[b]Lost Haven, Maine - Little Sicily [/b]

The sun had just started to set over the Lost Haven skyline. Chike sat atop one of the small two story apartment buildings that dominated the abandoned sector of the city that Ares had led him and his new followers to. The warrior sighed, setting his Greek helmet down next to him on the ledge. He looked up towards the setting sun, thinking on the day's events. He had been successful in the first stretch of the mission; he had gathered some of the city's less fortunate, the more pliable individuals, and had made them followers of the God of War. But he felt off. The way Ares had made him trash that guy's car...And then to throw it into the river? Chike sighed once more, turning his eyes down upon the construction site below his feet. Around ten more automatons had shown up, along with a number of trucks full of supplies. The people and machines were hard at work. In fact, the foundation was nearly finished. The automatons seemed to be using some sort of ray gun to solidify the concrete in record time. Hephaestus was right: they would be finished rather quickly. Perhaps before the second week, as he had estimated.

Chike turned away, looking around, because the fluttering of familiar wings distracted Chike from the scene below.

[color=aba000]"Hello, Varnia. Where have you been?"[/color] Chike asked. Though he plastered a smile upon his lips, it was obvious from Chike's voice that something was troubling him.

[b]"Heya, Chike. I was taking a look around the city...[/b]The female eagle paused.[b]"Chike, what's bothering you?"[/b]

At this, Chike shrugged, looking back at the sunset.[color=aba000]"It's Ares. He took control of my body earlier today. He...made me do some things that I...Don't agree with."[/color]Chike chose his words carefully, not wishing to insult his master.

[b]"What...What'd he make you do this time?"[/b]

[color=aba000]"He made me throw a man's car into the river."[/color] Chike said with a grown, putting his hands onto his head.

The bird made what could be called a whistling sound.[b]"Sounds pretty bad.[/b] Varnia commented, looking off towards the sunset as well.[b]"What are you going to do about it?"[/b]

[color=aba000]"What?"[/color] Chike asked, caught off guard by the question.[color=aba000]"What do you mean? What could I possibly do about it?" [/color] The bird cocked her head.[b]"It seems pretty simple to me. You find him, and get him a new car. Maybe a wad of cash so he can buy the kind he wants."[/b]

Chike looked up at the darkening sky.[color=aba000]"Now how could I possibly do that?"[/color] He asked, the disbelief in his voice making it rather apparent that he didn't think the plan would work.[b]"Do you want to fix this, or not?"[/b] Varnia shot back quickly.[color=aba000]"Of course I do, Varnia, but-"[/color]

[b]"No buts! I know exactly how we can do this."[/b]

[color=aba000]"Explain, then."[/color]

[b]"Well..."[/b]

[b]Later[/b]

Varnia sat on the edge of the river, looking into the murky water. She was starting to worry; Chike had jumped in there almost twenty minutes ago. The eagle glanced over at the pile of armor and weapons Chike had left when he dived into the river. He seemed so sure that he could see the car down there, yet Varnia couldn't even see the bottom.

Suddenly, Varnia noticed water being displaced near the other side of the river. The eagle took flight, then, to get a better view of the anomaly.

Out of the water rose a beat up old Jalopi, with a dark skinned African man underneath it. Chike rose into the air, until he was next to the eagle.[color=aba000]"Found it."[/color] He said nonchalantly.[color=aba000]"Grab the license plate for me, will you?"[/color] Varnia cawed, flying around to the back of the car and forcefully pulling the license plate off the back of the car. The eagle then flew back around to Chike, holding it between her talons.[b]"Got it!"[/b] [color=aba000]"Right, now what?"[/color]

[b]"Let's go talk to Ceri."[/b]

[b]Portland, Maine[/b]

[b]Later..er[/b]

Inside a small trinket shop called the 'Magia Tabernus,' Ceri Kendra sat behind a counter on a laptop, assisting Chike and his winged companion in their search for the car's owner. The shop's name means "Magic Shop" in Latin. Inside, one can find anything from cheap tricks to actual magic tomes, and even ancient literature on the ideas of magic and enchantment. There one can also find a number of devices used for the occult, as well as a number of books dedicated to the subject. This is Ceri's primary source of income, due to the sizable community of practicing witches, wizards, and warlocks that live in that small Portland suburb. There were even a few creatures disguised as humans living there in that secret society. It was an interesting place to visit, for sure. Especially if you knew where to look.

