~Chapter 7: Nukes and Spirits and Scientists, Oh My!~

Sky was by no means always brave. He was easily startled and would easily voice that when it happened. The other recruits and Dawn could see he was startled when he came to the deck of the ship, shivering. There was no wonder he was for on the ground in front of the ship was a colossal hole, probably caused by an explosion. A big one. It was a law in Minecraftia that one doesn't set off a bomb bigger than TNT and if you were is to use a pocket dimension mod to do so. That was why Sky could mod showcase Explosives Plus. This could not be made with a single TNT and judging by the fact there was a single explosion, a bomb larger than TNT caused it.. If TNT caused this it would be mottled and there would be smaller craters away from the main crater.

Sky decided to let the troops investigate on the ground. They have to land sometime anyway. Darren looked over the hole, some of his more well-known companions by his side. This was no doubt, someone's base for scattered about were chunks of black and white materials. At the bottom, machinery, twisted and malformed peeked from darker places. He commented, "This is terrifying."

Flame looked down to where a dark hole led to some unknown place. He wondered, "What's down there?"

Without anyone's permission he scrambled down the blast site to investigate. Darren protested, "I'll come with!"

The hole dropped down to bedrock. The two boys landed neatly upon the ground, grey wisps of dust drifting upon the ground. In front of them was a computer monitor, a purple light flashing madly by it. Darren squinted as he looked at the screen. He murmured, "Let me see if I can read it but it's been pretty scrambled. Name is R-Y-some scrambled text-N. Nothing until Location which is unknown."

Flame pointed to a ladder, surprisingly intact which led to another room. The two carefully climbed said ladder to another room. A pillar of glowstone valiantly tried to light up the room. A lot of glowstone dust lay upon the ground, suggesting that even though the room was not open to the sky, the explosive hadn't left it intact. More computer monitors hung on the walls but most were unreadable, either no text or scrambled text. Darren didn't bother to try to decipher them. Flame stopped in front of one which light was out. He read, "Status is Dead with a question mark and the Notes are that there is lingering Nuclear radiation about."

Darren replied, "A nuke?!"

Flame rolled his eyes as he said,"Obviously!"

Miki watched as the two boys climbed back onto the land. She asked, "What's down there?"

Darren murmured, "It looks like its a lab but it's so wrecked we couldn't find much though apparently a nuke was the benefactor!"

Sky materialized behind Miki and asked, "A nuke?"

Flame nodded with a sigh. Darren added, "Well at least one!"

Sky yelped and screamed, "I'm so startled!"

He stopped and murmured, "Wait."

He directed his attention to a communicator on his wrist. After a few seconds of tapping it, he screamed into it, "Jason, I'm so startled!"

The communicator said back, in Jason's voice, "Hi! This Jason aka TrueMU! I'm killing squids now so please leave a message at the beep!"

Said beep droned as Sky yelled, "Oh come on!"

Miki said, "Hey can we go explore?"

Sky smiled and exclaimed, "Why not!"

Flame popped up beside him and said, "I assume I can go too!"

Sky nodded as he walked away. Most of the recruits didn't want to goo, fearing nukes and such very few groups went out. The trio of Miki, Annie, and Darren were one. Flame turned to Night and asked, "Hey! Wanna go exploring!"

Night grinned and said," Sure! Though should we take a third person come with?"

A low voice replied, just behind them, "I'll come."

The owner of the voice was a younger boy, with dual-colored eyes, of green and purple. He made u for his age in height for for he was as tall as Sky himself. His skin looked as dark as midnight and goggles were perched on his head which was scruffy with black hair. To complete the look purple particles floated around him. Night asked, "Who are you? I don't recall seeing you?"

The boy answered, "I'm Reece. You probably haven't seen me because I'm very mysterious. I do hang out with Ryan sometimes. He's my mentor."

Flame spun his sword in his hand and asked, "Let's go!"

