Disclaimer: I own no one here except for my OCs, the rest clearly belong to SEGA/Archie
Chapter 2: Adrift
Day 96, 3238
Her eyes opened to the rectangular box that was her room. Light seeped through the cotton sheet that was covering her only window, illuminating the junk filled mess in her room. Her desk was covered with paper, pencils, and CDs. Scrap metal was piled in the back corner and spears lay scattered across the floor. Aly sat up "RAAGGHHH!" She stretched her limbs and popped her joints. As soon as her left foot hit the floor, she recoiled at the feeling of cold crystal. Her mom's amulet that helped her to sleep lay flat on the floor. "Oh no, hope it's not broke." She picked up and inspected it closely. When it was apparent there wasn't any damage, she wore the amulet around her neck. "Should have put it on last night." Alyssa can toss and turn something fierce, even when she wasn't dreaming. "Hmmmm I still want to ask dad about that whole glow thing." He was probably already at work, judging from the light outside. "Oh well, I need some tea right now," She stood up and rounded her door, slipping on a robe before heading out.
The furnace was already burning when she entered the main room, giving warmth to the air. "Thanks dad." She went into the kitchen and started pulling out everything she needed; powdered sugar, handful of juniper berries, a small pot, and her favorite mug. Once she had the water boiling, she dumped the berries in, filling the room with that spiced aroma. "That smell never gets old."
Her tea was done after fifteen minutes of boiling to which she grabbed and took her seat at the table. She was about to take the first swallow when she noticed a handwritten note below her. "AAGH! Dad you seriously couldn't wait till Sunday?" Aly grunted before snatching up the note.
Good morning my little Aly. (She rolled her eyes) I need you to pick up a few things from the market, now I know I probably made you ill so I threw in a few extra coins for the tech store or wherever you want to spend it. Her spirit lifted... slightly. Just do me a favor and don't buy anymore of those Overlander punk rock CDs, that crap rots you're mind. You should be listening to your native music or mobian pop like your friends do. ("Ugghh." It wasn't her fault her dad had bad taste.) You don't have to go as soon as you're up, just before I get home:
—two jugs of yak milk
—garlic
—salt
—four ears of corn
—salmon eggs
—soap bar stack
—two bottles of thymol
Rays are on the counter, love you and I'll see you when I get home.
She sighed, "Well at least I have my own silver," She thought while pushing the note away and taking a few sips of her tea. The fruit cake still sat on the table from last night. Realizing she could use some extra energy for the day, Aly grabbed it, peeling the foil off and took one bite. "Mmmmm." She washed it down with tea. Yeah fruit cake was terrible by itself but with juniper tea it's actually pretty good.
Once Aly finished her morning routine she decided she better go and get her errands done now so she can have the rest of the day off. In her room she ditched the robe for her yak leather outfit and fur coat made from donated fur.
She grabbed the coins and the note on her way out, stuffing them in her coat pocket.
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The Arctic sun sat just above the central towers, reflecting its light off the windows. Shellrock city was no true marvel when you compare it to other mobian cities but that didn't stop the Halnalians from considering it the sole jewel of the Anchor Isles. A bunch of medium size buildings, shops, apartments, market stalls, and four large glass towers made up the Central District. The towers themselves were constructed of stainless steel and enameled glass, with glass walkways connecting each one. One of the towers was the counsel chamber, where the city's leaders would discuss political matters and what not. The tower it was connected to was the academy, a specialized school for teens and young adults. The third tower was a hotel mainly for foreign scientists and traders, it hasn't seen use in... awhile. The last tower was the Halnalian Center For Technology, where Aly dreamed of working at. Only a select few citizens were allowed in.
As for the Outer District where Alyssa was walking from, was a collection of greenhouses, Yak pens, Salmon hatcheries, and individual houses with solar panels on top. The town folk often looked down on them but they knew they needed them to survive.
Aly made her way down central street, eventually stopping at a small shop, "Mark's Tech Store." She walked in and made her way to the counter, where a malamute like herself was laid back in a swiveling chair, blasting loud music through his headphones.
"Mark." She tapped the counter.
"Mark!" Her paw went for the bell.
Ding Ding Ding
Mark looked up, his expression nonchalant.
"What Aly?"
"Do you have any BlackKnife albums, or Megapolis Blues on you?" She asked trying to look pleading.
"I do, in my secret stash... that you're not getting."
