User:A, Mori/Chapter 17

so we don't have just a copy of what's apparently going to go in TKF:ALC, here's a rewrite of Sam's TPS:HToL chapter.

Chapter ? - Samuel
I have to admit, I was pretty panicked when the energy cannons that were fired at the building began to make it shake like we were in the middle of an earthquake...

Er, oops. I think I might have to start a bit earlier than this, aheh.

My name is Sam.

At a young age I always had a fascination with a few things: meteorology, psychology, the colour cyan and the number 17.

I think that's pretty much the best stuff ever, anyway. My meteorology interest was satisfied pretty well in terms of being a follower of Thondor later on in life, which blessed me with speed and knowledge in weather magics. Not that I necessarily needed the speed... uh, but the weather magic was cool yeah.

Psychology is a completely different thing. I think it might be unfitting for a guy like me, who's pretty unserious a lot, to know a lot about the mind, but I find studies of it pretty useful. I mean, a lot of it is about knowing what issues people have dealt with, and how you can help them deal with them now, so it's been a bit of a convenient thing to be able to help people, or at least to be able to understand them.

I think that's complimented by how sociable a guy I am. And friendly, too. And also handsome.

The colour of the sky on my home planet is cyan. I only lived there for about a year, and the only memory of it I can recall to this day is one where I'm looking up at the cloudless summer sky. I actually liked the colour of it so much, I used it to match my wardrobe, and my text.

That's actually a good point to transition into the majority of my upbringing, actually.

Splationian technology had been cultivating methods of space travel for some time now. A giant spaceship was crafted, fit with the resources to make the journey to the closest planet that was inhabitable for Splationians: Ludus-Prime, a planet actually inhabited by beings highly similar to Splationians. However, Splationian space travel wasn't the most advanced... to get from the planet Splationia to Ludus-Prime, it would take nine years on the ship. That's the reason why it was so big, to accompany a large number of us staying on it for nine years. That's also why they sought for young astronauts to make the journey, since some older folks would eventually be out of their prime in the eighteen total years it would take to go back and forth to Splationia and Ludus, along with the possible additional years it would take to study the planet Ludus.

My parents didn't go, but the rest of my family did. My brother and my older (adoptive) sister were also recruited to be on the ship to Ludus. I came to know them pretty well, and I talked to them a lot.

And it's not like I never seen or talked to my parents all my life. The ship has computers and satellites on it, so I was able to communicate with my family over video chats and other things of the like. A lot of the time my brother and sister joined in. And, sometimes, when I'd ask to see the sky of Splationia again, my parents would bring the camera outside and point it up to the sky.

The camera wasn't really low quality, and the sky seemed the same as in my memory. But I knew there was something off about it. A whole different feeling. It just wasn't... "right", per se. I don't know exactly how to describe it, because I usually feel just fine looking at things over a computer screen.

That's when I knew that, someday, I would want to return to my home planet. I knew that the the ship to Ludus wasn't just going to turn around and go back. It would take a great number of years before it would. But, back then, I stayed with the aspiration to return to my home.

I guess I was kind of a hopeless kid growing up on that ship. I took such a fascination in things that I knew would be far off for me to actually make use of. There was no weather in space, but I still liked meteorology. Honestly, many things that are more concerning about the way my home planet was interested me. I guess psychology was more practical, but I never really wanted to go anywhere with it, honestly. I also guess that my interest in mechanics was somewhat relevant to my environment, but it still wasn't as big a part of my life as other things.

Besides that... I really took an interest in racing. Weather (science pun) it be on foot or on a bike, I really enjoyed watching or participating in it. I still am a really fast kid... though I do gotta keep that up. My family was always right behind me, and my rivals close behind.

<font color=00BFFF>Another thing like that I liked to do was boxing. I'm not really sure what the allure of it was, but the gloves just felt nice to wear around. I was kind of apprehensive about getting into actual hardcore fights, because I kind of wanted to keep all my teeth and brain functions, but training and play fights with them, I was all for.

<font color=00BFFF>Oh! I also really liked Splationian politics and history. Like I said, I was really into my home planet.

<font color=00BFFF>But, I know this isn't really about my home planet. This is about Ludus, yeah, so I'll start getting to the point.

<font color=00BFFF>I was maybe nine or ten when the ship landed on a mountain on Ludus. The mountain, it seemed, was a pretty dangerous place, but our crew was able to find refuge, and built a small community. We were all supposed to start taking notes of everything to the best of detail we could. This was an entirely new environment, and we rather seemed to have needed more than just one or two sources for everything. I felt like I was lucky enough when my brother, my sister, and I were chosen together as part of a group who would investigate towards the base of the mountain that we had landed on. It was nice, I guess, getting a bigger area to explore, and getting a bit more freedom than being holed up all on that little makeshift community on the mountain.

<font color=00BFFF>But, unfortunately, this actually led to a whole new incident...

<font color=00BFFF>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

<font color=00BFFF>It was one day where things were pretty calm, at least for a while.

<font color=00BFFF>There was a small "cave" in the side of the mountain. It provided some shade from the sun, which was kind of well-needed. The mountain was a pretty hot place, and it didn't help that apparently the entire planet Ludus was hotter than Splationia. So, I'd frequented this little shady indent in the mountain when I wasn't writing down everything I could, just to get a bit of rest.

<font color=00BFFF>Heh, I was still young. And, when I would gaze upward into the sky, it would remind me a lot of the sky on my own home planet. I felt it was just a bit different though... not exactly like my favorite colour, but maybe just a hint of a different shade. But it was still wonderful when it was cloudless.

<font color=00BFFF>Now, let me tell you--the night sky was a lot prettier. I wasn't able to observe it much in the Splationian ship, but here, it was very clear.

<font color=00BFFF>The biggest things you'd have to notice would be the moons. One was a big one, which appeared to have a symbol on the face of it, clear as day. Only it usually only came out at night. I wondered what kind of meteors could have made a mark so perfectly in the surface of that moon. The moon with a symbol in it appeared a lot like a natural moon, mostly a light grey, but, on some nights, I could swear that it shone a purple shade.

<font color=00BFFF>The other moon was always out, always in the same place, it seemed. Though I guess it literally would have to be in constant motion to look like that. It was smaller than the other moon, and it appeared like some sort of artificial satellite. It was usually a greyish yellow colour, though there was usually a reddish glow emanating from the center of it. It kind of gave me the creeps, to be honest...

<font color=00BFFF>And the night sky itself was beautiful. It was usually some shade of indigo, and it filled the entire sky. Now, it wasn't as great as the cyan that filled the day sky, but it was pretty nonetheless. And it was complemented by the stars that shone. There were many colours of <font color=FFFF00>yellow stars <font color=00BFFF>, <font color=FF00FF>magenta stars <font color=00BFFF>, and even cyan stars. The cyan stars reminded me more of the day sky on my home planet than the day sky on this one. I kind of wondered if, perhaps, the day sky on my own planet were made of billions and billions of tiny cyan stars like this. That would, of course, be impossible, and also probably painful, though it was still an amusing thought...

<font color=00BFFF>Oops, aheh, I guess I've gotten off topic. This isn't about the night sky at all, since the events happened during the day.

<font color=00BFFF>Anyway... I was just lying down in my little cave, staring up at the sky, when "it" happened.

<font color=09AAFF>???: AAH!

