Castaway Planet

Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]

Days after of Crash landing/ 2

Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Window Corridor form Black Windows Gallery

Galactic Standard Time / 540

“They’re still following us!” Bryce called out in horror.

Rodolphe looked at the windows and tried to think of anything to do. For the last three minutes, they had run along the hallway. Unlike the last one, all the windows here were still in one piece. That was good, as they were still being chased by the humans who found them. And the worst thing was that the spearman kept stabbing at the window every time they passed one.

“Gotta be because they want to kill us, man. They see this as holy ground, that’s gotta be the answer. I’ve seen this story, I ain’t going live you hear me! If they’re going to catch us I’ll die first!” Zane snarled as he ran.

“Who are they?! How long were they here!?” Bryce asked in shock.

Rodolphe only glared into the distance, trying to think of an answer that made sense. He had read a few stories growing up about how people lowered their tech level to survive. And once he had thought his people had done that too. If the people outside didn’t then there was only one answerer. “Anytime since Rome of old Sol to now, I’d say. But what could this place have captured them this way and not us!?”

“I want to know why those windows won’t break!” Zane exclaimed.

Rodolphe looked at the windows as they passed the latest one and tried to figure that out. He knew the answer was that they were made that way, but why did these still work? He remembered how after the first door they opened there was a window that had broken, and was empty of glass. That meant that something here was different, and that was something they had to figure out if only to feel safe.

Looking at the window ahead, he saw the light source on top and then it struck him. Looking over his shoulder he saw that every window had a light source above it, and that was enough for him. If he was right, then they could slow down. But could they chance it?

“There’s the door!” Bryce called out in glee.

Rodolphe looked ahead and saw what Bryce had and figured now was as good a time as at the door. “Guys slow down, the windows won’t break!”

Rodolphe stopped and the others ran by him, stopping ten feet away. As they turned back around the spearman knocked on the window, having stopped as well.

“What do you mean man!?” Bryce asked with panic in his voice.

Rodolphe looked at them and saw that the situation was starting to get to Bryce. Zane was huddling it a lot better, but it was affecting him too. And the constant knocking of the spearman wasn’t helping.

“Look, the light sources,” Rodolphe said as he pointed at the space between the windows. Looking at it more closely, Rodolphe was able to finally see that the light came from round crystals. “These were gone from the other hallway. The one behind the first door we opened. I think they’ll a sign, this place still has power.”

“So the power makes it so the windows can’t be broken……. This is a Ruin after all. So that's not too far out there, really,” Zane said with a bit of awe in his voice.

Bryce looked between them before laughing madly for a few seconds. Then he took a series of deep breaths and looked around, a bit more together than he had been. “That….. makes a lot of sense!”

“And we’ve got a semi-safe place, so let’s talk for a bit. This is a lot more than a simple food run!” Rodolphe said as he looked around at Zane and Bryce. Both of them nodded and as one, they sat down. Risking a glance at the spearman, Rodolphe saw that he had sat down as well.

“So do we open that door once we get there?” Zane asked as he looked at the spearman. “I mean we could run back and forth a few times, get them away from us before we open it.”

As one Rodolphe and Bryce looked at the spearman, who waved his spear at them.

Rodolphe had to admit that he saw where Zane was coming from, but all they had were questions. While there was a chance that they worshiped whoever made this hell, there was a chance they were wrong. If they hated the Ruin builders, saw them as Devils. Or maybe they had been captured before the first Ruin was found, and that would change everything. to get an answer, they would need to talk to them. And talking to anyone without a way to defend themselves on a first contact…. That was bad, very bad.

“Do you think we can even trick them? Or how many times running back and forth it’ll take? And how we’ll be at the end?” Bryce asked.

Zane only looked at them and then away, shrugging. “It had to be said.”

“We don’t know what’s ahead. We’ve got limited supplies, maybe three meals until we need more food. So we can’t waste time. We go forward. If we can find a place to talk to them, we will. We might not have a choice,” Rodolphe said as he looked around at the others.

As they nodded at him, Rodolphe looked at the window wall. If he could destroy one of the crystals, then maybe it might let the spearman break it. After that, they could try and learn what these people wanted and who they were. “I know, so let’s rest here for now. If I’m right, we can recover our energy. If I’m wrong, we can fight to the door.”

“As master used to say,” Zane said as he sat down, using his pack as a pillow. “Sleep when you can, and fight when you must!”

Bryce looked around and nodded as well.

<>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>

Below, Yogix looked up at the man on the viewer. For the last ten minutes, he had tried to get the view to slow down. If he could try and get up there, he might be able to use Old Sign to talk to them. And then there was the Scholar’s hand tongue, those symbols might work. Even if he could only use a flag of his order, he would. All his life he wanted to get at the monsters who had captured his people, and this was his chance.

