<><><> Here Comes the I-Squad! <><><> (Rated T) Begins; LSU's accepted

[The_Missing_Link]

I've been busy with finals so I won't be able to post until next Wednesday (also, I haven't been able to get in on much of the action so I'm stumped as to what to do)

[Ghost]

Well, I've been studying for mid terms, and I've been playing unhealthy doses of Battlefield 2. Unhealthy as in, 16 hours in a row without getting up excepting to go to the bathroom.

Anyways, I need a little character interaction to get going anytime soon.. volunteer?

[Blademaster]

(sigh)

Well, if nobody else is going to keep the game going...

-----------------------------------------------------------


Enigma

Enigma howled in pain as he finished his 'operation.' Connecting the tissues of the organ to his own wasn't much of a bother to him, but reattaching the nerves and pain sensors (the latter of which he wasn't even sure why he was reconnecting) was another matter altogether. And the fact that he was operating on his own body didn't help much - his hand would often go unsteady from the pain, which only resulted in injuring himself further - the pools of blood and other assorted boily fluids around his feet and staining his gloved hands and stomach were proof of that.

"God... damn it..." Enigma hissed, tears streaming down his face as he connected the last nerves to the new kidney. "Just... a little... unnh."

Enigma's head drooped; he fell to one hand and one knee as the last nerve was re-attached...

A moment later, the new kidney twitched slightly, and then made a brief gurgling noise resounded through it.

It was working.

Enigma, through his pain, managed a slight smile. In another place, another time, he would've made a Hell of a surgeon...

The changeling groaned and stood up, concentrating. In a few seconds, the 'door' that he'd formed over where he was operating had flipped back over and merged back into his skin.

'Thank God that's over...' he thought, looking down at his blood-stained hands and stomach.

Enigma raised an eyebrow.

"Uh... I think I need a shower." he said to no one in particular.

*******************

A short while later, Enigma was once again in the bathroom, this time turning the hot water on in the bathtub and running his now-gloveless hand under it.

As always, the water was ice-cold.

Enigma sighed as he waited for the hot water heater to warm up the water; nothing better to do, he walked over to the mirror and looked at himself.

His visored, unshaven, shaggy-haired face stared back at him, his icy eyes locked on themselves.

Those eyes... Within them were all the emotions that had come to be associated with Enigma over the years: anger, distrust, frustration, lust, arrogance...

But there was also one that nobody but Enigma himself saw, as much as he tried to tune it out...

Pain.

Enigma stared at himself for what seemed like hours, those eyes like portals leading to his darkest, most painful memories...

Memories of a weak shell of a boy laying in bed day after day, trying to convince himself there was a justifiable reason that whatever higher power had created him had created him the way he was...

Memories of a boy who watched his parents, his few friends, his home, and his very life incinerated - destroyed without mercy by a hellish storm of fire cast down from the heavens...

Memories of a boy living on the streets in fear and isolation, with no family or friends to stand by his side and no one able to understand him or his bizarre talents...

Memories of a boy being bullied and persecuted day after day because he was different - something that modern science could not explain and was feared and loathed by every last person around him...

Memories that stayed with Enigma everyday of his life, reminding him without end of what he was, slowly eating away at the small bit of sanity he had left...

Enigma shook his head, his vision suddenly blurry. He looked around, everything looking suddenly dark and fuzzy.

'Shit, now what?' he thought, his irritation quickly returning to him. He spun around...

And out of the corner of his eye everything looked normal.

A few seconds later, he realized his visor had clouded up from the steam of the now-hot bathwater.

Enigma growled and wiped his visor with his clean hand, walking over to the bathtub and turning the shower on. His costume dissolving back into his skin, he stepped into the shower, the hot water quickly matting down his wild, unkempt hair as well as washing the dried blood and dirt of his form.

As the water cascaded down on Enigma, he glanced down at where his new kidney now resided.

Despite his shape-changing powers, there was still a thin wound there, a mark of where the skin had separated and flipped open.

Enigma sighed, shaking his head as he glanced down over himself.

Over himself...

And over the countless dozens of identical scars to the new one coating his sides, stomach, and chest, as well as various other scars covering the rest of his body.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Yeah, not much excitement right now, but hey, character development is important too, right?

[Mystic_clown]

Sorry dude. I'm just waiting for DS to post, who, in turn, is waiting for Waves to post.

[Shadow Djinn]

Ao - Abaris - Neutral
-

It seemed pure intuition had charted Ao's course. His eyes surveyed the surroundings that he had now arrived at, and he couldn't help but scowl.

Upon his reluctant travels towards the icy fortress Blizzard called his sanctuary, he'd discovered the charred remains of a diner.

Compiling various information, it was discovered that such decimation was the result of a missile and a hellmonger.

Abaris glanced at the landmark that had been his reason for coming. He was no fake hero -- that label he worked hard to opress. However, whether he was rather foolhardy or not was left to be debated.

The incident that had occurred at the diner obviously meant something was stirring -- and it wouldn't be pretty. The small sense of justice in Ao had welled inside him.

His eyes fell on the massive tower that was the I-Squad's humble abode. After tousling a teenage rough who owned a motor boat, he'd taken the controls of the aquatic transport with obvious inexperience. But nevertheless, fifteen minutes later, he'd arrived at his location.

I-Squad tower.

Blizzard and his schemings could wait -- the recklessness of these so-called heroes would not..

A faint red glow pulsated through Ao's outstretched hands.

Sphere began to form, mighty flames coalescing in his palms.

" I'm sure smelly ass doesn't mind me using an alternate entrance to have a chat," the super managed a slight grin.

Then the orbs flew.

[Dark Sage]

DARK ANGEL

”Shade…”

From the rooftop, Dark Angel looked out upon the city.

He was out there. She knew it. He knew she knew it. She knew.

She sighed.

When she had found Ravens books of dark magic, the ones with the dire warnings, she had shared them with him. But he hadn’t been as… strong as she had been. She had resisted the temptations to use them for personal gain and power, and had tried to use them for benign purposes…

He took a different route.

She looked out on the city again. Worry filled her.

There was no delaying the inevitable. If she didn’t go to him, he’d go to her.

She spread out her arms, and took a step off the roof… Dark energy surrounded her.

The next moment, she was soaring over the skyline. This was what she liked most about her powers – the levitation. It was practically flying. At these times, she truly felt free…

But she needed to find him now.

