ESCAFLOWNE: A CALL TO ARMS
Chapter 7
by Asher Cross
DISCLAIMER: Escaflowne and its characters do not belong to me (although the original characters-Koichi, Fjal, Raylen, Farrest, Theran, and Ghydal-do).
Also, in this chapter I take liberties with the operation of Guymelefs. If anyone can enlighten me as to HOW exactly they work (and if I'm close or not), feel free to email me.
------
FOYLAN FOREST
RALENIA
The next morning...
Van Fanel's eyes were alert, darting towards every minute sound. His warrior's instincts were kicking in, stimulated by the task of protecting his almost weaponless companions.
Hitomi, Merle, Koichi, and Theran rode their Colcavs alongside the crawling Guymelef, the dense forest around them giving them a small sense of security, yet an aura of danger hung in the air.
Down on the ground, Hitomi could sense that Van was still cautious. She shouted, "Van, relax! We're in the forest, we lost them!"
"It's not Ghydal I'm worried about. There's someone else here...I can smell it."
Hitomi stared back at the Guymelef for a moment, then suddenly--
FLASH! Appearing before her eyes, she saw large men, carrying long, sharp weapons, hiding behind several bushes! Men preparing to attack...them...
The vision disappeared just as quickly as it came. "VAN--"
A dozen men sprung out of the bushes, their swords and axes glittering in the thin sunlight, and charged toward them!
Everyone screamed in unison, and before Van could react, another bandit leapt from a tall tree, draping a tarpaulin over the head of the Guymelef, blinding him! Van flailed around, trying to find the end so he could pull it off, while the attackers went after the others.
Koichi scrambled toward his makeshift pistols, and pulled one out. He pulled back the hammer, and aimed for a bandit stalking Merle. He squeezed his eyes shut as he pulled the trigger--
The boy's aim was true, and the bandit fell screaming. The kickback was underestimated, however, and Koichi yelped as he lost his balance and slid off his Colcav to the ground, his leg--still weak from the crash of the Crusade--breaking his fall, causing Koichi to howl in pain.
After a few minutes of struggle, it looked as if all were lost. Koichi, still wincing from the fall, was being dragged up by two angry men, Theran being dragged along. Hitomi and Merle were being eyed micheviously by several of the men, who chuckled evilly. Van was being carried to the rest of the group by another pair of bandits, his bleeding forehead indicating he'd been knocked out by one of the men.
They dumped them in a pile in front of the them, and the lead bandit shouted in a gravelly voice, "The boys die. The girls come with us."
"No, no!!" Hitomi shouted, as she and Merle struggled against the strong men, to no avail. Koichi and Theran simply lay in defeat alongside the unconscious Van, while the other bandits raised their weapons...
Suddenly, a figure jumped down from the trees, brandishing two swords, that came down on two of the attacking men as the mysterious savior hit the ground, the razor-sharp blades cutting the unfortunate men in half, dead before they hit the ground. The figure, quick as lightning, proceeded to foil the remaining men, every lunge with the swords meeting flesh, the bandits' attacks parried every time. In a matter of seconds the bandits were dead, the five children left in awe as they managed to identify the figure that stood before them, his swords gleaming crimson.
Fjal Trawen. The mysterious warrior under Sir Allen's employ on the Crusade.
No one could say anything to the calm, collected warrior, their incredulity and relief overriding their ability to react. Fjal, taking control of the situation, barked, "We must hurry. Get Lord Van to a flat place to rest. The rest of you, get your things prepared, get a fire going, break out food if you have any."
The authority of the warrior snapped them into attention, and they immediately went about their tasks with a hasty "Yes, sir."
Soon, it was night, and they were all resting in front of the small fire they had managed to make, Van just then waking up wth a confused murmur.
Hitomi jumped to him. "Van! You're awake!"
"We're alive?" he whispered.
"Yes, thanks to Fjal. He's alive, and he found us," Hitomi replied with a laugh of relief.
Fjal sat in concentration in front of the fire, staring into it. "I watched you fire that extraordinary weapon, Koichi," he said, having been introduced to all of them earlier. "With excellent aim and control I might add. You've got some, if honestly not much, promise as a warrior. Has Lord Van given you any swordfight training?"
Van looked at Koichi with an angry glare, and Koichi gave a quiet "No".
Fjal gave a comtemptible look at Van, then said to Koichi, "If you would like, I will give you some training with swords -- and perhaps teach you how to operate a Guymelef. In these times, it is useful to have that skill."
Koichi thought about it for a second, and replied, "Sure, I'd like that."
Fjal nodded agreeably. Van just scoffed and laid back down.
------
It was morning...
