|
Post by Ian Wolf-Park on Dec 11, 2009 18:21:49 GMT -5
Mage Manor
Lupehunter managed to slash the last Underdeep tentacle just as the wall of vines went up again. As he took a seat on the stone floor to rest, the Weewoo left and was reunited with the dragon mage, thanking him. He nodded.
"Listen, I know this might seem very odd after this...incident with the Underdeep but...I want to look around the NTWF, see if I can find any more. I just don't want anybody to go through what me and Rikku went through and that would involve being aware of where the rifts are. This would be something I'd rather do alone too."
"While I do agree with you that someone should explore the Underdeep to see where it has expanded, I'm not sure that you should be the one that does it, considering the ordeal that you went through earlier. It might be better if you rested before you do. Of course, with that being said, you don't have to listen to me, a newcomer, because it's probably none of my business on why you want to explore the Underdeep by yourself."
|
|
|
Post by Four Messengers on Dec 11, 2009 18:58:24 GMT -5
They stood in a dreary row, each with his own deep thoughts that built up tension and fear until the penultimate moment which, unlike The Blair Witch Project, actually had a horrible climax. Each messenger shivered in fear as a furious knight entered the chamber. His wings were folded neatly behind his back, his pale golden eyes gleaming with some untraceable emotion. They bored into the eyes of each of the messengers in turn, before moving to stand directly before the first, towering over the squat man.
“What have you to report?” he asked.
The messenger bowed hastily before blurting out his message, eager for his turn to be over. “The ninjas and their Dojo are fine, Sir Sarn,” he garbled. The winged knight nodded his approval and moved on to the second.
Bleary-eyed and slightly unstable, the second messenger’s unfocused gaze was unable to meet the piercing eyes of Sir Sarn. When the knight asked what he had found, the messenger groaned and rubbed his temples, screwing up his eyes against the thudding headache. “Not so loud if you please, sir knight,” he whimpered.
Sarn gave him a look of deepest disgust. Not troubling to keep his voice down, and actually taking particular care to raise it slightly, Sarn disparaged him, saying, “How despicable? A messenger of the Order of Dunburrow, with the emblazon of our honoured castle and king embroidered into your cloak and what do you do? Get trollied at some seedy bar in Tabloid Town. I expect better of the servants of King Kabe. Begone!”
Two guards took the messenger away with a malicious glint in their eyes. Such a glint could only mean one thing ... unceremonious dunking of one’s head into a rather undesirable porcelain throne. Sir Sarn nodded his approval, knowing that the pirates were fine. He then moved on to the third messenger. The man was squat and round and his milk white face and shocked eyes were almost forbidding Sir Sarn to ask.
“Chubby, what did you see?” he said gravely.
“The mercenary base... It’s gone.”
“Gone?”
“Yes, sir. Chubby himself saw a big cloud, an explosion.”
“I see. Anything else?”
“Ah, yes. There was a choppa, some mercenaries escaped, thinks Chubby. But not Chubby’s cousin, no. Chubby’s cousin will be dead.’ With that macabre statement, the messenger burst into pathetic tears and ran out, sobbing miserably. Sir Sarn spared him a sympathetic glance before turning to the fourth and final messenger.
“And you?”
“Sir Sarn, I was on my way to Mage Manor but was unable to reach my destination. There was a new city in the way. I thought to investigate and return as soon as possible.”
Sir Sarn stood still, his brow furrowed, pondering. The messengers waited to see whether their ending would be like the Blair Witch Project, or like 2012. Evidently, it was the former. They were dismissed and filed out silently.
|
|
|
Post by Draco on Dec 11, 2009 19:42:08 GMT -5
<<Sky>>
Sky flies towards the shadow. After a few moments the shape becomes clear, it is another flying machine. "That is really a different type of machine there. Some type of new model? I know we didn't develop it. And look how it falls from the sky... Fall from the sky?"
