All of the soldiers in black laughed at Kellenger's demands unfazed by her so called Imperial response. The officer recomposed himself and glanced back, keeping his eye on the albino and said "Oh the things that you don't know about us, Kellenger. We and the rest of us don't fear Imperial aggression, go ahead, tell them your best BS that you can come up with...it's only matter of time that the Imperials will to try grab this planet anyway. This planet is the only planet that we openly say that we control it and we control a much larger portion of the galaxy and within the Empire" as he spoke a soldier went on and started taking the weapons she may had on her and took them away and started prepping the cuffs to be put on her. "We can bring that boy, but he isn't going back with you though...he'll be seeing Kampfer and if I am a betting man, he'll be killed via experimentation or dissection...so I'll ask again, let go of him if you really care for him or he'll suffer a fate worse than death and we aren't afraid of the results from the that sad excuse you call an Empire" after finishing the dropship appeared and landed next to Toffi and Kellenger , with the hangerbay door open, machine guns at the ready pointed by Z-bots making sure no one is gonna do any funny business. The soldier's in black still keeping at the ready at the Albino and his group.
"Halt for a moment..." The albino would shift the leg he was standing on. "What if I have a little chat with the boy, then you can have him?"
He'd have a trusting, curious expression on his face, instead of the usual snarky grin of his. Sure he should have already ordered an attack on the black wearers, but for the moment he'd 'play their game'. He wouldn't touch Kallenger though. For the time being he had no other reason on doing so other than to cause havoc towards the other group, so he'd retrain from doing that.
"So... How about it..?"
He'd have a trusting, curious expression on his face, instead of the usual snarky grin of his. Sure he should have already ordered an attack on the black wearers, but for the moment he'd 'play their game'. He wouldn't touch Kallenger though. For the time being he had no other reason on doing so other than to cause havoc towards the other group, so he'd retrain from doing that.
"So... How about it..?"
The officer looked at the Albino and said "Sure, he's all yours if you want, just don't interfere as we put our cargo on the ship" he still had his shotgun raised at him as the officer and the soldier tries to forcefully man handle Kellenger on the ship without Toffi
The albino wouldn't care if they pointed at him or not, the defensive mechanism would spare him from the damage, although it would jam him on place for a moment.
He'd make his way to the boy, desperately trying to keep the people from stuffing Kallenger in wherever they were trying to put her in. The albino would hold the boy, make him stop and look straight at him.
"I wouldn't think that I'd ever get to see a walking corpse." The man would talk with quiet enough voice to keep the conversation private. He'd hold the same height boy from his shoulders. "How did you get up from under the soil?"
Christofer was confused. He couldn't understand the question at all
"I uh... What? Dim..?" The boy asked with his ears placed unevenly. "You look... Weird..?"
"Thank you. And you look stupid." He would turn the boy around a bit so that he'd get a better look.
Toffi would yelp in surprise, more so when the albino slapped him on the back.
"You weirdo." The albino would laugh. "Was good seeing you. Good luck." He'd pat the boy on the back and push him towards the stranger."All yours."
He'd make his way to the boy, desperately trying to keep the people from stuffing Kallenger in wherever they were trying to put her in. The albino would hold the boy, make him stop and look straight at him.
"I wouldn't think that I'd ever get to see a walking corpse." The man would talk with quiet enough voice to keep the conversation private. He'd hold the same height boy from his shoulders. "How did you get up from under the soil?"
Christofer was confused. He couldn't understand the question at all
"I uh... What? Dim..?" The boy asked with his ears placed unevenly. "You look... Weird..?"
"Thank you. And you look stupid." He would turn the boy around a bit so that he'd get a better look.
Toffi would yelp in surprise, more so when the albino slapped him on the back.
"You weirdo." The albino would laugh. "Was good seeing you. Good luck." He'd pat the boy on the back and push him towards the stranger."All yours."
Teeth gritted, still Royanna stood stark still as the soldier approached her with the intent of taking her weapons.
That would not do.
These Z-Bots - they underestimated everything. They thought they were the single most powerful, unstoppable force in the Universe - but no force was unstoppable. It was a law of nature, of sociology, physics. Nothing could exist if it's existence could not be contended. That included Kampfer's empire.
They underestimated the Galactic Empire. Underestimated their size, their power, their relentlessness and thoroughness.
Were they invincible? Far from it - but there was no chance that an Imperially controlled planet would be unknowingly influenced by subversive outside forces such as Kampfer's.
Despite what he or his troops may have thought, Kampfer's army did not have free-pickings over the Galaxy. They could not simply scoop up any planet they wanted. The Galactic Empire would be thoroughly unable to conquer any world under the control of Kampfer - but the same applied both ways. An Imperial planet was going to stay an Imperial planet. It was stalemate and mutually assured destruction which would keep the two largest forces in the Galaxy from tearing it apart in total warfare.
The Galactic Empire was not some trivial, bureaucratic institution which would respond to one of their most important agents being killed with some pitiful, easily dispatched attack. It was in the Empire's facelessness that its' power laid. There would be no remorse for one more busted planet, wiped from existence - and again, there were some powers in the world of science which were equally devastating on all sides. Invoking the wrath of the Galactic Empire would hardly be the downfall of Kampfer's armies, but it would be far from trivial. If members of the Lord's administration did not recognize this, then they were willfully ignorant.
Ideally, there would be no need for a war between Kampfer and the Galactic Empire to break out at all - considering that would only result in another interstellar ****ing contest, which nobody wanted.
They underestimated Royanna Kallenger, as well. Just like her nation, she was far from invincible - yet she was not some toy to be tossed around at leisure. Everyone underestimated Royanna, though...and she reveled in the opportunity to show off that fifteen years of intensive training had payed off.
The soldier approached her, intent on taking her weapons. This would not do. The moment he was within range, the offending bot was sliced in half, the blade having carved diagonally from its' right hip to left shoulder. In the same motion she used the momentum and the movement-concealing effect of her black coat against the black night to move forward, staying low. By poking the blade into the asphalt and sort of flicking it forward she was able to - still in the same, fluid motion - kick up a cloud of blacks and greys from the material which had previously been part of the ground.
In the final phase of this swift play, she used the dust to duck her way past a given sum of the soldiers, slide to behind the officer and effortlessly plunge the blade through his back, between shoulderblades, dead through the spine.
But, of course, this would not kill the officer. It would however put that officer between her and the other guns...And give her some bargaining leverage.
When the dust cleared, there she was, haggard and furious, blade protruding surreally from the officer's chest, Kallenger pressed into him from behind to make better usage of him as cover.
"One ****ing move and I tear your moronic, simpleminded excuse for an officer right up the middle!"
Surely nobody was interested in another high-ranking official being put permanently out of commission - which a clean cut down the center would most certainly accomplish. "You pathetic mother****ers think you're so goddamned invincible, huh? Well we'll see how invincible you are in two pieces! Now me and that boy are going to get onto that transport, take it into high orbit and transfer to an unarmed Imperial vessel. Then we'll be out of your hair for good, I'll have completed the mission that you idiots were too ****ing inept to do. Is that understood?"
Life was a game of give-and-take. Everybody half-won, everybody half-lost. It was the way of things. Kampfer completed his mission, with the price of allowing the boy to be deported with the target. Royanna utterly failed her mission and was humiliatingly deported from the planet, but managed to keep one person with her.