The travelers, now numbering six, walked a little more through the forest, until they reached a somewhat clear and open plain.
They set down, and Fjal called up to Van, piloting his Guymelef, "Get down!!"
Van opened the cockpit, and jumped down. "Where did you take us, old man?"
Fjal's head snapped back in his direction. "Save your anger for the enemy." Then he turned to the rest of them. "We will rest here, and I will give Koichi a...crash course in weapons training and Guymelef handling, if that is satisfactory with you, sir." The last phrase was spoken with more than a hint of sarcasm.
Van simply glared at the back of his head as Fjal walked toward a nervous Koichi. "Are you ready, child?"
"I...guess so," he stammered.
"Rule Number One of battle, Koichi: you must show fearlessness in the face of the enemy. You may be nervous, you may be afraid. But your opponent must not know that. You must keep it to yourself, and your adversary must only know a fearless, determined warrior. But...do not resort to anger. Rage slows down your reflexes, your intuition. You fight best when you are calm, almost passive."
"Show no fear. Got it." Koichi muttered, sucking up his reluctance and letting his expression grow more collected.
Fjal let one of the corners of his mouth curl up, in the best attempt of a smile he'd had. "Good. Now, to the swords!"
Fjal tossed one of his swords to Koichi, who stumbled as he tried to catch it. He began to blush as he picked it up, and held it in a jaggedy position. "No, not like that!" Fjal exclaimed, and walked over to Koichi, adjusting his feet. "There, like that. Maximum flexibility without compromising the strength of your swing. Now, let us try some mock dueling. It will take a while, but you will grow accustomed to it."
Koichi stood ready, drinking in his every word, absorbing the words of wisdom from the veteran warrior. They began, Koichi attacking expertly but toned down to give the novice a chance to retaliate.
As the hours passed, Koichi was starting to get the hang of it, and Fjal became aware that he had to stop dumbing down his fighting technique, Koichi was improving that much.
Meanwhile, Van, Hitomi, Merle, and Theran watched, Van's contempt of Koichi still showing to the others, Hitomi most of all. Soon, Koichi was worn out, panting and sweating, but Fjal was impressed, a glint of pride showing in his eyes. "Not bad for a beginner. All right, we'll rest for an hour, then I'll show you how to handle Guymelefs."
Koichi managed to hold his gasping to mutter, "Okay," before he sat down, wiping his forehead and lying back on the grass, the cool blades comforting him as he fell into a short nap. He hadn't slept this peacefully since he'd awakened from the crash...
------
GHYDALIA CASTLE
THRONE ROOM
"You WHAT?!" Ghydal bellowed as Dilandau stood before him, head bowed.
"We lost them...in the forest, sir. The Guymelef pilot was very skilled, and they fled before we could track them--"
"Dilandau!" Ghydal interrupted, his voice stinging with fury. "As you know, I have little tolerance for failure. As of right now, you are relieved of your duties--"
"Please, sir, don't--"
"--and Lt. Farrest, your second-in-command, will assume command of your team and resume the search for these rebels. You will be restricted to your quarters, and guards will be posted outside your door. I do recommend you accept these terms, unless you would like to be deprived of a lot more than battle..."
Dilandau grew silent, simply keeping his head held down. He knew he couldn't win. "As you wish." The stench of failure still hung in his nostrils, and he despised it.
He quickly marched out of the throne room, where he could hear Ghydal mutter, "As you wish. I like the sound of that."
------
In his quarters, Dilandau sobbed. Relieved of his duties! A warrior? One of Emperor Dornkirk's finest, possible his very best warrior? And he's being put out to posture so some stick-up-the-ass yes-man can take over!
Suddenly, pain wracked his body, and he began shaking, biting down a wail that would've awakened the entire castle. Suddenly, his body began to shift...muscles grew smaller, hips grew a bit wider, bone structure was altered slightly, and a certain *organ* disappeared completely, at which Dilandau grunted in intense pain. Finally, breasts began to grow very painfully from her chest, and Celena shuddered at the receding pain. *Oh God...make it stop...I want it to STOP!!!*
She cried herself to sleep, curled up in a fetal ball on the cold, stone floor of her quarters.
------
FOYLEN FOREST
RALENIA
"Resting time over, child. Now it's time for Guymelef training."
Koichi opened his eyes. The words came like stabbing reminders of his situation, and he got up with a yawn, stretching his limbs. "You sure I can do this?"
"Honestly, no. But I have been wrong on several occasions. It is time to find that out."
They walked over to Van's Guymelef, a towering mass of metal shaped like an armored warrior, which knelt in front of them. Koichi stared up at the open cockpit. "Okay, how do I get up?"
"You will have to climb up the legs, I suppose. Shouldn't take long."
