Uprising::Deceits of the Deceiver, Rebirth of the Believer
February 3rd, 2006 by ApocolypticaChapter 5 (cont’d) – As the space battle raged, the Necron ships continued to take casualties, they were down by 63%, however they were by no means defeated, for those ships that had been torn apart tried to reconnect and get back to the fight. The Tomb ship had taken orbit above the planet and had begun taking pop shots at anything that got in range. Just out of engagement range, the Black Stone Fortress had finally gotten its sub-light engines back online and had begun to power up its systems. Sindri was determined to make those bastards pay for what they had done; he was for the moment down, but not out! “Status Repot!” he demanded from the crew servitors. “Power output at 37%, decompression in decks 5k3-3k0, fires reported on most decks, lances 1-4 are off line, and the!” “Can we move damn it?!?” raged Sindri, “yes my lord” “good then power up the engines I wan!” suddenly Klaxon counters began to blare, however they were not damage klaxons, they were warp scanners, something was coming out of the warp, it was definitely human, that he could tell just by looking at the screen.
Chapter 29 – There was no holding back the children from the presents waiting for them in the Grand Ballroom that morning. They rushed and slid on the smooth floor with their socks to get to their presents and stockings. Haiku also ran into the ballroom with the HealthBlade running in just behind her. Lieutenant Harke with his team captains were in the ballroom making sure the children were having a good time. “It’s so odd to see a seven year old Blade Master,” said Lieutenant Harke to his security staff. “Look Carber, the StarBlade left candy for you too!” said Haiku to her HealthBlade. The children were in the ballroom for at least an hour before they started to clean up and leave for their rooms. Haiku knocks on the door of the twins’ room and enters when one of them told her to enter. “Look at what the StarBlade gave me!” said Haiku. “All of that looks so great, and a uniform just like ours, you will look like an official Blade Master,” said Salem. “I want Pawn to put my doll in a safe place,” said Haiku. “Sure thing,” said Salem as she goes over to the still sleeping Pawn on his small bed. “Pawn, can you put Haiku’s doll in the void?” asked Salem. Pawn picks up his sleepy little head and looks at the small wooden doll in the hands of Haiku. Pawn opens his little mouth and the doll gets sucked into the ThievesBlade’s void. “Your Doll is safe, Haiku,” said Salem.
Chapter 28 – The TidusBlade had been out to sea for twenty hours and moving at a hundred and seventy knots. The large watertight doors were opened and the towers were up so the on-board philosophers could do their research. Jarody had never seen anyone who could sleep longer than him, but the other Blade Masters were in bed for an entire day. The only other people who were up and about were Vivien with guards and Haiku. It was the morning of Thanksgiving and the crew of the TidusBlade was busy running the ship and making preparations for the great dinner and party in the main dining hall. The first sign of life on the Blade Master Living Quarters hall was Christina and Vivien’s door opening and Christina in a beautiful white flowing dress and white slippers stepping out followed by Vivien in a just as beautiful red low cut dress. Jarody comes walking out of his room in the usual blue jeans and a t-shirt with strange symbols on it saying in another language “Fuck the NAVY” on the front and “The NAVY will fuck you back” on the back. “What’s going on here?” asked Jarody. “Today’s Thanksgiving,” said Christina. Do you not have something dressy?” asked Christina. “I guess I can wear a clean t-shirt,” said Jarody. The twins’ door opens and Selene and Salem step out of their room with matching long black backless dresses with a low cut in the front almost reaching both their navels. Pawn was around Salem’s neck as usual but looked to be cleaned and brushed to the point of mixing with the dress in a way that he looked to be part of it other than the silver mask on his face. “Aaaaaaagh!!” yelled Jarody, “This is SO WRONG!! SO VERY WRONG!!”
Chapter 27 – Salem and Selene had changed into their night clothes for a well earned rest. Pawn was already snoozing away like a little chain saw in his soft ferret bed. Both the twins wanted to discuss with James and the other Blade Masters what had happened, however the Captain could see that they all needed rest. “It was Captains orders to hit the hay,” said Salem. “I know sis,” said Selene, “I still would have liked to!” “Now, no fight talk. Sleep,” interrupted Salem as she picked up the blanket for Selene to get under so they can both get to bed. A soft knock was heard on the door before Christina came in. “Salem, Selene?” called Christina as the white haired head popped through the door. “What is the matter Christina? Having trouble sharing a bed with Vivien?” asked Salem. “No, not at all, we like sleeping together,” said Christina as she entered the room, closing the door behind her. Christina was dressed much like the twins in only cloth socks on her feet with night shorts and an undershirt, although Christina’s ample chest took up most of the material of her undershirt. Christina sat down at a nearby chair and said, “I want to talk about that water giant.” Another more powerful knock was heard on the twins’ door. “Who is it?” asked Selene. “It’s Zealot,” said the person on the other side, “Are you two dressed, I need to ask something.” Salem looked at Selene, “He must want more.” “Shut up,” said Selene, “Sure, come in!”
