Author's note 1:
Bah, you know, I'm just having fun with these author's notes. I ain't doing the clown for nothing; just giving everyone a warm welcome for the next read as I shut off to sleep.
It also baffles me that some guests that are obsessed with me for some reason merely choose author's notes to criticize my work/personality.
I mean... really?
I also find it really creepy that they wait for another update to drop a review with different names, something that I would never do. Geez, just thinking about that sends a chill down my spine. Although, I suspect it's the same person under a different alias every time. Double the creeps.
Hey, San. What do you think about this?
Author-san: It's alright, chief. Haters gonna hate. The best weapon you have against them is not giving them the attention they're seeking. Ignore them, for you know you are more based than them.
Ehhh, sure, whatever.
We'll be borrowing a concept from another story I've cited multiple times (duh).
"D" for days, "M" for months, "Y" for years.
Also, the SJ in the title means "Samuel's Journey", for multiple characters, aye?
Enjoy!
Flash? Jesus Christ.
The dragonfly was patiently waiting for a reciprocative introduction, tiny hands wrapped around one another in a mocking copy of human's behaviour. Flash's wings continued to flutter, keeping his altitude stable as he conversed with the human.
"My name is Samuel, Samuel O'Connell."
The mutt rubbed his muzzle against the guard's leg, prompting the latter to pat the former's head.
Bullet's sudden displays of affection were likely a mechanism to cope with the unknown, his only anchor being his owner. It didn't help that an entire storm of dragonflies was surrounding them.
Most were young fellas, very much curious to meet the two unknown species that had crossed their territory, while a few adults stuck nearby in case they were to become hostile.
Flash himself appeared confident, not afraid at all to interact with the newly-arrived strangers. In fact, he buzzed left and right, scrutinizing Bullet and Samuel.
"I have never met someone bearing two names."
Samuel honestly wanted to facepalm.
"It's..." He sighed. "I do not possess two names, Flash. It's a human custom back home. Bullet here..." The security guard gestured at his quadruped companion. "Does not share my predicament. For all intents and purposes, you may call me Samuel."
It was a great struggle to remain formal in these awkward conversations.
Though, he couldn't falter in his efforts, especially if he was to establish an alliance with the native population of these lands.
"Woh!" One of the youngest dragonflies exclaimed. "That thing looks goofy!" He zipped left and right, nearing dangerously close to Bullet's mouth. "What is it, anyway?"
Samuel absorbed the word 'goofy' and catalogued it as another shared slang between their realities. Probably best to lay back and keep on cataloguing the slangs. I wouldn't want to offend the residents with a word they could mistake as an insult. He thought, grunting in an effort to handle the dragon egg as he adjusted the hood of his poncho.
The short distraction gave Bullet a head-start.
He crouched on all fours and hopped, snapping his jaws in proximity of the dragonfly, who shrieked and floundered away as fast as possible.
"BULLET!" The human roared, lightly kicking the mutt's butt. "It's the second time, already! Lay. Down." He glared at the animal, tuning his voice to resonate complete, unadulterated authority.
Bullet whined, giving his owner a sad side-eye as he complied. His stance signified a full renunciation of his liberties, careful not to defy the pack leader. After all, his entire world was the pack, and Samuel was his pack; not only that, of course, he was the Alpha.
"You ought to control that beast of yours." Flash cut in. "I fear his lack of training may engrave on his behaviour and performances." He cocked his small head. "May I ask what it is, exactly? I have never seen something quite like it."
"He's a dog, man's best friend." Samuel sighed. "I'm sorry about his actions. Dogs have the intelligence of a..." He mentally searched for a good comparison. "A three-year-old ape. They only learn through conditioning."
Flash wasn't exactly convinced of the human's analysis, but he bobbed his head two times. "We have a shack constructed for visitors such as yourself. It's in the middle of our colony, but we use it only for diplomatic purposes. Follow me."
Human and dog pushed past the congregated dragonflies, tailing the Elder of the colony as he led them further in. The inhabitants watched them walking, fascinated by their appearances. And, as always, most of the staring was reserved for Samuel himself, who shared many traits with the apes they had all allied with.
The dragonflies' homes were placed high onto the trees, safely hanging from strategic positions. Considering the fellas' miniscule size, they had requested help from the apes for building the wooden residents.
An alliance between apes and dragonflies sounded preposterous, especially when one considered the formers' bloodlust and desire to conquer the world for the Dark Master. Besides, if apes valued their allies by their utility, dragonflies were at the bottom of the pyramid.
Dragonflies were small insects, who preferred to flee the scene before a fight could ensue. Their small, glowing bodies rendered them easy preys. And if the medieval setting of The Legend of Spyro's world was anything to go by, then the ideals of equality and peace would require centuries to be fully implemented.
"Here we are."
The shack looked abandoned, reinforcing Flash's description of it. While the exterior was kept clean and whole, there was virtually no light coming from the inside. There were a few windows to let air in (no glass, unfortunately), with a nice gazebo-like structure on the right.
Overall, it didn't look bad - even decent, Samuel would say.
Then again, it might be the current lighting that gave away a wrong sensation. The security guard was pretty sure the time was 7 or 8 p.m.
"My mate is already inside to lighten up the atmosphere. We know how you mammals struggle in the dark."
Mate?
So, he would be meeting Nina!
Unexpectedly, Flash had enough strength to push the entrance open. Perhaps the mechanism was loosely designed, allowing even the small dragonflies to enter the confinements of the shack.
A masterwork of engineering, he'd have to congratulate the head-ape.
There was a table with four chairs around it, and the walls were decorated with various furniture, relics you'd expect from medieval homes. A barrel in the corner of the shack housed multiple weapons, ready to be snatched and used in combat: swords, hatchets, shields, and bows.
