11-29-2005, 03:27 AM
Up on the mountain?s summit, the machine-hybrid felt like a god. Everything below him just seemed tiny and insignificant. The feeling lasted for a few moments before the mountain started to grumble and vibrate beneath him. Then his footing was lost as the tremors became too violent for him handle, and the mountain exploded under the power of whatever was inside it. Android Seventeen leaped away from the mountain, shielding his face from whatever had just obliterated the peak with the ratty old blanket. Yet, in the moments before he was thrown off the summit, he noticed the small ebony structure. Cradled on a little plateau on the back side of the mountain, it was apparent that the black spec held some importance, but before he could get a better look, Seventeen was forced to abandon his kingly perch in fear of his life. The android rolled and tumbled down the side of the mountain for a few yards before he stopped himself on a flat stretch of land.
From the ruins of the former summit, a mass of black and gray emerged from the cloud of dust. Android Seventeen tied the blanket to his waist and prepared to combat the massive creature. The arachnid that was scampering down the mountainside was larger then any of its ilk that the cybernetic warrior had encounter on Earth, and it seemed to be a lot less pleasant then its minute relatives. One of the spider?s legs was easily as thick as the android?s entire figure. Green globs of saliva dripped from the arachnid?s fangs, pooling on the ground and easily eroding away the dirt and thin layer of snow.
Seventeen backed away from the massive spider as it leaned back on its haunches and prepared to lunge. The backdrop behind the beast?the perpetual lightening storms that punished the mountains?only served to add to the mutant?s intimidating appeal. Both the machine-hybrid and the giant arachnid jumped at the same time. Android Seventeen landed on the torso of the creature and tried to hold on for dear life and figure out how to kill the spider as it bucked back and forth. Unfortunately for the cybernetic warrior, he only managed to hang on for a few moments before his overgrown foe?s head struck him square in the face. The stunned android managed to hold on up until the next blow from his kicking foe?s cranium sent him flying.
Seventeen was thrown completely over the former summit by the force of the spider?s strike. Half-unconscious, the machine-hybrid found himself unable to do anything to stop his flight down the side of the mountain. As he plummeted down the back of the tall peak, he saw the black structure, nestled on its tiny plateau devoid of a thick layer of snow, pass him by. The realization that his goal was leaving him shocked Android Seventeen back to full-awareness. Reaching out, the android managed to stop himself for a few moments on a loose rock. The few seconds that the stone held him was more then enough time for Seventeen to push up onto a tiny ledge. Standing back up, the android untied the blanket from his waist and wrapped it around his shoulders.
The cybernetic warrior was colder then he had ever been in his entire existence. Even the frozen fields that blanketed Earth so long ago weren?t nearly as piercing cold as the atmosphere here on Kala?s mountain ranges. Down near the base of the mountain, the snow had only been a few inches deep, but at this altitude, Seventeen was finding himself sinking into snow up to his waist. He tried to fly the rest of the way up to the building, but after a few feet he found it impossible to breathe and fly at the same time with such a decreased level of oxygen. Still, the edifice was mere yards above him, and the machine-hybrid would be damned if he failed with his goal so close.
With one hand holding the tattered blanket against his nearly bare chest (the android?s tee-shirt had long since been reduced to sweaty, dirty rags), Seventeen began to pull himself up the mountainside. A few feet above the exhausted android was the building he had seen from the mountain?s apex. Using what little strength he had, the cybernetic warrior pulled his torso over the ledge of the small plateau and collapsed. Even though his feet were still dangling over the edge, Seventeen knew he was victorious. Not even Mother Nature and a giant spider could keep the android under thumb. The exhausted machine-hybrid started to laugh, a crazy, maniacal sound that echoed down into the massive valleys and gorges beneath him. Pulling his legs over the ledge, Seventeen turned to look up at the night sky.
From this vantage point, near the back side of the mountain, all around the android was nothing but sky and stars. The storm clouds had moved north enough to allow any mountain climbers a beautiful view. Minute flickers of light, nearly infinite in number, were sprinkled across the endless black sea of space. Android Seventeen realized that he could have spent the rest of his natural life entranced by the view he had, but the cold realization soon set. His entire body was wrought by a draft of cold air that blew across the length of the small plateau.
