My Heart Beats

[VampiricTouch]

The engines roared as the ship came to a turbulent stop on the landing pad. The aftershock of those tremors shook the stasis chamber as the few passengers that could afford the luxuries of space travel slept in oblivion. A customs inspector made his way on board and with a sharp hiss the passengers were slowly brought out of their artificial slumber.

"Welcome to Amaterasu. We will take a moment to check your identification and you may continue on your way."

The customs inspector lifted a retinal scanner as each passenger paused before him and with a quiet beep was allowed on their way. Looking down at the scanned name and it's registered information, he stopped the last person -

"Serena Dante? As a bounty hunter, I'm sure you know that all weapons you bring to Amaterasu must be registered? If you haven't done so you can do that -"

"-They're registered." Her voice was curt as she stepped past the inspector and made her way off of the ship.

Serena sighed as she breathed in the hot humid air. The sun sails on the ship lit up the entire docking area with an unnatural brightness, the gathered sunlight stood in sharp contrast to her overcast mood. She needed information.

She made her way to the main temple, her eyes noting the upturned eaves that set it apart from the others. After flagging down a priest, and a quiet request, she was escorted to the library.

"I was hoping you could give me some information... about this mark."

Serena faced the priest and unzipped the front of her black shirt. She allowed enough of the fabric to part, revealing the inner margins of her breasts, as well as the markings of a black star spiraling outwards from her heart. The priest's eyes widened first at seeing the curves of her breast so provocatively revealed and then blanched at the sight of the black star as she covered herself once more.

"Demon... " It was a horrified whisper that escaped his lips, but he quickly recovered and made his way through the rows of shelves to find a dusty book.

"Tha - that mark indicates that you are a d - demon's prey. Wh-when a person has made a contract with a demon, a black flowering star, a Hanahoshi, unique to the demon is formed as a way for the demon to find the person and exact payment... which tends to be... catastrophic."

The priest was a miserable wreck as his hands trembled and flipped rapidly through the yellowed pages. Serena arched a brow when he handed her the book as if she carried the plague. Ignoring his nervousness, she took the book, now open to the page of what looked like a similar star.

"Thanks, I hope you don't mind if I take th-"

Serena didn't have time to finish her sentence when the doors burst open and guards poured in. The priest backed miserably into the corner of the room as he pointed at her screeching dark omens and portents of destruction. The sharp points of swords and spears were immediately leveled at her as she sighed.

There were too many Peace Keepers to try anything drastic so Serena reluctantly allowed a bold officer grab her arms and close the cold irons around her wrists. A hard blow came down on the back of her head and darkness enveloped her- she should've known that asking questions like this would get her into trouble...

~~**~~​

It was a brutal fight... Serkan Noitra was indeed worth every bit of the credits that was placed on his death and even as she watched him fall through her glazed vision, she too crumpled to the ground after him.

No... I don't want to die... her mind and body struggled uselessly as the poison from his knife, now in her side, began its work, forcing her heart to grind painfully to a halt. Standing on the verge of her death she saw the black god arrive to take her to the peaceful realms, patiently waiting for her heart to beat its last. She tried to shake her head, to move, to deny that death would soon be upon her but it was to no avail - she was too far gone. It was then that a silhouette intervened. In her Sight his magic was an oppressive black halo around his inhuman body as his voice resonated in her mind.

"I can lend you my heart and restore your life, but in exchange - at the end of a year, your body will be mine to consume. Do you want to live?"

What else could she answer... Of course she wanted to live! Who wouldn't?! In her desperate haze of pain she agreed. In the face of the black god she chose the chance for a second life, just as her eyes fluttered close and her own heart made its last pulse. Immediately, the pain in her side and heart subsided as the knife and its poison dissolved. She could feel the opened flesh knit back together and her body purify itself of the poison. The ache of healing slowly faded into nothingness. A vaporous wisp touched where her heart used to beat and that too faded away.

She didn't know how long she had lain there, her breath making the stray wisps of black hair dance before her eyes as she slowly realized that she was still alive. She pushed herself off of the ground to inspect herself - all scrapes, all wounds were gone- had she really died? Gingerly she lifted her hand to her breast; a beautiful black star of vines spiraled over her -no- his heart, marking it's beat as his own. Beneath the black star the palpitating rhythm of the borrowed heart was just like any other. She had a year to live.

~~**~~​

Serena woke in the darkness of a prison cell with a pained groan. Her dreams were filled with the past, especially that incident. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dimly lit cell and after a bit of squirming she was able to prop herself upright as she took in her surroundings. Her gaze falling on the other person in the cell. She gently leaned her head back against the stone enclosure, wincing as she brushed the painful lump at the back of her head. What was she supposed to do with one more year...

------------------
OOC:
Serena means Peace.
The contained name Rena means Reborn/Rebirth.

Hanahoshi breaks down into 2 words in Japanese
Hana: flower
Hoshi: star

 

[chronicle_tenko]

Merrick's introduction.

She looked right at him. Not a surprising thing really, in that a lot of people looked at him, but few actually saw him perched there. Merrick kept very still.

An ancient yellowing but originally brown duster draped over him like some prehistoric leather blanket. Dust and dirt coated it creating a colour almost entirely like the walls. A deeply beaten low brimmed cowboy hat hung over his face a spiderweb actually connecting it to the coat. Most wouldn't assume Merrick to be a person, as much as bag of flesh and bones and rot. Most would be right.

Merrick stirred, the dust shaking off and the spider's silk tearing as he moved his craggy leonine head, his hair and beard shaking dust from each other as he creaked forward. His words were slow and measured and sounded much younger than his appearance would suggest.

