Here's the next chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own Chaotic. Not at all!
Now, let's resume our tale!
Welcome to Chaotic Part 2
An hour and a half later…
"Man, I can't think of anything," he said with a sigh as he opened his eyes and turned off his music, before sitting up. "Maybe I should ask another player for advice. Or…." He trailed off when he looked around and saw that several Mandiblor guards were standing around him, some having curious looks on their faces, while most had impatient ones.
And standing in front of Gavin was a Danian Battlemaster named Odu-Bathax. Battlemasters were Danians who had a special aptitude for strategy, and usually had the ability to enhance the Mandiblors under their command.
Odu-Bathax, like most other Danian Battlemasters, was a different color than the other Mandiblors, being teal in color, and stood 9 feet tall. His rock-hard exoskeleton was quite broad, with two large pecs at the top of his chest, showing that he was rather strong. He stood on two sturdy legs that ended in three-toed feet, with one toe pointing back and two pointing forward. His four arms were thick and strong, with the lower two having light aquamarine-colored sharp curved blades for battlegear coming out of their sides and extending past his four-fingered hands. His head was somewhat shaped like a lizards, with multiple large, sharp white teeth in his mouth, two of which were massive and stuck out when his mouth was closed. Two large protrusions stuck out either side of his head like flat fans, with neon green stripes running down the tops and middle of them. His eyes were also green as well, but a shade darker than the stripes on his head, and two long, skinny limbs stuck up and over his shoulders, with serrated edges on them.
"Can I help you?" He asked the Danians, feeling a bit nervous about his current situation.
"I have orders from the Queen to bring you to her," Odu-Bathax said in a gruff, commanding voice. "It would be a good idea for you to come quietly."
"Ummm, oookay?" Gavin replied as he slowly stood up, shocked and confused about what was going on. "Why does she want to see me?"
"Hmph! That is for you to find out!" Odu-Bathax said with a huff, before he reached out and grabbed his scanner. "I'll take that! Can't have you porting away after all."
'Well, shit!' Gavin inwardly cursed upon hearing that. 'That's not good.'
"Now then, let's go," Odu-Bathax said as the Mandiblor guards got closer to him, before they started to move, prompting him to start walking with them.
'Well then, I didn't expect for this to happen,' Gavin thought as they walked towards Mount Pillar. 'I'm going to see the Queen, and I don't have access to my scanner. This is going to be interesting. I just hope this doesn't end badly.'
Soon, they reached one of the many entrances to Mount Pillar, and they went inside. As they walked, Gavin looked around at the interior of Mount Pillar with curiosity and wonder. The halls looked like they had been carved into the rock, with him spotting other Danians walking through them.
'Wow,' He thought as he stared at his surroundings, before noticing that some of the Danians were looking at him, most having disgusted looks. 'Yeesh, it seems I was right about them not liking humans.'
"Um, so, ho-" Gavin was cut off with a quick glare from Odu-Bathax. "Nevermind," he said quickly, before becoming silent once more.
"Hmphf!" Odu-Bathax grunted, before turning his head back as they walked.
After several minutes had passed, they walked through a pair of massive, elegantly decorated doors into a very large hallway, and he saw that there were some decorations in this one. Said decorations were red and orange banners of various insects, presumably from Perim, and they were hanging up against multiple large pillars that held up the roof. On each pillar and on each side of the door were red statues in the shape of different Danian heads, with their large eyes beings made of red gems. Multiple tunnel openings could be seen behind the pillars, as well as a couple painted murals with one-eyed bugs on them.
'Woah, what's this place?' He thought with confusion as he looked around, inwardly whining a bit when they left the hallway a few seconds later through another set of doors. 'Awww! I wanted to look at it more!' He whined, having been intrigued by the architecture. 'I wonder what they made the banners out of?'
They continued to walk through the many corridors and doorways of Mount Pillar for about twenty more minutes, going higher and higher, before they reached a massive door that was green in color and had orange swirls running down the middle of it. Standing on either side of it were some standard Mandiblors, who stood to attention when they noticed Odu-Bathax approaching. On their backs were two pairs of stone wings shaped somewhat like an ants, presumably a battlegear of some kind or a sign of their post.
When they went through the large doors, Gavin saw that the hallway beyond it had multiple smooth columns, with the floor being made of stone so smooth he could see his reflection. Carved in the floor was one large insect that somewhat looked like an ant, whose head was facing the doorway they had just come through.
