Nightshade17

you should get back on soon.

Hi. Iz going to troll you noaw.
[link]


>:3

I just finished readingall of homestuck...

WOW that thing is strange

I ended up killing off Rag,

in this

Erik Ryaner felt a cold chill clutch his heart. His optics where firmly on the screen infront of him. Four young Metallians where walking single file like soliders into Rag's labratory. He knew something was very wrong because none of them had facial markings. The next clue was how they where speaking Aitoa . Of course by the time Rag realized it... Watching to see what happened The frost in his heart spread until his entire body was shivering. It was just like Rag to be so caught up in his own work he wouldn't notice little details. He must of just thought they where soliders to check up on his progress on the latest request the Elders had given him, not Chirin spies. As soon as Rag heard them talking in Aitoa his manner changed, he turned around quickly grabbing a glass flask off his desk and smashing it on the side giving him a make shift weapon. The sizes of the Metallians the Chirin had gotten their claws on... It was hopeless Erik Ryaner himself would have a hard time taking on the four, much less Rag. A thought ran past his mind after he couldn't watch the screen anymore, Those Metallians must of been sporelings in the last Chirin war. It explained why they where so young and why they spoke Aitoa.

He'd failed him, the date on the security vid matched when he'd been on the Home world watching Mia graduate from her Warrior's training. She'd been so pround to see one of her fathers there... Bowing his head against the pannel Erik Ryaner blamed himself, he should of pushed Rag harder to get him to come. Or just dragged him to the shuttle. There was no one to protect him... Rag had been kidnapped a few times before, mostly after they'd gotten into a fight and the smaller female like Metallian had gone off on his own, but this time they'd taken him from his own home. Rag never talked, they just couldn't make him, but that had been before Mia- Mia! What if the Chirin went after her next? With Metallians at their disposal it would be child's play to get to Mia. Rag would do anything to keep her safe, well both her fathers would but Erik Ryaner wasn't the genius Rag was.

Quickly making his way to a console station to send a message Erik Ryaner wasn't sure which of the Elders would answer his distress call, “弋his is Erik Ryaner, Chirin took Ragnarok I'm going to go get him back. Keep Mia on world, don't let her leave your sight. They might try to capture her to made Ragnarok talk. If you don't hear from me after this send a fleet. The sporelings the Chirin kept from the last war are adults now. They have Metallian spies, They have Metallian spies.”・ As much as he hated working with the holier than thou Elders they where the absolute leaders of his people. They also had the lowest casulaties of any group he knew, two and a war hero had been admited to their ranks. Erik Ryaner himself had personally killed three Chirin leaders as pay back for what they did to Rag in the war.


Going to a small stealth ship docked on the station Erik Ryaner turned on the AI on board and told it to wait for his instructions. After that he went to the quarters on the ship and turned off all the lights sitting down in the center of the floor. He cleared his mind of everything before willing himself into a trance and focusing only on Rag. Black feathers, hot, whip, rain. It wasn't much to work with, but the bound he had with his lover wasn't on par with the telopathic abilties of the Nivya. Black feathers, that one was rather easy, Aitoa born on volcanic planets had black feathers. He could think of only one worth mentioning , Discord who happened to be a high ranking Chirin Agent. She loved using a whip , as for rain that meant he wasn't in space but on a planet. Erik Ryaner ran a list of the planets they'd taken Rag to before to try and interagate him. The only one... they hadn't gone to was the Aitoa homeworld. “彜hit I'm going to need that fleet..”・ Telling the AI to turn the cloak on Erik Ryaner went back on the station and scanned the dock. If he couldn't pick up the ship with the scanner Rag had built with stolen Chirin technology and his own ideas then he doubted the Chirin would be able to either.






Ragnarok shifted his weight uncomfortably. First they'd put him in restraints that could hold a Shanxi-Nivya hybrid down Then they'd left him under ground. He could hear rain falling above him. Foot steps even. But no one paid him any attention. Where they just tring to break him with isolation? Hunger seemed more logical... he'd spent a few months on the station without stopping for a meal and now it'd been close to six star months since he'd had any nurishment. Metallians where strong, but they couldn't last forever on nothing. To amuse himself he'd manipulated the magnetic bonds holding his wrists clamped together into creating waves of eletricity when he held them too close to the bars of his cell. He wasn't sure if Metallians could take in that kind of energy. But the thought helped to soothe the hunger pains. Ragnarok really should of expected the spies. The Chirin did keep thousands of Metallian sporelings from the original order his business partner Zyrinthesar gave them. For the second time in his adult life Ragnarok thought about his sister. The last time he'd seen her was when they were both in their second month of training as a warrior. She'd gotten so upset she'd punched a graduating male breaking one of his lower horns. Ragnarok had always been a runt, he'd run away ten years in to his training tired of having to prove he wasn't a weakling. He had other siblings, but they were raised by others only him and his sister where kept together. The seperation had been accidental. But as a child he often thought of his other brothers and sisters, where they more like him? Intelligent yet phsyically weak or more like his sister.

