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Post by Ravendust on May 9, 2006 7:32:00 GMT -5
This story is actually for a contest, though I've yet to post it yet. I'm looking for feedback (good or bad) and constructive critisism.
If you can't guess at the definitions of certain words (simply because I created them) let me know and I will give them to you.
This story is currently rated between PG-PG13, it is unlikely that it will change, but it might, so keep an eye out for that.
The destruction of the Eservie home world was thought to be the end of a brilliant, yet mysterious race. However, nearly three hundred years after the interstellar wars had taken place; it was found that a small group of the people had managed to escape their inevitable demise. They hid themselves on the fourth moon of the planet Fivald, living simply and in peace, each generation passing on the secret knowledge of the race to the next. Within those three hundred years their population grew from a measly seventeen to nearly two hundred. It was at about this time that the structures of their homes were made noticeable to the pirating villains of Fivald. With hopes of great treasures and the possibility of the reinstatement of the interplanetary slave trade, they sent a small well armed expedition up to investigate the moon. This is where our story begins.
Edit: Chapter 1 has been turned into a Prologue and completely rewritten, enjoy.
Prologue
The cracked and filthy glass of an old telescope reflected in the brilliance of the five visible moons that hovered over Fivald. "Ikae! Get down here right now!" The impatient voice of a woman called from the bottom of the stairs.
"Just a minute!" A boy called back, raising his burgundy eyes from the telescope.
Footsteps pounded on the stairs and the door slammed open to reveal a thin woman in clothes that were both too large for her small frame and torn. Her hair was cropped short and quite ragged, it was a dull blue color.
"Don't you tell me to hold on!" She said, grabbing him by the hair and dragging him towards the door.
"But I found something on Ashivar!" He cried out in pain and annoyance, pointing to the largest of the visible moons.
The woman glanced at it, "Oh?" She said simply, her voice hinting at sarcasm.
"See those fuzzy little structures?" He said more urgently, outlining a few by making circles with his fingers, "they're houses! And when I looked through dad's old telescope I saw people!"
"Impossible." The woman scoffed, "We all know that there isn't enough breathable air to sustain more life than the few animals that were documented several hundred years ago!"
"Then look for yourself." Ikae shoved the woman at the telescope, she merely stood there, "look!"
Finally she did, and with a cry of surprise, knocked the telescope out of the window, where it shattered in the streets below. Almost immediately the pieces were gone as huddled figures raced over them.
Ikae groaned and glared at her before racing down the stairs, "Where are you going now?!" The woman cried from the top of the stairs.
"I have to go tell the Honorable Board Members about my discovery!" He said simply before he was out the door and maneuvering his way through the streets.
It was hard to break through the throngs of people that crowded the streets. Occasionally he would have to dodge a groping hand, but in the end he stood in front of a set of tall iron gates that blocked off an immaculate and massive yard from the filthy streets. Looking upon it one would not think that it belonged in the city.
Inside he could barely make out the roofs of seven buildings- all spaced evenly from each other. Bushes lined the borders of each property, discerning each from the next. Six houses surrounded the seventh- that one being where the board members met each evening- although sometimes there were emergency meetings in between, especially during the civil war that ended barely four years before. Ikae shuddered when he thought back to those times, many people had yet to recover from the years of war that had pitched them into poverty. He shook his head to clear his mind as an older man in a brown uniform approached him, eyebrows quirked, "Is there any particular reason as to why you are here?" He asked.
"I need to speak with the Honorable Board Members!" Ikae said quickly, "please let me in to see them."
"And just what is so important that I should ignore my orders and allow you to pass onto this property?" He crossed his arms and set his feet firmly on the ground in a defiant way that mean that Ikae's chances of getting into the grounds was slim.
His gaze slipped to the gates, and he realized that the gaps between them were large enough for a small person to fit through- and if he put enough effor into it he could probably jump the fence. His gaze was calculating and the man became suspicious. "What're you thinking of, boy?" He questioned, his gaze narrowing as he took a step closer to Ikae.
Ikae saw his chance at once and dove past the man. He stumbled, pivoting his arms around trying to keep his balance, and latched onto the fence. A frown touched his lips the instant he realized that his head was too big for the gap. He cursed to himself as the other man approached him and his eyes roamed the ground, catching sight of a rock.
Quickly he dove to the ground, rolling on his shoulder as he grabbed the rock, before standing again. The man grabbed his shoulder and Ikae's body shook from the impact of his hand. He quickly brought the rock down onto the unsuspecting man's head.
Ikae moved out of the way just as the man fell and sighed with relief before dropping the rock and turning back to the gate, tugging himself up over it's length. I'm going to get in so much trouble for this... I wonder if they'll mind much once I tell them my story... he wondered as he slipped and fell to the other side with an 'oomph' of pain.
