Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2004 20:55:07 -0600 From: Rhaven Subject: Star Child Chapter Eight Ash awoke in a panic. He quickly unwrapped himself from Wire's limbs and sat hunched over on the edge of the bed. He held his pounding head and tried to remember exactly what had happened last night. "Rave wants to see you now." Thorn appeared at the door and snarled at Ash. "I want to talk with him too." Ash felt his face flush with anger, just the mention of Rave's name, made Ash fume. How could Rave drug him? Of course, Rave had done it so that he couldn't escape during the night, which was what Ash had been planning. Therefore, Ash wasn't sure he was mad at Rave for being smarter or being so cruel. He left his room with Wire still asleep and followed Thorn down the torch lit passageway. Dove boys, Owl boys, and even Falcons rushed about as if the Aviary was a major metropolis. Finally, Thorn pushed open a large oval door, leading into a dark room. "Rave, Ash is here." Thorn said flatly. "Excellent." The always smiling man said. Thorn cleared his throat loudly and Rave grinned wider. "You know how I feel about this Thorn, but if you must, you must." Rave waited for Thorn to leave the room before speaking again. "Thorn insists on retrieving his fallen comrades. I tried to persuade him not too, but he felt the weight of responsibility. Something I can relate all to well with." "Rave, enough of this."Ash said impatiently. " You wanted to talk, so talk." Rave laughed. "You are an amazing person, Prince Asrais." Suddenly Rave's smile disappeared; it was the first time Ash had seen the man look grim. "How old do you think Thorn is?" Rave asked quietly. "Or for that fact, how old do you think I am?" Ash wrinkled his brow and tried to think of all the races Puck had told him in his stories. "I'm sorry I was under the impression you were all human." Ash confessed, he was in no mood for guessing games. "We are human." Rave acknowledged. "I am 334 years old, though this body is 82, Thorn in his present body is 45 and your beloved Wire, Wire is 21 years old, in his current body." "I don't understand what are you talking about?" Ash felt his headache throb harder. "Let me show you something." Rave said without his identifiable smile. He approached a large rectangle stone table. Pressing a hidden button, the top of the table slid open and an ultra-thin monitor emerged. Rave tapped the screen and the monitor came alive. "I was an apprentice to a woodsmith, with dreams. dreams of something better. Back then I thought I was the only one who ever felt so alienated. the foolishness of youth." Rave said as he tapped the screen again. On the monitor a 3D diagram appeared, it was a amalgamated structure, more apparatus than building. "When I discovered the Rejurvor and knew it would make my dreams come true." Rave tapped the left corner of the screen and the pictured changed. This time an animation of Rave appeared, though this Rave was much older. "It took me years to figure out how to run the machine and ultimately program it." "What does it do?" Ash asked staring wide-eyed at the monitor. "It breaks down the components of the body and reconstructs it, rejuvenating and can even alter your DNA." Rave sighed. "It basically gives you another life. I have died four times and because of the pre-set commands of the Rejurvor, I am reborn just as you see me now, with all my memories intact." "And the Fly Boys?" Was all Ash could say, almost afraid of hearing the answer. "I have the Rejurvor set to alter the Fly Boy's body and mind when they die. Wire in one life was called Bear, because he was such a large boy. Place the dead body into the Sacred Lake which hides the Rejurvor and within a day or so, a brand new boy wanders into our cave, never knowing that they had been a Fly Boy before or even died." Rave almost managed a smile. "But who are the Fly Boys? Are they also children you have kidnapped?" Ash felt his anger rebound. "No." Rave began, unable to look at Ash as he talked. "My village was destroyed by Orcs. It was after the Brood Wars and newly freed mythical creatures were invading all Thrae. No one was safe during that time." Rave stared blankly at the monitor slipping back into his memory of that time. "I managed to rescue about eighty men and I brought them here to the Aviary." "Men? But. are you telling me, you used that machine to transform those men into children? Did you wait for them to die of old age or trick them into the machine