Post by Pah'mazhan on Jun 8, 2015 1:20:31 GMT
“I fell off of the castle,” Pah’mazhan stated bluntly, as if the bio android were completely unsure of the implications of such an act.
The man stared at him blankly before standing back up. “Anyway, I can’t express how thankful I am for you saving us. Is there anything we could do to repay you?”
“My strength. Help me recover it,” he said. He didn’t want to mention too much. As long as the elf could help him regain his former strength, Pah’mazhan would be able to do the rest on his own. The elfish man looked him over, “Hmm, I see, I can smell the stench of magic residing within you. It seems you have been cursed…”
“How do I remove it?” Pah’mazhan inquired.
The man lowered his chin into his hands as if in thought and looked towards the ground. “It won’t be easy…” he said, “you would have to travel all the way to Mount Hielo, a mountain range to the far north, but first you have to pass through the Great Wall, past Whitewater. Mount Hielo is home to the Moujuujin, large and powerful beasts. You might want to think twice before going there.” He glanced at Pah’mazhan, who appeared unfazed by the news. The Bio Android was prepared for any opposition that may get in his way as his master’s life depended on the success of his mission. At last, the man was subdued and conceded. “Alright, I’ll accompany you until the curse is lifted. That’s the least we can do for our lives.” He grinned. “By the way, we never properly introduced ourselves. My name is Plation and this is my younger brother Cayu,” he said, motioning towards the little boy that almost had them killed. “Hi mister!” Cayu said, “It’s nice to meet you!” The child waved with a wide smile. He must have been perhaps six or seven years old. He had his own head of red hair like the older sibling and somewhat pointy ears. He extended his hand to shake Pah’mazhan’s. The Bio Android decided to humor the child’s request and granted him his hand, although he did not fully close it in fear of breaking the fragile creature’s limb. Cayu was ecstatic that Pah’mazhan shook his hand.
“What was your name again? Z-zz…ze…” “-Pah’mazhan,” the Bio Android corrected. “Alright, Pah’mazhan! Well, let’s get started, we have a long journey ahead of us!” The Bio Android nodded. Before long, the group snuck their way out of the village. Plation wanted to wait until things had cooled down, but Pah’mazhan insisted he could not wait much longer, so they risked getting spotted and escaped from the village. They were now miles away, following the dirt road leading east. To reach Mount Hielo, first they needed to pass through Whitewater, which was due in their direction. In their traverse they had passed by numerous villages which were scattered throughout the massive grasslands known as Tien’s Landing. Cayu approached Pah’mazhan from behind, curiously gazing at the black contraption on his left arm; even he could tell that it was not part of the Bio Android’s suit of armor.
“Hey, mister,” he said. Pah’mazhan’s eyes remain slanted towards their destination, though he offers the child a soft hum to indicate he was listening. “What’s that thing on your arm?” he wonders innocently. Pah’mazhan looks at his arm, reminding himself that the contraption was there. “I don’t know,” he stated simply. “It was there when I awoke. It limits my abilities…”
“Hmm, allow me to take a look,” Plation requested. The Bio Android stopped and extended his left arm so the man could prospect it. He definitely didn’t know what to do with it, maybe the elfish man could shed some light on the matter, he thought. Plation observes the apparatus with intense concentration. It appeared he actually knew something until he raised his hands in the air, “Nope, I haven’t a clue,” he declared hopelessly. Cayu grinned, scratching his head. The elfish man seemed so serious during their first encounter, but now he appeared much more relaxed. Pah’mazhan questioned whether he made the right choice to align with him. Plation was much friendlier than anticipated. “Now, you said ‘when you awoke’, what happened?” he inquired. Pah’mazhan continued to walk as he was beginning to get anxious with their lack of progress.
“When I fell off the floating castle, I landed in a village similar to yours. There was a pale creature with mysterious powers. He outmatched me,” Pah’mazhan confessed. “He looked a lot like you…”
Plation’s eyes lightened up as there was only one person he could have been talking about. Suddenly, the image of the fearsome elf entered his mind. A pale-skinned elf with a scar across his face and a stylized ‘M’ emblazoned on his forehead. He reeked with power that seemed to excrete from his pores as vapor. He was also known for the long silver hair and golden trinket that adorned his head. Finally, making its way to Plation’s lips, the elf’s name was uttered, “Zalam’gar…” he said softly. “He’s probably the bravest and most passionate person I’ve known. It might not look like it, but he’s a great man. He allowed himself to fall under the Biseijin’s spell in order to protect our people,” he points to his forehead, “remember that symbol on his forehead?” “I saw that symbol on some beast named Goliath as well,” Pah’mazhan explained. “You battled Goliath?” he exclaimed with astonishment, “its amazing that you’re still alive…”
Pah’mazhan looked back at the man and murmured to himself, “Alive, huh?”
“Anyway, that symbol on their forehead is the product of a powerful binding spell cast by the Biseijin. It finds the faintest bit of darkness within a person’s heart, manipulates and magnifies it. The subject becomes powerful beyond all measure, but at the cost of their own free will. Many soldiers become the Biseijin’s unconditional slave and forced to do their bidding. However, Zalam’gar… despite submitting himself to their spell, he was able to retain his autonomy. With his new found power, he was able to fight off the Biseijin and make them back off from their village. They made an agreement. Their village would remain untouched by our tyrannical oppressors as long as he followed their orders. Despite his impressive strength, even Zalam’gar realized he didn’t stand a chance, so he accepted their terms. Every day, he fights that innate urge to kill and massacre the populace, all because of the curse he has welcomed into his being…”
Cayu stared at his brother, mesmerized by the candid tragedy that was Zalam’gar. “Poor Zal…” he said. Plation nodded. “That’s why I can’t stand by and do nothing anymore. I have to take down Helios and his lackeys no matter the cost. Zalam’gar is brave, but he’s a fool. Soon enough, the Biseijin will sever their pact and run them over. This will not end, our suffering will never end until they are driven out of this land, and for that reason… Pah’mazhan…” Plation steps in front of the Bio Android, forcing him to stop. “I’m sorry to ask this of you, but when we remove the curse you’ve been burdened with, would you lend me your power? Would you help us defeat Helios?” The man looked into the Bio Android’s eyes with desperation. Cayu gazed up, hopeful that the Bio Android would concede. Pah’mazhan lowers his gaze, looking away from the two. There was something a strangeness about the air which he could not fathom, but it pounded against his chest. It was overwhelming. The Bio Android looked up, matching his gaze, but before he could respond…
“Watch out!” the Bio Android exclaimed, pushing Plation aside as an arrow whizzed past them. He barely evaded it, his cheek slit slightly by the head, red liquid trickling down his face. Plation unsheath’s his sword, preparing to face their antagonists. “Cayu, get behind Pah’mazhan!” he ordered, looking back at the Bio Android, “don’t worry, I know you can’t fight in your condition. Leave it all to me!” he assured, turning to face them as another arrow was soaring towards his head. Swinging his sword up, he intercepts the arrow head, deflecting to the ground. Peering ahead, they seemed to be mercenaries. “It looks like they followed us from the village!” he exclaimed. Having defied the throne, they do not take it lightly. The group would be pursued by all kinds of threats until they crossed the border, and even then their safety was not assured. Two more arrows were flung at him and he snapped them both with a swift stroke of the blade. Pah’mazhan commended his sword abilities. He was agile and precise. The Bio Android wished to test out his other abilities to make sure they were still functioning, but given the task to look after Cayu, he was chained to his position. He decided to let Plation have this one, considering he didn’t know what he would do if it turned out none of his abilities were working. Scanning the lot, they were relatively strong –definitely a threat while in his condition, but he believed the elfish man would fare well against them.
There were two huntsmen and two spearmen; the spearmen marched ahead while the huntsmen readied their bows and fired. Plation, holding the tip of his blade with the other hand and raising horizontally in front of him began to chant words in a tongue the Bio Android could not comprehend. It was similar to the biseijin, Helios when summoning the ox-beast. Hovering over his blade, those weird patterns emerged once again. Unlike Zalam’gar’s who’s were purple, his were yellow; thinking back, the green flames cast by Helios’ summoning spell was also a circle with odd patterns, he just hadn’t realized it until now. From the yellow circle, a dozen fire balls were spewed at moderate speeds. The spearmen come to an abrupt halt and raise their weapons to fight off the flames. In spite of their attempts, Plation was not aiming for them, but the huntsmen in the back. The two arrows launched their way were soon disintegrated by the flames while a handful of fire balls still remained. The huntsmen panicked, but only one managed to break free from the stiffness of their legs and maneuvered to the left. His companion was not so lucky. The flames came rushing in, slamming against him and tossing him aside.
The spearmen promptly after commenced their progression. “Heretics…” Plation muttered. They were not in it for glory or loyalty to the throne, being a mercenary was simply an excuse to legally capture or kill civilians. They were hired by the royal guard to perform tasks which seemed to bothersome for them to do on their own. The prospect angered the elfish man. If only they had that kind of motivation towards dismantling the crown, they wouldn’t be in their situation. “HYAAAAAAAAAAAA~” Plation screamed, rushing towards their antagonists with a roar, his blade readied beside him. The spearmen stopped about five feet away and thrust their weapons forward in an attempt to pierce through the rebels flesh. Plation parried their spears, and moved in for the kill; a single stroke of his sword, and the men dropped to the ground. The remaining huntsmen had been preparing his next arrow, but before he could do that, he decided to call it quits and made a run for it. Smart, Pah’mazhan thought. Plation sheathes his sword and perspires. He turns, making sure Cayu and Pah’mazhan were unharmed and smiles widely. “Well, that was a workout!”
Cayu smiles back and celebrates. Pah’mazhan, however, was struck with curiosity. “Those patterns,” he said. “-Oh, they’re transmutation circles,” Plation avidly replied. “They’re fundamental in the art of magic wielding. The biseijin and we konatsians are the only ones capable of performing them.”
“So you and the biseijin have similar powers.”
“Similar, not the same. They use dark magic that manipulates the souls of other beings, they don’t care about the victim, and they don’t value life. Plus, I wouldn’t want such abilities… Power corrupts the mind.”
“Power corrupts the mind…” Pah’mazhan repeated to himself. It sounded so familiar to him, as though he had heard of it before. Deep in thought, the Bio Android and his new found allies press onward to reach The Great Wall. Before long, it was now visible on the horizon, but Cayu was clinging to Plation’s legs. The elfish man understood and turned to the Bio Android. “Pah’mazhan, we’ll camp out here tonight.”
“Inacceptable,” the Bio Android protested. “The Great Wall is right there. I do not intend to rest until we have arrived to Mount Hielo.”
“But the sun is setting and nightfall will be upon us, we have to regain our strength, Pah’mazhan. I know you have that invincibility going on, but we don’t,” Plation argued. “If we don’t rest now, then I won’t be able to protect you efficiently. You can’t fight as long as that curse is on you.”
Pah’mazhan was silent. He did not require to sleep, in his mind, they were going to arrive all the way to Mount Hielo and then return without stop. However, he had forgotten that he was accompanied by mortals, they were not as resistant as he. Plation smiled, “Let’s go towards that lone tree over there, we wouldn’t want to be in the wide-open fields…”
The three had settled down, comforted by the shade of a tree and the light of a fire created from its twigs and tree trunks. The stars were out and the sunlight was reflected by the asteroid belt that orbited the planet. The silence was riddle with the crackling of the fire and Pah’mazhan was left with his thoughts once again. He was used to it. Back in Alpha Prime, it was part of his daily activities. After training with the gravity chamber or simulator, he would return to his own room, staring at the wall until the next order was issued. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” Plation commented, referring to the asteroid belt overhead as he lay on the grass beside him. Pah’mazhan was sitting erect and his head straight, it made the elfish man chuckle. “Why don’t you relax and lay down?” “It makes no difference,” Pah’mazhan responded. Whether he was lying down or sitting, it would not heighten the degree of comfortness his body experienced as he could not experience it at all. He might as well stand all night watching for predators. Plation grinned, “Of course it does,” he said, “I may not know what it’s like to be an Bio Android, but I sure know it’s easier to look at the sky when you don’t have to constantly jerk your head up. Try it,” he suggested. Looking at the sky, Pah’mazhan thought he might see the elfish man’s point. Plation smiled as the metal man complied with his wishes and rest his back on the ground. He was right, the Bio Android thought. He could admire so much more of the sky whilst on the ground. He didn’t have to constantly monitor and regulate his movements.
Plation rolled on his back, joining the Bio Android’s gaze. “You know, Pah’mazhan, we didn’t always live on this planet…” “How did you get here?” “Well, this planet’s name is actually Lupin IV. You may have guessed, but it’s the fourth and remaining planet of the Lupine System. Our kind had always been in a state of war and reckoning, but that very destructive nature brought about the death of our planets time and time again. Although we each resided in our own planets, we were still next door neighbors with a grudge that was cultivated by our ancestors. Eventually, Lupin one, two and three were all destroyed and we were forced to coexist in this one. That’s why there’s so many different races. This little planet was home to the Konatsians, the Hera, and the Moujuujin. We had finally learned of our mistakes and made a pact to protect this planet. It’s the last planet we have and we can’t let it die on us or we’ll become galactic nomads with no home to turn to. That is, until the biseijin came upon our small paradise and decided to take over. They turned us against each other once again, resulting in The Great Wall that separates Tien’s Landing from Whitewater. The moujuujin distanced themselves from the mainland, now living in that small island to the north called Mount Hielo.”
Plation closes his eyes, trembling as he continued with the story. Pah’mazhan could sense the dread in his shivering voice, “The… the biseijin… they had arrived so suddenly… if only you had seen it you might understand the darkness that was upon us… they came accompanied by those dark machines they called the Gors and ransacked our villages. Those things were raining down straight from space, harbored by the spaceship that now orbits this planet –the biseijin’s jail. In the past two centuries, we have had three rulers. Argon was the one to colonize our planet and enslave our people, but Radon was the one who really struck fear into the populace. Our current ruler, Helios, is nothing compared to his ancestors… but they don’t see that. They’re still scarred by Radon’s ghost. Then again, I often question whether we should keep fighting. We lost our homes three times, because we fought. Because we ‘defended’ our honor, our planet suffered and we were forced to evacuate the entire population and migrate to this one. I think that’s part of the reason why the civilians won’t stand up to our oppressors. I’m sure some of them realize Helios’ is a weakling, but our past is so engraved into their memories that it stills them…”
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time,” Pah’mazhan said. Plation stared at him blankly. Obviously, he had not expected the Bio Android to participate in the conversation. Being so conservative and all. Pah’mazhan glanced at him, “I read it off my master’s shoulder as I glimpsed at the book he was reading …”
“Your master, huh? Sounds like a wise man,” Plation commented. If only he knew… “Pah’mazhan, please tell me more about the planet you came from.”
