Aye
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Posts: 41
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Post by Aye on Aug 20, 2009 14:03:26 GMT -5
Aye blinked at her suddenly unusual behavior of kneeling down. It must have been some sort of ritual of acceptance among her people. Of coarse! Loyalty, companionship, he wasn't entirely sure what the service thing meant, but it must have been a declaration of family. Gladly, he accepted with a big grin and mimicked her behavior and knelled down to her.
"Aye would like to swear complete loyalty to you, sir. Please, let me stay by your side and serve for you. Aye don't want to be alone too."
Kaikoura was completely shocked. It went against everything she knew to have a master try to devote themselves to a servant like her before. She tried to tell herself that he was just mimicking her, but the idea was just too weird to her.
"Aye, I..." she stammered.
None of this seemed to phase Aye at all. He was already across the room picking up the make-shift bowl. Now that she was done with her soup, he was eager to have some of his own.
"Done?" he asked.
She nodded back politely, "Yes, I am."
"Good," Aye said and then scampered out of the room. He was so incredibly pleased, he couldn't hold it in but he didn't want to seem rude in front of Kaikoura. She seemed to take this bond with great seriousness and he didn't want to offend her with his glee. That and he was still quite hungry, having not eaten anything but slugs since the previous morning. Still bouncing with joy, Aye filled the bowl up again with water and placed it on the heater to wait for it to boil, all while happily swishing his tail back and forth. It may not have been much, but Aye now had a family.
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Post by Kaikoura on Sept 5, 2009 23:10:46 GMT -5
Kaikoura watched Aye go in silence. She couldn't move -she was too shocked.
Was he serious? she thought ...I bet he was making fun of me. No...no, thats not like him. I think...we seem to get on well enough...but what else could he have been playing at? Its not like...maybe he just doesn't understand...
Kai's thoughts swirled around in her head for several more minutes. She didn't even notice she was on her feet again -barely- but she was standing.
She finally forced herself to stop thinking about whatever secret meaning might have been behind Aye's words, and even though the thought kept nagging at her, she tried to ignore it. It was evening now, or so she guessed by the light. She was still too sore to make it back through the window downstairs, so Kai started wandering around the upper floor.
The room where Aye and Kaikoura had been was a landing of sorts for the upper floor. From the stairs, it looked like a mid-sized square platform with one side open to the warehouse below, though it was so overflowing with crates that it might has well have been closed on all sides. There wasn't much else here at first glance, many of the crates were labeled, but Kai couldn't recognize any of the characters, and the orange-ish glow coming from the window caused the room to be very dark outside the rim of light.
That said, Kai was very surprised when she suddenly noticed that behind one stack of crates, a faint light could be seen. She approached it cautiously, peering around the side of the crates. Behind them, there was a stack covered with a heavy blanket and behind that was a long hallway. The glow was from another window at the far end.
Kai was able to squeeze between the wall and the crates easily, One of the advantages of being starving. Kai thought as she emerged into the hallway.
The main warehouse was creepy in and of itself. But it was creepy in the way that an unfamiliar place is -like a house after a long vacation. This hallway was much worse, in a might-be-haunted sort of way. Unfortunately for Kai, this latter type is much more interesting for those with an abundance of curiosity and so she pressed on into the stillness.
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Rink
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Posts: 16
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Post by Rink on Sept 12, 2009 20:15:14 GMT -5
Rink rounded a corner and was surprised at what he saw. There was a small group of downtrodden people, both human and different aliens, waiting in line for something. That something became clear when he saw another alien behind a counter dressed in cook's clothing.
This is the food I smelled. Damn, and here I thought I'd found that blue-fur alien.
For a second, Rink wondered why there was a food establishment in the middle of what seemed to be an abandoned warehouse district. He decided to ask the cook.
"Excuse me, sir."
"Hey, th' en o' th' line s'over there buddy!" roared one particularly nasty looking customer that looked like a cross between a crocodile, human, and swiss cheese. Other people in line were started to protest.
"Sorry, but I need to ask some questions." He flashed his trusty old Agency ID again. Never had to use this twice in one day. Guess I'm going for a record.
All the people in line suddenly became deathly quiet, staring at him with rapt attention. A few looked like they might be sick.
