Soooo I finished Crown and have launched into a new story. This time...sci-fi! I hope yall enjoy this. Enjoy enjoy enjoy!
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Prologue:
Name: PIXIE (PIX)
Age: Fifteen Cycles (16.2 HST)
Occupation: Companion/teaching attache for Jonathan
Race: E.L.F ***Human Model, seiries 3-A***
Hair: Pink
Eye: Pink
Cyber Capacity: FM radio. 1.2 giga connection to Ship Web, Civilian Clearance. Standard Intake/outtake plug
Hight: Five standard feet and six standard inches.
Current Price: Not for sale. (Estimated: 2Bil SSC)
Current home: Human Settlement 12 by 312, Harbinger.
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Chapter One: Earth
├óÔé¼┼ôHey...Jimmy, have you ever heard of a Earth?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jimmy stood, holding a computer part that he had freed from it's watery grave. Murky brown liquid dripped from it's corners and it's wires had been corroded away by it's time under water. Jimmy threw it over his shoulder.
├óÔé¼┼ôNope.├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, looking over his shoulder at Pix. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, tapping her ankles against the box she was sitting on. ├óÔé¼┼ôI heard Da talking about it.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jimmy turned full around, pulling his cap off and scratching his head. ├óÔé¼┼ôMust be something to do with the Uppers.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah...but the weird thing is, I can't find it anywhere on the Internet.├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix scratched her antennae, twiddling it slightly. The antennae sparked, electricity arcing between it and it's partner on the other side of Pix's head.
Jimmy turned back to the trash pile. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell it sounds weird. Earth.├óÔé¼┬Ø He tried the word out again. ├óÔé¼┼ôEarth.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix slid off her box, splashing into the ankle deep sludge that filled the trash compactor. She slogged over to Jimmy and leaned on the side of the pile.
├óÔé¼┼ôWant to find out what it is?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôEh,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, thrusting aside some trash, rooting through a load of computer parts. He paused, staring at something. Then he shoved trash frantically aside, groping deep into the pile. He came out holding a shard of crystal. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh...oh...oh boy!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat! What...wow, nice find Jimmy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, leaning on Jimmy's shoulder and looking at the crystal.
Jimmy gulped, his heart skipping a beat. He handed the crystal to her, trying not to think of how close she was to him.
Pix chewed her lip as she turned the crystal over in her hands. A faint humming sound could be heard, her antennae twiddling up and down.
├óÔé¼┼ôIt's...got data. Some data. I can't decode it without a socket, but this crystal is fully functional.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThat means...├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said as Pix handed the crystal back to him.
├óÔé¼┼ôThat means,├óÔé¼┬Ø She said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat means we're RICH!├óÔé¼┬Ø They both shouted, jumping up and down.
├óÔé¼┼ôWe're rich, we're rich!├óÔé¼┬Ø
The trash compactor groaned, the walls shuddering slightly. Pix and Jimmy stopped dancing, looking around. The walls shudders, then started to close in. Jimmy and Pix immediately dashed for the door, pushing through the gunk and the trash. The walls were going faster as the mortars picked up speed. Jimmy and Pix burst through the door before the compactor closed.
├óÔé¼┼ôTubes!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy breathed, looking at the doorway they had been standing in a moment ago.
├óÔé¼┼ôLikewise,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix agreed, breathing heavily. Her antennae folded back into an expression of anger. ├óÔé¼┼ôStupid tubing uppers. They forget we live in these things.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jimmy looked around at the other trash compactors. Rows of them lined the hallway. Every third or fourth one had a small shanty in it. Jimmy didn't hear any more compactors start up. The only sounds he heard was the constant hum and drone of Harbinger, inter spaced with sounds from the shanties. Pix frowned. She looked at Jimmy.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhy did only this one turn on?├óÔé¼┬Ø She asked. Jimmy shrugged.
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know. Let's ask Da. He should know.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôSounds good,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said. ├óÔé¼┼ôJust...├óÔé¼┬Ø She looked back at the compactor. She shook her head. ├óÔé¼┼ôStupid Uppers.├óÔé¼┬Ø
--------------------
Five hundred miles upwards, through countless hallways and slabs of metal, one of the ├óÔé¼┼ôStupid Uppers├óÔé¼┬Ø looked out it's window and sighed.
├óÔé¼┼ôAmbassador,├óÔé¼┬Ø The annoying human said, his voice too high pitched, too slow and too fast. He sounded like a xx-lqui-lk, a small chitinous insect that hailed from the middle decks. Humans called them bug squirrels for some reason.
├óÔé¼┼ôAmbassador! Are you listening!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYes,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jorquin said, sitting back on his haunches. The human ambassador was dressed in rags and metal, his shoulders covered with metal, his middle body with rags and his lower body with next to nothing. He looked like an absurd medevil warrior from some backwater corner of the ship, one who didn't even know where they were. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes, I am listening. I just do not care.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôSee! You see!├óÔé¼┬Ø The human ambassador gestured histrionically to the other delegates. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Xorquin, once again, refuse to look beyond their own scent receptors.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôSome would say humans do not look beyond their own noses either,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Yetel delegate said, his wings folding and unfolding reflexively.
├óÔé¼┼ôBut this is a issue for the entire ship!├óÔé¼┬Ø The human delegate shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôHarbinger can not exist without cooperation from ALL races.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Every delegate sat up straighter. Even the Slor managed to look attentive, it's ooze output slowing.
├óÔé¼┼ôIf you do not agree to our demands,├óÔé¼┬Ø The human delegate said. ├óÔé¼┼ôHumanity will wage war over this. We may be in the lower decks, but you can not have a home without a foundation. So...├óÔé¼┬Ø his mouth quirked in what Jorquin knew was the human equivalent of a smile. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe either hang together or we hang together.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Half the delegates laughed. A third of them scowled or frowned in their own ways. The Slor burped loudly, increasing it's ooze output by a factor of two. Jorquin, however, stood.
├óÔé¼┼ôThe Xorquin and their allies will not tolerate this terrorism,├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôHumanity is a belligerent race. Your race was saved by Harbinger and the races already on it. The Xorquin where here for a thousand centuries before your kind. Our allies were here longer. You have no right to dictate terms to us, as if you were masters instead of slaves!├óÔé¼┬Ø
A silence struck the council, a silence more profound than any that had ever struck it before. The Slor's ooze stopped flowing entirely. The human delegate looked stricken, his eyes wide and his mouth open.
├óÔé¼┼ôJorquin!├óÔé¼┬Ø the Urtish delegate shouted, standing. ├óÔé¼┼ôRetract/Rescind your statement! It has no place/time in this meeting!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jorquin shot a glare at the Urtish. ├óÔé¼┼ôVery well. I misspoke.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo, you did not,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Human Delegate said. He looked at his allies. The Urtish. The Jerles. The E.L.F's. ├óÔé¼┼ôKnow this; Humanity is a race of free men. We can not live without being free. Our allies know this. Our allies understand this. And our allies will fight to the death with us! You will not touch Earth or the entirety of Harbinger will be torn apart!├óÔé¼┬Ø
The council was silent again.
├óÔé¼┼ôThis concludes our part of this meeting,├óÔé¼┬Ø The human delegate said, turning and walking out of the council chamber.
He walked through the gleaming corridors of the upper level. He passed strange aliens. Didn't pay them a second glance, and neither did they give him a second glance. He pulled off his cloak when he reached his suite, throwing it onto his bed. He unhooked his shoulder pads and walked to his closet. He pulled on a simple white shirt and simple white pants. He was about to pull on sandles so he could go to the food court when his computer bleeped.
├óÔé¼┼ôMessage. Message. Message├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôShut up!├óÔé¼┬Ø The human delegate said, walking to his computer. ├óÔé¼┼ôOpen channel.├óÔé¼┬Ø
His wife's face appeared on the screen. ├óÔé¼┼ôMartha!├óÔé¼┬Ø The human delegate exclaimed, beaming. ├óÔé¼┼ôI've missed you.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI've missed you as well,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Human Delegate said.
An uncomfortable silence stretched between them.
Then Jimmy burst onto the screen, Pix behind him.
├óÔé¼┼ôDaddy!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, holding up a crystal. ├óÔé¼┼ôLook what I found!├óÔé¼┬Ø
A third being watched the conversation. It was not happy to see the crystal. It turned it's recorder on, moving to another wall computer. It needed to get some messages out. The plan had changed.
Jimmy smiled at his father, who smiled back. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat's very impressive, my boy.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôIt's pure too,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix chimed in. Father stopped smiling, looking shocked.
├óÔé¼┼ôPure? Are you sure Pix?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI've checked it too,├óÔé¼┬Ø Mother said, leaning back into the frame. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt has a lot of data on it, but we can delete it and-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWait,├óÔé¼┬Ø Father held up his hand. ├óÔé¼┼ôSend me the data, please.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôIt'll take a while,├óÔé¼┬Ø Mother said, bringing up a window with her finger. She tapped the Internet icon and dragged the data icon into the email slot. After a moment the computer chimed and the email slot turned gray.
├óÔé¼┼ôThank you,├óÔé¼┬Ø Father said. Mother frowned, reading the ETA.
├óÔé¼┼ôIt's gonna take three weeks,├óÔé¼┬Ø Mother said. Father sighed.
├óÔé¼┼ôI hope it's none too important then,├óÔé¼┬Ø Father murmured. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut it might be. So keep that data crystal safe.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat makes you think it's so important?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mother asked, looking at the crystal. Jimmy held onto it tighter, as if it was going to be whisked out of his hands in a moment.
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Father said, resting his chin on his fist and thinking. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt might be...├óÔé¼┬Ø he glanced at Jimmy. ├óÔé¼┼ôNever mind. I will send a message to you later this night. Till then.├óÔé¼┬Ø He tipped his head and signed off.
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Jimmy lay in his bed, eyes closed. Pix snored. Jimmy rolled over and looked at her. Pix was curled into a ball, one of her antennae squashed into her mattress. Electricity sparked between them, a soft fizzit sounding in the room, followed by another snore. Fizzit. Snore. Jimmy sighed, eyes tracing along Pix's back to her...
Her...