The bitter reality shook the machine-hybrid from his astonishment and reminded him of the task at hand. At least where he was on the mountain, the layer of snow on the ground was greatly diminished compared to the parts of the mountain that suffered from the full power of the wind. Seventeen cuddled the thick fabric against his chest and focused his attention on a small structure on the immediate horizon. In an effort to get the blood flowing and possibly warm his numb body, the cybernetic warrior sprinted towards the structure.
As he neared it, the android noticed the building resembled a small pyramid. Only about eight feet tall, the thick stone panel that served as its entrance was slightly ajar. Now only a few yards away from the odd building, a draft blew past the android, but for some reason, the wind itself was not cold. Seventeen watched the small cloud of gray gas dart right past him and through the tiny space created by the slightly open door. Android Seventeen realized immediately that was no normal cloud that had just slipped into that chamber.
Uttering another silent obscenity, the machine-hybrid darted towards the entrance of the small pyramid. Curling his fingers around the freezing slab of stone, Seventeen tried to pry the heavy door open. Sweating and swearing profusely, the android collapsed against the slanted wall of the ziggurat. He had only managed to pull the door open a few more inches, but he realized that would have to be enough because this insane cold was just sapping him of strength. Squeezing his thin frame through the small space was a challenge, but the android accomplished the task with only a few abrasions from the rough stone.
Inside the compact pyramid, the cybernetic warrior began looking around the small space for any signs of his gaseous target. The sound of rustling dirt from beneath his feet captured his attention, and with a look down, Seventeen realized he was standing on a giant metal grate. Kneeling down to investigate, the machine-hybrid quickly came to the realization that the falling dirt he was hearing was coming from the edges of the grate he was standing on. An instant later, the metal grate broke away from the floor of the small room, taking a flailing Android Seventeen down with it. As the cybernetic warrior plummeted down, he watched as the walls of earth around him were quickly replaced by shimmering, crystalline sheets of ice. Using his ki to prevent breaking all his bones upon impact, the android softly descended to the bottom of the shaft.
Touching down on the smooth, reflective surface, Seventeen tried moving forward, but quickly realized he was just stumbling around like a drunk. Unable to walk proficiently on the icy floor, the machine-hybrid opted to simply levitate a few inches over the ground and sprint down the hall that way. As he neared the room at the end of the hall, the android gazed up at the thousands of stalactites that lined the roof of the hallway. The way they were organized, so carefully neatly, made the ceiling look like the base of some torture pit. Dropping back to the ground, Android Seventeen, now in the circular room, rushed over to the statue in the center of the chamber. It was a simple effigy of a man?s torso, his cupped palms outstretched and cradled within his marble hands, was a small red stone. It took Seventeen a few seconds before he grasped the identity of the object he had just located.
?The Eye!? the android exclaimed as he reached up to collect the gem; however, at the last moment, a massive blast of ki sent Seventeen flying forward. The cybernetic warrior crashed into the frozen wall of the antechamber, triggering several of the stalactites to come loose. Not want to be speared, the cybernetic warrior rolled to the side, abandoning the burning blanket and flipping back up to a standing position. The cloth was no longer necessary, the adrenaline coursing through Seventeen?s veins could more then compensate. Turning his attention back to the statue, he saw Vapor examining the gem with a grin on his face.
?Victory is mine, android,? the bio-android cackled as he tucked the glass orb into his robes. The cybernetic warrior charged his foe, but Byrk?s lieutenant vanished in the blink of an eye and reappeared in the icy hallway an instant later. Seventeen gasped at how fast the triclops had become. Vapor went to speak, but his words were drowned out by a mighty roar that invaded the hidden, tomb-like chamber.