"Ok, first, what's a food establishment doing in the middle of a deserted district?" The cook's face paled and he began to sweat. "No, no, no I'm not gonna close you down or anything like that, I was just curious. Doesn't seem like you'd have many customers."
"w-w-well if you must know, there are quite a few...s-shall I say 'undesirables' who....who live here. c-can't live in the city so they run away out here where no-one can b-bother them."
"Sir, please, you don't have to be nervous. Your answer leads to my next question. I'm looking for somethi--er, someone." Rink cast a somewhat nervous glance at the aliens in line, hoping he'd saved himself before potentially insulting them. He coughed. "I'm looking for a friend of mine. Has blue fur, runs really fast, might be in the company of a Rai'ku girl."
"n-no sir, haven't seen anyone like that here."
The nasty looking customer glared at him. "Why shou'd we help ya, Agent? No on' of us wan's anythin ta do with th' poleese. we look ou' for each other, wou'dnt help ya if we did konw anythin abou this "frend" o' yors. now leeve."
Rink might normally press for more information, but this time he felt he shouldn't. For one, he believed that these people hadn't seen the blue-fur alien and Rai'ku. It was one of those gut feelings, like he could tell from their eyes that they spoke the truth. The second reason he didn't press further was he was unarmed and outnumbered, and that nasty looking customer had his hand on what might be a gun in its holster. Rink got the hint.
He rummaged his pockets and produced the very last of the physical money he had on him, which wasn't much. He gave some to the cook and to the nasty customer. I didn't learn anything about the blue-fur alien, but I don't think I want to be on their bad side. Better safe than sorry.
"Thank you gentlemen." Rink turned and left the way he came.
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Post by Kaikoura on Sept 13, 2009 5:20:25 GMT -5
Kaikoura crept as quietly as she could down the hallway. Her injuries kept causing her to stumble, but there was nothing else to hear anyway. When she reached the end of the hall, she looked out of the window. The warehouse was taller than she thought, and it was a long drop to the ground below. She could see quite away off, and realized for the first time
Kaikoura crept down the hallway as quietly as she could. Her injuries made it hard to stay on her feet, but she was intrigued enough to keep pressing forward. When she finally reached the window at the end of the hall, she looked out and was blinded momentarily by the light of Jachrid's star coming in from beyond the spaceport.
When her eyes finally adjusted, she realized first how high up she was. The ground looked small and far below Not a fall I'd like to take but she could also see a great way into the distance. The warehouses stretched on further than she'd imagined, and by the scattered pockets of smoke rising here and there between them, she guessed rightly that there must be a great many more people wandering down there than she and Aye had guessed.
The smell of some sort of food wafted in through the broken glass, and though Kai was still hungry, she ignored it and turned back down the new branch of the hallway.
This branch was less ominous than the first, with one exception, she could see the end of it, and it didn't seem to go anywhere. At the end was a flat wall with a portrait hanging on it.
Whats up with that? Kai thought as she approached it. It was a portrait of a man -obviously very important judging by his finely tailored purple suit and well kept hair- shaking one of the four hands of another man, equally important, and a bit more pompous looking, and between them, on a fine table was a miniature spaceship. Kai cocked her head to the side and noticed a small golden plate on the frame. It had words on it.
She touched the plate gently then wiped some of the grime from it. The letters were clearer, but she was no closer to understanding them. As she stared, she suddenly felt a very strong sensation. There was a great deal of energy in this area...her helmet must have stopped working again.
She felt excitement, a great deal of excitement right at this spot...but she could feel it somewhere else too...the feeling reached out beyond this spot...to somewhere below her.
Suddenly there was a crashing noise outside, loud enough that Kai screamed in sudden fright and ran back down the hallway as quick as she could go. By the time she was out from behind the crates and down the stairs she was feeling a little foolish. Her hearts were still thumping as she saw Aye eating by his sleeping place. She dashed over to him, grateful to have someone she could be near until things calmed down again.
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Taeg
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Post by Taeg on Sept 14, 2009 0:24:07 GMT -5
*The loud noise died off as Taeg pulled himself out of the crates and boxes he had fallen into, stared around for a minute before settling on the ground for blame.*
Now Ned! Why on Scourlin did you trip me?
