Hi all this is the first few entries into the story Discoveries in the world of Tech&Magic.

We are a cooperative writing team of three authors Lymzy, Caravaggio and PaperbagPrincess and we hope you enjoy the story and world we are in the process of building (we are still in the very first stages of doing so).

We are also in the market for a beta. Someone who will be part of our team and both technicaly beta for us, as well as be a part of our creative team. If interested you can contact me on our site Tech&Magic.

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Tech&Magic

Life as we know it!

Syrus March

Date: March 1 2006

Time: 12:00

Place: Earth

Author: Caravaggio

Fire blazed through the sky in the distance as battles on the lower ground raged. An unnatural dawn had painted the sky a deep red and Syrus thought it all too fitting for what was about to come. He tightened the grip on the hilt of his sword.

All around him were the bodies of his soldiers intermingled with the enemy, crumpled and heaped upon each other like garbage. Somewhere in there, somewhere close was the one he had grown to love. Though his mind told him there was no hope, something deeper in him made him continue to hold out against despair.

Now though, time had run out. The enemy was swarming up to the hill to him; hundreds, perhaps thousands of them, with only his death on their minds. He would give them what they wanted, but not without his blade tasting the blood of many of their number. And then, they were upon him.

Syrus barely redirected the first volleys of lightning directed at him and he could feel his energy draining from the effort. There was no time to be tired now though, as fast as the lightning had come the swords were close behind. He parried and spun, his sword an extension of himself, pure death. Alone none of them would have stood a chance against him, but their numbers were so great he knew soon he would be overwhelmed. He cut two more off at the legs and whirled around to decapitate another who thought he had an opening from behind. Then a shot tore through him ripping a chunk of his thigh from him. He howled in pain and fell to one knee. All around him the enemy pressed, swords ready to strike, but just then another shot into the air and they backed off to form a circle around him.

Syrus tried to use his sword to pull himself up to stand, but he fell back to his knees. He wiped blood from his eyes and looked around at the circle of gloating grins. He wished he could summon up enough strength to perform some deadly magic that would wipe that look off a few of their faces, but he was spent… and they knew it. They began to howl and beat their swords upon their armor. A pathway opened up among them. In the middle of it was a huge man walking towards him dragging something large in his left hand and holding a rifle n his right. The circle closed around Syrus as the man approached. He could feel their breath on the back of his neck, but he was transfixed by the approaching figure and did not move or take his eyes off him. He was close enough now that Syrus could see what he was gripping in his left hand, hair…. Long hair, as black as night and to it a woman's body… still struggling, but broken.

"No…", was all he could manage to get out.

As the figure stepped in front of him, his arms were pinned behind him, the tips of swords pressed against his neck. The figure stood there for a moment pondering Syrus. He did not have a malicious gaze, Syrus could detect no anger in the figures eyes, just a sort of cold curiosity. The figure pulled the hair upward so the woman's face was inches from Syrus's own. Deep brown, almond shaped eyes stared back at Syrus and upon recognizing his face, filled with tears.

Syrus's eyes went wide, "Luminaryi…"

She let out a breath, but could not speak. So beautiful was she, even now broken and caked with blood. Syrus struggled to break free, but he was held fast by dozens of arms. The figure grinned, tossing the rifle to someone close by. Luminaryi tried to pull close to Syrus and for a moment it seemed she would kiss him. Syrus saw something bright reflect the light of the red sky in the corner of his eye, but he could not take his eyes off hers…. And then her body fell from her head. The figure before Syrus held her head there close to him for a moment more before he raised it and the sword that had severed it high into the air and let out a howl.

Just then, something in Syrus tore free…

--------------------------------

"Fuck."

Syrus pulled the sheets around to see if he had pissed the bed. He was somewhat pleased to see it was sweat. His bed was completely soaked. He pulled his hands up to his face and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. He stared up at the ceiling for a moment, enjoying the whiteness.

"What the fuck is wrong with me?" he asked it.

Getting no reply, he decided it was probably best to consult the shower. The dreams had come about once a year when he was younger, but now they were happening all the time. He could barely count the number of times this one had flashed through his head in the past few months.

Soap, shampoo, condition… For some reason the shower routine had become particularly tiresome lately. Maybe because he really wasn't sure if there was a reason to get clean or go out anymore. When he was younger he was quite sure he would grow up to be someone special. Maybe some gang of ninjas would kill his girlfriend and he would train for years at some secret dojo in the middle of whoknowswhere so he could come back and avenge her. But, he was 25 now and only getting older. He was pretty sure the threshold of being able to become a badass superhero had passed.

