»......Slicing the sky with this golden board,
.......Piercing the stars with this silver sword,
» We Fly Under A Flag Of Freedom «
The Preposterous Captain ― Souls Collide ― The Tomboyish Daredevil
Hylravine Militia ―― Keeper Team 9-AC
⚔ ♏attheis Ӈiashin III ★ λlthalia §aloshin ⚡
Beach Wreckage/Campsite, Aedif, Vectiras
(♪) (♫)......."CATCH HIM!"
.......Everyone around looked up as the blue angel boy fell out of the sky and a number of Keepers scrambled to catch him. Lucien and June prepared themselves to lunge at the little one, Mattheis himself had turned around to react but was ran over by Telosia('s deadly huge bosom), who too stumbled over in her attempt and nearly suffocated the Captain in the process. Althalia's attempt was no more successful as she rushed toward Kaito and tripped over the sprawled out legs of the ship Captain and Junior Captain. In the end, Jace ended up safely catching the worn-out Keeper, much to everyone's relief.
......."Mm-mprrrph!" Mattheis's arms flailed around desperately until he was finally released from his prison. The Junior Captain's apologies were repeated over and over again as she removed herself from the oxygen-deprived Hylravine Captain, whose face had apparently revealed itself to be undecided in becoming pale in his suffocation or turning red at the second encounter with the... highly endowed woman's breasts. At that point, he came to a resolution - he would never ogle huge breasts again. The damned things were weapons of mass destruction! Regardless, the apologies on his end were repeated no less.
.......“I’m sorry! I'm sorry!”
......."Not your fault! It's not your fault, ma'am!"
.......Suddenly, all eyes turned again as the Grim Angel approached Jace. “Boy… If you can get met in that tower… Then you shall have my debt and gratitude...”
.......Mattheis raised an eyebrow in both surprise and curiosity at this. He vaguely remembered the man being carried in among the injured, and now he seemed... good as new. The Captain knew only rumors and tidbits of trivia about the Grim Angels from his years of sailing the Life-Stream, but knew enough to know that they were a rare sight outside of their realm upon Alar. What was his purpose here on Vectiras?
.......Amidst his curiosity, Mattheis was about ready to approach the Grim Angel to get a closer examination of the rare being until Telosia stepped in. “Well! There nothing we can do about it at the moment. I am sure we all need our rest for the night, for Arak knows we’ll need it! Come on… uh… Uhm, Mister shadowsili cute boy kid… We should discuss our plans of action…. What is your name anyways?”
.......As Jace proceeded to introduce himself, then June, he decided that this was probably a good time to get proper introductions going, as well. He dusted the sand off his uniform again and, with a bow, introduced himself formally. "Captain Mattheis Hiashin III of the Hylravine Militia Battleship Preposterous, which stands.... over there." He said the last few words regretfully, gesturing toward the beached wreck of his pride and joy a short distance away, where still more salvaging teams crawled in and out with supplies and belongings.
......."And Prince, Telosia! And Pr-!" Althalia had snuck up behind him and popped up from beneath his cape with the excited exclamation, only to be silenced by a swift hand to her lips. Ruhalis had followed their path, as well, and was now struggling to cover his sister's mouth with his hand. Mattheis gritted his teeth with annoyance and quickly changed the subject as the Communicator dragged his sister away, partly scolding her and partly discussing possible reinforcements and repairs for her Skyboard.
......."Seeing as you're the acting Captain of the Keepers here, Miss Telosia, it looks like we'll need to work together to get ourselves out of this mess, so... the Hylravine Militia is at your service." The Hylravine crewmen could hear the slight reluctance in his voice in the last part - so far, the Junior Captain had demonstrated mostly clumsiness and an obvious, mother-like adoration for children. Not that she hadn't demonstrated authority at all, of course - she'd taken her position quite well for someone who was suddenly thrust into the role by the loss of her superior. "I do agree with Miss Yakushi here; let's discuss this over dinner."
* * * Camp * * *
.......Ship's Log, H.K.M.S. Preposterous - Kingdom Date P.R. 2138, 17th Day of Mid-Harvest
..........Approximately 10 hours after launch from Hylravi's National Airfield en route to Krux, we were caught in a Nith ambush above Vectiras's atmosphere and stranded upon the island of Aedif. The Preposterous is decommissioned out of service and she remains, fortunately, beached up and above water. The other ships that crashed, including the Keeper ship (The?) Lady were not quite as fortunate, as they now rest at the bottom of the sea.
.......As far as I know, all of the Keepers managed to reach land safely - except one. Team 9-AC Keeper Captain Hale Savitat is missing currently being held prisoner by the Nith, presumably at the World Eater Tower across the waters, which sucks up this humble island world's life by the hour. As for our own numbers, out of 283 passengers and crewmen aboard the Preposterous, 67 were lost, and one missing as a result of Shadowsili action.
