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-   -   Shrown (story) (http://www.oddworldforums.net/showthread.php?t=16853)

Splat 05-22-2008 01:49 PM

Don't stop writing :eek:
Good chapter, exciting and such. I'd say you wanna be careful about dragging scenes like this on too much as it can get a bit dull, but it's ok so far!

Moosh da Outlaw 05-22-2008 02:28 PM

If you don't continue I swear i'll have to freaking kidnap you and force you to write more chapters. >:C
DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YA~

Oddey 05-23-2008 02:47 AM

(Sighs and bows head until it hits the ground where it starts to crush anything underneath it just to bow lower.) Why? Why must the great fan fiction always be cancelled? Why must the great writer give up on things to move up? Why must the story be abandoned? Why? WHY!? (Slams the keyboard a couple of times before calming down.) But seriously just becuase something is longer doesn't make it better. I prefer this fan fic over some other long books I've read before. I like the shorter ones. Because they can easily keep the excitment going. Unlike the long ones that have to take breaks. The thing that happens to everyone is they think of a new plot and give up on the old one. Then the same thing happens again, and again, and again. This fan fic on the other hand has this thing that gives it that spark that only certain books have. I can never put my finger on this but please don't give this up! Or else I'll... I'll... I'll... Send you a huge block of PMs reminding you of this fan fic. Besides if you don't continue after that then I'll let Moosh do the kidnappy thing.:fuzvamp:

GlacierDragon 05-28-2008 03:29 AM

Although I risk kidnap by Moosh and tonnes of PMs from Oddey, I would still like to say that I'm going to abandon this thing. My honest opinion is that it's a bit rubbish, the only interesting bit being when Shrown meets Skillya. So I give you chapter 10, the last chapter I'll be writing :fuzsad:.

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Chapter 10


I’ve been crawling for an hour, and I’m getting really tired. A while ago, after a load of twists and turns, the vent began to gently slope upwards until it levelled off again. So I guess I’m higher up than before, and possibly above ground. The breeze is still here to guide me, but now it’s slightly stronger. Fresh air will be greatly welcomed after all this time in a humid metal structure.
It sounds like the sirens have been turned off. I overheard a couple of Sligs talking earlier. First they spoke about me, but then they started on about some others escaping. They didn’t mention names, only that some of the prisoners have gone missing. I suppose through all the chaos a couple of Sligs managed to escape from the train or something. Whatever’s happened, it’s not my problem.
My mind begins to wonder to before all this rubbish. Why oh why did I ever spare that slave’s life? It was probably killed anyway, so it’s not like I made a difference. Too late to do anything now, I suppose.
What’s this? Do I see light up ahead? I think I do! Energy surges into my tired muscles as I think of freedom and my tiredness is quickly swallowed. I pick up my pace, and rush towards the light source. It gets brighter and brighter, and I find myself blinded after all this time in the dark. I stop and wait for my eyes to adjust before scurrying onwards.
Finally I reach the point where the air vent opens up to the outside. I peer out between the bars of the grille. The sun’s setting by the looks of things. I’m about a meter above ground-level, which means all I have to do is get the grille off. I hurriedly push against the bars, but they don’t budge. I push harder, without any luck. Violently I slam my fists against the bars, but all I achieve is getting my knuckles bruised.
A stop and think, panting. Uncontrollable panic and fear flood my mind. I can’t go back, not now, not when I’m so close! Something clatters behind me and I swivel my head round, peering into darkness, my heart thumping against my ribs, dangerously loud. I tell myself it was just a Rat and turn back to the grille. I back up slightly, and suddenly ram into the bars, placing all my weight against them. I do this twice more, and on the third time I feel my shoulder crunch under the force of the impact. I fall over, pain shooting down my arm and up my neck. I lie on my side and clutch my shoulder. I haven’t broken my arm, I haven’t broken my arm, I haven’t broken my arm…
Seconds tick by and the pain doesn’t subside. Minutes go past. Outside, the sun is rapidly sinking. It reaches the horizon and ducks below it. The land darkens, the light fading. Finally the pain gradually dies away, leaving my arm throbbing in unison with my heart beat. I look at it and see dark blood spreading out below the surface of my skin.
I turn on my front and try to push myself up. My bad-arm won’t take my weight, so I shift it all onto my good-arm. What am I going to do?
I force myself to study the grille. It’s connected to the wall on the outside. I lower myself to the ground so I’m lying on my front and stick my good-arm between the bars, feeling for where it’s bolted. I find one bolt, and somehow manage to unscrew it. It silently falls to the ground. One down.
In the next ten minutes I manage to unscrew all the bolts. After the last one is released, I once again push against the bars. This time the grille comes off without any trouble whatsoever.
I really wish I had tried that first.
Now comes the hard bit. I have to get out of the vent and climb to the ground using one arm. Or I can just hurl myself to the floor and try to land on my good-side.
I decide to go with the latter. After all, I’m desperate.
Well, it works, and I don’t get hurt too much. But then it hits me. I’m a Slig on the run with no legs and a broken arm. I can barely crawl and I’m in the middle of nowhere, miles from civilisation. I’ve no one to help me out, nowhere to hide, and absolutely no idea where the safest place to run is. Oh, and let’s not forget about the dozens of Sligs who are probably looking for me this very instant.
I sigh. What was I thinking? This whole thing’s been a waste of time.

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And yeh, you're probably going to hate me for leaving it at a cliff-hanger.

Oddey 05-28-2008 04:23 AM

... Oh yes... Now your going to get it... Really bad... That was such a good chapter and you give up? How could you? Leaving us here. Stranded with nobody to take up the story. You sick little evil monkey. (I'm not trying to offend you I just really want you to continue.)

Those PMs are on their way if I don't see the next chapter. And so is Moosh.

Splat 05-29-2008 04:35 AM

:fuzsad: Don't leave us here! It's easy to be critical of your own writing ut this is really good! I mean I hardly read any fanfics at all here, but this one really grabbed me from the moment I read it. I really want to know what happens. How does he get away from there? Will he meet the other escapees? will he get help from mudokons?