"Looks like we're bunk mates here a moment. What brings you to Amaterasu? and more importantly to such stately accommodations as these. it was my understanding this is where they bring people to never see the light of day again, or at least that is what the condition of the cell and my coat tell me." he looked at her his eyes flickering over her in every inch, quickly scrutinizing her, and easily deciding the woman was far more than merely the sum of her parts. "I mean you must have been very stupid or very desperate to wind up here. And you do not strike me as stupid."

 

[VampiricTouch]

Serena kept the stranger in the corner of her eye as she turned her attention to the irons that loosely chained her hands and feet. She was stuck in a prison cell with only one year left... The lock on those chains could probably be picked... But what was the point of getting out of the cell... It wasn't like she could make future plans. Her thoughts were interrupted by the stranger in the corner.

She eyed him warily for a long moment, trying to assess whether his questions were from curiosity or...

"I came to find information... and some religious bigot decided that the information I was looking for was too sensitive for the likes of me"

She glanced his way with a shrug. It wouldn't matter what he was planning if he was... if he tried anything she was more than capable of defending herself... even with the chains limiting her movements. She paused a moment before asking in return...

"and you? What got you into this place?"

Her eyes leveled to hold his as her mind ticked rapidly. Would she have to knock him out for a chance to use her picks without him alerting the guards...?

 

[chronicle_tenko]

That was quick, usually people didn't pay any real attention to Merrick, he had to wait for hours before they spoke or flinched, before they would remember the dusty gargoyle perched on the opposite bunk was a man and not a bundle of leather blankets forgotten by time and citizen.

Merrick often felt forgotten, like a person who had no use in today's world. He supposed that was why he drifted here. Amaterasu home of the divine, and answers to your every question, he also supposed that was why he was in jail in Amaterasu, forgotten in the cellars of law where the undesirables go.

"Why am I here?" His head shifted imperceptibly. "I don't think I should answer that. My old earth is rusty but it was quid pro quo miss. without proper compensation nothing is dispensed. After all nothing comes free, especially power control and knowledge." He moved again, the creak of the leather soft and curiously silent. Each fold of the leather unfurling around him as he stood, the movement seeming tortuously slow, each old muscle being forced into screaming use again, but there he stood faster than eyes followed.

"I'm Merrick. I am here because they forgot me here, as all things are forgotten here. See how giving I am?" he moved awkwardly at first, a broken marionette with the strings tangled, and within a step it was smooth like he had years of practice. He made no noise and only a single step."Now I've revealed myself to you. A man no more;" he grinned at her. "and certainly no less. My heart beats as well as yours."

It was deafening then. A crashing wave of sound shattering against her. Surf against the rocky cliffs, water droplets clinging to her making her damp and cold. Laughter.

MY Heart beats. In your chest, it beats drawing me closer to you. How much time do you have left, it measures it in beats and the hanahoshi, spreads till it like I will consume you.

She staggered, hardly a motion, and Merrick looked on at her, still far away a single step from his bunk. "Now what about you, were you stupid or desperate?"

 

[VampiricTouch]

She watched him move and instinctively tucked her feet under and rolled onto the balls of her feet. She listened as he danced around her question and then stand much faster than she thought him capable. She stood quickly, not wanting to be at a disadvantage should he use that sort of speed against her.

"Now I've revealed myself to you. A man no more; and certainly no less. My heart beats as well as yours."

He grinned as her eyes narrowed. My heart beats as well as yours... did he know? That the beating of her own heart was not hers... and merely borrowed...?

The deafening crash filled her ears as the chilling mist clung to every part of her. Her eyes glazed over, as if she were looking past the other being in the room. Over the sound of that crashing wave was laughter followed by the dark omen of her own demise.

Her eyes cleared as she staggered and blanched at the words that still rang in her head. A wave of panic rose in her gut as she scowled and tried to maintain her calm. This was the first time she'd felt such a connection, but then it had only been two weeks since her escape from death. How often would she have to deal with such experiences of the demon...? she had a name for that silhouette now... Was she feeling what or where the demon was at?

Her eyes focused and came back into the reality of where she was standing. She braced a hand against the wall to still her slight tremor as she realized the silence that filled the room. What was his name... Merrick, that was it. Did he ask something? Did he hear those words as well? Did he know? What would he think? Why did it matter... She steeled herself to return to the matters at hand.

"I'm sorry, did you hear - never-mind, I blanked what did you just ask?"

"stupid or desperate" She slowly remembered the question through the haze of sound she had heard.

"You know, I don't think I like either of those choices. But if I think about it... it's probably a combination of both."

Her fluster was brief and now that her control was back, her mind started to tick again. She should probably find a way out of this blasted place. She shifted her weight and noted with some satisfaction that the knife tucked in her boot was still there, it would mean that her picks would be as well... She could probably wait until he slept before working on her escape.

She still had no idea what she'd do with the remaining time but she sure as hell didn't want to spend it in this cell where... what did he call it... all things are forgotten.

She made her way towards the miserable bunk to sit and wait. The quiet clink of chains following her every move even though her steps were estinto. Looking back up at him, she noticed his expected gaze and sighed.

"Name's Serena."

 

[chronicle_tenko]

Serena. It was familiar, but all names are after a while. "I like it but it doesn't suit you to my estimation. Too pretty, too naive. The name itself sounds like it belongs to a fool." His eyes held something almost like kindness, the limpid clear blue of his eyes finally locking along her face, and her eyes. "I don't think it suits you."

His eyes closed and he collapsed quietly back to the bed, dust motes moving back and forth twinkling in the sun from the only window. "Stupid and desperate, perhaps you were; to make this kind of journey, but foolish strikes me not. I can tell normally. You may have made a mistake, or been hasty, but Foolish is not you."

The duster closed and Merrick breathed deeply his chest inflating the duster before he pulled the hat low over his eyes again. "I'll leave you to what you wish for now. But do speak when you feel like it. It could be very boring here if you don't."

