Chapter 21
Haz'rd Vulp
Prelude
After the goo was fully evaporated Haz'rd looked up to the sky to see if there was anything there. His eyes searched the sky, but he could find nothing there. Though he did find it peculiar that there was a hole in one of the clouds up there. Almost as if something has gone through it and burned it's way down.
Lea'ra called out to Haz'rd in a shrill voice, sounding a bit shaking, "The light, it came from no where, and I thought you," he voice cut off as he hugged him closely. He was a bit more confused then usual about things, but hugged her back all the same. "We all saw it come down, and I thought it might have hurt you."
"I'm," started Haz'rd, "I'm okay," was what he could mutter out. "What were you worried about, don't you know I'm invincible," he spoke like he meant it, while pulling a tear away from Lea'ra's eye.
Action
For a while Lea'ra and Haz'rd just stood there and hugged. A couple of Vulpens from around the town would look and then keep their distance, a sign of respect for the couple. Their silence was broken at first by heavy footsteps, and a panting breathe of a youngling that looked to barely be of age.
"Haz'rd," started the youngling, "I have word from the frontlines, the Maqku are withdrawing their forces, it looks like they're giving up."
At first a look of annoyance crossed Haz'rd's face, due to the moment being interrupted, then it dawned upon his mind that this might possibly be something good to hear. A thought quickly came to mind which he just outright asked, "Is it a feint?"
Confused, the messenger replied as best as he could, "No, most of the men seemed to be quite healthy. 'Cept for the ones shot and such," a queer look still crossed the young warrior's face.
Catching on this Haz'rd asked, "Is the withdrawel a trick, to make it look like they're leaving, only to lull us into a state we shouldn't be in, so that when they come and attack, we're off guard?"
Things suddenly hit the boy and he blurted out, "They've suffered heavy losses, the commanders at the front lines think that they are going for good."
Choices
Haz'rd rubbed his hand against his brow, thinking in quiet contemplation while a couple of the Elders argued. It almost sounded as if their yelling would boil down to fisticuffs.
"The words of Haz'rd are correct," shouted one.
"Don't you get it, we've won," retorted the other.
Back and forth they went for hours until Haz'rd couldn't take it anymore. Outside he walked, looking up at the stars. It instantly cleared his mind, even with the warm air blowing around him, bothering him slightly. Looking outwards to the edge of the village to the treeline he could see a figure standing there, almost ethereally. Walking towards it he heard a caugh behind him and turned, noticing an Elder staring at him intently. Looking back quickly to the treeline he saw nothing.
"It's good that you came to us with this information," spoke the Elder, "In this day and age more and more are turning away from tradition, and moving to their own ways."
Somewhat distracted, "Yeah, crying shame, innit?"
The Elder bobbed his up and down a couple of times, "Yes, it truly is. Though thankfully there are some who haven't turned," he said, looking hard at Haz'rd, "Some who'll respect decisions even if they don't agree with them." Somehow Haz'rd knew what was going to come next. Finishing the Elder spoke, "We're sending a recommendation to the other villages, a word that we believe the war is over, and to sign a peace waiver with the Maqku."
Haz'rd sighed, and nodded.
Semper Fidelis
Prelude
In the ship Semper was given a room of his own. For a few days that's where he stayed, rarely leaving except to relieve himself and to eat. He had been given a device which sounded like something coming out of a radio, though with much more clarity. It kept him entertained while he contemplated a great many things.
Action
A reaccuring thought in Semper's mind was the thought of going back down to the planet. Higher ups probably figured him for dead anyway, so merging into life down there couldn't be too difficult. The seedier places could provide a refuge of sorts, and since fighting seemingly was dying down, the army wouldn't be looking too hard for recruits.
While walking to see the captian, he wondered what exactly he should ask him.
Choices
It was a simple conversation, and was over quickly. The Captain agreed, and within the hour Semper was back on the planet, at the port city he had gotten to know a little before. His first desire was to go to the highest ranking military officer he could find to get reinistated, but as he thought on it, the idea of being out of the military, and starting up a life of one's own appealed to him.