to fulfill your own fantasies?" Ash yelled. "I know my sins Prince Asrais." Rave growled. "I have given these 'men ' eternal youth and happiness, who will judge me wrong on that?" "Free will, what of that? Are they programmed to remain here? Do they have hope and dreams as you once did or have you erased those ideas?" Ash clinched his fists, the anger rising in him, almost blinding him. "What truly is free will? Whether it is something I program or forced by unloving parents and peers, perhaps it comes from envy or greed. My Fly Boys are happy Prince Asrais, free from sin, which is a greater blessing than free will." "But." Ash began, but Rave threw up his hand to stop him. "Enough, we could argue this point for an eternity, but it is not the true reason I wish to speak with you." Rave stepped to the monitor again. "Even paradise must come to an end." Rave said to himself. "The Rejurvor is breaking down. No matter what I do, it. I just can't fix it." Rave turned to Ash. "It was why I tried to convince Thorn to leave his fallen Falcons. The Rejurvor doesn't function correctly." Rave gritted his teeth in frustration. "The damn thing. doesn't work anymore Prince Asrais!" Rave started to cry. "I will die and my Fly Boys will." Rave inhaled deeply, calming his voice. "My Fly Boys will need a leader, someone to guide them during this difficult time.Prince Asrais; I believe you should be that person." "Me? Are. are you insane?" Ash realized how stupid that question was, once he had said it, of course Rave was insane. An ancient machine had reconstructed his body too many times. It was amazing the man could even form sentences. "There is no way I'll stay here." "Do you not understand what I am saying?" Rave yelled. "The Fly Boys will die, one by one; there is no coming back from that now. I can't bare the idea of them being frightened, alone to deal with this horror." Rave unconsciously tapped the screen again. "I beg you Prince Asrais, please don't abandon my Fly." Rave stopped talking and stared wildly at the monitor. "The. The Rejurvor has finished processing a new body? How is that possible, Thorn shouldn't have reached the lake yet and it takes at least a day to reconstruct someone." "What's happening?" Ash asked looking over the monitor and frowning, he couldn't understand any of the strange illuminated images. Rave touched another odd icon and the screen changed again. It was a chaotic scene of helixes and graphs. "Oh my God."Rave whispered. "The machine has consumed all the life from the lake and added it to. to the body." "What does that mean?" Ash yelled. "Don't you understand?" Rave said throwing his arms up into the air. "Who ever was in the Rejurvor has been transformed. rebuild into a monstrosity.Oh God! It will be programmed to come here!" Otto heard the buzz of the falcon gliders off in the distance. He remained silent, not letting Pumpkin or the other boy Titan know. He couldn't afford any more delays, most likely the gliders would attack or at least stop him from continuing his journey towards their home. Ash had been with these strange boys long enough, Otto was ready to rescue him and continue their journey. He just hoped that once he recovered Ash, Puck and Dango wouldn't be that difficult to find. Thorn directed his boys to land in the clearing by the Sacred Lake. "Spread out and locate Pumpkin, Swimmer and Titan." He ordered, as he scanned the area for dangers. "I found two gliders." The boy called Spider yelled. "But no sign of bodies." "Got the other glider and no body here either." Spooner announced and walked over to Spider. "Where are the bodies?" "It had to be those strangers." Cursed Thorn. "They've done something wicked to our poor friends." "Hey Thorn." Spider interrupted. "What the hell is that in the lake?" Thorn turned towards the silvery lake and frowned. Something large, very large was breaking the surface of the water. Thorn quickly glanced behind him to Spider and Spooner, making sure they hadn't abandoned him. The thing drew its massive body out of the lake; long muscular arms dragged the ground, as it lumbered forward. It was a nightmare of scales and quills. As the creature sucked in air, rows of jagged gills expanded in a rhythmic flow. "Hooommmee." It gurgled. "Let's get out of here!" Spooner screamed. "NO!" Thorn yelled. "We can take this thing." He said with a twisted smile. "Please Thorn. I don't. I." Spider cringed back, but Thorn gave him a look that told him to stand strong or else. The creature limped