The Road to Jherrazad

[Chloe/Kat]

It has been what felt like ages since Chloe traveled across the black desert with an army of ghouls close behind her. This time she traveled with a small group of people after receiving a proposition from the Angel of Death that many of them couldn't refuse. A chance to return home. For Chloe home wasn't an option but she wouldn't allow Dianne unattended where she could fall into temptation for a second time. Nothing good ever happened on the black desert. It was here that Chloe life changed forever after drinking the blood of the Night Angel. Here that saw Yahweh revealed as a fraud, the devil unleashed upon the world, the Third Aspect revealing herself to Amoura and the death of a god. While Chloe left long before many of those things happened Amoura was kind enough to fill her in after the vampiress changed her ways.

Chloe paused on her walk, just long enough to turn her head and look back at the crowd behind her. Two humans who had no idea what they were about to see in this land, a naive woman with a superhero complex but only wanted to do what she felt was right, a cybernetic shark that made her fall in his own urine sample and tried to blame it on his counterpart (SON OF A SHARK!) and finally Dianne. A woman who made her feel and experience things beyond her wildest imagination. Someone she came to both love and hate. "Just a little bit further!" Chloe called out to the others as she turned back around and continued onward for Jherrazad.

[Dianne]

Dianne has never walked across the sands of the black desert but it felt like she had one too many times. The memories that spread across Chloe's mind like a plague spared her no remorse. It was a time of great pain and confusion for the blonde. A time where she was still discovering herself and Dianne wanted to make Chloe hers. But then Chloe became too reliant on her and Dianne thought that leaving the young cub in the wild alone would be the best alternative to a life of reliance. Well, Dianne was certainly right but Chloe took it one step further. Chloe developed a strong independence and no longer needed Dianne's guidance. A fact that was bittersweet to the vampire.

Walking side by side to Chloe out of earshot of the others, Dianne began to speak, "You know you don't have to come along to keep an eye on me. I'm a grown woman, I can take care of myself."

[Aminee Starlight]

The desert was not a good place to wear all black. Even though they were unable to travel in the open during the day because of Chloe and Dianne, who would burst into flames in a matter of minutes, she still felt the heat in the caves they've taken residence in when it approached the day. Now it was freezing cold in the middle of the night and Aminee felt like there was not enough clothes in all of Genesis that could keep her warm. The coldness felt back in Isafaro was starting to feel like Spring in comparison and it didn't help matters that the Crystal Expanse was just beyond that horizon, a mix of hot and cold due to what ever force melted half of it away. One day Aminee would hear the story. Perhaps sooner than she would personally like to hear it.

The Pop Idol heard Chloe's call and sighed a sigh of relief at the news that Jherrazad was not far off from their current position. She took a glance around the group, the strangest choice of field agents Aminee has ever seen. The Pop Idol was able to find time to inform HQ that she was embarking on a side-quest concerning a means to return those not native to Genesis home. Imai wished to be kept posted on any latest developments. It was strange that a force as impressive as death would choose all of them for this important task and offer such a high reward, and even after hearing her reasons something still didn't seem right about her decision. Also if death was out of commission did that mean, no one could die?

"Wait up, guys!" Aminee called out, catching up to Chloe and Dianne. "I think Utena and I should move to the front if we're moving in. Mariya said that they can't detect humans so naturally we should be sent in first, right?"

[Tenjou, Utena]

From the valley of the moon, to the harsh desert of Jherrazad, Utena would tackle on any challenge if it meant she got to see Anthy one more time. Being around this many people all at once however was a challenge in and of itself. Previously Utena's plans were to be in isolation so she wouldn't have to deal with people, she still wasn't any less of a threat than she was while back at Moon Valley slaughtering anyone who was a fan of Revolutionary Girl Utena. A fan of her life. But now in order to get home it was necessary to work with others as this was a task none of them could accomplish on their own. Though she was still trying to wrap her head around the whole idea of supernatural forces being at play. What occurred back at Ohtori was far from normal but it never crossed the threshold of angels, demons, vampires and aliens. What's next, a werewolf coming out of nowhere and mauling her?

Overhearing what Aminee was saying to Chloe and Dianne, Utena decided to pick up the pace so she could join in on the conversation. She'd be lying if she said traveling with two vampires didn't make her nervous. If they were anything like the urban legend then there was a chance they could turn on them and try to kill them. Utena has already caught Dianne's eyes looking towards her throat several times before already. Normally in her current state she would just see it as a chance to kill something that deserves it for a change but she couldn't afford having anything happen that could set her off on a rampage against her own allies for this mission. Especially when she had no idea what to expect from any of them.

"Can we go over the plan one more time?"

