Spring RTS Engine

can someone summarize this in a 2 minute video and put it on youtube plz thx tldr

*hopes jackalope is being sarcastic*

Guessmyname wrote:*hopes jackalope is being sarcastic*

its kinda lik celsius 415 lik wer thei hav no skilz at enqlish an stuf an thei dun red boks

wat a profetic nuvel!

-.-

tombom wrote:

Guessmyname wrote:*hopes jackalope is being sarcastic*

its kinda lik celsius 415 lik wer thei hav no skilz at enqlish an stuf an thei dun red boks

wat a profetic nuvel!

Oh yeah

Wait
What?

Enought of that sillyness.

Hurray for smoke machines!


Bester crawled onto the deck, breathing heavily. Everyone ran to him, none more concerned than Pyra.

├óÔé¼┼ôAre you okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø She asked, kneeling next to Bester as he pressed his back into the railing.

├óÔé¼┼ôFine,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester wheezed, ├óÔé¼┼ôJust please tell me that we can get...a better launching system. That thing scares the crap out of me.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôMaybe while we're in Jerman...├óÔé¼┬Ø George mused. Bester turned his head back to Pyra.

├óÔé¼┼ôWere those your fireballs?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Pyra twisted her finger through her hair, smiling. The hair she twisted started to smoke and Pyra concentrated, forcing her temperature down. She looked over her shoulder at George, who smirked at her.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø She snapped.

George looked at Bester. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow badly did you get shot up?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI...I'm not sure,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester said, getting his legs back under him. He stood, shakily, and looked over the side of the ship. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know...I'm not going back down there.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWell the good news is we can-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNo we can't,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh cut in, pointing. The black spot that was the enemy warship was getting bigger. ├óÔé¼┼ôGeorge, ah want yeh and Amni to repair that rudder. Bester, turn on the smoke machine, Pyra walk with meh.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teesh walked to the gattling gun, Pyra following her. When they reached the gun, Teesh stopped and said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeh like Bester, don't cha?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Pyra blushed, looking away. She nodded.

├óÔé¼┼ôThat's good that is,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh clapped her on the shoulder, ├óÔé¼┼ôJust know, Bester...and men like 'im kind last as long as the wind. Yeh saw that battle...it could 'ave easily been Bester dead.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYes, skipper,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra muttered, looking at her feet. Teesh regarded the mageling. She really was young for this.

├óÔé¼┼ôBut donna worry. If we survive the next few weeks, we'll be rich. A rich man lives longer, yeh know.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôRight,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, leaning on the gattling gun. It spun on it's pivot, squeaking loudly and Pyra jumped away, her cheeks burning. Teesh shook her head.

├óÔé¼┼ôJust be careful...we're gonna be shot at soon.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teesh turned around and walked away, smoke starting to pour out of holes in the side of the hull. She coughed, wishing she had the breathing gear now.


Kint sat in the -------, twiddling his thumbs. A dull boom sounded and something whistled past. Eventually, the enemies gun's would strike true despite the smoke screen. And outside, George and Amni were hammering away, trying to fix the rudder. Till then, he was useless.

├óÔé¼┼ôHey,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, walking into the -------, coughing as she did so. She closed the door behind her, smoke trailing in despite that. Kint waved as she sat down across from him. She tapped the table, leaving brown marks were her fingers touched the wood.

├óÔé¼┼ôSo...you're useless too, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôNothing like being dead weight-├óÔé¼┬Ø A dull boom. Whistle. ├óÔé¼┼ôDuring a battle.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôIt doesn't feel like what a battle should be like.├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra sighed, leaning her chair. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo swords, sorcery or cannons. Just...waiting.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Kint smiled, shaking his head. ├óÔé¼┼ôThere are cannons. The enemy's.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhy don't they just ram us? They're bigger than us.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYou've been watching too many moving pictures,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint stood and grabbed a salad bowl and a large plate, placing them next to each other. ├óÔé¼┼ôOkay...say this plate is the enemy ship. And say this bowl is the Blimp.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Pyra nodded, cupping her chin in her hands.

├óÔé¼┼ôNow this area-├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint made a circle with his finger around the hypothetical Blimp. ├óÔé¼┼ô-Is covered by smoke. So theses guys are firing into the smoke, hoping to hit us. A few minutes ago, that area would have been about-├óÔé¼┬Ø he drew a much smaller circle around the Blimp. ├óÔé¼┼ô-This big. So we're semi-safe. If they can't see us to hit us with a cannon, then how would they hit us in a ram, a much harder maneuver?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôBut we're not turning...we can't turn!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôThey don't know that,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut, even if they could see us, they wouldn't ram us. Ramming means tangling balloons, rigging and ships. Most likely, both ships go down.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôHow do you know all this?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra asked, frowning. ├óÔé¼┼ôWere you in the military?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôFor a time,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know my family, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôThe Douglas family, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra gulped. She had carefully avoided mentioning that. No sense rubbing his nose in his disgrace.

├óÔé¼┼ôWell the Douglas's have served in the Sigilian military for hundreds of year. I got to watch four brothers...dissapear. They'd leave, come back, have a new medal to show the youngest in the family. Then, one time, they'd leave...and not come back. My mother always said it was an honor. Father just looked...├óÔé¼┬Ø

Kint shook his head. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow my only brother is Brian...and that's because instead of serving in the Air-core, he went straight into the SS.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Pyra shuddered slightly. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre they true? The stories, I mean...about the SS?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know.├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't really want to know.├óÔé¼┬Ø He brightened slightly. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo when it came my turn, I knew I didn't want to dissapear like my brothers. So I joined the Nav-Core, instead of the Air-core. At the time I didn't realize that Navigators serve on the same ship's as airmen, meaning when that same ship blows up, they end up just as dead.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Pyra nodded, frowning. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know...I'd have loved to know what was coming for me. I was all set...then this-├óÔé¼┬Ø She waved her hand in the air. ├óÔé¼┼ôHappened.├óÔé¼┬Ø

They both sat in silence, mulling over old memories.

├óÔé¼┼ôHow did you meet Teesh?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra asked, carefully keeping her face neutral.