He quickly steers his craft, The Fantome, close to the chopper as he could and follows it as it falls. He can make out someone panicking at the controls. Know it is useless, he still tries to help out. He waves his arms wildly and makes gestures to pull up, thinking most flying machines worked that way, hoping the pilot could see, or notice, him.
"If they don't pull up in time, I better make sure I do..."
|
|
Moonlight
Frequent Visitor
-insert something witty here-
Posts: 153
|
Post by Moonlight on Dec 11, 2009 20:28:31 GMT -5
~Merc Choppa, currently losing to gravity~
Wilhelm noticed the other mercenary that had just introduced himself, Hawk Eye(or Hawk, or whatever) give a small reassuring grin. Settling back in his seat, he felt a tad better, and wondering how long it would be to Tabloid town. They could easily find information in a city as big as that. Plus jobs could earn them a little pocket money. But for now, might as well get comfortable...
"...WHO THE HELL PUT ME IN CHARGE OF THIS THING?!"
The cry from the pilot seat was punctuated with a steep lurch in the helicopter, and a mysterious bang from somewhere in the helicopter. Wilhelm stooped on the floor and fervently hoped he hadn't heard what he thought he just heard. Oh, please...
"STOP PUSHING BUTTONS AND GO FORWARD!"
Scar dashed to the front of the vehicle shouting orders to steady the craft as they dropped in the air again.
Wil braced himself against the window. Don't go down...
Than he noticed something else was following them...A flying machine(definitely not a chopper) had suddenly pulled up beside them, and the pilot behind the controls was waving his arms wildly, gesturing something. Eh?
"Hey, guys..."
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2009 21:14:28 GMT -5
Castle Kestrel Entrance hall
The world had gone mad. Sarn had decided this upon hearing the news. The earthquake was one thing, but the mercenary base exploding? And Chubby had seen what appeared to be some mercs escaping. That meant that they had known the base was going to explode. Why would that happen? Would the mercs really blow up their home, or had the earthquake perhaps tripped some sort of self-destruct? Was this really his fault?
And a new city in the NTWF. Now this could be good news. He knew his sister had come, but had she bought the entire city with her? Brassport. Yes, he remembered the old days running about the cobbled streets together. The people there had called them the Elf-twins, one with strange golden wings, the other near-blind and pale as snow and both with strange powers that no one could prove even existed. Here, in the NTWF, Sarn’s wings had been accepted easily into the strange assortment of creatures that roamed this land. Not that Brassport had rejected him, but he had always been out of place. Feberi were not well known among humans.
Sarn shook himself mentally. His childhood memories wouldn’t help him now. He needed to decide what to do, and fast. No other knights had presented themselves. It was up to him and Ro and he needed to figure out whether he was truly at fault or not. There was no way he would tell anyone until he was sure.
He thought about the earthquake in the cave, thought about the tiny rift in space-time he had found there. A mirror opening to the Underdeep and an unstable one at that. He had found it just three months ago and had spent that time trying to locate his sister and pull her through into this world. The long separation had been heartbreaking and so he had reached out to bring her to him. His lovely dove. But was he really strong enough to bring Brassport with her? Proud as he was, he doubted it.
That meant that something else had been going on. Someone or something had either aided him, or amplified his power, the force of which had caused the earthquake. But that still didn’t explain why the mercenary base lay in a ruined pile. Is it possible that they were in danger and had no other choice? If so, were the other guilds in danger?
His thoughts turned to Sarinon. What if she was in danger/
Sarn sprinted to his room, using his wings to bound easily down the halls. He grabbed his bow and quiver which hung on the plain wall, pulled on a shirt of chainmail over his tunic and bounded out again. As he passed the main gate, he paused long enough to shout at another knight, he wasn’t sure who.
“Send a message to Lady Shade, tell her she is needed urgently. I’m going to scout out the new city and I won’t be back for a few days.”
With that, he lifted off the ground, spread his huge wings and flew furiously to Brassport. To Sarinon.
