Jack lowered his arms, letting the gun fall to his side as he watched Ianto. He felt ill as the figure looked down in dismay. The words ‘wrong choice’ rang through his head as he expected to hear them once more from that disembodied voice. He expected the figure to look up and even as he bled out from his stomach, it would show it was nothing more than human. A very important human, to him.
But when it looked up with those oil-slick eyes all of that despair and panic hardened to ice and steel. An illusion, as he had assumed, but that didn’t make it any easier. Someone or something was toying with him, and he didn’t like it one bit. How many layers deep did this illusion go? He suspected the things didn’t even really look like Weevils, at all. Just another ploy to get inside his head.
Jack didn’t saying to the Doctor at first, as he fount that cold, hard place once again. He tugged his arm free of the time lord’s grasp and crossed the distance between him the creature in a few broad strides. He brought the gun up and pointed it at the head of the thing. There was no hesitation. He simply aimed and pulled the trigger before he could second guess even the partial illusion of Ianto still lying there.
He turned on his heel and shoved the gun back into his holster. “Now we’re leaving,” he said to the Doctor, heading down the path of multi-colored stones. It was an impressive stride, but lacked its usual dramatic flair as his long coat was stashed in their room, the heat not allowing for heavy wool.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Michael
"Crawford! What the fuck is wrong with you?" Michael shouted, holding onto the human's arm. Despite his small size, Michael was powerful in his own right. He was used to battling with demons, and he could hit like a horse kicked. For now, he was putting that power into holding onto Crawford and keep him from diving in for another round.
He glanced between the two of them, starting to snarl himself. If there were going to be fists thrown, damn it, he should be doing it! What the fuck was going on?
"What the fuck?!"
The lizard demon glanced upwards at Balthazar, a slow blink its answer at first. The crest folded back down against its head as it turned towards the battling human and angel. It wasn't particularly fast moving, but it was persistent. The creature's jaws opened, head darting forward with a speed most wouldn't have been thought possible with how pokey it seemed to be. The speed of it was much like a snake striking.
If Crawford didn't move, the lizard would jerk its head back, spitting what looked to be a mouthful of smoke towards Balthazar... life energy that was mean to energize the demon. Crawford wouldn't have felt the teeth sink into him, wouldn't have bled either. The only noticable thing would have been a wave of weakness or dizzinesss.
It looked eagerly up to Balthazar for whether it did good or bad.
He glanced between the two of them, starting to snarl himself. If there were going to be fists thrown, damn it, he should be doing it! What the fuck was going on?
"What the fuck?!"
The lizard demon glanced upwards at Balthazar, a slow blink its answer at first. The crest folded back down against its head as it turned towards the battling human and angel. It wasn't particularly fast moving, but it was persistent. The creature's jaws opened, head darting forward with a speed most wouldn't have been thought possible with how pokey it seemed to be. The speed of it was much like a snake striking.
If Crawford didn't move, the lizard would jerk its head back, spitting what looked to be a mouthful of smoke towards Balthazar... life energy that was mean to energize the demon. Crawford wouldn't have felt the teeth sink into him, wouldn't have bled either. The only noticable thing would have been a wave of weakness or dizzinesss.
It looked eagerly up to Balthazar for whether it did good or bad.
Doctor/Jack
Dimitri watched all of this with real interest. He had pulled the words and image from the telepath's mind, one they hadn't needed to or been able to erase. The would-be god told him it was the first, not the second. There was nothing beyond himself or the other, right? Especially not a foolish human telepath or his chaotic demon self. Such would be unimaginable.
It was better to not worry about that and concentrate on this. He wanted to tip this falling coin in his direction. Truth be told, he didn't know if he was succeeding or not. Hope ran high when the human-like thing drew its weapon. If it shot this Doctor companion of his, he might truly be broken once the illusions were ripped away.
Then the human shot.
The mind of the godling knew anger.
The Doctor had never doubted, or so he would tell himself, which of them Jack would shoot if he chose to do so. He would have preferred Jack not use a weapon at all, but that wouldn't have been very 'Jack Harkness', would it? It was an issue that he knew better than to pull up, especially now.
"Jack..."
His eyes told him it was an illusion, and all he could hope was that it was.
