Alastair waited anxiously in the appointed meeting spot for the new squad he was assigned to. He had been in military now for three years, and every time he had been assigned a new squad it made him squirm slightly. It wasn't as if he was super nervous he was just more eager to get started with missions is all. Ever since his first squad back when he was 18 and fresh out of basic training, the meet and greet was his favorite part, seconded only by the beep from his comm giving him the info for his new mission. Plus he was going to be in charge of the squad this time. His squad. Squad 9/ 1st brigade/ 1st division. Being assigned in the ninth squad is never the best of signs, but 1st brigade and division was rare indeed. They would get missions with a little more action than most, and would get called on more often. His other two squad mates had already shown, two rookies that were normal, two non taboos. The third soldier......the third was suppose to be like him.

Eve had just gotten into Teranova and she was ready to sit down. Her aching feet had been travelling for what seemed like forever. She went into the restaurant and Eve noticed all of the military there. She cursed to herself as she headed towards the back where her friend worked as a server. On her way out of there one of the squad members reached out and slapped her on the ass. When she turned around he winked at her and she gave him a dirty look and as she turned back to move forwards one of the servers tripped over the man's foot. The instant everything started to fall and fly and crash she raised her hands in defense and it all froze in midair. Eve looked up and her eyes locked on Alastair's. She righted the waitress' position and saved the glasses and food from falling, all but one glass she dumped on the man who slapped her on the ass. As soon as she was done righting everything she headed for the door.

Alastair was standing tapping his foot anxiously while his two squadies sat the table to his side. Alastair looked up as noises started to erupt around them, anxious noises that sound only when trouble erupts. He looked up and made eye contact with a women who was obviously a soldier. He could tell just by the way she carried herself. Also that and everything around her had slowed down to a frozen point. As the women started walking out the door Alastair walked after her.

"Hey! You! What unit are you in,"Timothy shouted to the female.

Eve didn't know the rules of Teranova and she certainly wasn't part of any military unit. She turned and said, "I'm not in one!" Eve had to hurry or she was going to be late. She ran down the street before she realized she had dropped her kukri Knife out of her bag. Doubling back she ended up in the restaurant again.

Alastair bent over and picked up the fallen knife that belonged to the young female. He was surprised to hear she was not military and a taboo, meaning she was not from TeraNova. But this knife........it was clearly not a butter knife, why did she need this if she wasn't a soldier. Alastair looked up from the knife as the girl came barging back into the restaurant.
"So......imagine this knife is yours then?"

Alastair flipped the knife and held it by its point offering the women the handle.

She took her knife by the handle and flipped it around in her hand like a professional and shoved it closed into her purse. "Thanks. Um...why did you think I was in a unit?"

Alastair chuckled.

"It is because you're here and you're a Taboo. I mean clearly, because of the freezing thing. And also because i'm sure the guy giving you a dirty look would probably bitch about you to his CO, and I was going to defend you to your CO. Didn't act fast enough, but I saw what happened. So your new here huh? Do you need any help?"

Eve looked at the name on the paper she had. "Is the pink Polka dot a gentleman's club?" The look on his face was enough to let her know her suspicions were true. "Great...ok so much for a job. Can you recommend anyplace that I don't have to take my clothes off to get paid?"

Alastair laughed and crossed his arms.

"I mean are you sure you would not want to do that? It is one of the highest paying professions in any human society? Ok ok I got it no stripping! There are plenty of jobs you could choose from. But do you mind if we talk out of restaurant? You are not very popular here at the moment."

Alastair looked around and saw the icy glares from the unit of soldiers that she offended.
Alastair gave his unit a knowing look, flashed them a few hand signs meaning don't wait up, and guided Eve out of the restaurant.

"There are plenty of jobs. You could be a courier, or a waitress. You could be a gardener or a store clerk. I mean your a taboo so military could be your thing. There is a job depot on the other side of the city if you want to go there and find a job."

She walked with him outside and up the street to what appeared to be a bar. Sitting down she ordered a drink. She looked at her cash and paid for her drink. Sighing she offered him a seat. "My friend works at the strip club but I am not as brave as she is. Lucky for me I guess." Eve glanced down the street. "I am going to have to find somewhere to stay tonight." Eve ordered them both drinks and kept them coming most of the evening. By the end of it she was so drunk she could barely stand up and she was laughing so hard that people were looking and grinning at her.

Alastair drank his share of drinks, but by the time he started getting tipsy he realized it probably was not a good idea to keep going. But he couldn't just say no to someone paying for drinks. Alastair started using his power to sneakily drain the alcohol from the glass while making it look like he was drinking. He stored the contents inside him, knowing he would feel it later probably when he fell asleep. It would affect his dreams tonight. As the night went on, and as Eve as he found out her name was started getting more drunk, he could feel peoples lustful gaze upon her. Alastair signaled for the bartender to stop serving her, they paid their tab, and left the bar arm in arm to ward of others.

"Ok so since your new, and decently attractive I wont lie, and your drunk you can stay at my place for the nig-."

He was interrupted by his comm phone. Alastair looked at the screen and sighed. Another mission at a time like this. He looked at his phone then at Eve. Alastair walked Eve to his apartment room and walked her inside.

"Ok so in TeraNova soldiers get a one room loft, but I actually have a mission now. You can crash here, I should be back by late night tomorrow."

"Wait what's your mission...maybe I can help?" She stood up and she wasn't too steady but she would get better as she sobered up. "Please Alastair...I'll be good, I'll promise. I don't want to be alone all that time."

Alastair and cracked a smile.

"Eve you cannot even walk more than a step before stumbling. No way in hell. But here."

Alastair walked over next to his bed and pulled out a second cell phone looking comm phone. He walked back over to Eve and handed it to her.

"We can stay in constant communication with this. If you get bored messa-."

Alastair received another message on his comm, and when he read it he cringed. He put his comm in his pocket.

"Never mind, mission cancelled..........I um...A God appeared so they ordered everyone to be on lock down. No one is to leave their rooms."

"Til when? I have to get a place and a job and..." she sighed. "Which god was it this time?" Eve got up and went to the window and looked out it. Glass was a difficult commodity to come across and she noticed the windows."I wish that we could just wipe them out! Like they did to us...." Her expression clearly showed pain in her past. She turned and wiped a tear way. "I guess we are stuck here then huh?"

"Agni, God of Fire. He is setting fire to the above lands right now and it seems like there are no Taboos already there so no one is allowed to go topside."

Alastair noticed the pain in her voice, and while he was glad he never knew his family at moments like this he also knew the pain of losing people. He had lost so many squad mates to the Gods. Alastair walked over to Eve and hugged her.

"I wish we could, but obviously us Taboos are the only ones who can do that and right now there are not a whole lot of us."

Alastair stifled a laugh.

"Oh yes how I wonder what we shall do. Shall we gaze upon florescent lights and dream a dream?"

"So is the entire city on lock down?" Eve walked into the bathroom and turned on the hot water to the shower. She pushed the door but it didn't shut all the way. She didn't pay enough attention to it and she stripped and got into the shower.

Alastair took off his equipment, and changed into sleeping wear. He wore a sleeveless shirt and his black shorts.

"Yea basically. And patrols will be out so no one can leave their homes. They don't wanna sneaky people running up topside to sneak a peek at a God."

Alastair sat on the edge of his bed.

Eve got out of the shower, dried off and wrapped the towel around herself. She walked out into his bedroom as if it were a normal occurrence to walk out in a towel in a strangers bedroom. She looked at him as she walked towards him holding her towel shut.

"Can I borrow something to sleep in?" It only took moment before he handed her a long t-shirt to sleep in.

Within minutes she was in his bed wrapped up in his arms. She smiled to herself, he was a cuddler.

@dabombjk

Eve woke up with Alastair's arm and leg over her holding her there. She smiled to herself and kissed him on the lips lightly. She slipped into the bathroom and got dressed. Eve pulled her hairbrush out and used some mouthwash and made herself presentable. She tiptoed out of the apartment and closed the door behind her. Eve left a note on the bed that said, Thank you, I've got work to do but I hope to see you again. Eve.

Eve snuck past the guards outside and managed to stay hidden along the way freezing people if she had to. She was determined to get topside. Once topside she managed to get close enough to the action to help a little bit. Her freezing powers were stronger than her explosion powers. She was the only non military person topside and she was actually making a difference. If she wasn't freezing the Gods she was freezing the projectiles that were flying at her side. Once they were frozen the fighters could move and not get hit. Several of them gave her a little salute and a smile.

One of the soldiers grabbed Eve just as she was thrown back. After he caught her Eve noticed it was the guy she dumped soda on. The one who she poured soda on for slapping her ass the night before. "Put me down! I'm helping Just put me down." "No ma'am I'm not letting you get killed out here." The soldier carried her back to the underground and dumped her into the military guard's hands. "Look Miss, We need you but you have to be doing this the right way. Now stay here. We'll be back." Eve fumed and when the jailer returned she asked for Alastair.

@dabombjk

Alistair Aarvack

Alistair woke up, feeling around for his female companion. When he relaized she was not here he sighed. She probably got herself into trouble. They had just met but Alistair had a feeling she as trouble. Alistair stood up and got dressed in his full Taboo warrior outfit. He placed his katana on his back and grabbed his Comm. He walked washed his face and brushed his teeth, and as he left his room he received a call. Someone by the name of Eve was in a holding cell and said she knew him. Alistair almost cursed out loud. He was a corporal, and he did not have time for this crap.

Alistair went to the holding cell where Eve was being held, and managed to get her released with all charges dropped. He firmly held her arm and walked her outside.

"What the hell were you doing! Why were you in a cell!"

@wick

"Thank you! My savior. Sorry to wake you up to this." Eve reached up and kissed his cheek. "Let go of me." Eve complained, "See what I get for helping people out!"

Eve realized there may be another way around this. "How do I join the military out here?" She pulled her bag and looked to make sure her knife was in there. "I bet then they wouldn't toss me in the pokey for saving lives on our side." Realizing she just told him what she was locked up for she said, "oopsie?"

@dabombjk

Alistair Aarvack

Alistair stood in shock. He was silent for a full minute before exploding.

"YOU DID WHAT? YOU WENT TO THE SURFACE BY YOUR SELF! ARE YOU SUICIDAL? DO YOU THINK YOU COULD KILL A GOD ALONE? IF A SINGLE TABOO COULD KILL A GOD THEY WOULD BE GONE ALREADY!"

Alistair calmed himself and spoke again.

"I don't think you are cut out for the military anyways. You are too much of a beautiful free Spirit."

Alistair received another call on his Comm and he answered it. After a minute Alistair ended the call and sighed.

"Ok.........so I may regret this but I can't just let you go off but I have a mission. A topside mission. Basically it's a punishment mission since I used every favor I had to bail you out. My superiors are not happy. So your coming with me."

@wick

Eve glanced up at him and smirked. "So we are going topside?" She couldn't help liking the turn of events just a little. "I don't like you being mad at me. I haven't even found my friend yet. And besides I can help you on your mission. I'll be good, I promise."

Eve said a little too happily. "So where are we going first?"

@dabombjk

Alistair walked with Eve, towards am exit to the surface. As they walked he spoke.

"Now before I tell you anything I need you to swear that you will not run off by yourself."

Eve looked slightly offended by that but said "Okay what are we here to do?" Eve looked around her and saw the fighting off to the left some way away.

"Ok so basically I am being sent on a solo run, with all of our forces being sent to fend off the God of Fire. We have a few taboo soldiers in the field but they are fighting off a squad of Angels. My orders are to go reinforce the Taboo squad as best as I can, then lead off the God of Fire witht the rest of the main force. It is basically a suicide run, but hey they dont call us Taboo squads "Suicide Squad" for nothing."

