Akasha Govad
Level 3
Sailing, sailing, over your stupid heads!
Posts: 259
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Post by Akasha Govad on Apr 1, 2008 3:31:58 GMT -5
Akasha raised an eyebrow at the man standing before him. Something about him was off. Off in a way that spoke to a man who was also off: he wasn't a normal human. He slid his finger around the trigger of his rifle and narrowed his eyes. Little lines of turquoise danced through his eyes.
"Easy there partner...wouldn't want to ingratiate yourself to the crew that helped save your ass," he murmured. The same turquoise flashes of energy, as discreetly as possible, flashed along the gun, pulling the magnets back and flicking small and subtle switches within the weapon. It was changing to meet the possible need.
"Now...what say you to finishing these stone beasts before we try to bury a knife in each other's backs?" He smirked lightly. "You don't trust me. I don't trust you. But we have more pressing issues." Akasha twitched and fired a shot over De's shoulder, watching as the round ripped through the head of a gargoyle and exploded.
"See?"
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De
Level 2
Posts: 72
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Post by De on Apr 3, 2008 6:01:03 GMT -5
The myrmidon leapt away softly as the bullet flew past his shoulder. A lurid glare glistened in his eyes for a splitsecond before dimming back into the dark, bloody red. Of course he wouldn't trust the man. Akasha was more of a problem to his mission than these gargoyles. For one, De was killing these monsters every day for the past two years. Two, the gargoyles couldn't kill Akasha.
De kept his eyes off Tuyet.
"I see." He said it as though he would've nodded his head in approval to the captain's words. And instead of looking to Tuyet to see if the dragon was still alive, De glanced in the direction of the twins, aware that Akasha was watching. No one needs to know the simple truth of his mission, which was 'to escort Tuyet' --- and only Tuyet. No other names were mentioned. None. He might as well try to make good out of the extras, as bait... or anything else.
A small smile floated upon De's face. The kind that seemed alarmingly natural on his marble-rigid features and could be mistakened for a friendly grin any day. "I'm sorry," he said to Akasha and Hauke before moving away to engage in more killing.
The devilsbride threw a dull silver blade at one of the few remaining gargoyles in the sky, and watched it fall while he retrieved and rubbed his left arm.
Earthen creatures are too confident about their safety for their own good.
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Post by Den // Aik on Apr 4, 2008 23:58:36 GMT -5
Both of the sprites paused, looking over in confusion as the new stranger landed in front of their guide. Normally they were pretty well versed in strange things... But riding a gargoyle down from the sky definitely was beyond their definition of strange. Rather awesome, especially to Aik, but still, stare-worthy.
Luckily Tuyet was managing to pay more attention to the random threats to their skin than the new not-threat. She twisting her neck up, wings still shuttered down over the red flutter sprite as she attempted to move as little as possible and still successfully roast a gargoyle. This one she got almost completely, snorting out smoke at the smell of the burning before the creature burst into ash. Then she glanced over at Aik, who was still watching interactions between the new person and De.
Her free wing shot out, essentially scooping up the small girl girl and dragging her back towards the dragon as she spit fire at another gargoyle, not quite managing to kill this one. Aik was cursing from besides her, a rather creative web of things that Tuyet was quite sure weren't feasible, especially for a dragon. Really this was one of those 'keep-Den-happy-but-keeping-Aik's-head-on' type moments. If the girl had gotten a wing bitten off by a monster because she was too busy eavesdropping to pay attention then that was her own damn fault.
A quick glance at De failed to tell the dragon what Aik had found so utterly interesting. And since De didn't seem to be paying Tuyet any attention so she assumed that meant he had whatever was going on between those two under control. She didn't miss the look at the two little ones... But that could have easily been just because they were the two who couldn't really defend themselves. Aik's attempts aside.
