Jaakobah does the only thing he can do upon being faced with almost death and destruction: straighten his tie, fix his hair, and dust off his suit. He eyes current residents of the bar with interest.

The bar is pretty much empty, but an urbane young bartender is keeping the tap running. The furniture seems mostly picked back up and either replaced, taken away, or dusted off. A couple of bland young human types chatter at the end of the bar, and a couple people discuss business at a shadowy booth.

Jaakobah eyes the bland young human beings.

Jake wonders if they are a couple. They're both guys, but that doesn't rule anything out. It seems more likely from their attitude that they're community college types relaxing, however.

Jaakobah walks up to the bar, slides on the stool, and orders a dry martini. The drink of Balseraphim everywhere.

The drink is served quickly and efficiently, and it's reasonably good. So is the next drink. And the next. (Assuming Jake takes at least three.)

Jaakobah does, and he gives the couple at the end of the bar the eye of someone sizing up a mark.

Jaakobah gives them a reassuring grin.

One of them blinks, and then waves. "Hey. Happy apocalypse."

Jaakobah says, with the casual reassurance of one who is always casually reassured, "Same to you. I have heard... oh, nevermind."

The guy says, curiously, "Heard?"

Jaakobah says "I've heard, in a manner of speaking, that the apocalypse is much more enjoyable when you're getting some."

Jaakobah uses the Bal of Factions attunement for this sequence.

The guy makes an amused face. "You said it, partner. Heck, so are Christmas and President's Day."

Jaakobah leans an elbow on the bar. "Well, there are two of you, and the Apocalypse is here."

The human grins. "You know where there are a couple of hot chicks?"

Jaakobah waves a hand. "Why do you need hot chicks? Besides, there isn't time for that. The universe is falling apart now."

That guy looks uncertain. "I'm not sure what --" He subsides again.

Jaakobah grins a big friendly Balseraph of Dark Comedy grin. "You're both so... cute. All he," he nods to the other one, "has to do is get down on his knees out there on the pavement in front of the bar, and the both of you can have a happy Apocalypse."

The human nods thoughtfully. "Yeah. That makes sense. What about it, Steve?"

Jaakobah beams at Steve.

Steve looks somewhat startled. He asks, "Pardon?"

Jaakobah says "Sure, Steve. Go on and have a fun Apocalypse."

Steve says, "I think I'll pass. I have a chem test tomorrow."

Jaakobah says "Oh, come on Steve. What is the point of chemistry if the world is ending?"

Steve considers. "Well -- I suppose it's still studying chemistry." He laughs uncomfortably. "Sort of."

Steve rises to his feet.

Jaakobah grins at them both. How cute.

The other guy frowns as Steve walks towards the door. "Wait --" he says, uncertainly. "Do we really want to do this?"

Jaakobah tells the other guy, "Sure you do. The world is ending!"

Steve pauses at the door as the other guy's expression turns resolved and frisky. He hops to his feet and strides jubilantly towards his hesitating companion.

Jaakobah leans against the bar. Another good job done.

"You're right!" that other guy said. "When furniture falls from the sky, sexual morality goes out the door."

Steve's face, at the door, is all confused. Then he bolts for the restroom/phones hall.

Jaakobah snaps his fingers. Darn. Another good blowjob down the drain.

The other guy calls, "Steve? Where are you going?"

Jaakobah orders another drink.

Steve vanishes into the restroom, shortly followed by the other guy, who seems to have a different purpose in mind.

Another drink is quickly served up.

Jaakobah sips, and listens with a grin to the ensuing mayhem.

There's an outraged yell, and the sounds of various thumps.

Then there's complete silence.

The bartender polishes the mugs.

Jaakobah says "Should you go check on them?"

The bartender says, "If I go check on them, who will make the drinks?"

Jaakobah says "Ah, true. A wise man you are."

Jaakobah drinks his drink in peace, then.

The silence from the restroom continues. The bar is completely empty now, save for Jake and the bartender.

Jaakobah finishes his drink, pays the bartender, and wanders out into the night. His truck is destroyed, and it's a long way to... anywhere, really.

A familiar figure, complete with fiery tattoos, slips through the door as Jake approaches.

Jaakobah eyes the familiar figure.

The Habbalite snarls companionably at Jake. "Good. About time you turned up somewhere."

