"Commander Tina, Eudo seems to be guilt-ridden about the Raiders. I know it was his first . . . time doing that, but I want to make it clear to him that if he hadn't fought, he may have been killed. Would it be okay if i put him through a duel? I do not intend to hurt him, though." The Commander looked down at Xin, her face hardening slightly at the sight of Xin's eye. "The knowledge that the situation was kill or be killed does not make one's first kill any easier." Her expression showed that she understood what Eudo was going through. "There will be time enough to duel him, if he's willing. Right now, though, we're here to continue our mission and find the next sphere."
Xin: Level: 2.02 Xin nodded once in understanding, though she disliked it. It had been her first kill as well, but no one saw her acting squeamish. All the more reason why I enjoy your thoughts, Xin. You do not behave as normal humans do -but that is a plus compared to the weaknesses of emotion that they show. Torg commented. "I am not weak like my parents." she muttered, and both of her eyes went pitch-black as her and Torg fused minds. Numbers danced in the corners of her vision, variables that she didn't need to understand. Distance, the amount of oxygen in the air . . . Speaking of which, I think i may need to make a few adjustments to your skin layer. There are scars that may prove to a disadvantage at some point, even by a tiny variable amount of movement speed. Torg said, and Xin paused, holding her hands in front of her face as the skin on her whole body seemed to shimmer and rippled for a moment. Then, every scar that had marred her disappeared as if they had never been. Her hair had also grown several inches, flowing down to her shoulders in wavy curls of shining ebony. Apparently she wasn't pure Asian as most would have thought. Looking herself over, a faint smile tugged her lips. You know you didn't have to go that far Torg. Well, let's give them something to envy anyways. I only advanced your cellular build, so it does not matter to me what you "look" like so long as it is good for you.
Eudoxia Level 2 Point Amount: 180 Money Amount: 90 Eudoxia stood there. He heard his name come out the mouth of Xin, but did not know what for. He then thought back to hat Naomi told him. He would have to learn how to daance soon, or else he would be screwed, or so he thought. So, he then quickly thought about all the dance moves he had ever seen, and also tried which would be appropriate for the current situation. He ran his hand through his hair and sighed, giving off the impression that he was sad or depressed.
Mythai She glanced around the throne room in complete awe at the beauty. Despite her lack of sleep, the music lifted her spirits. The room was clean too, thankfully. Mythai studied the food on the table which looked much better compared to that disgusting meat at the inn. She would've grabbed a plate, but she'd hate to give a first impression of a glutton, so she stood with the rest of the squad. She'd eat when they did. Mythai saw Xin exchanged words with the Commander, but her gaze slowly shifted to Eudo in the corner. Something seemed off about him. She remembered his conversations of death from last night, but surely he'd moved on by now...right? Her medic instinct kicked in as she walked over to him. "Are you feeling ok, Eudoxia?" Mythai asked, concern in her voice.
Eudoxia Level 2 Point Amount: 180 Money Amount: 90 Her medic instinct kicked in as she walked over to him. "Are you feeling ok, Eudoxia?" Mythai asked, concern in her voice. Eudoxia eyes turned to the modest girl. She was kind of silent at times, so he knew she could keep a secret. His eyes grew big when an idea popped into his head. He grabbed her wrists and shook them, from over excitement and some worry, as he was eager to get to his point. Eudoxia then told her quietly, "I need you to teach me how to dance, or else the other will laugh at me." He looked in Mythai's eyes trying hard to show his commitment and concern. "I need your help. Teach me." he begged.
Mythai "I need your help. Teach me." he begged. Mythai's eyes widened at his plea. She hadn't danced with a man since her last high school dance, years before being transferred to UNSP. That last time in of itself had been a stretch for her. Still Mythai's concern remained as she stared at Eudoxia. It was plain to see that he was worried and this meant a lot to him. "There are many different kinds of dancing, Eudo," She whispered. "I don't know what kind the King has in mind. I mean, it's not like we can just do the cha-cha slide. But, well...classic slow dancing never goes out of style." She bit her lip as she took a quick glance at the others, specifically Seven. "We do have a problem though. How can I teach you while everyone is around?"