 

[VampiricTouch]

Serena listened with feigned interest as he rambled about the foolish and desperate. It didn't matter if he thought her desperate, foolish or anything else, she probably would never see him again once she picked the locks and got out.

She tilted her head up to stare at the window. The square frame of sunlight cut into the darkness of the prison. She hefted the weight of the chains around her wrist a couple times and noted that she could ease the chains without the nuisance of metallic clatter. She waited...

Time passed slowly, her only clock being the light that shone through the square frame of the window. The silence and the waiting grated on her, without someone else distracting her thoughts, her mind roamed back to the demon's bargain. She waited even after she heard Merrick's breathing ease into a slow steady rhythm, wanting to make sure that he was truly asleep.

Finally hearing a quiet snore, she lowered her hands down to her boot and pulled out her set of picks. Her eyes never left the beaten cowboy hat. She eased back up smoothly, the chains on her wrists silent as she moved slowly and carefully.

She grimaced at the inevitable whisper of metal when her hands came together to work on the lock, holding still and keeping her pick tucked behind her hand as she made sure that Merrick had not stirred. Choosing a pick for her purposes she started working on the lock. After a long minute, she heard the pin drop and a broad smile flashed over her face as the iron opened with a soft click.

She paused to check that Merrick was still breathing the his deep steady rhythm, she began to work on the other lock. This time opening the restraint much faster. She left the chains on the bed, letting the bare coverings muffle the sound. The chains on her feet left their charge in the same manner and were also eased onto the bed to join it's partner.

She gave Merrick another glance and moved to the door. Serena checked that the hallway was empty before switching a pick and slipping her hand out to start on the door. The moment her pick entered the lock, a deafening alarm went off, echoing the hallways with it's piercing scream.

Serena paled at the sound - who knew they would have the doors tamper proof!? With a quiet curse under her breath, she scrambled back to her bunk and quickly clicked the chains back on her hands and feet. The guards filled the hallway seconds after the chains were secured and the picks hidden.

 

[chronicle_tenko]

Without moving Merrick spoke. "I could have told you that wouldn't work. They don't care too much about the shackles though. as I said this is the place they put you to forget." Bustling guards and attention looked for any reason and excuse to rush past them, the hurly burly of activity curiously passing them by, till, minutes later, they were once again alone.

"I would have thought you'd noticed, I'm not wearing any chains. It's cause they know we can't escape out that door. So they don' care much about what goes on in here." The hat tipped up once more and Merrick's blue eyes shone, glittering in the darkness at her. He continued a grin on his face growing. "But if you want to get out I can walk right out of here with you." He looked around the cell he had been in. "I must admit a change of scenery would be nice. Not that you aren't fine to look at, but I've always preferred a bit of colour to my walls."

"What do you say?"

 

[VampiricTouch]

Guards rushed by to check every door and make sure everyone was still in their respective cell. Serena watched as they made their rounds, too caught up in the commotion to notice Merrick until he spoke. Her head snapped over to the dusty cowboy hat he was talking under. Had he moved? no... He was awake all this time!? A scowl clouded her face as she laid down on the bunk.

"So you weren't asleep... just faking it all this time? Then you should've said something..." She grumbled with annoyance under her breath, not quite caring if he heard or not. Now how was she supposed to get out...

The flow of activity slowly faded and silence descended once more only to be broken by her bunk mate.

"I would have thought you'd noticed, I'm not wearing any chains. It's cause they know we can't escape out that door. So they don' care much about what goes on in here."

Her eyes widened as they stared at the dreary ceiling - how had she not noticed?! His movements were silent, unhampered by the chains that were tying her down. She sighed heavily at the thought, there was no way out...?

"But if you want to get out I can walk right out of here with you."

Her head turned to meet his glittering blue eyes with her questioning black ones. Walk right out? How was that even possible?

"Is... this a joke of some sort Merrick? You just said that we can't escape out that door and now you're suggesting to 'walk right out'?" She answered with an exasperated disbelief ringing in her voice as her eyes returned to the ceiling.

"Besides... IF you could 'walk right out'... You wouldn't even be here" Her eyes flicked over to Merrick's easy going grin for a brief moment and then switched over to the window where the last glimmerings of light faded rapidly into darkness.

 

[chronicle_tenko]

He smirked, the motion somehow animated more by the tip of his hat. He doffed it and shaggy hair billowed around his unshaven face a moment. He was young seeming, though the beard and hair hid that well, but there was still a freshness to his face that belied the age and mistrust in his eyes and voice. His smirk said it all. "That assumes I don't want to be here. I might be just fine forgotten and rotting in a cell, It's unlikely of course, improbable one would say but still possible."

His head shook dust waving from his hair leaving a shimmer across it. Under the brown and drab and dirt of the cell, his hair was quite glossy, though of indeterminate colour. "It also assumes that I could do it alone. I can walk right out of here. I unlike you or anyone else, have a gift. I am unique in a way and simply extraordinary in another. My gift is special, powerful and highly useful especially for situations like this, and extremely effective." His voice rose as he did, capturing attention like it used air and he took another step forward appearing from almost across the room directly in front of her. "and yet anyone could do it, though not as well as I can, Nor to any degree the efficacy.""

He sank to a knee in front of her, involuntarily displaying a small weakness. "I can travel, along with anything I touch to anywhere I know. I need my ship however for anywhere I can't see." He grinned from on the floor and rose unsteadily, his knees shaking just a touch. "I can see your disbelief, Mr. Merrick is an old hand under this young smile, what with all I've been through, but even still I wouldn't need to be to read that face." Merrick turned his head and instantly was back atop his bunk picking his hat up more than 3 meters away. he collapsed to sitting on his bed and leaned back carefully trying not to let her see his exertions making his chest inside the duster billow in and out. "still don't trust, I'll tell you more gratis. I can't move about alone, I need my ship, which is impounded, and I need a hand to walk after." He shrugged. "Even if I walked into the hall or the yard or even into the city from here, I' never find my ship. I need someone strong to help me move after, and someone resourceful who can find things from off the grids. Then I could leave this rock, both prison and planet."

