When Worlds Collide (Vertaige & darkangel76)

[darkangel76]

The sirens were blaring, the lights flashing their obnoxious shades of yellows and oranges as the tiny vessel all but tumbled through hyperspace toward a destination that was unknown. But a destination that hopefully was, above all else, safe. Or, at least safer than where the vessel had come from. Amidst the noise and flashes, Kai Mairin had all she could do to keep herself together, her mind reeling as she felt the trickle running down along the side of her face. She'd hit her head during the madness, during the scramble to get on board the ship in a hasty panic to leave her home world of Varun.

Oh Varun... with its beautiful horizon where water forever meets sky, nearly an endless blue planet in all its abundance of water. Only a few scattered islands dotted the world, most of it being great oceans, its people—her people—primarily making their homes and safe havens within its inky depths. It was beautiful in all its ethereal savagery, her fellow Varunians intelligent, having learned how to adapt and even communicate with most of the sea life dwelling within its waters. It was home—sweet wonderful, watery home.

The sirens continued their noise causing Kai to whimper, her pale eyes darting about the tiny ship as fear tried to consume her. The ship was jostling about, the controls not working properly as she smashed her tiny, pale fists against the panels of buttons in vain. But it was no use. The ship had sustained damage when the Corydonians fired upon her before entering hyperspace. Hell, she was lucky she'd gotten the drive to work at all and to enter any kind of coordinates to take her anywhere. She just wondered where 'anywhere' was. The navigator system was malfunctioning along with everything else, not reading right, not indicating where she was heading. For all she knew she was heading further into more hostile territories. Maybe closer to planet Corydon!!

No. No. Kai knew she wasn't heading that way. That much she knew. In her panic, she made sure to stay far away from that quadrant of space. However, she wasn't sure where exactly she'd chosen. It hadn't taken the Corydonians long to realize one of their captives had managed to escape their prison on board a vessel not really meant for the sort of travel Kai was taking it on as she tumbled about. No. This was a one way ticket and she'd have to find help... somehow... if she'd ever make it back to Varun to save her people from the Corydons and their mindless yet ruthlessly programmed drones, the Gwalchmai. The bat-winged lizards nearly resembled their breeders. Perhaps that was the Corydonians point, a tribute to their own genius as they took over worlds and stole their resources... their water.

A tear streamed down Kai's pale face, her slim body trembling as she felt the pull of hyperspace coming to an end. She was approaching her destination, the coordinates she'd somehow managed to punch into the system before leaving Varun, before getting fired upon by the enemy. By Earvin's light, she hoped the Gwalchmai hadn't followed, hadn't...

Just then, the ship began to tumble, spinning as it began to enter atmosphere. Kai could feel the ship shaking hard, her tiny body jolting to the point she could feel her teeth chattering with each and every movement of the ship. She tried to grab a hold of something, anything. But she was thrown to the floor, her platinum curls tousling into her face, hiding her eyes and shielding everything from view. She desperately tried to push her hair out of her face, her body rolling about on the floor as the ship did somersaults, barely holding together as it fell through the layers of atmosphere, turning itself into a virtual fireball.

Finally, Kai made it to her knees and slowly crawled back to her seat. She climbed into it, the blood trickling down the sides of her face—scarlet rivulets against porcelain—and grabbed the control stick in hopes to stead the vessel somehow. The moments felt like an eternity as she tried to steady the beast, toppling, spinning. And before she knew it...

Crash!

When the ship settled and all had gone quiet, Kai could feel her heart beating hard beneath her breast. The shimmery blue gown she wore was tattered, dirty, revealing a bit more flesh than she was used to when on dry land. The markings on her skin were apparent. Markings that told she was of age for a Varunian. Swallowing hard, she made her way to the control panel to see if anything still worked, but... nothing. She frowned as she began to wonder if the planet on which she'd crashed could sustain life, her life. Tears pricked at her pale blue eyes, her body trembling in fear as she suddenly felt so alone. But just then she heard the faint sound of beeps. A small device was still working, one that indicated the environment outside.

Kai giggled softly to herself, a tiny hand moving to cover her mouth as she smiled. The device indicated what she needed to know. Wherever she was, she'd survive. The temperatures, the gravity... it would suit her. It even said there was water. Somewhere. Licking her lips, she headed toward the door and pried it open, her heart light as she hoped to find help and precious water. But as she stepped out, she saw... nothing.

