028 Those Who Watch the Sky - 28
28 – Children Changing
With the Sky 3
Much as Elliot desired to reach the settlement the Dolmen’s
instruments had shown him in two days he had forgotten that that would be
impossible for as long as they carried the corpse of the White One. Dragging it
behind the Dolmen through the thickly forested woods would have also surely
been impossible forcing Elliot to pilot the twenty five meter tall humanoid
mech along the edge of the lake that would eventually give way to the river
that fed it. Exposed as the position made them though, Elliot would not risk
leaving behind Link’s prize even as she continued to sleep without showing any
signs of waking.
Link’s continued slumber ate at Melody who found herself
fretting more and more about the well being of her dear friend. Elliot insisted
that there was nothing to worry about and that Link was fine, but Melody found that
difficult to believe. Part of what made Link’s well being questionable was that
the darkness that had replaced her flesh had not ceased its continued climb up
her body. That Elliot showed no concern was even more troubling to Melody
especially when their continued trek from the dam became multiple days and Link
continued to slumber uninterrupted.
“El~liot ~♪ Are you sure we can’t wake
Link? ~♪ It’s been a three-day since we started following the water
up here ~♪”
The morning of the fourth day since leaving the dam Melody
had decided she had had enough of waiting for Link to wake and expressed her
displeasure by taking an annoyed tune with her typical song filled speech.
Elliot as he sat beside their campfire cooking meat from a prior day’s hunt
seemed as unconcerned as he had been since leaving the dam. Watching the river
Elliot did not even look at Melody as he replied, a soft smile upon his lips,
“I know it’s hard to understand Melody, all things
considered, but I assure you that Link is in no danger. And considering we know
that the Foreigner provides her with sustenance we have little reason to worry
about her starving.”
“But what about her being eaten by the Foreigner⁈”
“Honestly Melody, you really should have faith. Have you
forgotten already that Link managed to hold onto herself even when she lost consciousness
when she was first infected? Even more importantly though she has been saved so
your fears are unfounded,”
“You keep saying that she’s been saved but I don’t see any
proof of that! She’s still being consumed by the Foreigner! She’s been sleeping
for days and you keep talking weirder and weirder!”
With a sigh Elliot finally pulled his gaze from the river
and turned it onto Melody. It was not a friendly gaze either, but one which
demonstrated his lessening patience for putting up with Melody’s concerns. It
was an expression which frightened Melody and she could not stop herself from
flinching as Elliot spoke.
“I’m not talking weirdly Melody. You should know full well that
I would never allow anything to happen to Link or allow her to be consumed by the
Foreigner.”
“Then why aren’t you worried⁈ How
can you sit there so calmly seeing Link becoming less and less her and say that
everything is fine⁈”
“Because I know that my faith is being tested.”
“You faith⁈ Being tested⁈ This is what I mean Elliot by you sounding weird! You’ve
never talked like this before! How am I supposed to believe that I’m even still
talking to the Elliot I know and not the Foreigner that possessed you⁈ How am I supposed to believe that Link is even safe with
you any more⁈ That I’m safe⁈”
Melody was practically crying as she confronted Elliot with
her fears yet he seemed impartial, angry even. As he spoke it was chilling to
Melody and she could barely make out in his voice that he felt betrayed.
“I can’t believe that I’m hearing you say these things
Melody. In all of our years together I never thought you’d question me like
this. What happened to our friendship?”
“It’s because of our friendship that I’m so worried Elliot!
I don’t want to lose you or Link and I’m starting to fear that I’m going to
lose you and Link! If it comes to that then I’ll have to do something!”
“And what would you do Melody…?”
There was an obvious threat in Elliot’s voice and Melody
found herself truly frightened of her childhood friend. She was so scared she
had to take a few attempts to even find her voice again, no less challenge
Elliot.
“If I have to… If I have to I’ll take Link and run as far
away from you as I can! …please don’t make me though… I don’t want to lose you
either…”
“I truly can’t believe this. I knew my faith was being
tested but I never suspected that even my closest friends would be used to test
me.”
Rising as he spoke Elliot did not even bother looking at
Melody. Instead, he started shambling towards the Dolmen where he had left Link
asleep in the pilot’s seat.
“No… I shouldn’t be surprised… Melody has always been, a
test… a challenge to my desires…”
“Elliot… Elliot, what are you saying…? You really starting
to scare me now…”
“You’re only scared because you have no faith Melody. But
don’t worry. The Dolmen didn’t need new materials to repair the chest plate so
you’ll be able to discover your faith now.”
“Elliot… I don’t understand… why are you acting like this…?
Elliot… comeback…”
Nigh paralyzed with her fear Melody stood trembling in fear
of Elliot who paid her no further heed as he issued a verbal command to the Dolmen.
“Initiate covered entry protocol.”
The already kneeling Dolmen further seated itself in
response to Elliot’s order and shielded its chest with its right arm and both
legs. Only its right arm remained somewhat exposed and Elliot stepped into the
open hand and disappeared within the folded limbs of the mech’s body. Only as
he vanished from sight did Melody grasp what was happening. Letting a wordless song
fall from her lips in a panic to stir up the wind Melody spread her wings and
flew up to the Dolmen as it suddenly rose to its feet. Grabbing onto the mech
Melody attempted to access the cockpit, but as Elliot had stated the magicks
that allowed it to function at all had also undone the damage caused by the White
One and the cockpit had securely sealed shut barring her all access.