<font color=00BFFF>I heard the sound of someone screaming. It was accompanied by some struggling, too... I realized that the voice of the person screaming was familiar. Too familiar. Or, at least familiar enough for me to then decide to poke my head out.

<font color=00BFFF>And then I saw it. It was my older adoptive sister, Masa. And she was with two tall, burly, unfamiliar figures. She was struggling against them and yelling out.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: H-HELP! Let go of me!!

??? (1): Shut the hell up.

<font color=00BFFF>One of the unfamiliar figures then slapped her across the face. I could see that it left a red mark. I could tell that she was beginning to cry.

??? (2): Come on, hurry up. We need to bring her back to the boss.

??? (1): Yeah, before anyone notices her...

<font color=00BFFF>I looked around for a moment. There was no one else near. It was only me, Masa, and them.

<font color=00BFFF>But I knew that Masa needed help... I was a bit afraid, because even with Masa's strongness, they were able to restrain her, but I'd been trying to be more courageous lately. Ludus was a dangerous place, and I needed to man up if I wanted to get anywhere here. I still had my boxing gloves on me, so at least I had something to actually do to try and defend my older sister.

<font color=00BFFF>I ran at my full speed towards her attackers. To be honest, that was really saying something. I guess back then I wasn't as fast as I am now (or as I would be pretty soon), but I was still pretty darn fast. I ran up to the guy who had just smacked her, and gave him a nice punch right in the face.

<font color=00BFFF>My boxing gloves weren't the best cushion they could have been, so it kind of hurt when I punched him. But I know that it had hurt him way worse. One of his teeth flew right out of his weirdly-shaped mouth, twirled in the air, and landed in the dirt.

??? (1): OW!! SON OF A BIRCH!

<font color=00BFFF>I looked up at the guy who I had just punched. I was kind of scared of his face... I'd always thought that the Ludusian gridmasks were always weird-looking, what with their small heads and their big noses. I kind of thought that maybe the parts of their heads that should be big went into their noses, but that was kind of silly. Besides the fact that his face was alien and ugly, he also looked pretty furious. For a second, I'd thought that he was going to punch me back, only harder.

<font color=00BFFF>Oh, if only. But that didn't happen. He just threw me up near the side of the mountain.

??? (1): Why, you little...

<font color=00BFFF>Then, I saw him raise his arm. I thought I would see a gun being held in it, and let out a gasp. But then I realized that there was nothing in his hand. But then my fear came back when I saw his hand starting to glow... with some red light.

??? (2): Let the rocks crush him. No one'll find this kid's body for years...

<font color=00BFFF>The guy suddenly aimed his hand upward, and some big red light shot out of it. I guess it was like a gun shooting a bullet, only bigger, and not as fast as a bullet, and made of light. It hit the mountain above me... and it started an avalanche.

<font color=00BFFF>I turned around, and started to try and run away. But, suddenly, the other guy lifted up his hand, and there was a red barrier that made it so that I couldn't get away. I saw the two guys grabbing Masa and carrying her away, and I began to fear for my life...

<font color=00BFFF>As a last resort, I then ran back to the little cave in the mountain. I was really lucky because of my speed, because I just narrowly avoided being crushed by large rocks. I ran to the very end of the little cave, laid down on my knees with my face pressed against the ground, and covered my head. I was lucky enough to have nothing land on my head.

<font color=00BFFF>I waited at least fifteen minutes until after the shaking and falling rocks had stopped. I was scared that there would be some sort of aftershock that would end up being the death of me. But, eventually, I got myself up.

<font color=00BFFF>The entrance to the cave was then blocked by tons of rocks. I couldn't get out, and nothing could get in to save me. I was trapped.

<font color=00BFFF>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

<font color=00BFFF>I was in there for more than a couple of hours. There was no light for all that time, and I'd been without food or water. I was beginning to lose hope... And that's when "that thing" showed up.

<font color=00BFFF>I was deciding that I would try to sleep, when, suddenly, I saw a bright light.

<font color=00BFFF>When I looked to it, I saw... an angel. At least I think. This angel had cyan skin in some places and green skin in other places. The angel wore mostly teal clothes, but also had an orange scarf. The angel's wings were a bright green color. Otherwise, the angel looked a like the average Splationian... only with no mouth. Yet, still, the angel spoke.

<font color=00DF80>???: ... child, do not fall asleep here... for, if you are to decide to fall asleep, surely, it will be set in stone that you will die here...

<font color=00BFFF>I blinked. I kind of wondered if this was a hallucination. I also wondered whether I should hope that it was a hallucination or not.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Who are you?

<font color=00DF80>???: ... I am an angel who serves under the deity Thondor... I have been sent to provide aide to you, a child in need...

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: ... so, you're here to try and save me?

<font color=00DF80>???: ... alas, I am only here to tell you that you can save yourself... and you could have done the same all this time...

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Huh? How?

<font color=00DF80>???: ... the deity Thondor is one of great power... Thondor will grant a great power to anyone who delivers praise in the name of Thondor... if you are to come to worship Thondor, you can use a power to free yourself from this place...

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Power...? What kind of power?

<font color=00DF80>???: ... Thondor is a deity who will grant followers a great speed... a great sense of courage... and powers of weather...

<font color=00BFFF>My bead eyes widened at hearing the last part.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: D-did you say... I can get weather powers?

<font color=00DF80>???: ... indeed...

<font color=00BFFF>I grinned, and then stood up.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Praise Thondor!

<font color=00BFFF>As I learned, being a follower of a member of the Swift Trio isn't actually that easy.

<font color=00BFFF>... but me learning about that is boring haha so who cares about me including that part in here. Let's just get to the point.

<font color=00BFFF>Having now become a follower of Thondor, I was blessed by that god. And so, I now had powers of weather control. I would dive into more aspects of weather magic later, which would be easier to learn on Ludus, but that comes a bit later.

<font color=00BFFF>For now, the angel of Thondor taught me how to use some simple weather magic. A thunderclap, with enough force to shake the rubble blocking my way.

<font color=00BFFF>After the angel had disappeared, I turned towards what I believed was the entrance to the cave, and I clapped my hands loudly. Out came a sound like real thunder. It wasn't like the quieter stuff that I could hear on headphones on the ship. It was real thunder. And it shook the rubble pretty well. Despite the fact that it made my eardrums hurt really bad, I kept going on, until...

<font color=00BFFF>I eventually saw it. A crack of light spilled in from above. I knew that my thunderclaps were helping me out. I clapped once more, and I could see more light. I clapped one more time...

<font color=00BFFF>By then, I decided that there was enough light for me to stop. Now, I would try to climb out and get out on my own. This was relatively easy...

<font color=00BFFF>When I got out, it took my eyes a second or two to adjust to all this light now.

???: Hey!

<font color=00BFFF>I heard a familiar voice calling out to me. When I could see clearly again, I saw that it was... my brother.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Bro! Bro: Sam!

<font color=00BFFF>I climbed down off the rubble.

Bro: Guys, he's alright!

<font color=00BFFF>I saw that there were other members of the crew there. Apparently they had sent a search party out for me, which was good to know.

Bro: Sam, what happened to you? Where's Masa?

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Masa... she was kidnapped by two natives of the planet. I tried to save her, but then they started an avalanche, and I got trapped in the cave...

Bro: Are you alright??

