STORIES OF THE DEAD EARTH--BOOK 3: CHAPTER 6

I returned to my own quarters–away from the pain of my own heart’s desires. Fantasies of a different kind sought to wrap themselves around me–as my young mind continued to play out different scenarios; different aspects of a life which was both alien and familiar to me.

I hadn’t lived the sheltered life a princess to be a complete fool not to know what it meant to be the mistress and wife of a ship’s captain–especially one whom plied the seas on his own whim.

I knew the inherent dangers and rewards such a life would beget me–if only I chose such a path.

But mine own would not beret such a course. The destiny of thee wasn’t to be some captain’s pleasurable discourse on those nights which beckoned complete exhaustion and a measure of abeyant compliance.

I saw as much–as I sat down on the comfortable lounge chair and stared off into space. I sat there for minutes on end–as a stone golem would guarding one’s property for the time it withstood eternity’s forwarding grip.

I couldn’t understand why things happened the way they did. My family didn’t have that many enemies–of which of course those whom my parents didn’t keep me privy of.

My own safety was paramount, they would always tell me. And I had always believed them. As a dutiful daughter always had.

Rarely, would I get into sparring matches with them on a verbal level. I was always the perfect child in their eyes. The kind of girl whom would make the family exceptionally proud to have and call their own.

I sighed to myself, wondering if that was it. My own upbringing had doomed me to never find someone to share myself with on an even keel.

Looking back at what I had did, I felt some measure of remorse and a bit of guilt. I don’t know what really possessed me to act out towards Tiddus. For awhile–I guess–I was consumed by a silly girl’s notion (and fantasy), that the man was my ideal mate. Someone who was just as fiercely independent and strong-willed as I.

Someone whom I could confide in and be with–bear his children and live the life that a woman always was meant to have.

But the tug of my past, my lineage, my royal status was something which couldn’t be buried–no matter how often (and hard) I tried.

Great. I thought with some irritation rising up inside of me. Self-pity and sorrow for something which I am–and refuse to go back to.

But how could I? How could I resurrect a past which was killed off through some unknown factor? I hadn’t known what King Richard was really up to.

Just speculation.

But what I did know that he was cleansing the planet of any royal continence which could stand to be a threat to his mighty reign.

The fact that Jasmine and I escaped his grip and fled to parts unknown proved that we were just as resilient and unbroken as those populations savaged by his iron-fist.

Taking a look around our quarters, I could still see the damage caused by our earlier (first day) encounters at The Hole.

And sighed again.

Some things could never be changed–no matter how much I wished them to.

Rising to my feet, I sought some solace in what I wanted to do next: Which was clean.

Thankfully, I did not lead such a life sheltered from a day’s hard work; as being a magi user and a sometimes wanna-be swordsman proved my mettle in that regard.

I could go on in this life and not shed so much as a complaint about getting my hands dirty–as Jasmine would sometimes tease me often on.

“Girlfriend…?” I questioned loudly, as I bent down and started to pick up the shattered remains of the table abreast of the small lounge area. “There are days I wished I could tell you everything about me–so lest there be no secrets between us.”

But there would be no answer to my statement. No amount of surprised shock and exclamation.

Not like when Jan expressed to me when she discovered my true nature.

Thanks in no part to those bastard techno mages: Arax, Eliza, and Darandal.

I truly didn’t want to hurt Jan’s feelings or the amount of friendship and trust she had so lovingly bestowed upon me–shortly after my unfortunate crash-landing on Xanix’s distant shores.

I just didn’t want to be alone.

Picking up the splintered shard of table wood, I looked for a place to dump it. Unfortunately for me, there was not a place to recycle it.

Nor the glass which littered the floor like broken sword blades.

I spun the shard unconsciously in my hand in absent thought–thinking of a different way to take care of things.

Then the door to our quarters opened and I half-expected it to be Tiddus (Gi-rah-soiski) Kalamon.

Come on girl! I chided myself. Stop with the “if wishes were horses” routine! He’s not going to give himself freely to you! Stop it!

But the feeling and desire still lingered strong inside me. No man–that I knew–could easily affect me as much as Tiddus has.

“Anyone home?” Came a familiar voice.

I smiled to myself.

“Hello, Jasmine. Where did you fly off to?” I asked.

“Speaking with Lucrecia.” She said. “There were some things I needed to get off my chest.”

Waving the piece of wood in hand, I inquired, “About…?”

“Nothing you would be interested in,” Jasmine teased me. “So what are you doing? Did things go well with Tiddus on the rebound?”

I turned away from her and just focused my attention on the one clean spot on the floor.

“No.” I admitted softly.

“What was that again?” Jasmine queried back. “I’m kinda hard of hearing on that one. Can you repeat that a little louder?”

I suddenly exploded–turning on my friend in righteous fury.

“I said no!” I yelled. “Are you deaf as well as stupid?!”

Jasmine stared at me mutely–at a clear loss for words.

“I…I…” she stammered.

I quickly said a silent prayer of forgiveness to my Lord in Heaven’s Gate: It was not my intention, o’ Wise and Powerful Creator. Please forgive thee who has sinned in your eyes…!

Then I left her right where she was and bolted for the bedroom–slamming the door in the process.

STORIES OF THE DEAD EARTH--BOOK 3: CHAPTER 5

Battlestations!


Adrianna looked over her gathered forces out on the field of flowers and golden petalwheat.

Through her mecha’s sound system, she said: “There is a ship out there which bears a most unlikely cargo which I–your queen–has lain a claim towards! But it is under the flag of a pirate which I have designated the enemy of our land and everything which I have sworn to uphold and protect! So it is under my grand authority that we all swarm it in the glory of your queen and her kingdom! Let us destroy it and claim what is mine! Are you with me?!?”

There was a loud booming chorus of assent and dedication–as a lot of the mechas before her–and some of the unmanned craft–bowed to her and pledged their undying fealty for her.

The woman smiled thinly.

I am coming for you, Tiddus! One way or another, you will be mine!

* * *

Lucrecia looked up when I entered their quarters–a happy smile playing across her mouth.

“How’d everything go down in the hanger bay, girlfriend?”

I plopped myself down on the nearest plush love seat and groaned–feeling every ache in my body come to life. Pain radiated across like a dull fire and I winced as some of my muscles spasmed and twitched with an independent mind of their own.

“That bad?” Lucrecia invited mirthlessly, while grabbing a bottle of falu wine and a couple of tall glasses. Then she joined me at the other end of the loveseat–to which I beckoned her to sit closer to me.

She did and I giggled.

“I don’t bite,” I said playfully.

The other woman nodded. “I hope not. My sister’s been giving me grief about what Tiddus did to your friend.” She said, while popping the cork off the bottle and pouring a generous amount of the transparent liquid into one glass before handing it to me.

I took the offering in hand and stared at the bubbles rising up from the depth of the glass.

“Mmm…” I muttered to myself–thinking distractedly for a second as to whether or not imbibe on such a strange vice.

“What is this?” I asked politely, scrutinizing it even more. It didn’t look the least bit harmless.

At least from my perspective anyways.

“Falu wine. A rich honey-like wine made from the waxy-like candies of Sussex–another one of our port of calls. A three-week venture on the opposite side of Dead Earth near Targus Falls.” Lucrecia took a healthy sip from her poured glass and smiled. “Really: A rich and heady flavor which grows on you.”

I nodded my head introspectively and took a small sip of my own–finding the flavor to be not like those candies I liked to make a absolute pig of myself as a little girl. So rich and sweet, I found myself getting a nostalgic buzz over.

“Mmm…wow.” I breathed with a bit of astonishment. The liquid itself was a cooling ambrosia on my otherwise parched throat–so I took another swig to feel it wash over me completely.

“Like it?” Lucrecia asked, offering to top me off with another agreeable amount.

I nodded gaily. “Sure do.” And then watched her as she poured the right amount to satisfy me and her.

Setting the bottle back down, Lucrecia picked her glass up and began drinking.

She stopped after half a minute while I indulged in mine–before setting it down.

“Good, good…” I said, before letting out a small candy-flavored belch of my own. One of which I apologized for. “Sorry about that.” I said with a chuckle.

Lucrecia didn’t mind. “It’s the sign that you enjoyed yourself immensely. Why feel sorry for that?”

Why indeed? I wondered, and then sat back.

“So what was that again about your sister giving you grief?”

“She chewed out Tiddus for what he did to your friend, and then she started on my case for openly suggesting that your friend should try and move on my ship’s captain.”

“Did you?”

Lucrecia blushed despite herself. “Of course. Even though it is our jobs to protect Tiddus, we also knew that Jeanna had a crush on him. One that was obvious when she spoke about him on intimate terms.”

“So she got mad at you for doing this?”

The other woman nodded uncomfortably. “Darla feels that I might’ve pushed things a bit far when I urged Jeanna to go after him with her heart.”

I laughed, thinking how amusing this was.

“If that’s the case with every guy I’d come across in my travels, than I would be just as guilty as Jeanna is right now just wanting a little romance.”

“Truth be told, that’s how it was with me and my sister, Darla. Before we became Tiddus’s vaunted bodyguards, we were just simple gear heads–camel jockeys for the mech pilots. Of course, we were good at what we were doing, but my sister professed to wanting more than just to help maintain everyone’s splendid crafts.”

“So you became pilots then?”

“It took us several years,” the woman added with a wistful sigh. “But by then, we had come to the attention of Tiddus’s father whom had expressed a soulful interest in having someone protect his son–lest something terrible happen to him.”

“Tiddus’s father?” I echoed in confusion. “Strange how no one’s mentioned him before.”

Sadness overcame Lucrecia and she had to fight down the tears which welled in her eyes.

“No one really speaks of him these days–except in hushed, reverent tones.” She said with a soft air. “He died in the temporal storms which assaulted us at Witch’s Peak. In reality, I signed on at Stag’s Head 10 years ago along with my sister. But the Gemins were a demanding bunch–wanting to trade years for safe passage from the temporal sink created by the storms themselves. And whilst neither I nor my sibling had years taken from us, time passed for all of us on board the ship. What spent the next month was in reality 2 years. But by the time we got back, none of our living blood could even recognize us.”

“How much time did pass for you?” I asked–knowing of my knowledge of the legendary Gemins. A very secretive and reclusive group of roving time magi–said to be the oldest group ever alive on Dead Earth.

Very few towns and peoples actually came into contact with them. And usually their services asked for a heavy price. Many young men and women lost years to themselves–sometimes aging rapidly before the eyes of others.

In some cases, they died. I thought with a repressed shudder.

“Ten years.” The woman answered with a bit of heavy regret. “Our mother and father didn’t even know who we were when we both showed up at our hometown of Velice. Nor did many of those whom had known us since childhood. It was like…”

“Like you were complete strangers?” I guessed with heart-felt sympathy.

“Yes.” Lucrecia answered mournfully. “Nobody knew who we were. They all assumed that we had died somehow–after we signed onto the Esmeralda Jasmine.”

I nodded knowingly. “I know how that feels.”

“You do?”

I took a sip from my nearly empty glass and set it down in front of me. Without asking, Lucrecia poured more from the bottle, and I watched as the clear liquid rose to the top–but not quite touching.

“Yes.” I said with some distraction. It took me a minute to realize something was amiss. “How many does it take to get drunk off that stuff?”

“This is the non-alcoholic version,” Lucrecia reassured me. “The heavy stuff is much too potent for one man to handle–let alone a woman.”

“Ah.” I murmured in delight. “So much the better for me. Do you have another–just in case we empty this one too quickly?”

“I have a few bottles. But I can only handle one. Much too sweet for my tastes–if you know what I mean.”

“I certainly do.” I reflected. “I had similar wines growing up–and some can wear down even the most strongest resolve in any given person.”

“I could get you another bottle–as soon as we finish off this one?” Lucrecia volunteered with the utmost graciousness befitting a host.

I shook my head. “No. I’ll take your word for it and just pass after we finish it off.”

Nodding, the woman poured another shot into her glass.

“I understand.”

“I know what you mean,” I said–drawing back the last tidbits of our own conversation. “Before they my parents died, I encountered many such relatives whom haven’t graced the halls–” and stopped for a second; almost slipping. I took a sip to shield my gaffe, but to also continue on another tract.

“–of my humble abode; and were pretty much treated the same. I remember an uncle of mine whom I hadn’t lain eyes on in ages–and he showed up when I was a teenage girl. I didn’t know him, didn’t even remember–and here was my mother and father: Treating him as someone whom wasn’t even highborn.”

Lucrecia gave me a curious glance. “Highborn? As in royalty?”

I blushed then–certain I had given something of my past away.

“Uhh…” I started, before relenting a little. “Something like that.”

Instead of treating me indifferently, Lucrecia surprised me with an understanding nod of her own.

“I know what you mean. Where I come from, there are so many different caste levels of people. My family were lucky enough to hold some clout in the community where I lived–but not enough to make any important decisions.”

“Mine was,” I remarked in an absent tone of voice. “But it didn’t mean we treated people any less differently.”

Lucrecia lounged back–taking her drink in hand.

“So tell me about them. Your family, I mean.”

I laughed nervously. “Truly, there isn’t nothing special about them. We grew up as an important family–in a caste of our own right. But we didn’t use our position to infringe on other people’s rights–or those of the commoners.”

Lucrecia sipped her wine thoughtfully. “It sounds like you’re resentful of what your family represented.”

“Sometimes,” I admitted openly. “I just didn’t see the attraction of the whole thing.”

“Even as a royal princess?”

I stopped right then and there. “Well, that is…uh…” I stammered in absolute shock. But I tried to play her suspicions down–by deflecting her question. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Lucrecia chuckled to herself. “You can try and pull the wool over everyone else’s eyes, Jasmine. But you can’t kid me.”

I grew silent, then said quietly: “Damn.”

Lucrecia sighed gently. “So it’s true?”

“What is?” I supplied woodenly, feeling empty and defeated inside.

“What you are: A royal princess.”

I looked away for a moment. Correction: The longest moment of my life.

“And if I said yes,” I began evasively. “Would it make any difference in your eyes?”

“Why?” The woman wanted to know–her curiosity getting the better of her.

I sighed heavily.

“Because I don’t want to be treated any differently than anyone else on board this ship. I don’t want to be seen as someone whom can’t take care of herself adequately.”

Lucrecia silently digested my words in blessed silence. Then she said, “You know–in all the times I’ve gotten to know you and your friend–I didn’t think you couldn’t. Certainly not after the battle in The Hole.”

I felt some huge amount of weight lift from my shoulders.

“Thanks.” I replied with clear gratitude, then I sighed again. “I guess this would’ve caught up with me sooner or later.”

“The fact that you’re highborn royalty?” Lucrecia hazarded a guess.

“That’s right.”

“Why keep a secret? Why all the ruse?”

“Because I need to keep a low-profile. Both myself and Jeanna.”

“Jeanna’s…?” Lucrecia ventured, surprise in both her eyes.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. But it wouldn’t surprise me if she wasn’t just another lost princess like me.”

“Have you asked her?”

I grinned then–perhaps the first time since I stepped foot in Lucrecia and Darla’s quarters.

“And risk getting my head bitten off in the process?” I ventured with a glint of mischief in my eyes. “No thanks.”

Lucrecia laughed. “No…that wouldn’t be too healthy for you, would it?”

“Not in these trying times. No.” I agreed wholeheartedly.

Draining her glass, my friend rose and collected the nearly empty bottle.

“Here.” I said–handing her the cork. “You might need this.”

“Hands are full,” the woman said–raising the bottle. “Unless you would like to think I can do it with my teeth?”

I gave her a knowing look. “You’re a pilot. Aren’t pilots supposed to be something of a creative genius when it comes down to it?”

Lucrecia nodded. “ ‘Tis true. But not while I’m hosting–I’m not.”

