AN~ this has taken way too long, I know and I'm sorry. There are a few more OC's in this chap! Readers, look out for yours!
AN 2~ I think I've decided all of the OC's I'm going to use (I don't have the authors of the OC's though, sorry!). The list:
Conrad Reynolds; Ayame Hiroshi; Awai Hiroshi; Dillain Howard; Hunter Burden; Madigan "Madi" Whyte; Olivia Torres; Annastasia "Annie" Rija; Lieutenant Colonel William Hull; and Rai Choi. These might change.
WARNNG Some OC's have changed physically because you guys are apparently obsessedwith black hair.
Artsiv
When my eyes opened I wanted to kill myself. My head was pounding so hard I almost mistook it as a snare drum, my stomach felt like it was going to come with the puke next time, and my whole body ached.
The sunlight hurt my eyes, but I could still make out the ceiling of the cave we had been in for the past two days. After a second or two of squinting against the sunlight, Nov'c's angry face consumed my vision.
"I had half a mind to leave you here." Nov'c said. Her eyes were narrowed and her jaw was set. She was pissed. I tried to sit up but my stomach was seriously hurting. I sat back against the rock wall. I saw Elly and Jove across the cave, staring at me. They looked afraid. Madi had the same expression on her face, Olivia was watching me closely, her eyes skeptical. Katie simply looked impassive, she kept clenching her fist's and then un-clenching, ready to fly into action, ready to fight me. Damion and James were standing practically in front of Elly and Jove. As if trying to protect them from me. Elliott was watching me, flinching when I turned to look at her.
"What?" I asked them all. It came out a lot harsher than I intended.
"You led them to us!" Olivia said all of a sudden, yelling it at me and letting it ricochet off the walls, then back at me again. I winced.
"What?" I asked again stupidly.
"You led the K-Pro's here, Artsiv." Nov'c spoke plainly at me. "They came when you were sleeping and we had to fight them off! We lost the Professor, Artsiv! All because of you." I looked at Nov'c, her eyes stared back at me, they didn't hold their usual kindness, they didn't hold anything at all. Just a wall that reflected my shocked face.
"How'd they get the Professor?" I asked, forcing myself to stand; they all backed away from me as if I had the plague.
"New technology." A new voice said simply. I turned and saw a girl about the size of Nov'c, her brown hair was down to her shoulder blades and her blue eyes seemed to hold electricity in them, they had a certain respect-demanding power, her skin was a creamy tan color; she actually looked a bit delicate. "They've been working on the serum for awhile now. That and the armor." the girl was staring me down, her eyes never leaving mine.
"What technology? What serum? What armor? Who are you?" I asked, my mind spinning.
"The technology to fool telepaths; the serum like a tranq to work on mutants; The Armor that can stand against some of the strongest hits; and I am Rai Choi. Any other questions?" she said plainly to me.
"Not at the moment." I sighed. "Do we have any water? Or food, come to think of it?" Nov'c took out a canteen of water and handed it to me. Then got out a box, took out a. . . uh . . .
"What is that?" I asked between chugging down the canteen of water.
"I'm not exactly sure, but we've deduced that it tastes a bit like a hamburger with, like, strawberry jelly on it." Nov'c said, handing it to me. I took a bite, and Nov'c was right. It tasted horrible. I held my nose shut and took another bite. No matted how disgusting it tasted, I still needed food. After a few bites I gave it back, Nov'c put it back in the box. I took a look around the cave, there were five new people, including Rai, sitting on the ground or leaning against the cave wall.
There was a guy leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest, a half scowl, half impassive look on his face. He was dark skinned, his hair was brown and curly, and his eyes were a light blue, he had a tall lean basket-ball player-ish build.
There were two girls sitting on the floor of the cave, they looked alike, like they could be sisters. The older one, about sixteen, had brown hair tied back in a pony tail, and dark brown eyes. The younger one, only about four, was sitting calmly in the lap of her sister, she had dark brown hair that went to her shoulders, and light brown eyes.
The last newest person was a man, he looked to be about twenty-five and had an 'Instant Respect' aura. He had blond buzz cut hair and an athletic build. His eyes were a hazel color and there were scars on his right cheek. He, like the dark skinned guy, was leaning against a wall, his face a half smirk and half impassive rather than the half scowl the other was wearing.
"Are we all just gonna stand around and stare at the poor boy?" the man with buzz-cut hair asked in a deep voice that held humor in it. I blinked a few times, the rush of water and food back in my bloodstream and stomach made me fell like I was going to be sick again.
"You Okay, kid?" the newest girl with black hair asked. "Ya look pale."
"Yeah, m'fine." I started to hear a ringing noise. I looked back around at everyone else, I noticed that Madi and James were feeling the same way. I started to feel hot all over, like I just got set on fire. There was a sharp poke on the back of my thigh, and before I knew it, I was face down on the floor. The others had sprung into action around me (minus Madi and James who had fallen down along with me). I heard the thudding of bodies hit the ground.