He stood up, wincing as he put weight onto his foot. "D*mn..." He muttered, taking a limping step forward.
There were shouts nearby and Ikae blanched, looking around for a suitable place to hide. His only shelter was a tree, and he crouched behind it as best he could. Several more men in brown uniforms ran to the gate and opened it immediately.
While they tended to their wounded man, trying to get his story as well as fighting off the homeless that had rushed at the gate the minute it had happened, Ikae limped towards the center building. Grim determination filled his heart.
He made it to the door and quickly opened it, stepping into the front hall and wiping the accumulated sweat from his brow while trying to catch his breath as well.
Which room... which room?! He thought breathlessly, opening door after door in failure.
Finally he came upon a large set of double doors, and when he pushed them open there sat six people- four men and two women- at a round table, papers scattered between them, some of them harboding photos that he could not make out from the doorway.
"Ishinae refuses to join our alliance. We have no choice but to prepare for the innevitable war at hand."
"There are rumors that-"
"Honorable Board Members!" He gasped out, stumbling into the room.
Six sets of eyes turned to him, not a one with a hint of friendliness. He felt himself falter, wondering if perhaps it had been a foolish idea to walk into the middle of their meeting. Perhaps it would have been wiser to wait outside. Either way he was in the room and had their full attention now. "I- I'm sorry for just barging in!" He bowed low, nearly losing his balance in the process, "I was just so excited about my discovery."
"What is it that you want?" The icy tone of Efferon cut through his explanation, her green eyes flashing.
"Ashivar- there are people living on Ashivar." Murmurs of disbelief ran through the group as Ikae spoke, "I swear it!" He said, tears forming in his eyes, "I would not lie to you."
"And how did you come to notice these... people?" Kijla questioned, his frown so low that it appeared it could fall off of his face at any moment, his expression terrified Ikae to the point that he couldn't even move.
"I could see the structures of their homes almost clearly. C-curiousity got the b-best of me and I took out my father's telescope to have a look. I could see the houses clearly and also I could see people- however faintly it was! Please, Honorable Board Members, look for yourselves if you do not believe me." The tears fell freely now, he was certain that he would be punished for interupting.
"Loht," Taigi's low voice spoke up and the other man looked up.
"Sir?" He asked respectfully.
"Go to the astronomical tower on the third floor. Have them take a look at Ashivar. Report back immediately- if this boy has lied to us he will lose his tongue."
"Yes, of course, sir." He stood up quickly, nearly knocking his chair over, and ran past Ikae, who shook pitifully at the threat laid upon him.
He could no longer stand, instead he sank to the ground, fear running through him in waves. Please let them see it, please! he begged silently as the other five board members stared down at him.
It was nearly an hour later that Loht returned, several papers clutched in a white-knuckled grasp. These he tossed onto the table as soon as he reached it before sinking down into his chair. "The boy was right. The elder astronomers did not ever think to look at Ashivar- their attentions were always held elsewhere.
"What's most stunning are the people on that moon. They've been thought extinct for well over three hundred years." The others leaned forward in anticipation as Loht leaned across the table, as though telling some great secret. "They are Eservie."
"Impossible!" Hyte scoffed, pounding his fists on the table, succeeding only in knocking his cup to the floor.
The shattering of the cup brought on an uproar of conversation between the board members, and Ikae could only sag his shoulders in relief, he wouldn't be punished. “I propose that we send a ship up!” Byr's voice rose above her companions up, “The slave market will be set up soon- it's the perfect timing for this discovery!”
Ikae felt his heart fall, had he heard them right? “B-but the slave market's illegal!” He cried out in disbelief.
There was silence for a moment before the board members began to laugh uproarously, making him feel as though he were missing something. “So?” Loht cocked his head, “What does that matter?”
“It's against intergallactic laws!” Ikae burst out, what were they saying!?
“The people do not always follow the laws. And besides, the slave markets help to boost our economy.” Efferon said, pressing a small button in the center of the table nonchallantly.
“Boost the economy?!” Ikae felt as though his head would explode as the flurry of emotions rushed through him, “The people are poor and dying! The only thing you're boosting are your own estates. You don't even care about the people, do you?” Tears flooded his eyes again, why had he felt such a need to tell them? Why didn't he see that they didn't care about the people.
He didn't see the door opening and the group of guards that entered. All he knew was the feel of brief pain before darkness claimed him. The last thing he saw were the laughing faces of the board members. They didn't care.
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Post by Ravendust on May 20, 2006 23:48:28 GMT -5
Chapter 1: The Invasion
Searienne, a young and exuberant woman of twenty-two, crouched expertly behind a craggy out cropping of rocks. Her eyes narrowed as she stalked her prey. The bulky form of the Istme shifted slightly as it found a new patch of silvery grass to consume, and as its attentions were diverted to its belly, Searienne leapt forward with controlled and well practiced agility.
