ILLUSION CITY - THE STORY PART 2 - ACQUAINTANCES SIVA NETWORK CITIZEN DATA SUBJECT: PERSONAL FILE SHUE RATING: CONFINDENTIAL NAME : SHUE WANG GENDER : MALE AGE : UNKNOWN OCCUPATION : NONE RESIDENCE : OUTER, DOWNTOWN REMARKS: Shue is an old man, living a hermit's life in the outer. Very little data is available on him. It is known that he has raised Tienllen and Meiphen. It is rumoured that he possesses great magic powers. He's very skillful with the bo, a long fighting rod. END OF FILE =========== HONGKONG, DOWNTOWN, EARLY IN THE MORNING. "Tienllen!" Meiphen is calling her friend, who is walking away with a determined look on his face. "You're going the wrong way! Shue's house is over there..." Don't tell me you're going over to the Shangri-la bar again! Are you listening to me? Damn egoist!" Suddenly, Tienllen halts. He has the feeling there's trouble coming up... "What's the matter?" "Troubles....." All of a sudden, a group of black-clad people appear. Without saying a word, they surround the terrified Tienllen, Meiphen and Homei... "Shit! That's what you get for not listening to me..." "Oh, shut up...." The black-clad persons have completely surrounded the trio an one of them, apparently their leader, steps forward. "Hand over that girl, or..." "Or what?", Tienllen wants to know. "..or we'll have to use violence!" "Boy, am I scared..." Before he's even finished his words, Tienllen has already drawn his gun. "Homei, get down! This is dangerous!" De Blackblades are well trained however, and draw their own weapons simultaneously. After a brief but bloody skirmish, the 6 Blackblades turn out to be no match for Tienllen's gun and Meiphen's metal whip. The ground is now covered with 6 black-clad bodies. "This is gonna be an expensive job...", Tienllen mutters. "Oh, try not to think of money for once... Come on, we were about to pay Shue a visit, remember?" The trio walks past some building blocks, and reaches the humble residence of Tienllen's and Meiphen's teacher; the old Shue. Shue seems to be in a deep meditation in front of the fire, that always burns in the middle of his living room. As soon as the trio enters however, he jumps up. "Meiphen! And if that isn't Tienllen! Long time no see!" "Long enough for me...", Tienllen whispers to Meiphen. "Meiphen...my, you've grown. And you're as well-built as ever..." - SQUEEZE - "IEK!" - WHACK! "Horny old fart! You're pretty virile for your age..." "Naturally. Seeing you makes an old man like me feel young again..." "Old fool..." "Let me guess... You're probably here to ask me about SIVA's activities?" "You guessed right." "Very well, sit down." "But don't you dare touching me again!" "Harharhar...". Shue turns to Homei: "So you are Homei?" "Eh..yes." "I can assure you, that your sister is safe." "Really?!" "De leaders of the demon-faith will use your sister for their rituals. She's very important to them and I think they'll make her a shrine maiden. Still, it's very important that you find her as soon as possible." "What can you tell us about SIVA?" Tienllen wants to know. "What I am sure of, is that they'll have to do something about the pitiful situation in the Outer, or things will soon come to an outbreak. Great changes are at hand, my children... But as for that demon-fait, it's obvious that SIVA is behind that. All those believers don't seem to have any idea of that. But the human mind is easily fooled... What's more important at this moment, is that you know about the "Demon Octavirate". This is a group of eight persons, all mighty sorcerers. They all have a leading position within SIVA. I foresee you'll see quite a lot of them in the future. Their combined power is gigantic, and you'd be better off avoiding them. Your only chance is destroying them one by one." "Are you certain that Shawmei is safe?" "Absolutely. She'll participate in the rituals of the Demon- creed as a shrine maiden. They say these rituals are performed to cause the "Resurrection of the Divine Powers"... Anyway, shrine maidens are treated extremely well. "What's all this got to do with this Lee?" "I can't tell you anything about Lee, I'm afraid..." Shue arises. "Tienllen. The "Demon Octavirate" possesses 8 magic statues, the "Darsas", which the members carry with them inside their bodies. It's of mayor importance that you get those statues. They hold enormous powers you will doublessly need. "But how can we find out where to find the members of that group?", Tienllen likes to know. "Go to Iren, in the Shangri-la club. She's got the right connections and should be able to tell you all you want to know. But I'll give you guys some company..." Shue claps his hands, and with a loud creaking noise, a yellow battle robot shuffles into the room. "What?! That heap of junk?" "Haha.. Isac will prove very useful, especially now that Homei's powers haven't awakened yet..." "What kind of powers?" "Later. Tienllen, I'll watch over the girl. Isac will join you two." The four of them walk outside. "And be careful. Many monsters will cross your path!" -SQUEEZE- "IEKS!" -WHACK!