Seisen

This is joint-written. Glide, Niqi, and Ambree search the surface of Seisen for clues.

 

Glide raised an eyebrow, looking from Niqi to Ambree and back again. “So, you’re telling me Seisen, Tendou and Yochinai are covered in toxic fumes? Any signs of what caused it?”

Niqi shook her head stiffly. “We couldn’t really look around, but we saw no signs of life. No signs of anything, really. Just…the toxic gas, and then the planet’s surface. Or a bunch of abandoned buildings in Tendou’s case.”

“I guess it’s a good thing you’re both such a******s to each other, or it would’ve taken a lot longer to find that out.” Glide said. “Now, we’re going to go back into the Nexus, back to those planets, and find out what the f**k is going on.”

 

…

 

“This thing is so goddamned uncomfortable,” Ambree complained, the sound of her voice muffled. She attempted to adjust the gas mask, and then gave up, deciding it was better than the fumes.

“I see nothing…nothing…and more nothing,” Niqi sighed, glancing in every direction. Seisen seemed just as barren as Yochinai was before they’d saved it. She shuddered to think what that planet was going to be like now.

“Ambree, head for the Western Cross.” Glide said, grasping Magus’ hilt. “And stay on your guard. Just because we can’t see anything here doesn’t mean there isn’t anything. Niqi, I’ll leave the Northern Cross to you. I’m going to the Snapdragon. Make a mental note of anything that looks suspicious, and once you’ve checked thoroughly, meet me in the Southern Cross.”

“Got it,” Niqi and Ambree said in unison. They turned to each other, not sure whether they wanted to glare or laugh, and decided on neither, simply splitting up in their separate directions.

 

…

 

Ambree jogged up to the meeting point, slowing when she saw Glide. “Took me a while to find this place again. Damned toxins.” She checked her oxygen tank, content to see it was still more than half full. “I love this thing, sort of. It’s bulky, but with pure oxygen, you can run faster and farther.”

“You find anything or not?” Glide asked, conjuring up a small flame on his fingertip and using it to light the cigarette in his mouth.

“Yes,” Ambree replied. “It was creepy. There were random ladders in the streets, coffee left unattended, random objects all over the place…and bodies everywhere.” She looked at the ground. “My father’s body included.”

“Well, s**t.” Glide muttered. “This place hasn’t been touched in about ten years. Whole place is covered in dust... Hey, where the hell’s the pup? She should’ve been here by now.”

As if on cue, Niqi joined the two of them, scowling.

“Late again, I see,” Ambree said to her, smirking.

“Shut the f**k up,” Niqi muttered. “I was all the way at the Northern Cross, having to come all the way to the Southern Cross. You guys were equal distances from here.”

“Drop the damn attitude and report, pup.” Glide snapped. “Did you find anything?”

Niqi would’ve made a fuss about the word ‘pup’, but the memory of the Northern Cross held her back. “I saw a lot of dried blood, a lot of strewn weapons, and some faded signs of a struggle.” She looked at Glide and Ambree in turn, her face serious and concerned. “If whatever happened to Seisen had a starting point, that would be it.”

“Well, that’s just great.” Glide sighed, rubbing his temples. “We still have one more Cross to check. Let’s get moving before something stupid and cliché happens, like the planet implodes or something.”

 

…

 

“Looks about the same as the Western Cross to me,” Ambree noted, nudging a fallen selkie with her foot. “Like everybody just dropped whatever they were doing and died. Which is probably what happened.”

Glide stepped into the Eastern Cross and immediately froze up, his eyes widening. “That scent... I know that scent...”

“I can’t smell anything through this freaking mask,” Niqi muttered. “What is it?”

“It’s Lujuria.” Glide replied, shoving past Niqi and knocking the door to the tavern down.

“Oh God,” Niqi said, realization dawning on her. “He never came with us after the funeral.” She ran in after Glide, Ambree close behind her.

Glide didn’t even slow down, flying down the stairs into the tavern’s basement. “Lujuria!”

“A little help here!” Lujuria called, kicking at the thick glass wall he was trapped behind.

Niqi breathed a sigh of relief. “Get him out of there,” she said, wondering what to do about the toxic gas. She glanced down at her oxygen tank. “…Why did nobody remind me I was undead?” she muttered, taking it off and holding her breath so she wouldn’t cough.

“Because you’re f****n’ stupid.” Glide commented, turning his attention back to Lujuria. “Stand back and hold your breath.”

Lujuria nodded, taking a deep breath and a few steps back.

“Now, let’s get you out.” Glide muttered, dropping down to all fours and digging his claws into the floor for a few seconds before lunging forward, smashing through the glass.

Niqi quickly covered Lujuria’s mouth with the gasmask, and then used the remaining air in her lungs to say, “I was freaking caught up in the toxic gas drama.”

“Christ.” Glide laughed. “I swear, your parents must’ve been twins to produce a kid as stupid as you.”

Niqi stole Ambree’s mask long enough to get more air, and then replied, “Don’t you ever f*****g get distracted?”

Ambree glared at Niqi for a moment, then looked at Lujuria. “What the hell happened to you, anyway?”

Lujuria shrugged. “I noticed what was going on, and hid down here... Didn’t think about how to get out, but can you blame me?”

Niqi shook her head, and then stole some of Ambree’s air again. “How long have you been down here?”

“A couple of days.” Lujuria responded. “Should you two really be sharing an air tank? It won’t last very long if you keep that up...”

Niqi ignored his observation, stealing Ambree’s air yet again. “On the subject of air, where did you get it for a couple of days behind glass?”

“How should I know?” Lujuria muttered. “I’m not a friggin’ rocket scientist. Can we get somewhere with clean air before you two kill each other by sharing that tank?”

“Fine,” Niqi muttered with the last of her air, pulling out her Nexus key and looking for a suitable door.

Ambree glared at her, but said nothing.

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[KEi]

"Let's get moving before something stupid and clich� happens,"