Koichi gave a long sigh. "Okay, I'll do it." He ran over to the towering machine, and grabbed protruding pieces of metal and used them as hand- and foot-holds.
Eventually, he reached the open cockpit in the 'Melef's chest, which he looked into. Inside, it was very dark, but he could see straps and various control mechanisms. He yelled down to Fjal, "Okay, what now?"
"Climb in. Slip your arms and legs inside those coverings. Once you close the hatch, the drag-energist will activate and you will have control."
He complied, and soon he was interfaced with the machine. The hatches closed with a hiss, and the only light coming through was coming from the slits in the Guymelef's faceplate.
Suddenly, there was a faint glow enveloping the cockpit, and as the Guymelef's energist powered up, giving the war weapon life, Koichi's eyes widened. He was in control of a machine capable of massive amounts of destruction.
Koichi almost giggled with delight. He felt on top of the world, powerful, unlike anything he had ever felt before. It felt as if the energist was powering HIM, as if he was the 5-meter-tall harbinger of death. This was almost becoming a religious experience.
Koichi swung his arms, amazed at the freedom, the power, the sheer adrenalin pulsing through his body. Nothing could stop him!
In his delirium, he could only barely hear Fjal's shouting. The boy managed to pull himself back to the world, enough to finally make sense of the yelling...
"STOP! STOP, KOICHI!!"
Koichi was still dazed. *Man, Fjal has a high-pitched voice...wait a minute...Merle!*
He stopped. The minute disorientation told him that he was standing on one foot. He craned his neck to look down...
At the Melef's right foot, 5 feet from the ground, a shaking Merle screaming to high heaven underneath.
Koichi, reacting almost by reflex, stepped back, the robot's huge metallic foot swooping over Merle and thudding to the ground. Fjal rushed to Merle.
He needed to get out. He strained against the interface, trying to pry his arms out, but it wasn't working.
Koichi started to panic. "Fjal, Fjal, how do I get out?! Fjal!!!"
The shouting from below told him to relax and will it to release him, and hesitantly, he complied.
Suddenly, the metal surrounding his limbs loosened, and snapped off, gravity taking it downward and away from his body.
The hatch opened, and Koichi, hands trembling with fear for Merle and himself, made his way out of the Melef and, finally, to the ground.
He ran to Merle, who had fainted and whose head was resting on Fjal's shoulder. He looked at Fjal apologetically, stammering. "I-I'm sorry...I got carried away, it was-it was just so...over--"
Fjal held up a hand. "Koichi, it was your first time in a Guymelef. You were not completely prepared for the experience. I understand completely what happened, and I should have anticipated that. The fault was mine."
Before Koichi could respond, Fjal continued. "Now, it is time to get some rest. You are likely tired again. Tonight, we're setting out to retrieve Escaflowne. We will work on the Guymelef some more after we retrieve it."
Fjal, also carrying the still-unconscious Merle, directed Koichi to the rest of the group; Van, who was leaning back against a tree, and who stared at Koichi with a mixture of contempt and boredom; Hitomi, who was entertaining the boy Theran with a mixture of childhood games-some games from Earth that Koichi remembered, and some from Gaea that he didn't recognize.
He walked over to Hitomi, and leaned against a tree next to them, watching them before his eyelids finally collapsed and he drifted off to sleep...
------
GHYDALIA CASTLE
SLAVE QUARTERS
Allen continued to stew in the slave quarters, growing impatient for the boredom. He almost wished they'd bring him out to fight again! His warrior skills would almost ensure a victory; however, were something to go wrong and he would slip up, he wouldn't be any good to Raylen, now his partner on the inside. After all, the rotten mush the guards were feeding him and the other slaves clearly wasn't healthy.
Suddenly a pair of guards entered, escorting a slave-a young boy, likely in his late teens--to a cell across from Allen. Strangely enough, this slave was not being dragged, in fact, he was almost to the brink of ecstatic, happily walking alongside the guards to the cell.
Furthermore, he was clean! Not necessarily nicely clothed, still dressed in the rags normally applied to slaves, but he was washed, hair cut and teeth shiny (which showed because of his excited smile). He even muttered a "thank you" to the guards when they left.
The second they left, Allen crawled over to the edge of his cell, and whispered, "Over here!"
The clean slave looked over to Allen, and Allen asked, "Who are you?"
The boy shrugged and replied, "I'm Kynef. I used to be a farmhand before Ghydal took over and made me a gladiator like you. And yes, I know what the obvious question is-why am I getting such good treatment? Well, I've been accepted into a wonderful program, recruited by Ghydal himself for a special task."
