Silent Garden Last Fragment

At the arrival of this stranger, Eideara noticed some familiarity to his race and tone, but let him speak. It wasn't until he spoke about the desert, and someone named Mira, and mentioned her family name, that the usual knowing smile dropped from her face, as the true horror of her people hit her right where it hurt.

"It's true...the story is true." She spoke to herself, covering her mouth with her hand.

She looked back to Larry, who was still speaking to Saleme. She nodded when he asked if she was a Summerhaze, but sister to Mira, she was not. When he asked them where Mira was, she took a deep breath, and looked him in his eyes.

"Uhhh......what're you talkin' about?" Larry asked as he gave her a slightly confused look.

"I'm so sorry to be the one to tell you this. Empress Mira Monsoon of the Summerhaze is revered as one of the kindest and just Sire leaders we've ever had, and the only one to never fall to assassination by a competitor to the throne. I am not her sister...I am her descendant. Her great, great grandaughter. There is a story, they tell it to the children-"

She paused here, looking at him. He fit the description and the drawings so well, she had no doubt he was real, after all.

"The Jealous King. That's the title."

At these words, Larry's eyebrows quirked as he narrowed his eyes. The whole time she was talking, he honestly was lost as to what she was talking about. But one person immediately popped into his head when she said this, some dick Mira introduced him to once. His audible growls died out as he became quiet, clenching his fists tightly as he could feel his anger beginning to boil over. Before he always let himself give in to anger easier to keep it under control, but now.....he fought his hardest to not lash out in an attempt to quell his frustration. However, the more he thought about it, the more it built up. However, on the outside he pretty much seemed calm at this point. He silently listened to Eidara's story until she was finished, looking her in the eyes. Why did she have so much pain behind them?

"Well. I have to say......that certainly is an interesting tale. I suppose I've been put in a bit of a situation here, haven't I?" he asked, letting his arms fall to his sides as he slipped his hands into his pockets in his famous fashion. "Ya see.....I've only just met you. The only person here whose face I even know is Saleme's, right? Well, I suppose we can count the resemblance between you and Mira." He paused to look at Raija. "Raija, was it? Raija is another of our friends......and you exhibit the same sort of inner aura almost, but you don't exactly pass as a double. And on top of it, Saleme's been actin' batshit nuts this whole time, at least as I know him. This is all conflicting information, ya see. That means I'm given a few options here. Let's start with the most obvious, number one. I believe what you say. This means life as I know it has been destroyed. I'm some centuries in the future, and you're Mira's great great grandkid or whatever, right? This Raija might possibly be some reincarnation of our Raija." He paused now as he looked at Sukobe. Larry had pretty much ignored his earlier remarks, mostly. The 'gill-necked killers' quip struck him as a shot at the Sha, however he stayed silent, his offense at the comment fading slightly at his comments on Sire. Larry viewed them as different, plain and simple. Outside of this, the beastman never gave any sign of hostile intent, however, Larry could easily recognize an aura similar to his own. Predatory. "The first Beastman since Zuku that seems capable of actual fighting," he said with a small hint of respect in his tone.

"And then there's Saleme," he started, moving on immediately. "Good ol' Saleme, has once again, launched some exceedingly elaborate plan based on luck to stop some world ending event. And as he is famous for keeping everyone around him in the dark, this time he has taken it a step further and done it to himself and hopes everything goes according to plan," he paused with a small sigh. "And now, he has dragged all your sorry butts along on this thing so your lives will never be the same again, just as he did to us on more than one occasion. Sounds plausible. That's just one scenario I see, though," he cleared his throat as he started pacing. "Scenario two. This is some practical joke by Saleme and my guys and everyone are gonna pop up any minute once he got me convinced. I wouldn't put it past him. In which case, he'd soon realize that he has never seen the sort of carnage I can dish out when I'm truly livid. Anyway," he paused once more as he turned his back to them.

"Scenario three. The elves from this story? The ones that attacked me, froze me apparently? What if it was neither a teleportation spell or a stasis spell? Heh.....you could be them in disguise, tryina get me to lower my guard. Right? So.......which would be the safest story for me to believe?" he asked as he started to smirk. "You were wrong, Raija. I am a threat. But, I have just come to realize just how much. To everything. After I kill you imposters.....I'll change that."