Alistair chuckled and led Eve through the exit gate security. When they appeared topside, he saw how Eve looked around.

"Now like I said, this is a solo run, so you were never here. Now I know you have been to the surface before and have fought up here, but in a squad fight we stick together and cover each other. No doing your own thing even if you see an opening. Its how good men die."

Alistair held Eves hand and ran off in towards west, his other hand holding a data pad with directions on it.

Eve held onto his hand and kept up with him pretty well. "So they are sending you up here assuming you will get killed because of me?"

Alistair laughed softly.

"No no. In the military Taboos are considered expendable. But its fine. We are tougher than most. And they dont know you are coming with me. They just know that if you make a mess in the city its my ass on the line since I called in every favor and then some to get you out."

Alistair and Eve walked further until they came across the battle they were looking for. The battle between three Taboo soldiers and over a dozen angels was being fought in an old abandoned warehouse. Inside screaming and yelling could be heard, as well as explosions and slicing sounds. Alistair took Eve and crept along the wall of the warehouse, looking for any way to sneak in.

Eve tugged on his hand keeping quiet and pointed towards an opening in the wall that looked like it had been repaired badly and would be easy to remove. She stepped up and removed the broken panel and let him look.

Alistair crept over to the hole and peeked through the hole. He saw the fighting taking place. Four Angels were on each Taboo, and each Taboo was fighting valiantly. The firts Taboo was creating ice, shooting out ice shards and creating ice shields. The second Taboo kept turning into a gas and becoming incorporeal then solidifying and attacking. The Third Taboo kept getting hit, but took no damage. It seemed his skin was harder than anything the Angels had on them.

Alistair grew slightly upset as he saw how his comrades were fighting. Alistair unsheathed his katana and unholstered his plasma handcannon.

"Ok we need to hit hard and fast. Think you can slow em down for just long enough?"

Eve grinned like a cat chasing a mouse. "Not a problem."

Eve joined into the fray. She walked up beside one of the others and she called out to the other Taboos. "Hit them when I freeze them." She proceeded to freeze the angels by the guy who was phasing and becoming gas first. He seemed more likely to get hit since he had to go corporeal to attack. She froze his angels and then he and she would blast them til they died.

She focused her sights on the Ice taboo. She joined him and the other guy joined the impenetrable guy. Working in teams they were able to get the angels numbers down very quickly. They seemed to like her freeze power. It saved them a lot of injuries. When the warehouse was clear the guys all high fived each other and hugged her.

Eve looked around but she didn't see Alistair.

Alistair had never entered the building. It was true that the squad did need help and without them the outcome might have been different. But Alistairs true mission was something else entirely. Alistair went further then the warehouse, and on the way he left a trail of dead Angels. Alistair sliced and diced, and shot the heads off the Angel in his way. And when he became fatigued, he would drain an Angel with his power and instantly became reinvigorated.

Alistair finally came across what he had been looking for. A building with several white colored symbols and a white circle on the wall. Alistair smiled to himself. So it was true. The Gods did use portals from the heavens to get their soldiers to this realm. Alistair took several photographs with his data pad, and started touching the symbols. He tried to drain them and immediatley was blown back and hit the wall on the other side of the street.

Eve went back out the way she came in and she followed the trail of dead angels.It didn't take her long but by then Alistair was moaning on the other side of the street. She checked him over looking for injuries. "Hey handsome we gotta get out of here before one of the gods gets here." Eve helped him get to his feet. "I thought we were supposed to lead the god of fire away or something too?"

Alistair got to his feet and brushed himself off. He looked at his hands, slightly bright red then they faded back to normal color. Alistair looked at Eve and smiled.

"Yea no we are totally gonna do that. A bunch of Angels showed up preparing to assist the ones in the warehouse. I killed them all off, but one got me from behind."

Alistair started walking back from the direction they came from.

"What happened with the squad in the warehouse?"

We kicked ass and I left the same way I went in. I have no idea where they went. Do we need them?"

Alistair shook his head.

"No not really. It is good to hear they are alright. Us Taboos are not a very old breed but we are a dying breed."

Alistair walked with Eve until they came closer to the battlefield where the main force and the God had fought. The God was gone, dying flames spread out across the field. Many people were burned alive, just plain dead, or turned into ash piles. The survivors were picking themsleves up, looking defeated. It was clear the battle had not gone their way. Alistair ran forward and tried helping the closest survivors.

"Men are you ok? What the situation here?"

The man Alistair was talking to groaned and pushed Alistair away. When he spoke to Alistair he spoke in a pained voice.

"G-go away you fucking freak! Ive had enough of you weirdo God spawns! You fucks were of no help this fight. The God immediatley killed the God spawns in the first part of the battle, so the entire battle went south!"

Alistair recoiled a bit, and walked back with his hands in the air. He motioned for Eve to follow them and they walked back to the entrance to the underground city.

"Why didn't you say something to him? You just...." The more she thought about it the more she felt bad for the old guy. Eve reached for Alistair's hand and hoped he didn't mind her taking it. "I want to join the military. I helped a lot today. Either that or can I just go with you?"

Alistair cleared them through security, and walked into the city. When Eve mentioned enlisting he had to laugh.

"You wanna enlist? Oh my god........oh OH oh your serious. I mean......no offense but you dont seem really cut out for following orders. and to be assigned to a task force like me you need to have been in for a few years."

Alistair scratched his chin.

"I can see what I can do, talk with my superiors, see if they can fit you in somewhere. But only if you really want to."

Eve stopped and kissed him deeply right there in front of everyone. There were catcalls and chuckles from several different people in the area. When Eve pulled back she could see the heat in his eyes. "I would appreciate that." Eve felt her breathing uneven and she said "I should probably go look for my friend and find a place." She wrote her cell phone number down and gave it to him.

Alistair held the slip of paper in his hand then pocketed it.

"If anyone asks for any recommendations just tell them Alistair Aarvack is your close, personal friend. And dont be a stranger you know where I live."

Alistair gave her a two finger salute then started to walk off. Then he stopped and turned around and smiled at Eve.

"Welcome to TeraNova by the way. Crazy first day huh?"

Eve nodded and looked at his lips and she kissed him one more time and turned and ran down the street to the Pink Polka Dot to find her friend.

Eve was busy. She had found her friend at the club and Eve was offered a job there and naturally she refused to be a stripper. She was then offered a job in security for the dancers. Eve practically laughed but accepted it as something temporary until she got something more in the line of work she wanted. She had gotten into a cheap apartment with what she had on her and once everything was turned on she looked around and was grateful it was furnished. She had a moment to think and was wondering if she should call Alistair or if she should wait and see if he would call her.

Alistair had immediately reported to his superiors about his findings. His report was short and sweet, but it confirmed a few things. It confirmed that there was an entrance and exit to the heavens, the hq of the Gods. If they could find an active portal, or a place where the Gods use portals often they could sneak in or just plain fight their way in. But so many things needed to be done before then, so many resources needed. Alistair gave his data pad to his superiors and was dismissed. Alistair spent the afternoon relaxing, going to his favorite spots in the city. At the end of the day he went home and sat on the chair at his desk. He contemplated calling Eve. She was a good fuck.

Eve decided to concentrate on getting into the military on her own. She was proven to be a Taboo so that jumped her to the head of the line for recruiting. She was waiting on another call back from them. After a week she decided that she was fine with Alistair not calling her. At first she was kind of upset but soon realized that she got drunk and slept with a guy only a few hours later. What was he supposed to think of her? She sighed and went to get some groceries.

Alistair went on mission after mission every day, going on solo raids that gave him new scars all over. After his most recent mission, Alistair went back to his room and started pulling out food. He realized he had not called Eve in almost a week, and decided to do so.

"Hey Eve its Alistair. I am making lunch so if your interested you know where I live."

Eve got her messages and saw that it had come in about ten minutes ago. She put her groceries away and texted him to let him know she was on her way over. Eve was wearing her hair up. She found herself wearing a lot of black leather and black heels while working security at the club. Spiked heels could be a good weapon if needed and the leather kept others from grabbing at her clothing. Today was her day off and she was in sneakers and jeans with a tank top and denim jacket.

Eve went straight up to his apartment and knocked a little nervously.

Allistair had prepared a slight feast. He was war torn and exausted and felt like he deserved something pretty, even if it came in something as simple as food. He prepared a wide vaiety of meats, most unidentifiable. Allistair prepared his small table neatly, and decided on what to wear. He wore his sweat pants and sleeveless shirt, exposing his arms with the new battle scars. He was going to put on a second long sleeve shirt, but just then there was a knock on the door. Allistair walked over to the door and opened it. When he saw Eve he smiled.

"Hey, whats up?"

Eve smiled and walked in and handed him a bottle of champagne. "Mom said never go empty handed." Eve walked over to the kitchen and asked "So what are we having?"

Allistair held the bottle in his hand, and whistled. This was a good bottle. Allistair walked over to the table and set the bottle down.

"I dont know but its poison free and its amazingly seasoned. I know a guy who has his mitts all over the meat processing station, and he saves some good meat for me sometimes."

Allistair sat down and started to fill one of the two plates on the table with food.

"Im suprised you decided to come over, I mean it was kind of an out of the blue thing."

Eve sat across from him and made herself a plate as well. "Well I thought you might like an update on my progress in the last week. I have a job as head of security at the Pink Polka Dot." She grinned. "Yes I get to keep my clothes on. I have my own apartment now and I'm scheduled to start in the military soon too" Eve wasn't sure how to say this so she just said it. "I wish I could take back that weekend and redo it. I don't normally drink that much and .....my behavior with you was out of character for me."
Eve smiled. "This is good."

Allistair nodded, and shoveled food in his pie hole. He spoke during the small breaths he had to take to live.

"Its fine hun dont worry about it. If your serious about military life, then stuff like that is common enough. Notice I didnt object much."

Allistar laughed slightly, choking on a bit of food.

"Gah sorry about that. But serious dont worry about it. I mean if you had feelings for someone you might want to let them know, that way a claim could be made. Normally when a soldier is honorable, if they are told you are claimed by another they will leave you alone."

Allistair raised an eyebrow but said nothing for moment, eating more meat.

"And you know that basic training is two months of hell, then technical training can be anywhere up to 4 to 6 months?"

"Yes, I am aware of that. So if I get a boyfriend he has to claim me like luggage at the airport? That sounds great. Look, I wanted to have a fresh start with you that is why I came today. I was barely functional when you saw me. My only brother had been killed the day before in a fight with one of the Gods so I drank too much and slept with a stranger. I didn't feel to good about myself at that point. Thank you for lunch but I think I'll go now."

Eve stood up to leave and took her plate into the kitchen. She grabbed her purse and headed for the front door.

Allistair put down his food but did not get up.

"What did you think was going to happen Eve? I didnt mean claim as in luggage, if you thought that thats your own damn fault, but do you think I am the only person who will say that? I dont view you as luggage, so dont give me that shit."
Allistair stood up and walked over behind Eve. He took his shirt off and showed her his scars.

"Eve these are all the scars I have from not being able to save MY brothers. My brothers in arms. You think you're the only one who has lost anyone?"

Allistair pointed at a spikey circular scar near his rib cage.

"This one is from when a demon stabbed me two days ago. I tried to save a brother but was only able to get impaled."

Allistar pointed to his upper right chest, at a thin but long scar.

"This was from last night, from getting sliced up by a demon angel combo. I came in too late trying to save a whole squad of brothers."

Allistair stopped pointing and his gaze softened.

