Post by beardalot on Jan 4, 2011 17:51:29 GMT -5
I was in a world where only 2 things existed, a feeling in my stomach and the sound of my own agonising scream…
I felt as though my stomach was on fire, like I'd swallowed hundreds of insects and they were now trying to escape, chewing me open from the inside in an attempt to survive…
I passed out, trapped in an eternal pain...
And then it stopped. As quick as lightning flashes across the sky all of my pain was gone and I could hear people around me, busy doing God only knew what, talking hurriedly in hushed voices. I strained my ears to listen…
"He's going to be ok but please let him rest, the Cure magic will take time to finish it's work and I don't want to risk any of his wounds reopening so leave it an hour or so before going in, ok?" said a mystery female voice.
"No worries Doc and thank you…"
"Don't thank me, if I had things my way this event would never have taken place, now if you'll excuse me I have another patient to tend to" the Doctor said, cutting off the familiar voice of Chad, the sound of heeled shoes travelled away from me and I waited until they were silent.
"So what does a guy need to do around here for a little sympathy?" I called out, and sure enough within milliseconds the curtain around my bed had been ripped back and Alice had thrown her arms around me while Chad stood back, grinning like a fool. "Ouch," I exclaimed, pushing Alice back slightly as pain flashed across my midriff "still tender".
"Oh, I'm sorry Gresh" she said, her face a mask of worry.
"No biggie. So when's my next match?" I asked, trying to keep a straight face and failing miserably, my own laughter causing me more discomfort.
"Well unless you want to jump in the middle of a Renea and Amne final I'd suggest you stay where you are, although knowing you you'd probably like to get between them" Chad said, smirking as Alice punched him in the arm for his lewd comment.
She turned back to me with an angry look on her face "Don't you dare go near that whore, if I see her outside of here I swear…"
"Relax Alice" I reassured her "Being stabbed in the stomach is enough to put even me off of a woman"
"The Doctor told us she was half an inch from severing your spinal cord and leaving you in a wheelchair for the rest of your life" Alice blurted out, tears starting to well up in her eyes.
I shuddered, I hadn't realised how close it had been and now wished I hadn't been told. Suddenly something Chad said dawned on me "A Renea and Amne final? Then Dilaminous…"
"Got the shit kicked out of him by the underdog!" Chad finished for me "I got a copy of the recording from a camera guy for you" he said and threw a disc to me, he had written a title on the insert that simply read Good Times.
"Fuck yeah" I shouted, punching the air in triumph, I put it aside for later, I had a sneaky feeling it was going to receive a screening party in front of as many people as possible but for now I was getting tired and the Doctor had heard my shouting.
"What part of my instructions did you two not understand, get out of here immediately! You may be his friends and think you know what's best for him but unless you've spent 20 years working as a medical professional I can assure you that you don't!" She chastised the both of them, drawing the curtain around my bed once more.
I laid back and drifted off to sleep…
"Gresh…" I was being nudged in the arm by Alice, she was whispering in my ear "Gresh, there's some people here to see you…"
I opened my eyes and at the foot of my bed stood 2 men and a woman, in full military uniform. The first man was about 5'9'' and bald with no distinguishing features, the sort of person who could easily be forgotten from your memory, and introduced himself as Major Smith, his name as common as his face.
The second man was the complete opposite, tall and muscular, with battle scars on his face and a presence that suggested if you dared to forget him he would come back and make his face the last you ever saw. He was called Major Forrester and I made sure remember it.
The third person was a woman of about 40 who despite appearing mild was obviously in charge as the other two had stepped back to stand either side of her and allow her to do the majority of the talking "Weapons Cadet Gresh" she started, using my formal rank to address me "I am Lieutenant General Brandon from the United Garden's Military Service, I believe we have something to discuss"
"Yes Ma'am" I responded, even I knew when it was a good idea to stick to protocol. I reached down the side of my bed to the briefcase containing my pistols, while she motioned to Chad to take Alice away and give us more privacy.
