Subject: [FFML][SilentMobius][Draft]A Shadow doth Fall - Prelude
From: Alex Gray
Date: 9/22/1999, 3:43 PM
To: ffml , hitomi@ndirect.co.uk

I am not sure if this one got through 

Apologies - it has been a time since I have been able to work on thisseries, but
that beside here is a draft of the prelude for any C&C any one wishes to
make.

All comments (and flames) greatfully received.

Cheers

Alex Gray.
E-mail - mailto:hitomi@ndirect.co.uk
WWW home - http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Subway/7630/

==================================================================

Silent Mobius with reference to own original characters and those borrowed from other sources. 
This story takes place some place between volume 7 and 8 of the original Japanese Manga series 
published by Dragon Comics. It could also be said to follow on from episode 22 in the new Silent 
Mobius TV series currently showing in Japan.

Volume 7,  Chaos, Dragon Comics, ISBN4-04-926073-5
Volume 8, Wargame, Dragon Comics, ISBN4-04-926091-3
The name and characters of Silent Mobius are copyright to Kia Asamiya.

This story does contain strong language, sex scenes and a twisted mythology so continue if these 
do not offend.
 
Characters:
** Original Silent Mobius

AMP (Anti Mystification Police)

Rally Cheyenne          -       Lucifer Hawk/Human hybrid, leader of AMP and other 
                                organisations.
Mana Isozaki            -       Section Chief of AMP, exorcist
Lebia Maverick/Maverlick-       Visionaire
(depending on your li ri Japanese)
Kiddy Phenil            -       Cyborg
Nami Yamigumo           -       Priestess
Yuki Saiko              -       Yelper (esper)

Lum Cheng               -       Sorceress (guest appearance from Volume 10)
Grosporina              -       King of swords, Katsumi's old weapon, a living sword

Police

Robert DeVice (dead)    -       Katsumi's lover killed by Lucifer Hawks in 2029

Lucifer Hawks (entities) and Allies

Katsumi Liqueur         -       Daughter of Gigelf Liqueur, former member of AMP, watched 
                                entities kill 
                                lover and then joined the entities against AMP
Maximillian Ganossa     -       Apprentice of Gigelf Liqueur, works for entities
Rosa Cheyenne           -       Rally's younger sister, works for entities

** Original Characters

AMP

Alexandra Shadow        -       Sorceress, prefers Alex

Military

Colonel Reece           -       Heads a department that has a dubious name, may be more (?)
Hidoshi Natsume         -       Captain, serves as exec officer to Reece
Koji Okuda              -       US Airforce Major

Others

Jamie Corin             -       Master Sorceress, teacher to Alex
Gar                     -       Minor imp (?), familiar to Alex
Haru Corin              -       Grandson of Jamie

Gods/Devils/Unclassified

Red haired girl         -       Extremely bad news, alias Samantha De' 
Charon                  -       Ferryman to Styx
Lloth                   -       Ancient Elven Goddess of Chaos
Kayrith                 -       Dead Elder Goddess, past connections with Primeverse
        

Glossary

Entity                  -       Demon, Inhabitant of Nemesis
Hades                   -       An outer plane, a hell
Multiverse              -       Everything, all possible universes, and outer dimensions
The Cycle               -       The lifespan of a Muliverse
Primeverse              -       Very first universe to exist, no Order/Chaos/Good/Evil 
                                                                                                                                                                           

Forward

        "It is generally held that when God spoke the first Word to separate the Light and the 
Darkness, that was the Incident which caused Creation. What is not addressed is what happened 
Before the Word, when the Light and the Darkness as separate entities. What would have 
happened if the Word was spoken, but Something at the very moment of Separation managed to 
escape the effects of the Word. That Something would be of an nature totally Alien to anything that 
followed, totally Alien to the Word that God spoke. Let us be glad that nothing of this kind ever 
happened..."

        Quote from "The Musing on Nature" by Arch-Deacon Thrist Dhel, GalOrder 3rd Rank.

...but he was wrong...


                *               *               *               *

Prelude - Power

Location: ??? 
Time: ???