“Silly.” I poked at her affectionately. “Go on: Go tend to your duties. I shall be right here whence you return.”

“Shouldn’t you be somewhere?” Lucrecia asked in all politeness.

I shook my head. “No. Not really. My work down in the hanger bay is finished. I told Gradge that if he needed me for something else, he could call me here.”

“Gradge is a good man.” Lucrecia muttered appreciatively. “A hard worker. Someone whom rarely disappoints.”

“Rare qualities in a man these days.” I said with a wry look.

Lucrecia chuckled. “Sometimes. But you just have to know where to look.”

I rose to my feet–collecting the neglected cork in the process. I bade her to go wherever she wanted to go, and I would follow her without protest.

“Yourself?”

“Gradge?!” The woman said in mild astonishment. “No! Tho’ I admit: He is attractive. But he’s just not my type. You?”

“I’m not looking to settle down. Not like Jeanna wants to at any rate.”

“I think your friend just wants to have someone in her life. And I don’t see that being wrong at all.”

I looked at her for a second, before nodding in agreement.

“Me neither.”

“Though I wonder what Tiddus would think if he knew that you were a princess of royal birth?” Lucrecia began playfully.

I gave her my best frosty look. “Don’t give him any ideas. He suspects too much as is.”

The woman edged me with her foot–seeing how her hands were full.

“Not to worry, Jasmine. I won’t tell him your secret.” She promised.

My face broke out with plain relief–as all the tension in my muscles melted away and the skin relaxed a bit from all the pent up strain of late.

“Thank you,” I said. “I don’t need to cause any more trouble on board the Esmeralda Jasmine as it is. This past week is enough for me and then some.”

Lucrecia turned and left the small lounge area. “Lemme tell you, girlfriend: Nothing gets boring around here. Nothing at all…”

After what I survived in The Hole, I was morally inclined to believe her.

A fool I wasn’t.

STORIES OF THE DEAD EARTH--BOOK 3: CHAPTER 4

Queen Adrianna Darcoshia stared into the Orb of Sight–drinking in the picture of the heavily damaged Esmeralda Jasmine.

“Well, well, well…” she purred. “So you have survived The Hole after all; but in the process…scratched up your pretty little ship…” Making a couple sounds of mock disapproval, the woman slid off the perch she made at the end of her bed–the thin veil of her silk robe revealing a healthy amount of sensual skin clad amidst her black lingerie–and padded around the room in her bare feet.

“My dearest captain…” Adrianna continued to muse huskily. “You certainly know how to put fire in my step!”

The Orb continued to play out the scene of the oceanic expanse, and the tiny figures scurrying around the top deck of the galleon.

“Move in.” She commanded the Orb of Sight–figuring that she could spend the next few minutes alleviating her boredom with something entertaining.

The mechanism dutifully zeroed in the top deck–near the ruined forecastle. It was here that the queen of Jasper caught sight of Jeanna Ulysses–brooding by herself in quiet solitude.

The queen’s blood began to boil a little at the sight of her tranquil beauty and sheer elegance. She did not know why, but the just the sight of her caused the much older woman to become incensed with rage.

“So you choose this little flower over me, have you?!” She seethed, but then squelched the feeling of hostility in a second when she discovered something else in the scene: Jeanna wasn’t happy.

Adrianna smiled thinly, like a cat quietly regarding its newfound prey.

“So…you were rejected by my sweet, Tiddus–weren’t you my pet? Couldn’t steal his heart from me no matter how hard you tried, eh?”

The moving picture didn’t say anything. Instead, it merely showed Jeanna still brooding. Still looking out and away from the Orb of Sight and the queen’s general direction.

Adrianna smile faded once she saw Tiddus (Gir-ah-Soiski) Kalamon appear from the aft section of the ship. From what she could tell, he was both remorseful and nervous.

But something else in his eyes and face told the woman that it was much more than that.

Anger exploded in the queen’s eyes–radiating down her face.

“No…!” She hissed. “It cannot be!”

But the more she denied herself the face of truth, the more reality stung.

Tiddus is actually approaching that fragile little thing? She thought with absolute shock. Why would he do something like…

That?

Then it hit the woman out of the blue: That girl did something so extravagant that it compelled the handsome man to come back and grovel at her feet!

Adrianna’s eyes screwed shut when he reached out to touch her arm–and then set the queen of Jasper off.

“So…” she said with ice in her voice. “You wish to fight over her... is that it, Tiddus?” She asked of the image.

Then Adrianna chuckled.

“Your pretty ship will not stand the pounding of my forces. But if that’s what I must do to relinquish your hold on this gamine little flower-whore–I will do it.” She vowed darkly.

Then she left her bed chambers suddenly, with revenge very much on her mind.

* * *

“My lady,” Tiddus said quietly–as he reached out to touch me on the arm.

I turned–I don’t know why. Heaven’s Gate knows that I didn’t need him around to make things worse than they actually were.

“What do you wish of me?” I bit out with blunt harshness. I turned my back on him to show how raw I still was from my recent failure.

Tiddus hesitated for a second–uncertain with how to proceed.

“I’m…sorry.” He finally relented.

That admission softened me just for a moment, but I wasn’t about to give him any satisfaction.

Let him stew for awhile. I thought with a measure of cold and calculating shrewdness.

Then Tiddus did something I hadn’t expected of him.

He took up station behind me and kneeled on one knee–with his head bowed and his posture in appeased abeyance.

“What can I do to make things right, my lady? If I offended thee, then I beg for forgiveness.”

I eyed the whole affair from the corner of my own eye with a slim amount of vague interest. But I wasn’t about to bite.

Not one bit.

“Mmph.” I said with transparent irritation in my voice. He put on a good show, but I knew that he would change his tune once I became more meek and appreciative of his affections.

Men were always like this!

Even my own dear brother–God bless his soul.

I may have been a naïve girl at times, but I wasn’t born stupid. I knew how the opposite sex worked. They could be charmed, or bent, or even broken into submission.

I had no real problem with that idea. I’ve had it done many times when I was younger.

“You’re going to have to do a lot better than that, Tiddus–if you plan on winning me over.” I said with absolute bitterness.

“So apologizing isn’t good enough for you?” He inquired innocently.

I didn’t bat an eye.

“Apologies can be forged for a much darker purpose, Tiddus. I’m not that easily swayed.”

It was then that I felt his hands on me. On my leg.

I trembled only slightly at the strength of his touch…

The need.

The fire.

I shuddered inwardly–as something exploded inside of my head; leaving me very much breathless and in wanton desire.

“Then I pledge my loyalty to thee, my lady.” Tiddus said with convincing fervor.

By the gods…! I thought–wishing for just a moment that time could be stopped and I could have my personal way with this man.

Only because something about him stoked a burning fire inside me that I had yet to feel on a regular basis.

“A-And yourself?” I bit out chokingly. This was becoming too much for me to bear. As much as my anger was a living thing, my naked love was something that could only be borne from Suna’s soul herself.

I very much wanted Tiddus to share in that.

“D-do you pledge yourself to m-me?” I continued to hammer out in a halting voice. Nervousness had gripped me, but my passions were very much having a stranglehold on my logic.

If it wasn’t for all the skeleton work crews flitting about like bees on the deck of the damaged galleon…?

“I do.” Tiddus said in all finality. But his tone was suggestive that his heart wasn’t mine to claim.

At least…

Not yet.

I sighed then–somewhat relieved, all the more disappointed.

My time for romance had come and gone once more–and I was left wanting.

Again.

Such is the life of a lost princess, I supposed.

STORIES OF THE DEAD EARTH-BOOK 3: CHAPTER 3

I wished to God that there was something in which I could turn back the clock–and strip myself of all the feelings and emotions which had turned me into the loving and selfless person that I am now.

I wish to God that there was something which could take away the pain I am feeling because I was so foolish and blind to believe that I could love someone as faithful and caring as Tiddus.

I wish to God I could just turn back time itself and rewind the events which had defined my life–up to the point where I had lost everything.

And hold onto that with all of my strength!

But the cold air surrounding me didn’t give me any comfort in my own personal plight.

I was truly alone.

“Why…” I whispered–looking out at the large expanse of ocean; watching the sparkling waters wink back at me in all their loving innocence.

“Why…me?”

Why did I have to suffer so much? What did I do to deserve this kind of punishment?

Surely, I had served you loyally enough, o’ Divine One! I prayed. Or is there something more which must be done before I can receive full atonement?

God did not answer me right then.

Of course, I would always find this something of an irony. He always never responded to his selected messengers by rote. But my recent visions (or were they just dreams?) did little to assuage me. I chalked them up to the height of the battles which we recently fought–whence so many had died for.

I wasn’t a Seer like Darla and Lucrecia were–tho’ the former had more Insight than I ever did.

I sighed to myself–sinking back into my own sea of depression. There wasn’t much left for me to do anyways.

I had lost the man I spilled my love forth to and now I face a most uncertain future.

* * *

Tiddus returned to his quarters, but did not find Jeanna in the room–save for evidence of her most recent outburst.

The ship’s captain bent down and picked up a piece of glass–watching as a small rivulet of kalufa wine fell to the floor without ceremony.

Discarding the piece, Tiddus rose and left his quarters.

On his way up, the man bumped into Darla–whom was heading in the opposite direction.

“Have you seen Jeanna?” He asked.

The young woman looked at him for a second–a moment’s worth of anger escaping her eyes and settling onto her face.

Tiddus thought for a second that he would be yelled at again. But to her credit, Darla held her rage in check.

“No, my captain. I haven’t seen her since she left our quarters.”

Tiddus opened his mouth for a second, and then closed it–clearly wondering whether or not he should step into another hornet’s nest or continue to find her on his own accord.

“May I ask why?” He began rather delicately.

Darla was three seconds away from royally tearing into him, but somehow, she didn’t.

Admirable.

“Sir…” she started off, then ground to a halt. “It’s something I’d rather not–if it’s all the same to you.”

Tiddus nodded with some relief in his large frame. There was nothing worse than having a blow out with one of your crew mates.

Bad for morale.

“Well, I’m looking for her.” He offered with subtle directness. “And I thought you might know.”

“She left without saying a word.” Darla told her commanding officer. “I have no idea where she might be. The Esmeralda Jasmine is a big ship after all. She could virtually be anywhere.”

“And with most of the crew below decks doing repairs and a skeleton crew above decks fixing some of the more immediate damage…?” Tiddus mused. He fell silent soon after and then nodded.

“Thanks, Darla. I shant bother you anymore with this problem.”

Passing her by with a respectful bow, he proceeded down the hall.

“Captain–!” Darla’s voice called out after him–urging him to stop.

He did and turned back–the glow of the emergency lights bathing him in an eerie light.

“Are you going to yell at me too?” He reasonably inquired of her.

Darla’s mouth was still open and she hesitated for a second.

“That is not my intention, captain. I am just…upset over your treatment of her. She deserves better, sir.”

Tiddus stood there and then shook his head in mild disbelief.

“I’m never going to hear the end of this until I do something, is that right, Darla?”

“As your personal bodyguard sir, it is my duty to point out alternatives. For the betterment of the crew. It is not too late to start laying down ties, captain.”

Tiddus just stared at her.

“Are you trying to push me, woman?” He flat out accused–not bothering to hide his own personal irritation.

Darla just shrugged.

“Just keeping your options open, my captain.” She replied with open honesty–and then took leave of him with a short bow of her own; leaving him to fend for himself.

Tiddus sighed.

Clearly, this wasn’t going down as well as he’d hoped.

STORIES OF THE DEAD EARTH-BOOK 3: CHAPTER 2

“Hammer,” I said to one of the mech techs next to me–as I needed something to straighten out the shin guard shield armor on one of the downed Tomahawks.

The damage done to the main hanger bay was enormous by comparison–with the majority of it being more structural than anything else.

The starboard elevator was taken out during the fighting and the port one had a weight limit problem–whence none existed before.

The mech-tech handed me a 15-pound Sagger, which forced me to step back and start wailing away on the bent piece of metal. I timed the strikes so that only the affected area would be impinged upon–but nothing else would be bent asunder by my own personal assault on it.

Reflecting on what I was doing, I could’ve stayed in my quarters with Qaita, but the spider woman needed some time to herself.

I felt sorry for her when she discovered her kin mates had decided to explore their own latent bi-sexuality for themselves–and it left me wondering how such a mechanism could be prevalent in a race so ancient as they?

I hit the shin guard armor shield again–listening to its gratifying ring. It wouldn’t be too long before the metal fell back into shape–and the other techies could take over and begin moving the Tomahawk to the other repair bay for further analysis and of course–repair.

“You swing a mighty tool for a lass such as yourself.” The mech tech behind me observed with unflattering appraisal.

And did I forget to mention? I was doing this job without the benefit of my 5th-gen power armor. Seth told me that it needed to undergo some maintenance and repair after the last fight–and so, I’ve been without for the last couple of days now; having donned a simple maintenance tech jumpsuit. (Which did wonders to my figure, I might add!)

I lowered the Sagger hammer with a graceful rush of expelled breath and leaned on it just a bit for added support. Wiping my brow from the buildup of perspiration, I said: “It’s all in will, Gradge.”

The stout-hearted man nodded. “Aye–that it is. But it also requires a bit of upper-body strength to handle the weight of a Sagger.”

I smiled confidently. “I have much more than my upper body strength, my good man. I am a techno-mage by trade. I can invoke spells which allows me to aide things made of metal. And this Sagger hammer is just that.”

The mech tech regarded me with a curious air.

“Have you?”

I grinned. “And miss getting a good work out at the same time?” I postulated graciously. “Not on your life!” I glanced around for a second and then added, “this time anyway.”

“Sometime, you’ll have to show me how you do that–command metal I mean.” Gradge inquired of me. “Would that be too much of an imposition?”

I chuckled. “Not at all. But it would have to be at a latter date, I’m afraid. I’m just a little too busy helping Tiddus get his rig back into working order.”

Gradge nodded–understanding where I was coming from. Since we left the hole, we’ve had too little time to spent goofing off. The Esmeralda Jasmine was still crippled and barely seaworthy. It was only on the sheer genius of both Sula and Qaita that they managed to swim into the lower holds of the ship and began sealing the giant holes which had punctured the bottom of the Castle-class war galleon.

Even with the pumps in working order then, they could not be counted on to expel millions of gallons of sea water all at once in the state the ship was in then.

Qaita and Sula told me the day after the final battle that their webbing would hold until they reached the safe port of Jasper. But the trip would most likely take a few more days–at reduced speed.

As the damage to the compressors had impaired the engines on board to function at full efficiency.

It didn’t help when you only three of eighteen compressors working.

I turned my thoughts away from the last few days and I resumed banging away with renewed energy and fervor.

It was only on the third downswing did I notice someone new enter the fray.

The person in question was none other than Tiddus (Gir-ah-soiski) Kalamon.

* * *

Gradge jumped up immediately and saluted his master.

“My liege and master! It is good to–” and then stopped when he saw the crestfallen look on his face. “My lord? What ‘tis the matter?”

Tiddus didn’t say anything to his tech, but strode past us both without saying so much as a word. I hung back on the fourth upswing of the Swagger, and then let it drop with a resounding clang!

“Hold until I get back,” I told a concerned Gradge and went after Tiddus–sprinting with surprised haste in my step.

“Captain! Captain!” I called up to him, but found that he wasn’t going to relinquish his stride any, so I had to run abreast and past him in an effort to overtake the brooding man.

It was only then that he ran into my chest face-first–bouncing off of me–that Tiddus first took notice of my appearance.

“Jasmine?” He said with an air of confusion. “What in the Stars of Heaven are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be in your quarters?” He asked, while rubbing the bridge of his nose carefully.

