With thundering footsteps, the three Warders appeared behind Sticks and Bones. Voices further back signalled the impeding arrival of guards. Sticks glanced at Bones, instantly transferring his plan to his younger brother. The chip in Bones' brain registered and stored the plan. The brothers' special means of communication was known only to themselves, Xavier and the late Dr. Cringe. The loss would be great, but the need was greater. With a roar,
Vinyl got up and stabbed Aura with her own shocker. He drove it in with such force that the tip broke out her back and split apart, discharging all of it's thousand volts of electricity. Unfortunately, Vinyl's body jerked along with the screaming Aura. To the Raider's last credit, he did not do so much as blink.
Bones threw Sticks his gun and raced for Vinyl's corpse. Retrieving the cable, Bones took a final glance at his older brother as he ducked into a door. The three Warders hesitated for the moment and two pursued Sticks while the lead Warder started after Bones.
Bones scrambled up onto the roof and began uncoiling the precious cable, connecting it to the crucial parts pre-situated on the roof. He smiled at their bright colours and the thought of the happy faces of the children. He heard the panel burst open and the labouring stomps of the Warder.
Sticks had exhausted his and his brother's guns and only managed to wound one of the Warders in the arm. Their cannons, while not able to hurt the agile Raider, did much more to the maintenance room. Machinery was curled up and blackened, what furniture were there was blasted to bits. Walls were puckered with holes the size of Sticks' head. He was left with his mini mines (M&Ms) and they took time to set up, too long a time. But time was what Bones needed. Gritting his teeth, Sticks unclipped a M&M and threw himself at the Warders, muttering.
Bones had just finished connecting the last of the cable and armed the detonator. Blood still flowed freely from the hole where his arm used to be. The Warder had been quick in turning his cannon, catching the young Raider unaware and leaving him bereft of his entire left arm. Bones collapsed to the edge of the roof, his stamina giving out at last. His rapid breathing slowed, and went slower still, until he stilled. The Warder loomed over the prone Raider, cannon aimed at the head for maximum effect. As the cannon warmed, a blast three times more powerful than his cannon shook the top levels of the skyscraper.
Bones, a split second before the explosion, heard Sticks murmur 'Goodbye.' in his comm. Bones took advantage of the Warder's momentary distraction and drew the detonator. The Warder turned his attention to the Raider, what face visible under the visor contorted in rage. The Warder garbled, "You sonofabitch Raider. You die." Bones clicked the detonator just in time as the cannon vaporised his head and shoulders.
Fireworks cut through the night sky. The children went 'Ooooo' and 'Ahhhh'. As the first fireworks faded, gunfire and explosions erupted throughout Los Angeles. The sounds of war were surprisingly drowned out by the ever present fireworks. Xavier clicked his comm twice. No response. He closed his eyes for a moment, the only sign of mourning for the four Raiders. He checked his antique windup watch, still working since the twenty-first century, the time of his great-great grandfather. Exactly midnight. On the fourth of July, Independence Day. He smiled and returned to his daughter and the children.
Thursday 4 July 2013
Independence Day-Part One
Okay, technically I'm Singaporean and shouldn't be writing this theme but i do it because Despicable Me 2 is released today in my country. Here you go.
"Come on Ginny the fireworks are about to start." chided Xavier. His daughter prised herself from Michelle's arms and ran to his side, clutching his hand. Her ever excited voice asked, "How soon? Very soon? I've never seen fireworks before, I want it to happen soon!" Smiling at Ginny, Xavier hoisted her up and placed her on his shoulders, giving her a better view of Los Angeles. He looked to Michelle and asked her, "Are they ready?" She nodded and went back to the bus to gather the other children. Xavier gazed at the city, pointedly gazing at it's center. He muttered, "Come on guys, for the children."
Vinyl quieted the slightly charred Aura. She slapped a wet wad of torn clothing to her more badly burnt knee. She grunted, "I'll be fine." Vinyl was already uncoiling the cable, edging it down towards where Sticks and Bones would be waiting. Behind him, Vinyl could hear Aura fiddling with her devices, checking the jacked camera feeds for Warders and deactivating sensors for Sticks and Bones. Suddenly a whisper of 'Up!' in his earpiece jerked Vinyl into quickly pulling up the half trailing cable.