Give-and-take.
Give-and-take....
Give-and-take....
Give-and-take....
That would not do.
These Z-Bots - they underestimated everything. They thought they were the single most powerful, unstoppable force in the Universe - but no force was unstoppable. It was a law of nature, of sociology, physics. Nothing could exist if it's existence could not be contended. That included Kampfer's empire.
They underestimated the Galactic Empire. Underestimated their size, their power, their relentlessness and thoroughness.
Were they invincible? Far from it - but there was no chance that an Imperially controlled planet would be unknowingly influenced by subversive outside forces such as Kampfer's.
Despite what he or his troops may have thought, Kampfer's army did not have free-pickings over the Galaxy. They could not simply scoop up any planet they wanted. The Galactic Empire would be thoroughly unable to conquer any world under the control of Kampfer - but the same applied both ways. An Imperial planet was going to stay an Imperial planet. It was stalemate and mutually assured destruction which would keep the two largest forces in the Galaxy from tearing it apart in total warfare.
The Galactic Empire was not some trivial, bureaucratic institution which would respond to one of their most important agents being killed with some pitiful, easily dispatched attack. It was in the Empire's facelessness that its' power laid. There would be no remorse for one more busted planet, wiped from existence - and again, there were some powers in the world of science which were equally devastating on all sides. Invoking the wrath of the Galactic Empire would hardly be the downfall of Kampfer's armies, but it would be far from trivial. If members of the Lord's administration did not recognize this, then they were willfully ignorant.
Ideally, there would be no need for a war between Kampfer and the Galactic Empire to break out at all - considering that would only result in another interstellar ****ing contest, which nobody wanted.
They underestimated Royanna Kallenger, as well. Just like her nation, she was far from invincible - yet she was not some toy to be tossed around at leisure. Everyone underestimated Royanna, though...and she reveled in the opportunity to show off that fifteen years of intensive training had payed off.
The soldier approached her, intent on taking her weapons. This would not do. The moment he was within range, the offending bot was sliced in half, the blade having carved diagonally from its' right hip to left shoulder. In the same motion she used the momentum and the movement-concealing effect of her black coat against the black night to move forward, staying low. By poking the blade into the asphalt and sort of flicking it forward she was able to - still in the same, fluid motion - kick up a cloud of blacks and greys from the material which had previously been part of the ground.
In the final phase of this swift play, she used the dust to duck her way past a given sum of the soldiers, slide to behind the officer and effortlessly plunge the blade through his back, between shoulderblades, dead through the spine.
But, of course, this would not kill the officer. It would however put that officer between her and the other guns...And give her some bargaining leverage.
When the dust cleared, there she was, haggard and furious, blade protruding surreally from the officer's chest, Kallenger pressed into him from behind to make better usage of him as cover.
"One ****ing move and I tear your moronic, simpleminded excuse for an officer right up the middle!"
Surely nobody was interested in another high-ranking official being put permanently out of commission - which a clean cut down the center would most certainly accomplish. "You pathetic mother****ers think you're so goddamned invincible, huh? Well we'll see how invincible you are in two pieces! Now me and that boy are going to get onto that transport, take it into high orbit and transfer to an unarmed Imperial vessel. Then we'll be out of your hair for good, I'll have completed the mission that you idiots were too ****ing inept to do. Is that understood?"
Life was a game of give-and-take. Everybody half-won, everybody half-lost. It was the way of things. Kampfer completed his mission, with the price of allowing the boy to be deported with the target. Royanna utterly failed her mission and was humiliatingly deported from the planet, but managed to keep one person with her.
Give-and-take.
Give-and-take....
Give-and-take....
Give-and-take....
Bravo quickly held out a finger from his metallic hand "If you happen to find at least 1 functional droid, could you bring it here? He could help solve my processor issue" Bravo stated as he opened his metal shell showing his dusty old motors and gears as they turned ruggedly. "Forget the wreckage just recover 1 droid if you can that's all I ask and maybe a few replacement parts to boot" The droid said as it took more pieces of scrap and started welding them together to make parts he used to temporarily replace his missing pieces "Make that few into, more than a few"
Ketin shied away from the hand – luckily it was not the terrible clawed hand, at least – but found it merely petting him atop the head, even scratching the back of his ears.
Despite himself, the boy absolutely melted. Mostly, anyway. Still anxious, still at least partially on guard, but he couldn’t help leaning into it slightly, blinking, half-closing eyes if only for a moment. Dogkin were more common than Foxkin such as Kete – so while it was well known that most dog-halfies couldn’t resist having their ears scratched at, it was not as well known that fox-halfies absolutely loved it. Their ears were more sensitive, after all.
He hated himself for it. This was not a good man. Kete knew that now. A war had happened, globally – it had been this man to inflict the death. This man who did such terrible experiments…
So why…WHY in space didn’t he hate him for it? This was exactly the type of man that stood for everything Kete opposed. Exactly the kind of man he would typically despise – at least, to the extent that the kid was capable of really ‘hating’. Yet there was no hate. He found himself leaning in to the affection, even!
Then, just like that, the scene had changed. No more eerie interrogation room. No more feeling of isolation deep within the belly of some mysterious, ominous facility beneath the icy Siberian pine forests. They were back in the park, and sure enough it all half-felt like a dream.
The change had disoriented him slightly, he tipped a little to one side for a moment, but had little trouble regaining balance and orientation. Looking around with a hint of numbness at his surroundings, then back up at the white-haired man. He nodded. ”O….okay. Sure.” he said quietly, softly. Dazed and confused.
And then Kampfer was gone – less than the blink of an eye – and the loneliness began to creep up on him again.
It occurred to him suddenly that he had no idea why he was all at once feeling so…down. Not sad exactly, just…down.
Maybe his interaction with the mad scientist had just drudged up too many memories? Not the memories that usually got drudged up when he’d rather have kept them down. Usually he was haunted by the images from Adrusade, the images of what he had done in the service of the Empire in the years that followed. Glimpses through the eyes of the machines.
But this time it was different. For it was not even the image of Aller dead on the operating room floor, gaping hole where his left eye had once been, the result of some anomaly of the eye which he had never been able to reproduce. That image haunted him sometimes.
But this time it was different. There was no image. Not yet. It was just a feeling. A sense of loss. Of isolation, of incredible distance, of vague and incognizant chill. He hated it.
It was a long while that he just stood there beneath the night sky. Behind him in the distance was the dim, dying glow of Earth City. Ahead of him was the expansive jungle, in which somewhere some ships had crashed, and some people he had never met before were beginning an investigation of the crash site. Somewhere to his right would be that assassin – though she was too far for him to see her eyes. To his left – also much too far away to be known to him – Royanna Kallenger was involved in a hostage situation and a mysterious new unit watched on.
And in the middle of all that, all alone, stood Ketin Clarke. Too far from any of it to be involved. Too far from anyone. From everyone.
There was a tree nearby. It was a deciduous tree – most in the park were, which contrasted the unruly jungle which bordered it. Kete meandered miserably, numbly over to it, flopped into the grass to sit between some gnarled roots. It was slightly uncomfortable, but he didn’t mind.
It was there in the darkness and dull sound of the lonely park that an image came back to him.