Allen looked at him warily. "Ghydal wants you for a special task? My advice, Kynef: Stay out of it. If it's Ghydal's work, it won't be good."
Kynef eyed him suscpiciously. "Are you kidding? Look at me! I'm being bathed, they tell me I'm gonna have a uniform, and I'll be able to get out of here!"
"I still don't think he has something good planned for you, Kynef," Allen warned.
Kynef pointed a finger at Allen. "Look here, friend, this could be my chance out of here. I don't know who you are, but I'm not gonna let a lowly slave spoil my opportunity for something better than this place."
"Aren't you forgetting?" Allen added, scoffing, "You're a slave too."
"Not for long. Good night...friend."
Kynef quickly laid down and closed his eyes. Allen called his name several times, but quickly realized he wasn't listening. Allen laid down as well, wondering what new plan Ghydal was formulating...
-----
FOYLEN FOREST
RALENIA
NIGHT
It was night. The insects were out, the moon was shining its light over the land of Gaea, and six freedom fighters were gathering their energies for their next move.
Off to the side, Van sat by himself, having not said a word to them since Koichi began his training. He stared into the trees, almost as it looking for something which was not there.
He started when a heavy hand landed on his shoulder. He looked up to the stoic face of Fjal Trawen, who sat down alongside him.
"I don't need to be talked to, Fjal," Van warned.
"Van, I believe you do. Ever since I joined back up with you in this forest, you've abandoned your sense of duty, deciding to exclude yourself from the group. If this is about the attack by the bandits--"
"I wasn't paying attention. They took me down too easily, I should've been more careful."
"Do not let this one mistake plague your duties. Also, a Guymelef can sometimes hinder the intuition of a warrior. There might have been no way you could have known," Fjal reassured Van.
"I'm still obligated to protect them," Van added. "I was the only warrior among them-even that weak boy Koichi barely helps."
"He has not the training nor the upbringing to be of assistance yet. Give him time...or is this a different issue?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean Hitomi. I understand you and Koichi are rivals for her affections."
"This has nothing to do with it," Van snapped at Fjal, defensively.
"Ah, but I believe it does," Fjal replied, pressing further. "You believe that Hitomi should have no question but to be with you, and that Koichi is too weak and unworthy for her."
Van decided to bite, giving up the pretense. "She was in love with me first. Than he comes into her life, stealing her from me."
"Listen to yourself. You sound like a child."
"I am a child." Van looked back at him, a look in his eyes showing anger and vulnerability, with a innocent glimmer than supported his remark.
He threw his hands in the air. "Fine, Fjal! What do you think I should do?" he remarked, with more than an inkling of disinterest.
"Let her make the choice, and in the meantime, you concentrate on protecting them, because as you said-you're the only warrior here, save me."
Fjal walked away, not saying more, leaving Van to consider the approach.
------
Later, the six adventurers gathered around the fire, as Van laid out his plan, using a twig to draw in the dirt.
"All right," Van began, "In a few minutes, we're setting out to get Escaflowne, which will be a big step in starting this revolt. Now, after I stole the Guymelef, I used it to drag Escaflowne to the nearby Cave of Sumdall. We'll take this route, using the forests and mountains," Van drug lines across the loose dirt to lay out the plan, "and we should get there without detection. I'll get in Escaflowne, and Hitomi, once you get within close range of Escaflowne, use your will to activate it. Fjal, you'll take the other Guymelef, and we'll move to Sumdall Forest." Van shrugged, threw the twig down next to the map, and sat down on a rock.
Fjal spoke up. "The plan seems sound."
Theran's childlike voice spoke up for the first time in a while. "What will we do after we get to the forest?"
Van exhaled. "We'll figure that out when we get there, child."
Hitomi stood up. "Well, it looks like we should be getting everything ready. Koichi, you want to help me pack the guns?"
"Sure." Koichi replied, and the two walked off, Merle and Theran following to help.
Van and Fjal shared determined looks, and stood up as well, heading off to help get the supplies packed for their long journey...
------
The next morning...
Lieutenant Farrest, now leader of the strike force tracking Van Fanel's group of rebels, led his troops through Foylen Forest, until they finally came to a small clearing, where there were fragments of wood and a pile of rocks.
But most prominent was a small drawing in the dirt, which Farrest examined closely.
One of the reasons Farrest was originally picked to be in Dilandau's elite group was his expert navigation skills. *They're headed for the cave of Sumdall...* he thought to himself. *THAT'S where we'll find them!*
Farrest stood and shouted to the troops, "Soldiers, we make our move! Prepare to make for Sumdall Cave. We may be on our way to accomplishing our task."
As the warriors began getting ready, Farrest allowed himself a small sneer. *They won't stand a chance...*
TO BE CONTINUED...