The last hint of the cable disappeared into the vent as three Warders strode into the Effects room. They swept the area thoroughly, lifting panels, checking nooks and even flashed an Orb up into the vent the two Raiders were hiding in. They evaded the burst of captured sunlight. One of the Warders barked, "You, go to Tech and get them to send a probe into the ventilation shafts." Footsteps signalled that only two Warders remained. Vinyl gnashed his teeth. Even fully armed, he and Aura could not take down two Warders. They were running behind schedule. He turned to Aura to discuss forming a new plan when Aura shifted and Vinyl felt volts sear through him and he fell unconscious.
Sticks looked up fearfully in at the soles of the Warders' boots. Bones was running through his holo-pages at the patrol rosters and skyscraper layout. Neither brother were confident of killing Warders. They were rigged in full Raider gear, but would two of them be sufficient to kill even one? Hell, if the reports of Clyde were to be believed, there were only three Warders left in Los Angeles. Alexis would not send them here if he was sure that-
Sticks gasped softly. Someone betrayed them to the Empire! He turned to look at his younger brother who seemed to be coming to the same conclusion. Just as they were about to contact Vinyl, Aura pinged their comm. She said with apparent glee, "Look up boys." Sticks and Bones looked up in surprise at the two barrels pointing down at them.
"Move!" shouted Bones as the two Warders fired their cannons. Sticks wisely dodged towards his brother instead of going the other way to be separated from Bones. The explosive rounds tore twin holes three levels deep down the skyscraper. Sticks hauled up Bones and they ran, firing their own guns. The Warders shook off their ballistic, high-velocity assault rifle rounds with ease, cannons charging again. Aura taunted in their comm, "Slow down boys, his Greatness Alexis merely wishes to chat with you about further plans for the Raiders." Bones cursed Aura, ignoring her mocking laughter he used to like hearing. Sticks yelled, "This way! The show must go on!"
The two brothers turned the corner only to find Aura standing in front of them, pointing a gun at Vinyl's head.
Vinyl looked up dazedly and mouthed 'Go!' Sticks riled up at the sight and screamed at Aura, "You bitch! We trusted you! Xavier trusted you! And...and," Sticks calmed at a pat of the shoulder from Bones. Vinyl shifted slightly, grimacing at the movement. The brothers alos noticed his shoulders tense. Aura, who did not work with the veteran for long, was oblivious to the significance. She pinged her comm and muttered, "They're here, in the corridor leading towards the roof access." The brothers stared. The roof access! The plan may still be carried out.
"Come on Ginny the fireworks are about to start." chided Xavier. His daughter prised herself from Michelle's arms and ran to his side, clutching his hand. Her ever excited voice asked, "How soon? Very soon? I've never seen fireworks before, I want it to happen soon!" Smiling at Ginny, Xavier hoisted her up and placed her on his shoulders, giving her a better view of Los Angeles. He looked to Michelle and asked her, "Are they ready?" She nodded and went back to the bus to gather the other children. Xavier gazed at the city, pointedly gazing at it's center. He muttered, "Come on guys, for the children."
Vinyl quieted the slightly charred Aura. She slapped a wet wad of torn clothing to her more badly burnt knee. She grunted, "I'll be fine." Vinyl was already uncoiling the cable, edging it down towards where Sticks and Bones would be waiting. Behind him, Vinyl could hear Aura fiddling with her devices, checking the jacked camera feeds for Warders and deactivating sensors for Sticks and Bones. Suddenly a whisper of 'Up!' in his earpiece jerked Vinyl into quickly pulling up the half trailing cable.
The last hint of the cable disappeared into the vent as three Warders strode into the Effects room. They swept the area thoroughly, lifting panels, checking nooks and even flashed an Orb up into the vent the two Raiders were hiding in. They evaded the burst of captured sunlight. One of the Warders barked, "You, go to Tech and get them to send a probe into the ventilation shafts." Footsteps signalled that only two Warders remained. Vinyl gnashed his teeth. Even fully armed, he and Aura could not take down two Warders. They were running behind schedule. He turned to Aura to discuss forming a new plan when Aura shifted and Vinyl felt volts sear through him and he fell unconscious.
