Land of Pyramids and Neon – Alpha Session – Two Weeks After Jane's Entry
Two figures picked their way through the barren landscape; treading awkwardly over the sandy ground. They were a boy and a girl, both 16 years old and compatriots of Jane Crocker. The boy wore off-green cargo pants and a white tank-top, with a pair of decidedly triangular shades covering his eyes. The girl wore a rather fashionable-looking lab coat, her eyes uncovered but her hair cut short and styled so that it flared up at the ends. They were an odd pair in an even odder place, but then what else was new?
Their names were Dirk Strider and Roxy Lalonde and after two weeks they were still getting a handle on The Medium.
They weren't strangers to hardship and danger; and unlike their compatriots that'd had at least some idea of what they were getting themselves into, but apparently even those expectations were proving to be useless in the face of reality. The whole place was empty, like dead empty. It seemed at times that the four of them had the whole solar system's worth of planets to themselves. Even though they knew that wasn't really the case.
The relative reprieve from danger, sans the hectic first day of death, was alien to Roxy and Dirk. They'd been waiting for this moment for most of their lives and now that it had come it seemed to be an unflattering disappointment.
Luckily for them, the one normal member of their group had come through for them despite the abnormal situation. With the slight tinge of danger proving a prime motivator for Jane despite how quaint this all seemed to the rest of them. She had been a frenzy of activity since that first day. Scrambling to figure out who, and why, and how this was all happening to them, and with no preconceived notions of what was supposed to have happened.
Out of all of them, she was the one who had thrown themself into it headfirst. Trying to find a goal to work towards. And find one she had. While all four planets available for them to explore were lifeless, it was actually a disservice to call them empty. Each planet had its own set of wide-reaching ruins, featured prominently in its own name. Crypts and Helium, Pyramids and Neon, Mounds and Xenon, and Tombs and Krypton. And it was in these ruins that Jane had found for them their quest.
The ruins were (mostly) filled with the dithering writings of the planet's former inhabitants. But in between the drivel was a pattern. A reference to a series of steps that would need to be undertaken in order to… well, they were still figuring that part out. Jane had sent them high and low in pursuit of this mystery and its clues, and it seemed that today was when they would finally bear fruit. Armed with a map they'd found, Jane had sent the two of them to the Land of Pyramids and Neon, or LOPAN, to go retrieve what was promising to be an important artifact. Jane and Jake meanwhile, were off to go peruse some more ruins to find clues for the next leg of their journey.
Dirk still wasn't quite into it. Never able to follow the leaps of logic and intuition when Jane presented "the facts" to him. But then he wasn't the amateur sleuth extraordinaire now was he. Roxy meanwhile, tended to just humor their friend by pretending to follow the logic. Though they both believed she was onto something even if they didn't understand what it was.
Finally coming up to the base of the pyramid shown on the map, they stopped and Roxy looked up from the parchment. A solid slab of stone blocked the only entrance. Dirk scanned the horizon, taking in all the other pyramids dotted around the landscape. "And we're sure this is the right one?" He asked.
She put the map away and accessed her Strife-Deck. Pulling out a large and futuristic-looking rifle. "Pretty sure." She replied, as she adjusted some knobs on the side of the weapon. Seemingly satisfied with the adjustments she shouldered the gun and sighted the doorway in the center of the scope, pulling the trigger and unleashing a powerful energy beam from the muzzle. The stone door blew apart in a hail of fragments and dust.
The entry ahead clear but dark, they took out the lanterns they'd brought with them and continued on inside. Dirk now leading the way. The passageway on the other side was narrow and sloped steeply downwards, sending them deep underground. They descended in silence. Making sure to keep their wits about them and staying alert for any looming danger. But nothing happened.
After a minute of walking, they finally reached the bottom of the ramp and the passageway leveled out. In the hallway beyond the ceiling shot up to extend high above their heads, so high that the light from their lanterns failed to illuminate the top.
After only a few steps Dirk raised his hand in a signal to stop, drawing a sword from his Strife-Deck while Roxy belatedly set her gun to a lower output.
Quick as lightning, Dirk darted forwards in a roll, dodging just in time as two forms dropped down from the unseen ceiling above; landing right where he'd stood. They were skeletons, the bones appearing turtle-like despite their upright form. Consort Skeletons.
The first rushed at Dirk, making a grab at him with its right arm, only to have the appendage sliced off at the elbow by Dirk's sword. Unfazed, the skeleton drew back with its left arm and then slammed its remaining fist into Dirk's face, causing him to stumble back, his face stinging with pain from the impact. The Consort charged at him for a follow-up attack but Dirk sped up to a blur, appearing abruptly behind the creature as it stared vacantly at where he'd just stood. Still in speed, Dirk brought his sword down in a vicious arc that bisected the Consort from skull to spine, the skeleton's remains no longer animate.