Jaakobah says "Oh. You. Aren't you dead yet?"

The Habbalite offers a thin, thin smile. "I suppose that you heard that from Meserach's men?"

Jaakobah says "Whose?"

Steve emerges from the rest room, a sick look on his face. He staggers towards the door.

Jaakobah lets Steve pass.

The Habbalite says, biting out the words, "The Prince of Sloth. Also known as 'that crazy bastard.' The," her fist clenches, ever so slightly, "one you were supposed to kill."

Jaakobah says "Who, me? Nah. And you need to work harder on this dying thing. You keep staying alive, and that can't be good for your mood."

Steve turns, as he slips through that gap, and looks full into Jake's face. "It was you," he whispers. "You did that. Somehow."

Jaakobah says "Me? Nah. I'm never one to stand in the way of young love."

Steve grabs Jaakobah's shoulders and shouts full into his face. "It was you. Just tell me what you -- just tell me why. Tell me what you wanted."

Jaakobah says "Huh? Man, I didn't want anything, except a drink."

Steve says, eyes wild and sad, "You wanted a drink? That's all?"

Jaakobah says "Yeah. And I got one. Paid for it too."

The Habbalite almost reaches to interfere, and then decides she'd rather watch and smirk.

Steve says, "With that money that's sitting out on the bar?" He's looking completely out of it now.

Jaakobah says "Yup. That's the money."

The Habbalite says, "You have such entertaining fri--"

Anaharath's consciousness arrives from the scene with the monster.

Anaharath blinks. Her expression alters, and she looks around herself, frowning.

Anaharath asks, calmly, "What was I just saying?"

Steve smiles, ever-so-slightly. "But how can you have paid when it's just sitting there?"

Anaharath eyes this person. Does he have the Mark upon his forehead?

Jaakobah shrugs, and tells the Habbalite, "I don't know, I'm ignoring you." He turns to Steve. "The bartender hasn't picked it up yet."

Steve has no mark.

Steve says, cannily, "I think that if you've gotten everything you wanted, you should pay with more than some money that nobody's even taken."

Anaharath rolls her eyes and ignores Jaakobah, patting her pockets and jacket.

Fortunately, she does indeed still have the jacket.

Jaakobah eyes Steve. He has no idea what this poor deluded fool is telling him. So he simply says, "You really should think more positive thoughts." Then he turns and walks out the bar.

Anaharath checks the pocket that held the hypno-bug.

The Balseraph steps confidently and firmly out from the restroom hall into the bar.

Jaakobah blinks. What the hell.

Jaakobah heads for the door of the bar to leave.

Anaharath rummages in her pockets. Where did that slightly-squished lovey-dove bug get to?

Anaharath asks Jaakobah, abesntly, "What happened to my car and the boots?"

Jaakobah says "Dead. Gone. Destroyed by something."

Anaharath says "The car or the boots?"

Jaakobah says "Yes."

Anaharath nods. "Ah. And what happened to the False Messiah?" (She ignores the human.)

Jaakobah says "Pissed off."

Anaharath says "Dead or alive?"

Jaakobah says "Dunno. Look, what's your deal?"

Steve whispers, as Jake passes, "I think I will take this." His hand reaches out and pulls the mark from Jaakobah's head, along with a chunk of skull and forebrain. The pain and confusion lasts only a moment, as Steve swiftly replaces it with a piece of his own.

The barkeep, in the background, rings the cash register. "Your change!" he announces, chipperly.

Anaharath starts to answer, then narrows her eyes at Steve, backing away defensively, one hand going for where her gun should be.

Jaakobah blinks, and puts his hand to his forehead.

Anaharath resonates, and discovers ...

Steve's emotional state is a raw and overarching greed, as deep and cold as the farthest oceans. It far exceeds anything a human could ever know, although it has that sophistication of nuance that comes from long exposure to human society.

Steve neatly fits the mark and a bit of Jake's brain into his head, it squishing around a little bit and not making quite a perfect fit.

Jaakobah reaches out and grabs Steve by the collar. "Give me that back."

Steve grins maniacally. "Now, now. It was a fair deal."

The bartender sets a slip of paper on the bar and fades neatly out of sight.

Jaakobah casually hits Steve in the face with his free fist.

Anaharath pulls out her gun. Assuming she still has it.

Steve's head rocks slightly. He massages his jaw.

