Looks like a great place to end 12+ months of RPG silence. Keep me posted.
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- Old Guild Username: SilverPariah
- Joined: 11 yrs ago
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- Silver 11 yrs ago
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Stony Brook?
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Phineas looked out over the narrowing expanse of water.
"I wouldn't really say 'morning'," he replied, eyeing the high moon, "But I suppose it's accurate enough." He turned his chair around. "I can't tell where we are, but when we land I can try and check the charts."
Another gust of wind shook the craft, and Phineas grabbed the arm of his seat to steady himself. When it had passed, he grabbed the steering column and maneuvered the craft to the ground. He set it down roughly behind a large dune, and it kicked up a cloud of sand that shrouded the cockpit. As soon as it had stopped moving, he cut the power. The lights shut off, cloaking the interior of the craft in a harsh darkness.
Phineas fumbled out of his seat. "Better to lay as low as possible until we know where we are." he said, but he could not for the life of him deduce where Eliza was. "Can you find me the torch and chart bundle? Should be in the equipment piled under the lockers."
"I wouldn't really say 'morning'," he replied, eyeing the high moon, "But I suppose it's accurate enough." He turned his chair around. "I can't tell where we are, but when we land I can try and check the charts."
Another gust of wind shook the craft, and Phineas grabbed the arm of his seat to steady himself. When it had passed, he grabbed the steering column and maneuvered the craft to the ground. He set it down roughly behind a large dune, and it kicked up a cloud of sand that shrouded the cockpit. As soon as it had stopped moving, he cut the power. The lights shut off, cloaking the interior of the craft in a harsh darkness.
Phineas fumbled out of his seat. "Better to lay as low as possible until we know where we are." he said, but he could not for the life of him deduce where Eliza was. "Can you find me the torch and chart bundle? Should be in the equipment piled under the lockers."
Phineas turned in his chair and found that Eliza had already fallen asleep. He sighed. She was picturesque, if a little banged and bruised. If she'd chosen an easier life, she'd be truly beautiful. Not that he found that she wasn't, but he tried in vain to ignore such stirrings in favor of his job.
He turned back to the control board. The sun had set, and darkness had descended upon the Mediterranean. The sky was full of countless stars, and empty of the omnipresent lights of passing airships. He, they, were truly alone.
The shore was nowhere in sight, and Phineas found himself beginning to drift off. He resisted at first, but the stress of the week and the exertions of the day demanded rest. Finally, he succumbed to slumber.
A strong breeze buffeted the hovercraft, shaking Phineas from his sleep. He picked his head off the dashboard; it did not appear to have messed with any of the controls. The oil, however, was dangerously low, and a red light was blinking intermittently next to the dial. Phineas looked out the window and was startled to see lights in the distance. Under the moon, the shore was visible less than a mile away. Phineas kicked the ship into a quiet descent and turned in his chair, lightly shaking Eliza to wake her up.
He turned back to the control board. The sun had set, and darkness had descended upon the Mediterranean. The sky was full of countless stars, and empty of the omnipresent lights of passing airships. He, they, were truly alone.
The shore was nowhere in sight, and Phineas found himself beginning to drift off. He resisted at first, but the stress of the week and the exertions of the day demanded rest. Finally, he succumbed to slumber.
A strong breeze buffeted the hovercraft, shaking Phineas from his sleep. He picked his head off the dashboard; it did not appear to have messed with any of the controls. The oil, however, was dangerously low, and a red light was blinking intermittently next to the dial. Phineas looked out the window and was startled to see lights in the distance. Under the moon, the shore was visible less than a mile away. Phineas kicked the ship into a quiet descent and turned in his chair, lightly shaking Eliza to wake her up.
Phineas gazed out through the cracked front view port of the airship. The sun was setting to his right; they were going dead south.
"I'm thinking that we'll be in Egypt in a few hours at this rate." he said. "We'd better be ready for whatever's waiting."
He looked down at her again. "But you need some rest." He sat down in the pilot seat and turned to the dash, dimming the light in the cabin. The fuel gauge suggested that they had enough oil to reach land, but not much more. It was likely they'd have to land in the first settlement they found. Phineas turned back to Eliza.
"Are you sure you're going to be okay?"
"I'm thinking that we'll be in Egypt in a few hours at this rate." he said. "We'd better be ready for whatever's waiting."
He looked down at her again. "But you need some rest." He sat down in the pilot seat and turned to the dash, dimming the light in the cabin. The fuel gauge suggested that they had enough oil to reach land, but not much more. It was likely they'd have to land in the first settlement they found. Phineas turned back to Eliza.
