Vertigo (story)

Vertigo is a short story that takes place on the galaxy of Vivillios taking place after Misfits - Deadeye, following Makara after his departure from Earth in Deadeye.
The story introduces Jordyn, Corundum, who are following Makara in a quest to get their names wiped off of the Federation database and live their lives without a criminal record. This story is meant to explain what happened to Makara and also to introduce these new characters.
==Story==
===Prologue===
From black, it cuts to space, stars in the background. A light whirring sound is heard in the distance, suddenly, a blur appears, and a large ship stops, a white and orange color scheme painted across the whole ship. It cuts to the inside of the ship, in the Captain’s Bay. A girl with dark blonde hair is sitting in the center, her hand on her face.
:Blonde Girl: We’ve escaped their fleet, but how long until the whole fleet reaches us?
A man behind her looks to her, sighing.
:Man: Not long, ma’am.
She sighs, tapping at something on her board.
:Blonde Girl: We need to jump as fast as we can.
:Man: Affirmative, Sara.
Sara nods, looking out the windows into space. Suddenly, the whole ship’s power flashes as a purple portal opens up, a ship with the Federation insignia flying out, stopping to the side of them.
:Sara: Gods save us.
It cuts to the inside of the Federation ship, a girl, wearing the usual black and white Federation armor, looks out the observatory of the ship, at the measly escaping ship in front of her. Another Federation member walks up to her, hesitating.
:Man: Mm, Ria, we’re here.
:Ria: Yes, I can see that.
:Man: W-what should we do first?
:Ria: The usual! Use the damn harpoons.
The man nods, walking away. It cuts to the outside of the Federation ship, three massive hatches opening up, three sharp, harpoon like objects shooting out, propelled by rockets. It then cuts back to the Captain’s Bay of the other ship, Sara looking out, seeing the harpoons heading at insanely fast speeds.
:Sara: Shut all the windows! Tell everyone to evacuate, get in a ship and leave. We can’t jump now, it’s too late.
The harpoons slam into the ship, all three embedding into it, causing the whole thing to rumble. It cuts back to Ria, who is grinning. She takes her helmet off, shaking her orange hair, grinning.
:Ria: They’re gonna try to make a getaway. Send the attackers, shoot out any escapees. Ready up the rail guns, as well.
Sara bursts out from the Captain’s Bay, running down the hallway and opening a door, leaping down the stairs, wincing as she lands. She is holding a capsule in her hand, running as fast as she can. She opens a door, and it cuts back to outside of the two ships, the Federation ships drowning out the attempted escapists. It then cuts back to Sara, who is fumbling with a safe of sorts. She slams the door shut, sighing. She walks out into the hallway again, pressing her finger up against a code lock and sighing as the window opened, looking at the three massive rail-gun cannons on the Federation ship rising up and aiming at their ship.
:Sara: One day, you’ll die out. One day.
‘’It cuts back to Ria, still looking out at the ships, smiling.’’
:Ria: Fire whenever you’re ready, boys.
It cuts out of the observatory, the sound of the rail guns firing, then back to Sara, who closes her eyes. Everything is engulfed in flames, only for a moment.
50 YEARS LATER...
It’s completely black. Suddenly, a hatch opens, revealing Makara, once Former Four. He chuckles, reaching in towards the screen, cutting back out to him pulling out a capsule.
:Makara: Voila!
Makara presses it to his face, as if to kiss it, making a metallic clanking noise. He stuffs it in his backpack, the sound of metallic clanging echoing throughout the broken down ship that we had seen in the introduction, now destroyed and near salvaged. Former Four grins, looking out the open doorway into space, jumping out, and landing on his ship, skidding across it as he attempts to get a grip.
:Makara: Good enough haul, I guess.
He leaps into his ship, throwing the backpack to the side. It cuts to Former Four parking his ship at a scummy looking Space Town, a town in the middle of nowhere, with bars and shoddy looking houses. He walks over to a door, a black woman with red hair opening the door, grinning.
:Woman: Makara! I bet you’ve brought me something good today, huh?
:Makara: I hope so, at least. If it’s good enough, this might be my last time I’ll be here.
The woman clicks her tongue, sighing.
:Woman: Shame. You were a damn good supplier.
:Makara: I know, I know, but I need to continue on.
:Woman: Yeah, yeah, Universe Adventure. One day, you’ll need to settle down.
Makara shakes his head, looking down at the ground as the woman sorts the pieces, grinning.
:Woman: 4000 credits?
:Makara: 4500?
:Woman: God, I can’t say no to you. Fine, 4500 credits, only because it’s my sending-off gift.
Makara nods, the Woman sliding a chip to Makara, winking at him.
:Woman: Best of luck, you robotic freak.
:Makara: I’ll have a hell of a time!
Makara gives her a thumbs up, the woman shaking her head.
:Woman: He’s gonna blow himself up...
Makara walks back to his ship, pressing the chip into an opening on the ship, grinning.
:Makara: 4500 credits. Finally, I should have enough to get onto the Prilax ship.
Makara inputs a location into the ship’s auto pilot, and grins, leaning back into his chair.
:Makara: No more scavenging, finally.
Makara’s ship takes off from the junky looking Space Town. It cuts to his ship, now flying towards a massive ship.
’’’PRILAX’’’
:Makara: God, what a paradise.
Makara looks around, spotting a large opening, seemingly an entrance into the ship. He flies over, and suddenly, the ship stops, a woman, seemingly an android, flies over on a platform. Makara sighs, opening up his bay and walking out of his ship, the girl flying over towards the bay. She begins to list off a multitude of different languages, Makara shaking his head.
