Part 11: The Guards
Crossing the first platform bridge, Jack ignored the beautiful vista of the red planet below - more interested in the ships docked in his immediate vicinity. There was a vast array - mostly pirate vessels - all docked in one way or another on the dozen or so immense, round, docking platforms that rested at the bottom of the hive-station. Though some were larger and some smaller, some impressive and some diminutive, none captured his gaze so well as that of his quarry: the black Nagrak behemoth.
As he crossed the smaller platforms to get to the large one where the massive ship docked, he felt more and more uneasy as the massive ebony shape of the ship grew before him. Other pilots must have shared his uneasiness, for as the closer he got, the fewer other ships were docked near the formidable Nagrak warship. He surmised that the lack of other ships could prove advantageous, as a smaller number of ships meant fewer possible witnesses to alert more guards. Although it also meant less cover if he should need to avoid gunfire and less transports that he could hijack (should the need arise). He would have to take that risk.
So, there it is.
Jack grew slightly nervous as he drew ever nearer to the ebony monstrosity. The thought crossed his mind that maybe the prophet of doom had been right - maybe he should turn back from this fearsome leviathan. But this was the ship he had hunted for for so long, and he was almost to it. Soon, if all went according to plan, he would be inside. No good reason to turn back, now.
Why oh, why did I have to park my ship so far away? Oh well. There’s nothing for it now - especially regrets. The Nagrak ship was now within a few yards.
A couple of steps later and he was at the far end of a short extendable walkway - a sort of telescoping ramp that led up to the ship’s portal. The portal was designed on par with the overall motif of the ship itself: black and arched, with the top of the arch forming the palate of an open mouth, and the image of a horrible, horned, demonic mask sculpted around it. The door itself was engraved with rows of sharp black teeth. For the first time, he noticed an army of small projecting gargoyles and grotesques lining the sides of the ship itself, stretching out in all directions from the door. Peering far away into the distance, he saw that they extended down the entire length of the ship. They reminded him of trapped lost souls, trying to escape from the warship’s armor. Jack mused that the large door-face appeared to be the mother of all these little statuesque demonites. He wondered why he hadn’t noticed them before.
Man, the engineer of that thing really went all out on the gruesome-factor to let people know they weren’t welcome aboard.
But the faces of the two figures standing guard over this intimidating entryway reminded him that the sculptor didn’t have to delve too deep into his imagination for his artistic inspiration. The guards in every way resembled the fearsome fanged mask of the portal, or rather, the portal was designed based on their natural appearance. The two Nagrak were not pleasant to look upon, but were quite typical of their draconian race (so far as Jack had encountered). They were a tall, angular species, reptile-like, with grey skin splotched with black and brown - tattooed in swirling tribal patterns. Their faces resembled skulls, with high cheek bones and slit noses like snakes. The hair on the top of their heads jutted up into two sharp horn-like points. From their temples rose actual curved and pointed horns. Their small beards were equally as sharp as the hair on their heads. From the corners of their mouths could be seen the ends of the bottom rows of their jagged teeth - one had grey-green fangs, and the other blackish-yellow. Their attire fitted well their naturally off-putting appearance: black spiked boots, metal gauntlets, heavy armor, and jagged metal wings attached to their backs. Jack still wasn’t sure whether these accouterments were biological, cybernetic, or just an accessory to their armor. Lastly, as if their dragon-like looks weren’t daunting enough, both of the nearly identical guards sported heavy assault rifles - probably unnecessary for the riff-raff they would encounter at this station, but enough to convince any would-be troublemakers that they meant business.
His quarrel was not with the guards themselves, however; rather he sought what the merciless crew held deep within the gruesome vessel. Confidently, but cautiously, he strode up to them.
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Notes:
Concept Art for this post:
The Mouth-Portal:
Nagrak Horns:
Earlier Drawing of the Scary Door:
http://mrreese-mysteries.deviantart.com/art/Jack-and-the-Nagrak-Guards-610713089