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The Clocks weren’t working.
The thought run through your head. And without them there would be no water and of course no way to beat the midday heat. Oricima was a cruel mistress your mother thought to tell your father and now you were about to encounter it.
So you hurried around taking all your things of value: gold, herbs, iron, hides and Mini-Clocks and took them to your riding-bird placing them upon her back sack and in less than 30 minutes you were headed out of the desert you called home.
You had lived here ever since your parents had taken you out of the city fearing persecution for being a psychic and now you had to return. Sometimes it had been hard nights with no sleep and visions of Daemons and Shadows hunting you. Psychics lived dangerous lives due to their mental energies your parents told you and you felt it. But it had been years since the visions tormented you but then again you hadn’t used your powers in that time. Better to get on with just a rifle and your instincts than rely on headspace.
It was less than 2 hours not far for the small satellite when you arrived at the Cool Zones extending off the city where the foreigners dwelt. You suddenly remember you had forgotten your Clock so there would be nothing to repair only to sell. A casual mistake and your bird could hold more. You would never return to the hut where you were raised and felt a sudden hollowness. You were going from where your parents had raised you never to return. You would set out from this world you thought as it was inhospitable for your kin and you wanted to continue as a hidehunter. Alendria this planet's moon was waiting you thought and had rich forests filled with valuable creatures.
“Chicken you did good” you said to your bird
You did not know what the word meant only that it was a word from long ago. You found yourself staring into the face of a native who seemed to be enjoying the coolness. Even their Kin didn’t like the heat of this Satellite. You thought you would be heading to the Moon this world orbited soon, maybe in a few days or a week since you probably couldn’t return to the desert. You hopped off Chicken and asked them if they had anything to sell but they declined. Back to the city it was even deeper in the Cool Zones where it would be cooler and the faint blue glow of the Light would be stronger. Your parents had regularly come to the city to barter items for gold and now you found yourself a prostitute to its whims desperate for the cash to get off this world where your blood could not survive. The moon Alendria was fertile and would not be a far trip. A land perfect for you now that your System-Clock was slowly frying in the heat.
After around 30 minutes walk you spotted a market where you could sell your excess goods . You now remembered you had forgot to take food so you would be lighter on what you could keep. Hours passed and gradually you selled of each of your items until you were only left with your worn but your’s rifle, a communicator, a hidden psygem and your friendly riding bird. You headed into the city with some rations into the entertainment district your parents avoided and when you spotted a lounge which you thought would provide good entertainment you headed in. It was nearly dusk, the perfect hour for it even. You booked your tickets even for an overnight stay.
The atmosphere in-room was lively, they were announcing they had entertainment in a minute and you noticed the entertainers hop on stage. Outside you could make out “Tonight: The Prince performing” so you assumed this was the act and you immediately noticed a shirtless entertainer of your people beginning to dance. When music entered the stage he began to sing his melody sweet and entertaining. You hopped off to order a drink, you would get what your father and mother got: The Buzz wafting in heavy smoke from another patron.
After that taste you thought you would like to get some too.
You ordered your Buzz and heard his song.
“Oh the desert world belongs to the brave, the vast ocean”
“The moons of Aria the Lamp are all barren except for the peoples”
“You like the cities, the Cool Zones and the natives like them too”
“Come and enjoy the Moons of Aria, the Lamp is to close for good”
“Confined to a small sunspin, you can’t beat the heat”
“Oh the deserts of dear Aria she is my Devi my Devi”
“My Devi she is bright with light and the clocks are the only thing that keeps us safe”
“My Devi, Oh my Devi”
“She shines with glare and the glow of the Clocks”
For hours this continued, you gradually getting intoxicated on more drinks and smoke, drifting into the haze that your father oh so favoured. Drink and smoke dulled your mind as you were enchanted by the dancer, a pretty blonde boy who was as young as you. You gazed fondly into his orange eyes and admired the locks of his yellow hair which was roughly shaped. He was in shape with decent musculature under his fur and he moved with however careless motions which could be considered unbecoming not that you ever thought that due to your intoxication. After a while you stopped drinking and started smoking more heavily even taking some Shimmer-Substances that a young girl offered you. She asked you to come to her room but you declined as you were too Hazed to do anything. The music and the Substances lulled you into a sleep, not that you could know the time in your state.
