Post by Zakael on Jul 1, 2008 5:13:27 GMT -5
The story I'm currently working on. This is a rough draft.
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Aki crept slowly onwards into the darkness. His large ears twitching nervously, and his small nose sniffing the air constantly. Keeping an eye out for any signs of Blood Crawlers. Monstrous, bear shaped beasts, which are said to live in the depths of the abandoned underground city of Etilite.
Aki stopped when he felt stone in front of him. Holding up his magically infused lantern, he pressed the panel on the side. Instantly the underground city was illuminated in a brilliant blue light. Aki gaped at the towering pillars and buildings of the long extinct race which once inhabitated the city. The buildings stood thirty storey's high in some places, with massive spiralling spires extending up towards the earths crust. Each building was inlaid with intricately carved designs and decorations on them, which, cast in the soft blue light of his lantern, looked mystical.
But he didn't have time to study them; he was down here for a very important reason. He had been given a special mission to find the city's ancient library, which contains records of the former inhabitants history and culture, and a record of the events leading up to their destruction.
Well, that was what he had been told. But he was not so sure that the people who had given him this mission really knew.
Scanning the humongous wall in front of him, he found a groove in the stone, shaped like a snake. He traced his finger along it, as he'd been instructed. When he reached the end, the small door sized section of wall in-front of him turned semi-transparent in the blink of an eye. Cautiously he placed his left hand through it. It went straight through. Then the next hand, then both arms, followed by the rest of his body. It was like standing in a bubble. He moved to exit the wall on the other side.
Blink. The wall was slightly less transparent. Blink. Less transparent. Blink. Suddenly he was floating in a goo-like substance, the wall looking almost solid again, except he was in the middle. He desperately swam for the other side. The wall being very thick. It was like moving through tar now. One hand out. Two hands. Then his arms. Desperately he made one last lunge at freedom.
Stuck. He looked down and saw his right foot caught in the solid wall, the stone formed perfectly solid around his ankle. Pathetically he tried to pull it out. But to no avail.
A wild howl like a bloodthirsty wolf cut out the sound of Aki's panting breath. The silence that followed was broken only moments later with the sound of some massive animal crashing through the underground labrynth.
Panicking, Aki pulled at his leg again. It was getting him nowhere. Moments later, a giant Blood Crawler came stampeding on all fours into the light of Aki's lantern. It was heading straight for him. It's large tongue flapping around its lips. It's blood-red eyes transfixed on Aki's face.
Aki stared in amazement as a great white light appeared from the darkness behind the Blood Crawler. The light disappeared for a moment, then to Aki's amazement a bright beam shot out of the darkness and flew straight into the back of the beast. Sending it's limp body flying. The beam continued on and hit the wall, just above Aki's head. A large crack appeared in the stone around his ankle, making the wall there crumble away, freeing his foot.
As fast as he could he picked up his lantern and sprinted down towards where the light had come from. The crack shot upwards immediately, careering through the entire wall. It took just a few moments for the whole thing to break apart and come crashing down. Tens of giant blocks, large enough to crush ten people at once fell to the ground. Causing a land-slide of rock and rubble downwards along the paths of the underground city.
Aki ran faster than he ever had before in his life. The sound of the crashing wall roaring in his ear like thunder. Down, down into the depths he ran, not caring where he went, just running. He couldn't stop himself, his mind was too full of fear and confusion to think rationally. At one point he tripped on a stone, sending his lantern flying out of his hand and crashing on the floor, the magic orb that produces the light falling out of the cage and bouncing off down one of the many paths. Not stopping to search, he picked himself up again and set off in a random direction again.
After what seemed like hours, but in reality only a few minutes, he was sprinting down one of the many paths, in complete darkness when suddenly something flashed in front of him. Smack. Someones arm flew out of the darkness, catching him straight in the face and knocking him out instantly.
He awoke in a small domed room. Lit with many white magical torches, lining the walls. Slowly he sat up. His head was acheing as if he'd been hit with an anvil. Looming over him was a very tall, bony human. The man's scarred face and white moustache were a frightening sight. The man was holding a weird contraption, consisting of a long metal tube, twisted in many loops. His right hand was gripped around a trigger. His left supporting the end of the tube, which opened out at the end, similar to a trombone.
'Don't move!' the man barked. 'What you doin' wanderin' 'round here?'
