Xander's Glory 4: Trek across Quor'Toth II
Summary: Answer to Djhardim's idea that Xander dress up as a certain medical student, and all that meant
Crossover: None right now…
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The Next Morning
Xander and Glory sheepishly exited a tent, adjusting hair and putting clothes in their proper places. Fred smiled at the two, having become more adjusted to humans again over the last two months, and feeling a particular closeness to the two humans and Hyena that had rescued her after two years in Pylea.
Fred and Annie glanced at each other, and while not able to converse, exchanged amusement as the two demigods feigned innocence until Hyena cackled and Fred snickered, then laughed hysterically as they blushed. Fred laughed too much, but it let go the remaining tension and stress about Pylea. Alexander and his 'Glow Worm' weren't allowed to blame it on the strong drink.
Two more days passed, and they headed out as usual, only an hour later coming across what appeared to be a slave caravan, a mixed band of worn-down spiky demons herding half human half-Brachens to a city forty more leagues away. Xander and Groo negotiated joining the caravan, trading extra protection for accompaniment. The caravan leader and his men had started out with twice their numbers, but raiders and bugs had reduced his effectives to three actual slavers, and their servants now dressed as guards. The group as they traveled deeper into Hive territory, and they milked the leader for every bit of lore and knowledge of these lands, until as they reached a point where they were about to part ways, a small bug attack cleaved off the leader's head, and took two of the slavers with it as they grappled. The Pack leapt forward, hacking and slaying until the bugs, too small for transport, were eliminated or driven off.
"Well," Xander said, turning to the last slaver, "Here's what's going to happen. You guys take your personal stuff and the leader's cart, and leave. Report how you were worn down, and finally you were all that's left. We're freeing the slaves and will take them with us to a friendlier world." He rested his hands on a sword, looked at his fellow humans, then back at the spiky demons. The new leader nodded, and within a few minutes were gone.
The Brachen-Humans were what was left of a tribe, maybe a hundred or so in all, and were happy at the chance to leave what was not their native plane. They were happy with the situation, and suddenly their pace nearly tripled to Xander's delight.
The new additions went about stripping wood for spears, and carapaces as armor and shield, which within days suddenly caused predators and bugs to look elsewhere for food.
A week more, and they found a Hive of odd, centipede-looking bugs, and Glory prepared a spell in case they found a particularly large bug or bugs, using personal items to locate and emphasize an 'Earth' connection.
They drew close to a stream, and Xander noticed what seemed to have been described to him as one of the best options fighting off two other bugs. Glory prepared the spell as the group created a big circle and wrote into the ground special symbols as Glory called forth some power and sought to get them 'home.'
At the key moment, as the other two bugs were dead, Xander hurled his spear into the bug, as did others at key points around the circle. The giant blue scorpion froze for a second, then as harpoons were striking, jumped, taking the group with it, entwining them in their own ropes…but it had been heading not to, but from, Earth… and with a crash they landed across the main deck of an oared warship of ugly men and creatures wearing armor and badges in green.
Xander looked up at the Opaz light cast by the green and red sun above…and drew his sword as the 'locals' began to angrily recover.
"For crying out loud," he cursed, "Attack!"
The Blue Scorpion disappeared, the surprise of the newcomers from thin air proving too much of a shock for those on the very large war galley.
Annie leapt up at the large knot of yellowish and tusked 'humanoids' quickly moving against the children of the pack, as Alexander jumped to her left and Glory to the right. Annie bit the first of what they learned were Chuliks, ripping out its throat as her claws slashed him and his nearest comrade. Alexander used a sword to stab one in the throat before kicking another in its knee to buy some time for the pack to rally as Glory used her spear to stab one enemy in the face and smack the other in the throat with the iron-capped butt.
The pack rallied, and the greens were overcome, the fight ending when a less-barbarically dressed man stepped forward after pushing a fighter overboard.
"Hail, I'm Alex Hunter," he said in English, offering his hand to shake. Xander took it.
"I guess from your different reaction," Alexander smiled, "you've seen people portal in from other places before?"
"Yeas, but usually I'm the one who portals. Might I make a suggestion or two, as you being here is a surprise we wish to take advantage of?"
"Alright…"
"All aboard are of the Krozair cities, mostly of Zy, and it would be a good idea to free them."
"Already planned to do that in exchange for getting us to a safe port, so the other?"
"You just took out the Admiral's ship in the middle of his fleet as the sun's coming up and a Krozair fleet approaches. You might want to free them and attack the ships next to you before they sink you."
"Could you pass the word, Glo? I'm going to talk to Mr. Hunter some more. Sir, do you know of any way back to Earth? It was our destination, but apparently we went in the wrong direction."
"I have several large assignments, but if you help me, then from the City of Aphrasoe in the Dawn Lands, we can probably get you back. Fair enough?"
"I'd take him up on his offer, friend," a large but unthreatening man in a scarlet breechclout suggested, then turned to him, "Alex Hunter, maybe this time we'll have time to talk, even as we fight. I am Dray Prescott, at your service,"
"Alexander Harris, of America on Earth, and it looks like battle is about to engage."