| Vanguard: Skevva | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 11 2011, 09:18:20 PM (134 Views) | |
| Bx | Mar 11 2011, 09:18:20 PM Post #1 |
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Notorious
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Prologue: Broken Capital (Nightfall. For most it was the worst part of the day, or more accurately, the scariest. Daybreak wasn't much better, but when moonlight reflected over what remained of Arpaccia, streaks of terror etched through the desolate wasteland. Yet it wasn't so much the night itself but what the darkness symbolized, what it brought, or rather what it could bring. Randomness bred the unknown and the unknown bred fear. Arpaccia, a city once marveled for its efficiency and abundance of resources, now had only random chaos to mark its tattered landscape...) (The five districts: Northern, Southern, Western, Eastern, and Central had been buried under the rubble of the constructions that defined them. Masses of sedimentary rock lay atop the foundations of the former capital. The limestone rubble concealed the countless number of lives entrenched underneath it. All of this because of Skevva's fall. An event survivors later dubbed, "The Fall".) (To put it plainly, Skevva was essentially a "city in the sky." Scientists and egghead types often described it as a 'residential satellite' although that language was a bit misleading. It was a 'satellite' only in the sense that it appeared to hover above Arpaccia. In reality, the underside of the landmass that made up Skevva was attached to the earth's surface by a long stretch of metal that resembled an extremely thick antenna.) (Skevva had been constructed forty-two-years-ago to be a storage and production site for harvested energy sources; Kahi being the most prominent, and controversial. Kahi was found in dead human bodies. One hundred twenty-seven-years-ago, scientists discovered that when human beings die, small traces of a then unknown energy source were released into the thinning bloodstream. A closer investigation revealed that the liquid contained chemical properties similar to oil. It was later dubbed 'Kahi', and knowledge of its existence became highly-classified government information. During this time, Kahi was analyzed and its potential as an energy source was tested in government laboratories. Within a few decades, the military began using Kahi to fuel their vehicles, cutting the nation's energy costs in half within that time. As a result, Bravelle's economy began to boom, leading many to wonder how the country could cuts its fuel usage and cost so much in such a short time.) (Due to its controversial nature, Bravelle officials were hesitant to reveal their groundbreaking discovery to the general public. The number of ethical questions that would be raised were staggering to think about and few higher-ups believed it was worth the risk. A daring young politician, however, would challenge that line of thinking and change the global landscape forever. Sven Aymor, a decorated war hero, was elected Grand Chancellor of Bravelle. Aymor saw the potential of Kahi's commercialization and ignored the possibility of a public firestorm. To summarize what can be found in Bravellian history textbooks, Chancellor Aymor helped market Kahi in way that rationalized the obvious ethical questions. "The Dead no longer leave their families with debt, but with millions!" was one of the more popular slogans that helped make Kahi seem like a better idea than it probably was. Aymor also commissioned the construction of Skevva as the world's foremost production site for Kahi. Aymor laid the groundwork for a "new world order" by modernizing the age-old view of life and death. "Bravelle, where even the dead do their part!" - yet another popular slogan. In the new world, the dead became collateral; they were no longer a cost but a benefit - for the government. But that was many years ago; those were the events that had led to Arpaccia's meteoric rise. Back then the Fall and subsequent aftermath would have never crossed the mind of even the most imaginative of persons.) (The aftermath of the Fall left the remnants as desperate, destitute, and disheveled scavengers in search of a new life. And a new life they found as the strong became predators and the weak, prey. Primal instincts had been re-inspired and primitive turf wars were reignited. Arpaccia was a dangerous land now; it was no longer the capital but a separate territory isolated from the rest of the region. While every important government official had survived the Fall each had abandoned Arpaccia and fled to Ito City, the second largest city on the continent and Bravelle's new capital.) (The ruins of Arpaccia were effectively enclosed within a gargantuan dome covering soon after. The once-great capital, now barricaded and abandoned, looked - from afar - like some nightmarish snow globe. The politicians sold fear to assuage any public outcry of incivility against their decision. Fear of disease outbreak, born from toxins that had now polluted the Arpaccian atmosphere, was their justification for the covering. The government had erased Arpaccia from the map; the city, or what remained of it, now governed itself.) (Armed forces were stationed around the ruins to ensure that any potential escapees were eliminated immediately. Some had tried in the beginning, choosing to risk an immediate existential death over a slow inner one. And an immediate death they received; within minutes of digging their way out of Arpaccia, they were shot on sight - often in front of a crowd of onlookers. Once the shootings became routine, few ever bothered to attempt an escape again. As the years passed, the outside world had become mythologized and looked upon as a haven. To escape assured a great life in the remaining Arpaccians' eyes, but to escape also meant an early grave.) Edited by Bx, Mar 25 2011, 09:43:41 PM.
