Leaving Cragorus
July 25th, 2006 by Salem
Chapter 40 – The BoltBlade sits on the BoltBlade track high above the Gaza shipping port, waiting to be loaded back onto the TidusBlade. A single crewmember works the controls of the retractable platform and moves it into position on the port side of the large ship. On the starboard side, a large number of male and female crewmembers have gathered with a wooden plank extended out over the sandy yellow waters. Captain James Koror and Commander Ajax stand on a balcony above the crewmembers. Ajax blows a whistle to gain the attention of the crew. “On every ship, regardless of what country they serve or what waters they sail, they had a tradition all must go through. When one is about to take the rank of Lieutenant Commander, a rank just under Captain, they must spend at least a year as an Ensign before. I had to do this as did my father and his father,” said James, “My son just completed the required year.” John stands at the foot of the wooden plank as a few crewmembers give John a strong pat on the back. “And as tradition dictates, young John Koror must now prove he is ready and worthy of the privileges and responsibilities that await him,” said James, “Commander Ajax, lower the rank!” Ajax pulls out a long pole and extends it out over the wooden plank. Attached to the pole is a long string and tied at the other end is a golden dress epaulet with a Lieutenant Commander rank pin attached to it. “I have always hated this tradition,” said John to himself. “Not to put pressure on you John, but if you fall in the water, we’ll have to try again next month,” said James. The crew starts to make hooting calls. “When you’re ready son!” yelled James. Ensign Luke gave his older brother a quick push out onto the wooden plank, “What’re you waiting for Bro? Grab those bars!” The crew all begins to yell and chant “John!” as he slowly shuffles out on the slowly bending plank. John knew his father wasn’t kidding. He didn’t want another month as an Ensign. Just above him is the epaulet and under him are the ever bending platform and the murky yellowish brown waters of the Gaza River. John took a deep breath and did a short jump to get the plank to act as a springboard before using it to make a larger jump for the epaulet. John reaches up and grabs the dress epaulet. The plank under him splinters and falls into the water. John holds on tight to the thin string that begins to slowly give to his weight. John instinctively uses the string to swing to the TidusBlade deck. The string breaks and John reaches out to the railing. The crew moves forward to get a better look. James and Ajax also try to get a better look but their vision is blocked by the heads of crewmembers. A few crewmembers begin to cheer, then the cheering moves through the crew like a wave. John climbs over the railing and onto the deck. James begins to clap along with the rest of the crew. “Everyone, report to the grand ballroom for the pinning ceremony!” ordered the Captain. The crowd of crewmembers begins to move inside as Ensign Luke and other officers lift John to carry him to the ballroom.
Just behind the TidusBlade is a trading ship named the Georges. Unknown to the TidusBlade crew, the Georges is in fact a disguised pirate ship. The uniformed crew of the Georges runs all around the dock making preparations to castoff. On the deck of the Georges stands the Mysterious Master accompanied by Arian. “Shadow Arian made it to the mouth of the cave,” said Arian with her eyes closed. “Can you see where she is now?” asked the Master. “The mountains are not allowing all of her experiences to make it back completely. I think she reached the cave half an hour ago. I’m only seeing darkness now,” replied Arian. “Captain Panthamer, be ready to leave port as soon as possible!” ordered the Master. “Understood my Master!” answered the Captain. A slit opened and General Carcass appears, trying to undo the large latches to his PanzerBlade and breathing hard. A second slit opens and Lady Slambrawn appears stomping around in anger, “I could have beaten them! I could have beaten them!” Report my General,” ordered the Master. General Carcass undoes the last latch on his armor and his thick breast plate falls to the deck. A red spot was very evident on his chest where the large dent was pushing in on him. Dropping to one knee, Carcass says, “My Master, we were successful in diverting their attention while Shadow Arian completed her task.” “Where is the C’Tan?” asked the Master.
