Leland stalled for a moment, not sure if it would be right for him too or not. After a moment he smiled anf shook his head saying, "I'm fine. Wouldn't want any problems or anything. Please say hi to everyone for me though, and ask if they are alright. And say an extra friendly hello to my brother and Katie please." With that Leland shook Tommy's hand before waving goodbye, teleporting back to his home.
----
Leland arrived back at the Lodge soon after, happy to be back home. It started to lightly snow as he entered the Lodge from the porch. He stalled at the door; he could have sworn he heard a thought from someone, but he brushed it off. It was probably just the stress from everything that had happened that day getting to him.
He knew his mother was probably busy, and that Requiem was currently charging himself up so he sat down in the living room after putting his jacket on the rack. He leaned back on the couch, before reaching into his pocket for his pill and taking it. He took a deep breath and started to doze off before suddenly jerking himself awake. He could have sworn he felt a presence of some sort; like there was someone keeping him out of their thoughts. He looked around before sitting back down. He calmed down as his mother walked down the stairs.
"Ah, son. I'm so happy you're back. Did you have fun? Was your mission successful?" Camille asked as she took a seat next to her son.
"But of course I did! It was nice to help out. And it was exciting seeing what the magical world is like. I learned a lot about the society, the things you can do, and the people," Leland replied with a tired cheerfulness. Camille's expression changed at that to one of contemplation.
"Son, I think there's something I need to tell you," she started before getting up, "I'll be right back, let me go get you something."
Leland sat silently, wondering what his mother wanted to talk to him about. He was also curious as to what he was going to get. 'I hope it's something nice. Ohh I can't wait to-
Assault begins now! -the hell?' Leland thought, picking up someone else's thoughts before getting hit in the back of the head with the butt of a shotgun.
He fell to the floor with his hand glowing, ready to attack. Suddenly he felt something small and metallic touch his back, and immediately knew that it was the Amulet of Ra by the fact that his powers were suddenly drained from him. It was at this time that fear crept into his heart as he was handcuffed by mercs in black and green uniforms. He was picked up and gagged, getting a few kicks and punches to keep him from struggling. A punch to the stomach knocked him down to his knees, and as he looked up he saw the face of the man that he knew had caused everything.
"Well, well young Leland Falbric Claidt it appears that, while you are an incredibly powerful being, you do not take any precautions half the time," Omoi Sykes (aka. Think Tank) said to him, strolling over to Leland's jacket and plucking a tracking device off of it, "Led us right to your home. I have to say I was initially worried you'd find it when we first put it on you at the Archmage Tower, but thankfully you were distracted."
Leland couldn't help but want to beat himself for his own foolishness. He should have known better, hadn't his mother taught him- wait his mother! He tried to send a telepathic message, but quickly knew it was of no use. He was powerless now, completely useless. Except to Sykes.
Camille looked at the pure white cloak, admiring it for a moment before placing it in a box. She figured now would be the time to tell Leland, to tell him exactly who he was. She smiled as she glanced at one of the few family photos she had, a moment of pure bliss caught on film. She grabbed the box and left her room, heading down the hallway with it. She was about to head down the stairs before looking down into the living room and seeing everyone. She dropped down to the floor, knowing no one had seen her yet. She put the box into a hall closet before standing up and walking down the stairs.
"Ah, my dear leader. So nice of you to join us. I was worried I'd have to send my men to find you, and I know how disastrous that would have been...for all of us," Omoi said out loud to her, "And please, do not try anything rash. As you see we have your son right here at my mercy, and believe me I don't really have much for him considering I already tried to kill him a week ago."
"You were the one at the base then. The one that shot my son," Camille said, already knowing the answer before Omoi even nodded his head.
"Indeed. I was the one that tried to steal all information from the Union that night, and tried to kill your son. He was more...resilient than I thought. Leland, have you figured it out yet that I was also the one who killed Perrault, stole that amulet of his, and framed it on your friend? No matter actually, I'll will be sure to put you to good use soon. I just realized a new device that will...well better not spoil the surprise," Omoi told her in his creepy, monotone voice; going over to the distressed Leland and placing a hand on his shoulder. Leland flinched at the touch and Camille took a step forward, halting immediately when Omoi had one of the guards electrocute Leland. It lasted for only a few seconds, but by the way Leland reacted it was obviously of high voltage.
"See now, I knew getting to him first would make everything so much easier. You were just too powerful Camille, I had to use some underhanded tactics. And if those meant hurting your son to get to you I was ready to do it, knowing one slip-up would be instant death for me," Omoi told her as he grabbed a container that one of his men were carrying. He opened it and brought out a metal syringe. Camille stared at it, already figuring out what it was for.
"One of my greatest creations. It's taken years to get to this point, but I knew without it I would never be able to beat you," Omoi told Camille as he handled it carefully, walking over to her. "It's a techno-organic virus. I assume you know what that means for you correct?" Camille nodded, glancing over to her son with a look of complete sadness. Tears were flowing down his face, and it took everything inside of Camille to keep herself from doing the same.
"Marvelous then! I won't have to explain that if you don't take it that I'll just kill your son now, correct?" he asked her. She glared at Omoi and nodded, holding out her synthetic arm to him. Before the syringe was put in she sent a message to Requiem who was still charging. She told him to run, to get to the Promenade and tell them everything.
Requiem sprang out of charge-mode, quickly following his orders. He only had time to grab his luger, as a few of Omoi's men were checking all the rooms in the Lodge. He opened up his window and jumped out, making sure that if there were any patrolmen or snipers they wouldn't be able to see him.
Camille felt a surge of what felt like ice go through her whole body after Omoi injected her with the virus. She almost instantly lost the ability to communicate with her parasite, and couldn't even control her arm anymore.
"Well I do believe we should be done here once my men finish patrolling your house. I'm so glad things went as planned, and I thank you Camille for following the orders," Omoi said, giving a signal to one of his men. He immediately brought up his gun and fired a round on Camille, her head knocking back from the shot. She collapsed onto the floor, with two guards grabbing a hold of her arms and picking her up. Leland was now freaking out, thrashing around. Omoi gave him another dosage of electricity before saying, "Calm down young Leland. Your mother is fine, her healing factor is still perfectly intact. She will be recovered from this within the half-hour." Omoi had his men carry Leland and Camille out after him, heading into a helicopter that was had just touched down to pick them up.
Requiem watched as the helicopter flew away, feeling pain beyond anything he had ever felt. He went into the fetal position for a few minutes before recomposing himself. He stood up and went into the forest, making his way towards Nova City.