As she soared over the city, she caught sight of Blizzard’s tower. She frowned. Blizzard was an egotist with a gimmicky power and an MO that had been done to death. If he weren’t a killer he’d almost be laughable. She looked forward to the day that he was taken down – she’d send him to thaw in the fires of Hell.

As she continued, she saw the run-down hospital where her real foe was…

Her eyes narrowed…

“Nargel…” she said. “We are going to meet one day, and you ARE going to pay for what you did to me…”

She flew away.

She knew where to find Shade. He couldn’t hide from her any more than she could from him.

And she had a feeling…

…that he didn’t want to.

[Blademaster]

Enigma

Enigma turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, feeling somewhat calm for the first time in quite awhile. The pain in his stomach had subsided, and the warm water of the shower had relaxed him a bit. Maybe today wouldn't be so bad after all...

As Enigma dried himelf off, he heard a strange noise in the distance, sounding something like a motor.

'What the Hell is that?' he thought. 'Somebody chopping trees down out there?'

Just then, the noise stopped.

Enigma shrugged and finished drying himself off, walking up to the mirror again. He needed a shave...

FWOOM! BOOM! KA-BOOM!

"Ack! SHIT!" Enigma barked, nearly falling over as a deafening noise sounded around the Tower, shaking the whole structure! In a heartbeat, Enigma's costume formed around him and he bolted for the door, not even bothering to open it but instead crashing right through it as he raced downstairs, towards the source of the sounds, which were getting louder.

'It's Nargel!' he thought, racing down a hallway and into the living room. 'I knew it! I knew he'd ****ing come here looking for that Horn-thing!'

Enigma raced into the kitchen, where a confused-looking Wiggly has several pieces of construction paper stuck to her face, hair, and pretty much everywhere else on her body.

"What was that noise!?" Enigma barked.

"I dunno - it came from over there!" Wiggly replied, pointing down the hallway across the room.

"Stay here!" Enigma said, dashing down the hallway towards the noise, which had finally stopped.

Enigma flung the door open and raced down another flight of stairs, leaping over the banister halfway down and plummeting a good twenty feet before landing and bolting into the next room, where Enigma could see a cloud of dust and smoke in the air.

"OK Nargel," Enigma snarled, his black-gloved hands stretching into claws that looked to be made of liquid metal, "now you're gonna-"

Enigma stopped dead. Standing in front of him, just in front of a huge hole in the wall, was NOT the lanky, insane, dog-faced mastermind behind the Legion of Despair, but rather what looked like a skinny high school student in a black coat and pants, a white scarf, and mismatched gloves.

For a few seconds, the two just stared at each other - the stranger in anger, Enigma in confusion - before finally Enigma spoke:

"Who the fuck are you?"

-----------------------------------------------------------

I'll let Zane kick off this little 'meeting'; remember, tread lightly...

[Mystic_clown]

Shade
----------------------
"Hello sister."

Angel turned her head to see Shade, standing on one of the spires on top of one of the buildings. It was eerie how he managed ot keep his balance on the small point of the spire.

Angel stopped in mid air, looking over at him.

"Shade."

Shade didn't respond, instead he looked down at the city below them.

"Quite a view isn't it."

Angel, still levitating, looked down with him.

"It just show's you humanity's true nature doesn't it?"

Angel shook her head.

"No, humanity isn't like this."

Shade murmured softly, possibly laughing. Angel wasn't sure.

"You still believe in humanity's goodness? I thought all this time in Doom City would have taught you better sister."

Dark Angel glared as Shade lifted his arms.

"Look around. Humans are weak, feeble, selfish creatures only concerned with their own survival. They'll cling to anything as long as it protects them."

Shade then stepped forward, but instead of sucumbing to gravity like anyone else, it was if Shade was walking on an invisible surface, like he was on the ground instead of a few hundred feet in the air.

"They are lost and need someone superior to guide them. Someone to rule them."

Angel's eyes narrowed slightly, knowing who he meant.

"But anyway, I do believe you wanted ot talk to me about something?"

Monte Carlo
-------------------------------------
Monte cracked his neck in annoyance. That brat Enigma had ruined his breakfast. And it was pancakes too, his favourite.

He slumped back in his chair, toying with the dice in his hand. At that point, two of his bouncers entered, escorting a young woman with them.

"This girl was causing trouble sir," one of them spoke. Monte rolled his eyes.

"Oh were you?" The girl looked up at him with steely eyes.

"I"m glad I finally get to meet you mister Carlo." Monte cocked an eyebrow.

"Oh are you?" The girl smirked.

"Yeah, because now I can kill you!" Ad with that, she wipped a small knife from her pocket and lunged at the dice master. Monte simply side stepped the attack as his bouncers tackled and subdued the girl.

"Did you really think you can kill me?" he asked, "One of the most powerful men in Doom City?"

She glared up at him hatefully.

"You'll pay for all the things you've done!"

Monte sighed.

"Lady. I'm not different from everyone else in this bloody city. We all just want to survive."

He leaned closer.

"I just have a lot of power."

And with that, Monte flicked one of his dice in the air.

It landed on a five.

A metallic, skeletal snake like monster appeared, instantly leaping onto the girl. She screamed as she tried to pull the snake off of her. Monte turned and left the room, still considering whether to let it kill her or just to rough her up.

[Dark Sage]

Dark Angel

"Shade, I know your views... I know what you want to do. And I'm worried.

"The city is about to erupt into a full-scale conflict, with the Legion on one side, and the I-Squad on the other.

"I know you don't think highly of the I-Squad, and to tell you the truth, I don't care for them much myself. Enigma is a hard guy to work with, and harder to like.

"But I need them. I don't stand a chance against Nargel alone. And he has to pay for what he did..."

Shade rubbed his chin...

"Shade, it's going to be impossible to stay neutral in this conflict. Sooner or later, everyone with power will have to choose sides.

"I don't want to fight you. I used to feel something for you, and a part of me still does...

"But if you choose the wrong side, I'll have no choice."

Shade looked at her. She turned her back.

"Think about it, Shade," she said. "It isn't too late to come out of the darkness..."

Angel's eyes opened wide.

"Oh, no..." she said.

"What is it?" asked Shade.

"Someone's attacking the tower..." sighed Angel. "I'll continue this later... I have to help Enigma before he does something else that's dumb.

"Condsider what I've said... brother..."

She vanished in a dark portal.


I'll let Shadow Djinn make the first move before Angel arrives. But she'll be there to help Enigma after that.