Brassport Assembly Hall
Sarinon stood at the back of the hall leaning slightly against Emily for support as Mr Blackstone spoke. She nodded her approval when he said the company would be shut for a week, appreciating his goodness. She watched as the shadowy blurs that were hordes of people left to be with their loved ones. She stayed. Her only loved one was coming to her.
She was just about to move to the podium when something stopped her. There were hundreds of people who had family outside the city limits and everything was gone. She knew Sarn couldn’t have done it by himself, but if they were here, he was undoubtedly involved. She sighed inwardly and stayed at the back of the hall. A city full of grieving people was looking for something or someone to blame and if she told them her brother was involved… She had a duty to tell Mr Blackstone and she would, but she trusted him to remain reasonable and clear-headed.
She took a step forward, intending to move to Mr Blackstone’s side to speak to him quietly, but before she could move further, a shadow stepped right into her path. She heard the footfall and stopped. She inclined her head slightly and spoke politely, her voice had returned to its naturally gentle state when she had left Oscar Featherstone, Gentleman Adventurer.
“Excuse me, can I help you?”
Eternally by her side, Emily leaned up and whispered in her ear. ‘It’s Mr Featherstone, m’lady.”
Immediately and instinctively, her face and voice hardened. She retained her civility, but the warmth had left her continence. Men like Oscar, Gentleman Adventurer had hurt her before. She wasn’t going to let it happen again.
“Mr Featherstone, Gentleman Adventurer,” she said with a hint of scorn, barely noticeable in her voice, “I have to wonder at your persistence. Surely you know I will neither give you money nor let you bed me. There are easier pickings among the nobles for you to bother with the likes of me. Find one to sate your desires and leave me be.”
“Ah but milady misunderstands my intentions, which I assure you are just and noble! I am no rogue or scoundrel, though I may possess the rugged good looks of one. No, I am a Gentleman Adventurer and as such it is my duty, nay calling, to lend assistance and good tidings to the people of the world, be they the downtrodden sods or," here he inserted a little laugh and, by the tone of his voice, Sarinon guessed he had winked at her, "a lady of fine standing such as yourself.”
“And what, pray tell, do you think I need assistance for?”
“You might, if not now then sometime in the future perhaps. Does trouble come knocking on your door with a note and gift basket? I think not! Though the gift basket would be splendid. And, fair maiden, I am a Gentleman. It would be below me not to repay my debt to you, a ghastly thought indeed!”
“You want to pay your debt, good sir?” she said sharply. She tilted her head slightly before reaching out and grabbing on to his shirt. She tugged him unceremoniously up the center of the hall and then to the side of the podium and, with Emily’s help in locating him, shoved Oscar, Gentleman Adventurer in front of Mr Blackstone. “Then pay it with your hands.”
‘Mr Blackstone, two more pairs of hands to help. What can we do to help?” Quietly, and hoping that Oscar, Gentleman Adventurer would not notice, she leaned closer and spoke softly. “I would also like to speak with you in private later. I believe I know some of the answers you are looking for, but I will know more when my brother arrives. He is on his way now.”
|
|
|
Post by Kiddo on Dec 11, 2009 21:47:02 GMT -5
Kiddo stared blankly at Kovaran for a moment before letting forth a string of explicatives that roughly translated to, "What is Dunburrow?" Then she shook her head, as if shaking off an irritating fly, and turned to the newcomer. She looked him up and down, narrowed her eyes for a moment, and then got a distracted look on her face. It was as if she had just measured him in once glance and decided that Jasor really wasn't worth the trouble.
"An earthquake," she said evenly, "is when tectonic plates shift. But we have none of those here. Just three underground levels and then a door where we locked away the mist that eats the poison in the back of our minds. Don't you know ANYTHING?"
She glanced about her, suddenly dropping into a predatory crouch.
"The door," she whispered, "What has been done to the door? So many newcomers... they wouldn't know... they didn't see what happened last time it was opened... have they?"
And she glanced back at Jasor, suspicion in her eyes this time.