Aik, meanwhile, had run out of insults and settled for extricating herself from the supposed 'safety' of Tuyets wing. A quick glance at her brother confirmed that he was just doing his best to stay safe at the dragons side... and a quick grab at her sleeves confirmed that she had enough knives to be useful. Of course, the shiny needles that their guide had thrown were definitely tempting to grab and try to use, but she wasn't sure if she could, and somehow the blue winged sprite didn't think that De would take it too well if she was playing with his weapons instead of sticking to "her own" filched ones.
That thought process led her eyes towards the boy the needles had been thrown at, her eyes flickering over the red-head as she dodged another gargoyle -- which was promptly taken care of by Tuyet, damned dragon was just trying to burn her hair, she knew it. "Yo! You insane? Get over here where it's safer and you aren't going to get eaten by a stone beastie!"
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Post by Hauke on Apr 7, 2008 19:09:39 GMT -5
I'd dodged the needles that the violet-haired man had thrown easily; it didn't seem as if he was taking much thought in where he was aiming, anyways.
Captain, meanwhile, blasts a few gargoyles out the air- I'm really wishing he'd stop showing off sometimes...
And then one of the butterfly-winged people shouts at me. I grit my teeth and growl to myself. Why d' people keep assumin' I can' take care o' myself??
A trio of gargoyles start to dive down, two going for the dragon, and one targets Akasha from above and behind. A glare at the creature and bring the weapon I'd dragged along up and quickly pin the gargoyle between the runes. I smile and hum a little as I pull the trigger, and a short burst of fire slams into the thing before it can reach the Captain. My flamethrower seems to be every bit as effective as a dragons, which makes me grin more widely.
As I take aim at another gargoyle, I speak loud enough for the butterfly-girl to hear. "I can take care o' myself!"
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De
Level 2
Posts: 72
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Post by De on Apr 13, 2008 2:43:31 GMT -5
There weren't many of them left in the sky.
Glancing up above, De counted quietly. The flock that was there before had turned into piles of ash, slowly sinking into the wet mud beneath their feet. And after a while, the mud would turn hard --- into something like clay. Clay with anima.
And the gargoyles would be born again.
He watched as a few of the flying beasts swooped the empty air, and noticed three of them slipping away while the others distracted the crew. Quietly the myrmidon watched the shadows disappear into the farther sky, and pulled his silver knife out of the ash pile surrounding his feet.
The gargoyles were a part of Collosae's scouting system. And judging by the numbers that return to Collosae... They'll raise the defenses. It's time to seperate from them.
De looked to Akasha, expressionless and abrupt, while a few gargoyles were still circling the air. "We'll be leaving," he explained, and a hint of uncertainty flickered from the depth of his eyes as he said, "Goodbye."
He slid his silver knife back inside its sheath and slowly started away, leaving the ship's crew to deal with the leftovers. Without saying anything, he stepped back on the road to Collosae, assuming that the trio would follow somehow.
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Akasha Govad
Level 3
Sailing, sailing, over your stupid heads!
Posts: 259
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Post by Akasha Govad on Apr 13, 2008 4:45:09 GMT -5
Akasha blinked, confused more so at the forceful nature of Hauke than anything else. He looked up and motioned towards his airship. The Slanted Truth slowly lowered, loosing altitude and moving closer to the ground, providing better cover for the dragon, fairies, and his crew. He nodded before turning and shooting again, sending two more gargoyles falling to the ground.
"Looks like we're golden..." the pirate murmured, slinging his rifle over his shoulder and looking around. He curiously watched the red eyed swordsman. The movements were interesting. He turned rapidly as yells from his crew. He walked over to see the darkened remains of one of the odder gargoyles.
"What the devil?" Akasha murmured lightly, looking down and poking at the remains with his rifle. "Just bag it. We'll play with it on the ship." The crew snapped to work.
As he was moving away from the crew arguing over the best way to contain gargoyle soup, the red-eyed swordsman had thrown an abrupt goodbye and stalked off down an well-worn road. Akasha frowned and followed after him at a slow jog.
Why the hell this swordsman intrigued him, he didn't know.
"Oi! Angry sword swinger person!" Akasha yelled. "Wait up!"