“Qaita needed to be alone.” I said quickly, not wanting to dwell on the subject matter on a personal level. “As for my being here, I volunteered for some work. It seems as though you could have need of it–seeing the damage wrought from inside The Hole.”

“Aye.” Tiddus pleasantly agreed. “So what are you working on?”

I inclined to the downed Tomahawk in back of me. “One of the mechas. This one had some armor damage and its onboard systems are partially fried.” I said, taking in Tiddus’s morose appearance.

“I take it things didn’t go so well with Jeanna?”

Saying her name had a jolting effect on the man and he turned himself away, and then proceeded to walk in another different direction.

“I’m not going to talk about it.” Was his lingering response.

I stood there and fumed for the next few seconds. There was no way in Heaven’s Gate I was going to allow this to any further!

“Stop!” I yelled at him at the top of my lungs. “I command you!”

Tiddus did–and for that matter–so did everyone else.

I stood there, embarrassed by my own outburst.

“You can’t stop me.” The man said with deadly earnest. “I am the captain here. You’re just an unfortunate passenger with no authority whatsoever.”

You don’t think?! I thought with inward disbelief–hinging on the idea that I should tell him who I really was. But I killed it just as quickly as I opened my mouth to retort, “That maybe so, but it gives you no right to treat me this way! What did you do to her? Did you hurt her in any way?!”

Tiddus’s eyes went volcanic a second later after my outburst, and I was certain that he was thinking about keel-hauling me.

“What I do in my spare time is none of your business!” He fired back–as the activity in the hanger bay slowed to a stop. I knew everyone had their eyes on us both, but that didn’t stop me from lobbing another volley across the man’s stubborn bow.

I walked up to him–and in a surprising manner–jabbed him in the chest with such clandestine fierceness.

“I make it my business, Tiddus! I’ve known Jeanna longer than you have, and she deserves better treatment from you than this callous shit! And if you hurt her in any other way…?”

“I want you off my ship.” Tiddus said in a deadpan voice–completely skipping past my threat.

I looked at him askance for a second and then replied, “How in God’s name am I supposed to do that? Flap my wings and fly? You know as well as I that I have no reliable transportation!”

“It doesn’t matter,” the man said sternly. “I want you off.” He began to turn away and that’s when I reached over and grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around.

But what also followed was his fist–which I intercepted with lightning speed–the sound of flesh-to-flesh contact grating with silent satisfaction in my ears.

“What did you do to her?!” I demanded.

“Nothing!” Tiddus said in defense of himself. “She professed her love to me and I just…I just…” and trailed off.

I stared at him for the longest second imaginable. Then it dawned on me.

“You turned her away, didn’t you?” I revealed quietly.

The captain nodded in painful silence.

“It wasn’t her choice.” He finally admitted. “It was mine.”

“For the love of everything that’s Holy…why?”

Tiddus refused to say anything in front of me. So I made the calculated decision for him.

“Then I want you to go back to your quarters and apologize to Jeanna for the way you treated her.” I said with tight abrasiveness–locking horns with the man whom I even once thought to be dashing and very handsome.

He still is–in my eyes–but I saw something in him which caused a great measure of indecision within his soul.

Something which made him hesitate in committing himself to another person.

Tiddus struggled within my grasp, but I held his fist firm in my hand. I may be a woman, but I certainly was no slouch in the personal combat department. I was trained by the best there ever was–power armor or not.

“Where do you get off treating me in this manner woman?!” Tiddus said in a slight huff.

I pulled him closer to me, and hissed: “Because I can, you insufferable pain in the ass! Don’t you see how much Jeanna loves you?!”

Tiddus’s eyes widened at my revelation.

“H-How do you know about that?”

I looked him square in the eyes.

“Because as a close and personal friend, I know. I know.” I whispered back. “It is no secret to me these long days how Jeanna has always regarded you. Not just as an equal, but as a potential lover.”

That took Tiddus by surprise. It was a long moment before he responded sullenly, “I didn’t even know this. I just thought her infatuation with me…?” But he didn’t finish. Not with that amount of shame riding his cheeks.

“Of course you didn‘t,” I said–before letting go of his fist. “That’s because you were blind to her open appreciation of you. You don’t see yourself as being the perfectly attainable man, but one who wants nothing more than to distance himself from every female on this wooden and steel tug of yours.”

“A captain shouldn’t make himself the object of their affections.” Tiddus said in defense of himself. “That’s what my father told me awhile ago. He said that a captain should keep his focus on his craft, his crew, and their well being. Not his. That‘s why I can‘t love her. Not here. Not now.”

I stepped back, certain that he wouldn’t strike back at me again. And even if he did…?

“And from what I know of your father, he was a great man. And a wise one at that. But even wise and great men need companionship. And that is all mine is offering to you. Freely and without any catch.” I told him. “Now march yourself back into your quarters and apologize to her for the way you acted. If you can‘t love her, then at least apologize. That much you owe us both. Her especially.”

Tiddus regarded me with a strange look–following my outstretched arm and pointed finger.

“You know, I could almost swear there is more about you than you’ve been laying out as of late.” He said.

I didn’t give in.

“Now, Captain. That is an order.” I said in my most daunting tone of voice.

Tiddus blinked. But then he nodded slowly and bowed.

“Yes, your royal highness.” He said with an abject air of humor about him.

I just about lost my composure when he said that. It took all of my will and outright annoyance to shield the truth about me from him.

Staying stock still, I watched Tiddus march himself back towards the hall passage connecting the main hanger deck to the crew quarters and then to the officer suites as well.

I relaxed myself then and was about to get back to work myself when he stopped at the doorway and turned.

“You know,” he said loud enough for me to hear. “The way you’ve been acting lately, I could almost swear that you were more high born than you carry yourself to be in the here and now.”

I stared at him in righteous anger–forgetting my own station for the moment.

“Move it, Tiddus!” I screamed at him. “Stop jabbering like a parrot and get out of here! I‘ve got work to do and I don‘t need to waste any more time by entertaining more of your more fanciful yarns about my past!”

Tiddus looked back at me, and I immediately made a couple of sharp dismissal gestures–indicating that my patience was about played out.

Go! I thought with increasing ferocity.

Smiling to himself, he turned and left me right where I was.

But by then, everything was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop and know instantly of where it had landed.

I glared at everyone in general.

“Well?!?” I barked. “Do you camel jockeys here have some work still left to do, or don’t you???”

Almost immediately, the blessed noise returned and I felt something inside me smile.

Either it was me or some aspect of a family memory which had surfaced, but I had long since forgotten what it was like to finally be in charge of something. Even this.

And the kick to this part of the story was, is that I didn’t have to act like a royal pain in the ass doing it!

STORIES OF THE DEAD EARTH-BOOK 3: CHAPTER 1

Damage Control


“Bloody hell…” I heard the person say. “Who’s accessed my room this time?”

I jumped into bed as quick as possible, scooting underneath the comforter and trying to make myself as small as possible.

It would be no fault of my own if I got caught, but I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep–hoping that if whoever owned this place–would buy into the idea that I had just surreptitiously stumbled in after a long days work, and had naturally gone to bed.

A lamp was lit in the far corner of the living area and I opened my eyes to see if I could–

Yes.

The soft reflection could be seen dancing merrily on the wall in front of me–reflecting gaily in the portside window.

It was then that I had forgotten how much night had fallen so quickly. It was just this morning that I was in the main hanger bay–helping repair some of the damage done to both Lucrecia and Darla’s mechas. (Since my armor was undergoing its own maintenance and repairs by Merlin himself.)

I then remembered that I had my wine bottle still clutched against my breasts and then reached down to put it down on the floor when the person in question stumbled across me.

I went limp–letting the bottle slide from my fingers with a dull thump!, but knew that it was going to be all right.

For the bottle. But not me?

“Well, well, well. Who do we have here?” Came a soft and masculine voice. “Decided to sleep in my bed after all, did you?”

I didn’t move.

Dared not.

My heart was pounding away so hard and loud, I was certain that the person in question could hear it with no problem.

I felt a hand on my backside, and tried not to squirm under his touch.

Then felt him shaking me in that manner only a second later.

“Wake up, Darla. This is no time for this kind of foolishness.”

I groaned loudly and then rolled over–pretending to be both sleepy and cross at the same time.

“Darla?!?” I bit out. “So I’m not good enough for you, is that it, Tiddus (Gir-ah-soiski) Kalamon?”

Tiddus stepped back in shock.

“Jeanna?” He blurted out. In the light of his hand lamp, I could see that he had turned red from embarrassment.

“By the gods…! I am so sorry! I didn’t know–” he said, before he tried to snatch his planted hand on my butt.

However, I was much faster than he, and caught it before it could leave its appointed place.

“Don’t.” I said with authority–holding his hand fast.

“B-but–” Tiddus blurted out with clear and transparent nervousness.

“I said: No.”

Tiddus didn’t know what to do, but I made the decision for him–by pulling him down towards me.

I drew in a deep breath as the man of my dreams struggled for purchase, and took the hand lamp from his other hand and set it aside on the bedside table.

Looking back at him, staring into his nervous and uncertain eyes, I said, “you know why I am here, don’t you?”

“Uh…”

I silenced his anxiety–and mine–by impulsively leaning forward and kissing him full on the mouth–giving him no quarter and leaving no doubt in his mind how I really felt about him.

The moment last more than a minute as I sought to explore every inch of his deliciously maddening lips, allowing my tongue to probe his mouth a bit as I ravished him with surprising urgency.

Only then–after that salacious bit of raw intimacy–I pulled away from him and reached down; floundering for the bottle of kalufa wine.

I lobbed it in between my legs in a seemingly obscene manner–with the tip suggestively nestled against my nether region–and then dove back for the glasses sitting next to the bed stand.

Tiddus on the other hand was still in a state of shock by my brazen approach. (I was certain that he had no idea that a woman like me would come onto him so strongly.)

Well, he’d better get used to it. I thought to myself as I watched him intently.

“Still lost, my love?” I boldly inquired–making certain that he knew how I regarded him. Not as a man, but as a divine piece of heaven sent treasure for me to cherish. And me alone.

I sighed dramatically–while bringing up the wine bottle and twisting the top off in one smooth motion. A pungent cinnamony smell came out–one which was a lot stronger than the last bottle I shared with Jan.

“Would you like me to spell things out, my sweet Tiddus?”

Tiddus shook off the effect I had on him a lot quicker than I gave him credit for.

“I thought you–” He began, but stopped.

“Thought what?” I returned casually; pouring a libelous amount of wine into the glass and then handed him the first glass, before pouring myself a shot into the second.

“Thought that I wasn’t interested in you?” I finished for him; enjoying this little mind game. For a scant second, I had a different picture of him kneeling before me and swearing his eternal loyalty to me on my royal throne back in Parliament.

But I didn’t want him as a soldier for the cause. I wanted to share my bed chamber with him!

I took a healthy swallow of the wine and found it to be just the right amount of tasteful enjoyment and heady intoxication. It wouldn’t be too long before one of us was drunk off our rocks–and I was going to make sure that it wasn’t me.

Not before I had toyed with him sufficiently long enough, that is. I silently promised myself. I wanted this kind of torture to last longer than usual. It wasn’t like me to slip back into my old ways of the norm, but there were some things which was bred into me which demanded a certain kind of satisfaction.

I wanted to be in control. In command of the situation.

And I didn’t care if Tiddus was a captain in his own rights…

He was mine!

I reached up then with my free hand and caressed his cheek with a certain longing–one of which ached inside me. Desired even.

“My poor captain. How naive it must’ve been for you not to see the lust radiating in my eyes every time I see or think about you.” I said with quiet relish. “Do you think I’m not the only woman who desires you on board this ship?”

“I know of a few.” Tiddus admitted softly. “But I don’t have the time for such relationships. Running this ship takes a lot as it is.”

I smiled and then sat up–setting aside my half empty glass of wine.

“Then don’t you think it’s time that someone shared an interest in you. A deep interest, pray tell?” I said with a clearly suggestive tone.

Tiddus looked at me stupidly. Then he snorted.

“I am sorry, Jeanna. But–”

I put on a pouty expression–cutting him off.

“What? Am I not pretty enough for you?” I said in my best girlish voice.

“No. It’s not that.” The man said–clearly uncomfortable with the notion of being a poor judge of character.

I lifted the covers–seeing how big my own breasts were–and decided to use that as a weapon to my advantage.

“Oh, I see,” I said with a certain spiteful haughtiness. A trait I had long since used to get what I wanted. There were times I felt guilty for what I had done in the past, but there was no escaping what I was.

“You prefer women with a bigger bosom than I have–is that it?” I let the cover fall back on me in a light huff.

Tiddus was in the middle of swallowing another generous amount of the kalufa wine when I levied that blighted accusation against him.

He choked suddenly–spewing bright streams of wine everywhere around.

“W-what?” He gasped out–coughing uncontrollably for a minute; tears streaming out of his eyes as he fought to regain control of his shattered composure.

I got up and moved around him, gently massaging his strong back, and then thumping him gently in spurts–helping him through this spell the best I could.

“T-thanks.” He whispered out of sight of me–as he sat hunched over and coughing still. But he had managed to regain control of himself.

However, I wasn’t about to let him off the hook, not by a long shot.

And so, I went in for the kill this time around–finding that an opening had been presented through me by the grace of God Himself.

“I love you, Tiddus. And that’s the honest truth.” I said with straight forward bluntness. “For the longest time, I have been trying to fight my feelings for you, but with each passing month, I keep losing the battle–and longing for your petal-soft words and your burning touch. When you came back, I was startled to see how much change had been invoked in you. But the desire then began to well up inside me, and I couldn’t deny it no matter how much I wished it weren’t so. But I am a woman. And I want you. Even if that means fighting off every suitor on board this boat of yours.”

Tiddus shuddered under my touch–as I resumed giving him a good back rub. And then I impulsively wrapped my arms about him and held him close against me–savoring the moment.

“And you know that I am right.” I finished softly–listening to his steady heart beat, and the strong echo of each breath being taken in and expelled all at the same time.

“You can’t deny me, Tiddus. Not when I have bared myself to you.” And to prove my point, I let go of him and turned him around. I took a hold of his face and kissed him some more.

There was nothing more than I wanted this night, but to give myself to him. To embrace him in my enduring strength and love.

I broke free for a moment and licked my lips in anticipation.

“Can you not say anything which will wet my appetite of you?” I asked.

Tiddus looked at me and for the first time, I felt a stab of fear rise up inside my own heart.

“I…I…I can’t.” He said.

It was then that everything set into motion broke apart around me like the finest tableware imaginable–and I was left broken and hapless.

He then stood up suddenly, leaving me in a state of disbelief.

“I can’t love you, Jeanna. Not here. Not now. Maybe…not ever.”

Tiddus then swept himself away like a graceful feather–putting a great deal of distance between me and the door. I watched in silent horror as he left me.

Me!

And the thing closed softly with a latching click!

For the longest moment, I sat there in stunned silence. But disbelief turned to hatred, and then to blind anger.

“Is it because of me?!?” I screamed–long after the door closed. “Is it because of what I am????”

In a fit of rage, I grabbed the bottle and threw it with deadly accuracy–shattering it solidly against the door. An explosion of glass and wine was heard and seen spreading at all points of the compass.

“You fucking…bastard!” I continued to rail against him. “You fucking…uncaring…bastard!” And then dropped my head into my hands and sobbed like the little lost girl that I was.

STORIES OF THE DEAD EARTH-BOOK 3: PROLOGUE

Thank the Lord Himself that the Esmeralda Jasmine could be salvaged at all.

In three days, we managed to repair the damage done to the vessel’s breached hull. Cosmetic repairs would have to wait until we reached Jasper. They alone had sufficient dock facilities to commence with a ship-wide refit.