Sticks looked up fearfully in at the soles of the Warders' boots. Bones was running through his holo-pages at the patrol rosters and skyscraper layout. Neither brother were confident of killing Warders. They were rigged in full Raider gear, but would two of them be sufficient to kill even one? Hell, if the reports of Clyde were to be believed, there were only three Warders left in Los Angeles. Alexis would not send them here if he was sure that-
Sticks gasped softly. Someone betrayed them to the Empire! He turned to look at his younger brother who seemed to be coming to the same conclusion. Just as they were about to contact Vinyl, Aura pinged their comm. She said with apparent glee, "Look up boys." Sticks and Bones looked up in surprise at the two barrels pointing down at them.
"Move!" shouted Bones as the two Warders fired their cannons. Sticks wisely dodged towards his brother instead of going the other way to be separated from Bones. The explosive rounds tore twin holes three levels deep down the skyscraper. Sticks hauled up Bones and they ran, firing their own guns. The Warders shook off their ballistic, high-velocity assault rifle rounds with ease, cannons charging again. Aura taunted in their comm, "Slow down boys, his Greatness Alexis merely wishes to chat with you about further plans for the Raiders." Bones cursed Aura, ignoring her mocking laughter he used to like hearing. Sticks yelled, "This way! The show must go on!"
The two brothers turned the corner only to find Aura standing in front of them, pointing a gun at Vinyl's head.
Vinyl looked up dazedly and mouthed 'Go!' Sticks riled up at the sight and screamed at Aura, "You bitch! We trusted you! Xavier trusted you! And...and," Sticks calmed at a pat of the shoulder from Bones. Vinyl shifted slightly, grimacing at the movement. The brothers alos noticed his shoulders tense. Aura, who did not work with the veteran for long, was oblivious to the significance. She pinged her comm and muttered, "They're here, in the corridor leading towards the roof access." The brothers stared. The roof access! The plan may still be carried out.
Tuesday 2 July 2013
I'm Looking for My Sister
Danny was hauled to his feet by Mr. Jetson. "Keep running, Daniel!" roared the old man. Danny kept running as fast as his nine-year-old legs could carry him. Mr. Jetson was tall and despite his advanced age, could outpace both Danny and their pursuers.
Pursuers who could not be seen, only heard. Danny could hear the screams of their countless victims, including Sam and Veil and Mr. Gardner and the other friendly workers of Industry. Danny was terrified of the invisible Netters, but the lanky reassuring sight of Mr. Jetson and the thought of being reunited with his sister spurred Danny on.
Dodging, ducking, crawling. Mr. Jetson led Danny through the ruins of the Factory. Pulling levers, repairing moving platforms and the like, Mr. Jetson helped the little boy put distance between themselves and the Netters.
The duo retreated further into the Factory, bypassing it's many basements. Soon they reached it's deepest sub-level. The giant Plant that used to power both the Factory and the troubled city of Kin. Mr. Jetson lifted a panel and beckoned to Danny to crawl in. Danny emerged on the other side and gasped.
Like the gigantic Plant, it's insides were just as big. The gears and turbines rivalled Kin's lost Hotel. Covered in rust and growths, the silent parts were unsettling. Mr. Jetson laid a hand on Danny's shoulder and whispered, "See, the only way out of Kin is to cross the Plant and go out the other side. It's big, it's cluttered with unused parts. I'll get you to your sister soon Daniel." Danny nodded, exhausted. With a huff, Mr. Jetson lifted the boy and hurried down the Plant.
Danny was unclear as to how long Mr. Jetson carried him while crossing the Plant. Through his tired senses, Danny witnessed Mr. Jetson's never-flagging efforts to see him home. With his small toolbox, he whirred long-dead machines to life to make their crossing easier or faster. He activated the Up and Down switches to get them up unreachable heights or life-threatening drops. He jumped from tooth to tooth of massive gears. But yet Danny could hear Mr. Jetson's panting, his ramrod straight posture sagging, his eyes turning unfocused. He was tiring.
