Chapter 20
Haz'rd Vulp
Prelude
Within himself and his troops Haz'rd felt pride over the victory they had attained weeks ago. When the Vulpen peoples heard of the victory of those with nary a chance it spread hope throughout the entire territory. Even with Aqku help the Maqku were driving hard in the East, taking little by little. At times it was depressing, hearing of battles lost, hundreds and thousands dead.
As a gift from his contacts in the South, Haz'rd received a music machine. It played a large thin piece of weak oil byproduct, and somehow sound came from it. There were only two of these things, and a total of an hour and a half of music, but it was a nice gift to have. It took a kit a few seconds to get it going, but once it did wonderful sounds came from it. At least the first one, the second one produced horrible music. The kits liked the hard sounds of the second, but it reminded Haz'rd too much of the lives lost, and those nearly lost.
Outside there was a repreive from the forming heat of the summer months as silent raindrops fell. There was a slight breeze that Haz'rd could barely feel. Lea'ra stood next to him as he sat in a chair, a couple of fingers rubbing his temples as he was lost in thought. She gave a slight cough that broke his concentration. Looking up he could see the worry written on her face.
Since they had both gotten back Haz'rd had seemed distant. Why, he couldn't explain, why he had such a problem letting go of what happened at the battle. By all estimates there should have been some losses, but not a single Vulpen or Aqku died in that battle, and yet all over the Vulpen territory there were hundred dying everyday. Lea'ra did what she could to help him, but he still remained lost, even her saying just then, "Let us go for a walk," began to lose its appeal.
Action
Walking back from their little walk, Haz'rd tucked his shirt back in. It was a mite bit uncomfortable, but it was a sign of civilization they quickly adapted too. Lea'ra stopped in frong of Haz'rd, gave him a peck on the check and told him, "I've got some things to check on, see you later." He watched her walk away and he just stood there for the moment. Taking a deep breathe he bagan to yawn, then he looked up at the sky, his eyes kind of droopy from being a little tired.
His eyes searched the skies, looking at this cloud formation and that. Then he felt a strange sensation indeed. It was as though the sky was pulling him up towards it. Odd as it was Haz'rd didn't look down to his feet to see if he was firmly planted there, as he knew that he was. The skies turned dark in an instant, all the light sucking itself in to one singular point in the sky, and moving down towards the ground, seemingly at Haz'rd.
From the top of the sky to just in front of him, he could see, a black orb that reflected no light. As it was in front of him he noticed that the sky returned to its normal colour, but his attention was firmly on the object before him. He wanted to touch it, yet at the same time he almost feared the object. There was a realization that came to him. This object, he thought, could very well cure all his mental woes, if only, if only he could embrace it.
Choices
Haz'rd dropped down to pick up a stick, feeling a mite bit peckish, and wondering if this thing was edible. Poking it once or twice he noticed that it was a bit soft around the outside, kind of like a squishy thing that could bounce really well, or maybe just absorb the impact of something. Then like that the stick was out of Haz'rd's hand, sucked into the black blob before him. It started to move towards him, and he moved back away from it. Suddenly a bright light spewed forth from it, and a strange plasma covered the ground around Haz'rd as the blob exploded.
Looking down at the goo Haz'rd could see it lightly jiggling. Then it came to the point where it just evaporated in a poof sound, which although slight, was loud enough for Haz'rd to hear. Thinking that it was possible for him to have just survived a near miss with something dangerous, Haz'rd felt releived that there was something watching out for him. He didn't know why he knew something was out there, just that it was.
Semper Fidelis
Prelude
Nearly seven weeks had passed since he had come onto this ship. Semper could see his planet from a single porthole located near the 'bottom' of the ship. It was very cramped in most areas, and some he dared not even to go to, due to it looking so grungy. Those areas of the ship that were clean were nice to be in, for the most part.
It was the knowledge of what was happening in the worlds above that interested Semper the most. A mellenia or so had passed since the split of the Qu, and stories he heard about the accident troubled him. Billions, he was told, were caught up and crushed to death as the bedrock rose from the ground and killed them. Many were saved, but the whole affair caused a mass migration away from the planet.
