"What do you see?" the captain of the lumbering cargo freighter Fairmount asked.
"See yourself..." first mate handed the captain a looking glass.
He looked through to an absurd looking boat, no, boats lashed together, of flimsiest white canvass. "You know they won't last more than a few hours out here."the first mate said again as the captain surveyed passengers in what looked very simple home spun covering, bailing water with whatever bucket they could find including a faded Halloween Jack o' Lantern.
The lens followed the tallest mast to a woven yarn crows crooked nest he'd ever seen.
A girl with limp pink long hair tied up in a headcercheif, like a pirate, looking dejected dangled her arms over the sides suddenly peering down. The captain followed her gaze, a rainbow headed girl was giving orders, frantically waving her arms, directing the balers, throwing water faster, others clung in couples, groups, families tightly clutching in panic as still others were trying to cut away part of the flotilla at the lashings the sinking boat threatening to pull down the rest, using nails, or shells(flint knives) teeth even broken bottles of glass.
Cut free, the wreck disappeared beneath the waves, shuddered the flotilla , knocking people off their feet causing other balers to panic.
"Yas..go and override the auto pilot...tell Nate in the engine room, they won't last long."
"I will...but there are pirates in these water...not them...never seen anything a near insane as them!"
"Pirates, I know...my responsibility and send a message...just in case...."he looked at the girl in the crows nest with the long pink hair and her blue, blue eyes, blowing a strand of hair out of her face with a puff.
There was something funny, as in off, in these humans at sea. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Luna walked quickly down the corridor. Normally Luna was claustrophobic, but the large windows in the hall and every classroom of the former sanitarium helped keep away that closed in feeling.
Another troubled student had come to the school and didn't quite understand the rules yet.
Unfortunately, for him, he had decided to act up right in from of her sister Governess Celestia, prompting him to be thrown immediately into detention for a few moments scolding under Celestia watchful eye.
Such a classic building, it was a shame it stood empty for so long. Neighborhood rumors had it Rotbug was the lair of changelings, clearly unfounded!
Luna's sources at U.N.I.T. told her last shapeshifters had been chased out by Queen Victoria's Phantasmagoria Squads in the eighteen hundreds, disbanded because they drank to much beer and scandalous enough, most of them were gnomes!
Although annoyed Victoria admonished then dismissed the lot of them with a firm warning after which every harvest, they would send the Queen the best of their ales and beers, being honor bound and doubly grateful!
Just loyal subject doing their part for Queen and country.
This, long, long before the Giant Slayers were established by Queen Elizabeth sometime in the late 1950's/1960's. It is quite a large house after all,nice calming place for indoctrin, like stories, likable staff, and a most enduring host. Note 1
At least gnomes weren't trying to form their empire...like certain...mice...from space...space mice! Luna shivered.
She had seen them only once, their excitement being part of the team was contagious, what had made such a dent in her wall of self control, she had thought they were cute.
Luna had forgotten what she was, what she was doing, where she was and who with, lost focus.
She found herself in a place, so terrible, so isolated that she imagined the stars she saw at night were her friends. Those twittering mice!
She shook her head.
Above her pay grade it was. Any news about them she would get from old friends, like Triggy, when he stopped by for tea: to complain about New Moabite settlement requests, politics in his country, and that stupid moon base earth had made of paper mache and special effects to convince the galaxy earth was more advanced than it really was!
Stupid chuckling mice out of Zeus and their empire!
Not think about the celestial, least lose focus again.
That was the realm of Earth Defense and the Space Forces.
No, keep ones focus on the immediate, the terrestrial follow orders against the arcane!
The clandestine and the arcane! Nothing is trully hidden, you can look at the stars and know that!
Nature divides it like dot on a grid, the clandestine, you know they are there, you may even be able to comprehend some of it...but you can't see it all! That's why the clandestine is divide among so many bosses. Only the mad want to know and see it all, and they fall into a pit too big for themselves to fill, begging it be covered!
To live the quiet life, yes. Luna nodded.
Luna never wanted to go back to those exciting heady days, where one could delude herself that one were part of the inner ring, part of her didn't.
Just a little indulgence, the Sisters and Father Roland had told her, "It doesn't make you stronger..it makes you weaker." How strong was her sister!
Luna remember, so long ago, curled up, bracing, in the end of dug out canoe as her sister not much older cursed and spit at those wind and waves of the storm as the sisters were tossed.
Luna wasn't afraid of the storm.
She looked into one of the glass window as she passed by, the tell tail lines round her mouth bent a little. Her internal conflict was bringing out the Jeckel. She heard in her brain the sound of the snare drum beating in time..
I'm on the front line Worry not, I'm fine its just short story beginning So goodbye to my weakness goodby to regret seeing the world, a diamond in each eye...
note 2
"No..."she thought firmly. The monster was always with her. "I will pick the song."
A wonderful rift began in her mind...the song was Ordinary.noten 3
Yesterday lost I don't cry The world ordinary I must find Trying, making, way The world ordinary Learn I must to survive
She finished the song in her head, the monster, placated with the arrangement Ordinary ...or at least an oversized kid mesmerized by a Judy and Punch puppet show, just as she reached the door.
