Trial by the Blues

Chapter 11

As our hero walks through the busy streets of the "13th Hierarchical City", he feels more and more at home in the enormous city. Beginning to know

his way in and aorund town, he scouts new areas and places to call home that is decently close the Kaka Village appropriately dubbed "Lost Town".

Today's journey brings him to the outer most areas of the busy settlement of Orient Town. Tom keeps his collars popped to conceal his face from

Strangers and most importantly, The Legion. As he walks the streets the day is still young, his Pip-Boy reads 1:34 pm, this time is usually when

People are out and about. It has been some time after his finding of the odd katana that he keeps strapped on his back ready to slice through the

Flesh of his enemies while on hip rests a big iron named the "Ranger Sequoia" or the "Monster of the West". As he walks through the streets he

Again hears the commotion of the civilians mentioning a word that Tom has heard some times before, "The N.O.L." This time he has had it. He stops

A male pedestrian in his tracks, "Excuse me Sir I apologize for interrupting you but I need to ask you a quick question?" Tom says respectively,

The man faces Tom's way but it seems as if he has his eyes closed but in confusion, his alert stance diminishes quickly and the man smiles a most

charismatic smile...almost creepily and says, "Yes sir, I can always help another civilian" The man smiled at Tom while stuffing one of his hands in his

Pocket while the other shifts his black fedora forward obscuring his face. Tom tilts his head but quickly continues, "This is probably going to sound

odd to you sir but... Where is the... um..." Tom stammers and the man's smile diminishes slowly as his patience is wearing short, "The... uh crap...

The N.O.L.?" He asked confusedly. The Man grins a very creepy smile at Tom and says, "The N.O.L.? what is it exactly that you're looking for from

Them?" the man replied.

"Well you see sir, I'm new to kagut... Kagutsu...kagutsuei?"

The man's smile fades "...Kagutsuchi...?"

"Thats it, I'm new to Kagutsuchi and I was wondering where the N.O.L. was in the city...?" Tom said awkwardly.

The man mysterious smile returns as he asks the question.

"You're going to want to head up the city if you want to see the N.O.L.'s branch... IF you have questions to ask the N.O.L. I can just make it easier

...and answer your questions myself after all, I am part of the N.O.L." The man flashes a less creepy and more charismatic grin. Tom smiles and

Nods his head, "I would like that very much sir."

" Okay... ask away Mr...?" The man pauses waiting for Tom's name.

"Thomas Valdez...you can call me Tom." He smiled

" Okay Mr. Valdez... what you want to know?"

After a while and some questions Tom is brought up to speed of the history of the N.O.L. and a bit about the history of the world, Tom Begins his

Ascent to the Top of Kagutsuchi but before he does, he must thank his new ally.

"Hey man, thank you for everything... Hopefully I see you again sometime." Tom smiles as he begins to walk off waving goodbye.

" It wasn't a problem, really. I'm always happy to help out someone new." He smiles "Oh and don't forget! The N.O.L. is always looking for new

Vigilante's to help out with e crime in the city... Who knows maybe you'll be the one to catch the 'SS Class Criminal: Ragna the Bloodedge'." The

Man grins and fixes his black fedora and walks off to wherever he was heading... with some distance the man turns his head and flashes his eyes

which were glowing and snakelike and snickers evilly as Tom walks away.

As he begins his ascent, he decides to make a trip back to the Kaka village. Going through the same old dirty sewer grate... back down to the very

Unpleasant sewer... hoping that black slop doesn't come after him. As he slides down the ladder down to the sewer platform, he feels that

Same ominous feeling of him being watched... he already knew what was going to happen... he stops and looks around and pull's out his

Revolver and cocks the hammer back ready for conflict. He notices the darkness of the area and he places on his 'one-visored' combat helmet gas

Mask and flips on his night vision setting. It was a little awkward at first, but after some time he gotten used to it and he saw everything in detail

he looks around for the sludge as he walks down the catwalk toward the kaka village. He stops and looks at the floor to see several scampering

insect like creatures. Tom jumps back in fright as he is afraid of bugs the size of baseballs. he regains control and dashes through the platform

and stopping only to look around. This time... he shutters and trembles and looks up to see the huge black mass... right in front of him.