Chapter 26 – James made to lead the Blade Masters out of the bridge. “Um, is she going to be OK?” asked the Security Chief. Salem is still in a trance like state, her eyes fixed on the Security Chief. “Come on, Salem, we have to go,” said Selene taking her sister by the hand and pulling her to the door. “Captain,” called John who was still at the helm, “Another BoltBlade just pulled up to the platform. “I think we have more late night visitors,” said James. Salem’s eyes were still fixed on the Security Chief as she was led out. The group made their way down to the door leading out to the dock. “Are you a Blade Master, Captain?” asked Christina. “We are in his Blade right now, Christina,” said Selene. “What happened now?” asked Salem, just coming out of her trance. Two people make their way through the checkpoint and walk up to the TidusBlade’s doorway. The two look to be bickering with each other as they walk to them. A short guy in grey dress pants and a white buttoned shirt with a black tie, and a very tall woman making the man look like a midget, dressed like him but had a long flowing overcoat on. They arrive at the doorway where the group is waiting, “Hello there Captain James Koror,” said the man. “I’m Detective Lagan and this is Detective Pacer of the P.C.P.D.” said the woman. “You have a Mr. Wayne Marcus here with you?” asked Detective Pacer.
Chapter 25 – Raphael and Wayne leave Lady Slambrawn’s mansion and arrive an hour later at the Lysts Palace city Blade Port where King Abbot and the other Blade Masters wait for them. “Here comes, Wayne!” yelled Haiku as the others get up off their feet to get a look through the glass. Jarody and Zealot were playing a game of dice with money on the floor. “Ha! Two o’ one AM, I win,” gloated Jarody as Zealot hands him some money. The two enter the Blade Port and are met by a crowd of people. “Where have you been? We expected you back hours ago,” said King Abbot. Raphael bowed down low, “My apologies my King, we had a bit of trouble leaving the Slambrawn Manor.” “The bloody bitch tried to have us killed,” said Wayne. “Killed?” asked Selene. “I tried to arrest her, however she was able to escape,” said Raphael. “Escape? I’ve never known anyone ever being able to escape from you before, Raphael,” said King Abbot. “She had help, someone I never got to see,” replied Raphael. “I want a dragnet across the entire city. Every home suspected in aiding Lady Slambrawn’s escape is to be searched and wanted posters made up to!, what was the total amount she won at the race?” asked the King. “I believe it was eleven million collons, Sire,” said Raphael. “Eleven million collons on the head of Lady Slambrawn!” yelled King Abbot. Collon signs practically appeared on Jarody’s face as he heard this. “We need to get going to Hellion,” said Selene. “Why so soon? Thanksgiving is only three days away and I’m sure you’ll want to be around when we capture Lady Slambrawn for her trial.” “We are sorry, Abbot, but as we told you before, we need to get this done as quickly as possible,” said Salem. “I promise there’ll be food there fit enough for a king,” said King Abbot in an enticing way. “Thanks for all your help, Abbot,” said Selene. “Very well then, one last thing, Pixie Dust and her BoltBlade will come along with you. I just had fresh track built at Cragorus and I want Pixie Dust to test it out,” said King Abbot. “Very well,” said Selene.
Chapter 24 – The Lysts Downs Equestrian Grand Prix had ended and the crowd of rich and aristocratic filed out of the Equestrian Arena. Salem and Selene wait outside with the other Blade Masters. Pawn sleeps soundly on Salem’s shoulders reliving his experience in his dreams and enjoying the warm feeling of being with his master once again. The King joined them along with Arian and Raphael. Lady Slambrawn with her faithful servant Dalton met them not long after. Lady Slambrawn had a feeling that something was wrong when she saw Zealot, a competitor from the Tagi Challenge. “My King,” said Lady Slambrawn, how may I help you?” “I understand that you have in custody a Wayne Marcus,” said King Abbot. “Indeed I do my King,” said Lady Slambrawn, “He owes me some money. He told me that he had friends waiting for him at the Blade Port. I sent them a letter but have not heard from them.” “Well, I am answering now,” said the King, “You see, Wayne Marcus’s friends are very close friends of mine. So to make this official, I have the Equestrian Society President’s representative here with me to make things official.” “Lady Slambrawn,” said Arian, “King Abbot wants to turn over his cash winnings to you, provided that you will return Mr. Wayne Marcus to his friends.” “What? She gets all ten million collons!” asked Jarody. “I am giving you the full amount of the winnings in good faith, and in this form, the money was never in my possession. The Monarchy of Lysts nor the Shrine of the Blades did not pay a ransom and with the one million collons you won from winning second and this ten million, I say the debt is more then paid. Would you agree, Lady Slambrawn?” asked the King. “I agree with that your Majesty,” said Lady Slambrawn bowing low. “My head of security, Raphael, will go with you to pick up Mr. Wayne Marcus and deliver him safely to the Blade port where his friends will be waiting.” With that, Lady Slambrawn left with her servant and Raphael. “Good thinking King Abbot. I would not have done any better,” said Selene. “But she got all ten million collons!” yelled Jarody. “The amount she would have won if we did not enter the race,” said Salem. “But!!” continued Jarody as they started to make their way to the Blade port.
