Adore

	The fog grew thicker as the sun rose past her, rolling in around her, she
wondered if it would help her hide. Violet eyes looked past the fog, it could
be useful. The machine was running smoothly, oiled and perfect. Even the death
of her bondmate had caused no disruption. Her eyes jerked around, looking, studying,
watching, perfect machines, industrial beauty.
	She stretched gracefully, raven hair falling in a mass over her dark face. It
hid her better than the fog, better than anything she could think of. Shadows
were the best hiding places, and her hair was a shadow, where better to hide?
She shook it away from her, irritated, and walked outside of her stark
chambers, only a few people bustled around her. She wondered where the rest
have gone. It mattered not, it made things easier for her, better that no one
questioned her. 

     She stalked slowly down the hallways, her tight black pants shuffling against
each other. A few people stared at her, but they were so sparse she decided
not to kill them, as much as she wanted. Her lilac eyes watched the
fluctuations of the Imperial, so fluid in its chaos. So smooth and
flowing....The fog rolled endlessly, and she wondered if the others were
hiding behind it, if they had found a usefulness that she had not. Greyness
enveloped her, but she saw past all the haziness. 
	She walked outside, and was dismayed to find, the fog was still there. Coiling
around her, blurring her vision, she frowned distastefully. It was everywhere,
maybe it was the building? Surely they wouldnt mind getting rid of the fog, it
was too binding. She glanced up at the building, a towering mass above her,
with old architecture that reminded her of an era, but she couldnt think of
what era. Her eyes blinked slowly, wishing the fog would go...Even if it was
easy to hide in, it was irritating her. She embraced saidar, feeling the sweet
rush of life and the rose opening in her head. Black thorns pricking a finger,
with ruby drops welling up at the wound. She inhaled deeply, smelling car
fumes and grass, and smog, but for some reason it didnt make her sick, it was
refreshing. 
	She channeled fire and earth, mixing and twining the two, and directed it
towards the building. It exploded with a sound that was deafening to her, and
she winced and shielded herself from the bits of cement and rock that flew at
her. Surely they wouldnt mind....destruction of the place that housed the
girl, it couldnt be too bad. She wanted to destroy the building more, crush it
into rubble..It was too pretty to continue on with its existance. She
grimaced, and let go of the Source. The smoke from the fire blew into her
eyes, and she blinked rapidly. Crystalline tears flowed down her smooth dark
skin, and she walked away slowly. It was done. It has ended, and she will end
soon afterwards.

Mirria

	Mirria was annoyed.  The girl had seemed normal enough until she heard 
that people were going to the Waste to shut down a processing plant.  Then 
Apherel, or whatever she was calling herself, went off on how everyone in the 
building was a tree-hugging ecofreak and stormed out.  That was just too wierd, 
I mean really too weird why on earth would she react like that when she should 
have heard everything else...
	Mirria wandered through the halls of the Imperial.    They felt empty.  
It was silly to think that, with most of the regular students still there, but 
things were missing.  There was almost always the feel of people channeling in 
the building, but all of those classes were cancelled.  Most of the faces Mirria
passed in the hall were only vaguely familiar.  she wandered randomly hoping
to find something to do.  The one class she was supposed to have was cancelled
and she had already done any  homework she needed to do.  Maybe I could
finally work on her masterwork...  But she kept wandering around the halls.

Jher'nan

	Jher'nan arrived at the old Hotel a second time, out of breath and as 
about as hysterical as any Warder ever got. "Help me!!!" he cried as soon as he 
entered the foyer "Help!!!!!!!"
	The halls were empty, for the most part, of people, but a few duffle 
bags and suitcases were scattered about. What was going on? He had a sickening, 
sinking feeling in his gut that something was not right here. "HELP!!!" he 
shouted again, his loud voice reverberating off the walls. He hoped he was right 
about this place. He hoped there was someone here who could make a Gateway.

