Venturing Into The Unknown

[Kimkate_Burnclock]

The lost, the blind
They stumble the more
Not seeing behind
Nor seeing before
Dear friends seek them in their plight
Wishing to end the endless night
They seek, they seek, but in searching they lack
The knowledge to see, to find in the black

"Not that I know of," I replied. From what I knew, Emman had no personal enemies. The Empire, yes, could they have sent someone after him?

I covered my face in my hands and moaned, we had little to no information for this mission, was saving Emman even possible?

[Emman_Jumpsong1]

They get to the top of the mountain, and their transport for ever city floats in the air waiting for them to come aboard. My hunter puts me into his shoulder and the other one carries my hammer as he follows him to the blimp. They put me in a chest and lock it to prevent me from getting out and putand they put my hammer next to the steering wheel in their view. 'So, how are we going to present him to Lucky?' 'We?' 'We. We both made it out and can finally give him the good news of bringing one o these rats to his feet.' 'About that I am bringing him to Lucky myself.' 'WHAT?'

My hunter kicks him of the blimp and watches him go through the galss, falling through the air and then tumbling along the side of the mountain and land at the side of the lake. He smile as towards ever city, smiling about receiving a reward. The other commander slowly trys to get up, trying to recover from his fall and yells 'I will get you for this. I will get you'. He holds onto himself as he leaps towards the cave. He falls to his knees, cursing, he looks up and see's a person in a white coat before passing out.

[Emman_Jumpsong1]

(I am at Ever city, but I don't know that yet. I don't know anything yet)

I slowly gain concousness, opening my eyes, and I find myself in a metal room, with me on my knees and my arms chained to the wall. I look at myself and I am wearing a green uniform. There is a pain in my head and I look around, and I see a man in front of me. He was cracking his knuckles, then he struck my head. Again, he strikes and again, and again, and again. Every time he strikes, he starts to speed up the pace. I see blood coming off me, I swallow the pain and the feeling of bruises and cuts on my face and every time he punches me, I get tense and something inside me started to form stronger. something that somehow feels fimiliar, but yet I can't remember. Then he stopped and tries to soothe his knuckles, then he pulled a lever. The chains start to pull me up onto my feet and stopped when I was standing. He comes back to me, and I just stare at him, growling like a animal. He smiles and said 'I told you I destroy you, not that you can remember, but who cares, no one knows where you are and no one will even care'.

He laughs then continues. He hits different parts of my body. He keeps on going with knee kicks, elbows, fists, kicks, he just keeps on going, I see bruises and cuts forming on my body, blood starting to flow and the feeling inside me grew until, I went insane. I see him about to punch my face and I bite onto it, hard. He yells, but i did not care. I lift my feet up, leavening me hanging onto the chains that were holding my arms up and I push my feet up to his face, and constantly stomping his head and body with his hand still clutched between my teeth. He yells for help and the door bursted open, other people came in and tried to get his hand out of my mouth, but get kicked by me well attempting to do so. They managed to succeed and I start to yell constantly at them well moving around crazy, trying to get the chains off me. The man rushes out of the room, and I assume he wants to fix his hand, face and body parts that I kicked. The people move out and closed the door, leaving me in pain and in my madness. I keep on yelling for what felt like hours. I keep on going until my body could not have the energy to keep going. I calm down slowly, growling, thinking what it was that I did to deserve this. Why the pain, why the suffering and what people did he mean by 'no one will even care'? Before I pass out from being exhausted and in pain.

[Unknown_Northlance]

I covered my face in my hands and moaned, we had little to no information for this mission, was saving Emman even possible?

The Unknown closes his eyes tightly, his fingertips pressed together earnestly as if he could simply will things to be set right. The pounding in his head that had been for the most part dulled as of late, had returned. He sighs, his mind working furiously through the pain to find a solution to this distressing problem. Miss K was right. With nothing to go on, it was nearly impossible to find him. Odds were that the Empire took him, but as to where they would take him... his thought are interrupted by a loud and frantic scream from outside, followed be a loud splash and bitter yelling. Unknown opens his eyes and leaps from his seat to rush to the entrance of the cavern, the two ladies in pursuit. He reaches the edge of the cave and pauses, surveying the scene before him. A young man in full Imperial uniform, beaten and battered from his fall down the mountain, lay unconscious at the edge of the water. He starts down, but stops as the droning of an engine reaches his ears. He raises his head, the evening rays reflecting off the bright metal of the airship that flies away towards Ever City. Unknown smiles from under his snowy hood. "I believe we have found you, Herr Jumpsong!"