At the end of the hallway was a large doorway that was lit up by a yellow light, which appeared to be some sort of fungus or torch. The doorway itself was shaped somewhat like a massive horned beetle, with light blue paint filling up the space between it and the doors themselves, which were a reddish green in color and rather tall and wide.
Standing by these doors were more regular Mandiblors with the stone wings, who stepped to the side upon seeing it was Odu-Bathax approaching, with a human behind him.
'So this is it,' Gavin thought as Odu-Bathax opened the doors, and they walked inside. 'I'm about to meet the queen.'
They were now in a large chamber lined with glowing crystals, while purple fabrics hung from the walls. In the front/center of the chamber were two deep purple curtains, with a set of stone steps leading up to the chamber the curtains covered. A similar set of steps led to a chamber on the right, with its curtains also deep purple in color.
Standing by the two sets of steps were more Mandiblors, but these were different. They had bright red carapaces, and narrower abdomens. Two sets of transparent blue wings that looked faintly batlike stuck out of their thoraxes, while they stood on four long, thin legs that had blue stripes right above their feet, which were tipped with two sharp curved claws. Round metal disks sat at the base of their legs, serving as some sort of joint armor, while a large, curved spike stuck up from the middle of the rear of their thorax. A pair of skinny arms was attached to the thorax, with blue stripes on the forearms, while three sharp red fingers were on each hand. Their heads were shaped a lot like an axe-head, with a large horn sitting at the front of their heads, while two long sharp horns stuck out of their chins. A pair of light blue antennae stuck out behind their eyes, which were light blue as well, with dark blue pupils. They all had silver pointy armor on their heads that made their heads appear longer, and were carrying red cyclances that had a gold point at one end and some gold marks trailing down it to about halfway.
'I guess these must be the royal guards,' Gavin thought as the door closed behind them, before Odu-Bathax stepped forward and bowed before the central chamber covered with curtains.
"Your majesty, I have brought the one you requested," He said.
"Wonderful!" A mature, elegant, and wise-sounding female voice replied, before the curtains were pulled aside, and a large Danian stepped forward.
The Danian stood 12 feet tall, and possessed four arms and four legs. Her body overall was a light brown color, with gold covering her arms, neck, and legs. Each one of her somewhat slim legs ended in three large, sharp black claws on "Y"-shaped feet.
Her eyes were a deep red, and her head was shaped somewhat like a monitor lizard's, with a couple sharp horns sticking down from her chin, and two very long and straight black antennae in the shape of horns stuck out the rear of her head. Two small, light brown, two-fingered hands were attached to small and skinny arms located right below her cheeks. Her four hands coming from her torso all had three black fingers on them, with gold gauntlets on her forearms and gold pauldrons on her shoulders. An elegant headdress sat on the top and rear of her head, with it shaped somewhat like the frill of a lizard. The front portion of the headdress had curves that wound along the sides of her head, while several brown rings connected with red fabric hung on the side edges of the headdress. Several long red fabric strands hung from the underside of the headdress on either side of her head, with the strands running over her shoulders. She also had a large golden breastplate covering the front of her thorax, with gold swirls running along the edges of it. A large gold cloth with dark gold rings on it covered most of the top of her massive abdomen, with gold straps running underneath her abdomen to keep it in place, while a long blue loincloth hung down to nearly touch the floor from around her waist. At the very rear of the cloth was a large frill consisting of dark blue tear-shaped pieces of fabric edged with gold lines, while a dark blue cloth hung down on either side, serving as a train of sorts.
Gavin's eyes went wide upon seeing the Danian queen. 'Oh…my,' He thought as he looked at her. 'She's big.'
She then spotted Gavin, and a surprised look appeared on her face.
"Is this human the one who was singing?" She asked Odu-Bathax.
"It is your majesty," Odu-Bathax replied as he stood back up and gestured to the human with an arm. "We found him singing on one of the cliffs not far from here."
"How interesting," Another voice said, this one sounding younger and female. Then, the curtains covering the other chamber opened, and another Danian stepped forward. This Danian stood 10 feet tall and possessed eight arms and two legs. Her body was quite slender, and more humanoid than other Danians he'd seen so far. Her hide was black and red, like a black widow spider, while her abdomen was a bit smaller than the Danian queen's. Her eight arms had multiple light blue stripes on the forearms, a single blue stripe close to her shoulders, elbows with sharp points, and ended in four-fingered hands that had pitch-black claws at the ends of her fingers. Her head faintly resembled that of an ant's, with her large eyes being amber in color, with a light stripe pattern running across them and large black pupils, while three smaller eyes sat in the middle of her forehead. Two small, light blue fangs stuck out of her mouth and down, stopping just beneath her smooth chin. Several large black horns stuck out the rear and sides of her heads, with the outermost pair of horns curving once. Two curved clear membranes similar to wings sat between her topmost shoulders and head on either side, with the membranes having a light pattern of blue, brown, and green stripes on them. Three large pairs of ant-like wings extended over her abdomen from her thorax, with similar patterns on them.