Krystal


    Krystal grinned as the last of the group finally disappeared through the Gate
in the middle of the courtyard.  Only one group left, she thought just as she
heard the engine roar of the last group departing.  
    "Finally!" she sighed, leaning back against the Imperial's doors.  Briskly, she
strolled into the lobby and headed for the phones.
    "What is it?" the voice asked harshly on the other side.
    "They're gone," she answered simply.
    The silence stretched for a full minute before he answered.  "All of them?" he 
asked, his voice much lighter.
    She shook her head, then berated herself for the stupidity.  "No," she replied. 
    "But almost all of the Ayende have left."
    "How many are still there?" he asked.
    "Well, there's at least two--uh... Rynna and a Healer... um... Dinnaea--"
    "I don't care WHO is there, Krystal!  Tell me HOW MANY there are!"  
    His voice sent the tiny hairs on the back of her neck standing on end.  "Three!" 
she said, hoping she was right.  She'd never seen the Cuebiyar join any of the groups. 
    "I think the 'Cuebiyar' is still here... and quite a few of the students."
    "Very good," he said.
    Krystal was relieved to hear the pleasure in his voice.
    "It's time then.  Get your stuff packed up.  You don't want to be caught in the 
middle of this."
    Krystal nodded.  "What's my motive she asked?"
    "I don't care!" he hissed,"Tell them it's a family emergency.  Better yet, just 
avoid everyone and let them think you've gone off with one of the bloody groups."
    "Yes, sir," she agreed and hung up the phone.
    It didn't take long for her to throw her things into a few duffle bags.  Light!  
I forgot my keys! she thought as she headed for the lobby doors.  She dropped her 
bags where they were and sprinted for the stairs.
    "Stupid thing to forget," she muttered as she scooped them off the dresser.  "Not 
like I would've gotten far without them.  She headed back down the stairs.
    The sound of someone bursting through the front doors startled her.  She hastened 
her steps as the yelling began.
    "HELP ME!!!" a man's voice cried in the lobby.  "HELP!!!"
    Krystal pursed her lips, wondering if she should go on.
    "HELP!!!!!"  A man turned the corner just ahead of her.  His eyes locked on her, a 
tiny spark of hope glimmering at the sight of another human being.  He rushed forward, 
grabbing her by the shoulders.  "You've got to help me!" he gasped, "My daughter's been 
kidnapped by a Channeling Darkfriend and carried off into the Blight!!!!!"
    Krystal blinked, her eyes wide.  This man was obviously crazy.  "I... I'm just a 
student!" she stammered.  "What am I supposed to do about it?"
    Something in his eyes faltered, fear looming up where the hope.  "But... but I 
thought... I..."
    A crack resounded throughout the corridor and the man crumpled to the ground to 
reveal Tae standing behind him, dagger still raised.
    "I thought I told you to get out of here!" he scowled.

Tae

    As he hung up on Krystal Tae's smile widened.  Finally, he could move!  He hit 
Bryan's number on the phone.
    "Move your men, now," he commanded.  "The Imperial is ours.  Secure the hotel on 
all perimeters.  If anyone gets in the way knock 'em out.  I want as many hostages as 
possible." 
    He hung up the phone with a smile.  He couldn't wait to see the expression on his 
daughter's face when she realized her precious Purple Tower no longer had a home to go 
back to. Yes, he thought with a smile, All is good in the world today...  He 
turned to consider     his little prisoner only to hear the loud anguished groan of 
defeat as she realized what she'd broken into was nothing more than an oversized store 
room.  Yes, all is good.... time to look at my new... acquisition...  He tied 
off the weave of Air and hurried up the stairs.  He wanted to be the first to step foot 
in the Imperial.  And the first to catch an Ayende.  
    What sport it is...
    As he twisted free the door to the alley passage way, he caught the sound of 
running footsteps.  "What the Light?"  Tae hurried his steps toward the front of the 
alley.  By the time he reached the front of the Imperial no one was there.  
    After a minute, a group of six men and two women detached themselves from in front 
of the bar--the Beggar's Cup--and headed toward him.  Tae directed them to fan out 
around the Imperial and chosing two of the men and both women to accompany him inside.
    As they approached the main doors, Tae heard the yell.  
    "HELP!!!!"
    Tae cursed.  If he could hear the cry from outside, what idiot in the Tower hadn't?  
As they entered the front doors, Tae motioned the others to spread out around the lobby.  
"Be ready for trouble," he barked, catching sight of a black clad figure disappearing 
around a corner.
    Tae followed the man, turning the same corner to find him accosting someone.
    "I... I'm just a student!" the girl stammered.  "What am I supposed to do about?"
    Tae's lip curled in a snarl as he recognized Krystal's voice.  In one swift motion, 
Tae unsheathed his knife and knocked the man on the back of the head with the pommel.  
    The man never knew what hit him let alone finished his sentence.
    "I thought I told you to get out of here!" he scowled at a most astonished Krystal.
    She didn't back down though.  "How was I supposed to guess that a random madman 
would burst into the place?" she glared right back.  "Let me by, my things are right 
there!" she pointed at the duffle bags littering the lobby behind him.
    "Too late for that," he growled, "back up the stairs, you're going to make yourself 
useful.  Find out where the girls are."
    Grumbling to herself she ran back upstairs.  A minute a voice drifted down the 
stairwell,  "What's the trouble? I heard yelling!"  A tall woman with long black hair 
and blue eyes followed it.
    From behind him, Tae heard one of the women give a gasp and then a flicker of blue-
white lightening arched overhead and hit the newly arrived Ayende.
    Tae shook his head, frowning.  "A little harsh aren't you, Kira?" he turned to the 
woman with long white-blonde hair.
    "She was a channeler, sir," she replied, with a nod of her head.
    "So I surmised."  Tae knelt to feel for a pulse in the woman's neck.  "Still alive.  
Very good, Kira.  Tie her up and shield her.  I'm sure we'll find a nice cell for them 
somewhere."
    The woman nodded and moved to do as bid.
    Suddenly a great crash rocked the building.  "What the--"  Tae ran out side, 
motioning for the second woman to join him.
    A sole woman stood out in the streets, a strange smile on her face.  Tae stare.  
Such a strange woman.  Her skin was dark, befitting raven hair, but such eyes were eery.  
He started, realizing her lilac eyes focused on the Imperial behind him.  Turning back 
to the Imperial, Tae saw the smoking rubble that remain of one of the first floor rooms.
    "Lady," he smiled, sweeping her abow.  "Please, you're name?"
    "I am Adore," she stated, unblinking, uncaring of his people who moved to surround her.
    "And I am charmed," he replied...

