Hi. Again.

[Coppertop]

Yes, it's CT again, with yet another story thing.
*ducks the flying rotten tomatoes*
Taking joiners like usual, but I think I can afford to be a little more picky this time. So. This probably won't be updated too often. The chars introduced here can be found in the profiles thread. Those of you who read my last story will be familiar with the Bloodflames.

Benedict lashed out with a fist, sending a lizard reeling, and grabbed for his katana. Autumn had lost his blasters and was now laying about himself with his staff. Benedict assessed the situation with a jolt. They were losing.
The pair were cut off from the Bloodflames. Benedict watched with a sinking feeling as Kachallion yelled something unintelligable, and the mercenaries pulled back, abandoning Benedict and Autumn.
He redoubled his efforst, but the lizards mobbed them. Autumn lost his staff and lashed out with fists and feet. Benedict fought now to get to his friend's side. His katana was wrenched from his hands, and his blaster had mysteriously vanished along the way. Disbelieving his eyes, he watched his allies vanish from sight before he was seized and dragged away from Autumn, whom had been similarly captured.
"No!" Benedict fought his captors viciously. He had to reach Autumn!
But there were so many and he couldn't stand against them all ...

Benedict Fleetfoot awoke with a start. It took him a second to remember that he was no longer on that doomed battlefield. Instead, he was imprisoned in the rebels' stronghold.
And there was no way out.
He hadn't seen Autumn since their capture, and had no way of knowing if he was alive or not. He couldn't even tell what time it was, how long he'd been there - the light in his cell wasn't natural; it came from the forcefield that made up the walls.
He sank wearily back to the floor, and remembered.

Autumn stood beside him, green eyes bright as he watched his best friend. Benedict shook his head doubtfully.
"I don't know why you insist on trusting Kachallion, Autumn."
"If I've told you once," Autumn sighed, "I've told you a million times. Charne vouched for him, and I trust Charne."
"Who hates his half-brother's guts, killed his cousin, and now hangs out with the roughest member of the band."
"Ouch. Okay, so he's had a shady past. The point is," Autumn went on enthusiastically, "Tephro's never lied to me -"
"- knowingly," Benedict finished. "What about Tansale Pass?"
"Everyone's entitled to a mistake."
"My point is, what if this is another mistake on Tephro's part? He's only been with the Bloodflames for a short time."
"He trusts Jheran, whom I assume told him about Kachallion."
"He does," Benedict said. "I don't."
"You wouldn't trust your own grandmother."
"Of course not," Benedict said promptly. "Her memory's faulty."
"Benedict, you don't even have a grandmother."
"See? You shouldn't even trust me. My memory's faulty."
"You can say that again."
Benedict looked around innocently. "Say what again?"
"Your memory isn't just faulty, it's completely gone."
"Were you saying something?"
Autumn laughed easily. "Nice try, Benedict. My point has been made: I trust Kachallion because Tephro trusts Kachallion, and I trust Tephro."
"Why?"
"What?"
"Why do you trust Tephro?"
"Oh, not this again ..."
"Oh, this again. Explain to me why you trust Tephro."
"He made a good impression on me."
"So?"
"My impressions have never been wrong before."
"And what was your impression of Jheran?"
"I like him, but I know better than to trust him."
"But Tephro trusts him."
"They are best friends."
"So Jheran isn't trustworthy, but Tephro is, even though Tephro believes virtually everything Jheran says?"
"Well ..."
"And you trust Kachallion because Tephro does?"
"... yes ..."
"Even though Tephro was told by Jheran, who is not trustworthy, that he could trust Kachallion?"
"Oh."
"And you're taking Tephro and Jheran's word for it because you've never met Kachallion and haven't got a first impression of him."
"... I see what you mean."
"Yes."
"Do you think I shouldn't trust Tephro then?"
"Trust Tephro all you want. Just don't take what he says for granted."
"What?"
"Tephro is basically Jheran's mouth at this point. He believes absolutely everything Rambarath says."
"Tephro's never done anything," Autumn protested.
"Remember Tansale Pass," Benedict said pointedly. Autumn sighed.
"Okay, you've made your point. I shouldn't believe everything I'm told just becuase Teprho says it, because he might be mistaken."
"You got it. What would you ever do without me?"
"I'd be a lot happier ... "
"... and a lot more dead."
Point to Benedict.

Benedict sighed regretfully as he recalled that conversation. His warning about Kachallion had been well-founded; the treacherous Bloodflame leader had decided that they were a liability, and abandoned them to their captors gladly. Tephro's trust would never be betrayed; he was a Bloodflame. But Kachallion saw no reason to keep his word when he was dealing with outsiders. Tansale Pass had been an excellent example of that. Benedict was still chilled when he thought about how close he had come to losing one he counted as a brother that day.