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: I'm fine, I'm not hurt or anything. I'm just a bit hungry, thirsty, and worried about Masa.

Bro: It's alright, Sam. We'll get you some pizza and cream soda, you're favorite. And we'll make sure to send out a search party for Masa... if she's anywhere in the near area, we'll find her. Don't worry, we'll find our sister.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Alright...

Bro: But, hey, how did you get out of there? What was with all that loud noise?

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Aheh, you're probably not even gonna believe me if I tell you.

<font color=00BFFF>Over the subsequent meal, I gulfed down four slices of pizza, drank nearly half a gallon of cream soda, and explained to my brother the story of the angel of Thondor who came to visit me.

Bro: Yeah... I've heard a lot about the Swift Trio in deitic history classes. Ebisu, Lucifore, and Thondor.

<font color=00BFFF>My brother knew well enough about it to not think I was crazy, it seemed. I honestly had never come to learn all too much about the Pantheon. That was before I knew about a god who granted powers of speed AND weather, though...

<font color=00BFFF>After some time, the search party reported back to us... they didn't find Masa, or any sign of her, sadly. A lot of the other crew members of mine were pretty certain that she'd just been crushed in the avalanche that happened... but I knew the truth. She'd been taken away by Ludusian gridmasks.

<font color=00BFFF>I didn't know if she was still alive, but I sure wasn't going to sit around and never find out. I decided I would go searching for her... I would go all over Ludus if I had to, until I found her, and knew what had happened to her. I didn't know if she was even still alive, but I felt in my mind and heart that she must still be. And, in that case, I knew that she wasn't safe wherever she was.

<font color=00BFFF>Due to all the uncertainty of my story, none of the other members of my crew would come with me. That is, except for my bro. He believed me, and he also wanted to see Masa safe again. And he also wanted to make sure that I would be safe, too. I was glad that he could come along, at least.

<font color=00BFFF>And so, we set off... we decided that we'd go in the direction that I'd seen Masa's kidnappers going in, at least. We really had no leads, and little knowledge of what would lie ahead, but we knew that we had to start somewhere.

<font color=00BFFF>And that somewhere would have to be the desert.

<font color=00BFFF>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

<font color=00BFFF>Me and my bro had been trekking through the desert for a long time...

<font color=00BFFF>Our crew did say that we could come back at any time, but they weren't exactly all that supportive of us going off on some "crazy wild goose chase" mission to find Masa, so we weren't really allowed to take a whole lot of food and drink. I guess they did need it, though... and there was hopes that wherever we would be going would wield food and water for us to consume once we got there.

<font color=00BFFF>Sadly, the desert definitely wasn't the place for that.

<font color=00BFFF>It was even worse because our body heat is greater than the average Ludusian gridmask. I mean, can you imagine how hot it would be for a griddy to go walking through the desert for a few days? We had it even worse, definitely. We had to conserve water a lot, and we were really thirsty.

<font color=00BFFF>We'd seen quite a few mirages before then, and by now we were kind of skeptical of anything we might come across... but we actually ended up finding something even weirder than the mirages we'd seen. And this was real.

<font color=00BFFF>We were trudging along at this point, panting pretty badly. The sun's heat was pouring down on us, almost blindingly so. We covered our eyes for some time... but we stopped when we saw a shadow standing over us.

<font color=07FB10>???: ...

<font color=00BFFF>At first, all I could see was a camel-like creature, only thinner, and with blockier limbs. But then I saw there was someone on top of it.

<font color=00BFFF>I realized that it must have been one of the Ludusian gridmask natives of the planet. He was one of those weird-looking ones with the heads not as big as my bro's, Masa's, or mine and it was square-shaped. He was also as pale as a ghost, literally without any pigment. He was wearing a black tank-top, black shorts, and glasses... but the most noticeable thing about him was his hair. It was long, big, and it was a completely green colour.

<font color=00BFFF>And, all of a sudden, without even the least bit of a prompt, he spoke to us.

<font color=07FB10>???: Hello People I Have Just Met, Would You Perhaps Be Interested In Carbon Fiber?

<font color=00BFFF>We both stared blankly at him for a moment. He seemed to speak in a way that put an emphasis on the first sound of each word, and that made a clear and even space in between each word he spoke.

<font color=07FB10>???: My Cross Is Made Of Carbon Fiber Which Is Five Times Stronger Than Steel And Three Times Lighter.

<font color=00BFFF>The man held up some metal cross. Me and my brother stared at the figure for a moment, and then we stared at each other.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Bro, I think I'm seeing another mirage...

Bro: Yeah, me too.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: This one is a really weird one, though.

Bro: Mine has some green man who's talking about his carbon cross...

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: That's the same thing I'm seeing...

Bro: ... Huh.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: ...

Bro: ...

<font color=07FB10>???: Hello?

Bro: Sam?

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Yeah, bro?

Bro: I think we've really, really, lost our minds.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Yeah, bro.

<font color=07FB10>???: Excuse Me But You Two Look Like You Could Use An Oasis.

<font color=00BFFF>The green-haired figure turned around on his animal.

<font color=07FB10>???: You Should Follow Me.

<font color=00BFFF>It began walking forward.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Hey, now it wants us to follow.

Bro: ... At least it's pretty close to the same direction we were heading in. I think...

<font color=00BFFF>Then we started following the green-haired figure.

<font color=00BFFF>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

<font color=00BFFF>It was a bit of a long walk, but we eventually came to see... palm trees, and water. And it looked like nearly a mile of it.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Woah...

Bro: Is this for real??

<font color=00BFFF>We both quickly ran over to the water and drank from it. This time it was real, and not just a mirage that caused us to eat sand. We drank from it like we'd been wanting to drink all our lives. Soon, we were hydrated, and fully aware of what was going on around us.

<font color=00BFFF>And, as we looked around, we saw that the green-haired figure hadn't disappeared.

Bro: ... wait, that guy wasn't a mirage?

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: I... I guess not...

<font color=00BFFF>After a moment, the green-haired figure came back over to us.

<font color=07FB10>???: Hello Again.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Hi, kind stranger.

Bro: Hello...

<font color=07FB10>???: Are You Both Well Hydrated Now?

Bro: Yeah, thank you.

<font color=07FB10>???: That Is Good. Perhaps Now I Can Inform You Of The Wonders Of Carbon Fiber.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Uh, hey...

<font color=00BFFF>I took a second to interrupt this guy.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Have you seen our sister come through here? She's round-headed like me, but she also has teal goggles, red and cyan lens, and jet-black hair? It's usually in a bun style?

<font color=07FB10>???: I Have Not Seen Someone Like That As Of Yet.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Well... have you seen two shady-looking guys? One of them is missing a tooth? I think those were the people with her, so they would know where she is, probably.

<font color=07FB10>???: Yes.

<font color=00BFFF>I perked up, and looked at my brother. He gave a smile.

<fnot color=07FB10>???: I Have Seen Quite A Few Shady Looking Fellows Who Are Missing Plenty Of Teeth. Perhaps One Of Them Is The Person That You Are Looking For.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Uh, yeah, maybe. Could you lead us to anyone you think might be our guy?

<font color=07FB10>???: Yes. It Might Take A While. Maybe On The Way I Can Tell You About Carbon Fiber.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Alright! Thanks!

<font color=00BFFF>My bro smiled, and I did, too. We finally thought that we were getting somewhere with this.