The trio of Annie, Miki, and Darren walked through the woods, light casting odd shadow on them. Annie was currently chattering, "We need a name! Miki is the archer, Darren is the warrior and I'm the mage so want can we be called?"

Darren replied coolly, "You're not a mage yet."

Annie shot back,"I will when I get around to making that Philosopher's Stone!"

Miki shrugged, "We'll get to it when we think of something."

Darren nodded. Suddenly Annie whined, "Why are we in a forest anyway? I don't like them! All dark and just waiting for an attack!"

Miki turned around to face Annie and grinned and laughed, "Annie! Be quiet or you'll attract angry F-"

Her eyes drifted upwards. As if she saw something they grew huge as she finished her sentence with a scream,"Forest Spirit!"

With this she bolted into the woods. Darren narrowed his eyes and murmured, "Miki can be high-strung at times."

Annie nodded, running after her. A voice talked behind Darren, "Forest spirits?"

Darren turned to see what Miki had called a forest spirit. The "forest spirit" was a boy about Darren's height with messy blonde hair held back by a black headband. He was frowning, his eyes of turquoise betraying confusion. His garb was simple, a green shirt ,with the swirl he had seen on Miki's cloak, and jeans. Miki had called the swirl a Sapling Swirl. Darren asked him, "Where were you before?"

The boy pointed to a tree above them and said, "Up there.",as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Darren gave a nervous smile as he commented, "That's nice."

The boy chuckled and replied, in an oddly deep voice, "Oo that's nice!"

Darren, slightly taken back, said something to get him away, "I'm gonna go find where they went."

The boy asked, "Can I come?"

Darren shrugged and replied, "Why not."

The blonde boy put up a hand to signal that he needed a second. He looked behind him and called, "Toby! I'm over here, Toby!"

An answering call came from the depths of the forest, "I'm coming, Martyn!"

Darren murmured, "Martyn and Toby?"

Martyn nodded. Darren asked, "Are you sure you don't know what a nature spirit is?"

Martyn asked, "What is one? I may know if you tell me!"

Darren explained, "Nature spirits are extremely in tune with their environment...to the point its said some can even communicate with the trees. Many hold an affinity to forests and other places full of nature. The most distinctive feature though is that they change their appearance with the seasons."

Martyn grinned, "Like I do! In winter, I get blue and frosty but now in spring I'm green and proper lively!"

Darren nodded and commented, "Then you're probably a nature spirit."

Martyn grinned, this grin becoming even bigger when his companion Toby came jogging up to them. Compared to Martyn he didn't look too impressive, scruffy even. His hair was messy and brown, sticking up in random places. He wore jeans and a hoodie, the hoodie being grey and the words "So Totally" emblazoned. By his side was a brilliant blue sword. He panted, "Hey Martyn! Who is this?"

Darren supplied the answer, "I'm Darren! Sky Army Recruit! My two friends were Miki and Annie. Miki was the archer with the crazy long hair and Annie was the girl with glasses."

Martyn suggested, "Well let's go now!"

They found Miki curled in a birch tree. Darren called up to her, "Miki, where's Annie?"

The reply was ,"Heck if I know."

As if on cue, Annie came bolting out of the undergrowth near them, calling out, "I'm here!"

Miki poked her head out of the tree asking," Is the spirit there?"

Darren chuckled as he answered, "Yeah but he's cool!"

Miki dropped out of the tree and huffed, "Nukes and Nature Spirits! What's next? Mad scientists?"

Martyn cracked up at this causing Miki to give him an odd look. His response was, "Duncan is a bit creepy at times!"

Miki yelped, "You have a legit mad scientist here?"

Martyn, chuckles dying down, answered,"Yep. And dwarves and spacemen and mages and poolboys and dinosaurs and such!"

Sips looked up as a knock resounded at their door. Sjin called, "I'll get it."

Our bearded friend answered the door, the knocker being a very ticked off Ridge. He exclaimed at the man, "You guys can't stop screwing up, can you!"

Sjin answered back with a flat, "What."