Pix murmured to herself, rolling on her back. Her shirt fell upwards slightly to expose her chest and the intake/outtake plug over the right side of the ribcage. Jimmy rolled onto his back, looking at the celling. Pix and he had been friends for...his entire life. Jimmy closed his eyes, trying to not think of Pix's...body parts. His body parts, however, kept thinking about her.
Jimmy grumbled, rolling over and facing the wall. Pix shifted in her sleep, still snoring. Jimmy decided that it was her snoring that was keeping him up. Yeah. That was it. He drifted off to sleep.
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Pix and Jimmy rooted through a new pile of trash.
├óÔé¼┼ôI bet that crystal has something to do with a Earth,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, ducking down. She pulled out a thin strip of orange peel and tossed it away with a disgusted sound.
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, kicking at his trash. He looked at Pix. She was staring at the ground, chewing her lip. She ducked down and pulled out a half corroded computer part. She examined it, then looked at Jimmy. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôUh...├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy stammered. ├óÔé¼┼ôI think we should see if we can find this Earth thingy.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix threw the computer part over her shoulder and put her hands on her hips. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow that...is a pretty good idea.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo, wait,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, shaking his head. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Arachnos are between us and the rest of the ship.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix looked at the celling, thinking hard. She pulled her shirt up slightly, working her hand under to scratch the area of skin around her intake/outtake plug.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell I know the secret rout past the Arachnos,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou do!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell I found it a few days ago when you were away with your Da.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhy didn't you say so?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell...you never asked,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, smiling. ├óÔé¼┼ôCome with me, it's this way!├óÔé¼┬Ø
She slogged out of the compactor. Jimmy followed her into the hallway. As they walked down the rows of compactors, a woman leaned against a door frame in front of them.
├óÔé¼┼ôWant some action, sugar?├óÔé¼┬Ø She drawled, affixing a very fake Upper accent.
├óÔé¼┼ôWe're kids!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, somewhat indignant. He wasn't quite sure what she was talking about (though he did have an inclination)
├óÔé¼┼ôYou never know, sweetie,├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman said, ├óÔé¼┼ôYou could be neonaughts, or E.L.F's like your pretty friend here.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôShe said I was pretty,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix whispered to Jimmy, beaming.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell we're not. Er...I'm not. And she's fifteen. I'm fifteen. Leave us alone!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy stammered, walking hurriedly down the hall. The woman laughed.
Pix stopped Jimmy after a few minutes, right before exiting the compactor zone and entering the hallway cross section that separated the Human area and the Arachnos area. Pix took hold of her right antennae and twirled it off her head, unscrewing it carefully.
├óÔé¼┼ôOkay,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, waving the antennae at Jimmy. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is really cool.├óÔé¼┬Ø
She turned to the wall and inserted the antennae in a small hole. A line of goo had congeled down the wall, as if it had flowed out of the hole a moment ago. Jimmy looked down at a grate in the floor, through which the goo had flowed. After a moment the wall slid open. A foul stench smote Jimmy, who was used to the smell of trash compactors and their contents, staggered backwards.
├óÔé¼┼ôUgh!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy gasped, waving his hand in front of his nose. He looked at the floor of the new hallway they'd found. It was covered with a thin later of goo.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou walked through this?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell...no,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, unhooking her palm compartments and folding a hook out of first her right hand, then her left hand. ├óÔé¼┼ôI used these.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat about me?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix tensed, then jumped, hooking onto the ceiling. She looked down, smiling.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou've stepped through worse, Jimmy.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôDang you,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy muttered, starting to walk through the goo. It stuck to his shoes, slurping along with him. Jimmy sighed, wondering why? Why did this have to be the secret passageway. Pix swung her way along the roof, chattering gaily.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo, did you get a good sleep last night?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jimmy shrugged. ├óÔé¼┼ôOkay.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah. I think I'm getting to big for my bed.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI thought you like curling up.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah, but it is nice to stretch every once and a while.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jimmy and Pix kept chattering in this fashion for quite some time, still moving forward, when suddenly the wall to the right of them fell open. Light flashed over them, only to be obscured by a hulking shadow. Pix and Jimmy turned, slowly.
An Arachnos stood there. Twelve foot tall, four legged, it's carapace was painted a dull gray. Four eye pods stuck out of it's mid section, two focused on Jimmy, two on Pix. Five long scythe arms were folded out, one reaching up and over the triangular, many eyed, head. Two thin manipulator arms stuck out of the middle of the Arachnos, holding two bags filled with noxious goop.
Pix dropped to the floor, blinking in shock.
├óÔé¼┼ôJimmy...Pix...├óÔé¼┬Ø the Arachnos eye pods turned from one human to the other. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you doing in my laundry chute?├óÔé¼┬Ø
E.L.F
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Guessmyname
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Lindir The Green
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And here is the next episode.
Jimmy tapped his foot against the railing of his bed, looking at the ceiling, resting his hand on the back of his head.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell...it was a good idea till it lasted,├óÔé¼┬Ø He sighed.
├óÔé¼┼ôStill is a good idea,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôI went all the way to the end of that chute, and it goes to the other side of the Arachnos zone. I just...didn't know it was Mrs. Glick's laundry day today.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell it's a moot point anyway,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said.
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix muttered. They both lay in their beds, staring at the ceiling. Then Pix said, ├óÔé¼┼ôWe could sneak-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, sitting up and looking at Pix. He shook his head. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo, no, no, no!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôFine, fine, fine, fine...fine,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix rolled over onto her back, ignoring Jimmy.
├óÔé¼┼ôFine!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy snapped, laying back down on his bed.
├óÔé¼┼ôFine,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix muttered.
They both lay in silence, angry at each other and angry at the world. Then Jimmy rolled over. Pix rolled over as well.
├óÔé¼┼ôSorry,├óÔé¼┬Ø they both said simultaneously.
├óÔé¼┼ôAccepted,├óÔé¼┬Ø they both said simultaneously, again.
├óÔé¼┼ôJinx!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said first. Pix clapped her hands over her antennae, scowling.
├óÔé¼┼ôPix,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, abating the jinx, ├óÔé¼┼ôMaybe we should sneak out.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôIt has been a long time since we've had an adventure.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe've never been on an adventure,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix muttered.
├óÔé¼┼ôThat's far too long-├óÔé¼┬Ø
A sudden crash made them both sit up. A second crash followed on the first. Mom shouted. Then bizarre rattling sounds, like someone drawing a dagger against a line of chain.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo...we...we don't have it!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mother shouted.
Another rattling sound, this time with a squawk on the end.
├óÔé¼┼ôI am the wife of Diplomat Leonite. I have diplomatic-├óÔé¼┬Ø
A loud BANG, followed by a wet slapping sound. Then the sound of gurgling. Then another rattle, with a deep booming clank at the end.
├óÔé¼┼ôI...├óÔé¼┬Ø Mom's voice sounds ragged, as if she was talking through thick soup. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...won't...├óÔé¼┬Ø
A rattling that sounded almost like ├óÔé¼┼ôJhinni├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôDon't-├óÔé¼┬Ø
BANG! BANG!
Pix had slipped to the door. She put her eye to the key hole. Jimmy was still staring at the door, his jaw hanging open.
├óÔé¼┼ôJimmy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix gulped. ├óÔé¼┼ôRun.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe have to get out of here,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix hissed.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat about Mom?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôShe's dead,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix hissed, standing. ├óÔé¼┼ôThere are two Xorquin with weapons in the other room and it's only a matter of time before they get to us. Okay? Okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôShe's...├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôJimmy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix hissed, pressing her forehead into his. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour father programmed me to know what to do if this were to happen. We run. Right...now.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Footsteps. Heavy, hulking. The door shook in it's frame, as did everything else in the room.
Jimmy nodded, blinking away tears. He stood and ran to the window. Pix followed him. Jimmy drew his fist back, about to punch the plastic screen.
├óÔé¼┼ôUh, Jimmy, Pix said, ├óÔé¼┼ôlet me do the honors.├óÔé¼┬Ø
She drew her fist back and slammed it into the plastic. The plastic burst off the frame.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhoa,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy breathed, wide eyed.
The door burst open and two hulking Xorquin stood there. One held a circle that looped around it's fore claws. It's three eyes focused on Jimmy and it raised the circle up, aiming it at him. Then Pix was in between them.
The circle banged and Pix fell against Jimmy, her weight pushing him out the window. They both landed in the gutter outside of Jimmy's house. A throng of people gathered around them. Two men wore constabulary armbands.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is going on!├óÔé¼┬Ø One of them shouted. Pix vaulted to her feet, grimacing. She grabbed Jimmy's arm.
├óÔé¼┼ôRun!├óÔé¼┬Ø She shouted, dragging him to his feet.
├óÔé¼┼ôWait just a-├óÔé¼┬Ø The constable started. BANG! The constable fell his head vanishing. His neck smoked, charred black. The other constable pulled his shock stick, the only weapon that Humans were allowed. BANG! He fell with a circle right where his lungs would be. The smell of burnt meat filled the air.
Jimmy ran, Pix dashing with him.
Both Xorquin climbed out of the window, rattling to one another. One smacked the other on the back of the head, a sharp clapping sound coming from it's mouth. The other shook it's upper torso. They both turned to run after the children.
├óÔé¼┼ôGet the tubing murderers!├óÔé¼┬Ø Someone shouted. The Xorquin brought it's plasma pistol to bear on the crowd. Someone picked up one of the shock sticks and brought it slamming down on the Xorquin's wrist. Electricity sparked and the Xorquin...exploded.
Jimmy and Pix staggered to a halt, spinning around. A fiery cloud filled the air, a loud WHUMP sound hammered at Jimmy's ears.
├óÔé¼┼ôThat was out house!├óÔé¼┬Ø He shouted, turning back to look at the smoke cloud that was boiling into the roof, about a hundred feet above the city. It covered the sun light, casting the entire city in blackness.
Pix gulped. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe have to get out of here. Let's go through the laundry chute.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThen what?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know!├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, covering her antennae with her hands. ├óÔé¼┼ôThere's only one thing going through my computer.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôRUN!├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix grabbed Jimmy's arm and dragged him towards City Gates. The crowd was running towards the rich part of the city, where Jimmy's house had been. Several were constables, holding shock sticks. Someone got in their way and the shock sticks sparked. People started hitting back. Pix jerked on Jimmy's arm, hard enough to pull him into an ally. They both stood there, their faces almost touching.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do we do now?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy whispered, glancing at the growing riot that was filling the city.
