Friday, June 13th, 2008.

[Ron Caliburn]

It was Friday the 13th and just my luck, it had to rain.

On the bright side it meant that the vampires were going to stay home tonight.

On the downside, that didn’t give me the night off.

I ducked under an overhang to pull my hood back to let out some of the humid body heat the late spring thunderstorm had trapped inside my coat.

A gust of wind, an ash bucket overturning on the balcony above and I was suddenly soaked to the skin and covered in cigarette butts and ash. Between the amour and the raincoat, there was no way I was going to be clean or dry before I got home

That’s when I saw him . . . The black man Becky had pointed out to me the night I tangled with the vampire and the were-cat.

And he’d made me.

Not many folks around, but pulling my Piece would definitely get noticed. With the recent police crackdowns, they would be on scene rather fast.

So I watched and waited for him to move someplace secluded.

Instead he walked over to me, stopping just out of the rain under the same balcony.

I kept my hands near my weapons as we eyed each other.

“Nice night for a walk isn’t it?” the casualness of the words didn’t hide the tension on the street.

“Yeah, perfect weather, raining were-cats and dogs.” I replied.

He smirked a little bit. “I was hoping to find you out here again; I figured you were a local.”

“Actually I come in every night from Taiwan, the commute is murder.”

I hate it when they laugh . . . especially this one . . . the laugh almost seemed . . . genuine.

“If your who I think you are, then I should either thank you or kill you.”

“I’ll admit, I wasn’t expecting the first choice.”

He nodded in acceptance. “It’s about the blood drinkers.” He calmly lit a cigarette. “The vampires have been our enemy as long as we can remember . . . you’ve done the local vampire population a fair bit of damage. For that we are grateful.”

I snorted. “You’ll have to excuse me, but I didn’t factor in the benefits to your kind when ever I stake one of those parasites out for the sun.”

“I didn’t think you did, the number of dead werebeasts in the city tells us you’ve been just as efficient reducing our number.”

“I’ll take that as praise.”

“Feel free to, I’ve seen you in action, I have no doubts that you are as dangerous a warrior that Eclipse has ever fielded.” He gave me a little half bow.

“Eclipse?”

“You aren’t one of their stalkers?”

“Sorry to disappoint, but I’m just a concerned citizen.”

He seemed caught off guard. “It seems I have still a few things to discover about you.”

“You’ll find I’m full of surprises.” Okay, so it was cliché, sue me.

“Nonetheless, from one protector of his kind to another, if the killings of werebeasts stop, we’ll consider your continued war against the blood drinkers a useful service. If the killings of werebeasts continue, I will come for you.”

“If you are a protector,” I almost spat the words out, a monster protecting his people, saying he was like me . . . I felt like being sick. “... you know what I have to do.”

He nodded. “You know what I must as well.”

We stared each other down for a while, my fingers brushing against the handle of my Blade, his hands tensing as if ready to sprout claws.

He turned up his coat and backed out into the rain. “We’ll meet again.”

I watched him go. “Only once.” I replied under my breath.

That’s when the taxi drove through the puddle and doused me with a wave of backed up sewage water.

A part of me wondered if the night would get any worse.

That’s about when it did.

[Clarity]

_____What did he make you do, Mr. Ron? It feels like he knew you would be there, too. Did he think you were protecting something of theirs?

[Cybermancer]

[Robyn]

I too would like to know more about what happened.

This is the first time I've personally come across mention of an organization called 'Eclipse'.

[Ron Caliburn]

Clarity - him making me is a slang about him recognizing who I was and why I was there.

I have no intention of protecting anything of theirs, but apparently the destruction of some vampire cabals I've undertaken has helped them out somewhat.

Robyn - it's a new one on me too.

[Ron Caliburn]

Flashing red and blue lights and a short note on a siren signaled the arrival of a cruiser.

“You, in the coat, stay where you are.” The loudspeaker menaced.