He tapped his fingers against his palm and pulled a small burnt cigarette from his sleeve, and lit it with a match plucked from some hidden place in the wall. "I mean really Serena what is the point of becoming a fugitive in Amaterasu? won't they just send someone like you after me? It seems only marginally nicer or more interesting than being a prisoner and infinitely more dangerous. I'm not slated for execution anytime soon. How about you?"

 

[VampiricTouch]

She nearly scoffed as he rambled about being forgotten and the improbable progressing to abilities and gifts, but at least he had gotten her attention.

Serena bolted up from the dingy bunk. How had he moved so fast?! That was an understatement. It wasn't that he moved fast... but rather as if he disappeared from the foot of his bed and appeared in front of hers... She could hardly believe her eyes, was this a trick of some sort!?

She watched with widened eyes as he sank to a knee before her, was he hurt...?! Yet the grin as he looked up at her said otherwise. She would've chalked everything up to her eyes playing mind games when he moved again, to appear back on his bunk. Immediately he sank into the bed while Serena stared, trying to wrap her mind around what her bunk mate was capable of doing.

As he started explaining the need for a partner, her mind started to tick. If he could get them both out... she could probably find his ship. There weren't many places such things could be kept... The hope that she could get out of both the prison and the planet was raging through her head.

"I'm not slated for execution... yet, but it makes me wonder how long it will take before I am..." A sense of darkness came over her face and seeped into her voice as she thought about the inevitable execution should the people of Amaterasu decide that it wasn't necessary to kill her.

She stood and began to pace the small room as she thought and rambled out loud... "How long do you need to rest before you can do something like that again? I think I can track down your ship if we get out of this blasted place, and in the mean time you can rest in a room until I find it."

Serena paused a moment longer as she wondered how much she should tell him, "I'm ... well no.. was a bounty hunter. I stopped after taking down Serkan Noitra." She kept her face and voice calm though her body tensed as she remembered the demon's contract from that incident. Her hand strayed automatically to her heart, feeling the same beat that still pulsed and gave her life.

She sighed and pushed the memory from her mind. A small line of unease settled over her as she wondered why he was so trusting of her, but his easy going demeanor made it difficult to keep the same wariness. First things first - they had to get out. Once they got to another planet, they could probably split... his ability was rather useful.

"I have a few accounts that are not listed and won't be traced to my name. If we get out... I can use that to get you a place to stay until you can move. You think we can make our escape?"

 

[chronicle_tenko]

He looked at her the smirk becoming something playful but completely serious. "I wouldn't have mentioned it if I wasn't sure. I've been in this cell too long with no one to talk to, and nothing I could do; for all my talents." He stretched and let his arms fall to his sides, obviously tired. "Tomorrow." Merrick mumbled. "We'll try then."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Merrick always dreamed fitfully but they rarely bothered him. This time he could see the open sky, and hear the sound of the waves crashing against the shore, rolling green hills greeted him and he could hear his voice just barely being called from the next hill over. 'Merrick' His eyes opened to take in a clear blue sky, "Merrick", he felt the warm grass around him, and sunk deeper into the earth's embrace, "Merrick", his name was louder more insistent, but he could see the stars beyond the sky, the inexhaustible reaches of space freedom.

"MERRICK!" he woke being rudely jostled by Serena. "It's morning and the patrol is changing in the building."

"Alright then." Merrick got up and stretched finally standing toe to toe with her. She seemed taller. But as he stood she was only 65 inches tall. He had a third of a foot on her, yet she still seemed to dwarf him. "Do you have everything we're taking?" she nodded and he made a signal to check the room before he picked up his hat. "It's lucky, now hold on."

He looked through the window and imagined coming close to him, and first the air seemed to thrum then it seemed to bend, light began to refract around the room folding itself inwards and he took a step forward, pulling her with him. They stopped and he fell to the ground wretching. They were in the middle of market square outside the pig and whistle a recreation of a old earth style pub but of course they didn't serve real alcohol.

"We need to find the ship." And Merrick collapsed, the soft green earth of his dreams folding about him once more.

 

[VampiricTouch]

Moving through space was exhilarating, for a brief moment miles passed by when they only made a single step. Her breath caught as the weightlessness took over and suddenly they were there. Wherever there was... She was surprised when he dropped to the ground and immediately braced him against her shoulder.

She flagged down a hover-cab with a quick wave of her hand. Then with a curt, no-nonsense attitude, made the driver get down and help her hoist her temporary partner up into the vehicle.

"Seven Seasons Hotel."

Her left hand swept across a scanner with a blip as the vehicle started to move. The embedded chip in her left palm registered and linked the scanner to her credits. The driver glanced at her oddly for using a left hand to pay as opposed to her right but said nothing.

"I'm left handed, it was easier this way" She lied in answer to the unasked question as the driver nodded and his gaze returned to the road.

Serena lifted the pen attached to the scanner and with a few quick jots, paid for the transportation fee and also left a generous tip. The driver obviously pleased with the extra, pulled up in front of the Hotel in good time and even helped Merrick to his feet without questioning why her friend was in such a condition.

Serena awkwardly made her way into the hotel, happy that it was too early for most people, and made reservations for two adjacent rooms. The woman behind the desk handed her two ring-keys and directed a boy to help Serena support her unconscious friend.

She sighed as the door beeped at her approach and swung open automatically into a comfortable room. She indicated that the boy should leave Merrick on the bed and sent him on his way. She pulled the sheets out from under him and tucked him in, leaving his hat on the end table with a note and a ring-key under it. Slipping her own on, she watched as the ring adjusted to the girth of her slim finger and the room numbers available to it appeared... to match a similar ring on her other hand.