The Bio Android’s eyes wandered back at the stars. The Omega Collective was nothing to gloat about, it was so dark and murky compared to this planet. But as he lay on the red grass, he wondered whether one of the stars overhead might have been them. They seemed so bright from this perspective. “Well, it’s not a planet,” he clarified. “It’s a chain of large, hollowed out asteroids orbiting around a gaseous planet named Crixus-7. The first is called Alpha Prime, where my master and I reside. We live in a laboratory where they undergo all kinds of research, mostly with the purpose of improving my abilities. Lord Prometheus Zex is the ruler of such place, an alien species unknown by others. The second asteroid is called Beta Minor, governed by King Arctic, an Icejin. I’m not sure whether they have actually battled before, but there is history between the two concerning dominance over the Omega Collective. Even now, there is this silent tension between both colonies. Then there’s the Gamma Slums, built by a mysterious benefactor to deal with the population explosion of Alpha Prime. Many believe it was only created to separate the rich from the poor.”
“Hmm,” Plation responded, “somehow… it sounds a lot like this planet. Two different species coexisting in one space, yet they look to the day they will have complete dominance over the other. Aside from that, it sounds like a nice place to be. I wouldn’t mind visiting someday…” the elfish man says as he turns away and starts to slowly fall into a deep slumber. Of course, Pah’mazhan thought, he never mentioned the crime and mischief that encompassed that land. Pah’mazhan settled his eyes on the sky as the hours went by, awaiting for the two suns to rise over the night sky so they could continue their journey. Cayu soon awoke, approaching the Bio Android.
“Mister… I had a bad dream… can I sleep with you?”
…
The new day dawns and the group continue along the dirt road, leaving nothing but the ashes of twigs and branches as proof of their passing by. Before long they had arrived at The Great Wall, great for a reason as it was probably as large as the floating castle was high. Gors were stationed at the gate. “Damnit,” Plation cursed. “There has to be at least a dozen of them.” He said. Never having left Tien’s Landing, he didn’t realize the border might have been protected. Now that they thought about it, it made sense that the King would leave guards at the gate, otherwise, he would be left without a population to rule. Across the wall, his reign was not yet asserted, and so Gors were stationed to make sure nobody left the kingdom. Cayu hid in the bushes, as Plation would surely require Pah’mazhan to back him up against all the Gors. However, the Bio Android was not sure he would be able to help in their predicament without his weapons.
“Well, here foes nothing,” Plation said, casting a dozen fireballs to rain down on the Gors as he charged ahead to greet them with his blade. Pah’mazhan followed closely behind. The fireball caught them by surprise, but the machines didn’t seem very much affected. The Gors unleashed their guns and began shooting at the two heretics with laser guns. Pah’mazhan and Plation maneuvered between the free-fire, evading them efficiently while approaching at a rapid pace. Plation lunged at one of them, slashing with his sword. The blade sparked against the black metallic body, but the Gor remained unharmed. Pah’mazhan was more interested in prodding them than he was in fighting. He peered at their arms and joints and found nothing but wires and tubes. If one looked closely, they could see through the machine’s body, towards the other side. Having been reckless, they were soon surrounded by the Gors. Pah’mazhan and the konatsian found themselves back to back. “What are their weaknesses?” Pah’mazhan asked. They appeared to be unhindered by both magic and physical damage. They almost seemed invincible. “I don’t know,” Plation confessed, “this is the first time I fought one.”
What? The Bio Android thought. Pah’mazhan had followed the man into battle because he thought the konatsian knew what he was doing, but it turned out their battle tactics were quite different. Pah’mazhan preferred to learn of his enemy before engaging them, but Plation winged it and went with the flow. The Gors stowed away their guns and brought out their swords. They were just like Pah’mazhan in that regard, except they had no face or skin. Plation began to chant once again, a transmutation circle forming before him, lightning promptly struck down on the Gors surrounding them. Pah’mazhan looked to the sky; it was completely blue and clear of clouds. It appeared logic did not apply to magic. The Gors were momentarily paralyzed, static sparks surging through their joints as they attempted to keep moving. The interesting part is that Plation didn’t cast thunder due to previous knowledge, it was just instinct. “Now!” He yelled, lunging at the machines with his blade. Pah’mazhan dashed at one of them, snatching its sword as he passed right through it. It was light and weak, but it would serve its purpose until he could regain his saber. Looking closely at the machine, Pah’mazhan thrusts the blade through the circuits connecting its torso to the rest of its body. The Gor immediately malfunctioned and collapsed. They were must easier to defeat once he put some thought into it.
Glancing at his ally, Plation’s sword skills were impressive, but he just kept mindlessly striking at the metallic body parts. “Aim for the joints!” Pah’mazhan suggested. Plation looked back and nodded, promptly after slashing through the machine’s elbows. The arms snapped right off with just the right amount of force, the konatsian then proceeded to decapitate it with a stroke across its neck. Having been distracted helping his ally, Pah’mazhan allowed the other Gors to sneak up on him. He narrowly ducked under its swing, his golden hair flowing around the blade. Another Gor had its sword positioned between the encroached Bio Android’s eyes and thrust with the intention to pierce his head, but Pah’mazhan fazed through him. They were starting to get out of control. Right after evading one blade, another was already headed towards him. It was only a matter of time before one of them landed, he thought. Pah’mazhan stops between them as the jewel on his forehead begins to resonate and unleashes the red destructive barrier he had used back in the village. The barrier expands up to five feet around him, violently hurling his foes off to the distance. Pieces of black armor and wires litter the ground as they fall apart.
“Alright, stand back,” Pah’mazhan said. Plation nodded and took cover. Soon after, the jacket on Pah’mazhan’s chest opened to reveal hidden cannons. The cannons charged up and unleashed a barrage of energy blasts upon the remaining Gors. Shrapnel and debris littered everywhere. At least that was still working, he thought. Zalam’gar couldn’t seal his other moves because he did not know they existed. It was Pah’mazhan’s fault for revealing the cannon in his wrist. The Bio Android crouched over one of the Gor remains and studied its distinct parts. Plation watched from behind with Cayu clinging to his leg. “You’re nothing like them, Pah’mazhan.’ He assured, as if he could read the Bio Android’s thoughts. “They have no soul. They’re just pieces of metal melded together. You have a heart.” With that said, Plation and Cayu proceeded towards the gate. Pah’mazhan observed the piece of metal in his hands.
“A… heart?” he uttered.
Moments later, the group passed through the gate and they transitioned from a state of monarchy to one of anarchy. Across the wall, the Gors and Helios would not follow, but that did not necessarily mean it was better. Crossing through the gate, it was almost like walking into a completely different planet. The atmosphere was so much more different, and it almost seemed as though it were night although the sun had just dawned. Because, in this planet, the two suns rise on the west and set on the east, The Great Wall’s shadow was cast for miles upon the land, blocking out the sunlight. All the water that Tien’s Landing lacked was on this side of the wall. “Now I understand why they call it Whitewater,” Plation commented. Where they stood, the land was separated by a stream and connected by a bridge, and the water was so clear it felt as though it could bring people back from the dead. While Tien’s Landing was a vast kingdom of endless space, and beautifully red grass, Whitewater was filled with mountains and waterfalls rolling off the cliff-sides and trees at all corners of the region. The plant-life was still red, but it was accompanied by many different colors such as green and blues. Cayu ran off ahead, observing the vines that curled against the bridge. “I-it’s beautiful!” He exclaimed. His little bright eyes absorbed into the scenery. However, every rose has its thorn no matter how delicate and alluring it may be.
“Halt!”
Those words were the sole warning before the sound of gunfire reverberated off The Great Wall and the boy stumbled to the ground. “Cayu!” Plation exclaimed, unsheathing his sword and charged ahead. Pah’mazhan eye’s widened. For once, he did not know what to do, the shock washed over him so suddenly and his limbs would not respond. There was nothing he could do anyway. Plation stopped in front of the boy, shielding him from any more bullets which may go their way. He glances back with urgency in his eyes. If he ever lost Cayu… he would just… tear welled up in the elfish man’s eyes, but a sense of relief soothed his soul as the young boy got back up with nothing but a scratch on his poor cheek. Blood dripped from the wound, but it was a certain miss. Cayu would be fine, he thought. Plation’s concerned expression changed into one of pure rage and hatred as he peered at his oppressors. They were beings he had not set eyes upon for a long time. “The Hera,” he uttered. Pah’mazhan snapped out of his uselessness and joined the man, standing beside the little boy.
The man who shot was holding a rifle in his hand. He approached the group, stopped half-way at the bridge. “Now, isn’t this a sight for sore eyes?” he said. “What brings a konatsian to our side of this pretty little planet?” The man was a bipedal humanoid with teal skin and orange locks of hair. His crew was not too far off either, they were standing by a large struck in the back.
“We’ve come in peace!” Plation assured. “Damn right you have, and you’re leaving us in peace as well. Turn your little swords back to fairyland and leave us.” The hera demanded.
“Please, all we want to do is get to Mount Hielo!” he insisted.
“Mount Hielo? Isn’t that where the moujuujin live? Now, why would you want to go there? Got a death wish?”
“No, this man,” Plation said as he revealed Pah’mazhan to them. “He has been cursed by the King, we need to lift his curse so he can regain his powers and then defeat the biseijin!”
“Defeat the biseijin!?” The man recited with disbelief, “Hahahahahahaa! Now that’s a laugh. Alright, and how exactly do you plan on doing that? Enlighten me.”
Pah’mazhan glanced at his ally. The Bio Android was sure he could do it with his strength alone, but they would not attest to that. In fact, Plation never really explained what led him to believe they could actually pull it off. It was all wishful thinking so far. The elfish man’s gaze lowered and he spoke softly, “I don’t know,” he admitted. “But somehow, someway, we’ll win. If only, we worked together, I’m sure we can defeat them!” His green eyes met with his counterpart, and they were serious. The hera was still unconvinced. “Let’s say we believed you and helped you defeat the biseijin, what then? How do we know we won’t be backstabbed by your kind?” “-I guess, you’ll just have to trust in us,” Plation responded. “Trust that we have learned from our past. Trust that we can move pass our differences and coexist in this planet without walls that hide us from one another. That we can reach true understanding and show our guts to each other!”
“Hmph, an idealist, huh?” The man said. “I have to admit, you talk a good game, but can you play the part?” “-Yes!” he exclaimed, standing up straight with his arms wide open. Pah’mazhan called on him to stand down. The fool, he thought, he was going to throw everything away. Cayu needed him, he couldn’t risk his life as though it meant nothing. Yet, the Bio Android admired that he would sacrifice himself for his ideals. Plation was an impressive being. “We can do it, I know we can!” the elfish man said with such passion that was sure to reach the hearts of the hera; but the man was full of such skepticism that he could not overcome. Plation continued, “You don’t have to live in a corner on this planet! You don’t have to live in fear that maybe those walls will be torn down someday. Let’s take it down ourselves!”
“Oh yeah? Well I like my little corner on the planet and I won’t risk it for some half-assed ideals!” The man concluded. He raised his rifle and aimed. “Look out!” Pah’mazhan warned Plation, but before the man could pull the trigger, a feminine hand gently pressed down against the mouth of the rifle. “That’s enough,” she said. Her skin was also real, and she had long wavy orange hair. Her eyes were a slightly darker hue than her skin. She was gorgeous, and appeared to hold some influence as the man complied with her wishes. “I think his proposition is worth hearing.” “-But Sayako!” “That’s enough,” she ordered. “We’ll be taking them to our leader.” The woman turned to face the group, “however, you’ll be traveling as our captives.” Sayako raises her gun at the group and jerks her head so they start walking. Plation looks at Pah’mazhan and the Bio Android nods. They would play along for the time being. If anything, they would find a way to escape if possible, but anything was better than their current situation.
In moments, they were thrown into the back of the truck and the crew drove out. The truck was dark and there were no windows. Two of the hera were driving the vehicle while the rest, four others, were driving in the back with Cayu, Plation, and Pah’mazhan. Not knowing where they would end up, the Bio Android was beginning to get anxious again. He wondered what Ivan had been doing. He had been wasting so much time dawdling with these petty mortals, but he didn’t have a choice. All this time, he had been depending on Plation’s ability as he could not properly fight with all of the restrictions on him. Little did they know, the group would soon find themselves in a predicament. Suddenly, the vehicle veered to the side abruptly, and everything in the truck shifts to one side, one over the other. “An ambush!” One of them said as the truck came to a screeching halt and the double doors were slammed open. The hera immediately jumped out and commenced shooting at the bandits.
Pah’mazhan and Plation rip apart the ropes that had been tied to their wrists and escape the vehicle with Cayu. Promptly after exiting the vessel, it explodes into dozens of pieces and flames. “Everywhere we go there is danger and war!” Plation complained, his anger clearly visible. He was tired of the way they lived; a planet which appeared to be paradise was ruined by the darkened souls that resided within them. If only they could act as one race, he thought. Two of the hera which held them captive were already taken down by the bandits and one of them was injured. The woman of teal skin and sapphire eyes had her own plate full as the heretics ganged up on her. She proved skillful with the gun as she wielded two at a time. The other man that had initially intercepted them fired off all his rounds with the rifle. Soon enough, they would fall and perish by the hands of their contender. Pah’mazhan recognized this as an opportunity and began making his escape. “Let’s go!” The Bio Android said, but Plation looked back confused.
“Where are you going?” the konatsian inquired. “This is our chance to escape. We need to get to Mount Hielo,” Pah’mazhan explained. However, Plation had a different view. “No!” He said, “We can’t just leave them like this! We have to help!” The Bio Android shook his head. “They are not our problem,” Pah’mazhan insisted, but his words angered the elfish man. “Not our problem!?” he said, “that belief is exactly our problem! If we turn our backs on them now, nothing will ever change. Even if we defeat Helios and the biseijin, we will always be under constant war and anarchy. This, Pah’mazhan, is where our choices matter most. This, breaking the cycle of hatred, this is where change can be achieved. If you want to go, then so be it. You can do the rest on your own, but I’m going to save them or die trying. Farewell.”
With that said, the konatsian rushed into the fight. Sayako had been laying against a brick wall with an arm on her injured shoulder. She could no longer hold her gun. She had been defeated and closed her eyes as the men prepared to deal the killing blow. “Sayako!” her comrade yelled from a distance, he ran in a fruitless attempt to reach her, but by the time he would get there it would already be too late. The men raised their guns, “Fire!” one of them uttered. The hera woman closed her eyes and cringed. This was it, she thought, until someone’s shadow was cast over her and she peeks to see who it was. Plation stood brave and strong before the bandits with his sword at hand. “No matter, it’s just one guy!” The bandit leader proclaimed and they prepared to shoot him down. “But… why?” Sayako murmured as the konatsian took out an ocarina and pressed it against his lips. He began to play the notes of an ancient melody just as the bandits began to fire, but the bullets were met with a transparent, crystal-like barrier they would only perceive when the bullets made contact. Plation had created a small safe-zone for the hera woman and himself; as long as he continued to play the notes of his song, the barrier would remain. Regardless… which would run out first? His breath? Or their bullets?
