"Back in the islands where the air is humid and my coat is heavier than I can carry" Lucas said as he stretched his arms out. "It's not bad here" said Ponto with a little smile on his face. Lucas sat at the campfire with everybody else. "We have come a long way" he said. "It's funny" David chimed, "we still do not know much about each other". Lucas gestured in favor of David's analysis and figured "what the hell? We have all been through so much already and will be encountering a dangerous threat soon, we might as well know about one another". "Let's start with you Kilkyl" said Lucas nodding his head towards Kilkyl.
Kilkyl sat leaning over his legs spitting his tobacco spit. He raised up leaning back asking "what do you all want to know". "That was a very interesting answer" replied Lucas sarcastically. "well I don't know what you all want to know" Kilkyl answered in frustration. Lucas replied in anger "It's an easy fucking question. Just tell us about yourself. Past, present, future, likes, and hates. I don't see why you have to make this shit complicated". Kilkyl then sighed, "I was born in Tristram and my parents worked at a factory. I went to school. I was in band. Once i was out of school I went to the military. Did that for a few years. Then I went to camp. That sucked". "You was in band" asked David, "What instrument did you play"? "The violin" answered Kilkyl. "How was camp" asked Rael. "Well band camp was pretty nice. A bunch of sleuths running around there. But the camp where they took me to infuse me with the dragon blood was horrible. I was chained up the whole time getting, injected and tortured" said Kilkyl. Rael had been fascinated with camp from the beginning of the journey. Kilkyl had then let it be known that he no longer wishes to work as a mercenary in the Maverick Army. He would instead love to retire and spend his days hunting and hiking in the forest and enjoy a nice luxurious house when he is back home. The team was surprised, but Rael and Waateef knew he was not lying. "Damn" David expressed. Lucas then nodded at David to go next.
"it honestly wasn't bad for me either" David started. "My dad was a top drug dealer so we always had money. One day there was a knock at the door and when I answered it it was a couple of his friends. They wanted to speak to him so I went ahead and got my dad. I remember his face turned pale. He left out and shut the door. It was three whole weeks before we found his body mutilated in the woods. So I decided to run a church of god and do what is right to protect my community". Rael burst out laughing. "So what are you really planning with the church" asked Waateef. David answered "Bro, look me dead in the eye and same I am lying. Tell me". Vegron then answered "orcs and elves can detect lies". "I'm not lying" said David. "Look" said Vegron, "I know your church. I been around there. I know what goes on their with your church and your patrons. I'm not stupid. Your church is crooked. Don't lie about it. Not to us at least". David on frowned saying "it is what it is".
Vegron then sighed "I guess I will go next". Vegron kicked out his legs and thought before he spoke "I mean, I was a broke kid just hanging around the wrong people. Eventually I started selling drugs for a bit. Got sent to jail. Got out. Went back and forth a few times. I really have not been doing anything with my life. But hey, after this job, clean record and enough money to get my life straight, fuck it".
"Zarz" asked Rael". "Let's hear it Zarz" demanded Lucas, "and please explain why you are always on a high horse". "My father was a duke in Anadali. I went to one of the best schools in the land and majored in history" answered Zarz. "Boring, but okay" said Lucas. Zarz then rambled on about his achievements until Lucas cut him off from boring everybody. "So what are your goals" asked Rael. Zarz then simply said he would like to know the truth to the world he lives in in all of its mystery. "Sounds like you been hanging around enough elves" said Rael. Zarz only chuckled. "Well I be damned" said Lucas, "That is the first smile I have ever seen on Zarz. Rael, is there anything we don't know about you? You and Waateef seems to be a lot closer since you have revealed yourself to be half-elf".