She wasn't wearing much in terms of clothing or jewelry, with only a large black breastplate covering her thorax and a couple small brown rings on two of her hands.
'Holy shit!' He thought as he looked at her with wide eyes. 'She's a bit intimidating. And cool-looking. Who is she?'
"So this is a human?" She said as she stepped forward, looking Gavin up and down as she did so. "Are they all so… puny?"
"More or less your majesty," Odu-Bathax replied with a smirk, while Gavin frowned a bit, before shrugging a little bit.
'Eh, compared to them we are,' he thought. 'But I don't like being called that. Makes me feel weak.'
"Hmm," The Queen hummed as she looked at Gavin closely. "Tell me human, what is your name?"
Gavin gulped upon hearing this, feeling a bit nervous, as he was standing before royalty. "My name is Gavin Woodring, your majesty," he replied.
"What an odd name," The queen said upon hearing his name. "Now tell me, why were you near our home?"
"Well, I wanted to look at it," He replied honestly, making Odu-Bathax groan a bit and quietly mutter, "Of course he did." "I've always wanted to see how Danians live their lives in such a massive place."
"Oh?" The queen said, surprise in her voice as she looked at Gavin closely. "Is that so?"
"It is," he replied with a nod. The queen continued to stare at him for several seconds, her large red eyes piercing into his blue ones, before she hummed a bit.
"Alright then," She said. "And why were you singing?"
"To pass the time while I thought about how to get in without causing trouble," he replied, prompting Odu-Bathax to huff and cross his arms while rolling his eyes.
"Is there something you would like to say Odu-Bathax?" The second female Danian said to the battlemaster.
"Can we really believe this human?" Odu-Bathax replied as he pointed at Gavin with two arms. "My men have had to deal with many of them. They come to this hive looking to 'scan' us for their 'Chaotic' battles. He is probably here to get a scan of your majesties to use in these battles."
"No I'm not!" Gavin snapped back at the battlemaster.
"Yes you are!" Odu-Bathax replied firmly with a frown on his face. "Every human that has come here has wanted to scan us. Why should we think you're any different from them?"
"Because if I was like them, I'd have tried to sneak in!" Gavin snapped. "But I didn't! That should prove that I'm not like them."
"Bah! I doubt it," Odu-Bathax replied, before the two males heard the Queen cough a couple times to catch their attention.
"Are you two done bickering?" The queen asked them with an annoyed look on her face.
"Yes, we are," Odu-Bathax replied quickly, sounding a bit apologetic. "Sorry your majesty."
Gavin nodded in agreement, although he was still a bit annoyed that the battlemaster didn't believe him one bit, even though his reasons for being so were completely reasonable.
"Now then, where did you learn to sing?" the queen asked Gavin.
"Oh, I just practiced singing along to songs from home," He replied, surprising the Danians.
"You didn't take any lessons?" The Queen asked him, prompting him to nod. "How interesting. I'd like for you to sing a song for us, now."
Gavin blinked several times upon hearing that, his eyes wide with surprise. "Um, sure," He replied, having not expected that. "Anything specific? Like, something calming, or exciting?"
"I'd prefer something calm," The queen said as she sat down, while the other female Danian made her way back to her seat and sat down as well. "Today's been a long day."
"Alright then, one calm song coming up," he replied, before closing his eyes and running the different songs through his head. 'Okay, which one should I do? "All Eyes on You?" No, it's bit too energetic. "Demons?" No, I don't think it quite works.' After a couple seconds passed, he grinned as he thought of the perfect one.
He then began to snap his fingers rhythmically while whistling, and did this for about thirty seconds, before he started to sing.
"Here's a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note
Don't worry be happy
In every life we have some trouble
But when you worry you make it double
Don't worry be happy
Don't worry be happy now
Ooh-ooh-hoo-hoo-ooh hoo-hoo-ooh-ooh ooh
Don't worry
Woo ooh-woo-ooh-woo-ooh-ooh
Be happy
Woo ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Don't worry be happy
Ooh-ooh hoo-hoo-ooh hoo-hoo-ooh-ooh ooh-ooh
Don't worry
Woo ooh-woo-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Be happy
Woo-ooh-woo-ooh-ooh
Don't worry be happy
Ain't got no place to lay your head somebody came and took your bed
Don't worry be happy
The landlord say your rent is late he may have to litigate
Don't worry
Ha-ha ha-ha ha-ha
Be happy
Look at me I'm happy
Ooh-ooh-hoo-hoo-ooh ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ooh-ooh-ooh
Don't worry
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh...