:Makara: Uhh, English please.
The android stops for a moment, a clicking sound being made.
:Android: Welcome, to Prilax! The most exclusive mobile space hotel. Would you like to purchase a room today, YOUR NAME HERE?
:Makara: Yes, yes. What are your options?
:Android: Well, English-speaking visitor, we have Normal, Luxury, Elite, Classical..
:Makara: Oh, gods.
It cuts to Makara, flying through a large hallway through the ship, other ships flying throughout. He looks at the prompt on his screen, the words “261”. It shows a hologram displaying 261, Makara’s ship docking into a little bay. Makara walking out of the ship, grinning.
:Makara: Well, I’m here.
He walks through the door, a voice, chiming in.
:Voice: Welcome, new visitor! You will be given as much time as you want to settle in, but Prilax would like to tell you what they offer to you on the best mobile space hotel on the side of this universe! We have a pool, a sports room, with an adjustable court, a casino.
:Makara: Ooh, a casino..
several months later..
It cuts to the casino, people talking all throughout. It cuts to Makara, laughing and talking with a group of people.
:Makara: I’m going to miss you guys, but Vivillios seems very interesting. Hell, maybe I’ll be back one day. The Casino is an addictive place, after all.
A creature pats Makara on his back, almost resembling a humanoid scorpion, nodding at him.
:Scorpion Creature: Well, you know where to find me! Sitting, gambling my.. 250 year life away..
Makara pats him on the back, the creature looking down at his drink for a moment.
:Makara: Well, it was totally a fun few months, but I’m running low on credits as well. This casino can only get you so far.
:Scorpion Creature: Well, you know, one more night wouldn’t hurt.
:Makara: Good idea.
It cuts to Makara, back in his room, pressing a button on a screen, “CREDITS - 200” popping up.
:Makara: Fuck.
It then, almost instantly, cuts to Makara flying away from Prilax, a large planet in the distance. Makara flies closer to it, triggering an alarm of sorts in a nearby space station.
:Federation Member: Ugh, looks like we've got another idiot trying to get onto Rialla. I'll just.. send another drone, I guess. What number is that this week? 57?
The other member shrugs, watching him as he marks a tally on a tablet by him. It cuts to Makara landing on the rocky planet, rain pouring down. He looks up, sighing.
:Makara: God, this place is ugly.
Makara walks out of his ship, spotting a cave. He walks in, looking around. He laughs, spotting a patch of red crystals, taking out his staff and swinging at them, breaking them out. He stuffs them in his bag, a drone silently watching him. He turns around, the drone hiding in the shadows.
:Makara: Hm.
Makara walks farther down the cave, hearing a footstep.
:Makara: Hm?
Suddenly, his lights turn from a light glow to spotlights, one flickering slightly. He looks around the cave, now in a larger part of it. He continues to look around, then stepping out of the way, sticking his foot out. A figure swings at him, missing and tripping over his leg. They trip, yelling out. Makara sighs.
:Makara: What the hell are you doing?
Makara looks down at the figure, only half of her body illuminated by Makara's light. It's a female alien with crimson red skin and black hair, looking down at the ground.
:Makara: Hello? Are you okay?
The figure swings around, revealing the other side of her body, a crystallized, jagged mess, although only on one half.
:Makara: Oh! Jeez.
:???: Mm, yeah. That's usually what I get.
:Makara: Sorry, I just.. Nevermind, I'm, uh, Makara.
:???: I'm Corundum. Nice to meet you, Makara.
:Makara: ..Why are you down here?
:Corundum: I'm an outcast. It's because of, you see why.. The Federation have put this planet on lockdown and have been experimenting with everyone here. When I came out different, I was outcast, so I hid in the caves, for quite awhile.
:Makara: Yeah, looks like it.
Makara looks at Corundum's rugged clothing, Corundum sighing.
:Corundum: I look rough, I know..
Makara looks at her, nodding. He stops moving for a second, hearing a whirring behind him. He outstretches his hand, grabbing the drone that was stalking him beforehand, bringing it to his face and looking at it.
:Makara: What the hell?
:Corundum: Nono, don't break that thing!
Makara crushes it, throwing it to the ground.
:Makara: It was stalking us.
:Corundum: It's Federation owned. They don't take that stuff lightly, and now they're coming for you.
:Makara: Well, that sounds.. bad. What is the Federation, anyways? I've heard it referenced time and time again, but what exactly is it?
:Corundum: It's a corrupt group, they run this galaxy. They've ruined many people's lives, and will continue to as long as this galaxy lives. They're unstoppable at this point.
:Makara: Well, I don't wanna be captured by another group of space travelling tyrants, so I'm going to get out of here. Good talking to you, Corundum. Best of luck with, uh, whatever you do.
Makara begins to walk away, Corundum looking at him, putting her hand out.
:Corundum: W-wait! Wait.
Makara looks back to her, turning his head.
:Makara: Hm?
:Corundum: I-I don't want to be on this damned place anymore. Please let me come with you.
:Makara: Well, I'm apparently wanted now, so why would you want to come with me?
:Corundum: I wanna see space, just once. Even if it means I die, it's better than rotting on this planet.
:Makara: ..Fine. I know we're getting out of this, because I'm just that good. But the next planet we get to, I'm dropping you off. Deal?
Corundum takes a deep breath, nodding.
:Corundum: Deal.
:Makara: Well, lets go, then.
