Chapter Four: Incursion
~The Frontline, Somewhere close to Howler's Peak~
Anthony and Grub didn't run, they stood their ground foolishly. The Goblins, smart enough to nice the back attack were too stupid to remember that they were turning their backs on an army of LEP officers. Anthony saw Trouble give him the thumbs up, Anthony turned and ran, grabbing Grub as he left. The horde of Goblins followed, leaving the shouting Warlocks behind. The LEP troops closed in on the warlocks who turned to fire lightning bolts and frozen icicles at the charging LEP. The defender troops did their job bravely, stopping the spells from hitting the LEP vehicles and gunners, the warlocks were stunned by the onslaught and turned to flee. 'Excellent shooting corporal!' Trouble cried as one of the Neutrino Turret's struck down two of the Warlocks at once, 'I'll make sure you get a commendation for that!' The goblins still chased Grub and Claws who made they way to Howler's Peak. Yelling, screaming and hurling fireballs, the Goblins chased the pair inside the main building of Howler's Peak Penitentiary prison.
Few goblins followed, most had realised and stayed outside. The ranks thinned and Claws fired shots from his gun to take them down. Grub couldn't stop running, fear had gripped him tightly. He only stopped running when he ran into a locked door. Claws found him and pulled him to his feet. 'Its okay, buddy, we're clear.' he said, looking round, 'They're waiting outside for us, your brother will be here soon to help us.' 'Oh.. cool' Grub said, walking back to the entrance, Claws following with gun drawn. The huge collections of Goblins were waiting, staring into the dark of the Howler's Peak entrance. When Claws emerged they started growling and few threw fireballs. The LEP backup was nowhere to be seen. The goblins were thinking for once, they knew these two LEP members were trying to coerce them back inside the prison. Claws fired a few shots at the fireball wielding Goblins, trying to clam them down. 'Listen!' He shouted to the Goblins, 'Why are you doing this?!' 'Cuz we want that Short lady!' one snarled, the other Goblins agreed. 'We's gunner kill 'er!' another said, arousing more agreeing grunts. 'To what end?' Grub asked, the goblins lay silent 'Why?' Anthony shouted 'Cuz she put us in pri. pri.. Jail!' the first Goblin replied 'Didn't you deserve it?' Claws asked, 'she was just an LEP officer doing her job!' 'Yer, but she put us all in dere!' the Goblin gestured to the large cumbersome building behind them. Anthony sighed, he was getting nowhere with these imbeciles. The sirens and gunshots distracted him, all the goblins wheeled round to see the commotion and only a few got to see all of it. All of the guns were firing, cutting down most of the Goblins, the threat was finally coming under control..
~The Tunnels Under Haven City~
Butler couldn't bear to see Artemis like this, his emotions were running wild. This once cool, calm, collected mastermind was now a teeming wreck of emotions, feelings and wild thoughts. Artemis felt the same way. Why am I doing this to myself? He thought, why am I jeopardising my safety with reckless actions? He pressed on, Butler sighing and walking quietly behind Artemis. His head jerking with every noise and every anomalous blip on his scanner. Artemis looked around, they were coming close on some living creature, and Artemis' hopes were raised significantly. Hopefully Artemis could save Holly from any affliction that may be holding her and then he would have her trust back. The one thing Artemis wanted in the world right now was the chance to explain to Holly what had happened in the previous days. 'Here it comes' said Butler, he knew Artemis saw the mass of heat on his sensors. 'Yes.' Artemis said, drawing his gun and taking a deep breath, 'There! In the shadow.' he breathed, something loomed in the darkness. Angry male trolls weren't to be toyed with, Butler knew this. His first encounter with members of the People led to a battle with a fierce Troll who, eventually, had killed Butler. (If you happen to have the IQ of a Goblin, I'd just like to point out that he was healed by Holly's stray magic) Thanks to the past fours years, Butler now owed his life to Holly about three times over.
When the Troll came lumbering out of the darkness, Artemis jumped backwards to Butler's side. Butler drew his gun, cranked the dial up to Extra Crispy and aimed, squeezing off three shots into the Troll's head. It staggered for a moment then looked at Butler stupidly. Sure, the heat was over two thousand degrees coming from the end of a Neutrino set on full but what did it matter when your skin is four inches thick?