Ridge narrowed his eyes, "First it was the old Tekkit land. Then the Volts territories and the red matter bomb a few days ago! And now Blackrock Castle has been wiped off the map with probably Rythian and his companions!"

If Ridge wasn't there Sjin would have probably growled, "Good riddance."

Though there he was so Sjin exclaimed, "Wait what?!"

Ridge's face softened a bit when he said in a ow voice, "So it sounds like you didn't do it. What a surprise!"

Sjin nodded slowly. Ridge continued, "There's another person I can suspect."

Meanwhile in the heights of a menacing castle, intimidating the land with its mere presence, a scientist was tending his machines, goggles obscuring his eyes. He sorted through a chest, humming softy to himself. He had abandoned his armor for in his castle he was safe, or so he believed. What was he kidding? He could activate his force field and nothing, magic or science, could enter. He turned to go check on something else, lab coat swishing. Suddenly a knock came from his window. He strode to the window, throwing it open a light breeze rolling through the lab. The one who knocked, hovered there, blue and gold coat swaying the breeze. The scientist snapped his goggles on his head, and asked, "What are you doing here, Ridge? You could have knocked at the door!"

Ridge shrugged as he drifted in, "I knew you wouldn't come. You focusing on your machines."

He eyed them and added, "Too much sometimes, Duncan."

Duncan repeated his question, "What are you doing here today, Ridge?"

Ridge started by saying, "Remember the earthquake?"

Duncan slowly nodded as he replied, "Yeah. It's a good thing my castle has good foundations!"

Ridge whispered, "Not all the castles did, Duncan."

He drifted to one of the table, fishing out a remote with the numbers 1337 on it. He ran his finger across it as he continued, "I have evidence a signal with this frequency was detected two days ago. The same day a nuke was set off. The same day Blackrock Castle was no more."

Duncan protested, his nonchalant façade broken, "I didn't mean to! I didn't want to! It's..just..I had to keep him intimidated. In line."

Ridge's eyes narrowed again, "And you killed Rythian! What about Zoey? Teep? Two innocent bystanders to a scientists ambitions."

Duncan didn't answer as Ridge finally finished, "I will be going now. I have to investigate the remains of the castle. You can come if you like. Then again you have a trio of people wandering around the front of your castle. Perhaps you can be a good host?"

With this Ridge hopped ut the window and soared away. Duncan made his way to the front of the castle, sliding a ring encrusted with a pale jewel on his finger. Said visitors were a trio of teenagers, currently arguing. He listened.

The only girl of the group protested, "You don't know if it's dangerous, Flame!"

The boy she had called Flame replied, "We said we were going exploring not finding something and running back to the ship. I bet Miki and the others found something!"

Behind him was a lanky boy,who looked too much like an Enderman, purple particles drifting around him. He agreed with the girl, "Night is correct. We must be cautious. We do not want to make the death count four."

Flame lashed out, "Reece, be quiet!"

Reece rolled his eyes. Flame grinned, feeling as if he won and to celebrate, ran toward the castle. Night yelped and ran after him, attempting to grab the hood of his jacket. In an instant, Reece stopped him by popping in front of him, causing him to crash and fall on his face. To add to this insanity, Duncan chose to revealed himself, descending using his Swiftwolf ring.

Night yelped where Flame whispered, "Cool." and Reece stood silently.

Duncan asked, "What brings you three here?"

Flame exclaimed with much enthusiasm, "Exploratory mission!"

Night added softly, "Less of a mission and more of a plea from you."

Flame scowled as Duncan asked another question, "Where did you come from?"

Flame perked up again and declared, "The Sky Army! We soar above the land in the sky and reject the sea with its aquatic evils!"

Duncan studied him and asked, "Would you happen to be part Blaze?"

Flame nodded and Duncan relied, "Ah, I thought so. And you? Are you part Enderman?".

Said question was directed to Reece who answered it, "Yes. Mostly Enderman. When I was very young, a mad scientist kidnapped me and my older brother. We were merged with Enderman and became like them. My brother grew angry at the science that made him that way and ran away from both science and his Enderman side. Unlike me, who has embraced both."

