Surprised by the very same man from the previous day. “ What did you do to me? What do you want with me!?” He asks aggressively. The man reaches out offering a hand to Lance. Looking down at the man’s hand Lance retracts, “ what are you going to do now?” He anxiously asks. The man laughs. “ Listen kid, I don’t know if you know the current state of things, but we are going to have to eventually leave this area.” He says looking around at the inside of the cove. Lance looks up to see whatever the man had been looking at. “ Where are we?” Lance inquires. The man looks at his odd looking armband in comparison to Lance’s. “ Why is your pause different?” He asks. Ignoring the second question the man brings up the geographical data he has. Projecting it he points with his free hand to the hologram, “ that is where we are.” Off far from where they were currently there was also a projection of the continent Atlantis. “ How do we get back home?” Lance asks. The man shakes his head, “ we don’t.” He says with a huff. Becoming excited Lance shouts, “ what do you mean when you say we don’t?” The man becoming slightly annoyed turns the projection off as he remarks, “ what am I not speaking Atlantean here? We do not go home simple as that. We can’t because it’s not there anymore incase you were about to ask!” Lance has a sudden rush of pain in his head as he closes his eyes. “ Please tell me this is just a horrible dream. This can’t be happening.” He says repeatedly as he squeezes his head with both hands. Reopening his eyes he sees the man there in front of him. “ You know I wish this was a dream but it’s not. Last night really happened, and you are going hate to know why.” Lance looks at the man, “ what do you mean?” He asks. The man stands to his feet, “ I cannot tell you here, there is no time.” He says just before he begins to walk away. Lance scrambles to his feet brushing the sand off his clothes, “ hey wait for me!” He shouts as he runs to catch up. The two walk along the beach riddled with dead marine life as the waves crash ashore. “ What caused this?” Lance asks. The man replies, “ it was probably the explosion of the crystal and sinking of the continent.” Lance looks out onto the horizon, the dark bluish green water that once was is now light blue. “ What do you mean? How could the crystal have done this?” He asks pointing out at the horizon. The man replies, “ you have many questions I know, I have the answers you seek however there is much needed to be done before I can explain it all to you.” Lance then asks, “ do you at least have a name?” The man continues walking ignoring the question. “ Lance my name is Lance. What do people call you?” He inquires again as he quickly runs to get in front of the man. “ Please at least tell me your name.” The man stops before him, pausing a moment as he leers at Lance.
“ Orlando. Those who knew me called me Orlando. But they are long since gone.” Lance’s heart pounds as he realizes. “ Hey I know what you mean, everyone I know is gone too. Does that mean we are all that are left?” Orlando shakes his head side to side, “ no. You don’t know. You have just begun to understand. It is very probable we are all that is left, however I’d like to think there are others who made it. Now we’ve no time fore this. Much is required to be done before dark, there are no automations here anymore kid.” Lance nods in response, turning aside as he gestures for Orlando to lead the way. Walking ahead Orlando consults his pause. Lance notices this and looks at his own. Orlando calculates the distance they have traveled over the time it has taken in attempt to figure out how long it would be until they reach somewhere they can stop. Ahead in the distance there is a looker from Yenga, Metzu watching. He remains silent as the two approach. Hidden behind his mask and the camouflage of dirt, sand, rocks and plants covering his body. The only visible body part are his eyes behind the mask. As the two reach his location directly in front they stop. Lance looks over at the pile of debris which Meztu is hidden behind, Meztu closes his eyes quickly. Lance tilts his head thinking something is odd about the pile, but he can’t figure out just what it is. Orlando takes his bearings from his armband. Looking around he notices smoke rising in the distance. “ Over there!” He says pointing towards the smoke. Lance looks over to see, “ what is it?” He asks. Orlando replies, “ there is a group of the locals there. We will investigate but not let ourselves be known to them.” Lance nods. The two begin to head in the direction they saw the smoke rising. a few moments later when