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NetStar Chronology - Chapter 21 |
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Yellow, Green, and Light Gray reached the mountainous Estarion, when they came upon something interesting. A man, who looked about nineteen, was with a group of Ghosts with gray undersuits. The man wore a gray trenchcoat, and had black hair and brown irises. He wore black shoes, instead of boots, and gray pants.
"Come on, we've gotta find Emberwave." The man told his unit.
"Hold yourself!" Light Gray commanded. "Are you who I think you are?"
"Hm?" The man looked over. "Oh, if it isn't Light Gray! How have you been, brother?"
"Solid, what are you doing with The Empire?"
"We share a common interest. A change of Iota. And, I doubt you feel any different." Solid Gray shook his head.
"I don't really, but aren't you looking for our siblings?"
"That's not important, right now. I believe that The Empire can help us make the changes we've been powerless to make alone."
"But, we'd be more powerful if we were reunited again!"
"Look, I know you want to find them, but I'm sick of this wild goose chase. I'm doing something about the way Iota is run, and you can't convince me otherwise." Solid Gray then looked at his unit. "It's not in this area, let's get moving."
"Sir!" The Ghosts nodded.
Solid Gray and his men marched off. Light Gray just growled.
"Am I the only one who considers our priorities?" He scowled. "Seriously..."
"If he's in The Empire, then Daisaku must be up to his tricks, again." Green said. "They're searching for something called Emberwave."
"Emberwave..." Light Gray muttered. "Sounds familiar, but I can't quite remember."
"We already know where two of your brothers are, anyway." Yellow told him. "Dark is working with the Skulls, and Solid is in The Empire. That will give us some consistancy when we need to find them again."
"But, we still have yet to find the other three." Light Gray frowned.
"Light." Green sighed. "If The Empire is up to something, that will take priority. We can search for your siblings off to the side, but we really need to focus on what The Empire is doing."
"Just great." Light Gray shook his head. "Very well. If I help you, then you'll help me, all right?"
"It's a deal." Green nodded. "Let's head back to the house, and update Terra and Yamato."
The three of them disappeared. Nearby, Solid was still searching, when he got a call on his communicator. He pressed his fingers to it.
"Talk to me." he said.
Captain Gray. Supreme said from the other end. Have you found Emberwave yet?
"Not yet. But I can detect its power. Unfortunately, I ran into Miyamoto and some of his allies. I fear they know we're up to something."
It wouldn't kill you to be more evasive. Supreme sounded annoyed.
"Sorry, sir."
We'll just have to work around it, then. When you've found the artifact, come back to base.
"Gotcha."
Supreme, out.
Connection was terminated.
"We're close." Solid Gray told his group. "Stay sharp."
"Right!" They all said, and continued searching.
The three NetStars returned home, and found Red and Blue in the living room.
"That was fast." Red blinked. "Did you find Small?"
"No, but we did find Solid." Light Gray said. "He's working for The Empire."
"Why would he work with them?" Blue asked.
"Well, they share a common interest." He sighed. "However, while I hold the same beliefs, the execution is against my morals. I just want to find everyone."
"They really mean a lot to you, don't they?" Yellow frowned.
"One might say that he's not complete, without them." Red said, empathetically.
"Have you heard anything about The Empire?" Green asked.
"Nope." Blue shook his head. "Obsessed, aren't you?"
"I want to n** this thing in the bud." Green sighed in aggrivation. "We've had about a month of peace, and I want it to stay that way. Solid was searching for something called Emberwave."
"Emberwave, huh?" Red asked. "I've heard of it, I think it's some kind of artifact, like Satarage's Gems... but, they're different."
Green looked at Blue, who shrugged.
"Whatever it is, it must be powerful." Green said. "We should fan out, to see what we can find. I'll search Altimiller. Terra, you go to Neo Theta. Yamato, I want you to look in Kotobuki."
"What are we supposed to do?" Light Gray asked.
"You can search for Exodus, Usagi, and Small. Charlotte, you join him. I'm sure your skills can aid him."
"Right." She nodded.
Everyone disappeared in their respective Elements, and went to their designated areas.
Neo Theta is a minor city, east of Bencora and south of Estarion. It is flat, and like a docile desert. It could be explained as the center of all cowboy culture on Iota. Right down to the architecture, and even the citizens themselves.
Red appeared at the entrance to the city, which was a wooden fence.
"Oh, man." Red groaned. "I just remembered how much I can't stand this place. But wait... this seems like a perfect spot for someone like Vincent. I'm sure I can drive some info out of the local yokels."