"Who are you," Kiddo asked, "And where do you come from?"
|
|
|
Post by Jason on Dec 11, 2009 22:29:23 GMT -5
Jason turned to Kiddo, a hint of anger flashing across his face before quickly disappearing. "I know that Mage Manor was hit by something that felt like an earthquake earlier or something equaly as power. I also know that if it were an earthquake it would have hit the other guilds as well," he remarked sternly. When she stopped talking to him and began to murmur to herself, he began to inch away slowly.
And then she glanced back at him, suspicion in her eyes this time.
"Who are you," she asked, "And where do you come from?"
Jasor blinked, crossing his arms in dislike. "I'm Jasor. Obviously I'm from Mage Manor like I said before. I also came to ask if any of you had any idea what caused the earthquake or whatever it was," he mumbled, awaiting her response.
|
|
|
Post by Sq on Dec 11, 2009 23:58:05 GMT -5
"Tilt the stick forward! STOP PUSHING BUTTONS AND GO FORWARD!"
Sytra heard Scar's frantic yelling, and jumped out of the way. "Someone else do it, I'm obviously incompetent." She crossed her arms indignantly, at the moment more consumed with annoyance at her guild-mates than with worry about the chopper going down.
Wilhelm then pointed out the window. "Hey, guys..."
While someone else took over the controls, Sytra peeked out into the sky, where some kind of aircraft hovered near them. It looked foreign - she had never seen something that looked quite like it.
"Wah, what's that?"
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2009 23:59:58 GMT -5
((LONG POST. Three characters. Don't say I didn't warn you. ^^ (Tried to keep it short when I could...I think.)))<<Brassport>>Asta didn't reply to the majority of the man's speech, the flowery language going straight in one ear and out the other. She did get the gist of it, though, and decided that the guy was less of an explorer of lands and more of an explorer of...the population. Half of it, anyway. Hopefully a lot less than half, she corrected quickly. At his wink, she blinked and leaned back a bit, but straightened herself quickly. And then, before she could even start to respond as he ended, he was chasing after Sarinon. She rolled her eyes and followed, eyeing the thin blade at her belt with a musing expression. Only if he tries anything, she thought. Not that she was unfriendly towards men, but she tended to be distrustful of anyone who couldn't speak straight. Maybe it was a scientist's thing. Still, he was charismatic. It was a habit of hers to note people's personalities, strengths and weaknesses included. Annoying and roundabout, but charismatic. She stared after him, shrugged, and ran after, slowing to a walk as soon as they neared the Assembly Hall. If it had been busy before, it was bursting at the seams now. Glancing at the Gentleman Adventurer, she strode in and immediately clapped her hands over her ears. Blackstone's loud "Attention everyone!" got most people to quiet down. The speech, thankfully, was short. At hearing 'volunteers', Asta perked her ears and stepped to the side, waiting for the crowd to thin out a bit before she wandered towards the middle again. And saw Oscar and Sarinon. Talking. This, she thought, standing a few feet back, will be interesting. "Asta Moret," she added as Sarinon and Oscar went up to Mr. Blackstone. "New Guild member, chemist and alchemist. I'll help with whatever I can." *** <<Mage Manor>>Alright. The Underdeep was sealed. For now, anyway. Aly sat against the wall, keeping a wary eye on the wall of vines. The conversation around her went on, and she felt a prickle of alarm at Celestial's and Rikku's wanting to explore further. Stop it, she thought, annoyed. Whether it was herself or Lika, one of the pair was always suspicious of something. And yet, she had no reason to be. Lika hadn't even spoken up, and she was the one with the cat's intuition. But the Underdeep would overpower a lot of little bad feelings, wouldn't it? And then she mentally kicked herself for the paranoia. Geez. Either this Underdeep stuff was making her irritable and suspicious, or she was just noticing it more than usual. Nah. Definitely the Underdeep."While I do agree with you that someone should explore the Underdeep to see where it has expanded, I'm not sure that you should be the one that does it, considering the ordeal that you went through earlier." A quick look confirmed that it was someone Aly hadn't seen before. She'd ask for his name later. [/i]"It might be better if you rested before you do. Of course, with that being said, you don't have to listen to me, a newcomer, because it's probably none of my business on why you want to explore the Underdeep by yourself."