Fear not, you needn't wait longer.

Chapter 16

Deja Vu

Abe and Finklar had already been through this once. There would normally have been a bunch of shallow water vats infested with slogs, but Finklar had seen to it that security was enhanced. Now they had actual guards. They weren't much better, as they were asleep whenever Finklar and Abe passed by their posts. However, now was not the time to do such a thing. Now was the time to make an announcement. They didn't have much time either, so the fewer delays, the better.

They reached the guards who worked down here's quarters. Finklar hadn't the time to name them anything in particular, so they were just Sector 12. Here, the guards were actually worse than the one's sleeping at their posts. They ran away as soon as they saw Finklar and Abe approaching. Probrably for two reasons. The first being that Finklar was their sometimes nasty boss, and that if he wasn't actually their boss, he still looked angry. 'I think security could be raised a notch or two.' Thought Finklar.

Even after they had gotten out of the lower levels, they had yet to be caught. They had reached the hub of the craft, where general research was conducted. There were several Vykkers there, getting a qucik start on the day. Finklar ignored them if they were saying anything, which was unlikely, as they were very distracted with their work. 'Some people just don't pay enough attention.' Thought Finklar. Pressing the button for his private elevator, he tapped one of his three feet in impatience. It arrived in about ten seconds. Stepping inside, he pressed the button for his office. The elevator got there in about ten seconds as well.

Quickly holding down the intercomm, Finklar spoke into it. "Everyone, drop whatever you're doing and listen. I mean everyone. Now listen carefully. We are going to be attacking in a few days, and we need to get you all ready for it. All of you need to help. Please proceed to the barracks, even if you are not a guard. Those who do not come, will be fighting on the frontline. No exceptions. Thank you." Said Finklar, letting go of the button. Finklar then turned around to see that Abe was already pressing the button for the elevator.


I think there'll be about four more chapters.

nice work my friend.

it will be strange when this finishes. its been here so long and is so enjoyable to read that i think it will be missed.

As a slight spoiler to what I was going to hint at the end of the story, I aim to continue the series for quite a while.:D
Chapter 17

Training

Finklar walked out of the elevater to find that everyone had left their work to go to this meeting. A couple of expiriments were looking a little wierd, and a large bucket was overflowing with some kind of glue-like purple substance. Trying to ignore all the unfinished work, he marched towards the barracks. The barracks was large on it's own, but with the shear amount of workers in Vykker Labs, it was hard to squish everybody in.

When Finklar reached the podium, he explained everything very quickly.
"While I was away on business, I discovered that we were to be attacked in matter of days. Fortunatly, I managed to get back here in time to fend them off. But I need all of you to get into fighting shape. Starting now." Said Finklar, stepping away from the microphone, grabbing a snuzi, and walking towards the shooting gallery. At least a hundred vykkers followed suit.

The next few days of training were odd. Everywhere, employes could here the sound of gunshots and, if you went by the barracks, a lot of whirring. Nobody really had that much skill. Not even the actual security teams, who weren't really needed. Luckily, Finklar thought of the brilliant idea of unleashing all the failed killing machines they had one the enemy. Abe wasn't anywere to be seen, but rumours were flying about that he had gone into the sewers to meditate. Finklar himself even took part in most of the training. All possible entryways were on constant watch. Finklar had ripped the headphones off nearly every intern to maximize efficiency. Though the initial shock prevented them from doing nearly anything, after a while the effect of being able to actually hear what others were saying would make an impact. Instead of being lazy and incompetent as they usually were, they would respond faster, work faster, and be faster. Finklar was rather pleased with himself. Or perhaps it was just the interns working harder to get their headphones back.

Finklar hadn't seen Germ's army, so with no idea how many troops he'd need, he snooped around the base looking for things useful in a fight and personal trying to weasel out of training. A couple of bizzare tools, some blood sucking leech-like things, a few bits of near impenetrable material that could be made into a shield of sorts, several lazing guards, and a couple hundred fuzzle traps. Determining where they would be weakest, Finklar placed most of the things he'd found in strategic locations. Except the leeches. Those he wanted to keep for the actual battle. It wasn't until Finklar found a boombat nest nestled into a corner, that Finklar realized how much space Vykker's Labs really had. And it didn't stop there. Small bundles of explosives, a device that looked like it was designed for latching onto airships, a bunch of normal things welded togethpr and Finklar thought he had seen a mudokon look straight at him before scampering off. 'I really need to get some better guards around here. My office is the only really safe place.' Thought Finklar one day, while trying to aim for the head of the next target at the shooting range.

