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Post by MagusKariusPrelune on Sept 24, 2004 19:34:00 GMT -5
Originally posted by InquisitorMaltheus
The Honor's Mark sped through the ever twisting and changing tides of the warp. Inquisitor Maltheus had just left the bridge, where the navigator had told him that they were very near their destination. He made his way to the training room. There, Stark, a Special Security Enforcer, was training. She spun and punched and kicked at the practice drones so skillfully that, had he not known better, Maltheus would have thought she had been trained in one of the temples of the Assassinorium. She stopped and slowly turned to look at the Inquisitor. She wiped a tickle of blod from her lip, and grinned. It was not a happy grin. She had gone through quite a change recently. Maltheus noted the dark look in her eye as she looked at him. Sweat dripped from her forehead and Maltheus cursed silently under his breath as he saw the mark on her chest. The green flame encircled eye nearly glowed through her tank top. Maltheus turned and continued down the hall. He passed a room and happened a glance into the portal. inside the room a man sat curled up in the corner. He grinned as well, only his was not a dark grin. He drooled onto himself and occasionaly twitched a muscle. There were occasions when he had his wits about him and no one could tell that a foul daemon of the warp had used his body as a vessel to battle the Inquisitor. This was not one of those occasions. Maltheus had promised to take care of Finn after he had helped him on Haven's Port, and he meant to keep that promise.He continued to the cargo hold, where tech servitors were repairing Stark's patrol car. Her cyber-mastiff lay curled up next to the armored car. Even that mechanical killing machine noticed the change within the crew of the ship. Over in the shadows sat a hooded figure, alone. He was mending his cloak and longrifle. He was the only one, aside from Maltheus himself, who did not seem to have taken a complete turn since their landing on the planet.
"Eldrid," Maltheus called out. the hooded figure stood and walked, more glided, to where the Inquisitor stood.
"Yes, Mo'dak," the man replied.
Maltheus eyed him for a moment."What does that mean?" He asked. "Why do you call me that? When I was with the Ordo Xenos, I studied and hunted many of your race. In all that time, I have never heard that phrase."
"It is a term one uses to express respect and distrust all at once," Eldrid answered, pulling his hood back and revealing his distinctively pointy Eldar ears.
"It comes from the philosophy that one should respect his enemy when he goes into battle."
"So you still see me as your enemy," Maltheus asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.
Before Eldrid could answer, the navigator's voice came over the vox. "M'Lord, we are approaching our destination."
Maltheus and Eldrid made thier way to the bridge. There, on the display screen they saw it."Cadia," Maltheus murmured. "The dark forces are gathering. If anyone can help us with knowledge of GreenEye, then they are here, near the Eye."
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Post by MagusKariusPrelune on Sept 24, 2004 19:36:21 GMT -5
Originally posted by InquisitorMaltheus
The Honor's Mark set down on one of the wartorn planet's more peaceful areas. It was some twenty miles to the east of the city of Thravus. Maltheus had heard of a recent Chaos attack on that city and did not want to get too close: he didn't think Stark and Finn could handle that quite yet. Eldrid slid up next to him on the landing platform, hood pulled up and rebreather covering much of his face. He had pulled his robes closed so as to hide as much of his intricate Eldar armor as possible. It was bad enough that Maltheus brought an alien to this planet, but an Eldar from the Ulthwë craftworld was worse. Maltheus nodded in response to the station proctor's low bow of greeting and respect. The Inquisitor wore no costume or disguise on this trip. His mission was simple, access the Librarium Daemonica in the Inquisitorial conclave near Thravus and find the Volume of the Liber Chaotica he thought would bring him some answers. He knew, however, that it would not be easy. With the Arch-Warmaster gathering his forces and preparing to launch an all out attack, cultists and traitor groups would be popping up everywhere. Maltheus tensed for a moment as he heard it again. The insane laughter in the back of his head. Though it sounded very far off, he could still hear it.
"To the Librarium," he instructed. Eldrid nodded. They walked off towarad the Schola district, followed closely by Stark and her Cyber-Mastiff. Not far behind her, arms restrained to his side, was Finn. He giggled a bit and tried to lick his shadow whenever he happened to see it on the walls near him. His visions, however, could prove to be a useful warning mechanism, thought Maltheus.