Tiddus wasn’t angry with me as I had first thought–after I had told him what I had done to his precious forecastle.

“In a battle,” he had later confided in me. “There is always going to be a mess from which to clean up from. I am just glad that you came through this nightmare intact.”At this point, my heart had swelled anew–even as we were limping our way towards Jasper at a reduced speed. Tiddus had shown concern for me, and I knew then that he had a personal interest invested in me as well.

Which brings me to this part of the story. Make no bones about it, I was head over heels for him. And I figured that Darla and Lucrecia knew this too–by the way I was acting towards him.

Though I knew that they were his personal bodyguards, I had long since suspected that their interest in his well being stretched beyond just being two buffed guards for an equally handsome sea captain.

Of course, Darla and Lucrecia warned me not to push him into a corner–opting instead to try and be more friendly towards him as time went on.

As time was the only thing which drove us at this point.

I did love the two of them like sisters–so I gave them my personal decree that I would not treat Tiddus in any indifferent way than he would with me.

With that said in mind, I found myself walking towards his quarters with nervous energies–praying to God that He would give me the strength to see this night through.

I had passed the all too familiar frost covered doors which beckoned the unsuspecting into a realm of softly fallen snow and ice. This was where Sula and Gheri resided.

Qaita elected to stay with me and Jasmine for the time being–aware that her bond sisters had chosen their own path.

It was something which she accepted, but could not understand in full.

I sighed–wondering just how much of an influence our human habits had on the stranded Ice Spiders.

It was then, I stood before Tiddus’s bedchamber–with a bottle of kalufa wine in hand; along with a pair of crystal glasses.

Merlin had already gone into standby mode by this point–so there would be no interrupting the two of us. Should things become heated with passion.

My heart quickened at the thought of caressing his skin and kissing his lips–feeling his hands on my fevered soul.

I knocked. Once. Twice. And then a third time.

Then I waited.

And waited some more.

Something inside me grew with clear impatience, and I reached down with a free hand and jiggled the brass-inlaid handle gently.

To my surprise, it was open.

Fear and worry overtook my curiosity–leaving me to feel more protective over the man I wanted–than anything else.

I went in.

“Hello?” I asked, stepping inside Tiddus’s darkened quarters. There was no movement, no sound, no nothing whatsoever.

“Tiddus?” My love.

I expected to find danger and something worse lurking just inside the quiet confines of the spacious living area. But all I got was a banged shin when I came into contact with a low-lying table.

I swiftly cursed my own clumsiness, but I continued stealthily inside the domain of the ship’s captain nonetheless.

Then I entered his sleeping quarters, my heart playing its own sonnet within my chest.

My breathing ran shallow–my mind racing with everything from excitement to anxiety.

There were so many things I wanted to say and do, no words could come that easily to me!

But the closer to his bed that I got, the more I got the sense that something was inherently wrong with the picture.

“T-Tiddus?” I whispered out experimentally.

Nothing.

Was his bed empty? I thought to myself with horrid disappointment. That would mean I came in here for nothing!

No matter what, I wanted to let him know that I liked him–even loved him–and I wanted to win his heart. Not just his mind and body.

No…

That would come later–even though a part of me wanted him so very badly.

I felt the satin covering press against my leg–through the jumpsuit which I had procured from Lucrecia. It had a nice and soft allure to it. Making me want to crawl underneath it and revel in its heavenly touch.

My body ached from the punishment which had been wrought since we entered The Hole. I was far from being complete.

Nay…

What I wanted more than anything was something which my own healing spells couldn’t satiate.

The love and desire of another.

At this point, I decided to chance it and I began to rub my hand across the top of the bed in blind experimentation–hoping to hit something which would tell me that my quarry was here.

But it soon became apparent that he wasn’t.

Damn. I thought with absolute loss. This certainly isn’t my day.

I was about to leave then when I heard the door to the man’s quarters open by itself.

My blood froze cold and I wondered just how the hell I was going to get out of this one.

BOOK 3 OF THIS 10-BOOK SAGA.

The third novel in this saga, Book 3-Jasper--picks up where Book 2: Seige; leaves off.

Started just last year (2007), the third novel reveals a heavily damaged Esmeralda Jasmine struggling to make it to the nearby seaport of Jasper. There, Tiddus (Gir-ah-soiski) Kalamon intends on putting his ship into drydock for much needed repairs.

But before the ship can even get there, the Queen of Jasper decides to test their resilience from The Hole by throwing a few obstacles in their path first; namely an omniscient mecha named Valchair the Fallen.

While Jasmine deals with this grave threat, Jeanna has other problems to contend with: Her ongoing battle with Princess Kalana, and a queen that is none too happy with having to play favorites with the lost princess for the attention of one handsome ship's captain.

Which will win out in the end?

STORIES OF THE DEAD EARTH-BOOK 2: CHAPTER 46

“Power levels are dropping.” Merlin warned me as I stepped forward in front of the downed Berserker. “You have at least one minute’s worth of viable power before your suit shuts down.”

“I know.” I said, looking at the arcing displays across me. The jerry-rigging was perhaps the worst thing I could inflict upon my power suit in its Argus configuration–but there was little else I could do.

“Stand by.”

I pulled free my transformed Sansui sword and angled it towards my foe.

“Thee have had a memorable fight, but now it must end.” I declared to the miniature Gulpers.

Strangely enough, they did not attack me. Perhaps they could not. I analyzed to myself–my mind keenly aware of the time I had left. After this, I would have to disengage my power suit from the battle and retire from the field of honor.

I whipped the sword around in a flourish manner befitting that of a Calinta Knight from the fabled land of Ire and intoned:


“Bring forth your mighty power, o’ God of Ra! Lend me your divine wisdom and strength in this fight against the unholiest of holies! D¥þç_†4ŠýâŸ! SOLAR FLARE STRIKE!”


In that instant, the world I knew fell away and I was greeted by the divine sight of an ancient god. The God of Light! I marveled.

In a split second, he performed an incantation on the far side of Suna–and in an instant–He belched forth a magnificent solar flare which I immediate caught with my outstretched sword and the directed towards a particular spot on my Dead Earth.

In the blink of an eye, I reappeared and swung my collected energies back at the miniature Gulpers–watching with blind satisfaction as they were immolated from my sight.

A great deal of the green mass was vaporized as well–but I saw that it wasn’t going to be enough for me.

The Gulper still lived!

And with that grim realization, Argus broke apart from my body and started shrinking down to its individual armored components.

In a few seconds, I was suspended in the nude as they quickly rearranged themselves onto my body–and then my 5th generation power armor took over; wrapping itself lovingly around my lithe frame.

I touched down in full combat readiness, my Sansui sword out and eager to strike some more.

But I knew that I had lost the fight. There wasn’t much that I could give any longer.

“Is not the complete truth, young one.” A familiar voice echoed about me–leaving me completely baffled.

“Susha?” I whispered.

“My spirit still remains with you. Now and always. Use me to battle this abomination and I shall wipe it from the face of this plane.”

It was at this point, I knew what to do next.

I whipped my sword high up into the skies above me and called out: “SUSHA! APPEAR!”

In a brilliant explosion of light my sword emitted a beam into the heavens themselves–opening a portal into Heaven’s Gate. From the divine settings of the hallowed place, a great dragon appeared at the opening and punched its way through the portal–screaming towards us like a bird of prey.

High above our heads, Susha opened his great wings and with a cry of defiance, opened his mouth.

A caterwauling amount of pure energy built up inside it and then was cut loose a second later.

The forecastle of the Esmeralda Jasmine blew apart finally under the strain of the final assault. Wood splintered like matches–spraying us everywhere.

But more than that, Susha grabbed my sword and dove for the deck–where he sliced five times into the body of the Gulper itself.

And then vanished.

I reached up to reclaim my sword–as it spun towards me in a whirling dervish; snatching it clean out of the air.

The portal to Heaven’s Gate vanished soon after, and I was left with a moment of true humility.

“Thank you Susha.” I whispered to my Sansui sword. It still retained all its grace and charm as before. But I knew it was much more than just an ancient relic from times past.

I looked back and saw that the Gulper was gone. Blown into oblivion like it had never existed in the first place. And while the damage to forecastle was extensive, I knew that it could also be repaired.

Sheathing my sword, I sighed.

The battle was over.

We had won the day.

But the price for victory was much more than I could imagine. So many lives taken. So much had been lost.

I didn’t know where to begin.

STORIES OF THE DEAD EARTH-BOOK 2: CHAPTER 45

~Wake up, dear child~ I heard a voice call out to me.

My dreams were very strange. I remember hearing my mother speak to me in the softest tones–while a sharp-toothed haja continued to plunge its razor-fine beak into my tender flesh. I imagined the sharp pains in my gut as the predator made a meal of my guts–spewing blood and searing hot pieces of my defiled organs all over the place.

I remember crying out in the sheerest of agonies before I felt my sense of self leave my dying body.

I imagined then that I had somehow “died” in my sleep–joining my ancestors and my dead parents in the glorious embrace of our Lord at Heaven’s Gate.

~Time is no longer desirable for continued slumber, young one. You must awaken!~ The same voice cajoled me with a sense of implicit urgency.

It was then I felt someone shake me. But not with the hand of humanoid flesh.

Nay. It belonged to that of a soft-pelted arachnid; whose touch was like that of frigid ice.

I shivered outwardly and tried to curl up from the persistent probing.

~We realize that you need to continue to recover from your wounds–~ the spider said before the ship suddenly tilted awkwardly in a lopsided direction.

I was certain that my center of gravity had somehow registered it as a downwards motion–because that’s how my mind interpreted it as.

~–but alas! The ship will not survive if we do not get aft of this engineering spaces!~

“W-why?” I whispered weakly–as the Esmeralda Jasmine suddenly shifted harshly to starboard–throwing me around the other direction.

“The compressor machinery exploded,” I heard Seth’s cool voice recollect to me. “And that punched a quartered-sized hole into the bottom of the galleon.”

“A-” I began and wheezed miserably–my lungs aching from the cold air swirling about me. “Activate…the pumping systems.” I managed to finish.

“I have been trying for the last hour. But the computer is down and I have no contact with any of the onboard auxiliary systems.”

“Bloody…hell…” I moaned.

The same leg touched me then, as I felt a giant claw scoop me up to my feet.

~Come now~ The spider said. ~On your feet~

Nausea gripped me then and I wanted nothing more than to puke my guts out. Then came the sharp pain. The same agony which assaulted me in my recent dreams.

I wasn’t dreaming! I saw with almost perfect clarity. What I was feeling–!

But the rest of it was drowned by an odd roar.

Even in the syrupy darkness, I could not mistaken the sudden rush of water coming straight at me.

~The engineering spaces are flooding!~ I heard the spider call out to someone else. ~Qaita!~

~I am hurrying, sister. Please give me the time to finish the job here and send these trapped souls topside~

“The waters are rushing in!” I said with grave concern. Already, I could feel the cold seas of the Southern Ocean lap at my feet with deadly playfulness. It would be a matter of moments before we were all swallowed without mercy.

~I do not think that we have the moments to spare, Qaita~

I moved back a bit as a low wave reared up and smacked me in the back of the leg. My armor would protect me from the freezing temperatures, but with the inevitable coming, I would be nothing more than dead weight–ballast–to help accelerate the ship down to a most unfortunate watery grave.

Poor Tiddus! I thought with unabashed sympathy. To lose everything in one fell swoop…?

It was then that a miracle occurred.

Emergency power kicked in just as a wall of water came pouring through the cracked doors of the main engineering spaces.

“Blessed Sword of Kausch the Great!” I invoked happily as a new warmth surged right through me–only to be drowned by the water filling the massive hold by the second.

~Almost done~ Came the reassuring voice of Qaita herself. ~The last ones are finally through the emergency hatch–even though there are some stubborn souls who wish to remain behind and effect repairs~

But neither I nor the other Ice Spider–Sula I surmised–could respond. I was caught up in a water-spawned whirlpool and tossed about like a child’s bath toy.

As a result, I ended up swallowing some refreshingly cold water. My lungs protested at the treatment, but I was in no condition to make reparations of any kind.

A strand of webbing snagged my foot and I was whipped around like a lariat for a brief second–gravity blessedly suspended–before I was rocketed up and out of the water at blinding speed.

“I got it!” I heard Seth squeal in triumph. “The computer is finally responding to my persistent probes and we both have managed to isolate the damage and start up the pumps!”

~Got you~ I heard Qaita whisper to me as she snagged me smartly from the air itself in one clean move. ~Up you go now~

“No!” I protested. “Seth has the pumps online–” and in confirmation, I heard a deep thrum! and the blessed sound of some machinery starting up below decks.

“–and their working!” I squealed with unmasked relief.

~Does not matter~ The spider told me unmovingly. ~You are mortal. You are going up~

I tried to struggle, tried to break free of my soft imprisonment, but I could not.

“How come your sister rates more than me?!” I accused right off the bat.

~She and I are natural swimmers. The water will not harm her, since she can breathe in it. After all, liquid water is just a form of ice. For you it is the enemy and not a familiar~ Qaita patiently explained to me, before I was heaved up into the emergency escape hatch high into the ceiling’s innards.

It never occurred to me then as to why such a construct would ever be present in a space such as this. But as Tiddus would later tell me: “It was one of my father’s ideas–after twenty of his former crewmates perished in a freak storm off the Junda coastline.” (Apparently, he had no escape routes back then–say about 15 years ago. But all it took was one accident…)

The doors sealed shut behind me with blind obedience, and I was cut off from the main engineering spaces–and two very heroic Ice Spiders.

There was nothing that I could do–except to get topside and see what the hell else was going on.

STORIES OF THE DEAD EARTH-BOOK 2: CHAPTER 44

“Stupid girl!” Lucrecia hissed vividly–as sparks flared up inside the cockpit of the Berserker mecha. The machine shuddered and heeled drunkenly backwards–then sagged to port a little–before a follow up strike railed her to heave over to starboard.

Where she fell with a resounding crash!

“Sis! Sis!” She heard her sister cry over the open comm. “Are you okay?”

“Nevermind me!” She shouted. “Just concentrate on that damned creature!”

“I don’t have sufficient firepower to take it on, sis!” Darla radioed back. “I’m just merely a vessel for your mecha’s only Firestorm Shot attack. All of my offensive weapons won’t make so much as a scratch against that thing’s thick gelatinous hide!”

“Do it anyway!” Lucrecia yelled. “And pray that we get lucky!”

The Firestorm mecha stepped forward to deliver its own punishing brand of salvos–to cover the downed Berserker–but all of its shots proved nothing more than a general annoyance to the thing overall.

The Gulper expunged a torrential amount of cloudy green material at the smallish mech unit–drowning it completely in the process.

The guns went silent and there was nothing from which Darla could do else to the massive creature.

“Sister–!” Lucrecia heard her panicked sibling cry out. “Help me!!!”

Lucrecia tried to get up then–spurred on by the feeling of a close kinship for her own blood–but the mecha couldn’t respond fast enough.

The Gulper stepped forward to finish the attack–

And was suddenly stopped cold!

Literally.

A giant wall of ice-like crystalline webbing sprang into existence then–surprising both combatants.

“What the–?” Lucrecia heard herself mutter out loud in shock–her sister’s voiced exclamation closely following suite.

~Sorry we took so long getting out of there~ A strangely feminine voice echoed from all around them–before the largest spider the downed pilot saw crashed down onto the ruined decking in front of her–then took up a mutual defensive posture.

~But the ship hasn’t long to sail in these great waters~

Lucrecia squealed in absolute terror at the sight of large white thing parked thirty feet from her forward view port.

“Holy Mother of Agra-Nom!” She bellowed out. “What in the Seven Seas are thee?”