        The hooded skeletal figure of the ageless ferryman bowed in awed reverence as the 
smaller robed figure boarded its ferry. It waited for a moment to see if the figure would do or say 
anything. It didn't. It simply ignored the ferryman and moved to stand over at the far end of the 
vessel. Charon, seeing that the figure was simply looking out over the dark waters of the deadly 
river, caused the unchanging ferry to move off. Although the slender form at the head of the vessel 
had travelled with Charon many times in the past, it never knew what the mood of the figure would 
be. Sometimes, the figure would be communicative, and tell Charon of ancient secrets that even the 
ferryman did not know. At other times, like now, the figure would simply be silent, and even though 
Charon burned with a cold desire to ask it for more, it knew better than to disturb this one. Anyone, 
if they were wise, walked warily around this unassuming figure.
        The ferry cut silently through the dark waters, passing by the ancient boundaries that 
marked out the different Domains of the dark gods and devils that ruled this unholy land. As it 
passed one particular black ruin, the figure turned and spoke for the first time.
        "Did you know old friend, that before the river came that mound of rubble was the 
stronghold of one of the greatest gods of its time..."
        Charon's red eyes flared with a cold glee. This was one of those times when the figure felt 
like talking. One of those times that bought a nugget of joy to Charon's empty existence.
        "Who was it..." the dark ferryman hissed, trying to conceal its enthusiasm at learning more 
of an unknowable past.
        The figure turned its head, and a pale face smiled slightly at the ferryman's barely 
concealed need. For a moment it was silent, enjoying the simple act of teasing the ancient being. 
Charon tensed and tried to calm itself. The slight smile widened and then the figure spoke a name. 
The word and language had no meaning to Charon, but still it tried to retain the information. The 
figure watched with an amused expression before turning back to face the dark waters.
        "That stronghold commanded domains far beyond what even you can imagine old friend. It 
represented a power that made gods, both Dark and Light, cringe in fear. A power that crushed 
countless rebellions and uprisings against it. A power, against which even the combined might of 
entire pantheons of lesser Deities was useless..." The voice of the figure faded into silence as it 
contemplated memories of a past only it could recall.
        For a moment Charon waited, then daringly it spoke. "What happened..."
        The figure cocked its head at the question, and a dark smile lit the white face. The 
expression, and the dark glee that danced in the green eyes suddenly made Charon very much 
aware of the nature of the being opposite it. If it had been able to cringe it would have.
        "It grew... disrespectful..." the figure said quietly with a dark laugh.
        The red eyes of the immortal ferryman dimmed, and it turned its attention back to the task 
at hand.
        "You grow quiet old friend. Come, have you no more questions to ask?"
        For a moment Charon was uncertain what to say. The capricious nature of the figure 
always left it uncertain, especially when the figure was in a teasing mood.
        "No questions Charon," the figure asked. A mischievous grin flickered across the young 
face. "Well then, let me tell you something that may interest you. Did you know that sometime from 
now you will fall in love? You will have to choose between  betraying that love and saving it. You 
will..."
        "Stop. Please..." Charon begged as it fell to its knees and grovelled before the smaller 
figure. The figure laughed slightly to itself, then gently pulled the ferryman to its feet.
        "I'm sorry Charon," the figure said. It bent down and placed a black gloved hand into the 
deadly waters of the Styx. Charon watched aghast. It had seen great beings, even the Tsumi 
Balors, perish slowly from even a drop of those cursed waters. The figure however, drew a handful 
of water to the pale lips and slowly took a drink.
        "Here." The figure held out the hand to Charon. "Drink." For a moment Charon was too stunned to 
think.
         "Drink." The figure commanded again, and Charon was sipping the water before it even 
knew what was happening.
        The figure stood up watching dispassionately as the ferryman twitched and spasmed on the 
boat floor. The waters of the Styx reacted in sympathy to the ferryman's agony, causing the vessel 
to rock in the sudden swells. The figure glanced with an annoyed expression at the turbulent 
waters, and suddenly the river was as smooth as glass. The robe of the ferryman continued to 
twitch as it covered the subsiding convulsions of the skeletal figure. Finally, the moans and twitching 
subsided, and the ferryman lay still. The figure waited for a moment and then said "get up old 
friend."
        The black robe twitched and a hand rose to grasp the side of the boat. Charon opened... 
his... eyes. Disbelief, shock, and other emotions he had never felt before rushed through him as he 
SAW his brown fleshed HAND.
        "What..." he managed to stammer.
        "My apology to you old friend," the figure commented with a small smile. "I do so hope you 
enjoy it..." 
        Charon could not comprehend or believe what had just happened. The boat, sensing 
confusion from its master, swelled unsteadily in the water. The figure looked at the 
uncomprehending expression on the ferryman's face and leaned forward.
        "Lyisha would never fall in love with a skeleton," it whispered. "She will however love 
someone who looks exactly like her dead husband..."
        It's laughter at the ferryman's horrified expression echoed across the dead land, and in the 
distance great forks of lighting struck the blackened earth. A hot wind rushed across the dark water, 
and the figure's laughter faded as it detected a very faint scent.
        "Interesting..." it said, as a distant scream of mortal pain caught it attention. 
        "Well old friend," the figure smiled back at the form of the numb ferryman. "I have to be 
going. Thanks for the interesting journey and I will see you around." The figure stepped onto the 
black water and began to walk away.
        "Oh." It turned back to look at the boat. "Silly me - I almost forgot to pay you. There." A 
small silver coin clattered onto the floor of the ferry. "Don't spend it all at once now..." With that the 
figure walked off across the water leaving the crying form of the immortal behind it.
 
(to be continued)