Fantasy Kaizoic: Earth Reborn

[Da Doofus]

A few of the soldiers grumbled, and Stryx looked at Kairo.
“I doubt that’s a realistic option, Hunjan.” He said bluntly.

Rufus shrugged. “I mean we don’t have much else to choose.”

 

[Chai_T3a]

Kairo silently thanked Rufus for backing him up. He had to say, he wasn’t enjoying being the center of attention, especially when his opinion seemed so unpopular. But this needed to be done.

Kairo nodded his head in agreement. To Rufus’s statement. “From what I heard, we’re out of guns, and there’s little way we’ll be able to scale these mountains.” Kairo added. “Rufus’s right. This is our only choice.”

 

[Da Doofus]

Stryx sighed.
“If he’s willing to listen to you, then by all means ask him.” He said.

The soldiers grumbled their own uncertainties among themselves. Rufus however, patted Kairo’s shoulder.

“I’ll back you up in case.” He said.

 

[Chai_T3a]

Kairo looked over at Rufus nodded, uttering a quick yet genuine thanks. He was relieved beyond belief that Stryx and Rufus both seemed to support the idea, or at least tolerate it. He wasn't expecting it to be that easy to gain the attention of Stryx, but he guessed that in a situation as dire as this, all options would be on the table.

"Dracon's planning on heading out today at Dawn with Darrek. He's willing to tolerate us if we tag along with him. He said that when I was upstairs." Kairo stated

 

[Da Doofus]

“So he’s ok with us following him?” Rufus asked, following Kairo as the two ascended the stairs.
“You’re sure?”

Above them; Frederick, Leonard, and Ezekiel were watching from atop a railing.

 

[Chai_T3a]

As they slowly approached Dracon’s room again, the presence of the critters was the first thing he noticed. Normally he would have found them cute, but right now? With their little eyes focussed on the two, he almost felt as if they were judging the two of them. Determining if they were worthy to speak to their master. In Kairo’s opinion, him and Rufus really weren’t. But that didn’t change the fact that they still had to do this.

“I’m hoping.” Kairo shrugged. “He didn’t seem Very convincing then. Felt like he said it just to shut me up ya know?”

 

[Da Doofus]

“Yeah . . . I mean you did kinda break into his house.” Rufus smirked. “How’s Darrek by the way? He still upstairs?”

 

[Chai_T3a]

"Yeah uuuh. He's not exactly doing the best right now." Kairo admitted, seething slightly as his head turned to face Rufus. "But I don't think you're gonna want to bother him."

As he looked at the man, his peripheral vision directed him to the wound still on his leg. Thank gosh that medi-pack was there, otherwise Kairo wouldn't be sure if he would've made it out of all that alive. But the sight still concerned him. There were few who got off with no injuries at all.
"What about you then. Are you alright?" Kairo asked. "Not looking the best that's for sure."

 

[Da Doofus]

“This stuff lasts 24 hours before I need actual medical attention.” Rufus admitted. “Till then I got a stiff leg with no feeling.
So I’m dandy.” He joked, although he was currently walking with a small limp.

 

[Chai_T3a]

Kairo exhaled in relief. Rufus's confidence and positivity clearly quelling his fears at least a little. Still, the limping did not go unnoticed to Kairo. He really hoped camp wasn't too far from here, they'd spent to much effort trying to get out of here just to have Rufus die on the trek back.
'
"I always thought you were invincible." Kairo laughed as they approached Dracon's room. "Do me a favour and try to be from now on okay? I don't want to be scared like that again."

 

[Da Doofus]

“I’ll be sure to tell the guys shooting at me to play nice.” Rufus rolled his eyes.

The Kendalt manor’s study was ahead now, and the waving shadows of windblown curtains danced on a dimly lit wall.

 

[Chai_T3a]

"Well don't blame me for being worried." Kairo stated, clearly not happy with Rufus brushing aside his concern. "Not when you're constantly risking your life like this."