She let out a little sigh. Silly Luna!
Luna worries were unfounded, she told herself. Surely Celestia would keep a sober mind full of self control. She was strong!
....the moment she lay hand on the detention door a fierce growl bellowed followed by a desperate cry of surprise. The deepest of disappointed frown creased Luna's face she scooped it up remolding her cheeks, mouth and chin line. Luna sighed and girded herself walking in.
After playing the good cop, she assigned the student, hiding behind the school-desk chair, paperwork, promising to have a very open and frank talk to him about his delinquencies...no, that he was, less, in denial.
Goosing Celestia out, she then closed the door moved her a distance and began to quietly scold her.
"Honestly Celestia! You promised to behave!" she told the cookly face creature with a Jack'o Lantern grin and bulging eyes.
Looking at Celestia at that moment if her back wasn't turned to you...you would call her a monster!
...Unless you were a good student of humanity...you would see, despite the unnatural width of her maw, that it was quite a cheerful smile. That her eyes the bulging and bloodshot were quite merry. In fact if you stepped back you would exclaim, "Why she's looks like a little girl!"
....little girls look quite monstrous that size!
Like that monster in the other end of the canoe, powering through mountainous waves with inhuman strength up one side down the other, pure instinct guiding her, opposite Luna, shivering.
The conversation consisted of heavy whispers.
"Oh come on Luna! Stop being a stick in the mud...the brat need just a little scare. You've been like this ever since we retired. I..."she said in almost a pur.
"I'm not the one got stuck with thatThat face off and on for two months!"
"Come off it sister! I saw you scare a cat burglar, looking in that massive bay window skylight of yours in your room, where you like to watch the moon pass. You, with that hollow Cheshire glower of yours."
"That was security...wait, how did you know?"
"Who was it you think chased him into the waiting arms of the gendarme?"
Luna was agape, "My sister?? Doing the long armed lanky?!! Apely, parkour playing a smalltime hood all over the neighbor's roofs...?!!!"her voice squeak stressed a little."No,no,nononnonono!" hear voice sounding almost nickering like a horse.
"Sister control yourself."Celestia whispered.
"Control myself?You enjoyed scaring that boy!"Luna kettle hissed. "I do just fine! Myself and handle the observer looking in:see I continue human. But this?"
"I'm soooooo bored Luna!" Celestia said with a monstrous pout.
"You're not allowed to vigilante! Signed that agreement.We did!" Luna looked to the heavens. "I just...just wanna live the normal quiet life!" She stomped her foot.
"I don't want action all the time..just a little variety..."Celestia said attempting to appease.
"And I don't want to be dragged to headquarters explaining why my sister is running round town in her jamies with a blanket tied around her neck wearing her underwear on her head as a mask!"Luna hissed.
"...That would be striking...
"Be serious!That's not the point!" Luna whispered exasperated." These silly stunts threaten to take that all away! Or worse..."Celestia saw Luna's expression flash panic looking beyond down the hall.
Someone important was walking up toward them. "Looks like you're about to get your wish..."
That click of the heel....hssss..military!
"I never want to go back to that He...cell! Hard fought probation that!" Luna reiterated in a voice almost out of air. "End like brother Brandon's elder , a vapor? in a pickle jar?"
Luna grumbled," Months of therapy, exclaiming, 'Wonder Twin's powers activate, half hourly...Hello Lieutenant what can we do for you?"Luna said with a wide human grin.
Celestia quickly put her face back in order.
"Agent Knight? Agent Day?" confidently greeted the military man in the smart uniform. the hall was clear.
"Yes..."Celestia said in a commanding voice turning slowly, lock eye to eye, spoke for the both of them being the senior officer.
"This is for you agent Day...agent Knight we expect you to follow procedure..."
"Fine..."she sighed, "until ,if, I'm needed I'll await instructions, office and home." she walked off her heels clicking, she stopped turned. "I'll be in the pickle jar, er , my office, till 7:00."continued walking. "Then to market and home alone with my ice cream and paper work.."she grumbled
"Bad hair day?" said the officer as Celestia snatched the envelope.
" I suppose this is my itinerary..." interrupted, moving the scene along with a sniff.
"Car's waiting to take you to the nearby air-club. There you will catch a plane to the nearest airbase." they began to walk toward the exit.
" I don't suppose you can tell me what's this about?"
"You're going to the Indian ocean..."he raised his hand before she could ask another question. "It's kite flying time....Yahoo..."
She froze a moment then caught up. Genetics, her and her sister's unique genetics. She swallowed, realizing the matter.
Below the moon and the fleets of Tributary ships bringing treasure for the "Empire",a small satellite looking like a Christmas ornament hung in Earth orbit.
Inside looked like it was always Christmas, shopping season, as it's inhabitants flew about on crystal pixelated wings.
Yes, all was stirring. All but the mouse.
He was in custody at Victoria Monitoring Station, giving the guards and staff a thrill with deck tricks as they played cards. All, betting ludicrous amounts from banks held across two thirds the galaxy in Tributary Accounts. Twas was a good way to spreed the prosperity and keep the money flowing, trade ships channels and light pulses they caught reflected and double transmitted across the network and now that the Leprechauns had invested, well...
