Island of Maniacs 1

[Astral Harmony]

Chapter 1: Proving Oneself

The GKS Luguro rode the gentle waters of the Cloaked Sea, rocking slightly from port to starboard and back again. It was an early foggy September morning, yet the fog was thin enough that one could tell the sun hadn't rose into view at the time.

"Land ho! Red Island confirmed on our two o'clock!"

One could barely make out the crow's nest and the soldier inside, pointing somewhat off the bow of the ship, towards the starboard side. The message was distributed through the speaking tubes that lead everywhere on the ship.

-----

Lulu and Tristam stood outside the brig where Leraje the Storm was imprisoned. Lulu turned towards the cell and directed her spear at him. "There had better not be one wrong move on your part once you're relieved of those special wrist restraints, criminal. Tristam and I're wearing special magic-termination armor that will stop your spells flat. Isn't it great? First time I've ever been issued something that wasn't standard issue."

Tristam removed the cigarette from his mouth, blowing fumes with a lengthy exhalation. "Too bad we'll probably end up turning these suits in once he's been sent out with the rest of the team."
"What I don't get is why Her Majesty not only allowed, but specifically invited such a dangerous asshole to join a search and rescue team for Her Highness. Once again, I think she's gone way too far."
Tristam took another long drag. "That sounds like Kingdom's Crusaders talk to me."
Lulu shrugged lightly. "Yes. I'm a member of that group."

He coughed at this. "I didn't know that. When were you planning on telling me?"
"Well, I figured I'd talk about it when I confirmed my feelings for you but-"
Tristam was wild-eyed. "What?! Feelings for me? Lulu, I-"
Lulu held up one hand to silence him. "But I've lost all interest in you when I decided you would never stop going to that damn bar to mess with girls."
"Th-they're very friendly."
"Girls as ample of breast as they are empty of head usually are, Tristam. Ugh, now you've gone and worn out your novelty. Go upstairs and get that asshole's breakfast, already."

Tristam sighed, put out his cigarette, and began his trek. "And try to get something good for him this time," Lulu added. "It may very well be his last meal. Might as well be a good one."

-----

Nobody passed on the message of Red Island's sighting to Cael Hoyake. The soldiers all learned rapidly that he was not a man to be bothered. Many of them secretly debated who was crazier: Leraje or Cael.

-----

Two girls stood just within hearing range of Rudolph Douglas. They didn't intend to be heard, but Douglas's vampiric senses picked them up well.

The girl with short-cropped red hair addressed her long raven-haired catgirl friend. "So what if you think he's gorgeous? You're not asking him out, Nyam. You're just going to tell him that Red Island will be reached shortly and to ask him what he might like for breakfast."
"But, but-" the catgirl stammered, poking her index fingers together. "I know that when I approach him, I'm just gonna lose it and I won't be able to say anything."
Nyam's friend hung her head and sighed. "Seriously, you've gotta get over this fear of boys."
"I can talk to normal-looking boys just fine, Saren," Nyam said defensively. "But when it comes to a really hot guy like that..."

Saren patted Nyam on the back. "You're talking to him today, Nyam. I'm not helping this time. And besides, I don't think he's quite that attractive."
The two girls went out with their back on forth.

-----

A man of about thirty entered the cabin of one Beladere Sestis. He saluted Beladere as though he were addressing a foreign dignitary. "Lord Beladere? We are soon to arrive at Red Island and the chef is offering anything on the ship as your last meal aboard the GKS Luguro. Would you like anything prepared, or shall I just go fetch the nearest cute girl I can find like last time?"

-----

"Oh! That's Akane Yukio! Man, now I want to join that search and rescue team."
"Akane-who?"
The girlishly-beautiful blonde boy with the long hair turned to his friend, another soldier with spikey dark green hair. "Akane Yukio. She's pretty famous for being an incredible brawler. I saw her in several fights while I was on leave and touring the islands. Made a good amount of money on her, too. Do you think I should get her autograph?"
The spikey-haired guy grinned evilly. "Luco, are you sure an autograph is all you want from her?"
Luco blushed. "Whuh-well, I mean-Richard, are you trying to embarrass me?"

