The flocustman stared at the two others that spoke. "You won't mind if we looked around?" they asked, "The convict ran into this direction, he'd have a tracking tattoo on his face as well." ~~~~~~~~~~~ Rogue sense were awakened by familiar sounds and familiar voices. General Hardroach had caught up to him already. While this group was distracting them. Rogue was sure he could sneak off and leave them. Rogue got up from laying down and was now on his knees.
We are not things," said the one that spoke...the guess is that this is their leader, "And how dare you attack us as well...in our culture visitors on our land provide us a sacrificial meal...so, was this sacrificial meal a hoax?" The fly, locust man fixed his odd bug like hands. And stared at them. "We are looking for a wanted convict," they said, "He has blond hair and stole some clothes from one of our human guards...the only thing of his that would be his normal is a scarf...have you seen this convict?" I apologize if we insulted you, but we are merely travelers who have come from distant lands and this land is very strange to us," Terrance could only hope to wing this one, fortunately being a skeleton had its advantages, as in, no facial expression, if they detected something in his voice however then bloodshed may be of the inevitable, "if there is some sort of sacrifice then we apologize for not providing one. As for this, 'convict' we have not seen or heard of such a one. "You won't mind if we looked around?" they asked, "The convict ran into this direction, he'd have a tracking tattoo on his face as well." "As a matter of fact, I do. We have encountered no one of this description and if we did, we would let you know. So please, we've had a long, exhausting day of travel, and we need our rest. I do wish you the best of luck in catching this criminal, you are gentlemen and scholars for making this world safe, when it is in dire need of salvation."
Britney listened as the sounds of swarming stopped. Relieved that they must be gone, she considered her situation. The protection of wood and vines had been brilliant, but now, they were an obstacle. Now, she had to find a way to get back out of it. She heard voices, muffled. She quickly rose, and just as quickly fell again as her head hit the very short roof of the enclosure with a loud BAM! "Owww!" she said aloud, rolling on the ground and kicking the wooden walls in frustration. "Stupid" kick "worthless" kick "mean old" kick "wooden piece of crap!" Kick. Bam! Kick. Britney rolled to her back and looked up, at nothing in particular because all light had been locked out. Well, she thought, at least it held when I needed it to. She smiled to herself, relaxed inside the enclosure, and began her concentration.
As the bug-men appeared, Azul lowered her shield, loosening her sword in its sheath. She didn't trust these things, not one bit. They were talking to Terrance, but she wasn't quite close enough to hear it. She moved closer, catching a bit of the conversation. "We are not things," said the one that spoke...the guess is that this is their leader, "And how dare you attack us as well...in our culture visitors on our land provide us a sacrificial meal...so, was this sacrificial meal a hoax?" The fly, locust man fixed his odd bug like hands. And stared at them. "We are looking for a wanted convict," they said, "He has blond hair and stole some clothes from one of our human guards...the only thing of his that would be his normal is a scarf...have you seen this convict?" Blonde hair and a scarf . . . Did they mean Rogue? Was he a convict? Even though she didn't know him that well, he was a comrade, and she never turned her back on a comrade. She heard Jules speak out, as well as Kaethe. "What are you talking about? We don't know anything about this convict of yours." "There's no one here like that," Jules told the huge locust-like men. "Your convict must be elsewhere." It looked like some of the others weren't willing to give up Rogue either. The locust-men asked another question. "You won't mind if we looked around?" they asked, "The convict ran into this direction, he'd have a tracking tattoo on his face as well." Terrance spoke. "As a matter of fact, I do. We have encountered no one of this description and if we did, we would let you know. So please, we've had a long, exhausting day of travel, and we need our rest. I do wish you the best of luck in catching this criminal, you are gentlemen and scholars for making this world safe, when it is in dire need of salvation." Azul admired his courage and thought that he was a good . . . man . . . skeleton . . . thing. "We know nothing of any convict of yours, sir."
"Owww!" she said aloud, rolling on the ground and kicking the wooden walls in frustration. "Stupid" kick "worthless" kick "mean old" kick "wooden piece of crap!" Kick. Bam! Kick. Terrance looked over to where the noise was, "I think Britney's stuck, gentlemen, if you'll excuse me." He strided over to where there was a thick enclosure of vines and wood, "Britney if you're in there, I suggest you keep your head down." A long blade made of shadow protruded from his hand, he sliced off the top of it and looked down to find Britney on her back, he shook his head, "need a hand," he reached his hand down and waited for her to take it.