Keep writing chapters or I'll keep sending you annoying links!

Moosh da Outlaw 05-29-2008 10:56 AM

YOU'LL PAY DEARLY FOR YOUR INSOLENCE. I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE.

GlacierDragon 07-15-2008 12:36 PM

Erm, sorry for bringing back this two month-old thread and all. But I have a surprise for those of you who miss this story.

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Chapter 11


I’m reluctantly woken from sleep by a Rat sniffing around. After I crawled out of the air vent I somehow managed to haul myself over to a clearing in a patch of trees with the hope that they would conceal me. Looks like it’s worked so far, because when I open my eyes I find I’m still here. It’s night time and a faint breeze blows through the trees above me.
I shoo the rat away, angry at being disturbed. My arm begins to throb again. When I look at it I can see that it’s swollen. I can’t believe this is happening to me.
A rustle to my right. I look around, my senses alert. There’s a small pond between me and where the sound came from. Trying to be quiet, I pull myself under a low-lying tree, its branches hiding me. There’s another rustle, and I stiffen when I hear voices coming this way. Oh God, I hope I’m not found.
A Slig steps out from the vegetation. He looks around slowly, before walking around the edge of the pond and coming to a halt right in front of me. If he sees me, he’s hiding it. I hear more voices following, and the Slig calls out, “What are you lot doing back there? I said it’s safe. The only ones around are us.”
Hang on. I recognise that voice.
“Blege?” I venture, emerging from my hiding place. “How on Oddworld did you escape?” Blege almost jumps a metre off the ground when he sees me crawling out from under the tree. He quickly reaches for his gun, just to find he doesn’t have one. Only then does he actually look at me and realises who I am.
“How on Oddworld did you escape?” I ask again. My voice is remarkably loud in the night air.
“I should be asking you that question.” Blege says, sounding more than a little confused. “Where are your legs?”
Before I can answer, more figures emerge from the vegetation. Creck and Zevenk both step out and approach Blege. Creck has a bruise appearing over his right eye, and Zevenk seems to have something wrong with his mechanical legs because he’s limping slightly. None of them have seen me yet.
“Who are you talking to? You’re not going crazy, I hope?” Zevenk jokes. He glances in my direction, and stops in his tracks. Then Creck sees me, but as I expected he doesn’t say anything.
I’ve never been more relieved to see other Sligs.


---------------------------------------------
So, erm, yeh. I guess Shrown leapt through dimensional boundries to my house and threatened to shoot me unless I continued his story. :D

Oddey 07-15-2008 11:53 PM

And the PMs, and kidnapping was utterly useless. I spent so much time preparing it.

Cool! I can't wait for more.:D

GlacierDragon 07-19-2008 06:03 AM

I think it was the PMs and kidnapping that persuaded me to start writing again. I just can't believe it actualy worked. (Oddey, you're not the only one reading this are you? If you are you're the only one commenting *shakes fist at everyone else*.)

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Chapter 12


Creck skilfully lights a fire, which casts a much-welcomed glow on everything. The night is painfully still. There aren’t even any nocturnal insects chirping away. We all sit around the fire and talk in low whispers, fearful of being heard by anyone looking for us. First they tell me how they escape. Blege does all the talking. It’s as if he’s become the leader in the short time we’ve all known each other.
“I know it’s hard to believe, but I actually used to work in that place,” How convenient, I say in my head, “and I know all the exits and everything. So we were all standing around waiting for the Queen to be finished with you, when she starts shouting something about Skeeters and Fleeches. I don’t know what she was on about. She’s mad if you ask me. She was always screaming and yelling when I worked there. I had the unfortunate job of checking her eggs so most of the time I was in the cave with her and–”
Ahem.” Zevenk interrupts. “So sorry, but you’re going off subject.”
“Right, right. Where was I? Oh yeah; she started shouting and the Sligs guarding us just ran into her cave. We were left completely alone. So we had a quick vote and decided to escape before anything bad happened. We took the Ball Car back up to above-ground and from there I led everyone out of the place. You see the only real way to get in and out of the tower is the trains, but there are many emergency exits in case of fire or something like that. But on the way we bumped into a couple of guards. They only had batons so they weren’t much of a threat but they still managed to damage one of Zevenk’s legs and give Creck a black eye.”
He speaks like he’s the biggest Slig on Oddworld. I can see the others rolling their eyes. I feel a bit neglected. I mean, no one’s even bothered asking why my arm is puffing up and turning purple.
“So anyway, that’s how we escaped. What about you, huh?”
“Well,” I begin, not wanting to go into too much detail, “I kinda’ angered Skillya a bit. She shouted at me, I shouted at her, she shouted threats, I ran. That’s when the guards came after me. There was a conveyor belt taking her eggs and I jumped on that. From there I found an air vent, climbed out of my legs and somehow managed to crawl out of the tower.”
The others nod. “What about your arm?” Zevenk asks.
“I think it’s broken. It happened when I was trying to get out of the air vent. It took me ages to drag myself here. If you lot hadn’t have come along, I would have been caught. Well, either that or I would have died in a couple of days.” It’s amazing that we’ve even found each other again.
“If your arm is broken we need to put it in a sling. It’d also be a good idea to get you some new legs.” Creck advises. “We should get you some new ones as well, Zevenk. I don’t think the ones you have now are going to last much longer.”
“How are we going to do that exactly?” Blege asks sceptically, raising his voice. “I doubt they just leave that stuff lying around in the open.”
Creck remains silent. It’s pretty obvious Blege doesn’t like him.
Zevenk, who thinks the idea is a good one, comes up with a plan. “They’re sure to be patrolling for us, right? What if we lure a couple of Sligs away and beat ‘em up? Then we can take their legs and run.”
“What then? Where will we run to?” Blege argues. I don’t think he likes other people coming up with ideas when he can’t think of anything. I know I’m being judgmental, but I’m beginning to dislike him.
“That’s the question, isn’t it?” I say. “We’re criminals, and we’ve just made things worse by fleeing from interrogation. We can never show our faces to society again. What do we do now? What’s out there for us?”