Corundum grins, running up to Makara and hugging him. Makara looks down at her, patting her on the back, confused.
:Corundum: Thank you.
----
Makara and Corundum walk over to his ship, Makara looking around the foggy sky.
:Makara: Well, doesn't look like there are any Federation members out to get us, so it looks like we're fine! Maybe they just can't catch me.
Makara looks back to Corundum, who looks at him uneasily. He walks over to his ship, jumping in, motioning for Corundum to follow.
:Makara: This is my mobile home, basically.
Corundum crawls in, looking around. Makara throws some clothes at her, Corundum looking up at him, confused.
:Makara: There's some clothes, thought you would like something other than the ragged ones you were wearing.
:Corundum: Thanks!
It cuts to Corundum, now wearing the suit, pulling at it around her neck.
:Corundum: It works a lot better than my old clothes. More comfy.
Makara nods, turning the ship's engine on, leaning back in the pilot's chair
:Makara: Well, sit back, and relax, I guess. We're heading out to the next planet. I'll drop you off there, probably.
Corundum nods, slightly dissatisfied. The ship's landing gears retract and it takes off, dissapearing in the fog. It then cuts to them, flying out of the planet's atmosphere.
:Makara: FTL travel is a bit weird at first, so strap in.
Makara looks back at Corundum, who nods, buckling in and pushing herself down into her seat, nervous.
:Corundum: Whatever it takes to get out of here, I guess...
As they speed off, it cuts to the Federation space station seen earlier. A Federation soldier is looking at the screen, sighing.
:Federation Member: Ugh, god damnit. They escaped during lunch break.
He lightly slams his fist on his knee, sighing.
:Federation Member: Whatever. I'll send their FTL coordinates to the respective station, they can deal with it.
He types something into his keyboard, pressing it, leaning back.
:Federation Member: Aaaaand, done.
----
Makara is flying towards a beige, bland-looking planet. Looking down at it.
:Makara: Hm, info isn't coming up for this planet right now.
It cuts to the ship flying towards it, a ship roughly two times the size of Makara's ship. It has the Federation insignia on the side.
:Makara: We've got a ship tailing us. Don't worry, I've got the weaponry to take them out.
:Corundum: Oooh gods, we're gonna die..
Makara does a quick turn around on the ship, facing the Federation ship. He presses down on a button, a large clicking sound being made. On the screen, "ROCKETS EMPTY" appears.
:Makara: Wait, what the hell?
He looks behind him, the rockets sitting in a box.
:Makara: Oh, damn!
The Federation ship fires at Makara as he tries to turn around, speeding towards the planet. Corundum yells out, curling up in her chair.
:Corundum: Now we're dead for sure!
Makara shakes his head, grinning.
:Makara: Ships like these always have weak weapons, we'll be fine.
Suddenly, two gatling guns deploy from the Federation ship, opening fire at Makara.
:Makara: Okay, we might be dead, now.
The ship continues to fire at them, the thrusters finally exploding, causing them to spin out, now close to the planet. The Federation ship stops, assuming that they'll die on impact.
:Corundum: I shouldn't have trusted you, I should have just stayed at home..
:Makara: I've got this. This has happened before. Get in that pod over there. It's made for cryosleep, but it should probably let you survive. Hopefully.
:Corundum: I dont want to DIE!
:Makara: You won't! Just, get in the damn pod!
Corundum floats into the pod, crying. Makara shuts the door, grabbing the seat, heading closer towards the planet.
:Makara: Well, backup boosters are deployed, and it looks like this planet is all ocean, we should be fine, actually!
The ship slams into sand, revealing the whole planet is desert.
VERTIGO
===Chapter 1===
The chapter begins with the ship, its pieces spread out across the sand, a thruster still slightly on fire. A piece of the ship is still slightly intact, lying apart from most of the other pieces. Makara's body is lying in the sand, seemingly powered off. Corundum pushes out of the pod, falling to the ground, shakily breathing. She puts a finger to her forehead, feeling blood. She sits up, looking out into the desert.
:Corundum: I'm.. alive..
She looks around, spotting Makara. She leaps upwards and runs over to him, patting his head urgently.
:Corundum: Makara? H-hello?
She looks at him, tearing up.
:Corundum: Ghhh, c'mon.. get up..
She sighs, falling back into the sand and pouting. She looks up, spotting a group of vehicles in the distance, heading towards them. She shakes her head.
:Corundum: This is how it ends, a death far worse than what I could've gotten..
Corundum shakily stands up, watching the vehicles inch further, now seeing that they are some sort of hoverbikes. They circle around the broken down ship, one leaping off of the bike and rolling towards Corundum. She attempts to punch the scrapper, but misses, the scrapper bring their fist right into the back of her head, sending her to the ground. The scrapper kicks her several times, hurting their own foot in the process.
:Scrapper 1: Damn! That one side is hard as hell. What are we gonna do with her, now?
:Scrapper 2: Just leave her. We don't have any use for her, anyways. The robot, however.
The second scrapper kicks Makara's body, looking back to the other scrappers behind her.
:Scrapper 2: This should be interesting. Throw him in the pile, I’ll look at him when we get back.
Scrappers scramble over to Makara, hoisting him up into a pile of junk, the second scrapper walking around the crashed ship, nodding.
:Scrapper 2: It’s a good haul, that’s for sure.
It cuts back to Corundum, who looks up at the first scrapper. The first scrapper looks at her, sighing.
:Scrapper 1: Looks like she’s still awake.