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De
Level 2
Posts: 72
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Post by De on Apr 14, 2008 0:22:54 GMT -5
De walked slowly, staring blankly ahead. Something was bubbling just as slow beneath the bandages that covered his arms.
Slowly, slowly, bubbling. Like lava.
The myrmidon had to concentrate to make it stop. But even the strongest concentration cannot help sometimes. His masters can rob him free of will and memory, but even they cannot seperate a devilsbribe from its infant.
And that's why they wanted him.
But De didn't care about all that. He wasn't made to think or question. He smoothed the palm of his hand down a sleek, bandaged arm, unsure if it was pain he felt or just another pulse of insanity. Hearing footsteps ringing near, De let go of his arm.
"What is it?" Emotionless, the myrmidon turned sideways to face Akasha. He glanced behind the captain, noting the busy crewmen running about like ants. There weren't enough cover to kill Akasha and escape swiftly from an airship, he decided. Especially with a dragon and two flutter sprites.
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Akasha Govad
Level 3
Sailing, sailing, over your stupid heads!
Posts: 259
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Post by Akasha Govad on Apr 15, 2008 22:45:42 GMT -5
Akasha watched the swordsman's hand as it slid along his bandaged arm. He raised an eyebrow, but shrugged. He knew how war wounds went.
"Where ya off to in such a rush?" the pirate asked. He rested his rifle over his shoulders and looked past the swordsman into the distance. "I'd reckon you're headed the same way we are. Old city with lots of pretties?" The pirate didn't expect an answer. He didn't need one. He knew what direction the violet haired man had walked towards.
Akasha looked over his shoulder and motioned with his rifle. "We have more than enough room. And it's a sight easier than walking. Slanted Truth may not look flashy, but she's fast. She'll get ya to your city damn quick." He turned one eye back towards the swordsman, looking over the man's frame calculatingly. "You and your lot are more'n welcome to a bunk."
The captain wasn't a fool. He highly doubted this man was going to take his offer. He doubted this man wanted to spare his life. But that is why he asked. Because he didn't doubt they would meet again in Collosae. And, above all else, he had a sinking feeling that city and that damned map and those damned red eyes staring back at his own ruby orbs were all going to conspire together and throw his fate for a loop.
He shoulda tossed the damn map overboard.
"So you want a lift or not?"
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Post by Hauke on Apr 15, 2008 23:14:51 GMT -5
I look up as the ship makes its decent, and then around at the crew mopping things up, and smile.
So much more fun than sittin' in my room... not allowed to even go outside without Aunt or Uncle around. Hell, I'm learnin' somethin' useful for a change!
My head snaps back as the Captain makes his proposition to the scary man. Invite... I mean, I know he let me stay, but... Somethin' about that guy doesn't sit right...
I look worriedly between the two, and glance at the dragon and the butterfly people. Those three are alright, I think.
Why 'm I even thinkin' about this? 'm just a stowaway... and half Rhasto to boot.
Nevertheless, I power down my nearly drained flamethrower and walk over to Akasha. "A-are you sure, Cap'n?" I shift nervously on my feet and shudder a little as I look at the purple-haired man.
I'll prolly just get told to get back on board or somethin'...
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De
Level 2
Posts: 72
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Post by De on Apr 17, 2008 16:31:48 GMT -5
The myrmidon looked Akasha in the eyes, seemingly contemplating, but he actually was not. He waited for a cue --- the instinctive feeling he always got when dealing with a situation. The kind of instinct that was trained and stuffed into him, telling him what should be done in certain scenes. But there was none this time.
A flicker of irritation danced beneath the shadows that darkened his crimson snake eyes. "No." But his voice was still monotone, and even void of hostility.
So it was confirmed to De that the crew were pirates. And that treasures were their claimed objective for reaching Collosae. He didn't even need to ask.
Treasures in Collosae...
De didn't think much of them in his few years here. Most of them were like stones, kicked and thrown around by beasts and myrmidons alike. Others they collect, if they should be entrapped by their beauty. The great collectors of Collosae should be the dragons...
