Hanako Herupa

IC: (Kino Iho) Was this what Angelus wanted to talk to me about? When I had dropped another mess upon his burdened lap in the form of my past. I had jumped the gun, assuming he was going to grill me about my relationship with Pae. Now he was just being burdened with more, and I was wondering if I should ever be around anymore. As the two of them talked to each other, I quietly sipped my Bula Berry Juice. I was stuck not sure whether I was supposed to leave or stay.

IC: :Thank you Soraya.: While I could respect LoJak's concern for his people, I'd rather not reveal that our problem had become their problem with the Piraka. Knowing that we had them in custody back on Kentoku, and they escaped. That would reflect poorly on the Dasaka Empire. I wonder how the people of this island would react, realizing it was these foreign Dasaka, who in a way had brought the Piraka to their land. I do not even need to stress that point further. "Ah yes, Toa LoJak, I am very interested in your peoples' beliefs and the views on spirituality your people have," I smiled, still very thankful for Soraya change in the direction of the conversation. IC: (Vera) "I do hope Jin arrives some time soon. Otherwise I will have to send you two to find her." Vera spoke, sipping her drink. The gears were still turning in her head, her mind told her the immediate problem was that of Ko-Koro. There was the other mission, the investigation she had sent them on, and so far it hadn't turned up as much as she hoped. Still it was better than nothing, and the information she had been given by Pae and Nika, under scrutiny could yield new clues. As much as she could direct Pae and Nika back to Ko-Koro, she knew it would a fruitless endeavor. That was the problem with chasing these...ghosts...these shadows. Always hiding behind proxies, one meaningless person, who seemed to insignificant before killing Matoro, was now anything but. The why of it, that's what she wanted to know. What she needed to know.

IC: (Hanako) I closed my notebook and put it back away into the satchel I had slung over my shoulder and looked directly at LoJak. Soraya wasn't helping with her commentary, but it wasn't like I disagreed with her. It was something I felt powerless to do. I had once tried with Yumiwa, but she shrugged it off. It was clear a one time talk with her wouldn't be enough. "Our expedition has traveled here to learn more of your island and its people. Just as the same with us, we have so much we can learn from each other," I said. I withheld the information regarding the Piraka. While I understand his interest in keeping his people and island safe, the suspicion didn't make me feel any better. Thing was, that kind of information was something Commodore Ayiwah probably didn't want me spreading around, and honestly it hardly seemed like the best idea. I needed another talk with Hahli, to see if she'd let us aid them in retaking Ko-Koro from the Piraka and their allies. Anyways I had told him our primary mission. Which was simply making allies, we had no reason to do anything else. I would pay attention to their skills and powers like Commodore Ayiwah asked the crew. Still the specificity of that made me nervous. I was more intrigued in how their powers were tied to the elements, such a power so exciting, but they must have thought the same from what they've seen of our powers. IC: (Vera) Vera poured a small bit of scotch, (her father's favorite) into her glass, neat, no ice, before returning to her seat, sipping it and setting on the table beside her. "Hmm, I figured that despite her absence the third of your team would be joining us soon. I suppose I should catch you two up on other current events. A new people have made landfall, they're called Dasaka, in some sort of underwater boat it seems. It has caused quite a commotion in the Koro, and on the rest of island I'm sure. Considering you are down an agent, I may just have join you myself."

IC: (Sakuya Harada) I made it my job handling Hydra soldiers that I could reach, and keeping them away from Dallas and the others helping with the evacuations. I drew their attention away, slicing away at the Hydra soldiers. I made sure to keep relatively close though to my fellow X-Men, rather that get myself lost in the fight. I made my way back to Dallas and the others when The Red Skull fell. Finally for once, I felt like was doing what I was supposed to, helping others, working alongside others. Maybe it wasn't a big contribution, but I had helped nevertheless, wished I could have done more.

IC: (Hanako) "Well we have Three Virtues: Order, Power and Honor." I said, looking up. To be honest, we didn't we had general rules of etiquette to follow, but did we have moral law on par with that. It did not seem so, given that we valued order, given how many wars we had suffered, peace was something we'd cherish. Self-improvement and the gathering of power generally wasn't frowned upon, unless it was taken at great cost to Order and Honor. Honor meant a lot in our society, but it was more about how it reflected on our clans. So no, we didn't have a code like that.

IC: (Hanako) "What is the Toa Code? This is the first I've heard mention of it." I asked. Was it a code of honor, I was assuming so. The Three Virtues though interested me more, H we had our own three pillars upon which our current society was based. Order, Power, and Honor. An interesting coincidence, considering they had told us previously of Mata Nui and Makuta, which in some ways shared similarities with our female goddesses. I pulled out my journal to notes of these similarities and differences. Best to start taking notes to keep track of all this information.

IC: (Hanako) "That is a very nice gesture. I believe we will take you up on that offer, Toa LoJak," I replied with a smile and a slight bow. Although it would have been nicer to explore the village as just the three of us, it didn't seem right to snub the locals. Especially given how persistent this Toa LoJak had been. "What is it you wish to speak with me about?" I asked. Still while I didn't believe he was a threat, I knew Arisaka was already on guard. Considering what had happened earlier, it was understandable to be wary now, given the fact we had two situations so far where we were attacked. One local that Leah had dealt with, and the recent situation with a crazed local. So I would keep myself alert and ready as well.