Moosh da Outlaw 07-19-2008 07:59 AM

Omg! You're continuing it! That means I won't have to track you down and whip you! =D
Awesome stuff. I wonder what Shrowns' gonna do now that he's escaped Skilly. I can't imagine she'll just let them get away.
UPDATESPLZ

Splat 07-21-2008 01:35 AM

Ooh, you're back! *deletes relevant computer hacking files*

Another couple of great chapters too! Sorry I wasn't around to say so before :p Plot moves on; where will they run to? will they get pants? Can they trust Blege?

Oddey 07-21-2008 09:53 AM

Oh my god Blege is a traitor. I know it.

But that chapter was awesome so you better wirte another one.:D

GlacierDragon 07-21-2008 12:00 PM

:

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Omg! You're continuing it! That means I won't have to track you down and whip you! =D
Awesome stuff. I wonder what Shrowns' gonna do now that he's escaped Skilly. I can't imagine she'll just let them get away.
UPDATESPLZ

Thanks. I missed writing this too much to just forget about it.

:

()
Ooh, you're back! *deletes relevant computer hacking files*

Another couple of great chapters too! Sorry I wasn't around to say so before :p Plot moves on; where will they run to? will they get pants? Can they trust Blege?

Thank you! And, erm, computer hacking files?? :eek:

:

()
Oh my god Blege is a traitor. I know it.

But that chapter was awesome so you better wirte another one.:D

What makes you think Blege is a trator? Another chapter is on it's way!

Oddey 07-22-2008 12:28 AM

The way he seems to have gone into complete control is an easy sign saying that he's definately got something behind his back, and since he used to work there maybe he still does work there. He might have been ordered to turn them in. Then there's also the fact that he didn't agree too much with anything everyone else said. I don't know what that has to do with being a traitor but it doesn't sound sliggy.:D

Did the kidnapping ever take place? Because I seem to remember you were hiding in a cave.:D

GlacierDragon 07-22-2008 04:53 AM

Ooh, good thinking! But Blege definately doesn't work there anymore. He's one of those guys who thinks he's the best at everything and he doesn't like being told what to do. Also I think he was hit on the head a couple of times as a young Slig which has caused him to have mood swings every now and then :D.

:

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Did the kidnapping ever take place? Because I seem to remember you were hiding in a cave.:D

No I didn't get kidnapped. But the threat scared me so much that I ran off to a cave for a month :p. All I had with me was my computer (which somehow worked without any power) and a neverending supply of food and drinks.

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Chapter 13

Though Blege was a bit reluctant, we managed to persuade him to go along with the plan. He kept arguing that it wouldn’t work but when we started ignoring his protests he stopped complaining (though he would occasionally mutter things that sounded like insults under his breath). That was all last night.
So now we’re getting prepared. My stomach growls from hunger. I haven’t eaten anything in what feels like ages. They haven’t said anything, but I don’t think the others feel any better.
We’ve decided that after we ‘borrow’ what we need we’re going to head north. The fact that we’re Sligs will hopefully help us; to other species we all pretty much look the same, which means with any luck we won’t be recognised. Perhaps we can find work in a place where news of us hasn’t reached. It’s a bit much to hope for, but what else is there to do?
Getting back to current events, Creck went away a little while ago to search for patrols, while the rest of us stayed behind in the same clearing in the same patch of trees. We didn’t force him to go or anything. In fact it was his idea. While we wait, I whisper a question that has been bugging me to Zevenk.
“Why were you smiling when you came out of the Queen’s cave?”
Zevenk laughs. “It was just something she said. Don’t worry about it.”
“Tell me,” I plead.
“All right. When I told her I shot a Glukkon she started to laugh, which is extremely weird because if you’ve heard the stories you know she never even smiles. When she stopped she asked me some more questions such as who the Glukkon was, how high up he was in status, what his occupation was, and loads more stuff like that. I answered her questions as best as I could and when I finished she said she’d try to let me off easy. But when I asked her ‘why’ her mood suddenly changed from slightly happy to angry and said I should be grateful and not ask questions. That’s when I left.”
“She laughed at you for killing a Glukkon? Why?”
“I don’t know. I suppose deep down she hates it that she has to do what they say all the time. It’s similar to Sam. All she does is lay eggs so the Glukkons can have workers. It can’t be a very eventful life. I feel sorry for her, really. Skillya, I mean, not Sam. Mudokons deserve to be enslaved.”
Blege cuts us off, rudely telling us to shut it unless we want to attract attention. Zevenk and I exchange a quick look that says someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed and then we fall quiet.
Time passes and Creck doesn’t come back. I hope he hasn’t been caught. No one else seems worried. In fact, Blege’s snoring reached our ears not long ago. It’s still pretty early in the morning, and it was a restless night for all of us, but I didn’t expect anyone to fall a sleep in a time like this.
After some more time I pull my way over to the pond. Zevenk asks if I need help with my broken arm but I say no, not wanting to look dependant on everyone. The water looks a bit dirty but I’m too thirsty to care. I cup my hand and lift the water to my mouth underneath my face tentacles. It tastes like something died in it, but it’s welcomed after not having anything to drink in ages. Zevenk warns me that I might catch something nasty, but again I’m too thirsty to take notice of his words.
Then, breaking the silence, a Slig unexpectedly leaps through the trees at us. I twist my head around in shock, almost losing my balance and falling into the pond. Blege suddenly wakes and lunges to the ground in confusion, his arms over his head to shield himself. Zevenk stands swiftly, grabbing a fallen branch for protection. The Slig rights himself and we all relax when we see it’s Creck.
Creck, out of breath and panting, speaks in an urgent whisper. “Quickly…everyone hide! I’ve…got a couple of Sligs…chasing me. When they’re here…attack them.” He stumbles to his right and hides behind a log amongst some ferns. Hearing his words, we all try to find somewhere to hide. Blege pushes himself flat behind a tree, and Zevenk, still holding the branch, jumps behind the log with Creck. Creck looks as if he’s about to say, “This is my hiding place. Go get your own!” but he puts up with it.
I look around franticly. No one’s even helped me try to hide. By the time it will take to get behind a tree, the Sligs will be here and will have seen me. The only option is to hide in the water. I don’t really want to, but there’s no other choice. And the water isn’t that deep.
Using one arm and one arm only, I lower myself into the water. I keep one hand holding onto the land so I don’t sink. I can feel the bottom with my tail, which gives me some comfort. I lower my head so I can’t be seen, my tentacles getting submerged. I peak from my hiding place.
Two Sligs slowly come through into the clearing. Neither of them have weapons, which is good. They must think we aren’t much of threats. Cautiously, they saunter to the centre, looking around. Their arms slump to their sides when they find nothing. They shrug to each other and turn around, going back the way they came, when Zevenk lurches from behind the log. He holds the tree branch close to himself for safety. Creck follows a little more slowly, holding a heavy-looking rock in his hands.
The two Sligs reach for their weapons. Their faces slacken when they see they have nothing with them, and that’s when Creck hurls his rock at one of the two. It smashes into its target on the side of the head, cracking the Slig’s skull open and sending him falling backwards. I see a pool of blood forming under his lifeless body, soaking into the fallen leaves.
The other Slig has no time to react, because at that moment Zevenk swings the branch at him. He raises his arms to his face in defence, but it does little to help. Zevenk alters his aim and hits the Slig in the stomach. The Slig falls backwards, just like the one before him. He writhes on the floor in pain, groaning. He weakly puts a hand out as Zevenk stands over him with the branch.
I awkwardly climb from the water, silently cursing when I knock my bad arm. Before Zevenk can perform the final blow I call out, “Don’t kill him!”
Zevenk stops, lowering his weapon. “Why not?” he asks.
“Because he’s only doing his job. It’s not his fault he has to try and capture us.”
Zevenk looks at me doubtfully. Then the Slig on the ground speaks to all of us.
“You’re all disgraces! Going against orders. Not doing as you’re told. You’re the type who make us Sligs look lazy and incompetent!”
Zevenk gets angry, and I mean really angry. “I don’t care what you say, Shrown. Here is a threat, and to be safe we have to remove threats.” Without any more words, he brings the branch down on the Slig’s head. I wince as I hear bone shatter. Zevenk repeatedly strikes the Slig again and again until he is sure all life has gone.
Another pool of blood joins the first.

