Voidus

Voidus watched Mack staring back at him, unblinking, from the small, rapid movements he was making it seemed that he was trying to think something through. Was he trying to find a weakness? A moment of distraction? Or was he simply watching, ready to report everything that Voidus said and did back to Sudiov? Voidus began striding towards Mack, intending to confront this spy head-on.

MV stared blankly at the sky, trying to catch a glimpse of where Allison had disappeared off to, hoping that she might be able to stop her, bring her back. But Allison was gone. And Megan was alone again. "Hey! Are you okay? Was that your sister?" A woman called out from below. It took Megan a moment to realize that the woman might be talking to her, most Maples weren't quite suicidal enough to approach an Epic and ask if they were ok. She peered over the edge of the building and found the woman, staring up at her. Are people here all insane? She thought with quiet wonder. Or does she just not realize? She wiped her face once more, carefully this time to make sure she didn't smudge anything. Then stepped off of the roof, falling to the ground below. She still wasn't exactly comfortable in the air, not like Allison apparently was, but she'd practiced this trick enough that her stomach no longer lurched into her throat when she dropped. She just needed something to shift her fall onto. Her eyes locked with the woman once more as she dropped. Even if she did shift it to the woman it likely wouldn't be fatal, maybe a broken bone or two to remind her not to interfere with Epics would do her good. Megan touched lightly to the ground, a close observer might have noticed that she actually stopped about a half-inch above the ground for a moment before dropping the rest of the distance. Nearby a tin can left lying on the road was suddenly flattened as it was compressed to the ground with the force of her fall. Hurting this woman wouldn't do anything to help her anyway. "She was." Megan said to the woman before turning up the street and beginning to walk further into town. She only made it a few dozen steps before she stopped with a large sigh and sat down on the side of the road. Allison had gone, again. And there was no Backtrack around to help find her again, no trail she could follow. No clues of where in the city she might be hiding. "What's the point of looking anyway?" She muttered to herself as she stared at her somewhat torn shoes. "Even if I find her she's just going to leave again." She pulled her knees up, hugging them into herself and leaning her forehead against them, letting the tears slowly soak her legs.

Sure let me just take a look at- ALL RECORDS DELETED Whoops. Butterfingers.

Voidus froze as he took a glance at the folder, staring at it for a moment before looking back at Mac. The room began to grow darker as he continued to stare before finally speaking. "If this was anyone else I'd assume this was a joke, and not one that I find amusing. But this. Fine, but you keep this contained under the highest security we can manage. If I ever see this uncontained then you won't be the only casualty." Voidus leaned back in his chair as he finished, the room growing light again and set the folder to one side. "As for your other request, that's understandable. I'd intended to wait until you'd made a full recovery before we started speaking of this, but it seems I underestimated your tenacity. Very well, no time like the present. Well I mean technically most points in time are relatively similar and there are instants before and after the present that are nigh-identical. Come on, we'll need somewhere a little more isolated than this. We can use Alley ╔═╦═╦╬══."

Voidus noticed Mack staring at him, but was a little too tired to remember their last encounter and so assumed he might be some kind of spy. Voidus stared back intently at Mack.

"Tired" Voidus replied "There's been a lot going on recently." He took a moment to look around, enjoying the nice cool atmosphere that the court always had.

Voidus stepped into the room with a tired smile. "Don't even try, we've never really understood how so many evil entities can enter the Newcago Court no matter how much security we throw in, one of the mysteries of the Alleyverse." Turning towards Elsa he gave a small bow as he approached. "It's been a while, how has the court been fairing?"

Sudiov was a little concerned as he watched the human who had come out begin to dig a hole for himself, but given the number of strange spectacles he'd seen today, Sudiov opted to ignore it unless it seemed relevant. "Well I have something to offer, and a request." He said. "It seems likely that I'll need to stay here in the Material plane for some time and I am somewhat in need of somewhere to stay. As for what I have to offer, well details might best be discussed a little more privately but it's my understanding that you all oppose the organization founded by Voidus? The Dark Alley? I'm sure you could find a use for my assistance in your operation." With one more worried look towards Daryl, Sudiov stepped inside as the voice requested.

"Sort of, only without the 'P'" Another disembodied voice replies.