├óÔé¼┼ôThat's for Teesh to tell,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint stood, putting the bowl and plate away. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's more her story than mine.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint was already walking up the stairs. Pyra sighed, grumbling to herself. Sometimes it seemed she couldn't get a straight answer from anyone on this ship.


├óÔé¼┼ôIt's fixed!├óÔé¼┬Ø

George beamed through the smoke, coughed, and bowed to Teesh. Teesh grinned at him, coughed and waved her hand, trying to get some of the smoke away from her face.

├óÔé¼┼ôGood work, you two-├óÔé¼┬Ø cough ├óÔé¼┼ô-Can we turn this damn ship?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Amni nodded. George added, ├óÔé¼┼ôOnly with our navigator.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôDid someone say my name?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked, walking out of the hold.

├óÔé¼┼ôRight,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is how it is. If-├óÔé¼┬Ø A low boom and a whistle announced another cannon shot. ├óÔé¼┼ô-the enemy are that way.├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh pointed to the left. ├óÔé¼┼ôThen we should go that way and let the smoke hide us from them a big longer.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôSounds like a plan,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, walking to the steering wheel. It felt good to be in control of his ship. ├óÔé¼┼ôShall I set a course to Jerman once we're clear of the cloud?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYes,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh coughed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI think I know exactly what to do when we get there.├óÔé¼┬Ø

The ship turned and floated out of the cloud, the massive black smear between them and the enemy ship. Shells continued to fly through the cloud, but none hit. Soon, Jerman loomed in front of the Blimp.

#

Dr. Benedikt T. Clemens hunched over his desk and fiddled with his helmet, twisting his screwdriver to the right, then to the left. The helmet clicked and Benedikt grinned, satisfied. He placed the helmet over his held and looked around his office. The helmet, a classical-fishbowl design, offered him a full one hundred eighty degrees view, clear face mask and easy breathing. Or at least he hoped it would be easy breathing.

Benedikt stood, pulling his helmet off and putting it under his arm. He walked through his crowded office, edging past the hundreds of oil drenched parts, bit of paper and long rolls of cloth. The newest newspaper was spread over his table and he saw the headlines ├óÔé¼┼ôSigilian Traitor On the Run├óÔé¼┬Ø

Benedikt would have read it...if he had the time. Instead he moved to his suit, pressed the red button in the middle and stepped back as the entire thing opened up, a loud clicking of gears and clock work mechanisms and everything else needed for the thing to open. Once it was fully open, Benedikt examined the interior. Two arms, two legs, restraints and all that was left was a helmet. He turned around and stepped into the suit backwards. He placed his hands into the gloves and bashed his head against the 'close' button, which jutted up behind his neck.

Some day he'd have to find a less painful place to put it.

The suit closed over him and clicked into place. Benedikt stepped away from his wall cubby, the suit clanking as his feet touched the ground. He took the helmet and placed it over his head, clicking it into place. Benedikt brought his wrist into view and wound up the gear that rested where a normal man's wrist watch would be. Once the gear was turned a few time, Benedikt pressed a button over his heart. The air-pumper started to pump and Benedikt breathed in. Air, scented with oranges, filled his helmet. The Orange flavor had been added into the air system, to show that it was actually pumping enclosed air.

├óÔé¼┼ôIt works!├óÔé¼┬Ø Benedikt's voice was loud in his ears as he jumped in the air, grinning like a maniac. That was a mistake, the weight making his knees almost pop out from under him. Benedikt put his hand on the table to stop himself from falling down. The table almost flipped over, sending bits and pieces of earlier suits flying.

├óÔé¼┼ôAn interesting filing system you have, Beni,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jaeger walked in, his uniform as finely pressed as ever. Benedikt growled at Jaeger. The young Teknologist was everything a Jerman academy student should aspire to. Blond hair, finely combed, a hat nestled over that, also impeccably neat. And, finally, a faint look disdain as he looked at Benedikt's office.

├óÔé¼┼ôSneer if you want, but it works,├óÔé¼┬Ø Benedikt said, holding his arms out. Jaeger frowned, something approaching pity appearing in his eyes.

├óÔé¼┼ôThen...I suppose this will be even harder, won't it?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø Benedikt shouted, pulling his helmet off. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey've called off the expedition, haven't they!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNo,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jaeger said, sighing, ├óÔé¼┼ôJust you. You have been replaced by a more...qualified member of the Guild. I'm...sorry.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôMy...suit...├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôIs not applicable to this expedition. It's a patch job, a prototype at best...Piratian at worst.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Benedikt bristled, balling his fists. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou...get out!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry, but-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôGet out!├óÔé¼┬Ø

Jaeger walked out of the office, shaking his head. Benedikt turned to his table, putting his hands on it. The table tilted slightly, the weight of the suit pressing down. Benedikt shuddered and suddenly swept his hand over the table, sending doodads and greebles flying.

├óÔé¼┼ôAh hope ah'm not interrupting anything,├óÔé¼┬Ø A oddly accented voice cut in. Benedikt turned around. A green eyed woman stood at his door, wearing a pleasant green dress to go with her eyes. Her hair was done up in a bow, a tiara nestled above her ears, with green ribbons at the both ends of the tiara that covered them. She looked like...nobility.

├óÔé¼┼ôNo, no, mam,├óÔé¼┬Ø Benedikt tried to bow, but stopped in the middle as his suit cramped up. He stood, wincing. ├óÔé¼┼ôOne moment.├óÔé¼┬Ø

He turned and walked to his alcove. Once the suit was off, Benedikt offered a real bow. ├óÔé¼┼ôDoctor Benedikt T. Clemens, at your service my lady.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôThank yeh,├óÔé¼┬Ø The lady said, holding out a gloved hand. Benedikt took it and kissed the knuckles. He caught a blush rise on the ladies cheeks. Benedikt smiled to himself. I still got it, he thought. ├óÔé¼┼ôMeh name is Tasha Davidson.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôAh,├óÔé¼┬Ø Benedikt said, gesturing, ├óÔé¼┼ôI did not know that a Sigilian Noblewoman was in town.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Tasha walked into the room, carefully keeping her gown off the dirty ground. As she walked into the room, Benedikt enjoyed a nice view of her shapely behind. She picked up the news paper and frowned.

