Just to prove that I’m not all dead yet, I bring you here a little piece of history… a good thirty standard years before the Wexxian Reclamation. A story of the meeting of two people. Two people who will change the future of their people… as well as the future of the galaxy. No fancy pictures… neither any gargantuan fleets… just a story… of how two people met. Two people who came of to a REALY bad start with each other!
Preview of a possible future continuation of The Axon Chronicles:
Tow Ky Juhl; the Torpal Squad Leader of Combat Group 1024 of the Celvolian Mercenary Army, lead his group through the maze-like UC (Urban Combat) Training ground. His group was a collection of different species, Tow didn’t know whish species they where, but he knew his men. He had trained and fought with all of them… sure, they where not Torpals, but they where HIS squad… and he knew they took pride in being so.
Tow’s Combat Group was the best, everyone knew that… therefore is was troubling that their Celvolian employers had ordered this training mission.
‘What’s the catch here?’ the young Torpal thought. ‘What kind of surprise have they hidden here?’
The group moved silently in the shadows of the large and partially destroyed buildings in the training ground. Both Tow and his men had been there before, but this time it was different… it was too quiet!
He gestured soundlessly to his men and they spread out in a wide search grid to cover more ground. Like all good Torpal soldiers, Tow had neither fear of death or battle, but this tense silence made him very uncomfortable. While he adjusted his shoulder-canon, he gestured to his team to stay in sight. They all nodded in agreement.
It was certain that they would encounter someone… or something. Tow had overheard some of their employers talking about “testing” their newest addition. But what this addition was, Tow did not know. He kept a vigilant eye on his six squad members and their surroundings.
Tow nearly hurt his neck when he turned fast, thinking he’d heard something… but there was nothing there. Just more broken buildings and machines in partial shadows.
‘Nothing!’ Tow turned back to his men, they where all aiming their weapons at the direction he had just turned to.
‘What the…’ It took Tow a few seconds to realise that something was wrong… he could only see four of his men…
“Where’s Lad and Q’ti?” he growled to the four remaining mercenaries. They all looked around and their faces grew worried.
Out of the corners of his eyes Tow saw more movement. “REGROUP!” Tow barked to his men. No point in keeping quiet now. Whatever it was, it clearly knew where they where.
His men hurried together in a tighter formation… but they where now only three left, including Tow. None of them had seen what took the others.
“By Zesh!” Tow gasped, a little stab of worry piercing through his trained mind for a second… it was quickly replaced by fury. ‘NOBODY SNEAKS UP ON MY SQUAD!’
“Tri-Point defence grid!” he instructed his remaining two men but the moment he turned to put his back to theirs, he heard to yelps and managed to turn just in time to se Velquittos and J’pas disappear into the darkness between two crumbling buildings.
Tow stormed after them but it was a dead end. And there was no trace of his comrades.
“WHERE ARE YOU?” he shouted in fury. “SHOW YOURSELF!”
A laughter reached Tows ears. “Why should I… when I’m having such a good time?”
If possible, Tow’s rage increased in strength… This insolent thing was MOCKING HIM!
His senses sharpened by adrenaline and rage, Tow heard a tiny sound of movement.
Instincts, formed by thousands of years of Torpalian warrior traditions and a decade of tough training in the army, kicked in. Literally! Without having to think about it, Tow circle-kicked backwards.
With satisfaction, Tow felt his armoured foot collide sharply with something.
Spinning around to face his mysterious foe, Tow dropped into a fighting stance to see his would be assailant flying through the air, propelled by his kick.
Despite having been kicked with the force of a charging Necromonicon, the figure did a back flip in midair and landed gracefully on his feet. Prompting an involuntarily raised eyebrow from Tow.
“The told me you where good, I’m glad you don’t disappoint!” The figure said, crouching in another stance.
“Who in Zhesh’s name are you?” Tow asked, trying to measure up his opponent. The figure was apparently bipedal and a bit shorter stature than Tow, it had two visible arms and a single head in a humanoid shape. It was difficult to know for certain as the being was dressed in what looked like a collection of dirty rags and a large hooded cloak that hid the face in shadows.
“Who am I?” the being asked in a mock questioning voice. “Philosophical, aren’t you? How about some more simple questions before we start about the meaning of life?”