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Post by MagusKariusPrelune on Sept 24, 2004 19:38:16 GMT -5
Originally posted by InquisitorMaltheus
Finn stopped in his tracks at that point. "Hmmm ... Greeny?" He ruminated as his tongue slipped out of his mouth and tried to find a way up his nostril."Come on you!" a gaurd instructed and gave his charge a kick to keep him moving. Finn didn't think about GreenEye again until much later. As the party drew nearer and nearer to the Libraria the laughter started again in Maltheus mind, but as it was almost constant he didn't give it a second thought and blocked it. For Finn however the laughter was accompanied by a mocking voice.
"SO, LITTLE MAN, HAS YOUR KEEPER COME TO LOOK FOR ANSWERS? WELL THAT WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR HIM AND NOT TOO PLEASANT EXPERIENCE FOR YOU EITHER. HOW ABOUT WE MAKE THINGS MORE INTERESTING, EH? ... BOOM."
The laughter started to fade. "Boom," Finn repeated, the last word in these visitations was usually the most important. He said it almost like a whisper and it couldn't be heard over the noise of the transport. Then realisation dawned. "BOOM! BOOM!" Finn started to thrash about and shout. He nudged Maltheus with his head and then gestured to a pile of rubble by a shot up Church. "What is it? Over there?"
Finn nodded rapidly in agreement. Maltheus stood up on the tranport and peered at the rubble. He could make out movement."Everybody out! Now!" The crew unquestioningly bailed, Finn being booted out by his guard. The man, however, was not so lucky as the cultist behind the rocks shoved the plunger down and the ground beneath the tranport erupted. The smoking transport landed with a crash on its roof. The gaurd was no where to be found.
"Cover!" Maltheus commanded as cultist broke cover firing with automatic weapons at the Inquisitor and his henchmen. Finn wiggled worm-like behind a fallen statue of the Emporer.
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Post by MagusKariusPrelune on Sept 24, 2004 19:43:10 GMT -5
Originally posted by InquisitorMaltheus
Stark rolled to the left. She reached out and pulled Finn behind cover by his hair. She breathed deeply in excitement at the violence going on around her. She stood defiantly, in spite of the ensuing fire fight happening all about. She drew her auto pistols and leveled them in front of her. She smiled as she fell cultist after cultist.Maltheus drew his twin barreled bolt pistol and opened fire. "Damn you," he cursed as he fired on the frenzied cultists.
Eldrid was off before anyone had realised it. He had found a piece of high ground with good line of sight on the sudden battlefield. through the scope of his longrifle, he targeted and ended the lives of cultist after cultist. He noticed, at the back of the crowd of cultists a man in long flowing green robes, the burning eye emblazoned across the right breast. He targeted the High Priest's tainted heart. With a squeeze of the trigger, the robed man dropped.Maltheus stood and drew his eldar power sword. He charged forward, ending the lives of three cultists. He looked around: there was calm. Stark had holstered one of her pistols. She scanned the battlefield for survivors, and, finding one, ensured his end.Maltheus walked over and lifted Finn to his feet.
"What was that? What did Greeneye say?" he asked angrily. He took Finn's face in both of his hands and looked intently into his eyes. The old man was in there somewhere...Maltheus had to find him. "Finn, I need you to tell me exactly what the Daemon told you."Finn grinned and drooled on hiself. He stuck his tounge out and chewed on it for a moment. "Gerfundle...shum..farlek...aahhh..." Finn babbled. Maltheus was frustrated, he handed Finn over to another guard.The Librarium was not far from where they were. They would walk from here, those that survived anyhow.
"This is going to be a long day," Maltheus said, quietly.