Oddey 07-22-2008 05:28 AM

But sligs are lazy and incompetent. Zevenk's aturning baddish. I want more!:D

Splat 07-25-2008 02:06 PM

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()
No I didn't get kidnapped. But the threat scared me so much that I ran off to a cave for a month :p. All I had with me was my computer (which somehow worked without any power) and a neverending supply of food and drinks

How handy!

Good chapter. Zevenk is sliggish, we hae pants and a plan; I guess it's time to head off (or is it?...)

GlacierDragon 07-30-2008 03:13 AM

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But sligs are lazy and incompetent. Zevenk's aturning baddish. I want more!:D

Yeh, that's one of the reasons I put that bit of speech in there. And Zevenk might seem nice and friendly but if he needs to protect himself he can be evil.

:

()
How handy!

Good chapter. Zevenk is sliggish, we hae pants and a plan; I guess it's time to head off (or is it?...)

Maybe...

Ok, when I decided to carry on writing this I changed the storyline quite a bit (notice in the first post it says it would be a bit like AO). Hopefully the new storyline will be more interesting. Also on chapter 8 it says "The day before Shrown escaped Queen Skillya…" (as Splat pointed out, he hadn't yet escaped). For a couple of reasons I changed this to "The day Shrown was taken to Queen Skillya…". Sorry for the confusion and everything.

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Chapter 14

The day Shrown escaped Queen Skillya…
Vechk made his way to the lunch room on his own, his feet making soft echoes on the floor. He took the long way round so he didn’t bump into anyone. The last thing he needed was more criticism.
After he had showed Crelet his experiment things had gone terribly wrong. Firstly, Crelet had ‘accidently’ let slip about all he had seen. The news spread like wild fire through the underground lab, and within a few hours every Vykker knew about it. Now whenever Vechk walked past someone he would be shot with mocking glances. Everyone thought he was an idiot for even trying.
Tiredly, Vechk pushed the doors of the lunch room open and ambled inside. To his relief the place was completely deserted except for the three lunch Mudokons and an Intern in the corner who was finishing a late meal. Vechk had timed his lunch so he would be the only one there, not wanting to be in the company of others. The Intern barely glanced up from his food as the Vykker walked past.
Not wanting to stay too long, Vechk had a bowl of slightly cold soup for lunch and a couple of Paramite Pies for dessert. The room was relaxingly quiet, the only sounds being the Intern nibbling his food through his mouth-stitching and the soft buzz of the overhead lights. The lunch Mudokons were taking naps, forgetting the fact that Vechk could report them for sleeping on the job.
Soon the Intern got up and left, leaving Vechk on his own. He put his head in his hands, trying to think of something that would sort the situation out. Again he thought about using the Flying Scrab to capture that Mudokon terrorist, but he dismissed the idea. He didn’t want anything bad happening to his experiment.
He soon left the lunch room and crept back to his own lab. He approached the door and reached for the handle, but stopped at the last second. He could hear very faint sounds coming from within. Carefully, he lent against the door, listening. The experiment was in there, but it wasn’t what was making the noise. Someone was in his lab going through his things.
Rage building, Vechk pushed the door open and charged inside. An Intern spun round to face him, eyes wide, a bunch of folders and papers in his spidery fingers. Vechk gave the Intern a deadly stare and folded his arms.
The Intern gazed at the folders with a confused expression, as if he didn’t know where they had come from or how they got into his grasp. He glanced at the open draws he had been going through seconds ago, again with the same perplexed look on his face. Turning back to Vechk, he shrugged his bony shoulders.
“So,” Vechk said casually, “who sent you to steal my research? Was it Crelet? Or someone else?”
The Intern rearranged his headphones and once again gazed at the folders in his hands. He no-longer looked confused, just bored. He gave Vechk a look that said can I go now?
Vechk narrowed his eyes. Quietly, he shut the door behind him. He found the key and locked it. The Intern had seen too much. Vechk couldn’t let him leave, even without the folders.
“Would you like to see what I’ve been working on?” Vechk asked merrily. The Intern, who had obviously been sent to collect information, put down the folders and nodded his head enthusiastically. Vechk motioned for him to follow and strode into the room with the caged Scrab.
The two stopped by the bars, and Vechk feigned surprise. “Oh, a shame. It’s hiding in the shadows. Well I suppose I can open the cage and lure it out. Then you will be able to see it.” He calmly unlocked the cage door and gestured for the Intern to come closer. The Intern stood next to him, staring transfixed into the darkness.
Vechk suddenly shoved the Intern forward and slammed the door shut, quickly locking it and standing out of the way. The Intern, angered, kicked the bars. He said something Vechk didn’t understand; it sounded like an insult.
“I’ve got you a meal,” Vechk announced in a sing-song voice. The Intern looked around slowly as he sensed something at the back of the cage move. His eyes widened as the Flying Scrab silently appeared. Franticly, the Intern began to pound against the bars. The experiment darted forward, impaling the Intern through the chest with its sharp beak. Vechk ignored the blood that spurted onto him.
The Scrab threw the Intern to the ground, grabbed him with its mechanical arms and threw him across the cage. The Intern, barely alive, weakly dragged himself across the floor to the bars. He looked up at Vechk with large, helpless eyes before the Scrab dragged him struggling into the shadows, leaving a trail of blood in its wake. Vechk smiled.