'Searching for the library,' replied Aki. The tall man broke out suddenly in wild laughter. Howling as if he'd never heard of anything more hilarious. Finally he settled down.
'Are you mad, boy?'
'Not that I know of.' Aki said, confused.
'You? You? You are goin' to get to the library of Etilite?' He broke out in laughter again.
'It can't be that hard!' Aki yelled over the din.
'The only person who has ever reached there, is me.'
'Were you sent there aswell?'
'Oh no, I live here.'
'For how long?'
'Oh... three hundred and thirteen years to be exact.'
'Humans only live for an average of eighty years!'
'I ain't human.'
'Then what are you?'
'An Etilian.'
'You're mad.'
'No, no, I'm tellin' the truth.'
'Etilians have been dead for thousands of years. Explain that.' The man's face suddenly went red. He violently lifted the strange device he was holding and aimed the open tube at Aki.
'Are you questionin' what I say?' He roared.
'No.' Squeeked Aki. The man lowered the device. 'Well, can you help me find the library. I really need to find it.'
'Believe me, boy. It's a lost cause. The last time I visited it, the roof caved in when I visited.'
'Are you sure?'
'Hmm?'
'Are you completely sure?' Aki yelled.
'Uh... I dunno. But that's beside the point! I'll show you the way out though. I'm good at that.'
'I don't want to leave though. I need to find the library.' The man raised the tube device again.
'I'll show you the way out and you will follow peacefully!' He roared again.
The man set off down a narrow passageway. Aki hurried after him. The passage lead back out into the many passages of the city. But this time they headed upwards, instead of down.
For hours they walked. While Aki was constantly twisting around to look behind him, the man seemed to have no worries at all about Blood Crawlers.
'What's that thing for?' Aki finally asked.
'Which thing?'
'That metal tube your always holding.'
'I use it to kill Blood Crawlers.'
'So it was you who killed that Blood Crawler that was charging for me?'
'Ah, yes. I remember it now. You got stuck in the wall. Have to be careful 'round here. Us Etilians installed many traps in our grand city.' Aki tactfully avoided arguing about him thinking he was an Etilian again. The man was either very stupid, or gone insane. He wouldn't doubt that the man was insane, living in a place like this, all alone.
'What's your name?' Asked Aki. He was always too curious for his own good.
'Lotak.'
'Nice name.' Aki said conversationally. Lotak simply grunted. They kept walking.
When it would seem like they would be marching for eternity, Lotak suddenly stopped in his tracks. He turned his head wildly in all directions.
'Whats wrong?' Aki asked. Lotak started mumbling something under his breath. 'Whats wrong?' Aki yelled in frustration. Lotak kept ignoring him. Mumbling faster and faster. Suddenly he turned and marched off down one of the winding passages. Aki ran to the corner that Lotak had walked past. But when he reached it, the light of Lotak's lantern had completely disappeared, and there were three different paths leading off the passage, which anyone he could've taken.
Frustrated, Aki slid down the wall until he was sitting on the ground, and groaned loudly. He sat there for several minutes. Surrounded by pure darkness, with no idea where he was. Eventually he picked himself up and wandered. For ages and ages, he simply wandered. After a while his stomach started growling, and he realised that he hadn't eaten in more than twenty-four hours.
The darkness was broken suddenly from the light of a lantern coming down one of the passageways. He heard muttering and then Lotak was standing in front of him once more.
'Oh, Lotak! Thank the gods I found you!'
'Oh, hello there, boy! Where did you come from.'
'I've just been wandering around. Looking for you.'
'Lookin' for me? Why were you lookin' for me?'
'Because I lost you.'
'Lost me? I've never even seen you before, boy.'
'What are you talking about?' Aki said confused.
'I did know one boy, once. Looked much like you. I rescued him from a chargin' Blood Crawler when he got his foot stuck in a wall.'
'That was me!' Aki yelled.
'How long was it now? Hmm, thirty years to the day, now.' Aki stared, amazed. He really was insane.
'Can you help me find my way out?' Aki asked in desperation.
'Sorry, I've got things to do. But, you can have my lantern. Us Kilti's have very good eyesight in the dark.'
'I thought you said you were Etilian.'
'What? I'm not Etilian. Are you stupid, boy? Are you mad?'
Immediately Lotak started muttering under his breath again. Before Aki could get another word in, Lotak placed the lantern on the ground, then disappeared in the darkness. The sounds of his muttering fading fast.