the coast is clear, Meztu stands up from his position stretching his legs. He removes most all the camouflage dropping it to the ground. Turning his mask around so it sits on his back he begins to make his way back to the village. Spotting tracks from the two men he avoids their path. Meanwhile Jex runs across the grasslands spotting her father limping slowly in the distance. She runs towards him as fast as she can. Noticing her heading towards him, Narfeesh shouts, “ what are you doing?” Jex cannot hear her father’s question, instead just trying to reach him as fast as possible to warn him of the two that attacked them the night before. Behind him is the three that had been pursuing him all day. As Jex reaches Narfeesh she blurts, “ they found us! We have to hurry.” Narfeesh shakes his head grabbing her hands to calm her down. “ Who found us?” He asks her. She Points back in the direction she came from, “ those two dhandas from yestermorrow narctos the ones that attacked us.” Narfeesh breathes heavily. “ Yes I know, I saw them. One was wounded so I attempted to help them...” before he can finish Jex rips her hands away as she shouts, “ what do you mean you helped them? They attacked us and you showed them kindness?” Reaching behind his head he runs his hand across the back of his skull. Feeling some-thing wet he brings his hand back in front to examine it. Noticing it covered in blood he begins breathing heavily. Jex questions her father excitedly, “ what happened!?” Narfeesh replies, “ while I was helping one of them the other hit me with something.” Just then Jex notices behind her father the three other men heading towards them, spreading out. “ farjah they are coming!” She yells. Narfeesh looks back to see them. Exhaling heavily he says, “ you run! I cannot go one much longer like this.” Jex shakes her head, “ no farjer! I won’t leave without you.” Narfeesh replies, “ then they will kill us both. I will distract them, you just keep running back to the wadja, and stay along there. If you keep going you will end up at another village.” Jex’s eyes begin to fill with tears. She grabs her father by the arm hugging him close. “ I don’t want you to die!” She cries. Narfeesh nods, “ I know this. I don’t want to have to, but if I must I would rather it be knowing I did it to protect you. Don’t let my death be for nothing!” He replies. Jex sniffles as she thinks of an alternate plan. “ What if we give them the sunji stone?” Narfeesh shakes his head, “ that will not work, they will still kill us both and just take it. You must never let them see it!” He answers. She nods, beginning to hyperventilate. Narfeesh commands, “ go now before it is too late!” Jex’s eyes filled with tears. “ I don’t know if I can!” She cries. He replies, “ of course you can. You are a strong madja, I raised you to be. Now it is time for you to go be strong on your own. Just remember no matter what, I will always watch over you just as your mahmu has.” Jex begins to calm her breathing, she nods slightly. Going against what she wants she looks at the approaching men. “ Now, go!” Narfeesh shouts. Jex begins to run back in the direction she came from. Spotting a large rock on the ground she stops to pick it up. She continues running knowing, it’s only a matter of time until she bumps into the two she had been running from. Getting far enough away from her father she stops, checking the coast for the two attackers she sees it’s clear.
Standing afar, watching her father in the distance as the three men reach him. Narfeesh sees Jex and asks aloud, “ what are you doing? Just run!” As Yote, Chargus and Lutzi arrive. “ Well den Allmeya, wot appened tew yew dere?” Narfeesh replies holding out his blood covered hand, “ I think it’s obvious. You sent your goonjis to come attack me and my dawtea. We got away but not before they caught up to us.” Yote acting surprised replies, “ Me? Oi did no such fing. Even if I did den were are deez so called goonjese?” he says holding his arms out. Looking towards the direction Jex ran off in he points at the two men very distant heading towards them. “ Right there, they are headed this way.” Yote looks over, noticing Giblet and Dwege hobbling their way through the tall grass. Yote gets Lutzi’s attention. “ Lutzi!” He shouts, as Lutzi looks over and replies, “ yes?” Yote commands him, “ go get dem tew an bring dem back, ensure dey understan dere are not in for any trouble.” Lutzi nods as he then answers, “ yes Yote.” Breaking off from the group he begins to head towards the two men. At that very moment Giblet and Dwege notice ahead in the distance there is a gathering, “ what