#had my rose tinted shades on when i saw this panel
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It's really good to hear your voice saying my name
It sounds so sweet
Coming from the lips of an angel
Hearing those words, it makes me weak 💋
#homestuck#upd8 spoilers#solkat#karkat vantas#commander karkat#sollux captor#my art#homestuck beyond canon#had my rose tinted shades on when i saw this panel
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CHAPTER XIV A NOTE OF INVITATION
The next day was the 9th of November. I awoke after a long sleep of twelve hours. Conseil came, according to custom, to know “how I had passed the night,” and to offer his services. He had left his friend the Canadian sleeping like a man who had never done anything else all his life. I let the worthy fellow chatter as he pleased, without caring to answer him. I was pre-occupied by the absence of the Captain during our sitting of the day before, and hoping to see him to-day.
As soon as I was dressed I went into the saloon. It was deserted.
I plunged into the study of the shell treasures hidden behind the glasses. I revelled also in great herbals filled with the rarest marine plants, which, although dried up, retained their lovely colours. Amongst these precious hydrophytes I remarked some vorticellæ, pavonariæ, delicate ceramies with scarlet tints, some fan-shaped agari, and some natabuli like flat mushrooms, which at one time used to be classed as zoophytes; in short, a perfect series of algæ.
The whole day passed without my being honoured by a visit from Captain Nemo. The panels of the saloon did not open. Perhaps they did not wish us to tire of these beautiful things.
The course of the Nautilus was E.N.E., her speed twelve knots, the depth below the surface between twenty-five and thirty fathoms.
The next day, 10th of November, the same desertion, the same solitude. I did not see one of the ship’s crew: Ned and Conseil spent the greater part of the day with me. They were astonished at the inexplicable absence of the Captain. Was this singular man ill?—had he altered his intentions with regard to us?
After all, as Conseil said, we enjoyed perfect liberty, we were delicately and abundantly fed. Our host kept to his terms of the treaty. We could not complain, and, indeed, the singularity of our fate reserved such wonderful compensation for us, that we had no right to accuse it as yet.
That day I commenced the journal of these adventures which has enabled me to relate them with more scrupulous exactitude and minute detail. I wrote it on paper made from the zostera marina.
11th November, early in the morning. The fresh air spreading over the interior of the Nautilus told me that we had come to the surface of the ocean to renew our supply of oxygen. I directed my steps to the central staircase, and mounted the platform.
It was six o’clock, the weather was cloudy, the sea grey but calm. Scarcely a billow. Captain Nemo, whom I hoped to meet, would he be there? I saw no one but the steersman imprisoned in his glass cage. Seated upon the projection formed by the hull of the pinnace, I inhaled the salt breeze with delight.
By degrees the fog disappeared under the action of the sun’s rays, the radiant orb rose from behind the eastern horizon. The sea flamed under its glance like a train of gunpowder. The clouds scattered in the heights were coloured with lively tints of beautiful shades, and numerous “mare’s tails,” which betokened wind for that day. But what was wind to this Nautilus which tempests could not frighten!
I was admiring this joyous rising of the sun, so gay, and so lifegiving, when I heard steps approaching the platform. I was prepared to salute Captain Nemo, but it was his second (whom I had already seen on the Captain’s first visit) who appeared. He advanced on the platform, not seeming to see me. With his powerful glass to his eye he scanned every point of the horizon with great attention. This examination over, he approached the panel and pronounced a sentence in exactly these terms. I have remembered it, for every morning it was repeated under exactly the same conditions. It was thus worded—
“Nautron respoc lorni virch.”
What it meant I could not say.
These words pronounced, the second descended. I thought that the Nautilus was about to return to its submarine navigation. I regained the panel and returned to my chamber.
Five days sped thus, without any change in our situation. Every morning I mounted the platform. The same phrase was pronounced by the same individual. But Captain Nemo did not appear.
I had made up my mind that I should never see him again, when, on the 16th November, on returning to my room with Ned and Conseil, I found upon my table a note addressed to me. I opened it impatiently. It was written in a bold, clear hand, the characters rather pointed, recalling the German type. The note was worded as follows—
16th of November, 1867.
TO PROFESSOR ARONNAX, On board the Nautilus.
Captain Nemo invites Professor Aronnax to a hunting-party, which will take place to-morrow morning in the forests of the island of Crespo. He hopes that nothing will prevent the Professor from being present, and he will with pleasure see him joined by his companions.
CAPTAIN NEMO, Commander of the Nautilus.
“A hunt!” exclaimed Ned.
“And in the forests of the island of Crespo!” added Conseil.
“Oh! then the gentleman is going on terra firma?” replied Ned Land.
“That seems to me to be clearly indicated,” said I, reading the letter once more.
“Well, we must accept,” said the Canadian. “But once more on dry ground, we shall know what to do. Indeed, I shall not be sorry to eat a piece of fresh venison.”