"UGH! Really?!" He can be such an ass sometimes. Mark just laughed and returned to his sitting position. "Well shit! You pretty much bought out every other band out there, can't let you buy the whole damb store!"
"Well, he did have a point."
"Ugghh! Fine! Guess I'll buy something else then."
Aly left the counter. Mark just shrugged and went back to jamming his music.
After ten minutes of searching she was about to leave when something caught her eye in the back of the store, a pair of headphones. She approached and grabbed it, studying it before going to the counter.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Mark jumped slightly as he pulled off his headset. "You still here?"
"How much?" She asked while giving him the headphones.
"That'll be 10 silver rays or 4 gold, take or leave."
Aly fished out some of her coins, handing him 10 silver rays.
"Thanks."
"Whatever." He put his headset back on.
"What a dick," She thought as she left with her new device.
The central streets started to crowd up as lunchtime was fast approaching, and the smell coming from one in particular joint was starting to make Aly's stomach growl. The Yik Grill, where there's nowhere else to get the best yak burgers. "Aaahh That smoky grill smell, I still have ten silvers left so I guess I'll go grab me some of the bes—" Her mind frothing was interrupted when she felt a nudge on her left ear. She looked to her left.
"You fall for it every time, I swear." Laughter coming from her right. There was no mistaking who it was.
"Kayla!" Aly turned to see the brown furred, blue eyed husky wearing a smirk.
"Yeah, I figured you were out today and I thought I'd come and bother you."
"Oh... ok, well I was getting read to go to Yikkies and grab a bite to eat if you want to come, I have 10 silvers."
Kayla cringed slightly, "Uhh don't know, that processed stuff does things to my belly."
"They also have whole salmon and grilled corn."
"I'm in."
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Alyssa came back to their table with a tray holding their food. "Don't trip!" Kayla said as she stuck her leg out, prompting Aly to stop. "Seriously Kayla?"
"Hehehehe."
She sat down handing Kayla's food out, "You're so immature, what if I would have fell and lost our food?"
Kayla just shrugged as she picked up a corncob, "Then that would have been your lost since you paid for it."
Aly just shook her head. This was one of those many times where she questioned their friendship. "So, anyway I'm pretty sure you didn't find me just to bother me." Aly picked up and ate a handful of fried potatoes.
"You're right, I have plans tonight and fun ones at that."
"Oh Ray, not good." Usually her plans ended up with them in hot water or hurt.
"Me and the boys are going out for some good times at the closed harbor, and I want you as the special guest!" Kayla gave in enthusiastic smile and pointed at Aly with both hands.
Aly stopped chewing her burger for a second then swallowed. "This... has to be... the dumbest... idea of fun I've ever heard."
"Oh come on Aly cat! It's not like your doing anything interesting tonight."
Aly's face took on a more serious look, "You do know the guards their are ordered to shoot trespassers on sight, right?"
"I know! Isn't that exciting?!"
Aly just lowered her head, mentally face palming. She knew there was no point, "By the boys, you mean just your bro and friends right?"
Kayla downed her drink and a salmon loaf before responding, "No, bro and Sully."
Aly's jaw dropped.
"What?! You two are perfect for each other, you both are nervous wrecks and you both like to play with metal."
"Ugh! Were not the same and don't count on me going now."
Kayla finished up her food, sat back in her chair and squinted, "Hmmmm I guess me and the guys have to start addressing you by your new nickname now." "Ole daddies girl pussy ca—"
"Fine! But don't embarrass me in front of him like you did last."
Kayla grinned in victory. She got up and gave Aly a mock hug, "Awww this means so much to me bestie." She shook her around.
"She'll be the death of me some day."
Kayla parting from her hug, took the last potato frie off Aly's plate. "We'll be meeting at midnight near the ruined radio tower, so you better stay awake." She tossed the frie in the air, catching it with her teeth, "Or it's your new nickname from n—"
"Okay I get it."
"Good, and thanks for the free food."
"Welcome." Kayla turned to leave but about halfway she turned back to Aly. "Oh yeah, and bring your spear gun and that little hand chargy thing."
"Uhhh.. why?"
"You'll see, good times," With that she vanished from the joint.
"Great."
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Alyssa continued her trek towards the market area, the sun now over her head. She still had a little time to kill, and there was one place she wanted to spend it.