"Kachallion says it's not an ambush," Tephro said confidently. "We're scouting."
"The whole band?" Benedict was skeptical. Tephro shrugged.
"Dunno. Maybe it's a big area."
"Where are we scouting?" Autumn asked. Tephro's answer was blithe.
"Tansale Pass."
Benedict should have turned around and gone home then; he should have taken Autumn and Tephro with him when he actually saw the place. It looked like an ambush site. Benedict was uneasy just looking at it. Autumn was also puzzled, but Tephro remained certian that they were just scouting.
Then, once they were all there, the "orders" changed. Yes, they were to scout for recent activity in the area. Of course, if they saw hostile forces, they would ambush them.
Benedict was furious. He should have guessed, should have known ... but he had, and had been assured that he was wrong.
"You said it wasn't an ambush!" he flared at Tephro, who shrugged.
"Look, Fleetfoot, I told you our orders. If Kachallion changed them, I can't do anything about it."
Benedict believed him. Tephro honestly hadn't known. He'd been bait to get his unsuspecting, gullible ousider friends to come and help. Now they were commited, bound by their word to help. But Tephro was not to blame. Kachallion was.
Of course the ambush occurred. The order changes would not have been issued if the ambush had not been planned.
It was quick. A lookout had spotted the band of rebel lizards, and called for reinforcements.
The lizards were startled, but not for long. Their reactions slowed by the frozen air of the pass and the chilling snow, they still outnumbered the Bloodflames three to one.
Autumn and Benedict were at the frong; they were separated early. Benedict escaped with nothing more than a glancing slash on his arm, and another across his chest. Autumn did not fare so well.
Benedict found his partner, his best friend and heart-brother, collapsed in a pool of frozen blood, dying slowly in that frozen mountain pass, left for dead by rebels.
Benedict fled to Autumn, heedless of the blood-soaked snow as he fell to his knees at his partner's side. "Autumn!"
Tephro stalked over, eyes still wild from the battle, Jheran trailing behind. Their triumphant grins vanished when they saw Autumn. Tephro's incredulous whisper was a faint echo of Benedict's anguished cry.
"Autumn?"
Jheran's eyes blazed as he looked down at the fallen rabbit. "Blast you, Kachallion," he hissed. "Blast you." For Jheran had been Autumn's friend too, in his own distant way.

Autumn did not die. He had come close enough, however, that Benedict's manner became incredibly protective. He would not risk losing his heart-brother again.
Tephro and Jheran's anger smoldered quietly. Many of the Bloodflames who knew Autumn and Benedict were uncomfortable with Kachallion's actions, for even if the pair were outsiders, they were well-liked.
The tension between Jheran and Kachallion escalated. Only Jheran's gruding, fast-vanishing respect for Kachallion's skill kept him from challenging the Bloodflame leader then and there. Tephro became Jheran's grim supporter, though more cautious. More than once it was only Tephro's common sense that restrained Jheran. Kachallion could not not notice.
Autumn recovered painfully, and true to his nature he refused to blame Kachallion. It was a fluke, he insisted. It could have happened to anyone. He refused to leave, even though Benedict urged him to. The big rabbit was becoming increasingly uneasy.
And still Autumn refused to go.

More later.

[n0]

YaY! I was comming into the War Taravan to start a thread entitled "CT's fourth story" and saw this!

I'm not begging to be in this story, but you can most defianitly use my chars if you want to.

`N0

[4I Falcon]

*is once again left entirely speechless*

[Strato]

YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYA ect.

Another Coptertop sroty. I'd get to my story but as you can see it's me 2nd priority...second.

[acid]

<s>OMB CAN I BE IN STORYY??? :D:D:D</s>

Once again, an excellent piece of work by Coppertop. You can use my characters if you want, but I'm not forcing you or anything. *Hides his blaster behind his back*

[defalcon]

Hi, nice to see you writing again. :D *poke* Me too.

[Coppertop]

N0: 5th, not 4th.
4I: *grins*
Strato: Only your second?
Acid: Of course.
Defal: It's actually nice to be writing, too. Half a year of nothing and now I'm back :D

I would have posted the part that goes directly after the first one (it actually should have been all one post) but I lost it and must find it first. *cries* When I find it I will post it for you.

[Radium]

Yay, CT's back! I almost missed this thread; marked itself as unread for some reason. A very good story beginning.

And you have permission to use any of my chars. <s>Including Sucku;a or Raphael.</s>

[Coppertop]

I was wondering when you'd show up =)
Yeah, sure, I'll use Raphael!

Then the mighty taco drew his sword and proceeded to destroy the legion of foolish lizards who opposed him ...

... or not. =D You'll probably make an appearance.

[4I Falcon]

As always, CT, my enormous archive of characters (56 as of about twenty minutes from now) is available for you to use. Please.

[defalcon]

.
Defal: It's actually nice to be writing, too. Half a year of nothing and now I'm back :D
Really has been half a year hasn't it? Wow. :)
Count me in, by the way, in case that wasn't clear. :)

[Ducky]

I'm happy tooo. :)

[4I Falcon]

OMG DUKKI IS BAAAAAAAACK! ^^!

Ahem. Hi.

[defalcon]

I'm happy tooo. :)
Ducky, WB :)

[Coppertop]

Hey, Dukki! =D
Defal: No, I understood that :)
4I: Of course.

