Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001 18:40:08 -0500 From: W.B. Harrell Subject: Tal 4 The Tal Continium By W.B. Harrell Disclaimer: If you are not allowed to be here (if it's against the law where you're from due to age, or just illegal period) then don't read this. Chapter 4: What Lies Beyond The Kingdom of Apathan Year Kinketsu on the Apathian Calender The Reign of King Charnel IV Tal stood in the midst of the great forest, his pants chafing horribly. Here he was, shipless, weaponless (except for his tiny light-knife), and temporarily computerless. On top of all this, there, in a clearing stood a man, his lower face covered by a metal mask, his hands aflame. Before him stood what appeared to be...well...Tal didn't know what exactly it was. It appeared to be a reptile of some sort with veiny, leathery wings. It sported dual horns, horrible red eyes, and cruel looking talons. The creature stood on two muscular legs, balanced, so it seemed, by a huge and agile tail. Four arms moved in what appeared to be an attack pattern. Tal watched as the masked man flung the flames from his hands into the beast. The creature groaned and stumbled backwards. The man began to speak in a fluid tounge. Tal found himself perplexed by the silken language that flowed so easy from the masked man's mouth. He was even more amazed that when the man ceased to speak, more flames appeared about his hands. Tal took a moment to analyze the man (for that is indeed what he appeared to be). He stood tall, perhaps 6'4, 6'5. His long black hair was drenched in sweat and had to be tossed out of the man's eyes to keep from obstruction the man's view. He was muscular, his sleeveless tunic bore witness to that. All in all, not a bad looking guy. Tal chided himself for thinking naughty thoughts in the midst of a crisis. He checked himself and charged into the fray, brandishing his light-knife as if it were a sword. "Get back you fool!" roared the masked man. Tal felt himself involuntarily stop. There was something oddly familiar about that voice. The beast, however, had taken notice of Tal, and it's wide red eyes stared at him in wonder...then horror. "Nooooooo!" screamed the beast. Tal felt something very strange happen. From deep within him, he felt a mighty cry come out. He began to yell words he had never heard before in his life...harsh, deadly words. "Breorim, Breorim, Nathrax Alliel!" he screamed. Blue energy began to swirl about the beast and in a single instant, it ripped the flesh from the beast's bones. The bloody, gory mess that used to be the beast slumped to the ground. Tal felt woozy from the effort of screaming the words. "By the gods and all that is holy!" exclaimed the masked man, "an arch-wizard!" "I'm *huff* no arch wizard *puff*, but I'm glad I could...*cough* help," said Tal, between gulps of air. It was hard to catch his breath as he was sitting on the ground with his head resting on his knees. "That was quite a spell you wove there!" said the masked man. "I don't know what in hell that was, but I didn't do it," said Tal, "dammit PEVA, where are you when I need you?" "Who is this...Peva, a lady love perhaps?" asked the man rather hopefully. "No no no, PEVA is my computer, I hope she has that incident recorded," said Tal, still on his butt trying to catch his breath. "I'm sorry, I don't follow...what is this...computer?" asked the man curiously. Tal looked up in shock. Hadn't this man ever heard of a computer? "Well, it's a...what?" Tal stopped and stared at the man. The skin visible behind the mask paled visibly. "Oh Gods!" moaned the man, "you are too cruel!" "What is it?" asked Tal and lept to his feet, "are you okay?" "Why...why?" screamed the man, "I had just learned to live again!" "Listen man, if you don't tell me what's wrong...I'll...uh, well, I'll zap you," said Tal a bit unsurely. The man's eyes narrowed and some of his colors returned. A dirty hand was dragged across his moist eyes to wipe the tears away. "I know not who you are or who sent you, but I will destroy you, you simulacrum!" said the man coldly. "Simu-what?" asked Tal. "Whaaaaaa!" screamed the man as he charged towards Tal. Tal reached out and met him, and expertly flipped him. "So those martial arts courses at the Academy really did help some," commented Tal as he brushed off his hands. "Demon!" shouted the masked man as he began to chant. "Oh shit!" yelled Tal, he knew what was coming. A huge ball of green fire slammed into his chest and hurled him into a tree. "Now dammit, that wasn't even cool!" yelled Tal as he stumbled up from the ground. He held his side and winced in pain. "Did you say 'cool'?" asked the masked man. He chanted again. Tal found himself dodging some very large icicles that were flying at him. "This is getting old, dude," said Tal as he drew his lightknife, "you can either leave me alone or you can die." "I would rather die than to serve your master!" screamed the man, "I thought I made that clear!" "What?" asked Tal, "I have no master you idiot!" "You are very convincing for a demon," said the masked man, "I almost thought you were him." "Hold it, hold it, hold it," said Tal bewilderdly, "now just who in hell do you think I am?" "Cheeky demon," the man hissed, "you know damned well who you are supposed to be." "Enlighten me," said Tal, leaning against a tree and turning off his lightknife. "You are...oh dammit," said the man as he sunk to the ground and collapsed into a fit of sobs. Tal walked over and put his hand on the man's shoulder. He felt the muscles ripple and shuddered. "Listen, I'm sorry, but..." he tried to say before he was cut off. "Go ahead...life's not worth living anyway, besides, it's your job...go ahead...kill me," said the man. "For the last time, I'm not going to kill you," said Tal. "What?" asked the man, he looked up at Tal, his brown eyes shining. There was something odd about those eyes. They made Tal melt, the weakened him. They made him want to take this masked man here and now. They were...familiar. "What is it, why do you stare at me so?" asked the man. "You just remind me of...someone," said Tal. "Of who," said the man, adjusting his mask. "Just..." Tal remembered and closed his eyes, "you remind me of my lover." "WHAT?" asked the man as he jumped up. "Your eyes, they are like his," Tal said holding up his hands in bewilderment, "you remind me of...Kel?" The man's eyes widened and he gasped. "How the FUCK do you know my name?" he yelled. Tal's stomach dropped. It couldn't be. It just couldn't. He reached out and grabbed the man's metal mask and jerked it off. "OH GOD!!!" screamed Tal and started backing away. He was staring at Kel. His hair was longer and he was a bit thinner than Tal's Kel, but here he was...Kel. Tal shook his head and stumbled back. He felt tears come and turned to run away. He tripped over a root and fell to the ground and hit his head on a stone. He saw stars, but got up and ran away. "Stop!!!" yelled the man, "are you...Tal?" "Nooooo!" screamed Tal. He felt something thick and warm flow over his eyes and his vision turned red. The last thing he remembered was falling backward into a pair of strong arms. Oddly enough...he felt right at home. "You've come back to me," whispered the man. He chanted a few words and he and Tal disappeared into a cloud of light.