Wild Arms (Closed)

[kinkachu]

1: This story will be rated R for strong language, violence and possible sexual scenes.
2: No Character Deaths (unless you get permission to do other wise)
3: No more than three characters per roleplayer

The setting is a futuristic western, where giant insect are strange, alien-like creatures but not together unheard of to humans.

The line up for rping is..... (drumroll)

kin
Neonazure
luseylottey
badluckcat
siffyleafyluv

---

The barren landscape seemed to stretch on forever, an endless wasteland going on and on as far as the eye could see. It's blistering heat intensified for every second the stood under the suns unforgiving eye, all making their discomfort known through the infinite curses they seemed to produce. "God damn desert." The hulking herculean beetle groaned, pulling his hat further over his face while readjusting the the large weight of supplies on his shoulders.

The wind picked up all of a sudden, blasting it's prickly heat into the wandering individuals faces. The lanky treehopper yelped when his top hat went flying off his head, falling all over himself to retrieve it. But alas it was gone, lost to the winds evil clutch's. "God damn it, indeed! I hate this place. I hate this planet! How the hell did we get stuck in this god forsaken sand box?" He fitfully glared at the double moons hanging to the north of their location.

"Cuz SOMEONE thought it'd be funny to smash up the prison transports controllers."

They all made evil eyes at the lumbering behemoth, Min, who decided to cough, cross his arms angrily and spit out in disgust, "The radio station sucked anyways."

The others glared fitfully at him, though they made no further argument over the matter or continue to point out he had stranded them in the middle of NOWHERE on a NOWHERE planet.

They continued to trudge onward, looking for any signs of civilization. There didn't seem to be anything out here but endless nothingness.

The heat eventually became to much, even for their strongest member. He made a loud grunt, then shouted, "Ah fuck this shit."

Min finally had enough walking, and carrying what little they could recover from the crash sight, tossing the stuff down to take . He shot into the air, glancing around in all directions until finally spotting a tiny settlement to the west.

Vandall peered up with both right hands shielding his eyes. He turned to the others, snarking, "Is it bad to hope he gets struck by lightening and dies on impact?"

"Yes, because then we'll have to carry all this equipment around ourselves."

"Good point." Vandall whispered, his eyes following the direction the beetle pointed. Apparently there was life on this planet after all.

[NeonAzure]

"I dunno wot you lot're complainin' 'bout," piped in the brightly-coloured roach, readjusting his hat and the load of supplies on his shoulder as he trudged along behind the group, "Sure, it's bar'en an'... well, a bit des'late, but at least it's warm, yea?" Of course, being a sub-tropical species, the oppressing heat was a welcome change from the sterile chill of the transport ship.

When the group stopped, Giac swept his gaze along the horizon, hoping for some sign of life. Sure, the heat was a welcome comfort, but he was used to more humid climes; white sandy beaches with warm turquoise oceans and lots and lots of greenery. This... was more dead and barren than even the dry interior of the Australian Outback.

"Much'as I'm enjoyin' this here walkabout," he quipped dryly, "I think some o' these blokes could use a rest and a good drink."

[luseylottay]

Charlotte was silent and still, down to the hot, sandy earth in a petrified state... The only things moving were her eyes, and only subtly enough that it would take a fellow Mantis to realize that she was even attempting to look around. There ahead of her was a small lizard... A small... delicate... tasty... lizard.
Charlotte usually hated eating any flesh other than fish (for she knew if her diet returned to that base she would have troubles controlling her predator instincts), but she knew that she had to eat some, else suffer from extreme irritation and intense headaches. The lizard creeped closer, mistaking the large mantis for just another cactus. Of course, once it was in range...
SNAP
Charlotte had caught and killed the lizard in the blink of an eye, claws digging into all of its vitals. She ate it hungrily, but with care as to not stain what little clothing she had on. She sat there in the bright dirt, eating away at the lizard until not even bones remained. She quickly lapped all the blood from her claws and stood up to look around.

The town was just within sights, it was a (somehwat) nice town too, sure it was small and at least a two hour's travel from any big city,but it still was able to keep cool in this barren wasteland. The water plant supplied many cities freely, and that water plant was big... very big, sitting high up on the far away mountains where it seemed to always rain. The pipes ran out for hundreds of miles, supplying the water to all the towns. It was an expensive business, but it was efficient to an extent. The one she lived it was no exception, some claimed that on a cool enough day one could actually see that water plant. Most of the people didn't really mind though, the town was quiet, with few passer-bys... But of course, the town wasn't her real destination. No... hers was beyond that, right on the outskirts, where she lived with a friend. The once-was-stranger was the only one to accept her in, while the rest of the town had looked down (or up, depending on height) upon her with disdain, she was a bug, after all... Then of course that one accepting human in the entire town... The one that was slowly starting to get the folks and neighbors used to Charlotte's presence.
"But of course..." She chuckled, "The artistes are always the eccentric ones. And with this one being an insect rights supporter..."
She giggled
"It's madness, really."

Something caught her attention out of the corner of her eye, and she turned on the spot, tail ready to rattle if necessary. Out in the distance (and high up in the air from what she could tell), a small glint blinked in reflection of the sunlight... not vulture or bird would reflect the sun like that. She squinted, starting to zoom in as best as her large eyes could to try and make out a shape. There were wings... legs... and... hour arms! A bug! Another insect!

Her wings twitched excitedly and she scanned the horizon, there could be more. Yes... one... two... three... no... four or five more little dots in the distance told her that there were more... She chittered excitedly and turned heel, scurrying quickly over the dry earth. She zoomed back to and through the dusty town before reaching the other side, where her only friend and her lived. She burst through the doors and chittered loudly to get the attention of her friend.
"Lusey! Lusey! There are insects inbound! And a lot of them!"