Pah’mazhan would turn away, walking towards his destination. He had a mission to fulfill and he had already wasted enough time playing buddies with the natives of this planet. All he had to do was head towards the north and he would eventually reach the shore. Alone, he would move a lot faster skipping through the landscape with his powerful legs. He would get to Mount Hielo in no time and return to Tien’s Landing so he could reclaim his possessions, defeat Goliath, Helios, and save Ivan and The Doctor –all on his own. He had no problem with the prospect. He had been alone all throughout his short life and perceived nothing wrong with continue doing so. Therefore, he walked. The Bio Android crouched slightly to gain impulse from the ground in preparation for his leap. One leap would take him several meters away, far from the cataclysm that had taken place; that is, until a child’s hands tugged on his fingers and stopped him. “Don’t leave,” Pah’mazhan glanced down at the innocent Cayu, whom Plation had completely forgotten about. It was only a matter of time before one of the bandits disposed of the boy. His face was sad and riddled with dirt.
Flames grew and engulfed their surroundings, illuminating the child’s visage as his unfaltering eyes stared into Pah’mazhan’s. They were so bright and green compared to the coal pools of the Bio Android. Pah’mazhan looked back at Plation as he calmly played his instrument to fend of the attackers, however that was only a temporal fix to the problem. Before long, his breath would run thin and he would no longer be able to maintain the magical barrier. The Bio Android clenched the sword in his hand. He didn’t understand why or what, but something compelled him to move and it was not towards the north. Descending from above, Pah’mazhan slashes down on one of the bandits, stirring them into a panic. Startled by the commotion, Plation stops playing the ocarina and opens his eyes to see his ally join the fight. He smiles, not so surprised after all and turns to the hera woman. She looks up as he lends her his hand. “Sayako was it? Let’s end this cycle of hatred and contempt. We’ll defeat the royal throne and take back our home, together! No more walls.”
The woman couldn’t understand, but apparently Plation possessed a charisma which urged others to follow. She raises he arm, weakly, accepting his gesture of friendship as he pulls her up from the ground. “Take her to safety!” He says, guiding Sayako to henchman. The man protested, claiming that he didn’t receive orders from a konatsian, but Sayako promptly silenced him and ordered him to comply. The surviving hera went for cover along with Cayu and watched as the elf and Bio Android fought side by side to take down the bandits. “Hold them off until I’m ready,” Plation asked. Pah’mazhan nodded. The bandits began firing off once again. Pah’mazhan may not have a consistent shield like Plation, but he possessed an ability unrivaled by anyone in the universe. Swinging the sword around, he intercepted every bullet with his lightning fast reflexes, deflecting them towards the ground. Meanwhile, the konatsian began to chant the lyrics of his next spell. Raising his sword to the sky, it became enchanted by the magical incantation that he cast. “It’s ready!” he said, his skyward sword pointing at the clouds, glowing in a cloudy white aura.
Pah’mazhan nodded and moved out of the way as the last bullet was shot down by the sword he took from the Gors. With a mighty roar, Plation thrust his sword down and an indomitable gust of wind transcended past the blade and blew away their aggressors. Any structures were swept away by his mighty attack, and the fire surrounding them vanquished. Pah’mazhan gazed at the man. He had an aura about him which could not be swayed. After witnessing such prowess, the hera were convinced of their resolve and promptly escorted to their leader. Sayako vouched for them and they were soon granted the aid of the hera. They even donated a boat to their cause so they could travel to Mount Hielo while the rest rallied up the troops for the incoming battle.
At last, Cayu, Plation, and Pah’mazhan have traveled all the way to the frozen island Mount Hielo in search of the moujuujin. They were in the middle of a snowstorm. Pah’mazhan would survive, but Plation was forced to play another sonnet with his ocarina, creating a magical atmosphere around them to block off the snowflakes and keep them warm. It was then that they met with the large ox-beasts face to face. It must have been ten times their size and width as it stared down upon them with his nostrils flaring. Plation gulped, but the beast had not attacked. Atop the moujuujin, there was a woman with long green hair, though her face was concealed by a large skull worn over her head. They explained to her that they had traveled from Tien’s Landing to remove the curse infringed upon the Bio Android. The group soon learned that the moujuujin were actually gentle creatures misunderstood by their size and raw power. They lived in packs, and their thick hide protected them from the harsh cold weather although they preferred the heat of the sun.
“Can you help us?” Plation pleaded. They had no idea what or who the woman was behind the skull, but she seemed to live closely with the moujuujin and they hoped she would aid them on their quest. Sadly, the woman shook her head. “Why?” Plation asked.
“We can’t,” she said. “Goliath, the ox-beast stolen by the evil ones is the elder of the pack and possess all of their magic. When the elder dies, his powers are passed down to the next natural born leader. However, without him present, our hands are tied,” she explained. As it seemed, they had traveled all the way to Mount Hielo in vain, Helios had the upper hand all along. Regardless, Plation did not see it that way. In their journey, they had made invaluable allies and he saw the opportunity to win the moujuujin over and finally reunite them.
“In that case,” he said with wide smile, “join us. Come with us and bask in the sunlight. Help us defeat the biseijin. We’ll free Goliath from Helios’ wrath and regain control over our planet. This is the last planet in the Lupine system, we can’t afford to lose it to the hands of some low-life scums who don’t understand the value of life!”
The woman gave off what seemed like a lull and nodded. “We’ll lend you our power. Lead us! To Freedom!”
And so, the moujuujin rise off the frozen land and fly towards the mainland thanks to their magical and mysterious nature. “Pah’mazhan,” Plation said, “I want to thank you.” The hera raise their guns in the air and march to the horizon. “Without you, none of this would have been possible.” The two suns began to set and rise anew as they approach The Great Wall. “You shouldn’t,” Pah’mazhan replied. “I’m not as I appear to be.” The konatsian now viewed as the idealist who joined the hera and moujuujin stands above the head of an ox-beast with the wind caressing his face. “You are, you shouldn’t doubt yourself. Pah’mazhan, you’re full of heart and soul.” The moujuujin moans as the sun melts away the crystalized ice on its fur, which now shines brightly and beautifully. “You’re wrong, I used you for my own selfish reasons.” The moujuujin ram their heads against The Great Wall and shatter it with their awe-inspiring might and continue to fly majestically through the air.
“Back then, in the village, you could have sided with the royal guard –but you didn’t. Instead, you allied yourself with the elfish man that attacked you and a little child that couldn’t possibly benefit you in any way.” The hera and countless alien beings that walked the land now witnessed an endless field of red grass that spanned for miles. No walls. “I was awake when Cayu had a nightmare, I’m grateful that you allowed him to sleep with you.” They marched on the land of Tien’s Landing, clad in armor. The biseijin and konatsians notice them and start preparing. Pah’mazhan sits silently at the beast’s head as the man continues to speak and listens. “Although it seemed you would have left us back there, I kept playing my ocarina knowing you would pull through, and you did. Instead of leaving us behind,” the man looked down at the Bio Android with a genuine smile, “you stayed and helped me and the hera.” Cayu clings onto the Bio Android. “Thank you, Pah’mazhan!” “…you’re welcome…”
…
The dye had been cast. Centuries of torment and horror, struggle and misunderstanding, it all lead towards this one event, the culmination of their ancestor’s long and winded journey. In one side of the field, hera and moujuujin stood side by side along with other alien races. On the other, stood fellow konatsians, Gors, and biseijin. A single ox-beast descended towards the center with Plation at its head, facing his brethren. Zalam’gar, surprised to see the young man, smirks and closes his eyes in submission. The elfish man projects his voice for all to hear, and hear they shall… “This world is our home to share!” He said. “We all come from the same roots, just as the branches of a tree always lead back to the trunk. Our race must act as one, live as one. Our hearts must beat as one. Too few of the people today have the vision needed to realize our true potential, as one, undivided race.” “One, undivided race…” Sayako murmurs to herself. Who would’ve thought such an abstract idea would have become so solidified and tangible enough to win their hearts.
Sweat drops rolled down Plation’s face. He hoped his brethren would let go of their fear and stop clinging to the past. He hoped they would join them towards a new era of prosperity. However, if they chose to remain; unfortunately, his blade would not be stilled. If he can’t fly, he’ll run, if he can’t run, he’ll walk, if he can’t walk, he’ll crawl, but whatever he does, he will keep moving forward. No longer would they linger in helplessness. Not anymore. “Alas,” he said, “Let us konatsians, moujuujin, and hera unite under one flag and chase away the biseijin. Join us and be free! But regardless of your choice, we will keep moving forward without regrets! Our torment ends now!” he proclaimed, pointing his sword towards the floating city of Tien’s Landing. That was the cue. Hera and Moujuujin rushed forward and nothing would stop them.
“Freedom!” Zalam’gar exclaimed, unsheathing his rapier and striking down the Gor beside him. With his valiant effort, the other konatsians followed and joined the rebellion. They purged on. The war had commenced. Pah’mazhan and Plation descended onto the battlefield, landing on Gors and crushing them under their feet with the aid of gravity while an ox-beast took Cayu to safety. “Zalam’gar!” Plation called. The pale konatsian turned to meet his brethren with a forced smile. Even now, he was fighting the curse mark which compelled him to side with the Gors. “It took you long enough,” he said. “Bio Android, your possessions are in the sheriff’s cabin. Get them and defeat Helios at his castle.” Pah’mazhan nodded and looked to Plation. “Thank you Zalam’gar. Soon enough, we’ll free you from your curse,” he assured, nodding at Pah’mazhan for them to get going. In a flash, the two jettison across the battlefield, skipping through the grasslands in a race to the floating castle. Pah’mazhan swings his sword, knocking down Gors and biseijin as they traversed the battlefield. The inhabitants of this planet would take care of them, he thought. Their purpose lie elsewhere. Plation was a little faster because of the heavy weight which slowed Pah’mazhan down, but they still arrived at the village at relatively the same pace.
Pah’mazhan dropped the sword he had borrowed from the Gors and welcomed his saber to his hands and stowed away his pistol in its holster. He looks at his left hand. “Oh,” Plation realizes, “we forgot to ask Zalam’gar about that thing…” “No matter,” Pah’mazhan responded, looking firmly at the floating city above them. “We’ll deal with that later.” Plation scratches his head. “How will we get up there? It was designed so only those who could fly can reach the city. The moujuujin are too far away. It would be a waste of time if we turned back now…” Pah’mazhan grabbed onto the konatsian’s hand and nodded. “I’ll show you how,” he assured, crouching down for an effective impulse. The ground seemed to crack below his feet as Pah’mazhan propels himself into the air with a burst of wind at his wake, pulling Plation along for the ride. They must have been at least half-way before his body began to decelerate. The weight of Plation and Pah’mazhan’s heavy weights were too much for the Bio Android, but Pah’mazhan would not give up.
Just as they began to descend, he hurled Plation ahead of him. “I’ll be back,” he said, diving head-first to the surface. As he approached land, Pah’mazhan shifted his lithe body in the air and planted his feet firmly on the soil. The ground shattered and formed a concave below him as the Bio Android harnessed all the momentum he had gained and channeled it through his legs like a spring before ricocheting back up towards the floating city. Now accelerating at a much faster pace, he grabs onto the konatsian in the air and extends his arm, reaching for the edge. Missing by a nail, they begin to fall once more, but the Bio Android pulls Plation up again and the konatsian grapples the edge with his life. “Damn, Pah’mazhan,” Plation complained, “you might… want… to lose a few pounds…” The Bio Android smirked and the konatsian pulled him up over the edge. “Hah!” he said, “I made you laugh!” Pah’mazhan looked at him blankly with a stern face. “What are you saying?” he questioned, moving ahead towards the giant doors. Plation glares and follows him.
*BOOM*
The doors slam open as the duo enters. Helios remained on the throne, sitting expectantly of his visitors. “So! You’ve come!” he lulls. His small petite voice reverberates off the vertical columns of his castle. The halls were polished and the walls intact despite Pah’mazhan’s battle with Goliath only a few days ago. In there, the cries of war and change were blocked out by the magical throne room. Plation unsheathes his sword and takes a step forth, “Your reign of terror ends today!” he said, aiming the tip of his blade at the despot’s visage as if it could pierce through his skull from a distance. “Hahahahah!” Helios laughed, closing his eyes shut and pressing his hands against his stomach while kicking his feet. The biseijin didn’t seem very troubled about their presence in his royal court. In fact, the thing appeared welcome their challenge. Plation’s anger intensified with the biseijin’s belligerent chortle. Gripping his sword tightly, he rushes in to strike down their opponent while his guard was down. Pah’mazhan knew, however, that it would not be so simple.
Helios began to settle down with the konatsian’s defying roar littering his auditorium. His care-free expression dwindled to a more annoyed preface. Looking down on the konatsian, he frowns. Even as Plation leapt through the air, Helios had remained composed over his seat; simply raising his hand with palm facing the konatsian, a transmutation circle immediately formed between Plation’s blade and Helios. The sword was stilled and the force behind Plation’s attack was returned through magic. “Augh!” the konatsian grunts as he is thrown back by his own strength. Landing on his back, he is quick stand and commence his charge once more. “Stubborn little…” Helios commented. Suddenly, Gors would emerge from the shadows cast by the many columns that lined the royal hall. Plation halts as the machines surround him. Realizing the konatsian needed help, Pah’mazhan dashes onward to aid him, but Plation would not wait. The konatsian holds his sword before him as he tends to do when casting a spell and chants in his elven tongue. His sword begins to emanate a mysterious light as it did before when they were attacked by the bandits. Recognizing it, Pah’mazhan decides to stay back and observe.
The Gors take out their weapons and charge the konatsian. Meanwhile, Helios sat comfortably on his throne, supporting his chin with an arm prepped on the chair. His calm expression was altered like a ripple in a steam as a large transmutation circle manifests on the ground. Plation’s sword glimmers with the weight of his magical prowess and lifts his arm slowly as if the blade’s density had increased. The Gors were about a foot away before he managed to fully extend his arm in the air with a valiant roar. Next, there was a blinding light which illuminated the dark corridors, and then, all the Gors were gone. Disintegrated on the spot by the konatsian’s mythical powers. There was absolutely nothing –not even dust remained as magical particles dispersed in the air. Plation remained in the center of an ashen cross-section with his chest heaving high and low. Once again, Pah’mazhan had been impressed by the konatsian’s abilities. Given the right circumstances, he was unsure whether he stand up to him, but mere observation shows that Plation would not last much longer if he kept using spells of such might. With great power, the price must be hefty and it was beginning to show.