[/i] "Common sense will get you a lot of places," Aly said with a smile. "I agree. But on the other hand...I'm eager to get away from the darkness-incarnate stuff, so I suggest we move out of here and get food. Now, preferably. There's a lot of people around here all of a sudden." That, and I want to see if you two are really okay.Lika looked up at a nudge, and the mage quickly gave a few signs with her hands, out of view of the others. She then started tracing small letters on the floor, leaving the Felyr to piece the rest together. [ Omni, when you can. How do the two mages seem to you?] *** <<Castle Kestrel>>Ro, standing out of the way, watched the messengers pass by as they were sent out by Sarn. Her eyes were narrowed slightly more than usual, though the harsh look was somewhat softened by the relentless chewing motion as she bit down on a sandwich. At least, she could fix her own food. Bread and cheese were all she'd gone for, but Sarn had somehow gotten to the messengers in the short space she had been away. Dang. Ah, well. She'd seen one of them--the one that had been to visit the pirates, she guessed--enter, and leave between two happy guards. That wouldn't go well. Sarn dashed past her and out to the gate, shouting something as he left. With a jolt and a short curse, Ro shoved the remains of her snack in her mouth and scooped up her bag, taking note of where he was headed and running out to the stables. The saddling was quick and rough, but it would have to do. Impulsive, fast little... He hadn't said where he was going. She nudged her horse's sides, eyes on the sky. There. " Ve!" Ro ordered, and they followed after the Feberi knight. A new city...what could it be?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2009 4:38:32 GMT -5
The Throne Room of Castle Kestrel
"We're not alone, Shino. I feel a cold hand will soon grip this land and burn it into naught but ashes..."
King Kabe spoke these words and repeated them again under his breath. Sitting atop his throne he was outwardly stonewalled, but inside he felt a madness grip this situation so firm as though these was no clear directive by either his hand or the will of the people. For indeed, this could be a turn of events that would seem a potential problem of which strategical resource did not point to any clue of an answer at this moment in time. He gazed over at the White Knight and saw that he too knew this to be true. Lord Shino was standing astute by Lord Leon and a few other lords, that were presently pondering these words over and over and over again while pacing all across the polished floors.
"These were the exact words that Sir Leon spoke after his trance?" Lord Ghalord asked insistintly for the third time as though each time he asked the question the answer would somehow change into visions of rainbows and pixie dust."
[glow=blue,2,300]"Yes sir, Lord Ghalord, those were the same words that came out of me mouth at that cafe."[/glow] Sir Leon said as he took a step towards the old graying man. "[glow=blue,2,300]I can feel it in my soul. Bear these words close to you,"[/glow] he whispered now to those around, [glow=blue,2,300]"for this is not a hearty accolade, but rather a deathly chagrin each of us will share if we do not heed in wisdom."[/glow]
Shino raised a hand to calm everyone outwardly and then lifted his voice to steady the wary spirits of the King and lords present. "It will do us no good to rely solely on this warning, and that is what this is. A rigid warning. Any actions will come with grave repercussions, I fear. We must make haste whatever is we do, but I do not petition to lay waste another wild goose. We need to make a clear decision about this."
The lords nodded their heads with agreement, but were obviously uneasy by the whole ordeal of the news. When they had first heard the words uttered out of Leon's mouth, they became terrified immediately and beset for instant plans to route all forces back to safeguard lives and then evacuate the castle. Even Lord Undaughner, who was always level-headed on most matters seemed to throw out all sense in his head as he began to count on his fingers how long they had left.
King Kabe's silence allowed the fear in the air to fester for a moment until Shino stepped up and quieted everyone down.
Shino looked up at his king with an honest face and with a clear voice he began "We cannot afford to be rash-"[glow=blue,2,300]"But we must do something."[/glow] Sir Leon burst out, cutting off Shino's words.