The Shellrock Mausoleum was quite an impressive structure with many of its long corridors going up to the next floor or down to the basement level. There weren't that many people in here today which Aly didn't know whether to be relieved... or worried. This place use to give her the creeps, and it still does a little.
"Lets see here... grave 152...153..." She came to a stop at an Inbuilt grave labeled 154: Casey Malamute. "Hi mom." The lit candles flickered. She rested her arm on the stone slab connected below the grave. It was covered in fragrant flowers and candles, with a family photo leaned against the back. Aly couldn't help but to smile, seeing her smiling mother again. She had that affect on people, even in life her energy would lift the spirits of the darkest soul. Aly's eyes settled on a small mechanical object on the center of the table, a primitive robot they made together out of spares. It was rusted and far from working condition, but it meant the world to Aly. It was the first thing she put on her mother's grave.
"Hey mom I... I don't know what to do," She questioned.
"Usually you were... there for me.. ya know for these kind of things." She tried rubbing her eyes to stop her eyes from misting, to no avail.
"It's just these times... the test... my fath—" She sucked in air, the tears rolling down her face.
She felt so stupid... alone... and scared. The only light in the basement were from the candles, and it felt like the darkness was closing in. She closed her eyes. It stayed dark for a few seconds, before a blue light consumed her. She opened her eyes to see the salmon figurine glowing again, and just like before, everything was okay.
She stood, wiping her tears with her coat sleeve before turning to leave.
She looked back one last time.
"Good to know you're still with me."
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The Malamute household stood dim and quiet, nothing but the sound of the outside wind could be heard. Aly was doing everything in her power to stay awake; a cold shower, listening to her new headset, sitting upright on her desk, and downing some more tea. She was studying some of her old schematics, the prints showed a plan for a portable shower, slurpy machine, sweeper bot, and a smart toaster that almost ended with her house burning down. She laughed, those were all failures that earned scolds from Mitchell. However, there was one device she made that even her father praised her for. She looked over to a strange contraption sitting on the edge of her desk, a hand cranked friction charger. It was a fishing reel with wires leading up to multiple connectors on top, allowing it to sync with any device. Aly used it frequently to charge her CD player, and has even stopped her house from going out of power during a few blizzards.
Knock Knock
Her door opened, revealing Mitchell. "Hey, sorry I had to work late." He leaned his arm against the door frame. "How was your day?"
"Ahh... it was ok what about yours?"
"Oh you know, same old drag." Aly studied his features, he looked worn than usual.
"I met up with Kayla today."
Mitchell smirked, "Oh yeah? What did that troublemaker have to say?"
"Nothing, just being her annoying self."
Mitchell chuckled.
"After that I went to visit mom."
His head hung low, he wish he could have been there with her. "Maybe we'll go together, when I get off work early some day."
"Yeah."
"Well," He started rubbing the back of his neck "there's some leftover stew in the ice cellar, help yourself when you get hungry now." He turned.
"Hey wait!" Aly spoke up.
"Yes?"
She held up the lapis salmon, "This thing... glowed a few times."
Mitchell blinked, "Hmmm, did you feel energetic when that happened?"
"Umm... sorta, how did you know?"
Mitchell moved back, "just keep it safe... it's something to do with my work."
Aly was dumbfounded, "But how? And wh—"
"You know I'm not allowed to discuss work with anyone! Not even my family." His voice raised.
Aly glanced down.
Mitchell's expression lightened, "Look I'm sorry I snapped, it's ju—"
"No, I get it." Your work is more important than family.
Mitchell just stood for a few seconds before turning back to leave, "It's been a long day... I'll... I'll see you tomorrow."
Aly just nodded in response.
With that he left the room.
Her eyes fell back to the amulet.
"I'll figure out what you are... even if it ends me."
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Tik Tik Tik
Her eyes shot open and in a fit to get up, stumbled out of her chair. "Crap crap crap crap." She was struggling to get her previous outfit back on. She was moving at a quick but quiet paste, the last thing she wanted was to wake her dad up. Once her clothes were on she went into her closet and pulled dragged out her book bag. She started throwing in everything she thought she would need tonight; some of her favorite CDs, CD player, Some Spears, her friction charger, and her spear gun. As soon as she had everything she placed her headphones around her neck with the amulet and grabbed the stopwatch off her desk.
Aly gently shut the window behind her then turned towards the frozen landscape. It was a full moon tonight, giving her plenty of vision as it reflected off the snow. She started towards a dark, tall structure on her right side, glancing around every now and then to make sure there was no one else around.