They were at the edge of a long and tall platform. Looking out, Danny could only see never ending darkness. Even Mr. Jetson's torchlight hardly revealed what was ahead but more darkness. Mr. Jetson nodded. "This is it, Daniel. The way back to your home." Danny looked at Mr. Jetson, confused. The old man pointed into the darkness, saying, "Believe me Daniel. This is the way back to your home and home to many others. Kin is not a place you want to linger much longer." At this Mr. Jetson smiled gently. "Do you trust me Daniel?" Danny nodded slowly. Then he heard the screaming of the Netters.
Mr. Jetson positioned Danny right at the edge of the platform. The old man retreated to a switch. It looked like an Up and Down switch, but the arrow pointed towards the darkness. Mr. Jetson called, "Ready Daniel?" Danny shouted, "Ready Mr. Jetson! Let's get out of Kin!" But Mr. Jetson shocked Danny by shaking his head. The old man sadly said, "No Daniel. This switch must be held at 'on'. I cannot return." Danny protested, "But you can fix anything! Solve any problem! You can come with me!" Mr. Jetson shook his head more vigorously. He shouted, "Farewell Daniel! Don't worry I'll follow behind!" Before Danny could say anything more, Mr. Jetson pulled down the switch.
As the crying boy disappeared into the darkness, Mr. Jetson smiled and murmured, "I have succeeded. I can return at last." In a blast of light, the old man vanished just as the first Netters invisible feet plodded on the platform.
Danny realised he was home. He saw the cottage and the treehouse he and Annie shared. Annie! Danny searched frantically. There! His little sister was picking flowers while their mother watched from the porch. He ran towards her, shouting her name. Annie looked up but her expression brightened Danny's mood. Danny stretched out to hug his sister.
And passed through his little sister. Stumbling, Danny turned, horrified. He tentatively reached out to feel his sister's blond hair. Danny felt nothing. He grabbed at her hair frantically. He could not find purchase. "No..." sobbed Danny. To come all this way, and some evil magic did not allow him to be reunited with his sister! He watched, tears flowing as Annie gathered her flowers and joined her mother. Danny followed, still attempting to call out to his mother and Annie. They reached the back of the cottage and Danny stopped, dumbstruck at the sight of what lay behind the cottage.
A gravestone. On the gravestone read
Daniel Anthony Masterson
1923-1932
Young you shall forever be
"It's time to go home Daniel." murmured a voice behind Danny. The distraught boy turned and saw Mr. Jetson smiling his reassuring smile at him. "Mr. Jetson. I t-thought the Netters got to you." Mr. Jetson shook his head and said, "I was never in danger. It was my job to get people like you home."
"But I am home." sobbed Danny.
"Your home is not here anymore. You know where we're going." replied the old man.
Danny took hold of Mr. Jetson's hand, not noticing he could grasp him. Together the two retreated far away from Annie laying her freshly-picked flowers on Danny's grave.
Danny tiredly asked his guide to the afterlife, "Where are we going?"
Mr. Jetson calmly said, "Heaven. It's where you should be after being trapped in limbo."
Pursuers who could not be seen, only heard. Danny could hear the screams of their countless victims, including Sam and Veil and Mr. Gardner and the other friendly workers of Industry. Danny was terrified of the invisible Netters, but the lanky reassuring sight of Mr. Jetson and the thought of being reunited with his sister spurred Danny on.
Dodging, ducking, crawling. Mr. Jetson led Danny through the ruins of the Factory. Pulling levers, repairing moving platforms and the like, Mr. Jetson helped the little boy put distance between themselves and the Netters.
The duo retreated further into the Factory, bypassing it's many basements. Soon they reached it's deepest sub-level. The giant Plant that used to power both the Factory and the troubled city of Kin. Mr. Jetson lifted a panel and beckoned to Danny to crawl in. Danny emerged on the other side and gasped.