[badluckcat]

“Let’s git a move on then.” Situs grumbled as he pulled down the rim of his hat. Blasted sun! He silently snarled. “Soon’r we start walk’n th’ soon’r we can git there and get sum shut eye.”

“Ye certainly need sum sleep. Ye and Twiggy ‘ave been bitchin’ since we start’d to walk.”

The tramp ant made a low irritated hiss, turning his gaze to the one who had spoken. It was Rahja, who was the second tallest of the bunch. All limbs, antennas, and spikes.

“Did I ask ye fer anythin’ ?.” He sneered before he walked away making sure there was some distance between them.


--

Rahja chuckled watching the ant scurry away from him, he turned his gaze to his bug at his side, which was tilting his pale gaze at the ants back before squinting up at him looking amused.

“Whut a grouch dun ye ‘gree, Ephraim?.” He asked his shorter companion, who chirped in answer before stumbling over a rock, Rahja used his long arms to quickly steady the fruit fly.

“Easeh dere, Raimy.” He absently commented before ignoring the chitter of thanks from the other, as his remaining good left eye focused on the hulking flying form of Min.

“Git ‘cha arse down ‘ere, Min! We bettah continue movin’ ‘gain!.“ He called to the sky, hoping the beetle could hear him.

[siffyleafylav]

"He is not to them what he is to me," I thought: "he is not of their kind. I believe he is of mine; – I am sure he is, – I feel akin to”-“WOAH!Look, look! A real Arthomorph!’’ Raising her gaze from the pages to stare at the disruption, then at the window, spotting the green spiky blur dashing past the class in an obvious hurry, Siofra suppressed a shudder.

Her class exploded into excited chatter and gasps of awe; some even left their chair to see the departing creature.
Heaving a weary sigh, she stood from her chair, grabbed the diagonal-methodical ruler, and smacked the flat end hard on her desk. Without missing a beat the children screamed in surprise and hurried back into their seats, safe for the one boy who had started the whole mess to begin with.

“Tommy Widen, it is rude and improper for a young boy yer age to interrupt a fellow classmate with silly exclamations and false assumptions,” She stared hard at the young boy, who looked closer to either run for his life under her gaze, or wet himself.

'' Sorry Missus Dolan, won't happin again, Missus Dolan,'' He looked down at his desk while mumbling his apology, and she couldn’t help but sigh again, with a softer tone, and letting slip that little bit of her foreign accent the kids actually ‘liked’ ;

''Yer apology is accepted, young mast’r Widen, noaw sit doawn and let miss Gracie continue, Oy'll explain the word ' assumptions'' to y'all later, ''- Sparing a glance at the pigtailed girl, clutching the book to her chest while glaring at the boy with more venom than a Jamesville rattler.

'' Miss Gracie?, please continue where you left off..."-"Yes ma'am, thank you, ma’am '' Clearing her throat the young girl began to speak again, here and there a few stumbles but eventually getting the whole sentence out.

‘’I feel akin to him, – I understand the language of his countenance and movements: though rank and wealth sever us widely, I have something in my brain and heart, in my blood and nerves, that assimilates me mentally to him.” – Sio glanced back at the window, worrying her bottom lip, if one of the kids had seen one in broad daylight, only trouble would ensure.

While staring at the window, something gnawed at the back of her mind, something strange, wicked maybe, but all in all, something to that to do with their future, her future…
”I must, then, repeat continually that we are forever sundered: – and yet, while I breathe and think I must love him."

[kinkachu]

The walk became more and more grueling for every step he took; the torture stretching on to eternity, shooting white hot jolts of pain up his legs for every step he begrudingly took. Vandall had long ago removed his specially tailored jacket, throwing it over his head in attempts to block out the suns rays from beating down upon his face. He panted heavily, feeling his insides boiling just beneath the hard exoskeleton.

He wished he could sweat. It would have been a welcomed relief to feel cool liquid bead along his skin. But if that were the case, and he was still human, his skin would have bled him dry by now. Instead his core temperature kept rising, making him more and more miserable as something, he wasn’t sure what exactly, made his outer shell quiver to release some heat.

Vandall shook his head, not going to dwell on his new bodies mechanics at the moment. He was going to concentrate on making it to that settlement, throwing his body in the nearest troth and dowsing his throat with the coolest liquid he could find.

His gaze unintentionally flittered back towards the sky, easily spotting the large body of Min hovering carelessly above them. “Ignorant vulture.” He gritted, returning his sight back to his feet. He closed his lids…. only to have them fly open when a hard shove nearly sent him falling face first into the sand. Righting himself instantly, Vandall turned an accusing glare onto Rahja, the only one close enough, or with the arm length, to have pushed him. “What in heavens name did you do that for?”

“Because I ‘aven‘t evah met o bug dat complained ‘alf es much es you.”

“Well EXCUSE the hell out of me for not ENJOYING this sweltering pickle we find ourselves in (snort). I‘m being broiled alive here and you… SIR! What are you doing?” He wrenched away from the nymphid’s grasp, turning his exposed wings away.

Rahja gave a thoughtful hmmm, a hand resting under his chin. “Oi, you canna put ‘ose to good use you know… ifn you don’t wanna walk no mores.” He pointed towards Min, of which caused the twiggy treehopper to shutter, “Hehe, yous can also spare us frum listenin to your complainin.”

Vandall gave a very unamused glower, trying to appear as frightening as possible to a 9 foot stick. “Tempting offer, but I prefer keeping my feet firmly on the ground. Especially if it involves sharing the skies with THAT thing.”

Rahja gave a playful smile, shrugged, extending his own wings and snatching Raimy before joining the other giant high above. This left only the two grumps and a cockroach to wander the burning sands, each looking up, then at each other, until both Situs and Vandall spun their heads away, sharing the same irritated grunt.

Giacamo simply crossed all four arms, debating if he should take to the skies as well.