Nothing.

Just open grasslands and... no water. At least none that was nearby.

 

[Vertaige]

Ezekial sat at his desk. More accurately he sat with his boots propped up and leaned back in his chair. The dark brown hat he wore covering his eyes from the midday sun, pulled down over his eyes as if to say to those who'd bother him to stop.

He was enjoying a nap, one of the rare moments in his life that he could really relax. It was almost a sacred act. He'd take a nap everyday around three. The townsfolk of Sawbuck Mill knew this like they knew the sun would rise and set each day.

The town of Sawbuck Mill was nestled in the middle of a forrest near a rather impressive stream. Folks had taken to calling it Crooked Brook and Zeke found it charming that the wagon train that had once hated him now took him as the town's only Lawman. The town had been headed to California but many stayed due to the richness of the land.

Zeke was half dreaming about something when he heard a scream...
"Damnit," Zeke growled as he got up swinging his legs off the desk and palming his revolver into his holster. He stepped out into the sunlight and looked around until he saw what was causing the trouble.

In the sky a fireball streaked overhead, hurtling above the town leaving a trail of smoke and heat. He saw the thing scream into the woods, followed seconds later by a hellish boom that sounded like it was from somewhere else. Like it was as if a door had opened to a different world and just let a sound through. He whispered as he stood shocked,
"Well damn me to hell."
Zeke took a few seconds and then swallowed his fear and began speaking.
"Alright folks. lets keep moving, we'll investigate and see what the hell just landed but ya'll need to keep going about your business. World doesn't stop cause we see something liked that."
He knew damn well this wasn't the case but if panic spread...well he had seen what people would and could do.

As Sheriff he had to be in charge and calm, otherwise...well, he'd might as well take his shooter and put one in his head now.
After a few more minutes of talking sense he went to his horse and saddled up. Pulling a shotgun from the saddle he checked the shells and his pistol...No shame in being ready and spurred the beast into the woods towards where he'd seen the fireball head.

 

[darkangel76]

Kai was beside herself as she peered out into the expanse of what appeared to be a sea of nothing. The grasslands seemed to go on forever and from what she could tell, there was no water in sight despite what the device inside her vessel had indicated. Her eyes pricked with tears as her heart sank and fear began to take over. She felt alone, marooned on some unknown planet in a system so very far from her own. For all she knew the Gwalchmai had tagged her ship and were hot on her trail. It was possible that it would just be a matter of time before she saw those lizard-like beasts with their bat-like wings break through the atmosphere of this somewhat serene planet she found herself suddenly on.

Figuring she needed to search the area, Kai began to walk around her ship. On the other side was a host of trees—a forest, she'd heard of such things on other lush, dry land planets—and wondered if she should scout the area. It seemed a more likely area for life and possibly water than the vast 'nothing' she saw when she first ventured out of her ship. Licking her lips in a vain attempt to wet them, she decided to venture into the trees.

As Kai began to head toward the trees, she reached a delicate hand down toward her thigh. Strapped there was a knife along with a small laser pistol—the only weapons she'd managed to retrieve before escaping her home world of Varun. They weren't much and she wasn't the most skilled at using the weapons, but they'd suffice and hopefully do their part if trouble came her way, though she hoped it did not. But she also figured they might come in useful for when the time came to search for food. Eventually she'd have to eat something. After all, it had been a while since she'd eaten and while being imprisoned by the Corydonians, they'd seen to it that she and her people were given the barest of minimums, scraps at best while they scavenged and scoured for more as the beasts overtook everything, their Gwalchmai guarding them all like hawks with those horrid reptilian eyes as they looked them over with animalistic urges that typically made her skin crawl.

Oh how she hoped none of them followed.

Slowly, Kai began to make her way into the trees, their canopy of leaves blotting out the golden rays of sun that shone down. She brought a hand to her head as she felt the heat getting to her a bit. Wiping her brow, she was reminded of the blood on her head. Biting down on her lip, she knew she'd have to tend to that sooner than later. As she made her way, quietly padding through the wooded area, she suddenly perked up her head, one hand reaching toward her weapons, the other moving the violently fidget with the platinum curls cascading over her slim shoulders.

