Hey again. After a few weeks of tests and End of Grade exams, I'm finally free. Even though I have to take the Algebra 1 End of Course test this Thursday, I should be able to post this chapter with ease. The E.O.G wasn't hard for me, but seeing as how it was set to for the average 8th grader to take, I'm glad. Also, I'm glad that the school year is almost over. For us, it's May 24. After that, I have to take Drivers' Ed and attend Marching Band camp.
You know what? Isn't it funny how time flies when we aren't paying no attention to the clock?
Anyway, about the fic, I have some things to say before I begin.
Ronin: Hey Ansem. I decided to wait until after you updated to respond to your last e-mail since you only seem to respond to reviews yourself.
Anyway, in regards to this latest chapter, you were right; I don't like the direction you're taking Gene's character. From whining in the previous chapter to considering taking anti-depressants with alcohol in this; he's coming across as a flaky schizo instead of the cocky outlaw we all know and love.
Okay, I know what you're talking about. This isn't the way Gene is supposed to act. He is supposed to be cocky outlaw, I know this, and I really do. To tell you the truth, I didn't want to portray him in this way; I wanted him to be the same as he was in the anime. But, if I did though, that would be stupid and mess up everything. Here's why:
1) Gene's going to play a major part in the events yet to come, the ending of the saga, and the sequel. His actions now are necessary for him to play the character I want him to play.
2) I'm trying to be realistic here. Even if some of the stuff I write may sound ludicrous, I have the ability to make up well-written facts to make them seem believable. So, in other words, I believe that no one can always be 'cocky'.
3) There's a greater force behind some of his actions…enough said.
Also, I don't like how you seem to be taking Gene and Melfina's relationship. It's almost as though you're ignoring everything that happened between them in the last three episodes of the show.
You really should explain what I'm missing. Personally, I think I'm doing a fantastic job following what the whole series stated. By the way, I did check out the Zelda fic you sent me and I loved it. Not only did I add it to my favorites list; I pulled my old N64 out of the closet, blew off the dust, and started playing Ocarina of Time again. (FYI-Arxane posted a preview of the next chapter to satisfy his fans until he can post the rest of it.)
Nice, isn't it? Made me replay my collectors' edition on the Cube again.
That reminds me: you know the latest Zelda game Windwaker? It really sucks doesn't it? It's like they took everything that made Ocarina of Time cool and threw it away. I mean, just look at the horrible character designs. They all look like a bunch of crack baby oompah-loompahs.
Well, talk with you later.
In a way, you're right. I prefer the realistic Zelda than some poorly drawn midgets with unstable legs, butts that stuck out like arrows, and big heads. BUT…you really can't complain about the story, that wasn't what I would do, but it was okay.
I'll read your fic later, probably Wednesday because you have long chapters and I have daily errands.Himiko-sama: hugs her back with affection Wow… You are so sweet to say that about me. I know that I haven't reviewed you newest chapters, but I will, I promise. Also, tell me what you think about this fic.
Lemony Snicket, who is a really good author by the way, must've been picked on when he was a kid, especially in English class. Why? His first name sounds like an adjective and his last name sounds like a noun/verb.
Act II: Revelations of the Darkness
Chapter 8: Enigmatic
Written by: The Big J, who used to be called, 'Ansem Revived'.
Chapter 8: Enigmatic
Times were now getting serene for Duuz. He would have never expected to find himself standing inside the Space Force Luxury Transport Vessel, Exposition. Why Admiral Marshall assigned Duuz with this ship was beyond him, though. From getting a massage from the therapists below decks, eating a meal of elusive gorilla meat with cocktail to wash it down, lying in an artificial rock spa with a level of pleasure that could only be rivaled with Tenrei, to being surrounded by female Queen-type saurians often made the idea ephemeral. At the moment, Duuz was on the bow of the ship, staring at a group of cadets talking merrily to each other from an overhanging platform.
Humph…look at them… still in their prime, too. They still look green, too… I would like to see their faces once they get off this luxury ship and into a battle cruiser; when they hear those sirens and have to man guns…I can imagine it now.
Duuz snickered to himself as he kept watching them. His circumspect manner got the better of him when he heard the electric door to the main corridor open behind him.
"My ship's personnel really doesn't need you staring at them through shadows," said Captain Zelate Aikenes. Duuz sighed and turned around to greet his wartime partner, which was practically on a weekly basis. 'Why is it that you never give me the respect that I, a commander, deserve from you, a captain of a ship, but yet I don't punish you?"
