Shattered Planes Archives (Seasons 4 & 5)
Uncharted Space => Other => Topic started by: K2 on January 19, 2010, 01:19:20 PM
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A magical orb, red and no larger than a human fist. It was a message in a bottle for somebody who wanted to be heard. Inside it there were thousands of voices. There were both memories of war and illusions of former loves which would never be. Inside it were the last ten years of a lost people, unknown to the rest of the universe, and their story.
One who looked inside it would know the story of the New Xanacorian Empire. Would know all of her people. It told the story of how it came to be. It told the story of the people who had fought for their lives.. And won. This was not a last remnant of a people. It was a chapter of the story of their lives for anybody to find and read.. Their next chapter was just beginning.
A hyperspace portal opened nearby the Nilus. It was very weak in texture and would only remain open for a few seconds. Out of the portal, the Naikeh came gliding through.. Roughly. Okay, it was more like bouncing through space.. Let's face it, the ship was out of control. And then, it came to a rough halt, surely felt by anyone inside, though there would be no serious injuries.
Inside the ship, there were loud cheers. Finally, the last of the New Xanacorian People had arrived.. Their only refuge left. The stories of what had happened here today would be told to the children of everyone aboard. And to their children's children, and so on. This was the day that the New Xanacorian People came.. home.
And they didn't even notice the ship next door.
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The Nilus promptly puts through a request for an open communications channel to the bridge of the new ship, while simultaneously trying to put some space between the two.
Welcome, newcomers. You seem to have something amiss with your FTL drive.
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The cheers quickly died down inside the ship. It became quiet now, especially in the bridge, where the captain had ordered a complete and total halt to all noise. They had just received a request for a communication channel to open, all text. The channel was opened by the captain who had a technician display the message throughout the ship and try to identify those speaking, though due to the fact that the ship had no information from before ten years ago on it, the ship could not be identified. Finally, the captain replied:
:K: START TRANSMISSION;
:K: This is the Naikeh, only remaining vessel of the Nodec and the hope of the New Xanacorian People.
:K:Please identify your alignment so that we can assure you as a friend..;
:K: END TRANSMISSION;
The transmission did not mention that the ship was without many weapons, but it went on to say:
:K: START TRANSMISSION;
:K: Also, our hyperdrives are poorly constructed due to lack of resources or information in the building environment.
:K: END TRANSMISSION;
..And right about that time, a fire struck in the engine room. The engineers there were quick to put it out, but the hyperdrives were now offline.
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Lights on the outside of the ship began to flash excitedly, as small plates on the hull opened to reveal the crystals used in the Noursai chambers' amplification.
;JrI; NOR'EN|
We are the Relorians, returning to our home universe from a very long journey, on the ship Nilus.
We would like to thank your people for your aid during the Fall of Dragon Moon, it is partially due to you that so many made it off alive.
If you would like, we can send over a few of our engineers and they can see what they can do to help.
;JrI; NE'RON|
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"Sir, they've replied," a technician notified the captain from his technician's chair.
"What did they say? Put it on the big screen," the Captain ordered the technician.
The technician pressed a few buttons. On the main display screen of the ship, which lined across the north wall of the bridge (normally a type of windshield/camera), words began to display. It was the message from the Relorians. As the captain red the transmission, whisper began to occur throughout the ship as if this was the new scandal like the one that had occurred on Level 3 of the ship a few weeks ago when the first class engineer Stephanie Martilla and her superior officer were caught leaving engineer quarter room four together.
"Relorians, eh? I remember them. Good fellows," the Captain finally said, speaking up.
"Should I notify Mokai, sir?" a second transmission carrying a coffee mug asked with earnest. The entire crew was excited. The first contact with anyone since the return, and they weren't even hostile. They were friendlies, no, allies who the New Xanacorian Empire (or rather Xanacorian Empire, pre-separation) had helped over ten years ago in a great war before the Nyx War.. Before the separating of Xanacoria.
"No, let the man sleep. I can handle this. We need to get those engines fixed, and the Relorians seem to know what they're doing," the Captain spoke.
The second technician came up to the Captain's chair and handed him the coffee mug which he began to drink from. As the Second technician walked away, the Captain looked at the first. The first caught the Captain's stare and looked back up at him, waiting for him to speak. He saw in the Captain's eyes a mix of excitement and slight fear, though he knew the Captain would never fess up to the latter, because it would damage ship morale.
"Send back this transmission, sergeant. Message begins: We would be most grateful to accept your offer. Our empire is in great dept to you. Unfortunately, our leader in command is currently resting. Our second-in-command can establish diplomatic relationships on his behalf if the people aboard your ship can properly represent your entire people. Again, much thanks for the assistance. Please instruct any boarding parties to board in dock b, opening now... End message. Oh, and Al, open the docking bay, dock b. Have everyone on the hanger deck ready."
"Yes sir," replied a third tech, who seemed to be named Al, who followed his orders.
:K: START TRANSMISSION;
:K: We would be most grateful to accept your offer. Our empire is in great
:K: dept to you. Unfortunately, our leader in command is currently resting.
:K: Our second-in-command can establish diplomatic relationships on his behalf
:K: if the people aboard your ship can properly represent your entire people.
