Immortal's Club - Game Thread. Arc Five : Winter Soldier (Started, Open)

[Frission]

"Idimmu, Maskim Xul, Edin Na Zu!" Shenshen ran down the streets of London. He was tired, all his pistols were discharged (I am the greatest marksman he cried), his nerves were shot and most of his clothes were slightly burned away, leaving him wearing only a slightly woebegone suit, which was now too short at the legs.

A fucker had caused all sorts of trouble for him this night, but their efforts had been in vain. A message from Marco Polo, the spice merchant and his benefactor had alerted him to some kind of meeting and he was determined to be present.

Shenshen ran down the down the slick dark streets of London, normally a nightmare for him to navigate. However, he at least been provided with an adequate map. As he ran, Shenshen remembered his last trip in London. The streets had been illuminated with gaslight as well (like in the lands of the underw-).
"Barra!", Shenshen shook his head and ran faster until he was only a blur slithering across the pavement. He didn't have time to reminisce.

He needed to know what was going on! He needed to keep order!

He arrived in breakneck speeds to the museum and entered as quickly as possible and managed to enter in time to witness Tut's proposal.

...

Shenshen still remember that his jaw hit must have hit the floor.

 

[JoJo]

Cadeyrn had turned up among others for the meeting, he wasn't going to pass up the chance of a gathering on his own home soil. Even better, it was to be a break-in, one of his specialities. He bounded up to the back of the stage when the speech was over so he'd be one of the first to answer.

"I can help you," he told Tut excitedly, "I do this sort of thing all the time, and I have something else I need to do in the museum anyway,"

Indeed, the boy's search for Guanyin had still made very little progress, he however had recently found out that the British Museum had a exhibition about Chinese folk religion. If he could get in there, perhaps he could find a clue on where she'd be.

 

[TheIronRuler]

The turnout was a surprise for old Tut. First came the east-west mix, the child of Immortality the whole club was yapping about for ages - Ali was her name, he remembered when she introduced herself. 'I would love to be part of your little plan. It sounds like a jolly good time.'

'As long as we have you, everything will be a jolly good time' Tut smiled his crooked smirk at the young Immortal.

'I can help you', a voice came from nowhere in particular, 'I do this sort of thing all the time, and I have something else I need to do in the museum anyway'. Tut had to strain his neck to look down and see the little runt offering his services. He chuckled at his proposition.

'I don't know, little man. This job requires a little... maturity, which you lack. I could have told you to wait a few years till you grew some more inches, but that's already out of the picture...' Tut burst into laughter and nearly toppled over himself, which would have sent him down to the floor.

 

[JoJo]

"What, I'm the maturest immortal there is!" Cadeyrn exclaimed indignantly, scowling at Tut's joke. "I know loads about getting into places and how to not get caught, I've been doing it for centuries. You've got to let me come along!"


Tut was doing his best not to laugh at the little runt's face, but his urge took the better of him. He burst into tears of joy and rolled on his neck, occasionally stopping to cough or spit and take a breath. "You've never got to the only place that matters, boy, and you're too young to ever attempt", He glanced at Ali with a smidgen of regret, "We don't need you prancing around like you do with those Pixies and Faes. Beat it, Kid. Let the grown-ups handle it."

"Hm!" Cadeyrn squealed and stormed off angrily, giving Tut a sulky glance as he did so, "You'll be sorry when you get caught, you stupid talking head!" he cried as he slammed the door behind him. He ran out of the disused theatre and went to hide in one of his usual London haunts, high up on one of roof of a building where he was out-of-sight of everyone down below. There he fought back tears, why could many of the other immortals never accept him as an equal among them? Finally he calmed down and decided on a course of action. He too would be visiting the museum that night, first to visit the Chinese exhibition and then to give his fellow immortals some 'help'. A wicked grin appeared on the boy's face, he knew exactly what he was going to do.

 

[Baddamobs]

Screecher had arrived slightly early. As usual.

