Shut up, Ismael said, his eyes scanning the surroundings rather than looking at the man he was speaking to, this does not concern you.

Or, a voice suddenly said from somewhere in the room, it does, since he's here too. Pompous fucking Mala-

At that point, Ismael opened fire. The bullets fired hit something which looked like thin air, but deflected as soon as they hit whatever it really was. A moment later, Ismael recieved a powerful blow to the head.

Thats! Not! Very! Nice! The voice said and hit Ismael at every word for emphasis. Finally, who- or whatever it was delivered a kick hard enough to send Ismael flying into the bar which erupted in an explosion of alcohol, shattered glass and fragments of wood.

As I said, the voice continued, now from a different possition in the room, pompous fucking Malach. Who do you think you are anyway? Now, before any of you decides to play tough guy like silly little Ismael here just did, I would like to state my business. I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to speak with Schneider. So, with that said, could somebody go and fetch him for me please?

_________________

*tung* The music stops awkwardly.

"Whom shall we say is asking?" Chan speaks loudly, using his gruff, alpha-male voice. "Are you an assassin or a guest? Where are your manners?!"

A trio of waiters aren't waiting for introductions, they rush into the back room to summon Schneider, delayed only by a three-stooges-moment in the doorway.

Chan idly plucks a few strings as he waits, seemingly willing to wait forever, but inwardly he is poised for any action.

Alex was truly surprised, how easy it was for the intruder to defeat a Malach like Ismael. It was also very disturbing to see how those bullets were deflected like they were nothing. Damn. This is going to be more difficult than she first thought.

"Think, Alex, think! There's got to be a good way to solve this!" Alex mumbled to herself while she tried to pinpoint the exact location of the whereabouts of the intruder. Perhaps...

"Whom shall we say is asking? Are you an assassin or a guest? Where are your manners?!" The Chinaman said with a loud voice.

"What if I keep him talking, so that it would be more easy for me and the others to locate his whereabouts. I hope that the others gets it, and do this as well."

"Yes, do tell us what your name is. And how did you knew that he is Ismael? Or do you know almost everyone here?"

"Perhaps you really should ask your "companions" if I know them. For I know some of you. Yes, I know them well.

Now your second question intrigued me deeply. My beautiful Latina, you really don't know who I am? Nevertheless, you will know and learn to fear me. What's taken Schneider so long to be here. (OOC: I hope this is okay, because I was not that sure how to portrait Shaw. /OOC)

Edit: Fixed grammar, etc.

_________________
Ash: [talking to mirror] I'm fine... I'm fine...
[Mirror Ash jumps out of the mirror and grabs Ash]
Mirror Ash: I don't think so. We just cut up our girlfriend with a chainsaw. Does that sound "fine"?

Friedrich entered the room, his face as if cut from stone.

Ah! The great Friedrich Schneider! I finally get to mee-

Enough, Friedrich said and waved his hand in the direction of the voice. A man appeared where there had previously been nothing. The man looked like a bum; his clothes were torn and dirty, as was his hair. He carried a backpack of some sort, filled to the point of bursting with what looked like sheets of paper and small trinkets.

What do you want?

Friedrich! This is Shaw you're dealing with! Ismael interrupted, back on his feet, He can't be here! We must kill him!

No. I have no quarrel with him, and you attacked him first. You broke the rules, Ismael. I will deal with you later. Now, what did you wan-

This is unacceptable! Ismael said and started moving towards the two men with purpose in his eyes.

I said, Friedrich roared, I will deal with you later! Now sit down!

One of the chairs in the establishment flew through the air to catch Ismael as he was sent back from Friedrich in a powerful surge of magic. He landed in the chair perfectly and seemed to freeze on the spot, as if paralyzed.

You don't have to ask me again, Schneider, Shaw said and nodded to Ismael, Nice work with the Malach, by the way. Now, what I want is this: the password to you-know-where. Give it to me and there won't be any trouble.

The owner of Der Hafen said nothing for a while, his face locked in a thoughtful frown.

No, he finally said, No, you can't have it.

Oh boy, Shaw said and sighed, Have it your way then.

Everybody out, now.

_________________

Everybody out, now.

Eep! Chan rises and heads for the door with a surprising turn of speed and economy of movement. As he passes Alexandra he takes her gently but firmly by the arm and leads her away with him.

"I'll explain outside," he says to her. "Quickly now, please."

In the dark alley outside he turns to her and speaks rapidly.

"There's little time, you must listen: Inside that room are the two greatest magicians of our age, and they are about to fight. We would be safer with the curfew patrol and the bombs."