Without seeking to reconcile what was contradictory between Captain Nemo’s manifest aversion to islands and continents, and his invitation to hunt in a forest, I contented myself with replying—
“Let us first see where the island of Crespo is.”
I consulted the planisphere, and in 32° 40′ north lat. and 157° 50′ west long., I found a small island, recognised in 1801 by Captain Crespo, and marked in the ancient Spanish maps as Rocca de la Plata, the meaning of which is “The Silver Rock.” We were then about eighteen hundred miles from our starting-point, and the course of the Nautilus, a little changed, was bringing it back towards the south-east.
I showed this little rock lost in the midst of the North Pacific to my companions.
“If Captain Nemo does sometimes go on dry ground,” said I, “he at least chooses desert islands.”
Ned Land shrugged his shoulders without speaking, and Conseil and he left me.
After supper, which was served by the steward mute and impassive, I went to bed, not without some anxiety.
The next morning, the 17th of November, on awakening, I felt that the Nautilus was perfectly still. I dressed quickly and entered the saloon.
Captain Nemo was there, waiting for me. He rose, bowed, and asked me if it was convenient for me to accompany him. As he made no allusion to his absence during the last eight days, I did not mention it, and simply answered that my companions and myself were ready to follow him.
We entered the dining-room, where breakfast was served.
“M. Aronnax,” said the Captain, “pray, share my breakfast without ceremony; we will chat as we eat. For though I promised you a walk in the forest, I did not undertake to find hotels there. So breakfast as a man who will most likely not have his dinner till very late.”
I did honour to the repast. It was composed of several kinds of fish, and slices of holothuridæ (excellent zoophytes), and different sorts of sea-weed. Our drink consisted of pure water, to which the Captain added some drops of a fermented liquor, extracted by the Kamschatcha method from a sea-weed known under the name of Rhodomenia palmata. Captain Nemo ate at first without saying a word. Then he began—
“Sir, when I proposed to you to hunt in my submarine forest of Crespo, you evidently thought me mad. Sir, you should never judge lightly of any man.”
“But Captain, believe me——”
“Be kind enough to listen, and you will then see whether you have any cause to accuse me of folly and contradiction.”
“I listen.”
“You know as well as I do, Professor, that man can live under water, providing he carries with him a sufficient supply of breathable air. In submarine works, the workman, clad in an impervious dress, with his head in a metal helmet, receives air from above by means of forcing pumps and regulators.”
“That is a diving apparatus,” said I.
“Just so, but under these conditions the man is not at liberty; he is attached to the pump which sends him air through an india-rubber tube, and if we were obliged to be thus held to the Nautilus, we could not go far.”
“And the means of getting free?” I asked.
“It is to use the Rouquayrol apparatus, invented by two of your own countrymen, which I have brought to perfection for my own use, and which will allow you to risk yourself under these new physiological conditions without any organ whatever suffering. It consists of a reservoir of thick iron plates, in which I store the air under a pressure of fifty atmospheres. This reservoir is fixed on the back by means of braces, like a soldier’s knapsack. Its upper part forms a box in which the air is kept by means of a bellows, and therefore cannot escape unless at its normal tension. In the Rouquayrol apparatus such as we use, two india-rubber pipes leave this box and join a sort of tent which holds the nose and mouth; one is to introduce fresh air, the other to let out the foul, and the tongue closes one or the other according to the wants of the respirator. But I, in encountering great pressures at the bottom of the sea, was obliged to shut my head, like that of a diver in a ball of copper; and it is to this ball of copper that the two pipes, the inspirator and the expirator, open.”
“Perfectly, Captain Nemo; but the air that you carry with you must soon be used; when it only contains fifteen per cent. of oxygen it is no longer fit to breathe.”
“Right! But I told you, M. Aronnax, that the pumps of the Nautilus allow me to store the air under considerable pressure, and on those conditions the reservoir of the apparatus can furnish breathable air for nine or ten hours.”
“I have no further objections to make,” I answered; “I will only ask you one thing, Captain—how can you light your road at the bottom of the sea?”
“With the Ruhmkorff apparatus, M. Aronnax; one is carried on the back, the other is fastened to the waist. It is composed of a Bunsen pile, which I do not work with bichromate of potash, but with sodium. A wire is introduced which collects the electricity produced, and directs it towards a particularly made lantern. In this lantern is a spiral glass which contains a small quantity of carbonic gas. When the apparatus is at work this gas becomes luminous, giving out a white and continuous light. Thus provided, I can breathe and I can see.”
“Captain Nemo, to all my objections you make such crushing answers, that I dare no longer doubt. But if I am forced to admit the Rouquayrol and Ruhmkorff apparatus, I must be allowed some reservations with regard to the gun I am to carry.”
“But it is not a gun for powder,” answered the Captain.
“Then it is an air-gun.”
“Doubtless! How would you have me manufacture gunpowder on board, without either saltpetre, sulphur, or charcoal?”
“Besides,” I added, “to fire under water in a medium eight hundred and fifty-five times denser than the air, we must conquer very considerable resistance.”