Be happy
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Here I'll give you my phone number
When you're worried call me I'll make you happy
Ooh-ooh-hoo-hoo-ooh ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ooh-ooh-ooh
Don't worry
Woo ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Be happy
Woo ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ain't got no cash ain't got no style
Ain't got no gal to make you smile
But don't worry be happy
'Cause when you're worried your face will frown
And that will bring everybody down
So don't worry be happy
Don't worry be happy now
Ooh-ooh-hoo-ooh-ooh ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ooh-ooh-ooh
Don't worry
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Be happy
Woo ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Don't worry be happy
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ooh-ooh-ooh
Don't worry
Woo ooh-ooh-ooh-hoo-ooh-ooh
Be happy
Woo ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Don't worry be happy
Now there is this song I wrote
I hope you learned it note for note like good little children
Don't worry be happy
Listen to a what I say in your life expect some trouble
When you worry you make it double
Don't worry be happy be happy now
Ooh-ooh-hoo-hoo-ooh ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ooh-ooh-ooh
Don't worry
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Be happy
Woo ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Don't worry be happy
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ooh-ooh-ooh
Don't worry
Woo ooh-ooh-ooh-hoo-ooh-ooh
Be happy
Woo ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Don't worry be happy
Ooh-ooh-hoo-ooh-ooh ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ooh-ooh-ooh
Don't worry (Don't worry, don't do it)
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Be happy
Woo ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
(Put a smile on your face, don't bring everybody down like this)
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ooh-ooh-ooh
Don't worry
Woo ooh-ooh-ooh-hoo-ooh-ooh
It will soon pass, whatever it is
Woo ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Don't worry be happy
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ooh-ooh-ooh
I'm not worried."
He then finished singing and bowed to them. 'Well, I hope that pleased her,' he thought as he stood there, feeling a bit nervous.
There was silence for several seconds, before he started to hear some clapping. When he looked to see who was clapping, he was surprised and pleased to see that the humanoid female Danian was clapping all eight of her hands, her mouth in the shape of smile.
"Well done," She said happily. "Well done!"
"I must agree," The Danian queen added with a smile on her face. "It was a very calming song. Tell me, what is called?"
"Heh, it's called 'Don't Worry, Be Happy," he replied. "It's a good song people listen to in order to de-stress back at home."
"Hmph, what an interesting name," The queen said. "It certainly fits the song."
"So, um, is that all you wanted me for?" he asked her a bit nervously.
"It is," The queen replied as she looked at him.
"So, can I go now?" he asked her.
"I think not," She replied, making his eyes widen. "I'd like you to sing another song for us."
"Um, okay," He answered, before he started thinking of another calming song to sing. 'Okay, what to do? "Fireworks?" No, too energetic. "Could You Be Loved?" Definitely not! Not trying to romance them! Hmmmm.' And then, he smiled as he thought of the perfect song. 'That should work.' He then opened his mouth and began to sing.
"Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And the dreams that you dream of
Once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
And the dreams that you dream of
Dreams really do come true
Someday, I wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney top
That's where you'll find me
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
And the dreams that you dare to
Oh why, oh why can't I?
Well, I see trees of green and red roses too
I'll watch them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Well, I see skies of blue and I see clouds of white
And the brightness of day
I like the dark
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
And also on the faces of people passing by
I see friends shaking hands saying
How do you do?
They're really saying I, I love you
I hear babies cry and I watch them grow
They'll learn much more then we'll know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
World
Someday I wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney top
That's where you'll find me
Oh, somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And the dreams that you dare to
Why oh, why can't I?
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh."
Once he was done singing, he bowed once more, and waited to see what the queen and the other humanoid Danian would say.
Once again, the humanoid Danian clapped her hands, pleased with the performance. And to his surprise, the Queen even clapped a couple times.
"What a nice song," The Queen said with a small smile. "What is its name?"
"'Over The Rainbow,' your majesty," he replied. "It's a popular song back home."
"What a lovely name," The humanoid Danian said as she looked at him.
"So, can I go now?" He asked them.
"No, I think not," The Queen replied, a glint in her eye that sent a shiver down his spine. "Tollar!" She said, prompting one of the winged Danians to come forward.