When the flat crack of the gun firing overtook the silence, Ianto froze. A sudden blossom of red bloomed across his stomache. His head dropped down some, staring at it in shock. When Ianto's head lifted, his lips were drawn back from savagely long teeth. Instead of the eyes of Ianto Jones, the pair were faced with black oilspot ones. Claws scrabbled on its shirt as the weevil fell backwards. Hatred was fresh in its eyes as it thrashed on the multicoloured paving stones beneath.
The Doctor's grasp on Jack tightened as he began to try to physically drag the Immortal away. Too many things were interrupting the flow, making it veer off in directions he didn't expect or like. This place was wrong much like Jack himself was, although he remained while it changed.
"We're leaving," he said, quiet as a whisper but firm as a shout. There was little doubt that it was a demand.
It was better to not worry about that and concentrate on this. He wanted to tip this falling coin in his direction. Truth be told, he didn't know if he was succeeding or not. Hope ran high when the human-like thing drew its weapon. If it shot this Doctor companion of his, he might truly be broken once the illusions were ripped away.
Then the human shot.
The mind of the godling knew anger.
The Doctor had never doubted, or so he would tell himself, which of them Jack would shoot if he chose to do so. He would have preferred Jack not use a weapon at all, but that wouldn't have been very 'Jack Harkness', would it? It was an issue that he knew better than to pull up, especially now.
"Jack..."
His eyes told him it was an illusion, and all he could hope was that it was.
When the flat crack of the gun firing overtook the silence, Ianto froze. A sudden blossom of red bloomed across his stomache. His head dropped down some, staring at it in shock. When Ianto's head lifted, his lips were drawn back from savagely long teeth. Instead of the eyes of Ianto Jones, the pair were faced with black oilspot ones. Claws scrabbled on its shirt as the weevil fell backwards. Hatred was fresh in its eyes as it thrashed on the multicoloured paving stones beneath.
The Doctor's grasp on Jack tightened as he began to try to physically drag the Immortal away. Too many things were interrupting the flow, making it veer off in directions he didn't expect or like. This place was wrong much like Jack himself was, although he remained while it changed.
"We're leaving," he said, quiet as a whisper but firm as a shout. There was little doubt that it was a demand.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Michael
Michael sped up a little to keep up with Balthazar, trudging through the sand as fast as he could. Sand was not one of his favourite things. The question didn't strike him as all that odd. Given that Balthazar didn't disbelieve him or go on guard, Michael took it for granted that the other somehow had contact with Heaven or the other.
That quiet suspicion was planted though. If Balthazar didn't watch his step, he would end up on the bad end of an angel's anger and fire.
Michael stood back some as Balthazar pulled out the tray and tie. The confusion on his face made clear that he had no idea to do with the two things that the demon offered him. Again there was that nose wriggle and sniff of the other. A frown made its way to his face finally. Balthazar might need to use that slick tongue of his in talking soon.
The change at the mention of losing his collar and cuffs was immediate and perhaps surprising. He backed a step away and glanced down at the sand, hands twisting over the cuff on the opposite wrist. A dark look came to his face as he slowly unsnapped the ones on each wrist, setting the reluctantly on the bartop. Instead each stop of leather was a profusion of angelic phrases that detailed restrain and peace. His collar he left on.
"I can't. Not that one. I can't."
Michael shook his head and refused still to meet Balthazar's eyes. Instead, he merely retreated another step. Whatever it was about that simple strap of leather, it was important to him.
That quiet suspicion was planted though. If Balthazar didn't watch his step, he would end up on the bad end of an angel's anger and fire.
Michael stood back some as Balthazar pulled out the tray and tie. The confusion on his face made clear that he had no idea to do with the two things that the demon offered him. Again there was that nose wriggle and sniff of the other. A frown made its way to his face finally. Balthazar might need to use that slick tongue of his in talking soon.
The change at the mention of losing his collar and cuffs was immediate and perhaps surprising. He backed a step away and glanced down at the sand, hands twisting over the cuff on the opposite wrist. A dark look came to his face as he slowly unsnapped the ones on each wrist, setting the reluctantly on the bartop. Instead each stop of leather was a profusion of angelic phrases that detailed restrain and peace. His collar he left on.
"I can't. Not that one. I can't."
Michael shook his head and refused still to meet Balthazar's eyes. Instead, he merely retreated another step. Whatever it was about that simple strap of leather, it was important to him.