“That would be no difficulty. There exist guns, according to Fulton, perfected in England by Philip Coles and Burley, in France by Furcy, and in Italy by Landi, which are furnished with a peculiar system of closing, which can fire under these conditions. But I repeat, having no powder, I use air under great pressure, which the pumps of the Nautilus furnish abundantly.”
“But this air must be rapidly used?”
“Well, have I not my Rouquayrol reservoir, which can furnish it at need? A tap is all that is required. Besides, M. Aronnax, you must see yourself that, during our submarine hunt, we can spend but little air and but few balls.”
“But it seems to me that in this twilight, and in the midst of this fluid, which is very dense compared with the atmosphere, shots could not go far, nor easily prove mortal.”
“Sir, on the contrary, with this gun every blow is mortal; and however lightly the animal is touched, it falls as if struck by a thunderbolt.”
“Why?”
“Because the balls sent by this gun are not ordinary balls, but little cases of glass (invented by Leniebroek, an Austrian chemist), of which I have a large supply. These glass cases are covered with a case of steel, and weighted with a pellet of lead; they are real Leyden bottles, into which the electricity is forced to a very high tension. With the slightest shock they are discharged, and the animal, however strong it may be, falls dead. I must tell you that these cases are size number four, and that the charge for an ordinary gun would be ten.”
“I will argue no longer,” I replied, rising from the table; “I have nothing left me but to take my gun. At all events, I will go where you go.”
Captain Nemo then led me aft; and in passing before Ned’s and Conseil’s cabin, I called my two companions, who followed immediately. We then came to a kind of cell near the machinery-room, in which we were to put on our walking-dress.
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ache.
part i.
part ii.
pairing: ben solo x reader
summary: kylo visits the reader from time to time, who lives in padmés abandoned lake retreat.
rating: sfw. just a bunch of fluff ’n angst.
word count: 1.2k
a/n: this is mainly angst, but bear with me until the next part(s)
It was, as always, a quiet afternoon on Varykino. You had tended to all the plants and flowers earlier that morning, along with a few other errands of course.
Now, at the balcony, you watched the sunset over the vastness of the lake, making the mountains and hills surrounding it glow. The scenery, quite literally, knocked the air out of you. You could, and would never get tired of the gorgeous views.
"It's beautiful," a modulated voice from behind you broke the calm silence.
Your shoulders tensed only for a second but slacked when you figured who it was. Smiling, you turned around.
Maker, you were beautiful. You wore a summer meadow dress, courtesy of padmés wardrobe. A simple headband that went with the dress was fastened around your head, but you still managed to present yourself as royalty to him.
"Ben," you breathed, rushing over to the cloaked man, falling into his arms gracefully.
His toned arms wrapped tight around you, but in a soft, comforting way. Pushing away enough to look up at him, you pushed his hood back.
"Take your helmet off, I want to see you," you placed your hands on the wide plain of his chest, looking up into the void of his visor.
Without a word, ben reached for the sides of his helmet. A small hiss was heard, and finally, you saw his face.
Like how he saw you, you were absolutely in awe of him. His black curls that framed his face looked incredibly soft, and his piercing eyes were breathtaking. His nose, his lips, his jawline, his freckles, everything about him was perfect.
A smirk painted his features, "are you alright, darling?"
Your face turned an obvious shade of pink. "I'm the happiest I could be," his smirk faded into a warm, toothy grin.
Taking both of your hands, you cupped his face, peering deep into his tired eyes, "I missed you," you expressed in a soft tone. His stare tore from yours to your lips for half a second, and then back to your gaze.
"Show me," Ben purred, resting his hands at your hips.
Without a second thought, you kissed him with all your longing and love. He sighed into your mouth, grasping at your hips harder. You were in pure bliss, and you never wanted that feeling to go away.
Eventually, you had to break for air. Ben had been the first to open his eyes, and he was thankful for it.
As your eyes stayed shut, he observed your kiss swollen lips, the prominent blush on your cheeks, and how your chest rose and fell as you tried to catch your breath.
"You're staring," you stated in a bold tone, your eyes still closed. It was now your turn to smirk, making Ben huff quietly.
"What makes you say that, little dove?" he challenged in a teasing manner.
"Because—," you paused to open your eyes, "I can feel it." You burst into a fit of giggles seeing him pout.
You and Ben fell into a peaceful silence, resting your foreheads together, content with each other. It had been months since you last saw him. It hurt not seeing him for so long, but you knew what he was, and you knew what he had to do. This time, though, had been especially longer than the last.
"I missed you, Ben," you sighed, sliding your head down to the expanse of his chest, "so much."
"I know, love, I know", he cooed, running his hand up and down your back, "I missed you too, terribly."
"Then stay here, with me", you pleaded, lifting your head up to lock your eyes with his own.
He looked away from your determined gaze, flustered. "You know I can't do that," he lamented. "I actually came here to tell you something as well," he practically mumbled.
"And what would that be, Ben?" you questioned, searching for any clear emotion in his eyes.
