Disclaimer: In Ch. 1.

Vonda leaned tiredly on the telepath, "I assume there's a reason why we're dressed like
this?"

Logan flashed a concerned look at the mutant sorceress, " 'Course, in order t'save
Kitty's life, an Kurt's an' all, t'get a pint of th' Crimson Dawn, we gotta go 
someplace the locals consider sacred, an' tradition dictates we dress accordingly."

Elisabeth nodded quietly, <<Mystical orders and folk cling to their traditions.
Even my people, the Tuatha d'Dannu and the Daione Sidhe of Otherworld have their
idiosynchracies, luv. Makes us who we are.>>

Gomurr nodded emphatically, the dim light of the single bare bulb reflecting off 
his bald head as he jiggered with a lock on a door off the back alley they'd wound
up in. The paint peeled off ancient bricks that undoubtedly dated back to the previous 
century, and none really cared to identify the smells.

"Oh, YES..." he agreed with another cackle, "Very sacred, indeed, but much patience is 
required. I am having some work done on the place, yes!"

The rusted steel door swung open to reveal the storage room on what could easily be 
a costume shop or rental for the Chinese New Year. Paper dragons, paper machet masks
and more lurked in the shadows as the group slipped inside.

Logan snorted, sneezing at the dust, "At first glance, half pint, I'd say yer 
interior decorator called in sick... or was he sick when he did this?"

Gomurr coughed, "Grrr... Just a word of caution: beware. Nothing is what it seems
to be. Neither the light...nor the shadows!"

Elisabeth looked around, her psibernetic eyes scanning the dim light levels, picking up
something with her Sight, just on the edges of her ability, and when she turned to 
examine it more directly, it disappeared again...and for a moment she thought she
had Seen figures in the shadows, only for them to disappear into liquid darkness
like fish in a pond.

The crimson trench coat of Dr. Strange rippled into view as the master mage joined them.
An enigmatic smile flickering across his handsome face, <Sound advice, indeed.>

Logan straightened up, arms akimbo as he regarded the man with a bemused smile,
"Well, Doc, fer a minute there I thought the Master o' Mysticism was gonna leave us
to trek t'the Ebon Vein on our lonesome...."

Strange shook his dark head, <That would be ill-advised. I am late, because I 
was delayed with a few minor inconveniences, no thanks to your short fiend..er,
friend there.>

The Otherworlder's eyes narrowed for a moment as she switched to the Sight, and
hitting the mage with a bone rattling psychic blast, <<Let's stop talking and get down
to it....>>

Logan's eyes widened for a brief moment as he saw the ripple in Strange's shadow,
and he knew Strange had been Sorcerer Supreme for years, but of late he'd been specializing
in various forms of magick, as such, he'd been looking at the world of magick with new
eyes, and had been blind to something as innocent as his own "shadow" which now appeared
to be a ninja!

The ronin cut through the shadow creature with his adamantine claws, causing it scream
in their minds, Psyche's unbreakable mindlock shredding what was left of it's consciousness.

<You were attacking it, not me, Lady Elisabeth?> Strange exclaimed in comprehension,
<My apologies, then, I doubted your collective intent!>

Vonda looked closer at the think, and the telepath allowed Kitty to see through her
eyes, her young mindvoice strengthened by Betts, <What is that thing? It looks like
some kinda living shadow!>

<Undercloaks, my young friends,> he stated simply, as Gomurr stood on the think, pinning
it safely to the ground with his glowing staff. The ageless little mage agreed, "As in
plural. Because they *never* act alone..."

The group formed up back to back in the centre of the room, even Vonda summoning her
innate hexbolts, despite her weakened condition, she was thinking clearly enough, 
"I don't understand this. Why would someone want to stop us from helping Katherine
and Kurt?"

Her old mentor answered her, "It goes deeper than that, Scarlett, these things don't
give a rat's arse about Kitty, Kurt or even you..."

"...all they care about is death. Preferably ours." Gomurr finished, casting a light spell
on the trio of rings atop his staff, looking around warily as the darkness bled down the
walls, each drip reshaping into a humanoid form as it hit the ground.

<<How many of these creatures are there?>> the telepath asked, using her Sight-gift 
rather than her psibernetic eyes, to view her opponents. Her blade drawn as she slashed 
through them with ruthless efficiency.