He didn't, I pushed ye.
No! Sarthog? You? I'd believe that as much as I'd believe my mum killed small sandwiches. Clearly Ned here is out to get me, sure as a moon in cookies.
Hey look! A building! this must be the place Charlie was itching about.
Ned is this why you tripped me? I was going to go right on by. *whispers to Sparky* I think Ned likes you.
Can we just go in the building already?
Alright! No need to get snippy with me. Can you believe this guy Charlie?
Not again! I told ya Spine Blower! I don't speak Russian!
*Sparky pushed pass Taeg, and began walking towards the building. After a few minutes, Taeg noticed, and quickly caught up to Sparky. They had soon stepped through the threshold and stood in a large dusty room.*
AH! It's good to be home again!
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Post by sparkythedog on Sept 14, 2009 3:27:54 GMT -5
Sparky looked around the room. It was a small area with a bunch of chairs and a desk with doors going to other places it like a waiting room.
A my bed looks like it has grown
*Taeg started towards the desk. He opened the drawers to make a little set of stairs for him to climbed up on when he got to the top he laid down on the desk to sleep*
AH! this is harder than a frozen gummy bear.
Whats a gummy bear?
I dont know you tell me your the one that mentioned it.
Whats that Ted?
*Taeg turned to look at one of the door knobs. While the name Ted seemed familiar to sparky*
Uh huh. You dont say. is that so.
Ted here says thats there are others hiding in this building. says they are blue Giants. isnt that more exciting than a gopher playing tennis?
Arent ye trying to hide from the blue giants.
Hahaha. thats funnier than a pic-nicking tumbleweed.
*taeg then proceeded through the door
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Aye
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Posts: 41
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Post by Aye on Sept 14, 2009 15:09:12 GMT -5
Once the bowl had cooled down, Aye happily slurped down a mouth-full of noodles. It was still a little hot, but he just couldn't wait any longer with delicious food in front of him. It was quite possibly the best thing he had tasted in nearly a month. While part of that was due to the fact that he hadn't eaten in over 24 hours and another part was that the past week had been spent eating slugs, it was also the only thing he had eaten that didn't come scrounged out of a trash can or was stolen bits of leftovers. His ears perked up when he heard the sound of a crash coming from outside. It was likely just a stray animal, but one couldn't be too careful. Then there was the sound of footsteps as Kai ran into the room, appearing alarmed.
"Okay, kaikoura?" he whispered quietly.
"Yes, Aye," she said with a bow, only to jerk with pain.
She was about to continue speaking, but Aye held a vertical finger up to his mouth (which he had learned was translated by some as being quiet). Outside he could hear voices; two of them. They walked down the alley and past the window which Aye and Kaikoura had been using an entrance. Their voices came in clear as they passed by.
"...we just go in the building already?"
"Alright! No need to get snippy with me. Can you believe this guy Charlie..."
The way they were speaking, there must have been at least three of them. Odd though, that Aye could only hear two sets of foot-steps. Still, there wasn't any time to waste. Aye slurped down the rest of the bowl in one gulp (a pity since he was looking forward to savoring that meal) and turned to Kaikoura.
"Hide." Kaikoura didn't feel silly anymore after hearing the urgency in Aye's lowered voice. She ran as fast as her injured body could carry her back to where she was before. Perhaps she could slip somewhere small that they wouldn't check. Aye quickly righted the heater and pushed it back to the corner of the room. Then he retrieved the plastic bag containing the food and found his own hiding place. At a dark end of the room, he climbed up on top of one of the various machines and laid down flat on it, giving him a view of the room while only exposing the top of his head and laid-back ears. He knew he could have found a better spot to hide, but he wanted to see the intruders and prevent them from getting close to Kaikoura.
And then the door on the far wall opened...
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TKC
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Posts: 6
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Post by TKC on Sept 14, 2009 15:35:17 GMT -5
TKC had been sleeping soundly in one of its favorite spots, a pile of abandoned boxes next to an abandoned building. Nothing more than a purple puddle hidden among the boxes, it was quickly startled awake by loud crashing and banging sounds.