---

Min watched the town long and hard, his sharp eyesight making it possible to spot a good majority of the moving individuals; all of which reminded him of scurrying ants. His focus was so intense he didn’t even notice, nor become startled, when Rahja came up beside him (Raimy extending his arms, pretending to fly).

The giants continued to watch the people in silence, though that didn’t last long.

Min snorted in disgust, his eagerness to reach the settlement diminishing for every human he could discern from the colony. “Humans.”

“Tha’ wouldna surprise me en da least. Tis a small universe after all.”

Min clutched his upper claws tightly, ducking his head almost like a bull would do before charging. “I cant take one god damn step anywhere without running into those bastards!”

“Aye, izn it grand?” Rahja’s dry humor was lost on the hulking Arthomorph.

Min chomped down hard on his fangs, suppressing a roar, flexing his claws in a strangling motion at the town. He silently counted each moving body, tallying up in his head how many more lives he would take before this day was through.

[NeonAzure]

Turning his eyes to the sun-bleached sky, Giac squinted at the distant silhouettes of the two largest members of their rag-tag group. The giant beetle had all but declared himself leader of the bunch the moment they had set out from the crash-site; of course the crash had been entirely the beetle's fault--stranding them all here in this desolate wasteland--but it was far better than rotting in some prison cell for a crime he didn't commit.

Yes, unlike some of his fellows here, he was entirely innocent. Though when he'd told them so back on the transport ship, they had refused to believe him; 'that's what they all say' they'd told him. Well, sometimes it was true. He was innocent; merely a victim of the prejudice against their kind.

His gaze flicked to the other figure in the sky; the stick-bug. A gentle smile curved his lips when he saw the fruitfly being carried in Rahja's arms. It was very kind of the bug to give the flightless fly a chance to experience flight. Giacomo didn't really know any of these bugs very well, there hadn't been a whole lot of conversation during the first half of their trip, but it now seemed that they would be stuck with each other.

Returning his attention to the hot cracked ground beneath his claws, he re-adjusted the pack on his shoulders and quickened his pace to catch up with the two land-bound insects ahead. His dark duster-style jacket fluttered out behind him and he held his bush-hat in place with one hand as the oven-baked wind rushed past. Slowing down to keep pace with the other two, he settled between them, casting each a friendly smile.

"G'day fer a walk, ain' it. Loits'a sunshine, a wahrm breeze, and plenty o' woide open space!"

Neither of them seemed to enjoy his attempt at humor, each grumbling their irritation, so he dropped the cheery tone for a more serious one.

"Look, loike it or not, we're stuck wit' each otha'. We moight as well try ta' be friendly, cuz if we don' look out fer each otha', who will?"

----

Linnea hummed softly as she busied herself with wiping down tables and collecting the empty glasses left over from the previous night's patrons, some of whom still lingered even now in the late morning. Those who had left likely wouldn't return until much later, leaving the saloon mostly empty, which gave her plenty of time to relax before the evening rush.

Wiping the glasses clean, she returned them to the shelf behind the bar and turned around to wipe down the counter, when she heard a soft chitter to her right. Stifling a gasp, she turned to the little troublemaker with a disapproving glare.

"Alphie!" she hissed softly, "I told you to stay upstairs... It's not safe down here. What if someone saw you?"

Pulling the young arthromorph close, she tucked him behind the bar, checking to make sure none of the lingering drunks had seen him. Sighing in relief she knelt down in front of him, nervously re-adusting his oversized hat and coat in a motherly fashion.

"I told you it's not safe yet..." she murmured softly, "We don't know any of these people yet... they might not approve of... of people like us." she explained gently.

They had only arrived in this small town barely a week ago. It had been difficult smuggling her small ward into town; the only person who even knew about him was the owner of the saloon, whom was kind enough to give her a job and the spare room. Of course, even HE didn't know what Alphonse was. The little bug had been heavily wrapped and bandaged when she brought him in, explaining that he was very ill and needed complete isolation from anyone other than herself. So, she had sworn the man to secrecy, promising him that once they had the money and supplies, they would move on... to find the boy "proper medical attention", of course.

The ruse had worked, for now. But if he kept slipping out in such revealing attire, they would surely be caught. There were laws against things such as this, housing unregistered arthromorphs, even the bond they shared was considered taboo. But how could she leave this poor thing to fend for himself in a world that held such distaste for his kind?

Pulling him into a warm hug, she planted a kiss on his fuzzy head, then quietly shooed the little bug boy back upstairs and returned to her work, glancing every so often at the back stairs to make sure he didn't come back down again.

----

Elsewhere... beyond the town to the far west, the morning sun hovering high above the eastern horizon and glaring brightly into their eyes, a roving band of raiders--a dozen or more men strong--approached unnoticed.

[luseylottay]

Lusey had changed into her regular clothing faster than Charlotte could even remind her to see the Mayor. She was already up and out, Charlotte tagging closely behind.
The mayor was hated by most everybody in the town. His name was Victor, and he was an exile of a sorts from the home planet of the humes; Earth. He had gotten into a big mess with an arthromorph a few years back and eventually left the planet. If he couldn't be mayor of Paris, he'd be Mayor elsewhere. As some of the kinder people would put it, if it weren't for him always getting into the good folks' businesses, they'd probably have no trouble getting along with "those disgusting bugs", as Mayor Victor puts it. He had a negative influence on the people, and most of them easily would look down on an arthromorph if it meant not getting bothered (or arrested, only God knows why Lusey hadn't been thrown in a cell at this point). The only person who was able to scare the Mayor into a tame little "leader" was the Sheriff, and she was off hunting a criminal, leaving the town at the mercy of the power hungry "elected official".

