Peacemaker. (Complete)

[makvhug]

Makael sat at the desk, looking through the photographs. More innocent humans caught in the crossfire. A band of renegade demons had come to Earth, starting a street war with the local Crime Lords.

Assuming human form, they now attempted to carve an existence for themselves at the expense of the mortals. Not only was this a violation of the immortal laws, but they had also committed a felony by murdering innocents in their crime sprees.

Although Dragos had no official offices on Earth, Makael had rented an old apartment to use as a temporary office. The rest of the team were busy mopping up a remnant group of Baelze worshipers, leaving him to attend to the task alone. Not a problem of course, but Sundavar or even Thia could have been useful for input.

4 innocents dead this time. Like the others, gunshot wounds. Botched robbery, shootout with the cops. The police reports note that the bullets didn't even seem to scratch their targets, so at least an average level of demon.

Rather than relying on conventional weaponry, Makael had come prepared. His custom Mauser pistol, fitted with holy rounds, and coated in immortal metals. Also his old Battleaxe, the only thing he kept from his past life. Adorned with snakes, and imbued with the power to kill anything, mortal or immortal. Makael had wondered if it could kill anything above the rank of Devil, but he doubted it.

Having reviewed all the available evidence, Makael felt it prudent to check out the local bars and entertainment. After all, if you're looking for organized crime, its always best to ask around.

He put on his coat, an old black duster, and placed his pistol in its holster. Now obviously, walking around with an Axe would raise questions, so a simple enchantment, and the Axe was hidden from mortal sight. But an immortal would spot it almost at once. Makael counted that this may even lead him to his target.

He exited his room, pulling the door closed softly behind him.

-More to come-

[sarah]

Yay for thia!

[makvhug]

The bell on the door dinged as Makael pushed it open.

"The Painted Lady." Weird name for a bar, but it was original at least. He took a seat at the bar. It seemed rather quiet, but there were a couple of men drinking in the corner, and one other guy at the bar, holding a half-finished beer in his hand.

The barkeep turned around from watching a small television on the bar. Some news story about more murders in the nearby street. "Help you stranger?"

"Just a beer."

Makael took to looking around the bar, as he lit up a Cigar. The two guys in the corner were talking over a few shots of Whisky, laughing about whatever joke of the day. It was the other guy Makael was more interested in. He seemed to be trembling with his beverage in hand, the fluid dancing on the surface. The signs of pure terror were clear.

The Barkeep opened a bottle, putting it on the counter next to Makael, and taking the few coins that he had placed on the counter while ordering. Makael took the bottle and had a swig, a puff of his cigar, then he took the bottle and moved closer to the man at the bar.

"Rough night, Mister?"

The man didn't even look up, just staring into his glass. "You don't know the half of it... they... oh god I don't want to think about it."

Makael put on a reassuring face, though the Cigar smoke likely didn't do him any favours. "Sounds to me like you'd feel better getting your worries off your chest."

The man kept his eyes on his glass, not even looking up once. "Whats the point? The police didn't believe me. My friends didn't believe me. The barkeep thinks i'm insane. What chance is there that I could convince you?"

Makael shruggled, letting out a little chuckle as he spoke. "I might just suprise you."

The man let go of his beer glass, putting his hands over his head. "Okay, but promise you won't laugh."

"Its a promise."

"Okay, so... this was just this morning, early morning. About 4am. I had just finished a shift at the Warehouse. I'm a security guard you see, I watch over it. Just leaving, when I hear a rattle. So I think some prick is trying to break into the building. So yeah, I get my torch and go to check. And thats when i saw it..."

"Saw what?"

"The demons... they were clad in black suits, but they had huge green wings, and fangs longer than my arm. They were trying to steal some of the Forklifts from the warehouse... I drew my weapon and fired at them before thinking..."

"Didn't work, did it?"

"No... the shots all bounced off. They just laughed at me... one of them looked at me, and I just blacked out. I got awoken by my boss, who fired me for falling asleep on the job, and he held me resonsible for the Forklift truck theft. Damn things ruined my life, my career... even my wife thinks i'm insane now."

Makael frowned. "For what its worth, I believe you. Green Wings, you say? And what colour were their fangs?"


The man waved his arm. I don't know... a lighter shade of green, I guess."