Bro: Thank you very much, mister...

<font color=07FB10>???: You Can Call Me Jose.

Bro: Alright, Jose.

<font color=07FB10>Jose: Alright. You Should Come With Me to My Town.

<font color=00BFFF>And this marked the beginning of the journey we had to take...

<font color=00BFFF>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

<font color=00BFFF>We'd gone through the desert, along a seashore, through some forests, and along some plains on the way to Jose's village. He'd been taking us to see any and every man who was missing a tooth that he could find, but, sadly, none of them was our guy.

<font color=00BFFF>To be honest, I hadn't gotten a good look at the guy's faces, but I could clearly remember their builds, and their voices. And none of that matched what I saw in everybody we checked out. Most guys we saw missing teeth were shorter, or at least had worse posture, were thinner, older, and their voices were much hoarser. So, no, we didn't find our guy.

<font color=07FB10>Jose: I Am Sorry That You Have Not Found Who You Are Looking For.

<font color=00BFFF>Jose was a sympathetic and kind guy all the time, and pretty entertaining, to be truthful. I thought it was kind of weird that he wouldn't show any of his skin during the daytime, but I didn't really care much for it.

<font color=00BFFF>But Jose wasn't the only person we met while on Ludus.

<font color=00BFFF>We'd been in Jose's town for a few hours, when we went off for a bit and heard some screaming coming from nearby.

???: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!

Bro: Huh?! Is someone in trouble??

<font color=07FB10>Jose: I Think I Might Know Who It Is. If So Then It Is Likely.

<font color=00BFFF>So, we went off towards the source of the yelling...

<font color=00BFFF>Only to find some young figure, riding atop a number of GSWs.

???: PUT DOWN THE POISONSHOT THIS INSTANTLY.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: ... heha.

<font color=00BFFF>Honestly, my bro and I couldn't help but grin at this sight. We knew the GSW's were harmless, and yet here was some kid struggling with them.

<font color=00BFFF>This kid apparently wasn't human. He apparently was some sort of "binareller". His hair seemed to be part of his skull and skins structure, and he wore a mask, a green shirt, and beige pants.

<font color=07FB10>Jose: Poisonshot Are You Alright?

Poisonshot: OW.

<font color=00BFFF>It looked like this Poisonshot kid was crowd-surfing atop of these walkers.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Does he need help?

<font color=07FB10>Jose: The Walkers Are Harmless. Though Yes He Does Need Help.

Poisonshot: AAAAAAAAAAAA-

<font color=00BFFF>So, we went over and helped the kid get up.

Bro: Are you alright?

Poisonshot: Thanks you! I are alright.

<font color=00BFFF>I noticed that this kid's Common wasn't all that good. He looked to be about my age, though...

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Wait a minute!

<font color=00BFFF>I was suddenly brought back to attention for myself. I'd forgotten for a moment that we were there for a reason... sort of.

<font color=00BFFF>Well, I guess, at the time, we weren't really there for any reason. But anyway...

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: We still need to try and find Masa... I know we weren't able to find her yet, but maybe we just weren't looking in the right places.

<font color=07FB10>Jose: Samuel If She Was Taken Away By Gridmasks Then She May Very Well Be Anywhere On The Continent.

Bro: Then we have to search for her. It might take some time, but I believe that we can find out what happened to her...

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Yeah!

<font color=07FB10>Jose: I Should Warn You Though. The Continents Of Ludus Are Very Dangerous. Many, Many Monsters Roam The Lands And Will Try To Kill Anyone They See.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Well, we just gotta try to survive, and get through it to find Masa.

<font color=07FB10>Jose: Very Well. If You Wish To Put Your Lives At Risk, I Want To Accompany You To Try And Help You.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Aw, you don't have to do that, Jose. You've already helped out enough.

<font color=07FB10>Jose: Samuel Did You Know That I Can Fight Using Carbon Fiber And Powers Of Light?

Poisonshot: Me help too!

<font color=00BFFF>The binareller kid suddenly stood up, holding a bow.

Poisonshot: I go around! I help you find friemb.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Alright...

Bro: Wait!

<font color=00BFFF>My brother suddenly spoke up.

Bro: I don't have any sort of weapon like you guys, though.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Oh, right... maybe I can lend you my boxing gloves?

Bro: Thanks but no thanks... boxing gloves aren't my style, sorry.

<font color=07FB10>Jose: Did You Know That You Can Buy Orbs In The Town?

Bro: Huh?

<font color=07FB10>Jose: You Can By Magician Orbs. They Allow You To Have Magic Attacks Powers.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Hey! Bro, maybe that can be your weapon!

Bro: Uh, sure! If you think so. I'll give it a shot.

<font color=00BFFF>So, we got my brother a magician's orb. He tried it out for a while, to get the hang of it, and he thought it was a pretty cool weapon.

<font color=00BFFF>And so then, the four of us then set off on an adventure all across Ludus. A boxer, a magician, a priest, and an archer... we went across the continents looking for Masa, and defeating murderous monsters all along the way.

<font color=00BFFF>Er, but that's probably a story for another time, aheheh.

<font color=00BFFF>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

<font color=00BFFF>... Anyway, we weren't able to find Masa for some time... and then we got a message from the rest of our crew. It seemed that, over the long time we'd been taking to go all across the planet, they'd collected all the data that they were willing to collect, and they were ready to head home.

<font color=00BFFF>So, it was basically an ultimatum for me and my brother. We either have to stay on Ludus for maybe the rest of our lives, trying to find our sister who we haven't been able to find for ages, or we go back on the ship, take a long ride home, and return to living on Splationia, probably never to know the fate of Masa.

<font color=00BFFF>I... I couldn't do it. I couldn't just go to Splationia without AT LEAST KNOWING what had happened to Masa. She was such a big part of my life for as long as I had known. Being without her, yes, I could manage, which was made clear through me going through all this, and I did enjoy her presence very much, but it was kind of beyond that. The whole quest that we'd gone through trying to find her had been with a focus on her all along. We hadn't really been living our lives without her, we'd kind of just been living with her on mind all along. But, if I returned to Splationia, I wouldn't be focusing on her. I'd have to work up a whole new life on my home planet, and just forget all about her, probably.

<font color=00BFFF>The idea itself was actually kind of... alien. Even more so than living on the planet Ludus. I mean, all I knew about life were my experiences on the ship, and Ludus seemed more homely than my home planet, since I'd been studying it for so long. I just wasn't sure about it all... but, I guess, I knew that I wanted to keep looking for Masa.

<font color=00BFFF>So I made my decision to stay on Ludus and keep looking for her.

<font color=00BFFF>But I was the only one...

Bro: Sam...

<font color=00BFFF>My brother looked very distraught. He'd decided he wanted to go back to our home planet. We'd be split up for years...

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Bro...

<font color=00BFFF>It was a pretty tearful goodbye. I'll just skim over that part a bit...

<font color=00BFFF>I'd been given a few resources, generously by the ship. They hadn't prepared for losing as many crew members as they did, so it was kind of easy for them to just hand some stuff over to me.

<font color=00BFFF>I also got a laptop to use for communication.

Bro: Don't forget to message me...!

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: I won't!

<font color=00BFFF>Err then he went on the ship and went away yeah.