@Peregrine_Appleclock @Miss_K @Emman_Jumpsong1

[Kimkate_Burnclock]

I cocked my head at the newcomer, an Autofficer for sure, however, this one isn't stationed in No Man's Landing.

Interrogation time! I thought, a grin spreading across my face.

I nodded and Peri, she smiled and helped me pull the Autofficer out of the water.

"You wouldn't happen to have any rope, would you?" I asked the Unknown.

[Iliara_Mustardtop]

A post was merged into an existing topic: Venturing Into The Unknown: Discussion

[Unknown_Northlance]

Unknown ponders for a moment. He didn’t remember seeing any rope anywhere. He suddenly thinks of a solution.
After carrying the still unconscious officer inside and propping him up in a chair, he enters his lab, emerging with a roll of copper wire. He cuts off three strands, using them to secure the officer's wrists to the back of the chair and his feet to the chair legs. It would be painful to a degree and any attempts at escaping would only heighten the pain, but of course the Empire had never been very concerned with their prisoner's comfort.
A sharp groan escapes the officer's lips as he wearily lifts his head. His eyes come to focus, only to see the white coat and hood that many Imperial members had come to know, thanks to his escapades by the river.
He jerks in his chair as a short gasp emits, his frame shudders, partly from his swim in the icy lake and from the fear of seeing the three somber figures before him. "Y-you're the Unknown!" He whispers hoarsely.
He lifts his head a bit at the mention of his name. "Indeed I am. And you, sir, have a lot to answer for."

@Miss_K @Peregrine_Appleclock

[Kimkate_Burnclock]

I stepped up to the bound Autofficer and searched his pockets. From my discoveries, it was known the fellow called himself Autofficer Peter Firmstand of the Evercity Autofficer unit. He also carried a gun, which I passed to Peri for safe keeping.

Peri and I watched in anticipation as the questions began.

[Unknown_Northlance]

The Unknown stands silently, his emotionless features partly visible from under his hood. The tense silence continues, the only sound being the ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner. Unknown had a suspicion and he wanted to see how this played out.
Finally Officer Firmstand looks up, an odd resolution in his eyes. "Look, I know who you are. I know who you all are." He replies, glancing at the three of them. "I... I have been betrayed by one of my own." He sighs and drops his head. "Eight years... and look what I have to show for it. You won't need to interrogate me. I'll tell you anything you want to know."
Unknown steps forward. "Where is Emman Jumpsong?"
The officer looks up with a start. "Oh, I should have known. He is being taken to Evercity by my... friend, Officer Pridefall." He grit his teeth at the word friend. "But it doesn't matter anyways. You will never get in and out of the city alive." He grins triumphantly.
The Unknown smiles a bit. "Obviously you do not know us very well."

@Miss_K @Peregrine_Appleclock

[Kimkate_Burnclock]

My mind searched for the quickest ways to reach Evercity. Airship would be fastest, however, I can't drive one. Peri, on the other hand . . .

"Peri," I whispered.

"I know," she replied, "I'll be back with it soon."

Peregrine hopped into one of the waiting boats and paddled her way to shore. Autofficer Firmstand arched an eyebrow.

"Is this a game to you?" he asked, disgusted, "No one defies the almighty Empire!"

"No even disgusting little street rats like you!" Autofficer Sharpgaze's familiar quote echoed in my mind, finishing the sentence. I shook my head to rid myself of the memory.

Unknown made a 'tisk tisk' sound, "It would be better not to lie to yourself, herrn."

The Autofficer's face reddened with rage at the statement. A distant mechanical whirr caught my ear, I turned to see Peri zoom over the lake.

"Get in, everyone!" she called, "We're off to Everycity!"

[Eerie_Coppernight]

I made my way swiftly through the streets of No Man's Landing. I hadn't ever thought of myself as someone who would do this. Here I was, searching for a formula that nobody believed existed in order to save a man I didn't exactly know. I gathered my cape around my shoulders and walked more briskly. I had occasionally dabbled in the theoretical, but had always preferred the hands on side of science. Now, however, someone's life was hanging on the discovery of the most elusive formula known to man. I vanish into the shadows with a swish to avoid a patrolling automaton. Flicking a hidden switch on the rock wall, I disappear into the darkness that yawns and then shuts."I should have done this sooner", I say to myself. In almost no time at all, I am coming out from behind the bookshelf at Lukas'.