If they could only learn where these people came from, it would change so much. They would finally know where the Lost were. And more to the point, how they had finally broken through into the Devil’s realm.

“General! The others, they’re going to sleep up here!” The spearman called out.

Yogix looked up at him, shocked beyond words. They were just resting in that hell? Why? What did they know that let them do that!?

“Sleeping, now I know their warriors. Perfect reaction right there,” Rogix’s powerful voice came from behind him. He saw him urging his Riding Beast forward and bit back a sigh. “If they're resting, so are we. Everyone take time to eat or drink. Feed your mounts and rest your minds!”

Ten minutes later, Yogix walked towards Rogix. He was sitting down, his beast next to him as he cleaned his axe. He looked up and sighed.

“Yogix, I know what you’re thinking, no. I will not let you go up there,” Rogix said stiffly.

Yogix only looked at his friend and tried to think of what to say.

“But this is perfect! If they’re stopping, for now, I can find another way to communicate with them. And you know as well as I this must be done soon! This has to be the best chance we’ll have, maybe the only one!” Yogix said with excitement in his voice.

“Think we can figure out how to talk to them old one? Before we can’t try again? Rogix asked and Yogix knew what Rogix meant. Yogix knew Rogix well, having been the boy’s tutor for years. The man was kind, strong and would kill anything to protect those he protected. Plus like Yogix, hated wasted effort. But those traits were how Yogix knew what Rogix meant.

“Your man up there isn’t having much luck. If I can get onto that thing, maybe I could do something that they would understand.” Yogix suggested only for Rogix to shake his head.

“Master, as much as I would like that, no. If they don’t know a way out, only in then you might be lost. You’re too important to the War, we can’t lose you! And you know I’m right,” Rogix said with a sorrowful tone.

Yogix nodded and turned away. “I know, but we don’t have a long enough time to handle this!

Rogix only sighed. “I know what you know about the Senate. And they’ll get involved as soon as my messenger gets there. That’s what they do. Please don’t say I couldn’t have sent one, you know the spies they have would have done it.”

“I know boyo, I know. But still! Think about what the fractions will do with this knowledge! And if the Believers get ahold of them!” Yogix snarled and Rogix only looked back at him with a hard stare.

“I know! But I have orders! Oaths I swore when I took my office! I could no more ignore them than you could ignore yours!” Rogix spat back and Yogix looked away.

Yogix only nodded, that was one of Rogix’s worst and best traits. If he said he’d do something, he did. And the oaths of his office were just another promise to him. But still, this was bad! Once the other nobles got involved, who knew what they would do! The best thing would be for them to find a way to make contact before the messenger made it to court! And they were heading towards the Scholar’s Retreat, so there was that. If they could talk to the people within the Devil’s Realm there, there might be a chance!

A cry from someone behind Rogix and Yogix turns in time to see one of their guards fall off his Riding Beast. But it was the red wood arrow through his neck that caused them to understand they were being attacked. But it was the figures armed with swords in red cloaks that made who was attacking them clear.

“REBELS! TO THE VIEWER, defensive CIRCLE!” Rogix bellowed out his orders as he drew his axe, an aura of yellow energy suddenly surrounding him. He swung his axe down and an energy slash five feet high shot from it. The rebels all dodged and the slash hit a tree, causing an explosion of thunderbolts.

Yogix meanwhile had ridden his beast towards the Viewer, throwing caution to the wind. If the Rebels were here, then the Scholar’s Retreat had to have been their target! That let Yogix know that this was it, he had to make contact now or lose the chance forever!

As soon as he reached the platform he climbed onto it. hearing cries behind him he turned and went white. Then more of the Rebels were charging after the others, and he thought he could see more. “This is more than to take the Rest, what are they……”

Yogix went still as he looked at the Rebel army. These people had to have come here for one reason, to kill the King and the heads of the Noble factions! Every few years, they met at Scholar Rest to retake vows of loyalty. The next one was soon, and if they all died, that would spark a civil war! Something needed to turn the tide, and the only thing nearby was the strangers!

<>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>

“Everyone rested?” Bryce asked as he stretched.

Zane nodded as he sighed. He had to admit, the last ten minutes were something he needed. The idea to rest while being watched was insane, but it had been needed here. “Yeah. So shall we…… what’s wrong with spear guy?”

As the others turned, they saw what Zane had. The spearman was looking away from them, and by the look on his face, something was wrong. For a moment Zane wondered if they should help, but then he wondered what was wrong.

Bryce had moved farther down and looked through the window there. “Uhhhh guys? They’ve got trouble.”