Oddey 07-30-2008 09:59 AM

Nice chapter.:D I like the way the Intern was confused. It reminds me a bit of a cartoon.

GlacierDragon 08-05-2008 09:40 AM

Boo hoo, only one comment.

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Nice chapter.:D I like the way the Intern was confused. It reminds me a bit of a cartoon.

Thank you! I feel sorry for the Intern. At least the experiment won't be hungry.

Sorry for the short and boring chapter.

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Chapter 15



The others help me into my new pair of mechanical legs. Zevenk also replaces his ones (which have almost ceased to work) with the pair from the Slig he beat to death. The dead Sligs we hide in the undergrowth, trying our best to cover up the blood with leaves. When we’re done the place is even messier than before.
So now all that’s left is sorting out my arm, which has started to really, really hurt. I cradle it against me, not wanting to knock it or anything. The others say it can’t be left it as it is or it will never heal. Unfortunately no one knows what to do. There’s one option that keeps surfacing though, but I don’t like it very much: re-enter the tower and try to find some medical equipment.
“It’s the only option we really have,” pushes Creck. “I know it sounds crazy, but –”
“Yeh, you’re right, it does sound crazy,” Blege exclaims, a bit over-dramatically.
Creck talks over him. “…there aren’t really any other options. If one of us goes in and has a look around, then get’s out of there as soon as possible it will probably work. I doubt anyone really suspects us to go back in, so most of the security will be gone looking for us elsewhere.”
I hesitate. Is it really worth the risk?
“And while we’re in there we can steal a few weapons,” Zevenk says, trying to persuade me and Blege. “That’s reason enough to go back.”
When I think of this I give in. “Maybe you’re right. But who will be willing to do it?”
Everyone’s eyes shift to Creck.
“Wuh? I know it was my idea and all, but I’m not going back there on my own! I already lured those two Sligs here after all. You can’t expect me to everything.”
“I’ll go in with you.” This is Blege talking. I never expected him to contribute. I also agree to go in with them. It is my fault that we have to go back after all. If I’d been more careful we wouldn’t even be having this discussion.
“So that just leaves me on my own out here while you three have all the fun?” Zevenk laughs. “Hell, I’ll come with you. You might need me at some point.”
“So that’s it. We’re going back into the tower to search for weapons and to fix my arm?”
Blege shrugs. “Looks like it.”
“Cool. When are we going to start?”

scipionyx 08-06-2008 11:26 AM

I started reading this a while ago and I really like it so far. :fuzgrin: The first person narrator style is unique.
I'm going to read the rest of it asap ^^

Oddey 08-06-2008 11:38 AM

:DI just read the last chapter which despite it's shortness is quite good. More soon.

Moosh da Outlaw 08-06-2008 10:14 PM

:

“I’ve got you a meal,” Vechk announced in a sing-song voice. The Intern looked around slowly as he sensed something at the back of the cage move. His eyes widened as the Flying Scrab silently appeared. Franticly, the Intern began to pound against the bars.
AHAHAHAHAHAH! I guess i'm not the only one who enjoys hurting interns. xD

Awesome chapters, sorry I didn't say anything before, I didn't notice you update. ^^ More please!

GlacierDragon 08-14-2008 05:25 AM

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I started reading this a while ago and I really like it so far. :fuzgrin: The first person narrator style is unique.
I'm going to read the rest of it asap ^^

Yay, thank you!

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:DI just read the last chapter which despite it's shortness is quite good. More soon.

Thanks!

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AHAHAHAHAHAH! I guess i'm not the only one who enjoys hurting interns. xD

Awesome chapters, sorry I didn't say anything before, I didn't notice you update. ^^ More please!

Thank you! Yeh, I couldn't resist the bit with the Intern.