Chapter 7
by Asher Cross
DISCLAIMER: Escaflowne and its characters do not belong to me (although the original characters-Koichi, Fjal, Raylen, Farrest, Theran, and Ghydal-do).
Also, in this chapter I take liberties with the operation of Guymelefs. If anyone can enlighten me as to HOW exactly they work (and if I'm close or not), feel free to email me.
------
FOYLAN FOREST
RALENIA
The next morning...
Van Fanel's eyes were alert, darting towards every minute sound. His warrior's instincts were kicking in, stimulated by the task of protecting his almost weaponless companions.
Hitomi, Merle, Koichi, and Theran rode their Colcavs alongside the crawling Guymelef, the dense forest around them giving them a small sense of security, yet an aura of danger hung in the air.
Down on the ground, Hitomi could sense that Van was still cautious. She shouted, "Van, relax! We're in the forest, we lost them!"
"It's not Ghydal I'm worried about. There's someone else here...I can smell it."
Hitomi stared back at the Guymelef for a moment, then suddenly--
FLASH! Appearing before her eyes, she saw large men, carrying long, sharp weapons, hiding behind several bushes! Men preparing to attack...them...
The vision disappeared just as quickly as it came. "VAN--"
A dozen men sprung out of the bushes, their swords and axes glittering in the thin sunlight, and charged toward them!
Everyone screamed in unison, and before Van could react, another bandit leapt from a tall tree, draping a tarpaulin over the head of the Guymelef, blinding him! Van flailed around, trying to find the end so he could pull it off, while the attackers went after the others.
Koichi scrambled toward his makeshift pistols, and pulled one out. He pulled back the hammer, and aimed for a bandit stalking Merle. He squeezed his eyes shut as he pulled the trigger--
The boy's aim was true, and the bandit fell screaming. The kickback was underestimated, however, and Koichi yelped as he lost his balance and slid off his Colcav to the ground, his leg--still weak from the crash of the Crusade--breaking his fall, causing Koichi to howl in pain.
After a few minutes of struggle, it looked as if all were lost. Koichi, still wincing from the fall, was being dragged up by two angry men, Theran being dragged along. Hitomi and Merle were being eyed micheviously by several of the men, who chuckled evilly. Van was being carried to the rest of the group by another pair of bandits, his bleeding forehead indicating he'd been knocked out by one of the men.
They dumped them in a pile in front of the them, and the lead bandit shouted in a gravelly voice, "The boys die. The girls come with us."
"No, no!!" Hitomi shouted, as she and Merle struggled against the strong men, to no avail. Koichi and Theran simply lay in defeat alongside the unconscious Van, while the other bandits raised their weapons...
Suddenly, a figure jumped down from the trees, brandishing two swords, that came down on two of the attacking men as the mysterious savior hit the ground, the razor-sharp blades cutting the unfortunate men in half, dead before they hit the ground. The figure, quick as lightning, proceeded to foil the remaining men, every lunge with the swords meeting flesh, the bandits' attacks parried every time. In a matter of seconds the bandits were dead, the five children left in awe as they managed to identify the figure that stood before them, his swords gleaming crimson.
Fjal Trawen. The mysterious warrior under Sir Allen's employ on the Crusade.
No one could say anything to the calm, collected warrior, their incredulity and relief overriding their ability to react. Fjal, taking control of the situation, barked, "We must hurry. Get Lord Van to a flat place to rest. The rest of you, get your things prepared, get a fire going, break out food if you have any."
The authority of the warrior snapped them into attention, and they immediately went about their tasks with a hasty "Yes, sir."
Soon, it was night, and they were all resting in front of the small fire they had managed to make, Van just then waking up wth a confused murmur.
Hitomi jumped to him. "Van! You're awake!"
"We're alive?" he whispered.
"Yes, thanks to Fjal. He's alive, and he found us," Hitomi replied with a laugh of relief.
Fjal sat in concentration in front of the fire, staring into it. "I watched you fire that extraordinary weapon, Koichi," he said, having been introduced to all of them earlier. "With excellent aim and control I might add. You've got some, if honestly not much, promise as a warrior. Has Lord Van given you any swordfight training?"
Van looked at Koichi with an angry glare, and Koichi gave a quiet "No".
Fjal gave a comtemptible look at Van, then said to Koichi, "If you would like, I will give you some training with swords -- and perhaps teach you how to operate a Guymelef. In these times, it is useful to have that skill."
Koichi thought about it for a second, and replied, "Sure, I'd like that."
Fjal nodded agreeably. Van just scoffed and laid back down.
------
It was morning...
The travelers, now numbering six, walked a little more through the forest, until they reached a somewhat clear and open plain.
