Chapter 14 (The Catch)
Well I hope that you all enjoy the chapter. I realize that my grammar, punctuation, etc are all pretty bad. :( Sorry. I have posted in the forum asking if anyone wants or is willing to proofread or edit my work. At the time I write this chapter there have been no responses.
If anyone would like to proofread or edit the story please send me a PM. I want to learn and improve even if I happen to be pretty slow. Thanks for putting up with me.
Znomad
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Roza POV
The strange new world I had found myself in was more than I wanted to understand most days. The incredible structures that had been raised in such a short amount of time was something I could not fully fathom at this point. My constant companion through this transition had been none other than a personal AI that Asena had called Merlin.
“Merlin I have a question.” I asked looking down and the strange gauntlet like thing on my right arm.
“Yes m’lady” Merlin responded happily.
“I have been wondering about the structure of your home world?” I said a little lost at what would create all these strange things.
“Well madame the universe in which I originally resided is very different from this place.” After a quick pause Merlin asked “What would you like to know about it m’lady?”
“I want to know why Nemi and Asena don’t seem to understand anything about magic?” I questioned wondering if there really could be a world without mana.
“Well the simple reason is that mana does not exist in our universe. The only way to strengthen yourself is physically and with stronger technology and weaponry. In the universe we left only the deadliest technology and not magic stood as a barrier between empires.” Merlin said.
“Hm so Nemi and Asena are great users of this technology I suppose.” I thought aloud while twirling some of my hair.
“Ha ha. Well although both Nemi and Asena can use incredible technology and are great with even the deadliest versions of it.” Merlin said while chuckling “Actually Nemi and Asena are actually what most would consider the culmination of technology m’lady.”
I stopped in the hallway and rubbed my temples resigning myself to a headache after the undoubtedly strange explanation that would be probably be forthcoming. “Well I hate to ask this but what do you mean by that Merlin?” I asked as I resumed walking deciding to head towards my bedroom.
“Well to put it simply Asena originally never existed she is a culmination of multiple species and genetic manipulation all the way through until she reached adulthood. She also has multiple implants and various other forms of technology that works with or in her body. Nemi on the other hand is different.” Merlin informed me.
“Can you show me what you mean by implants please?” I requested and Merlin quickly displayed a hologram of an implant and showed me both where it went and what it did. “That is very strange and looks painful.” I commented after seeing what an implant was.
“Well implants can be strange however, they rarely cause pain and are even easier to put in.” Merlin said as we passed by a security drone that was walking down the hallway and two small sentry drones that scurry across the ceiling like little oversized spiders. Ugh I shuddered because even as a supposed demon those things can be terrifying.
“That wasn't the case for Asena I’m guessing?” I finally ask after I stop nervously looking around in case there are more of those machine spider things.
“You are right. Asena was forced to take the implants well fully conscious and aware. She had to survive the pain of being opened up while alive. She personally recorded that the worst part was getting implants for the senses like smell, hearing, sight, and touch.” Merlin said in somewhat sad and contemplative voice.
“Well what about Nemi was it easier for him at least.” I asked trying to change the subject for Merlin.
“Not at all. Nemi is a partially mysterious being even for me. I do know he did have to survive much worse than Asena did to just survive. The records that I have acess to show that Nemi was part of the first and only group of elites ever created.” Merlin informed me as I walked through the side door and stepped outside. The door behind us seemed to disappear into the bushes and trees. I wondered a little at the skill of technologies illusion magic.
“Please tell me what you know about Nemi?” I requested thinking about just how strange and foreign he seemed to me.
“Certainly mistress, I will be happy to inform you of what I know. Nemi was a created experiment by the last surviving member of the ancient council on the homeworld of the Drakin. He was created along with his entire pod of just over a thousand. He was forced to undergo rigorous training in combat and molded to be without compassion or mercy towards any combatant in front of him. The brutal training and conditioning killed over eighty percent of his pod. The remnants of his pod were then put through gruelling experiments and were fully integrated with the technology put in them. This did not come without a cost and only fifty members of his pod survived this stage. The harsh reality of the fact that there could only be one survivor came to light when a battle royal was forced upon the remaining members of the pod. Nemi was the only survivor of pod one and had become an unparalleled killing machine on the battlefield. Twenty five pods in total were created and only five elites survived the crazy ancient. The council tried to replicate the ability of the elites but was unable to do so. Asena came from one so called failed experiment by the new council.” Merlin told me as I sat down on a bench next to the one of the two waterfalls on the island.
“What happened to the other elites?” I asked wondering if they might still be out there somewhere.
“They were all killed in the war that the new council decided to wage on the known universe.” Merlin stated with despise of the council evident in his vocal inflections.
“So Nemi is the last of his kind then I guess?” I ask wondering a little about the agony that he must of gone through to survive such a harsh lot in life.
“Yes he is now the last of his kind to exist in this or any other universe.” Merlin said with clear certainty.
“Warning! Warning! Code Alamo is active seek shelter immediately.” A monotone voice broke through our contemplative mood.
“Hurry this is serious we need to get to safety” Merlin said with a little bit of nervousness showing in his tone.
“On it” I said well I ran for the beach and the closest entrance that I knew of.
“Wrong way you are heading towards the enemy. Stop now!” Merlin shouted in my ear.
“Uh oh.” I came to a quick stop and hid some bushes on the hill.
“Just stay hidden for now” Merlin said and I quickly nodded my agreement.
A large group of combat drones rushed past us towards the beach and Asena flashed past us not even staying on the trail but jumping from trees and rocks up towards the top of the hill. She seemed decked out in some rather strange armor and weapons. As we were hidden in a bush and seemed relatively safe I decided to ask Merlin a question. “Merlin can you do the video or movie thing so I can see what is happening please.”
