The Numbers

[Hyzenthlay]

(Again, any spelling mess-ups... You know why. Take stoo much time to go througha nd I have a few RP posts to do today. I'll correct spelling later. =])

The whole group had turned to view something up ahead. XVI, however, simply stood and stared at the girl in front of him. He knew her, and he knew her name. It was then that he saw Liufr sniffing around him. He heard Spear groan from beside him. He was holding him up, Spear placing all his weight on Benji's shoulder. Spear was looking behind, too. It was then that XVI's focus was upon the beast, he span to view the scene unfolding. A flock of hellbirds circled a wide area overhead. Swooping and tearing people limb from limb. Benji gently lowered Spear to the ground and readied himself.

"You ready, hero? We've had more than a fair share of trouble today and it aint over, yet!" Said XVII, waiting for XVI's lead.

Benji simply looked at XVII and nodded. He couldnt find the breath to speak. The pain and guilt of XVIII's passing was still too strong. Never-the-less, he readied himself. Flexing his arms and cracking his neck. XVII places a fist into and open palm and closed his arms. A white glow flashed no more than a centimetre around him. Then a whole group of VII's walked from within him, they all stood in a cluster around the original XVII. There must have been 10 clones altogether. XVII opened his eyes and relaxed his arms with a smirk. He looked ahead. In this light his scarred face was clearly visible. Hundreds of tiny lines that dotted his face near white.

XVI glanced at the group of XVII's. The girl who he had been staring at flew past, grappling with the bird and trying desperatly to stay aboard it. The bird was shaking trying frantically to escape her grip. XVI took this as a sign that all out combat was needed. He loosened up, blinking heavily, trying to relax. Then, a bird swooped low at him. Before it hit him, however, it was set on by 3 XVII's. They pinned it to the ground, punding its skull to mush with bits of rubble. A group of 5 more ran up ahead to intercept another bird that was fast approaching. The original XVII now stood alone and still. His arms crossed, he didnt even have to move to cause damage. He simply sat back and smirked. The other 2 XVII's were nowhere to be seen. They must've be helping somebody elsewhere.
Benji looked down at Spear, who now rolled and writhed with pain. Benji could have used his morphing ability right now. It wasnt his day, not at all. With a shake of his head he patted Spear on the back, his glare then fell on a bird the was circling up ahead.

Benji opened his palms. He knew he couldnt physically knock the bird from the sky. He had a plan, though. The sky opened up, the bird dived to avoid it as a woman stepped from within a casm. Her skin was perfect, her iris' yellow. Benji grinned as Sparks skin began to glow. It's light that of the brightest sun. The bird turned, stunned by the light and fell to the ground. As it landed, it stood. I stumbled around, unable to see. Benji simply walked over to it, gripping it's neck, and tugged hard upwards. It's head fell limp and its body crashed to the ground. Spark was his new toy, now. Her power the perfect thing to use in conjunction with his own.

XVII, in the meantime now directed all of his afforts into creating a perimiter around the group. He released 5 more clones from within himself. They all stood in a cemicircle around them, ready to fight. All holding a weapon of some sort. Some held rocks, some heft sticks and some even held bits of sharp metal framework. On of teh clones was caught by surprise, carried into the air by one of the beasts. The rest of the clones watched as the captured clones head was ripped of. A rain of blood settling on his brothers faces. The original XVII fell to the floor, gripping his neck. He choked down air, struggling to breath. He fell forward to the support of his right hand, gripping his neck with his left. At last he regained a steady breathing. As he removed his hand a scar lay there, long and thin. It stretched the length of his neck. He fingered it slightly and took a sharp intake of breath. The scar was still quite painful right now, it seemed. He pushed himself up and re-took his pose. This new dilemna in his power apparently shrugged off. He re-folded his arms, another clone walked from from him, and XVII's trademark smirk returned.

---o0o---

A fire crackled in a brightly lit room. Candles lay scattered all around. The room was dust and debris free. Surprising compared to the state of the rest of the city. A woman paced the room, her silvery-white hair swaying with each step. She pushed aside her trench coat, anger filling her head. The paint in the room started to bubble, the floorboards stripped of varnish with her every step. The furnature around her began to melt and burn rapidly away. She stopped as she heard a knock on the door. A young girl walked in, she looked no older than 12, though her actual age was nearer to 18. The silver-haired woman calmed a little and faked a smile. Staring down at teh tiny form of the girl, she stroked the girl silvery hair gently.

"What is it Rinna, my dear? Have you got some news for your mummy?" Said the woman sweetly. She removed the hand from her daughters head and placed it onto her cheek, stroking gently.

"Yes, mother. I told 'Silo' and 'Cage' to get us the bodies. They have brought them back, 'Hector' is still alive. I-I thought this might please you?" Said teh girl. Like her appearance, the girls voice seemed far more innocent and younger than her actual age.

"Oh, it has, my dear! You have made me very proud. Please, bring the bodies and Hector in." Said Minerva. With a smile she patted the young girl on the back and turned her to face the door.

The young girl walked out of the door and returned just seconds later. In her left hand were two dead cats. In her right; a single, living cat. The cat that was alive squirmed and struggled to break free. On its back were two deep gashes. Rinna dropped teh two dead cats on the ground and handed her mother the alive one. As Minervas hands touched the cat it's movement stopped, its eyes staring into hers. Its ears flat against the side of it's head.

"You may give the others their original forms, dear." Said Minerva, her face expressionless.

"Do you want me to give the other you her orginal form, too?" Asked the girl. This question was barely audible, as if the young girl were worried her question was stupid.

"Yes, please. My darling." Minervas gaze never left the cat in her hands.

The young girl knelt beside the to dead cats. She stretch out her right index finger and poked the first, slightly fatter one gently. It form changed to that of a small, fat and balding man. His face was beaten badly as if his head had been stamped on several times. She then turned her attention to the second cat, who's head was near smashed to pieces. Again she gave it a slight jab with her index finger. This cat, though, turned into an old, whithering lady. Her hair was grey and matted with blood. Her back hunched with age.

"I have done so, mother. So you can inspect them yourself!" Said the girl as if in expectation of approval.

"My dear, you have done tremendously well. Now, turn hector here back into his rightful form. Then you will leave us, do you hear?" The girl nodded in reply to Minervas words.

The young girl then gave the cat in Minervas arms a slight jab in the ribs. It turned into the form of a small, wrinkly old man. His face riddled with wrinkles and tired from age. He dropped to his knees and looked up at Minerva, his hands clasped together. The young girl bowed and shuffled out of the door, quietly.

"Now now, Hector. I know you are sorry. I can only assume that Stretch and Mary would be too" she pointed at the two dead bodies across the room, "they seem to be at a loss for words, however. I cant have it that my daughter, in her good graces, sees fit to bless you with a good power then you waste some of my best people. I think you are taking advantage of my darlings kindness, and my own."

"No, no my lady Minerva. Just, have me transformed into that facility chap again and I can be of service to you, I swear!" Begged Hector, needing the same approval that Rinna had.

"'That facility chap' was my husband! Rinnas father! I killed him for less, you have been equally as dissapointing!" With that she placed her hand on Hectors forehead.

The paint and furnature once again bubbled and melted. Hectors face began to blister, his skin peeling away like pencil shavings. His tearducts began to leak blood and his eyes rolled back into his head. His nose spat rivers of crimson down his face. Minerva released her grip and grinned. Hectors body fell to the ground with a gently thud. Minerva turned to the door and called out,

"Oh Rinna, my dear. Would you come here please?"