I found it =D

Benedict smiled bitterly. How ironic, if he were to lose Autumn now, after they had survived so much. He knew Kachallion had known about Jheran's rebellion. Was his final betrayal a warning to Rambarath and Charne? Benedict thought so. That made it indirectly Jheran's fault, which explained the tenative impression that Autumn had recieved. But ultimately the fault was Kachallion's.
Benedict had no doubt that Kachallion's actions had pushed Jheran and Tephro into open rebellion, if just for Autumn's sake. Autumn hadn't even been fully healed ... in the end, he had agreed that they should leave; he had been frightened of what Kachallion might do next. But by then it had been too late, far too late. Kachallion's treachery had been complete.
Now what?
The obvious answer tho that question: get out, and get Autumn. Of course the next question was how. He couldn't exactly wait for someone to spring him - that could take weeks if not more - and he had a bad feeling about what would happen if he didn't get out before his captors returned.
No way out ...
The words mocked him as he stood.
He would find a way.

More tomorrow.

[Coppertop]

... and it's tomorrow.

Jheran scowled blackly and resumed his restless pacing. Tephro watched him silently, knowing the source of Jheran's irritation. All of the Bloodflames were uneasy and restless; many spoke of the bad luck invoked by leaving a friend behind.
If only they knew, Tephro mused. Fleetfoot did not forgive nor forget. If he decided that the entire band was to blame - Tephro did not want to consider the consequences of that.
Jheran stopped pacing and looked at his young friend.
"Teph?"
"Yeah."
"What do you think?"
"About what?"
"Challenging Kachallion."
Tephro started and stared at Jheran, who looked back soberly. "You're not kidding?"
"No."
"Well, if you want to , I'll back you. BUt I'm not doing any challenging myself."
"Didn't expect you to," Jheran said with a sudden grin. Tephro sighed.
"Well, if you don't challnege him, someone else will," he said. "Leaving Benedict and Autumn was a bad move."
Jheran only nodded, and drew his broadsword.

Benedict surveyed the ruin that had been the forcefield generator with more than a little satisfaction. What remained of the metal casing was dented, buckled and torn by Benedict's powerful, frenzied assault. The wiring was shredded, and the field gone.
Good.
His weapons were in a locker down the corridor, which was to be expected. Trust lizards to be unoriginal. Benedict wondered which one had come up with the bright idea of rebelling. That bright idea might just be fatal for all parties involved, he thought. Especially the rebels.
As he retrieved his weapons, he considered his options. If he waited too long to rescue Autumn, his escape woudl be noticed, and the guard increased on his partner. The lizards weren't so dense as to think that he would abandon Autumn, not after the way he had fought to stay with him. However, if he attempted it now, who knew how many guards he would run into, how many times he would get lost, when he would be recaptured.
It really wasn't fair, he thought, flexing his gloved hand. Why did there have to be so many blasted problems? Springing Autumn and escaping this disorganized rabble should be easy, even simple, like in the stories. Unfortunately, he reflected wryly, the stories weren't true. Real life was never fair.
He holstered his blaster and sheathed his blade. He flexed his hand again, frowned at a previously-unnoticed tear in one fingertip of the glove that exposed the matte black metal beneath, and called the image of the large brown-scaled lizard that had guarded his cell to mind. Imitating the reptile's step, voice and speech mannerisms was only a small step from remembering what he was imitating. It wasn't like he hadn't spent enough time returning that absent guard's scrutiny.