She had largely held off in the drinks (apart from occasionally taking a swig from a slightly worn owl-flask) and the other 'substances' that were being passed around. She could feel something in the air; they all could. She may have lost a large part of her original instincts, but she was wise enough to realize whatever was going to occur, she would likely need a clear head for.

When they had sat down for Tut's little stage show, she had allowed herself to relax a little. She convinced herself that the derelict and largely empty building Tut was hosting in was purposely unnerving, like those amusement houses humans seemed increasingly fond of.

Of course, the talking head's announcement had done wonders to prove her otherwise.

"... I could end this never-ending nightmare. I could die..."

He has to be lying. He HAS to be.

It went against every part of their nature as indestructible beings. True, they transcended the common laws of nature simply by existing, but even they had rules to follow. Such as, don't compromise the existence of the Club. Don't seek ways to recreate your Immortality. Don't get caught in a situation that would reveal the Immortals to normal mortals...

... All rules we set ourselves. Our lack of death is more of a fact rather then a rule. Maybe oblivion isn't so far beyond the reach of some...

That settled, the question arose if Tut even deserved death. While not exactly amoral, calling him abrasive would be a compliment, and she didn't get on with him the best of times. Why should he be able to find the final peace that was denied from the rest of them. Screecher wasn't exactly seeking death, but to have the option or opportunity like Tut now had would be desirable in some terms.

Of course, I would refuse to be put in the earth with this human body. Whatever afterlife there is, I'll be flying to it.

Screecher had nearly walked out at that point: if the damn head sought trouble, let him and whatever fools followed him seek it themselves. But that raised one crucial problem.

...If I leave those idiots to their own devices, they'll probably end up caught, exposing the Club, and somehow collapsing the democratic system as we know it. The more she thought about it the more sense it made. Those half drunk simpletons couldn't tie their own shoes together, let alone break into a damned museum. She found herself nodding to her own internal words, her eyes darting about unseeingly.

They're going to NEED someone who can keep their damn composer, and who better then myself. Yes... This operation practically requires I be there.

Punching her own palm in determination with a confident grin, Screecher sauntered to the backstage. On the way, she passed by a seething Caderyn. Preparing for another 'owl stew' comment (how he had kept up that insult for several years and STILL get to her with it, she had no idea), Screecher was surprised when he passed right by her, seemingly not noticing her. She blinked in surprise, but pressed on, not losing her vigor.

She threw open the door, and ignoring most other Immortals in the room, leveled her gaze at Tut.

"Alright, let me get this out of the way: this whole operation of yours is dodgy and liable to get us all caught. That said, I know I can't just leave it to your devices and hope for the best. You're all going to need a level head-...hand, to help with damage control, and I say I'm the best qualified for such a role, so I insist you bring me along."

 

[booksv2]

Having still been in Paris loitering about and enjoying the nightlife and art Jack was a bit surprised at being called together so soon after the last party. Considering it for a few weeks before deciding to go he was a little weird about seeing the rest of the immortals so soon.

Getting into London early and enjoying the art and Museum's before heading to the party. After getting there and enjoying some of the amazing drinks he drifted in the crowd saying hi to those he was friends with and avoiding those he either did not know or did not like. When Screecher got there he smiled at her from across the room as Tut got carried up on the stage and started speaking to them.

Listening to him as he outlined what he wanted Jack's eyes widened as he considered the implications and risks. Leaning on his cane and watching a handful of people walk backstage, with one shorter one stomp out and out of the building. Staring at the door to the backroom for a few seconds and walking back he catch's the door before it slams shut behind Screecher and steps to the side.

"Alright, let me get this out of the way: this whole operation of yours is dodgy and liable to get us all caught. That said, I know I can't just leave it to your devices and hope for the best. You're all going to need a level head-...hand, to help with damage control, and I say I'm the best qualified for such a role, so I insist you bring me along."

Listening to her and stepping to the side Jack smiles slightly as he says softly in the aftermath of her little speech.
"I wont demand you bring me along, but i think i can help some. I stayed a few years with a thief and i picked his brain over. Then again, it was quite a while ago."

 

[Frission]

Shenshen fiddled with the walky talky he had recently acquired and reported what he found.

