Installing the Chamber. (Jor/Crane School)

[Deleted]

Drexx stood looking at the Crane School for the first time since he had left it. It was exactly as he remembered it, and he wasn't a bit surprised to feel a fond remembrance come upon him as he gazed over the yard where he had trained with Sohko, Orenji, Kazama and even Jorlaxl.

His former and current master had invited the Android to rejoin the school once more, they both knew there was a lot they could teach one another, and Drexx knew his training would never be finished. Jorlaxl, in his mind, was the one to train him. He had risen from the ashes of his own evil and become a protector. Nothing was more important to Drexx than protecting others. He was pleased and inspired that Jorlaxl had been able to turn himself around in such an astonishing way, now instead of hurt his master wanted to help, and train others to protect as well.

It was the least Drexx could do to give back to the school, and he could think of no better way than donating the gravity chamber that he had gotten so much use and training done in. The others at the Crane School would be sure to spend countless hours in it as he did. He only hoped the glitches in the system were exclusive to him and not likely to happen to anyone that stepped foot in the chamber. He shuddered to think what would happen if a younger student was in the chamber when one of Benjin's viruses went off.

Still he was glad to do his part to help the school, and was confident that he would get as much from the school as he gave, and so he planned to give a lot. He just wondered how he was going to move the chamber from his home to the school. The first step would be deconstructing the chamber from his house, and so he went to work. He was again thankful to have an android body, as it didn't tire from menial labor, and so after a while he had the chamber deconstructed from his house, now the real work in rebuilding it would begin.

But he had a better idea. Jorlaxl would need to know the ins and outs of the chamber as he did, and he thought of no better way for Jorlaxl to learn then by building the chamber together. Plus a little help didn't hurt.

He flew back off towards the school, carrying what he could of the deconstructed chamber, and to find Jorlaxl whom he was sure would help.

[Deleted]

Ike had just finished his daily patrol of the forests surrounding the school when he decided to take a nap. He had a belly full after a bountiful hunt and he spent the walk back focusing on calming his ferocity levels. Ike stopped at one of the ancient, stone statues that decorated the steps leading up to the school. He lied under the shade of a statue. The satisfying taste of fresh blood lingered in his mouth still and it lulled him to sleep.

He dreamed of human faces he had never seen but knew that at point he must have. The humans he sought were sinking into the fathoms of a black ocean. Ike desperately clawed his way through the waves in order to save these humans from the depths. The waves pushed him back into a howling storm.

Ike opened his intelligent eyes to see he was still in front of the school. He pondered why he felt attached to these people in his dreams. The only people he cared to protect was Master and his students. Suddenly Ike pricked his ears up. He felt a pulse of tremendous power approaching the temple. Ike sat on his haunches and sniffed the air recognizing the scent of the Protector. Ike channeled his mental focus to create a telepathic link with his master.

"Master, I believe the one called Drexx is near. He might be looking for you..."

[Jorlaxl]

Drexx, the perfect protector. The android apprenticed to the master of the crane school. Ever since Jorlaxl met him along with his slew of allies, he was always impressed by his determination and well-trained mind. Drexx was specifically designed to protect and, Jorlaxl decided, was very good at his job. Yes, it overjoyed him to no end that Drexx decided to rejoin the school. He could sense the power in this android whenever he fought, and came to the conclusion that he was the most powerful student he ever taught. Does that mean that Jorlaxl succeeded in his endeavors?

Walking through the hallway of his school, Jorlaxl decided that now would be a good time to take a mid-afternoon nap. The weather outside was pleasantly warm and breezy, and sitting under a tree to rest his mind would do his body well. Nodding resolutely, he began to walk out to the back of the school when a familiar voice rang in his mind.

"Master, I believe the one called Drexx is near. He might be looking for you..."

The whisper of Ike's deep voice breezed through his own mind, gone as quickly as it went. Stopping dead in his tracks, he replied curtly. Thank you. Come out to the front if you wish. With that, he turned himself around yet again and began walking to the front of the school, where Drexx would most likely be if he was coming.

Opening up the front door and greeting the warmth like an old friend, Jorlaxl stepped outside and waited on the porch, looking for Drexx. Being an android, it was impossible to sense their ki signature, so he had to be vigilant. After a moment of searching, he saw Drexx flying through the sky, carrying what seemed to be bits of a deconstructed machine. Squinting, he confirmed in his mind that was what it was.