[Shadow Djinn]

o_o; the things that happen when you take a 3 hour nap...

Ao - Abaris - Neutral
---

In truth, Ao'd never met Engima before until now -- as they faced each other in the smoking hallway. He'd been right of one thing though -- Engima was a shapeshifter, as the rumors had said.

The super managed a tiny smile, summoning another quivering sphere of sanguine force, feeling the flames circulating through his body.

" I guess I was right," Ao finally said casually. The shapeshifter narrowed his eyes and jabbed his claws forward threateningly.

Before Engima could make a reply, Ao said, " You do smell."

With a roar Engima darted forward both self-made weapons hissing forward with unexpected speed.

Slightly surprise, Ao stepped back -- his orb shot out of his hand with the lack of concentration, grazing his enemy's shoulder. The sphere combusted several seconds later, and even more smoke filled the hall.

Engima leapt back, claws extending as he growled contemptously.

" I'll ask again. Who the fuck are you?"

The fire controlling super made no comment, eyeing the shapeshifter again.

" You call yourself a hero?" Ao managed an expression of equal contempt.

" Yea," Engima was preparing to strike once more. " I do."

" Would a hero have done what YOU did in the diner?"

The shapeshifter twitched, but he still kept his claws poised. " How do you know --"

All though Ao hadn't intended to, he was tearing forward now, powered by rage. " You damn wannabes. All of you!"

Two sphere of flame danced forward, easily dodged by the shapeshifter. Engima stabbed forward with his claws, grazing Ao's arm before he could avoid the blow.

Abaris felt his shoulder tingle with slight pain, but ignoring the possible damage, he growled and prepared another fiery assault, even as he felt a headache coming on.

The shapeshifter's hands twisted into glistening blades, and with another snarl he swiped at Ao. Blood flew once more as it ripped past his arm, and the super responded with two more flaming projectiles.

Smoke was abundant in this hall now, and both teenagers doubled over in a coughing fit.

Using the distraction to back away slightly from Engima, his eyes fell on a pulsating violet portal that had appeared in the passage.

" Oh hell," he managed to murmur.

-

I know, not so good. >_<; Kind of sleepy right now...but I wanted to post. I'm not sure if I got Engima's persona excactly, but I gave it a shot.

[Dark Sage]

"Ao!" shouted Angel's voice.

Angel stepped out of the portal...

....and she was holding the Horn of Change in her hand.

"Step away from Enigma, Ao," she said. "If you think you're better than we are, I'll give you a chance to prove it."

Ao paused.

"What?" he said, angrily. "What do you mean?"

"I'll give you a choice, pal..." said Angel. "Your first choice is to fight both me AND Enigma. You wouldn't stand a chance..."

She looked at the Horn.

"Your second chance is to accept a little... challenge, which will decide whether we're wannabes, or whether YOU are the wannabe."

"A challenge?" said Ao.

He paused. She stared at him.

"But a warning," said Angel. "If you accept my challenge, the one of us who loses will be banished... to Hell."

Angel's eyes glowed with eerie light.

"Feel like taking my challenge, Ao?" she asked. "Think you can defeat me when you play with eternal fire?

"Should I tell you the rules, or should we just throw down?"

Enigma watched with a dumbfounded look...

Was she serious?


I'll wait for the response. Then we'll see what transpires.

[Shadow Djinn]

Whoo, plot twists!

Ao - Abaris - Neutral
-

That horn looked rather menacing.

It was rather obvious that the object was related to whatever challenge Angel was administrating.

The super gazed at the still rising smoke.

If he ran now, that would destroy all his beliefs.

HE'D be the fake hero -- the loser who pretended to be what he wasn't...

Irridescent light cascaded around the dim chamber. Ao gazed at the crimson haired man before him, panting as blood leaked from various wounds...

He attempted a flaming orb, but the sizzling red dissipated seconds later..

The crimson man cackled, dashing forward with emerald force swirling in his palm.

Even as the shards collided with the teenage super, those words kept remianing in his head...

Fake hero. No damn way.

His reverie broken, Ao managed a sneer. " Me? A fake hero? I'm not the sissy who needs a team to back them up." Confidently striding forward, once more driven by anger, Ao growled. " I'll take your stupid challenge. I'll show you smelly heroes," the super flashed a glance at Engima, " or rather, wannabes my power."

[Blademaster]

Enigma

Enigma looked at Dark Angel, not dumbfounded as she had thought, but appalled.

'Banished to Hell?' he thought. 'She can't possibly be serious...'

Enigma looked in her eyes, which were glowing a faint purple.

'Fuck, she IS serious!' Enigma thought.

"Me?" the one called Ao said angrily. "A fake hero? I'm not the sissy who needs a team to back them up. I'll take your stupid challenge. I'll show you smelly heroes, or rather, wannabes my power."

Ao stepped forward as he said it, making sure to cast the phrase 'smelly heroes' at Enigma just to piss him off further.

Enigma narrowed his eyes...

And then, in a split-second, he leapt forward, his swordlike hands returning to normal.

WHACK!

Ao's eyes widened for a fraction of a second...

And then, he fell flat on his face.

Unconscious.

"First lesson." Enigma growled. "Never turn your back on your opponent in the midst of battle."

Then, he glared up at Angel.

And then, for a fraction of a second, the dark heroine's eyes widened at the look in Enigma's eyes.

It wasn't a look of annoyance for interrupting his battle - it was a look of...
disappointment?

"And you." Enigma said, his voice low and menacing. "What the fuck is the matter with you?"

Angel looked at him in silent perplexity until he continued.

"Arresting criminals I don't mind." he said. "Beating them senseless I can handle. Killing the scummier ones is fine by me..."

He looked her dead in the eye.

"But Hell?" he asked, disgust in his voice. "Do you understand what that word means? Eternal damnation - pain and fear and suffering and fire and terror forever and ever until the end of TIME?"

"I'm well aware of the biblical translations of Hell." Angel replied flatly. "Why do you care?"

Enigma's eyes narrowed further.

"Because I've been there." he replied. "For ten years, actually - ten years I wouldn't wish on anybody, let alone all eternity. Nobody deserves that."

Angel raised an eyebrow.

"Not even Nargel?" she responded.

"Nargel is a demon - he'd probably be happy there." Enigma responded flatly. "I don't know. My point still stands."

He paused.