A brisk walk around the corner and down the street brought her to a rival hotel as she made her way to the room number that showed on the ring of her right hand. The door opened to an untouched room with two bags left at the door. She smiled at the sight, appreciating the services of first class space travel, as she picked up both bags. She pulled the ring off her right hand, wiped it clean of her prints and left it inside the door handle to indicate that she had checked out and returned to the Seven Seasons with her bags.

She set her things down in her room and rummaged through the items to pull out her slice pad. After a moment's thought she decided to work in his room in case he woke up. Hooking her slice pad in, she was in the grid within seconds. That was when she realized... she knew nothing about Merrick to find the ship... neither did she have the make or model... she didn't even have a last name to check registrations! With an annoyed groan she left her slice pad and hit the shower to wash off the grime from her night in prison.

The heated water that flowed over her black hair was blissfully soothing as she scrubbed meticulously clean. Her eyes kept returning to the black Hanahoshi over her heart that spiraled out to dip between her breasts. Was it getting larger? She could've sworn that the first time she saw it, the mark was small enough to fit in her hand, but now... it was obviously much larger as she touched a tendril that curled around her left breast.

The demon's words rang in her mind... How much time do you have left, it measures it in beats and the hanahoshi, spreads till it like I will consume you... She sighed and switched off the water. The mark certainly limited a lot of the clothes she was able to wear... and it was during Amaterasu's solarum season - the hottest and most humid time of its seven seasons... She pulled on shorts and a shirt that had a high enough collar to cover the Hanahoshi as she grumbled about the heat before making her way back to Merrick's room.

 

[chronicle_tenko]

Merrick's eyes opened, and the world was dark again. A drab unfeeling place looked back at him. A bare room, cheap sheets on the bed and a hard pillow. Jail had almost been more comfortable than the bed he lay on. He scrambled up, uncharacteristically drawing breath as he look around in a panic. Then he saw it. his hat, the comfortable beaten fabric, the brim twisted just right, he placed it back on his head, slipping the low brim down over his face. That was better. Now where was he.

There was a note. It was from Serena detailing that she would be back if she was not already and she had the adjoining room. He put on the key-ring, and watched it slim to fit his finger. He stood. The movement too sudden and too sharp knocking him back down to his knees on the floor bile rising as he crouched there. A plaque said the Seven Seasons, which was a decent hotel though possibly Amaterasu with it's monk like atmosphere caused all the stiffness in the mattress'.

He rubbed his face pushing his hat up, before moving towards the bathroom, a wave of hot steam hitting him from the door. Serena must have just finished in here. He blinked and weaved through the steam his arms busy in front of him till he it the sink. He stopped and waved steam from the mirror looking at the face that hadn't seen day in longer than he could remember. Jails had a funny way of altering time for you. He stripped his clothes puddling over the duster a pair of dark cargo style pants and a shirt of non descript origin, faded in color with no branding or logos at all. They hadn't even bothered to take his clothes when they tossed him in. The bathroom had an ultrasonic laundry likely to be added to the bill but he didn't care much all the clothes but his hat went in.

He stepped into the shower and felt hot spears assault him, Boiling pellets fell from ceiling like grapeshot from a cannon, he switched the selection and the walls came to life a firing squad that tor.e at his dirt and grime. he raised his arms in mock surrender and let the water now infused with soap and several skin agents do it's work. Slumping against the wall holding himself up with his hands he contemplated freedom, and the return to drifting once he had his ship back. The water turned cold a moment and he shivered as it rinsed him. He raised his face and took his hat off letting it float away as he began to scrub himself his face, and his hair. Days passed for him as he cleaned himself in the chill waters.

A bell sounded that his clothes were ready and out he stepped, a fan began to clear the mist from the area and the temperature in the room rose to keep him comfortable. His face looked worn. Probably the beard. another charge brought him a razor and he began to shave. First losing the beard itself with a clipper, then shaving entirely to a smooth face when it failed to please him. fresh unmarked skin looked back at him and the pale white of his flesh gleamed in the mirror before taking on a simpler tone. He closed his eyes once more and looked at the tangled mess of hair he had. That had to go. He tried short but could only snap coils of it off losing chunks till he was sure the mess could get no worse. He'd wear the hat anyway.

He smiled his own personality coming back after his shower and looked at the tight lean body in the mirror. It was a free man who stared back. A towel adorned his waist, and he placed the hat back on his head before walking into His room the ring simply letting him past. "Have you found my ship yet?"

 

[VampiricTouch]

Serena settled onto the seat with the slice pad in her lap. She watched with amusement as the bleary eyed Merrick woke and stumbled into the bathroom, obviously still too worn to even notice that she was sitting in the room altogether. The door closing behind her, she rang up room service for breakfast before curling into the chair to doze.

"Have you found my ship yet?"

The deep tenor voice brought her out of her brief nap as her head snapped up and around. Her surprise was overwhelmed with shock as she stared at the man walking out of the bathroom door. Her mouth opened and closed several times before she finally managed a stammer.

"Who... you... Merrick?!"

Her gaze caught the steel blue eyes, the clipped hair, the clean shave... trailing down to defined and well toned body... and then farther to the towel... Her face burned scarlet as she turned back to the slice pad, hopefully quick enough as she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She swallowed hard, quickly recovering her voice and most of her calm before answering.

"No... Haven't found the ship, haven't really started looking either. It's rather difficult to find a ship with out make, model, or a last name for registration... "

A quiet ding interrupted her thoughts and a panel opened with a tray laden with food. Grateful for the distraction, she picked up a sandwich, but then made the mistake of turning to offer him a some. With a groan, she covered her eyes with the free hand as her other waved towards the food, indicating that he should help himself.

"Just.... Just give the information and I'll head back to my room to start searching... and you can get dressed."