Ninja Monkey
Prelude
The trainride down to the port town of Sililla was uneventful, minus a drunkard falling down a few times and throwing up outside Ninja's door. He had a cabin all to himself, and he was fine by that. He enjoyed watching the moving nothingness of the landscape outside. At least, he thought, it was better then the still nothingness of his cell.
Nighttime fell and Ninja turned out the light in the cabin. A few hours later he was awoken to the door be quickly open and quickly shut. He could hear giggling from a woman, and the sound of a man trying to keep from laughing while asking, "Is there anyone in here?"
Ninja stayed absolutely quiet, as the giggling from the woman got louder. The room filled with the aroma of ethanol, that most wonderful of intoxicating liquids. Not getting an answer the two unsober couple hit the bench opposite to Ninja, landing with a thud. A minute or two passed before the man started sounding like he came from some primitive tribe. From their actions there was a series of loud squishes, constant, sounding between the man's grunts. Not really knowing why Ninja starting to laugh, and the startled woman let out a scream.
Action
A couple seconds passed before the lights went on, and there was a girl sitting there, bare chested, scared like she'd been spooked by a ghost, and all Ninja could do was laugh his ass off at the two of them. The guy most definately was red in the face, as well as the chest, and caught Ninja by surprise as he lunged at him. While the guy's hands attempted to strangle Ninja, he sputtered out, "Motherfucker, you made me lose my freak on!"
Choices
Ninja started to give another laugh when the man swung his fist. He missed Ninja completely and fell to the ground. Standing Ninja kicked the man once with his nub, causing a bit of pain to go through his leg. Dropping to his knees Ninja pounded the man in the face a couple of times, knocking him out cold.
He stood up and looked at the terrified woman, "Get dressed, get out, and drag his ass out of here if you have to." Ninja laid on the bench, looking at the ceiling, noticing the woman with his periphrial vision. She got dressed up, then started dressing the man. He woke up and was walked out of the cabin. After a few minutes Ninja turned the lights down and went back to sleep, waking when the train pulled into a station.
Shinobi
Prelude
Shinobi made his way back to the place he was with others of his troop. He found them all slaughtered, and at the sight immediately started towards the edge of town. A few people like the one he had seen showed up here and their, but he moved away from them, keeping to the alleyways and less used streets. Just before nightfall was when he made his way out and started towards the mountains.
He pushed hard throught he night until at one point he knew he had to rest. Looking around under the almost nonexistant moonlight he found a spot that looked to be safe. He couldn't even manage to get himself properly set before he just collapsed and fell asleep facedown.
Action
Rays of light burned at Shinobi's eyes. They were quickly blotted out while a child's voice spoke, "Are you okay, mister?" Turning, Shinobi thought to himself it must be around high noon, or close there to. His body ached like made, he couldn't feel his left hand, or his left leg for that matter, and his head felt like someone had taken an ice pick to it.
He let out a groan that could wake the dead if he was close enough, "Yeah, I'm all right."
Starting to see things he noticed a horse and cart not to far away, looking like they were headed towards the mountains. A woman standing near there called out, "Denkl, git yourself over here, now!" Complying, the child ran off to his mother.
Choices
Shinobi was half awake, but he collected his things and moved to the cart, and the woman, and the child. "Ma'am," started Shinobi, "I see that you're going towards the mountains. Would it be all right if I got a ride with yourself?"
The woman looked at him and responded, "Well, since you asked nicely, I suppose, but no talking," she said sternly. Shinobi nodded then hopped in the back of the cart, looking behind him, and far into the distance. He looked to his immediately left and noticed the kid sitting there, staring at him with wide eyes. About the say something Shinobi stopped himself, not wanting to get himself kicked off the cart.
Finally he decided to lay back, resting his eyes only for a moment, and finding himself dead asleep within seconds. It seemed like no time passed between the bumps on the trip waking him, and even after the cart stopped he didn't notice a thing.
Prelude
After the goo was fully evaporated Haz'rd looked up to the sky to see if there was anything there. His eyes searched the sky, but he could find nothing there. Though he did find it peculiar that there was a hole in one of the clouds up there. Almost as if something has gone through it and burned it's way down.