The first scrapper brings his fist down on her, everything cutting to black, suddenly, the hum of a vehicle being heard. Corundum wakes back up, lying in the back of what seems like a rusted, futuristic car. She looks around, the sound of music playing lightly throughout the car.
:Corundum: Wha..??
The driver turns back to her, revealing her pink, slimy face. She leans back, waving at her with her bright pink hand, smiling.
:???: ‘Ey, you’re awake! Found you sitting in the middle of the desert, so I decided to pick you up. You’re welcome.
Corundum looks at her, spotting her other arm, a robotic arm, navigating the steering wheel. She looks down for a moment, looking up to the mysterious slime girl.
:Corundum: Nonono, scrappers got my friend! We have to go back!
:???: You’re.. not getting him back. The scrappers will keep him for as long as they like. Can’t trust people out here, anyways.
The mysterious lady looks Corundum up and down, looking her in the eye.
:???: You’re not from around here, huh?
:Corundum: N-no, not at all, ma’am! We crash landed here, and then the scrappers came by and-
:???: Took you friend, yeah. Don’t know why you guys would even get close to this hellhole, but you’re here now! Anyways, the name’s Jordyn, what’s your name, crystal gal?
:Corundum: O-oh, my name is Corundum. That’s a pretty name.. Jordyn.
:Jordyn: Damn, you’re too nice for this planet. You’ve gotta toughen up if you wanna survive on this planet?
:Corundum: Survive? Nononono, I just want to find my friend and get off of this planet.
Jordyn slaps the wheel of the car, bursting out in laughter. Corundum looks down, frowning.
:Jordyn: Nobody ever gets off of this planet, hun. We’re the galaxy’s trashcan.
Jordyn pulls up to a shoddy-looking garage of sorts, leaping out. It seems Jordyn is wearing a large, ragged coat and that’s it. She opens the car door for Corundum, who stumbles out, falling to the ground.
:Jordyn: Oh yeah, they beat the shit out of you. You’ll be soar for awhile.
Corundum sighs, getting up and following Jordyn.
:Corundum: Wait! Aren’t you gonna.. help me?
:Jordyn: What? No! I was just driving you closer to town. You can bunk here for a night if you really want, but that’s it. I don’t have anyone in my scrap hut, ever.
Jordyn kicks open a box.
:Jordyn: Unless they’re here to bang.
Corundum raises her eyebrow, watching as Jordyn pulls out a drink, wincing at the smell.
:Corundum: Is that.. tea?
:Jordyn: Mm, barely. It’s the worst thing I’ve ever tasted, and one of the only drinks I’ve ever tasted, but it gives me a good kick.
:Corundum: I thought slime people didn’t have to eat or drink..
:Jordyn: We’re called Mordamorphs, and no, we don’t have to, I just... like to, I guess.
Jordyn shrugs, drinking the whole cup, wincing for a moment.
:Jordyn: Anyways, I guess I should show you around, huh? This is my work area.
Jordyn slaps the table beside her, pieces of scrap rattling around. She looks at them alarmingly.
:Jordyn: That’s where I lay at night and think about all my mistakes.
She points over to a bunch of rugged cloth on the ground.
:Jordyn: And that, that’s my Magnum Opus, a work in progress, yes, but it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.. A hover bike..
The hoverbike falls over, a piece rolling across the room. Jordyn laughs awkwardly.
:Jordyn: Hehe, like I said, work in progress.
Corundum watches with wonder, nodding.
:Corundum: It’s a very nice place! You make do with what you have, huh?
:Jordyn: Yeah.. It works out, I guess.
Jordyn looks down, fixing her jacket.
:Jordyn: Soo, we have to find you a place to sleep! You could sleep over here.
Jordyn points to a corner with two pieces of clothes sitting there. Corundum walks over, banging her head on a piece of scrap hanging on the wall, rubbing her head.
:Corundum: It works, I guess, and If I’m only here for a day..
:Jordyn: Great! Now, I’m going to sleep.
:Corundum: Wait..
Jordyn runs over to her bed, curling up into a ball, falling asleep nearly instantly.
:Corundum: Hm.
She looks at her corner, sighing. She leans up against the wall, rubbing her forehead.
:Corundum: Gghh, I just hope Makara’s okay..
Corundum slowly begins to doze off, her head lowering.
----
INTERNAL SYSTEM REPAIR COMPLETE
Makara jerks back into consciousness, looking around. He can hear the sound of metal being shredded and loud clanging sounds. A short scrapper walks over to the pile, grabbing a piece of metal. They look up, spotting the now conscious Makara. They begin to back away, but not in enough time, Makara picking them up by the shirt and slamming them against the wall. They whimper out in fear, Makara staring straight at them.
:Makara: Hey, bucko, listen up, I wanna know where the hell I am, and you’re gonna tell me.
The scrapper murmers nonsense, Makara chucking him across the room.
:Makara: You’re incompetent, huh.
Makara throws the scrapper across the room, the scrapper almost immediately scrambling to his feet and running out of the room. Makara spots a bulky robot, banging on metal. He’s tied down to the floor, completely silent. Makara walks over, yelling at him.
:Makara: Hey.. uhh... robot! You know where we are?
The robot makes a few beeping noises, Makara nodding his head.
:Makara: Definitely not an ocean planet, then.
The robot beeps once again, pointing his arm at the chains tying him down.
:Makara: Yeah, I guess that’d be a problem. I’ll get you out, and we can both escape, alright? I’ll drop you off at a bus stop, or something.
