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| Sunflare Free-Form | |||||||||||||
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| Topic Started: Jul 2 2009, 07:41 PM (367 Views) | |||||||||||||
| Maverick | Jul 2 2009, 07:41 PM Post #1 | ||||||||||||
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"How many assholes we got on this ship anyhow?"
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Word Count: 12, 762 (does not include the synopsis/ship mechanics) Approved by: Ricardo, 45, Jolt, and Eli (discussed with all of them!) Synopsis: Everyone keeps secrets and everyone has dreams and sometimes, the two are one and the same. Follow Floyd on a trip to uncover his darkest secrets and attain his deepest desire. With Helsing as a guide, Floyd uncovers parts of his past thought to be lost forever and reveals parts of himself hed rather keep hidden. The Holy Mechanisms were only the beginning. Purpose: To allow Floyds ship, the Sunflare, to Fly, Dive, Defog, and Flash as detailed below. No EXP or items are being requested from this free-form and the HMs in question have been finally obtained. How the HMs will Behave on Sunflare : Ive listed the specifics of the Sunflares various uses below. Ive tried to make each one as fair as possible to the other members so as not to have a significant advantage over people who would be using the HMs as they were intended. Additionally, a few may behave with less finesse because the ship will not technically be using the HMs to gain the abilities. As the story goes, the Sunflare was always capable of the four uses but had intentionally locked Floyd out. The Revised Rules of Fly when using the Sunflare: Traveling to new destinations using the Sunflare will take place at the normal speed just like when using a pokemon to fly, but allow travel to undergo unhindered (cant be too much that would pick a fight with something 360ft long and 370 feet wide but the mod is welcome to try, plus the ship has no USABLE weapons of any kind at this time). Fly may only be used to jump from Town to Town if the destination Town has been previously visited. Player must earn 1.0 before the Sunflare will be allowed to jump again in this manner (this GenEXP does not need to be spent, merely earned). The Revised Rules of Flash when using the Sunflare: The HM Flash only adds various external lights to the ship. They will not have the special all illuminating function of seeing hidden/disguised items. A pokemon knowing Flash is still required for that intended use. This was a non essential quest intended to confirm the ability of the Sunflare to use headlight/searchlights if the need arose. The Revised Rules of Defog when using the Sunflare: The HM Defog can temporarily dispel the unnatural fog which persists in the Murmur Valley. It can, of course, clear other kinds of vapor, but the HM is the only technique which will affect that specific miasma. The Sunflare will vent a pressured burst of air via the Repulser bars on the ships wings and tail, effectively clearing the immediate area for a short duration of time (or technically allowing the Sunflare the ability to fly above the cloud line). The Revised Rules of Dive when using the Sunflare: This HM allows the pressurized hull of the Sunflare and multidirectional Repulser bars to assist the ship in maneuvering underwater. Water pokemon may enter and exit the ship by means of their pokeball and jettison tube located in the cockpit. The use of the HM on the ship is for the occasional purpose of hiding underwater or non invasive exploration. Floyd cannot interact directly, only through his pokemon as he will trapped aboard the ship when submerged (A later plan of allowing Floyd a means to exit is by obtaining the HM Teleport and then utilizing Dive or the OME Dive mask is the customary fashion). Because the Sunflare utilizes multiple purposes, the following describes how the various preexisting systems will interact with one another when one is active. This is to prevent abusing previously free-formed for privileges that others do not have access too (all about being fair!). The Portable PC: Already obtained via free form This system can only be active while inside a town landmark (just like anyone else going to a pokecenter). The Portable Pokecenter: Already obtained via free form This system can only be active while inside a town landmark (just like any one using a normal pokecenter). The Green House: Already obtained via free form To imitate the restrictions of any player without a ship but in possession of a portable green house, this system can only operate while the ship is on the ground (typical green houses cannot be carried with you and still active!). Headlights: HM FLASH Initial quest completed This system does not conflict with any other mode and can operate at any time additional light is required for travel. (does not reveal hidden items as the real HM would when used by a pokemon). Defogging: HM DEFOG Initial quest completed This system does not conflict with any other mode and can operate at any time. (Probably shouldnt be used in Submersible Mode, but thats just common sense.) Submersible Mode: HM DIVE Initial quest completed This system can only function if ship is in a body of water with depths of at least 100 feet (Ship is 80 feet high). Fly Mode: HM FLY Initial quest completed This system can only be used when Floyd is in an open area vast enough to contain the ship. All pokemon except for the team pokemon must be stored in the PC including the contents of the aquarium and green house. Other Notes to Consider: Because this is an oddball request and theres only one other person on the site with a flying ship/boat, Im not requesting anything else out of this free-form. All HMs have been quested for and obtained in the normal manner (no matter how painful it was for the admin Thanks for humoring me guys!). Ricardo also took the time to look over the ship operations I have listed above and the terms below. In the event that the person grading this freeform doesnt find it worthy of the ABOVE request. Ive added the following alternate possibilities to allow this to happen. Because this is a simply a yes/no request, my first option should the free form be found to be lacking is a lien with the amount to be determined by the smod lien (a dept to be paid directly out of my earned to complete the pay off specified for this request. All earned from the point the free form is graded would automatically be used to pay off the deficit and the requested ability could not be used until such has been done).Should a lien not be enough to satisfy the smod, I will settle with the following restriction (this voids the need for the work and planning Ive put into this and I offer this only as a last resort): Floyd would be required teach each HM to a pokemon of Floyds crew. In order to use one of the ships HMs, Floyd would need to have a pokemon with that HM on his team at the time the ship is using that ability. Another words, if Floyd wants the ship to fly, he would need to have his bird pokemon that is capable of flying a person and knows the HM on his team during its operation (except for normal travel, merely because people use flying pokemon to slow fly/travel even without the HM). In that sense at least, Floyd could still fly, dive, flash or defog, regardless of the ships existence as an rping item. And now for the story! |
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| Maverick | Jul 2 2009, 07:43 PM Post #2 | ||||||||||||
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"How many assholes we got on this ship anyhow?"
