Crown
Moderator: Moderators
- Guessmyname
- Posts: 3301
- Joined: 28 Apr 2005, 21:07
DUN
DUN
DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Giampaolo was halfway there when he heard something behind him. He spun, pulling his pistol. Something was moving...in the shadows. There! He fired into the darkness and the flash light the area. For an instant he saw the bodies, frozen in time and space. Covered with white powder, frozen in death. Giampaolo had been trying to ignore them, keeping his flashlight away. But now they were etched in his mind, even as the flash was gone.
This was a cursed city. White powder was floating in the air around him, stirred up by the shot. Then Giampaolo saw it again. He paused, holding his gun at the ready. TWANG!
Giampaolo staggered back from the shot, his suit ringing like a bell. A form shot into his flashlight, another suited figure. It had a gun. This time the bullet hit his face plate.
Giampaolo sniffed the air, feeling strangely calm. ├óÔé¼┼ôRoses,├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. Then he froze.
Teesh slid her revolver into her holster, looking at the Pirata man. His face was visible, light up by the flashlight he still wore. Teesh had heard what he had said, and stood still for a moment. What could that mean?
She looked at her watch. Amni had marked in red ink where her time limit was. She reached out and tapped the Pirata man's flashlight. It guttered out. Teesh stood for a moment, letting her eyes adjust to the dark.
She started to run down the main street, looking. The only thing that nagged at her mind was...looking for what?
#
├óÔé¼┼ôStupid Pirata sons of bitches.├óÔé¼┬Ø The voices echoed down the streets. Teesh looked up, pausing. She was in what looked like a Market Square, the stalls and the people frozen in the midst of haggling. The voices were getting closer. Teesh slid into one of the frozen groups of people, finding a hiding place behind a wall. Lights started to fill the market, long beams of light coming from at least three men.
Jermans. They walked into the market, shining their lights. They weren't the careful archaeologists that Teesh had expected. One held a bolt action rifle, a second flash light attached to that. Another had a officer's cap on his helmet, no matter how absurd that looked. The last was lugging some strange device that looked like a cross between a...something and a something. Teesh leaned out of cover slightly, trying to get a better look at it.
Teesh immediately thought of two doughnuts, laid side by side, with a cylinder stuck through the middle. At each end of the cylinder, two spheres were attached. The three Jermans dragged the device into the center of the market.
├óÔé¼┼ôIf they would just back off, we'd be in bunks, eh?├óÔé¼┬Ø The man who was dragging the device said, letting it stop.
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah, yeah, stop your complaining,├óÔé¼┬Ø The officer holstered his pistol. ├óÔé¼┼ôStart it.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The man who had been dragging it grabbed a pull cord on the side of the device. Teesh felt a flutter in her stomach. It reminded her of something. The man dragged on the pull cord and Teesh shivered, her bones humming. The device sputtered....then the sun dawned. Teesh yelped despite herself, closing her eyes. They burned, whiteness blazing through her eyelids. Placing her armored gloves over the faceplate was only semi-effective, but the pain and the whiteness faded.
├óÔé¼┼ôAhha!├óÔé¼┬Ø The officer was talking. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt does work!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Teesh looked around the corner, her eyes still stinging, her bones still humming. She perked her ears and heard the device...it was singing. The device's bright light, which Teesh saw pointed directly up. Oh gods. She had just been exposed to the stuff that came off the edges. The burning white beam that struck the ceiling of the Cursed City slowly turned down, pointing off to the left.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhy didn't we ever use this before?├óÔé¼┬Ø The man with the rifle says, looking at the officer.
├óÔé¼┼ôIt's...complicated,├óÔé¼┬Ø The officer said, pulling his rifle. Teesh caught a glimpse of his actual face under his faceplate. IT was hard, craggy, with an arching nose. A small, well trimmed mustache covered his upper lip. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell...we now know where to go, don't we?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôJawhol!├óÔé¼┬Ø The man who had dragged the machine said, pulling the rip cord again. The light shut off as suddenly as it had been there.
Teesh took this opportunity to run across the market square, her night vision slowly returning. She had to get there...where ever there was, before the Jermans. She must had been in too much of a hurry. A rifle bullet cracked into the stall she was running next to. White powder filled the air and she ducked. The rifleman worked the bolt.
├óÔé¼┼ôI saw something, over there!├óÔé¼┬Ø The rifleman shouted, pointing at Teesh. She stayed low. Flashlights played over her hiding place, the stall.
├óÔé¼┼ôIt was nothing,├óÔé¼┬Ø The officer said, ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to get going.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The flashlights went away. Teesh stood a moment later, than started running. No bullets followed her.
#
Teesh slowed down after a block of running. The suit was too bulky, too stiff for that kind of thing. Instead she started to walk, worming her ways through the alleyways that separated the buildings. After...Teesh checked her watch. Only an hour left? Damn it. Teesh came out of an alleyway...and stopped dead.
She'd never heard of this.
The street looked like it had been a normal street...aside from the gigantic hole in the middle of it. Teesh walked to the side of the hole, her jaw dropping. It was not a straight drop, instead curving gently. Like a crater. In the center of the crater, something glimmered. Teesh felt her entire body grow warmer, looking at it. Her bones...didn't hum, but they did shake slightly. Teesh carefully set her feet on the side of the crater. It was solid. She slowly walked down, her heart in her throat.
Teesh got to the glimmer and gasped. It looked like liquid light, pooling in a small indent in the crater's center. Teesh suddenly knew that this was it. She reached into her pocket, pulling out the treasure map. She held it over the substance and it glowed as well.
├óÔé¼┼ôGotcha,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh grinned, sliding the map into her pocket again. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow how to get you out?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Teesh cupped her hands, then shook her head. That wouldn't work. She put her hand in her pocket, but she only had the map there. Teesh stood and ran up the side of the crater, forgetting all caution. She went to the nearest house, finding the door closed. Teesh paused, pulling out her revolver. She held it by the barrel and smacked the door knob with the but of her gun. It gave and the door slid open.
Teesh walked into the house, seeing more frozen people. She ignored them, going straight for the -------. She found a cup. It'll do. Teesh walked out to the front door.
├óÔé¼┼ôThere it is,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Jerman officer's voice hit Teesh.
├óÔé¼┼ôWho's that!├óÔé¼┬Ø The rifleman pointed at Teesh.
├óÔé¼┼ôShoot him!├óÔé¼┬Ø The officer pulled his gun. Teesh ducked back as three bullets cracked around the door. One actually bounced off her shoulder, staggering her. Teesh dropped the cup and it shattered. She turned, and ran.
The Jerman who had dragged the device ran in first, holding a pistol. Teesh shot him three times in the chest with her revolver. He danced backwards, his suit protecting him. Teesh saw the rifleman behind him lining up a shot. She ducked back...too slow. The rifle bullet cracked off the metallic side of her helmet and Teesh staggered backwards into the door way, her head and helmet ringing. The Jerman ran into the hall, gun first. He fired at Teesh, who was still retreating backwards. She fell into a couch that broke under the suit's weight.
Teesh brought her gun up and fired. The Jerman's grin froze on his face as his face plate exploded outwards, the shards pushed by the high pressures inside his suit. He froze and Teesh stood, feeling her new bruises. Teesh kicked the frozen Jerman and he fell, white powder trailing after him.
Teesh glanced around the corner. The man with the rifle fired again and she ducked back inside. Teesh turned around and started to walk through the house. She got to the back door and pushed against it. It popped open a lot easier than she expected and Teesh almost fell over, staggering into the backyard of the house. She heard the Jerman's talking to one another.
├óÔé¼┼ôHans! Are you alive in there!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Teesh walked to the side fence of the backyard. She slowly brought up her foot, pressed it against the fence. The fence broke easier than door had! Teesh came out into the alleyway and she saw the rifleman walking into the crater. The officer watched the sides, his gun pulled. Teesh leveled her gun on his faceplate, slowly walking out of the alleyway.
├óÔé¼┼ôPut your hands up!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh shouted.
The officer did so, his faceplate shining at Teesh. She glanced at the rifleman, who was standing, holding a container in one hand, his rifle slung across his back.
├óÔé¼┼ôNow, give me the container,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said. The rifleman sighed, walking out of the crater. He handed it to Teesh and she took it. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow you two turn around and leave.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo,├óÔé¼┬Ø The officer said, his voice even. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe've come for the key, as have you and the Pirata.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThe Key?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI thought just the-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYou were misinformed,├óÔé¼┬Ø The officer lowered his hands. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut, let me ask you, why do you want the key?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Teesh didn't need to think about it. ├óÔé¼┼ôRevenge.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAh, so,├óÔé¼┬Ø the officer stepped forward. ├óÔé¼┼ôThen...let us say, we cut a bargain?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôBargain?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh grinned. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow that's an interesting idea.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôBut first,├óÔé¼┬Ø The officer said, ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have to lower your gun.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Teesh glanced at the rifleman. His hands were still up. She slowly lowered her gun. The officer pulled his. Teesh brought hers back up.
├óÔé¼┼ôDamn, I can't believe I almost fell for that!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh muttered. The officer's gun was aimed directly at her face.
The officer shrugged. They both paused. He fired. Teesh fired. The officer felt the bullet scrape along the side of his helmet, making him stagger slightly.
Teesh felt wind tear at her face and ears as air rushed out of her suit. She stared at the officer, who shrugged, turning away from her. Teesh sniffed the air.
├óÔé¼┼ôRoses,├óÔé¼┬Ø She murmured.
DUN
DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Giampaolo was halfway there when he heard something behind him. He spun, pulling his pistol. Something was moving...in the shadows. There! He fired into the darkness and the flash light the area. For an instant he saw the bodies, frozen in time and space. Covered with white powder, frozen in death. Giampaolo had been trying to ignore them, keeping his flashlight away. But now they were etched in his mind, even as the flash was gone.
This was a cursed city. White powder was floating in the air around him, stirred up by the shot. Then Giampaolo saw it again. He paused, holding his gun at the ready. TWANG!