"Look I understand any loss is harsh, and I kinda understand why you are upset, but you storming out isnt going to solve anything. Didnt you want this to be a fresh start?"

Eve's voice softened, "I never said that I was the only one to lose someone. I said that it happened the day before so it was fresh and painful."

Eve glanced around the room. "My brother was also the C.O .of his unit and I didn't care about the war against the gods til our lives were obliterated by the gods. Now I want to protect our guys and kill the gods. I guess I want to pick up the mantle he left."

"Maybe if you had found a way to take me with you maybe you wouldn't have gotten so many scars." She said teasing him a little.

Allistair shook his head.

"I doubt we will be able to kill any of Gods in our life time."

He walked back over and motioned for Eve to sit with him.

"I am sorry if I upset you. Can we start over please?"

Eve followed him and sat back down. "I would like that very much." She smirked a little at what she was about to say.

"What is your boss' name?"

"My boss? Well that depends on which boss you are referring to. As someone in special forces and as a taboo, I report to many people. I even once went under the command of this cities commander and chief. My last mission I reported to Captain Elias."

As he spoke Allistair drew a line of command with his fingers in the air.

"Well, you remember when I went topside without permission." She licked her lips and smiled to herself. "I saved some people and I received a letter from lieutenant J. Stevens." She pulled the letter out of her purse and unfolded it. "He is offering me a position that will allow me to skip some of the basic stuff. Other than cover his ass in battle what would his field assistant do?" She showed him the letter.

Allistair held the letter in his hand and read it.

"It says here....blah blah blah.....negligence of protocol.....bravery.......Taboo position.......yea no seems legit. Says here they....Oh shit no way!"

Allistair's eyes widened.

"They want to put you in the Ghost protocol division?"

"Yes but what does a field assistant do? What do I bring him coffee on the battlefield? I think I know who he was. If I'm right he was maybe a couple years older than you but not much."

"Yea Stevens? I remember him. He was someone that they looked at for putting in charge of the Ghost Division. I mean, he probably would have been given the position....but he was kinda.....involved in some stuff. Best you dont look into his past. But as his assistant yea honestly its kinda like a receptionist. Our superiors probably want to test you, and your patience."

Allistair gave Eve back her letter.

"I will be honest it isnt a glamorious position."

Eve's eyes narrowed because she knew he was lying. "Look, I know what he wants me in the field for. He wants me there most likely for personal protection. It's the two dozen red roses that came with it that has me concerned. I need to know about him."

Eve was distressed and concerned that the lieutenant just thought she was convenient and easy prey as well as good protection.

Allistair sighed.

"Ok....if you really want to know. He was caught slipping....things...into womens drinks at bars. You can imagine what he did to the women after. He was caught and sent to a military trial, but he was conviently needed on the battlefield in a God appearance. He went above and beyond in the battle, and was pardoned."

Allistair stood and walked over to his sink. He began washing his dishes.

"He hates me as well. Another reason he was passed over for the position of Ghost divison leader, is because......I volunteered to commandeer it. So....

Allistair chuckled and looked over at Eve.

"I guess on your reporting date, you will have to report to me. After you report to the liuetenant."

"Okay so how do I refuse the assistant's position without losing the entire thing?" She said while picking up the towel and drying the dishes.

"You can't. It is kinda an take the whole package or nothing kind of deal. But I will tell you what. If he tries anything you can report it to me, and it would give me an excuse to send his ass packing. Plus.......I mean.......maybe it isnt an entirely bad idea. You are not used to military life so starting small is a good thing. Especially since your skipping basic."

"Okay so explain this whole claiming your significant other thing? What is that and how does it work?"

Allistair half heartedly laughed.

"Promise you wont try to leave again? Ok here is how that works. It is liking dating, except without the labeling part. Sorta. Basically if a man or women wears a ring on their dog tags, it shows that they are unavailable for relations with anyone else besides whoever gave them the ring. It isnt liking tagging luggage, it is a mutual decision between two people. That way if you die or you are in a bar or in the field, people will know what your status is. It is kinda like having an open signal if your available or not. Plus its kinda cute in a way."

Eve grinned, "so I could just wear a ring on a necklace and I'd be good to go? No one would bother me?"

Allistair laughed.

"No. It has to be on your dog tags, and you need a custom made ring. A little store near the entrance of the city makes the rings. I dont know if I said this before but this thing is an unspoken tradition. Amongst those with honor. And only soldiers. Most soldier respect this thing, some dont. Its the way the world works."

"Great....well I guess I'll just have to make sure that Mr. Grabby hands leaves me alone another way. I don't know what that will be just yet....I'll think of of something."

Allistair finished his dishes and put them away. He walked over to his desk and took out some papers, then giving Eve a sideways glance.

"If you want......we could do that. The ring thing. I mean...if you want."

Allistair shuffled his papers.

"Ill be honest, I want to know more about you. I know your from another city, but not much else. I think if we had a shot we could work out well. As a team."

Eve considered this and she wondered if he was offering as a way to piss off Stevens, or to get into her pants again, or if he just wanted her as a partner in the field. She looked at him and watched his reaction carefully. "Why would you offer that to me? What is the reason behind your offer?"

"Do I really need to spell it out? I am asking you out. As in, will you go out with me?"

Allistair turned around and leaned against his desk.

Eve blushed, stood up and smirked a little. "Well in that case I accept." She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed his neck softly. "I would love to be your girlfriend."

She leaned back still holding onto him and flirted while saying, "You should know I may have trouble following orders. I'm not usually too great with authority figures and I'm a little unpredictable if I drink too much. You might want to make sure that you are the only one around if I get drunk. But the biggest things to know about me are that I'm loyal to a fault and I dont share my man. I hope you can live with these things."

Eve looked into his eyes and waited for his answer.

Allistair wrapped his arms around Eve and kissed her nose.

"I can live with that. Seems pretty simple to me. Well I guess what you need to know about me is......I lie. Anything that is about my missions, I lie about. I do a lot of dirty work for the military that cannot be spoken of. So there is that. But just know I am loyal as well. My work has me coming and going, and sometimes I do not come home for days. My life is my work."

Eve considered this for a moment and realized that she would likely know what was going on most of the time. She smiled and addressed the other half of her vow. "I know you never made it a point but it's important to me. I don't date more than one guy at a time so you won't have to worry about that either."

Eve reached up and kissed him softly on the lips. "I report to Stevens tomorrow." She sighed still little uncertain what to do about him.

"Well if you want we can go get the custom rings tonight or tomorrow morning. And honestly, whatever happens with him is gonna happen so I say just hold your breath and wait for it. Plus he isnt the only dick in the military you will have to work with."

Allistair pondered for a moment and shook his head.

"He is so lucky he is a decent soldier. Anyone else and he would have been kicked out so long ago."

Eve nodded. "Maybe we should get the ring now. I know once he hears your name he will probably look at me like the plague but I'd rather be safer than sorrier."

Eve remembered something she had gotten at work and it had made her think of him. "Oh I got something for you." She said chuckling. "They gave these to us at work the other night." She handed him a pin of a mostly naked girl dancing on a pole and the pin said My girl wears Pink!

She laughed at his expression. "It made me think of you."

Allistair held the pin in his hand, then twirled it in between his fingers before pocketing it.

"It is adorable. Thank you babe. Why did this make you think of me though?"
Allistar kissed Eve and went over to his closet and put on a shirt and jacket. Then he put on his boots.

"Wishful thinking I guess." Eve didn't want to say more about that. She couldn't tell him that just being near him gave her butterflies in her stomach. Not yet. He would think she was crazy. She grabbed her purse. "Okay, I'm ready."

Allistair held her hand and walked out of his room. They walked hand in hand, aware of the glances they were recieving.

"Dont worry about the looks, believe it or not I am a pretty popular guy and known for not really being one to.....hold hands."

Allistair laughed slightly.

"I kinda am a loner unless im at a bar after a mission with my squad mates."

"Ohh so you've had an aversion to holding hands in the past?" She teased lightly while smiling at him.

"I had an aversion to people in general. Still do. Only social when I have to be."

Allistair and Eve arrived at the store and walked in. It was a dusty, old place with lots of little things cluttered about. They approached the counter and spoke to the old women behind it.

"Hi we need two military tradition rings please."

The shop owner asked for their hands for finger measurements.

Half an hour later, Allistar and Eve walked out with two new rings, Allistars being on his dog tags already and Eve's in her hand. Allistairs had a ring with a silver band, inscribed on the inside with a message from Eve. He had a pitch black onyx gem in the center.

Eve was holding her ring which was identical in looks to his, she had wanted them to match and she liked the black onyx. Eve had made her inscription simple. It said, Loyalty and Stinginess always.

She had laughed at his expression when he saw it.

Allistair had raised an eyebrow and looked bewildered at the fact that was what she had decided to engrave on his ring. He had engraved on her ring, Always in my thoughts because he thought it sounded slightly cute. But he was bad at these kind of things. Allistair hung his arm around Eve's shoulder.

"There that wasnt so bad right? Although was it just me or was that old lady kinda...handsy?"

Eve chuckled, "In what way? I didn't see her do anything?"

"Really? She seemed to want to hold hands for a little longer than necessary."

Allistar flexed his fingers in the hand she touched.

"And her hands were so clamy."

Eve sighed loudly smiling, "Maybe she was jealous, I do have a pretty darned handsome boyfriend." She bragged. "Where are we going now?"

"Well that depends. We can either go back to one of our places and I could ravage you like a flithy animal, or we can take a stroll through the city, and find something to do."

Eve laughed, "Or we could do both. Looks like a street fair up ahead and they usually have good food at those things. Wanna check it out?" Eve tugged on his hand and pulled him into the crowd laughing and singing to the music.

Allistair went with Eve into the street fair, and laughed and danced just like everyone else. But on the inside, he could not be motivated. How could these people act like this, with war looming over their heads. Litterally! Allistair tried to find the joy in this, for Eve's sake, but could not. He laughed though and smiled brightly. He kissed Eve multiple times, and bought them overpriced food. He even did karioke with Eve. He was horrible but it didnt matter.

Eve wanted to relax and have fun with Allistair. This world had become so dangerous that you never knew when you would lose all that was important in your life. She could tell he was having trouble letting loose though. After making the city suffer through their terrifying Karaoke she grabbed him into a deep kiss and suggested they go home so he could ravage her silly.

"Let's go home babe. My place is closer. You want to see where I live now?"

Allistair nodded and held Eve's hand.

"Ill follow you. Lead the way. Bout to be the only leading you do for the rest of the night though."

Eve led him to the seedy side of town and into a building that had bars on the windows. There were drug dealers in the alley visibly wearing weapons and she opened the door and went inside and went up the stairs to the 2nd floor. Unlocking her door she pulled him inside. She locked the door behind them and tossed her purse on the chair. "It's not much. It came furnished but still....it's not great but it'll do."

It was a one bedroom apartment that was in desperate need of a paint job and new appliances. The furniture is not in good shape and it's cushions are lumpy and dirty from years of use. She had covered all of the furniture in clean sheets. "When I get a few paychecks I'll find something better."

Alistair patted his pockets, and felt his wallet. He pulled it out and took out a few bills. He tossed them and they landed on the closest surface. He grinned at her expression.

"Perk one of being in Ghost Divison. they pay out the ass to the people who live long enough. And dont think about not accepting it. Trust me it is out of pure self interest. I want to bang you on decent furniture." Allister said teasingly.

She picked up the cash and said, "Then we'll go to your place, but I'm not taking your cash." She went into her room and grabbed the clothes and shoes she would need the following day and put them in her bag and came out. She grabbed him by the hand and opened the door.

