Hey there! Me again, sorry, but I couldn't update anymore on 'Little Light Reading' because I'd have no choice but to give away a lot of twists in this story. As with my 'Shift in the Sands' Yu-Gi-Oh! fic, I'll have a little preview at the end of each chapter... hopefully *crosses fingers.* I'm updating this one as I go so be patient with me; I can be really slow. Anyway, enjoy.
Disclaimer: first and last time I'm gonna say it! I do not own MKR CLAMP does. And even if I did, I doubt I could do a better job than they did.
~*...*~ character's thoughts
***** jumps to another part
Quest for the Ardoneh
Prologue : The Autozam Blockade
~*Finally, after six hundred years-*~
"Captain, we've reached the Autozam blockade."
"Come to full stop, lower shields. We don't want them to think of us as enemies."
"Yes captain!"
The visor glowed an erie green color in the darkness. Lights from the panels before the first officer flashed a second after the square button had been pushed. Wether it was excitement or nervousness the captain could not tell. All of a sudden the captain's stomach was twisting and flipping. Remembering the sensors attached to the tendons, the captain drew a deep breath and let it out.
"Captain, the commander of the point ship is attempting to establish a channel."
"Well connect it! The worst thing you can do is ignore your gatekeeper."
The speakers in the bridge suddenly crackled to life. "Identify yourself and the name of your vessel."
"Most certainly sir," the captain replied. "I hope you will forgive the lack of a visual. I have yet to reroute the projector. I am the captain of the Alshestare, formerly known as the Cooari and formerly commanded by Zanyu."
"Zanyu?!"
"Aye sir, he met with an unfortunate end and I was elected to take his place."
"What is your purpose?"
"Upon hearing news of the death of Cephiro's Pillar, I immediately collected all materials that might be useful to rebuild homes for Cephiro's people."
"Really?" There was a short pause. "We'll see about that."
"Our shields are down and our ship is free for your scanners to explore."
"The Cooari was the prowler among ships six hundred years ago. And although it cruises under a new name and command of a new captain, I can not ignore the fact of the major artillery under its metal skin."
"Then my suggestion would be to run a full scale scan to satisfy your curiosity. Though I assure you, there are no destructive weapons aboard the Alshestare. I saw to that personally." Through the channel, the captain's keen hearing could pick up the beeping of the point ship's computer scanners. "Although I have seen to it that the Alshestare has been equipped with state of the art defenses and controls."
"I see.... Our scanners have detected that a life form resides within a control sphere."
"And I am within that very sphere. This system is used solely for escapes from hostile vessels."
"You have numerous pods secured in your hull... each with two inside."
"My crew.... I decided not want to take a chance that they should be harmed. Tis been six hundred years since this vessel was seen, and I feared I might be mistaken for Zanyu."
"Very well... what is your name and nationality?"
"Zeritolokido.... of Cephiro."
PREVIEW!!!
Chapter 1: The Alshestare and the elusive captain
The docks were on the southern most edge of Cephiro. Nestled in a protected harbor, merchants from distant and neighboring nations traded bargains and valuable information. The buzz was the Alshestare. As Clef walked down the main road he couldn't help but overhear the conversations. Crewman in particular were passing back and forth tales they had heard in their childhood. Clef paid no heed to the tall tales.
He glanced from side to side, taking silent note of the crews as they unloaded or loaded supplies onto their vessels. The captains were clustered together, debating about mechanical issues. Clef looked at each one in turn. He recognized each one. ~*Where is the captain of the Alshestare?*~ Frustration began to boil, although the noise didn't seem to help his nerves. It seemed as if every five seconds he had to duck out of someone's way. All that saw him greeted him, but he was swiftly falling out of the mood for conversation...
I know it's not much but I don't want to give any more away than the title did. ^_^ Review please!
Disclaimer: first and last time I'm gonna say it! I do not own MKR CLAMP does. And even if I did, I doubt I could do a better job than they did.
~*...*~ character's thoughts
***** jumps to another part
Quest for the Ardoneh
Prologue : The Autozam Blockade
~*Finally, after six hundred years-*~
"Captain, we've reached the Autozam blockade."
"Come to full stop, lower shields. We don't want them to think of us as enemies."
"Yes captain!"
The visor glowed an erie green color in the darkness. Lights from the panels before the first officer flashed a second after the square button had been pushed. Wether it was excitement or nervousness the captain could not tell. All of a sudden the captain's stomach was twisting and flipping. Remembering the sensors attached to the tendons, the captain drew a deep breath and let it out.
"Captain, the commander of the point ship is attempting to establish a channel."
"Well connect it! The worst thing you can do is ignore your gatekeeper."
The speakers in the bridge suddenly crackled to life. "Identify yourself and the name of your vessel."
"Most certainly sir," the captain replied. "I hope you will forgive the lack of a visual. I have yet to reroute the projector. I am the captain of the Alshestare, formerly known as the Cooari and formerly commanded by Zanyu."
"Zanyu?!"
"Aye sir, he met with an unfortunate end and I was elected to take his place."
"What is your purpose?"
"Upon hearing news of the death of Cephiro's Pillar, I immediately collected all materials that might be useful to rebuild homes for Cephiro's people."
"Really?" There was a short pause. "We'll see about that."
"Our shields are down and our ship is free for your scanners to explore."
"The Cooari was the prowler among ships six hundred years ago. And although it cruises under a new name and command of a new captain, I can not ignore the fact of the major artillery under its metal skin."
"Then my suggestion would be to run a full scale scan to satisfy your curiosity. Though I assure you, there are no destructive weapons aboard the Alshestare. I saw to that personally." Through the channel, the captain's keen hearing could pick up the beeping of the point ship's computer scanners. "Although I have seen to it that the Alshestare has been equipped with state of the art defenses and controls."
"I see.... Our scanners have detected that a life form resides within a control sphere."
"And I am within that very sphere. This system is used solely for escapes from hostile vessels."
"You have numerous pods secured in your hull... each with two inside."
"My crew.... I decided not want to take a chance that they should be harmed. Tis been six hundred years since this vessel was seen, and I feared I might be mistaken for Zanyu."
"Very well... what is your name and nationality?"
"Zeritolokido.... of Cephiro."
PREVIEW!!!
Chapter 1: The Alshestare and the elusive captain
The docks were on the southern most edge of Cephiro. Nestled in a protected harbor, merchants from distant and neighboring nations traded bargains and valuable information. The buzz was the Alshestare. As Clef walked down the main road he couldn't help but overhear the conversations. Crewman in particular were passing back and forth tales they had heard in their childhood. Clef paid no heed to the tall tales.
He glanced from side to side, taking silent note of the crews as they unloaded or loaded supplies onto their vessels. The captains were clustered together, debating about mechanical issues. Clef looked at each one in turn. He recognized each one. ~*Where is the captain of the Alshestare?*~ Frustration began to boil, although the noise didn't seem to help his nerves. It seemed as if every five seconds he had to duck out of someone's way. All that saw him greeted him, but he was swiftly falling out of the mood for conversation...
I know it's not much but I don't want to give any more away than the title did. ^_^ Review please!