<font color=00BFFF>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

<font color=00BFFF>So now, I was seemingly stranded on Ludus until someone came to get me, with only Jose and Poisonshot.

<font color=00BFFF>We returned to the town of Jose's that we had started at once more. I was deciding that we would try again, from where we started. We would keep going around looking for Masa, until we found her, or at least found out what had happened to her. It's easy to say that I was pretty ambitiously set on this, since it was now the main goal of my life here on Ludus.

<font color=00BFFF>As we arrived in the town, though...

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Hey...

<font color=07FB10>Jose: It Looks Like The Inn Has Been Demolished.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Ugh... now where are we going to stay?

Poisonshot: This is the end?

<font color=07FB10>Jose: Perhaps I Can Find Us Another Place To Stay For The Night. You Two Wait Here Until Then.

<font color=00BFFF>Jose then walked off somewhere.

<font color=00BFFF>... about an hour later, Poisonshot and I were still waiting in front of the demolished in. There had been no sign of Jose for all this time. I was pretty sure that he'd ditched us for some reason. I sort of thought that he'd left us because he didn't want to get dragged into the whole "looking for Masa across the whole continent" quest that I was involved in. I thought it was kind of lame that he wasn't truthful about his reason for leaving us, and that he'd made us sit here hopeful and all, but I honestly couldn't blame him. I mean, it was my quest anyway, so there's no need to drag others into it. My life, not theirs... but uh actually he didn't ditch us on purpose he just hadn't come back because he hadn't found us a place to stay yet, aheh...

<font color=00BFFF>And I guess that wasn't helped by the fact that we sort of ditched him there when we decided to head off away from the inn.

<font color=00BFFF>But, hey, how can you blame us? We just saw a big, three-headed, red monster and three figures walking into the town.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Woah, what's that?!

Poisonshot: BIG RED!

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Hey, let's go check it out. Come on.

<font color=00BFFF>The two of us walked over to the four newcomers. Poisonshot seemed to marvel at the sight and size of the monster.</font.

Poisonshot: Oh my GODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!

<font color=00BFFF>I found him saying that to be pretty funny.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Hehe.

<font color=00BFFF>You know, I can really be a stoic kind of guy when I want to. Sure, I kind of thought that was worthy of bursting out in laughter, but I managed to keep it down with only a small little laugh. Look at me go.

<font color=00BFFF>So. A dark matter named Revelian, two gridmask-like beings named Captain Shane and Makina, and a big red TAMED monster named Ceberus Tree.

<font color=00BFFF>There was an exchange. We admired the monster, there was a bit of an interesting explanation, and then we somehow convinced Revelian to let us all stay the night at his place nearby.

<font color=00BFFF>We woke up in the morning and ate, and then Revelian's brother woke up. He was a nice guy. Revelian was pretty angry all the time though.

<font color=00BFFF>A bit later, we were all following Revelian around, and then he tried to ditch us. We were able to catch up with him, though... and then we found something new.

<font color=00BFFF>I gotta say it right here, after my brother left, I went through about three big things that would help me know where my life would go. The first thing was finding this Isles & Quint Corporations place.

<font color=00BFFF>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

<font color=00BFFF>With it, I could do a lot. I learned that the monsters that I'd been fighting before could be tamed, and that this process could help to protect Ludus better than the way we'd been going about it. It takes from the side of the monsters and sorts of adds to ours... sometimes.

<font color=00BFFF>The company was apparently run by a gridmask named Baxter Ethos Quint (we call him Bax or Beq) and a Dragonkin named Zachary Isles (we call him Zach and many other butchering's of similar-sounding names).

<font color=00BFFF>But I was able to get a humble little job at IQ co. helping out with work. It was a bit disorganized until Hankvi came around, but it was alright work. This guy named Lazro also came to work here, and another person named Mori occasionally stops by.

<font color=00BFFF>It kind of made my goal of finding Masa get put on a little detour. I figured that I'd try saving Ludus as a bit of a noble cause on the side, and then, once a lot of order was restored, I could probably go and find Masa. Maybe even save her, with my favorite, newly-adopted pets Annual and Ecast.

<font color=00BFFF>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

<font color=00BFFF>I also decided that I'd build a home for myself. I mean, seeing as I was going to be staying on Ludus for the rest of my life, or at least for most of it, I knew that I'd want a place to stay. I decided that I'd make a castle up on the mountain. It was near where the Splationian crew and I had first landed; I figured if another Splationian ship was ever going to come to Ludus again, it would come here.

<font color=00BFFF>Of course, for a long time, I stayed in contact with my family. It was kind of hard, what with us only being limited to e-mails that took quite a while to send, but we managed pretty well, I'd say.

<font color=00BFFF>Now, around the time I just finished building my... "humble"... little home, that's when I got probably the second biggest thing that would help me know where my life would go.

<font color=00BFFF>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

<font color=00BFFF>I'd started hearing things... sounds, coming from near the peak of the mountain. It was bothering me for maybe a week or so, but I'd gotten way tired of it. So I decided to go and check it out.

<font color=00BFFF>After a while, I found something... it was apparently an area that my Splationian crew hadn't checked out. But it was a crater on the other side of the mountain. It was really big.

<font color=00BFFF>And in the center, there was a big red... circle, I guess is the only way that I can describe it.

<font color=00BFFF>I went and checked it out, and I could guess that it was some sort of machine... and I accidentally "activated" it.

<font color=00BFFF>Blah blah, big red's rampage, hundreds dead, government steps in and blows stuff up, red tape everywhere, blah blah...

<font color=00BFFF>Lol not entirely true but I did get in contact with the government because of this thing and they let me hold on to it.

<font color=00BFFF>And I was able to find out what this thing was. It used to be a Splationian ship, the very first one that was sent to Ludus, over hundreds of years ago. However, the crew on it died in a crash landing into the mountain... I had reason to believe that a lot of Splationian technology had come off of this thing. Anyway, its crew named the ship Big Halley. That was a pretty apt description of it; Big Halley was a big, red sphere. At least, that's what it looked like on the outside. However, on the inside, it was a ship that had the capabilities of traveling through space... well, sort of. It had been damaged in its crash, and now it was kind of only capable of moving on land and water. But, still... it could be repaired, or reverse-engineered and recreated. This was a ship with the capability of traveling in between Splationia and Ludus.

<font color=00BFFF>So, uh, I think it's pretty easy to see why I say this was one of the most important things that happened to me since I got to Ludus. I mean, even if the Splationian ship wasn't returning for a long time, I still had a chance to get to my home planet... through Big Halley. It wasn't repaired yet, but it could be... maybe it would take a lot of my life to have its functions fully restored, but I was going to spend a lot of it on Ludus, anyway, right? So, why not?

<font color=00BFFF>So then I knew what I would do. I would go on repairing Big Halley over the years, as well as helping Ludus with its monster problem, while trying to find out what had happened to Masa, as well as maybe finding her, too. This was all stuff that I'd figured out in just a few months...

<font color=00BFFF>But still, this wasn't the biggest thing that happened to me yet. No, the most important thing was still to come.

<font color=00BFFF>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

<font color=00BFFF>By now, it had been a few months since I'd been a part of Isles & Quint. It had been about two months since word had spread across almost all of Ludus that Isles & Quint existed, and that its goal was to save Ludus. It had also been nearly six months since Hankvi joined the company. So, naturally, there was now a building of several floors making up the Isles & Quint's Headquarters.