The shack wasn't just a place for diplomatic purposes, but also a safe house for instruments of death.
"Yeah, I forgot that minor detail." Flash rubbed his neck, having realized what Samuel was staring at. "Apes usually leave weapons as a precaution. They are not for us to bear, as you can imagine."
"But it's useful, regardless!"
Human, dog, and dragonfly turned to the open entrance. The security guard recognized the two primates' features, and it greatly disturbed him.
It was the male and female apes, the primates he had cleared a misunderstanding with.
"What are you doing here?" The security guard blinked. "Scrat- Uh, forget that. I just realized I never asked your names. I wouldn't want to keep calling you ape one and ape two, heh."
The male primate smirked at his remark. "My name is Zieros." He then gestured at his companion. "This is my mate, Shimo."
Shimo grunted, striking her chest three times in affirmation. "We asked Chieftain Boris to remain with you. Interacting with dragonflies requires the aid of 'experienced apes'." A smile grew on her lips. "But, I see you have perfectly handled the encounter."
Subconsciously, Samuel clenched his fists.
This was not good.
A part of Samuel still thought that Kalop had been wrong, that whatever transpired before had been mere luck on the guard's part. However, he had looked within many apes, already, and he knew those visions were a tiny glance at a possible future.
Was the destruction of Flash's colony predestined? Could it be prevented? Or even limited to an extent?
Zieros and Shimo's presence pointed all towards the accomplishment of the vision. They were young adults dreaming a family, for God's sake! Hell, they were waiting for the right moment of the year to increase their chances.
They didn't deserve to die, right?
"Thank you, truly."
The two coughed in delight as they each selected a chair. Their positions were close to one another, obviously. Shimo shifted her stance 'till she touched her mate shoulder-to-shoulder. And if Samuel correctly understood the movements of their furred arms, their hands were wrapped together beneath the table.
Soft buzzing tore the human's attention from the primates.
A dragonfly carrying a candle joined their table, plopping the object onto the wood and rearing back. Without warning, a single beam of fire was cast by her body heat, properly igniting the candle.
"As always, you never disappoint, Nina."
Samuel looked at the interaction between the two dragonflies as he settled, placing both his gun and egg onto the table. Bullet nested around his chair, whining every once in a while to ask for pets. The human was happy to oblige, of course.
"You must be Samuel, yes?" Nina stopped in front of the guard, speaking to him with a soft, motherly tone. "It's a pleasure for us to receive your visit. I was just finishing my special concoction, but I assume I have enough of it to prepare a third cup. Would you like one?"
No wonder Spyro was raised with great empathy towards life! His mother embodied the perfect archetype of a caring parent, passing down the correct teachings to her son.
As for her inquiry...
"May I ask what ingredients you mix?"
...Samuel wasn't going to digest whatever they threw at him without an explanation first.
"Mostly herbs and water, but I'm currently experimenting with different spices."
Tea.
That's all she wanted to offer, tea.
The guard had been on alert for nothing...
"Yes, I would like a cup, please."
Nina flew closer to the dragon egg, rubbing her hands onto its surface. Samuel was half tempted to inch the object away, but deep down, he associated the motions with melancholy, and subsequently restrained his desire.
"So many memories..." The woman looked at her mate. "Remember when Spyro's egg hatched? How utterly fascinated and troubled we both felt?"
Flash's smile echoed Nina's sentiment. "He was already fierce; tried to jump at us when he realized we couldn't hold him." The dragonfly crossed his arms. "Samuel, we can wait for Nina to bring us refreshments before we may ask questions, but I must know: What intentions do you have with this dragon egg? There's also the fact that this egg belongs to a water dragon."
Ah, there was a certain edge in Flash's voice. He was apparently afraid of what an unknown species could want from the egg. Besides, Flash and Nina had raised Spyro, so their parenting instincts must have resurfaced in full force.
"You don't need to fear anything from me." It was the truth, anyway. "If you wish, I could leave the egg with you. It wouldn't be the first time a dragon was raised by dragonflies, and you two have close experience, so you can render it less... awkward."
Nina and Flash exchanged a glance, the latter nodding at the former. The female dragonfly flew away, likely to prepare the tea and bring cups to their guests.
"I'm afraid that won't be a bright idea."
Samuel frowned. "Why not?"
"Because of our strategic role in Kodak's defense. We are too exposed to the outside world, unlike our previous settlement in the Swamp, to raise a dragon without unwanted guests visiting us."
Fair enough. But what exactly is their role?
Nina zipped back and forth at their table. "Three cups, as promised! Enjoy it." She joined her mate's side and proudly panned her gaze across the chairs.
The aroma confirmed Samuel's suspicions about the concoction being tea. He glanced at Zieros and Shimo, noticing their half-lidded eyes as they sampled the liquid. They both coughed at Nina, who smiled and bobbed her head.
As for Samuel?
The taste was... sharp, at first, but the aftertaste itself made him sigh. After two days of consuming polluted water, this was a nice change of pace. Were it up to him, he'd always drink this stuff, despite the tedious mixing process.
"So..." He drawled. "What's your role? Why are you allying with the apes?" Samuel smacked his lips. "Uh, no offense." He added, rubbing his covered neck as he looked at the primate couple.
Zieros waved his furred hand. "None taken."
"Well..." The male dragonfly began. "It all started three years ago, when our son defeated the Dark Master and eradicated his evil from our lands. As a result, the apes were freed from their torment and faced a great dilemma. Where would they go from there? Could they ever strive for peace? Could they own up to the hatred they harbored for dragons all these years?"
"That's when the Great Schism ensued." Shimo unexpectedly interjected into the conversation. She fidgeted with her cup, refusing to meet Samuel's curious gaze.
"The Great Schism?" The human asked.