Ten minutes later a dark, shadow-shrouded figure with a distinctive limp and a too-loud, drawling voice shuffled into the narrow rectangular chamber with the force-field cell at the far end. The spotted yellow guard glanced up sharply.
"Yeah? Who is it?"
"Mine's asleep, yours?"
The yellow lizard rolled his eyes in exasperation, recognizing the voice.
"Darn it, how many times do I have to tell you to keep your voice down? Do you want to wake up the whole fort? No, I thought not," he added severely, as the other had the grace to look abashed. "And you know you're supposed to identify yourself first."
"Sorry," came the only slightly quieter reply. The yellow lizard only sighed in resignation.
"What did you want, Bornil? I assume there's a reason why you left your post."
"Uh, yeah. My long-ears has finally gone quiet. I think he might actually say something useful tomorrow. Thought you should know."
"We're not ordered, or paid, to think, Bornil. Leave that to the masterminds behind this pointless rebellion."
"Aw, come on ... "
"Okay, okay. Why do you think he'll talk?"
"'Cause he seems to be getting used to us. Just little things, mind, like he's not trying to get out any more."
"I don't see how that means he's gonna talk."
"Like I just have this feeling about it, okay? What about yours?"
"Aah, he's still in bad shape. He's been awake, but hasn't said anything. Deminar's group has gone out to round up more mercenaries if they can. I doubt they'll catch any more."
"How'd they get out? I heard the front's closed?"
"Yeha, but they used the side routes in the west wing, you know the ones that connect up to the armory."
"The armory?"
Something in Bornil's voice alerted the guard. He straightened, peering at the shadow-blurred, undefined figure.
"Hey, why do you want to know all this?" Something in the voice was wrong. "Who are -"
The shadowy 'guard' struck with brutal speed and efficiency. The yellow lizard dropped soundlessly, neck broken. Benedict stood over the dead guard.
"Thanks, mate. You've just given us a way out of this dump."
He turned decisively towards the forcefield at the end of the room, drew his blaster, and shot the generator. The machine sparked, shuddered; arcs of static played over it, and smoke escaped from the cracks. The 'field flickered and went out like a doused coal.
Benedict strode over to where Autumn lay, sprawled senseless on the floor, twitching sporadically with whatever he was dreaming about. Benedict figured that he'd done his share of twitching himself.
He prodded Autumn with a foor, waking his friend up, whereupon Autumn opened one eye, looked up at Benedict, groaned, and closed it again, with a muttered "g'way."
Benedict proceeded to kick Autumn in the ribs again.
"Hey, Gale, no lying down on the job."
Autumn opened his eyes again with a growl. He glared up at Benedict. "Can't a guy get some decent sleep around here?"
"No. Get up." Benedict drew his foot back for another kick. Autumn's eyes widened in alarm, and he sprang to his feet quickly.
"Alright, easy on the footwork, Fleetfoot. What are you doing here anyway?"
"I thought that would be obvious? I'm getting out of this heap."
"The exit is around her somewhere, I'm assuming, or you wouldn't be here," Autumn teased. Benedict shrugged, straightfaced.
"Absolutely."
"So freeing me wasn't part of your plan."
"Pure coincidence, I assure you."
Autumn grinned. "Well, my path just happens to coincide wiht yours, so if you'd lead the way .. ?"
Benedict snorted. "Sure. You hurt?"
"Scrapes, bruises, minor cuts. You?"
"Same."
There was an awkward silence. Autumn broke it finally.
"So .. how'd you get out?"
"Something the guard - Bornil? - Bornil said. He mentioned that the 'field was programmed to stop living organisms."
"So ...?"
Benedict grinned and drew the glove off of his prosthetic hand. "So I figured, if it's only stopping living organisms, what about machines? And guess what."
"Your hand went through?"
"Yeah." Benedict pulled the glove back on. "But I wrecked my glove."
"Poor you." Autumn paused. Then, "thanks."
Benedict shrugged. "What was I supposed to do, abandon you?"
"You wouldn't be the first," Autumn said quietly. Benedict looked at him, hard.
"We've been fighting the same battles for nigh on seven years, you and I. I will not leave you to face what I myself will not."
"I didn't think you would. It is the integrity of others that I now doubt."
"Don't blame the Bloodflames for Kachallion's mistakes," Benedict replied. Autumn nodded. There was another silence, which Autumn again broke.
"Shall we?"
"Yeah, we'd better. I've got prior appointments I'd hate to miss."
"So where's our exit?"
"In the armory."
"Where's that?"
"I thought you might know."
Autumn stared at Benedict. Then he threw back his head and laughed.
"Good job, Benedict. Good job."

[Risp_old]

If he waited too long to rescue Autumn, his escape woudl be noticed
I feel like Radium!

[Coppertop]

You sound like Radium. I was typing fast. I'll fix it tomorrow.

[Coppertop]

Is it really that bad? ;-;

[n0]

What? I like it, I just am rarely on long enough to post a whol

[4I Falcon]

I need to read this again while I'm concentrating. By the look of the every fifth word I actually saw, it looks ruxtastic. G'job, CT.

[Coppertop]

Lol, N0.

Concentrate, 4I. CONCENTRATE!

[Coppertop]

Okay, wow, this took a while to write.