IC: (Kino) I chewed slowly on my own bacon burger. I had kinda put a lot on Angelus' platter. So I understood if he still needed a time to recover. Though now I was regretting blurting it all out. I ###### up. I lied, but what was I suppose to do, let everyone know I had ####### up a lot of peoples' lives. Tell them I was sorry, truly for all the mistakes I made that had cost people their's. Yeah, that clean up things, right? I didn't know if I should speak, if Angel wanted to talk, considering how much food he bought, didn't seem likely. Not right now, I had unfairly put a lot on his shoulders, and now we were waiting for Jolek to return. I sipped my Bula Berry juice, trying to figure out what would be the right thing to say now, and the truth was, nothing seemed right.

IC: (Hanako) "Right, a joke. Hehheee." I smiled it off. "Asa alerted me to that apparently one of the island's inhabitants is waiting for us. Arisaka is likely already outside waiting for us. Let's go exploring then." I made sure I had my satchel with me, putting in a journal and a pencil to write with, I some of our coins, but being that this was a different economy then there's we'd have to find a way of exchange before any serious trade could take place. I would have to write in it later, for now Soraya, Arisaka and I would tour the village. Making sure everything was ready. I went outside, and found Arisaka, standing with a Toa. I remember him from before, but unfortunately in all the excitement of coming here, I had forgotten his name. "Hello Arisaka, I apologize for the wait," I said with a soft smile, before turning to male Toa from before. "I also apologize to you for the wait, I did not mean to tarry so long with you waiting on me. I must also ask forgiveness, as it seems your name is eluding me at the moment."

IC: (Valria) When I saw Utu standing there, broken, I saw a reflection, I saw myself when I was at the end of my rope, back on the docks of Xa-Koro, contemplating drowning myself, feeling that I was the source of woe to those around me. That it would be better to have snuffed that out, than prolong the pain any longer. I can't pretend our pains are equal, I can't pretend that I know exactly what it felts like to be him. Praggos laid out the entire problem, someone finally had mustered up the courage to say it. Maybe that's why it stung so much, hearing those words. You realize you weren't helping, in fact you were probably making it worse. I could see the frustration in Agni, everything so far seemed like this exercise in futility, in not being able to do one thing right it seemed. That's what it seemed like, I suppose I should have went after Agni, comforted him, convinced him he was going about this the wrong way. However I need to say something, I mean I know I'm not much for this group. I've been passive, and for the most part useless, I avoid these situations it seems, and that's a problem. When I saw Utu, I saw someone that felt alone as I did, for the longest time, and still do sometimes. The truth is pain, never truly goes away, it lingers, it numbs, you become used to it, and eventually it was like it was never there. For Utu though it must have felt like we were cutting his flesh open again and again, reopening those scars. Twisting our fingers in, and it wasn't for his sake, we all thought that maybe, at one time, but now. We wanted to save him for our sake, for the island's sake, but not for his sake. I was about to speak, about to let him know he wasn't alone. He walked away. I looked at Agni fuming a bit of a distance away from us. There was Utu, stalking off to his home. I did not speak to the others, I did not call to Agni. I joined Utu and Praggos, if this was Utu's final trip, it didn't seem right to have him do it alone. I didn't speak, not now, enough had already been said.

IC: (Hanako) :Thank you Arisaka, I'll see you by the exit: I replied to Arisaka, before walking over to my door and opening up it up. I found myself partly surprised, since last we talked, Soraya was quite grumpy about getting her sleep. "Hello Soraya, do you wish to travel back into the village alongside Arisaka and I?" I asked. She could have been here for some other reason, but I doubted that, so soon after my invitation to travel with me back into the village. Perhaps this would give me the chance to talk with the two of them on better terms, and without insanity and danger plaguing any of us.

IC: (Hanako) Well I was glad that went better than my worst fears. Her comments were less thorny than usual, I don' "Yes, I understand. Thank you for your time. I won't bother you further," I replied, turning and leaving Soraya be. She could have been a lot more biting, a lot more harsh in her tone. Maybe she was too tired for the strength of her usual quips. That and maybe she seemed to be a little sorry herself, but not that she was at fault, really. I mean, barring getting to Yumiwa herself, I guess I would be the next best person to air your frustrations too. Being the friend, and advising said friend meant I had some culpability with regards to Yumiwa's faults. I'm digressing, but it was a bad time to catch Soraya, and so I chided myself inwardly for that breach of social grace, it would not happen again. There was one thing that mortified my very being, Asa's suggestion for natural armor. Not just that, but it was followed up by Ayiwah agreeing with it! I...I don't even know how to put how utterly confused this made me. However it was a command I would refuse to follow. I mean, it's absurd! Just because some of the locals are like that, does not mean an entire ship of the Dasaka people should follow suit! I saw some of the beings in this village wear ornate armor, and clothing! We had different styles yes, and besides while I understand traveling in pairs and such, I did not like the idea of us, hiding ourselves. It spoke of a distrust in the people, and while in this most recent case that was well founded, I would not judge their entire town upon one misstep, let alone a whole island. I'm sorry, I have spent enough time airing my own frustrations. I went to my room, setting out robes that were of plain make and plain color, a tannish colour, not overtly ugly, but not exactly beautiful either. Just average. I had changed clothing, and started to make my way back towards the outside. I posed a question, wincing that I'd probably be annoying a few people, like Soraya. :I'm going to be taking another trip into the village, is there anybody that wishes to and is able to join me?: OOC: Fixed this.