The way he’d petted him, scratched his ears. Looked at him with eyes so much softer than they should have been.
It wasn’t guilt. It wasn’t loneliness. What was it? Just one of those nameless, low sort of moods. Down.
Desolate.
Hollow.
He'd always had all the right answers. Even when they had been empty questions.
Empty...
Despite himself, the boy absolutely melted. Mostly, anyway. Still anxious, still at least partially on guard, but he couldn’t help leaning into it slightly, blinking, half-closing eyes if only for a moment. Dogkin were more common than Foxkin such as Kete – so while it was well known that most dog-halfies couldn’t resist having their ears scratched at, it was not as well known that fox-halfies absolutely loved it. Their ears were more sensitive, after all.
He hated himself for it. This was not a good man. Kete knew that now. A war had happened, globally – it had been this man to inflict the death. This man who did such terrible experiments…
So why…WHY in space didn’t he hate him for it? This was exactly the type of man that stood for everything Kete opposed. Exactly the kind of man he would typically despise – at least, to the extent that the kid was capable of really ‘hating’. Yet there was no hate. He found himself leaning in to the affection, even!
Then, just like that, the scene had changed. No more eerie interrogation room. No more feeling of isolation deep within the belly of some mysterious, ominous facility beneath the icy Siberian pine forests. They were back in the park, and sure enough it all half-felt like a dream.
The change had disoriented him slightly, he tipped a little to one side for a moment, but had little trouble regaining balance and orientation. Looking around with a hint of numbness at his surroundings, then back up at the white-haired man. He nodded. ”O….okay. Sure.” he said quietly, softly. Dazed and confused.
And then Kampfer was gone – less than the blink of an eye – and the loneliness began to creep up on him again.
It occurred to him suddenly that he had no idea why he was all at once feeling so…down. Not sad exactly, just…down.
Maybe his interaction with the mad scientist had just drudged up too many memories? Not the memories that usually got drudged up when he’d rather have kept them down. Usually he was haunted by the images from Adrusade, the images of what he had done in the service of the Empire in the years that followed. Glimpses through the eyes of the machines.
But this time it was different. For it was not even the image of Aller dead on the operating room floor, gaping hole where his left eye had once been, the result of some anomaly of the eye which he had never been able to reproduce. That image haunted him sometimes.
But this time it was different. There was no image. Not yet. It was just a feeling. A sense of loss. Of isolation, of incredible distance, of vague and incognizant chill. He hated it.
It was a long while that he just stood there beneath the night sky. Behind him in the distance was the dim, dying glow of Earth City. Ahead of him was the expansive jungle, in which somewhere some ships had crashed, and some people he had never met before were beginning an investigation of the crash site. Somewhere to his right would be that assassin – though she was too far for him to see her eyes. To his left – also much too far away to be known to him – Royanna Kallenger was involved in a hostage situation and a mysterious new unit watched on.
And in the middle of all that, all alone, stood Ketin Clarke. Too far from any of it to be involved. Too far from anyone. From everyone.
There was a tree nearby. It was a deciduous tree – most in the park were, which contrasted the unruly jungle which bordered it. Kete meandered miserably, numbly over to it, flopped into the grass to sit between some gnarled roots. It was slightly uncomfortable, but he didn’t mind.
It was there in the darkness and dull sound of the lonely park that an image came back to him.
The way he’d petted him, scratched his ears. Looked at him with eyes so much softer than they should have been.
It wasn’t guilt. It wasn’t loneliness. What was it? Just one of those nameless, low sort of moods. Down.
Desolate.
Hollow.
He'd always had all the right answers. Even when they had been empty questions.
Empty...
The officer was unfazed by Kellenger's threat. "Taking me hostage, won't give you a bargaining chip, about all those men on that dropship are willing to kill me if they got the chance too. There are so many things you don't understand" he said as he glanced over his shoulder. "This isn't our first rodeo, Kellenger" he said as he head butt her head with the back of his head and punched her hard into her injury, seeking to inflict a very painful sensation. Before the anyone could react, Kampfer appeared right in front of Kellenger and gripped her really hard on the throat with his mechanical claw much tighter than he gripped with Ketin and soon he teleported to a small white room with rows of seats on by the wall, 6 seats on each row, if it wasn't obvious by the wind to there right there in space in Kampfer's light cruiser that transports VIPs. He forcefully sat her down on the seat and restrained her arms and legs from moving with metal braces. Kampfer's face showed irritation at Kellenger's resists and her outlandish demands. "Relax, Kellenger, zis can all still be done peacefully" he said to her with a look of that means he's serious. "Ve vill soon arrive into Imperial space soon, so ask away if you have questions and don't vorry, your friend won't be harmed by my forces" he continued to say to her looking at her as if he was examining her.
Lucky or unlucky, because of Dim Toffi was right there next to Kallenger when the new stranger appeared. His first reaction would have been to scream but as the man moved their hand towards Kallenger the boy panicked and sunk his teeth into the stranger, not letting go of them no matter what. He didn't like the taste in particular, but he couldn't think of any other way to help the lady either. The boy would close his eyes to increase the ammount of pressure he'd be putting on the bite - thus becoming unaware of the change of space
Kampfer just realizing what happen before he sat down after seeing Kellenger secured he grabbed Toffi's snout and slowly try peeling him off his normal arm. Toffi has a good grip on his arm, but Kampfer knew that Toffi will let go if he hit him really hard on on the face and with all of his might, he punched Toffi in the face with his mechanical hand and if he let go he the force would have propelled him to the wall on the other side of the room. "Well it seems you may get your wish, Kellenger" he said as looked at her for a moment.
He didn't have any intentions on letting go and the boy would start growling as he started feeling some pressure on his face: the stranger was obviously trying to retaliate.
The boy didn't really get the chance to negotiate with the new person as he would feel the force and pressure quickly increasing, spreading further on the facical area. And as the punch came, he wasn't prepared for it. Christofer would be sent to the wall with a pained yelp, but it wouldn't be without any damage left on the hitter: a good portion of the clothing on the sleeve should now be ripped off - if there existed such part in the person's clothes - and the skin would be left with 2 or 4 deeper cut marks and near those would be some lines where the skin would have started to peel off due to the force of him being punched; those would require some stitching.
The wall didn't greet him too kindly though. Christofer was somewhat lucky to not hit the wall head first, having his back taking most of the impact and spreading it somewhat evenly. The pain would cause his body to become temporarily paralyzed though, and the eventual hit to his head would take away his vision for a while.
The boy would whimper weakly and attempted to curl as well as he could, bleeding a bit... He wanted to help Royanna but wasn't even in a state where he could stand up. The pain was too great...
The boy didn't really get the chance to negotiate with the new person as he would feel the force and pressure quickly increasing, spreading further on the facical area. And as the punch came, he wasn't prepared for it. Christofer would be sent to the wall with a pained yelp, but it wouldn't be without any damage left on the hitter: a good portion of the clothing on the sleeve should now be ripped off - if there existed such part in the person's clothes - and the skin would be left with 2 or 4 deeper cut marks and near those would be some lines where the skin would have started to peel off due to the force of him being punched; those would require some stitching.
The wall didn't greet him too kindly though. Christofer was somewhat lucky to not hit the wall head first, having his back taking most of the impact and spreading it somewhat evenly. The pain would cause his body to become temporarily paralyzed though, and the eventual hit to his head would take away his vision for a while.