Eve walked outside into the hallway and saw a guy holding a crying girl up against the wall with a knife to her throat. Eve froze them both locked her door and walked over to the creep pulled the knife out of his hand and flipped the knife down so that it stuck him right in the foot. Then she and Allistair walked outside as if nothing happened. A moment or so later they heard the jerk screaming about his foot. Eve smiled slightly.

Alistair laughed at the entire scene. Eve just had a way with her that made him laugh. If he had a chance to intervene he would have more than likely had just drained the man until he fell unconscious, but that was kinda boring. He walked with Eve back to his place.

"We did not have to come back here.....I mean ok we did. I would have thought security at a strip joint would have paid more."

"It does....but I haven't gotten a paycheck yet, not til this Friday. I had to use what I had left on me when I got here. After you pay utilities and stuff I still needed food....and rat poison." Eve went into the bedroom and hung up her military uniform and set her shoes next to it. She slipped her shoes off and walked over to him and kissed his neck softly.

Allistair picked Eve up by her waist and held her against the wall. He started to kiss her neck back and nibble on her earlobe. He then started to feel her body up and down.

Her breath quickened and the butterflies in her stomach settled into heat as his hands started to remove her clothing. She wrapped her legs arouns his waist and lifted his shirt off of him as he walked them to the bedroom carrying her. She kissed his neck and shoulders hungrily.

Allistair pulled off Eve's shirt as he walked them over to his bed. He moaned as she kissed his body, and he hungered for her. He dropped Eve on his bed and he began undoing his pants.

Eve wiggled out of her remaining clothing and she reached for him. The passion in her eyes matched the hunger in his and she gasped as their bodies melded together .

Collaboration

The next morning they got up and showered and ready for duty. When she was finished dressing she looked like she was fit for office duty in the military. She put on her dog tags and slipped the ring onto the chain with them. They walked out of the apartment and down to the base where they had to part and go different directions. "I'll see you in a bit." She said as she kissed his cheek and turned to go into the building she needed. She watched him as he smiled and went towards his group.

Eve straightened her skirt and walked into the correct office and looked up and smiled. Lieutenant Stevens approached her. "Army Private First Class Forrester Reporting for Duty Sir!" Eve did everything she was supposed to do and she was completely taken by surprise when he came over and walked around her giving her the once over in a very nonprofessional way. She kept her eyes forward and awaited orders.

What happened next, happened so fast that Eve didn't even have time to react. Stevens grabbed her arm and pulled it behind her back and shoved her over his desk while shoving the back of her skirt up. In shoving her forward he trapped one arm underneath her and some of the things on his desk hit the PA button and so he was literally broadcasting his deviancy live and over the entire base. Eve Screamed and he pulled her arm tighter making her stop yelling. "No! Please don't..." He threatened her, "If you say anything no one will believe you. You are mine from now on and you are going to keep me safe too." He moved his hand to under her clothing and she cried and every time she made any noise he came closer to breaking her arm. He was undoing his pants when there was the sound of the door being busted through.

@dabombjk

Allistair opened his eyes and saw Eve's sleeping face next to his. He looked past her and at his clock which read 0500. Allistair sighed mentally and closed his eyes, trying to fall asleep again. But to no avail. Allistar opened his eyes and laid their just watching Eve sleep. She seemed so peaceful when she rested, and so......well in all honesty less irritating. He had to admit that at times he didnt know quite what to make of her. She was a wild card, and to be a taboo and not a soldier for any length of time was blinding to him. He had acted suprised when he read the letter and Eve had bought it, and he had been grateful. If she knew that he was the one who assigned her to her post....and for he reasons he did it....Allistair sighed mentally again.

This was going to be tricky. He was not dating someone in his division, the one he was in charge of. This was a test for him, he knew this. His superiors wanted to see how he would handle it, and he had already let his emotions get in the way of his duties. He knew that the pervy officer would get to Eve, which would make her react, which could enable him to get rid of the officer. But to get the ring tradition with this girl.....he had to play this smart.

He laid in bed with her for a few more hours until it was time for them to move. They showered and got ready for the day. When they were done they left, walking towards base command for Ghost division together. When they parted, he smiled and recieved Eve's affection. He watched her leave and went his own way. As he entered office, all the officers that were in the hallway as he passed stopped and saluted him. Allistair saluted back and felt weird. He had never been shown this level of respect before. But he was the Commanding soldier of this divison now. Allistar walked into his office and began typing away at his computer, replying to emails and approving and denying variuous things. This was the only boring part of his days.

Allistair then pulled up the security feed he had placed on Stevens and watched closely. He watched as Eve walked in, and did everything she was suppose to. Then he watched as Stephens did exactly as Allistair predicted he would do. The PA button was hit so now what was happening was being broadcasted. Allistair had a silent battle inside his head. Should he go himself to help, or should he wait for someone else to act first. Allistair sighed and jumped out of his seat and raced towards where Eve was.

Allistair shoulder charged the door, being backed up by many other soldiers that were on the way to stop what was happening. Allistair raced forward and grabbed Stephens by his face, slamming him into the wall behind him and draining him of all energy, without killing him.

"You sick degenerate. Private Forrester are you ok?"

Eve was massaging her arm and she had already fixed her skirt. She nodded and raised her leg and kicked Stevens in the balls. "Forget it. I'm going home." Eve grabbed her stuff and walked out of the door and headed outside. Once there she leaned up against the wall and took a couple of deep breaths.

"This is bullshit. It's safer at my apartment then it is here." She walked off of the base and went to a nearby bar and ordered a drink.

Allistair handled everything in Stephens removal. He wrote all the paper work, he saw him as he was hauled off to detention center max, the maximum security prison for soldiers, and he wrote up the documents for Eve, on the off chance she was willing to come back and take his position. Allistair did all this in about an hour. After everything was done he called Eve.

"Eve where are you? Please dont tell me your drunk."

"No, I'm not drunk. I wish I were. I'm thinking about going back home. This is just too much crap. If you want to join me I'm at the pub across the street. I'm sipping my first of hopefully many drinks."

Allistair sighed.

"Or we could not get drunk and possibly and talk this out, I say we meaning that I am on my way."

Allistair hung up and gave orders to his underlings. After he did he walked to the bar that Eve was at and sat next to her, ordering water.

"So...what do you want to say before I say something."

"At my other job I'm prepared for the violence and the treating me like I'm a whore like lot of the dancers are. It's not supposed to be that way in the military. He damn near broke my arm and my other one was trapped. I couldn't use my powers. I was defenseless in the position he put me in. That's not supposed to happen." Eve looked defeated. "I don't like to be powerless."

"That kind of thing happens no matter where you go, thanks to the Gods. They have made life an unimaginable hell, and in doing so human beings act out of vice not of sense. I am sorry what just happened happened. But believe me that sort of thing is not common. He was a pig, and now he is going where he can never be seen again I promise. Drafted the paper work myself."

Allistair put a hand on Eve's shoulder.

"I do not believe that I can say anything that can make you feel better......but what if I gave you an opportunity. Stephens departure left a whole in my divison, one thats needed badly. You will be second only to me, and you will never be powerless in my division again. You can take measures to ensure that this sort of thing doesnt happen to any soldier in our divison again."

Eve was a smart woman and she noticed how he spoke to her as if she were just anyone else, not as a boyfriend would to his girlfriend. She also noticed that he did all of the paperwork to get rid of Stevens.And now he was offering her his position. Something felt sneaky.

Eve pulled her dog tags around and she took the ring off and put it in front of him on the bar. "You know, you said that you lie all the time.For the army. What lies have you told me?"

Allistair looked at the ring then looked back at Eve.

"Thats how little I mean to you? I know you probably dont understand this yet.....but taking off the ring like you did......"

Allistair stood up and turned his back on Eve. After a few moments he looked back at her and stared her in the eyes.

"The only lie ive told you is when we went topside I said my mission was to save that squad, and battle against the God of Fire. That was a lie. But my mission was priority and those soldiers needed saving. I am forever in your debt for assisting me but that doesnt give you the right to disrespect me like this."

Allistair began walking out of the bar.

Eve picked up the ring and played with it in her hand trying to figure out if he was manipulating her or not. Her instincts told her he was up to something but what? How was givng her an opportunity a bad thing.

Eve got up and followed him outside. She had put the ring back on her dog tags. She grabbed his hand in hers and she said, "Im sorry. I think it just all got to me and you were an easy scape goat. Can we just forget it? I'll take the position."

He held her hand in his and avoided her eyes for a few seconds. Then he planted a serious kiss on her lips. After a few seconds he parted lips from her.

"No I am sorry. I should not have been so easy to offend, you just went through a horrible experience. And.......if im being honest.....that wasnt very boyfriendish of me to worry about my division more than my girlfirend huh? I am sorry, I told you before that I am the loner sort. I do not have much experience with dating and.....well there really is no excuse."

Allistair kissed Eve's nose.

"Thank you for accepting the position but forget about that right now. As my second in command, I can now take you anywhere, here or topside. Is there anywhere you want to go, to forget about all this for a few hours?"

Eve thought about that for a moment and she asked him. "What else is topside but fighting?" Eve thought about it a moment and said, "No I'd like to spend the afternoon just the two of us getting to know each other better. Can we just go back to your place and do that?"

Allistair smiled.

"Of course we can."

Allistair walked back to his place hand in hand with Eve. They arrived there without incident, and Allistair made a small blended drink for them. It tasted like water downed kool-aid, but it was supposedly healthy. Allistair handed Eve a glass and sat with her on his small sofa.

Maggie was on stage with her band Skyward Bound. She was doing a sound check at the Pink Polka Dot. When Maggie saw a half naked girl come out of the back she nearly had an apoplectic fit! Eve chuckled. "Come on Maggie you already tried to get out of it. You have to, it's in your contract." Eve gave her a knowing look. "Believe me, If I could I'd get out of here too. Bills though. And since I joined up in the army things have gotten....a little dicy."

"Yeah well I guess we could steal the show off of the naked chicks." Eve grinned. "You can sure as hell try."

"Isn't your boyfriend coming to pick you up?" Maggie asked. Eve laughed out loud. "Oh that's funny...Like I'd invite him in to look at my naked coworkers. I will go to him that is quite alright."

"Yeah, good point." Maggie looked over at her band mates and pointed to the drummer who started the count....3, 2, 1 Maggie's band sounded fantastic and the bar had actually agreed to close down the nudity and opened up fully family friendly for the weekend. Maggie made them because they tricked her into signing the contract with information withheld.

Maggie took center stage and played the hell out of her guitar. She lifted a little girl into the air and put her on the end so she could see better using nothing more than her tk. After doing a set with the band she took off her guitar and came to the edge of the stage to visit with the little girl and Eve.

@dabombjk

Alistair Aarvack

Jacob Rock

Eve Forrester and Maggie Mayes

Allistair sat in his office, typing up a memo. Since the incident with Eve, he had to show his superiors who assigned him as Division Leader that he could control his men. Also people were not happy that a litterally brand new recruit was assigned as second in command in one of the most elite tactical divisions in the military, and there were rumors that he and the second in command were sleeping together. Allistair laughed when he addressed that issue. That part was very unexpected but he was not objecting to it. He enjoyed spending time with Eve, even though she was a slightly loose cannon, and he hoped that after everyhting was done if she found out what was planned she would still care about him.

Allistair recieved a buzz on his speaker on his desk.

"Division Commander Corporal Aarvack, you have a call on line 2."

Allistair thanked the women on the other end and picked up the phone and pressed 2

"Aarvack, you need to go down to sector 8 of the city, the ghetto in laymans terms. It seems the appearance of a new Taboo has arrived, and we need you to bring him. His abilites have changed our plan, for the better."