"Are you sure you're going to be okay?"
Phineas let out his breath, relieved that Eliza was still with him. He patted her arm and stood up. The floor was speckled with her blood, though it seemed to be slowing down some. He stepped to the side of the ship and started cracking open the lockers that lined the wall. In addition to the rifle he had brought with him, he found four rifles and ammunition, two pistols, various pieces of equipment, rations of food and water, and four uniforms. In the last locker he opened he finally came across a square white medical kit. He took it off the wall and set it on the floor, kneeling beside Eliza.
He flipped it open and rustled through the contents. There was enough bandaging and ointment to do the job, as well as a variety of useless medical apparatuses. He gently pulled her dress down at the top, revealing enough of her shoulder to work with. He set to work applying the ointment to her wounds and wrapping them firmly.
"You need to be more careful," he said, brushing loose dirt off her neck. "Another reckless move like that and you could be killed." But thank God you weren't, he thought quietly. He cut a strip of bandage with scissors and applied it near her sternum. "This may sting a bit."
He flipped it open and rustled through the contents. There was enough bandaging and ointment to do the job, as well as a variety of useless medical apparatuses. He gently pulled her dress down at the top, revealing enough of her shoulder to work with. He set to work applying the ointment to her wounds and wrapping them firmly.
"You need to be more careful," he said, brushing loose dirt off her neck. "Another reckless move like that and you could be killed." But thank God you weren't, he thought quietly. He cut a strip of bandage with scissors and applied it near her sternum. "This may sting a bit."
Phineas lunged into the craft behind Eliza as bullets ricocheted off the riveted metal walls. Through the tinted window, Phineas could see the five remaining hostiles breaking out of the treeline from the direction of Joseph's craft, firing wildly toward the campsite. A bullet shot through the front window and cracked it as Phineas kicked the engine into power.
An overhead light flickered on and illuminated the cabin in a pale yellow luster. Across the dash, dials and meters spun to life, giving a reading of the ship's condition. Two worn leather seats sat behind the control panel, and six smaller seats lined the walls on either side. Phineas dropped his rifle and sat down, trying to quickly acquaint himself with the controls. Another bullet went through the windshield and hit one of the seats in the back, and a dozen more pattered off the outer wall.
Phineas identified a large lever as the primary elevation throttle. He pushed it forward hesitantly, and the ship's engine grew louder as it began to slowly rise out of its imprint in the sand. He pressed a large black button, and the ship's horn sounded loudly.
"Not that one," he said to himself, running his hand through his hair anxiously. He punched a metallic grey button adjacent to it, and the rear ramp rose to close the craft.
"Better." he said, and looked back out over the beach. The soldiers were getting closer, and he could faintly hear foreign shouts as they fired rushed, inaccurate shots and reloaded. Phineas grabbed hold of a handled steering column and was satisfied to feel the craft turn below him. He locked the elevator in position and pressed forward on the thrust, and the craft broke into motion, turning over the beach and south.
"Hell yeah!" Phineas said in spite of himself, and regained his composure as another bullet bounced off the exterior. He looked at a dial rimmed in Arabic text but accompanied by the universal droplet of oil. It read about three quarters full; they were safe, in that respect. Suddenly, he remembered himself and looked back to Eliza. She was visibly wounded; blood flowed slowly from several small lesions. He quickly checked that the controls were set to continue flying forward, then turned his seat around and crouched next to Eliza, gently grabbing her arm. He could not tell whether she was conscious.
"Eliza?" he asked, softly shaking her.
An overhead light flickered on and illuminated the cabin in a pale yellow luster. Across the dash, dials and meters spun to life, giving a reading of the ship's condition. Two worn leather seats sat behind the control panel, and six smaller seats lined the walls on either side. Phineas dropped his rifle and sat down, trying to quickly acquaint himself with the controls. Another bullet went through the windshield and hit one of the seats in the back, and a dozen more pattered off the outer wall.
Phineas identified a large lever as the primary elevation throttle. He pushed it forward hesitantly, and the ship's engine grew louder as it began to slowly rise out of its imprint in the sand. He pressed a large black button, and the ship's horn sounded loudly.
"Not that one," he said to himself, running his hand through his hair anxiously. He punched a metallic grey button adjacent to it, and the rear ramp rose to close the craft.