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| Bx | Mar 16 2011, 10:19:10 PM Post #2 |
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Notorious
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I: Arpaccia (From behind the comfort of a rusted makeshift rifle scope, a single confident eye watched its target: A Nightstalker. The scourge of the ruins, Nightstalkers were marauders who terrorized and, at worst, ransacked campsites and other settlements across the ruins. But not this time.) BOOM! (A shot rang from a beaten .22 caliber rifle. It was followed by a whimpering howl of pain; a young Nightstalker had been reduced to womanly sobs. The bullet had torn off a fleshy chunk of his thigh. The Nightstalker was no longer a threat. The gunman kept his eye close to the scope, though, and searched for any other Nightstalkers. "They usually travel in groups," the gunman told himself.) (When all fronts seemed clear, the gunman dropped the .22 to his side and turned to the tent behind him. A voice called out, it was a woman.) Woman: You get 'em? Gunman: Yeah. I'm gonna go- (Then a rustling noise had interrupted him. "Another one?", the gunman thought as he lifted the rifle to his eye, and gazed into the darkness. The woman's voice called out yet again.) Woman: What's the matter? Gunman: Quiet, Mom. (The gunman's mother hushed herself as told, allowing him to scout the area for whatever was the source of the noise. He crept along a straight path, inching further from the tent with every step. The only sound he'd heard was the earlier victim's cry for help. The other noise seemed to have been a false alarm. Realizing this, the gunman started for the tent - gun still raised.) (He arrived a few moments later and looked around the area to make sure everything was clear. Nightstalkers were known for their inconspicuous traps, even the most innocent of objects, a cup for example, could have been an explosive. The lone gunman searched for both the obvious and not-so-obvious but found nothing to raise his suspicions. He assumed the rustling was either a figment of his imagination or some animal scurrying through the field. Assumptions were dangerous in Arpaccia, especially ones related to noises, but there was nothing else he could do. Midnight was approaching and fatigue had settled into his bones. He entered the tent where his mother was waiting. She was sitting, legs crossed Indian-style, on her worn sleeping bag.) Mom: What happened, Jaco? Jaco: False alarm. I thought I'd heard a noise but I couldn't find anything out there. Mom: I don't like that... Jaco: I don't either but- Mom: I know, "What can we do?", you don't have to say it. (Jaco walked to his sleeping bag, it was slightly less worn than his mother's, and placed the .22 on the ground beside it. He sat on the ground and untied his boots to take them off. That was the only thing he took off, the only thing he could; in Arpaccia, danger lurked at any moment, 'citizens' had to be prepared for anything at all times. That meant never taking off one's combat attire during sleep hours.) Mom: You headin' to bed? Jaco: Yeah. I'm tired. Goodnight, Mom. Mom: Goodnight, Jaco. (Jaco curled himself under his sheet, shut his eyes and began to fall asleep. His mother did the same. Or at least tried. The cries of the Nightstalker Jaco had shot echoed into the tent and kept her awake. She sat up from the sleeping bag and looked at her son.) Mom: Jaco? (Jaco responded with a loud snore.) Mom: Jaco! (Again, she received a snore. After this, she lifted herself from the sleeping bag, walked over to Jaco, and touched his arm. In an instant, Jaco sprang forward like a frightened feline and grabbed the rifle lying beside him. He resisted aiming it when he realized that it was only his mother.) Mom: I'm sorry... Didn't mean to- (Jaco raised his palm to stop her from saying any more. He was huffing, no gasping for air and was unable to offer a word. His exaggerated reaction was a product of life in Arpaccia. The constant fear had warped any sense of security. Jaco was fairly young, twenty-four to be exact, and had never experienced peaceful living. The landscape had conditioned him to expect a threat at every turn; never in his life had he ever had an honest good night's rest.) (Once he was able to speak, Jaco released the rifle and glared at his mother. She shrugged.) Jaco: Okay, what's wrong? Mom: I'm sorry, Jaco, I didn't- Jaco: Mom. What's wrong? (There was a forcefulness in his voice.) Mom: That guy out there. That Nightstalker. His screaming is keeping me up... (She was right. Jaco hadn't killed the Nightstalker - he rarely did so for anyone - and his howls of anguish drowned out any other sounds. The only reason Jaco slept as well as he had was due to his exhaustion. The daily grind in Arpaccia had that effect on most people.) Jaco: That's it? (She nodded. Jaco sighed, latched onto the rifle with his outstretched palm, and got to his feet. After lacing up his boots, he headed for the tent's exit. Before going, however, he glanced at his mom and said...) Jaco: I'm not killing the guy, you know. Mom: ...That's fine. I don't care what you do as long as you shut him up. Jaco: Yeah. (Jaco grunted.) Jaco: Watch yourself, Mom. I'll be right back. Mom: Be careful. Jaco: Uh-huh. (He walked out of the tent.) Edited by Bx, Mar 26 2011, 10:20:03 PM.
