AWOL Nation: The Spark [Event: Shadow Steward]

[Shingetsu Sora]

Spoiler: Riri

“Code Black: The Kazekage has been captured, the kidnapper is still in the Tower.” With those words echoing across all the airwaves, the world that Riri knew had forever been changed. It was only her duty as an Oracle that kept her from immediately heading back home to where things were always safe and quiet. Thinking of back home, she thought fondly of the many coastal summers and the all too usual summer storms that always seemed to blow in at just the right time. Hailing from a family of innkeepers, she was a sixth generation descendent in the long lived family. However, as much as she loved the family trade, she had an aptitude for organization and so she struck out on her own and had headed to Sunagakure when she was of age, much to her mother's chagrin. Always seemingly fearful of their big neighbor up north, Riri couldn't understand the fear and distrust of Suna as her mother and father seemed to imply but whatever their fear was, they never spoke on it with her and with only a few warnings, they managed to let her go, entrusting her to the care of her aunt. Naturally gifted in the shinobi arts, Riri climbed the ranks and despite her gift with creating and controlling large bellowing storms, she found her niche in being a librarian in the Oracle Order.

A being with two contrasting dualities, Riri's naturally calm and collected nature was tested when another oracle rushed in the room where she and a few others were poring over the schematics of a recent upstart named Sora and his supposed fourth Order's flying airships. "We have to evacuate the building, we're under attack!" Having met the young man before, she found him pleasant and oddly familiar in a way that she couldn't quite put her finger on. There was an odd sensation of kinship, as if they were long lost relatives of some sort. Rarely one to put her emotions before her work, unless her emotions were about work, Riri had taken on the task of learning all there was to know about what this new Order could actually accomplish and in the process had genuinely sparked up a friendship with Sora that eventually even landed her a job prospect in the new Order. While Riri wasn't appalled at the offer, she also didn't want to seem flighty after such a notable climb within the Oracle ranks. Still, with her instruments and tools in hand, something in her gut didn't sit right with the order to evacuate. Even when the last Kazekage, Lord Raizo had disappeared, nobody had issued the command for the Oracles to evacuate. The very nature of their job demanded that they be the witnesses to history itself and to evacuate now when there were no doubt other Oracles out recording yet another as recent historical event, seemed off. Barely taking her eyes off of the document that she was investigating, Riri tried to calm the apparently new Oracle.

"I think that you might be in the wrong line of work if this sort of thing gets you going, my friend. Surely the ANBU or somebody else will handle it. We're not supposed to interfere in these sorts of things." Almost dismissive in her tone, Riri smirked to herself as he made a shrugging motion and attempted to go back to her work, but her fellow Oracle didn't let up. Matronly, the elder woman ran into the room and attempted to physically move the Oracles that hadn't heeded her warning at first. Grabbing hold of Riri, she raised her voice in alarm again. "You don't understand, we have to leave, the enemy is from within! It's as we feared, there's another Or-", the woman's warning was cut short as Riri's vision was momentarily painted red as the station that she was working at. Almost glinting in the light, the blade that protruded from the woman's stomach nearly pricked Riri in its assault, and then it moved up and over in a continued cutting motion as the woman fell to Riri's side. Having little true battle tested merits under her belt, the screams of her fellow Oracles being struck down around her barely urged her body to obey the internal command that she had to flee. Off all the things that Riri was, she always was good about running from a bad situation, and in the moment that she finally did get her legs to start working, she finally took the first step to run and then she too met the assassin's blade.

~ ~ ~ ~

Appearing in a dizzying display of blue colored hues of light, Sora landed just beyond the gates of the airship base. Running at full speed, he began to sound the alarm to the guards and to all that could listen. "Get them up, get them up, get everything into the sky!" Not quite understanding the why behind the instruction, the guards recognized their leader and the sound of airhorns began to sound the alarm for them. With a repeating sound that clearly indicated the need for an evacuation, Sora made his way to the command tower and began to evacuate the Order members there as well. In most scenarios, the command tower was to always be manned, but this was the one situation that even Sora hadn't predicted, an attack by his own kind. With the possibility of another war between Ancients and men, the likelihood of returning anytime soon wasn't very likely. What was even worse was the fact that only a few airships were even complete, most were barely functional and without the needed life sustaining systems in place, most could fly, but they'd be at best, need to be manned by those in protective suits. Suits that they had precious few of. As he watched the airships that could, slowly take to the sky, an alarmed call from the gates diverted his attention. "Sir, something's coming!"