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The Sunflares Story Prologue It was late, she could tell that much from the sonorous snores emanating from the opposite side of the darkened room. Lying very still in her nest of thick springy webbing, Jade listened to Hawkeye grunt loudly in his sleep and held her breath. Something had awoken her and it wasnt the Feraligtr freight train draped on his large corner hammock. Habitually, she reached out and patted the side of her nest. Her forearm landed softly on the empty space where her mate, Ruckus, should have been. The webbing was still warm and dipped with the impression of the small round shape of his body, but he was not there. Her eyes sprang open, wide and suddenly alert. Quietly, she sucked in a fresh breath of air but it tasted acrid and charged, like the atmosphere during a thunder storm somehow electrical. Letting her large violet eyes adjust to the near pitch black gloom she could make out the large scaly lump that was Hawkeye, suspended precariously in the spanish moss draped sling shed help him to build. One burly limb draped over the edge so that his knuckles scraped the floor with each gentle sway of the contraption. She sat up slowly; her limbs were stiff from cold fright and struggled to support her girth in their sleep numbed state. Looking around and feeling further about the stringy nest, she confirmed that Ruckus was not there, nor anywhere in the dark little room. Ruckus? She called hesitantly, knowing he wasnt there to answer. Her mouth was dry and her voice was ragged and thick. The fear that resonated deep in her throat made the sound seem strange and not her own, and this only served to frighten her further. Hawkeye? She whispered next, but the big gator was under too deeply to hear her frail cry. At last, she eased her large body out of the bed and tipped toed for the door. It leapt aside with a soft hiss and the pale light of the ships night lighting spilled from the hallway and over her face. She jerked away, and squeezed her eyes shut, letting them recover from the sudden blinding. Cautiously, she crept into the hall, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure it could wake anyone, but her crocodilian room mate. Nothing could wake him. He could sleep through an atomic blast. As was typical for night time aboard the alien spaceship, she could hear no one awake and moving around, but not so typical, was the silent void that filled the ship. No tinkling chirps from the resident frogs or distant cooing of roosting birds reach her ears, only the steady drone of the ships matter/anti-matter generator thrumming rhythmically through the bulkheads. Daringly, she scuttled down the hall, her four legs grabbing the thick carpet with her toes and carrying her forward as if through a dream. She peeked around the corner down the bend in the corridor and into the living room. She didnt expect to find anyone there since even the dogs slept on the upper deck in their own room. She looked for the sake of looking, just to assure herself that nothing strange was sitting in emptinesss stead. Next, she stared boldly at the only other door along the same corridor as her own room; The Pilots Quarters, or more accurately, Floyds room. While it was just as likely that her mate had scampered to the bathroom she somehow doubted that he was there. The door to Floyds room sank into the wall at her approach and this was her first indication that the room was vacant because Floyd had programmed the door to not open if he was inside. She peeked in and saw that the lights were left on but not everything was where it was meant to be. On the floor, several shards of broken glass were scattered and an empty picture frame lay in pieces. On the bed she saw a crumpled piece of paper and this was interesting enough that she entered the room and picked it up. To her surprise and to add to the mystery, the wrinkled sheet was a photo of herself. Dread swept over her as she speculated why a photo of her should lay ruined on the bed and its frame shattered on the floor. She looked up at the ceiling knowing that Floyd had to be in the cockpit directly above her. With tears in her eyes, she vacated her trainers room; photo clutched between her fangs, and made for the lift that would take her to the bridge. 1 This whole charade was just ridiculous, Floyd decided as he stared up at the mute grey ceiling panels. He lay on his bed with the lights turned low because Helsing thought it would help relieve his frayed nerves. The Kadabra, doing his best Freudian impersonation, had already banished everyone from coming anywhere near his quarters for the rest of the afternoon. The Psychic sat calmly in the bedside recliner, reviewing his notes. Floyd was more interested in the creatures little clip board and what was scribbled on it, than the relaxation exercise. What treacherous speculations had the yellow fox headed thing scrawled onto the blue lined notebook? What notions of insanity had he confessed to the paper about his trainer that was for his knowing eyes only? Helsing nodded to him self while holding the clip board in one hand and twisting his long whiskers through the clawed fingers of the other. Floyd sighed loudly and squirmed atop the bed cover impatiently. Ve can begin venever you are ready, Floyd. Helsing said softly with a touch of false German accent. Though his angular head still pointed to the board, his dark eyes were directed across its battered edge to the alien on the bed. Begin what? Floyd muttered, still not entirely sure what this set up was all about. He looked away from the cold unfeeling gaze that seemed to cut into his very soul. In an attempt to look casual he brought his arms up behind his head to prop himself up a bit. The position wasnt all that much more comfortable but it gave him something to think about other than the Kadabra for five whole seconds. Helsing waited patiently for his agitated patient to settle down before answering. You have been lez than pleazant to vork vith theze pazt few veekz. Zurely you are not unavare of the zore temper you have developed? Helsing chuckled, but his mirth was hollow and sweated with disbelief. Zomething haz been troubling you, and very ztubbornly you have refuzed to open up to you friendz. You have lazhed out a number of times, even frightening thoze who know you bezt. Ve cannot ztand to zee you like this. He leaned forward now, compassion wavering in the black pools of his eyes. Im here to help you, Floyd. Together ve vill find out vat iz vrong and ve vill vork through it. The Scavian sucked in a hissing breath and clenched his jaws together. He didnt like be treated as if he were as fragile as a china doll. He especially detested the notion that something about him was broken and could simply be glued together again. And Helsings fake accent was really giving him a headache. Why did he have to use the accent? The Kadabra could speak perfectly fine without it and even better if he chose not to speak at all. Unable to hold his rising temper in check, he sat up on the bed and swung his legs over its edge in a furious rush. He snarled at the Kadabra and watched as the peaceful being shrunk back into his recliner. Honest terror filled the black pits of his eyes. Immediately, Floyd regretted his hostility. He took a deep breath and backed away from Helsing, scooting over the bed until he huddled on the corner farthest from his friend. Helsing did not need the alien to speak his mind to know that Floyd was ashamed. You didnt need to be psychic to read the aliens body language. He relaxed and made another note on his clip board. Floyd could hear the pen scratching across the paper and cringed. He purposely looked away from the Kadabra and stared, with apparent interest, at the waste bin in the corner. I can zee your thoughts, Floyd, they are jumbled and running over one another. However, they zeem to dwell on the Holy Mechanismz you quezted zo diligently for, and the Zunflarez perziztant inability to fly. Helsing reached over to the nightstand and picked up a porcelain cup brimming with hot tea. He inhaled the soft sweet aroma and took a tiny sip. Vhy dont ve ztart there? Tell me about the HMz and vat they meant to you, vhat iz the connection vith the zhip? You know the connection, Helsing. You dont need to hear it again. Growled Floyd. He almost wished there WAS a switch somewhere inside of him that could fix all of his problems, alleviate his guilt and feeling of failure. Helsing smiled, this time the expression reached his dark eyes and his whiskers twitched with evident glee. Youre right. I dont need to hear it. The it came out sounding like eeet, as the Kadabra became carried away with his silly accent. He smiled as Floyd turned around in disbelief. Before the word of doubt could form on the aliens tongue, Helsing continued. YOU need to hear eeet, Floyd! YOU! He shouted excitedly. You zee, zumetimes talking about our problemz helpz. Eeets like lancing poizon from a cyzt. Eeet relievez the prezure and zome of the pain. However, if thiz vere all that needed to be done, people vould valk around talking to rockz or stumpz all day. Zince that iz not the caze, you muzt underztand that having a living, thinking, perzon zitting before you makez all the difference. Occazionally, zomeone elze might be able to look at your problemz from a new perzpective, and make connectionz vhere you alone thought there vere none. The alien could only stare and gape at the pokemons logic. But was he ready to talk about this? Could Helsing really see something in his jumbled memories that he himself had overlooked? Finally, he nodded and began his tale, feeling foolish. I had hoped the magic in the HMs could make the Sunflare fly again. And they didnt. Prompted Helsing, to which Floyd merely shook his head sadly. Then tell me about your attemptz. That vas vhen the crew firzt noticed your irritability, after all. I put off trying to use the HMs on the ship. He sighed sadly. I was afraid they wouldnt work. That I couldnt MAKE them work. He laughed uneasily at the reality of his first fears. Maybe if I hadnt held off till I had all four I would have realized sooner how stupid I was being. But no, I was a coward. I waited until I had the very last Sigal. And then vhat happened, Floyd? Helsing hummed softly. Floyd looked up at him then. He leaned