I adopted a non threatening pose and turned to face the cruiser. “Sure thing officer.”

I was rewarded with a 2 million candle power spotlight in the face.

“Face the wall and put your hands on your head.”

I knew where this was going and I complied with the directions.

To a point.

With the new police powers, they were entitled to stop and search anyone they found on the streets in whichever zone they had decided to crack down on that night. Tonight was the Blight’s turn, which meant I found myself on my knees with my legs crossed and hands on my head.

This gets us to our big problem. I was armed and armoured. No long arms of course, since those are too obvious. But in DC, handguns are illegal in civilian hands. My dealer’s license gave me a certain leeway, but not that much. In the past, I’d relied on my friends on the force to help me out in jams like this, but recently, my friends on the force had been disappearing.

So, I somehow had to avoid getting searched, without getting the police on my trail.

Fortunately I have a few tricks up my sleeve . . . literally in some cases.

I kept my movements small and slow as the officer approached to frisk me. The silver dagger slid from my sleeve into my hand just as the officer was reaching out to pat me down.

A quick flick of the blade and the spotlight’s full intensity flashed into the cop’s eyes. I rolled to the side, putting the dazzled officer between me and his partner before he could get a bead on me.

A quick scramble to my feet and I was off.

I’ll admit I am not a track star, but I’ve had to chase down a few things that could really move. My foot speed gave me a quick lead as they scrambled back into the cruiser, but the big Ford V-8 was soon cutting into it.

Fortunately I wasn’t out of tricks, a quick reverse on my part turned the car’s bulk against them, forcing them to choose between taking the time to turn or bailing out and making it a foot race.

They went for foot.

Up side streets and down alleys we ran. I’ll give these officers their props for dedication; they hung on when most would have given up on catching me. I kept changing direction on them so they couldn’t set up a team waiting for me. I ducked in and out of buildings, hopped fences, vaulted walls and scaled fire escapes.

Finally I made it to the bridge over the river and started across.

Another cruiser showed up at the far end of the bridge, I was trapped.

So I did the only thing I could, I vaulted over the guardrail.

[Clarity]

_____Hi, Mr. Ron,
thank you.
_____P.S. You would be a good freerunner, too! Maybe I can try it with Hannah and you when I come and visit in July?

[Cybermancer]

[Robyn]

It would seem that you spend more time being chased by the police on Friday the 13th than chasing down other things.

[Ron Caliburn]

Yes, which is par for the course on me for Friday the 13ths.

[Ron Caliburn]

Don’t try this at home, but if you know just the exact right spot, on the right bridge, you can leap off and pull yourself in underneath, out of sight, and nobody will be the wiser.

So that’s what I did, and stayed there as helicopters and boats scoured the waters below for what I presume they were thinking would be my dead body. I alternated between hanging by my arms and my legs to keep either from getting too tired.

I stayed there until the first rays of red morning sun pierced the rainy veil above the river. That’s when I pulled myself up onto the bridge and walked myself back to where I’d hid my car.

Mr. Fluffers, quite warm and dry, was curled up, fast asleep, in the front seat.

He looked rather offended at the interruption of his sleep when I moved him out of my way and got in.

“Well, where were you when I spent all night under a bridge?”

He gave me a disgruntled bite on the hand then made himself comfortable again on the passenger seat and fell back to sleep.

You can never trust a cat.

[Hannah]

I ducked in and out of buildings, hopped fences, vaulted walls and scaled fire escapes.

. . .

I vaulted over the guardrail.

and he grounds me for doing this sort of stuff and I ain't even carrying a sword and a gun while I do it.

Life is so unfair.

Hannah

PS: I am glad he got away without getting hurt . . . but he was so stiff and sore from all the running and hanging under the bridge, he probably will be for the rest of the week.

[Shadowstalker]

Eclipse? I think I have heard metion of them before, but it has only been rumors. From what little I have heard they are a Hunter Group that specializes in hunting Weres. I think we can assume from Ron's conversation that their existance is more than rumor.
I wonder if they could be behind the troubles Bearshaman has been having?

