December 22, 2111
James Stone
Two weeks had passed, and in that time we met a few locals as we made stops to resupply our boat. In a word, they were kind. One may even say too much so which a trait not too often witnessed in the galaxy these days. In truth, maybe that is what has held the corelinns back from intergalactic travel. But really, would these beings even fit in the twisted-up, upside-down galaxy of ours? It takes a thick coat to make it from day to day through a war as massive as the Wersillian War. A coat that not everyone can bear to carry. From where I'm sitting, the corelinns may be better off waiting a few decades to join the list of intergalactic species.
We were close to our journey's end. Our boat drifted towards the last bend that would lead us into a cave. Cliffs on both sides, forests and brush so thick, light could barely pass through lined the tops of the mountains, all along with an unnerving silence as we neared our destination. Fog flowed over the top of the wakeless, blue water and sharp rocks forced Jeremiah to maneuver our watercraft carefully. One brush against these rocks could mean the end of our ride, and instead, we'd end up neck-high in water.
It took a bit, but we eventually made it through the cave. On the other side were some docks. Up and past the docks was a rather small colony with big walls and defenses, all made of dense stone logs.
Both suns were high in the sky, yet both moons orbiting this planet were visible in the sky as well. Humid air blew over the sky-blue ocean-river and the wake of our boat swished against the patterned, composite docks. Jeremiah eased the boat into the edge of the marina just as a dock worker came over to help; stomping with loud sandals. "Would you like help, si--" The worker's eyes caught notice of us. "More otherworldly visitors?" Another observation I have made of these people is, they are a lot more likely to accept alien life than humans ever were. Sure, they are surprised in the immediate moment after catching sight of my handsome, war-hardened face. Though after that, they accept it; rather nonchalantly at that. Quite an interesting species indeed. "What is their purpose on our world?" the worker asked as he tied the boat to the dock.
Jeremiah stepped off the boat first. "They seek to go home. But first they are here to enter the vault."
His eyes grew wide for a second. "Dangerous."
"I'm surprised that Witna hasn't mentioned them," Jeremiah responded, gesturing for us to follow him.
"She probably has, but you know our leader. He doesn't tell us much news from the mainlands." The worker stepped aside to let us pass.
Behind myself, everyone in my crew followed. Valiic came to my side. "The longer we stay on this primitive planet, the more at risk we place our alliance. Engaging with underdeveloped worlds will began to anger species all across our galaxy."
"As long as these people choose to take a metaphorical key and lock away their knowledge of us, then we shouldn't have an issue. Plus, what other choices were on the plate fate handed us? You don't think others will see this?"
"Some species aren't as understanding as others. The last thing we need is more enemies to fight against."
"And you think I didn't give this a second thought? Thus far, the people here have yet to let a word slip about our presence to other species across the galaxy--"
"To our knowledge," Valiic interrupted.
"Let's just meet with the leader of this colony, get the weapon, kill the monster, leave, and the people here will probably just forget we were ever here."
"I hope you are right, for the sake of our alliance."
The stairs led us to a gate already opened for our arrival. The fencing around this colony consisted of carved stone logs spiked at the tops and posted into the ground. Hundreds of these spiked stone posts boxed the colony in, each placed right next to each other. Every corner held a sentry tower, with all four being the tallest structures around.
Inside, guards lined up on either side of us and welcomed our arrival. They formed a path through the tents, barracks, and other wooden structures to the center, where a larger town hall marked the center.
As we came closer to the stairs outside the town hall, a soldier said, "Momotashi Boo'Thuur will be out to see you shortly."
The leader, Momotashi, rushed outside to meet us just a second later, scampering down the stairs and nearly tripping over himself. "There you are. I cannot tell you how glad I am to see you." The words came rushing from his mouth.
"I'm James--" I began to introduce myself.
"I know your names, so let's skip the introduction. I've had my men prepare supplies for your journey into the vault." He motioned to three men, who stepped forward with backpacks stuffed tightly.
Valiic stepped forward and grabbed them by the straps.
"You're eager to shoves us into the vault. What's the rush? Seriously, we've had a long journey and haven't even had a chance to get our bearings."
"I'm afraid I don't have time to explain--"
"Hold your beer for a second. I've heard that platitude before, so instead, let's make some time."
"Look. I'm sure Witnamerrys mentioned an inevitable threat. Well, that threat was reported by my scouts to be two weeks away from reaching this fort. If you don't have the weapon by then everyone here dies. A week after that, it will reach Surradimoor."
Jeremiah whispered in my ear, "That's the formal name of the Treasured City."
Frost jumped in to answer the leader's plea. "Consider it done, uzzo."
I nodded. "We have our share to lose. Alright then, just show us the way."
Momotashi bowed. "Thank you. But before you head into the vault, you will need a seventh member for you team."
"Got a soldier in mind, I take it?"
"One of yours, actually."
"Mine?" I frowned, not sure what he meant by that. All my men were presently in my company.
"Yes. In our medical center." He tapped on the shoulder of the closest soldier to him. "Show them." He then went back inside the town hall.
The soldier marched onward.
"Fine." I started forward. "Valiic, with me. Everyone else - wait for our return, and take inventory of the supplies."
