Chapter 13: The Queen and her Guards
Location: The Deadlands, en route to Anvil Gate, on the planet Sera Timeline: 16 A.E.
After that whole experience with those damn Corpsers, we ran to the lift to escape the cave's collapsing.
I began, "That was too close for my liking."
Dom responded, "Yeah, now let's hope that barge is still around!" then he pulled the lever.
Then as the lift raises up, I looked towards Ruby as she checks on the Corpser hatchling that is still in her backpack.
I asked her, "Are you really going to keep... uh, I don't know if it's a he or a she."
Ruby nodded and answered, "Yep!"
Baird responded, "Are you serious?!"
Ruby nodded and then said, "I think I should call him... Cuddles!"
We all looked at her as she announced the name.
I parroted, "Cuddles?"
Ruby repeated, "Cuddles!"
The Corpser Hatchling made a soft screech as if it likes the name.
We all shrugged and then we finally arrived on the surface and saw a bunch of barges. Then as we started to walk, we stopped when a barge flew overhead.
Cole began, "Whoa, yeah! We got plenty of gasbags now! Choose any model you like!"
Just then, a giant beetle-like bug showed up out of nowhere and faced us.
Then it revealed a person that is riding on it is... human? A female, no less.
Then after a somewhat brief moment of silence, the woman shouted to the two other Locust on flying creatures, "It's him. Alert the fleet. I want every outpost between here and Azura at full readiness. And make sure we don't lose him again."
After that, Dom then commented, "Goddamn it, she's still alive! How the hell did she survive the flood?"
Me and Ruby were confused at this point, along with Ralphie. I asked Baird, "Is she the queen?"
Baird replied, "Yes, she is."
Then Marcus said, "So... She's still runnin' the show."
Then Cole shouted, "Holy shit! Look at the size of that bug!"
Then Marcus responded, "I got your number, bitch."
Then the Queen waved her arm and the insect, that she was riding, roared as it opened up something on it's back and released these weird orangish things as they started to go towards us.
Then the Locust Giant Beetle flew off, leaving us, and more Locust started to show up.
Then Marcus yelled, "Just light 'em up and get moving before we lose the barges! That's why we're here!"
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After that whole fighting, and picking up something called a Torque Bow, which is like a bow 'n' arrow, but gun form, we finally made it to the gate to the tower.
Marcus finally said, "Okay, we're clear. Let's get to the tower."
I responded, "Yes, let us do that."
Then we approached the tower and I opened up the gate for them.
After we went through, Dom says, "Marcus, it figures the queen would be behind all of this."
Marcus replies, "Yeah, it's her we're gonna have to deal with. One way or another."
Then as we continued forward, we saw that we arrived at the tower. Dom pointed out, "Hey, there's the landing tower."
Marcus replied, "Yeah, now let's get up there."
I then switched from my power armor to my Elite Riot Gear, since the lift itself was going to be crowded.
Then as the lift raises us to the top of the tower, a barge showed up and started to circle around the tower.
Marcus yelled out, "Last chance to grab that thing and get the fuck outta here."
Dom shouted, "It's gotta come in close. Everyone up for boarding it?"
Cole chuckled and said, "Oh, yeah, it's pirate time, baby!"
Then the lift stopped and we got off and I switched back to my power armor and pulled out my Retro Lancer kept my eyes on the circling barge.
Then it stopped and a Locust in goldish armor came dropping down.
Dom shouted, "It's a Palace Guard!"
I then thought, 'Huh, it's the queen's guards... great.'
I then charged at it and the Guard tried to chainsaw me in half. But the Lancer chainsaw bayonet broke as it made contact with my power armor.
There was a pause as the Guard looks at his rifle and back to me.
I simply said, "Fuck you." as I kicked him off the tower.
Cole laughed by this and said to me, "Heh, nice one, Eddie!"
Then the barge stopped at the other side and dropped off another guard. Ruby was the first to go at it and knocked the Guard off the tower with her Cresent Rose.
Then finally, the Barge settled at the platform and then two more guards were on the barge, which we eliminated quickly.
Then Marcus said, "Let's get out of here."
Then we boarded and me and Baird tossed the bodies off the barge.
Baird responded, "This is the last time I fly with a budget airline..."
Then he walked over the console and plugged in the programmed nav unit.
Then he held his hand up to his face, as if he's talking through a speaker or something and began, "Okay, ladies and gentleman, if you look over the side, you might see Anvil Gate, the lovely historic city of Anvegad..." as we started to set out.
Me and Ruby replied, simultaneously in awe, "Oooooo!"
I replied, "That sounds interesting!"
Ruby followed up, "Yeah, it does!"
Then Baird asked Dom, "It is lovely, right?"
Dom chuckled and replied, "Heh, even Sam says it's the ass-end of the world... and it's her hometown."
I said, "I'm still interested about it."
Then after a few seconds, I approached both Dom and Marcus as Ruby chat away with Cole and Baird.
Then I heard Dom saying, "So it's got to be Myrrah that's holding your dad, Marcus."
Then Marcus replied, "And now she knows I'm coming for 'im."
Then I asked out of the blue, "Hey, I have recorded music with me. Do you want me to play a song while we ride this out to Anvil Gate?"
Then Marcus and Dom looked at each other before Marcus replied, "Yeah, but something more... lively."
I nodded and I replied, "You got it, Sergeant."
I then turned towards Baird, Ruby, and Cole, and shouted, "Hey, I'm gonna play some music!"
They all grinned and I put in 'Civilization' by Danny Kaye.
We then relaxed as we enjoyed our ride.
To be Continued...
