The Chronicles of Tidaka Chapter Three: Dave, The Empire’s 2ed in command.
The Chronicles of Tidaka Chapter Three: Dave, The Empire's 2ed in command
Location - Artis north gate.
Charr admired the villager's handy work. Wow they sure can build a wall to think yesterday this wall hadn't even been designed. Not much time for admiring the wall thro I have things to do lives to save. Charr quickly climbed the ladder to meet the town's inhabitants readying all the weapons they had. Charr gazed off into the distance toward the Empire's army. They had shot off a single volley and had demanded surrender and had sent in a representative to decide the terms of surrender. Fat chance that representative is going to have any luck he will be lucky if he isn't lynched. But I could use that to send a message to the Empire. His head on a stick would make a lovely decoration at HQ or here, man my bloodlust is getting to me again I hope I don't black out again. And besides who am I kidding they have at least 10 mechs and the best we have is a rusted out untested RPG-7. Looks like, aside from the mechs, they aren't very well equipped. They have plenty of swords thro. I'm going to talk to this representative and see what the deal with the mechs is.
Charr "I'm going to the tavern to speak with this representative, come get me if they begin the attack."
Charr took wing and glided to the tavern thinking on the way_. Lucky for us the Empire doesn't want to destroy the town but they probably don't know that I'm involved in this otherwise they would have moved in by now. And where has the "False God" gone to haven't seen him for about an hour._
Charr arrived at the tavern and the representative was sitting next to the barkeeper.
Charr wasted no time and began o speak. "Hey, representative man I am Charr leader of the resistance and temporary ruler of this fine town."
"I'm Dave of the Empire nice to meet you in a way that doesn't involve me getting my tail handed to me." Replied Dave.
Charr had herd of this man before but couldn't believe such a man would be here of all places. "Wait THE Dave of the Empire?" Charr was quick to judge thinking to himself, Dame the nerve of this guy THE DAVE, second in command of the Empire Dave showing up in a possible combat situation this could go either really good or insanely bad
"I promise you the Empire thinks this is just another rash revolt and doesn't think it's connected to you yet Charr." Dave said kindly. "I'm amazed at your boldness picking such a large target and actually pulling it off. How did you pull this off?"
"Wasn't my plan" Charr said in a matter-of -fact voice.
"Who's was it?" Dave asked carefully.
Charr eager to talk to a man that could be of use asked "First are you familiar with an incident involving a mech being trashed 4 days ago?"
"Yes, I'm aware of it." Dave said "pilot Ronalds was killed he didn't report very much almost as if something cut him off and forced him to self-destruct in a few seconds. You must have an impressive peace of tech to do something like that."
"It was a man named Tidaka, he beat his way out of an asteroid and attacked the mech because it was firing on him." Charr explained.
"Why do you think Ronalds would be firing on an asteroid?" Dave asked
"At first he was firing on me but I took cove behind the rock and he just didn't stop shooting." Charr replied.
"Wait you said a MAN destroyed that mech?" Dave asked with disbelief in his voice.
"Whatever he is he is no man." Charr said under his breath.
"What do you mean by that?" Dave asked carefully and intrigued at the same time.
Charr was slow to give an answer "You will know when you meet him."
Can you introduce me?" Asked Dave any man that could do that was defiantly worth meeting.
"I would but he has disappeared he doesn't answer to me." Charr said.
Dave intrigued asked, "where did he come from?"
"Well he arrived in an asteroid so I'd say space." Charr retorted.
Dave didn't think that Charr was being honest and attentively said "I have heard some pretty tall tales but this one takes the cake. How did you destroy that mech?"
"If you had seen what had happened you would understand why I don't even want to remember how that man died." Charr said the memories still fresh and he didn't want to think about that poor man.
Come on it can't be that bad. Dave retorted, "I have seen some horrible things at war so I don't want the great leader of the resistance to lock up over one mans death."
Charr lost it, "How does getting your air mask hose replaced with a fuel hose sound?" He screamed angrily.
"I would lose the mask." Dave said calmly as if it didn't matter.
"It had been welded to his skin." Charr said in a cold voice.
"That's horrible how did that happen?" Dave asked in horror.
"Tidaka did it with his flame." Charr said darkly.
"That would have killed this Tidaka," Dave said, "flame that hot would liquefy his guts."
"You'll understand it when you meet him." Charr said.
"I'm not sure I want to meet him if he is that cruel." Dave said, "That is if he exists at all."
Charr tired of talking about such dark things asked, "Why are you here?"
