|
|
Post by Talon on Sept 29, 2008 21:15:07 GMT -5
Mortis staggered along the river's length, coughing as he swayed from side to side. Under the pale moonlight, the wyrmling looked... well, sick was an understatement. His was so wizened, his ribs poked out from his sides, and his eyes were sunken and baggy. A constant dribble of drool was coming from his mouth, an occasional spurt of blood mixed with what appeared to be dirt with it. But the worst thing about his state was the fact that... he seemed to glow slightly in the darkness, an almost unnoticeable, profane, white glow.
"Gotta.... get r-rid... of the damn thing..." He wheezed.
His pupils constantly went go back and forth before he stopped, vomiting up anothe runhealthy amount of bloody ash. In his right claw was what appeared to be a red-brown rock, streaked with some sort of mineral... though, what color the streaks were could not be identified. They were all colors... yet a color completely unknown to anything on Earth.
"Glad... it didn't... get to Shive..." He hacked.
|
|
|
|
Post by Azure_Ghidorah on Sept 29, 2008 21:22:23 GMT -5
Booming footsteps signified the presence of the alien beetle, Chiggar.
"Mortis? What the hell happened to you?" the beetle asked, truly worried at seeing his sickened expression.
|
|
|
|
Post by Talon on Sept 29, 2008 21:29:33 GMT -5
Mortis gave her an almost baleful glance as he shouted,
"Don't... don't come any clo-"
He was cut off by another hacking fit as he raised his left claw, telling her to stay away. After the fit passed, he stood back up shakily, swaying once more.
"It's... c-contagious..." He wheezed.
To show what he meant, he feebly held up the small rock, the minerals bearing the same unholy glow as he did.
|
|
|
|
Post by Azure_Ghidorah on Sept 29, 2008 21:57:29 GMT -5
The alien did not heed the blue wyrmling's warning, closing the distance between the two.
"What's going on? And what is that rock?"
Chiggar wasn't leaving the wyrmling alone until she got answers, or was able to help him, whichever came first.
|
|
|
|
Post by Talon on Sept 29, 2008 22:18:16 GMT -5
"I-I said, stay-back!" He hissed, voice hoarse.
He panted, holding the rock up.
"I dunno what it is, but it's obviously killing me. Found it last week, was about twice as large as it was now. I thought-"
He hacked up more bloodied ash before continuing,
"I-I thought it was kinda... neat-looking, so I brought it... back home with me... kept it... for a few days.... then... this started... happening... luckily, no one was home for a while, including... Shive, so... no one else... caught it... hopefully..."
His legs were wobbling, and his blood-stained teeth were gritted against trying to keep his eyes open.
"Going... to volcano... destroying it there.... breath weapon... won't work... on it..." He wheezed.
He swayed for a few more moments, then fell onto his side, groaning.
|
|
|
|
Post by Azure_Ghidorah on Sept 29, 2008 22:29:45 GMT -5
"Let me shoot it before we go that far, you aren't in any condition to keep holding that thing. My weapon is more powerful then most dragons' breath weapons. I should be able to destroy it. If that doesn't work, I'll carry it to the volcano." Chiggar said, shoving the rock out of the wyrmling's weakened grip, she used her cannon to knock it back further, and when she deemed the distance great enough that she would get hurt in the explosion, but close enough that it could hit at maximum force, the resounding 'BANG!' shot through the air as a cannon 'shell' hit the rock. Whether it was destroyed or not, Chiggar wasn't sure.
|
|
|
|
Post by Talon on Sept 29, 2008 22:34:44 GMT -5
The blast had completely vaporized the rock, leaving no visible trace of it left behind. Mortis hacked,
"S'good... now... there's.. just me..."
He wheezed again, muttering as his face fell back to Earth.
"So... hot..."
He was violently shivering, despite his previous statement, and he gagged up another handful of ash.
"The... the Colour... drain.... drains you.. of..." He muttered, before his eyes slid shut, and his breathing became even harsher.
|
|
|
|
Post by Azure_Ghidorah on Sept 30, 2008 19:05:18 GMT -5
Chiggar sighed in relief, but Mortis was still in a horrid condition.
"There's gotta be something I can do... but those serums haven't been tried on anybody that wasn't in my race... I could be doing more harm then good... If only I knew someone who could help, or even how this is effecting him..."
The beetle's eyes watered over, it was unfair for this child to be effected like this, and it reminded her of her childhood, when she lost her home world... The beetle didn't know what to do, or who to go to. She silently hoped she would get some sort of sign...
|
|
|
|
Post by Talon on Sept 30, 2008 20:02:01 GMT -5
((Let's hope this is an obvious enough sign!!))
As Mortis's haggard breaths slowly dwindled into silence, a shooting star shot overhead. Or, more precisely... coming toward them. The object sped downwards at a speed that defied sound, its shape almost cylindrical. Before it impacted into the river, sending water and dirt flying into the air, it seemed to slow before contact with the ground. The water and debris sloshed against Chiggar's foot as the shape, now revealed to be a 10-foot high 'tube' constructed of metal, split open, bringing forth more steam.