"I agree." King Kabe stated undoubtedly authoratative in manner. He rose from the High Throne, walked down, in-between the White and Silver Knights, and outstretched his arms, gripping them both by the shoulders with his golden-red gauntlets. "We must determine answers from this grave omen ourselves so that we may know what is coming and can effectively deal with whatever presence threatens this castle and it's subjects."
"So I am sending you two out on a quest. Your mission is to scour all the lands in secret to see how much is known, if anything, about dark happenings of late. You have one night to ready yourselves. For in the morning you'll both ride out to find any visible signs of this coming 'apocalypse' as it were. We need to confirm this threat before we shoot at clouds. Remember to do this very inconspicuously. We need not stir up trouble among the people or our allies. We musn't allow fear to lead us into overthrowing reason."
Both Knights gave King Kabe their assurance they would and bowed, just before they walked out of the throneroom. "Sire, I'm not sure if this is the correct course of action to be taking." Lord Ghalord piped up as the King sat down in his throne once again. As he looked up at the lords still present before him, they were taken aback by his face. His aura had certainly dimmed, but his face...his face was drained of color. And of courage...King Kabe thought to himself briefly. "Sire, are you alright?"
"No, and I fear for those two men...I may have just condemned them to an untimely death."
|
|
|
Post by Jina on Dec 12, 2009 5:24:40 GMT -5
Tabloid Town Docks Rider and Zylaa had left the bar, and it had taken Jina a moment to remember why. Then, she followed.
She arrived back at the docks. Rider was hiding a pile of crates, and Zylaa had gone to talk to Hunty. She went over to Rider, without bothering to hide.
"Um. I know you've been gone a while, but you did say we were hurry to get back to the ship, and well... this isn't it."
...
"Unless my drink really was spiked."
Brassport Owen perked up when Blackstone arrived. Finally. He listened to the speech... something about them moving, which was kind of weird, and then him asking for volunteers. More interesting than rocketmouse, I suppose.
He went up to the podium to talk to Blackstone. "I suppose I could help you out. Technically, I'm an engineer, but hey, with a big metal suit on, who's counting?"
|
|
|
Post by PFA on Dec 12, 2009 10:27:04 GMT -5
Ninja Dojo
PFA stood silently as Kiddo spoke with the newcomer. Was it just her, or was Kiddo a lot more irritable and cryptic now?
"Dunburrow is where the Knights reside," PFA told Kiddo. To Jasor, she added, "We're not sure what caused that earthquake a while ago. There were some messengers from Castle Kestrel asking about it a moment ago, too... and I was under the impression that that was what we were about to go investigate."
---
Merc Choppa
Jernath had just started to calm himself down again when they discovered that their pilot didn't know how to fly a helicopter. Neither did Jernath, incidentally, which meant all he could do was panic and hope someone else did. All this on-and-off panicking couldn't have been good on your nerves.
Thankfully, once someone who knew what they were doing took the controls, things started to calm down again. Of course, as a couple of the other mercs had noticed, it also seemed they had a guest. Just nearby was some kind of flying machine, of design unrecognized by Jernath. Nor, for that matter, did he recognize the pilot of the aircraft.
"Who is..." Jernath started, but realized no one else in the chopper would know the answer either. Instead, he decided to ask, "Do you think we should talk to him? He might know something..."
|
|
|
Post by Celestial on Dec 12, 2009 13:24:25 GMT -5
Mage Manor
“Hells no! After what happened? Haven’t you ever seen a horror movie? Never split up! I’m coming with you.” Rikku objected to Celestial's statement. The dragon mage stared at her. Yes, that would be acceptable. Rikku was after all a messenger, just like her.
"Alright, just you and me. I don't think we should endanger anybody else," she nodded and looked around for any more objections which she would have to calm.
"While I do agree with you that someone should explore the Underdeep to see where it has expanded, I'm not sure that you should be the one that does it, considering the ordeal that you went through earlier. It might be better if you rested before you do. Of course, with that being said, you don't have to listen to me, a newcomer, because it's probably none of my business on why you want to explore the Underdeep by yourself." the wolf mage who had the weewoo said. Celestial smiled at him.