"Fuck."

He had a job interview today he had forgotten about completely until this moment. He had been a mechanic the last year, mostly just brake jobs and oil changes, but it hadn't been a bad job. Of course, just when he had gotten into the groove of things the place had folded up. The interview was for a construction job, grunt work he imagined, but he'd take what he could get. He was smart enough to do easier work, maybe a nice office type job, but those interviews never seemed to work out for him. He wished now that he could go back and get a degree that would have given him better opportunities, but art history seemed like a good choice at the time.

Toothpaste…

He stood brushing his teeth looking at the steam hazy mirror. "L-U-M-I-N-A-R-Y-I", he wrote on it with his finger.

"What a fucked up dream.", he wiped the letters away a cleared room for his face.

Shave…

Shaving had always been the worst of it. Syrus had never really been able to grow a beard. Hair was missing in key places and even in the others it was thin. He wished he had normal facial hair so he could just let it grow out from time to time, but as it was shaving was just something he would have to do everyday for the rest of his life, or look like a freak. He was fairly handsome, with long dark hair and deep green eyes, tall and built like he was meant to crush skulls between his hands. Most people who met him were intimidated by him at first, but really, he wouldn't hurt a fly. He was staring into his own eyes wondering what the hell had happened to his life when he nicked himself with the razor.

"Fuck."

He wiped the blood onto his knuckle and stared at it close for a second. It reminded him of the girl in the dream. He slammed his hand down onto the sink which neatly cleaved itself in two.

"You have got to be kidding me…"

He had to laugh at the thought of trying to explain this to the apartment manager. There was no time to clean things up now. He had to get going if he was going to make the interview.

----------------------------------

Sitting in the parking lot of the construction company Syrus examined the nick on his face in the rearview mirror. He looked towards the front doors of the building.

"This is the rest of your shit life."

He opened the door to his car with some hesitation, but then, thinking better of it, he shut it. He didn't want to be here. It just didn't feel right. This was just another crap job…. There had to be something better for him out there. Just then there was a tap on his window. Syrus stared out at a pair of dark almond shaped eyes.

"Help a girl out here?" she said through the glass.

Syrus fumbled with window crank, "Huh?"

"Can you give me a ride? I need a ride. Like, right now.", without really asking she stepped around to the otherside of the car and let herself in. She was quite stunning, tan with long dark hair. She had some kind of package, about the size of a large book, wrapped in plain brown paper, in her grip as she sat down.

"Thanks….", she looked him over quickly, then jingled his keys which were still in the ignition with her finger, "Let's go."

Stunned, but intrigued he turned the car over and took off. At least he wasn't bored anymore.

"So…. Ummm… where to?", trying desperately not to stare at her too much.

"Just keep driving… I'll let you know.", she said holding her package a little closer.

They drove in silence for a bit, Syrus was just starting to regain his senses (At least enough to want to ask the mystery woman a few questions…. Like her name.) when she indicated for him to pull over.

"Right here… this will do just fine."

They pulled up in the parking lot of a bar that was just on the outskirts of the city. Not the nicest looking place, but all n all not too bad. The girl got out and started walking to the entrance.

Syrus sat staring at her from his car for a second. He got out halfway, "Hey! Uhhh… Can I at least get your name?"

"Come on! We don't have a lot of time!" She waved for him to follow her inside.

"Fuck" he said under his breath.

Syrus sat at a table in the back of the bar watching the girl order them some drinks. She pulled something out of her pocket, which must have been a watch, and checked it with an annoyed look. The rational part of his brain was telling him now would be a good time to leave. He looked towards the exit, then back to the girl. After all, whatever was going on here had nothing to do with him. He looked back to the exit, too late though, she was walking back to their table now, two drinks in hand. On cue the exit sign light began to flicker and go out. Syrus rolled his eyes. The girl sat back down and took a sip of her drink, she seemed quite pleased with it.

"So… are you going to tell me what this is all about? Wait…. Do I know you from somewhere? I think maybe…"

She cut him off, "What's your name?"

"Syrus."

She looked him over again, he thought he could detect the slightest smile, "Well, Syrus… I have to deliver this package…" She tapped the package which was now back in her lap, "… there's really nothing more to it than that."

"Deliver a package? Okay…. but," before he could finish she cut him off again with a finger to her lips. She looked over to the exit herself now, paused for a moment, going over something in her head.

