Reality B(ites)

[Argus Steele]

A hooded cloak wearing figure was running down the street as if the very hounds of Hades were nipping at his or her heels. It'd pause by Argus' parked SUV to catch its breath, haunched over, before first looking up to the skies, then down at its wrist. The cloak had fallen away enough to display a clutched package. After collecting itself, a brisk walk would began, hints of another possible sprint if need be, as its trek down the street continued.

Eve had stood to the side of one of the windows, peering out carefully, making sure she wasn't seen. Of course, the young woman wasn't sure what was actually going on, or what the source of the crash had been - and where was everyone else? Was it like before, when everything had seemed....stopped? Out of time? That fact that the figure was hidden by the cloak and hood gave her pause, hesitate as to whether or not to chase the form. But...it seemed the only other 'person' moving around. A fidget of her hands, a glance around, and she made for the door, and out. Wanting to shout at the figure, but half-afraid to. Still, she picked up into a quick, light-footed run, trying to keep watch around her at the same time. The figure *did* seem to be running from something, after all.

And as if on cue, the very air itself was disrupted by what sounded like an air siren. The cloaked figure reacted in kind, suddenly running in full stride, its footsteps would soon have them approaching and then passing Argus' abode. Eve had been spotted, or it seemed that way with the figure looking in that direction, as he ran past her.

Looking up once again, then back at Eve, the figure stopped, turned, and was suddenly running towards Eve. "Are you daft? Get back inside! Hide before it's too late!" She wouldn't be given a chance to respond, before a gloved hand grabbed her wrist, in a fratic attempt to pull her back inside.

Meanwhile, those same air sirens were starting to sound more like unholy wails of the damned, the skies turning a blood red color.

The voice...was it familiar? It was hard to tell in that situation. She gave a gasp at the grasp of her arm, and attempted to twist loose. It was a habitual movement, something ingrained so deeply into her that it was dificult to shake. At least the person was gloved..."Who are you? What's going on?" But...moving at the same time, voiced raise in an effort to talk over the noise. She wasn't resisting the effort to go back inside, but Eve was getting a bit sick of feeling lost.

"Movemovemovemovemove!" That same grip became stronger, dragging her away from the door."Need to find a closet girl ... Now!"

The walls in the house seemed to be peeling paint, losing their color, the wailing becoming louder. "Why is it that they always ask questions instead of *moving!*" The hood would fall away, exposing it's owner ... Jared?

"Maybe because I'm tired of feeling like I'm in dark!" Spoken between gritted teeth, leaning toward him for a moment. She was a little angry, but it was most just irritation. She'd been moving, but apparently being dragged wasn't good enough for him. Another attempt to twist free, and she darted around him, going back in herself. Eve didn't know what was going on, but she was fairly sure she wasn't going to like it. And the sound was giving her a serious headache, making her pulse pound hard in her temples.

Running past a room, he looked inside, eyes growing wide. It was a bedroom, which meant... "A closet! Movemovemove!" And off he darted, but not before snagging her once again, dragging and pulling her into the room, then the closet, pulling the door shut behind them. During all this, the surroundings had been changing around the pair, the house looking more abandoned, deserted, decayed. "Shh!" Was all she would heard next, over the wailing, as Jared held onto the door knob for dear life, as the wailing suddenly stopped, and it was deathly quiet. (w) "Shh! Not a word, lass. They'll hear! Talk later. Hopefully." Wait. Did Jared just call her a lass?

Needless to say, she didn't much care for being shoved into a closet with someone she didn't know very well. Top that off with everything else...and this girl was doing very well to hold her tongue. A narrow cut of her eyes at the word 'lass,' as if to debate if it would be something in Jared's repetoire of...Jared-isms. And was his accent still there? In Eve's strangely shifting version of reality, it seemed all too likely someone else was wearing his guise, as someone had worn her own - along with those of others she knew. Eve was watching him - well, staring really - unblinking, unmoving. She didn't seem fearful either, but...cautious.

The watch on his wrist would glow and pulse softly. Jared didn't notice at first, until being the only source of light within the closet, it caught his attention. Only then did he let go of the door knob, dropping back onto the items that were inside the closet. Wiping the sweat that had been pouring from his brow, he reached inside the package he had been carrying, producing what seemed to be several yellow glowing orbs, which allowed both to see the other more clearly. "I think it's safe, for now. Cannae I be assumin' that ye be new here? Dehm it to Hades, the rift is getting worse. " As he muttered, one thing was certain: There was no trace of any New Zealand accent, and whatever accent he spoke with sounded more like something from one of those medieval movies.

"Here. You take one of these. You see anythin' not looking ... well, human, jus' have a good aim, eh? " Taking a deep breath, he slowly reached up to open the door.

It took a few moments longer for her mind to catch up with his accent. What kind of accent *was* that? It sounded almost like a really bad Scottish or British, but she couldn't say for sure. "No, I make it a habit to go running down the street chasing cloaked figures that look like one of my co-workers underneath." The arch of a brow at the glowing object, and a glance back at him. "Not human." Wonderful. Shouldn't she be fairly used to that by now? "What am I supposed to *do* with it?" At least she *did* drop the volume of her voice, to almost a whisper.

He looked over his shoulder at her for a second, before offering a boyish grin. "Ye be throwin' it lass, an' hope your aim is true." He wasn't sure about the other things she had been rambling about, but now wasn't the time or place.