For a time TKC's mind was confusion, and it reacted in the most primitive manner, simply pulling away from the loud noises, back into a corner. As the noises died down though it could think a little clearer, and with this new clear thought came a hint of curiosity.
Slipping out from beneath the tumbled about boxes, the purple puddle stretched up and grew, shifting color and gaining shape until a small, human-like child formed. With exceptionally wide, and violet, eyes, not to mention only having 3 fingers per hand, it was obviously not human, but definitely a child wearing simple, dirty clothes.
Looking around with its wide, curious, eyes TKC wondered who would have made such a mess of the place it slept. Curiosity growing, it turned a couple times. There were voices inside the building, but if they were inside the building, they couldn't have messed up its sleeping place. So the ones who had done it must be somewhere else.
Box tumbler, rock rumbler, where have you gone? TKC said in it's musical voice as it started to wander about the pretty much deserted street, though it wasn't deserted, as there was a tall man with brown hair walking too.
Walking up to the tall man TKC reached up to tug on his clothes with its three stubby fingers, and stared with wide, curious, violet eyes as it asked, Are you the box tumbler?
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Rink
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Posts: 16
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Post by Rink on Sept 17, 2009 4:38:41 GMT -5
Rink had walked quite far. He could no longer smell the delicious food, and thinking about it made his stomach growl.
Too bad I gave the rest of my money away. Guess I'll have to be creative in how I find my next meal.
Rink didn't have to wait though, because he just remembered he still had a bag of potato chips in his backpack. He stopped to take them out, opened them, and began munching.
God I love potato chips. It's too bad they're rare and expensive everywhere except on Earth, otherwise I might buy and eat 'em everyday. Better savor these until the last one.
Rink continued walking, although much more slowly as he enjoyed his chips. He contemplated whether he'd ever get off this rock, or if he was doomed to fruitlessly search this abandoned district forever. Rink sighed, knowing the odds were against him. That was when he felt something tugging at his pants. He turned and looked down to see the cause and found a small child. At first he thought it was a human boy, but seeing a hand with only three fingers and two brilliant violet eyes staring directly into his, Rink could safely say that wasn't the case. Even more surprising, Rink couldn't place what alien species this child was, and Rink knew quite a few.
Violet eyes don't occur naturally in any of the known sentient species of the galaxy. Another exotic alien, huh? First its blue fur, now violet eyes. What next, pink hair?
"Are you the box tumbler?"
Rink had no idea how to respond. "Box tumbler?" I'm not sure what this kid's talking about, but I can play along. I can be good with the kids when I have to. Doesn't hurt that I got my favorite snack food to lift my spirit.
"Sorry, I'm not. Would you like a chip?"
He handed the kid a chip. The kid just held it and stared at it.
"Don't tell me you don't know what a chip is? It's food, you eat it. Like this."
Rink put a chip in his mouth and chewed. The kid seemed to understand and did the same thing. Rink handed the kid another chip, and it ate it. While it was always fun to meet new people, Rink still thought this alien had to be a child, and therefore had a family that it lived with nearby. Its parents might be wondering where their child is, so Rink felt it was best to get the kid home.
"Do you live nearby? Aren't your folks worried about where you are?"
"Folks? What is 'folks?'" The kid didn't seem to understand, so Rink explained.
"Oh, er, it means your parents. You know, your mother and father."
The kid continued to stare at him with curiosity, so Rink decided it might be quicker to just find the kid's place than continuing to explain the meaning of words.
"You know what, why don't you just show me where you live. I'll explain to you there."
The kid seemed to like the prospect of learning, as it began skipping along, leading the way.
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TKC
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Post by TKC on Sept 17, 2009 11:00:38 GMT -5
The brown haired man was nice. He gave TKC food, at least he thought it was food. It was really small. Maybe a snack? Either way the man was nice and wanted to see where TKC lived so he could explain what folks and parents were.
Skipping along with excitement at learning something new, TKC soon arrived at the pile of tumbled about boxes where it lived. Tugging once more on the man's pants it point at the boxes, "This is my home. Box tumbler came, he jumbled and rumbled, making the mess. Was much nicer looking before."
The man looked at the boxes for a moment, and then at the building behind, "You mean you live in the building?"
