That Falling Sensation (Row, The Grey, Arcana, and Wulf)

Gaia sat in his crystalline thrown and looked at the crowd that was around him. The people where all dressed in their heavy robes, some deep green others black, the youngest bunch of the group wore black hats and normal day clothes. They all sat around the cave-like area talking low to each other. A red hot stone was sitting in the center of the cave for warmth on the dark cool night in Navajo Nation, some where huddled around it. Florescent glow beamed off plants that hung from the ceiling and littered the stone ground of the cave.  

"Sir, may I ask a question?" A young man knelt in front of Gaia. His dark brown hair and green eyes took on an eerie look in the florescent glow of the cave.
Gaia looked down at the man from his throne, "What is it?" He said in a questioning tone. It wasn't often someone so young approached without fear.
"Sir." He looked at Gaia. "I have the location of three main utility hubs in the United States. If we start to take out peoples electricity, water, or even the oil supply to the country. It may weaken them enough to take over."
Gaia lifted his hand, "We are not taking over... not yet anyway."
"Fine." He looked away sorrowfully. "Some are getting antsy. They are loosing their drive, their focus. I humbly ask, please give them a mission."
"Hm..." Gaia thought for a moment. "You may be correct. Some are not yet ready for the challenges that are ahead. Your people may need you."
"My people, sir?"
"Take a small group and destroy this oil plant you mentioned. We will see who truly stands with us." Gaia looked into the man's eyes, "Don't let me down. Only take who you trust."
"Yes, sir."
"I'll be near by if you need me. You will only need to yell."
"Yes, sir. Thank you. He looked back down and bowed away."



Off the coast of Florida, somewhere in the North Atlantic, an off shore drilling platform is free floating. It is one of the largest of its kind and able to move on its own. The deep red hull is sometimes broken up by colors of white and blue. The crew has been working hard for days after finally hitting oil, new welcomed crew are anticipated from the S. R. Burk, a ship that will receive the freshly pumped oil.

"Howell Peak, this is the S. R. Burk, ready to receive first shipment of oil, over." The Captain of the Burk said over the radio.
"We have you Burk, pull up starboard and prepare to receive, over." Captain of the Howell Peak responded.
"Moving to starboard, preparing for shipment. We have twelve for next shift. Want me to send them up starboard? Over." The captain held his mic. "Prepare the men for the shipment XO, and tell those guys from the Peak to get ready to change shift."
"Roger, Burk, send them starboard. Peak, Out." The oil rig responded.

________________________________________________________

Three loud thuds pounded on the berthing door. One young man ran to it, still in his boxers he pulled it open, revealing only his head. "yeah?" He said sleepily.
"Get ready, your due to disembark within the hour." The XO said. He was a grisly looking man with a grey wispy beard and deep voice.
"Yes, sir." The man responded and closed the door.
They all moved quickly to get their coveralls on. Each wore black t-shirts under their uniform and carried duffel bags. People would assume clothes, tools, and maybe snacks for the stay on the Peak. The three men looked at each other, determination on their faces.

"Take it easy. Remember why we are here. Do the job and go home. If you get into trouble, you know what to do." One of the men said, his brown hair messy from sleep.
"Are you sure about this Eain?" One asked.
"Don't let me down." He answered. Touching the mans shoulder he walked out of the room. After grabbing his bag he met up with another small group. A pretty young lady was among them. She had long red hair and wore large aviator sun glasses that seemed to cover most of her face. Eain nodded toward her but she didn't say anything. He wondered for a moment if she even knew he existed. Focus on the mission he told himself.

All twelve piled onto a zodiac and started to head toward the oil rig. Once there they would climb up a long latter to a platform and take stairs up to the main decks. People where busy at work on board.

"Disguise, Disguise! Pori keeps her disguise. Stay hidden and don't get caught gets Pori a great big start. Should nothing bad happen today, Pori can be a Heroine yay!" The slime practiced her marching while inside the cargo box. Some Mysterious person in sunglasses captured the slime creature and promised to let her go if she did hero job. Pori could not be anymore excited to finally do good and become a true Heroine. Humans love Heroines after all. Even if she hadn't been caught stealing food, she would have accepted such a quest.

The trip was long but the man said that she would be protecting an oil rigged. What was an oil rigged? Who knows, but it sound like a fun place to crawl around. Maybe she could touch some oil or better yet, taste it. Black things were always interesting to absorb. A loud horn blasted and then she felt her self rocking back and forth. She tried her best not to giggle as her human shape smashed into goo against the side of the crate. She hear birds screaming outside the box and suddenly became a little nervous. See, the only time she heard caws like that was when she was near the beach.

Pori's giggles became silent as her core trembled. Where was she? Where was she going? Why did she not pay more attention to the man? Why did she not pack a snack?! Several hours later of smashing against the sides of the crate, she heard a loud clamp. Then there was a boom! She was there. Finally, she could sneak out. She just had to stay hidden until she could get her coat. She seeped out of a small hole that was just wide enough to allow her core through. There a blinding light. Then horror creeper through her core. Her worst fear was confirmed. She was in the middle of the ocean!

