Michelle – Alpha Zone #193
The journey itself through the connecting Alpha Zones was strangely conflict free, with them jogging at superhuman speeds through all manner of terrain. However everything was not so smooth sailing as annoyingly, every time Michelle’s eyes found the smirking presence of Calvin, she had to employ both her minds to stop from first electrocuting, then setting alight the smug tarado Australian.
Then there was the pleasant surprise of catching Un-Bep’ee and Farooq exchanging some decidedly raunchy groping mid trip. Silently elated and also a little depressed at their closeted nature, she told herself she would give them the whole acceptance spiel when this whole fucking mess was done with. The others hadn’t cared when her and Lana were a thing, not even that massive cara de monda Calvin!...
Besides she doubly reminded herself, who cares about who’s screwing who when everyone is too busy pinche everyone else over…
The Emissary Puk with his silent legion of undead, absently cleared the low level monsters with ease, while he simply jogged in a carefree manner that turned her already souring mood more rancid still.
Intermittently he would frequently pepper them with inane questions about the plant life, monsters that spawned in earth’s newly established zones. Even attempting to get them to tell him about what their world was like before the Elevation. However none of the Party members were very forth coming on any of the topics, merely wishing for their chaperoning duties to be done with.
One conversation of great interest to both Michelle’s minds though, was when the normally passive Farooq asked the elf-esque alien of the ‘Trade Amalgamation’ he represented, to which he readily supplied.
“I am unsure of how much your species know of the political state of affairs in the wider galaxies, so I will endeavor to simplify my explanation.”
“The organization I represent is known as the Trade Amalgamation. It is a quorum of wealthy businesses, individuals and companies with a unified goal of continued prosperity for those who are associated with it. I am but a lowly messenger in standing within it, however once I complete this task I have been assured by my superior’s that I will receive aide in bringing my planet safely into the second Phase of its Elevation…..”
Blushing a little as he paused for a moment before carrying on.
“Sorry I should not have disclosed that…now where was I…factions…Mine unfortunately is not the only faction in the galaxies and although it is the most reasonable, there are several other major ones.”
“The moderate major factions are The Galactic Confederacy and Unified Theocracies of Absolution, either of these when treated with polite respect are almost as agreeable as the Amalgamation.”
“The other two major factions, if you can call them such, are The Ash’Kur Dominion and Zul The Merciful... If you encounter any of their members I can only urge you to either kill them or flee…This might seem a little extreme but if you were to meet a Blood-Desiccated, Silaurian or the like from the Ash’Kur Dominion or moons forbid a Ravager serving Zul’s mercy, you will understand my words as being a kindness, rather than tales of fanciful deficient’s.”
Sharing haunted looks with her Party as one of her minds replayed the horrific scene of her loosing her Lana all over again, the other mind supplied in a quavering voice.
“W-we have had the misfortune to run into Silaurians already…”
Looking genuinely surprised at her admittance he probed.
“You truly survived an encounter with those power hungry cold bloods?”
When she reluctantly nodded in response he continued.
“Not many from an unbacked world can say they have done the same I assure you. I will of course have to confer with my superior’s, but after I have conveyed my offer to this individual, I would like to tentatively offer you a mercenary contract with the Amalgamation, should you wish it?”
Looking to the other unimpressed expressions on her Party member’s faces…even that pinche idiota Calvin’s…She countered diplomatically.
“I apologize but I think it best we conclude the business at hand before discussing such things.”
Apparently not offended in the least the Emissary smiled and nodded as it replied.
“I must admit, my opinion of your Party improves by the hour miss adventurer. May I have your names should we get separated and I need to find you again?”
Slightly caught off guard by the geniality of his request, one of her minds not doing mental triage stammered out.
“M-my names Michelle.”
Nodding appreciatively he thanked her and similarly extracted her other Party member’s names before once more falling into a silent studying of the Zones as they continued to travel at a steady jog.
Having been in the familiar Jungle environment of Alpha Zone #193 for a good 5 minutes of speed jogging, she was unsurprised when their Initiate Templar raised a hand in a halting gesture. Calvin turned to face Puk and said in a polite tone.
“So we are about 5 kilometers from the Citadel right now, and I’m almost certain the reception you will get is not going to be a friendly one, so it might be best if we part ways here and you can meet us back at our City once you’re done?”
Eyes narrowing in suspicion before he countered in a friendly tone.
“Nonsense! You should at least accompany me to the Citadel as per our agre-“
Then a familiar Australian voice froze Michelle’s minds and sent shivers down her spine whilst her skin prickled in unbidden goosebumps.
“No I don’t think these traitors should do anything of the sort…”
Leading Calvin to command in alarm.
“SHIELDS!”