A slit opened on the Gaza dock near the TidusBlade and Detective Pacer appeared. Pacer ran to the Georges, past the crew members who were undoing the ship’s moorings and up the loading ramp. Lady Slambrawn’s ThunderBlade activated as she pointed the cannon to Detective Pacer. Pacer immediately fell to one knee and said, “I bring the JumpBlade for you Master.” “This is one of the cops who were with the Gemini Twin HexBlade Masters,” said Lady Slambrawn. “Put your cannon away, Lady Slambrawn. It’s the C’Tan in a new body,’ said the Master, “C’Tans are creatures of energy, the officer obviously must have been weakened enough to allow the C’Tan to take over his body.” The Master takes the JumpBlade from the C’Tan. “Report my friend,” ordered the Master. Arian begins to yell and she falls to the deck. Inside the ships cabin, the other Arians also begin to scream. Arian is panting hard as she slowly gets back on her feet. “What happened?!” demanded the Master. “I think Shadow Arian has just been killed,” answered Arian. “What about the information from the spy?” asked General Carcass. “When an Arian dies, what information and knowledge she had dies with her,” said the Master. “One of the Raptors had captured her. Arian threw me the ReverseJumpBlade. I used it as soon as I could,” said the C’Tan. “The Blade Masters are truly foolish. They had one of us and they killed her instead of interrogating her for what information she had,” said General Carcass. Sky Arian flies in with Nuclear-Chipmunk in her arms and lands on the deck. “We are all here. Cast off now Captain Panthamer!” ordered the Master. “All hands, cast off!” yelled the Captain. The ship begins to leave the port.
Sky Arian releases Nuclear-Chipmunk allowing him to return to Lady Slambrawn. “Report Sky Arian,” ordered the Master. “The Blade Masters and Raptors had Shadow Arian surrounded when the chipmunk used his Blade to kill her and retrieve her Blade,” reported Arian. “Excellent. Most excellent,” said the Master. “That explains why Shadow Arian was killed,” said Arian with a very sad expression on her face. “You trained your pet well Lady Slambrawn,” said the Master. “Would you expect anything less from a Slambrawn?” asked Lady Slambrawn. General Carcass appeared to want to answer the question. “We must continue to discuss our plans inside,” said the Master. Sky Arian returns to the air as the others enter the ship’s main cabin. Inside the cabin, there were eleven more Arians inside, all of whom had sad expressions on their faces. Nuclear-Chipmunk handed the DarknessBlade to Lady Slambrawn. “We have her locket,” said Lady Slambrawn. The Master walks around a desk and sits on the chair at the other side, “Open it.” Lady Slambrawn slowly opens the small Blade to reveal a paper inside. Stanza enters the cabin. “How is our guest doing?” asked the Master. “Doing well and finally eating,” answered Stanza. “This is a note from our spy!” interrupted Lady Slambrawn. “Shadow Arian must have been able to meet the spy after all,” said General Carcass. “Read the note Lady Slambrawn,” said the Master. JumpBlade inside hill close by cave of Caretaker. Temple SaintBlade is fake. Real one inside Mount Obelisk.
“There is no more,” said Lady Slambrawn. “That can’t be true!” shouted Stanza, “My SoothsayersBlade clearly predicts that we obtain possession of the SaintBlade from the Temple of the Blades!” “Your Blade may still be correct my dear Stanza,” said the Master, “I see no reason why we should have to travel to Mount Obelisk to dig in the dirt. Let the Blade Masters do the work for us. We will wait for them to bring the SaintBlade to us at their Temple.” “Great idea as always my Master,” said General Carcass. “I must send a massage to Captain Crellis informing him of this new development,” said the Master. The others stand and begins to leave the cabin. “Lady Slambrawn,” called the Master, “Wait here. I have an extra special task for you.”
DarkRaptor sits back in the living room while the HealthBlade slowly removes the musket ball from her leg. RedRaptor enters the room with a piece of paper. “I just don’t understand why Pacer hit me,” said Lagan. “The C’Tan,” said DarkRaptor, “It is a being of energy. It was able to take over the weakened Detective. There is nothing that can hurt a C’Tan.” “How about the MirrorBlade? It can cut what cannot normally be cut,” said Selene, “It could kill the C’Tan.” “Then from now on, I suggest that Vivien is the only one to face the C’Tan,” said Dark, “I’m sorry Red, what do you have?” RedRaptor steps forward with the paper, “This is the complete scan of Mount Obelisk. The SaintBlade is still there, but there are pockets of toxic natural gas inside.” “So even if we still had the JumpBlade, I wouldn’t have been able to use it to retrieve the SaintBlade,” said Dark. “Where were you David?” asked Salem. “I tried to mount Skyclap when I couldn’t quite get my foot in the right place and I was left behind on the grass,” said David, “Everyone else passed me by and so I was about to run for it until I saw Arian running to Terra’s cave. I decided to run after her to find out what she was doing here and where she was going.”