"As many as there need to be, Outworlder," Gomurr muttered, showing himself to be as 
much of a martial artist as a mage, "You do well to employ your Sight-gift. They are
shadow, and more as you See."

Strange and Scarlett worked in tandem, joining their magickal talents into a more effective
whole with her hexbolts while Logan wielded his wakizashi in one hand, and kept a grip 
on the unconscious Kurt in another. Kitty was aware of the whole battle, and found it
equally disorienting and fascinating as Lockheed breathed fire, playing merry havoc on
a group of them... The combined brilliance of the Eye and Scarlett's unpredictable 
hexbolts began taking their toll on the foes.

Kitty was still able to think, and observe... <Looks like the are stronger where
it's darker, Betts! Ya might wanna have somebody do something bright..>

"Ya don't say, kiddo?" Logan muttered as he fought to keep the creatures away from
Kurt, wondering at the same time, why Gomurr was beating a hasty path away from the
fight.

"Do not be rude, Logan," he grumbled, "The spirit-child has a point, as does the
master mage. It is not just earthly shadows resulting from a lack of light, it is the
absence of life, the "light" of the world... Come, Sister Earth, Smile upon your 
little brother...."

Gomurr poised himself an attitude of supplication before a great icon, only to be 
answered by the mouth opening, releasing a gout of the most intense light any of them
had ever experienced... Gomurr threw the lights on in the warehouse several moments
later, and there was nary a sign of Undercloaks to be found.

Some time later: 

Gomurr was scurrying up the narrow stairs that wrapped around a cliff, with Logan and 
Elisabeth easily keeping up with him, Vonda was falling behind a bit as Strange used
his...trench coat...of levitation to keep an aeriel scout in place.

"I hate...to have..to keep playing the straight guy," she called out, "but I'm having
a hard time following this... we stepped into the mouth of a paper dragon, and found
ourselves...wherever "here" is. I thought you said the Ebon Vein was in the heart of the
city??"

Logan's harsh voice chimed in, "You got a point, darlin', if the Elixir we need is at
the city's center... why're we goin' this way?"

"THINK, Logan-san, like you did when you were a true samurai, way back when..." the 
half pint mage jibed, "It is so Zen, it is simple. Sometimes you have to go in to get out,
exit to enter, go up to head down."

<<Speaking of going down...>> the telepath pushed past the men and eased the mutant
sorceress down onto one of the steps, <<Vonda was badly burned by the Human Torch
when he was aiming for Logan and Reed yesterday...she can't take much more.>>

Strange knelt beside his one time apprentice, stroking her auburn hair, <Logan, surely
you knew about this? Are you insane? Letting her come into battle in this condition?!
Scarlett should be in a hospital, not traipsing about the Nethercape!>

The ronin glared at his old friend, "Back off, Doc...the gal insisted on coming on
account of her sorcery an' hex power!"

<I was a doctor, a surgeon.. a healer,> he argued, <Long before I was a sorcerer. I can't
let her go on like this...my Hippocratic Oath forbids it!>

Logan and the master mage continued their staredown as Vonda found a bit more strength
to voice her opinion on the subject, "No... please. I asked to come along. I wanted to
help. I've practically raised Kitty since she was sent to the Institute. I lost my own 
children through a cruel fluke of fate, and my brother, yet I gained my father back...
Katherine lost her family, and we're all she's got. How could I send her off into the
unknown, even with friends as trusted and honourable as Ronin and Psyche? I promised
her I wouldn't abandon her. Ever. And I'm a woman of my word, Stephen. You and Logan
should know that by now..."

The Sorcerer Supreme smiled and carefully lifted the crimson clad woman in his arms, 
<Then I shall endeavour to see that you are able to fulfill your promise..>

|I quite agree with the soul infants,| a voice crackled out of the darkness, |What a
gargantuan waste of time--to have sallied forth, this far into the heart of the city,
for less than naught?|

Logan wheeled around, his dark eyes burning, "Hurh? Friend of your, short stuff?"

