Hero (open)

[Gabriel Seran]

A sunny dawn in downtown San Fancisco and hardly a cloud in the sky to disrupt this perfect whether they were having. A slight breeze coming from the south as couples ascended the streets of downtown. A relaxed mood hung about the town. Merrily the folks trekked between several stores dropping through their doors resonating each with a bell that signalled once entrance. It was surreal the kind of peace that had befallen the place since his absence. Gabriel had been one at fault for the deterioration of the school's system. But in a way he had also become it's savior. It's martyr.

He knew nothing of that past now. Things had changed and now he marched the streets of the town with a peaceful innocence he'd not known since he was young and back in France. Were things turning out better for him? Was it that simple? He smiled with a wide jaw at the songs of early morning birds in the sky. Peace, if only it was so simple.

A scream echoed from a darkened allyway still hidden from the safe light of the sun. Emerald hues jetted to the spot and dispite his condition he had miraculously made it there with little effort. Bright visionaries searched meticulously at each nook and cranny. Alll there could be was the slight trail of blood on the ally floor. Something had happened and he was the only one there to make a difference again, something needed to be done.

A primal need seethed deep within his body as Gabriel took off at an alarming pace unconcerned for the pain in his limbs the shock of needles working their way through his tissue. A swift lunge and he was at the trail again leading through a door. There was someone who would pay for this sick deed. At the door he slowed peering intently about the corners for signs of life though all he could hear was heavy breathing coming from the depths. His imagination jumped to only childish deeds. The boogeyman hid deep within its realm. Monsters of ages past. The darkness itself was horrifying.


With a deep gasp Gabriel marched in. God knows he'd faced worse.

[ethan]

Earlier...

Ethan very rarely, if ever missed anything happening around him. He had been trained and conditioned from an early age to be aware of every last minute detail in each and every environment he passed through.

Obliviousness and ignorance could be one's own undoing. Practically all his life, Ethan lived with a sort of chronic irritation, an anxiety even, of always being alert and on the look for prying eyes, even when he knew there couldn't be. Well, this time it had paid off. A man had certainly been following him today. For what purpose, Ethan intended to find out.

An older man, probably somewhere in his early to mid thirties had seemed to be everywhere. He wore a nice-looking suit, was clean-shaven and didn't exactly attract attention to himself, just talking on a phone. Ethan almost hadn't noticed the man, had practically chalked it up to mere coincidence when he'd passed him while going into a store at one point. But then Ethan unconciously noticed him a third time on the opposite side of the street; a fourth time getting on the same commutting bus. His suspicions had grown when he felt the man's eyes upon him, turned to meet them, and the other glanced away a little too fast, hanging up his phone a little too abruptly. That was all Ethan needed.

After getting off the bus, Ethan abruptly rounded a corner and ducked into a dark back-alley, finding a place to hide. Sure enough, the man in the suit appeared there as well, this time drawing a gun. He must have been aware that this was a trap.

But, he wasn't quite careful enough. Ethan waited for just the right moment as the man stepped by, right when his gaze was averted the other direction. His patience was rewarded when he struck.

Coming in low next to the man's left side, Ethan seized his arm and re-directed the gun in his hand into his hip, pressing the man's trigger finger. Because the weapon already had a silencer on it and was also being muzzled against his clothes, the gun itself made little to no noise. However, the victim himself cried out in pain from being shot. Ethan quickly put a hand over his mouth to cut off the disturbance, while also hitting him hard in the groin with the butt of the pistol. The man passed out from the sharp pain inflicted on him. Ethan pocketed the weapon.

Ethan dragged him by the arms down the alley quickly, knowing that his new captive was bleeding and leaving a trail, but he couldn't exactly address that at the moment. Kicking the door behind him open, Ethan hauled the unconcious into the dark building, the only source of light emanating from the large windows above.

They were in an empty warehouse of some sort. Looking around, there didn't appear to be any cameras anywhere, and they were far enough due to taking the rear entrance so that chances of being heard were unlikely. After a few minutes of scavenging, Ethan found some roped and used them to gagging the hostage's mouth and tying his arms. He seemed to be coming to, though his groans of pain from being shot in the lower torso were now cut off by the cable. At least for the moment.

Ethan reached through the man's suit-pockets to see what else he could get. He found an extra clip of bullets for the gun and a wallet, but other than that, nothing of any interest. Ethan pocketed the clip as well before going through the wallet. Money, driver's license, family picture... FBI badge. Had he been compromised? How could that be?