Duncan commented, "Mob hybrids are becoming more numerous and Endermen seem to be the most common one. Nice to meet you. I have to go now. Go to a blast site."

Reece grinned and murmured, "See you there."

At this he grabbed his two companions, teleporting back to the Butterfly. Duncan sighed and began the flight there.

Reece had landed back on the ship, not too far from the Commander. Sky looked at him and muttered," I'm never gonna get used to that."

Reece announced, "You have two visitors. One is coming and one is above us."

Sky looked up to see a man with a long coat hovering above them. He called, "Land, why don't you?"

Their visitor complied. Sky asked him, "Hello and who are you to come on my ship?"

The man introduced himself, "My name is Ridgedog but I prefer Ridge. I'm surveying this explosion site here for I believe someone I know deliberately set a nuke off to harm someone else. I know that's true but I wanted to see the carnage myself. Now who are you?"

Sky exclaimed, "I am Sky of the Sky Army! In fact I'm the commander! This is my ship the Butterfly!"

Ridge nodded as he hung over the railing, keen eyes surveying the once proud land. He asked himself, "Now when will that scientist get along and come! He know where Blackrock once stood! He's the reason it isn't standing!"

As if on cue Duncan landed, prompting Sky to yell, "You can have manners!"

Duncan ignored him and looked at his work solemnly, with a grave expression. He finally asked, "Was anyone found?"

Ridge shook his head and said, "I hope Rythian had the sense to get away! Zoey and Teep too!"

Duncan's face fell even deeper, "Zoey...she had too much confidence. She would try to get rid of it...it doesn't seem she did."

Ridge glared at Duncan and said calmly, "There you go, Duncan. There you go."

Meanwhile in happier lands, Martyn had led his new companions out of the forest and to somewhere for a bite. He told them that they were going where there were the best Jaffa cakes in the land and maybe a little rum. Their destination was clear for a while after they exited the forest. It was a tall looming building, fenced with smaller places outside and when they got to the gate a dwarf was there to greet them. The dwarf said to Martyn in a voice, deep and lively, "Hello there Martyn! What brings you and this troop?"

Martyn grinned and said, "I told these three I knew where the best Jaffas in the land were and I don't want to be a liar!"

He finished this with a wink, his grin as wide as ever. The dwarf exclaimed, "Well let's sort that out then! I'm Honeydew or Simon and this is Honeydew Inc.! Come on in and I'll get Xephos to find you some jaffas and maybe something to drink!"

The group came in where a man in red had started talking to the dwarf. He sounded frantic, his arms flailing. Miki whispered to Martyn, "We can pay. We have gold nuggets."

Martyn chuckled, "I got this."

Martyn directed his attentions to the man and red and said, "Lewis! I know you! Toby knows you! And these three are our esteemed guests!"

Lewis rolled his eyes and murmured, "Why not. I'm Lewis but you can call me Xephos."

Darren choked, "THE Xephos and Honeydew! Heroes of Minecraftia!"

Lewis blushed as he mumbled, "Y-yeah."

Darren bluntly relied, "You do know Israphel is still lurking about?"

Simon cut in, "We're here gaining resources! Izzy has creepers and such? Bah I say! We can fly and shot fire and lightning from the heavens! We can nuke stuff to the Nether and back! We have a mage and a scientist, spacemen and a dinosaur! Technomages too!"

Martyn replied, in a lower voice than usual, "Well. We had a mage."

The two yelped in synchronized shock, "What!?"

Martyn explained, "According to these three their airship drifted over a nuke blast site! Based on what they said the place looked like, it sounded like Rythian's place!"

Simon exclaimed, "Let's get there! We need a few flying rings! We have more than enough for all of you. Just give them back!"

He ran off to make them with Lewis following him, protesting.

AN: So. Much. Yogcast.

Reece belongs to d9m5

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