Rael looked at Lucas in the eye and explained that orcs and elves still follow their ancient beliefs. Elves believes in balance to be held by all creatures while orcs believes in the peace of balance being held by the gods. However, both orcs and elves have deviated from this. Elves abandoned all other creatures and merely looked out for themselves as superior beings. While the orcs were driven into slavery and soon after have began to conform to the ways of the heathen. Rael then changed back to his usual fun tone looking around at everybody explaining his past. He is 8 years was conceived by the raping of his mother by humans. After being neglected by the Elven societies, Rael, his mother, and his little sister was forced to flee and live among humans. One day a monster had attacked and eaten Rael's mother and soon his sister was eaten while living on the islands while under his care. Rael's goal in life now was to simply spend his younger years obtaining power to one day live his life free and enjoy it. "Alright Waateef" yelled Lucas, "Is he lying". Waateef then smiled and explained that elves have the magic ability to hide their lies. Lucas then took an empty soda can and threw it at Rael's head. Rael gave a menacing giggle before asking "who is next"? "Ponto" answered Lucas. Ponto looked over at Rael. "Actually, I want to know first, were you the scorpion that saved us while traveling in the desert" Ponto asked. "Good question" added Kilkyl. Rael shook his head yes, causing Kilkyl to throw his hands. "Well fuck me right" yelled Lucas, "you seriously was going to let us die to that big over-sized whatever it was out of that cave because you did not want us to know you were an elf. That is some shit". "We should ship him to work with Santa" Kilkyl chimed.
"Well that is interesting" said Ponto. Ponto then answered that he was a doctor all of his life due to the war. Ponto never lived much of a life outside of the war. He had hope that by seeking refuge in Tristram that he could bring his family to a happier life away from the chaos. Unfortunately Tristram is not too welcoming to foreigners thus leading the Alke rebels to camp outside of the border. Lucas then spoke "Well, what are you going to do? Tristram can't just let everybody in to take refuge. It would be over crowded. Not to mention we already have our own problems". "But refugees of war" Ponto asked. Lucas shrugged and pointed out that there is already wars within Tristram where people are dying. Even though it sucks, Tristram cannot afford to meddle in the affairs of other countries and their problem which includes the refugees. Waateef sadly stared as Ponto rubbed his forehead in distress. Ponto was having a hard time believing that his own teammates believed against him in allowing his people to live in their country. "Look on the bright side" Kilkyl said, "At least you and your family will be able to become citizens after this". Ponto felt no better for he knew that his people were ultimately going to be rejected and sent away from the continent.
Waateef took a deep breath and exhaled. Tears were coming to his tiny orc eyes. "Life used to be good. My mother and father were fishermen. I took care of the house. We had heard of wars in the older days where orcs and other beings were taken as slaves or used for magic. But we had thought those days were over and could never come again. It was dark. I was 7 years old. I was cooking some food when I heard some weird popping noise. I never heard a noise like that before. I listened closely and heard the kids who were playing outside now crying. So I ran. As I was running I heard humans coming through the woods. I heard more popping. When I arrived, there were kids bleeding on the ground. They were dying. I thought it may have been an accident, so I threw my arms up and stood in front of the shooting soldiers of Tristram. I tried making peace, but they only shot me down. One man tasered me and trapped me in a cage. After a while, I saw my entire village either dead or captured as I was. We were then placed on ships and brought to Tristram to live on as slaves". Rael then spoke with a smile, "damn, and now you must fight and kill for your freedom or else you fellow orcs would be killed off". "How do you know that" asked Lucas. "We elves have good ears to hear things" said Rael with his hands on his pointy ears. "A little spy is what he is" said Kilkyl.
Lucas then looked up and said "well, there i nothing special about me. My mother died in a car accident and my father was pretty good to me. Always pushed me, but nothing bad. I always wanted to enlist and when the time came I did. I enlisted and did my tours. I wanted to get out but didn't. Next thing I was a sergeant until this one time I was on this mission. Basically we had another unit pinned down and the people we were after were running away. I was suppose to pull back but instead I ran after them. The unit that was pinned down got merced and the unit I lead ran into a trap. Be got blown up and I was the only one who survived. So I got demoted and have been dealing with that for quite a while". Zarz then confirmed, "so you're a failure who has one chance of redeeming himself by risking our lives"? "That is correct. Do you have any other smart question Zarz" asked Lucas. Zarz knew Lucas would beat him and chose to keep his pride and ask no further questions. But Waateef had a question.