Mason took a seat at the table since no one else seemed willing to go first. Then he asked the question on everyone's minds. "Your majesty. Have you ever heard of the Rainbow Cavern?" “What about it?” “There is supposed to be an artifact there. We are trying to find.” The king put his fingers to chin. “I’m afraid there is nothing left in those caverns anymore. They've all been completely stripped of their resources. There were some strange things in there if I remember correctly.” “Was there a metal sphere about- so big?” Mason asked holding his hands together in a circle. The king’s eyes narrowed. “Why are you looking for the particular piece?” “In it is valuable information we need.” King Markus sighed and leaned back in his throne, crossing his fingers across his chest. “I’m afraid it’s with the Dragon Raiders. It rests on the saddle of Tiash’s dragon. She is the leader of the Dragon Raiders.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry, but it looks as if your search has been in vain. There is no way you can retrieve it without being killed by the dragon.” "Are there no honorable good dragons and riders around?" The Commander asked out of curiosity. "Few." The king shook his head sadly. "There are two factions of dragon tamers. One is a group of Dragon Tamers sworn to protect the kingdom. But they’ve been nearly exterminated by the raiders. Only 20 of them are left where as there are nearly 35 raiders in this particular kingdom. The second faction is the Raiders who use the dragons to pillage the kingdom. Worst of all they've been stealing our precious Titanium and are selling it to the Zallins." “How do you know it's the Zallins their selling it to? It could be a neighboring kingdom.” Mason asked. “I know because they wear the pendant of Zallin. Anyone wearing the pendants are under the Zallin’s protection. But not without a price. And their price is titanium."
Eudoxia Level 2 Point Amount: 180 Money Amount: 90 Eudoxia heard what was going on out of the king's mouth and thought about it. "I'm sure twenty dragon tamers could use us to even the odds. I think we could take fifteen dragon riders, especially if our commander joins in." Eudoxia stated with confidence then made a glance to Tina. "But what do we do with the people we beat, aren't these people of your kingdom? Should we jail them?" he asked standing next to Mythai hoping to get back to the conversation with her about dancing. He began to think of topic of what was going on and realized that Seven kind of reminded him of Naomi, like when she first came. She was rejected because of what she was, or at least seen different because of what she was. He made a smile, but then brought his mind back on this plain so he could hear the king's response.
Xin: Level: 2.02 "They're involved with the Zallins, and that means they are protected by them. We can't just go an attack them Eudoxia." Xin chided, drawing out her sword and pressing her thumb against the blade. A drop of blood ran down it, and Xin flipped her sword, catching it by its tip to watch the drop change course and head back towards the hilt. "No . . . open attack may incite the Zallins, and we would not be able to take them on. What we need to do is break in quietly, undetected, and steal it. But as for the dragon . . . why don't we give it a sleeping drought in a chunk of meat? Like the serpent on the Wisps' world. It would fall asleep and we could get the sphere without any danger to us." Clever, but what if the dragon is trained to only take food from it's master? Torg said, and Xin bit her tongue, glaring at a point on the wall as one of her eyes went black again. Her sword scraped against her hilt as it was sheathed. "I don't need your comments, Torg. I do realize that could happen, but let's see what we can come up with here huh?" she muttered.
"I could destract the dragon." Seven offered. "My frame is heat resistant, and I do not fear fangs of bone and claws not of metal. I also shine which may distract the beast."
Mythai Mythai listened to the ideas being tossed around. Talk of another battle made her sigh. So much fighting had been involved to get what they needed, so much bloodshed. "Is there any way we could get the sphere without picking a fight?" Mythai spoke up. "I mean, is there anything the Dragon Raiders value more than the titanium?" She thought back to the marketplace when she and Seven had spoken with that greedy man at the apothacary shop. "Could we do a barter in disguise, perhaps? Offer something in return? Old folk lore tells us that dragons love treasure."
Eudoxia Level 2 Point Amount: 180 Money Amount: 90 Eudoxia also heard the suggestions. He pondered over them for a moment and and tried his best to pick one out without having to kill anybody. "I can see where you are coming from, Myth." Eudoxia stated. "Maybe we could combine Seven and your plan. Have Seven distract the dragons, seeing as she resembles treasure. And also have people go in disguise to distract the riders. Then we could have Xin who seems to be the most stealthy out of all of us go in and retrieve the orb." he suggested. He put both hands on the back of his head and rubbed his fingers through his own soft hair. His purple eyes then set on his friend Seven. "And by the way Seven, be careful. I know you may be string, but don't do anything too dangerous. And Xin." he said then turning to Xin. "If you retrieving the orb, you must also be careful. I do not want anyone to get hurt." he stated. He then began to look towards the banquet table. Ready to eat.
