Post by Khaosraptor on Jun 3, 2021 23:18:22 GMT
Akal'tra's eyes flashed open, yet fathomless darkness continued to stretch out in all directions, suffocating his surroundings. He felt his limbs, heavy at his sides, yet he could not seem to locate them, even as he attempted to thrash under his invisible restraints.
What is this? Is this death? Had he been captured?
His vision filled suddenly, feeling the intense heat against his skin as something behind him erupted into flames. His blood was everywhere, smeared across the inside of his helm as he attempted to stand; the corners of his vision filled with more flames and of Echos moving around him. There was a secondary explosion that sent a wave of pain through his legs and back before he lost feeling in both. Desperately he attempted to right himself, pushing off the floor with his lower arms, suddenly aware of his missing lower-left hand. Pain washed through him again, and his O'ren flooded his body to keep him conscious. His eyes saw burning bodies everywhere, some still, but many violently trying to put themselves out. A sudden light flashed through the hull of the ship, missing him by mere feet, before bodies began to drop where they stood. Akal'tra roared in agony as he managed to flip himself over, revealing his bisected legs dangling loosely around his knees by what flesh remained. His mind swam with dread as another movement raced into view, before his body was suddenly pinned to the wall by something he could not see. Through all the blood, he could only see fire. His eyes began to roll as the shock set in, too much for even his incredible heart to maintain blood flow. He was dying... and yet, he did not. Time seemed to slow as the pain suddenly subsided; the flames licked the air around him like gentle waves of an ocean he had never been to, the screams of his fellow warriors died down to a distant wail, and his vision blurred ever so slightly. "This must be it... this is where I die, trapped in this moment forever..."
His thoughts, or what he thought had been his thoughts were suddenly answered, as a figure strolled into view, clear as day. Akal'tra recognised the cloak and armour as House Valor, but something was off. The rippling heat of the deck seemed to leave him unaffected as he almost casually approached the trapped echo, kneeling down at his side before speaking.
"How does it feel?", the figure asked.
Akal'tra's visor still clotted with blood, preventing him from seeing the figures face clearly, though it sounded clear and unaffected by his predicament.
"Am I dead? What sort of hell is this?"
"You are not dead, Akal'tra of House Wrath, but you are dying. These are your final moments, or at least how you are choosing to recall them."
"I dont understand? What are you talking about?"
The figure sighed, before leaning down to remove Akal'tra's helm from his face, revealing a more clear sight of the world around them. Through the blast screens of the far wall, Valthris could be seen, surrounded by the tell-tale streaks of lance-fire.
"In a few moments, this dead Warstrider shifts two-feet to the bow, crushing your body and rendering you functionally braindead. Your body, or what is left is currently sitting on the best life-support the U.E.E. can muster, readying you for a second chance at redemption."
Akal'tra's remaining eyes look around the vignette-like scene of death around him. "What about the others? What happened to them?"
"I'm afraid whatever foul magics led to their death were quite instantaneous. They likely felt nothing, and died without the agony you likely experienced."
Akal'tra felt his neck relax slightly as his mind swam with defeat; after all this time, to wind up a corpse.
The figure spoke again, more insistent this time,
"You are not a corpse, Akal'tra, not yet. You are currently locked in a state of undeath, suspended between life and oblivion. I have devised a way for you to return, should you wish?"
Akal'tra's head craned to look at the figure, whose face was obscured by a helm. "You speak of the impossible."
"I speak of the possibility, Akal'tra. A body is being designed, grafted to fit your perfect self, molded to be your second skin. A warrior of flesh and death, born of a higher design... of your design."
"You are attempting to clone me or something? Why me?"
The Echo laughed now, like one would when consoling a child.
"No, my dear friend, I am speaking about purity. Your mind, inside something greater than yourself. As for your selection, well, you represent an improbable recovery outside of my outlet. Plugs will be pulled, you will be laid to rest should you decline my generous offer."
"And if I accept? What is going to happen to me? I have come so far, only to fall at the first call to arms!? I cannot hope to lead my people in the form you describe, not without being cast as an abomination of science!" Blood suddenly welled in his mouth, and he spit it out onto the cold floor of the ship.
The echo cocked his head at the mention of leadership, but said nothing about it. "You are correct, dear Akal'tra, you will never be able to return to the life you once had. That gap has already been filled by the Echotian war march. Soldiers such as yourself are easily replaced. But you represent a unique opportunity to rise above them all. Become a part of my undying elite. Become something better than yourself." Akal'tra swallowed, his vision darkening as the world seemed to swell around him. "Alright you macabre bastard, I accept." ----------/////-----------------------------------------
What is this? Is this death? Had he been captured?