She eventually stopped at the metal fence of the old radio station, rusting due to years without maintenance. Throwing her backpack down she started to scale the fence perimeter, looking for any sign of her friend.
"I mean it is midnight, where the he—"
AGGGGHHH!!! She felt two fingers poke her hips, with roars of laughter accompanying them.
Aly turned to find Kayla barely composing herself, anger and humiliation burning in her eyes.
"Why did you do that! You know my nerves can't take that shit!"
"I know but it's so funny because you're so predictable every time," She calmed her laughter.
"I'm sorry."
"No, you're not," Aly growled lowly.
"Ayyy! If it isn't our favorite scream queen," Two figures came up behind Kayla, one of them carrying some things.
The one who spoke up was Randolph Husky, an almost exact copy of his sister just a few years older. "Look what I've got," He presented a bag full of stale pretzels and cream pastries. In his other arm was a case of beers.
"Yeah you didn't tell me there'd be drinking," Aly looked back at Kayla.
"Can't have fun without alcohol," Kayla stated with an enthusiastic grin.
"Don't worry Aly cat," Randolph said nodding towards the bag, "We have some plain ole water for the scrap girl."
Aly rolled her eyes as the other figure came closer.
"Hi, Aly." He was an all white Malamute with green eyes. His physical shape really didn't show his personality off too well.
"Hey, Sully." She didn't even look his way.
"Tsk tsk tsk," Randolph tapped his foot. "You guys ready to go? The Closed Harbors a thirty minute walk from here."
"Yeah!" Kayla jumped.
"I reckon."
With that, the dog group headed towards the Frozen Mountain. Behind there, was the Closed Harbor.
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They were almost at the Frozen Mountain Entrance. Kayla skipped up front while Aly dragged in the back, her headphones tuning out everything. She made the mistake of resting her eyes when she walked into a hard metal surface. "Ouuwaa!" She stumbled back, her friends snickering beside her.
"Hey Aly, you should get to know that door better before you kiss it," Randolph joked.
"Go screw yourself assdolph!" Aly growled, showing her teeth.
"Ooooo! Someone's on their period."
Aly just about had enough. She threw her bag down and lunged at the grinning husky, eager to wipe that grin off his face. They both fell on the ground in a series of punches.
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! ... Stop!... I'm sorry." Aly stopped mid punch, about to land another fist in his rib cage. "Oh Jeez," She got off and walked away, turning her back from everyone. It wasn't like her to lose her cool like that.
"Bro, you alright?" Kayla asked as she helped up Randolph, popping a weary eye over at Aly.
"Yeah... few small bruises," He said while brushing the snow off his coat before muttering, "Man she hits hard."
"Hey Aly?"
"What."
"Do you mind working some of your magic?" Kayla sheepishly pointed at a junction box next to the door.
Aly walked over, not even acknowledging the others and pulled out her charger. She connected the largest connector to one of the plugs and started spinning the reel. Sparks started to fly off the box after a few seconds of spinning.
Creeeeeaaaaaakkkkk!!!!!!
The steel blast doors rumbled open.
Clap Clap Clap
"Horay for bestie!" No one acknowledged Kayla's cheers and all went into the mountain.
They walked down a flight of stairs that led to a long corridor. The silence between them deafening, it could be sliced open with a knife.
The corridor ended off into a large concrete hanger, the hidden Closed Harbor. A couple of flood lights were on, providing some light. The hardwood docks were strung with wooden dinghies, tug boats, fishing vessels, and a barge lay capsized in it's pool. A breeze came from a crack on the Harbor gates, large enough for a craft to get through.
"Hey, how about there?" Kayla pointed to some benches near one of the flood lights.
"Sure." Randolph looked around to see if there were any guards, then walked over with the group following. He put the stuff down, immediately grabbing a beer out of the case.
Everyone started talking again as the alcohol seeped in their systems, mainly just the siblings yapping about their antics with Sully laughing. Aly sat alone in her own bench, munching on some pretzels. She regretted not eating the leftover stew.
Randolph taking notice, took one of the empty beer bottles and put the cap back on it. He threw it out into the pool near them, splashing as it made contact with the surface.
"Hey Aly, think you could hit that with your gun?"
Aly took one sip of her water, stood up and loaded two spears in her pneumatic weapon. She focused her vision on the front iron sight, lining it with the floating bottle. She started squeezing the trigger.