IC: Nika flopped onto the nearest couch, gun tossed casually to the seat next to him, one arm sprawled over the top of the piece of furniture's back. His gaze was as lazy as his movements, but there was a small, sputtering spark which danced in them as fiercely as the fingers of his hand drummed on the couch's arm. The Vortixx had been going for hours without a smoke; it was clear that he was jonesing. Still, his professionalism hardly wavered. "Echelon now in control of the Sanctum," he said in his usual clipped, monotonous voice. "Accompanied by honour guard consisting of at least one Toa, element either iron or magnetism, unknown Kanohi; one Skakdi, sniper, unknown make of rifle as well as Zamor launcher, effects of spheres also unknown; one titan, species unknown, capabilities unknown. Those were the only ones I managed to identify with any clarity. May contain a female Lesterin wielding control of insects and a female Vortixx with possible telekinesis; too chaotic for certainty. Have a cigarette by any chance, employer?" -Void IC: (Vera) Vera made a mental note, remembering each specific detail to write down later. She had good enough memory to remember these details easily, however writing it down would be more for the benefit of seeing all the evidence laid out. Echelon being in control of the Sanctum, his Honor Guard. A diverse and dangerous crew of people this man had assembled. While he wasn't at the top of what Vera was looking into at first, he was now another threat to the peace and prosperity this island was getting used to, an era of peaceful progress, and now the corrupt and the wicked were having their way with Ko-Koro. Vera never understood the appeal of cigarettes, of cigars, of pipes. It seemed out of all the habits Nika could pick up, he'd pick up one that would in reality slowly kill him, and possibly weak his ability in his profession. She could see the way his fingers tapped, that inward frustration expressing itself in those small movements. Vera grabbed a fresh pack of cigarettes for Nika, tapping it and popping it open. Walking over she handed him the cigarette and the pack. "Have the information on Echelon's Honor Guard been divulged to any of the Guards in any of the Koro?" Vera questioned. If not she'd make a tip to Hahli, though she may not be allowed to be anonymous in its delivery, if it was to be taken seriously. IC: (Hanako) With all the excitement (if you could call it that) that had happened on our trip to Mata Nui, and our trip into the village I had gotten around to something that had been on my mind. Early in our trip I had an outburst, partly fueled by own frustrations on Soraya. She didn't really deserve the attitude I had given to her. So I made my way to where Soraya was. I came up to the Dashi, finding her upon her bunk, I had brought some food and water along with me, hearing that she had helped greatly in the rescue, cemented in my mind that while she had a firebrand personality, Soraya was a good person. I liked her, but someone so outspoken usually did not earn friends around the Menti, unless they were amused by such behavior. Grievances she had aired before were reasonable enough, well to me. I had problems in our society, things that I had spoke with Yumi about or had wished to speak about. She had let me down twice recently by her callousness, it hurt realizing how aloof my friend was, and how I may have been reasonable for enabling such behavior. "I'm sorry if I've disturbed your rest. I came here to apologize for my outburst that had happened some time ago. I meant to give you this apology sooner, and not keep you waiting. You were not the reason I was like that, and it was unfair to direct it towards you. I'm sorry for that outburst. I brought you some water and fruit," I said, setting them aside for her convenience. I gave a small smile, perhaps it was time to see I could return to the village, my talk with their leader wasn't complete yet.

IC: (Vera Polzin) I lead them towards the study where we had our discussion before, I took a seat by the small table off to the side. Looking to Pae and then to Nika. I spoke. "You two may take a seat if you like. I heard what happened in Ko-Koro, awfully tragic that they'd lose a leader, and are now ruled by cultists and brigands. Tell me everything you have learned thus far, about the situation in Ko-Wahi and the investigation I sent you there for," I spoke flatly. I had only whispers, small bits of information to initially work with. I needed something more substantial, something my gut told me, but my brain couldn't quite put together. Ultimately that was all this was, a bunch of loose connections.