Doctor/Dimitri
"Oh Jack," Gwen's voice sighed in his ear. "Jack. You are going mad. You realize that, don't you? Imagine you gone insane. What force in the universe could defeat you? What could stop you?"
Ianto didn't seem to be hearing the voice, his face grave and keeping any fear he may have felt under control as the weevil leaned in closer. His eyes moved to Jack's, trusting in him in this situation. The creature's clawed fingers moved over the Welshman's throat, threatening to pierce it and kill him if he moved.
"Jack?" Ianto asked, the word cut short as the weevil's hand tightened.
When the gun fired, the flat crack of it heard, the world twitched again.
"Jack."
It was the Doctor's voice in his ear.
"Jack. Look."
There was the phantom feeling of fingertips sliding over his face, touching his eyelashes lightly. The view before him changed in an instant. Instead of one world, there were tens, hundreds, thousands, or more overlaid with each other, multiple forms and versions of people moving through them. There were a million possibilities for each action or inaction. All of it was laid out. Still, there was a sense of most of it being hidden from him. He was denied the full scope of seeing the turn and spin of Time.
"Look, Jack."
The things before him were shown in shifting shades, faces beneath those of others. On the surface, it was Ianto Jones, but beneath it was the weevil. The other weevil was dead at his feet. A gauzy figure was behind him, an arm laid around his shoulder. It was if the entire person were made of smoke, drifting and hazy. A mask covered his or her face, a twin to the one Jack had. Its lips touched Jack's ear gently. If Jack looked down at his own hand or body, he blazed, brighter than any star or light there had ever been or would be.
Another was close, one that shone as he did and held a version of himself at the end of a sonic screwdriver no matter how he wanted him.
And then it was gone. Ianto's mouth was near his own and a stream of whitish smoke was flowing off Jack's skin to the lie masquerading as his lover's lips.
Ianto didn't seem to be hearing the voice, his face grave and keeping any fear he may have felt under control as the weevil leaned in closer. His eyes moved to Jack's, trusting in him in this situation. The creature's clawed fingers moved over the Welshman's throat, threatening to pierce it and kill him if he moved.
"Jack?" Ianto asked, the word cut short as the weevil's hand tightened.
When the gun fired, the flat crack of it heard, the world twitched again.
"Jack."
It was the Doctor's voice in his ear.
"Jack. Look."
There was the phantom feeling of fingertips sliding over his face, touching his eyelashes lightly. The view before him changed in an instant. Instead of one world, there were tens, hundreds, thousands, or more overlaid with each other, multiple forms and versions of people moving through them. There were a million possibilities for each action or inaction. All of it was laid out. Still, there was a sense of most of it being hidden from him. He was denied the full scope of seeing the turn and spin of Time.
"Look, Jack."
The things before him were shown in shifting shades, faces beneath those of others. On the surface, it was Ianto Jones, but beneath it was the weevil. The other weevil was dead at his feet. A gauzy figure was behind him, an arm laid around his shoulder. It was if the entire person were made of smoke, drifting and hazy. A mask covered his or her face, a twin to the one Jack had. Its lips touched Jack's ear gently. If Jack looked down at his own hand or body, he blazed, brighter than any star or light there had ever been or would be.
Another was close, one that shone as he did and held a version of himself at the end of a sonic screwdriver no matter how he wanted him.
And then it was gone. Ianto's mouth was near his own and a stream of whitish smoke was flowing off Jack's skin to the lie masquerading as his lover's lips.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Jack/Doctor/Dimitri
Jack searched the area, attention jumping to each flutter of breeze-swept leaves or bizarre creature. He made it almost a complete circle before turning back the other way to sweep the area again. That voice, always behind him. But how? In his head? A non-physical being of some sort? Was it even there, or was it his own subconscious finally turned cancerous from all the things it absorbed and started seeping into his waking mind? All those buried feelings, doubts and angers taking form of a voice only he could hear, a voice constantly behind him?
No. Admitting to that would mean he was losing his mind. Losing his mind here, on this island, after only a week? He made it through being buried for all those years with out breaking down to irreversible loss of sanity. Was it all just catching up to him, now? The very fact that he was questioning his sanity gave him some comfort. Wasn’t it said that thinking you’re crazy means you are sane, and when you assume yourself to be sane you are losing your mind? But turning on things that weren’t there was not a rational reaction. Pointing a gun at a voice was not something a sane person would do.