The boy would whimper weakly and attempted to curl as well as he could, bleeding a bit... He wanted to help Royanna but wasn't even in a state where he could stand up. The pain was too great...
"Ouch! Dammit that **** hurts" Kampfer said in a fit of rage as he examines his wound. He sat on the seat opposite side at Kellenger tending his wound.
Rather suddenly and just a moment too late, Royanna Kallenger realized that things were not going to go as she had been hoping. In fact, once again, they were going to go exactly the opposite.
Probably.
Stab.
Then there was the man with the claw.
Grab.
She managed just barely to keep a grip on her blade, but failed utterly to maintain any control over it.
Blink.
She was no longer on the street just outside the park bordering Earth City. A small white chamber with seats. There was little time to take in the scenery.
The blade went clattering to the floor as she was shoved forcefully into a seat which automatically wrapped metallic bars around her to keep her there. This was unsatisfactory.
Bite.
Christofer was a dog now. Or something. Royanna wasn’t sure – her brain was still trying to get past the agonizing pain from her left shoulder and prioritized that over any sort of cognitive observations. She did not question why Christofer appeared to suddenly be a dog.
Or something.
Throw.
Christofer went soaring majestically across the room and collided fiercely with the opposite wall. This was also unsatisfactory.
Then, all at once, time seemed to slow back to normal speed. Royanna realized that she was very angry.
But flailing uselessly in her restraints would accomplish nothing. Gradually she was getting back to her senses following the moment of chaos which had been so blinded by pain. There was the kid, curled up and whimpering on the floor, and entirely fueling the white-rage in Royanna’s breast. Yet aside from teeth gritting with so much pressure as to pose a serious risk to dental integrity she managed to keep it under control. Seeing that rat bastard Kampfer bleed was so satisfying that it actually helped her maintain composure.
Kampfer had said they were entering Imperial space soon. She only had to hold out a few more minutes…
Admiral Harry Malbec gave a great, heaving sigh, and massaged his wrinkly old forehead with his wrinkly old fingers. ”Royanna Kallenger, what in Space have you gotten yourself into this time you stupid girl…” He muttered to himself, eyes closed, leaning heavily over the control panel in front of his chair. His voice was as old as he was - maybe older. His face was a map of creases and lines of age. From his back sprouted a thick, black cable, protruding from the back of his neck and traveling up, into the high ceiling of his chamber, allowing more than enough slack for him to move freely about - though he was usually content to stick to one spot, as his chair was remarkably comfortable even after all these years.
Especially after all these years. Three hundred years was a good amount of time to really break something in.
Only moments before, Malbec had received - much to his chagrin - a message stating that Special Agent Royanna S. Kallenger, Captain of the specialized Devil Eye Unit, had been captured by the forces of Kampfer.
The Imperial higher-ups had not been unaware of Kampfer. In fact they had taken him into consideration even during the days of founding, some three hundred years ago. Carefully plotted measures were taken to avoid territory that he would dispute. The utmost caution was used when invading new systems - it Kampfer had claimed it, the Empire backed off.
Their reasonsfor this were divided among the Imperial Council. Some sought to ally with the 'Kampfer Empire', others sought to simply avoid them until they had built a force truly capable of destroying them.
Malbec was one of the members of the Imperial Council, and he firmly believed that Kampfer's forces could one day be defeated - though an alliance would prove vastly more useful.
This was irrelevant. When he received word of the goings-on at Earth IV, his main concern was - as always - the status of the Empire's ultimate target.
But Imperial reconnaissance on Earth IV was severely limited - largely due to the elusive 'Alliance' force which had plagued them early on and since disappeared, only to be replaced by a much more dangerous force. For this reason, it was Royanna Kallenger who was the only real source of information as to what in the name of Space and Time was going down on that rock.
There were other reasons why Royanna was so very valuable too, of course. After all, the next DEU Captain had yet to be trained. If Kallenger was put out of commission that would leave the DEU helpless for some decades while the new Captain was raised and trained. A great deal of time, money and effort went into DEU Captains. They were very costly all around.
He had immediately dispatched a registered, unarmed Imperial Military transport vessel to the location which Kampfer's unit had indicated in the initial message. OF course, the transfer would not be completely unmonitored, as a fair sum of various long-range weapons were trained on the meeting point from vast distances. Firing upon the meeting would surely destroy everyone involved - including Kallenger - and was therefore only an absolute last resort - just in case they tried something stupid like trying to deliver their Special Agent post-mortem.
"You've got a Hell of a lot of explaining to do, girl..."
But Admiral Harry Malbec was alone, and nobody heard his mumblings. That was probably for the best...considering the contempt with which he held for the majority of his high-ranking comrades.
When Kampfer's transport arrived at the designated location, a large, sleek, though bulky white and black vessel emblazened with the GE symbol which constituted the Galactic Imperial Signet. All ship personnel had been evacuated from the primary boarding chamber, so when Kampfer's transport docked with the larger ship there would be nobody within to greet them. Naught but an empty white room, devoid of windows or other notable features, save for airlock doors at either end. Apparently the idea was that Kampfer would deposit the captives into that chamber and be on his way.
Royanna Kallenger awaited this eagerly.
Probably.
Stab.
Then there was the man with the claw.
Grab.
She managed just barely to keep a grip on her blade, but failed utterly to maintain any control over it.
Blink.
She was no longer on the street just outside the park bordering Earth City. A small white chamber with seats. There was little time to take in the scenery.
The blade went clattering to the floor as she was shoved forcefully into a seat which automatically wrapped metallic bars around her to keep her there. This was unsatisfactory.
Bite.
Christofer was a dog now. Or something. Royanna wasn’t sure – her brain was still trying to get past the agonizing pain from her left shoulder and prioritized that over any sort of cognitive observations. She did not question why Christofer appeared to suddenly be a dog.
Or something.
Throw.
Christofer went soaring majestically across the room and collided fiercely with the opposite wall. This was also unsatisfactory.
Then, all at once, time seemed to slow back to normal speed. Royanna realized that she was very angry.
But flailing uselessly in her restraints would accomplish nothing. Gradually she was getting back to her senses following the moment of chaos which had been so blinded by pain. There was the kid, curled up and whimpering on the floor, and entirely fueling the white-rage in Royanna’s breast. Yet aside from teeth gritting with so much pressure as to pose a serious risk to dental integrity she managed to keep it under control. Seeing that rat bastard Kampfer bleed was so satisfying that it actually helped her maintain composure.
Kampfer had said they were entering Imperial space soon. She only had to hold out a few more minutes…
Admiral Harry Malbec gave a great, heaving sigh, and massaged his wrinkly old forehead with his wrinkly old fingers. ”Royanna Kallenger, what in Space have you gotten yourself into this time you stupid girl…” He muttered to himself, eyes closed, leaning heavily over the control panel in front of his chair. His voice was as old as he was - maybe older. His face was a map of creases and lines of age. From his back sprouted a thick, black cable, protruding from the back of his neck and traveling up, into the high ceiling of his chamber, allowing more than enough slack for him to move freely about - though he was usually content to stick to one spot, as his chair was remarkably comfortable even after all these years.