:K: Again, much thanks for the assistance. Please instruct any boarding parties
:K: to board in dock b, opening now.;
:K: END TRANSMISSION;
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Rereading the message to ensure he got everything right, Nisorin smiles and opens up a voice channel with the engineer and military barracks. "Prepare for boarding, Jade Tempora will be accompanying you. Details on your PT's. Militia, you are authorized scale 2 equipment, engineers have two extra pilots prepare for cargo hauling in case you need spare parts." He calls out, typing another reply as he speaks.
;JrI; NOR'EN|
Engineers are gathering up their tools and the pilots are prepping boarding craft now.
Some of them have a small bit of a fascination with technology from other empires, so I'm sending a couple military personnel
to make sure they stay in line. Is this acceptable? Also, Jade Tempora will be going along for diplomatic relations.
;JrI; NE'RON|
(Edited for typo correction)
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"Receiving another message.. Putting it on the big screen... now," the first technician from earlier informed the captain. The captain's eyes darted to the ship's main screen and he began to read what was written there. Once he had read it all, he looked around for Al. Upon finding Al, he smiled and sat comfortably in his ship before getting Al's attention.
"Al.. Go wake up Mokai. Somebody send this transmission back; Begin Message: This is appropriate. We will also be sure to give access to anyone interested to minor blueprints and such of our ship, as it is not of much value to us in terms of advancement. We look forward to meeting your personnel; End message."
:K: START TRANSMISSION;
:K: This is appropriate. We will also be sure to give access to anyone interested to minor blueprints and such of our ship,
:K: as it is not of much value to us in terms of advancement. We look forward to meeting your personnel.
:K: END TRANSMISSION;
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"Alright then, send the team out. Having an ally could be very useful." Nisorin calls out, shifting control of the docking bay doors to the lead transport ship. He tehn sent a video feed to the Xanacorian ship, showing the docking bay the ships were coming out from.
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(Sorry it took me so long.)
"Sorry. I'm late. I got held up in ten years of hibernation. Allow me to introduce myself.."
The voice, mysterious. It echoed throughout the entire ship. On any ship monitors, the name began to prompt. Once, twice, three times. It was on some sort of computer loop which caused the alert to popup endlessly until any computer systems it was being displayed on were shut down, unless called off by the caster.. The name of the caster, then? Who was it that was causing this damage? Blue Zero, son of Zere, member of the Anrufe; Second Level, father of Red Zero and the late Green Zero who was killed by Koty in a battle at some theme park. This was death all wrapped up in an illusion.
The surroundings outside the Relorian ship changed to some extent. It was still space, but the New Xanacorian Empire ship seemed to have disappeared, and there seemed to be a great, giant planet nearby..
On the New Xanacorian Empire ship, there was mass confusion as everything aboard the Nilus had seemingly froze.
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The mages aboard the Nilus, save Nisorin and Kerion, quickly begin working together, projecting a barrier around the ship to act as a shield. Once the barrier was finished, they began cold rebooting every system onboard, leaving the life support and communications systems for last. Nisorin, recognizing an illusion when he saw one, meanwhile began to add to the man's spell, to enable two way communication rather than one, while Kerion swiftly set about to determining the casting location of the spell.
"My my, what a rude fellow, to interrupt a conversation. You have attempted to damage our systems on a ship-wide level, so you must be strong. The fact that you're this far away from inhabited space must mean you're after something. So tell me, Mr. mage, what may we Relorians help you with?"
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"The name's Blue Zero," the voice bellowed back.
Great flames of blue began to light against the Relorian barrier, as if trying to break it. Inside the Nilus, the illusion of the blue flames appeared, and from the flames rose a figure in traditional Anrufe robes with long, blue hair and a blue zero on his forehead, lit with a strange aura coming from it with a great intensity that burned all who looked upon it.
"I've come regarding the matter of your death," the man said, walking in front of Nisorin, glaring at all the controls of the ship. "Would you like the Anrufe to bury you or cremate you?"
The man was cocky, but his eyes were not trained on any one spot in particular. They were wandering, as if they were looking for something.
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Nisorin smiles and shakes his head at the man, spreading his arms outwards. "I welcome you to the Nilus, Mr. Zero, but I am afraid I cannot allow you to complete your mission, for the Anrufe's sake. You see, killing me will only release a monster bent on obliterating you. She will stop at nothing, and will even challenge the Grim Reaper himself if she must." He explains, still examining the illusion. The crew around him promptly stand, they hands sparking with the emanations of prepared spells. "Do you still wish to seek my death, even though it will place all of the Anrufe in danger?"
Meanwhile, the ships systems finished rebooting, the shield coming online.
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"No!" Blue Zero replied, offended. "I said not that I would kill you! I simply have asked you how you would like to be disposed of when the Anrufe does kill you! If my mission was to kill you, I would have done that," he explained while tapping away on a Relorian console, going through data.
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Unfortunately for Blue Zero, the systems would not allow him access to anything more than a help file on how to log in, since they were just restarted and no one has attempted to make use of them yet. "Ah, I apologize for the misunderstanding then. I'm sure you can understand my reaction though; typically when someone asks you that, they intend to kill you right then and there. I wonder, however, how the Anrufe even realized that I had returned. Were you, perhaps, a stowaway on the Xanacorian ship?" Nisorin asks, giving the man an almost friendly smile as he walks towards him. "You're the illusions expert, as is evident by your magic. Unfortunately for you," He trails off, gesturing outwards to indicate the blue flames around them. "I have had plenty enough time to sort through your spell. Singourthal, Deatet." He finishes calmly, extending one arm towards Blue Zero, and the other towards the back of the ship. His spell had removed the binding threads of Zero's spell, causing it to slowly disintegrate.
