Epocheia

[Sparrow]

The insect that dived at Vince turns and dives at him a second time.
A pair of insects circle Ericken before taking turns diving at him. One insect grabs the Orb, but the Orb uses its hidden blade to get free.
Suddenly a loud car horn is heard scattering the insects. A plated bus pulls up and the door swings open.
Sparrow leans out the door with a worried expression on her face,
“Get in if you want to live!” she calls over panicky.
The insects begin to dive from a high spot in a last attempt to attack.

[FoxTrott]

Vince and Ericken both got into fighting positions, though they were both unsure how to fight this new foe. Vince tried to side step the diving dragonfly, and it grazed his arm, tearing the sleeve of his jacket. Ericken glared up at the circling insects, daring them to come closer. When they did, he again hit the ground, but dived out of the way. He was dodging back and forth, his breathing inhibited by the respirator.

Vince ran towards the plated bus, ignoring Ericken screaming in fright behind him. Vince jumped in, and held out his hand to Ericken. He pulled him up and the two turned, panting, to Sparrow.

"... are we going or not?" asked Vince, catching his breath. It had been a long time since he had done something like that.

[Sparrow]

Sparrow watches as the insects dive at the open door. Then just before one gets in she slams in shut. Several loud thuds are heard as the Dragonflies crash into the door. She turns to them,
“Now we are, yes.” she says calmly, as if this was normal.
She walks past them and sits on a bench that is the length of the bus.
Steve looks over to them, he’s sitting at the wheel.
“So, how do you like Epocheia so far?” he asks in a even tone.
The Orb hovers around the bus.
“You may want to take a seat.” Sparrow says kindly, as the bus begins to slowly move.

[FoxTrott]

"At the moment, I'm thinking oh my god, I was just attacked by a bunch of dragonflys," Ericken replied. He plopped into a seat, and groaned. Vince sat down next to him, glancing at his torn jacket sleeve. It was his favorite jacket, too...

"I'm Vincent Veil," he offered to Sparrow politely, "and this is Ericken Chaze... You're interested in our abilities, correct?"

"I think the orb said she's just interested in us," Ericken said. He really wanted to take off the respirator, it was bugging him.

[Sparrow]

“Nice to meet you, my name is just Sparrow... Like Share.” she replies in a nod.
She looks to the Orb then back to them,
“I’m interested in your abilities, and who you are.” she says after a moment.
Tilting her head she looks to Ericken and smiles.
“That’s bugging you isn’t it?” she asks pointing at the respirator.
Steve glances back,
“Just don’t take it off.” he calls back.

[FoxTrott]

Ericken nodded, and glared down at the respirator. "So, what do you want us to do?" he asked. Vince fingered the tear in his sleeve once more. "Just go, 'Hi, my name is x, I can do such and such, I used to be a whatever'?"

"That made perfect sense," Vine mumbled. Ericken frowned.

[Sparrow]

“I already know what you did that made me interested in you two.” she replies.
“If you want to say all that stuff then that’s fine too.” she adds on.
She looks to Ericken again,
“I’m sorry about the respirator. I hate them too, that’s why I don’t use them. Then again I take medicine.”

[FoxTrott]

Ericken nodded, half listening, half not paying attention.

"Well, you should know that we're not about to betray Fox, or Forli, in any way," Vince responded, "I'm dedicated to my country, even if--"

"--it was recently nuked to hell," Ericken finished, scowling. Vince sighed.

[Sparrow]

“Yes, I’ve heard about that... I’m sorry.” she replies in a sad tone.
She looks into Vince’s eyes to gain his attention,
“I’d never ask anyone to betray their country or friends.” she says in a serious but kind tone.
“Also I’m sorry about your jacket, we’ll get you a new one.” she adds on.
Steve calls back,
“We’re almost to the town.”

[FoxTrott]

"Can we get there any sooner?" Ericken complained back. Vince nudged him sharply in the ribs. At least he had recovered from his brief moment of pissed off-ness.

"It's all right," Vince said, looking at Sparrow, "It's more of sentimental value than anything..."

"Didn't your dad give it to you?" Ericken asked, cocking his head.

"No, he gave me the rosary..." Vince pulled the long rosary out of his shirt, where it had been tucked in for safe keeping. He let it hang from his hand, showing Ericken the cross, before stuffing it back down. "... anyway. Thank you for saving us back there, Sparrow."

[Sparrow]

Sparrow nods,
“No problem, what am I just gona let the two head guards get killed by Dragonflies?” she asks in a happy tone.
Steve calls back,
“I can hit turbo if you want.”

[FoxTrott]

"Head guards?" Ericken asked, his interest suddenly piqued.

"No!" Vince exclaimed, looking at the driver, "Er, please, no... The boat ride over gave me enough of a scare..."

[Sparrow]

“Oh that’s right, the torrent?” Steve says amused.
He glances back then looks to the road again.
Sparrow nods happily,
“Yes, head guards.”
She looks to the back of the bus to see what the Orb is doing, then looks back to Ericken.
“After viewing the footage, I came to the conclusion that you two would fit the position well.” she says calmly.
Suddenly Steve hits the breaks causing the bus to come to a jarring stop.
Sparrow looks back to him,
“Are we there already?” she asks surprised.
Steve’s only reply is a quick shake of his head.
Sparrow is silent as she slowly stands and walks to the front of the bus.
Someone, apparently a business man, was unsteadily standing in the middle of the path, he doesn’t look up to the bus and just hangs his head looking at the ground.

[FoxTrott]

Ericken lit up. He imagined himself and Vince, side by side, protecting the innocent of Epocheia. What a grand change from throwing snowballs at each other in Talesworth. "Sweet," with a pleased smile was all he could say.

At the sudden stop, Vince stood up, and walked to Steve. He laid a hand on the driver's seat to steady himself in case the bus started suddenly, and peered out the front window. "What in the world is he doing?" he asked.

[Sparrow]

Steve looks to Sparrow then back to the man.
“What do you think, is he one of them?” he asks lowly.
Sparrow leans to the glass to get a better look.
“Its hard to tell but I don’t see what other reason he’d be out here.” she says in a hushed tone.
Thunder is heard, sounding as if a storm was not far off.
Sparrow looks to Vince then back to Ericken.
Steve watches the man cautiously,
“S-should I floor it?” he asks after a second.
Sparrow shakes her head,
“No, he may not be fully turned. Maybe he’s just confused.” she says.
She looks out at the man,
“Honk the horn.” she says after a second.
Steve gives her a frightened look,
“W-what, but if he’s”
She cuts him off.
“How else will we know, we can’t just go out there.”
Steve looks back out, then after hesitation honks the horn.
The man immediately darts a manic raged glare up at them, then charges at the bus. He jumps up and hits the window, had it not been bullet proof it would have broke, then pulls himself up onto the roof.
“It’s on the roof.” Steve says panicked.
The sound of walking can be heard as the man sprints along the roof.