IC: (Hanako) "I want to apologize for Commodore Ayiwah suggested. Order is a virtue she hold close to her heart, she is a good women despite what she suggested. I also want to thank you for your patience and for your help so far," I said, bowing in both apology and thanks for everything she had done to help us so far. Someone had to keep us from making enemies with the people of this island, whether deliberate or accidental, I would not let this expedition be a bust. A voice cut through my mind, it was Ayiwah ordering everyone back to the submarine. "Well Toa Leah, I must take my leave. I wish to speak with you again at some later time." I said, with a smile and another slight bow before heading back towards the direction of the submarine. I wondered if life upon on this was always as disorderly as it seemed in this village. So many people willing to cause all sorts of problems in daylight, including kidnapping visitors! I hoped by this command, it meant Ayiwah and the others had the situation under control. A pang of guilt stabbed at the heart of me though, and spread through the rest of me, I couldn't shake it. I should have been there, alongside the others, alongside Ayiwah and I had tarried too long, people could be injured or worse because of such hesitation. Maybe I wasn't the right choice, maybe I was too much of a rookie, nevertheless I stowed such feelings, and if I faced any remonstrance, I would take it, and let it be a reminder for my mistake. IC: (Vera Polzin) I had already scanned the door to see who was standing behind it, A Vortixx and a Toa. Being that there was only one Toa in the group, I knew it was Pae. The other was Nika, with his rifle, and general posture, it was an easy tell. So that meant Jin was off somewhere else or she was dead. I wanted to know the reason if either situation proved true. She was my employee after all, they all were. While my business with them was strictly off the books, it was still business and I had employed them on this mission. I was aware of the situation in Ko-Wahi, though I did not predict that another organization supporting Makuta would rise so soon again. Given how easily it seemed to be toppled, someone was funding them, arming them, making them into a real threat and that was troubling thought. I opened the door, regarding Nika and Pae. "Hello gentlemen, please come in. We'll speak in the study," I said.