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Chapter 16



We decide to wait for nightfall before we do anything. Throughout the day we shift to different parts around the outside of the tower, trying our best to avoid the patrols. There are plenty of trees and places for us to hide. At around mid-afternoon it begins to rain heavily. With any luck it will wash away any traces of blood we missed from the dead Sligs.
We hardly speak throughout the day. More than once we almost get spotted by patrols. I quickly lose count of how many Sligs we see after us. They must have sent out every guard they have. But if Creck is correct, no one will expect us to go back inside the tower so once there we should be safe. Well, safer.
We can’t tell when the sun sets because of the thick clouds obscuring the skies. But when the land is dark enough, Blege begins to lead us to the door that they escaped from. We try to be as quiet as we can. The pelting rain helps to muffle the sounds of our legs. Most of the time we skirt between the trees, but when we have to cross open areas we keep our heads low and move swiftly across the muddy ground. The rain should cover our tracks.
We have no light to guide us, which makes the going slow. The tower doesn’t even have any external lights to illuminate its surroundings. One time we see about a dozen torch beams in the distance, but we don’t run into any trouble, thank Odd.
After about half an hour (the tower is absolutely huge so it takes a while to get around it) Blege stops abruptly. He looks around uncertainly, then slowly approaches the metal wall we’ve been staying close to. He examines it quietly before turning back to us.
“This is it,” he whispers. “This is the way in. Stay close behind me.”
We all nod. In the dark I can just about make out the thin outline of the door. Beside it is a key lock with the numbers 0 – 9 on it. Blege rapidly punches in a code, and the door slides open effortlessly. We get hit by a blast of hot air. There’s a faint red light spilling out onto us.
We silently slip inside and the door closes behind us. The sound of the rain is replaced with a deathly silence. We stand in a narrow corridor which is lit up by a single red bulb which flickers on and off. The walls are grimy with age and dirt.
We make our way down the corridor in a line, dripping water behind us. We come to another door, which is slightly ajar. Blege noiselessly pushes it open farther and squeezes through, we follow. We find ourselves in a larger, similarly-lit corridor with several doors leading to different places. Blege must know exactly where he’s going because he approaches the second door on the right and peaks through into the next room. After a moment of checking he gestures to us and leads us in.
I lose track of time as we twist and turn through the different corridors and rooms. We run into no one and we easily dodge the security cameras. The humid atmosphere soon has us all hot and out of breath. The only reason I can come up with for having the place so warm is to incubate the Queen’s eggs.
Throughout all this time we don’t speak even once. If we need to communicate we use hand-movements; none of us can afford to muck up and attract attention. The place is awfully creepy, with the same pale red lighting everywhere and the unclean walls. It looks so much differently at night; you would have a hard time believing it was the same place that we were in a day ago.
After a while we come to a Ball Car. In an urgent whisper Blege explains to us that it will take us up to the ffice:smarttags" />http://www.oddworldforums.net/ />Sick Bay. He farther tells us that after that we can look for weapons. I still can’t properly believe he once worked in this place. Talk about an amazing coincidence.
So we use the Ball Car. For about half a minute it takes us upwards before it changes direction and takes us left for another half minute. It stops and the door opens. I raise my hand to my face, shielding my eyes. The light that pours out is unbelievably bright compared to the low lighting we’ve all gotten used to. After our eyes have adjusted we cautiously emerge from the Ball Car into the Sick Bay. I search for signs that we’re not alone but fortunately find none.
“The Sick Bay is one of the only rooms that keeps its lights on at night, just in case of any accidents or emergencies,” Blege explains.
“Let’s just find what I need to and then get outta here,” I whisper back.
Soon I’ve got my arm bandaged up and in a sling. We quickly put things back where we found them so to cover our tracks. Heading back to the Ball Car, we prepare to go and look for weapons.
Blege presses the button for the door to open. Nothing happens. A small light above the door rapidly blinks on and off. He presses the button again, with the same result.
We all realise what’s going to happen at the same time. Without exchanging even a single word we scatter ourselves throughout the room. There’s no other exit so it looks like we’ll have to hide, and wait, and hope.
I jam myself between the wall and a filing cabinet, almost knocking over a display of jars and medical instruments. It’s awkward, but I manage to curl up so I’m not seen, though I have to push the cabinet forward a few inches. Wherever the others are hiding I don’t see. All I hear is my breathing.
I can’t see from my hiding place, but I hear a soft whoosh as the door opens and footsteps as someone enters the room.

Oddey 08-14-2008 05:35 AM

... Who could it be? The Scrab? A worker? Or a patrol?

I'll have to wait and see. Next chapter please.

GlacierDragon 08-22-2008 12:37 PM

Thanks Oddey!