Jheran faced his once-leader, broadsword ready, Tephro at his back. He found the fact that the silvery-black rabbit was his second comforting, which was more than a little odd, considering that he'd known Tephro for less than a year. In that time Tephro had showed unswerving loyalty to his few friends, a vicious bloodlust, considerable skill, and a ruthlessness that matched Jheran's, all traits that the older Bloodflame approved of. Now, facing Kachallion, he did not doubt if it would be enough - if he had his way, it wouldn't even be needed.
Kachallion's second was Syabarr, a Bloodflame of fifteen years, and their best fighter. She wasn't at all fond of Kachallion, and looked as though she'd rather be anywhere else than at Kachallion's back. Jheran didn't blame her. Except for their seconds, the Captain and challenger were alone.
The first move was Kachallion's, as challenged. The blue-green rabbit scowled at Jheran, who smirked back. Syabarr growled in exasperation.
"Will you guys get on with it? I've got better things to do than stand here all day watching you slaughter each other."
Tephro laughed, which made Kachallion scowl harder. Jheran merely watched.
It was not unexpected when Kachallion struck. The blue-green rabbit's saber was deflected by Jheran's broadsword, sending it harmlessly to the side as Jheran took a step to the left. His own attack was only a test against Kachallion's defenses, but the Captain slapped it down with far more force than was necessary. Jheran realized that the leader was more nervous - and angry - than he seemed.
Underestimation is the path to the grave.
Kachallion was concentrating on getting Jheran to leave an opening now; he beat Jheran's blade down and hit him with an attack that, had Jheran attempted to parry it, would have left him wide open on the left side. Instead, Jheran ducked under the attack and came up with a one-handed vertical slash; Kachallion leapt back barely in time to avoid being gutted, and retaliated with a vicious cut that came so close to beheading Jheran that the Bloodflame faltered.
Overconfidence is the road to destruction.
Kachallion pounced on Jheran's apparent hesitation with the speed of a striking snake. The turquoise-furred Bloodflame came in with a double cross-cut, courtesy of his lighter blade, and Jheran stepped back from it - and stumbled as Kachallion tripped him. He caught himself just as Kachallion's saber glanced off his left arm. Had he fallen, it would have killed him. As it was, his left arm burned, and blood stained Kachallion's saber.
Syabarr rose. "First blood! Jheran, do you yield?" At Jheran's derisive laugh, she turned to her Captain. "Kachallion, do you claim satisfaction?"
Kachallion's green eyes glittered coldly as he sneered at Jheran. "I do not."
Syabarr looked askance. "Kachallion -"
With a snarl, her Captain shoved her aside and slashed his saber down diagonally before bringing it up in a two-handed cut that surely would have impaled Jheran had he not already been moving. Slapping aside Kachallion's saber, he caught it between the spikes adorning his wristband and forced it away as he lashed out with a foot; Kachallion barely evaded the kick to his knee, but the one to his stomach surely had to hurt. Jheran followed up by twisting Kachallion's saber out of line, releasing it only to slam his spiked wristband into Kachallion's throat.
The Captain ducked, and two spikes caught at the corner of his eye, leaving bloody furrows in his fur. Jheran regretted the lack of distance between them; it would have been a perfect moment in which to end the fight - Kachallion was wide open. He tried to move back and found his feet entangeld - purposefully? - by Kachallion's. Already off-balanced, he fell, managing to avoid landing on his broadsword. He rolled quickly to his feet, but Kachallion struck him with the flat of his blade across the side of his head, and Jheran was driven back to his knees.
Tephro tensed. "No -"
Syabarr steppted forward. "Kachallion, do you claim satisfaction?"
"No," Kachallion gritted. Syabarr's eyes sparked.
"This is insanity! Killing Rambarath wil accomplish nothing -"
Kachallion hissed and turned on her. Startled, she backed down. Jheran fought his way to his feet, unnoticed by Kachallion. His eyes fixed on the Captain's outstretched saber.
Hesitation leads the way to defeat.
Kachallion turned back to his victim just as Jheran lunged, taking off the Bloodflame Captain's sword hand with one powerful stroke. Shock, agony and rage filled Kachallion's green eyes. Moving smoothly despite the ringing in his ears and the dizziness that threatened to overwhelm, Jheran brought his broadsword around in a sweeping circle and took Kachallion's head as well.
The ringing in his ears receded for a moment, and he stood for a moment, gazing down at what remained of the Captain.
"And the streets of downfall are paved with arrogance," he quoted softly. The words of Darath-Ka, first Captain of the Bloodflames, still echoed in his mind.
The pain in his left arm asserted itself rather suddenly, along with a multitude of hither-to unnoticed scrapes, slashes and bruises. The scarlet-streaked broadsword slipped from fingers slick with blood, clattering to the ground beside Kachallion's body. Disoriented and dizzy, Jheran shook his head, but that irritating ringing was not going away.
Syabarr watched him impassively, Tephro with concern. "Jher, you okay?"
"Yeah ... " Jheran turned away from Kachallion. 'He must've hit me harder than I thought."
"What, you thought he'd be gentle? Sword of Arendyne, Rambarath, he was out to kill you," Syabarr said acidly. Jheran smirked.
"So was I," he said. "Out to kill him, I mean."
"Well, Captain," she said, "You'd better pull yourself together before you fall on your face in front of everybody."
Jheran only laughed.

[Fawriel]

.. if I ever find the power to read this, will you put me in?

[n0]

I've read it all, will you put me in?

Oh, and I thought a bloodflame was a type of lizard? And now they have fur... ?
Neh? Whats a bloodflame?

[4I Falcon]

I believe the Bloodflames are a war clan of some sort. Badguys, methinks.

[Coppertop]

They're a mercenary band, mostly of rabbits.
Faw: Read it first.
N0: Yer already in, man

[Fawriel]

CT!!!!!!!!1111111111111111
Clean up your inbox pleaaaase!

[4I Falcon]

OMG YES CT PLZ DO SO!!!!11!11!!!!oneoneeleven!1!!!1123`23heuf9v8b0sr e0e9gbs30rm9

[Fawriel]

Hellooooooooo 4IIIIIiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!

[Coppertop]

Sheesh, take it easy, guys. I already did, but no messages :( for the past two days.

[4I Falcon]

I've just been waiting for you to say that.

[Coppertop]

Okay, I think I've made you wait long enough. This part introduces a few new chars that I haven't put in the characters thread. BTW, Shabreen is a mute and Tiercel is a Defalcon-wannabe.