"And just for the record, what would've happened if you lost this 'challenge' of yours? What if you were the one to be sent to Hell? Do you have even the slightest idea what would happen to you? Or to the rest of the team?"

Angel paused; not because she hadn't taken any of this into account - she knew what she'd have been getting into and the stakes involved - but because she was almost in shock at Enigma's behavior.

'Is he... actually thinking of someone besides himself?' she thought.

"You gotta smarten up." Enigma said sharply, like a man lecturing a small child. "Stop relying on that damn Lucky Trumpet or whatever it's called and start using your head..."

He knelt down and draped one of the unconscious Ao's arms over his shoulder, hefting the slim anti-hero onto his feet (kinda).

"...Because your luck can run out at any time." Enigma said, walking past Angel towards the hole in the wall, Ao's feet dragging behind him.

-----------------------------------------------------------

If Ao feels like waking up before Enigma dumps him off in his boat and sending him on his 'merry way', now's his chance.

[Shadow Djinn]

Ao - Abaris - Neutral
-

The timeless void that swirled around Ao seemed to emit a spiritual power. A miasma encircled the area -- his feet hovered on unseeable ground. The rift was desolate and unpopulated, blemished only ever so slightly by random streaks of black that mingled with the swirling violet.

Where am I? The super crumpled, feeling fatigue take over him.

Damn Engima, that fucking smelly ass..

" Still blaming others, I see."

" What?" Abaris hissed.

Sparks twirled around the void, forming an obscured figure.

" You," Ao said, attempting to summon the energy to cast down the new arriver. " YOU..."

The crimson haired man smirked, emerald energy pulsating around his person.

" Why are you everywhere?" Ao roared. " Why are you and your lackies haunting me?"

" Because you're blind," the crimson man shrugged. " I thought I'd taught you better."

Flames formed in Ao's hand, despite the pain that coursed through him as he did so. " Go to fucking hell, Toya," the teenager roared.

Toya raised an eyebrow as the flames danced forward, darting towards an arm. Emerald shards rose and deflected the blow with ease. Toya scowled.

" Didn't I teach you better?" He repeated.

" You're not real," Ao spat. " This is just my dreams."

" No," Toya said simply. " We're in Etherion."

" You mean..." Abaris gasped, rising to his feet. " You bastard!" He roared again. Compressed energy swirled in his hand, and he unleashed the blast with a resounding BANG!

Toya leapt to the side, avoiding the blow.

" Yes," Ao's enemy stated blandly. " I made a dream connection. You're unconcious right now, wherever you are in Doom City. It's been a while, hasn't it?" The man chuckled.

" You slime. You despicable --"

Toya distorted in a flash of blue, appearing seconds later with an emerald sword forming in his hand. The blade ripped downward, Ao dodging only barely as he attempted another orb of fire, but once more only heard dissipating sparks.

" You're getting weaker," Toya commented. " Still angry about the Markova incident I suppose."

" ANGRY?" Ao roared. " YOU SACRIFICED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE JUST FOR YOUR OWN SKINS!"

Toya shrugged uncaringly. " There was nothing we could've done."

" You could've tried to get some people out. Meizeru could've..."

" You don't understand." Toya spat contemptously.

" I don't understand?" Ao sneered. " I don't understand that you moronic, self preserving WANNABES put your own lives before thousands of others? EVEN AFTER YOU LABELLED YOURSELVES AS HEROES?!"

His voice rose in a violent crescendo -- he would've leapt to his feet if the agony in his shoulder was not incredibly taxing.

" It wasn't just a normal bomb," Toya said after momentary silence.

" I saw it," Ao spat. " You're just--"

" Malion Incarnate." Toya interjected.

" He used that spell?" Abaris said quietly.

" Yea," Toya replied plainly. " The night before -- we'd battled him. You were sleeping, we figured it'd be best not to wake you. He'd activated some odd artifact, and his spellcasting abilities were incredible. We couldn't have disabled the Malion Detonation, not with Meizeru, not with me, not with any of us Justice Riders."

" You didn't try," Ao managed to growl, though it was losing considerable volume. " You didn't..."

" We tried. No spell Meizeru could use, or any of us for that matter, could've stopped it. We took off to try and find Markova," Toya paused, glancing at the swirling surroundings. " But he escaped here."

" Where?" Abaris said faintly.

The void was dimming now, and considerable light was breaking through the violet darkness.

" Time's up," Toya shrugged.

The rift retracted as sunlight shattered the dark barrier, filling Ao's vision...

" TOYA!" He roared as he woke with a start.

Engima glanced at him uncaringly. He'd just been about to start the damn motorboat and get this lunatic out of here too...

" You always wake up like that?" The shapeshifter sneered.

Ao rose to his feet, angrily leaping out of the motorboat, attempting to call upon his powers. A sizzle, but nothing else.

" Give up," the shapeshifter growled.

" You shouldn't have done what you did at the diner, you bastard." Ao searched his person quickly, attempting to unearth the dagger he carried.

Engima gazed at him before shaking his head.

" You just don't get it, do you?"

" I get it all right." Ao snarled. " I get that you and those moronic H-Squad or whatever the hell you guys calls yourselves, are just ruining this city even more with that damn Legion of Despair."

" I'm helping this damn city," Engima snapped. " What I do is none of your --"

" Your methods are all wrong, you moronic disgrace!" Ao roared. His shoulder was aching even more now from his exterions in Etherion, but he didn't care.

" All right," Engima finally growled, leaping out of the motor boat. His hands pulsed with irridescent light.

Abaris had finally found his dagger, he raised it threateningly, while attempting to retrieve his powers at the same time.

Come on dammit. The boy urged. Come on...

The shapeshifter stalked forward. " You want to fight me so badly? You think I'm wrong?" Spite filled his person, hands extending to form sharp appendages. " Then let's settle this once and for all, you damn preacher of justice."

[Dark Sage]

Angel sighed as she stashed the Horn in her extradimensional vault.

Stupid Engima. The whole part about Hell had been a bluff to scare the guy, and he was dumb enough to believe it. She had just wanted to end it all without violence in a sporting manner, and he had ruined it.

Well, fine. Now he was going to go fight the guy again. What would it cost him? His liver? Pancreas?

She sat down to think...

Enigma was stupid and violent... Her brother was domineering...

Who could help her in her goals when all was said and done?

She knew she couldn't beat Nargel herself...

Maybe it was time to strike at another part of the Legion. She had shook up Monte rather nicely...

