Alternate Love (Earth)

[sarah]

Light grey clouds scoured the lands of Britain shaking off the last droplets of rain upon the busy streets of Brighton, rays of lights shimmering off the dull wooden planks of the aging Palace Pier. The proud construction stood valiantly like a mountain between the fierce ocean, taking the remorseless waves as if they where nothing more than a brush of a twig passing it's legs as it continued its stride. Along the walk way that even though the British weather had defiled it with rain and given into the typical English 'Summer' was busy with tourists and the odd characters on their day away from work, set up just a few steps further into the grand walk way towards the amusement landmark was a singular stand attended by two solemn figures. A damp and drooped banner that only barely stayed attached to the tiny stand read 'Royal British Army', the bold font accompanied by the well known flag of Britannia wavered in the background made to catch the attention of ongoing youth. But ironically it seemed to be doing just the opposite, causing the busy public to volt past the stand without a second glance.

A single teenage boy no older than the age of twelve looked at the stand trying to make out the folded and creased letters of the banner 'Ryl Btis rmy'. His keen eyes panned up from the banner only to recoil in horror at the four eyes that met his. One brown pair belonged to a large built man, dressed in a white vest, an open Army jacket and the trousers to match, though the vest had become a victim to the continuous rain that only just seemed to have stopped. His expression looked a picture when compared to the other figure next to him, belonging to a woman draped in a wet rain-coat that did nothing for her physique and obviously nothing to keep out the rain thanks to the wind. Her sandy hair stuck to her red cheeks as she stared along with the man at the boy both expressions seemingly not impressed. With that in mind the boy ran as soon as the woman's lips parted to show a predatory grin.

Sarah Powell blinked in surprise as the P.R.A (Possible Recruit Adolescent.) ran off without a look back, she had done her best to offer a reassuring smile in hopes he would come closer to them so she could at least recite her memorised speech about what the army has to offer. "I knew we should have left the complementary biscuits out..." She turned to her friend with a clear 'don't start' expression painted on her wet face followed by a sniffle. She was cold, and soaked through and the day had offered no new recruits, being in the front of battle seemed far more welcoming than this. To her the glare of an enemy who held a gun to your head was better than the glare received by a cocky twelve year old ready to throw a shoe at your head for a good laugh. Tracing her eyes across the busy walk-way she noted the crowded stand belonging to a group of young teenage girls in skimpy outfits working two slushy machines. "The fucking Slushy's are doing better than us... The fucking..slushy's..." Sarah growled between gritted teeth as she hugged her chest to keep out the cold, and to avoid the self consciousness she felt from looking at the 'younger generation', she wasn't getting any younger. Graham flashed a grin towards her followed by a shrug of his shoulders, the idea of him getting his pecks out served them little help in their quest for new recruits. Sarah eyed her partner up and gave another grim frown "I guess the slogan, sign up today and look like him didn't work... Try a tan? Bah.. I'm getting an Ice-cream..."

Sarah trudged down the walk-way staring down at her army uniform with a sigh as Graham yelled back "Traitor!" 'should have been a fucking air hostess...' It was too cold for an ice-cream but getting away from the empty stand helped her mood lighten slightly. She continued down the cement path that over-looked the 'beach' of Brighton. Well, what you could call a beach, it was just a bunch of rocks... Who travels miles for a bunch o' bloody rocks? Taking a turn into an empty street that led up to student flats Sarah stopped to lean against a moderately dry wall. To think only a few days ago she was fighting a war in the middle east being called Captain Powell, barking orders at -her- platoon, and now she's been sent for a 'break' to sunny ol' England. Sunny like the backside of a strippers arse, who needs a break anyway? Civilization was so empty and monotone.. -her bleak inner monologue was suddenly interrupted by the sweet aroma of a stand opposite the wall belonging to a sweet stand. Taking a closer idol (what started off with 'window shopping') look Sarah identified the smell coming from some fresh hot toffee apples. Winning over her little angel on her shoulder, she decided to indulge in one for herself before making the final decision of buying one for Graham, one of the many, many responsibilities of being a Captain. Taking refuge back at the wall Sarah sighed going to take her first bite from the sugary fruit, it was kind of healthy.. right?

[michael]

Michael's clothes were soaked through, the combats and chequered shirt he wore under a simple black flak jacket were so wet they clung to his skin and caused much discomfort. Fortunately it was a discomfort he was used to, harsh environment training with Seth back in his own universe had been more than enough to prepare him for a bit of British rain. He pushed on with his M4 assault rifle gripped tightly, running fast through the constantly winding alleys behind the seafront shops and arcades in pursuit of his quarry.