Defalcon glared at Alex indignantly. He could sense Stryker's quiet satisfaction, though the dark purple rabbit remained expressionless. With a sigh, he glanced down at the chessboard. Stryker was winning, like usual.
Alex's queen took Defalcon's last knight, leaving only a handful of pawns and a rook to guard the king. For the third time in a row, Defalcon was losing. Badly.
He shot Stryker an accusing look, and was rewarded with a slight smile. Defalcon shook his head.
"I don't know why I even bother," he commented, moving his rook into a position where it threatened the queen and was protected by a pawn. Stryker shrugged and moved out of check, taking a pawn while he was at it.
"Neither do I," Ducky said, leaning over the counter to survey the game. "This is the third time he's beaten you."
"Don't remind me," Defalcon growled, eyeing his four remaining pawns. Stryker's smile grew slightly.
"I'll accept a surrender, you know," he said, the first words he'd spoken during the entire game. Defalcon snorted.
"Yeah, right. You really think I'm gonna give in without a fight?"
"A fight? Are you kidding?" Sasha Araspir gave the game an incredulous look. "Man, that's pathetic." A blue feathered wing whanged Alex on the back of hte head. Sasha's accidental victim gave him a mildly reproachful look. Sasha ignored it. Defalcon sighed as he removed one of Alex's knights from the board with a pawn that was promptly 'killed'. He looked beseechingly at Ducky, who shook her head slowly.
"I don't see any way out of this one, Defal. Sorry."
Rook took bishop; knight took rook. Defalcon now had three pawns and a king left. Sasha smirked.
"Don't quit your day job, Phoenix," he cracked. Defalcon rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, right. What day job?"
"Really? What are you going to do, then, when Stryker takes all of your money?"
Defalcon ruefully noticed that Alex was one move away from putting him in checkmate as he absently answered Sasha.
"Beg, borrow and steal off of you, of course."
"That tactic doesn't usually work on me."
"Oh, I'm sure you'd get tired of my whining in time."
"If I don't kill you first."
"I run really, really fast."
"Not fast enough."
Stryker slid his last rook into position, effectively checkmating Defalcon.
"Rematch?"
Defalcon laughed as he looked at the pile of black chesspieces next to the board. Five white pieces kept them company.
"Haha, sure. Think you can handle another win?"
"Oh, I don't know." Alex gave him a slight grin. "Much as I'd like to beat you again, I think I'd better give you a chance to get over your previous three defeats."
"You're too kind," Defalcon said sarcastically. Alex nodded serenely.
A grey, blue-eyed rabbit kicked the door open and stormed in, face a picture of indignation. He was followed by a green-eyed blue-grey rabbit, who was grinning madly, and a pale silvery-white rabbit, who looked both amused and exasperated. Ducky sighed.
"What did they do now, Thunder?"
The grey rabbit pointed accusingly at the other two, spluttering. "These - these black-hearted outlaws - put this in my cockpit -" he held up a rubber spider of remarkable size - "on a spring - it jumped out when I picked up my gloves - and they're laughing!"
Indeed they were. The blue-green rabbit was laughing silently, while the silvery-white one stifled a grin. Ducky snickered.
"I don't know why you're surprised, Thunder," she said. "'Breen's the biggest prankster around, and Tiercel isn't about to refuse a chance to avoid being the butt of a joke, now is he?"
"But - but they -" Thunder waved the fake spider around again. The blue-grey rabbit's hands flickered as he cracked up once more.
"Dare told 'Breen that Thunder jumped so fast that he hit the cockpit canopy," Tiercel, the silvery rabbit, translated with a grin. "And his screech scared the controller so bad that she fell out of her chair!"
"It's not funny! I nearly had a heart attack!"
"We know," Tiercel said, still grinning, "and that's what makes it funny."
Thunder growled something unintelligible under his breath. Shabreen signed something, and Tiercel translated.
"Sorry, I didn't quite catch that. Care to repeat it?"
Thunder made a face at the pair, then stomped dramatically out, leaving the fake spider in front of Ducky before she reminded him that if he left it there, she would personally stuff it in his ear. As he left, everyone could see the KICK ME PLZ sign on his back. Shabreen doubled up again with laughter.
"When did you stick that on him?" Defalcon asked.
"It was on the back of his seat in his cockpit," Shabreen said through Tiercel. "We figured he'd notice it, though!"
A muffled bellow was heard, and the Sharua brothers made a gleefully hasty exit.
Ducky shook her head. "That pair. One of these days they're going to play a joke on someone who won't take it, and then they'll be in really hot water."
"Oh, I don't know," Defalcon said. "They pick their targets carefully. And you have to admit, it was funny."
"Just because Thunder gets so indignant. But I can name some people who would not take it well at all."
"Thunder took it well?"
"Believe it or not, he did."
"... I'd hate to see him take it badly."
"He might just do so, especially when he finds the live grass snake 'Breen put in his flight jacket pocket."
Alex shook his head dryly. "Looks like there's going to be plenty of excitement while I'm gone."
Defalcon glanced up. "You're leaving?"
"Yeah."
"Where to?"
Stryker only smiled slightly, and stood. "See you around."
Shabreen and Tiercel went flying by, pursued closely by a furious Thunder, rubber spider in one hand, wriggling snake in the other, and KICK ME PLZ still on his back. Defalcon snickered.
"Maybe you should stay," he observed. "Looks like they might need some help."
"Then again, you might get trampled," Ducky retorted. Stryker nodded ruefully.
"Yeah ... I could use some action, but I've got places I need to go."
"Yeah, hey, when you get some free time, contact me," Defalcon said. Stryker nodded and headed for the door.
He never reached it.

XD Cliffhanger!