forward, bulbous eyes scanning the three nude boys. A wicked grin spread across its green-scaled face. Thorn leapt into the air, shot his arm forward. The blade attached to his gauntlet, clanked against the creatures body armor harmlessly. With an effortless swing of its immense arm, Thorn was thrown through the air like a rag doll, landing thirty feet away. Spider and Spooner looked over at the twisted body of Thorn. The boy was obviously dead. "Home." The creature said ignoring the two other boys. It turned east and marched into the thick forest, of single mind of where it needed to be. The Aviary was a madhouse. Rave had ordered all Falcons to defend the cave entrance; while the Doves and Owls created a wall of furniture, boxes and anything they could find to block the passageway to the dining hall. Ash was feeling lost, he wanted to escape, but he also wanted to help protect these boys. He wasn't sure exactly what this creature was that had frightened Rave, but felt as if it was irony. Rave had tried to cheat death for too long, Ash wasn't sure Rave deserved saving, but did the boys warrant the same fate? Ash remained in Rave's room, staring at the monitor, which still flashed bizarre images at random. "Dango could fix this machine." He said to himself. However, he wasn't sure Dango should fix it. Of course, Ash wasn't sure his friend as even alive. "Crap. What would a real Prince do?" Ash couldn't stand it any longer. He could escape now, but would that be the right thing to do? Would a noble Prince abandon people in danger? Ash ached to be with Puck, Dango and Otto again, especially Otto. He had never felt as safe as he did when with Otto. "Dammit.dammit. dammit." Ash clinched his fists and inhaled deeply. He was going to escape. Otto stopped at the edge of a great canyon and looked across it's gapping expanse towards the head of a bird carved out of the stone. The lake below was a reflection of beauty. "There's a trail over there by that large boulder." Pumpkin said pointing to his left. "We don't use it much, but all the chosen do. We 'll have to figure out just how we're going to swim the lake." "Chosen? Who are the chosen?" Otto asked. "The boys destine to become Fly Boys. They are called when we lose one of our flock." Pumpkin said happily. Otto frowned at the comment, but didn't both for a more detailed explanation. The trail was narrow and rather hazardous. It wouldn't be an easy journey with Pumpkin on his shoulder and carrying Titan, who had once again slipped into unconsciousness. Otto paused and cocked his head. Something huge was approaching. He could hear the trees snap and splinter as this unknown advanced towards them. His worst fears had come true, a possible enemy was approaching and he was restricted. There was no way he could fight with the two boys. Otto had to act fast; he quickly looked around for a safe place to deposit the boys. "Pumpkin I need to get you off my shoulders." Otto said hurriedly. "But we're almost home." Pumpkin questioned. "Perhaps, but something is." Before Otto could finish his sentence, the creature burst out of the forest. "HOME!" It screamed. Pumpkin also screamed and fell backwards off Otto 's shoulders. Otto spun around and made sure that Pumpkin was all right; he placed Titan next to him and turned to face the monster. Though it was at least ten feet tall, scaled and bearing claws that looked as sharp as they were deadly, Otto didn't flinch. He had faced more menacing opponents before. "HOME!" The creature screamed. Otto raised his axe, readying himself for the attack, but the creature turned and leapt over the edge of the canyon and into the lake. "What just happened?" Otto said aloud. "It's heading to the Aviary!" Pumpkin tried to stand as he saw the creature swimming quickly towards his home. "Please Otto; don't let that thing hurt my family!" "Ash." Otto muttered as he watched the creature race across the canyon floor towards the Aviary. Without another word, Otto jumped over the edge in pursuit. Ash made his way to the cave opening. In all the chaos, no one was paying too much attention to him, which made his escape easier. His only fear was running into Rave or Wire. For Rave, Ash knew he would have had to kick the man's ass. However, Wire was a different story; Ash was really fond of Wire and sneaking away without a word to him, was very hard. The only resistance Ash could see were the twelve Falcons guarding the cave entrance. He couldn't fight them all, not with those long blades