The Great Schism was a nomenclature chosen to describe the diatribe between the Pope of Rome and the eastern Christian representatives of Constantinople.
And if the word 'Schism' bore the same meaning in this reality...
"That is what the apes have called it ever since, yes. A great division." Flash concluded Samuel's trail of thoughts for him. "In the name of the deceased Dark Master, one group of apes demanded to stay the course, and swore to annihilate the Dragons and their allies. Because of their past as Malefor's servants, they deemed appropriate to call themselves 'The Followers'."
Samuel felt like his next question would be redundant, but he couldn't stop his mouth from moving.
"As for the second group of apes?"
"Ah, you have two members right here!" The dragonfly spanned his small arms at said primates. "They deemed their years of fightings against the Dragons to be pointless and vowed to walk down a better path, a history book of scars guiding them to a peaceful tomorrow."
"So, they have diplomatic forces attempting to negotiate with the dragons?"
"Eh, not exactly, Samuel." Zieros drank some tea more from his cup and leaned closer. "Kodak is young and still vulnerable, while the memories of the Great War are a fresh and burning reminder of our previous nature. The scalies are actually smart to be aware of us, and I personally don't blame them. It will take time - or a direct miracle - for us to begin negotiations."
From Zieros' words, the dragons were reclusive and suspicious of (if not outright hostile toward) the apes.
"Do they attack you on sight?"
"Sometimes. Our expedition encountered a small, destroyed village on our way back. The Followers likely captured dragonesses and hatchlings, leaving the males to die of starvation. However, we found and helped a few survivors..." Zieros smiled nervously. "Let's just say a female kicked one of our warriors down there."
Shimo giggled lightly. "Oh! I had to help him with the bandaging. The poor fella couldn't walk for hours! Had to strap him onto Boris' back."
Watching dragonflies and apes laughing together, joking together, living together...
...apes could truly change, couldn't they?
"And Kodak? I heard one of the warriors making a comment about a robust passage, guarded by veterans."
This time, Shimo took the lead. "Our home is protected by the natural formation of a nearby mountain. The city itself is buried one or two kilometers down, while another layer of vegetation spans across the other side, fading out into a beach. We grow our own crops and have an infinite source of water." She scratched her cheek. "Well, as infinite as it gets. We have to boil the majority of our water to purify it."
A simple, but non-extensive treatment. The Romans had better systems to purify water.
"As for your alliance? What's the deal between Flash and Skar?"
Shimo gestured at the dragonfly to answer.
"An alliance beneficial to both parties." He said. "The areas around the swamps had become sterile of life. We left them in search of a new home and we met Skar and his refugees as they travelled for Kodak." Flash's gaze became distant. "His inner fire, determination, empathy, and great abilities as a strategist make him a true leader. Skar crowned himself King of the Apes, allowing anyone under his wing. His objective is to carve a path to a new golden age for his people."
"And the Dragons?" Samuel asked. "What is his stance on them?"
"He doesn't hate them, nor does he wish to enact fair retribution. Skar wants to establish diplomatic contact with the Dragons and work together." The dragonfly licked his lips. "Of course, Skar may allow his troops self-defense in exceptional cases. He'll fight to the death if needed. Of that, I'm sure."
Flash cleared his throat.
"Anyway, our role is rather simple, you see. This forest is the only way to Kodak, and our colony is the main entrance. We act, as you may have guessed, as a checkpoint. Nothing gets past us without a warning to Skar. We divert other species visiting us, claiming the entire region as inhabited by multiple clans. In return, Skar sends platoons to guard us during harsh times and delivers any spare supplies."
It's too articulated to be false.
"King Skar seems to be experienced." The security guard mused. "I can feel the respect in your voice."
"That would be true, yes. However, now that I have given it time, I noticed the similarities between Skar and you."
Samuel tilted his head.
"You both possess two names. Over time, Skar has gained the title of 'Skar King'. That's how almost everyone refers to him. As for formal events, we do call him 'King Skar'."
Skar King...
There was much to be asked, revealed, and exchanged. Samuel was aware that questions regarding his own origins would be tackled later on, but he would prefer to settle the conversation onto the apes themselves. Surely, it wasn't Flash or Zieros' business to survey his words? Boris had already probed him.
The human never had the chance to even open his mouth.
The entrance was, strangely enough, slammed open.
In buzzed a dragonfly, robust and slightly bigger than the rest of the colonials. His bloodshot eyes were quivering as he breathed heavily.
"Flash!" He shouted. "There are intruders approaching our border. They are apes!"
Confusion, fear, incredulity, and anger; those feelings seized Samuel's inner spirit. Unknown apes? Here? Could they be... no. The man clutched onto the egg protectively. Shit, shit, shit! They didn't follow us, they just stumbled upon Flash's village! They're looking for any survivors of this egg's expedition.
"Alert our warriors; we need to buy time." For how dangerous and unpredictable the entire situation was, the dragonfly kept his turmoil masked. "Nina? Hide the egg and protect it at all costs."
Were it up to Samuel, he wouldn't have separated from the object. However, he delivered it to Nina, knowing well this predicament was bigger than him. The female dragonfly managed to raise the egg and disappeared from sight, concealing it God-knew where.
The human followed the warrior and Flash outside, listening closely to their exchange.
"Get the other guards ready." The latter ordered. "We shall hold them until Boris arrives with reinforcements. Also, get me one of our scouts, he's going to alert Kodak's defenses."
"Maybe I can help with that!" Samuel exclaimed, stepping forward. "Bullet is fast and can track scents from a long distance. If we send him, he'll arrive earlier. Best case scenario, he'll find Boris already making his way to the colony."
Flash looked at the dog for a moment, before nodding. "I trust your judgement on your pet."
"Okay, buddy." The security guard kneeled in front of the dog, who curiously tilted his head as to hear his master's words better. "I need you to track Boris down and bring him to us quickly. Here..."