Helios’ expression was now a disturbed one as he glared down upon the konatsian warrior. “Well done,” he says, unable to deny the man’s efforts, “but I doubt you have much left in you.”
With that said, the biseijin’s eyes began to glow an ominous green hue and Pah’mazhan knew what was going to happen. It was just like before, green flames following as their surroundings ebonize and Goliath is once again summoned. Pah’mazhan’s grip tightens, preparing for the coming battle, but something keeps his feet from moving. His heavy weights? A spell? Whatever it was, his feet were anchored to the ground and he was forced to watch by the sidelines. Plation had become exhausted and rests a knee on the marble floor while pressing his sword down as a foothold. The ox-beast puffs out smoke from his nostrils, imposing his presence on the individual, but Plation didn’t seem to pay any mind to his existence.
“Pah’mazhan!” Plation called out, glancing over his shoulder. “Don’t be afraid! Even if you are cursed, it doesn’t mean a thing! Fate has a weird way of making everything work out, and you may not believe in fate but… Just remember…! When it seems as though the universe has cut you loose and seeks to discard you from existence… you are at last free to transcend its boundaries!”
The words hit the Bio Android like a bolt of lightning. His eyes widened and fragments of memories he could not understand rush through his eyes. –Transcend your boundaries- The phrase rang through his mind many different voices, trying to identify and match it to the right person. Alas, he didn’t recognize any of the many faces shown to him regardless. Afraid? he thought. That’s impossible. Ivan had told him numerous times that Bio Androids do not feel such meaningless emotions. Suddenly, he regained control over his hands as his grip tightens over the handle of his saber. Goliath was done waiting. The ox-beast rose on his hind legs and descend with the weight of his body to crush the konatsian warrior. Plation tries to move, but his muscles were too stiff. Helios smiles.
Helios frowns. Goliath’s feet impacts with the marble floors and ransacks the foundation of the biseijin’s castle, but Plation was saved. Pah’mazhan stood at a considerable distance from the ox-beast as he lowered the konatsian to the ground. “Don’t… hurt him…” Plation pleads. “Goliath is just a victim… for such a gentle creature to be bound by their magic, they must have done some terrible things…” Pah’mazhan nodded. It would be difficult, but he was right. They had learned that the moujuujin’s infamous reputation was a false conception due to Helios manipulation. However, the wizard’s powers were only effective against those who possessed malice in their hearts. For such a pure creature such as them to become enslaved by magic of that kind, for hatred to brew in their innocent souls, the biseijin must have done unspeakable things.
“Hahahaha!” Helios laughs. “You put up a nice show, Pah’mazhan, but I think this little war is over. That is, if you don’t want anything to happen to your master…”
The Bio Android flinched, glaring at the biseijin. He had thought about it time after time, but he kept pushing the thought away. How was Ivan doing while he got caught up in all of this? If Helios had a hold of him, then there was nothing the Bio Android could do anymore. His saber lowers. “What’s going on?” Plation inquires. “Ivan,” Pah’mazhan replies. “My master is their captive.” Plation’s eyes widen. Suddenly, he could understand why the Bio Android was on such a hurry to regain his powers. The konatsian’s anger resurfaces and he growls at the biseijin. “You never cease to surprise me! You have everyone under your leash, don’t you!?” Helios grins. “Quiet you,” he says, “Now, don’t move or Ivan dies.”
Moving his finger, Goliath begins to approach the two, preparing to finish them off. It was then that Plation whispered something and Pah’mazhan braced himself. “Now!” the konatsian yelled as he stood up and began to play his ocarina. Pah’mazhan dashes towards the biseijin. “You fool!” Helios snarled, but his movements were soon petrified by the soothing sound of the konatsian’s magical instrument; even Goliath was forced to concede. The magical song Plation played was one that inflicts paralysis on their surroundings. With the little energy he had left, he could still muster such a spell, but the downside of his attack is that it affected everyone who heard it –even himself. It was a technique developed by konatsian ancestors as a sacrificial last-ditch effort. During great destruction, they had stopped their enemies from fleeing, however the noble act cost them their lives. Plation believed that his spell would not affect Pah’mazhan because the helmet on his head hid his ears. It was not so much the sound of the music which paralyzed his victims, but the waves emitted. If there was something between the sound waves and a person’s ears, then that alone was enough to thwart his attempts.
By the time the song stopped playing, everything in the royal court but Pah’mazhan was frozen on the spot. Pah’mazhan stared at the biseijin’s petrified expression. Helios tried to speak, but his lips would not even quiver at his attempt. Pah’mazhan had no words to say, just a slash from his blade to decapitate the wizard. Before long, Pah’mazhan’s curse was lifted and Goliath was released from his spell. “Thank you,” the ox-beast said. He did not speak, but his voice was telepathically delivered. A moment later, Pah’mazhan and Plation were healed from their wounds and the ox-beast leaves the royal court, flying in free will once again. Down in the battlefield, Zalam’gar feels as though a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders and he immediately knew that they had succeeded. “The war is won!” He declares with a great howl and strikes the Gors down.
Standing outside of the castle with his regained strength, Pah’mazhan stares at the sky. Plation couldn’t sense energy, much less an Bio Androids, but he could smell the change in Pah’mazhan’s aura. He was on a whole different level now; although, if asked, Pah’mazhan might think differently. Plation had proven himself to be quite capable. Glancing at the Bio Android, Plation seemed to know what he intended, and although a normal person would think it impossible, the konatsian saw it to be true without question. “I’ll go with you,” he declares. Pah’mazhan looks over his shoulder, but before he could protest, Plation continued. “Even you can’t survive the harsh environments of space. At 600km above Lupin IV the temperature fluctuates between +258 and -148 degrees Fahrenheit, whether you melt or freeze, it’ll happen within a second of a second.” Pah’mazhan was silent. He wasn’t wrong. The Bio Android didn’t know what it would be like to be in the vacuum of space without any protection, he had never done it before. The konatsian took his silence as a yes and mounted onto the Bio Android’s back. “Alright, let’s go!” he stated, pointing his index finger at the sky.
Pah’mazhan’s eyes peered through the clouds. Plation couldn’t see it, but the Bio Android was following the spacecraft’s trajectory with his eyes. All he had to do was pin down Ivan’s energy signature and his scouter would do the rest for him. Crouching down, the ground begins to crumble and Pah’mazhan makes the strongest leap in his existence. Even with his heavy weights, his power was more than enough to break through the stratosphere. Plation grinned widely as he grabbed onto Pah’mazhan and struggled to keep his eyes open. This was a once in a life-time opportunity and he did not want to miss a moment as they passed through the clouds. Suddenly, their clothing was drenched and the konatsian reveled in it. However, he started sensing the dense air and decided it was time to get started. Reaching for his ocarina, he carries it over Pah’mazhan’s chest and lowers his face on the Bio Android’s shoulder so he may press his lips on the instrument.
As soon as Plation begins to play his magical notes, an artificial atmosphere forms around them, protecting them from the outside as if they were still on the planet’s surface. The two were finally out of the planet’s atmosphere and found themselves at the edge. Plation suppressed a gasp as he watched his planet curve. It was beautiful he thought, but he must keep playing his ocarina slow and steady; their lives depended on it. Pah’mazhan noticed Plation was having a hard time keeping the barrier on, but it did not matter for they were almost there. An instant later, the two tore through the ships walls and onto what appeared like a hall. The spacecraft seemed to rotate around it center, creating artificial gravity. Pah’mazhan made his way towards the nearest door, exiting the hall which was now open to the harsh environment. Once the door close shut behind them, Plation released his spell and dropped to the ground, gasping for air.
Laying on the ground, crawling towards them as he draws his last breath was the alien creature that had held his masters captive. “Please… help me…” he pleaded, reaching out to Pah’mazhan in vain as his hand drops to the floor. Surprised, Plation looks above the fallen creature to find a red humanoid sitting on the captain’s chair with his legs crossed. “Master,” Pah’mazhan said. Apparently, they had worried over nothing. Plation stood up beside the Bio Android. This is his master? the konatsian thought. In retrospection, he didn’t seem very different from the biseijin. “Pah’mazhan! I’ve been waiting for you. This baboon thought he could subdue me, but my intellect was obviously superior.”
“Forgive me, sir,” Pah’mazhan said, dropping down to a knee with his head towards the ground. Plation raised an eyebrow. “Who have you brought?” Ivan inquires.
Plation smiles and walks towards the bizarre man. “Hi! My name is Plation. I’m a konatsian, native to my planet. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” The man says, extending his hand. Ivan ignores his kind gesture and looks to the Bio Android. “Plation is an elven man from the planet Lupin IV; one of various races that reside within the planet. Magic seems to be very prominent within the land. I fell victim to one, having lost my strength to some curse cast by the biseijin. He helped me regain it, and in return I helped him free his planet from their tyranny…” the Bio Android continued, debriefing his master on the slightest detail and the scientist’s eyes lit up. He was astonished. He was thrilled. To think taking possession over the planet would be so simple, he thought.
“So,” Ivan started, standing from his chair and walking past the konatsian who still had his hand extended. “You’re the hero who saved the world from their century old rulers. I must commend your efforts, but I fear it was in vain.”
“What?” Plation turns around, confused. “What are you talking about?”
Ivan raises his hands to the air while looking at the roof as if speaking with a benevolent being. “Plation, savior of the masses, dies in a valiant last-ditch effort to save them from the hands of the belligerent biseijin. You will be remembered for decades to come. We will build statues of your image in every village so the world will forever be reminded of the sacrifices you have made.” Ivan stops behind Pah’mazhan with his hands locked behind his back. He grins at the konatsian and in that moment Plation realized he was just another Stalin.
Ivan’s grin fades away and then he says in a more solemn tone, "Pah’mazhan, kill him."
Pah’mazhan’s eyes widen towards the ground. Kill him? he thought, gazing up at the konatsian. He had never spent so much time with another person who treated him like his equal. Plation was always encouraging him and smiling, as though they had formed some kind of bond. And now… Ivan asked him… to kill him… his only… friend? First… friend?
Ivan stares down at the Bio Android, alarmed to see that he had not reacted. “What are you doing? Didn’t you hear me? Dispose of the konatsian! His people will never accept me as their ruler if he’s alive.”
The Bio Android stands up slowly. His facial features were obscured by the grim nature of their position. Not once had he ever questioned Ivan’s demands. But this… If you don’t move, Ivan will be mad. The Bio Android takes a step forward and Ivan smirks.
"Wait, what!?" Plation gasps, taking a step back.
Pah’mazhan moved closer.
“Pah’mazhan… what are you doing?” the konatsian inquires, not wanting to believe it. The Bio Android’s gaze remains steadfastly at the ground. “-You don’t have to do this!”
“I must,” Pah’mazhan says. “It is my master’s wish.” Plation flinches and steps back further. “So… this is the real you, huh? After all we’ve been through, you’re going to act like none of it mattered? You’re just going to wash it all away and pretend none of it was real?”
Pah’mazhan stopped.
“You may be a Bio Android, and he may be your creator, but that does not bind you to his will!”
“I don’t have a choice!” Pah’mazhan exclaimed, his gaze still slanted at the ground, but Plation barks back. “You always have a choice! Don’t come to me with that bullshit,Pah’mazhan! You can still change for the better! All you have to do is turn around and it will all be over!”
Pah’mazhan raised his gaze, looking up to the konatsian. Ivan frowns, “Now that’s enough of you. Pah’mazhan, finish it already!” The Bio Android steps forward, “Sorry…” he mutters.
“Sorry!?” Plation exclaimed. “Tell that to Cayu when you go back down and enslave my people! It's so easy that way, isn't it!? Hiding behind your master's orders, just so you don't have to take responsibility for your own actions!"
"Pah’mazhan is a drone, like the Gors. He does anything and everything I ask him for," Ivan buzzes in.
Plation glares at him and then looked at the Bio Android. "Pah’mazhan, listen. I don’t know what you’ve been through and I don’t pretend to understand, but what I do know is that you are given a chance to change every time he opens his mouth. Forget about what he says, you don't have to live your whole life under someone's shadow! You're not a drone! I saw it time and time again! You have a conscious! Pah’mazhan, just please, follow what your heart says! It's the only one who's ever right..."
Laughter breaks throughout the entire room. "Pah’mazhan has no feelings. He has no consciousness. Everything he thinks, does, and says are all predetermined by his core programming that I, his creator, developed. Your plea falls on deaf ears."
Pah’mazhan gripped his saber.
“Pah’mazhan!” they yell in unison.
“Pah’mazhan!”
Suddenly, the Bio Android swung his blade. Ivan grimaced as own blood splattered over his face. He didn’t think he could do it, but Pah’mazhan finally made his choice as his victim dropped dead on the ground. Ivan wiped the blood off his face and grinned at the fallen warrior. “Don’t scare me like that, Pah’mazhan. Next time, I will not overlook your insolence.” The Doctor walked out of a dark corridor, shivering in fear. The entire spacecraft blared as sirens went off. It had sustained reasonable damage since they arrived and it could no longer hold. Slowly, the craft descended toward the planet’s atmosphere and Ivan stood before the glass window to witness it for himself. His laugh filled the room much like Helios’ did back in the castle, and Pah’mazhan stared blankly at the corpse of the konatsian he would dare call his friend.
…
“My dear friends!” Ivan declared. The spaceship had landed amidst the battlefield, wreaked beyond repair though they were intact. They ceased fighting and listened at the man. “It pains me to bring you this news, but your valiant hero Plation has fallen to the hands of the biseijin.” Silence struck the masses. “No!” Cayu cried as Pah’mazhan walked out of the spacecraft with the elven man in his arms. The little boy ran towards them, tugging on the Bio Androids legs and screaming for his brother as tears streamed down his face. Pah’mazhan avoided looking at his eyes, for he feared the boy might see through him. “Let his memory not be in vain! Join together as brothers and sisters! Thanks to his brave efforts, you have been freed from the evil biseijin!” Ivan pauses, letting the news sink in as he prepares to engrave himself into their hierarchy. “I promise,” he says in a lighter voice as if full of pain, “I will honor his last breath and see to it that you all live in freedom! With Pah’mazhan as my knight, we will protect this planet with our lives! Let us forever remember, Plation, the hero who freed us all!”
They cheered, and suddenly Pah’mazhan felt his head begin to hurt, as if a hammer were pounding on the inside of his mind. Collapsing to the floor in a daze, the bio android knew that his hallucination was ending.
Shaking his head as he left the room, Pah’mazhan returned to his own room and sat down, cross-legged. Allowing his eyes to droop closed, he cleared his mind and began meditating once more, allowing his recent excursion into another’s life to settle as background noise and letting the experience drip through.
[[Finished! Mastering 130x gravity! 12,272 words, 7728 words left this week for solo posts]]
The man stared at him blankly before standing back up. “Anyway, I can’t express how thankful I am for you saving us. Is there anything we could do to repay you?”
