Post by Piyano on Jan 27, 2017 0:45:38 GMT -5
Two of Namek’s three suns shone fiercely overhead as Piyano walked through the fields outside of Tsuno City. The Namekian had come to the village this day to address a rumor that had been circulating throughout the Maima region that a few of Namek’s off world residents, or non-Namekian residents had been disappearing by the seas located south of Tsuno City. Many of the new inhabitants of the region were aliens and humans that had immigrated to New Namek after they had grown tired of life on their own planets, been forced to leave their old homes due to wars, and a few who had simply visited New Namek and fallen in love with the emerald waters and cushy blue grass.
To accommodate the influx of new races living on the southern islands of New Namek the fields outside of Tsuno City had been converted into farming fields, several Namekians and a mix match of other races were even now tending to the new crops, and picking a large variety of produce. Each race had brought their own seeds and grains for tilling, a few had brought animals to increase Namek’s population of wildlife. Most visitors to Namek were forced to eat green however, as the planet lacked any large population of land based creatures. The floods and climate changes that had decimated Old Namek over twelve hundred years ago had reduced Namek’s native species to Namekians and the creatures that lived under the placid green seas.
Walking through a field of tomato plants Piyano pondered what could have made members of the new immigrants to his planet disappear, the Namekian only had one true idea in mind. Man races upon many worlds fed off the bounty of the oceans just as much as they did the bounties of the land, and even though New Namek’s rich soil and three suns made for record breaking produce growth… some people just had to eat meat. On Earth Piyano had learned that humans in particular loved to capture and eat crabs, a small shellfish on their world. Namek too possessed a species of crab, however on Namek even a baby crab could weight over a hundred pounds and have pincers that spread three feet in length. The adults were even worse, elder crabs being fully capable of growing twenty feet tall and weighing thousands of pounds. Such creatures rarely left the ocean bed and were normally quite docile. They were territorial however and if the newcomers to Namek happened to be fishing the creatures babies from along the coast… such actions would be bad for everyone involved.
Passing through the vegetable fields Piyano made way to a very specific home located on the edge of Tsuno City, a large domed capsule home painted a vibrant orange in color. The house was easy to spot for miles due to its garish coloring, standing out like a fourth sun that hung low on the horizon of the planet. As much as Piyano was forced to cringe upon looking at the house however, the green man could not deny that one of his greatest friends lived within as well as owned the farming fields. Soon enough reaching the orange dome home Piyano approached the front door and rung the doorbell buzzer positioned beside it. Several silent moments passed before the door burst forth and green arms shot out from the shadows. The stretchy Namekian limbs moved to fast for Piyano to evade and quickly wrapped around his person, pulling him into the shadowy portal.
The gloomy transition took place due to the fact that Namekian’s rarely used electrical lighting inside their homes. On a planet with three suns and a night cycle that only came once a year for less than sixteen hours the green species hadn’t seen much point in developing illumination based technology. At the mercy of the arms that entrapped him, Piyano was dragged through the doorway into the waiting embrace of a Namekian man. Jlute was a strange Namek, he was of great age, and sported a thick white mustache that only a very select few tribes of Namekian were capable of growing. Strong as ever though the older Namek squeezed Piyano until he thought he heard a rib crack, the old instructor and friend than set Piyano down upon his feet once his bear hug was finished, arms returning to normal size.
“Come on Jlute, you have to do that every time?” Piyano asked stretching his spine with meditative motions, the Namek was used to this… Jlute was a little more hands on than the majority of Namekians. “HA ha ha, oh come now Piyano. I haven’t seen you in three years time. You needed a hug.” Jlute replied as he pulled out two chairs from a nearby table, glasses and a jug of water already set out for Piyano’s visit. Namekians measured time differently than Earthlings did, four months to a human was one year to the people of Namek. Having spent one Earth year away Jlute’s words rung true from the Namekian perspective. Taking a seat and a fine glass of cool water Piyano and Jlute discussed the reason for his visit. Jlute had been the person to telepathically contact Piyano and inform him of the disappearing immigrants to Namek, of course Piyano’s old teacher was aware of the disappearances as the owner of the farmlands most of those missing worked for him.
The pair talked for several hours, mostly about those missing but also about times passed and old training sessions. Before becoming a farmer Jlute had been a priest of the Guru’s Hand, more than just any priest the odd Namek had been the finest psychic the order had ever known. Always fascinated by the psychic arts Piyano had spent a great deal of time studying under the old master. By the time the two wrapped up their conversations it was getting to be late in the day. Jlute had revealed that the disappearances had all happened in close proximity to a rocky shore known as Karkinos Bay. Foreigners new to Namek would know nothing of the place, yet even the smallest Namek child knew to be wary of Karkinos Bay. A term that translated from Namekian meant ‘Tides of the Crab God’.
