel. Michael lands on pirate ship, finds Arnold and Amanda ethical, moral, decides to save them (brings them back to ArchAngel, will work in engine room). Starts killing others.

02/3 Mark senses skiffs (sleds) landing, calls Jacqueline, they kill all .Pirate ship blown up (by Cholly Jake) and went to bottom of sea. Michael returns, find left bank of batteries blown on ArchAngel, goes outside ship, accosts storm, “fights with Mother Nature”, wins, storm abates.

02/4 While storm is easing, Akio hovers next to ArchAngel, sees his face over ½ gone, bare skull bones showing. Injured in fight, will have almost healed by time he goes into ship again.

02/5 Greets, meets Mark, Jacqueline, O’Banion. Jacqueline wonders why anyone would send Akio after 150 years, gets answer, “Because she loves me!” Michael determines to “make a human” out of Akio, soften him up, make him smile. Mark, Jacqueline also heal. Jacqueline relates Michael’s history to Mark, Captain Gerry, APC Alpha, was her dad, k new Michael 150 years ago. history

02/7 Can communicate with Bethany Anne in only limited way (five digits, once every 6 months, so have code they use). Yuko, Akio, Michael, Mark, Jacqueline agree to destroy Duke, his cohorts and his activities. Michael and Akio plan with Yuko, Eve (video transfers), to destroy William’s activities in France, so all will meet there, with “good” weres and vamps still fighting William, to destroy his hold on Europe. Pinpoint 5 locations, satellites confirm. Will meet outside Paris, fight first there. Michael, Akio, Jacqueline, Mark agree to meet Yuko and Eve in France.

02/8 Michael gives ArchAngel to O’Bannon, requires that he rename ship “Michael the ArchAngel Returns”, and all leave on Pod.

02/8 - 18 THE BATTLE FOR EUROPE

02/8 LANDS Lands outside Paris, unloads selves, leave weapons in ship until know more about situation. Sense chase nearby, one being chased by 12.

02/9 SABINE'S RESCUE Sabine ran between Mark and Jacqueline, as were pack chased her. She ran into Akio and Michael, standing guard, who decide that Mark and Jacqueline could handle the rescue themselves. Weres start changing, for a fight. Mark rushes into fight, (angry at his sister’s treachery-she had reported him as a vamp), all of the injustices he had suffered, and was knifed. Jacqueline turned into a Pricolici when someone hurt her mate, and killed everyone off that Mark hadn’t. Michael and Akio watch. Good Job ! Michael easily mind-speaks to Mark. Sabine(human) tell them she was on her way to join with a group of weres and vampires who were defending Paris against the “others”.

02/10 Yuko and Eve arrive, (Large square black container ship) carrying clothes( for both humans and Pricolici), weapons, etc. Meets with all. Sabine was going to meet with defenders. Michael and Akio might want to join them? Akio gives Sabine a pair of Jean Dukes, and shows her how to use them (within one day. Will be deadly to ones with wrong nanocytes. Don’t depend on silver any more). Michael wants to develop his control of the Etheric Energy he can handle (lightning forces, etc.), and spends time honing skills of making fires with the energies he can address Akio teaches Sabine to shoot. “Don’t aim the gun, make it an extension of your thoughts, of your being. It isn’t there to be aimed. It is there to send the bullet where your mind wishes it to go.” “A gun is a tool to make your will a reality when someone attacks you and your people. A tool for protection.” If you are going to take a life, you must have a reason to do so. The protection of your friends’ lives is a better motive than revenge, but justice for the dead is a very close second.” Sabine learns. Akio gives her holsters, bio-locked to her.

02/11 Kirk and James, leaders within the city, prepare for battle (Adorjan’s pack). Michael decides to join in the fight, to “go help them”. Yuko decides to fight as well, now that Michael is back. “I was charged, just as you were, to await Michael’s safe return to Bethany Anne and to do that, my role was as the diplomat.” “It is time that I carried some of the load. “Stay behind me, little one,” Akio whispered to his friend. “I am responsible to the Queen for you as well. She wants you back.” She nodded into his shoulder. “I have your back, old man,” Yuko replied, a small tear running down her cheek. “Sorry, old wise man.”

02/13, 14 THE BATTLE BEGINS FORMATION OF THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN Michael ordered missile dropped on attacking pack, so that it “rained wolves”, slowing the attack. Then all seven lined up to battle attackers – “Michael,” Akio stated, “you are in the middle, with Jacqueline, Mark and Eve to your right. Sabine, Yuko and myself are to your left." Were named “The Magnificent Seven” and were joined by the defenders, the Eagle’s Nest. Michael and Akio “dance”, as do Yuko and Sabine. Yuko has become able to kill now that Michael is back. Michael, who pullshas been fighting with swords, is getting bored, sop Jean Dukes, set to 11, and fires away. . Defenders victorious, two teams fighting the same bad guys.