“Arian?” asked Dark. “The blonde haired blue eyed woman we cornered,” said Salem. “Do you know her?” Blue asked David. “Arian was the official representative of a business man named Rex Tyrann. We first saw her officiating the Tagi Challenge and then the Lysts Downs Equestrian Grand Prix,” said Selene. “What do we know of this Rex Tyrann?” asked Red. “Not much I am sorry to say,” said Salem. “Rex Tyrann is the President of the Equestrian Society of Lysts and he owns many multi-million collon businesses that specializes in things from shipping to technological development,” said Detective Lagan, “He’s mostly known these days for the sporting and barbarian events he organizes near and far but recently, he has been hard to see in person. Arian would be the one you see if you try and organize a meeting with Rex.” DarkRaptor looked at the Detective and said, “From what you know about this man, do you think he is capable of plotting against the twins and their Blade Masters?” “to tell the truth, I just don’t know him well enough to positively answer that question,” said Detective Lagan, “What I just told you is common knowledge to those who live in the Lysts Palace City.” “I say this information we have,” said Blue, “makes it very likely that this Rex Tyrann is the so called Powerful Master that General Carcass, Lady Slambrawn and the C’Tan are taking their orders from.” “How could you make a connection like that?” asked Zealot. “We’ve been doing this for years,” said DarkRaptor, “It actually gets easier with time and experience.” “I need to get word back to Captain Waller,” said Detective Lagan, “He could arrest Rex Tyrann and question him.” “Do you still have the ComBlade?” asked Salem. “Yes I do,” answered Lagan. “Call the TidusBlade and they can relay the message back to your department,” said Selene. Detective Lagan gets up from her seat to go outside to try her ComBlade.
“When did she get into the storage hill?” Dark asked David. “I don’t know,” replied David, “I just saw her enter Terra’s cave and I followed her in. I ran all the way down into the cave until I found Terra at the other end.” “Did you ask Terra if she saw Arian?” asked Blue. “Actually, I did not want to disturb the woman at all,” said David, “Given the family history I had. I figured that it would be a very bad idea to face her alone.” “That cave is a very long walk,” said Dark with half a tone in her voice. “I ran back to the exit and I found the door to the hill open,” said David, “I looked to see if Arian was inside and when I couldn’t find her, I closed the door and ran back here where you all were already returning from that fight.” “Why were you outside the house instead of with the others at the battle?” Dark asked Emhril. “I ordered him to guard the house,” said Selene, “I wanted to make sure Haiku, Mal and Mage Khet were safe.” “I could have fought!” said Haiku. “I’m sure you could,” said Dark, “I beat an army of people when I was younger than you.” “I cannot understand it. They were Blade Masters. There have never been Blade Masters on opposite sides before,” said Salem. “Why is this so hard for you to believe?” asked Blue. “We would like to believe that the Blades only choose individuals with righteous attributes,” said Selene. “I do not think Lady Slambrawn and the C’Tan are chosen masters of their Blades. Their use of them were somewhat limited,” said Salem. “Very uncharacteristically observant of you sis,” said Selene giving Salem a hard stare, “They were not masters. But General Carcass is definitely the chosen master of his Blade.” “What is your explanation on that one?” asked RedRaptor.
“What are you and your Blade Masters going to do now?” asked Blue. “We have no choice but to head for Mount Obelisk at the other side of the Mantyan Expanse and retrieve the SaintBlade,” said Salem. “Could you use your vehicle to take us there?” asked Selene. “I’m afraid not,” said Dark, “I don’t want to contaminate this world with that much alien technology. A small amount like Vivien’s PDA is OK, but a large jet is just going too far. Secondly, the RaptorWing has no way to leave the underground hanger except to go through the launch bay and out the AliceBlade.” “It is OK. Just thought to ask,” said Selene, “We do have a way to get to Mount Obelisk anyway.”