Deciding to spend the ‘night’ for rest and to work out a plan for searching Karkinos Bay, Piyano enjoyed an evening of mental sparring and classic tales with Jlute before setting out with the early morning. Piyano took to the air as he left Jlute’s orange home, mostly because Karkinos Bay was a dangerous place located seven miles from Tsuno City. Flying would be faster to arrive as well as help Piyano avoid the dangers that came with touching the ground in that area. Soaring overhead Piyano looked on with dread as the farther south he traveled, the more homes he saw springing up along the coast. The many races that had recently begun traveling to Namek and taking residents upon the planet were more than welcome to stay, but clearly the aliens to Namek had never bothered to learn the dangers of Namek’s seas. This was a problem Piyano knew he would have to find a solution to, before it cost even more lives. Pushing himself to fly faster Piyano would reach Karkinos Bay within the hour.
Reaching the geographically isolated black shore of Karkinos Bay the Namekian floated down into the wide bowl canyon, a natural formation of rocky spurs made travel into the bay impossible by foot. Allowing for approach only by flight or water, the nature bowl connected directly into the green waters on one side, had a centralized sandy beach of black soil, and then jutted into the rocky cliffs that overlooked the bowl. Huge in size the area could easily fit a village within the central sand banks alone, and at one time did. Weathered, broken homes stretch across the sands. The remains of an ancient Namekian settlement, no one alive today knew what had wiped out the populace of this old village. Whether it had been weather conditions, storms, Mazoku raids, or even giant monsters from the sea. All any Namekian knew was what had moved in with the towns passing. Even now Piyano could see them scuttling along roofs, walls, and sand below him as the Namekian wisely kept his flight several dozen feet above the tallest structure. Giant crabs clicked and clacked along the land ranging in all sizes from just a few feet in length upwards of ten feet in height.
The massive crustaceans were all currently moving into the sea as low tide pulled water away from the skeletal remains of the old town. The crabs only surfaced during high tide, or when they sensed food within the bay. Unwilling to risk confrontation with the creatures Piyano waited a full half hour for all the sea predators to leave before he risked setting down on the sands, putting the cliffs at his back and the town remains before him. The Namekian didn’t wish to venture near the sea unless he had no other option. Standing in the basion of death Piyano reached out with his senses, he searched for any sign of life that might still inhabit the bowl. If Piyano was unlucky and no one had survived then he would be forced to search for remains, something the green man was hoping to avoid. Reaching out with his mind Piyano was capable of sensing power across entire planets, so when his mind locked in on six energy readings in Karkinos Bay he allowed himself to feel hope at finding survivors. Two energy readings came from behind him along the cliff base, one was strong while the second was fading fast. Piyano decided he would start there first.
Turning in place the Namekian lept into the air and flew towards the fading energy, reaching the base of the cliffs Piyano found a truly horrifying sight. A young girl lay upon the broken stones and sands, breath labored as she struggled to suck in air, the wet suction of her lungs was audible to Piyano even from several feet away. Touching down the Namekian knelt beside the child, her green hair matted with soil and blood, her bright yellow eyes turned to look his way, but she more looked through the green man than anything else, barely registering his presence. Pincer marks laced the girl’s body and clothes, revealing bones and organs that had fallen free from the vast amount of lacerations she had suffered through. The crabs had done more than eviscerate this child, they had been eating her alive only to leave her moments from death as the tide called them home. Piyano’s heart fell like lead through water as he examined the young woman, her lower body was comprised of a single, muscled scale covered tail; similar to a sea serpent… or a Earth snake. The crabs had truly savored this portion of the child’s body however as little more than scales, skeleton, and scrapes remained of her lower portions.
Piyano wished to any gods that would listen that he could heal this youth, prayed that his magical abilities were great enough to save such a life. Yet the man knew that praying would not make it true. Knowing he lacked any ability to save this girl the green man did the only thing he could, he stayed by her side until the end. Piyano moved to hold her hand, only to learn that both of her hands had been severed free, so instead he placed his palm upon her forehead and closed her yellow eyes. The child’s breathing seemed to relax at his touch, and moments later still altogether. Piyano felt tears sting his eyes as the girl dead, but it did not stop him from pulling forth a capsule and placing the girl’s body inside with a puff of pink smoke, the Namekian would not leave what remained of her to be picked apart further. The gruesome business done Piyano breathed a deep sigh of regret and took to the sky, moving for the second, stronger power level he could feel along the cliff face several dozen yards away.