OOC: This topic follows the topics below.

The makings of an AWOL nation...
AWOL Nation: Prelude

 

[Daiki]

The quiet scribbling of ink on paper, amidst the clacking of computer keyboard things, was soothing to the young boy as he went about his duties as a new member of the Oracles. He had been surprised at the willingness of the powers-that-be to let an unknown into this most secretive of the orders, yet within the walls of the library he had found solace and a sense of belonging. The training he had undertaken as a young man in Yamigakure was in complete contrast to the slow and methodical tasks he was doing in this, the greatest library in the world.

Right now he had been tasked with transferring information from some of the older records onto new parchment, which them someone else would enter into a ‘databank’, whatever that was. There were machines involved which Daiki didnt quite know anything about.

It was then that the normal quiet of the library was interrupted with a shout for everyone to evacuate. What? Standing to look around his scribes table Daiki could see someone familiar... but it was all too wrong. Figures, dressed in the robes of the Oracles, now fought against one another. He watched as one of the kind Oracles, a matronly woman, was stabbed from behind. They were under attack! Was there never any peace anywhere!

For once, being so small had its advantages as he navigated underneath the libraries tables, avoiding being seen. His training as a Myakashi had always focused on the importance of stealth, and he now was grateful for the strict training of his fathers men and women. However, he could not hide forever, and escape was something he had to do after he fulfilled his duties.

He had made an oath.

Silently and stealthily he quickly made his way towards the locked section of the library, the one that contained the most sacred and ancient works and artefacts. The gate was still locked, luckily, but the sounds of battle were increasingly getting close and the little boy sucked in his fear as he knew what was the most important thing he could do. Running forward, he quickly placed his hand on the chakra sensor, noting with a little sense of pride the ‘click’ of the chakra lock opening under his touch. He quickly stepped into the alcove, shutting the gate behind him. Hopefully it was none of his order that were fighting - that way the lock would hold out any attacker.

He heard the order to evacuate yet again, and he would… but he had a job to do first.

Running forward past tomes of ancient knowledge he unscrolled one of his many scribed storage scrolls, specifically enchanted with a jutsu that enabled him to carry large amounts of goods. He hoped that no-one would be too upset with what he was going to do, but it was his prime duty to protect knowledge.

He placed the scroll on the floor, activating it with a small amount of justu. Immediately he went about the task of gathering the most important books and scrolls, placing them on the scroll. The remnants of the book that had taught him runic terran was placed carefully on the scroll, as were the ‘secret’ scrolls written in the higher language. Daiki knew the most important scrolls… because he was not allowed to read them, but each was placed in the storage scroll, which absorbed the large pile. He picked up the scroll, carefully placing it into his pants to ensure its safety.

He turned to run towards where the artefacts were stored, noting that the gate was still, thankfully, locked but the sounds of battle were getting far too close. He neared the artefact storage area, again off limits to those not of the order, and proceeded to again place the priceless items into a storage scroll. Normally there would be oracle guards present, but their absence only fueled the fear Daiki had that perhaps they had been betrayed from within.

Having taken the most important artefacts, he again placed the scroll into his pants pocket before now trying to figure out how to get the hells out of the tower. The sounds of battle grew closer as he ran towards the gate.

He saw oracle fighting oracle - people he had just known and accepted as family. At that sight, he removed his mask and robe, looking now exactly as he was - a very scared 6 year old boy. He moved forward, trying hard to stay brave in the midst of a battle surrounding him.

“What are you doing here boy?” a voice sounded from behind him.

Daiki, turning to face the ‘oracle’, started to sob. “I want my mummy!”. It was an act of course, but a very, very believable one.

The oracle seemed to think for a second. “Get out of here child.”, motioning towards the exit.

“What are you doing… no witnesses”, a voice stated coldly from behind. Looking up at the masked person, Daiki almost felt like he knew this one. “Especially one of the Order”. So this one knew who he was. They had been betrayed.

“Kill him”.

The man moved too fast for the poor Genin to get away. Picking up the struggling boy, the man reached down to pick up a kunai from his pocket. Daiki, the anger rising in his red eyes, placed his small hand on the mans face, seemingly to push him away.

