Nick watched the clouds soar above, and relaxed as the wind sleeked against his face. A cold familiar feeling which eased his nerves for what was to come.
He always felt at home in the skies. He remembered the first time he got his make-shift raft flying longer than a few minutes. Nothing had quite compared to that initial exhilarating thrill. A euphoric feeling of freedom without bounds.
That day was the closest he had ever gotten to having wings of his own. He knew he'd never be a Nephilim, the bitterness had long ago faded.
But now he wasn't sure what he was. A droid caught his attention, passing by his side on its routine patrol route. Dressed in makeshift clothes taken from the Captain's quarters. Leggings which hugged its spindly legs, and an oversized coat too big for its bulk. Only one word came up to mind. Ridiculous.
And every other droid on-board was now dressed in similar fashion.
"I have a hard time believing this is going to work," said Nick, turning to Ali who stood beside him on the deck.
"Have faith," said Ali. "Trust me, they'll think we are just another group of outlanders. Just give me a chance to do things my way for a bit. After I get my chance, your boys can have their way with them."
Another itch crept across Nick's left eyebrow. He scratched under the make-shift patch set over it.
Nick recalled just how he looked in the mirror. The old Imperial military coat donned over his dark armor. A triangular hat plopped onto his head. And the final addition, a black patch strung over his left eye. A very itchy black patch.
"I look absolutely ridiculous," said Nick.
"Exactly." Ali tipped his feathered hat. "You fit in!"
Nick took stock of Ali's outfit. Green breeches which poofed out around his thighs. A vest with blue stripes stretching up from his wrists to his collar. He shook his head; he didn't know why he was agreeing to this. However, Ali hadn't been wrong quite yet.
At the very least, the clothes didn't smell. He just wished he could do away with the itchy patch. Unfortunately, because of the odd color in his left eye, it had to stay on.
Nick looked back over the edge of the deck and to the forest below. Brown roads cut along an ocean of greenery, having held their boundaries through the passing centuries. Beyond that, the trees gave way to an open field, leading up to a patch of ruined architecture. It may have been some sort of city at one point, although only broken frames remained of whatever buildings once stood. One structure remained untouched. A pyramid-shaped building. Gray and covered in moss. And beside it were six airships. All but one floated above the ground, the last one laying on its side, with a hole visible through its hull.
Figures milled about, most standing atop the decks with a few loitering about on the grass. Nick counted at most twelve. Far too few to account for the full manning of the vessels, which left open the question of where the rest were.
"So…" said Kera. "I got you to where they said they would be. Now I'm guessing you're going to punk them?"
Nick looked up to stern, where their recent captive-turned-navigator stood behind the ship's wheel, with two droids standing behind her.
"No love lost eh Kera?" said Ali. "Always thought you enjoyed Trent's company."
"As if," she said. "He smelled like two days old fish, and he didn't like his women blabbering. Best had to keep my mouth shut than wind up on the wrong side of a sword. Or worse."
She peeked over her shoulder to the two droids standing behind, standing at attention with spears held at the ready. Both had clear orders to subdue her if she tried anything funny. Nick vocalized the orders when he gave them to ensure she heard. Just to get the point across.
Nick peered back down, feeling the droids move… then stop.
"They're in position," said Nick. "Take us down."
"Got it Captain," said Kera.
Nick raised his right eyebrow at her.
"Sorry," she said. "Old sailor's habit."
"Technically." Ali clapped a hand on Nick's shoulder. "She is right. Captain Nezra. Rolls nice off the tongue? Don't you think?"
"Keep your comments to yourself," said Nick.
"A little strung up, aren't you?" said Ali.
He didn't respond.
"Eh." Ali shrugged. "Suit yourself."
Kera spun the ship's wheel, and cranked a lever, causing the air engines to creak. Their ship swerved into a slow descent toward an open spot near the gathering.
Everything grew clearer as they got closer. Nick could make out individual expressions among the people below, and quite a few pointed up towards them, either in curiosity or in alarm.
Ali raised up a white flag taken from the Captain's quarters. He waved it, signaling at the people below. A trio of figures stepped forward, and the one in front pointed his hand at an open spot away from the other ships. Puddles from the previous night's storm littered the landscape, some almost the size of ponds. All connected in intertwined streams among the mud.
