Oh yes, I finally updated. Yes, more lagging in updating. It's 'cause I
don't have this all typed up yet. You see, I write it all in a little
notebook, then copy it down here. A waste of time, yes, but I
just...can't...write in front of the computer. Too many distractions. =P With
that bit of uselessness out of the way, to the reviews! God, I love getting
reviews from you guys. ^_^
S.I.C: *tackleglomphug* Hello! *hums the facts of life theme song* Yes, it's amazing. It's all FC's fault for me being so slow to update. I've been spending more time there than when I should be typing. X3 Ah well. HEY EVERYONE GO LOOK AT SILVER_CHARM'S ART! Or should I call you S.I.C? Hmm...^^
Snowy Fox/ Ottsel of the Ages/ Tusume: Thank you guys so much! ^^ I love getting your reviews, especially all y'all multiple reviewers! :D
Krin: I think I said in the prologue when this took place...*rushes off to check* But in this chapter, it'll be made clear a li'l more when it is. I felt like adding Jak 'n' Dax since I felt like I was neglecting them. *patpat* Oh well, they're gonna stay kinda neglected until later in the story. This is about Vinnie, after all. ^__^
Ok...go ahead and read the chapter now. I made it a little longer(I think o.O;) so enjoy. Yes, we're starting to move in the plot a little more...*kicks the plot* ____________________
A pair of dark, hunched figures slunk along the wall of a dilapidated building. They were silent as a whisper of death, except for the long, heaving breaths each took in intervals. The creatures were slate blue, at least, that was the color of their splotchy skin. The metal plates that layered most of their bodies were a rusted gray. Their upper bodies were much larger in comparison to the rest of them, giving them an awkward appearance. For this reason, these metal heads had resigned to traveling on all four plated paws. This, though, added to their stealth.
It was early morning, but as always, that didn't stop the citizens of Haven. People clotted the sidewalks, but few enough so that not even the most observant ones noticed the two dark shapes slinking in the shadows. They walked side-by-side, and the outer one's cold yellow eyes began to look hungrily at passersby. It's tooth-lined mouth opened a little wider with each passing person. This the inner Grunt noticed, and growled a low warning to it's partner.
They weren't geniuses of their kind, but remembered their master's bidding—scout, no more. Kor didn't want a stir until the time was right. The creature tore its gaze away from the large man it was eyeing, and snarled, but obeyed. The sun was inching its way timidly higher into the gray, smoky sky. It would soon be light enough for anyone with eyes to see the pair of metal heads. Realizing this, they paced a little quicker, careful not to let their shoulder armor scrape against a wall.
Then, they saw it. Well, the outer one did, and nudged the other to look that way as well. Along the wall, across the busy street, another dark shape was stirring. It flitted in and out of the shadows, pausing briefly enough to let its slitted eyes shine a moment, before it skittered out of sight once more. The Grunts' lopsided faces became even more so as their jaws opened with apparent glee, revealing neat rows of razor-sharp teeth inside.
The sighting of another metal head meant that Haven had been infiltrated...maybe the citizens weren't aware of it yet, maybe even Praxis wasn't. But the truth was settled, and the Grunts knew one thing: their "scouting" was done. They could now wreak the havoc their sick little minds craved.
One metal head's pupiless eyes moved from potential victim to potential victim, and the cold gaze landed on a nervous-looking man, walking quickly down the street. The Hora-Quan could smell fear, and this Grunt was no exception. The hunched creature could tell this man was frightened, and why, the brainless thing didn't really care. It nudged its hunting partner, and the par's eyes followed the man as he reached a door in the upper walkways, paushed a moment, then slid inside, doors shutting behind him.
The other metal head couldn't help but scrape his paw along the ground with eagerness—he had unknowingly trapped himself in the metal room. Both monster's pace quickened, as they continued towards the door they had seen Vin enter. Both were howling softly with yearning bloodlust. This would be easy.