Allistair heard the other end of the line hang up, and he sighed. Allistair got up and walked out of his office, building, and towards the ghetto, sector 8.

Eve was fixing some of the lighting at the PPD. Maggie's band was about to play and the house was packed. People were standing and the waitresses could barely get through the crowded nightclub. Eve had watched the maintenance men working hard to make the place presentable to the public in a family setting.

Skyward Bound started their set. It was still later afternoon and she was supposed to do two shows tonight. It had been that booked up. Eve liked Maggie. She admired her confidence and easy to get along with nature. She wondered if Allistair would come in tonight.

Allistair had gone to the ghetto, expecting there to be a few moments for him to catch up with the situation but was proven wrong. As soon as he crossed the line welcoming you to section 8, Allistair was slung forward by something that attached itself to his chest. As he was thrown forward he grabbed the goo that attached itself, and drained it. It shriveled up and fell apart. Allistair landed on his feet and swung his fist, which connected to the threats face. The threat was thrown backwards, and landed with a thud on the ground. Allistair walked over to the man and grabbed him by his jacket.

"If I put in any will, I could kill you almost instantly. So.CALM.DOWN."

The man grunted but did not resist."Fuck off soldja boy, you aint shit."

Allistair kneed the man in the stomach.

"Listen here is the deal. I could kill you right now in violation of the Taboo registration act. I could drag you off to prison. But I have an offer. Work, and you get an honest pay and no jail time."

The man laughed."Motha fucka think you can sca-"

Allistair cut the man off by hitting him square in the jaw. By then more soldiers came in behind him. Allistair spoke to the soldiers without looking at them.

"Restrain him, and lock him up. Lets give him some time....to think."

Allistair released the man and allowed the soldiers to drag off the man, restraining him after knocking him out. Allistair dusted himself off. Ignoring the stares from civilians, Allistair decided before he went back he would visit Eve. Allistair walked over to where Eve worked.

Eve was in her typical all black security outfit. It was leather, comfy and she could fight in it if necessary. Her 4 inch heels did nothing to detract from the outfit. Her favorite part of the outfit was that it made her as tall as Allistair. She always felt tiny compared to him so she laughed at the feeling of being equal in height. She was having fun working with the musicians and getting everything all set up. She was really quite impressed with how full the place was and how even the owners seemed to be noticing. Eve was kind of hoping that they would offer a long term thing to Skyward Bound and cut out the nudity altogether.

She looked over at the door and caught sight of Allistair. She waved and walked over and gave him a hug. "I love these heels, they make me as tall as you are and to other men that is intimidating." She chuckled and kissed him lightly. "So what brings you by here on a Friday night?"

Allistair smiled and put his hands on Eve's hips.

"Came by to visit my favorite girl, making sure no drunks were getting to handsy."

Allistair noticed the band setting up.

"Huh new band. That is rare. Have you met them all yet? Are they nice? More importantly if any of my...our soldiers ever go here can this band kick their asses if they go too daring."

Allistair laughed and kissed Eve lightly on the nose.

"Well I've met some of them and they sound great. I'm hoping that they will make enough of an impact here that they renovations that the club are looking to do might take it to a family friendly level permanently. Of course that might be problematic for me....It might put me out of a job if that happens though."

"Maggie could handle herself. I'm not sure about the others. I think you'll like Maggie she is fantastic. And.....she is a taboo."

Allistair raised his eyebrow.

"Really? that is.....surprising. I would love to meet her at some point. But I digress, are you going to be available this weekend? I have a mission lined up and it will be...dangerous to say the least."

Allistair noticed some of the other bouncers eyeing him with interest, apparently not recognizing him. More than likely wondering why was a customer getting handsy with a bouncer. It would make sense he was not one to visit establishments like this.

Eve glanced up and saw one of her security leaders looking concerned about Allistair. She shook her head and pointed to him and said "My boyfriend" this got her some funny grins and possibly a few jealous stares.

"So are you asking me to go with you or are you putting me on notice in case you don't come back? I can work around things if I need to. Hey aren't you going to ask me what Maggie's power is?" Seeing the look on his face she got up close to his ear and said, "she has telekinesis."

Allistair chuckled and kept his face close to Eve's.

"Thank you. I was not going to ask anything personal of her from you, it seemed rude. I am.....trying to be nicer when im not working. And I am asking you to go with me. Second in command."

Allistair wrapped his arms around Eve.

"Or maybe im being bad."

Alistair kissed Eve's neck softly.

Eve was trying to keep her focus on the crowd but her boyfriend was distracting her. Eve caught sight of something and stepped forward and froze the whole room. She walked over to the girl who had lifted some cash out of the register while the bartender was busy at the other end of the bar. She unfroze the room and ziptied the girl's hands before she even realized she was busted. Eve pulled out the wad of cash and told the owner to look at the security footage and she handed the girl over to one of her guys til the owner decided what to do with her.

Eve walked back to Allistair who had seen it all. "Sorry babe, I'm back. Duty called." She kissed him and continued scanning the room as Maggie played the hell out of that guitar.

Allistair blinked and shrugged. He had not expected that, Eve always seemed to find some way to suprise him. He listened to Maggie play and tapped his foot.

"Wow. She is good. Not too many musicians around town."

Allistair stood behind Eve amd wrapped his arms around her again.

"I need to go back to my own job in a bit, but I hope you dont mind me here for a little while. I missed you."

Eve blushed a little and smiled. "I missed you too. This two jobs thing is gonna wear me out.I'll have to cut this one back to weekends only or something. I'm burning my candle at both ends."

"What time do we leave for the mission?"

"We leave saturday at 0100....um sorry 1AM. And......well military life is demanding. Im sorry. I am trying to pick up as much responsibility as I can so you are not worn out as much. Between work here and work in the miltary, we hardly get to spend any alone time."

Allistair nibbled on Eve's ear.

"Our objective so far is retrieval. There is an old laboratory topside that houses a potent chemical that could boost the powers of Taboo's. Possibly."

"Wait right here I'll be right back." Eve walked over to talk to her security guy who proceeded to nod his head and then she walked over to the owner. After a moment she came back. She grabbed Allistair's hand and tugged him over to the stage and waved Maggie over. "Hey Mags I wanted to introduce you to my boyfriend. Allistair, Maggie Mayes."

Maggie stepped down and offered him her hand to shake."So you are Eve's man. Nice to see she has good taste." Eve blushed at her friend's comment.

"And you are my girls newest friend, the talented musician. I was listening while you played, you're pretty good. Wouldnt happen to be interested in playing at any military ceremonies? Also it has been mentioned your a Taboo. If it is ok to ask, what is your power?"

"Of course we would play for the military. Yes, I am and it's Tk, Telekinesis. I use it alot in the shows. I usually float someone in the air or twirl the drums away from Jen over there. The crowd loves it and I think it's fun. Eve watched them speaking together and noticed that Allistair and Maggie seemed to get along maybe better than she would like. That was the problem with Maggie. Everyone loved her because she was so easy to talk to.

Eve tugged on Allistair's hand a little and nodded to the band getting ready to start again. "Nice meeting you Allistair." She said running back up the stairs to the stage. The band hopped right into the next song and she pulled a teenaged girl into the air all the while singing and playing the guitar. She could split her focus and do quite a few big things all at once.

"I cleared it with my team. I am free to go with you on your mission. And I got time off starting now if you want to head home and fool around?"

Allistair laughed and picked her up.

"Why go home? There are plenty of back rooms here."

Allistair walked towards the side hallway, and walked into a booth. Allistair began kissing Eve, and grabbing her ass.

When he had a moment Allistair spoke quickly, "Thank you for making time. Im sorry to be asking you to go with me I would just feel a lot safer if I had you with me. You......give me strength."

Eve reached behind her and locked the door. "I give you strength?" She smiled "Kinda like Samson and Delilah." she murmured as she kissed his neck. Eve's hands were roaming freely over his body and she knew he was getting to the point of no return.

Allistair felt himself get to his breaking point, and as he unbuckled his pants he pulled down Eve's as well. He pressed Eve against the wall and guided himself into Eve. As he began, Allistair kissed Eve furiously, sliding his tongue inside Eve's mouth.

Eve wrapped her legs around Allistair and matched his need and his pace. She bit her lip trying not to scream out. She kissed him ravenously as if she were starving for him. After they finished Eve clung to him not wanting to let him go. That and she could barely stand up for a few minutes. She chuckled, "We really needed that." She said breathlessly.

Allistair stretched and laughed as well.

"Yea we did. That was great. You're.....on birth control right? I mean I pulled out but still better safe than sorry right? But either way you were great. Made me go nuts. Then I went crazy."

Allistair laughed at his stupid joke.

Eve laughed and straightened his clothes then her own. "Actually, I'm not. The explosion that killed my family also did some damage to me and the doc said if I ever got pregnant it would be a miracle." Eve opened the door after making sure that they were presentable and she went out first and a moment or so Allistair followed her. Eve hadn't planned on telling him that quite that way but he had asked so she just kinda blurted it out.

Allistair did not know quite what to say when Eve told him. He was suprised, and was conflicted. On one hand he was happy, he could finish inside her and did not need protection. On the other hand it was a serious thing, and was saddened for Eve. After Allistair followed out of the room after Eve, he walked over and sat in a chair. He looked at Eve and motioned for her to sit next to him. Allister signalled for a waitress, and ordered a few drinks.

Eve walked over and smiled at Allistair. Thinking about not having kids made her sad. She had always wanted to have her own family. It was also why she was a little more dare devil than not. She figured she had less to lose than most people. She guzzled her drink and held up 2 fingers so the waitress brought her two more. She sat next to him and snuggled into his shoulder while they watched the show.

Allister sipped his drink, and wrapped his arm around Eve. They watched the show together, and he noticed Maggie kept giving him quick glances, then looking away. At the end of the show, Allister looked at his watch and groaned.

"Babe, I need to go back to work. I spent more time than I was suppose to away from my desk. I was sent on a mission to capture a Taboo causing havoc and I got distracted by you."

Allister kissed Eve's nose.

"Not that I mind one bit." Allister stood up with Eve. "Tell Maggie I said bye, and If you want come back to Ghost HQ later, so I can debrief you sooner than later."

Eve leaned in close and muttered "I thought you already debriefed me." She chuckled softly. "Should I just get some clothes and come by and stay at your place tonight?" She noticed Maggies glances too and she wasn't overly thrilled about it. Eve's confidence was already on shaky ground and it made her feel a little threatened.

Allister nodded.

"Yea thats fine. My room is big but if you want you can have one of my drawers from my dresser get your stuff."

Allister completely missed Eve's joke at first and would only get it later in the day. He kissed Eve and walked out of the club, back to Hq. When he got back, he went directly to where they were keeping Jacob. Allister walked into the room, and looked at Jacob. He was tied up to a chair in front of a table, and was slightly beaten up. Jacob kept trying to ooze out but was stopped by a metal choker around his neck that glowed red. Allister sat on the opposite side of the table.

"Have you thought about my offer?"

Jacob coughed, some blood splurting out. "Y-y-yea motha fucka I did. I wanna say fuck off but this fuckin necklace your fuck boys put on me fuckin hurts. Screwin with my powers, you're a cold bitch. So yea fine but you better pay me. Make me fucking rich."

Allister smiled.

Eve went back to Allistairs and used the key he had given her after she stopped by her place. She really needed to move out of that dump. She finally had a paycheck but no time to look for a place. She sighed and wondered if there was any room in his building. Eve made dinner. Not knowing when he was going to be home she left it on the table for him and put some of it back for later. Then she went and took a hot shower and put on a long t-shirt and fell asleep on top of the covers in his room.

