Chapter 11: The Shadow in Our Caves

[Alexei Nacharade]

"Oh, nothing life or death." He lies squinting at some of the club's flashy lights before turning away.

"He seems quite taken with you. I'll bet he'd give anything to see you again. We're actually both in Moscow now, enjoying a little time off. What are you doing?"

[Lena Eva Aysel]

"I would've never guessed." Lena commented idly as she bended over, poking one of the apples with a face. She wasn't hungry enough to eat sour apples. She'd had worse, of course.

Standing back up, she shut the fridge, waiting for Tuesday to finish on the phone.

Maybe she'd go for a walk before she went back to her apartment. The weather was so nice. She imagined it was for her how humans thought warm cloudless days were. She wasn't sure what she'd do if she weren't an ice maiden.

... Actually, probably just enjoy the sun and heat.

[Tuesday DeCastro]

She laughs a little. "Thats good to hear, I think I'm done with life or death situations for a while."

"Oh, really?" Tuesday grins. Danny seemed quite taken with her, eh? That was certainly a bit of good news as far as she was concerned. She moved from the bed to an arm chair, leaning her back against one arm, and throwing her legs over the other.

"I'm still in Helsinki. Eva really came through though, she kept her end of the bargain."

[Alexei Nacharade]

"Oh? That's good." He says, running a hand through his hair.

"Danny and I are good friends, so I thought we could surprise him? If you take a booth to Moscow, I can have a car pick you up. What do you say?" He shoos away a friendly club girl before adding as sweetly as possible, "I miss you, too."

[Hilja Kukkanen/Sasha Pisarev]

I observe Kizu and Hex interact a little before turning my attention to the window. It looks like it is snowing, but since it is almost August that is impossible. Upon closer inspection, it is actually leaflets!

"Let's check it out, Kizu!" I suggest, but I don't even bother waiting for her. I rush out of the cafe and into the streets of Helsinki where there are falling political leaflets. The leaflets say.."Vote Communist" on them.

I feel a little confused. I didn't think there were any other communist groups out there right now. I take one of the leaflets and put it in my pocket.

"What's communist?" A man asks another.

"Maybe it's another word for Manalist!" One suggests.

"Vote Manalist, Praise Father Manala!" Some people shout.

I shake my head and look over at Kizu to see how she reacts to all of this. I wonder who is behind it.

[Tristan Tuzanic]

"Yeah, I can sing. I also play guitar, but not so good since I taught myself. I used to be in an expermental band years ago. That was before I was forced to join the Manalists." Tristan says with a heavy sigh. He rubs his arm and looks around her dressing room.

"Those thoughts are depressing. Do you have anything to drink in here? I could use something.." He states before sitting down on a couch. He crosses his legs and looks at the wall, lost in his own thoughts for a moment.

[Malak Al-Dabaran]

Malak wakes up and with a yawn, wanders around Tuesday's apartment to find her. He could use a shower and some new clothes, since he has been wearing the same thing for over a month. He could also use a hair cut and a shave. He glances in the mirror and thinks he looks like a terrorist or druggy.

He hears her voice so he wanders over to her bedroom. He is about to knock, but pauses for a moment when he hears her on the phone. Something in him causes him to listen in on the conversation. He doesn't get much out of it, but wonders who is talking to her.

He finally knocks.

"You don't happen to have any guy's clothes around here...or even your clothes that might fit if that doesn't sound too creepy." He says from behind the door. He is a fairly thin person and not too tall, so he figures he might fit into something.

He wonders about Horacio or any of the things concerning Allmart.

[Li Violette]

News of the leafleting in Helsinki travels quickly and the Manalists undertake to find out who is behind it at once. I am in my own office, taking calls and preparing for a speech on the news about the situation. Since most of the people in the world are not educated and the Manalists have done away with most political literature and talk of political ideas, the situation should not be too hard to cover up.


I take calls from the Moderator and other key figures in the world, and am advised on what to say concerning the situation.

Finally, it is time for me to speak on M TV about it:


"Earlier today the Manalists dropped some literature on Helsinki. As you may be aware, next year there is going to be elections in several European regions for the governing council. This was simply a test of democracy, to make certain that when the time comes, various candidates can spread their messages without problem. This is only a test and Manalists temples will be glad to dispose of any of the literature you may find in the street. You can also choose to bring it to a recycling center, where you will be paid 1 Rand for every pound of material that you bring in for disposal.
Thank you for your cooperation in this excercise. Stay tuned to M TV for further updates about next year's Elections."

Of course, I am not even certain there will be elections next year. The Governing Council is becoming increasingly weak. I suppose we'll have to see what transpires next year.