Maybe if she shook up Blizzard a little...

[Blademaster]

Enigma

Enigma glared at Ao, the look in his eyes a mix of boredom and aggravation. Couldn't he go one day without some asshole annoying him? One day!?

Enigma raised his arms, which now looked something like Gigan's steel claws and glared at Ao.

Ao... who was armed with a dagger and looked like he couldn't even light a match in his current state.

"You just don't know when to give up." Enigma growled. "What the Hell are you trying to prove, anyway? You say my methods are all wrong!? I'm not the one going around blowing up peoples' houses whenever I get my feathers ruffled!"

"You forget about the diner already, stinkweed?" Ao sneered.

"First of all," Enigma snarled, "that was collateral damage - why don't you try fighting a pissed-off demon with superhuman strength in an enclosed area and see how fucking well you do?!

And second of all, will you lay off with the weak-ass insults!? I just got out of the shower, and I'm not the one who smells like overcooked hamburger meat over here!"

Ao gritted his teeth and lunged at Enigma, his hands flaring up a little bit as his powers returned to him. He stabbed with the dagger...

CHWACK!

And the blade came right off, bending and snapping in half like cheap plastic.

Ao's eyes widened; he looked up at Enigma, who smiled slightly.

"Lesson two..." the changeling said, rapping on his stomach with his fist.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

"...If you're gonna pull a weapon on a shapeshifter, don't let him see it. An inch of titanium is harder than a millimeter of steel."

Ao gritted his teeth and leapt back a few feet, tossing the broken handle of his weapon away. Enigma knelt down and picked up the broken blade, crumpling it in his fist like paper before tossing it over his shoulder, into the water.

"Give up yet?" Enigma asked, a bored tone apparent in his voice.

"Shut the Hell up!" Ao barked, his hands flaring up. He leapt at Enigma, aiming a fiery punch at the changeling's face.

FWACK!

Enigma caught Ao's fist in his hand, barely flinching.

'Is this kid serious?' he thought.

FWAM!

Enigma's head flew back as he was hit in the chin by a flaming upper cut, his visor flying up into his hair from the blow.

Ao smiled slightly, stepping back from Enigma.

'That felt good...' he thought.

Enigma stood there for a moment, his head bent back a good ninety degrees, before he finally nodded his head forward, back to its original position. He reached up and adjusted his visor, his eyes not moving from Ao for a second.

"That... hurt." Enigma said, his voice devoid of any emotion as he rubbed his chin.

"That was the idea." Ao replied flatly.

Enigma nodded, lowering his hand.

"Alright, then." he said. "You wanna play rough? Then let's get rough..."

Enigma's red bodysuit began to change to a pink color, then stark white with red trim. Slowly, the fabric began to thicken and take on a metallic luster, the shoulders welling into steel orbs, the legs becoming thick and robotic at the calves. Enigma's hair turned white and drooped over his head, wrapping around the top half of his skull like a helmet with two steel crests on either side. Hs visor receded into the helmet, turning a dark blue with several holographic lights flashing within it. His right arm lengthened into a steel tube with a claw-like barrel at the end and several rotors around the base, which began to spin and charge energy into the barrel; his left aarm sprouted a long, thin set of claws that resembled a grappling hook.

"There." Enigma said as the transformation ended, leaving him looking somewhat like a cross between Buzz Lightyear and Turbo Metal Sonic. "Much better."

Ao began to sweat slightly, but he maintained his composure nonetheless.

"Ready for round two, sparky?" Enigma dared, raising his left arm and aiming it at Ao, crosshairs appearing around him in Enigma's eyes.

[Dark Sage]

Dark Angel


Angel sat by a rock near the entrance to the tower. She munched on popcorn from a bag as she watched what was happening.

Daylight walked out.

"What's happening?" asked Daylight.

"E's fighting some kook who broke in here a while ago," said Angel. "He wouldn't let me help, so I thought I might watch. Could be entertaining. Popcorn?"

Daylight took a handful.

"Uhm..." muttered Daylight, as the battle raged. "Looks sorta... rough..."

"Hey..." said Angel. "If the jerk had let me do what I had wanted, that weirdo would have slept for two days and he'd have been too scared to ever have bothered us again...

"But E had to use more primative methods, so a fight has started where someone's likely to get hurt.

"I'm done trying to help him. Let's just watch... This is better than pro wrestling."

"You watch pro wrestling?" asked Daylight.

"Only for laughs..." said Angel.

[Shadow Djinn]

Ao - Abaris - Neutral
-

Abaris wasn't excactly new to fighting, but it sure damn seemed like it now.

He eyed the shapeshifter with forced fury, while in his mind debating his options.

That's a gun no doubt. The minute I move he'll shoot me...I've no time to create fire, my powers still feel weak...Goddammit, Toya...

I've forgotten how goddam versatile these fucking shapeshifters are...what the hell was I thinking?

His eyes flickered to the murky water that surrounded the tower.

No...that'll hurt like hell, that will...

" Always blaming others, aren't you?"

Ao recalled the swirling void -- how weak he'd been against his former mentor...

I can't defeat this guy. Not now.

Dark bangs fell to his eyes, and his pupils focused on the shapeshifter, who still had his gun barrel raised. His face was devoid of any emotion that would betray his actions; Engima would have on qualms about shooting Abaris, that was for sure.

His feet dug into the soft ground, and Ao smiled to himself, though the expression went unnoticed by his opponent.

Hell, I AM an idiot.

With a roar, Ao summoned the last of his energy into a flaming orb, immediately released the minute it formed. Engima gave a shout, releasing a projectile from his barrel as the orb danced forward, creating a pseudo explosion. Smoke began to obscure both supers' sight, and both were taking action.

Here goes.

Even as the smoke began to fade, chased away briefly by a strong gust from the city, Abaris was leaping into the air, limbs spread as he managed another smile.

The shapeshifter was howling inaudibly now, and another projectile ripped forward...

Even as Ao collided with the murky water of Doom City, his face suddenly contorted with an inaudible howl of pain as blood spilled from his back.

The swirling blue surrounded him as the projectile lodged itself inside the plummeting super's body, crimson staining the already pollutecd irrigate.

His body flapped wildly, his eyes widened as the wound sent constant jolts of pain throughout his person.

He opened his mouth in a soundless scream, but instead water streamed into his throat, and he coughed wildly as his frame fell deeper and deeper into the water...

His pupils widened only momentarily before he gave a final wheeze...

