Arrival (Open)

[Dirgan]

It is over. At long last, it is over. The thought ran through his mind quickly, as a thrill of elation ran up his spine. Black blood spattered his armor and coated the sword he still held in his hand. Suddenly, however, his mind registered the fact that he wasn't in fact on the Astral Plane, flying above the plain of Mashok, but above a strange city that he had never seen before, and none of his soldiers were with him. His black feathered wings beat slowly as he hovered in place high above the city. He called out mentally, reaching for his army, but none answered. The silence was deafening, oppressive. He lost altitude as he realized what happened, the shock causing him to completely stop beating his wings for several seconds. Nobody had survived that final explosion. I am the sole survivor he thought bitterly as he descended further into the city. His boots made the slightest of clanking sounds as he touched down on the streets below, to the astonishment of the onlookers. And there he stood, blood dripping from sword and armor, stone faced and as still as a rock. Kael Dirgan, the Archangel, Commander of the Holy Army of the Astral Plane, was the last of his kind, and in a completely unfamiliar place.

[Ranka]

It went without saying that transdimensional rifts were commonplace on Genesis since the appearance of the Spiral, and that the populace had grown ever aware of the risk involved in greeting beings from other worlds with open arms. It had not taken long after Ranka had taken control of Isafaro for him to commission the Red Queen to create a program that could triangulate the position of new portals within the territory of the metropolis. The disturbance had been detected short of an hour from then, and a perimeter had already been established to lock down the city-block where the Archangel manifested.

It wasn't long until filaments of energy appeared in the middle of the financial district. Threads of blue-white scarrs snaked across the surfaces of nearby buildings before the winged figure flashed into existence. The vampire trusted nobody else to make first contact.

Dressed in a formal black silken buisness suit, his red ruby eyes contemplated the creature before him before speaking in a distinctively low tone.

''Greetings.''

[Dirgan]

Behind the protective screen of his sunglasses, Kael's eyes snapped open and in the same instant his sword came up in a defensive posture angled across his body and his other hand went to the knife at his belt. His mouth worked soundlessly for several seconds as he reaccustomed his mind to speaking out loud instead of the near instantaneous mind-to-mind communication that he and his fellows had used.

"Greetings." he answered in kind. "Could you tell me where I am? And how to return to my home?" The second question was more of an after thought, though Kael knew in his heart that even if there was a way to return, there was nothing left for him there.

Kael's eyes invisibly measured up his opponent, a being of a kind he'd never seen before. It had a slightly light aura to it, but nothing nearly as dark as the demons he had dedicated his life to fighting, or the almost brilliantly white auras of his own kind. It was odd, finding something so far out of his experience. Kael easily suppressed a shiver as he looked into the red eyes of the other.

[Ranka]

The vampire studied the new arrival silently, his hands resting comfortably in his pockets as the other took a defensive stance. Kael's disorientation was expected, and while he branded weapons the vampire remained as immobile as a statue.

''My name is Fredrick Summers.'' He spoke at length, taking a moment to take a mental note of the armament of this potential foe.

''You're probably experiencing dizziness - you've crossed over from a dimensional rift into this world.'' He took in the detail of the wear on the pieces; clearly this one had recently lived through a battle. It took him no time to detect the scent of blood and discern it's occult properties. He frowned inwardly.

''You are in the northern hemisphere of the planet Genesis, and this is the city-state of Isafaro.''

[Dirgan]

Noticing the non-threatening stance of his conversational partner, Kael flicked his sword, the blood all sliding off both ends of the blade onto the ground and he slid it back into its holder on his back. It was a goodwill gesture, but it was obvious that he could pull it back out in an instant, just as he could with any other weapon on his person.

"A dimensional rift? No doubt caused by the final explosion." Kael muttered, speaking more to himself than to the vampire. He realized then that he had not introduced himself, even though he had asked for the other's name.

"I am Kael Dirgan, the Archangel." he introduced himself, but refrained from offering his hand. If, in fact, this was just a bit trick, he did not want one his hands in the hand of the enemy. Instead, he dipped his head briefly, as his conscious began to recognize that the entire area was surrounded. The corners of his eyes tightened imperceptibly.

"I also assume that there is no way to reverse this rift, is there?" Speaking the words gave the thought some finality, a crushing thought, but at the same time, it wouldn't make any sense to return. None of the others had survived.

[Ranka]

The vampire's gaze remained on Kael for what seemed to be a painfully long time. Though cold and visibly impassable, there was a hint of regret behind them that betrayed the answer before it was even spoken.

''No.''