The skillfully sharpened stone head of her spear dug into its tender underbelly and the creature released a piercing scream before beginning to buck madly to and fro. Another youth, Eichi, appeared immediately after, and when Searienne bared the creature's throat to him, he buried his own spear into the Istme's esophagus. The great beast gurgled helplessly deep within its throat before collapsing, “You were a bit sluggish there for a minute, Eichi.” Searienne said, pulling her spear from the Istme corpse and cleaning it on a small rag that she quickly produced from a pocket in her Eservien robes.
“Aye, I was at that.” He muttered, following her lead and cleaning the blood from his own weapon, “Sorry about that.”
“If I had been a novice I would surely have been gouged by its great tusks. Look at these beauties; they're worth at least eight thousand vearas!” She patted the great tusks with respect and enthusiasm.
“Your mashel will be very proud.” He said, grazing his lips across velvety surface of her own.
“Aye, she will be very proud at her davelle.” She said with a smile, wrapping her thin, muscular arms about his waist, “but she will be even more so of her Affelle, for his success in his first hunt. You are now truly a member of our family. Our Union has nearly been fully sealed.”
Eichi smiled, “Of course we can not all be so very good at hunting this great brute.” He said with a wink, chucking her chin slyly, “Now then, we need to deal with this Istme before the Griends show up looking for a good snack.”
Searienne shuddered, “those little troublemakers are fast too. Let's load it on the shetér then, love.”
Together they dragged the Istme onto the shetér, tied it down tightly with a braided rope, and headed back to Searienne's estate at a leisurely pace. “The dark phase is fast approaching.” Eichi pointed out at last, breaking their standing silence.
The land behind them had darkened considerably and the shadows were racing to keep up with their quickened pace. There was a roar overhead and Searienne looked up just in time to see a large, metal, cylindrical object roar past. “What is that?” She asked breathlessly, curious for a moment before releasing the shetér and beginning to run, “it's headed straight for our village, leave the Istme, now!” She was nervous and her heart contracted painfully in her chest as she picked up her pace.
She ducked automatically as the object hurtled past their position again, its speed slowing slightly with each orbit of her home world. Eichi matched her stride for stride, and shortly they were both stumbling over each other as they closed the portal that led into Searienne's home. “Davelle?” The elderly woman was startled as she stepped cautiously into the room, “What is going on? You frightened me so!”
“Look outside, mashel, that thing, what is it?” For she was pointing now at the object that was coming through for the third time and beginning its descent right on their front lawn.
“Oh dear!” The woman gasped, bringing her fingers up to her mouth, “they've finally noticed us.”
“Who have noticed? What do they want?” Eichi was confused as he grasped the shoulders of both women.
“There's no time, we must hide before they come around again and finally land.” Annetlanine said quickly, “I don't know exactly who they are, but my great grand-mashel told me that they would one day come to destroy us once and for all.” She began to pace as the loud roar of engines approached for the final time.
“Can't we just fight them off with our spears, mashel?” Searienne asked frightfully, tightening her grip on the one that
she carried still within her fingers.
“No, I wouldn't think so. They're from another world; they have contact with every galaxy, even the one where we came from before. No doubt their weapons are very sophisticated- Searienne, where are you going?” Annetlanine cried out as her daughter opened the portal.
“I cannot let our homes be destroyed by these invaders. Forgive me for my foolishness, but it is my duty to protect our people.” And with that she closed the door behind her and approached the heated metal with caution.
A loud, ear piercing screech emitted from the object, and slowly a platform lowered to the ground, releasing another screech and a bout of hot steam. Searienne cringed as her eardrums pounded, but she didn’t back down. No, more rather, she tightened her grip on her spear and pushed back the last of her qualms.
Two figures stepped cautiously from the dissipating steam and caught sight of Searienne, who stood poised for battle. She gulped heavily as she took in their appearance- both of them wearing some strange types of full body suits equipped with a helmet that molded perfectly with their faces. She couldn’t see them per say, but she grew frightened at the cruelty of their steps nonetheless.
She backed away from them defensively as they approached, crouching low to the ground and releasing a guttural growl from deep in her throat. “Searienne, get away from there!” Eichi cried from the house, terrified for his loved one’s safety.
One of the strangers lifted their arm and Searienne saw a strange weapon that gleamed darkly before releasing a burst of ear-shattering fire. She watched in horror as Eichi’s body convulsed before crumpling to the ground. “Eichi!” She screamed, tears falling from her eyes as she raced over to him, “Eichi, please…” She sobbed, shaking him.
His eyes opened momentarily, rolling about and finding it difficult to focus on her. His silver robes were quickly turning red, as were Searienne’s own as she pulled him adoringly into her lap.