Pix inched down the alleyway. ├óÔé¼┼ôI think this goes out to another street...├óÔé¼┬Ø
Both of them inched out of the alleyway and into a new street. This street was nearly abandoned.
Pix sighed, leaning against the wall next to the alleyway. She closed her eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe can rest here for just a little bit.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôGood,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, wiping his nose off. He blinked, everything going blurry. He sniffed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't believe this.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, rubbing her arms. She cricked her neck. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe have to get out of here.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYou keep saying that.├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy shivered.
├óÔé¼┼ôI know I sound like a broken MP3,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut we have to-├óÔé¼┬Ø
Someone screamed. Pix and Jimmy nearly jumped out of their skins.
├óÔé¼┼ôGet your tubing hands off me, you motherless-├óÔé¼┬Ø
A wet smacking sound filled the air. The same woman screamed, running out into the street. Behind her two men walked out, holding shimmering knives. Jimmy's heart seized up. He had heard horror stories about this part of the city.
├óÔé¼┼ôJimmy...let's get out of here,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said.
Jimmy didn't move, staring at the two men. The woman ran, but one of them looped his arm around her neck.
├óÔé¼┼ôWe..├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy squeaked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe...we...have to do something.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø
One of the roughs looked over his shoulder at them. He grinned. ├óÔé¼┼ôHeeey...├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, slapping his friend on the shoulder.
The other one hauled the woman around so he could look at Pix and Jimmy. He almost let her go, eyes going wide.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhoa,├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, grinning. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat's a cute E.L.F you got there, kiddy.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôL...Let that woman go!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, his voice cracking at ├óÔé¼┼ôwoman.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The two toughs looked at one another. Then they laughed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI guess we'll kill him, then have some fun with the little computer.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôPix, run!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, looking at her.
├óÔé¼┼ôJimmy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, ├óÔé¼┼ôLet me handle this.├óÔé¼┬Ø
She stepped forward and ducked as one of the men reached for her. She slammed her fist into his stomach and the man doubled over. Pix brought him to the ground by sweeping her leg sweeping around and into the back of his knee. Pix spun and smashed her head into the other man's face. He fell, his nose bleeding profusely.
The woman looked at Pix. Then at the would be rapists.
Then she ran.
Pix walked to Jimmy, her face completely white.
├óÔé¼┼ôWow,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy breathed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI didn't know you could do that.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNeither did I,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix murmured, looking at her hands.
---------
Ambassador Leonite stared at his computer screen, frowning at the map. The fifteen major powers of the ship were spread evenly over the livable areas of Harbinger. Each race had to contribute or the ship would collapse. If the Slor and the Yetel didn't work, for example, then no food would be shipped throughout the ship.
And if the humans didn't work, the ship would drown in it's own sewage. Leonite smiled savagely. The Xorquin, damn their exoskeletons, and their allies didn't know just how nasty-
├óÔé¼┼ôLeonite,├óÔé¼┬Ø A rattling voice made Leonite look up, his brow furrowing in annoyance.
├óÔé¼┼ôAmbassador Leclickclick...what are you doing here?├óÔé¼┬Ø Leonite said, trying to look less angry.
├óÔé¼┼ôLeonite,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Xorquin ambassador said, his shoulders hunched. It it were possible for a seven foot tall, three eyed lizard to looked dejected, Jorquin managed it. ├óÔé¼┼ôI am very sorry. I am prepared to make any concessions necessary to apologize.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Leonite stared at him, turning his computer off and sliding the screen out of his way. ├óÔé¼┼ôAbout? What have yo-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYou haven't heard?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jorquin said, staggering back. His two outer eyes closed, the Xorquin expression of shock/horror.
├óÔé¼┼ôHeard?├óÔé¼┬Ø Leonite murmured. His stomach boiled and his throat became dry.
├óÔé¼┼ôTwo hours ago, two Xorquin criminals broke into the human sector of the city.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWho did they kill?├óÔé¼┬Ø Leonite asked, looking at his desk. It happened every once and a while, a criminal from one race or the other would-
├óÔé¼┼ôMonica Leonite,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jorquin said softly.
Leonite blinked.
├óÔé¼┼ôI am very, very sorry.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat happened to my son?├óÔé¼┬Ø Leonite asked. Keep control. Have...to...keep...control.
├óÔé¼┼ôHe was seen fleeing the scene with a young girl with...pink hair.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôGood,├óÔé¼┬Ø Leonite said, amazed at how detached he sounded. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat is his bodyguard...and future consort Pixie. An E.L.F.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI see,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jorquin said. ├óÔé¼┼ôAn E.L.F...that is a good choice.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThank you,├óÔé¼┬Ø Leonite said. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow...please...get...out of my room.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôOnce again, my condolences-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôGET OUT!├óÔé¼┬Ø Leonite roared, smashing his arm across his desk. The computer flew off his desk and shattered against the wall. Jorquin's outer eyes closed once again and he turned, hurrying out of the door.
Leonite sat down and stared at the wall. Then he stood, shouting a wordless, senseless howl of rage. He grabbed his desk and strained, his muscles bunching up. The desk tore off it's floor bolts and fell to the ground with a loud crash.
The third being was still logged into Leonite's com systems. It monitored his rage, his furious time of senselessness. It was far more concerned by the data packet that had started to feed into the now defunct computer. The third being slid into the gap created by the destruction of the computer. The data packet fed into the Third being's mind. It was pleased.
Jimmy tapped his foot against the railing of his bed, looking at the ceiling, resting his hand on the back of his head.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell...it was a good idea till it lasted,├óÔé¼┬Ø He sighed.
├óÔé¼┼ôStill is a good idea,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôI went all the way to the end of that chute, and it goes to the other side of the Arachnos zone. I just...didn't know it was Mrs. Glick's laundry day today.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell it's a moot point anyway,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said.
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix muttered. They both lay in their beds, staring at the ceiling. Then Pix said, ├óÔé¼┼ôWe could sneak-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, sitting up and looking at Pix. He shook his head. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo, no, no, no!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôFine, fine, fine, fine...fine,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix rolled over onto her back, ignoring Jimmy.
├óÔé¼┼ôFine!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy snapped, laying back down on his bed.
├óÔé¼┼ôFine,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix muttered.
They both lay in silence, angry at each other and angry at the world. Then Jimmy rolled over. Pix rolled over as well.
├óÔé¼┼ôSorry,├óÔé¼┬Ø they both said simultaneously.
├óÔé¼┼ôAccepted,├óÔé¼┬Ø they both said simultaneously, again.
├óÔé¼┼ôJinx!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said first. Pix clapped her hands over her antennae, scowling.
├óÔé¼┼ôPix,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, abating the jinx, ├óÔé¼┼ôMaybe we should sneak out.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôIt has been a long time since we've had an adventure.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe've never been on an adventure,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix muttered.
├óÔé¼┼ôThat's far too long-├óÔé¼┬Ø
A sudden crash made them both sit up. A second crash followed on the first. Mom shouted. Then bizarre rattling sounds, like someone drawing a dagger against a line of chain.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo...we...we don't have it!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mother shouted.
Another rattling sound, this time with a squawk on the end.
├óÔé¼┼ôI am the wife of Diplomat Leonite. I have diplomatic-├óÔé¼┬Ø
A loud BANG, followed by a wet slapping sound. Then the sound of gurgling. Then another rattle, with a deep booming clank at the end.
├óÔé¼┼ôI...├óÔé¼┬Ø Mom's voice sounds ragged, as if she was talking through thick soup. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...won't...├óÔé¼┬Ø
A rattling that sounded almost like ├óÔé¼┼ôJhinni├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôDon't-├óÔé¼┬Ø
BANG! BANG!
Pix had slipped to the door. She put her eye to the key hole. Jimmy was still staring at the door, his jaw hanging open.
├óÔé¼┼ôJimmy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix gulped. ├óÔé¼┼ôRun.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe have to get out of here,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix hissed.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat about Mom?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôShe's dead,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix hissed, standing. ├óÔé¼┼ôThere are two Xorquin with weapons in the other room and it's only a matter of time before they get to us. Okay? Okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôShe's...├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôJimmy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix hissed, pressing her forehead into his. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour father programmed me to know what to do if this were to happen. We run. Right...now.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Footsteps. Heavy, hulking. The door shook in it's frame, as did everything else in the room.
Jimmy nodded, blinking away tears. He stood and ran to the window. Pix followed him. Jimmy drew his fist back, about to punch the plastic screen.
├óÔé¼┼ôUh, Jimmy, Pix said, ├óÔé¼┼ôlet me do the honors.├óÔé¼┬Ø
She drew her fist back and slammed it into the plastic. The plastic burst off the frame.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhoa,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy breathed, wide eyed.
The door burst open and two hulking Xorquin stood there. One held a circle that looped around it's fore claws. It's three eyes focused on Jimmy and it raised the circle up, aiming it at him. Then Pix was in between them.
The circle banged and Pix fell against Jimmy, her weight pushing him out the window. They both landed in the gutter outside of Jimmy's house. A throng of people gathered around them. Two men wore constabulary armbands.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is going on!├óÔé¼┬Ø One of them shouted. Pix vaulted to her feet, grimacing. She grabbed Jimmy's arm.
├óÔé¼┼ôRun!├óÔé¼┬Ø She shouted, dragging him to his feet.
├óÔé¼┼ôWait just a-├óÔé¼┬Ø The constable started. BANG! The constable fell his head vanishing. His neck smoked, charred black. The other constable pulled his shock stick, the only weapon that Humans were allowed. BANG! He fell with a circle right where his lungs would be. The smell of burnt meat filled the air.
Jimmy ran, Pix dashing with him.
Both Xorquin climbed out of the window, rattling to one another. One smacked the other on the back of the head, a sharp clapping sound coming from it's mouth. The other shook it's upper torso. They both turned to run after the children.