He clenched his fists around a small handkerchief, bearing the colours of marked Kodak warriors and gifted to him by Boris himself. "A great sign of trust." The brute had grunted out. "We do not share our marks with anyone so easily."
Bullet panted, curiously staring at the object.
Samuel had almost retracted his hand in disappointment at the dog's lack of skills, but Bullet pushed his nose forward and took deep sniffs.
Then, he whirled around and hopped away, glancing behind his shoulder one last time to, perhaps, confirm his lone assignment.
He was gone in an instant.
The security guard checked the magazine of his gun and bobbed his head, satisfied.
"Let's see what I can do to help."
Twenty apes rapidly marched towards them, with who-knew how many hiding in the back. The Chieftain of the group held the frown on his face, padding his eyes across the forest's entrance. A magical hammer vibrating with electricity in one of his strong arms cracked numerous sparks, a taunt for anyone daring to challenge its righteous master.
Samuel adjusted his position behind the tree he had chosen as cover, patting the pockets of his raincoat to ensure his items had been hidden.
It was a last-minute choice from him. He thought about the possibility of the Followers stealing more advanced technology, aside from the gun he already possessed. And since the idea of cavemen getting their hands on technology wasn't exactly appealing, Samuel had decided to leave the rest in the shack.
The security guard tugged down the hood of his poncho and whistled to Flash, who was softly buzzing above a branch of the same tree.
The dragonfly's gaze questioningly flickered to the human.
"What's the plan?" Samuel asked. "I'd dare to count sixty apes. There's gotta be more hiding or trying to flank us."
"Delay the inevitable." Flash merely muttered. "If I can also stall them through diplomacy, we will, most likely, survive until Boris' platoon arrives."
So, this was clearly a suicide mission. Not the best situation Samuel has ever found himself in.
He cursed under his breath. "What about the terrain? Any specific advantages this biome may offer should the front line collapse?"
"Aside from a lake not too far from the shack? The forest continues to protrude and stops at Kodak's mountain. We set up traps for an eventual retreat, but the Followers have never visited our colony." He sighed. "We are unprepared."
Fan-fucking-tastic.
If only...
"Greetings, dragonflies!"
Samuel turned off the safety of his gun and peeked from his cover.
The Chieftain rested the base of his hammer on the ground, leaning his wrapped appendages around the upside-down handle. He then grinned, barking at his subordinates to hold positions and wait for further commands.
"I am Chieftain Kahlua, servitor of Lord Ulfric, the true sovereign of our kind!" He loudly proclaimed. "It would be unfortunate for a meaningless squabble to ruin such a peaceful community. I wish to speak to your Elder. Make it quick."
This ain't gonna be good.
"If you're thinking about fake negotiations, I propose to bring a few warriors with you." Samuel peered into the scope. "It won't scare them, but it'll keep them on the edge for a fight. Makes for a great distraction..." The human paused, having realized something rather important. "Where are Zieros and Shimo? We especially can't let the Followers see them."
Flash gestured to his right. "They are on the other side, helping our most vulnerable dragonflies reach the hideouts." He let out a disgruntled huff. "They are stubborn, but they have good hearts."
As the Elder gathered his warriors for this unprecedented meeting, Samuel slowly advanced through the thick bushes, recognizing the advantage of his clothing's colour. He'd be able to perfectly camouflage himself without major risks of being spotted as he got closer and closer.
The security guard spat his saliva a few times, having brushed his mouth against the bushes' branches and the bacteria-laced water residing on top. He also hoped disease-ridden moquitoes and such did not exist in these biomes, for he was unprepared for an infection, should he be bitten.
Samuel took a deep breath and peeked.
"I am pleased to see my invitation was accepted. Who might you be?"
"Flash, my name is Flash."
"Flash, mmmh? Well, as long as you're the one to talk to, I don't mind whatever name you bear."
Face to face, eyes to eyes, mouth to mouth.
Chieftain and Elder were conversing with one another, while their warriors glared deeply at each other. One of the rogue apes continued grinning, a few drops of saliva dribbling to the ground as a result. The cause? He was staring at a specific dragonfly, and the implications behind such a strange gesture deeply unsettled Samuel.
Could the Followers be classified as cannibals? Especially if they consumed other species with intelligence equivalent to a human's?
Oh, Jesus Christ...
And the smell...
Kodak's apes certainly weren't the shining example of hygiene, but they didn't stink as much as the Followers did. Perhaps they washed more, or they used herbs to mask their scents; Samuel was just conscious of whose system he preferred.
"Why are you here?" Flash asked. "The Followers have never crossed these lands, and you seem to be very far from resupplying lines. Why waste resources for such a trek? There must be a catch."
"Indeed." The Chieftain mouthed, grinding his teeth. "I am not going to waste your precious time, Elder; colonies like this one require much care and attention, I'm sure." The small bow that followed afterwards was meaningless and empty. "I would appreciate your help for a task of immense importance. I promise you Lord Ulfric shall reward you appropriately."
"And what task what would that be?"
"Oh, it's rather simple!" Kahlua's expression perked up at the dragonfly's compliance. "We are extensively searching for an egg! A dragon egg." His gaze travelled past Flash, into the giant forest. "Did you notice anything peculiar unraveling before your home? The mother was dead, but we believe the egg was scavenged a few hours before our arrival, two days ago."
Fuuuuuck.
The timing was impeccable, which pointed to an involvement of this Chieftain in the hunt for the egg.
Samuel vividly recollected the images he received when he had touched Pirsa.
He wanted to vomit...
"She was a Water dragon. There is a high possibility of her offspring belonging to the same species. We must find it while we still can."