When the beast literally leapt from the alley it caused cries of shock and surprise as it bounded across across the long road that stretched across the sea front as they did in cities like this and headed toward Brighton pier. The daemon was nothing but a low-level beast, running on all fours like a large rabid dog its fiery and lava veined body causing steam to cloud the area and shield it from being seen by most of the humans it ran past thanks to the heavy rain.

So heavy was the rain and so focused on his pursuit was Michael that when the daemon ran directly in front of Sarah leaning against her wall, he didn't even notice as he too went rushing past her and raised his weapon to begin firing. The red aura came to life around the bullets he fired, the runes working their magic as he managed to clip the daemon's right hind leg before it leaped a corner and smashed through the wall into the building that occupied the pier.

"Fuck!" he exclaimed, the rain drowning the sound to anyone not within a few metres of him. "I hate these things, at least the sentient ones are trying to keep a low profile! Mindless beast." Suddenly there was a huge explosion from inside the pier as it went up in flames, right in front of Michael who had to raise his hand to stop himself being sprayed with debris, using his psychic powers to stop any of it hitting him or the nearby people though they would likely not notice it was he who had stopped anyone outside being harmed. Inside however it was a different story, there would be no survivors.

In the fire of the building, the daemon growled as its deep foreboding eyes came into view in the fire, it was manipulating and absorbing power from the energy of the fire which was making it expand and grow larger and larger until it was as tall as the building has once been - fortunately the flames still mostly hid it from view for anyone but the closest by. "Mind alterations on the menu then, Mike." he muttered grimly. "Soon as this bastard is down."

[sarah]

Sarah's tongue reached out for the mouth watering toffee apple as the giant beast bounded past her causing the ground to sinder beneath it's paws. Her green eyes widened with horror as the apple fell onto the floor rolling after the unworldly creature causing her to scream, adding to the encounter a man almost flattened her to the ground as he cascaded down the road after the animal. Frozen on the floor in a crouching position Sarah's mind raced 'The fuck was that?!' 'Who was that?!' 'And I should have fucking gone for ice-cream!' Sarah's legs seemed like tree trunks wedged into the ground by a thousand roots as her eyes watched on in horror as the monster caused the proud and beautiful peir to fall into ruins, along with- "Oh fuck..Graham no!" The simple thought of one of her platoon members dying in the fire caused her legs to ease giving her the strength to run full throttle after the creature.

As she ran she ripped off her rain jacket to gain momentum revealing her full army uniform and half dry half wet sandy hair falling over her face. The full force of what could only be described as Cerebus, Hades dog of the underworld inwhich one of the heads had split off and grown its own body had done finaly hit Sarah throwing debree across the streets attacking Citizens ruthlessley. A large pillar of flaming wood flew towards her as she ducked at the floor waiting for the impact to impale her, it was inevitable-.. atleast thats what it seemed like. As no impact was made Sarah gazed up to see a man in quite the mess somehow holding back the debree. Her eyes widened even more still as she forced herself to get up and look around her ignoring the fact he might have made eye contact with her in that split second. She had to take the chance he was giving the people around him and get them somewhere safe... She's a Captain not a coward. Muttering quickly towards the man she grabbed the nearest child screaming for it's mother "Thanks". She'd worry about the fact she didn't sound half as cool as she wished she did later.

[michael]

Michael had frozen to the spot as his eyes met the briefest glance of the woman who was helping get the civilians he had stopped being hit by debris out of the area. The debris proceeded to clatter to the ground harmlessly as he lost focus on his abilities momentarily thanks to the shock, this was some cruel twist of fate that he would run into her counterpart here of all places. "Sarah," he said quietly, she was of course out of earshot with the people she had helped get away from the flames and the daemon but he turned his head for a moment to catch a glimpse of her.

That was a mistake as the daemon caught on to his sudden lack of focus and swiped at him, sending him crashing a wooden wall that was not just a husk in the middle of the pier thanks to the building burning down, thus he was sent right through the wall and collided with the pier floor violently. "Shit!" he snarled, pulling himself up and pulling a wooden splinter out of his left leg that had wedged itself in fortunately missing the bone or the major artery that ran down to the knee. "All right you fucking abomination."

Plunging a pain medication into his leg in the form of an injection he felt the relief of its effects immediately, just one of the useful items he'd picked up on his travels through the universe. Once the pain had gone completely he rushed back through the debris toward the daemon, taking cover behind what had once been the counter inside the building he began to fire over it at the beast, the bullets did nothing but anger it with its new increase in power though it was given pause for thought.

"Destroy!"