He hoped that she'd survived the war with the Chirin, it would be bad of one of his own nephews was one of the four who attacked him. How many siblings did his adoptive parents say he had again? Two hundred? Three hundred? The bodies of his biological ones hadn't been disturbed by wind or scavengers. The story was actually romantic . Two metallians, a scientist working under then General Sa'Rin and a warrior who was appointed her body guard. A shrapnel explosion kills the body guard who died protecting the scientist after a experiment went wrong amd the scientist kills herself with part of the shrapnel after finishing her work and sends the finished product to the Elders before her own death in the research lab. The product had been a generator designed to give cloaking devices power for indefinate peroids of time without over heating and blowing up, a common problem back then. The sterile enviroment the perfect nusery for him and his siblings.



Forced back into the present Ragnarok looked up in time to see a shadow slip out of the darkness, Discord.

Behind her where a few rows of more Metallians the Chirin had raised from spores. Ragnarok's heart sank as he looked at a few's faces, “Interesting what a vast cloning background can do isn't it?”・Ragnarok looked back at Discord, her smile made his spine shiver, “After the war our Chirin forefathers took the bodies of those they'd killed. We have a collection of Metallian and one Palmadorian remains. It was my master's idea to grow soliders from Sa'Rin's corpse.”・Ragnarok couldn't help speaking up at that, “It's wrong! Your ancestors ruined civilizations, murdered trillions and caused a galatic collaspe and your Master decides to add insult to injury by making the image of one of my people's hero's a slave to your shade?”・ Discord merely snapped her fingers as the clones took Ragnarok out of his cage strapping him down on a gurney, leaning in she moved a dred out of the Metallian's face, “Exactly.”・


Ragnarok's optics were wild as he was taken further into this hell. On either side of the passage way they where going down the developmental cycles of different sapiant spieces met his gaze. Durrian, Palmadorian, Metallian, Human, Aitoa, Shanxi, they didn't have Remmari or any of the rarer spieces. But they didn't need them these exbits were marked with weaknesses and how much force each part of the body could withstand. “Are those...”・Discord looked back at him, “Real? Yes, it's amazing what cloning can do. We cause their growth to accerate and harvest the spieces at each stage of developement from conception to their prime. A complete map of the common races armies and private crime lords hire in their empires. Quite an eye Mister Saa'In.”・Ragnarok froze, only his sister, Erik'Ryaner , and Zyrinthesar had known that name. He'd dropped that idenitiy thousands of years ago to make hiding from the other Metallians after he abandoned his warrior's training. What else did they know about him?

Things where even more bleak as they enterred the next corrider. The tempature had to be below freezing here. He soon saw why. The walls where lined with cylinders reaching the ceiling. Inside where Metallian corpses. Name plates above and below the ominious collums gave the indenity. Ragnarok read off the names one by one, old friends, research partners for past projects, and of course Sa'Rin. What desturbed him the most wasn't even a Metallian. It was the sole Palmadorian in this collection. Lady Zyrin hadn't even died that long ago. He didn't want to know how they stole her body from the Shanxi, or how angry Shirax would be if he found out. Turning to her prisoner Discord smirked, “There's a spot for you if you don't obey us.”・


Ragnarok stayed quiet. He didn't want to end up as part of a display of war spoils.




IGGI5 let his optics drift around the hallway. He'd been down here plenty of times before, putting new dry ice in the cylinders to keep the bodies cool, but never letting the dry ice touch them because it would damage the soft tissue and make the genetic material worthless. Discord was talking in the same strange lanuange as the other Metallian was. He couldn't understand a word either of the two was saying. But had a feeling it was about the pretty Palmadorian they had on display in the corrider or the Metallian that looked just like him or the empty spot the strapped down Metallian looked so nervously at.


It didn't set well with him. Preserving bodies of fallen enemies as tributes and as the basis for experiments where one thing, but freezing a living person? Discord couldn't be that crazy could she? Looking down at their captive IGGI5 loosened one of the restraints on him. The action went unnoticed by the others, all but the captive Metallian. IGGI5 felt his optics on him, “廛en... Esuri Kailani. Esuri Pkak.”・ Silent IGGI5 felt the Metallian put something in his hand before lying his wrist back down pretending it was still tightly restrained. Slipping away from the group he opened his fist and saw a translator. Slipping the small tech into his ear things started to make sense.

