Cliff-hanger!
Part XLIII: Breakdown
Date: Yippah 10th, 114 A.U.
The harsh wind blew across the snow-covered mountains, blowing the snow around to find a new settling place as it whistled through the crevices. Blowing across the snow-covered valleys of the upper mountains Winding around spires and rocks, it blew past the stranded air ship in the process.
Rider watched the shivering Flek step of the ship into the freezing cold to join the others huddled around the front of the machine. Rider had been wondering how long it would take before Flek finally got the nerve to come out into the cold. Flek didn’t really seem to like the cold.
“How is it?” Flek asked, putting his hands in his pockets to try and keep them warm.
“I…” Number 994 weakly said as he probed the machine with his mind. “I… I don’t…” He scrunched his eyes shut as he pressed more firmly on the engine.
“I can’t see anything on the outside to explain the breakdown,” Reynyagn said. “Maybe-”
“Got it,” Number 994 said, and he pulled back from the engine, opening his eyes. “I figured out where the problem was.”
“Can you fix it easily?” Rider asked.
“I’m not sure,” Number 994 said, pursing his lips. “I don’t think so—at least—not easily. It’s kind of hard to explain to you, but basically the elements weathered down part of the machine that was unprotected—the machine wasn’t made for this sort of terrain. From the information I gathered, I think there’s a pretty good gash in the underside of this that we should check out. I don’t think I can fix it, so I’ll have to rework the system to go around the damaged spot. I’m not completely sure how I’m going to do that…”
“Well, best to get it raised up a bit or something,” Reynyagn said. “And then we can take a look at the physical damage done. I think I might be able to move the machine up that much, so-”
“Don’t move,” Rider hissed, sliding a long corsha rapier out of its sheath. “There’s something watching us.” His eyes darted to where he thought he had seen the movement but he saw nothing—at least right now he saw nothing.
“What is it?” Astrid asked, an element of fear to her voice.
“I just sensed movement,” Rider said. “Just be on your guard.” They were silent for several minutes. Rider looked around but he could still see nothing. Maybe it was nothing, but still… His instincts rarely failed him.
“I don’t see anything,” Reynyagn said as he looked around. “Where was it?”
“Well, it was from that direction,” Rider said, slowly gesturing with his head. “But then from that direction, I thought I-”
Whatever he was about to say was lost as suddenly, Zarien gave a cry, clutching his head, and collapsed to the ground. Flek spun around, reaching for his swords, as he moved to defend himself, but just as he saw his attacker he too clutched at his head and collapsed. Astrid and Brother Tomas fell at the same time. Rider turned to see the attackers but saw nothing. Something flashed by his eye and Kailen and Jroldin also fell down.
“Where is it coming from?” Monty yelled, and fired his gun toward what he thought was the source before he too collapsed. It was now only Rider, Reynyagn, and Number 994.
“Get in the ship!” Rider yelled. “Maybe in there we can be safe!”
“I know what-” Number 994 began before he too clutched at his head. His eyes bulged and it seemed like for a moment he was fighting against it. But then he also went limp and collapsed. But Rider and Reynyagn were already moving. Rider made it to the door just as Reynyagn gave a cry. Tripping backwards, Reynyagn stared outwards as he flung his arms to either side while holding his head. Powerless to help his friend, it was all Rider could do to get in the vehicle before he watched Reynyagn fall back limply and off the cliff down toward whatever was below. Rider’s eyes followed Reynyagn’s descent as he bit his lip.
Rider slammed the door to the airship shut as his mouth opened wide, agape. Then he sharply turned, looking around through the windows at the world outside to try and catch whatever their assailant was.
They can’t be dead. The rest of the Xavier team just can’t be dead. Rider turned his head but couldn’t see anything through the snow. Then, a dark figure emerged and walked toward them. Rider tried to see who it was, but couldn’t make out any details. Leaping for the door, Rider slid the lock before leaping back, sword ready to meet the figure. Several other figures emerged, but thanks to the fierceness of the storm, Rider couldn’t make out anything. He stepped back, almost paralyzed with fear, before he gritted his teeth. He would do this. He would rescue his comrades.
Making for the weapons stash, Rider withdrew a powerful blaster gun from the hold and had just begun to turn back when the front window of the machine shattered with a resounding clap. As snow blew into his eyes, Rider pointed the gun wildly, trying to see who it was. Before he could spot someone though, a sharp wave of pain cascaded into his mind, reducing his usage of his other senses. Rider shot wildly toward the front window as he stumbled back, unable to speak. The pain ripped through his mind as milliseconds seemed like minutes. Rider felt himself fall forward as his hands moved toward his pained head. Rider faintly remembered hitting the ground. But try as he might he couldn’t remember anything else as the darkness came to meet him.
Question of the Week:What will happen to the Xavier Team?