"Remember: Never attack a position of strength, instead seek out the weaknesses, like water flowing around a rock." *tung*

He eyes the doorway warily and moves to the opposite side of the lane.
Where is the undead warrior? He thinks. We need him.
In a fight among mages, the undead change the rules considerably.
If I could only get hold of Shaw's backpack! What secrets it might contain!

Adams figured it was about time to leave, though he would have enjoyed watching the fireworks he did not wish to piss off Schneider and have a future visit to the club greeted by 6 Negroes with meat cleavers waiting to hack his ancient corpse into pieces and disperse them across the continent. Again.

Still, it would be nice to know a little more about the combatants that were about to ruin the sharpshooter's favourite club in Berlin - that small asian gentleman seemed reasonably well collected and had just left the building in the company of that rather naive looking latino girl. Simple enough.

With that, the American casually crossed the way, rifle-over-shoulder, and approached the rather unusual couple.
I still haven't been told what the fuck is going on, said Adams as he shrugged his shoulder ever so slightly.

Chan laughs at the American zombie's bad manners. He has to treat it like a joke, because he doesn't know how else to deal with it.

"Kind sir," he bows, deeply. "I'm afraid we've chosen a bad night to relax at Der Hafen. I don't know why this is happening but, well... Would you be interested in some protection work? I can offer you..." He counts out several crisp notes from his wallet, "800 Reichmarks now, and a further 2000 if you can see us safely to my lodgings tonight...?" He smiles expectantly.

"Oh," he adds, as though it's an afterthought. "And you can name your price if you can get me anything from that tramp's backpack."

[OOC - By all means feel free to force me into the action, guys. Although I want to dive right in, it would be out of character to do so.]

Adams flashes a toothy towards the small patrician in front of him.

Quite a princely some for a couple hours work he said in an almost questioning tone.
We have a deal then. And I'm ready for that 800 whenever you're ready to hand it over. added Adams, this time somewhat demeaning.
But as for the backpack, I'm sorry friend but I'm not going to risk an incident with Schneider unless you want to go in first and smooth things over He flashes yet another grin at the gentleman.

Oh, and who are you anyway?

"Ah, yes! My name is Doctor Chan, at your disposal." He bows and hands over more than 800. This is obviously a ridiculously high amount, but Chan does not acknowledge Adams' query.

He waits for Alexandra and Adams to introduce themselves.

"Well, perhaps we should just wait over here for a moment, I'm sure this unpleasantness will turn out to be nothing."

He moves further down the lane, just in case the door is blown off its hinges, and under the cover of a nearby doorway, in case of falling schrapnel.

Edited: To a colour no-one else is using.

Outside of the club, Alex noticed that the atmosphere there was not even better. It was still bloody cold, dreary and gloomy out here. Well. At least the rain has stopped...for now. Thank God, that she wore warmer clothes now.

"There's little time, you must listen: Inside that room are the two greatest magicians of our age, and they are about to fight. We would be safer with the curfew patrol and the bombs."

"Remember: Never attack a position of strength, instead seek out the weaknesses, like water flowing around a rock." *tung*

“Yes, I have noticed that he is powerful. Shaw. Now that you mention it, his name rings suddenly some bell, because I think my grandfather told me once about him when I was young. I cannot remember a lot of it, but I do know for sure that it has something to do with Hell. “

She saw that the Chinaman walked to the opposite side of the lane.

“In addition, have not you noticed that Ismael definitely knows this Shaw, and by the looks of your table partner he knows him as well. That means that they know more of this.“

I still haven't been told what the fuck is going on. the undead said as he approached them.

The Chinaman began to laugh and responded patiently.

"Kind sir, I'm afraid we've chosen a bad night to relax at Der Hafen. I don't know why this is happening but, well... Would you be interested in some protection work? I can offer you 800 Reichmarks now, and a further 2000 if you can see us safely to my lodgings tonight...?" He asked the undead while counting his money.

“Strange, why is he suddenly out of the blue offering this undead a bodyguard job, while we both are seasoned wizards? I know that we are not standing a chance against Shaw, but we both know how to deal with those German or Russian soldiers.“

"Oh, And you can name your price if you can get me anything from that tramp's backpack. “

“Ah. That’s very interesting. Perhaps I should keep my eyes on him.”

Quite a princely some for a couple hours work. We have a deal then. And I'm ready for that 800 whenever you're ready to hand it over. But as for the backpack, I'm sorry friend but I'm not going to risk an incident with Schneider unless you want to go in first and smooth things over. Oh, and who are you anyway? “

"Ah, yes! My name is Doctor Chan, at your disposal." and handed over the money.