"Now, I do not believe that you would come here and invade my ship, cast that rather interesting illusory spell, and attempt to use a terminal simply to ask me what I would like done with my remains. Please, my new friend, tell me why you are really here." With the disassemble of Zero's illusion spell, the Xanacorians can now clearly see the Relorian ship Nilus.
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"First off," Blue Zero replied, frustrated now as he began to beat the computers in, "Get better software. I prefer Magicomp 2.9. Mortal technology does no good. Sage technology is the only way to go."
Blue Zero now moved to the doorway of the Bridge, still searching around for something, before moving to another computer. After awhile, he simply looked at Nisorin. "I just so happened to be in the area.. Building something. And I'm missing a.. component, you see? Tell me where it is!"
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"Well, I'm afraid I'll need more details then that. We have billions of things just in this room alone that are components of something. And of course, I am sure you understand that we cannot simply give you the component for free, and we are desperately short on a great many critical things in this universe. I will have an engineer brought up so that you can give him the details. In the meantime, are you capable of speaking for the Anrufe in a diplomatic manner?" He replies, smiling as he watches Blue Zero rove around the room, trying computer after computer.
"And I see you dislike the OS that Jade designed. It is quite secure, with revolutionary cyber security systems. Once logged in, it is also quite stable and rather, zippy."
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It was now as if Nisorin had said the words to change every thought process that was going through the head of Blue Zero, because his head turned. Straight towards Nisorin. His eyes widened. He had just been made aware of something which was so painfully obvious to him now. This man knew how to log on to these file systems.
"You, come here," demanded Blue Zero. "Log me onto one of these computer consoles."
Meanwhile, aboard the New Xanacorian Ship, it seemed as if the Nilus were firing some kind of weapon, so the NXC ship began to prepare what little weaponry they had.
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"You're a bit of a rude one, I see. Did your parents never teach you manners? You could at least have used my name." Nisorin replies, standing resolute in front of his chair, swords hanging at his hips. "I will not log you in to my computer system. Not when you cannot even show the smallest bit of respect. Now, I am going to stop being nice, since you refuse to at least be polite. What exactly are you looking for, and why do you think we have it?" He adds, staring just past Zero's ear to focus on the ship just out the translucent metal window.
Meanwhile, Kerion and Jade locked themselves in a shielded room, where Jade promptly began attempting to signal the NXC ship while Kerion sat down with his legs folded before him, closing his eyes in meditation.
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"This ship is not ordinary.. I sense the reeking smell of another dimension," Blue Zero noted, "But that is beside the point. Tell me where the key is.. Someone aboard this ship has it. Just moments ago, he was not here.. He was on a planet surely to be a sun by now."
Meanwhile, the NXC began to fire its rail gun at the Relorian ship.
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Jade, finally getting a working comm link set up, heard the shot hit the ship's shields. "Damnit XANAcorians! Be patient!" She shouts, readying a hasty transmission to the NXC ship. Meanwhile, Kerion had located similar binding strands of magic in the larger illusion making the NXCs think they were attacking, and promptly severed them with the same incantation Nisorin had used.
"If you want, you can have his entire body. Cease your spells and leave peacefully, and we'll give it to you with no questions asked." Nisorin replies to Zero, his hands resting on the hilts of his swords.
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The NXC immediately ceased fire before sending a transmission to the Nilus demanding to know why they had fired.. Then, deciding to get the hell out, they launched Hyperdrives. Aboard the Nilus, Blue Zero nodded.
"Where is the body of the one I seek?"
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Jade, remembering the shoddy state their hyperdrives were supposed to be in, made sure to type the reply as quickly as she could, not stopping to correct mistakes.
;JrI; NOR'EN|
It seems we have a rogue mage on board, an illusions specialist, to be specific.
I am not in the bridge, and so I am not sure what exactly is happening there, but the illusions have been lifted.
There is no further danger, except for your own ship.
If you attempt to jump into hyperspace with your engines in the condition they are in, you are risking a great deal.
I am Jade Tempora, and I will be keeping contact as often as I can.
|NE'RON ;JrI;
Meanwhile, back in the bridge, Nisorin looks over at a nearby engineer and nods. "I will have the body brought here with nothing removed from it. Once the body is in your possession, you are to leave this ship." He says as the engineer runs off. "Valor Korr was slayed in an empty cargo hold that one of my men put him in. He was already extremely badly burned, as you can imagine. The idiot tried to fight a powerful mage while the planet was being turned into a sun. Bad enough, one would think, that he was already on the run."
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The NXC stopped their hyperdrive retreat. Unfortunately, this was possibly one of the worst things they could have done. Aboard the ship, their was a rapid explosion in the engine room.. Which blew a hole in the side of the NXC's hull. As anything in that part of the ship suddenly found themselves being thrown out of the holes in the ship, panic erupted inside the NXC.
Inside the bridge of the ship, Mokai was now wide awake. He was quick to give orders to everyone still alive. On the intercom of the ship, he made an announcement informing everyone of the situation.. And telling them to quickly teleport away to Japan and await his arrival. Nobody knew what awaited at Japan, but everyone knew where it was. They could teleport there and remain safe.. If whatever was in Japan was safe.
Mokai, meanwhile, teleported onto the bridge of the Nilus where he and Blue Zero met in gaze.