Especially after all these years. Three hundred years was a good amount of time to really break something in.
Only moments before, Malbec had received - much to his chagrin - a message stating that Special Agent Royanna S. Kallenger, Captain of the specialized Devil Eye Unit, had been captured by the forces of Kampfer.
The Imperial higher-ups had not been unaware of Kampfer. In fact they had taken him into consideration even during the days of founding, some three hundred years ago. Carefully plotted measures were taken to avoid territory that he would dispute. The utmost caution was used when invading new systems - it Kampfer had claimed it, the Empire backed off.
Their reasonsfor this were divided among the Imperial Council. Some sought to ally with the 'Kampfer Empire', others sought to simply avoid them until they had built a force truly capable of destroying them.
Malbec was one of the members of the Imperial Council, and he firmly believed that Kampfer's forces could one day be defeated - though an alliance would prove vastly more useful.
This was irrelevant. When he received word of the goings-on at Earth IV, his main concern was - as always - the status of the Empire's ultimate target.
But Imperial reconnaissance on Earth IV was severely limited - largely due to the elusive 'Alliance' force which had plagued them early on and since disappeared, only to be replaced by a much more dangerous force. For this reason, it was Royanna Kallenger who was the only real source of information as to what in the name of Space and Time was going down on that rock.
There were other reasons why Royanna was so very valuable too, of course. After all, the next DEU Captain had yet to be trained. If Kallenger was put out of commission that would leave the DEU helpless for some decades while the new Captain was raised and trained. A great deal of time, money and effort went into DEU Captains. They were very costly all around.
He had immediately dispatched a registered, unarmed Imperial Military transport vessel to the location which Kampfer's unit had indicated in the initial message. OF course, the transfer would not be completely unmonitored, as a fair sum of various long-range weapons were trained on the meeting point from vast distances. Firing upon the meeting would surely destroy everyone involved - including Kallenger - and was therefore only an absolute last resort - just in case they tried something stupid like trying to deliver their Special Agent post-mortem.
"You've got a Hell of a lot of explaining to do, girl..."
But Admiral Harry Malbec was alone, and nobody heard his mumblings. That was probably for the best...considering the contempt with which he held for the majority of his high-ranking comrades.
When Kampfer's transport arrived at the designated location, a large, sleek, though bulky white and black vessel emblazened with the GE symbol which constituted the Galactic Imperial Signet. All ship personnel had been evacuated from the primary boarding chamber, so when Kampfer's transport docked with the larger ship there would be nobody within to greet them. Naught but an empty white room, devoid of windows or other notable features, save for airlock doors at either end. Apparently the idea was that Kampfer would deposit the captives into that chamber and be on his way.
Royanna Kallenger awaited this eagerly.
A surprised grunt were shot out from the Ranger as soon as the Bullet had struck the ground. Slowly tilting his head, surveying the dropship's innards, CL attempted to find any explanation for the shuttle's bump. An obstacle, maybe? The enemy?! Not really; Aelyn's friends looked pretty calm about it, as if that was just a standard procedure. Judging by his brief confusion, it felt like the Ranger wasn't used to technology that advanced. Did that bump meant that they had landed?
There was no other way of figuring out rather than lifting his armored rear from the seat and seeing it for himself. Grasping the LRMT-72 unto his mechanical hands, CL slothfully reached to the Bullet's entryway. Immediately lifting unto his sights, the Masked Man scanned the scenery for anything that moved out in the open, save by, of course, the trees far into the jungle. The Ranger had lay down his piercing stare unto the scenery before him, attentiously tilting his head to the slightest disturbance in the area, much like a starving bald eagle searching for it's prey. It natural for The Mad Ranger
Anything out there wasn't very well concealed, would probably have the Ranger piercing sights locked on. And something was bothering him...
"Can't see ****, but my guts tell'm sumthin's fishy out there..." - This feeling briefly reminded the Ranger of someone. That one thick jungle and this eerie mood of being watched throughout all of it...
It was nostalgic.
(!)
And the time went on. It was easy to assume that AP's transmission were caught by deaf ears. Not even a hint of a signal came back to the Stella Viventium. Whatever out there, did it even had the technology to pick up a transmission from an inner planet of that solar system? The mentioned gas dwarf, after all, were laid at the farthest point of it's elliptical order around this one star where all this commotion were taking place.
"Over 100 billion credits. If the Ranger's at your hands, this same debt will be as well. Whoever the heck you are." - What came back was kind of unexpected. A quite well mannered voice for someone who might be friends with a greedy bounty hunter, but the subject of debt easily gave it away that this one voice was solely interested in CL's cash. Speaking of which, it's good to provide that one info. 'Kay, pal?"
There was no other way of figuring out rather than lifting his armored rear from the seat and seeing it for himself. Grasping the LRMT-72 unto his mechanical hands, CL slothfully reached to the Bullet's entryway. Immediately lifting unto his sights, the Masked Man scanned the scenery for anything that moved out in the open, save by, of course, the trees far into the jungle. The Ranger had lay down his piercing stare unto the scenery before him, attentiously tilting his head to the slightest disturbance in the area, much like a starving bald eagle searching for it's prey. It natural for The Mad Ranger
Anything out there wasn't very well concealed, would probably have the Ranger piercing sights locked on. And something was bothering him...
"Can't see ****, but my guts tell'm sumthin's fishy out there..." - This feeling briefly reminded the Ranger of someone. That one thick jungle and this eerie mood of being watched throughout all of it...
It was nostalgic.
(!)
And the time went on. It was easy to assume that AP's transmission were caught by deaf ears. Not even a hint of a signal came back to the Stella Viventium. Whatever out there, did it even had the technology to pick up a transmission from an inner planet of that solar system? The mentioned gas dwarf, after all, were laid at the farthest point of it's elliptical order around this one star where all this commotion were taking place.
"Over 100 billion credits. If the Ranger's at your hands, this same debt will be as well. Whoever the heck you are." - What came back was kind of unexpected. A quite well mannered voice for someone who might be friends with a greedy bounty hunter, but the subject of debt easily gave it away that this one voice was solely interested in CL's cash. Speaking of which, it's good to provide that one info. 'Kay, pal?"
Kampfer being agitated by the bite from Toffi that bandage up, he just wanted to get things done and over with. He released the resistants once they docked with the Imperial cruiser. If the imperials wanted to do any funny business there is a fleet nearby to help that can be called at anytime and arrive at a moments notice. Kampfer got up and walked towards the door, the blue bulb in his hand started to glow, a sign that Kampfer was ready for any business that Kellenger or Toffi might do. Kampfer turned around and said "Come, you vitch, grab you dog and lets go, your ride is on the on the other end of zis hallway" Kampfer really wanted to kill Kellenger but the wishes of Ketin he wouldn't do that unless Kellenger forced him too. He step into the all accompanyed by some strange robots, they weren't any doc-bot or z-bot nor even a Death's Head soldiers, but seemed a little primitive. They are black with a rectangle like hexagon head, with a single small circular object in where it's face suppose to be and with a black background. The style of them seemed pretty close to the design of Bravo's but they had rather large fusion coils on there backs and on there body purple lightening could be seen from them, a sign if touched they will shock you from the contact. Also the presence of purple lightning is an indication that these bots have been infused with dark matter cleverly done by Kampfer himself. These I guess you can say droids carried with long rifles connected to them with a couple of thick wires that lead to there respective two fusion coils. Kampfer stood between these two droids and waited for Kellenger and Toffi to come out. These droids were called Electron's, same name as the particle in some atoms and they were Kampfer's official bodyguards.
