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Post by Triunis on Apr 4, 2004 22:29:11 GMT -5
The raindrops fell slowly through the twilight sky, and splashed to the cold, moist earth with little ceremony. Frogs, insects, and lizards ran for cover from the approaching storm, and from the creature that slowly trod along the ground towards the marsh's center.
The creature blinked back tears as the rain bounced from his goggles to his cheek, and his once sky blue trenchcoat, now damp and mud-stained, seemed to have lost its former spirit, and hung limply from his body. Dropping to the ground, Setthirosa closed his eyes as he felt tears washing from them, and cried out with agony to the setting sun.
"What have I become? What have you made me? Why, why, WHY!?"
********************
Elsewhere in the marsh, far from the screaming call, a tall, black creature leaned against a willow tree. His multicolor robe billowed out under the wind, and his closed eyes and level voice revealed nothing as he spoke.
[glow=white,2,300]"I simply wish to specify, Mahandronis. You have been killing for no reason? Even sentients have souls and minds, my friend."[/glow]
The creature to which he spoke stood a ways off. His own robe, silver and navy blue, matched almost perfectly his long, silver right arm. He spoke almost as levelly as his companion, but suppressed tones of anger.
[glow=silver,2,300]"You have yourself told each and every one of us that we must destroy the sentients! I also might add that you yourself have never taken a single life, so you cannot tell us how to act!"[/glow]
As soon as he said the words, Mahandronis regretted them. The other creature opened his eyes and stared at the Relic.
[glow=white,2,300]"Mahandronis, take note. If you ever speak to me in such a manner again, I will classify it as insubordination. For the time being, we will accept that you are acting without regard for life. Make the same mistake twice, and I will remove you from your post here."[/glow]
Mahandronis knew he was beaten. Spreading his newly regained wings to test them, he bowed his head in shame and closed his eyes.
[glow=silver,2,300]" . . . Understood, sir."[/glow]
The creature under the willow stood up and smiled as an orb of magic formed around him.
[glow=white,2,300]"Don't call me 'sir.' And don't take the administrative buisness too personally; we're just trying to keep the Salvationists on their toes, right?"[/glow]
Mahandronis smiled as his friend disappeared. He knew that things would be much more interesting now.
[glow=silver,2,300]"Right . . . Lonærtheratu."[/glow]
*******************
Setthirosa crawled through the swamp deep into the night. His mind was a blur of memories, and as he stumbled on his hands and knees, thoughts of the atrocities he had committed passed through his head.
The children in Puralgatha . . . The skirmish in the desert . . . the countless slaughters in countless places . . .
DarkUmbra and Kathryn.
Suddenly filled with energy, Setthirosa leapt to his feet. In seconds, he produced the Tigris and the Euphrates, both shining bright despite the muck surrounding them. Crossing them in front of his chest, he called out to the night.
"Can you hear me, Mahandronis!? You have destroyed me! You made me kill them! All of them! You bastard, what have you done?"
He opened the backs of his guns, and was pleased to see the photon cartriges still in place.
"And before I can stop the killing, I've got one more crime to commit! The deaths of the innocents will be avenged with your blood!"
His energy rekindled by his fury, he set off into the night in search of his enemy.
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Post by Triunis on Apr 5, 2004 20:00:52 GMT -5
Mahandronis heard this call, and his eyes slowly opened.
[glow=silver,2,300]No . . . he doesn't understand . . . [/glow]
Mahandronis turned to where the call came from, and ran towards it. Rain bounced from his perfectly smooth skin, and he did not stop until he entered a large clearing.
Looking around at it, he thought it vaguely familiar . . .
[glow=silver,2,300]Of course. This is where I arrived. Where we arrived. Where DarkUmbra was killed . . .[/glow]
Looking up, he saw what he was looking for.
************************
The mud-drenched Setthirosa grinned at the sight of Mahandronis, revealing his pointed, perfectly white canines.
"Mahandronis, you've caused a lot of people a lot of problems. You've made me kill without any cause to. But now . . ."
He pulled both of his guns into a ready position, and inclined his head, not taking his eyes off of his foe.
" . . . I'm ready to right the wrongs I made. I'm already d*mned thanks to you, so I may as well kill you and spare the rest of Isonia your scourge."
************************
A look of pain was on Mahandronis' face. He didn't want this, not now. He needed to go home, to the planets where he was used to. Oreas, Baldethrak, Brinpore, Kasyune . . . he needed to be back in the central areas. He wanted to fight, not to be positioned in the pit that was Fyia. And most importantly, he didn't want to have to deal with Setthirosa now.