Artemis fired too, though his manicured nails and slender fingers stumbled on the controls, not managing so set the output higher. The Troll stood stationary for a moment until it realised they were trying to hurt him. He growled and ran at Butler who was firing into the Troll's chest. Artemis on the other hand, had a plan. He took the piton cord form his belt, clipped it into his gun and took aim. The piton zoomed from the gun, bounced off the thick granite overhead, wrapped round the Troll's neck and buried itself deep in its flesh. The Troll roared, having a diamond tipped hook buried in one's neck would enrage anyone.
Butler clapped, applauding Artemis' aim and knowledge of geometry. The Troll tried to pull the piton out but it was hooked onto the thick skin of the Troll. Every time the Troll pulled, it roared in pain, every time it roared in pain, butler roared with laughter. Though cruel, it was funny that it would take the Troll hours to figure out that pulling on the cord only made it worse and caused him pain. Butler walked up to the Troll who was busy with both hands on the cord string. Butler placed his gun to the creature's forehead and pulled the trigger. The staggering troll leant against the side of the tunnel before sliding down it into unconsciousness.
Artemis turned to Butler, nodded and continued walking up the tunnel. They were only a few hundred yards from the next heat mass. This one must be Holly. Butler was proud of the way Artemis had handled the troll, no sign of fear or second thoughts, he had acted like the warrior he himself was.
As they reached Holly, they saw he laying quite still. Artemis knelt next to her and checked for a pulse, though it wasn't necessary. Her breathing was shallow and her eyes rolled back in her head. They had to get her out of there and back to the LEP Plaza. Butler sighed. 'Artemis, we could revive her and-' Butler stopped, Artemis had removed Holly's helmet and was staring blankly at her. Artemis then removed his helmet and was looking right at Holly, his eyes unblinking and his lip quivering. He wanted to just hold Holly, tell her she was going to be okay. He placed a hand on her shoulder and spoke softly. 'Hey, Holly.. wake up. please.? Holly.?' he squeezed her shoulder gently and Holly's eyes went back into focus. She looked up and saw Artemis' face, blackened by the dust that had hit him when he removed his helmet. Holly closed her eyes again and she coughed, 'what happened to the manicure mud-boy?' she stifled a laugh, it sounded like a strangled cough. 'I lost it when I beat up a troll.' Artemis smirked 'You? Never.you couldn't do it without. without.' she coughed again
'Without a piton, good eyes and better aim' Butler said, picking up Holly and carrying her like a baby.
~The Frontline, Somewhere close to Howler's Peak~
Anthony and Grub didn't run, they stood their ground foolishly. The Goblins, smart enough to nice the back attack were too stupid to remember that they were turning their backs on an army of LEP officers. Anthony saw Trouble give him the thumbs up, Anthony turned and ran, grabbing Grub as he left. The horde of Goblins followed, leaving the shouting Warlocks behind. The LEP troops closed in on the warlocks who turned to fire lightning bolts and frozen icicles at the charging LEP. The defender troops did their job bravely, stopping the spells from hitting the LEP vehicles and gunners, the warlocks were stunned by the onslaught and turned to flee. 'Excellent shooting corporal!' Trouble cried as one of the Neutrino Turret's struck down two of the Warlocks at once, 'I'll make sure you get a commendation for that!' The goblins still chased Grub and Claws who made they way to Howler's Peak. Yelling, screaming and hurling fireballs, the Goblins chased the pair inside the main building of Howler's Peak Penitentiary prison.
Few goblins followed, most had realised and stayed outside. The ranks thinned and Claws fired shots from his gun to take them down. Grub couldn't stop running, fear had gripped him tightly. He only stopped running when he ran into a locked door. Claws found him and pulled him to his feet. 'Its okay, buddy, we're clear.' he said, looking round, 'They're waiting outside for us, your brother will be here soon to help us.' 'Oh.. cool' Grub said, walking back to the entrance, Claws following with gun drawn. The huge collections of Goblins were waiting, staring into the dark of the Howler's Peak entrance. When Claws emerged they started growling and few threw fireballs. The LEP backup was nowhere to be seen. The goblins were thinking for once, they knew these two LEP members were trying to coerce them back inside the prison. Claws fired a few shots at the fireball wielding Goblins, trying to clam them down. 'Listen!' He shouted to the Goblins, 'Why are you doing this?!' 'Cuz we want that Short lady!' one snarled, the other Goblins agreed. 'We's gunner kill 'er!' another said, arousing more agreeing grunts. 'To what end?' Grub asked, the goblins lay silent 'Why?' Anthony shouted 'Cuz she put us in pri. pri.. Jail!' the first Goblin replied 'Didn't you deserve it?' Claws asked, 'she was just an LEP officer doing her job!' 'Yer, but she put us all in dere!' the Goblin gestured to the large cumbersome building behind them. Anthony sighed, he was getting nowhere with these imbeciles. The sirens and gunshots distracted him, all the goblins wheeled round to see the commotion and only a few got to see all of it. All of the guns were firing, cutting down most of the Goblins, the threat was finally coming under control..
