in my opinion it's ten shian but pretty even with krillin
All sense of direction was gone from his mind as they navigated the tunnels. He had no idea which way was east or west or north or south, or even if it was night or day. He found himself wondering how much time these people had spent down here, whether they kept any sort of time or if they simply let time pass as it felt to them internally.
The Thizigod led them into a spacious cavern, possibly one of the ones Kyle had passed through on his way to meet Amy, and it was here that he truly saw the scope of everything. It was as though someone had taken the entire city and put it beneath the ground. From the crystal walls were built buildings, towering high above the ground below. The lit crystals cast a healthy glow upon the entire area, hung from the walls and in a massive chandelier that hung from the ceiling. People moved about, both in the buildings and between, going about their daily lives as though it were not strange that their lives were beneath the ground.
Their escort led them through the crowds, all wearing the same mask as the others. Many eyes turned toward them as they walked through, watching the aliens pass through their underground city. Kyle scanned the crowd, looking for any sort of reaction, be it friendly or hostile. He found neither, any indication of emotion hidden beneath the masks.
“It’s creepy, all these masks staring at us,” Kyle said quietly.
“Maybe that’s why they wear them,” Max said. “To make people like you feel uneasy.”
“Do they truly have no effect on you?”
“There’s nothing different between them or any other creature that stares at you,” Max said. “Clearly you have not stared down enough beasts that want nothing more than to make a snack out of you.”
“I’d prefer to keep it that way,” Kyle said.
Their escort led them to a towering building, one of the higher ones that had been built into the crystal walls. As they entered, Kyle could see that there was nothing decorative other than the crystal that it was built from. Everything within seemed to be built for utility. The first room was for those waiting, but their escort led them right past it, through a hallway and up a lift to a meeting room near the top.
In here, there were no masks. Amy was there, along with a dozen other men and women of varying sizes and ages. They all had the green skin, though of varying shades, and their hair was an array of colors; yellow and
... keep reading on reddit ➡
The palace was crawling with Zort soldiers. The group maintained stealth for as long as they could, between Violet taking them through back corridors and Lacy showing her impressive ability to kill a person silently, but soon enough, they reached a point where they could no longer sneak. That point was the long corridor that led from the palace to the spaceport, and it was there that they met a rather large group of Zort.
A leader stood before them, his deep voice filling the hallway as they approached. “You are outnumbered and outgunned,” he said. “Throw down your weapons and surrender, and you will be treated accordingly.”
The small creature had returned to Kyle’s shoulder, and he now tilted his head toward it. “What’s the punishment for starting a rebellion against the Zort, Max?”
“Certainly nothing pleasant,” Max said. “In your case, probably another personal touch by the queen.”
“Sounds about right.” Kyle faced the Zort leader once more and called out, “I think we’ll pass this time, but thanks.”
The Zort leader held out a sword with one hand, pointing it at Kyle. “Last chance. We will not be so lenient when we take you alive.”
Kyle responded by drawing one of the Twins and placing a bullet right in the center of his forehead. Before the body even hit the ground, the entire hallway had descended into madness.
The room filled with flashing lights, the sounds of the beam weapons firing interspersed with the cracking of the Twins as Kyle emptied both chambers. When the ammo ran out, he didn’t waste any time reloading, instead jamming them back into their holsters and drawing the blade. Zort soldiers charged with their own swords and spears while others fired from behind.
Kyle stepped forward to meet them while Lacy and Violet continued to fire on them from behind him. Lacy fired in quick succession, taking out individuals with precise shots while Violet fired almost blindly, sending shots down the hall that sent the Zort soldiers scurrying.
The Zort soldiers who came at him swung their blades in wide arcs, grabbing with their free hands. Kyle blocked the ones he could and dodged the others, narrowly avoiding several that could have taken his head off or lightened him by a limb.
He stabbed one through the neck, and another grabbed him by the wrist as he was removing the blade. Kyle turned and saw the Zort preparing to swing his sword. Before the ha
... keep reading on reddit ➡Yessir, that's F5 celebrity Carmelo Anthony gracing the title with his Anagram. What other word mix-ups can we find in the NBA?
Brian Scalabrine - An NBA Caliber Sir
Beno Udrih - Hour In Bed
Monta Ellis - Its all on Me
Deron Williams - I Endow All Rims
Antonio Mcdyess - Demons Act Noisy
David Lee - Evil Dead
Gilbert Arenas - Real NBA Tigers
Ben Gordon - Bongo Nerd
Tayshaun Prince - I Hunt Any Pacers
Shane Battier - NBA Is Theater
Amir Johnson - Honor In Jams
Steve Nash - Shave Nets
Yao Ming - May Go In
What NBA Anagrams do you have? Inb4 I am Lord Voldemort.