I've not read this in a long while. I'll be sure to pick it up again sometime soon. I'm so glad that we've got some fantastic writers here.

Any date for the next chapter Oddey? :D

Edit: No problem mate ;)

Soory about the delay, I've not been very busy, but I was distracted enough to forget to post here.

Chapter 18

Before the Storm

It was the day Germ's army would come along, and still Abe was nowhere to be found. Finklar wasn't really all that concerned though. While having a bit of last minute grenade throwing practice, he heard the sirens go off. Instantly, Finklar knew what he had to do. So, the grenade he was going to have thrown at the target, ended up coming with him.

It was a good thing Finklar had prepared himself for this, by strapping on all the armour he could. But walking around with weapons was a bit much, so Finklar had to make a stop around the relatively new armoury anyway. A few workers were already there, suiting up. He grabed whatever weapon was nearest, which turned out ot be a baton. Thinking the better of it, he replaced it with a snuzi. Armed, he left and wondered where the army would be coming from. Vykker's Labs had about three loading bays, and a couple of other ways in. Heading for the nearest one, he found an awful lot of workers headed that way. Wondering just how many Germ had, he hoped it would be enough.

It turned out the one he was heading for, was the biggest way in. As soon as he stepped outside, he felt he must have been dreaming. There must have been about one hundred airships, some passenger carrying, others just for shooting. Finklar wouldn't see a sight like this for a long time.

'Maybe I should have taken a bigger gun... Or maybe we should have made some bigger guns. At least we can fall back if need be.' Wondering if one of the many things he was carrying around to tip the scales would be able to blow up one or two of the transports, he watched as Germ's army crawled forward slowly. As if it knew it couldn't be stopped anyway. There wasn't any need for them to go any faster. Even if the whole of Vykker's Labs was there. 'Which reminds me...' Thought Finklar as he looked for his portable intercom. Hoping it was working, he said quite clearly:
"We need everyone on loading bay 2 immediatly please." Placing that back in his pocket, he wondered if the other ways were facing the same problem. Taking it out again, he added:
"Unless the bay you're supposed to be at is in need of defense." Sticking it back in his pocket for the last time, he searched his pack of defensive items. 'I know it's in here somewhere...' While he did so, he heard the sound of footsteps coming up behind. And not just one. Tons. Hoping that wasn't their attackers, he turned around and pulled his hands out of his pack.

Whatever Finklar was expecting, it wasn't what was there. It seemed Abe hadn't been meditating. He had been gathering a bunch of mudokons.

Where'd you all go?

Chapter 19

Battle Horns

Finklar's mouth hung open in shock at the sight. After regaining control, he closed his mouth, only to open it again and say something. Abe saw this and merely said:
"This isn't really the right time for that." Said Abe, forcing Finklar's questions back. After a slight pause, Finklar snapped back to normal. Pulling out the leeches he had saved for this exactly, he calculated just how fast they would get to the loading bay. It wasn't as precise as Finklar would have liked, but he estimated that they had about one minute.

Twenty seconds. Nothing but the breeze disturbed them as they waited. Finklar tried to pass the time by trying to visualize just how many things that were sitting in the airships slowly approaching.

Thirty seconds. Maybe they'd win. Finklar doubted they had expected any resistance.

Forty seconds. Germ didn't even know it was Finklar in the armour he was wearing. As a sudden impulse, he pulled back the helmet he was wearing. His vision behind the helmet wasn't 100% clear. 'I have to change so much stuff around here, don't I?' He thought. Besides, maybe the shock of his escape would demoralize Germ's troops. 'They aren't technically his though, they're whoever leads them, which I don't think Germ does. It's probrably someone else.'

Fifty seconds. they were close enough to see Finklar now. some of the troops were already on the edge of the ship, nearly ready. Unfortuneatly for them, they hadn't thought about the enemy having guns. So Finklar signaled for whoever had a gun to shoot at them. Most of them were hit and either fell right off the edge, or slumped down onto the deck of the ship. the ones that weren't shot scrambled for their weapons, and some of them ran inside. 'Well, they're not too smart, as the last outlaw fumbling with the door, was shot down.'