"We stick close, an' ride this out, lass. Things should change back soon." Once they stepped out from within the closet, they were still inside Argus' home, but it looked like a bomb hit it. Trashed. Rusted out. Old.

"Name's Jarrod buy the way. I know ye be havin' questions, they'll have to wait for now. " Moving over to a window, he peeked from it, as if watching or looking from something.

Even with the red skies, it offered enough light for Eve to take note of attire he wore. He was dressed like a ... Pirate. How weird was that? And ironic since Argus often called him that. If this was the same one. He didn't seem to recognize her...Was he a friend? Foe? Daemon in disguise? "There. That's what we be watching for." Motioning her to the window, Eve wouldn't anything at first, then it moved.

It looked human...but had been all twisted up and spat out. It was scurrying along the side of the building across the street. Then she saw another, and another still...They were communicating by speaking in a series of clicking noises. The streets were changed as well. looking more like a post after effect of a nuclear war.

"Mm. Questions always have to wait, but they're all rarely answered." She wasn't much for trusting him, but he seemed to be the only thing alive...well, except for the things scrambling around outside, but 'alive' was a term she'd use loosely. A moment of looking out the window, before she stepped back, taking a look around - but still keeping him in sight. "Alright, Pirate. What now?"

..Here was *really* hoping that her 'normal' reality would set back in. Any. Second. Now.

"Wha' did ye just call me?" That 'pirate' comment seemed to had caught him off guard, just as he was making his way out of the room.

Of course that would have to wait because Eve if took notice that the shadows around them, they were moving. Right towards them. Slowly, like as if they were stalking them.

"Pirate?" Yeah, so *he'd* get Jarred's nick this time. "...We're being stalked." Eve didn't like that. Too much, and from more than one side. She was on his heels, not letting him out of her sight...and reluctant to stay around the moving shadows.

Something...something wasn't right. Well, more than the obvious... "What do you do about hunting shadows?" Yeah, nothing like being the newbie. She was sure he'd be sick of her pretty quick, but here was hoping she wouldn't be there long enough to find out!

A sound reached her ears from down the hall, a metallic scraping, a crackle of glass. A glance toward the door that still half-hung on its rusted, corroded hinges, and a glance back at Pirate, as if questioning. Nope, she definately didn't want to go take a look.

"Orb." Passing several more to her, Jarrod threw one at their feet, which cause a blinding flare of light. It had zero effect on Eve's eyes, but the shadows? They screamed before shattering into a billion pieces. That was the good news. The bad? It alerted whatever was making that noise. Suddenly, Eve's personal perception changed, as she had a first person view of going beyond the door, and down the hallway to see ... It. A huge hulking nightmare with two hideous heads, wielding a massive looking club. Then just as quickly, what she *saw* rewound itself until she was back inside the room, where Jarrod was reaching for the door. "Hope those legs of yours can move verra quickly lass. Those buggers outside like to hunt in packs! These orbs will work on them as well!"

Oh...but she really didn't want to meet what was down the hall. Collecting the orbs and holding them mostly in the curve of one arm for lack of anywhere better, she blinked at the odd change in perceptions, brows knitting briefly. "We're gonna have a big one for company, if we don't get a move on." It wasn't the most nightmarish thing her mind had ever come up with, but it was still twisted, something out of a nightmare. She weighed an orb in her hand, both fidgeting and just testing it - but making sure her grip was good. "...Just lead the way."

"Simple enough, lass. We head out the way we came in, make a sharp right, an' keep on running until ye hear the church bells." A nod given before the door was yanked on and discarded, with a second orb tossed for good measure. The flash gave the duo enough time to make a mad dash for the main door. With one *small* problem. That walking nightmare also hunted in packs, just as the front door was being opened, a loud booming sound followed a large club bursting through the door, turning it into so much wood chips...and knocking Jarrod right into Eve. The pirate was out cold, taking the full brunt of the impact, blood pouring from his forehead. Hell if he didn't weigh more than he looked, because the twin terrors were closing on her from both sides, and she found herself partially pinned.

She didn't scream. That in itself was probably something to be proud of, but that was the last thing on her mind. A sharp gasp, and she ducked and darted, trying to get further away from the twin terrors. The first real thought that occurred to her was her abilties - but would they even work there? She could Feel them in the back of her head, thrumming pent up energy, building with her own fear and anxiety and stress. Throwing one of the orbs at one of the creatures - and she was even a fair enough shot to hit it in the shoulder, no small feat for darting and dodging and dashing as she was - and Eve did the only thing she knew to do. She tried to access the energy, more than half-expecting it to be blocked somehow, and having a distaste for relying on it at the same time. One of those shockwave blasts would have been really great right about now..

One would continue to persue the female, while the other grabbed the male by his ankle, dragging him outside. *Bong!* *Bong!* Bells? Whatever they were, the nightmare after her ...wasn't there. *Bong!* Argus' house? Back to normal. *Bong!* The red skies? Gone. But it still wasn't *her* reality. And what of Jarrod? The destroyed door was now an opened one, sans of any damage. And several yards just beyond the house lay Jarrod, face down.

The cloak the covered him also prevented Eve from seeing if he was still breathing, though everything else seemed to be ... Normal.