"Come with me." She grabbed his hand and started walking into the back hallway of the bar. Syrus resigned himself to the fact that he wasn't going to get answers anytime soon. Sure, this was all a little weird and this girl was probably a head case, but she was hot… and it had been awhile. She pulled him into the ladies room. Though, he knew it was a strange thought to have, Syrus had to take in and laugh at the fact that ladies rooms were always so much nicer than the men's room, they even had a plant and a place to sit and wait in here.

"Seriously lady, I jus.." before he could get one more word out she kissed him. It was the sort of kiss lovers give each other when one has gotten off and plane after a long trip. He wasn't sure what to think of it at first…. What category his brain should put this in… for some reason his mind settled on the idea of 'home.'

She moved her head slowly over to his ear and whispered, "Thank you." And then backed away.

Then the door flew open and a tall man dressed in a dark suit burst in. Though he was practically standing on top of Syrus he didn't seem to take notice of him.

"Damn it mister, can't you see we're tr…" before Syrus could finish his sentence the man had pulled a gun out and pulled the trigger twice. The girl flew backwards on the floor, blood sprayed.

Syrus grabbed the gun arm of the man and pinned it back onto the wall. Syrus quickly looked back to the girl, who wasn't moving. The man grinned at him. Syrus thought of the dream. The next thing he knew he was on top of the man pounding his skull into the floor over and over. Syrus's arms were washed in the man's blood. He looked down at him, he was definitely dead. Syrus scrambled back off of him, then remember the girl. He ran over to her and turned her head over to check her pulse… nothing. She was so beautiful… and now….

"And now I have to get the fuck out of here…" ran through his mind.

He was just about to the door when he looked back. The package was still under the girl's arm. He knew taking it was only going to be trouble, but apparently he was in deep enough….

Clarissa Smith

Date: March 1 2006

Time: 1303

Place: Earth

Author: PaperbagPrincess

Clarissa looked around at her competition and felt deflated. Mostly men in their late twenties to early thirties all dressed to the nines. Looking down at her own borrowed too large clothes that she felt lost in, she wondered why she had bothered, as they could not compete with the expensive outfits around her.

She guessed she should not be surprised that so many of what appeared to be top professionals were applying for this simple job. The pay was more then top rate. Even if parts of the job description were odd.

She took a peek at the tall dark haired man who stood guard outside the door to the office, and wondered what kind of club owner needed a body guard. Hell she wondered what kind of man of business needed some one to teach them even just the basics of how to use a computer and was honest with her self that this odd part of the job description, to teach this Mr. Carvine the ins and outs of basic computer knowledge and then keep his education updated on all hard ware and software that she was going to install in the future was a bit unnerving to her. She was generally speaking a solitary and shy person, but for this kind of money she was more then willing to give it the old collage try.

Sighing at the metaphor, she was reminded as to why she was so deflated by the men and few women surrounding her. They all obviously had some form of formal education. Where as she on the other hand was all pretty much self taught. But she had a talent for anything that involved taking apart things and putting them back together a natural aptitude one high school guidance councilor had told her once. She thrived when it came to problem solving of any kind and this naturally transcended to the world of computers and electronics.
Now if only she could convince Mr.Carvine of this, and that she was worth the risk of hiring over all these way more quilfied people she would be set. She laughed at her self with the reminder that this would mean speaking to the man in a coherent fashion, something she did not do very well when nervous or around most people.

The door to the office opened up and an interview walked out with a cocky gate, the body guard just gave him a dirty look then nodded to her
"Your up next" he said simply and with an odd accent

Getting up from her seat she took a quick peek at the man from under her lashes as she passed him by. Standing around 6' 2" and lean, he towered over her own 5'0" frame. He had long black hair and golden skin and eye's. As she walked into the room she heard the door close behind her with a soft click swallowing hard she flinched slightly at the sound. She quickly tried to hide her response by pasting on a really bad smile of false confidence and then attempted to walk purposfully towards the desk and man at the far side of the room. With in three steps she had tripped over her own feet nearly completely losing her balance and falling flat on her face, only years of quick reflexes honed by such events happening to her frequently did she manage to save herself from that complete embarrassment. But not good enough apparently as the sound of his chuckling reached her. Looking up she saw he had started to approach her. Studying him nervously she was reminded a bit of that actor Greg Kinnear but rounder, blond blue eye's and in his mid forties he was not an unattractive man but the way he was looking at her so intently made her want to put a few more layers of clothing on instead she instinctively wrapped her arms around her self protectively, placed on foot behind the other for balance and balled her hands into fists just incase. She did now grow up on in an orphanage and not learn a thing or two about defending herself.

He stoped two feet in front of her and continued to study her intently a smile starting to break wide across his face like in his studies of her he discovered something he liked.

