Chapter Three:
An unexpected distraction...
Everyone's mouth fell open in awe at the sight of the white city, Andréa. Even on the slowest of days the streets and market where packed full of visitors and towns people. Today however the streets where swarming, packed with people. On other occasions Vidin and the others may well have been tempted to just walk around the market and shop. But seeing as this was purely business the crowds and excitement put a damper on there plans. If Vidin were to get into trouble how fast would the others be able to make it to him? The answer to that is not fast at all. The airship docked with the sky docks. Vidin and the others de-boarded the airship just before sunset. The docks (although quite buzzing) where less packed then the markets below. The four carried there packs off the ship, and Vidin noticed how tense everyone was, Jessie for instance had her hand in her coat in a way that it looked like she was griping her pistol. Vidin not really wanting to talk right now gave Korks a look that more or less he understood. "Hey all" Korks said in a cheery voice "you don't have to worry about he market, our aim is the castle. Just act natural, it's a good thing there are so many people" Vidin spoke in a small drone. "People will pay less attention to you..." Korks nodded. "That's right, Jessie could probably walk out in the street all dressed up in her war outfit-"Jessie laughed "and carrying my weather bazooka! He he!" Korks smiled. "Anyway we are a bit behind schedule. If anything should go wrong" Korks eyed Vidin..."we are to regroup at HQ and take things from there. With that said we better get going, Jessie you are going to the monastery, just sneak into the back and get into the bell tower. From there set up a communications link between us. Me and scout will hang around the castle looking inconspicuous." Scout spoke up. "I thought I was to tail Vid and provide some cover." Korks thought for a minute and then said "on second thought I don't think its that great of an idea. I mean this place is packed and we need as few people as possible in the danger zone." Everyone stood there looking for an excuse to stall longer. After a moment Korks was starting to give the go ahead when Jessie interrupted and said "Korks I have a bad feeling about this" Korks looked at her in shock and then said "all right well seeing as there's an ominous shadow over the operation lets all go SHOPPING! Hey no worries I'm sure Brundanko will understand!" Jessie looked taken aback. "It was only a suggestion..." Korks looked impatient "well go on you know what we gota do!" With that everyone went there separate ways. Vidin had to admit he wasn't feeling to hot about the operation but he was confident in his abilities. Wading threw the slowly thinning crowds of happy consumers Vidin came to an almost unguarded castle, he stopped just out of sight of the two guards at the front gate. The trick now was sneaking past these two; Vidin turned around and headed more into the town area. He stalked down an empty ally and then saw it. A lightly dangling chain from the corner of a house, Vidin guessed it was supposed to be like a gutter system, you know the water follows the chain. Vidin looked around and saw no one. He took a hold of the chain and with the speed of a cougar climbing a tree; he climbed the chain and set foot on the roof. In the dusk of night he stealthy ran across the rooftops. In no time at all Vidin found himself very near the wall of the castle. He guessed he wasn't the only person to sneak into he castle (there was a plank from the roof to a ledge that circled the castle below the windowsills) Vidin stopped near the plank and dropped his pack. It was time to change. He pulled on his sneaking outfit that consisted mostly of dark skintight clothing. And he put on his face cover resembling a ninja with pointed ears, He pulled on his headset and taped it to activate it, and he put on his belt and blade holster. And (for the first time) slipped a few of Jessie's new weapons into his belt. He pressed and held a button on his headset and spoke silently, "I'm ready, I'm outside the castle" Vidin released the button and he herd Jessie faintly say "good luck..." just after that he herd Korks and scout say at the same time. "Good luck" Vidin stashed his clothes and pack under some rags on the roof, and then very carefully he crossed the plank onto the castle wall. Vidin was looking for an unlocked window to sneak into; the ledge was a good size. So he had no trouble walking on it, but the windows where low and Vidin had to crouch to be unseen. He slowly checked the windows looking for one, which was open or unlocked. He passed over the heads of the guards he saw earlier and was tempted to drop a rock onto there heads for a small laugh but decided better of it and continued checking windows. He got to the west side of the castle and found an odd window. It was large and beautiful, unlike the others. This one was a bit unordinary. When he was about to pass he noticed there where people inside, Vidin bucked down so fast he nearly slipped and fell, out of all the windows, he had to pass the princesses. The princess sat with her left side to the window; a maid was tending to her hair. Vidin watched mesmerized by this girl who had everything. Yet, she did not smile. As Vidin watched he noticed that the window was unlocked... The maid continued to brush and the princess stared absently at the mirror until she raised her hand and the maid left the room. Vidin stared at the princess, who