~The Tunnels Under Haven City~
Butler couldn't bear to see Artemis like this, his emotions were running wild. This once cool, calm, collected mastermind was now a teeming wreck of emotions, feelings and wild thoughts. Artemis felt the same way. Why am I doing this to myself? He thought, why am I jeopardising my safety with reckless actions? He pressed on, Butler sighing and walking quietly behind Artemis. His head jerking with every noise and every anomalous blip on his scanner. Artemis looked around, they were coming close on some living creature, and Artemis' hopes were raised significantly. Hopefully Artemis could save Holly from any affliction that may be holding her and then he would have her trust back. The one thing Artemis wanted in the world right now was the chance to explain to Holly what had happened in the previous days. 'Here it comes' said Butler, he knew Artemis saw the mass of heat on his sensors. 'Yes.' Artemis said, drawing his gun and taking a deep breath, 'There! In the shadow.' he breathed, something loomed in the darkness. Angry male trolls weren't to be toyed with, Butler knew this. His first encounter with members of the People led to a battle with a fierce Troll who, eventually, had killed Butler. (If you happen to have the IQ of a Goblin, I'd just like to point out that he was healed by Holly's stray magic) Thanks to the past fours years, Butler now owed his life to Holly about three times over.
When the Troll came lumbering out of the darkness, Artemis jumped backwards to Butler's side. Butler drew his gun, cranked the dial up to Extra Crispy and aimed, squeezing off three shots into the Troll's head. It staggered for a moment then looked at Butler stupidly. Sure, the heat was over two thousand degrees coming from the end of a Neutrino set on full but what did it matter when your skin is four inches thick?
Artemis fired too, though his manicured nails and slender fingers stumbled on the controls, not managing so set the output higher. The Troll stood stationary for a moment until it realised they were trying to hurt him. He growled and ran at Butler who was firing into the Troll's chest. Artemis on the other hand, had a plan. He took the piton cord form his belt, clipped it into his gun and took aim. The piton zoomed from the gun, bounced off the thick granite overhead, wrapped round the Troll's neck and buried itself deep in its flesh. The Troll roared, having a diamond tipped hook buried in one's neck would enrage anyone.
Butler clapped, applauding Artemis' aim and knowledge of geometry. The Troll tried to pull the piton out but it was hooked onto the thick skin of the Troll. Every time the Troll pulled, it roared in pain, every time it roared in pain, butler roared with laughter. Though cruel, it was funny that it would take the Troll hours to figure out that pulling on the cord only made it worse and caused him pain. Butler walked up to the Troll who was busy with both hands on the cord string. Butler placed his gun to the creature's forehead and pulled the trigger. The staggering troll leant against the side of the tunnel before sliding down it into unconsciousness.
Artemis turned to Butler, nodded and continued walking up the tunnel. They were only a few hundred yards from the next heat mass. This one must be Holly. Butler was proud of the way Artemis had handled the troll, no sign of fear or second thoughts, he had acted like the warrior he himself was.
As they reached Holly, they saw he laying quite still. Artemis knelt next to her and checked for a pulse, though it wasn't necessary. Her breathing was shallow and her eyes rolled back in her head. They had to get her out of there and back to the LEP Plaza. Butler sighed. 'Artemis, we could revive her and-' Butler stopped, Artemis had removed Holly's helmet and was staring blankly at her. Artemis then removed his helmet and was looking right at Holly, his eyes unblinking and his lip quivering. He wanted to just hold Holly, tell her she was going to be okay. He placed a hand on her shoulder and spoke softly. 'Hey, Holly.. wake up. please.? Holly.?' he squeezed her shoulder gently and Holly's eyes went back into focus. She looked up and saw Artemis' face, blackened by the dust that had hit him when he removed his helmet. Holly closed her eyes again and she coughed, 'what happened to the manicure mud-boy?' she stifled a laugh, it sounded like a strangled cough. 'I lost it when I beat up a troll.' Artemis smirked 'You? Never.you couldn't do it without. without.' she coughed again
'Without a piton, good eyes and better aim' Butler said, picking up Holly and carrying her like a baby.