"My name is Alexandra, or Alex if you want to do that. "

"Well, perhaps we should just wait over here for a moment, I'm sure this unpleasantness will turn out to be nothing." Chan said as he moves out of the way of the door.

Alex followed him, because she got the feeling that something is about to happen.

"Doctor Chan. I don't think that the Schneider-Shaw situation is over.

Edit: Fixed grammar, etc.

_________________
Ash: [talking to mirror] I'm fine... I'm fine...
[Mirror Ash jumps out of the mirror and grabs Ash]
Mirror Ash: I don't think so. We just cut up our girlfriend with a chainsaw. Does that sound "fine"?

Ismael watched from where he sat, paralyzed, and knew that it wasall over before it had even begun. Schneider was the greatest magician of his time. Nobody could take that from him. But Shaw was perhaps the greatest magician of all time. The owner of Der Hafen didn't stand a chance.

A blinding white light shone out from the windows and the door of the club, accompanied by roaring thunder. Ismael was blinded but could hear Shaw moving around. He could feel how the spell that constrained him had started to fade, but he was still as rigid as a a corpse, so moving was next to impossible. He tried to get up from the chair but only managed to trip on himself and fall to the floor. He heard Shaw mutter muffled curses from what he assumed was Friedrichs private quarters, and then heard footsteps coming in his direction. All he could do was to try to worm his way away from the incoming doom, but it was hopeless. He stopped and tied to relax; if he was going to die, he would die with dignity. The Malach opened his eyes and met Shaws, which were no farther away from him than an arms reach. Shaw seemed to be inspecting him.

Take it easy, Ismael, he said and smiled. It is not your time yet. You will live to die another day, my old friend. Goodbye.

And with that, the man that should have been dead for three hundred years went invisible and left. smael couldn't tell how he got out of there; there was no sound except for the Malachs own breathing in the room. Soon after, when the spell had worn off, he got to his feet and walked over to Friedrichs remains. His clothes lay untouched on the ground. The cane had rolled away from them, but only a short distance. Ismael picked it up and looked at it. Then he heard someone enter through the front door, and turned to face whoever it was.

_________________

Asazel waited outside for the fight to be over. When he saw Shaw leave, he knew that Friedrich had fallen. Someone entered Der Hafen shortly after Shaw left, but Asazel chose to occupy his time with Alex and Dr. Chan. He knew where to find them, and knew that Ismael would be counted on to keep Alex safe until the time was right for the agreement to be finalized.
At least, I thought I knew where to find them...
An undead had exchanged bills with Chan, another deal gone down.
Perhaps if I was to make such a deal, I could ensure the safety of the many...but if I cannot shield one from harm, What good is my promise to rejuvenate this world?

_________________

There could only be one possible outcome to this confrontation. Schneider was inestimably powerful, but Shaw was impossibly powerful. Chan wanted that power.

After the blinding light and the deafening thunder had passed, Chan grins in relief, like a monkey. It could have been worse - much worse. Formality is put aside after earthquakes and other natural disasters; everyone had instantly become familiar.

"Wow, that was close, wasn't it?" He looks around at everyone. "Let's not hesitate... Alex, do you know how to Borrow? Good, find us a fat sewer rat, they have the best noses, they can track this murderer, invisible or not."

"Asazel, sir, can you check the realms for us? With Shaw, nothing is known, he may even be on the 9th."

"Adams, would you just peek inside for me please?" He guestures to the door of Der Hafen.

Once the undead has opened the door, Chan walks inside cautiously. He looks at Ismael with a question in his eyes, and the Fallen answers it with a glance.
*Where did he go?*
*He just vanished.*

Chan thinks for a moment, then decides: He must use sorcery.

Focussing his Jing into pure Chi he does two things: Firstly, he heightens his sense of magic to the point where he can see where Shaw may have teleported from inside Der Hafen. Secondly, he focusses on that area to determine where Shaw might have teleported to.

The sewer rat that has been 'borrowed' by Alex scurried carefully through trash, and rotting bodies of those who were killed by the bombings or through the Germans and Russian soldiers. Some moments later, she suddenly picked up a familiar smell. Shaw! She (well, technically the rat.) followed the trail bringing her into another part of Berlin. The trail of his smell stopped here. Looking around Alex noticed a high quanity of SS officers and an offical looking building where highly armed guards stood guard. Crap. He must be somewhere in this area, because she lost the trail. Crap.

After coming to the conclusion that she really lost the trail Alex came to herself again.

"He is or was in another part of Berlin. In that area are a lot of SS officers and highly armed guards who seems to guard an offically looking building. Sorry, I lost the trail there. "

_________________
Ash: [talking to mirror] I'm fine... I'm fine...
[Mirror Ash jumps out of the mirror and grabs Ash]
Mirror Ash: I don't think so. We just cut up our girlfriend with a chainsaw. Does that sound "fine"?