"Oh good, it's learned to talk." he spat sarcastically, dropping the current clip in his M4 and replacing it with a new one before he resumed firing on the beast while retreating backwards. But before he could get out of the burning building the entire entrance behind him collapsed trapping he and the daemon in what was effectively a ring of fire where he knew he was at a disadvantage not because the daemon was stronger but because unlike the daemon he was human and could succumb to the thick smoke the fire was letting off.

Onlookers could see the silhouette of man and beast in battle through the flames, of course to them it would be naught but folklore for years to come, but those closest would know what was happening was all too real. Knowing he didn't have time to kill the daemon he reached into one of the pouches on his flak jacket, pulling out a worn and beaten journal with pages that had just been added and shoved in from other sources. Putting some distance between he and the daemon as much as possible as it snarled and breathed plumes of flame at him he opened the journal to a page around the middle.

"Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus," he began, the daemon paused and let out a howl of rage. Michael coughed roughly in the smoke as he continued, a pentagram with its five points filled with different runes began to form in the air in front of him in some sort of red energy. "Omnis satanica potestas, omnis incursio infernalis adversarii," He paused to choke again in the smoke, he was staying up longer than anyone normally would in these conditions but he was feeling light headed. "Omnis legio, omnis congregatio et secta diabolica."

Before him the runic pentagram formed in the air solidified into what appeared to be two black gates, parting with plumes of unnatural flames emitting from whatever lay beyond the gates. Michael choked and coughed and stumbled on the spot as the Daemon reared back at the sight of the gates opening, apparently all too familiar with whatever lay beyond them. "E-Ergo, draco maledicte. Eccle-... ecclesiam tu-..." He felt his shoulders drooping and he was falling forward, collapsing onto the ground due to lack of oxygen and heavy intake of carbon dioxide in the smoke.

[sarah]

Sarah Powell gently placed down the last of the injured Citizens that she could see scattered across the black ash covered beach placing her jacket over the woman who had only just been saved from a flying arcade machine, receiving a minor injury to her chest. It was too hot anyway thanks to that unholy creature that was inside the peir for her to keep on her jacket, even at such a range she could feel the force of the consistant heat waves that it was sending out from it's rage of destruction. Sarah stood up and braved a look onto the fastly burning down peir fighting with her own conciousness on what she should do next, on one side she knew it would be suicide to even attempt to take on that creature, and she knew that her time would best be served with the citizens she had managed to save incase any new dangers attacked them in their weakend state. But a part of her had began to eat away at that collected state of mind, the man she saw was no ordinary man and right now she knew he was in that bruning peir after the monster. From what breif moment she saw of him she could tell he was just an ordinary man, or atleast she hoped. By the time her thoughts caught up with her body she found herself standing outside the burning walk way into the peir, her arm raised infront of her face to fend off the burning heat from the fire that consumed the planks of wood. "This is the part where I say something witty and run in like a mad ma-..woman.. 'It's a good day to-' oh fuck off I can't say that, so cliché" She covers her face with her palm for a moment of regret for that own monologue before reaching into her bag located at the side of her belt, pulling out a white rag wrapping it around her mouth to help her fend off the leathal toxins of the fire. (Little does she know it would do wonders for the up-comming toxins from the actual beast.)

Moving swiftly and cautiously Sarah edged along the stablest planks of wood avoiding the fire that had quickly consumed half of the peir. A large explosion came from the onwards Arcade where the creature was inhabitting casting shadows across the board walk. Through the haze she could make out the man from before collapsing to the floor just beyond what looked like a gate. "Shit..." Sarah moved quickly into whats left of the Arcade, everything ashen and glowing with new embers that sparked flames, her eyes assessing the area. To her left was the man on the floor through a thick smoke she could make out he was unconcious, and to her right the monster "Is it just me or does puberty progress quicker in hell?" Coughing Sarah pressed the cloth to her mouth to fight back the smoke, she had little time to think. Running to her left Sarah crouched next to the man rolling him onto his back causing the book to fall from his clenched fingers. Sarah looked down at it with a confused expression glancing over the complex words, though the small illistration on the page of the gate that was clear as day infront of the monster made the 'click' she needed to know that this book contained the secret to getting rid of it. Picking up the man by draping him across her shoulder, holding tightly onto his legs she clutched the book in her other hand. Her voice came out muffled but she was able to get around the strange language easily thanks to her years of visiting different countries "Ecclesiam tuam... securi tibi facias-... libertate servire, te rogamus, audi nos."