[Evaluator]

YaY, a new chapter since... more than 1 month ;-)
Nice to see a new story by you, CT

[defalcon]

Nice. :)

[4I Falcon]

OMG NOT A CLIFFHANGER >(((((((( *hates teh suspense*

Anywho. Yay for chess. Pwncake.

Derby: Acronym clearance.

4I: Okay, now I'm lost.

[Coppertop]

OMG YES A CLIFFHANGER >))))))))

[4I Falcon]

OMG NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>(

[Wild Angel]

Eh, if you ever need a new character, just PM me and I'll send you a profile. Only if you want to, though. *Shrug*

`Wildie

[4I Falcon]

I should probably start doing characters on demand sometime.

...Mmmyeah.

[defalcon]

Anymore? :p

Btw CT, updated character profile again, page 2 of the characters thread. :)

[4I Falcon]

*captures the page*

[Coppertop]

Nasty. I was just about to.

Wildie: I'll probably take you up on that.
Defal: I'll most likely update on Saturday.

EDIT: I love your new prof, Defal =D ... but no ponytail?

[Coppertop]

Haha, sorry about the double post. I said Saturday, so Saturday it is!

Benedict sighed wearily and glanced at Autumn, who was dropping off to sleep again. The russet rabbit was slumped against the wall, but Benedict knew they couldn't afford delays. Their disappearance had to have been noticed by now.
He reached over and shook Autumn awake. "Come on, Gale, we gotta keep going." Autumn mumbled an ineffective protest, but didn't resist when Benedict hauled him to his feel. Benedict didn't blame his friend; earlier, Autumn had managed to twist his ankle rather severely. He had been forced to rely on Benedict for support, something that had tired them both out rather quickly.
"How far does this tunnel go, anyway?" Autumn asked sleepily, showing a flash of his usual good humor. "Did the diggers plan to walk us to death, or did they just get lost?"
"I think they got lost," Benedict said sagely, half-carrying his partner in crime. "Kinda like us, huh?"
"We wouldn't be lost if we'd followed my advice and taken the front door," Autumn complained.
"No, we'd be having a nice long snooze, six feet under," Benedict retorted. "Shut up and keep walking."
"Hopping."
"Yeah, whatever. Who knows, you might actually get the hang of it."
".. I feel like a frog."
"Yeah, and you'd look like one too, 'cept you're not green. Concentrate on your hopping skills, will you?"
Autumn complied. After about five minutes, Benedict blinked.
"Hey, Autumn, I think I see a light."
"Whatever you do, don't follow it," Autumn instructed. "Stay with me, Fleetfoot."
"Naw, I mean there's a light at the end of the tunnel!"
"No kidding?" Autumn peered down the corridor. "Hey, I see it too. Are you sure it's not a train?"
"Pretty sure," Benedict said dryly. "Given a choice, though, I'd take the train over the lizards."
"... oh, good point."
"I thought so."
The light was neither a train nor lizards. It was a lamp, probably owned by the bright green-furred rabbit, who was totally immersed in studying the glyphs on the wall. He was muttering excitedly to himself, scribbling furiously on a pad of paper. He glanced up as the duo approached.
"Have you read this? This'll knock 'em dead at Carrot Corp! Of course, this isn't my usual field, but all the same!"
"What does it say?" Autumn asked. The rabbit peered at the pad he was brandishing.
"Either it's the meaning of life, or the writer's favorite cigarette brand. But over here, they have the answer to 'which came first: the chicken or the egg?" - And over here, soemthing I can't quite translate, but I suspect it'll revolutionize archaeology."
"So which did come first?" Benedict asked. The rabbit blinked at him.
"What? Oh, right. It depends on what you believe. If you're an evolutionist, the egg, obviously. If you're a creationist, the chicken."
"SImply groundbreaking," Benedict said dryly, with a grin. The rabbit nodded solemnly.
"Absolutely. Mind, I'm not an archaeologist, but I imagine it'll be the find of the century. Oh, I'm terribly sorry, I'm Acid." He stuck out a dusty hand, still gripping the paper pad, then thought twice and shoved the paper in his pocket, beaming.
"Benedict Fleetfoot. THis is Autumn Gale. I don't suppose there're directions out of here inscribed on any walls, are there?"
"Oh, most likely," Acid assured him. 'I mean, they wrote everything else down, from shopping lists to love letters."
"On the walls?"
"Come to think of it, that is odd, isn't it?"
"Just a little!"
Autumn managed to fit a word in edgewise. "How'd you get in here?"
"I stumbled upon it quite by chance," Acid reassured them. "I fell through the roof there." He pointed at a gaping hole, and the pile of debris on the floor.
"Uh ..."
Acid took Autumn's momentary speechlessness for amazement, and grinned. "I wasn't really in any danger. I landed on top, there, not underneath. Can't say as much for the poor guy it all landed on, but .." he shrugged.
"It LANDED on someone?"
"Hm, yes, bit of bad luck, that. I'm not a xenologist (sp?), but from the bits I could see of him, he was one of those scaly, reptilian types."
"Benedict?"
"Yeah."
"I think we should be going now, don't you?"
"Why?"
"Those guys always travel in pairs."
"We can take care of 'em."
Acid caught sight of Benedict's katana. "Warriors, eh? You wouldn't have anything to do with that rebellion?"
"Not really," Autumn said. "Victims of circumstance is all."
Acid nodded wisely and opened his mouth, but Benedict cut him off.
"D'you have a weapon?"
"Come to think of it, yeah! It's around here somewhere ..." Acid launched himself at the rubble and started pawing energetically through it. After a moment he came up with a dusty red rocket launcher clenched in his fists. Polishing it lovingly, he grinned at them. Benedict sighed resignedly.
"Figures."

