All posts by ShinJae

Champions of Battle: AD7 – Awakening #30

Stealth Phrygian slowly weaved its way down the canopy.  In an effort to keep the city hidden, the inhabitants of Sanity kept the larger trees alive.  They built the city around and through the trees to ensure the jungle canopy above the city would be no different than any other patch of trees.  As a result they had to create their own light sources.  At least they would not be found by a wandering pilot.

The large arrowhead of a ship had to dip, twist, and spin to traverse the thick branches safely.  From time to time, the pilots spotted a defensive turret in the trees.  The team was expected so they had nothing to worry about.

Only the pilots fully experienced the decent through the maze of branches and vines.  Strapped to their chairs for protection, April and Jai felt the full force of natural gravity and used the ship’s mechanical limbs to push the smaller limbs apart.  They had to be careful not to damage the canopy too much as they descended.

Passengers didn’t feel any of the complicated maneuvering thanks to the regional artificial gravity throughout the ship.  They walked, ate, and carried on unhindered as the ship tipped and maneuvered.  Things were no different for them even when the ship was flipped upside-down.

The gravity technology was based on Mech Fortress research.  Keyanna was proud to tell AD7 about the huge leaps in technology that came after researching the Mech Fortress devices.  Several of the gadgets were unheard of in AD7’s time.  Naturally, AD7 wanted to know more and asked questions repeatedly.

AD7 and Keyanna traversed the ship along with Tirzah towards the exit ramp.  Seeing that they were getting along, Tirzah had orders that she knew Keyanna would like, “Keyanna, AD7 is new to this time and place.  Show her the sights will you.  Get her geared up and ready to fight with us.”

Keyanna was ecstatic at the thought, “Really!  Yes ma’am.”  She saluted and looked over at AD7 who didn’t have any complaints about joining her for a trip around the city.

They kept a good pace through the ship.  Everything was fine until they passed a window.  AD7 rushed to it hoping to see if the gravity technology was real.  She had only dreamed of such a thing.  Her feet were planted firmly on the floor yet the view out of the side window showed the city below them and spinning branches.

“Wow, this is so coo…,” AD7 was amazed for the brief moment she could stand.  The visualized but unfelt motion overloaded her balance.  It took only a short while before she fell to the floor completely dizzy.

Keyanna thought to warn her, but it happened so quickly.  Seeing that she was otherwise unharmed, Keyanna walked over to help her up.  “Sorry,” Keyanna giggled, “I forgot to tell say ‘It makes you dizzy.’”

Tirzah witnessed the events well away from the window.  “No worries,” she commented, “I fell a few times too.  Just stay away from the windows and you won’t get airsick.”

She and Keyanna helped AD7 up.  The two had to help AD7 to walk the rest of the way while AD7 regained her balance.  The three ladies made their way to the exit ramp where they met the rest of the passengers.

Before long, the pilots made the announcement.  Stealth Phrygian had made the final flip through the canopy and was free to land in the hanger.

Soon after, the doors opened.  While most of GarDNAnge1 left, AD7 and Cyd lingered behind looking at the wondrous city.

#1 – Awakening #29 – Awakening #31

Champions of Battle: The Very Best – Opportunity #29

Not far from where the Ganker’s trap was laid, a small pile of stolen equipment sat in a room with four Champions.  Two Champions, a male and a female, checked the equipment for any upgrades they could steal.  Another pair, the leader and his right hand lady studied a holographic image.  The team had used it to keep track of a fearsome quarry.  However, the trail was a continuous puzzle.

Shinsaku Yu sat at the desk in what was now his warrior’s garb, the most powerful armor picked from the stolen gear.  He was rather tall for a Crisho and not all of the pieces fit.  His gold skin peeked from beneath the helmet while a red patch of skin escaped for his right glove.  The armor didn’t look right on him, but it could easily be refitted.

The Champion they tracked had stood out as a tournament hopeful from the moment she stepped off the shuttle.  She looked utterly fearsome especially with that maul.  If anyone in RedBatty was going to win, this warrior could not be allowed to fight in the tournament.

“Now she’s going into the Casting Talent School,” Shinsaku stated while pointing at the miniature image on his desk.

It was a comment of utter confusion.  His companion Ione Zhang had watched the same image for the last hour.  She knew everything the mysterious warrior had done.  Their cloaked tracking droid had followed the target since she walked away from their alley.

Ione watched the image of the warrior entering the Caster Talent School.  Her orange skin and thin mahogany stripes shown through her tattered disguise.  “How do you know it’s a she?  He seemed quite strong to me.”

Shinsaku couldn’t help but glance at Ione.  She was an essential member of RedBatty, but she questioned just about everything he said.  Sometimes he wondered if he was really the leader of this team, “The warrior’s armor, particularly the belt, suggests a torso to leg ratio fitting that of a female.”