The Mousling sat in his chair at the table, name tag:,"Hello My Name is General Pithawika." Below hung a placard."Custody Charged: Using Unnecessary Force In the Name of the Human Empire." Laughable because everyone knows there was no such thing as a "Human Empire.", except for the mice, till now.
He, entertaining enough in his zaniest to be put up with and they were human enough for him to tolerate!
Before another bet was placed the alerts sounded,"Well that ends our game." He said in a pout as he quickly folded his deck and shoved it into his pocket.
"...No!" said the guard beside him as she slammed her serving tray to the table and snatched the deck back. Heaven knows what a well trained Battle Lord like him could do with a pack of cards. Let alone...
"Pockets??!!" asked the guard as she tore of the badly added cloth made from his sleeves and pants legs.
He shrugged,"At least I make you earn your pay."
"...don't make us put you in short pants again!"
He folded his legs under him, guard detail took their place surrounded the chair, he was off! the chair making its way down floor rails back to his cell.
"Long live the 'Human Empire'!"He cried flashing the victory sign in both hands as the guard flew escort around the swiftly moving chair he was cuffed."Ha,ha,ha,ha!"
The table cleared, it projected a globe: events, places, thing highlighted holographicly. A train,"Still running since 1907 I see." A plane,"There they are."It disappeared."There they go. Better luck 'next time.'" They sang a short song for the Eldritch. A Chinese junk."Still in the clouds." A gathering of Yeti,"Glad they're having fun." zoomed in on one trying to call long distance."Bill, stop trying to call North America without the proper authorization, no long distance collect calls, return that charge card, that's cheating!" He hung up."Silly bear!" "Glad they haven't found smart phones..." "Yes last thing we need...a flash mob." At last, a boat in the Indian Ocean.
"Asking permission, to pick up...survivors..." "Intercept their teletext..."the boss looked at an underling, waving a hand. He was quickly looking through a rolodex till he pulled out a card shoving it into the paper card reading slot. "Authorization given..."the code was transmitted."Pick up survivors...maintain position." "Genetic makeup, nearest homeland..." "Contact British intelligence...tell them to send an investigator....its in their court." Satisfied the overseer turned to leave to conduct other business.Instantly, thousands of tiny red dots appeared all around the ship in the sea like measles...the computer overloaded. The lights went out.
Technicians busied with the panels in the walls and around the computer.
"What is going on?"asked a voice from the ceiling."Is that toy of yours acting up again?" she asked.
"No..hive mother...everything is fine..." her reply came."It will be up and running in a few...hours?" The technician shook his head looking sadly at the burnt wiring..."
"Fine for the starlight festival,this, unless our local Musk Musculus doesn't mess that up with his satellites and connect the dot laser light show! I do enjoy dining by candle light but honestly daughter, this fills the fingers of both hands!"
Daughter sighed.
"Was in natural, technological or achene?"
"Supernatural...mother..."
"Plus nature plus uh?....well."sighed the hive mother. "I suppose He'll turn the lights back on when he's ready...in the meantime...Man the semifore!"cried the hive mother."Let us not be caught slacking!"
On board the Fairmount the crew prepared to bring on the small flotilla. Having received authentication, engineering was contacted the ship turned slowly, not to spill cargo and circled round to meet with those at sea at last deciding to bring the ship at lee to the starboard side.
In the crafts when they saw the ship the people became quite, such a large mass of people, such large eyes never took their eyes off the ship but for some who were looking a magazines and talking with others.
At first the captain though the ships would collide the smaller smashing to peices. Despite the raft flimsy appearance they were quite well made, it was only the amount of people that made the raft so ungainly and unsafe. The people at sea weren't seafarers, but the knots they made secured the rafts of bamboo and canvass well enough.
"Ahoy."The crew of the Fairmount asked who was in charge. Someone replied in a dutch accent. The Rainbow Haired girl and the pink one were pushed to the front. Crew were just about to climb down a long cargo net lowered over the side to meet with the asked for a delegation. Looking down the two were already two thirds up the side and on deck as one jumps into a rowboat.
The pink one insisted on hugging everyone till the captain said to stop. The Rainbow one just stood there, staring into ever ones eyes shaking her hands limply.
"What are you doing?" asked Pinkie
"Twi said,' When we meet..look them in eyes shake hands.'"she said still staring at a tall lanky seaman who stared back suspiciously.
"no..."said Pinkie.Slapping her across"That's rude!Like this!"she grabbed his hand."Hello nice too meet you." he was reflexive in response.
"Oh!"said Rainbow. Grabbing his hand excitedly, there was a little crick sound."Hello nice too...."the sailor let out a roar and yanked his hand back."Oh...oh...sorry...sorry...I is sorry..."she said.
Pinkie put a hand one her face,"Calm down...shhh...calm down...."the snaggle in Rainbow's mouth disappeared. "Who is the captain?"Asked Pinkie.
"I am Captain Naitain.."he said.
"Please, Captain may we board?"
