the fire of twilight - a story by ryuu (part three now posted)

[ryuu]

part one - Squeak

They say that when you are about to die, your entire life flashes before your eyes. I never expected to be in a situation to test this theory, that is until I found myself staring down two dozen Vonari fighters. There was a loud bang behind me, followed by a curse.
“forward shields down to fifty percent�
“compensate!� I yelled back, “boost power to shields, and get to work on that fulcrum drive, we need to get outta here!�
“look, I'll get it working.� squeak yelled back! “I have to completely replace half the systems and rewire the other half, we may get two sectors at best, but that's two sectors further away from Vonarion than we are now!�
I had to give it to squeak, he was a talented mechanic, despite his young age. How he ended up as a prisoner in that Vonari compound I do not know. As I wait for squeak to finish his repairs my mind flashes back to when I arrived in the compound...


Battered and bloodied I was dragged from the Wasp, a clawed Vonari fist clenching my hair. Suddenly I found my back being pulled across the gravel where I had crashed surprising me after the smooth gangplank of my ship. I could do very little about my situation except watch in dismay as my ship was lifted up and taken away by a Vonari ship of a design I didn't recognise.
After what seemed like hours, even though it was probably only a few minutes I was thrown head-first into what I would have described as a dark cell if it had been brighter in there. I thought I saw someone curled up in the corner of the cell before the door slammed shut, blotting out the last sliver of white light.
I fumbled around in my clothes, hoping against hope that the Vonari had not removed my torch while I was unconscious back in my ship. I was in luck! I flicked the switch and suddenly the cell was illuminated with the dim, fading yellow light of a failing battery. I cursed. It didn't help.
I looked around my cell until my eyes settled on the figure in the corner, curled up, asleep I figured as I had heard no movements. I decided that I would let the figure sleep and get some shut eye myself, I suspected that tomorrow would be a hard day.

I awoke to find myself with a splitting headache and a sore back. I heard a sound and jumped to my feet, banging my head on the wall as I stumbled backwards. this time when I swore, it made me feel better.
I flicked my torch on and looked around trying to see what the source of the noise was, I saw my new cell mate staring at me for a long time before he finally spoke in a faltering, slow dialect of Sieran, a nearby trade language.
“you the one that was causing all the problems for the Vonari in this sector?�
“yes.�
“how did you get caught?�
“hit by an Excalibur pack.�
“that sucks.�
at this point he went back to fiddling with his clothes, an all in one Jupiter brown jumpsuit and I figured that was it for the conversation for now. After a few minutes of sitting in silence he finally started to speak again.
“I heard the Vonari talking, they say you where flying a talon, aren't those really badly armoured?�
“yeah, but manoeuvrable, I can out-fly most ships and missiles, it's harder, but saves one hell of a lot of cash in repair bills!�
“why though? With that piloting skill you could make billions flying privately, why fly for the military?�
“have you ever seen what the Vonari do to the civilians they capture who cannot work?�
“no�
“I have, and it's not a pretty sight.�

I was 12 when my parents died. I remember waking up to hear a howling sound. I ran to my parents room, suddenly I heard the door to our house burst open, and my father told me to hide under their bed. I was so terrified I didn't dare say or do anything except crawl under that bed and hide.
No sooner than I was under the bed the door burst open, and I saw a strange paw-like foot step into the room, I heard my father asking what they wanted, they did not respond. I peeked out, curious to see what was happening, just in time to see one level a blaster at my mother.
There was a flash of light, and suddenly my father was flying through the air, he landed in clear view of my hiding position and I saw his shirt was blackened and burned where he had leapt in front of the particle blaster.
My mother screamed and cursed the Vonari, before one stepped forward and calmly stabbed her with one of their claw-blades. she collapsed and landed face to face with me.
I heard a barking laughter and the door slammed shut as the Vonari left.
My mother reached out and grasped my cheek and whispered so quietly with her last rasping breath that I could barely hear, “live a good life, protect those that cannot protect themselves and always stay true to your heart.�

my words faltered and a tear ran down my cheek as I remembered my mother's last words, I took a few deep breaths and continued.