The monster howled in terror as it was dragged through the gates, the last Sarah offered to look was to see the gates closing, towering above the flames in a fearsome sight. Yanking the man into a more stable hold Sarah ran out of the side of the arcade noting that the walk way was by far useless now she clambered onto the railing that was made to stop such careless acts as she was about to attempt. Holding the man tightly she leaped from the edge of the railing and fell into the ocean that still gave remorseless waves trying to hurtal her back into the pillars of wood that still stood to hold the flaming peir. Discarding uneeded items such as her shoes and belt, along with the mans she towed him as far as the could away from the building onto one of the ashen sections of the beach, yanking him just away from the reach of the waves.

Keeling over onto all fours Sarah panted heavily looking helplessly now as the monument fell to ruins consumed by the ocean. "Well looks like this is all washed u-..no..I can't do it. Fucking cliché..." Pulling down her mask she looked down to the man wondering just how much smoke he had inhaled.

[michael]

Michael was barely aware that he was being hauled out of the wreckage on someone's shoulders, as he finally passed out the next thing he was aware of was being dropped onto the beach and feeling the water lapping at him as he was dragged up away from the waves. He couldn't open his eyes or show any recognition to his saviour, but the voice he heard sent a rush of a familiarity and warmth through the core of his being that was coupled with a feeling of dread to know they had been dragged into all of this even in this universe.

Now out of the smoke his shallow breathing began to pick up oxygen again, the reserves always kept at the bottom of the lungs also kicking in the carbon dioxide began to work its way out of his system and before emergency services could arrive to their air he opened his eyes in a huge gasp of air to fill his lungs rather than just take the small doses of breathing he'd managed while unconscious. He sat bolt upright and panted heavily, his mind a jumble from sitting up too fast and oxygen starving it took him a moment to even find his vision and get some semblance of sense before looking at Sarah. His heart immediately skipped a beat.

"Sarah," he said, a stunned expression upon his face. His heart was hammering in his chest again, he knew that she had no idea who he was and yet he felt like he knew everything about her. She had acted just like his Sarah would have, she was even a soldier just like his Sarah and had that same problem with cliché as he remembered. He noticed she had his journal and he quickly grabbed it from her and pulled it back to himself, shoving it into the top pocket of his flak jacket before shakily getting to his feet.

"Thank you for the help," he muttered, using every bit of mental fortitude he could muster just to will himself not to look at her again. "A word of advice, forget everything you saw today." He didn't know if it was selfish to want her to ignore it, to forget she had ever seen even the smallest glimpse into his world, but he knew what had happened to the Sarah of his universe who had come into the same life as him. She was dead and he didn't want the same happening to this one, he began to limp up the beach, the injury in his leg was still bleeding and the pain had returned to it.

[sarah]

Sarah straightened up and rose to her feet staring at the man as he volted up washing a sigh of releif from her tired body. The strain of the fire and the waves would have begun to take its toll on her and the cold wind wasn't helping her. As soon as he said her name Sarah was on edge, she had never met the man before and he knew her. She wasn't exactly wearing a name tag, so she reached into her back pocket and took out an army knife with slow actions thanking the fact he would not give her a second glance, which just annoyed her even more.
She was used to not being thanked on the battlefield, but not now, not after what had just happend and especially for no good reason. Sarah ran at the man and dropped on the floor going to slash the back of his only good leg "Try to limp away now you dick." Sarah got up and moved infront of him holding the knife inches from his neck not sure how well it will come in handy after what he was trying to kill, though if his gun was like any other being in the water would have taken away his ability to fire at her. "Now answer my fucking questions." Her appearence wasn't flattering, her hair was stuck to her face and she was soaked through, but her expression was firm and clear 'dont fuck with me'. "How do you know my name? What was that thing? Why where you chasing it? When the fuck are you paying for my toffee apple? And just..what the fuck?!"

[michael]

"What the-...!" he cried, feeling his leg fall out from under him and his other unable to carry him due to the injury saw him falling backwards onto the ground sat upright and with the point of her combat knife at his throat before he could react. His soaked M4 wasn't going to be firing anytime soon after water had filled the barrel and his side-arm would surely be the same condition, despite his predicament he gave her a level stare that showed no sign of fear over the knife at his throat, he'd faced much worse.

The barrage of questions made his eyes narrow, he couldn't decide what to do with her. There was a large part of him that wanted to use his psychic abilities to throw her off him and then make his escape, leave her with questions but safe from the dangerous world that Michael occupied on a daily basis. But another part of him saw the Sarah he had known all too well, she had the same attitude toward people she perceived as a threat as her counterpart had and this confused him to the point he didn't act either way for at least half a minute.