├óÔé¼┼ôMy great-uncle,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tasha said, looking over her shoulder at Benedikt. ├óÔé¼┼ôI fear it is because of his actions that I have come.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI've heard of the Jerman expeditions to the Cursed City-├óÔé¼┬Ø She stopped at Benedikt's expression. ├óÔé¼┼ôI fear I have offended you.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNo,├óÔé¼┬Ø Benedikt sighed, trying to get the angry knot out of his jaw. ├óÔé¼┼ôI worked for years on this suit and just now they've kicked me off the mission.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôOh,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tasha said, her eyes going wide, then narrowing. She smiled conspiratorially. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf that is the case...I have a deal for you.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôHmm?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat if I were to buy your suit?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Benedikt coughed, his throat sizing up. ├óÔé¼┼ôWha...What?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI would like to buy your suit. I have gold and you can have a share of the treasure.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI thought...your uncle-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôLong story short, he has betrayed the Senate... to dig up treasure. If I have the suit, my men can get the treasure first without dying rather unpleasantly.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Benedikt absorbed this swiftly, chewing his lip. Selling the suit? It would be kind of similar to going on the expedition, as Benedikt would never actually go into the city. That was for slaves and beastlings. But...he glanced at Tasha, trying to size her up. She looked trust worthy. Hell, she looked lovely.

├óÔé¼┼ôVery well. Gold and a tenths worth of the treasure.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Tasha smiled, snapping her fingers. Two Sigilian men, both dressed in somewhat rugged leather clothes, walked in. They brought a small gurney to wheel the suit out and soon the entire apparatus was loaded. The two men wheeled away as Tasha smiled, handing Benedikt the bag of gold. Benedikt took out a coin and bit it. It was gold, not faked.

├óÔé¼┼ôThank you for your business,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tasha said, bowing once again. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe shall bring the suit back, once we have reclaimed the treasure.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôOh, wait...one last thing,├óÔé¼┬Ø Benedikt said, raising his hand to stop Tasha. She looked over her shoulder at him.

├óÔé¼┼ôThe Jerman expedition is heading out in a day. They might prove...troublesome.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry, Dr. Clemens,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tasha said, ├óÔé¼┼ôI have everything in hand├óÔé¼┬Ø

She walked out of the room, beaming. Benedikt watched her go and saw something trailing from under her skirt.

It was a tail.

MOAR

For a bit Teesh thought that it would really be that easy.

├óÔé¼┼ôStop!├óÔé¼┬Ø Dr. Clemens shouted, walking out of his workshop. Teesh turned, biting her lip. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes, Dr. Clemens?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôCome back inside,├óÔé¼┬Ø Dr. Clemens said, gesturing to his office door. Teesh looked at Bester and George. She jerked her head, trying to tell them to keep going. George seemed to get it, starting to push the cart away. Teesh walked into the office and Dr. Clemens closed the door behind her.

Teesh turned to look at him, who, quite suddenly, stepped forward and grabbed her wrist with his. ├óÔé¼┼ôDo not scream, Fr├â┬ñulein.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you talking about,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh jerked her arms out of his hold, grabbing his wrist with her hand and twisting it. Dr. Clemens bent forward, his arm pinned behind his back by Teesh. She grinned, twisting slightly more. Dr. Clemens hissed, looking over his shoulder at Teesh.

├óÔé¼┼ôNow,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, quite calm, ├óÔé¼┼ôPlease...what did you want to talk about?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYou have a tail,├óÔé¼┬Ø Dr. Clemens said.

├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh looked over her shoulder, ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd here ah was, thinking it was a trick of me eye.├óÔé¼┬Ø She twisted Dr. Clemens' arm slightly more, causing the Jerman to whimper in pain, his teeth gritted.

├óÔé¼┼ôNow tell no one, or ah'll break both yer arms, right.├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh let him go. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd don't worry. Ah'm going to bring the suit back.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I should trust you...why?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôAh'll kill yeh if yeh don't trust me,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, ├óÔé¼┼ôAh'm a reasonable woman, and normally ah'd be glad to talk 'his over, but ah don't have the bloody time.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôTime for what?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôGods,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh looked at the celling, ├óÔé¼┼ôAh don't have time fer this, damn it.├óÔé¼┬Ø

She grabbed Dr. Clemens around the neck and forced him into the table. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat-├óÔé¼┬Ø He started, cut off when Teesh grabbed his arms, bent them behind his back and touched the wrists. Teesh pulled some rope out and tied his hands together. Dr. Clemens fell to the floor with a thump, rolling onto his back and opening his mouth to scream. Teesh knelt and pulled off one of his shoes.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you-├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teesh jammed his sock into his mouth, tied his feet together and stood.

├óÔé¼┼ôYou stay here till I escape,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, adjusting her skirt carefully.


Jaeger walked to Benedikt's office. He tapped on the door. ├óÔé¼┼ôBeni?├óÔé¼┬Ø

No answer. ├óÔé¼┼ôBeni, it's Jaeger. I have some good news.├óÔé¼┬Ø

No answer. ├óÔé¼┼ôBeni, damn it! You've been put back on the expedition. Turns out someone misfiled your evaluation report and the Headmasters got Weilands. It was a bit of a screw up, but...├óÔé¼┬Ø

Jaeger paused. ├óÔé¼┼ôBeni, are you even in here?├óÔé¼┬Ø No answer. ├óÔé¼┼ôFine, I'll just-├óÔé¼┬Ø

Jaeger pushed the door open and tripped over Benedikt, falling face first into the table. Jaeger stood, groaning as he felt his head. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the-├óÔé¼┬Ø

He saw Benedikt on the floor. Benedikt looked at Jaeger, trying to say something through the sock. Jaeger knelt and pulled out the sock.

├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it, Jaeger!├óÔé¼┬Ø Benedikt snapped, ├óÔé¼┼ôI've been here for an hour!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWell I didn't know!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jaeger said, pulling out his knife and snapping the blade open. Benedikt was freed with a few quick jerks of the knife and he sat up, feeling his wrists gingerly.