His vision filled suddenly, feeling the intense heat against his skin as something behind him erupted into flames. His blood was everywhere, smeared across the inside of his helm as he attempted to stand; the corners of his vision filled with more flames and of Echos moving around him. There was a secondary explosion that sent a wave of pain through his legs and back before he lost feeling in both. Desperately he attempted to right himself, pushing off the floor with his lower arms, suddenly aware of his missing lower-left hand. Pain washed through him again, and his O'ren flooded his body to keep him conscious. His eyes saw burning bodies everywhere, some still, but many violently trying to put themselves out. A sudden light flashed through the hull of the ship, missing him by mere feet, before bodies began to drop where they stood. Akal'tra roared in agony as he managed to flip himself over, revealing his bisected legs dangling loosely around his knees by what flesh remained. His mind swam with dread as another movement raced into view, before his body was suddenly pinned to the wall by something he could not see. Through all the blood, he could only see fire. His eyes began to roll as the shock set in, too much for even his incredible heart to maintain blood flow. He was dying... and yet, he did not. Time seemed to slow as the pain suddenly subsided; the flames licked the air around him like gentle waves of an ocean he had never been to, the screams of his fellow warriors died down to a distant wail, and his vision blurred ever so slightly. "This must be it... this is where I die, trapped in this moment forever..."
His thoughts, or what he thought had been his thoughts were suddenly answered, as a figure strolled into view, clear as day. Akal'tra recognised the cloak and armour as House Valor, but something was off. The rippling heat of the deck seemed to leave him unaffected as he almost casually approached the trapped echo, kneeling down at his side before speaking.
"How does it feel?", the figure asked.
Akal'tra's visor still clotted with blood, preventing him from seeing the figures face clearly, though it sounded clear and unaffected by his predicament.
"Am I dead? What sort of hell is this?"
"You are not dead, Akal'tra of House Wrath, but you are dying. These are your final moments, or at least how you are choosing to recall them."
"I dont understand? What are you talking about?"
The figure sighed, before leaning down to remove Akal'tra's helm from his face, revealing a more clear sight of the world around them. Through the blast screens of the far wall, Valthris could be seen, surrounded by the tell-tale streaks of lance-fire.
"In a few moments, this dead Warstrider shifts two-feet to the bow, crushing your body and rendering you functionally braindead. Your body, or what is left is currently sitting on the best life-support the U.E.E. can muster, readying you for a second chance at redemption."
Akal'tra's remaining eyes look around the vignette-like scene of death around him. "What about the others? What happened to them?"
"I'm afraid whatever foul magics led to their death were quite instantaneous. They likely felt nothing, and died without the agony you likely experienced."
Akal'tra felt his neck relax slightly as his mind swam with defeat; after all this time, to wind up a corpse.
The figure spoke again, more insistent this time,
"You are not a corpse, Akal'tra, not yet. You are currently locked in a state of undeath, suspended between life and oblivion. I have devised a way for you to return, should you wish?"
Akal'tra's head craned to look at the figure, whose face was obscured by a helm. "You speak of the impossible."
"I speak of the possibility, Akal'tra. A body is being designed, grafted to fit your perfect self, molded to be your second skin. A warrior of flesh and death, born of a higher design... of your design."
"You are attempting to clone me or something? Why me?"
The Echo laughed now, like one would when consoling a child.
"No, my dear friend, I am speaking about purity. Your mind, inside something greater than yourself. As for your selection, well, you represent an improbable recovery outside of my outlet. Plugs will be pulled, you will be laid to rest should you decline my generous offer."
"And if I accept? What is going to happen to me? I have come so far, only to fall at the first call to arms!? I cannot hope to lead my people in the form you describe, not without being cast as an abomination of science!" Blood suddenly welled in his mouth, and he spit it out onto the cold floor of the ship.
The echo cocked his head at the mention of leadership, but said nothing about it. "You are correct, dear Akal'tra, you will never be able to return to the life you once had. That gap has already been filled by the Echotian war march. Soldiers such as yourself are easily replaced. But you represent a unique opportunity to rise above them all. Become a part of my undying elite. Become something better than yourself." Akal'tra swallowed, his vision darkening as the world seemed to swell around him. "Alright you macabre bastard, I accept." ----------/////-----------------------------------------