"I think Mythai's suggestion is the best thus far. We want to avoid a fight if we can...especially with those who are under the protection of a race very likely more powerful than we are." The Commander said finally. "We need to find out what that item may be that the Dragon Raiders would want more. Not titanium." "We need to find them, first." Mason said sullenly. "Their camp is only about a day's walk from here." King Markus offered. "One of my scribes can give you a map if you are determined to find them. But I warn you...it's a treacherous venture. The raiders may just kill you before you even set foot into their territory. Are you willing to risk your lives, for a round piece of metal?"
Eudoxia Level 2 Point Amount: 180 Money Amount: 90 Eudoxia heard what the king had said and readied a response. "Excuse me, Sir. No disrespect, but it is much more than a round piece of metal. And if we weren't ready to risk our lives for it we wouldn't be here." Eudoxia stated in a very stern voice. He was thinking in the back of his mind, "Did the king forget he was talking to a military force. Also, round piece of metal? If it is just a round piece of metal, what is your titanium?" Eudoxia thought.
Xin: Level: 2.02 "Forgive me for speaking bluntly, your grace, but we can handle ourselves well enough. As members of the most elite military in our world, I think we can manage to keep our lives intact at the least." Then she turned to Tina, "Well, there are several things we may want to consider offering them. We could use base trickery and give them something much less valuable that is not of this world, so they will not know what it is, but I doubt that would work. Another means we could get them to trade would be to barter their. . . ah. . . lives if they agreed to turn themselves in, though we'd need the king's consent for that." And if none of those work? Torg rose up overwhelmingly in Xin's mind, and the girl swallowed as images of the past filled her head. Blood. Fire. Screaming. People, torn and bloodied, fleeing from blasts of light from an unknown source. Xin's eyes had gone midnight-black again, and this time thin lines crept around her skull, thickening and solidifying into half of a mask. The metal shimmered and melded to her as if it was a second skin, but it rippled like scales in places. "And if none of those work, we'd just have to use force." their two voices overlayed each other as they spoke. Still, Xin showed no sign of discomfort or fear even, despite the mild surprise of having Torg grow even further.
The King nodded in approval at the cadets' passion. "Very well then. If you want to make it Morinar's Pass by nightfall you'd best leave now." The commander stood and gestured for the cadets to do the same. "Thankyou for your hospitality, your majesty." She said with a slight bow before turning to leave. ------------------- The map a scribe had given them, led them down an easy path towards a looming mountain. It was tall but didn't appear to be that wide. Most of the wild beasts left them alone because of their numbers, and not a dragon was seen though sometimes their roars could be heard echoing from the other side of the mountain. By the time night had fallen, the cadets had reached Morinar's pass. It was a shifty looking bridge. Stretching out across a deep canyon with a raging river flowing down it's center. A man made cave was nestled in the mountain face. It provided perfect protection from wind and rain. "We'll sleep here tonight." The commander ordered. "Tommorrow we'll cross the bridge and if there are no delays we'll make it to the raider's camp by mid-afternoon." She set down her pack near the front of the cave. "I'm going to check in with the general. Don't go anywhere." She warned before leaving to find a private spot to check in with her superiors. Mason sighed as he rolled out a sleeping bag. "Knights, dragons, kings, and banquets. This planet is awesome!" He exclaimed. "Minus the free flowing sewers in the street. That was kinda gross." He added.
Adwaita Adwaita gave Mason a queer look. "Awesome? I don't know if I would go that far..." She rolled out her own sleeping bag and sat on it, absently undoing her knotted up hair-do and freeing her midnight locks. "It is rather primeval, though, in a romantic sort of way. I would not wish to live here, but I wouldn't mind coming back for a shopping spree or two, he he he..." She chuckled and lay back with a tired sigh. "Please, nobody wake me up unless it is absolutely urgent", she murmured as she drifted off. "I'm bone tired, I need all the sleep I can get." And with that bher head slumped back and she started to snore lightly.
"Why are sewers gross?" seven asked tossing another awkward question out. "What are they anyway?" Adwaita spoke about sleep and nobody waking her, and at that moment seven realized she didn't really understand sleep, or why they needed it. So unable to control her curiousity she did what she wasn't supposed to do, she woke Adwaita. "Hey, what is sleep?" she asked curiously
Eudoxia Level 2 Point Amount: 180 Money Amount: 90 Eudoxia put his bag down, it was somewhat heavy, but instead of being packed to the brim with clothes, it had all of his equipment tucked inside, safe behind the zipper. He plopped on the ground, tired. He just was tired, it was late and he felt as if the sleep he had last night didn't help. One more big nap would fix that. He heard Seven's first question, purposely ignoring the second for the reason of there being a long reply. "Our sewers are the pipe line that all of the human waste that comes from our bodies goes, also with constant water that comes from the ocean. The waste is why they stink." Edo explained to Seven. He then turned to Adwaita and Mason,"I have some mixed emotions on this place." he stated.