What could she do?
"Creya, goddess of the soulstream I ask forgiveness. Grant this one peace and wash the sins from her soul"
Fleeing into the city that was ravaged with unimaginable destruction and Kampfer's Z-bots, had proved to be unwise as she had made the journey prior before returning to the jungle. There had been nothing of value for her to return to. Ketin had yet to be found and finding the man who took him would be even harder. The first place she had went to was The Pearl Star, Sul'sashi's humble restaurant. It had been reduced to rubble and ash and Nirix's only chance to rescue one of her only friends and fellow kinsmen had been dashed when she found the woman crushed underneath her foundation.
Nirix hadn't cried or lashed out from the pain of seeing such a sweet woman and fast friend dead. After all, the Eoclu's lifestyle had adapted to death for awhile now. It happened everyday around her.
Instead, she fled to the jungle once more. It was something familiar, the same environment of her homeworld was comforting to the Assassin. With the nearest tree in view, Nirix fell at the trunk and did one thing that seemed to ease her troubled mind at pressing times like this.
Pray. For forgiveness at the failure of her mission, for the death of Sul'sashi, and for the strength to continue to search for Ketin. He had to safe, Nirix would have to make sure of that. He was her only attachment for now.
"Creya, goddess of the soulstream I ask forgiveness. Grant this one peace and wash the sins from her soul"
Fleeing into the city that was ravaged with unimaginable destruction and Kampfer's Z-bots, had proved to be unwise as she had made the journey prior before returning to the jungle. There had been nothing of value for her to return to. Ketin had yet to be found and finding the man who took him would be even harder. The first place she had went to was The Pearl Star, Sul'sashi's humble restaurant. It had been reduced to rubble and ash and Nirix's only chance to rescue one of her only friends and fellow kinsmen had been dashed when she found the woman crushed underneath her foundation.
Nirix hadn't cried or lashed out from the pain of seeing such a sweet woman and fast friend dead. After all, the Eoclu's lifestyle had adapted to death for awhile now. It happened everyday around her.
Instead, she fled to the jungle once more. It was something familiar, the same environment of her homeworld was comforting to the Assassin. With the nearest tree in view, Nirix fell at the trunk and did one thing that seemed to ease her troubled mind at pressing times like this.
Pray. For forgiveness at the failure of her mission, for the death of Sul'sashi, and for the strength to continue to search for Ketin. He had to safe, Nirix would have to make sure of that. He was her only attachment for now.
Christofer wasn't going to move anywhere anytime soon. He was in too much pain and his body was still in shock after having been hit hard against the wall that he wouldn't be able to move even if he'd try. He could only barely even hear the man talking, but... What was he saying? He couldn't cath the words... There was no way for him to ask for the stranger to repeat his words, or to speak anything really either, for all the sounds he was able to produce were jus quiet whimpers that sounded pretty much the same - it was probably some sort of 'technique' of his own to try and distract his mind from the pain, similar to that of what cats tended to do when they were hurt, except they purred.
The boy could note some faint movement in the room, but he could only wonder why it was all so white now... Why was there so much light? What had happened?
The boy could note some faint movement in the room, but he could only wonder why it was all so white now... Why was there so much light? What had happened?
”Well. I think that’s enough moping for one day.” Kete said quietly, to himself. There was nobody else around who could have heard. Somewhat tiredly the boy got to his feet. Putting hands in the pockets of his coat, he let his shoulders hang and looked upward toward a sky that was as endless as time itself. With all the light pollution gone, the stars were so much more visible than they would usually be. It was an incredible sight – even if he was the only person on the planet taking the time to enjoy it.
Most people were far too busy to look up at the stars, he thought. And it was true. They were busy killing or trying to survive. Busy living. Who had time to look up at the stars when they had a life ahead of them? When they had goals, things to do, places to go?
Sure, Kete had places to go. Places almost as countless as the stars themselves. How many worlds were there? More were being colonized every Standard day. Life moved on, changed. People went on with their business, progressing in that which was important to them.
And Kete just stood and looked up at the stars.
Because Kete wasn’t living. His heart beat, but it was in the very fact that he could stand and gaze upwards without a care in the world and uninterrupted that made it so. He had no goals, no ambitions. Perhaps simply to keep moving, keep seeing? Maybe even to keep helping.
But how much help was he really? He only ever brought trouble wherever he went…And yet he continued to move. It was selfish, but somehow – at this moment – Kete didn’t really care.
People were doing things. Everyone was doing things. Everyone was him.
Sometimes it felt like he was the only person in the Galaxy who wasn’t asleep.
But…that was enough moping. He’d already decided that. Why bother with self-reflection? No, Kete couldn’t go on living like everyone else, but he could do what he did best. He could smile; stroll on without a care in the ‘Verse. Wander. He could pretend like he was everyone else – different only in his rambunctiousness and adventurousness. He could go on being his usual silly, stupid, carefree self.
Without a care in the ‘Verse to hold him down.
After all…
It was only the living who had cares.
So Kete took his eyes from the spanning night sky above, looked mildly around at the shadowy park. Then he picked a direction, and just began to walk. There were some paths through the jungle. Maybe they led somewhere interesting? Only one way to find out. Anything was better than going into that city of death behind him…
As he strolled the boy began to sing a little tune. One of the plethora of old, ancient folk songs that had been around as long as anyone could remember. Songs who’s writers names had been long lost to time. It was sung without any musical accompaniment, sung lowly, sung to himself, slightly out of tune in that gentle, comforting sort of way that one might get when singing a lullaby.
” Yes I understand, that every life must end, uh-huh~♪
As we sit alone, I know someday we must go, uh-huh~♫”
There was a distant – but not too distant rumble, as though something had impacted the ground to the South. Kete made his way casually past the jungle trees, onto one of those many winding jungle paths. Maybe he’d end up nearby? Who could tell? Only the living chose their destinations.
” Oh I’m a lucky man to count on both hands the ones I love~♪
Some folks just have one, yeah, others, they’ve got none.~♫
Stay with me~~♪
Let’s just breathe~~♫”
He wondered what ever became of that woman who had been trying so hard to protect him, despite the foolishness of doing so. He hoped she was still alive. He refused to consider the possibility that he might have brought upon her death. Only the living had to accept the consequences of their actions.
” Practiced on my sins, never gonna let you win, uh-huh~♪
Under everything, just another human being, uh-huh~♫
I don’t want to hurt~♪
There’s so much in this world to make me believe~♫
Stay with me~~♪
All I see~~♫”
He pushed from his mind the images which had haunted him only minutes before. Ketin did not need the drink to forget his troubles. All he needed to do was bury them into the deepest recesses of his mind, and it was as though it had never bothered him. Never happened. Only the living had to live with their past.
”Did I say that I need you?~♪
Did I say that I want you?~♫
Oh if I didn’t I’m a fool you see~♪
No one knows this more than me♫
But I come clean~♪”
Sometimes Kete could handle solitude. There were, after all, all sorts of living things in the jungle. Little birds and small scrub creatures. Even insects. The complexity of the brain had significant effect on how much ‘thinking room’ Kete had, and animals and bugs did not provide nearly the same comfort as people. But their presence made him feel less alone. He didn’t have to be alone. It was a nice lie to tell himself. Only the living couldn’t lie to themselves.