"What is it we are searching for" asked Waateef. Lucas then answered "we are suppose to kill some guy and steal some old bracelet that he has. I honestly don't know much about it except that it is some old artifact. Zarz would know more about it. My captain wanted Zarz specifically for this". Rael detected the truth in Lucas. He then picked up the empty soda can from earlier and threw it at Lucas' head. "Don't be throwing things at me boy" said Lucas in a serious tone. But Rael was not playing either. "So what the hell are we searching for" asked Kilkyl, "apparently it is important". "It is simply an old artifact from an ancient city" said Zarz. Waateef looked at Zarz and then back at Lucas, "it's from Babylon". "Never heard of it" said Lucas. David and Vegron had then each threw a rock at Lucas. "So you always go on missions uninformed" asked David.
Rael then began yelling at Zarz asking how he let everybody run after a Babylonian artifact. But Zarz only pointed out the hypocrisy in Rael for he learned about the true mission at the bank and still decided to stay and keep it a secret. David and Vegron began shouting that they knew nothing from the beginning until now. Lucas became furious yelling at everybody to calm down. Ponto got scared for what might come of so many powerful people getting pissed at one another. Kilkyl sat down chewing his tobacco shaking his head when he turned to Waateef and asked "well ain't that a damn shame. We been traveling this whole time and knew nothing". "I want my three-fifty" said David. "I want his tree-fitty too" said Vegron. Lucas then raised his voice over all else and demanded everybody to shut up.
Lucas then turned to Zarz and asked him "what is going on with this artifact"? Zarz only briefly explained that the artifact is simply and old artifact from an ancient city. "Okay" said Lucas in question. Lucas then turned to Rael, "dish it for me Rael. What's happenin". Rael then explained that long ago a meteor had hit their world and through their sorcery and powerful weapons took over the world and enslaved it. Their magic was so powerful that the gods came down and destroyed it. The artifact we are searching for is from this city. Not to mention this guy invaded Katanga singlehandedly undetected and was chased out for being a threat. Thus, whoever this guy is can probably wipe them out instantly. "Did everybody hear them" asked Lucas. The team all shook their heads yes. "Good" replied Lucas, "because that is what we are going after". The team started to mope and complain, but Lucas had then immediately began to put them in place. "Zarz and Rael" he began, "you two want this for whatever little magical reason, so don't start. You two are the only two that really wanted to come on this mission from the start". He then turned to Waateef saying "Waateef, you don't even have a choice and I am sure you rather die free rather than live on as a slave. Kilkyl, just think of the big mansion you will have. David, You wanted a big powerful church with loads of money? Good for you. Fact is that if you don't fight in one war, then you have to fight in another. Vegron, your ass is wanted for life. If you walk away from this, you are good as dead. Ponto, your village will be declined citizenship. If you ever want a bright happy future for your kids, you better see this mission through". Lucas then sat back on his rock and stared sadly at his team who had mostly believed they were going to die. Rael then walked over and rested his head on Waateef's calf. David and Vegron just sat idly while Ponto began crying. Kilkyl then casually asked "cool, what's the plan"?
The Next Day
Lucas' sword stood impaled into the ground. Lucas laid his hand on it saying "well, we all know the plan". The team all sighed of depression as Lucas pulled his sword out of the ground. "Ready Waateef" asked Rael. "Let's do it man" replied Waateef with sadness. "But can we leave sadness" asked Rael, "I really don't want to bring her".
Later
It was still early in the morning. A mistress walked through the mansion in her gown. Barely covered she walked pass the orc guards of the mansion owner. She walked into the kitchen by herself to grab a drink when she saw a cute little boy in the corner. Rael looked at the mistress with a sad face and big eyes asking "is my dad awake"? "Excuse me" asked the mistress. Rael then reiterated, "I want to know if my dad is awake. I need to tell him something". The mistress was acting too stupid for Rael to handle. So he raised his hands and had cast a spell to put her to sleep. Her body had hit the floor causing the orcs to now rush into the kitchen.