Aki sighed and picked up the lantern. There was nothing for it. He had no idea where the exit was. His only choice was to head further into the city and try to find the library. Then, atleast, he would know where he was. Hopefully he would get out of this forsaken place before he became as mad as Lotak. Perhaps he already was.
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“The planet of Kortalia was the fifth planet to be inducted into the Intergalactic United Association (IUA). It is an extremely hot world, most of the landmass is just dry, dusty desert. This is the reason there are so many cities situated deep underground. Some are still inhabited, but most have been abandoned now as living so deep underground made communication and trade difficult with other planets. There are five intelligent races inhabiting Kortalia at the time of the writing of this book. The rarest of which are the Leditiums. Very short, about half as tall as an average human, they are one of the most popular races with humans due to their “cute” appearance. Small noses and large ears, and furry like a possum. They are generally very calm and prefer to think things over than make hasty decisions. They are also probably the best race at dealing with the hot, year-round weather. Humans being the worst at coping.”
Tarnkil Vuudian, The Soltiln System, A Brief History.
The tunnels seemed to stretch on forever. Each one the same as the last. Lotak's lantern was almost identical to his old one, except it had a white light. Aki stepped lightly down along the winding paths. The tunnels seemed to keep getting narrower and narrower. Even as small as he was, Aki wasn't sure whether he would be able to squeeze through when he finally found the door of the library.
Examining the door, Aki noted several strange things about it. The door was twice as large as a standard human door. It was made of stone and there was no visible edge to it, it seemed like part of the wall. The only way Aki could tell it was a door at all, much less one to the library was by the ancient Etillian script engraved along the top, which Aki had been taught to recognise as the entrance to the library. And also engraved in the centre, the ancient Etillian coat of arms which emanated a faint blue light.
Eventually he decided he was too tired to continue for the night, or day, whichever it was on the surface. He would have to find a building to take shelter in. It was too dangerous sleeping in the open. In a city so big, it wasn't common to run into a Blood Crawler. But even a few hours is a long time for your luck to run out.
For almost an hour more, he trudged on until he found a side path leading to a residential zone. The light of his lantern glittered off the tall diamond-decorated spires as he entered. Too tired to spend much time searching, he headed straight for the nearest building. Upon inspection though he found that the mechanism to open the door had been smashed away by something, or someone. He checked the next one. This building was obviously much more than a simple house. First of all it stood five storeys high. Also, it had a much more complicated lock on it. Naturally it was very outdated by now, but it was so outdated that it meant not many people knew how to use it properly anymore. Luckily for him, he'd had training in all types of Etilian locks. Carefully he slid his hand into the slot beside the door, then he lifted his index finder a couple of centimetres. Then his middle finger. He then turned his hand ninety degrees and shoved his hand in as far as it would go.
Once he heard a small whirring sound he slowly pulled his hand out. The door faded away immediately. It just disappeared. He stepped inside and scanned the room. It was a foyer of some sort. A few chairs and tables were scattered sparsely around the room. Nothing else. It was said that the Etilians had liked to live simply, but compared to life on the surface, this room was empty.
He turned and pressed his hand on a small stone panel next to the door, and it re-appeared. Locked. Exhausted, he slumped to the ground and curled up. He closed his eyes.
Suddenly he became very cold. He groaned and stood up, and searched the room for the switch to the heating system. He finally found it hidden behind one of the chairs. He switched it on. Instantly the room became warm. Once again he curled up on the floor, and this time he fell asleep as soon as his head touched the cold stone.
Aki woke to the sound of scratching at the door. He sat up just as something heavy crashed into the door. Making some of the stone above it crumble away. He looked around and found a small short range teleporter in the corner. It was a stone cylinder, cut in half vertically, with a metal platform sitting on the bottom. He stepped on the platform. For a moment he felt slightly uncomfortable, then suddenly he was upstairs. He stumbled out of the teleporter feeling extremely dizzy. It was the downside of teleportation and the reason it isn't used as often as the human race used to think it would be if ever developed.
He hurried over to a panel on the wall just as the sound of something crashing against the door again came from below. He pressed it and a square section of the wall about the size of a window disappeared. Looking out through the window he was met with a horrifying sight. Ten Blood Crawlers stood snarling at the building. Some scratching at the walls and two others taking turns at charging the door. Trying to think why they were all so interested in this building he noticed the sound of the heating system humming away.