When Drexx landed, he would bow low and exclaim, "Oh, well if it isn't my newest and oldest student! And what is that you have with you? It seems to be some kind of machine."

[Deleted]

Drexx set down softly on the lawn in front of the crane school, he set the materials to the side and bowed low at the waist in front of his master. He turned and bowed to Ike as well, then gave the fox-creature a friendly wave.

"Master, I come bearing a gift that I think will be of great use to the school, and the students."

Drexx indicated the pile of deconstructed machinery with a wave of the back of his hand. Laying there on the ground, it certainly didn't look like much but the android was aware of the great help that enhanced gravity training had on his own personal training.

"It's a gravity chamber. One of my own construction. I had placed it in my own home and trained in it vigorously. Now I think it would be of better use to you and the crane school!" Drexx realized the fact that he should have consulted his master first. He was unused to having a master again, and it had been so long Drexx was rusty on the protocol.

"I realize I should have consulted you first Master." Drexx bowed his head in apology. "I got excited... I was hoping you'd be willing to help me construct the chamber here at the school. There are programs I need to go over with you so that you can best teach them to the students."

[Deleted]

Ike watched Master emerge from the dojo to, greeting Drexx with a warm welcome. The fox tried to acknowledge Drexx's wave with a mirrored movement of him waving his paw.

Ike had seen the young man drop a pile of alien machinery to side and he explained to Master that it was the building materials for a training tool. As the old teacher and student conversed about the strange invention, Ike sniffed the parts curiously, they had a scent of a far away land.

"Master, where should we put it?"

[Jorlaxl]

Watching as Drexx put down the parts for a type of machine, Drexx bowed low, a sign of deep reverence and respect. Reciprocating the bow, Jorlaxl listened intently as the Protector spoke, explaining that this machine was a gravity chamber, used to enhance the gravity within it, making their training way more effective. Being no stranger to how they worked, the memories of the past trainings he had with Suki sprang suddenly to his mind. The first time they were ever in training together, Jorlaxl took a death beam to the chest, nearly killing him. Suki, although being a tough Tyrant, actually spared his life, when he was but a fraction of his current power. Why? Was he desperate for a companion, or did he sense potential in the now master of the school? There's no way of knowing, now. Suki is as in the past as Caius.

"You created this? Most excellent, Drexx. Although I must wonder, you're a machine, who can create machines? How perverse." Walking up to the parts on the ground, he responded to the question that Ike asked that Jorlaxl was sure that Drexx wondered as well. "Funny you should ask, my friend. You see, since before even Drexx came to the school originally, I had planned to install a gravity chamber into the school. However, I never had the funds to do so. Now, we can install it where I planned to, all this time." Gesturing behind him, the master of Crane led his students into the school. Knowing the school now lie the back of his hand, he led them swiftly and efficiently through the school, and out through the back door, leading to the reflecting pond.

Carrying the parts on his own would be near impossible physically, so he used his telekinetic powers to lift them using his ki. The two students would see a purple outline surrounding the objects he lifts. So yes, in a way, Jorlaxl even lifts. Anyway, the trio (or if they chose not to follow, only Jorlaxl) went to the reflecting pool, the place that Ike loves so much. For him, the reflecting pool was a place of solace, where he can get away from the rest of the world and meditate, to find his inner peace. For Ike, it was necessary to keep his beast instincts intact. The training facility will be perfect here, for it was so close to a place easy to reach for the students, and also being convenient for his four legged friend to get to in times of zen.

"This," he gestured behind the pool, facing the school, "is where the facility will be build. Now Drexx, I know much about the gravity chambers from my time with Suki, so this process won't be agonizingly slow. Ike, feel free to help if you want. We could always need a helping paw."

[Deleted]

The Protector chuckled at Jorlaxl's joke about machine creating machines, it seemed only natural to himself to create other machines, but realized the way it might look. He had been working on machines all of his life, like a human doctor studies the human anatomy Drexx studied machines intently.