Allister ordered for Jacob to be patched up and put in a more comfortable room. Then Allister went back to his office. He looked over everything on his desk and yawned. Allister walked out and let his men know he was headed home. Allister walked home to find a meal on the table and Eve on his bed. Allister smiled. He quickly ate his dinner, then got undressed and layed down next to Eve, and fell asleep.
@wick

It was a average morning above ground, meaning the broken down cars, the rusted signs, and the demolished buildings left no aura of happiness. the air held a murky fragrance and no hope could be seen for miles on end. Suddenly, there was a disturbance. It was not something you could see, but more or less something you could feel, like something was just a millisecond off. As if the air was imbalanced and time itself somehow was out of place. Miles and miles away from the entrance of Tera Nova, sigils and symbols suddenly started to appear on the side of a broken down building, glowing a luminescent Purple and black. This continued until there was a strange symbols put together from all the smaller glowing symbols and the wall exploded. Smoke and dust filled the area, with three shadowy figures within. You could barely see their shadowy figures, all three coughing and gasping. After a minute the dust settled, the smoke cleared, and three people could be clearly seen.

One was a man, tall and tan, slightly muscular and more on the thin side. At first he had long spikey black hair that reached down to his waist, and wore only baggy black pants with what looked like grey gauze wrapped around his waist up to his shoulders then covered his neck and up to above his nose. His hands up to right before his elbows were black, and he had a black sword in his right hand. Then he suddnely vibrated and changed. He was wearing a long sleeve black V neck shirt, with an unzipped red jacket with the collar propped up. He wore black jeans and converse shoes. He had a Shaggy black hair that went down to his neck.

The man spoke. "Ok.....so that might have been my bad. When you yelled "Stop dont destroy it" I might have already fired a Black Matter Ball."

Eden looked at Kyle. "Really? You couldn't wait just a minute longer? So what are we going to do now?" Eden turned to their son "Josh don't touch anything. We don't know what it does." Their very curious son was always getting into things. She watched him completely ignoring her orders. "Kyle....handle your son."

Kyle smirked. "MY son? Last I remembered it takes two to make a kid. And you certainly were......very motivated the night you were impregnated."

Kyle gulped as Eden shot him a look that reminded him why you try your hardest not to fight Gods and Goddesses. Thank God he didnt have to do that anymore. Kyle put his hands up in defeat and walked over to Josh, who was exmaning the broken down buildings and shops across the street. He put his hand on Josh's head and ruffled his hair.

"Buddy c'mon you heard your mother. She said no touching. And she is right This clearly isnt the same place as where we were a few moments ago."

Josh ducked his head and turned to look at his father. "Im NEVER allowed to touch anything. Or go anywhere. I mean hell this was the first mission you guys have let me go on with you. I mean I have been training my entire life and I have been on countless small solo missions."

Kyle laughed. "That's true. But the real world is much more dangerous than you realize. And honestly, it took me forever to convince your mother to let you come with us, and now she will never let this go. So how about this. I will go exploring with you later, once we find out where we are and your mother says it is ok."

Kyle looked around. "Hey Eden," Kyle said loudly to Eden, "Do you recognize where we are?"

Eden was looking around and nodded. "Yes, but it's not good." She climbed over some things and sucked in her breath at what she saw. "Kyle....come here. Look at that." Eden pointed to what would have been the HQ but it had been destroyed. There was wreckage everywhere and there were Gods fighting against humans.

"What happened?" She murmured under her breath. "I think we shifted into a parallel dimension. We are on Earth, just not OUR Earth. That means that our dopplegangers are on this Earth unless they got flipped to our Earth. And that means they got the better deal."

Kyle motioned for Josh to follow him, and they walked over next to Eden. Kyle groaned when he saw what Eden saw. More Gods, and everything was in ruins.

"Damn. I thought we finished God fighting over 20 years ago. But I dont recognize any of these Gods fighting. And why are they fighting humans? So many questions."

Kyle cracked his knuckles and sighed.

"Ok so more than likely we should go over there and find out whats up. Josh this is your only warning. You have never faced a God, and we shouldnt be killing humans. So stay behind your mother and I and dont attack anyone before we find out the complete story."

Kyle looked at Eden and smiled. Even after over 20 years of marriage, she was still more beautiful than anyone or anything he had ever seen.

"My love, looks like we are back at it again. But.....I need to know. If in this world the Gods are the bad guys......are you ok with fighting them?"

"If we have to but I'd rather find out what is going on. I wonder if anyone else from the HQ is here." Eden started working her way towards the fighting. "Josh stay there!"

Kyle looked back at Josh and gave him the silent "Follow me but stay hidden motion". Kyle raced as fast as Eden over to the fighting, and was able to intervene just as Prakaza, God of Light, was just about to strike down a soldier with a spear of pure light. Kyle jumped in, throwing out a square Black Matter wall in front of him and the soldier. The light bounced off, cracking the wall. Kyle's eyes widened.

"Wow. That is a first. Not many people can damage my shield like that."
The God looked stunned, as much as a God could, and began laughing. This caused all fighting to cease, as it was a first for anyone to see a God stop fighting and laugh.

Prakaza brushed back his long white hair and spoke to Kyle. "So..You are not from here. I can feel how out of space you are. This is not your affair young God. Leave now." Prakaza raised his hand and a dozen small circling orbs of sparkling light appeared.

Now it was Kyles turn to laugh. He looked sideways and saw Eden watching the confrontation, and he saw Josh watching a bit further back. Kyle fixed his attention on the God. "Sorry to dissapoint but I am not a God, im just someone who can spend forever with the woman he loves."

Eden smirked a little at Kyle's words. Eden stepped forward. "I am Idun goddess of youth. What is the situation between the gods and the humans. I only just arrived and have no information on this."

Prakaza looked at Eden and frowned. He looked Eden once then noticed Josh a bit away. He smiled widely at this. Then he looked back at Eden.

"Strange one, it is very....interesting to meet you. We Gods have grown tired of the arrogance of man, and we have decided as a consensus that Humanity needs to be taught a lesson. When they resisted......well as you can see we have won. Now all that remains is flushing out the few pockets of Humanity left. They have become even more disgusting cockroaches than before, and we will start over with this world once it has been cleaned. You are a pure blooded Goddess, even if you are not from this world. Your child over there, and yes I can feel your similair lights so I know he is your child, can join us. There are no Demi Gods in this universe."

The god sneered slightly at the last part of his sentence.

"But you will need to leave your man toy. He may have God Energy inside him but he is no true Immortal."
Prakaza held out his free hand to Eden.

"What do you say, Idun Goddess of Youth?"

Eden pulled her swords and stood defensively. "My HUSBAND will stay with me, regardless of what you say. And if that means I have to fight you all then so be it." Josh for the first time got to see his mother looking as fierce as Enyo and he smiled.

Josh stayed where he was, but could not help but smile when he saw his mother. He had never truly seen his mother be as fierce looking in a battle before, and this was something worth seeing. Josh's hand twiched and a spark of electricity shot out and dissaperated as soon as it was shot out. Josh watched the scene intently.

Kyle tapped the vast well of God energy he had access to and his entire body vibrated, and changed. His hair went Long and spikey, his clothes changed, and a black matter sword appeared in his right hand. This was his God Mode. It did not necessarily make him invincible or all powerful, but it was a slight power boost. This was him when he tapped into the energy Gods used. His eternal youth gave him this connection. Kyle thanked his lucky stars that using it did not have bad side effects, like when Kieran appeared so long ago. Kyle smiled at Eden, then charged the God of Light. He dashed forward, slashing his blade in his hand. The God pulled back in time, but his attack was dispensed. The rest of the soldiers on the field started to either back away or flee altogether.

Prazaka huffed, and created rings of light all around his body. "That is a foolish mistake Goddess. And you," The God spoke as he swiped at Kyle, "Will die for your insolence and corrupting a Goddess."

Kyle ducked at the blow to his head and spun kicking the God. Kyle jumped back as his foot connected, able to gain distance and kicking the God away. Prazaka took no damage.

Eden pulled her crossbow out and began shooting light arrows at Prazaka.Once she realized that light would do nothing to him she switched to hand to hand combat and her swords. He was not as capable in physical fighting. Shiver had insisted they all stay in top physical fighting form. Eden was very glad that she had. What she wouldn't give right now to see Enyo pop up to help her though.

Prazaka laughed as Edens light bounced right off him, and laughed at Kyles feeble physical attacks. When he saw Eden pull out her weapons, he opened his arms. "Come, bring forth your best efforts. Try as you might, we Gods of this universe are slightly different than what you think we would be." Prazaka summoned forth a barrage of still light spears above him, and aimed them at both Kyle and Eden. He looked over at Josh and aimed one at him. Then he looked back at Eden.

This gave Kyle the opportunity they needed. Kyle reverted back to an old move, aiming a finger gun at the God, and holding his arm with his other hand. Kyle took careful aim, then fired. Prazaka noticed too late, and as he shot out a spear at the sphere of Anti Matter, when he became close to him it exploded, creating a big explosion of the void that engulfed the God. When it dissapeared he was uninjured but appeared rattled and off balance.

Eden looked at Josh and nodded at him and he charged up and defended himself from the attack. Prazaka appeared to be fairly impressed with the young man. Eden felt herself smile on the inside at her son's progress. Maybe she was a little too tight on the reigns with him. She looked over at his father and rethought that last bit again. "Prazaka you will not tell me or my family who we are or that we are not good enough."

Eden motioned at Josh to follow her and she walked onto the human side and followed the ones retreating. She kept up a light shield up and kept herself and her son protected from the scared humans that were in the vicinity.

"Humans, I wish to speak to someone who can help me...Who is in charge here?"

The soldiers who were still present all pointed to one soldier near the front. The soldier stepped up and spoke as confident as possible. "O-our CO died in battle. I am in charge, but not for long. I radioed reinforcements, and a Taboo is on his way. When they gets here, they will be in charge."

Kyle kept the God distracted. He knew they needed to get the regular people away from this fight, but he was having an admittedly tough time. Prazaka was strong, and what was more annoying was that he did not seem to take damage or lose stamina. Kyle was able to fight toe to toe though. Kyle created a second Dark Matter sword and began slashing and striking Parazaka. The God of Light used his rings of light to deflect his attacks but was unable to counter attack much. Kyle was much faster than was anticipated.

Parazaka spoke out loud."Vimana wisk me away! Interesting developments have taken place."

The God was suddenly surrounded by a gust of wind, but Kyle slashed through it and tried to stab him, only for his swords to bounce off.

"Huh. So you wanna leave? Not until the humans reinforcements arrive and we can take you down!"

Josh watched his dad while his mother spoke to a Private Forrester. She had been in the vicinity when Eden came down the stairs into the human world so unexpectedly.

Eve asked the goddess who she was and why she was there. "Eden, goddess of youth. This is my son Josh and he is a demi-god. His father is human. Kyle has powers and I keep him young. The gods don't want us to stay together even though we are married. We are not from this Earth. We travelled here by accident when my husband broke something that we were supposed to bring back."

Kyle jumped up and side kicked Prazaka in the face. When Eve arrived, the God of Light became slightly unsettled. One Taboo was more than an easy mark, a Goddess was slightly tougher especially with a Taboo, but a Taboo and a Goddess and a minor God? That was too much for even one God. It had been a very long time since such a formidable force was presented against any of the Gods. Prazaka shot out a blinding light, and was whisked away By the Goddess of Air, who was doing this from the Heavens as the one in charge of transportation of the Gods.

