The Phoenix Colony

Awoken by the noise of the storm and Fox's wretching, Raylene scrambles for safety.

"The medical supplies!" She remembers and dodges towards the entrance. She prayed that they'd still be there. There must be some sort of medication that would stop Fox's vomiting.

"REVA! Did you move the supplies? There isn't even a trace of them! Please tell me you moved them!!!!" She hollered behind her, holding onto the siding in the ship.

 

Smith groaned as the ship started to pick up speed down the hill. It was either brace for impact or deal with the deadly wind. His optimism was being tested today that was sure. He slide against the wall near Chrys. "When we hit bottom your probably gonna have to wake me up again." he said remembering his concusion. He wondered to himself how deep the river at the bottom was. Oh well he thought probably isn't to deep.

The ship slid faster and faster as it neared the bottome and then with a thundering crash it hit the water and slowed much faster than Smith's head could take and he lost consiousness for the fourth time that day.

 

Ben felt his balls hit the ceiling as the ship began to slide, he saw the ground outside, what was left of it, begin to drop out of his vision. "GODDAMN IT ALL!" He screamed as he lept out of his little cave and started to run away, dodging the massive strikes of death as he moved in one direction, to the woods. Even if he would still be in danger, at least the trees would be hit first.

 

Derek was just starting to settle into the stage of pre-sleep where everything in reality seems as though it is a dream or nightmare when he was tossed into the air by some sort of wind force. His eyes snapped open to see a large wall of steel headed towards his face. He threw his arms up to defend himself, but felt no collision. He opened his eyes back up and looked to see that he was still flying through the air, the steal on the ground below and to the side of him. Before he could react, however, he belly-flopped into a pool of mud dead center in the skidmark from the transport ship. He rolled over and wiped the mud off of his face, only to see the deer carcass coming out of the sky to land on top of him.

"Somebody help me! This damn fatass deer won't get off o' me!"

 

Allen knew he was lucky, more lucky than any man alive could even begin to hope for. Not even the cavaleiros da morte could keep up a salvo this big, and yet Allen was still alive. He would live to see another...Above his head there was a loud, but dull thud. It sounded like a butcher slamming a large hunk of meat down on the block before cutting into it. After the thud there came a rumbling. That's when his blood turned to ice. He knew what was happening without even having to look. As fast as he could he ran out from under the ledge as it slowly collapsed under the massive pressure of one of those columns. There was no way he was going to survive this. If the columns didn't get him the landslide would. His only path was down the slope.

 

Chrys took one last look at Chad, then closed her eyes, and slowly counted to one hundred in spanish, hoping to calm herself.

Uno..dos..tres..the thuds became louder and louder...veinte...viente y uno...the ground gave a sickening screech as the ship sunk closer to the bottom of the ravine...nuventa y nueve...cien...there came a loud crach that brought with it such a forceful blow that Chrys's head met wall, and her thoughts took over...

 

Allen streaked down the slope, ignoring the fact that he could easily trip and end up dead. That was a trivial chance compared to what was behind. He angled off to the right, but after a quick glance behind started straight down again. There was no way he could run out of it's path. The landslide stretched from five hundred yards on his left around a bend on his right, a good six hundred yards away. He was dead. There was still a good four hundred feet of ravine below him and the slide was practically on top of him.

Allen glanced over his shoulder only to see a house sized boulder on a bearing straight for his head. This was it...CRACK...Allen felt himself flying through the air again. One of those columns caught the edge of the boulder sending it spinning through the air towards the bend. Allen was headed straight out from the canyon wall.

Once he was clear of the ground Allen found out that those columns of air on the ground were nothing compared to what was in the open air. He was caught like a leaf on the wind, thrown here and there. One moment he thought he was going to smash into the side of the ravine, the next he was thrown above it's lip. He remained like that for who knows how long. It could have been hours or only seconds, either way it was brutal.

The wind threw him toward the ground again. This time he was headed for some low trees at the bottom. Closer and closer he hurtled down, even faster than mere gravity could account for, untill death by pine needle was inevitable. That's when there was another CRACK.