As Lusey neared the town hall where the Mayor's Office was, Charlotte took off to the top of the building, sitting atop the small tower where the warning bell dangled freely in the air. Her view was always the best up there, and she figured that perhaps her presence would alert the incoming bugs that the town wasn't completely populated by humans.

Inside the building, Lusey made no time to make her way up to the small office where the mayor spent his daytime hours working on pointless paperwork and dawdling over simple things. She knocked on the door lightly.
"Come in."
She opened the door and shut it behind her, smiling (if not a little nervously) at the now very unimpressed Mayor.
"Oh... it's just you... Well, out with it, what do you need?"
"There's Arthromorphs inbound."
He sat back and frowned
"Hostile?"
"Undetermined. I've got Charlotte keeping an eye on them from the tower. I just wanted to tell you so that you don't run outside with a shotgun like last time."
He huffed a little, to have a woman making accusations at him, the mayor. He growled.
"You mean you want me to stay out of the way until they move on so that you can do your precious little show of making them feel like people."
"You know as well as I do that they deserve to be treated like people! And yet you and the other speciesist humans out there think the best way to treat them is with a poor judicial system and guns!"
He glared at her from across the room, making Lusey shift a little in her shoes.
"I do not believe I asked for your opinions, madam..." He growled, "But I know you'll persist until my ears bleed. FINE. Do your magic show and try to change them how you wish. I'll have no say in this until they leave. At which point I think we'll need to talk about your friend the Ma-"
She was gone and out the door before he could finish his sentence.

Lusey was torn in emotion at that point she was happy to be able to greet the incoming arhtromorphs in peach, but heavily annoyed by the Mayor's continued speciesist claims. All around people started to slow in their actions and watch both her and the bright blue sky. The other settlers knew that her visits into the Town Hall had to do with an incoming insect. And thus the air intensified as they awaited the creatures and whatever instances they may bring.

Far off in the other direction, the bandits made their move, and started to approach the town, guns shining in their holsters under the unforgiving sun.

[badluckcat]

Situs gave the roach arthomorph a flat look, he was about to make a snaky remark to Giac when Rahja swooped down with Raimy in one set of arms barely avoiding Situs, (who barely moved out of the way in time)
“Ye lot al’rite. Down ‘ere?” The tall arthomorph questioned the walking bunch, ignoring the glare of Situs.

“Just wonderful, I just love the feeling of hot burning sand beneath my feet, and the air blowing dusty hot dog breath smelling wind in my face” Vandall dryly remarked as he re-adjusted his equipment on his narrow shoulders. The straps were starting to dig in to his chitin-like skin.

Rolling his uncovered eye, Rahja looked at Giac. “’Feel free at come up wit us if dese two ‘appy gent’s git at ye nerv’s”

Unfolding his wings Rahja to off again, Raimy waved at the three as they flew higher and higher.

“…Stup’d flyin’ buzztards” Came the grumble from Situs.

“At least we both agree on that” Vandall snorted.

--


“This town will be ours, boys! Before th’ sun sets we’ll rule it all!”

The group of raiders shared nasty grins, their hands on their weapons, their thirst for blood and violence at their highest.

This was going to be fun!

[siffyleafylav]

Sio carried on with her class as per usual, writing on the board the techniques required for your average anti-gravity pod; these were just the basics she was intending to ram into the little heads of her students, once she deemed them ready she would give them the annual tests and sit back to see how many had paid attention and how may had slacked off by looking out the window, spying for any more appearances of Arthomorphs.

Again she shuddered slightly, a squeak smothered and a stiffening of her posture masked by stepping firmly, these were reactions she had each time she either thought or heard something to do with the alien species; her grandparents had told her enough horrid tales to leave the Emerald Islener with perhaps a prejudiced fear and general caution about the species.

Gripping the book tighter she continued her lecture and wrote with a quick cursive hand; chastening herself for getting distracted by such a silly thing like childhood fears.

BOINNGGGGBOINNNNGGBOINNNNGGBOIIINGGG

The Alert! But what for? Surely not one lonely insect, those were usually dealt with quickly, be it by the locals or that eccentric girl Annabeth.

Dropping the book Sio reached behind a painting of their school's headmaster, unlatching a heavy rifle from a not-so-secret compartment and cocking the gun to make sure it was loaded, pocketing the extra ammunition from the bottom most drawer in her desk.

She did all this while the class once again exploded into shouts and gasps, this time more of fright and surprise.”What’s goin’ on?”-“Ruffians? Outlaws? Bandits? Arthomorphs?!’-“Oh my gosh, the bell! The bell!”-“I’m scawwed, I’m scawwed, mommy!”

BAM! The children shrieked again; swiveling wide bright eyes to the front of the class where their teacher still held the gun poised above her desk, the butt of the large gun having made a dent on impact.

“RIGHT! I want everyone holding another’s hand, you will follow me outside to the bunkers in an orderly line without one of you slinking off or separating from their buddy, we will do this quickly and quietly without so much of a fuss…al’ight?!”
Many heads bobbed, each kid reaching for a friend or buddy, soon she had them all trailing behind her like a mother duck with her babies; only difference was that mother duck was armed with bullets stronger than diamonds from the Yellium District.

“Jo! Jo! Oh thank goodness!”Biting the inside of her cheek, but turning her head as she was joined in her brisk march to the escape route by a flustered, slightly buck-toothed man in his mid-thirties. “Mista’ Theodillus, wot seems to be the problem?” Mister Theodillus, usually called Reginald, flushed from her brashness and her cold tone; s woman shouldn’t be so, so, so brass!
“Miss Dolan, I regret to inform you that you are to be taken with the children into the bunker, the gentlemen of the school and I’m certain the rest of the men in town will deal with this, this, this problem.” Sio surprised the man by stopping abruptly and shouting an inch from his face.