Giampaolo staggered back from the shot, his suit ringing like a bell. A form shot into his flashlight, another suited figure. It had a gun. This time the bullet hit his face plate.
Giampaolo sniffed the air, feeling strangely calm. ├óÔé¼┼ôRoses,├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. Then he froze.
Teesh slid her revolver into her holster, looking at the Pirata man. His face was visible, light up by the flashlight he still wore. Teesh had heard what he had said, and stood still for a moment. What could that mean?
She looked at her watch. Amni had marked in red ink where her time limit was. She reached out and tapped the Pirata man's flashlight. It guttered out. Teesh stood for a moment, letting her eyes adjust to the dark.
She started to run down the main street, looking. The only thing that nagged at her mind was...looking for what?
#
├óÔé¼┼ôStupid Pirata sons of bitches.├óÔé¼┬Ø The voices echoed down the streets. Teesh looked up, pausing. She was in what looked like a Market Square, the stalls and the people frozen in the midst of haggling. The voices were getting closer. Teesh slid into one of the frozen groups of people, finding a hiding place behind a wall. Lights started to fill the market, long beams of light coming from at least three men.
Jermans. They walked into the market, shining their lights. They weren't the careful archaeologists that Teesh had expected. One held a bolt action rifle, a second flash light attached to that. Another had a officer's cap on his helmet, no matter how absurd that looked. The last was lugging some strange device that looked like a cross between a...something and a something. Teesh leaned out of cover slightly, trying to get a better look at it.
Teesh immediately thought of two doughnuts, laid side by side, with a cylinder stuck through the middle. At each end of the cylinder, two spheres were attached. The three Jermans dragged the device into the center of the market.
├óÔé¼┼ôIf they would just back off, we'd be in bunks, eh?├óÔé¼┬Ø The man who was dragging the device said, letting it stop.
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah, yeah, stop your complaining,├óÔé¼┬Ø The officer holstered his pistol. ├óÔé¼┼ôStart it.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The man who had been dragging it grabbed a pull cord on the side of the device. Teesh felt a flutter in her stomach. It reminded her of something. The man dragged on the pull cord and Teesh shivered, her bones humming. The device sputtered....then the sun dawned. Teesh yelped despite herself, closing her eyes. They burned, whiteness blazing through her eyelids. Placing her armored gloves over the faceplate was only semi-effective, but the pain and the whiteness faded.
├óÔé¼┼ôAhha!├óÔé¼┬Ø The officer was talking. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt does work!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Teesh looked around the corner, her eyes still stinging, her bones still humming. She perked her ears and heard the device...it was singing. The device's bright light, which Teesh saw pointed directly up. Oh gods. She had just been exposed to the stuff that came off the edges. The burning white beam that struck the ceiling of the Cursed City slowly turned down, pointing off to the left.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhy didn't we ever use this before?├óÔé¼┬Ø The man with the rifle says, looking at the officer.
├óÔé¼┼ôIt's...complicated,├óÔé¼┬Ø The officer said, pulling his rifle. Teesh caught a glimpse of his actual face under his faceplate. IT was hard, craggy, with an arching nose. A small, well trimmed mustache covered his upper lip. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell...we now know where to go, don't we?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôJawhol!├óÔé¼┬Ø The man who had dragged the machine said, pulling the rip cord again. The light shut off as suddenly as it had been there.
Teesh took this opportunity to run across the market square, her night vision slowly returning. She had to get there...where ever there was, before the Jermans. She must had been in too much of a hurry. A rifle bullet cracked into the stall she was running next to. White powder filled the air and she ducked. The rifleman worked the bolt.
├óÔé¼┼ôI saw something, over there!├óÔé¼┬Ø The rifleman shouted, pointing at Teesh. She stayed low. Flashlights played over her hiding place, the stall.
├óÔé¼┼ôIt was nothing,├óÔé¼┬Ø The officer said, ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to get going.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The flashlights went away. Teesh stood a moment later, than started running. No bullets followed her.
#
Teesh slowed down after a block of running. The suit was too bulky, too stiff for that kind of thing. Instead she started to walk, worming her ways through the alleyways that separated the buildings. After...Teesh checked her watch. Only an hour left? Damn it. Teesh came out of an alleyway...and stopped dead.
She'd never heard of this.
The street looked like it had been a normal street...aside from the gigantic hole in the middle of it. Teesh walked to the side of the hole, her jaw dropping. It was not a straight drop, instead curving gently. Like a crater. In the center of the crater, something glimmered. Teesh felt her entire body grow warmer, looking at it. Her bones...didn't hum, but they did shake slightly. Teesh carefully set her feet on the side of the crater. It was solid. She slowly walked down, her heart in her throat.
Teesh got to the glimmer and gasped. It looked like liquid light, pooling in a small indent in the crater's center. Teesh suddenly knew that this was it. She reached into her pocket, pulling out the treasure map. She held it over the substance and it glowed as well.
├óÔé¼┼ôGotcha,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh grinned, sliding the map into her pocket again. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow how to get you out?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Teesh cupped her hands, then shook her head. That wouldn't work. She put her hand in her pocket, but she only had the map there. Teesh stood and ran up the side of the crater, forgetting all caution. She went to the nearest house, finding the door closed. Teesh paused, pulling out her revolver. She held it by the barrel and smacked the door knob with the but of her gun. It gave and the door slid open.
Teesh walked into the house, seeing more frozen people. She ignored them, going straight for the -------. She found a cup. It'll do. Teesh walked out to the front door.
├óÔé¼┼ôThere it is,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Jerman officer's voice hit Teesh.
├óÔé¼┼ôWho's that!├óÔé¼┬Ø The rifleman pointed at Teesh.
├óÔé¼┼ôShoot him!├óÔé¼┬Ø The officer pulled his gun. Teesh ducked back as three bullets cracked around the door. One actually bounced off her shoulder, staggering her. Teesh dropped the cup and it shattered. She turned, and ran.
The Jerman who had dragged the device ran in first, holding a pistol. Teesh shot him three times in the chest with her revolver. He danced backwards, his suit protecting him. Teesh saw the rifleman behind him lining up a shot. She ducked back...too slow. The rifle bullet cracked off the metallic side of her helmet and Teesh staggered backwards into the door way, her head and helmet ringing. The Jerman ran into the hall, gun first. He fired at Teesh, who was still retreating backwards. She fell into a couch that broke under the suit's weight.
Teesh brought her gun up and fired. The Jerman's grin froze on his face as his face plate exploded outwards, the shards pushed by the high pressures inside his suit. He froze and Teesh stood, feeling her new bruises. Teesh kicked the frozen Jerman and he fell, white powder trailing after him.
Teesh glanced around the corner. The man with the rifle fired again and she ducked back inside. Teesh turned around and started to walk through the house. She got to the back door and pushed against it. It popped open a lot easier than she expected and Teesh almost fell over, staggering into the backyard of the house. She heard the Jerman's talking to one another.
├óÔé¼┼ôHans! Are you alive in there!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Teesh walked to the side fence of the backyard. She slowly brought up her foot, pressed it against the fence. The fence broke easier than door had! Teesh came out into the alleyway and she saw the rifleman walking into the crater. The officer watched the sides, his gun pulled. Teesh leveled her gun on his faceplate, slowly walking out of the alleyway.
├óÔé¼┼ôPut your hands up!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh shouted.
The officer did so, his faceplate shining at Teesh. She glanced at the rifleman, who was standing, holding a container in one hand, his rifle slung across his back.
├óÔé¼┼ôNow, give me the container,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said. The rifleman sighed, walking out of the crater. He handed it to Teesh and she took it. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow you two turn around and leave.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo,├óÔé¼┬Ø The officer said, his voice even. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe've come for the key, as have you and the Pirata.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThe Key?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI thought just the-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYou were misinformed,├óÔé¼┬Ø The officer lowered his hands. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut, let me ask you, why do you want the key?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Teesh didn't need to think about it. ├óÔé¼┼ôRevenge.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAh, so,├óÔé¼┬Ø the officer stepped forward. ├óÔé¼┼ôThen...let us say, we cut a bargain?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôBargain?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh grinned. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow that's an interesting idea.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôBut first,├óÔé¼┬Ø The officer said, ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have to lower your gun.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Teesh glanced at the rifleman. His hands were still up. She slowly lowered her gun. The officer pulled his. Teesh brought hers back up.
├óÔé¼┼ôDamn, I can't believe I almost fell for that!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh muttered. The officer's gun was aimed directly at her face.
The officer shrugged. They both paused. He fired. Teesh fired. The officer felt the bullet scrape along the side of his helmet, making him stagger slightly.
Teesh felt wind tear at her face and ears as air rushed out of her suit. She stared at the officer, who shrugged, turning away from her. Teesh sniffed the air.
├óÔé¼┼ôRoses,├óÔé¼┬Ø She murmured.
-
- MC: Legacy & Spring 1944 Developer
- Posts: 1948
- Joined: 21 Sep 2004, 08:25
Er... http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/
There are 11,655 people on that forum, doing what I'm doing here. And I happen to be doing it there too. But I started here before I went there, because I didn't know that site existed until a few months ago and I knew this place existed two years ago, and I thought I could still put things up here and things over there and all that jazz.
There are 11,655 people on that forum, doing what I'm doing here. And I happen to be doing it there too. But I started here before I went there, because I didn't know that site existed until a few months ago and I knew this place existed two years ago, and I thought I could still put things up here and things over there and all that jazz.
- Guessmyname
- Posts: 3301
- Joined: 28 Apr 2005, 21:07
Sooooooooo...a flash of inspiration has struck me on Crown, and to placate the crowd (I.E toss meat to the slavering hordes) I've decided to put up an excerpt of the 'train' that's been keeping me so occupied while I write the next part of Crown.
So consider this...a BOUNUS!
"One of those Day"
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Eli's house glowed. Each light was on, including the front porch and back lights. Nick smelled a smoke fire, some dinner...and below it all, Sandra.