That...that was getting old. Eve wanted to scream in frustration at the sudden change - that seemed more and more likely to happen these days - but instead put a lock down on the thrum of energy in the back of her mind. Not that she wound down or anything; she was still high strung, pulse pounding, unsure of what to believe. Half expecting some other critter to come jumping out or slinking up any time. A deep breath, and she went over to Jarrod, crouching down beside him, daring to reach out in an effort to turn him over - or at least determine if he was breathing.

[Argus Steele]

He'd have a serious knot on the side of his head for awhile, but he was alive. Glancing blow, it seemed. He was already coming around. "Me father said I was always the hard headed one. Did...did the bells sound, lass?"

Trying to rise in a sitting postion, he cringed in pain when he lightly touching his head wound. Trying to stand was even a greater effort, but he managed. Barely. "We need to be goin' lass. Not safe here. An' those shifts are too random to predict. Get ye to the others, an' hope Arion can figure out what the Hades is goin' on. Um, I might be needed a little help. The sidewalk won't stay still."

Managing to help him into a standing position, and even offer some support, Eve threw a quick glance around. She tended to do that frequently, mostly because she didn't like the idea of something sneaking up - though she was that at least *most* of the creatures were confined to that siren-wailing time. "Who's Arion? Happen to know anyone by the name of Argus or Amber?" Well, there *was* a Jarrod after all, even if he was different from the one she knew. Not wanting to get caught out there again, with him injured and her inexperienced, she tried to help him along the way.

As unfocused as his eyes were, even through his crimson mask, Eve was given a look, at the mention of Argus' name. "You don't mean Argus ... Steele, do ye?" Eve felt as if they were being watched, and more often than not, she would catch a fleeting glimspe of a figure or two from various rooftops. "Don't fret, lass. Those folks be on our side. Watchers. That's where we need to go... " The distance was all wrong, but there was no mistaking the building. Stonebridge!

"Tohmaz? Or, um, Tohmaz *A.* Steele as he puts it?" Her heart gave a little jump at that, but she was careful to quell the excitement. Even if there *was* a Steele here, that didn't necessarily mean anything. There was a Jarrod there, and he didn't know her from anyone else!

At the sight of the building, Eve balked, abruptly. Her stormy gaze widened a little, and she gave Pirate that look as if to say 'are you serious?' "That's...that's where we have to go?" Dubious, doubtful.

The closer they got to the building, Eve noticed more people about, some looking their way, more *her* way, sizing up the newcomer. Several came towards them, offering to assist with Jarrod. "Jarrod, can't you go anywhere without getting hurt? That lucky streak of yours is going to run out sooner or later, Pirate. We've got him, miss. And thanks."

Jarrod would wave them off, while pointing at Eve. "Take her to Arion, pronto. "

Pausing long enough to whisper something in the other man's ear, he'd nod and run inside the building.

The others still were hovering around Jared, one in particular, looking *exactly* like Amber! She had not taken notice of Eve just yet, for she was too busy examining Jarrod's head.

"Boy, you have a concussion! Get him inside and keep an eye on him until the doctor can see him." Turning to greet the newcomer she had heard about, her eyes grew narrow as she just stares at Eve. "Oh. You again. I guess you've earned your keep this time, but don't push your luck, or I'll see personally that you'll be on the outside when the next shift occurs."

With that being said, she turned and went back to other pressing matters. Several others near by whispered and pointed at her, while she was escorted inside the building.

Oh, lovely. A threat. Eve merely tilted her head a little, inquisitively, and delicately arched a brow. "Me again?" Not that she actually expected a response to the question. It was funny, though...the more versions she saw of Amber - alright, even if at least one of them *had* been a daemon in disguise - the less she was sure that she liked or trusted the girl. Or maybe that was her own paranoia getting in the way...

Hooking her thumbs through the belt loops of her jeans, she followed where she was led, even though she didn't look very happy with going into that building. Stonebridge had always reminded her of a predator - big and brooding, just waiting for the right moment to pounce and devour. "What is it about this place...?" Whispered on the edge of a breath, eyes turned heavenward, looking at the structure.

"Welcome to the Stonebridge. I'm Doctor Damon Maxwell. I hear you were the one that brought Jarrod in? Can you please tell me what happened?"

Oh, she knew the voice right off, before even turning to see who it was, but when she did? This version of her doctor was quite a bit older, complete with the streaks of grey at the temples. His posture was non-threatening, and he actually came across as...pleasant. " He wasn't attacked by those...things was he?"

That...that *voice.* Even if he was trying to be pleasant, it made her cringe unconsciously. Eve winced, shoulders tensing, and looking at the man doubtfully. Not...not what she was used to. For all of a heartbeat, she was absolutely positive that she had, indeed, lost her mind. It passed quickly, and she drew a deep breath, carefully made herself relax.

"Yeah. Two really big ugly ones came in. One caught him a club through the door, I think."

"Damon, at least give our latest arrival time to gather her bearings, hmmm? Ever the doctor you are. Grill Jarrod. I'm sure he'll tell you all about it. Sorry about that. He plays the father figure a wee bit to much." Eve knew that voice as well, only it sounded more smooth, refined. Lacking that rough street tone edge. However, what he said next? Extending his hand, he smiled to her. "I'm thinking we should just erect a sign instead offering welcome any more. I feel like a broken record. Welcome to Stonebridge, one of the few safe havens we have left here. I'm Arion Steele."