Sufficiently roused from her paralysis, Michelle’s minds instantly layered her [Lesser Lightning Shield] and [Lesser Fire Shield] with Bep’ee’s [Lesser Sanctuary], before she frantically scanned the sub-tropical surrounds for any sign of their assailant.
When her wild eyes found the silver runed, black armor clad monster standing behind them she almost lost control of her bladder.
Adding to her sense of impending doom, when she had gotten her rapid breathing under control, one of her minds noted he was simply standing in the middle of the surrounding undead legion with his gauntleted hands, clasped behind his back as if he was out for an afternoon stroll.
Apparently amused by the occurrence the Emissary laughed in its whinnying manner before offering.
“Greetings Elevant. I am Emissary Puk’Jul of The Trade Amalgamation. Am I to assume you identify as a Forerunner?”
Tilting his head to the side in a quizzical manner the grey skinned, red eyed monster of a man looked Puk up and down before narrowing his eyes and replying in a disdainful tone.
“Greetings invader! I promise not to mention the Orc war…”
Looking to the Party with a grin, it evaporated from his face when he got no reaction. Then smiling once more Benjamin continued.
“So hard to find cultured individuals these days…annnnyway…I will tell you what I told the other Emissary’s I’ve met. Earth is under my protection, leave at once or suffer the consequences…”
Minds trying to grapple with the connotations of what the monster had just said, Michelle looked with growing dread to the Emissary who also seemed shocked. Quickly recovering from it’s moment of slack jawed surprise, Puk smiled a jubilant smile as it countered.
“I must apologize Elevant, but you seem to misunderstand the reason for my presence here this day. I am here not to conquer your world or for an effort of war, but to offer you a job.”
White eyebrows rising in surprise Benjamin responded.
“So wait a minute….you sat in a Dimensional Siphon for 30 days just to come and offer me a job? Didn’t any other humans try to stop you? And where is your party?”
Sighing in regret the purple skinned alien replied.
“I came to this planet alone…some humans did enter the Siphon, unfortunately they only seemed interested in fighting. The wait was long but The Amalgamation is a patient organization, especially so where profits are concerned. I did however run into some more amenable humans on the way here, this group of Adventurers have been kind enough to be my temporary companions in my Quest to find you….that is if you are a Forerunner?”
Easing her grip on her staff slightly as violence did not seemed imminent she looked to the abomination of a human to find him seemingly confused as to how to reply. The moment of confusion passed however as his face returned to an impassive mask as he queried.
“So, let’s just say for arguments sake that I have the Forerunner titles and that I am open to considering a job offer. What work would I be doing and more importantly for whom?”
Turning to see the Emissary’s eyes wide in shock and mouth agape, one of Michelle’s minds wondered what exactly these titles did, while her other mind listened intently to Puk’s fervently querying response.
“H-how many of the titles do y-you have? N-no that’s irrelevant to….ahem….”
The being then massaged its temples with its free hand for a moment to regain its composure before continuing.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
“The job I am offering is to start off as a Junior Member for The Trade Amalgamation to primarily assist allied Phase 1 planets with monster exterminations. You will be granted a generous sum of Manamotes as a contract signing bonus, following which you will be rewarded generously for each successful mission completion. Membership also has tax reduction benefits at all Trade Amalgamation affiliates and a multitude of other perks, of which I can inform you about further should you agree to singing with us.”
The Emissary seemed quite relieved with having finished its pitch successfully as tension seemed to ebb from its stance before it caught himself and carried on in a rush.
“Apologies Elevant but I was also tasked with ascertaining your class, I do hope it isn’t too personal a question for your species? If it is such, I profusely apologize once more…however it is a necessary formality…”
Genuinely surprised at how calmly and reasonably the conversation had progressed, Michelle could feel the knot in the middle of her back begin to relax when the other Australian in the jungle yelled in poorly contained outrage.
“NO! HE CANT BE TRUSTED PUK! HES A FUCKING MURDERER!”
Turing to look at her Leader in shock, Calvin seemed immune to his Party member’s looks of incredulity and disappointment as he clutched his sword and shield in a ready stance, whilst his hateful gaze remained fixed on Benjamin.
The white haired man turned to face the Initiate Templar and had a look of something akin to pity flashed across his face, before he spoke to the Asian Australian.
“Calvin relax mate, I’m not joining team alien…oh wait, your on it’s side?…huh…”
Studying the rest of the party he turned back to Calvin with a look of disappointment on his face and asked.
“What happened to the sexy spear lady? Man she was hot! But we’re getting sidetracked here aren’t we… This little act of conspiring with the invaders has juuust lost you guys your free shot!”
Shaking his head in apparent bewilderment the monster shrugged his shoulders, causing the plate pauldrons to rasp in the eerie quiet of the jungle.