What a coincidence.
De is likely to be Akasha's killer afterall. Thinking that, he looked at Hauke, who seemed to be sticking close to the captain. Without further statement the myrmidon turned around started walking again, moving slowly for the dragon and flutter sprites to catch up.
Regardless of the difference in speed alone between them and the airship, he knew that by ground it was easier to enter Collosae.
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Post by Den // Aik on Apr 17, 2008 20:33:50 GMT -5
Aik made a face at the redhead as he snapped back at her. Well fine, stupid human could go ahead and get himself hurt 'taking care of himself' for all she cared. She could take care of herself but she didn't go around assuming that she could always take care of her own back.
The sprite ducked as Tuyet roasted another gargoyle, then glanced up in confusion as the dragon settled down a bit more, realizing with a start that the sky was clearing. There seemed to be a scant few back up there... but not really many. The girl straightened up, stepping delicately away from the dragon and her brother to send a glance towards De, realizing with a start that their guide was starting to move away, apparently having been talking with these new people while she wasn't paying attention to much of anything but stone beasties.
Unlike his sister, Den had actually been paying attention, and as he moved away from the safety of Tuyet's wing, his own wings fluttering slightly after being motionless for so long, he couldn't help but wonder why De had answered like that. These people didn't seem to be dangerous... After all, they had helped them when the gargoyles were coming, and they were heading to the same place... But maybe De knew something that they didn't after all, this was his territory, not theirs. Or maybe he was just overly cautious.
Whatever it was, he figured it had to be a good reason, since before this the man had seemed to be so intent on getting to the city quickly.
Tuyet muttered something, then started to move, gently bumping the sprite with her head to get him moving as well, to follow the purple haired man as he started to move again. He glanced back at the redhead, figuring that since Aik had been rude he might as well do the opposite (after all they had come all the way down here to help them), and grinned at him for a brief moment, saying "Bye!" before letting the albino dragon propel him to move.
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Akasha Govad
Level 3
Sailing, sailing, over your stupid heads!
Posts: 259
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Post by Akasha Govad on Apr 18, 2008 16:51:48 GMT -5
Akasha watched the dragon and flutter sprites walk past, following in the trail of the swordsman. He grinned and fixed an eye on the male sprite's rear. It had been a long time since he'd been with a sprite...they always tasted so sweet. He shook his head and turned back to his crew. He shouldered his rifle and blew out a piercing whistle.
"Oi! Listen up! Get that stuff loaded and let's get the hell on the sky ways!" the captain yelled out. He waved his hand toward the ship, letting the bottom cargo hatches slowly open. He looked up and waved at Berna. The dwarf waved back and lowered down the large cranes and wenches.
"We may have met some enemies..." Akasha murmured lightly, looking over his shoulder at the swordsman and his group. He shook his head and looked down at Hauke. "And you need to learn Hauke. Don't challenge me in public: be it crew or passengers or strangers. It doesn't serve any purpose." He walked away from the boy and over to one of the chains dangling from the bottom of the ship.
"Let's hurry boys! I wanna reach the city by nightfall!" the captain roared. His eyes flashed at the chain zoomed towards the ship, the large cog retracting the chain. The captain sailed up towards his ship, hanging onto the metal links until he was inside the hull of his ship.
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Post by Hauke on Apr 18, 2008 19:53:04 GMT -5
I watch as the group walk away, tension flowing out with every step the frightening purple-haired man took. After they've gone, I look up at Akasha as he says, "We may have met some enemies..."
Tha's true... 'least that one guy's not friendly. Why'd Cap'n even-
I visibly wince at Akasha's rebuke and look at the ground to hide a few tears that escape before I can stop them. I'd thought I'd be used people saying stuff like that by now- but it still cut.
Maybe this wasn' such a good idea... M-maybe I should just leave? I watch as the crew loads up the boats and the ship's cranes. Would anyone notice?