Cursing himself for a fool, he ran straight into the teleporter, stumbled out ignoring the dizziness and slammed the switch to turn the heating off.
His thoughts going into overdrive, Aki slid down the wall until he was sitting, slumped on the floor. He closed his eyes and began thinking of some way to get out of this hopeless situation.
As soon as the thought hit him that maybe he could stay silent in the building until the Blood Crawlers gave up and wandered off, his thoughts were shattered by the sound of one of the creatures crashing into the door. Looking up, Aki could see many cracks running through the stone around the door, and in one spot some of the stone had fallen away, leaving a gap to the outside.
It wouldn't be long until most of the wall came down.
Deciding to search the building for other ways out, Aki stepped through the teleporter to the second storey. Then crossed the room and stepped through another teleporter leading to what he assumed was the third storey. This room was just as sparsely furnished as the foyer, except it had a very old information terminal sitting in the corner. A closer look revealed it was an extremely old model, possibly even one of the first Galactic Information Terminal's ever manufactured.
Wondering whether or not it would be able to connect to the network, Aki pressed what looked like the power switch and waited. And waited. Nothing happened.
With a sigh, Aki quickly crossed to the other side of the room and opened one of the windows.
Looking outside, Aki's eyes widened in amazement. The Blood Crawler's were moving away from the building, albeit very slowly. Aki couldn't believe his luck, he felt like screaming out in joy. But his elation quickly turned into a sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach.
There was a loud clicking sound behind him and then the soft, female voice of the information terminal boomed at maximum volume.
'Welcome to the Etillian Information Terminal, version one point two. This information terminal has been proudly manufactured by, Etilite Home Electronics, bringing you the best in residential electronics since the year sixty one, fifty nine.'
With a howl, all ten Blood Crawlers turned back towards the building and charged for the door. Three of them crashed into it at once, knocking the door down in a shower of dust, and disappeared inside, followed by the rest of the creatures. It was only a matter of time before one of the beasts stumbled into the teleporters.
Whirling around, Aki rushed towards the terminal. He was about to order it to shut down, before he realised it was too late now, he might aswell use it to find a way out of the building.
Thinking of what to ask, Aki looked at the hologram positioned next to the terminal. It was of a strikingly beautiful Etillian woman. Wearing a simply cut mettalic silver dress, with the Etillian coat of arms printed in blue across the breast. It was an old Etillian style of clothing, which had become very popular with the public today, especially with the wives of rich asteroid miners.
Even for such an old model, the hologram was surprisingly life-like. The only way Aki could really tell it was a hologram was the way it flickered with static every now and then.
'What are the purposes of each storey?' Aki finally asked.
'Searching database, one moment please.' The woman smiled.
'Stupid slow machine,' Aki muttered.
'Storey one is a foyer, it was built in the year two thousand and fifty one, the same year the building was constructed. It serves no purpose other than a reception area. Do you require more information on this storey?'
'No.'
'The second storey is a lounge area for visiting guests, or for workers who wish to take a break. Do you require more information on this storey?'
'No! I don't.' Aki was becoming very impatient with this old machine.
'The third storey...'
'Skip to the fourth storey.' Crashing sounds came from below as the Blood Crawlers scrambled around the place searching for him.
'The fourth storey serves as a storage room. Item's currently stored are, electronic implants, weapons,' Aki's heart skipped a beat, 'and full body armor suits. Do you require more information on this storey or on any of the items in storage here?'
'Yes!'
'What would you like to know?'
'Are the weapons secured by any sort of lock or security system?'
'Yes,' Aki groaned, 'but all my readings confirm that the security system installed for the weapon's locker is currently non-functional.'
'Good! How do I get to the fourth storey?'
'I can teleport you there if you would like, sir?'
'OK, teleport me to the fourth storey and then afterwards shut yourself down.'
'Commencing teleportation. Please make sure you are not in contact with any other organic beings and you are wearing your anti-teleportation-sickness headband. Have a nice day.'
This teleporter was much older, and the side effects were a lot worse. A strong white light blinded Aki, and closing his eyes did nothing to block it out. His body felt like it was being torn apart, pulled in all directions. Then it all stopped in an instant, and he was standing in a different room, hopefully the fourth storey.
Aki took one step forward, and suddenly an intense wave of dizziness washed over him, he collapsed onto the floor and a sharp pain erupted in his skull. For nearly two whole minutes Aki lay there, until finally the dizziness and headache passed. No wonder the information terminal had warned him about wearing a teleportation headband.