The orange-yellow King saurian gestured his patch on his left eye. "Because, I wasted this to save your sorry ass from those Crimson Ctarls during that time." He laughed as he rearranged his hat.
Duuz laughed also, "Even now, I can safely say that was scariest thing that I've ever seen. I still have nightmares about it…"
Zelate smirked, teeth visible, "Me too…especially", which slowly effaced to only be replaced by a face that abhorred the memory. "Buildings with corpses strewn about the walls, hanging from nooses…red eyes…bloodshed everywhere…the screams of the local women…those…those executioner like…things…with their giant knives, spears, and those pyramid-shaped helmets…"
The Commander looked at his friend, the captain, sensing his disturbed reaction. Pondering on a way to bring Zelate's mind off the horrific event, Duuz, disguising his uncertainty of making this predicament, said, "You do know that I am still grateful for what you did. If it wasn't for you, I would have been hanging upside down on that roof of that business building with a spear through my middle."
He felt satisfied after seeing Zelate smile, "Yeah…well don't mention it…really." He continued with, "Let's get off the subject. I don't even know why I brought it up."
They both fell silent, unvoiced. It wasn't long before Zelate converted back to his normal jovial self, glistening his teeth in a smile.
"So," started Zelate, "what's this so called mission you're on? What's it got to do with Earth?"
Duuz averted his eyes from the cadets, whom he could tell that they were getting uncomfortable from his staring by turning their backs at him, to the bottom floor. He didn't want to tell the captain about his findings…this was something he possibly couldn't trust anybody with.
The Galactic Leyline…James…Melfina…the tape recorder…
Those four nouns were the key to this long forgotten mystery…a mystery that Duuz himself didn't know much about.
In fact, I don't know much about it at all, thought Duuz. For all he knew, this was all something of a coincidence. Like Marshall said, 'There are many people in the universe named Melfina'.
"Hello…Duuz?"
Duuz jumped, forgetting he was in a conversation. His reaction caused Zelate to step back. "Don't scare me like that! Are you okay?"
Duuz hid the fact that, now he wanted to be alone to have more thinking time. "I'm going to my quarters," he said briefly. "I'll speak with you 0600 hours from now…"
And with that, Duuz left the platform via the door, leaving Zelate, who left also to bathe in the spa a few minutes later.
Within the confines of Starwind & Hawking, the younger co-owner laid in his bed, buried in his pillow. When he always had an internal problem, Jim would close himself up into his room and stuff his head into his pillow. He never knew why he did so, maybe it was because he was one of the few people in the universe that believed almost claustrophobic areas were good places to think freely, inner echoes bouncing off the wall…reminding you of your last idea while you think of a supporting or totally different idea (Jim believed that going into a closet was stupid and immature).
But in this case though, Jim couldn't figure out if he was in his pillow just to think or to hide his from his guilt.
It happened some time before, about a week or two ago… Jim remembered the event he tried to repudiate from his mind clearly:
Everything happened while he was sitting on the stairs, thinking to himself about the current problems the business had with the oncoming bills. When not wondering about his personal problems, but on other ones, Jim would go somewhere quiet and sit, thinking on how Gene and him are going to get out of the situation.
"The income taxes are almost here…we sure could use the money," he remembered saying those exact words. Supposedly, Aisha was having a nap in the den while everyone else was gone with business for he didn't hear her before she approached him.
She yawned, stretching her arms, "Hey Jim." Aisha walked a bit closer to him and looked up at his face. "Why are you so glum?"
Casually, he replied, "I'm just thinking about business's financial problems."
She placed her hand on the rail and out the other on her hip, grinning; she said something she had always repeated, "You really need to stop worrying about those matters. You're a kid, and already the effects are showing." Her demurs furrowed showed her concern.
Jim had forgotten how many times Aisha quoted those words. Of course, she might word the phrase differently from the last time, but it always used 'stop' or 'quit', 'matters' or 'things', and the worst, 'kid'.
Kid…this was the word that addled Jim, because it was either he knew she had truth in her words or he never really contemplated himself as a child. Which he believed was understandable, he did almost all of the maintenance in the ship and in the Starwind & Hawking building. Also, Jim rarely participated in what he called, children's play, which was what 'people' his age did instead of balancing income, taxes, and profits, helping a specific red-haired twenty-three year old with bounties.