Kera guided the ship in the direction, leveling it just above the ground. Grass and dust billowed out as the ship slowed to a crawl, and went still. Nick nodded to Ali, and the two of them leapt over the deck landing onto the grass below.
The three men stepped towards them and Ali drew out a pipe, piling a smidge of herbs from a pouch. He clipped a ruby-lighter next to the stack, and a flame flickered through the dried plants.
Nick twitched his nose, recognizing the same odor. He had smelled it once on Felix, and more than enough times from Eric. Barkhan herbs. Nasty but kept you awake and alert. Nick himself had never tried it, if not for the fact he didn't get tired like normal people did, and that every woman in his life had a glaring distaste for it.
"Hoy!" Ali puffed his pipe while waving his hand.
Nick eased his grip on the pommel of his sword, but keeping stock of the approaching men. All had bracers along their wrists. Single gems. Easy pickings if, and when, the fight broke out. He caught the glint of a gold dagger holstered to the lead man's belt. More ceremonial from the looks of it than functional.
Nick squinted, and recognized the patterns along the sheath. It had been one of the many antiques kept by Cedric in his home.
Which meant this man had been among the raiders.
"What do you all want?" The lead man stopped a few paces from there, crossing his arms. "I Don't recognize you lot, but this here is Cumberlane's turf."
"No harm." Ali gestured in peace with his hand. "We was just passing through when we caught sight of you here. Awfully big gathering with so much space out here. Had us curious is all."
He offered the pipe over to the lead man.
"Care for a puff?" said Ali. "Snipped up along the coasts a few weeks ago. Pretty ripe stuff."
The lead man's expression shifted from suspicion to welcome the instant he saw the pipe.
"Heh." The man smirked, taking the pipe from Ali. "Sure thing, I could use a whiff."
"Here." Ali tossed the pouch over to the man on his left, who caught it before it hit the ground. "We have enough as is. Call it a gift for intruding on your turf."
"Appreciate it." The man breathed in, blowing out a plume of smoke. "Good stuff. Shame we can't keep talking, because I'll be asking you all to leave now. Bosses' orders."
"It's all good chum," said Ali. "Is there something funny up around here though? Couldn't help but notice one of your ships got grounded."
"Eh, bunch of captives managed to down a ship," said the man. "Not by themselves though. They had help, but we're about to wind them all back up. Help included."
"Help?" Ali looked left and right. "Who is there to help out here?"
The man grinned. "None other than the laughing man of course."
"Who?" Nick blurted out.
The lead man looked at Nick's direction, then back at Ali.
"Your one-eyed friend here doesn't know about the laughing man?"
"Eh, he's new to this place." Ali gave a fake smile, asking him to keep his mouth shut while he did the talking. "The laughing man though? You really got him holed up in there with the captives?"
"Yep," said the man. "Wastrel has been messing with us for far too long. First time he's actually tried to down an entire ship."
Nick and Ali turned to look at the downed ship, noting just how big the hole in the hull was.
"He nicked the engines, but we finally got him cornered. We're going to string him up and give him what he deserves."
"Well, that's good," said Ali. "Heard stories about that devil. I take it then your boss and most of the folks are all down in the building?"
"Most of us are," said the man. "They left not too long ago but they should be done anytime now. You lot best go before they get back. Boss is a lot less friendly than I am."
"Of course." Ali gave Nick a knowing glance. "Looks like that's all we're going to find out this way."
Nick looked around, noting none of the skeleton crew left behind seemed to be prepared or expecting any sort of attack. If these three were in charge, that likely meant everyone else was weaker than them, which in turn meant everyone here were easy pickings.
He nudged the thread running through his mind, and he felt every other mental thread vibrate as the droids moved to action.
"Say…" The fellow on the right pointed a finger at Ali. "You look familiar."
"Me?" Ali pointed his fingers at his face. "I wouldn't be surprised. Maybe we met before."
"No…" The henchman took a step forward. "Wait a second, I remember you-"
The man never finished his sentence as Ali flicked his finger and a stone pillar erupted below the man, smashing into his waist.
The man wheezed as he was tossed backwards. The remaining two pirates froze in shock, then reached for their weapons. Far too late however, as Nick had already drawn his and swerved it in their direction.