Searienne thrust her face into his chest and clutched at the colored fabric of his robes. After a moment she stood, heaving for breath and glaring at the strangers. Her fingers closed painfully about the spear and she ran forward with a cry of outrage.
Caught off guard she managed to thrust her spear through the faceplate of one, having time only to pull back her spear and leap backwards before he collapsed forward, unconscious. For several seconds his body convulsed before finally stilling with death. His companion brought forward a meaty hand and struck Searienne hard across the face. She fell immediately at his feet, her spear spinning out of her grip and landing several feet away.
Her head throbbed painfully and she simply sat there, stunned for a moment. He stood over her triumphantly before Searienne reined in her fuzzy mind and lashed out at his ankle, catching her foot behind it, and knocking him over. She quickly stood and moved back to Eichi’s side, grabbing him up into her arms and dragging him towards the house. Searienne thrust him through the portal before closing the door behind them. “Mashel!” She cried, “E-Eichi is hurt!”
Annetlanine clucked softly as she rolled up her sleeves slowly, “He is near death Searienne.”
“What was that… that thing that strange man used? It sounded like it was exploding in his hands!”
“I don’t know.” Annetlanine sighed, seating herself over Eichi’s prone form, “I only know of what the elders told me many years ago.”
“What have they told you?” Searienne asked breathily.
“In a time that our people thrived the star systems fought in interplanetary wars. They wanted what their planets could not possibly even dream of harnessing. Metal birds screamed in the skies, destroying cities and the lives of many, many people. They bore weapons that could cause damage much like what was done to Eichi. Our people were destroyed because of the greed of the universe.”
After a moment Annetlanine extended her hands over his body and closed her eyes slowly, allowing her power to flow through every fiber of her being. Suddenly she saw Eichi’s torn tissue and ruptured organs from within. Annetlanine thrust forward with her mind, and the strange metal was forced from his body. She then began to fuse his organs and torn tissue, healing him from the inside out.
Her eyes fluttered open as something slammed viciously into the portal from the other side. “Searienne, help me with him!” She hissed, waving her daughter over and balancing the unconscious man between them.
The door exploded into small fragments of wood, startling both women into picking up their pace and making their way through and out of the back portal, all the while lugging Eichi behind them. “We could- hide Eichi, mashel. Hide him somewhere where they can’t find him so that he will be safe.” Her legs shook beneath her through strain and exhaustion, “We- we had built the cellar of our home. Just over the hill. It is well hidden.”
“You are certain he will be safe?” Annetlanine huffed, exhausted herself.
“He will be safe there, I do so swear that. I would never put Eichi somewhere that wasn’t safe in his condition. But if we stayed then we would be letting our people down. We need to warn them of the invasion while there is still time.” Searienne said, leading them towards what was meant to be the beginnings of her home that would be shared by Eichi.
“You are a strong willed girl, Searienne. I hope that you do not lose it in the hard times that are to come.” Annetlanine said softly, gazing affectionately on her daughter.
“We will fight mashel.” Searienne said firmly, “I won't let them ruin the peace that we have here.”
She led her mother to a nicely sized plot of land and lifted a small, hidden hatch in the ground, “We built this mainly for protection against the meteor showers that we occasionally get.
It's very strong and highly unlikely to be found.”
Annetlanine almost couldn't help but smile proudly at her daughter as they descended into darkness. Searienne activated a light wire, and immediately the room was illuminated with a dim glow. “We've stored some of our food and water down here as well. Eichi should be fine for at least a few phases before needing to come out to hunt.”
Annetlanine helped her to lower her husband's form to the ground, “I hope that the two of you will be able fully seal your union soon.”
Searienne nodded, “come now, we must hurry!” She said quickly.
The two of them swiftly exited the cellar, covering the entrance once more, and took off at a run that would have shamed a veesha. When they got to the village it was all but impossible to hide gasps of horror and dismay. The buildings were all in shambles. “M-mashel,” She gasped, clinging to the older woman's arm in horror, “we're too late!”
“Hey, there are more of them people over here!” A large man called to his fellows, and immediately a group of seven descended upon the two weary women.
Searienne growled and took a defensive stance. “Why are you here?” She ground out, “this is our territory.”
“You speak the intergalactic tongue.” A smaller man with an almost feminine voice purred, “Good, that means that we won't have to struggle to teach you language and obedience.”
“According to the interplanetary laws and deeds, we own three of the seven moons that encircle Fivald, while the other four are used simply for vacationing and tourism of great lords from other galaxies. This, the fourth moon, otherwise known as Ashivar, belongs to the Honorable Board Members of Fivald. This is not your territory any longer- if indeed it ever was.” Sneered a third of the seven men.
“Please, just leave us to our peace.” Annetlanine pleaded, wanting to avoid any more discord than had already occurred, “We have lived here for over three hundred years with no previous conflict with your people or any other in this galaxy.”