continued to stare at the mirror. Then Vidin saw the unlocked window again, if he opened it silently he could stun the princess. Vidin was raising his hands to the window then the princess started to cry to herself. Vidin couldn't hear her. But for some reason he felt sorry for her. Vidin even wished he might have been able to help her. But Vidin told himself that a princess wouldn't want to be near an Archear. And Vidin lowered his head, and moved to the next window. As Vidin moved he was sure he felt the princesses eyes hit him for a second then he felt her die away as he continued checked for that open window. Shortly after he found a window that was broken. Odd as it might have been an open window was still what he needed. He climbed into the room and stretched a bit, he pressed his ear against the door and listened intently. When he could hear nothing, he opened the door. He was standing in a hallway, his least favorite place. He dashed forward silently and quietly until he got to 2nd floor balcony. Straight ahead he saw the queens chamber and just out the large pitcher window could see the queens room balcony. Vidin looked down over the railing and saw the guards' quarters below. As he watched a guard opened the door and started to walk up the circular stairs to where Vidin was. Vidin rolled over behind the large flower vase and waited with his dagger held tight. Vidin sat feeling the rush of being hidden fill him and he smiled. The guard turned from the vase and faced the opposite way. Vidin rushed forward as the guard was yawing and wrapped one hand around the guard's mouth and with several quick and hard stabs lunged his dagger into his collarbone. While stabbing, the guard let out several muffled terrified yells into Vidin's hand before going limp. Vidin put down his foe and whipped the blood off his dagger. He had to hurry now. He picked up his victim and dragged him soundlessly to the guards' room. Vidin put the guard onto his back and carried him casually into the guard's quarters, there where 3 guards in the room and all of them stooped and looked at Vidin carrying their dead ally. Vidin continued forward and the guards where still confused but before they could act Vidin threw one of the new devices at the floor and the guards lit up like light bulbs. Unfortunately the electric current left some of them still alive. Vidin dropped the body and walked forward and with the hilt of his dagger knocked out the rest of the guards. Vidin walked over to the patrol list and looked it over, he saw there was supposed to be more guards on the second floor, Vidin figured they where just walking around. Vidin touched his COM and spoke "Korks where was the vault?" Within a short time Vidin herd Korks reply "what done already? The vault is down the first floor hallway it should be about a yard from the guardroom, to the left. Vidin walked out of the room and was heading silently to the hallway when something made him look behind him. When he did he saw someone, not a guard, but another intruder. This one was bloodstained and he was aiming a large rifle at the window Vidin was looking out of earlier. When the laser aim came on Vidin (threw the next window over) saw the beam connect with the princess's head. He didn't notice that she went to join her mother. But Vidin not thinking pulled his dagger and threw it at the intruder. Just as he was pulling the trigger the blade connected with his ear and cheek, the intruder pulled his weapon up which let out a deafening CRACK as a bullet tore from the rifle. The glass window shattered into millions of pieces and time seemed to slow as the glass came falling slowly down, like foreboding snowflakes. Vidin stared as the blood gushed from the intruder's cheek. Time sped to normal as the intruder looked from the blood on his hand to Vidin and then raised his gun at Vidin. Vidin just stared as he saw the dark of the rifle barrel connect perfectly with his eye. The door behind him flew open and shots rang out, not from the intruder's rifle but from dozens of guards behind Vidin. Vidin watched as the bullets pierced threw the man sending his lifeless body to the floor. Vidin looked up from his to be death and into the eyes of the princess, who stared at him threw the unharmed balcony window in a way that she knew what he did for her. Vidin snapped back to his senses and tore away form the princess's stare and took off up the staircase. All the time bullets sending sparks at his feet. The guards followed and Vidin took off down the hall. He had to find the window. The guards where heavy on his feet, Vidin took off into what he thought might have been the room he came from. But alas it was not. In fact this room didn't even have a window. Vidin panicked and ran into the closet and drew and clutched the last of Jessie's new inventions. Vidin panted in panic and quickly radioed out "stay away form the castle IV been-" at that the door flew open and Vidin threw the device at the ground. Within a second the guards and Vidin where encased in white light with electricity booming in there veins. The entire bunch of them fell to the floor limp. Vidin with his eyes closed, seconds from unconsciousness herd two people enter into the room, and Vidin herd two voices speak. "damn Archear took himself out" the second voice said "he is alive sir, He killed two of ours, and we found our 2nd floor patrols shot dead." The first voice said. "No it wasn't him. Princess Liloh says she wants him unharmed." The conversation progressed and Vidin slipped off into unconsciousness...