"Snoke has been murdered. Now that the circumstances have changed, I am now the Supreme Leader of the First Order," he deadpanned, looking through you as if you were nothing.
"Oh, wow, that's wonderful! Besides the murder, of course, but I'm happy for you," your hands instinctively flew to his face once more, a huge smile fixated on your face.
Ben smiled with you, but it looked broken; sad, even. "But, with that, I don't know if I'll be able to see you anymore."
The blood in your veins froze. what could that mean? Months again? Years? Never? Anxiety bubbled in your stomach as he spoke.
"What? What do you mean you won't be able to? Why not?" you fretted, a thin sheen of sweat covering your forehead. It felt as if it were two thousand degrees now.
"I have new important duties, and that means I'll be busy, busier than I am now. you understand, don't you?" he slipped your hands into his own, rubbing a gloved thumb over the backs of one of your hands.
You pulled away softly, "no. No, I don't understand. you choose me over—over a title? A title that has no value to you—?"
"It does have value to me. I will now have full control, and I will be able to restore the galaxy to its rightful state," each individual word that fell from his lips felt like a knife stabbing into your heart.
"Ben—," you hiccuped, your lip quivering, "you're breaking my heart," tears started to trickle down your pink tinted cheeks.
Ben tensed at your words. It felt familiar; like a dream or memory almost. But it was too far to get a hold of.
You slowly started to back away from him, making him reach out for you. "My love, no, please, let me explain—,"
"Do you know how much I love you, Ben Solo? How much I care for you? every time you leave, it hurts me, more and more and more. You can't do this to me", you were sobbing now, tears staining your face and dress.
He faltered. Had he known how much of an impact he had on your life? How much you loved and cared for him? How much you worried for him? His mind was mush now, which was concerning considering how he's now supposed to be the Supreme Leader.
The title felt like a bad taste in his mouth now, seeing how much it hurts you.
"I—,"
"Don’t," you wept, biting your lip in hopes of stopping your ongoing tears. "Leave."
"Please... Don’t do this," tears pricked at the corners of ben's eyes. How could he have done this? Especially to you? His head was swirling with thoughts, but he couldn't piece any together.
You stayed quiet, turning your back to him. He wanted to ignore your pleads to make him leave. He wanted to convince you otherwise, but he knew he couldn't.
And so, he left.
Before taking off into space, he looked at Varykino one last time. He saw that you were still on the balcony, and you were still crying. You looked out, somehow able to maintain intense eye contact with him. Your eyes were pained and torn.
Reluctantly turning away to the control panel, he set coordinates, and then finally took off.
#star wars#star wars imagine#ben solo#ben solo imagine#ben solo x reader#kylo ren#kylo ren imagine#kylo ren x reader#adam driver#adam driver imagine#adam driver x reader#star wars tfa#star wars tlj#star wars tros#ben solo fluff#ben solo angst#kylo ren fluff#kylo ren angst
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Scientific Structure~
Summary: A Scientist follows a set chart for their day to day. Until Seven’s gets interrupted by a somewhat unwanted, but welcomed visitor.
“These numbers don’t match” she mumbled under her breath, earning a slight gaze from Ienzo, peeking at the robot from his eye lashes.
“Is there something wrong with the formula I have presented?” he asked, the brunette lifted her head giving him a slight frown. “No, it is just these numbers do not match the ones I have used to make the prototype for this cure...”
The holographic line that connected her antenna squiggled and became jagged, to reflect her current emotion on the situation. Ienzo gave pause as he watched her.
She was truly fascinating.
Considering her make and build and how she looked it was very hard to believe in her world, that she is the result of advancement in technology not heard of.
She had told him a lot about where she came from. Her companions. The Maverick Hunters X, Axl and most important Zero.
Her ‘heart’ was so fixated on trying to save this ‘Zero’.......
“May I ask something?” He spoke up, grabbing the Reploid’s attention from staring at the holographic panel before her. “Yes? What is it?”
“This Zero of yours...he must mean a lot to you for you to go through such lengths.....” He gives a small smile, causing the heat to rise up in the scientist’s cheeks, Seven pressed her fingers together to show her embarrassment.
“Zero is very important to me...” she caught herself. “I-I mean to us Maverick Hunters!” But it seems her change in tone did not go unnoticed by him. Seven saw the look in his eye and she sighed.
“Yeah. He means a lot to me, even though I have not told him how I felt” she bit down on her lip.
“You have not?”
She shakes her head. “No. He lost someone important to him before, it sparked a change in him to be more...cold...harsh. B-But he does care! I promise”
“...Does Direheart know?”
Seven froze. “Oh nonoonononono! She can’t know! She can’t!” She rose from her chair in such a panic that it caused a slight crash when she rose up.
She didn’t realise how much weight she did have.
“That is why this whole project and my feelings have to remain secret! She can’t know!” They way her big brown eyes changed into something akin to a puppy dog being sad, well he caved.