OOC: This jam was brought to you by Hanako Herupa and The Tomorrow Girl. Enjoy! IC: (Hari) I thought back on the things Roth had told me about Tykoh, about the thieves, about my family. My focus was split between buying goods from my trip to Ko-Wahi. Where I had to find the last location, the only lead I had left, but thankfully a lot more solid now. I paid for armor, and bits of cloth and leather to make sure it to keep me warm. As well as food and drink, to survive a trip through the icy wastes. Ko-Wahi was a dangerous place to be, especially now that Ko-Koro had fallen, but it wouldn't deter me, nothing would bring me off this path. No more wondering, I wanted the truth of it all. "Well let's start from the beginning, how you do know Tykoh?" I asked. The weapon, the simplicity of his house, his generally skeptical attitude of strangers. Signs of battle, he looked almost war weary, exhausted from a previous life. No doubt was in my mind about him being a mercenary, at least maybe he used to be. "I worked with him, we used to do /jobs/ together. He was a bit of a loner, but I suppose he trusted me enough. Really only brought me in when a team was required, not that I can blame him, it's always good to have someone watching your back when in a group with five decidedly unsavory fellows," Roth explained, the wooden chair groaning in protest as he leaned back slightly, "But we go way back." "Alright, so you know him rather well. There is a particular thing I need to ask about. Quite a few years back he might have had a job involving two people, with the last names Korari. Do you know about that?" Hari asked, getting closer to why she was actually here talking with Roth. Roth tensed for a moment at the mention of the name, his brow furrowing and his gaze focusing. He brought his chair forward and the front legs clacked against the floor. "Yes, I know about that particular job, that was... quite some time ago, what would your employer want to know abo-" Roth stopped, and shrugged. "Nevermind, I don't need to know, confidentiality and all. And I've spent enough time getting myself out of my past's troubles anyway, no sense in causing more." "And that job isn't quite something you'd forget, I sure haven't. If I remember correctly, Tykoh was hired by the guard, and he recruited me. Should have seen the bounty they were offering for the two of them, I only got a cut of that, but I was living steady for a while on it," Roth chuckled to himself, before noticing the expression on 'Arina's' face. He raised an eyebrow, and leaned forward in the way an old turaga telling stories to frighten little matoran might, "I take it you haven't heard of the Koraris. No, I wouldn't think so." "Not the truth, anyway. They were a myth at first, even we didn't know the identities of who we were after, and we had every scrap of information the Guard had on them." Her parents were criminals? She didn't even know how to react. The files she found said nothing of her parents being the perpetrators of the crime. Perhaps it was a mistake, perhaps they were framed. Outwardly she kept the same inquisitive look on her face, but it was a challenge to do so. "Alright, mind telling me what you know about the Korari's and the bounty itself? Like what got the bounty on them, how did it all go down?" Hari asked. She wasn't sure how she was going to deal with the information she just got, but she needed to know it all. Needed to grasp the full picture. "Alright," Roth agreed, and folded his arms together before beginning. "Let's start with the start then: with a string of crimes. Minor, petty ones, a few widgets, a piece of armor, some small sculpture. Nothing to really warrant any sort of real investigation. Sure some people were pretty annoyed, but the Guard had nothing at all on the cases. Some loose connections from less than reputable sources, criminals liked to blame their buddies for everything though. They had no leads at all, but if you ask me, I think that's what got them started. They liked what they could do, enough to keep going while they were ahead. Slowly, the crimes started to get more complicated, more expensive. Rumors started popping up, anything ranging from thieving lost souls to an organized crime ring. Eventually, the Koraris came out," Roth laughed, a harsh, worn laugh, "But no one knew who they were then. They called themselves Kaia and Tahae, and no the irony wasn't lost on anyone." "You have to understand Arina, these people were really good at what they did, freakishly so. No one ever saw them, no one knew what they looked like. They'd slip in and out without detection, gave a few De-toa a run for their money. Not only were they top notch thieves, hut they were quite the actors too. They lived a double life, by day upstanding Po-Koro citizens, and one of the island's most wanted criminals by night. Funny no one thought to ask where their wealth came from." "And I mean upstanding, they did all the 'giving back to the community' and 'supporting the arts', which certainly made it all that more sick. Karz, they even stole from themselves from time to time, but what takes the cake was when they offered to fund the search for themselves." Roth paused, and glanced at the young mercenary, "You okay Arina, you look like you're gonna be sick." I felt dizzy, and though I was sitting down, felt as though I was going to fall over. I remembered when I was little, all the stuff stolen from our house, I remember, the remarkable money our family lucked into. Mother told me that Father had secured more than a couple of deals, and that's why we became so affluent. I remember all the times I was left with people they could trust, so Mom and Dad could have their nights out on the town. When they were around though, they were good parents, great parents. They asked me all about my days in school. About whether I made any new friends, but now It was starting to seem like everything was a lie. Maybe these were other Korari, perhaps I was chasing the wrong lead. I wanted to believe that. There was no other Korari in Po-Koro though. That gave more weight to these being them. I couldn't believe they would do that. I didn't want to believe they would. "Do you know their first names? I know them, but I'd like confirmation, to see if these truly match up." I had steeled my face and waved off his concern. "I'm fine, just a headache passing." "I never learned their actual names," Roth admitted, his armor creaking as he shrugged, "Never did seem important at the time, it was just another job for me. Tykoh probably knew them, he had a tendency to overanalyze, but that's what made him one of the best, I suppose." "Heck, he was already halfway through with the job when he brought me in." "Well can you tell me more about Tykoh, the specifics of your job together, like how you became a part of it?" I asked, guess I'd have to see if Tykoh would be able to confirm it beyond a shadow of a doubt, but it still ate at me, I needed to bury those feelings at the moment though. "Like I said before, Tykoh was hired by the guard. The Guard had been searching for the Koraris for some time, and by now they two of them had become fully steeped in their life of crime. They were good, and the Guard couldn't even get a description from witnesses, mainly because there normally weren't any witnesses at all, and so they posted a bounty, and a big one at that," Roth explained, "Tykoh... well... life as a mercenary isn't nearly as fun and adventurous as the novels make it out to be, and it's really hard to pass up that kind of money. So he took the job, 'For the money', he told me, and I suppose it was the truth. At first, anyway." "If you ask me, though, it became a personal matter as he got into it, and he would have probably gone through with it even if the Guard wasn't offering to give him enough to live off of for a long time." "So what happened to Tykoh then, where did he go? How did you manage to finally stop them?" I prodded further. "Finally stop them? That took a while. They had lead Tykoh on quite the chase around the island, dragging him this way and that on a whim. They were toying with him, not personally, no, but it certainly looked like they were enjoying the game of cat and mouse they were playing," The Lesterin shook his head, "By the time he'd gotten me on for some more muscle, he had become obsessed with catching them. He was a young guy, and at that point his reputation was on the line. I suppose you'd know, those things matter when you're that age. Making a name for yourself and all. It does help get the jobs, and jobs mean money. This one was definitely high risk and high reward, on one hand they were the Koraris, one of the most infamous pair of thieves out there, and on the other you had some kid trying to take them down where the entire Guard couldn't." "You have to understand what kind of person he was. Single-minded, I suppose is the word. He fixated on the job, it was his entire world, and I swear I had to force him to stop and take a break at gunpoint more than once. Good thing I was there, too. Things were starting to get serious, really serious. The Koraris would leave a trail, faint, barely there, and then leave a few thugs at the end of it. We certainly got our behinds handed to us more than once by some handsomely paid unsavory folk." "He contacted me through a mutual friend, and told me to meet him in Ta-Koro. The cut was good, and I couldn't say no. He had come from Ko, having followed the trail there from Po-Koro initially. Even while they had a price on their heads Kaia and Tahae were still at it, and we went to investigate some robberies in the village. They normally stuck to just Po-Koro, but at this point he was almost desperate for a solid lead. What we found were a bunch of sword-toting thugs." I had finally reached my destination, the tunnel to Ko-Wahi had finally reached its end. While in the center of Onu-Wahi I stood out dressed in white armor meant to insulate, in a few steps I would be in Ko-Wahi and this armor would serve as protection from its harsh elements, as well as making nearly difficult to spot as I trudged my way through the snow and ice. I had a location, a place in mind Tu-Koro, the last known location of Tykoh. I still ran over the last few things Roth had told me before I headed out, I would drag this into the light. I needed to know how this truly all ended, and what became of the man who killed my parents. OOC: Hari to Ko-Wahi

IC: (Kino) "...." "...." "What?" I asked. He spoke gibberish, but in that hug, with his arms around me, with as much love as one could show in a hug, he had said more than any words could have. It was the kind of hug that said you didn't care what the person did before; you cared about the now. It was the kind of hug that I felt safe in, that I didn't want to leave. My tears start to dry up, and I rested my head against Angelus' shoulder. "You're the best thing that has happened to me, Angelus." I hugged him back as tightly as I could, as loving as I could, so he would know how much I appreciated him for everything he was and had done for me. It felt both awful and good getting that off my chest, but I was glad I had finally said. It felt rather good, not lying anymore.