Shreemm!!
It was a dead eye shot, the bottle nothing more than glass shards.
"Woo! Woo!" Kayla jumped up clapping in buzzed excitement. "Let me throw one!" She grabbed one of her bottles and mindlessly chucked it. The bottle sinking as soon as it landed.
With a deadly smirk, Aly cracked another shot off.
Shreemm!!
The bottle exploded under water.
"Shit, remind me to never get on your wrong side Aly," Sully finally spoke.
"Yeah, or you'll end up like me," Randolph said while rubbing his sides.
Aly squinted her eyes, "Maybe if someone won't be a big douche all the time that wouldn't happen now would it?"
Randolph put his hands up. "Ya got me."
Aly just shrugged and was going back to her bench when she got an idea, looking around the Harbor. "Guys? I think I'm gonna go explore a little bit."
"I'll go with." Sully got up.
"Umm... ok."
"Awww you two love birds, getting to know each other," Kayla cooed.
"Shut up Kayla." Aly said as she wandered off, pretzels in hand. Sully followed suit.
The two Malamutes walked the concrete docks, gazing at the spray painted walls and the trash on the ground leftover from other trespassers. Once in a while Aly tilt her bag of pretzels to offer Sully some, to which he would take.
"Abandoned places are so cool aren't they?" Sully asked.
"I guess."
"Hey... uuhh."
"Yes." Aly looked over to see him fidgeting.
"I... I shouldn't have laughed up there, while he was pressing your buttons." He managed to spit out.
"Hmmm." Aly thought this over.
"If you're hitting on me, you're doing a poor job."
"What!?... oh no, I was—"
"It's okay big guy." She reached over and patted his shoulder. "I'm just kidding."
"Oh... hehe."
"If you have something to say, just say it." She swallowed a mouthful of pretzels. "Thanks for apologizing but I can deal with it."
"Uhh.. yeah."
"Hmmm"
They continued down the walkway, passing a control room. They stopped when they reached the end.
"Hey Sully, why do you think they closed this place?"
Sully pondered a bit before answering, "From what I heard, about fifteen years ago something happened that spooked the counsel, something out there." He pointed towards the cracked gate.
Now Aly was interested. "I wonder what happened out there... I mean, traders don't come here anymore, the hotel is abandoned, and we haven't had any radio stations since that time."
Sully shrugged, "beats me, but it would have to have been pretty serious if they trashed the radio station."
A chill went up Aly's spine as she stared in the dark blue outside of the crack. "You think whatever happened out there is the reason the Norenzo have been acting so aggressively in the past few years?"
"Wouldn't surprise me, just don't say that around them." He motioned back to the flood light.
Aly was about to speak back when a shout echoed from the mountain entrance.
"HEY!"
"Crap! We didn't shut the entrance behind us did we?"
"No," Aly whispered.
Flashlight beams could be seen bouncing around across the hanger, coming from the corridor.
"Aaay!! Get off me you mutt... my dad is on the counsel! He'll kick your ass!"
Sully turned and ran.
"Hey!" Aly half yelled, half whispered.
"Hide!"
"What about—"
"There're not going to kill them, trust me." With that he fled into the control room.
Aly looked around, her panicked state taking over. "Crap crap crap crap crap."
She spotted a tied off dinghy to her left, and made a running jump in, "Ooofff!"
"Hey! What the hell was that?! Josh you go check that noise out, I doubt these punks came alone."
Her heart started to race. She covered herself in some roping, trying to reduce visibility as much as possible. "They may not kill me, but my dad sure will."
"Josh! You see anything?!" "Naw man, just a boat that's floating away, I'll go check the control room out then I'll rendezvous back with you guys!"
The anticipation of her friend being caught was killing her. She plugged her ears with her fingers.
Thirty minutes passed.
She started to get the chills so she pulled the roping off... only to reveal a full moon.
"Oh fuck."
The dinghy she jumped in wasn't tied off well, and had somehow managed to slip through the outer crack. Aly looked around, nothing but dark blue and sparkling waves. The mountain was just a distant shadow. Her heart hurt it was beating so fast. The dread... overwhelming. She wanted to scream but no one would here her.
She fell back down on the rope in a tearful, moaning heap.
Author's note: Phew!! That chapter was a nightmare to write. Don't worry, the next chapter will have actual sonic characters. I promise:)