“Wot?!Wot are you saying, exactly?”The young woman had half a head over him, not to mention that she was broad-shouldered with a, ahem, well- endowed chest and a temper like a wild fire.

Having that an inch away from your face made you back down, fast.
“I m-m-m-mean not offence! It’s just that, a woman of your status and position in this community, it seems obvious that you should-“-”I was part of the LAST anti-raid committee, I stood alongside those men outside with my own gun, and yer telling me NOW that I have to hide and be a good little dumb bimbo?” The blustering man failed to answer in time; for she turned sharply, the child hanging onto the ruffled back of her uniform skirt barely holding on as he, along with 13 others, were dragged down the hallway.

After getting out in the open air, the echoing sounds of gunshots and screams behind them, Siofra did a wuick headcount to ensure herself that she had all her students.

‘’…Jason, Caroline, Billy, Ashley, Mary…Where’s Mary?’’ The kids looked from her to each other, shaking their heads and shrugging shoulders, Sio felt a ice cold shard drop into her stomach. A child, lost , during a raid from possible murders, thieves and bandits?

‘’Timmy you lead the rest o’ them to the shelter, tell Mrs. Flare that I’ll be back soon as possible, now git!’’ The remaining kids bolted at her command, the bunker was in sight and there was no way for any outlaw to spot them under the planks that were bared overhead and on the sides, camouflaging with the barren desert landscape.

Swinging the gun from its strap over her shoulder into her hands, her boots kicking up the loose dirt as she skirted past the protective barriers and into the ongoing fray.
Bullets flew through the air, shouts and screams and even a strange buzzing made fir a chaotic chorus, while Sio searched the streets for her young student, she spotted the child standing stock still in the middle of the road, larky on horseback heading straight for her.

She wouldn’t be able to save her in time! As if she was going to let that stop her!

Breaking out into a flat run she raced to get closer before the child was flattened. But just as the hoves reached her, the little blond blurred and disappeared.

‘’MARY!?’’

[kinkachu]

BOINGBOINBOINGBOIIN!!!

“Da fu?” The sudden noise jolted the beetle from his brooding, snapping his thoughts back towards the little outpost that -during the span of 5 minutes- had gone from a tranquil piece of heaven to chaotic hell. He squinted to make out the scurrying figures dart into their homes and any other building that hadn’t fallen under lock down, wondering with a taste of fear if perhaps those people were running from THEM.

Surely the home world authorities hadn’t made contact to this little backward desert. It seemed so remote, tucked away in a solar system not even the savviest of historians could recall. He certainly didn’t know of it and he’d been all over (mostly running from the law but that was beside’s the point).

“Ey, be ‘o mess gone on yondah. Reck‘n they seen us comin?”

Min kept his focuse trained on the humans, unsure and unwilling to answer Rah at the moment; silently conjuring scenario’s and possible solutions, training a good portion of his attention on the rusty turrets rumbling to life near the towns edge. His brow ridges furrowed suspiciously, eyeing the outdated relics, hovering in place undecided on how menacing those scrap guns would be against his hide or -briefly wondering- how well his jail buggies would hold up.

Those human’s certainly acted like they were readying themselves for battle, either arming themselves to the teeth or taking cover like the spineless cowards that they were.

His muscles locked up when the turrets came fully online, though -strangely- they didn’t point in their direction as he had once thought. On the contrary, they directed themselves towards a group of riders tearing across the sandy stretch of land, the men whooping and hollering up a storm, firing their stock rifles into the heart of the outpost with out a care to who fell under the projectiles way.

“Shu’da we ‘elp the lot out?” Rahja began, strategically shifting Raimy in his arms so as not to see the carnage laying waste upon the humans.

The turrets fired once, fizzled, chugged, sputtered a good few times before firing again. Min continued to observe the ordeal from a safe distance, a slow, menacing smirk stretching across his face. Cries of pain rang just as loudly as the warning bell, heard over the RA-TAT-TAT of gun fire and the whoosh of departing vehicles for those that held the foresight to escape the raid.

Min simply shook his head, scanning the horizon for any other towns to occupy, “As thrilling as it would be to kill off the lot, I‘d rather find a bed before I go painting the town red.”

“Aye, bot they a loo like dey be in o straights right now.”

“And?” Min’s look and tone spoke volumes, his absolute distaste and lack of sympathy made even Rahja feel nervous. Those cold, heartless turquoise eyes spearing him with ice, flickering briefly on Raimy who, by this point, had burrowed his face into Rah’s chest trying to look as inconspicuous as possible.

Rahja took a firmer hold of the fly, trying to keep his attention straight ahead without showing to much discomfort. “Yo may no’ wanna to, bot it be dah only option fer dah moment. No other place en sight.” He waved an arm to demonstrate, earning a loud Feh from the other.

---

Vandall had nearly leapt out of his skin when the turrets began to blaze, faltering in his step and frantically searching the distance to sate his confusion. Once the dust cleared he could just barely make out the figures of who ever or what ever was riding into the town they were headed for. “Oh that’s just great. Lost in a desert with one place to go and its crawling with outlaws.”

“Feels like home already.” Situs mumbled dryly, regaining his composer as well. The two grouch’s watched what they could through the haze of sand being thrown all over the scene, Vandall seeming to cringe for every blood curdling cry that roared over the weapondry. “We should… probably stay out here until it dies down a bit. Don’t want to get caught in the crossfire or… um…”

Situs huffed, arms crossed, slowly finding the carnage less and less interesting by the second. He plopped down on the burning sand, gritting his teeth but ignoring the sting that prickled across his hind quarters, “You read my mind.”

[NeonAzure]

Giac had been about to respond to the two grumpy bugs about keeping them company in the burning heat, but as the lonely outpost ahead finally came into clear view over the horizon, a cacophony of chaotic sound erupted from the quiet settlement; gunshots, screams, and clanging bells. Either this was their "welcoming" party, or the town was under attack. The roach figured it was more the latter than the former, though.. seeing as how the group was still a good quarter mile from the edge of town and those rusted turrets were currently pointing at the rabble within.