├óÔé¼┼ôListen, this woman...this woman, dressed as Sigilian nobility bought my suit.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôAnd?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôThen I saw the tail.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôShe...what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jaeger slid his knife closed, slipping it into his pocket. ├óÔé¼┼ôA beastling?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYeah, a beastling.├óÔé¼┬Ø Benedikt snarled, ├óÔé¼┼ôLet's go to the police.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWait,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jaeger said, holding up his hand. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho was it?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôA beastling! I don't know her name.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWas it Captain Teesh?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jaeger grinned, as if he had just met a celebrity. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's...have you heard any of the stories about her?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôJaeger! We don't have time for this!├óÔé¼┬Ø Benedikt pushed past the other Teknologist. Jaeger followed him, still grinning.

#

Teesh stood at the helm. The night sky around the Blimp was peaceful, the cloud cover sporadic. The moon was full, it's light shimmering on the balloon of the ship. Kint was asleep, as was the rest of the crew, and the deck was silent. Teesh smiled, just listening to the wind. The wind gusted suddenly and blew her hair in front of her eyes. Teesh slid her fingers through her hair, trying to fix it. As her fingers ran over her ear, a sudden memory flashed through her mind.

Lips running over her cheek, breath hot on her skin. Hands unbuttoning her shirt as she squirmed under his pleasant weight. Laying her head back and letting his lips slowly lock around her nipple...

Teesh smiled faintly at the memory, leaning away from the wheel. Two flickering flames appeared on her deck, moving out of the hold. Pyra.

├óÔé¼┼ôDoing some late work, eh?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh asked. Pyra walked to the steering wheel, clasping her hands behind her back.

├óÔé¼┼ôCouldn't sleep,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra sighed.

├óÔé¼┼ôDreams of yer flyboy?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Pyra looked at Teesh, her teeth flashing in the moonlight. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you promise not to tell anyone...yes.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôAy, he's a good 'un...bit of a pigheaded kind a guy, though.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôA little,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, looking away. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't seem to get him to notice me though. Or at least not as anything more than a mobile weapons platform.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôAh. Did he compliment yeh about yer fireballs again?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYeah.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôHe probably can't think of anything better to compliment yeh on.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Pyra sighed, looking at Teesh again. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow did you meet Kint?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNow why are ye asking that?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh's voice was soft.

├óÔé¼┼ôWell...Kint said you'd be the one to tell me about it. Said that it wasn't his story to tell.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôAh,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh was silent, looking over the ship. The planks creaked slightly and the balloon rippled in the breeze. Pyra thought that she wasn't going to say anything more, Teesh said. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt all started...bout four years ago.├óÔé¼┬Ø

#

Teesh stood in the corner of the room, her head bowed slightly. The only thing that moved was her tail, twitching slowly as she stood.

├óÔé¼┼ôWaitress!├óÔé¼┬Ø Someone shouted. Teesh walked to the table, effortlessly dodging her way around other patrons. The place stunk of human and beastling. But Teesh knew that there was no actual intermingling. The human section of the tavern was raised slightly above the beastling section, with better, nicer tables. The man who had shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôWaitress├óÔé¼┬Ø was sitting at one of the human tables. Teesh walked to them, trying to keep her jaw from clenching. Each wore a Sigilian uniform...a uniform she had grown to hate with a passion.

There were four Sigilian airmen sitting at the table, each of them red in the face as they talked. Teesh understood their language. She had to, working here. Far be it for a Sigilian man or woman to bother to learn a language not there own.

├óÔé¼┼ô'hat 'll it beh, mastas?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, knowing her accent was incredibly thick.

├óÔé¼┼ôEh, lady?├óÔé¼┬Ø The man who had called her cocked his ear, grinning. Teesh was used to the jeering, but it still stung slightly.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat...will...it...beh,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, forcing each word out like a bullet.

├óÔé¼┼ôA drink,├óÔé¼┬Ø One of the men said, frowning at his compatriot.

├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know, Kint,├óÔé¼┬Ø The man who had mocked Teesh said, looking at her with hungry eyes, ├óÔé¼┼ôThis one has a fine rack on her.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôKnock it off Jack,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint muttered.

Jack reached out and grabbed Teesh's tail, yanking her to his lap. She squirmed as his hands reached around her body.

├óÔé¼┼ôYou wasn't more of this, don't you?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNo!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh snapped, slipping into her own language by accident. The two other Sigilian airmen laughed, but the one named Kint looked darkly at jack.

├óÔé¼┼ôWas that a yes, wench?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jack asked, his hands reaching her breasts.

├óÔé¼┼ôNeh!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh shouted in Sigilian, trying to jerk out of his arms.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat? Yeh?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNeh!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôKnock it off, Jack!├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint stood, slamming his fist on the table. Jack let Teesh go, standing as well. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is it to you, Navi!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôShe doesn't want you,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, clenching his fists. Teesh's eyes flickered from one man to the other, not sure what to make of this turn of events.

├óÔé¼┼ôI don't think you know what she wants,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jack said, walking around the table, his chest jutting forward...like a animal challenging another for dominion. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut what are you going to do about it, Navi?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNothing...not with a LTG,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, his stance telling a different story than his words. His fists were still balled, his eyes angry.

├óÔé¼┼ôWell...I'm not going to press charges,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jack said, pulling his fist back. Kint ducked as the fist went over his head. Jack almost fell, his balance completely screwed by the drink. Kint took advantage of that, kicking Jack in the knee. The other man toppled onto the table, spilling drinks. Teesh backed away, her heart in her throat. The other airmen stood, their drinks spilled over their fronts. They looked at Kint.

├óÔé¼┼ôWell?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked, straightening his shirt, ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you have any problems with that?├óÔé¼┬Ø

The two men looked at one another, then sat down again, their jaws locked.

├óÔé¼┼ôGo,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, looking at Teesh. A moment later she realized that he had spoken in her language. ├óÔé¼┼ôGo!├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teesh stood and ran.