Jaakobah hits him again.

Steve's head rocks again. "That's two."

Anaharath says, coldly, "Greedy thief."

Jaakobah reaches up to casually take his piece of forehead back.

Steve blows on Jaakobah, and the casual puff has the force of a hurricane.

Steve's breath throws Jake into the far wall. Guess it's true what they say about alcohol.

Jaakobah oofs into the wall, hits it like a ton of bricks, and slides down to the floor.

The little bit of Stevebrain in Jake's head squishes slightly as he shakes about.

It thinks greedy little thoughts about bargains and tricks and the taste of little children, but none of them are useful.

Maya guesses correctly who Steve is.

Anaharath says, voice only a little shakey, "Give it back to him now, whatever you be, or you are in defiance of God's Will!"

Steve grins. "Wouldn't be the first time."

Jaakobah moans a little, puts his hand to his forehead, and gets up off the floor.

Anaharath mutters, "But it could be the last." She raises her voice again. "Identify yourself! Are you demon or angel, Prince or Servitor?"

Steve says, politely, "None of the above."

Anaharath . o O ( Liar. )

Anaharath says, civilly through her teeth, "Then what are you?"

Jaakobah stands up, swaying slightly, and then sings Celestial Charm at our man Steve.

Steve says, "The official title is Princess, my dear." He stretches. "Look, it's been fun --"

Steve blinks and shakes his head slightly. "Head trip."

Anaharath takes the hopeful distraction and calls for Fire.

Jaakobah then sings Celestial Entropy at this guy, and tosses in a point of essence to help his chances.

Steve's eyes roll up in his head until only the white shows and he sways as he stands. Jake gets another action before the summon goes off ...

> Jaakobah says "And she shouldn't have taken my brain."

Anaharath chants the names of Fire in Latin and Hebrew, invoking the burning...

Jaakobah runs over to Steve, wraps his hand around the forehead chunk, and tears his chunk of brain from Steve's head. Mine.

The Balseraph rips a piece of brain, and a piece of skull, and some skin, and a mark upon that skin, from the center of Steve's forehead.

Jaakobah then, chunk of brain in hand, runs for the door.

Anaharath breaks off her chant and heads after Jaakobah.

The two are outside.

While running, Jake is trying to rip out the nasty bit and shove his bit back in. He just keeps running from the bar.

Anaharath says, "That was very strange." She continues to run after Jaakobah as best she can.

That other guy blurs into place immediately in front of Jake, as he struggles with the fit of the brain, about twelve seconds out from the bar.

Judging by the visual effects, he seems to have run, albeit rather quickly.

Anaharath levels her gun at the bit of brain -- the one with the mark -- and asks, "Perhaps no one should get it?"

Jaakobah shoves his bit back into the hole and holds his hand over it, and tries to ignore the fact that this guy runs at light speed. It's not much, but dammit, it's HIS brain.

Anaharath shifts her aim to Jaakobah's head, sure.

That other guy has a gap in his forehead, just like Steve did when you left.

Jaakobah throws the other guy his brain. "Here. Catch. Have fun."

That other guy says, "Oh, heck," as he pushes his brain back in. "You're right. Why fiddle with this picayune stuff when I can take the whole Balseraph?"

Anaharath . o O ( Who'd want him? )

Anaharath says, "But wouldn't you owe his master something, then?"

Jaakobah says "Um."

Jaakobah decides this is not good.

This guy counts on his fingers. "One gift of what he wants. Two punches. Two Songs. One ripping-a-piece-of-brain from my body. That's a lot."

Jaakobah says "This is all fucking insane. You're all fucking insane."

Anaharath says, "So take it out of his hide in a couple of weeks. He's busy now. What do you want?"

That other guy laughs. "Isn't it obvious? Hell's shut down, all my daughters are dead, and you three have a line on Mary, by destiny if not by actual knowledge. And I have a tropism for babies."

Anaharath says, "There are some in the pocket of my jacket, I think. You could get some of those."

The man rummages around in a pocket and pulls out a small abacus, on which he works on a rapid computation.

Jaakobah starts backing away. It is time to split, Jake-me-boy. It's time to bail. And bail hard.

The Balseraph bumps into the bartender as he backs up.

That other guy computes, computes, computes on the abacus.

Jaakobah pushes past the bartender, and flees into the bar, looking for a back door out of here.