Lea'ra called out to Haz'rd in a shrill voice, sounding a bit shaking, "The light, it came from no where, and I thought you," he voice cut off as he hugged him closely. He was a bit more confused then usual about things, but hugged her back all the same. "We all saw it come down, and I thought it might have hurt you."
"I'm," started Haz'rd, "I'm okay," was what he could mutter out. "What were you worried about, don't you know I'm invincible," he spoke like he meant it, while pulling a tear away from Lea'ra's eye.
Action
For a while Lea'ra and Haz'rd just stood there and hugged. A couple of Vulpens from around the town would look and then keep their distance, a sign of respect for the couple. Their silence was broken at first by heavy footsteps, and a panting breathe of a youngling that looked to barely be of age.
"Haz'rd," started the youngling, "I have word from the frontlines, the Maqku are withdrawing their forces, it looks like they're giving up."
At first a look of annoyance crossed Haz'rd's face, due to the moment being interrupted, then it dawned upon his mind that this might possibly be something good to hear. A thought quickly came to mind which he just outright asked, "Is it a feint?"
Confused, the messenger replied as best as he could, "No, most of the men seemed to be quite healthy. 'Cept for the ones shot and such," a queer look still crossed the young warrior's face.
Catching on this Haz'rd asked, "Is the withdrawel a trick, to make it look like they're leaving, only to lull us into a state we shouldn't be in, so that when they come and attack, we're off guard?"
Things suddenly hit the boy and he blurted out, "They've suffered heavy losses, the commanders at the front lines think that they are going for good."
Choices
- Go four sheets to the wind and party!
- Convene a meeting to discuss this with the Elders of the village.
- Send the boy back while doing the first two choices.
Haz'rd rubbed his hand against his brow, thinking in quiet contemplation while a couple of the Elders argued. It almost sounded as if their yelling would boil down to fisticuffs.
"The words of Haz'rd are correct," shouted one.
"Don't you get it, we've won," retorted the other.
Back and forth they went for hours until Haz'rd couldn't take it anymore. Outside he walked, looking up at the stars. It instantly cleared his mind, even with the warm air blowing around him, bothering him slightly. Looking outwards to the edge of the village to the treeline he could see a figure standing there, almost ethereally. Walking towards it he heard a caugh behind him and turned, noticing an Elder staring at him intently. Looking back quickly to the treeline he saw nothing.
"It's good that you came to us with this information," spoke the Elder, "In this day and age more and more are turning away from tradition, and moving to their own ways."
Somewhat distracted, "Yeah, crying shame, innit?"
The Elder bobbed his up and down a couple of times, "Yes, it truly is. Though thankfully there are some who haven't turned," he said, looking hard at Haz'rd, "Some who'll respect decisions even if they don't agree with them." Somehow Haz'rd knew what was going to come next. Finishing the Elder spoke, "We're sending a recommendation to the other villages, a word that we believe the war is over, and to sign a peace waiver with the Maqku."
Haz'rd sighed, and nodded.
Semper Fidelis
Prelude
In the ship Semper was given a room of his own. For a few days that's where he stayed, rarely leaving except to relieve himself and to eat. He had been given a device which sounded like something coming out of a radio, though with much more clarity. It kept him entertained while he contemplated a great many things.
Action
A reaccuring thought in Semper's mind was the thought of going back down to the planet. Higher ups probably figured him for dead anyway, so merging into life down there couldn't be too difficult. The seedier places could provide a refuge of sorts, and since fighting seemingly was dying down, the army wouldn't be looking too hard for recruits.
While walking to see the captian, he wondered what exactly he should ask him.
Choices
- Go back planetside.
- Join the captain's military.
It was a simple conversation, and was over quickly. The Captain agreed, and within the hour Semper was back on the planet, at the port city he had gotten to know a little before. His first desire was to go to the highest ranking military officer he could find to get reinistated, but as he thought on it, the idea of being out of the military, and starting up a life of one's own appealed to him.