Teesh walked home, her head bowed. The air above the Waystation was filled with airships, tethered to the tapering spire of clockwork and technology. Steam hissed from the massive thing, gears crunching and turning. Some Jermans worked there, tending to it as it possessed the hydro that had built up under ground. Several refueling tubes snaked to the larger ships, filling them. Everyone once and a while, a tube would retract, then go out to a new airship.

Something hobbled past Teesh. She stopped and looked at the stooped man. A flash of Sigilian blue met her eye and she realized who it was.

├óÔé¼┼ôEh!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, ├óÔé¼┼ôYeh...yeh'r name's Kint, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø

The man stopped, turning to face Teesh. His face was purpled and covered with bruises, and his movements gave the impression of fragility, as if moving too fast would shatter something.

├óÔé¼┼ôYeah,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint rasped. Then, in Teesh's language. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat's your name?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôTeesh,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, ├óÔé¼┼ôUh...how do you know my tongue?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI have a lot of time on my hands,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint smiled, ├óÔé¼┼ôSo...you know, you'd be bothered a lot less if you carried a knife.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôA...a knife?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYeah,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, switching back to Sigilian. ├óÔé¼┼ôA knife makes sure that no means no to these guys.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôThats a good idea,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, ├óÔé¼┼ôSay...how long is that armada staying around?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôA week...two,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Pirata are moving some armies around...it's making the S.S.P nervous and the S.S.F-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôS.S.F?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôSenatorial Special Forces,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, ├óÔé¼┼ôSecret Police. They watch us and tell the senate who is being a traitor.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôAh...jackals, thats what they are.├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh grinned. Kint laughed, then doubled over in paint. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh no,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh put her arm around Kint and lead him away, ├óÔé¼┼ôYou need some bed rest.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôTeesh, no, I-├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint stammered as Teesh lead him to her home.

good story
i like it

POST MOAR NOW

Sorry, but I've been a bit busied by school work and collaborating on a story with a lady friend whose name I will not divulge. Expect a new bit some time tomorrow.

D:

Candleman wrote:D:

Isn't it :D?

Also don't get your hopes up. She lives in Canada, which, last time I checked is at least two miles from California.

So I was a day late. Sorry. So I made sure to put lots and lots of sex in this one. Enjoy!




├óÔé¼┼ôYou took him home?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra asked.

├óÔé¼┼ôYeah,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh grinned, her teeth glinting in the moonlight. ├óÔé¼┼ôSilly thing, eh? Ah'd think different now...if I took 'im home, it'd be with a knife in my 'and. But ah was young and trusty back then. And Kint's a cute one.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôCute?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra snickered. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe looks like a brick.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôEh?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh looked at her.

├óÔé¼┼ôI mean...he doesn't have any curves to him. It's all squares.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNo he isn't!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWell I mean if you like that kind of thing-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôKint is very handsome,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh frowned, turning back to the wheel, ├óÔé¼┼ôBetter than yer Fly-boy.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôHey!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWell it's true,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh muttered.

├óÔé¼┼ôWeren't you telling a story?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teesh chucked her chin under her hand, frowning.

├óÔé¼┼ôYeah...I think I was.├óÔé¼┬Ø

#

Kint lay in the bed, wincing every once and a while as Teesh daubed at him. ├óÔé¼┼ôListen,├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't-├óÔé¼┬Ø He hissed again as Teesh touched an extra-sensitive bruise on his face.

├óÔé¼┼ôDonna be silly,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh mumbled, ├óÔé¼┼ôYer all beaten and bruised. No way ahm I letting ye outta here.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôListen, Teesh,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, sitting up. He almost banged his head on the low hanging celling. He had been shocked when he saw Teesh's 'house'. It was a small sliver of a thing, shoved between two larger houses. It was short, tight and very cramped, so much that Kint couldn't see more than one person living in there. And yet Teesh seemed completely comfortable, even with Kint in there.

├óÔé¼┼ôEh?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh asked, wetting her cloth some more.

├óÔé¼┼ôMy ship has a very competent surgeon. He could fix me up in a matter of seconds.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teesh blinked. ├óÔé¼┼ôThen why dinna yeh tell me!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôEr...well,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint stammered, standing. He banged his head on the celling and stooped down, pained. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell...I...well...I.├óÔé¼┬Ø He seemed to be out of words.

├óÔé¼┼ôYeh wanted to see my house, dinna yeh?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh started to play with her tail, looking at her feet nervously.

Kint realized just how cramped this house was. He looked at Teesh and felt a blush rise on his cheeks. He felt something else rise as well...

├óÔé¼┼ôGotta go,├óÔé¼┬Ø He stammered. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll come by the tavern...tomorrow.├óÔé¼┬Ø

He stepped out of the door, nearly slamming it. Teesh stared after him, her brow furrowed. Then she smiled, dropping her tail. ├óÔé¼┼ôTomorrow. He'll be back tomorrow!├óÔé¼┬Ø


#

Teesh washed the plates. Normally this was the best task anyone working at the tavern could ask for. No shouting customers, no fights to break up and, best of all, no grab ass. But Teesh shivered, her tail flicking back and forth rapidly. Kint would be back, she knew it...and Teesh didn't want to be stuck in back, washing plates when he came back.

├óÔé¼┼ôTeesh!├óÔé¼┬Ø Her boss, Tweed, stuck his head into the back of the bar. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet your one-eyed head out here!├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teesh put the plate down and walked to the door. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is it?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôSomeone out front is asking for you.├óÔé¼┬Ø Tweed said, scratching himself behind the ear.

Teesh froze, her tail stopping. ├óÔé¼┼ôReally!├óÔé¼┬Ø She squeaked.

├óÔé¼┼ôYes, really. Now he's a paying customer, so hurry up.├óÔé¼┬Ø Tweed walked away, grumbling to himself. Teesh walking into the main room, looking around. She didn't see Kint at first, so she started to worm her way through the crowd, looking around. She got to the door and still didn't find him. Teesh frowned, her ears plastering themselves against her head.

A hand shot out from somewhere in the crowd and dragged her out the door. Teesh saw a flash of the outside before she was dragged into the alleyway next to the tavern. The man who had grabbed her...he looked so familer. Teesh's eyes widened. It was the man...the man who had grabbed her a few days ago. Teesh whimpered as his hand closed tighter around her mouth.