You won't be killing anyone today, Larry," a voice echoed around them. "Because you're gonna calm down and let the Businessman make your decisions today, not the animal."

Larry raised an eyebrow as he looked around. "I know that voice. Let me guess, you're supposed to be Tony, right? Now, if I'm supposed to be ya know, in the future......have to say, the evidence really isn't proving anything you guys are saying right now."

It was then that a beam of light appeared a short distance away from them, a tall man with long dark blue hair stepping out of the pillar before it disappeared.

"They're telling the truth. And I can prove it."

Name: Tony Drizan
Age: perpetually 30, literal age unknown
Race: Mech(technically Technopath turned cyborg)
Looks:
Abilities/Talents: Technopathy, engineering, analytics
Weapons: usually carries an ancient Plasma Rifle that's been preserved from his own time and still retains its capability to shift into blade mode
Bio: These days, Tony is more or less a hermit, having isolated himself from civilization and resides in a lab he built in the mountains. A short period after the disappearances of some of his allies, Tony made a bold step in his research. He created a program to transfer his brain into a robotic body. He has been questioned numerous times, but never has he told anyone the particular reason he did it. His body is now made of a rare synthetic metal that is as tough as titanium strength metals, yet when applied with the proper electric current it becomes elastic and can be manipulated to change shape.

==============

“Oh, I believe they’re truly followers of Gilgamesh. I also think it’s time I take my leave,” Delrose agreed. He raised his hand to place it on Zuku’s shoulder. “However, I won’t let you harm these men. Instead. I propose that you and I, we depart together. I’m on a mission to find out who I am, or if I’m lucky find my real family. You’ve been entrapped for hundreds of years. A lot has changed. Leave with me, I’ll show you what’s going on and we’ll go to… wherever you’re from?” He offered.

Zuku frowned as he looked at Delrose, shaking his head. "They won't just leave it be, these men are dangerous, to all. They must be stopped," he growled before he suddenly stopped, his frown turning to a look of confusion. "Did you say......hundreds of years?"

“Im so sorry Eiderah my books never documented anything about a summerhazes lover being frozen in time that or a kings beheading…” He muttered wondering how much of the past his book actually had in them.
Saleme felt relatively sorry for Eiderah story so much so he wacked Sukobes arm when he mocked it “a hero is suppose to be nice to their allies” He lectured before looking over at Larry.

“He is in the book if that the case…” He muttered he would place himself down and begin searching through his book only to stop turning the pages to look up at Larry.
“I am not bat dung…” he mumbled before going back to the pages.
“Good ol Saleme we don’t know eachother and stop talking like I ruin lives!” Saleme snapped angrily flipping through his pages “I don’t even know you…” he muttered looking extremely irritated “excuse me I do not keep people in the dark I have been nothing but honest with Sukobe and the others!” He yelled glaring over at the red head “I don’t go around ruining lives…” He mumbled.

Saleme huffed as scenario two got mentioned “I do not play jokes on people doing that in the castle would get me punished…” He muttered before looking over at Sukobe “you need to back off with the accusations!” he yelled taking offence.
As Larry made his threat and they were interrupted by this mysterious blue haired stranger Saleme had found the page he was looking for and had begun mumbling incantations in order to draw on the pages power.

Raija took in all that was going on, Eideara's story was very puzzling. If she had heard correctly, the man that appeared in front of her was an... urban legend. An urban legend that Eideara's ancestors had some connection to.

"I am not sure what a sha is. I'm also unsure of what a 'Summerhaze' is. My clearest days are in the summertime." Raija didn't attempt to soak in all the history, she was far too uninformed. She'd inquire specifics later.

“All Sire are dangerous,” He quipped. “But no. He, like the princess, must be kept alive..."

"Don't overstate yourself, Beast. You are just as trusted as the mysterious man in the sand and the Sire woman." Raija looked up softly at Sukob, right into his eyes. "Your teeth also have blood on them."

"Raija, was it? Raija is another of our friends......and you exhibit the same sort of inner aura almost, but you don't exactly pass as a double..."

"...I believe what you say. This means life as I know it has been destroyed. I'm some centuries in the future, and you're Mira's great great grandkid or whatever, right? This Raija might possibly be some reincarnation of our Raija."