“Fine fine. I shall keep this secret”
“Thank you Ienzo thank you~” she grabbed his hands in glee.
-
Outside, Vanitas is sulking around the shadows, ever weary that Direheart is probably watching him but for now his focus was on Rii who was sitting with Aqua.
“How is that...Seven girl? She updated you on her progress yet? Whatever she was doing seemed to be important” Aqua asked her young friend, Rii gives a tiny smile.
“Seven told me it is still a long process. She’s barely slept, then again she is a robot so....” Rii tilts her head, leading Aqua to chuckle when a shadow flew over them. Looking up they saw Direheart, flying around, doing her patrol route.
“I am surprised she is out and about, considering what happened recently. Seven was very brave to take on such a large...Heartless” Aqua commented, eyes following her flying friend, the young woman next to her gave a nod.
“Yeah. Seven...doesn’t really speak much about her home unless she is really close with them.”
That’s when something caught their attention. Direheart had stopped in her flight path, the gem embedded into her chest shone brightly, even causing Vanitas to look up.
“Sense something Gem Girl? Or is one of your many alternates in trouble huh?” He said with a cocky grin, the white haired female heard him frowning at him.
“As a matter of fact it does. The brighter my ruby, the closer the person is. It is not one of the others who share my name” she said, landing softly on her feet, Rii shielding her eyes from the gem’s brightness.
The sound of...robotic like footsteps came closer and closer along with another set of footsteps. Direheart readied herself for a fight if necessary.
“C-Can’t your ruby tell you who it is?” Rii squeaked as Aqua kept her close, Vanitas lurking in the shadows still watching closely.
No threat to Rii will ever pass. He would make sure of that.
That is until a familiar figure appeared before them, it was Terra. He gave a raised brow. “Maddi? Why are you so tense?” he approached her, she gives him a look.
“I sense something..unfamiliar.” The way she scowled made Terra give a small smile. “Oh right, someone was looking for you” She raised a brow at him.
“Are you sure they were looking for me and not Seven? We share the same name remember?” She hissed a slight frown on her lips once again. Terra folded his arms across his chest, obviously slightly amused by her temper.
“They specifically asked for you. They didn’t say your real name, love.” Terra motioned behind him, a shadowy figure made their way before them. Aqua raised her arm in front of Rii, Rii looked slightly worried and as for Vanitas....
He had seen that figure somewhere before.
The shadows faded as the figure stepped into the sunlight, Direheart lowered her hands once she realised who it was. “Zero?”
The others turned to her with wide eyes.
“Zero?” Aqua questioned. “You know him Maddi?”
“I do. Zero is from Seven’s world. He is an extremely well versed fighter, a high ranked Hunter in his own right and is Seven’s companion” The white haired female explained.
The others looked him over. He did look a bit like Seven but obviously with a male build, shiny red armour, an impressive helm and a long blonde ponytail out the back, full and a lovely shade of blonde.
Cold steely blue eyes to match as well.
“It is good to see you Zero” Direheart said with a small smile, which caught the red Reploid off guard somewhat.
“It has been a while Direheart. I trust you are in good health?” He asked somewhat gruffly, he probably didn’t mean it to sound that way of course. Direheart shook her head.
“Same old Zero. The years I spent trapped in Seven’s body did not leave me Zero, I am very well. Oh these are my friends” She motioned behind her, giving brief introductions.
Aqua was confused and Rii was surprised to say the least, while Vanitas still lingered close by.
“What brings you to my home?” Direheart asked the robot, he folded his arms across his chest. “I’m here to check up on Seven. The others back home have been worried about her.”
“Oh?’ The now physical spirit said in slight surprise. “Well follow me I’ll take you to her”
-
It was a fright.
Seven was not expecting Zero.
The two robots stood in front of each other, Direheart sensed the slight tension and asked Ienzo to follow her out.
The red Reploid stared at his companion, not aware that the others were watching them through cameras.
“......Is this what you are working on? A cure for the virus inside me?” He said coldly, the brunette hung her head low.
“Yes....”
The male placed a hand on the table, looking around at the notes and scribbles.
“....Have you even rested?”
The silence she gave him was answer enough for him.
“You know how I feel about you not taking care of yourself! This is why it took so long for you to go out on the field”
Seven seemed to flare up at his tone.
“You know I am stubborn! All of us are stubborn!” She hissed, eyes narrowed. “Don’t you tell me what to do! You may be my superior but this matter is deep and close to my heart!” She gritted her teeth.
“And why? Are you trying to play the hero?” he asked sternly. “I know you take great pride in your work but what if you can’t cure the virus? What if you make it worse?”
“I’ve ran ever scenario in my head and I have to save you! Save our race! Save the humans!”
“This burden is too big for your shoulders alone. You need to stop before you burn yourself out”
The others watched from behind the tinted window, Direheart frowning more then usual.
“You don’t understand why I am doing this-” She was cut off.
“X and the others would be upset that you kept this secret from them. Why? What if I can’t be saved? Why work one something that could lead you to a dead end over and over?” His tone made her more angry.