They set down, and Fjal called up to Van, piloting his Guymelef, "Get down!!"
Van opened the cockpit, and jumped down. "Where did you take us, old man?"
Fjal's head snapped back in his direction. "Save your anger for the enemy." Then he turned to the rest of them. "We will rest here, and I will give Koichi a...crash course in weapons training and Guymelef handling, if that is satisfactory with you, sir." The last phrase was spoken with more than a hint of sarcasm.
Van simply glared at the back of his head as Fjal walked toward a nervous Koichi. "Are you ready, child?"
"I...guess so," he stammered.
"Rule Number One of battle, Koichi: you must show fearlessness in the face of the enemy. You may be nervous, you may be afraid. But your opponent must not know that. You must keep it to yourself, and your adversary must only know a fearless, determined warrior. But...do not resort to anger. Rage slows down your reflexes, your intuition. You fight best when you are calm, almost passive."
"Show no fear. Got it." Koichi muttered, sucking up his reluctance and letting his expression grow more collected.
Fjal let one of the corners of his mouth curl up, in the best attempt of a smile he'd had. "Good. Now, to the swords!"
Fjal tossed one of his swords to Koichi, who stumbled as he tried to catch it. He began to blush as he picked it up, and held it in a jaggedy position. "No, not like that!" Fjal exclaimed, and walked over to Koichi, adjusting his feet. "There, like that. Maximum flexibility without compromising the strength of your swing. Now, let us try some mock dueling. It will take a while, but you will grow accustomed to it."
Koichi stood ready, drinking in his every word, absorbing the words of wisdom from the veteran warrior. They began, Koichi attacking expertly but toned down to give the novice a chance to retaliate.
As the hours passed, Koichi was starting to get the hang of it, and Fjal became aware that he had to stop dumbing down his fighting technique, Koichi was improving that much.
Meanwhile, Van, Hitomi, Merle, and Theran watched, Van's contempt of Koichi still showing to the others, Hitomi most of all. Soon, Koichi was worn out, panting and sweating, but Fjal was impressed, a glint of pride showing in his eyes. "Not bad for a beginner. All right, we'll rest for an hour, then I'll show you how to handle Guymelefs."
Koichi managed to hold his gasping to mutter, "Okay," before he sat down, wiping his forehead and lying back on the grass, the cool blades comforting him as he fell into a short nap. He hadn't slept this peacefully since he'd awakened from the crash...
------
GHYDALIA CASTLE
THRONE ROOM
"You WHAT?!" Ghydal bellowed as Dilandau stood before him, head bowed.
"We lost them...in the forest, sir. The Guymelef pilot was very skilled, and they fled before we could track them--"
"Dilandau!" Ghydal interrupted, his voice stinging with fury. "As you know, I have little tolerance for failure. As of right now, you are relieved of your duties--"
"Please, sir, don't--"
"--and Lt. Farrest, your second-in-command, will assume command of your team and resume the search for these rebels. You will be restricted to your quarters, and guards will be posted outside your door. I do recommend you accept these terms, unless you would like to be deprived of a lot more than battle..."
Dilandau grew silent, simply keeping his head held down. He knew he couldn't win. "As you wish." The stench of failure still hung in his nostrils, and he despised it.
He quickly marched out of the throne room, where he could hear Ghydal mutter, "As you wish. I like the sound of that."
------
In his quarters, Dilandau sobbed. Relieved of his duties! A warrior? One of Emperor Dornkirk's finest, possible his very best warrior? And he's being put out to posture so some stick-up-the-ass yes-man can take over!
Suddenly, pain wracked his body, and he began shaking, biting down a wail that would've awakened the entire castle. Suddenly, his body began to shift...muscles grew smaller, hips grew a bit wider, bone structure was altered slightly, and a certain *organ* disappeared completely, at which Dilandau grunted in intense pain. Finally, breasts began to grow very painfully from her chest, and Celena shuddered at the receding pain. *Oh God...make it stop...I want it to STOP!!!*
She cried herself to sleep, curled up in a fetal ball on the cold, stone floor of her quarters.
------
FOYLEN FOREST
RALENIA
"Resting time over, child. Now it's time for Guymelef training."
Koichi opened his eyes. The words came like stabbing reminders of his situation, and he got up with a yawn, stretching his limbs. "You sure I can do this?"
"Honestly, no. But I have been wrong on several occasions. It is time to find that out."
They walked over to Van's Guymelef, a towering mass of metal shaped like an armored warrior, which knelt in front of them. Koichi stared up at the open cockpit. "Okay, how do I get up?"
"You will have to climb up the legs, I suppose. Shouldn't take long."