Subconsciously, his finger pressured down onto the trigger, although his rational side stopped him from escalating the encounter. Maybe Flash could end this peacefully, and a bloodbath wouldn't tail these apes.
"I'm afraid no such occurrence has happened, yet. This forest is inhabited by many clans, aside from my own, and we have claimed the entire region as ours. But, please, do deliver my sincere greetings to Lord Ulfric. I hope this exchange may spark an ever-lasting friendship between our communities."
Flash was playing the card of a neutral leader, a risky manoeuvre for the secrecy of Kodak. Then again, not cooperating with the Followers could only be considered an admission of fault by the dragonflies themselves.
A no-win situation...
Flash could either maintain his cajoling, which would endanger Kodak's secrecy, or refuse to collaborate, which would indirectly confirm Kahlua's suspicions.
With the first choice, Flash was, at least, going to buy more time.
Unfortunately, that moment would never come.
A screech...
A screech, feminine in nature, alerted both parties and the hidden human, who nudged the green leaves away and looked to his right.
No...
They were being dragged by their necks and fur on their heads. Shimo had the bad end of the stick, since a medium-sized baboon was gripping her legs and shooting a suggestive smirk towards a certain part of her biology.
The female ape screeched and bared her fangs at him, sometimes even wiggling to try to escape their clutches. Obviously, outnumbered and physically inferior, Shimo's defiance was merely an echo of Kodak's fierce strength.
She was desperate to free herself.
Maybe the Followers' customs still reserved a 'traditional' role for females.
"Boss, boss, boss!" An unoccupied and smaller ape rushed at his Chieftain. He was holding a spear. "Weh got dez two while they were helpin' the flies! They are from Kodak, look, look, look!" He pointed a finger at the pair's marks.
Thrown onto their knees, Zieros and Shimo glared at their captors, with the former panting in distress, visibly troubled by his mate's fate.
Kahlua snorted, shifting his stance to properly grab his hammer. "What was that you said, Flash?" He cackled. "'An ever-lasting friendship between our communities'? Well, you should know Lord Ulfric does not reward deception. So, I'll make you an exceptional offer..."
He ran his fingers underneath the couple's chins, growling a soft tune.
Shimo recoiled from the touch, refusing eye contact as her lips trembled and cold sweat dampened her brow.
Contrasting, Zieros pushed past his fears and snarled at the Chieftain. He was willing to bet his own incolumity to protect his mate.
Kahlua suddenly cocked a fist back and struck the young male. He ignored the desperate cries from Shimo and whirled around to face Flash.
"Aid us in capturing the rest of these degenerates, as well as the False King. In return, we shall not incinerate this colony. Perhaps, Lord Ulfric will allow an expeditionary force to protect your home."
The young ape had shrugged off the dizziness just then, turning his head as to reveal the state of his face. Already, the skin was rapidly turning purple, and a faint trail of blood slithered down his cheekbone. Zieros tried to coax Shimo into silence through gentle murmurs, but to no avail.
She was still crying out to him.
Give me the order. Just call out to me and give me the order. I'll bury these bastards myself.
His gun was fully loaded, with five other magazines as reserves. Considering their size of fifty bullets, the element of surprise, and the general confusion that would ensue before the apes realized his weapon was akin to bows, he could diminish their numbers greatly.
Flash seemed to sigh, ready to accept the development.
A decoy. The human realized.
Samuel's finger was very close to pressuring the trigger fully.
"SAMUEL!"
CRACK! CRACK! BANG!
The bullets cut through the air, their produced shockwaves temporarily ringing the ears of every species on the field. The three Followers surrounding Zieros and Shimo let their weapons clatter down to the ground as they brought their fists to their chests and throats. They began gurgling on their own blood, eyes wide in surprise.
One after the other, they dropped to the ground, leaving their unmoving bodies for crows to feast upon. Three wide pools of red expanded, conjoining into even bigger puddle.
Their deaths had been unexpected, virulent.
And yet, Kahlua didn't bother staring at the lifeless corpses of his subordinates, nor did he stand there like a complete fool to ponder what had struck them.
Instead, he immediately retreated.
Samuel's unconditioned spraying brought major results, throwing the combatants into chaos. He extracted the empty magazine and rapidly snapped another inside.
Four reserves left...
He was aware that the lightning spectacle he had conjured would seize the attention of the rest of those barbaric primates, especially when his weapon's loud entrance wasn't masked by a silencer.
Samuel simply did not care.
The dragonflies and the ape couple dashed for the forest, with Flash adding up to Samuel's strategic location.
Three quarters of his bullets had been aimed for frightening and scattering the Followers (since Samuel did not have a clear shot), while, miraculously, the first twelve of them ended the lives of the captors and rescued the ape couple.
One thing was for sure: Kahlua was smart and rigid, recognizing the wounds' origins as projectiles similar to arrows.
Element of surprise completely butchered, the human's eyes darted left and right. The forest's biome started not too far from where his expedition had arrived, signifying a clever move by Kahlua to hide behind smaller logs or medium-sized rocks, his platoon following suit.
"That was... magnificent."
Samuel grunted in reply at the dragonfly, not bothering for a more elaborate response.
Sweat cascaded his cheeks and forehead, although the latter was protected by the raincoat's hood, which immediately absorbed the fluid.
His eyes widened at a pair of eyes peeking from a rock.
CRACK! BANG!
Two bullets connected with the baboon's face, and the 'poor' animal was flung back. It spasmed and convulsed as blood and brain matter splattered against the ground. Its last thoughts were of primal fear at the realization of its imminent death.
The ape's body went limp a few seconds later.
"What a display of fierceness!"
The human motioned between himself and the dragonflies with two fingers, then darted to a new position to maintain his tactical advantage. He planted his back against a trunk and pinched his eyes shut, steeling himself.
"You are not welcome here, Chieftain of the Followers!"