Greetings, this is the second time I make this kind of thread. First one was with Beryl edition, and the responses were multiple and varied. So let's get rolling with a new banner that has people talking whether they will or not bother.
Idea is simple, just say if you're gonna pull or not and why (brief explanation suffices).
What does this banner include? Well without going in too deeply:
Sieg"The EarthMan"Hart the most utsukushi pull you're gonna ever meet in the present, past and future. Armored he's a tank, unarmored he's also a tank, very good tank, very bigly (yes I used that word on purpose) tank. Robust enough to give both M. Ramza and MustacheMan a run for their money.
Dietlinde The Onee-san with a gun and the first true instance of Gun Mastery for everyone. And for a 4 she has decent modifiers and Onion Sli...err Gun deluxe AND the most broken DEF break in the entire game (flush Loren, Lid, Auron, 2b!?).
Theobald the Onii-san who unlike EarthMan he has lots of Water (new WaterMan anybody?) in ability and magic, and a flood with stacking damage. And he has the most powerful MAG whip to be found short of Rainbow Whip.
Cannon the Maid, because you cannot have rich boys without a maid. And the maid girl does her job, she gives you toxic tea, blows you off with her broom and she's gonna stab you to death until you cannot move.
So those are the participants this time around. Will you pull or not?
Kyle was awakened by something resembling an alarm. It didn’t seem like it was actually that loud, but in his head, it may as well have been a rocket engine blast.
He opened his eyes slowly, squinting against the bright lights of the bridge. His back and legs were stiff, and his head throbbed, his mouth dry and his bladder full. A voice was speaking over a speaker, the actual words lost in the haze of his awakening.
Violet came rushing in, taking a seat in the co-pilot’s chair. “What’s happening?” Kyle asked.
“We’re here,” she said. “You managed to sleep right through the alarm when we came out of warp.”
Kyle sat up and rubbed his eyes. “You could have woken up as well.”
“You told me this was your ship,” she said. “If you’re the captain, it’s your responsibility to make sure the ship arrives safely.”
“Alright, then, princess,” he snapped. “Get away from the controls and let me handle it.”
Violet glared at him, then lifted her hands up in the air before sitting back, her arms crossed over her chest. “Have it your way.”
Kyle looked over the controls, the words in Zort looking even less legible. Shit. He didn’t look over at the princess, but he could just imagine the smug look that she was giving him, the idea that she knew he needed her help to fly the ship, much less land it.
“Fine,” he said. “Please help.”
“Are you sorry?”
He sighed. “I apologize for insulting your highness, and hope that you find it in your heart to forgive me.”
She smirked. “Much better.”
Anything else Kyle wanted to say he kept internal. No use in pissing her off any further. She was moving now, flipping switches. Ahead, the planet loomed, glowing a pinkish hue in the light of its sun. The land was a mixture of pink and green, and the oceans, smaller than those on earth, shone a deep blue, deeper than any he’d ever seen.
“This is Berol?” he asked.
“It is,” she said. There was something different in her voice, her tone shifted just a bit. “Isn’t it beautiful.”
“It’s something,” he said. “Where are we going?”
“To Rhashel, our capital,” she said. “My home.”
And my payout. “Hopefully they’re ready to welcome you with open arms.”
“They likely think I’m dead. Word likely reached home that the Zort took me, and it is known that the Zort rarely keep prisoners alive.”
“What happens if they don’t realize you’re aboard?”
“They might try to shoot us down.”
“Well, make sure
... keep reading on reddit ➡It was a backhand slap that awakened him, and it felt as if he had been struck by solid rock. The pain didn’t last, however, because it was quickly overshadowed by the agony that filled the rest of his body. Everything he was feeling could only mean one thing. He was alive.
He slowly opened his eyes, taking in the bright light and fighting against closing them again despite the pain that filled his head. It took a moment for his mind to clear, for his eyes to adjust enough to be able to take in the room around him. It was not a large room, nor one decorated to receive company, or at least not the kind of company that’s there to be treated. The floors were grated steel, the walls covered with an array of tools, most of which appeared to be very sharp. The only piece of furniture was the chair he sat in, one that he was strapped to by his wrists, ankles, and torso. The bindings were tight, holding him in place.
Before him stood a Zort male, or at least Kyle thought it was a male, a spitting image of the statues in the mausoleum, if a bit smaller. The grey skin, the bald head, the six arms, the hefty muscles beneath the white jumpsuit that he wore. The lower two arms were crossed behind his back, the middle two holding a baton of some kind, the top crossed over the chest.