├óÔé¼┼ôGet the tubing murderers!├óÔé¼┬Ø Someone shouted. The Xorquin brought it's plasma pistol to bear on the crowd. Someone picked up one of the shock sticks and brought it slamming down on the Xorquin's wrist. Electricity sparked and the Xorquin...exploded.
Jimmy and Pix staggered to a halt, spinning around. A fiery cloud filled the air, a loud WHUMP sound hammered at Jimmy's ears.
├óÔé¼┼ôThat was out house!├óÔé¼┬Ø He shouted, turning back to look at the smoke cloud that was boiling into the roof, about a hundred feet above the city. It covered the sun light, casting the entire city in blackness.
Pix gulped. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe have to get out of here. Let's go through the laundry chute.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThen what?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know!├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, covering her antennae with her hands. ├óÔé¼┼ôThere's only one thing going through my computer.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôRUN!├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix grabbed Jimmy's arm and dragged him towards City Gates. The crowd was running towards the rich part of the city, where Jimmy's house had been. Several were constables, holding shock sticks. Someone got in their way and the shock sticks sparked. People started hitting back. Pix jerked on Jimmy's arm, hard enough to pull him into an ally. They both stood there, their faces almost touching.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do we do now?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy whispered, glancing at the growing riot that was filling the city.
Pix inched down the alleyway. ├óÔé¼┼ôI think this goes out to another street...├óÔé¼┬Ø
Both of them inched out of the alleyway and into a new street. This street was nearly abandoned.
Pix sighed, leaning against the wall next to the alleyway. She closed her eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe can rest here for just a little bit.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôGood,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, wiping his nose off. He blinked, everything going blurry. He sniffed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't believe this.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, rubbing her arms. She cricked her neck. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe have to get out of here.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYou keep saying that.├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy shivered.
├óÔé¼┼ôI know I sound like a broken MP3,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut we have to-├óÔé¼┬Ø
Someone screamed. Pix and Jimmy nearly jumped out of their skins.
├óÔé¼┼ôGet your tubing hands off me, you motherless-├óÔé¼┬Ø
A wet smacking sound filled the air. The same woman screamed, running out into the street. Behind her two men walked out, holding shimmering knives. Jimmy's heart seized up. He had heard horror stories about this part of the city.
├óÔé¼┼ôJimmy...let's get out of here,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said.
Jimmy didn't move, staring at the two men. The woman ran, but one of them looped his arm around her neck.
├óÔé¼┼ôWe..├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy squeaked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe...we...have to do something.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø
One of the roughs looked over his shoulder at them. He grinned. ├óÔé¼┼ôHeeey...├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, slapping his friend on the shoulder.
The other one hauled the woman around so he could look at Pix and Jimmy. He almost let her go, eyes going wide.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhoa,├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, grinning. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat's a cute E.L.F you got there, kiddy.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôL...Let that woman go!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, his voice cracking at ├óÔé¼┼ôwoman.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The two toughs looked at one another. Then they laughed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI guess we'll kill him, then have some fun with the little computer.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôPix, run!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, looking at her.
├óÔé¼┼ôJimmy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, ├óÔé¼┼ôLet me handle this.├óÔé¼┬Ø
She stepped forward and ducked as one of the men reached for her. She slammed her fist into his stomach and the man doubled over. Pix brought him to the ground by sweeping her leg sweeping around and into the back of his knee. Pix spun and smashed her head into the other man's face. He fell, his nose bleeding profusely.
The woman looked at Pix. Then at the would be rapists.
Then she ran.
Pix walked to Jimmy, her face completely white.
├óÔé¼┼ôWow,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy breathed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI didn't know you could do that.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNeither did I,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix murmured, looking at her hands.
---------
Ambassador Leonite stared at his computer screen, frowning at the map. The fifteen major powers of the ship were spread evenly over the livable areas of Harbinger. Each race had to contribute or the ship would collapse. If the Slor and the Yetel didn't work, for example, then no food would be shipped throughout the ship.
And if the humans didn't work, the ship would drown in it's own sewage. Leonite smiled savagely. The Xorquin, damn their exoskeletons, and their allies didn't know just how nasty-
├óÔé¼┼ôLeonite,├óÔé¼┬Ø A rattling voice made Leonite look up, his brow furrowing in annoyance.
├óÔé¼┼ôAmbassador Leclickclick...what are you doing here?├óÔé¼┬Ø Leonite said, trying to look less angry.
├óÔé¼┼ôLeonite,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Xorquin ambassador said, his shoulders hunched. It it were possible for a seven foot tall, three eyed lizard to looked dejected, Jorquin managed it. ├óÔé¼┼ôI am very sorry. I am prepared to make any concessions necessary to apologize.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Leonite stared at him, turning his computer off and sliding the screen out of his way. ├óÔé¼┼ôAbout? What have yo-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYou haven't heard?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jorquin said, staggering back. His two outer eyes closed, the Xorquin expression of shock/horror.
├óÔé¼┼ôHeard?├óÔé¼┬Ø Leonite murmured. His stomach boiled and his throat became dry.
├óÔé¼┼ôTwo hours ago, two Xorquin criminals broke into the human sector of the city.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWho did they kill?├óÔé¼┬Ø Leonite asked, looking at his desk. It happened every once and a while, a criminal from one race or the other would-
├óÔé¼┼ôMonica Leonite,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jorquin said softly.
Leonite blinked.
├óÔé¼┼ôI am very, very sorry.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat happened to my son?├óÔé¼┬Ø Leonite asked. Keep control. Have...to...keep...control.
├óÔé¼┼ôHe was seen fleeing the scene with a young girl with...pink hair.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôGood,├óÔé¼┬Ø Leonite said, amazed at how detached he sounded. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat is his bodyguard...and future consort Pixie. An E.L.F.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI see,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jorquin said. ├óÔé¼┼ôAn E.L.F...that is a good choice.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThank you,├óÔé¼┬Ø Leonite said. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow...please...get...out of my room.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôOnce again, my condolences-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôGET OUT!├óÔé¼┬Ø Leonite roared, smashing his arm across his desk. The computer flew off his desk and shattered against the wall. Jorquin's outer eyes closed once again and he turned, hurrying out of the door.
Leonite sat down and stared at the wall. Then he stood, shouting a wordless, senseless howl of rage. He grabbed his desk and strained, his muscles bunching up. The desk tore off it's floor bolts and fell to the ground with a loud crash.
The third being was still logged into Leonite's com systems. It monitored his rage, his furious time of senselessness. It was far more concerned by the data packet that had started to feed into the now defunct computer. The third being slid into the gap created by the destruction of the computer. The data packet fed into the Third being's mind. It was pleased.
And here is the next episode. HAHAHAHA! Exposition! HAHAHA! Referenses! HAHAHA! Fun thing!
Chapter Two: Ocean
Jimmy stared at at the expansive area that stretched before them. Pix stood behind him, staring as well.
├óÔé¼┼ôWow,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy breathed. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is what the Arachnos live next to?├óÔé¼┬Ø
The ├óÔé¼┼ôwhat├óÔé¼┬Ø in question was a massive sphere, large enough to fit three human cities in five times, at least. And it was filled...filled with water. Thick fog rolled around on the surface, but above it stretched the massive ceiling, so the scale of the room was not in question.
├óÔé¼┼ôThis is what the Arachnos live next to,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, ├óÔé¼┼ôHaily's Ocean. Picked up a millennium ago and kept here by who knows what. It's the source of water for half the ship, and it is our duty to uphold it.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWho guessed we'd get to see it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, beaming. ├óÔé¼┼ôTwo kids and we get to look at the holy ocean itself!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix nodded, somewhat mutely. She knelt on the shore line, her knees clinking into the metallic surface of the ground.
├óÔé¼┼ôPix? You've been acting weird since we left the chute. What's wrong?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix sighed, sitting back on her haunches. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhen I fought those guys...it was like my brain was telling me things that I knew...but I don't know. I don't even like violent movies, I don't know how to fight people.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Her voice became a little frantic as she ran her hands through her hair. ├óÔé¼┼ôI keep thinking 'run, run!' but I don't know why!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhoa, Pix,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, sitting down. ├óÔé¼┼ôCalm...down.├óÔé¼┬Ø He slipped his arm over her shoulder. A comforting arm. That was all. Of course. Yes. A comforting arm, that was it.
├óÔé¼┼ôSorry,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, gulping. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut...I know that we need to get past and over that big gloop of water.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd once we're past, we just have to find a guide, and get to the nearest Townie. Then...adventure!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôSome adventure,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix muttered.
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, his voice loosing it's excitement. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah...├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix burst into tears. Jimmy, after a half a moment, started crying as well.
├óÔé¼┼ôI want my mommy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy moaned.
├óÔé¼┼ôI miss her too,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix sobbed. They hugged one another, sitting on the beach of that massive, enclosed sea.
They cried for quite some time.
Till the boat appeared out of the fog. It's rower was singing loudly to herself, her atlo voice sounding oddly warped through the distance.
├óÔé¼┼ôOooootha, Troooota. Klep, Klep. Drogath a dora-fo la menata, Ooooootha!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix blinked away tears, looking up. The boat moved completely out of the fog...and Pix gasped. Jimmy looked up. Then he gasped too. Both stood, self consciously distancing themselves from one another.
The rower of the boat was a headless man. He rowed once every few moments, mutely. The singer, though, was a black cat, sitting on the bow of the ship. It's mouth was open and it was singing the eerily beautiful song. The cat stopped, it's slightly glowing green eyes blinking.
├óÔé¼┼ôHallo!├óÔé¼┬Ø She called. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's good to see someone waiting for Tlessia the Ferryer!├óÔé¼┬Ø
The boat touched up to the shore and the cat jumped off, landing well away from the water. It looked over it's shoulder and stalked away from the water, it's fur bristling slightly.
Jimmy knelt and held out his hand, staring at the cat. ├óÔé¼┼ôUh...hello, Tlessia.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The cat reached out with it's fore paw and put it on his palm. They shook, somewhat gingerly on Jimmy's part.
├óÔé¼┼ôGood ta meetcha, Jimmy. Who's your girlfriend?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôUh, I, er, uh, she, I, uh, er, are-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôMy name is Pix,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, reaching out and scratching the cat behind the ears. The cat purred, it's tail swishing back and forth.