"Yes, Queen Illexia?" The male Danian asked her as he bowed.
"Do you happen to have a parasite on you?" She asked, making Gavin's eyes widen with shock as another shiver ran down his spine.
"I do my queen," Tollar replied as he pulled out two round, somewhat rocky eggs that were grayish-red in color from a small pouch hanging from his thorax. "Two of them."
"Good," Queen Illexia said with a large smile, before gesturing to Gavin. "Use it on him. I think he would be a great addition to the Royal Court."
"As you wish your Majesty," Tollar replied, before he turned and started walking towards Gavin.
"Oh no!" Gavin said with worry, turning to run away, only to find himself get grabbed by the arms by Odu-Bathax. "Hey! Let me go! This isn't right!"
"Silence human!" Odu-Bathax snapped at him as he held him firmly in place while Tollar approached with the eggs, which were starting to crack at the tops. "You should feel honored, being the first of your kind to join us."
"But this isn't what I want!" He shouted as they got closer and closer, with more cracks appearing on the eggs. "I just wanted to be friends with you guys!"
"Hmph! As if," Odu-Bathax replied, not believing him for a second.
Then, the eggs broke open, and Gavin laid his eyes on the parasites. They looked like small centipedes and were a bright ruby red in color.
"Please! Stop!" he cried out as the parasites leaped out of their eggs and onto his body, before they started to slowly crawl up him. "Don't do this!"
"It is useless to resist," Illexia replied with a shake of her head as the parasites crawled up his sides and onto his shoulders, before heading towards his mouth.
"No no! Please no!" Gavin cried out, tears forming in his eyes as they got closer, and closer, and closer. Until finally, they reached his mouth, and entered it.
Gavin did his best to try to spit them out and bite on them, but they moved too quickly and were too slick for him to do that. He shuddered and made several gagging noises as he felt the parasites crawl into his throat and start to go down it. "Get out!" he cried as he tried to move his arms to his throat, but to no avail. "Now!"
"It's useless," Illexia repeated as she watched the human struggle in Odu-Bathax's grip. "The parasites are already inside you. You will now become one of us."
"No, not like this!" Gavin cried as tears streamed from his eyes, feeling the parasites worm their way down to his stomach. "Not like this!"
Then, to his utter confusion, he felt them turn around in his belly, and start going back up his throat. 'What's going on?' He thought as he felt them start to crawl back up, making him feel like he needed to gag. He then started to gag, confusing every Danian in the room.
"Hmm, how odd," Illexia said as she watched the human continue to heave and gag for several more seconds, before the two parasites crawled out of his mouth and fell onto the ground with a loud "SPLAT!" "How very odd indeed."
"What is the meaning of this?!" Odu-Bathax cried as he stared at the parasites, who were covered in saliva and bile and moving towards Tollar, who had a very confused look on his face. "How did you resist the parasites human?!"
"H-H-How should I know?!" Gavin snapped back, feeling relieved that they weren't in him anymore and surprised that he was apparently immune to them. "And even if I did, why should I tell you?! You're the ones who wanted to turn me into a Danian against my wishes!"
This infuriated Odu-Bathax, as his face was starting to turn a darker shade of blue, and he started to squeeze Gavin's arms tightly. "Such insolence!" he growled with rage. "How dare you speak to me that way?!"
"Oh shut up!" Gavin snapped back, having had enough of the Danian's attitude. "If you were in my shoes, you'd be doing the same thing!"
"Grrrrr!" Odu-Bathax growled with rage before he started squeezing his arms tighter. "Silence!"
"Od-Bathax! Stand down!" The humanoid Danian loudly ordered, prompting the Danian battlemaster to stop squeezing his limbs. "Now, set the human down."
Odu-Bathax growled and huffed, before he did so. "Yes, your majesty," He said.
"And let him go."
"Grrrr," Odu-Bathax growled as he slowly let go of Gavin, making him sigh in relief before he began rubbing his sore arms
"Thank you battlemaster," The humanoid Danian replied, before turning to Gavin. "I must apologize for what my mother did to you. She is quite set on adding numbers to our ranks, and loves to use parasites."
"Um, alright," Gavin replied, his rage and frustration dying down a bit. 'Is this a trick?' he thought as he looked at the Danian closely. 'To get my guard down?'
"To show you my sincerity," The humanoid Danian began, before she turned to her side and opened a small woven green box. She then reached down, and pulled out a beautiful bracelet that was made of multiple gleaming red and amber-colored beads shaped like insects. "I offer you this," She continued as she held out the bracelet.