There were plenty who returned, but the lack of infrastructure troubled most, and turned them off to the idea of returning to the homeworld of the Human species birth. The idea of leaving the planet completely was not gone, and a plan seemed to have formed of going back and building things up again. The problem with this were the politics behind it. He was currently on a ship built and controlled by the Nox, the technological side of the Qu split, like the Maqku of the planet, though much more advanced. Ever it was that a planet would fall to either the Nox or the Prows, and the main reason for dithering so long on the home planet was from the other side rushing in to wipe the other side out.
And so, like the two decendants of the Qu on the planet, in the skies above and beyond the same was happening across the stars. It was almost depressing to think about how much pain and suffering the accident had caused. There was almost a feeling of shame over it all, if Semper wasn't so worried about what was actually going to happen to the peoples below.
Action
Semper had been on the bridge at the time, chatting away with Captain Gerril when alarms started to go off. The one other crew member on the ship turned to them and said, "A Prow vassal has broken orbit." A series of beeps could be heard, while Semper and Gerril went to the screen that the crew member was staring at intently. "There," he said, pointing to a map on the screen near the Southern border of Vulpen territory.
"By the Plutocrats," spoke the Captain as the screen zoomed to the surface, showing the vassal being in front of a Vulpen. "Why would the Prow be trying to get a hold of that Chosen," asked the Captain, before slipping into his native tongue and speaking with the crew member. The screen pulled back and a bolt of blue energy slowly sped down toward the Vulpen and the vassal.
"What's happening," asked Semper.
The reply from the Captain, "What must be done, it must be destroyed."
Choices
Semper tried to voice his opinion, but before he could mutter the words the bolt of energy had already reached the ground. The third person said something to the Captian, and then they both smiled. "It's done," said the Captain. Semper stood there with his mouth kind of agape. "You look like something wrong just happened. Don't worry, your furry friend is fine."
Ninja Monkey
Prelude
"If I were the cause of the crash, would I have stuck around," Ninja yelled at one of his interrogators, the sixth in about as many weeks. "First the train crashed, I got knocked out, found myself on the ground, and someone else was there, then the sky started falling!" Ninja was beginning to get very annoyed with these people.
The other man in the room, who looked to be in his mid-thirties, a heavily receding hairline, and a thick mustache, lit up a cigerette. He took a long drag, then let it out slowly, "We've investigated the crash thuroughly, and the only thing that could have caused it would be a large bomb. You say this other person wore a chemist's patch, well who better to built your bomb then a chemist?"
"You've got to be kidding me," Ninja was still yelling. He'd stand up to do it but only having one foot made that difficult, which reminded him of that, "And what about my foot? Would a person who wanted to blow up a train be around to let their foot get blown off? And about that, if I were anywhere near an exploding train, how could the rest of my body get off without some minor scratches? And where are you on the falling metal, I'd like to know that one?"
After a cough the interrogator spoke, "We've studied the blast pattern, and our people are satisfied that it came from the train having high explosives placed in a number of the cars."
"You-you people are ridiculous," was all Ninja could manage out.
Action
Back and forth from a cell to a small room with another man who didn't seem to know much of anything. After many weeks of being locked up, another new man was there, though this one was military. He was sitting where Ninja usually sat, and had a number of folders with him. The guard took Ninja to his seat, and then was excused by the military person.
"Mr. Monkey, please, start from the beginning," the man ordered.
Ninja had a look of confusion on his face. For one, a person from the military wouldn't be asking something from someone, he'd be telling, especially someone lower ranking. "Well," started Ninja, "I was on the train heading to attack the Vulpens, when everything just stopped. I felt myself lurch forward, I was pulled from my seat, and then I remember the door having come open and I was going through the air. I turned around and a train car was coming at me. It missed, but I was knoked out."
He paused for a moment, then continued, "I remember waking up and seeing a woman above me. Her right arm had a cut in it, but it looked shallow. She convinced me to stay close and not move too much incase I was bleeding on the inside. Then pieces of metal started falling. One hit my foot and now its gone, just like that woman. I was out again, then I remember being treated, someone saying, 'Take him' somewhere, then I've been here."
The military man was jotting down notes, "Did you happen to catch the name of the woman?"
Ninja shook his head, "No, I couldn't hear her say anything anyway."
Nodding, the man then asked, "Before the metal came down, did you notice anything."
Realizing he had been forgetting something, Ninja told the man, "Yes. Yes," Ninja said with some force, "There were these strange patterns in the sky. Large colors moving like a string. Then what could have been a large fireball, it was orange from what I could see. Then the metal started coming a moment later," Ninja felt like a lost memory had just come out. And it showed on his face.