├óÔé¼┼ôNice,├óÔé¼┬Ø It murmured. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're an E.L.F, too?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI've never met an E.L.F quite like you,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said.
├óÔé¼┼ôThis body you are petting is not the E.L.F,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said, sitting down. A coller glinted around the cat's neck. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is, the coller.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôCool,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo...what brings two young Humans to this sea, this fine sea that separates Humanity and the Arachnos from the Neutral Zone.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNeutral Zone?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYou two haven't gone out much?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThis is our first time,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, smiling.
├óÔé¼┼ôFfft!├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia made a hissing sound. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow that's just nuts! Nuts nuts nuts nuts nuts!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you going to ferry us across or what?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôSnippy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said, sniffing the air and looking around. Her eyes narrowed. ├óÔé¼┼ôFirst you need to tell me why you are crossing this sea.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôOnly if you tell us what this Neutral zone is.├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said.
├óÔé¼┼ôI'll do better,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said. She looked over her shoulder at the headless boatman. ├óÔé¼┼ôKint! KINT!├óÔé¼┬Ø
The headless thing looked up, a low whine coming from it's joints.
├óÔé¼┼ôGive us a map, please,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said.
The headless thing reached under it's seat and tossed a plastic square at them. Pix caught it. On it was a map of Harbinger. The ship itself was a massive sphere, with four prongs near the front that reached up and around a central holding area. It was marked ├óÔé¼┼ôPlanet Maw.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat's a planet?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôIt's like a big rock,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said, scratching herself behind her ear. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut it's big enough that you can build things on it. Harbinger is so big that it needs big...food, let's call it that. Food. And the only food big enough, other than stars, which are too hot, and nebula, which are too diffuse, are planets. So those prong things, grab planets, then Harbinger...├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHarbinger eats them,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia shook herself. ├óÔé¼┼ôCreeps me out, it does.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Behind the prongs were four bright white areas. Each was marked. Xorquin. Slor. Tettclickclick. E.L.F, first class. Behind them were five gray areas. Two were marked Townie. The rest were marked, Yetel, E.L.F, second class, and Yor. Behind those gray areas, where the black areas, fifteen of them. The only ones Jimmy recognized where the Arachnos and the Humans.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do these different colors mean?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked, looking at Tlessia.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhite is upper level. Gray is middle level. And black...lower level.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhy are there so many in the lower level?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôCapitalizem! I could give you fifty hours worth of Socialist propaganda...but I don't think you have the time.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôBecause my proximity alarms have started going off. Five entities. From their foot falls, cadence, and weight, I'd say that they're-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôXorquin!├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said.
├óÔé¼┼ôThey found us,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy leaned forward, almost pressing his nose into the cat's. ├óÔé¼┼ôListen to me, we're being chased by Xorquin. They have already killed my mother.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry, but I don't get in the way in these matters. The Xorquin can be touchy.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Sudden inspiration struck Jimmy. ├óÔé¼┼ôMy mother is...was Monica Leonite.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Tlessia jumped, her fur bristling. ├óÔé¼┼ôTUBE!├óÔé¼┬Ø She shouted, the profanity sounding very high pitched. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy didn't you say so, get on the boat! Now!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix didn't need to be told twice. She dragged Jimmy to the boat.
├óÔé¼┼ôKint,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia snapped, jumping onto the prow. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe don't have time for the rowing act. Switch to the hover jets!├óÔé¼┬Ø
The headless thing reached for a switch and flipped it. The boat rose into the air, then shot off. Jimmy yelped and grabbed onto Pix, who was laughing.
├óÔé¼┼ôThis is fun!├óÔé¼┬Ø She said, looking at him. Jimmy realized that he was hugging her around the waist and forced a smile, slowly moving to the side of the boat. He looked over his shoulder. A flash of steam hit his face and Jimmy shouted.
├óÔé¼┼ôThey've got guns!├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia shouted. She whipped her head around to look at Jimmy. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, feeling his face. Another burst of steam exploded to the right of the ship. Pix shivered.
├óÔé¼┼ôThose are H.E weapons,├óÔé¼┬Ø She said.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are those?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, her brow furrowing. ├óÔé¼┼ôJust-├óÔé¼┬Ø
Another gout of steam.
├óÔé¼┼ôPopped in my head.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôJames, could you please check on the enemy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said. Jimmy looked over his shoulder.
The Xorquin were rapidly receding, staying on the shore line.
├óÔé¼┼ôThey don't have a boat!├óÔé¼┬Ø He cried. The shore line vanished into the fog.
Pix sagged in relief. She leaned against the side of the boat, pulling her knees into her chest.
├óÔé¼┼ôWe're safe,├óÔé¼┬Ø She breathed. The constant voice in her mind that screamed ├óÔé¼┼ôRun! RUN!├óÔé¼┬Ø dimmed to nothing.
├óÔé¼┼ôNot quite,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell...you still haven't told me why you're on the run,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd till them, this boat is only going to Freeport.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe're trying to get to my father, James Leonite,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou're both named James?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo, I'm Jimmy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhatever. Now how do you intend to get to Ambassador Leonite. He's all the way on the viewing decks. That's...fifty thousand decks from here, at least.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe...don't know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, somewhat dejectedly.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia turned around and jumped onto Kint's neck. He...it didn't seem to mind. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe way I see it is there are two ways to get to your pappy. One is short and dangerous. The other is long and less dangerous. The dangerous is the rout through the Armory. It cuts straight through the Neutral Zone, past the Middle E.L.Fs and gets you into the Upper levels in a little under two weeks.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôTwo weeks!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôOr,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can go around the Armory, through two Townies, past a tram line and into Slor space. Then you gotta go through processing, get sling shotted around through Yetel sections of the ship, and end up in the Upper levels. That would take you the better part of two months and is considered a perfect honeymoon rout for newlyweds.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHoneymoon?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, scratching his head.
├óÔé¼┼ôJimmy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, putting her hands on her hips and affecting a rather fake indignant expression.
├óÔé¼┼ôWait...Pix,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy leaned in, whispering into her ear. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe crystal. It had the information on it.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThat explosion must have destroyed the house. It would have shattered the crystal to dust.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôBut we need that information to give to Dad,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy hissed.
Pix lifted her shirt slightly so that her intake/outtake valve could be seen. ├óÔé¼┼ôI downloaded it. It's encrypted, but I have it.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôOh,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said. He looked back to Tlessia, who was swishing her tail back and forth lazily. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe will take the short rout.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYour funeral. The armory is a war zone, torn apart by Arachnos warriors and Yetel fighters. Xorquin, Human, even Slor bandits rage through the area, stealing weapons that they can. The only Neutral area in that storm is Tortuga, created by some idiot human who really liked his history books. Calls himself Lucky Jack. He crated this armored city that is home to any number of outlaws. That's where you have to go next. From there, you can find a way to the next leg of your journey.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI didn't know it was that dangerous,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy muttered.
├óÔé¼┼ôListen, I know Leonite. He's a fiery man, a good man. He's fought hard for everyone in the lower levels, including E.L.F's. Too many people think we're just toys, or slaves or something.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jimmy felt a warm glow in his stomach. He puffed up his chest and beamed. ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said, scratching her ear. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's a big shadow to grow in.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jimmy felt his glow vanish. The other side of the sea appeared in the distance, coming out of ever thinning fog.
├óÔé¼┼ôListen, this is a lot for anyone to take in. At any time. So, why don't you two spend a night at my place. If you have any questions, just ask.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôRight...I have one,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said.
├óÔé¼┼ôShoot.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is Kint, anyway?
------------
Tlessia's place was...interesting. A few feet off the shore, the house grew out of the ground, forming into a cup shaped protrusion. Platforms floated in an ascending spiral around the cup, till they reached the top. Tlessia bounded from one to the next to the next till she got to the top. After a moment she looked over the top.
├óÔé¼┼ôAre you coming?├óÔé¼┬Ø She asked.
Pix and Jimmy glanced at one another. Then climbed to the top of the cup. Inside they saw a very small bed, for Tlessia presumably, and one slightly larger bed.
├óÔé¼┼ôThat's for any guest. I normally only have Timothy over for dinner.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWho?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôMy lover,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said.
├óÔé¼┼ôWait...there's only one bed,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere will I sleep?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôIt gets cold out here, in the ocean, when the sunlamp turns off,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said.
├óÔé¼┼ôBut, I...we,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said.
├óÔé¼┼ôHey, I wouldn't complain about sharing a bed with a cute girl, if I were in your shoes.├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia lay down and closed her eyes.
Jimmy looked at Pix, who was blushing furiously.
├óÔé¼┼ôCute?├óÔé¼┬Ø She squeaked.
├óÔé¼┼ôI'll take the floor,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said before anyone could say anything on the contrary. He lay down on the ground. A moment later Pix hurled a pillow at him.
Chapter Two: Ocean
Jimmy stared at at the expansive area that stretched before them. Pix stood behind him, staring as well.
├óÔé¼┼ôWow,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy breathed. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is what the Arachnos live next to?├óÔé¼┬Ø
The ├óÔé¼┼ôwhat├óÔé¼┬Ø in question was a massive sphere, large enough to fit three human cities in five times, at least. And it was filled...filled with water. Thick fog rolled around on the surface, but above it stretched the massive ceiling, so the scale of the room was not in question.
├óÔé¼┼ôThis is what the Arachnos live next to,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, ├óÔé¼┼ôHaily's Ocean. Picked up a millennium ago and kept here by who knows what. It's the source of water for half the ship, and it is our duty to uphold it.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWho guessed we'd get to see it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, beaming. ├óÔé¼┼ôTwo kids and we get to look at the holy ocean itself!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix nodded, somewhat mutely. She knelt on the shore line, her knees clinking into the metallic surface of the ground.
├óÔé¼┼ôPix? You've been acting weird since we left the chute. What's wrong?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix sighed, sitting back on her haunches. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhen I fought those guys...it was like my brain was telling me things that I knew...but I don't know. I don't even like violent movies, I don't know how to fight people.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Her voice became a little frantic as she ran her hands through her hair. ├óÔé¼┼ôI keep thinking 'run, run!' but I don't know why!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhoa, Pix,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, sitting down. ├óÔé¼┼ôCalm...down.├óÔé¼┬Ø He slipped his arm over her shoulder. A comforting arm. That was all. Of course. Yes. A comforting arm, that was it.