(Rynna)

	Rynna had set off in search of Dinnae and although she'd met the woman 
before, doubts clouded her mind as to whether she'd be able to find her, or 
recognize her, for that matter!  Cut it out, stoop.  You'll find her.  Take 
a deep breath and keep looking, she can't have gone far... DUH,... look in the 
infirmary!
	She crossed the upstairs hall headed back down, when she heard the 
yelling.  She couldn't make out what was being said or who was saying it, even.  
But she'd learned quickly here that if she didn't want to pass out, she'd have 
to stand still and regain her breath.  Now was NOT the time to start fainting
again.  It sounded like someone needed help.  Get over it Rynnie, get down
there. People need you.  She started toward the stairs, hearing some
snippets of conversation.   "back up the stairs, ~~something something~~ make
yourself useful.  Find out where the girls are."  Fear took hold as Rynna's
eyes went wide.  She kicked off her loud clunky boots and took off down the
hall to the back stair, running silently up them, her chest heaving, her eyes
running with tears.  Why am I alone up here??  She realized a little late
that she'd run into a dorm area.  Not good, not good,..... I couldn't have
run myself into a weapon room, or a vault,.. well, not a vault cause then I'd
run out of air, but someplace safe... what am I thinking, there is no place
safe here, there never is.  People sword fighting out back, people channelling
every which way, the world coming to an end, when was life gonna be normal,
ever.  OH NO!!!!  It was then that Rynna realized that she had kicked her
shoes off and left them in the hallway.  Nice to leave them a clue Rynnie,
that fairly screams here I am, come follow the scent of my sweaty feet!  She
closed herself inside a dorm room, one she didn't recognize, crawled into the
closet, closing the door behind her, closed her eyes and wept.