The two orc guards arrived in the kitchen where they see the mistress standing up talking to Rael. "Who is he" asked the orcs. "He wants to speak to his father" said the mistress. "His father" asked the orc. "Yes" she replied. "I never seen this boy in my Life" said one of the orcs. "Come here" growled the other orc as he went to grab Rael. But when the orc attempted to grab Rael, his hand slipped through. "An illusion? How" asked the one orc. "It must be an elf" shouted the other orc. Stood invisible by the steps waiting for the chance to slip by. The orc guards quickly turned towards the steps, but had then heard a large vehicle being thrown at them from behind.
A car came crashing through the back glass sliding doors upon the two orc guards. Rael then used this opportunity to slip up the stairs The mansion owner who works with Hank Bedlam had gotten up out of his bed of mistresses in distress. "What's going on" thought the mansion owner as he jumped up and grabbed his phone. The door had then swung open. Rael walked into the room with a gun causing the man a brief panic. "Who the fuck are you little boy" yelled the distressed man. Rael only smiled with a gun in his hand. Rael then slowly walked towards the man and shot each of his mistresses while maintaining eye contact with the man. The mansion owner began running away with his phone in hand.
One of the orc guards had caught the thrown car and threw it in the kitchen, smashing the sleeping mistress. Waateef walked up to the two orc guards asking why they would join up with such evil men. But the two orc guards did not care. They both jumped at Waateef for a full out assault. But Waateef made ease of the two. Waateef stood his ground and took a quick side step dodging the first orc's punch. He then grabbed the orc's fist and threw it down as he high kicked in the orc's ribs. The second orc rushed at Waateef with a full guard up and began punching at Waateef. But Waateef countered all of the orc's punches and broke through his guard. It did not take long, but Waateef had defeated the two orcs almost effortlessly.
Rael was still chasing the man through every room, killing every other person that he saw. The man rolled under a bed as his human guard fought Rael. The man was calling for back up from Hank when he felt a sharp piece of wood stab into his foot. "We are on our way" yelled a man on the phone as the mansion owner was being dragged from under the bed. Rael dangled the man in the air with his extend wooden sword and began slicing into him with his other sword. After a few minutes, Rael then threw the man out of the room and allowed him to struggle to run away again. The man crawled his way through the hallway to get way from Rael. But Rael just strolled on out of the room and made his way pass the man. "No" stuttered the mansion owner as Rael walked past him. "I just love music" said Rael as rockets began firing into the house by a fleet of war trucks.
"Rrrroooooaaaaarrr" yelled Waateef as he walked through the burning mansion. There was two turrets among the war trucks. They began firing at Waateef who did not hesitate to run back at them. But soon each of the two turret gunners were stabbed by flying wooden stakes. The soldiers began looking around for who shot out the wooden stakes when Rael shot out balls of fire down at the soldiers. Many soldiers were incinerated and some began chasing after Rael as he ran away. Waateef on the other hand began throwing the vehicles and smashing everything in his path. As Waateef and Rael were fighting off the soldiers, more soldiers were coming in.
Elsewhere
Hank was in his mansion not to far from the disaster caused by Rael and Waateef. He was standing in his living room speculating on the reason behind the attack. Could it have been a simple gang war or could it be somebody else. Surely his tracks were a secret coming to this little mafia on the island, but after all he knows, anything is possible. Especially after the attack at the bank. Hank turned around and began running as fireballs were being launched throughout his mansion. Kilkyl had kept aim at the mansion ready for any disturbance. He had already shot down the helicopter and the car. He was hoping to call it early by shooting Hank Bedlam himself. Ponto was waiting patiently by Kilkyl's side.
Meanwhile
Lucas, David, Vegron, and Zarz watched as Kilkyl's fire rockets blew through the mansion setting one half of it on fire. Lucas then waved his hand forward for the team to run into the mansion on the side that was not on fire. Vegron led the way with Lucas behind him. Zarz was shortly behind Lucas while David was in the rear. Vegron held his rifle up looking around for potential threats as they had ran across the long courtyard. Vegron approached the door and held it from potential threats. David had then held onto the door and swung it open in time for Vegron to lead the stack inside of the mansion. "Stop" yelled Zarz. The team quickly halted. "There is a strange heat rising in here" Zarz noted. "The walls are melting" said David. "The mansion is on fire" yelled Lucas. "No", said Vegron listening throughout the halls, "This is something else".