?Damn it all!? the green-tinted humanoid yelled as the walls began to shake and the stalactites above him started to rain down, ?the agents of the underworld seemed to have found us my friend, so for now I will spare you life. For I have much more important business to attend to?Lord Byrk?s resurrection is at hand!? Android Seventeen moved to intercept the excited bio-android, but Vapor dematerialized just as the machine-hybrid swung his fist. Seventeen stumbled through where his foe had once been standing and was nearly impaled by the downpour of stalactites. Flipping back into the circular antechamber, the cybernetic warrior landed on his feet again just as the back wall of the room exploded. The explosion spewed shards of ice and dirt across the entire chamber, peppering Seventeen?s back with the painful shrapnel. The android bit his lip and yelled out in anger. Turning around, the cybernetic warrior?s expression of anger was quickly dulled by the sight of his new guest.
The red skinned giant, at nearly eight feet tall, was obviously by no means a man. Dressed in armor made from bone, it flexed its fingers; each of them complete with a foot long, black fingernail. Two puffs of air exited the creature?s helmet?the skull of a large goat. Glancing over his shoulders, Seventeen realized the tomb was caving in. With a mighty roar, the demonic warrior started towards its prey, the ground trembling with each step it took. More rock and ice was being knocked loose by the creature, and the android was not ready to be buried alive. Throwing his hands together, the cybernetic warrior blasted a wave of ki at his enormous oppressor. The yellow blast of energy struck the demon squarely on the chest, but even as Android Seventeen pushed more power into the beam, he watched the beast continue to advance at the same rate.
Giving up his vain effort to stall the demon, Seventeen dropped his hands and exploded off the ground. Swerving through the chunks of stone and ice, the android barely made it to the shaft to the surface when the corridor completely crumbled. Rocketing upwards and encasing himself in a barrier of energy, the cybernetic warrior burst through the small ziggurat. Dropping to the bare earth, Android Seventeen, still operating off a massive surge in adrenal levels, swiftly leaped off the edge of the mountain plateau and dove down the cliff.
Behind him, he could hear the mountain breaking apart, but the thrill of the descent eclipsed any fear of what was preparing to attack him. Seventeen landed on the edge of another plateau about hallway down the side of Kala?s illustrious mountain range, but the machine-hybrid only had a few seconds of solace before his stalker landed on the ground behind him. Taking a few steps away from the drop-off, Android Seventeen prepared to combat the crimson behemoth.
The creature, still standing where it had landed, cracked its neck and knuckles. Satsified, the behemoth slowly started advancing on its prey. Aside from the black smudges on its chest plate, the demon appeared unfazed by its previous tryst with the android. Seventeen understood that there was a large chance the monster was exponentially stronger then he was, but the cybernetic warrior did not fathom engaging the creature in melee. Creating a saber in one hand, Android Seventeen channeled a small ball of ki in his free palm.
With a flick of his wrist, the machine-hybrid tossed the orb of energy into the face of his demonic attacker. There was a shower of bone fragments as the creature?s helm exploded into a million shards. Seventeen leaped onto the shoulders of the titan and moved to plunge his saber into the demon?s burnt cranium. As he was about to dish out the death blow, the crimson warrior?s hands shot up, closing around the android?s hips. With barely any effort, the behemoth tossed Android Seventeen into the mountainside.
Colliding with the unforgiving rock, the machine-hybrid managed to recover rather quickly. Still, the demonic Goliath was unwilling to let his cybernetic David survive their encounter. Seventeen raised his energy sword, empowering more of his ki into the yellow blade. The silent demon, his unmasked eyes emotionless and black, cracked his knuckles again. The android charged the slowly walking beast and drove his ki saber into its chest. Without so much as a grunt, the titan swung a clawed hand and sent the cybernetic warrior skidding along the ground once again. Unwilling to surrender, Android Seventeen flipped back up, taking a moment to wipe the fresh blood oozing from the gashes on his cheek. Creating two energy swords, the machine-hybrid rushed at his gigantic foe. The juggernaut swung his fists down at his prey in anticipation, and the android, following through with his scheme, leaped up over his antagonist.
Landing in a crouch behind the beast, Seventeen spun around and separated the titan in half at the waist with one swipe. The demon teetered for a few seconds before it fell away from himself?his torso struck the ground and fought to pull itself towards the android. The cybernetic warrior, with the last shred of pity he had for the behemoth, severed its head and ended its suffering. Because of the cauterizing heat of the ki swords, there was no blood shed on the small battlefield, save for the android?s. Turning to face the horizon, Android Seventeen started to climb back down the mountain. He had to hurry and save the oppressed people living on the asteroid before things got hairy back on Earth. Seventeen made it a few feet when he thought he heard a faint rumbling. Scolding himself for being so nervous, the android continued his downward journey.