Sans the facial hair, and the black leather attire? He looked and sounded like Argus!

Surprises, surprises. She was giving him a quizzical, 'you've got to be kidding me' look, lips slightly parted. "Yeah, I kinda have a hard time seeing this place as safe. Past issues and all." ...And she had a hard time seeing Maxwell as fatherly. That was just...too....weird. "Ah...are you related to...?" The arch of her brow said it all. He *had* to be. If not, then it was one hell of a coincidence!

"Come on inside. I'm sure you need to sit and take this all in, especially if you survived a shift." Leading her inside, she could see Dr. Maxwell tending to Jarrod, along with various others going about their assigned duties. "I can safely assume you're not from this reality, correct?"

Glancing down at her before opening a door, allowing her to go in first. "Get you a bottle water?" Eve had been around enough doctors in her life to know when someone was *mentally* assessing her. He'd give her the water if she accepted it, then sitting on the edge of his desk, still watching her carefully.

She took the bottle, but didn't crack the seal on it. Instead, it was more something to do with her hands. Run a thumbnail over the tiny grooves in the lid, feel the weight of the bottle in her hands. She knew he was assessing her, and while she didn't like it, there wasn't much she could do about it. "What do you mean by shift? And ah...why did Amber make it sound as if I've been here before?"

"The sirens, those...freaks of natures created by the daemon to keep us trapped here. Not too sure how else to describe it, but we discovered so far that they occur every several hours, and last about about 30 minutes. Amber? Hm. She's a tale in itself. Before all of this insanity started, she was a ward of Stonebridge. Mother passed away, and her father left her here because she was ... *different.* She actually had recurring dreams about all of this happening. And of you. Nora. I am glad to see that you have listened to reason, since you are also trapped here. I am curious to how you know my brother Argus."

"Brother." A nod, as that answered the question of his appearance. "Your brother was helping me out. Apparently some daemons were picking out the...ah...'gifted' and killing or converting them. I'm still not exactly sure what led him to me, but...well, he kept me alive, even if I have had some weird encounters. And my name isn't Nora. I'm Eve. Nora's not a longshot though, but her attitude is much nastier." Finally cracking the seal on the bottle, though she only screwed it back into place. Open. Close. Open. Close. "Okay...you said something about me not being from this reality. Yeah, I'd say that's right. One minute I was standing in his place, next thing I know, everything has changed. So that leads me to the question of where is your brother in this reality?" ...Not that she really thought it would make much difference. Still, it would be interesting to know if the whole 'crew' was there, regardless of whether he knew who she was or not.

"Argus?" He seemed surprised, almost amused at what she was telling him, but he could tell she was being truthful.

"Nora ... Ah, Eve. You're not the only one that has *found* themselves here. This isn't my reality either. As for my brother, he's been missing for several years now, and to the general populace, he does not exisit, save to a select few. It's too much of a headache to explain, but if he really is my brother..Hmm. " He was getting ready to say something to her, but thought the better of it. At least right now.

"Nora - " This came with a sudden, sharp cut of her eyes, delicate features surprisingly stern. " - Is not my name. She might look like me, she might claim to *be* me, but that is not me. I am Eve." No anger, but firmness. Hit a nerve? You bet. A shift of her shoulders, trying to shake it, and she drew a breath, looked down at her hands and the bottle. "I don't know. He said his name was Tohmaz A. Steele, runs around with a guy named Jarred that he calls 'pirate' and...and well, Amber. Sort of." Her brows knitted momentarily, and she shrugged. "He's kept me from getting murdered or mutilated so far, and said he was something like a P. I. How could he not exist to the general populace?"

"Another one of me out there? How cool is that, eh?" Jarrod grinned as he walked into the room. His head was bandaged, but he seemed alright as he joined the other two.

"What I meant was in my reality ... His reality. " Arion would rub his temples slowly, as if fighting a serious headache. And that's when the sirens started up again ... Both men looked to the other ... Then back at Eve.

"Hey ,frail, you okay? Talk to us Eve!" One blink. Two blink. Three blink. Four. Eve found herself now looking at Jared and Argus, exactly where Jarrod and Arion were seconds before. And as luck would have it, she was *not* inside Stonebridge.

As for the *siren,* it was a police car passing by the house...

Blink. Blink. Her eyes went from Jared to Steele, back to Jared. Steele again. Then she leaned forward, pressing the heels of her hands against her eyes. "Ooh, this is not cool." She was getting *really* tired of that. "Okay. So, tell me now. What have I been doing?" Hoping she wasn't talking to herself, but...well...she could never be sure.

One thing *was* sure - this was pushing Eve. Hard. Her hands had a little tremor to them, and the breath she let out seemed a little shaky. Good thing she wasn't standing up right now; she wasn't sure if her legs would hold her.

"Uh, you just started spacing out. We were about to get Amber." Argus was kneeling in front of her, really looking concerned.

"Hey, what's this?" Jared picking up something by her feet, then holding it up. It was an orb!

[Argus Steele]

There was a little arguing going on within the ranks, due to what was going on with Eve. Argus and Jared had been debating almost non-stop about getting the Federation bunch involved.

Argus was against the idea, while Jared kept coming up with more valid reasons. Amber, who was in touch via her home monitor connection, listened to all involved, keeping her thoughts to herself for the time being.