Whatever, smarty-pants… Ione couldn’t help but roll her eyes listening to Shinsaku’s intellectual dribble.  “Fine whatever, why is she going there,” Ione asked resigning to his logic.  She snapped her fingers with the dawn of inspiration, “She’s an enchanter.”

Ione had charmed the fearsome looking warrior just as they planned.  She guided the warrior directly towards the trap but it took a great deal of strength to get her moving.  If this was truly a lady, powerful strength enchants must be in play.

Shinsaku had pegged her for a Combatant Talent user.  That was the only explanation he could find for that heavy destructive weapon.  It was big enough to wreck someone with a single hit, the focus of the Combatant Talent Set.  But now she went into the Caster school?

“She has to be an enchantress,” Shinsaku was confident in that statement.  Enchanting skills were usually taught in the Casting Schools so that explained things well enough.  Ione was the most powerful enchantress he knew but this warrior shook off her charms.  That was only possible if this fighter had powerful enchants of her own.

While someone could be a Combatant and a Caster, there were only a few moves in the two sets that worked well together.  The other moves took too long to channel or were too weak to make a difference.  She had to be walking from school to school for a reason.

“Fine.  So, how are we going to get her,” Ione looked to Shinsaku.

Shinsaku had no immediate answer.  After a little though he spoke, “I don’t know.”  He stood and turned away from the image, “Keep watching her.  I’ll review the tapes for clues.  I could have sworn she was talking to herself earlier.”

#1 – Opportunity #28 – Opportunity #30

Sons of Sword: Tales of Glory – Lost and Found #25

Metcalf awoke from the perfect rest.  She roused, completely refreshed from the couch.  If she didn’t know better, she could have sworn the cushions were massaging her while she slept.  She opened her eyes and took in the room, a completely new room.

Where am I?

It took a while to remember the events of the early morning.  The room was completely remodeled; again.  But the windows and the walls themselves didn’t lie.  She was still in Master Fu’s large apartment.  She had slept soundly well into the day.

Nope.  I was right. She thought as the cushions started to massage her again tempting her to fall back to sleep.  She jumped up to resist them and turned to see a humanoid robot very familiar to those that the higher level students fought for training.  Instead of the standard brown, this one was polished silver and unscratched.

To her great surprise it spoke, “Greetings Student Luo.  I am Tile,” it said pointing to itself, “I have been given instructions by Master Fu on what to do after you wake up.  Have you awoken?”

“Yeah,” Metcalf said not sure of what to make of this machine.  Was it here this whole time?  That’s a little eerie.

“Most excellent,” it continued with the most emotion that its mechanical voice could muster, “It is currently thirty seven minutes past hour thirteen.  Your friends are most likely looking to train with you.  However, there are some videos the mistress has asked me to show you before you left.  She has classes and preparations and apologizes for her absence.”

Tile walked her over to an empty space in the apartment.  It seemed the whole room may have been remodeled to make this space.  It was quite large and everything else was slightly packed closer.

As they reached the center of the area, the room went dark as a holographic image showed a gruesome scene.  With all the blood, it took a while for Metcalf to realize what the image was.  She backed away in horror as she noted that it was a bloody box of chopped Chisho body parts.

At her horror, Tile began speaking, “Master Fu noted your interest in stealth combat and wanted you to see this,” it pointed at the recording.  Once Metcalf found the strength to look at it again, Tile continued, “This was Blaze Chiu.  He was assigned in Romneya to bring us information concerning their possible disloyalty to the Heir of Sword.

“Though technically our ally, they took him as a spy and therefore an enemy.  After he was caught, Glory City denied all knowledge of his existence.  He was also brave enough not to say anything about his affiliation with our nation during his questioning.”

Questioning?  That’s what you call that?

The image shifted to tall grass and a pair of boots with.  Blood coming from inside the boots suggested that there were still feet inside of them.

Once the image was clear, Tile began again, “This agent was caught infiltrating the data base in Pine Hills.  They learned that he worked for us and attempted to barter for his safe return.  After receiving no offer, they dropped him off and left him for the wild life,” Tile pointed to the image, “This is how we found him.”

After a few more images, Tile got to the point, “These were great agents with years on the field.  This is what happened when they failed their missions.  There are hundreds of agents still on the field that remain active each with very delicate assignments.

“We won’t be able to teach you all of their techniques.  However, after the way you met Master Fu this morning, she thought it necessary to encourage you to train with utmost sincerity.  You are quite the capable student.  However, there is a limit to what you can learn in six months.  As you train, please remember to train with all you heart and review what you learn often.  It could save you from fates such as these.”

“Thank you Tile,” Metcalf looked at the image.  Those were fates she hoped to avoid.

“Have a good day Student Luo,” Tile said with a bow.

Metcalf bowed back and politely left the apartment.

#1 – Lost and Found #24 – Lost and Found #26