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Chapter 17


“I can’t believe it,” someone says. The high-pitched voice tells me it’s a Vykker. Why there’s one in a Slig birthing-complex, I have no idea. Maybe they’re needed to make sure everything’s going okay with the Queen?
“I can’t believe it,” the Vykker repeats. “Do you know what time it is? Everyone else is asleep, why can’t you be? You could’ve come to me with your problems in the morning.”
“I thought somethin’ should be done about it right away,” says a second voice, undoubtedly a Slig.
A loud, exaggerated sigh, then: “All right, fine. What did you do, trip over again?”
There’s a short silence. “I thought so,” mutters the Vykker. “Why you can’t be more careful, I’ll never know. Luckily you’ve only sprained your wrist so I’ll just sort it out and then we can both leave this place and go off to our beds. Well, you can’t of course if you’re doing a night shift.”
A cabinet being opened. Some rustling and various other noises. A grunt of pain from the Slig. A cabinet being closed. All simple sounds. Nothing to say we’ve been found out.
I shift my position slightly, trying to get rid of the cramp forming in my lower back. My leg kicks against the filing cabinet accidently. I freeze. Dammit.
“Did ya’ hear something?” the Slig asks urgently.
“What are you talking about? No, I didn’t hear anything.” After a few seconds the Vykker continues, “There, all better, now go back to whatever it was you were doing. Odd, I need some sleep.”
Thankfully, I hear the Slig leave. However the Vykker stays. Why won’t he go? I ask myself. I struggle to stay silent. Carefully I peak around the cabinet. The Vykker’s sitting on a chair in the corner, doing something with a computer. I can’t see the others. Where the hell have they gone?!
The Vykker abruptly stands and turns to my direction. He sees me instantly and his tired expression turns into that of horror. “You!” he shrieks, pointing a claw. “You’re that one who escaped! Where are your friends? Are they in here too? I’m going to call the… the… the…”
His words fade away and he drops to the ground, his eyes rolling up in his head. Behind him stands Zevenk with a hypodermic syringe in one hand. “Tranquillizer,” he explains when he sees me emerge. “He’ll be out for a while.”
“Well, he was complaining he needed some rest. I guess it will help,” I joke.
It turns out the others were all hiding beneath a great big table, which has a white sheet covering it. The sheet drapes down to the ground so they would have all been obscured. I could have saved myself some trouble if I’d followed.
Not wanting to waste time, I ask Blege, “Where would there be weapons?”
He hesitates, before answering, “Well, I didn’t work here for too long, so I’m not entirely sure. The armoury used to be near the top of the tower –”
“What?” Zevenk exclaims. “You mean you told us there would be weapons but now the time comes that we need to find them and you don’t know where they are?”
“Hey, arguing isn’t going to get us anywhere,” I yell, getting between them. Creck stands by the computer, scrolling down the screen, not wanting to be part of a possible argument. Zevenk glares evilly at Blege, who merely folds his arms and looks away with an uninterested expression.
“Not meaning to gang up on you or anything,” I say, “but he’s right. You could have mentioned sooner you didn’t know where the guns were. Now we’re going to leave with nothing.”
“You just want to go? Without even searching?” he replies.
“Well, I don’t know about you but I don’t want to stay in this place longer than necessary. There’s no point looking for something we won’t find. And even if we do stumble across an armoury it will be locked, and most likely have guards.”
“He’s right,” Creck says without looking up from the computer. “According to this database there are over five hundred Sligs in this place, and all of them are probably looking for us. I say we get out now before they discover we’re here. Our friend,” he gestures to the Vykker, “will speak when he wakes up.”
I peer over Creck’s shoulder at the computer. And sure enough, he’s opened a list of all the Sligs employed in the birthing complex. There’s a lot more than any of us expected.
“Fine,” Blege says. “Let’s go before anything happens.

----------------------------

Just so there's no confusion, that Vykker was not Vechk. It was just a random guy.

Oddey 08-23-2008 07:01 AM

Nice chapter but I would have enjoyed it a little more if my brother hadn't been whining about something.:D

More soon please! If only for me.:D

Moosh da Outlaw 08-23-2008 07:07 AM

That was a close one. I actually thought Shrown would've been captured or something there. But then there'd be no story. =)
More please.

GlacierDragon 08-31-2008 05:27 AM

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Nice chapter but I would have enjoyed it a little more if my brother hadn't been whining about something.:D

More soon please! If only for me.:D

Thank you. But when you said "I would have enjoyed it a little more if..." I thought you were going to point out something that was wrong with that chapter.

:

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That was a close one. I actually thought Shrown would've been captured or something there. But then there'd be no story. =)
More please.

Thanks!

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Chapter 16


So without any farther hesitation we begin to head back outside. Blege is in a stress, but everyone just ignores him. No one’s bothered to mention anything, but he’s beginning to get on our nerves. The way he automatically became our leaded (though not a good one) has irritated all of us.

At first things go smoothly. We run into no trouble, which worries me more than it should. I just hope that Vykker stays unconscious long enough for us to escape. If he wakes up before then, well, we have a problem.

Zevenk (who is leading us) abruptly stops, allowing us to all trip over each other. I clench my teeth as Blege bumps into my broken arm. He gives me a quick, unapologetic glance before moving out of my way.

Zevenk franticly motions for us to move backwards. We do so, not questioning his motive. Soon we’re hiding behind the door we just came through.

“What’s this –”

“Shhh!” Zevenk cuts Blege off before he can finish his sentence. I open the door slightly and peak through. A Slig guard trudges down the corridor, the mechanic whirring of his legs echoing off the walls. In one hand he has a gun, the other a beer bottle. By his staggering I guess he’s drunk.

“It’s ok,” I whisper. “Looks like he’s been drinking on the job. Blege, what’s wrong?”

Blege, who stands motionless, is staring blankly up at the ceiling. I follow, trying to determine what he’s looking at. And then I see it. In our haste to get away from the guard, we completely forgot about the security camera we had to dodge not minutes ago.

Just as the others realise what’s going on, a high-pitched alarm starts to scream at us. The sudden sound is painfully loud and we al put our hands to our ears.

They know where we are.

“We have to get out of here now!” Creck yells over the alarm.

“You think?” Blege sarcastically replies.

Taking charge, I push the door open and run at the guard. He turns to me, wobbling. He doesn’t raise his weapon so I don’t think he knows who I am, but that doesn’t stop me from punching him in the face. He falls, his beer smashing on the floor. I pick up his gun.

I glance at the others, who aren’t even doing anything. “Well, come on then!” I shout. They run after me as I disappear down another corridor.

On the way in I made sure to memorise which doors we came through, which directions we went, just in case Blege let us down. This time I don’t bother to hide from every security camera we come across. They already know we’re here so it doesn’t matter. When we finally reach the door to the outside world I let Blege take over.

He hastily punches in the code, but the door doesn’t open. He tries again, thinking he got it wrong, and still the door remains shut.

“Oh no,” he whispers.

“What? What’s going on?” I say angrily.

“I forgot all about it. Just in case something like this happens, all emergency exits automatically lock. The only way to open them is to use a special authorisation pass, which most of the guards are equipped with.”

“Let’s just go back to that guy you knocked out and steal his pass,” Creck suggests.

“No, it’s too late. We have to get out now,” I interrupt. Pushing past Blege, I smash the key lock with the butt of my gun. Electricity crackles and the door awkwardly slides open half way. It’s still raining outside, even more heavily than before.

“Or we can just do that,” Creck mumbles.

Oddey 08-31-2008 09:10 AM

I was kind of aiming for that in my last comment.