" -break into the museum. I- well we'll observe. Um, yes yes. Badger Badger. Pardon, but who's roger? Wait, wait what did you mean by petrified fossil?"

The transmission was rather rudely cut off and Shenshen was left holding the talking machine, perplexed with what to do next. (like when you were lost in the Sahara)

He needed reinforcements but from whom? The answer to his question came as the Korrigan stormed out of the stage.

"How Auspicious"

Shenshen followed the Korrigan out of the theater intending to recruit him into observing the raiding party. However, he was unprepared for the twists and turns that the Korrigan went through. Around bends and gutters the Korrigan moved. There was even a moment when Shenshen feared that he had lost him, before suddenly seeing his quarry and potential ally scurrying on the rooftops above.

Suffice to say, when Shenshen finally caught up to the Korrigan he was bruised and out of breath.

"Good ev- *cough cough* urk, good evening Caderyn. My job is to monitor the raid, and if matters came to a head, stop our compatriots. I would be grateful *cough* for assistance from a fellow *hurk* immortal."

Shenshen had wanted to say more, but the night had been long and promised to be longer and he needed a rest. He sat down and tried to catch his breath, waiting for Caderyn to reply to his offer.

 

[TheIronRuler]

Tut wasn't sure if he supposed to laugh or cry, but any competent help was always a blessing, nomatter how bloody arrogant it was. He sized up screecher, that would be owl girl, and tried to imitate what would have passed off as shrug to a normal person.

'Fine, you can watch over us-', he was surprised to see Jack join as well, 'We could use some skills in breaking and entering. Good to have you, old man'.

 

[drmigit2]

Naditabirus had arrived before anyone else. She was sitting in the corner smoking. She was only half listening to what Tut had to say, but then he began talking about how he wanted to die. Naditabirus lit another cigarette, Soviet made, and began to quietly observe. Tut managed to enrage the little one into leaving, which put a bad taste in Nadi's mouth. She rather enjoyed the guy and treating him like trash was just rude. She was about to go chasing after Caedryn, but convinced herself to give Tut one final opportunity to gain her connections.

The Lich took off her sunglasses and put them neatly in her petticoat before speaking. "I do not appreciate how you treated Caedryn, but I can appreciate your desire for death. I myself have done a sizable amount of research into the concept, and have had little success. If you think there is a way for you to truly die however, I will cooperate, but you must submit yourself fully to my experiments and designs. If you can agree to this, then I am sure I could arrange for the return of your body. If not then I am afraid I will have to go and console Caedryn."

 

[Mr.Ivebeenframed]

Tut's rejection of Caderyn was hurtful, even for Ali. She was about to protest to leave but she knew she would see Caderyn soon enough. If anything, rejection was one thing that could really rile up an immortal like Caderyn. But before she could say anything to Tut, more Immortals decided to jump on in.

One of the more interesting volunteers was Screecher who sought to join in to "overlook" the event so that they wouldn't be discovered. She scoffed at her proposal when she heard it but any help was better than none. Then Jack joined in as well, stating that he had skills in such an endeavor. When they made eye contact, Ali gave the man a flirtatious wink. That's when Naditabirus spoke up.


"If not then I am afraid I will have to go and console Caderyn."

"No need for that, Nadi." Ali chimed in. "Once the boy has been moved, there's no stopping him. We spent some time in Germany together and you wouldn't believe what he did with nothing but some pliers, toothpicks and a mouthy German officer. It took me weeks to get the blood out of my hair. Anyway, he's going start a mess somewhere else and cause a great diversion for us." She refrained from mentioning that Caderyn could also interfere with their plans and possibly unveil the club but what fun could come from that?

 

[JoJo]

Cadeyrn looked up in surprise as Shenshen suddenly appeared besides him looking battered and bruised, he was surprised the grown man had even been able to follow his labyrinthine route. He quickly wiped his face with his sleeve to hide any remaining tears.

"Good ev..." the man coughed as recovered his breath, Good evening Caderyn. My job is to monitor the raid, and if matters came to a head, stop our compatriots. I would be grateful for assistance from a fellow immortal."