Richard folded his arms and looked Akane up and down. "Whatever, man. Famous brawler or whatever, all I see is a very nice piece of ass."
Luco backed off. "You're going to try to get her, aren't you? I don't think that's wise."
"Relax, Luco. Watch how a master works."
Richard walked up to Akane so she could notice him. "Hello, there. This is kind of out of the blue, I know, but I just wanted to ask: did you bring all these people with you, because I was hoping it was just going to be the two of us."
Luco couldn't take his eyes off of Richard and Akane. He didn't know anything about Akane on a personal level, and Richard had earned himself quite a few temporary girlfriends. Could an ass like Richard actually land an admirable warrioress like Akane?

[batgirl]

Akane was leaning against the railing of the ship, letting the sea air blow across her face. She had been on a few boats before, but never one bound for adventure such as this. It was thrilling as well as scary at the same time. What would they find on Red Island other than the princess? It was supposed to be uninhabited, but still, something must be growing out there.

She turned as a man with spiky green hair approached her. He stopped in front of her, and with a cocky smile said: "Hello, there. This is kind of out of the blue, I know, but I just wanted to ask: did you bring all these people with you, because I was hoping it was just going to be the two of us." She raised an eyebrow at him and turned back to the sea. With lines like those it's a wonder if you get laid at all. Let's see, you're a common soldier and I don't know your name, but you look like you don't know my reputation, so I'll be nice. You have..." She thought for a moment, ten seconds to go away before I hit you so hard you'll be sucking your meals through a straw for weeks.

[rapter200]

Orange: Cael Talking
Green: Cael's thought's
Red: Fire thought's
Cyan/Light blue: Ice thought's

Cael was stuck in his room, trying to keep himself occupied which was easier done then most other people would admit. So, why did you take this job. Was it for fame or something, it seems like a brash decision to make. You took no time to think about it, you just acted on an impulse. Yeah of course he did, that’s my boy. Now shut up Ice and get back in your corner we are going out there, and we will be introducing ourselves to the other people. Don’t you think that they will want to even talk to us, look Cael you don’t have to talk to them, you can just stay here. Boy don’t listen to him, you got to go out there put on a big act, if someone makes you mad do something about it. Get your name out there. Ok you two I am going out there, if only just to meet the others, I am not going to start any fights. Awe come on just one quick fight, a burst of anger that’s it really. No, just no.Ok we will leave you alone, for now.

Cael got up, his head clear of the other two. He opened his door carefully and headed outside his room. He looked at the guards posted all over the confined place. He noticed the way that they stared at him. They thought he was a loon, they hated him, he knew that. Anger started to flare up in him. “Who do you think you are to look at me like that, stop staring at me like you know anything at all you empty suits of armor” he let out without thinking, Yes yes, melt their skin off. Hey I thought we were leaving him alone. Oh yeah, sorry, he got angry on his own. I was just encouraging it. Guys leave me alone for just a moment please.

As he stepped up the long stairs that led to the deck he didn’t look back, knowing the guards would be laughing at the scene he made. When he reached the deck he saw the island not far off. They didn’t tell us that we reached the island. He saw a good looking woman that looked like she was about to fight some old guy. He laughed at this, and for some reason unknown to him he wanted to see blood. Though it was obvious that Fire still had his influence on Cael, even though promising to leave him alone. “Hey old man, are you going to take that from her, come on your like thrice her age. You can take her.”

[Malkadocian]

Leraje was seated upon a metal stool in his bare cell. Nothing would be allowed in his room that was specifically checked and double checked. The stool itself was bolted to the floor, and insulated against his skill. His head was bowed, his eyes closed, but he could smell it. Freedom. Through the open air, albeit barred, porthole into a room 50 feet away or so. It had always been so. Smells... sounds... always somehow made their way to his ears. The air _wanted_ him to know that soon, he would walk under the sun, and feel the raw breeze upon his skin once more. The wind was eager to have him back, and to experience the epicenter of a storm. Ahh.... such things. It was worth waiting for... worth being patient for.

He glanced up, towards his door, at Lulu, after Tristam had left, to get his breakfast. "I have never met your Queen. I have never met the Princess she wants returned. There are things people like you cannot do. That is why I am here. To do what needs to be done. And because if I die, nobody will mourn the loss. I am.... expendable. I am saving your lives by going, girl." Leraje bowed his head once more, his hair falling around his face, obscuring it from view, as he stared down at his manacles that bound his wrists, and restrained his movements.

[secretskull]

Beladere grinned; he liked the sound of “Lord Beladere”. He should try telling other people that he was a deposed king from far away. People were impressed by kings, especially women. He could get one of those signet rings, for an ancient family heirloom.

