Chapter 24: Pity the Flu

[Li Violette]

The parade seems to be going well, and is even a little boring, until suddenly an ice creature appears and sends the crowd into a panic. At first, some people think it might be a float or another balloon, but as people and floats are frozen in ice, it becomes clear that this is not the case.

A stampede of people rush by me. In fact, there is so much chaos that I don't notice the elf nearing me or the fact that he even has a sword. He is just one of many people in the area. My own focus is on the ice creature. I don't move, because I am curious to see how the Manalists will handle this creature.

I think that perhaps it was something that escaped the arena earlier. A creature that never saw any action in the fights.

[Dinari Dollar]

Dinari and Calithin teleport to Allwhere just in time to miss out on the action with the ice elemental, but not late enough to miss out on Allwhere's 4th of July parade. They teleport right as a couple of marching bands march by playing patriotic songs. Behind them are men dressed up like Uncle Sam and using tall stilts. The teetering tall Uncle Sams march by and behind them is a classic car carrying Miss Allwhere, a young blond woman wearing a sash and waving to the crowd.

Dinari is excited by the crowd of people, who, once they notice Dinari is in their midst, start crowding around him for an autograph. Soon, Calithin and Dinari are in the midst of a patriotic mob of Allmart fans.

[Lucio De Saldanha]

Lucio was riding on the float for the Temple of Terror when suddenly the float was hit by a wave of ice and snow. The whole front end of the float became encased in ice. Lucio quickly jumped off the float and started running. He ran over a patch of ice and slipped on his stomach like a slip'n slide. The Manalists and the crowd seemed to busy dealing with the ice creature to even notice that he had escaped. Lucio ran through the crowd of people trying to flee the scene. His goal was to find a teleportation booth and get out of Rome. This might be his only chance to escape.

So, he ran...out running most of the crowd. He also pushed. When he arrived at a teleportation booth, there was a line of people trying to use it to escape. He didn't have time to waste waiting in line so he pinched the person ahead of him...but blamed it on the man behind him.

The line erupted into anger...and then a fight.

Lucio pushed his way to the front of the line and punched in the coordinates for Havana, Cuba.

In an instant, he was far away from the fighting...and back home...somewhere he hadn't been for nearly a year.

[Armin Lehrer]

Armin listen to what Archer has to say and wants to agree that it is a good idea that revolutionary groups work together, but, he is feeling light headed. He lays his head on the shoulder of whoever is seated next to him. He doesn't even drink the water that Tahlia gave him. Instead, he closes his eyes and seemingly falls asleep.
He is very pale and looks worn. It also seems that he has lost some weight. His jeans are looser around the waist. His hair is unkept and dull looking. The illness is taking a toll on him.

[Tristan Tuzanic]

Tristan let go of the string to the pig balloon when the ice elemental appeared behind him in the parade route. Others let go of their strings as well....which caused the pig to float away. Normally, this would make the Manalists above Tristan upset, but, they had better things to worry about at the moment.

Tristan looked off behind him, where a few blocks away the ice creature was rampaging.

"I hate cold things." Tristan complained to himself, but figured he had better help the Manalists out with the thing.

Already, several Manalist soldiers were there firing Manala guns at the monster. Tristan walked slowly, taking his time to confront the creature. Anyway, he needed time to make a plan and that was best done by watching others try and fail against the thing.

[Horacio Hatfield]

"Armin just doesn't seem to be doing very well. I think maybe he should be brought to a secret doctor." Horacio suggests after Armin falls asleep. He agrees with Archer, but is distracted by the M TV coverage of the parade on TV. He had the television on and was watching Manala TV, even though he didn't care much about the parade.

He was shocked to see the parade fall into chaos and destruction with the strange ice creature.
"I wonder what that's all about?" Horacio asks suddenly, and now distracted from Armin's health concerns.

[Bonifaz Artz-Lehrer]

For a moment, Bonifaz considers telling the others about the Cat Flu and his plans to stall the Eyes of God, however, he doesn't care to and perhaps they will find out soon enough. He doesn't trust them, and what's more, he doesn't feel that they deserve to know.