"Oh," he said, a bit surprised she was going to give him the gorgeous bracelet. 'Will that even come home with me?' He thought as he stared at it, before she spoke again.
"However, you are also a Chaotic player," She continued. "So, I give you this choice. You can either take this bracelet, or scan me."
"Your majesty, I-" Odu-Bathax was cut off by the humanoid Danian raising a hand.
"So, Gavin Woodring, what will it be?" The Danian asked him, bracelet sitting in her hand.
'Well, shit!' He thought as he stared at the bracelet. 'This is tricky! Very tricky indeed!'
On the one hand, he could get a scan of a very important Danian, and use her in battle. 'But that doesn't feel right to me,' He thought. 'I'd basically be treating her like an object, and that's not what she is. But on the other hand, I'm not sure if that bracelet would even come home with me,' He continued.
After about two minutes had passed, he spoke. "I'll take the bracelet, if that's fine with you your majesty," He replied.
His response greatly shocked Odu-Bathax, who sputtered with disbelief. 'He refused to scan the princess?!' He thought with shock as he stared at the human. 'I can't believe it! He could have been the first player to ever get a scan of her, but he refused! Why?!'
The humanoid Danian's eyes widened a bit at his response, before she smiled warmly. "Wise choice," She said, before she stood up and walked up to him. "Now then, put forward your arm."
Gavin nodded silently and put forward his right arm. As she put the bracelet on his wrist, he felt her hide touch his skin briefly, and he was slightly surprised to find that she was rather warm.
Once the bracelet was secured around his wrist, she took a few steps back. "Battlemaster, escort him out of the hive," She said as she stared at Gavin. "Gavin Woodring, I do hope you come by again soon," She continued, smiling a bit. "I look forward to what you sing for us next."
"Um, thanks," he replied with surprise on his face as Odu-Bathax and the guards surrounded him and started escorting him away. "I look forward as well."
"Good," The humanoid Danian said with her smile widening a bit as they left.
Once they were gone, she turned to her mother, and sighed. "What is it mother?" She asked her.
"Why in Perim did you do that Aszil?" Illexia said to her daughter, having been a bit confused. "Why suggest that he come back again?"
"Oh come now mother, I know you enjoyed his singing," Aszil replied. "And since the parasites didn't work on him for some unknown reasons, he has to be allowed to come back."
"But that's a big security risk Aszil," Illexia said with a frown. "He could tell other humans to sneak in while he's coming in, compromising us. Or tell any of our enemies."
"Why do you think I gave him a choice earlier?" Aszil replied with a smirk. "It gave me a glimpse of his true character. If he had chosen to scan me, it would show that he is just like the other Chaotic players. But he didn't, meaning that he views us as living creatures, and not as objects."
"I see," Illexia said, intrigued by what her daughter had done.
"And he respects us," Aszil replied. "So I really doubt he'd help other humans or our enemies sneak in. He strikes me as the honest type, not really prone to sneaking in the shadows unless absolutely necessary."
Illexia then sighed. "For the good of the hive, I hope you are right Aszil," She replied. "I really do."
Aszil nodded, before she made her way back to her seat. As she sat down, she thought about the human. 'I wonder what he'll sing for us next time he's here?' She thought as she looked at the closed throne room doors.
"Why'd you not scan the princess human?" Odu-Bathax asked Gavin as they walked through the hallways. "Are you not a Chaotic player?"
"I am," Gavin replied.
"Then why not scan her?"
"Because I wouldn't feel right," He replied, confusing Odu-Bathax and the guards.
"What do you mean?" Odu-Bathax asked him.
Gavin sighed. "If I'd scanned her right then and there, I'd be treating her like an object, not a living being," he replied. "I think that's how a lot of Chaotic players treat you guys, although I don't know for certain, as this is my first time here. But I don't see you guys as objects. I see you as beings who have their own lives."
The Danian's eyes all widened upon hearing this. This player viewed them as living beings?!
"If I ever scan someone, I want it to be because I've befriended them, and gained their trust," He continued. "So, it wouldn't sit well with me if I'd scanned her just now."
"I…see," Odu-Bathax replied, surprised at what he had just heard/learned.
As they continued to make their way down the corridors of Mt. Pillar, Gavin stared at the bracelet on his wrist, deep in thought. 'I can't believe I almost got parasitized!' he growled in his mind, still quite mad about the experience. 'I even told them I didn't mean any harm, and they didn't listen!' He then sighed. 'But…I guess it makes sense, what with them not being buddy-buddy with any of the other tribes, particularly with the Mipedians. Still though, that wasn't right of them!' He then frowned. 'It's going to take me while to forgive them for attempting to do that to me.'