The fourth brought out a weapon that was similar to that which had nearly killed Searienne’s husband, and in terror she threw herself at her mother, “mashel!” She nearly screamed as they hit the ground with a soft thud.
The stranger didn't aim the weapon at them- instead he pointed it straight into the air and fired. There was an explosion, and suddenly Searienne found herself writhing upon the ground, her hands clamped earnestly over her ears, trying to block out a hideous high-pitched whine that seemed to reverberate in her very brain.
There was another sound that blended with the whining, and after another minute Searienne registered the fact that it was her voice. She was screaming in her agony, she saw her mother who seemed to have stilled. Searienne gasped, “Mashel...” She sobbed before she, too, descended into a blissful darkness.
Searienne awoke some odd time later. Her appendages ached and were being held forcefully at her side. When she tried to sit up it came as a shock to realize that her body was being held firmly against some icy, metallic object, “What's going on?” She snarled aloud, struggling against her bonds, “where am I?”
She wanted answers- what had happened? The last she could remember was some strange, piercing pain that had reverberated throughout her entire body. “Mashel, mashel, help me!” She cried out for her mother as any child would do after such a frightening and painful ordeal.
“Still yourself.” Searienne froze momentarily at the icy tone of the voice, before her gaze began to rove about- searching for the owner of that voice.
“Sir.” Searienne’s eyes fell upon a small boy who was around the age of eleven.
His eyes were deep pools of black, with ragged hair that matched in color. He was thin- she could practically see his ribs through the shirt that he wore, and he practically shook in the older man’s presence. “What?” The man’s voice was still cold, however, this time; it was filled with a malice that threatened injury to the boy.
Searienne felt a shiver of terror race down her spine- noting that the boy had begun to quiver visibly and shrank towards the door. “T-the collar is ready for the girl,” He whimpered, “and the others have already been fitted with theirs. They have been returned to slumber already.”
“Good.” The malice had disappeared, and in its place was a dark satisfaction.
“Who are you people?” Searienne found her voice again and spoke out angrily, pulling against her bonds.
They groaned and quivered beneath her wrath, but other than that her bonds remained firm, “What do you want with my people?” Whatever had bound her left wrist snapped and fell to the ground as she finally yanked her arm free.
The man, who had remained cleverly hidden from her realm of vision, appeared suddenly and clamped his hands in a vice-like grip around her thrashing shoulders, stilling her immediately, and he quickly bound the wrist again. “My lord will like this one.” He said after a few minutes of scrutinizing, his brown eyes flashed in mild amusement as she growled deep in her throat, “She will excite him greatly.” He cupped her chin in his hand, and when she shook him off he frowned, “the others will be dispersed throughout the galaxy.”
Searienne’s face paled as he wrapped his fingers about her throat and reached for something behind him with the other hand. Her own slender hands would have reached up and torn his away from her throat had they not been resting uselessly at her side. She let out an exclamation of pained surprise as his hand was replaced with a cold metal that shot needles into her throat, attaching themselves to her nerves.
Her body slumped and she stopped her fighting as she attempted to cope with this strange new pain. “There now,” the brown-eyed man said with a shrug, “isn’t that better now?” He stroked her cheek mockingly.
Had he not moved his hand away quickly he would have lost several fingers as she whipped her head to the side and snapped at them. “Ah, still able to move about then?”
Searienne simply glowered at him, “w-what is this thing?” She asked, cursing herself for the weak stuttering.
“It is called a Tain collar.” He said boredly, “Used to enforce obedience in new slaves. Now be a good girl and go to sleep.”
Searienne felt a wave of exhaustion sweep over her and fell into a light slumber- still able to hear the happenings about her.
“M-master Zatyl, what's the matter?” She heard the boy as though through a fog.
“It's strange how these people remained hidden for so long. They're rare now- and could be worth over three million Vearas.” He grinned, “And you know we managed to steal at least fourteen million Vearas from their homes! It makes me wonder where they got so much money... perhaps they brought it with them when they had to flee their home world. Our currency, after all, hasn't inflated or anything in over seven hundred years.”
He was talking to himself more than to the boy, “please inform my master over the telecom that we have brought him a delectable gift.”
“Y-yes sir.” Searienne heard a rustle of cloth and the boy was gone.
She finally slipped into a deep slumber and didn't awaken until she felt the chains loosen and her body tossed carelessly over a thick and muscular shoulder. Searienne growled her discontent as she was taken out into a blindingly bright port.
There was noise and confusion everywhere, and the air smelt rotten. She shuddered as the arm tightened about her waist, keeping her firmly in place as gnarled hands reached out and stroked her hair and whatever parts of her body they could touch. “Back off.” She heard her captor's chest rumble as he spoke roughly and felt his body move quickly, as though to dodge a blow, “listen you vagrants, try and steal my cargo again and I'll lop off your heads.”