[Ron Caliburn]

Werewolf hunters huh?

Might want to meet them and compare notes.

[Clarity]

_____Hi, Mr. Ron,
_____I don’t have bridges at home. Can I try it at yours? Ethan says there will be a “solstice” on Friday. He also says it’s not Eilonwy Solstice, though.
_____P.S. Can an eclipse happen on a solstice?

[Ron Caliburn]

I don't recommend you try hanging under a bridge for a few hours, it's dangerous and leaves you sore for a week.

Which is also why I was a step off my game Friday night and things didn't go so well.

[Clarity]

_____Okay.

[Bearshaman]

I ducked in and out of buildings, hopped fences, vaulted walls and scaled fire escapes.

. . .

I vaulted over the guardrail.

and he grounds me for doing this sort of stuff and I ain't even carrying a sword and a gun while I do it.

Life is so unfair.

Hannah

PS: I am glad he got away without getting hurt . . . but he was so stiff and sore from all the running and hanging under the bridge, he probably will be for the rest of the week.

ROFL...Too true Hannah.
As for you Ron, be careful. Sounds like you are in the middle of a war between the weres and vampires. Kind of like getting in the middle of two different prides of lions hunting grounds. I don't condone the hunting of humans, but both sides will see you as a threat. I am tempted to tell you to take the side of the lesser two evils, but from what I know of you, that isn't an option.

Good luck. Be careful and take care of yourself.

[Ron Caliburn]

Well there is no lesser evil if both are preying on humans, which they are.

[Bearshaman]

If they are both preying on humans, then no, there is no lesser of two evils. Quick suggestion on the weres, one of the things you can do to keep them off you backside is a nasty little trick. Using something with a strong smell, powerful perfume, ect, you can spray them right in the face, acts about as bad as mace on a normal human. Our senses of smell, hearing and sight are heightened even in human form. It won't stop them for long, but will prevent them from tracking you by scent. Just a heads up.

[Ron Caliburn]

I've had decent results with bear mace and dog mace myself.

[Ron Caliburn]

Guess I should update on this situation.


On Christmas day, after all the gifts were opened and the dinner had and the what not, I decided it was time for me to go check on what was happening in the Blight.

Wie was pretty insistent on going with me, but just four days after loosing the baby, she wasn't in the right condition to be going downtown with me. It's not like I was planning on running into any jolly old elves.

The first part of the night was pretty quiet. Even the local thugs had decided to stay home tonight. I was just finishing my sweep and headed back to my car when Mr. Flufffers let me know I wasn't alone.

The black man in a trench-coat was behind me, at the end of the alley.

"You didn't heed my warning." He puffed on his cigarette as he casually strolled towards me. "I'm rather disappointed by that, I was hoping you might be an ally against the vampires."

"Yeah, well somebody needs to make sure your kind aren't gnawing on innocent people, and since you didn't decide to step up."

"A shame then." He took a last drag on the cigarette and then crushed it with his foot. "We are both protectors of our kind, we are a lot alike." He produced a katana from beneath his coat. "I hate to kill a kindred spirit."

"Ain't nothing kindred about us." I had my Blade ready to go.

"On the contrary. We both protect our kind. We both hunt predators. I'm guessing you are a family man and live in the suburbs as well."

We started to circle each other, Mr. Fluffers seating himself on a dumpster to watch - you can never trust a cat.

"It is this similarity which made me decide to give you a fighting chance. I let you know that I was coming, and I shall fight you in human form with a human weapon." His ivory smile split his dark face. "Though I have worked with the blade for many years and I am stronger and faster than any man could be, so I'll also give you the honour of striking the first blow, to keep this affair strictly honourable."

"Thanks, but I think there is something you misread about me."

"And what would that be?"