I jump as I hear a wildcat cough somewhere and shudder. I can' leave, can I...wouldn't make it out here by m'self. And... and my sketchbook's still up there. I can' leave that.
I jog resolutely up to the last boat and clamber in before it has the chance to lift off, clutching my new weapon as the boat raises into the air and docks on the ship. As I get off, a couple of the crewmates ask me what I thought of my first up-close fighting, but I don't really pay attention to how I reply. Must have been alright, since they just nod and run to help with the unloading.
I look around, but don't find anything for me to do, except maybe clean the flamethrower in my hands. The only one I can ask on how t'do that...
I walk up to Akasha's door and knock before timidly opening it and slipping in, blinking to let me eyes adjust to the change in light.
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Akasha Govad
Level 3
Sailing, sailing, over your stupid heads!
Posts: 259
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Post by Akasha Govad on Apr 18, 2008 20:14:47 GMT -5
Akasha looked up and sighed lightly, his eyes softening as Hauke walked in. He smiled and stood lightly. He looked at the boy and saw the concern and fear in his eyes. He shook his head lightly and looked down.
"I didn't mean to be too harsh Hauke," the captain said lightly. "But I have to keep control. I have to keep my crew in check. And I can't have anyone crossing me..." He looked up and stared the boy in the eye. "That includes you."
Akasha clenched and unclenched his hands. He sighed and shook his head again. "I don't like being that mean...I don't like having to be hard on someone I care about. But if it means controlling my ship, then I will." He smiled softly.
"You can argue with me all you want behind my door. When we're outside, you need to obey."
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Post by Hauke on Apr 18, 2008 21:10:39 GMT -5
I blush as Akasha talks. "O-oh... I... I guess that makes sense..."
S'pose... it's prolly harder to keep a crew of pirates from mut'ny...
"Um... Why would I argue with you?" I shift my feet nervously before continuing. "I just really didn' like that guy... he's really bad news."
Come on... change the subject? I'll start feeling worse if this keeps up!
"Cap'n? Can you... Can you show me how to clean m- the flamethrower? I wanna get it right." I hold it out to him as I absently take off the makeshift padding and finger my burn. It's still red, but it's itching instead of burning, so I relax a little.
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Akasha Govad
Level 3
Sailing, sailing, over your stupid heads!
Posts: 259
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Post by Akasha Govad on Apr 19, 2008 17:31:50 GMT -5
"You can call me by my given name in private ya know..." Akasha said softly. He smiled as the ship lurched slowly and began to move. He sighed blissfully as the sounds of the engines gathering speed met his attuned ears.
"Take a seat," the captain said lightly, pulling the flamethrower from the boy's hands. He slowly showed Hauke how to take apart the device, how to clean the fuel injectors and the flame conduits. With a smile he dropped a kiss the Hauke's cheek.
He knew they were getting closer to the city. He could feel the ship and the wind and the tenseness that permeated his crew. He knew they were getting close to the end of this voyage.
"Any other questions Hauke?" the captain said with a smile.
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De
Level 2
Posts: 72
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Post by De on Apr 19, 2008 20:02:24 GMT -5
The sky was dimming down, but just a little,; De's vision wasn't incomplete anymore. Seems like his eyes changed a little, too. His crimson eyes were starting to glow faintly of an eerie red. The devilsbride let his eyelids relax... The promised darkness was just hours ahead.
The guide had brought his guest, the dragon, and two additional flutter sprites far from the stack of fresh gargoyle ash. Even better, he'd brought them away from the seemingly much travelled path. Not long after, having come beyond a road of harsh stones, they arrived at the desert.
The burning sand was just about to cool, and the dry sensation swirled about their feet. Finally, De halted softly --- seemingly right in the middle of nowhere. He stood without saying anything for a while until the sand around them began to flow, and the ground beneath them began to shake.
"Hold your breath," he said. Right before a sandy monster of a tiger's face rose from the earthquake and swallowed them whole.
