Religious Intolerance

A small compound consisting of one large nondescript one-floor building surrounded by a few other smaller buildings in a seemingly random pattern was nestled in the pleasant hills of rural California.  A murmuring crowd had gathered outside the main building. Some were disenchanted youths looking for a tour of the place that promised friendship and positivity.  Many were Fathers, Mothers, Brothers, Sisters, and even grandparents of those who were already within the walls, hoping to get a chance to speak to their loved ones.  Today was a scheduled tour of the Children of Peace's base of operations, and the crowd had been told to wait for their guide.  

The murmuring stopped when a young woman in simple but clean hooded white robes emerged. She stood out from others of the organization, who dressed almost exclusively in plain blue shirts and jeans.  The men had such similarly uniform haircuts it was indeed difficult to tell one person from the next.  The woman's white hood was raised high and did little to cover her face, a flawless alabaster profile. Large blue eyes framed with golden blond hair gave her face a certain child-like quality though she carried herself with a great deal of dignity.  

"Greetings." She said in a well-spoken voice that didn't carry any discernible  accent. "Everyone around here calls me sister, I guess they all see me as an older sibling." She smiled revealing rows of perfect white teeth. Despite how anxious some had been to get inside and see family, everyone was content to let the woman talk pleasantly. Something about her petite frame underneath the white robes and her pleasant tone of voice instilled a calm through the crowd. "We don't really have a leader here, but I do run most of the day-to-day operations for our organization. I will also be your tour guide today. Are there any questions before we start looking around?" Despite her pleasant demeanor, one middle-aged man grit his teeth nervously before yelling out angrily "Where's my boy? I came here to see my boy!"  "Sister" responding by smiling pleasantly at him. The smile was pleasant to be sure, but it was merely camouflage. Beneath her human skin was a frame of solid metal filled with gears, wires, and in her chest the still beating heart of a human child. Beneath the clean white robes her skin was dotted with various objects, varying sizes of needles and razors embedded just below the artificial skin. Where her skull should hold a frame there was only a tangled mess of wires and electric impulses. Something unnatural lived underneath the woman's skin, but mankind cares little for what lies beneath the skin. Only what they can see, what they can confirm for themselves matters. It was what made them so easy to subjugate.

"Of course everyone will be able to see any friends or family. The lunch bell will ring soon, and someone will take anyone that wishes to the cafeteria where you may visit freely with your loved ones. For now, I suggest you enjoy the tour. Many people have the wrong idea about what goes on here, we are simply a safe haven for those of any age. We provide housing, food, wholesome recreation and kinship to any willing to pitch in with our volunteer efforts. We help people, who in turn help others. This is the kind of attitude we are trying to foster here at Children of Peace. Now if no one else has any questions, we can begin the tour." she said looking out with a friendly smile to see if any others from the crowd raised a question.

Shauna arrived at the cult’s compound in the hills of California, having taken a tour bus along with the rest of these concerned friends and loved ones. She had a few ideas and experiences dealing with cults, but made no conclusions until she was there in person, on foot, seeing everything for herself.

She wore some worn, old but still functional sneakers, jeans – missing one leg, the remaining leg shredded in a most grungy fashion in her teen years – and a simple grey flannel shirt from an ex, the sleeves extending over her hands. She also wore a blue baseball cap and shades, and stood a bit hunched looking definitely like some misguided young soul in need of direction and enlightenment.

Shauna stood a bit apart from the crowd, apart and behind. She looked at her cheap mobile’s time display, wondering where her ‘partner’ was. But, more importantly, Shauna took the time to glance around the great Californian hills. As the power evolved in her eyes, her vision began to change as much as her laser output increased to nearing weapon of mass destruction- there were no words to describe what colors and hues and layers her eyes could see, as the wider electro-magnetic spectrum was plain in sight to her.

Shauna blinked. She awaited her partner again; once they were together they could join the 'tour', go along with it until she could be inside the compound and start scanning.

Making it there. I want to count maybe three buildings of where the destination and the place where he was in movement was frustration indeed. In this particular topic he was very adapted to his super speed as he was in half speed but still more the enough to be very fast to those of human senses. As he ran he blinked with a thought and in an instant he was running up an actual surface, which he had done a few times but not up a surface of a whole building.



As he sprinted up a surface he choose not to look backwards due to just common sense making his way up the building performing a flip frontward almost over the whole building before sticking an almost rough landing before starting his movement again. Jumping forward using his arms he pushed off of the building, and doing another flip into the air onto another building feeling the air and himself almost becoming one as he landed on to another building. Leaping off the building he sprints down to street level before mentally preparing himself. His attire?