"Well," Blue Zero said, entertained, "Seems we have an unexpected guest."
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Watching out the window as the engines explode, Nisorin quickly starts sending out orders for rescue teams to try and save as many as they can, as well as mages to attempt to create barriers to seal the hole. "Aye, we do. Fortunately, it isn't an unpleasant surprise. Welcome to the Nilus. As you can see, the actions of this man have caused quite a bit of trouble for us, and he is going to be leaving quite soon." Nisorin greets, turning to face Mokai and bowing. "Once he does, we will be able to speak in private. Do you need any help getting your people out?"
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"No, thank you, Mr.. Nisorin, was it, if I remember correct?" replied Mokai, thinking back, "I do remember your people. It was long ago, was it not? Your people and mine fought together against the enemy called the Twilight Empire.. Back then, I was but a general to Emperor Xanacore, God bless his soul. But then again.. He.."
Mokai thought back... It was hard to believe, after all, that Xanacore really had died back then. That the year of service as a general and personal guard of the royal family had caused Mokai to loose membership to the empire he called home. He had no idea what had become of the Xanacorian Empire.. And so, he made it his pledge to reunite the people of Xanacoria and rebuild it anew as the New Xanacorian Empire, out of the group who he had served with for the last decade in a horrible war.
"What an interesting fellow," declared Blue Zero, "He's about to cry."
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Glaring at Blue Zero, Nisorin shakes his head. "You are still on my ship. Have some respect for your superiors." He growls at him, checking his PDA to see the current location of the body. "Better yet, learn some manners overall." He adds, turning back to Mokai. "It was a bit over ten years ago, maybe ten and a half. It has been a long time, and it seems we both have changed a great deal. XANAcore was a great man, and he will be missed by many."
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"My superiors? Hardly," Blue Zero scoffed as he walked over to Mokai and dealt him a kick. In response, Mokai tackled Blue Zero and began to punch him continuously, letting the rage and sorrow overtake him.. It was only after a few moments that Mokai would realize he had been punching the floor of the bridge. Blue Zero was really behind Mokai, laughing. "If he can't even see through that illusion, he is no superior. Now, I grow tired of this! Where is the body I have asked for!?"
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"As you can see Mokai, he's a specialist of deceit and lies. An underhanded specialty with no honor, full of cowardice. Blue Zero, simply because the man has just woke up and did not expect an illusion does not mean he is not your superior, and not just in the art of combat. He is more powerful than you, more intelligent, and best of all, better mannered." Nisorin replies, stepping between the two, facing Zero. "You are treading upon the feet of those who grant you hospitality, Blue Zero. I thought even you would know how foolish that is." He adds, the man with Hiren's body stopping before entering the bridge. "Learn etiquette, or do not return. Is that understood?"
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"Thanks," Mokai said, standing up and glancing at Nisorin.
"Oh, believe me, Nisorin. It shall most likely not be me who returns to destroy your ship, but far more powerful members of the Anrufe.. Such as my father, Zere, master of the seals; or maybe even Chaos, master of fire. I am but a weakling in comparison to them."
The body of Hiren appeared on the ground in front of Blue Zero, who checked to make sure it was not a fake. He knew the scent of this man all too well after.. that delicious spirit he fed upon, the one belonging to the brother of the man laid upon him here.
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"You have your body, now leave." Nisorin replies sternly, taking a step closer to the man. "The next time I see you, I highly recommend you use at least basic etiquette." He adds, keeping his senses peeled for even the tiniest spark of magic.
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After confirming the body as a genuine one of Hiren, Blue Zero grabbed it and teleported away. Mokai breathed a sigh of relief and bowed before Nisorin. "I am in your humble service," Mokai said.
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"No you're not. Think of this as me repaying you and your people for your help ten years ago." He replies, firing the systems back up and putting an AM field around the entirety of the ship. "Sorry about that. Has the universe really changed so much in the short year and a half that manners have completely disappeared?"
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"A year and a half?" asked Mokai, curious, "What do you mean?"
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"We've been outside the dimensional plane for a year and a half. We've learned a great deal, and it shows. Everything you see here is utilizing technology and magic from the Ancient Relorians, restored and put to use by Jade and Kerion." He replies, smiling proudly as he gestures towards the ship.
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"How interesting.. Outside.."
Mokai knew a bit of how the existence worked. He knew of dimensions (He'd even visited another dimension before!) and knew of the dimensional plane as well. Back before the Xanacorian Empire had formed from the annex of Xanacore's faction of the New Anrufe Empire to the K Empire, Mokai had worked in a secret study in the Department of Time Studies at the K Empire's capital. In this study, he had accidentally been sent through time and space and experienced the Second Genesis Phoenix War first hand.
Still, the study of dimensions.. and the very existence of anything outside of the dimensional plane surprised Mokai. But, right now, he was more focused on reuniting with his people.
"I appreciate your hospitality, but I must go reunite with my people," explained Mokai.
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"Of course, I'll have the engineering team sent over to see if your hyperdrive can be repaired with what we have here. In the meantime, perhaps we could recreate our previous diplomatic ties." Nisorin replies, typing into his pda for a bit. "The team will be departing in a couple minutes, they just need to finish loading their equipment onto the freights."
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"I'm afraid my ship has been damaged beyond repair," explained Mokai, shaking his head. "But I would be glad to discuss inter-empire cooperation terms and the like. We are very honored to have found you as our first friend in this galaxy."