Zane and Rodolphe both looked at each other and then walked over to him. When they gazed through the window they both went still. They were seeing a battle, the first humans they had seen against red-robed figures.

“What is this?” Rodolphe asked in shock.

“Don’t know, but I don’t think it’s good. Those reddies remind me of a few murder guilds I’ve taken down. Never a good thing,” Zane muttered.

As he gazed down the man with the axe kill one of the reddies, two others tried to kill him. As they watched, one cut through the dead one’s neck as the other one came from the left. The axe man suddenly glowed yellow and grabbed the throat of the first reddie. He used him as a living shield that the second one cut through the ‘shield’s’ body. But the axe wielder had pulled his weapon free and slashed off the second’s head.

“Classic ambush strategy. I think these people were waiting here. And we all agree this isn’t good?” Bryce asked.

“It might be for us,” Zane said absently. The others stayed silent and looked at him in shock. He raised his hands and looked at them. “What?” We can escape and they won’t follow us.”

“Bit heartless there,” Rodolphe said softly.

Zane only looked at him and snorted. “What? It’s not like they asked us for help!”

“Might be what he’s here for,” Bryce said dryly.

Turning, Zane saw the spearman helping a man in a robe onto the platform. He looked at them, and Zane saw hope in his eyes. He started to make signs with his hand and Bryce went still.

“That’s MILL SIGN!” Bryce declared, total shock in his voice

Mill Sign?! The human military sign language from the Corp War!?” Zane asked, stunned beyond words. That meant these people had to be descended from military personnel from the Corp War, on the government side at that! And that meant that this place had been taking ships and their crews for over a hundred years!

“Yeah. He’s saying those people are traitors, he’s asking for passage? Passage where?” Bryce asked as he looked at the man. He looked away and Zane saw worry in Bryce’s eyes. “I can ‘talk’ with Mill Sign, but what do I say, what do we do?”

“We can’t leave them. As far as I can see, those people were ambushed. That tells me that they were waiting for someone, and that’s never good. And then there’s that term,” Rodolphe said as he crossed his arms.

“What term?!” Zane demanded. What could have gotten Rodolphe to react like this?! What made him want to go to battle!?

Rodolphe only looked at him and breathed out a word. “Traitors.”

The hate Rodolphe had in that one word caused Zane to blink in shock. Rodolphe didn’t say anything for a few moments, he only grinned with dark eyes.

“Call me old fashioned, but hearing that term gets me mad. So who’s for helping them out?” Rodolphe asked.

Zane only looked at him. He tried and failed to speak before Bryce spoke up.

“Traitor’s deserve death! So let’s show them modern firepower!” Bryce snarled as he moved his rifle off his back.

Zane looked at Bryce and tried to find anything to say, anything at all. But he couldn’t. That was something he had in common with Rodolphe, and he wanted to fight. They had the high ground and a few blasts down until the soldiers got up the tower. After that, they would deal with the natives.

“Okay! So how do we break the windows after all!?” Zane asked.

All Rodolphe could do was grin and point at the crystal. “First we try and remove them. If I’m right the windows will either disappear or we’ll be able to break them. Zane help me get them out, Bryce tell that man help’s coming!”

<>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>

As his axe killed another of the rebels, Rogix growled as he looked at the blood he had already spilled. As the bodies of the dead were around them, his men were holding their own. The Riding Beasts were all behind them, and the cart with the Viewer after them.

As Rogix looked around, he tried and failed to figure this out. Nothing about it made sense! They were a small patrol group, not a merchant group! For all the Rebels knew they were trying out a new invention the Scholars had! This made no sense tactically and stank of a spur-of-the-moment action. But all the people, as he watched the number of rebels climbed to over forty. Who was leading them!?

“WELL WELL! The great general Rogix Impruis himself! In my trap!” A savage-sounding female voice caused him to look up. Standing at the far back behind another twenty rebels was one of the worst. Calcoris Malconix, one of the leaders of the rebels. He was standing there, his long dark green hair flowing in the wind. His two swords were out and he was staying back like always.

“Calcoris! You coward! Come out and face me! Blade to Blade!” Rogix bellowed.

For a moment, Calcoris almost took a step forward. But before he could do that a rain of red energy bolts hit the rebels closest to the soldiers.

“ROGIX, GET THEM UP HERE!” Yogix called out from above.

Rogix only looked at the Rebels as they drove into the trees and only then did he bark out a command.

“Everyone up that tower! Send the beasts back to base!” Rogix bellowed and with that, the die was cast.

Rogix knew that Yogix had been able to talk to the newcomers, and that bothered him a lot. If it was that easy to talk to them, why did they run? Somehow he knew that they were wrong about who these people were. And that meeting them was going to change everything!