“Because I love you, you idiot!”
If only she could have swallowed those words before she said them, covering her mouth in slight embarrassment.
Zero stared right back at her, eyes wide in surprise, not as wide as the others watching of course.
“You-”
Seven refused to answer, hiding her face into her hands. “I tried not to fall in love with you. I know. But I couldn’t help it! I tried! After Iris I....I....”
She pushed past him, running out the doors. “I’m sorry!” she called out, her comrade watched her leave in a hurry.
What was this he felt?
it was the same feeling he had before....
Could it be that he returned her feelings?
There was silence.
“I can’t believe it...” Direheart said in shock, falling back into a chair Esper pushed behind her to catch her in time.
“How did you not notice?” Aqua asked, slightly confused. “She is you? How could you not tell?”
Direheart shook her head. “If one of my alternates wishes to keep something secret, a section of their heart will be closed off. That information is forever locked out to me. Why didn’t she tell me....?”
That response made Terra laugh. “Because you have a fiery temper, much like Seven’s” Direheart narrowed her eyes and was about to retort when the doors opened again, the sound of footsteps sounding.
“Where is he going?” Rii asked.
“He’s going to find Seven. Grab onto me everyone....even you Vanitas..” The spirit eyes the shadows nearby. “I will take us to Seven’s location”
What Direheart heard next was a scoff.
“Why? She’d probably be sobbing and-” The glare she sent his way made him think twice.
Her eyes were red not blue this time.
He complied placing a hand on her shoulder even though it irked him. In a bright red flash they were transported a bit further away from Seven’s location. Direheart lifted her head. “Now we wait....”
-
It didn’t take long for Zero to find Seven, he could sense her. He found her, standing by a nearby fountain, his footsteps alerted her to his presence.
Her eyes were big. Conveying sadness and embarrassment.
“......I understand if you do not....” she stopped herself. She was angry at herself, angry at his tone! Angry that she was like this. All this negative energy was feeding him she thought, making him stronger.
But she didn’t care right now.
“I know I am not Iris. I know this b-but....b-but” Clenching her fist she raised her voice. “But I can’t help how I feel! What are you here for? To tell me I can’t love you? Tell me my work is in vain? Why are you here Zero!”
She felt so exposed before him but she didn’t care right now.
Her structure was interrupted by his arrival.
She was met with his stoic gaze and silence, she looked down at her feet.
“I can’t help how I feel. You can dismiss my feelings...but I can’t dismiss mine....” The holographic line connecting her antenna made little heart shapes as she spoke, conveying her real feelings.
There was more silence.
Her face turned red.
“S-Say something!” she screeched only to raise her head and find he had moved closer to her.
Then she felt her head being pressed into his shoulder and the other hand on the small of her back.
“.....I said to Axl once you are a jewel in our Maverick infested world....That is why I would rush to your aid. Keep you safe....” his voice was soft, caring.
“You are worth protecting. I’ll make sure of that”
“B-But the virus! I need-” The look he sent her made her silent again
“....Shush...just stay quiet. And stay close...for right now” He said in something akin to a whisper, causing Seven to freeze.
“........O-Okay...”
Perhaps this was a good sign.
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Chapter 1
Shade didn’t often take trips outside of Opal City like this, but Opal certainly didn’t have this specific cafe. A shame really, he quite liked these muffins.
He was sitting in a small café in London when he saw the news on the television. An invasion, a UFO of some kind that had come through a portal. A UFO that was currently taking Opal. Summoning a vortex of shadows that licked the spot in front of him like smoke on a burning house, he was gone in a blink of an eye, practically leaping through one of his shadow portals. With the panic that was currently going on, no one would notice that he didn’t pay.
Within seconds he emerged, shadows clinging to him as if he was smoldering himself. He was on the edge of Opal… the edge? His portal was supposed to bring him to the center. He brought his hand up and pushed forward, to no avail. A barrier. A barrier that kept anything from going in, or coming out. Well then, he’d have to go to the source.
Before he had a chance to move, he saw it, Opal went from a solid mass to what looked like… well he wasn’t really sure what it looked like. All the color had drained and the details faded to leave a solid black. The edges of… well everything maintained a green glow. These lines outlined everything. In shock, he took a step back. Before his eyes Opal vanished, turning into small squares before being beamed up.
Rage. That’s what bubbled inside of him as he tried to teleport into the ship. Well, he made it on top of the ship.
“Better than nothing I suppose,” and with speed, he made his way across the top of the ship. Quickly locating a panel, he broke in. Jumping in he was immediately met with robotic guards. Guards that put up quite a fight, but these hallways were dimly lit, and that was certainly in his favor. With a quick flick of his hand the shadows around him, each smoke-like wisp, shooting out toward Shade’s attackers.