Three horned beasts then broke through the wall. They were engulfed in fire, with hairy bodies and sharp teeth. The team looked in shock as though they were looking upon a demon. "The beasts of legends" said Zarz, "the ifrits". The ifrits smelled around the halls until they identified the location of Lucas and his team. The three ifrits then attacked the team.
Lucas created a magical shield to hold of the ifrits while both David and Zarz each prepared a counter attack. Vegron then shouted "We need to go after Hank". David then shouted, "Zarz and I will kill them. You two go kill Hank". The ifrits were smashing through Lucas' shield continuously causing him to constantly create a new one. Lucas did not want to split his team any further. But with a heavy heart, Lucas let down his shield as he and Vegron ran off into the burning mansion.
Hank was in a panic. He ran to the garage to see that it was on fire and his cars were blown. He knew it was not safe to run out onto the courtyard. Surely there were snipers. So he then made his way to run onto the roof. But as Hank had reached the top of the stairs he was shot by Vegron. "Ah fuck" he shouted. Vegron took a second shot to Hank's knee cap causing Hank to fall to the ground. Vegron began rushing up the long stairs with Lucas right behind him when Hank threw his right hand in the air with a metal brace on the palm. The brace began to glow which lead to Vegron to start shooting without a clear shot. A magic aura erupted from the brace on Hank's right palm and out came forth a dragon.
The dragon was bigger than the black scorpion. It stretched its wings out and raised its head, destroying the roof in the process. Waves of fire radiated from the dragon's body causing the entire building to burn. Kilkyl and Ponto watched from afar as the dragon rose it's body from the mansion and came back down. "Crap" said Kilkyl. "Should we go in" asked Ponto. Kilkyl sadly shook his head no stating it was the same dragon used to enhance him at the camp.
It did not take long for Zarz and David to learn that the ifrits were next to blind. Zarz used his ice abilities to conjure ice on the floor that turned to water. When debris or an ifrit stepped into it, it created additional sounds that would throw the ifrits off. Zarz then used his wind abilities to halt the ifrits' movements allowing David to stab each one and kill them. David saw no point in staying in the mansion and began to leave. But Zarz wanted the artifact to find and study the lost city of Babylonia. Zarz stared down the burning hallway while David was yelling for him to run away when he decided that he would have to take another route in achieving his goal of godhood. David and Zarz had then safely escaped and his out in the courtyard in the back.
Hank was crawling away with the dragon as his guard. After stretching itself out, the dragon fixated itself on Lucas and Vegron. Neither of the two faced a greater threat. Vegron soiled himself as the dragon's gaze pierced through his tiny little body. Lucas himself was frozen shock. "What are we fighting against" Lucas asked himself out loud. The dragon quickly launched its head down to eat Vegron and Lucas, but Waateef had intercepted its bite. holding its mouth shut for a brief moment. The dragon tossed Waateef from its mouth and drew its head back. "Run" shouted Rael with his hands closed in prayer and feet spread apart. Lucas looked over at Vegron and demanded for Vegron to go chase after Hank with himself. Vegron was scared of the dragon, but he was ready to run off to find Hank.
The dragon saw Waateef, an orc. It gave its deadly glare, but Waateef was not fazed in the slightest bit. The hair on Waateef's body began stand. Waateef took a stance that was felt through the ground. His typical passive face grew to a snare. The dragon could feel the power in Waateef as he enraged himself for battle. The flames surrounding the dragon grew stronger as the two were getting ready to engage. Once ready, Waateef launched himself into the air causing a the fire to spread away. The dragon was instantly busted in his lip causing it to fall back. But the dragon was only angrier now. Rael kept his concentrated as he prepared his ace in the hole.