The rest on Monday.

[acid]

YAAAAAY CHAPPIE!!!

[Coppertop]

*is ignored*

Well, I said Monday, but I can't find it, so Tuesday. Sorry ;-;

[defalcon]

Woo, chapter. :D:D

Ah, no, no ponytail anymore. Decided to ditch it. :)

[n0]

Lookin good!

Uh... I thought you said my char was in...

He comming in in a later chapter

`N0

[Coppertop]

Yeah, later. It's on hold for now, will resume later.

[Ducky]

Aww, I love geeky Acid. ^_^

[Coppertop]

Me too =P
Long time no update ... oops.

They set off once more, Acid in tow. Benedict had no idea where they were going. Finally he lowered Autumn to the floor and plopped himself down next to his friend. Acid immediately began inspecting the walls.
"Doesn't look like we'll ever get out of here, Gale," he sighed. "We could follow this tunnel till doomsday and STILL be going in circles."
Acid glanced up from the wall ("Fred loves Minnie" "Over my dead body"). "You guys want out?"
"No, we enjoy going aimlessly in circles," Benedict snickered. "Yes, Acid. We've been looking for a way out since before we met you."
"Well, you should have told me," Acid said. "We passed an exit just a few minutes ago."
Benedict slammed his head into the wall a few times before turning back to Acid.
"Where?"
"Well, just back there a ways. You want me to find it for you again?"
"Please."
Acid trundled off the way they had come, Benedict and Autumn trailing after.
It was more than a ways. After about five minutes of walking, Benedict stopped concentrating on where they were going and focussed instead on his feet. Thus, when Acid stopped abruptly, they ran directly into him.
Benedict untangled himself from the heap and helped Autumn up. He surveyed the wall skeptically.
"This is it?"
Acid picked himself up. "Yeah. What's the matter, can't you see the exit sign?"
Autumn looked around expectantly, clearly looking for the sign, and Acid laughed. Then he turned his attention to the wall. Benedict tuned out his excited muttering and turned to Autumn.
"You okay?"
"Yeah. I think I can walk now."
"Why couldn't you have decided that earlier," Benedict grumbled, glowering at Autumn, who looked innocent.
"But you were doing such a good job, I didn't want to distract you. You mgiht have dropped me."
"Scratch the 'might'," Benedict said. 'I WOULD have."
"See? That's why I didn't mention it."
"Come to think of it, if you can walk, why am I still supporting you?"
"Um ..."
Benedict dropped Autumn, who caught himself and glared fiercely at Benedict. Whatever he had been about to say was cut off by a grinding noise. Acid stepped back, looking triumphant, as a portion of wall swung in. There was a dropoff into a tunnel.
"Ha! What'd I tell you?"
"Yeah, but where does it go?"
Acid peered into the dark, damp-smelling tunnel, then turned to Benedict with a straight faced, "down!"
"I KNOW it goes down," Benedict said with mock-forced patience. "Where does it END?"
"Uhm ... " Acid leaned into the tunnel, overbalanced, and fell in. After a moment his disembodied voice floated back to them. "So sorry, but I can't tell from here." His green-furred face appeared out of the darkness. "Quite a drop, huh?" He was level with Benedict's knees. The dark blue rabbit scowled.
"Can you be serious for once?"
"Sure. I don't think I can pull myself up."
"You need a hand?" Benedict reached down to help Acid out. THe slender rabbit took the pro-offered hand and tugged. With a squawk of dismay, Benedict too fell into the tunnel.
There was a pause. Then, "sorry, Benedict."
Benedict picked himself, glared in the direction he imagined the sheepish-sounding Acid to be, and gathered his shredded dignity about him.
"If I thought that was on purpose, I'd kill you."
"... I know."
Autumn stifled something that sounded suspiciously like a snicker. Acid sighed.
"Can you hand me that light, Autumn?"
Autumn moved to comply. As he bent to hand the lamp down to Acid, he tripped and fell facefirst onto the scientist, with a muffled "whoops!" The lamp went out.
Benedict sighed into the darkness. What were the chances that all three of them would fall in? He fumed silently. None of this was helping them. FOr all they knew, this was a dead end.
A grinding noise behind him made him turn. The dim illumination provided by the corridor was vanishing, and Benedict realized that Acid was shutting the hidden door.
"What the heck are you DOING?!"
"Well, you don't want those rebel types to find you, do you? I doubt they'll be able to find this door, even if they try."
"But - but - "
The door shut, leaving them in darkness.

[4I Falcon]

Yeehee, and I completely missed it.

Another excellent chapter, though I don't think Acid's really as eccentric as you made him out to be here. Interesting, though.

[n0]

YaY! WB CT!

I... uh... what?
Oh... this is the wrong thread?

uh...