He could hear the military man muttering to himself. He couldn't make much out, but he got, "temporary memory laspe, confusion, the girl." Looking up at Ninja, "Very good Mr. Monkey. You will be released and sent back home in the South for a while. We'll be contacting you sometime in the future. We're giving you your back pay for time spent recuperating. As there's been a series of cold snaps where you'll be going, I suggest you get some warm clothes."
Choices
Just like that, thought Ninja, it was all over and done with. Standing up he grabbed his crutch and made his way to the door. He was furious, but he wasn't letting it show. He opened the door went through, and was helped to his cell and his stuff was gathered for him. Going to the entrance he was processed, and released. The shop was next door and he got himself a drink, a couple of sweaters, and some junk food.
He looked at the train ticket he was given, and as he looked upon the train across the way, he could only think to himself, "Shit better not happen again."
Melinda
Prelude
She was very unhappy with the way everything had happened. Hundreds of people were killed in the little stunt her commanders had pulled with the train. She, along with most everyone else, was blocked access to the exact details, but she remembered the things she had seen. There were a great number of troubling things she thought about when it came to those people that were above her.
She had heard over time that that the Maqku society was a bit corrupt, but what they did paled in comparison to what the Nox had just done, and continued to do. There was no oversight anywhere around the planet and the commanders put in place. Occasionally Melinda would hear about a politician's beaurocrat stopping by for a chat, but not much beyond that would occur.
Action
The lights on the ship dimmed from the standard glowing bluish-white to the redish-crimson associated with a high state of alert. She heard in her ear the call for her to get to her station. Quickly she ran to engineering to see if she was needed there. The Captian was giving a message to the entire ship, though with only one small screen, all were crowded about.
"We have spotted Prow magic on the planet, high alert set until further notified."
Melinda felt a need to do something.
Choices
Melinda waited a moment for further orders, but none would reach her ears. The sound of metal tearing came from all around. A great sucking sound popped the ears of everyone in the room the engine was contained in. Out they went into the coldness of space, knowing nothing any further.
Shinobi
Prelude
Going with everyone else it was two months before they touched Aqku soil again. The mountains were easier to pass then any of them thought it would be. There was a feeling that they had all gotten a little bit of a push from their faith, but many felt somber about the entire turn of events. Shinobi, though, felt a great deal of hope in what had happened.
He didn't quite know how, but he felt that it was the strength inside of him, his connection to a higher power, that pulled him through, and no one else. At the end that extra bit of time he put into training himself, he knew, gave him the speed to survive.
Action
Along the mountains and the ocean was a town called "Edgeville." Probably named because it was one of the seediest places in all of Aqku territory. Though they were almost non-existant, and rarely talked about, one or two here or there had people who failed to believe. This town had a church, though it was infrequently visited by clergy. The local practitioner of the faith helped the men bury the Pious from the South.
None of them knowing what to do really, decided to split up a bit and enjoy the town. A few of the men dissapeared completely, but most stayed in touch. Shinobi thought back to the Maqku officer he had slain and realized, much to his being told to the otherwise, the language and accent between himself and the man were almost identical. Maybe not so much in the accent area, but both could understand each other easily enough.
Could it be, thought Shinobi, that perhaps there were many things in the Maqku lands that weren't quite the way people he knew made them seem. It wasn't as though the Maqku and Aqku socialized all that much. This line of thought sent Shinobi wondering about what he could learn if he snuck into Maqku territory. Maybe even built up a life there. From some things that he heard, he could very well make a living being a freelance agent of some kind for certain elements of Maqku society.
Choices
Going to a mercantile, Shinobi gathered a few things he'd need for the trip through the mountains. A warm blanket, plenty of rations, a pack, and a few rags, to clean his blade in case anything happened.
Outside of the shop Shinobi noticed a man across the street, and just as he did he could see a gun rising from the man's side. It was aimed directly at him it seemed, and knowing what it could possibly do he ran. He pushed hard against the ground and made his way down an alleyway. Once through he looked behind him to see the man hold up the gun again. He heard a bang, and the sound of a bee go right past his ear. Moving along he went back to where his people had been staying.
Ochi Reci
Prelude
The trip towards home, it was a bit of a jaunt, but Ochi knew that it would make them all stronger for it. It was a bit of work to get through the mountains, but it was like trails were already built in, making the passage quicker then it should have been. It was almost like the mountains were built to allow quick travel, but Ochi thought that pretty far-fethced.
