The small sense of satisfaction Xuan held after he and the team seemingly obliterated the giant Demon-Shark withered with Ace's words and died with Orlando's.

Kirby's thoughts echoed his own, and finding himself for once feeling a little out of his depths at sea, Xuan left all of his questions afloat and went right to the most pressing matter - how to save his boat and keep his teammates from drowning or getting eaten. Jumping in the water would only give the mini-titans something else to chew on. Attacking from deck would not do enough to help either.

Think.

It was time to answer Kirby. "We still float. Therefore we can move."

Taking the helm once again, Xuan checked the equipment and set to move full forward. This newcomer would need to fend for itself for now.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:10, Thu 22 Aug 2013.

     The boat's engine revved as the throttle was engaged, but the boat did not move at first, not until water spouts like stalagmites rose out of the water at blinding speed that speared most of the sharks in the front of the boat.  Their sheer mass in number had caused the boat to become stuck. The water seemed to stab up from the ocean like ice cycles and then retreat leaving the sharks immobile. This gave the boat some nudge room to start moving forward.

     The coast guard by this time had the helicopter's engine on, the blades had started to rotate...




     The water was a bloody churning soup of death and destruction...


Alright, Everyone else can go again, the ship is moving, forward, slowly but moving, it feels bad to the touch, John can tell that the ship is severely damaged at this point.

Orlando looked at the creature in the water as the water daggers shot up,"Can anybody do that...HEY THAT GUY JUST HELPED US!" Orlando shouted. "I think I can hit the whole area up front and give us more room," Orlandos hands rose to the sky and he belted the incantation. The light formed and shot down from the sky hiting the entire area in front of the boat. The sunlight came down in a sheeted wall. This attack wasn' as focused or as strong as the one that hit the shark, this one was wider and encompased more area. Orlando held on to his amulet, it held all of the last bits of energy that he used.

Max was looking at the churning water. The thousands of tiny sharks like a malstrum unending, what could he do.

His fathers words came to him. 'Son in your life time you'll have many opportunities to make a difference. When those doors are being knocked on, open them and walk through.' This was another time to make a difference.

Max focused on the ship and her hull, which was being damaged by the tiny sharks. He didn't have much left, but he would give her everything he had. "I'll add my strength to you."

Max gripped the railing and gave the ship his energy of protection. The ship began to glow with a blueish green hue.

"Max! What are you doing? Will the boat hold up now if we suddenly went faster?"

In reply to Edmund Kirby Smith IV (msg # 285):

Max turned to Kirby. "I've put a telekinetic armor energy around the hull of the ship to protect her from the mini-sharks. It should add some integrity to the hull as she moves as well."

“Oh kay, let me try something.” Kirby swung the gun to his back on its strap and dropped to the deck of the boat. He got down low to the deck. The dampness of the deck mingled with his perspiration while he got down close and closed his eyes, feeling the motion of the boat. Kirby exhaled to release tension and improve his feel. He was suddenly cold, this was going to be tough.

Kirby reached out with his senses. As the boat cut through the waves, kinetic energy exploded off prow, keel, and stern working in concert to move the boat forward toward open water and, hopefully, escape from the ravenous clutches of the titan. Through his mind Kirby placed himself along the keel to more fully feel the energy. He felt kinetic waves wash over and through him as if he were part of vessel herself. Seeing each strand Kirby began to weave.

He first pulled a small thread toward him to set his plan into motion. He then grabbed another thread; they came more quickly then. “Everyone may want to hold on!” His voiced echoed against the deck to alert the others while he continued his work. By then he had a small braid of energy in hand which he quickly combined into still more braids. This pulling and consolidating took the disparate energy strands from each corner of the boat and tied them together them into a single focus of forward propulsion. Kirby felt the weight of the boat upon him a he pulled on the kinetic rope to send the boat surging forward. Sweating and groaning he hoped it would be enough.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:15, Fri 23 Aug 2013.

Watching the incredible talent unfold before him, Aeviternus took stock of what was in play and what may be missing.

We have a hole to move through, a protected vessel and we have movement.  Cutting a glance back to Max an idea struck him.  Let's bite back.

Already near the mind-wizard he placed a hand upon the shoulder nearest and spoke quickly.  "I know you're open to ideas.  I have one."  Aeviternus then reached for Max's soul.