Kairo looked ahead then, the manor study merely a few feet away from them at this point. He didn't have much time to get his point across now. Hopefully Rufus would understand. "Look, I know this time it was an ambush, I'm just asking you to be a bit more careful later on."

 

[Da Doofus]

“From now on, I’m packing larger caliber.” Rufus assured with a twinge of anger. “That big fucker’s got lucky too many times.”

Once inside Theron Kendalt’s old office, his son was nowhere to be found. Only the window was open, giving a view of the rock covered right side of Dakovis, and bringing the clouded light into the room.

 

[Chai_T3a]

Kairo rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing anything. Dracon wasn't in the office? But he hadn't seem him anywhere else in the building either. That was a pretty immediate reason for concern. Dracon was their only way out at the moment, if he was missing, then the rest of them would be fucked.

Kairo made his way towards the opened window, peaking his head out slightly. He looked for traces that the irokai had left. Footprints on the floor, a scuffed windowsill, or anything of the sort. Hopefully he wouldn't find any.

 

[Da Doofus]

What Kairo would see were claw marks upon the windowsill that had been repeatedly carved in over years of Dracon’s untrimmed fingers.

 

[Chai_T3a]

Upon examining the window, Kairo wasn't able to gain much information at all. That windowsill was littered so thoroughly with claw marks that he wouldn't be able to tell if Dracon had actually left.
"Not to state the obvious. But he's not here." Kairo said, looking back at Rufus. "You seen him around?"

 

[Da Doofus]

“Not since we came in.” Rufus shrugged.

Footsteps creaked over the floorboards outside, and Darrek peeked inside.
“What’s going on?” He asked, his demeanor dreary following the revelations prior.

 

[Chai_T3a]

“Tryna find Dracon.” Kairo mentioned nonchalantly, making sure not to instead use the words “your brother”. When Darrek wanted to tell everyone was his decision to make.

“He’s kinda our only way out of this mess. So I just wanted to make sure he’s alright with taking us.” he added. “Have you seen him?”

 

[Da Doofus]

The Irokai shook his head.
“No.” He said bluntly, and turned to explore more of the house.

Rufus stepped to the windowsill and put on his helmet. After pushing a button on his wrist dial, the visor lit up with a digital interface.
The gunslinger was silent as he scanned the rubble coated city.

“Don’t see him.” He said at last.
“Wait a minute . . .”

 

[Chai_T3a]

Kairo's eyes perked at that, clearly curious as to what Rufus was seeing.
"What is it?" He asked, voice sounding slightly impatient.

 

[Da Doofus]

“I see something moving toward the house . . .” He said and focused in on the approaching figure.
“It’s Dracon. With . . .” Rufus cocked his head. “That little pretty boy punk from the trading post.
Victor or something?”

Now visible from the window to Kairo, was the Tattered Feral dragging a bleeding human toward the front door.

 

[Chai_T3a]

Kairo’s worries lifted slightly knowing that Dracon hadn’t just upped and left. The irokai really was their last hope in all of this, and if he was gone, the rest of them might as well just kill themselves. It wasn’t good that they were putting all their money on Dracon’s escape plan, that much he realized after this scare.

But besides that, it seemed Dracon had brought a friend back with him. He recalled what happened when that syndroid died. How he’d gone into a rampage of bullets, taking down Victor as collateral. He thought that the man had already died. And even though he wasn’t, he didn’t look like he was too far from it.

“That guy almost shot me down earlier.”!Kairo mumbled, his expression of disbelief. “Why’s Dracon dragging him back?”

 

[Da Doofus]

Rufus watched the Irokai’s approach with analytical eyes.

“Best guess?” He shrugged. “Information.”

Downstairs, the front door was kicked open and the Republic soldiers shouted in surprise at the sudden entrance.

 

[Chai_T3a]

Kairo cringed at the crashing bang that came from the door being kicked open. He was pretty sure things in this manor were gonna get much more.....eventful now.

"Yeaaah...maybe we should head down to see what's happening." Kairo said.

 

[Da Doofus]

Rufus had already begun stomping for the door.
“Ditto.” He said quickly and moved with purpose.