”I wonder every day, as I look upon your face, uh-huh~♪
Everything you gave and nothing you would take, uh-huh~♫
Nothing you would take, everything you gave~♪
Did I say that I need you?~~♫
Did I say that I want you?~~♫
Oh if I didn’t I’m a fool you see~~♫
No one knows this more than me~~♫”
Quiet as his singing was, in the stillness of the jungle it could be heard for some distance. It would be surreal to anyone close enough to hear it, to have the soft voice just barely on the edge of audibility from the nothingness. It would probably give his position away to anyone looking for him, especially if they had exceptional senses, and he probably wouldn't see them coming up on him if they did. It didn't matter though - only the living needed to hide.
”Nothing you would take, everything you gave~♪
Love you till I die, meet you on the other side~♫”
Royanna Kallenger was released from the restraints holding her in the chair. Standing tiredly, she kicked her sword into her hand, sheathed it with practiced haste before anyone would get the chance to think she was trying to attack – she wasn’t, after all.
If only she’d known that it had been the Devil Eye himself indirectly sparing her life, bringing her back to a place where she was safe once more. One could only imagine what she’d think of that. Probably the immediate assumption would be that it was a lie – indeed it would be virtually impossible to break all those years of indoctrination.
Indoctrination – or was it simply training? Maybe it was all perspective? But Kallenger’s perspective would not be changed easily.
Sorely, she moved toward the boy who was curled up, whimpering on the floor. Equally sorely she crouched down onto one knee, leaned in; put a hand gently atop his head, nearer to the back of his neck, and scritched her fingers some in his hair, tousling it, sort of petting him affectionately.
Yep. He was a dog now. That was pretty weird.
But Kallenger was beyond the point of being surprised, even at this strangeness. (Plus she was very good at handling strangeness in this manner, and knew that making a big deal out of it would only frighten the kid. That could wait.)
”C’mon kid, just a little further.” She said softly. ”We’ll get you fixed up as soon as we’re back on Imperial shipspace. We’ll be safe there. I’ll help you up.”
And she would help him up, extending a hand, standing. Assuming that went well enough she would proceed with him down the hall, beneath the watchful and imposing eyes of Kampfer and his unnerving bodyguards. All the while she stuck close to Christofer, protective even in her sorry state. She seemed unfazed by the changes he had undergone, however drastic they might have been.
At the end of the hallway was where Kampfer’s transport made contact with the Imperial vessel. There was a heavy airlock door, which opened only after confirming that there was an acceptable atmosphere on the other side. What it opened to was another white room, clean and largely featureless. In an almost humorously casual detail, there was a potted plant in the far corner – some kind of shrubby green tree. The room had the feel of an old, but ‘modernized’ office building. The kind of lonely, stuffy hallway that was as clean as the rest, but far in the back or perhaps in the basement. It was brightly lit, but the bright lights were soft and easy on the eyes. The floor was tiled with a color that was vaguely beige.
Considering this Imperial vessel had been built with the idea of prisoner transfers in mind, the room was equipped with a feature that would lock it down with the press of a certain tile on the floor, marked subtly with a virtually indeterminate difference in shade. Admittedly it was designed so that the Empire could keep those that were being handed over without handing over themselves – but in this case there was nobody to hand over on the Imperial side, so it would simply act as insurance against retaliation from the enemy.
Once Royanna reached that tile, she turned tiredly around, weakly and with a tired, wry look gave Kampfer a rude gesture of her hand involving the centermost of her fingers, then tapped the tile. A panel hidden in the ceiling dropped rather startlingly with a loud HISSS and THUP, sealing the Imperial ship and everyone aboard apart from Kampfer and his bodyguards. It signified the conclusion of the transfer – all that would be left was for Kampfer’s transport to disconnect, and the Imperial vessel would shoot off back toward Imperial space.
Most people were far too busy to look up at the stars, he thought. And it was true. They were busy killing or trying to survive. Busy living. Who had time to look up at the stars when they had a life ahead of them? When they had goals, things to do, places to go?
Sure, Kete had places to go. Places almost as countless as the stars themselves. How many worlds were there? More were being colonized every Standard day. Life moved on, changed. People went on with their business, progressing in that which was important to them.
And Kete just stood and looked up at the stars.
Because Kete wasn’t living. His heart beat, but it was in the very fact that he could stand and gaze upwards without a care in the world and uninterrupted that made it so. He had no goals, no ambitions. Perhaps simply to keep moving, keep seeing? Maybe even to keep helping.
But how much help was he really? He only ever brought trouble wherever he went…And yet he continued to move. It was selfish, but somehow – at this moment – Kete didn’t really care.
People were doing things. Everyone was doing things. Everyone was him.
Sometimes it felt like he was the only person in the Galaxy who wasn’t asleep.
But…that was enough moping. He’d already decided that. Why bother with self-reflection? No, Kete couldn’t go on living like everyone else, but he could do what he did best. He could smile; stroll on without a care in the ‘Verse. Wander. He could pretend like he was everyone else – different only in his rambunctiousness and adventurousness. He could go on being his usual silly, stupid, carefree self.
Without a care in the ‘Verse to hold him down.
After all…
It was only the living who had cares.
So Kete took his eyes from the spanning night sky above, looked mildly around at the shadowy park. Then he picked a direction, and just began to walk. There were some paths through the jungle. Maybe they led somewhere interesting? Only one way to find out. Anything was better than going into that city of death behind him…
As he strolled the boy began to sing a little tune. One of the plethora of old, ancient folk songs that had been around as long as anyone could remember. Songs who’s writers names had been long lost to time. It was sung without any musical accompaniment, sung lowly, sung to himself, slightly out of tune in that gentle, comforting sort of way that one might get when singing a lullaby.
” Yes I understand, that every life must end, uh-huh~♪
As we sit alone, I know someday we must go, uh-huh~♫”
There was a distant – but not too distant rumble, as though something had impacted the ground to the South. Kete made his way casually past the jungle trees, onto one of those many winding jungle paths. Maybe he’d end up nearby? Who could tell? Only the living chose their destinations.
” Oh I’m a lucky man to count on both hands the ones I love~♪
Some folks just have one, yeah, others, they’ve got none.~♫
Stay with me~~♪
Let’s just breathe~~♫”
He wondered what ever became of that woman who had been trying so hard to protect him, despite the foolishness of doing so. He hoped she was still alive. He refused to consider the possibility that he might have brought upon her death. Only the living had to accept the consequences of their actions.
” Practiced on my sins, never gonna let you win, uh-huh~♪
Under everything, just another human being, uh-huh~♫
I don’t want to hurt~♪
There’s so much in this world to make me believe~♫
Stay with me~~♪
All I see~~♫”
He pushed from his mind the images which had haunted him only minutes before. Ketin did not need the drink to forget his troubles. All he needed to do was bury them into the deepest recesses of his mind, and it was as though it had never bothered him. Never happened. Only the living had to live with their past.