forward with an expression of manic determination that pulled his thin incomplete cheek flesh back from his long pointed molars and split his skull in half. With a look that was part grin and part grit, the story rolled off his tongue like a desperate romance. He no longer saw the Kadabra propped lazily in the recliner in front him, but the events of that first morning as clearly as if he were reliving them all over again. That awful day had been the beginning of the end. 2 Floyd and his unusual crew are camped in the sunny fields just south of Malral District. The area had been specially chosen for its open, uninhabited and generally level qualities. After having spent a year scouring the region for four objects whose magical qualities bordered on unbelievable, the adventurous alien is finally ready to see if his suspicions as to their true nature are well founded. Computer, can you run an analysis on the insignias? He asks aloud while sitting alone in the quite cockpit of the Sunflare. The yellow sun rises with cheery intensity over the eastern hills and pours through the bridges main view port like golden mist. The soft light splashes over the flat black dashboard, turning it grey and glints off the glassy lenses of the instruments. The dozens of white glaring dials remind him briefly of a spiders many eyes as it appraises its next meal. You will need to run a scan of the markings in the Lab. A digitized voice replies calmly over the rooms intercom. If theres anything of a dubious nature about the sigils, I should be able to detect an anomaly in the results. The computer, the ships A.I., is a dull despairing thing that relishes reminding its living, breathing pilot of his inferiority. The lack of cynicism in the reply sets Floyd on edge and briefly he struggles to recall if his ship was always so unbearable. Floyd leans back in the pilots chair and considers the four blackened marks scrawled across the inside of his lower left arm. Each one appears to be burned into his skin leaving a slight depression and look like normal tattoos or brandings but Floyd knows they are anything but. These are the marks of a Holy Mechanism, rare objects rumored to be able to teach a pokemon how to perform special feats. These are magical devices and there is no telling how they would behave once in contact with his computer system or even if they could. Thus is his reason for waiting until now to use any of them. Hed been too afraid of failure after finding his first HM, the one that taught Pokmon to fly, and had decided to find the others that hed heard about and felt might also be useful. His first adventure had been a bit of a disappointment. He had found the HM alright and was nearly flayed like a fish for his efforts, but the relic was not the tangible thing hed hoped to find. Some ancient technology leftover from a centurys dead civilization was what he thought to discover. Anything but the mysterious feather shed from a Griffons wing. Upon touching the tawny plume it had vanished, the resulting explosion of light being absorbed by his very flesh and bubbling to the surface as the black wing shaped scar on his arm. The other four HMs had behaved in a similar manner and he now sported four markings that wound their way across his skin like an incomplete jigsaw puzzle. There are gaps between them in irregular spots as if there are more to be had. Floyd has not sought out all of the Holy Mechanisms, only those that would serve his purpose best. Looking out the main view port ahead of him, he catches sight of the perpetual mist that lingers forever over the adjacent Murmur Valley. Hes chosen the Moorefield Grasslands for more than their spacious attributes. The area is far enough away from the cities not to be bothered by light pollution. It is close enough to Malral Lake to test the water soundness of the ship and ability to maneuver under water. The area was as good as he was going to find. Now there are no more excuses but still he sits, staring out the window at the distant fields and hills, not even looking at the marks on his arm. He doesnt need to see them to know which one is which. His mind is cluttered with the infinite things that could go wrong and if any of those disasters might be less if he chooses to start with one sigil over the other. The Fly HM the ship can technically already fly, just not at slow enough speeds for terrestrial air travel. And the one that supposedly allows you to dive into deep waters without risk of drowning or suffering the bends? Well, the ship has a pressurized hull and is built to sustain the forces of warp speeds. If the Sunflare is space worthy, being water tight is not an issue. Can the repulser bars still propel the ship under water though? And then there is the Flash HM. The repulser bars serve generally as a light source and can technically be adapted as headlights even with out the HM. The problem is that Floyd really doesnt know how to do anything mechanical, a fact that bothers him more than anything. He feels as if he should know how and struggles with how he could become a pilot without that rudimentary knowledge. The Defog HM presents the same problem. Floyd is clueless, and while he prays that the magical markings can somehow bestow the ship with the knowledge to modify itself, he also hopes the act of trying to force the power of the Holy Mechanisms onto an alien entity doesnt fry the computer. Are you going to sit there all day trying to pick one? Flip a coin already. Just get down to the lab and run the scan. Growls the computer. Ah yes, it was only a matter of time before the A.I.s pretense to civility degraded. And somehow this makes the pilot feel at ease. Floyd exhales a sigh of relief, knowing that computer is at least feeling like itself today. Fine. Snaps the alien, suddenly feeling roguish. He spins his chair about and leaps to his feet, and then stalks through the door and to the lift. The Scavian makes his way to the lab on the second floor, ignoring, for the most part, the curious glances of his pokemon who are only now beginning to wake up and move about their day. The machine he needs is in the labs clean room and takes all of five minutes for him to set up and slide his arm, wrist facing up, underneath the pale blue light that filters off of the laser. There. He hisses anxiously to the air. Run the stinkin scan already. Justdont blow up or anything, ok? You underestimate my capabilities! Boasts the speaker in the ceiling. Watch and learn, you insignificant pile of flesh. Ill still be running when youre dust in the ground! The computer hums softly, slowly scanning the surface of the aliens iridescent orange skin. Floyd sits and waits, too nervous to move, but too restless to avoid the occasional twitch. Be still, or the scan might not be accurate. Scolds the digitized voice. Floyd huffs loudly and tries his best to obey. Finally, the blue light flickers off and the computer announces that the scan is complete and that it needs time to analyze the results. Again Floyd waits, but this time he can sit back and try to relax. Hes nervous, and wild questions race through his mind. What if the Sunflare finds nothing at all unusual about the brandings? Operation complete. The computer tells Floyd in its gravest voice. Well? What did you find? Anything? He jumps, only a little though, and settles back into the aluminum lab chair. The results are inclusive. The markings appear on the surface to be part of your flesh, but closer inspection reveals a foreign substance interwoven with your cellular material resulting in the black pigmentation and drawing of the affected flesh. There is a significant difference between your normal energy output and that which is detected in the pigmented areas. Further testing will be required to determine the actual nature of this energy, but my first conclusion is that this energy is independent from your own biological system. My theory is that, if activated, the energy will merely use your body as a ground, a conduit from which to make contact. What do you suggest? Floyd sounds eager, and a little frightened. Well, since these Holy Mechanisms as you call them, are intended to teach a pokemon a new ability, locate a specimen that can learn the desired ability and allow me to study the procedure as it happens. By seeing how the sigils behave when in contact with a desirable source, I might be able to determine if the Sunflare can be rendered compatible. Looking like a child on Giftmas Morning, the alien bounds from the lab, knocking his chair over in his rush to find his pokemon. 3 Helsing was scratching away at his notepad again, so earnestly that his efforts drew Floyd out of his memory. He slid off the edge of the bed and walked over to his pointed ear companion, trying to catch a glimpse of what hed been writing the whole time. The Kadabra quickly tipped the board away from the alien and cleared his throat in a professional manner. Pleaze. Continue. Helsing prompted his Scavian friend. Floyd would not be put off so easily though. His attention was on the notepad now and the secrets it held. What What are you writing there anyway? He asked curiously and tried again to peer over the top of the clip board. The yellow claws that held it, clasped it firmly to the Kadabras chest and then gently pushed the nosey alien away. Floyd swiped the pushy yellow paw off his lipless muzzle and shoved forward again, determined to see. Youre not writing bad stuff are ya? Come on, let me see. If its about me I deserve to kno Floyd flew across the room, his back crashing against the far wall and knocking a picture frame from its hook. Alien and frame fell to the floor where the picture broke open as it cracked against his armored skull and shattered around him. The photo it held slipped free and floated to his lap. Helsing had just used Psychic against him and his black eyes still blazed a wicked purple as he stood imposingly in front of the recliner. The Kadabras long whiskers whipped wildly in the eddy of energy that swirled about the room, and then fell limp as the pokemon drew back the power hed unleashed. Vhat notez I make are of no uze to you, Floyd. You muzt focus. His voice was calm, and showed no sign of anger or irritation towards his patient. He walked casually over to the alien slumped against the wall while holding his hands behind his back, clipboard