Five minutes later, an immobile, bloodstained form joined the mass of objects that were strewn about the sandy bottom of the unforgiving waters.

[Mystic_clown]

Shade
--------------------
A dark form looked down upon Ao's unconcious form. The hood was up, obscuring his face, as his poisonous green eyes looked down on Ao. Strangely enough, it looked as if the water he was currently in didn't effect him at all. It was as if he was on dry land.

This boy had proven an annoyance to the I-squad. Shade had witnessed his battle with Enigma, along with his confrontation with Angel.

His "sister's" words rang in his mind. She acted as if he was working for some ultimate evil or something. If only she saw things his way.

He looked back down at Ao. While he was blinded by pride to an extent, he was still rather skilled.

One man's annoyance, is another man's best friend.

He knelt down and placed a hand on Ao's shoulder. Then, darkness surrounded them, and they were gone.

[Dark Sage]

Dark Angel

Angel felt like blowing off some steam.

Enigma had gotten on her bad side again, Shade was in town, and some jerk had barged into the Tower. She wasn't in the best of moods.

Fortunately, a quick fly-over had spotted an opportunity that she had been looking for - for a long time...

Two punks in ninja outfits - obviously Blizzard's men - had been chasing a teenage girl. Or rather, they had until about ten minutes ago...

"Comfy?" asked Angel, with her arms crossed.

She looked up at her quarry, who were both trapped in bindings made of dark energy.

"Well, actually, uhm..." said one of them, "this guy's elbow is in my back... If you could..."

"Shut up, Perry!" shouted the other.

Angel walked up to the one who had spoken first and looked him in the eyes. His blood ran cold. Then she did the same to the other...

"I'll give you both a sporting chance..." she said, calmly. "I'm going to ask you three questions. You have ten seconds to answer each. If either of you can answer at least one correctly, you're free to go.

"Get all three wrong, and I turn you to stone."

She smirked. The two ninjas started to sweat...

"Question one..." she said. "Who was vice president under William Howard Taft?"

They looked at her.

"What kind of a question is that?" shouted one of them.

"Oh, I'm sorry..." she said. "That was not the answer I was looking for. The correct answer was James S. Shermon. Next question..."

She smirked again.

"What is the capital of the Czech Republic?"

"Hey, this is not fair..." said the other one.

"Sorry, wrong again..." said Angel. "The answer is Prague...

"Final question..."

Her eyes glowed red...

"What were the two of you planning to do to that poor girl if you had ever caught her?"

The two of them looked at her. They started to sweat heavily...

"Well?" asked Angel.

"We... ah..." said one of them. "We wanted her purse..."

"Yeah..." said the other. "That's it..."

Angel stared at them.

"I was right..." she said with a frown. "Even the promise of such a dismal fate as the one I said you would get isn't enough to get two would-be rapists to admit it.

"Three wrong answers... You lose..."

She started to glow with black fire... The two thugs screamed...

The dark restraints vanished, and they fell on the sidewalk, out cold.

Angel looked at them.

I could have made good my threat... she thought. But sending them into a sleep full of nightmares will let them give Blizzard a message better than he'd get than if he found two statues...

She floated off the ground, and started to fly over the city.

I've shaken up Monte, but I'm not leaving Blizzard out.

Enjoy your icy domain, Blizzard. Someday, you'll be thawed out in the flames of Perdition...

But you and Monte are just stepping stones on my way to the real target...

[Blademaster]

Finally, someone has posted. Thank you, Brian.

But, you called Angel 'Raven' again.

----------------------------------

Enigma

Enigma looked down at the murky water from the shore of the island, his visor taking on the guise of a pair of heat-seeking goggles as he scanned for any sign of Ao.

"Do you see him?" Daylight asked, a hint of nervousness in her voice.

"No..." Enigma muttered, his goggles eventually reverting to their normal form. "He must have gotten away..."

"He didn't get away." Angel growled behind him. "He was taken by my brother."

"Brother?" Enigma asked, turning to face her.

"Yes," she responded, glaring at him, "he's someone not as friendly as myself, and now thanks to you, he's got Ao."

"Thanks to me?" Enigma echoed, his anger returning. "And how do you figure that?"

He began to count off on his fingers, which he formed into exaggerated numbers just to aggravate Angel further.

"One, YOUR outrageous threat was the reason I had to step in in the first place.

Two, HE is the one who insisted on picking a fight with me when he was on the verge of collapsing.

Three, YOU are the one who sat idly by eating fucking popcorn while I fought that dipshit.

And four, YOUR demented brother is the one who came down and snatched that firebug before I had a chance to dive in and fish his carcass out!"

Enigma folded his arms and glared at Angel.

"So, WHO'S fault is this again?"

Angel fumed.

"My threat to send him to Hell was a bluff, you idiot." she growled. "If you hadn't 'stepped in,' I would've handled it just fine! But you HAD to ruin everything, like you always do, so I just let you handle it - that's what you WANTED, isn't it?"

"A bluff? You could've TOLD me that!"

"Yeah, right in front of the guy we were fighting. Brilliant idea, genius."

"You could've told me telepathetically!"

"It's telepathically, you ignoramus. And you told me to stay out of your head, remember?"

"Like you even listened when I said that! And I meant not to read anything! Talking is OK!"

Angel sighed.

"Arguing with you is like arguing with a brick wall." she said, shaking her head. "You believe whatever makes you happy, if anything ever does. I've got more important things to do."

With that, her body turned into a pitch-black silhouette and fired into the sky, quickly vanishing from sight.

"Yeah, well, the feeling's mutual!" Enigma called after her, glaring up at the sky.

"She can't hear you, you know..." Daylight offered.

"I know..." Enigma mumbled under his breath. "Arrogant bitch..."

"What?" Daylight asked, unable to hear him.

"Nothing." Enigma said, looking back at Daylight. "What time is it?"

"About 1:25pm." Daylight quickly replied, the position of the Sun giving her the answer almost before Enigma had even asked the question.

Enigma thought for a moment.

"We'd better go, then..." Enigma said to himself.

"We?" Daylight asked, misinterpreting what Enigma meant. "Where're we going?"

Enigma's eyes widened as he realized what he'd just said.

'Shit.' he thought.

"Not you." Enigma replied, walking back to the Tower. "Wiggly and I. We have work to do; you have to stay here and watch the Tower."

"But I wanna come, too!" Daylight protested. "Why can't Sting watch the Tower?"