[Clash]

A voice emanates from the ground beneath them, a metallic ring to each word.

"We have a plan?"

Clash swam under the group, a few feet under the ground so his dorsal fin wouldn't give him away but still close enough to emerge if he needed to. He was leading several humans and vampires into a city of demons that had a MORE than creepy vibe... They were going to destroy a soul eating sword to free the grim reaper's sexy girlfriend from the queen of all demons, probably Rita Repulsa. Clash shuddered, feeling the sand catching between plates and gritting up his gills. Deserts were his weakness, and he was leaving a visible disturbance in the black sand, fortunately it was hidden by the people walking. Clash looked up, making sure his movements were covered by the group's travels...

And gets a massive upskirt. When he didn't want one.

Clash looked back ahead, his heart suddenly racing. Something had to be up, he DIDN'T want to have seen what he just did, something was bugging him... But WHAT?

[Kara]

Kara was looking up ahead while flying through the air above the group wearing casual civilian clothes as she didn't want to stick out like a sore thumb this time. Looking towards the black tower she remembered all the stories she heard about Jherrazad back in Moon Valley, about how the ruler had the most dangerous sword in the world and was rumored to be the daughter of the devil himself. Worried about the others who were sent on this quest by the Angel of Death Kara dived down into the ground, causing sand to rise up from the ground and hit everyone and then spoke, "You know I could just speed in, grab the sword and speed out."

[Chloe/Kat]

"You've already proven to be too stupid to take care of yourself." Dianne scoffed, not at all pleased by Chloe's hurtful yet true words about the vampire's resolve. The latest incident in Moon Valley being the prime example of just how easy it was for Dianne to cave under the many pressures that weighed themselves down on every vampire in existence, the ones that cared to practice restraint that is. Hearing Aminee, Chloe stopped her walk and turned to face the woman, Dianne stopping and turning alongside her. Nodding in agreement, Chloe signaled for Aminee to take the lead as then Utena, Clash and Superwoman came up to them. Two wanting to know of the plan and one already making her own.

"For a native of this world you seem to know very little about the Kasul," said Dianne while looking over at Superwoman in amazement. Chloe looked among the group, wondering to herself just how exactly she got stuck with the leader role here. Where was Amoura when you needed her? Shaking her head, the blonde vampire began to speak, "The Kasul has the ability to drain away a person's very essence, an ability that is only excluded to its chosen wielder so your plan won't work. I don't care how invulnerable you are, your soul is just as vulnerable as the rest of ours."

Chloe turned around to look back at the tower, honestly not trying to be rude but the past couple of months has hardened the vampiress and even made her cold as a result of all the hardships she had to face. Nowadays her friends back at Hallowton were the only ones that could get a smile out of her, and none of them were here. Even the Clash was different, and one she did not particularly care for. Though the other one did betray them, she found herself missing him somehow. "Chloe? Genesis calling Chloe. Are you okay?" "Yeah! Yeah I'm fine!" said Chloe quickly before looking back to the group. "The plan is to be discrete. Aminee and Utena will go in ahead of us and scout out the area and report back. After that Clash and Superwoman will pose as a distraction while Dianne and I look for the sword. Any questions?"

[Aminee Starlight]

"None here. Come on, Utena."

Aminee allowed a half-smile to appear on her face as she went on ahead of the others for Jherrazad. For the first time in a good long while she actually felt useful for a change. That her existence in this new and strange world actually mattered. Before she more or less felt like dead weight in the arms of the resistance. She couldn't fight, she couldn't shoot worth shit and her scouting didn't add anything of actual relevance as everyone could do it. Here her being human actually mattered and the Pop Idol never thought she would feel so proud to be human.

That would all change however the moment she made it to the desert city of Jherrazad and her eyes widened at the sight she would see. An army of living statues that were under the command of Empress Ranko going back and forth in their guard duties with dimly lit green lights coming from the eye shapes on their faces. It was like something straight out of a horror movie and the Pop Idol quickly found herself regretting the decision to come along as she began backing up towards the border of the city. "W-what is that!?"

[Tenjou, Utena]

At the sound of Aminee's voice Utena looked up to the infamous Pop Idol of her world and followed without question towards the borders of Jherrazad. At last they have reached their designation, at last they would come one step closer to returning to their worlds. As they entered into the desert city together they would confront their first obstacles and while fear began to flood the system of Aminee Starlight all Utena could do was laugh. Laugh at the sheer absurdity of it all. Moving statues. Why not? Everything else in this world seem to only exist to test the sanity of the people in it. So why not? Utena continued to laugh like a crazy person off her meds. It was too funny. This whole world was just too, damn, funny.