The creature stared at them. "If you haven't seen the convict then it should be fine," the creature said, "He tends to stick and hide in groups..he's dangerous...gotten into the Prophet Archive Tower and stole the one and only drawn map to the Forgotten Keep, and killed at least 20 guards...we placed him in prison, but he escaped somehow." The creature expression changed from that of anger, but mere frustration and confusion. "The sacrifice we thought was the jeep and the chair," said the creature, "It wasn't? I apologize then...we need to check this settlement and be on our way."
Pondering her situation, and wondering whether she would do better to try to retract or break the wood, Britney never expected the answer to come to her. "Britney if you're in there, I suggest you keep your head down." The top of the enclosure came off without a hitch. Hot knife through butter, that sort of thing. And above was Terrance, looking, well, she couldn't really tell his expression due to lack of facial muscles and well... face. "need a hand," he reached his hand down and waited for her to take it. She smiled brightly and accepted his hand. She stood up with a bounce, climbed out of the wood, but then became worried by the sight now before her. Britney remembered the muffled voice she hadn't quite recognized, and now there was a strange bug-face to go with it. "What's going on?" she whispered. Jules rolled her eyes at her cousin's form of escape from her own magics. Could be worse, though, she thought. At least Skelator didn't have to replace any bones this time around. Just thinking about it was enough to make her gag a little. She stole a glance behind the two figures at Rogue sneaking away. Immediately, she turned her head, hoping her stare did not attract the wrong attention. Jules made a point not to glance in that particular direction again until the bug men left. "He tends to stick and hide in groups..he's dangerous...gotten into the Prophet Archive Tower and stole the one and only drawn map to the Forgotten Keep, and killed at least 20 guards...we placed him in prison, but he escaped somehow." Jules' mouth twitched to a half smile. The map, finally. She'd get answers once they left. Hopefully, they'd leave before Rogue could get too far. If nothing else, Britney could track him down.
"If you haven't seen the convict then it should be fine," the creature said, "He tends to stick and hide in groups..he's dangerous...gotten into the Prophet Archive Tower and stole the one and only drawn map to the Forgotten Keep, and killed at least 20 guards...we placed him in prison, but he escaped somehow." So, Rogue had a map to the Forgotten Keep. Yet another reason to protect him. Out of the corner of her eye, Azul noticed Jules looking at something. Turning her head ever so slightly, she noticed Rogue sneaking away. She frowned. She didn't like deserters. However, it was to be expected, she supposed. Rogue didn't know them, didn't trust them yet, and he was saving his own skin. She wasn't going to betray him, so she turned her head back to the locust-men. They appeared to be reasonable. "The sacrifice we thought was the jeep and the chair," said the creature, "It wasn't? I apologize then...we need to check this settlement and be on our way." Sacrifice? It must have something to do with the part of the conversation she missed in the beginning. She hoped the settlement could be dealt with quickly.
("Anything I can do?") Scott waddled over to the conduit and stared puzzled at the array of knobs and switches. ("Well, I can't reach all of these and can't exactly do much without hands, but walk me through it and I'll do what I can...") "Thank you my friend, but I think that--" Aves was cut short by an explosion outside of their hiding place. "I think that that won't be necessary. It seems someone else had the same idea as me. Aves listened for the sounds of the swarm but they seemed to have stopped. Although, he heard a voice which he didn't recognize talking to the group. Of course, he couldn't exactly hear what they were saying through his metal dome. "HEY! We're stuck in here! Hey! Ducky, try to make as much noise as you can. We're going to need some help getting out of this metal casket."
Britney smiled at the help and climbed out of the wooden structure, her smile soon became worry and she looked to Terrance, "What's going on?" she whispered. "Unexpected guests is all," he whispered back, "do me and favor and check on Aves, just to make sure he didn't pass out from heat exhaustion in that thing." He turned back when he heard the locust voices again, The creature stared at them. "If you haven't seen the convict then it should be fine," the creature said, "He tends to stick and hide in groups..he's dangerous...gotten into the Prophet Archive Tower and stole the one and only drawn map to the Forgotten Keep, and killed at least 20 guards...we placed him in prison, but he escaped somehow." "Sir, I ask again that you please leave us. On any other circumstance it would be fine, but not only have you destroyed our transportation, disabled our friend who was already disabled to begin with, but you've also made us waste our energy from your, 'supposed' sacrificial ceremony. Our journey is now even longer and the balance of peace that we hoped to establish is now gone. My sympathy for your loss of life, but if we see him, we'll tell you. Now please, be on your way." The creature expression changed from that of anger, but mere frustration and confusion. "The sacrifice we thought was the jeep and the chair," said the creature, "It wasn't?" "No, it wasn't."