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"Still, they may be able to get it into somewhat working condition. And I am glad as well, we have not made many friends yet ourselves. Celestie was off negotiating the transfer of ownership of a planet named New Dragon Moon from a man named Kai, but it seems that things have not gone quite as smoothly as hoped." He replies, the team taking off for the NXC docking bay.
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"I am greatful. I once knew a man named Kai.. He was a brother of my leader. Quite a nasty man, but I'm sure this can't be him. He died quite some time ago," explained Mokai, watching out the window of the bridge as a shuttle of some sorts headed to his ship.
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"To be honest, people seem to have a hard time staying dead around here. That corpse that the man wanted was the corpse of a Kuo. Thought I'd killed him back on Dragon Moon, but apparently the Judges disagreed." He counters, walking Mokai to what looks to be a break room. "Tea?"
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"Delighted," agreed Mokai, following Nisorin into the break room.
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"I'm not sure if you've had Relorian tea before, not many outsiders like the taste. Too herbal they often say." He replies, opening a door in the back of the room where a small garden seems to be flourishing. "If my engineers aren't able to repair your ship, we can open a portal to wherever you would like to go. To my knowledge, Japan should still stand." He adds, picking various different leaves from the garden.
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"That would be most generous of you. I can manage a teleportation spell myself, though I appriciate your hospitality. And as for the tea, that's quite alright. I love trying new tastes," Mokai replied, pacing in the room.
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"Not to offend you Mokai, but I'm not sure you could teleport an entire capital ship, with all its systems, energy signatures, inhabitants, and stored electronic data to Japan. Not from where we are anyway." He replies, looking back over at Mokai with a smile.
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"Where exactly ARE we?" asked Mokai, curious. He had been asleep when the ship dropped out of Hyperspace and honestly had no clue where they were. "I'm sorry. I've been taking a nap for the last five hours. I barely had time to glance at the nav computer when I awoke."
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"I'd estimate we're about three hundred lightyears outside the universe Japan is in." He says casually, beginning the tea. "Bit of a far distance to teleport a ship."
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Mokai had picked up his glass of tea and taken a sip when he heard Nisorin's reply. This prompted an involuntary reaction which almost caused him to spit out the tea. Of course, this was more because of the fact that the tea tasted to bizarre for him, as Nisorin had predicted. Still, he was surprised. As he sat the tea down, he glared at Nisorin.
"You're joking, right?"
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Nisorin looks over at Mokai's cup and laughs. "The tea's not ready yet, you know. And no, I'm not joking. Why, is that strange?"
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"If that's true," Mokai noted, shaking his head, "Our hyperdrives made a very, very serious malfunction."
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"Well, that happens sometimes. Devices get augmented by unknown factors in the surrounding environment, things get shoved off course. Even if by just a small bit, you can end up a great distance from your original destination." He replies, taking Mokai's cup and setting it on a burner.
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"Well," Mokai said, trying to make conversation as he glanced about the room, "How about them Durroughs?" he said, referring to the Maine Durroughs of the intergalactic sport of Kamaball. Little did he know, the Maine Durroughs no longer existed after the Nyx War.. Nor did the planet of Maine.
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"Ah, I do miss that sport. Haven't played since we left." He says, smiling and leaning back in his chair. "The only interstellar sport I ever really got into, to be honest." He adds, getting up as the tea began to boil. "Tea's done."
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"Oh, good," Mokai replied, nodding. "And as we drink, we can discuss relations between our empires."
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Before Nisorin can reply, the air in the room shifts towards the space in front of him, Celestie teleporting into the room in that spot. Collapsing tiredly into Nisorin, he pulls her into his lap and holds her close. With a worried look on his face, he puts his tea down and starts softly whispering into her ear, a soft magical light emanating from his hand as he rubs her back.
Looking up at Mokai, Celestie smiles a bit, waving at him. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were here. It has been a long while, hasn't it?"
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"Indeed it has, Celestay," Mokai says, not realizing that he's forgotten Celestie's name, "Indeed it has. The New Xanacorian Empire will be glad to establish diplomatic relations with your people, but it seems now may be a bad time?"
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She shakes her head and smiles at him. "Celestie, Mokai. And it's fine. It'd be nice if we could be allies again." She replies, leaning against Nisorin a bit.
"I agree, it'd be great to come back into this universe with allies, as I'm sure you'll agree. To complicate things, Lucifer is apparently having a tournament with a tool more powerful than he is on the line as a prize." Nisorin adds, still rubbing Celestie's back. "So, Celestie and I are going to participate. we can't let this tool get into the wrong hands."
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"I apologize, Celestie," Mokai says, nodding, "But how interesting. Why would Lucifer ever give such a prize?"
To be honest, the thought of hell scared the hell out of him, but he gulped and added, "And how are you going to get to.. to hell?"
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"We have both been there before, during the initial stages of our, personal, journey. It should just be a simple matter of altering the spell we initially used so that it includes our bodies as well. Also, I'm sure Lucifer has made some form of transportation available to those still among the living that wish to participate, most likely in the form of a Hellgate." Nisorin replies, shrugging. "To be honest, getting there isn't going to be difficult in the least. Getting out, however, is another story."
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"Well then," replied Mokai, now taking a sip of his tea, "I wish you well in your tournament, the both of you."
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"Should we lose, we will be dead. Jade and Kerion Derto will then take permanent control over the Relorian Empire as our successors. We must be off, but we would like you to stay, at least until you finish you tea." Celestie says, standing up and bowing to Mokai. "We wish you and your people well."