Steve's in the bar, as well as the restroom hall, a bunch of liquor, and the slip of paper on the bar.

Steve seems to have recovered from the Celestial Entropy.

Steve has his brain back, too!

Jaakobah skids to a halt, next to the bar. Here's Steve... and something else outside... and well. He grabs the slip of paper and reads it.

It reads, "One boon. ( Change for the Mark of the Messiah. )"

Anaharath looks around, trying not to panic. It's a wonderful emotion, but she's not so sure it's a divinely inspired whim.

There's the sound of a Superior arriving nearby in celestial form.

Anaharath looks for the boom.

(There was supposed to be an earth-shattering kaboom!)

(No boom today. Boom tomorrow.)

Outside, near Anaharath, a polished man in a gold-thread suit with a flashy silver tie and sunglasses steps out from the trees. His Mercurian wings and halo fade out as he shifts into corporeal form.

Jaakobah returns to his original quest - a back door out of this madhouse.

Anaharath makes a fast choice. She edges backwards and tries to be somewhat behind this Archangel. Not that she's hiding, of course.

That other guy says, "Hi! I need arbitration."

Marc says, "Hi, babe!" He air-kisses. "For what? I thought you were out of that gig."

There's a completely shattered window in the rest room, if Jaakobah goes there.

Jaakobah does, and he tries to knock away any really dangerous shards of glass so he can climb out it.

Anaharath realizes, uncomfortably, that there are two things she'd very much like to acquire, and it will probably take a Superior for at least one of them.

That other guy, let's call him Lyle, says, "I've got these debts, see, and I want to trade them for complete ownership of a soul. But you know how these things can go wrong if your total is just a little bit off."

Anaharath . o O ( On the other hand, I can always head for my Heavenly Heart and find someone helpful upstairs. ) She starts backing toward the bar, to see where Jake's gotten himself to.

Marc says, "Show me the list, babe! Marc's the name, Trade's the game, and I've got a head for math like you wouldn't believe."

Jaakobah is climbing out the window. It's just time to go.

Anaharath decides the heck with it, and takes to her heels. No telling what trouble Jake's going to get into without adult supervision.

The bar is empty except for Steve, as far as Anaharath can see. However, she can probably guess which way Jake went ...

Anaharath heads for the back, sure.

The Balseraph is out the window.

Jaakobah fixes his suit, smooths back his hair, and than takes off running.

There's a gorgeous Mercedes parked a little ways down the road, its door open, its light on, and its owner apparently lying dead nearby with a commode from the Pleasant Valley eruption on top of his head and chest.

Jaakobah pulls up short and lifts an eyebrow. A trap? Too easy. He looks around.

The Balseraph senses no traps.

Anaharath looks for a back door, or, if there is not one in front of her, checks the restrooms.

No back door, but a shattered window in the rest room opening out back.

Anaharath heads for the window, putting her gun away.

Jaakobah stands in front of the car, pondering, pondering, pondering.

A buzzing, like a thousand hornets, starts up at some distance from Jake, back by the bar -- around where Anaharath is, actually, although she cannot see the source of it. It's very loud, and moving generally towards Jake.

Jaakobah decides to fuck it. He pulls the body out of the way, and searches for keys to the car.

Anaharath heads out the window and runs, hoping the sound will stay behind.

The keys are in the ignition. The hum grows closer.

Jaakobah pushes the body out of the way, and gets into the car. He turns the key. Come on, come on.

The car starts.

Jaakobah closes his door, and shoves the car into gear.

A Superior -- it looks like Marc, if someone glances that way -- assumes celestial form and ascends.

Anaharath does indeed glance that way. Then runs as fast as she can.

The Habbalite hears a car starting, just through that patch of trees.

Jaakobah puts his foot on the gas.

Anaharath heads for that. If nothing else, at least she can get a car...

The car lurches onto the road just as Anaharath bursts into view. Jake notices one of those little dancing woman things on the dash, which he unaccountably missed before. It's green, and it's got little horns, and it's smiling.

Jaakobah says "Oh fuck." He stops the car, and gets out.

The little dancer wiggles and jiggles and bounces as the car shudders to a stop.

Jaakobah gets out... and away... from the car.

Anaharath heads for Jake.

The droning noise seems to have stopped.

Jaakobah turns, sees Ana, says "Jesus Jumping Christ, we gotta get out of here."