The man laughed for a split second, before hi felt the strange sensation of wet clay on the side of his face. He looked down to see the small boy smirk for a second, before the explosion went off, taking off half of his face. Daiki was thrown back with the force of the explosion, his face and body burning with the heat he had generated. He heard the screaming behind him, the lust for his life, and he turned and ran towards a window. He felt the shards of glass cut into him as he dived out of the window, looking down at the 15 stories beneath him as he began to fall.

He hurt all over, with glass piercing his burnt skin, but he knew his task was far too important. He then called once again on his bloodline gifts, clay coming from his hands to quickly be moulded and expanded on in the shape of a clay crow. Infusing the creation with his chakra the creature started to flap its wings, soaring just before the boy hit the ground.

He looked above at the moving air creations, instinctively knowing that the leaders of the Oracles would have headed upwards, as the invaders had seemingly come from below. Soaring on top of his bird mount, Daiki looked upwards and started towards the airships. Hopefully there was someone who could tell him what the hells was going on, and hopefully he could hand over his precious cargo to someone more capable to look after them. If not, there was only one other in the city that his father said he could trust…

[MFT]
[WC: 1168]
[OOC: Let me know if Ive overstepped]

 

[Shingetsu Sora]

"Surely he's gone by now, how could you allow him to escape?" "I... I..." "Oh? Nothing to say have we?" The sound of a blade being unsheathed and then the soft thud of something hitting the ground was all that Riri heard as she slowly came to. Blinking her eyes open, she realized that she was on the ground, facedown and that there was something wet and warm that she was seemingly lying in. Quickly processing that it was her own blood, at first she dared not to move as she realized that whoever was talking didn't seem to know that she was alive. With the sound of running footsteps, another voice joined the fray. "Sir!" "Well, out with it!" "Sir, I believe that we may have a problem, the brat that was allowed to escape apparently was working alongside one of our agents." Somewhat recognizing the voice, Riri was sure that the woman speaking was one of the more senior Oracles. From the sounds of things, whoever had escaped had taken something that they really needed. As Riri listened on, she found that her strength was starting to return to her. "He, what?" "Sir, we believe that he may have one of codices..." By now, even Riri was annoyed with the lack of information that was giving.

"Well, sir... we can't say for sure but it might be the codex." The annoyed individual, with the comically villainous male voice sighed and then there was another sound of an unsheathed blade and then the sound of a blade being sheathed followed by another thump on the floor, only this time it rolled towards Riri and then she recognized that the wet feeling on her face wasn't just the feeling of cold and damp stone but blood. "Truly, I work with idiots." The male voice sighed once more and then gave a sassy huff. "How long has it been since the boy escaped?" "Easily ten minutes sir, he was headed towards the airships." "And he's probably halfway to them by now... hrm..." "Sir, the entire airfield was rigged with explosives weeks ago. Even if he makes it there in time, there's no way that he makes it out alive. We specifically also targeted their sand thumping technology. If the explosions don't get him then the sandworms surely will." There was a pregnant pause before the head honcho spoke again. "I'd be inclined to believe you but you lot have already threatened our element of surprise as it is. We'll have to send one of the nine...ugh..."

Hearing a clicking sound and then the tell tale sign of a headset being activated, the man gave a command. "I need a rapid activation and deployment of... send an Omoiryū!" There was another pause as he listened to feedback before launching into an ear screeching tirade. "I don't care if it'll have consequences, I just need every living thing between here to the airships buried under so much sand that even the worms will thank us!" It was at this final, whining sound that Riri laughed out loud instead of in her head and then everything seemed to stop. "Who was that?" With the focus now on her, Riri laughed once more, only this time due to being nervous, before she was quickly accosted and hoisted up. It was then that she was stood face to face with the man that had been making all the ruckus this entire time. In true villainous fashion the man wore a mask and cloak, both of which were bloodied from his tantrums. "If you all took care of everyone, how is it that this little girl is still alive?" Standing at his side, one of the other masked persons shook their head in apparent confusion. "Sir, I assure you that we did, we even checked for pulses, she wasn't-" Holding up a hand to cut the masked peon, the head masked one, pulled out a device from the folds of his cloak and opened the timekeeping like device, aiming it at Riri. "Oh... oh that's quite peculiar indeed." Closing the device and putting it back into his cloak, he reached towards the blade at his side and went to strike Riri down.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Sir, it's a kid riding on some sort of creature ." Those sticking around in the command tower with Sora rushed to make final preparations for the escaping ships as well as gain intel on the approaching threat. Able to look through the large pair of binoculars that they had, Sora looked again at the radar system that had just been installed and now sadly was never going to see its full potential. "Yeah, and what's that behind him?" Setting the binoculars down, he no longer cared about the kid and was more concerned about the storm behind him. Long used to seeing desert storms, Sora wasn't scared of a large one, but the coming storm behind the kid. "Whoever they are, they're hauling tail and I'm pretty sure that they aren't causing that storm either." Another voice chimed in. "Sir, we just received confirmation, that storm isn't natural and there's something inside the storm. Something... far more powerful than just a rogue Sunaku." In that moment something clicked within Sora that he didn't need Suigetsu to explain.

