[10] Android 17 - Wastelands

[Android 17]

The machine-hybrid stopped in his tracks and cursed beneath his breath. Without a map, he really had no idea where the hell he was going. The asteroid?s terrain was the same everywhere?dirt, dirt, and more dirt. He had only been on Kala for about two days, yet it seemed like he had spent nearly ninety percent of the time wandering these aggravating, endless stretches of earth. With a few exceptions, nearly everything that adversely affected him had gone down on this environment. Both Piccolo Daimaou and Yajirobe had lost their lives on these wastelands. The cybernetic warrior longed to return to his home once again. At least on Earth there were more colors then red, brown, and black. This rock he had been forced on was doomed anyway. It was a great cause to prevent the deaths of its inhabitants, but who would want to live out their lives on this dead stone? Taking in a deep gulp of air, the android broke into a sprint?no real destination in mind.

Seventeen had no idea how long he had wandered around the fields before the first snowy mountain peaks were visible on the horizon. The android was taken aback by the sudden appearance of white on the black backdrop that was the night sky. Raising an eyebrow, the machine-hybrid activated his battle visor and scanned the mountain range for any signs of life. Strangely enough, the android could detect several faint sign of life up on the side of the mountains; however, Android Seventeen knew that the energy sources he was detecting may be highly dangerous. But what did he care? The cybernetic warrior had traveled long and far, and maybe a little excursion on these mountains could be just the relaxation he needed. Leaping into the sky, the android flew the rest of the way to the base of the mountains.

Landing near the base of a cliff, Seventeen shrugged his shoulders and started to climb. He knew he simply could have avoided the physical exertion needed to pull himself up the massive wall of rock by flying, but he wanted to leech the opportunity for as many cheap thrills as he could. Even so, by the time he got to the top of the small cliff, he was worn out already. However, at the top of the cliff, a draft of cold wind numbed the majority of the small wounds that were dotted all over the android?s body and made him feel rather relaxed.

As chilly as it was, Android Seventeen had experienced far worse when it came to weather. Memories flooded the machine-hybrid?s mind?he saw the highlights of the final battle of the CIA invasion flash before his eyes. He?d seen them all before, so it wasn?t much of a shock to see all the death and murder once again. Making his way through the ankle-deep snow, the android started trudging up a rather steep incline. Luckily for the cybernetic mountain climber, his boots, that had somehow managed to remain intact during the course of the game, allowed him to remain standing in the constantly shifting footing.

The steep incline leveled off after about a quarter of a mile, placing the android on a wide plateau on the side of the mountain. From where he was right now, the clouds were right above him, yet it seemed like the mountains continued going strong even after they vanished into the dense cloud layer. Emitting an audible ?brr?, Seventeen rubbed his arms together and wiped the snowflakes from his forehead. Walking around the edge of the plateau, the android found the easiest method to scale the vertical surface. The northern side of the mountain was splintered; a giant crack nearly two feet in diameter had been swiftly cleaved in the thick stone. The mountain had been came apart irregularly, leaving several knobs of stone that could easily double as footing along the inside of the fracture. Taking a firm grasp on the first chunk of rock, the android started to pull himself up to the mountain side.

Going about half a foot with each knew rung, Seventeen was about halfway to the top of the summit when he heard the soft rumbling from inside the deep fissure. Ignoring the faint noise, the machine-hybrid continued up a few more yards, but then the sound returned?with a vengeance. A deep, animalistic war pierced the night air just as the side of the mountain started to crumble away. With nothing to hold on to as the cliff fell apart, Android Seventeen tumbled all the way back to the base of the cliff. He struck the frozen earth and started to roll towards the rim of the plateau. Realizing the next drop would not be so short, the bewildered android shot his hands forward as he tried to grab hold of something?anything.

His bony fingers wrapped around a small spur of stone jutting from the edge of the plateau. Letting out a relieved sigh, Seventeen looked up to see the crumbling mountain explode into a thousand, tiny pieces. From the former unknown, a giant beast stepped forward, the shine of its natural tuxedo contrasted against its yellow beak and piercing stare. With another roar, the monstrosity flapped its giant, stout wings and swung its mammoth bill at its victim. Its prey?the mortified android?screamed out in horror, but the fear of being ripped in half superseded his fear of falling to his death. Letting go of the side of the mountain, the machine-hybrid started to plummet. Yet, even as he was falling from the abomination, it lunged forward with ungodly speed. Seventeen watched as the yellow beak moved to close around his abdomen and rend him in twain.

And then, just as it seemed he was going to fall victim to the bizarre mountain beast, Android Seventeen lost consciousness. The blackness lasted a few brief moments before the cybernetic warrior awoke in a completely foreign cave. Uttering a surprised gasp at what had just happened, the machine-hybrid rubbed his eyes, stunned by the sudden change in setting. More shocking then the dark cave was how cold he was feeling. When he was scaling the Kala mountain range he wasn?t chilly at all, but now he felt like someone had abandoned him in the Artic for a few weeks with no clothes. Two figures that had been standing near the mouth of the cave were drawn in by the impulsive outburst of their company. Even though the cavern was light by only a small, dying fire, Seventeen knew Paige and Leo when he saw them. The two whitelighters smiled at their confused friend and offered him a thick blanket to drape over his freezing form.

?What happened?? the android asked, rubbing his aching head and then his freezing arms. Leo waved goodbye and abruptly orbed from the cave. Paige assisted Seventeen back to a vertical position and walked him back to the mouth of the grotto.

?We found you about halfway up the mountain; you were cataleptic and nearly frostbitten,? Android Seventeen was taken aback by that tidbit of information.

?But I was just near the peak a few seconds ago?right by the big crack in the one cliff wall when that beast almost killed me?? among the chattering of teeth, it seemed that Paige had understood what her android friend had just said, but all she did was lean over and tighten the blanket around his shoulders.

"You should just be lucky that Leo and I found you when we did. My guess is whatever you saw with the cracked mountainside was probably a hallucination brought on by this uncanny cold,? Paige walked outside of the cavern and looked up towards the dark clouds near the peak of the mountain, ?Leo and I are pretty sure that the artifact that Vapor wants is near the top of this particular mountain, but we have been unable to detect his presence. I am going to go help Leo search for where it may be hidden, and I want you to get off this mountain and help Gabriel,? her speech completed, Paige disappeared in her normal grandeur, amidst a cloud of blue and white orbs.

Android Seventeen, hugging the blanket against his chest, only had to think for a few moments before he realized he had to help find the Eye. Besides, if the Eye wasn?t hidden on the summit, he would just leave and help the seraphs. Taking a little detour to the top of the mountain couldn?t take him that long?could it?

OOC: Kinda lost on what to rp, but that's what I concocted. It's my second post, and Seventeen is now near the peak of the Kala Mountains.