Damea Reese
“I’d like to help you Mr Reese… But you realise that you’re asking me to break orders, correct?”
She eyed him carefully before reaching up and swiping her blond braided hair behind her ear. Damea didn't respond only returned her gaze as he had been the entire time.
“You see this as an opportunity to exploit. You’re nothing but a conman. You have no consideration for the effects your little ‘plan’ will have on people like me.”
“Nobody works for nothing Mr Reese, not me, not anyone. So I wonder what exactly is it that you’re after? I have a duty to uphold Mr Reese, not just to the army, but to all of humanity. Headquarters needs this information. We need to stop those terrorists, though the question is whether or not what the Therian says is true. I guess we’ll soon find out,”
He smiled at her, figuring that she was going to be one that would be hard to win over. Of course he'd lied about not liking the Therian's, if he'd spoken the truth out right she would have never heard the rest of what he wanted to say to her. Either way it seemed that she'd picked up on his lie well enough though, that was suggested by the way she stood facing him. A knock came at the door and she turned to it. A man entered and the two exchanged words about the Therian.
Damea frowned then, it was hard to think that she would still let the Therian be taken to the dirty hands of her superiors. However, as the conversation continued, Damea took notice of the doctors hesitance to allow the Therian to be taken to the higher ups. If he could get the doctor alone perhaps he could talk some sense with him and change this woman's mind. Maybe. It was a long shot, but one Damea was willing to give a shot.
“Mr Reese, you’ll be coming with us for the moment also. Corporal Reginald, summon the caravan. Let’s move.”
Her words shocked him and he grinned up at her. So, she was going to bring him after all. That made things easier. Even if he was being taken to the higher ups as well, at least he'd gotten his foot in the door. That made it much better for him to wiggle his way all the way in. As for what she'd asked of him earlier, what he wanted, he chuckled softly to himself. He didn't want anything to be honest. The one thing he did want, was to see the Therian's rise to the challenge and overcome the wall of prejudice. He wanted to see what this Therian was capable of.
Touya Khan
"What's your name?" The voice of the male who'd been tossed in the carriage with him annoyed him. The human didn't know what the meaning of silence was. Touya was utterly tired and at his wits end. If only he could untie himself he would cut the man apart to put an end to incessant questions.
"Touya," he answered angrily.
"Damea, it's a pleasure to meet you Touya."
The Therian opened one eye and glanced over to the man who was seated across from him. Touya was laid up on a cot in the carriage, still too weak to do much else but rest his body. He'd been gathering his energy since the doctor had patched him up and stopped the bleeding from his side and leg. He could have healed himself, but he didn't see the point in it really. The human across from him was dressed in fine colors that stretched neatly across his frame, light colored hair that dropped over his face and accented his mismatched eyes.
Touya turned away then and closed his eye again. He settled into the cot as best he could aside from the jarring of the carriage that rolled across the dirt road. His body had long since become numb from the sharp movements. He didn't want to talk to the human anymore than was necessary and hoped that his pretending to sleep would deter the man from further conversation.
"How did you get wounded, Touya? I've always pictured your kind to be really strong, stronger than us humans anyway."
Touya heaved a sigh and opened both eyes to stare at the ceiling. He didn't offer an answer to the man only glowered at the top of the carriage cursing his luck to be stuck with a chatter box.
"Hey, I'm sorry if I offended you in anyway. I'm just naturally curious. I enjoy learning about the Therian's you know."
To this Touya turned his head again and watched the man named Damea. What a curious human. Who ever thought that learning about his kin was 'enjoyable'. It was strange to hear those words, too strange really. So much so that Touya grew even more weary of the man and began to think that he was working for the woman who drove the carriage. Had she put him up to it? Told him to act nice and friendly so that Touya might drop his guard and talk randomly? Well, she was completely wrong if she thought that would work. Besides, what could possibly be so damned important that she needed to resort to such measures to get him to talk? The location of the rebel leader of Therian's? He'd gladly give the name, but she would probably kill him just for spit.
"Not really a talker are you..." Damea sighed, leaning his head backwards against the wall, "You know, I'd always found your kind really beautiful. Even more beautiful than the elves and they're a sight to see if you haven't seen them yet. A little mean sometimes if you say the wrong thing, but they're mostly good hearted. You see, I think of the Therian's being the same way. You guys have your faults, we all do. But in the end, you're just human, like us," Damea leaned forward and pulled a cuffed hand forward to look at it, "You bleed just like we do. You breathe the same air, love, laugh, cry. It's all the same. I don't know why we fear you. Maybe it's because we don't know you very well and the technology that you guys have."
"You fear us because of the one who is threatening you," Touya answered coldly.
"He speaks!" Damea shouted out in glee, startling Touya.
"Of course I speak, you idiot!"
"Well, I wasn't sure. I mean you only said your name to me, I didn't think you understood our language."
"Same with her," Touya growled in annoyance, "You humans are so damned ignorant."
Damea laughed heartily at that, "Yeah, that we are. I apologize, I wish I could change that. Unfortunately not all of us are as open minded as I am. For now I guess we'll just have to start changing that hu? How about it Touya? Would you like to be a friend of mine? Who knows, we could change the minds of a lot of people. What could it hurt?"
Touya watched him carefully, staring for a long time. He didn't smile, nor did he respond. His thoughts were deep on what Damea had offered him, a friendship, with a human. How odd. What could it hurt? Well, Touya could think of a lot of things and none of them were all the pleasant. As he was thinking there was a sudden noise outside and the carriage came to a complete halt, jolting Touya harshly.