Shenshen collapsed besides Cadeyrn. The boy nodded with a tired smile, resting his hand on the older man's shoulder. He figured some help was better than none, even though he'd have to make sure that Shen didn't accidentally ruin the plan.

"I'll help you, here's what we should do," Cadeyrn replied and then began to explain his plan.

 

[TheIronRuler]

Spoiler: OOC

Sorry about the delay. Unexpected malfunctions and such. I'm doing this in an internet cafe. I'll get back on you later tomorrow. Cheers.

Tut was getting impatient. It seemed there won't be any other volunteers joining his ranks, and he had already made one too many obstacles before he even started. He watched the two immortals argue with each other, Ali attempting to convince the other to accept without conditions. Tut obviously wan't going to let her root through his nogging, and there wasn't much of a pressing need for another straggler. He already assembled enough of a crew to brave through the musuem.

'I will say no to that', he answered her without regret. 'Go or no, your choice'.

'Lets go on. We might me Immortal, but even the night dies at the break of dawn'. Tut watched the crew he assembled move out one by one, forgetting him behind. He was left with Memnon eyeing his crookidly, smiling through his crooked teeth. 'Do I need to ask?', Tut asked in frustration. Memnon smiled at that. There was a time Tut could take him with one hand tied behind his back. 'No, friend. Tell me where Jack is at. I'll leave you with the Alchemist'.

.

Say one thing about Immortals, say they never stop trying. Memnon marveled at the poor state of the prison he just broke into. The sealed off section of old sewers had been hammered beyond recognition, the tiles ripped off and crushed, the floor covered with half a foot of dirt. Memnon had broken the bars with his bare hands, his famed strength still standing with him after all of those years. In troy he was second only to Achilles, and since the boy is dead, Memnon reckoned he was the strongest immortal out there. The strongest, but not the best killer.

That questionable title remained with Jack. The stench was unbearable for Memnon, who couldn't do anything more than wait for the deranged Immortal to charge at him. He had been following him for the last few tunnels now, trying to come in close for the kill and stun Memnon long enough for him to escape. At last he found he opportunity, one which Memnon gladly provided in the hopes of leaving this cave of excrement. Jack lunged at the Ethiopian King, his hands outstrenched at his throat. Memnon turned back, his leg outstreched in a kick to the head. Jack's head cracked at the impact, the sound bouncing off the walls around, and he flopped to the sea of dirt and shit below.

'Do you want to kill again, Jack?', Memnon asked as Jack's head was snapping back into its old form. 'You won't best me, you know that. But there are others more suceptible to death than I am. I need you in the city above, clearing us a path. No questions asked. Got it?'.

'Then you throw me back in when you're done', he gurgled, still slumped on his face.

'Consider this a vacation. We point you in a direction, and you...' Memnon waved his hands around, indicating everything in the vicinity, 'do whatever feels natural'.

Jack gathered himself and stood on his feet. 'I need to freshen up', he said, a tint of arisctocracy to his tone. 'I am a respectable gentleman, I was once the best of the royal surgeon's association. And now...', he smiled his wretched smile, 'I go back to cutting'.
.
'Be careful with that!', Tut exclaimed as Memhod dropped him again on the floor. He tried his hardest to stifle his laughter, but he couldn't hold it back anymore. They've been fumbling through the city streets, hiding Tut in a handbag.'It's just around the bend', Mamhod indicated to the dismembered head leaning against him.

'Alright, are you ready?', Mahmod asked the group following him from behind. 'We're supposed to meet Memnon here, and then-', a muffled cry of pain stooped Mamhod dead in his tracks. His eyes glazed to the left around the corner and peeped at the Musuem entrance. A guard standing in the front was on his knees, holding his hands around his throat, dark stains running on his hands and pooling on the floor beneath. Above him stood the silihoutte of the city's most hated and feared criminal. Jack the Ripper was bathed, shaved and wearing a neat black suit, all ready for a day in the City of London as a stock broker. A knife glittered in his left hand.