"To calm the fighting and take the town without excessive bloodshed." Dave replied proudly.
Charr angered by Dave's ignorance said, "Why, when the Empire will only cause more misery hear? That's why the people fight, you know, so they don't have to live like this. To create a better home for them and more importantly so their children don't have to be dogs of the Empire. Why then would you want to take this town to create more misery? Or do you have some other objective other than to feed that fat Emperor of yours?"
"I just want to unify our race so that the fighting will stop." Dave replied quietly.
"A noble cause and I understand that, but if the people are not happy then the fighting can't stop. The will grow restless and seek to make things better. To do that you first have to commit to doing it and too often they can't settle the problems with words that's what leads to fighting because they simply don't have any other option left. " Charr said calmly letting his anger drain.
"I fight with words and it seems you are much better at that than I, also you have won many powerful allies, I often wondered how. Now I see how you do it." Dave said.
"That's why I'm the leader of the resistance. Many say my tong is made of silver because I have a way with words." Charr said as if boasting.
"That and your brilliant mastery of tactics and knowledge of almost every subject I care to make note of." Dave said.
Charr unable to contain his laughter said, "HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! That's rich is that what my file said? Nope it's my all mate's brilliance. She controls everything I'm just a figure head. Throes strategies are all concocted by her. And this latest one was created by a stranger from outer space. I acted on it because he made me a bet. Face it Dave, The Empire knows next to nothing about us. It is blinded by its own greed and your King is nothing but a greedy man that got a lot of power. Face it; the Empire is a joke that kills people."
"So I know you want to ask everyone does after 10 minutes with me." Charr said calmly.
"I can't join you, not like this the Empire would destroy the town." Dave said darkly.
The door in the back opens and the costumer bell rings. A single blue figure sits to Dave's right (Charr was on his left)
"Hello, I believe you two were talking about me earlier." Tidaka said.
"Well speak of the devil, where have you been?" Charr Asked.
"None of your concern." Tidaka replies as he turns to Dave, "I'm here for you. You need to leave the empire behind.
"Why would I do that on the words of a stranger?" Dave asked with fire in his voice angered by the dracogin's rudeness.
"Because, we all work for a similar goal." Tidaka said unimpressed by Dave's anger.
"I'm leaving now Charr, we will continue later." Dave said as he got up. Then the door slammed shut as the tables around the room started to rattle.
"First read this." Tidaka said with a hint of laughter in his voice. He then held out a hand written book.
"Why?" asked Dave.
"Because, this book will be of great interest to you." Tidaka said as he put the book with the one of the Empire's seals on it onto the table and promptly got up and left. The door swung open without him even touching it and slammed shut behind him as the rattling ceased. Dave got up with the intent of leaving. He had enough of this crazy town and didn't care what the blue one thought would interest him. Charr opened the book to the paged that had a scale as a bookmark.
"Dave don't leave." Charr said loudly.
"WHY?!" Dave roared angrily he had gotten very angry at the dracogin who knew nothing about him talking as if he knew want was best for him.
"Reed this I wonder what that crazy thing did to obtain this it's one of your kings death books." Charr said with sadness in his voice.
"Why would something like that interest me?" Dave asked again.
"After you read this," Charr said holding out list of death warrants), "go to him watch him work his ungodly skills. let him make you a wager."
"Fine ill read it but if it isn't important I'm going back to the empire to try to improve it." Dave said with two meanings in his words. As je took the book a single page fell out.
Orders of the eradication of Dave of the Empire
Due to possible treason I your emperor hereby order the death of my second in command as soon as he returns from his trip to Artis. The reward is to be my new second in command.
Singed, your Emperor, Malum
Dave looked up after reading the note, he asked, "How the hell did he get this? What have I done?"
"Probably because you try to get him to be nicer and he wants a new gold brick or something stupid like that." Charr said smugly.
"He wants me dead." Dave said in disbelief.
"Why is it dated tomorrow?" Charr asked.
"Don't know but that's his signature." Dave said.
"Want to ask him?" Charr asked.
"No, but I need to hear what this Tidaka fellow has to say. That Blue one was him wasn't it?" Dave said.
"Yes, now let's go check his spot." Charr replied.
"His spot?" Dave asked.
"He watches the empire while standing on a cliff at the edge of town." Charr replied.
"Why?" Dave asked.
"You would have to ask him," Charr said, "Why do you ask?"
"Because I wanted to know." Was Dave's only response.
"Let's go find him." Charr Said.