I crawled out from under my parents bed and fled the room, I didn't want to see the faces of my parents, so calm, yet cold, in death, so kind to me, so loving.
With the memory of my father protecting my mother with his dying act and my mother's last words on the back of my mind, I left our home to trip over the corpse of a Vonari, crushing a human soldier in his death grip, I was about to move on when I saw the weapons of the Vonari hanging from his belt, two blasters and two claw-blades. I took the weapons and fled down the corridors until I came to the local hotel. I knew that there was a merc staying there, and that if he was dead I could steal his ship and escape the station. There was nothing here for me now. As I entered the hotel a pair of Vonari emerged from the door opposite, laughing and joking as they left a scene of bloody murder. I recognised the markings on their faces as the pair that had killed my parents.
With a cry of primal rage I pulled the Vonari blasters I had taken out and fired wildly in their rough direction until one collapsed upon the floor. The other managed to duck behind the door he had just emerged from before drawing his claw-blades. He began to emerge from the door and I squeezed the trigger on my right blaster twice. Nothing happened. I cursed. It didn't help.
I threw the blaster aside and tried firing the other blaster, this one didn't fire either. I pulled out both of the claw-blades I was carrying and charged forward towards the slowly advancing Vonari, he was so taken aback by the reckless charge that he paused. I used the moments hesitation to leap forwards, straightening out in the air until my arms where held straight ahead of me. the Vonari didn't know how to react and tried to step back, this had no effect and I ploughed into him, blades first, stabbing him in the chest. As he collapsed in death, he did what all Vonari soldiers are trained to do and attempted clamp his arms around me, however, the Vonari had never expected that a twelve year old human would be able to kill a Vonari soldier he had not been trained to crush someone as small as me and I easily slipped free. Panting I rose to my feet, and wiped the sweat from my brow, only to find that it was blood and not sweat on my brow. I tore a strip of fabric from the Vonari soldiers under-tunic and wrapped it around my brow in order to stem the flow. I then made my way to the merc's room and found his corpse on the floor, burnt-out blaster in hand and a blackened hole in his armour. I searched through his armour and found two key cards in his wallet, one bearing a ship id, which identified it as a talon with a minor upgrade to the engines and wing system, well legal upgrades anyway, and the other bearing a bay number, C-6, that was just three segments away. Needless to say, I made it to his ship, and managed to flee the system.

I finished my story and we again fell into silence. After a wile I realised I hadn't asked his name yet.
“what's your name kid?� I asked
“dunno, never got told. What's yours?� he replied sighing
“I don't have one either, people just call me Hakumei.� I told him honestly
he laughed “I guess we're perfect cell mates then�
“well I need to call you something, I can't just call you kid all the time,� I thought for a moment, suddenly I remembered is peculiar laugh, “I know what, I'll call you Squeak.�


part two: Inu

I was jarred back to reality by a shock that rocked the ship, I checked my radar, there where two Vonari fighters approaching from radically different vectors, I was going to have to take them down quickly if we where going to survive. I redirected power from shields to weapons, and was just swinging around when I realised something was wrong! I looked down, my power settings where still diverting all power to shields.
“Inu, what's happening to the power system, I need to divert power to weapons�
I heard a loud howl with varying frequencies from the Vonari weapons officer, the translation came through the com system a moment later, “I'm working on it, I should be able to give you about seventy five percent power to the weapons system, but that's about it. Just start firing the weapons and I’ll transfer the power while they are firing�
I was still not completely sure about Inu, I mean, sure, she helped us escape, and she certainly knew her weapon systems, but she was still a Vonari, and I wasn't sure if I could ever trust a Vonari, not the same way I trusted the rest of my crew.
Despite my misgivings, I activated my weapons and sure enough, the monitor showed shield power going down and weapons power rising, I homed the fire in on the closer of the two Vonari ships and within moments the ship was vaporised. Suddenly the proximity alarm went off indicating a nearby missile, I threw the ship into a loop, around the missile, causing it to spin on the spot, I then added some thrust towards the Vonari ship, accelerating until I was orbiting the ship, through the entire corkscrew the missile held its targeting lock and suddenly it wasn't spinning freely in space. There was a flare of blue and the Vonari ship lost all of it's shields, I spun around and with three shots the Vonari ship was destroyed. Spinning to face away from Vonarion I pushed the thrusters to maximum and lent back to wait for the next fighters to attempt to engage us. As I sat there, I remembered how I met Inu.


My conversation with squeak was cut short when the door burst open, flooding the room with electric light and blinding us for a moment. Once I got my sight back I decided that it wasn't worth it, as all I could see was the silhouette of a Vonari in the door, the Vonari howled quietly, I wondered what was happening. Again the Vonari howled, louder this time. When I still didn't react it looked at squeak and howled gently.
“she wants to know your name, she can understand Sieran, but not speak it, Vonari throats are the wrong shape.�
“my name is hakumei�
more howling, squeak translated again, “she says that we should go with her, but don't say anything, Vonari law forbids slaves from speaking unless given permission.�
“whatever.� I said, angry at being referred to as a slave, yet obeying her orders. What other choice did I have?
We where led down the corridors until we came to a small room with a number of devices on the tables, she moved forward and picked up what looked like a large wrist-watch and held it out to me, howling something, first at me then at squeak
“she says it's a translator, it will pick up Vonari and translate it to Sieran. She also says most Vonari will not allow me to translate for you, so you will need it, it will make life easier.�
as I strapped the translator to my wrist the Vonari howled again, the translator flashed up words on the screen as she talked.
“you will come with me to eat, then you will have to work.�
“very well.� I answered, again consenting because I had no other choice.
We where led again down lots of corridors, until we reached a door with a large lock on it
“you will go through here, the guards will take you to the mess hall to eat, you will then begin work.� she said as she was about to open the door. She then said something that shocked squeak so much he gasped, but I wouldn't find out why until a little later. “my name is Ino by the way.�


I smiled as I remembered the first piece of kindness any Vonari had shown me. I soon learned that Vonari rarely shared their names with other Vonari they had just met, and certainly not with a prisoner from another race. I'm still not completely sure why she told me her name, perhaps it was to tell me that I could trust her, or perhaps it was another reason known only to her.
“drives fixed, she should give you four sectors, but I'd only jump three, it could become unpredictable past that� squeak called across the intercom.
“sure, three it is, Quaero, can you plot us a route out of here, and avoid any planets this time.� I teased, glad to finally be able to jump away from Vonarion.

Part Three: solitary

as the blue whirl of fulcrum travel faded into the darkness of space I set autopilot on and slid out of my chair, we where safe for now, I set an alarm if any ships where picked up within range of the scanners and went back to talk to my crew. My crew, what a strange thought, just a few weeks ago I was flying solo missions for the military and before that I was a bounty hunter, seeking criminals and bringing them to the authorities for the price on their head. I had never flown with a crew.

As I walked towards the back of the ship, squeak climbed out of a maintenance duct. He ran a hand through his hair, dripping with sweat after working so close to the engine to repair the fulcrum drive.
“squeak, you okay?� I asked, concerned about the amount of sweat soaking through his Vonari prisoner clothes
“yeah, it's just a bit hot that close to the engine, I'll be fine now I’ve moved away.� he reassured me. I wasn't sure, the stolen Vonari ship was quite warm, out of respect for Inu, who's tolerance for the cold was a lot lower than out tolerance for the heat.

A bark, I new enough a bout Vonari by now to know that Inu was calling me. I looked around to see her emerging from one of the control rooms to the left of the corridor.
“are we safe now?� she asked, the hair on the back of her head flattening down as she approached.
“yes, thanks to squeak.� I responded, giving squeak a pat on the shoulder to show my appreciation.
“good� she growled. she then turned to squeak and in a gentler voice“are you hot? I can turn the temperature down a little for you if you wish, you look close to collapsing from the heat.�
no sooner had squeak nodded than Ino turned and darted into a room off to our right. A moment later I felt a slightly cooler breeze coming out of a vent next to me before Ino came out of the door she had just entered, wearing a Vonari combat suit of the type that they wore when boarding enemy ships and stations.
“I was looking in the ship's computer and managed to hack into one of the crew members storage locker, luckily she was my size� Inu explained when she noticed my confused look.
My watch beeped twice, on the screen the words 'captain, I need to see you in my quarters' appeared flashed twice and then where replaced by the words ' I just need 5 minutes to put my stuff back together after that last dogfight –Iajiiean'
“what was that?� squeak asked as I read the message
“Iajiiean wants to talk to me in her quarters,� I told him, “but not immediately.�
“how did you meet her anyway? She was kept separate from us most of the time.� squeak asked, unable to hold back the question.
I started at the beginning because Ino was listening. “it happened right after Ino sent us to the mines, I remember quite well.�

the door swung closed behind me and I heard a click as it locked. Before I could turn to look, I heard a bark “you, human, come!� I was commanded.
“why?� I responded without thinking and received a slap for my troubles.
“you will speak only when given permission, human.�
“sorry.� I apologised, receiving another slap, harder this time. Knocking me from my feet
“you, human, go to the mines.� he said looking at squeak, before turning to me. “And you, you will lean some manners. Follow me.�
I was taken through to a room hewn from the rock, and thrown into a tint cell, with no flat place to lie on, and not big enough to lie down properly anyway, and an energy shield was activated behind me, I felt hat emanating from it. I would probably be burned if I touched it. I leaned back against the wall resigned to my fate.
I had been standing there in silence, nothing to do but think, for nearly an hour when I heard movement outside my cell, I looked to my translator as a Vonari began speaking.
“get in there, you may be too valuable to kill, but you will still behave.�
I heard the energy field on the cell next to me hum into life as the Vonari left the prison block.
“hey, you the new prisoner?� I heard a voice whisper through a hole between the two cells.
“yeah, I arrived yesterday� I replied, “how long have you been here?�
“too long, about two years now, I’m only alive because of what I know� the voice paused “my name is Iajiiean, what's yours�
“I’m known as hakumei, I don't have a name.�
“pleased to meet you hakumei.� there where a few minutes of silence before Iajiiean spoke again. “I don't know how long you will be in this cell, but I want to make a deal with you�
“go on...� I asked, wondering what Iajiiean was talking about
Iajiiean's voice lowered so I could barely hear. “i can tell you how to escape... if you take me with you.�

The Crew
captain/pilot - hakumei, an orphan who wishes to protect people so no-one will have to suffer the same losses that he did

engineer - squeak, a strange young teenager with no name or known origins, has been a prisoner of the Vonari for as long as he can remember

weapons ops - Inu, a Vonari female who helped them escape from the compound and decided to help Hakumei protect those weaker than himself

navigator - Quaero, a seasoned traveler who was captured by the Vonari after nearly jumping into the atmosphere of Vonarion

science ops - Iajiiean, a skilled scientist who was captured and kept alive by the Vonari because of something she knows

[Edited on 6-29-2010 by ryuu]

[Maarschalk]

Very good ryuu, I like the story so far, looking forward to read more.

[ryuu]

thanks, i have some interesting plans for this story!

[Accountant]

Interesting, I look forward to finding out where you are going with this story

-Accountant

[ryuu]

Well i'm about half a page into part two and i think i'ma call it a night, should have part two finished by tuesday or Wednesday, depending on how i feel on Tuesday. i'm thinking of sticking to a regular release schedule, as that will give me a timescale to work to, making it easier to plan.

[Nigel_Strange]

Very entertaining so far. I look forward to reading more.

Vonari like much warmer temperatures than we do. I don't know about what kind of air they breathe.

[ryuu]

i knew about the temperatures, that's why i didn't refer to the prison cell as a cold dark cell, because to humans it isn't, but to a vonari it is...
also, i'm assuming breathing would be slightly similar to humans, but with a higher carbon dioxide, sulphur and nitrogen content, produced by the lack of plants and quantity of volcanoes on Vonarion. however, since they are still carbon based lifeforms, chances are that they would find it quite easy to live in earth's atmosphere.
anyway, i have now named the Vonari crew-member, Inu. and that will be the title of the next part

[warsign]

Keep going ryuu, very nice so far...

[ryuu]

thanks warsign, i will!

anyway, finished part two, it's shorter than part one, but since i'm only introducing one character instead of two, that is to be expected

[warsign]

I like the method you used. Adding to first post and warning us It is updated. Good to see all parts together.

[Maarschalk]

Nice, your doing great. Keep it coming. Looking forward to next chapter.

[ryuu]

i prefer to keep it all in one place, as i'm only intending to upload the first few parts as i write them, i'm going to spread the later parts out more, that way it gives me more time to read over them and make sure everything works with the details i have set and everyone is remaining in character, but that dosen't matter for the first few parts as the characters are still being developed.

[Trip]

Excellent story so far ryuu. I am enjoying it immensely.
Can't wait to read what happens next.

[warsign]

Originally posted by Trip
Excellent story so far ryuu. I am enjoying it immensely.
Can't wait to read what happens next.

Yeap, I can't wait to read another part of the story!

[ryuu]

well i have written part three, it's only half of what i planned as it was getting quite long and i wanted to get something out tonight, it also presents quite a nice cliffhanger

i have now named all the crew, and added a the crew section to the botom of the story.

at some point i will be introducing other pilots, and while most of these will be pilots i have created, i think it would keep the story nicely inline with the comunity if i used peoples callsigns and prefered ship builds, so if you want me to include you at some point say so either in the thread or in a u2u if you want to be included, i will want to know your favorite frame/build so i can incorporate that into the story.
i won't include anyone who dosen't ask, but at the same time, i might not include anyone/everyone who asks, it depends if i need to create a pilot for a specific role, or simply have someone included.

part four coming soon, it will be called "plan"

[Maarschalk]

Part 3 is great, looking forward to Part 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,...............999999999...

[ryuu]

there won't be that many parts, theres only so much one person can write

[Maarschalk]

LOL........:P:P:P:P:P
However many you can write it is worth every second of reading....thanks for giving us something to look forward to....

[ryuu]

i was planning on posting the next part today, however, my laptop went down mid-week, and as such i am unable to continue writing untill i get home (staying at my dad's currently) and then i will have to start part four from scratch unless i can somehow find a new power cable for my laptop, which is unlikely, so, if when I do finnaly finish part four, if the first half seems a lil rushed, it's cause I'm p. o.'d at having to write it again

[Edited on 7-19-2010 by MMaggio]