included. One hand came forward and gestured at the photo laying face down in Floyds lap. Vhat iz that you have there? His pointing claw gave a little insistent flick and the photo flipped over of its own accord. Floyd, still looking flabbergasted at having been blasted by his own pokemon, looked down. The photo was an old one, one of his first and taken by Hawkeye when he was still only a Totodile. He could tell because the person holding the camera was very short and one of his ice blue claws had snuck into the frame. Floyd remembered the day in the photo well. It showed himself kneeling on the ground in front of the Sunflare. The day was bright and clear and the grass was high around his bent knees. Jadethe little Jade, when she was still just a fuzzy Spinarak, was drooped over his shoulder like a rag doll and smiling sheepishly. It was the day he brought her home from the adoption center, before her commanding selfish attitude had a chance to develop. Its me and Jade He muttered softly as he traced a claw about her little photograph face. Jade is very zpecial to you, no? Helsing observed. Always my favorite. He whispered to the photograph before he could realize the implications. No!..I mean He looked up and winced, dreading Helsings accusing, or perhaps hurt, stare. We were just close, thats all. You dont need to explain to me. The Kadabra said kindly. Zhe vas one of your firztyou related to one another vell. There is no reazon to feel azhamed. Floyd sighed with relief and carefully tried to pick up the shards of broken glass. You zaid vere cloze. Helsing stated. Vhy vere? Vhy not now? Oh. Well Floyd grimaced and held the little photo close. We were a lot alike you know. Both alone. Both looking for someone to keep us company. He looked up and smiled. We were inseparable. And then he frowned sadly. We both wanted, or rather, needed someone special but neither of us had anyone. Thats why we were perfect together. Thats why she was so selfish over me. Only Jade found Ruckuz. Helsing inserted gently. Yeahand it was only natural. Theyre the same species and all. But it didnt change how I felt about her. She was...is, special. Ruckus was Kaizs Spinarak, but from the moment they met they were meant to be together. Finally, Floyd had obtained the little green spider for his beloved pining Ariados. He wanted her to be happy, even if he wasnt. And thatz vhy you picked her for the experiment? Helsings voice was growing more distant now as Floyds thoughts turned inward. Yes. He mumbled. Tell me about it. The Kadabra;s voice echoed. 4 Floyds knuckles rap sharply on the aluminum surface of the sliding door. Hes standing at the threshold to Jades quarters. She shares a room with his first officer and his first pokemon, Hawkeye, the Feraligtr. He hears nothing and considers looking for her elsewhere, and then, through the thick metal he hears a muffled sound. He doesnt understand it and presses the side of his head against the door to listen. Someones crying out, its a soft strained noise like whimpering, like someones in pain. At once he fears for Jade, thinking that perhaps shes hurt and alone and needing help. Foolishly he shouts at the computer to over ride the doors lock and grant him entrance. It complies with a barely audible snicker Jade! Jade? He calls out as he rushes through the door before it has a chance to completely retract into the wall. What he sees stops him dead in his tracks. His entire body freezes with revulsion. He tries to say something but cant get the words to push past his throat. After what seems like hours but are only seconds he flings himself back out the door and runs for the bathroom down the hall, trying not the wretch. Behind him, two figures emerge from the bedroom looking embarrassed and breathless. Jade looks to Ruckus for an answer, but the smaller spider can only shrug and tell her to go after him. She finds him with his head hung over the sink, the faucet running ice cold. She clicks her fangs softly, drawing his attention. The Scavian turns and slips on the water hes splashed all over the floor. He falls and lands on his tail, shouting incoherently. Finally, when hes managed to turn off the faucet and lean in heap against the cool tiled wall he sobs to her. Im sorryI didnt mean to He stops. He cant go on. He cant say that he didnt mean to interrupt. Its not like he hadnt known. And what did he expect? Maybe its the reality that steals his breath away. The shock of knowing their relationship, no matter how close, could never be as close as that. She slowly approaches him and nuzzles his leather clad leg. Looking pitifully into his eyeless face, she whines softly. Its alright Floyd, shes saying. I love you just the same, just not the same He cant understand what shes speaking in her click clacking tongue, and yet he does and he nods, caressing her cheek with the back of his wet hand. When you have a chancewould you like to learn an HM, Jade? He mumbles, to redirect his thoughts. She nods, trying to smile as she backs out the door to return to Ruckus. Floyd must return to the lab to wait. 5 Helsing was beginning to understand. Not all of Floyds irrational behavior had to do with failure. Much of it had to with heart break and a past he couldnt change. Facing reality had been a big issue for Floyd per Helsings whispered conversations with Hawkeye. The gator had seen him through the worst of it, or so hed thought. Losing ones home and family was one thing, those could be rebuilt after a fashion, but ones identity was a fragile thing. Joining the military had been the stepping stone, the foundation, and his new family, his pokemon had been the frame. But Floyds sanctuary was far from complete. Helsing could see now, that there were gaping holes in this aliens emotional building blocks that were drafty and flapping with thread bare shears. But to close those cracks, or even to board them over for awhile, he needed more information. Floyd was curled up in the floor now, his arms wrapped about his shuddering heaving frame and one hand clutching the old photo close, creasing its image. Even without tears, a Scavian could still cry, and Floyd was snotting for all he was worth. It went without saying why Jade finding love, finding a mate in Ruckus, hurt him so much. It was a reminder that he would never find the same. His closest relationship had been shattered. Skipping over this painful detail that had come to the surface, Helsing pressed forward. Zhe agreed to learn an HM. Flazh waznt eeet? Floyd nodded feebly from his fetal position on the shag carpet. He couldnt remember much of what followed because the experiment had gone disastrously wrong. The Kadabra filled in the blanks for him. You decided to teach her Flash. You uzed zenzorz attached to the marking on your arm to monitor the energy output of the zigil once zhe activated it. He stated plainly. Floyd knew this, it was what came after that had gone fuzzy. I vas there and I vatched out of curiozity, if you remember. Zhe touched the zigil and the black marking began to emit a light of eeets own. I could feel Jades senze of aztonishment az imagez and thoughtz that vere not her own filled her mind. The Holy Mechanism vas a memory from the pazt. An ancient beingz method of pazzing down information from one being to anozer after eeetz time for living had gone. Jade learned the ability by living in anotherz skin for the briefezt of momentz. Helsing had settled himself back into the recliner, leaving Floyd to rock himself on the floor. He picked up a long lacquered pipe from the night stand and stuffed a pinch of something herbal into the bell and lit it with a match. With a puff, he extinguished the match and set it aside. His attention was once more on the alien. Thiz iz vhere youre memory drawz a blank becauze the power imitating from the zigil cauzed a power zurge along the zensor vire that knocked out both you and the zhipz power. Ve had quite a time reztoring the power grid az I recall. However, thankz to the combined effortz of Kalypzo and Tweak ve forced open the engine roomz door and jump ztarted that contraption of yourz. Gray vas the one who managed to reroute the power. He drew on the pipe and exhaled a bitter cloud of smoke. Gray was Floyds Magnemite and sometime Engineer. Kalypso and Tweak were a Riachu and Pachirisu, another happy couple who lived aboard the vessel. You vere not zo eazy to bring back around. Out for two dayz and Jade vas bezide herzelf vith vorry. The beginning of the end Floyd muttered hoarsely. Vhy iz that? You vere alive, no? Vhy vas thiz the end? I I dont remember. I had a dream, but I dont remember The alien trailed off. A dream, eh? I had azumed it vas becauze the experiment failed. The computer gathered nothing at all from the incident. You certainly did not try it, or anything elze again. Youve done nothing vith those HMz of yourz. The Scavian shook his head miserably. For some reason he couldnt explain, using the HMs in the manner he had desired seemed futile. And yet he could not shake the feeling that gathering them still served some greater purpose. Helsing caught on to that feeling and grabbed at it in earnest. I think, vhat you need to do now iz revizit thiz dream of yourz. Perhapz eeet haz the anzer you zeek zo badly. The Kadabra nodded to himself and puffed contently on the pipe. Get up off the floor, Floyd. Lay down on the bed and relax. I vill help you to remember your dream, yez? He patted the edge of the bed and waited for the alien to drag himself off of the floor, still clutching the little photograph, and do as he was told. Now! Concentrate on that day, remember all you can. Emerze yourself in the memoriez. Floyd did as his pokemon bade and relived that day again and again right up to the point that he could actually feel Jades soft touch on his arm as she activated the Holy Mechanism. It was at this point that he felt the Kadabra lay a hand heavily on his shoulder. The memory was like a brick wall that refused to budge but with Helsings help, the bricks slowly cracked and crumbled until the dream shone through the cracks as bright as the sun had through the view port on the morning in question. |
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| Maverick | Jul 2 2009, 07:44 PM Post #3 | ||||||||||||
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"How many assholes we got on this ship anyhow?"