“Kasey?” asked Salem. “Right,” said Selene. “You mean we have to cross that mile long bridge?!” asked David with fright in his eyes. “The bridge will not take us where we need to go,” said Selene. “And I’m coming with you,” said DarkRaptor. “Sweetheart!” said Blue, getting up from her seat. “They took something from me. I’m not going to sit here and let them get away with that,” said Dark. “Then we will get ready to go,” said Blue. “No, You, Red and Pink stay here. They still need us on Earth. I’ll take Cold and Purple with me. They could use the vacation. Plus it appears that ColdRaptor, thanks to her blatant disregard of my advice, appears to be the only one who can fight General Carcass, thanks to her cyberized body.” “General Carcass is mine to defeat!” yelled Zealot, the golden medal still in his mind. “Then you two can both fight him. I was going to suggest that there be two people to fight the General anyway,” said Dark. “Suggest? Why say it is a suggestion?” asked Salem. “That’s because I’m not leading this group. Just because I’m joining you, doesn’t mean I’m taking over as leader. I’ll be following your orders for once,” said Dark, “You started this quest, journey, task or whatever you have chosen to call this. You should stay the leaders.” The twins look at each other not knowing what to say about this.
“Why is Purple coming along?” asked Zealot, “I’m troubled enough thinking about Haiku’s safety.” “Well if you hadn’t noticed. Purple isn’t a normal nine-year-old,” said Dark, “Seeing that Lady Slambrawn uses sound waves as a weapon, it’s best to fight fire with fire and use PurpleRaptor’s natural talent to fight the woman.” “She may have different plans than to fight a small child,” said David, “It’s me she wants. It’s me who she wants to kill.” “Then Purple will stick with you like you’re her father,” said Dark, “and don’t worry. Purple only looks like a child but she is actually twenty five years old.” “So having sex with her isn’t out of the question?” asked Jarody. The others looked at Jarody with a shocked look on their face. “You better be kidding about that,” said Dark. Even with all of his power, Jarody knew better than to get DarkRaptor angry at him. “Detective Pacer is a fellow officer,” said Lagan, finally getting the courage to speak up, “I should be the one to fight him.” “Then pair up with Vivien,” said Dark, “But then again, all of these are just suggestions.”
Christina and PinkRaptor return to the living room just when the HealthBlade finishes patching up Dark’s wound and returns to Haiku’s back. Christina is dressed in a completely white version of the twins’ gothic uniform. “This is made of a material that acts like a bullet proof vest and a fire suit in one,” said Pink. “I just have to remember to take off my jacket before calling on the light wings,” said Christina. She removes her white jacket to show that her top has no back. “The light wings, they look like some root form,” said Selene. “That’s right,” said Dark, “The more she uses the light wings, the more she can do with them.” “You mean we could wear anything we want? I do not have to dress like this?” signs Vivien to Selene.
“Vivien,” called RedRaptor, “here is a replacement for your PDA, since yours got fried by General Carcass’ energy ball.” Red hands Vivien a very strange looking PDA. “This is our version of a PDA. It’s called an RPG or Raptor Power Gadget. It does everything your PDA did and more. Its best feature: it’s made to take serious punishment and will work in any condition. I installed those crazy batteries you had in your old PDA as well as the files and programming that was in it.” Vivien signs, “Thank you,” to Red and puts the new RPG in her pocket. “Vivien, you know we never told you that you had to wear the uniform. You are welcome to wear anything you want,” said Selene. Jarody starts to smile from ear the ear. “But you better not order Vivien to walk around naked!” yelled Salem. “It’s not my fault she obeys me,” said Jarody. “Why would anybody willingly obey you?” asked Dark. “That is because vampires worship Death. Vivien will do whatever Jarody tells her to do,” said Salem. “Plus, she has been reliant on Jarody for blood to drink,” said Selene. “Well, I can’t do anything about her misplaced trust, but as for blood,” said Dark as she stood up and tried her patched up leg, “Most of you know that we are fresh meat eaters. We made a spice that should work for Vivien. Just add water. I’ll have Blue give the recipe to Haiku and her HealthBlade since it is more of a medical prescription than a food additive.” “That sounds great,” said Selene, “That will help us out a lot.” “And with that I think we all should make sure we all have what we need and be off to Corsair. That is where we are going?” asked DarkRaptor. “Yes it is,” said Salem. “Well, let’s get ready and get going,” said Dark, “We have a world to save.”