├óÔé¼┼ôVampire,├óÔé¼┬Ø Ginger gritted her teeth.
├óÔé¼┼ôSandra,├óÔé¼┬Ø Nick reminded her.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhatever.├óÔé¼┬Ø Nick walked to the front door and knocked. A moment later, the door's wood warped and a grotesque face stared at him. It grimaced.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo dragon-damned, furry, shapeshifting Savages allowed in!├óÔé¼┬Ø It squeaked
├óÔé¼┼ôSavages!├óÔé¼┬Ø Ginger stepped forward, balling her fists...which rapidly shifted into claws.
The face squinted at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat's what I said,├óÔé¼┬Ø It squeaked. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo. Savages. No blood suckers either!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôListen, I was invited to this damn get together!├óÔé¼┬Ø Nick snapped. The face leered at him, cackling.
The door opened and Eli looked out.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat's going on out here?├óÔé¼┬Ø He asked, ├óÔé¼┼ôNick? Why didn't you knock?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI was trying to, but this...face got in my way!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Eli pulled the door back so he could see the face. ├óÔé¼┼ôGearalt! What are you doing here?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôKeeping out blasted fur balls and blood suckers, like my master asked. And being such a nice Wood Sprite, I did so, but nooooo, that's just not good enough for Mr. Goldstine-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôGearalt, shut up,├óÔé¼┬Ø Eli said, his voice calm. ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry about that. Gearalt is the property-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHey!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ô-of Philus, one of the battle mages who was sent here. We go back a ways, don't we?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Gearalt was silent. He mumbled something that sounded like, ├óÔé¼┼ôBad memories.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôDon't let him bother you, Nick.├óÔé¼┬Ø Eli saw Ginger. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd who is this?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôGinger,├óÔé¼┬Ø Ginger said, offering her hand. It was still furred. She shook it and it melted back to flesh. ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôQuite all right,├óÔé¼┬Ø Eli took the hand, feeling it rather than shaking. ├óÔé¼┼ôQuite remarkable.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Ginger shrugged. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's as natural as blinking to me.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôRemarkable,├óÔé¼┬Ø Eli murmured again. He shook himself. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat am I thinking? Come in.├óÔé¼┬Ø
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├óÔé¼┼ô-the wraith was on her face. So I had to be a bit clever...do you know what I did?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo...what?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôRadiation. Turned a slab of lead into a slab of U-235.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Shocked gasps. A giggle from a woman.
├óÔé¼┼ôSeems our guess was right on. Wraiths don't like hard radiation. That's why they come out during the day as well as night, don't seem afraid of anything but the most direct sunlight. My friend in Nagasaki corroborated our finding with his ├óÔé¼┼ôNuclear Blast and it's effects on Magic├óÔé¼┬Ø report.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI remember reading that a while ago. Didn't agree with the Matrxi theory, personally.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôLay lines?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôOf course.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYou would. The problem with Lay Lines is they have too little correspondences with local space/time geometry. They just don't work with General Relativity. And, another nail in the coffin, they don't mesh with the Thresher Findings.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôGeneral Relativity is exactly that. Relative.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôPfft.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Nick walked into the living room. Four strangers were sitting there, each one reclining in a comfortable chair, some holding coffee, others tea. The slightly less comfortable chairs were occupied by Mitch, Keith and...Sandra. Nick stared at her longingly before a hiss drew him back to the newcomers.
He started. One, a redhead, had a streaming...thing wrapped around her neck and head. It looked like a shimmering, skeletal wreath of leaves, strung together by a vaguely crustacean pattern of tentacles. As he stared the woman reached up and brushed the thing lovingly. A sinuous neck slid out from behind her head, topped with a deadly looking triangle of a head. It looked at Nick and hissed again.
├óÔé¼┼ôShh <>├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman said. Nick started again. Instead of a name, the woman had...trilled softly, a flute like sound that made the hair on the back of Nick's neck stand up.
├óÔé¼┼ôHello, my good boy,├óÔé¼┬Ø The man sitting next to her said, standing. He, by comparison, was quite normal. Normal for a near seven foot tall giant with bulging muscles. Thick, ropey and very black, the man's soft, somewhat British voice was at odds with his appearance. He didn't squeeze hard on with handshake, so neither did Nick.
├óÔé¼┼ôThis is Philus,├óÔé¼┬Ø Eli said.
├óÔé¼┼ôI ran afoul of your Wood Sprite,├óÔé¼┬Ø Nick muttered.
├óÔé¼┼ôHe can be a pain, but he's saved my life often enough that I keep him around,├óÔé¼┬Ø Philus sat down again.
The man who had been talking, a young man who, curiously enough, was playing with a yo-yo. Unlike Mitch's, it was blood red. He rose, pocketing the yo-yo as he offered his hand.
├óÔé¼┼ôThe name's Julian. Mitch is, unfortunately, my little brother.├óÔé¼┬Ø Julian did squeeze. Nick squeezed back and felt something pop slightly. Julian winced.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd this is my fiancee, X.├óÔé¼┬Ø Julian said, gesturing to the last newcomer. She had black hair, black eyes, black lips even. The only thing not black about her was the rest of her skin, which was almost as pale as Sandra.
├óÔé¼┼ôX? What kind of a name is X?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWant to make something of it?├óÔé¼┬Ø X snapped.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo,├óÔé¼┬Ø Nick said, glancing at Ginger. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is Ginger, my packmate.├óÔé¼┬Ø Nick could of sworn he heard someone mutter 'savages.'
He glanced back at the mages. Each of them looked at him with something close to interest. Actually, the woman with the...thing in her head and Sandra were the two that stood out, when it came to expressions. The woman's face was filled with joy, as if Nick had done something admirable. Sandra, who was standing near the back of the room, was licking her lips nervously.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd who's that?├óÔé¼┬Ø Nick asked, pointing.
├óÔé¼┼ôThat's Flute,├óÔé¼┬Ø Eli said.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd...├óÔé¼┬Ø Nick trailed off.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd this is <>├óÔé¼┬Ø Flute said, cricking her neck. The thing unfurled, surrounding her head like a bizarre halo. It looked at Nick and hissed again. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe is my companion. Some would say...lover. Others would say slave.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd what would you say?├óÔé¼┬Ø Nick asked.
Flute smiled lightly. ├óÔé¼┼ôI've spent ten years trying to decide.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Nick shrugged, leaning against the wall.
├óÔé¼┼ôNow that that's over with,├óÔé¼┬Ø Ginger said, ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat's the plan?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell,├óÔé¼┬Ø Philus said, sipping his tea. ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra's new condition has brought us an interesting prospect.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôDiplomacy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said. Nick's ears twitched. He heard the acid in that.
├óÔé¼┼ôYes!├óÔé¼┬Ø Philus said, smiling, his teeth very white. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe are in a position to enter into a new era of peaceful interaction with vampires.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI'll spare you the trouble,├óÔé¼┬Ø Ginger said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe only thing this is good for is so we can get a lot of them in the same room before we gas them.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Nick glanced at Eli. His face had locked in place, staring at Ginger.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou can't reason with vampires. Werewolves tried, way back in the day. Ended with one very dead Ceaser and the destruction of Rome. Rome wasn't perfect, but at least it accepted werewolves and vampires as semi-equal citizens.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôSemi?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe made it big in the Gladiatorial rink.├óÔé¼┬Ø Ginger examined her finger nails, which had grown into claws. She grinned.
├óÔé¼┼ôI can see why,├óÔé¼┬Ø Flute murmured, standing. ├óÔé¼┼ôCan you demonstrate?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNick should,├óÔé¼┬Ø Ginger said, stepping back. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe's the Alpha.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôVery well, Nick?├óÔé¼┬Ø Flute looked at him. Nick gulped, looking around. He glanced at Sandra. A light had come into her eyes and she was chewing her lower lip thoughtfully. She had done that a few times before. Nick cricked his neck, feeling more confident.
He concentrated...and the smells of all the humans in the room hit him like a sledgehammer. He growled, relaxing to all fours. Then it was a simple matter of wriggling out of his clothes. He looked up at Flute, who was smiling at him. She smelled like trees, forests, living things. Growing. She muttered some words, closing her eyes. She clasped her hands together, then jerked them apart. Nick felt something tear at his form.
He yelped, standing. His hand shot out of its own accord and wrapped around Flute's neck. Rage filled him and he almost squeezed, when suddenly Flute was out of his reach.
├óÔé¼┼ôI am sorry,├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, bowing. Her words had a strange weight, as if they were not just English...but another language. A language that Nick knew at a deeper level. He backed down, sitting down on his haunches. His fur vanished and soon he was sitting on the floor, buck naked.
├óÔé¼┼ôI am very sorry,├óÔé¼┬Ø Flute said again, bowing. ├óÔé¼┼ôI did not take into account the fact that you are not just a shapeshifting mage, but a werewolf. A entity of a different order entirely.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Nick grabbed his shirt and pulled it on, trying as hard as possible to not blush furiously. He got dressed easily enough, as the other mages busied themselves with something else. He stood and bowed to Flute.
├óÔé¼┼ôI am sorry as well,├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, ├óÔé¼┼ôI shouldn't have gotten so...angry.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo. You were perfectly in your rights,├óÔé¼┬Ø Ginger said from side lines. ├óÔé¼┼ôShapeshifting is our most precious treasure, mage, a gift from Luna and Fenris.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôFenris?├óÔé¼┬Ø Flute asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôI know this is very interesting,├óÔé¼┬Ø Eli stepped in. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut we still have more important discussions.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôVery well,├óÔé¼┬Ø Flute said, sitting down. Her companion hissed at Nick, even more violently than before.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo we have to decide...can vampires be trusted? And I speak of them as a race, not in individual terms, as we all trust Sandra with our lives.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI don-├óÔé¼┬Ø Ginger started. Nick shot her a glance. ├óÔé¼┼ôMy alpha does.├óÔé¼┬Ø she amended.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell the way I see it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Nick said, his brow furrowing. ├óÔé¼┼ôIs it possible to trust a race of blood sucking parasites?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHmmmm,├óÔé¼┬Ø Philus sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI still think we should at least try Diplomacy.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôIf you try diplomacy, know that most werewolf packs will just consider you on the same side as the vampires,├óÔé¼┬Ø Ginger said.