"I know I said we need ta stick togethah and look out fer each othah..." he said quietly, watching the distant chaos, "But, those folks look loike they could use a bit 'o help.." The grumbles from his two ill-tempered companions were less than encouraging. Giac gave them both a disappointed look, shaking his head. "Well, don' rush off all a' once...." he muttered sarcastically, "Bloody cowards."

Surveying the carnage ahead, Giac continued forward past his stationary comrades, shifting the pack of supplies on his shoulder. As he was sizing up the situation, continuing onward at the same leisurely pace they'd been keeping previously, he noticed something amid the chaos that made the situation far more urgent; there were children.

Dropping the load of supplies to the ground, Giac dashed off as quick as his feet could carry him. He raced across the hot sand, covering the distance in under a minute and driving headlong into the fray. As he weaved in and out between fleeing locals and cracks of gunfire, he focused solely on the safety of the wayward child he had seen amongst the mayhem.

THERE!

He spotted the little girl in the middle of the main road amidst the confusion, both raiders and locals alike trampling about all around her. He pushed past people--some of whom screamed more at his presence than the raiders--dodging gunshots and hooves as he made his way towards the disoriented and frightened child. He scrambled to reach her as one of the horseback raiders charged blindly towards her. With a flutter of fabric and wings, he dashed forward, scooping up the child in his four arms just as the hooves came down. He grunted sharply and stumbled, then bolted towards a stack of crates and ducked behind.

Now out of harm's way, Giac turned his attention back to the child who fussed in his arms, wailing and crying as he tried to calm her, "Hush! Hush, lil' sheila... It's awright, you're safe, you're safe... There, shhh... You're safe, naow.." As the girl continued to whimper, he groaned softly; he'd been quick enough to save the girl, but not quite fast enough for his own good. Those hooves had clipped him good and hard.

'No good deed goes unpunished, Giac..' he thought wryly to himself.

[luseylottay]

Charlotte had seen the bandits charging from at least a mile away, and instantly went into a panic.
The 'orrid timing of it all!
She looked back to the approaching insects then back to the bandits before ringing the bell as much as she could. Within seconds the whole town looked to her, and she used one of her lower arms to point to the approaching outlaws.

Within short seconds, the entire town was rushing about like madmen, Lusey included, who had run off to her home to grab some guns. The Sheriff had taught bother her and Charlotte how to shoot (though Charlotte was more partial to using her speed and claws), and with dangerous men approaching it was the best time to get shooting.

Men ran to the turrets, and Charlotte left the town in a hurry, barely noticing the cockroach that ran past her to save a small girl. She looked back and saw the bright wings, but no more, because the horses and shooting again grabbed her attention. She sped out as one tried to trample her, making her way to the incoming insects. She finally reached the group still on the ground, an Ant and some sort of Treehopper, she looked up to the sky and waved her larger arms, signaling for them to land.
The thin one (she assumed a stick-bug) landed, a brown fly chirping in his arms out of fear and confusion. The beetle-giant ignored her though, and simply hovered. She blinked and growled, bursting into the air. She huffed a little, her wings were rarely used, and being a mantis didn't help. She tried to approach the black thing, but was shot down with an icy glare.
"Get down 'ere!" she hissed, "You'll be spotted!"
With her wings already giving out, she landed again, right in the middle of the group, who were staring at her.
"'Ave you all never seen a Mantis before? Come on, I know a back way into ze town."
"Oh yes, th'town, ya mean where the people are shootin' each otha?"
Charlotte sent a dangerous glare to the unnamed ant.
"Yes, ze town with ze shooting. But zere is someplace safe in zere to wait until ze outlaws are captured or killed. 'Owever, it will be a little trickee."
Even the beetle had lowered a little bit to listen, perhaps it was because she was like them, perhaps he was tiring out, that wasn't for her to decide.

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

Back in the town, the entire place was in a ruckus, people had evacuated to safe houses while the men (and Lusey, strangely enough), stayed to take out the gunmen, who were whooping and hollering as they shot their guns in spontaneous directions. The mayor was face down dead, being the first one shot, while one or two other men (and a woman) also lay in eternal rest in the dust. The men and Lusey all hid behind walls and barrels, only stopping their firing long enough to reload ammo. But they were running short, Lusey had plenty more guns in the house, but she couldn't reach them, they were all the way across the town! In distress, she fired two shots into the sky, hoping that Charlotte would hear and understand what she needed.

[siffyleafylav]

“-Off me yee worthless piece of shite,-“
Struggling with a run by larky for the rifle proved harder for Sio, for he was twice her width and burly too booth, but she had years of pub fights under her belt, and if there was one thing you learned on the job,-
“I said; Git OFF!” Twisting her grip, Siofra pirouetted on her heel, straining her back muscles and hauling, throwing the heavy body over her back and into a garbage barrel nearby, the gun fired a loose Yellium bullet into the sky, but she didn’t bother to see what happened to it, currently gasping with the effort it took to shake that rum-ridden bandit off her.-Use the enemy’s strength against him.-

“Spineless bastards” She spat, picking up the gun and checking to see if it was still in working order, keeping a eye out for any stray bullets or blasts from the turrets, God knew where they were being aimed at, what with the town over ridden with bandits and thieves it was a honest mistake if they hit someone from their own community.

She lifted her head calmly to study the path where she’d last seen her student; dangerous raid or not, she had a duty to keep. Keeping her finger over the trigger Sio jogged, dodged and ducked around, heavily aware that many town’s folk had already fallen. But it wasn’t the time to grief, it was time to fight back with everything they had.