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Aki crept slowly onwards into the darkness. His large ears twitching nervously, and his small nose sniffing the air constantly. Keeping an eye out for any signs of Blood Crawlers. Monstrous, bear shaped beasts, which are said to live in the depths of the abandoned underground city of Etilite.
Aki stopped when he felt stone in front of him. Holding up his magically infused lantern, he pressed the panel on the side. Instantly the underground city was illuminated in a brilliant blue light. Aki gaped at the towering pillars and buildings of the long extinct race which once inhabitated the city. The buildings stood thirty storey's high in some places, with massive spiralling spires extending up towards the earths crust. Each building was inlaid with intricately carved designs and decorations on them, which, cast in the soft blue light of his lantern, looked mystical.
But he didn't have time to study them; he was down here for a very important reason. He had been given a special mission to find the city's ancient library, which contains records of the former inhabitants history and culture, and a record of the events leading up to their destruction.
Well, that was what he had been told. But he was not so sure that the people who had given him this mission really knew.
Scanning the humongous wall in front of him, he found a groove in the stone, shaped like a snake. He traced his finger along it, as he'd been instructed. When he reached the end, the small door sized section of wall in-front of him turned semi-transparent in the blink of an eye. Cautiously he placed his left hand through it. It went straight through. Then the next hand, then both arms, followed by the rest of his body. It was like standing in a bubble. He moved to exit the wall on the other side.
Blink. The wall was slightly less transparent. Blink. Less transparent. Blink. Suddenly he was floating in a goo-like substance, the wall looking almost solid again, except he was in the middle. He desperately swam for the other side. The wall being very thick. It was like moving through tar now. One hand out. Two hands. Then his arms. Desperately he made one last lunge at freedom.
Stuck. He looked down and saw his right foot caught in the solid wall, the stone formed perfectly solid around his ankle. Pathetically he tried to pull it out. But to no avail.
A wild howl like a bloodthirsty wolf cut out the sound of Aki's panting breath. The silence that followed was broken only moments later with the sound of some massive animal crashing through the underground labrynth.
Panicking, Aki pulled at his leg again. It was getting him nowhere. Moments later, a giant Blood Crawler came stampeding on all fours into the light of Aki's lantern. It was heading straight for him. It's large tongue flapping around its lips. It's blood-red eyes transfixed on Aki's face.
Aki stared in amazement as a great white light appeared from the darkness behind the Blood Crawler. The light disappeared for a moment, then to Aki's amazement a bright beam shot out of the darkness and flew straight into the back of the beast. Sending it's limp body flying. The beam continued on and hit the wall, just above Aki's head. A large crack appeared in the stone around his ankle, making the wall there crumble away, freeing his foot.
As fast as he could he picked up his lantern and sprinted down towards where the light had come from. The crack shot upwards immediately, careering through the entire wall. It took just a few moments for the whole thing to break apart and come crashing down. Tens of giant blocks, large enough to crush ten people at once fell to the ground. Causing a land-slide of rock and rubble downwards along the paths of the underground city.
Aki ran faster than he ever had before in his life. The sound of the crashing wall roaring in his ear like thunder. Down, down into the depths he ran, not caring where he went, just running. He couldn't stop himself, his mind was too full of fear and confusion to think rationally. At one point he tripped on a stone, sending his lantern flying out of his hand and crashing on the floor, the magic orb that produces the light falling out of the cage and bouncing off down one of the many paths. Not stopping to search, he picked himself up again and set off in a random direction again.
After what seemed like hours, but in reality only a few minutes, he was sprinting down one of the many paths, in complete darkness when suddenly something flashed in front of him. Smack. Someones arm flew out of the darkness, catching him straight in the face and knocking him out instantly.
He awoke in a small domed room. Lit with many white magical torches, lining the walls. Slowly he sat up. His head was acheing as if he'd been hit with an anvil. Looming over him was a very tall, bony human. The man's scarred face and white moustache were a frightening sight. The man was holding a weird contraption, consisting of a long metal tube, twisted in many loops. His right hand was gripped around a trigger. His left supporting the end of the tube, which opened out at the end, similar to a trombone.
'Don't move!' the man barked. 'What you doin' wanderin' 'round here?'
'Searching for the library,' replied Aki. The tall man broke out suddenly in wild laughter. Howling as if he'd never heard of anything more hilarious. Finally he settled down.