├óÔé¼┼ôBut how many werewolves are living in this area?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôTwo,├óÔé¼┬Ø Ginger said.
Philus was about to say something when a car screeched past the house. Something burst through the window. Everything seemed to stop. Nick stared at the greenish orb that drifted through the air, surrounded by shards of broken glass. It clattered to the floor, right in front of him. Nick threw himself forward and landed on the sphere.
WUMPH
So consider this...a BOUNUS!
"One of those Day"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eli's house glowed. Each light was on, including the front porch and back lights. Nick smelled a smoke fire, some dinner...and below it all, Sandra.
├óÔé¼┼ôVampire,├óÔé¼┬Ø Ginger gritted her teeth.
├óÔé¼┼ôSandra,├óÔé¼┬Ø Nick reminded her.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhatever.├óÔé¼┬Ø Nick walked to the front door and knocked. A moment later, the door's wood warped and a grotesque face stared at him. It grimaced.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo dragon-damned, furry, shapeshifting Savages allowed in!├óÔé¼┬Ø It squeaked
├óÔé¼┼ôSavages!├óÔé¼┬Ø Ginger stepped forward, balling her fists...which rapidly shifted into claws.
The face squinted at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat's what I said,├óÔé¼┬Ø It squeaked. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo. Savages. No blood suckers either!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôListen, I was invited to this damn get together!├óÔé¼┬Ø Nick snapped. The face leered at him, cackling.
The door opened and Eli looked out.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat's going on out here?├óÔé¼┬Ø He asked, ├óÔé¼┼ôNick? Why didn't you knock?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI was trying to, but this...face got in my way!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Eli pulled the door back so he could see the face. ├óÔé¼┼ôGearalt! What are you doing here?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôKeeping out blasted fur balls and blood suckers, like my master asked. And being such a nice Wood Sprite, I did so, but nooooo, that's just not good enough for Mr. Goldstine-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôGearalt, shut up,├óÔé¼┬Ø Eli said, his voice calm. ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry about that. Gearalt is the property-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHey!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ô-of Philus, one of the battle mages who was sent here. We go back a ways, don't we?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Gearalt was silent. He mumbled something that sounded like, ├óÔé¼┼ôBad memories.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôDon't let him bother you, Nick.├óÔé¼┬Ø Eli saw Ginger. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd who is this?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôGinger,├óÔé¼┬Ø Ginger said, offering her hand. It was still furred. She shook it and it melted back to flesh. ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôQuite all right,├óÔé¼┬Ø Eli took the hand, feeling it rather than shaking. ├óÔé¼┼ôQuite remarkable.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Ginger shrugged. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's as natural as blinking to me.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôRemarkable,├óÔé¼┬Ø Eli murmured again. He shook himself. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat am I thinking? Come in.├óÔé¼┬Ø
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
├óÔé¼┼ô-the wraith was on her face. So I had to be a bit clever...do you know what I did?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo...what?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôRadiation. Turned a slab of lead into a slab of U-235.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Shocked gasps. A giggle from a woman.
├óÔé¼┼ôSeems our guess was right on. Wraiths don't like hard radiation. That's why they come out during the day as well as night, don't seem afraid of anything but the most direct sunlight. My friend in Nagasaki corroborated our finding with his ├óÔé¼┼ôNuclear Blast and it's effects on Magic├óÔé¼┬Ø report.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI remember reading that a while ago. Didn't agree with the Matrxi theory, personally.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôLay lines?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôOf course.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYou would. The problem with Lay Lines is they have too little correspondences with local space/time geometry. They just don't work with General Relativity. And, another nail in the coffin, they don't mesh with the Thresher Findings.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôGeneral Relativity is exactly that. Relative.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôPfft.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Nick walked into the living room. Four strangers were sitting there, each one reclining in a comfortable chair, some holding coffee, others tea. The slightly less comfortable chairs were occupied by Mitch, Keith and...Sandra. Nick stared at her longingly before a hiss drew him back to the newcomers.
He started. One, a redhead, had a streaming...thing wrapped around her neck and head. It looked like a shimmering, skeletal wreath of leaves, strung together by a vaguely crustacean pattern of tentacles. As he stared the woman reached up and brushed the thing lovingly. A sinuous neck slid out from behind her head, topped with a deadly looking triangle of a head. It looked at Nick and hissed again.
├óÔé¼┼ôShh <>├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman said. Nick started again. Instead of a name, the woman had...trilled softly, a flute like sound that made the hair on the back of Nick's neck stand up.
├óÔé¼┼ôHello, my good boy,├óÔé¼┬Ø The man sitting next to her said, standing. He, by comparison, was quite normal. Normal for a near seven foot tall giant with bulging muscles. Thick, ropey and very black, the man's soft, somewhat British voice was at odds with his appearance. He didn't squeeze hard on with handshake, so neither did Nick.
├óÔé¼┼ôThis is Philus,├óÔé¼┬Ø Eli said.
├óÔé¼┼ôI ran afoul of your Wood Sprite,├óÔé¼┬Ø Nick muttered.
├óÔé¼┼ôHe can be a pain, but he's saved my life often enough that I keep him around,├óÔé¼┬Ø Philus sat down again.
The man who had been talking, a young man who, curiously enough, was playing with a yo-yo. Unlike Mitch's, it was blood red. He rose, pocketing the yo-yo as he offered his hand.
├óÔé¼┼ôThe name's Julian. Mitch is, unfortunately, my little brother.├óÔé¼┬Ø Julian did squeeze. Nick squeezed back and felt something pop slightly. Julian winced.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd this is my fiancee, X.├óÔé¼┬Ø Julian said, gesturing to the last newcomer. She had black hair, black eyes, black lips even. The only thing not black about her was the rest of her skin, which was almost as pale as Sandra.
├óÔé¼┼ôX? What kind of a name is X?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWant to make something of it?├óÔé¼┬Ø X snapped.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo,├óÔé¼┬Ø Nick said, glancing at Ginger. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is Ginger, my packmate.├óÔé¼┬Ø Nick could of sworn he heard someone mutter 'savages.'
He glanced back at the mages. Each of them looked at him with something close to interest. Actually, the woman with the...thing in her head and Sandra were the two that stood out, when it came to expressions. The woman's face was filled with joy, as if Nick had done something admirable. Sandra, who was standing near the back of the room, was licking her lips nervously.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd who's that?├óÔé¼┬Ø Nick asked, pointing.
├óÔé¼┼ôThat's Flute,├óÔé¼┬Ø Eli said.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd...├óÔé¼┬Ø Nick trailed off.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd this is <>├óÔé¼┬Ø Flute said, cricking her neck. The thing unfurled, surrounding her head like a bizarre halo. It looked at Nick and hissed again. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe is my companion. Some would say...lover. Others would say slave.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd what would you say?├óÔé¼┬Ø Nick asked.
Flute smiled lightly. ├óÔé¼┼ôI've spent ten years trying to decide.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Nick shrugged, leaning against the wall.
├óÔé¼┼ôNow that that's over with,├óÔé¼┬Ø Ginger said, ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat's the plan?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell,├óÔé¼┬Ø Philus said, sipping his tea. ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra's new condition has brought us an interesting prospect.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôDiplomacy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said. Nick's ears twitched. He heard the acid in that.
├óÔé¼┼ôYes!├óÔé¼┬Ø Philus said, smiling, his teeth very white. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe are in a position to enter into a new era of peaceful interaction with vampires.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI'll spare you the trouble,├óÔé¼┬Ø Ginger said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe only thing this is good for is so we can get a lot of them in the same room before we gas them.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Nick glanced at Eli. His face had locked in place, staring at Ginger.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou can't reason with vampires. Werewolves tried, way back in the day. Ended with one very dead Ceaser and the destruction of Rome. Rome wasn't perfect, but at least it accepted werewolves and vampires as semi-equal citizens.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôSemi?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe made it big in the Gladiatorial rink.├óÔé¼┬Ø Ginger examined her finger nails, which had grown into claws. She grinned.
├óÔé¼┼ôI can see why,├óÔé¼┬Ø Flute murmured, standing. ├óÔé¼┼ôCan you demonstrate?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNick should,├óÔé¼┬Ø Ginger said, stepping back. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe's the Alpha.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôVery well, Nick?├óÔé¼┬Ø Flute looked at him. Nick gulped, looking around. He glanced at Sandra. A light had come into her eyes and she was chewing her lower lip thoughtfully. She had done that a few times before. Nick cricked his neck, feeling more confident.
He concentrated...and the smells of all the humans in the room hit him like a sledgehammer. He growled, relaxing to all fours. Then it was a simple matter of wriggling out of his clothes. He looked up at Flute, who was smiling at him. She smelled like trees, forests, living things. Growing. She muttered some words, closing her eyes. She clasped her hands together, then jerked them apart. Nick felt something tear at his form.
He yelped, standing. His hand shot out of its own accord and wrapped around Flute's neck. Rage filled him and he almost squeezed, when suddenly Flute was out of his reach.
├óÔé¼┼ôI am sorry,├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, bowing. Her words had a strange weight, as if they were not just English...but another language. A language that Nick knew at a deeper level. He backed down, sitting down on his haunches. His fur vanished and soon he was sitting on the floor, buck naked.
├óÔé¼┼ôI am very sorry,├óÔé¼┬Ø Flute said again, bowing. ├óÔé¼┼ôI did not take into account the fact that you are not just a shapeshifting mage, but a werewolf. A entity of a different order entirely.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Nick grabbed his shirt and pulled it on, trying as hard as possible to not blush furiously. He got dressed easily enough, as the other mages busied themselves with something else. He stood and bowed to Flute.