The second meanwhile charged at Roxy, who scampered backwards back up the ramp to get some distance, tripping and falling on her butt in her haste. The Consort came at her crouched low and with its arms cast wide. But before it could reach her, she blasted it in the skull repeatedly. The fifth shot causing it the sag to the ground and collapse, now lifeless.
Dirk made his way over to Roxy, taking her hand and helping her to her feet. The two of them looked down the shadowy corridor dubiously, Dirk rubbing the stubble on his chin in thought. He pointed at the ceiling with his sword. "You wanna…" he said, trailing off.
Roxy was already bringing her gun to bear. Replying with a simple "Yea…". With the plan in place Dirk assumed a ready position in front of her. Sword held high.
Shots flashed forth from Roxy's gun, disappearing into the shadowy ceiling above as she peppered the ceiling down the length of the corridor. Most of the sots sounded like they hit stone, but a several of them made the telltale hollow sound of impact against a Consort. Moments later a series of dull thuds sounded down the corridor as the aggravated Consorts dropped down from the ceiling to begin their attack. Hollow footsteps echoed towards the kids at the skeleton's approach. Within seconds the Consorts came charging into view.
Not bothering with finesse this time around, Dirk put on another burst of speed. Rushing through their ranks and beheading all of them in one go.
As he stood there panting at the end of his run, he looked back at Roxy. His face inscrutable from behind his shades. "Looks like you were right on the money. This is definitely the place." He absentmindedly touched his hand to were he was struck earlier. Winching at the pain. That was going to turn into a big bruise later.
The danger now past, they continued walking down the corridor unopposed. Colorful stone reliefs covering the side walls, the images warped in the swaying light of the lanterns. Or maybe the artists had just been terrible at their job. Roxy spoke up then. "Do you thank Janey and Jake are having an easier time? I mean, if we had to deal with this…" She shuddered.
Dirk grunted noncommittally as the end of the corridor came into sight. "I'm sure they're fine. They're just looking at some open-air ruins; this is definitely the tougher of the two jobs. Besides, that have Lil' Sab with them. Nothing can touch 'em."
The two of them drew up to yet another stone door. This one however, rather than being a featureless slab, had a complex puzzle mechanism carved into the stone. Presumably used to open it. Dirk ran his hand over it, peering at it through his shades as the lantern light flickered on the walls. After two minutes he took his shades off and rubbed his eyes. "We've got nothing. And this lantern light's giving me a headache. Let's just blow it."
"Alright…" she said as he moved back behind her and plugged his ears. She raised the setting on her gun once again then took aim. She fired, obliterating the second door and throwing up a thick cloud of dust that they both started coughing on.
As the air cleared Roxy was the first to hop though the rubble and into the chamber beyond. The ceiling was low again and the chamber was scarcely the size of a living room. The walls and floor were bare, save for a small stone pedestal in the center of the room. A key sat on it, the pedestal's neat inscription labeling it as "The Key to Echidna". Whatever Echidna was.
Dirk walked slowly into the room as Roxy traipsed up to the Key. She maneuvered around it, taking in its size and probable weight before hurrying back to the door rubble and selecting an appropriately-sized piece of stone. Going back over to the pedestal as Dirk watched her, she hovered one hand over the key as another held the stone over the pedestal. Then in one quick movement, she swiped the key off the pedestal and replaced its weight with the stone.
"Did you need to do that?" Asked Dirk.
"Probably not." She responded. "But it was fun. Hm… That was easier than I'd thought it would be."
Suddenly the sound of breaking masonry could be heard behind then and they whirled back around to look back into the corridor. The decorative panels of the corridor exploded into fine chips as dozens of Consort Skeletons punched their way through the side walls. Apparently the walls had been hollow. Dirk shot Roxy an accusing look for her "too easy" remark. With her responding with a chagrined expression. Then they readied themselves and then charged forwards, beginning a running fight to the entrance.
Pyramid Entrance – The Same Time
The Arch-Agents known as Diamonds and Clubs waited impatiently for the kids to come back out of the temple. They were Carapacians, alien bug-men. The task given to them by The Queen of Derse was simple; follow the kids, let them retrieve the artifact, then take the prize from them. Easy-peasy. Like taking candy from babies. Except the waiting was becoming tedious, and Diamonds was eager for a rematch.
He's almost killed all four of the kids in one swoop that first day. But he'd failed. He fingered the ring he wore on his left hand, the Queen's ring, lent to him for the power it wielded. That first time he'd let loose too much, almost destroyed Derse itself. He wouldn't make that same mistake again. The Queen had been abundantly clear that this was his one extra chance, and that better be sure to throttle the ring's power.