“My strength. Help me recover it,” he said. He didn’t want to mention too much. As long as the elf could help him regain his former strength, Pah’mazhan would be able to do the rest on his own. The elfish man looked him over, “Hmm, I see, I can smell the stench of magic residing within you. It seems you have been cursed…”
“How do I remove it?” Pah’mazhan inquired.
The man lowered his chin into his hands as if in thought and looked towards the ground. “It won’t be easy…” he said, “you would have to travel all the way to Mount Hielo, a mountain range to the far north, but first you have to pass through the Great Wall, past Whitewater. Mount Hielo is home to the Moujuujin, large and powerful beasts. You might want to think twice before going there.” He glanced at Pah’mazhan, who appeared unfazed by the news. The Bio Android was prepared for any opposition that may get in his way as his master’s life depended on the success of his mission. At last, the man was subdued and conceded. “Alright, I’ll accompany you until the curse is lifted. That’s the least we can do for our lives.” He grinned. “By the way, we never properly introduced ourselves. My name is Plation and this is my younger brother Cayu,” he said, motioning towards the little boy that almost had them killed. “Hi mister!” Cayu said, “It’s nice to meet you!” The child waved with a wide smile. He must have been perhaps six or seven years old. He had his own head of red hair like the older sibling and somewhat pointy ears. He extended his hand to shake Pah’mazhan’s. The Bio Android decided to humor the child’s request and granted him his hand, although he did not fully close it in fear of breaking the fragile creature’s limb. Cayu was ecstatic that Pah’mazhan shook his hand.
“What was your name again? Z-zz…ze…” “-Pah’mazhan,” the Bio Android corrected. “Alright, Pah’mazhan! Well, let’s get started, we have a long journey ahead of us!” The Bio Android nodded. Before long, the group snuck their way out of the village. Plation wanted to wait until things had cooled down, but Pah’mazhan insisted he could not wait much longer, so they risked getting spotted and escaped from the village. They were now miles away, following the dirt road leading east. To reach Mount Hielo, first they needed to pass through Whitewater, which was due in their direction. In their traverse they had passed by numerous villages which were scattered throughout the massive grasslands known as Tien’s Landing. Cayu approached Pah’mazhan from behind, curiously gazing at the black contraption on his left arm; even he could tell that it was not part of the Bio Android’s suit of armor.
“Hey, mister,” he said. Pah’mazhan’s eyes remain slanted towards their destination, though he offers the child a soft hum to indicate he was listening. “What’s that thing on your arm?” he wonders innocently. Pah’mazhan looks at his arm, reminding himself that the contraption was there. “I don’t know,” he stated simply. “It was there when I awoke. It limits my abilities…”
“Hmm, allow me to take a look,” Plation requested. The Bio Android stopped and extended his left arm so the man could prospect it. He definitely didn’t know what to do with it, maybe the elfish man could shed some light on the matter, he thought. Plation observes the apparatus with intense concentration. It appeared he actually knew something until he raised his hands in the air, “Nope, I haven’t a clue,” he declared hopelessly. Cayu grinned, scratching his head. The elfish man seemed so serious during their first encounter, but now he appeared much more relaxed. Pah’mazhan questioned whether he made the right choice to align with him. Plation was much friendlier than anticipated. “Now, you said ‘when you awoke’, what happened?” he inquired. Pah’mazhan continued to walk as he was beginning to get anxious with their lack of progress.
“When I fell off the floating castle, I landed in a village similar to yours. There was a pale creature with mysterious powers. He outmatched me,” Pah’mazhan confessed. “He looked a lot like you…”
Plation’s eyes lightened up as there was only one person he could have been talking about. Suddenly, the image of the fearsome elf entered his mind. A pale-skinned elf with a scar across his face and a stylized ‘M’ emblazoned on his forehead. He reeked with power that seemed to excrete from his pores as vapor. He was also known for the long silver hair and golden trinket that adorned his head. Finally, making its way to Plation’s lips, the elf’s name was uttered, “Zalam’gar…” he said softly. “He’s probably the bravest and most passionate person I’ve known. It might not look like it, but he’s a great man. He allowed himself to fall under the Biseijin’s spell in order to protect our people,” he points to his forehead, “remember that symbol on his forehead?” “I saw that symbol on some beast named Goliath as well,” Pah’mazhan explained. “You battled Goliath?” he exclaimed with astonishment, “its amazing that you’re still alive…”
Pah’mazhan looked back at the man and murmured to himself, “Alive, huh?”
“Anyway, that symbol on their forehead is the product of a powerful binding spell cast by the Biseijin. It finds the faintest bit of darkness within a person’s heart, manipulates and magnifies it. The subject becomes powerful beyond all measure, but at the cost of their own free will. Many soldiers become the Biseijin’s unconditional slave and forced to do their bidding. However, Zalam’gar… despite submitting himself to their spell, he was able to retain his autonomy. With his new found power, he was able to fight off the Biseijin and make them back off from their village. They made an agreement. Their village would remain untouched by our tyrannical oppressors as long as he followed their orders. Despite his impressive strength, even Zalam’gar realized he didn’t stand a chance, so he accepted their terms. Every day, he fights that innate urge to kill and massacre the populace, all because of the curse he has welcomed into his being…”
Cayu stared at his brother, mesmerized by the candid tragedy that was Zalam’gar. “Poor Zal…” he said. Plation nodded. “That’s why I can’t stand by and do nothing anymore. I have to take down Helios and his lackeys no matter the cost. Zalam’gar is brave, but he’s a fool. Soon enough, the Biseijin will sever their pact and run them over. This will not end, our suffering will never end until they are driven out of this land, and for that reason… Pah’mazhan…” Plation steps in front of the Bio Android, forcing him to stop. “I’m sorry to ask this of you, but when we remove the curse you’ve been burdened with, would you lend me your power? Would you help us defeat Helios?” The man looked into the Bio Android’s eyes with desperation. Cayu gazed up, hopeful that the Bio Android would concede. Pah’mazhan lowers his gaze, looking away from the two. There was something a strangeness about the air which he could not fathom, but it pounded against his chest. It was overwhelming. The Bio Android looked up, matching his gaze, but before he could respond…
“Watch out!” the Bio Android exclaimed, pushing Plation aside as an arrow whizzed past them. He barely evaded it, his cheek slit slightly by the head, red liquid trickling down his face. Plation unsheath’s his sword, preparing to face their antagonists. “Cayu, get behind Pah’mazhan!” he ordered, looking back at the Bio Android, “don’t worry, I know you can’t fight in your condition. Leave it all to me!” he assured, turning to face them as another arrow was soaring towards his head. Swinging his sword up, he intercepts the arrow head, deflecting to the ground. Peering ahead, they seemed to be mercenaries. “It looks like they followed us from the village!” he exclaimed. Having defied the throne, they do not take it lightly. The group would be pursued by all kinds of threats until they crossed the border, and even then their safety was not assured. Two more arrows were flung at him and he snapped them both with a swift stroke of the blade. Pah’mazhan commended his sword abilities. He was agile and precise. The Bio Android wished to test out his other abilities to make sure they were still functioning, but given the task to look after Cayu, he was chained to his position. He decided to let Plation have this one, considering he didn’t know what he would do if it turned out none of his abilities were working. Scanning the lot, they were relatively strong –definitely a threat while in his condition, but he believed the elfish man would fare well against them.
There were two huntsmen and two spearmen; the spearmen marched ahead while the huntsmen readied their bows and fired. Plation, holding the tip of his blade with the other hand and raising horizontally in front of him began to chant words in a tongue the Bio Android could not comprehend. It was similar to the biseijin, Helios when summoning the ox-beast. Hovering over his blade, those weird patterns emerged once again. Unlike Zalam’gar’s who’s were purple, his were yellow; thinking back, the green flames cast by Helios’ summoning spell was also a circle with odd patterns, he just hadn’t realized it until now. From the yellow circle, a dozen fire balls were spewed at moderate speeds. The spearmen come to an abrupt halt and raise their weapons to fight off the flames. In spite of their attempts, Plation was not aiming for them, but the huntsmen in the back. The two arrows launched their way were soon disintegrated by the flames while a handful of fire balls still remained. The huntsmen panicked, but only one managed to break free from the stiffness of their legs and maneuvered to the left. His companion was not so lucky. The flames came rushing in, slamming against him and tossing him aside.
The spearmen promptly after commenced their progression. “Heretics…” Plation muttered. They were not in it for glory or loyalty to the throne, being a mercenary was simply an excuse to legally capture or kill civilians. They were hired by the royal guard to perform tasks which seemed to bothersome for them to do on their own. The prospect angered the elfish man. If only they had that kind of motivation towards dismantling the crown, they wouldn’t be in their situation. “HYAAAAAAAAAAAA~” Plation screamed, rushing towards their antagonists with a roar, his blade readied beside him. The spearmen stopped about five feet away and thrust their weapons forward in an attempt to pierce through the rebels flesh. Plation parried their spears, and moved in for the kill; a single stroke of his sword, and the men dropped to the ground. The remaining huntsmen had been preparing his next arrow, but before he could do that, he decided to call it quits and made a run for it. Smart, Pah’mazhan thought. Plation sheathes his sword and perspires. He turns, making sure Cayu and Pah’mazhan were unharmed and smiles widely. “Well, that was a workout!”
Cayu smiles back and celebrates. Pah’mazhan, however, was struck with curiosity. “Those patterns,” he said. “-Oh, they’re transmutation circles,” Plation avidly replied. “They’re fundamental in the art of magic wielding. The biseijin and we konatsians are the only ones capable of performing them.”
“So you and the biseijin have similar powers.”
“Similar, not the same. They use dark magic that manipulates the souls of other beings, they don’t care about the victim, and they don’t value life. Plus, I wouldn’t want such abilities… Power corrupts the mind.”
“Power corrupts the mind…” Pah’mazhan repeated to himself. It sounded so familiar to him, as though he had heard of it before. Deep in thought, the Bio Android and his new found allies press onward to reach The Great Wall. Before long, it was now visible on the horizon, but Cayu was clinging to Plation’s legs. The elfish man understood and turned to the Bio Android. “Pah’mazhan, we’ll camp out here tonight.”
“Inacceptable,” the Bio Android protested. “The Great Wall is right there. I do not intend to rest until we have arrived to Mount Hielo.”
“But the sun is setting and nightfall will be upon us, we have to regain our strength, Pah’mazhan. I know you have that invincibility going on, but we don’t,” Plation argued. “If we don’t rest now, then I won’t be able to protect you efficiently. You can’t fight as long as that curse is on you.”
Pah’mazhan was silent. He did not require to sleep, in his mind, they were going to arrive all the way to Mount Hielo and then return without stop. However, he had forgotten that he was accompanied by mortals, they were not as resistant as he. Plation smiled, “Let’s go towards that lone tree over there, we wouldn’t want to be in the wide-open fields…”
The three had settled down, comforted by the shade of a tree and the light of a fire created from its twigs and tree trunks. The stars were out and the sunlight was reflected by the asteroid belt that orbited the planet. The silence was riddle with the crackling of the fire and Pah’mazhan was left with his thoughts once again. He was used to it. Back in Alpha Prime, it was part of his daily activities. After training with the gravity chamber or simulator, he would return to his own room, staring at the wall until the next order was issued. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” Plation commented, referring to the asteroid belt overhead as he lay on the grass beside him. Pah’mazhan was sitting erect and his head straight, it made the elfish man chuckle. “Why don’t you relax and lay down?” “It makes no difference,” Pah’mazhan responded. Whether he was lying down or sitting, it would not heighten the degree of comfortness his body experienced as he could not experience it at all. He might as well stand all night watching for predators. Plation grinned, “Of course it does,” he said, “I may not know what it’s like to be an Bio Android, but I sure know it’s easier to look at the sky when you don’t have to constantly jerk your head up. Try it,” he suggested. Looking at the sky, Pah’mazhan thought he might see the elfish man’s point. Plation smiled as the metal man complied with his wishes and rest his back on the ground. He was right, the Bio Android thought. He could admire so much more of the sky whilst on the ground. He didn’t have to constantly monitor and regulate his movements.
Plation rolled on his back, joining the Bio Android’s gaze. “You know, Pah’mazhan, we didn’t always live on this planet…” “How did you get here?” “Well, this planet’s name is actually Lupin IV. You may have guessed, but it’s the fourth and remaining planet of the Lupine System. Our kind had always been in a state of war and reckoning, but that very destructive nature brought about the death of our planets time and time again. Although we each resided in our own planets, we were still next door neighbors with a grudge that was cultivated by our ancestors. Eventually, Lupin one, two and three were all destroyed and we were forced to coexist in this one. That’s why there’s so many different races. This little planet was home to the Konatsians, the Hera, and the Moujuujin. We had finally learned of our mistakes and made a pact to protect this planet. It’s the last planet we have and we can’t let it die on us or we’ll become galactic nomads with no home to turn to. That is, until the biseijin came upon our small paradise and decided to take over. They turned us against each other once again, resulting in The Great Wall that separates Tien’s Landing from Whitewater. The moujuujin distanced themselves from the mainland, now living in that small island to the north called Mount Hielo.”
Plation closes his eyes, trembling as he continued with the story. Pah’mazhan could sense the dread in his shivering voice, “The… the biseijin… they had arrived so suddenly… if only you had seen it you might understand the darkness that was upon us… they came accompanied by those dark machines they called the Gors and ransacked our villages. Those things were raining down straight from space, harbored by the spaceship that now orbits this planet –the biseijin’s jail. In the past two centuries, we have had three rulers. Argon was the one to colonize our planet and enslave our people, but Radon was the one who really struck fear into the populace. Our current ruler, Helios, is nothing compared to his ancestors… but they don’t see that. They’re still scarred by Radon’s ghost. Then again, I often question whether we should keep fighting. We lost our homes three times, because we fought. Because we ‘defended’ our honor, our planet suffered and we were forced to evacuate the entire population and migrate to this one. I think that’s part of the reason why the civilians won’t stand up to our oppressors. I’m sure some of them realize Helios’ is a weakling, but our past is so engraved into their memories that it stills them…”
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time,” Pah’mazhan said. Plation stared at him blankly. Obviously, he had not expected the Bio Android to participate in the conversation. Being so conservative and all. Pah’mazhan glanced at him, “I read it off my master’s shoulder as I glimpsed at the book he was reading …”
“Your master, huh? Sounds like a wise man,” Plation commented. If only he knew… “Pah’mazhan, please tell me more about the planet you came from.”