"Because without his powers he's a weakling, and with them he's an accident waiting to happen." Enigma replied. "I'd trust him to keep an eye on the Tower about as much as I'd trust Wiggly to."

Daylight frowned.

"You guys get to do all the fun stuff." she sulked.

"Life's a bitch, ain't it?" Enigma said over his shoulder. "Complain to Angel about it when she gets back."

----------------------------------

You're still in this, Asi! Get the lead out!

[envoy of time]

Blizzard was a nervous reck.No one ever pissed of nargel and lived, simple as that.He hardly slept any more and what little of him that was seen looked terrible.

“Get it together B.” he told him self “Nargle didn’t even sound mad, In fact he sounded kinda happy.” He then seemed slightly more assured “yes and later I’ll go again but then I’ll do two things different first I’ll have an army with me. Next I’ll kill him yep just kill him out right.”

Suddenly the opened and Blizzard jumped twelve feet (literally) and shot a dozen icicles at a now very frightened looking minion.

Blizzard gave a sigh of relief “Oh it’s you Jacob, nice to see your eyebrows are back. Also next time please knock before you enter. Don’t just stand there obviously you’ve got something to say now say it.”

The minion shakily said “T-Two of the guys were attacked seemingly by that raven wanna be.”

Blizzard thought about this. “Hmm she’s already messed with Carlo I guess she’s after me.” He thought a bit more and snapped. “ I know take the limo, find her and bring her two lunch, tell her no tricks and we’re on mutual terms.”

The thug seemed confused but obeyed “Yeah boss alright.” And left the way he came tripping on a few icicles.

“I better prepare for my guest. I probably look a fright.” Blizzard thought as he left for his room.

[Dark Sage]

It was three o'clock. Angel walked down the streets of the business district, her mind rather occupied. She had blown off enough steam for now, and was thinking of going back to the tower.

She was quite surprised when a large limosine pulled up to her.

Huh? she thought.

She was even more surprised when the passenger side opened, and the passenger was revealed to be a man in ninja clothing.

Angel flinched. She prepared to cast a spell...

"M-m-miss Dark Angel..." stuttered the ninja. "Ah... Blizzard, uhm... He wanted to ask you to come. He wants to have lunch."

Angel gave him a strange look.

"Seriously?" she asked.

"Uh, yeah..." said the ninja, still nervously. "And, uh, he said to tell you you're both on equal terms."

Angel paused.

She knew that Blizzard was NOT Monte. Blizzard was a good deal more cold-blooded, in more ways than he one. He was more liable to invite someone to lunch and then lead her into a trap.

Raven gestured behind her back, and the Horn of Change appeared, slung over her shoulder.

"Lead me too him," she said. "But if you have a mobile, you'd best call ahead, and tell him, God help him if this is a trap."

"S-s-sure," said the ninja, as the back door opened. "Anything you say."

Angel got into the limo.

"W-w-why don't you just have a soda while you're back there..." said the ninja, as the limo drove off.


I've accepted your invitation, Blizzard. Whether this is going to be a meeting or a fight, I'm prepared.

[envoy of time]

Blizzard had just stepped out of his shower when he heard his phone ring.

"Sounds like they found her."He thought as he finished drying off.

He put on a Blue robe and picked up the phone"Yes?"

"Boss" said the voice of one of his many ninja "We've got her and she said that this better not be a trap."

Blizzard had expected distrust but was prepared. "Tell her that I just want to discuss the horn amung other things. And ask her if she's allergic tro shell fish. Understood goodbye."

Blizzard hung up the phone and made his way twoards his dresser "If she's cooperative she may help me in my fight agianst Nargel."

[Mystic_clown]

Monte Carlo
---------------------
Monte sighed as he took a sip of his cocktail, still toying with the die in his right hand. It was a small compulsion of his. He always felt comfortable holding those die and toying with them.

He had decided to be merciful and let that woman go, after the snakes had done considerable injuries to her. As he sat there drinking his cocktail, yhis mind wondered back to the I-squad. More importantly, Daylight. There was something about that girl that drew his interest. He knew very little about her.

A small smile curled on his lips as an idea appeared in his head. He snapped his fingers and two of his minions appeared before him.

"What'll it be sir?" one asked.

"I need you to pick someone up for me."

"Who?"

Monte chuckled.

"Daylight."

The two instantly looked frightened.

"The I-squad member?"

"Of course. How many Daylights are there?"

The two looked at eachother nervously.

"Sir?"

"Just tell her I'm inviting her for a little chat."

"And if she doesn't want to come?"

Monte's expression hardened.

"Then force her. Do what you need to do. But I want her here alive."

One of the minions sighed.

"Yes sir."


Shade
---------------------------------------
With a swirl of darkness, both Shade and Ao appeared. They were no longer in Doom City, heck, they couldn't even be considered in this dimension anymore.

This was the Libary of Purgatory, a place that Shade often visited. It could almost be considered his home.

She placed the onconcious Ao on one of the chairs.

"He'll be out for a while," he murmed as he walked over towards a pile of books. Shade really wasn't one of the neatest individuals. Piles of books were scattered everywhere. He picked out one of the books and sat down.

Rouge Gallery of the Flash. Now where was I? Ah, here we are.

Flipping to where he had left off, Shade began to read again.

[Dark Sage]

Angel couldn't help but be a little nervous as she was was lead into the entrance hall of Blizzard's citadel. As she expected, the whole place had an ice theme, sort of like an evil version of the famous Fortress of Solitude (a place she had sadly never been to, but hoped to someday). She had a reason to be nervous - aside from Blizzard's henchmen, few people who came in here ever came out. Rumor was that Blizzard sealed his defeated enemies in ice and kept them as macabre trophies.

She didn't think she had to worry much about that fate, at least not yet. Not many people invited you to dinner and went though the trouble of asking if you were allergic to shellfish (she wasn't) unless they were sincere.

She assumed now that Blizzard wanted to broker some sort or treaty. There was no harm in listening.

She flinced a little when Blizzard himself entered. Angel had founght his minions and other creations several times, but had never truly confronted Blizzard face-to-face. His clothing was similar to that of his men, but fancier and more detailed.

"Glad you could make it, Miss Angel," he said. "So nice to see you."

"I'm flattered you chose to invite me..." she replied. "But I am a little suspicious. It is all the time that the local crimelord invites the local constabulary to a dinner party."

Blizzard grinned under his mask.