He looked over at his backup, the only other remaining Arch-Agent. Clubs. A short little guy in a pinstripe suit. It was just the two of them now. Big-old Hearts had died on the first day, and word had it that Jack Spades had gotten caught on Prospit and thrown in the slammer; so they're numbers were thin. Luckily Clubs had been equipped just as well as Diamonds was for this mission. Having possession of the King's scepter with its magic portal on top, the thing almost as tall as he was. The two of them with their respective items should be sufficient overkill for the mission at hand. Definitely able to handle a pair of snot-nosed kids… speaking of which.
A loud ruckus began echoing out from the blow-open entrance; then suddenly the two kids came barreling out, something straight on their heels. The girl aimed high and took a shot at the doorway, collapsing it down and trapping whatever had been chasing them. Then they noticed the Agents and turned to face them.
Diamonds stuck his hands in his pockets, extruding confidence as he strode forwards. Clubs doing his best to look menacing, hefting the Scepter like a bat. Ding his best to look unfazed by the heavily armed Humans, Diamonds delivered the ultimatum "End of the line kids. You and the key are coming with us. The Queen would have some words with you."
The two kids looked at each other. Then back to him. The girl took aim at Diamonds before replying with "uh, no?" and firing a shot at him.
Luckily his trust in Clubs had not been misplaced, the little guy scampering forwards on his tiny bug legs and blocking the bolt with the portal on top of the Scepter.
With that the fight was on, Diamonds whipped out his ring-hand from his pocket, launching the tendrils of the Red-Miles as soon as it was clear. The boy and girl flinging themselves to the side to avoid being skewered.
The boy, Dirk, started circling Diamonds in a strafe. While Roxy fired wildly in an attempt to put the Agents on the defensive.
Dirk closed the distance, clearly intent on denying Diamonds the advantage of range. But he hadn't counted on Diamonds having another trick up his sleeve, as the Arch-Agent whipped his own sword out of a Strife-Deck just in time to parry the blow. The two of them traded strikes, etching out a deadly dance of flashing steel.
Meanwhile Clubs closed with Roxy and started swinging wildly with his makeshift bludgeon. Forced onto her backfoot once again, she ducked and weaved, avoiding the hits but unable to get a clear shot with her gun in the close quarters. Giving up on the weapon, she quickly stashed it back into her Strife-Deck, switching to her bare fists instead. She lashed out with a right hook, slugging Clubs a little high and hitting him in the forehead. He stumbled back in an attempt regain his wits. Seeing the way forwards, Roxy raised her dukes and moved in, pressing the advantage while she had it.
The sword duel continued on with increased ferocity, the bout going nowhere on sword-skill alone. Another shot of the Miles sent Dirk racing to the side in a dodge, barely clearing the attack.
Dirk tried circling around again, searched for an opening. Looking for something, anything, he could do to shift the balance. Then he tensed as a long shot of an opportunity presenting itself in his mind. He readied himself, the Agent doing likewise; then with all his might, Dirk whipped around and threw his sword towards Diamonds. The blade spinning through the air, a sickle of death.
But then, with contemptuous ease, Diamonds stepped to the side. Letting the blade sail past him. He stared down Dirk. Almost disappointed that his opponent had made such an amateur mistake like throwing his sword at an enemy. "Pathetic, kid." He started to say, until he heard the squelch of impalement from behind him.
He glanced over his shoulder, catching a glimpse of Club's limp corpse sliding to the ground with Roxy looking on in shocked surprise; Dirk's sword lodged in the Agent's abdomen. It was now two-on-one, advantage teens. But just slightly.
Diamonds spun to the side, flicking his gaze between his two opponents. He swore at the death of his partner. "Aw fudge.". Even if everything else went smoothly she was going to be pissed to be down yet another Arch-Agent.
The girl pulled her gun back out and started firing. Diamonds blocking the shots using the flat of his sword. The girl's gun jammed, ran out of energy, whatever, and he raised his ring hand. The lineup perfect to strike her with the Miles.
Just before he launched it, Dirk slammed into him from behind. Skewing his aim and giving the girl only a grazing cut. The two of them struggled on the ground, vying for control. Diamond's sword lost in the tussle. Despite the ferocity of his attack, despite his experience. Dirk started to get overwhelmed by the adult Diamonds.
The older man loomed over top of him, ring hand inching closer and closer to Dirk's face despite his best efforts to hold it back. Another few moments and the Agent would have a clear shot. "Game over kid." He said, before jerking suddenly, shock and surprise in his eyes. Then he went limp. Warm alien blood began dripping on Dirk as he lay there confused, until Roxy hauled the thug off of him and he saw his sword sticking out of the corpse's back.
Rising shakily to his feet, Dirk appraised his friend with a newfound appreciation as she pried his sword out of the gangster's body. "I didn't know you could use swords."
"It's not that hard." She said, a sarcastic ditzy tone slipping into her voice. "You just put the sharp end into the bad guy. Duh."
Dirk chuckled at that. Then he took another look at the alien corpses and the blood staining his shirt. The color drained from his face as he doubled over and heaved on the ground. The long day catching up to him.