Just as the transporting airships reached the edge of the bay, they turned around, revealing openings in the side of the ship, intended for dropping out of quickly, Finklar reckoned. Soldiers jumped out, most of them wearing armour. The ones behind them weren't. 'So they don't just get slaughtered instantly.' Thought finklar, jamming his helmet back on. It wasn't all that likely that his head would go unscathed without it.

Finklar watched as the last few soldiers came out, followed by a slig. Not justany slig. It was Germ. Fully armoured, and weilding a shotgun of sorts. 'Doesn't look like the one he used to have. What else havethey got?' Finklar wondered. He hadn't seen most of the weapons the other soldiers were carrying. Germ then cleared his throat and shouted, "If you give up Vykker's Labs, we'll let you live."
Finklar replied in an emotionless tone, "No."

Now the battle had begun.

I'm checking out Murder Market I again, it really is quite a nice story. I like the way you wrote Germ. He's sort of simple-minded, but very loyal... and pretty good with his gun :D Never thought I'd see a heroic Vykker as well!

hey this is great! i already read MM1 and now i started reading this :D it's so cool ^^

well i'll need time to catch up but i had to leave a comment :fuzgrin:

Boy oh boy it has been a while. The explanation lies in part with my longing for a new story. I'm in a bit of a pickle. To begin with, I want the story finished. I've had more than enough of Finklar and the crew, and now I want to move on. I don't want to just give up with only two chapters to go, but I don't think I'll be in the mood for writing those last two chapters for quite a while. I don't want to leave this series either or spoil it by not ending properly, because it's so treasured. Rather like the one ring to rule them all. Despite it's weight, I can't let go. So in short, I don't want to write the last two chapters, but I want to end this properly. By all means, I will write a summary of the last two chapters, as there really isn't much to tell about them, but only if those of you who actually read this decide it's fair.

I feel a need to explain the origins of both stories.

Murder Market was originally just going to be a short detective story, but became a long adventure. It all began when I couldn't find a detective story on OWF, and decided to make my own. Murder Market two was an almost mandatory sequel. I didn't want to leave you guys hanging, and not only that, I liked Finklar far too much to part with him. I also had a crazy idea of having a really long span of sequels, just to set a forum record.

Now however, I just want to stat anew, and let this stand as it is. In my mind I picture it as an enourmous paper tower, strapped together with tape. I feel that if I try to make it taller, something will snap. An impressive sight, but what happens when you push it just a bit to the left?

So now I leave it up to you guys. Come back much much later and finish? Or waste no time in writing a summary? I don't want to choose this, so I ask you guys, as the customer is always right.:D

oh god i haven't replied for a while. i just caught up and i don't see how i missed all the previous updates, sorry about that. just with the sudden influx of gaming threads here i must have overlooked it while skimming.

last chapter was brilliant, and i personally would love it to be finished just like your previous posts, but when you wish, and feel able, to finish it.

you should never feel pressured to finish a piece of fiction. i know how that feels and it can sometimes cause rushed chapters and not much variety in the storyline. now whenever i post a new fiction i will finish and tweak it until it is safe to simply copy and paste it into the forums, chapter by chapter. that way i won't be influenced by readers to alter the plot/storyline and it won't be rushed.

then again there's always the feeling to want to start it as soon as possible; its always fun to start a new fiction thread when you get another idea.

anyway, that's my tuppence worth. just know i will be following this until its end.

:crying: I only had the chance to reply once to this story :( :( :(
because of darn school I didn#t even had the time to catch up properly ...
and it's a great story... :<

still i understand your decission... but since you gave us the option to choose what will happen to this fanfiction (hehehe :p)

why don't you come back much much much later and finish it someday in the distant future? :D and after a while when you still don#t feel like finnishing the story you can still post the summaries after all... :fuzblink: but like that there#s still a tiny chance for it to end. (and more time for those who still need to catch up on it)

because from what i know.. I usually got new inspiration when i stopped my stories for a few months and reread them then.


but do what you think is right...:)