“Mistress” was the last word that you heard.
You dreamt of the music melding into the deserts and lush jungles described as you felt even more enchanted by your entertainer. He wasn’t backed by anyone this time but you felt like he was as he sang about now icy tundra.
You awoke in the middle of the night and found yourself next to a foreign girl not of your Kin. She hanged over you with her tall body with her snout just touching your forehead.
“Can we be a bit more discreet? Is this much to ask?”
So she huddled you off to a corner and zapped you with a Zap-Clock injecting sparks into your system.
“This is a Dehazer it cures all soughts of substance induced effects”
“Now you are a Psychic right?”
You didn’t speak, afraid to answer.
“I am too, now did your parents leave you to the desert and you have now returned due to a broken Clock which you cannot repair?”
You had just noticed how soft and quiet her voice was as she stared into you with her blue eyes set in her face like the creatures you saw in documentaries.
“Yes” you answered
But your parents had died you thought
“Good enough”
She lured you into your room where you noticed the still shirtless figure of the singer now relaxing on the bed. He was expecting you, you thought.
“Hello friend, nice to meet you”
You stared into his eyes bright like the stars just like yours.
“He is really a prince of course, not that it matters much more besides for the prophecy”
“A fallen price, a young refugee and a witch that is the team of legends”
“You believe in prophecy?” he spoke
“You believe in prophecy?” you rhetoricalised
“Well regardless it’s our best chance at stopping the empire with a psychic like you” she said
“Your parents were rebels against the empire right?” she further queried
“I don’t know and they died a few years ago leaving me on my own to hunt for hides and gather herbs”
“Good enough for me” he replied
“Good enough” she chimed
“We will be heading for Alendria tomorrow and given your situation you will be following us” she said
“After staying their and training your psychic powers for an amount of time we will be heading to the Head-Moon and Gateworld of this system, Rhenia to get out of the system”
“Then we will head of to a life of adventure in fulfillment of the prophecy of my people”
“And what if I don’t agree to this?”
“You will”
”You will” she responded
“Or otherwise you aren’t the person the prophecy described and i hope you are” he answered
“Now to sleep” the strange girl ushered
You were asleep within minutes.
You dreamt of the sweet country of Alendria which your parents only dreamed about its fertile forests surrounding you. Hunting for Hides was your action and you felt the trust of your rifle by your hand. It was so vivid to be real. You trekked in silent step along a river when you heard a Deerkin move. You gazed until your eyes followed and in one shot you took it down and were prepared to harvest its liver. You did not know why. As you cleaned out its liver and other valuables you felt the acid touch of its meat which you presumed poisonous or knew so possibly. As you stared into the glowing eyes along the liver they suddenly transformed into the eyes of the stranger girl you had met this night and were taken aback. You felt yourself in a delirium as she beckoned you into a new world.
“Follow me” she spoke and you obliged.
The thought run through your head. And without them there would be no water and of course no way to beat the midday heat. Oricima was a cruel mistress your mother thought to tell your father and now you were about to encounter it.
So you hurried around taking all your things of value: gold, herbs, iron, hides and Mini-Clocks and took them to your riding-bird placing them upon her back sack and in less than 30 minutes you were headed out of the desert you called home.
You had lived here ever since your parents had taken you out of the city fearing persecution for being a psychic and now you had to return. Sometimes it had been hard nights with no sleep and visions of Daemons and Shadows hunting you. Psychics lived dangerous lives due to their mental energies your parents told you and you felt it. But it had been years since the visions tormented you but then again you hadn’t used your powers in that time. Better to get on with just a rifle and your instincts than rely on headspace.
It was less than 2 hours not far for the small satellite when you arrived at the Cool Zones extending off the city where the foreigners dwelt. You suddenly remember you had forgotten your Clock so there would be nothing to repair only to sell. A casual mistake and your bird could hold more. You would never return to the hut where you were raised and felt a sudden hollowness. You were going from where your parents had raised you never to return. You would set out from this world you thought as it was inhospitable for your kin and you wanted to continue as a hidehunter. Alendria this planet's moon was waiting you thought and had rich forests filled with valuable creatures.
