Chapter Ten: A Good Man
"VIRIDIAN!" Percy bellows. Which is two words I never thought I'd put together.
"Percy stop!" I shout, chasing him down. He avoids me and jumps over a bucket, running at his full speed. We weave in and out of confused Marked Men. Percy knocks several tents askew in his rush. He's headed back towards the tent Viridian was in.
"VIRIDIAN!" Percy screams smashing into it. Aaron and Matt come running as I skid to a stop in front of it panting.
"What'd you do Azure?" Matt hisses. I look at him, gasping for breath.
"Oh come on, it's not always my fault!" He raises his eyebrows. "It's not! And this isn't!"
Aaron opens his mouth but the sound of crashing comes from the tent, then shouting, then Viridian getting tossed from the tent. He rolls over several times before standing. Percy charges out and slams into him again.
He grabs his dagger off his belt and swings it towards Viridian, who calmly avoids it. "Can someone calm this brat?" He calls, avoiding another swing from Percy.
I shrug. "Nah, seems justified."
Viridian gives me a dry look, matt however grabs Percy, who screams struggling against Matt. "Let me go!"
"Percy calm down!" Matt shouts. Glancing around I spot people starting to circle around. Aaron however quickly waves them away.
"He killed them!" Percy screams, kicking his legs as Matt drags him back.
Viridian smirks and holds up a hand. "Rest assured, I never purposely kill."
I scoff slightly. "Key word, purposely."
"Yes well, my line of business is dangerous." Viridian snarks.
Aaron steps between us towards Percy. "Who'd he kill?" He asks calmly.
Percy chokes slightly. "My village! He staged one of his attacks there!"
Viridian grimaces and drops some of his attitude. "I don't choose those. I'm placing them where the Terriuns are targeting."
"But why throw that one? You could've protected it." Percy cries, a tear leaking out. Viridian glances at Aaron who nods slightly. Viridian takes a breath.
"Because it wasn't important." He says dryly. Percy wails and tries to get at Viridian again. Matt stumbles slightly as Percy shakes and screams.
I grab Aaron and pull him back. "Is there a way they're still alive?" I ask. Aaron hesitates and shrugs slightly.
"I don't know. There's a chance yes, but I doubt a large one." He mutters.
I watch Percy breaking down. One of the nicest people I know destroyed. Is it kinder to let him live like this. Or give him hope. But if that hope is crushed, it's the end for him.
A small voice comes to me, speaking words of hope. "Without hope we're nothing. Give him the hope he needs." It whispers in my head.
Shuddering I step forward. "Percy! Hey, hey Percy!"
Percy looks at me, his face red and wet. "Y-yes?"
Looking at everyone slowly I take a shaky breath. "They might be alive."
His eyes widen, along with Matt's. "R-really?" He asks, his voice rising.
"I can't- I won't guarantee it. But there's a chance. A small chance." I tell him. I can tell without looking that literally no one agrees with my decision. I've lost enough though and become the dick I am now. I don't want to see Percy like that.
Matt glances around and let's go Of Percy. There's a moment where Percy looks at Viridian. After a moment he looks to Aaron.
"I- I need to go check." He says. Aaron smiles slightly, his eyes showing the truth. That he isn't keen on this idea.
"Fine. But tomorrow."
Percy frowns. "No, p-please, now.
Aaron shakes his head, and steps forward. He grips Percy's shoulder. "Tomorrow, rest up. Viridian will go with you. You'll all go." He says looking at us. "Along with some more people. You need to prepare."
Percy hesitates then nods. Aaron gestures to Matt, who takes Percy by the arm and guides him away. Viridian and Aaron approach me and we stand together in silence.
Viridian finally speaks up. "I hope you know what you're doing."
"I do." I say confidently. I turn my back on them and head off towards the edge of the camp. I need a moment to myself. Because I do not know what I'm doing.
It's dark. The sun hidden by high mountains. Silence presses in from all sides, making me wish there was something to fight. To just wail on.
My stomach flips as I think to tomorrow. If they're dead, it's over, and Percy won't ever be the same. But I couldn't live with myself if I didn't try and make it better for him. Percy isn't a fighter, he's an artist. He shouldn't have to suffer more.
I take a slow shuddering breath, the cold night air chilling me in and out. Turning away I head back into the camp, walking to where Matt and Percy had gone.
It's a tent not to far from the central tent. Big enough for probably about five people, propped up by several rods. The rods make it tall enough for us to stand straight in it.
Ducking inside I spot Matt and Percy checking their weapons. They're standing in silence and nod to me when I enter. Percy doesn't have a weapon that he feels strongly attached to, just a simple handgun and sword.