Like the gigantic Plant, it's insides were just as big. The gears and turbines rivalled Kin's lost Hotel. Covered in rust and growths, the silent parts were unsettling. Mr. Jetson laid a hand on Danny's shoulder and whispered, "See, the only way out of Kin is to cross the Plant and go out the other side. It's big, it's cluttered with unused parts. I'll get you to your sister soon Daniel." Danny nodded, exhausted. With a huff, Mr. Jetson lifted the boy and hurried down the Plant.
Danny was unclear as to how long Mr. Jetson carried him while crossing the Plant. Through his tired senses, Danny witnessed Mr. Jetson's never-flagging efforts to see him home. With his small toolbox, he whirred long-dead machines to life to make their crossing easier or faster. He activated the Up and Down switches to get them up unreachable heights or life-threatening drops. He jumped from tooth to tooth of massive gears. But yet Danny could hear Mr. Jetson's panting, his ramrod straight posture sagging, his eyes turning unfocused. He was tiring.
They were at the edge of a long and tall platform. Looking out, Danny could only see never ending darkness. Even Mr. Jetson's torchlight hardly revealed what was ahead but more darkness. Mr. Jetson nodded. "This is it, Daniel. The way back to your home." Danny looked at Mr. Jetson, confused. The old man pointed into the darkness, saying, "Believe me Daniel. This is the way back to your home and home to many others. Kin is not a place you want to linger much longer." At this Mr. Jetson smiled gently. "Do you trust me Daniel?" Danny nodded slowly. Then he heard the screaming of the Netters.
Mr. Jetson positioned Danny right at the edge of the platform. The old man retreated to a switch. It looked like an Up and Down switch, but the arrow pointed towards the darkness. Mr. Jetson called, "Ready Daniel?" Danny shouted, "Ready Mr. Jetson! Let's get out of Kin!" But Mr. Jetson shocked Danny by shaking his head. The old man sadly said, "No Daniel. This switch must be held at 'on'. I cannot return." Danny protested, "But you can fix anything! Solve any problem! You can come with me!" Mr. Jetson shook his head more vigorously. He shouted, "Farewell Daniel! Don't worry I'll follow behind!" Before Danny could say anything more, Mr. Jetson pulled down the switch.
As the crying boy disappeared into the darkness, Mr. Jetson smiled and murmured, "I have succeeded. I can return at last." In a blast of light, the old man vanished just as the first Netters invisible feet plodded on the platform.
Danny realised he was home. He saw the cottage and the treehouse he and Annie shared. Annie! Danny searched frantically. There! His little sister was picking flowers while their mother watched from the porch. He ran towards her, shouting her name. Annie looked up but her expression brightened Danny's mood. Danny stretched out to hug his sister.
And passed through his little sister. Stumbling, Danny turned, horrified. He tentatively reached out to feel his sister's blond hair. Danny felt nothing. He grabbed at her hair frantically. He could not find purchase. "No..." sobbed Danny. To come all this way, and some evil magic did not allow him to be reunited with his sister! He watched, tears flowing as Annie gathered her flowers and joined her mother. Danny followed, still attempting to call out to his mother and Annie. They reached the back of the cottage and Danny stopped, dumbstruck at the sight of what lay behind the cottage.
A gravestone. On the gravestone read
Daniel Anthony Masterson
1923-1932
Young you shall forever be
"It's time to go home Daniel." murmured a voice behind Danny. The distraught boy turned and saw Mr. Jetson smiling his reassuring smile at him. "Mr. Jetson. I t-thought the Netters got to you." Mr. Jetson shook his head and said, "I was never in danger. It was my job to get people like you home."
"But I am home." sobbed Danny.
"Your home is not here anymore. You know where we're going." replied the old man.
Danny took hold of Mr. Jetson's hand, not noticing he could grasp him. Together the two retreated far away from Annie laying her freshly-picked flowers on Danny's grave.
Danny tiredly asked his guide to the afterlife, "Where are we going?"
Mr. Jetson calmly said, "Heaven. It's where you should be after being trapped in limbo."
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