Action
After settling into Edgeville for a few days, Ochi was approached by a seedy looking man. He seemed a strange sort, with a scar on his neck from what could have been an arrow wound. At first he seemed to scowl, but was just clearing his throat before telling Ochi, "You and I, we must talk, Weilder."
Choices
Ochi looked at the man with a sense of indignation. The man looked at Ochi and appeared to be staring at his very soul. The man spoke, "Another one who has been corrupted, I see." Pulling out a stick the man pointed it at Ochi, and without a sound, Ochi fell to the ground, dead.
Dumbass
Prelude
He felt a sense of leadership, taking the lead as they made their way through the mountains. Carrying his Pious on his back made him weak at the end of the day, but he felt ever so strong in the morning. It was odd, but they all felt reinvigorated when they woke up. Everyone thought it was more of the Pious' power flowing to them, none guessed it was the mountains themselves giving them more strength.
Action
There was a sense of pride to be had when Dumbass was there to do hard labor to inturn his Pious into the ground. He couldn't explain the feeling to himself, but he felt at though he had done the right thing carrying him back. He wasn't quite sure what to do next, but he thought he would at least attempt something positive.
Choices
There was Dumbass, sitting in a chair in one of a couple of places he and others of his group had taken temporary residence in. In through the front door came men wearing the strangest outfits. Jackets in the middle of summer that went straight to the floor, and which were pitch black. Dumbass started to stand up, but an unknown force pushed him back down. The force seemed to come from the objects in these people's hands after a bright flash hit his vision. If this was true or not, he did not know. All he could tell was that this was finally the end. At least, he thought, at least it was better then bathing in a river, slipping, hitting ones head on a rock, and drowning.
Prelude
Within himself and his troops Haz'rd felt pride over the victory they had attained weeks ago. When the Vulpen peoples heard of the victory of those with nary a chance it spread hope throughout the entire territory. Even with Aqku help the Maqku were driving hard in the East, taking little by little. At times it was depressing, hearing of battles lost, hundreds and thousands dead.
As a gift from his contacts in the South, Haz'rd received a music machine. It played a large thin piece of weak oil byproduct, and somehow sound came from it. There were only two of these things, and a total of an hour and a half of music, but it was a nice gift to have. It took a kit a few seconds to get it going, but once it did wonderful sounds came from it. At least the first one, the second one produced horrible music. The kits liked the hard sounds of the second, but it reminded Haz'rd too much of the lives lost, and those nearly lost.
Outside there was a repreive from the forming heat of the summer months as silent raindrops fell. There was a slight breeze that Haz'rd could barely feel. Lea'ra stood next to him as he sat in a chair, a couple of fingers rubbing his temples as he was lost in thought. She gave a slight cough that broke his concentration. Looking up he could see the worry written on her face.
Since they had both gotten back Haz'rd had seemed distant. Why, he couldn't explain, why he had such a problem letting go of what happened at the battle. By all estimates there should have been some losses, but not a single Vulpen or Aqku died in that battle, and yet all over the Vulpen territory there were hundred dying everyday. Lea'ra did what she could to help him, but he still remained lost, even her saying just then, "Let us go for a walk," began to lose its appeal.
Action
Walking back from their little walk, Haz'rd tucked his shirt back in. It was a mite bit uncomfortable, but it was a sign of civilization they quickly adapted too. Lea'ra stopped in frong of Haz'rd, gave him a peck on the check and told him, "I've got some things to check on, see you later." He watched her walk away and he just stood there for the moment. Taking a deep breathe he bagan to yawn, then he looked up at the sky, his eyes kind of droopy from being a little tired.
His eyes searched the skies, looking at this cloud formation and that. Then he felt a strange sensation indeed. It was as though the sky was pulling him up towards it. Odd as it was Haz'rd didn't look down to his feet to see if he was firmly planted there, as he knew that he was. The skies turned dark in an instant, all the light sucking itself in to one singular point in the sky, and moving down towards the ground, seemingly at Haz'rd.
From the top of the sky to just in front of him, he could see, a black orb that reflected no light. As it was in front of him he noticed that the sky returned to its normal colour, but his attention was firmly on the object before him. He wanted to touch it, yet at the same time he almost feared the object. There was a realization that came to him. This object, he thought, could very well cure all his mental woes, if only, if only he could embrace it.
