the-wandering-prototype
“Dogs are nice..Except for when they won’t stop following you.” Once upon a time , Blues had been chased around by about 20 dogs. Afterwards he decided it was for the best to not hide out in a restaurant dumpster ever again. “You were in a warzone then?….And I’m sorry about your horse.” The robot frowned with some concern. Doctor Wily had told him about wars, seeing as how his being created was funded by the Military. Doctor Light on the other hand never gave him a straight answer..
[Felix looked up and off to the side with a slight frown, rubbing the back of his neck.]
In a manner of speaking.
[He then held a hand off to the side.]
At the time, I was beholden to a military man, yes. But it was not meant to be an international affair on that scale. We were part of a solo mission.
We did encounter problems in one of the major militaristic nations, though. They were always a looming threat to the mission, but unfortunately… conflict was unavoidable. They had military forces centered and focused around the one place on that continent that we needed to get to, and negotiation was not an option.
[He had come to appreciate the reality of the situation as the years went by. Saturos had done an excellent job in keeping their route through Angara very straightforward, and bypassing all but the essentials. This, unfortunately, had the unintended long-term side effect of highlighting the conflicts that did occur.
He still felt that Saturos and Mendari used unnecessary levels of violence throughout the journey, but he now understood just how impossible it would have been to accomplish their goal in a completely pacifistic manner.]
His training and fighting style didn’t allow for taking prisoners, and we were very pressed for time. Even if it had been possible to merely restrain them, that would not have worked. We already had enemies on our trail—a separate group that had tailed us across the continent—and they reported our movements back to the city. Reinforcements were called in, and were pouring into the area. My sister actually encountered these troops on her way out.
[He frowned, thinking back to the situation.]
-*-*-*-*-*-*-
“SATUROS! {What in the name of dishonored cowards are you thinking?!}”
We were riding east at breakneck speed. Saturos and Menardi had just blasted Tolbi guards with fire, forcing the Suhalla Gate open with their bare hands. The soldiers had been no match for them and had fallen within moments—but not quick enough. One had escaped and was sounding off the alarm. It could be heard for miles.
“{Shut up, Felix!}”
“{Damn you, damn you both! YOU TOOK AN OATH!}”
“{SILENCE!}”
There are very few times I have been so angry. But that morning, I was furious. Thorny vines grew unchecked in my wake, unwittingly called forth by my disgust.
“{We cannot afford any more delay, and they would not let us pass!}” Menardi snapped. “{So keep your tongue!}”
[…]
I was cut off when I saw a stream of fire out in front of me. I came to an abrupt halt, shielding my eyes from the blast and explosions.
I ran on ahead to find Saturos and Menardi at the Lighthouse door. Menardi was holding some scholars hostage while Saturos was hacking away at vines covering the door.
To everyone’s surprise, it was Kraden who kept things from getting out of hand. “STOP! STOP, I SAY!”
The scholars were enormously relieved to see him. “Kraden! Thank heavens you’re here!”
Menardi bared her teeth. “These wretched fools won’t let us inside!”
“But we already told you! We don’t know the way!”
“Do you want to end up like the others?!”
-*-*-*-*-*-*-
It was all quite a rush, at the time. I was young, and hot-tempered. I was mortified at the measures Saturos took in that last portion of the journey—at least a dozen people must have perished.
Including him, in the end.
[He shook his head, looking over the field as he held his arms akimbo.]
I couldn’t understand it. Not until nearly ten years later.
[Then he crossed his arms.]
We were already fleeing from an increasingly more powerful party that had been pursuing us for months.
Then, we were entering into hostile territory—land that was under the control of a cruel empire. This empire was led by someone who had a great deal of avarice and greed—someone who sought true eternal life and mastery over nature itself. If such a man discovered our presence, it would mean death for us, and doom for humanity in general.
[He didn’t exaggerate, and the soft tone of his voice was becoming somewhat colder as he went on.]
We were powerful, but he had an army at his disposal. A well-trained, well-equipped army amassed from the strongest men on the continent. There were already dozens of soldiers and scholars stationed in our path, and more were on the way. We were hopelessly outnumbered, if it came to that—and we would have been so exhausted by the trials and peril of the Lighthouse that we would not have been able to use Psynergy to defend ourselves.
(So very close…
It very nearly happened.)
Finally, there was nowhere to run. We were entering onto a peninsula with numerous, vast gorges—a sheer drop-off with an almost vertical, rocky cliff face.
The situation was truly desperate.
The prototype nodded listening to the man speak. It was interesting actually to be answered when he asked a question. Normally he'd have to nag Dr. Light about it until the man gave him somewhat of an answer. However he did see why he didn't some times. The things that Felix spoke of created a pit in his stomach. People dead....nnnn..Blues shook himself slightly to snap himself out of it."I see....." Even with those shades blocking his face , Blues looks a bit freaked out in some ways.