The robot makes two high pitched beeps, putting his hand up in the air. Suddenly, a tall cloaked man, wielding a spear, runs into the room. He growls at Makara, pressing a button on the spear, electricity surging through the tips of the spear.
:Makara: Of course there's more of you. Whatever, I can just take you out with my scythe.
Makara puts his hand out for his scythe, the sound of metallic clanging echoing through the room. Makara sighs.
:Makara: Damn.
The cloaked man leaps over a pile of scrap, swinging his spear at Makara, who keeps dodging the swings. Makara grabs one side of the spear, the cloaked man jabbing him with the other side of it. Makara lets go, backing up instinctively.
:Makara: Damn, you're not going down without a fight, huh?
Makara leaps back towards his enemy, who jabs him straight in the chest. Makara falls to the ground, sighing. As the cloaked man brings his spear down onto him, Makara kicks the man straight in the knee, sending him spinning across the room, slamming into the pile of scrap. Makara rubs his hands together, nodding.
:Makara: Aalright, we can get out of here.
It cuts to Makara and the robot walking out into the hallway, looking around. Makara looks back at the robot.
:Makara: Well, you know the way out, show me!
The robot makes a few beeping noises again, Makara looking down.
:Makara: You don't know the way out, do you. I guess we'll just, figure it out.
Makara and the robot walk into a room, seemingly a garage. The garage exits out into the desert, albeit being a large drop.
:Makara: Seems impractical to have a garage this high up, but an exit’s an exit, I guess. We can just make our escape easily, and — what the hell are you doing?
The robot begins hitting a large battery, Makara backing up. It continues to punch the battery, beeping at Makara.
:Makara: No, we don't need to destroy their tech, that'll just get you killed.
The battery explodes, the robot being destroyed, its head pelting Makara in the chest. Makara sighs, picking up the robot's head and stuffing it in a pouch on his hip, chuckling.
:Makara: Guess I'm taking you as a parting gift now.
Scrappers burst into the room, running towards Makara. One leaps towards Makara and he kicks them in the chest, sending them sprawling across the floor, knocking over another scrapper.
:Makara: Damn, you got me caught, too.
Makara runs over to one of the hoverbikes, sitting on its side. He sits down on it, pressing a few buttons and slamming his fist on the dashboard. The engine stutters for a moment, then bursting to life, flying out of the scrappers base. 
:Makara: This really isn't gonna end well.
The hoverbike flies across the air, then slamming into the sand, spinning out and flipping on its side, throwing Makara off the side. Makara slides across the sand, sighing. He gets up, walking over to his hoverbike.
:Makara: Well, that's roughly what I expected to happen.. Corundum! Oh god, she wasn't here with me.. She must be back at the crash site, I need to find it..
Makara props the hoverbike back up, looking out into the vast desert.
----
Corundum is lying on the ground, asleep. Jordyn is slipping on a jacket, looking down at Corundum. She crouches down, tapping her forehead.
:Jordyn: Wake up, sleepy-head.
Corundums eyes flutter open, and she almost instantly covers her eyes. Jordyn looks down at Corundum with her hands on her hips.
:Jordyn: Is there.. something wrong?
:Corundum: Y-you're naked!
Jordyn looks at herself, chuckling for a moment, and then patting her chest, grinning.
:Jordyn: Bah, open your eyes. I don't have boobs anyways.
:Corundum: Oh.. you had your jacket buttoned up yesterday..
:Jordyn: Well, I'm feeling like a free spirit right now. I could be wearing more clothes, but this makes me feel so alive, I guess.
:Corundum: That's..-
:Jordyn: Kind of weird? Yeah, I guess.
:Corundum: No, no.. Kind of inspiring, almost.
Jordyn grins, clapping her hands together.
:Jordyn: Well, it's time to head to Exyl.. I'll drop you off there and you can go do whatever you want to do, really.
:Corundum: I can't stay with you any longer.
:Jordyn: Mm, listen.. You're really cute and I'm enjoying your company but I really can't have two people living here.. buuut, if you want to go and-
:Corundum: I-I don't like girls.. sexually, at least.
:Jordyn: Mm, of course you don't.
Jordyn looks around awkwardly, clicking her tongue.
:Jordyn: Well, let's just.. go to Exyl and I'll buy you a drink, I guess.. then we can just go our ways.
Jordyn walks outside, looking out into the desert at a billow of smoke in the distance.
:Jordyn: Looks like something's on fire.
Corundum walks outside, looking at the smoke. Jordyn shrugs, patting Corundum on the shoulder.
:Corundum: We're going there?
:Jordyn: Yup. Let's go.
Jordyn waves for Corundum, walking over to the car. It cuts to Makara looking at the same smoke billow, albeit farther away. He walks through the scrapped wreckage of the ship.
:Makara: Damn, she's not here.. Maybe those smoke stacks mean something?
He kicks a piece of scrap away, looking for any clues.
:Makara: Well, she didn't die on impact, I guess..
Makara walks over to his stolen hoverbike, propping it back up and hopping on it, kicking it until it starts.
----
Corundum and Jordyn are walking out of a run-down building, Jordyn holding some sort of bottle in her hand.
:Jordyn: Anyways, that's how I ended up blowing some dude's leg.
:Corundum: That was an interesting story.
:Jordyn: It was pretty funny afterwards.. not to him, of course.
Corundum chuckles, looking over to a group of people talking to eachother. One looks at Jordyn, tapping the others on the shoulder. They walk over to Jordyn, who sighs.
:Jordyn: Aha, Yon! Good to see you, buddy!
