Proud and Seya made their way east through a white gray rocky terrain, Proud on a large brown mare named Heiress, and Seya on her grey stallion, Spirit.
‘So are you going to tell me about this dream?’ she asked him.
Proud was quiet for a moment more, then ‘We have to find a great warrior in a dark cavern east of here…’
‘The dream Proud?’ she repeated.
He looked over at her, ‘He was in it.’
She shakes her head, trying not to laugh, ‘This is so unlike you, you have no idea how strange this is,’ she replied.
‘I know.’
********
That night they set camp amongst the rocks.
Seya being a ranger, did all the cooking whilst traveling…
…while this night, Proud sat and looked at the sky.
Rising from his bed in a tavern in ‘Rusk’, is the formidable form of ‘PROUD’, a 7′ tall, golden haired barbarian.
Though he is muscular, he is more long and lean, than bulky.
Naked, with two girls passed out (Also naked) in his bed, he clothes in soft white armour, retrieves his enormous two handed axe, which is leaning against the corner, near the door…
…tosses two silver coins on the bed, and leaves.
********
‘BAM BAM BAM!’ Proud stands outside a door to another room, pounding away on it.
‘Seya! Rise!’ he hollers, awaking many other tenants, several opening their door to yell at whomever had woke them…
…then slowly closing their doors with one look at the enormity of Proud.
The Rogue Girl appointed herself as ‘on watch’, being the Paladin Sir Stalos had laid down and gone straight to sleep.
“He hasn’t even asked me my name yet, what kind of Knight is this…” She spoke, as she sat and leaned back against the main tree that kept them from the rain.
An hour or so later, her gut told her she was being watched…
…when suddenly a crossbow bolt struck the tree right by her head!
Her eyes went wide, “Sir Stalos! We have company!”
With this the Paladin systematically rose from his slumber, clutching his long sword with both hands, and eyes glowing white glancing at the bold in the tree, “Hobgoblins…”
At his feet is his breast plate, but he’s still wearing his chainmail.
‘Sir Stalos Kneels Within A Chapel, Of Other Men’s God… Not His
But He Is Not Alone’
EPISODE I
AN ORDER OF THE RED PHOENIX CAMP
THE TILEXIAL FOREST
Sir Stalos steps out into the camp, behind him a chapel of, not his god, but he finds peace their anyway.
Crossing his path are two Paladin’s of The Red Phoenix, one on each side of a shadowy charcoal cloaked young woman, with dark hair and dark eyes, her hands bound by rope.
Her eyes lock with his as she wipes dirt and blood from her mouth, she smiles with a slight glimmer in her eyes.
Sir Stalos is struck for a slight moment, then continues his way to his gray steed Oden, which is tied to a tall tree just outside of camp.
A young half Japanese, have Caucasian, 17 year old girl arrives in an automated Limousine Flyer, outside the high rise apartment building of ‘REAL TECH’ Industries CEO, and Owner, JACK RYAS.
The girl, EUPHORIA, is the head Hacker… Er… Computer Specialist for the company.
She has a slim, but slightly curvy figure, with white shoulder length hair and grey eyes.
Wearing all white, her outfit is skin tight, but with a utility belt, and wrist brace devices… and on her fingernails are little black skulls against a white background.
Outside the entrance are two very large security guards, dressed in all black, with dark shades…
Euphoria is also wearing shades, hers are silver…
…through them she sees all the hidden backup weapons on each of their persons.
“Hello…” she says as she walks by them.
“Euphoria…” one of them replies.
Euphoria crosses the lobby, and enters the high speed elevator…
…but before it starts to go up, she stops it, “Halt”.
“What if it’s bad news… What if…” her thoughts wander off.
“Go,” with this the elevator continues.
It stops at Jack’s bedroom floor, and opens.
She enters the barely lit room hesitantly… She’s never been anywhere near Jack’s Apartment, let alone his bedroom.