"HEY! We're stuck in here! Hey! Ducky, try to make as much noise as you can. We're going to need some help getting out of this metal casket." Scott nodded and turned to the metal wall. How best to make noise? Well, I'm inside a metal dome. A bell is also essentially a metal dome. So... Scott reared his head back and slammed his beak into the wall. Only a slight ringing thud resounded. Wincing in pain and shock, Scott stepped back. ("Okay, that was a bad idea.")
After the blast, Ted had hidden--if he had happened to hit any of those he'd tried to save, well, he'd be better off leaving soon anyways. He heard the locustmen land and interrogate the group. Sounded like nobody was seriously hurt, but a propane explosive wouldn't have so big an impact on locusts if they were 6 feet tall anyways. He decided to come out once the locusts had left. He winced once he realized his hands were bleeding, and wrapped them in an old shirt from his pack and waited.
The creatures stared at Terrance. The leader of their clan stiffened his face and was furious with Terrance's refusal to show them the camp. "What are you hiding then?" their leader said, "I have you know we'll come back, you're now criminals of the Orion Heaven's Guard." The creatures flew off leaving the group alone. ~~~~~~~~~~~ Roger went over to check on Enigma. "You all right?" Roger asked. "I am fine," Enigma said, "But we have to deal with the convict in our group now." "Yes you're right," Roger said. Roger stood up and stared at Rogue. "Get up and start speaking," Roger demanded. ~~~~~~~~~~~ Rogue did get up, but all he did was stare at Roger with cold eyes. He felt the presence of another's eyes on him. Enigma's eyes. And one by one the group was all eyes on him.
"What are you hiding then?" their leader said, "I have you know we'll come back, you're now criminals of the Orion Heaven's Guard." "Come back then, we'll be ready," the thought came into his head. "Get up and start speaking," Roger demanded. Terrance turned to Roger speaking with Rogue, the boy's lips remained sealed. Terrance walked over, "You endangered our lives by coming to us, we saved you, by refusing our knowledge of your whearabouts. I think it only fair that you repay us with your story," he crossed his arms, another thought crossed his mind, "you might also want to tell us who we're dealing with, who is the Orion Heaven Guard?"
Rogue crossed his arms together and stared at them. "The Orion Guard protects the Prophet Archive," Rogue said, "They live here in the Heaven's Pass one of the many trials you'll have to go through, though now that you're criminals they probably won't let you through the trial." Rogue paused and then glared at Roger before continuing. "I never got the memo where the time heroes were going to meet," Rogue said, "Dad didn't have enough strength, so I decided to go to the Prophet Archive...home of the prophet, library of the many things locked in the Prophet's mind...I stole the map that the Prophet drew themselves all though it probably isn't as accurate as the micro chip map the real prophet has." Rogue bit his lip and this time glared at the ground. "I escaped from the prison of Orion so I could find the prophet, so he could clear my name, so that way I may continue on the quest of bringing back time,"
Ted glanced ahead at the group of people. The old man lay on the ground with what looked like a duck. Everyone else, however, was staring at a blond boy, who was talking about something to do with time or prophecy. Another group of "time heroes", in trouble because of a few bugs. "Ugh... guess if anyone needs me, they do." He strode out from where he had been hiding, attempting to make it look like he'd been walking up the mountain path, and "stumbled" upon the group.
Coming back to his consciousness, the first thing Marcus spoke was "Where am I?" He had forgotten everything from the time he was practicing. He slowly stood up. Everything around was more of a blur. He could not recognize anyone. "Who are you all?" he asked.
"Unexpected guests is all," he whispered back, "do me and favor and check on Aves, just to make sure he didn't pass out from heat exhaustion in that thing." “Sure,” Britney replied. Now where… A loud ding answered her question before she could even form it. She moved towards the metal, being careful not to attract the attention of the bug-men. When she reached it, she found it was closed entirely. Britney knew she must somehow open it, and before she could fully get into concentration, she called from the ground two great planks, which lifted one side of the metal enclosure just enough for a person to squeeze through. Shocked at the unusually easy time of opening it, and looked inside. Along with Aves was a rather cute duck. She reached in, ready to pull Aves from beneath the metal. Meanwhile, the bug-men left them. She breathed out a sigh of relief, and drug the old man out into the open air once again. “You okay?” she asked.