├óÔé¼┼ôDon't make a sound, and this will be easier for y-├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teesh bit down on his fingers. She tasted blood. The man jerked his hand back, yelping as Teesh drew a knife. She waved it below his neck, her knuckles white as she gripped it. The man backed away from her, his face a mask of rage. He pulled out a revolver and shot Teesh in the stomach. Teesh fell against the wall, dropping her knife. She slid to the ground, teeth gritted against the pain.

The man seemed shocked at what he had done, staring at her, blinking as smoke filled his vision. He slowly holstered his revolver and walked away, slowly as if he were dazed.

Teesh put her hand to her stomach, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She waited for a minute, blinking away tears of pain. No one was coming. That struck her as so cruel and impossible that Teesh put it out of her mind. She waited another minute. No one was coming. The alleyway had muffled the gun shot, the sparse crowds meaning little people were there to hear it. Most everyone was in the tavern...no one was coming.

Teesh blinked, her jaw hardening. She looked to the end of the alleyway. It wasn't that far. Not really. She tried to stand. Her legs didn't move. Teesh pressed her head against the wall behind her, her mouth split open in a snarl. She concentrated and pushed as had as she could, putting as much of her weight on the wall as she could. Teesh pushed forward and took her first step.

Teesh grinned, sweat running down her face. Now she had to take another step. She threw out one bloody hand, pressing it against the wall and half dragged, half pushed her way forward. That made...two.


#

Kint walked through the streets of the waystation, looking around. Second rate vendors hawked their wares at passing Sigilian airmen. A whorehouse, called the Tiger's Eye, stood in the middle of the street, a scantily dressed beastling ushering people inside. Kint had been shocked when he had first seen that place. His mates had laughed at him and gone in to enjoy themselves. Kint had kept walking, as he was now. A few blocks later, he had found the tavern.

Kint walked past the alleyway next to the tavern...and was quite surprised when Teesh fell into his arms. Kint caught her, stepping backwards. He almost dropped her when he saw the blood. ├óÔé¼┼ôShit!├óÔé¼┬Ø He looked around at the people walking past. Some turned to look, but almost no one actually moved to help.

├óÔé¼┼ôDoctor...I need a doctor!├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint shouted. A man wearing Sigilian blue ran to him. It was...Gerry, one of the midshipmen.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat's wrong...oh wow.├óÔé¼┬Ø Gerry saw Teesh. ├óÔé¼┼ôGods, what happened?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, ├óÔé¼┼ôCan you help me get her to the ship?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôUh,├óÔé¼┬Ø Gerry said. Kint glared at him. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI'll get her shoulders, you get her feet.├óÔé¼┬Ø


#

Teesh sighed, a golden light filtering through her eyelids. She smiled, feeling as if something very bright and nice was filling her, starting at the naval and spreading outwards to her fingers and toes. She realized it had been quite some time since she had taken a breath. It disturbed her in an odd sort of way. Teesh opened her eyes and breath rushed into her lungs.

Teesh blinked away the light. Then she screamed. A horrible thing hovered over her head, a blackened, rotting claw of a hand, it's flesh all gray and green.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhoa there,├óÔé¼┬Ø A soft voice said, the hand withdrawing from Teesh's view. She sat up, her heat in her throat. A man sat next to her, his body covered by a white and blue cloak. The dessicated, rotting hand dissapeared under the cloak...but Teesh was shocked to see that the man's head and face were youthful. Younger than most men in the waystation, his hair blond, eyes blue and strong.

├óÔé¼┼ôYou were very close there,├óÔé¼┬Ø The man said, inclining his head slightly. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlmost lost you.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôW...Who are yeh?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh asked, almost slipping into her language. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere am ah?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYou're on the S.S Furies, under the care of ship's surgeon Zed.├óÔé¼┬Ø The man smiled. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat would be me.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôUh...I donna mean to be rude, or nothing, but...what are yeh?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh looked at where the rotted hand had dissapeared too. Imagining it...connected with this head. It didn't work, not in her mind.

├óÔé¼┼ôI am a mageling, bound with the powers of life and death. I used those powers to pull the bullet from your belly and heal your wounds.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teesh was about to pull her blankets down, to check to see if she really was cured...when she realized that she wore only her underclothes. She blushed, pulling the blankets up to cover her as tightly as she could.

├óÔé¼┼ôUh...were are me clothes?├óÔé¼┬Ø She mumbled.

├óÔé¼┼ôRuined, for the most part. Too much blood. The Navi who brought you up here managed to get you some clothes...I don't know where from.├óÔé¼┬Ø Zed jerked his chin at the pile of clothes that lay next to the bed. Teesh grabbed them and started to awkwardly pull them on under the covers.

├óÔé¼┼ô'ho brought me up 'ere?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh mumbled, buttoning her shirt up.

├óÔé¼┼ôKint Douglas,├óÔé¼┬Ø Zed said, ├óÔé¼┼ôI believe that you are well enough to leave. There is a crewman waiting to take you back to your home.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWait,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, carefully pulling the blankets down. She was happy to see that her clothes looked pretty good for someone who had dressed under her blanket. ├óÔé¼┼ôU...Uh can ah see Kint...afore ah go?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Zed smiled slightly. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe'll be off duty in an hour. I'll tell him you were looking for him.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWh...It ain't nothing like that. Ah just want to thank him, is all.├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, blushing again. She tried to ignore how her tail jerked erratically under her skirt.

├óÔé¼┼ôOf course,├óÔé¼┬Ø Zed smiled, his chair turning around. Teesh saw that it had two wheels attached to it, allowing him to roll out of the place. She caught a glimpse of a rotted hand pushing him along and shuddered.

#

├óÔé¼┼ôZed!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh frowned at Pyra, turning the wheel slightly after checked her compass.