Koichi gave a long sigh. "Okay, I'll do it." He ran over to the towering machine, and grabbed protruding pieces of metal and used them as hand- and foot-holds.
Eventually, he reached the open cockpit in the 'Melef's chest, which he looked into. Inside, it was very dark, but he could see straps and various control mechanisms. He yelled down to Fjal, "Okay, what now?"
"Climb in. Slip your arms and legs inside those coverings. Once you close the hatch, the drag-energist will activate and you will have control."
He complied, and soon he was interfaced with the machine. The hatches closed with a hiss, and the only light coming through was coming from the slits in the Guymelef's faceplate.
Suddenly, there was a faint glow enveloping the cockpit, and as the Guymelef's energist powered up, giving the war weapon life, Koichi's eyes widened. He was in control of a machine capable of massive amounts of destruction.
Koichi almost giggled with delight. He felt on top of the world, powerful, unlike anything he had ever felt before. It felt as if the energist was powering HIM, as if he was the 5-meter-tall harbinger of death. This was almost becoming a religious experience.
Koichi swung his arms, amazed at the freedom, the power, the sheer adrenalin pulsing through his body. Nothing could stop him!
In his delirium, he could only barely hear Fjal's shouting. The boy managed to pull himself back to the world, enough to finally make sense of the yelling...
"STOP! STOP, KOICHI!!"
Koichi was still dazed. *Man, Fjal has a high-pitched voice...wait a minute...Merle!*
He stopped. The minute disorientation told him that he was standing on one foot. He craned his neck to look down...
At the Melef's right foot, 5 feet from the ground, a shaking Merle screaming to high heaven underneath.
Koichi, reacting almost by reflex, stepped back, the robot's huge metallic foot swooping over Merle and thudding to the ground. Fjal rushed to Merle.
He needed to get out. He strained against the interface, trying to pry his arms out, but it wasn't working.
Koichi started to panic. "Fjal, Fjal, how do I get out?! Fjal!!!"
The shouting from below told him to relax and will it to release him, and hesitantly, he complied.
Suddenly, the metal surrounding his limbs loosened, and snapped off, gravity taking it downward and away from his body.
The hatch opened, and Koichi, hands trembling with fear for Merle and himself, made his way out of the Melef and, finally, to the ground.
He ran to Merle, who had fainted and whose head was resting on Fjal's shoulder. He looked at Fjal apologetically, stammering. "I-I'm sorry...I got carried away, it was-it was just so...over--"
Fjal held up a hand. "Koichi, it was your first time in a Guymelef. You were not completely prepared for the experience. I understand completely what happened, and I should have anticipated that. The fault was mine."
Before Koichi could respond, Fjal continued. "Now, it is time to get some rest. You are likely tired again. Tonight, we're setting out to retrieve Escaflowne. We will work on the Guymelef some more after we retrieve it."
Fjal, also carrying the still-unconscious Merle, directed Koichi to the rest of the group; Van, who was leaning back against a tree, and who stared at Koichi with a mixture of contempt and boredom; Hitomi, who was entertaining the boy Theran with a mixture of childhood games-some games from Earth that Koichi remembered, and some from Gaea that he didn't recognize.
He walked over to Hitomi, and leaned against a tree next to them, watching them before his eyelids finally collapsed and he drifted off to sleep...
------
GHYDALIA CASTLE
SLAVE QUARTERS
Allen continued to stew in the slave quarters, growing impatient for the boredom. He almost wished they'd bring him out to fight again! His warrior skills would almost ensure a victory; however, were something to go wrong and he would slip up, he wouldn't be any good to Raylen, now his partner on the inside. After all, the rotten mush the guards were feeding him and the other slaves clearly wasn't healthy.
Suddenly a pair of guards entered, escorting a slave-a young boy, likely in his late teens--to a cell across from Allen. Strangely enough, this slave was not being dragged, in fact, he was almost to the brink of ecstatic, happily walking alongside the guards to the cell.
Furthermore, he was clean! Not necessarily nicely clothed, still dressed in the rags normally applied to slaves, but he was washed, hair cut and teeth shiny (which showed because of his excited smile). He even muttered a "thank you" to the guards when they left.
The second they left, Allen crawled over to the edge of his cell, and whispered, "Over here!"
The clean slave looked over to Allen, and Allen asked, "Who are you?"
The boy shrugged and replied, "I'm Kynef. I used to be a farmhand before Ghydal took over and made me a gladiator like you. And yes, I know what the obvious question is-why am I getting such good treatment? Well, I've been accepted into a wonderful program, recruited by Ghydal himself for a special task."
Allen looked at him warily. "Ghydal wants you for a special task? My advice, Kynef: Stay out of it. If it's Ghydal's work, it won't be good."