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Post by MagusKariusPrelune on Sept 24, 2004 19:45:50 GMT -5
Originally posted by InquisitorMaltheus
The remainder of the trek to the librarium was pretty uneventful. After about an hour's walk, the large cathedral like building loomed before them. At the main entrance a proctor bowed low in recognition of Maltheus' status. "How may the librarium be of assistance, Inquisitor?" the proctor asked in a sing songy voice. "My guard and my," he looked over his shoulder at Finn, "and him will be joining me inside. The others will stand guard here," Maltheus instructed, all the while attempting to find a taint of Chaos in the proctor. There was none to be found. "Very well, Inquisitor," the proctor gushed. "Help yourself to our knowledge."As Maltheus led Stark and Finn inside the building the proctor reached out to the Security Enforcer. He brushed her shoulder with his fingers and she got a very cold chill down her spine. She turned quickly in defense, but the proctor merely smiled. *** The Liber Chaotica," Maltheus mumbled. If only he could actualy find that fabled tome, all his questions would be answered. No, there would be no such luck today. He and his companions made thier way deep inside the Librarium. Corridors twisted and doors sealed and unsealed as they made their way deeper inside. Soon they stood before a door. There were no markings, no indications as to what lie behind the door. Maltheus removed a key from somewhere inside his coat. Opening the door he walked into a dark and long forgotten room within the halls of knowledge. "What is this place?" Stark asked. "The Chamber of the Lost," Maltheus answered. "These volumes contain the stories and memoirs of all the Members of the Inquisition who have fallen to the dark gods." "Green Eye is in here," Finn spoke softly. They turned to look at him. It was Finn alright, the old Finn. The Finn that Maltheus had met on Heven's Port. He was having one of his clear moments now. "Green Eye has infested many of the pages of this chamber. Their stories are his story." "This is where we will find answers," Maltheus brooded.With that, they began their tedious search through the multiple tomes and data slates.
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Post by MagusKariusPrelune on Sept 24, 2004 19:49:45 GMT -5
Originally posted by InquisitorMaltheus
Finn breathed out through his nose in a satisfyingly long breath. It was a good feeling to be in control of his actions again. He had long since know not to get hysterical with joy at these occasions, they would come along sooner or later and there was not much that could be done for him during them. So he had vowed to himself to be of as much coherent help to Maltheus as he could, when he could.He flicked through the last pages of another heavy book. He slammed the back cover shut with frustration. So much of Green Eye's taint but very little hard evidence or fact. With a resigned sigh he took a further book from the shelf. As soon as he touched it a shiver ran down his back. "It is here," he said in almost a whisper. This was the feeling that he had been looking for, the tell-tale crawling sensation throughout his flesh that denoted a useful turn of events pertaining to Green Eye. "Sir, would you come to look at this?" Maltheus rose from a large book bound in some alien hide or other. Whatever it was Finn would not have liked to meet it whilst it was alive. The Inquisitor walked over to the old man."What is it?" "Green Eye, sir, a chink in his armour. The specific incident is here in this book." "Where?" "I have not yet located it but it is definitely in here, it's a hunch." Hunch was usually an understatment for these cases and Maltheus had learnt that. "Oh and sir, that man, at the door. I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him and he looks very heavy." "OK then I'll deal with it. Guard, I have a job for you." Before he could give the order there was a knock at the door. "I hope that all is sssatissfactory?" The sibilance was a new speech defect for the priest. The door started to swing open. *** LITTLE MAN, TOO CLOSE, TOO CLOSE. THIS MUST BE CHANGED.The laughter began to drown him. As Finn looked at his protector with pleading eyes, the daemon entered the room.