Three weeks later the office door opened, and Voidus stepped into the office, his eyes even more sunken than usual and suit in disarray. He shot a questioning glance towards his secretary, Bill, before noticing the other person in the office. "Mac. You're back on your feet already?" The process of having large sections of his spiritweb torn from his body couldn't have been easy to recover from, and to have gone as far as Snapping into Voidmaking powers was likely even less pleasant. Voidus' eyes flickered over to a wall for a moment, peering through it towards something in the far distance he let out a soft groan. He watched a faint path of darkness begin to expand down the corridor of one of the Alleys, another attack from Sudiov. With a moments concentration he sent a second patch of darkness to the same area, watching as the two struggled briefly before they both withdrew. "I've been a little... distracted recently." Voidus admitted. "But I can spare a moment."

The transparent figure stared at the duck in front of it for a moment before tilting its head to one side in confusion. "Sorry, I'm not familiar with this custom. Should I have brought a duck as well?" Sudiov asked curiously. "I'm also not going to eat you. I don't mean any offense but I doubt it would taste very nice." Sudiov took a step back for a moment, double checking the building he'd arrived at. "This is a TUBA building correct? And there seem to be several non-duck like humanoids inside, though I'm not sure whether it would be more polite for me to pretend you weren't there."

A semi-transparent figure approached a known TUBA headquarters, for a brief moment the figure began to flicker and the air around it grew darker but a moment later it returned to a stable appearance. The figure took a bowler hat from its head, tucking it under one arm as it approached the door and gave a firm knock. "Hello! My name is Sudiov and I was hoping to speak with you all."

Voidus watched the transparent figure, Sudiov it had introduced itself as, straighten up. It looked back at him with a grim smile on its face, seeming to wait for him to make the next move, but he could see the light in the area begin to darken. It was trying to suppress any other Investiture in the area. "Sudiov?" Voidus asked, incredulous. "Not a particularly creative name is it?" "Well, when I first gained sentience I didn't really know much about anything other than you." Sudiov seemed to grow wary as the air began to darken even further and his Investiture was also suppressed. His form shifted uncomfortably for a moment before stabilizing again. "Sentience?" Voidus asked. "So no one else managed to pick it up, but gaining sentience should take a lot longer than the time you had, it can't have been more than a year." The air between them grew thick with the pressure of their invisible contest, their voices became a little strained as they continued. "Not sure I could explain it myself." Sudiov replied. "Perhaps something to do with the Alleystorms? But however it happened I'm alive now, and I don't particularly feel like being reabsorbed. So no hard feelings." A section of pavement that lay between the two began to crumble and vanish, leaving not even dust behind, but neither of the two took their eyes off each other to observe this. Something moved out of the crowd of spectators, a person or a projectile he wasn't sure, but in tandem both Voidus and Sudiov released a small blast of darkness towards it, erasing it before it reached them. We're evenly matched. Voidus realized with surprise. I've had to divert some power into the barrier again but even then I didn't expect it to be this close. A small flicker of darkness caught his attention, flying towards his back. Another assailant? He turned his attention for just a moment towards the darkness, almost instantly Sudiov took advantage of his distraction, gaining some ground in their contest. He saw Sudiov's smile widen slightly. Then the darkness hit him and he realized what it was. Someone else had Snapped into Voidmaking, something that hadn't happened in a long, long time. It was a small amount of power, likely all that Mac could muster in the moment. But it was enough to establish a difference. Voidus pushed back, gritting his teeth as he channeled this power towards Sudiov. He made back the ground that Sudiov had stolen, then began to push back further still. Small wisps of light began to creep out of Sudiov's body as he widened his eyes in surprise. "That's really not fair." Sudiov said politely, voice betraying none of his fear. "Well then I suppose this will need to be settled later." Voidus nodded slowly. Destroying Sudiov entirely would mean destroying all the power that he held, everything that Voidus had left behind. This couldn't be settled with a simple contest of strength anymore, though knowing that he had the upper hand in such a confrontation was a relief. With a final nod, Sudiov vanished. Voidus turned around, the dark circles under his eyes even deeper now than they had been before. He silently watched the body that lay before him, the unconscious body of Mac. For you to have snapped at that moment. He thought, still astonished. Wonders never cease. Come on, you've done enough for today. He stooped down for a moment, pulling Mac up and feeding him a trickle of power to heal with. What was done was done, no sense in punishing Mac for it any further, and he had redeemed himself in that last second. "I suppose I'll need to start teaching you again." Voidus said, a small smile creeping over his pale lips once more. He looked up, towards the still-frozen people surrounding him. Signs of conflict seemed to have stalled for the moment. I suppose I'd better deal with this for now. His tired eyes wandered among all the participants, occasionally stopping on one figure for a little longer before moving on. "And what were all of you doing here?" He asked sternly.