“Euphoria… Come,” he speaks weakly…
…as he lays in his bed, several blinking medical devices are around him.
Euphoria moves very slowly, and can tell looking at him, that he is not well…
…tears come to her eyes, but she pushes them back.
“Hello Jack… We’ve missed you at work… I’ve–” she speaks, but is cut off.
“Come…” he says, patting his bed.
Jack looks to be in his late twenties, but whatever’s wrong with him, makes him look a bit older, and definitely thinner.
She slowly makes her way to the edge of his bed, and sits, as far away from him as possible.
He smiles, “I’ve missed you too.”
Euphoria smiles slightly, but than the dread of what he’s probably going to tell her returns, and she is subdued once more.
“Euphoria… What you’ve done for ‘Real Tech’… What you’ve done for me, has been…” he fades off, and coughs.
She stands and approaches him, “Do you need some water?”
His coughing stops, “Don’t worry, I’m not contagious…”
She sits next to him, “I’m not going to be around much longer Euphoria…”
She looks horrified, and can no longer hold back the tears, which begin to run down her face.
He places a hand on her cheek, “I’m leaving you in control of ‘Real Tech’… The things we’re accomplishing there… They’re changing the world.”
She takes his hand, “What is it… What’s wrong with you… We can stop it… We can heal you!!” she bursts out in desperation.
Jack smiles, “It’s no use… This body is done.”
She puts two of her fingers on his forehead, “But this mind is not… With the new Cloning Technology, and Consciousness Transfers, we’ll just get you a new body, I’m sure it will work…”
“Believe it or not, I’m a believer in the nature of things… Though it might seem the contrary with my companies creations…” he explains.
“There’s nothing natural about you leaving this world under 30!” she says spiritedly, and stands…
…when she does, she notices an open computer port with blue colored text across the screen… what one might call an old school way to process, or write.
Jack glances at it.
“I’m a Writer… I never told anyone that…” he explains.
She approaches the computer port, on the screen she sees writing about a fantasy barbarian character, called Khor’an.
“Khor’an,” she speaks.
Jack laughs a bit, then coughs, this time worse.
She rushes to him, and hands him a glass of clear water.
Exhausted, he finally stops coughing, takes the water, and takes a drink.
He sits it down, “Euphoria, tell me you’ll keep ‘Real Tech’ going…”
She stares at him, then nods in agreement.
He smiles, then picks up a small Identifier Tablet, signs it, then hands it to her…
…she looks at him, tears welling again, then signs.
“I better get some rest…” he speaks, smiles, then falls asleep…
Euphoria sits in the low lit room, rain starting to strike the outside window looking over the city…
Jaden lights a cigar, and flips on his computer screen.
“M6, Open client list…” he speaks.
“Client List, Open.
He stands, “Clients… This is the last time you will hear from me… I appreciate all of you contracts, and will attach referrals for future services.
Jaden Darius Tusk… Out”
“Our You Sure You Want To Do This Jaden…”
He turns of his computer screen, “It’s done.”
Jaden puts out the cigar, throws on a black coat, and heads out the door.
OUTSIDE JADEN’S APARTMENT
He summons his craft, then lifts into the sky.
In his craft he brings up the 7 Hybrids on his screen.
“M3, take me to NORTEN BRAYLECK’S home…” he speaks to his vehicle.
“Affirmative.”
His ship flies for a bit, then enters a non desirable district.
DISTRICT 6
He lands his craft across the street from a run down home with 6 carrier crafts parked in front of it.
“This Isn’t A Very Safe Area Jaden…”
“I know…” he replies.
Suddenly, 4 heavily armed street youth in their 20’s approach his vehicle.
His driver’s door opens.
They’re a bit surprised to a very fit silver haired Jaden step out.
“What’s up old timer…” speaks one of them, aiming his canon at him subtly.
Jaden disregards the youth, stepping by them, and towards the house.
A fifth youth steps out from behind one of the black carriers, gun lifted, Jaden disarms him, removes the ammo cartridge from the cannon, and drops it on the street.