My first two exposed silver core rounds caught him in the chest, my third blew the back of his skull off. He hadn't even had time to blink.

"I don't play by anyone else's rules."

[Deacon Ash-Shaytan]

Egads, man! You admit to this? If this is what happened, it's evident that you can at least enter a self defense plea. I suppose an anonymous tip to the proper authorities is out of the question, seeing DC's newest...policies.

I have an aunt out there; she's taken to getting her meals delivered to her room.

[Lord Shakar]

Nice one Ron, another bloodsucker bites the dust. Congrats for each one of them taken down is one less leech in the world means its harder for it to bring its Master into our world.

[Shadowstalker]

Shakar the last one he slayed was a Were-Beast not a Vampire, and was a hunter of Vampires as well.

[Lord Shakar]

My bad either way. Congrats on the victory. I don't trust Were's much either. Though I have worked with them a few times.

[Deacon Ash-Shaytan]

Yes, Mr. Shakar and lets see you keep that congratulatory smile when that man's children find out what happened and you see their faces in your astral dreams, wondering why their dad didn't come home.

Just because he was a "villain" and "meant harm to Ron" doesn't excuse you for patting yourselves on the back after killing a foe.

If you guys ever find yourselves throwing a party each time you kill someone after a "nightly raid," I think you ought to reevaluate your reasons for "keeping humans safe." Is it so you can beat your chest and roar your victory so the world knows of your manliness, or is it just one step on a long road to recovery?

Don't congratulate him yet, guys. He just killed one of the leaders, or so it sounds like it. They'll be out for blood. Ron's blood. Or the women he lives with. Gangs don't play nice. They don't play by the rules, either. If you think he's earned himself a victory jig, you are sadly mistaken. What he's earned is an eye. And they'll be looking for that eye, will take his eye, and likely all his teeth, too.

[Ron Caliburn]

This creature - I won't call anything that can turn into a half-human/half-panther hybrid a man - apparently belongs to some sort of organized group of other creatures and I have no doubts that I had their attention already.

I'm not celebrating this, not because I have visions of any of his inhuman spawn mourning the loss of their sire. I'm not celebrating this because I got lucky, pure and simple. It had all the high cards and threw them away to make some kind of game out of the situation. When you mean to kill someone, you should take every means at your disposal to make it happen, not try to play at being a knight-errant.

Besides, I still have work to do out there.

[Clarity]

_____Is Mr. Deacon right, Mr. Ron? Are Miss Eilonwy and Miss Sarah and Hannah in danger now? They can stay with me if that will help them be any safer. Though I think they’re safe with you.
_____P.S. What do you do to celebrate, Mr. Ron?

[Lord Shakar]

I agree Ron, But at least there is one less predator stalking the streets. Even though this one was a hunter of vampires. Most of the were's I have encountered feel similarly about Leeches. But that doesn't mean they aren't any less a predator than the Vamps.

Decaon, I am sure Ron is fully aware of the price of what happened. And my congratulations was for him putting down another of the many threats that Humanity is unaware of. I won't even go into detail about the many threats that I am aware of and interfere with on a daily basis.

[Deacon Ash-Shaytan]

My "celebratory" comments were aimed at you, Mr.Shakar. I thought they were very premature. And if he truly goes through the actions he claims every night, and thus kills "evil creatures not of this world" every time he goes out into the Blight, then be prepared to congratulate him often.

[Lord Shakar]

My "celebratory" comments were aimed at you, Mr.Shakar. I thought they were very premature. And if he truly goes through the actions he claims every night, and thus kills "evil creatures not of this world" every time he goes out into the Blight, then be prepared to congratulate him often.

And your "celebratory" comments directed at myself will not get an answer as I see no need to explain myself or my actions to you or anyone.

And I do Congratulate Ron on each Evil creature that threatens this world that he has dispatch or will. If not in words over the Boards. I do so just in thought knowing that each of 'them' he kills is one less hunter of humanity out there.