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Post by MagusKariusPrelune on Sept 24, 2004 19:52:25 GMT -5
Originally posted by InquisitorMaltheus
Maltheus reacted quickly, grabbing the book from Finn's now feeble grasp. He tossed it across the room to Stark, who caught it and tucked it quickly away. "Run," he commanded. "Get back to the ship." Stark nodded and leapt past the intruder at the door. He hissed loudly as she slipped by, evading his grasp. As she landed, she turned and looked at her Cyber-Mastiff. "Pretty," she called to the mechanical dog, "fetch." She pointed at the intruder. The cyber creature's kill command had been initiated. Maltheus grinned. This should be good. The animal had no soul, no mind so as to intrude upon. That was a smart move on Stark's part. "Back so soon, Daemon?" Maltheus asked, an angry growl underlying his already harsh voice. He drew his bolt pistol and opened fire. The psychicaly charged rounds struck the daemon in the chest. Maltheus spun out of the way as the dark abomination returned fire. Its Eyes glowed with the evil green Maltheus had learned to hate. Energy so evil it was nearly black shot from those sockets and consumed several volumes in dark green flames. Finn had found himself flung on the floor, writhing in pain as he tried to block the insidious daemon from taking over his thoughts again. *** Stark ran as fast as she could toward the Honor's Mark. Once inside she knew she would be safe. The ship's icons and wards would keep the Green Eye out, but she knew she had to get there first. The symbol of the green eye burned on her chest. It once again, nearly glowed through her uniform. As she rounded the corner for the street heading toward the landing port, she halted in her tracks. There before her were nearly a dozen large men in the tell tale green robes and masks of the firefight before. "Damn," she muttered as she drew her autopistol. She leveled her gun and charged forward. Reply Back To Thread Navigation
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Post by MagusKariusPrelune on Sept 24, 2004 19:54:46 GMT -5
Originally posted by Mentirius
Greeneye had wasted, sickly green skin, six horns bursting from his bald head. Its fingers were long, gnarled talons, and its eyes burned with emerald fire. As Maltheus’ shot struck home it blew a bloody hole in the apparition’s chest, and the laughter intensified as it struck back, setting a nearby shelf on fire. As the wound closed, the blue cloth quickly stitched itself back together, though the bloodstains remained. It darted forward, lashing out with inhuman speed, and the pistol flew from his grasp, the skin of his hand shredded by the daemonhost’s claws. Drawing his sleek power sword, the Inquisitor attacked, weaving a web of glowing steel in the air before him. Greeneye parried the first blow with its bare hand, not a mark showing as it deflected the pulsing blade. The voice Maltheus loathed spoke again, and Finn curled into a tight ball on the floor, trying to shut out the whisper that tormented his dreams. “IT APPEARS YOU HAVE THE SCENT, INQUISITOR. CONGRATULATIONS. AND GOOD LUCK ON FINDING YOUR DOOM, IT SEEMS I HAVE NO NEED TO STALK YOUR NIGHTMARES WHEN YOU SO YEARN TO WALK INTO MINE."”Their movements seemed to slow, the air becoming as thick as treacle. Maltheus saw every action in painful slow motion as the duel continued, but when he tried to speak, only an incomprehensible babble could be heard. Greeneye continued, never letting up its attacks. “FLIES AND SPIDERS, MALTHEUS. ONE AND NINE. DESTINY IS A WEB. ALL THREADS SERPARATELY SPUN, YET ALL LEAD TO THE CENTRE, WHERE THE SPIDER IS WAITING.”The fire had spread now, and the library was in flames. Such knowledge would be lost…<br> *** Stark shot the first man in the face, his head snapping back as his features were ruined and blood sprayed from the back of his skull. Not slowing her pace, she bulled into the next, elbowing him in the throat and sending him reeling. A third leapt at her with a pair of knives, and went down with three bullet holes in his chest. But there were too many, and they closed in, several levelling shotguns at her while other brandished knives and stubbers. Stark gritted her teeth as a robed cultist let off a shotgun in her face, raising her free hand protectively.The shot rang in her ears, but somehow she felt no pain, and the attackers shrank back as a flash of green light sent the shell back in the man’s face, shattering his mask and breaking his neck as it blasted into his head. The green eye on her chest glowed with a piercing light, and even through her uniform the flames surrounding it seemed to dance and crackle. Time seemed to slow, and Stark found herself spinning with unnatural speed as the cultists around her slowly reacted. The gun in her hand blazed, picking out the throats and hearts of the robed men somehow, and sending them falling back with blood slowly trickling from the wounds.Then she came back to reality with a jolt, and fell heavily to the floor, still clutching the autopistol. How had she moved so fast? Why had she not run out of ammunition? Why did she want to feel all that power again, yet fear to feel it as well? She cursed and asked the Emperor to forgive her, but for what? Her emotions, her humanity? Scrambling to her feet, Stark looked around her in shock. The cultists were dead, every one, and she was alone in the street. Pushing how and why to the back of her mind, she ran.