Ethan went back to the man, who was now trying to crawl away. He hadn't bothered completely hog-tying the government man down, because he had a bullet in his hip right now; he wasn't going anywhere.

Ethan grabbed the man's shoulder and threw him hard flat onto his back, removing the gag. "Hello," Ethan said coldly. "Why were you sent to follow me?"

The man appeared to be struggling between being defiant and blocking out the pain coming from his leg. "I...I...I don't know what you're talking about... go fuck yourself, kid."

Ethan smiling cruelly, Ethan placed his hand over the man's mouth; with the other hand, he slammed his fist hard into the man's gun-wound. The man wriggled around pathetically like a worm, trying to scream but muffled by the gloved hand over his mouth.

"If you want, I can shoot your other leg. Or I can gouge out your eyes. I can do a number of things to you. Don't underestimate me. Talk."

The man only clenched his eyes shut and shook his head manically. Ethan pulled the gag back over the man's mouth and then promptly shot him in the kneecap. The only noise was a low whistle echoing throughout the dirty, grungy building.More thrashing and struggling about in delirious pain on the floor; Ethan watched blandly on, letting the man take in all the pain until he no doubt lost feeling in his legs. Then he spoke again.

"This is a waste of my time and yours. You'll tell me what I want to know eventually. Trying to act invincible will get you nothing." Ethan looked down at him, those awful eyes looking into the other's, the man breathing heavily and horribly under the gag.

He was about to talk again when Ethan heard the door behind him creaking open. Cursing under his breath, Ethan thrust the gun into his jacket pocket and took refuge within the shadows of some crates nearby. Someone had come in here. Of course, they would have noticed the trail of blood and been alerted that something was wrong. Ethan would have to get the drop on the intruder and silence them; for all he knew, it could be another government lackey.

[Gabriel Seran]

He asceneded the darkness not bothering to stay in the doorway long. The barrier of light and dark always appeared to be the most dangerous place to be (ooc: foreshadowing). Gabriel moved quickly to the corners without much thought shifing his gaze about the stairwell he'd just entered. Well that was a bit of a relief there was only one way up. One front of attack a bottleneck position. How did he remember these strategies? Once taught it was hard to unlearn almost as if he was designed for it. Strategy and warfare. Bred to become a warrior.

Gabriel took time to clear the base level realizing the trail of blood up to the second story. He had to ascend into the depths. Fear had to be set aside. Courage was the only solution, the training would kick in swiftly as he searched about the corners resourcefully. Not a noise but the heavy breathing of the injured party. Dark would be his ally as much as his enemy. Slow movements if any.

Gabriel pressede open a door that made a squeeking noise he took cover and waited for the assaulting party to take the bait. It was risky, he didn't know his foe or his motives but he'd be damned if he were to die here after surviving for so long.

[ethan]

Ethan moved even deeper into darkness, impossible to see even with his red-and-white jacket attire. He drew the silenced pistol he'd stolen from the hostage, more than prepared to use it on whoever was here.

Escape wasn't an option for him this time. He couldn't leave that man alive, not after he'd seen his face; also, there were still things to be found out from him.

Ethan ran a finger over the scar on his face; it had healed well enough, and wasn't blaringly obvious. But it was there. It reminded him of the last time he'd failed. Ethan hoped it wouldn't be Gabriel again, then stopped that last thought dead in its tracks.

Gabriel was dead, dead and gone. Buried. A ghost. He wasn't coming back. Weakness, frailty wasn't an option for him here.

Whoever this mysterious interloper was, however, they were doing a good job of keeping silent; Ethan could vaguely hear them somewhere in the floor below, but he couldn't tell where. It didn't matter, though. Ethan heard the door to the room he and his hostage were in loudly creaking open.

They would be more than likely distracted by the FBI man on the floor, his hand bound and his mouth gagged. Blood still seeped from the wounds in both his legs, and he appeared to be going into shock again. The newcomer would be distracted by the sight in front of him to remember to regard his surroundings; Ethan figured he needed one good shot to kill the target when they came through. Crouching behind his cover, Ethan leveled his silenced pitol and took aim.

((OOC: If you have a problem with my character having a gun under these certain circumstances, I can edit this post to make it more even But otherwise, I'm sure you'll figure out a way around it))

[Gabriel Seran]

Gabriel sat still. His emerald eyes peered into the room hesitantly noticing the man tied to the chair. Blood was coming out of a large sized gash in his head. The only noise that came from the room itself was the man's labored breathing and a small groan escaping him when he groggily looked about the room without a sense of perception. Gabriel's eyes narrowed cautiously. The man would surely die if he didn't get help immediatly and the only one able to save him would have to be Gabriel. Could he risk to reveal himself? Not if the criminal still wandered about and not while Gabriel was in such a messed up state. He had to have the advantage here.