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6 He wakes up to find himself propped on a couch; brown pleather with the heavy scent of orange Pledge. Stiffly he sits up and holds his head in his hands. His thoughts are fuzzy, indistinct. He feels like he should hurt or at least ache all over, but he finds nothing wrong. Even the weight of his limbs as he holds them aloft to rub his temples possess no discomfort. He feels as if in a dream, only his surroundings arent very dreamy. Looking up, he finds he is in a living room of a brightly lit house; old blinds and no curtains on the windows. The room is small but has an open feel because it is adjoined to a cozy little kitchen accented with a peeling linoleum floor and cracked Formica counter tops; cheap and cramped. Only its work areas, void of any culinary clutter, make it appear bearable. There is a tidy little press board entertainment center dividing the two rooms and a bubbling twenty gallon aquarium, complete with salt creep encrusting its edges, off to the side. In spite of the algae infested interior and sad little corals that played host to its two clown fish occupants, the aquarium is obviously the most expensive piece to decorate the room. In spite of the old handed down feel, the space is impeccably clean. No dust clings to the old boxy television set, no dirt on the tired matted carpets, and not even anything as humble as a knickknack adorn either of the two rooms that he can see. Who lives here? He cant help but wonder as he looks upon the homes mostly bare walls. Original paintings, or perhaps decent replicas of someone elses work, hang here and there. Not many, only a few, enough to keep the expanse of flat white wall paint from swallowing him whole. There are no family photos anywhere, no sense of family, friends, or life outside. There are throws on the couch he sits upon and on the adjacent beige pleather recliner. The occupants sense of humor shows through here, as the garish throws are the rooms only decoration and sport a variety of animal skin patterns. The over all effect is a poor attempt at an earthen look. Floyd gives a derisive snort. It is tacky even to his unusual tastes. Hiding beside and just behind the fish tank as if it is a shame meant to be overlooked, is a cheap electric guitar, its neck and out of tune strings sporting a layer of dust that its owner apparently cant reach. A Washburn, the head says, Maverick series. Floyd stands and walks across badly creaking floors and into an equally squeaky kitchen. Now he can see an old wall mounted AC unit, long since outdated but still jutting from the brick. It is hidden by the cheap entertainment stand, and understandably so. The resident has further tried to hide the atrocity by covering its yellowed plastic grill with a home quilted coverlet. He turns and sees a short hallway with two doors, one with a chain. He peeks through the chained door and down a steep carpeted stair well that smells damp. He shuts the door and investigates the other, completely forgetting where he is and how he has come to be here. Aha! So here is the neat freaks dirty little secret. Tool boxes stand open on shelves, vacuums are hastily crammed into the small closet, and a towering mountain of empty soda boxes threaten to collapse on his head. He gives a satisfied hiss. Not so perfect after all are you? He observes silently as he continues his snooping. A bathroom is to the left at the end of the hall, so small he can hardly turn around. The old tub and tiles are laced with varieties of mildew with evidence of a battle lost against them. There is an office slash bedroom across the way from which scratching and digging emanates from four aquariums of various sizes. No fish here, only gerbils, an air bed that hasnt been slept in for months it sags at the corners, craving for someone to re-inflate it, and a computer desk. The far wall though, and perhaps more evidence of his absent hosts sense of humor, is neatly lined with action figures of a monstrous sort. He half expects to see himself hanging there. He could have blended in well with the glassy eyed residents. The gerbils seem to agree and hastily dive into heaping mounds of tissue and aspen bedding to hide. All but one, and its a runty little black thing with matching coal eyes. He tilts his head to the side and glares accusingly at Floyd. What are you? The stare seems to say. The gerbil hops lightly to his wheel and walks smoothly into a sprint so fast that he trips over his own paws and careens off the contraption and into the mound of woodchips. The black head pops back out of the mess, looking slightly disheveled and dares the alien to laugh. Grinning now, Floyd continues down the L shaped hall again and finds a second bedroom to his left and a door back to the living room on the right. The bedroom is slightly larger than the last, and boasts a fake panther fur duvet and select seventys band paraphernalia Pink Floyd and two more reproduction paintings. The furniture is hand crafted but old and beat up, long since painted over to spare its owner some shame of being poor. Racket through the wall, people talking, footsteps, and knocking, give the space a haunted feel but confirms the Scavians growing suspicion that this is not really a house, but an apartment. He peeks through the cheep blinds out into the apartment complex made up of brick duplexes and then returns to the living room. Seen enough? A woman asks as she appears from the kitchen. Floyd jumps, not expecting to be spied upon when he was so sure he was alone. The creaky floors and all, how can you sneak up on someone? Covering his start, the alien rounds on the human. Who are you? Where am I? How did I get here? The usual dribble that spills from unwilling detainees. His voice sounds hollow, muffled, as if he alone can hear it. She laughs at him and the sound rings in his skull. He growls back in a superior fashion, as if his haughty air can force the pudgy woman back into her place of barely middle class servitude. Brushing her bushy copper tresses over her shoulder, she motions for him to sit. He takes the recliner, feeling it is best to give his host, all two hundred pounds of her, the entire couch. She walks with the grace of a camel and plops into the old worn cushions of the sofa without much finesse and smiles at him. He cringes. He doesnt like the look of humans, they are all ugly, but this one is worse than most. Perhaps because she has the look of one whos gained a large amount of weight in a small amount of time. Lack of proper makeup and poorly attended nails dont help the picture. And she is plain. Not at all what he is accustomed to seeing in Oppaddeka, where all the girls, regardless of their species, are thin, curvy and gorgeous. Nice to finally meet you, Floyd. She attempts, a little shyly. Her voice isnt unpleasant, but cartoonish, like those cynical female comedians on late night Comedy Central. Regardless, she is no song bird and he is sure that tone will grate on his nerves after awhile. I cant say the same, He grumbles impatiently. He wants to be out of this rat hole as quickly as possible. She looks hurt and he grins meanly as if it is a victory. Now, who the hell are you? He hisses, leaning forward a bit and trying to look intimidating. She looks away, not wanting to meet his hateful stare. Her face wears a mixture of anger and humiliation. When she looks back her gray blue eyes are bright with feeling and her jaw set. Who I am doesnt matter. You wont remember anyway. She blurts in a hurried way almost as if she is afraid to trip over her own tongue. He can hear the tremble in her voice. Is she angry, or just afraid? Then wh- She cuts him off, on a roll now and not about to stop. As for why youre here, its about those Holy Mechanisms you want to add to your ship. Now he remembers, and the whole sorry ordeal floods back to him like a dam has just burst. He bolts up out of his chair causing her to flinch. His ship, his pokemon! They need him. He couldnt wait around in this womans cramped little apartment and chit chat. How do you know about those? He stalks across the room in a single stride, tail lashing furiously to and fro as he hovers over her menacingly. Sit down. Let me explain. Shes flustered. Please? He can see her sinking into the couch cushions, cringing and trying to put distance that isnt there between them. With little other choice, he obliges, this time sitting right beside her and staring expectantly. She looks surprised, as if she isnt used to having people actually do as she asks. Absently she toys with the soft fake fur of a leopard print throw. Maybe she just doesnt like being that close to him. Well? He pushes intolerantly. Oh. Uh well. I cant explain how your HMs work exactly, but theyre magic, you know that. Your ship isnt. And really, you dont need the HMs to fly again, Floyd. You just to need to remember. She smiles hopefully. Remember? Dont you think I would remember how to operate my own ship? He snaps, and to his surprise, she laughs at him. Not if you didnt want to remember, not if you were afraid of your knowledge being used against you. If that were the case you He cuts her off this time, catching on at last. Might have the computer wipe my memory He trails off remembering that particular aspect about the A.I. and seeing briefly the ruins of a machine that had been destroyed, and leaps back again. To the keep Scavian knowledge safe from the humans! He can remember suddenly, even if only very vaguely that hed been chased by human fighter pilots during planet-fall and then, afraid that he might be captured, ordered the computer to land on autopilot, wipe his memory, and lock itself out. The computer had additionally made him believe that it was too fast for conventional use and too slow to escape the galaxy, just in case he was tortured into revealing what he knew. The Sunflare could fly and dive and do all these stupid things he was chasing after, only he was recalling false memories and couldnt remember any of it. Floyd jumps to his feet excitedly and turns to the woman. So I never needed the HMs? He feels foolish for chasing after them now. Oh, you needed them all right. She assures him. How else could you have found me? They were just a clue, should you ever want to undo the damage. His