He slowly lowered the gun to his side.
All questions about his sanity eluded him when he saw Ianto again. This time it really looked like Ianto, not some twisted illusion over a creature that looked far too much like a weevil. His Ianto.
“…no…” he muttered, shaking his head. The last time had been a trick. But the Doctor was gone. The Doctor was dead. What choice was there? Save Ianto or do nothing? Run away? He tried to force that image of the Doctor to the front of his mind. Not the Doctor who had the life drawn out of him but the one holding off the monster with his sonic screwdriver.
But he couldn’t hold it there, not with Ianto reaching for him. Just moments passed from the voice behind him muttering “always choices” and him giving his choice. Gritting his teeth, he brought his gun up once again.
There was no warning this time. No more hesitation. He wanted this over. He brought his gun up, gripping it with both hands. Smooth as ever, he brought the creature clinging to Ianto’s arm into his sights, aiming right between the thing’s hideous black eyes, and pulled the trigger.
No. Admitting to that would mean he was losing his mind. Losing his mind here, on this island, after only a week? He made it through being buried for all those years with out breaking down to irreversible loss of sanity. Was it all just catching up to him, now? The very fact that he was questioning his sanity gave him some comfort. Wasn’t it said that thinking you’re crazy means you are sane, and when you assume yourself to be sane you are losing your mind? But turning on things that weren’t there was not a rational reaction. Pointing a gun at a voice was not something a sane person would do.
He slowly lowered the gun to his side.
All questions about his sanity eluded him when he saw Ianto again. This time it really looked like Ianto, not some twisted illusion over a creature that looked far too much like a weevil. His Ianto.
“…no…” he muttered, shaking his head. The last time had been a trick. But the Doctor was gone. The Doctor was dead. What choice was there? Save Ianto or do nothing? Run away? He tried to force that image of the Doctor to the front of his mind. Not the Doctor who had the life drawn out of him but the one holding off the monster with his sonic screwdriver.
But he couldn’t hold it there, not with Ianto reaching for him. Just moments passed from the voice behind him muttering “always choices” and him giving his choice. Gritting his teeth, he brought his gun up once again.
There was no warning this time. No more hesitation. He wanted this over. He brought his gun up, gripping it with both hands. Smooth as ever, he brought the creature clinging to Ianto’s arm into his sights, aiming right between the thing’s hideous black eyes, and pulled the trigger.
Wesker/Nicholai
At last Nicholai closed his eyes, bowing his head slightly as he conceded to the other’s questions. He hadn’t expected Wesker to just give in the moment he asked for a favor. As he looked up again, he gave the faintest hint of a shrug.
“Because I can do things for you,” he said in response to the final demand. “You may have already noticed that despite this lack of inhabitants on this island there was eatable food, fresh water and even electricity to be found.” A faint smile played over his lips. “All the answers to what you ask are tied together. Who am I and what I can do for you, that is. We have not met, you are correct in this. But I know who you are because I brought you here.”
He lifted his one arm to inspect his fingernails briefly, leaving the other resting against his torso. “You came here seeking supplies, did you not? Medical supplies, if I recall. Do this favor for me and I shall give you the supplies you require. And should you do this favor well, and continue to do as I ask, the reward will be greater. Shall we say…” he lifted his gaze to Wesker, seeming to be keener, more piercing than before, “…a secure laboratory?”
“Because I can do things for you,” he said in response to the final demand. “You may have already noticed that despite this lack of inhabitants on this island there was eatable food, fresh water and even electricity to be found.” A faint smile played over his lips. “All the answers to what you ask are tied together. Who am I and what I can do for you, that is. We have not met, you are correct in this. But I know who you are because I brought you here.”
He lifted his one arm to inspect his fingernails briefly, leaving the other resting against his torso. “You came here seeking supplies, did you not? Medical supplies, if I recall. Do this favor for me and I shall give you the supplies you require. And should you do this favor well, and continue to do as I ask, the reward will be greater. Shall we say…” he lifted his gaze to Wesker, seeming to be keener, more piercing than before, “…a secure laboratory?”
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