Searienne opened her eyes slowly, forcefully and noted that she was looking back on a filthy and rather broken crowd. Men, women, and children stared at her lustily, as though she were an object that would rid them of their poverty. She glowered at them and kicked her captor hard.
He collapsed and she stood immediately detangling herself from him and running. She ran quickly, dodging groping hands and filthy clothing with subtle ease, making her way to small space between several buildings and climbing a tall, strangely made, set of stairs until she stood on the roof.
She looked over the packed and filthy streets with disdain, her nose curling in disgust as she took in the rank smells, “It reeks like an Istme after seven light phases,” She muttered as she sank to the ground and put her head in her hands miserably, “I want to go home. Eichi- did they find you too?” She wondered aloud, “or are you safe still?”
Searienne’s head snapped up as she heard footsteps on the ladder that she had climbed only moments ago. A patch of blond appeared before she was gazing into the cold, brown, eyes of Zatyl. “Amazing,” He grunted, “is your body truly already used to the gravity of Fivald?”
Zatyl pulled himself onto the roof and sat against the ladder, arms crossed. Now that she thought about it, Searienne felt as though something were pressing ominously upon her body. She frowned deeply and glared at him pointedly, wondering what he had in mind. Immediately a shock raced through her body, causing her to gasp and her hands to fly to the collar that had her throat ensnared. Zatyl laughed cruelly and stood, making his way slowly over to the panting girl.
Searienne pulled herself to her feet slowly and ran at him, tackling him to the ground and wrapping slim fingers about his tanned throat. She felt a deep rumble and realized it to be his laughter. She was taken aback for a moment, before another terrible shock caused her to collapse, practically writhing in his arms- arms that had closed tightly about her waist. “Let go!” Searienne shouted through the pain, trying to pull away from him.
“I'll admit you do have more spirit than the others,” He crooned in her ear, “however, that very same spirit will kill you in the end.”
Searienne shuddered, but stopped moving, “why are you doing this to us? We have done nothing wrong.” She said softly in feigned defeat.
“Why? What an absurd question.” He grinned as he stood, still holding her firmly too him, “Why you ask? Because we can. It is as simple as that.”
“What a cruel people.” Searienne muttered, “to imprison others for that insipid a reason.’ Just because you can?'” She scoffed, ignoring the pain that had dulled considerably and was now simply a distant memory, “Your people are fools if that is their philosophy.”
“And your people are fools for not believing in that philosophy. It’s because you are weak that you were captured so easily. Living forever in peace with no war does not make you a better galactic people, more rather it weakens your sense of judgment. It’s because you’ve had no war, no conflict except that with the beasts, that you were as bothersome as a mosquito of earth. Had your people been smart enough to train an army, even one with such dwindling number as yours, your people would probably still be there.” He smirked down at her.
“We are not weak!” Searienne said angrily, “we have fought many great wars with what you call the beasts of Loáwe! My people have lost many lives in those wars; do not call weak what you do not know!” She bit his arm furiously, drawing blood.
Zatyl howled in pain and threw her to the ground, grasping at his bleeding appendage in fury, “If you are not weak, then how were you so easily captured?”
“That is simple. We did not know your weapons.” Searienne spat, wiping his blood from her lips, “and besides, I killed one of your beasts when they first landed.”
“What foolishness.” Zatyl scoffed, lowering his injured arm, “his faceplate cracked, it happens all the time with faulty equipment. Your people’s weapons are far too primitive to do any real damage.”
“Our weapons may be primitive to yours, but that does not make them weak!” Searienne lashed out with her fist and caught Zatyl unawares just beneath the chin.
He fell backwards, landing heavily upon the ground. Zatyl looked up at the dark fury that lined Searienne’s face, “The quality of a weapon does not make the warrior. The warrior makes the weapon.” She glowered, “Don’t you forget it!”
“The warrior makes the weapon, huh?” Zatyl rubbed at his tender jaw before lashing out, kicking her legs out from under her.
Searienne landed with an ‘oomph’ of surprise, “Your people are fools if that is their philosophy,” He smirked triumphantly down at her.
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Post by Ravendust on Aug 24, 2006 22:35:05 GMT -5
Chapter 2: The Auction and the Flame of Hope
Searienne's face was dark with fury as she was dragged down a filthy, busy street. From the collar that she wore extended a short metallic leash that simply refused to break no matter how many times she strained against it. “Tsk, tsk,” Zatyl laughed raucously at her efforts and yanked back on the rope, causing her to gag and fall backwards.
Searienne glowered at him as she was forced to stand back up- it was, after all, stand or be dragged. Her face was hot with humiliation and perspiration. It had been nearly three days since their conversation on the rooftop, and nearly two days since she had been permitted to see her mother for what would probably be the last time.