Den, it was a Metallian word. Meaning the, Esuri was a expression of surprise or shock Kailani... that one was harder to place. The translator matched it with a anicent Palmadorian Queen reknowned for her mercy and grace. Pkak was a slang word, meaning child. Going back up to his barrack IGGI5 sat on the end of his bunk playing with the translator, teaching himself more and more of his own Lanuage.



IGGI5 liked sharing his meals with Saa'In as the other Metallian said his name was. A few times he'd asked him why Discord called him Ragnarok and his friend had told him it was his name, but it wasn't the name that would save IGGI5's own life, and that he'd understand later. IGGI5 only nodded while his optics where on the floor of Saa'In's cell looking at the alphabet in the dust trying to memorize the written Metallian dialect he was being taught. Both of them talked without the use of their translators, Saa'In said it was a easier way to teach him Metallian than relying on the machine. “廩ow old are you IGGI5?”・looking up at Saa'In he shrugged, “廬'm not sure... when I was a infant Discord was a small child. We where all raised together to work for the Familiy.”・Saa'In nodded slightly, “廨rowth exleration hormones. They gave you enough to grow you to maturity fast, but not enough to stun mental growth.”・ Copying down the last of the day's lesson IGGI5 looked up at him again standing up, “廩ow long will I live?”・Rag's optics softened, “彜ixty, seventy thousand years. If you stay out of the military maybe longer. Don't let the Chirin treat you with anymore of the growth hormone.”・Hearing footsteps outside he quickly scruffed up the letters in the dust while Saa'In did the same. “Bye.”・

Leaving the room IGGI5 thought about his life.



Coming back to where Saa'In was kept IGGI5 noticed something wrong instantly, he wasn't there anymore. There was blood on the bars, smeared along the floor like someone was dragged and he'd accidentally cut himself enough to know what Metallian blood looked like. He felt... odd like when Discord had teased him saying no matter how many rimes he called the Palmadorian in the display pretty she couldn't talk back or blush or anything. That was before he'd understood death, but it still left a void in him. He had no one else to talk too. None of his eleven brothers could know he was learning Metallian.













Leaving the ship Erik Ryaner pulled a hood up trying to atleast make himself blend in a little more. He couldn't recall ever being on the Aitoa homeworld after the Chirin took over. It looked like a living hell for anyone who stood against them. The smell of decaying corpses with signs around their necks calling them tratiors, consperiators, and turn coats gave the place a grim feel. He offered a small salute to the brave souls.

The surface it's self wasn't in bad condiction, apparently wealth did sprinkle down to the lower classes, the air was breathable, the ground covered in grass, well paved roads. Though he figured that most of that had to do with the population here in one of the homeworld's poorer districts, the very old and the very young. Grandparents raising children left behind by parents consumed by the Chirin war machine, looks of absolute defeat on young adults fresh from the acadamey too broken to move the leaves landing on their shoulders from winds shaking them loose from the trees. The only noise was the wind as it tore threw the minimalistic square. No one looked up at him, a few children slightly chased bits of metal and bullet casings, Erik Ryaner guessed to sell as scrap, suddenly a noise got his attention, a woman was being dragged from her home by two Aitoa in Chirin uniforms, he might of been there to save Ragnarok, but he'd be no better than the Chirin if he just let them terrorize one of their own civilians.



“Try someone your own size.”・Standing over the Chirin guards Erik Ryaner let some of his hate show as he tightened a hand into a fist watching them to see what the next move would be. Their looks turned fearful, there weren't many things more intimidating than a angry metallian, and on top of that these men had never seen real combat. Just frightened civilians. They both ran off while the woman caught herself from the sudden drop. “Thank you..”・Looking down at her expression told Erik Ryaner everything, her husband had been one of the men he'd seen hanging. They'd come back for her to set an example, a small noise got his attention, out of the house a very young little Aitoa child was peeking from behind the door frame. Kneeling down Erik Ryaner spoke softly to it putting the baby in it's mother's arms before bowing his head and walking away. Behind him he could hear cheering from the locals.

The readings from his ship had said that he should be right ontop of a Chirin base, or more accurately a section of one spreading miles to the Planet's Capitial sixty miles away. All he had to do now was get in.

This turned out to be not that difficult. A small shack leading down to stairs gave him acess to the base. They apparently thought that on the Aitoa's on home world they were save from intruders.



It was their mistake.