Damn, he was really like a Lord of the Rings character, wasn't he?
"Take the rest of your troops and leave this colony at once!"
A laugh reverberated in response.
"I'm afraid that can't happen, my friend. I do appreciate you showcasing your remarkable contraptions, though. We'll treat them wonderfully and replicate them once we bask in our well-earned loot."
Outnumbered and cornered by sadistic, intelligent primates...
Not the best odds.
"Besides..." Kahlua hummed. "You should have never thought we didn't cover every inch of this area."
Human reflexes were great. But in the grand scope of the animal kingdom, they couldn't beat the reactions of a cheetah or even the smallest of felines.
The ape that charged him next would have been deflected only by a feline.
Instead, Samuel wheezed as an ape slammed into his side. He tumbled down from his position, racking hit after hit against the ground. His body burned with numbing pain. Surely, that would leave many bruises to recover from... was he to survive this fatal encounter.
The man's final tumble had his side slam against the ground, eliciting an agonized scream from his lips as the bones in his shoulder and clavicle threatened to fracture. From the pain and his disorienting fall, his world was spinning into disarray. At this rate, bruises would be the least of Samuel's worries.
His muddied ears were unable to detect Kahlua's approaching footsteps.
"Well, well, well..."
The tip of an utensil buried itself into the ground beside him, centimeters away from slashing his pinkie.
Samuel glimpsed the shimmering, silver handle, groaning and clenching his teeth together. He gathered any spare stamina and propped himself up with his good arm to address his assailant, only to wrinkle his nose in disgust.
If the smell of the Followers was bad, the utter stench emanating from Kahlua's maw could annihilate any unprepared Homo Sapiens.
The security guard had a few days of training, at least.
Kahlua leaned his chin onto his crossed arms, as he had done before. "Another Chieftain and his scouts had previously reported sightings of strange, furless apes roaming the Swamp. He also claimed they tasted wrong, as if they didn't belong here." He chuckled. "Well, it would be a waste to consume you without a proper interrogation first. Sometimes, the other Chieftains are too blinded by bloodlust to see the bigger picture. But I'm not."
A few primates marched past the two, heading towards the forest, while others surrounded them. Kahlua cocked his head at the grunts a small warrior released. "No. You have already wasted two invaluable specimens; I will not allow you to eradicate the last of them."
A sickening grin replaced his frown. "However, this furless fella should get used to our customs." His gaze snapped back to Samuel. "The Followers have precise criteria to choose strong warriors. One of them is continuous exposure to physical trauma, a test to highlight those with greater endurance."
"And what happens to those not passing it?" The human softly asked.
The large grin grew impossibly larger.
"We eliminate them. Our army is like a machine: only as strong as the sum of its parts. That's why the weaker gears must be cast out."
Kahlua puffed his chest as one of his lieutenants bowed and presented Samuel's weapon. He ran one hand on the gun, scrutinizing and sniffing it as Boris had done. "A peculiar design. And you used this to annihilate three of my strikers? Marvelous. You'll have plenty of time to explain to us how it works."
As if I had the blueprints to manufacture more. Samuel thought with a snort. While he would have liked to snark about it, saying something that would trigger Kahlua would be idiotic.
Kahlua gestured with his free hand.
"Well, make sure to welcome our new guest."
Heeding his command, four primates closed in too quickly for Samuel to register them. He only saw their raised fists before...
WHAM!
...pain exploded on the back of his head, which plunged him face-first into the grass. A pained grunted escaped through Samuel's gritted teeth. Unfortunately for him, the sadistic animals wasted no time in following up their assault with a flurry of kicks.
Samuel's body flared up with pain, his mind going numb and reverting to its baser instincts. He huddled up in a fetal position in an attempt to shield his vital organs.
Unfortunately, it left his flank wide open.
BAM!
Samuel coughed a spew of blood as his kidney took a critical hit. His side burned with an agonizing pain, and the sharp, bitter taste of iron invaded his mouth. The security guard writhed on the ground, the world spinning around him.
"What a pity. I thought your species was stronger than what you're demonstrating."
"Fuck…you…" Samuel rasped. He would have thought of a smartass response to give were his mind not marred with so much pain.
"Oh, well." He heard, somehow, Kahlua sigh. "Burn this colony and its clan to the ground. I want the male traitor executed and the female taken with us, we'll make her talk."
This wasn't right...
"N-no."
Somehow, Samuel found the strength to get up to his knees.
CRACK!
But one good punch from one of Kahlua's subordinates knocked him back down.
He held his stinging cheek, his teeth gritted. It wasn't right for the dragonflies to lose another home; it wasn't right for Flash and Nina to not have another chance at seeing their children; it wasn't right for Zieros and Shimo to perish before they could have a family of their own...
Samuel's other hand tightened into a fist, scooping up dirt and grass from the ground.
It wasn't right for him to die like an animal, never to see his son and wife again.
"Believe."
What?
He grunted, somehow able to sit up, although he paid no mind to his surroundings.
"Believe."
It was a voice, soft and convinced, whispering what appeared to be advice.
"Hah! It seems our guest survived the first trial. YOU!" A pause. "Yes, you. Deliver a delicate anesthetic to our new comrade and prepare him for transportation."
Was this his destiny? To be treated like a slave for the rest of his days?
"Believe."
Samuel looked at his hand. It would be so easy, right? To believe for a moment that he was gifted with special abilities, that he could save the day and this colony.
"Believe."
He clenched his fist, shooting a resolute, rageful glare at the evil primates towering above him.
If so, now was no longer the time for insecurity, fear or hesitation.
From his peripheral vision, he spotted a medium-sized lieutenant, cracking a fist up.
"Believe."
Samuel pinched his eyes shut, took a deep breath, and spurred into action, shoulder-charging the devil before he could bring his arm down.