Nov'c was there, rolling me over onto my side and talking at me. No matter how hard I strained to hear her, I couldn't. All I heard was ringing. There was a slight tearing feeling on my thigh, and then Nov'c held up a dart with a barbed needle. A blue-ish gray-ish liquid was still streaming from the needle tip. Nov'c tossed it aside and then went over to James and Madi. She got both of the dart out of them, then went to fight with the others.
The ringing in my ears was getting worse, and I finally let it take me. I closed my eyes and let the dark claim my brain. I hate going unconscious.
When I opened my eyes, I felt a lot better than when I woke up the last time. The back of my thigh felt like it had been stung by a bee, though. Nov'c was across the cave, working on James and Madi. I tried to move but I found it quite difficult to even blink.
"Don't even try. Its impossible." said Rai, bending over so that I could see her. I sighed (witch was the extent of me moving at the moment). "the serum will take about ten minutes to were off." Rai said, walking away from me. I waited and the ten minutes slowly passed. I tried to move my hand and found that it was responsive. I sat up.
I looked around the cave, it was the same. Elly, Jove and the smallest new girl were playing tic-tack-toe, drawing the playing field in the sand covered ground. The two newest guys were talking in one of the corners, Olivia, Katie and Elliott were talking in the other corner, Nov'c was practicing her martial arts with and Damion and Madi and James were propped up against one of the walls, a dazed look still on their faces. I stood, using the cave's jagged wall as support. I walked out to the mouth of the cave, leaning against the opening.
This was all my fault. I led them to our camp, I got the professor captured, I got them into another fight. It was me who was supposed to keep them safe, that was the entire point of turning last night.
"Hey," I spun around and saw Nov'c standing on the other side of the cave opening. "It's not entirely your fault. It was our fault too." she refused to look at me as she spoke, and instead looked at the great orange sunset to the west.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, it was partially my fault. I was in Professors group, and I was supposed to be his cover, to take care of anything in his way, sort of like his linebacker. I failed. I missed one of the agents and they got Professor. I blamed you because, I was ashamed. I didn't want it to be my fault." she took a breath, still refusing to meet my gaze. "You may have led them here, but it was myjob to keep them away from the professor." and with that she left, going back inside the cave.
I waited outside, letting the last light of the day reflect in my eyes and turn them a deep red-ish color. The soft breeze blew my hair out of my face and I waited for the darkness, waited for the stars to come out.
I easily found the North Star, following the end of the Big Dipper. We needed to move. If even one of the K-Pro agents had radioed for back-up, we'd be swamped by agents by morning.
If we stopped at the small colony a few miles west we could re stock and then move out. If we continued west we could make it to base camp Kimono Dragon in three days, not including sleeping and eating breaks. But if we restocked and I changed and we flew there, we could make it there in two. But if someone spotted me flying back to the cave they'd be able to see me flying for sure in brod daylight.
Better play it safe for now.
I walked back into the cave, Nov'c had gotten a fire started and was boiling some water in a large pot over the fire. I guess there was a stream near by and I was unconscious for longer than I thought.
"I thought, to limit the chance of being sneaked up on we could take sleeping shifts." I announced to the mostly quiet group. Faces turned to me with varying levels of enthusiasm.
"I'll take first watch." the newer guy with Buzz-cut hair volunteered. He walked over to me and shook my hand. "Don't believe we've met. Lieutenant Colonel William Hull. But pleasecall me William." he smiled at me.
"Uh, Artsiv, no last name. Nice to, uh, meat you?" I said, suspiciously [1]. William just smiled a bit more and then walked out to the mouth of the cave. I followed and sat on a chair looking thing made from the cave mouth. I watched, not really thinking, but still paying attention to everything around me. It was a bit hard, not to think about anything but not fall asleep.
I don't know how long I was out there, but it was a long time after the fie inside got put out, and now there was nothing cutting through the cold of late fall air. (by my calculations since I don't have a calender) William seemed to think the same thing, I saw him start to rub his arms.
I closed my eyes for a little bit, enjoying the silence in the air. Tonight would have been a perfect night to change, but I wasn't going to risk that for awhile. I'm not loosing anymore people.
After a minute, or an hour, or four, Nov'c came out and tapped me on the shoulder. She stood there and Olivia was beside her. William and I want back into the cave. I chose a place near the wall and laid down. As soon as my head hit my arm (witch was serving as a pillow) I was asleep.
When I woke up the sun was barely up. I forced myself to stand and stretch. We'd be walking today. Nov'c had fallen asleep a bit in front of me. I shook her awake. She sat up and her eyes were instantly looking around and searching for threats.