"Because I know," he replied flatly, the last thing he wanted to do was tell her the truth of how he knew her name. "It was a daemon and it should be fairly obvious why I was chasing it after witnessing what it just did. A lot of people died and more would have died if I hadn't been here, so how about a little gratitude?" He glared into her eyes showing no sign of backing down, his eyes locked directly on hers and for a moment he faltered to see her green eyes piercing his own again.

"My name is Michael, I hunt them and their servants, now let me go." he said, his voice became calm with an air of pleading. In his own eyes she would surely see experiences beyond what any person should have, a deep loss lingered in them too especially when he looked at her. "Please."

[sarah]

Sarah narrows her gaze at the one proclaiming to be 'Michael'. She wasn't about to trust him especially after that half arsed answer about her name. Rage bottled up inside of her at the mans attitude that she couldn't contain despite seeing that in his life he must have witnessed alot that he wished he didn't. "Gratitude?" She croaked, her voice faltered on the word with pure disbelief. "Let me run a few things by you mister 'hot shot'. One. I think -i'm- the one who saved -your- life. Two. I already said thank you. And three, before you come back with a witty remark to try and make me shut up allow me take a step infront 'That is an excellent point kind sir, but if I may present a rebuttal. Go fuck yourself with a cactus.'" Taking in a deep breath Sarah swallowed the rest of her anger trying to take back a level head about the issue. "Your not going anywhere until I know whats going on. One of my men just died out there and I'm not going to let this slide without finding out more."

Despite her words, Sarah removed her knife from his throat placing it back in her pocket with a grim frown as she smoothed back her hair. "Listen 'Mike'. I've just witnessed something unwordly happen and you want me to let the only person who can make sense of it all walk off scott free. You could atleast show a little thing called manners. I saved you, I helped you. I even read your little book thing. And you won't even so much as look at me or grace me with how you know my name. 'I just do' dosn't cut it pal." Her voice was more calm this time around despite her hand shaking as she contains her emotions. She was also unaware of the turmoil it might bring Michael with the fact she so freely refers to him in the same manner as her counterpart would have.

[michael]

He visibly recoiled a bit at her addressing him as 'Mike', this felt like a conversation he and Sarah had had before, except that he was the one oblivious to what was really out there and she had been the one recruiting him into the Midnight Society. He stared at her and finally he just sighed and raising two fingers to his right temple she was suddenly hauled off the ground, lifted a metre into the air and deposited carefully on the sand out of striking distance which gave him time to get up and face her. "I'm psychic," he said, removing the two fingers from his temple. "That's how I know your name."

A sickening feeling came to the pit of his stomach knowing he had lied to her, but she couldn't tell her the truth of who he was and what she had been to him where he came from, it would only freak her out more than she already was. "I'm sorry about your man, I've lost my fair share of soldiers too. I don't need to be psychic to know how angry and upset you would be over it." He shouldered his weapon better so that it was more comfortable, then sighed and took out another pain injection before plunging it into his leg near to his injury, injecting it.

"You did save me and you send the daemon back where it belongs, though I would have preferred to eliminate it before it mutated." he explained, sighing he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "All right! Fine, fine, you know you're just like... someone I knew. I'll explain it all to you, but can we go back to my safe house where it's dry and we can see to our injuries?"

[sarah]

Before Sarah knew it she had been hoisted into the air and flipped over into a standing position causing her to frown. She could hardly give off another surprised expression for the day, her frown only increasing when Michael said he was Psychic but she wasn't about to argue. "I've heard alot of stuff in my time but this is new..." Smoothing back her hair once again she turned to look around before throwing her hands up helplessly "Come on then, let's go... Im wet and cold and tired and at the same time i'm not letting you out of my sight. But no coffee, and nothing more than a how'd'ya'do'govener." This obviously reffering to keeping it strictly formal. She walked over to Mike and forced a smile "Need help walking?" Winking she waited for an answer, and would help him if needed. "I mean I did carry you all the way here like a princess locked in a castle being carried away by her knight in shining...army uniform." She tried to lighten the mood lamely due to her being sleepy. In all honesty the idea of being taken to somewhere warm and able to take in what has happend was exactly what she needed even if she was with a creepy stranger.

[michael]

"No," he replied flatly. With the shot he'd given himself he could walk fine at least until this one wore out too, they would pass through many winding alleys until they finally came to what he called his safe house. But it wasn't a house at all, in fact it was what could only be described as some sort of vessel from outer space, it was large and hidden from the eyes of the public by being landed where nobody was likely to go, Michael hadn't been intending to stay long so hadn't looked for a more permanent hiding place.