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
“Of course madam I do apologize for the needless worry” Merlin said as he quickly caused a holographic display to appear right in front of me showing a strange sight of a glowing figure walking towards one of the drones. I could see the mana since it was displayed on the screen as a strange purple color that quickly shot towards the drone. Suddenly the drone impossibly dodged.
“I… Do you know who that is?” I sputtered out.
“No! Is she friend of yours?” Merlin asked in a quick and hurried tone.
“No she is not but…” I suddenly stopped as I saw the drone explode and felt a little sick.
“Good they are detaining her now” Merlin said cutting me off.
“You all are strange and beyond understanding.” I mumble as the drones release their eggs with the sleeping gas and subdue her with glowing rods. I shake my head not believing what I had just seen.
“Do you know who the intruder is?” Merlin asked seeming a little puzzled.
“Of course I do there is not a single person who would not recognize her on this planet but you guys.” I retorted while shaking my head and throwing my hands up in a gesture of helplessness.
“Who is she?” Merlin asked
“The person you stunningly captured is considered to be the right hand of the goddess of light. Her hammer of justice and messenger of light to the world. You lot just took down one of the most highly esteemed demigods of the world. Not only that you did it without blinking an eye and by treachery and surprise.” I blurt out then sigh as the strangeness of my new friends again baffles me.
“Um all is fair in war” Merlin weakly says in the background.
“Yeah well I don’t really recommend going to war with most of the planet you seem to be stranded on.” I growled out in exasperation at this uncalled for and paranoid action at their intruder. “I mean really do you have any common sense at all.” I finish off with as I take a deep breath to calm myself.
“Sorry if we troubled you” Merlin responded with an apologetic voice.
“No problem. I can’t blame strangers from another world for lacking in common sense now can I” I said as I sigh and head towards the scene as the drones place the Daughter of Light as she was called into what looked like a casket but I knew was a medical scanning device and a stasis pod. Well whatever stasis really was as I still could not understand how that really worked. Well anyway it was time to correct the behaviour of what I was rapidly coming to think of as my two charges.
Nemi POV
I stood in the corner of the medical facility battling a strange range of emotions. Roza had just came in and chewed both Asena and I out for our paranoia and overreaction and had warned of just how important this person was.
“Roza I promise we will release Diana as soon as we wipe her short term memory it should be no more than thirty minutes.” I said trying to calm her down.
“You are going to use mind magic on a demigod. What kind of idiot are you?” Roza said shaking her head and sighing.
“It is a combination of a minor electrical shock and a drug and she should only remember what happened before she came to the island.” Asena cut in trying to explain what it was we were planning on doing.
“I give up just get her out of here and safe well before sundown or there are likely to be dire consequences.” Roza said throwing her hands up and walking out of the room mumbling something that sounded like kids.
“Well let's do a full medical profile for Diana and then send her on her way.” I said breathing in deeply and trying to relax after Roza’s scolding which was a strange feeling for me.
“Um well why don’t you let me do that Nemi” Asena suddenly jumping up and in front of the medical pod.
“Okay sure” I said raising an eyebrow and wondering at this strange behavior by Asena.
“Actually can you wait outside please” Asena asked me a slightly flushed face.
“Uh why?” I suddenly stop and about face and double time it out of the room remembering when Roza slapped me after she had found that I had taken full medical scans. The automatic door closes down and I head off to find something else to do.
Stopping by the room where Sy still laid in stasis I looked down at his pod. Gently putting my hand on the case of the pod I fall into deep thought about the future and just what possibilities and dangers I might face out in this strange world.
“Well wake up soon buddy I need a guy or two to talk to.” I say aloud and chuckle slightly and walk out the room. There were things that needed to be done if wanted to free him from his condition. “I will be back Sy count on it.” I whisper as start to jog back towards the Albatross.
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Sorry that this is shorter chapter but it has been a busier week for me. School! :)
Anyway if you have something that I should correct please let me know. This story is really in its rough draft stage. :( Sorry if it is not that great someday I will get to edit it and clean it up. :)
Thanks,
Znomad
(P.S Characters for any and all who might be confused or want a refresh)
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Quick Character List
Nemi- OP character form a super advanced universe. Is a created super soldier.
Asena - Giant wolf like creature with excellent intelligence and the ability to speak telepathically with both Nemi and Sy (Is now a wolf beastman)
Sy - A giant tiger/sabertooth like creature with excellent intelligence also able to speak telepathically with Nemi and Asena. (Is now a cat beatman)
Shonna - Elfin princess who is running away to see the world.
Emma - Dwarven girl who is the Elfin ambassador's daughter. She has a napoleonic complex and is not fully dwarven.
Eli - High wizard of the Human Kingdom and advisor to the king. Also head of a neutral magic academy.
Erich - Commanding General of the Human Kingdoms army. A ladies man and a fearsome soldier. A rival and friend of Eli and a bit of a known troublemaker and prankster.
Roza - A former slave of a pirate vessel. She is known as a demon or demonkind in this world and is considered a hated race.
Tamara - General of the Elfin Rangers who are considered the best scouts of the world.
Hayha - Sergeant Major of the Efin Rangers considered the deadliest bow master in the world and is known for his hard working personality.
Vanya - The queen of the elfs. Known as a beautiful queen who keeps her calm in all situations.
Merlin - Fully aware AI given to Roza by Asena. Was the personal AI for Asena for many years.
Diana - Also known as Hammer of Justice and the Right hand of the Goddess. (Goddess of Light) A powerful figure and very popular among the populace for her justice and also a well known among the Royalty of the various Kingdoms as the Messenger of Light.