02/15, 16 EAGLE'S NESTEagle’s Nest (Kirk, Timothy, James) come and talk to Michael, tell him all local packs were alerted, and are now descending on them. Over 2,000 Wechselbalg, arriving in two hours. Discuss strategy – not enough weapons of the right size, others too big. Michael asks about the weather, 40% chance of rain. Eagle’s Nest to defend City, Michael et al to use pucks and Mother Nature. Two were packs approaching, Rayane’s and Lilliana’s. Lilliana not as anxious to fight, doesn’t like the Duke and activities, but must, as he controls all. Two pucks come down on Rayane’s pack, demolish it. Lilliana’s pack goes slower. Doesn’t want to die.

02/17 Magnificent Seven take the line, fire, but weres still keep coming. Michael decides time is right for Mother Nature to help, calls down lightning and thunder. Lilliana’s pack stop at sounds of unnatural storm. Sabine asks, “What kind of crazy lady wants a man that throws lightning around?” Akio chuckled. “One that throws fireballs.” “Oh.” Michael mind-speaks to the 200 who are left. “Continue on pain of death”. Call Lilliana to City, to meet with him.

02/18 Lilliana meets Jacqueline, Container box drops, ladies go in to help Lilliana with clothes. Lillianna thinks Jacqueline is challenging her, fights with Jacqueline, loses. Michael pumps Lilliana for info about Duke, finds he will be out to accept the city that night. (Gerard with him) Michael wants to meet Gerard. Battle ended, Michael and Akio to hunt Gerard and Duke, Yuko and Eve to go back to Japan with Mark and Jacqueline, Sabine to stay in Paris with Eagle’s Nest connect with family, heal from fighting, (leaves small communicator, use if necessary to contact Akio, Yuko). Lilliana goes back to her pack.

02/14 MICHAEL CATCHES UP Michael’s return has liberated Yuko. Her job is to protect Michael, not to provide a safe place. No way back to Bethany Anne, Gate destroyed, but Chinese Wechselbalg have parts of a Kurtherian space ship they do not know how to assemble. Capture it and use it? Boris still alive, and with a family.

02/19 -23 MICHAEL AND THE DUKE

02/19, 20 Gerard wakens the Duke, states that they have a problem. Akio and Michael enter catacombs, searching for the Duke. Duke sends out apostles to find or kill them. If not kill, then Duke will do so.

02/21 Michael and Akio find traps, avoid them, sense energy coming towards them. Kill five apostles. Michael tells Akio why he visits catacombs (here to be grounded and explore honor and incorruptibility).

02/22 Duke and Gerard escape to France, Michael, Akio still in catacombs. Michael explores, enters room, clear, Akio enters. William watches from France, wonders at Michael’s existence, explodes room. Both Michael and Akio escape blast, re-enter room to talk to William. William sends more explosions, turning river Seine to flood catacombs. Michael, Akio escape into Etheric before they can drown. Exit Etheric, Michael more determined than ever to kill William.

02/23 WILLIAM PLANS MICHAEL'S DEATH William, also, more determined to kill Michael. Goes to Scientist, explores how to destroy molecules, in a vacuum chamber only way. “… tearing apart the mist, once it’s trapped? How might that work?”

“Any number of ways. I mean, if we had power that is. We could blast it with x-ray radiation, or bombard it with gamma rays. There is, well, was, lots of equipment there that would allow us to do that. And if the mist were already sealed in a section of tube, that would make things easier and we could do it rather quickly.”

“You’re hired, “William said.

02/19 - 23 MARK AND JACQUELINE IN JAPAN YUKO MEETS JIJO HIRANO

02/19, 20 Yuko and Eve show Mark and Jacqueline Tokyo, laws for pedestrians, a lawful place, EIs for cars, etc., first day in town. Eve receives message from Police. Banri gang and Choki gang will have meeting, maybe fight. Wechselbalg might be involved. Maybe a trap to capture and kill Akio. Michael gives permission for Mark and Jacqueline to involve themselves in this mission.

02/21, 22 Jijo Hirano meets with Yuko to discuss situation. Show Yuko his personal book re her, Eve, and “The Bitch Protocol”. Impressed more by Eve than Yuko. Choki’s gang includes Wechselbalg (gaijin) who will help in attack. Talk with Banji, see couple in park (Mark and Jacqueline, kaibutsu [spies. aliens - unknowns]. Shooting started. Corrupt police fire on others, gangs fire on others, building explodes. Mark and Jacqueline take shelter, then have permission approval (Hirano) to engage. Jacqueline turns to Pricilici, most of gangs killed. Yuko comes to area, also, in fight. Yuko to fight, Akio to become more of a diplomat, Hirano’s memories will both be wiped. Policies will change, now that Michael’s back.

02/23 Yuko take Hirano home, tell him of recent history- Bethany Anne, Michael, Akio, catacombs, Mark and Jacqueline, need for space ship to return Michael to her, etc. Hirano writes in diary.