~My name is Gheri. I am an Ice Spider~ Gheri said with idle introduction–waving a foreleg in the process. ~Can you rise?~

“My primary hydraulics are down.” Lucrecia said. “I can’t get up for awhile yet.”

~Effect repairs while you can. I will see about dealing with this abomination~

But…how? The woman wondered.

The ice shield dissolved–allowing the Gulper to attack without warning. But to Lucrecia’s personal astonishment, the seemingly ungainly Ice Spider masterfully dodged the attack by rearing up on a quarter of its legs–and then delivering a three-strike attack of its own.

Pain was something the Gulper was accustomed to, but it didn’t like the idea that an opponent was more agile than it.

It screamed at the spider twice and tried to launch another suffocating salvo of green slime in Gheri’s general direction. But the spider counterattacked by launching a massive web bola at the Gulper–enveloping it cleanly.

The thing froze in a split second–becoming a large green ice cube.

Then it broke apart into sizeable chunks.

Gheri didn’t bat a leg at the ensuing conflagration. She knew that the battle wasn’t over. But to her human combatants?

“Is it over?” She heard Darla comment from behind her.

~No~ The spider responded coolly. ~I have weakened it, but not enough to knock it out of commission. It seems to be gathering its strength from some where’s else~

It was then that the cubes reformed themselves again into larger versions of the Gulper. But the miniatures had twice the strength and the power of its larger cousin.

As one, they shot a torrential wave of green slime at the Ice Spider–covering it completely.

“Are you okay?!” Darla squeaked out in alarm. “Answer me!”

Gheri didn’t move one iota–as the slime encapsulated every inch of her.

And hardened as it went.

The mini-Gulpers didn’t move–each acting as if perpetuating the attack had drained them.

The spider sat there motionless. Not able to move.

Lucrecia managed to bring the auxiliary hydraulics online, but her momentum and agility was severely compromised. The woman didn’t think the Berserker would be much help to the battle thus far.

The mini-Gulpers sensed a new opponent and launched themselves at the Berserker–hammering it with surprising hardness.

Fresh sparks exploded in the woman’s face–as whatever jerry-rigging Lucrecia managed to cobble together evaporated like steam right in front of her eyes.

There wasn’t much hope in her view. The mecha gave as much as it could get–and still it wasn’t nothing.

Nothing!

She flipped a switch and spoke clearly into the pickup grid. “I’m losing it–!”

Another series of hits pushed the machine back even further. Large holes in the mecha’s armor began to appear, and the woman wasn’t sure how much longer she had to live.

“Allow me.” A new voice amended, before another–larger–mecha entered the fray.

Lucrecia felt the Berserker being grabbed from the side–more like scooped up–and set aside gently.

She looked up into her screens and found the massive behemoth glowing with white-hot starfire.

“What–?”

“Stand by, Lucrecia. I’ve channeled all the power I’ve got into one last shot.” I said over the open comm–noting that a lot of Argus’s systems were redlined anyway.

Just then, the green shell which represented Gheri began to crack, split, and finally explode outright–showering the combat arena with molded pieces of one formerly trapped Ice Spider.

I looked down and smiled. “Gheri! Nice of thee to join the fight!”

The spider looked up at me and waved a leg in return.

~I am mutually amazed by your sudden appearance, young one. But I sense that your wonderful construct is on overload. Pray it be to the Great Egg Mother that you are not contemplating a foolish end to an otherwise privileged life~

“Nay,” I said–before gazing upon an enemy which proved to be extremely resilient to most of our attacks. But I was certain it would not be able to withstand the one I had in mind. “Ritual suicide hasn’t been practiced in my family for generations. I cannot recall when the last time anyone in my esteemed family lineage took their life in the name of the Divine Lord.”

~Then why does your machine vibrate so?~

“Stand by.” I curtly instructed Gheri. “You will see in a moment.”

For the sake of everything I knew, loved, or hated, I had to give it one last shot.

One last shot indeed…

STORIES OF THE DEAD EARTH-BOOK 2: CHAPTER 43

Merlin alerted me thus to a new and unexpected development going on just below me.

“Some kind of slimy green thing…” I thoughtfully mused to myself–never understanding what it was which sat before me in silent repose. I noticed that–whatever it was–the creature was attacking both the Berserker and Firestorm mechas.

One stumbled, the other looked…lost.

“Heaven’s Gate…” I whispered as Merlin then alerted me to something else going down. “They’re not going to survive much longer at the rate they’re going.”

“And neither will the ship.” My companion said with a quiet air.

“Huh?”

“The compressor systems just had a catastrophic blowout and the automatic pumps are fried. There’s nothing to save the ship from sinking.” Merlin elaborated quickly.

I locked onto the mass below me with my shoulder-mounted weapons–both transforming into something else entirely.

“Firestorm Barrage!” I called out in proud defiance.

Thirty-two packets of supercharged plasma salvos screamed out in a banshee wail–arcing down and away; circling around a bit, before finally homing in on the Gulper.

Resounding explosions punctuated the morning air–before my shoulder-mounted weapons reappeared and mated on both sides of my shoulders.

Then I aimed my Crush Cannon downwards at the smoking hulk of the Gulper.

“Supreme Thunder Crush!” I yelled out–using a more amplified attack which I delivered unto Susha only moments earlier.

A pealing wail of dark energy and matter enveloped the emitter tip of my cannon–and then was belched out abruptly.

A terrifying beam of energy thundered down without any mercy.

The forecastle of the Esmeralda Jasmine quivered and shook violently–as it sustained one grievous blow after another.

The Gulper didn’t even have a prayer in hell of surviving the first shot–so I followed up with a second Supreme Thunder Crush; obliterating the massive green thing out of existence.

Seconds later, the monster sat there in a momentary blip of peace and tranquility–and then ghosted out on its own accord.

I touched down soon after that–spent, exhausted, but triumphant.

“Whew!” I said with a nod to the other two. “That was a close call.”

Neither Lucrecia nor Darla were in any position to argue.

But they weren’t saying anything either.

“What?” I asked perplexed.

“You idiot!” Lucrecia snarled at me. “Do ye not know what the hell you did?”

I looked back at the rising steam which used to be the Gulper. Nothing seemed threatening or out of the ordinary.

“No.” I responded back. “What?”

Just then, the steam coalesced back into something else.

Something more.

“Oh, bloody hell!” I heard Darla complain. “It’s back!”

Back? I thought with utter amazement. There’s nothing which could withstand my Supreme Thunder Crush attack!

I turned, my Argus mecha following suit. I was pretty sure what I was registered was my own personal jaw-dropping moment then, but I was stunned beyond words by what was forming right in front of me.

The Gulper had gotten larger by far–becoming a massive blob of green and translucent protoplasm. So large was its bulk, that a great deal of it managed to slough off the forecastle deck and into the sea.

But not sinking–as Merlin reported. Just sitting there on the top of the Southern Ocean.

The ship tilted downwards under the unforgiving weight of the creature, and it left me wondering just how long this proud ship had left to live.

Raising my Crush Cannon, I was ready for another assault on this thing. But before I could impulsively act, the Gulper hit me with a sphere blob of its own making–hurling me back quite a ways–before I ended up crashing to the deck.

I heard Lucrecia scream out my name, but I didn’t–couldn’t–move on my own accord.

Shit. I thought with great dismay. So much for the quick and easy way out.

“Systems down.” I heard Merlin’s crystal-clear voice call out to me then. “Aux power is online, but operating at 35% efficiency.”

So in other words–I saw–Argus wasn’t going to be doing me much good in the here and now.

“How about if I channel everything into one last attack before disengaging?” I openly suggested. “Say…a Solar Flare Strike?”

“Mmmm….” Merlin droned. “It could work, but then again, it could leave you stranded in this mecha configuration until someone recharges our power cells.”

“So better not?” I concluded with open disappointment.

“Did I say you couldn’t?” Merlin chided me.

“Uh…”

“I said it could leave you stranded, but we never had much time to field test Argus all that often. So right now, I’m not sure what a full-power strike will do to your suit.”

Even odds, I saw right then. But looking out the port window of my mecha, I could see the Berserker and Firestorm take one brutal hit after another–and I knew that we didn’t have a whole lot of time left.

That Gulper needed to go down, and go down fast!

“Let’s do it. Channel all available power once I manage to break us free of this hellish prison.” I told Merlin with great confidence.

“Acknowledged.”

STORIES OF THE DEAD EARTH-BOOK 2: CHAPTER 42

I caught Susha broadside with a quick slash across the chest–opening up another terrible wound in the dragon’s chest. For a second, a hot stream of life energy and blood fountained forth in the air, and I heard a heart-wrenching roar commence into the empty skies above me.

But I could not stop!

Raising my sword, I called out: “Journey of 1000 Souls; Heed my cry! ÐÞßÇad DJ2–Y-R : JUDGMENT STRIKE!”

I threw my sword out towards the Ancient Dragon–just as a giant beam of light came down and hit him instead of me. The sword spun up and around a few times before it finally came to rest above his head.

Singing light came out of it before the sword replicated itself into oblivion. And with each new sword came a lightning storm like none other came crashing down from the Heavens themselves–all acting as if the Lord Himself finally had enough of this crazy dance of ours and decided to end it with one swift stroke of His mighty Hand–and fully engulfed the Ancient dragon with its awesome glory.

The display lasted only about a minute–as each sword hit him with its own power–and then the sword spun around one last time and returned to my hand in one graceful arc.

I stood down from my attack mode and paid witness to the final moments of Susha’s last reign on this Dead Earth–as the smoke cleared and the dragon stood there; charred and bleeding in many places.

I knew he had not long to live.

“It is done…” I heard him whisper. “You have finally proven to me what it is to be a gallant warrior in the service of our Lord and Creator.”

“I–I am sorry.” I said in an electronically enhanced voice. “You fought well for an Ancient, and for that I am blessed to have been your opponent. I just wish things could be different and I could call you friend.”

The dragon laughed a little–finding the strength to do just that, but nothing more.

“In all my years as an Ancient, I have never heard of such sincerity come from my opponents or prey–as each one stood in absolute awe of me, or in complete and transfixing fear.”

I stood by and just…watched? Was there nothing more that I could do? When would it all end?

There were so many questions from my side, I did not know where to begin.

“Your sword, child. I have need of it.”

I held it out and opened my hand, watching as it lay suspended between my metal fingers and the air between us.

Then it zipped towards Susha in a blinding rush of speed and agility, and it hovered there.

A magical aura soon encased it, and before I knew it, it had transformed itself into something familiar to me!

My Sansui sword! I thought in breathless astonishment. But how?

In my Argus modification, I had no access to my Sansui sword. Just my Verxon.

“Breathe new strength into this hallowed weapon. Make it stronger than it was before.” I heard Susha say in a low and reverent voice.

I watched in stiff agony as my sword began to pulse and glow into something else. The blade lengthened and the hilt transformed into something a little larger than before.

In a few seconds, the sword had indeed become something else–a straight blade with strange lettering running up and down its flat cusp–and then both the pulse and glow died.

Suspended between us, I witnessed as Susha’s own body began to glow with an ethereal light of his own and then it grew brighter and brighter still…

I shielded my eyes from the light with my forearm; Argus mimicking my movements.

In moments, the light faded and the sword stood there–suspended in front of me.

Power beyond mortal belief. It is now yours for the taking. Guard it well. Do not deviate from your journey–thy mission in life…princess. Susha’s disembodied voice echoed and the sword floated towards me slowly but steadily.

I reached out and grasped it carefully–afraid for a second that I would somehow break it.

But the sword held firm in my grip.

“Praise be to God and the Ancient known as Susha the Old One.” I said quietly in the air. Let thy will be done…

* * *

Lucrecia and Darla were looking on at the humble scene; saddened by the spectacle, but knowing that it couldn‘t be avoided.

Some things were steeped in both legend and tradition, and these things had to be resolved in the only way that it could.

“At least it’s over.” Lucrecia said.

“True.” Her sister commented. “But I wish it was me that was fighting that dragon instead of Jeanna up there. I’m almost envious of her.”

“Don’t be. She has her place, and we have ours.” Lucrecia said, looking around the wrecked fore deck of the Esmeralda Jasmine. The morning light revealed a lot of damage done to the topside portions of the Castle-class war galleon, and it left the sisters in no doubt that Tiddus was going to have kittens when this whole affair was over.

The woman communicated as much to her sibling.

“We’ll just tell him that the Ancient dragon did it.” Darla joked lightly, shifting the Firestorm mecha over to the right of a fallen mast-head. The canvas material itself had been burned away–leaving only tattered remnants.

The woman shook her head–feeling sorry for the damage repair parties already.

Glad I’m a mech pilot. She thought, before she felt the deck heave a little, and then stop. Then it started again; this time, each quake getting stronger with each passing second.

“What–?” She started; before alarms in her ship went off a panic.

“I got something coming up on the aft quarterdeck!” Lucrecia squealed. “Near where the Main Engineering spaces are located!”

“What in God’s name–?” the woman said as the deck plating beneath her trembled and vibrated very severely–nearly bowling her over in the process.

Lucrecia turned and started to run towards her sister when the deck heaved upwards in an explosion of everything imaginable: From wooden planks, shards of metal, to power conduits and air duct sheathing–along with some personal effects brought up from the crew‘s quarters.
Lucrecia heard what sounded like the sour chime of an alarm clock–as it struck the Berserker harmlessly on the port quarter, and bounced off.

“Great. Give me something I don’t need!” The woman snarled to herself–seeing what looked like a massive blob take up a position just across from them, but filling up most of the hole it had created in its rapid ascent topside.

“What is that thing?” Darla croaked in horror.

“Damned if I know. It’s slimy, ugly, not to mention huge,” and Lucrecia paused for a second. “And it needs to go down.”

“Hopefully not where it came up from.” Darla’s voice echoed over the mech’s comm link.

Then the Esmeralda Jasmine shuddered again.

“Oh, what now?” The irate woman barked in exasperation.

The shuddering got worse.

Before anyone could figure out what else was going on, a sharp explosion ripped out from the port side of the ship–followed by a great gout of smoke.

Darla’s sensors went wild.

“By Pendak’s Jewel!” The woman yelled as the ship started to list and then settle into the waters of the Southern Ocean.

“What the hell was that?” Lucrecia wanted to know desperately. It was either fight this thing, or….?

“One of the four giant coolant compressors for the main engines just went!” Darla yelled.

“So?”

“So the explosion we just heard and felt came from that just punched a monster-sized hole into the bottom of the ship!!!” Darla fired back miserably. “We’re starting to take on water!”

Lucrecia went back to her system’s display and called up an internal schematic of the Esmeralda Jasmine.

But instead of a clear connection, all she got was SYSTEM OFFLINE in bright bold letters.

“Internals are non-op!” The woman called back. “And that means that the automatic pumping system is fried!”

Just then, the Gulper finished collecting itself and launched an attack on both the Berserker and the Firestorm–hitting both with a pair of tentacles.

Darla managed to evade hers by jumping nimbly out of the way, but Lucrecia sustained a hit–only because she was too preoccupied with trying to get something going with the ship’s computer.

“Bloody hell!” She seethed as she got hit again–this time feeling the Berserker stagger back on its own.

Dropping what she was doing, Lucrecia struggled to right herself back up. But she ended up tripping on something and fell.

Instead of crashing, she transformed on the fly and fired back at the offending blobby mass in front of her with a resounding cannon shot.

An explosion of green spray and tongues of fire greeted the woman as some pieces of the Gulper rained back down in her direction–covering the main barrel just a bit.

“Gross!” Lucrecia screamed out loud and then went upright in a hurry–firing off a stream of plasma shots from her two outstretched arm cannons.