Rogue crossed his arms together and stared at them. "The Orion Guard protects the Prophet Archive," Rogue said, "They live here in the Heaven's Pass one of the many trials you'll have to go through, though now that you're criminals they probably won't let you through the trial." Rogue paused and then glared at Roger before continuing. "I never got the memo where the time heroes were going to meet," Rogue said, "Dad didn't have enough strength, so I decided to go to the Prophet Archive...home of the prophet, library of the many things locked in the Prophet's mind...I stole the map that the Prophet drew themselves all though it probably isn't as accurate as the micro chip map the real prophet has." Rogue bit his lip and this time glared at the ground. "I escaped from the prison of Orion so I could find the prophet, so he could clear my name, so that way I may continue on the quest of bringing back time," Terrance put a finger to his jaw and scratched it a bit, "so then, where do we start looking?"
You okay? "Not particularly. I'm an old man, my legs are useless, my wheelchair is horribly disfigured and half eaten, and my useless legs are broken to top it all off. So while I could lie and say 'I'll be fine' I'm actually in a wretched condition and honestly feeling quite senile... I'm too old for this..."
Roger crossed his arms and placed his hands on his forehead. He began to shake his head like if he were watching idiot children. Roger picked up Enigma and sighed heavily. "A bunch of idiots," Roger said, "How could they not notice?" "I'm going to sleep," Enigma said. "Fine," Roger said, "But they are idiots." "They'll figure it out soon Roger...no need to tell them anything they are still learning," Enigma said. "Get some rest," Enigma closed his eyes and Roger stared at the group. "We'll be putting that map back is what we'll be doing," Roger said.
Ted looked over the group as he approached. "Two darksiders--female. A female lightsider. With a sword. The old man, with duck, still lying on the ground. An oddly dressed boy who seems rather confused. A little girl... boy... person in a dress. A big man in a tank top and fatigues....possible military man and pain in my ass, if he knows who I am. And some kid dressed in all black... Interesting group, to say the least..." As he approached the group, he called out, "Hello folks, just passing through. Just a drive mechanic looking for work."
"Not particularly. I'm an old man, my legs are useless, my wheelchair is horribly disfigured and half eaten, and my useless legs are broken to top it all off. So while I could lie and say 'I'll be fine' I'm actually in a wretched condition and honestly feeling quite senile... I'm too old for this..." Britney had no idea how to respond, so she just listened politely. She spotted the duck waddling out from under the metal contraption. “Hey little ducky,” she said, and held out her arms to pick up the duck. She could hear the telltale sounds from her cousin… like an almost inaudible growling that preceded an explosion… Jules shifted her weight, listening to the conversation. Her bottom jaw protruded, anger rising within her. Terrance put a finger to his jaw and scratched it a bit, "so then, where do we start looking?" “Seriously?” said Jules, her condescending tone unmistakable. “Well, I guess your brain technically rotted away, so maybe I can’t really blame you.” She rolled her eyes and addressed the group. “Anyone with two brain cells to rub together should be able to make the connection. The prophet has the map. Enigma has the map in his head. Enigma is the prophet.” She waved her arms the way someone does when introducing people to each other. “Morons, meet prophet.” Enigma was sleeping again, of course. “Prophet, morons.” “Get it?” The rest of her speech was hidden beneath the slew of profanities in her mumbling. She waited for a response, anything from them to see that they had in fact put two and two together.
Terrance put a finger to his jaw and scratched it a bit, "so then, where do we start looking?" “Seriously?” said Jules, her condescending tone unmistakable. “Well, I guess your brain technically rotted away, so maybe I can’t really blame you.” She rolled her eyes and addressed the group. “Anyone with two brain cells to rub together should be able to make the connection. The prophet has the map. Enigma has the map in his head. Enigma is the prophet.” She waved her arms the way someone does when introducing people to each other. “Morons, meet prophet.” Enigma was sleeping again, of course. “Prophet, morons.” Azul looked at Enigma. He was definitely mysterious, but she wasn't sure if he was a prophet. She looked at Roger as though for confirmation, then noticed a figure walking towards them. "Hello folks, just passing through. Just a drive mechanic looking for work." She surveyed him before speaking. "Perhaps you could help us. Our elderly friend here has a wheelchair that is now broken. I believe it may use some Drive technology."
Perhaps you could help us. Our elderly friend here has a wheelchair that is now broken. I believe it may use some Drive technology. "Yes, my chair does you drive technology. In fact, it IS a drive. The only one of it's kind. Unfortunately, It's a mangled mess and is half destroyed. I honestly doubt you could be of much help at this point. You're welcome to try though."