'Are you mad, boy?'
'Not that I know of.' Aki said, confused.
'You? You? You are goin' to get to the library of Etilite?' He broke out in laughter again.
'It can't be that hard!' Aki yelled over the din.
'The only person who has ever reached there, is me.'
'Were you sent there aswell?'
'Oh no, I live here.'
'For how long?'
'Oh... three hundred and thirteen years to be exact.'
'Humans only live for an average of eighty years!'
'I ain't human.'
'Then what are you?'
'An Etilian.'
'You're mad.'
'No, no, I'm tellin' the truth.'
'Etilians have been dead for thousands of years. Explain that.' The man's face suddenly went red. He violently lifted the strange device he was holding and aimed the open tube at Aki.
'Are you questionin' what I say?' He roared.
'No.' Squeeked Aki. The man lowered the device. 'Well, can you help me find the library. I really need to find it.'
'Believe me, boy. It's a lost cause. The last time I visited it, the roof caved in when I visited.'
'Are you sure?'
'Hmm?'
'Are you completely sure?' Aki yelled.
'Uh... I dunno. But that's beside the point! I'll show you the way out though. I'm good at that.'
'I don't want to leave though. I need to find the library.' The man raised the tube device again.
'I'll show you the way out and you will follow peacefully!' He roared again.
The man set off down a narrow passageway. Aki hurried after him. The passage lead back out into the many passages of the city. But this time they headed upwards, instead of down.
For hours they walked. While Aki was constantly twisting around to look behind him, the man seemed to have no worries at all about Blood Crawlers.
'What's that thing for?' Aki finally asked.
'Which thing?'
'That metal tube your always holding.'
'I use it to kill Blood Crawlers.'
'So it was you who killed that Blood Crawler that was charging for me?'
'Ah, yes. I remember it now. You got stuck in the wall. Have to be careful 'round here. Us Etilians installed many traps in our grand city.' Aki tactfully avoided arguing about him thinking he was an Etilian again. The man was either very stupid, or gone insane. He wouldn't doubt that the man was insane, living in a place like this, all alone.
'What's your name?' Asked Aki. He was always too curious for his own good.
'Lotak.'
'Nice name.' Aki said conversationally. Lotak simply grunted. They kept walking.
When it would seem like they would be marching for eternity, Lotak suddenly stopped in his tracks. He turned his head wildly in all directions.
'Whats wrong?' Aki asked. Lotak started mumbling something under his breath. 'Whats wrong?' Aki yelled in frustration. Lotak kept ignoring him. Mumbling faster and faster. Suddenly he turned and marched off down one of the winding passages. Aki ran to the corner that Lotak had walked past. But when he reached it, the light of Lotak's lantern had completely disappeared, and there were three different paths leading off the passage, which anyone he could've taken.
Frustrated, Aki slid down the wall until he was sitting on the ground, and groaned loudly. He sat there for several minutes. Surrounded by pure darkness, with no idea where he was. Eventually he picked himself up and wandered. For ages and ages, he simply wandered. After a while his stomach started growling, and he realised that he hadn't eaten in more than twenty-four hours.
The darkness was broken suddenly from the light of a lantern coming down one of the passageways. He heard muttering and then Lotak was standing in front of him once more.
'Oh, Lotak! Thank the gods I found you!'
'Oh, hello there, boy! Where did you come from.'
'I've just been wandering around. Looking for you.'
'Lookin' for me? Why were you lookin' for me?'
'Because I lost you.'
'Lost me? I've never even seen you before, boy.'
'What are you talking about?' Aki said confused.
'I did know one boy, once. Looked much like you. I rescued him from a chargin' Blood Crawler when he got his foot stuck in a wall.'
'That was me!' Aki yelled.
'How long was it now? Hmm, thirty years to the day, now.' Aki stared, amazed. He really was insane.
'Can you help me find my way out?' Aki asked in desperation.
'Sorry, I've got things to do. But, you can have my lantern. Us Kilti's have very good eyesight in the dark.'
'I thought you said you were Etilian.'
'What? I'm not Etilian. Are you stupid, boy? Are you mad?'
Immediately Lotak started muttering under his breath again. Before Aki could get another word in, Lotak placed the lantern on the ground, then disappeared in the darkness. The sounds of his muttering fading fast.