Chunks of the creature was being obliterated at a hellish pace, but for some odd reason, the Gulper didn’t seem to be affected all that much. Sure, it was thrashing around a bit with each hit, but with each connecting shot, the wound just seemed to pulsate for a second, before healing itself.

Lucrecia wiped her brow–the Berserker following suit–and she sighed.

“Son of a mother–” she whispered tiredly. “Just what it will take to put you away?”

STORIES OF THE DEAD EARTH-BOOK 2: CHAPTER 41

Qaita and Gheri were both stunned when the creature in the Main Engineering spaces began to get smaller and smaller as time passed. Neither of them could understand what was going on–and the two Ice Spiders believed (in their minds) that their attacks had actually done some damage to what they referred to as a Gulper.

A silly name to be sure, but they found evidence of human remains that suggested that it did not just inhale its prey, but gulped them down whole and allowed their victims to digest at a rather slow and (obviously) painful pace.

“So where is this thing going?” Qaita asked, feeling more of the Gulper’s mass shrink by another ten percent.

“Going?” Her sister echoed in confusion– as she looked around. “I don’t know. Most of the exits are sealed, so–” Then the sound of muffled screaming coming from the air ducts above their heads–grabbed both women’s immediate attention.

“That sounded human!” Gheri exclaimed in a breathless voice.

“But there isn’t anyone in there…?!” Qaita finished in a close second. “Unless–” and she vaulted upwards in a graceful jump and grabbed the overhead air duct–200 feet up.

Even in her human form, the Ice Spider could still cover great distances in a single bound. Nothing was beyond her reach.

She repositioned herself quickly and then looked about her.

“As I suspected!” she declared in a reedy voice. “This Gulper is using the air ducts as a means of transporting itself!”

Another scream echoed again.

“It looks like it’s found itself a snack!” Gheri hollered up to her. “But where?”

Qaita studied the main air duct she was on, but didn’t detect any bulges in it.

“It must be a couple of decks up!” She announced. “These ducts aren’t distended in any way, nor are they damaged!”

Gheri was at a loss. How in the Great Egg Mother did this thing get out of this place without us noticing?

She decided to test a theory of hers, and placed a hand on the smooth gelatin-hide of the Gulper.

Her hand passed right through.

An exclamation of shock rippled right through the Ice Spider–as she witnessed an impossibility in regards to the natural laws governing Dead Earth.

Then she fell.

Reacting quickly to the change, she landed on her feet without incident, but the Gulper was now nowhere to be seen.

“Sister!” She yelled up. “It’s gone!”

“What?” Qaita responded in strong disbelief. She looked across the ceiling and found that the pods holding the monster’s still live prey were also…missing?

“Great Egg Mother preserve me…” the woman said with a heavy heart. “This isn’t looking good at all for the ship’s captain at all.”

“So what do we do?” Gheri called up.

“What else? We follow.”

* * *

In almost the same split second that the slime-covered tentacle had gotten a hold of me–did it just suddenly go slack with excitement.

And I fell down–hitting my good shoulder at the same time.

“Whoof!” I gasped in surprise, instantly thinking that I had somehow escaped Death’s grip again–thanks in part to luck and my faith in the Lord.

Sula reached me and bent down with a look of concern on her face.

“Are you okay?” She inquired.

“I think…so.” I grated out cautiously–expecting nothing but pain in my shoulder. It was there. But it was a heavy throbbing. Like a giant heart beating away.

“Ow…” I moaned out loud. “That mother of a whore really got me good.”

“Shoulder?” The spider inquired innocently.

“Y-yeah.” I winced some more, wondering how I was going to be able to proceed on my own without her assistance. As far as things were concerned, I was dead in the water.

Taken out of the fight.

“Can you retract your armor a bit?”

I nodded. “Seth? Retract a portion of the shoulder armor if you would, please.”

“Actually, I would have to disengage your entire armor apparatus–based on your grievous injury.”

“Why?”

“Because the power nodes governing your fifth-generation power armor are interconnected in one form or another. Simply disconnecting the shoulder’s power armor nodes will have absolutely no affect on the armor as a whole.”

I sighed.

“Can I re-initialize after I disengage?”

“I would recommend against such a measure. Not until your shoulder heals.”

“What about the blue magi spell I used on myself earlier? The Call to Restoration?” I asked hopefully.

“It only activates on an instinctive level, my mistress.” Seth told me–to my great disappointment. “You do not have as much conscious control of your limited blue magi healing arts, just yet.”

The armor blew apart gracefully after that, and the modules were left ‘glued’ to the different parts of my body. Almost instantly, I felt a huge amount of release–as the constricting sensations eased abruptly–leaving my shoulder (and right arm), feeling like a useless piece of wet rope.

The blood in my affected area…that I could easily feel on an intimate level. Like a hot rush of warmth, mixed in with tingling, shooting pain, and a nerve-wracking throbbing sensation.

I guess that it didn’t really go away after all. I thought with some noticeable distress.

At this point, Sula came crawling over and looked at me with a look of pity and sympathy.

Glancing back at the Ice Spider, I asked in a sheepish voice: “Don’t suppose there’s anything that you could do for me, is there?”

The woman looked back at me with an expression bellied full of curiosity.

“Don’t you have any natural healing arts of your own to call upon?” She asked.

“I’m sorry to say that I don’t. I rely more on my ability to not get injured too severely and my small med-pak–which went down with the Torus when it sank offshore at Xanix.”

“So you have nothing upon which to heal that grievous injury?”

“Not on me, no.” I said. “Even though I have a Call to Restoration spell, Seth here–” but was interrupted by the spider’s dismissive snort.

“I heard what he said.” She said with some contempt. “My question is why doesn’t he heal you?”

“Because I’m a Class V wrist-comp. You would need a Class IX to do what you ask. I can only interface and perform techno-mage miracles–of a sort. Her limited blue magi spells will just have to come onto their own in their own due time.” Seth informed Sula succinctly.

I groaned in embarrassment, feeling very much like a blowfish out of water.

Sula found this information interesting.

“So you became a techno-mage, but not one of the healing arts like Jeanna is?”

“Right.” I said, feeling the numbing pain creep up on me. I staggered just a little, and then fell backwards against the slime-encrusted wall of the air duct.

But before I could hit it with any part of my tired body, I felt Sula’s arms wrap themselves around my waist–her hands supporting my weight without effort.

She laid me down gently.

“Sleep,” she cooed softly. “And let me take care of that wound for you.”

“Y-you?” I asked, before I felt a slight prick from one of her fingernails impale my flesh ever so carefully.

Another kind of warmth entered me and began to flood my consciousness like an enveloping fog.

I looked back up at her, and instead of seeing a human face, I saw one which resembled a spider’s. But one alabaster white, with glittering ice crystals encrusted here and there–all splotched in a beautiful–almost artistic–pattern of supreme elegance and design.

I didn’t feel any fear from what my own mortal eyes partook. Instead, I felt that familiar warmth again, and this time, I was reminded of days past when my own dearly departed mother would hold me in my arms and call me a name I had not heard in 15 years:

“My priceless little gem: My little Jasmine.”

“M-mom…?” I slurred with an absolute amount of surprise and shock.

“Sleep.” She told me then. “And wake up refreshed and energetic as ever, my sweet daughter.”

No matter what, I could not resist such an offer. Especially from one’s own mother.

I passed out.

STORIES OF THE DEAD EARTH-BOOK 2: CHAPTER 40

“Hang on!” Sula yelled to me as I struggled against my unseen foe.

My left shoulder shrieked in agony, as I tried to maintain my tenuous position–with my left arm out and holding onto a wounded section of the intake vent.

In the last second, I had managed to dig my armored fingers into the surprisingly soft metal of the air duct, and listen in fear as the metal started giving way all on its own.

Either I’m too heavy, or this thing’s too strong! I thought to myself then.

Which brought me to this point in time: Me, myself, and I–hanging by life’s provincial thread.

I continued to hold on–but I wasn’t so sure that I was going to make it. The sockets in both my shoulders were screaming for relief–and at one point–I was certain that I heard Seth warning me that my power armor’s structural integrity was in imminent danger of failing outright.

If I let go now…? I started to analyze, where would this thing take me?

“Hang on, child!” Sula’s crystal clear voice echoed back to me as a blanket of calm security. “Hang on!”

“Trying–!” I hollered back–listening as something popped and then separated in my shoulder.

I grimaced in absolute pain.

“Hurry!”

“Torn rotator cuff. Your ligament is the only thing holding your shoulder together. I would strongly suggest that you let go, my mistress.” Seth urged.

“I can’t!” I screamed. “If I let go–”

My shoulder went with the loudest crunch! imaginable and at that time…?

I did let go.

For the briefest time, time itself ground to a halt and I lay suspended in it like a fly in mid-transit–just before being sucked down into a never ending trap that was not my own design.

My Lord in Heaven…please forgive my trespasses and any sins which I may have committed before thy hallowed Eyes…I am only flesh and blood. A pure mortal of unbending will. And though I have been forever tempted by the weakness of thy flesh, please see it in within your Holy Eminence that I–your sacred messenger child–might find favor into the Paradise of Heaven, and allow me passage through Heaven’s Gate, I softly prayed.

Then let go–resigned to the fact that I was no longer the master of my own fate.

Almost in the split-second which I did a cold strand of ice-webbing surged forth with blinding speed–and latched onto my uninjured arm.

Suddenly, my downwards trajectory was halted with such harsh swiftness, my whole body jerked violently to a stop.

I cried out anyways–partly because I was in such pain from a dislocated shoulder–the other half was a bellow of fear.

Fear of not being able to face my assailant with a warrior’s fervor.

Not like in Xanix. I saw.

“Got you!” Sula declared triumphantly–the joy and relief painfully evident in her voice.
Seth was warning me of imminent structural failure in the next two minutes.

“D…Divert emergency power to the structural integrity nodes!” I told him. “I will not come apart now!”

“I can only hold these power levels for the next ten minutes.” Seth was telling me. “Then the armor would be forced to come apart accordingly–judged in part by the emergency shut-down protocols.”

I groaned softly then.

“I know.” I muttered in a haze of excruciating pain. “It is not thee fault, Seth. I do not blame you for not trying your best.”

“Sometimes, that’s all we can ever hope for, my mistress.”

The ice strand holding me stretched a little, and I knew–despite Sula’s best efforts–there would be no meeting with my Creator the way I had envisioned it.

The slime-covered tentacle wrapped around my arm let go for a instant, only to grapple around my middle–and began its tug-of-war anew.

* * *

In the instant Susha and I collided, a quick claw swipe sent my Crush Cannon flying upwards in a spin–only to land in the back of us with a deafening crash!

The Ancient took another follow-up swipe and I was sent backwards onto my butt. I crashed onto the deck with a thunderous pall, but I was more surprised than damaged in any way.

I got back up quickly and intercepted the next strike–immobilizing his arm at the wrist–but completely forgot about the tail!

I could not hold him and thus dodge his massive appendage at the same time, and something on Argus squealed with a terrible crunch!

The world spun abruptly sideways, causing me to fall again with a resounding crash!

But no sooner had I come to rest did Lucrecia bulldog the Ancient when he least expected it–throwing Susha clear across the deck’s wooden plating, and up into ship’s large forecastle up on the bow deck.

The structure collapsed unto itself in a cloud of wood debris and dust–burying the dragon right where he lain.

I shook myself awake–finding that the damage had come from the left side–near my kidneys. The pain was surprisingly light, but Merlin told me that repairs where underway and Argus would soon function again.

I silently thanked God and my father for allowing me such a chance to fight a worthy opponent–and openly blessed Merlin for his timely assistance.

“It is what I was programmed and designed for, my lady.” My wrist-comp returned. “A servant of your family and your personal guardian at times.”

“Truly!” I breathed with excitement in my voice–just as the shattered and broken forecastle began to move on its own accord; signaling to me that the battle was far from over.

“Time to end this cat and mouse game.” I declared to Lucrecia, watching as Darla entered my view. The damage to the Firestorm mecha was significant–judging by how she wobbled and then limped over to us–but she didn’t appear any worse for wear.

“I can still fight.” The woman said from inside the Firestorm. “I can do much more than project anti-fire barriers and force shields.”

“Huh?” I said, blinking my eyes in disbelief. “Come again? You can do…what?”

“Aye. I can fight.” Darla said with proud stubbornness. “This machine is much more than it looks.”

“How so?”

“It is the Berserker’s main weapon.” Lucrecia revealed to me, just as Susha shook himself free of his own man-made imprisonment.

I was at a clear loss, even as the Ancient dragon ambled its way down the broken steps of the ship’s bow with grace and remarkable agility. The glorified beast was sporting some wounds of our battle thus far to date, but he still looked willing and able to fight.

Bad news for us? I thought. Just how much will it take to put away this creature?

“Well, whatever you got,” I said; watching Susha take up a strike position about 100 yards abreast of me. “You’d better hope and pray to the Divine One Himself that it works.”

“In that case,” Lucrecia was saying. “Can I borrow the use of your Crush Cannon?”

“Sure,” I answered distractedly–keeping a mindful eye on my enemy. “If you think it’ll help. I only managed to wound it so. But not enough to take him out totally from the fight.”

The Berserker transformed right then back to its Battloid Mode, and reached down to pick up the weapon in question.

At the second Lucrecia did, Susha charged us without warning.

I screamed out one at the same time–managing to dodge its incoming attack–but spun around and grabbed the giant dragon by its sides; arresting its forward motion for just a second, and then flung Susha up into the skies above us.

“Hammer time!” I yelled out, and a thick-edge sword appeared in my hands–and I wielded it with a master’s flourish; before driving my point home:

I would not be defeated!

STORIES OF THE DEAD EARTH-BOOK 2: CHAPTER 39

I suppose my father’s enthusiasm for the Ganthan project was a bit overzealous–considering the fact that in the last few rounds, I was only able to land so many light blows on Susha’s beautiful hide.

It was a shame–I reflected; while trying to catch the Ancient where he least expected it–that I would have to kill him in order to take his awesome power.

Only one of eight Ancients. I reminded myself again–taking up position on his aft quarter, while Lucrecia maneuvered around in the Berserker (Tank Mode) and lobbed off another quick shot.

Darla was less able to take advantage of the distractions the two of us provided and was hit again in the middle. The Firestorm went down in a shrieking crash! of metal–and for a second–I didn’t think she would rise on her own accord.

The dragon’s power and agility was awesome, but I was certain that–in my Ganthan configuration–I could easily take him out without sustaining serious damage to my fifth-generation power armor.

Lucrecia transformed back into the Berserker’s Battloid configuration and went to assist her downed sibling.

At this point in the fight, Susha pulled something new out of his hat, and I was suddenly on the receiving end of something called Heaven‘s Rain.

The skies above me opened up like a flower, and suddenly I was showered with a series of high-speed meteor impacts which buffeted me like no tomorrow. Lucrecia took some lingering hits while moving to shield her sister at the last second–and the Berserker was left sparking and a bit wobbly as a result.

I checked my HUD displays and found some damage myself, but nothing which would cripple me in the onset.

I was still mobile, still active.

I could still act.

And I did.

“Merlin: Engage Ganthan’s “Argus” option.”

“Affirmative.” My wrist comp replied.

I turned away from my opponent for just a moment to collect myself-to prepare for the next level of combat. Whilst it was true that I would sustain very little damage as a result, playing around with an Ancient in such insignificant power armor would be akin to a gnat trying to topple a Giant Were Bear in Snowcap Valley.

I was that gnat.

So in order for me to get the drop on Susha, I would have to be better than him.

Faster.

“Stand by.” Merlin told me. “Ten seconds.”

“Giving up so soon, child?” Susha goaded me openly.

I shook my head as I silently counted down the time, not wanting to give away my advantage too early.

“If I did that, I wouldn’t be much of a worthy adversary, o’ Ancient One.”