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Post by MagusKariusPrelune on Sept 25, 2004 11:03:32 GMT -5
Originally posted by InquisitorMaltheus
Eldrid saw the scrivner servitors scurry from the librarium. He wondered for a moment what was going on, then heard the distinct sounds of Maltheus' bolt pistol. He moved, at the same time pulling out his shuriken pistol. His Mod'Ak, his friend and rival, was in danger and he was bound to help him. He ran through the librarium, checking his locator for Maltheus' signal. He rounded the corner and saw it. Nine feet tall and green. the room beyond was engulfed in green flame. Eldrid muttered an ancient prayer to Kaine and leveled his pistol as the daemon stumbled backwards and the door slammed shut in its face.
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Post by MagusKariusPrelune on Sept 25, 2004 11:07:19 GMT -5
Originally posted by Mentirius
Greeneye turned, its burning eyes fixing on Eldrid as he let fly with his shuriken pistol. The shurikens sliced into its gangly form without mercy, but it laughed, the skin on its face pulled back so it was almost a skull, long fangs bared. The six horns had grown longer and coiled, and muscles were bulging on its long limbs. The emerald light from its eyes bathed the corridor as it raised a taloned hand.The Eldar felt an unbearable agony in his head, pain that shuddered through every essence of his being. The psychic attack pressed home without mercy, forcing him to his knees. As sensitive to the warp as Eldrid’s race were, he was shocked by the power of the daemon, as it tore into him like knives in his soul. Slowly, unable to stop himself, he raised the pistol, and put it to the side of his head. Greeneye laughed harshly. His mind was filled with a sudden vision, of a dice, spinning and bouncing on smooth black stone. Eldrid’s actions were not his own as his finger closed on the trigger. *** Finn screamed, as the eye filled his head, and he felt like his skin was burning. Maltheus gripped him tightly, but he suddenly felt himself lash out, throwing the Inquisitor away. One word filled his ears. “Strings…” He turned, sudden strength filling his wasted limbs, and lunged at Maltheus, seeing only green, hearing only the voice of the daemon. Power crackled at his fingertips.
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Post by MagusKariusPrelune on Sept 25, 2004 11:09:51 GMT -5
Originally posted by Evial
"He he silly Inquisitor-man. You dig too deep so you shall suffer for it. But don't worry there is no end, there is only change." From that last sentance and his general actions it was clear that this was not the real Finn. This stranger lunged at Maltheus and hit him heavily, knocking him off balance. Intwined the pair tumbled and rolled down the stairs.
The power from Finn was coursing through his finger and in to the body of his former protector. It was all that Maltheus acould do to remain conscious and even so he did not wish to hurt his charge. The laughter of a child broke into the Inquisitor's mind as the electricty from Finn made his muscles spasm.They kept falling down and down until they reached a landing. On impact Maltheus who was beneath Finn pushed his feet against the possessee's stomach and kicked out hard over his head. Finn flew away and landed with a crack on a wall of the landing.
"Strings broken..."The old man lay unconscious against a far wall and the Inquisitor was prostate at the bottom of a large flight of spiral stairs.
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Post by MagusKariusPrelune on Sept 25, 2004 11:12:11 GMT -5
Originally posted by InquisitorMaltheus
Maltheus pushed himself to his feet. Finn lay still by the wall. At least he was not being tormented in that state. Maltheus pulled out his locator and punched up his team member's codes. He let out a sigh of relief as he saw Stark's signal coming from the ship. To his horror, however, he saw that Eldrid was near, right above him actualy. He muttered a prayer for the Eldar, scooped Finn up over his shoulder and began making his way through the underground maze. It had been many years since he had been here. His master, whose story was being burned in the Library of the Lost, had showed him this place in a very similar situation. Maltheus shook his head and pushed the thoughts of Braxus, his fallen mentor out of his head. This corridor would lead him back to the surface and then to his ship. Once he was there, he could examine the book Finn had found for him. *** Eldrid closed his eyes. How could this be happening? He had sworn to help Maltheus rid the universe of foul Daemons just like this one, and now it would be his end. He felt his finger squeasing the trigger, and could not stop it. "No," was all he could mutter. He felt the distinct click of the trigger as it reached the charging point. His head should have been split open and gushing by now, but he was still aware of what was going on. He chanced a look to see what was happening. There, at eye level was the razor sharp shuriken spinning slowly. The Daemon stood before him, its horns now flowing and moving of thier own accord. NOW IS THE MOMENT OF DESCISION, LITTLE SPIDER. THE DICE HAVE BEEN ROLLED. THERE IS NO DEATH ONLY CHANGE. Eldrid cringed at the words...What could they mean?