If there were Flame Court Ancients attacking the village then it wouldn't be that far of a stretch of the imagination to figure that there could be other Ancient Courts involved in the parley as well. "They won't make it..." Suigetsu chimed in mentally as Sora asked the question that he already knew the answer to. "How many of our ships could weather a storm like that?" Despite the oncoming storm, the silence was deafening before one person dared to say the truth. "Sir, none of them." Moving with his body before his mind could stop him, Sora began to make his way towards the exit. "You all make it on those ships." Blue light starting to encapsulate Sora, he added the last part more so as a promise to himself than a command. "That's an order!" In just the same sort of dazzling flash that he had appeared at the airship gates the first time, this time he appeared again. Weaving hand signs, he began a shimmering blue bubble began to grow from within him, enveloping both himself and all the things that it touched in its protective shell. The flying kid would be upon him in barely a minute, but what came next needed no introduction as an inhuman howl erupted from the storm like the sound of a thousand trains all in a chaotic chorus. As the seconds passed on the figure emerged at the head of the storm with eyes that only spoke of one thing, death.

Spoiler

OOC: Daiki is being chased by somebody because he apparently has something of importance.

 

[Daiki]

[SMM]

Daiki saw what appeared to be the biggest of the flying ships, getting ready to leave. He couldn’t see anyone of his order on board, but hopefully there would be someone more skilled at, well, everything that could easily take hold of his precious cargo. He grew closer, and closer…

And then a blue, shimmering field enveloped the ship. Whilst Daiki certainly was not proficient enough to know exactly what type of barrier this was, the fact that it was a barrier meant that he wouldn't be able to land. Perhaps they thought he was one of the bad guys, or perhaps…

The boy looked behind him at the growing storm, and saw a lone figure dancing as it was upon the sand storm itself, and its eyes gazing directly at him. It was not him that the barrier had been raised for - it was for the storm.

A storm that was following him.

—----------------------------

"Raise your arm Daiki-kun to absorb the blow". His father had said.

The boy, barely 4 years old, was holding a large katana that was obviously too hard for him to lift properly. Still, with a small grunt of youthful attitude he raised the heavy blade. The strike came quickly and he set his small feet firmly on the ground in a vain attempt to absorb the blow.

It came in hard, and the sword clattered to the ground.

"Some blows you cannot stop with a block, rather you need to redirect them. The smartest warrior knows when to absorb the attack, and when to re-direct it. Controlling your opponent is more important than showing off."

Pale hands covered his own as they picked up the sword. Angling it downwards, his instructor asked for the boy’s opponent to do the same strike again. This time, he helped the boy angle the blade diagonally, enabling the boy to divert the strike rather than absorbing it.

"There. Keep training that way".

Daiki kept his feelings to himself, but reminded that deep part of him that he really, really hated taijutsu.

—--------------

His breathing was laboured, the pain still there as he flew closer to the airship. The barrier was up and he wouldn’t be able to breach it. Behind him was a storm… person who was clearly after him. Daiki had read about the ancients - was this one of them? Why would he be attacking him!

He had two options - to try and breach the barrier and hope that there were people on board who would be able to help him… people he did not know, or he would have to direct the blade.

The boy made his decision, his mind thinking the words, ‘I hoped I made you proud father’.

The bird started to dive directly downwards, sharply turning to fly away from the airships. Daiki would sacrifice himself in an effort to get the storm away from those trying to escape. His loyalty was promised to Sunagakure, and he would protect them with his life - it was his job after all. The little clay bird, luckily, would not tire but it was outrunning what appeared to be a being of pure elemental energy - maybe even a God.