"Come on," he said, pressing a button on what at first glance appeared to be nothing more than a standard issue military grade digital watch, compass included. But when he pressed the button a ramp lowered in the side of the ship providing a gangway to walk up and enter the vessel, Michael did so without even hesitating but he paused and looked back at Sarah who no doubt would hesitate a bit now she'd come across a daemon and a space ship. "Well? Don't just stare at it, come on board."

Inside the ship it was all just one large room. At the front of this room were two high back chairs fixed down in front of a control panel which flew the ship, in the furthest back where was a bed with a small table also rooted down that held several framed pictures (held down by double sided tape) on top of it. Near to the bed was an old fashioned clothing stand that held what appeared to be a military uniform, it was black and had two grey shoulder pads and on the left arm three of those cloth chains you saw on dress uniforms, while on the right arm was a grey twisted talon emblem similar to the Dragos Midnight talon.

In front of this uniform was a fine military commander's sabre, nestled quite nicely in a padded open wooden box that put it on display, not that anyone would normally see it. The handle had a single silver tassel hanging off it and the blade was keenly sharpened as though he kept it regularly in good and functional condition. Further to the right of this uniform but against the right wall directly opposite the ramp they entered the ship through was what could only be described as a small armoury, filled with all sorts of different weapons ranging from handguns all the way up to rocket launchers.

The final thing of note in the room was left of the ramp, a desk filled with old dusty tomes and many parchments and also maps of different landscapes all over Earth and many not of Earth at all. Michael made directly for the armoury and took out a box of medical equipment which was clearly marked with a typical white cross for 'first aid', taking out a strange device he held it over his leg and it suddenly let out a while beam of light that seemed to move back and forth across the injury until it was healed completely as though it had never been there.

"So... why don't you have a seat behind my desk and ask me questions calmly?" he offered, standing up perfectly capable of walking now and hitting a button on the control panel so the ramp closed and on the outside the ship was cloaked (which he had neglected to activate after landing because the daemon had been too nearby and he had to catch it quickly).

[sarah]

Sarah frowned even deeper as she spotted the 'space vessel', frozen more out of tiredness than shock, she'd have time to deal with the shock after some sleep. As Michael ascended the ramp into the contraption she commented lightly "Is that what you say to all the women?" Grinning at her own wit as she followed him. 'Gunna need comedy with the way I keep frowning, just keeps adding to my wrinkles...' Taking a look around the large room Sarah noted the uniform straight away tilting her head at the fact he was of higher rank than her. "..Mm..." Moving across the room she headed to the photos before interrupted by Mike's offer of her sitting at his desk, so she turned heel and went to sit on the chair leaning back as far as she could with a sigh. "Why do you know my name?" She fingers her wet tassles of hair with her thumb and fore-finger, a habbit of hers she hadn't grown out of yet. Her sharp peircing green eyes stared at Michael as she assessed her own situation. Perhaps it wasn't a good idea for her to have come into this man she just mets ...space..thing.. "Along with all the other questions I asked before. And no round about answers like 'I just do'."

[michael]

Michael sank into one of the two chairs behind the control panel and swivelled it around to face her, legs stretched out and crossed just like his arms were while he watched her with a distant feeling of longing. He had wished so many times that Sarah had lived to come on these travels with him, though if he thought about it her survival would likely have meant them marrying and settling down back in his home universe and he would never have found the ship he now called home let alone traversed the multiverse.

"I told you, I know your name because I'm psychic." he replied, shaking his head. "My abilities are telepathic, telekinetic and empathic." He watched her for a moment, letting this sink in before deciding to elaborate. "I'm what people who know of such things call a 'true psychic'. Most people who claim to be psychic only manifest one of the three, they can read minds, move objects with their mind or see visions from touching things. But a 'true psychic' can do all three."

He stood up and walked over to his bed, picking up one of the pictures and putting it in the drawer, but doing it so casually it likely wouldn't be taken to mean anything - likely just that he considered the picture private and usually didn't have guests on his vessel to see it. "Daemons are all over the place, not just Earth but other planets too. Their servants come in many forms, people with the ability to wield sorcery granted by their masters... or... other more sinister and unnatural creatures."

After returning to his chair he gave her the once over and then put his hand to his forehead, silently cursing himself for telling her all of this knowing from what he had seen so far she would want to know more and likely get involved in it all - his Sarah would have. "I'm the only one on the planet who knows about them so far, I've done some... pretty hard things to try and hunt them. Vatican City was a beautiful place before they sullied it..." He trailed off, not saying it out loud but it was fairly obvious he was effectively admitting he blew it up.

