Chapter 7: Sacrifice and Resolve.
#10 of The Legacy Cycle
This is what happens after. I don't explain some things because they might come out later. I'm deciding on doing a library of reports from each misson's respective leader. Now if anyone wants to contact me on anything concerning the story or an idea or something, just PM me. There are some aspects of the back story i'm willing to part with. On with the show!
Chapter 7: Sacrifice and Resolve
Lyn slowly came to. When she did She realized Luke was hugging her. "Not so rough..." She grunted. "I've been carved up like a Dabai's bird." She managed to force a chuckle. Luke backed up and went back to undoing her chain. "Sorry. Sis. Are you okay?" "No. but I'll live." She was helped down by Luke when she was freed. She looked to Ian, who was sitting in a corner, rocking. "Last a remember, he was getting cut up pretty bad" She said, holding her head. "What happened?" "I'm tryin' to find that out now." Gore said, he walked to Ian and knelt down to the newbie. "Ian-" "It hurt." The human said softly, he couldn't find a better word. "You know that's a catch of this job, right?" Gore asked. Ian slowly nodded. " I... I just wasn't prepared." He admitted "You'll never be prepared for it. You can't hesitate; it could cost a teammate his or her life." "Is that why John died?" He asked himself more than anyone. " Is because I hesitated?" "C'mon Ian." Gore said, helping the human up. "You won't get anywhere wondering about it here." "What happened?" Ian asked himself, and he felt a dull headache knocking on his skull. "What happened to them?" "Ian, Ian." Gore softly stroked Ian's hair and held the human in his arms. He started to guide Ian away, using his body to block out the scene. Ian buried his face in the alligator's chest, finding comfort in him. He couldn't stand another second of this place. Luke and Seni helped Lyn out of the cave. When they arrived in town, it was late at night. The town itself seemed festive. People were drinking, some were crying then Gore noticed something. "Hey. Luke." He called the human over. "See anything off?" "Other than that some of the Cora I see isn't from here?" He asked Ian looked up. He was being carried in Gore's arms. He watched slowly as one of the men holding a couple of drinks passed by. "It's the bandits." He said weakly. "They helped." Ian and Lyn were escorted to Bianca's old hotel where everything was explained by Lyn "I couldn't stand to see it." She said tearfully, while the last of the bandages were being applied. "Last I remember was that he spoke in a low voice and Bianca fell. " She tiled her head."What did you say?" Ian was staring out of the window in the hotel room. He didn't hear a word she said. He was in the past, wondering where he went wrong with his brother and old crew. 'What of Lu?' He asked himself No reply. He could feel numbness in his mind "What did he do?" He spoke in a low voice. "What was that, Ian?" Lyn asked "Huh? Oh. Sorry, I was... " "I think we need some rest." Gore declared. "We've been up for two days; I think we can sort this out in the morning. Alright, everyone out." Gore began to push Luke and Senisis out of the room. He took Ian by the hand and guided him to a room. "You'll rest with me." Gore spoke softly in Ian's ear. Then he opened the door. "You've been through too much already." Ian didn't hear much of it. As soon as he saw the bed, he was laying in it. He didn't sleep that night but he felt safer in Gore's resting arms.
Ian heard the knocking for a while now but he didn't want to move. Gore didn't stir until It sounded as if someone was trying to break it down. "What is it?" The gator asked. He sat up and placed a hand on Ian's side. "The door." Ian spoke in a monotone "Someone has been knocking for a while." Gore wiped the drool from his face and headed downstairs. Ian decided to follow. As he sat up, he noticed Gore's scales on his back were dark and rough. More so than what usually was there. 'Does that look odd? he asked himself No reply Ian mentally shrugged as he followed Gore downstairs. When he opened the door two people were standing there: The Mayor of the city-town and the Bandit chief Vargo. "Waddaya want?" Gore asked, still tired and not remembering the mayor, who he harassed not too long ago "Could you come as a mediator?" Vargo asked bluntly, not seeing a reason to dance around it. "Hey Vargo." Ian half-waved. His heart still not into it. He decided to go somewhere and just sit. He felt a little empty and didn't know how to deal with it. Gore yawned loudly and gave the Mayor the once over. "Oh, yeah. Let's go." The gator looked to Ian for a long moment. The human had taken a spot on the couch and was starting to learn how to operate a remote. He jumped as the out-of-date Hovervision or H.V. flickered to life. Images seemed to move and dance before him. "You'll be okay?" Gore asked, concerned for more than one reason. Ian nodded but didn't notice if Gore left or not. Terror had returned and everyone came to life at some point in the day but Ian took no notice. He had a headache. his mind was pressed hard to those he had lost and his headache grew. There was a point when he had a mental image of Terror when his headache flared to life. He grunted and focused on what was in front of him. He was in the middle of some show or movie. He didn't care. Gore returned a couple of hours later and gathered everyone up. Luke and Senisis were on the roof talking, Lyn had joined Ian on the movie, and Terror was just Terror. The dragon vanished and reappeared for seemingly no reason whatsoever. "We're goin' home." Gore announced. "Pack yer stuff and we'll leave by noon." The road to the rest stop was uneventful. The desert was hot as usual and they welcomed the relief of shade Bronze pass offered. It was dark by the time they arrived at the stop. Everyone just dropped dead when they did; they were all still tired from the previous nights. Ian sat and watched as they slept. He felt a little better at some point and looked up to see Terror glaring at him. "What?" Ian asked. "What did you do?" The dragon asked rather bluntly, His face clearly angry. "What are you talking about?!" "In the cave, human. You killed the woman, I can smell dark intent a mile off and it came from you!" "I did not..." Ian started then he thought on it. 