Soon, they reached the entrance/exit of Mt. Pillar. "Human," Odu-Bathax said to Gavin as the guards stopped at the entrance. "When you return, show the guards your bracelet. They will get me at once, and I will escort you to the throne room. Understand?"
"Yes sir!" Gavin replied with a nod, before he was handed back his scanner.
"Good," Odu-Bathax replied. "Now go!"
"Yes sir!" Gavin said as he reached up to the top button on his scanner and pressed it, porting out of sight.
Odu-Bathax then sighed, before he headed back inside. 'Well that was certainly odd,' he thought as he walked back to his post. 'I wonder if he'll even return.' He then shook his head. 'I doubt it.'
As his surroundings changed back to those of the PortCourt, he sighed with relief, feeling happy to be in a safe place. 'Okay, I think I need to get something to eat and sit down for a while,' He thought as he stepped of the teleporters before heading towards the nearby food court.
When he reached the counter, he saw that a large menu showing multiple options, with almost every option being a Chaotic pun of some sort.
"Hello, what would you like to order sir?" The light orange floating service bot said to him in a nice, gentle female voice as he stood there, looking at each option, before he noticed something.
"Um, yes, can you tell me why there are no prices with these orders?"
"Certainly. Chaotic has earned a very large amount of money from all the players it has, so some of that money is used to buy food for the Food Court," The robot explained. "The amount of money used is very small, so no one notices back on earth."
"I see," he replied. "Well then, I'd like one Blugon burger and a large Sprite."
Is that all you would like sir?"
"It is."
"Your food will be ready in seven minutes," The robot replied as another robot, this one being orange as well, started to man the grill behind it, while another one started making his drink. "Please sit at any one of the nearby tables, and your food will be brought to you."
"Alright, thank you," Gavin said with a nod and smile, before he turned and looked for a table to sit at. "Okay, now where to si-"
"Hey! KamiFollower!" A familiar male voice called out, catching his attention. He turned his head to see who had called out his username, and smiled upon seeing a familiar face. "Sit with us!"
"Hey Tom," Gavin said as he walked over to the familiar Chaotic player. "Good to see you."
"Good to see you too!" Tom replied as Gavin sat down. "How was your first trip to Perim?"
"Eh, it was fine," he said, his smile remaining on his face. 'Besides the fact I almost got parasitized,' He thought to himself.
"Where'd you go?"
"Mt. Pillar," Gavin replied, making him and the other three players gasp.
"Well I'm sure that went well," One of the players replied sarcastically, his voice sounding quite intelligent. Said player was a 15-year-old skinny male with light brown eyes, light tanned skin, and spiky, fiery orange hair with golden streaks. If he was standing, he'd probably be about 5 foot 9 inches tall. He was wearing round, pinkish red-tinted glasses, a green t-shirt over which he wore an open sleeveless pale olive vest, dark green, slightly baggy cargo pants, and brown dress shoes with lighter brown parts.
"You sure didn't pick a good place to go for your first time," The lone female player said as she took a sip of her soda, with her voice sounding a bit sassy. She looked about 16-years-old, and had apricot skin, mid back-length golden blonde hair and teal eyes, as well as a fit and skinny body. If standing, she'd probably be around 5 foot 6 inches tall. She was wearing a black midriff t-shirt which she wore over a white wrist-length shirt, red capris jeans with a blue belt that had a silver circular buckle and maroon loafers. She also wore 3 golden bangles on her left wrist and a light yellow hairclip on the right side of her hair.
"Yeah, I bet you didn't get any scans dude," The other player added between bites of a large pizza, the box of it sitting next to him. He sounded more laid back than the others. This player appeared to be about 17-years-old, and had tanned skin, brown shaggy hair that was a bit short, and green eyes. He was a bit stockier than the others, and was probably around 5 foot 10 when standing. He was wearing a yellow T-shirt underneath an open short-sleeved green and gray jacket, blue shorts, and blue shoes with pale blue soles and dark blue parts separated by white stripes.
"Yeah, I didn't get any scans," Gavin said with a nod. "But that's not why I went there."
"Huh?" All four of them said with surprise as they looked at him.
"I wanted to see it in person," He continued. "I wanted to truly appreciate the sheer size of it. And, I wanted to see the Danians in person."
"You…you didn't want to get scans?" The glasses-wearing player said with confusion.