I hope he never has anything more. Because he shouldn't need it. He shouldn't be like Matt, Silvia, and I.
I feel myself staring and turn away before I'm caught, because it would be awkward. Instead I throw myself on my bed and groan. Percy stops cleaning his sword and Matt whispers something and the sound of cleaning resumes. Thanks Matt.
That sounded sarcastic. Well it wasn't supposed to be. You know honestly that wasn't much better. I keep saying it but I need to stop being so sarcastic. Okay this is it. From now on I'm going to be less sarcastic. Just you watch.
It doesn't take long before I'm asleep, and it feels like an even less amount of time before I'm awake again. Oh goody. Wait…. fuck I already failed. Hey it's my cheat day so it doesn't count.
Looking over to the other beds they're empty. Must already be at the ship. Wonder why they didn't wake me. I swing myself out of bed, change out of the clothes I'd slept in (gross) and into a fresh pair of jeans, a t-shirt, pull on my weapon belt, and finally slip on my black jacket. My t-shirt has a dragon on it. Hehe. God I'm stressed.
Making my way out the tent I walk towards the Marked Men's "hanger". It's not really a hanger, especially at a camp, but they have a few ships and they keep them in one place. So a hanger. It's outdoors and has a large metal fence surrounding it. Along with about fifteen guards. So no one's getting in. Unless they get a high stealth role.
Or they're allowed, which I am. I slip through the gate and start peering into different ships. Some are empty, some have Marked Men doing work in them, and some closed up. Finally though I find the one we're using. It's not the best ship in the world, far from it. But a look back over the lot, it's the best the Marked Men have to offer. They may be an advanced society, but they don't really keep up to date on technology do they.
I step inside finding Matt and Percy already there, like I'd expected. No words are exchanged, just silence. I sit down next to Percy, and look across to Matt. His face is pale. He's thinking what I am. That I made a mistake, and his family is gone.
I grip the hilt of my weapon. No I have to keep a positive outlook. For Percy. He needs positivity right now.
The sound of voices disturbs our silence and in unison we look towards the ramp leading into the ship. Viridian's voice floats in.
Matt just grunts and turns away. "It's just Viridian."
"Well actually," Viridian starts, stepping into the ship. "It's also our back up."
Arthur Cardinal steps into the ship. His high collared shirt and dress pants clean and pressed again, a fresh red cap hanging from one of his shoulders. His brown hair trimmed and combed.
Percy jumps up, anger in his face. "Why is here?"
"And who gave him the makeover?" I question loudly.
Viridian steps forward and in front of Arthur. "I brought him here, and I thought the grunge look didn't fit him so I fixed that too."
Leaning back in my seat I smile at Viridian. "I believe the point of concern is why you brought him."
Viridian makes an oh face. He looks at Matt's and Percy's angry faces and nods slowly. "Right because he tried to-"
"Murder me?" I ask. He nods and I continue to smile in a charming way. "Yes I think it's a good question."
"I didn't try to murder you." Arthur hisses. Ah I love bad guys in denial.
Viridian ignores Arthur and waves his hand. "It's fine guys, he's just here because he can fight and he's expendable."
"I don't trust him." Matt snarls. What a dude, Matt is really standing up for me.
Arthur holds out his hands. "I'm here to help, you have nothing to fear from me. I've never betrayed you."
I chuckle slightly. "Come on dude, you're the bad guy."
"Actually Azure," Arthur says, locking me in an intense stare. "You're the only bad guy here."
Percy takes a step towards Arthur. "If you do anything, I won't stop Azure."
Matt and I exchange glances and then look at Percy. We both know that as much as Matt hates killing, Percy is the real angel of the group. So hearing him make such an obvious threat… it's not a good sign.
Arthur blinks in surprise and opens his mouth, looking at the rest of us. He receives icy stares from all of us and nods. He shuffles over and sits in the nearest seat. Viridian smiles and claps once.
"Great, well no time to waste. I'm sure we all want to know the answer to the question," especially you the reader. "So pilot!"
"Yeah?" A hidden voice grunts.
"Away!" Viridian says, flourishing wildly with his hands. He's taking this about as seriously as I take everything else. Which is annoying because only I'm supposed to be apathetic about serious situations.
The pilot though takes off and carries the five of us off, towards Percy's home. All of us knowing there's no turning back now.
The ride over is long and silent. Made longer by the silence. So it's like adding salsa to more salsa. It makes it spicer. I think. I'm not really good at cooking. Unless it's waffles or chocolate. I can make that. Okay buy. GOD STOP COMING AFTER ME LIKE THIS!