 

[chronicle_tenko]

The towel fell, as he faced away from her, It was clear that Merrrick had no sense of shame, only delight in the embarrassment of others. He searched, his back to her for clothes looking around for the wrap that served as skivvies. Food arrived and she seemed distracted before she offered noticing him and finally stammering that she should leave.

"My ship is called the Journey. It is custom and has only sublight engines. It should be under sculpture."

He smiled and found his underwear now that she was gone hurriedly dressing. It was cold being that damp. His clothes were warm though.

The jacket and hat topped each of the wardrobe and Merrick looked in the mirror. he hardly recognised the man staring back but still felt incomplete, He clutched his chest then his stomach. he knocked waiting for an admission to her room.

"I am sorry if I embarrassed you, I assumed you'd seen such as my figure often in jails or around anywhere, it is rare to see a woman blush in this day and age. Quite a novelty in fact." Merrick chuckled. "It is highly attractive."

 

[VampiricTouch]

Serena managed to retreat from the room without any more mishaps with sandwich and slice pad in hand. Back in the sanctuary of her room, her uneasiness dissipated and she started the search. Back in the grid, she quickly narrowed down to three government locations that impounded structural transports... a sub-light speed ship...? How did he get anywhere with that? She set the doubts aside as she began to hack the system, appreciating the benefits of being an established bounty hunter.

The knock on the door came just as she was scribbling down several details of her search. Finishing up, she called 'Enter', the command triggering the automatic door.

"I am sorry if I embarrassed you, I assumed you'd seen such as my figure often in jails or around anywhere, it is rare to see a woman blush in this day and age. Quite a novelty in fact." Merrick chuckled. "It is highly attractive."

She rolled her eyes at the comment of embarrassment and flushes, not wanting to remember the discomfort she had escaped from minutes ago. Instead she turned to the notes she had jotted down. She tore off the top sheet of paper and handed it to him.

"You don't sound sorry, but I'll just pretend that you are and we'll leave things at that. Your ship. That's where they're keeping it at the moment. I can probably buy or bribe it off their hands. Luckily for us, they haven't been able to auction the thing off. Might be because it's a structure as opposed to a transport... "

She bit back her thoughts about using a sub-light speed ship as she returned to the slice pad. A chord of uneasiness welled up inside as she began to wonder... Just who was Merrick... Why did he end up in prison... Hopefully he wasn't some murderer or rapist she had managed to help get loose...

A few quick strokes and she hacked into the prison records with ease and brought up Merrick's file, arching a brow in askance at the results:

'Prisoner was found unconscious pleading for help near city's main cathedral. Jailed on the charge of disorderly conduct. Sentencing and continued charges deleted at request of church. Re: Cardinal Belozzo'

Rather lacking... deleted? why? Out of curiosity, she brought up her own file, and blanched at the results she had found. Her eyes roamed over the words - 'guilty without need of trial', 'dangerous', 'existence will be catastrophic' 'execution in two days'.

How much more time did she have before the guards notified her and found that she had flown the cage!? She broke out of the grip of her fear as she remembered that Merrick was still in the room and that she had completely missed what he said in her concentration.

"Sorry.. I was preoccupied, what did you say?"

 

[chronicle_tenko]

"Sorry.. I was preoccupied, what did you say?"

"I said excellent. I'll help you get it out of where ever it is. Once we're inside my ship I need only a few minutes to take us out of there, till then it's your problem to keep us safe."

He walked about not trying to read what she was looking at. "And so whenever you are ready I can go down there with you. I'm rested enough." He waited for her response evidently easily capable of standing still for as long as she needed to make a decision.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bridgeport Auctioneering took custody of police impounds. Normally they moved vehicles, in the case of Lot SCP 22795, they were told to get rid of a sculpture. Bromfeld Diagini supposed it qualified as a ship but with only Sub-Light engines and drives why would anyone use it. It would reach escape velocity with ease but nothing else. You'd be stuck dead in space for years. Still he attempted each quarter and each quarter it remained in his hold, taking up valuable space. He closed the building before he left walking out to the street.

Bridgeport Auctioneering was in an almost deserted neighborhood on the edge of the first city. Once upon a time it had been surrounded by other enterprise Now it owned most of their stock and had sold it all off. The streets surrounding it were dead, and an old style chainlink fence kept people out though a much higher technology lock kept things in place. There 'The Journey' Waited, patient as it's owner untouched by time.

 

[VampiricTouch]

"My problem is to keep us safe eh... shouldn't be too difficult" She muttered under her breath as she pulled open her bags. In the span of minutes, she condensed the luggage down into a small pack filled with her knives, a spare change of clothes and a few other electronics she thought that she'd need.

"Lets go then."

She slung the pack over her shoulder and left the hotel with Merrick in tow. A quick wave flagged a hover-cab and brisk instructions sent them flying towards Bridgeport Auctioneering. She stepped off of the vehicle with purpose as she made her way to the front of the office. Her eyes noted the empty neighborhood that was now under Bridgeport Auctioneering before she pushed the door open and greeted the man behind the desk.

"Good morning Mr... Diagini. My name is Meredith Shaffer. I'm looking to salvage some sublight engines and their interfaces to repair one of the transport engines I have. I don't suppose you'd have anything cheap enough for such purposes?" Serena's bright smile and alias traversed her lips easily as she stepped into a more friendly demeaner.

The man, Diagini, looked up from his paperwork as the listing of transports ran through his head. He furrowed his brow as he stood and thought...
"I'm afraid all of our ships here are transports, which would be the equivalent of you buying a new one altogether... no, wait. Actually, we do have a structure that has only sublight engines. I have no idea why anyone would build as ship with that, but I think it might serve your purposes."