David and Vegron ran chasing after Hank. Once found limping, Vegron shot Hank again. Lucas had then ran ahead of Vegron and began stabbing Hank multiple times out of anger until Hank was dead. Lucas stood breathing heavily and grabbed the artifact from Hank's palm. Vegron and Lucas watched as Waateef was fighting on par with the dragon mercilessly. The two then began to wonder how could such a powerful being allow himself to be enslaved. Lucas was about to head to help Rael and Waateef when a light from the sky fell down. The two stopped and realized that the sky was splitting and a giant elderly man with a dark skin tone, a beard, dreads like an orc wrapped up with only a few being revealed, and a cane emerged from within the split. "We got to go" said Vegron as he began running with Lucas out of the mansion.
The he was enraged, Waateef was still conscious. He realized the being emerging from the sky was no ordinary summon. It was in fact the God of thunder Teshub. Waateef heeded Rael's previously given order and ran away from the battle. Teshub floated down and honored Rael's request on a bargain. Teshub swung his great axe once and jolted down a giant bolt of lightning with his left hand that destroyed the dragon. the lightning struck through the mansion, paralyzing and burning everything that still remained inside. Rael had been so focused on summoning Teshub that he was not able to runaway and took the full shock of Teshub's attack.
Lucas and Vegron were in the courtyard when the lightning striked the mansion. Soon Waateef fell to their side with Zarz and David appearing as well. "Where's Rael" asked Lucas. Waateef looked around for Rael but could not detect him anywhere. Lucas quickly ran inside of the mansion as Teshub left and the split in the sky sealed away. Lucas shielded his body with a protective aura.
"Damn, he got me. Teshub was not suppose to let anybody in the team get hurt. But I guess that's just godly love." thought Rael as he laid upon the burning floor. His body was burned to a near crisp. His conscious was fading away with the sole thought of how unfair life is. Lucas then ran up and grabbed Rael and continued running. The static from the lighting bolt was still flowing through the mansion shocking Lucas in the process. But Lucas ate through it. He kept himself and Rael as well protected as he could with his aura shields and blindly ran out of the mansion. Lucas finally made it out of the mansion with Rael burnt in his arms. But Lucas had nothing left in him either and fell to the ground.
Not too long later, Lucas woke up to Ponto healing him and the team gathered around. Rael was still burnt and unconscious, but everybody else was okay. Lucas checked for the artifact he took from Hank, and sure enough the brace was still in his pocket. Lucas had no clue on how to use it, but he was happy the mission was over. He then rested his head in the grass and announce that Vegron pissed himself. "Get away from me you fuckin nasty" said Kilkyl as he moved away from Vegron. The team laughed as they soon made their way to escape back to Tristram.
7 days later
Rael slowly opened his eyes coughing. The sun was shining through the window blinding Rael's eyes. Rael slowly turned his weakened body over recounting the events that had transpired 7 days ago. Rael's body was weak, but alive nonetheless. Thankfully, Rael was not only a elf, but also had both moon and sun elf genes in him to help him survive Teshub's attack without any permanent scars. Rael then curled in his blanket and rested his eyes while thanking Lucas for saving him.
Later
Lucas was once again walking down the hall with Captain Abezag. "How was it" asked the Captain. "Well" Lucas started with a stressed look on his face, "it was something. I had the usual team of freaks and weirdos who went out, did god know what, and somehow managed to complete the mission". "That's good" said the Captain. "So when do I get my new team" asked Lucas. Captain Abezag only laughed as he led Lucas out of a back door to the small courtyard where formations are held. Lucas stood and saw his team for his last mission. Rael was sitting silently as though he was sick. Waateef stood casually with his hands in his pockets. Kilkyl sat chewing. Vegron and David were sitting on the ground sharing a smoke. Ponto was talking to his wife and children. Zarz was leaned against a wall reading one of his books. "Keep them" said Captain Abezag, "you all work well with each other. It may be best to keep you with a bunch of freaks like yourself". "This makes no sense" said Lucas with a confused look. "I'm an officer. That is what I do" replied Captain Abezag with his hand on Lucas' shoulder. Captain Abezag then walked away and left Lucas to his new team.
"Oh my fucking god" said Lucas staring down at Rael, "I can't believe you are actually sitting still with your mouth shut. What's the matter? A little shock and crisp got to you"? "Imma make your life a livin hell one day" replied Rael. Kilkyl chuckled at the dispute noting that Rael had the win, for Lucas was stuck together with them for four long years.