Meanwhile both of Michele’s minds were in conflicted at how to deal with the hijo de puta’s opinion of her deceased lover, however the person in question tuned, completely indifferent to her turmoil, to face the thoroughly confused elf-esque alien and continued.
“Now to…Puk…You have shown me the carrot…so what about the stick?”
Michelle’s anger evaporated in an instant as she recalled who they were dealing with, whilst further confusion crept onto the Emissaries face as it replied tentatively.
“T-the stick?”
Huffing in exasperation Benjamin gestured vaguely in the air as he continued.
“You have made me the offer, so what happens when I refuse?”
Realization washing away its faces confusion, Puk replied.
“Ahh I hoped this subject wouldn’t come up, but the Chief Scryer’s note in the mission briefing said that should you refuse to join us you will be declared an enemy of The Trade Amalgamation immediately…”
A malicious grin cracked across his face before the monster responded in an almost pleased tone.
“Ahh so a Scryer was how you guys found out about me…interesting…well this was fun and all but…I’m afraid I’m gonna have to refuse.”
Michelle further tensed as the purple skinned Puk incredulously responded.
“A-as strong as you may believe yourself be, surely y-you don’t think yourself alone to be a match for an Initiate Necromantic Emissary and his host of undead, Elevant?”
Snorting in derision he was about to reply when Calvin screamed.
“FUCKING KILL THE FREAK PUK! WH-“
And Michelle could only look on in shock as their Initiate Templar disappeared into a blue ringed pool, darker than midnight on the ground where once there had only been jungle floor. Whipping her head to face the monster with the face of a man, Michelle was about to shoot a [Lightning Bolt] at the murderous cabrons face when he said.
“This is why I hate people…Actually, you know what? It’s probably best if I move you all outa here well, before things go completely tits up…”
And before either of her minds could act Michelle dropped into a similar puddle of black, only to instantly drop on the ground of a Jungle, not too different from the one she had just been in.
Next thing she registered she could hear Calvin yelling.
“QUICK! Guys I can just see them from her-“
Before she looked just in time to see the pacifistic Un-Bep’ee land a swift jab, square in Calvin’s nose with his gauntleted fist, that made said nose release a crack along with a generous gout of blood. Calvin’s plate mail clanked as he reeled from the blow, leading to him staggering back and stabbing his sword in the ground. Then the Australian clutched his nose and protested in voice that only the nasally constricted can produce.
“Bep’ee what the hel-”
Snapping back in a clipped tone, the Initiate of The Light cut the Initiate Templars fledgling complaint short.
“You Calvin, are a selfish fool who is putting your need for revenge above the lives of your friends!”
Working his mouth in an effort to respond, Un-Bep’ee cut him off once more.
“I did not say I was finished!...now I do not know why we have been spared but I have no intention to stay here and find out! We are leaving!”
Mouth opening to retort the Botswanan began to yell over the Australian.
“NO-“
But was cut off by the sound of a *BOOM* followed by several rumbling crashes of thick timber splintering. The Party turned as one to look down the dirt track only to see off in the distance the lone figure of Benjamin standing surrounded by the un-moving horde. Then from the left, the voice of the of the Emissary, though distant, still found them at their newly acquired location as it screamed.
“BRING ME HIS HEAD!”
Not wanting to stick around to get caught up in the fight, Michelle grabbed Calvin by the forearm and yelled whilst pulling.
M – “WE’RE GETTING THE FUCK OUT OF HERE, NOW!”
However the Australian dug in his heels and protested while the sounds of shattering bones and wood echoed through the jungle.
“HE’S RIGHT THERE, IF WE CA-“
Then the booming voice of the abomination drowned out his frantic plea.
“HEY PUK! I’M NOT SURE YOU KNOW THIS OR NOT, BUT ON MY WORLD WE HAVE A SAYING! IT BEGINS WITH ‘WHAT GOES UP’…..DO YOU THINK YOU CAN GUESS THE SECOND PART?”
As the other four members of the Party dragged Calvin by force up the path as the irate Emissary screamed back in frustrated anger.
“HAS REASON COMPLETELY FAILED YOU? WHY COULD YOU NOT JUST HAVE ACCEPTED THE OFFER?!”
Completely ignoring the Puk’s enraged plea, Benjamin countered.
“EEEEEE! WRONG ANSWER!...THE SECOND HALF IS…’MUST COME DOWN’!”
As their surroundings visibly darkened, one of Michelle’s minds chanced a glance behind them and almost usurped her other minds bodily control with what it found. Where once the sun had sat surrounded by the sky scraper like jungle canopy, now hung a giant rock the size of which she had never seen.
Eyes going wide as they took in the eerie blue corona at its edges she yelled frantically at her friends and the now un-resisting Calvin, in fear and trepidation.