Gomurr raised an eyebrow, as if insulted, "Hardly... gentlemen, ladies....meet
Kuragari, Proctor of the Crimson Dawn... Kuragari, I should like to present t--"

|Don't be cute, Gomurr.| the large man replied, his golden eyes flickering like the
flame that crackled in his deep voice, |I didn't find it attractive when you were 
Gomurr the Impetuous--and I find it even more tedious now. I *know* who they are, 
and what they want. I've known since before you set foot beneath the city...|

The indigo-skinned giant stepped down from the comfortable throne, his crimson and
white attire contrasting sharply with his darkly handsome face. Kuragari's indigo
hair trailed down his back in a braid as big as Psyche's ankle, and his eyes flicked
over each member of the group: Gomurr, whom he obviously knew, to Dr. Strange to whom
he gave a respectful bow in the Oriental fashion, then to Logan at whom he merely 
nodded. His eyes settled onto Elisabeth and Vonda, and the expression became more
pleasant.

|It has been far too long since such beauty has graced my realm,| he told the women,
|And for that grace, I shall perhaps forgive Gomurr his impetuosity...|

The Otherworlder maintained her aloof calm, acknowledging their host with the sort of nod
that was of one meeting one's equal when she shifted the portable lifecell to a more
comfortable position. 

Kuragari examined it, raising a brow, |Your friend is dying. She requires a sip of the
Crimson Dawn...aaand, that means that you need me.|

Logan grumbled, as he reached to draw his wakizashi, "Sorta. Another way t'look at it,
bub, is we just need ya outta the way!"

Gomurr seized the ronin's wrist, "Logan-san, please... There *is* a proper etiquette to
this!"

The Beast Within growled, longing to be free to rend a foe, but Gomurr became very
serious, clearing his throat, and assuming a pose of submission and supplication before
Kuragari, "Ahem... 'Oh Mighty Proctor, Kuragari. We worthless creatures of mud and bone 
do petition your ancient generosity for a boon: a single cup of the Crimson Dawn, the
life essence which flows through the Earth..."

The massive man rubbed his chin, considering the little mage's words, |Hmmmm.... how
positively sincere. What to do? what to do?  I suppose I could help.... but why bother?|

His eyes flared with golden fire as he banished the annoying little mage from his sight, 
causing Logan to come that much closer to loosing it. He handed Kurt off to Psyche, and
stood his ground, "You killed him?"

Kuragari turned slowly, the neon "spiders" skittering around his feet, |I've found it
tiresome over the years... people only visiting me when the *want* something!! It's not
as if I don't have feelings of my own! For instance, at this moment, I'd like to see
my neon minions scale the all too soft flesh from your bones!!|

"Yer waaaaaaaay to touchy fer this gig, bub," he grumbled, finally giving in, and 
unleashing the Beast Within, slashing through the neon critters...

|And you called me unstable???| he muttered, his eyes widening.

Strange carried Wanda to the dais, placing her on the steps, while Elisabeth
carried Kurt and the lifecell to it as he produced a pair of silver goblets,
filling them with the luminous crimson liquid, giving one to Vonda, <Drink this.
It will heal your wounds, I will pour the other down Kurt's throat. Elisabeth, 
you must fill the lifecell with the elixir in order to save Katherine!>

She nodded, <<Even as we speak, Kitty's soul seeks to slip away as she looses control.>>
The telepath relaxed her mindlock on the girl's psyche, as the viscuous fluid blended 
with the girl's ephemeral form, <<Kitty, luv, this is like swimming... just relax and 
pretend you have gills... like a nice hot bath, going to mix you up with it and then 
pour it all 
out.>>

<mmm.. feels good.> the girl's weak mindvoice replied, <warm. just like you said it was
gonna be. canna let go now?>

The telepath nodded, carefully monitoring Kitty's condition, and after a few minutes
she carefully poured the congealed "liquid" out, into a puddle on the clean stone, 
watching as it slowly spread, <<Kitty? Luv, start concentrating...it's like phasing.
You're liquid instead of "air", but you can solidify the same way.>>

<i think i understand.> her mindvoice stronger now, <i think i've got it!>

The black puddle began to shrink rather than spreading, and slowly, a head and shoulders
emerged, glowing golden eyes, and midnight brown hair complimenting her indigo skin, and her
dully glowing scarlet mark on her face... as she slowly emerged in her shadowy form.

<I'm solid again.. or as much as I'm going to get. Thank you...> Kitty reached out to touch 
Bett's face, the girl burst into tears, concentrating as much as she could, throwing her 
arms around the Otherworld telepath, the two women holding one another tight.

Vonda smiled, reaching out to touch Kitty, "Katherine? You've changed!"

<Yeah, I guess so...> she replied, looking through Psyche's eyes at herself.