The Zort spoke, his deep voice resonating through the room. Kyle could feel the vibration in the spot behind his ear where the universal translation implant was taking in the words and imprinting them in his mind.
“You live, Earthman.”
Kyle spoke the words, the strange, guttural language coming from his own lips by way of his translator. “It seems I do.”
“Do you know where you are?”
“I know you’re Zort, so I assume a Zort ship.”
A slight nod. “And do you know why you’re here?”
“I imagine it’s too much to assume I’m invited to a nice dinner.”
“You were found on Zulhere, final resting place of Ulint Ren.”
“A lot of words that mean nothing to me.”
“Are all Earthmen so obtuse? All have heard the tale of Ulint Ren and the way he extended the Eylin Kout to lengths previously unknown.”
Kyle blinked his eyes, still working against the pain in his head. “Can’t say I’ve heard the story.”
“It matters not. What matters is that you have desecrated the grave of the greatest leader the Zort have ever known…”
“Yeah, yeah, and the penalty for desecrating a Zort grave is death,
... keep reading on reddit ➡Kyle pulled himself into a sitting position. As he did, he saw movement from behind the metal slab that served as a bed. A small head with dark eyes poked above the edge. “Kyle?”
“Max, is that you?” Kyle stood, gritting against the fresh jolt of pain that ran through his body. He limped over and sat on the bed. Max crawled up, and Kyle saw that the collar still rested around its neck.
“You look like hell,” Max said, climbing onto the bed and approaching as close as the tiny chain on his collar would allow, which was not very.
Kyle smirked at the little creature. “You’re not so great yourself.” It looked as though Max had not groomed itself in some time; the fur on its back was matted down, and Kyle could see where blood had dried over healing wounds.
“I’m fine, you know I heal quickly. I thought for sure you’d be dead already.”
“Not with my luck.” Kyle shifted around again. It felt like at least one of his ribs might be broken, making even breathing uncomfortable. “Apparently grave robbing is some kind of capital offense in their culture.”
“I told you they take these things seriously.”
“Seriously enough that apparently they’re going to let their queen punish me.”
Max had begun to groom a spot of matted fur. “I always figured they had a king. They strike me as a very patriarchal society.”
“Queen is the word they gave me. Thrisa Ren was the name they said.”
“I believe Thrisa is a female name.” It took a moment to lick its paw and run it over its head. “Ren is just a title.”
“King or queen, I have no intention of meeting them. We need to work at getting out of here.”
There was a laugh from the cell beside them, and Kyle felt his translator implant tingle as a husky, feminine voice spoke. “You think you’ll be able to escape where all others have failed? All while talking to that little rat of yours? You sound like a piece of work.”
Both Kyle and Max turned to look at the next cell. “Rat?” Max said.
Kyle ignored them, watching as the figure rose from the bed and turned toward them. She was partially shrouded in darkness as she lay there, but came into the light as she sat up, revealing dark hair and violet skin on a body that was tall and fit, almost muscular. She looked human other than her skin color, and her body tone said that she m
... keep reading on reddit ➡Hey everyone! I know it's been a while, been busy focusing on other writing instead of doing prompts. This is the first chapter of a book I wrote for Nanowrimo a couple of years ago that I'm going to start serializing beyond what I initially wrote. This work is a bit of an ode to the sword and spaceship stories of the early 1900s, particularly the Barsoom series from Edgar Rice Burroughs. I wanted to create something filled with action and adventure in a way that can take you back to the stories you read as a child. I'll continue to post here, and will also be posting on /r/redditserials.
Enjoy!
There was smoke coming out of the spaceship, but it could wait. There was always something wrong with the Discover, and a little smoke coming from beneath the hood was likely the least of its problems.
Kyle Adder turned away from the spaceship and surveyed the land before him. It was wet, a mist hanging in the air and clouds blotting out the sun, the moisture clinging to the leaves of the trees around him, not unlike the oaks he used to climb back home. And it was flat, at least mostly, flat but for the tomb that rose before him.
Or at least, he assumed it was a tomb; it had all the dressing of a palace and all the security of a fortress. And if his time in this universe had told him anything, it was that if someone was arrogant enough to build something like that for their grave, they were likely greedy enough to have buried plenty of treasure with them.
A small, furry creature clung to the ragged shirt he wore, resting on a toned shoulder. It was no larger than a kitten and looked like a cross between a monkey and a ferret. It wriggled its nose and squeaked in his ear.