- "Old pervert!" "Very well, now you are prepared to go..." "Tienllen! You really think it's a good idea to leave Homei with this old fart?" "hehehe... Fear not. This child is in good hands with me..." "I'm not a kid anymore!!" After they've said goodbye to Shue and Homei, the two leave Shue's house, followed by their mechanical partner. THAT SAME TIME, ILLUSION CITADEL, LEE'S QUARTERS The Southern Demonlord, Lee Wong, is silently looking down upon the result of last night's raid: the girl called Shawmei, still sleeping. Because of his ponderings, he doesn't notice his servant Erfas entering the room. "Master Lee, you called me?" "What about the order I gave you?" "What do you mean, sir?" "The other girl. Has she been found yet?" "No sir, we haven't located her twin-sister yet. But our police and spies are still on the lookout..." "You haven't told the others about this investigation,yet?" "No,but..." "Then cancel it. We haven't got any reason to continue our search any more." "Very well, master." Erfas disappears. Lee watches Shawmei's face. The girl is still fast asleep. "This girl is so beautiful.... The incarnation of Paradise... But where do these feelings come from? Is she enchanting me with some kind of magic? Shawmei..." A WHILE LATER, ILLUSION CITADEL Lee strides forward between the lane of guards. Humanoid juggernauts they are, all armed with heavy rifles, presenting arms as Lee walks by. Though he's been here before, he's nervous each time again. He enters the centre of the dark Citadel... It's a dark place, the very walls of which seem to radiate evil... The ghastly atmosphere is even intensified by the blueish light of the candles on the walls. They cast weird shadows over the ancient reliefs on the high walls. The eight, standing on the eight platforms in the middle of the hall, four men and four women, seem strangely in place here... The eight figures kneel down simultaneousley. The tense silence seems to grow even heavier. It's as if the darkness near the invisible ceiling of the vault is clotting together to form something blacker than the surrounding darkness. Suddenly, there is a bright flash of light, and where there was darkness a moment ago, a cloaked appearance is now floating. A rumbling voice sounds... "I SALUTE YOU, MY SERVANTS!" A bright ray of light pierces the darkness and illuminates Lee's shape. "LEE, REPORT!" "I followed your oders, my lord. The kidnapped girl now serves us as a shrine maiden." "VERY GOOD. CONTINUE THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE RITUAL." "Yes, my lord, but..." "YES?" "Oh, never mind..." The ray of light shifts from Lee to the shape on the platform in front of Lee. "MESHMER, NORTHERN DEMONLORD. HOW IS YOUR WORK PROGRESSING?" "I've just initialized Phase 2, lord." "HMMM...I'LL WITNESS THE FINAL PHASE PERSONALLY." "You'll have to be patient a while longer for that,lord." Another shape is illuminated. "DAI, EASTERN DEMONLORD...." "I haven't had an opportunity to use my power yet!" "YOUR TIME WILL COME... BE PATIENT...." "Hah, good..." Once more, the light shifts. "FAY, WESTEREN DEMONLORD. HOW'S THE SITUATION AMONG THE CITIZENS?" "All citizens, rich and poor, are very easy to fool. The number of faithfuls is growing day by day..." "VERY GOOD." The light disappears. "THE FINAL PREPARATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. OUR EARTHLY PARADISE, "AGARTHA, IS ABOUT TO BECOME REALITY!" The eight people start a triumphant roar. After a bright flash, the floating shape vanishes. All eight leave the vault. Lee the last one to leave. He doesn't notice Meshmer is lingering deliberately until the others besides Lee have left. "Lee. Leaving already? Are you in a hurry?" "No." "The others have left. Now we can talk openly... Listen,Lee, let me give you some advise... We all know that you're the Master's favorite. If I were you, I'd start using that power for my own benefit. Just think about it... But I won't keep you any longer. You must have more important things to do." Meshmer disappears. Lee exits silently as well. The Hall of Darkness if filled with silence once more. TO BE CONTINUED