“Chicken you did good” you said to your bird
You did not know what the word meant only that it was a word from long ago. You found yourself staring into the face of a native who seemed to be enjoying the coolness. Even their Kin didn’t like the heat of this Satellite. You thought you would be heading to the Moon this world orbited soon, maybe in a few days or a week since you probably couldn’t return to the desert. You hopped off Chicken and asked them if they had anything to sell but they declined. Back to the city it was even deeper in the Cool Zones where it would be cooler and the faint blue glow of the Light would be stronger. Your parents had regularly come to the city to barter items for gold and now you found yourself a prostitute to its whims desperate for the cash to get off this world where your blood could not survive. The moon Alendria was fertile and would not be a far trip. A land perfect for you now that your System-Clock was slowly frying in the heat.
After around 30 minutes walk you spotted a market where you could sell your excess goods . You now remembered you had forgot to take food so you would be lighter on what you could keep. Hours passed and gradually you selled of each of your items until you were only left with your worn but your’s rifle, a communicator, a hidden psygem and your friendly riding bird. You headed into the city with some rations into the entertainment district your parents avoided and when you spotted a lounge which you thought would provide good entertainment you headed in. It was nearly dusk, the perfect hour for it even. You booked your tickets even for an overnight stay.
The atmosphere in-room was lively, they were announcing they had entertainment in a minute and you noticed the entertainers hop on stage. Outside you could make out “Tonight: The Prince performing” so you assumed this was the act and you immediately noticed a shirtless entertainer of your people beginning to dance. When music entered the stage he began to sing his melody sweet and entertaining. You hopped off to order a drink, you would get what your father and mother got: The Buzz wafting in heavy smoke from another patron.
After that taste you thought you would like to get some too.
You ordered your Buzz and heard his song.
“Oh the desert world belongs to the brave, the vast ocean”
“The moons of Aria the Lamp are all barren except for the peoples”
“You like the cities, the Cool Zones and the natives like them too”
“Come and enjoy the Moons of Aria, the Lamp is to close for good”
“Confined to a small sunspin, you can’t beat the heat”
“Oh the deserts of dear Aria she is my Devi my Devi”
“My Devi she is bright with light and the clocks are the only thing that keeps us safe”
“My Devi, Oh my Devi”
“She shines with glare and the glow of the Clocks”
For hours this continued, you gradually getting intoxicated on more drinks and smoke, drifting into the haze that your father oh so favoured. Drink and smoke dulled your mind as you were enchanted by the dancer, a pretty blonde boy who was as young as you. You gazed fondly into his orange eyes and admired the locks of his yellow hair which was roughly shaped. He was in shape with decent musculature under his fur and he moved with however careless motions which could be considered unbecoming not that you ever thought that due to your intoxication. After a while you stopped drinking and started smoking more heavily even taking some Shimmer-Substances that a young girl offered you. She asked you to come to her room but you declined as you were too Hazed to do anything. The music and the Substances lulled you into a sleep, not that you could know the time in your state.
“Mistress” was the last word that you heard.
You dreamt of the music melding into the deserts and lush jungles described as you felt even more enchanted by your entertainer. He wasn’t backed by anyone this time but you felt like he was as he sang about now icy tundra.
You awoke in the middle of the night and found yourself next to a foreign girl not of your Kin. She hanged over you with her tall body with her snout just touching your forehead.
“Can we be a bit more discreet? Is this much to ask?”
So she huddled you off to a corner and zapped you with a Zap-Clock injecting sparks into your system.
“This is a Dehazer it cures all soughts of substance induced effects”
“Now you are a Psychic right?”
You didn’t speak, afraid to answer.
“I am too, now did your parents leave you to the desert and you have now returned due to a broken Clock which you cannot repair?”
You had just noticed how soft and quiet her voice was as she stared into you with her blue eyes set in her face like the creatures you saw in documentaries.
“Yes” you answered
But your parents had died you thought
“Good enough”
She lured you into your room where you noticed the still shirtless figure of the singer now relaxing on the bed. He was expecting you, you thought.