Activating: Empowered Weapon.
Violet energies rippled through the black blade, lengthening its reach and causing it to shear through the man standing to his left. He fell forward, clutching at the blood gushing out of his guts.
The leader of the trio, catching wind of his current situation, turned tail to flee. Ali flipped out a knife, the hilt engraved with an emerald. Aether poured through his hand into the weapon as he flung it forward. The blade whistled through the air, sped up by the emerald, and landed squarely in the man's left calf, causing him to fall.
The event, rippled through the remaining pirates as the rest of the gathering scrambled for their weapons. Then, a buzzing noise ripped out from the tree-line, accompanied by the trudge of footsteps and the arrival of gray figures pouring out into the plains. All wielding spears, swords, and shields brimming with violet light.
A fireball screeched toward the incoming horde, exploding in the midst of a few droids. The smoke cleared, exposing a droid braced behind a shield, with no evident damage upon its bulk. It trudged forward, followed by three others that took cover behind its barrier.
In seconds, they overran the ground surrounding the ships, making short work of any who were unlucky enough to be on the ground. The remaining pirates on the decks kicked away the crossing planks, only for the droids to start climbing up the ship's hulls. Nick already knew they were finished. By the time they got airborne, the droids would already be on the decks.
He turned away from the battle, which had ended almost as soon as it began, stepping over to the injured man ahead. He man crawled ahead, reaching for a musket on the dirt, when Nick's foot stomped on his hand.
Bones crunched and the man screamed. One yell among the many, as the remaining defenders were finished off.
Nick grimaced as another itch travelled over his brow. He tore off the eyepatch, right as the man turned up to look at him. Terror present in his eyes as Nick's yellow iris reflected off the man's own.
Which was a good thing. It would make what was to come much easier.
"Listen well." Nick knelt down, pressing down on the hand. "Because you're going to answer every question I have."
The man mumbled, sweat gleaming down his cheeks and spittle burbling off his lips. However, he managed a nod.
"Well." Ali puffed his pipe while, observing the battle come to a close. "That went faster and smoother than I expected."
Nick could feel the approach of two smaller droid variants. Support droids. Legates.
"Search and secure the ships," said Nick, without shifting his gaze. "And the perimeter. Everyone and anything will be gathered up outside."
"Understood Mechanar," said the Legates and they moved off into the distance.
"I have to agree with Kera on this." Ali watched as the droids stepped away. "Those voices still creep me out."
"Get used to it," said Nick. "And who is this laughing man they were talking about?"
"Not sure," said Ali. "Only know rumors. All I know is he has given all the outlanders hell for the past few months. Supplies gone missing, to slit throats, and then entire crews started disappearing into the wilderness. Wears a mask shaped in a permanent grin, hence the name. Some of them think he isn't a human at all but some vengeful ghost of the old world."
A boom burst from the building, catching their attention, followed by a rumble. Another vibration followed, followed by an explosion of dust as a small side of the pyramid burst out.
"More company." Ali emptied out the pipe, putting it back in his belt before drawing his own saber.
Two droids stepped forward, placing themselves between them and the dust cloud, aiming their spears in its direction.
A four-legged figure clopped through the haze. Pudgy, with a set of tusks streaming through its head.
At first, he thought it was some kind of monster, until the thing stepped fully into view. It resembled a boar, but its skin consisted of rolled pebbles and dirt. It had agates, gleaming on the sides of its head for eyes. The tusks resembled chipped rock more than it did bone.
It snorted once, then charged straight towards them.
The droids knelt down, bracing their spears as the boar approached. Each step causing the ground to rumble and shake in its wake. However, even from the distance, Nick could tell the reach of the spears far exceeded the tusks.
A brown blur rippled out the dust cloud and through the air. Twin arrows slammed into the spears, knocking them aside. Before the droids could bring them back to bare however, the boar collided into them.
Its tusks gored through both droids, right through the armored plating and out their backs. The boar swung its neck aside, tossing the destroyed droids aside and letting out a victorious squeal. It pawed the ground, turning its head to Nick.
Earthen pillars erupted around the boar. Nick looked to Ali, who was kneeling and had both hands on the ground. The boar dashed aside, but more pillars continued to rise, locking the animal in a cage.
