[Gretin]

Sorry for the double post, it was the only way I could show that I've updated this.
Anyway, here's the next chapter. Probably not very good, but what the heck?

Chapter 9: Bad News

Once the two mudokons reached the bottom, Glam led the way to the building where Marn had met the Chief. "It's more likely we'll find higher up mudokons there than anywhere else," he said, "They should know what to do." They had just about got there when a mudokon who was walking past suddenly grabbed Glam. "What's the hurry, friend?" Marn recognized him as Ramnes, one of the mudokons who had brought him to the village. "I was looking for a mudokon like you, we were up in the tower and we saw one of those planes!" answered Glam hurriedly. "Whoa! Calm down!" ordered Ramnes, "Now tell me what's wrong, slowly and fully." "Well, I was showing Marn here around the village, then we decided to go up into the tower and have a look through the telescope. Marn had a look, and he saw one of those flying machines that you guys are trying to get rid of. He said it was heading right this way." "If this is true, I believe we are capable of stopping it, Glam," replied Ramnes, and he suddenly started glowing blue. A second later, the mudokons heard a high pitched ringing sound coming from behind them. They instinctively turned to look and see where it had come from, even though they both knew.

"Come on," said Ramnes, who had returned to his normal hue now, "We've got to be there in the tower when the mudokons come to see what the problem is!" They ran to the tower and then, to the two mudokons great surprise, Ramnes leapt almost half-way up the ladder and climbed the rest of the way incredibly quickly. "Hey, wait for us!" called Glam and started climbing the ladder, Marn close behind him. All around they could see the mudokons making their way towards the tower at a run. Ramnes was looking through the telescope when they reached the top, but he turned towards them and said, "You were right, Marn, it is heading this way, and in that case we'll have to destroy it. We can't allow it to see our village and leave to tell others about it!" He looked out to where all the mudokons were now gathered around the tower, "Fellow mudokons," he called, "Now is the time to put your training to good use! An aircraft from the Rector Refinery has been sent, most likely to find the crash site of the last one, however they have turned towards our village and are heading straight for us. As you know, we can't allow them to have knowledge of our village, so it must be destroyed. In other words, ready your weapons!"

The mudokons instantly went running towards their huts to grab their weapons, and just as quickly came back with them; a huge assortment of them, spoocebows, tomahawks, staffs, spears, and even rocks! They were spurred on by the sound of the craft, which was now close enough for the roar of it's engines to be heard. "What about you?" asked Marn, directing his question at Ramnes, "Don't you need a weapon?" "No, Marn, I don't," answered Ramnes quietly, "You will find out why in a few minutes." Then, raising his voice, he shouted, "Prepare to attack!" "Um... how are sticks and rocks going to help us get rid of the craft?" Marn asked. Ramnes slowly turned towards him and stood there looking at him for a few moments. Then he spoke, "Those 'sticks' as you call them are actually very powerful weapons, even at range, if they are in the right hands. A lot of time and effort goes into building just one of those staffs, they are a very complex and intricate design. As for the tomahawks, they are simply being used to channel energy into a blast which can be sent a very long distance. And the rocks will also be upgraded with mystical energy, such that they will become as powerful as the grenades that the industrials use. Now, I suggest you keep your mouth shut before you make yourself look like a complete idiot." "Sorry," Marn muttered and moved to the other side of the tower room. Looking out of the window he could see blue light glowing in each mudokon's hands, no matter what he was holding, it appeared to be filled with mystical energy.

Meanwhile, the craft had been coming steadily closer, until it was now almost above the wall where the entrance to the village was. A few seconds passed, then the silence was interrupted by a loud shout from Ramnes, "FIRE!" Instantly, each and every mudokon on the ground below let loose with his weapon, all of the blasts hitting the craft, terminating in small blue explosions. The only visible effect this battering of firepower had on the craft was to make it shudder slightly. "Fire again," cried Ramnes, "Don't stop until we bring it down!" Marn turned to look at him and saw why he needed no weapon; he would hold out his hands and small red orbs would begin to form in them, steadily growing in size until they filled his hand. He would then throw these towards the craft, causing a large explosion, but not seeming to do much damage. Then Marn noticed something else; the craft was heading straight for the tower! "Quick! let's get out of here," he cried to Glam, and started climbing down the ladder. The craft came closer and closer, then suddenly tilted upward, missing the tower by inches. Then it flew straight up in the air, spinning round and round as it did so. The mudokon bombardment followed it all the way until it was out of range, but the craft still appeared to have suffered very little from it. Ramnes' arms fell down loosely at his sides, "This is why the construction of these craft must be stopped. Once they leave their home, there's no stopping them!"

"Hey, what's that?" suddenly asked Glam, who had not moved since the mudokons had gathered. They all looked up, and saw one of the cushion floaters that Marn had used to escape from the other craft. Some of the mudokons started moving to fire at it, but Ramnes stopped them by saying, "Wait! There's something awfully strange about all this!" They didn't have to wait long to find out what it was; there, on the cushion, was a mudokon! The cushion floated down right beside the tower, and the mudokon leapt off into the room, knocking Ramnes to the ground. Ramnes picked himself up from the ground and said, "Sefon, you irresponsible, idiotic, clown, you!" Sefon grinned, "Miss me?" Ramnes turned to Marn and Glam, "In case you don't know, this is Sefon, supposedly our spy, but more like the village entertainment." He turned back to Sefon, "So, what news from the Refinery?" he asked, then as an afterthought, "And where is Scorp?"

Sefon instantly sobered, "Scorp has been taken prisoner. I myself was lucky to escape undetected, they seem to be wising up to the situation." "And the last chosen mudokon?" pressed Ramnes. "Dead," replied Sefon solemnly.

End of Chapter 9