Makael rubbed his forehead and took a drag from his cigar. Chamaeleon Demons. A mid tier Demon that once served in the armies of Baelze. Clearly displaced after the war.

"Hmm, usually their magic hides their true from from human eyes... you must have immortal ancestry in your blood... hence why you saw what they really were."

"...I'm sorry, what?"

"Never mind... just mumbling to myself." Makael finished his beer, stubbing out his cigar and smiling at the man, before getting out a chequebook and writing a sum down on it. "Here... consider this compensation. Should get you back on your feet. Can't tell you more, but rest assured you have just helped me out a great deal."

The man took a look at the cheque, blinking for a moment. "This... this can't be real. Don't kid me around man, no one would give a stranger this much."

"Oh really? Well, there is no harm in trying to cash it... go ahead? See what happens. And have a happy life."

The bell on the door dinged as Makael exited the building.

Heh, I may not be a genius, but I know how to pick my bars.

[makvhug]

Makael decided it would be a good idea to visit the scene of the crime, get some insight into his target. It was about 3am in the morning, and only one security guard was on duty at the warehouse. Wouldn't be a problem, Makael simply cast a shroud over himself. No mortal would be able to see him.

Clear point of entry. They tore open a hole in the metal fencing, not even effected by the fact it was electrified. No evidence of who they really were though, looks like they were thorough.

Door was kicked in, the lock was broken. The CCTV camera above the door was smashed, clearly by a large blunt instrument. Tidyup of the place had clearly not been finished yet. Debris and rubbish all over the place.

Makael found the bullets that the security guard had fired in vain at the gang robbing the place. The heads were flattened, crushed by the hard carapace of the Chamaeleon demons.

Perfect place to perform the check. Spinning his hand, he exposed the pheromones in the air, left behind by the raiders. The trail was weak, but this was all he needed.

Now all he had to do was follow the trail back to its source, and deal with the problem.

[makvhug]

Makael kicked the door of the Chameleon hideout open, to be greeted with a hail of bullets. They bounced harmlessly off of his immortal flesh. He couldn't help but strike a gentle grin.

It was a small, abandoned Warehouse on the edge of the city. Couple of tables, side room with all their stashed loot, and it seemed that they had been playing cards and smoking before he busted in.

"You... you are immortal!"

"Good eyes genius." He stopped to put a fresh cigar in his mouth and light it calmly, as the demons stared at him with horror. "You are guilty of the crime of aiding the dark one Baelze, which carries the penalty of execution and an eternal stay in the hells of the underworld. You are also guilty of the crime of interfering in Mortal affairs, which carries a lesser penalty, but that's irrelevant now. Prepare yourselves for judgement."

Without a word the demons transformed into their true forms, their skin turning hard and scaly, their eyes huge and lizard like. Huge claws grew in the place of their nails, no doubt capable of killing an Immortal in combat.

"Was kinda hoping that one day I'd find a target, and they'd come quietly... fine, if the Underworld must take your souls by force, so be it."

Makael pulled the massive battleaxe from his back, the runes upon it glowing brightly. He swung it around a few times impressively, then took one glaring look at the demons, his wings unfurling before them, with its shades of grey, black and purest white.

"Come at me bro."

The demons recoiled for a moment after seeing the wings, then almost glared in awe. "It is you... the fallen one who got back up."

"Yeah... and?"

"The master spoke of you often... the path you would take, the price of your redemption... and how you would die."

Makael sighed, twitching the cigar in his mouth. "Been there... done that. Lost count of it all. Tell me something new."

The demon shook his head. "We are doomed, but we will die fighting. And one day you shall join us."

The demons charged at Makael. The fight didn't last long. An eon of experience was far better than anything the demons could dish out. Soon they were all dead save one, whom Makael stood over, triumphantly.

"Any last words?"

The demon spat its vile blood at Makael's face. "Just as our story ends... So... shall... yours..."

The demon slumped, but Makael severed the beasts head, to make sure it was dead. With that done, he was sure that right now, they were all serving their punishment.

He thought little of the demons words. But sometimes after, it would keep niggling in his head. Still, task was done, back to the office. Makael had grown fond of this world. Perhaps time to set up some roots and make his office space permanent. At least for now.

Placing his axe back into its holder, he walked back into the night. Puffing away at his cigar as he went.

-End-

[makvhug]

Final part up. Hope its not too crappy folks!