Reaching a rocky crag that broke forth from the cliff walls Piyano landed and surveyed the land. The Namekian saw nothing, but still sensed life within the area. Searching the scene Piyano discovered a small cave beneath the crag and stepped into the darkness. Filled with cool, wet air the Namekian could see nothing past the wall of shadows that filled the small tunnel, all he could hear was water from the last tide trickle down the sloped floor. “Anyone alive?” Piyano asked in a whisper to the darkness, his voice echoing along the cavern walls. A splash sounded below as something moved within a shallow body of water, the sound of Piyano’s voice causing a stir in the pitch cave. Suddenly a rush of several clicks sounded off the stone walls as a creature with many legs charged up the slope towards Piyano, its shape only becoming clear once it was nearly upon the man.
Firing a KI blast down the tunnel Piyano turned and fled out into the sunlight. An explosion sounded from within the tunnel as Piyano, a cloud of thick dust, and a seven foot tall crab came flying out of the cave to land in the sands. Hitting ground first Piyano recovered before the armored monster, watching as three of the crabs legs flailed through the air as it pushed itself upright with its pincers. Scuttling side to side the monster clicked its claws and foamed at the disgusting hole Piyano knew to be its mouth. Standing taller than Piyano and twice as wide the crab must weigh hundreds of pounds, Piyano knew he would not benefit from a physical confrontation with the monster. Thinking to leap into the air and simply fly away Piyano was caught off guard when a stream of frothy water erupted from the creature's mouth, the high pressure stream took Piyano full in the chest and hit with enough force to send him sprawling onto his back. The crab charged than, its six legs kicking sand all over as it rushed forth and tried to slam it’s heavy pincers down on top of Piyano. Rolling to the side, not a easy task in loose sand, the Namekian just managed to avoid the strikes and scramble away from the crab.
Turning after several feet Piyano fired another blast of KI at the creature, his pale yellow beam striking the crabs hard, armored shell and deflecting up into the sky. “Well… shit.” was all the Namekian could say as he had to leap left to avoid another jet of high pressure water that carved a deep furrow in the sand. Piyano’s mind rushed to think on how to fight this walking tank, his KI attacks would require some serious power to breach the crab’s shell, meaning he would have to charge his attacks. Such a tactic could work in the future, but the Namekian knew he didn’t have time for such a plan now, as he was already running in circles to avoid getting clobbered by the sea creature. Even worse the only opening Piyano had observed so far was the crab’s mouth, a place which came with its own attacks. An idea struck Piyano than, causing him to stop running and turn to face the large creature. Pale green energy flowed over Piyano than as he readied his plan, the crab quickly gaining ground on him, razor sharp pincers waiting to shredded Piyano into celery sticks. The pincers were almost upon him before the crab finally opened its mouth, and Piyano struck, his green energy zapping the crab psychically with a stunning blow. Coming to a halting pause the creature lost it’s power to move and Piyano sprung into action. Quick stepping passed the large pincers, Piyano slapped his palm over the creature’s mouth and released a full powered beam of KI through the monsters mandibles. Even the giant crabs of Namek were soft on the inside, and the creatures shell kept the energy from break free as it bounced around and exploded within the crab’s body. By the time Piyano’s psychic spark had released the crustacean from its impairment, smoke was billowing from its mouth and eyes as it collapsed dead upon the sands.
Huffing and puffing in air precious air Piyano took several seconds to recover himself from the fight before leaping into the air again and flying up over the deserted village. The Namekian had sensed six life signs originally and upon checking again he was down to four. Two were hiding within the remains of the village, one was to the east of the basin that was the bay and the largest one… the largest one came from the waters off shore. The massive source of power brought great dread to Piyano, as he only had a single belief as to what such a life force could belong too. Shaking his head to clear it of fear Piyano first flew out to the east, reaching the only place in the basin that actually grew a sparse field of blue grass. What was more impressive was the slaughtered remains that littered the field, eight bodies of snake women were strewn about, all with various life ending injuries. Yet so too were the remains of dozens of crabs, carved, blasted, and crushed to death in the grass, staining the blue leaves red to create a sicking purple. Still sensing at least one life within the area Piyano eventual found a ninth snake woman, easily older than the remains of the others. She lacked a arm and was soaked in blood, both her own and others, but she clutched a wicked looking axe in her remaining hand and seemed to sense Piyano’s approach.