"Off course...I..." the lines to the net went taught."He rushed to the side."Not all of you at once! He cried astonished at the number already half way up. Some with people on their backs others with large packs."Slowly,just the first group on the nets. More slowly! First!"he cried to the second in command. "Get the crew stationed." Already they were on deck following instructions, the little ones told to stand a little out of the way, asking in broken English what could be done to help. And they did help!
"I've never seen anything like it..." said the first mate astonished at the complete lack of panic the order the survivors conducted themselves and the exceedingly neat order they left their things in stacks out of the way but secured on the deck.
The last, to the Captain's concern, grabbed two ends of the canvas and on the cargo nets pulled two lines and the rafts denigrated the lashing to timbers unraveled pulling the canvas up from the empty rafts as others and crew helped.
"I did not tell you to do that!" roared the captain as the survivors neatly folded and distributed the canvass.
"If it rains? Where will we sleep?" said one.
"Leave them there."he said of the folded bundles."Everyone! Everyone!" That got their attention, all quiet."I'm Captain Naitain!" They all quietly waited. "This is my ship, you don't go anywhere, you don't do anything without my say!"
Quiet."Ok."
The quiet disquieted him."Everyone sit down.They sat down in groups. "Choose a representative...and."
"Ready!" said one as twenty stood up and came forward holding sheets of paper.
"I'm not ready.."he said flummoxed."
"We have have reports..."
"...and we have an order. My representative will meet with yours."he still couldn't believe this."It will take time."
"Ok."
"You'll have to wait."
"Ok."
"You'll have to medically inspected..."
"Can we eat first?"
"No..."said Pinkie interrupting the captain."You never eat before seeing a Doctor. Mon's books told me this..."
"That's right..."said the captain.Whose Mon?
"But I'm thirsty..." said a child.
"Of course. First..."
"Yes sir."
"Mathia here will give you each a little water. Remember. We don't know. You could be severely dehydrated...so if you haven't got enough the first round. Be patient. You can have another after you have drunk every bit.To much water is as bad as not enough."
"Ok."
Another person raised a hand."Do we go in the sea? Usually we dig holes, deep holes..."
An order was established and was set down with an escort.
The captain decided to let them put up the canvas as a shelter, in thirty minutes, among the cargo container, was a lovely shaded place. Using the twine they began roping the area off tying rags to the lines making them visible. They then sat down in groups and quietly talked among themselves.
The Captain retired leaving it to other members of the crew. He felt tired. His head swam with questions.
"I've never seen anything live this!" said the first mate.
The captain nodded his head in agreement."Get started with the examinations..."he said to the members of his crew with first responded training.
At the fly club Celesta boarded a fast plane, arriving at the airbase she boarded an even faster plane en route to the somewhere over the India Ocean, changing on the way, thank goodness for the local airport goblin,had her all packed and ready before returning to maintain the airport in his little cart. Singing merrily.
Ah. What the public doesn't know!
He even had a sack lunch for "Little Celestia", getting on in years but his work still spot on.
On board she received another envelope and gps tracking wrist gauge. She found a place to doze a little, remember and dream.
Last mission of Celestia and Luna: their squad had found them. A hive, little green alien marauders, they'had been tracking for days. At last ,mindless big eyed beings in service to those elder abominations of the void,they found them! Regulars of the Giant Killers Brigade were having a time of it then till Celestia and Luna got into the action!
Celestia threw fists this way and that, saving the ammunition for those who didn't have that bone mutation like Luna and herself, bone hard as concrete!
Luna came roaring through the sea of alien bodies like a shark, leaving a wake of green entrails an ickor behind her! Celestia grinned as she heard her sister cackle...Celestia rolled her eyes and thought,"Glad she was having a good time."
Too much of a good time....something was wrong.
Celestia heard the hysterical laughter and the machine gun fire, catching a glimpse of Luna. Shock to see,her eyes wide, her wide hands full a machine guns, firing them simultaneously with the joints of her long spidery finger through each triggering hole firing too close to comrades in arms, she!
Berserker fever had taken Luna! Celestia had only moments to react before their fellow special services would off her as they would any other monster encountered!
Celestia's graceful movement became gangly as she made speed toward her sister, the training the sisters of mercy had gotten for her as well as what she learned she put into action.
If she didn't stop her sister, she would be utterly alone! She raced across the carnage and slugged Luna acrossed, breaking her hand....
Order restored "The Grain Pounders" out of the the United States formed lines and drove the monsters to the cliff wall behind, moving as mowers with scythes in a field of wheat. Up on the cliffs, the mice, those wanna be soldiers and heroes, finished off the greens who managed to scale the cliffs, twittering, happy that they were part of a human mission, a cause, for once.
That was one of the things Celestia remembered.
Guttural, chattering gibbering sound, an ugly howl boiled up, seemed to come from deep inside, Celestia almost instinctively joined it. A deeper memory was woken instead.
The Roar, taking her back,back back.
Two little girls with their mother, covered in the softest hides she could find. Clinging, all the others as the danced and swayed in tribal rhythm to the savage beat. Dancing, swaying back and forth or else in excited energy either rushing up to them crying out or jumping up and over, through the large bonfire they circled, or else held back by the elders because they lacked knowledge, experience maybe they just didn't want the young ones hurt.
