Exodus - Chapter 1 - Lon Lon rupee farm
We begin on Halden, on Lon Lon ruppee farm.
It was a normal day on the Lon Lon rupee farm.
Chronos, an older man clad in a checkered green vest and brown patchwork trousers. Had just finished tending to his part of the field. Having rotated the rupee crop that day he slowly made his way back to the farmhouse. Waving to Fen, his adoptive son. Wiping dirt from his brow the farmer smiled. His blue shirt was stained with mud, the farmhand wiped his hands on his leg. Giving a small salute in acknowledgement before continuing his work.
“Chronos! Chronos!” A voice from across the field got his attention. A man younger than him in grey and green ran over. Long jacket shifted behind him as the fir on the top section moved in the wind. He’d come from the direction of his home.
That was Twilight, his dark blond hair and blue eyes smiled as he approached rather quickly. He was the only blood-related Son he and Malon had between them.
“Twilight?” He raised an eyebrow as the farmer crossed his arms. “What’s wrong?”
“We’ve got a call from Castle.” The younger man paused as he stopped his sprint. Placing his hands on his knees before standing quickly. “It's Skipper!”
Skipper, an old friend of the family. A captain in Castle’s navy. Or at least he was. “Skipper?” He tried to hide his surprise, but he couldn’t. He hadn’t spoken to Skipper in months. Why was he contacting him now? “Did you bring a Coms chip with you? Let's see it.”
Twilight rummaged around in his pocket before pulling out a triangular object. Throwing it over to the head farmer before crossing his arms. “Wonder what he wants?”
The farmhand gently cradled the coms chip in his hands before activating it.
“Chronos.” Flickering to life the small hologram of a tall man appeared in the palm of his hand. The projection cloaked in a shade of yellow held an armoured man. A tale-tale scarf fell over his left shoulder. He held his arms crossed as his face held a serious tone.
“Captain, to what do I owe…” He smiled, the holoprojection of Skipper raising his hand to quiet him.
“Chronos I’m sorry, I can't talk for long.” His voice held a tone of regret. But that was the captain for you. He was always business first. “We intercepted a distress call coming from a ship that appears to be headed towards Halden.” He paused, pulling out a small tablet and pushing a few buttons on it. The holoprojection shifts to the trajectory of the ship. “We’ve found the ship but we can't Identify it, and our hails have gone unanswered.” He paused. “If our calculations are correct it's headed right for you. We think it'll land in one of your southernmost fields.” He paused as the holoprojection shifted showing a map of the farmland and highlighting three possible locations. “I suggest you clear the area. And take cover in the farmhouse.”
“That’s not good…” He paused, looking over the map, they were rotating some of the fields for crops, and two of the fields indicated were empty fields. “Any signs of the pilot?” He asked to the air, continuing to look over the map. If he was understanding this correctly, the ship would land in the left-hand field near the back of his farm.
“We’ve identified a singular, all be it weak, life sign inside.” Skipper’s voice sounded across the holoprojection “But the unusual make has us interested, the ship is highly damaged but…” The pause from the captain put the farmhand on edge “I’ve got a team headed towards you, and I’m going to join them.” The hologram flicked back to Skipper. Who looked between the two men at they looked to each other. He looked solum and had a hand to his chin.
“What do you want us to do?” Twilight asked. Crossing his arms and looking towards the captain. “We can help. Fen recently came back from Castle. We have supplies.”
The captain looked towards Twilight with a hint of hesitation but seemed to hold it. “Alright…” He turned to Chronos. “I want you to investigate the crash once the dust settles and find the pilot. But remain inside until it’s safe first. They might still be alive in there. But I don’t need you guys injured too.”
“You got it, captain.” Twilight gave a face salute before turning to the farm and sending a shrill whistle through his fingers. It pulled the attention of Fen, who began to make his way over. While Twilight made to meet him halfway. Leaving Chronos and Skipper alone.
“By the way, It’s just Skipper now. I’ve been promoted to admiral.”
“You have my congratulations. It’s a well-deserved title.” He smiled, he’d known Skipper a long time, he’d always been after higher positions in the Navy. It was good to see the man achieve his goals.
The two stood in silence for a while, they watched Twilight speak to Fen. Before they ran back towards the farmhouse.
“Chronos.” The sound of his name made him turn towards the holoprojection, Skipper looked worried. “Looking at it from here it's badly damaged, damage which is mainly located on the back of the vessel, whoever’s flying this ship was fleeing.”
Skipper paused, his eyes drifted to his gauntlet as he fiddled with some of the plating. Chronos raised an eyebrow as he looked across, He’s seen this movement. A nervous tick. He knew something.
“Chronos…” Skipper paused, and sharply inhaled. “I think it’s a loftwing class…”
His eyes widened. That couldn’t be possible. “A loftwing class?” The last time they saw a loftwing class ship… “But we’ve not seen loftwing class ships in over thirty cycles… Easily during the Time-shift wars.”
“I know. That’s why I’m concerned.” Skipper crossed his arms. “The implications alone of seeing one, let alone one that’s fleeing…” His voice shook. Worry plastered across it.
“You think Bolt’s in trouble? It’s a huge source of TR3”
“I wouldn’t mention it if I didn’t.” He made to speak again but turned to something outside of his vision. “Looks like the ship is entering the atmosphere. I’ll see you soon.”
“Understood, Admiral.” He smiled, Skipper returned the gesture before he turned away. The projection faded from view as Chronos placed the Coms chip in his pocket.
His eyes turned to the skies as a large object came into view, it was red in colour, with a yellow portion at its front. Smoke billowed from the engines as it entered his view from far in the northwest. It appeared to be headed towards the northmost field.