TKC giggled at the funny man, "Wide open spaces and dark dirty places is the building, scary and lonely inside. Out here beneath the boxes is where I reside."
"Beneath the boxes? You mean you sleep under them?"
TKC hesitated a moment. It knew that some people acted strange when they saw what it could do. The man was friendly though, so maybe he would be fine. Giving the man a brilliant smile it nodded, "Yes. This is my nest, the place where I rest. Allow me to show you."
With a little wave TKC's childlike body melted down into the purple puddle it had been earlier, and then slid under the boxes. It waited there, listening for the man's reaction. If he acted strangely it might be best to remain hidden.
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Post by Kaikoura on Sept 20, 2009 8:50:48 GMT -5
Kaikoura scrambled as fast as she could away from Aye, and didn't have to go far before she had several of the huge machines between them. Of course, she didn't yet know what she was running from, but she could feel Aye's fear and sense of urgency. Even now, she could feel him moving about the room, his aura glowing like a beacon as he climbed up something nearby.
Kai's first thought was to go back upstairs, maybe back to the hidden hallway, but if the intruders -for, what else could have Aye so worried out here- came in too soon, she'd be spotted before she could even get halfway up. So instead she settled on a space behind a huge oil drum. She wrapped herself as messily as she could in her shawl, being careful to leave a space she could see through, and waited.
Off in the distance, she could feel Aye, now somewhere above her, and directing his energy toward the far wall. Then she heard it herself, the sound of a doorknob clicking. She panicked, but stayed silent. Haassh! He's going to see me! What do I do? Stay quiet, you'll be fine. He won't even notice you. Oh Goddess, I'm right in front of him, he'll see me right away. I bet he's been following me since the store. A customer maybe? Someone who wants to hurt me?
Kai's panic subsided a bit when she saw the two children walk through the door. One of them was grey and looking intently at his arm and the other one...the other one looked like Aye! Not exactly, but definitely similar.
Kai almost leaped out of her hiding spot, but Aye still hadn't moved, and also hadn't relaxed. Whatever these two kids were doing here, Aye wasn't taking any chances with them.
You see, Charlie? The steamroller did go through the window!
I'm not seein any blue giants. I think ye's friend has gone senile.
Butterscotch! If I want a signal I'll jump in the river myself.
What did he say? A river? My head must still be messed up. Kai thought.
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Taeg
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Posts: 18
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Post by Taeg on Sept 20, 2009 14:52:20 GMT -5
*Taeg looked around the room him and Sarthog had entered. It was a large room, many of the windows had been broken, and it was littered by dusty crates and drums of empty oil vats.*
This is what you came here to make me see Charlie?
He wanted you to see the giants remember. Who don't look to be here.
Then what's that then? *Taeg points to a large machine at the end of the room.*
That is a some sort of machine...
*Just then a blue furry man dog, for that was the only way to describe him, stood up. Standing on the machine he towered over Taeg and Sarthog.*
Careless Aye. What want with Aye?
I'll be! He's the spitting image of ol' Sarthog dipped in blue and made bigger.
He is not... well not exactly.
I'm sorry, who made black bear poster?
Right... so is this your giant or not?
Bwahahahaha. Pale moonlight in the stars, he's come back for me! Larado Sapsim!
What's that Charlie? Giants? Where?
Attention Aye to!
Oh! there be the giant from earlier! Fancy that, Ned was right... I guess I owe him a Wingle Trot.
He's really not that big... Ye really are an idiot Taeg.
Hahah! The best kind! For ma then.
*Before Sarthog could stop him, Taeg was running towards the machine, then stopped at the base, and looked intent on the machine as if he was listening closely to someone speak. And knowing Taeg, he probably was. Then he sat down, put his hands on his knees, and began to meditate.*
*The blue dog man looked at Sparky questioningly, and he just shrugged.*
I'm starting to get used to it... Why don't ye come down here so we can speak?
*Aye looked at Taeg again, looking a little worried.*
He will probably be at that a while. Ye should be fine.