At this point, my Ganthan armor split apart–leaving me momentarily suspended in mid-air.

In the few seconds I got a look at the Ganthan option, I could sense that this mode was also compatible with my Argus and Prometheus power armor configurations.

Each piece spun away from me in a wide arc as my fifth generation armor morphed into something much larger than I was before–twenty feet tall to be precise.

Great armor segments merged with my small feminine form and I soon took on the appearance of a giant human-sized robot with a lot of special options available to me.

A shield appeared in my left hand and a high-powered Crush Cannon in my right. Two shoulder-mounted missile launchers appeared and mated on each side of my head, while a small energy cannon embedded itself flawlessly in my chest plate.

Susha looked at me in surprise. I was half his size now, but to him, my bulk was more of a liability than an asset.

Or so he thinks! I thought from inside my protective armor cocoon–waiting for him to take a swipe at me.

I side-stepped my way towards Lucrecia and Darla–glancing back only briefly to see how the two were doing.

“You okay?” I asked, just as the Ancient dragon charged.

I turned just in time to see the dragon’s claws come at me like drawn swords and daggers–mouth open and ready to tear me apart without hesitation.

I leveled my Crush Cannon and smiled.

“A worthy opponent never leaves her guard down.” I stated simply and pressed the trigger.

A tremendous shockwave greeted both me and him at the same time–as a large bolt of destruction nailed the Ancient point-blank; punching him backwards like a toy cart with very little effort.

I saw blood and gore fly at the same time that he did and had a moment’s worth of regret in doing this.

But the rules were rules. There was nothing which I could do to change that.

A loud roar echoed across the deck as Susha struggled to get back onto his feet.

“So you have teeeeth…after all.” The dragon said through clenched jaws. And staggered about like a bar-hopping drunk. “I find that admirable after all.”

I inclined my head only slightly in response.

“And you are a worthy foe. I am impressed by your tactics and battle wit.” I said, raising my Crush Cannon. “Shall we continue unabated?”

Susha stared at my weapon, before shuddering a bit. Not from cold or nerves. But because the shock of my weapon had caused his nervous system to rebel.

And for an Ancient, it must be a significant thing–to be affected by a mortal’s weapon like this. I reflected.

“Yes. Let’s.” Susha said, and he charged me just as I aimed my Crush Cannon at him once more…

STORIES OF THE DEAD EARTH-BOOK 2: CHAPTER 38

Sula canvassed the small air duct carefully–looking for signs of any of the creature’s residue. She found some concentrated in another air conduit–indicating that the thing was actually making its way out of the Main Engineering spaces.

But at a slow and steady pace.

Where this thing going? The spider asked herself. What is more important on this dead world that this thing needs to leave?

Sula continued to tread carefully through the softly padded ducts until she came up at a three-way juncture.

It was pointless continuing the attack. Nothing she had in her impressive arsenal was enough to put a dent in the thing down below. In more than ten minutes time, she had ceased her assault and jumped into the nearest air duct–scurrying up the walls and into the ceiling like any good Ice Spider.

“Which way shall I go?” Sula asked herself, before placing the finely tapered points of her fingers on the first passageway–the right one.

Closing her eyes, she gently began tapping them in a singular, fluid motion.

After a few moments, she stopped and then opened them.

“Not this way. There’s nothing there.”

She tried the second one.

Same results.

There were no noticeable vibrations coming in this direction either.

“So the last one–?” she thought out loud; placing a hand on the duct’s cool metal surface. But before she closed her eyes, she already got a steady drumming sensation. A type of frequency vibration which elicited some familiar pangs in the pits of her stomach.

The kind typically associated with prey.

Food.

The ice spider’s organ growled in response to the hopeful stimuli, and it was very rare that she would pass herself up a free meal.

Even if it one that she could not readily identify.

She continued to softly drum her fingers in a steady rhythm–trying to sort out exactly what it was which was coming down the other end in such a mad rush.

Someone or something which is either trying to escape, or…? The woman analyzed; wanting to desperately hold off her hunting/killing instincts for just awhile longer.

In the pitch black darkness, the woman backed up just a little bit–intent on spring a trap on whatever was closing in on her position.

In just a few seconds…she quickly thought to herself–arm cocked back, her body tense and ready to strike.

Whatever came up almost escaped her notice. But a millisecond later, instinct kicked in and she lunged–grabbing a hold of something both soft and strangely made of metal.

“Ahhh!” The metal’s owner cried out in a high-pitched tone.

Sula let go almost immediately–and her fangs slowly retracted and folded back just under the roof of her mouth.

“Sorry!” She broke out in apology. “I just thought– ”

“Thought what?” I said. “That I was someone else?”

Embarrassment flooded the Ice Spider.

“Uh…no. More like…food.”

I shuddered inwardly–thinking that I almost had become a meal for a cold and calculating spider.

“You eat…humans?” I asked with a bit of sinking dread settling into the pits of my stomach.

“In the past.” Sula admitted. “But it’s been thousands of cycles since the last time any group of humans has crossed our path.” She paused and then added, “Back then…times were different. We were more of a predatory species. Preying on anything which moved.”

I sat back to rub the back of my leg–still feeling the spider’s strong grip on my tender flesh.
I listened as she continued her little story.

“–it took us many hundreds of cycles to become a more logical and sedate race. Of course– by that time–our climate had already gone into yet another shift. And the weather grew oppressively cold by then. The bulk of our population died off as a result. But the survivors become Burrowers, and we lived a lifetime of constant isolation. There was nothing for us to do, but wait for a time. Many more cycles passed. Slowly–through the generations–we evolved and adapted to our harsh and unforgiving environment.”

“And the humans came?” I asked in all patience–finding the story to be fascinating to say the least. None of my educational holo-interfaces could come close to the truth.

I always grew up believing that the Ice Spiders were a malevolent race–and I spent hours fantasizing about killing a few in the name of honor and glory.

“Yes. The humans came. A small band of them from the Outer Marches–which linked our lands to another–drifting–island land mass.”

Tens of thousands of years ago…I thought.

“We didn’t know what to make of them. They seemed so…” the ice spider stopped for a second; searching for the right word. “Primitive.”

“Much like yourselves?” I mumbled out loud, then clamped my mouth shut instinctively.

Sula didn’t say anything for the longest time.

“I am sorry–” I began quickly. “I did not mean–”

“No.” Sula returned gently. “You have no reason to feel ashamed of your words. They speak the truth about what we were back then.”

“Savage?” I tossed out carefully–hoping not to offend Sula in any way.

“We were beginning to come out of our last hibernation period–one which lasted 400 cycles. At this time, we had found ourselves…transformed. From the brown Tree Spiders we were, to a new species borne out of the Ice. And with it, our understanding and realization of the world around us…changed. We suddenly became more attune to our surroundings. And so, we ventured out from our long dormant hunting grounds, and into areas which we would soon fashion our new homes in the cold ice itself–as the world we once knew no longer existed.”

“It must’ve been hard.” I said in a supportive way– trying to visualize first the cold expanse surrounding what would be called the Caves of Ice– with all those Ice Spiders scurrying across the ice itself.

Perfectly invisible.

Perfectly camouflaged.

Trying to survive.

“Aye. It was, child. It was. At this point, we had no idea whom we might come across. But I can safely say that I don’t believe in all of my heart that the humans didn’t either.”

“Can you remember what they looked like?”

“A sorry lot. Much worse for wear than you are to me presently. All dressed in furs of some dead creatures, and carrying sticks with sharpened stone points.”

“Ancient Human?” I asked, thinking back to the legends of proto-humans which used to roam this Dead Earth unchecked–long before the reign of King Richard the Infinite First.

According to my study texts, they came just prior to the rise of the First Age of Civilization.

“No. They did not bear the stigma of their ancestors. That much I am certain.”

“So where did they come from?”

“It is our clutch sisters beliefs that these humans originated somewhere in the Forgotten Lands. Just outside the Knowledge Tree.”

I stared at Sula in shock.

“E-Eden?” I whispered.

“No.” The spider laughed gently. “That place is only reserved for those righteous and noble souls. These pitiful excuses for humans did not share those qualities. In fact, we got a sense that these human were more animalistic in nature. Possibly barbaric. They shared no such qualities of civilization. And the stench of death was always hanging around them at every turn.”

“Survivors from the Old Civilization?”

“Possibly. But we weren’t too sure.” Sula answered.

“So what happened?”

A soft sigh was heard in the small confines of the air duct.

“We didn’t expect them to attack so soon. We had hoped that we had enough jump time to get to our new nesting areas–but that wasn’t the case.”

“Did the humans die?”

Another sigh.

“Yes. They did. After seven hours of intense combat.” Sula said softly. “But so did seven of us. The humans were more powerful and aggressive than we could ever believe.”

“Then what happened?” I asked.

“We managed to locate a suitable nesting area for our wounded brood. It was there that we spent the first 100 cycles on the lookout for any more of you…humans.”

I fell silent as I listened and felt the words come crashing down upon me like lead weights. I felt Sula’s old and raw anger, and knew how distressed she was over having to relive such an ancient memory.

One thing about Ice Spiders that I did learn as a child: Their genetic memories always carried over from one generation to the next. It was how their racial history was preserved. Us humans just made simple journals in which to make entries; write lengthy books on how long we lived. But these Ice Spiders were different. They had little use for technology–though what developed later was more for a defensive art, than a practical one.

“Did we…ah…come?” I asked tentatively.

“A few. But none stayed long. In fact, other than the Hamagi–we were left to our own devices.”

“The Hamagi?” I croaked in pure astonishment. “You met them?!?”

“Yes. Many cycles ago. 500 to be exact. They preferred to keep to themselves, but one of their kind happened to stray into our territory by accident. At first–we thought that they were another one of those…humans which we had sparse encounters with off an on for a couple hundred cycles before that. But these…people were a different kind of human. So spiritual in nature–so in one with their surroundings, we could not believe that such a harmonious existence was possible. But here was one such example. And it left us very much in awe of the fact. This encounter with what we called ‘The Enlightened Ones’, left some of us to rethink our reasons for total isolation. Aside from our sour encounters with your kind, we felt that it was just too long a time to continue our path. So a few of us journeyed back with the Hamagi male–after taking your form.” Sula explained to me in great detail.

I sat there–absorbing everything she said like a sponge. I just hoped Seth was getting this all in his memory banks. This information would certainly turn a few scholars on their ears for sure.

“And…?”

Sula suddenly got up from where she had spent the last twenty minutes crouched.

“We spent the next ten cycles living amongst the Hamagi. In complete peace and harmony with a people whose understanding of this world–you call Dead Earth–stretched far beyond what we could possibly dredge up on a cold winter’s day.”

I felt her slim body brush past mine and immediately got a sense of where she was wanting to go next.

“Uh…I just came from there.” I pointed out helpfully. What about the rest of the tale? I thought with some growing disappointment. It was getting good!

“Is that so?” The spider replied jovially.

“Yes. I’m looking for a way into the Main Engineering spaces.” I said, my heart pounding within my breast.

“You’re in luck.” Sula said. “I just came from there.”

“So why are you here?” I asked, thinking: Is she going to pick up where she left off?

“I’m trying to determine how far this creature’s bulk extends. The conduit I came out of had some residue from the monstrosity, but I don’t know if it new or old.”

“Why?” I said, before backing up a bit to get some better leg room. There was no way in hell I was going to be able to turn in this tightly packed space. “And when are you going to finish the story?”

“Impatience of youth,” I heard the spider mutter under her breath. “So easily distracted, so impossible to please in this day and age. It’s a wonder how you survived at all, Jasmine.”

“Huh?” I went, not sure what she was driving at.

“Your own heritage is as clouded and confused as the young one we ran across at the beginning of this adventure.” Sula said. “And yet–like she–you also try to hide the fact that you’re also of royal station.”

“I–” How does she know this? I wondered–perplexed.

“I possess some mental abilities, young one.” Sula second-guessed me before I could even ask. “Your mind is open book to me. And while some of your past has been blocked off, your most recent memories of flight and then fight. Like the young one before us, you were also…orphaned by the war. But unlike she, you spent most of your time in pursuit of justice–only to find out the truth about your tormentors.”

Memories of my encounter with Darandal suddenly surfaced hot and bitter inside my head.

“Yes.” I answered in a thick voice. Distracted from my goal, I asked then: “But who is this ‘she’ that you keep referring me to? It’s like you know that I know who she is!”

“Not so fast, child. You aren’t ready to face the cold truth of that reality, just yet. Suffice to say, the young one I speak of and yourself in particular have a lot in common–as two scorned women go these days.”

“And that is?”

“That you believe what you desire is rightfully yours.”

“What?”

“Revenge.” Sula revealed coolly. “The one thing which keeps the fire alight in your hearts.”

I was about to say something right back at her, something which told me deep down was a liar’s lie, but that was before my hand encountered something soft and giving.

I groped around for a second and then said, “What the–?”

In that instant, a tentacle shot out inside the deceptively tight confines of the air duct and quickly snaked its way around my arm.

And pulled.

Right off balance I went, screaming my bloody lungs out in a mixture of shock and terror.

“Halp!” I screamed off kilter. “Help me!”

STORIES OF THE DEAD EARTH-BOOK 2: CHAPTER 37

Of course, the ‘rescuing’ part was easier said than done. The creature sitting so obliviously in the Main Engineering spaces wouldn’t let Qaita or Sula near the prisoners.

Having leaped down after trying an aborted rescue, the second spider gave her report to her sister.

“It is of no good. They are alive, but wedged in tight by some kind of viscous strand which is three times stronger than our best webbing.” Gheri told Qaita with some concern.

“Impossible to snap?” The other woman ventured.

“I cannot say without risking further life or limb, dear sister. That thing in back of us certainly doesn’t like being disturbed or its live prey released from their own confinement.”

Qaita didn’t know what to do next. All attacks against it had proven to be a failure. There was no real point in continuing to attack, retreat, and then attack again.

But luck and the Great Egg Mother’s guidance had proven to be on their side: Once they stopped surging against it, the creature unexpectedly lost interest in them– even though it lost some of its overall capabilities.

Qaita sat down on top of the resilient jelly-like skin, and waited for her other sister to return.

“We’re not attacking?” Gheri asked in puzzlement.

The woman brushed her hair out of her face tiredly.

“No,” she whispered. “Not against this thing. I grow weary of trying to tame its ferocious nature.”

She heard her sister utter some kind of pouting noise; akin to a human’s exclamation of deep disappointment.

“It doesn’t mean I have lost my will, sister. It is because every attempt we’ve tried has been met with utter failure. A straight-forward attack gains us nothing. We must bide our time for a bit and then try something else.”

“The Attack of the Triad?” Her sister questioned hopefully.

“I can’t say for sure if that attack will be as effective against something of this size.” And it requires us to be in a refreshed state as well as linked as one in mind, body, and soul. And since we aren’t, we can’t use it! The spider reflected dourly. Does Gheri even know this, or…?

And looked back at her.

But the woman said nothing in return for a moment or so.

“Are you saying that we can’t?”

By the Great Egg Mother! She hissed in silent frustration. Is she that stupid?

“Do I look like I can mount such an effort?” The spider said with blunted truthfulness.

“You’re tired?” Gheri responded with equal amazement.

Qaita just stared at her and then shook her head in muted annoyance.

“I am old, Gheri. You and Sula are not–even though you tease her about it incessantly. I just don’t think that I can carry out such an attack. Not like the Attack of the Triad.”

“So…?” Gheri began attentively.

“I must rest if I am to continue.” The spider said, folding her legs and arms against her chest.

But how was the question. This creature was like none other the Ice Spiders had faced. And they now needed either a new plan or avenue of opportunity to succeed, or…?

Someone else to throw in with them.