Allen was no longer falling down, he was flying sideways, and a tree was following him. He impacted in the shallow stream with a splash and a thud as he hit the rocks mere inches below the surface. Immediatly Allen curled into the fetal position and the tree landed where his head had just been. He lied there curled up in pain until unconciousness finally cradled him in it's gentle hands.

 

Joseph was just about to take a bite of the food when the weather seemed to let up a little bit. He looked up at the clouds and shrugged. "Hm...seems to be letting up a litt-".

The first downburst came down, shattering a tree and sending large pieces of stone flying. Joseph went into survival mode. It was a mad dash for the entrance to the ship. Joseph was fast and strong, but this wasn't something skill could prevent. It was all random. The column of air rushed down just in front of him. It was an odd weightless experience...like being in space for the first time. Joseph felt himself lifted up off the ground and pushed back...back towards the ravine. There was really nothing he could do to stop the ensuing fall. Things rushed past him...trees, rocks. It was all a blur at that point. He felt his arm snap. Then the last thing he saw was a large rock coming at his face.

Darkness...

 

Cull sat alone, the passengers of the ship spanned out before him. A ocean of ants a colony of the murderous kind and untrustworthy. He sighed. It would be best if he kept to himself. Next to his leg, on the rock he was sitting on. There was a medical kit he’d found in the hall before they had left. Cull had taken extra dribs and drabs as he’d left. A few syringes some local antiseptic things he could use. He was glad he’d chosen the career path of an anaesthesiologist it meant not only that he could treat his own pain, but that he could patch himself up with things he’d learnt from the doctors he worked with.

Cull took a cigarette packet from his top pocket and lit it before puffing away staring at the ship. He glared at it, stupid thing had trapped him here. As he stared the lights on it started to flicker within it. On, off, on, off. He frowned. Stupid ship, it was showing signs of life but it was a bit late now. Cull decided to move before the weather got to bad, he didn’t feel like being wet as well as hungry.

 

"REVA! Did you move the supplies? There isn't even a trace of them! Please tell me you moved them!!!!" Raylene hollered, holding onto the siding in the ship.

Reva held on, too, wishing now that they could close the door because it plastered her to the crushed wall when a blast of air came through it, laden with rain, gravel and dirt.

"WHAT medical supplies?" She yelled back to Raylene, "I didn't even see any!"

 

Pasha woke up after only minutes of sleep to the nagging voice of Yuri.

“Get up Pasha!” Yuri bellowed.

Pasha grabbed his head in frustration. He was soaked to the bone, and the cold seemed to course through his veins. He ignored it though, and crawled out of what was left of his shelter. He kicked at the fire that had gone out during his short slumber. He could hear some yells, as he walked forward. He ignored most of the prisoners, walking around. He noticed most shelters were no more. His pride felt less damaged. He looked around for familular faces, unable to tell who was who in the dark, rainy night.

He looked down at the ravine as the moonlight hit it. His eyes met Bardon, he was unconscious.

“Help him!” Yuri yelled. He growled under his breath and headed down the slippery ravine. He almost fell as he came to Bardon’s side. He looked at the wound on his head, sure it probably hurt him pretty badly.

“Wake up man.” He said as he patted him on the cheek, “You all right?”

 

Joseph's eyes flickered a little as he felt the lights pats on his face. “Wake up man," came a voice he recognized as Pasha's. “You all right?”

Then the pain came. It surged through him violently...through his head and his broken arm. He cried out. Blood ran down his forehead and mixed with the water on the ground. Then it happened. It was a cool feeling...like a mint. It started in Joseph's chest and then coursed outward through his body. The broken bone in his arm seemed to set itself somehow. Then it simply wasn't broken anymore. The gash on his head closed up without even a scar.

He looked around a little dazed and shocked. "What the hell is going on here..?"

 

Pasha’s eyes grew wide as he backed away from Bardon.

“Is he a witch?” he heard Yuri whisper.