Raija looked dumbfounded at the man speaking. How could she possibly be involved in this? "You must be mistaken. I have no ancestors that share my name. My sword is the only trace of our family's lineage and it is shrouded in mystery. I would find it even more mystifying if the sword was foreign to you. If what you all speak is true, you might have been alive during its formation." She spoke to nobody in particular.

"You were wrong, Raija. I am a threat. But, I have just come to realize just how much. To everything. After I kill you imposters.....I'll change that."[/b]

"Everything is a threat. Even the air we breathe can kill us. But dangerous, you are not that. I believe you are in denial. Your rage clouds your mind. As a bystander the stories make sense, I couldn't imagine the world you knew to be the same so long after."

Raija saw yet another member pop up to help save the day. It seems the strangers knew each other.

"Explanation or not. There are no 'Sha' in this land." Her blue hair hung in the wind as she spoke. "Accept the consequences of your actions, your absence is nothing to get angry for. Even if you were to kill us. Your lover and mates are dead." She said these words with conviction, going through the same thing herself, even now.

As Larry made his threat and they were interrupted by this mysterious blue haired stranger Saleme had found the page he was looking for and had begun mumbling incantations in order to draw on the pages power.

Raija sighed, having half a mind to stop this ritual. Standing and talking was not going to solve anything. "Walking and talking will serve us well."

The story told, Eideara stood back a moment, hearing Sukob's mocking tone.

“Im so sorry Eiderah my books never documented anything about a summerhazes lover being frozen in time that or a kings beheading…” He muttered wondering how much of the past his book actually had in them.


"The history logs regarding Sire are likely to be lies. The assassins are glorified in secret, everyone covets the throne, seemingly not realizing it's a death sentence.This story only made it out because it was popular among children because of how outlandish it is, and got passed down for years and years..."

As Saleme reprimanded Sukob, Eideara shot Saleme a wan smile of gratitude.

"He's right, Saleme. The Sire have proven themselves to be underhanded, greedy, and murderous. When a race's assassins are remembered more than it's monarchs...well, there you have it. Thank you for keeping me alive, Sukob. I'm sure it's by your grace that I stand here today."

She spoke listlessly.

"Don't overstate yourself, Beast. You are just as trusted as the mysterious man in the sand and the Sire woman." Raija looked up softly at Sukob, right into his eyes. "Your teeth also have blood on them."

"Surely not. Whiskers, a murderous hypocrite? I'll never believe ill of him." Eideara spoke snippily. She'd had enough of being judged for her race. She knew she wasn't like her doubledealing forebears, and if Sukob thought otherwise, that was his issue.

"You were wrong, Raija. I am a threat. But, I have just come to realize just how much. To everything. After I kill you imposters.....I'll change that."

Eideara watched the last Sha react as badly to the horrific news as she could have imagined. She shook her head, sadly. 

"I'm sorry you feel this way, Larry. But I promise you, this is not where I die, and your story doesn't have to end, either."


She readied a self defensive pose, but paused as another stranger turned up, and attempted to mitigate the situation. Her shame at her own race abated a moment, as she began to feel more like herself.

"What the hell? Who else wants to drop in? I don't have a fairy tale for all of you, you know."

Seeing Saleme get trigger-happy and begin to break down, Eideara began to suspect that Larry wasn't the only one that wasn't entirely native to this time. With a glance to Sukob and Raija, she ran to Saleme. She still didn't know him that well, but he was the reason they were all there, and he'd shown her the most courtesy in the short time they'd been together. Plus, she needed him. They all did.

"Stay calm." She spoke softly but firmly to him. "Don't speak, just focus on breathing-"

"Stay calm, little one. I am here. I will watch over you, and protect you, for as long as it takes, no matter how many times you forget my name." A calming voice, a memory, would sound in Saleme's head.

"-it's gonna be okay, okay?" Eideara spoke, gently patting his back. She looked sternly back at Larry.

"Look, I know he did just fire two shots at you, but let's just agree this has been a fairly traumatic day for all involved, huh? Maybe we just...talk this one out, like your friend seems to think."