* * *

I tapped the side of another hatch–hoping and praying that this one open. But to my surprise, the damned thing buzzed angrily at me in response–refusing my requests for entry.

I fell back in profound puzzlement.

“So how in the world did Qaita get in–if I can’t?” I asked out loud.

“Perhaps one of the ventilation shafts?” Seth innocently suggested of me. “I can direct you to any of the four currently connected to the Main Engineering spaces–and they will lead us inside.”

Seeing how I was running out of options, I didn’t bother to argue the point with my companion.
Seth directed me to the nearest ventilation duct–which was one level up, and about 100 paces forward. I found the grate with ease, and tugged off the mesh covering which held the thing in place.

The metal thing fell to the floor and I pushed it aside.

Just then main power flickered and came back on–bathing the once darkened corridor in a fierce light.

I squinted and turned my head away from the painful glare; blinking twice to get rid of the afterimages, and then some more to allow my eyes to adjust to the increased lighting.

“Well. Something works around here…finally.” Seth commented mirthfully.

“But did it have to be now?” I complained, still feeling half-blinded. But soon, I could see the tips of my armored boots, and then realized I was still in my Valkyrie Mode.

It would be impossible for me to get through without getting stuck in the process.

“Disengage the Valkyrie option, Seth.” I asked of him. My wrist-comp did so and my armor reconfigured back to its old 5th-gen self in a matter of moments–allowing me full access to a space that was no bigger than a couple of feet high and four feet wide.

Still…

The small space afforded, made me wonder how Qaita managed to get through without incident.

She certainly wasn’t a small Ice Spider when I saw her in the decks below us–fighting that Grand Dragon Elemental. I thought to myself–then began the arduous process of crawling through the connecting air duct. So how did she do it?

* * *

Kissing the cold wooden decking of the Esmeralda Jasmine was the last thing I had in mind. Truth be told, I had tripped at the last moment–while trying to escape Susha’s levied firestorm–and fell squarely on my face.

Bruised and a bit bloodied, I picked myself up, and looked around.

A wall of fire surrounded me–cutting me off from my two friends, but not my foe.

The Ancient Dragon reached down to bat me one–right into the wall of flame–but I surprised him by whipping out my Sansui sword and sinking the blade right into his claw.

The beast roared in both pain and surprise at my sudden tactic, and I pulled free my weapon before he took it upon himself to rid me of my most prized possession.

Then I got back up to my feet, and staggered around a bit–trying to regain my balance and my composure.

“Definitely not one of my better performances.” I muttered to myself; thinking how my brother would hound me for this mercilessly. There were a few times when he and I would practice our swordsmanship skills against each other–only to have him come up as the victor.

Only because he liked toying with his younger sister! I thought with some residual anger. There were times when I hated him so because of what he did on those few occasions, but the love in my heart would not be so easily extinguished.

I still mourned his loss as any surviving sibling would.

But my thoughts were cut short when Susha actually backhanded me through the firewall.

So quick and fast that the flames didn’t have the time to consume me at all.

I ended up sprawled across an unmarred portion of the deck–moaning and groaning all at once.

“Ah-ha-ha…ow…” I mewed softly–thinking about how much my own body hurt. I winced as my insides twisted themselves painfully about. For a time, I didn’t think I could’ve survived a full strike with any kind of beast–even with my 5th generation power armor.

I had feared being exposed and naked out in the open without some kind of protection. But now…?

I was.

The blow had left me badly stunned–even with the full protective capabilities of my armor.

“Whuh…wow…” I dragged out with a grunt of admiration, feeling the tight cramping pain in my stomach and then radiating outwards to my sides–where my left side seized for a second–sending even more chortling discomfort my way.

“He hits…brutally…for an Ancient.” I wheezed to myself, before opening my eyes tentatively–and finding myself staring at the fine wood grains of the deck itself.

Flopping over, I tried to get a handle on my pain.

“Oooh…” I moaned.

The deck thundered and then heaved beneath me as the Berserker took one step forward to engage Susha. However, the first thrown punch of the day–at the Ancient dragon–the salvo from the 12-inch plasma pod merely passed through without incident.

It exploded with raw fury behind the dragon.

I was left to blink with unabashed astonishment.

“T-that cannot be!” I stammered in fear. “How can you possibly not be affected by something as massive and large as a Berserker?”

Lucrecia backed up her reconfigured Berserker–in its Battloid mode–clearly wondering the same thing.

“Shifting to Tank Mode.” She said, and then transformed right then and there–each piece of hardware reconfigured back into a proud, one-story war machine packing heavy amounts of firepower.

The tri-barrel which was the two separate gun pods fired again–this time as a consecrated beam of high energy plasma.

The shot bloomed right through as Susha phased out of our plane of reality, and into one which I could only hazard a guess.

It is no wonder there isn’t a full documentation of this creature’s overall abilities! I thought with naked admiration. This thing is able to nullify our attacks simply by adopting a different methodology!

But why?

Why can’t Lucrecia attack and be able to score a direct hit?

Another explosion erupted behind the dragon, but Susha himself remained unaffected.

Then I suddenly thought about what I did with my Sansui sword earlier–recalling how much pain I had inflicted by a simple plunge of my hallowed blade.

I doubt that the Lord Himself has made it that easy for an Ancient to be defeated–since they all share the same righteous plane of existence. I continued to silently analyze as Lucrecia backed up even further.

Susha then counterattacked with another blast of flame towards the helpless mech. But this time–with Darla at the controls–the Firestorm entered the battle arena, and projected a fire-nullifying barrier.

The stout flames washed over the pair, but did no damage to the Berserker itself.

I stood back and wondered if fire and physical attacks were the only method of attack which Susha had at his command.

Perhaps he does, but he isn’t going to share with me, I saw. Not unless I get into the battle and present myself as a more desirable adversary.

No. What was going on was more of a delaying tactic for us. I knew that Susha was serious about the battle. But judging by his look of surprise, I don’t think that he was expecting the Firestorm to deflect even his most strongest fire attack.

I sheathed my Sansui sword, and looked down at Merlin only to find that same mysterious ACTIVATE light blinking over and over.

I tapped the still lit paneled button, and a three-dimensional image of a more streamlined– and somewhat bulky–power armor resolved fluidly before me. It stood at least ten feet tall and was cut to fit my size.

The word ACTIVATE? was just below the image.

It took me a moment to finally see what it was.

Ganthan? No! It can’t be! I thought in awe. It was something that my father had been working on in his spare time–an armor augmentation program of incredible power!

But I didn’t think or dream that he had interfaced it in my fifth generation armor!

“Merlin?” I began slowly. “Why didn’t you tell me that this was part of my armor’s capabilities?”

“I didn’t.” Was my wrist-comp’s defense. The lights on my wrist comp paused for a moment, then resumed on their own blessed accord. “But it seems as though your father has given you something special–should you ever need it.”

“So why wasn’t I aware of it?” I asked. “And for that matter, why weren’t you?”

Merlin didn’t say anything for a minute. I knew that he was thinking–reviewing what had been said, and what had been given to me as a gift?

“Your father was an innovative and mysterious man, Jeanna.” Merlin told me. “And the fact that both of us were kept in the dark about this new program, hints that Ganthan was only to be used in certain situations.”

“Not like my other armor modes?”

“Your other modes are easily accessible. This one is not.”

I looked up at Susha and it suddenly dawned on me.

“Could it be that Ganthan was only to be used when I faced a threat or challenge which could only be measured by all that is considered holy or sacred?”

Merlin had no answer me.

But seeing that Lucrecia was having no affect on the Ancient dragon, and Darla wouldn’t be able to lend much needed fire support, I guess it was up to me to even things out on the battle front. By joining in.

I touched the ACTIVATE? pad and a soft chime was heard.

The image of Ganthan disappeared, only to be replaced by a youthful image of my father.

I stood there, frozen in place; unable to speak.

“F-Father…?” I finally whispered.

He smiled at me–as if the years separating us was no longer a barrier.

“My daughter. Thanks in part to some temporal technology, I am able to record this one-time message for you–on the chance that one day you would find yourself in need of help–and your other armor configurations were not able to come to the rescue.” He said. “And judging by how things have gone from Merlin’s telemetry data, I’d say that the timing couldn’t be more perfect.”

Before I could respond, my power armor underwent an unexpected transformation on its own–as the binders holding them flew apart at the seam–and I suddenly found myself being encased in form-fitting armor components which wrapped around themselves lovingly around my arms, my front and back; while my neck and head became encased in a transparent helmet of some kind–reminding me of quartz crystal or even the finest diamonds.

By the time the process was finished, I was standing a full five feet higher than I was before, with holographic displays winking into existence before my eyes.

Including one of my father.

I gasped as I suddenly realized what my 5th generation armor had done–as I took one look at the large armored “arm” of my new Ganthan power armor, along with the wrist and hand gauntlet which now encased my right hand.

I flexed my hand experimentally–marveling at the change.

“Now you have more power to help you out.” My father said. “Take care, honey. I will always love you no matter what.”

And with that, the image of my father was lost to me forever–as I stood there on the deck of the Esmeralda Jasmine.

I hadn’t time to digest the sudden and rapid change taken place, nor did I have the moment to mourn another lost opportunity to reconnect with my past.

But I stood there–reborn into something that only God Himself could only guess at!

But the question on my mind was: Could I wield this new power given to me?

Susha caught sight of me then, and I him. And as both our gazes locked onto each other, a kind of uncertainty blossomed up between us in all of reality.

We would find out soon enough.

STORIES OF THE DEAD EARTH-BOOK 2: CHAPTER 36

Lucrecia and Darla looked at me, and then back at the Ancient Dragon– wondering just what was going on.

“You know, girlfriend,” Lucrecia was pointing out from behind my back. “We don’t normally cavort with the enemy.”

“Get inside the Berserker, Lucrecia.” I said without taking my eyes off Susha. “Have your sister take the Firestorm.”

“For the love of God–why?”

“Because the battle will begin in mere moments.” The Ancient Dragon informed the two. “It would be better if you two had some means of defending yourselves.”

“From who?”

The dragon looked at the two of them with a twinkle of amusement in its eyes.

“From me of course.” Then it sharply snuffed! in their general direction–a thick stream of gray smoke belching forth from its nostrils. “This isn’t your typical social call, child. I have been summoned, and therefore, it is the Ancient’s duty to call the one who did the summons–to battle.” Then it looked down at me again; beholding me with some measure of concern.

“Tho’ it is a bit perplexing as to how one so young can summon an Ancient to a field of battle.”

“But it isn’t just any field, now is it?” I ventured forth. “This is usually the domain of Kurasha–the Ancient of Waters Edge.”

“Kurasha is unusually busy this time of year,” the dragon stated with some amusement in its voice. “She bade me to go in the place of her Higher Eminence. And since fire is my specialty, she and I agreed it would be a good test of my overall abilities.” Then looked around for a bit. “Though it is not exactly where I would prefer to be. I like dry land than all this soluble wetness.”

“Or the Fire Caves of Hernadas.” I opinioned respectfully. “Your once true home–if I am not mistaken.”

Susha looked at me admiringly. “You are well versed in the Ancient legends for someone so young. I praise thee for your boundless knowledge. Truly, you are wise beyond your years, child. I am deeply impressed.”

I bowed slightly from the waist.

“It is nothing, o’ Ancient One.” I said in a humbled voice. “I simply am a well educated sprite.”

“What trade are you? I smell the stench of Mother Earth on you, amongst the brimstone of the underworld, and the darkness of night.”

I bowed again.

“I am a Second Level White Magi Sorceress.” I stated with pride. “With some dabbling in the other arts of man as well.”

Susha bowed his head and looked me over–before catching sight of my Sansui sword.

“And a warrior too?” It asked in all curiosity. “That is no man’s blade, I can sense that much.”

“It was forged by someone special.” I said.

“Y’sen Taborah.” Susha said without hesitation. “An Ancient himself–who plied his arts into creating some really special and powerful weapons; used only by those of pure hearts and an innocence to match.”

“Y’sen was an Ancient?” I whispered. My uncle never told me that!

“Do my words surprise thee, young one?” Susha asked. “The old man himself has lived much longer than I. But whereas his mighty age has weighed down upon his body, his skillful arts have not. That sword of yours bears his handiwork. And I suspect that you were young whence you received it. Am I wrong?”

“N-no. It was a gift from my late uncle.”

“And from the Almighty Himself.” The dragon intoned gently. “Only He could give such a blessed mortal a portion of Heaven, and still be able to rule over all of Creation. Your uncle was a messenger of God. And through Him, your blood kin carried on down the family tradition.”

“Aye, tis true.” I replied.

“But today, is the day you will take my power and imbue it into that sword of yours. But I shant give it to you freely,” the beast said with a dangerous air. “The test of the One Who Knows is to see if he or she can handle the power. My power.”

At this summons, I was beginning to have some measure of self-doubt. There was no doubt that I could prevail in any given combat situation.

But against an Ancient?

The books did not say what the battle entailed, or whether or not there had been any other successful attempts from those who dared to try and ply the Ancients’ patience.

“Had there been any other successful victors before me?” I asked warily.

“None to my recollection. Most died from attempting to find all eight of us.” Susha told me with a casual air. “Not in the actual battle itself. I would count yourself lucky that the Grand Dragon Elemental had my calling spirit within him at the time. Otherwise, you would’ve spent all of your remaining years hunting and searching without success. It is very hard to find us.”

“Because you do not wish to be found?”

The Ancient Dragon laughed.

“Nay. It is because we sleep for all of eternity in places men fail to look last. They all believe that we can be found in the most common of places.”

It was then that I understood.

“Elementals.” I automatically breathed without thinking it. “Man thinks that if we look for you in those materials which call forth your existence, they can easily obtain that which will make them powerful for all of time itself.”

A soft wave of laughter greeted me as the Ancient Dragon enjoyed my dissertation.

“Such imagination, is it not?” Susha asked of me. “Tho’ I grant with a generous boon, mankind does have its allure. They can think and act in so many ways. In such manners and fashions. But they are still limited in their overall knowledge and thinking–cursed to handing out idle speculation and theories.”

“Aye.” I answered freely without shame. “It is because we are mortal. And therefore, subjected to our mortal ways.”

“And that is why I cannot bequeath you my power through the usual way of enlightened transference. Only through a physical altercation, can I deem you worthy of such responsibility.”

“I knew that.” I said with a measure of pride. “God Himself even told me so–through the old texts: ‘He who searches for ultimate power must find himself ready to fight for it in kind. Not for pride or selfish means, but for the purity of the heart, and the will of Me.’ ”

“And one who has been a messenger of the Lord, as well. Or known someone who has been. In your case, you are both: The child of God, and a lineage of royal messengers.”

I blushed a bit. “My station is little known to everyone around me.” I said–taking a look back at the Berserker and Firestorm standing pat just behind me. (Waiting with undulated patience–I might add.)

Susha looked at me askance.

“Truly?”

“Aye, Ancient One.” I said with some guarded embarrassment. “It is something which has caused me great pain and adulation.”

The dragon fell silent for a minute or so, and then nodded to itself.

“I can see that you are torn between the person you are and the person you wish to be. Very well. I won’t hold this contest back any further. Just be prepared for a worthy battle, child.”

I nodded–knowing what I would be up against with this Ancient dragon. Though some of his legendary abilities were catalogued, I found that there was much left to be said about him.

He did not like water, but preferred dry land. Fire was his natural element. But he could breathe it as well as take it in. I quickly analyzed. So where did that leave me?

I took one step back towards the Berserker and the Firestorm–intent on rejoining my comrades-in-arms.

But Susha surprised me.

He opened up with a cacophony of fire directly at me without warning. And the next thing I knew, was that the very air was being sucked out of my lungs with this new raging firestorm.

I fell–