jaws drops as he realizes what she is indicating. This woman, this plain, under-groomed, overfed human, is the personification of his sub conscience. He nearly chokes to death on the revelation and crumples to the floor gasping and chortling like a crazed idiot. So..soYOURE me? He states once in control of himself again. She nods and smiles in a silly, knowing way. If youre me, if youre my sub-conscience, can you tell me how to unlock the ship? How to unlock my memories? No. I cant. Her smile slips away. I can only show you as much as youre ready to remember, Floyd. Only as much as you are ready to accept. But He kneels in front of her and she leans close to him, looking into his yellow grill of teeth and smelling the stench of rotted meat on his breath. Its time to go, Floyd. Too much and you wont remember at all. Youve been here too long already. Her voice fades and another over laps. 7 The last visages of the dream faded away as Helsings voice called him back to the present. He stared at the ceiling of his own bedroom for several minutes, hardly recognizing it as his own. That voice, Helsings voice told him to lie still, not to move, and to just go over the details of the dream so that it stayed with him this time. Last time, he forgot because he had been woken too quickly, and his thoughts shifted too suddenly. He found that the Kadabra was right. He could remember and he sprang from the bed with such fury that the yellow pointed eared pokemon toppled backwards. Helsing! Helsing I remember! He wheeled about and whooped and cried with joy. All this crap about being too slownot being able to flyits not REAL Helsing. I can fly this shipI always could! The Kadabra stood, and swept the wrinkles from his smoking jacket and observed Floyd in silence until the alien could stand it no longer. What? Why are you looking at me like that? Floyd saw the clip board had fallen to the floor, face up and the pokemons precious notes laid bare. He stood and picked it up, studying the scrawl. These were no criticizing observations but pictures. Nothing more than mindless doodles done to pass the time. The Kadabra shrugged innocently. You still do not recall how to unlock the ship. The Kadabra stated, dropping the stupid German accent at last, or had he imagined it all along? Nono, but you can help me, cant you? I left myself clues. I must have! The HMs were just the start of the trail. He was rambling now, desperate to race ahead to the answer. Floyd, you did not even know about the Holy Mechanisms when you had the Sunflare perform the memory reconstruction. How could they be the first clue to anything? Floyd sat back down on the bed and thought about it a long while. Helsing was right, as usual, but the red head from the dream had SAID they were the first clue. No, not the first - A clue. His imbedded desire to fly was the first clue. His desire to be free and independent of the humans THAT had been his first clue, one that he would have pursued no matter how much of his memory hed nuked. Helsing was nodding in agreement, prying open his thoughts as though hed spoken out loud. Unfortunately, it had taken nearly four years to get to the second clue, the dream at the end of the HMs. Where would he find that final puzzle piece that unraveled the code to unlocking the computer? He looked to Helsing and saw the answer he never planned on having. The Kadabra had broken through the mental barrier keeping him from the memory he knew was there. Helsing could do it again if only he took the time to recall that day the F16s had tailed him through the clouds. Helsing gestured to the bed and he lay down again. Without being prompted by his friend, he delved into those memories he knew were true, those that occurred before his landing. It didnt take but a few minutes to realize that going back four years was going to be more difficult than going back four weeks. His memories were as foggy as the cloud cover he could just barely recall flying through. Not even Helsing could help him dredge up what was not there. It was with great reluctance, that he took the Kadabras advice to sleep on it and try again tomorrow. The two friends parted ways but Floyd did not remain in the stuffy little room that Helsing had trapped him in all day. He ventured upstairs and into the place he felt most at ease - the cockpit of the Sunflare. 8 It was dark out and silver moonlight danced through the forward view port and spilled over the instrument panel at the fore of the room. This was testimony to the many hours he and Helsing had spent in his quarters analyzing his recent outbursts and sore temper. Heavily, he slid into the large pilots chair that was suspended from the ceiling. The cockpit was a rather large room, given its purpose, and it was the only room that reflected purely Scavian design. Rope like coils were molded into the paneling so that the walls seemed to grow out of the floor and into the ceiling in an almost organic way. The colors were mottled but all dark, ranging from flat to glossy, all for the purpose of giving the strange sculpted room the feel of a living, breathing thing. This was intentional, and meant to be a constant reminder that a pilot was only as good as his ship, and without his ship, he was nothing. Even the chair he was sitting in bolstered this motif and seemed to grow out of the ceiling like a tumor. The round glossy instruments on the panel winked back at him in the faded light, so like the eyes of an insect. There was but one personal item to adorn the room. A single photograph hung from the dash, taped there in its aged and yellowing state where its three figures could forever stare out at the gloomy room. In it was Lloyd, his brother, standing with his back to Floyd himself and wearing a surely expression as he looked over his shoulder at Morgan, their Godfather and not pictured photographer. Floyds arm was draped about a petite creature, silver skinned and glowing with awkward shyness. Try as he might, he could not remember the girls name and it struck him suddenly, just how strange this realization was. Before, he had never thought twice about the girl. She had to have been just some fling and that was why he couldnt remember her. But now, after trying so hard to remember his past, he knew he should remember her, because this girl had been important to him. He concentrated back the day of the landing and imagined the photo taped to the dash. A pain shot through his head the mother of all migraines and he held his head tightly in his hands trying to will the awful stabbing hurt away. When at last it started to fade he returned his focus to the girl in the photo only to find the pain returning, and he knew the two were one in the same. Sobbing now, he hobbled through the red haze out of the cockpit and down the hall. He beat his fists against Helsings door and roared unintelligibly until the psychic answered, and then fell over the threshold. Floyd! Helsing cried out in alarm, recoiling from the tortured form that writhed at his feet clutching its ugly skull. The Scavian would not answer, or if he tried he could only cry out in pain. Without thinking, Helsing plunged into the aliens reeling mind and was overwhelmed with the intense emotions of fear, loss, and love, all wound so tightly together they were indiscernible. He retreated and stared at the sad form on the floor. An over whelming image stuck with him though, and he grabbed up the alien by the arm and hauled him off the floor and down the hall. Inside the cockpit, he rushed for the photo hed seen tacked to the panel, the same one that kept flashing across the aliens mind. He snatched it off the dash and looked at the photo in his hand and the pieces of the puzzle fell together. He knew how to help Floyd, but he had a very bad feeling that Floyd wasnt going to like it. Stay with me, Floyd. He whispered fervently. His long mustache bristled with his gushing breath as he propped the blubbering sobbing pilot in the corner. Were going to try this again and this time I think youll remember. Go back to the day you made planet fall, go back to the F16s. Shaking his head and trying to crawl away from the pain in his head and the unbearable aching weight in chest, Floyd remembered. 9 A blue planet hangs in the black sea of space. Through the viewport he sees tiny silver winged scraps of space junk circling close over the hazy upper atmosphere like a net of trash. He is appalled by the sight because his planet and those within the Empire have long since taken to keeping their airways clean of outdated debris. What ever species crawls over this rock must be contemptible heathens, primitives with little concern for their futures. And yet he has no choice but to make planet fall to find a place for himself here. A sense of finality washes over him and a cold fear sweeps through his veins as he resolves himself to face the consequences of first contact. He reaches for a switch overhead and flicks it lazily triggering a heavy heat shield to lower itself over the view port and block out the planet below. Automatically, a holo image of his destination shimmers to life above the dash directly in front of him. He checks his altitude and adjusts his heading so that the ship will gently skim over the atmosphere at a gradual angle of decent, and reduce the heat washing over the wings. Grasping the yoke he dips the hawk shaped nose of the Sunflare toward the watery planet and initiates the planet fall sequence. The craft lurches sickeningly as the worlds gravity grabs hold, and he can feel the bulkheads shudder in protest. The Sunflare auto adjusts to compensate as the pull quickly builds up to a formidable force upon the relatively small ship. Distantly, Floyd can feel the roar of wind hurtling over the sloping hull and screaming shrilly as the speed builds. The holo expands before him to reflect his progress. Billowing clouds roll past like a solid churning wall of white until abruptly the ship breaks free of the cloud cover and the forward thrusters kick on, slowing his decent. A babbling racket bursts over the radio, but Floyd doesnt understand the flowing high pitched language and switches the com off for the sake of silence. He concentrates on the splash of green below. An explosion sounds in the rear of the ship and klaxons blare