"I'm not a kid…ugh forget it. I really don't want to get into a one-sided argument with myself again." He folded his arms behind his head, looking up at the ceiling.
Aisha must've sensed his feelings for she now walked to the opposite side of the metal rails and started to ruffle his hair through the bars. She smiled, "You really need to simmer down. Before you know it, you may be the first child in human history to have a stress-related heart attack!" Through Jim's flailing, Aisha stopped suddenly, still laughing.
"You're starting to get gray hairs!"
Jim practically jumped off the stairs to the floor, pulling his blonde hair to scrutinize. "Where?" He shouted.
Aisha walked towards the boy genius, jovially grinned, and simply said before she left to go upstairs, "I'm just joking, Jim."
When she walked upstairs to her room, he turned around at the wrong moment…
It felt like some coincidence for him just to happen to look up, like a sick joke he accidentally played on himself. Of all times…why?
Of all people…
Jim was fixated on Aisha's rear end as she proceeded up the stairs. He'd always considered her pretty, always cheerful, caring, and had a beautiful face… But now, he noticed something about her that he had never before. She had a nice body…
'Nice body!?!'
Jim now sat on the edge of his bed, mentally shouting at himself for thinking such a thing. How could he think something like that? Aisha was a woman! She wasn't a street whore that could be enticed by throwing a couple of bills at them! In fact, why did he look at her…her…
Jim got up and looked at himself in the mirror. Tear tracks went down his face that brought out the chaos of disorganized hair.
"Look at me…" he said quietly. "I'm turning into a perv. Before I know it, I'm going to be visiting brothels just to get some one-night action. Just like Gene…"
Why is this happening to me? I'm…I'm turning into a leech. I'm going to be just like Gene…
The boy refused to acquiesce to what he was becoming… Knees giving in, Jim's head remained on the dresser as he wept in his hands, the light in the room slowly changing into night, making orange and purple strips appear on his body and the wall.
Finding Gene inside a local bar proved how capricious he was; before he was here, the bounty hunter was dubious about himself, and now, he was dead drunk. Like he heard on TV on night, "Drink your sorrows away".
Gene Starwind was used to getting heavily drunk. In his past, he'd practice trying to control himself while drunk, so he'd have control over his body. He did this in secret though because his blood-alcohol level would dangerously skyrocket over the limit. Those he told, though, were probably scared of him dying of a heart attack or liver failure standing up.
Being drunk was an activity for him, something that he could do when he was stressed about something. But, anyone who drinks alcohol drinks for the same reason, right? So, after finishing his fourth bottle of Jack Daniel's mixed with vodka, the red head left, leaving the patrons of ABC's outlet confused as they saw him leave standing upright.
Save for the minor lightheadedness, Gene felt fine. In fact, he felt much better than before.
He wasn't talking to himself.
He wasn't complaining.
And best of all, he wasn't worrying about anything.
What did he have to worry about anyway? When he gets home, the woman he loves will come and greet him and his best friend would finish up his work and then share a laugh or two with him.
In fact, why was he confused anyway? He had never questioned himself like that before. He was the type of person that went with anything as it came. He had never questioned his lifestyle before either, leaving small guilt in him as he remembered what he said in his room.
I didn't mean that, he thought…I didn't mean that…
Now, Gene was walking on the sidewalk of a bridge, cars speeding past him with their trailing red and white lights. As he walked, the air around him became warm, his chest starting to sweat inside his shirt and coat. He removed his cape and jacket and tucked them under his arm, leaving him with his black undershirt, suspenders, and black trousers. Wearing all black all the time starting to get to me, he thought.
The air was a now humid; sweat dripping off his brow.
"What the hell's going on here?" He said aloud. "Is this a weather snap or something? Why would it happen in the night?" He looked up at the night sky, wondering why did it feel like June during midnight.
I…
I am…
I am here...
Swiftly, Gene turned around to shout, "Who said that?!" No one was behind him.
He peered into the night to only see nobody, the lights of the cars lit up the areas of the bridge, proving that no one was on the sidewalks other than him.
The…
The shell…
The shell that…
The shell that I…
The shell that I am…
The shell that I am is…
The shell that I am is now…
The shell that I am is now satisfied…
"Who's there?" Shouted Gene. It was obvious that this individual was a stalker, and Gene was his quarry. Even though he had no weapons, Gene planned on making this individual his quarry.