"Urgh... f*ck... gotta work on the landing sequence, guys..." O'Malley's voice muttered.
He waded through the river, then pause,d staring at the water before unleashing a string of curses that seemed to last for a good five minutes.
"F*CKING IDIOTS CAN'T EVEN GET THE F*CKING LAUNCH TRAJECTORY RIGHT, AND RIGHT WHEN I F*CKING NEED ACCURACY THE MOST RIGHT NOW! GOD-F*CKING-damnIT!! GRRRR!!!"
He facepalmed, wading further out of the river before he stopped at Mortis's feet, catching himself before he almost stepped on the wyrmling.
"The hell?" The droid muttered, then glanced at Chiggar.
His eye 'blinked', and he muttered,
"A Tirbana? Here? Wait, no... that's something else."
He took a step away from the fallen wyrmling, asking the beetle,
"Uhh.... do you speak?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Azure_Ghidorah on Sept 30, 2008 20:10:50 GMT -5
Chiggar nodded, saying, "I haven't seen you before..."
The beetle then looked at Mortis, then back to O'Malley. "Look, I know you are a robot of some sort, I don't know what kind, and you probably don't like living beings much, but could you spare a few moments to help him? It pains me to see a kid so deathly sick, because it brings back bad memories. I want to help him, but I don't know what to do."
Her multi-faceted eyes seemed to glow with the hope that O'Malley will decide to help the sickly wyrmling.
|
|
|
|
Post by Talon on Sept 30, 2008 20:59:16 GMT -5
O'Malley mentally scowled, barking as he glanced at the dying wyrmling,
"And WHY would I bother to take the time to-"
He paused, seeing what condition the child was really in. His hand fell as he stared at the thing lying on the ground, giving small, ragged breaths. O'Malley had seen things in worse condition, but for some odd reason, this one cobalt wyrmling struck him as particularly saddening. Memories long ago came to the droid's mind, one of which being his last few minutes in the place of his construction.
((Enter flashback! HOOO!!!))
* * * * * *
The droid appeared as he did upon his arrival at Earth, but without any of his weapons. He and two humans, one male and one female (both in what looked like gray labocats), were running through a hallway constructed of metal. The sound of shouts and gunfire came behind them, the thud of booted feet following suit.
"At this rate, we won't make it to the pods!" The man shouted.
"Doesn't matter! We just have to get the big guy out of here!" The woman shouted, her shoulder-length red hair spread out behind her as she ran.
O'Malley remained silent as they came to the end of the hallway, multiple circular doors marking their targeted location. The woman, started punching buttons near one of the doors frantically before a dull beep answered her.
"damnIT! They've locked the f*cking escape pods?!" She growled, punching the buttons again.
The man hefted a rifle, firing down the hall as men in black, armor-like uniforms stepped into view. Several were downed from the fire, but the rest did their fair share of firing back at him. Blood started leaking from multiple wounds as O'Malley stood to the side silently, the bolts of energy 'plinking' off of his exterior. The woman finally managed to open the doors, just as the man covering them collapsed onto his knees.
"Logan!" The woman shouted.
He glanced back ove rhis shoulder through scruffy brown hair, gritting his teeth yet smirking at the same time.
"Keep going, I got-"
He was cut off as a laser pierced his skull, his eyes going blank as he collapsed. The woman's eyes widened and watered before she picked up the rifle and ushered O'Malley towards the circular door.
"Go! Get in the pod O'Malley!" She shouted.
"But... what of you? Your chances of survival are slowly dwindli-"
"GET IN THE POD! Please!" She cut him off with a plead, a laser whizzing by her head.
O'Malley slowly nodded, then lumbered past her and into the pod.
"Get in!" The bot replied in an emotionless shout.
She shook her head as the doors closed behind her, cutting the two off from eachother. Blood spattered on the window as a scream of pain came from the other side, and O'Malley's fists clenched. As the pod jettisoned from its confinements into space, he could hear the woman's voice mutter,
"Don't... forget us... V-2150..."
O'Malley stared blankly as the window got farther and farther from the asteroid-placed compound, and he simply crumpled to his knees, creating an audible reverberation throughout the small hull.
* * * * * *
O'Malley's fists clenched as he stared blankly at the wyrmling beneath him, then stated alound into his intercom,
"Boys, pick up at the following coordinates. We have an organic who needs immedeate medical attention."
"Sir!" Alt's voice replied, shock clear in his voice.
"You heard me. Get to it!" The ebony droid replied, cutting off the link.
He glanced at Chiggar, muttering,
"Keep him alive for about five more minutes."
With that, he barreled down the river's beach, jets igniting as he took off into the air. Mortis coughed again, having fallen into a fever-induced sleep.
|
|
|
|
Post by Azure_Ghidorah on Sept 30, 2008 22:26:51 GMT -5
"I hope I can..." Chiggar muttered as she stood near the sickly wyrmling. She couldn't help but think back to that time... fifty years ago.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hold them back!" A Villanox, the brown and red non-metallic cousins of the Villakroma, cried out as lower ranked Villanoxes and Villakromas formed a three-tiered 'brick wall.' Villakromas, being the heavier of the two varieties, made up the lowest tier. Villanoxes stood on the closed shells of their heavier cousins, and yet more stood on their shells, allowing them to form the wall effectively. Thousands of cannon shots roared out at an almost continuous rate as the shells soared into the approaching black whirlpools that shrouded their enemies from view. Many whirlpools dissappeared after their occupants were destroyed, and yet hundreds more seemed to take the place of each one that fell. More Villaoxes took up station as living turrets on the ragged fortress, launching attacks at air borne enemies.