“SHIELDS!”
Causing them all to come to an abrupt halt and haphazardly turn to face the suspended geological anomaly with [Lesser Fire Shield], [Lesser Sanctuary] and [Lesser Lightning Shield] at the ready, while the voice of the Emissary quailed in the face of the absurdity.
“THAT’S NO-“
The next thing she knew the small moon was a blur as it accelerated the short distance to the ground while releasing consecutive pressurized waves of air and accompanying sonic *BOOM*s.
Millisecond by excruciating millisecond, Michelle’s minds registered the monolithic trees being buffeted by the pressure waves as they assaulted the Jungle and their vibrating shields. Next the trees tops simply ceased to exist as they were replaced by flames as the atmosphere ignited.
Then the last thing she recalled before her world went black was the blast wave of fire and earth rocketing up to meet them from the once green jungle path, as the earth itself shuddered in protest at the near instantaneous and unwelcome, new addition to its mass:
Farooq has left the Party.
Un-Bep’ee has left the Party.
Emily has left the Party.
When Michelle came too and willed away the annoying blue boxes, she was almost certain that she was in the afterlife for the briefest of moments, as the pain she was expecting was not present in the darkness of her dual perceptions. Then she tried to move her arm and was in no doubt what so ever as to the reality of her existence.
What she later came to realize was she had been trapped in a gap between a log and a boulder, and although it initially felt like she had landed in the worst place imaginable, she had in fact landed in one of the safest places possible.
As far as either of Michelle’s disoriented minds could piece together, the maelstrom of debris and super heated air had apparently buffeted their shield for long enough to eject them from the initial blast radius before they had been overwhelmed completely. However being ejected as the Party had, they were tossed away like the rest of the traveling detritus that were the remains of the jungle.
Touching on the memory still too visceral to properly process for her shocked mind’s, she observed the scene of her finding the mangled bodies of her friends as if she were looking on as another person.
After having wrenched and eviscerated her left arm free from between stone and wood, her broken leg’s bones scraped and tore against their insides as she crumpled to the ground. The blinding pain a welcome tenant helping blot out her equally visceral emotions.
She remembered pawing at their arms and legs in vain for a time with her good hand as smoke and ash made to clog her airways, then she just sat there dazedly for a time, until one of the motionless bodies moved.
Yet feeling slivers of anger and hatred color her awareness, she had realized it was the treacherous Calvin who was coughing up blood while the others lay with bodies impaled and crushed about him.
The once beautiful and vivacious Canadian’s corpse was half obscured by sharp rocks and beam sized splinters of wood as her barely recognizable sundered and broken plate mail barely concealed her torn and bloodied top half.
Farooq’s previously lithe and pensive form was suspended slightly off the ground as his blood escaped onto the sizable tree branch that impaled straight through his leather clad torso.
When it came to Un-Bep’ee’s corpse, she involuntarily emptied the remaining soup like contents of her stomach. His once smiling face was the most mangled, being that it was almost completely sandwiched between two boulders so only his scalp and his signature chain mail boots protruded to drip his now superfluous scarlet essence.
As one of her minds idly cataloged the carnage that was her Party, she sat and watched in a daze as the Initiate Templar floundered about before finding a thick branch in reach to lever the boulder off his crushed legs. Her ears still rang as he yelled at her till he was blue in the face before taking a bit of branch between his teeth and extracting the embedded remains of his plate armor from within his legs, one bloody piece at a time.
With his self-surgery complete, and his chest rapidly rising and falling with quick breaths, his spittle drooled at the base of his tear streaked face whilst he passed out.
Vacantly turning her attention to look out over the several kilometer wide smoldering crater in the earth. The charred smell of wood and cooked meat permeated the area.
Across the lands new topography she could make out the white form of the Citadel through the vulcanous fumes that had supplanted the once verdant green jungle and cloudless blue sky.
Her leg and arm began to shift and itch involuntarily as the pain washed over her, forcing herself to focus on the hellish vista before her to stay conscious.
The land at the base of the Citadel extended down to disrupt the near perfectly uniform craters edge. While the remaining Jungle burned around it, the alien structure stood unmarred by the wide scale destruction as if standing silent witness to what its mad master had wrought.
The next time Calvin had came too, his legs had apparently healed themselves no doubt thanks to his high Vitality, leading him to begin moving them in experimental wonder.
Unsteadily at first, he got to his once mangled feet before walking over to her with testing steps. His ash and mud stained face was a wash of anger and grief as he looked about him and rather than command or demand anything of her defeated figure, the Australian simply picked her up and slung her over his shoulder.
And so as the bobbing scenery slowly changed from rubble and ruin to the familiar jungle it was all supposed to have been, the nightmarish scene faded from view, as Michelle passed into unconsciousness once more.