Very awesome chapter. More... But how are you going to continue two fanfics at the same time?

GlacierDragon 08-31-2008 09:43 AM

It shouldn't be too difficult. If you want my honesty I was going to cancel this one (again) but then I realised I'd like to see it finished. Also I thought if I stopped writing bad things would happen :eek:

scipionyx 08-31-2008 01:21 PM

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If you want my honety I was going to cancel this one (again) but then I realised I'd like to see it finished. Also I thought if I stopped writing bad things would happen :eek:

we all would love to see this continuing :fuzgrin:,
gee... you already wanted to chancel this awesome fanfiction! :nonono: I still can't believe that this story nearly died! And yes, really bad things would happen if you stop writing again!... :p

please write more :) I really enjoy reading this. :D

Oddey 09-01-2008 06:42 AM

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It shouldn't be too difficult. If you want my honesty I was going to cancel this one (again) but then I realised I'd like to see it finished. Also I thought if I stopped writing bad things would happen :eek:

I'll send Voldemort to your house if you stop writing... Again.:D

JayDee 09-01-2008 10:41 AM

this is the best thing ive ever read whens the next chapter
9718

GlacierDragon 09-01-2008 10:57 AM

Thanks J_dude320! Next chapter should be here in a few days. And Oddey, you know Voldemort?

Oddey 09-02-2008 04:17 AM

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And Oddey, you know Voldemort?

Very distant releative. He's my great great granmother's boyfreind's other girfreind's great great grandson's girlfreind's brother. As you can see: very distant. Now where's my next chapter?:D

GlacierDragon 09-14-2008 03:25 AM

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Very distant releative. He's my great great granmother's boyfreind's other girfreind's great great grandson's girlfreind's brother. As you can see: very distant. Now where's my next chapter?:D

Well that confused me at first but I think I managed to get a mental image of the family tree.

Sorry for not posting this sooner but I've had huge writer's block. And I'm back to school now so I've got loads of GCSE rubbish to look forward to. Oh joy.

(A quick note; the part with Vechk happens at the same time as the part with Shrown. Hopefully there won't be any more of 'The day Shrown did this, that and the other...')

---------------------------------


Chapter 19


When I wake the rain has stopped but the sky is still covered in clouds, some of which have been penetrated here and there by the sun’s persistent beams of light. The land is wet and muddy, and the air smells clean and fresh.

Though it was the middle of the night and pouring with rain we began north as soon as we were out of the tower. We’d been lucky far enough, but if we’d stuck around any longer we were certain to get caught. No one argued as we decided upon this, and even though we were all tired and hungry we got going.
We left most of the patrols behind as we neared the river. There are more trees here, so before long we had less worry of being seen. When we were too tired to continue we found a spot to stop and went to sleep.
I stand and stretch. All the others are asleep so I try to be quiet as I make my way closer to the river. The water isn’t as brown as it was when we were closer to the tower, but it still doesn’t look clean.
From what I can see we’ve travelled further than I realised. The tower is still visible, but now it’s only a tiny, vertical speck on the horizon. If that’s how far we can travel in a few hours, then we’ll be a good distance away in no time.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Flying Scrab liked what it had been made into. The armour on its back was light and comfortable, and it found its new arms to be very useful. The creature found it strange that it had no memory of things before the Vykker began to look after it, but never did it stop to think why. It knew it once lived somewhere else and had only got its arms and armour recently, but that was all.
The Flying Scrab didn’t know what it was like outside the lab; in fact it didn’t even know there was anything outside. To it, Vechk’s lab was the whole world. At least this is what it thought at the beginning. But as time wore on and it began to learn new things, it also developed a growing sense of curiosity. It had seen it’s master leave the lab numerous times, and soon enough it began to wonder about things.
Vechk didn’t realise this, but the Scrab had held onto its old instincts when being brainwashed. Though the creature was as intelligent as any sentient being, these instincts still surfaced at times. It had soon learnt how to control them, but it couldn’t shake off the feeling that it should be somewhere else, that it didn’t belong. Most of the time it considered Vechk as it’s master, but other times it found itself seeing him as food.
The Interns confused the Scrab. There had been that one time when Vechk had given it one to eat, but never again did that happen. Sometimes the Scrab was let out of its cage and allowed to freely roam around the lab, but whenever an Intern came the Scrab was hastily ushered back into its cage. At first it thought that was where it needed to be in order to eat one, but soon it realised this wasn’t the case.
At times it longed to stretch its wings and fly away from the place, see what things were like outside the lab. It tired of being fed scraps of meat; being hungry most of the time. It tired of being told what to do, and being punished if it didn’t obey. But above all it tired of not being able to speak; to properly communicate with its master.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Vechk had noticed that the Scrab was becoming increasingly agitated and frustrated. He didn’t know what it was thinking, so he didn’t know how to make things right. All he could do was hope things would settle down.
He had to keep Interns away from his experiment because the creature now saw them as food. He didn’t really care about this, but if anyone found out he’d fed one to it he would be in big trouble. So whenever he knew one was coming he had to lock the Scrab in its cage.
The Vykker sat down in his chair, sipping a cup of coffee. He picked up the morning’s edition of The Daily Deception, scanning the headlines. Something near the bottom of the page caught his attention. He quickly flicked to page the, where the story was, and began reading. It was something about several Sligs escaping from Queen Skillya’s birthing complex. They had all broken the law in one way or another and had been taken to the Queen for interrogation. A very large reward was being offered for their capture, but the one Queen Skillya really wanted was Slig number 5-12-3-27. No reason for the latter part was given, nor did Vechk care. All he was interested in was the amount of Moolah being given for their capture.
He glanced over at the Scrab, which was sleeping in it’s cage.

scipionyx 09-14-2008 09:02 AM

great! :fuzgrin: The Flying Scrab is a real interresting character. So Vechk wants to use it for chasing Shrown and the others? I'm verry curious about what happens next :D

Oddey 09-19-2008 10:40 PM

I bet I know what's gonna happen here.:D But I don't want to tell anyone.