[color=aba000]"So you're telling me that there are entire websites where you can track people's licenses? Is that even legal?" [/color] Chike asked, looking over Ceri's shoulder.

Ceri stands at 5'6, and has light blue hair and matching eyes. Her hair reaches down to the middle of her back, and is often branded. She's thin, though not overly so. Chike is under the impression that she's one of the most beautiful women on the face of the planet. She was currently wearing her ornate blue robes, and that small silver crown with a sapphire gem centered on her forehead.

[b]"Yes, Chike. There are. You were here when I googled it, remember? And yes, it is legal.[/b] Ceri answered Polemos' questions. It was obvious that she was slightly tired, yet Chike still thought her voice sounded as silky and gorgeous as usual.

[b]"Besides,[/b] Ceri said after a moment, cracking a wry smile,[b]"you've never been one to shy away from breaking the law."[/b] [color=aba000]"But that's entirely different!" [/color] Chike argued. [color=aba000]"I only do what I think is best. It's not like I murder or steal. Even just spying on this guy seems wrong. [/color] This caused Ceri to sigh again, yet she was at least still smiling.[b]"Chike, we're not spying on him. We're just trying to find out who he is and where he lives so that you can apologize. That's all."[/b] Chike just nodded.[color=aba000]"Right. Right." [/color]

After a moment of silence, Ceri perked up in the stool she was sat in. [b]"I've got him. His name's Alex Hughes. He lives in Little Ulster, near where you...chucked his car into the river...For..Some reason.."[/b] Chike groaned. [color=aba000] "I already told you, Ceri: Ares was in control. I would never hav-" [/color] Ceri cut him off.[b]"I know, I know! Yesh. You can be so sensitive some days."[/b] Ceri complained, to which Chike scoffed. [color=aba000] "At least I don't have a stick shoved up my butt. When was the last time you left your shop?" [/color] [b]"Ye-"[/b] She began, before Chike cut her off.[color=aba000]"That wasn't necessary." [/color] Ceri just growled.[b]"Just go give that guy his money."[/b]

[b] Lost Haven, Maine - Little Ulster [/b]

[b] This is the last later, promises. [/b]

Chike stepped up to the door. Apartment B25, second floor. Yup. This was where he lived, if Ceri's tracking skills were to be trusted. Polemos had opted to leave his shield and spear at the work site; he didn't want to scare the man too badly. Of course, he kept his short sword, just in case.

Chike knocked three times on the old, worn door.[b]"I'll be there in a minute!"[/b] A voice called from inside. After about twenty seconds, the door opened.[b]"What do y-"[/b] The man practically flipped backwards when he saw Chike in his doorway.[b]"S-Stay away from me!"[/b] He screamed, falling to the ground and crawling down the hall towards a small desk.[color=aba000]"Sir, I'm not here to hurt you. I just wanted to apol-"[/color] Chike stopped speaking when the man whipped out a pistol from the desk and leveled it towards Chike's chest.[color=aba000] "Sir, that's not-" [/color] Chike was interrupted once more when the man fired the weapon off. He fired eighteen shots, all of them landing across Chike's body at various places.

Polemos stood there, motionless. He waited, completely unharmed, until he heard the gun click. Upon hearing that the weapon was out, he stepped inside the man's home.[color=aba000]"I'm sorry for what I did to your car, sir, and any injuries my machines may have caused you." [/color] Chike pulled a wad of cash out from a leather pouch on his belt.[color=aba000]"It's not much, but I hope its enough for you to forgive me." [/color] Chike tossed the money onto the ground and turned, walking out of the apartment without another word being exchanged.

Alex was stunned. Why had that freak tracked him down and got shot just 'ta give him some money? He had to be a shizo, Hughes thought to himself as he shut his front door. Just a nut job. Why else would have suddenly feel bad for wrecking his car? Alex bent down, and began to count the money. Hundreds? Well, that was shocking. The higher Alex counted, the more unsure he became.[b]"Ten thousand dollars...?"[/b] He whispered to himself as he sat down on his couch.

Who was that guy?