Still staring directly into Macs eyes, Voidus loosened his grip for a moment. "Seventeen years?" He asked. Latching on to the most important piece of information. "Then someone could have..." The city was still standing, the Worldspike was in one piece so it was possible that nothing had changed, but the risk was still great. He would need to check on this immediately. "Do you have any idea what you might have done?" He asked Mac quietly, expression darkening, eyes seeming to grow as he stared. His grip tightened once more, trickles of blood beginning to flow down his hand from Macs scalp. He raised a menacing finger before Mac."This is beyond what I can overlook Mac. No matter what you may have done to help us in the past. You have no idea what you might have done, what could have happened, what might still happen!" The words burst from him, tone shifting to a shout as he grew more anxious. He took a moment and drew a deep steadying breath, allowing his voice to soften and his eyes to become cold."You know," He began softly. "I can't even remember the last time I needed to use this."A dark light began to emanate from the tip of the finger, dimming their surroundings as nearby light was sucked into it. The barrier nearby began to flicker as well, its power suppressed by the dark light."Rayse was always a bit melodramatic. Calling that imitation of his 'Voidbinding'. His power comes from a Shard of Adonalsium, a creator. He knows nothing of what the Void entails."Small wisps of multicolored light began to drift out of Mac's body, out of the spikes he wore."Voidmaking." Voidus said, a touch of finality to his voice. He watched the coloured wisps begin moving towards the dark point, each one a piece of Investiture or other magic that Mac had gathered. A dim golden stream was the first to touch the dark light, it suddenly accelerated, pulled in entirely until it was gone. Mac had lost the ability to channel.Voidus watched solemnly, it was never a lesson he'd wanted to teach Mac. But this day he needed to learn the price for his failure. Another thread, this one a soft green was next to be pulled in, vanishing just like the first. Stormlight healing.He felt something shift behind him but paid it no heed, these soldiers could do little to harm him or Mac, and Mac deserved his attention in these final moments. He deserved that at least. A shadowy thread vanished into the darkness, Alleymatics had been removed as well.A tiny strand of colour began to drift from Voidus' body, flowing behind him. He stared at it for a moment, still holding onto Mac before the significance of what he was seeing hit him."What?" He dropped Mac to the ground and spun around to follow the small strand with his eyes as it connected to another point of dark light, held on the outstretch finger of a wavering, semi-translucent figure behind him."Evening Voidus." The figure said, tipping a transparent bowler hat.What else could possibly make use of Voidmaking? And against him? Stunned, it took Voidus a moment to respond before he cut his hand swiftly through the air, sending a blade of dark energy towards the other figure. It collided with the point of dark light that it held, both of them held for a few brief seconds before vanishing.Powerful enough to hold on that long? Nothing could hold on that long against the power of the Void when he himself wielded it. Nothing except Voidus himself."Too late after all." Voidus said, looking down at Mac sadly. "After the first sixteen years someone must have acquired it.""Not quite." The figure said, straightening up. "I should introduce myself, I'm Sudiov."

With a faint sound of shattering glass, a small square opening appeared in the barrier. A shadow fell across the opening as something stepped out from within, revealing the figure of a tall, clean-shaven young man in a somewhat dusty looking grey suit. He stooped as he stepped through the small gap before, finally, for what seemed like the first time in an age, Voidus took a breath of fresh air. A storm whipped around him, tousling his short hair and seeming to react to the Investiture within him and the barrier.A Highstorm? No, the feel isn't right, it's not anything of Rayse's doing either. Something new then? Something different? A small smile tugged at his pale lips. New was good, new meant that things had continued progressing in an interesting way without any intervention. It was likely this that had caused the sudden fluctuations in the Dor earlier, but he might even be able to make use of this for the next rendition of the barrier. For now his makeshift patch seemed to be holding, and with any luck the Guardian wouldn't try anything too active to break out, though its eagerness when it sensed the Investiture out here had been concerning. He cast a brief, tired glance over his frozen surroundings, trying to decide if anything required any immediate attention. He'd been hoping to see some of the DA here, but he saw few figures that he recognized, and the DA likely would have used a more reliable method of extraction. Forces of unknown allegiance were arrayed throughout the center of the city, beyond them large sections of the city seemed to have been destroyed, some efforts to rebuild had obviously been going for some time. How long had he been stuck for? Voidus sent a quick Seeker pulse through the vicinity, identifying the large number of nearby Invested individuals, other pockets of people throughout the city seemed likewise Invested. He also found a rather unique Investiture signal that he hadn't been expecting to sense, one that only one person was likely to possess. "This raises a few questions." He muttered under his breath. He ignored the forces arrayed around him and slowly reached an arm up, fingers splayed and grasping for something.Blue lines erupted into the air around him, uncountable sources of metal within range. Almost too many to sort through, but eventually Voidus found a bundle that he was searching for. They were pale, extremely thin, likely invisible to any other due to the distance and the strength of the Investiture.Pulling on the barely-visible threads was difficult, the Investiture resisted him far beyond anything he was used to, and adjusting the strength of Allomancy wasn't a particular specialty of his."When was the last time something was this difficult?" He said, frown deepening on his face and throwing the bags under his eyes into sharper highlight.He tried to adjust, using enough force without going overboard.Dozens of buildings collapsed as something was pulled through them at incredible speeds, finally stopping as Voidus caught it with his outstretched hand, clasping the head of the figure that had flown towards him."Hello Mac." Voidus said. "Would you care to tell me how long you left me in there for? And why is half the city a giant crater?"