Choices
- Attempt to hold the item.
- Take a few steps back.
- Throw some dirt on the item.
- Spit on it, curse at it, and yell, "You have no power over me!"
Haz'rd dropped down to pick up a stick, feeling a mite bit peckish, and wondering if this thing was edible. Poking it once or twice he noticed that it was a bit soft around the outside, kind of like a squishy thing that could bounce really well, or maybe just absorb the impact of something. Then like that the stick was out of Haz'rd's hand, sucked into the black blob before him. It started to move towards him, and he moved back away from it. Suddenly a bright light spewed forth from it, and a strange plasma covered the ground around Haz'rd as the blob exploded.
Looking down at the goo Haz'rd could see it lightly jiggling. Then it came to the point where it just evaporated in a poof sound, which although slight, was loud enough for Haz'rd to hear. Thinking that it was possible for him to have just survived a near miss with something dangerous, Haz'rd felt releived that there was something watching out for him. He didn't know why he knew something was out there, just that it was.
Semper Fidelis
Prelude
Nearly seven weeks had passed since he had come onto this ship. Semper could see his planet from a single porthole located near the 'bottom' of the ship. It was very cramped in most areas, and some he dared not even to go to, due to it looking so grungy. Those areas of the ship that were clean were nice to be in, for the most part.
It was the knowledge of what was happening in the worlds above that interested Semper the most. A mellenia or so had passed since the split of the Qu, and stories he heard about the accident troubled him. Billions, he was told, were caught up and crushed to death as the bedrock rose from the ground and killed them. Many were saved, but the whole affair caused a mass migration away from the planet.
There were plenty who returned, but the lack of infrastructure troubled most, and turned them off to the idea of returning to the homeworld of the Human species birth. The idea of leaving the planet completely was not gone, and a plan seemed to have formed of going back and building things up again. The problem with this were the politics behind it. He was currently on a ship built and controlled by the Nox, the technological side of the Qu split, like the Maqku of the planet, though much more advanced. Ever it was that a planet would fall to either the Nox or the Prows, and the main reason for dithering so long on the home planet was from the other side rushing in to wipe the other side out.
And so, like the two decendants of the Qu on the planet, in the skies above and beyond the same was happening across the stars. It was almost depressing to think about how much pain and suffering the accident had caused. There was almost a feeling of shame over it all, if Semper wasn't so worried about what was actually going to happen to the peoples below.
Action
Semper had been on the bridge at the time, chatting away with Captain Gerril when alarms started to go off. The one other crew member on the ship turned to them and said, "A Prow vassal has broken orbit." A series of beeps could be heard, while Semper and Gerril went to the screen that the crew member was staring at intently. "There," he said, pointing to a map on the screen near the Southern border of Vulpen territory.
"By the Plutocrats," spoke the Captain as the screen zoomed to the surface, showing the vassal being in front of a Vulpen. "Why would the Prow be trying to get a hold of that Chosen," asked the Captain, before slipping into his native tongue and speaking with the crew member. The screen pulled back and a bolt of blue energy slowly sped down toward the Vulpen and the vassal.
"What's happening," asked Semper.
The reply from the Captain, "What must be done, it must be destroyed."
Choices
- Tell the Captain to call off the attack.
- Watch and wait to see.
- Start pressing on the screen to try and stop the attack.
Semper tried to voice his opinion, but before he could mutter the words the bolt of energy had already reached the ground. The third person said something to the Captian, and then they both smiled. "It's done," said the Captain. Semper stood there with his mouth kind of agape. "You look like something wrong just happened. Don't worry, your furry friend is fine."
Ninja Monkey
Prelude
"If I were the cause of the crash, would I have stuck around," Ninja yelled at one of his interrogators, the sixth in about as many weeks. "First the train crashed, I got knocked out, found myself on the ground, and someone else was there, then the sky started falling!" Ninja was beginning to get very annoyed with these people.
The other man in the room, who looked to be in his mid-thirties, a heavily receding hairline, and a thick mustache, lit up a cigerette. He took a long drag, then let it out slowly, "We've investigated the crash thuroughly, and the only thing that could have caused it would be a large bomb. You say this other person wore a chemist's patch, well who better to built your bomb then a chemist?"