[Kizu Sensou & Hex]

Kizu takes one of the leafelets and looks it over. She smiles forgetting herself for a moment then composes herself looking to Hex and then to Hilja. Then only other person who knows of her support of Li Violette is of course Hex.

"I do not understand? Who would drop this on us now? What purpose would something like this hold in times like these?"

Kizu then drops the leaflet. She must be careful. If anyone knew she secretly wanted this system to be in power...She shuddered to think. She reached out and grasped Hexs hand. He reluctanly gave it. He did not wish to do anything which would drop his guard while they were in the open but she seemed to need some type of comforting.

[John Duddy]

Duddy landed with a thud and thought he had broken his back.
"Holy shit, I dont know if that was exciting or I just shit myself," he noted. He got to his feet disconnected the parachute and tossed the backpack in the dumpster. Then John took off, it was a huge melee as people were screaming, police were searching and debris and leaflets were every where. This was the kind of chaos Duddy wanted. It showed the the Manalist structure was not as secure as they intended. He heard throught he government propaganda speakers that this was a test of democracy, "How stupid could thses people be, they would never fall for it," he thought. As he was running he was searching for Sy and could not find her. His vision was blurry his hands were shaking, and then blackness.

Duddy's knees bounced as he hit the street and he laid there on the floor, blood pouring out of his side. There was a piece of metal sticking out of him, undoubtedly from the plane crash. He lay there motionless, hoping Sy would find him.

["Danny" Damascus]

There was almost no pause from the time that he sat down to the instant Danny was up and dancing. The lights, the sounds, it was overwhelmingly familiar and a wonderful comfort. It was impossible not to enjoy himself: the women were all young and very good looking, the atmosphere was friendly (the lighting made it harder for people to see his dirty appearence), the music was loud and there were people no matter which way you turned.

He thought that the lights were particularly well done as he moved around, smiling at everyone and winking and flirting silently with all of the girls he passed by, feeling better than he had in months. Maybe he should go out of town more.

[Tuesday DeCastro]

Tuesday thinks for a moment. Moscow? Hm, it does sound like fun. She wants to go, but she can't, Malak and Eva were both in her apartment, she had to stay with them. She pouts a little then sighs.

"As tempting as that is, I have to stay. Malak's on my couch, and Eva's in my kitchen...maybe next time though?"

As she awaits Alexei's answer, she hears a knock on the door, and stands up, opening it. "Sleep well?" She asks with a smile.

"Uh, yeah. I should have something in here..." She opens up her closet, and shuffles a few things around in there, before turning to her dresser, she opened a few drawers, and pulled things out before finding a pair of jeans that probably belong to some guy before the came into Tuesday's possession, and should fit Malak fine, and a polo shirt, she does a little more searching and even finds a pair of boxers, which makes her feel triumphant. She hold everything out to him.

"That's probably the most masculine thing I own."

She glances toward the window. "Oh, look, its snowing." She says, with a smile, before realizing its the end of July and doesn't snow at this time of the year. "Er...well its not snow. But something is falling from the sky!"

[Kiley Castiglione]

Kiley finished recording the day's weather, and feels pleased with herself. She waves good-bye to a few members of the crew, before pushing open the heavy door and walking outside.

She always hated walking home by herself. Usually, she got someone from the station to walk her home, but today no one could. She had pouted and pleaded, which usually always worked, but not today. So, she sauntered home all by herself, ignoring anyone who leered at her from the other side of the road.

When she got home, the door was unlocked. Kiley let herself in, and left her shoes and bag next to the entrance. "Bella-Bella-bo-Bella-fee-fie-foe-fella-Belllllllla!" She sang, walking into the living room and looking for her sister.

[Mollie Marionette]

Mollie nodded. "I learned to play it a couple years ago." She explained, with a smile.

She shrugs. This was a pleasant change, usually, she practices by herself, and if she had an audience at her store, it was usually a group of children being shunted away by their mothers for getting underfoot. Then Mollie would end up playing 'Old MacDonald Had A Farm', or 'Mary Had A Little Lamb', something along those lines. She didn't complain, though she loved children, and enjoyed playing for them.

"I like all kinds of music, really. I'm not exactly picky about what I play or listen to."

[Sy Lecy]

Sy found found the discarded parachute but no Duddy. Damn she thought to herself where could he be. she leaned against the dumpster and felt wet...she looked down at her hand and saw blood. She looked down and saw a trail. Duddy was injured and had left a trail for her. He could be dead.

She followed the trail and found him lying on the ground in a puddle of blood. She put her claws up. There was metal in his side, she couldn't remove it taking a chance in it causing a gusher. She went beside of him and tried to move him. Damn he was a lot heavier than he looked.

"Duddy...come on wake up. We gotta move you. You need a doctor. Or at least to get out of the damn street. Wake up dammit."

She smacks him hard...