Bromfeld Diagini was eager to get the structure out of the hold and if this woman, this Ms. Shaffer was going to take it, then he could probably pull a few strings and have it sold then and there as opposed to waiting for the auction in one months time. He put on his best salesman smile and escorted the pair, couple? , to the back. Their footsteps echoed in the hold as ship after ship passed their view to stop at the end. The ship was much smaller in stature than the others they had passed. Across the titanium plating, 'The Journey' was etched across the silvery surface. Serena again gazed at the ship in doubt, could this thing really get them out of the planet?

"May we step in to take a look?" Serena approached the ship, her hand was already opening the door before she even got the okay from Diagini behind them.

Just as the Merrick stepped into the ship, a city wide alarm went off as a warning erupted in the head of all citizens -
"Attention! Attention! Serena Dante, a dangerous criminal has just escaped Tamarind Penetentiary. "An image of Serena immediately flashed in everyone's mind as the blaring announcement continued. "If you see this woman, please immediately notify the authorities."

The announcement ended as Diagini paled. The woman who had introduced herself as Meredith Shaffer was an exact copy of the image that had appeared in his head. Was he really handling the escaped criminal?! Diagini slowly backed away towards the emergency alarm, throwing it into it's full blaring ring.

Serena cursed as the warning screamed in her head. She had to get out of that place. She had seen Diagini back away from them and could only guess... confirmed that he had thrown the alarm.

"Hurry up!! the authorities will be here any moment! we don't have time anymore! " She slammed the door close and turned to Merrick, her curt command barely covered the quaver of her own rising panic.

 

[chronicle_tenko]

Merrick seemed in a dream the moment he entered his ship. Dust had settled everywhere, and his hands trailed through it, flicking switches and pressing buttons as the ship powered up. Of course, nothing ever killed simple fusion batteries, only a minute or two and they'd be ready to fly from here. Like a man stuck in a vision only he could see; Merrick turned about his arms widespread hitting controls over the ship that brought a hum from the engines and several online beeps from the panels and instruments around him. "Oh I've missed you too my sweet Journey. You know that you're the only thing that matters, not whatever destination we find."

His feet skipped as alarms blared and he came to sit inside a special chair that swiveled and rolled through a giant sphere. a hard bolt attached it to the frame of the ship and monitor and panels showed him co-ordinates and star maps from all over the known universe. "My baby, it's time to go home." screens flashed and Merrick's eyes closed as he began to concentrate, deep in his mind he envisioned where the computer was telling him, empty alone space, with nothing around. the engines kicked and he pushed forward, suddenly the warmth and the light of the Auction house faded and was replaced by darkness and cold. Lights flickered on and Heat began to circulate more, offsetting the killing chill of space. He looked out the monitor to the empty vastness.

"I'm home."

 

[VampiricTouch]

Serena was gripping the handles on the side of the door as she stared outside the window. Too slow too slow... they needed to get away. She watched as the doors of the warehouse swung open and guards flooded in. The ruckus of shouts from the peace keepers rose along with the siren of government hovercrafts as they flew by. She felt the ship come alive... much too slow for Serena's taste, especially when danger was so close, and they hadn't even moved yet! With sub-light engines, they'd never get away!

The ship hummed with the power that rolled through the system as the engines kicked in. Serena's stomach lurched as she remembered that her travels were always done first class where she was in the stasis chamber under artificial sleep. The nausea in her gut fluttered again as the lack of gravity caused her and her bag to slowly glide away from the floor. Her feet struggled for purchase just as the darkness and chill settled in. She took a deep breath to ease the nausea... They made it out... How... Where...

The lights flickered on as she cringed, her eyes taking a moment to adjust to the light. The relief of freedom swept over her as she pulled her levitating body into the control room. For a moment she watched Merrick in his element, flicking switches and checking monitors. Her eyes softened as she watched him, immersed in his comfort zone... like a fish in water...

"Thank you... for getting us out of there."

 

[chronicle_tenko]

It was cold. That was always first, A deep dark cold that spread from inside you, never chilled you outright seeking a way in it was simply there and it feel from you to encompass the rest of everything else. then the dark. the ship's emergency lighting of course muted it's effect but it came with the cold, simply spanning as far as you could ever see and beyond. Merrick didn't even need to open his eyes to see it, Dark and Cold were things you felt. Just like the feeling of weightlessness as he spun, the chair keeping him somewhat centered as he pressed forward without effort starting ship systems he rarely needed to, but with another person here he'd need to.

"Home" The single word was repeated, a puff of air coming from his mouth reminding him the temperature was not above freezing. Hair stood up across his arms, but no gooseflesh appeared. He glanced about in his chair moving so freely, so happy to be where he belonged. If he closed his eyes he could see the blue skies and green grass, here was as perfect a place as any. This was his sanctuary, no more walls no more bars, simply anywhere he wished to go and infinite space to see.

"Thank you... for getting us out of there."

He smirked again his from in the dark likely moe than a small bit threatening. his eyes glinted a moment and he came out of the seat, launching himself twisting the the air until he was atop her, His arms holding hers and his face mere inches from hers, the both of them now floating but a foot above the ground. "Oh you're welcome, I consider it only due payment for finding my Journey. Now however you are stuck with the bill of finding a plce to go. One would see that I'm the only one able to take you from the edge of space, and you certainly need to go to somewhere. Otherwise you wouldn't have been seeking on Amaterasu." His breath was hot in her face, Hotter than it had any right to be the air between them and the steam of his words warming her face form teh gap they shared. His eyes looked deeply into hers and his grin was plainly visible now. "So now it appears that since we're even you will have to be in my debt, to get anywhere you want to go. and that is the question now."

Merrick spun away from her the heat of him leaving her as he moved back to his chair as the ship turned on gravity and other systems. "Where do you wish to go and what do you offer to do so?"