= = = = = =

Meanwhile, Mizzix had been following them the whole time. Each time he'd wanted to introduce himself, the creator in his mind had told him not to. The creator had never been so talkative before. He was starting to learn things about the deity his people worshiped that none of them had ever known.  

The Creator was Female.

The Creator knew who Larry was.

The Creator felt excitement when Saleme fell to the ground, as if there were some great cosmic secret.

"You will meet them soon, Mizzix." She spoke in his head, as he hid. "Let them learn and heal, first. Then we can meet them." 

Mizzix nodded, and camoflaged himself to the area using his mechanics.

“The first Beastman since Zuku that seems capable of actual fighting,” he said with a small hint of respect in his tone.

Sukob repeated the name in his mind several times, mulling over its familiarity. Zuku was a name passed around between some of the more cultural members of the Assassin’s League. Everyone didn’t believe in Zuku’s legend, but Sukob knew of it. “Just because you speak of legend does not mean you’re who you say you are,” Sukob said lowly, playing the devil’s advocate.

Zuku didn’t pay his response any mind, moving on almost immediately to his second theory on the current events. As he began spinning the web of deceit, Sukob lost interest. ‘Over the past several days, I’ve seen strange things. A man from the past seems quite plausible,’ He thought, looking from Saleme to sizing up Larry.

“Don't overstate yourself, Beast. You are just as trusted as the mysterious man in the sand and the Sire woman.” Raija looked up softly at Sukob, right into his eyes. “Your teeth also have blood on them.”

“That’s because I eat people,” Sukob explained, returning a toothy grin. “I’m a predator.” He folded his arms before paying more attention to Larry who became restless with confusion. Sukob met Larry’s eyes but before he could think about his first offensive move, Eideara spoke,

“I'm sorry you feel this way, Larry. But I promise you, this is not where I die, and your story doesn't have to end, either.”

“Though if you’re itching to go to the next world and see your friends again, we can arrange such a trip,” Sukob mumbled with an irritated wave of his hand. As a voice boomed around the group, Sukob’s ears twitched. His eyes darted around looking for the origin but it wasn’t until the blue haired stranger stepped out of a pillar of light could he be seen.

“Fuck all this deliberating. You want the truth, it’s this guy,” Sukob spoke out in a huff, gesturing toward the grand archiver himself. “I’ve seen the vision. Believe if you want. Piss off if you don’t,” He said, offering a shrug at the end. When he turned around to see Saleme, two arrows zipped past his shoulders and landed at Larry’s feet. Sukob’s brows furrowed in awe as ice spread over the sandy desert. “Oh, now you wanna kill him,” The beast-man groaned.

“You don’t get to judge me I have been honest with everyone since I left the castle now stop referring to me as the Saleme in the books I’m just named after him by my…” Saleme fell silent suddenly his breathing becoming rapid as he realized another piece of information was missing parents he had parents right, of course, he had them everyone had to have them but for as long as he can remember he never met them or thought to ask.

Saleme seemed to be having some form of panic attack “I-I-cant” He muttered trying to catch his breath.

“Once again, I agree with the Sire royalty. As much as I’d enjoy getting on our way without all of this…” Sukob looked around at the group as Eideara tended to Saleme. “baggage… He seems to like all of you. Without him, we’re just a rag tag group of people in the desert,” He admitted, walking away from the group. He snatched a canteen of water from an injured man, growling lowly as he took it. A mere warning. Upon his return, he dropped it at Saleme’s side. “Drink. Now. Regain your strength so we can leave this Hell.” He glanced back up toward Eideara then Larry and Tony. “We’ll worry about the past later.”

~~

Zuku frowned as he looked at Delrose, shaking his head. “They won't just leave it be, these men are dangerous, to all. They must be stopped,” he growled before he suddenly stopped, his frown turning to a look of confusion. “Did you say......hundreds of years?”

Delrose nodded. “Indeed. I awoke from my coma forty odd years ago in an illegal clinic between the Elven and Human capitals,” He began, setting up the tale of a wonderful story amidst the chaos of the Gilgamesh temple. “She was only nine when she stopped me from leaving the town. A little girl found my body floating adrift the Empty Depths as the locals called it. Miraculously she drug me out and begged the doctors to help me,” He said, making grand gestures to describe how deep the river ran.