___
Vin continued his hurried jog down the very populated streets, careful not to accidentally bump into anyone. If he did, they might get angry, and might have friends, in the Krimzon Guard, and might—his went a little faster, before he could issue any more 'mights'. He strode up the slanted walkways, which led to the higher level, fifteen feet or so above the pavement. He greatly disliked the higher level, and made certain to stay in the dead center of the road. A little in the way, yes, but better than to trip and fall to his death. As he brushed past a few Havenites(or the other way around, really) he caught sight of his laboratory. 'Finally', he thought wearily, still a little uptight from the alarm clock ordeal, 'Now I can get to the controls...'
Vin was positive the system would be alright, as he entered the metal chamber. After all, he had to mess up firtst for the city to die, right? At this thought, he reached the well-inforced doors. It was held together with a jumble of locks and switches, all located in the mechanics inside the door. Without the code, it was virtually indestructible.
Luckily, the scientist knew his lab's security code, of course, one of the few who did. Taking a cautious glance around, he submitted the overly-long code, and waited a few seconds. There was a clunking and switching sound of locks being opened, and the two sections of the door slid easily apart. Vin gave one last look around, the sidewalk still busy with the hustle and bustle of Havenites, as usual, and no one seemed to notice the skinny man slip into the crevice in the large steel wall. Upon entering, the door's laser sight caught the passing of Vin's shoes, and registered with a click, sliding the door halves into junction with one another once more.
Vin knew the lab was self-locking, a feature he had installed himself. Vin's gaze landed on his wrist, where the complex neon-lighted watch glowed solemnly. He was relieved to see that he was a mere hour late. One hour wouldn't count for much in the long run, or so he hoped.
He started to turn, to face the machinery that needed him, when he froze. His brain tried to register something odd and out of place. His arm...what had that been on his arm? He looked back, seeing the faint blue glow of his watch. But there was another color mingled with it...red. Red, where had that been from? He stared at his limb disbelievingly, before whipping around. The little circular light, connected to the top of one computer, that had always glowed a faint green, was now red. He didn't know why at first, still in the sort of calm he had been in that morning (or as calm as Vin got). But when he remembered, what it meant, he took a shaky breath and stepped back from it as though in fear. The shield walls were down.
____________________
Whee. Another chapter done, finally. Sorry for the sucky place to cut off, I was gonna make it shorter, but I decided I'd get a little more into the whole lab scene...thing....yeah...I love reviews! ^_^ Duh.
S.I.C: *tackleglomphug* Hello! *hums the facts of life theme song* Yes, it's amazing. It's all FC's fault for me being so slow to update. I've been spending more time there than when I should be typing. X3 Ah well. HEY EVERYONE GO LOOK AT SILVER_CHARM'S ART! Or should I call you S.I.C? Hmm...^^
Snowy Fox/ Ottsel of the Ages/ Tusume: Thank you guys so much! ^^ I love getting your reviews, especially all y'all multiple reviewers! :D
Krin: I think I said in the prologue when this took place...*rushes off to check* But in this chapter, it'll be made clear a li'l more when it is. I felt like adding Jak 'n' Dax since I felt like I was neglecting them. *patpat* Oh well, they're gonna stay kinda neglected until later in the story. This is about Vinnie, after all. ^__^
Ok...go ahead and read the chapter now. I made it a little longer(I think o.O;) so enjoy. Yes, we're starting to move in the plot a little more...*kicks the plot* ____________________
A pair of dark, hunched figures slunk along the wall of a dilapidated building. They were silent as a whisper of death, except for the long, heaving breaths each took in intervals. The creatures were slate blue, at least, that was the color of their splotchy skin. The metal plates that layered most of their bodies were a rusted gray. Their upper bodies were much larger in comparison to the rest of them, giving them an awkward appearance. For this reason, these metal heads had resigned to traveling on all four plated paws. This, though, added to their stealth.
It was early morning, but as always, that didn't stop the citizens of Haven. People clotted the sidewalks, but few enough so that not even the most observant ones noticed the two dark shapes slinking in the shadows. They walked side-by-side, and the outer one's cold yellow eyes began to look hungrily at passersby. It's tooth-lined mouth opened a little wider with each passing person. This the inner Grunt noticed, and growled a low warning to it's partner.