Kai listened intently to the sounds that had suddenly caught her attention. She wondered if it was an animal or perhaps one of the planet's inhabitants—assuming it had any—that might be wandering about. Though she knew it could also be one of the Gwalchmai since a Corydonian itself would never dare leave Varun... the cowards! Panicking, her breath began to quicken as her heart began to pound beneath her breast. She glanced in both directions, her pale eyes searching for somewhere to hide just in case. But truly there was nowhere suitable. The trees wouldn't work. They were far too thin and her pale features too stark a contrast for her to blend in to the surroundings. She truly was out of place on this dry planet and more than anything longed for home, for the water.

Fearful of calling out and more than certain that if whatever or whoever was approaching was indeed friendly, they wouldn't be able to understand her. At least, not without a translator device. Had she seen one on board her ship? Oh, she hoped so. She was lightyears from home, so very far... Trembling, she suddenly found herself frozen on where she stood, her one hand finally finding the handle of her knife, her breath catching in her throat as her fingers of her other hand twisted fiercely in her platinum locks. Her inner lid—one used to help protect her eyes when swimming underwater—suddenly blinked down, her regular lid following soon after. Terror racked through her, her body tense as she shook and shivered, waiting for whatever it was that was approaching to finally make an appearance.

 

[Vertaige]

Zeke honestly didn't know what to expect...Hell he was certain he'd be facing something from hell itself. What he found well it made his blood run cold...
Standing there wearing something that barely preserved her modesty was a girl looking as if the devil himself was after her.He felt an old chill creep into his bones... She was different upon closer inspection. Her body was pale as milk and her frame was slim and she looked like a waif.Also those tattoos and various cuts and bruises looked suspicious. However his sense of chivalry far outweighed his common sense...much to his detriment alot of the time.

"Hey you okay?" He asked as he dismounted and removed his jacket. It was a browncoat from another life and time. It was long and heavy but it was something Zeke never forgot. His star shone gold from the right breast.
He saw the creature tense up and he eased up trying to look as friendly as possible...whatever it was her fear or his posture she let him move in.

He moved close and ignored his instincts knowing full well he should investigate those markings on her body and at least her head wound but she was hurt and scared. Damn Zeke to the ninth circle if he wouldn't do everything he could to help the poor thing. He checked his hip just in case he'd need it but he still payed the girl attention.

He covered her with his coat and saw her licking her lips more than once, so with a few steps back to his saddle bag he retrieved his canteen and handed it to her.
"Drink up...the stream's not gonna dry up anytime soon dear."

He wanted to ask alot of questions and eyed her knife and strange pistol but once again ignored them in favor of getting her away from whatever it was that was making her shake like a leaf. He led her to Bonnie and with a sweeping lift, sat her on the mare. He then took the reins and began heading back into town strange girl behind on his horse.

He could tell the girl was nervous so he began whistling an old lullaby he had used a very long time ago. He let each note fly into the air, carried by the gentle breeze. The wind rustling the trees a backup and the clop of hooves on dirt a beat.

 

[darkangel76]

Her nerves were getting the better of her and Kai found herself gripping the handle of her knife tighter and tighter, her knuckles going white as she held onto it with all her strength. The little she had left. Licking her lips, she saw a figure riding a giant beast come into view. He was most certainly male and his attire strange, though from the look of it, he seemed to know his way about the area, his features and demeanor comfortable with his surroundings. No doubt the male was native to the planet and more than likely local the area she'd suddenly found herself in. But his words? She couldn't understand him, not a single word.

Kai's pale eyes shifted frantically from the male's face to his hands, to the beast he rode to the surrounding trees that seemed to engulf them all. She wondered if the Gwalchmai were nearby, if any of those Corydonian drones had managed to tag her ship and follow her through hyperspace and learn of where she was. Oh, she hoped not. Her life depended on it as did all of Varun. She needed to find her people, her planet help and she didn't want to hurt anyone along the way if she could help it.

But the Corydonians... they were a hostile people, ruthless and blood thirsty in their greed for power and wealth, their carelessness for wasting precious resources only to move on to the next world to consume everything, take everything and then move on to the next. She bit down on her lip. She wondered if she'd endangered the planet she found herself upon. It was possible, more than likely if the Gwalchmai had followed, but she couldn't dwell on that now. Right now she needed help... she need food... she needed... water.