Anyway, where was I? Right the group is on the way to see what happened at Percy's home village. And I'm praying that his family is alive. If they aren't, I've killed something innocent.
We land on the outskirts, which don't leave me with a warm feeling inside. There's broken and burned trees, along with a destroyed house. Percy is the first off and he runs into the house. I follow behind him, ducking under the broken door frame. Inside he's kneeling next to a dead man muttering to himself. Arthur walks up next to me.
"This place smells of death." He whispers. I glance at him and raise an eyebrow in confusion. But he shakes his head. "I don't mean the house. I mean the village." This time I'm left to just nod. He's right. It does.
Percy stands shakily to his feet just as Matt and Viridian file in. Viridian grimaces and looks around the destroyed home. "Who was this?" He asks, pulling back on his normal drawl. So at least he has empathy. Unlike Sam Winchester in season six.
Percy sighs and brushes of his hands, his eyes watering. "A friend of my families. He brought me cupcakes on special occasions."
Matt goes and holds his shoulders. "Let's get going, check the rest of the town." Percy nods and the two of them walk off through a knocked down wall. The three of us that remain form a small triangle.
"We should separate, look together." Arthur says.
Viridian scoffs loudly. "That's a rather shite idea dearie."
Arthur frowns but I speak first. "Yes and no, we need to cover more ground. So why don't the two of you go together and I'll head off alone."
Viridian rolls his eyes. "And how is that idea better?"
"I don't have to be with you two?" I offer. Viridian sighs and throws his hands in the air.
"Whatever, suit yourself dearie. Let's go inmate 4587." Viridian gestures for Arthur to follow. Arthur gives me a long look before walking off silently.
Curiosity at what he said to convince Viridian he was trustworthy itches at me. But I can't think about that right now. Matt and Percy had gone straight and the other two had gone left. So I guess that means I'm going right. Unless I want to head back to the ship. Which I don't.
Stepping over the downed wall i head to the right. The main village was just as bad, if not worse. The Terriuns and Marked Men had gone through this city with reckless abandon. Bodies scattered everywhere. They hadn't even bothered to come back and take care of the dead.
Kneeling next to a girl I flip her over. Maybe fifteen. Just like- no. I can't think those thoughts. Gotta keep my head on straight. I look around from where I'm kneeling and something hits me. Not physically don't worry, I just realized something. Either the two warring factions didn't lose a single person in the fight, or they did come back through and clean up the dead. Just not the dead of the village they'd destroyed. The lack of caring it makes me sick.
Standing up I spot something move about twenty feet away. It was dark and fast. Pulling off a knife I start moving towards where it had been. Suddenly something moves to my right and I spin to look there. Whatever it is, it's stupid fast. Moving quickly I jump over some ruble and come up where it had been. There's no sign of anything though, not even prints.
A chill runs down my neck and I spin, throwing out my knife. A dark figure, about six foot eight catches it. Then it disintegrates, falling to dust on the ground. The shape moves oddly, hiding completely in a cloak. Cold seems to over take me as it comes closer.
"Wh-what are you?" I ask, the cold making my teeth chatter. I grab my gun and extend the blade. "I won't hesitate!" I shout taking aim.
The figure stops and tilts what I assume is it's head up slightly. The glint of something peaks out from under its hood. "Hello, Dragon." A voice hisses out from under the hood.
My arm drops a fraction of a centimeter. "How…"
The figure starts to cackle. "I've always been curious about the human boy known as the Dragon!" The figure takes a shuddering breath to hold in its laughter. "Do you know, I know really dragons."
My brain is clogged. What is this thing. Then one thought surfaces. Kill. Man is that a good fucking idea. I raise my gun and let lose a flurry of shots, straight into its chest. I smile and take a breath, closing my eyes. At least that's gone. The silence of the foggy village returns.
I'm about to turn away when a long high laugh breaks through the new silence. I spin again, finding the figure standing up like it'd never been hit. "Come now dragon, don't you want to meet a real one?"
"I- I…"
the figure brushes back its hood to reveal a scary face with sparkling red eyes. It has a long reptilian snout, that seems to somehow twist into an evil grin. "My name is Komodo, and welcome to my playground!"
Author Notes: Sorry this took so long, I'll be doing more and more as time goes on. The entire story is completely planned out. Along with the full version that I'll hopefully be able to write someday. As many of you should know this story is a rough draft that holds only glimpses of the true story I want to tell. However I do hope you still enjoy the story you're getting. The delay was do to school and the amount of theatre I was doing. Hopefully my classes won't take as much out of me this next semester and I can do more.