Worbly screeching sounds Celestia heard.
Massive forms charged and rushed into the camp on heavy footfalls, the sound of them like chewing nuts, in their number, tearing out encampments, smashing huts, tearing nets, throwing up dust, raising themselves higher than their mother, a terrible circling of sharp points as they bellowed, high pitched for their size, barely missing the children slicing pumbling the air. Terrible hollow trumping sound, unmistakable, bone and bodies, hard contact made, something sending beings flying, screaming, or landing with a jarring, rattling sounds of bones.
Mother scrambled away, her two girls in either arm, something hidden,in the bushed. A treasure! A well made dugout canoe! Placing them in.
One final hug of her maternal form, wet tears all round, no sobbing, before she pealing Luna off her arm, Celesta held them tight in the boat bracing them, being ready.
Luna watched wide eyed unblinking as mother changed.
Mother, now thick and wide and bulky in the shadows and red light from the flames, raised the boat to her hip and slung/threw, hurled it with superhuman strengthen.It flew high, keeping upright slowly turning, beyond the barrier reef, out to sea with a splish and a bounce.
The shallow hull canoe turning slowly,skipping like a stone.
The little girls saw their mother turn in shrinking glimpses, running towards an even greater muscular formed monster. In that dark light, they could barely be made an outline near as a Clydesdale horse!
..Celestia tried to force herself awake,she dreamed sitting bolt upright.
She licked her lips.
Oh she wanted to indulge that instinct, to let lose that sound inside, join with the others and sound back that cry she heard!
No. Such a sound!
It would shudder the plane! Scare everyone within for weeks, she'd be reported, inquest over, the monster, be locked up like her sister had been, solitary, years!
A roar from them had escaped their snior trip to America. A country music concert, howling on stage...Luna and Celestia in exuberance decide to join him!
"We are experiencing technical difficulties to prevent injury please exite the stadium in an orderly manner thank you!"
Father Randal barely got his senior class out of the venue before American containment forces showed up. Luna and Celestia looked like every other teenager. Scared because of the unearthly sound that breached among the the audience that night.
Such a scolding from Father Randal. He didn't stop being angry till they were off the plane and safely in the Giants house!
Celestia sighed. Luna was right. They were lucky not to have been discover, too young then for the cell.
The cell: bare and long for exercise, without comfort. As simple as a feeding trough as complex as a medicated gel capsule. A true monster couldn't take it. Isolation was to force the monster to reveal itself. When it did those thin cement walls would hardly contain such things.
Of course things had to be changed for Luna, they had to uncement her in after a few days, install a slot for food a door, give her a bowl of water to wash...sometimes the bowl would last a few weeks, before being crushed or shattered, then doctor check ups, in silence.
Waiting,waiting, waiting, waiting for the monster to break out, to test their skill and reflexes, to slay the dragon.Hours turned to days, days to weeks, weeks to months, months to years.
The dragon never came out for St. John.
All Celestia could do was continue on missions, for the sake of her sister, she would beg, to work for her sister's upkeep. They had to build another cell, for other monsters, at least a quarter mile away, then Luna was rattled once in a while by gunfire...it was the furthest Celestia could negotiate.
Silence was very important as the doctors visited and examined Luna and Luna learned silence. Celestia couldn't help but come to the cell just to be near, she dared not to speak that was the condition, surrounded by an armed guard.
But alone in that cell!How Luna howled! Sometimes she could smell Celestia, and howl worse, however a very human howl.
Once Luna caught a glimpse of her sister through the door during a checkup. Celestia cursed herself for that! .Luna's face drawn and thin a mass a wrinkles, but still human.
It was the first time the guard with doctor cocked his weapon as Luna quivered and whimpered letting tears drop trying not to cry
Guards outside, would have easily egged the soldier on if not for discipline. Tired, armed guards, surroundimg the cell waiting every moment every hour.The Roman guard at the tomb,Celestia imagined, she remembering religious stories from the sisters.
Luna'd howl...but not like a monster.
The observers were impressed by Luna's self control. She volunteered, a model prisoner, as a human, she used every bit of training she had leaned as a recruit to the organization. Sometimes the doctors would apologies she only bit her lip and nodded.
She cried out. She pounded the walls.She begged like any other human being.
"You have not experienced anything that is not common to every other man!" she would cry out sometimes, recite scripture. Whole books! Luna had a good memory, thinking, mind diversion games, kept the monster away.
Luna knew, that if she did not show self control, that would be her end, and Celestia would be alone.
Wait...That sound came from outside!
A monstern, in the sky like herself, in the sky? A subspecies that could move through the sky!
No! They were native to the Atlatic!
She had seen one close, pressed up and peering at her through a window on a mission to North America trying to tear up the engine she broke the window shooting...
No. No. That was just the in flight movie!
Celestia was distracted. Her instincts were piqued.Why not indulge the instinct? Celestia bit her lip. The monster had its foot in the door.
There are better ways to express your instinct monster.
