Kharon Chapter 29
The group is slowly making their way through a thick mist along a seaside cliff as they follow Kiarah.
“What’s this brilliant plan of yours to get my ship fixed?”, demands Luke.
“Your ship?”, asks Jacob.
“Don’t start”, snaps Luke.
“The Sloons use magic and science for everything. They will be able to fix the ship quickly”, says Kiarah.
“And how in all the three suns do you expect to get them to do that?”, asks Luke.
“By making them think they captured the crew and commandeered the ship for themselves”, says Kiarah.
“How the hell are we going to pull that trick off?”, asks Luke.
“We let them capture some of us.” With that Kiarah unsheathes her spear like weapon and swings it at the crew, knocking Simone, Jacob and Luke off the cliff. The three fall through the mist for a moment before suddenly coming to a stop appearing almost frozen in mid-air.
As the three struggle like they are caught in some kind of invisible spider’s web Luke is almost frothing at the mouth in rage. “That Quarsian bitch! Wait till I get my hands on her. I’m going to tear her limb from limb.”
“Should have seen that coming. Pulled something similar myself once”, says Simone to herself.
“Why can’t I move!?”, screams Jacob.
“It’s a Sloon magnetic net”, states Simone. As soon as she says this the mist around them clears revealing that the threesome are stuck in a glowing net suspended in the air.
Several Sloons gather around below the net. One of them shouts, “Take their weapons.” The Sloons hold out their hands and the weapons float off Simone, Jacob and Luke and down towards the waiting Sloons. The piece of the net with Simone, Jacob, and Luke attached then magically breaks off from the rest of the net and floats down a path in the island with the Sloons marching behind it.
Emma, Sparky and Kiarah watch all this transpire from a hidden perch high on the cliffs.
“Are we going to rescue them?”, Emma asks.
“Yes. Assuming they survive till the Kharon is fixed.” With that Kiarah rises and walks along the cliff back towards where they came from. Emma looks at Sparky and shrugs. She then turns and follows after Kiarah.
Kharon Chapter 30
In the village square of the Sloons there is a large ceremonial ground with huge stones erected around it. In the center are three large flat stone alters. Simone, Jacob and Luke are each chained to one of these alters. All around the ceremonial ground is gathered a huge crowd of chanting Sloons dressed in ceremonial robes.
“There are other crew members! Let us go and we’ll help you capture them and the ship!”, yells Luke.
“And you call me the backstabber”, mutters Jacob.
“Fuck you! This is all your fault”, says Luke.
“How the hell is this my fault?”
“Your the one who brought me to that ship and got me involved with that psychotic Quarsian.”
“Your stretching more than they already stretched us out here. What are they planning on doing with us anyway?”, asks Jacob.
“My guess is sacrifice us”, Simone calmly says.
“What!?”
“They’re big into sacrifice. They claim from pain comes power.”
“I can’t end my life in this backwater hell hole. At least give me a chance to talk my ass out this”, whines Jacob.
“Relax. If I had a Ruby for every time I was trussed up waiting to be executed I wouldn’t have to spend my time stealing them”, says Simone.
The crowd then begins to part and several hooded figures march up towards the stone alters. For several minutes they dance around the alters and over the prisoners waving their hands. Jacob and Luke give perplexed and concerned looks towards each other. Finally they stop and the chanting dies down. Then one of the hooded people turns to the crowd and speaks, “These outsiders have come to our sacred land. They came to exploit it but instead they will have the honor of bestowing the power of their life force to this island.”
“You fucking attacked us! We didn’t come to plunder shit!”, interrupts Luke but his pleas go unheeded and the chanting resumes.
“I think they just assumed”, says Simone.
Luke turns to Simone. “Where’s that brilliant escape plan of yours?”
“I’m working on it.”
Kharon Chapter 31
The hooded figure then speaks again over the chanting. “May the energy that is you find everlasting peace within this land of power and mystery. For the glories of a higher purpose we bless you.” The hooded figures then sprinkle oil onto the three from vials that they took from their robes. The lead hooded figure then takes a long dagger from their robe and walks over to Simone. The dagger is raised high in the air catching the glint of the fading light of day. Just as it moves to plunge into Simone she springs up from the alter her hands now free and grabs the dagger preventing it from piercing her. The hooded figure is stunned by this development and caught off guard.
Simone smiles and says, “Your not the only one who can do magic.” With that Simone pulls the hooded figure close to her and palms ghost balls from under the cloak while head-butting the hooded figure. Simone then tosses the ghost balls into the crowd. They burst open in a puff of smoke and spray of sparks. Ethereal beings begin to zoom throughout the crowd sending everyone into a panic as they zap people in every direction. Chaos ensues.
“What the hell is that?’, asks Jacob.
Simone picks up the dagger from the now unconscious hooded figured and picks the locks on the rest of her chains. “Ghost balls.”
“Ghost balls?!”, says Jacob with his eyes growing wide.
“Don’t worry”, says Simone. “They’re mostly artificial ghosts. I just needed a distraction.”
“I don’t find ‘mostly artificial ghost’ comforting!”, yells Jacob.
“How did you get free?”, asks Luke.
“These priests have a thing for oil and crystals and I’m good at sleight of hand”, says Simone as she undoes the last lock with the dagger. She then begins to run away.
“Hey! What about us?”, yells Luke.
Simone stops and turns back to the men. “I don’t know. You two kinda seem like assholes.”
“He’s the asshole. I’m just an annoying jerk”, says Jacob.
Simone sighs. “Oh alright.” She then runs back and quickly picks the lock on the chains of Luke and Jacob.
While she is freeing the others a hooded figured points at them and screams, “The sacrifice is getting away!”
“Run! Run!” The trio runs away as fast as they can while the crowd chases after them.
Kharon Chapter 32
Kiarah, Emma and Sparky are hidden in a tree on a coastline watching Sloons swarm over the Kharon as they use technology and magic to repair it. “They appear to be just about finished”, says Kiarah. “When I tell you, hold up Sparky.”
“You’re not going to get him hurt, are you?”
“No. He has not wronged me. Unlike these people.” With that Kiarah starts climbing down the tree.
Emma with Sparky in her arms follows. They sneak their way to the beached Kharon. With her spear-like weapon Kiarah takes several Sloons by surprise and easily dispatches with them. She then stands to reveal herself and the remaining Sloons come charging towards her.
“Now!”, cries Kiarah as she ducks behind Emma who now holds up Sparky.
The Sloons aim their magic wands and fire at the two women and the mechanical animal. But the magical energy is drawn to Sparky and hits him. No sooner has he been struck then he reciprocates by sending out powerful electrical currents that trace back to the wands and zap the onrushing Sloons. The Sloons all fall to the ground smoking.
Emma watches all this with a mix of amazement and pride. She then lets Sparky lick her with his steel tongue. “Wow! Way to go Sparky! Good boy.”
Kiarah comes out from behind Emma and starts walking towards the Kharon. “Magic is just a manipulation of energy, all you need to do is throw a wild card into the mix.”
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