├óÔé¼┼ôI am sorry as well,├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, ├óÔé¼┼ôI shouldn't have gotten so...angry.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo. You were perfectly in your rights,├óÔé¼┬Ø Ginger said from side lines. ├óÔé¼┼ôShapeshifting is our most precious treasure, mage, a gift from Luna and Fenris.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôFenris?├óÔé¼┬Ø Flute asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôI know this is very interesting,├óÔé¼┬Ø Eli stepped in. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut we still have more important discussions.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôVery well,├óÔé¼┬Ø Flute said, sitting down. Her companion hissed at Nick, even more violently than before.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo we have to decide...can vampires be trusted? And I speak of them as a race, not in individual terms, as we all trust Sandra with our lives.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI don-├óÔé¼┬Ø Ginger started. Nick shot her a glance. ├óÔé¼┼ôMy alpha does.├óÔé¼┬Ø she amended.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell the way I see it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Nick said, his brow furrowing. ├óÔé¼┼ôIs it possible to trust a race of blood sucking parasites?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHmmmm,├óÔé¼┬Ø Philus sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI still think we should at least try Diplomacy.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôIf you try diplomacy, know that most werewolf packs will just consider you on the same side as the vampires,├óÔé¼┬Ø Ginger said.
├óÔé¼┼ôBut how many werewolves are living in this area?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôTwo,├óÔé¼┬Ø Ginger said.
Philus was about to say something when a car screeched past the house. Something burst through the window. Everything seemed to stop. Nick stared at the greenish orb that drifted through the air, surrounded by shards of broken glass. It clattered to the floor, right in front of him. Nick threw himself forward and landed on the sphere.
WUMPH
And, behold, after the 'except' you get a REAL new bit of Crown!
I'm going back to the 'a post a day schedual unless something crazy happens' schedual.
Lucky you guys. So guess who gets laid in this episode. Extra points for those who guess who dosn't get laid. And no points if you read the episode before you guess.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Teesh blinked. Then blinked again. She sniffed the air, looking around. The two Jerman's continued their work, ignoring her completely. Teesh felt her self, a silly thing to do...seeing as how she wore inch thick iron plates. She felt her face, also a silly thing to do, as her thick iron gloves pinched her skin.
But she was alive.
Teesh took hold of the helmet and pulled it off. The 'fresh' air of Cursed City felt nice on her hair. She walked to the Jerman officer and tapped him on the shoulder. He half turned before Teesh smashed her helmet into his face plate. A rush of escaping air buffeted her and the Jerman officer fell back, freezing in an instant. The other Jerman spun, hearing the noise. His officer hit him on the way down, both bodies colliding. Teesh lumbered into the pit and kicked the other man's faceplate in. Another rush of escaping air hit her.
Teesh sighed, undoing the clasps on her gloves. With those off, she worked at her boots till those came free. After much squirming and wriggling, she got the main suit off and stood in her underclothes. Teesh took a moment to stretch, grinning at the newfound freedom. A part of her mind worried about the curse...but it didn't seem to effect beastlings.
├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose we're just better than humans,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh murmured, picking up one of her discarded gloves. She dipped it in the glowing liquid and drew it up to her face. It smelled strongly of roses, even stronger than the air. She stooped over her suit and slipped her backpack off of it. Then, last but not least, she freed her revolver.
She spun out the chamber and slapped new rounds into the empty slots. Teesh slid her revolver back into her holster, then started to walk out of the Cursed City.
Kint wasn't sure who had fired the first shot, being asleep at the time, but he did know something had happened when a loud explosion shook him out of bed. Kint stood and ran onto the deck of the Blimp. Bedlam. Explosions around the top of the mountain were raining iron fragments of shrapnel onto them. The Pirata and Jerman fleets were in full war footing. Bi-planes started to drone between the ships, bursts of machine gun fire lighting up the night even more.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell?├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester snapped, a bit of iron bouncing off the floor next to him. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy start shooting now!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know, but I think we should move to the pick up zone.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell why are you jawing at me?├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour the navigator!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Kint ran to the wheel, shouting over his shoulder. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet the engines to full tilt NOW!├óÔé¼┬Ø
The props started to turn, laboriously, then faster as the boilers hit full power. The Blimp shifted...but not fast enough. A screaming, flaming hunk of bi-plane shot towards them. Kint screamed in horror as it bounced off the side of the Blimp. Flames licked the side of the ship and Kint hauled off on the wheel, trying to turn. Bester ran to the side of the ship, beating at the flames with his jacket. It didn't work. His jacket burst into flames and Bester dropped it over the side.
Amni ran onto the deck, holding a sphere in her hands. She ran to the flames, then fell back as they leaped higher. They licked at the balloon, causing Kint's heart to nearly crawl out of his throat. Then Amni cracked open the sphere. Gas sprayed onto the flames and they died in an instant. Amni staggered back, gasping for air. Bester stayed in the gas a second too long and fell, his face turning blue. Amni dragged him out of the gas.
Kint's attention was brought back to the ship when another bi-plane wreck slammed past them, nearly clipping the front of the ship. He looked for somewhere to turn, somewhere to get out from under the battle. But, other than burrowing through the mountain, he didn't see a way.
Then he saw it. The pick up point. Marked by a long patch of grass that had somehow managed to survive on the mountain side, the pick up point was where Teesh was supposed to be in...one hour.
├óÔé¼┼ôShit,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint muttered, checking his watch.
├óÔé¼┼ôThere!├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester pointed.
Kint looked again. Teesh was running across the mountain side, holding one of her gauntlets...and wearing nothing else. Kint noticed a backpack, but other than that, she wore only her under garment, which was a bra to keep her breasts from chafing on the inside of the suit. Kint blinked, then moved the ship forward.
├óÔé¼┼ôThe ladder! The ladder!├óÔé¼┬Ø He shouted. Bester and Amni were already there. The rope ladder swung down and Teesh grabbed it.
├óÔé¼┼ôGet us the hell out of-├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester started.
├óÔé¼┼ôI know, I know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint finished his sentence for him. He spun the wheel and the Blimp began to turn. Behind them, a Jerman air ship light up. Night turned to day for a second.
Teesh clambered onto the deck, her tail lashing erratically. She held the gauntlet up right, away from the others. ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't get close,├óÔé¼┬Ø She said, backing away when the other's moved to help her.
├óÔé¼┼ôAmni, get a container!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh ordered, getting up. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd Kint, get my clothes. You know which one's I want. Pyra, help George.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWith?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to go as fast as possible to the treasure.├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said. Kint ran to her chambers and came back holding her clothes.
The battle receded behind them.
Teesh grinned, looking at the clear sphere that Amni had expertly placed the liquid in. The rest of the crew crowded around her, looking at it as well.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is it?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôI have no idea,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, pocketing the sphere. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I do know what to do with it.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHow?├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester asked. Then, angry. ├óÔé¼┼ôWait, you had us sit under a warzone without actually knowing what it is you've gone to get!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry about it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, ├óÔé¼┼ôKint, we have to discuss navigational matters. My quarters.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The two of them walked off. Bester sighed, looking at Pyra. She was covered in soot, from working in the engine room...but her face was a glow, her hands flickering brightly. Bester walked to her.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou look happy?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell...I don't know...but that stuff. It makes me feel good, just looking at it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said. An odd look came over her face. Then she leaned in and kissed Bester on the cheek.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat was that for?├óÔé¼┬Ø He asked, somewhat dazedly.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell...I don't know. Just felt like the thing to d-├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra started. She was cut off when Bester bundled her in his arms and kissed her. Soot be damned.
Kint slid his pencil over the map, not actually marking it. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is going to be close,├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. ├óÔé¼┼ôVery...very close.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôCan we make it...less close?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh asked, placing the sphere on the table.
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah, mostly by tapping out Pyra...├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôSomething that's been bothering me...not that I'm upset or anything, but why did you come running out buck naked? I thought you need a...suit...├óÔé¼┬Ø
Kint trailed off as he looked up. Teesh had slid her shirt off, and was busy probing her skin with her fingers. The oil lamp in the cabin gave her an flickering orange hue that made drool collect in Kint's mouth. He closed it. Teesh sighed, trying to reach behind her.
├óÔé¼┼ôKint, can you feel this for me?├óÔé¼┬Ø She asked, pointing in the small of her back.
├óÔé¼┼ôW..why?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked, stepping around the table.
├óÔé¼┼ôI can't feel it myself,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh sighed. Kint probed her back, taking his time. Very very soft, he thought dreamily, very soft.
├óÔé¼┼ôNothing. I don't feel anything.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNot even me?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh asked, looking over her shoulder and grinning.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell of course I can feel you,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint murmured, stepping closer. His hands slipped around her back and to her breasts, cupping them through her bra. Teesh sighed, pleased, then drew away, turning around.
├óÔé¼┼ôI wanted to see if the exposure to Cursed air had any effect. Anything I missed.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYou were exposed?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked, eyes wide.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd it doesn't seem to effect Beastlings. My lucky break.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYou'd think someone would have noticed that...├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, disappointedly. Teesh was pulling her shirt back on.
├óÔé¼┼ôHow many beastlings visit the Cursed City?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNot many.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôExactly.├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh leaned over the map, her tail curling slightly in the air. She noticed and sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd now you've gone and gotten me all...warmed up.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI like doing that to you,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, walking to the table. He placed his hand on her back, running it down to her tail. Teesh sighed, her tail curling even more.
├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it, Kint,├óÔé¼┬Ø She snapped. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe actually have to get some work done tonight.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, removing his hand and picking up the pencil instead. ├óÔé¼┼ôMy only problem is there are no identifiable landmarks in the area and-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôActually,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh interrupted him. ├óÔé¼┼ôThere is something. A small village...or at least...├óÔé¼┬Ø her voice became darker. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe ruins of one.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Kint looked at her, brow furrowing.