"Armin shouldn't have come here. He'll make everyone sick." Bonifaz reiterates. "Archer is right, revolutionists should work together. I support the idea put forth earlier that Chaos here does something about the launch of the Eyes of God, if possible. Though, that would certainly catch the attention of the Manalists and put them on a spree to capture rebels."

[Salome Weil]

I've been feeling a little sick myself, but doubt that I would have what Armin has, since I have only been around him for a few hours. Perhaps I am just worn out after being taken prisoner and my ordeal at the Temple of Terror. I watch the television, trying to divide my attention between the suggestions of Archer and Bonifaz and the events on TV.

"Maybe this is part of the parade. It could be something to excite the crowd, or, maybe a stunt pulled off by the new Temple of Terror." I suggest to everyone as I watch the news as well.

[Annika 25]

When the ice elemental appears, Annika springs into action. She rushes over to Annette Rosenthal and puts up a force field just in time to save her from a blast of ice. Annika then grabs Annette, throws her over her shoulder, and starts running. The Creditor runs as fast as she can away from the crowds and the creature. She knows that Annette probably does not like to be mishandled, but it was important to get her out of harm's way.
Annika rushes for a teleportation booth so that she can take Annette back to Switzerland.

She says nothing until they arrive at a teleportation booth. There are people in front of the booth, blocking the way, trying to escape. Annika shoots her eye lasers at the crowd so that they disperse and make room for Annette and Annika. She does not hit anyone, but the blast is enough to scare people away from the machine.

She carefully punches in the code and teleports them both to Switzerland.

[Kaschei Bessmertny]

Kaschei watches the people flee and turns and notices Machiavelli beside him. Kaschei is hesitant to take action, since he doesn't care that much about the Manalists anyway, but, he feels that he should try to prove himself to his new employers. "Machiavelli, come over here." Kaschei orders. He waits for the dragon to obey.

"Turn into your true form and use some of your acid breath on that creature. It might assist with the situation. I wouldn't want my new employers to think I am indifferent about their plight." Kaschei explains to the dragon.

He folds his arms and waits. He had expected something to happen, though he didn't expect the ice elemental. Even from the distance he is at, he feels a chill.

[Calithin Crest]

"Why is there a parade everywhere!?"

I feel like I never want to go to a parade again. There is a sour expression on my face and I eye the crowd distastefully. Also I feel like being exposed to all these random people may in turn expose Dinari and I to the illness which seems to be going around. I'm not a germaphobe or anything, but no one likes germs.

"This is, like, way unpleasant. We're going to get sick guy!"

[Archer Aylmer]

Armin looks pretty bad, but I don't feel too sorry for him. It's for a greater good. If I were sympathetic to anyone in this situation it would be Heikki anyway.

"I think that's a good idea. If Chaos thinks he can pull it off... Anything to deter the 'Eyes of God.'"

I take a seat and start paying attention to the tv. Horacio's place is shabby and the furniture not to impressive, but function over form I suppose.

"That's... Interesting..."

As interesting as anything really can be.

[Cillian Machiavelli]

Obeying his master he goes to him and nods when the order is given.

Suddenly his clothes are off and tied to his leg as his true form bursts through his pale frail looking skin. Black scale and purple veined wings are now shown and his enormous head lowered against his long neck moves rhytmically side to side. His gold eyes pulsate with an eerie glow as he takes flight. A gutteral growl is heard above all of the chaotic mess below. He moves to the ice mpnster with determination and precision.

His mouth opens and purple black acid drips from his serpentine lips. He readies his attack.

[Tahlia Malkes]

Tahlia moves from Armin careful not to wake him. He was sweet when asleep but she could not stand it if he drooled on this top. She puts his head on a lump of blanket and lays him down moving from him.

she shakes her head thinking that it should be her on the tv covering the parade. She is a bit put off by the fact she will not get to be there to cover this calamity.

[Bonifaz Artz-Lehrer]

"So...you're one of Armin's friends?" Bonifaz asks Tahlia once she moves away from the sleeping Armin. He glances at the parade and notices a dragon enter the scene. He finds that to be somewhat interesting since he has never seen a dragon before. He watches for a while before turning back to Tahlia.

He can't think of anything else to ask her, so he simply waits for her to reply.