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Post by MagusKariusPrelune on Sept 25, 2004 11:15:32 GMT -5
Originally posted by InquisitorMaltheus
On the Honor's Mark, Stark stared at the book on the floor. Somewhere in those pages was information that could lead Maltheus to the end he was looking for. What was Nine Eyes' weakness? Finn spoke of a chink in the armor, and surely it must be so. Otherwise, why would the daemon have manifested right then and there? She circled the book staring at it. What if she looked for the answers? No, that was an Inquisitor's work. Maltheus knew what to look for. But maybe, just maybe there were answers to her questions. What of this new power she seemed to unconsciously wield? Her skin began to crawl. She needed a drink. Maltheus never kept anything strong enough for her on the ship. He felt they needed to keep thier senses sharp. She didn't care right now.
She would go find something, a bar...a winery...she didn't care. She would leave the safety of the ship and venture into the city once again. She did not fear the denizens that could be out there, for she now wielded a strnage and wonderful, all be it scary and evil, new power. She left the ship and headed down the street, hoping to find some sort of escape from this nightmare she had found herself. Maltheus might get angry, but he would forgive her...he always did...
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Post by MagusKariusPrelune on Sept 25, 2004 11:18:54 GMT -5
Maltheus returned to the hangar where the Honor's Mark was docked. He entered the cargo hold, and found the book lying on the floor. Stark had done what he had asked and now she was gone. If she were to not return, he would understand. He had hoped however that she would return. Eldrid would be fine and they would meet again somewhere, somehow. He called over a maintenance servitor and instructed it to leave Eldrid's Nightwing fighter craft there in the dock, using the usual disguising methods they had in the past. He went to the navigator and instructed him to give Stark one more hour, then would be time to leave.
He took the book out once again when he was in his quarters. He placed it in a stasis trunk and closed the lid. He would not study it right now...no, now was the time to meditate on the Emperor, and his way. When Maltheus had come out of his meditative trance, he found that the Honor's Mark had taken off. They were enroute to his homeworld...there he could find a safe place and study the volume from the Lidrary of the Lost. He stood and stretched his legs. Then he saw her...Stark had returned.
She found him in his trance and had, apparently, passed out on his bed. He shook his head and left the room. He went to the bridge and looked out the view screen. Eldrid was out there somewhere, he had hoped. Then he wondered, why did he care so much for the alien? He pushed the thought from his head and thanked the Emperor that he and most of his team had made it out of Cadia alive. Then, he asked for guidance. Would he ever find the answers he sought? Would Green Eye haunt him for the rest of his days? Again, he looked out the view screen.
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Post by MagusKariusPrelune on Sept 25, 2004 12:10:27 GMT -5
Originally posted by InquisitorMaltheus
"Phew, that was exciting wasn't it? Yes it was but where has that pointy-eared fellow gone? I don't know, but why are you asking me? I am just asking around, hey lets ask this guy...." Finn was sitting in his quarters babbling to himself. It was pretty wierd because he was not your normal crazy guy. For somewhere bubbling beneath the surface of schizophrenia and paranoia was a normal old man who was completely in control of his senses. Nobody knew where he went when Finn, the body, was mad.Where ever it was it was green. He stood or sat in a green room. There was nothing particularly horrific about it but it just had doors or windows or any other discernable way of getting out. And Finn had tried to get out. Sometimes a door would appear. To go through the door was very cold and a sharp pain lanced down his spine when he did but the door led to a consciousness, not necessarily his own. But they all had something to do with Green Eye. *** The Honor's Mark set down on the planet and a man looked up at it landing. He collapsed and felt a freezing pain in the back of is neck. "Hello, Maltheus," he whispered to himself.
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