As I opened the briefcase Ms Brandon reached in and pulled out one of my pistols, handing it to the boring man whose name I'd already forgotten and I was astonished as he dismantled it quicker than even I could have managed, his obvious experience showing "Based on standard issue Seed pistols, it appears to be lighter and more balanced, manufactured from some kind of alloy, probably Boroctine, and machined using the latest Nano-Laser technology to reduce wear and improve performance" he picked up an ammo cartridge and studied it briefly "The bullets are .45 caliber, each magazine can hold up to 12 shots and according to Ms Franco's reports the bullet tip contains micro crystals imbued with Flare magic, designed to release it's energy on impact, with a similar technology being utilised in the experimental fragmentation grenades" he finished and reassembled the weapon as quickly as he had dismantled it.
"Anything to add Cadet?" Ms Brandon asked, a smile on her face.
"No Ma'am" I said, it was all I could think of to say.
She returned the weapon to the briefcase on my lap, "Well I think it's time you gave us that demonstration we were promised, don't you?" she turned and walked down the corridor of the medical unit, back towards the Arena. I heaved myself out of bed and followed, my stomach pains just a dull ache by now.
It was dark in the Arena grounds, flood lights the only source of illumination, and all the spectatators had left long ago. Ms Brandon motioned towards the helicopter, abandoned since my arrival, "Do your worst".
"But what about the damage?" I said as a took one of the pistols out.
"Mr Gresh, that is a Garden military helicopter, designed to withstand any attack placed upon it short of a missile strike. I'm sure it will be able to survive a few bullets don't you agree?"
"If you say so Ma'am" I uttered under my breath, taking aim. As I squeezed the trigger there was a loud CRACK followed quickly by an even louder BOOM and as the smoke cleared I studied the helicopter, one side of it had completely disintegrated, leaving only half of it left and that was not in great condition either the metal frame having buckled and twisted, flames coming off of the wreckage. I turned to face Ms Brandon, enjoying the shock on her face, I had warned her after all. The shock soon turned into a look of triumph and her face split into a grin "OK gentlemen, it's time"
I was just about to ask what she meant when suddenly a black bag was placed over my head from behind and I felt a stabbing pain in my neck…
I felt as though my stomach was on fire, like I'd swallowed hundreds of insects and they were now trying to escape, chewing me open from the inside in an attempt to survive…
I passed out, trapped in an eternal pain...
And then it stopped. As quick as lightning flashes across the sky all of my pain was gone and I could hear people around me, busy doing God only knew what, talking hurriedly in hushed voices. I strained my ears to listen…
"He's going to be ok but please let him rest, the Cure magic will take time to finish it's work and I don't want to risk any of his wounds reopening so leave it an hour or so before going in, ok?" said a mystery female voice.
"No worries Doc and thank you…"
"Don't thank me, if I had things my way this event would never have taken place, now if you'll excuse me I have another patient to tend to" the Doctor said, cutting off the familiar voice of Chad, the sound of heeled shoes travelled away from me and I waited until they were silent.
"So what does a guy need to do around here for a little sympathy?" I called out, and sure enough within milliseconds the curtain around my bed had been ripped back and Alice had thrown her arms around me while Chad stood back, grinning like a fool. "Ouch," I exclaimed, pushing Alice back slightly as pain flashed across my midriff "still tender".
"Oh, I'm sorry Gresh" she said, her face a mask of worry.
"No biggie. So when's my next match?" I asked, trying to keep a straight face and failing miserably, my own laughter causing me more discomfort.
"Well unless you want to jump in the middle of a Renea and Amne final I'd suggest you stay where you are, although knowing you you'd probably like to get between them" Chad said, smirking as Alice punched him in the arm for his lewd comment.
She turned back to me with an angry look on her face "Don't you dare go near that whore, if I see her outside of here I swear…"
"Relax Alice" I reassured her "Being stabbed in the stomach is enough to put even me off of a woman"
"The Doctor told us she was half an inch from severing your spinal cord and leaving you in a wheelchair for the rest of your life" Alice blurted out, tears starting to well up in her eyes.