Mirria

     The crash, almost an explosion, shook the entire building.  The
paintbrush in Mirria's hand wandered erratically across the wall instead of in
the straight line that she had intended.  What in Ghul was that?!?!  Is the
Imperial under attack?  Mirria looked over at Joylyn.  The studè looked very
surprized and a little frightened.  Mirria smiled in a way that she hoped was
reassuring, "Don't worry.  I'm sure the Ayende Vera will take care of...."
Her eyes widened as she realized that most of them were gone.   This is not
the time to panic...  "It's probably from a gas leak in a lab room, but we
might need to help put out a fire, or something.  Just a sec, before we go
check it out."  
    Mirria closed her eyes for a moment to think.  This was a newer weave for
her.  Carefully, she channeled at Joylyn and then herself, making sure that
she got each strand just so.  She could see the inverted weave around the
other girl, but she could not sense any channeling ability now and the weave
on herself was identical.  Joylyn looked at her in surprise.  "You did
something, but i can't sense your ability to channel any more."
    Mirria nodded and started walking, "That was the point.  The White tower
doesn't like us, and well, they're looking for me.  If there is fighting we might
be able to get away.  They might think that we're normal students now.  Try
not to channel, unless you can invert weaves, and then try not to channel
anyway."  when she finished talking she broke into a run.
	The halls down stairs were packed with running people.  Some of them were
running to the area, but most were running away.  Mirria lost track of Joylyn
in the mess but she was more concerned with getting to the accident.  She
didn't smell smoke, but there might still be some injured people there.  *I
better check anyway.  I hope Joylyn doesn't get hurt in the panic.*  There was
the feel of channeling in the air and Mirria hoped it was nothing more than to
put out a fire and heal some injuries.  She started to go through the lobby
to the other wing, but skidded to a halt when she saw what was going on.

Adore

	Now this is interesting.... Pale violet eyes sized up the man before 
her, and she wondered what all the rest of those people were doing. She wondered
briefly what was going on, but didnt really find it that interesting. 
	"Charmed.....what a quaint introduction. Now if you can excuse me, I do have
other things to do." She looked at him, calmly, and wondered what he would do
to stop her. There seemed to be something about him that would stop her, and
she wondered what she would have to do to continue on.
	The machine was disrupted, and Adore frowned at the thought. This man was of
no use to her, but she waited silently before doing something rash. The nobles
wouldnt be happy if she killed someone unecessarily, she was sure they wouldn't
be too happy to find you she destroyed a building. The fog rolled in thicker,
almost so thick she couldnt see the man in front of her, his features were
hazy. 'Fuck the machine' she thought, embracing the source. She held it, the
particles of mist clearer, but nothing else. She blinked the dark lashes
twining, she could feel each one locking into place, then splitting apart. She
wasn't going to kill the man, she wasnt. 
	"Who are you?" Maybe she would kill him, if he was of no importance. They
couldn't mind that too much. If he was of no importance. 
	She waited. 

Tae

    "Charmed.....what a quaint introduction. Now if you can excuse me, I do
have other things to do."  The dark skinned girl stared at Tae expectantly
when he remained, blocking her escape.
    Tae watched the girl, speculatively as her pale eyes grew far away in
thought before she snapped her attention back to him.
    "Who are you?" she demanded, eyes flashing dangerously, her voice
emotionless.
    His people--men and women channelers, all--moved tightened their circle
around her.  A tiny smile stretched the corner of his lips.  "That is none of your 
concern, my dear."
    "Remove yourself from my path."  The woman's voice was cold.  Her eyes flickered 
to the men and women surrounding her.  Tae remained where he was, interest peaked.  
What does this girl think she can do? he wondered. Adore stared at him, irritation 
playing lightly accross her face.  "Move your people, I must complete my orders."
    "And what," he asked, "are your orders, dark lady?"  To his utter amazement, she 
answered.  "I was to terminate the life of the traitor from Baerlon and then remove 
myself... and never return..."
    "Ah..." Tae's grin widened.  "And you  have killed the traitor?"  He lifted a brow 
in question.
    "The traitor has been delivered," she replied, her gaze traveling to the reckage 
behind him.  For a moment he pleasure ignite in her eyes.
    "And you have removed yourself from it and may never return to your home."
    Her eyes flickered back to his.  "Correct."
    "The destruction of this building is your work."
    She nodded but the statement was not a question.
    "And the destruction of these people..."  Tae paused.
    Adore's pale violet eyes gleamed with interest.  "Will be ours." she finished for 
him.