Kyle reverted his form back to human looking form, and walked over back to Eden, sweaty but smiling,

"Holy crap that was awesome! I havent had a fight that good since Odin got all pissy with me for marrying you Little Flower.:"

Eden smiled, "Well yeah you messed up his plans for me." She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.

Eve grinned, "well I think we will have to get you guys set up in an apartment or something. Let me ask the corporal." She called Allistair and caught him up. "He is on his way here right now."

Kyle kissed Eden back and laughed at Josh's response.

"Hey buddy, one day you will have something that your mom and I have and I am gonna make dirty looks at you too!"

Kyle turned to Eve.

"Thanks we appreciate it. It is gonna take some time to get back so we are glad humans here are nice. By the way, we may have God status, but we are not like the Gods here. Also, who is the corporal? Where is he coming from?"

Eve said, "Do you know how to get back? If not it might be futile and you might be stuck here. The Corporal is my boyfriend too. His name is Allistair. You'll like him I think. He should be here in a moment. I was on my way to meet him."

Eve smiled at Josh. "I think you will have trouble keeping the girls away from this one." She said this knowing that it would embarrass him.

At the moment, to Josh's luck, Allistair arrived. He was accompied by 3 other soldiers all of which struggled to keep up with him. When Allistair arrived on the scene he surveyed the scene. Damage everywhere, multiple casualties, Eve talking to three strangers.. Allister walked up and stood beside Eve.

Allistair spoke. "Private Forrester, thank you for securing the area." Allistair looked at the three new people. He could almost feel a Gofly aura that made him want to draw his weapons. "So.....you would three would be the friendly Gods I assume?"

Kyle spoke next. "Yea we are. My name is Kyle Hishamie, This is Eden Hishamie and Josh Hishamie. I have eternal youth, Eden here is the Goddess of Youth from our world, and Josh here is my 18 year old demi god son." Kyle offered his hand.

Allistair grabbed Kyles hand and shook, an almost visible disply of strength being held between Kyle and Allistair. Both had been use to being major players in their battles,a nd now here they were. It was as if two kings from seperate kingdoms came together and tried to rule together.

After a few moments they released hands. Allistair spoke next. "Well....you can come back with us if you want. Mr. Hishamie I will need you to come with me back to my HQ for a de briefieng. Eve, can you show Mrs. Hishamie and Young Mr. Hishamie around the city? I will have a residence cleared for them within the hour."

"Yes sir, Corporal Aarvack, sir." Eve led the way and she took them the long way around the city and then she took them into the PPD since it was still family friendly. Josh seemed to get the gist right away that this was not a normal establishment. "Sorry, the decor isn't finished yet. They are redoing the place and turning it into a family friendly club. We have a great band though." Eve looked up and saw Maggie and waved at her. Maggie came over and Josh was instantly in love.

"Hi Eve, who did you bring to see us tonight?" Maggie smiled at Josh and Eden. "Oh hey I gotta run." Maggie ran back to the stage and the band began to play. Eden and Eve looked at Josh and then each other and smiled wide.

Josh was entranced and walked forward and sat in a chair in front of the stage. Josh was mesmerized, and he could not believe someone as cute as Maggie existed. And her music....simply divine. And he knew divine, he is a demi god. Josh planned on talking with Maggie more after the show.

Elsewhere, Kyle sat across from Allistair in his office. Kyle fidgeted, uncomftorable with the current setting. This was why he never had an office job. Also because his past was filled with criminal activity, but thats besides the point. Allistair spoke first handing him a few papers and two keys.

"I figured your son would like a separate room, but since we dont have two room apartements you guys live in rooms side by side. I know its a major oversight not having two bedroom homes, but these places were designed a long time ago."

Kyle accepted the papers and keys and looked them over. Kyle spoke. "Ok so sector 3, close to here actually, rooms 107,108. Cool. Hey you know while my wife and I are trying to get back, if you have any Gods you want us to fight just ask."

Allistair smiled and spoke confidently."Yes..I am sure I will be able to find a good use for you."

Eve texted Allistair At PPD with Eden and Josh. Josh is in total love with Maggie. :p Ily

Eve looked up and looked at her security in the club and noticed something was off. "Stay here." She said to Eden. Eve had noticed that the owner was not the one manning the floor as per usual. She walked casually to the office door and heard angry voices and a terrified owner. Eve quietly opened the door and stuck her hand in freezing the room. She then entered and saw that the room was full of thieves and the owner's wife was unconcious on the floor. One of the men had been kicking her.

One of the men was a taboo and fought his way out of her freeze faster than others would. While her back was turned he hit her with a powerful burst of energy that sent her flying across the room. She hit the wall and got up firing back at him. The energy ball he sent back at her she blew up and then she blew him up. Eve stood up and went to the owner who commented on her being hurt. Eve knew it and ignored it getting them out first.

Eden put a light shield up to protect the innocent.

Josh looked over and saw the commotion, and sprung into action. He had a lot of his father in him, heading head first into danger without thinking. Josh flung his hands up and shot out an arc of electricity which hit one of the men in the office and his electricity sprang from the first man and hit one man on the first man's left and right. Josh stood his ground, watching his mother protecting the innocents and Eve getting management out first, and he began to fight the remaining thugs. Josh quickly incapacitated the remaining thugs with his dart gun, loaded with sleeping darts. He fired quickly, hitting his target accuratley.

Eve froze the owner's wife as she was bleeding heavily. She could hear the sirens outside. Josh had taken down the other thugs while she handled the taboo and the owners. Eden called over to the paramedics and they came over to the owner's wife. One of them reached over and pulled Eve's blazer back and exposed a decent sized hole in her side just before she passed out. The second paramedic picked her up and carried her into the ambulance.

Maggie was watching everything from the stage. She saw that the goddess and her son were backing Eve up. She was shocked to see Eve's injury. She had never taken a hit like that before and she worried about her. Maggie tk'd off of the stage to the door and asked the paramedic to call Allistair and told him his number was in Eve's phone. He handed her the phone and said he couldn't do it. "fine I'll call him." Maggie immediately called Allistair.

The phone was ringing and ringing. Maggie was upset and worried about Eve. Eden and Josh were her responsibility until Allistair got there or sent someone else.

Allister felt his personal phone vibrate, and was suprised to see Eve calling him. Allistair spoke. "One moment. Eve is calling me."

Allister answered the phone, prepared to be charming but was immediatley thrown back by Maggie speaking instead of Eve. After a few moments Allistair hung up and stood. "Kyle, we need to move out. Eve was hurt at her second job while she was with your wife and son."

Kyle and Allister left the building and ran over to the Pink Polka Dot. When they arrived there were medics and evac stretchers, one with Eve on it inside an ambulance. Allister ran over to Eve's side, and looked her over. He held her hand and began furiously questioning the medics. Kyle walked over and found his wife and son. Kyle spoke. "Guys are you alright?"

Maggie was answering questions. She had the best view of everything. The owner had already stated what had happened prior to Eve's entrance. Between Maggie and the owner it was a complete scenario.

"I was onstage and I saw Eve get up and head towards the office. I..I don't know why, I guess she saw something or sensed something. She froze the room in there and then she went into the room. I saw the owner's wife was badly hurt and they had been beating on him. By that time in the club Eden had put up a shield so no one would get hit. The next thing that happened was that Eve's freeze wore off the taboo and he hit her with some kind of energy ball I think. He was so close she took a direct hit to the side and was flung up into the air and hit the wall. She jumped up and fired back and her second shot blew him to bits. Meanwhile all the thugs that came out of the office Josh here took care of. He shot them all with ...." She looked at Josh and smiled slightly. "sleeping darts?"

"Please tell me that Eve is going to be okay. It really looked bad." Maggie saw Kyle come in and go to Eden. Maggie looked at the others and tried to decide what to do. She made the call and told security to close the club down for the evening. The cops would need it as a crime scene and she wasn't going to sing anymore tonight. She walked over to Josh and hugged him. "Thank you for helping Eve. It could have been so much worse if you and your mom weren't here."

"Let's ROLL we're gonna lose her!" Maggie turned suddenly hearing the paramedics as the door shut and they took off. Maggie stared off and she knew they needed her at the club.

Josh was suprised Maggie hugged him, how close she had pressed her body into him. Josh wrapped one hand around her waist and hugged her back, keeping a cool face. It was nice though that he got complimented. While his parents were supportive, they always had something about his fighting style that they could criticize. Josh looked Maggie and spoke. "Thanks but I couldnt save Eve so I dont deserve praise. If you need to go though...maybe we could hang out somtime soon?" Josh raised his eyebrow.

Maggie nodded and smiled softly. "That sounds nice."

Kyle stood close to Eden and hugged her. He spoke softly in her ear. "Lilttle flower, I am glad you are safe. I wasnt particularly worried, given I have been on the recieving end of your strength. I have our rooms, Josh is will not be sleeping in the same apartement room as us, but the next one over. Apparently these apartements were all made single room."

Allister sat with Eve as the medics went to work on stabilizing Eve. His power was to drain, not give which would have come in handy. Allister spoke to the main driver. "Drive her to the secured military only ER. When you get close radio them, and tell them the code - Echo 2 Mike 7 Romeo. Its the emergency response code."

Eve was in a deep slumber and she could hear voices but her senses were above the level of pain. She could hear doctors and nurses and equipment. In the distance she could hear Allistair yelling. She felt herself smiling a little at the sound of his voice.

The next thing Eve heard was the beeping of machines and the oxygen machine. Before that all she felt was agonizing pain. Tears ran out of her opening eyes she removed the covers from her left side and looked at it. It was bandaged up and it hurt like nothing she had ever felt before. Eve turned her head to see Allistair sitting there. She wiped her tears away as much as she could.

Allistair got as close to Eve as he could, and kept trying to help. Comfort her in any way. They finally arrived at the medical base, and Eve was rushed to surgery. Allistair yelled and pitched a fit, demanding to be there while they operated, and it took all of the security force they had to hold him back. Finally they had no choice but to knock him out. One of the security guards came up behind Allister and hit him hard across the head with a baton. Allister was taken to the waiting room.

Eve drifted in and out of consciousness and she felt herself drifting above herself while she lay on the operating table. She would see flashes of things, like the owners wife. The voice of the paramedics. Seeing Maggie on stage just before she went into the office. The one thing she couldn't let out of her mind was Allistair. She drifted back out again.

It was some time later that the doctor came out to see Allistair. The doctor sat next to Allistair and said, "There were complications and her heart stopped while she was on the table but we got her back. She was down about 3 minutes. She should have no permanent damage but she will have a nasty scar and she is going to be really sore. She is lucky that it was the left side. There are no major organs right where she got hit."

"She is one lucky girl." The doctor smiled and went to go back into the recovery. "Come on in I'll make an exception for you both."

Allister walked in and stood next to Eve's sleeping form. Allister looked her over and saw her scar on her side. Allisters hands balled up and he began to grow furious. Allister thought to himself that after his plans succeeded he would let nothing like this happen again. He bent over and kissed Eve's nose.

Eve was still trying to wake up but her mind was awake and she said...."Alistair."

(TIME SKIP: THREE DAYS MONDAY 1:00 PM)

Josh was leaning against the Pink Polka Dot, waiting for Maggie. After the whole fiasco a few days ago, and between his parents trying to get them home, he had not been able to follow through on his request to hang out with Maggie soon. Allistair had decided not to go on his mission, since Eve was recovering which had pissed off his superiors until Josh's dad had volunteered to take his place. So with his father gone all weekend, Eden had recruited Josh in her experiments to get them home. Every spell, every concoction, everything Eden could think of failed. Josh did not know much about this sorta thing so he was mainly used as an errand boy, picking up supplies and assisting his mother whenever she asked. But after all weekend and his father returning, Josh got the day off. He had immediately got dressed in a decent shirt and pants that he had received from Allistair, who had bought them all new clothes. Josh knew Maggie was suppose to come to work sometime around now, so he knew this was the best time to catch her.