The Bio Android’s eyes wandered back at the stars. The Omega Collective was nothing to gloat about, it was so dark and murky compared to this planet. But as he lay on the red grass, he wondered whether one of the stars overhead might have been them. They seemed so bright from this perspective. “Well, it’s not a planet,” he clarified. “It’s a chain of large, hollowed out asteroids orbiting around a gaseous planet named Crixus-7. The first is called Alpha Prime, where my master and I reside. We live in a laboratory where they undergo all kinds of research, mostly with the purpose of improving my abilities. Lord Prometheus Zex is the ruler of such place, an alien species unknown by others. The second asteroid is called Beta Minor, governed by King Arctic, an Icejin. I’m not sure whether they have actually battled before, but there is history between the two concerning dominance over the Omega Collective. Even now, there is this silent tension between both colonies. Then there’s the Gamma Slums, built by a mysterious benefactor to deal with the population explosion of Alpha Prime. Many believe it was only created to separate the rich from the poor.”
“Hmm,” Plation responded, “somehow… it sounds a lot like this planet. Two different species coexisting in one space, yet they look to the day they will have complete dominance over the other. Aside from that, it sounds like a nice place to be. I wouldn’t mind visiting someday…” the elfish man says as he turns away and starts to slowly fall into a deep slumber. Of course, Pah’mazhan thought, he never mentioned the crime and mischief that encompassed that land. Pah’mazhan settled his eyes on the sky as the hours went by, awaiting for the two suns to rise over the night sky so they could continue their journey. Cayu soon awoke, approaching the Bio Android.
“Mister… I had a bad dream… can I sleep with you?”
…
The new day dawns and the group continue along the dirt road, leaving nothing but the ashes of twigs and branches as proof of their passing by. Before long they had arrived at The Great Wall, great for a reason as it was probably as large as the floating castle was high. Gors were stationed at the gate. “Damnit,” Plation cursed. “There has to be at least a dozen of them.” He said. Never having left Tien’s Landing, he didn’t realize the border might have been protected. Now that they thought about it, it made sense that the King would leave guards at the gate, otherwise, he would be left without a population to rule. Across the wall, his reign was not yet asserted, and so Gors were stationed to make sure nobody left the kingdom. Cayu hid in the bushes, as Plation would surely require Pah’mazhan to back him up against all the Gors. However, the Bio Android was not sure he would be able to help in their predicament without his weapons.
“Well, here foes nothing,” Plation said, casting a dozen fireballs to rain down on the Gors as he charged ahead to greet them with his blade. Pah’mazhan followed closely behind. The fireball caught them by surprise, but the machines didn’t seem very much affected. The Gors unleashed their guns and began shooting at the two heretics with laser guns. Pah’mazhan and Plation maneuvered between the free-fire, evading them efficiently while approaching at a rapid pace. Plation lunged at one of them, slashing with his sword. The blade sparked against the black metallic body, but the Gor remained unharmed. Pah’mazhan was more interested in prodding them than he was in fighting. He peered at their arms and joints and found nothing but wires and tubes. If one looked closely, they could see through the machine’s body, towards the other side. Having been reckless, they were soon surrounded by the Gors. Pah’mazhan and the konatsian found themselves back to back. “What are their weaknesses?” Pah’mazhan asked. They appeared to be unhindered by both magic and physical damage. They almost seemed invincible. “I don’t know,” Plation confessed, “this is the first time I fought one.”
What? The Bio Android thought. Pah’mazhan had followed the man into battle because he thought the konatsian knew what he was doing, but it turned out their battle tactics were quite different. Pah’mazhan preferred to learn of his enemy before engaging them, but Plation winged it and went with the flow. The Gors stowed away their guns and brought out their swords. They were just like Pah’mazhan in that regard, except they had no face or skin. Plation began to chant once again, a transmutation circle forming before him, lightning promptly struck down on the Gors surrounding them. Pah’mazhan looked to the sky; it was completely blue and clear of clouds. It appeared logic did not apply to magic. The Gors were momentarily paralyzed, static sparks surging through their joints as they attempted to keep moving. The interesting part is that Plation didn’t cast thunder due to previous knowledge, it was just instinct. “Now!” He yelled, lunging at the machines with his blade. Pah’mazhan dashed at one of them, snatching its sword as he passed right through it. It was light and weak, but it would serve its purpose until he could regain his saber. Looking closely at the machine, Pah’mazhan thrusts the blade through the circuits connecting its torso to the rest of its body. The Gor immediately malfunctioned and collapsed. They were must easier to defeat once he put some thought into it.
Glancing at his ally, Plation’s sword skills were impressive, but he just kept mindlessly striking at the metallic body parts. “Aim for the joints!” Pah’mazhan suggested. Plation looked back and nodded, promptly after slashing through the machine’s elbows. The arms snapped right off with just the right amount of force, the konatsian then proceeded to decapitate it with a stroke across its neck. Having been distracted helping his ally, Pah’mazhan allowed the other Gors to sneak up on him. He narrowly ducked under its swing, his golden hair flowing around the blade. Another Gor had its sword positioned between the encroached Bio Android’s eyes and thrust with the intention to pierce his head, but Pah’mazhan fazed through him. They were starting to get out of control. Right after evading one blade, another was already headed towards him. It was only a matter of time before one of them landed, he thought. Pah’mazhan stops between them as the jewel on his forehead begins to resonate and unleashes the red destructive barrier he had used back in the village. The barrier expands up to five feet around him, violently hurling his foes off to the distance. Pieces of black armor and wires litter the ground as they fall apart.
“Alright, stand back,” Pah’mazhan said. Plation nodded and took cover. Soon after, the jacket on Pah’mazhan’s chest opened to reveal hidden cannons. The cannons charged up and unleashed a barrage of energy blasts upon the remaining Gors. Shrapnel and debris littered everywhere. At least that was still working, he thought. Zalam’gar couldn’t seal his other moves because he did not know they existed. It was Pah’mazhan’s fault for revealing the cannon in his wrist. The Bio Android crouched over one of the Gor remains and studied its distinct parts. Plation watched from behind with Cayu clinging to his leg. “You’re nothing like them, Pah’mazhan.’ He assured, as if he could read the Bio Android’s thoughts. “They have no soul. They’re just pieces of metal melded together. You have a heart.” With that said, Plation and Cayu proceeded towards the gate. Pah’mazhan observed the piece of metal in his hands.
“A… heart?” he uttered.
Moments later, the group passed through the gate and they transitioned from a state of monarchy to one of anarchy. Across the wall, the Gors and Helios would not follow, but that did not necessarily mean it was better. Crossing through the gate, it was almost like walking into a completely different planet. The atmosphere was so much more different, and it almost seemed as though it were night although the sun had just dawned. Because, in this planet, the two suns rise on the west and set on the east, The Great Wall’s shadow was cast for miles upon the land, blocking out the sunlight. All the water that Tien’s Landing lacked was on this side of the wall. “Now I understand why they call it Whitewater,” Plation commented. Where they stood, the land was separated by a stream and connected by a bridge, and the water was so clear it felt as though it could bring people back from the dead. While Tien’s Landing was a vast kingdom of endless space, and beautifully red grass, Whitewater was filled with mountains and waterfalls rolling off the cliff-sides and trees at all corners of the region. The plant-life was still red, but it was accompanied by many different colors such as green and blues. Cayu ran off ahead, observing the vines that curled against the bridge. “I-it’s beautiful!” He exclaimed. His little bright eyes absorbed into the scenery. However, every rose has its thorn no matter how delicate and alluring it may be.
“Halt!”
Those words were the sole warning before the sound of gunfire reverberated off The Great Wall and the boy stumbled to the ground. “Cayu!” Plation exclaimed, unsheathing his sword and charged ahead. Pah’mazhan eye’s widened. For once, he did not know what to do, the shock washed over him so suddenly and his limbs would not respond. There was nothing he could do anyway. Plation stopped in front of the boy, shielding him from any more bullets which may go their way. He glances back with urgency in his eyes. If he ever lost Cayu… he would just… tear welled up in the elfish man’s eyes, but a sense of relief soothed his soul as the young boy got back up with nothing but a scratch on his poor cheek. Blood dripped from the wound, but it was a certain miss. Cayu would be fine, he thought. Plation’s concerned expression changed into one of pure rage and hatred as he peered at his oppressors. They were beings he had not set eyes upon for a long time. “The Hera,” he uttered. Pah’mazhan snapped out of his uselessness and joined the man, standing beside the little boy.
The man who shot was holding a rifle in his hand. He approached the group, stopped half-way at the bridge. “Now, isn’t this a sight for sore eyes?” he said. “What brings a konatsian to our side of this pretty little planet?” The man was a bipedal humanoid with teal skin and orange locks of hair. His crew was not too far off either, they were standing by a large struck in the back.
“We’ve come in peace!” Plation assured. “Damn right you have, and you’re leaving us in peace as well. Turn your little swords back to fairyland and leave us.” The hera demanded.
“Please, all we want to do is get to Mount Hielo!” he insisted.
“Mount Hielo? Isn’t that where the moujuujin live? Now, why would you want to go there? Got a death wish?”
“No, this man,” Plation said as he revealed Pah’mazhan to them. “He has been cursed by the King, we need to lift his curse so he can regain his powers and then defeat the biseijin!”
“Defeat the biseijin!?” The man recited with disbelief, “Hahahahahahaa! Now that’s a laugh. Alright, and how exactly do you plan on doing that? Enlighten me.”
Pah’mazhan glanced at his ally. The Bio Android was sure he could do it with his strength alone, but they would not attest to that. In fact, Plation never really explained what led him to believe they could actually pull it off. It was all wishful thinking so far. The elfish man’s gaze lowered and he spoke softly, “I don’t know,” he admitted. “But somehow, someway, we’ll win. If only, we worked together, I’m sure we can defeat them!” His green eyes met with his counterpart, and they were serious. The hera was still unconvinced. “Let’s say we believed you and helped you defeat the biseijin, what then? How do we know we won’t be backstabbed by your kind?” “-I guess, you’ll just have to trust in us,” Plation responded. “Trust that we have learned from our past. Trust that we can move pass our differences and coexist in this planet without walls that hide us from one another. That we can reach true understanding and show our guts to each other!”
“Hmph, an idealist, huh?” The man said. “I have to admit, you talk a good game, but can you play the part?” “-Yes!” he exclaimed, standing up straight with his arms wide open. Pah’mazhan called on him to stand down. The fool, he thought, he was going to throw everything away. Cayu needed him, he couldn’t risk his life as though it meant nothing. Yet, the Bio Android admired that he would sacrifice himself for his ideals. Plation was an impressive being. “We can do it, I know we can!” the elfish man said with such passion that was sure to reach the hearts of the hera; but the man was full of such skepticism that he could not overcome. Plation continued, “You don’t have to live in a corner on this planet! You don’t have to live in fear that maybe those walls will be torn down someday. Let’s take it down ourselves!”
“Oh yeah? Well I like my little corner on the planet and I won’t risk it for some half-assed ideals!” The man concluded. He raised his rifle and aimed. “Look out!” Pah’mazhan warned Plation, but before the man could pull the trigger, a feminine hand gently pressed down against the mouth of the rifle. “That’s enough,” she said. Her skin was also real, and she had long wavy orange hair. Her eyes were a slightly darker hue than her skin. She was gorgeous, and appeared to hold some influence as the man complied with her wishes. “I think his proposition is worth hearing.” “-But Sayako!” “That’s enough,” she ordered. “We’ll be taking them to our leader.” The woman turned to face the group, “however, you’ll be traveling as our captives.” Sayako raises her gun at the group and jerks her head so they start walking. Plation looks at Pah’mazhan and the Bio Android nods. They would play along for the time being. If anything, they would find a way to escape if possible, but anything was better than their current situation.
In moments, they were thrown into the back of the truck and the crew drove out. The truck was dark and there were no windows. Two of the hera were driving the vehicle while the rest, four others, were driving in the back with Cayu, Plation, and Pah’mazhan. Not knowing where they would end up, the Bio Android was beginning to get anxious again. He wondered what Ivan had been doing. He had been wasting so much time dawdling with these petty mortals, but he didn’t have a choice. All this time, he had been depending on Plation’s ability as he could not properly fight with all of the restrictions on him. Little did they know, the group would soon find themselves in a predicament. Suddenly, the vehicle veered to the side abruptly, and everything in the truck shifts to one side, one over the other. “An ambush!” One of them said as the truck came to a screeching halt and the double doors were slammed open. The hera immediately jumped out and commenced shooting at the bandits.
Pah’mazhan and Plation rip apart the ropes that had been tied to their wrists and escape the vehicle with Cayu. Promptly after exiting the vessel, it explodes into dozens of pieces and flames. “Everywhere we go there is danger and war!” Plation complained, his anger clearly visible. He was tired of the way they lived; a planet which appeared to be paradise was ruined by the darkened souls that resided within them. If only they could act as one race, he thought. Two of the hera which held them captive were already taken down by the bandits and one of them was injured. The woman of teal skin and sapphire eyes had her own plate full as the heretics ganged up on her. She proved skillful with the gun as she wielded two at a time. The other man that had initially intercepted them fired off all his rounds with the rifle. Soon enough, they would fall and perish by the hands of their contender. Pah’mazhan recognized this as an opportunity and began making his escape. “Let’s go!” The Bio Android said, but Plation looked back confused.
“Where are you going?” the konatsian inquired. “This is our chance to escape. We need to get to Mount Hielo,” Pah’mazhan explained. However, Plation had a different view. “No!” He said, “We can’t just leave them like this! We have to help!” The Bio Android shook his head. “They are not our problem,” Pah’mazhan insisted, but his words angered the elfish man. “Not our problem!?” he said, “that belief is exactly our problem! If we turn our backs on them now, nothing will ever change. Even if we defeat Helios and the biseijin, we will always be under constant war and anarchy. This, Pah’mazhan, is where our choices matter most. This, breaking the cycle of hatred, this is where change can be achieved. If you want to go, then so be it. You can do the rest on your own, but I’m going to save them or die trying. Farewell.”
With that said, the konatsian rushed into the fight. Sayako had been laying against a brick wall with an arm on her injured shoulder. She could no longer hold her gun. She had been defeated and closed her eyes as the men prepared to deal the killing blow. “Sayako!” her comrade yelled from a distance, he ran in a fruitless attempt to reach her, but by the time he would get there it would already be too late. The men raised their guns, “Fire!” one of them uttered. The hera woman closed her eyes and cringed. This was it, she thought, until someone’s shadow was cast over her and she peeks to see who it was. Plation stood brave and strong before the bandits with his sword at hand. “No matter, it’s just one guy!” The bandit leader proclaimed and they prepared to shoot him down. “But… why?” Sayako murmured as the konatsian took out an ocarina and pressed it against his lips. He began to play the notes of an ancient melody just as the bandits began to fire, but the bullets were met with a transparent, crystal-like barrier they would only perceive when the bullets made contact. Plation had created a small safe-zone for the hera woman and himself; as long as he continued to play the notes of his song, the barrier would remain. Regardless… which would run out first? His breath? Or their bullets?