A mask of a teenage white kid, in which was made of special clay that looks like a real face, along with a jogging suit of all black with a basketball cap on with a battle staff on in which he was tapping the ground pretending to be blind. So he looked like a blind white kid with a cap so far down you could only see his mouth and part of his nose. Of course under that was battle armor baby, but we can get to that when the party begins? Using his staff he was using as another vision he truly already had he came up behind his partner slowly before tapping her with it three times lightly before nodding at her once he got her attention. His facial expression was blank but his battle heart was ready for anything.

"I'm ready ... "

"Fantastic, let's begin." Sister said warmly.  She turned and headed into the main building's double doors, motioning for the crowd to follow her. the interior foyer was mostly as plain looking as the outside, though the walls were painted with colorful murals of flowers and wildlife. Plainly dressed teenagers milled about silently as they started their tour "These murals were painted by some of our art students." She motioned for everyone to look at the exceptional paintings. "Many of our members are students, and we try to offer extracurricular activities that public schools are lacking in. I believe that the arts are just as important as any academic subject, and creative minds need a healthy outlet. On that note, why don't we head to the music room next?"  

As she turned to continue the tour a young man with the same uniform haircut as the others approached her. "Sister." He said, sounding somewhat nervous. "Some of the new members are having issues with their living quarters." Sister looked thoughtfully at the boy. "I see. You've done a tour before haven't you Johnathon? Take over here and I'll go help our new friends." She turned back to the crowd and spoke apologetically. "I'm sorry dear friends, but duty calls. Johnathon here will finish showing you around, and-" She was cut off by a loud electronic bell ringing out, much as you would fine in a school. "Ah, how convenient. It seems lunch is about to start." She looked around briefly and called out to a figure dressed in robes identical to her own that had its back turned. "Herja, perfect timing as always. I need you to show some people to the lunchroom, if you're not busy."  

The robed figure turned around, but it didn't reveal much. The person was obviously female, standing at the same height as Sister, but her face was almost completely wrapped in bandages. The only part of her face that was visible was her left eye, which was a deep blue that matched Sister's own hue. The right sleeve of her robes were pinned up, for the woman had no arm to fill it. One of the boys walking down the hallway stared at the bandaged woman with a mix of nervousness and curiosity, but a glance from Eir caused him to quickly avert her eyes. The bandaged woman identified as Herja stared blankly at Sister before replying in a flat tone with a heavy English accent. "Of course sister." She turned to the crowd. "Anyone that wishes to come visit a friend or family member may follow me." She said succinctly before turning around and walking back down the hallway she came from with a group of mostly older men and women quickly following.  

Eir clasped her hands together and a pleasant expression. "Very well. Those that don't wish to follow Herja to the lunchroom may continue the tour with Jonathon. I will try to rejoin you once I make sure everyone is settled in properly. It's important for new members to feel comfortable, so that they'll feel as much a part of the group as older members." and with that the group split into three directions, the bandaged Herja guiding parents and other loved down one hallway, Sister slipping away by herself in an opposite direction, and the boy named Jonathon leading the remaining crowd down the main hallway, commenting on various things as he passed them.

Shauna blended in with the crowd and the tour, her grungy look helping her fit in with the “lost souls” crowd. She held onto Sixteen’s hand as a cover, and She kept her cool as her sight-gift brought about the swift revelation of the nature of these nuns. Beneath robes and false flesh, beneath their kind words and piety was cold machinery and hard science. She tried to study these things, find their power source, and find their weaknesses, her old training kicking in, preparing for confrontation she hoped would never come.

“...I’ll go look for the kid. You follow the guided tour. Let’s try and meet up after lunch.” She said, in a hush tone to her partner. “And steer clear of the nuns.”

Shauna moved up to follow the one called Herja. “Oh, I do hope cousin Damian is doing alright...” She said, voicing her concern after a few others did the same. Deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole, she guessed. The longer she walked around the more opportunities Shauna would have to study the place's defenses, note exit routes, and learn of other secrets of the place. She could have just stood in one place to activate her telescoping vision too, but the situation demanded her to keep moving.

Him and his partner decided to split up, or let’s be honest his partner decided they should split up. Didn’t matter because the job needed to be done in any way possible, sixteen didn’t say anything back to her but a physical nod before keeping his focus on the guided tour as he slowly caught up with the tour. Using his seeing stick he was tapping on the ground while his eyes looked forward though he was most surely aware with all five of his senses. He was behind everyone walking as straight as he could trying not to whack anyone on accident despite being a blind guy that kind of thing was okay.