"Well, I mean, I wouldn't have minded getting a scan," Gavin replied.
"Well then, dude, it's your lucky day!" The stocky player said as he finished his slice of pizza. "I know many ways to get in undetected. And my schedule is wide open today."
"Thanks, but I'll pass," Gavin replied, before a bot flew over with a large tray sticking out in front of it.
"Your food is ready, KamiFollower."
"Thank you," Gavin said with a smile as he took the soda and the large blue burger on it, prompting the robot to float away.
As he took a big bite of the burger, he looked over at the group, and was a bit surprised to see that they all had surprised looks on their faces. "What?" He said after he swallowed his bite.
"You…pass?" Tom said with confusion.
"Why?" The female player replied, sounding incredulous. "Peyton here knows the Danian Hive almost as good as I do." She continued as she gestured to the stocky kid, who grinned with pride. "You could easily get some good scans."
"Well, it just doesn't sit right with me to have to sneak around their home, you know?" He answered before taking another bite. "Now, if we were talking about the UnderWorlders, specifically Lord Van Bloot, then maybe I could understand," he continued as he sipped his soda.
"But, that's the only way you can get scans in the Danian Hive," The female player replied with a louder tone, getting a bit more frustrated at his stubbornness. "If you try to walk in, you'll get chased away, or put into the dungeons."
"And end up becoming the first human-turned-Danian!" Peyton said in an eerie voice, before eating another slice.
'They already tried that, and it failed,' He thought to himself, before he spoke up again. "Don't worry. I think I can figure out how to get into Mt. Pillar myself," He continued, before eating the rest of his burger. He then stood up, with his drink still in hand. "Well, I'll see you guys around."
"Later Gavin!" Tom said, while the others continued to stare at Gavin.
"Later Tom," Gavin replied as he started to walk away.
As he did so, the female player noticed the bracelet around his wrist, and gasped. "Hey! He has a Danian bracelet on him!" She whispered to her friends as she pointed at him, prompting them to look with interest. "Hey! Wait up!" She continued as she hurried after him.
'Nope! Not having an interrogation now!' He thought as he sped up, having overheard her. 'Not today!' As he hurried towards the teleporter pads, he pulled out his scanner and unlocked it.
"I said wait up!" The female player called out as she started running after Gavin.
'Almost there!' he thought as his finger hovered over the "Return Home" option on his scanner. 'Just a couple more steps!'
"Tell me how you got that!" She said to him as she got closer, only to let out a growl of frustration as she saw him port out of Chaotic. "Darnit!" She growled as she clenched her fists, before she stomped back to where her friends were.
"How did he get a Danian bracelet?" The glasses-wearing player said with confusion as he looked at his friends. "Only the nobles wear jewelry."
"I don't know," The female player said with frustration as she sat back down, grabbing her soda once more. "I know that that sort of jewelry is locked up tight. So how did a newbie like him get it?"
"Dudes, could he have stolen it?" Peyton asked them.
"No, I don't think so," Tom replied. "I don't know much about Gavin, but I doubt he stole it. He doesn't strike me as the thieving type."
"So, how'd he get it?" Peyton asked them, before eating another slice of pizza.
The four of them went silent at that, trying to think of ways that Gavin could have gotten the bracelet.
Meanwhile…
"And, I'm back," Gavin said as he looked at his surroundings, happy to see that he was back in his apartment, sitting in his desk chair. "Man, that trip was weird!" he said, before he stiffened as memories from the copy rushed through his mind. It seemed that when he'd disappeared, his copy had grown confused, before heading to bed, deciding to chalk up the incident to sleep deprivation.
"Well, I hope my memories of what happened transfer over to the copy when i leave again," he muttered, before he looked down at his wrist. There sat the Danian bracelet, and he smiled. "Huh, so it did come with me," he said as he looked at it, before the memories of what had transpired rushed through his mind again, and he frowned a bit. "I need to think about this for a while," He muttered before shutting off his computer and heading over to his twin-sized bed, before dressing into pajamas.
Once he was under the covers, he clapped his hands, turning off the lights, and sighed as he closed his eyes to sleep. The next couple of days were going to be quite interesting.
Well, this was an interesting chapter!
Can't wait to write more!
In the show timeline, this chapter occurs before season1 episode 4
I do not own "Don't Worry, Be Happy." That song is owned by Bobby McFerrin. Same with "Over the Rainbow." That is owned by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg.
If there is a particular Chaotic character you'd like to be in the harem, let me know!
Please leave a review!
This is PuzzleMaster1998 here, signing off!