Anaharath thins her lips. "I could ascend, but I doubt you'd be allowed in..."

Off in the distance, a black-winged horde hoves into view.

Jaakobah decides to forget her, and he takes off into the woods.

Anaharath runs after Jake. Idiot Balseraphim.

The trees start shrinking.

Jaakobah stops, and ponders. Then he tries to summon the Boss.

Jaakobah figures, hell, it's not gonna get any worse.

Anaharath skids to a halt behind Jake and looks around for threats, then starts rummaging in her jacket again. Just to see what's in the pockets.

Anaharath . o O ( How bad would it be, really, to break our trail in Heaven? I mean, the Balseraph might not survive. Would that be bad? )

Anaharath asks, casually, "Wanna go to Heaven?"

Jaakobah says "No, not really."

Anaharath shrugs. "I bet she wouldn't follow you there."

Jaakobah says "I bet I would die."

The Balseraph, to his surprise, feels his call "click."

The Symphony stirs.

Anaharath says, not feeling the 'click,' "The Malakim have given up their other oaths. They don't have to slay you."

Jaakobah blinks. And then puts a hand to his head. It's okay, man. It's all okay. Think happy thoughts. Happy thoughts. Happy happy happy happy thoughts.

Anaharath blinks as the Symphony stirs. Urk.

Jaakobah thinks happy thoughts.

Anaharath steps behind the Balseraph.

Jaakobah thinks happier thoughts, because the first happy thoughts weren't working.

Anaharath just prays. To God.

A black-winged shape, dark and angelic in form, with a chain made of little paper links wrapped around his chest, steps out from behind a tree.

Jaakobah just eeeeeegs as his happy thoughts dissolve.

The Prince of Dark Humor has the very faintest of smiles on his face.

Anaharath . o O ( Why can't my co-worker serve a Demon Prince with class? )

Jaakobah . o O ( Jesus FUCKING Christ )

Jaakobah gets over being in blind panic for the moment, and settles into seeing panic. "Boss."

Kobal says, each word a wrong note in the Symphony, "If you can guess why I'm amused, Jake, I might forgive your progress so far."

The black-winged horde continues its inexorable approach. The trees have stopped shrinking, though.

Anaharath looks up at the horde, trying to decide if they're Calabim or Malakim or What.

They look more like Malakim.

Jaakobah says "Because things have officially gotten Out Of Hand."

Jaakobah looks at his Boss. Looks at Malakim. Looks at his Boss. Just says "Oh God Oh Man."

Anaharath is not concerned by Malakim. She's allowed in Heaven.

Kobal says, "I appreciate the compliment, Jake, but I'm not God yet."

Kobal says, "No, that's not why. Guess again."

Jaakobah says "Because I'm standing here talking to you while a horde of screaming Malakim are about to tear me apart and Lilith is trying to rip out parts of my brain."

Jaakobah has officially lost his cool.

Jaakobah has even lost control of his hair.

Anaharath snickers, under her breath. When it's stated that way, it is funny.

Kobal says, "Closer! But they're not here to tear you apart. Last guess."

The horde of screaming Malakim, distinguished from most such hordes in that it is not screaming, is now only a couple of minutes away.

Jaakobah says "Um, um, um, um, because I don't know WHAT the fuck is going on. Vapulan Messiahs, hordes of Malakim, toilets fallin out of the sky - that's pretty cool, though -, air fresheners which control the electricity and Mary fucking Mother of God is still missing and I have no idea where she's gone."

Jaakobah realizes, woah, he's babbling truth. Er, well, stringent times call for stringent measures!

Kobal says, voice gleeful, "They're here to take your soul into escrow."

Jaakobah says "WHAT?"

Anaharath laughs. She can't help it.

Jaakobah stands there, open mouthed.

Anaharath gets down on her knees, because it's safer that way, and giggles.

Kobal's demeanor grows severe. Given his mostly-Malakite shape, this takes little effort. "Now, the matter of your nearly complete and total failure on every possible count save clothes sense."

Jaakobah says "She was already gone when I got there. Every clue pointed to, um, the Archangel of Creation."

Anaharath fastens her jacket up. Eli's jacket. Whatever.

Kobal says, eyes glittering red, "Yes, so Anaharath mentioned. We shall miss him."