├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose that's all the work we can do,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôLet's ask Pyra about her endurance.├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh walked to the door and opened it. Kint followed.
Teesh looked over the deck, sighing. Her tail uncurled as the cool night air hit her. Kint's scent was now partially covered by the open atmosphere, something that certainly made it easier for Teesh to concentrate.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhere are you Pyra?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh asked the air, walking down to the living quarters, followed by Kint. She and him reached Pyra's door and Teesh knocked. No answer. Teesh knocked again. No answer.
Teesh opened the door and...there was no one in there.
Teesh sighed, putting her hands on her hips. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere is she?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked, looking at Teesh. Teesh held up her hand for silence, her ears twitching.
├óÔé¼┼ôI heard her say something,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, walking down the doors till she reached the last door. It was the supply room. Teesh opened the door...
...and found Bester, pressing Pyra against the wall, his face buried in her bare breasts. Pyra's hands were looped around his neck, burning dimly. Teesh and Kint stared. Pyra's head lolled to the side, ecstasy plastered over her face. Her eyes flickered open and she gaped at Teesh and Kint.
Teesh gulped, then closed the door. Kint noticed that her tail had curled up to fit in her back side.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou. My room. Now,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh ordered, walking up the stairs. Kint looked back at the storage cabinet, shook his head, then walked up the stairs after her.
├óÔé¼┼ôI think I'm going to have to have them stay...non-physical or we might burn the ship down,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, downing a shot of brandy. Kint shrugged, looking at the map again.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd stop smelling so nice,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh snapped.
├óÔé¼┼ôMe?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked, confused.
├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it, I need a walk,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, standing, downing another cup of brandy, and walking out. Kint stood in her room, more confused than ever. He looked back at the map.
├óÔé¼┼ôIs she going to sleep with my tonight, or what?├óÔé¼┬Ø He asked the air.
The air, as air normally does, had no answer.
I'm going back to the 'a post a day schedual unless something crazy happens' schedual.
Lucky you guys. So guess who gets laid in this episode. Extra points for those who guess who dosn't get laid. And no points if you read the episode before you guess.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Teesh blinked. Then blinked again. She sniffed the air, looking around. The two Jerman's continued their work, ignoring her completely. Teesh felt her self, a silly thing to do...seeing as how she wore inch thick iron plates. She felt her face, also a silly thing to do, as her thick iron gloves pinched her skin.
But she was alive.
Teesh took hold of the helmet and pulled it off. The 'fresh' air of Cursed City felt nice on her hair. She walked to the Jerman officer and tapped him on the shoulder. He half turned before Teesh smashed her helmet into his face plate. A rush of escaping air buffeted her and the Jerman officer fell back, freezing in an instant. The other Jerman spun, hearing the noise. His officer hit him on the way down, both bodies colliding. Teesh lumbered into the pit and kicked the other man's faceplate in. Another rush of escaping air hit her.
Teesh sighed, undoing the clasps on her gloves. With those off, she worked at her boots till those came free. After much squirming and wriggling, she got the main suit off and stood in her underclothes. Teesh took a moment to stretch, grinning at the newfound freedom. A part of her mind worried about the curse...but it didn't seem to effect beastlings.
├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose we're just better than humans,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh murmured, picking up one of her discarded gloves. She dipped it in the glowing liquid and drew it up to her face. It smelled strongly of roses, even stronger than the air. She stooped over her suit and slipped her backpack off of it. Then, last but not least, she freed her revolver.
She spun out the chamber and slapped new rounds into the empty slots. Teesh slid her revolver back into her holster, then started to walk out of the Cursed City.
Kint wasn't sure who had fired the first shot, being asleep at the time, but he did know something had happened when a loud explosion shook him out of bed. Kint stood and ran onto the deck of the Blimp. Bedlam. Explosions around the top of the mountain were raining iron fragments of shrapnel onto them. The Pirata and Jerman fleets were in full war footing. Bi-planes started to drone between the ships, bursts of machine gun fire lighting up the night even more.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell?├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester snapped, a bit of iron bouncing off the floor next to him. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy start shooting now!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know, but I think we should move to the pick up zone.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell why are you jawing at me?├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour the navigator!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Kint ran to the wheel, shouting over his shoulder. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet the engines to full tilt NOW!├óÔé¼┬Ø
The props started to turn, laboriously, then faster as the boilers hit full power. The Blimp shifted...but not fast enough. A screaming, flaming hunk of bi-plane shot towards them. Kint screamed in horror as it bounced off the side of the Blimp. Flames licked the side of the ship and Kint hauled off on the wheel, trying to turn. Bester ran to the side of the ship, beating at the flames with his jacket. It didn't work. His jacket burst into flames and Bester dropped it over the side.
Amni ran onto the deck, holding a sphere in her hands. She ran to the flames, then fell back as they leaped higher. They licked at the balloon, causing Kint's heart to nearly crawl out of his throat. Then Amni cracked open the sphere. Gas sprayed onto the flames and they died in an instant. Amni staggered back, gasping for air. Bester stayed in the gas a second too long and fell, his face turning blue. Amni dragged him out of the gas.
Kint's attention was brought back to the ship when another bi-plane wreck slammed past them, nearly clipping the front of the ship. He looked for somewhere to turn, somewhere to get out from under the battle. But, other than burrowing through the mountain, he didn't see a way.
Then he saw it. The pick up point. Marked by a long patch of grass that had somehow managed to survive on the mountain side, the pick up point was where Teesh was supposed to be in...one hour.
├óÔé¼┼ôShit,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint muttered, checking his watch.
├óÔé¼┼ôThere!├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester pointed.
Kint looked again. Teesh was running across the mountain side, holding one of her gauntlets...and wearing nothing else. Kint noticed a backpack, but other than that, she wore only her under garment, which was a bra to keep her breasts from chafing on the inside of the suit. Kint blinked, then moved the ship forward.
├óÔé¼┼ôThe ladder! The ladder!├óÔé¼┬Ø He shouted. Bester and Amni were already there. The rope ladder swung down and Teesh grabbed it.
├óÔé¼┼ôGet us the hell out of-├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester started.
├óÔé¼┼ôI know, I know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint finished his sentence for him. He spun the wheel and the Blimp began to turn. Behind them, a Jerman air ship light up. Night turned to day for a second.
Teesh clambered onto the deck, her tail lashing erratically. She held the gauntlet up right, away from the others. ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't get close,├óÔé¼┬Ø She said, backing away when the other's moved to help her.
├óÔé¼┼ôAmni, get a container!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh ordered, getting up. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd Kint, get my clothes. You know which one's I want. Pyra, help George.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWith?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to go as fast as possible to the treasure.├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said. Kint ran to her chambers and came back holding her clothes.
The battle receded behind them.
Teesh grinned, looking at the clear sphere that Amni had expertly placed the liquid in. The rest of the crew crowded around her, looking at it as well.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is it?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôI have no idea,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, pocketing the sphere. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I do know what to do with it.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHow?├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester asked. Then, angry. ├óÔé¼┼ôWait, you had us sit under a warzone without actually knowing what it is you've gone to get!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry about it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, ├óÔé¼┼ôKint, we have to discuss navigational matters. My quarters.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The two of them walked off. Bester sighed, looking at Pyra. She was covered in soot, from working in the engine room...but her face was a glow, her hands flickering brightly. Bester walked to her.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou look happy?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell...I don't know...but that stuff. It makes me feel good, just looking at it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said. An odd look came over her face. Then she leaned in and kissed Bester on the cheek.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat was that for?├óÔé¼┬Ø He asked, somewhat dazedly.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell...I don't know. Just felt like the thing to d-├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra started. She was cut off when Bester bundled her in his arms and kissed her. Soot be damned.
Kint slid his pencil over the map, not actually marking it. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is going to be close,├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. ├óÔé¼┼ôVery...very close.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôCan we make it...less close?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh asked, placing the sphere on the table.
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah, mostly by tapping out Pyra...├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôSomething that's been bothering me...not that I'm upset or anything, but why did you come running out buck naked? I thought you need a...suit...├óÔé¼┬Ø
Kint trailed off as he looked up. Teesh had slid her shirt off, and was busy probing her skin with her fingers. The oil lamp in the cabin gave her an flickering orange hue that made drool collect in Kint's mouth. He closed it. Teesh sighed, trying to reach behind her.
├óÔé¼┼ôKint, can you feel this for me?├óÔé¼┬Ø She asked, pointing in the small of her back.
├óÔé¼┼ôW..why?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked, stepping around the table.
├óÔé¼┼ôI can't feel it myself,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh sighed. Kint probed her back, taking his time. Very very soft, he thought dreamily, very soft.
├óÔé¼┼ôNothing. I don't feel anything.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNot even me?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh asked, looking over her shoulder and grinning.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell of course I can feel you,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint murmured, stepping closer. His hands slipped around her back and to her breasts, cupping them through her bra. Teesh sighed, pleased, then drew away, turning around.
├óÔé¼┼ôI wanted to see if the exposure to Cursed air had any effect. Anything I missed.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYou were exposed?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked, eyes wide.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd it doesn't seem to effect Beastlings. My lucky break.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYou'd think someone would have noticed that...├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, disappointedly. Teesh was pulling her shirt back on.
├óÔé¼┼ôHow many beastlings visit the Cursed City?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNot many.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôExactly.├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh leaned over the map, her tail curling slightly in the air. She noticed and sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd now you've gone and gotten me all...warmed up.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI like doing that to you,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, walking to the table. He placed his hand on her back, running it down to her tail. Teesh sighed, her tail curling even more.
├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it, Kint,├óÔé¼┬Ø She snapped. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe actually have to get some work done tonight.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, removing his hand and picking up the pencil instead. ├óÔé¼┼ôMy only problem is there are no identifiable landmarks in the area and-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôActually,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh interrupted him. ├óÔé¼┼ôThere is something. A small village...or at least...├óÔé¼┬Ø her voice became darker. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe ruins of one.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Kint looked at her, brow furrowing.