”Did I say that I need you?~♪
Did I say that I want you?~♫
Oh if I didn’t I’m a fool you see~♪
No one knows this more than me♫
But I come clean~♪”
Sometimes Kete could handle solitude. There were, after all, all sorts of living things in the jungle. Little birds and small scrub creatures. Even insects. The complexity of the brain had significant effect on how much ‘thinking room’ Kete had, and animals and bugs did not provide nearly the same comfort as people. But their presence made him feel less alone. He didn’t have to be alone. It was a nice lie to tell himself. Only the living couldn’t lie to themselves.
”I wonder every day, as I look upon your face, uh-huh~♪
Everything you gave and nothing you would take, uh-huh~♫
Nothing you would take, everything you gave~♪
Did I say that I need you?~~♫
Did I say that I want you?~~♫
Oh if I didn’t I’m a fool you see~~♫
No one knows this more than me~~♫”
Quiet as his singing was, in the stillness of the jungle it could be heard for some distance. It would be surreal to anyone close enough to hear it, to have the soft voice just barely on the edge of audibility from the nothingness. It would probably give his position away to anyone looking for him, especially if they had exceptional senses, and he probably wouldn't see them coming up on him if they did. It didn't matter though - only the living needed to hide.
”Nothing you would take, everything you gave~♪
Love you till I die, meet you on the other side~♫”
Royanna Kallenger was released from the restraints holding her in the chair. Standing tiredly, she kicked her sword into her hand, sheathed it with practiced haste before anyone would get the chance to think she was trying to attack – she wasn’t, after all.
If only she’d known that it had been the Devil Eye himself indirectly sparing her life, bringing her back to a place where she was safe once more. One could only imagine what she’d think of that. Probably the immediate assumption would be that it was a lie – indeed it would be virtually impossible to break all those years of indoctrination.
Indoctrination – or was it simply training? Maybe it was all perspective? But Kallenger’s perspective would not be changed easily.
Sorely, she moved toward the boy who was curled up, whimpering on the floor. Equally sorely she crouched down onto one knee, leaned in; put a hand gently atop his head, nearer to the back of his neck, and scritched her fingers some in his hair, tousling it, sort of petting him affectionately.
Yep. He was a dog now. That was pretty weird.
But Kallenger was beyond the point of being surprised, even at this strangeness. (Plus she was very good at handling strangeness in this manner, and knew that making a big deal out of it would only frighten the kid. That could wait.)
”C’mon kid, just a little further.” She said softly. ”We’ll get you fixed up as soon as we’re back on Imperial shipspace. We’ll be safe there. I’ll help you up.”
And she would help him up, extending a hand, standing. Assuming that went well enough she would proceed with him down the hall, beneath the watchful and imposing eyes of Kampfer and his unnerving bodyguards. All the while she stuck close to Christofer, protective even in her sorry state. She seemed unfazed by the changes he had undergone, however drastic they might have been.
At the end of the hallway was where Kampfer’s transport made contact with the Imperial vessel. There was a heavy airlock door, which opened only after confirming that there was an acceptable atmosphere on the other side. What it opened to was another white room, clean and largely featureless. In an almost humorously casual detail, there was a potted plant in the far corner – some kind of shrubby green tree. The room had the feel of an old, but ‘modernized’ office building. The kind of lonely, stuffy hallway that was as clean as the rest, but far in the back or perhaps in the basement. It was brightly lit, but the bright lights were soft and easy on the eyes. The floor was tiled with a color that was vaguely beige.
Considering this Imperial vessel had been built with the idea of prisoner transfers in mind, the room was equipped with a feature that would lock it down with the press of a certain tile on the floor, marked subtly with a virtually indeterminate difference in shade. Admittedly it was designed so that the Empire could keep those that were being handed over without handing over themselves – but in this case there was nobody to hand over on the Imperial side, so it would simply act as insurance against retaliation from the enemy.
Once Royanna reached that tile, she turned tiredly around, weakly and with a tired, wry look gave Kampfer a rude gesture of her hand involving the centermost of her fingers, then tapped the tile. A panel hidden in the ceiling dropped rather startlingly with a loud HISSS and THUP, sealing the Imperial ship and everyone aboard apart from Kampfer and his bodyguards. It signified the conclusion of the transfer – all that would be left was for Kampfer’s transport to disconnect, and the Imperial vessel would shoot off back toward Imperial space.
To his sences, Christofer was alone. The faint footsteps that he could hear seemed to only be going further and further away. He didn't know who was the one walking, where were they going... He would quiet down himself as the pain slowly started to let him feel something else. Soon he'd feel something near his head. Someone's hand. Still a bit too shocked from the punch from earlier, he had to just hope that it was that of a friendy person and not just prelude for another punch that was incoming.
Christofer would recognize the voice, it was the woman, Kallenger. Although maybe not visible on the outside, a wave of relief would pass through him as he was now sure that the one near him was indeed a friend.
He tried talking but the words got stuck in his throat, not really even reaching the quality to be classified as words. Maybe it was better for him to stay silent for now...
He'd slowly get up with the help of Royanna, unwillingly lean on her as his balance hadn't fully recovered yet. The boy would move alongside her, taking slow steps, feet staying close to the floor as he moved. It must have been a pain for the woman, but she managed to get them somewhere.
The noises made his ears hurt and the confusion only added to the pain. But after that, it got silent... The boy would listen for a while, but as he couldn't hear anything except some faint heartbeats somewhere near him, they didn't sound too stressed, so he'd think it was probably ok for him to try speaking again.
"... W-Where are we..?" The boy would ask faintly as he tried to scan the room with his cloudy eyes. Either the room had very monotone colorscheme with its furniture, or it was mostly empty. ".... ... Is this a mental hospital..? What is this..?"
Christofer would recognize the voice, it was the woman, Kallenger. Although maybe not visible on the outside, a wave of relief would pass through him as he was now sure that the one near him was indeed a friend.
He tried talking but the words got stuck in his throat, not really even reaching the quality to be classified as words. Maybe it was better for him to stay silent for now...
He'd slowly get up with the help of Royanna, unwillingly lean on her as his balance hadn't fully recovered yet. The boy would move alongside her, taking slow steps, feet staying close to the floor as he moved. It must have been a pain for the woman, but she managed to get them somewhere.
The noises made his ears hurt and the confusion only added to the pain. But after that, it got silent... The boy would listen for a while, but as he couldn't hear anything except some faint heartbeats somewhere near him, they didn't sound too stressed, so he'd think it was probably ok for him to try speaking again.
"... W-Where are we..?" The boy would ask faintly as he tried to scan the room with his cloudy eyes. Either the room had very monotone colorscheme with its furniture, or it was mostly empty. ".... ... Is this a mental hospital..? What is this..?"
Kampfer just stared at them as they entered the Imperial cruiser. He gave them an blank expression as they entered and as Kellenger gave him the finger. As there door closed and his door closed, seeing them depart, one of the Electrons turn it's head to Kampfer and started making beeping noises and the circular object blinked like if it was talking. Kampfer knew what it was saying and he replied "I could blast zem out existence by calling the fleet, but I have a feeling I'll meet Kellenger once more and I vonder on vhat circumstance" as he started to walk away. "Lets's head back" he said to them gesturing to follow soon. His ship warped out of the area back to the newly conquered Earth, heading back to his main HQ in Siberia.
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