Stay a healthy distance away, Riot hunger until she eats herself, walk away. Or just Steelrun up, murder while no one can react, Steelrun away. Or Duralumin burn some Atium. Or use Allomantic steel and Feruchemical iron to turn into a thousand ton cannonball. Also, I doubt that someone perceiving something as light counts as something being light. Otherwise all metal on Scadrial would be massless and moving at the speed of light.

Death isn't the only way to win a fight.

Voidus reached out for another Aon, drawing the Dor back from it. It pulsed briefly before collapsing, leaving a hole in yet another layer of the barrier. Fifteen successive layers now had gaps large enough to slip through, it wouldn't be long now until he could collapse the last of them. Thud. Thud. Thud. The rhythmic footsteps of the guardian set his pace as he continued on to the sixteenth layer, he quickly examined the configuration and began to drawing the Dor back from them in sequence, one misstep could set him back or trigger some of the barriers defenses. Suddenly the entire barrier flickered for a moment, every Aon seemed to weaken as some kind of wave seemed to pass through them. Several layers seemed to simultaneously fail as key Aons were removed from their sequences. Voidus stood, his hands faltered as the Aon he had grasped flickered out without any intervention. He stared at the barrier, the hint of a frown beginning to form. He'd realized already that something had to be drawing an incredible amount of the Dor in order to weaken the barrier like this, but to draw enough to weaken the barrier to this extent? And all at once too, this wasn't a steady accumulation of additional programs drawing on the Dor, this was something sudden. What could possibly create such a sudden draw? Had a Shard managed to enter the Alleyverse in his absence? Thud. Thud. Thud. The layers that he'd created holes in began to collapse completely, Aons flickering out over the entire surface of the barrier and new holes forming everywhere. Through them he could see that the outermost layer seemed to be shining brighter than ever, as strong as it had been when first constructed. Was someone amplifying the draw of the Dor by the barrier itself? He moved back a step, taking a view of the barriers structure and quickly sketching a series of Aons in the air, the barrier was weak enough that the remains could simply be forced through, but now the entire barrier was weak. If he didn't do something to introduce some stability then the whole barrier might break, allowing unrestricted access to the Worldspike until he could repair it, and whatever was creating this draw had to be dealt with as well. Thud. Thud. In moments he had clear access to the final layer of the barrier, only this lay between him and freedom. However if he left the barrier in this state he'd just create more work for himself. Thud. With supernatural speed he drew one Aon after another, rebuilding the barrier as it was broken. But that was a stopgap measure at best, he could power them himself for now but that couldn't continue indefinitely. If he left it like that for long then either someone from the outside might get in, or the guardian might get out. The guardian? He realized that the regular footsteps of the guardian had slowed and finally stopped. That regular beat that had kept him company for who knew how long had changed. Cautiously he turned around just in time to see two enormous eyes staring right back, a glint of excitement within. This is going to be troublesome.

Yeah, basically the reasoning would be that when some people make the jump from the cosmere to the Alleyverse it takes them a really long time So you can come from era 1 Scadrial, but you wouldn't be able to return there.

Potentially true, but also if the DA wants some accidents to happen then they're probably going to happen regardless of who is technically in charge of the transportation.

Voidus, still in an impenetrable and opaque barrier was still confused as to ow anyone thought he would pull this off but he politely nodded along.

Unfortunately for Hoid, Voidus was no Shard.