An unexpected distraction...
Everyone's mouth fell open in awe at the sight of the white city, Andréa. Even on the slowest of days the streets and market where packed full of visitors and towns people. Today however the streets where swarming, packed with people. On other occasions Vidin and the others may well have been tempted to just walk around the market and shop. But seeing as this was purely business the crowds and excitement put a damper on there plans. If Vidin were to get into trouble how fast would the others be able to make it to him? The answer to that is not fast at all. The airship docked with the sky docks. Vidin and the others de-boarded the airship just before sunset. The docks (although quite buzzing) where less packed then the markets below. The four carried there packs off the ship, and Vidin noticed how tense everyone was, Jessie for instance had her hand in her coat in a way that it looked like she was griping her pistol. Vidin not really wanting to talk right now gave Korks a look that more or less he understood. "Hey all" Korks said in a cheery voice "you don't have to worry about he market, our aim is the castle. Just act natural, it's a good thing there are so many people" Vidin spoke in a small drone. "People will pay less attention to you..." Korks nodded. "That's right, Jessie could probably walk out in the street all dressed up in her war outfit-"Jessie laughed "and carrying my weather bazooka! He he!" Korks smiled. "Anyway we are a bit behind schedule. If anything should go wrong" Korks eyed Vidin..."we are to regroup at HQ and take things from there. With that said we better get going, Jessie you are going to the monastery, just sneak into the back and get into the bell tower. From there set up a communications link between us. Me and scout will hang around the castle looking inconspicuous." Scout spoke up. "I thought I was to tail Vid and provide some cover." Korks thought for a minute and then said "on second thought I don't think its that great of an idea. I mean this place is packed and we need as few people as possible in the danger zone." Everyone stood there looking for an excuse to stall longer. After a moment Korks was starting to give the go ahead when Jessie interrupted and said "Korks I have a bad feeling about this" Korks looked at her in shock and then said "all right well seeing as there's an ominous shadow over the operation lets all go SHOPPING! Hey no worries I'm sure Brundanko will understand!" Jessie looked taken aback. "It was only a suggestion..." Korks looked impatient "well go on you know what we gota do!" With that everyone went there separate ways. Vidin had to admit he wasn't feeling to hot about the operation but he was confident in his abilities. Wading threw the slowly thinning crowds of happy consumers Vidin came to an almost unguarded castle, he stopped just out of sight of the two guards at the front gate. The trick now was sneaking past these two; Vidin turned around and headed more into the town area. He stalked down an empty ally and then saw it. A lightly dangling chain from the corner of a house, Vidin guessed it was supposed to be like a gutter system, you know the water follows the chain. Vidin looked around and saw no one. He took a hold of the chain and with the speed of a cougar climbing a tree; he climbed the chain and set foot on the roof. In the dusk of night he stealthy ran across the rooftops. In no time at all Vidin found himself very near the wall of the castle. He guessed he wasn't the only person to sneak into he castle (there was a plank from the roof to a ledge that circled the castle below the windowsills) Vidin stopped near the plank and dropped his pack. It was time to change. He pulled on his sneaking outfit that consisted mostly of dark skintight clothing. And he put on his face cover resembling a ninja with pointed ears, He pulled on his headset and taped it to activate it, and he put on his belt and blade holster. And (for the first time) slipped a few of Jessie's new weapons into his belt. He pressed and held a button on his headset and spoke silently, "I'm ready, I'm outside the castle" Vidin released the button and he herd Jessie faintly say "good luck..." just after that he herd Korks and scout say at the same time. "Good luck" Vidin stashed his clothes and pack under some rags on the roof, and then very carefully he crossed the plank onto the castle wall. Vidin was looking for an unlocked window to sneak into; the ledge was a good size. So he had no trouble walking on it, but the windows where low and Vidin had to crouch to be unseen. He slowly checked the windows looking for one, which was open or unlocked. He passed over the heads of the guards he saw earlier and was tempted to drop a rock onto there heads for a small laugh but decided better of it and continued checking windows. He got to the west side of the castle and found an odd window. It was large and beautiful, unlike the others. This one was a bit unordinary. When he was about to pass he noticed there where people inside, Vidin bucked down so fast he nearly slipped and fell, out of all the windows, he had to pass the princesses. The princess sat with her left side to the window; a maid was tending to her hair. Vidin watched mesmerized by this girl who had everything. Yet, she did not smile. As Vidin watched he noticed that the window was unlocked... The maid continued to brush and the princess stared absently at the mirror until she raised her hand and the maid left the room. Vidin stared at the princess, who continued