“Hello friend, nice to meet you”
You stared into his eyes bright like the stars just like yours.
“He is really a prince of course, not that it matters much more besides for the prophecy”
“A fallen price, a young refugee and a witch that is the team of legends”
“You believe in prophecy?” he spoke
“You believe in prophecy?” you rhetoricalised
“Well regardless it’s our best chance at stopping the empire with a psychic like you” she said
“Your parents were rebels against the empire right?” she further queried
“I don’t know and they died a few years ago leaving me on my own to hunt for hides and gather herbs”
“Good enough for me” he replied
“Good enough” she chimed
“We will be heading for Alendria tomorrow and given your situation you will be following us” she said
“After staying their and training your psychic powers for an amount of time we will be heading to the Head-Moon and Gateworld of this system, Rhenia to get out of the system”
“Then we will head of to a life of adventure in fulfillment of the prophecy of my people”
“And what if I don’t agree to this?”
“You will”
”You will” she responded
“Or otherwise you aren’t the person the prophecy described and i hope you are” he answered
“Now to sleep” the strange girl ushered
You were asleep within minutes.
You dreamt of the sweet country of Alendria which your parents only dreamed about its fertile forests surrounding you. Hunting for Hides was your action and you felt the trust of your rifle by your hand. It was so vivid to be real. You trekked in silent step along a river when you heard a Deerkin move. You gazed until your eyes followed and in one shot you took it down and were prepared to harvest its liver. You did not know why. As you cleaned out its liver and other valuables you felt the acid touch of its meat which you presumed poisonous or knew so possibly. As you stared into the glowing eyes along the liver they suddenly transformed into the eyes of the stranger girl you had met this night and were taken aback. You felt yourself in a delirium as she beckoned you into a new world.
“Follow me” she spoke and you obliged.
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You awoke to the pre-dawn of the desert, the girl rubbing on your shoulders. She was brisk in her step and speech despite her lack of sleep unlike how you felt. She urged you into wakedness and gave you what you thought was a waking tablet given your condition. You rised to notice the prince now clothed in a shirt waiting for you next to a rifle of his own.
“My name is Aia by the way” he spoke
“And my name is Nami” she chorused
“Senia”
You headed out to grab your things and head to the spaceport feeling the Substance invigorate your veins with alertness you felt to be supernatural: it was clearly more than a waking tablet. The light of the city was mixing with the glow of its night-lamps and you could see Alendria in the distance rising above your satellite with its fertile glow.
“How does a Satellite so close to such a fertile world get so barren anyways?”
“Poor soil for growth, and lack of water” she answered
“You have a riding bird a biological creature engineered to be perfect for all environments by our forerunners, you will do good with it”
Nami was knowledgeable you thought as she and her companion hopped onto their own riding birds.
“Can I take chicken on our trip?”
“Of course, that’s also a wonderful name” Aia replied
“Now come on” he said
“You don’t wanna be late”
You headed across the empty streets of the city but noticed the Shine of some dens were still on and the entrances still open. This is why your parents never let you stay here for long you thought. Your entertainment had seemed vibrant but now it just seemed seedy here. Along you headed further and further across the city until you arrived at the spaceport. There Nami beckoned you to a large ship which was currently being attended by another fox girl, face stern and sharp and her eyes glasslike, before moving to life with her motions.
“You’re here already sister and i thought you would be days” she spoke with sharpness and strength to her voice which you felt unbecoming
“Time is essential here and we don’t want to perform Psyching on this planet” Nami responded
“But finding one who fulfills the prophecy oh so quickly” the pilot replied
“Things happen” he answered
“Our prince wanted to experience a desert world”
“Amen to that and i liked performing in the bar”
“The newcomer is hopefully eager to fly” the pilot teased
You had never been in a spaceship before. It slightly freaked you out.