The man frowns at Jordyn, tapping his foot.
:Yon: Hm, what'd you steal now, Jordyn?
:Jordyn: Nothing this time, really.
:Yon: What, you just wanted to take your girlfriend out? You've gone through like 5 in the past two weeks, it's like you're setting up a lesbian harem.
:Jordyn: I'm not doing that, but it's not a bad idea.
:Yon: Aalright, let's just.. cut to the chase, alright? Give me the girl and whatever you have on you.
:Jordyn: What? No! That's fucked up!
:Yon: I mean, we could just shoot both of you, if that's a better alternative.
Suddenly, a hoverbike starts driving towards them. Yon looks towards it, raising an eyebrow.
:Yon: Mm, seems like we've got a bit on an interference.
Makara, driving the hoverbike, rolls off the back of it, the hoverbike spinning out of control and swiping Yon off of his legs, knocking him unconscious. Makara swings his scythe around, as if to show off, at the other 3 thugs.
:Makara: I don't wanna kill anyone right now, really. You can just run away and we'll all be fine.
The thugs run away, Makara putting his scythe away. He turns to Corundum, who runs over and hugs him.
:Corundum: Makara! I thought you died..
:Makara: I thought I lost you.. you really like hugging, huh?
Corundum lets go of him, laughing. Makara turns and looks at Jordyn.
:Makara: Hm, Corundum, who is this?
:Corundum: Her name is Jordyn! She let me stay at her place last night and then took me here.
:Jordyn: Eh, I just can't let people die in the middle of the desert, really.
:Makara: You live here, huh?
:Jordyn: Yeah.. what are you gonna ask me...
:Makara: You must know a way to get out of this place.
Jordyn groans, slapping her knee.
:Jordyn: Everyone just wants to leave! You can't get out of here, honestly.
:Makara: I can't just stay here, I have to get back to my planet, sooner or later.
:Corundum: I don't wanna be here forever...
Jordyn sighs, leaning up against a wall.
:Jordyn: There's one possibility, but it's risky and we'd be dumb to try it.
:Makara: We're gonna try it.
:Jordyn: Of course you are.
:Makara: So, what's the plan?
:Jordyn: We have to go.. somewhere.. to start this plan off. I do, however, have something that will make this plan possible.
===Chapter 2===
Jordyn slaps her hands down on a shoddy wooden table, grinning at Makara and Corundum.
:Jordyn: There’s a businessman here.. he has some relations with the Federation. I befriended him awhile back but I think he just talked to me because he wanted sex.. I do know the code to his base AND his ship that is registered in a database. It’s one of the only ships left after the Federation did a bombing run on any place containing a ship.
:Makara: Why didn’t you escape beforehand?
:Jordyn: I didn't want to, really. Plus, I tried.. but I was too short to climb up onto the hangar. I need someone to boost me up to the hangar door. We’re gonna get trouble from one of his guards, though.
:Corundum: What kind of trouble?
:Jordyn: Well.. they’re equipped with a Federation-created mechsuit.. they aren't exactly in pristine condition. You should be able to fend them off for long enough, I hope.
:Makara: You don’t sound so sure about this.
:Jordyn: I'm not sure about this.. We could stay here and I'd be fine.
Makara sighs, tapping his fingers against the desk.
:Makara: As long as there's a chance, I'll take it. You don’t have to go with us, you know.
:Jordyn: Yeah.. but I do want to know where I came from.. maybe I can come back after. It sounds nice to do a little bit of exploring.
Jordyn smirks, looking at Corundum as she tampers with a piece of metal.
:Makara: If you say so.. you know, this was originally just a trip across a few galaxies.. should've known I would've been caught up in something like this. I'm virtually a magnet for destruction at this point.
:Jordyn: It's rough out here.
:Corundum: As long as we can get out of here.. I’ll be happy.
Corundum looks at both of them, smiling awkwardly.
:Jordyn: Say.. that hoverbike you crashed into that guy.. does it still work?
:Makara: I think so, why?
:Jordyn: I might have an idea as to how we get there.
It cuts to Jordyn pulling pieces off of her truck, hastily bolting them together. She straps it to the side of the hoverbike, slapping her hands together in satisfaction.
:Jordyn: Hoverbike extension!
:Makara: It's called a sidecar.
:Jordyn: Yeaah, but my name's cooler.
:Makara: So what, you’re just gonna sit in the sidecar while I drive there?
:Jordyn: Haha, no. You're gonna be the one sitting in the sidecar. I don't want you driving and I also don't want your bony robot hands wrapped around my body the whole time.
Jordyn grins, winking at him. Makara just looks at his hands self-consciously.
:Jordyn: I mean, we could just drag you the whole way.
:Makara: Fine! Fine. We’ll do it your way.
:Jordyn: My way is the best way, of course.
Makara groans.
----
Jordyn straps an old aviator helmet from Earth onto Corundum’s head, being a tight fit with all the crystals on her head. She pats Corundum’s shoulder, nodding.
:Jordyn: Perfect.
:Corundum: It’s really tight. I think my head is gonna burst.
:Jordyn: Psh, you'll be fine.
Makara is sitting in the sidecar, looking around uncomfortably.
:Makara: I don’t see why I have to be in this.. I’m the tallest one.
:Jordyn: It’s a tight fit! You won’t fall out, that’s for sure.
Jordyn hoists herself up onto the bike, helping Corundum up onto it. She kicks the side of it several times, the hoverbike starting up and speeding across the barren desert. Makara clutches the sides of the sidecar nervously. The hoverbike gets louder and louder, the engine sputtering every once and awhile, only to pick up in volume every time..