The ape was sent flying in the air, screeching loudly. Meanwhile, the human backpedalled, putting as much distance as he could between himself and the rest of the primates.
Planting his feet, the human stared at his handiwork, seeing how utterly terrified the lieutenant appeared as soon as he was back up.
Samuel lowered his gaze, his eyes eventually settling on his hands. He then narrowed them, passing his fingers on his mouth to clean the spilled blood.
"Fascinating..."
The human tightened his fists, shifting his attention to Kahlua.
"Hah! Where'd that second wind come from? It seems you've still got some fight in you. This is going to be entertaining."
A grunt caught Samuel's attention. An ape's big axe was barreling towards the human's side. Any sane man would have tried to dodge such a finishing blow. But instincts were leading Samuel's mind, and they cared not for the consequences.
He reared one foot back, raised both forearms, and merely waited for the primate's hit.
CLANG-KRSH!
Had Samuel's rational side been in control, he would have been flabbergasted at the way the axe's metal head shattered once it made contact with his body. Yes, it incited a grunt out of his lips, and his shoes scraped against dirt as he was thrust backwards, but the human was otherwise unharmed.
Samuel latched onto the ape's neck and chest and heaved him overhead. He slammed the primate against the ground, then jumped him. Through surgical strikes, Samuel rammed his fists into his prey repeatedly, aiming for the face and left side of the sternum, right where the heart resided.
A part of him desperately hoped that the rest of the platoon was watching the macabre beatdown. It would be a didactic warning for them to scramble off, lest they suffer the same fate.
CRACK!
The ape's rib cage gave way under Samuel's relentless assault, making him screech in agony. Soon enough, he sputtered blood and mucus. Some of the liquid tainted the poncho's front, which would eventually leave an unwashable stain.
Bestial gurgles wracked the ape's throat as he kept choking. Once blood fully submerged its lungs, it expired, his head collapsing to the left. His lifeless eyes scornfully glared at his comrades, perhaps because no one had come to his aid.
Standing erect, Samuel's consciousness pushed past the rage controlling him. He swept his eyes across the field, noticing the gaping expression of the primates, as well as the unusual frown plastering Kahlua's face.
He shifted his feet to look behind him.
Many sets of eyes were scrutinizing him, Shimo and Zieros' amongst them. The two mates were holding a bow and a sword respectively, probably retrieved from the shack not that long ago.
Shimo grunted, uncertainty spreading throughout her, and she retreated behind Zieros' shoulder.
They were afraid.
No time to think about that.
Samuel found himself panting. Had he already expended that much energy? No matter. He couldn't give in now. He waved his hands to rid them of blood; the liquid splashed onto the grass beneath his shoes.
With a renewed focus, he analyzed the battlefield. Currently, Samuel could count forty-four primates, Kahlua included.
Too many apes.
The man would never last against them all.
As useful as the resurgence of his supernatural abilities were, he was a lone fighter facing what could be described as a small armada.
Yet, his objective did not shift.
He had to buy time for Boris to reach them.
Kahlua growled, interrupting the human's trail of thoughts. "I've had enough. Bring him down so we can loot this colony."
Hesitancy.
Not a single warrior heeded to the Chieftain's orders, shifting the weight of their bodies from one foot to another.
They were stalling, unsure on how to proceed.
If their crushed morale never recovered, Samuel could capitalize on that and end this long before they'd get their bearings.
Kahlua suddenly roared, slamming his electric hammer onto the ground. Sparks crackled wildly along the weapon's edge, producing a light intense enough to blind anyone who would foolishly look at it. Most of the apes cowered in fear and submission, keeping their heads down.
"I SAID GO!" he bellowed.
Two apes shut their eyes and took the lead, charging and screaming at the human. One brandished a sword, while the other swung a robust club.
An advantage Samuel possessed over these monkeys was the fact that they wore virtually no armour. Perhaps they were low-ranking troops. After all, only high-ranking soldiers could be trusted to not let their valuable resources fall into enemy hands, whether by being captured or killed by them.
He ducked just in time to avoid the blade. The ape comically tripped over a rock and slid two meters away as a result. It then nudged its head upwards and barfed leaves out of its mouth, much to the amusement of the dragonflies.
While he could have tanked the hit, Samuel wasn't about to risk it. What if the first time had been a fluke? No, he couldn't rely on his inhuman tenacity until he was sure of its effectiveness.
Unfortunately, the event made him lost sight of the other ape, allowing it to blindside him. It crouched down, curled the fingers of its hideous feet together, and leapt, lashing out with its weapon.
The attack rattled Samuel's head as he went tumbling down, his vision blurring shapes out of proportion. "S-shit!" He seethed, absorbing some of the pain he was supposed to feel. Before he could recover, the monkey jumped onto him and pinned him to the ground. Its club found a solid anchor point against the human's neck.
It planned to choke him.
A clever plan.
If he can't outpower me, he can still try to choke me.
The other monkey, having recovered, marched towards them from Samuel's peripheral vision. It clutched the base of the sword with both hands, echoing the Japanese technique of the katana.
It was going to chop the man's head while its comrade suffocated him.
No, fuck that!
The security guard jammed his fingers into the ape's eyes, smirking in satisfaction at the agonizing howl the animal released. It writhed as blood gushed out of its eyeholes, the gelatinous substance dripping down Samuel's hands. A few drops found their way onto the human's face, and he had to nudge his head away to avoid them getting into his own eyes.
Of course, he didn't forget about the sword guy.
He thrust his assailant at its comrade as it brought its weapon down.
The subsequent impaling put an end to the first soldier's howls. The sword skewered the monkey through its back before hitting the ground next to Samuel. Slowly, the ape went limp, its head tilting down.