Memnon appeared in the shadows from behind him and motioned Mahmod to step out. All of the color left his face, and the white as chalk Immortal looked down at Tut in amazement. 'No...You didn't...Tut...' he was at a loss of words. 'It had to be done. We put the mad dog on a leash. Memnon is here-', He stopped and sruggled to wiggle out of the handback, 'Is our Jack here? we need to break into the Musuem without tripping the alarm. Go and show us your experience, Jack'.

 

[Baddamobs]

"What!?"

Screecher's eyes bulged at the sight of Jack - the Jack - as he gleefully started dragging the collapsed body of the guard out of sight.

"You can't be serious..." She snapped around, snatching the bag containing Tut from the other Immortal, barely restraining herself from ripping it apart in her haste to face eye to eye with Tut. "You can't be serious! You never said we were bringing along a psychopath!"

"I also didn't say we weren't bringing along a psychopath." Tut deadpanned.

"You know what I said before, about me acting as damage control? I can't exactly minimize the damage done by a HURRICANE!" Screecher all but threw the bag back to Memnon (Tut letting out an indignant cry at the action), before letting out a despairing sigh.

We aren't even in the building, and I can see this going awry...

"Hey, feather-brain!" Tut growled of his bag, wriggling around in an effort to face said 'feather-brain.' "It's too late to go back by this point, right? We might as well get this done. Come on, our 'psycho' will clear a path."

Screecher said nothing for a long moment, before turning with some desperation to Ali.
"Surely, you can't agree to this? Ali, you have to back me up on this: we work with this...murderer, and whatever chance this operation had will go out of the window, we-"

"Are you all coming, or should I get started by myself?" Jack called from the entrance with no little impatience, his blood stained blade gleaming eagerly for the coming work.

Screecher turned back to Ali, pleading with her eyes.

 

[booksv2]

Stepping around the corner just behind Screecher and stopping quickly as he sees the guard hold his throat and drop to the ground at the feet of the Ripper Jack can feel a shiver run up his spine.

Slowly moving to the side and staring at the Ripper Jack twists the top of his cane slowly and then lets it go. Knowing with one good tug the sword cane will come out and be useful. Stepping around Screecher and pointing at the downed guard that the Ripper was dragging away he says in a low voice.
"There is keys on his belt, take them off and toss them over."

Looking at Screecher he says to her softly.
"As much as none of us want to work with him he is part of our volunteering. You could go, but getting in then out again without more dead is already close to not happening. Let up go quick and limit his contact with others."

Stepping forward and taking the keys from the smiling Ripper Jack looks him in the face and steps past. Ignoring the presence at his back and unlocking the front door he steps inside and reachs up above the door to pull a small wire away from the door jam. Using a small whittling knife from the back of his belt to cut it he quickly moves to the side and pries open a wooden panel to look at several bunch's of wires and a few switch's. Pausing as he looks them over he glances at the rest waiting outside and sighs as he reach's in and jerks on several bunch's of wires and jerks and spasms as they throw sparks and shock him hard. Spasming slightly and stepping back Jack clamps his teeth together to muffle the curses and lets them go, shaking his hands hard. Saying in a low but hard voice.
"Damn it!"

Waving at the others outside.
"Come on, if nothing else the alarm will be off till the next person comes to see this mess and raises it. But on the flip side the lights don't work anymore and somewhere in here there will be more guards who want to know why they just shut down. They wont raise the alarm just yet, assuming its just a power out."

 

[TheIronRuler]

If Tut had a hand, he would have slapped it across his face in frustration. This wasn't what he expected when Jack said he had experience thieving. Even a cretin like Isaac could have done the same and without the mindless blabber. Memnon was on the Ripper's tail, shadowing his every move. The two went inside, Jack eager to draw blood again. They vanished inside the musuem, stalking the Ripper's prey alone. 'Go on, then. To the Egyptian section', Tut urged Mahmod and the shocked alchemist moved towards the entrance. Behind them the crew they've assembled was arguing amongst themselves. Screecher was beseeching Ali for a response, something to snap the both of them out of the blunder they got themselves into.