Suna had been intense for the poor little boy. First he had a class with the Kazekage who had thrown razor-sharp petals at him. Now he was nearly killed by those in an order he had promised to aid, and now he was being chased by a God.

Well, at least Suna wasn’t dull.

He felt the tendrils of sand start to scratch at his neck, as if they were claws. He knew he wasn’t fast enough, but hopefully he had put a bit of space between himself and the airships. The scrolls he carried were locked behind his own chakra, so maybe if someone wanted what he carried he could cause them a bit of a hassle by finding a way around the locks.

He lurched forward as something struck him from his clay bird, the rush of cold air and pain increasing as he started to plummet to the ground.

He had wondered what it would be like to die. He knew there was a coldness about it - in fact he could feel that coldness right now. It was caressing him as he fell, as if promising a place far away from this sun-drenched desert full of madness. He wished he had more time though - it would have been fun to live a full life, and one day hopefully make his father take notice of him.
Perhaps by saving the lives of those on the ships, his father might be proud… just once.

He opened his red eyes, looking upwards at the figure in the sand looking down at him. For some reason the god-man had stopped his pursuit, looking… strangely concerned.

It was then that he felt strong, cold arms pull him close into what was a cold yet comforting embrace as he was held like a baby. He heard the voice, so cold and full of unearthly threats. He felt strength start to fill his small form, his pain going away.

What… what was going on?

[MFT]
[WC: 842]

 

[Myakashi Migoya]

Myakashi Migoya. Yamikage. Head of the mercenary Myakashi clan. Traitor of Konohagakure. Herald of Azathoth.

Father.

Of all of those titles, and those others whispered in darkened corners, many would assume that Migoya would view the last as the least important. Those people would be so very, very wrong.

One of the ‘secrets’ of the enigmatic Myakashi clan was that they had a sacred seal, branded on their skin when accepted into the clan proper. It enabled telepathic communication between them, particularly in times of great distress or when they needed each other to best coordinate themselves during missions. Certainly Migoya’s far-reaching plans were of paramount importance, but overriding everything was familial love and protection for one another.

All it had taken was a telepathic message, even the simple thought of a young boy in danger.

There would be few things more terrifying than an Ancient of Sunagakure. Certainly their power rivalled that of Gods, and any sane person despite their capabilities would flee from such a being. But this was a father protecting his son, and reason and sanity meant nothing. All it would take was a thought by the Yamigakure before he appeared, his blackened robe floating in the air, as he effortlessly caught the young boy in his arms. His fellow Myakashi soldiers would be on their way soon, but for now Migoya would protect what was most important to him.

Eyes, voids of darkness unfathomable since his ‘sacrifice’ to ensure the safety of his clan from the outer Gods, stared directly at this elemental figure. He knew it was an Ancient - he had studied their stories for years - but why were they attacking the village, and his son in particular? Migoya's voice was emotionless and calm, yet that made it all the more terrifying.

“You will not harm him. If you do, I will ensure that you. Will. End.”

There was no further explanation for anyone who knew anything about the structure of the universe, such as this sand creature, would know that whatever was within this creature known as Migoya was not death, nor an element, but the absence of all things. The bottomless void that ended everything. The thing the Gods feared most of all.

Migoya would be using his vast knowledge and expertise at this lull in the pursuit to heal up his young son, never taking his eyes off the Ancient. He cared little for protecting Sunagakure or its resources - they were a means to an end after all - but his son… that was valuable. Irreplaceable. The only memory left of his wife, and he would fight Raiden himself to protect him.

Waiting to see how the Ancient would respond, Migoya would cradle his son for a second before gliding him over to where the clay bird hovered. Giving a cold kiss on his sons forehead he would look deeply into his son’s eyes, so much like his used to be.

“Go to the ship. I will hold off this… thing until it is time. Tell them to lower the barrier and let you through or I will let this storm take them. Go - you have done well my son”.

With that, Migoya would watch as his son would look at him strangly... as if he said something wrong, turning to fly towards the ship once again. The Yamikage would turn towards the sand storm, his darkened gaze staring down the Ancient in a contest of wills.

Few shinobi could hold back whatever this was, but there were few shinobi like Migoya.