"Protect the prisoner! The faceless have come for him!"
Touya tried to pull himself up but forgot about the restraints holding him. He tugged on the ties holding him down frantically. He had to get out there, if it was the Therian's, he knew who it was and they weren't after him persay. He pulled and pulled on the cuffs around the corners of the cot. He was so concentrated on trying to free himself that he didn't notice Damea getting up from his spot.
A soft click filled the air next to him and Touya flicked his gaze over to the human. Damea grinned at him and lifted his hands to show them to be free of the cuffs that had held him moments before. Touya stopped struggling and watched in utter amazement as the human reached over and uncuffed him. Slowly Touya sat up once he was free and watched Damea with an eyebrow raised and his eyes narrowed.
"I told you didn't I? I want to be friends with you, not enemies," Damea winked, "I would lose if I were your enemy."
Touya gave a slow nod and pushed himself to his feet. Damea stood a good foot taller than himself, and he had to lift his head to look up at the man. He turned and went to the box that held their weapons and items. He eyed it carefully for a moment before activating his bracer. Once again there was the loud sound of snapping and steel sliding out. Tightening his hand into a fist he leaned over and swiped at the box, cutting open the top of it cleanly.
"Wow, well... I guess that's one way to do it..."
Touya rolled his eyes and retrieved his swords. Once they were sheathed back onto his lower back, he slammed his arm into the door and pulled downwards, cutting around the lock. With a sharp kick he opened the door, splintering wood as he did so. Jumping down into the street, Touya came around the back end of the carriage only to throw himself backwards as several crossbolts rained down at him. He winced slightly at the sudden movement he'd just performed. Hissing to himself, he berated his thoughts on not actually healing himself, now there was no time.
Peering out cautiously he spotted the woman who'd put him into the carriage. She was down in the dirt and from what it seemed, she was injured. He frowned and reached back, drawing his blade. Snapping it outwards, the weapon uncurled and formed the long sword that he favored.
"Hmm, remind me to get one of those when we're threw here," Damea whispered to him. Touya turned and glared at the man without answering. With a slight roll of his eyes, Touya darted out from the cover he'd taken and moved towards April who was too much in the way of the crossbolts. Stepping over her, he dropped down next to her and lifted his blade. He cut through several of the bolts that were aimed right at her, deflecting them from harming her further.
He turned for just a second to assess her and noted the three bolts that afflicted her. With his free hand he reached out and quickly removed them, albeit a bit roughly -he wasn't particularly in the mood for mercy-. Once the bolts were removed he stretched his fingers over the wound in her chest and began healing it with his magic. Golden light expelled from his palm and washed over her chest. Touya was so concentrated on healing her wound that he'd forgotten about the crossbolts, until one hit him.
Knocked sideways from the sharp impact, he lost his balance as he'd been kneeling on one knee. He moved swiftly and caught himself, bracing his body over April's. Wincing, he ground his teeth together and looked to who had shot him. His eyes widened as he caught sight of the man. As he'd figured, it was Val that was attacking them. Why, though, Touya wasn't sure, but then when did what Val planned ever make sense?
Standing, Touya left April to her own devices, figuring that with the worst of her wounds healed, she could handle herself. Drawing his other blade he extended it as well and activated all of his metal along his arms. The three blades uncurled from their hiding spot along his arms and the metal extended to cover his fingers. Fully armored, his power began resonating around him, giving him a slight glow. It was pure energy that revolved around him, making him seem whiter than normal. The unnatural glow grew and a second later, Touya had lunged forward, launching himself at the single man who'd caught his attention.
His sword came up at the last second, crossing with the larger mans. The individual whom he'd engaged with stood just a bit taller than him, definitely bulkier in mass and held a cruel smile upon his lips. Touya pushed hard against the man, but not enough of his strength was behind it to stumble the one in front of him.
"You didn't heal yourself did you, Touya?"
"Val.. what the hell are you doing?"
"Isn't it obvious? Come to rescue you of course. I figured this would happen after I let you go. I wanted to show you how ruthless these human's are. They aren't going to care for you like we will. Therian's keep to their own, Touya. We don't need them around. All we need is their technology so we can survive."
"It is this same logic that destroyed our homeland you know."
"Or so we're told. You can't really believe that can you Touya? None of us remember anyway! We've been asleep for so long. Anything could have happened. Now, why don't you be a good Therian and stop resisting me!"
Val swiped his swords outwards, knocking Touya back, or rather throwing him instead. Touya hit the ground hard, coughed as he lost the air in his lungs and slowly pulled himself back up. His side burned painfully as he stood, but he tried not to show it. Val, on the other hand must have noticed. A flip of his sword and his usual smile was all Touya had as a warning. Steel clashed again, pushing Touya backwards a second time. Val's second sword came at him from the side and cut his other side, though not as deeply as the first.
Touya quickly disengaged and went at it again, this time with more vigor. He drew more energy into his body, the pure magic glowing brightly. His swords moved swiftly as he fought Val. Steel scrapped across steel and sometimes when they hit just right, sparks showered. Touya now used his forearms as well, the deadly curved blades launching out towards Val, forcing the man to go slightly on the defensive.
"Now you're fighting! Show them how deadly we can be, Touya! Come at me!"
Touya ground his teeth and lunged forward, pushing himself to his limits. Every movement was seemingly smooth, though. His swords and curved arm blades moving all at once, each twist and turn gave more momentum for another move. In this fashion both Therian's moved about the street, locked on each other only.