Jared still had the orb in possession, as he paced the room. "Argus, this is getting beyond us mate. She's blacking out or something, and then we find this ... Whatever this is. We be needin' to take the feds up on their offer!"

Argus would glance at Eve, then back at Jared before shaking his head no. "That's not our call, Pirate. I'm not turning Elf over to them, just so they can see how she ticks."

"Argus, she's not safe here! And for that matter neither are we!"

Okay, when did they go from Tohmaz to Argus? Go with the flow, go with the flow ...

Argus would just hold up his hand. "Pirate. Power down a notch. This is what they want: Us fighting like this. We'll do this by the numbers. And it will be a team input. Elf's part of the squad, so she gets equal say." And with that being said, all eyes turned towards her.

The young woman currently sat half-leaned over in a chair, elbows propped on her knees, a bottle of water cupped between her hands. She'd done pretty well at keeping her features still, blank, mostly just listening to the back-and-forth between Argus and Jared. Naturally...she was more on Steele's side. She didn't know anything about the Federation, but she couldn't say she really wanted to get involved with them. See how she ticks? Sounded borderline to a vivisection, to say the least, and Eve really wanted no part in that.

"So Jared wants to turn me over to the freak squad so they can do God-knows-what to me, and I'm figuring Amber is still thinking along the same lines." Sitting upright, Eve uncapped the water and had a drink. She really should have been getting around to eat something to try and combat the tension headache that was beginning to burn along the sides of her neck and shoulders, but food was the last thing on her mind now. "I have no intentions of 'being turned over' to them so that they can do...whatever. I'll walk away and take my chances first, live or die." Sinking back into the chair, she put the bottle aside. "Besides, I find it pretty damn rude to be talked about like I'm a diseased animal or something." More directed at Jared than anyone, with a slight arch of a brow. While her mood hadn't exactly soured, she was just as worried as everyone else - if not more so, really. Even she wasn't completely sure what was going on. "And don't drop that." The orb, that was.

"I *never* said turn her over! I'm saying we need their tech right now, 'cause this is bigger than any of us, mate. Admit it. C'mon Amber, chime in already!"

Amber remained quiet, following Jared's outburst, as if weighing her options ... Then clearing her throat, she finally spoke. "Jared, at first, I would have agreed in getting them involved. They knew about Eve well enough to have stepped in long before we even entered the picture, and let us call the shots. Now they want to step in? We've taken it this far...And yeah, I'm worried as Hell as to why the daemons are going through so much trouble to get Eve, too. My sister allowing this facade to happen. " Amber would shift her gaze to Eve. "Yeah, she's my older sister. She thought I was dead, until I contacted her, because I saw the same scene with you once before. Abilities that were treated like a curse. People telling me I was insane. Not knowing enough about what was happening to me, which made me ...." Her voice would trail off - but Argus would take it from there.

"And you were going to kill yourself, if Jared and I had not cross your path. Didn't know that was your sister though. Rule of thumb folks. No more *fucking* secrets! Hurts the trust factor. We know your sister and her lot is watching us. The daemon are watching us. We are ... watching each other. Elf here is going through some freaky shyte right now, discovering more stuff everyday. I know you, Pirate. Despite Amber's little skeleton coming out of her closet, I still trust her. I trust Elf, granted she hasn't been here very long to really trust us."

Pressing her fingertips to the bridge of her nose, Eve took a moment to breathe. Try and gather her thoughts, put them into some kind of cohesive form. "They're trying to push us into thinking ourselves into circles. Put all of us on guard against everyone, both outside and inside this happy little bunch." Raking her fingers through her hair, Eve then gave her head a gentle shake. "The daemons, I mean. Maybe the others too, but I really don't know. It's just - " Raising a hand to the opposite shoulder, the girl tilted her head down, trying to form the proper words. Squeezing the muscle in her shoulder lightly in an effort to relieve some of the burning. Eve was being pushed, and hard. She was starting to reach that point where everything had taken on a tone of unreality, and she wasn't absolutely positive of her own sanity anymore. Scary thing to be living all over again... "It seems like I keep finding out new things, but I'm not sure what the limit is - and I'm afraid to find out, quite frankly."


And right on cue, there was Nora. She wasn't talking this time, only sitting off to the side, and listening. She wasn't being a distraction to Eve this time. It was Eve's comment that had Nora nodding her head in agreement, but no vocal comment.

Jared, not heeding Eve's caution, was tossing and catching the particular orb, while he spoke. "Okay mate. How about we keep them in the loop, as long as they give us our space? The cross the line, we cut the ties. Clean start for both. Amber could be our go-between with her sister. I think they'd go for that. We use any down time to get Eve used to whatever going on up there. Better we know now, than when we are out in the field."

Argus would slowly rub the stubble along his chin, before glancing once again in Eve's direction. "He has a point. We need to know if the daemons are behind your blackouts, or if it's one of your powers acting up. I do want to know what happened to you."

Nora was like a magnet for Eve's gaze, at least for the first few moments. She probably looked a little odd, sitting there seemingly staring at nothing, after which she shivered and rubbed her forearms lightly. It was just a bit creepy, seeing herself sitting across the room....

Finally tearing her eyes away, she looked at Jared and her brows knitted. "Jared? Please stop that." She wasn't sure if dropping the orb there would have the same kind of effect as it did before, but...well, she didn't want to find out.