“I’m sure he will be cool with it” the prince responded
“Don’t be judgemental through he will have to do a lot of flying” Nami chirped
“This things finest class with three System-Clocks instead of two” the fox assured
“Hopefully i can get another pilot so i don’t have to fly so much”
“It can even take of from any place and land anywhere”
“And it’s got combat effectiveness with Shields, Phasers and Cloaks”
“I feel protected” you stumbled in speech
“Now hop on newbie” the pilot assured
“My name is Retoki by the way”
She opened the ship's doors and you accepted heading into the warm atmosphere of the ship. You could feel the dim glow of the Light embrace you even accept you with its heat. Your group headed into another room trailing behind Retoki so you followed. The boxes clued you into this place being meant for storage. The next room was smaller than the first but more filled. Nami ushered your birds back into storage and she greeted you with gestures.
“This is the lounge where you will be staying” Retoki greeted before heading of into another room which was to near to be the pilots
“So how is it going?” Nami invited
You noticed just now how pleasant her voice was you thought it previously to be a result of your Haze. She ringed with the birds they kept in cages in the city and when speaking loudly she chimed like music. You stared into her eyes for a moment seeing the Spark within her and in that moment knew she was a terrible sorceress, a witch as she called herself of knowledge and power.
“Now it’s about time i informed you” she spoke
“This galaxy runs on Stardust, it’s rare in this system but common on the Gateworld which i have spoken about to you before”
“It cures illness, powers fabled technology and even enhances experience and psychic powers”
“The Empire runs a stranglehold on the most Stardust rich systems in the previous Confederacy and it is from their they have grown”
“First they promised power to the peoples of the world and then enslaved them”
“They now seek dominion over the galaxy or at least the former Confederate worlds”
“If the prophecy is correct your parents fled after fighting them on their homeworld”
“And you do look the part”
“You have the catlike features of the Necoma race just like him through your hair is a bit darker and your eyes blue instead of orange”
“You will do well to accompany me” the prince spoke
“I am not as skilled in Psychics as our friend here but i am skilled of word, sword and sorcery” he said in his bright tone
“He is so very eager, now i can’t promise you Stardust on this world that we are going to but i can promise you we will have some when we get out of this system” she spoke
“All good in here?” Retoki queried, she had just returned
“All good” Nami responded
“We will be taking off soon, you know this ship even has two engines for backup?”
“Now i will leave you three to your conversation”
“You’re a dear sister” Aia responded
She left and you filled Nami ringing to fill the void “I don’t say this would be easy”
“I have no choice” you replied
“Or i do but i’m not sure”
“I would have been off this Satellite later today heading to Alendria anyways had you not gotten messed up in my business”
“But i wouldn’t have used my powers i do not trust them”
“I would have just hunted for Hides in the woods of that world”
“It’s okay if you have doubts” she said
“Doubts are in fact normal” he chimed
“But if you are the exile of prophecy i do have quite the future in store for myself”
“Another prophecy says the companion of a hero will become ruler of the Confederacy”
“And i am determined to reclaim my lineage”
“Now i’m headed off you two can play a game here”
He unpacked a set of Ciari from a shelf and placed it on a table in front of you before heading off. You had played the game before with both your father and mother and had found it inviting. You were certainly not obsessed with it however and wondered if she was.
“To a good game” she said as she placed her pieces
You placed yours when you felt the ship begin takeoff. Within minutes and with a few more pieces placed you were heading off the world. You were finally departing.
“My name is Aia by the way” he spoke
“And my name is Nami” she chorused
“Senia”
You headed out to grab your things and head to the spaceport feeling the Substance invigorate your veins with alertness you felt to be supernatural: it was clearly more than a waking tablet. The light of the city was mixing with the glow of its night-lamps and you could see Alendria in the distance rising above your satellite with its fertile glow.
“How does a Satellite so close to such a fertile world get so barren anyways?”
“Poor soil for growth, and lack of water” she answered
“You have a riding bird a biological creature engineered to be perfect for all environments by our forerunners, you will do good with it”
Nami was knowledgeable you thought as she and her companion hopped onto their own riding birds.
“Can I take chicken on our trip?”
“Of course, that’s also a wonderful name” Aia replied
“Now come on” he said
“You don’t wanna be late”
You headed across the empty streets of the city but noticed the Shine of some dens were still on and the entrances still open. This is why your parents never let you stay here for long you thought. Your entertainment had seemed vibrant but now it just seemed seedy here. Along you headed further and further across the city until you arrived at the spaceport. There Nami beckoned you to a large ship which was currently being attended by another fox girl, face stern and sharp and her eyes glasslike, before moving to life with her motions.