.......The Tower. It stands like a disgusting tyrant there, overshadowing the entire world with darkness. An... ancient rage of origins unknown burns deep within me as I gaze upon it, but I cannot harness that flame, for Vylli is insufficient, and Aura is the commanding force of the battlefield now. No Nexus, no fight - all I can do is help the Keepers in any way I can and hope for the best. That Tower - it has stripped me of my humor and hope, and for others, their lives.
.......In a most ironic turn of events, we have found hope in Jace Vistus, a young Shadowsili boy. Initially, I felt a sense of mistrust, as did my people. But so far, I've seen nothing from him but a genuine will to help us - and I can't help but admire that. As one of the Nith, of course, it's only logical that he would have access to the Tower, and perhaps the power to end it. With the probabilities so low, I would have refused outright, but we .... are desperate. All the chips are in, and the cards are being laid on the table - it's all or nothing.
.......Everything now rests in the hand and claw of a boy who teeters on the edge between light and darkness.
.......Mattheis tore out another hunk of meat from a kebab as he scribbled furiously into the thick journal in his lap with the quill from his hair. He was the last among his men to get a meal, and was still finishing up the last of his dinner while others were already making preparations for the battle to come in what would be a sunless morning. Teams of specialists were working on improvised explosives while others quickly fashioned and reinforced armors using scraps from the ship and chipped-off Vylli crystals, and finished armor and weapons were delivered to those without them, including the Dreskan survivors and the Vectiran reinforcements. Ruhalis and Althalia were busy repairing their boards and exchanging crystals next to the Captain... with Skysplicer's engine faced toward him.
......."Alright, so we stick this crystal in here, and affix this here, and..." The Chief Communicator raised his arms in celebration. "Now all we do is test the engines!"
.......His little sister grinned, balancing the repaired board in her outstretched hands. "Awesome!" she exclaimed, as she pumped in a bit of blue Hylravine mana from her hand into the engine. There were a few moments of silence as the two waited for the board to activate.
......."Damn it, I told you we were supposed to put that crystal over the-"
.......BFWOOOMM! A powerful blast of air suddenly exploded out of the back of the board, and both the Saloshins held tightly onto it as it blew over the unfortunate Captain seated next to them, sending his dinner and his precious Ship's Log into the campfire. Some of the crew members nearby snickered at the spectacle as Althalia quickly shut off the engine, and the siblings looked apologetically at the Captain as he silently stared at the empty void in his hands and lap.
......."Great. Real [********] great." He muttered, grabbing what remained of the journal out of the fire, putting out the flames consuming the paper with his cape, and marching off to sit next to Jace and Joshua, where he wouldn't be blown over by some kid's ridiculous board.
......."...On second thought, let's keep the turbo there."
.......Mattheis seated himself comfortably next to Jace. After the loss of his dinner to the pair of blonde Skyriding idiots, he decided that he'd pretty much lost his appetite and shook his head at the offer of the gooey sweet in Jace's claw. The Captain then looked down at the blackened journal and decided that he'd lost his appetite for writing as well, and put it away.
......."So, our plan of action." He said, not particularly looking at anyone, but directing it mostly toward Telosia and Jace, "I've been thinking, and I've something of an idea. The organization is a little more detailed for my men, but our objective is simple - we'll set up a distraction and cover while Jace and a team of you Keepers and Mr. Grim Angel get into the Tower. We don't really have a lot to work with since we'll probably be fighting on open beach and water, but we'll try to cover for the infiltration team as best as we can. 'Soon as you're in the Tower, though, it'll be all up to you. And whatever you need to do, Jace, it needs to be done quickly."
.......His tone was dull and almost nonchalant in a way as he continued, nodding his head at a group of Drakes and Aquilines off a ways from the campfire, "Our 'bombers' will cover for the... aerial specialists I've assigned to carry you to the Tower's base."
.......From the other side of the campfire, Althalia's face contorted into an expression of uncertainty. "On the backs of dragons? Seriously? That's kind of... old-school, don'tcha think?"
.......A huff of air blew a stray strand of hair away from the Captain's scarred face as many of the drakes in the area snorted fire from their nostrils and threw sharp retorts back at her, seemingly insulted by Althalia's comment. "Don't be underestimatin' us old-schoolers, lassie!" "Flyin' technology and magic'll never be sure as natural flyers, y'board-lubberin' Skyrider!" She blushed slightly; the aerial specialist had not intended to be insulting. However, dragonriding was an old art in Hylravi and was very common in battles, at least prior to the invention of the levitation spell, Skyboards, and Worldships - her real worry was that the idea might be too predictable. Althalia voiced out this concern, though it was still drowned out by the chattering. Mattheis patiently waited for the complaining growls and hisses to die down before he answered, noting Ruhalis out of the corner of his eye, who hid his face in his palms in embarrassment.
......."I guess, but if you have any better ideas, do tell. We don't exactly have a lot to work with.