on their arms, he needed a way to distract them. Ash squeezed himself against the cave wall and peeked around the room. Gliders were parked and stacked over on the left side, along with hundreds of spare parts and accessories; it would be an excellent hiding place. There was nothing within Ash's reach to help him get past these boys. Just as Ash was about to give up hope, a Falcon boy flew into the cave, skidding his glider wildly across the floor. "It's coming. It's coming!" The boy screamed. Panic exploded in the room as a hulking form appeared at the entrance. "HOME." The creature triumphantly screamed. Ash decided to act; this was his chance for escape. He raced into the room, pushed a Falcon boy out of his way and dived between the legs of the bizarre creature. The Falcon boys didn't even react to Ash's escape, which was natural considering the much larger threat now in front of them. Ash didn't look back, he saw the roughly carved steps along the canyon wall and ran down them. The Falcon boys were in a frenzy, they could not allow this monster into the Aviary, but stopping it seemed impossible. "Attack!" Screamed Fly Boy Fox as he encouraged others to rush forward. The assault was over before it began. The creature swept across the boys in a murderous massacre. "Oh my God. oh my God!" cried Daisy, his friends, his brothers has just been ripped apart. Daisy motioned to his friend Sandy and the two boys leapt to their gliders. The creature raked his way over the other gliders, using one as a weapon to sweep boys out of its path. "Die you son of a bitch." Daisy screamed. Both he and Sandy maneuvered the gliders around and fired the built-in blasters. Daisy's first shot struck the glider in the creature's hand. The explosion rocked the small room. Sandy panicked and started blasting wildly. Ash turned back, the sounds of the attack was too horrendous to ignore. He had abandoned the Fly Boys, abandoned Wire, just when he was needed the most. Ash started to run back up the steps, when the cave exploded. The great bird head blew apart as if it were nothing more than dried clay. The second explosion collapsed part of the canyon wall, sending Ash staggering backwards. Flames escaped between the gaps of crumbling stone. The constant crackle and booms, told Ash that the cave had become an inferno, the explosions he heard now were probably the collection of gliders fuel tanks. "Ash. Thank goodness!" Otto cried as he pulled himself out of the water and onto the steps. Ash turned and tears burst from his eyes, he couldn't talk, his emotions were too strong. He ran down to Otto and leapt into the autonoids arms. "Ash. are you all right?" Otto held the boy tight. "It's horrible Otto. I. I deserted them.. I ran away." Ash sobbed, clinging tightly to the strong man. Another explosion rocked the canyon wall, sending large boulders and debris into the once calm lake. "We have to move." Otto ordered quickly. "Can you swim to the other side of the canyon?" Ash nodded and forced himself not to look up at the pyre that once had been Aviary. He dived into the water and swam, as he heard a deafening crack. Otto jumped into the water and sank underneath, a large slab of canyon wall broke free and fell into the lake, taking the carved steps to the Aviary with it. The huge wave created by the enormous landslide, shot Ash to the other side in just a few seconds. Ash threw up his arms and madly grabbed at the canyon wall, trying to find something to pull him out of the turbulent water. He managed to find leverage as another wave lifted him and slammed him into the stone. Ash looked desperately around for another ledge, anything to pull himself out of the lake, but there was nothing. "Hang on, I've got you." Otto said as he appeared out of the water. "Sorry it took me so long; I've given up on swimming and just walked across." Ash almost smiled as he climbed on Otto's back and held on as the autonoid dug his fingers into the stone and began ascending upwards. Ash dared to look back at where the Aviary had once been, a storm of black smoke filled the sky and he squeezed his eyes shut, not wanting to see any longer. "Can we help them?" Ash dared to ask. "There are tons of rocks blocking in entrance Ash. It would take weeks, if not months of digging to clear a way." Otto whispered. "Oh Otto. it's gone. all gone." Pumpkin cried once he saw Otto appear over the edge of the canyon wall. Ash climbed off Otto's back and slumped to the ground. The autonoid stood silently and