Tow smiled as he saw that the hands of the being where empty… it was unarmed. ‘He is fast. I wonder HOW fast!’ Tow wondered.
“I have one… can you dance?” Tow grinned as his shoulder-cannon charged and fired.
“HA!” The being laughed, jumping backwards and sideways. Dogging the shots Tow fired, while clouds of debris formed where the shoots hit.
While doing a sideways spinning jump, to evade a barrage from the cannon, the figure reached into his robes. Tow saw a brief flash of metal spinning towards him before his shoulder-cannon was decapitated by a flying blade.
“You will have to do better than that fuzz-ball!” the cloaked figure taunted the enraged Torpal.
Tow looked at the smoking remains of his trusted weapon. It was damaged, but not beyond repair. The split second it took him to make that assessment, the cloaked figure had used to launch himself against Tow.
Tow looked back just in time to receive a flying kick to the middle of his chest. Leaving a small dent, in his armoured breastplate. Tow staggered backwards a few steps and retaliated with two straight right hooks… the being blocked the top one… but not the lower one!
The two combatants kept at it. Both refusing to surrender. Tow being large, heavy and strong and the attacker being small, light and fast… the two where reasonably balanced. The attacker could easily doge most of Tows blows and Tow’s natural toughness and his armouring deflected most of what the cloaked fighter came with.
Once again, Tow delivered a double uppercut. Sending the being flying.
‘WHY WON’T HE STAY DOWN?’ Tow thought as the cloaked figure rose again. Fatigue was beginning to drain his strength, his fur was sweaty and dirty from dust and sand and he could taste blood in his mouth from a couple of loose teeth. He could see that the fight was wearing his opponent out too… the cloaked figure was shaking slightly and was swaying a little.
Still refusing to give up… the two warriors prepared themselves for another round.
“BRAVO!” a voice cried, snapping the combatants out of their mental battle of endurance. Both looked over to see the small shape of their employer, clapping his hands. “its good to see that you too have gotten to know each other!”
“What the…?” Tow began, but was cut off by the short Celvolian. “Squad Leader Tow! This is our new employee; he has offered to aid our army with his special abilities… for a price, of course!”
Tow eyed the cloaked warrior with suspicion… sure he was skilled… and tough, but… “What kinds of special abilities?” he asked with a hint of tension in his voice.
The mysterious cloaked fighter raised two clawed grey hands and removed his hood. Revealing a clearly non-biological face with three black lenses for eyes.
“I’m quite multitalented… and adaptable!” the being said. His face changing, morphing into a reptilian face with a smirking predatory smile.
“A MACHINE!” Tow roared with disgust. “Honourless abomination of metal!”
The figures smile turned into a scowl. “That’s MISTER Honourless Abomination of Metal, to you Torpal… but you can call me Axon for short!” the warrior growled menacingly.
The Celvolian smiled brightly to the two combatants. “I’m sure you will have plenty of time to get to know each other, as I’m assigning mister Axon here, to your unit mister Tow! Where are the rest of your team, by the way?”
“WHAT?” both warriors shouted, looking with incredulity at their minute employer.
“No, uh uh! I work alone, man!” the robot named Axon said, shaking is head.
“I decide who’s on my team! You won’t put that freak on the squad!” Tow shouted, making the small alien step back.
“We are the ones who pay for your services!” the Celvolian said trying to sound braver than he was. “WE decide what happens… and you follow our orders if you wish to receive your pay check!”
For a moment, Tow seriously considered if it would be worth it to loose his job for knocking down his boss… but thought better of it.
“Now, where is the rest of Combat Group 1024?” The alien asked again, confident that he had made his point.
The scruffy warrior pointed towards one of the ruined buildings around them. “Unconscious, op on the roof!” he said in a growling voice.
“Excellent!” Their employer clasped his hands together. “I expect your team to be ready to move out in three hours, mister Tow! Oh, yes… welcome in the Celvolian Mercenary Army. I’m sure you will feel right at home mister Axon!”
Their employer turned and left the two combatants scowling at each other.
"You may be able to fight, but you're still just a droid..." Tow growled.
“And you are still just another meat-bag with an attitude!” Axon shot back.
…
Two warriors; dirty and beaten. Two antagonists; despising each other. Two destinies; meant for greatness!!!!
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