[glow=silver,2,300]"Setthirosa, please! I didn't mean for any of this to happen. You know what I am like. When we were part of one another, each of us influenced the others actions! These slaughters are not because of either of us but because of both of us! I only kill when it'll directly help the other Relics, you know this . . ."[/glow]
But Mahandronis had trouble believing it himself. He'd done a lot for the Relics, but he'd done a lot that they did not believe in as well.
[glow=silver,2,300]"Let your hatred die here, Archarialite. I'll take you back to the rest of the universe, and we can forget all about this planet and what transpired here."[/glow]
************************
Archarialite.
A look of anguish crossed the warrior's face as he thought about the word.
I'm from Brinpore. I'm the Champion, along with Rift. I don't know how I got here. I killed thousands, lost my honor, and now . . .
"No!"
Setthirosa looked at Mahandronis. Tears were streaming from his eyes once more, and his voice quavered as he spoke.
"You are right. I will leave my anger here. But I'm staying here too. Fyia is my home now. I'm going to spend the rest of my life righting the wrongs I've made. And I've got to start with you."
He looked away as he leveled the Euphrates at Mahandronis.
"May Gaea forgive me for this, my final atrocity."
************************
Mahandronis barely even expected the bullet. Even as it left the chamber, he couldn't believe it, couldn't understand how Setthirosa could have pulled the trigger. As the bullet slammed into his chest, he could feel it rupture his lung and pierce through his back. Pain did not come to the Relic, but he knew how badly he was hurt.
[glow=silver,2,300]No . . .[/glow]
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Post by Triunis on Apr 7, 2004 0:23:33 GMT -5
Mahandronis stood up, clutching his chest. He was losing ichor rapidly, and his eyes were beginning to change from their normal silver to a pale white. Glaring at Setthirosa, he spoke as he always had.
[glow=silver,2,300]"You . . . actually did it. I don't . . . believe it. You had the will to actually fire, hmm . . . ?"[/glow]
He kneeled down, and wondered if the shot would be fatal.
[glow=silver,2,300]I can't die yet . . . That shot meant nothing . . .
. . . nothing . . .[/glow]
*****************
Setthirosa slowly walked over to where Mahandronis was laying and leaned down. Tears were silently making their way down his face, mingeling with the rainwater. He didn't want to kill, but he didn't feel that he had a choice now. He pointed the Euphrates at Mahandronis' head and closed his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Mahandronis. I'm sorry I've made so many mistakes. I'm sorry I've killed so many people. I'm sorry I've destroyed so much happiness. And I'm sorry that I have to end it with more of the same horror."
The trigger was pulled and the photon bullet left the chrome chamber, flew through the barrel, and exploded into the air . . .
. . . and slammed into the ground, harmlessly splattering mud into the air.
Setthirosa looked around in confusion for his target. The only sign that Mahandronis had been there was the imprint in the damp soil before the Archarialite. He looked up and screamed into the night sky.
"This isn't over yet, Relic! I'll make you pay for what you did to me! And I'll make you feel the pain that you've made me cause so many others, or I will die in the attempt!"
*****************
[glow=silver,2,300] . . . Sounds fair.[/glow]
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Keijina
Infantry
Only survivors get to keep power. We died once, and we don't intend on doing it again.
Posts: 149
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Post by Keijina on May 31, 2004 22:33:22 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]Brook appeared first, her eyes scanning that scene intently. A male speciman stood, hunched over a dip in the mud. He seemed to be sad and angry at the same time. A very hard thing for a human soul to master. As soon as her sister appeared, she made mental contact. "Metal-Arm was here." she said bluntly, indicating to the fast disappearing imprint of the wounded alien. Sumi's somewhat irritated reply came to her head. "No sh*t sherlock! This place is screaming, 'MAHANDRONIS! MAHANDRONIS!' " she snarled. Brook smirked inside. "A little sgrivated, sister?" she said sheepishly. 'Mahandronis leaves destruction and pain everywhere he goes and can manage to piss my usually calm sister off,' she thought to herself. 'I'm starting to like him.'[/glow] ********************* [glow=purple,2,300]Every inch of the vampiress was tense and seeing that Mahandronis caused more pain irked her more. Her mind battled, there seemed to be too many things to loose yet too many things to be gained. She bit her lip in frustration and formed a speech to which she could give her sister when something prevented her from doing that. Without warning, the ever-present connection to her sister was cut off. This was not good. The last time that her sister did that was when she had attempted to kill Sumi's beloved puppy. That was 2,732 years ago. Not being able to hear her sister's thoughts and emotions left the beautiful demon scared of what her sister was going to do next.[/glow] |
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Post by Kruck on Jun 2, 2004 18:00:05 GMT -5
Many of the trees in the swamp were not suitable at all for sleeping in. Kruck had found this out the hard way. But today he slept soundly in a tree which was almost as comfortable as a bed for the average person; for Kruck, who loved to sleep in trees, it was better then a bed.