'You can never get any good help these days. In the old time they would lay down their lives for you...' Tut mumbled to himself as they got further inside the Musuem. The Egyptian section was recently renovated, and a group of three sarcophaguses were just added. 'One is my own, another is some ancestor of mind, and the third I fucked his mum', he snickered to himself. 'Get me out and let me see myself', he commanded Mamhod, and the dazed alchemist reluctanty agreed.

 

[JoJo]

By the time evening came, everything was ready. Cadeyrn ducked through a back entrance to the British Museum and crept along the shadows, watching out for guards behind and and in front of him. Mercifully, they seemed to be distracted elsewhere. He came across an open window and swung his legs in, landing in a heap on a dusty floor. He glanced around, the storeroom was empty. Lying before him was a great rack of keys, he quickly located the appropriate one for the Egytian exhibition and slipped it in his pocket.

The boy then made his way upstairs to the correct exhibition, finding it with ease using the maps on the side of every corridor. He tip-toed around for a while and began to despair of finding anything useful until finally he almost walked into a statue of Guanyin. He read the description written below in neat typeset:

Guanyin, also known as Quan Yin, is the bodhisattva associated with compassion as venerated by Chinese Buddhists, usually as a female. The name Guanyin is short for Guanshiyin, which means "Observing the Sounds of the World". She is also sometimes referred to as Guanyin Pusa, literally: "Bodhisattva Guanyin". Some Buddhists believe that when one of their adherents departs from this world, they are placed by Guanyin in the heart of a lotus, and then sent to the western pure land of Sukhavati. She is said to reside at Mount Putuo of the Zhejiang province, one of the four sacred mountains of Chinese Buddhism.

"Mount Putuo, huh?" Cadeyrn whispered to himself with a relieved smile, at-least he had a potential location now. After noting it down on a scrap of paper he brought with him, he crept back out into the corridor and then headed for the Egyptian wing with a spring in his step. He quickly ducked behind a display as a security guard walked past, luckily the man's head was buried deep in a newspaper. Cadeyrn stuck his tongue out at the man's back before running on whilst stifling a laugh with his hands over his mouth.

Once he reached the wing, he hopped over to find Tut's mummified body, still wrapped in bandages. With a nervous giggle he took out the key he'd picked up earlier from his shirt pocket and opened the glass cabinet. He took the body by an arm and started dragging it across the floor, fragments of dried skin or bandages peeling off as it bumped along the ground. He marvelled at how light the corpse was and how shrivelled it was, he wasn't sure why Tut even wanted it back so desperately. Finally he towed it inside a nearby storeroom, he dumped it carelessly behind a crate and skipped out jovially, shutting the door behind him with a careful click.

"Good luck finding it now, idiots," the young fae chortled to himself, before searching for high location where he could spy from until Tut's party arrived. He couldn't wait to see the look of their faces when they realised the body was missing, he only hoped that Shenshen would be able to carry out his side of the plan next.

 

[drmigit2]

Naditabirus was sitting in a green metal folding chair outside the office of some news station. These had propped up recently, due to the emergence of the television and people across the country were sitting to stare into the small screen that provided them all sorts of entertainment, chiefly however, news. This particular news station was just called the BBC, a plain name, but without much in the way of competition they didn't have a reason to be original. Naditabirus had left them a particularly enticing note, that a group of robbers were currently inside a very important museum, and that they were specifically after the corpse of King Tut. She failed to mention they were immortal, but given the fact that many of the group consisted of historical figures, this should be easy enough to figure out. If Tut wasn't going to serve her scientific purposes, then he would serve her political ones. This had been something Nadi was waiting for, and even if she had to sacrifice a few of them, the ability to walk freely in society would be worth it.

Naditabirus made quick conversation with a few of the news casters and as she walked out of the building, she could see several large vans accompanied by police squads heading in the direction of the museum. This would be all too perfect, Naditabirus felt just a little bit more free after it all. She pointed out the names and faces of a few of the immortals, leaving out a few others. She wondered who Tut had managed to convince outside of those she was close with. Perhaps Giles might be with them? Who knew, Nadi hopped on her motorcycle and sped off into the distance. It was time for a reunion with a very specific group of people.