 

[VampiricTouch]

The words 'home' brought a flicker of sadness to the softness in her eyes, knowing that she no longer had a home to return to. Her softness in her eyes vanished when he turned and launched himself towards her. The lack of gravity sent her moving backwards until she hit the wall behind her, still floating above the ground. Her eyes narrowed as she tried to gauge what he wanted from his actions, trying to pull her arms away from him.

"Oh you're welcome, I consider it only due payment for finding my Journey. Now however you are stuck with the bill of finding a place to go. One would see that I'm the only one able to take you from the edge of space, and you certainly need to go to somewhere. Otherwise you wouldn't have been seeking on Amaterasu. So now it appears that since we're even you will have to be in my debt, to get anywhere you want to go. and that is the question now."

The roguish grin evident on his face brought a scowl from hers. She braced herself against the back wall, and yanked her arms loose before pushing him away. Then the gravity of the ship kicked in, making her drop to the floor with a graceless thump. In comparison to the weightlessness she had moments ago, her body felt several times heavier as she struggled to stand and adjust. She took the time to get herself together as her mind ticked through the possibilities of what she should answer...

"At this point... I don't have a destination. I... have a problem that I don't quite know how to handle or explain... I was hoping to find some answers... and possibly help in the temples of Amaterasu... but as you can see that obviously didn't work."

She spoke slowly and deliberately, phrasing her vague words to not reveal what she was able to learn at the temples about the Hana-hoshi. Remembering the response of the priest, she didn't want to be tossed out of the ship when she had no idea where they were at.

"For now, I suppose any planet with a major city would be a sufficient place to leave me. As for payment, I have credits. We can negotiate a price and when we land I can withdraw the credits as thanks for transportation."

She leveled her eyes to meet his blue ones. This was his home, and she figured that he probably wanted the place to himself. It was for the best to split... wasn't it?

 

[chronicle_tenko]

She was hiding something. He didn't know what but she was frightened about it, even more than being dumped into deep space without a suit. Her words to him seemed cautious to not trip that as if she was navigating a minefield of her own words. How intriguing. And to leave her how could he, she was far too interesting.

There was a lurch, there always was and his stomach moved attempting to toss it's contents to the floor, he hardly registered the motion simply swallowing once, his stomach empty anyway. Once he calmed he spoke looking directly at her, "Leave you, I think not, you'll stay till I feel satisfied that you owe me nothing. And what use are credits to a drifter like myself, I have my ship it needs no fuel I repair it myself and have little need for luxuries more than a hat. Are you to buy me a new chapeau? a more fashionable piece of headwear?" Merrick paused in his estimation of the woman. "I think I will keep you here with me for now, at least until we figure out what has you so scared you'd run into an Amaterasu Jail." His eyes closed as he thought again about the prison he'd been in for so long.

"And perhaps we can still learn more about that, in Amaterasu, I think we should speak with your accuser priest again, in a less official capacity of course. And persuade him to tell us the truth, since I'm very good at spotting when people lie to me." His grin followed her as he walked away to the command chair. "Or do you have a better place to start looking for your heart's desire?"

Waves of hatred poured out from empty cold space, infusing the ship, If Merrick noticed he remained still and silent as the grave, letting nothing show as waves of coulour to obscene, and too dark to exist battered through the walls of 'The Journey.

"I wait for my heart, each beat counting till you give in to me, till it consumes you, My Heart Beats young girl, and it is older than time, older than you, and it calls to me. I will have you, all of you, every piece."

The walls shrank and folded out almost impossibly far, colour blurred first to absence then to a screaming white as it mottled together into one solid line, space itself being torn asunder, Merrick walked through and they were in Orbit of Amaterasu, once more. Far from any of the jump gates.

Merrick spoke, his words cutting through the remaining echo of the Daemon. "I could still move us to another location if you had pone, but the beginning is always the best place to start I find."

 

[VampiricTouch]

Her grip on the side of the ship's walls tightened to show the whites of her knuckles as the lurch rippled through her body. She nearly turned green and upended her stomach at the feeling. She slowly sank to the floor, knowing that it was a miraculous feat that the contents of her breakfast remained inside of her.

Struggling to keep the nausea down, she leveled a glare at Merrick for brushing aside the use of credits. Her brows furrowed at the mention of her own fear... and then the priest. Was it that obvious that she was scared witless by what she didn't understand?

She hoisted herself to her feet, brushing aside her nausea valiantly as she answered, "You don't need credits? Even as a drifter, you need food... aren't there other amenities you'd need... and what's in it for you that you're so keen on help - "

Her words were cut short as the waves of darkness the rolled through her. It was a hatred smeared so black that her body trembled in it's presence. Her eyes glazed over as she was forced to focus on the hatred and words... words that promised destruction... A cold sweat formed over her as the words resonated in her mind, blurring with the traveling of the ship as her body lurched. Shaking as she gathered herself together, she tried to keep from retching, tried to keep the bile down as the fear rolled off of her in waves.

"I could still move us to another location if you had one, but the beginning is always the best place to start I find."

She forced herself to return to the present, forced her eyes to focus and forced her fear down. His voice gratefully broke the resounding threat in her mind and she simply nodded, recognizing that he was right and too preoccupied to question why he knew Amaterasu was her beginning... the beginning of her end.

~~**~~​

She pulled up the hood of the novitiate robe that completed her guise and slipped into the temple. She saw Merrick walk in soon after. Since his face wasn't on the radar, the priests let him pass as one who was paying his respects to the gods. He fell into step behind her as she weaved through the hallways of the temple. She bypassed the pious on their knees praying to the relics on the alter and smoothly made it into the library. A quick search yielded the book she had been shown and she tucked it away.

She spotted the priest after wandering the halls for a few moments longer. She made her way towards the priest after checking that the hallway was temporarily clear of people. She moved rapidly, her hand a blur as it came in sharp contact with the back of the priest's head. He crumpled into Merrick's waiting arms.