insistently. Two more holos split off from the main and portray different angles of the ship and no less than six sleek grey aircraft tailing him in the distance. Another explosion ripples over the hull; the damage is absorbed and deflected by the dampening field that hugs the ships curves like a second skin. Floyd panics, now seeing the planet as not only primitive, but hostile and advanced enough to be a real threat. Dampening field or not, the locals weapons pack enough punch to scare the Scavian Soldier one whos never seen anything more exciting than the Republic Owned Observation Station he had been posted at. Worst case scenarios play out in his mind. What if the ship was downed and he, captured? He couldnt let such advanced technologies fall into the greedy hands of soulless aliens who held no regard for life. Here, Floyds memory of the events that follow blur, and he recalls cleverly engaging the enemy aircraft in a game of cat and mouse through the skies of Earth and losing them with the aid of the cloaking device that temporarily bends the suns rays over the black hull and, like a chameleon, makes it appear as blue as its surroundings. He feels a hand upon his shoulder and registers the wall of the cockpit biting into his back and for a moment hes back in the present and the pain in his head is returning tenfold. And then hes back in the pilots chair, staring at the alien ships launching missiles at the Sunflare. Theres a gap in his memory, and he can now remember why. Fearing the worst, Floyd orders the computer to isolate his memories of how to operate the ship, how to fly it, and fill in the gap with whatever logical nonsense it can. He cant risk being captured and handing over his knowledge of the Sunflare and its workings to the hostiles. The computer requests a lockout code for the ship, to prevent anyone, including himself from gaining access, and Floyds wavering gaze falls upon the photo on the dash. His stomach clenches and a wave of nausea threatens. Can he go on living knowing that hell never see her again? Knowing that the joining hed promised at the end of his tour of duty would never happen? If hes to survive, he cant let his memory of what could have been hold him in the past. He tells the computer to isolate all memory of her as well and her name will be the lockout code. Leaving the ship to out maneuver the enemy on auto pilot, he dashes for the lab on the second deck. He collapses into a machine he would never remember destroying and programs the final code. The process takes seconds and he feels the machine pierce the side of his skull. The effects are not immediate, giving him time to drive a hammer through the device and stumble back to the cockpit in a haze. The holos still show the alien aircraft attempting to pursue, only theyre number is down to three. Its here that his memory emerges from the fog and resumes, the gap in time filled. The game of tag is ended in much the same way as hes remembered it for the past four years. 10 Helsing looked down at the sad creature curled upon the floor. Floyd had been sobbing for the past hour, scolding himself for his stupidity. He had finally gotten what he had searched for since arriving on earth; what hed had all along and purposefully blocked out. He remembered everything now, after following the sub-conscience clues life had set in his way. He couldnt forget his need to fly, to be at the controls of a ship and feeling the G-forces pin him to his seat. Hed never fully accepted the computers false memory that the ship simply couldnt operate at slow enough speeds. Common sense told him this wasnt right. But the photo the photo was why he was mourning rather than celebrating. For four years hed tried to get past being trapped on a planet and unable to return home. Hed pined away for the forests, the swamps, and his family. But all the pain was nothing compared to what he felt now. All the sweet memories of his betrothed hed hurriedly shoved into a dark corner of his mind, all for the sake of not suffering, and he hated himself for it. It was a cowardly thing to do and now he paid the price. Not only was he disgusted with himself for letting their precious moments slip away, but he now had to face himself each day knowing hed swept those moments under the rug because he was too weak to face them. There was no happiness in regaining the keys to his freedom, not when it was himself who had hidden away those keys. The Kadabra offered him a hand up and pressed the photo into his trembling hand. Clutching it close, he stumbled on weak legs to the pilots seat and looked out the view port into the night with a new, and yet old perspective. The photo was carefully tacked to its place of honor, where she and his sour faced brother could stare back at him accusingly. Helsing took a seat at the com, a seldom used station along the wall, and watched the distraught alien quietly. He knew what was coming next; he could feel the tension building in the room like the calm before a storm. Computer. Floyd said and his voice was hoarse, barely a whisper. The computer beeped by way of acknowledgment. Initiate System Restoration. There was silence, and for a moment Floyd was sure the computer hadnt heard him. Then, in a somewhat surprised tone, Took you long enough. Do you remember the code? He winced. Yes, he remembered the code. Jade. The computer did not reply this time but Floyd saw the yoke jerk slightly as it was unlocked and the many screens of the glass cockpit flickered and updated their displays. Floyd had full access to all the ships systems once more. Grimly, he stared out the view port and at the foggy meadow outside. Muskeg marsh was dimly illuminated by the green hued repulser bars lining the ships forward wings. He reached up and flicked a switch, the forward landing lights lit up like tiny suns, each contained within the bars. Next he released the landing clamps, the locks on the thrusters that allowed the ship to hover several feet off the ground rather than resting against the surface like so much dead weight. Outside a siren blared, and orange lights whirled along the ramps runway, warning anyone near to keep away. Everyone was asleep in their quarters, and so no one was there to witness the ship lift away from the soggy ground and the mouth to hull seal shut. Floyd scrolled through a list of his registered pokemon and verified their locations aboard the ship. He made a quick adjustment to recall all non-team pokemon to their pokeballs before the flight sequence could begin. Everyone but his current team were snatched from their beds by the network of lasers that lit up the ship in the next instant. Floyd withdrew the contents of Bills aquarium, and glared menacingly at the prevailing fog that was particular to the marsh at night. His claws ticked away at the keys, triggering the repulser bars to issue a hissing blast of air that cleared his visual for several hundred yards. Consequently, the reedy grass of the marsh was laid over on its side, creating a star burst pattern in the field and what the villagers would later remark was some sort of crop circle. With his hands on the yoke, he gripped the stick and gently pulled back with the same experience hed had four years ago, as if hed never forgotten. The ship lightly rose into the air higher and higher until the misty ground below was engulfed once more in darkness and the nose of the ship peaked above the wispy cloud line, revealing a blanket of stars so bright that the Scavian could have wept at the sight, had he tears to shed. Only then did he allow himself some measure of enjoyment, for how could he not? It was there among the stars that he felt the most comfort. And yet he ached for something; something now unobtainable and forever out of his reach. This time he would not forget, though. He would bear the pain and the heart break as he should have all along, and this time, he would not face it alone. Helsing slowly stood, afraid the floor would rock him from his feet, but soon found the Sunflares gentle glide over the evening skies to be smooth as silk and approached the alien from behind. He didnt say anything. He didnt have to. He knew what Floyd was feeling due their unusual bond, and could not judge him for it. Nor did he feel judgment was necessary, Floyd could punish himself enough in the months ahead, and saw to it by reaffixing that family photo back to the dash. Now, every time the Sunflare flew, it would do so with Jade, the real Jade, looking back at him. The com crackled and Helsing looked back at the station where he had been sitting. A human voice booming with authority hissed over the speaker. Unidentified Aircraft, this is the Opaddekan Air force, Tower Four Identify yourself. Pause. I repeat, Identify yourself, you are in violation of Opaddekan air space. Floyd reluctantly reached over and pressed the button on the coms speaker. Shut up, Riley. He spat impatiently, for her recognized the voice of the lanky fellow in the tower. This is your fuckin General speakin. If you or any of your runway rats bother me tonight Ill send you to hell on my tail wind Floyd out. He leaned back and snorted arrogantly while Lt. Riley stuttered an apology. He could even hear his mates in the back ground guffawing about how they had known all along that the Alien General had a flying saucer. He muted the speakers and gave Helsing a tired smile. Where to? The Kadabra thought about it, while twisting his long whiskers through his claws but did not get an opportunity to answer. The door to the bridge hissed open and the familiar shadow of a huge arachnid blocked the light of the hall. 11 Jade stood by the door listening for several minutes. She could hear voices, one was Floyds, and then a mans she didnt know. She wasnt sure what she hoped to accomplish by barging into Floyds inner sanctum. The nights mystery would be revealed as soon as she entered, of this she was certain, but what she wasnt certain of, was how badly she wanted that answer. The day frozen in the photo, the one still clutched tightly between her fangs was a reflection of the happiest day in her life. Meeting Floyd meant a home and a friend, no matter how ugly he was. He always understood exactly what she was saying. In time she understood him as well. Seeing that precious moment tossed