Aki sighed and picked up the lantern. There was nothing for it. He had no idea where the exit was. His only choice was to head further into the city and try to find the library. Then, atleast, he would know where he was. Hopefully he would get out of this forsaken place before he became as mad as Lotak. Perhaps he already was.
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“The planet of Kortalia was the fifth planet to be inducted into the Intergalactic United Association (IUA). It is an extremely hot world, most of the landmass is just dry, dusty desert. This is the reason there are so many cities situated deep underground. Some are still inhabited, but most have been abandoned now as living so deep underground made communication and trade difficult with other planets. There are five intelligent races inhabiting Kortalia at the time of the writing of this book. The rarest of which are the Leditiums. Very short, about half as tall as an average human, they are one of the most popular races with humans due to their “cute” appearance. Small noses and large ears, and furry like a possum. They are generally very calm and prefer to think things over than make hasty decisions. They are also probably the best race at dealing with the hot, year-round weather. Humans being the worst at coping.”
Tarnkil Vuudian, The Soltiln System, A Brief History.
The tunnels seemed to stretch on forever. Each one the same as the last. Lotak's lantern was almost identical to his old one, except it had a white light. Aki stepped lightly down along the winding paths. The tunnels seemed to keep getting narrower and narrower. Even as small as he was, Aki wasn't sure whether he would be able to squeeze through when he finally found the door of the library.
Examining the door, Aki noted several strange things about it. The door was twice as large as a standard human door. It was made of stone and there was no visible edge to it, it seemed like part of the wall. The only way Aki could tell it was a door at all, much less one to the library was by the ancient Etillian script engraved along the top, which Aki had been taught to recognise as the entrance to the library. And also engraved in the centre, the ancient Etillian coat of arms which emanated a faint blue light.
Eventually he decided he was too tired to continue for the night, or day, whichever it was on the surface. He would have to find a building to take shelter in. It was too dangerous sleeping in the open. In a city so big, it wasn't common to run into a Blood Crawler. But even a few hours is a long time for your luck to run out.
For almost an hour more, he trudged on until he found a side path leading to a residential zone. The light of his lantern glittered off the tall diamond-decorated spires as he entered. Too tired to spend much time searching, he headed straight for the nearest building. Upon inspection though he found that the mechanism to open the door had been smashed away by something, or someone. He checked the next one. This building was obviously much more than a simple house. First of all it stood five storeys high. Also, it had a much more complicated lock on it. Naturally it was very outdated by now, but it was so outdated that it meant not many people knew how to use it properly anymore. Luckily for him, he'd had training in all types of Etilian locks. Carefully he slid his hand into the slot beside the door, then he lifted his index finder a couple of centimetres. Then his middle finger. He then turned his hand ninety degrees and shoved his hand in as far as it would go.
Once he heard a small whirring sound he slowly pulled his hand out. The door faded away immediately. It just disappeared. He stepped inside and scanned the room. It was a foyer of some sort. A few chairs and tables were scattered sparsely around the room. Nothing else. It was said that the Etilians had liked to live simply, but compared to life on the surface, this room was empty.
He turned and pressed his hand on a small stone panel next to the door, and it re-appeared. Locked. Exhausted, he slumped to the ground and curled up. He closed his eyes.
Suddenly he became very cold. He groaned and stood up, and searched the room for the switch to the heating system. He finally found it hidden behind one of the chairs. He switched it on. Instantly the room became warm. Once again he curled up on the floor, and this time he fell asleep as soon as his head touched the cold stone.
Aki woke to the sound of scratching at the door. He sat up just as something heavy crashed into the door. Making some of the stone above it crumble away. He looked around and found a small short range teleporter in the corner. It was a stone cylinder, cut in half vertically, with a metal platform sitting on the bottom. He stepped on the platform. For a moment he felt slightly uncomfortable, then suddenly he was upstairs. He stumbled out of the teleporter feeling extremely dizzy. It was the downside of teleportation and the reason it isn't used as often as the human race used to think it would be if ever developed.
He hurried over to a panel on the wall just as the sound of something crashing against the door again came from below. He pressed it and a square section of the wall about the size of a window disappeared. Looking out through the window he was met with a horrifying sight. Ten Blood Crawlers stood snarling at the building. Some scratching at the walls and two others taking turns at charging the door. Trying to think why they were all so interested in this building he noticed the sound of the heating system humming away.
Cursing himself for a fool, he ran straight into the teleporter, stumbled out ignoring the dizziness and slammed the switch to turn the heating off.