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"Thank you," Mokai said, nodding. "And as you depart, I give you a gift."
He held out his hands and set them on the table. After a moment, the table seemed to glow green, with an aura of some sorts around it.. And then, it began to crystallize. It was changing. The table was turning into a large, giant crystal-like substance.
As the table's transformation was complete, the green aura faded, and before all three of those present, there no longer was a table, but a clear crystal.. And in the middle of the crystal was a giant K. It was a giant, red K right there in the middle of the crystal. The symbol of the K Empire. Symbol of the ancestors of the New Xanacorian Empire.
"This," Mokai informed the two, "Is a K Empire artifact made by the deceased K2323, founder of the New Xanacorian Empire's parent society, the K Empire. It is an artifact very strong in magic, which was given in ancient times only to those who the emperor, K2323, felt he could trust. It is an ancient magic database containing all the magical knowledge of the K Empire.. We hope it will serve you well, and have it as a sign of our friendship."
-
Looking exceedingly confused, Celestie runs a finger along one of the facets of the crystal. "K2323 isn't dead, I just saw him not that long ago." She says, looking up at Mokai. "He was actually looking fairly well when I was brought to the courtroom looking place." She adds, looking back down at the crystal, feeling it's energy hum benearth her fingertip. "But, we thank you. I only wish that we had something similar with us to present to you, but any such objects are back at Nyorhiel."
"We will be sure to study it prior to the tournament, and make full use of what we find." Nisorin promises, standing up and bowing low to Mokai. "We are grateful for your visit, and your gift. The Relorians will stand by your side, both in times of war, and of peace."
-
What was this!? K2323, the father of modern day civilization within the New Xanacorian Empire, and master emperor of Japan.. was alive? That was.. impossible! K2323 had died in a fight of some sorts with a man.. Zant, was it? Yes, Zant, some man responsible in part for the Nyx..
Now, to hear that the hero, Emperor K2323, was alive -- that was mind blowing. How this could possibly be.. It perplexed Mokai.. Now, as he stood to shake the hands of Nisorin, his newest friend, one thing went through the mind of Mokai. I have to find him..
"Celestie, your majesty.. Is Emperor K2323 participating in this.. tournament you mentioned?"
-
"I'm not sure, I have not personally spoken with him, but I believe so. And please, just Celestie will do, there's no need for such formal titles." She answers, nodding. "Why, have you decided to join as well?"
-
"I shall accompany you," confirmed Mokai as he began to prepare a spell to message his people.
-
"I doubt Lucifer will simply let you leave, if you come. He will probably assume that you're there to participate." Nisorin counters, shaking his head. "If you still wish to come, I ask you to prepare as if you were joining the tournament. Even if that means fighting us, because it is a tournament to the death."
-
Mokai looked up at Nisorin, shaking his head. "I apologize, Nisorin, but you shall loose this tournament. I have fought thousands of more fights than I imagine you will ever fight.. Though, may the best man win. In any case, I have just created a clone in Japan to inform my people of my absence.. and to place another good man of mine in charge temporarily."
-
Nisorin's head angles downwards a bit, his eyes closed with a smile. "I assume you understand that I have too much at stake here to allow defeat at anyone's hands. My life is not the only thing that will be destroyed if I die." He says, his grip on celestie's hand tightening a bit.
"Fight at your best, do not hold back. We will meet on the battlefield, the three of us, and we will fight with honor."
-
"Here, here," agreed Mokai, materializing glasses of wine on the table before them. "Shall we have a drink, then? To the wonders of magic?"
-
They smile at Moaki and shake their heads. "No, to honor. Honor is one of the very, very few things that can transcend life, death, and time. It is one of the three most valuable things to the Relorians, and the only one that holds a similar value in other cultures as it does ours."
"Was there a monument made for those who fell during the Nyx War? If so, I would like to visit it before we go. Jade and Kerion, and this ship's crew, as well." Celestie says, after a moment of quiet thought. "I would like to pay my respects."
(nisorinlertis 1:57 am
Hikaru, a favor. Please edit my most recent post in Newcomers, and add the following to the end:)
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"I'm afraid I do not know," explained Mokai, "For I have been gone for many years as well.. However; we should visit the location of the first battle.. The battle of Boarder Line."
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"Perhaps we could visit where Dragon Moon was, instead. It is a place of power for us, and we feel it would be good for us to pay our respects." They say together, as if both on the same thought pattern. "The planet was our home for a good while, after all." They add, smiling over at Mokai. "There were quite a few great men who died there, including Xanaclone."
-
"Very well. Let us travel," agreed Mokai.
-
"Alright. I'll give the command to the bridge." Nisorin replies, typing into his pda with one hand as he takes a sip of his tea with the other.
"Mokai, this may be a bit personal, but do you currently have someone, special, to you?" Celestie asks, flashing a sort of mischievous smile his way.
-
This was a touchy subject for Mokai, though not many people knew it. See, he had once been apart of the K Empire himself. It was as a part of the K Empire that he was put on an outpost.. To study Twilight Energy and its effects on time travel. The K Empire had known that Twilight Energy allowed a bypass around ancient spells K2323 and Kai had cast on time itself long ago.. And with the Twilight Energy, they learned to bypass it.
