Path to the hunting grounds. The great evil.

Posted on Thu Dec 10th, 2020 @ 6:31am by Commander Sthilg & Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: The hunting grounds.
1541 words - 3.1 OF Standard Post Measure

Stilg blundered on through the seemingly ever-deepening fog.

Not again. not again. not again. He couldn't lose her again.

He heard her scream for him fade as he desperately chased after her not even notching the captain jumped into existence at his side.

Phoenix groaned and took off after him. "DOC!" she called. "Hey slow down!"

" He hasss her Lalor. That monssster has my daughter." the big gorn yelled as he ran at a speed that you wouldn't think possible.

Phoenix picked up her pace but had no real chance of matching the Gorn. She wondered if this would affect the outcome. Daughter.. she had not heard of a child before but if a child was in danger,, she pushed to try and keep up.

The gorn kept running through the fog his feet crashing through the under growth with great strides. His white eyes darted through the fog as the sound of her screams got fainte and fain....

Looking down he found his feet splashing in knee-deep water.

He was back a the river.

The fog slowly began to lift revealing a pair of red eyes glaring at him through the darkness of the forest.

" Give her back abomination," he yelled with all his might holding his blade high.

" Lalor." Came a voice that could freeze anyone blood as it hissed from the tree's. " Ssso good to sssee you agaian."

Phoenix skidded to a stop near the edge of the river. "ok.. Doc...?"

"Don't lisssten to him Phoenix. He's the dark one the creator of all evil'sss, he claimsss to have power, but the all mother ssstripped him of all, but hisss immortality."

The eyes seemed to chuckle as it circled the two.

" Oh, that bitch says a great many things." they said it's voice swapping to one the gorn didn't know, but judging by the reaction of the captain she did - It was her former fiancee, and Phoenix clenched her fists. " How does it feel Sthilg. How does it feel to lose your daughter again. You couldn't save her before and you can't save her now. "

" Give her back monster i don't fear you." The ship's doctor said calmly yet definitely.

Phoenix stepped to his side. "We do not fear you." she corrected.

" Yes, you do." The voice said coldly. " I snatched her from you once before and I will do so again," he said with a scream of someone in pain coming from the forest. Sthilg splashed slightly as he headed for one side having to dodge a few baskets drifting down the river.

" How about a deal Sthilg? Throw me one of the baskets and the lifeform within and i'll give you your daughter back." came the voice.

Phoenix wondered if he would. Part of her thought he might but the other part was not so sure. "Doc?"

The gorn pushed as he watched the basket drifting by his feet. The small human girl curled up in her blankets drifted by his feet and then on into the river. He didn't even begin to stoop. " If you are who you sssay you are you would no i would never trade another'sss chance to live again. I reject you now jussst as i reject ever life i sssnatch away asss you try and sssteal them from my world." he said stepping forward. The old age and tiredness leaving his body as he felt the strength of youth return to his beaten and battered form.

" I reject you now and alwaysss." he screamed at the top of his voice as he charged into the woods straight at the eyes his sword held high.

Phoenix reached for her hip and found her own sword there. "perfect" she said softly. And she drew it, raised it and charged after the doctor.

Black tentacles shot from the mist as the red eyes burned with anger as the pair ran towards them. Sthilg chopped with all his might sending them flying into the dark mist. " I'm not afraid of you monssster." he screamed into the mist.

Phoenix pivoted and struck at the tentacle that came towards her. She sliced it in half and then ducked as it failed at her.

Sthilg swung his blade again and again as he charged towards the eyes which blazed with anger. " You will....." it began before the docotr roared and chucked his blade straight at them screaming. " Ssshut up."

The blade flung into the mist and disappeared straight into the space between it's eyes. A scream of inhuman pain perished the sound as the gorn charged straight at the dark one now in it's true form.

It could only be described as pathetic. A hollow sunken corpse with its flesh barely hanging onto its brittle bones. A being crushed never to die, but to eternally suffer. Even in this state the doctor wrapped his hand around it's neck and flattened it with a punch that shook the ground. " I'm not afraid of you."

Wiping his mouth the gorn took his eyes off the frail pathetic creature and looked for his daughter. The green orion woman was nowhere to be seen.

" Gedesss." He called out into the thick forest.

Phoenix turned in a circle and frowned. "ok.,. which way?"

The doc was panicking. He couldn't have dropped her that far yet his daughter had vanished. " Captain where is ssshe?" he yelled as he tried running back to the river. Only it wasn't there. The forest now seemed to stretch on forever as the world swirled around the two.

"I.. don't know" Phoenix admitted as she struggled to see through the forest. "Where is the beasts lair?"

" he has no lair captain." A soft yet familiar voice came from the woods as a faint row of light shone through the trees. With a slight crunch an elderly gorn woman with a walking stick walked towards the two of them leaning heavily on a stick.

Sthilg froze at the sigh of the woman before him. It couldn't be, could it? " All mother?" He squeaked breathly.

" Indeed my boy. Not the most impressive creator of the universe am i?" She said letting out a haughty laugh.

Phoenix bowed to the woman and waited for the conversation to continue.

" Gedesss isss ssh...." The gorn began before the all mother spoke.

" safe and waiting for you at the gates. Come along you two." She said as a path appeared at her feet which she began to lead the way.

Phoenix stepped up beside Sthilg and took his arm. "Lets not argue" she said brightly.

" I don't think we could." The lizard said as the ground began to morph. The two soon found themselves outside a massive seat of gates that stretched into the abyss of the sky. Standing outside the gates were two green women that even from this distance the gorn could recognize. taking off at a sprint he ran towards them yelling "Ssshassssou. " at the top of his lungs.

Phoenix stood beside her friend and waited for a response.

The gorn buried his face in his wife as she passionately hugged him as did their daughter. Great tears fell from his eyes as he felt his wife's smell for the first time in years as it burned into his nose. " I never thought i'd sssee you again. " He sobbed as the Orion woman hugged him tightly. " I'm here my love. It so good to see you again. " She replied as she looked up at the captain.

" Thank you for letting us be reunited again captain Phoenix."

"My honor and pleasure" Phoenix said with a warm smile.

The ships doctor said nothing as he held his family tight the reason for his visit even slipping his mind. He wanted to stay here with them for ever even as he felt himself beginning to slip.

" The world of the living is calling you back my son. " the all mother said placing a hand on his shoulder. Shassou you need to warn him and the captain now."

"Doctor? Do we need to go?" Phoenix asked softly.

" If you stay you will be trapped here before your time." The older Orion said to the lizard who had saved her so long ago. " A great evil is coming worse than the monster behind the mirror. " She said as she and his daughter appeared to drip away.

" Pleassse don't go." Sthilg begged through tears as he felt himself slip as he was pulled back to the world of the living. Tears fell from his body onto the circle breaking the salt and his connection to the hunting ground.

Phoenix touched his arm. "My friend, it is not your time, we must go. One day, you will join with them again."

The gorn breathed in and out again as he felt himself being yanked back to reality. Touching his friend's arm he felt reality return as he found himself back in his own quarters.

Phoenix smiled and opened her eyes. "That was quite an adventure."

" It wasss." He said looking at all of his friends who had helped him. " From the bottom of my heart thank you." He said feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders.

Captain Phoenix Lalor
Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Commander Sthilg
Chief Medical Officer