Sarah hated being stuck on defense.  The FBI had word of an impending attack, but at the end of the day, that was it.  Beyond the target they knew nothing.  Now she and a unit from the Emergency Response Group were embedded with the US Navy as they watched over the Howell Peak.  They could do nothing more than wait and clean up the mess as much as possible after the fact.  These were technically international waters but corporate had thrown a bitch-fit about profit margins and "investor confidence."  All the while, they swallowed their potential tack, willfully ignorant of the danger.

Special Agent Jardin was assigned to the helicopter patrol when the Burk arrived to offload a new batch of laborers.  Given that management was clearly asleep at the wheel, this would be the ideal point of entry for these "Chrysalis" group and the black-clad woman watched the band ascend from their dingy from her seat within the Seahawk.  It chafed to know something was coming and have to play games in the sky.

One of the SEALs with her was saying something, but she had switched off her headset to tune out increasingly vapid conversation.  With a click, she was back amidst the band.  "Sorry, I was busy ignoring you."

This time she caught the chuckles over the com as response registered.  "Fine, fine," Corporal Ferguson admitted; as cutting as the comment was, it was not unlike the banter he was accustomed to.  "Just wanted to know how heavy a hitter we're supposed to expect.  Gotta be big to pull you guys in."

Sarah just shook her head.  "No clue either...all I was told was that they had magic.  No word on what sort..."  She just shrugged.  "Expect anything, I guess."  This proved less comforting than the group had hoped as the party fell silent.  The special agent wished she knew more...if only to give these men peace of mind...sadly, the truth was not always helpful.

Soon the craft landed at the starboard latter and the crew began to climb. When they came to the landing they took stairs all the way up to the main decks. From there most took their stuff to the birthing to stow it for the duration of their trip. Others dispersed to their working stations, thinking to get a good change over before the others left for shore.

About six people headed toward the birthing, Eain was among them. He simply followed everyone else, assuming their destination and asking if he was going the right way. When questioned he shrugged it off saying, "This is my first shift." With a smile one worker just gave him a wave and told him to follow. Making their way through multiple hallways, it all looked like a labyrinth to Eain, they made it to the birthing door. He pushed his duffel bag inside a locker, opening it he pushed his hands inside.

"You guys have any issues with theft around here?" he asked his new friend.
"Nah. Generally people keep to themselves." The man answered with a southern draw while pulling off his boot.

Eain watched as the other workers dispersed. Soon it was only him and the guy. He never learned his name. Didn't want to. Figured it would be easier that way. Eain, with his hands full of dirt from his bag, could feel strength and vitality pump through his body. He took a deep breath, and when the man stood Eain punched him in his back. He could feel the man's spine shift under the force as his body staggered toward the wall. There was only a small yelp from the man. When Eain bent down and looked he could tell there was no more life in his eyes.

With a touch to the man's face Eain's body changed. In a moment he looked identical to the guy he just killed. He quickly undressed him, changed cloths, and made his body fit the man's own locker. "No need to worry about theft." He thought as he twisted the key. Then began to follow signs that would take him to engineering.

...

"Hey Wanda." one female waved, Wanda waved back. She had been part of the crew for about a month now and knew the people pretty well. She was one of the masterminds of the group, giving them the layout and the know how to complete their task, and now it was time for the follow-through. She pulled her thick red hair back in a ponytail and tied it up with a hemp string. Took off the large aviator sunglasses and placed them in her locker within the bathroom. "It's almost time." She thought as she ran her hand down a smooth green robe that hung in her locker.

...

The thee other men dispursed around the ship. The first one began to make his way to the bridge. The second moved toward the main deck where the oil pipe was. The third went down to the lowest deck on the furthest east platform, leaning on the railing and looked off into the ocean. Waiting...

"Stay calm, stay calm. Just have to protect giant thing surrounded by water. Focus on being heroine. Heroines don't get scared. They are brave." The slime pulled out some black fisherman boots, a puffy orange water proof coveralls with a hood and a white helmet. This was much different than her usual rain coat but the man said this will help protect her should she fall. She did not take it seriously but with all that blue below her, she quickly became grateful. The outfit sealed together leaving no gaps for water to get in should she close the holes on in her sleeves and hood. The outfit forced her to stand 5'8" and had very little space. The slime felt herself wobbling as she tried to lift her "foot". She was already not good at walking without focusing normally.
"Argh... how humans walk with this on. It is so tight..."

Using the rails and walls, she managed to pull herself forward. and started wandering the platform. As she stumbled about, she tried to avoid being around any people. There was no way she was going to blend in at this point. Also, all of these people seemed to be men. Pori didn't have her big boy voice yet. As she continued to move, she tried releasing the rail or wall practiced keeping her balance. Once she had this down she would try exploring more of this "floating" building.

"How much fuel we got left?" one of the SEALs asked.  Even though his voice reverberated through the comms, he shouted to be heard.

One of the black clad pilots shouted in kind.  "About ten/fifteen minutes."  It was not a lot of time, and the team may well have flown back to the cruiser by the time things kicked off.  "Special Agent Jardin; it may be a good idea to head back now. Otherwise, we'll be landing in the ocean."

There was nothing for it. The insertion team lacked authorization to land on the rig, and without that, any action they took could be declared warrantless police action, leaving them vulnerable to a lawsuit. Sarah cursed before saying, "We're not doing anything right now. Let's get back to the cruiser and refuel." It almost physically to leave, but it was the only option they were left with. The Agent hissed an expletive toward the riggers as the aircraft swung away toward the horizon...