“I somehow doubt that.” He muttered back. He looked at Bardon’s head, his eyes as big as saucers. His entire body gave a shiver. He wasn’t even sure it was because of the cold this time.

“So… you’re okay?” stammered Pasha. He leaned down, giving him his hand as he helped him to his feet.

 

Joseph took Pasha's hand and got to his feet. The minty feeling was just then fading from him and he gave an involuntary shiver. Then his stomach gave a loud growl. Whatever happened to him had made him even hungrier.

“So… you’re okay?” stammered Pasha.

"Yeah...I think. I don't know...what the hell just happened to me?"

 

He began to head up the slippery ravine, his body shivering from the cold. The wind seemed to make things worse for him. Pasha looked down, not really sure how to answer his question. He didn’t know what had happened, at least… he didn’t know how it could have happened.

“You just managed pulled off a wolverine.” He said with a grin. He continued forward, until he reached the top.

“Didn’t you hear his stomach growl?” Yuri sniped in, “Offer him some of your food.”

“I’ve got some food, not sure what condition it’ll be in by now…” he muttered, “But it should still be somewhat edible.” He almost regretted offering the food as her walked back towards what was left of his shelter. He knew the food couldn’t be in the best of shape, whether or not he had kept it in a decently safe place. He grabbed the rabbit skins that were now in the rear. He opened them to find the few sticks of rabbit meat cold and wet. He gave Bardon an unsure look as he handed him the meat.

“It’s not very old, but it’s the best we can do until morning.” He muttered.

“Good boy.”

Pasha growled under his breath as he collected his sharp stones.

 

Joseph took the food and began consuming it ravenously. He had never felt hunger like this in his life. It was the strangest thing. He managed to throw out a few thanks in between mouth fulls. Pasha's eyes were wary of him...maybe even a little afraid. Joseph thought it funny that a man with Pasha's reputation and track record should look at him like he was.

"Thanks...really. I don't know what the hell went on down there, or what the hell is going on with this planet."

After that, Joseph was quiet.

 

Viva trembled in the bitter and icy rain which had soaked her completely. Her legs were shivering as though icicles and she couldn't help the sporadic spasms inflicting her. She grabbed the bark of a tree and then coughed, her teeth rattling.
"Mr Huggles isn't too n-nice aft-ter all-l..."
She muttered, sobbing a little. It was so cold and she couldn't do anything. Even the tree she had grabbed was too small and had hardly any leaves on it.
"Maybe if I count the sheep I can fall asleep."
She suggested to herself, and closed her eyes, still trembling.
"O-one...t-two...thr-ree...f...achooo!"
She fell down, her flu getting worse. She shivered and almost passed out. In vicinity, she saw a large tree with a man sitting under it.
"Hello...can you pl-lease help me? I w-won't ask for any f-food, I promis-se. Last time I did...the guy almost left-t me to d-die..."
With that, she passed out.

 

Pasha stared at the girl with unsure eyes. She would probably die if he didn’t go help her. His body seemed to betray him. He wanted nothing more then to see her die, yet at the same time he wanted to run to her and take her to safety.

“Go get her.” Yuri snapped.

Pasha ran for Viva, quickly picking her up in his arms. He sat her in the dry part of his shelter, placing the around her body. She quickly began building the roof back up, ignoring his own cold for the time being. He quickly laced leaves through the roof, trying to make it as whole as he could manage. He ran around, looking under the trees for dry wood and kindle, wandering almost aimlessly in the dark night. Once he was sure he had enough he put his rocks in a circle not far from her resting figure. He quickly lit the kindle, and got the fire going. He sat next to her, placing her head on his lap. He moved the hair from her face, his hands shaking.

“Wake up girl.” He muttered. His cheeks flashed red. He didn’t know why he was doing this… he could have just let her die.