OOC: Sorry for the length, but I had most of the post done before you posted that event, Burter, so I had to incorporate it. Post three.
From the ruins of the former summit, a mass of black and gray emerged from the cloud of dust. Android Seventeen tied the blanket to his waist and prepared to combat the massive creature. The arachnid that was scampering down the mountainside was larger then any of its ilk that the cybernetic warrior had encounter on Earth, and it seemed to be a lot less pleasant then its minute relatives. One of the spider?s legs was easily as thick as the android?s entire figure. Green globs of saliva dripped from the arachnid?s fangs, pooling on the ground and easily eroding away the dirt and thin layer of snow.
Seventeen backed away from the massive spider as it leaned back on its haunches and prepared to lunge. The backdrop behind the beast?the perpetual lightening storms that punished the mountains?only served to add to the mutant?s intimidating appeal. Both the machine-hybrid and the giant arachnid jumped at the same time. Android Seventeen landed on the torso of the creature and tried to hold on for dear life and figure out how to kill the spider as it bucked back and forth. Unfortunately for the cybernetic warrior, he only managed to hang on for a few moments before his overgrown foe?s head struck him square in the face. The stunned android managed to hold on up until the next blow from his kicking foe?s cranium sent him flying.
Seventeen was thrown completely over the former summit by the force of the spider?s strike. Half-unconscious, the machine-hybrid found himself unable to do anything to stop his flight down the side of the mountain. As he plummeted down the back of the tall peak, he saw the black structure, nestled on its tiny plateau devoid of a thick layer of snow, pass him by. The realization that his goal was leaving him shocked Android Seventeen back to full-awareness. Reaching out, the android managed to stop himself for a few moments on a loose rock. The few seconds that the stone held him was more then enough time for Seventeen to push up onto a tiny ledge. Standing back up, the android untied the blanket from his waist and wrapped it around his shoulders.
The cybernetic warrior was colder then he had ever been in his entire existence. Even the frozen fields that blanketed Earth so long ago weren?t nearly as piercing cold as the atmosphere here on Kala?s mountain ranges. Down near the base of the mountain, the snow had only been a few inches deep, but at this altitude, Seventeen was finding himself sinking into snow up to his waist. He tried to fly the rest of the way up to the building, but after a few feet he found it impossible to breathe and fly at the same time with such a decreased level of oxygen. Still, the edifice was mere yards above him, and the machine-hybrid would be damned if he failed with his goal so close.
With one hand holding the tattered blanket against his nearly bare chest (the android?s tee-shirt had long since been reduced to sweaty, dirty rags), Seventeen began to pull himself up the mountainside. A few feet above the exhausted android was the building he had seen from the mountain?s apex. Using what little strength he had, the cybernetic warrior pulled his torso over the ledge of the small plateau and collapsed. Even though his feet were still dangling over the edge, Seventeen knew he was victorious. Not even Mother Nature and a giant spider could keep the android under thumb. The exhausted machine-hybrid started to laugh, a crazy, maniacal sound that echoed down into the massive valleys and gorges beneath him. Pulling his legs over the ledge, Seventeen turned to look up at the night sky.
From this vantage point, near the back side of the mountain, all around the android was nothing but sky and stars. The storm clouds had moved north enough to allow any mountain climbers a beautiful view. Minute flickers of light, nearly infinite in number, were sprinkled across the endless black sea of space. Android Seventeen realized that he could have spent the rest of his natural life entranced by the view he had, but the cold realization soon set. His entire body was wrought by a draft of cold air that blew across the length of the small plateau.
The bitter reality shook the machine-hybrid from his astonishment and reminded him of the task at hand. At least where he was on the mountain, the layer of snow on the ground was greatly diminished compared to the parts of the mountain that suffered from the full power of the wind. Seventeen cuddled the thick fabric against his chest and focused his attention on a small structure on the immediate horizon. In an effort to get the blood flowing and possibly warm his numb body, the cybernetic warrior sprinted towards the structure.