There was a sound like a earthquake that rattled her teeth and made her stumble and trip, glancing around Siofra couldn’t detect what had caused the thundering noise; as if someone had dropped an elephant from the sky!

Getting to her feet and cussing she made her way to the ally mouth, hearing the familiar sobbing noises she had come used to in her time teaching, among them, a unknown voice, soft and highly accented like her own.

“- It's awright, you're safe, you're safe... There, shhh... You're safe, naow.."

Frowning Siofra inched closer, hiding behind a barrel, she couldn’t make out much, but from her vintage point there was a distinct shape crouching near some wooden boxes and barrels, there was a tell-tale shiver moving over her spine; what was it?

“-Jojo, mommy…I want Jojo, where’s my mommy? Jojo,…Jojo….” Her name, no, Arggh, her nickname. Most children couldn’t pronounce the feisty teacher’s name, and it had been completely unintentional that one child had settled on “Jojo”.

“jojo?, that’s ya’re mummy? Let wait till all’s calm, and then we’’ll find her, eh?” that voice again, soothing and desperately trying to quiet the child’s pleads, defiantly male but strained as if in pain.

Or restraint.

“I want Jojo, I wanna go to Jojo…” The child whimpered again, and the man shushed her, whispering the promise over and over.

“We’ll find her, lil Sheila, we’ll look for ya mummy…-“- “No need, I’m already ‘ere.”

She cocked the rifle and stepped around the barrel, aiming it straight at the man holding the blond child to his chest, Mary spotted her and immediately leaned as far as she could over the four arms cradling her; her voice a happy shriek to find something akin to a mother in all confusion and fear.

“Jojo!” But the moment she had rounded on the man; the creature, the Arthomorph…fear gripped her heart and clenched it hard; she was suddenly so scared all the anger melted into deadening fright, her green-gray eyes widening so much the whites had to be visible even in the shaded ally.

“A-a-a-Arthomorph’ She stuttered, locked in her body sized with fear, a cold sweat working over her forehead, what should she do? Shoot? Run? Roll over and play dead and pray to Bridged that he wouldn’t bother with her corpse?

“Easy now, easy, this kid belong to you, ma’am? It’s awroight, she’s safe, nothin’ done to her…see?” The insect alien spread his multiple arms wide, revealing he wore a modest looking trench coat and hat, open palms the signature of surrender and no more threat to her than a infant.

And still she could not move for the fear that held her in its icy claws.
Siofra mumbled a prayer in a different tongue; it’s vows and words chipped and yet with a lilt that sounded like a lullaby for her nightmare fears.

“Ní mar a shíltear a bhítear. Ní mar a shíltear a bhítear. Ní mar a shíltear a bhítear. Ní mar a shíltear a bhítear.”


The prayer worked slowly, easing her discomfort like the sun thawing out a iced puddle, still the rifle shook in her hands, making it harder for her to aim at the creature struggling to hold the wiggling child in his grasp; there was still a fight going on, Lord knew what would happen if he let her slip away.

"Ma'am, its awroight, I ain't gunna hurt ya, easy noaw, easy, easy..-"The cockroach calmly straightend up, wincing from some unknown injury, keeping his vibrant eyes trained on the armed sheila, if she' only gave him soem sign that she wasn't going to shoot him. Being a unintentional hero wasn't the most easy job to have, especially regarding his past experiances...

"...Jojo, Jojo, Jojo, Jojo!" The child on his lap was near tears and yet delighted to see the fierce female shaking in her boots, reaching small hands to her and bouncing withh joy.

"Jojo, that ya' name?"- "Aye"- Her chipped reply was more a squeak, but Giac was relieved to pry at least some responds from her.

"Jojo, okay, just...calm doawn, there's alot of confusion goin' on, so it's best if we just take it easy..."
He slowly patted a hand to his chest, keeping his glowing eyes on her face to rezd her expression, but darnit was it hard to see past teh gut-clenching fear she no doubt felt; why else had she suddenly sized up?
"I'm Giac- " More time to explain his situation wasn't given, for another thunderous boom shook teh very savanah to it's roots. Among it was a monsterous roar that in the short tiem he had gotten to know his companions, rang a bell as clear as a May morning.

Oh crickey, tha' beetle again...-?!

[kinkachu]

Min barely felt the tiny thunk smack against his hide, far to engrossed in watching the carnage just yonder unfold. Every nerve ending tingled at the sight, sound and smell that wafted to him on the wind, flooding his mind with the imagery he was all to familiar with. The grand scene unfolded like characters on a stage, jumping from one moment to the next, bodies thrashing about, calling for help or plugging the enemy with more holes then he found comfortable, the gun vapors clouding their vision as the fear bleed from their pores. ‘What I wouldn’t give for a bag of popcorn right now,’ he giggled, tilting his head with a dreamy look.

This was by far the most entertainment he’d had since slicing through the patrol units aboard the Escapade II Prison Carrier. Sure, that had been thrilling at the time, pummeling the droids against their fragile human counterparts, but nothing compared to laying back on the side lines for a change and watching people rip each other apart.

Min crossed his arms, scaling the skies a little higher for a better vantage point. Though something strange spilled onto his antennae, making it quiver, then bob, detecting a strange sulfuric scent. And what was stranger was it emanated from HIM.

A quick glance down, and on further inspection, discovered a perfectly round hole splitting into his groin area. “The fuck?”

Digging a claw through the hole, he tore the little round bead from his crotch plate, eyeing the Yellium bullet with growing vexation.

A thunderous gnarl trembled from his core, the little bead still pulsing between his fingers with an enormous amount of heat; scolding by human standards but hardly dangerous enough to do him any harm.

His hand clenched around the slug, glancing down at the hole, then the settlement, narrowing his sights on it with a new bout of fury. “Bastards ruined my pants!”