├óÔé¼┼ôDid you say the healer's name was Zed?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYea, I did,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, ├óÔé¼┼ôStop interrupting.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNo...but I know a Zed. He's an instructor at the academy. He was always screwing with my head.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôHuh...when we're done with this...you should ask him about me. I wonder if he'll remember me.├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh glanced at her compass again. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow...where was I?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYou were going back down to your tavern, waiting for some tender romance with your brave resucer.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôTender?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh snorted. ├óÔé¼┼ôKint and I-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôKint and I what?├óÔé¼┬Ø A voice floated across the deck. Teesh and Pyra looked to the front of the ship where a dark form walked across the deck to them. He came into view, illuminated by the flickering light of Pyra's hands.

├óÔé¼┼ôKint?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh blushed. ├óÔé¼┼ôDid...did we wake you?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôA little,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, walking onto the main deck. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you two talking about up here?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôA little o this, a little o that,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh muttered.

├óÔé¼┼ôShe was all set to tell me how you two fell in love-├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra started. Kint coughed violently. He looked at Teesh.

├óÔé¼┼ôTeesh!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôShe's the one who asked for it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat lost me,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, ├óÔé¼┼ôIs why you guys aren't...together now.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWho says we aren't?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked.

├óÔé¼┼ôYeah.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWell you never kiss or-├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teesh glanced at Kint. Kint glanced at her.

├óÔé¼┼ô-or...anything like that.├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra finished, somewhat lamely.

Teesh let go of the wheel, looking at Kint. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe don't kiss...or anything like that.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôSeems like we don't,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, nodding gravely.

├óÔé¼┼ôWe should do something 'bout that,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, equally as grave. Kint grabbed her around the waist and kissed her. Teesh kissed him back with equal enthusiasm. Her arms looped around his neck, pulling him tighter.

├óÔé¼┼ôOkay, okay,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, ├óÔé¼┼ôI get the message.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teesh and Kint kept kissing.

├óÔé¼┼ôI'm going to leave you two alone now,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra muttered, walking off the main deck. Teesh broke the kiss, still clinging to Kint.

├óÔé¼┼ôDo you want to steer for a bit?├óÔé¼┬Ø She asked, touching her nose against his.

├óÔé¼┼ôMaybe,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint murmured, ├óÔé¼┼ôWhen do we get off?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôEh?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, ├óÔé¼┼ôI thought you wanted to stay...separate and all that. So no one can shout whore at me?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYeah, I did say that didn't I?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said. He stepped away. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I suppose that-├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teesh grabbed him and kissed him again. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhoa!├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint toppled down, falling next to Teesh with a thump. She slid on top of him, her eyes glinting in the darkness. Her tail curled above her. Kint knew what that meant.

├óÔé¼┼ôTeesh...├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, as she grinned at him. ├óÔé¼┼ôIs this a good idea?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNo,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, grinning, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut since when did we let that stop us?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Kint chuckled as Teesh kissed his cheek, drawing her teeth along his chin bone. Her lips played with the fuzz that was starting to sprout there.

Kint took hold of her head, placing his hands on her cheeks and pulled her back to his lips, kissing her. Teesh sat down on him, one of her hands undoing her belt. Kint's hands moved to her shoulders and he rolled her onto her back.

├óÔé¼┼ôOooh,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh whispered, wriggling her back closer to the deck. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's pretty cold out tonight.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYou're still taking your pants off,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint murmured as Teesh kicked the pants free.

├óÔé¼┼ôI know...so silly of me, isn't it?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, her tail flicking slightly. Kint jerked his belt off and let his pants fall down. He yelped as the night air touched his skin.

├óÔé¼┼ôI'll warm those up for you,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, wrapping her legs around his back.

For a while...she did.

There has been a new post, but the forum isn't saying that there is. Very strange.

i wait for new post!!!

Kint looked behind him. After a moment, he looked in front of him.

├óÔé¼┼ôI think we're screwed,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester voiced Kint's thoughts with unnerving accuracy.

├óÔé¼┼ôNonsense!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh shouted, pulling her hat off and fanning herself with it while she walked down the deck of the ship towards them. ├óÔé¼┼ôSure they have numerical superiority, better weapons, bigger ships-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôExactly. We're screwed,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester said.

├óÔé¼┼ôIf we take that attitude...yes,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh grinned, putting her hat back on. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow go get Pyra up here.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Bester walked to the engineering hold and stuck his head in. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey! Pyra! Teesh wants you up here!├óÔé¼┬Ø

Pyra took her hand off the boiler, looking up. She walked past George and pulled off her goggles, her face covered with soot, the only notable exception being her eyes.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is it?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra asked, climbing out of the engineering hold after Bester. She wished that she could get her face clean while talking to Bester.

├óÔé¼┼ôPyra,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, gesturing Pyra to the main deck, ├óÔé¼┼ôAs you may have noticed we are a bit outnumbered.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Pyra hadn't actually. ├óÔé¼┼ôI've spent the last day in the boiler room, da...m...├óÔé¼┬Ø She trailed off, staring over Teesh's shoulder. Five airships floated behind them. Pyra gulped and looked behind her. Three air ships floated in front of them.

├óÔé¼┼ôI see,├óÔé¼┬Ø She said.

├óÔé¼┼ôRight.├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh was still grinning. ├óÔé¼┼ôI have this wicked plan. Amni!├óÔé¼┬Ø

Amni tapped Teesh on the shoulder and the beastling spun to face her. Some would have yelped, but Teesh just went straight to, ├óÔé¼┼ôRemember that toy you made?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Amni nodded, reaching into her pocket and pulling out an oil stained cloth bag. She pulled out several small mechanical bits and started to put them together.

├óÔé¼┼ôSo Pyra,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, turning back to the mageling, ├óÔé¼┼ôMageling's have a very short range, correct?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôExcept when-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYou have a material anchor, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôUh...right.├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra blinked, shocked.

├óÔé¼┼ôHave you learned how to anchor onto a material item?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNo.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teesh frowned for a moment. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow hard can it be?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôUh-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWell just try your best. If it doesn't work, I have another plan.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYou do?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI always have 'another' plan,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh grinned. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo here is what we do...├óÔé¼┬Ø

#

Benedikt peered through his auto-scope. The gears on it clicked as he zoomed in again. There she was, 'Tasha'.

Benedikt stood at the front of the ship, the Jagermonster, and behind him one of the finest crews in the Jerman navy. Benedikt had been surprised how quickly the Academy had rallied behind him. He might be a loose cannon...but he was their loose cannon.