As he neared it, the android noticed the building resembled a small pyramid. Only about eight feet tall, the thick stone panel that served as its entrance was slightly ajar. Now only a few yards away from the odd building, a draft blew past the android, but for some reason, the wind itself was not cold. Seventeen watched the small cloud of gray gas dart right past him and through the tiny space created by the slightly open door. Android Seventeen realized immediately that was no normal cloud that had just slipped into that chamber.
Uttering another silent obscenity, the machine-hybrid darted towards the entrance of the small pyramid. Curling his fingers around the freezing slab of stone, Seventeen tried to pry the heavy door open. Sweating and swearing profusely, the android collapsed against the slanted wall of the ziggurat. He had only managed to pull the door open a few more inches, but he realized that would have to be enough because this insane cold was just sapping him of strength. Squeezing his thin frame through the small space was a challenge, but the android accomplished the task with only a few abrasions from the rough stone.
Inside the compact pyramid, the cybernetic warrior began looking around the small space for any signs of his gaseous target. The sound of rustling dirt from beneath his feet captured his attention, and with a look down, Seventeen realized he was standing on a giant metal grate. Kneeling down to investigate, the machine-hybrid quickly came to the realization that the falling dirt he was hearing was coming from the edges of the grate he was standing on. An instant later, the metal grate broke away from the floor of the small room, taking a flailing Android Seventeen down with it. As the cybernetic warrior plummeted down, he watched as the walls of earth around him were quickly replaced by shimmering, crystalline sheets of ice. Using his ki to prevent breaking all his bones upon impact, the android softly descended to the bottom of the shaft.
Touching down on the smooth, reflective surface, Seventeen tried moving forward, but quickly realized he was just stumbling around like a drunk. Unable to walk proficiently on the icy floor, the machine-hybrid opted to simply levitate a few inches over the ground and sprint down the hall that way. As he neared the room at the end of the hall, the android gazed up at the thousands of stalactites that lined the roof of the hallway. The way they were organized, so carefully neatly, made the ceiling look like the base of some torture pit. Dropping back to the ground, Android Seventeen, now in the circular room, rushed over to the statue in the center of the chamber. It was a simple effigy of a man?s torso, his cupped palms outstretched and cradled within his marble hands, was a small red stone. It took Seventeen a few seconds before he grasped the identity of the object he had just located.
?The Eye!? the android exclaimed as he reached up to collect the gem; however, at the last moment, a massive blast of ki sent Seventeen flying forward. The cybernetic warrior crashed into the frozen wall of the antechamber, triggering several of the stalactites to come loose. Not want to be speared, the cybernetic warrior rolled to the side, abandoning the burning blanket and flipping back up to a standing position. The cloth was no longer necessary, the adrenaline coursing through Seventeen?s veins could more then compensate. Turning his attention back to the statue, he saw Vapor examining the gem with a grin on his face.
?Victory is mine, android,? the bio-android cackled as he tucked the glass orb into his robes. The cybernetic warrior charged his foe, but Byrk?s lieutenant vanished in the blink of an eye and reappeared in the icy hallway an instant later. Seventeen gasped at how fast the triclops had become. Vapor went to speak, but his words were drowned out by a mighty roar that invaded the hidden, tomb-like chamber.
?Damn it all!? the green-tinted humanoid yelled as the walls began to shake and the stalactites above him started to rain down, ?the agents of the underworld seemed to have found us my friend, so for now I will spare you life. For I have much more important business to attend to?Lord Byrk?s resurrection is at hand!? Android Seventeen moved to intercept the excited bio-android, but Vapor dematerialized just as the machine-hybrid swung his fist. Seventeen stumbled through where his foe had once been standing and was nearly impaled by the downpour of stalactites. Flipping back into the circular antechamber, the cybernetic warrior landed on his feet again just as the back wall of the room exploded. The explosion spewed shards of ice and dirt across the entire chamber, peppering Seventeen?s back with the painful shrapnel. The android bit his lip and yelled out in anger. Turning around, the cybernetic warrior?s expression of anger was quickly dulled by the sight of his new guest.