Part XLIII: Breakdown
Date: Yippah 10th, 114 A.U.
The harsh wind blew across the snow-covered mountains, blowing the snow around to find a new settling place as it whistled through the crevices. Blowing across the snow-covered valleys of the upper mountains Winding around spires and rocks, it blew past the stranded air ship in the process.
Rider watched the shivering Flek step of the ship into the freezing cold to join the others huddled around the front of the machine. Rider had been wondering how long it would take before Flek finally got the nerve to come out into the cold. Flek didn’t really seem to like the cold.
“How is it?” Flek asked, putting his hands in his pockets to try and keep them warm.
“I…” Number 994 weakly said as he probed the machine with his mind. “I… I don’t…” He scrunched his eyes shut as he pressed more firmly on the engine.
“I can’t see anything on the outside to explain the breakdown,” Reynyagn said. “Maybe-”
“Got it,” Number 994 said, and he pulled back from the engine, opening his eyes. “I figured out where the problem was.”
“Can you fix it easily?” Rider asked.
“I’m not sure,” Number 994 said, pursing his lips. “I don’t think so—at least—not easily. It’s kind of hard to explain to you, but basically the elements weathered down part of the machine that was unprotected—the machine wasn’t made for this sort of terrain. From the information I gathered, I think there’s a pretty good gash in the underside of this that we should check out. I don’t think I can fix it, so I’ll have to rework the system to go around the damaged spot. I’m not completely sure how I’m going to do that…”
“Well, best to get it raised up a bit or something,” Reynyagn said. “And then we can take a look at the physical damage done. I think I might be able to move the machine up that much, so-”
“Don’t move,” Rider hissed, sliding a long corsha rapier out of its sheath. “There’s something watching us.” His eyes darted to where he thought he had seen the movement but he saw nothing—at least right now he saw nothing.
“What is it?” Astrid asked, an element of fear to her voice.
“I just sensed movement,” Rider said. “Just be on your guard.” They were silent for several minutes. Rider looked around but he could still see nothing. Maybe it was nothing, but still… His instincts rarely failed him.
“I don’t see anything,” Reynyagn said as he looked around. “Where was it?”
“Well, it was from that direction,” Rider said, slowly gesturing with his head. “But then from that direction, I thought I-”
Whatever he was about to say was lost as suddenly, Zarien gave a cry, clutching his head, and collapsed to the ground. Flek spun around, reaching for his swords, as he moved to defend himself, but just as he saw his attacker he too clutched at his head and collapsed. Astrid and Brother Tomas fell at the same time. Rider turned to see the attackers but saw nothing. Something flashed by his eye and Kailen and Jroldin also fell down.
“Where is it coming from?” Monty yelled, and fired his gun toward what he thought was the source before he too collapsed. It was now only Rider, Reynyagn, and Number 994.
“Get in the ship!” Rider yelled. “Maybe in there we can be safe!”
“I know what-” Number 994 began before he too clutched at his head. His eyes bulged and it seemed like for a moment he was fighting against it. But then he also went limp and collapsed. But Rider and Reynyagn were already moving. Rider made it to the door just as Reynyagn gave a cry. Tripping backwards, Reynyagn stared outwards as he flung his arms to either side while holding his head. Powerless to help his friend, it was all Rider could do to get in the vehicle before he watched Reynyagn fall back limply and off the cliff down toward whatever was below. Rider’s eyes followed Reynyagn’s descent as he bit his lip.
Rider slammed the door to the airship shut as his mouth opened wide, agape. Then he sharply turned, looking around through the windows at the world outside to try and catch whatever their assailant was.
They can’t be dead. The rest of the Xavier team just can’t be dead. Rider turned his head but couldn’t see anything through the snow. Then, a dark figure emerged and walked toward them. Rider tried to see who it was, but couldn’t make out any details. Leaping for the door, Rider slid the lock before leaping back, sword ready to meet the figure. Several other figures emerged, but thanks to the fierceness of the storm, Rider couldn’t make out anything. He stepped back, almost paralyzed with fear, before he gritted his teeth. He would do this. He would rescue his comrades.
Making for the weapons stash, Rider withdrew a powerful blaster gun from the hold and had just begun to turn back when the front window of the machine shattered with a resounding clap. As snow blew into his eyes, Rider pointed the gun wildly, trying to see who it was. Before he could spot someone though, a sharp wave of pain cascaded into his mind, reducing his usage of his other senses. Rider shot wildly toward the front window as he stumbled back, unable to speak. The pain ripped through his mind as milliseconds seemed like minutes. Rider felt himself fall forward as his hands moved toward his pained head. Rider faintly remembered hitting the ground. But try as he might he couldn’t remember anything else as the darkness came to meet him.
Question of the Week:What will happen to the Xavier Team?
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