:Makara: THIS THING IS REALLY LOOSE!
:Jordyn: WHAT?!
:Makara: NEVERMIND!
It cuts to them pulling up to a large hangar, seemingly empty. Jordyn pulls up to the side of the hangar, looking up.
:Jordyn: The door’s not open.. that might be a problem.
The sidecar falls off, Makara pushing himself out of it.
:Makara: Mm, what’s wrong now?
:Jordyn: The hangar door is closed.. I can probably climb all the way up and go in through a vent.. it’s a large hangar door though, so it might take me awhile.
:Makara: Whatever it takes to get us out of here, really.
Corundum walks over to them, pulling the aviator helmet off and throwing it to the side. She rubs her head.
:Corundum: Bleh..
Jordyn continues to stare up at the hangar, thinking about how she'll get in. She puts her hands on her hips, sighing.
:Jordyn: Yeah, it’ll work. I just don’t know how long it will take.
The three walk up to the hangar, the large door hanging roughly 15 feet off the ground.
:Jordyn: You wanna throw me?
:Makara: What?
:Jordyn: I’m light, I’ll be fine. I don’t know any other way to get up.
:Makara: I... fine.
:Jordyn: That’s the spirit, Makara.
:Corundum: Can I be thrown too?
:Jordyn: I need both of you down here, making sure we don’t get caught.
:Corundum: Damn..
Jordyn walks over to Makara, who puts his hands down, ready to hoist Jordyn up. She steps onto his legs, being thrown up high in the air. She grabs a little rut on the hangar, nearly sliding off. Her legs hang off the side.
:Jordyn: Yeah, that works.
Jordyn begins slowly making her way up. Both Makara and Corundum look up at her, Makara shaking his head.
:Corundum: Now we just.. wait, huh?
:Makara: I guess. She's doing everything for us, apparently.
:Corundum: I wanted to be thrown..
Makara chuckles, leaning on the wall beside Corundum.
:Makara: Well.. I guess we do just wait here.
It cuts to Jordyn, now almost at the top of the hangar. She reaches the top, grinning.
:Jordyn: Alright, guys! Now I just have to break through the top!
The hangar begins opening outwards, Jordyn beginning to go sideways.
:Jordyn: Awh, fuck.
Jordyn hoists herself up, sliding down the hangar as it opens. A grey-skinned man with polarized, heart-shaped glasses is standing there, his hands behind his back. He doesn’t exactly seem surprised to see Jordyn.
:Man: Jordyn! I see you’re back!
:Jordyn: Mm, hello there, Mr. Enogo.
:Man: Just call me Daniel, hun. I see you’re back! Are you finally here to take me up on that offer?
:Jordyn: No, never ever. Don’t “hun” me either. You know why I’m here.
Jordyn points her automatic pistol. Daniel pulls out a gun from behind his back, clicking his tongue.
:Daniel: Haha, I expected that! You're a feisty bitch, Jordyn. And you know you can't kill me.. you can't get the ship either.
:Jordyn: Well, guess what, punk? I've got the code! I stole it from you last time I was here!
Jordyn points at Daniel, laughing at him.
:Daniel: You're not getting past me. If you shoot me, I'll shoot you.. and I'll be the only one that can get back up.
:Jordyn: Well, I guess we’re just standing here forever, now.
Makara and Corundum are leaning up against the wall as a girl in clunky mechsuit walks out, looking at them. Makara pulls his staff out, holding it out almost defensively.
:Mech Girl: Why the hell are you over here! Scram!
Makara runs and leaps over to the girl, who clamps him into the mech’s hand, slamming him up against a wall. His staff falls to the ground.
:Mech Girl: You're really gonna try that?
The staff flies back into Makara's hand, and he slashes at the mech's hand, causing it to drop him. He leaps backwards, out of the mech's reach. Makara grins, looking at the girl in the mech. She growls, running over towards Makara.
:Makara: I wouldn’t have made it that easy.
The mech charges into Makara, who dives out of the way. It quickly turns around, facing Makara.
:Mech Girl: You're fast, but not fast enough to dodge this.
The girl fires mini missiles at Makara, but they seem to just go straight through him. Suddenly, his body fragments and he disappears, confusing her momentarily. Makara seemingly jumps out of nowhere, slashing at the girl.
:Makara: Maybe not, but I do still have some tricks up my sleeve.
:Mech Girl: Gah!
The girl clenches her fists, putting the mech's arm up and aiming at Makara. Makara runs towards the mech, leaping up onto it and slamming his scythe into the protective glass, causing it to shatter. The mech girl puts her arms up instinctively to cover her eyes. The cannon still fires, the shot whizzing way past its target and flying into the hangar. It slams into the inside of the hangar, causing Daniel to flinch. Jordyn fires at him, hitting him twice in the chest. He fires as he falls, the bullet whizzing past Jordyn and flying out into the desert.
:Jordyn: Whoops! I must've panicked! Haha!
Daniel clutches his chest, lying on the floor. Jordyn leans down, taking his sunglasses and putting them on, giggling.
:Jordyn: I’ll spare you, you’ll be up in a few minutes anyways.. but I’m taking your stupid glasses.
Jordyn kicks him in the ribs.
:Jordyn: Also, fuck you.
Jordyn cackles as she struts over to Daniel's ship, swinging her pistol around. She presses some buttons on the codelock and the ship's door opens up, Jordyn clicking her tongue.
:Jordyn: Bingo.