Lukas greets me with a jovial smile as I walk don the stairs. "Is that you, lassie? Well cobble me crankcase, you do seem to turn up in the oddest places." He scratches his head. "You wouldn't happen to have seen my cat in all your mysterious wanderings? haha." I turn to the monsieur with a soft laugh. "Believe me, Lukas, if I saw hide or hair of your cat, you would be the first to know." I square my shoulders, remembering my errand. "Lukas, is there any chance I might borrow Knock's journal?" Lukas has turned back to his work and waves his hand dismissively. "Help yourself, lassie. Perhaps you might find something I missed." I walk back up the stairs to the bookshelf. The volumes are arranged rather haphazardly, but I am eventually able to locate the worn, brown, leather notebook. I plop myself down in a corner to read, hoping that I find an inkling of what I'm searching for.

[Kimkate_Burnclock]

Evercity was a strange place. It was, in a way, very much like the Landing. However, it was so much larger and busier then NML ever could be. People rode about in their mechanical fog-chugging carriages with Automaton escorts. The civilians of Evercity seemed prouder, they carried themselves with dignity, proud to live in the Usurper's capital city.

The three of us, Peri, the Unknown, and I, were terribly out of place here. Each sticking out like a sore thumb.

I wonder where they might have Emman held? I thought, glancing about the foggy glamour of the city.

Some place unseen, Miss A said suddenly, Somewhere behind the city ruse, a place only the low life would know about.

I nodded mentally to Miss A and searched the city seen for an alley way. I found one within two minutes.

"There," I whispered to @Unknown_Northlance, "We'll find someone who knows about Emman in there."

@Peregrine_Appleclock

[Unknown_Northlance]

The Unknown pulls his hat lower over his darkened face, his magenta eyes searching the streets from under his brim.
His cane rings out on the cobblestones with a tap, tap, tap as they walked down the alleyway @Miss_K had suggested.
His eyes roam over the poor souls huddled by the various small fires, trying to stay warm.
His brow darkens as he is reminded that many of them were here because the Empire had either seized their houses for funds or their livelihoods had been burned to the ground as an example to those who would dare resist the Empire.
He grips his cane and closes his eyes, calming the rising fire within him.
Their time of reckoning would come and he would very much like to give the final stroke. He smiles a bit at the thought, all in due time.
He opens his eyes as he hears Miss K calling his name. It seems she had found someone.

@Peregrine_Appleclock

[Kimkate_Burnclock]

After summoning @Unknown_Northlance, I glanced over my shoulder and quickly whispered what I had learned.

"The urchins of Evercity saw Emman's captors recently," I reported, "they say Emman is held under guard in an abandoned building several miles from here."

I turned to gaze down the winding alleyway, "They also reported the building was a common hide out of Evercity mofia." I shuddered briefly. "All to say, when we find Emman, we might be in for a fight."

@Peregrine_Appleclock

[Emman_Jumpsong1]

'what is this place'? i appear to be on top of a building that seemed to be the tallest on in this town, wearing what seemed to be red and white clothing. i touch my face and i am wearing a mask with goggles. i look in front of me and there seemed to be a red/green sunset over the valley, that seemed to be under a green mist. i look to my left and there seemed to be a girl next to me. she was wearing wrecked up clothes, but it seemed that was some point of the style. had red hair with green eyes and her sight was somehow making me calm down. she was looking out at the same direction and she hug her shoulders and said "The auto officers treat us like trash, Emman, our lives don't matter to them. When I get caught, which happens . . . many times, the auto officers can keep me in Loiterer's prison for as long as they like. They can feed me if they like, or let me starve in their cold metal cells until they grow tired of keeping me. Usually, Eerie breaks me out of prison.