Jaakobah is missing some important piece of information here. "I don't understand."

Anaharath flicks her eyes up briefly. She thinks, How'd he know that??

Kobal says, "While you have been barhopping, others have been working. I had hoped to hear the story first ..." He shows teeth. "Perhaps I still will."

Kobal says, "Pick a virtue."

Jaakobah looks very very nervous. "Um, um, charity."

Kobal smiles brightly. "It is yours." And, indeed, Jaakobah feels extremely charitable.

Jaakobah, feeling charitable, reaches into his pocket, and gives Ana all his change.

Anaharath takes the change, blinking. "I could use some Essence," she suggests quietly.

Jaakobah gives Ana two points of essence suddenly. Just because he's feeling extremely charitable.

Anaharath takes it and smiles cheerfully.

Jaakobah blinks. Why the hell did he do that?

Kobal says, intently, "Listen, Jaakobah, Balseraph forever mine, no matter what liens lie on your soul. Eli has cast himself into the places beyond creation, and is lost to us. He cannot have hidden Mary far away. Meserach's army desecrates the world. You have only a handful of days left; do not squander them."

Anaharath blinks. Ah-HA.

Jaakobah nods his head. "Yes, sir."

Kobal dissolves into dust as the first of the Malakim land.

The Malakite is wearing sunglasses.

Anaharath gets up off her knees.

It says, very coldly, "Jaakobah?"

Jaakobah is suddenly feeling... charitable. Oh man. "Hey guys. This whole Apocalypse thing is cool, isn't it?"

Anaharath leans out from behind Jake. "I do trust that I'm going to retain the use of him for the next 11 days, Virtues?"

The Malakite says, "In the name of Marc, Archangel of Trade, and through him in the name of the Word that created the world, I claim thy soul in escrow for seven days, after which it will be delivered to Lilith of the succubi. Do you hear and understand my words?"

Jaakobah says "Um, yeah."

Anaharath . o O ( Seven. Okay, we can live with 7. )

The Malakite nods as the others land, like apples raining from the trees in a storm.

Jaakobah doesn't think there is anything else he can do now. So.

The Malakite adds, "I allow you the freedom of your person for the time." All the Malakim, like a wave, execute a Japanese bow.

Jaakobah says "Yeah, well, the world is going to end."

Anaharath almost puts her hands in her jacket-pockets. Then she remembers that could be dangerous.

Jaakobah says "If you haven't heard."

Marc's Virtue says, "Ah, yes, but that's no reason to interrupt the flow of commerce."

Anaharath clears her throat politely.

Jaakobah blinks at that. "Think about what you just said for a moment, and get back to me."

The Malakite smiles, ever so faintly. Then the Malakim, as one, ascend.

In the distance, you hear Steve's voice yelling, "DAMN."

Anaharath looks at Jake. "I think she noticed her car was stolen, or something. We should scram."

Jaakobah says "I'm all for scramming."

Anaharath asks, "Do you want that car you abandoned, or do we run again?"

Jaakobah says "Leave the car. It's tainted with Lilim."

Jaakobah tries to put his hair back together.

Anaharath says, "All the Lilim are dead, supposedly." She looks around. Away from the bar sounds good.

Jaakobah starts walking away from the bar. He's trying to get his little Balseraph brain back together.

Anaharath falls into step with Jake. "So Eli's gone. Probably into that void place."

Jaakobah just walks. And walks. And walks.

Jaakobah says "Or somewhere. Good riddance."

Anaharath sighs. "I was hoping to track him through his jacket." She fishes in a pocket. "Want a condom?"

Jaakobah says "Why, you want to fuck?"

Anaharath says "No. I wanted to clear out the pocket."

Jaakobah says "Then throw it on the ground. Or, wait, give it to the next couple you see, in case they need it and it will help their lives."

Jaakobah says "Um."

Jaakobah blinks.

Anaharath eyes Jake. "Here. You take it. You give it to them."

Jaakobah absentmindedly shoves it into a pocket.

Anaharath says, "All right. So you've been wined, dined, shown water-parks for mice, and seduced by the Archangel of Creation. Where would you hide?"

Jaakobah says "Someplace not here."

The two reach a downtown street, a heavily-traveled busy thriving place. Except that everyone has been chopped into at least four pieces and left for dead for -- at least a week.

Anaharath looks around. "What a waste."