He was overjoyed to hear that his master had not only accepted his gift, but had been thinking of getting one himself. The android was impressed when Jorlaxl lifted the parts without touching them, and proceeded to walk towards the pond where they had originally met. Drexx had never seen a technique such as telekinesis and it caffeinated the android. He watched intently as his master set the materials down and the purple glow faded. Turning to Jorlaxl with a smile, the android nodded.

"This is the perfect spot, not only did we meet here and rejoin ways, now a symbol of my service will forever mark the Crane School."

The Protector turned and began setting up the chamber the way he had the first time. He was gladdened to hear that his master had worked in a gravity chamber before and so he would have less explaining to do.

"This chamber is only designed to produce up to fifty times the gravity of Earth, but with upgrades can go even further. There are some inherent programs in it, such as targets and spinning discs...." Drexx hesitated. He wondered if he should tell his master about the viruses Benjin had planted. He didn't know if it was in the chamber or in himself. It may be both. He opted for Truth, vowing to not hide important information from his Master.

"Master... There may be something wrong with the chamber... I have experienced Viruses in it. They may be inherent in my programming or the chambers, i'm not sure which. My creator... the one who tortured me, not my father. They're his work. Though they're targeted for me and the students should have no problems with it..."

The Protector trailed off as he finished. He wondered how his master would take that news. Drexx had no wish to place any of the other students in harms way, and though he had been able to overcome the virus programming, he was much stronger than Jorlaxl's other students.

[Deleted]

"IKE, IKE!" Ike barked like a pokemon. (JK not really)

Ike was relieved to hear that Master decided on installing the gravity chamber near the pond. This would be useful in case of emergency. Ike stared at his reflection in the pond while Master and the Protector conversed about the capabilities of the chamber. Ike locked into a deep concentration and he watch his blood red eyes fade into a ghostly teal hue. An ice blue aura outlined the machine parts and they slowly began to rise into the air along with small bits of gravel. Ike's still body never faltered. His meditation boosted his knowledge of telekinesis. Ike timed his breaths in a slow tempo, allowing the machine parts to rise high in the air and spin
around slowly.

"Come to me"

A cold, sinister voice whispered within Ike's open mind. The machine parts slowly descended to the ground as Ike pricked his ears up and pointed his nose to the treeline. That dark pulse... surely it was of demonic origin. He did not know if Master had felt it too.

"Master, I sense them. They are in the forest."

[Jorlaxl]

Slowly, thanks to Drex's android stamina, the trio were able to build the gravity simulator with relative ease. Ike's telekinesis has improved greatly since he has become part of the school. Jorlaxl would be stroking his ego to say that it was entirely because of him, although that wasn't the case at all. The young beast had great potential, only mired in the bog of misdirection and the guile of good intentions. Joining the school, however, was one of the best choices Ike could have made. If such power was to fall in the wrong hands...

Ike's ears pricked up as Drexx began to speak. Mentioning that the gravity chamber can amplify gravity up to 50 times Earth's, Jorlaxl nodded solemnly. "Yes, if I'm not mistaken, the chamber that Suki had was also of this model. Although it was more... impersonal than this one."/color] Modifications, hm? He'd have to look into that on his own time. Of course, he had not the expertise of machines as Drexx, but he could hire a mechanic, he supposed, to upgrade the machine to enhance the gravity.

Drexx then began to explain to the master of Crane how it was 'haunted,' in a way. Smiling, he patted the Protector on the back, saying, "Well, if it's a virus, then I guess me or you will have to be with the students when they train in there, at least until they know how to fight it on their own."

"Come to me."

Ike began looking around eerily, obviously hearing the same thing. Was it in his mind, Jorlaxl supposed, or was it aloud, so Drexx heard it too? Looking first at Ike knowingly, and then to Drexx inquisitively, he spoke. "Drexx... did you hear that?" Putting the last few pieces of machine into place that he had, he stood up and looked around, back into the forest from whence the sound originated.

((Well guys, what do you want to do? Ike, you could leave the thread, chasing after the voices and make a training post about it, or we can stay here and go after them as a team.))

[Deleted]

((Stay here and fight as a team))

[Deleted]

"come...to... me..."