do you think that’s about?” Dwege asks. Giblet replies, “ I’m not sure but think of how surprised they are going to be when they find out the pale skin dhandas are really real!” Dwege nods in agreement, “ look, here come Lutzi to greet us. Don’t say anything to him about it till we reach Yote.” He says. Giblet nods replying, “ good thinking, we don’t want him to take the appreciation.” The two begin to walk towards the group not noticing Jex off in the distance to the side. Back at the gathering Narfeesh calmly but angrily says, “ why Yote, what did we ever do to you to deserve such actions against us?” Yote begins stepping towards Narfeesh, who takes a defensive stance. “ Well den oi fink what yew did is more what yew didn’t do. Yew nevah wanted to be apart of our clan, yew just wanted to be off on yer own den.” Narfeesh shakes his head, “ and that was so wrong that you must attack us for it?” Yote arrives in front of Narfeesh, he reaches his hand out to grasp Narfeesh’s to inspect the blood. “ tsk tsk... Just fink of wot we could ave done if we were not always at each ov yahs froats.” he says slowly reaching with his free hand behind his back to grab his stone blade. Chargus notices, his eyes darting up and down at Narfeesh then back behind Yote. Narfeesh notices Chargus’s eyes, he then looks at Yote who smiles widely pretending everything is fine. Before Yote can unsheathe his blade Narfeesh grabs the small man’s arms and swings him into the air around in a circle as he gathers momentum. Yote begins yelling, “ Do somefing!” Chargus doesn’t know what to do. Before he can act Narfeesh lets go of Yote launching him at Chargus, knocking both to the ground. Making his way over towards them he grunts angrily. Jex watches from the distance, as do Giblet and Dwege. Lutzi is the only one unaware of what is happening behind him. Narfeesh steps above Yote leaning down as he begins to pummel him with his fists blow after blow. Yote yells in pain as he attempts to block the hits. Chargus stands to his feet, rushing to aide Yote he shoves Narfeesh off. Yote scrambles to grab his blade from behind him. Narfeesh rolls aside standing back to his feet. He now focuses on Chargus who gestures with his fingers to taunt his attacker. Narfeesh pretends to throw a punch causing Chargus to lean away in the opposite direction only to be met by Narfeesh’s knee. He then grasps Chargus by the arm twisting his hand inward and spinning around his back. He pulls up rending Chargus’s shoulder, as Chargus screams in agony. Lutzi hears this turning back to look. He sees the three fighting. Beginning to run back he sees Yote with the stone blade approach Narfeesh from behind. He screams, “ noooo!!!” As he makes his way back as fast as he can. Jex sees her father atop of Chargus and Yote coming in from behind. Yote turns the blade around to get a better grasp on it as he steps behind Narfeesh. With his free hand he grabs a handful of Narfeesh’s hair ripping back on it causing his head to tilt back. Reaching around with his other hand he drives the stone blade into Narfeesh’s throat, slitting across.
The blood spills out from the gash onto Chargus below. Narfeesh’s grasp of Chargus’ arm loosens up. Narfeesh gurgles falling back to the ground. Yote stands over him victorious as Narfeesh lay atop of Chargus. Running in from behind shouting Lutzi screams, “ what have you done!?” Yote turns back to look with a smile of accomplishment. “ Oi ated dat mook all along!” Narfeesh gasps for air on the ground. Lutzi’s eyes fill with tears as he cannot believe what just took place. Jex screams as she begins bawling uncontrollably. Giblet and Dwege notice her after hearing the scream, they begin to walk towards her. Anger and rage begins to fill Jex as she grasps the stone tightly. She notices them heading in her direction, wiping her eyes she decides to confront them. Slowly she starts walking but the rage is too much, it pushes her to begin running towards them. Giblet says, “ uh oh, I think this is gonna be bad.” Dwege then shakes his head, “ what do you mean, we have the others to protect us now.” As he points at Yote, Chargus and Lutzi. Jex running as fast as she can takes a jump step as she hurls the stone with great force. The stone whirls through the air heading towards Giblet who grabs Dwege holding him in front of him. Dwege says surprised, “ what is it?” But before Giblet can answer the stone smashes into the back of Dwege’s head knocking it into Giblet’s head. Dwege falls forward onto Giblet, both men fall to the ground. Jex continues running towards them, in the distance Lutzi sees her. “ Jexic!” He