Pah’mazhan would turn away, walking towards his destination. He had a mission to fulfill and he had already wasted enough time playing buddies with the natives of this planet. All he had to do was head towards the north and he would eventually reach the shore. Alone, he would move a lot faster skipping through the landscape with his powerful legs. He would get to Mount Hielo in no time and return to Tien’s Landing so he could reclaim his possessions, defeat Goliath, Helios, and save Ivan and The Doctor –all on his own. He had no problem with the prospect. He had been alone all throughout his short life and perceived nothing wrong with continue doing so. Therefore, he walked. The Bio Android crouched slightly to gain impulse from the ground in preparation for his leap. One leap would take him several meters away, far from the cataclysm that had taken place; that is, until a child’s hands tugged on his fingers and stopped him. “Don’t leave,” Pah’mazhan glanced down at the innocent Cayu, whom Plation had completely forgotten about. It was only a matter of time before one of the bandits disposed of the boy. His face was sad and riddled with dirt.
Flames grew and engulfed their surroundings, illuminating the child’s visage as his unfaltering eyes stared into Pah’mazhan’s. They were so bright and green compared to the coal pools of the Bio Android. Pah’mazhan looked back at Plation as he calmly played his instrument to fend of the attackers, however that was only a temporal fix to the problem. Before long, his breath would run thin and he would no longer be able to maintain the magical barrier. The Bio Android clenched the sword in his hand. He didn’t understand why or what, but something compelled him to move and it was not towards the north. Descending from above, Pah’mazhan slashes down on one of the bandits, stirring them into a panic. Startled by the commotion, Plation stops playing the ocarina and opens his eyes to see his ally join the fight. He smiles, not so surprised after all and turns to the hera woman. She looks up as he lends her his hand. “Sayako was it? Let’s end this cycle of hatred and contempt. We’ll defeat the royal throne and take back our home, together! No more walls.”
The woman couldn’t understand, but apparently Plation possessed a charisma which urged others to follow. She raises he arm, weakly, accepting his gesture of friendship as he pulls her up from the ground. “Take her to safety!” He says, guiding Sayako to henchman. The man protested, claiming that he didn’t receive orders from a konatsian, but Sayako promptly silenced him and ordered him to comply. The surviving hera went for cover along with Cayu and watched as the elf and Bio Android fought side by side to take down the bandits. “Hold them off until I’m ready,” Plation asked. Pah’mazhan nodded. The bandits began firing off once again. Pah’mazhan may not have a consistent shield like Plation, but he possessed an ability unrivaled by anyone in the universe. Swinging the sword around, he intercepted every bullet with his lightning fast reflexes, deflecting them towards the ground. Meanwhile, the konatsian began to chant the lyrics of his next spell. Raising his sword to the sky, it became enchanted by the magical incantation that he cast. “It’s ready!” he said, his skyward sword pointing at the clouds, glowing in a cloudy white aura.
Pah’mazhan nodded and moved out of the way as the last bullet was shot down by the sword he took from the Gors. With a mighty roar, Plation thrust his sword down and an indomitable gust of wind transcended past the blade and blew away their aggressors. Any structures were swept away by his mighty attack, and the fire surrounding them vanquished. Pah’mazhan gazed at the man. He had an aura about him which could not be swayed. After witnessing such prowess, the hera were convinced of their resolve and promptly escorted to their leader. Sayako vouched for them and they were soon granted the aid of the hera. They even donated a boat to their cause so they could travel to Mount Hielo while the rest rallied up the troops for the incoming battle.
At last, Cayu, Plation, and Pah’mazhan have traveled all the way to the frozen island Mount Hielo in search of the moujuujin. They were in the middle of a snowstorm. Pah’mazhan would survive, but Plation was forced to play another sonnet with his ocarina, creating a magical atmosphere around them to block off the snowflakes and keep them warm. It was then that they met with the large ox-beasts face to face. It must have been ten times their size and width as it stared down upon them with his nostrils flaring. Plation gulped, but the beast had not attacked. Atop the moujuujin, there was a woman with long green hair, though her face was concealed by a large skull worn over her head. They explained to her that they had traveled from Tien’s Landing to remove the curse infringed upon the Bio Android. The group soon learned that the moujuujin were actually gentle creatures misunderstood by their size and raw power. They lived in packs, and their thick hide protected them from the harsh cold weather although they preferred the heat of the sun.
“Can you help us?” Plation pleaded. They had no idea what or who the woman was behind the skull, but she seemed to live closely with the moujuujin and they hoped she would aid them on their quest. Sadly, the woman shook her head. “Why?” Plation asked.
“We can’t,” she said. “Goliath, the ox-beast stolen by the evil ones is the elder of the pack and possess all of their magic. When the elder dies, his powers are passed down to the next natural born leader. However, without him present, our hands are tied,” she explained. As it seemed, they had traveled all the way to Mount Hielo in vain, Helios had the upper hand all along. Regardless, Plation did not see it that way. In their journey, they had made invaluable allies and he saw the opportunity to win the moujuujin over and finally reunite them.
“In that case,” he said with wide smile, “join us. Come with us and bask in the sunlight. Help us defeat the biseijin. We’ll free Goliath from Helios’ wrath and regain control over our planet. This is the last planet in the Lupine system, we can’t afford to lose it to the hands of some low-life scums who don’t understand the value of life!”
The woman gave off what seemed like a lull and nodded. “We’ll lend you our power. Lead us! To Freedom!”
And so, the moujuujin rise off the frozen land and fly towards the mainland thanks to their magical and mysterious nature. “Pah’mazhan,” Plation said, “I want to thank you.” The hera raise their guns in the air and march to the horizon. “Without you, none of this would have been possible.” The two suns began to set and rise anew as they approach The Great Wall. “You shouldn’t,” Pah’mazhan replied. “I’m not as I appear to be.” The konatsian now viewed as the idealist who joined the hera and moujuujin stands above the head of an ox-beast with the wind caressing his face. “You are, you shouldn’t doubt yourself. Pah’mazhan, you’re full of heart and soul.” The moujuujin moans as the sun melts away the crystalized ice on its fur, which now shines brightly and beautifully. “You’re wrong, I used you for my own selfish reasons.” The moujuujin ram their heads against The Great Wall and shatter it with their awe-inspiring might and continue to fly majestically through the air.
“Back then, in the village, you could have sided with the royal guard –but you didn’t. Instead, you allied yourself with the elfish man that attacked you and a little child that couldn’t possibly benefit you in any way.” The hera and countless alien beings that walked the land now witnessed an endless field of red grass that spanned for miles. No walls. “I was awake when Cayu had a nightmare, I’m grateful that you allowed him to sleep with you.” They marched on the land of Tien’s Landing, clad in armor. The biseijin and konatsians notice them and start preparing. Pah’mazhan sits silently at the beast’s head as the man continues to speak and listens. “Although it seemed you would have left us back there, I kept playing my ocarina knowing you would pull through, and you did. Instead of leaving us behind,” the man looked down at the Bio Android with a genuine smile, “you stayed and helped me and the hera.” Cayu clings onto the Bio Android. “Thank you, Pah’mazhan!” “…you’re welcome…”
…
The dye had been cast. Centuries of torment and horror, struggle and misunderstanding, it all lead towards this one event, the culmination of their ancestor’s long and winded journey. In one side of the field, hera and moujuujin stood side by side along with other alien races. On the other, stood fellow konatsians, Gors, and biseijin. A single ox-beast descended towards the center with Plation at its head, facing his brethren. Zalam’gar, surprised to see the young man, smirks and closes his eyes in submission. The elfish man projects his voice for all to hear, and hear they shall… “This world is our home to share!” He said. “We all come from the same roots, just as the branches of a tree always lead back to the trunk. Our race must act as one, live as one. Our hearts must beat as one. Too few of the people today have the vision needed to realize our true potential, as one, undivided race.” “One, undivided race…” Sayako murmurs to herself. Who would’ve thought such an abstract idea would have become so solidified and tangible enough to win their hearts.
Sweat drops rolled down Plation’s face. He hoped his brethren would let go of their fear and stop clinging to the past. He hoped they would join them towards a new era of prosperity. However, if they chose to remain; unfortunately, his blade would not be stilled. If he can’t fly, he’ll run, if he can’t run, he’ll walk, if he can’t walk, he’ll crawl, but whatever he does, he will keep moving forward. No longer would they linger in helplessness. Not anymore. “Alas,” he said, “Let us konatsians, moujuujin, and hera unite under one flag and chase away the biseijin. Join us and be free! But regardless of your choice, we will keep moving forward without regrets! Our torment ends now!” he proclaimed, pointing his sword towards the floating city of Tien’s Landing. That was the cue. Hera and Moujuujin rushed forward and nothing would stop them.
“Freedom!” Zalam’gar exclaimed, unsheathing his rapier and striking down the Gor beside him. With his valiant effort, the other konatsians followed and joined the rebellion. They purged on. The war had commenced. Pah’mazhan and Plation descended onto the battlefield, landing on Gors and crushing them under their feet with the aid of gravity while an ox-beast took Cayu to safety. “Zalam’gar!” Plation called. The pale konatsian turned to meet his brethren with a forced smile. Even now, he was fighting the curse mark which compelled him to side with the Gors. “It took you long enough,” he said. “Bio Android, your possessions are in the sheriff’s cabin. Get them and defeat Helios at his castle.” Pah’mazhan nodded and looked to Plation. “Thank you Zalam’gar. Soon enough, we’ll free you from your curse,” he assured, nodding at Pah’mazhan for them to get going. In a flash, the two jettison across the battlefield, skipping through the grasslands in a race to the floating castle. Pah’mazhan swings his sword, knocking down Gors and biseijin as they traversed the battlefield. The inhabitants of this planet would take care of them, he thought. Their purpose lie elsewhere. Plation was a little faster because of the heavy weight which slowed Pah’mazhan down, but they still arrived at the village at relatively the same pace.
Pah’mazhan dropped the sword he had borrowed from the Gors and welcomed his saber to his hands and stowed away his pistol in its holster. He looks at his left hand. “Oh,” Plation realizes, “we forgot to ask Zalam’gar about that thing…” “No matter,” Pah’mazhan responded, looking firmly at the floating city above them. “We’ll deal with that later.” Plation scratches his head. “How will we get up there? It was designed so only those who could fly can reach the city. The moujuujin are too far away. It would be a waste of time if we turned back now…” Pah’mazhan grabbed onto the konatsian’s hand and nodded. “I’ll show you how,” he assured, crouching down for an effective impulse. The ground seemed to crack below his feet as Pah’mazhan propels himself into the air with a burst of wind at his wake, pulling Plation along for the ride. They must have been at least half-way before his body began to decelerate. The weight of Plation and Pah’mazhan’s heavy weights were too much for the Bio Android, but Pah’mazhan would not give up.
Just as they began to descend, he hurled Plation ahead of him. “I’ll be back,” he said, diving head-first to the surface. As he approached land, Pah’mazhan shifted his lithe body in the air and planted his feet firmly on the soil. The ground shattered and formed a concave below him as the Bio Android harnessed all the momentum he had gained and channeled it through his legs like a spring before ricocheting back up towards the floating city. Now accelerating at a much faster pace, he grabs onto the konatsian in the air and extends his arm, reaching for the edge. Missing by a nail, they begin to fall once more, but the Bio Android pulls Plation up again and the konatsian grapples the edge with his life. “Damn, Pah’mazhan,” Plation complained, “you might… want… to lose a few pounds…” The Bio Android smirked and the konatsian pulled him up over the edge. “Hah!” he said, “I made you laugh!” Pah’mazhan looked at him blankly with a stern face. “What are you saying?” he questioned, moving ahead towards the giant doors. Plation glares and follows him.
*BOOM*
The doors slam open as the duo enters. Helios remained on the throne, sitting expectantly of his visitors. “So! You’ve come!” he lulls. His small petite voice reverberates off the vertical columns of his castle. The halls were polished and the walls intact despite Pah’mazhan’s battle with Goliath only a few days ago. In there, the cries of war and change were blocked out by the magical throne room. Plation unsheathes his sword and takes a step forth, “Your reign of terror ends today!” he said, aiming the tip of his blade at the despot’s visage as if it could pierce through his skull from a distance. “Hahahahah!” Helios laughed, closing his eyes shut and pressing his hands against his stomach while kicking his feet. The biseijin didn’t seem very troubled about their presence in his royal court. In fact, the thing appeared welcome their challenge. Plation’s anger intensified with the biseijin’s belligerent chortle. Gripping his sword tightly, he rushes in to strike down their opponent while his guard was down. Pah’mazhan knew, however, that it would not be so simple.
Helios began to settle down with the konatsian’s defying roar littering his auditorium. His care-free expression dwindled to a more annoyed preface. Looking down on the konatsian, he frowns. Even as Plation leapt through the air, Helios had remained composed over his seat; simply raising his hand with palm facing the konatsian, a transmutation circle immediately formed between Plation’s blade and Helios. The sword was stilled and the force behind Plation’s attack was returned through magic. “Augh!” the konatsian grunts as he is thrown back by his own strength. Landing on his back, he is quick stand and commence his charge once more. “Stubborn little…” Helios commented. Suddenly, Gors would emerge from the shadows cast by the many columns that lined the royal hall. Plation halts as the machines surround him. Realizing the konatsian needed help, Pah’mazhan dashes onward to aid him, but Plation would not wait. The konatsian holds his sword before him as he tends to do when casting a spell and chants in his elven tongue. His sword begins to emanate a mysterious light as it did before when they were attacked by the bandits. Recognizing it, Pah’mazhan decides to stay back and observe.
The Gors take out their weapons and charge the konatsian. Meanwhile, Helios sat comfortably on his throne, supporting his chin with an arm prepped on the chair. His calm expression was altered like a ripple in a steam as a large transmutation circle manifests on the ground. Plation’s sword glimmers with the weight of his magical prowess and lifts his arm slowly as if the blade’s density had increased. The Gors were about a foot away before he managed to fully extend his arm in the air with a valiant roar. Next, there was a blinding light which illuminated the dark corridors, and then, all the Gors were gone. Disintegrated on the spot by the konatsian’s mythical powers. There was absolutely nothing –not even dust remained as magical particles dispersed in the air. Plation remained in the center of an ashen cross-section with his chest heaving high and low. Once again, Pah’mazhan had been impressed by the konatsian’s abilities. Given the right circumstances, he was unsure whether he stand up to him, but mere observation shows that Plation would not last much longer if he kept using spells of such might. With great power, the price must be hefty and it was beginning to show.
Helios’ expression was now a disturbed one as he glared down upon the konatsian warrior. “Well done,” he says, unable to deny the man’s efforts, “but I doubt you have much left in you.”