A faint whisper, as if on the edge of hearing flew through Drexx's mind. A chill crept down his back, but the source of the sound was unknown. The protector noticed Ike's ears prick up and Jorlaxl's face twisted into a frown. They two had heard the noise. The android's only interaction with telepathy had been with Jorlaxl and Ike and so was unused to the feeling and it was unsettling. Jorlaxl asked Drexx if he too had heard the noise, but the android could only nod, frozen in place by what the voice had said. Then Ike said they were in the forest.

What was in the forest? What was calling to them? Who was it targeting? and most importantly, what did it want? These were the real questions. Drexx looked from his master to Ike. Whatever it was it was sinister, a cold dark voice like the rustle of leaves on a dark abandoned street.

"What do we do?" The protector asked staring deep into the forest. It suddenly looked and felt colder, darker, and more sinister. Drexx felt himself step into a fighting stance off of pure instinct. Whatever it was, they would do no harm to his master or Ike, not while he was there to protect them.

[Deleted]

((Let me start off by apologizing, Drexx. I know I've been procrastinating from this thread for a long time. I'm really sorry, mate.))

"What do we do?"

The Protector had asked while sliding into his respective fighting stance.

"Focus."


Something writhed within the dense forest outside the school. Evil had accumulated there, lurking for the perfect prey. As a demon himself, Ike could hear their excited whispers. Their long awaited attack was beginning.

"Master, you should head inside. Tell the students to do the same."

Could these be the same demons from his encounter with the mysterious man in the woods? Ike could only wonder. The birds stopped chirping, the rustling of the branches came to a halt, and no leaves fell. The three of them stood besides the reflecting pool in the dead silence.

A blood curdling shriek echoed throughout the shadowed narrows of the treeline. Ike could keenly hear the approaching, rapid footsteps of the assailants. Were there three of them? Four? 10? Ike was not sure. The demonic aura scaled sporadically at unpredictable rates. Ike readied himself towards the treeline prepared for the coming attack. Their hoarse like laughter was getting nearer.

Something shot out of the forest at a bullet like speed. Ike hopped to his left and barely evaded the incoming attack. From the corner of his eye, he had caught a glimpse of what it was. It appeared to be a sage green tentacle of extreme length with long, thin barbs covering the underside of it. A purple liquid of some hellish venom slowly drooled from the barbs. Along with the tentacle that had sprang out at Ike, many more (seven of them; three at Drexx and four at Jorlaxl) like it shot from the treeline from some unknown origin to Master and the Protector in a whipping motion. If the tentacles were to hit them, they would tangle around the victim.

Ike prepared to shoot a volley of ki blasts from his tails at the tentacles when he sensed the presence of some force that had snuck up from behind. Ike immediately turned his head to see impish demons, dressed in shinobi robes and kabuki masks, hopping up and down on the roof of the dojo like a couple of apes. There were large, metal shurikens (about 5 foot wide each) lodged in their back, like some of disturbing ornament. Their maniacal, raspy laughs made them slam their hands on the roof as if they were in some uncontrollable trance of glee.

They simultaneously pulled the shurikens out of their backs with their long, slender arms and flung them towards the trio. The imps' blood danced across the shining blades of the flying shuriken. When Ike spotted the imps on the rooftop he sent out a telepathic warning to the other two.

"Behind us!"

[Jorlaxl]

The sights... the sounds. Ike tensed at first, and then slowly relaxed, showing his intense focus. For but a moment, Jorlaxl wondered how much pain this vulpine beast must go through every day, simply being a demon. Crystal clear in his mind, Ike's voice shone bright, telling him to warn the students. What would have normally been a sign of disrespect to speak to one's master like that, Jorlaxl allowed a more relaxed speech tone towards him. He was, after all, as much a learner as even the newest student.

Reaching back with his mind, back towards the school, Jorlaxl was able to communicate with his students, their individual voices clear and present in his soul. Loud and resonating, Drexx and Ike, along with every one of his students would hear, "Attention, students. Stay in the school. I repeat, stay in the school until you hear my voice next." A pause, and then, "You all are in no danger. This will be over quickly."



Tentacles shot out from the treeline, where a hellish shriek was heard. Reacting quickly, Jorlaxl shot an unprepared galactic donut towards the four that were coming his way. The purple ki ring shot out, wrapping itself around two of the tentacles without struggle, binding them together, pulsing. Their momentum lost, they fell onto the ground, seemingly harmless. However, there was still the matter of the other two, now almost at the master of Crane.