Gabriel moved from his spot ever so silently as to not make a noise till he was within the frame of the door. He couldn't see the criminal though the other side of the door concealed a good portion of the room. He'd have to jet it without getting caught maybe cause some kind of distraction. His hand crawled against the wall curiously. The building was still in renovation so some of the walls faltered and failed revealing exposed wires and even ply wood. Maybe he could make some sort of distraction.

He thought quickly. "Gotta make some lind of trap..." He thought to himself running the fingers against the wire as a volt struck sending a fire like shot across the room into a wooden table that immediatly caught fire. "Shit!" Gabriel thought quickly turning on his heels while the fire shot forth. Arms extended he reached out for the man in the chair knocking him through a weak wall to safty. Gabriel collapsed however under the weight of a falling mast. His frail features were exaggerated now as the medication began to take its toll. Damnit he wasn't going to be trapped here. He wasn't weak, the man needed to be saved.

[ethan]

Ethan sighted on the target now, the long barrel of the silenced pistol trained on the figure kneeling in the shadows next to the wounded agent. Although his eyes had adjusted to the room's current lighting, Ethan couldn't quite make out his features as the man was covered by the darkness in the building. But that didn't matter. He had the outline of his head. That's all Ethan needed.

"I have you now," Ethan mouthed silently to himelf. Breathing deeply, he took aim, his finger curling around the trigger.

Goodbye, hero...

Without warning, a wire on the wall next to the mysterious figure flared out from an electrical voltage that ran along the wire and created a chain reaction in another part of the room. A wooden table exploded into flames, sending burning debris flying everywhere.

Ethan ducked down behind his cover, blinking his eyes to clear his vision. He was thrown off by the bright lights in the pitch blackness of the room. Had someone else attacked?

No... there wasn't anyone else.

Ethan recognized what had just happened with that wire on the wall. The intruder had put his hand on it, had done something to cause it. That was an ability Gabriel had used on him once before.

Was it him?

Impossible.

Ethan looked up again and saw that his hostage had been pushed through a weakened wall to safety, out of his range. But now a mast had fallen off the rafters up above and down on his new target, knocking him to the floor. He seemed to be struggling to get up.

Ethan leveled the weapon at him and stepped away from his hiding place. He clicked the hammer on the gun to reveal himself, and that he was armed. But, he didn't step away out of the shadows himself. He didn't want his face seen.

Ethan fired a bullet next to the person's head, the shot burying itself a few inches away in the floor.

"Don't move," Ethan said. He'd worry about the government agent later, he wouldn't be able to run very far with his injuries.

"You... step into the light, under the window. I want to see your face."

[Gabriel Seran]

A gunshot went off inches from his head as he rolled to his feet awkwardly. Deep incisions had been wearing into his thigh, burn marks taking their effects upon his features and an old scar became visible. The hidden surgeries didn't conceal his old form any longer besides of course the metal limb which was still sheatherd beneath a false skin.

His emerald eyes glared at the silluetted figure hiding in the dark depths. They tried to focus but found nothing. Even still he wouldn't know them. Everything had been lost with that event that had very much mirrored this one. The fire blazed around him sinisterly though the gun proved a bigger obstacle.

"You will not be tolerated for you insufferable act of indignition!" Gabriel echoed out in his old voice.

Something inside of him bellowed forth angrily as if in self defence. The shell was filled for but a moment as he stepped forward into the light of the flames challenging the figure. String down death and the gun.

[ethan]

That voice... Ethan wouldn't mistake it for any others'.

Sure enough, Gabriel Seran stepped into the light, revealing himself to Ethan Ducard.

It was him.

Ethan's face changed little from this revelation, but the signs of shock were there. His eyes widened slightly; the corners of his mouth parted somewhat. He was sure to not take his aim off of this enemy.

"You...you're alive," Ethan breathed. Anger edged faintly into the corners of his words.

"You should be dead. You deserve to be dead, after what you did. We could have ruled them, Gabriel. You could have."

Ethan stared coldly at him with the quiet coldness of a predator. "But you didn't turn out to be the man I thought you were. I thought you were someone special. But you're nothing but a sentimental fool like the rest."

He felt his index finger quiver, curl a little tighter on the trigger.