Today was not the day for a sound sleep, though. For in this swamp, The gondora, many people seemed to be in it tonight. The swamp was alive with voices, at least to one to who every little sound was a diversion from sleep.
Angrily, Kruck slowly opened one eye. and then the other. Sitting up he bunced up his hand into a fist and pounded it hard against the tree. What were these strangers doing in his swamp? Kruck expertly slid down the tree and dropped silently to the damp ground. Now to find out who these people were and what they were doing in his swamp.
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Keijina
Infantry
Only survivors get to keep power. We died once, and we don't intend on doing it again.
Posts: 149
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Post by Keijina on Jun 4, 2004 19:58:50 GMT -5
Brook didn't feel Kruck's presence being that her mind was totally enclosed. She did not want to argue with her sister, she didn't want her sister's morality to get in the way. Sumi didn't like to kill unless there was a reason, but she didn't understand. They were monsters, bred from the depths of hell to be parasites. They needed to kill, it was what they were made for, but for some reason, her kind little sister wasn't willing to see that. She was still clinging to what little humanity the vampiric blood hadn't washed out. Did she not remember the good days when it was just the two of them, causing destruction wherever they went? It was they who started World War III, so why couldn't she destroy and kill now!?
A fimiliar mental aura tried to break the mental barrier, but Brook pushed it out. She clenched her fists in anger and looked to where Mahandronis lay.
'My fool sister can't live in this world, not being what she is.' Brook looked to her feet and rubbed her tounge over the oh so fimiliar two fangs. 'Living as a corpse is causing her too much pain...I have to stop that pain.' a tear rolled down the perfectly formed cheek as the living mort decided that her sister must die...for good.
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Tenshi
Newbie
she set a blosson in her hair, the day faith died.
Posts: 59
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Post by Tenshi on Oct 12, 2004 21:26:26 GMT -5
with one hand sheilding her eyes from the brightness of the full moon, the other placed firmly on her hip, she gazed out into the murky wooded swamp. a faint mist curled around the baces of the withered trees like a living thing. again, Sakura forgot what she was looking for, what drew her to this place. she hummed to herself the only song she could remember, a quiet, lulling song of death long forgotten, pain stolen away, youth disapearing in a void of war.
the rotten stump beneather her crumbled like a moldy tangerine and Sakura cursed as she floped into the stickey, shlucky mud. she pulled her boots out with a shluck and watched the ozing slime melt away. a cloud passed overhead, turning the setting into a black and white ice cube. Sakura leand against the stump and hugged hersef to keep some warmth.
something leaped out at her, a movement, a voice; and she sudenly relized that there was some one else in the woods. she crouched down to become a fox and crept twords the sound on stealthey padded feet. she reached a slight break in the forest and huddled around a tree to become human again. three people were in the glade, mist curling around there feet like the sinister fingers of a madman. she entwined her fingers wiht the crumbling bark of the tree and silently watched the goings ons with a mixture of fear and curiosity.
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Mahandronis
Infantry
"If I were any better at holding a sword, I'd cut my hands off for the insurance."
Posts: 109
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Post by Mahandronis on Jul 27, 2005 10:19:41 GMT -5
****************
[Some time later . . . ]
Mahandronis quietly strode through the muck, casting his gaze around it. Normally he would have regarded this place with a mild disdain, but now, he wore a look of saddened nostalgia.
As he knelt at the place where Setthirosa's bullet had passed into the ground, he spoke softly to himself.
"I . . . never meant for any of it to go this far . . ."
He stood and turned, lowering his face.
"It is difficult to remember exactly why all of this happened. We don't want a bloody war. We want everything to be as quick and painless as possible . . . we would have won by now if we'd been more violent . . . "
He sighed.
"I don't know that I have anything else to say to this place."
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teran
Warrior
I'm sorry, I think you mis-understood your question.
Posts: 367
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Post by teran on Aug 1, 2005 10:16:03 GMT -5
Starring into the sky, Teran slowly sank inot the muck a couple of inches. This was not where he wanted tot be, but when the smugglers through him off their boat, he had no where else to go. Sighing deeply he took another step, and fell promply on his face in the mud. Sinking another few inches, Teran created a bubble arounf himself, scrapping away the mud and slime away fomr his unmoving form. Standing up, teran tried to wipe the remainging mud from his face. Stopping suddenly, Teran stood perfectly still, There was something moving...something that didn't belong here. All the creatures Teran had seen here hd barely made a sound, but something was not caring who heard them. Maybe this...thing could help him get out of the god forsaken swamp. Slowly creeping forward, Teran squelched through the mud, trying to identify where and what was making the sound
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Mahandronis
Infantry
"If I were any better at holding a sword, I'd cut my hands off for the insurance."