"Better." he said, and looked back out over the beach. The soldiers were getting closer, and he could faintly hear foreign shouts as they fired rushed, inaccurate shots and reloaded. Phineas grabbed hold of a handled steering column and was satisfied to feel the craft turn below him. He locked the elevator in position and pressed forward on the thrust, and the craft broke into motion, turning over the beach and south.
"Hell yeah!" Phineas said in spite of himself, and regained his composure as another bullet bounced off the exterior. He looked at a dial rimmed in Arabic text but accompanied by the universal droplet of oil. It read about three quarters full; they were safe, in that respect. Suddenly, he remembered himself and looked back to Eliza. She was visibly wounded; blood flowed slowly from several small lesions. He quickly checked that the controls were set to continue flying forward, then turned his seat around and crouched next to Eliza, gently grabbing her arm. He could not tell whether she was conscious.
"Eliza?" he asked, softly shaking her.
Fuck yeah we do.
Phineas flinched when Eliza grabbed him, and softened as she kissed his lips. This one took him by surprise; there was no social subterfuge being made, no disguises being perpetuated. She had just kissed him. He was still slightly dumbfounded as she broke away and took off into the foliage, and it was several seconds before he realized she had taken the pistol.
"Eliza, wait!" he called after, but she was already out of earshot. He rose to his feet quickly and took a step onto the beach, only to be quickly met with a blast of heat, light and noise, sending him staggering back into the reeds. He picked himself up; the explosion had come from the trees near the campsite.
"Eliza!" he yelled, and took off running across the sand. In front of him, the guard near the fire had started toward the explosion. The soldier in the aircraft stepped down the back ramp onto the sand, looking after his companion. Only a few moments later, when Phineas was several strides away, the second soldier looked up and noticed his assailant. He let out a yell and fired a shot with his rifle from the hip, but the bullet screamed over Phineas's shoulder.
Before the soldier could take another shot, Phineas hit him hard, slamming him into the metal side of the hovercraft. He grabbed the rifle and pressed it against the soldier's throat, who recovered and struggled back desperately. The guard who had left the campsite now wheeled around and saw Phineas, raising his own rifle to his shoulder. Phineas shifted his hand down the rifle barrel to the stock and pulled the trigger. The bullet hit the guard in the neck, and he collapsed, choking on his own blood. Phineas then rapidly pulled back from the second soldier, wrenching the rifle from his hands. Before he could react, Phineas brought the butt of the rifle down hard on his temple, and he fell limp to the ground with a crack. Phineas could not determine whether he was dead or unconscious.
Phineas lowered the rifle and looked around. The forest was burning in an oily conflagration, sending black plumes of smoke into the heavens. There was no movement besides the restless flutter of birds fleeing the inferno.
"Eliza?" he called, but he could see nothing. "Eliza!" He stepped over the guard and jogged to the treeline. The two guards who had been resting were now covered in blood, next flaming chunks of an oil canister. Phineas looked around wildly, but couldn't find his partner.
"Eliza, wait!" he called after, but she was already out of earshot. He rose to his feet quickly and took a step onto the beach, only to be quickly met with a blast of heat, light and noise, sending him staggering back into the reeds. He picked himself up; the explosion had come from the trees near the campsite.
"Eliza!" he yelled, and took off running across the sand. In front of him, the guard near the fire had started toward the explosion. The soldier in the aircraft stepped down the back ramp onto the sand, looking after his companion. Only a few moments later, when Phineas was several strides away, the second soldier looked up and noticed his assailant. He let out a yell and fired a shot with his rifle from the hip, but the bullet screamed over Phineas's shoulder.
Before the soldier could take another shot, Phineas hit him hard, slamming him into the metal side of the hovercraft. He grabbed the rifle and pressed it against the soldier's throat, who recovered and struggled back desperately. The guard who had left the campsite now wheeled around and saw Phineas, raising his own rifle to his shoulder. Phineas shifted his hand down the rifle barrel to the stock and pulled the trigger. The bullet hit the guard in the neck, and he collapsed, choking on his own blood. Phineas then rapidly pulled back from the second soldier, wrenching the rifle from his hands. Before he could react, Phineas brought the butt of the rifle down hard on his temple, and he fell limp to the ground with a crack. Phineas could not determine whether he was dead or unconscious.
Phineas lowered the rifle and looked around. The forest was burning in an oily conflagration, sending black plumes of smoke into the heavens. There was no movement besides the restless flutter of birds fleeing the inferno.
"Eliza?" he called, but he could see nothing. "Eliza!" He stepped over the guard and jogged to the treeline. The two guards who had been resting were now covered in blood, next flaming chunks of an oil canister. Phineas looked around wildly, but couldn't find his partner.