Daniel is still lying on the floor, breathing heavily. Although he seems hurt, there seems to be no blood coming out from him. It cuts back to Makara, sinking the blade of his staff into the mech, a loud burst of electricity seemingly frying the whole thing. The mech falls over, pinning Makara between it and the ground.
:Makara: Agh, damnit!
The mech girl crawls out of the suit, quickly standing up and pulling a whip out from behind her, cracking it against the ground. Corundum looks around for a moment, then looking at the woman.
:Mech Girl: Well, looks like you're stuck here without your savior, huh?
She swipes the whip at Corundum, who sticks her crystallized arm out in panic. It wraps around her arm, with Corundum attempting to pull it out of the woman's grasp. Corundum loses grip on the whip it is pulled away from her, causing her to stumble forward. The woman swipes at Corundum again, the whip striking her near the chest.
:Corundum: Agh!
Corundum falls to the ground, clutching around her stomach. The woman looks down at her, scoffing.
:Mech Girl: You know, you're a lot weaker than you look, heh.
Makara, now out from under the mech, picks the woman up and lobs her into a wall. She hits the wall with a loud bang and slightly dents it, knocking her unconscious. Makara walks over to Corundum, crouching down.
:Makara: You okay?
Corundum looks up at him, still clutching her stomach.
:Corundum: I'll be fine..
The ship, being piloted by Jordyn, now comes into view. Jordyn comes in through a speaker on the ship.
:Jordyn: You dirtbags ready to get out of here? I don't know how long it'll take for them to get back up, but we should probably leave as fast as we can.
Makara and Corundum walk onto the ship, Corundum still clutching her side. Jordyn stands up, backing away from the pilot's seat.
:Jordyn: You drive.
:Makara: Really?
:Jordyn: Yeah! I don't know how to fly a spaceship, really. I might be confident in myself most of the time, but I'm not dumb.
Makara shrugs, sitting down in the pilots seat. The ship turns around and takes off into the sky. Jordyn sighs, looking out a small window on the ship.
:Jordyn: You know, I hope you guys know what you're doing. I threw my whole life away just to go somewhere, and what we're doing is very risky.
:Makara: Then why did you even come?
Jordyn continues to stare out the window, watching as the hangar gets farther and farther away.
:Jordyn: I don't know who I am.. or what I am, really. Maybe, just maybe, somewhere out there, I'll find my own kind. Learn what happened, where I come from.
Jordyn pauses for a moment.
:Jordyn: Just maybe.
She looks over to Corundum, who is still lightly clutching her stomach, murmuring to herself about something. She turns back around and looks out the window once again, now seeing space. She holds her breath for a moment.
:Jordyn: Wow. That's.. amazing.
Corundum walks over to Makara, sitting down on the seat beside him. He swivels his chair around to face her.
:Makara: What's up?
Corundum takes a deep breath.
:Corundum: I feel, useless.. compared to you two.. you're a great fighter and Jordyn is too.. but I can barely fight. I don't have anything special.. I'm just, regular really.. except for..
Corundum touches the crystallized side of her face, quickly retracting it.
:Corundum: It's a curse.. nothing good comes from it.
:Makara: I'm sure you'll learn to be a good figh-
:Corundum: Will I? I'm weak, I have no idea how to fight. I've been surviving by myself for so many years and yet I'm puny.. what will I ever do if both of you are in trouble? I'm a failure, honestly.
:Makara: After we get through this, we'll find someone to train you.. maybe even someone to fix your "curse".
:Corundum: You're awfully hopeful.
Makara sighs, patting her on the shoulder. He turns back to the command board.
:Makara: Sometimes, that's the best way to go at it.
----
Daniel is still lying on the floor, although now his eyes are completely open. His limbs begin to bend in seemingly impossible ways, the sound of bones snapping coming from each movement. He then stands up, as if he wasn't shot just a few minutes ago, and walks over to a large screen, fumbling through a box beside it. He pulls out yet another pair of sunglasses, although this time they are circular. He presses a few buttons on a board, and the Federation's insignia appears. Suddenly, it cuts to a view of some sort of throne room, with someone in grand golden armor sitting in the throne.
:Daniel: Ria, ma'am.
The helmet on the armor snaps back behind the suit, revealing a tan woman with short hair and bright orange eyes. She looks annoyed, staring at the screen for a moment before speaking.
:Ria: This line is only for emergencies, Mr. Enogo.
:Daniel: I'd think this is an emergency, Ria.
It cuts to Ria's view, now, revealing her bright orange Phoenixean wings. She sighs, looking at Daniel as if she was bored.
:Ria: Well then, what's the "emergency", huh?
:Daniel: The ship you.. uhh.. gave to me. Someone took it.
Ria breathes out, staring at Daniel blankly.
:Ria: You know, Mr. Enogo, I thought I could trust you. You seemed competent enough. I thought wrong. Our partnership has ended. About your ship.. we'll track it down, we're not bringing it back to you, of course.
Ria cuts communications as Daniel begins to speak up. She looks down for a few seconds, then looking over to an assistant on her side.
:Ria: The hangar owned by Mr. Enogo.. get rid of it. I don't care how, but I want that thing off the map in the next day. It's useless, now.
The assistant nods, not saying a word. After the assistant leaves the room, Ria inspects her crown for a moment, the room now completely silent. It cuts to outside the ship, showing off the whole Federation fleet, filled with hundreds of different ships.
===Chapter 3===
===Chapter 4===
===Chapter 5===
===Epilogue===
Category:Stories