Oh like what?!!
Cake.
Cake?
Monster inside lost all interest in expressing itself as Celestia imagined building a giant cake as big as Buckingham Palace rooms and walls and all the artwork and furniture all of paraffin frosting and icing, comically decorated rising to the sky! The last brick was laid, she opened the doors and let the monster in to...
Glut on cake!
How much like the Giants house it was. Sophie.Three wide steps in. Father Randal shed a tear. Gaggs from mouths removed and into a pallor of fellow beings, orphan and soldiers and most beautiful beaming smile Celestia had ever seen!
Celestia went back to higher consciousness and stretched in the cargo bay only to feel a tap on her abstraction shoulder.
"Gah..."said the monster sweetly with its grinning maw as it handed her slice on a plate with a its wide hands and stringy fingers.
"Oh how sweat, you got me a corner piece from the garden. And it has a rose on it!" she took the plate and waved to the monster as it went to sleep.
Sweetie really, all she really wanted to do was lay in her hammock between her two palms and sleep, especially Glutted on cake!
No she really shouldn't indulge that instinct either... only make her fat, sluggish and hard to move.
Celestia finished her abstract cake and ate the plate." What? It's my imagination!" Returning to the mission at hand.
The monster had it own itinerary through that roar though.It gently rocked back and forth, opening the manila enveloped received via a pink haired bicycle Currier. "Oh tasty." It said."Yo, ho,ho...."
All Abstract, mind you, of course as she rode away ringing her bikes bell.
As the airplane neared the target Celestia went through her bag, she smiled as she moved the bagat of her favorite french elf out of the way, Jurer A. Commencé, that meant the copter pilot would be Christoff, her favorite American!
Where was it? Ah! She found a foil bag crinkle and felt the small plastic box and, good a bottle, kid sized, but perfect would make a palatable snack before jumping. Opening the bag she pulled out the box, inside was a small bit of chicken on a bed of saffron buttered rice. "Oh very good!" she said in childlike anticipation, using the spork with it she ate the meal slowly as to let it digest in the hours left in flight , remembering the simple first meals and the civilization brought by utensils her sister and she had at the orphanage in mainland India.
Simple meals, they ate with the sisters...after some socialization, the other kids were reluctant to eat with such, Celestia and Luna, strange children.
Celestia and Luna took to hiding in the small garden at the monestary, mischievous, jumping out at other children giving them little scares. Still a little twisted in thought, in the short time living on the hard streets among the fighters, till the gangs brought them to the sisters putting Sun and Moon at their feet.
And they said it was the big prize!
The sisters of covenant would often bring the roughest children to find Celestia and Luna, they were such good hidders. Celestia and Luna still naughty children who would stay outside rather than come in for a bath, medicine or to sleep.
Head Sister resorted to having two children come out, one hid, the other find quickly, she would be given a sugary treat and hide and seek begin again, with Luna and Celestia waiting to pounce.
This was almost a daily routine till the Reverend Mother's, scolding telling the two sister to..."Quit it!"
Then the little girl's would spend all their time with the sister grilling them on languages till they were quite weary. Sister Belvace had the brilliant idea. Both girls were sent outside to translate for the Sister's. A mistake, resulting in the girls both learning a full dictionary each of multi national swear words. Leading to a month at mass, every day, where they picked up Latin causing mischief for the Padree' in his own voice due to the girls parrot like abilities and guttural verbiage.
At least the children at the orphanage thought it was a hoot!
Before Celestia and Luna knew it, they were gracefully and delicately handed of to "The Prince of the Leprechauns" Nathaniel, who continued their education with Father Randal at his boarding school in England where the girls soon learned, they were not the biggest fish in the pond.
That last long talk with Teresa, about love and truth, where the two children were grieved to the core now wanted to stay ask for forgiveness of all they had wronged. Alas, as it was to late for King Manasseh they two must live with what they had done.
Celestia was brought out of here reminisces as she stared at the kid's drink in her hand, chewing up the broccoli in her mouth from the rice, "Yoohoo".
Celestia imagined old Nick at the airclub getting on in years, working on the landscaping, cleaning the club house, making sure the runway was perfect! He didn't mean to do that..."she popped the top and raised the bottle, "To Nick, the best and favorite Golly!" she finished eating and slugged the drink back to wash it down.
Celestia stumbled into the briefer in the cargo bay "Agent Day..." he started conversation.
Gawd he was young.
"I see Nick is still with us at the airport."
"Ah, you noticed the boots.."
"Only goblins and gnomes can get a shine like that, I hear he still talks about his volunteer service in the big WW...
"Sometimes.."
"We owe a great debt to the garden and house goblins and gnomes for their service against the gremlins and SS Orcs that must have been something to see them go at it!"
"I'm not that old!" Celestia chuckled." I assume this conversation is going somewhere?"
"It wasn't that long ago...eight machine guns, herself upright with recoil, hard to believe."
"You can ask a Lieutenant Richster W.W.G.W.W.W.D, with the Americans out of Canada, we had a joint operation with the Grain Pounders that day, what is the question?
"One question.Why did you and your sister retire?"
She was taken back.