Valiic handed the bags over to Frost and Shadow-Walker, then we both followed the solider. After just a hop, skip, and leap in distance, we arrived to the medical center. The back end of the building was pushed against the fencing. The center, however, was nothing special by any means. It looked like everything else, maybe just a hint wider.
In the medical center, we were taken to a room on the right of the first hall. No doors were separating the rooms. I was eager to meet this mysterious person who, supposedly, was team ARW.
I was the second to turn into the room, behind the soldier leading us, and I just about fell over when I caught eye of the two men before me. Maelkii twin brothers; one on a medical table with a blanket over him, and the other on a chair at his side. They looked up, their metal skin reflecting the light of the room into my eyes.
"What in bloody Sam-Hell are you doing here, James?" Geariic jumped out from his seat.
"James?" Alabon asked, not believing his own words until he saw me.
It was the Bruising Brothers! Here, on an unknown planet within our vast galaxy, in the same camp, and looking quite alive. The odds were astronomical. "You ask me that?" I asked louder than I meant to. "Seriously, what the holy hell?"
Geariic came closer to me, warhammer strapped over his back. "Yes, James. You aren't supposed to be here."
"Not that we aren't happy to see you," Alabon added before groaning with some pain.
Valiic moved past me and placed his hand over Geariic's shoulder. "It's good to see brothers as valiant as you two."
Geariic seemed uncomfortable with Valiic's gesture before losing it to laughter - untempoed and deep. "You're just as I remember, Valiic."
Valiic moved over to Alabon and pulled back the sheet. "What's the injury?"
"Leg." Alabon pointed to the bandages wrapped over his leg.
"Rest now, warrior. Tell me what happened."
"We tried to win the game," Alabon grunted as Valiic touched the bandage.
He removed his hand. "I apologize."
"Game?" I asked Geariic.
"He means the vault. We attempted to face its trials and claim the prize. Made it to the first champion before Alabon took a blow strong enough to pierce his skin. I barely managed to drag his ass out of that Sam-Hell."
Pierce him!What monsters lurked in our future? I shuttered at the thought.
"I can't believe you two were bested," Valiic said.
Geariic stomped on the ground, shaking the room, and turned. "Don't go spewing that garbage."
Valiic raised his hands. "I mean you no disrespect. All warriors have their shortcomings when facing the challenges placed in their path." Geariic stepped closer to Valiic. "Warriors, such as you two, are never defeated, only made stronger by such loses."
Geariic gave Valiic a disrespectful sneer, but he left it at that. Valiic seemed to ignore or miss Geariic's gesture all together. That sneer left a bad taste in my mouth, but I let it be. He was our ally, even if he was taking Valiic's words deeper than they were meant to be.
"You still haven't told me why you're here," I continued.
"You should just tell him, brother," said Alabon.
Geariic faced me again. "Kalvin sent us here."
"Kalvin did?" I was suspicious.
"Who else would?" Geariic asked me.
"It's just… just--"
Geariic tilted his head. "I don't like that look in your eye, James. What happened?"
"We all thought you two might've died," I responded after a moment of silence.
"Dead? Us?" Geariic and Alabon burst into gut-wrenching laughter. Alabon was cut short by the pain. "What gave you that impression?" Geariic questioned as he recovered from his laughter.
"When we were on the mission on Idor, your squad went and dropped off the fraken map. Gone… like a puff of smoke. And man, we could've used you two!" I shouted. "People died!" I stepped forward, a meter in front of him, pointing. "You two could've saved many lives!"
Geariic pushed down my hand. "Bring it down, James. Shivf, I would've liked to have bloodied my warhammer with some korkyran blood, too. But hell, we didn't have a fraken choice. Kalvin's orders."
"And Kalvin gets what he wants," Alabon added.
"And I swear to you, James, our unit was fine when we were picked up. Captain Waseem was supposed to inform everybody of the situation during the next captains' meeting."
"He never made it to that meeting," Valiic informed.
I let my blood lighten up. "You're right. Kalvin does get what he wants, and I'll make sure to take it up with him. Until then, we need to work together if we ever want to see this planet in the rearview mirror."
"How do you propose we do that, James?" Geariic crossed his arms.
"If we manage to claim this weapon from the vault and kill their planet-killer, the corelinns will let us use their communication tower. That's our ticket home."
"Shivf, you think we're going back in deathtrap? Not with my brother in the condition he is in."
"Not him. Just you."
"And leave my brother. Frak that," Geariic refused.
Alabon grunted. "Brother. Go with them. We still have our mission."
"Mission?" My eyebrow went up.
"Kalvin's mission," Geariic reiterated. He walked to his brother and looked down at Valiic. He gave up the chair to Geariic, who sat at his brother's side. He put his hand over his brother's head. "If Kalvin wants one of those weapons, he can come take them himself. There isn't a place in Sam-Hell that I'd ever leave you, Alabon."
"Brother… if you can't retrieve that weapon, we'll all die here."
Those words seemed to shake Geariic, and his head popped up. "Frak it. Why do you have to be right, Alabon?" He patted his brother on the chest. He looked to me. "Very well, James. Count me in."
"You and the big-ass warhammer will make an excellent asset to our squad." I was thrilled.
"Aces should stick together," said Alabon.
Geariic looked down at his brother once more before standing up and leaving the room. He grunted, "Let's get on with this shivf." We and the corelinn soldier all followed Geariic and emptied the room.