├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose that's all the work we can do,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôLet's ask Pyra about her endurance.├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh walked to the door and opened it. Kint followed.
Teesh looked over the deck, sighing. Her tail uncurled as the cool night air hit her. Kint's scent was now partially covered by the open atmosphere, something that certainly made it easier for Teesh to concentrate.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhere are you Pyra?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh asked the air, walking down to the living quarters, followed by Kint. She and him reached Pyra's door and Teesh knocked. No answer. Teesh knocked again. No answer.
Teesh opened the door and...there was no one in there.
Teesh sighed, putting her hands on her hips. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere is she?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked, looking at Teesh. Teesh held up her hand for silence, her ears twitching.
├óÔé¼┼ôI heard her say something,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, walking down the doors till she reached the last door. It was the supply room. Teesh opened the door...
...and found Bester, pressing Pyra against the wall, his face buried in her bare breasts. Pyra's hands were looped around his neck, burning dimly. Teesh and Kint stared. Pyra's head lolled to the side, ecstasy plastered over her face. Her eyes flickered open and she gaped at Teesh and Kint.
Teesh gulped, then closed the door. Kint noticed that her tail had curled up to fit in her back side.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou. My room. Now,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh ordered, walking up the stairs. Kint looked back at the storage cabinet, shook his head, then walked up the stairs after her.
├óÔé¼┼ôI think I'm going to have to have them stay...non-physical or we might burn the ship down,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, downing a shot of brandy. Kint shrugged, looking at the map again.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd stop smelling so nice,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh snapped.
├óÔé¼┼ôMe?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked, confused.
├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it, I need a walk,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, standing, downing another cup of brandy, and walking out. Kint stood in her room, more confused than ever. He looked back at the map.
├óÔé¼┼ôIs she going to sleep with my tonight, or what?├óÔé¼┬Ø He asked the air.
The air, as air normally does, had no answer.
Well the whole "post a thing a day" thing got shot all to hell thanks to Mr. Wiki, but I HAVE written the next part.
Don't all respond at once.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dawn broke and Teesh leaned over the railing, looking at the greenery passing beneath them.
├óÔé¼┼ôWait!├óÔé¼┬Ø She said, holding up one hand. ├óÔé¼┼ôWait...stop here!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Kint grabbed the horn and shouted down to the engine room. ├óÔé¼┼ôAll stop!├óÔé¼┬Ø
George tapped Pyra on the shoulder and she withdrew her hand from the boiler. She sighed, wiping her hand on her forehead, drawing a steam of coal over her forehead. She had taken to wrapping her hair with cloth, but a string of her hair got out. Pyra shoved it back under, browning it slightly.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo...think we're there?├óÔé¼┬Ø She asked, glancing at George. George just shrugged, grinning.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell?├óÔé¼┬Ø George asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell...does everyone know?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôNews travels fast on a small ship,├óÔé¼┬Ø George said, pulling on a lever. The boiler slowed down, then stopped. He looked back at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell I'm not going to tell you,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, sitting down on a toolkit.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou sure?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYes.├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, reaching into her pocket and drawing out a baggy with food in it. She reached in and pulled out the food, starting to chew it carefully.
├óÔé¼┼ôDouble sure?├óÔé¼┬Ø George asked.
The door to the engineering decks opened and Teesh stuck her head into the hold. ├óÔé¼┼ôOy! George!├óÔé¼┬Ø
George looked up.
├óÔé¼┼ôGet your shovel.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôFifteen, sixteen...seventeen...eighteen-├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh stopped before running into a tree. ├óÔé¼┼ôPaces. Hmmm.├óÔé¼┬Ø She looked at her map.
├óÔé¼┼ôAre you sure you know where-├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint started to say, again.
├óÔé¼┼ôYes!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh snapped, stepping around the tree. Wind brushed through her hair, making her look up. A form dissapeared behind a tree.
Teesh pulled her revolver, dashing forward, ignoring the shouts from the rest of the party. She got to the tree and burst around it, pointing her revolver at...nothing.
Teesh knelt as Kint, George, Bester, Amni and Pyra ran up behind her.
├óÔé¼┼ôAre you okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah...├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh holstered her revolver, standing. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's just...I think...├óÔé¼┬Ø She pointed. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat we're almost there.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The entire party looked where she was pointing. A clearing in the trees lay there. Teesh ran forward, bursting into the clearing. She walked into the middle, slowly spinning around to look at everything. Her entire body started to hum. Pyra shivered as she walked into the clearing. Bester glanced at her, brow furrowing.
├óÔé¼┼ôAre you okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø He asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah...it's just this place feels weird.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHey! You three,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, pointing out Bester, George and Kint. ├óÔé¼┼ôShovel time.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pyra, Amni and Teesh watched the digging. It didn't take long for Bester to take off his shirt, throwing it aside. Pyra giggled and Teesh rolled her eyes. Amni started to scribble in her notebook. Teesh looked over her shoulder and saw what looked like a steam powered shovel taking shape on the page.
Kint thrust his shovel down, gritting his teeth as he did so. The shovel sank into dirt, then slammed to a halt with a loud clunk. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhoa!├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint stammered, dropping his shovel. Bester and George walked to his sides and they all started to dig around the chest. Finally Kint and George found the hand holds and, with a heavy jerk, they tossed it to the side.
├óÔé¼┼ôOhhh boy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester sighed, panting slightly. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat looks very impressive.├óÔé¼┬Ø
They all gathered around the chest, Teesh kneeling at the lock. There was a palpable sense of anticipation. Kint put his hand on Teesh's shoulder, grinning slightly. She worked her knife into the lock and jerked it to the side. The lock sprang open.
├óÔé¼┼ôOkay,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, putting her hands on the side of the chest. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is going to be...interesting.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôInteresting?├óÔé¼┬Ø George asked. Amni scribbled in her notebook.
├óÔé¼┼ôJust wait...and see,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh murmured. She took hold of the top and paused.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell...open it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester murmured.
├óÔé¼┼ôI'm getting to that,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh hissed. She took a deep breath...then flung the treasure chest open.
A hum went through the field. It was felt by everyone, shaking each of them in their bones. But it didn't shake anyone more than Pyra and Teesh. Teesh shivered, her tail tapping against Kint's leg.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is it?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint breathed.
Teesh reached in and pulled out the treasure.
├óÔé¼┼ôThat's it!├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester asked, his eyes going wide.
It was a small circlet, with two bulges that would rest well in the middle of the head. The two bulges looked like half circles, with two lines running down each side.
├óÔé¼┼ôThat is it...├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh breathed, taking the circlet to her head. She slid it over and Kint saw that the bulges rested right between her ears. It wouldn't fit on a human, not at all. Teesh's eyes went wide. Her tail went stil;.
├óÔé¼┼ôAre you okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked, leaning over to look in her eyes. He squeaked, staggering back.
Teesh's eyes had gone totally black. She stared into the distance, then slowly nodded. She slid the circlet off and placed it back in the treasure chest.
├óÔé¼┼ôOkay,├óÔé¼┬Ø She stood. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know where to go.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYour...eyes...├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint breathed. Teesh's eyes had returned to their natural color, but a strange glint had taken root in them.
├óÔé¼┼ôPirata?├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester offered.
├óÔé¼┼ôOberon?├óÔé¼┬Ø George suggested.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh snapped. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know where to go and it's none of those places.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThen where are we going?├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester asked, taking one end of the treasure chest.
├óÔé¼┼ôWait,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh stood, her brow furrowing. One of her ears twitched. Then a plane roared over the field, forward mounted machine guns spitting. Blood splattered and Bester collapsed to the side. He moaned, writhing on the ground.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo!├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra collapsed to the ground next to him. Teesh pulled out her revolver, looking to the sky. A airship blocked out the sun, flying above. The marking on the side.
├óÔé¼┼ôDavidson,├óÔé¼┬Ø She muttered. The sound of the bi-plane came back. ├óÔé¼┼ôEveryone get down!├óÔé¼┬Ø
They all hit the deck. The bi-plane shot over head...and hit a sheet of fire. It came out the other end twisted and warped. It impacted into the forest a half a mile away. Pyra lowered her pointer finger, breathing heavily.
Amni crouch walked to Bester. ├óÔé¼┼ôCan he talk?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah, I can talk damn it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester hissed, rolling onto his back. Amni leaned in, looking the wound over.
├óÔé¼┼ôThe bullet went straight through the out side. You'll be okay...Pyra, can you cauterize that for me?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pyra bit her lip till it bled, nodding. She placed her hand over the wound and the smell of cooking meat filled the air. Another bi-plane shot over head, not firing at them. Cannon shots began to fill the air.
├óÔé¼┼ôI think they're still fighting,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint murmured.
Teesh stood, holstering her revolver. ├óÔé¼┼ôOkay,├óÔé¼┬Ø She said, opening the chest and jamming the...Kint decided to call it a crown, jamming the crown over her head.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou two, get Bester and drag him with us. Pyra, you cover us. Lets go.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pyra nodded, clenching her fists as she did so. Kint glanced at her. Were her flames getting larger? They were halfway to the elbow now. And they had started at the wrist....
The party moved through the forest. Bester moaned every once and a while when his wound got joggled in just the wrong way. The bandage wrapped around his mid section had been donated by his shirt, but it couldn't stop the smell of cooked meat filling the air.
A bi-plane shot over head again, bullets thudding into the wood and underbrush around the party. Pyra tossed up a ball of fire, streaking through the tree tops. Something exploded in the distance.
├óÔé¼┼ôYour pretty good at that,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh commented.
Finally the frantic scurry was over. Teesh saw the elevator first and pointed, tapping Bester with one of her hands. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're almost there.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôGreat,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôDidn't need to hurry on account of me.├óÔé¼┬Ø
They tumbled onto the elevator and lifted into the sky. No bi-planes shot at them. Teesh looked at the distant Pirata airship. An elevator slid down to the field they had been in. The bi-plane circled around it, covering it from the Jerman airships.