 

Viva shivered, and slowly opened her eyes. The man who she had called to had saved her - she didn't feel as cold now.
"Thank-ks..."
She then tried getting up, mainly because she wanted to near to the fire. She smiled towards, even when she realized that it was Pasha.
"You'r-re very nice. Maybe, back on Earth we can go snowball-ling. It'll b-be fun..."
She then coughed, and then rubbed her nose.
"So what's your name? I'm Viva. Vee, Aee, Vee...achoo!"
She sniffed again, after which she finished:
"I mean Vee, Aee, Vee, Ai. Easy. Can - can I call you Mr. Huggles?"
Her eyes lit up, despite her red nose and fragile health.

 

Pasha turned furiously red.

“Mister Huggles?!” Yuri was in a fit of laughter, the force of it sent his head spinning.

Pasha backed away from her. For once he was really unsure of himself, he couldn’t describe his actions anymore.

“No problem…” he muttered, “Call me whatever you want… Viva.”

“Give her a nickname too.” Yuri managed to say as his spurt of laughter came to an end, “Try Killer.” Yuri’s laughter started again.

He looked at the sick young woman in front of him, and a pang of worry hit him. He wanted to go get something for her to eat, but he knew that wouldn’t be possible until morning. He then began to think hard for something he could call her. He knew a Russian name might be a possibility, but he liked the German side of his family better.

“I’ll call Furstin.” He said with an awkward smile.

 

Viva clapped her hands, and then sighed.
"I don't know what Furstin means, but it must be a sweet name."
She grinned and rubbed her hands, warming herself.
"So, Mr. Huggles - how'd you get here? Of course, it's bingo if you don't wanna talk about it."
She then giggled, adding:
"I was accused of murder, though. Silly they."

 

Pasha turned his head. Normally he would have dove into detail about his most famous of murders, he would have relished in the story telling and normally by the end of the story he would have killing them asker. He sighed. He didn’t like how this was going, it was as if Yuri’s goodness was starting to consume him.

“You don’t seem like a murderer, Furstin.” He said. He neglected to tell her what her name meant, he knew it would only embarrass him more.

 

Viva smiled, and then yawned.
"I know. But they said I was. They think I'm..." she leaned forward, whispering in his ears, "crazy."
She then took off her rotting leather shoes.
"The girl was Daniella Rinks. We were playing Frisbee when she fell backwards and her spinal cord ripped out against the pole behind her. I was very calm, cause that's how I am all the time - and the police thought I did it. How stupid."
She then massaged his head, asking:
"So, do you listen to songs?"

 

Pasha gave a smile. He liked her more all ready. She could all ready see it, as if it were a bad movie. Obviously, she had done it. Maybe she was like him, maybe her murder was a blur like most of his were. He always figured it was the rage, though he wished he could have been conscious for them.

“You’re not crazy.” He said with a pat on the back, “If you’re crazy, then I’m crazy.”

He heard Yuri give a giggle, “I’m sure that’s so comforting for her. Pasha, I hate to break it to you, but you are crazy.”

“I’m not much for music, no. I never made time for it, I guess.” He answered. He looked up at the sky, realizing the rain droplets were lessening.

 

The Storm's End

About three-quarters of a mile from where Pasha noticed that the rain was slowing, Reva and the other women struggled to help Fox. They were too busy to notice that the constant drumming of rain on the roof had given way to a pianissimo patter and then nothing. The trickle of moisture from the broken window had ceased.

Storm clouds hung heavy in the night sky as though unwilling to dissipate, casting the ground below into deep inky blackness. There was little wind and the cold air smelled of snow.

Reva and Raylene had found the medical kit, kicked under a blanket.

“This might work,” Reva gasped, tearing open a foil packet. The flashlight rolled away as the floor where they were sitting wasn’t entirely flat. “Dammit. Grab that please?”



GM Note:

Hello, Game Players, your RPG time is about 11:50 pm with deep dark clouds and a possibility of light snow in the early hours of the morning.

Everything is soaked and thrown around (possibly including you) and I believe we may have a wrecked ship entering the ravine if it is not already there.

Your shelters are in shambles for the most part and conditions are perfect for dying of exposure.

Thank you and have a great play...

...and always remember...somebody's gonna die.