Before he could react the Mass tackles him and envelopes him in the thick sticky and disgusting tar like substance that made up the body.

Tom panics and makes out a muffled yell as he is being consumed. He pulls the trigger in frustration the loud blows echoes through the sewer.

The black mass eventually overpowers Tom causing him to drop his pistol... again the force of the fall causes the gun to discharge a shot that blows

loudly. As the life is being drained out of him, the creature cackles insanely as he mutters out his indistinct voice...

"KIHIHIHIHI! THE Fl...r i. sav... an. divi.. ... so muc... knowl... hmhmhm omnomnomnom"

As the darkness swallows him he hears the very distinctive feminine voice... and the familiar meow from a cat... could it possibly be...?

Using the last of his strength he reaches for his newly found katana...and as he wraps his hand around the hilt he felt the aura and power flow

Through his veins... and Tom grits his teeth and roars out a furious yell and a Burst of energy escapes his body as rips out the mass and lands on

floor...slowly blacking out again... the last images he see's ...

"Grrr... Squiggly... I'm gonna BEAT YOU UP!" It was none other than Taokaka... coming in to save Tom from... the 'Squiggly'...

Before her battle starts, Tom falls unconscious...

Tao notices the slumped and drenched unconscious body of Tom she gasps and turns her attention to the black slushy mass and hisses loudly,

"Grrr squiggly! You tried to eat the poor dusty guy! I'm going to cut you up for that!" she lunges at him claws out striking the black paste-like surface slashing out

chunks of it. The Creature screams out and falls to the ground easily... leaving only its white mask on the floor. As Tao rushes back to check on Tom she lays by him

and sniff's him curiously... and with anxiety. " *sniff **sniff* e-Ewww Dusty guy is all stinky and gooey... Ohh... I hope that black squiggly didn't mess you up!"

As she hoists him over her shoulders she turns around feeling her Cat Senses tingling and she sees the sludgy beast charging towards her with it's bone like

legs laughing crazily. "KIhihihih!"

In the panic Tao drops Tom's unconscious body and dodges the creature and lunges back at it slashing her claws against it repeatedly saying

" Slashy-Slashy!" she giggles and the black sludge creature grunts and screams in pain. The Creature bursts and pushes Tao away as he charges back at her full

Throttle and with anger. "Graaahhhh!" the creature roars in a high pitched sound as it devours tao and spits her up into the air. The creature jumps and summons

dozens of tiny insects to attack her.

" Meow! owie!" she squeals and she is bitten and pinched by the creatures. The "Squiggly" cackles and watches as his little minions attack the poor Kaka.

"Kihihihih Si... Kitty... su.. a foo...thing...to...do..." as it crawls forward to absorb her helpless body... A deafening bang echoes through the sewer and the

creature slumps over and screams... this time... not getting back up. Tom holding his large and devastating Anti-material rifle, barrel smoking, gets up on his knees

weakly... he limps over to Tao and kicks off the bugs off her body... she gets up close in front of him jumped and startled.

"Meow! that sure was close!" she mewls at him and she gives him a cheery Cheshire cat-like grin to him.

"Dusty Guy saved me from the squiggly! Tao is really grateful...!" She gives him a sad... yet... happy face towards him and Tom tilts his head slightly as his legs wobble

and black sludge drips off of him. "Whats wrong... *cough*" he coughs out some blood and he stands up straight.

"Meow... Tao is just... a little sad... that the squiggly almost ate me... and... happy because the dusty guy rescued me... meow... Tao is very confused!" she mewls and

Smiles happily once more.

Tom too smiles and slings his rifle over his back. "It was a pleasure." he walks slowly back towards the village. "Come on... Let's get you home." Tom says as grabs

Tao's paw and makes her stand side by side to him. She llooked surprised but she grins and gives Tom a very thankful and playful hug.

"Meow!" she smiles and purrs out as she rubs against him. Tom blushes slightly but shrugs it off but he couldn't help but grin happily. He says a silent prayer for his

loved ones and he heads back into the Kaka village.

To be continued.