"Hey," I said to get her attention. "We need to move. I think we need to get as far away from this cave as soon as possible." Nov'c nodded, then stood up and began to stretch. I sat against the wall of the cave, letting the harsh rock cut into the back of my neck and my back. The cold of the wall kept me half awake, and when the sun started to get brighter I stood and woke everyone else up.
Nov'c told of the plan everyone agreed that it was time to move. We got what little we had and stated west toward base camp.
After about and hour of walking we crossed paths with the 'U' shaped town I saved Elliott from. As we walked toward it I noticed Elliott, who had been traveling by flips, jumps, cartwheels, and somersaults, started walking closer to me, and when we waited outside for Katie and Olivia to get as much food and water as they could get Elliott was basically glued to my side. She was afraid.
Yeah, yeah, most of you are going 'What was your first clue, dummy?', but whatever. I had never seen someone with a look on their face that looked even remotely as scared as Elliott's did at that moment. When Olivia and Katie got back and we started walking, Elliott's face seemed to let go of all the fear it held earlier and she started to cartwheel again.
It was about noon when we took a break. Olivia took out the food and passed it around, Nov'c and William handed out the water. We were on rations so lunch went by fast. Most of us slept for an hour, then we were back on the road. A few times Elly and Jove got tired of walking and James on Damion would pick them up and put them on their shoulders for awhile. Things were going better than I thought they would.
It was a lot of walking until the sun set on the first day. It got dark quickly and there was no visible moon. As much as I wanted to keep going, we couldn't see.
"Alright, lets set up camp." I said. Rai picked up a stick and set it on fire with a quick jolt of electricity. Nov'c had gathered up leaves and sticks and Rai dropped the stick she had into the pile. It caught fire and we could see. Jame and Damion went to laying out the blankets they had brought from the cave. Nov'c walked over to me.
"You know we were being followed the entire time, right?" she asked me.
"Yeah. What do you want to do?" I asked, looking down at her.
"If its K-Pro we'll have to go off coarse, so we don't lead them to base camp."
"And if it's not. . . now would be the time to find out. Feel up to a reckon mission?"
"Lets head out after camp is set." I nodded and Nov'c and I parted ways. She went to held pass out food and water and I went out with James and William to get firewood.
"Please tell me you knew we were being followed." William said casually to me.
"You knew too, huh?" I mumbled, breaking off a tree branch.
"I think everyone knows. Even little Elly knew." he told me. I too a deep breath. If even Elly knew then whoever or whatever it is couldn't be K-Pro.
"How many would you say were following?" I asked with a forced calm.
"I'd say about three." William answered, picking up stray sticks and leaved that were on the ground. I nodded. Me and Nov'c could take three. James caught up to us, his arms full of wood, and we all walked back to camp.
Soon everyone was around the fire, talking and laughing and swapping stories. I laughed along with them, but kept a class red level five alarm going in my head. I listened for even the quietest sound, looked for the smallest movement, and I kept a constant watch on everyone.
Soon Nov'c collected the remaining food and water and packed it back into the backpack. The others went to sleep accept me, Nov'c and William.
"Ready?" I asked Nov'c. She nodded and we back tracked the path we had walked today. My ears were straining to hear any noise and my eyes kept doing sweeping for movement. Then I heard it. Three different people breathing deeply, as if asleep. I tapped Nov'c on the shoulder and put a finger to my lips.
I turned off the path and toward the three people that were hidden from my sight. After a few minutes of walking we saw the flickering light of a dying fire. There were three people laying around it.
One was curled around the fire, he had black hair, and even laying down I could tell he was about as tall as me, if not taller, and he was built like, well, a tall Wolverine.
Another one, a girl, had wavy platinum blonde hair and was dressed like a hippie. She also had an over the shoulder bag that had opened a bit. I could see a few books and sketch pads wedged into the relatively small space. There was also an acustic guitar case she was curled protectively around.
There was one other girl. She had dark chocolate brown hair that was down to her lower back. She was turned toward where I was lurking so I could see a long scar going across her left eye, down her cheekbone and saw the end at her collar bone. She was wearing low cut midnight blue shirt with a high cut ice-blue shirt underneath and midnight blue shorts. On her head was a white head band and draped over her hip was a white tale.
In an instant the tall guy with black hair was gone, as if he fell through the ground itself and I felt two arm wrapping around my torso and the the sensation of falling into complete and utter black. One thought broke through the adrenaline;
Oh God, I'm not passing out again am I?
1: well if you were in war time and this new person took your hand and asked your name you'd be a bit suspicious too!
AN~ I am so sorry for taking this long. First I was typing a lot on this story, then I had writers block, then I sort for forgot about this story, and then I was typing a lot and the the charger to my computer got broken and the battery for my computer is shot so it only has, like, 20 seconds of battery and so I tried to fix the charger but I just broke it more, and then I got the new charger and now I'm updating please don't kill me!