"I don't know what happened. I might have cut loose and went entirely insane for a few minutes, as much as I'm sure about it. But I do know that that thing he's holding played a little role in it, and..." Deep breath. Get ready *really* sound nuts now... "Jared was there, and Amber. But it *wasn't* them. Not quite, anyway. Jared helped me out, Amber threatened to kick me out and you, Tommy...well...there was someone there that bore a very striking resemblance to you. Called himself Arion." She was absolutely *dying* to ask if he had a brother, but decided to phrase it that way. If nothing else, maybe it could have been taken as a delusion caused by all the stress. So she hoped. "But I don't really want it to happen again so I can try to figure out if I'm nuts or not." But if she was, here was the big question: what *was* the orb, then?

"The orb was something created to deal with the deamons." Nora said, while slowly nodding her head.

Argus had caught the slight shift of Eve's eyes. "Okay. Jared, head over to Ambers. Amber, you get ahold of your sister and Jared, you offer that sales pitch of yours. Throw them a bone about Stonebridge, and those Doctor's Maxwell and Cromwell. We have a little piece and quiet right now, so Eve, you get some rest. You have limits, and I think they're being pushed right now. Me? I'm off to do some research on alternate realities."

Jared just sort of looked bemused. "Dude, did you hear what she said about meeting versions of us?"

Argus waved him off. "Yeah, I heard. One thing at a time, Pirate. You down with the plan, Amber?"

"I am, and no more secrets on my end. See you in a bit, Pirate."

Jared was still mega curious about hearing more about the version of him she met. "Okay, okay! But when I get back, I want to know all about it! Bloody weird!" And Jared was out the door, Amber's monitor had went blank, leaving leaving the pair (three counting Nora) alone.

Argus had his back turned to Eve. "So, when are you going to start trusting us?"

That...went better than expected. She wasn't sure that they really believed her, but then, she wasn't sure she believed it fully for herself. It was just too...weird. "I am trying, believe it or not. Call it paranoia, I guess. Old habits can be hard to shake." Sinking forward in the chair again, Eve sank her fingers into her hair, leaving them there for a moment as she looked down at her sneaker-clad feet. It made her feel a little less off than looking up and seeing Nora there did... "I'm having an easier time of it with you, probably because you've managed to keep me from getting my fool myself killed or converted or otherwise damaged. I just...I don't know Pirate that well yet, and Amber...I know she meant well, but it shook me a little more than I liked." Only now was she coming to understand why: it reminded her of being a kid again. Being a problem to be passed on to someone else when everyone else was tired of dealing with her and her...oddities. Not a good feeling, not at all. "So." Dropping her hands to dangle off her knees, Eve looked up at him again - or rather, his back. "I need to know, so I can be sure if I'm crazy or not. Do you have a brother named Arion?"

"Easier time with me, eh?" Still speaking to her with his back turned. "No, I'm an only child. And that's the truth. Your turn."

"Mmm. Joy. Pack me up an drag me back to nuthatch now, then." That...that wasn't a good thing. Eve rose and gave her head a shake, glancing around for Nora. Maybe Stonebridge really *was* where she belonged, but that didn't mean it was where she wanted to be. Still, for the sudden quick pace of her heart, her voice was remarkably even, nonchalant in nature. "Yeah, I'm a single." She was tempted to go over and grab Steele, by the shoulder, make him turn around to look at her. It was a weird impulse, and given that she knew she wouldn't See anything by touching him...

He had to laugh right then, before turning his head to look at her. "No frail, that's not what I meant by your turn. Who *else* was in this room with us, that only you could See?" Now turning to look at Eve fully, arms folded across his chest. "You get this certain look, whenever he/she/they show up. I've seen it a few other times, like a little bit ago. I don't think you're seeing things, nor do I think you're having a breakdown, 'kay? But you need to level up with me, all the way."

[Argus Steele]

Eve had gotten up and moved a bit closer on light feet, thumbs hooked in the belt loops of her jeans. "Who do you think?" A shrug, brows knitting momentarily. "Nora. *If* Nora actually exists and isn't just some warped little figment. I hope not, because I hope my destructive little mind would be more creative than to come up with a figment than looks just like me." A shake of her head, dropping her hands to her sides. "She pops up sporadically. She was here when my father and Doc showed up. And apparently, she's already been to where I was earlier. Amber called me 'Nora' and threatened to kick me out because of her general behavior, and your almost-look-alike kept trying to call me by her name." Level up. Might as well say all she knew. She was either snapping, or she wasn't. "I don't know how truthful she is, but I don't *feel* like she's lying. I feel like I'd know it, but..." A shrug. "She's the one that said Cromwell is a daemon lord, so I don't know how true it really is." Now...she was wishing she'd stayed put in the chair, because she definately felt like being dramatic and falling back into it with a groan. But instead, she had to settle for just shaking her head. "You may not think I'm whacked, but I'm finding myself to be less and less sure about that."

"If you're seeing alternate realities, why not one with another of you?" He'd offer a shrug of his own shoulders. "Mebbe that's why the daemons want you so badly. A human that can travel into various realities? We have proof you went *somewhere.*" Motioning to the orb sitting on the table.