“We’re going there?”
“Yeah, we’re going there, Max.”
Max shifted to his other shoulder and sniffed the air. “Smells dangerous.”
“Of course it does, everything smells dangerous when you’re the size of a rodent.”
“Don’t call me a rodent. And don’t go getting me killed.”
Kyle patted one of the revolvers that rested on either side of his hip, the ones he affectionately called The Twins. “Don’t worry, I’ll look out for us.” He began to stride away from the rocket, toward the towering tomb. “Besides, it can’t be any more dangerous than continuing to be in debt to Tyros.”
Max shifted back to the other shoulder, his tail running along the skin on the back of Kyle’s neck, tickling him. “That’s your problem. I don’t see how it involves me.”
“Way I see it, we’re a package deal. He’ll proba
... keep reading on reddit ➡Captain Earthman passed away today. For those of you like me who grew up going to Coors Field, this guy was a staple in the stands. Last August he was diagnosed with two inoperable, grade-IV brain tumors. I remember being so disappointed to learn that not every major league ballpark had someone as wacky and friendly as this guy. Even saw him at spring training games in Arizona and at a couple of minor league games... He loved this club and has been with us ever since the beginning.
Rest in peace to one of the amazing humans who makes Coors Field the incredible, special place it is.
Kyle awoke back in the room, lying on his stomach on one of the beds. His arm was hanging over the side, and a puddle of drool had formed beneath his mouth. He felt a sharp nudge and opened his eyes, blinking against the soft light of the crystals. He wiped his mouth and turned over, finding Lacy standing over him.
“Huh?” he said.
“Get up,” she said, her voice sharp as it had been the night before. Apparently she was more used to the drink. Or perhaps simply better at dealing with hangovers.
Kyle sat up and looked around, then quickly pulled the sheet up when he realized he was naked. “Wait, why am I...did we?”
“Ugh, no,” she said. “I was drunk last night, but not that drunk. I would never.”
“Ouch, okay,” he said.
“Don’t take it too hard on yourself. I would never with an offworlder. Besides, our anatomies probably aren’t even compatible.” She tossed his shirt and pants at him. “Now get dressed. The entire squad is waiting on you.”
She was already turning to leave as Kyle caught the clothes, allowing the blanket to fall. Max sat perched beside him, grooming itself once more. “She agrees with me.”
“You know, some alien women have the proper anatomy,” he said, pulling on his pants. “You never know until you try.”
“You said that about the Wilisha girl,” Max said. “You remember how that turned out.”
“It’s not my fault they have weird superstitions.” He buttoned his shirt up, pausing to smell it. “I wonder if they have a place where I can do laundry.”
“Something tells me Lastiana doesn’t want to wait around for you to wash your clothes.” He sniffed the air. “Rank as they might be.”
“Who?”
The little creature sighed. “Lacy.”
“Oh, right, Lacy.” He rubbed his eyes. “What was in that stuff last night?”
“Alcohol,” Max said. “You should know what that tastes like by now.”
“Special thanks to the peanut gallery. I didn’t have that many, did I?”
“You were chugging them,” Max said. “Maybe you should consider not consuming strange drinks en masse until you know how they affect you.”
“Well, none of them have made my hair fall out or made me blind yet, so I think I’m still okay.” He pulled on his boots and stood, stretching. “I’m going to be sweating this out all day.”
“Between that and your clothes, I think I’ll ride on Lastiana’s shoulder instead.”
“Remember she called you a pet.”
“I can deal with that,” he said. “I bet she gives killer head scratches.”
... keep reading on reddit ➡The crystal sands around Rhashel did not last long, and Kyle soon found himself in a thick forest of towering trees. They differed from other trees he had seen; the canopy was still green, while the trunks had a bluish hue. The sun was drifting down as they entered, so Kyle found a nook within some roots for them to rest.
It didn’t take long for Kyle to fall asleep once they settled in, the events of the day weighing heavily on him. When he awoke, he was wet with dew, and there was a hole in the bottom of his stomach.
It quickly became a cycle. Walk through the day, sleep at night, wake up hungry. There seemed to be little wildlife, and anything he did manage to kill and eat tasted stringy and gamy, hardly good fodder. There were some fruit trees scattered about that offered decent fare, but they were few and far between. Mostly, he went to bed hungry.
A week had passed when he woke up with the dark figures standing over him. He didn’t move, darting his eyes around to size up the situation. There were at least half a dozen of them, all armed. He was not.