[sarah]

Sarah nodded slowly as she absorbed the information with the same grim frown on her wet face, her fingers twisting around her soaked clothing. "I see..." Was all she could manage to say in a brave voice. She had heard about the Vatican City incident quite some time ago but it was all put down to a terrorist attack and had caused quite the ruccus, though strangley enough she didn't feel any reason to blame Mike for what he had done. She was no hypocrit, being part of the army means doing things that you don't always want to. "I could say the same about many places I had to fight in, it was all beautiful once." She herself trailed off into a sigh as she looked away to the wall not paying any attention to the fact he had placed the photo she was going to look at away. "I should probably go, I can tell your uncomfertable with my prescence and as much as I would like to hear more, I'll catch a cold in this state." Standing up Sarah mock-saluted Mike before turning to try and find the way she had come on board but to no prevail. "Eh..." Instead of asking, she stood perplexed by her body not wanting to move, she wanted and somehow needed to know more about what was going on. "Mike, I don't think I can walk away from this... you've told me theres a whole new world out there and.. I need to be apart of it." Turning she stard towards Michael with some sort of resolve behind her glass green eyes.

[michael]

Michael had just turned his chair back toward the control panel when he heard the small sound she gave off, he didn't even need to hear what she said next to know exactly what had overcome her, it was inevitable the moment she had seen the daemon that things would end up going this way. When she called him 'Mike' again he closed his eyes and grit his teeth with his back still to her so she couldn't see, there was nothing for it now he knew he would not be able to resist showing her the world he belonged to in a vain hope to have the Sarah he knew back.

"My name is Michael," he said grumpily. He hated being called Mike, but even his Sarah had called him by it just to annoy him and he ended up finding it endearing with time, but he didn't find it endearing here he found it a painful reminder of her. Finally he turned his chair back toward her with his arms crossed and a glare that could've scared death itself away, his brown eyes locked with hers and he stood up slowly and walked toward her, stopping about a metre away and giving off a frustrated huff through his nostrils.

"I knew the moment I saw you pulling those people away from danger this was how it would play out," he told her, arms still crossed as he continued to glare at her. "You have no idea what you're trying to be a part of, you're curious and that's natural but it's so dangerous and before you say it yes I know you're a soldier and you're used to danger but I was a soldier too and I was not prepared for the horrors I saw or things I came across."

The glare fades and he looks solemn, eyes still locked on hers. "I could kick you off my ship and just never look back and there wouldn't be a damn thing you could do about it," he said quietly. "But I won't. Call me crazy but I... feel like I can trust you. If you want to know more, then I'll tell you but not now. You should go back to your barracks, you should mourn your subordinate and clear your head."

Reaching for his belt he plucked a black device which was clearly some form of communicator and held it out toward her, "If after you've had time to clear your head and get over the rush of today's events you still want to know," He paused, hesitating briefly and then finding the resolve he went one. "Then you can contact me with that, I'll arrange a meeting place."

[sarah]

Sarah breathed heavily as she ran down a pitch black ally, barely lit by the over baring street lights that caused the dark pavement ahead of her heavy feet to light orange. The sky was dark and fear struck the heart of the woman as she edged up against a wall exhaling deeply. Suddenly the sky lit up a bright red as if the sun had exploded, the floor rumbled like the world was about to tear apart and split Sarah in half. She spun around to the shrill screech of an unholy creature that glared her in the face with Demonic eyes, drool falling to the floor as it's razor teeth pryed open to welcome her into it's foul coven. The smell was nausiating causing her unable to breathe, unable to react, it was all over everything went dark and Sarah braced herself for the crunch.

A bright light split through the dark room as Sarah groggily brought herself back to reality pushing herself up to fumble around for her alarm. Her hand rested on something that felt like an alarm, but as she focused onto the object it turned out to be the communicator, a dark rememberence of that night from a week ago. The night that her life had opened up to a world that she would never have imagined true, even in her darkest dreams. Pulling herself up she pushed the button of her alarm, eyes never leaving the communicator as the words Michael had itterated echoed her mind 'If after you've had time to clear your head-... I'll arrange a meeting place.' Pulling on her jogging outfit, Sarah slipped into her trainers and headed out the front door stuffing her pocket with the communicator. She wasn't sure where she was heading but ever since that day she had taken to running where ever she could to clear her mind. The streets where as lively as ever, as if no one remembered the event that had put so many lives in danger. Her heavy foot steps and steady breathing was the only sound she could hear as she turned into a dark ally, familiur to the one in her dream she sped up until she came to the opening that led onto the peir.. The black ashened stick building that saw no life, no seagulls, no tourists. It had been left there, alone. That's exactly how Sarah felt, now she knew a little about the new world, she couldn't help but feel isolated from everyone else, her co-workers, her friends.
A cry from a child caused her to spin on her heel to see a kid in tears screaming for his mother. He was no older than four, Sarah couldnt help but connect him to what had happend, a child with no family to care for him now since the accident.. One of many.