"Why did you save her, Gabriel?" he asked softly. "What could she have possibly meant to you that you would have thrown all of it away for nothing?"

Ethan surveyed him in the light. He somehow didn't appear...whole. He lacked the aura of power and confidence that had drawn Ethan to him originally, despite the strong front he carried now. Like he'd been shattered. He may not have been dead, but he was changed. Ethan knew when he smelled weakness.

"Or is this all a part of one of your little sniveling, plotting schemes? Are you trying to jerk me around, even now while I point a gun at your face?"

Ethan wanted him dead. He wanted him to return to the grave.

"Tell me what you're after, what you're planning. Tell me... or your secrets die with you in here."

[Gabriel Seran]

(OOC: Okay this is pretty epic, thank you scotty now I guess the time is now great job and perfect post <3 you right now XD)

Gabriel stood locked with the boy as their eyes met in a sinister stare of death. It's familiar scent tracing in, oddly enough Gabriel could remember it he could remember what it felt like to have death tracing in to have its grip act like a vice around one's throat like a guillotine.

"You should be dead. You deserve to be dead, after what you did. We could have ruled them, Gabriel. You could have."

He was dead, dead to the world, dead to himself Gabriel wasn't the man he'd been but now he hid behind a sniveling weak form of his former self in fact now he stood as the old self the true self. An aura of his old form felt strength now lying deep withing the soul.

"But you didn't turn out to be the man I thought you were. I thought you were someone special. But you're nothing but a sentimental fool like the rest."

Gabriel stood solid ready for death, he welcomed it as he saw the man's grip on the trigger grow more staunch. Eyes relaxed. It was almost over he could feel it now a certain relaxing feeling to the shell, tormenting was now over peace and absolution was now.

"Why did you save her, Gabriel?" he asked softly. "What could she have possibly meant to you that you would have thrown all of it away for nothing?"

It hit him like a brick wall. "Reira!" The child growing within her the one he'd saved. The girl he'd loved, she was closer than a friend to him thats why he'd saved her she was much more than a bargaining tool something he knew he had to hold dear. In his eyes returned the old spirit rising to the surface with a bang. He was himself again but this time he remembered everything every movement every betrayal. He grew so fond of it all and now he had a plan.

A dark grin grew to his face as he looked down the shadows enveloping his face giving the viewer a seeming look of sorrow or even crying.

"Tell me what you're after, what you're planning. Tell me... or your secrets die with you in here."

Gabriel started laughing sinisterly knowing everything and knowing clear well it had come full circle his time was now.

"I've come back to change everything...." He looked up with a fiendish smile the old one that had caused so much chaos.

(ooc: -edit- better evil laugh thee we go!)

[ethan]

Ethan knew in that moment as he stared down Gabriel that he had somehow re-awakened a powerful force in the form of a single man: a once-sleeping dragon that, if given the chance, really would destroy everything.

Thoughts and emotions swirled inside his head as he stood there calmly, almost in tranquility, as he still held the gun aimed at Seran.

He should kill him now, while he held the means in his hand to do so. It would be so easy: one shot, one pull of the trigger and a future enemy would cease to be, forever. He knew that at some point Gabriel would have to die along with the rest. His Grace gave no exception to these mongrels that stood in the way of true order. It would save him so much pain in the future of trying to destroy him. Every fiber in his body demanded Gabriel's death.

And yet... he couldn't bring himself to do it. To him, this Gabriel could unwittingly usher in the Final Cleansing of that school much faster to than Ethan could on his own. Ethan hated to admit such weakness on his own part. But even though he was merely a pawn to a greater being, a puppet, he was a clever one. He couldn't merely throw away an opportunity to usher in the True Change... one that Gabriel might not be speaking or thinking of, but the one Ethan intended to bring about in His Name... one that would ride in on a sea of blood.

As much as he wouldn't admit it to himself, he respected this Gabriel. He would do everything he could to Convert him to the Righteous Cause, to save him from the judgement that was to come.

The gun in Ethan's hand wavered ever so slightly, but he didn't dare drop his guard.

"Tell me of this change."

[Gabriel Seran]

He didn't lower the gun. Gabriel grinned as his features grew dark and sinister. If he didn't make the man drop the weapon with his words Gabriel would have to kill him and blood on his hands was not a new thing. HE chuckled with a sinister laugh a hand coming up over his eye as he made the dark chuckle. There was so much in store he would not be impeded by this fool.

"I will destroy everything and create it a new..." Gabriel said through a tightly clenched smile.