The move was for more movement, however.  Like a sea creature hurtling itself into a massive current to make travel smooth and fast, the old spirit sought to ride that of the positive energy constantly flowing from Max with the intent to add to the effort being exerted about the ship.  Once his spirit force was a part of the shield now encasing the hull, he would insure their path was cleared and resistance was eliminated.

The boat raced on, picking up more speed and more speed, 15, 20, 35, 55 knots and the boat kept moving faster and faster...

The four foot sharks, were held at bay by the power of Max, yet they tried and tried to break through the barrier, each bite taking a nick out of the energy. It was a good deterrent but made even better by the vulcanizing energy now joined and hurting the creatures.  They each took a bite or two and either lay in the water or changed the focus of their attack, leaving the boat completely. Max and Aeviternus had combined their energies to create an electric fence that ripped energy through the current of the water and upon each bite delivering a horrible jolt.

The ship was now out of the churning soup and easily out paced the sharks.


The helicopter began to take off with the surviving men and the water creature that aided them was no where to be seen.

           Shouting,"Max, how long can you keep this shield up, the hull is through!" Orlando had looked over the side after his shot to free up the bow of the boat. Orlando held on to a rail for safety as he yelled back at the group.  He was amazed at how fast the ship was moving and that the beating of the waves weren't cracking the hull. He looked to Kirby who had played a very impressive card, how long could he keep the boat moving that fast?

Again in this moment of weakness and being drained of all strength Max had a twinkling of insight. This revealing point of truth came from his fathers crystal. Shakti's power not only lie within Max but within his fathers crystal itself. Max pondered if within this crystal shard lie the answers he and his group was seeking. The pieces were coming together and Max smiled.

Max turned and shouted to the group aboard John's  lovely mistress. "That's all I have Captain. My power is waning. Someone will have to pickup where I fall off, sorry Gents." Max lowered his head in exhaustion.

The ship was going down. The only other mode of transportation available was flying away. And everyone was exhausted, or quickly becoming so. Were it just Xuan, it would have been easy to continue on in the water without a boat, but the others did not have the same luxury.

There was a feeling of mourning creeping in with the acceptance of the loss of Si Feng, though that was less important than the mourning he may have to deal with if he could not reach a resolution to this dilemma. Carpentry skills would be handy right now, though even if he had those skills, the material was not at hand. The only thing he had was an inflatable raft. He imagined a scenario where four men sat in a raft as it was pulled by a turtle with a rope. It was almost laughable. Perhaps you are just a turtle, Xuan.

Xuan took in Kirby, Max and Aeviternus, all working to keep this boat moving. Turning to watch the churning mass behind them, he wondered if maybe he hadn't exhausted all of his options just yet. Maybe they are there, but just have not been able to hear me yet.

"Hang in there friends. We may not be far from port. Orlando, can you take the helm? The Captain is doing most of the driving right now anyway, so it should be easy." Xuan's expression changed from broody to determination. "I think I need to go for another swim, check the damage."

Grabbing the line he'd used to bring Orlando back on board, Xuan called his staff to his other hand and leapt into the water. At this speed, he could ski on just his feet, but he pushed downward to remain below the surface. Once again he opened up with his mind to the spirits of the sea, this time using his Chi song to amplify it, to reach out as far as possible. Who knew if it would work? But right now, anything was worth a try. This time, he did not dim the glow. This time, he let it shine bright.

If you are out there, please hear me. I need your help.

Kirby raised himself up with his legs folded under him while his plams remained pressed to the decking. Retaining contact with the boat was probably unnessesary, but being low was probably best given the amount of energy Kirby was using. Kirby could already feel the bags forming under his eyes.

"Aye can keep des up for maybe ten minutes," his breathing was labored as he spoke, "buutt, if Tsnumai can't fix the boat wes won't hold up long going fast fast. Do wes need da coasties?" He looked in the general direction of the coast guard bird as he trailed off.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:52, Wed 28 Aug 2013.

Managing the large and inanimate was nowhere near a specialty for him so Aeviternus looked upon the horizon while listening to the conversation.  The open expanse of water caused the only questions he could find a use for to arise.

"Does anybody know how far we are from land?  The captain makes a point about the boat deteriorating while we move at this speed, but perhaps it would last long enough to provide rest if we were still."  It was overly simple, and not likely an option, but it was all he had when so out of his element.