├óÔé¼┼ôI think the Pirata lost that engagement,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint muttered.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd they've just lost this one too,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh grinned, sliding the crown off her head. Her grin faded. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow big is our map?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôEh?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHow big is the map!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh snapped as the elevator clicked into place. George reached over and turned off the engine.
├óÔé¼┼ôIt has all the cities on it and a bit of the Straight Ocean. Why?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôSo it doesn't go up to the Dark Continent?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh asked.
Kint shook his head as George and Pyra helped Bester onboard.
├óÔé¼┼ôGet him back to my quarters,├óÔé¼┬Ø Amni said, following them. They dragged Bester up the stairs, Amni following.
├óÔé¼┼ôGet your map and plot a course to point...X-23,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, turning to walk up the stairs as well.
├óÔé¼┼ôIt only goes up to 12!├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint pointed out, staring after her.
├óÔé¼┼ôExtrapolate!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh called over her shoulder.
Don't all respond at once.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dawn broke and Teesh leaned over the railing, looking at the greenery passing beneath them.
├óÔé¼┼ôWait!├óÔé¼┬Ø She said, holding up one hand. ├óÔé¼┼ôWait...stop here!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Kint grabbed the horn and shouted down to the engine room. ├óÔé¼┼ôAll stop!├óÔé¼┬Ø
George tapped Pyra on the shoulder and she withdrew her hand from the boiler. She sighed, wiping her hand on her forehead, drawing a steam of coal over her forehead. She had taken to wrapping her hair with cloth, but a string of her hair got out. Pyra shoved it back under, browning it slightly.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo...think we're there?├óÔé¼┬Ø She asked, glancing at George. George just shrugged, grinning.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell?├óÔé¼┬Ø George asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell...does everyone know?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôNews travels fast on a small ship,├óÔé¼┬Ø George said, pulling on a lever. The boiler slowed down, then stopped. He looked back at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell I'm not going to tell you,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, sitting down on a toolkit.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou sure?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYes.├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, reaching into her pocket and drawing out a baggy with food in it. She reached in and pulled out the food, starting to chew it carefully.
├óÔé¼┼ôDouble sure?├óÔé¼┬Ø George asked.
The door to the engineering decks opened and Teesh stuck her head into the hold. ├óÔé¼┼ôOy! George!├óÔé¼┬Ø
George looked up.
├óÔé¼┼ôGet your shovel.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôFifteen, sixteen...seventeen...eighteen-├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh stopped before running into a tree. ├óÔé¼┼ôPaces. Hmmm.├óÔé¼┬Ø She looked at her map.
├óÔé¼┼ôAre you sure you know where-├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint started to say, again.
├óÔé¼┼ôYes!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh snapped, stepping around the tree. Wind brushed through her hair, making her look up. A form dissapeared behind a tree.
Teesh pulled her revolver, dashing forward, ignoring the shouts from the rest of the party. She got to the tree and burst around it, pointing her revolver at...nothing.
Teesh knelt as Kint, George, Bester, Amni and Pyra ran up behind her.
├óÔé¼┼ôAre you okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah...├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh holstered her revolver, standing. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's just...I think...├óÔé¼┬Ø She pointed. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat we're almost there.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The entire party looked where she was pointing. A clearing in the trees lay there. Teesh ran forward, bursting into the clearing. She walked into the middle, slowly spinning around to look at everything. Her entire body started to hum. Pyra shivered as she walked into the clearing. Bester glanced at her, brow furrowing.
├óÔé¼┼ôAre you okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø He asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah...it's just this place feels weird.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHey! You three,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, pointing out Bester, George and Kint. ├óÔé¼┼ôShovel time.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pyra, Amni and Teesh watched the digging. It didn't take long for Bester to take off his shirt, throwing it aside. Pyra giggled and Teesh rolled her eyes. Amni started to scribble in her notebook. Teesh looked over her shoulder and saw what looked like a steam powered shovel taking shape on the page.
Kint thrust his shovel down, gritting his teeth as he did so. The shovel sank into dirt, then slammed to a halt with a loud clunk. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhoa!├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint stammered, dropping his shovel. Bester and George walked to his sides and they all started to dig around the chest. Finally Kint and George found the hand holds and, with a heavy jerk, they tossed it to the side.
├óÔé¼┼ôOhhh boy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester sighed, panting slightly. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat looks very impressive.├óÔé¼┬Ø
They all gathered around the chest, Teesh kneeling at the lock. There was a palpable sense of anticipation. Kint put his hand on Teesh's shoulder, grinning slightly. She worked her knife into the lock and jerked it to the side. The lock sprang open.
├óÔé¼┼ôOkay,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, putting her hands on the side of the chest. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is going to be...interesting.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôInteresting?├óÔé¼┬Ø George asked. Amni scribbled in her notebook.
├óÔé¼┼ôJust wait...and see,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh murmured. She took hold of the top and paused.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell...open it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester murmured.
├óÔé¼┼ôI'm getting to that,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh hissed. She took a deep breath...then flung the treasure chest open.
A hum went through the field. It was felt by everyone, shaking each of them in their bones. But it didn't shake anyone more than Pyra and Teesh. Teesh shivered, her tail tapping against Kint's leg.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is it?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint breathed.
Teesh reached in and pulled out the treasure.
├óÔé¼┼ôThat's it!├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester asked, his eyes going wide.
It was a small circlet, with two bulges that would rest well in the middle of the head. The two bulges looked like half circles, with two lines running down each side.
├óÔé¼┼ôThat is it...├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh breathed, taking the circlet to her head. She slid it over and Kint saw that the bulges rested right between her ears. It wouldn't fit on a human, not at all. Teesh's eyes went wide. Her tail went stil;.
├óÔé¼┼ôAre you okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked, leaning over to look in her eyes. He squeaked, staggering back.
Teesh's eyes had gone totally black. She stared into the distance, then slowly nodded. She slid the circlet off and placed it back in the treasure chest.
├óÔé¼┼ôOkay,├óÔé¼┬Ø She stood. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know where to go.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYour...eyes...├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint breathed. Teesh's eyes had returned to their natural color, but a strange glint had taken root in them.
├óÔé¼┼ôPirata?├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester offered.
├óÔé¼┼ôOberon?├óÔé¼┬Ø George suggested.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh snapped. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know where to go and it's none of those places.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThen where are we going?├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester asked, taking one end of the treasure chest.
├óÔé¼┼ôWait,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh stood, her brow furrowing. One of her ears twitched. Then a plane roared over the field, forward mounted machine guns spitting. Blood splattered and Bester collapsed to the side. He moaned, writhing on the ground.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo!├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra collapsed to the ground next to him. Teesh pulled out her revolver, looking to the sky. A airship blocked out the sun, flying above. The marking on the side.
├óÔé¼┼ôDavidson,├óÔé¼┬Ø She muttered. The sound of the bi-plane came back. ├óÔé¼┼ôEveryone get down!├óÔé¼┬Ø
They all hit the deck. The bi-plane shot over head...and hit a sheet of fire. It came out the other end twisted and warped. It impacted into the forest a half a mile away. Pyra lowered her pointer finger, breathing heavily.
Amni crouch walked to Bester. ├óÔé¼┼ôCan he talk?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah, I can talk damn it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester hissed, rolling onto his back. Amni leaned in, looking the wound over.
├óÔé¼┼ôThe bullet went straight through the out side. You'll be okay...Pyra, can you cauterize that for me?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pyra bit her lip till it bled, nodding. She placed her hand over the wound and the smell of cooking meat filled the air. Another bi-plane shot over head, not firing at them. Cannon shots began to fill the air.
├óÔé¼┼ôI think they're still fighting,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint murmured.
Teesh stood, holstering her revolver. ├óÔé¼┼ôOkay,├óÔé¼┬Ø She said, opening the chest and jamming the...Kint decided to call it a crown, jamming the crown over her head.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou two, get Bester and drag him with us. Pyra, you cover us. Lets go.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pyra nodded, clenching her fists as she did so. Kint glanced at her. Were her flames getting larger? They were halfway to the elbow now. And they had started at the wrist....
The party moved through the forest. Bester moaned every once and a while when his wound got joggled in just the wrong way. The bandage wrapped around his mid section had been donated by his shirt, but it couldn't stop the smell of cooked meat filling the air.
A bi-plane shot over head again, bullets thudding into the wood and underbrush around the party. Pyra tossed up a ball of fire, streaking through the tree tops. Something exploded in the distance.
├óÔé¼┼ôYour pretty good at that,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh commented.
Finally the frantic scurry was over. Teesh saw the elevator first and pointed, tapping Bester with one of her hands. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're almost there.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôGreat,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôDidn't need to hurry on account of me.├óÔé¼┬Ø
They tumbled onto the elevator and lifted into the sky. No bi-planes shot at them. Teesh looked at the distant Pirata airship. An elevator slid down to the field they had been in. The bi-plane circled around it, covering it from the Jerman airships.
├óÔé¼┼ôI think the Pirata lost that engagement,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint muttered.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd they've just lost this one too,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh grinned, sliding the crown off her head. Her grin faded. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow big is our map?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôEh?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHow big is the map!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh snapped as the elevator clicked into place. George reached over and turned off the engine.
├óÔé¼┼ôIt has all the cities on it and a bit of the Straight Ocean. Why?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôSo it doesn't go up to the Dark Continent?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh asked.
Kint shook his head as George and Pyra helped Bester onboard.
├óÔé¼┼ôGet him back to my quarters,├óÔé¼┬Ø Amni said, following them. They dragged Bester up the stairs, Amni following.
├óÔé¼┼ôGet your map and plot a course to point...X-23,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, turning to walk up the stairs as well.
├óÔé¼┼ôIt only goes up to 12!├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint pointed out, staring after her.
├óÔé¼┼ôExtrapolate!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh called over her shoulder.