<font color=00BFFF>It was also my birthday... the seventeenth of Lustrum.

<font color=00BFFF>The gang had made it a pretty nice occasion for me. At least, they'd done their best, and I was liking it so far. However...

<font color=00BFFF>It was just after I'd blown out the candles.

BOOM!

<font color=00BFFF>A sudden force shook the foundation of the building. Several things fell off ledges, counters, shelves, and whatever else they were on. A few people fell over.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Woah!

Zachary: What the hell was that?!

<font color=00BFFF>Everyone started running to the windows. I thought that was a pretty dumb move, though. I mean, if we were under attack, the windows would be the first thing to give out, right? Those people were just making themselves easy targets. I decided to stay behind, though.

<font color=00BFFF>Then, I heard the sound of someone outside using a megaphone. It was a female's voice, though it was metallic, and kind of muffled.

<font color=09AAFF>???: Oops!

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: ((... Hold on.))

<font color=00BFFF>Oof, I'd known that the voice I'd heard was familiar. Definitely really familiar.

<font color=09AAFF>???: The energy cannon on this thing accidentally went off! Sorry about that!

<font color=00BFFF>I wasn't sure whether it was solely because I knew that the voice was familiar, or if it was also because the voice had just taken credit for what had happened and was now saying that they didn't mean it, but I was assured enough to start moving over to the windows. I kind of wanted to see the person for myself. I felt like I'd be interested in what I saw...

<font color=00BFFF>I was sort of pushing my way through for a bit, but then some people let me through. By now I'd gotten to the window, and I saw...

<font color=00BFFF>It was Masa.

<font color=00BFFF>I couldn't hold back the surprise o-shape that my mouth was making. I also couldn't restrain myself from opening the window frantically, and almost jumping out of it.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Masa!!

<font color=00BFFF>I yelled out for her. We were only a few floors from the ground, I think. And she could see me.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: ... Sam???

<font color=00BFFF>Then I was smiling like mad.

Baxter: ... Uh, Sam, do you know this person?

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Yeah! That's Masa!

<font color=00BFFF>Knowing that it wouldn't be safe for me to jump out the window, I darted out the door, ran down the stairs, and then ran out the door. I could see that Masa was on some sort of... device. It was kind of like a metal boxcar with big legs, and boxes on the sides of it.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Masa! It's really you!

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Sam... I can't believe you're here, dude...

<font color=00BFFF>She then quickly jumped out of the machine.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: I... I was told that there was another Splationian here on the planet, but I had no idea that it would be you of all people!

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Yeah! I've been looking all over for you...

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Ah... Thanks, you didn't have to do all that...

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Wh-what happened to you?

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: I was kidnapped.

<font color=00BFFF>Masa was silent for a moment longer.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: ... and then what?

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Oh, I was put in some big facility... there were a small few of others - gridmasks, mostly - who were captured and imprisoned along with me. We were all made to perform labor and be tested on outside of our will... I was lucky enough to be saved. Twice, even.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Twice?

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Yes. The second time was for good, and it was by the people who run the government on Ludus. The first time, though, it was by Zeus...

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: ... Zeus?

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Yeah... it's kind of weird to explain, but Zeus is a deity. He appeared to me, and gave me hope in power in exchange for following him and accepting... "divine mutations", he calls them.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Divine whatsits?

<font color=00BFFF>Masa pointed to her lips, which were a shade of cyan.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Let's just say, this isn't lipstick I'm wearing. Also it's permanent.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Huh...

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Oh, never mind, you probably don't even believe all the mythology stuff anyway...

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: No! Actually... something similar happened to me.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Hm??

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: I'm a follower of Thondor.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Ah!

<font color=00BFFF>Masa gleamed gleefully. However, she also kind of looked like she didn't know what I was talking about. But she knew I understood her.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Oh! And happy birthday, Sam!

<font color=00BFFF>She smiled at me, and laughed. I gave a small laugh in return.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: ... uh...

<font color=00BFFF>For a moment, I wasn't exactly sure what to say next. Masa just looked at me and smiled.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: ... H-hey, how about I introduce you to my friends?

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Oh...? Sure!

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Alright! They're inside. Follow me!

<font color=00BFFF>I began skating off into the building.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Woah!!

<font color=00BFFF>Masa's sudden exclamation startled me. I stopped and turned around.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: What...?

<font color=00BFFF>Masa came close to me and then pointed towards my shoes.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: ... what are THOSE??

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: ... uh... my shoes??

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: How are you sliding around like that on them?

<font color=00BFFF>Masa asked with an inquisitive and serious tone, yet she almost gave the sort of feeling of an innocent child asking a question.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Oh, uh... they have wheels in them. I made it like that myself. It's pretty neat, yeah.

<font color=00BFFF>I smiled earnestly. Masa looked completely amazed by the shoes.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: H... hey... is it alright if I try those on???

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Eh, sure, if you want to, I guess.

<font color=00BFFF>I took my modified rollers off and gave them to her. She quickly threw her shoes off, and put mine on.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: These are kinda small...

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Well, they were made for my foot size, so, probably...

<font color=00BFFF>She then started to stand up.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: W-woah!

<font color=00BFFF>Her leg movement was becoming pretty erratic, as she tried to balance herself on the wheels. I tried helping her out.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: I got ya'.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Thanks.

<font color=00BFFF>Masa then tried to balance herself on her own. She moved her leg forward, trying to move with the wheels, but managed only to slide her foot farther forward.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: What the--

<font color=00BFFF>Masa had looked angry for a moment, but then started to laugh.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Ah! Why am I having so much trouble with this??

<font color=00BFFF>I laughed softly along with her, and shrugged.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Here, let me help you out.

<font color=00BFFF>I grabbed her red-gloved hand and started pulling her along with me.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: ... Hey, Sam.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Eh?

<font color=00BFFF>Masa suddenly grabbed me, held me up, and spun around on the rollers.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Ahahaha!

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Wh-

<font color=00BFFF>I realized then that she must've been playing around with me about not knowing how to operate the roller-skates. She also wanted an opportunity to catch me off guard and mess around with me, I'm guessing? It was still kind of fun, though.

<font color=00BFFF>It took a moment or two until the momentum of the roller-skates came to a halt, and she let me go.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Heheh...

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Heha.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: ... oh! Sorry, I forgot, you wanted me to meet your friends, right?

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Oh, yeah. Come on.

<font color=00BFFF>Blah blah, about seventeen flights of stairs filled with silly giggling later...

<font color=00BFFF>The immediate reaction when I returned was "Hey! Sam's back!"

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Hi!

<font color=00BFFF>I looked over to Masa.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Hey, guys, this is Masa. She's my long-lost sister.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Hi everyone...

<font color=00BFFF>Before I'd introduced her, there had been some unsavory whisperings like "isn't that the crazy lady who just shot us" and et cetera. But when I'd introduced her, the attitude had changed. That's just the kind of feedback you get when you're the Sam.

<font color=00BFFF>She smiled and waved shyly. Everyone took their turns to come over and give their greetings to her. A jolly time all around, if I'd say so myself.

<font color=00BFFF>After a while, things started to settle down, and the party turned back to a few conversations with one another rather than with us.

<font color=00BFFF>Well, things seemed to settle. At least until a certain series of events, that is.