The red skinned giant, at nearly eight feet tall, was obviously by no means a man. Dressed in armor made from bone, it flexed its fingers; each of them complete with a foot long, black fingernail. Two puffs of air exited the creature?s helmet?the skull of a large goat. Glancing over his shoulders, Seventeen realized the tomb was caving in. With a mighty roar, the demonic warrior started towards its prey, the ground trembling with each step it took. More rock and ice was being knocked loose by the creature, and the android was not ready to be buried alive. Throwing his hands together, the cybernetic warrior blasted a wave of ki at his enormous oppressor. The yellow blast of energy struck the demon squarely on the chest, but even as Android Seventeen pushed more power into the beam, he watched the beast continue to advance at the same rate.
Giving up his vain effort to stall the demon, Seventeen dropped his hands and exploded off the ground. Swerving through the chunks of stone and ice, the android barely made it to the shaft to the surface when the corridor completely crumbled. Rocketing upwards and encasing himself in a barrier of energy, the cybernetic warrior burst through the small ziggurat. Dropping to the bare earth, Android Seventeen, still operating off a massive surge in adrenal levels, swiftly leaped off the edge of the mountain plateau and dove down the cliff.
Behind him, he could hear the mountain breaking apart, but the thrill of the descent eclipsed any fear of what was preparing to attack him. Seventeen landed on the edge of another plateau about hallway down the side of Kala?s illustrious mountain range, but the machine-hybrid only had a few seconds of solace before his stalker landed on the ground behind him. Taking a few steps away from the drop-off, Android Seventeen prepared to combat the crimson behemoth.
The creature, still standing where it had landed, cracked its neck and knuckles. Satsified, the behemoth slowly started advancing on its prey. Aside from the black smudges on its chest plate, the demon appeared unfazed by its previous tryst with the android. Seventeen understood that there was a large chance the monster was exponentially stronger then he was, but the cybernetic warrior did not fathom engaging the creature in melee. Creating a saber in one hand, Android Seventeen channeled a small ball of ki in his free palm.
With a flick of his wrist, the machine-hybrid tossed the orb of energy into the face of his demonic attacker. There was a shower of bone fragments as the creature?s helm exploded into a million shards. Seventeen leaped onto the shoulders of the titan and moved to plunge his saber into the demon?s burnt cranium. As he was about to dish out the death blow, the crimson warrior?s hands shot up, closing around the android?s hips. With barely any effort, the behemoth tossed Android Seventeen into the mountainside.
Colliding with the unforgiving rock, the machine-hybrid managed to recover rather quickly. Still, the demonic Goliath was unwilling to let his cybernetic David survive their encounter. Seventeen raised his energy sword, empowering more of his ki into the yellow blade. The silent demon, his unmasked eyes emotionless and black, cracked his knuckles again. The android charged the slowly walking beast and drove his ki saber into its chest. Without so much as a grunt, the titan swung a clawed hand and sent the cybernetic warrior skidding along the ground once again. Unwilling to surrender, Android Seventeen flipped back up, taking a moment to wipe the fresh blood oozing from the gashes on his cheek. Creating two energy swords, the machine-hybrid rushed at his gigantic foe. The juggernaut swung his fists down at his prey in anticipation, and the android, following through with his scheme, leaped up over his antagonist.
Landing in a crouch behind the beast, Seventeen spun around and separated the titan in half at the waist with one swipe. The demon teetered for a few seconds before it fell away from himself?his torso struck the ground and fought to pull itself towards the android. The cybernetic warrior, with the last shred of pity he had for the behemoth, severed its head and ended its suffering. Because of the cauterizing heat of the ki swords, there was no blood shed on the small battlefield, save for the android?s. Turning to face the horizon, Android Seventeen started to climb back down the mountain. He had to hurry and save the oppressed people living on the asteroid before things got hairy back on Earth. Seventeen made it a few feet when he thought he heard a faint rumbling. Scolding himself for being so nervous, the android continued his downward journey.
OOC: Sorry for the length, but I had most of the post done before you posted that event, Burter, so I had to incorporate it. Post three.
![[Image: A17June08.jpg]](http://frozendust.com/sig/A17/A17June08.jpg)