The youth follows him into the house, amused by what they’re seeing.
Jaden enters, there are two girl Hackers, and one more young thug surrounding another dark haired youth on a computer.
“I said no interruptions!” speaks the black haired youth on the computer, without turning to face Jaden.
“Norten Braylecks?” speaks Jaden.
The black haired youth turns to face him, he is of Asian decent, his eyes are dark with hacker lights in his eyes, “Who’s asking?”
“Dark Light,” replies Jaden, who seems suddenly shocked by this.
Several shady individuals gather around a single, young individual.
“I didn’t see anything… I swear,” speaks the youth, as they begin to draw short blades to take him out.
Suddenly, in a flash of light, a Masked Man, one might refer to as a ‘Hero’… Or, ‘Vigilante’ appears, taking down three of them in a blink…
…the others run off.
“Thank man—” the youth speaks, but the mysterious figure is already gone.
APARTMENT BUILDING
WEALTHY DISTRICT
60TH FLOOR
JADEN DARIUS TUSK exits the elevator, his conditioned body notable, though he is in his low 50’s, and silver haired.
He opens the door to his apartment, and enters a dark chamber…
…dark save the city lights which blare through his all glass outer wall.
He peers out upon the city, then steps to his desk, and switches on his computer.
He brings up 8 photos on his screen…
…Twenty year olds, to late 30’s.
There’s a Red X across one of the girls, a dark haired one.
Hybrids.
He stands and pours himself some expensive whisky.
“You Really Should Consider Including Your Daughter In This Team You’re Assembling…”
“We’ve discussed this M-6… No… Send the locations of the remaining 7 to my Cell…” Jaden speaks, sits down the empty whisky glass, and heads to his room to sleep.
“You really should see a Cyber Specialist Rogue…” speaks a dark haired, 40 something year old female, in a medical coat.
Sitting in a Cyber Adjustment chair is Detective CHESTER ROGUE, a black with silver tips haired, fairly rugged looking, yet somewhat handsome man in his early 50’s.
“Yeah… Well… If I do, they’ll just reignite the arms’ militant aspects… No thanks,” Rogue replies, as he looks down at his Cybernetic right arm, its’ electronics open.
She approaches the arm with an instrument, “Still…” she makes some adjustments, which cause his fingers to move.
She closes it up, “There yah go.”
He bends his arm, which appears to be functioning fine.
“Thanks Doc…”
OUTSIDE IN THE STREET, NEAR THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE
Rogue lights a cigarette, and clicks a switch on his key chain, causing the sleek black vehicle before him’s driver side door to open…
He gets in…
“Up…” the ship rises some 100 feet into the air, then propels forward, entering a metropolis sky full of other types of flying vehicles…
…From product, to people transport, to high end cruisers, to ships similar to his own in general design.
“I should go home… There’s no reason for me to be out here tonight…” he thinks to himself, as his ship swoops through the sky, avoiding all other craft.
It was a dark night…
Even for the Blue Zone District.
Lights in the city seamed as seldom stars…
As Rogue’s ship went low, the BOULEVARD was quiet.
…and it was late.
“Better than being home with my cat…”
Rogue’s eyes swept the streets, as if looking for something… Or… Someone.
“It’s better this way. We both need space. Autonomy.”
Suddenly three girls appear on the street, one looks dressed unbelievably, she has red brown hair to her shoulders, light makeup on her beautiful face… She looks to be like 26ish.
The other two are younger, but not nearly the scale of… Anything the first girl is.
The other two girls look scared, but trying to draw attention from drivers by.
” ROSE SCARLETT,” he says under his breath.
He knows her.
The girls see Rogues vehicle approach, and Rose waves the other two girls off, “I got this.”
Rogue pulls up along side the curve, and lowers his dark passenger window.
She leans over to peer in his dark cockpit, “Hi Rogue…”
He puts his cigarette out, raises the window, and drives away.
The Written Word 