├óÔé¼┼ôWe shall be in fighter range within the hour.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Benedikt looked over his shoulder at the captain of the ship, a stern, elderly man. Captain...what was his name again.

├óÔé¼┼ôCapitan Adolph,├óÔé¼┬Ø A airman ran to his Capitan. ├óÔé¼┼ôSighters have spotted a small object heading towards us. It is believed to be non-biological.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôTeknologist,├óÔé¼┬Ø Adolph turned to Benedikt. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour auto-scope.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Benedikt handed the mechanical device to the Capitan, a bit bemused. Adolph pressed the auto-scope to his eyes, scanning where his airman was pointing.

├óÔé¼┼ôAh...I see it,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Capitan said, frowning. ├óÔé¼┼ôLooks like a flight 'bot. Can't hold enough of anything to damage us and...├óÔé¼┬Ø he fiddled with the zoom gear. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd it doesn't have any ignition device that I can see.├óÔé¼┬Ø

He handed the auto-scope to Benedikt.

├óÔé¼┼ôShoot it down,├óÔé¼┬Ø Adolph said. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo sense taking chances.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWait a second,├óÔé¼┬Ø Benedikt said, putting the auto-scope to his eyes. The flying bot looked Piratian...but it had some strange...

├óÔé¼┼ôHoly hell, is that Amni's?├óÔé¼┬Ø Benedikt said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat's one of Amni's!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôAmni?├óÔé¼┬Ø Adolph said, his voice even.

├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sure of it. I'd never mistake that style or those part choices. ├óÔé¼┼ô

├óÔé¼┼ôBring that thing down,├óÔé¼┬Ø Adolph said, ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd-├óÔé¼┬Ø

The flying bot was suddenly to the side of the ship, close enough to see. Benedikt, Adolph and the airman stared at it, waiting for the shoe to drop. The thing kept flapping, rapidly moving past the ship.

├óÔé¼┼ôGet on the mirror and flash the rest of the fleet. Put the ship on Chemical alert status,├óÔé¼┬Ø Adolph snapped, turning around and walking to his main deck. ├óÔé¼┼ôBring that bot dow-├óÔé¼┬Ø

There was a loud roar and the entire ship shook. A smoke and fire bloomed behind the ship and Benedikt could hear the engines straining. He staggered as the entire back of the ship lurched down. Someone screamed, plummeting from the side.

├óÔé¼┼ôMove the ballast!├óÔé¼┬Ø Someone shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet the masks!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNo!├óÔé¼┬Ø Benedikt shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôThere was no gas in that bomb!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôBelay that,├óÔé¼┬Ø Adolph said, ├óÔé¼┼ôGet the masks.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôCapitan,├óÔé¼┬Ø Benedikt said, ├óÔé¼┼ôI was there. I know what gas explosions sound like!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôSo was I, Teknologist.├óÔé¼┬Ø Adolph said, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut when Amni is in the area, you can never be sure. Get the masks!├óÔé¼┬Ø

#

├óÔé¼┼ôHo boy!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh giggled to herself, looking through the telescope. She could barely see the Jerman airships, which were rapidly falling behind. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey're putting on gas masks.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know. They're Jerman, they try to cover every possible outcome all the time. Might as well defend against gas.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Kint noticed that Amni looked pained, chewing her lower lip.

├óÔé¼┼ôSo that's the enemy in front of us,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, turning around, ├óÔé¼┼ôNow for the enemy in front of us. And Pyra,├óÔé¼┬Ø she looked at the mageling, who was leaning against the railing, her face ashen. Bester had given her his coat and was patting her on the back. ├óÔé¼┼ôGood job.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôT...thanks. That...that was harder than it sounded,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra gasped, ├óÔé¼┼ôI think...think I'm going to lie down now.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôDo so,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, ├óÔé¼┼ôNavigator-├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint noticed that she had switched to using his title. Maybe she had listened to him, three nights ago. That'd be a first. ├óÔé¼┼ô-How far to the Cursed City?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWe should see it by nightfall,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Pirata fleet will arrive minutes a-head of us.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôActually, we're going to arrive much later than that. Please turn aside-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester moved away from Pyra. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I thought we had to-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry flyboy. I know where the back door is.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôBack door to what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester crossed his arms over his chest. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy are we going to this damned place? It's not the treasure.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôAnd how do you know that?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh asked.

├óÔé¼┼ôI saw your map. The X was near the middle of the Circle of Cities. Not on the edge.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYou're a smart one,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, grinning. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you're right. The treasure is not here.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôThen wh-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôBut the key to the treasure..that is here. Navigator, please execute my orders. The rest of you...get some sleep.├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh turned, walking to her quarters. Kint shrugged and started to turn the wheel. The Blimp turned sluggishly, and soon the Pirata fleet moved well ahead of them.

#

Fushhhh. Tissss. Fushhhh. Tissss. The sounds repeated endlessly in Giampaolo's ears, making him want to scream. His faceplate made him want to tear the helmet off. The gloves made him want to tear those off as well...everything about this suit made him want to take it off.

But everything around him made him want to keep it on. He was walking through Main Street of the Cursed city. After this city had died to the plague (or whatever it was), every single city had changed from 'enclosed' to 'open'. But this city was still locked away under stone, with no sky. Two bright lights sat on Giampaolo's shoulders, allowing him to see without stumbling or bumping into things. Or, worst of all, getting lost.

He remembered his orders. Find the Jewel. Come back. Kill anyone else down here, if necessary. Everyone is dead. Giampaolo shivered, starting to walk again. Dead, empty houses loomed out of the darkness around him, like giant leering faces. Suddenly Giampaolo saw movement. He spun, his breath coming in short gasps. It was nothing, nothing damn it. Still Giampaolo stood there for a moment, his hand hovering near his revolver.

├óÔé¼┼ôI'm being silly, damn it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Giampaolo said. He turned back to the street and started to walk again.

And something behind him...in the darkness...moved.

ITS ALIVE!!

I bet it's an S0-2 creature, or similar :P

maybe this is a darkside sequel in disguise