├óÔé¼┼ôSorry,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, gulping. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut...I know that we need to get past and over that big gloop of water.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd once we're past, we just have to find a guide, and get to the nearest Townie. Then...adventure!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôSome adventure,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix muttered.
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, his voice loosing it's excitement. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah...├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix burst into tears. Jimmy, after a half a moment, started crying as well.
├óÔé¼┼ôI want my mommy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy moaned.
├óÔé¼┼ôI miss her too,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix sobbed. They hugged one another, sitting on the beach of that massive, enclosed sea.
They cried for quite some time.
Till the boat appeared out of the fog. It's rower was singing loudly to herself, her atlo voice sounding oddly warped through the distance.
├óÔé¼┼ôOooootha, Troooota. Klep, Klep. Drogath a dora-fo la menata, Ooooootha!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix blinked away tears, looking up. The boat moved completely out of the fog...and Pix gasped. Jimmy looked up. Then he gasped too. Both stood, self consciously distancing themselves from one another.
The rower of the boat was a headless man. He rowed once every few moments, mutely. The singer, though, was a black cat, sitting on the bow of the ship. It's mouth was open and it was singing the eerily beautiful song. The cat stopped, it's slightly glowing green eyes blinking.
├óÔé¼┼ôHallo!├óÔé¼┬Ø She called. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's good to see someone waiting for Tlessia the Ferryer!├óÔé¼┬Ø
The boat touched up to the shore and the cat jumped off, landing well away from the water. It looked over it's shoulder and stalked away from the water, it's fur bristling slightly.
Jimmy knelt and held out his hand, staring at the cat. ├óÔé¼┼ôUh...hello, Tlessia.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The cat reached out with it's fore paw and put it on his palm. They shook, somewhat gingerly on Jimmy's part.
├óÔé¼┼ôGood ta meetcha, Jimmy. Who's your girlfriend?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôUh, I, er, uh, she, I, uh, er, are-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôMy name is Pix,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, reaching out and scratching the cat behind the ears. The cat purred, it's tail swishing back and forth.
├óÔé¼┼ôNice,├óÔé¼┬Ø It murmured. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're an E.L.F, too?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI've never met an E.L.F quite like you,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said.
├óÔé¼┼ôThis body you are petting is not the E.L.F,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said, sitting down. A coller glinted around the cat's neck. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is, the coller.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôCool,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo...what brings two young Humans to this sea, this fine sea that separates Humanity and the Arachnos from the Neutral Zone.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNeutral Zone?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYou two haven't gone out much?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThis is our first time,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, smiling.
├óÔé¼┼ôFfft!├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia made a hissing sound. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow that's just nuts! Nuts nuts nuts nuts nuts!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you going to ferry us across or what?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôSnippy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said, sniffing the air and looking around. Her eyes narrowed. ├óÔé¼┼ôFirst you need to tell me why you are crossing this sea.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôOnly if you tell us what this Neutral zone is.├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said.
├óÔé¼┼ôI'll do better,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said. She looked over her shoulder at the headless boatman. ├óÔé¼┼ôKint! KINT!├óÔé¼┬Ø
The headless thing looked up, a low whine coming from it's joints.
├óÔé¼┼ôGive us a map, please,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said.
The headless thing reached under it's seat and tossed a plastic square at them. Pix caught it. On it was a map of Harbinger. The ship itself was a massive sphere, with four prongs near the front that reached up and around a central holding area. It was marked ├óÔé¼┼ôPlanet Maw.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat's a planet?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôIt's like a big rock,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said, scratching herself behind her ear. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut it's big enough that you can build things on it. Harbinger is so big that it needs big...food, let's call it that. Food. And the only food big enough, other than stars, which are too hot, and nebula, which are too diffuse, are planets. So those prong things, grab planets, then Harbinger...├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHarbinger eats them,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia shook herself. ├óÔé¼┼ôCreeps me out, it does.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Behind the prongs were four bright white areas. Each was marked. Xorquin. Slor. Tettclickclick. E.L.F, first class. Behind them were five gray areas. Two were marked Townie. The rest were marked, Yetel, E.L.F, second class, and Yor. Behind those gray areas, where the black areas, fifteen of them. The only ones Jimmy recognized where the Arachnos and the Humans.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do these different colors mean?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked, looking at Tlessia.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhite is upper level. Gray is middle level. And black...lower level.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhy are there so many in the lower level?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôCapitalizem! I could give you fifty hours worth of Socialist propaganda...but I don't think you have the time.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôBecause my proximity alarms have started going off. Five entities. From their foot falls, cadence, and weight, I'd say that they're-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôXorquin!├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said.
├óÔé¼┼ôThey found us,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy leaned forward, almost pressing his nose into the cat's. ├óÔé¼┼ôListen to me, we're being chased by Xorquin. They have already killed my mother.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry, but I don't get in the way in these matters. The Xorquin can be touchy.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Sudden inspiration struck Jimmy. ├óÔé¼┼ôMy mother is...was Monica Leonite.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Tlessia jumped, her fur bristling. ├óÔé¼┼ôTUBE!├óÔé¼┬Ø She shouted, the profanity sounding very high pitched. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy didn't you say so, get on the boat! Now!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix didn't need to be told twice. She dragged Jimmy to the boat.
├óÔé¼┼ôKint,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia snapped, jumping onto the prow. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe don't have time for the rowing act. Switch to the hover jets!├óÔé¼┬Ø
The headless thing reached for a switch and flipped it. The boat rose into the air, then shot off. Jimmy yelped and grabbed onto Pix, who was laughing.
├óÔé¼┼ôThis is fun!├óÔé¼┬Ø She said, looking at him. Jimmy realized that he was hugging her around the waist and forced a smile, slowly moving to the side of the boat. He looked over his shoulder. A flash of steam hit his face and Jimmy shouted.
├óÔé¼┼ôThey've got guns!├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia shouted. She whipped her head around to look at Jimmy. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, feeling his face. Another burst of steam exploded to the right of the ship. Pix shivered.
├óÔé¼┼ôThose are H.E weapons,├óÔé¼┬Ø She said.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are those?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, her brow furrowing. ├óÔé¼┼ôJust-├óÔé¼┬Ø
Another gout of steam.
├óÔé¼┼ôPopped in my head.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôJames, could you please check on the enemy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said. Jimmy looked over his shoulder.
The Xorquin were rapidly receding, staying on the shore line.
├óÔé¼┼ôThey don't have a boat!├óÔé¼┬Ø He cried. The shore line vanished into the fog.
Pix sagged in relief. She leaned against the side of the boat, pulling her knees into her chest.
├óÔé¼┼ôWe're safe,├óÔé¼┬Ø She breathed. The constant voice in her mind that screamed ├óÔé¼┼ôRun! RUN!├óÔé¼┬Ø dimmed to nothing.
├óÔé¼┼ôNot quite,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell...you still haven't told me why you're on the run,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd till them, this boat is only going to Freeport.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe're trying to get to my father, James Leonite,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou're both named James?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo, I'm Jimmy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhatever. Now how do you intend to get to Ambassador Leonite. He's all the way on the viewing decks. That's...fifty thousand decks from here, at least.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe...don't know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, somewhat dejectedly.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia turned around and jumped onto Kint's neck. He...it didn't seem to mind. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe way I see it is there are two ways to get to your pappy. One is short and dangerous. The other is long and less dangerous. The dangerous is the rout through the Armory. It cuts straight through the Neutral Zone, past the Middle E.L.Fs and gets you into the Upper levels in a little under two weeks.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôTwo weeks!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôOr,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can go around the Armory, through two Townies, past a tram line and into Slor space. Then you gotta go through processing, get sling shotted around through Yetel sections of the ship, and end up in the Upper levels. That would take you the better part of two months and is considered a perfect honeymoon rout for newlyweds.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHoneymoon?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, scratching his head.
├óÔé¼┼ôJimmy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, putting her hands on her hips and affecting a rather fake indignant expression.
├óÔé¼┼ôWait...Pix,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy leaned in, whispering into her ear. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe crystal. It had the information on it.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThat explosion must have destroyed the house. It would have shattered the crystal to dust.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôBut we need that information to give to Dad,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy hissed.
Pix lifted her shirt slightly so that her intake/outtake valve could be seen. ├óÔé¼┼ôI downloaded it. It's encrypted, but I have it.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôOh,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said. He looked back to Tlessia, who was swishing her tail back and forth lazily. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe will take the short rout.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYour funeral. The armory is a war zone, torn apart by Arachnos warriors and Yetel fighters. Xorquin, Human, even Slor bandits rage through the area, stealing weapons that they can. The only Neutral area in that storm is Tortuga, created by some idiot human who really liked his history books. Calls himself Lucky Jack. He crated this armored city that is home to any number of outlaws. That's where you have to go next. From there, you can find a way to the next leg of your journey.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI didn't know it was that dangerous,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy muttered.
├óÔé¼┼ôListen, I know Leonite. He's a fiery man, a good man. He's fought hard for everyone in the lower levels, including E.L.F's. Too many people think we're just toys, or slaves or something.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jimmy felt a warm glow in his stomach. He puffed up his chest and beamed. ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said, scratching her ear. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's a big shadow to grow in.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jimmy felt his glow vanish. The other side of the sea appeared in the distance, coming out of ever thinning fog.
├óÔé¼┼ôListen, this is a lot for anyone to take in. At any time. So, why don't you two spend a night at my place. If you have any questions, just ask.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôRight...I have one,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said.
├óÔé¼┼ôShoot.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is Kint, anyway?
------------
Tlessia's place was...interesting. A few feet off the shore, the house grew out of the ground, forming into a cup shaped protrusion. Platforms floated in an ascending spiral around the cup, till they reached the top. Tlessia bounded from one to the next to the next till she got to the top. After a moment she looked over the top.
├óÔé¼┼ôAre you coming?├óÔé¼┬Ø She asked.
Pix and Jimmy glanced at one another. Then climbed to the top of the cup. Inside they saw a very small bed, for Tlessia presumably, and one slightly larger bed.