"Do you think they talk?" she asked Aminee. "No. I'm sure they all have very compelling back stories and their own personalities."
Utena turned to face one of them and waved but she received no response.
"Rude."
Utena looked back to Aminee, who she had no doubt thought Utena was completely insane by this point. It was walking statues. Walking statues! Why should she take any of this seriously anymore? It was all just too much, too much for her mind to grasp. All she could do to combat it was laugh.
"Back in my day statues had enough sense to stay still."

[Clash]

"the statues don't seem to notice us, though..."

Clash peeked out from the ground, his eyes and just the tip of his nose visible as he looked at them, watching as they shuffled around outside the city. They were like automatons, the most basic of machinery, mere golems that followed orders and never deviated from their tasks. They paid no notice to the group as it moved towards the city. Clash still felt a growing feeling of dread, a pressure he couldn't understand radiating from Jherrazad itself, it wasn't these statues but it was SOMETHING within the City Walls.

"Let's keep going?"

Clash submerged and sank about six feet under... Something about that depth put a rock in his stomach, a proverbial one not a real one that he ate. Clash swam onward, hoping the others would catch on and follow along, despite not being able to directly see him.

[Kara]

Superwoman frowned at the response by Dianne and Chloe. It never felt good to be made a fool of and that's exactly how she felt by the time the vampire duo got finished speaking. "I see." Crossing her arms Superwoman simply watched as Aminee and Utena went on ahead and Clash continued to dig his way through the ground. Unlike the rest of the group Superwoman was able to keep track of him through her X-Ray Vision but it was hard to do with the way he moved. Looking back to the others she asked, "We just wait here in the meanwhile then?" Not being able to resist she used her Superhuman Hearing to listen in on what was going on inside the city and didn't like what she was hearing already. "I think they've ran into trouble. Statues."

[Chloe/Kat]

"I don't know about you but demons can sense vampires coming a mile away so yes, we are to wait here." "Chloe doesn't want to risk you scouting out the area with the others in the off chance you can be sensed too." Chloe looked over to the horizon where the city was and upon hearing Superwoman talk of trouble and statues Chloe made use of her own superhuman hearing to get a better idea of what was going on over there. By the sound of it Utena was going batshit crazy and Aminee was becoming more anxious as time went on but so far they were safe. "No one has attacked them yet so stay put."

[Aminee Starlight]

Aminee turned her head and looked horrid at the sight of Utena laughing like a madwoman. Of all the times to lose your wits end about you this was not the best time. The Pop Idol grabbed Utena and then slapped her across the face as hard as she could without hurting her. "Snap out of it, woman! Now is no time to go off like a hyena!" Aminee stepped back from Utena, looking her over for a moment to see if anything was registering before Clash popped his head out from under the ground. Aminee didn't even know he has been following them, or that he was even meant to. "Are you supposed to be here with us?" she asked in a whisper. "Never mind. Keep close but don't linger along the surface for too long. When we've finished scouting the area you can report back to the others for us."

[Tenjou, Utena]

The slap caught her off guard. Anger swelled up inside of her as she narrowed her eyes over Aminee. It wasn't the Pop Idol's fault, she had no idea of knowing how unstable the girl in front of her really was. She took it as being physically provoked and once that happened, there was no going back for Utena. The former Champion of Ohtori pulled a knife out on the Pop Idol, not caring that the fuss would attract the attention of the statue guards or endangered the entire mission. That slap hurt and now Utena wanted to hurt Aminee back as she aimed the knife for her throat.

[Clash]

Clash emerged from the ground, his body vanishing as the familiar ringing of metal plates sliding over each other could be heard once more. A human hand formed from the collapsing maelstrom of metal plates, sand kicked up by the transformation. Utena's knife stabbed right through the palm splitting the joint in the wrist and driving deep into Clash's forearm. "AAAUGH!" The sharky man gave a scream of pain, dark-blue blood falling onto the sand as his transformation finished. Where once a shark had emerged a man in a loud shirt and black pants fell to one knee, one hand impaled through by a knife driving hilt-deep into his arm, the other hand grabbing Utena's wrist and keeping her from removing the blade.

"No! Bad! Gaahhhh..."

Clash spat the words out, panting and almost foaming at the mouth in pain. His emergence between the two women had certainly kicked up quite a dust storm and put him probably too close for comfort to Aminee AND Utena. Yet his human form masked his sharky nature entirely, and he appeared to be a human wounded by getting into this cross-fire. None of the statues stopped as Clash shuddered, that feeling of dread rising in his throat like he was going to puke, and he looked up at the city walls.

Something inside that city KNEW WHAT HE WAS.

"No... Fighting... Yet..." Clash gasped the words out, his mind swimming in pain as he looked up at Utena with watering eyes.