Turning, he broke into a run, making his way over to the farmhouse where Twilight and Fen were ready with a yellow box. A crash kit. “I’ve never used this but thought it would be useful.” Chronos nodded as the air around became charged. The sounds of engines spurring out filling the air.
The ground shook as the rattling of steel and grass being torn from the ground echoed through the air.
The three of them got to work immediately. Fen grabbed the small health kit and threw it to Twilight. As he and Chronos ran ahead. Running off to the nearest barn to the crash site.
The crashed ship was in bad shape, flames erupted from the engine bay as black smoke billowed from the back. The viewfinder bay cracked as it sat half-buried in the ground.
“Chronos!” Fen appeared a purple handle in one hand and a hose in the other. The man in question turned and recognised in immediately. Opening a hand as it was thrown to him. Pushing the pommel against his hand made the weapon spring to life. Energy spiralled up the weapon and two halves erupted. A holographic axe head appears from its blade. Energy humming through his palm.
Twilight took the hose from Fen as the smaller farmer came over to Chronos. “I think if you break the viewfinder here, I can get inside.”
Chronos nodded, swinging the axe over his head and sending it firmly into the viewport. Sending cracks through the glass. “That’s… worrying.” He said to himself as he continued to hit and hit at the glass.
Glass smashed as light seeped through into the smoke. Stepping back smoke flowed through the hole they had created. “Fen!”
Moving over, Fen examined the gap in the ship before jumping through the hole, covering his mouth with a wet rag as he crouched to the floor. Looking around in the darkness as an alarm fizzled out. He saw a shadow slumped up against the wall. A piece of stray metal plating pining it down to the ground.
“There’s someone trapped in here!” He shouted back up through the hole. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to get him out myself. Gonna need you down here Chronos!”
Chronos looked down too, as smoke filtered through the ceiling and out of the room. The air slowly became clearer. A wind flowed across the entrance as smoke filtered out of the entrance.
“By Farore’s light…” He looked at the metal plating across the shadow before moving over and grabbing the metal plate. He gave a yell as he began to lift the plate straining against the weight.
“comeon comeon comeon!” He said quickly as he struggled against the weight. “Pull him. Get him out.” Fen crawled under the plate to see a man, in a green shirt and tan trousers which came to his knees. He was covered in blood. “By the three…” Eyes closed the man was limp, blood stained his blond hair. Lighter cuts littered his arms as several pieces of metal protruded from the wounds.
“Is he breathing?” Chronos asked.
“I don’t know,” Fen said, worry laced in his voice as he grabbed the man and pulled him out from under the metal plate. Chronos dropped the plate when they were free and moved over to him. Looking over the wounds across the man's body.
“He’s been flung around like a rag doll.” He said, as he pressed a hand to the man's head. Blood soaked into his fingers. Looking down at the man he watched closely.
“Twilight! Get Skipper down here now!” Fen, Set up the stretcher, we are going to have to pull this guy out.” He spoke quickly as he changed his movements.
Twilight pulled the man out. Moving him out of sight from the two men below. Equipped with the medical supplies he started to perform medical care.
“I’ll jump up and throw the rope to you Chronos.” The Fen stepped below the opening, green light shining through his eyes as he crouched. Then springing from the ground he leaped from the wreck. A burst of wind in its wake.
“Hey? Hey!” Twilight’s voice echoed through the room from above them. “Can you hear me?”
Chronos looked around the room. It had been years since he’d seen a ship like this. But with Skipper's tip, he knew this ship was skyloftian. There was no mistake. The metal structure was laced with skyloftian handiwork. Engraved sheet metal laced with other alloys to increase strength. The broken remains of the pilot's chamber in the middle of the room. Wiring sparking from its snapped remains.
His eyes scanned the room as the smoke finally cleared, his eyes landed on a large crystal thrown haphazardly against another wall. Red feathers fanned out from the sides of it while white feathers lay beneath.
This was a set of wings. Skyloftian Wings.
“A wingless Skyloftian?” He asked himself, grabbing the device and turning it in his hands.
“Chronos! You okay?!” Fen shouted down, standing at the top of the makeshift hatch.
“Yeah, I found something. But I’m coming up now!”
Before grabbing at the rope with the other hand. He hooked his foot into the stirrup as he was pulled out of the hole. His first sight was of Twilight applying healing salve to a bandage and placing it on the mans head. Fen was beside him, holding a wound in the side of the man's torso.
Chronos sprung into action, moving down beside Twilight. Eyes looking to the sky briefly. “Come on Skipper… hurry up.” He grabbed a bandage himself and moved to apply healing salve to it. Hovering his hands near where Fen’s hands were before replacing the young man's hands with his own.
Fen rushed to get more bandages, wrapping what he could. “We can't remove these here. We’ll need to get inside.”
A groan escaped the man's lips.
“Hey!” Twilight leaned over the man's face. “I saw his eyes move!” Looking up briefly before looking down again. “Hey…!”
“Come on kid,” Chronos said gently, placing a hand on his shoulder. Worry covered his eyes.
The sound of a ship landing in the background sounded as voices sounded. In the background.
“Get the stretcher! I wanted Teams at that crash site yesterday! MOVE!” Skipper…
“Chronos! I’ve got men here. We’re here to help!” A group of four medical personnel flooded from the ship behind the admiral. Carrying medical supplies and a stretcher.
“Thank you, Skipper. Thank you!”
“We are not out of the warp yet. We will take care of him.” Skipper smiled, reassuringly. As the injured man was gently moved to a stretcher. His eyes scanned beside Chronos. To spy a set of Wings.
“Then I suppose we have to hope he pulls through. We need information.”
Watching as the skyloftian was carried towards Skipper’s ship the three farmers managed to take a breath. The admiral took a breath before walking after him. The three of them walked behind him.
They needed information. And the only one with it was in critical condition.