*Aye took a deep breath, and slowly began to climb down.*
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Aye
New Member
Posts: 41
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Post by Aye on Sept 22, 2009 13:22:54 GMT -5
Aye was cautious as he climbed down, always keeping his attention on the two short creatures. Aye knew that if it came down to it, he could likely over-power them or just flee but they may have some tricks up their sleeves that he didn't know of. When he hopped off the machine, Aye gave a quizzical look at Taeg.
"Ye shouldn't pay too much attention to him. My name is Sarthog. Ye are?"
"Aye."
"Yeah, aye aye, my name is Sarthog. But what is ye name?"
"Aye me."
"Blimey, yer just like the other one!"
"Aye name Aye." He took his left hand and lifted up the fur on his right shoulder to reveal a tattoo that simply said, A.E.
"Ye tattooed your name on ye shoulder? I hate to break it to ye, but ye spelled it wrong."
"Aye didn't..."
Aye trailed off for a momnent before they were suddenly cut off when Taeg lept to his feet.
"Charlie, you can't deny the merits of a good kneeling!"
He turned around and saw Sparky and Aye talking and jumped as if he was surprised to see people there.
"Goodness! Is it Horrag Day already? But I forgot to bring my crumb pie. Do you know where I could get a good slapping?"
"Aye, this is Taeg."
"By the power of lemon, they talk! But how did you know my name?"
He paused for a moment and shouted at the space to the left of him as if somebody was there. "Quiet Ned, this isn't the time!"
"He's always like this but generally harmless."
"I'll tell you what isn't harmless! A bacon umbrella in a toy store restroom. Oh, bacon sounds good right now. Jerry, do you know where we could find a blind potato farmer?"
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Rink
New Member
Posts: 16
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Post by Rink on Sept 28, 2009 18:10:43 GMT -5
The little boy was pointing at a small pile of boxes, explaining how this was his home.
So this kid lives alone. But why under a pile of boxes? There are plenty of abandoned buildings, and besides, it doesn't look like he could fit under these boxes.
Suddenly the boy turned into a pile of purple goo. Rink's reflexes took over, as he crouched and slammed his body against the wall next to the pile of boxes. For a moment, Rink thought the boy had been liquefied by some sort of energy or plasma weapon, but as moments passed there was no sign of anyone coming to finish him off. As the adrenaline wore off, Rink thought of something that he missed in the confusion. Carefully he crawled out from his spot and looked where the pile of the boy should have been, but saw nothing.
Strange. I know I saw the boy liquefy. But then where is he?
Rink found himself staring at the boxes, wondering.
No...could it be...?
He lifted several of the boxes away until he found himself looking at the same pile of purple goo. Except now that he saw it, it was moving around slightly and then laughed.
"Box tumbler, box tumbler! You are a box tumbler!" The puddle exclaimed in a cheery sing-song voice.
"I, er, um...what?" Rink was still holding a box in his hand, when he realized what he'd just done. "Oh! Just realized I took apart your house. Sorry." Rink began to stack the boxes back, surprised that he had accepted the situation as it was.
This boy isn't really a boy. He's some kind of shapeshifter. I know my aliens, and there aren't shapeshifters as far as I'm aware. So then why the hell am I not freaking out right now?
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TKC
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Post by TKC on Sept 30, 2009 13:21:29 GMT -5
The man was nice, which made TKC happy. He was even putting TKC's home back together.
As the man finished TKC emerged from beneath the boxes, returning to the child like form it had used before. Even if the man was nice, TKC knew that most people liked seeing the same body again.
"Box stacker, home packer, you are a friend to me. Let me be kind, with something I find, or something you wish to see."
As the man was still looking at TKC with a strange face, TKC reached up and took one of his five fingered hands with its three fingered hand, "What do you seek, what would you like? Let me be a help to thee."
"Well, I am looking for a friend of mine," the man said, causing TKC to smile brightly with the thought of helping its new friend out, "He's has blue fur, runs really fast, and might be with a Rai'ku girl."
"Like this?" TKC asked as it sprouted blue fur, ending up looking like a little blue monkey.
"Yeah, kind of like that," the man replied, making TKC smile even brighter.
"Calling blue hairy creature, my friend here would sure like to meetcha," TKC called out in a surprisingly loud voice that echoed off of many of the nearby buildings.
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