“You’re here already sister and i thought you would be days” she spoke with sharpness and strength to her voice which you felt unbecoming
“Time is essential here and we don’t want to perform Psyching on this planet” Nami responded
“But finding one who fulfills the prophecy oh so quickly” the pilot replied
“Things happen” he answered
“Our prince wanted to experience a desert world”
“Amen to that and i liked performing in the bar”
“The newcomer is hopefully eager to fly” the pilot teased
You had never been in a spaceship before. It slightly freaked you out.
“I’m sure he will be cool with it” the prince responded
“Don’t be judgemental through he will have to do a lot of flying” Nami chirped
“This things finest class with three System-Clocks instead of two” the fox assured
“Hopefully i can get another pilot so i don’t have to fly so much”
“It can even take of from any place and land anywhere”
“And it’s got combat effectiveness with Shields, Phasers and Cloaks”
“I feel protected” you stumbled in speech
“Now hop on newbie” the pilot assured
“My name is Retoki by the way”
She opened the ship's doors and you accepted heading into the warm atmosphere of the ship. You could feel the dim glow of the Light embrace you even accept you with its heat. Your group headed into another room trailing behind Retoki so you followed. The boxes clued you into this place being meant for storage. The next room was smaller than the first but more filled. Nami ushered your birds back into storage and she greeted you with gestures.
“This is the lounge where you will be staying” Retoki greeted before heading of into another room which was to near to be the pilots
“So how is it going?” Nami invited
You noticed just now how pleasant her voice was you thought it previously to be a result of your Haze. She ringed with the birds they kept in cages in the city and when speaking loudly she chimed like music. You stared into her eyes for a moment seeing the Spark within her and in that moment knew she was a terrible sorceress, a witch as she called herself of knowledge and power.
“Now it’s about time i informed you” she spoke
“This galaxy runs on Stardust, it’s rare in this system but common on the Gateworld which i have spoken about to you before”
“It cures illness, powers fabled technology and even enhances experience and psychic powers”
“The Empire runs a stranglehold on the most Stardust rich systems in the previous Confederacy and it is from their they have grown”
“First they promised power to the peoples of the world and then enslaved them”
“They now seek dominion over the galaxy or at least the former Confederate worlds”
“If the prophecy is correct your parents fled after fighting them on their homeworld”
“And you do look the part”
“You have the catlike features of the Necoma race just like him through your hair is a bit darker and your eyes blue instead of orange”
“You will do well to accompany me” the prince spoke
“I am not as skilled in Psychics as our friend here but i am skilled of word, sword and sorcery” he said in his bright tone
“He is so very eager, now i can’t promise you Stardust on this world that we are going to but i can promise you we will have some when we get out of this system” she spoke
“All good in here?” Retoki queried, she had just returned
“All good” Nami responded
“We will be taking off soon, you know this ship even has two engines for backup?”
“Now i will leave you three to your conversation”
“You’re a dear sister” Aia responded
She left and you filled Nami ringing to fill the void “I don’t say this would be easy”
“I have no choice” you replied
“Or i do but i’m not sure”
“I would have been off this Satellite later today heading to Alendria anyways had you not gotten messed up in my business”
“But i wouldn’t have used my powers i do not trust them”
“I would have just hunted for Hides in the woods of that world”
“It’s okay if you have doubts” she said
“Doubts are in fact normal” he chimed
“But if you are the exile of prophecy i do have quite the future in store for myself”
“Another prophecy says the companion of a hero will become ruler of the Confederacy”
“And i am determined to reclaim my lineage”
“Now i’m headed off you two can play a game here”
He unpacked a set of Ciari from a shelf and placed it on a table in front of you before heading off. You had played the game before with both your father and mother and had found it inviting. You were certainly not obsessed with it however and wondered if she was.
“To a good game” she said as she placed her pieces
You placed yours when you felt the ship begin takeoff. Within minutes and with a few more pieces placed you were heading off the world. You were finally departing.