One spoke, and the translator vibrated beneath his skin. “You are not from here,” the person said, their face hidden by a mask, their voice distorted by some kind of speaker. “Who do you side with in the war?”
“I side with no one,” Kyle said. “I am only looking to leave this planet.”
There was some hushed speaking before the leader spoke again. “If you are not with the Thizigods, then you are against us. Consider yourself a prisoner, offworlder.”
Kyle sighed and stood, holding his hands out to show he had nothing. “As long as you feed your prisoners.”
He allowed them to bind him and they continued on their way. The Thizigods led him through the woods for much of the day, rarely stopping to rest. His legs ached, and the bindings were chaffing his wrists, but it was refreshing to at least have a direction, a destination.
None of the Thizigods proved to be much as conversationalists, not that Kyle was trying to start any. They most communicated through hand signals and nods, passing very few words between themselves. It was interesting to watch, especially not knowing what any of it meant.
At one point, there was a whirring sound above, and the entire group took cover beneath the canopy. The Thizigod who had been escorting Kyle threw him to the ground and pointed to a spot beneath a particularly large
... keep reading on reddit ➡Sorry it's been a minute, Nanowrimo kind of took hold. Here's the next installment!
“Corvette Lashil, your approach is unplanned. Explain.”
The radio came on without anyone touching anything,the Zort voice addressing them over the speaker. Kyle glanced back at the women, but both shrugged.
“Which one allows me to speak?” he whispered.
The voice came on the radio again. “Corvette Lashil, this is Dreadnought Vilhuse calling. We are receiving reports of explosions at the spaceport and rebel activity down on the planet. Report.”
“I hate the name, remind me to change it,” Kyle said.
Violet pointed to a switch above him. “That one.”
“Got it.” He flipped the switch. “This is Corvette Lashil. We are approaching and requesting docking. Rebel forces have moved in on the spaceport, and backup is required. We barely escaped with our lives, and we have wounded. Need medical support.” He flipped the switch and turned back to them. “Let’s see if it works.”
There was a pause, a silence. It was only a few seconds, but it felt like much longer. Kyle watched the dreadnought closely, just waiting for its guns to start firing. He wondered how long the shield could hold for. Would it be long enough for them to make a getaway, or would the first blast tear right through them and render them to pieces?
“We might need to run,” Lacy said.
“It’ll be fine,” Kyle replied, wondering how his voice sounded. “Trust me.”
“How do you know?”
“I just do.”
“Comforting,” Violet said.
Finally, the radio sounded and the voice spoke. “We’re mobilizing reinforcements. Standby and prepare to land once the hangar has been cleared a bit.”
Kyle flipped the switch. “Copy. Standing by.” He flipped the switch back off and leaned back, smirking at the girls crammed in behind him. “See? I told you it would be fine.”
“You weren’t exactly brimming with confidence,” Max said.
“Quiet, you.”
Kyle had brought the corvette to a stop a good distance from the dreadnought. They watched the activity in the hangar, divided from space by a barely visible field. Zort pilots scrambled to their fighters, and the corvettes began to unbuckle from the bindings that held them in place. The corvettes passed through the hangar field and zipped past them on their way down to the planet.
“There’s going to be a lot of confusion when they land down there,” Lacy said.
“Hopefully they’ll take a few of their own out
... keep reading on reddit ➡- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 3
- Chapter 4
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 6
- Chapter 7
- Chapter 8
- Chapter 9
- Chapter 10
- Chapter 11
- Chapter 12
- Chapter 13
The palace was crawling with Zort soldiers. The group maintained stealth for as long as they could, between Violet taking them through back corridors and Lacy showing her impressive ability to kill a person silently, but soon enough, they reached a point where they could no longer sneak. That point was the long corridor that led from the palace to the spaceport, and it was there that they met a rather large group of Zort.
A leader stood before them, his deep voice filling the hallway as they approached. “You are outnumbered and outgunned,” he said. “Throw down your weapons and surrender, and you will be treated accordingly.”
The small creature had returned to Kyle’s shoulder, and he now tilted his head toward it. “What’s the punishment for starting a rebellion against the Zort, Max?”
“Certainly nothing pleasant,” Max said. “In your case, probably another personal touch by the queen.”
“Sounds about right.” Kyle faced the Zort leader once more and called out, “I think we’ll pass this time, but thanks.”
The Zort leader held out a sword with one hand, pointing it at Kyle. “Last chance. We will not be so lenient when we take you alive.”