 

[Mr.Ivebeenframed]

Ali had mixed feelings upon seeing the serial killer they tried so hard to imprison, almost let loose on London...again. She covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief as they made contact with the killing-obsessed immortal as the stench that came with him was hard to ignore. Ali wasn't an angel herself but she knew the fine line between killing for necessity and killing for pure pleasure but Jack was beyond that threshold altogether. No one expressed this more ferverently than Screeecher who looked to Ali for support in the matter of which she had to speak up.

"You never mentioned this Tut and letting a madman like Jack loose is certainly going to complicate things a bit." Ali whispered for instinctive fear that Jack mig hear. She knew she couldn't die but she still wouldn't like Jack stalking her for a few words she said.

"Jack!" Ali finally called out. "I know killing is in your blood but please try to control yourself, for our sake?"

Then she turned to Screecher and leaned close to her ear. "We need to do something to at least impede his progress. I know for a fact Caderyn is going to be at the museum to spite us. One of us has to tell him the situation with Jack. He wouldn't resist such an opportunity to prank the Ripper himself." Ali proposed.

 

[TheIronRuler]

Spoiler

There wasn't much of a cry of panic that came out of Mahmod, but more of a muffled laughter hidden deep inside his throat. He was standing in the Ancient Egypt exhibition room when he noticed the case for Tut's tomb was open, the body missing from its contents. He didn't even bother telling Tut a thing - he would have liked to spare his ears any screaming. His first thought was to drop the ball and walk away, having risked too much and gained nothing. His train of thought was interrupted by a flicker of his eyes noticing some grime on the floor. Mahmod followed the bits of dust and parchment, making way to a corner beyond and revealing the disheveled corpse of Tut.

'Hey Tut', Mahmod said as he bent down and held the lightweight corpse. 'Somebody is a wicked necrophiliac in this place. They took you out for a spin-', he said as he hoisted his corpse and hauled it to the sarcophagus. 'What? What are you talking about? Is my body there?', Tut asked, teetering on breaking down from the stress. Mahmod held him up and let the old king inspect his throne room. 'Huh, I remember it. You know what it says on the cover?', Tut asked Mahmod, eagerly awaiting his guess.

Mahmod pursed his lips as he read the English letters in the dark. 'Death shall come on swift wings to him who disturbs the peace of the King...', he said slowly, 'really? That's harsh'. Tut laughed his ass off, literally, and couldn't stop for a good minute. 'It says, in hyroglyphs only the priests could read, that anybody who reads this is a son of a whore. Every time they had to treat the room, every time, they had to read it to themselves... every time', Tut was sighing deeply, his mind deep in old memories.

Isaac was far from the group, wandering aimlessly through the Musuem, his drunken thoughts blurred inside his mind. It didn't take half an hour for it to pass - it was more than an hour now - and the shots he took before he left for courage didn't help his case otherwise. He swore he saw Caderyn running around before, and started following him around. He tripped a few times, felling some exhibits and tripping more than a few alarms.

Back in the Musuem, Jack was making good work of the rest of the guards. The last of them was down on the ground even before he felt the blade move through his neck. He couldn't scream, couldn't resist. He simply slouched to the floor, his hands not even bothering to hold at his neck. 'Done, Jackie-boy?', Memnon asked with a sneer. The serial killer stared back at the black warrior with contempt. 'Don't forget who I am, you tribal african. You're a savage, and an affront to civilization for every breath you take', Jack spoke in his aristocratic manner, as if he was still a part of a higher class of people in society. As if he wasn't an immortal serial killer stuck in a jail-cell flooded with shit for the last four decades. 'Strange, I could have said the same about you', Memnon replied coldly. He walked past Jack and signaled him to follow, looking back to see if he complied. They arrived at the Egyptian room together, after all of the rest of the crew came. Tut was practically crying as he looked down at his corpse.