Chapter 23 – The stables were full of activity, trainers and animals everywhere. Pawn stands on a table next to Need A Smoke and Brother In-law. Pawn had been here since Salem put him there and gave him a kiss on the head to wish him luck. Rook was twisting her head left and right trying to see all of the action at once. Pawn knew that he will be riding a horse in a race, he had to ride Blackfrost many times in the past, but that was never in any race, and he was familiar with Blackfrost. Suddenly, Mal entered the busy stable and was making his way to them when he bumped into a blonde woman who was walking to her horse and rider. Pawn had seen this woman before. It was Arian, and she was taking a soaked cloth to a black horse and a very cute looking female ferret. Arian continued on her way as Mal stepped back to let her pass then continued to walk to them. “Your masters wanted I to wish ye two luck, and now to get ye guys strapped in for the race,” said Mal as he lifted Pawn and placed him on the back of Need A Smoke. Mal began to tie a small leather strap to Pawn’s rear left ankle. “This be incase you fall off, but a word of caution I be giving ye little one,” said Mal as he looked down to the floor, “It is a long way down for ye.” Pawn looks down and gives a big swallow when he saw where the ground was.
Chapter 22 – The gates to the Royal Palace opened wide to let out the horses and carriages of the Royal convoy headed to the Palace City Blade port. The convoy passed the main Blade Port terminal and went to the garage where the BoltBlade is stored when not running. King Abbot with the MonarchBlade, Salem with Pawn, and Selene exit a carriage and are led by guards to the large garage. “A man had visited the Palace asking for time in the Royal Library,” said Abbot. “Your library has books not found anywhere else,” said Selene. “Correct. I told the guy that he could look in the library if he liked but no book is to be removed or damaged, I also asked the guy what he would give in return.” said Abbot. “What did the guy do?” asked Salem. “The man had a Blade. It was a very strange Blade, it was short and any use as a weapon did not look possible. He asked me, “What was the most valuable thing in the city.” I told him it was the BoltBlade,” said King Abbot. “What did he do?” asked Selene. “He asked to see the BoltBlade. I took him here,” continued King Abbot, “He then used his Blade.” The group entered the main storage room of the building where the twins were met with an all striking sight. “He used his Blade to make copies of the BoltBlade. We now have eight new BoltBlades, except for color, each one is exactly as the original,” said King Abbot as the Twins looked at the white BoltBlades with blue trim, lined up next to each other.
Chapter 21 – The BoltBlade glided along its track at a constant speed of three hundred miles per hour. What was amazing to the Blade Masters for the first five minutes was now very boring. “I need to go,” said Haiku to her father. “You may have to hold it,” said Emhril. “There is a place she can go at the back of the compartment,” said Selene. Haiku undoes her seatbelt and leaves her seat to go to the restroom at the back. “Aw, you should not be touching Vivien’s chest,” said Haiku. “Don’t you have to go to the restroom?” said Jarody through his grinning teeth. “If we are going the wrong way, why don’t you try telling Pixie?” asked Zealot. Frustrated, Selene sits back on her seat and says, “Because the operator’s compartment is locked when the BoltBlade is moving. For safety reasons, Pixie needs to keep her attention on everything that is going on around us.” “So we are going to have to tell her to take us to Hellion when we get to the Palace City,” said Salem. Rook was looking around the compartment and giving an annoyed squawk letting Selene know that he is not enjoying being in a small place that is not big enough to fly in. The HealthBlade stops in its tracks on the ceiling and begins to stare at Mal. Mal just turns his head to look outside to see that they were outrunning a flock of ducks heading the same direction. Mal would have continued to look out of the window but could see the HealthBlade’s reflection in the glass, still looking at him. “What do you want, you oversized fly catcher?!” yelled Mal causing everyone in the compartment to look at him. Haiku comes out of the restroom, “He is just trying to count the lice in your hair,” she said as she made her way back to her seat next to her father. “He has lice?” asked Wayne before crossing the aisle to sit alone on the other side of the compartment. “Very common with people who work very closely with horses,” said Selene “How about Pawn? He is always on Salem’s neck, would Salem be getting lice from him?” asked Mal, snapping back. “No, I keep Pawn clean and his fur is combed,” said Salem with Pawn giving a squeak that sounded like a “So there.”