Her legs began to shake as the male approached, her body succumbing to the fact that she was weak due to all she'd been through. Kai looked over the male, her eyes studying him, analyzing. She wondered if she should speak, but she knew he wouldn't understand unless she got the communicator device from her ship—perhaps later she could retrieve it? Perhaps... Just as she was about to topple due to exhaustion and need for water, the male was by her side. He covered her with a coat and held out a strange container, pressing the thing to her lips.

Kai breathed in deeply. Most dry landers couldn't smell the delicious aroma that was water, but Varunians could. Her heart skipped a beat and she instantly began to drink deeply of the contents therein. Her lips circled the mouthpiece and she swallowed down all that she could, the cool waters splashing the insides of her mouth, making her feel better than she had moments ago. She let her hand loosen on her knife, re-sheathing it on her thigh next to her laser pistol. Giving the man a nod, she smiled, her pale eyes brightening just a bit.

Just as Kai handed the container back to the man, he suddenly picked her up and set her atop his beast. For a moment, she wanted to shout out in protest, to run, to hide, to fight. But his face seemed kind enough and he was native to the area she was certain. And to resist help at this point would be madness, she would just have to remain on guard at all times and pray to Earvin that no one would dare harm her. After all, she knew nothing about this planet or its people and thus had no idea as to how accepting they'd be of her presence—they definitely looked and dressed differently. In fact, she wondered if they'd even seen an off-worlder before. It was hard for her to say yet. But she was certain none of them had ever dealt with her kind or the Gwalchmai.

Trying to relax, Kai let her body lean against the man's a little. He was obviously trying to make her feel better, his actions showing he meant no harm. He'd offered her a coat, water and now was trying to soothe her as he whistled a strange tune as he escorted her to who knew where. Though the fact that he was going to great lengths to keep her at ease said something at least. She just hoped the rest of his kind were just as hospitable and friendly to off-worlders. Though even the friendliest might turn once the Gwalchmai hordes came, assuming they did and she couldn't afford to think otherwise. It would be foolish to think otherwise so soon after escaping Varun.

Finally, Kai felt her eyes grow heavy and she leaned her weight against the man. Letting out a soft sigh, she let her senses shut down, her body rest as she gave in a little the exhaustion washing over her in that moment. Her hands moved away from the ready position to reach for her weapons and gripped onto the man's shoulders, her slender fingers curling about the fabric of his shirt.

"Thank you," Kai whispered softly, though she knew her words would be lost on the man. She'd have to get a hold of her communicator device later if possible and see about learning the language.

After a while, Kai roused from a partial slumber and perked up, her pale eyes taking in the sight of what appeared to be a settlement of some kind—a primitive one. She bit down on her lip, a hand moving to find her platinum hair so a to nervously play with it. Just what sort of place had she come to? If the Gwalchmai found this place, they'd stand no chance... they'd be decimated. Varun was easily taken over and they had far more technological advancements in comparison.

With tears in her eyes and the wound on her head stinging, Kai's grip on the man's shoulders tightened. "I've put you in danger," she whispered, though mostly to herself since she knew he wouldn't understand. "If the Gwalchmai come... we're all dead and this place will be theirs."

 

[Vertaige]

Zeke led the girl into town quietly, hearing her speak and he raised a brow...her voice was lovely but whatever it was saying it sounded like some Chinamen babble but he ignored it and continued on. He took his canteen and raised it to his lips and stopped...the water...it was sweet. Not unpleasantly so but it was definitely noticeable and he looked back at the girl leaning against his horse...she looked exhausted but something caught his eye, her tattoos swirled with a savage artistry off of her pale smooth skin. The color is what bothered him...it was a glacial blue but it looked like an odd shade almost fading from his sight but there under the light.

He had noticed her body had been heavier than her slight frame had suggested and she had been cool, almost refreshingly so in the summer's heat. He shook his head of strange notions and walked into town with the folk glancing then crowding around as he did his best to explain things,

"Couldnt find that thing so it mighta jus' been some mass hysteria but this here little lady is looking worse for the wear so Doc is gonna look over her before we get to questions."
He spoke as he pushed the people aside some parting and some getting closer. He could feel the poor creature get nervous so he pulled out his pistol and shot a round into the air,
"ALRIGHT! Everyone best be interested in going about thier daily lives lest we use that jail for more than grain storage."

He smirked as the mass of people began to disperse as he made his way to the doctor's home.