Chapter Four
Dearest Log, This is Lowe writing, once again, to recount the activities that have affected the Shining Force these past few days. We have a secret pledge to make Ken the new leader of the force unless Dirk improves during the next month. Dirk only has two more weeks until this leadership is overthrown, and we are rid of this tyranny forever. It breaks my heart to see what Dirk has turned into. He used to be so calm and diplomatic, he used to love with the trust of a child, and now he has only room in his heart for ale and for loveless liaisons with desperate woman. I used to believe that he would get over this frightening personality change, but even I have given up hope. He does not even value my life. Early tomorrow morning we are facing a battle against the legendary enemy, the laser eye. I am to be used as human bait, by Dirk's order. I know that I am not fast enough to make a painless escape. Ho! How I fear the 'morrow! Hans has returned into the arms, however unwelcoming, of the Shining Force. He tried to murder Ken out of revenge, and luckily Tao was able to cast a spell over him before he got the chance to. We, as a group, are undecided about what to do with him. We have kept him prisoner, essentially, as we gloomily debate his future. It seems time for something good to happen to us – lately, only trouble has befallen the tired soldiers of light.
"Quickly Lowe! You must go up the hill to where the laser eye awaits!" Dirk commanded, his voice hard and professional. Any trace of childhood affection or camaraderie was missing from his order – the order that the force knew, with their heads bowed, to be an order of execution for Lowe. It was impossible for Lowe to escape this hideous battle tactic of baiting with his life.
"YES SIR!" Was Lowe's honorable response. He waddled as fast as his short, stubby legs could carry him, until he was in full range of the laser eye.
A loud zipping noise was heard by all, a noise that they knew, unmistakably, to be the attack of the lasers.
"LOWE!" Cried Khris. She sobbed wildly, and savagely resisted the attempts of the others to control her. She darted up the hill to assist Lowe. The sound of the lasers continued to zoom by as the Shining Force stood reverently in respect for the agony that Lowe, and certainly now Khris, were experiencing. Suddenly, a stark silence spread over them, an ominous silence that signaled them to begin the attack using the premeditated strategies. They worked as a machine would – uncomplaining and smooth, yet beneath the façade of professionalism, they were twisted by guilt. Finally the battle was over and won…now it was time to pick up the pieces…
Anri was the first to arrive where Lowe lay. She wondered if he was dead, but upon closer inspection she was relieved to notice he was breathing. Sure, his breath came in short, spasmodic gasps, but it was better than nothing. Khris cradled his head in her arms and whispered in his ears. Her arm was badly burned; charred flesh that Anri cringed at. 75% of Lowe's body was severely burned as well. Every nerve in his body was shrieking in pain, yet he did not make a sound; his mouth was contorted in a terrible, silent scream. Anri looked on hopelessly as the others joined her. Gong was the only uninjured healer left, so he was left to work feverishly at restoring their health, while the others gaped on in horror. They had all been injured, yes, but never had the magnitude of the injuries been as great as this. Even Gort was strangely humble as Gong worked many hours into the dusky night.
Finally the anxious and sweaty Shining Force heard the result of Gong's healing,
"He's going to be alright. But he will never see again. The lasers blinded him." Gong turned away then. He had a pounding headache and did not want to face their questions. He never liked to talk much anyway. Silently, the Shining Force set up camp near the gorge, and they fell into a haunted slumber.
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"Get up! We need to make fast tracks to Pao! Who knows where that nomadic wagon town will head if we don't hurry!" Dirk commanded. The others looked at him sluggishly and obeyed.
"I just can't stand him anymore!" Diane whispered harshly to Ken. Ken never knew a woman who could whisper with the intensity Diane could.
"Two more weeks…you can handle it Diane." Ken sighed, he wasn't sure if they could or not, what, with the hell Lowe was going through, and the amazing apathy Dirk applied to the situation.
"When I first joined, I liked him Ken, in fact, I think I almost loved him at first sight. But now…I can't believe my foolishness." Diane was displaying remarkable vulnerability – Diane, the fierce foe of male chauvinists, falling in love? Ken shook his head and tried to comfort her.
"He wasn't always the way he is now. Ever since the promotion party he's been the cruel person we now see. But before…he was everything you saw when you first met him. If you could only read the kindness in the log he kept. Maybe he'll come around some day."
"Well," Diane snorted, "It better be soon! I can't tolerate his ignorance for much longer." She pivoted haughtily and walked away with a confidence few of them possessed. Ken admired her. Ken let his gaze fall onto the sandy terrain, and he watched the pebbles and the twigs with interest. He looked up, and suddenly noticed that a stranger was among them!
"Ho! Old buddy Arthur!" Ken called. Arthur galloped over to Ken eagerly.
"What is it Ken, old buddy."
"Who's that strange centaur trotting over by Mae?" Ken questioned curiously.
"He showed up about 10 minutes ago, didn't you notice? Ach, I supposed not. His name is Pelle. He was a mercenary for Runefaust, but he wants to join us now. Actually, I think Mae caught his eye, and that was his motivation…"
"Damn that flaming woman! She has eyes for everyone! I don't trust him…he's too dark, and, and, smooth…Too smooth if you ask me…" Ken finished angrily. He and Mae were at odds again. Arthur stroked Ken's back soothingly.
"Arthur, why are you touching me?" Ken said curtly, breaking the strange, dreamy expression on Arthur's face.
"Oh, oh…I was just trying to calm you down old buddy…" Arthur trotted away slowly. Ken mused; I wonder what that was all about? Arthur is a good guy, but jeez Louise! He's way too touchy feely! Ken blushed a little. Arthur's touch had felt good. No one had touched him in so long. Tao was wasting away into a paranoid shell of her old self – mangled by the guilt of her infidelity to Hans. Once he tried to kiss her, to regain some of that closeness they had shared at the promotion party, but she had pushed him away harshly. Ken stomped the weeds that grew beneath his hooves. He remembered when he fell asleep with a quiver of hope every night…when he saw her sparkling face before his closed eyes. Now there was a heavy shadow slumped deep in his belly – sure, he laughed, but beneath his gay mask, he was twisted. Nothing was right anymore, nothing. Maybe I should just let the next Rune Knight I meet kill me. He thought, nobody needs me anyway.
"Say, why so glum chum?" It was Luke. They hadn't spoken much since the promotion party.
"Oh it's nothing. Just an inadequacy complex." He stared down at his hooves. "Since the promotion party nothing's been the same."
"I know what you mean good buddy. But things will get better. Forget about Tao there's plenty of eligible females right here in camp! That Diane's sure a spicy one!"
"It's not the same Luke! I really loved her but now, because of that damned Hans we can never be! I guess he got what he wished for."
"Why can't you have Mae's approach at love? She goes with whoever she pleases, she doesn't need those complicated emotions getting mixed in with it."
"Are you boys talking about me again?" Mae's high voice interrupted what they thought was a private conversation. "Not that I mind of course, it could only be good things from two strapping men like yourselves."
Luke blushed, "Uh.. of course Mae no one's as beautiful as you!" Ken smacked him upside the head.
"Don't encourage her! She's vain enough. Get out of here Mae, why don't you just, just go back to your precious Pelle. I'm sure there's something you can help him with!"
"Oh! Ken you're just jealous because no body loves you. I don't wonder why." She turned her nose and stomped away.
"I don't know Ken, I think she's awful pretty."
"What do you know!" Ken turned his back and galloped away.