IC: (Sakuya) The HYDRA goon that had attacked me would be found immediately regretting his situation. I moved away from Dallas to make sure the bullets wouldn't be draw his way or anyone else's. The goon fired, and for a second it would have seemed as though I was going to be hit. That was just an after-image though, and the bullets collided with brick and concrete. He moved again to attack, drawing a bead, but he was still to slow for me. With a quick bursts of speed I moved faster than the average eye could follow, faster than his eye could follow. I drew my blade and activated my second power, slicing down on the goon's gun, cutting it clear in half. "What...you mutie freak!" The soldier growled, stumbling back. What came next was a series of strikes, pummeling him with the hilt, knocking the wind out of the soldier, and bludgeoning him into unconsciousness. My eyes zeroed upon her next target, rejoining Dallas as the man felt to the grow. Their blood wasn't worthy to stain my blade, I'd kill if I had to, but only then. IC: (Asa Thurman, Before Hydra attack) I had made my way onto the roof, exhausted and pretty much already done with the day before it even started. Coffee only offered a modicum of energy for my thoroughly exhausted mind. I brought everything I thought I needed, made sure it was packed, double-checked because I was pretty tired. I bit my tongue just so I wouldn't come with some ###### remark. Instead munching on the cookies I had baked the night before while I was in the grips of insomnia. I just wanted to sleep, wanted to lie my head against something and nod off.

IC: (Kino) I waited for Jolek and Korzaa to leave before I spoke. I was trying to avoid this, part of me wanted to rage at Pae, that the moment he came back into my life, this new me was the best thing that ever happened to me. That wasn't fair though, I could never blame Pae for anything. Whatever he did, he did because he believed in me. He was my best friend, and he had watched out for me for so long, heck it even seemed like it now, he brought Korzaa, rescued her from Ko-Koro to help the island. That night out with Angelus, I had no idea they would attack, I had no idea, that I would be the problem in Angelus' way, and even though I tried my best, I still seemed to caused as much trouble as I would have if I was the enemy, maybe I still was. "I don't know really where to start, so how about the beginning. That's as best of a place as any, I guess," I sighed, he didn't look at me, I'd understand lies I told, people I tortured and killed. Groups I had helped to topple, and that blood, those sins were on my hands just as any other. For that matter any blood on Pae's hands with the Followers, I shared in that blood, in those crimes. "My name is Kino Iho, and I was born in Xa-Koro. My father was Taric Iho, and my mother was Melria. I had a big brother named Valin. We were a good family, well initially, you see, there was something wrong with mother though. She got angry and aggressive with my father, problem was he was bit too much of a nice guy, so in her drunken stupors she'd lash out, and Dad, Dad never fought back. You see he was convinced she was going through a rough period, and he did his best to try and turn her away from the bottle, but she'd relapse, again, and again, and again. Each time worse than the last, one day Dad took Valin and I had with him to work. We came home to see our house burning, my mother had died inside, and when she died, something in Dad died too, so we moved out to the west side of city. Things were rougher there, crime ran rampant as it always did. So father set up a new shop, and while I was sad that I lost Mom, I was more sad how it affected Dad." I paused, I didn't want to bring all of this up. I didn't want to lay these things bare, I'd feel more naked than I ever did with any clothing and armor, and yet keeping this things from Angel, they weren't right. But if he wanted to judge me, he'd get the whole story, not half of it, not just a portion so he or any of you could judge me in a vacuum, I needed to explain why I was who I was. "I went to school, and found a young Toa of Iron one day, about the same age as me. He was all alone, an orphan. We went to this little school, it wasn't much, wasn't good like these villages, these cities. Not everyone who lived in Xa-Koro wanted to be there, there were good people there. Anyways his name was Pae, and we became friends. Each day we'd join and do all sorts of things together. He would come to our house, and Dad being the good guy he was, invited Pae to stay. Pae though, could never stay. But he'd always find me or I'd find him. We got older, and I got the bright idea to strike out against all the criminals, to be true Toa, to be like the Mata, like the ones I heard about here on the mainland. Pae joined me and we started doing things, helping people we kept our faces hidden, so they couldn't find us or the ones we loved. Except it wasn't foolproof." I didn't want to go back here, bodies in pools of blood flashing in my mind like after-images of the sun burned into your cornea from staring too long, and I remember staring too long for far longer than any young girl should have. "After one seemingly successful theft, I came home to see my father and brother lying in pool of their own blood. They were stabbed and beaten, so many cuts, so much blood, so much bruising. I could barely recognize them. And-and-and we had to leave, I ran way into the woods, I didn't want Pae's blood to be on my hands, even now when I look I still red on these hands of mine. I hated Mata Nui, how could he make a work in where people were so ####### up? Why would he let some stupid girl, put her family in harm's way like that. I was a stupid girl, I still am it seems." I would have preferred to have been dragged through glass than talk about this, I would have rather burned to death, screeching like an animal then stand here on trial in front of Angelus, feeling like I betrayed him. Feeling like I was close to that edge, where I'd lose it all, again. I wiped away the wet spots on my face and pushed to get through this. "So I ran away, I barely survived, one day where I was on my last legs, I found something, I found Makuta. I found my resolve, Makuta symbolized power, and to me that's what I wanted, what I needed, with each passing day, then week, then month, then year I got stronger. I came back to Xa-Koro and killed the criminals, the gangs responsible for my family's death and so many others. I made an example of them, Makuta gave me what Mata Nui never did, license to go as far as I wanted, as far as I felt I needed to. I found Pae and we joined up with the Followers of Makuta. We struck a blow against the ILF, we hurt people, people that didn't deserve it. I thought I could do what for myself what Mata Nui never did for me and the others, but it turned out I was just as stupid when I was younger, when Makuta brought Rahkshi to bear on the villages I could tell he wasn't taking prisoners, that he would destroy families, kill children on a whim, him and the others all consumed by a lust of power. So I quit, I fought and helped as best as I could, I became a mercenary, looked at the ruble of the Islets of what used to be my home. Pae looks like he left that life behind him, which is good, it's my fault he was there in the first place. I shouldn't have left him with them, it's my fault. He's a good person, I'd die for him, you'd have to hurt me, before you did anything to him." "I came here, I joined the Guard, became a detective, and felt like a good person for once in my life, fell in love with this city, fell in love with you. I can't go back to who I was before, I don't want people to see me as I was. I don't want you to hate, I don't want any of you too, but I think you do. And I probably deserve it for not telling you, but I was afraid, afraid of what you'd think of me. That you'd never forgive me. I don't want you to hate me Angelus."