Like a shot of lightening he speed through the air, dodging further cracks shot in his direction, zooming over the rooftops until spotting a good 15 group of men huddled up near the towns main street.

Time for retribution.
……………….


Scrambling through the chaotic streets, the tiny entourage ducked low against the shadows, keeping close to the ground and even closer to each other, always wary of leaving their backs facing anywhere but a wall.

Charlotte made good to steer them safely through the winding back alleys and (most of the time) away from the destruction trailing behind. Though that was easier said then done when panic seized the street and the bandits were some times the least of your worries. Many times they had been shot at by those who looked less rugged, perhaps town folk who were simply to blind to distinguish friend from foe. Vandall had on multiple occasions screamed for them to cease fire… only to get them shot at even more.

“Why did we come here? You stupid mantis! Are you trying to get us killed? Is that your plan? Kill us and devour our lifeless bodies-!” Charlotte shoved a hand in his face, glaring at him as only a very angry woman could do.

She poked a peek around a corner, hawk-like eyes scanning the immediate area… waiting. Her head swayed from left to right, searching for any threats amongst the destruction.

None could be seen thus far, her attention sweeping over the half demolished cars, the bloody pavement beneath their feet and the cries of pain not to far from the block. Her heart truly ached to hear those mournful calls, but she could do nothing for that person for… as soon as she took one step out into the street… the voice died into nothing.

Vandall edged up behind her, apparently his nerves were not made of sterner things and his feet itched to keep moving. “Madame?” He rapped her shoulder non to gently, huffing when met with no response. “Madame!! We need to get moving, tout suite! Or is standing here like sitting ducks apart of your grand scheme?”

“Hush, homme stupide. There are tings going abouts you must be quiet for.”

“E-e-excusez-moi? Je ne suis pas stupide, je suis d'être pratique, vous donzelle ignorante!”

She snapped back around with a slew of French jibber jabber the rest didn’t even attempt at keeping up with. Their childish bickering came to an abrupt halt when a gun shot fired dead center between them, scantly missing the two arguing Arthomorph‘s and their comrades.

Every dead paned face turned right back towards the street, Vandall growing stiff, gulping when a thuggish beast of a man came swaggering towards their alley, flocked on either side of him by a good 10 or more men.

“Well well well, boys. What have we here?” the brute cackled through his yellow stained teeth, brandishing his weapon of choice like a sword.

A lanky, dirt ridden man stepped forth beside the other, leveling his stock riffle at the other onlookers, “Looks like a bunch of creepy crawlies, boss.”

“Some ugly creepies too.”

“You’re one to talk!” Vandall began, puffing up his chest and just ready to rail into the lot with his razor tongue. He barely uttered another word before falling back, hands shooting up as a 32 caliber Pulser fixed itself squarely between his eyes. “Quite a yapper on this one.” The leader croaked, spitting his half chewed cigar to the side, “Looks like this towns got a big infestation on their hands.”

“Cryin shame. Such a nice neighborhood too.” Another gang member called from the rear, spurring the rest into laughter.

Vandall could only stand there, baring his teeth as the sound of the gun cocking filled his ears, glaring daggers at the unwashed thugs. He lamented they were unarmed or else he’d had laid that bastard out flat in one punch. But alas, it was not meant to be, nor was he meant to gain any sort of freedom from his new life.

The leader shook his head, finger brushing over the trigger, “I think we can help this town out o bit. Starting with this one right he-”

!!!SLAM!!!

Blood exploded in every direction, splattering against the walls, Vandall, and the gang members that stood less then three feet from the scene; Charlotte being the only one with enough sense to leap behind something, the twiggy treehopper, to avoid the downpour.

They all stood stock still, frozen in place by the terror gripping at their hearts, the sounds of bones crunching beneath a tremendous weight made all the more prominent by the sudden silence. They stared fixedly at the large black mass before them, it slowly lifting its massive head from his shoulders, scanning the opened mouth faces of his fellow Arthomorph’s before swinging his attention towards the cowering humans.

His brow ridges furrowed on the scraggly lot, glowering at their faces, then their weapons, assessing the danger of each before breaking out into a demonic grin. Every razor sharp fang was exposed, glinting for all to see, pumping even more fear into their souls when his feet lifted out of the lifeless mess he had landed on. “What‘s the matter boys?” Min addressed them, snapping his wings into his shell and standing to his full 10 foot height, “Did I come at a bad time?”

The lot continued to stare slacked jawed, shuffling a five steps for every one of his, their guns trembling in their hands the closer he got.

Min gave a brief glance towards Vandall, who by this point had started to realize what he was covered in; his horrified face priceless. “Heh. You guys might want to step out for a minute or two while I…” -Snatched up the lanky mans head- “… set these parasites straight.” Clench!

Brain matter oozed from between his claws, turning the outlaws whiter then sheets. Panic immediately swept through the group, Min letting loose a string of earth shattering roars that had the lot scattering for cover, their guns firing wildly over their shoulders. The bullets did nothing but bounce off his impenetrable shell, flickering in all directions and only angering the behemoth for his now ruined shirt.

He tore after them like a bull turned loose, those less fortunate, or less quick, found themselves smashed to the ground by his colossal arms, torn to ribbons and tossed at the backs of the retreating others.

Vandall felt his entire body slack not only from the sight but also from the feel of the warm liquid trickling down his face. All his energy refocused itself on his clothes, tuning out the carnage, the death, even the cries of the dying, concentrating solely on discarding his clothing.

He fought to wipe himself clean, hardly registering his arm being tugged by Charlotte. “Idiot, keep moving! Ve must get out of ‘ere!” She screamed. The only thoughts circling around his mind were those of washing the blood away. ‘Clean clean. Must get clean. It’s not blood, no one’s blood is coating me. I didn’t do it, I didn’t kill him! I couldn’t have, not me… No blood… no blood….’