Though once . . . she didn't."she moan slightly at the memory, "I haven't been arrested since then, but that was by far the worst time." she glance back at me and said "How long have you lived up here?" i look confused and did not know what to say, before i woke up. 'who is she?' i think in my head. before i could think of something else, i hear the door opening and it was two machines entering and a man, the one who as beating me up earlier 'he stares at me as he speaks 'rise in shine runt, your end is calling you' someone else comes in and unlocks the chains on my hands and i collapse to the ground. 'pick him up' the man demanded and the machines obey. i lift my head up slightly to see his face and he grins. 'lets see how long you can survive a fight with the commanders ay? lets have a sport with you' i clutch my teeth together as i get dragged to their little arena, with that feeling coming back to me. this may be my last stand, but at least i will be going down swinging.

[Unknown_Northlance]

The Unknown tipped his hat a little, revealing his glittering eyes and firm expression. "Very well, if a fight is what they desire then a fight is what they shall get."
@Peregrine_Appleclock @Miss_K

[Emman_Jumpsong1]

As i was at the gates to the arena, the machines drop me to the ground. i struggle to stand up and the man takes notice. he can tell that i was not in a state to fight, but he made a grin on his face. he bend down to me and he asked 'do you want to know why you are here? let me tall you a little secret'. he pulls out a paper from his jacket and shows it at me. the image appears to be two people in a boat, going down a stream. the girl was in front, looking out over the water and a man behind her steering the boat with a white hood covering his head. The girl looked like the one i dreamed, but the guy was different. 'you may not know her anymore, but she was someone you would consider a friend. you two were cute. every time she was around, you did not want to leave her side, did not anything wrong to happen to her and someone you had ever...cared for and you talked about yourself that was not part of your little...family, but she had other things in mind. Then came along this man, and she took notice of him more the she had with you. she left you from the first sight and left you alone, forgotten, and used. she only loves things that she wants to learn. so, you were just a tool in her eyes and despite you trying to help that little twig, i have you into my hands. friends, HA, always the down fall. you mean nothing to her after that. you are NOTHI...' before he could finish saying that last word, i was filled with unbearable rage and i went for his head.

As i was yelling to wreak his face, the machines grabbed me before i could touch him. he stands up and straiten out his jacket after he put the picture away. he watches with a smile as i yell, squeal and had the desire to bring great injury to him, he turns to the guy that was in charge of the door and said 'he is ready'. the man opens the door and there was a ramp. the machines pushed me through into it and i slide down into the arena and i was furious. i hit the ground and i was thinking 'is everything that man has said true? was i betrayed? do i mean nothing? AM I NOTHING?' i stand up and i yelled with he sound of a lion, the people were booing, some were cheering and i heard the gates off the other side being opened. there were people coming out and they looked buffer and taller then him and me, but i did not care. i will make my stand, i am not doing down like a injured dog, i am going down like a animal. If i ever see those faces the man has shown me, they are going to fall when i get out of here.

[Kimkate_Burnclock]

The three of us, Unknown, Peri, and I, followed the winding alley ways until we came to the building. Night had fallen over Evercity, however, there was a good deal of noise in the air. It came from behind the abandoned building. I glanced at Peri, then the Unknown.

"What do you think?" I whispered, "Do we find the source of the noise? Or search the building?"

[Emman_Jumpsong1]

as i was running at my opponents in the arena, moving at speeds i feel enraged of and seeing them as things i need to break, commander prideful watches from the the side of the arena, setting on a chair and smiling of his successful hunt. Another commander comes to his side and whispers 'sir, the earth Sphere is ready for transport in the crate up stairs and ... it glowing brighter for some reason.' he looks at him with a grin and says 'i don't care. the boy is facing his doom, i can return the Lucky with victory, i have his sphere by my side, i can get promoted and best of all...his family and friends don't know where we are. just get the hammer and bring it to me. i want to take it to lucky personally and when he brings it out, i want his hammer to be on my wall and it will represent my first victory over those with gifts that will serve under the rule of the empire. well, get going, and be quick so you can watch the boy fall in time.' the commander leaves him and turns around. when out of sight, he runs to the hammer at its location in the building. he opens the crate and grabs it with a glove without touching the hammer, and gets knocked out from behind.

[Abriss_Gearspark]

I walk around No Man's Landing with my nose stuck in a book. "This is so fascinating! How Aether powers the great engines. Isn't that cool..." I turned to share this fascinating information with a friend, but then I remembered that I had no friends. "Hmmm I wonder if people are looking for that unknown person, I wonder if I should look for him. But that is not a journey one should take alone. And I am alone."