├óÔé¼┼ôThat's for any guest. I normally only have Timothy over for dinner.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWho?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôMy lover,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said.
├óÔé¼┼ôWait...there's only one bed,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere will I sleep?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôIt gets cold out here, in the ocean, when the sunlamp turns off,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said.
├óÔé¼┼ôBut, I...we,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said.
├óÔé¼┼ôHey, I wouldn't complain about sharing a bed with a cute girl, if I were in your shoes.├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia lay down and closed her eyes.
Jimmy looked at Pix, who was blushing furiously.
├óÔé¼┼ôCute?├óÔé¼┬Ø She squeaked.
├óÔé¼┼ôI'll take the floor,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said before anyone could say anything on the contrary. He lay down on the ground. A moment later Pix hurled a pillow at him.
-
Guessmyname
- Posts: 3301
- Joined: 28 Apr 2005, 21:07
-
Guessmyname
- Posts: 3301
- Joined: 28 Apr 2005, 21:07
That sounds about right...
My theory:
1. In the armoury, things go wrong.
2. Pix goes nuts, nabs a weapon and kills a lot of things before being overwhelmed / deacitvated / incapacitated in some way.
3. They end up in Tortuga and Pix gets all mopey about her killing spree.
4. Jimmy pulls her out of it using romance.
5. ???????
6. END
My theory:
1. In the armoury, things go wrong.
2. Pix goes nuts, nabs a weapon and kills a lot of things before being overwhelmed / deacitvated / incapacitated in some way.
3. They end up in Tortuga and Pix gets all mopey about her killing spree.
4. Jimmy pulls her out of it using romance.
5. ???????
6. END
Behold! A new episode!
Jimmy woke up. The sun lamp was off and he was freezing. Jimmy rolled over, shivering, his teeth chattering. He moaned, curling up into the smallest ball he could manage. He heard someone else shifting in their bed. Jimmy opened his eyes and saw Pix looking at him, her eyes glowing softly in the darkness.
├óÔé¼┼ôAre you okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix whispered.
├óÔé¼┼ôC-c-c-c-cold,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy stammered.
Pix slid out of bed, bringing her blanket with her. She lay down next to him and hugged him around the waist, pulling the blanket over both of them. Jimmy thought he should be embarrassed, but he was too happy being warm. He fell asleep a moment later.
The sun light slowly turned on, going from darkness to light over the course of two hours. Jimmy woke up after that. He felt very nice and warm, something pressing into his back. He sighed, smiling. Who knew the floor could be so comfortable. Jimmy looked down and saw that a blanket covered him. He didn't remember going to sleep with a blanket on.
He pulled the blanket back slightly and saw an arm looped around his stomach. Pix's arm.
Jimmy gulped.
├óÔé¼┼ôTold you,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said, looking down from her small bed. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt is warmer like that.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jimmy gently grabbed Pix's arm and moved it up. He rolled out from under the arm and slowly let it down. Pix snored. Jimmy stood and walked to the side of the cup, being as quiet as he could manage.
├óÔé¼┼ôShe is pretty,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said, resting her head on her front paws.
├óÔé¼┼ôY...Yeah,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy murmured.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said, turning around. ├óÔé¼┼ôLook...this way.├óÔé¼┬Ø She pointed with her right fore paw.
Jimmy looked. The ocean chamber ended a few miles in that direction, curving down and meeting with the ground. Two massive tubes reached out of the wall, plunging into the ocean. And behind the tubes, a newly constructed wall blocked off an area of land.
├óÔé¼┼ôThat is the Tinsel Townie, outer layer,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said. ├óÔé¼┼ôOnce a week, the Townie comes back around and you've lucked out.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôBecause the Townie is actually there today. It's gonna leave tomorrow and arrive in the next level two days after. So you and your friend better get going today.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôRight,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said.
├óÔé¼┼ôRight,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, leaning onto the rim of the cup next to Jimmy. Jimmy jumped, looking at Pix.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôNothing, nothing,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy stammered. ├óÔé¼┼ôUh...let's get going.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWait,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou guys are going to need something before you go.├óÔé¼┬Ø She jumped off her bed and pressed her paw into part of the cup wall. It opened up. Inside was a small pack. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is a travel pack. Necessary for any Harbinger traveler. Normally I'd charge fifty credits...but I think you guys need it more than I do.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jimmy smiled, tears pricking at his eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks...we barely know you...and you've been so helpful.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAhhh, don't mention it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said, waving her paw dismissively. Then she shook her head, looking around.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix asked. Then she shook her head too. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat's that?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy asked. Then he heard it too. A low humming sound. It reminded him of...motors.
Motors?
├óÔé¼┼ôXorquin!├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia shouted, his fur bristling.
├óÔé¼┼ôRun!├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix and Jimmy said at the same time.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou're telling me,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey're after you!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix vaulted over the side of the cup. Jimmy grabbed the pack and followed her.
├óÔé¼┼ôThank you, Tlessia!├óÔé¼┬Ø He shouted, then ran.
Four boats shot out of the fog, skimming along the water. They didn't hover, like Tlessia's rowboat. Instead water spouted behind them, propellers pushing them along. On each boat, five Xorquin sat.
├óÔé¼┼ôOh sewage,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy muttered, putting on more speed. Pix kept up with him, panic making her eyes go wide. The Townie wall was far....but it was getting closer. The pack bumped against Jimmy's legs so he took a moment to slide his arm through one of the straps on the pack's side.
├óÔé¼┼ôHalt!├óÔé¼┬Ø A Yetel on the side of the wall shouted. Jimmy and Pix skidded to a halt, a few feet from the wall.
├óÔé¼┼ôPlease let us in!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy shouted, his breath coming short in his lungs. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're being chased by the Xorquin!├óÔé¼┬Ø
The Yetel snapped his wings out and back in. ├óÔé¼┼ôKid, you aren't being chased by anything.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYes we...├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy turned around. The Xorquin were gone. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're...where did they go?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôListen, no one gets into Tinsel unless they either A) have money, or B) Are vouched for by the Ferryer.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôOh!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy slung his pack off his back. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe just gave us this.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHuph,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Yetel said, pulling out a strange device that looked like a green tube, curved back on itself five times over. The Yetel stuck his finger through one of the loops and the tube flashed.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell it says you're not lying,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Yetel said, sliding the tube back into his pocket. ├óÔé¼┼ôWelcome to Tinsel!├óÔé¼┬Ø
The gate opened up, slowly and creakily. Inside, Jimmy and Pix saw their first gimps of a Townie.
And it blew them away.
The Townie was constructed half in and half out of the wall, part of the wall cut away to provide the metal to create the buildings in the town. On the other side of the wall was the inner part of the Townie. Between the inner and outer level, buildings were crammed higgldy piggldy. And between the buildings, people. All kinds of people, swarmed, Xorquin, Yetel, Slor, Humans, Tettclickclick and some stranger creatures. Jimmy swore he saw a human with wings. Pix knew she saw a creature with fifteen heads and five legs. They both stood outside the gate, their jaws hanging open.
├óÔé¼┼ôAre you gonna walk in, or are you gonna just stand there?├óÔé¼┬Ø The Yetel gate guard asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôWalk,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy murmured, stepping forward. Pix followed him. They started pushing through he crowd, hanging onto one another for dear life.
Suddenly a horn sounded, loud enough to make both Pix and Jimmy clap their hands over their ears.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the tube is that!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy shouted.
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know!├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix responded.
├óÔé¼┼ôIt's the launch warning,├óÔé¼┬Ø Someone said, ├óÔé¼┼ôNow get the grut out of my way.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix and Jimmy moved aside for the strange beast who had addressed them, a weird three legged creature.
├óÔé¼┼ôGrut? What is a grut?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix murmured.
├óÔé¼┼ôWe have to get to the Inner level,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, trying to focus But it was hard, with this constant press of people, shouting, talking, screaming, and everything in between. He started pushing through the crowd.
Five long minutes later, the two of them reached the inner level. The streets were closed off by gates and guards patrolled the grates.
├óÔé¼┼ôWait!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy shouted, walking to one of the grates. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to get on.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThen get on now,├óÔé¼┬Ø the guard said, sliding the grate aside. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're taking off in a few seconds. Jimmy and Pix hurried on. The grate slammed shut. Then the floor shuddered.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhoa...look!├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, pointing at the outer layer of the Townie. The buildings and the people fell away, slowly going down. No...the inner layer was going up. That was it.
├óÔé¼┼ôEnjoy the ride, sir, mam,├óÔé¼┬Ø The guard said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe'll arrive in the Middle Levels in a day and a half. Till then, enjoy your stay in the Tinsel Townie.
-------------
The council chambers fell silent as the door opened. Every ambassador turned to the door and saw Ambassador Leonite standing there. He was dressed in his uniform, and his face was set, as if in stone. The Slor flapped it's tail slightly, increasing it's ooze output. The translator turned that into, ├óÔé¼┼ôGre-tings, Le-o-nite.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôGreetings,├óÔé¼┬Ø Leonite said, bowing his head to the Slor. He walked to his chair and sat down, resting his hands on the table. ├óÔé¼┼ôI am prepared to resume my duties.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The other ambassadors nodded.
├óÔé¼┼ôNow, first on the agenda,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Judicator said, dropping down from the ceiling. ├óÔé¼┼ôFirst: Allotment of Resources in Lower Levels.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI propose that we allot fifty percent to Humanity's section to stabilize their city after the explosion and riot,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Yetel ambassador said immediately.
├óÔé¼┼ôDo we have a second?├óÔé¼┬Ø The Judicator said.
Leonite brought his hand up. ├óÔé¼┼ôHumanity has been dealt a sever blow,├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut...the E.L.F section is in disrepair. I believe that humanity can survive on it's normal allotment for this cycle. I vote for allotment to the E.L.F sector.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The council murmured. ├óÔé¼┼ôSecond!├óÔé¼┬Ø The lower E.L.F ambassador said, raising her hand.
├óÔé¼┼ôWe will now vote,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Judicator said. Everyone tapped their buttons under the table. After a moment the Judicator processed the votes for a moment.