"Thank you for your concern but, as cliche as this sounds, I don't think I will be able to rest while this is happening," she replyed kindly. And it was true. The thing in her mind would not allow her to rest until this was done.
"Common sense will get you a lot of places, I agree. But on the other hand...I'm eager to get away from the darkness-incarnate stuff, so I suggest we move out of here and get food. Now, preferably. There's a lot of people around here all of a sudden." Aly said. Celestial nodded.
"I agree, let's let this sleeping dog lie for now. Rikku, if you want to come with me then I suggest you get yourself cleaned up now. We'll leave in one hour," Celestial said and walked out to make herself presentable and get some food too.
It doesn't really matter what Celestial did but by the end, she looked like her old self, save for something in her eyes that seemed like static. In every single mirror it was there, flickering away like a thousand tiny candle flames. You had to give the Underdeep credit, it wasn't unoriginal.
But she also needed to make one other arrangement besides cleaning and eating. Grabbing a hamburger and several portions of sushi from the kitchen, she went into her own room and closed the door. Putting all the food on her table, Celestial activated the spell that acted like a telephone.
"Get me Tabloid Town, Building 0782, Room 101" she said into it.
Tabloid Town
Room 101 contained a desk with a computer and a trasmitter nothing more. Than computer was always on. If anybody tried to switch anything off, they were promptly fried with electricity. The program that lived in the computer liked to remain alive.
The telephone program was activated. It promptly answered.
"Yes, hello?" the computer replied, hoping that this time it was legitimate work and not cold callers. They were everywhere, even in a setting like this.
"I heard this was the residence of a rather famous mercenary hacker," the voice on the other side said in a hushed tone. Clearly she wanted this kept secret.
"Why yes it is, unfortunately in this setting my skills are useless. What can I do for you?" the AI asked, getting just a little bit excited. Her first real job in so long!
"Could you cause some chaos in Spacefleet?" the voice asked. A graphic came onto the computer showing the Author jumping for joy. She had wanted to investigate inside the 'Fleet for so long and along comes this mysterious woman and tells her that she's free to do as she pleases.
"Is the Fourth Wall broken a lot during a Guild War?" she asked happily.
"Good, thank you," the woman replied and hung up. The graphic changed to a grin and the putting on of sunglasses accompanied by rock music. Then the images faded.
The trasmitter began sending the singal towards Spacefleet.
Back in Mage Manor
That was taken care of, thankfully. Spacefleet was going in be in an uproar about this but if that hacker was as good as she said she was, chaos would ensue soon. Celestial smiled. All was going well.
She finsihed the burger and the sushi and looked at herself in the mirror again. Aside from the static, which only she seemed to notice, the dragon mage looked presentable.
Outside Mage Manor she waited for Rikku in Dragon Form, ready and rearing to go.
|
|
|
Post by Huntress on Dec 12, 2009 13:41:02 GMT -5
((Tabloid Town harbor))
"O-okay. I'll--I'll come along." The coati - or blue raccoon-thing as Hunty thought of her - introduced herself as Nasue. The captain smiled.
"Excellent, welcome aboard. You get your own hammock, three warm meals a day unless we're busy with a chase or escape or battle or something, an equal share of all loot and a pension plan, plus full rights to phoenix down when you get killed. I'll let the blarf know that you're not food." She got up and turned around. A subtle meepitty tug on her earring had indicated that something was going on behind her back. It turned out to be Zylaa.
"Cap'n, we have reports from a reliable if somewhat confused source that the Underdeep is expanding," said the weaselgirl. Hunty scowled.
"That so? This only confirms what I've been hearing. Well, that means that we really need to get out of here." She looked up to see that everyone was present and nodded. "Glad to see everyone's ticking and unharmed. Rider, welcome back aboard, you can bring the crate if you really like it so much. We're setting sail in ten."