She walked through the town, looking at people. A stereotypical cowboy walked over to her.
"Well, howdy thar." The man said. "I don't reckon I've seen you in these parts."
"That's because I don't like it here." She glared at him. "Tell me, have you seen a guy named Vincent Orange?"
"I've heard of 'im." The cowboy nodded. "He's dangerous, you know that? Not someone I'd wanna tangle with."
"Okay." She said impatiently. "But have you seen him?"
"Oh, no, I haven't. Why'd a girl like you want to see him, for? You datin' him, or something?"
"Strike one." She glared.
"Do you have some sorta love interest?"
"Strike two."
"You must not be a girl, then. Sorry for the..."
Red smashed him in the face with a quick sucker punch, and he dropped to the ground like a ton of bricks.
"Strike three." She flexed her wrist. "You're out."
She continued walking around. After about an hour of looking, she gave up and went into a saloon. She sat at the bar, and slumped there. The man was a Generic, modeled to fit the part of a bartender.
"What'll ya have?" He asked.
"Just some apple juice." She sighed.
"Life got ya down?" The man said as he polished a glass mug.
"It doesn't matter much, but I sorta regret cutting my hair. Everybody thinks I'm a boy."
"Well, that isn't right."
"I suppose I deserve it, though. I don't wear dresses, and I love to fight. I shouldn't be surprised people think that."
"Sorry to hear it, ma'am." The man poured some apple juice in the mug. "The only solution I have for you is to just let that hair grow out. I'm sure it would look pretty on you."
"Thanks." She gave a small smile.
"Why'd you cut it, anyway?" He put the mug on the counter.
"It kept on getting in the way." She sipped the juice. "Plus, I can't run in dresses."
"I reckon there's a happy medium, somewhere. Have you tried tying it back?"
"Well, actually." She blinked. "No. No, I haven't."
"I'm sure that would do the trick for you."
"Thanks for the advice." She smiled more, then took a big gulp.
"That drink comes to three bytes, ma'am."
Before anyone could do anything else, Orange slammed open the doors. Red blinked, finished her drink, then slapped five bytes on the table. Bytes are Iota's currency, and resemble silver coins.
"Keep the change, ol' chap." Red grinned, not taking her eyes off Orange.
Oh, great. Orange sighed. Just my luck.
"Vincent!" Red got up, and approached him. "What is The Empire after?"
"We're after nothing, Terra." He told her. "So butt out."
"Aw, don't give me that!" She crossed her arms. "I heard one of your allies was looking for something called Emberwave. What is it?"
"It's none of your business, that's what."
"Oh, Vincent." She shook her head. "Do I have to fight you again?"
"You are way too nosy..." He sighed again. "You know the drill. Let's go!"
Red dashed at him, put her hands on his shoulders, then flipped over him and flung him outside; a crash could be heard soon after. Everyone in the saloon stared as she ran out.
"That girl's crazy." The bartender blinked.
A cowboy in black slapped ten bytes on a table.
"Ten bytes says Vincent creams that loudmouth." He said in a raspy voice.
The other cowboy, who was wearing white, blinked, then put twenty more bytes with that.
"Well, thirty says the girl's gonna win!"
Red was flung back into the saloon, and smacked into a wall. She didn't seem like she was doing so well, but she ran out again. Everyone could hear the sounds of ground breaking, and flames being shot. The cowboy in white put down ten more bytes, then Orange was slammed into the same wall.
"Why you little..." Orange growled, then ran out again. "That's it, you little shrimp!"
It sounded as though they switched to hand to hand combat, then Red was slung back into the wall, on her stomach, and she slid down to the floor. As she did so, she groaned.
"Leave me alone!" Orange called to her. "I don't need you getting in my way, all the time!"
The cowboy in black grinned, then dragged all the bytes towards himself. The one in white leaned his chin on his hand, in disgust. Red got up, wearily.
"Damn..." She sighed. "I actually lost against him."
"Well, damn!" The cowboy in white said. "I lost thirty bytes, thanks to you!"
Red walked over, and held him up by the collar of his shirt.
"Well, then." She said tensely. "Maybe next time you'd like to fight him, huh?"
She threw him over his seat, and walked out.
"She's lucky to have survived..." The bartender muttered.
I'm lucky to have survived. The cowboy in white gulped.
 Shin-Maruku · Wed Dec 12, 2007 @ 12:04pm · 1 Comments |
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