A blaring noise filled his ears. Alarms. He had set off alarms, just peachy. He started forward, oh how he hated running, but right now he really didn’t have a choice. Pushing forward, he made sure to make quick work of any other robots that came his way. What did catch his eye though was their wiring. Now, he wasn’t well verse in the way of modern technology, but it certainly didn’t look like any wiring he’s ever seen before. There were parts and bits that he was certain were not in modern day technology. Strange, but there wasn’t time for that now, he had to stop whoever this was from taking his Opal.
These corridors seemed to never end. They twisted and they turned and seemed to get longer and longer, or it was that they simply all looked the same. At least, that was until the ceiling suddenly made a sharp turn up and he came to a gigantic doorway. Well, this had to be it, it’s not like he’s seen any other doors around. He gave the door a simple push. No luck, it didn’t budge. He leaned his whole body on the door, and with effort, managed to push it open.
Making his way inside, the room he saw was a room that definitely belonged behind a door that big. While he couldn’t exactly tell, because most of what was in the room was definitely not from Earth, it looked grand. Like the lounge room of a rich woman who drank a bottle of wine everyday and owned a small pug. Except ten times more advanced, much like one of those sci-fi movies he’s seen Jack watch.
“I’ve been expecting you. I’ve watched you on the moditors since you’ve gotten on top of the ship. Every other hero in the world has had issues dealing with my bots half as advanced, yet you come in and rip them apart. Very impressive,” a robotic voice droned.
The chair in the center of the room swirled around, and in it was most certainly not a person. It didn’t have appendages from it’s waist down, instead, it looked more like a floating rocket. The Appendages it did have were unconnected and floating. It didn’t even have a neck. Or a face. Just two eyes. Well, they were called eyes, they were just glowing slit triangles on what would be its face, along a row of small glowing circles that ran vertically down between its eyes from it’s forehead to it’s chin.
“You are not a hero. If you were, I would have you on my record. Thus, I do not care if you are simply a superpowered civilian, or a villain. But I do care as to why you are disrupting my work.”
“Opal. You are going to give back my Opal.”
“Opal. As in Opal City. The first city that was successfully collected.”
“Collected?” This… thing though it could just take Opal, for a collection?
“Yes, my collection. The cities of this planet are very intriguing. Each a collective of people, yet all different from each other.”
“Well not Opal. You’re going to put it back.”
“Negative, Opal will remain in my collection.”
Oh that did it. There was no way his beloved city was going to be a trinket on a shelf for this thing to look at. With a bubbling rage, Shade filled the room with a smokey blackness, only for it to be push to the side. Lights from all angles illuminated the rooms, practically glaring off the shiny surfaces.
“Negative you are not going to do that. You may not be in my collection of information, but I have studied you while you made your way through my ship.”
Before Shade had anytime to retort, there was a large CLANG, and he was surrounded by what seemed to be a glass box, lights glaring in on him.
“You remind me of someone from the last dimension I was in,” the robot voice started. “She was very persistent to save her city. As well she had abilities similar to yours. Though she was less of a talker and more of a fighter,” the thing stated.
More alarms went off. This prompted the thing to turn around and pull up screens, leaving Shade in the glass container behind it, unable to do anything but able to see the screens as well.
A shadow dashed across the screen and the thing in front of him started into action. From what he could tell from the screens he could see.
The door behind him exploded open. He swirled on his heels to see what had made its way into the room.
A girl. Or, a woman at least. Wrapped in head to toe in black, hair pulled back into a tight ponytail that was kept thin all the way down, also wrapped up tight in black. Grey goggles covered the woman’s eyes, and he could see the rage and determination through the grey tint.
“Not only have you stopped my previous attempt, you-,” the thing never got a chance to finish, as the woman launched herself at it in full fury.
She had narrowly missed it, instead, her hand axe had cleaved into the control panel in front of the thing.
The now fleeing city-abductor made its way toward the edge of the room. The woman turned toward him, then turned toward the control panel again. He could finally see the shimmer of a locket, a shiny black material that seemed to hide amongst the darkness of her clothing.
Her hand came up, and with a hard attack, came down on the control panel again. The sides of his prison came down, and the lights turned off. However, before he had the chance to say anything, she was shot by a laser, sending her flying into a wall.
“I will not let you ruin the start of my new collection,” the robotic voice droned again.
“Like you could ever stop me Carlio,” was all the girl said as she once again launched herself at the thing.
Shade however, was able to lend a helping hand this time. Summoning forward his shadows, the black rose around him like smoke, he shot them forward, wrapping them around what he now learned was named Carlio. He had planned to rip Carlio apart, but his shadows couldn’t get within the cracks.
He remembered, Carlio had said that Shade had reminded him of someone with similar abilities. He must have modified himself to counter those. Well, plan B than.
Mustering up more shadows, Shade sent the shadows hurling to the side of the ship. At first , he had only dented the wall, but after another two or three more times, he had made a small hole. Using his shadows as hands, he ripped the hole open wider. Looking out, he spotted Superman and Green Lantern and gave a harsh loud whistle. He didn’t get to see the outcome as he felt an arm wrap around his waist and throw him back. He crashed into the woman, sending both of them into a wall.