"Where to?" Bloody Mary asked.
There was a pause. The Underdeep was everywhere in the planet - or rather, under it, or intertwined with it, however that went.
"Someplace quiet," she said. "Some of our old hiding places. Those islands where humans never go to, the Underdeep is weaker in less populated places." Why did she suddenly feel the urge to acquire a shotgun? What the heck was a shotgun anyway?
"And then we'll hole up and wait until everyone else is gone and we're the last to get devoured?" The meepit sounded rather tetchy. Okay, no wonder.
"Well, we can't really do anything, can we?" Hunty gnawed on her lip. "This is the Underdeep. Not like we can whack it upside the head and tell it to cool down. We know very little about it as it is, have no idea what might've caused it so we have no idea where to start with our heroic quest to save the world, and we don't know anyone who knows much about the Underdeep-" She paused. "Bloody Mary, you're sitting on my shoulder. I can feel when you're fidgeting guiltily."
"I um," said Bloody Mary, now even more guiltily. "You won't like this, but..."
The captain's steel grey eyes suddenly had him in full focus. "Talk."
"Um," said the meepit. "Well, thing is, we sortof do know a guy... Merpo, if you remember..."
A figure floated to surface in Hunty's mind. A figure that looked like a cross between a peacock and a disco dancer in need of heavy tranquilizers. It'd been a year and their paths had only crossed for a day but he wasn't the kind of guy you'd forget easily. It wasn't the kind of story you'd forget easily. A lot of it had been coated in demons, time warps and, as Bloody Mary put it, 'far too much oozing sap', but the underlying theme of it all had been... a notebook.
Bloody Mary, a fine specimen of Nature's top species of undisputedly unnerving creepy starers, all of a sudden found himself squirming in the red-hot glare of two merciless slits that were trying to weld their way through his skull.
"What. Was. In. That. Notebook?"
"I well um, it's kinda... the Underdeep. He was conducting research on the Underdeep." Bloody Mary, whose rodent instincts were intact as ever, felt the urge to back off, except there was nowhere to back off to. "For years, according to Justice." He really wished that Hunty would explode every now and then. It would've been less... directed. "Hey, it doesn't mean that he started this, right? It's been a year. If he was directly responsible, it would've happened a lot sooner, right? Anyway, I think he's the best expert we can get, he might know something." Still no signs of improvement. "It'd be better than running away, right? It's a bit of a long shot, but can't hurt to try, right?"
Silence reigned for a moment. Then Hunty turned to look at her crew.
"Right," she said. "Well, I know where he lives, I've been at the gates. It's not directly through the city, thankfully. Everyone in favor? I might indeed be better than running away."
She paused. "Oh, and we're taking the blarf. Can't be too careful."
|
|
|
Post by Draco on Dec 12, 2009 13:42:21 GMT -5
<<Falling Next To Choppa>>
"Are they even trying not to crash anymore?" He looks at the fast approaching ground. Looking to the chopper he makes hand gestures of crashing into the ground, and a explosion. "If it wasn't for that large blades on the top I could attempt something... But my Fantome is still to small to prevent a total crash, maybe the explosion..."
He begins to prey for the people on the strange flying vehicle, which he wants to pilot someday when not crashing.
---
<<Fields to Tabloid Town?>>
Draco and his three two ninja lay on the ground resting.
"Can't run anymore..."
"To tired..."
"I can't feel my legs!"
"I can't feel my legs either!!"
Draco turns to his two followers. "Will you two be quiet. You don't hear me complaining." He pats his leg and smirks at the two. "I can't feel my legs either!!!" Turning away he continues to talk to them. "If you continue to complain, there will be a punishment."
Both ninja quickly look into the sky for flaming tables, but no sign of one... There was a flaming chair though, but it misses them by several feet.
Draco stares at the burning hole from his resting spot. "Ok... How high did that explosion send furniture? And how is it they don't burn up completely? Are they 'Super Furniture' or something?!" He imagines 'Super Furniture' floating in space.
|
|