<font color=00BFFF>After a while, Masa went off to rolling around the room.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: ... Eh? What's this?

<font color=00BFFF>Masa held up a big purple book.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: H-hey, where did you find that?

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: It was just lying on the floor over there. Did someone leave it lying around or something? It could've got stepped on.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Huh...

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Well, do you know what it is?

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Yeah, it belongs to Hank, I think. It must be his big book of projects.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Hm...

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: I'm almost certain of it. Hankvi is a pretty renowned worker around here, but he works so much he leaves stuff lying around a lot by accident.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Well, then. Once I meet this Hankvi, I'll be sure to return to him his book

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: That'd be wise...

<font color=00BFFF>I suddenly got a solemn look on my face.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Word has it, he refuses to let anyone else work on the projects he's come up with... he's even found a way to just "know" if someone's looked at it. And he's made sure as well as he can that no one can work on the projects in the book...

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: H-huh??

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Because if he knows that anyone's looked in the book... he chops their head off!

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Wh-What??! For real?!

<font color=00BFFF>I smiled, seeing as my little joke had its intended effect.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Nah, I'm just messing with you.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Oh...

<font color=00BFFF>She looked relieved.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: ... but anyway, I'd advise against looking in it. Honestly, a lot of the stuff he works on and imagines just isn't meant for mortal eyes, you know?

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: ... if you say so.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Heha.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Aheh...

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: But, yeah, we should probably try to find Hank and give him his book back. He's probably looking for it.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: What does he look like?

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: He's got candy-corn horns, greyish-purple skin, big black hair, purple pants... he's kind of hard to miss.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Well, I haven't seen anyone who looks like that around here...

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Really?

<font color=00BFFF>I took a second to look around.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Huh. Come to think of it, I don't remember him being here since you got here... he must've gone around the building to do his work or something.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Oh, alright...

<font color=00BFFF>I took another second to look around again, just to make sure. But then, I looked over to the door, and something caught my attention. Mori, a gridmask/cat-being co-worker of mine (who's a genderfluid mate and all that) was slowly opening the door. I could see Revelian with his back facing towards the door. I could hear a bit of what they were all saying, but since they were kind of farther away, it was kind of quiet, as well.

<font color=FF0000>Revelian: Now, keep your damn mouth shut about it.

Poisonshot: Okay. I keep the zip lip!

<font color=FF0000>Revelian: That's what I like to hear.

Mori: ... just what exactly is it that you're hiding, now?

<font color=00BFFF>I saw Revelian suddenly jump and turn around. He looked at Mori with a bit of fear at first, but then he gave a look of anger.

<font color=FF0000>Revelian: HEY! How long were you listening in to that?!

Mori: I just heard the part about you asking Poisonshot to not talk about something, which I find pretty suspicious.

<font color=FF0000>Revelian: Why don't you mind your own fucking business, Moriam?

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: ... Uh oh.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: What's going on?

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Trouble.

<font color=00BFFF>I gulped, and slowly came closer to my two co-workers.

Mori: Don't make excuses. If you're up to something, then it's better for the company that it's known, rather than kept some sort of suspicious secret.

<font color=FF0000>Revelian: Really? Well it's still none of your fucking business.

Mori: Tch... Poisonshot, what was he talking about?

Poisonshot: He help make story of life! But he not want me say it to any.

Mori: ... is that so?

Poisonshot: Yes! Story is good, mush?

Mori: And now, why does he not want anyone to hear it?

<font color=FF0000>Revelian: Because it's none of your fucking business! Get this through your head!

Mori: Why is the story of his life any more your business than mine?

<font color=FF0000>Revelian: I'm sick and fucking tired of repeating myself, Mori.

Mori: You don't need to dictate my interactions with Poisonshot, either.

Poisonshot: Yes! Reveling dictator!

<font color=FF0000>Revelian: I am not!

Poisonshot: But! A special help between we! I know, you tell "don't say!"

<font color=FF0000>Revelian: Shut the hell up already, Poisonshit.

Poisonshot: I NOT POISONSHIT! I ARE POISONSHOT!

Mori: Oh, would you stop bullying the child?

<font color=FF0000>Revelian: That's, once again, none of your business.

<font color=FD7306>Delinius: Friends!

<font color=00BFFF>All of a sudden, one of the newer co-workers of ours showed up.

<font color=FD7306>Delinius: Don't let a flame war be started between you two! The both of you can stop this before it gets out of hand.

<font color=00BFFF>However, his words failed to reach them.

Mori: Would you stop using that as an excuse already? It's not like it invalidates whatever you're doing wrong.

<font color=FF0000>Revelian: But whatever you're arguing doesn't validate the fact that this is none of your fucking business, still.

Mori: So if I see someone being bullied or plotting against the corporation, I'm just supposed to sit back and let it go down, because "it's none of my business"?

<font color=FF0000>Revelian: Neither of that is happening here. So no, you don't have to be "some great hero" and get involved, because it is none of your business.

Mori: How am I supposed to know that if you're keeping a secret out of whatever was going on here?

<font color=00BFFF>I saw the two of them looking at each other with an increasingly intense hatred. I worried for exactly what would happen next...

<font color=00BFFF>All attention was suddenly brought to a different location. The other doors to the room opened with a loud roar from being slammed open.

<font color=00BFFF>I heard Masa gasp. For a moment, there was nothing but a black silhouette against white light, which showed a slender, horned figure. The figure then stepped into light for a moment to reveal himself to be who I'd figure he was.

<font color=00BFFF>Why, it had been none other than IQ's most renowned (and beloved?) worker and everybody's favorite troll, Hankvi Guidza.

Hankvi: ...

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Hey, Hank.

<font color=00BFFF>I waved over to Hankvi. Then I saw Masa... she was shaking slightly, but she'd seemed to have been calmed a bit when I reacted to him. I heard her let out a breath of relief.

Hankvi: Hi, Sam. Happy birthday.

<font color=00BFFF>Hank looked over to all of us. He didn't speak a word, and scanned Masa with eyes that almost seemed to pierce through her. A serious expression crossed his face, as he slowly opened his mouth.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Oh, this is my sister, by the way.

Hankvi: You...

<font color=00BFFF>Hank slowly walked a short distance over to us. Hankvi faced her and slowly lifted his arm. Masa seemed to be the slightest bit frightened about Hankvi's presence. I figured that it was because of my "innocent rumor".

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: ... um, yes?

Hankvi: That's my book?

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: ... um, yes...

Hankvi: Can I get it back, please?

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: ... um, yes.

Hankvi: ... aheh, is that all you know how to say?

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: ... um-- err, no. No. Here's your book.,/font>

<font color=00BFFF>Masa held out the book for Hank to take.

Hankvi: Thank you.

<font color=00BFFF>Hankvi took the book back.

Hankvi: You didn't read any of it, did you?

<font color=00BFFF>Hank gave an earnest sort of expression.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: No. Not at all. I just found it and picked it up.

<font color=00BFFF>Hank showed a tiny smile and sighed with relief, and I'm pretty sure all of us would too. He smiled again.

Hankvi: Alright. Thank you, miss...

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Le-Umas. Masa Le-Umas.

Hankvi: Hankvi Guidza.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: So I've heard...

<font color=00BFFF>Hank held out a hand for Masa. Masa grabbed his hand and gave a strong shake. Hank gasped a bit. Masa was pretty strong, yeah. She always had been.

