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| The Forgotten |
| Episode Twenty-Three |
| PRESENT: NOTE: This is the morning after Episode 21, when Inferno went to sleep. The flashback of Episode 21 and 22 is done. Since the window in Inferno�s room faced the west, the sunrise could be seen. The sunlight poured in and Inferno woke up in his own house for a change. There wasn�t a bed yet, but it was better than outside on the ground. He went to the dining room and ate breakfast with Over Flame, who had also woken up early. AXEM INFERNO: Now that we are done, let�s go and get the Arch open. The sooner it is, the sooner we get our furniture. AXEM OVER FLAME: It�ll be nice to not have to eat breakfast standing up like this� ELAPSE TIME: About 16 hours later, just after noon: AXEM INFERNO: Well, our house is finally finished, furnishings and all� AXEM OVER FLAME: I�m bored. Inferno rolled his eyes. AXEM INFERNO: So what do you want to do? AXEM OVER FLAME: Let�s go adventuring! AXEM INFERNO: Where? AXEM OVER FLAME: How am I supposed to know? You are the one who knows all of those addresses from Aquador. What planet sounds good for exploration? AXEM INFERNO: Well�There is a planet that is supposed to have a large colony of Toads. However, they were in the early Bronze Age the last anyone knew, and that was about 50 years ago� AXEM OVER FLAME: Early Bronze Age? AXEM INFERNO: Yeah, some of the cultures in the Arch system are behind others� AXEM OVER FLAME: I meant what is the early Bronze Age? AXEM INFERNO: A time period that occurred on Earth about 3000 years ago. AXEM OVER FLAME: Okay, let�s go! ELAPSE TIME: The amount of time it took for them to get ready, and Tarn as well, later: Inferno, Over Flame, and Tarn were all wearing some survival equipment and slight technological equipment was in Inferno and Tarn�s packs. Inferno dialed an address into the console and a wormhole opened. The planet they were going to was the closest one to Earth with an Arch. They went through the Arch. When they came out on the other side, it was exactly like they expected it would be. There was on one near the Arch, and it was not a developed area. NOTE: They sent a ROSEV through first. They saw smoke and started walking away from the Arch, towards it. After about 4 miles they came to a valley. When the looked down, they saw a camp. TARN: That doesn�t look like the Bronze Age� All three of them pulled out some binoculars and looked down at the camp. AXEM INFERNO: It looks like a mining camp�But the technology is way too high for what they were 50 years ago� TARN: There is no way they�ve advanced this far on their own; they must have ha-Whoa! AXEM INFERNO: What? TARN: That looks like Oqulda. AXEM INFERNO: And that would be? TARN: It�s a very rare element. It isn�t found on many planets�Its only use is for technology that is far beyond even their increased capabilities�Nothing short of the industrial age requires Oqulda. AXEM OVER FLAME: Are this people at war with other tribes? TARN: As of the last knowledge, yes. AXEM OVER FLAME: Okay, that would explain the fact that they have guards�But why are some of the guards Koopas? And why do they have what appear to be some sort of guns? Inferno and Tarn turned their attention to the perimeter. TARN: Something isn�t right� AXEM OVER FLAME: I say we find out what� ELAPSE TIME AND PLACE: A few minutes later, at the edge of the camp: The three of them were hiding behind some bushes. After one of the guards walked by, they ran into the camp. They went to the center of the camp, looking for the chieftain or leader. Something none of them noticed was that no one approached them to stop them, and the Toads even bowed until they passed. There was no place for a leader, so they approached a Toad to ask him where they could be found. Tarn talked in an ancient Toad dialect, after Inferno asked in English, and the Toad said something that roughly translated to �That is wet one�s language� with quite a bit of anger. TARN: Donda es ta tougrapha? Translation: Where is your leader? TOAD: To fecha ta grapho? Ha Tou Hecut Ona? Translation: You mean our god? The Great Wet One? TARN: Ji do es ta tougrapha. Translation: If he is your leader. The Toad pointed up to the sky. TOAD: Do es. Do es olta ber. Translation: He is. He is up there. TARN: Kor- Before he could finish, a Koopa yelled at the Toad. KOOPA: Why are you keeping the Great Wet busy? Do not speak to him! You will be punished. The Toad appeared to understand, because his face suddenly showed fear, and he ran off. The Koopa then glanced at the three and gasped in astonishment. KOOPA: When I saw you, I didn�t really look. However, you aren�t the Great Wet One. You are like him, but you are not he. Are you another pair of gods, with your servant? Tarn, realizing that he was the �servant� sneered. AXEM INFERNO: We are not gods, merely Axem. Is that what your god is? An Axem? With a body shaped like ours, an axe, and probably some water powers? KOOPA: He is like that, but he is a god. AXEM INFERNO: He sounds more like an Axem. If he is an Axem, he must be one of the evil Axem lords, tricking you all into working for him. TARN: That sounds right. KOOPA: You�You�re lying! The Great Wet One is a god! You are merely evil gods trying to trick us into turning against him so you can destroy him! Unfortunately for you, the Great Wet One has given us some things that use his awesome powers. Guards! As he said that, he pulled out a type of gun that resembled a Kidel, but smaller. A rush of Koopas joined him, and the three were encircled. AXEM OVER FLAME: Well�At least we get a battle! End of Episode 23 |