Kyle responded by drawing one of the Twins and placing a bullet right in the
... keep reading on reddit ➡Kyle was awakened by a sharp kick to the ribs. He groaned, both at the hangover that pounded in his head and the pain that coursed through his body. He sat up, feeling the stiffness from sitting on the floor, and shivered at the cold. A towering Zort soldier stood over him, rifle in two hands while the other hands looked ready to bash his head in.
“Get up,” the Zort growled.
“Working on it,” Kyle said. He coughed, and a flare of pain shot through his ribs. He touched his side where the kick had landed and could already feel how tender the skin had already become. At least his hangover was forgotten for the moment.
“I don’t have time for your games,” the soldier said. His lower pair of hands seized Kyle by the collar and pulled him to his feet as though he weighed nothing. He then shoved Kyle in the direction of the cell door. “Get moving.”
“Alright, alright, I’m moving,” Kyle said.
Lacy was standing by the exit to the jail, her hands bound before her, her face locked into a glare that could have curdled milk. She turned away as Kyle approached.
“I take it you’re not pleased to see me,” Kyle said.
She said nothing. “You’re extra perceptive this morning,” Max said.
“Don’t tell me you’re taking her side on this,” he said.
“Well, I do like her better than you.”
“I thought we were in this together.”
“We are,” the creature said. “After all, I can’t choose who the one person in the galaxy that can understand me is.”
“You can always ride with her instead.”
“I just might if you continue on like this.”
Kyle sighed and kept his mouth shut. The soldier led them through the crystal halls back to the throne room. The bodies were gone, or at least, in the process of being cleared. A great fire was raging near the spot where the dreadnought had blasted a hole in the wall, and a distinct smell filled the air, one that Kyle wished he found a little less appetizing.
The commander was there to greet them, along with a unit of his men. “We are ready to leave,” he said. “Earthman, you are leading the way, and this woman will be beside you. We will be watching both of you, so do not try anything, or you will be instantly exterminated.”
“Harsh, but fair,” Kyle said. “Any way we could get breakfast first? I’m starving.”
He received a shove from behind and started walking. “You’ll be given rations when we halt. Now move, the day is wasting.”
As it turned out, halt
... keep reading on reddit ➡There was smoke coming out of the spaceship, but it could wait. There was always something wrong with the Discover, and a little smoke coming from beneath the hood was likely the least of its problems.
Kyle Adder turned away from the spaceship and surveyed the land before him. It was wet, a mist hanging in the air and clouds blotting out the sun, the moisture clinging to the leaves of the trees around him, not unlike the oaks he used to climb back home. And it was flat, at least mostly, flat but for the tomb that rose before him.
Or at least, he assumed it was a tomb; it had all the dressing of a palace and all the security of a fortress. And if his time in this universe had told him anything, it was that if someone was arrogant enough to build something like that for their grave, they were likely greedy enough to have buried plenty of treasure with them.
A small, furry creature clung to the ragged shirt he wore, resting on a toned shoulder. It was no larger than a kitten and looked like a cross between a monkey and a ferret. It wriggled its nose and squeaked in his ear.
“We’re going there?”
“Yeah, we’re going there, Max.”
Max shifted to his other shoulder and sniffed the air. “Smells dangerous.”
“Of course it does, everything smells dangerous when you’re the size of a rodent.”
“Don’t call me a rodent. And don’t go getting me killed.”
Kyle patted one of the revolvers that rested on either side of his hip, the ones he affectionately called The Twins. “Don’t worry, I’ll look out for us.” He began to stride away from the rocket, toward the towering tomb. “Besides, it can’t be any more dangerous than continuing to be in debt to Tyros.”
Max shifted back to the other shoulder, his tail running along the skin on the back of Kyle’s neck, tickling him. “That’s your problem. I don’t see how it involves me.”
“Way I see it, we’re a package deal. He’ll probably kill me and then feed you to those lizards he keeps beneath his fortress.”
The little creature shuddered. “Let’s not be late with the next payment.”
“There ain’t going to be a payment if we don’t find something to pay him with.” Kyle nodded toward the tomb. “Hence, the dangerous smelling tomb.”
The forest was thick, but not difficult to traverse. The land was as flat as it looked, the only aspect that seemed to give any kind of elevation change being the roots that stuck from the ground. Other than that, the canopy was so thick in places that light couldn’t even shine through, and even when it di
... keep reading on reddit ➡Kyle paced the ship, reviewing once again the contents within. The weapons in the armory, very impressive for a ship of this size. The airlock and the spacesuits, spacesuits that with their size and extra arms were completely useless for all aboard. The crew quarters, stocked with more than enough food for their jump and then some. The navigation room and the charts that lined the walls, a more detailed mapping of the galaxy than he had ever seen. The crew’s quarters and their oversized and remarkably comfortable beds and the hot water in the lavatories.