"You have the job" He said also in an accent but different from the man in the hall extending his hand to her

Clarissa looked at his hand in confusion and the statement "I wont sleep with you" burst from her mouth before she could think better of it.

Mr. Carvine started to chuckle again "I wont sleep with you either" and giving her an amused look "My tastes run to tall blonds closer to me in age not short teenage red heads" he shrugged

More baffled then ever "But but but?" She tried to ask about her resume and a need for an interview while waving the piece of paper in the air.

Mr. Carvine simply plucked the paper from her hands and with out looking at it tossed it in a garbage bin "I don't need to see your resume or conduct an interview I have very good instincts and they are telling me you are the perfect one for this job"

Walking back to his desk he picked up a walkie talkie "Stilliss send them off I just found our new employee"

Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth even if she did find it prudent to be weary for the time being she decided not to question him more at this time about how he came to his discussion and instead tried to ask him when he wanted her to start. "Ummmwhenwouldyoulikemetostart"came out of her mouth at a uncomprehending speed but it apparently did not phase him as he replied "tomorrow first thing"

Nodding her head to try avoid sounding anymore like an idiot Clarissa looked around the room in search of his computer and saw none taking a deep breath "ahh where's the computer" she said proudly at not sounding to stupid this time.

"I don't have one, that will be your first task tomorrow to buy or build or what ever it is one does to accquire one of those computer things that seem so important in this place" he informed her

Clarissa looked at him like he had just grew another head "What planet are you from" blurted out of her and she grimaced finding no pleasure at not sounding like an idiot this time because now she sounded like an ass.

Mr. Carvine gave her another deeply assessing gaze and Clarissa waited for him to now tell her he had made a bad mistake but instead "This one" he assured her as he sat back down at his desk pulling out some paperwork "I will see you here tomorrow 8 sharp and please Clarissa where your own clothing no need for formality in the job you will be preforming" and just like that he dismissed her. Clarissa quickly left the office and club torn between being on cloud nine and the twilight zone never occurring to her that he some how knew her name with our her ever telling him.

Laylind Carvine

Date: March 1 2006

Time: 1334

Place: Earth

Author: PaperbagPrincess

Laylind watched the door close and shook his head wondering what he was going to do with the girl. He would have to figure that out later he had more important and pressing matters at hand to deal with. Picking up the walkie-talkie "Stillis would you join me for a second" it was not a question even though phrased as one. A second later the door opened and the tall dark-haired man entered walking over to stand in front of Laylind.

"The first of the shipments have arrived we need to go down to the warehouse on the docks to make sure the order is complete." He informed his bodyguard, who nodded

"I will get the car ready" Stillis then turned and left the room.

Laylind watched him go noting the tension in his shoulders. Stillis had not said as much but Laylind knew that the man was very unhappy with this project and that could prove to be a big problem he would have to have him watched.

Naya Blackthorn

Date: March 1 2006

Time: 1310

Author: Lymzy

Naya chewing on her pen, is considering the case file in front of her. Jesse, her partner of 2 years is chewing his gum, loudly. Not one to worry about the finer points of things, he chomps merrily on as Naya increases her irritated grip on the pen shes chewing. Naya has learned that Jesse, while lacking in hygene and arguably marginally retarded, is one of the most loyal, self sacrificing people shes ever known. Naya has had to stop her self many times from being mean just because bitter is her middle name, because Jesse just plain doesnt understand her sarcasm and his big brown trusting eyes make her ashamed.

On a typical low odor day Jesse smells like funky corn chips, sweat socks, and wet dog. Naya is pretty sure Jesse doesn't own a dog. She doesn't like to think of the bad days. being stuck on stake outs with him is sheer hell, because Naya is a "sniffer" she bases alot on her senses and he overloads her olfactory so bad she feels hampered. He does all the paperwork for the cases after the fact asking her to simply proof them for spelling errors for him, he never mentions the fact that shes only really been good at finding evidence, she rarely does more than pull her gun when he needs her to. Since Nathan was killed she hasnt pulled her weight nor has she made it particually hard to see. She knows, somewhat asshamed, that if "Stinky" ever complained shed be fired in a heartbeat. Turns out Jesse is as loyal as the dog his body odor immitates.

The case isnt making alot of sense so she finds the address that the "shipment" is supposed to be delivered to and figures its better to go ask questions than to sit here listening to Jesse masticate that poor peice of gum stewing in his funk. At least she will be able to open the windows and blow some of the fowlness off of him in the car.

For a more in-depth experience of the story and world come visit us at Tech&Magic, where you will find pictures and bio's and much more.

http://techandmagic.