"Perhaps the only one with these answers is submerged just now," he realized, noting the other end of the rope Xuan had taken with him to inspect the damage.

We're off the coast about 10 miles," Orlando said as he went to take the helm. Orlando was still sweating, he reached into his pocket to find an empty flask not for the first time. He was actually feeling like a drink was in order, given the chance he might actually take it.

Understanding that he and Orlando were the only ones free of chores at the moment, Aeviternus kept communication going, volunteering himself to be the conduit since he had little else to offer at the moment.

Turning his attention back to Kirby he asked, "Captain, do you think we can cover a mile a minute?"  Joining a question for Max on to the end he added; "Max- do you also have 10 more minutes of sustainability?"

The song had called to him and he came to help...



Everyone make a knowledge culture roll, or a streetwise easy check if you have the advanced skill. Knowledge Supernatural for some that have that for a different reason.

Max looked towards Ace with a hopeful grin on his face. "I don't think we'll have to worry about what I can do in this situation." Chuckling a bit under his breath.

The surprise was welcome to Max, knowing he was spent and had nothing left of his energy. He was relieved to see John safe and accompanied by their possible would be rescuer, who looked to be  a young man of prowess and in great athletic shape.

Smiling and rubbing his hands together for warmth at the sudden chill in the air. Max stepped towards the man offering his hand as a friendly gesture. "Hello and welcome aboard."

As he watched the newcomer and his help arrive, he didn't move his gaze to return a quip to Max; "Grasp of the obvious: still intact."  Ace smiled as he said it, but none saw.  A shift in posture occurred as the old stepped in front of the young, often happening when the former took control of speaking, and stilled the tongue from further sarcasm.

The arrival's silence and summation matched a style Aeviternus had adopted over time so, returning the scan, he waited for another to take charge of the greetings.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:52, Sun 01 Sept 2013.

Xuan was still a little stunned by the appearance of this man and the events that had just taken place. It wasn't what he was expecting, but if it was helping to get them all out of trouble, and this man was friendly, who was he to complain? He had to fight back mistrust. Anyone new still needed to be treated with caution, but that didn't mean that he shouldn't show respect and gratitude. The man did help after all. But how? What is he? He doesn't strike me as evil.

When Dave spoke to him directly, Xuan realized he'd been staring. Blinking, he cut his Chi Song short and let his staff fall into the crook of his arm in order to make a proper Chinese salute, fist in palm. He dropped his eyes as he bowed his head and said, "Thank you." Relaxing and meeting his eyes once again, he continued. "Your timing was...fortuitous. As to what is going on, to be honest...no. We would not like to say just yet what is going on. With respect, we do not really know much of what is going on ourselves, nor who, or what, you really are. Dave. And yet we find ourselves in your debt."

He allowed his gaze to go out to the sea, to where they had just been and where they were headed now. There was one more burning question that he couldn't let lie. "Could you hear my Song?"

As the crew glanced over the side checking out where the mist and cold had come from, they were able to see a smooth sheet of ice that covered the hull giving it more structure.  The ice seemed to plug up the holes in the boat.

Max had seen a few of Dave's show's and enjoyed his humor and take on life's situations. He had a unique perspective.

He laughed at Dave's take on the situation.

His thoughts quickly returned to his revelation and Shakti...

Kirby raised up to one knee but kept his right palm pressed against the deck of the boat. He had enough energy left to get them closer to shore, if not all the way. The newcomer looked vaguely familiar to Kirby but given the current circumstances he could not place the man. Kirby looked on with Tired eyes.

“Dave?” He inquired, “We certainly are grateful for your help. Hads we not had it, ayes not sure we’d be floatin for long long. We all can’t swim well well like our friend here,” he gestured to Xuan then, “nor, apparently, as you.”

“My friends cans speak to what sparked this attack better than aye can, aye think, but aye think it started when we were creatively trying to keep the coast guard at arms reach. Something we did then pissed of the ware-shark, Titan as you says, and here we are.” He turned over his left hand to take in the boat and surrounding sea.

He adjusted his palm on the cold, damp decking and wiped his sweaty brow before continuing, “But where’d the hell you come from? You wasn’t on that coastie cutter, best as aye can tells, and why do you look so bloody familiar?”

"You can call me Arrowhead, bye the way."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:27, Tue 03 Sept 2013.