Waking up from his ponderings, he sat up, assuming a dignified pose. “That won’t be necessary.” He told the messenger. “The best treasure is the one you weren’t expecting. I’m going to go and “investigate” the ship.” He paused to make a quick calculation. “But… If you could pop down and find one… Just in case.” He added. “And get me one of those fancy rings with the emblems; I seem to have misplaced mine.

He stepped out of his room, walking sedately. This was a ship; there were always girls on ships, he reasoned. Sunning themselves on the deck and whatnot. He was guaranteed to find one. Attractive women. Lounging around. Unattached. Just waiting for royalty to sweep them off their feet. It was a practically a guarantee.

[Astral Harmony]

"Ouch," Richard said, clutching his stomach as though he had been struck. "Did you have to be that way at the start? Maybe I can defuse this situation with some vital information. From what I hear, you haven't been told the whole thing. You know, about how bad it's gotten on the island. I was thinking I should let you know, perhaps during dinner?"
Luco sighed. Richard was stubborn to a fault and didn't take "no" for an answer.

-----

Lulu turned away, looking blankly toward the ceiling. "You've got that right, Master Leraje." she said. "But you're underestimating your importance. Many, many more lives than you can possibly imagine hinge on your success."

Lulu didn't say anything more, and instead set her spear aside and do some light working out.

-----

Ezna climbed down from the crow's nest, her shift complete. Besides, the GKS Luguro had cleared the fog and the sun began to rise. "Hiya, Bertz." Ezna called out, meeting up with Beladere's temporary servant. "Man, you're so lucky to get to serve Master Beladere. He must know so many things and magic spells."

Bertz scratched the back of his head. "I don't think he'd teach magic to a man. Anyways, Lord Beladere is touring the ship, not that there's much to see besides the females as far as he's probably concerned. Oh, yeah. You're a cute girl, right?"
Ezra frowned and put her hands on her hips. "Last time I checked, yes."
"Well, we'll be reaching Red Island in just a few moments. Since you're off shift, you should try to find a signet ring and use it to get in good with him. I'm sure he'll teach you lots of things."

Ezra was gone in a flash. Bertz sighed. "Honestly, I didn't mind when His Majesty Shevenston allowed women into the military, but some of these girls...well. Ah, but she is good with a sword, though."

[Malkadocian]

A doubtful "hmph" echoed from Leraje's cell, as he continued to watch the shackles on his wrist, how they dug into his skin, rubbed his flesh raw, and prevented many movements. "I am never leaving the Red Island.... am I? There isn't going to be a rescue ship for me, only for the Princess, and whoever else is going along with me. One prison to another..."

[ApatheticFoxboy]

"When it comes to a really hot guy like that…" Rudy had to give a little snort to that comment. Who can blame him? His extraordinary hearing picked up the strangest things. He once overheard an obscenely elderly couple argue the merits of foreplay. Most people’s small talk follows a script. Rudy had heard this script so many times he could recite it from memory.

It was in the early morning when he had heard from the speaking tubes behind the wall that Red Island had been spotted. He decided to see if the island really was red, and walked starboard. Rudy couldn’t see far enough over the foggy sea to catch the port. What his ears did tap into were these two bickering girls. Rudy knew that the red head’s cat girl friend had to have been commenting on him.

The first night of the voyage Rudy had been kind of lost on such a vessel as the GKS Luguro. He was used to paying a single sailing soul a pence to traffic him on small skippers. He was used to fishing with a sharpen stick, and making necklaces and bracelets out of seashells. In fact, he once had so much cheap jewelry he started selling them as mementos to tourists. This mast flag ship he found himself on was just beyond his experience. So to be quick about it, he turned on his comfortable cloak of August Corpus.That particular enchantment had always been so extremely versatile, it came to him as instinctively as turning a door nob.

When Rudy turned around he saw a nervous, eye down cast, raven haired catgirl. With a smile on his face, he approached the catgirl. He greeted her and launched into his Hasten Story(which is a truly witty and fun tale set in the book store called Slow Reads, where in they have a terrific section devoted entirely wilderness survival). When he asked where he could find his cabin, she hung her head to the side and stammered a reply Rudy just couldn’t understand. The implication as she understood it was for her to follow him there.

Rudy was somewhat tiffed when she continued her ranting in a language Rudy swore he knew. From the corner of his eye a red head, the catgirl’s friend, bailed her out and pointed out that most cabins of Her Majesty’s guest cabins were towards the stern. Rudy thanked her very much. What he did next was more habit then anything else. He took a throw away seashell bracelet off his wrist and said, “You’re not a thief. Right?” he placed the bracelet on the catgirl's arm, “This isn’t a gift. I want it back next time I see you.” Rudy hadn't seen her anytime after that. She must have been awesome at hide-and-go-seek.