"You've got to be kidding me," Ninja was still yelling. He'd stand up to do it but only having one foot made that difficult, which reminded him of that, "And what about my foot? Would a person who wanted to blow up a train be around to let their foot get blown off? And about that, if I were anywhere near an exploding train, how could the rest of my body get off without some minor scratches? And where are you on the falling metal, I'd like to know that one?"
After a cough the interrogator spoke, "We've studied the blast pattern, and our people are satisfied that it came from the train having high explosives placed in a number of the cars."
"You-you people are ridiculous," was all Ninja could manage out.
Action
Back and forth from a cell to a small room with another man who didn't seem to know much of anything. After many weeks of being locked up, another new man was there, though this one was military. He was sitting where Ninja usually sat, and had a number of folders with him. The guard took Ninja to his seat, and then was excused by the military person.
"Mr. Monkey, please, start from the beginning," the man ordered.
Ninja had a look of confusion on his face. For one, a person from the military wouldn't be asking something from someone, he'd be telling, especially someone lower ranking. "Well," started Ninja, "I was on the train heading to attack the Vulpens, when everything just stopped. I felt myself lurch forward, I was pulled from my seat, and then I remember the door having come open and I was going through the air. I turned around and a train car was coming at me. It missed, but I was knoked out."
He paused for a moment, then continued, "I remember waking up and seeing a woman above me. Her right arm had a cut in it, but it looked shallow. She convinced me to stay close and not move too much incase I was bleeding on the inside. Then pieces of metal started falling. One hit my foot and now its gone, just like that woman. I was out again, then I remember being treated, someone saying, 'Take him' somewhere, then I've been here."
The military man was jotting down notes, "Did you happen to catch the name of the woman?"
Ninja shook his head, "No, I couldn't hear her say anything anyway."
Nodding, the man then asked, "Before the metal came down, did you notice anything."
Realizing he had been forgetting something, Ninja told the man, "Yes. Yes," Ninja said with some force, "There were these strange patterns in the sky. Large colors moving like a string. Then what could have been a large fireball, it was orange from what I could see. Then the metal started coming a moment later," Ninja felt like a lost memory had just come out. And it showed on his face.
He could hear the military man muttering to himself. He couldn't make much out, but he got, "temporary memory laspe, confusion, the girl." Looking up at Ninja, "Very good Mr. Monkey. You will be released and sent back home in the South for a while. We'll be contacting you sometime in the future. We're giving you your back pay for time spent recuperating. As there's been a series of cold snaps where you'll be going, I suggest you get some warm clothes."
Choices
- Thank the military man and leave.
- Stay there with a dumb look on face.
- Prepare a mental checklist of things to buy while leaving.
Just like that, thought Ninja, it was all over and done with. Standing up he grabbed his crutch and made his way to the door. He was furious, but he wasn't letting it show. He opened the door went through, and was helped to his cell and his stuff was gathered for him. Going to the entrance he was processed, and released. The shop was next door and he got himself a drink, a couple of sweaters, and some junk food.
He looked at the train ticket he was given, and as he looked upon the train across the way, he could only think to himself, "Shit better not happen again."
Melinda
Prelude
She was very unhappy with the way everything had happened. Hundreds of people were killed in the little stunt her commanders had pulled with the train. She, along with most everyone else, was blocked access to the exact details, but she remembered the things she had seen. There were a great number of troubling things she thought about when it came to those people that were above her.
She had heard over time that that the Maqku society was a bit corrupt, but what they did paled in comparison to what the Nox had just done, and continued to do. There was no oversight anywhere around the planet and the commanders put in place. Occasionally Melinda would hear about a politician's beaurocrat stopping by for a chat, but not much beyond that would occur.
Action
The lights on the ship dimmed from the standard glowing bluish-white to the redish-crimson associated with a high state of alert. She heard in her ear the call for her to get to her station. Quickly she ran to engineering to see if she was needed there. The Captian was giving a message to the entire ship, though with only one small screen, all were crowded about.
"We have spotted Prow magic on the planet, high alert set until further notified."
Melinda felt a need to do something.
Choices
- Stay put.
- Get more information by going to the bridge.
Melinda waited a moment for further orders, but none would reach her ears. The sound of metal tearing came from all around. A great sucking sound popped the ears of everyone in the room the engine was contained in. Out they went into the coldness of space, knowing nothing any further.