├óÔé¼┼ôPassed,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Judicator said. ├óÔé¼┼ôSecond on our Agenda. Debate of Earth, use of, is now continued.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI stand by what I said before,├óÔé¼┬Ø Leonite said. ├óÔé¼┼ôEarth is our home, humanities home. It will always be our home. We can not let it be desecrated.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHarbinger needs Resources,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jorquin said. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf we do not use Earth, we shall enter a time of destitution and ruin. The systems will break down and our people will go hungry.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI believe,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Yetel said, his voice quiet. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat the Xorquin, once again, are overstating the problems facing the ship.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe need these minerals,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jorquin said. ├óÔé¼┼ôAll of our races.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe can live without the resources,├óÔé¼┬Ø Yetel said. ├óÔé¼┼ôMaybe if the Xorquin could recycle more efficiently.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The table erupted into argument.
And under the table, a thin strip of computer fabric was splayed out. It took in the words of the council...and the Third Being listened.
Jimmy woke up. The sun lamp was off and he was freezing. Jimmy rolled over, shivering, his teeth chattering. He moaned, curling up into the smallest ball he could manage. He heard someone else shifting in their bed. Jimmy opened his eyes and saw Pix looking at him, her eyes glowing softly in the darkness.
├óÔé¼┼ôAre you okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix whispered.
├óÔé¼┼ôC-c-c-c-cold,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy stammered.
Pix slid out of bed, bringing her blanket with her. She lay down next to him and hugged him around the waist, pulling the blanket over both of them. Jimmy thought he should be embarrassed, but he was too happy being warm. He fell asleep a moment later.
The sun light slowly turned on, going from darkness to light over the course of two hours. Jimmy woke up after that. He felt very nice and warm, something pressing into his back. He sighed, smiling. Who knew the floor could be so comfortable. Jimmy looked down and saw that a blanket covered him. He didn't remember going to sleep with a blanket on.
He pulled the blanket back slightly and saw an arm looped around his stomach. Pix's arm.
Jimmy gulped.
├óÔé¼┼ôTold you,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said, looking down from her small bed. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt is warmer like that.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jimmy gently grabbed Pix's arm and moved it up. He rolled out from under the arm and slowly let it down. Pix snored. Jimmy stood and walked to the side of the cup, being as quiet as he could manage.
├óÔé¼┼ôShe is pretty,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said, resting her head on her front paws.
├óÔé¼┼ôY...Yeah,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy murmured.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said, turning around. ├óÔé¼┼ôLook...this way.├óÔé¼┬Ø She pointed with her right fore paw.
Jimmy looked. The ocean chamber ended a few miles in that direction, curving down and meeting with the ground. Two massive tubes reached out of the wall, plunging into the ocean. And behind the tubes, a newly constructed wall blocked off an area of land.
├óÔé¼┼ôThat is the Tinsel Townie, outer layer,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said. ├óÔé¼┼ôOnce a week, the Townie comes back around and you've lucked out.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôBecause the Townie is actually there today. It's gonna leave tomorrow and arrive in the next level two days after. So you and your friend better get going today.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôRight,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said.
├óÔé¼┼ôRight,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, leaning onto the rim of the cup next to Jimmy. Jimmy jumped, looking at Pix.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôNothing, nothing,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy stammered. ├óÔé¼┼ôUh...let's get going.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWait,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou guys are going to need something before you go.├óÔé¼┬Ø She jumped off her bed and pressed her paw into part of the cup wall. It opened up. Inside was a small pack. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is a travel pack. Necessary for any Harbinger traveler. Normally I'd charge fifty credits...but I think you guys need it more than I do.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jimmy smiled, tears pricking at his eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks...we barely know you...and you've been so helpful.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAhhh, don't mention it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said, waving her paw dismissively. Then she shook her head, looking around.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix asked. Then she shook her head too. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat's that?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy asked. Then he heard it too. A low humming sound. It reminded him of...motors.
Motors?
├óÔé¼┼ôXorquin!├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia shouted, his fur bristling.
├óÔé¼┼ôRun!├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix and Jimmy said at the same time.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou're telling me,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tlessia said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey're after you!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix vaulted over the side of the cup. Jimmy grabbed the pack and followed her.
├óÔé¼┼ôThank you, Tlessia!├óÔé¼┬Ø He shouted, then ran.
Four boats shot out of the fog, skimming along the water. They didn't hover, like Tlessia's rowboat. Instead water spouted behind them, propellers pushing them along. On each boat, five Xorquin sat.
├óÔé¼┼ôOh sewage,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy muttered, putting on more speed. Pix kept up with him, panic making her eyes go wide. The Townie wall was far....but it was getting closer. The pack bumped against Jimmy's legs so he took a moment to slide his arm through one of the straps on the pack's side.
├óÔé¼┼ôHalt!├óÔé¼┬Ø A Yetel on the side of the wall shouted. Jimmy and Pix skidded to a halt, a few feet from the wall.
├óÔé¼┼ôPlease let us in!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy shouted, his breath coming short in his lungs. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're being chased by the Xorquin!├óÔé¼┬Ø
The Yetel snapped his wings out and back in. ├óÔé¼┼ôKid, you aren't being chased by anything.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYes we...├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy turned around. The Xorquin were gone. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're...where did they go?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôListen, no one gets into Tinsel unless they either A) have money, or B) Are vouched for by the Ferryer.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôOh!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy slung his pack off his back. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe just gave us this.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHuph,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Yetel said, pulling out a strange device that looked like a green tube, curved back on itself five times over. The Yetel stuck his finger through one of the loops and the tube flashed.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell it says you're not lying,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Yetel said, sliding the tube back into his pocket. ├óÔé¼┼ôWelcome to Tinsel!├óÔé¼┬Ø
The gate opened up, slowly and creakily. Inside, Jimmy and Pix saw their first gimps of a Townie.
And it blew them away.
The Townie was constructed half in and half out of the wall, part of the wall cut away to provide the metal to create the buildings in the town. On the other side of the wall was the inner part of the Townie. Between the inner and outer level, buildings were crammed higgldy piggldy. And between the buildings, people. All kinds of people, swarmed, Xorquin, Yetel, Slor, Humans, Tettclickclick and some stranger creatures. Jimmy swore he saw a human with wings. Pix knew she saw a creature with fifteen heads and five legs. They both stood outside the gate, their jaws hanging open.
├óÔé¼┼ôAre you gonna walk in, or are you gonna just stand there?├óÔé¼┬Ø The Yetel gate guard asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôWalk,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy murmured, stepping forward. Pix followed him. They started pushing through he crowd, hanging onto one another for dear life.
Suddenly a horn sounded, loud enough to make both Pix and Jimmy clap their hands over their ears.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the tube is that!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy shouted.
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know!├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix responded.
├óÔé¼┼ôIt's the launch warning,├óÔé¼┬Ø Someone said, ├óÔé¼┼ôNow get the grut out of my way.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix and Jimmy moved aside for the strange beast who had addressed them, a weird three legged creature.
├óÔé¼┼ôGrut? What is a grut?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix murmured.
├óÔé¼┼ôWe have to get to the Inner level,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, trying to focus But it was hard, with this constant press of people, shouting, talking, screaming, and everything in between. He started pushing through the crowd.
Five long minutes later, the two of them reached the inner level. The streets were closed off by gates and guards patrolled the grates.
├óÔé¼┼ôWait!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy shouted, walking to one of the grates. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to get on.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThen get on now,├óÔé¼┬Ø the guard said, sliding the grate aside. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're taking off in a few seconds. Jimmy and Pix hurried on. The grate slammed shut. Then the floor shuddered.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhoa...look!├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, pointing at the outer layer of the Townie. The buildings and the people fell away, slowly going down. No...the inner layer was going up. That was it.
├óÔé¼┼ôEnjoy the ride, sir, mam,├óÔé¼┬Ø The guard said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe'll arrive in the Middle Levels in a day and a half. Till then, enjoy your stay in the Tinsel Townie.
-------------
The council chambers fell silent as the door opened. Every ambassador turned to the door and saw Ambassador Leonite standing there. He was dressed in his uniform, and his face was set, as if in stone. The Slor flapped it's tail slightly, increasing it's ooze output. The translator turned that into, ├óÔé¼┼ôGre-tings, Le-o-nite.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôGreetings,├óÔé¼┬Ø Leonite said, bowing his head to the Slor. He walked to his chair and sat down, resting his hands on the table. ├óÔé¼┼ôI am prepared to resume my duties.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The other ambassadors nodded.
├óÔé¼┼ôNow, first on the agenda,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Judicator said, dropping down from the ceiling. ├óÔé¼┼ôFirst: Allotment of Resources in Lower Levels.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI propose that we allot fifty percent to Humanity's section to stabilize their city after the explosion and riot,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Yetel ambassador said immediately.
├óÔé¼┼ôDo we have a second?├óÔé¼┬Ø The Judicator said.
Leonite brought his hand up. ├óÔé¼┼ôHumanity has been dealt a sever blow,├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut...the E.L.F section is in disrepair. I believe that humanity can survive on it's normal allotment for this cycle. I vote for allotment to the E.L.F sector.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The council murmured. ├óÔé¼┼ôSecond!├óÔé¼┬Ø The lower E.L.F ambassador said, raising her hand.
├óÔé¼┼ôWe will now vote,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Judicator said. Everyone tapped their buttons under the table. After a moment the Judicator processed the votes for a moment.
├óÔé¼┼ôPassed,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Judicator said. ├óÔé¼┼ôSecond on our Agenda. Debate of Earth, use of, is now continued.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI stand by what I said before,├óÔé¼┬Ø Leonite said. ├óÔé¼┼ôEarth is our home, humanities home. It will always be our home. We can not let it be desecrated.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHarbinger needs Resources,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jorquin said. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf we do not use Earth, we shall enter a time of destitution and ruin. The systems will break down and our people will go hungry.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI believe,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Yetel said, his voice quiet. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat the Xorquin, once again, are overstating the problems facing the ship.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe need these minerals,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jorquin said. ├óÔé¼┼ôAll of our races.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe can live without the resources,├óÔé¼┬Ø Yetel said. ├óÔé¼┼ôMaybe if the Xorquin could recycle more efficiently.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The table erupted into argument.
And under the table, a thin strip of computer fabric was splayed out. It took in the words of the council...and the Third Being listened.