Posts: 109
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Post by Mahandronis on Aug 1, 2005 13:12:11 GMT -5
Mahandronis peered through the gloom.
"Teran! Glad you made it this far."
He gestured to the swamp grandly.
"This is all that is left of a book long closed, my companion. A book of death, hatred, and greed. I wish that I had not had such a large part in it myself, but . . . "
Sighing, Mahandronis inclined his head.
"Some mistakes can neither be corrected nor forgotten, Teran. Do not make the same mistakes that I have."
He began to trudge through the marsh.
"What I am looking for is not here. Do you know of any nearby towns?"
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teran
Warrior
I'm sorry, I think you mis-understood your question.
Posts: 367
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Post by teran on Aug 1, 2005 15:04:50 GMT -5
"Sorry old friend, but i know not where the closest town is. I myself Was currently... discharged from the service of some questionable merchants. Not the most honorable job, but i need to make a living.And i am sorry to say that the mistakes i made are notyet over it seems, my life still send destruction and death through my unity of mind. It is sad that you have closed the book, for now that it is closed, it will be near impossibel to open agian. But i dare say you hope that you never have to open it agian. Wise choice, but you know that others will seek you, seek to kill you for revenge of others. Why did you close the book?"
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Mahandronis
Infantry
"If I were any better at holding a sword, I'd cut my hands off for the insurance."
Posts: 109
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Post by Mahandronis on Aug 2, 2005 22:47:26 GMT -5
Mahandronis shook his head.
"I was . . . merged with another. Our personalities conflicted in such a way that neither of us was in control. The result was a psychopathic being with both of our powers. By the time either of us knew what was happening, I was being accused of crimes beyond even my comprehension. I do not wish to be that violent again."
He looked at the mud.
"It was a rather . . . frightening period."
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teran
Warrior
I'm sorry, I think you mis-understood your question.
Posts: 367
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Post by teran on Aug 2, 2005 23:13:32 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]"I am still in such a state, but my seperation of mind is through my lack of unity of my mental, bodily, and spiritual beings. By not having all three of these parts of me tied together, i shift from one to the other. I still search for the experiences that will give the unity i seek, and through these experiences i also grow stronger in each. I suppose that yours was more choatic and painful... yes... but mine is more permenant, it is not known how long it will take me to ahcieve my goal."[/glow]
Teran stared off into the swamp, as if seeing something that wasn't visible to anyone but him. Shaking his head, Teran turned back towards Mahandronis.
[glow=red,2,300]"so, what part of you did i follow, when i joined you so long ago, whiohc part of you allowed me to become your friend?"[/glow]
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Mahandronis
Infantry
"If I were any better at holding a sword, I'd cut my hands off for the insurance."
Posts: 109
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Post by Mahandronis on Aug 3, 2005 12:46:34 GMT -5
Mahandronis smiled, shaking his head.
"This all took place long, long before you found yourself on Fyia. I know not how many years it has been. I also know not what happened to Setthirosa. But . . ."
He gazed skyward, his grey eyes reflecting the gathering stormclouds.
" . . . I heard he had a daughter. Someday . . . Someday I would like to meet her."
He turned away.
" . . . Yes. I would like to apologize to her . . ."
Facing Teran again, Mahandronis smiled half-heartedly.
"You must understand something. No matter how demonic or foul someone seems, they, too, have emotion."
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teran
Warrior
I'm sorry, I think you mis-understood your question.
Posts: 367
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Post by teran on Aug 3, 2005 13:01:02 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]"Emotion is to be alive, or so the village wise ones told the youth of my town. Your want to apoligize to those you have hurt is the sign that you are still alive, that you can still live for another day without giving in to the temptation of death. As long as the emotions you have continue to run, you will continue to live."[/glow]
Glancing towards the sky, Terans eyes found the storm clouds
[glow=red,2,300]"It seems a storm is coming. Suits the mood of this whole swamp..."[/glow]
Teran glanced around at the swamp, as if expecting some strange creature to pop out at any moment.
[glow=red,2,300]"should we find shelter, or shall we stand in the rain. I also hear that there are strange creatures in these swamps, ones that do not like to be disturbed"[/glow]
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