The Pharisees remained silent, yet attentive. They all were interested. Especially the Head Pharisee. He wanted to know the story of how Gilgamesh was resurrected. One scribe even began jotting down on a piece of parchment paper. When Delrose noticed this, he immediately stopped and made a face toward the Scribe. “How many times do I have to tell you, I’m not Gilgamesh of Rose,” He asked.

“But your grace, wouldn’t you like to se-“ the Head Pharisee began before Delrose cut him off with a raised hand.

Delrose bowed toward him. “I wouldn’t. We’re to leave soon. If you have any mounted beasts we can use for travel, I’ll be indebted to your people.”

The Head Pharisee shook his head profusely. “No, m’lord! We’re indebted to you, forever and always! We have camels. They’re drinking water outside. Help yourself,” He responded quickly.

Delrose returned a light smile then gestured toward the exit before he continued speaking to Zuku. “My appearance hasn’t changed in forty years. In those forty years, after an extensive search… I’ve only come to find out that when I was alive there were multiple worlds. Your legend specifies one of those worlds, so I can only assume you’ve been imprisoned for hundreds of years.”

As the two grew closer to the exit, the Pharisees began talking amongst themselves quietly. “I’m certain that was our King. When he finds his memories, he’ll return,” the Head Pharisee spoke boldly.

“Was it a good idea to let him leave with the beast? Was it a good idea to let him leave without… that?” Another Pharisee spoke up.

The Head Pharisee nodded gravely. “The man standing in front of us today is leagues kinder than the man our sect follows. Maybe it’s better Delrose finds himself before Gilgamesh finds him..”

“Just because you speak of legend does not mean you’re who you say you are,” Sukob said lowly, playing the devil’s advocate.

"Very true. And on the flip side, just because you all make claims of legends doesn't make it true either," Larry retorted.

“Though if you’re itching to go to the next world and see your friends again, we can arrange such a trip,” Sukob mumbled with an irritated wave of his hand.

"Well, then. Let's see if your bite is As large As your bark," Larry said with a smirk before twirling his Halberd briefly. He listened to the exchange between Sukobe and Saleme, a few key words catching his interest. He would have inquired more under different circumstances. He returned his attention to Tony. "I'll listen, but it won't be for long.

"Don't listen. Just look around you, man," Tony paused, reaching into his pocket and tossing it's contents Larry's way before the Sha caught it, staring at him for a moment before looking down at his hands, frowning immediately.

"What is this?" he asked, staring at the metal locket in his hand. It was shaped like a fish's tail. It was clearly an ancient relic, plenty of weathering and wear and tear built up over time.

"You know what it is, Larry. Mira's necklace. I, uh.....around the time of her death, it was at a time where I had distanced myself from the others. I was fed up with, ahem, Saleme's.....bad habits." He looked over at Saleme. "Not you, Saleme. Our Saleme."

"The hell do you mean, this is our Saleme," Larry said.

"No. This is definitely not the same Saleme that you know. Something's happened to him. Maybe he's in fragments somewhere." He shook the thoughts from his head. "Sorry, getting sidetracked. She called for me, when she felt her time drawing nearer. She had a request. That I would find a way to free you somehow. She knew I had time," he paused, looking down at his arm. "My body.....it's no longer flesh. That's why I'm standing here before you. But in all my time.....I never found a way. Actually, you should be thanking these people, if they hadn't started fighting with that sand worm, you would still be a six foot chunk of statue. You're realizing I'm right, and that locket is the proof. One of a kind, right? She told me you made it yourself."

"Alright, that's enough," Larry growled, lowering his weapon. "You've got me. This is definitely hers......I'll hear you out."

========

Zuku listened as Delrose explained his story. As he listened, he took in his senses around him. The hushed whispers of the Pharisees around the room, the nervous pacing back and forth and pungent smell of sweat from some of them. Even Delrose, his scent was completely different from the Gilgamesh he knew. Something about it all just didn't seem right.

As Delrose made his way to the exit, Zuku followed close behind, making sure to keep his eyes on the other men who simply watched them both in a glazed over stupor. As Gilgamesh finished up his story, Zuku looked at him and frowned. "Hundreds of years?"