'Did i...?' "Are you so dark you can see it in others?" Ian snapped back while he stood up. Terror chuckled. It was weird. His deep voices made it sound as if two boulders grinding together. "Yes human, and I can see when people like you can't get rid of his darkness. You're a danger to everyone here." He said. He spoke words that were actually said to him at one point. He didn't truly believe it but the other option was Ian staying. Terror didn't truly know what to do with himself but he didn't want to spend his time babysitting the weak human. The dragon had learned from childhood that all races but dragons were weaker but humans were at the lowest. A recent experience in his life made him think humans had more strengths than physical but what deep rooted beliefs had established made Terror find it difficult that all humans possessed the quality. Ian was taken back at Terror's words, maybe it was true. There was a thought in his mind sometimes telling him something he didn't always agree with. "I-... I am not a d-" Terror grinned and cut the human off. "We both know it. Leave or I'll just kill y-" "Do you see that?" Ian asked suddenly. What he saw before him distracted him completely Terror tilted his head. Before and around Ian, an odd mist had formed. Ian tried to grab at it with his hands and it danced around his fingers. "It's a weird fog. It's reacting to my movements." "Describe it." The dragon demanded "It's white, and uh, there are weird symbols floating around in it." He tried to touch one. "What is this?" he asked. Before Terror could answer a white figure took shape. Its armor was covered in runes of old and the shape itself was that of an ancient monster long forgotten. It looked almost dragon but instead of scales it was wispy white fur. Ian Jumped out of the way just in time to get a haircut. He rolled and fell backward. "Trouble!" Terror yelled. His voice had the effect and everyone was snapping away. Ian attacked but didn't put his heart into it. The knight easily blocked the attack and swung with a heavy counter. Ian only managed to back up in time to earn a graze across his chest to match his hair. Gore attacked the mysterious monster of the mist from behind. Instead of the attack landing the mist just vanished into nothing. Now that they were all awake they looked around for it. "Where did it go?" Luke asked, lowering his bow "What was that?" Gore asked a better question. He brought out his second axe and continued his search. Ian felt that the attack on him wouldn't end, and he was right. "Look out!" Seni yelled. As if it was his own mind warning him, Ian reacted. Stepping forward, the human ducked and he kicked backward. The knight stepped back, waited until Ian finished his rotation and planted his foot. Then it punched Ian in the face with its armored hand. Ian fell back, the force knocked him to the ground. Ian held his head for a second but he rolled out of the way as the sword of white light plunged into the ground where he was sitting. Ian switched hands on his sword. Luke fired his arrow and the beast dissolved again. It reformed directly in Ian's face and the human had no choice to block the full force of the blow. Ian barely blocked that attack and barely brought up his blade for the second attack. The onslaught was sending Ian backward, up until he felt his back touch the tree. Ian was shocked as the finishing blow was above him. He sighed in relief as Senisis punched through the monster. It vanished again. "Stop thinking and just react." Senisis said. "It's after you! If you keep hesitating it will kill you!" Senisis' face was desperate, he was afraid for the human. The words meant nothing to the human. He was starting to feel the weight of those who died and it was too much for him. Seni pulled Ian forward as the spirit cut down the tree that Ian was leaning against. The tree landed with a huge crash. The leaves rattled for a minute after the tree landed. Luke fired another arrow and Gore took his place beside Ian. "You okay?" Gore asked in the human's ear. Ian couldn't answer, he didn't know how to. He just wanted to be carried away from all of this. The three of them were forced to part when the knight of white attacked once again. It's horizontal swipe forced everyone to react in their own way. It faded when everyone but Ian attacked. Ian blocked the attack and spun using the force. His counter was faster than the beast could block with his sword so he raised his blade and let his armor do the talking. Ian stood there dumbly as the rattle from the armor rocked him. He continued to watch at the sword came down. Ian felt and heard a horrible tearing, along with the snapping of bone. Ian cried out as he fell back to the ground. What saved Ian is that Senisis pushed him out of the way, taking the full force of the attack. His entire back from shoulder to hip was cut open. Torn muscle, broken bones, blood, and internal organs were exposed. Luke watched it in slow motion; He saw the blade land in Senisis' back and saw as the Cor was absorbed by the knight. He drank it as if it were water. Senisis coughed and you could see the damaged lung react. "Seni." Ian grunted through his pain. "Why'd you-" "Stop it, okay?" The mouse said weakly. His blood was flowing freely from his body, onto Ian. The knight