[u][i][b]By the Water Cooler.[/b][/i][/u] Dzel walked down the corridor of the submarine. She was a small figure, but, people made way for her passage... Over one shoulder she hefted a massive sword of Celtic origin. Under the other arm she carried a bag full of the other items recognized by the other-worlders. She walked at a quick pace. She stopped when she noticed something from the corner of her eye... Or rather, [i]someone[/i]... It was not a woman Dzel had ever met before, she had only seen her photograph. In fact, Dzel had been studying and seeking this particular woman a very long time. They had searched the globe for this woman. They had followed a trail of sparse clues and mysterious energy to an unyielding cold mountaintop where many had died searching for her... "Natasha." ... The last place Dzel expected to find any member of MOON was at [i]headquarters[/i]. Surprise flickered behind her green eyes, but she kept her mouth a firm line and kept her words within planned protocol. "I am Dzel, of MERCY. It is our mission to find and rescue MOON team. Please report: Where is the rest of your team? Are there currently any casualties, injuries, or concussions?" ~~~ [u][i][b] Herbert's Room[/b][/i][/u] Twain shook his head in disbelif. "Unbelivable. A natural? So... You have no book? No lineage? No teacher? Not ever?" It was clear that Herbert had no idea what Twain was talking about. "I understand why you might be questioning your sanity, but please, don't. What just happened was very real. You went into death. You didn't [i]die[/i]. Don't be confused between the two... Ahem..." "One of the magics I have mastered is called [i]necromancy[/i]. The magic of death. You seem to have an... [i]Affinity[/i]... for it." Twain wasn't using the right words, such 'talent' as displayed by Herbert troubled him. What Herbert did... Twain would have previously considered impossible without training. There was also the matter of the protective magics surrounding the submarine fleet. Herbert had also managed to circumvent several safety nets between life and death by [i]accident[/i]. The Rift was also considered impossible the day before yesterday. Was this so strange in the grand scheme? "It is going to be really dangerous for us all if you just keep falling in and out of life and death like that." He gazed up at the florescent lights, wondering what the far-away-sky might look like. Was the sky blue? Overcast? A hurricane? Who knew. The deep fleet was unaffected by the events on the surface. "Why don't I show you a few tricks. It will be scary but it will help you stay on the sunny side, If you know what I mean. I mean, you, could try to ignore it. But I think this whole rift-magic-thing has opened you up. It is hard to repress magical talent once it is discovered. Why not try it? Maybe you will like it." ~~ [u][i][b] The Meeting Room [/b][/i][/u] Rozalind sat in a chair pursing her lips. "Alright then. We will go to the surface and find a ground base. We need to discuss some contingency plans... You are all aliens to this world or this time. Some of you can pass more easily than others as a normal human. We can avoid people but only for so long. We need to plan for the worst. We need to make a plan for if one of you should get seperated or seen... We will need to give you some basic knowledge set about this world, we expect you will rely heavily on MERCY in this aspect, but a little information will go a long way. The teams will work together from now on." She spun her chair toward the general assembly. "Welcome to TRIDENT." ~~~ [u][i][b]In Summary[/b][/i][/u] Their team was called RIFT. [b]R[/b]elocated [b]I[/b]nterworld [b]F[/b]ield [b]T[/b]eam RIFT would work with and be supervised by MERCY. (In the paperwork RIFT was actually defined as interns to MERCY, but, that was a bit odd to explain and all that paperwork junk is mostly a formality anyway.) They were all brought to the surface and discretely transported to a remote ground base somewhere in "South East Asia" They were not told the exact location. They were given maps of the earth and lessons in general geography to kill time while they recovered and planned their first mission. As official members of TRIDENT they were all issued a Siva-Cup Coffe-Co card. To those new to the concept, it was explained that Siva-Cup Coffee-Co was a global coffee distributor. The founder of Siva-Cup was a retired member of TRIDENT who still wanted to help out. The card would look completely inconspicuous if seen or found by anyone outside TRIDENT. In fact, many people on the earth, especially in 'developed nations' had their own Siva-Cup Coffee-Co card. What the members of TRIDENT had looked the same but was in fact much different. It