......."Anyway." His appetite having decided to return somewhat, Mattheis plucked a marshmallow from Jace's claw and popped it in, taking some time to chew it and lick the melted sugar from his teeth. The taste was familiar to him, but mmmmm, the texture. "Mm, these are good. Like cloud candy. Hm. Ahem, anyway. Our Technomages are currently in the process of lifting and turning the Preposterous around. I know what you're going to ask - what for? There's no chance of her flying again, but her cannons may still be manually operational if we get them repaired in time, and we can fire on the Tower from the ship."
......."With all of us... in the Tower?!"
......."By the Immortals, no!" came the surprised exclamation. Mattheis recoiled slightly as if he'd been hit. "That's why you need to hurry up, shut down that Tower, and get out of there... At least, if this is the plan we go by." He said, turning to Telosia. "Are there any further suggestions from the acting Captain?"
* * * The Eye of the Storm * * *
.......Mattheis awoke abruptly from his sleep in a cold sweat, heart pounding and eyes wide. All of them... all of them had died gruesome deaths at the thousand inky hands of the black sea and ashen sky. The screams, the sights of familiar faces permanently contorted into expressions of shock and horror as they were slaughtered, like the death masks of the executed. The ocean, the ocean was black, but he knew it was filling with blood. A hundred-thousand-million-infinite screams of the dead and the undead and those never born, shrieks piercing into his ears and head and mind. And then, then those eyes, those yellow, mindless, soul-less eyes that stared into his very core from every vantage point and perspective of the dream, stripping him of his heart and soul and hope and dream and humanity as their golden gaze filled his entire body with absolute and total terror.
.......And then nothing! Just a nightmare, Mattie. Just... a nightmare. Get a hold of yourself. He started up, struggling to get his uniform and armor on in the darkness of his tent and bleary eyes. A few minutes of clicking armor pieces together and making sure everything was comfortably and firmly on, and the Militia Captain strode out of his tent, red cape billowing out behind him and the Hiashin family crest dangling from a chain around his neck, clinking against his polished armor with every step. He shivered slightly as he looked down upon the pin. If he had any explanation for it, it would be that Fate itself was breathing down his neck.
.......I guess... this is the kind of thing all of us were born for. To... set an example, and die for the future if that's... what it comes down to. Why, Matt? Why do you hesitate now? He took a deep breath, and stepped forward out of the trees into the camp. Striding into the center of the site, which was now dark without the light of the campfires, he stared down at the extinguished campfire for some minutes without much thought, and nearly jumped in surprise when a hand tapped his shoulder armor.
......."Hee, I thought Hiashins were supposed to be fearless." Althalia said with amusement, gently holding his arm. Such a nuisance of a girl; however did her brothers tolerate her so well? "Dude, has anyone ever told you that you talk in your sleep? And thrash around?"
.......He snorted as he gave her that unforgettably displeased, sideways look, noting her light armor over her Keeper uniform and the board strapped to her back. "Legends are s**t sometimes. And no, no one's ever told me that. Thank you for informing me that I need to get a soundproofed tent." His blunt words were replied with a giggle, and a comment on his cursing - something about him needing to be a "proper Prince", and not "swearing like a sailor"... Like a sailor? Hm. Ironic, that. With that semi-humorous thought, Mattheis tuned her out, turning the Skyrider's teasing words into a mishmash of mumbles and blahs in his mind; there were times to be serious about a situation and times not to be, and he didn't understand how she could be so damned... happy. Positive he could understand - happy, no. This was not happy-casual-troublemaker Captain Mattheis standing here, this was irritated-angry-hopeless-trying-to-survive Captain Mattheis.
.......A pair of finned water Drakes crawled in from the sea on all fours and swiftly pounded their way toward their Captain. Their silvery tails swished back and forth as they came to a skidding stop before him and sat up on their hind legs at full attention, snapping him out of his thoughts. Rubbing their webbed claws together and grinning, they announced in low, long, gurgling hisses, "We ssset themm up the bomb, Cap'nnnn."
.......A most foul smirk formed upon his face. "Oh, the water mines, yes, that. And the detonators?" The pair confirmed it with a united nod of their shark-like heads. "Good. Go wake our 'air force' and the Keepers, our time is closing in; we need to get the bombs and passengers loaded on their backs. Quickly now." They obliged, and Mattheis and Althalia watched as they scrambled off. In the meantime, others began to rise and gather. Lucien was examining Jace's arm, some fighters were helping each other put on their armor, four Hylravine spearmen were attaching Militia flags to their polearms, a group of Dreskans were conversing in a language foreign to them, and a mixed group mingled around a tiny fire, devouring what may well be their last meal. The pair watched and relished the sights and peace for a moment as if in a trance, a quiet between two battles... like the eye of a storm. It was terrifying, but beautiful in ways unexplainable... and both of them knew, all of them knew, that the sun would not rise, and that this could be their last hour.
......."So many explosives and traps, Prince. Where's your honor gone to, hmm?"
......."Bah, honor. If we're going to die, we're going to go out with a 'bang'. That's how my forefathers did it, that's how the Militia does it.
......."And these Nith... are going to get a royal asskicking."
And sailing upon this ship of blackened steel......
You and I fly forever free, never to kneel........«
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