stared across the lake. Will all his knowledge and experience, he couldn't think of anything to tell Ash. He understood the boy's feelings of guilt. If he had only stopped the monster before it jumped into the lake, then none of this would have happened. Otto heard the sound first; he turned and saw two boys on gliders approaching. "Spider. Spooner!" Pumpkin yelled and waved at his friends. The two Fly Boys guided their gliders down, once they had spotted the small group. "Pumpkin? Oh Lord, it. it came out of the Sacred Lake and killed Thorn." Spooner said breathlessly. "The Aviary. it's gone." Spider gasped and jumped off his glider. "Why are we being punished? What did we do wrong?" "We must have angered Rave. we weren't worthy to continue." Pumpkin cried, wrapping his arms around his head, ashamed of his tears. "You've done nothing wrong." Ash yelled angrily. "This isn't your fault!" Ash stood, his body shook from fury. "This was all Rave's fault, he has been playing God with your lives!" "Don't you.you dare say bad things about Rave." Spider screamed. "Shut up, you idiot! Rave was using you dammit! You were nothing more than his play things!" Ash pushed Spider hard; the boy tripped over his glider and fell on his butt. "Stop it you two." Otto stepped between them. "This isn't helping anyone." Everyone was silent, Ash stared at his feet, feeling the pressure of guilt and anger boil his insides, but he refused to throw a tantrum. He wanted to be mature, as a Prince was suppose to act. Ash bit his lower lip and wished it was just he and Otto, then he could have cried on the autonoid's shoulder without worry of everyone watching. "Otto, what do we do? What happens to us now?" Pumpkin asked timidly. "I. I'm not sure, Pumpkin, perhaps.." Otto confessed. "We don't need their help Pumpkin." Spider interrupted. "We can take care of ourselves." "But Spider. Otto is my friend." "So what will you do? Sit here until you rot?" Ash said through gritted teeth. "You are the last of the Aviary. Don't be such a pig-headed bastard and maybe we can help." "Spider. I'm scared. Maybe we should listen." Pumpkin said desperately. Spider looked over to Spooner and then Pumpkin and the still unconscious Titan. "What do you have in mind?" He said slowly. "It's obvious that your friends need medical attention." Ash began, pointing to Pumpkin and Titan. "I. I don't see how you can come with us." Ash said looking back to Otto for support. "It would be best for you to take your friends to Pallatora, you should find help there." "Pallatora? Why would they help us?" Spider snarled. "Tell them you are friends of Otto and have my blessing to stay at Puck's home." Otto said. "What do you think Spider?" Spooner asked looking curiously to his friend. "I don't see that we really have any other choice." Spider looked over at the destroyed Aviary and sighed. "No I guess we don't." Otto rested his hand on Ash's shoulder, feeling very proud on how the boy had handled the situation. "Otto?" Ash whispered. "Yes?" "Can we leave now? Where are Puck and Dango?" Otto squeezed Ash's shoulder gently. "We got separated, but I believe I spotted their trail back in the woods." "Can we find them?" Ash turned around, tears filling his eyes. "We will find them, the trail leads south." Otto pointed to the distant mountain range. "Most likely they thought you had been taken to the mountains." "Oh you don't want to go to the mountains." Pumpkin warned. "The Bromquag lives there." "What is a Bromquag?" Otto asked. Pumpkin looked to Spider and Spooner for the answer. "We don't know."Spooner answered. "Rave just said that it was dangerous." Otto frowned. "Thank you for the warning. But if our friends are there, then no matter what the danger, nothing will stop us from finding them." Otto looked back to Ash and gave him a reassuring smile. "It's time for us to leave. If you head due east, you will come to the Bramford Forest. From there look for a twin peaked mountain, in that direction you will find Pallatora." "Thank you, Otto." Pumpkin said and reached up his arms. Otto knelt down and hugged the boy. "Take care of yourself Pumpkin." Otto released his hold on the boy and walked back to Ash. "Let's go get our friends." He and Ash walked back into the woods; behind him, he heard the hum of the glider's engine as the Falcons were on their way. Otto stopped and picked up Ash. The boy instantly wrapped his arms around Otto's neck and cried. Otto walked through the forest, holding the weeping boy tightly.