Maggie had stuck around and helped out with the club. The second in security was also there and now that the cops were done they were working on cleaning up the place. Maggie was unsure of what was going to happen. The owner's wife had died and he was talking about selling the club. Maggie had some cash put away and was wondering if she should talk to him about buying it. She was almost to the club when she saw Josh up ahead. She had been impressed with him the other day. She waved when he saw her.

Josh smiled and ran his hand through his hair. Josh stood up straight and walked over to Maggie. Everything about Maggie was invigorating, between her slender figure, her dark flowing hair, and her soothing voice. Josh put his hands behind his head.

"Hey Maggie. Was hoping you were working today. Wanted to know if, after work, you wanted to finally hang out?"

"Well I'm not exactly working. We are cleaning up and making repairs since the other day. I'm helping the owner. Let me check in with him and see what needs to be done still. Come on in."

She opened the door and let him in with her and she went to find the owner. She found him in the office trying to pick out burial stuff. She came back in a hurry. "He said we aren't doing anything today. He is making final arrangements for his wife. So I guess I am free. What do you want to do?"

"Well I would love to explore the city a bit. I mean this place is crazy. There are so many ways to get lost. here. I spent an hour yesterday trying to figure out how to get home, when I had only walked about a block away."

Josh smiled and held Maggie's hand. He walked out with Maggie and looked around. They were a couple of different directions they could go, and he took a few seconds to choose. Josh decided, and walked with Maggie towards the area with a lot of street vendors and where people were lounging about.

"Where I am from, we don't have stuff like this. We live on the surface, and while there are a ton of people there is a lot more open space and renovated buildings."

Maggie smiled a little when he took her hand. She was a little surprised. She figured when he said hang out it was his way of asking for a date. "I have only been topside on rare occasions. Pretty much it's ruined up there and the gods rule and there is always fighting. It's just safer here but that is why I named my band Skyward Bound. I hope one day we can be safe enough to play up there."

Josh nodded. "Well hopefully. My dad seemed to kick the crap out what flashlight God a few days ago, and my mom is just as strong if not a little stronger. Of course my dad would never admit that. You should see them spar, its incredible."

As they walked Josh kept his eyes open and his head on a swivel. Everything about this place was...so different than where he was from. He had no idea how people lived like this for so long.

"Maggie I have heard there are more cities like this, except here things tend to be a little more militaristic. Are you from here?"

"No, I'm from another city about a day's travel away. A lot of the cities are like this if there are a lot of gods around. There are a few that are less protected. So down here is a movie theatre and a diner...any thoughts on what you want to do?"

Josh thought for a moment then looked at Maggie. "Allistair gave me some of this worlds type of money, so why not get some food, then we can go see what kind of trouble we can get into."

Maggie chuckled at that comment. "Of that I have no doubt." As soon as they walked into the diner Maggie was bombarded with fans wanting to get her autograph or take pictures with her. Maggie quickly was pulled away from Josh and was at least three people deep away from him. Maggie shrugged, "I'm sorry! This happens a lot!" she shouted to him.

Josh frowned as he was pulled away and pushed aside. He tried to get back to Maggie, but could not force his way through the crowd. Josh became slightly irritated, and his hand started to slightly static. Josh lightly touched the person in front of him, igniting a slight static discharge and making the person jump. This allowed Josh to walked around the person. Josh did this a few more times until he was able to grab Maggie's hand again.

"Not that I don't love this," Josh said trying not to show how irritated he was, "But we should be somewhere that isn't so...public."

Josh closed his eyes, and raised his hand towards the top of the closest building. His father had given him something from his fathers past a long time ago, but he never used it until now. In his hand was a small disk, filled with his fathers teleporting energy. Josh pressed the button on the disk, and teleported Maggie and himself away, on top of the building. Josh forced Maggie down, and then himself. They stayed like that until the crowd of fans dispersed.

Maggie had rolled onto her back and had lay there talking to him. "Yeah, that happens to me a lot more than most would expect. I heard that I'm some kind of role model and sex symbol?" She laughed. "That is the silliest thing I've ever heard. Role model maybe but the other....no way." She glanced at Josh. "Are they gone yet?"

Josh looked up then back at Maggie, grinning.

"That depends. If you wanted to dive more into that whole bit about being a "sex symbol" thing, then no. If not then yea they left."

Maggie grinned at him, "Did you just ask me if I wanted to have sex?"

Josh gave a dramatic eye roll. "Aboslutley not! I would never dishonor a lady such as yourself in this regard. That is unless, perhaps by chance, that is possible what you wanted me to ask?"

She laughed at his brave and silly dramatics. "I think we'll hold off on that right now. I barely know you." She chuckled and stood up. "Let's see if we can get into the diner now, somewhere in the back room." She took his hand and telekinetically flew them down and opened the back door. They went in and she popped her head into the kitchen. "Hey, we are going into the back room. Send in a waitress."

Josh smiled as Maggie flew them down and led him through the back door. Josh and Maggie both took their seats and waited on a waitress.

"Well little miss popular, I for one am excited to try this worlds food. Wonder if its any different form my worlds food. So do you always get mobbed like that? Havent been in crazy mob like that since My mom and dad took me with them when they went to visit my dads old home town."

The waitress came over and greeted them, handing them menus. Josh looked over the menu, and to his surprise he recognized a few items. Josh ordered a coke and a cheeseburger.

"Glad they still have burgers here ha."

Kyle walked over to the counter in his and Edens room and opened a bag of chips. He then walked over to their bed an started munching. He was so bored, and after days of research and God fighting this time of downtime was killing him. He knew Eden was working hard, but he just wasnt as well versed in the affairs of the time vortex, the timelines, and universal energy. Hell he was still learning about his new Godly energies. Kyle looked over at Eden.

"Babe........I am sooo bored."

Eden looked at Kyle. She was frustrated too. She had none of the gadgets or genius' around that she had gotten used to and she was worried they'd never get back. She missed her teammates and their home.

"I don't know what you expect me to do about that Kyle. Go find something to entertain yourself with."

---

Meanwhile Maggie was visiting Eve at Alistair's apartment. He had kept her there since the event at the club. Eve showed her the huge scar on her side and rewrapped it. "Alistair's been an angel to me about all of this." She handed Maggie a letter of acceptance and said, "I'll need a roommate. You want to move in with me? The new place is right down the hall from here."

Maggie nodded. "Yes that would be great. Most of the time I fly myself in through my window because it's too dangerous to walk up to my apartment."Maggie decided now was the time to ask her. "Eve, you know that since June died Johnny wants to sell the club." Eve nodded. "Yes. I am aware of that."

Maggie blurted out, "I want to buy the club and I think you should be my partner in it." Eve looked up a little stunned and Eve said, "How am I going to be your partner when I have no cash to contribute?"

Maggie said "I'm sure we can figure that out. There is always sweat equity. I'd need you to run the day to day stuff and I will run the entertainment side.

Eve smiled. She looked up as Alistair came back into the room.

Allister walked inside his home, slightly tired. He had to go into work today and could not afford to call out again. There had been a breach of security topside and he had to get involved. Then there was fighting, and he had to use his powers basically all day to keep going. It had taken his told. Allister walked inside, kissed Eve on her nose, nodded at Maggie, then sat in his desk chair.

"Hey girls. Eve how are you feeling? Are you ok? Do you need anything?"

"I'm getting better, especially now that you are home. How was your day? " Eve got up slowly and went to get him a drink. She brought him a soda and a shot of his whiskey.

Allister raised an eyebrow. "Since when do I have whiskey? Didnt think I had really any kind of alcohol." He shrugged and mixed the two beverages. "But thanks. Yea today really sucked. Apparently there is a new cult getting some supporters, who like to mess with our military equipment and the...health of our soldiers. They are called "Ashes of the Phoenix" and they believe that their leader is some sort of God level human, who is immortal. Really cleverly, they call him the Phoenix. Well anyways they hate the military and like to sabotage us. As if fighting Gods was not enough right?"

"Sounds like a rough day." Eve leaned over and kissed him. "I've had a day filled with good news." She held up a letter of acceptance to the complex he lived in. "I got an apartment here, right down the hall actually so you won't have to worry about me in your way so much."

Allister frowned slightly.

"You are never in my way, you should know that. I will miss having you around as much as you have been. Are you sure you can live on your own? You are still injured."

Eve was looking for a question in his eyes and decided quickly that he must not be ready for that yet so she responded. "Yes, Maggie is going to be my roommate. Her place sucks too so it makes sense." She looked over at Maggie and smiled.

"Maggie also asked me something too. She wants me to buy the Pink Polka Dot with her and turn it into a regular nightclub. She would handle th music side and I would handle the business side of things. "I'll have to get a loan or something but it sounds really great.What do you think?"

Allister sighed, and looked at Maggie.

"Since I know what Eve's answer will be, Maggie go over to the end table next to my bed, open the second drawer, take out the lock box, and punch in the code 3-11-3. Take as much money as you guys need. I have......a bit saved up. Military positions like mine pay handsomely and I wont ever spend that money. Should be......around a mill in that lock box alone."

Maggie glanced at Allistair and then at Eve and she didn't move when she looked at her expression. Eve looked at Allistair and said, "No, we can't do that. We aren't going to borrow from friends or family. You should keep it in case something happens and you need it."

Eve seemed a little distraught about it and shook her head. "Maggie? Can you float our stuff into the apartment through the windows?" Maggie smiled and nodded. " Eve gave her the address of her apartment and the address of the new one and sent her off to move them both into the new apartment down the hall.

Eve looked at Allistair and she sat with him on the couch and she put her hand against his cheek. "I love that you want to help but I can't let you give us money like that. We aren't married and people who break up or something happens and suddenly the money becomes an issue and I would never want that to happen to us. I won't let it."

"Are you expecting something to happen, us breaking up or something? That is kind of dissapointing Eve."

Allister put his hand on top of Eve's hand that was touching him.

"I am not very open about this, but I am one of the wealthiest men in this city. I dont flaunt it because I want very little. And you do not work military enough or long enough to get paid much, and security cannot pay much either. You are litterally quite broke by now."

Eve winced as she moved and she said, "I don't care about your money. I don't want to ruin what we have and I refuse to let money come between us. My parents were very direct about earning your own way and I am that way too."

Allister sighed.

"Yes I understood that, but its also true you need to be able to earn money to make money and you cant spend money you dont have. You want to move, you wanna be able to partner up with Maggie, but how are you going to be able to afford it?"

Allistair took a sip of his drink.

"I am not trying to argue, I am just worried is all."

Eve thought for a minute. He was right at least in part. "What if instead of you just giving us money we made you a silent partner? You get part of the profits after you invest in the club and then I can make payments to you that way. Maggie has money to invest."

Eve shifted a little into a position where she was laying on the couch and she was looking up at him, her head laying on his leg. "Could you handle that?"

Allister brushed Eve's hair with his hand, and looked her in the eyes as he spoke.

"I dont want any profits, I have too much money to begin with. I dont care what you guys do with the funds, and I dont want you to pay me." Allister sighed. "I really hate money."

Eve closed her eyes in frustration. Eve got up slowly and moved to the bedroom where she climbed carefully into the bed and lay down. She rolled onto the uninjured side and lay there thinking how much she hated money too.