He looked up, more enraged than before. A dent, that was a dent in it’s armour. As Carlio made its way forward toward Shade and the woman, Shade got up. Carlio obviously seemed distracted, most likely by trying to not only deal with him and this woman, but the superheros outside as well.
Shadows came out. Lashing blades that moved like smoke in the wind. He was so focused on the thing that had tried to take Opal from him, he didn’t hear the small cry of pain that came from behind him, or the even smaller tink tink of something hitting the floor.
“This has been an unforeseen turn of events,” Carlio droned. “I shall take my leave than.”
“No. You’re. NOT.” His shadows shot forward like bullets, all aimed at the small dent in Carlio’s body. If Shade had sent only one wisp, nothing would of happened. But Shade, in his rage fueled attack, had sent many. Within seconds Carlio’s body was ripped open, being shredded piece to piece.
It took the ship’s alarms to knock Shade out of his rage induced trance.
ALERT, SYSTEM FAILURE. ALERT SYSTEM FAILURE. SELF DESTRUCTION IMMINENT.
Without Carlio there, the ship had nothing to guide it, nothing to steer or keep it balanced. And that wayed its price. The ship took a hard dip sideways, causing both the woman and Shade to slide with it. The woman had hit a piece of something that had been sliced in half, Shade unfortunately, had fallen out of the hole he had created.
SELF DESTRUCTION, IN 5.
The woman’s eyes scanned the ship floor. There! Her locket!
SELF DESTRUCTION, IN 4.
A shimmer caught her eye. Opal City.
SELF DESTRUCTION, IN 3.
They were on opposite sides of the room.
SELF DESTRUCTION, IN 2.
She closed her eyes and dashed forward.
SELF DESTRUCTION, IN 1.
She wrapped her hands around her target and held it close to her chest, protecting it.
BOOM
Shade had seen it while being lowered to the ground by Green Lantern. This was embarrassing, but there were more important matters right now. His eyes darted back to where Opal City should be. Nothing. Nothing was happening.
Opal City was gone.
As soon as his feet touched the ground, he sank to his knees. Opal City was gone. Jack was gone.
He felt tears prick at the edge of his eyes. No, no he wasn’t going to cry. He wasn’t going… to cry.
He felt a hand on his shoulder and he squeezed his eyes shut. Maybe that would stop the tears.
Even with his eyes closed, everything seemed to spin. Opal City was gone. Now, he wished he hadn’t killed Carlio quite as fast as he did. He wished he could of made Carlio suffer even more.
Shade was so lost in his rage and sadness, he almost didn’t hear the sounds of gasps from around him. Almost. His eyes shot open, and what he saw was something not even he would've believed without seeing.
A shadow, a large shadow, and growing. He squinted hard, and he could just make the outline of a person floating, only for a second. After that, the shadow that lingered on the ground shot up, taking the form of Opal City. Through this, a single light shone where the figure was. Shade watched in stunned awe as the shadow gained depth, then color. He watched as Opal City came to be. And was still in stunned silence as the shadow melted away.
He stood up, no words to say. Had the miniature Opal City not been caught in the explosion?
“The only power source strong enough to shrink these cities was on that ship,” he heard a voice say. Superman.
“Well something had to of brought it back. That didn’t look anything like when it was taken,” a female voice questioned behind him. Wonder Woman.
He didn’t stick around to find out, his shadows swirled and wisped in front of him to make another portal. He brought himself to the center of the city. It was here. It was all here. Opal City is okay. It’s okay.
He was at a loss for words. His eyes scanned the area, this had to be a trick. This couldn’t be real.
...Well, that black scorch certainly didn’t look inplace. He walked over, bending down he touched it. It felt like grass. Why was it black? A sound caught his attention. A cough, a hard, dry one.
He followed it. He couldn’t fathom why, probably his overall curiosity at the moment. The sound had led him to a nearby tree, where the woman who was on the ship sat, leaned up against the tree.
“You’re bleeding.”
“It’s a ‘ersonal ‘roblem.”
“It was you. You saved Opal.”
“I wasn’t going to let it ha’’en again.”
“Let what happen again?”
She didn't answer. So he asked again.
“Let wh-”
“It’s not im'ortant now,” she had cut him off. Her hand reached up to a spot below her neck and grasped at nothing.
“Shade!”
Starman descended toward him, fear and confusion obvious on his face, however, mixed in with the alarm and relief
“Shade! What happened? The sky disappeared! It was replaced with this matrix grid looking thing! And then it went all black and we’re here!”
“You have no idea how close we got. I’ll tell you over a cup of tea and a walk.”
“Who was that you were talking to?”
“Actually that’s what I was just about to ask,” he turned toward the girl, only to find she was gone.
“I could go find her, she couldn’t have gone far.”
“No, leave it, we have some catching up to do and some deep breaths to take.”
Neither of them saw her as she looked down upon them as they walked away. One hand on an open wound and the other clutching the air around her chest where a locket once rested.
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