to stare at the mirror. Then Vidin saw the unlocked window again, if he opened it silently he could stun the princess. Vidin was raising his hands to the window then the princess started to cry to herself. Vidin couldn't hear her. But for some reason he felt sorry for her. Vidin even wished he might have been able to help her. But Vidin told himself that a princess wouldn't want to be near an Archear. And Vidin lowered his head, and moved to the next window. As Vidin moved he was sure he felt the princesses eyes hit him for a second then he felt her die away as he continued checked for that open window. Shortly after he found a window that was broken. Odd as it might have been an open window was still what he needed. He climbed into the room and stretched a bit, he pressed his ear against the door and listened intently. When he could hear nothing, he opened the door. He was standing in a hallway, his least favorite place. He dashed forward silently and quietly until he got to 2nd floor balcony. Straight ahead he saw the queens chamber and just out the large pitcher window could see the queens room balcony. Vidin looked down over the railing and saw the guards' quarters below. As he watched a guard opened the door and started to walk up the circular stairs to where Vidin was. Vidin rolled over behind the large flower vase and waited with his dagger held tight. Vidin sat feeling the rush of being hidden fill him and he smiled. The guard turned from the vase and faced the opposite way. Vidin rushed forward as the guard was yawing and wrapped one hand around the guard's mouth and with several quick and hard stabs lunged his dagger into his collarbone. While stabbing, the guard let out several muffled terrified yells into Vidin's hand before going limp. Vidin put down his foe and whipped the blood off his dagger. He had to hurry now. He picked up his victim and dragged him soundlessly to the guards' room. Vidin put the guard onto his back and carried him casually into the guard's quarters, there where 3 guards in the room and all of them stooped and looked at Vidin carrying their dead ally. Vidin continued forward and the guards where still confused but before they could act Vidin threw one of the new devices at the floor and the guards lit up like light bulbs. Unfortunately the electric current left some of them still alive. Vidin dropped the body and walked forward and with the hilt of his dagger knocked out the rest of the guards. Vidin walked over to the patrol list and looked it over, he saw there was supposed to be more guards on the second floor, Vidin figured they where just walking around. Vidin touched his COM and spoke "Korks where was the vault?" Within a short time Vidin herd Korks reply "what done already? The vault is down the first floor hallway it should be about a yard from the guardroom, to the left. Vidin walked out of the room and was heading silently to the hallway when something made him look behind him. When he did he saw someone, not a guard, but another intruder. This one was bloodstained and he was aiming a large rifle at the window Vidin was looking out of earlier. When the laser aim came on Vidin (threw the next window over) saw the beam connect with the princess's head. He didn't notice that she went to join her mother. But Vidin not thinking pulled his dagger and threw it at the intruder. Just as he was pulling the trigger the blade connected with his ear and cheek, the intruder pulled his weapon up which let out a deafening CRACK as a bullet tore from the rifle. The glass window shattered into millions of pieces and time seemed to slow as the glass came falling slowly down, like foreboding snowflakes. Vidin stared as the blood gushed from the intruder's cheek. Time sped to normal as the intruder looked from the blood on his hand to Vidin and then raised his gun at Vidin. Vidin just stared as he saw the dark of the rifle barrel connect perfectly with his eye. The door behind him flew open and shots rang out, not from the intruder's rifle but from dozens of guards behind Vidin. Vidin watched as the bullets pierced threw the man sending his lifeless body to the floor. Vidin looked up from his to be death and into the eyes of the princess, who stared at him threw the unharmed balcony window in a way that she knew what he did for her. Vidin snapped back to his senses and tore away form the princess's stare and took off up the staircase. All the time bullets sending sparks at his feet. The guards followed and Vidin took off down the hall. He had to find the window. The guards where heavy on his feet, Vidin took off into what he thought might have been the room he came from. But alas it was not. In fact this room didn't even have a window. Vidin panicked and ran into the closet and drew and clutched the last of Jessie's new inventions. Vidin panted in panic and quickly radioed out "stay away form the castle IV been-" at that the door flew open and Vidin threw the device at the ground. Within a second the guards and Vidin where encased in white light with electricity booming in there veins. The entire bunch of them fell to the floor limp. Vidin with his eyes closed, seconds from unconsciousness herd two people enter into the room, and Vidin herd two voices speak. "damn Archear took himself out" the second voice said "he is alive sir, He killed two of ours, and we found our 2nd floor patrols shot dead." The first voice said. "No it wasn't him. Princess Liloh says she wants him unharmed." The conversation progressed and Vidin slipped off into unconsciousness...