carelessly aside and its frame shattered had somehow wounded her. That Floyd was feeling betrayed by her acceptance of Ruckus was no secret, but he was the one who had gone to lengths to bring them together. Finding him now acting so childishly was more than she could stand. She would give that alien a piece of her mind and be done with it. He would just have to grow up and get over it. The scene that greeted her as the door hissed to the side was not exactly what she was expecting. There was no brooding, angry alien sitting alone and miserable. What she saw first was the pointed eared Helsing, twirling his long whiskers thoughtfully, and beyond that was Floyd, seated in the pilots chair that was rotating slowly about to face her. He didnt say anything but reached out a hand and gestured her into the room. It was then that she noticed the view port window and the tiny hologram that hovered above the dash. This was new. A wall of stars blanketed the outside, and misty wisps of clouds skirted past. Far below there was only darkness because as the hologram showed, they were now over uninhabited forests. Her jaws gaped and the photo slipped from her fangs. Floyd reached forward quickly and snagged the crinkled photo from the air. This he flatted over his thigh and attempted to smooth the creases away before holding it up to admire. When he looked down at her again, he was smiling. Helsing brought a roll of tape to him, seeing what he had in mind. The photo of Jade the Ariados was lovingly taped right beside Jade the Scavian. There, both my girls together. He told her. She could hear the raspy sound in his voice and knew hed been doing whatever passed for an alien as crying. I suppose the laser recall of Ruckus and the others woke you? She recalled the odd metallic taste in the air as she had risen in the dark room and nodded. The fact that they were actually flying was still beyond her grasp and already she was forgetting why she had been angry with him. How would you like to hear about your namesake? He asked her fondly. This was a story she hadnt heard before, she hadnt even known that there was another Jade. Curious, she nodded again. Alright then, have a seat over there at Nav, and Ill tell you and Helsing all about her He pointed to the station opposite Helsing and she clambered into the chair. And then come morning we can take our first ocean dive, ranted were over one. He saw her questioning gaze and nodded. Yeah, everythings working now, everythings back to the way it ought to be. Ill fill you in later. Whispered the Kadabra to the spider. He could see her mind was full of questions, and rightfully so, but now was not the time to ask. Eplogue It is several hours before dawn and Floyd has fallen asleep in the cockpit. The ship is on Autopilot and his friends have each returned to their own beds. Turbulence jars the ship and a slight tremor rumbles through the bulkhead and Floyd awakes with a start. Immediately, he sits up and looks around. No one has seen his lapse in duty and so he breathes easier while he checks his instruments. Sitting back, he gazes out the viewport at the darkness below. A single blip of light shines back at him and hes reminded of the fishermans long boats from his home world. The canoe like crafts slipped through the mangrove swamps with a single orange lantern lighting the way. It was a point of light in the dark, just like this one, and he knew the light below to be a human fishing boat, out early to position itself for the best catch. I cant wait till the sun comes up. Whispers a voice just behind him. He jumps and spins about in the chair. His jaw hangs agape as he comes face to face with the weird red headed woman from before the one who played the role of his sub-conscience. She grins and gives him a little shrug. She continues as if she hasnt just scared the piss out of him. Never been in a sub before seeing what the reefs look like at dawn will be fun. He remembers the sad excuse of a fish tank in her living room and nods. Yeah He laughs a little uneasily. Maybe you can get a few pointers on how one should really look like. To his surprise, she laughs right along with him, bobbing her head animatedly. Yep, my poor fish would appreciate a clean tank on occasion, to say the least. She giggles and he frowns at her. Its a sarcastic frown that says shes horrible and hilarious at the same time. Realizing this, hes again surprised, this time at himself. Was he actually kidding with her? As if they were on friendly terms? And why shouldnt he? Hes now a little defensive against his own thoughts. If this crazy lady is his sub-conscience, its only right that they get along, after all, she helped point him back the way hed came. And this was why they were flying right now. And then he remembers. If shes here, hes asleep at the wheel. He sits up a little straighter, looking stricken. She smiles goofily and taps a red LED light on the dash. Its the signal light telling him that the auto-pilot is engaged and he shakes his head. Ifs hes dreaming, how can he trust that he really hit the switch? She rolls her eyes and sighs. If youre that worried, Ill teach you a trick for waking yourself up, but if you cant trust me, who can you trust? She shot him a questioning glance. Well, wait a second His mind is racing in circles now. Its so hard to focus when youre dreaming - so easy to get distracted. Why are youwhy does my He looked at her pleadingly, not knowing how to phrase the question. Why does your sub-conscience appear to you as some plain looking over weight human and not a Scavian? She offered and he nodded vigorously. She smiles wryly and nods to herself. Maybe Im not youre sub-consciencemaybe YOURE mine. She grins sadistically now; a jokers smile that makes him cringe, and then the manic look is gone. No, no I think the answer is that, inside, we are what we fear most. There is some truth to that. He despises humans and thinks them to be ugly gluttonous creatures, so perhaps she personifies not him but his fearsand if he is what he fears? Maybe he is no better than the humans he hates. She pats him gently on the shoulder. The sort of slow delicate pat that means she thinks that he is special and she snickers at him. Ready to wake up? She teases. He growls at her and nods huffily. Then shake yourself. A real good mental shake. It works most of the time. She offers helpfully. And the rest of the time? He grouches condescendingly. You wake up in another dreambut keep trying, itll work eventually. Will I see you again? He asks guardedly, but she never answers. <{@}> He was jolted awake and met the soft red and lavender hues of morning as the sun peeked over the curvature of the forested horizon. He had been only dreaming, and the ocean was still far behind them. The bridge door hissed open and standing in a terry cloth bathrobe and holding a cup of coffee firmly between both hands, was Helsing. The Kadabra yawned and twitched his long nose, causing his whiskers to sway. Decided on a destination, have you? The pokemon muttered sleepily as he plopped himself down at the Com station. He clung to the mug of coffee like a life line and Floyd could see dark bags under his eyes; evidence of the previous days exhausting Freudian experiment. Yeahwere going to Deepwod. The Scavian confirmed and returned his focus to forest below. He felt strangely guilty for running his pokemon through the grinder of his emotional baggage. Yet he felt confidant that it was now sorted for the most part and was grateful to Helsing for his determined help. Now he could begin to move on with his life as he should have from the start. The photo stuck to his dash was a sharp reminder of this. Helsing? Yes? The Kadabra replied with a twitch of an ear. Thanks. |
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| Steel Cerberus | Jul 6 2009, 03:50 PM Post #4 | ||||||||||||
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Go for it, run towards it, dive in head first. Live life with no regrets!
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Hi. :D Um. It's long. Very long, but you don't need me telling you that. xD Aside from the usual typo's, I really... don't have anything to critique on. It was a good story, but I really didn't start really enjoying it till near the end, when Floyd starts to remember everything. That was when everything started coming together and I was like 'woah'. Which is... good I guess? I might have to read this again now that I've read the whole thing. Now to what I typed down while I was reading it. The self insert-ish part was AWESOME. At first I was like lolwtf is going on here? Then I finished that part and it was like 'woah' (I went 'woah' twice, yeah, which is good. :P ). I really like how you did that. Especially the ending. You... write good brickposts. I've said before that I hate brickposts, but I like yours. They're not full of endless detail that's not really needed. They paint a very vivid picture and tell enough about everything that's going on, and... yeah, I like it. Overall, a very good story. I will definitely mod one of your freeforms again. :3 On to the part you've been waiting for... *trips over the math and faceplants* Right! So... you have permission to use your ship as you wanted! Congrats! You also get 5 to play with however you want. Or you can make 'em happy points, if you want to.
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| Maverick | Jul 6 2009, 03:54 PM Post #5 | ||||||||||||
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"How many assholes we got on this ship anyhow?"
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Infinate THANK YOUS! .5 and the common-uncommon pokemon of your choosing. I'll save the EXP from this one and distribute once I hit Deepwood. Yeee! *celebrates* |
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8:12 AM Jul 11
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A big thanks to all the mods and admins who freely volunteer their time and energy to this RPG to help it grow and become awesome.
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before the Sunflare will be allowed to jump again in this manner (this GenEXP does not need to be spent, merely earned). 





to play with however you want. Or you can make 'em happy points, if you want to.




8:12 AM Jul 11