gasps. He quickly begins running towards her, Yote turns to look. As Jex reaches Giblet and Dwege she kicks Dwege in the face while he is on the ground. “ Why!?” She screams. Kicking Giblet in the ribs, she screams again, “ why did you have to do it!?” Both men groan in pain. Jex turns around to see Lutzi heading towards her. Realizing she will be caught she decides to kick Dwege one last time. This time she stomps on the back of his head causing it to slam into Giblet’s head below him. She then runs off in the direction of the beach. The two mean lay on the ground moaning from the pain. Lutzi runs towards them however without stopping continues after Jex. Yote assists Chargus to his feet smearing the blood from Narfeesh as the two men attempt to wipe themselves clean. Yote looks back at Narfeesh laying face down as his blood pools upon the dirt. Wiping his face with the back of his hand he says, “ we bettah get aftah er den now.” Chargus still in shock from what just happened doesn’t hear Yote speak. He looks around at everything, seeing Narfeesh causes the situation to feel surreal. Yote snaps his fingers, “ oi! Chargus...” he shouts in an attempt to get his attention. Quickly he smack Chargus in the face causing him to come back to reality. “ huh, what is it?” He asks holding his face. Yote replies, “ we need ta go aftah dem.” He points in the direction where Lutzi had chased Jex, and where Giblet and Dwege lay on the ground. Chargus sniffles, “ yes, okay.” He answers beginning to walk, he takes a step over Narfeesh’s body. The two walk across the grasslands. Yote inquires, “ are yew alright den? Somefing no sitten easy wif yew?” Chargus holds his stomach as his pace slows down. He nods ensuring he is okay. Suddenly he rushes aside falling forward as he vomits onto the grass. Yote grimaces in disgust. Waiting a moment for Chargus to recover he looks around. Upon finishing Chargus stands to his feet, he wipes his mouth before saying, “ I think I’ll be fine.” Yote smiles, “ good, lets get going den.” As he holds his hand out gesturing for Chargus to lead the way. The two make it to Giblet and Dwege who both lay on the ground groaning and hysterical. Chargus bends forward to grab Dwege from off of Giblet. Lifting him to his feet Dwege holds the back of his head in pain. Yote leans down to assist Giblet who is reluctant to accept the help. Chargus reaches over to help Yote lift Giblet.
All four men standing in the field, two holding their heads in pain. Noticing the blood on Yote’s hands Giblet asks, “ what happened?” Yote scoffs, “ nuffin, I just did wot needed doin.” He replies as he looks in the direction Lutzi chased Jex in. Meanwhile in that direction Jex continues back towards the beach, running along the cliff top instead of on the beach below. The man she and her father had found and hid in the cove was now the last thing on her mind as she ran. Caring now only to escape from those who wished her harm. Lutzi gaining on her from the rear shouts, “ I’m not going to hurt you, I just want to know what happened?” Jex not listening to what he’d said as she wanted nothing to do with him. She keeps continuing forward as tears fill her eyes rolling down the side of her face. The sound of the wind blowing past her ears causing her hair to flow lagging behind her. After so long of running she finally decides to look back, if only just for a moment to see if Lutzi was still chasing her. Oblivious to the stones that protrude out from the ground she trips over the rigid rocks, falling to a halt. Lutzi not far behind quickly catches up, stopping before her as she lay on the ground weeping. “ Can I... can I help you?” He asks ever so gently reaching his hand out towards her. Looking back at him over her shoulder as she lay there considering his offer, Jex turns over onto her back. Reaching to place her hand in his their fingers touch for only a moment as he leans in. Her father’s map can be seen poking out from his satchel, she is reminded of the anger she felt. In a jolt she swiftly kicks upward knocking Lutzi forward onto the ground beside her. Rushing to her feet she looks back at him as she begins running once more, only to slam into an unsuspecting stranger heading in their direction. Lutzi looks over, surprised by what he sees. Jex turns to look at what it was she ran into. She freezes in fear at the sight of the men standing before her. “ w..w..why...” She stammers. Lutzi gasps, “ they are real!” As he pushes up to his feet. Orlando and Lance had made their way up the beach, managing to run into the two Tirbalians.
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