Mythai "And sewers are supposed to be underground, not aboveground," Mythai added, taking a seat on her sleeping mat. "I feel sorry for the doctors of this land, the outbreaks of cholera must be frequent. I wonder why such unsanitation is tolerated in a beautiful world? At this rate the beauty will rot." Mythai shuddered slightly as she lay down for the night. Memories and thoughts of her phobia began to surface. "If only we had more time, I'd teach these people a thing or two about cleanliness..." she muttered.
Xin: Level: 2.02 Xin was leaning against the wall near the entrance to the cave, one hand on the hilt of her sword. "If I am right to go upon this assumption, this world is pretty much what our Dark Ages were like on earth, though without the dragons. It isn't all pretty kingdoms and royalty guys." she said lowly. Her eyes had gone black, and the pupils glowed in the darkness as they scanned the bridge repeatedly, as well as everything else outside for any movement. "I'll keep guard tonight. I don't like this... being so close to them." she said, and before anyone could protest she added, "Torg can control my body while i rest, and I doubt you can all see in the dark as well as i can besides Seven. It would only make sense to let you all rest, and let me do this. If you worry, Seven can switch with me and Torg from time to time, but there is no way i am going to sleep tonight." Shifting her weight, Xin looked outside again. Then when she glanced back in Mythai's direction, her whole body seemed to be a blur as she suddenly drew her sword and ran towards the medic. Her sword stabbed into the stone with a metallic clang right nest to the girl's hand, and crimson seeped around the blade as something hissed and writhed, dying as its skull was split clean open by the laser blade. "Snake," she said simply, jerking her sword up and walking back to the cave entrance.
Eudoxia Level 2 Point Amount: 180 Money Amount: 90 Eudoxia listened to the monologue that Xin gave about her being able to see in the dark. He expected no less from his assassin like teammate. Though, one thing confused him. After Xin ran up to Myth and stabbed the snake, he was at ease. Even though he was at ease when she was doing it too. He had complete trust in his comrade. He knew she would never hurt Myth, and she looked as if she was in control. He raised his hand after the little snake was killed. He then asked, "Excuse me, Xin. I would like to ask who is this Torg you speak of?" He was confused about who Xin was talking about. He was severely confused.
"It's an a.i within Xins system, and a crafty one at that. I know I spoke with it." Seven gave Torg a weary eye before plopping down beside Edo. "Edo, listen I think, I owe you an apology, I shouldn't of gotten so angry at you when you told me about death, in truth I was angry at the concept of organic death, not you. still I shouldn't have yelled." She held up his note. "This, was very, what's the word? sweet of you. thankyou."
Mythai When metal struck rock, Mythai had jumped up faster than most would think possible. She inhaled sharply as her heart rate increased by the second. A snake, she'd almost gotten bitten by a snake! Snakes were some of the most unclean, vile creatures. "Thanks Xin," Mythai breathed, wide-eyed. Her lungs continued to burn as she slowly processed the situation. Finally she managed to sit back down on her mat and began some relaxation techniques, closing her eyes and rolling back her shoulders. "I might not be able to sleep either now..." she said to no one in particular.
Eudoxia Level 2 Point Amount: 180 Money Amount: 90 Eudoxia's purple eyes grew wide when he heard of the new A.I. of the team, named Torg. He was surprised he had never noticed this character before, he should have noticed. He thought that he better get back on his game or else, someone, maybe an enemy, will be able to get the catch on him. He then turned over to Seven as he felt her sit next to him, and could also see her just a small amount in the dark of the night. He heard her apology and noticed as she held up the note. He kind of blushed when he realized that she got it. Though he counted on not many people seeing it as the night was high in darkness. "I'm also sorry Seven, I shouldn't have sprung a concept on you like that. And I should have eased into it instead of putting the image of me leaving in your head. And also, thanks and you're welcome for the note." he stated. He then noticed how Myth became frightened. "Are you alright? And don't worry, we'll protect you from the snake, or at least Torg will...." he said turning to Xin. "...while Xin sleeps." he continued. He didn't completely trust the A.I. but he was willing to give it a chance as he gave to Seven.