Shinobi
Prelude
Going with everyone else it was two months before they touched Aqku soil again. The mountains were easier to pass then any of them thought it would be. There was a feeling that they had all gotten a little bit of a push from their faith, but many felt somber about the entire turn of events. Shinobi, though, felt a great deal of hope in what had happened.
He didn't quite know how, but he felt that it was the strength inside of him, his connection to a higher power, that pulled him through, and no one else. At the end that extra bit of time he put into training himself, he knew, gave him the speed to survive.
Action
Along the mountains and the ocean was a town called "Edgeville." Probably named because it was one of the seediest places in all of Aqku territory. Though they were almost non-existant, and rarely talked about, one or two here or there had people who failed to believe. This town had a church, though it was infrequently visited by clergy. The local practitioner of the faith helped the men bury the Pious from the South.
None of them knowing what to do really, decided to split up a bit and enjoy the town. A few of the men dissapeared completely, but most stayed in touch. Shinobi thought back to the Maqku officer he had slain and realized, much to his being told to the otherwise, the language and accent between himself and the man were almost identical. Maybe not so much in the accent area, but both could understand each other easily enough.
Could it be, thought Shinobi, that perhaps there were many things in the Maqku lands that weren't quite the way people he knew made them seem. It wasn't as though the Maqku and Aqku socialized all that much. This line of thought sent Shinobi wondering about what he could learn if he snuck into Maqku territory. Maybe even built up a life there. From some things that he heard, he could very well make a living being a freelance agent of some kind for certain elements of Maqku society.
Choices
- Prepare to go to Maqku territory.
- Think about it for a while.
- Stay in the area and work on exploring it a bit.
- Train body and mind some.
- Work on becoming more religious.
Going to a mercantile, Shinobi gathered a few things he'd need for the trip through the mountains. A warm blanket, plenty of rations, a pack, and a few rags, to clean his blade in case anything happened.
Outside of the shop Shinobi noticed a man across the street, and just as he did he could see a gun rising from the man's side. It was aimed directly at him it seemed, and knowing what it could possibly do he ran. He pushed hard against the ground and made his way down an alleyway. Once through he looked behind him to see the man hold up the gun again. He heard a bang, and the sound of a bee go right past his ear. Moving along he went back to where his people had been staying.
Ochi Reci
Prelude
The trip towards home, it was a bit of a jaunt, but Ochi knew that it would make them all stronger for it. It was a bit of work to get through the mountains, but it was like trails were already built in, making the passage quicker then it should have been. It was almost like the mountains were built to allow quick travel, but Ochi thought that pretty far-fethced.
Action
After settling into Edgeville for a few days, Ochi was approached by a seedy looking man. He seemed a strange sort, with a scar on his neck from what could have been an arrow wound. At first he seemed to scowl, but was just clearing his throat before telling Ochi, "You and I, we must talk, Weilder."
Choices
- Stare coldly at the man.
- Preach to him.
- Ask him why he called him "Weilder."
Ochi looked at the man with a sense of indignation. The man looked at Ochi and appeared to be staring at his very soul. The man spoke, "Another one who has been corrupted, I see." Pulling out a stick the man pointed it at Ochi, and without a sound, Ochi fell to the ground, dead.
Dumbass
Prelude
He felt a sense of leadership, taking the lead as they made their way through the mountains. Carrying his Pious on his back made him weak at the end of the day, but he felt ever so strong in the morning. It was odd, but they all felt reinvigorated when they woke up. Everyone thought it was more of the Pious' power flowing to them, none guessed it was the mountains themselves giving them more strength.
Action
There was a sense of pride to be had when Dumbass was there to do hard labor to inturn his Pious into the ground. He couldn't explain the feeling to himself, but he felt at though he had done the right thing carrying him back. He wasn't quite sure what to do next, but he thought he would at least attempt something positive.
Choices
- Lead the people back to Vulpen territory.
- Build up a base in Edgeville, and bring in religion.
There was Dumbass, sitting in a chair in one of a couple of places he and others of his group had taken temporary residence in. In through the front door came men wearing the strangest outfits. Jackets in the middle of summer that went straight to the floor, and which were pitch black. Dumbass started to stand up, but an unknown force pushed him back down. The force seemed to come from the objects in these people's hands after a bright flash hit his vision. If this was true or not, he did not know. All he could tell was that this was finally the end. At least, he thought, at least it was better then bathing in a river, slipping, hitting ones head on a rock, and drowning.
posted by DM at
4:32 AM
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