Gabriel's feet moved forward through the flames. They parted before his feet in a dark kind of symbolism as if he were a God. At this distance the bullet would be able to hit him. Gabriel wanted to test his speed so in a way it was just as much of a game to him as everything else. He would be faster than Ethan he would sieze the gun from his hand and strike him down should he not lay down his arms and serve.

Gabriel had several grievances to pay. Matrim, Sara, they'd pay, David, Emily, Ryuu. He'd make the new order consume everything, by force if necessary.

[ethan]

Gabriel emerged through the flames like a demon, somehow untouched by the flames. He appeared dangerous, his features twisted by whatever darkness lay within him. Ethan wouldn't allow himself to be caught off guard.

He stepped further away and into the shadows, firing another shot between Gabriel's feet. "That's close enough," Ethan asserted firmly.

"So...you say again that you wish to destroy....it seems that we are of a like mind. I can help you with this. I am capable of more than you may realize....but last time, you turned weak. And you lost. Do you really have the power you need to destroy your enemies?"

Ethan kept the weapon pointed. If Gabriel seemed to move to attack him, he would fire everything he had at him.If necessary, he would have to find a way to eliminate him if it meant preserving his own survival. He wouldn't allow himself to be interrogated again.

[Gabriel Seran]

Gabriel laughed again. He'd felt stronger than ever, being trapped in that shell of a body had restrained him from his true potential now he was more than before a far stronger menace and anyone standing in his way would suffer. Gabriel flashed an evil grin mocking Ethan slightly, the gun was just a tool in the way it would come to no avail now he was too close even when shot it'd cause impact damage that'd go straight through him. No fear not now.


"Lost your faith in me already? Thats a shame, seems you're forgetting who is the king and who is still the soldier." Gabriel flexed his mandible threatening with a chill to his voice, "If you think you can do it on your own go ahead and shoot me..." Gabriel shot chuckling.

It was a gamble indeed but he was assured that he'd have his way in the end and intimidation was a viable means of getting things done.

[ethan]

His face was unreadable, even without it being shrouded in the darkness, the only light source being the flames growing stronger. Mis mind made the calculations necessary for such an important juncture.

He couldn't do it all on his own. Not yet, at least. But by the time he was stronger, his enemies would be more powerful as well. They were already well established within their own territory. Of course, the day would come when his own people arrived...but that was all in the future. All that mattered was the here and now. With Gabriel, he could merely sit back and watch as his enemies killed each other. Then Ethan would take it upon himself to dispose of the rest. His work be done in glory. Ethan would be heralded in his resourcefulness.

But...Gabriel himself would difficult to contend with once the others were finished. He wasn't the type to be manipulated, Ethan was sure of it. He would have to sit back let this self-proclaimed leader do everything as he pleased. As long as he felt in control, he wouldn't be aware of anything Ethan did as long as he was careful. Everything would work itself out. If worse came to worse...there were always other chances.

This would be his last possible opportunity to have a sure way of killing him for a long time...but he would have to decline for now.

At last, Ethan lowered his weapon down from Gabriel. "You're an interesting man, I'll give you that. Fine. I won't shoot you...this time. And if you need me, you know where to find me."

A flaming piece of wood descended from the ceiling, sending sparks everywhere in between them. The fire was gaining ground through the room. It would soon engulf the entire building. It was time to take leave, as now the sounds of fire trucks approaching could be heard somewhere outside.

And if he wasn't going to put Gabriel down, there was still someone here who needed such a similar treatment.

Ethan turned on his heel and took a few steps away from Gabriel, but then stopped. He glanced over his shoulder. "But I advise against getting between me and my enemies in the future. I don't take kindly to that.

[Gabriel Seran]

Gabriel chuckled as his bluff pulled through as he'd expected it to. Weakling, Coward, pathetic youth. All talk, they always were like that unwilling to do what was necessary but still he had to give it to the man, Gabriel's life was in his hands and he'd have to thank him for the right words to save him from his own prizon.

Gabriel laughed again very darkly. "From this point on, your enemies are my enemies, so I decide who lives and who dies!" Gabriel marched over to Ethan's side through the burning brush sprawling around them.

His hand reached out to grasp the gun gaining a tight grip over the handle as a finger slid into its position. The barrel leaned downward at the ground .

*BANG*

The FBI agent was dead, a bullet through his head and Gabriel didn't even shed a drop from his facade. He was there now, the man knew too much now and needed to die, there were necessary deaths and unnecessary ones. Ethan had to learn that.

"Take only the lives I say you can..."