As if on queue, across the street, there was a figure. Gene had to squint to the person, using the light from the bypassing cars.
The figure wore a slick, black raincoat; its hood shrouded his face completely. The zipper on the coat was all the way up to the collar, the second zipper was at his midsection, leaving the bottom half of the coat open, barely exposing his shadowed legs. Gene noticed that there wasn't a spot of exposed skin on the man, regardless of how hot it was; the man even wore black gloves and matching boots.
The coated man was facing Gene.
"Hey!" Yelled Gene to the man across the street, "What do you want?" Gene placed his cape and coat down on the concrete just to be ready…
I…
I am…
I am here…
I am here to…
I am here to make…
I am here to make things…
I am here to make things right…
Gene nearly fell over in shock as he realized that the man wasn't speaking at all! He seemed to have thought the man said those words…the words were appearing in his mind. Gene regained his composure and braced himself and said, "If you want to 'make things right', then try to." Gene's hands balled up into fists as he kept his eyes on the dark man.
Do…
Do not…
Do not worry…
Do not worry, I…
Do not worry, I will…
The man outstretched his right arm, hand open, the air getting humid.
Then it happened…the arm started to glow yellowish-orange, pulsating through the arm; the palm it self started to glow more brilliantly along with the arm. Gene didn't stare in awe as he witnessed this; it was magic he was used to. He was the man who defeated the Kei pirates; he could stand up to anything.
This magic, however, wasn't being thrown. Instead…it seemed to channel into his gloved palm. The energy started to inundate his arm. The man started to talk again.
Watch…
Watch and…
Watch and learn…
A gold beam shot out of his hand, making the air even warmer. The flash from it made Gene cover his eyes. Purplish-blue streaks pierced his eyes as he turned away from the glowing man, leaning over the bridge to ease his eyes. Even though he could see only darkness in the water, Gene's eyes started to relieve.
…Over here…
With his eyes a bit comfortable, Gene turned back around to see the coated man.
His face took on confusion as he saw the man, who was now holding a sword, a radiant one in fact. Through the darkness, the blade glowed with its white, inlaid diamonds and bullion blade. Gene couldn't really catch the hilt because of the gloved hand that held it, making look somewhat incomplete. A car passed by as Gene figured out what this mystery man wanted.
"So, it's a fight you want, huh?" He gestured for the man to come to him, "Come to this side of the road, then. In fact, say something!"
The man placed his left hand on the hilt and gripped it tightly.
…Remember…
Gene braced himself as the man darted towards him, the sounds of his footsteps increasing in volume as he neared.
'Okay, he's running to me. All I have to do is to give him a good sucker punch to the jaw and I've got a hopeful bounty, if not, I'll just pawn that fancy sword of his!'
The man was a couple of feet away when Gene brought his fist back.
"How do you like this?!" Gene swung at the man, using his whole body…
The air was now stale as Gene…passed right through the man…black smoke covered him as the two beings raced through each other…
"…The fuck…" said Gene as he stumbled through the man, landing on his back. He raised himself up just in time to see the man…to see the man catapult himself off of the bridge…
No splash…
Gene got up and ran to the railing, his reflection in the water showing his abashed face. "Who was that?"
He stood there searching for the enigmatic man for quite a while, only seeing his reflection. Before he left to go back home, he said quietly to himself, "I must be more drunk than I thought I was…"
There, done with it! Well, us gamers have had a great week haven't we? With E3 and all, we can expect a lot of sequels. I'm especially looking forward to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and the two new Kingdom Hearts games as well. Also, I'm looking forward to that new Zelda game. THIS IS HOW LINK IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE!!! For all you people who want to know a little about E3, go to gamespot.com for the details. One more thing, and this is for Ronin, what do you think about that new Zelda game with the new graphics coming out soon?
Sneak preview: Harry's on Heiphong finally, and is hell-bent on killing Gene, Melfina and all of the people who have 'wronged him'. Thomas will also make an appearance in the next chapter, too. The Hellraisers will also be in it, and one of the crew experiences something that can only be compared to Gene's experience with that enigmatic man. Speaking of that guy, who is he? Any one who figures it out and sends me an email with his name gets bonus points :), I believe that I practically gave you his identity!
The Big J