With that said, the biseijin’s eyes began to glow an ominous green hue and Pah’mazhan knew what was going to happen. It was just like before, green flames following as their surroundings ebonize and Goliath is once again summoned. Pah’mazhan’s grip tightens, preparing for the coming battle, but something keeps his feet from moving. His heavy weights? A spell? Whatever it was, his feet were anchored to the ground and he was forced to watch by the sidelines. Plation had become exhausted and rests a knee on the marble floor while pressing his sword down as a foothold. The ox-beast puffs out smoke from his nostrils, imposing his presence on the individual, but Plation didn’t seem to pay any mind to his existence.
“Pah’mazhan!” Plation called out, glancing over his shoulder. “Don’t be afraid! Even if you are cursed, it doesn’t mean a thing! Fate has a weird way of making everything work out, and you may not believe in fate but… Just remember…! When it seems as though the universe has cut you loose and seeks to discard you from existence… you are at last free to transcend its boundaries!”
The words hit the Bio Android like a bolt of lightning. His eyes widened and fragments of memories he could not understand rush through his eyes. –Transcend your boundaries- The phrase rang through his mind many different voices, trying to identify and match it to the right person. Alas, he didn’t recognize any of the many faces shown to him regardless. Afraid? he thought. That’s impossible. Ivan had told him numerous times that Bio Androids do not feel such meaningless emotions. Suddenly, he regained control over his hands as his grip tightens over the handle of his saber. Goliath was done waiting. The ox-beast rose on his hind legs and descend with the weight of his body to crush the konatsian warrior. Plation tries to move, but his muscles were too stiff. Helios smiles.
Helios frowns. Goliath’s feet impacts with the marble floors and ransacks the foundation of the biseijin’s castle, but Plation was saved. Pah’mazhan stood at a considerable distance from the ox-beast as he lowered the konatsian to the ground. “Don’t… hurt him…” Plation pleads. “Goliath is just a victim… for such a gentle creature to be bound by their magic, they must have done some terrible things…” Pah’mazhan nodded. It would be difficult, but he was right. They had learned that the moujuujin’s infamous reputation was a false conception due to Helios manipulation. However, the wizard’s powers were only effective against those who possessed malice in their hearts. For such a pure creature such as them to become enslaved by magic of that kind, for hatred to brew in their innocent souls, the biseijin must have done unspeakable things.
“Hahahaha!” Helios laughs. “You put up a nice show, Pah’mazhan, but I think this little war is over. That is, if you don’t want anything to happen to your master…”
The Bio Android flinched, glaring at the biseijin. He had thought about it time after time, but he kept pushing the thought away. How was Ivan doing while he got caught up in all of this? If Helios had a hold of him, then there was nothing the Bio Android could do anymore. His saber lowers. “What’s going on?” Plation inquires. “Ivan,” Pah’mazhan replies. “My master is their captive.” Plation’s eyes widen. Suddenly, he could understand why the Bio Android was on such a hurry to regain his powers. The konatsian’s anger resurfaces and he growls at the biseijin. “You never cease to surprise me! You have everyone under your leash, don’t you!?” Helios grins. “Quiet you,” he says, “Now, don’t move or Ivan dies.”
Moving his finger, Goliath begins to approach the two, preparing to finish them off. It was then that Plation whispered something and Pah’mazhan braced himself. “Now!” the konatsian yelled as he stood up and began to play his ocarina. Pah’mazhan dashes towards the biseijin. “You fool!” Helios snarled, but his movements were soon petrified by the soothing sound of the konatsian’s magical instrument; even Goliath was forced to concede. The magical song Plation played was one that inflicts paralysis on their surroundings. With the little energy he had left, he could still muster such a spell, but the downside of his attack is that it affected everyone who heard it –even himself. It was a technique developed by konatsian ancestors as a sacrificial last-ditch effort. During great destruction, they had stopped their enemies from fleeing, however the noble act cost them their lives. Plation believed that his spell would not affect Pah’mazhan because the helmet on his head hid his ears. It was not so much the sound of the music which paralyzed his victims, but the waves emitted. If there was something between the sound waves and a person’s ears, then that alone was enough to thwart his attempts.
By the time the song stopped playing, everything in the royal court but Pah’mazhan was frozen on the spot. Pah’mazhan stared at the biseijin’s petrified expression. Helios tried to speak, but his lips would not even quiver at his attempt. Pah’mazhan had no words to say, just a slash from his blade to decapitate the wizard. Before long, Pah’mazhan’s curse was lifted and Goliath was released from his spell. “Thank you,” the ox-beast said. He did not speak, but his voice was telepathically delivered. A moment later, Pah’mazhan and Plation were healed from their wounds and the ox-beast leaves the royal court, flying in free will once again. Down in the battlefield, Zalam’gar feels as though a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders and he immediately knew that they had succeeded. “The war is won!” He declares with a great howl and strikes the Gors down.
Standing outside of the castle with his regained strength, Pah’mazhan stares at the sky. Plation couldn’t sense energy, much less an Bio Androids, but he could smell the change in Pah’mazhan’s aura. He was on a whole different level now; although, if asked, Pah’mazhan might think differently. Plation had proven himself to be quite capable. Glancing at the Bio Android, Plation seemed to know what he intended, and although a normal person would think it impossible, the konatsian saw it to be true without question. “I’ll go with you,” he declares. Pah’mazhan looks over his shoulder, but before he could protest, Plation continued. “Even you can’t survive the harsh environments of space. At 600km above Lupin IV the temperature fluctuates between +258 and -148 degrees Fahrenheit, whether you melt or freeze, it’ll happen within a second of a second.” Pah’mazhan was silent. He wasn’t wrong. The Bio Android didn’t know what it would be like to be in the vacuum of space without any protection, he had never done it before. The konatsian took his silence as a yes and mounted onto the Bio Android’s back. “Alright, let’s go!” he stated, pointing his index finger at the sky.
Pah’mazhan’s eyes peered through the clouds. Plation couldn’t see it, but the Bio Android was following the spacecraft’s trajectory with his eyes. All he had to do was pin down Ivan’s energy signature and his scouter would do the rest for him. Crouching down, the ground begins to crumble and Pah’mazhan makes the strongest leap in his existence. Even with his heavy weights, his power was more than enough to break through the stratosphere. Plation grinned widely as he grabbed onto Pah’mazhan and struggled to keep his eyes open. This was a once in a life-time opportunity and he did not want to miss a moment as they passed through the clouds. Suddenly, their clothing was drenched and the konatsian reveled in it. However, he started sensing the dense air and decided it was time to get started. Reaching for his ocarina, he carries it over Pah’mazhan’s chest and lowers his face on the Bio Android’s shoulder so he may press his lips on the instrument.
As soon as Plation begins to play his magical notes, an artificial atmosphere forms around them, protecting them from the outside as if they were still on the planet’s surface. The two were finally out of the planet’s atmosphere and found themselves at the edge. Plation suppressed a gasp as he watched his planet curve. It was beautiful he thought, but he must keep playing his ocarina slow and steady; their lives depended on it. Pah’mazhan noticed Plation was having a hard time keeping the barrier on, but it did not matter for they were almost there. An instant later, the two tore through the ships walls and onto what appeared like a hall. The spacecraft seemed to rotate around it center, creating artificial gravity. Pah’mazhan made his way towards the nearest door, exiting the hall which was now open to the harsh environment. Once the door close shut behind them, Plation released his spell and dropped to the ground, gasping for air.
Laying on the ground, crawling towards them as he draws his last breath was the alien creature that had held his masters captive. “Please… help me…” he pleaded, reaching out to Pah’mazhan in vain as his hand drops to the floor. Surprised, Plation looks above the fallen creature to find a red humanoid sitting on the captain’s chair with his legs crossed. “Master,” Pah’mazhan said. Apparently, they had worried over nothing. Plation stood up beside the Bio Android. This is his master? the konatsian thought. In retrospection, he didn’t seem very different from the biseijin. “Pah’mazhan! I’ve been waiting for you. This baboon thought he could subdue me, but my intellect was obviously superior.”
“Forgive me, sir,” Pah’mazhan said, dropping down to a knee with his head towards the ground. Plation raised an eyebrow. “Who have you brought?” Ivan inquires.
Plation smiles and walks towards the bizarre man. “Hi! My name is Plation. I’m a konatsian, native to my planet. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” The man says, extending his hand. Ivan ignores his kind gesture and looks to the Bio Android. “Plation is an elven man from the planet Lupin IV; one of various races that reside within the planet. Magic seems to be very prominent within the land. I fell victim to one, having lost my strength to some curse cast by the biseijin. He helped me regain it, and in return I helped him free his planet from their tyranny…” the Bio Android continued, debriefing his master on the slightest detail and the scientist’s eyes lit up. He was astonished. He was thrilled. To think taking possession over the planet would be so simple, he thought.
“So,” Ivan started, standing from his chair and walking past the konatsian who still had his hand extended. “You’re the hero who saved the world from their century old rulers. I must commend your efforts, but I fear it was in vain.”
“What?” Plation turns around, confused. “What are you talking about?”
Ivan raises his hands to the air while looking at the roof as if speaking with a benevolent being. “Plation, savior of the masses, dies in a valiant last-ditch effort to save them from the hands of the belligerent biseijin. You will be remembered for decades to come. We will build statues of your image in every village so the world will forever be reminded of the sacrifices you have made.” Ivan stops behind Pah’mazhan with his hands locked behind his back. He grins at the konatsian and in that moment Plation realized he was just another Stalin.
Ivan’s grin fades away and then he says in a more solemn tone, "Pah’mazhan, kill him."
Pah’mazhan’s eyes widen towards the ground. Kill him? he thought, gazing up at the konatsian. He had never spent so much time with another person who treated him like his equal. Plation was always encouraging him and smiling, as though they had formed some kind of bond. And now… Ivan asked him… to kill him… his only… friend? First… friend?
Ivan stares down at the Bio Android, alarmed to see that he had not reacted. “What are you doing? Didn’t you hear me? Dispose of the konatsian! His people will never accept me as their ruler if he’s alive.”
The Bio Android stands up slowly. His facial features were obscured by the grim nature of their position. Not once had he ever questioned Ivan’s demands. But this… If you don’t move, Ivan will be mad. The Bio Android takes a step forward and Ivan smirks.
"Wait, what!?" Plation gasps, taking a step back.
Pah’mazhan moved closer.
“Pah’mazhan… what are you doing?” the konatsian inquires, not wanting to believe it. The Bio Android’s gaze remains steadfastly at the ground. “-You don’t have to do this!”
“I must,” Pah’mazhan says. “It is my master’s wish.” Plation flinches and steps back further. “So… this is the real you, huh? After all we’ve been through, you’re going to act like none of it mattered? You’re just going to wash it all away and pretend none of it was real?”
Pah’mazhan stopped.
“You may be a Bio Android, and he may be your creator, but that does not bind you to his will!”
“I don’t have a choice!” Pah’mazhan exclaimed, his gaze still slanted at the ground, but Plation barks back. “You always have a choice! Don’t come to me with that bullshit,Pah’mazhan! You can still change for the better! All you have to do is turn around and it will all be over!”
Pah’mazhan raised his gaze, looking up to the konatsian. Ivan frowns, “Now that’s enough of you. Pah’mazhan, finish it already!” The Bio Android steps forward, “Sorry…” he mutters.
“Sorry!?” Plation exclaimed. “Tell that to Cayu when you go back down and enslave my people! It's so easy that way, isn't it!? Hiding behind your master's orders, just so you don't have to take responsibility for your own actions!"
"Pah’mazhan is a drone, like the Gors. He does anything and everything I ask him for," Ivan buzzes in.
Plation glares at him and then looked at the Bio Android. "Pah’mazhan, listen. I don’t know what you’ve been through and I don’t pretend to understand, but what I do know is that you are given a chance to change every time he opens his mouth. Forget about what he says, you don't have to live your whole life under someone's shadow! You're not a drone! I saw it time and time again! You have a conscious! Pah’mazhan, just please, follow what your heart says! It's the only one who's ever right..."
Laughter breaks throughout the entire room. "Pah’mazhan has no feelings. He has no consciousness. Everything he thinks, does, and says are all predetermined by his core programming that I, his creator, developed. Your plea falls on deaf ears."
Pah’mazhan gripped his saber.
“Pah’mazhan!” they yell in unison.
“Pah’mazhan!”
Suddenly, the Bio Android swung his blade. Ivan grimaced as own blood splattered over his face. He didn’t think he could do it, but Pah’mazhan finally made his choice as his victim dropped dead on the ground. Ivan wiped the blood off his face and grinned at the fallen warrior. “Don’t scare me like that, Pah’mazhan. Next time, I will not overlook your insolence.” The Doctor walked out of a dark corridor, shivering in fear. The entire spacecraft blared as sirens went off. It had sustained reasonable damage since they arrived and it could no longer hold. Slowly, the craft descended toward the planet’s atmosphere and Ivan stood before the glass window to witness it for himself. His laugh filled the room much like Helios’ did back in the castle, and Pah’mazhan stared blankly at the corpse of the konatsian he would dare call his friend.
…
“My dear friends!” Ivan declared. The spaceship had landed amidst the battlefield, wreaked beyond repair though they were intact. They ceased fighting and listened at the man. “It pains me to bring you this news, but your valiant hero Plation has fallen to the hands of the biseijin.” Silence struck the masses. “No!” Cayu cried as Pah’mazhan walked out of the spacecraft with the elven man in his arms. The little boy ran towards them, tugging on the Bio Androids legs and screaming for his brother as tears streamed down his face. Pah’mazhan avoided looking at his eyes, for he feared the boy might see through him. “Let his memory not be in vain! Join together as brothers and sisters! Thanks to his brave efforts, you have been freed from the evil biseijin!” Ivan pauses, letting the news sink in as he prepares to engrave himself into their hierarchy. “I promise,” he says in a lighter voice as if full of pain, “I will honor his last breath and see to it that you all live in freedom! With Pah’mazhan as my knight, we will protect this planet with our lives! Let us forever remember, Plation, the hero who freed us all!”
They cheered, and suddenly Pah’mazhan felt his head begin to hurt, as if a hammer were pounding on the inside of his mind. Collapsing to the floor in a daze, the bio android knew that his hallucination was ending.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Waking up on the pristine floor of the gravity chamber, Pah’mazhan, strained and exhausted, barely was able to stand up. Steadying himself against the constant strain of the gravity, the bio android walked over to the gravity chamber and nearly fell again attempting to turn the dial down. The 130x gravity quickly changed back to 1x, and breathed an audible sigh of relief when it was brought back down to normal.Shaking his head as he left the room, Pah’mazhan returned to his own room and sat down, cross-legged. Allowing his eyes to droop closed, he cleared his mind and began meditating once more, allowing his recent excursion into another’s life to settle as background noise and letting the experience drip through.
[[Finished! Mastering 130x gravity! 12,272 words, 7728 words left this week for solo posts]]