Rudy didn’t consider himself a “really hot guy.” When you got down to it his dress didn’t exactly scream noble either. The one thing he did have going for him was his attractive, if not assertive, personality. He strolled confident, embolden from the catgirl’s questionable impression of this ragged vampire. Much too engrossed in their own back and forth, Rudy surprised the raven haired catgril and her red head friend by appearing before them. To be fair his footwear hadn’t alerted them of his presence because he didn’t wear anything on his feet.

With an evil grin he said, "Good morning, how does the ship fare?"

[Masked Jedi]

Hiro ran through the city, dashing towards the port. He was followed by a local guard, chasing him for the food that Hiro had stolen. Hiro took a sharp right turn, which he knew lead to a dead end. He quietly lowered his own gravity and leapt the wall before him, being sure not to drop the food he was holding. He then quickly made it to the port, only to find that the ship had left. Looking behind him, he saw that the guard was closing in, with reinforcements. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on the ship, and quickly disappeared, leaving his pursuers very confused. He reappeared on the ship, next to a tall girl leaning on a railing, and a green-haired man who was talking to her.

Shit, I was hoping below the deck. Hope neither of these are military officials

Hiro inhaled, then said "Is this the Luguro?"

[Astral Harmony]

"Sargeant Tristam. Lance Corporal Lulu. We are beginning our approach to Red Island. Escort the prisoner to the deck in 15."

"Aye aya, ma'am." Lulu came to attention, turned and saluted the speaking tube just as Tristam emerged from the stairs with a plate of something that definitely looked prepared recently as opposed to the other meals Leraje had been served. The good smell had already reached his nose as Lulu unlocked the cell door. Both of them entered. Lulu bent over Leraje's cuffs and used a bejeweled key to undo the restaints. "Here, eat this. And once you listen to Colonel Ming on the island, then you can decide if your life really is only good for using without care and throwing away like an old rag."

-----

Nyam looked blankly at her new bracelet not unlike an archaeologist would peer at a priceless artifact that had taken years to find. Saren decided to speak in her stead. "The ship is perfectly fine, my lord. I don't see why it'd have problems. The GKS Luguro is the newest battleship of fourteen in our fleet, only about seven months old at this point."

"We are beginning our approach to Red Island. All docking parties report to the deck and stand by."

Saren put her hands on Nyam's shoulders and gently pushed her six feet towards the starboard side. "Pardon me, m'lord, but you may want to stand clear. I'll tell you why in just a moment."

A bridge was being manually extended from the port side as the ship slowed into dock. Suddenly, a booming voice blasted out of the darkness as one of the hatches nearly exploded open and a female centaur, armored in the Kingdom's colors and smiling with confidence, stampeded towards the bridge that was only halfway out. "MAKE A HOOOOOLE!!" Sulfurous cursing from the deck crew manning that bridge could be heard as the centaur galloped toward the bridge, showing no intention of stopping. The bridge crew braced. The centaur hit the edge of the bridge and jumped, just barely making it onto the dock. She didn't slow down and continued onwards towards the base camp.

Nyam finally managed to speak since receiving Douglas' gift. "One day she's gonna kill herself doing that."
"That would be Lieutenant Radian," Saren introduced the no-longer visible centaur. "Dutiful to a fault and addicted to military life if anyone can believe it. I heard she was allowed to join your search and rescue unit because there didn't seem to be a Breaker-class assigned yet. She's a powerful warrioress and graduated with high honors in the academy. She's not much in the brains department though, which explains why she never bothered to learn a lick of magic."

She pointed towards the base camp. "Lieutenant Radian will be back to escort everyone to go see Colonel Ming, the island camp's base commander. I'm sure the invitation didn't really give much in detail, but the colonel should be able to fill in all those gaps and then some."

-----

Richard looked annoyed at the sudden appearance of Hiro. "Yeah, this is the Luguro. Now buzz off, I'm a little busy here." He said, giving a not-so-subtle hint that he was about to get into Akane's worn out jeans.
Luco got closer to Hiro. "Hmmm...you must be Hiroko Dhoraillas, correct? You look exactly as you were described to me. Don't mind Richard too much. We're actually about to dock on Red Island, so you've made it just in time."