I shuddered, I hadn't realised how close it had been and now wished I hadn't been told. Suddenly something Chad said dawned on me "A Renea and Amne final? Then Dilaminous…"
"Got the shit kicked out of him by the underdog!" Chad finished for me "I got a copy of the recording from a camera guy for you" he said and threw a disc to me, he had written a title on the insert that simply read Good Times.
"Fuck yeah" I shouted, punching the air in triumph, I put it aside for later, I had a sneaky feeling it was going to receive a screening party in front of as many people as possible but for now I was getting tired and the Doctor had heard my shouting.
"What part of my instructions did you two not understand, get out of here immediately! You may be his friends and think you know what's best for him but unless you've spent 20 years working as a medical professional I can assure you that you don't!" She chastised the both of them, drawing the curtain around my bed once more.
I laid back and drifted off to sleep…
"Gresh…" I was being nudged in the arm by Alice, she was whispering in my ear "Gresh, there's some people here to see you…"
I opened my eyes and at the foot of my bed stood 2 men and a woman, in full military uniform. The first man was about 5'9'' and bald with no distinguishing features, the sort of person who could easily be forgotten from your memory, and introduced himself as Major Smith, his name as common as his face.
The second man was the complete opposite, tall and muscular, with battle scars on his face and a presence that suggested if you dared to forget him he would come back and make his face the last you ever saw. He was called Major Forrester and I made sure remember it.
The third person was a woman of about 40 who despite appearing mild was obviously in charge as the other two had stepped back to stand either side of her and allow her to do the majority of the talking "Weapons Cadet Gresh" she started, using my formal rank to address me "I am Lieutenant General Brandon from the United Garden's Military Service, I believe we have something to discuss"
"Yes Ma'am" I responded, even I knew when it was a good idea to stick to protocol. I reached down the side of my bed to the briefcase containing my pistols, while she motioned to Chad to take Alice away and give us more privacy.
As I opened the briefcase Ms Brandon reached in and pulled out one of my pistols, handing it to the boring man whose name I'd already forgotten and I was astonished as he dismantled it quicker than even I could have managed, his obvious experience showing "Based on standard issue Seed pistols, it appears to be lighter and more balanced, manufactured from some kind of alloy, probably Boroctine, and machined using the latest Nano-Laser technology to reduce wear and improve performance" he picked up an ammo cartridge and studied it briefly "The bullets are .45 caliber, each magazine can hold up to 12 shots and according to Ms Franco's reports the bullet tip contains micro crystals imbued with Flare magic, designed to release it's energy on impact, with a similar technology being utilised in the experimental fragmentation grenades" he finished and reassembled the weapon as quickly as he had dismantled it.
"Anything to add Cadet?" Ms Brandon asked, a smile on her face.
"No Ma'am" I said, it was all I could think of to say.
She returned the weapon to the briefcase on my lap, "Well I think it's time you gave us that demonstration we were promised, don't you?" she turned and walked down the corridor of the medical unit, back towards the Arena. I heaved myself out of bed and followed, my stomach pains just a dull ache by now.
It was dark in the Arena grounds, flood lights the only source of illumination, and all the spectatators had left long ago. Ms Brandon motioned towards the helicopter, abandoned since my arrival, "Do your worst".
"But what about the damage?" I said as a took one of the pistols out.
"Mr Gresh, that is a Garden military helicopter, designed to withstand any attack placed upon it short of a missile strike. I'm sure it will be able to survive a few bullets don't you agree?"
"If you say so Ma'am" I uttered under my breath, taking aim. As I squeezed the trigger there was a loud CRACK followed quickly by an even louder BOOM and as the smoke cleared I studied the helicopter, one side of it had completely disintegrated, leaving only half of it left and that was not in great condition either the metal frame having buckled and twisted, flames coming off of the wreckage. I turned to face Ms Brandon, enjoying the shock on her face, I had warned her after all. The shock soon turned into a look of triumph and her face split into a grin "OK gentlemen, it's time"
I was just about to ask what she meant when suddenly a black bag was placed over my head from behind and I felt a stabbing pain in my neck…
I am really enjoying reading about Gresh I think he is a real fun Character.