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| Bx | Mar 26 2011, 10:17:45 PM Post #3 |
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Notorious
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(Jaco trod toward the injured Nightstalker at a cautious but steady pace. Nighttime in Arpaccia inspired some semblance of fear in even the most hardened of residents, Jaco was no exception. At five-foot ten inches tall and weighing no more than a hundred seventy-five pounds, Jaco lacked a conventionally intimidating presence. He was far from a large man, but his aura radiated something much more. An intangible 'something' that could not be defined in common speech yet all who had met him could sense he possessed. Whatever it was, Jaco had it.) (Not much time had passed when Jaco stumbled upon his wounded victim. The Nightstalker had curtailed his piercing howl to a series of slow, whimpering yelps. It seemed the man, or better yet, the boy wanted to retain whatever remained of his dignity in the presence of his assailant. As he stood over him, Jaco kept silent. He and the Nightstalker glared into each other's eyes, each sizing up the other. At least Jaco had been, the Nightstalker attempted to keep his eyes locked onto Jaco's but it was a weak facade often broken by repeated intervals of rapid blinking from his enduring pain. Then the silence was lifted - by Jaco.) Jaco: You want some help? (The Nightstalker's eyes widened. It was likely that he had never experienced sympathy. The life of a Nightstalker was ruthless, more so than the average Arpaccian's, and characterized by incessant paranoia and a "kill or be killed" mentality. Trust did not come natural to these people. So it was no surprise that Jaco received no answer from the wounded scavenger.) Jaco: I said do you want some help? (Jaco's voice had a demanding tone. Again, the Nightstalker said nothing. Jaco smirked and bit his lip to refrain from berating the kid for his foolish pride. Without warning, he pressed the barrel of his rifle into the teenager's temple. As Jaco held his finger pinched against the trigger, he could feel the boy's fear from the vibrations of his gun.) Jaco: Look, I don't wanna hurt you but if you don't accept my offer, you leave me no other choice. Now, are you going to let me help you? (This time, and unsurprisingly, the kid nodded hurriedly as if Jaco was going to pull the trigger within the next few seconds. He may have been a Nightstalker but he was still just a stupid teenaged punk; not worth the bullet and certainly not worth the cleanup in Jaco's view. Jaco removed his gun from the kid's head.) Jaco: Alright. First, though, where's your weapon? (The boy hesitated. Jaco lifted the gun once more and its intended effect worked as the Nightstalker pointed to his side where a small pistol was positioned. Jaco grabbed it, emptied the chamber, and examined it.) Jaco: Hmm. Not bad. (He placed the gun in his empty holster, then asked...) Jaco: Got anything else? Don't lie to me. (The kid shook his head 'no'.) Jaco: You don't talk? Kid: ...I-It hurts. I thought - you were going to h-help me...? Jaco: You got a name, kid? Kid: No names... I only agreed to your h-help... (Jaco raised his eyebrows at the boy's frankness.) Jaco: Alright, then. I'll just call you 'Nightstalker.' That okay with you? Nightstalker: Don't care. Help me! (Nightstalker coughed and grabbed at his chest. Not wasting another minute, Jaco applied a healing salve to the teenager's thigh. The salve burned at the touch and Nightstalker could no longer contain his cries of pain.) Nightstalker: Damn you! Damn you, you bastard! (Less than a minute had passed when the burning subsided in favor of a cool blast that assuaged much of the sting along with Nightstalker's yelling.) Jaco: You okay now? (Nightstalker breathed heavily as his body trembled. The pain was gone for the most part; Jaco had honored his word. Nightstalker looked into Jaco's eyes and nodded slowly with a solemness in his face that seemed to suggest reflection of some measure.) Jaco: Good. You owe me one. (Jaco outstretched his hand to help Nightstalker to his feet. With some reluctance, the kid accepted the offer and struggled to stand. Jaco held onto him and curled his arm around Nightstalker's neck. Like this, the two hobbled back to Jaco's tent. An odd sight, no doubt.) |