Charr and Dave existed the bar and head to the west side of town to the familiar cliff side but Tidaka was not there. In Tidaka's normal place stood a hatchling. He looked much like Tidaka but Charr knew the hatchling's mother. She had died long ago. He stood there not looking anywhere but toward the sunset. Dave was the first to speak.
"Hey hatchling why are you here, where is Tidaka?" Dave yelled toward the hatchling.
"Dave don't talk to him," Charr said, "let me do it."
Dave responded quickly with one word. "Fine."
"Little one why are you staring at the sunset?" Charr asked the young hatchling.
"Because the strange man said if I don't look away until he comes back he promised to bring my mommy back with him. Also I was told that when Mr.Charr came looking for him to tell him where to find him." The hatchling replied.
Identifying himself Charr said, "I am Mr.Charr where did he go?"
"The graveyard outside of town, that's where my mom is buried." The hatchling replied without looking away.
"Wait she is dead?" Dave asked uncertain if the hatchling could expect such a thing.
"Tidaka has never broken his word hatchling," Charr said, "keep up the good work and remember he is testing you."
Dave started to protest but Charr quickly silenced him. He motioned for Dave to follow him as he headed to the graveyard.
Artis Graveyard - midnight - Tidaka's strange power.
It was midnight and there was a full moon. Charr and Dave hid in the bushes watching Tidaka. He had been pacing for several hours.
"What is he doing?" Dave whispered to Charr.
"if I knew I wouldn't be here." Charr replied in a low voice.
"I Saw you touch down you can't hide from me Dave and Charr, come out as watch me as I repay my debt to that hatchling." Tidaka said inviting them to watch.
Charr came out of the bushes and Dave soon followed. They stood at the grave of the dead mother. The tombstone was worn away from time and the very harsh weather .Tidaka drew a symbol on the mother's gravestone. As he started a chant, then the moon birthed a new light underground. Tidaka stopped chanting after a minute.
"Your hatchling waits for you. So rise from the dirt and accept my apology. It is my fault that you had died for if you were not my agent you would have lived." Tidaka said looking at the ground but nothing stirred yet.
Charr backed up guessing at what the blue dracogin had done but didn't warn Dave, he was about to get the fright of a life.
"My young lives?" Asked a very dry and very faint voice.
"Yes, so rise so we may see him for he is being tested and now so are you. Prove to me you want to see him again. Rise from your grave and into your new life. Let's see your hatchling." Tidaka said to the voice.
"What are you doing you freak?" Dave said demanding answers.
Just then a fleshless bone hand tore from the ground, Inches from Dave. Dave startled stepped back and cursed under his breath. This 'Tidaka' could really bring back the dead.
"Dave help a lady up would you?" Tidaka said pointing to the hand with his tail.
"What have you done?" Dave asked in a frightened voice.
"Cured death itself." Tidaka said turning to reveal his glowing neon eyes.
Charr had walked up and grabbed the bone hand and had lifted the skeletal dracogin up out of her grave.
"Thank you kind sir." The skeletal dracogin said.
"Still believe I'm a mere mortal?" Tidaka asked.
"You had me when we took the town." Charr said.
"What about you Dave?" Tidaka said.
Dave was show to repely but began to say, "At this point I'd believe you were a g-"
"Don't even finish that word I don't want to hear his rant again." Charr said cutting him off.
"Jennet bathe in the moonlight to restore your body," said Tidaka, "Your Hatchling can't see you like this."
"Thank you kind sir, may I ask your name?" Jennet said turning toward Tidaka.
"Call me Tidaka. Bath in the moonlight for the night your hatchling is at the west side of town near the cliff go see him as the sun rises but not until." Tidaka said calmly.
Jennet obeyed only because in her present state she couldn't exactly leave the graveyard on account of being able to see her own bones but the moonlight seemed to be growing her flesh back.
"Dave, Charr let us leave for now." Tidaka said spreading his wings.
"WHAT WAS THAT??" Dave yelled.
"The reward for being faithful to be even until the end." Tidaka said meekly.
"Immortality?" Dave guessed.
"No my child, the reward is freedom I needed spies so I could know how to unify this world and when it was discovered she was a sleeper she was put to death in front of her boy. He doesn't remember but it will haunt him for the rest of his life." Tidaka said with a low sad tinge in his voice.
"You toy with lives." Dave criticized.
"Yes I do but, if I hadn't toyed with hers in the first place she would have been a miscarriage that's how it works I save them from death before they have a chance and they share their eyes and are marked as a sleeper. She served me well and I can't deny that boy a mother. I am partly responsible for him. Also don't question my actions without them this world would have never been."