Mokai himself had been the one to travel through time. He hadn't been prepared at all, either, and was very confused when it happened.. He had arrived in the Genesis Kingdom where he had actually received Genesis Magic. It was after the Genesis King, master of the Genesis Kingdom, was killed by the evils of Zere, that Mokai fell in love with the daughter of the King of Genesis's rival nation, the Phoenix Kingdom..
And now, here he was. He didn't know it, but she had given birth to his daughter, and that daughter had gone on to marry Chaos and have birth to the Sage 3. Mokai didn't even know that Hikaru, Kai, and K2323 were his grandchildren. And he was pretty sure that his beloved wasn't around.. Little did he know, she was. In the Era Village, suspended from time.
"My love.. She was alive long ago in the Genesis Kingdom. I hear that a village called Era became of the Genesis Kingdom, but I believe it was destroyed.. My love is probably long dead."
-
"I believe there were survivors of that, and I'm sure I heard someone speaking about K2323 having 'Genesis' magic. Perhaps they are related?
And I believe you, being a man of magic, would easily be able to find out whether she is alive or dead. After all, love always leaves a trace." She replies, seeing an LED array light up orange on the walls. "Here, so it doesn't spill." She adds, putting a lid on Mokai's cup.
"We received some information from our kin on a planet called New Dragon Moon. They said that the locals speak of a Nyx War Memorial where Border Line used to be. Thought we'd head there first, since it's closer." Nisorin explains, capping his own drink before the ship lurches a bit.
-
Doubts lingered still in Mokai's mind. He had searched long and hard for his ex-wife, but could not find any trace of her anywhere. He long now had given up on finding her.. Even if he did find her, she'd probably have released her immortality and become old.. Or worse. Who knew?
"Yes, to the Nyx War Memorial.." At this time, a ringing began to fill the ship, signalling that all contestants should immediately report at the tournament location.
-
Not knowing what the ringing noise was, the two look around in confusion. Calling someone from the Bridge, Nisorin promptly asks what's going on.
"Must be Lucifer calling everyone to the tournament. I'm sure he won't mind us spending a few seconds at the memorial before we go." Celestie reasons, the LED arrays turning green as they arrive at the memorial.
-
At this moment, at the doing of Mokai, it seemed to all those inside the room -- and those three only -- that the borders and walls of the ship were no longer there, giving the three a clear view of the debris field that was once Border Line.
"Many died here," Mokai recalled.
-
Looking out at where the memorial is, Nisorin's face twists into a look of confusion. "Mokai, is it just me, or does it look like someone tried to pull the debris together?" He asks, pointing out to large clusters where debris had been shifted about and crushed together unnaturally due to Order Tyris' earlier actions.
-
"Oh, my.. Perhaps we should help them," suggested Mokai, nodding.
-
Casting a quick scanning spell, he seems further confused. "There's no one to help. Can't even find any bodies. Like they just left." He replies, putting a hand on Mokai's shoulder. "I'll have a few probes sent out, they'll be able to do a more in-depth scan then I can from here. In any case, we've a tournament to attend to."
-
"Right.. Then.. How do we get to this hell, anyway?" Mokai asked. At that moment, a great shaking began to occur all about the ship.. It was almost as if space were ripping itself apart outside the ship. White cracks inside space. Then red cracks.. Black streaks of energy and hellfire filled these cracks, and despite space being a vacuum where no sound could exist, the vibrations of sound could be felt from those in hell screaming in agony and torture.. And out of these cracks, it rose, the giant square door-way portal that was the hellgate.
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Celestie smiles and gestures towards the large door. "That's how. Seems Hell's rather fond of overly dramatic entrances. Should make the tournament interesting."
At the mention of it, Nisorin looks over at her, silent. A moment later, her eyes widen and Celestie shakes her head. "No no, you shouldn't, you know that's too dangerous!" She says quickly, grabbing Nisorin's arm.
"This is something I must do, Celestie. Too long have I run from it, feared it. It's time I faced it head on, forced it to submit, and tamed it." He counters, shaking his head and taking her hands in his own. "I cannot progress further without doing this."
Sighing and burying herself into him, Celestie looks up at her partner with almost scared eyes. "I don't want to lose you." She whispers, her hands curling into fists around his shirt.
"You won't. Come on, lets get suited up."
-
"Suited up?" Mokai asked, curious, "You mean.. to go into space? Can your kind not breathe in a vacuum?" asked Mokai, as if this concept were unworldly to him, who could breathe in space for about five minutes at a time now.
-
They both look at Mokai for a couple moments with confused looks on their faces. Their mouths slowly twist into smiles, before they laugh. "Armor, Mokai. For the tournament, only an idiot would go in unarmored."
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"Oh," Mokai squeaked weakly, "Of course. Armor. I'll just.. stay here."
-
They eye him oddly, as if sizing him up. "Don't you have armor to put on as well, Mokai?"
-
Mokai faltered. He slowly looked his host and hostess in their eyes and tried not to wear an expression of shame, for he most defiantly was not ashamed. Just a little embarrassed. It wasn't every day that you saw a dragon, especially since the Second Genesis Phoenix War. Mokai knew that he was a soar thumb -- an odd-man-out in this dimension.
"Dragons have natural armor," Mokai finally revealed, holding out his hand. Slowly, his skin began to harden.. And it seemed, at this moment, that his skin was turning slightly.. reptilian. He was showing scales.