Back to mouth of the cell. The doctors and organization were content that Luna was not a threat to the organization.
Hearing the news, Celestia resigned and headed for the "tomb" with the authorization and witnesses.Standing outside she waited.
"Remember,"said the commander to the guard on duty."Open fire only when ordered, even in her sitter's arm; keep arms trained!" they stood either side,a coral, Celestia at the end.
The door was opened, one of the doctors coxed Luna out. Timidly, like a little mouse, her hair in a crazy unkempt mess having more life in its wild state than she, she peered around warily till at last her focus was on her sister outstretching her arms.
Luna began to walk, run, at last, she was in her sisters arms.
Falling in gibbering and howl crying, Celestia pulled Luna in hiding her face with her arms, Luna's size doubling her form arms and fingers becoming spindly and multi jointed...she wept, the monster wept, like a human being, hugging the smaller dwindled form of her sister.
Finished crying, the figure deflated, she lifted her head out of Celestia's arm, moving her hand over Luna's face and she was beautiful again but for her hair unkempt and woolly .
Celestia walked Luna to the car she greeted the guard by their names, thanking them for due diligence and doing their duties. The driver took them away. Luna lay on her sister's lap saying the backseat of the SUV was the most comfortable thing she had ever slept on.
Next stop, headquarters, their walking papers and on to the house of the B.F.G.!
Celestia cleaned one of her canines.Had a little bit of chicken and rice between, the sweet taste of that Yoohoo drink caught between, smacked and swallowed."What can I say?"she looked at her nails on the hand that was broken." We were told to take bigger bites...."
"So let me understand." she said attired in the para-jumpsuit. "I am to jump out of this plane, hopefully land on an oil platform where a helicopter will take me to the target.
"Correct." said the briefer. "You're cover is that you a wealthy eccentric recluse and adventurer looking to break world records." he said matter of factually.
"Whyyyy...?"she asked.
"We had to think of a cover-story quickly to explain the chopper's arrival and censoring data from the satellite and WiFi on the rig. Everyone has a camera now since you where in the service."
Celestia rolled her eyes putting on gloves helmet and goggles.
Cargo doors open.
"Its a big ocean!" She yelled, "What if I should miss?"
"What can I say?" smiled the yelling briefer. "Knight follows Day!"
Celestia walked to the door.
"Oh!"
Celestia turned.
"Yahoo!" said the briefer a stupid grin on his face and a thumbs up.
"Lovely..."said Celestia as she jumped backwards out of the plane,barely clearing her head.
She enjoyed the felling of falling, like floading in the midst of a rolling sea before at last turning proper.
Somersaulting in the air, till she settled on a swan before entertain herself with some aerial acrobatics.She could have at least a little fun!
The GPS Bluetooth alarm sounded in her helmet. "Ready the countdown!" she thought an actor in a play finding her place!
A thud sound came on the bench making the two corporals look up.
"What is this?" he asked drawing attention to the parachute pack in front of them. "Oh we thought we would have a little fun with the agent as tradition says we are allowed too, you know R.A.F. the "original" giant hunters...we keep ours as pets!"
"(sigh)Which one..the bulldog or..."
"The other.."chirped one of the corporals.
"Ohhh..."Celesta said looking at the Union Jack parachute over her head."Well it won't blow my cover..." she grumbled."At least its not upside down.."
She was coming up to the oil platform fast and saw the landing pad the chopper waiting, wafting up to it. Up on the platform she released the latches coming to a neat grace of a landing, the actress taking a bow, gathering the collapse chute before it got away into blades or rigging...it was her flag after all.
Cheering came from the rig crew seeing her near unbelievable actions.
She was sure as she made her way to the chopper like a model on a runway, they were taking photos with their cell phones. "Let them she though,"tearing off the flight suit in a quick motion, more outrageous cheers, the nondescript khakis travel cloths beneath, throwing her tackle bag into the cargo door.She then stood on the rail for a moment as the rotor craft picked up,"have some more!" waving to them all the way into the sky.
She had pumped them! Hardy men working for their lively hood, they should lots of work done today.
An awful though struck her, she took a sniff of her shirt. Good all that was merely visual nothing pheremonal in the least.
"Hmp..."said the pilot when she finally got in."Stupid!"said the pilot.
"Hello Christoff."she smiled."Are you playing pilot today?"
"I've told you before...I know what 'I'm doing'. Today tommarow and tomarrow and tomarrow...I am the pilot!"
Celestia shrugged.
"They should call you agent Cat.."he said to embarrassed her."...You only got one of your nine lives left! How is Luna?"
"She'll be agent Knight and I'm agent Day...!"she said."And yes, if something had gone wrong I would have been responsible.I also know what I'm doing."she looked him and smiled."But do let me keep up my skills.If I'm to be the Mary sue of this story at least let me have some fun!"
Oh let me my heart beat, to me let me know the soul given , my sister given a soul by my great ancestor , alone a doctor,a captain,an intercessor lost and marooned on an island uncharted these waters his soul just out of Madagascar .... glad, I am loved and alive..."
she closed her eyes with a smile and a sigh buckling the harness around herself."We'll be there in twenty..."