"I thought that rock revived you." Charr stated.
"Sort of yes you're correct about it reviving me but it had done so about twenty years before I landed. Then I saved a few to gather my information for me. I am weakening I will soon take my leave but until then what little power I have left is dedicated to saving this world and there is much to be done." Tidaka said.
"If that's true why not kill Malum and be done with it?" Dave questioned.
"Because people must learn. If I save you all every time you become weak and what happens if I use all my energy and am rendered mortal again who knows how long it could be before I can ascend again if my mortal shell would even last that long I need you all to be strong leaders like Charr." Tidaka said. "Through a little less bloodlust would be better." Tidaka said with a hint of humor in his voice.
"So you have only ascended once?" Charr questioned.
"That is true and my ascension destroyed almost everything." Tidaka said.
"Almost?" Charr asked.
"I have skills from the past before I ascended but not many and they are not complete some are images some good some are unspeakable by your standards." Tidaka said in a cold voice.
"Is that all that survived?" Charr asked.
"I had grown so powerful that I tore everything asunder by accident I, did not do it on purpose." Tidaka explained.
"So you were a mortal?" Charr asked.
"Indeed and I will be joining your ranks soon if I don't rest."
"So you're not all powerful?" Charr asked.
"That is correct that's why I am a "False God" gods can't be beaten, I can however unlikely it is." Tidaka said.
"Then why do this?" Charr asked.
"Because I gave her life I can't take it back the way that it had happened so I have given her another chance."
"Why then the bathing in the moon light," Charr asked.
"Because the moon is a powerful source of arcane magic." Tidaka said, "I use it as an alternative to my magic this way I preserve my power. Others can do it too; though I would need to teach them or they would have to find out on accident."
"Interesting," Charr said. "Could you teach me?"
"You do not have the gift to work the arcane arts." Replied Tidaka.
"Why?" asked Charr.
"Some have it some don't, it is one of the few things I do not understand." Tidaka stated meekly.
"So what are we going to do, the Empire will defiantly attack tomorrow." Charr said.
"I will join you in battle in my mortal form. I have changed my mind I will stay and fight." Tidaka said.
"I don't understand," Charr said, "What do you mean by mortal form?"
"I will seal my powers completely the longer they are sealed the more they grow. So I will finish sealing them when everyone is asleep and join you in battle tomorrow. Also Dave come here you need to take a stand ageist the Empire it's all you can do, if you go back you will be killed." Tidaka said.
"Ya I got the death warrant, so what if I can't go back I can just leave." Dave said.
"Join me and Charr denounce the Empire before the battle tomorrow. The seeds of revulsion are spread with words not fights. You can make a difference in this battle with your words as your weapon." Tidaka said.
"I'm not sure if I can do that, Tidaka." Dave said.
"All I ask is for you to think on it, goodnight you two I have things to do." Tidaka said as he spread his wings and turned to Charr. For the first time Charr saw Tidaka's eyes, He hadn't noticed before but they were defiantly glowing neon blue, the symbol of his vast higher power. By tomorrow that glow would be gone and Charr would finally see Tidaka's true eye color. Tidaka turned to leave and walked toward Jennet and began to help her control the flow of arcane energies to heal her body. Before taking wing and flying off.
Artis West Cliff - 5 in the morning - sunrise.
Hatchling's Pov
I want to see mom again so badly but if I look back the strange man will never bring her to me, when will he get here I'm so tired of looking where the sunset had once been. When will my mommy be back? I miss her so much.
Then the hatchling herd the strange man speak. "I'm back and as promised I am with your mother but before you turn listen well. Once you two are together again flee this town a war is brewing and curing death is a one-time thing only. Flee with your mother you may come back in a week's time. Also you must protect her and keep her looking forward she needs you as much as you need her. Now turn and flee."
I turned and there she was the strange man had really done it everyone said it was impossible but this strange man had done it.
"Thank you stranger how can I ever repay you?" I asked
The man just laughed and said I already had, strange I hadn't done anything but stair at the Empire's army for more than eight hours.
"Mommy! ", I screamed, and I saw her smile once again and I felt her warm comforting touch once again.
Me and my mom turned and left the town with so many memories. But one stood out and made me sick to my stomach. The day the emperor, Malum himself, came to Artis and killed my mother right in front of me. I was happy to leave that memory behind and one day we might return but only if my mom wants to. I certainly don't.