Ninja Monkey
Prelude
The trainride down to the port town of Sililla was uneventful, minus a drunkard falling down a few times and throwing up outside Ninja's door. He had a cabin all to himself, and he was fine by that. He enjoyed watching the moving nothingness of the landscape outside. At least, he thought, it was better then the still nothingness of his cell.
Nighttime fell and Ninja turned out the light in the cabin. A few hours later he was awoken to the door be quickly open and quickly shut. He could hear giggling from a woman, and the sound of a man trying to keep from laughing while asking, "Is there anyone in here?"
Ninja stayed absolutely quiet, as the giggling from the woman got louder. The room filled with the aroma of ethanol, that most wonderful of intoxicating liquids. Not getting an answer the two unsober couple hit the bench opposite to Ninja, landing with a thud. A minute or two passed before the man started sounding like he came from some primitive tribe. From their actions there was a series of loud squishes, constant, sounding between the man's grunts. Not really knowing why Ninja starting to laugh, and the startled woman let out a scream.
Action
A couple seconds passed before the lights went on, and there was a girl sitting there, bare chested, scared like she'd been spooked by a ghost, and all Ninja could do was laugh his ass off at the two of them. The guy most definately was red in the face, as well as the chest, and caught Ninja by surprise as he lunged at him. While the guy's hands attempted to strangle Ninja, he sputtered out, "Motherfucker, you made me lose my freak on!"
Choices
- Take his freak away: Yank and twist.
- Knock him down, then knock him out.
- Push him away and tell him and his girl to get out.
Ninja started to give another laugh when the man swung his fist. He missed Ninja completely and fell to the ground. Standing Ninja kicked the man once with his nub, causing a bit of pain to go through his leg. Dropping to his knees Ninja pounded the man in the face a couple of times, knocking him out cold.
He stood up and looked at the terrified woman, "Get dressed, get out, and drag his ass out of here if you have to." Ninja laid on the bench, looking at the ceiling, noticing the woman with his periphrial vision. She got dressed up, then started dressing the man. He woke up and was walked out of the cabin. After a few minutes Ninja turned the lights down and went back to sleep, waking when the train pulled into a station.
Shinobi
Prelude
Shinobi made his way back to the place he was with others of his troop. He found them all slaughtered, and at the sight immediately started towards the edge of town. A few people like the one he had seen showed up here and their, but he moved away from them, keeping to the alleyways and less used streets. Just before nightfall was when he made his way out and started towards the mountains.
He pushed hard throught he night until at one point he knew he had to rest. Looking around under the almost nonexistant moonlight he found a spot that looked to be safe. He couldn't even manage to get himself properly set before he just collapsed and fell asleep facedown.
Action
Rays of light burned at Shinobi's eyes. They were quickly blotted out while a child's voice spoke, "Are you okay, mister?" Turning, Shinobi thought to himself it must be around high noon, or close there to. His body ached like made, he couldn't feel his left hand, or his left leg for that matter, and his head felt like someone had taken an ice pick to it.
He let out a groan that could wake the dead if he was close enough, "Yeah, I'm all right."
Starting to see things he noticed a horse and cart not to far away, looking like they were headed towards the mountains. A woman standing near there called out, "Denkl, git yourself over here, now!" Complying, the child ran off to his mother.
Choices
- See if you can catch a ride.
- Let them get ahead a ways, then start up again.
Shinobi was half awake, but he collected his things and moved to the cart, and the woman, and the child. "Ma'am," started Shinobi, "I see that you're going towards the mountains. Would it be all right if I got a ride with yourself?"
The woman looked at him and responded, "Well, since you asked nicely, I suppose, but no talking," she said sternly. Shinobi nodded then hopped in the back of the cart, looking behind him, and far into the distance. He looked to his immediately left and noticed the kid sitting there, staring at him with wide eyes. About the say something Shinobi stopped himself, not wanting to get himself kicked off the cart.
Finally he decided to lay back, resting his eyes only for a moment, and finding himself dead asleep within seconds. It seemed like no time passed between the bumps on the trip waking him, and even after the cart stopped he didn't notice a thing.
posted by DM at
11:08 PM
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