was their identification card, and would also get them free food and drinks from any Siva-Cup Coffee-Co location. The members of RIFT were outfitted with appropriate clothing. Any items that had been recovered by the RIFT as well as some (but not all) weapons or equipment they may have requested form the TRIDENT armory. Twain and Rozalind argued about the best way to hide a gigantic gargoyle. The best plan seemed to be avoiding populated areas as much as possible. They had a large cloak-like outfit made for him so that from a distance he might seem like a really... really... really big guy... Zesiro hollowed out some lanterns and flashlights, so that Danya could "pretend to be a lamp" in case they came across anyone unexpectedly. Team RIFT was comprised thus: Rozalind was appointed their leader. Her bandages were quickly shed. Her arm and her face still bore horrific scars but she seemed as strong and capable as ever. Her injured eye was forever pinked around the edges, and the color of the iris slightly paler than the other. It made her 'angry face' that much more intimidating. Once and awhile, this eye would drift, go out of focus, wink. Was this a lazy eye or a wandering one? Natasha was appointed her second in command. After her awkward encounter with Dzel by the water cooler, they realized that Natasha had been on vacation for quite some time and had no idea what had happened to the rest of her team. Natasah, of course, was interested in joining the investigation and was of course allowed to do so. The other members of RIFT were not, at first, given specific titles or appointments. Rozalind thought it would be detrimental to impose tasks or an unfamiliar structer upon the newcomers until their strenghts and weaknesses were better understood. However, Twain submitted some paperwork behind Rozalind's back... [b]The Grumpy Old Fart:[/b] Herbert was given time to recover his strenght, Twain would steel him from time for deep discussions about Necromancy, the nature of life and death, magic, and the light. [b]The Goliath[/b]: Vaughtar [b]Teen wolf[/b]: Ariel [b]I love Lamp[/b]: Danya Vaughtar, Ariel and Danya had plenty of space to 'be themselves'. The ground base was very remote, and designed to repell unexpected visitors. [b]Braveheart[/b]: Mallaidh had her sword returned to her. She was also introduced to many other curious modern artifacts such as the 'fork'. [b]Guns[/b]: Wolfe [b]And Roses[/b]: Hirshe [b]The Thirteenth Warrior[/b]: XIII Wolfe, Hirshe, and XIII were left mostly to their own devices. They didn't need 'modern-earth-lessons' like some of the others, and sometimes were charged with the teaching of these lessons when Rozlaind was too frustrated and Zesiro was too lazy. [b]Babelfish[/b]: Vata was lost somewhere between these two extremes. He wasn't 'strange looking' like Vaughtar or Danya, but did not have the knowledge that Ariel, XIII, Hirshe, and Wolfe had about the modern era. They struggled to understand exactly how his magic was going to work once they got to the mountain. Twain, carefree as ever, decided that they couldn't understand and therefore shouldn't worry about it until the moment arrived. That was that. MERCY team was tacked back together as such: Twain, Charles, Zesiro, Dzel, Icarus. Twain was still in charge of MERCY. Charles (who received a promotion and became second in command of MERCY) worked closely with Rozalind to hash out the logistical and tactical details concerning their return to the mountain castle... Zesiro, still the communications officer, taught the RIFT how to work with their radio system, how to use their Siva-Cards ("OK... Who is going to hold Danya's for her?"), and occasionally left the ground base to get food and provisions as needed. Dzel, without any particular appointments, helped out with whatever was needed until they set out... Icarus also had no particular importance. Instead of making himself helpful he made himself scarce. Perhaps he was patrolling the perimeter... Every so often, one might notice an unnatural fluctuation of color from the corner of their eyes. A trick of the light? Wayward magic? A ghost? Or was Icarus, the chameleon, close by? Was he watching for enemies or was he watching his new found 'friends'? .... [u][i][b]Just outside the ruins[/b][/i][/u] They decided for a quiet aproach. In case the location was being watched or was already occupied. They were given proper snow-gear. They now stood on a high mountain crest, they could see the castle in the distant. Jagged black stone jutting up through the white snow. There was no fire now. The stench of death had faded. The energetic impression from the devesating magical event had all but faded... ... That did not mean it was safe.