Its comrade pulled the sword every which way in an attempt to retrieve it. It didn't exactly work... instead, by pulling and twirling, the weapon scraped aground, and more blood splattered on the human's clothes.
Samuel seized the opportunity by pinning the busy ape to the ground and pressing both hands on the sides of its face. Under the pressure of his awakened strength, the ape's skull began to cave in. Sickening cracks resounded through the air as its eyes rolled back.
KR-CRACKL!
The result was…messy.
Samuel stood there, panting, while the corpse dropped.
His break time was short-lived.
"You'll pay for that, furless!"
The human was tackled, yet again, by an unforeseen attacker. This time, he slammed into a tree, face-first, with Samuel bringing his arms up to protect it.
He didn't see it, but the impact fractured the trunk in several spots, spawning a spiderweb of cracks that travelled upwards from the origin.
As for Samuel?
He was… fine. Shaken from the experience, but still unharmed and ready to go at it again.
The ape assaulting him was medium-sized, reaching up to his chest, unlike the previous ones. And it was also the same that had ambushed him not too long ago, throwing him across the field.
Yellow canines soaked with saliva were bared at the human, and two furred hands gripped his shoulders.
Samuel responded in kind, efficiently and brutally.
His palm slammed into the ape's jaw. As it staggered backwards, Samuel grabbed the primate and threw it against the tree, just like it had done to him a few moments earlier. Taking a hold of his opponent again, Samuel slammed it into the tree again, and again, and again, the ape's agonized howls ringing in his ears. The sturdy tree behind it groaned under the endless pressure.
By the fourth slam, a bloodcurdling ka-CRACK! resounded from the ape's breaking ribs, but Samuel did not falter in his efforts, even when his victim long stopped screaming.
He continued his assault, unrelenting.
When the human was sure the soldier had expired, he finally let go and turned around.
But what he saw was not fear in his opponents' eyes. The apes were glaring at him defiantly.
They were becoming bolder, more compliant with their leader's orders.
The security guard shifted his stance, only to collapse onto one knee, panting. Samuel was reaching his limit. He glared at the apes with gritted teeth. It wouldn't be long 'till they overcame him, then dragged his unconscious body to their base of operations. And when they discovered he knew nothing about making firearms, they would find a way to end his life, and maybe even feast on his remains, like the beasts they truly were.
An idea suddenly popped into his head.
There could be a way to stop his vision from happening, and the key resided in Kahlua himself. What if the leader left his platoon? Morale would drop significantly. Not only that, but, in case of an ambush, they would have absolutely no directions.
So, Samuel decided to play his final card before his stamina depleted completely.
"H-hey, Kahlua!" he called. "Is this the best the Followers can offer? Pathetic." He noticed Kahlua clenching his unoccupied fist. "Come on! Come and get me, if you're up to the task."
He staggered to his feet and bolted for the forest, running as fast as his tired legs could carry him. Samuel pushed past the dragonflies, past their homes, and past the astonished couple of primates following him with their gazes.
The human had to suddenly hit the metaphorical brakes, lest he fall head-first into the lake before him.
It wasn't a big lake, unlike the tone which Flash utilized to describe it, but it was wide enough. Maybe even wide enough for a fisherman's boat to fit in and travel from one side to the other.
And this beauty stood between Flash's colony and Kodak? What a fortunate layout.
"GRAAAHHHH!"
For the third time that day, Samuel's lack of attention to his opponent cost him dearly.
Kahlua crashed against the human, lifting him in the air by the chest...
...then, he was thrown with such ferocity it surprised him.
KRA -SPLASH!
He wasn't prepared for the water invading his mouth and filling his lungs, or for the impact to actually hurt him. So far, he'd shrugged off all physical damage, which meant the human was impervious to conventional methods of harm.
Samuel wasn't a swimming champion by any means, but he knew how to handle himself when he went to the sea with his wife and friends.
But right now?
He couldn't re-emerge.
The human was floating above the streambed, just high enough not to touch it with the tip of his shoes, that much he understood. He extended a hand and clawed at the freedom above him, desperate to collect the resource every human being craved: oxygen.
Bubbles escaped his opened mouth. Just a few more minutes, and Samuel would undoubtedly drown.
But despite the urgency of the situation, he found himself unable to muster the strength to move, his limbs heavy with exhaustion or, perhaps, resignation.
As he burned through the last supplies of his oxygen, a single question gnawed at him. Why can't I swim up?
The answer eluded him, lost amidst the labyrinth of his starving brain.
The edges of his vision blackened, and Samuel felt his consciousness fade. He went limp, in full acceptance of a sweet release from his suffering that beckoned him like a siren's melody.
Fortunately for Samuel O'Connell, fate had another path in mind for him.
Just as his half-lidded eyes were ready to close permanently, something grabbed him by his outstretched arm and snatched him away from the watery jaws of death.
The next moments were a succession of flashes, but he remembered coughing and vomiting excessive amounts of water out of his system.
"What happened to him?!"
"Come on, give him some space! He needs to breathe."
"I thought humans knew how to swim!"
"The Followers are near! We have to worry about the rest of them. Take the human to Kodak's gates!"
Too much...
It was too much for the human.
In that moment, Samuel O'Connell finally succumbed to exhaustion.
Author's note 2:
Well, you know, I think this demonstrate the direction of the story pretty well, and how not-overpowered the OC should be.
I read comments of concerned people raising an eyebrow at how the story presented itself. Samuel will not turn into Handsome Squidward and win alone against the dark armies. He almost died two times in this chapter!
Penny for your thoughts, Folded? We've gotta assure our readers!
Author-san: You guys can trust Gino. He spits on the idea of OP protagonists. You should have seen how he pile-drived the last guy who tried to convince him to make Samuel a Marty Stu. It was nasty.
Indeed.
Until next time!
Gino out.