was about to attack again but an arrow flew through it. It dissipated to attack once again. "You're a member of this team now, if you keep being selfish, we'll all die." The mouse coughed blood in Ian's face. "I'm just a danger to eve-" "Because you hesitate! Don't you get it?!" The mouse coughed. His outburst took a lot out of him. He lowered his head for a long moment. "Se-" Ian started but the knight returned to finish the job on Ian Gore arrived in Ian's view and cut the spirit away. "Ian, you need to focus. You're one of us and we all need to cooperate. If you focus on all of the dead, how can you help the living?!" The spirit returned and an arrow flew through his head. "We've all lost someone." Seni lifted his head and looked Ian in the eyes. "Stop punishing yourself for someone's death... and live for them instead." The mouse's breathing was labored. Ian didn't know what to say, or how to say it. Senisis lifted his head a final time. "It was my choice to... save your life... now live Ian... Live. Don't let my...." He took a breath. "Sacrifice be a..." He struggled one more time. "Don't let it be a... Burden..."Senisis' eyes glazed over and he slowly lowered his head. He gave a final exhale that sounded long and drawn out. "Senisis." Ian's eyes watered. Each drop made a trail through the blood on his face. He slowly and carefully climbed from under Senisis. He said nothing as he rolled to his stomatch, picked up his sword and stood up. Everything seemed still for a moment. To interrupt the moment the misty knight attacked once again. Ian quickly parted his feet and blocked the attack, sidestepped and found himself beside the knight. He brought a kick to the back of the leg of the knight and used it as a step to launch a sideways knee to the armored skull of the knight. He rolled to his feet after he landed and turned to the knight. "I'm sorry everyone." The human looked to everyone. "I'm with you all now. I shouldn't sit around and drag everyone down. Sorry." Gore and Luke launched a cooperative attack and the knight vanished. "As a member of this team I will-" Ian took his stance again. "Work for those who died, and those alive!" The knight attacked again and with his heart into it, Ian blocked, He countered with the kicked as he had before but this time he stopped mid kick and jumped back onto the foot. He spun on his heel and used his now free leg to kick the knight in its midsection. Instead of the knight vanishing again, it stumbled back. "John!" Ian yelled. He was finally ready to move on Tears flowed freely as Ian Stepped in with all his effort. He brought his sword overhead in a feint and stopped short as the knight brought up his blade to stop it. Ian was now within its defense. With his free hand he punched the monster in its lower jaw. He followed up with the back of his fist, and kicked the knee he aimed for earlier. It bent in an unnatural angle. Ian blocked the feeble counter with his sword and disarmed the monster. Ian took a step and leaped. He planted both feet into the beast's cheat and went with it as it went down. His sword positioned right above its head. The impact of the both of them hitting the ground is what plunged the sword into the knight's head. Ian couldn't hold his balance wash rolled off and sat up. He turned and saw the sword still in its head. First the sword fell then it began to dissolve, slowly this time. It began to swirl and it made its way to Ian. "What is that?" Gore asked as the mist had blocked everyone's view of Ian. Ian tried to touch it this time and instead of avoiding, it absorbed into to him. It was as if a small tornado surrounded him; His clothes lifted and some of the blood on him began to leak or dry. It took a full minute until this white mist full absorbed into him. When it was done, Ian couldn't do much but sit down. All was quiet for a moment. Luke dropped his bow and ran for his fallen friend. "Seni." Luke croaked and fell to hug his friend's body. Gore sat there for a long moment, looking and feeling numb. Once again he felt everything was out of his hands. Ian looked to the gator. "Uh, Lyn was it?" Ian asked. Lyn sniffed back a tear. "Yeah..." "Can you take Luke to the river? I think he needs a while, maybe some fresh cold water would help." Lyn nodded she went over to luke. At first he refused her hand but eventually he allowed her to help him up. The two of them walked off back to the direction of the pass. Ian looked to Gore again. "Are you okay?" Ian asked. "No." Gore replied honestly. "But I can't worry about that now. We need to prepare the body to return it to base." It was early afternoon when they returned to Beta. Everyone walked almost in a circle around Gore, who carried the covered corpse of Senisis. The Beta base was lively as usual until they arrived. People were playing and they slowed to a stop, girls who were laughing died down, a man at the reception flirting with the woman stopped and stepped aside. The only sound that could be heard was the water flowing throughout the lobby and the footsteps of the five people. They stopped just before the counter. Gore looked to everyone. "Everyone take a break. I'll take care of this." Gore said. "But-" Luke started. "That's an order." Gore said with a dark voice Ian hadn't heard from the Gator before. Terror was the first to leave. Ian walked backwards before making his way to the dorms. Lyn started to pull Luke along. Luke touched the body one more time. His eyes told him that his friend was void of Cor. When Luke finally left Gore stepped up to the counter. "The party for Nonin has returned." He stated. " We have one... One deceased." The female fox behind the counter didn't type at first, she was busy looking in Gore's eyes. When he spoke again she snapped to life and began to work. "Rest in peace, Albert Senisis."