Then he noticed the Horn.

"Uhm... Is that the Horn?" he asked.

Angel nodded.

"I think your boss wants it," she replied. "I don't blame him, it has great powers that a chaospawn like him might utilize if he could tame it - IF he managed to. And it's my sole bargaining chip right now to keep him in check. So long as I have it, Nargel knows he has to play by the rules."

Blizzard grinned again.

"Why don't we go to my lounge?" he said. "We can talk there while dinner is being prepared."

"I'm willing to listen, Blizzard," replied Angel, starting to follow him, "but I'll tell you right now, nothing will ever make me betray the I-Squad or turn to your side."


I've given my conditions, and like I said, I'm willing to listen. I'll turn it over to you for now.

[Houndoom_Lover]

Wiggly, of course, was eating a twinky through out what had just happened. Taking tender care to peal back the plastic wrap from the sticky dessert and tossed it on the floor. She then licked the already sticky yellow dessert untill it was unberable sticky. And then she bit into it the TWinky and started to suck the cream out with a vacuum noise. Then then the twinky was swallowed.

With out a twinky, what will she do. Lost...so lost.......

[Mystic_clown]

Sorry for not posting or anything, but where is everyone? I'd post, but I'm waiting for either Asilynne or Shadow Djinn.

[Blademaster]

Or perhaps envoy, or any of the other half a dozen people who have disappeared recently.

[The_Missing_Link]

I promise I will post something soon but I backed up into the corner of nothingness. My character isn't involved in any sort of plot right now so I'm sort of at a loss of what to do. It would be easy if someone wrote me in but unfortunately, I made my character dislike some of the I-Squad members so her involvement with them is minimal and they would probably call on her as a last resort

btw, does the squad give out honorary team communicators like the Teen Titans did?

[Shadow Djinn]

*twitches* Sorry. My time has mainly been either school or focusing on the other RPG's I'm in. I'll try to get a post up soon.

[envoy of time]

I too have been busy (Bowes head in shame).

[Shadow Djinn]

Ao ~ Abaris ~ Neutral
-

This time, when Ao materialized in the swirling void that was Etherion, he was hardly shocked.

" Toya," Ao spat, clutching the wound Engima had dealt him.

" Drifting at sea," Toya rolled his eyes. " That's how you beat a shapeshifter?"

Ao made no comment now, simply glancing at his wound once more.

" Anyway, I think I found Malion," Toya continued. " I believe some git rescued you, a mage of some sorts. Shade?"

Recognizing the name as one of the more mysterious members of the Legion of Despair, Ao scowled. " Like I'll consort with those evil morons."

Toya shrugged indifferently. " He saved your life."

" You call yourself a hero," the teenager spat in response.

" You're angsty," the former hero shot back in reply. " I'm not some Justice Rider anymore and I've accepted that. But I'll kill Malion -- that's for sure."

" I bet you couldn't beat that bloody shapeshifter."

" Electricity," Toya sneered in response.

" What?" Abaris made an effort to stand, but failed soundly.

" Most shapeshifters are weak to electricity. Remember Kanil?"

" Oh, right," Ao frowned. His mind swirled with options. " But I couldn't,"

" Time's up," Toya said, fading rapidly.

" No, dammit," Ao roared. " Stop --"

Toya muttered something inaudible, before the world faded, and Ao stirred, eyeing the cloaked, gray-haired teenager (or so it seemed) that was standing a ways off.

" Shade, I presume," the super spared the pleasantries, giving the Legion member a cool look.
-

Note: Ao presumes Shade is in the Legion, just an FYI.

[Mystic_clown]

While I don't mind Ao thinking Shade's with the Legion, could you please edit out the part with Toya saying he sent Shade. Shade has nothing to do with Ao's past.

[Shadow Djinn]

Ah, apologies. Got mixed up into thinking Shade was someone else. @_@

[Asilynne]

Eek! Im sorry I havent been posting, I didnt know I was being paid attention to! XD Ill post something in the near future, so sorry -.-()

[Dark Sage]

I'm waiting for Blizzard (Envoy of Time) to make the next move. When he moves, I'll respond. I remind him that Dark Angel came at his request.

[Mystic_clown]

Shade
--------------------------
Shade looked up from his book to see that his little guest was awake.

"Ah, he said almost emotionlessly as he put a bookmarkat the page where he was up to, "It's about time you woke up."

Ao just glared at him.

"Where am I?" he said in a dangerous tone, "Why am I here?"

Shade chuckled softly as he put the book down.

"Well,for your first question, this is the Library of Purgatory. Don't try to leave because there's nowhere to go. This is a world beyond the world of the living."

He rose from his seat and looked over in Ao's direction.

"And for your question, I have an offer for you."

Ao's eyes narrowed.

"What kind of offer?" he asked suspiciously.

Shade smirked.

"Well, to get straight to the point. I wish for you to join forces with me."

Ao had a disgusted look on his face.

"I'd never join scum like you!" Shade just chuckled and shook his head slowly.

"You just don't see the big picture do you?"

"What big picture." Shade smirked.

"That humanity needs to be controlled."

Ao snarled.

"Humanity needs to be free!"

Shade's face went blank.

"Free? Freedom is the reason for the terrible events in mankind's past. Freedom is the reason there's crime and prejudice in this world. All things evil in this world is the direct result of mankind's freedom!"

TAG Dark Djinn.

[envoy of time]

Blizzard pored himself a glass of water behind his studies bar and tuned to look at Angel “Tell me do you like your boss? I don’t care for mine very much. Personaly the crazy bastard gives me a head ache.” Angel cocked an eye brow “Why tell me this?’ Blizzard sighed and said “I’m saying that I want Nargel gone as much as you guys do and I think we can reach an agreement.”

[Dark Sage]

Angel rubbed her chin. She guessed the old "honor among thieves" axiom was not true among the Legion.

"Let's get one thing straight," she finally said. "I won't participate in any plan that involves me turning against the I-Squad. As much as Enigma 'gives me a headache' as you say, I'd rather have him on my side.

"But anyway, I would be interested in entering a... temporary alliance to dispose of Nargel. So I'm listening.

"I'll just repeat what I know. Nargel wants this horn. The only way anyone can get it from me is to win it in a fair contest while wagering something of equal value. I think Nargel knows that. I figured I could use that against him somehow.

"So what did you have in mind?"

TAG to Blizzard. And I also want to know where Nargel is in all this.