Ismael put th cane back where he had found it and came out of the club just in time to hear Alex tell her comrades about her failure.

You didn't lose him, you simply didn't look good enough, he said as he walked up behind her. He probably entered the Realm [OOC]We can use that name for the spiritual world from now on. Good name.[/OOC] at the base of that building to get rid of human persuers. My guess is that he's long gone by now.

He sighed.

Azasel, Samil, your course should be clear. You have to tell Lucifer and Mikael about this. I would follow you, but I have a deal which binds me here for the moment. I will come after you once my part of the bargain has been completed. And you, he said and turned to Alex, you will come with me and meet herr Kant right away. I can't afford to wait until tomorrow. Let's go.

Ismael grabbed the girl by the wrist and started walking.

_________________

So, my sorcery came to naught. There goes a week off my life which I won't see again. Nevermind, if I can find Shaw, learn his secrets, it will all be worthwhile. How has he lived so long and with such power?

Chan followed Ismael onto the street in time to see him roughly escorting Alex away.
With a meaningful glance at Adams he hurries along behind.

While they were on their way to Herr Kant, one of the waiters came towards them. Yelling,

"Fraulein! Wait!"

Impatiently Ismael turned around to wait for the waiter.

"Speak quickly."

"Fraulein. I have your backpack and jacket with me."

"Hurry, give her the things back, and let us be. We have not got a lot of time."

"Thanks." Alex said when the waiter handed these two things over. After that, he ran back to Der Hafen.

Ismael let go of her hand, so Alex was able to put on her jacket. When she was ready, Ismael grabbed the girl again by the wrist and they were off to meet herr Kant.

Edit: Fixed some grammar, etc.

_________________
Ash: [talking to mirror] I'm fine... I'm fine...
[Mirror Ash jumps out of the mirror and grabs Ash]
Mirror Ash: I don't think so. We just cut up our girlfriend with a chainsaw. Does that sound "fine"?

Doctor, I will return.
Asazel hurriedly went back to Heaven to tell Mikael the grave news.
Mikael, Shaw is back. As far as I can tell, he's killed Schnieder and is looking for something. His power is great, and obviously poses a threat to Malach. He is most likely in the Realm, but his exact whereabouts are a mystery.
He is still human, that means he cannot tarry in the Realm for long. Still, this is rather unexpected; he's supposed to have died 300 years ago...
Indeed. There's nary a Malach unfamiliar with the works of Shaw. He went on a spree, killing every one he could get his magical hands on, both "good" and "evil".
Return to Earth. There are those who will need your help. Shaw will show himself soon enough. If Friedrich is dead, that means Shaw didn't get what he wanted.

But, what is it he wants? I'm probably safer not knowing.

_________________

Judging by the constant thunder of artillery and the distant sound of machinegun fire there was yet another battle afoot in the city, probably not too far away from where he was. This could mean trouble, especially now when he had to drag two humans with him, but if they moved fast they could slip by unnoticed with just a tiny bit of luck. The whole thing was ironic; he had fought hard to make all these humans fight each other like this. And he had succeeded! This was idyllic! The world of humans was about to break, and yet here he was, wishing they could pause what he had started for just a moment so he could move his little scheme forward without too much trouble.

We need to hurry, I-

He said as they rounded a corner, interrupted by a bullet to the head. He was floored instantly, mostly from the surprise rather than the force of the gun, but he was back on his feet before the russian soldier who had shot him had time to yell for his friends to shoot. Ismael threw the girl back into cover behind the wall and produced his luger with lightning speed, taking five of them out before a second bullet hit him in the shoulder. The enemy spread out behind various covers, now no more than six or seven men strong. Ismael turned to the undead man.

If you help me with this, it'll be over in a second. Take the ones on the right. And you, humans, you will stay here.

Having said that, he turned to face the russians again and dashed towards them, covering the last five meters in a leap whih ended in him landing on top of the soldiers head.

_________________

Indifferent as always, the undead man carefully unslung his rifle and peered around the corner.

The Malach's strategy wasn't particularly clever, thought Adams. There could be anything back there, from a crate of grenades to an army just waiting for an excuse to shoot something. Not even Ismael could withstand that, death from a thousand cuts came to mind as a suitable description.

Still, the fallen one's blatant charging had served a purpose atleast, the enemy soldiers were now scrambling out of cover, desperately trying to kill the man that just wouldn't die.