It was after a few more minutes of struggling against Zatyl’s hold on her that she saw the raised platform in the middle of a large space that seemed to be the center if attention. Her eyes widened in horror as she saw that her people were chained to several large posts that extended their reaches into the sky. She saw that they stood straight and hopeless, collars gleaming solemnly in the sunlight. They were a disgraced people who had given themselves into the torment of the strangers that had abducted them.
The people that surrounded the podium were not all as filthy as the people as Fivald, some were well-dressed and appeared to be as distasteful towards the people as Searienne herself was. “Welcome!” A loud voice emitted from the platform, and what had been a loud roar in the crowd dimmed to utter silence, “Nearly three hundred years ago the interplanetary wars took place. There were many disgraceful battles, and many surprise attacks between neighboring planets.
Entire home worlds were destroyed due to the greed and jealousy of others. One such planet belonged to the Eservien people.”
A murmur of excitement raced through the crowd and Searienne felt a restlessness rising in putrid waves from them, “For three hundred years we have thought this people to be long extinct- their representatives had been slain when they had gone to the interplanetary peace conference and the people that had survived the annihilation died shortly after.
“A people long thought to have disappeared from our galaxy, has remade their appearance upon this very territory.” The man finished with a smirk, waving his hand in an arc behind him.
The murmur evolved into a roar of shock and disbelief, and the tall man on the podium simply raised his hand and beckoned one of his underlings to him, taking the leash of one of the imprisoned people and yanking on it, causing a woman to fall forward in a crumpled and weakened heap. Her hair was a deep lavender, dulled by the filth of the planet. It fell half-hazzardly into her gaunt and dirt-smudged face. Her crimson eyes nearly took over the full of her face as she looked out upon the crowd around the podium with disdain. Why doesn’t she fight? Searienne wondered, why doesn’t she fight for her freedom the way that I’ve been trying to?
Searienne's face paled suddenly as she recognized the ill treated woman, she dashed forward quite suddenly, “Mashel!” She screamed before Zatyl pulled her back, enveloping her in his overpowering arms, “let go!” She squirmed, her eyes resting only upon the figure of her mother, weakened and nearly naked in the scraps that they had given to her in place of her sacred robes. “How dare they treat her with such disrespect! She is a healer, the highest ranking in our village!” She snapped venomously, “release her you foul beasts!”
Her dark words, however, were not heard over the disbelieving din of the crowd that had risen several octaves since she had attempted to run to her mother’s side. Searienne was even forced to clamp her hands over her ears in an attempt to keep the sound out.
After several minutes of allowing the people to converse amongst themselves the man held up a hand for silence, and the sudden lack of noise was just as deafening.
“This woman is a member of the royal family itself,” Zatyl stiffened notably behind Searienne as the man spoke again, that was obviously something that he had not known.
The man then forced Annetlanine to her knees and thrust her head forward, pointing to a barely noticeable symbol of a silver and red color upon the artery that lined her throat, “You all know that this mark is impossible to duplicate, one would bleed to death before it could be completed with a needle. This is what made the royal family of Eservie so very fascinating- they were born with this mark. The bidding shall start at three million vaeras.” The man cleared his throat and indicated the woman at his side, “as a member of the royal family she's a rare creature indeed. Most monarchies disappeared long before we discovered Earth, the home planet of several of our own intergalactic board members.”
Nearly two hours later, the heated argument to determine Annetlanine's new master ended. She was sold for nearly six million vaeras to a visiting lord from a distant planet called Aishi.
The auction extended the length of several days before only Searienne was left. She sank to her knees where she had last been permitted to bid her mother farewell, eyes wide and stricken with horror. She was the only one whom would be cursed to stay on the ghastly planet that they had been brought to, and it was highly unlikely that she would ever see any of her friends or family again.
The shocking realization that the people that she had grown up with, that had taught her their way of life, were gone. She wouldn’t even be able to see her beloved Eichi ever again.
Zatyl had long since abandoned her in that spot, tying her rope through a loop that was attached to a long metal pole. Her eyes rose solemnly to the skies, catching sight of several of Fivald’s various moons. Eichi… She thought, to think that I will never see you again, that I will never see anybody I love again. It makes me want death more than anything. Tiredly her throat released a few guttural sounds that were the resonances of an old song that had been passed through her family line, though now it seemed more prophesy than song.
“Vaeras life,
And quarry sway,
Thy true love’s touch,
Hath stol’n way,
Thy freedoms robbed,
By strangers hand,
Thy peace be brok’n,
Evermore,
Torn and thrown,
Through worlds spread far,
Villen’s touch,
And Zatyl’s taunts,
Bondage links,
Near breaking point,
Ever lost,
Thy freedoms touch,
Stol’n way,
By stranger’s hand.”