"I'm ready, where are we meeting?" Sarah's thumb came off the button to her communicator as she looked out over the calm ocean, a new resolve found that was clear through her voice and body.

[michael]

"Shit," he said, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He had been nursing the hope she wouldn't contact him, but at the same time he had also felt the anticipation of her joining him and that caused an irritating conflict of emotions. But sat in that diner in the south United States he had heard her voice come from the counterpart to the communicator he had given to her, which meant he had to keep the promise he had made to organise a meeting with her.

Depositing his money on the counter he got up and left the gas station diner, walking around back to enter his ship which he had cloaked this time. Once he was inside he sat behind the control panel and hesitated, now was his last chance to just abandon her and let her live out a normal life. But he knew Sarah and he knowing as he did he knew she would find out more somehow, which meant he could either leave her to fumble blindly or her could be there to guide and protect her through it.

Knowing what he had to do he picked up his own communicator and pressed the button to open communications, "St. Peter's Church, Wolverhampton. Tomorrow, midday." he said, then cut off the communicator again, he knew she would have to travel to reach Wolverhampton in the West Midlands but he didn't want to go back to Brighton after what had happened there. Besides, if he made her travel to get the information she wanted her going would prove she was convinced about knowing more.

"Alright, let's go then." He hit several buttons on the control panel and the ship took off and began toward England, he set the speed low so that he had time to prepare himself mentally for the coming meeting.

[sarah]

It was a beautiful sunny day compared to when she had last met Michael. The sun beat down upon the tall unique built church of Wolverhampton catching the reflection of the golden clock that slowly turned, as slow as the ancient church looked. It was stunning the way the black bricks stood out from the brown, the spiked tips of the church pointing to the milky white sky. The windows towards the bell tower where closed by wooden panels that still seemed to belong to the structure. Summer had been kind to this place unlike Brighton that attracted the rain and cold wind, Daffodils and mixtures of orange and red flowers bloomed beautifully as if the ground was blessed by an Angel.

Sarah ascended the pale cement grey stairs passing the cherry blossom trees that scattered their petals gracefully to the floor, decorated in its own beauty. Pausing for a moment she looked to the altar of Jesus attached to the cross looking to the floor, the thought crossed her mind, the doubt tugging on her chest 'what about God? Jesus? So many people wasting their time believing in something that could be false...'

Continuing along the pathway she came across the door to enter the church inclining her head as she stepped through the ever imposing arch way, it seemed to be a thing with churches that they were built to make you feel small and somewhat insignificant.

Sarah wore a white blouse that brightened up her whole body, her sand coloured hair all the more glossy. Her trousers where simple denim jeans, a simple outfit yet it did seem to do wonders for her figure compared to her army uniform. She carried a large back with her that housed a few clothes encase the simple meeting turned into something more dire, she didn't want to be drenched in the same outfit again. Her hair was down and curled with locks that wired around her heart face. Sitting on the pew she placed her bag on her lap and looked around the interior of the church. The glass stained windows catching the light and turning it into a rainbow of colours to look at. Waiting nervously Sarah continued her daze of what has happened, what will happen, what she can do to help this new man.

[michael]

Michael looked up at the church quietly and then raised his head up toward the sky, he hadn't been expecting it to be as lovely a day as it turned out to be and supposed it was a good omen for the rest of the day in general. Pushing open the large old door into the church he walked inside, though he knew the religion in general was a lie he had no report of the church of England suffering from daemonic corruption so he at least felt at ease walking through the church even if it did bring up memories of the Catholic churches he had sullied with blood.

Spotting her sat on one of the pews he made his way down the aisle and sat down beside her, "So you actually made the trip here, I was half-expecting you not to." he said quietly, looking up at the altar at the end of the church, images flashing into his mind of the blood he had spilt on similar altars around the world. "But I'm glad you did, I decided it might be nice to have a partner, working alone gets you into all sorts of trouble."

Briefly he went quiet, thinking about the run in with a succubus he had had months ago and how he wished he had had a partner to watch his back then before it had gone as far as it did. He looked down at the floor and then leant his elbows on the pew and put his hands together as though praying, but he didn't pray and just turned his head to look at her. "So, time to show you the ropes and let you in on what's really out there." He paused, scratching his forehead. "Where should I begin... anything you want to ask first?"