"It's not possible! There's just too many of them this time! The Villamasta close range squadrons won't fare any better!" a Villakroma from the wall returned.
"Despite all our efforts... the planet is lost. Our final stronghold is fast falling, morale is next to none. We have no chance..." A Villamasta, a bulky, samuri-like insectoid being with a multi-pronged horn on his head, stated sadly, "I advise a full evacuation. This planet is lost, but the species may not be."
The Villanox, clearly the commander of this war battalion, sighed depressedly. "We fought tooth and nail for almost a hundred years... just for this? Just to fail? Just to allow our home world to be covered in darkness, and then consumed?"
The Villamasta regretfully nodded, "I am sorry, commander... but I still advise that we escaoe, while escape is still an option..."
The villanox shook his head dissapprovingly, "If we all make way for the escape pods, the Krawl will catch us. Send only the children, we are a strong race who are more then capable of living alone even as children. The old shall die out while the young survive. Hopefully they can regroup and avenge us after we are gone. Do what you will, but as for I... I will die fighting. I may be an old commander, but I am still a warrior at heart. And I will die as a warrior."
The Villamasta shed a tear, before barking out the orders over their intercomm. Villamasta squadrons retreated from their positions to ferry the children to the pods. All reserve Villanox and Villakroma groups emerge from their back-up positions to re-enforce the barricade of fire they were now creating, others clearing the skys of the Krawl.
Even the commander himself joined in, adding his own fire power to the defensive forces. To his minor suprise, his advisor also joined in, goring any Krawl that got by the wall.
"We fought together as a family, the entirety of us, and if we fall here, we will die side by side as a final testamony to our ties as family." The Villamasta explained.
The Villanox commander nodded in understanding, before resuming his onslaught.
The sole multi-chromed Villar shed a tear as she realized what was happening. They were going to send her away from the planet, so she could live on, along with all her brothers and sisters. They wouldn't see one another for a very long time, maybe never again, but it was the only way to survive now...
The pods were launched when the signal was given, and due to the devoted efforts of their elders, they safely escaped death.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chiggar shed a few tears at the memories, noting that it had been a few minutes since O'Malley left, and the transport should be arriving any second now.
(OOC: FYI, they were family in the loosest sense of the word, and now we know some details of how Chiggar's world was lost, and who its destroyers were.)
|
|
|
|
Post by Talon on Oct 1, 2008 19:19:01 GMT -5
((ah, interesting! *wishes Barias were alive right now* So is that the actual Spectrobes storyline?))
In the midst of Chiggar's reminisince, a small dropship had landed not two dozen feet away, two chrome-and-blue battle droids stepping out, glancing at Mortis, then loading him into the med ship. They instantly began hooking him up to multiple machines, his breathing increasing in haggardness before it seemed every breath was a cough. Several minutes passed, and it seemed like progess was nonexistant. One of the droids finally shook his head, waving the others away. It stepped out of the ship and walked over to Chiggar, stating in a flat, mechanical tone,
"I apologize, but there's nothing we can do for your young friend here. Not with our technology, anyway. And that's saying a lot..."
It paused, then jabbed a finger at the treeline past Chiggar.
"The Old Ones might know a way to undo the effects, however..." It added.
Several hunched figures stood in the tree's shadows about 500 feet away, their outlines distorted by the shadows. A small buzzing came from their direction as they constantly shifted, trying to get a better view.
|
|
|
|
Post by Azure_Ghidorah on Oct 1, 2008 19:38:01 GMT -5
(OOC: Nope. I threw out the actual storyline almost entirely to make that.)
Chiggar nodded to them, turning to the treeline.
"I'll do my best to find them then."
The beetle would have arched an eyeborw if she had one, though, when she noticed the shapes in the shadows. She couldn't make out much, so she lumbered closer. She got within fifty feet of the shadowed creatures, calling out, "Hello? Who are you?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Talon on Oct 2, 2008 9:13:43 GMT -5
"Those would be the Old Ones." The droid stated, setting Mortis on Chiggar's back.
The droids left for orbit again as several of the shapes slowly inched closer, staying just outside of the light, but enough for Chiggar to get a good look at their outline...
And what an outline.
They resembled, if anything, bipeadal lobsters. Short, clawed legs jutted out from the beginning of their latter half, and a pair of pincer-equipped arms poked out of their 'shoulders'. They had what looked like membrane-esque, jagged 'fins' coming off of their backs, with two smaller pairs just behind them. Worst of all would be what one had to call their head, however... for it wasn't really a head, more-or-less a mass of segmented feelers. Several of them 'buzzed' to eachother, jabbing curious claws at Chiggar's cargo.
|
|