Kynef eyed him suscpiciously. "Are you kidding? Look at me! I'm being bathed, they tell me I'm gonna have a uniform, and I'll be able to get out of here!"
"I still don't think he has something good planned for you, Kynef," Allen warned.
Kynef pointed a finger at Allen. "Look here, friend, this could be my chance out of here. I don't know who you are, but I'm not gonna let a lowly slave spoil my opportunity for something better than this place."
"Aren't you forgetting?" Allen added, scoffing, "You're a slave too."
"Not for long. Good night...friend."
Kynef quickly laid down and closed his eyes. Allen called his name several times, but quickly realized he wasn't listening. Allen laid down as well, wondering what new plan Ghydal was formulating...
-----
FOYLEN FOREST
RALENIA
NIGHT
It was night. The insects were out, the moon was shining its light over the land of Gaea, and six freedom fighters were gathering their energies for their next move.
Off to the side, Van sat by himself, having not said a word to them since Koichi began his training. He stared into the trees, almost as it looking for something which was not there.
He started when a heavy hand landed on his shoulder. He looked up to the stoic face of Fjal Trawen, who sat down alongside him.
"I don't need to be talked to, Fjal," Van warned.
"Van, I believe you do. Ever since I joined back up with you in this forest, you've abandoned your sense of duty, deciding to exclude yourself from the group. If this is about the attack by the bandits--"
"I wasn't paying attention. They took me down too easily, I should've been more careful."
"Do not let this one mistake plague your duties. Also, a Guymelef can sometimes hinder the intuition of a warrior. There might have been no way you could have known," Fjal reassured Van.
"I'm still obligated to protect them," Van added. "I was the only warrior among them-even that weak boy Koichi barely helps."
"He has not the training nor the upbringing to be of assistance yet. Give him time...or is this a different issue?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean Hitomi. I understand you and Koichi are rivals for her affections."
"This has nothing to do with it," Van snapped at Fjal, defensively.
"Ah, but I believe it does," Fjal replied, pressing further. "You believe that Hitomi should have no question but to be with you, and that Koichi is too weak and unworthy for her."
Van decided to bite, giving up the pretense. "She was in love with me first. Than he comes into her life, stealing her from me."
"Listen to yourself. You sound like a child."
"I am a child." Van looked back at him, a look in his eyes showing anger and vulnerability, with a innocent glimmer than supported his remark.
He threw his hands in the air. "Fine, Fjal! What do you think I should do?" he remarked, with more than an inkling of disinterest.
"Let her make the choice, and in the meantime, you concentrate on protecting them, because as you said-you're the only warrior here, save me."
Fjal walked away, not saying more, leaving Van to consider the approach.
------
Later, the six adventurers gathered around the fire, as Van laid out his plan, using a twig to draw in the dirt.
"All right," Van began, "In a few minutes, we're setting out to get Escaflowne, which will be a big step in starting this revolt. Now, after I stole the Guymelef, I used it to drag Escaflowne to the nearby Cave of Sumdall. We'll take this route, using the forests and mountains," Van drug lines across the loose dirt to lay out the plan, "and we should get there without detection. I'll get in Escaflowne, and Hitomi, once you get within close range of Escaflowne, use your will to activate it. Fjal, you'll take the other Guymelef, and we'll move to Sumdall Forest." Van shrugged, threw the twig down next to the map, and sat down on a rock.
Fjal spoke up. "The plan seems sound."
Theran's childlike voice spoke up for the first time in a while. "What will we do after we get to the forest?"
Van exhaled. "We'll figure that out when we get there, child."
Hitomi stood up. "Well, it looks like we should be getting everything ready. Koichi, you want to help me pack the guns?"
"Sure." Koichi replied, and the two walked off, Merle and Theran following to help.
Van and Fjal shared determined looks, and stood up as well, heading off to help get the supplies packed for their long journey...
------
The next morning...
Lieutenant Farrest, now leader of the strike force tracking Van Fanel's group of rebels, led his troops through Foylen Forest, until they finally came to a small clearing, where there were fragments of wood and a pile of rocks.
But most prominent was a small drawing in the dirt, which Farrest examined closely.
One of the reasons Farrest was originally picked to be in Dilandau's elite group was his expert navigation skills. *They're headed for the cave of Sumdall...* he thought to himself. *THAT'S where we'll find them!*
Farrest stood and shouted to the troops, "Soldiers, we make our move! Prepare to make for Sumdall Cave. We may be on our way to accomplishing our task."
As the warriors began getting ready, Farrest allowed himself a small sneer. *They won't stand a chance...*
TO BE CONTINUED...