Hankvi: Err...

<font color=00BFFF>Hank waited for Masa to stop shaking the hand. He then led it and kissed it.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Oh...

<font color=00BFFF>Masa had a weird look on her face for a second. However, she then looked fairly relieved; much more than she had just before. She let out a silent sigh before Hankvi looked up again.

Hankvi: It's a pleasure to meet you.

<font color=00BFFF>Hank really could be kind of a classy guy. Maybe there is a better kind of adjective to use for that. I guess he was pretty close to royalty or whatever back on his home planet, so whatever gallant customs they had, he picked up on. Probably. I didn't know. I mean this felt like some pretty old-timey kind of gentleman character stuff and that's really what I imagine high-class folks would be up to. Not to say that Masa wasn't well-mannered or anything, but... I guess it's about different cultures or whatever.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Aheheh... same here, Hankvi.

Hankvi: Anyway, I should get back to work...

<font color=00BFFF>Hankvi looked back towards Mori, Revelian, and Poisonshot.

Hankvi: And, not to be rude or anything, but it would be nice if I could go about without any sort of ruckus or yelling, yeah?

<font color=00BFFF>Hankvi gave a sort of earnest smile. Mori and Revelian looked away slightly, with a bit of guilt on their faces. Poisonshot just marveled Hankvi, perhaps obliviously.

Hankvi: I mean, I'm not sure about you guys, but I certainly wouldn't want the bad Karma on my head if something were to go wrong...

<font color=00BFFF>It took a few seconds for me to realize the sort of deeper was behind his statement. (Or was it?)

Hankvi: Anyway, I'll be off for now. Sorry I don't have a gift for you yet, Sam. I'll be working on a belated gift to make up for it.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: O-okay!

<font color=00BFFF>With that, Hankvi left, just as quickly as he had arrived. He left the room in a bit of silence, as well.

<font color=00BFFF>That silence was broken when Masa let out a loud sigh.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Yeesh, talk about a bit of an emotional roller-coaster...

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: What?

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: It's nothing, just... I kept getting a lot of weird feelings from that Hank guy.

<font color=00BFFF>I blinked at her, as she clutched her chest and let out another sigh.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: What do you mean??

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Well... first I was honestly really scared of him.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Oh... was that because of the rumor? Sorry about that... but Hank's really a nice guy.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Not exactly because of the rumor... I just got an odd feeling when I first saw him. I swear, when he first opened the door, it was like a flash of lightning and he was standing before it.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: ... err... really?

<font color=00BFFF>I didn't understand what she was saying then.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: I mean, it's just some sort of aura about him that made me get the feeling that he had some sort of dark past, or something...

<font color=00BFFF>Masa played with her hair for a moment, and I blinked at her again.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: I mean... it's Hank, so I kind of doubt it... he really is a great guy...

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Well, I don't doubt that either. I kind of felt like that aura he held up changed when I actually started interacting with him... as if, despite whatever darkness may be looming behind him, he shows no darkness in spite of it. Kind of strange, though... how he can intertwine darkness and light so closely and prominently together... that it's the first thing I notice about him...

<font color=00BFFF>This might be a bit mean, but I kind of hoped that she wasn't always like this... I mean, I'd known her pretty well, but had Ludus changed her?

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: ... Masa, are you alright?

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Oh, I'm fine...

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Are you sure that you-

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: No, I don't have a crush on Hank!

<font color=00BFFF>She spoke so suddenly and covered her mouth after saying it.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Eh?

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: I mean, no, I don't want to crush Hank! Why would that even be an issue??

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Err... okay?

<font color=00BFFF>... I was really hoping that she'd grow out of this Ludus phase.

<font color=00BFFF>Mori suddenly coughed, and then slowly adjusted his glasses. Mori then spoke in a soft, apologetic, and almost hoarse-sounding voice.

Mori: Well, those thoughts aside... I'm sorry that such a ruckus had to occur, especially in the presence of weary others. Carry on, please.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Alright, Mori.

<font color=00BFFF>Mori nodded, gave one last look towards Revelian, and then slowly walked off.

<font color=FF0000>Revelian: ... Uh, yeah, I should probably buzz off too... oh, wait, I almost forgot...

<font color=00BFFF>Revelian then turned and began to look over at me.

<font color=FF0000>Revelian: You got something in the mail, it looks like.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Really?

<font color=00BFFF>Revelian held up a jade box.

<font color=FF0000>Revelian: Yeah, it's been tested for radiation or explosives, but no one's been able to open it. So, if you can get it open, good, but it still might kill you. I doubt you could get it open anyway, though, because I already tried with all my strength to pry open that lid and lock, and it won't budge anymore than-

<font color=00BFFF>I stared at the keyhole of the box, and it suddenly popped off.

<font color=FF0000>Revelian: WHAT?!

<font color=00BFFF>Revelian quickly picked up the lid of the box and examined it.

<font color=FF0000>Revelian: What the hell?? How did you get this to open??

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: It just popped off when I looked at it.

<font color=FF0000>Revelian: ... probably loosened up from when I was going at it.

<font color=00BFFF>Revelian coughed quietly and rubbed his neck. I'm not sure exactly why, but I just had the feeling that the box opening was completely unrelated to anything that he could've done to it.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Heha. Thanks, Rev.

<font color=FF0000>Revelian: Sure thing, I guess...

<font color=00BFFF>I gave a smile Revelian's way. Revelian simply handed the box back to me, and then walked away slightly.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Aheh...

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: So... what's inside?

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: I dunno. Looks like a bunch of papers...

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: What do they say?

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: Hold on, gimme a second to read them.

<font color=00BFFF>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

<font color=00BFFF>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

<font color=00BFFF>I stared at the letters for a moment longer.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: ... so... what is it?

<font color=00BFFF>I looked over at Masa. I felt strange... I kind of got a weird feeling of consideration that hadn't been around my head for a while.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: ... Masa...

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Yeah?

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: ... What are our plans for the future?

<font color=00BFFF>Masa looked at me, confused.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: ... what do you mean?

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: I mean... did you know that we can go back to Splationia? I found a ship, called Big Halley, and if it's repaired well enough, it can take us there in no time...

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: ... you mean...

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: But... it "can" take us there... is it going to?

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Wh... what are you saying?

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: I mean, what choice will--

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: No, I don't mean that... I mean...

<font color=00BFFF>Masa let out a sigh.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Why would I go back there?

<font color=00BFFF>I stared at Masa, almost bewildered.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: ... I... I had some good times on Splationia, but... Ludus is my home...

<font color=00BFFF>I looked at her for a moment. I have to admit... her words rang true with me. It was something that I'd only really put to the back of my mind for a long time. I mean, the consideration of staying here... like, for life? It... it was something that my parents were alright with, and that Masa wanted to do, as well. And, because of Big Halley, I could always have the option of coming home one day... I...

<font color=00BFFF>That's just what was going through my head at the moment, anyway. However, right there and then was when I realized something. Another word for that is an epiphany. And I feel like it was a good one.

<font color=00BFFF>Ludus was my home. And it still is.

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: ... you're right. Mine, too.

<font color=00BFFF>Masa smiled.

<font color=09AAFF>Masa: Yeah, right...

<font color=00BFFF>Samuel: ... heha.

ENDCHAPTER.