Ragnarok looked around, there wasn't much to see, and he was hanging off the ground by his arms. Discord was standing beneath him with that same wicked little smile on her face. Pain rattled him as she struck him with the whip, “Dance little man dance, or you could just tell us everything you know about say.. a experiment weapon the Metallian Elders comissioned you and several scientists on their homeworld to work on. You're the only one we could get to . As well as the most important.”・ Ragnarok merely shook his head, “N.. Never.”・No sooner than he uttered the word Discord manner became harsh, she wrapped the whip around one of the restriants pulling him down to the floor, “I misjudged you. I thought such a intelligent man would see the best oppertunity he'd be offtered and accept it, we would of just let you run along free to go . But now you leave me with no choice but to kill you to keep the weapon from ever being completed.”・Picking himself up Ragnarok glared at her, “They.. will complete it, and people like you.. will cease to exist!”・Discord jumped back onto a plateform and snapped her fingers, Ragnarok staggered up craddling his arm, which he was sure broke when Discord pulled it down to the floor in his other hand. He counted up the clones , his heart leapt when Ragnarok realized IGGI5 hadn't come like a trained hound. “Kill him!”・ Backing up after hearing the order Discord had given he looked around, he couldn't die yet. He still had to aplogize to Mia for missing her graduation, still had to make up with Erik Ryaner for the fight they'd gotten in before he left alone. He wasn't done living yet!


One of the clones just stopped, before falling over dead. Blinking Rag was glad to see Erik Ryaner decloak behind the body holding a bloody knife. “Erik!”・Scrambling back up after he'd fallen Ragnarok was glad to see him. Erik Ryaner offered him a smile that said he needed to wait a minute while the larger Metallian worked on the clones. Discord was livid. She coldly flipped the whip again stricking a knife out of Erik Ryaner's hand. Flipping backwards she dug her claws into the wall using the hooks in the toe of her boots to walk on the walls. It put her out of Erik Ryaner's range, but he wasn't out of hers. She knew from experience Metallians weren't all tanks. They had weaknesses just like everything else. The clones just kept falling, they couldn't exchange blows with Erik Ryaner forever, and neither could she. There had to be another way. Watching the last one fall it hit Discord that only eleven of the clones had been killed.

One had disobeyed her.

Thinking back she remembered how she'd seen IGGI5 in Ragnarok's cellblock without being ordered there, as well as how his expression had changed. There was a tratior in her subordinates. Looking back at Erik Ryaner and Ragnarok she took a deep breath before taking the whip out again and pulling Ragnarok away from the other Metallian, pulling a collaspeable spear off of her belt she held it out infront of her and hit the switch. Her feathers stood on end at being close to such a high voltage while she could feel the wet drip coming off of Ragnarok's body falling back onto her spear and her clothes from where she'd impaled him. Pulling the spear out Discord ran for the exit and kicked the key pad forcing a blast door to block the path she'd taken.

Picking up Ragnarok Erik Ryaner was mentally screaming his name. Looking down at the wound in his chest he paled after realizing he could see his palm threw where Discord had stabbed him. “I... I'm here..”・Sensing Ragnarok on the link Erik Ryaner chest shook with dry sobs. “I know I'm thankful.”・Neither of the two spoke, commuincating with the mental link they shared, “・T-this is the end.. isn't it?”・Erik Ryaner shook his head “no, don't think like that.”・Some how Ragnarok found the strength to pull himself up and nuzzle Erik Ryaner, “Tell Mia I'm so sorry..”・Nodding quickly Erik Ryaner didn't try to stop the tears from forming, “I will, I promise.”・“I hope you can forgive me too.”・“for what?”・“for not being stronger...”・






The link was gone, he couldn't hear Ragnarok's thoughts anymore.



IGGI5 was cautiaus, he wasn't sure what would greet him as he followed the sounds of fighting. By the time he got there it was just Discord, Saa'In and another Metallian he didn't know. IGGI5 covered his eyes when he saw Discord get her spear out, partly to avoid seeing her kill Saa'In but also to avoid letting anyone see he was crying for the loss of his friend.


“you knew Saa'In too?”・At first Erik Ryaner was ready to give into the rage building in him, but after hearing Ragnarok's name he just nodded, “could say that.”・ Looking up he wasn't to surprised to see a clone. Ragnarok had a strange ability to make friends in the most odd of places. “Saa'In told me to tell you that they had Sa'Rin and Lady Zyrin's bodies here. He said to help you take them back to the Shanxi and Metallian homeworlds...”・ Standing up Erik Ryaner took a look at the clone, he didn't just look like Sa'Rin he acted like him too, “you get the two corpses. I'll take you back with me. I think the High Elder would be interested in this.”・ It took everything he had to walk up to the surface clutching Ragnarok's broken body like a life vest. Erik Ryaner let himself fantazie about the ways he'd torment and ruin Discord when he got his hands on her scrawny little neck. He would make her pay for what she did.


That much was fact.