They weren't geniuses of their kind, but remembered their master's bidding—scout, no more. Kor didn't want a stir until the time was right. The creature tore its gaze away from the large man it was eyeing, and snarled, but obeyed. The sun was inching its way timidly higher into the gray, smoky sky. It would soon be light enough for anyone with eyes to see the pair of metal heads. Realizing this, they paced a little quicker, careful not to let their shoulder armor scrape against a wall.
Then, they saw it. Well, the outer one did, and nudged the other to look that way as well. Along the wall, across the busy street, another dark shape was stirring. It flitted in and out of the shadows, pausing briefly enough to let its slitted eyes shine a moment, before it skittered out of sight once more. The Grunts' lopsided faces became even more so as their jaws opened with apparent glee, revealing neat rows of razor-sharp teeth inside.
The sighting of another metal head meant that Haven had been infiltrated...maybe the citizens weren't aware of it yet, maybe even Praxis wasn't. But the truth was settled, and the Grunts knew one thing: their "scouting" was done. They could now wreak the havoc their sick little minds craved.
One metal head's pupiless eyes moved from potential victim to potential victim, and the cold gaze landed on a nervous-looking man, walking quickly down the street. The Hora-Quan could smell fear, and this Grunt was no exception. The hunched creature could tell this man was frightened, and why, the brainless thing didn't really care. It nudged its hunting partner, and the par's eyes followed the man as he reached a door in the upper walkways, paushed a moment, then slid inside, doors shutting behind him.
The other metal head couldn't help but scrape his paw along the ground with eagerness—he had unknowingly trapped himself in the metal room. Both monster's pace quickened, as they continued towards the door they had seen Vin enter. Both were howling softly with yearning bloodlust. This would be easy.
___
Vin continued his hurried jog down the very populated streets, careful not to accidentally bump into anyone. If he did, they might get angry, and might have friends, in the Krimzon Guard, and might—his went a little faster, before he could issue any more 'mights'. He strode up the slanted walkways, which led to the higher level, fifteen feet or so above the pavement. He greatly disliked the higher level, and made certain to stay in the dead center of the road. A little in the way, yes, but better than to trip and fall to his death. As he brushed past a few Havenites(or the other way around, really) he caught sight of his laboratory. 'Finally', he thought wearily, still a little uptight from the alarm clock ordeal, 'Now I can get to the controls...'
Vin was positive the system would be alright, as he entered the metal chamber. After all, he had to mess up firtst for the city to die, right? At this thought, he reached the well-inforced doors. It was held together with a jumble of locks and switches, all located in the mechanics inside the door. Without the code, it was virtually indestructible.
Luckily, the scientist knew his lab's security code, of course, one of the few who did. Taking a cautious glance around, he submitted the overly-long code, and waited a few seconds. There was a clunking and switching sound of locks being opened, and the two sections of the door slid easily apart. Vin gave one last look around, the sidewalk still busy with the hustle and bustle of Havenites, as usual, and no one seemed to notice the skinny man slip into the crevice in the large steel wall. Upon entering, the door's laser sight caught the passing of Vin's shoes, and registered with a click, sliding the door halves into junction with one another once more.
Vin knew the lab was self-locking, a feature he had installed himself. Vin's gaze landed on his wrist, where the complex neon-lighted watch glowed solemnly. He was relieved to see that he was a mere hour late. One hour wouldn't count for much in the long run, or so he hoped.
He started to turn, to face the machinery that needed him, when he froze. His brain tried to register something odd and out of place. His arm...what had that been on his arm? He looked back, seeing the faint blue glow of his watch. But there was another color mingled with it...red. Red, where had that been from? He stared at his limb disbelievingly, before whipping around. The little circular light, connected to the top of one computer, that had always glowed a faint green, was now red. He didn't know why at first, still in the sort of calm he had been in that morning (or as calm as Vin got). But when he remembered, what it meant, he took a shaky breath and stepped back from it as though in fear. The shield walls were down.
____________________
Whee. Another chapter done, finally. Sorry for the sucky place to cut off, I was gonna make it shorter, but I decided I'd get a little more into the whole lab scene...thing....yeah...I love reviews! ^_^ Duh.