Jumping into the air, Jorlaxl shot off his dodonpa, one from each index finger, outstretched towards the alien-looking tentacles. One of them pierced through it, immediately draining the acid-like juice from it, the tentacle quickly growing limp. He wasn't able to admire his own handiwork, however, as the final tentacle reached him, wrapping around himself tight.

"Arg!"

"Behind us!"

Turning his head, constricted as he was, Jorlaxl saw the demons on the roof of the school, pounding on it like some sort of otherworldly percussion event. Grimacing, Jorlaxl turned to his friends. It was so hard for him to speak, his body was being crushed. But yet he persevered and uttered a few words. "I'll... handle... roof."

The demons threw their shuriken, and 3 were heading straight for the bio-android.

The tentacle around him was tight, and made it nearly impossible to move. The pain was excruciating, and yet still Jorlaxl concentrated. His secret was more than just concentrating and finding his inner peace, there was more. Being surrounded by chaos and still finding serenity, that was his power. His focus paramount, Jorlaxl used his instant transmission to suddenly appear behind one of the demons ontop of the roof. The tentacle that was previously attached to Jorlaxl was unprepared for this sudden shift of events, and therefore didn't expect the shuriken. They sliced through it cleanly, sticking into the ground, deeply rooted.

The demons didn't sense his presence yet, due to the sudden shift of ki. Using this to his advantage, Jorlaxl propelled himself backward, using his flight to hover in the air, all the while shooting magic missiles at the demons. Tiny ki shaped bullets shot out from all 10 of his fingertips, exploding all around the demons, penetrating some, pounding against and then blowing up around others. All were not defeated, however. Turning their heads towards Jorlaxl, some of them jumped off of the roof, lunging at him with katanas that were hanging from their belts.

How were Ike and Drexx faring?

[Deleted]

The tentacles shot out lighting fast and before the android knew what was happening they coiled around his legs, one around each leg. A third wrapped around his right arm. Drexx struggled against the grip but the tentacles seemed to adhered to his flesh. They ripped his legs out from under him and began dragging him into the forest. Was this the source of the voice inside his mind?

"Behind us!" [/b]

Eye beams burned into the tentacle holding Drexx's right arm and somewhere ahead of him he hear screaming of a very loud and very demonic nature. The protector had more to worry about than the demons on the roof. He crashed through the brush and trees in the forest, not knowing where the giant tentacle was dragging him. He eventually burned through the tentacle around his arm and dug his arms into the ground to try and stop himself. He ground to a stop and flipped around using his Bukujutsu to aid him in his crawl back towards the school. He powered up to his max and shot into the air, the tentacles still very much attached to his legs. Whatever was tied to his ankle, the protector was dragging it back to the school.


"I'm bringing the party back!" He cried out through the forest, he wasn't sure how far he had been dragged, but he knew the direction towards the school. And he wasn't about to let any students get hurt.

[Deleted]

((^ Not sure if that was an Avengers reference...))

With the demons being caught off guard by the androids' power level, their numbers were dwindling.

"I'm bringing the party back!"

Ike could hear the Protector's cry over the forest. It appeared as if there were still tentacles coiled around legs. Hanging at the source of the tentacles was an octupus-demon. The entirety of it's face was covered in a large maw, brimming with spine like teeth. The abomination let out gurgling roars of rage, foaming venom from the corners of it's vertical mouth. The Protector was flying fast and sooner than Ike had expected the monster was dangling above him. Ike did not want to close in on such a dangerous creature but he did not want to shoot off his Kari o Kokai (several ki blasts) and hurt the Protector. Ike sharpened his mind into an absolute apex of focus. The silver lining of his thoughts allowed him to concentrate the ki of his next attack. The ripples on the pond came to a unnatural stillness and Ike closed in his tails to each other so he could fire off a single beam.

Odayakana. sutoraiki.

The beam pierced through the foul beast's sac like body causing it to explode like a balloon, blood and entrails flying in random directions.

Meanwhile, Jorlaxl was dealing with the last of the imps that had unsheathed their katanas. They reeled their arms around in a maniacal flurry of blows. Their blades extended like blood-red, steel whips lashing out at Jorlaxl in varied swoops.