-
"Still must hurt when something hits the scales. Pain disrupts concentration, thus disrupting spellcasting." Nisorin replies, taking Celestie's hand and walking to the door. "If you wish, we can have a smith measure you up and make a set. Should be ready by the second round." He finishes, bowing before walking out to their quarters.
-
Mokai watched as Nisorin and Celestie left the room, prompting him to run after the two who were on their way to fit themselves. So many questions were going through his mind right now. How would they get from the ship to the hellgate? Why was the odd scenery that was the outside of the universe Mokai called home so familiar? Why did the smell of this Relorian tea linger in his mind?
"Your majesty" Mokai addressed Nisorin before bowing in front of the man in a bit of a quirky but somewhat noble matter, "I am honored by the generosity of you and your mistress. However; if I must reveal the true form that I hold as a dragon, the armor shall merely be of hindrance to me. With respect, sir and madam, I prefer my own style of fighting.. And I would like to express my thanks for your hosting me on your ship in the short time you have done such."
-
Looking a bit uncomfortable, Nisorin runs the fingers of one hand through his hair. "Please, Nisorin is fine. And you forget that we're mages, and can enchant armor to continue to fit your dragon form. After all, polymorphing isn't exactly unheard of amongst the Shamai." He explains, shrugging as if it's relatively normal. "But, if you're sure, we will depart once Celestie and myself return."
-
"Yes, thank you," Mokai finished, bowing his head.
Mokai knew much about magic and how it could be used to enchant objects, no doubt. In what he considered his prime, he had even battled one named Terrin who would later swear to protect Mokai as a guardian, an oath which Mokai allowed Terrin to keep as Mokai's own shadow was enchanted -- binded with the form of Terrin. Even now, Terrin was awake in Mokai's shadow, waiting to be awakened if need be. Enchanting armor was no big deal after enchanting a shadow.
Still, Mokai had also learned much in fights with his somewhat-kinsmen dragon. The Genesis army had made sure in Mokai's short time of service that Mokai was aware of their code of honor.. One thing he had noticed upon first joining them in war against the Phoenix was that they did not wear any other protective armor aside from their own scales. When Mokai had inquired about it to a good friend, the friend had replied by telling Mokai that a man must make his own tools in life.
While Mokai didn't always agree with this particular statement, he knew it to be true in this situation. It would not be fitting to wear the armor of a Relorian when he was to be in battle against one. It would certainly not be fitting to wear armor when he wanted to represent the dragon heritage he somewhat-held.. Especially since there was a certain leader he wanted to represent such heritage in front of. The Great K2323, and the thoughts that he was and Mokai would soon be in the same room, excited Mokai to no end of description.
-
With that, the two left, a few small, purple flower petals floating down from where they previously stood, floating playfully to the floor. A few moments later, a loud giggle echoes through the hall, stirring a slight breeze that lifts the petals back into the air. "We're supposed to be getting ready for a tournament you scoundrel!" Comes the equally playful reply, followed by the thud of a rather heavy door shutting.
-
Mokai couldn't help but laugh at the sound of love not too far away, down the hall, and he knew the familiar sounds of what was going on. It hadn't been too long ago that he would have done something similar in the presence of his love.. Of course, upon thinking of it, it had been a very long time. Still, this thought filled him with sadness. And so, he chose to keep his mind occupied on other things.. Such as a few oddly misplaced flower peddles which he just now took notice to.
In fact, the finding of these peddles seemed to be a bit odder than he knew. Many odd things had happened in his life, and there was no denying that. This was a man who had worked in a lab with a foreign kind of energy, experienced time travel, fought with dragons before eventually becoming one, become a leader of a kingdom which was as big as a city-state, fallen and love, and then found himself cold and alone in his own time in an abandoned base belonging to a group called the guardians. If Mokai's life up until now hadn't been odd, he didn't know what odd was in the least bit. For reasons like that, a few flower peddles really had no effect on Mokai.
-
A few minutes later, the petals each popped, spreading a bit of purple dust that promptly dissipated into nothingness. Roughly half an hour after that, the two return wearing cloaks of a very light chainmail wrapped around their bodies, hiding the actual armor, save their gauntlets. Both are blue form-fitting, plate gauntlets with clawed fingertips. Nisorin's had twin crescents, the points touching, inscribed on the backs of his hands, inlaid with a powdered amethyst, while Celestie's were engraved with a tribal, topaz sun. "Well then, shall we be off?"
-
Mokai looked up at his guests and stood from the place he had taken against the wall of the ship corridor. He once more redirected his attention to the hellgate, visible now only through monitors along the corridor. The view of the hellgate, though, was remarkable even through an apparently digital screen. It's architecture, no doubt, had been designed by some of the greatest minds the dead had to offer. It was truly a bit remarkable.
"So.. To hell we go?" Mokai spoke up.
-
They smirk and nod, weaving a circle of energy into the floor, which promptly opened up into a portal, whose destination was a small platform-like barrier before the gate, surrounded by a spherical barrier of atmosphere from the interior of the ship.
"Aye, back to Hell we go!" They announce in unison, the surveillance systems logging their exit as the two jump into the portal in the floor.
-
Mokai glanced down at the portal, before looking up once more at the empty corridor. He took a good, long look by instinct because he couldn't help but shake the feeling that it might be his last glance at the living world. Still, death was a risk willing to take if he could find the man he was looking for. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that K2323 would be able to reunite his people. He was doing the right thing.
And so, with a deep breath and one last look at the living, he held his breath and jumped inside the portal, not sure what lay ahead.