Max had taken to the navigation room in particular, not because of the galactic charts, but because the Zort had other galaxies, ones that Kyle didn’t recognize. The furball could have his charts, though. Kyle was just ready to dump the princess off and collect their fee. If the fee was enough to cover their debts, then Manti was just another short jump away. From there, they would be free, free to pursue whatever their hearts desired.
He made his way back to the cockpit, where the princess was sitting in the copilot’s seat, watching out the window. Outside, space had contorted into an array of colors, zipping past and rotating as though they were looking through a kaleidoscope.
“It’s impressive, isn’t it,” he said.
She didn’t look up as he walked past her and took a seat in the pilot’s seat. “I had never seen it before. They had me in a cell when I was taken to the prison ship.”
“It looks different when you use a warp hole,” Kyle said.
She finally shifted, focusing her dark eyes on him. She had washed in the ship’s lavatory, removing much of the grime that had accumulated on her, though like him, she was stuck in her old clothes. “I heard you Earthmen had not yet figured out a true warp drive.”
“We haven’t,” he said. “With this ship, though, I will not need to.”
She gave a little chuckle at that. “So, I never got your name, Earthman.”
“Kyle,” he said. “Kyle Adder.”
“Keel,” she said.
“No, Kyle.” She repeated it the same. “Close enough. I never got yours either, princess.”
“Your Highness will do,” she said.
“A jokester? Or just stuck up.”
“A joke,” she said.
“Didn’t think you were capable of one.”
“Do not think yourself so funny, Earthman. My true name is Sha’czlanka.”
“Sha...what?”
“Sha’czlanka.”
“Tell you what, you can continue calling me Kyle. I’m just going to call you…” He examined her
... keep reading on reddit ➡- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 3
- Chapter 4
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 6
- Chapter 7
- Chapter 8
- Chapter 9
- Chapter 10
- Chapter 11
Kyle was awakened by a sharp kick to the ribs. He groaned, both at the hangover that pounded in his head and the pain that coursed through his body. He sat up, feeling the stiffness from sitting on the floor, and shivered at the cold. A towering Zort soldier stood over him, rifle in two hands while the other hands looked ready to bash his head in.
“Get up,” the Zort growled.
“Working on it,” Kyle said. He coughed, and a flare of pain shot through his ribs. He touched his side where the kick had landed and could already feel how tender the skin had already become. At least his hangover was forgotten for the moment.
“I don’t have time for your games,” the soldier said. His lower pair of hands seized Kyle by the collar and pulled him to his feet as though he weighed nothing. He then shoved Kyle in the direction of the cell door. “Get moving.”
“Alright, alright, I’m moving,” Kyle said.
Lacy was standing by the exit to the jail, her hands bound before her, her face locked into a glare that could have curdled milk. She turned away as Kyle approached.
“I take it you’re not pleased to see me,” Kyle said.
She said nothing. “You’re extra perceptive this morning,” Max said.
“Don’t tell me you’re taking her side on this,” he said.
“Well, I do like her better than you.”
“I thought we were in this together.”
“We are,” the creature said. “After all, I can’t choose who the one person in the galaxy that can u
... keep reading on reddit ➡The crystal sands around Rhashel did not last long, and Kyle soon found himself in a thick forest of towering trees. They differed from other trees he had seen; the canopy was still green, while the trunks had a bluish hue. The sun was drifting down as they entered, so Kyle found a nook within some roots for them to rest.
It didn’t take long for Kyle to fall asleep once they settled in, the events of the day weighing heavily on him. When he awoke, he was wet with dew, and there was a hole in the bottom of his stomach.
It quickly became a cycle. Walk through the day, sleep at night, wake up hungry. There seemed to be little wildlife, and anything he did manage to kill and eat tasted stringy and gamy, hardly good fodder. There were some fruit trees scattered about that offered decent fare, but they were few and far between. Mostly, he went to bed hungry.
A week had passed when he woke up with the dark figures standing over him. He didn’t move, darting his eyes around to size up the situation. There were at least half a dozen of them, all armed. He was not.
One spoke, and the translator vibrated beneath his skin. “You are not from here,” the person said, their face hidden by a mask, their voice distorted by some kind of speaker. “Who do you side with in the war?”
“I side with no one,” Kyle said. “I am only looking to leave this planet.”
There was some hushed speaking before the leader spoke again. “If you are not with the Thizigods, then you are against us. Consider yourself a prisoner, offworlder.”