"Fine."grumbled the pilot embarrassed that she had pulled the correct flight time...to be nice..he thought,out of the air. He knew she could do it, he trusted her.
He knew what she was capable and had seen her first hand.
Those endless wars in Afghanistan where he met Celesta and worked with her.
Gone! Everyone Gone! Everyone he had trained with! Everyone he worked with! It called to him, the cave it was his only hope it called to him and he had run.! Yet his strength began to ebb away as he heard the things begin to pursue, not two feat but for four each as the made that unholy sound. "Who could fight such...hate?"
Too many bad B movies danced in Christoff's head! Trying hard not to think on them, keep running, keep running.
Old scratch plied at the soldier's mind, why oh why had they watched monster movies the night before...told creepy tales that night?
Shoot back, shoot back!!!
Mostly misses, some contact, sounding so very unsatisfactory, metal...other things, for the amount of ammo pumped.
As he neared the cave he felt his strength begin to go where he would follow, if he let it. Imagining a giant stepping out of the cave to face him swinging a club to swat him to jelly!
He felt...the invisible light of two smoldering lamps upon his frame....
"Live!" came the voice through those beams of light. "Live David! (expletive) Live!!!"
David? How appropriate as the imaginary giant dissipated in the shadows and moonlight! His heart pulled his strength back just in time to hear that still quiet voice carry the soldier the rest of the way.
American accent, a little high pitched but still American as pie!
Just get to that cave, get away from this Malay of swarming slashing...whatevers!
He reached the cave.
"Kiss it man!" screamed the voice. He did so, falling to the ground flat as possible...massive volleys, rapid, fast, wising past! Unbelievable quick hallow thumps! Bullets/ shells, satisfying mad contact! The monster retreating making gibbering howling sounds. Christoff knew they were regrouping!
Whoever, in the cave, they were, they were packing massive caliber!
Click! Click! Click!
...and were out of amo.
This was followed by a voice in French accent swearing absentees followed by, "Stupid American Cowboy!"
The snarling, growling retreated from behind him and Chrisoff put his back against a wall between the sounds of them...the only thing he could think of was Ghosts of Mars come to life!
More swearing in French.
"Ok."click, click, click "get your bayonet"click,click,click"they're going to charge!"click, click "Only thing can stop them."click "Hand to hand!"
"What are they??!"Christoff turned on a flashlight.
Click, click,click, click"Don't turn on the...!"
toward the source of the voice,
"...light...."click.
,to be met by a bipedal raccoon.."What are you??!!"
The Raccoon calmly reached out and pinched the switch, "No time. With the American W.W.G.W.W.D...."
"What does that mean??!!" he said to the Cheshire grin in the dark.
"If we live, you have to drink a whole case of Samuel Adams , I'll tell you..."c-l-i-c-c-k"Shoot!"
"Here, over !" said the French voice."Christoff obeyed relieved that it was a human body beside him. The voice started hitting with his beret, yelling. "No! pumpit! Pump It! Pump it! they come!!"
Click.
"Stop messing with zee club!"He threw a rock at the Raccoon. Eyes gleaming with the celestial light of hateful night."Pump it"~ epitaph!
"Ready! Pump it!!!!"Screamed the elf hitting Christoff with his barrette.
Christoff pushed it out of his mind.
Swarming through...the cave acted as the perfected bottleneck!
For his unit, for his friends for his country...as they swarmed and swarmed cutting off the moonlight. Christoff took them with his bayonet.
Screaming, orcs try to scatter everywhere, but were caught at the caves maw.
"Woo Wooo!" cried the laughing jolly Raccoon."Here comes the Giant Slayer, express!" The French voice in exuberation.
Less of them now. They got through. Cristoff and his friends, waiting and taking them down.
Separated. An foul stinking thing leapt up, tumbling with Christoff as he kicked and beat with but body and bayonet, till he rid himself of it in the near dark, standing up as it felt three others fell upon him attacked him. He blocking and beating back best he could!
Cristoff heard the French voice swearing again, then the raccoon, a horrible grinding noise, "Its about time, he's over there! Go!Go!GO!"
The monsters were cleared away by something glittering in the dark like a sideways tornado. At first though reminded of the movie Critters, then all was quiet except for heavy panting, his and something else and he thought a heavy heart bead massive in volume, a sound over powering his own and yet strangely calming.
Once again he turned on his light.
A lanky figure, monstrous face, hair/spines on its back...he only saw a gimps, its gleaming eyes, pupils expanding and contracting at each beat. Those beams! Those lamps on him before!
Now his heart beat was sounding through the light from those eyes!
"Turn off that light!!"Bellowed a voice, with a hint of femininity in it, snarled hands with impossibly spindly fingers and nobly joints dashed the flashlight from his hand shattering as it hit the cave wall, bending the flashlight body unrecognizable. Cristoff began to faint.
"Damn it Celestia!"said the raccoon."You scared him!"
"Stupid American..." came the Frenchman's voice as Cristoff drifted into darkness."Shock...like this...till..med!!!" He swore again.
The soldier felt as if he were in the arms of his mom.