So far he was just taking in the place; he could smell lots of metal but couldn’t get exactly where it was coming from so of course he didn’t have a choice but to remain in silence as he tried to use his patience as they continued down the main hallway. Sixteen curiosity would not be going without just, he was very curious as to what is within these illusions in place – For it to be called for not only one but two strangers to work together … must be very juicy.

Herja led the group of concerned loved ones in silence. They had only traveled down the hallway a short distance when she stopped at a brown windowless door on the left, which she opened and motioned for the crowd to enter. The door led into a small hallway that ended in an empty room with no exits save the door Herja had just opened. The first person to enter noted that it was obviously no lunchroom, but was pushed along by the crowd behind him, the hallway was only wide enough for one person at a time and everyone was eager to move forward and see their loved ones. Herja looked straight at the girl in the shredded jeans and flannel shirt as the crowd began to pour into the room. "Please, enter here and you will see your loved ones shortly." She said, almost directly to the girl.



Meanwhile Johnathon led the main group on a rather boring guide. He showed off recreation rooms, classrooms, and empty computer labs. "The computer labs are only open at certain times." He explained. "relying too much on online connections can damage our ability to connect to others in real life." As he prepared to lead the crowd on Sister appeared again, this time with a much more serious look on her face. "I'm afraid the tour for today must be cancelled." She said flatly. "Johnathon, please escort these ladies and gentlemen out." As she spoke another bell rang, though it's sound was distinctly different than the first and it carried a certain urgent tone with it. Johnathon looked up with an odd expression as the bell rang, then turned to his tourists. "I'm sorry, but we'll have to end the tour here for today. Please come back later this week." He said, his voice shaking somewhat, as he urged the crowd back the way they came. Meanwhile the organizations members quickly disappeared into whatever door was closest, the hallways emptying quickly. Sister turned and left the way she came, heading down a hallway in the opposite direction Herja had taken the others.

A stream of curses ran through Shauna's mind as she beheld the secrets of the place, the mechanisms and air ducts quickly warned Shauna of a trap. The missing people weren't here; this compound was the place where people were just drugged and taken away. Shauna could have just walked out... but this was likely her only chance to discover the whereabouts of the victims, not to mention keeping her cover. She looked at Herja, but gave her nothing.

She had to think of something, and fast. Once out of the robot woman's sight, She took the miniature tracking device wrapped like candy, and held it firmly. Originally it was to put on a vital target or something. She put the thing in her mouth and mentally braced herself for the next step.

GULP.

While chewing on gum, She speed dials 16 on her mobile, keeping her phone in her pocket, knowing things were going to get ugly very quickly. Good thing it was a cheap model, and he had better set it on loud.

Once the people were herded into the chamber, Shauna went in last, waiting for the trap to be sprung. she remained cool and continued acting oblivious. "Finally, my cousin is... wait a second... what's going on here?"

Shauna would act accordingly panicked once the gas started to come in, banging on the door or whatever else. Internally she hoped she wasn't going to wake up on a laboratory table... again.

Sixteen had been observing for a while as the man showed off shit he really didn’t care about, Sixteen feelings about the place was a bit off balance and the energy of the place was almost gone. Not that he was much of a spiritual person but he usually could feel some kind of energy floating around the building but instead nothing. So he had almost no choice but to choose patience, he choose to be at the end of the touring due to spectacular reasons in which could be in seconds. His tacking device activated, the moment she put it in her mouth – Kinky right?


This meant that she was in need of being tracked, but of course a blind teenager couldn’t just rush to the aid of rescue? So throwing a small grenade in three random rooms as fast as he could, causing no only an explosion but a large distraction as the smoke escaped the rooms and into the hallways, allowing easy movement and access due to hinder of eye sight. Making his way to the door was easy, as quickly as possible before anything could take into complete affect while everyone was in panic he realized that he was possibly leaving another group of weak normal humans to the slaughter but first, opening the door for his partner and civilians as he did he realized they probably should do it as a team.

“Not quite the best at saving people but everyone should evacuate the building … “ Speaking in a calm tone, still looking like the blind white kid who just saved whole ass, his eyes focused on his partners. “Well … what’s next?” He moved slightly to the side so everyone could hail ass.

They didn't make a sound. The children of peace members who had quickly retreated to the nearest rooms remained silent as the grenades quickly slipped in. They didn't even scream when the explosion threw shrapnel through their bodies. They didn't make a sound even as the life bled out of them. They had lost their voices long ago, for a great fear gripped them. A fear of something far worse than the death or explosions. Unfortunately, this terror would soon show its face.