Kyle sighed and stood, holding his hands out to show he had nothing. “As long as you feed your prisoners.”
He allowed them to bind him and they continued on their way. The Thizigods led him through the woods for much of the day, rarely stopping to rest. His legs ached, and the bindings were chaffing his wrists, but it was refreshing to at least have a direction, a destina
... keep reading on reddit ➡The Zort had paid more attention to the defense on the sands than the Beroli had. The tunnel they had come through just a few days before had already been closed up. The Zort hadn’t bothered repairing the door, however. Instead, they had built a wall of concrete to block it off.
Lacy fired a blast from her beam rifle at it, whether to test the durability or from mere frustration, Kyle could not tell. The blast bore a hole in the concrete that did not reach the other side, but more impressively, the concrete closed back around it, like some kind of gel filling the gaps.
“So much for that idea,” Kyle said.
“Remarkable,” Max said as Kyle stepped up and put his hand against the wall. “It’s just like the tomb, but it looks like they used the very sands on this planet. I would love to see how the Zort do this.”
The wall was completely solid to the touch. “You’ll have to wait until we find a way to get away from them.” He looked around the sealed tunnel entrance. “Which may take longer than anticipated.”
“It was a good thought,” Lacy said. “No doubt the Zort have been interrogating any prisoners they have on hand.”
Max had jumped to the wall and was picking at it. “I mean, how do they get it to do this with this kind of sturdiness? This is even more impressive than the mirrors.”
“Don’t talk about the mirrors,” Kyle said. “I’d rather not relive that one.”
“Mirrors?” Lacy asked.
“We need to find another way in,” Kyle said, looking up at the city. “Any ideas?”
“What mirrors?”
“She’s going to persist,” Max said, jumping back to Kyle’s shoulder.
“I’ll tell you about the mirrors if we make it through this,” Kyle said. “Let’s focus on getting off this planet.”
“Alright, but I’m holding you to that,” Lacy said. “We should get back up to level with the city walls. There might be an entrance they’re not watching, or something.”
“There’s always the rocket boots,” Max said.
Kyle looked down at his boots, worn from the days he’d spent walking on this planet. “I don’t know if they can support both my weight and hers.”
“Support my weight?” She glared at him. “Are you calling me fat?”
“What? No!”
“Smooth,” Max said.
Kyle shrugged his shoulder, and Max scampered to the other one. “Max suggested using my rocket boots.”
“Rocket boots?”
Kyle lifted a heel so that she could see. “I’m not keen on the idea. They’re a bit finicky to begin with, and they’re definitely
... keep reading on reddit ➡They emerged from a small cave almost completely obscured by brush. The rest of the unit was waiting for them outside, standing amongst the trees. It was night, though how late Kyle was unsure.
“We’re all here,” Lacy said as they emerged. “Let’s move.”
The crystals vanished into the packs, and she took the one from Max’s hands. Kyle frowned. “No light?”
“We don’t want to be seen on our approach,” she said. “The moons will be enough to guide our way.”
The crystal vanished and Kyle blinked, allowing his eyes to adjust to the darkness. Through the trees above, he could see a trio of moons, one low in the sky while the other two, smaller than the first, rested directly above. The land around him slowly came into focus, the trees growing between the crystal rocks.
They unit began to move, continuing in single file as they made their way through the woods. No one spoke a word, the only sound their feet on the dirt, on the rocks, on the brush. Somewhere, he could hear the sound of birds calling, and of a larger creature slinking through the woods, but he saw neither. More importantly, there were no signs of Beroli patrols.
They walked and walked, picking through the woods until the light began to appear in the distance. At first it was a pale glow, but it grew and grew as they approached, until Kyle found himself craning his neck to look up at the heights of Rhashel, the spires of the city towering high above the walls. Below, he could see where the land dropped off, disappearing into the colorful sands that stretched as far to the west as the eye could see.
The unit gathered at the edge of the woods, resting amongst the trees. “We’re stopping?” Kyle asked.
Lacy nodded toward the walls. “See the patrols? We need to time it right. Bashil is preparing our way down.”
“How long?” he asked.
“As long as it takes for them to move,” she said. “Go ahead and get comfortable, but be ready to move when I tell you.”
Kyle made his way off to the side and settled into a nook between some roots. Max jumped down to his lap and over to the top of a crystal. From there, he could see the wall, rising above the treetops around them, and with it, the guards atop the wall. They wore the same uniforms as the guards in the palace, carried the same weapons, and he could see some larger mounted guns at intervals across the wall.
“So we’re back,” Max said, standing on its hind leg
... keep reading on reddit ➡