Phineas peered over the row of reeds lining the stony shore of the outlet. From this position, he could see the Libyan hover craft sitting obediently on the sand nearby. Around the remains of the campfire, one soldier was prodding through the ashes, looking for equipment the fugitives could have left behind. A second soldier was loitering within the open craft. The four soldiers that had been sent out into the jungle to find them had evidently not returned, and the three leaders were nowhere to be seen. With the element of surprise, Phineas reckoned that he and Eliza could overtake the guards without much risk.
Still, the embellished lookout that Phineas searched from provided a limited view. He could only see a narrow corridor down the beach. He glanced at Eliza, who had suggested that he climb a tree for a better view. He had shrugged off the suggestion, but he realized now that the risk of running into unexpected company could prove fatal. He glanced back at the tree.
He sighed. Six bullets.
Phineas slowly moved from the ground with a grunt, crouching as he prowled to the palm tree. He wrapped his hands around it, but recoiled, finding the bark sharper than he had expected. Using a technique he had discovered as a child at play, he ripped a strip of cloth off of his shirt, wrapping it around his hands and reaching around the tree. Using it was a handle, he shimmied up the tree, careful not to make his movements too sudden.
Phineas's head brushed painfully against a solid coconut, and he could tell he was near the top. Panting, he lifted his head and looked out over the beach. The two soldiers he had spotted earlier had not moved far. Satisfied, he was about to descend when a movement caught his eye. Squinting, he could see that two more figures sat under the shade of a tree on the outskirts of the jungle directly adjacent to the campsite. He swore under his breath; now they had four enemies to contend with. They were outnumbered.
He slid down the tree and landed in the sand with a soft thump. He walked back to Eliza and sat down.
"I was wrong, there are four of them." He said, and took a drink from the slightly salted water intermingling with the sea. Six bullets.
Still, the embellished lookout that Phineas searched from provided a limited view. He could only see a narrow corridor down the beach. He glanced at Eliza, who had suggested that he climb a tree for a better view. He had shrugged off the suggestion, but he realized now that the risk of running into unexpected company could prove fatal. He glanced back at the tree.
He sighed. Six bullets.
Phineas slowly moved from the ground with a grunt, crouching as he prowled to the palm tree. He wrapped his hands around it, but recoiled, finding the bark sharper than he had expected. Using a technique he had discovered as a child at play, he ripped a strip of cloth off of his shirt, wrapping it around his hands and reaching around the tree. Using it was a handle, he shimmied up the tree, careful not to make his movements too sudden.
Phineas's head brushed painfully against a solid coconut, and he could tell he was near the top. Panting, he lifted his head and looked out over the beach. The two soldiers he had spotted earlier had not moved far. Satisfied, he was about to descend when a movement caught his eye. Squinting, he could see that two more figures sat under the shade of a tree on the outskirts of the jungle directly adjacent to the campsite. He swore under his breath; now they had four enemies to contend with. They were outnumbered.
He slid down the tree and landed in the sand with a soft thump. He walked back to Eliza and sat down.
"I was wrong, there are four of them." He said, and took a drink from the slightly salted water intermingling with the sea. Six bullets.
Lysander closed the blinds, satisfied seeing that the assassin appeared to have fled. He stepped back, preparing to respond to Vesper, but noticed a defined shadow moving down the hall towards them. As the shadow drew closer, it shifted and distorted, until Lysander could see that it was neither shade nor apparition, but a massive crowd of spiders.
He staggered back, glancing at Vesper and Jin, who stood before him.
"Get back!" he yelled, glancing about the room as the swarm of spiders grew closer. He snatched a lantern of the wall and smashed it on the floor, and a column of flame erupted on a puddle between them and the spiders, burning harmlessly on the tiled floor but serving as a barrier.
When he was certain the flames would not catch on the walls, he looked at Vesper and Jin.
"Let's get out of here," he said, knowing that the spiders would soon climb around the walls. "We need somewhere safer for the night."
He staggered back, glancing at Vesper and Jin, who stood before him.
"Get back!" he yelled, glancing about the room as the swarm of spiders grew closer. He snatched a lantern of the wall and smashed it on the floor, and a column of flame erupted on a puddle between them and the spiders, burning harmlessly on the tiled floor but serving as a barrier.
When he was certain the flames would not catch on the walls, he looked at Vesper and Jin.
"Let's get out of here," he said, knowing that the spiders would soon climb around the walls. "We need somewhere safer for the night."
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