Stepping out into the way, the American leveled his gun at the nearest combatant and pulled the trigger. Eject, reload, fire; in one fluid motion Adams had downed another, repeating the process twice more to leave four corpses amongst the ruins of the German capital.

Adams was starting to believe that it was perhaps better if everyone was undead; Undead had no reason to fight - no one side could ever win. Even if you were to cut them into a thousand different pieces there would always be someone to stitch them back together and such the war would go on. A world of undead, he thought, would have no reason to fight over territory or resources nor anything else as it would never accomplish anything.

Unfortunately, by this point the enemy had begun to notice his presence and the middle of the street was perhaps not the best place to be, even for a walking corpse. Taking a pot-shot with his final round that ended up sheering the ear off of an unsuspecting soldier, the sharpshooter went to dive through the nearest window; nevertheless taking a bullet to the temple and crashing to the ground...

Chan had reacted instantly to the assault, ducking back around the corner. In the chaos he managed to speak briefly to Alex.

"If you want to escape your deal with the devil, now is a good time, before he can fulfil his half of the agreement. Otherwise, an illusion of German soldiers will create the greatest distraction for the least energy."

The undead would be fine, of course. Once the coast is clear, Chan will help Adams reassemble any missing body parts.

If possible, I want an undead tissue sample for my experiments.

While the bullets are flying everywhere, Alex responsed.

"The first option is very tempting and attractive, because that's an easy way to get free from his bound. But does it have any consequences to the bounding, and do we have any chances to defeat Shaw without him, if I let Ismael die? Second option? Ageless and powerful Malach saved by a human. Very Ironic.

Yes, the best way that I cast this spell, is that I let the illusions appear. Out of the Russians eyesight, of course. But they will only come in action against the Russians when it is very necassary. Or if it's the only way to save us. If Ismael does not need or want any help, I will dismiss the illusion. "

Well hidden from the fighting parties, Alex cast the illusion spell with the special conditions.

_________________
Ash: [talking to mirror] I'm fine... I'm fine...
[Mirror Ash jumps out of the mirror and grabs Ash]
Mirror Ash: I don't think so. We just cut up our girlfriend with a chainsaw. Does that sound "fine"?

The city was a war zone. What did I just walk into?
Asazel spotted Dr. Chan taking cover behind a building. The young woman had just cast a spell to confuse the Russians so ardently firing at Ismael.
Asazel runs toward the action, and a bullet catches him in the hip. It spins him for a split second as he leaps across the street, towards the good doctor. He sighs in the hail of gunfire, These were my favorite trousers...! Doctor, that man lying in the street, was he dead before he was shot?
Ismael seemed to be in his element. True, all Malach are at home on the field of battle. But the young woman was bound to the fallen one, he who revels in the petty squabbles of man. There is a way to save her, though it may prove detrimental to her own plans. However, it was not nearly as hazardous as allowing the Malach to deliver on his word. He spoke to the woman;
This is as close to Hell as I will allow you...Oh, piss. A grenade.
Asazel dove at the explosive, and hurled it high into the sky. It exploded harmlessly above the buildings, save for a few windows broken by the shockwave. A baby began to cry amid the whizzing of bullets on the ricochet. The sound was dulled by the crack of gunfire in the streets. Almost shouting, Asazel appealed to Dr. Chan and Alex. If you're ready, I know a place where we can hide out for a while. The illusion should buy us the time we need to hide you from even his sight.

_________________

If you're ready, I know a place where we can hide out for a while. The illusion should buy us the time we need to hide you from even his sight.

"Alex, turn invisible, go with him. Now." Chan speaks quickly in a strange tongue. Instantly a cloud of dust rises from the street and coagulates into an hollow human form, a solid bubble of statically charged dust. A sharp, vivid illusion completes the duplicity: A perfect replica of Alex, enough to fool even a malach... for a time.

Seeing Alex hesitate, he repeats himself beseachingly. "Now."

He nods at Asazel respectfully. "Go, I will stay and maintain this for as long as I can. Go quickly."

Kneeling beside Adams, he replaces a triangle of skullbone like the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle, and helps the undead to his feet. He waits to see if Ismael will be fooled.

"Alex, turn invisible, go with him. Now." Dr. Chan said. After that a perfect replica of Alex appeared that would fool Ismael.

Dr. Chan must have sensed her hesitation, because he said "Now."

" Thank you for helping me." Alex said to Dr. Chan and casted a spell that turned her invisible.

Then she followed Asazel to get into hiding.

_________________
Ash: [talking to mirror] I'm fine... I'm fine...
[Mirror Ash jumps out of the mirror and grabs Ash]
Mirror Ash: I don't think so. We just cut up our girlfriend with a chainsaw. Does that sound "fine"?