Her song ended on a sorrowful note and she could feel the tears finally beginning to flow. There was a small sound nearby and she looked up at a sniffling ball of green fur, “That made my heart want to explode.” The ball of fluff said, crimson eyes blinking tears.
“W-what?” Searienne asked in shock.
The creature sniffed again, “it was so full of sorrow that it made my heart want to explode!” It dove into her lap, and instinctively Searienne wrapped her arms about it comfortingly.
“I am sorry,” She whispered, “I did not meant to make you cry.”
“You have such a beautiful voice,” tears leaked out of crimson eyes as the small creature looked up at her, “my name is Fuyerre. I am of the Eki existence, the prince of the northern realm of my home planet.”
“Where is your home planet?” Searienne asked in a choked whisper, “why are you here?”
“These pirating villains,” Fuyerre spat, “invaded the northern territory and destroyed our kingdom, imprisoning my people.”
“We are of the same heart then.” She said sadly, “They have invaded my home as well and taken my people captive.”
“Same heart,” Fuyerre chirped into her robes, “same heart.”
“I do not believe that I have told you my name yet,” after receiving a brief shake of the head, she continued, “My name is Searienne of the Eservie existence.”
“I thought that your planet was destroyed well over three hundred years ago?” Fuyerre cocked his small head to the side, revealing a small, rounded ear that had been lost in his fur.
“It was, or so the old legends go. My people have lived for a long time in peace in our home above this very planet.”
“Oh my,” Fuyerre murmured in surprise, “you lived so near to this filthy planet?”
“Aye, my nose still wrinkles with the stench of this place.” Searienne said in disgust.
“Did you know the people who were auctioned today?” Fuyerre asked cautiously.
“The first was my mashel.” She said with a sigh, “and the others were members of my village- all of them loyal to our people. I will never see them again it seems.”
“Don’t fret about it.” Fuyerre said confidently, “You will see them again, I promise.”
“They have been spread so far, how will I ever see them again?” Searienne asked in a despair filled voice.
“You will see,” Fuyerre’s tear brightened eyes gleamed with faith, “very soon Zhasuna will make his appearance. He will help you, he is a kind man.”
Searienne’s shoulders sagged slightly, and her fingers moved thoughtlessly through Fuyerre’s fur, “your words allow my dwindling hope to burn brightly again. I thank you Prince of the Eki. For now you should flee from my presence.”
“If I leave you, you will be alone.” Fuyerre said softly.
“If you stay Zatyl will harm you.” Searienne replied, “I will be fine, hide yourself and be safe until next we meet.” She smiled wanly.
“That monster?” Fuyerre’s eyes widened and he released a squeak of disdain.
“He was the one that invaded my home.” Searienne said coldly, her violet eyes flashing.
“Oh, he is coming!” Fuyerre dove from her lap and raced down the street and into a dark alley.
Until next time. Searienne thought wryly as she was yanked unceremoniously to her feet. “Do not drag your feet.” Zatyl said coldly as she made to slow his progress.
Searienne glowered as the collar took affect and her feet moved of their own accord. Her fingers snaked to her throat and she tugged viciously, knowing that it wouldn’t come off but wanting to try all the same. “Where are we going now?” She asked, her eyes narrowed.
“Why, we are going to pay my master a visit.” Zatyl said with a sneer, “but not before you bathe.” His nose wrinkled in disgust.
“I would not be in such need of bathing had you not been dragging me through the streets like an animal." Her voice was void of emotion and her fists clenched tightly at her sides.
“But then what fun would that be?” He didn't let her continue as he dragged her through a particularly thick group of people, and into what had appeared to be an abandoned building.
Inside things were surprisingly clean, and the smell that carried everywhere else seemed to dissipate once they entered those run down doors. Searienne caught herself before she released a sigh of relief.
“Zatyl!” There came a squeal of delight from a thin, busty woman, “What brings you here?” She batted her eyelashes at the brooding man who simply threw Searienne's leash at her.
“She needs to be made presentable for my master.” He said coldly, “I will return within a few hours.”
“Oh?” Bright red fingernails closed around the thin strip of leathery metal that bound Searienne to her spot, “Certainly, she will be made quite presentable.”
There was a wicked tone to that voice that Searienne did not like- she knew that she was going to be made as miserable as possible by this woman. Before she could contemplate on the matter longer the leash was given a hard yank, and she was led down a long corridor.
“This way,” The busty woman purred, “I want to please Zatyl very much, do not make this a difficult matter.”
Searienne's shoulders sagged, she hoped that she would only have to deal with these people for a short time. She hoped that Fuyerre was not lying to her out of cruelty. She prayed that there really was a Zhasuna who was coming to help. Most importantly- she hoped that Eichi was alright and would be there when she returned home.
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