"Cromwell a daemon lord? Huh. I would have said Maxwell was a daemon. Damon a daemon. Heh. Sorry." Now entering pacing mode, Argus continued. "So, until you give me a reason to doubt you, I don't, 'kay?"

Now Nora, just sat there with her mouth wide open. "Holy shxt, he believes you! Deeeeehm! I'm you, and sitting here, I don't believe you! Wow. Better keep him, Eve. Oh no. It's happening aga- "And just like that, Nora was gone. Was Nora encountering her own 'shifts?'

"I don't know. Maybe she's shifting herself, but I know one thing: it's a really, *really* weird thing to be looking at yourself across the room. And more to the point? Why is it no one else seems to see her? I mean...if it really was an alternate reality that I managed to slide into a little while ago, then why could everyone else see and interact with me? You should have seen the look on Jared's face when I called him 'Pirate.' And...and she wasn't there." Breathe, Eve. Stopping, she drew a deep breath, closing her eyes. "Whatever the case, she's gone now. But she *did* say something else before. Remember how you and Jared were talking about seeing what I could *really* do? Nora had mentioned something before about that. She said everyone underestimates me. Her. Us. Whatever. And once that final step is taken - whatever that *really* is - then..." A moment of hesitation, and she looked to be searching for the words...before just sighing, giving her head a soft shake. "Then God only knows what might happen. I certainly don't have a clue."

"Hmmm." Argus continued pacing, now deep in thought. "You met versions of everyone else, and yet my version claimed to be my brother?" Then he'd stop in mid pace. "Did you just say she's gone? What? She walk out of the room? Teleported? What? (m) And for the record, I don't underestimate people, especially a frail that can do things with her mind."

Small smile when making that response. "I guess Nora's comment plays into why the daemons are after you. And if she has the same powers as you, they'd be after her as well? Dxmmit! This sounds like something out of a crazy sci-fi role play. " He made a face right then.

"I mean as in just sort of...disappeared. There one second, gone the next." A shrug, and she blew a quiet sigh out. "But yeah. He knew your name, said you'd been missing for a bit. It was an odd reality, too; everyone was ganged up in Stonebridge as like...a safe haven. These sirens would go off, and reality would start to decay around you. I actually met Jared first - and weirdly enough he was *dressed* like a pirate - and after we managed to get to Stonebridge, I actually met...ah...Well, Doc. But it was complete 360 there. He was almost...fatherly. I got the impression that I could actually talk to him, but I sort of have a natural aversion to that these days." The soft set of her mouth tightened momentarily, and Eve's stormy gaze drifted downward. "I don't think Nora intended to go back." Not by the look and sound of it, that was.

Argus was taking all of what was said in, his gaze meeting hers. "Daemons. Folks being put into nut houses because of what they can do. Daemons. Alternate realities. Hxll, Jared may have had a point in getting the Feds involved, though I don't fully trust 'em."

Enough pacing. Wall lean time. "Arion. Huh. I guess, if I had a brother, don't know if he'd be called Arion." Looking over at the object on the table. "So what's the deal with the orb? You looked really concerned when Jared was tossing it about. "

"I don't know much about what it does. All I know is that when I was...there, Jarrod threw it down and it emitted this bright flash of light. I guess it was meant to hurt or scare the critters that came out when reality was slipping. I don't know if I was supposed to, but when he did that I was able to...See down the hall. My vision moved, but it went ahead of where we were, went around a door that was almost off its hinges. I was able to see the big ugly that was waiting down there on us, but I *didn't* get to see the one that was waiting outside." A shrug. Still sounded looney to her, but she didn't really *feel* off.


Then she could feel it, right down to the very core of her being. It had been so subtle several times before that she couldn't know the signs, but ... it was going to happen again. Reality was going to shift around her...


Maybe there was something more intelligent she should have done. Maybe she should have tried to say something about it to Steele, but instead she did something else on getting that feeling. Eve made a mad dash for the orb that lay on the table, mostly because she just didn't know *what* might be waiting for her when she...well...*got there.* The young woman was hoping for a peaceful moment, but not expecting it.


*Flash!* She found herself in a run down version of Argus' abode once again, however there were sounds of a serious battle going on outside those crumbling walls.

Those critters were facing off against a group of human looking fighters who were actually holding their own. At first glance, it looked a lot like the reality she had been on during her last jaunt, but the skies were grey, and the surroundings held a more gloomy gray appearance to them. "What the Hxll? You said we were clear! I've got a stray in here! Lock and load!" That would be the gentleman standing in the doorway with a rather huge looking weapon trained on her person, dressed from head to toe in what seemed to be a military type garment, complete with infrared goggles, and a mouth plate, which made any effort in talking come off like a Darth Vader knockoff.


Oh. Joy! The feeling that reality had slipped set in again, and she wasn't too thrilled to find a weapon trained on her. Brows rising, the young woman raised her hands in a supplicating gesture, in an attempt to look as harmless as possible. Quite easy for Eve, really, given that most found her small size and sweet faced appearance to be rather non-threatening, especially when she gave that doe-eyed look. But the surprise etched across her features was real, and it was real fear that had kicked her pulse up. "I'm not armed!" Well, unless the orb could be counted as a weapon...but she was hoping those might not necessarily have existed there. Nevermind the little yellow ball in her hand...Though if it came to the worst, she could always try throwing it down and see what happened.