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Post by Den // Aik on Apr 21, 2008 12:27:16 GMT -5
Den had stopped paying much attention after awhile of walking, simply sticking by Tuyet's mind and letting his mind wander. All of them seemed to be pretty quiet right now, though he noted rather absentmindedly that their guide really always was quiet. Maybe he just didn't like people... And really Den was focusing more on keeping up with the rest of them without having to resort to fluttering about.
They were a lot like the butterflies they got their wings from in that respect, he supposed. Walking and all that didn't take too much energy, but the combination of magic and movement used to keep them afloat meant that they really could use random little meals interspersed throughout the day to keep their energy up. Or at least that's how it was for Den. Since they hadn't gotten a chance to eat since well before the whole deal with the gargoyles, both him and Aik were better off just walking carefully at this point... Especially glancing ahead and seeing that they were about to go over such an expanse of pure sand.
Aik stopped as De did, looking up curiously at De as Tuyet edged up close -- Den moving with her rather automatically --, both of them wondering exactly what was going on. Maybe there was something that he was expecting to go after them here... She couldn't remember if he had expected the gargoyles or not, but she wouldn't have put it past him.
Really the thought of fighting something -else- should have had her scared or excited... But really she just felt rather exhausted. Or at least, that's all she felt until she realized the implications of the ground moving beneath them.
All three of them looked at De in triplet expressions of utter confusion as he spoke, Aik's confusion changing to a shriek that cut of abruptly as she gulped in air and they disappeared.
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Post by Hauke on Apr 25, 2008 21:20:50 GMT -5
I blushed as Akasha tells me to call him by name- especially after that little speech on how he had to keep control of the situation- and sit down to watch him carefully take the weapon apart and clean it. Just watching the man, though, makes my hands itch for a pencil and sketchbook- I haven't drawn anything in awhile. As I watch him work, my eyes keep getting drawn alternately by his eyes and his hands, which confuses me more than a little since there doesn't seem to be any reason for that to happen.
Akasha finally looks up at me and smiles. "Any other questions Hauke?"
I shake my head. "N-no... Not right now 'least." Shift in my seat and then stand up. "Um... I'm a little hungry though..." Before he can say anything, I slip out the door and trot down to the galley, watching for that Rempa man from before, and relaxing a bit when I don't see him around. I easily get myself a large meal from the cook and walk back to Akasha's room with it, balancing the tray carefully as I open the door and slip inside.
Glancing at Akasha and blushing slightly, I set the tray down on the table and return to my seat. "Um... I got enough for both of us... is that alright?"
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Akasha Govad
Level 3
Sailing, sailing, over your stupid heads!
Posts: 259
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Post by Akasha Govad on Apr 30, 2008 20:29:15 GMT -5
Akasha smiled and nodded. He and Hauke sat down to eat. It was relaxing and cute. Akasha couldn't help but smile. As he ate, the ship moved closer to the city, to their destination. He was in mid-bite of a delicious pear when a pulse of energy spiked through his brain.
Akasha gripped at his head and bent over, his eyes wide and his breath coming in pants. The Techne waves were bouncing rapidly, sending his mind on a nauseous ride. Some big, ancient and angry machine had just activated. He gulped in air, doing his best to keep a steady grip on his sanity and his lunch. He slowly calmed himself, but he could feel the Techne pulsing in his eyes. It was painful. So painful.
But know he saw it. He saw the city, laced in blue veins and machines that had laid dormant for years. Weapons designed to defend the city from flying creatures. Weapons to incinerate people knocking at the door. Weapons of every make and model. And all were coming online.
"Berna," he gasped out, his eyed glowing a brilliant turquoise, "Are we near the city?"
"Aye. We cross'd the outskirts of the city methinks. Some giant pillars or some such," the dwarf said over the ship's intercom. Akasha groaned. Sensors. That had to be the purpose of the pillars. They probably had shielding on them as well.
"Bring the ship to a complete stop..." Akasha croaked, staggering to his feet and towards the door. "Something isn't right."
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