Adore

	She tired of this idleness, she felt ready to spring, like a coiled wire. 
The man seemed interesting enough, but she had things to accomlish that he could
not prevent. She watched, and wondered how to go about this. 
	Saidar pulsed through her, she felt like she was in love, like she was death,
like she was an angel. It was so sweet, it made her think of beautiful
destruction, beautiful chaos. Images swam through her head, thoughts of fire
exploding. She would die, of course, but it was part of her mission to begin
with. And if this man would not let her through, why not kill him and all the
others with herself? The nobles would not be too happy, and she almost cringed
at that thought, but she would be dead before they could do anything about it.
'I've never failed at a mission before. Why now?' Confusion almost swam
through the honey coated feeling of saidar, but it was pushed down. 
	The machine was rattling along, smoke and ash erupting out of it along with
the fog. She could taste it as it spewed, but it was not as bad as she
thought. 
	Something caught her attention. "Why do you care about the destruction of the
Purple Tower?" she asked flatly, her voice seemed so much louder, so much
prettier  when she heard it through saidar. 

Tae

    Tae smiled with approval as the dark girl volunteered her services.  Another
assassin was always good to have on hand.  "Very good, then.  Follow me."  He turned 
on his heel and headed toward the Imperial.  "Secure the perimeter!" he bellowed to 
his men as they headed for the front doors.  "Don't let anyone leave the area!"
    Inside people ran around like chickens with their heads cut off.  "What is the 
meaning of this?"  Tae's shout carried throughout the entire lobby.  Tae's browns drew 
down in a low vee across his forhead as he watched two young girls running toward the 
blast site.
    "Capture them!" he shouted, pointing to the two girls.  They didn't seem to notice, 
preoccupied with getting to the broken rubble.  Three men and two women ran to do as 
bid.  Tae snarled as one of the women winced away, her hand burned by Fire when she'd 
reached to grab an arm.  "Shield them, fools!"
    The girls gasped as they suddenly found themselves without the Source to protect 
them.  They backed away from the approaching men until they were huddled back to back.  
Two men grabbed them roughly, ripping them away from each other.
    "Tie them up and comb the rest of the place," he snarled.  "Find a room to put them 
all and SHIELD it from both saidar and saidin!"  He fought to hold in his 
temper.  He'd have to prepare the room himself.  He didn't trust those idiots to do so.  
The girls would be taken underground later.

Joylyn

	Joylyn watched as Mirria inverted the weaves... seeing how she masked each
girls ability to channel. Joy smiled, at least she was learning something
now.  Mirria told Joy not to channel unless she had to.. 
	Joy ran down the stairway..noticing that most of the people around were
running away from where Mirria was going. Joy pulled in all of her that was
Shienarian and followed into the unknown battle. 
	Joylyn lost Mirria for a moment or two, and stayed a way behind her once she
found her. It was best that she let Mirria go first, since she wasn't very
experienced with the Power..
	Mirria skidded to a halt, and Joy caught up..stopping as she saw what was
goign on.

 	As Joylyn skidded to a halt, she heard someone shout "CAPTURE THEM!" Five
people ran towards them, with sneers on their faces. Forgetting about not
channeling, Joy sent out a small weave of Fire. She was soon shielded. She was
unsure if her friend had blown her cover or not..
	Back to back with the other girl, a man grabbed her roughly..cursing under
her breath Joylyn vowed to see him dead as she was lead off.

Mirria

     Mirria quickly reoriented herself as she saw the mess and adjusted her
direction.  She was dimly aware that Joylyn had caught up with her again.  Oh
shit!!!  lots of strangers who can channel and they don't look friendly...
OK, ignore them maybe they won't realize we can channel.  Oh light!  please
let Joylyn remember not to channel  Mirria headed for the rubble anyway.
Maybe if I ignore thier channeling abilities they would give us a chance to
escape.
	Mirria could hear one of the men yell "Capture them!" and she prayed that he
was pointing somewhere else.  Just in case, she used her off-side hand to drop
her Nila necklace down into her shirt.
	She felt channeling from very close behind her, fire she thought, and heard
Mr. Head Bad Guy yell  "Shield them, fools!"  Blood and bloody ashes!  That
was Joylyn!  With a flick of inverted spirit she shredded the shield on the
studè.  She didn't feel anyone sheild her, but as she turned to see her
attackers, she gasped in surprize anyway.  Those men are scary looking.  The
calm corner of her mind was producing an impressive set of insults, but the
rest of her body simply reacted and, as she backed into Joylyn, she was doing
her best to claw off the face of the man holding her arm.  
	She didn't get to fight very long though, and just as somone's fist connected
with the side of her head she heard Mr. Head Bad Guy again "Tie them up and
comb the rest of the place," he snarled.  "Find a room to put them all and
SHIELD it from both saidar and saidin!"  oh f....