He opened fire. Right over her head, sent pulses of laser fire into a critter that had intents on making Eve it's latest meal. That was the good news. The bad? It exploded all over her, showering her in ... well ... critter goop. "What? You waitin' on an invite? Move your axs, stray, before I regret doin' a good deed!" She would hear bursts of static coming from her would be rescuer, along with a lot of swearing thrown in for extra flavor.

"&**%$#Where in the f#$@ are you?? If you broke f&*^%#$ God d&&^%$ Formation again -!"

"Gotta stray here, chief. I could kill her and get back in formation."

Lovely. More being splashed with fluids and goo of a nature that she'd rather *not* think about wasn't a good thing. Still, Eve shuddered but managed to hold onto her stomach, and glared at her 'rescuer.' While getting blasted wasn't the cleanest way she could have thought of to die, she could think of worse. Still, she managed not to hurl some of the curses that were on the tip of her tongue and simply give him or her a flash of white teeth. Not really a smile, but more of a sneer. "How about you find something useful to do with that thing and leave me alone." Dropping her hands, she made a little disgusted sound and tried to shake off some of the gunk, then with a shake of her head, moved forward in the room. Though slowly, given that he *was* armed.

This...this didn't *look* like before. She didn't remember anyone running around armed like that, but she *was* only there for a short time..

Eve would get snatched just as another critter came from a hole. Then another. And another. And another still.

"Great ... Chief, I'm going to be coming at you, the express route. Table for two, non smoking!"

Setting the rifle to rapid burst, he unloaded on the critters pouring down from the hole in the ceiling, raining unlimited goo on the both of them, until the weakened ceiling gave way and threatened to crush them both. Wrapping his arm around the mouthy female, they would proceed to drop down - seven straight floors, each floor giving way due to the added weight of the one above it. All the while the soldier was laughing on the way down, through dirt, dust, smoke, and charred fleshy bits, until they hit bottom, with him taking the impact of the fall. "Lovely. That took out my impact fields! Up and at 'em, sunshine, we gotta make the train before we become critter food!" And they would *just* make it with scant seconds to spare, with Eve being tossed a board first, with the soldier being pulled up just as the train took off to the skies.

She didn't scream; Eve was proud of that much, at least. While she wasn't exactly sure *what* was going on and found too much happening in a very, very short period of time, the young woman seemed to be coping very well. If one considered shutting her mouth and trying to duck and cover coping...

After being tossed on the train and trying to regain her bearings - and realizing this *wasn't* the normal kind of train given that they were *taking off* - the young woman made sure to get back so that she wasn't really looking out any windows. Too much at one time, and her mind was already whirling..."Okay. I'll bite. So what's wrong with this place, and what was that all about?"

...Wow, but she wanted a hot shower. And lots and lots of soap.

"Hey, this stray's a real cutie! I see why you brought her along! Makes this mission not a total waste, though the chief may not see it that way. Be as it may, what were you doin' out past curfew, stray?"

Before anyone could say or do anything else, a door opened, with a bunch of colorful words coming from a rather large looking man. He moved to stand over Eve, glaring down at her. "Lizt! What the Hxll were you thinking? That sector was off limits!"

Oh, look. Someone knew her name. Last name, anyway. Eve promptly canted her head to one side, and blinked slowly at the figure. "Do I know you?" Almost innocently spoken, but there was an honest, unmistakable curiosity there too. One. Thing. At. A. Time.

A gloved hand clamped over Eve's mouth (goo free, but still a glove). "Found a stray chief. Plain and simple. The area wasn't secure. Now it is. Tagged about five, six critters to boot. That should increase our count for the week to about 538? Guess who gets the base leave." That looming figure had a neutral expression for about five seconds, looking at the Eve, then the solider, before laughing, with breath be dxmned. "Haw! Haw! Haw! Good job, Lizt! I'll be sure to bring you something back! Good looking out!" Slapping the solider on his back the one called the 'Chief' took his happy arxe back thought from where he came, leaving a group of rather elated men behind, who started high fiving the solider.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Gonna crush the stray! And let me get his stupid mask *off!* Whew!" Brown hair fashioned into a rough crew cut. Blue grey eyes. But it would be the name on the jacket that said it all ... Lizt. Evan would motion for a fresh canteen, offering it to the girl. "Jesus fellas, give her some air! Sorry miss, we don't usually find strays out on patrol. Not of the human sort. " And once Eve made eye contact? She was looking at a male version of ....

You guessed it. Herself! Evan Noran Lizt!


It took a moment longer for the reality of it to set in. For her mind to wrap around what she was looking at, though...she was having a hard time accepting that. "...Lizt?" Blink, blink. "That's my last name." In hindsight, she probably shouldn't have said that. At least...she'd have to watch what she did say, and hope she'd shift back very, very soon.

Her fingertips hovered over the canteen for a moment before she actually accepted it, but she never really took a drink. Something to do with her hands. The young woman was eyeing him suspiciously, features a little paler than usual. If one could tell under the goo splashed all over her, that was. His eyes had more blue, she noted faintly, and his hair looked a little lighter. Not to mention that he *was* male. But the big question: did *he* notice anything out of the ordinary? Everyone else was relatively forgotten, or ignored, and she'd twist away from any attempt to touch her. This...this was getting too weird. It was almost something palpable, the little *twang* of one threads of her sanity. Holding it together wasn't so easy, lately.