'This is the end of the line, then', Memnon spoke solemnly. 'Aye. Take the knife from the display. Bring it back to Utna as payment for all of this. He deserves it as much as I do' Tut spoke slowly, weighing his words gravely. 'Do it, Mahmod. I loved you, you were mad and brilliant at the same time. I wish I had you at my court. But time can only go one way, can it?', he seemed to have stopped, unable to speak as the tears swelled in his eyes. Mahmod tured the head to face him, and a weary smile was plastered on his face. 'You're sure?', he asked him quietly. 'Yes', Tut whispered. Mahmod kissed Tut on the forehead and walked to his corpse, placing the head right on top. The neck controted, connecting with the head with a sickening snap the sound of old wood and ceramics breaking. Tut's right hand was shaking as he raised it up above his head and slowly let it descend, then stratched his nose. He returned his arm to its former place and smiled. 'Worth it', he whispered and closed his eyes, this time for good. Mahmod closed the lid on the coffin.

'Dead, at last', Memnon admitted defeat. He approached the knife on the other side of the room and was surprised to find Jack already scrambling for it. He lunged at the box, smashing up the glass and grabbing the knife with both hands. 'I know, you savage, I know your secrets. This is the blade...', his speech turned into a sloshing gush of gibberish as he continued repeating the phrase 'I know your secret. This is the blade'. He slashed it in the air, the grin on his face glistening in the dark. The blade was one, a fuse of bone and bronze and iron, a twisted thing that didn't belong in this time nor place, yet was buried the same with Tut.

Jack lunged at Memnon, but this time the world's greatest warrior hesitated. He hesitated long enough for Jack to stab him in the shoulder, creating a deep gash in his flesh. He did it again, and again, another stab at his side and his belly. Before he could continue with his butcher's work, Jack was jumped at by a mad drunk, the powerhouse that was Isaac pounding at his face and sending him reeling backwards. He regained his composure long enough to evade a clumbsy fist and jumped out of the room in a hurry. 'No...', was all Memnon could muster. Mahmod stared at him wide-eyed, at a loss of words. His wound wouldn't heal by themselves. Something was wrong. Something...

Sirens were blaring outside. 'Out, God damn it, Out!', screamed Mahmod, running like a madman towards Memnon and holding him in his hands. He lowered his body gently down to the ground, tears swelling, rolling down his cheeks. It was do or die. Run or get caught. Mahmod had made his choice, and stood by his friend. Isaac had turned to face a window, ran through it and fell down three stories to the ground below. Jack was set loose on the Musuem, the dagger in hand, Caderyn and Shenshen in his path. Police were closing in on the structure, and a local news agency, tipped off by an anonymous source, was already at their tails.

 

[booksv2]

After the rest had rushed in to go to the Ancient Egypt exhibition room Jack had walked to a connecting room about ancient London and the lands around it. Walking along slowly and keeping his hands from reaching out to things he remembered he had to stifled laughter as he saw things faked or wrong from just a few hundred years ago. Stopping and looking at a painted house from what was supposed to be from 800 years ago they got wrong. As he stands there thinking about how little man remembers about their past he jumps and spins towards the other room as yelling and what sounds like breaking glass.

Running towards the other room Jack runs in just as the Ripper stabs Memnon over and over. Rushing forward and pulling out the cane sword and readying it to stab he gets bowled over as Isaac, falling and sliding across the floor he only just gets to his feet as Memnon falls and stays down. The Ripper rushing out and getting away just as sirens start going off outside, Jack rushing over to the fallen warrior and looking down wide eyed as he does not get up again. Staring at the Memnon for a long moment and realizing that he is dead he turns and rush's out to the stairs, taking them 3 at a time and bursting through the front doors that they had first gotten through he takes a hard right as he sheaths his sword again.

Running away from the museum and slipping down alleys to get away from any searching eyes Jack stops himself from bashing his cane against the wall as he remembers what was lying on the floor back at the museum. Breathing hard and slowing down he stops in the middle of a dark alley and stands there shaking. Full of emotions and disbelief he slowly walks along the alley and lets himself drown in the feelings welling up inside.