IC: (Hanako) I was absolutely mortified by Ayiwah's suggestion. Burying the village? This wasn't our island, our Archipelago. That and I never quite liked the belief that we had to maintain Order, I knew it was one of our tenets, but at the cost of lives it seemed so absurd. Like the Saihoko Inokio cut down in the streets back home. Yes, I heard about it, news like that got around, and it never sat well with me, made me sick to my stomach. Problem was if you were working inside the system, trying to figure out to help people, things came slowly. Anyways I responded quickly after Ayiwah said her piece and then left to help Sinshi, Dakte, and the others. "I must apologize for Ayiwah's suggestion, she is a commander first, a soldier. While I'm sure she meant to provide you with an option, I know it is not the best one, and not one I would suggest myself. I wish we could help you, so do let us know if we can lend you aid Akiri Hahli. I understand that under the current circumstances we can't strike against the Piraka and your other enemies without endangering the lives of your people and so you have my promise we will not take any action, unless it has come time for that. I must apologize Akiri Hahli, but while I am not the soldier like most of the others they are still my people. I wish to talk with you later again, under less stressful circumstances." I said, before nodding and bowing in respect. It was respect she deserved, and respect that should be paid to a person in authority. They were strangers to us and we to them, it would do well not to exacerbate any tensions that could arise. I quickly came upon Toa Leah as I left. "Toa Leah, Toa Leah, I wanted to talk with you." I said, walking up to her. I felt the need to apologize to her as well, I couldn't tarry long though, subjects of the Dasaka Empire were in danger, and if they died or were injured it would be on my head, it would be on my conscience for not getting there to help them. I hated being useless, here I was, a handmaiden, an adviser, an aide, and here I was playing the diplomat, the explorer, it was exciting, but it was stressful, and it wasn't the fairytales that Yumiwa and I convinced ourselves that it was. It was a lot of business, a lot of taking care not to offend, or cause friction. For now I need to give another apology and make sure those on this expedition were safe.