Once the grenades went off, all hell broke loose. Despite the fact that there were only three grenades, the entire complex seemed to be riddled by explosions. Trophies explodes through glass display cases, sending metal and glass ripping through the terrified tour group. A water fountain burst sending it's pieces with inexplicably force through bodies in the crowd. Pipes burst through walls, spraying water all through the hallways. The ceiling began to collapse. It all happened in mere seconds, pieces of metal tearing brutally through torsos until the entire tour group was left in bloody pieces. A sea spread out through the water of the now flooded hallway. Every door flew open to reveal similar fates for the children of peace members. There was no one left alive in the main hallway.

Sister watched the supposedly blind child run past her. She glared at him as he flew past, unsure if he would even be able to comprehend a facial expression as he flew past. She fought back a smile. This man thought to bring death and destruction upon her house, she would teach him the meanings of those words.

Herja was waiting at the open door when 16 arrived. His arrival coupled with the sounds of explosions and the screams of the tour guide, for she knew none of the subjugated children of peace would dare utter a sound so it must have been the visitors, would have caused her to greet the boy with a look of confusion if her face wasn't almost entirely covered in bandages. The people in the room began to panic, rushing the thin exit towards the blind boy. Herja's bandages shifted as she opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say a word she was suddenly lifted off the ground and hurled sideways through the air into the room she had just ushered the visitors into. Those trying to escape were thrown to the ground as Herja landed on top of them the door quickly slamming shut behind her, thick steel locking mechanisms securely fastening the door closed of their own accord. All of the vents in the room suddenly closed airtight, aside from one that began slowly sucking air out of the room. The crowd panicked, desperately trying to open the door though it was far too secure for human strength to budge. One man, a burly Italian, picked Herja up by the collar of her robes and pushed her against the wall demanding an explanation. Herja looked at him blankly as he banged her roughly against the wall as she spoke in a monotone. "There is little to explain. The air is being evacuated from this room, soon you will all die a relatively peaceful death by asphyxiation. It is a great mercy, compared to what will no doubt occur to everyone outside this door. You should be grateful." She said, putting emphasis on the last word. She then added, in a much quieter tone. "I am truly sorry."


Outside the room, footsteps echoed through the hall along with a question. "Why?" The voice range out. "Why have you done this child?" Sister walked slowly towards 16, a look of immense sadness on her face. The bottom of her robes were completely red from wading through the bloody water, and blood was splattered across her chest and dripping from her left sleeve. In her left hand she held the head of Jonathon, the tour guide, decapitated cleanly at the neck as if by guillotine. "Why have you brought so much death and violence to this place of peace?" She stopped in front of 16, head still in hand. "What evil lies inside you that you would take so many innocent lives. This blood...it is all on your hands." Her voice shook with well-acted sadness. "Please child, show me the darkness in you so that I may bring it to light. Let me heal you..." she said as she extended her free hand, dainty digits slowly reaching forward to touch the blind teenager's face.

Shauna observes 16 moving impulsively, and decided it was best. Shauna's suspicions were undone, and the situation devolved from an abduction to genocide- she observed the systematic horrors outside that were underway. This religious group resorted to lethal force, and she would answer in kind. But first, the people.

Not knowing how strong they built this place, Shauna uses her full power (abi 10 laser beams) to carve open a large opening in the chamber- including in her barrage one of the venting mechanisms. Three swift beams Made a triangular opening that would let the people breath more easily. Shauna's very eyes smoked and her skin began to fracture with energy, as her power had matured but only now fully harnessed.

"Hey robot girl." Shauna called her Herja over, and without waiting for her to speak she was blasting away with impunity at her lower torso, attempting to cut Herja in half. Robot or not Shauna would get to the bottom of things.

[Had a Major Absence! SORRY!]

The smoke encased the air as if water was escaping a light of captivation, chaos was indeed amiss and at this point the tables have not only been flipped, but turned and broken in half. Screams and panicking all throughout the large building in a very echoing harmony – Now for sixteen as he expected to get around with the situation he had a major problem … someone was standing in his way. His first female opponent, for the day at least although admitted he didn’t feel like having a head on fight like this but oh wait she’s talking. His left leg a few feet behind from his right, she began babbling on about how it was sixteen’s fault – Let’s get this straight he’s an assassin so it almost didn’t register to him to actually give a fuck. Taking one step back as she made a step closer, trying to close the distance between each other as sixteen tried his best to proceed with caution instead of making false movements.


The laser beams blasted through the walls throwing off not only what was going on physically but his mental process of tactical flow. Silence broke as his partner emerged from the room shooting a blast of laser beams from sixteen’s understanding straight at his enemy, such a dangerous move for an area like that. Jumping two meters backwards, then a swift ducking movement he dodged the beam encase it got past the body of the target. So basically she was in the middle of sixteen and Shauna, on some freaky shit. Let’s see how this goes.