His thoughts going into overdrive, Aki slid down the wall until he was sitting, slumped on the floor. He closed his eyes and began thinking of some way to get out of this hopeless situation.
As soon as the thought hit him that maybe he could stay silent in the building until the Blood Crawlers gave up and wandered off, his thoughts were shattered by the sound of one of the creatures crashing into the door. Looking up, Aki could see many cracks running through the stone around the door, and in one spot some of the stone had fallen away, leaving a gap to the outside.
It wouldn't be long until most of the wall came down.
Deciding to search the building for other ways out, Aki stepped through the teleporter to the second storey. Then crossed the room and stepped through another teleporter leading to what he assumed was the third storey. This room was just as sparsely furnished as the foyer, except it had a very old information terminal sitting in the corner. A closer look revealed it was an extremely old model, possibly even one of the first Galactic Information Terminal's ever manufactured.
Wondering whether or not it would be able to connect to the network, Aki pressed what looked like the power switch and waited. And waited. Nothing happened.
With a sigh, Aki quickly crossed to the other side of the room and opened one of the windows.
Looking outside, Aki's eyes widened in amazement. The Blood Crawler's were moving away from the building, albeit very slowly. Aki couldn't believe his luck, he felt like screaming out in joy. But his elation quickly turned into a sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach.
There was a loud clicking sound behind him and then the soft, female voice of the information terminal boomed at maximum volume.
'Welcome to the Etillian Information Terminal, version one point two. This information terminal has been proudly manufactured by, Etilite Home Electronics, bringing you the best in residential electronics since the year sixty one, fifty nine.'
With a howl, all ten Blood Crawlers turned back towards the building and charged for the door. Three of them crashed into it at once, knocking the door down in a shower of dust, and disappeared inside, followed by the rest of the creatures. It was only a matter of time before one of the beasts stumbled into the teleporters.
Whirling around, Aki rushed towards the terminal. He was about to order it to shut down, before he realised it was too late now, he might aswell use it to find a way out of the building.
Thinking of what to ask, Aki looked at the hologram positioned next to the terminal. It was of a strikingly beautiful Etillian woman. Wearing a simply cut mettalic silver dress, with the Etillian coat of arms printed in blue across the breast. It was an old Etillian style of clothing, which had become very popular with the public today, especially with the wives of rich asteroid miners.
Even for such an old model, the hologram was surprisingly life-like. The only way Aki could really tell it was a hologram was the way it flickered with static every now and then.
'What are the purposes of each storey?' Aki finally asked.
'Searching database, one moment please.' The woman smiled.
'Stupid slow machine,' Aki muttered.
'Storey one is a foyer, it was built in the year two thousand and fifty one, the same year the building was constructed. It serves no purpose other than a reception area. Do you require more information on this storey?'
'No.'
'The second storey is a lounge area for visiting guests, or for workers who wish to take a break. Do you require more information on this storey?'
'No! I don't.' Aki was becoming very impatient with this old machine.
'The third storey...'
'Skip to the fourth storey.' Crashing sounds came from below as the Blood Crawlers scrambled around the place searching for him.
'The fourth storey serves as a storage room. Item's currently stored are, electronic implants, weapons,' Aki's heart skipped a beat, 'and full body armor suits. Do you require more information on this storey or on any of the items in storage here?'
'Yes!'
'What would you like to know?'
'Are the weapons secured by any sort of lock or security system?'
'Yes,' Aki groaned, 'but all my readings confirm that the security system installed for the weapon's locker is currently non-functional.'
'Good! How do I get to the fourth storey?'
'I can teleport you there if you would like, sir?'
'OK, teleport me to the fourth storey and then afterwards shut yourself down.'
'Commencing teleportation. Please make sure you are not in contact with any other organic beings and you are wearing your anti-teleportation-sickness headband. Have a nice day.'
This teleporter was much older, and the side effects were a lot worse. A strong white light blinded Aki, and closing his eyes did nothing to block it out. His body felt like it was being torn apart, pulled in all directions. Then it all stopped in an instant, and he was standing in a different room, hopefully the fourth storey.
Aki took one step forward, and suddenly an intense wave of dizziness washed over him, he collapsed onto the floor and a sharp pain erupted in his skull. For nearly two whole minutes Aki lay there, until finally the dizziness and headache passed. No wonder the information terminal had warned him about wearing a teleportation headband.
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