There was a pause between the two, the leader of Isafaro letting the reality of the situation sink in to his interlocutor. The vampire's senses did not fail to hear the mention of an explosion. Another realm destroyed by Aper? He thought.

''I am sorry.''

[Dirgan]

"It is no fault of yours." said Kael. "If anything it was my own fault for not anticipating such a desperate move and not preparing accordingly." He shook his head, blinking to raise the lenses from his eyes. A deep feeling of regret filled him, a slight pang driving into his body as he thought about his lost home. "I suddenly find myself in need of housing and employment. My old job ended when everybody else did."

"Would you have employment for a former commander?" He asked bluntly. Kael was not one to mince words. "If need be I can give a demonstration of my combat and tactical abilities." Being straightforward was all Kael could do, unaccustomed as he was to speaking out loud.

[Ranka]

The vampire cocked an eye-brow, both at the archangel's ease towards accepting the reality bestowed upon him as well as his proposal. Most victims of the rifts experienced disorientation, distress and paranoia. This one was already moving on with the idea that he might never see his home again.

Interesting.

Multiple snipers on the roofs of Isafaro's skyscrapers already had Kael within their sights. Troops were on standby for his command. Evacuation was nearly complete as well. He juggled with the thought of testing the stranger's abilities firsthand. He had taken the precaution of bringing the Pandora with him under the form of a wristwatch. In the advent that Kael had been openly hostile, there is no doubt he could have taken him on. Still the essence of the blood's power had a deep resonance with his senses. He doubted Kael was especially weak - and he certainly did not seem as such.

''I welcome anyone who is willing to work for Isafaro.'' He said. ''If you wish we could evaluate your abilities here and now, against me.''

[Dirgan]

In response to the suggestion, Kael reactivated the lenses, then taking it a step further as metal seemed to materialize out of nowhere to give him a full helmet with a black visor. His wings flexed and a tremor seemed to run through them as they prepared for action. As he slowly drew his double bladed sword from behind his back again, he spoke again.

"I doubt you would come to a meeting unarmed, but forgive me for asking, do you have any need of armor, or any preparations before we get started?" The question was more of a precaution, seeing how confident his opponent was of victory, in addition to a genuine concern for the other. Being the Archangel meant quite a bit of power and skill, and he didn't want to accidentally kill somebody who was so willing to accept him into his town.

[Ranka]

Ranka observed as Kael readied himself for battle - already running a diagnostic of the tools he possessed in his head. Though his armor was worn down by war, it was undamaged. The edge of his sword was fine, with the traces of blood still on it echoing of a foe distinctively more powerful than most beings on this continent. The archangels concern was unsuspected though not unwelcome.

''I will be fine.'' He answered before casually opening the buttons of his blazer, revealing the fine detail of his stripped red tie over his black shirt.

''This is an order to all troops to stand down - subject is non-hostile. We will engage in an exercise; I want intelligence to have eyes on us for all of it.'' He spoke in a clear voice as to ensure communications would perfectly understand his message. There was a moment until a blinking light came on top from one of the scouts - a signal that his command had indeed been heard, and followed. His hands dropped to his sides before returning his attention to the archangel.

''This area has been evacuated within a four-block radius. The only people standing within it are myself and a select group of my own task-force. I would prefer we contain this to the immediate area as to avoid any unnecessary incidents.'' He said, before taking a look at his watch. It was precisely midnight. He couldn't help but smirk inwardly.

''Ready when you are.''

[Dirgan]

As he was communicating with his forces, Kael unslung his long range rifle and leaned is against a nearby wall. Such a weapon would not be very useful for such an engagement, as would any of the other projectile weapons. He could demonstrate such proficiency later, if he was called on for it.

"A wise precaution. If Berial or any of his ilk would have survived and come through instead of me, they would have instantly gone on a rampage." said Kael as the other finished his explanation. "I will stay within the designated zone." Kael assumed a ready position, the sword held in his right hand, up against his arm so one blade was behind the back and the other pointed down at the ground as evaluated his opponent. Mind made up, Kael advanced slowly until he was within melee range, carefully watching his opponent for any change in position or attitude.

[Ranka]

The vampire's dark hair covered his eyes upon the archangel's approach, his expression remaining impassable before the hands of the golden watch shot out to both of Kael's arms - detonating instantly with white-hot flames.

Before the smoke cleared, Ranka had already kicked back - the plates of the Pandora at his wrist already propelling themselves into motion, expanding and reshaping into the form of an impressive handgun. With dark golden-lined plating that glimmered faintly from beneath, the Devil Arm revealed itself as what it was.