IC: (Thok) I wrote down all the drinks for the group. The one matoran seemed absolutely terrified of me, that's adorable. I mean come on I'm hardly the worst of the bunch, I'm pretty sure we all know who that is. Then again he's kinda tied neck and neck with Zaktan. I prepared the drinks, it took less than three minutes, I had some of the ingredients for my cooking prepared, until I got a couple of decent employees. "Here you go, has any of the choices caught you interest yet?" I asked, after these customers were served I had to go talk with Echelon, make sure he remembered who brought the gifts that made his takeover of Ko-Koro possible. I'm sure the that Vezok, Hakann, and Reidak thought they had more claim in this village than I. But I could go do that in my own time, those other three could make their attempts to appeal to him, but we all knew who the real mover and shaker of this group was. IC: (Valria) Ko-Wahi. Last time I was here, I considered drinking myself to death, consumed by despair, by my demons. The people I couldn't save, those shadows at the edges of my vision, men like Telric, how far I had went to get my revenge, I vaguely remember the smell of burning skin, and honestly it's better that way, if I remembered it too vividly, pretty sure I'd go somewhere, where I'd never recover from how much I had sickened myself. Now that we came here, it turned out things didn't get better. Ko-Koro had fallen to Followers of Makuta, to vagabonds, and criminals of all sorts. My mind flitted between violent, vengeful thoughts as well as cold and rational ones. There was only empathy, I had seen the atrocities a Follower of Makuta could commit first hand. So that said, I didn't sleep well. I'd say it was the cold climate, but I think it was something else. There were innocent people inside there, civilians who would become the toys of people who would do with them as they pleased. Thoughts about such things filled my head, it made it hard to focus on resting, so I tossed and turned nearly all night. Probably got like three hours out of the whole night. I could feel the dark circles under my eyes, that stinging burn you got when you know you're pushing it. I yawned, covering my mouth as I got up from my bedroll and blanket. Walking over, I came up beside the others. When we decided to travel to Ko-Wahi, I decided to grab some warmer armor bits, made it a little more comfortable, but Ko-Wahi had that bitterness to it, maybe it was the stinging realization of how little I contributed. "Mornin'" I said, coming up beside Agni, Cael, Merror, and Praggos.

IC: (Kino Iho) "Stay safe Pae, I'll find you after we get this all settled," I said, with a small smile on my lips. There was my best friend, for the longest time my only friend. I looked back to the pebble in my hand when pay left and pocketed it, keeping it safe for later. I felt guilty for not running after him, for feeling like I left him behind, that he was possibly still in that world of shadows, of lies, of mystery. I know what I am, I know the blood on my hands, the crimes I committed, and I was afraid. I didn't want to go back there. I didn't want people to know what I did, what I was, and still possibly was capable of. "Well Angelus you and I will have to talk later, but for now I guess the question is where do we go from here? Go to Jaller?" I asked.

IC: (Sakuya) I grinned back at Dallas and took my seat beside him. We were off and in flight and orders were be issued, people were preparing themselves. There was a tension so thick for a few minutes between the a few of the Ultimates and those from our universe, setting, dimension. I'm nearly enough in the know, to be aware of what exactly happened. Pretty sure none of them would like to talk about what they went through anyways. I fitted the commlink and spoke to Dallas after the tension subsided. "Oh, no worries! It'll be a big celebration after our victory in New York," I said, both anxious and excited. This wasn't a game, training in the Danger Room, or anything else I had been through. This was reality, lives were at stake and HYDRA wasn't going to pull punches. Neither was I. "I'll watch your back if you watch mine." Granted we'd all be covering each other on this mission. I knew my strengths. I fast, really fast between that and my ability to shred through about anything, made me good for both offense and defense. I could also pull attention away from the others if they got into trouble. Nervously I slide my father's last gift a little out of sheath to see the silver glimmer, and my reflection. I was finally going to use this power of mine for someone other than me.

IC: (Kino) I knew that kind of look, the kind of one that meant I had a lot of explaining to do after this. Explaining I didn't want to do, but Angelus deserved that at least. That could wait till later though. "About the Piraka, they're six Skakdi, we previously had one of them imprisoned, the other five came to bust him out of prison. They cut a large swath of destruction through Ta-Koro, we're still recovering from it, including the destruction of the Lavapool Inn, which seems to be the start of their assault. I don't have the specifics on any powers or skills they have. Do you have any reports on them?" I turned to Angel.

IC: (Sakuya Harada) I had been on my way back to my room, feeling happy for Dallas and Ashley while at the same time desperately swallowing this other feeling threatening to well up inside of me. And then I heard it, a talk over the intercom, the PA system and in that moment, those feelings became small. So I ran back to my room, sitting on top of my dresser sat a sword in a sheath, it had been one of my father's sword. A gift to me, really the only thing I had to remember him by. He was a criminal at one point, the kind of which the X-Men, and other superheroes would have to hit again and again. And somewhere along the way, he decided to get better, and he met my mother, but as it turned out, he couldn't be there, and I raged throughout my youth about it. Now I was seventeen years old, I don't think my father probably wanted this life for me. Mother told me as much, told me how much he wanted to be home, but he couldn't, and then it became permanent, so there was no chance of seeing him again. That made me bitter, and so I had difficulty here, I became isolated and then I lashed out, and people gave me a wide berth, but then I realized what that came with. Being alone, having no one to call your friend, even among a school of people like you. And now there was New York, and people were hurting, and some ######## was going to cause more trouble, was going to kill people and ruin more lives. Daughters and sons growing up without their fathers. Families that would be broken, and well if I knew anything, I wasn't going to let that happen if I could help. "Wish me luck Dad," I whispered, and grabbed the sheathed sword. I rushed off towards the hanger. ----------------------- I ran up onto the deck of the Blackbird. Seeing that quite a bit of student and staff were already aboard. But from here on we weren't just students, we weren't just staff, we weren't teenagers, we were X-Men. I managed to recognize two guys, Quinn and Dallas, and some other guy that looked suspiciously similar to him, but I ignored it. "Hey there Dallas, we gonna kick some Nazi ### together?" I smirked.