Water streamed out in a line through the smoke. A small Jetstream which jutted through the pillars like a knife through cake, and onward. Ali and Nick dashed in opposite directions, the deadly line of liquid veering past them, and blasting apart a tree trunk in the forest beyond.
"Watch it!" said Nick. "There's more behind the smoke."
"On it!" said Ali, who waved his hand, causing a wave of earth to roll forward and up, threatening to block off the entrance.
Three elements so far. That meant at least two individuals. He had never seen aethereal shaping like this before.
Twin sprays of water slammed into the wave of earth like two tides clashing against each other. Mud sprayed out from the collision, and more water trickled to the puddles along the ground.
"Shit," said Ali, holding a hand up to block the flinging mud-pellets from his eyes.
Nick did the same, but caught something bright and yellow flared in the sky above, and it wasn't the sun.
Whatever it was, it suddenly sped down towards them.
"Move!" said Nick.
As it fell, the air was filled with the high-pitched crackling. Like hundreds of birds chirping at once.
Ali dashed away as well, but at the final moment Nick caught a better glimpse of the incoming object. It was shaped like a hawk, but made out of pure crackling yellow energy. Lightning trailed in its wake as it soared towards them.
Puddles connected by small streams littered the ground around them. Nick realized what was about to happen, managing to step just short enough to avoid landing in a puddle.
Ali unfortunately, stepped right into one.
The lightning bird struck the ground in a roar of thunder. Sparks and electricity zapped and charged out through the streams of water in less than the blink of an eye. Including the one Ali had stepped into.
"S-S-Shi--!" Ali fumbled, jittering in place as the lightning rippled through his body. Nick caught sight of another earth rod fired through the dust cloud, veering right at the paralyzed man.
A tank droid dashed in front of Ali, raising its shield moments before the bolt smashed into it. The earthen rod ricocheted off and into the mud. Two more droids dashed around the puddles, rushing toward the lightning-forged bird sending out bursts of electricity through the water.
The bird flew away, leaving the spears jutting through muck.
Both the earth-forged boar and the lightning-forged bird trudged back, to a humanoid shape stepping through the dust cloud.
He wore a loose-fitting robe tied with a sash around the waist. Beige trousers ripped and patched in several spots. A mask, shaped into a permanent smile reflected both in the eyes and mouth. Wrinkles stretched along the edge of the mask, giving the impression of an old man. A bow with no arrows in one hand, and a trident slung over his back.
The boar stepped to the stranger's left, while the bird's talons clapped onto his shoulder. They looked at Nick and Ali, and the growing number of gray droids and violet weapons converging upon their location.
"That hurt." Ali stood up, muck and char marks covering his body and clothes. He gnashed his teeth, glaring at the newcomer. "That bloody hurt a lot."
"Careful," said Nick. "This is who you were talking about right?"
"Hell, if I know." Ali took out his sword while gripping his free fist, causing the earth below to grumble. "Probably is, and he's going to pay for that."
Nick took a look at the elementally-attuned animals. Whatever they were, they appeared to obey his commands, much the same way with the droids. Each built of a different element, and each using them accordingly. Lightning and earth so far, though water appeared to be missing.
The man didn't say a word. It appeared he was sizing up Nick and the others, as they were doing in kind.
The few pirates being rounded up some distance away spurred at the sight of the mask, however the droids guarding them, wavered their weapons. The threat keeping them in place.
The stranger holstered his bow, reaching for his trident. Nick prepared to give the order for all the droids to move in. The boar braced itself, while the lightning hawk cawed. Maybe this could be solved with words, but the man's actions indicated otherwise.
"Wait!"
The voice came from behind the stranger, and he stopped just short of pulling out his trident. It was gruff and throaty, like someone whose voice had been damaged by years of exposure to high winds. The owner of the voice, an old bearded man wearing tattered clothes, stepped past the dust cloud, followed shortly by more human figures.
Behind him several other figures flocked forward. Men, women, and children, wearing ruined clothes. Faces starved and desperate, like those you'd find in captivity.
"Ali," the bearded man said. "That you?"
Ali lowered his guard.
"Captain Osman? You're alive?"