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| Bx | Mar 28 2011, 10:59:16 PM Post #4 |
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Notorious
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"Why are you helping me...? What do you want from me?" "You're just a kid. Not worth killing." "Bull. I may be young but I know that a man doesn't shoot if he's not trying to kill. So what the hell are you gonna do to me?" "Scared?" "Suspicious. If you wanted me dead, you'd have done it back there." "You sure?" "Nightstalkers receive favors, not pity. Selflessness ain't exactly common in this shit-hole. You're no exception to that rule." "You're smart, kid. But let's see, hold on." "Huh?" (Jaco's tent was in full view; they were just steps away from the entrance. But Jaco had stopped walking and removed his arm from around Nightstalker's neck. Nightstalker wobbled in place for a second before narrowing his eyes at his 'savior', illustrating his growing suspicion through a thin glare. Jaco didn't acknowledge it. His gaze was too focused on the rifle draped at his side. With one hand on the barrel and the other holding the stock, Jaco lifted the still-loaded firearm and extended it to Nightstalker. The gesture had instructed the teenager to grab the gun.) Jaco: Take it. (Nightstalker's slit-like eyes expanded. A single raised eyebrow further demonstrated his astonishment.) Nightstalker: W-What are you doing? Jaco: Take the gun. Nightstalker: Why? Jaco: Why not? Nightstalker: Because I don't trust you. Jaco: But you trust me enough to carry a loaded weapon? (A sigh filtered from Nightstalker's nostrils as he chuckled at the situation. It was a nervous tick. "Who is this nut?," he asked himself after shooting a glance at both the rifle in front of him and the whack job offering it to him. A smirk drew across Jaco's lips when he realized that Nightstalker's hesitance would not break. Nightstalkers were human after all.) Jaco: Seems the new breed of Nightstalkers doesn't have the gumption of the old guard. Or maybe the stupidity. (Nightstalker remained quiet; he couldn't argue what seemed to be the obvious considering his actions, or lack there of. Jaco allowed the .22 to drop and parallel his outer thigh.) Jaco: You're either a coward or a thinker. Probably both. In any case, remember this opportunity the next time you decide to question my motives. I gave you a chance. You balked. But don't worry, I'm not planning to hurt you. I honored my word before, this will be no exception. Now c'mon. (Jaco's words hadn't quite sunk into the adolescent's mind when he reapplied his arm around the boy's neck and led him into the tent.) (Inside, Jaco's mom was waiting; arms folded across her chest with one leg crossed over the other, she was sitting on a wooden chair and watched the two - especially Nightstalker - with suspicious, discerning eyes. She didn't speak, though, and allowed Jaco to get the boy situated without interference. Once this was done, however, she beckoned for his attention.) Mom: ...Jaco? (Jaco turned and faced her. He knew she had her reservations, but the expression he read underneath her physical features emoted so much more: tension and anger, for sure, but also a bit of resentment, and even - hurt. For her son to bring a "thug" into their home, well, what exactly did that say about Jaco's concern for her well-being? Jaco felt this, all of it, as they met each other's gaze. Jaco understood all of this yet his almost dull tone didn't reflect it.) Jaco: Yes? Edited by Bx, Apr 16 2011, 11:05:34 PM.
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10:12 AM Jul 11