“Elliot! What are you doing⁈ You
just can’t lock yourself and Link in there! Elliot!”
Lock himself and Link away within the Dolmen is exactly
what Elliot did despite Melody’s protests. As much as he was actively ignoring
Melody however he did not ignore the still burning campfire and piloted the
Dolmen to rub it out with a foot. It was the last time that Elliot did anything
other than strive for their distant destination and much to Melody’s detriment
he did not cease even for rest.
It did not particularly surprise Melody that Elliot could
push on through the night if need be as he had gone over a tenday without sleep
when they first left Cross. What did surprise Melody however was that he did
not even stop for her to eat. If she intended not to leave him alone with Link
she would have to give up seeking nourishment for herself. Unfortunately for
her she did not draw sustenance out of thin air as Link seemed to but as Elliot
seemed to need to eat as well it seemed unlikely that he could stay cooped up
within the Dolmen indefinitely. Trekking through the night however as well as the
day unceasingly did drastically shorten the travel time ahead of the group, but
that Elliot did not stop at all also implied that as the days continued to pass
that Link still did not wake. Considering what she knew of Sa·B·ers Melody began
to wonder where she perched tightly to the shoulder of the Dolmen if Link would
be accepted by the Cardinal Church if she arrived still fast asleep. She also
wondered if Elliot would be in any condition to be accepted either.
For all of Melody’s concerns there was one thing that she
allowed herself to forget, distracted by hunger and her desperate bid to stay
perched upon the Dolmen, and that was that they were approaching a city that was
very likely far larger than Cross would have ever grown to. The problem with
such dense population centers however was that the more dense the human
populace was the greater a chance for the seedier elements of mankind to take
root. Having allowed herself to forget due to her circumstances she could be
forgiven for being caught unawares unlike Elliot who was the cause for Melody
growing careless.
While the corpse of the White One, even having rotted as it
had being dragged through the forest for days on end, was a prize to Link the
Dolmen she slept in was a veritable treasure trove. From scrap metal to the mechanisms
and motors that granted the mech locomotion nearly every part of it was a
treasure. Above all else though was the Artificial Gate Generator that hummed
in its belly as modern civilization did not have the understanding to create,
making such artifacts priceless. Priceless to all but those that would benefit
from the sale of one, resulting in the circumstances of a shoddy man hiding in
a tree with a bow and arrow. The arrow was peculiar in that there was a small
packet behind the arrow head that was spring loaded. The purpose of the mechanism
became clear when it was fired and struck the back of the Dolmen’s knee, the impact
compressing the spring and detonating the explosives within the packet.
The explosion was most impressive and scared the birds from
the surrounding woods. More impressive than the sight and sound of the explosion
however was the destructive power it possessed as it left no traces of the
Dolmen’s knee leaving the mech to fall forward. It did not crash face first
into the ground however as Elliot reacted in time to get the Dolmen’s arms out
in front of it to catch itself.
Shifting the weight of the mech to its right arm and
letting go of the White One’s corpse Elliot had it draw the revolver it had
stored in its left leg. Scanning the immediate vicinity with the gun barrel
leading it settled on a group of ruffians comprised of icarans and various
members of chirmeric races emerging from the surrounding woods. As one of them
spoke up the Dolmen’s revolver settled its sights on them.
“Ah hope ye’lls escuse da harsh greetin’ friend, but ye was
travelin’ at a pace a mite quick for me boys and Ah to scoop yer fine scrap
heap out from under unnoticed. As it stands now Ah’m goin’ to have to make some
threats and the sort so that ye’lls vacate ahr there bounty.”
- And what’s keeping me from
just blasting you away where you stand? -
Elliot’s voice crackled across the Dolmen’s external
speakers and the seeming lead ruffian cracked a missing tooth smile.
“Well, Ah’m glad ye asked.”
Unfolding his crossed arms the ruffian held up a hand and
two fingers.
“Ye see, Ah’ve two really good ones. The first would be is
that Ah’ve enough explosives still to scrap yer heap o’ metal there with ye
still inside. The second Ah’m admittedly guessin’ at but I’d like to think
there’s more to this varmin’ than it seems, seein’ as how you hadn’t shaken em
from your shoulder there and that they are wearin’ a mighty fine piece o’
cloth.”
The ruffian did not need to say more to get the reaction he
desired but still motioned for one of his men to come before the Dolmen’s line
of sight and fire dragging a very weak and exhausted Melody captured within a
rope net. She didn’t even still have the strength to bother struggling and
seemed to be oblivious of her surroundings. Her condition was far from well and
at the very least she was incapable of defending herself no less breaking out
of the net and engaging the ruffians. Being in such a state won the lead
ruffian his bet and his missing tooth smile grew all the more crooked as the chest
plate of the Dolmen began to open.
Copyright © 2019 Joshua D Tarwater
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