The woman turned to face him and hissed at his descent onto the grass, but she was weary and offered no violence towards him. Instead she only spoke with a voice filled with anger and pain, “What brings you here Namek? Have you come to watch us all die for your sick pleasure?” she said with a grunt as she slithered towards him, a dangerous edge in her eyes. “Of course not, I am searching for missing villagers from Tsuno City. What are you doing here?” Piyano asked, staying cautious, but not wishing to battle this woman. The snake woman gave him a hard glare, but finally could only shrug and turn away from him. “My people are known as Slithris, we fled a war on our home of Levias and came here hoping to start a new life.” The older woman said, her shoulders slacking as she spoke. “Your missing villagers came here after my people landed on this planet and travelled south to avoid the main population. When we tried to settle in this basin seeking solitude your villagers came to warn us. We didn’t believe them… I didn’t believe them and so I killed them all.” The woman said with a sorrow entering her voice. “I cast them into the sea, not knowing their blood would bring the creatures they had tried to warn me about.” she said before casting her single arm around to point out all the death that surrounded them. “I lost everyone. Including my two daughters.” she finished, curling her lower body into a coil and ‘sitting’ upon herself.
Piyano was both amazed and disgusted with the story, this woman had killed the missing villagers and in so doing had doomed her people. The hard irony of the situation was not lost upon Piyano, but he felt himself at a loss. This woman was a vile criminal by her own admission and would be tried and killed should she leave, yet Piyano did not wish to leave her here to die either. “Why don’t you come with me, I sensed two more living creatures towards the town. We can all escape together.” Piyano asked, his question only causing the old woman to spit upon the ground. “I would rather die than touch your green flesh with my own, besides. I have failed my people, and must stay here until atonement claims me.” the woman said staring out toward the sea, it wasn’t hard for Piyano to put two and two together to determine the woman was searching for a honorable death. “Perhaps though, you can save my daughter's.” The snake woman said turning back towards him, tears rimming her yellow eyes. Chopping her ax into the sand the snake woman pulled a scale necklace from around her neck and offered it to Piyano, tossing it into his awaiting hands. “If you find them help them escape, they can not fly and the great one sunk our ship into the waters. My scales should prove enough to them that I trust you to help them escape. My youngest has green hair and yellow eyes. My oldest red eyes with pale pink hair. Do this for me, and my soul can at least rest upon my death.” the woman said softly, clearly not liking putting faith in Piyano, but knowing she had no other choice.
Looking at the necklace Piyano knew he had found one daughter already, he struggled with whether or not he should tell the woman. In the end, he decided she deserved at least one last kindness. “I will find them both, I promise you.” Piyano said as he floated into the air and turned away. Flying back towards the town he looked back only once, to see the woman ax in hand, slithering towards the shoreline as high tide was beginning to return. Reaching the remains of the dead town once more, Piyano looked to the sea to watch as the tides drifted high and higher up the coast, he would have minutes at the most he knew. With so little time left Piyano descended into the town, its shattered buildings reaching towards the sky like the rib cage of some long dead giant. Sensing the two life sources Piyano was surprised to feel that they had moved together, and the closer he moved towards them faint sounds of battle began to reach his ears. Kicking himself forward with a burst of speed Piyano came on the scene as he rounded the bend of a building to see full on battle.
A crab nearing fifteen feet in height smashed down a small house with one powerful strike of its pincers as a red and white snake tail slithered out under the creature’s legs. This Slithris had pale pink hair, as well as four extra blue arms holding aloft swords connected to her back. If Piyano had to guess it was some kind of spell, as the arms were vaguely see through. Swiftly escaping the attack and coming around behind the crab, the woman extended her two real arms, each holding a paper card. The tags fired off volleys of KI that struck the giant sea monster and bounded harmlessly aside as the big beast slowly turned itself around to try and catch its small opponent. Having learned himself that such weak attacks would do nothing to the thick armor Piyano activated his power enhanced state and leaped out from his cover. “Keep it distracted!” he yelled, and from the turn of the woman’s head in his direction Piyano knew she had heard him. This Slithris would likely be as untrusting as her mother, but in the heat of battle even an enemy could become a temporary friend. The Slithris continued to pepper the crab with small blasts as she snaked back and forth to dodge terrible blows, any one of which would have crushed her flat. During the girl’s display of agility Piyano charged his most deadly attack, arms spread and turning in motions to power up his energy to the maximum level. The charging took time but when Piyano was finally finished he shouted a quick warning before releasing his attack. “Clear the area! Destructive Wind! AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!” Piyano shouted as he brought both of his arms forth, a gale of hurricane level air blasted the crab in the side as the Slithris bolted into a abandoned building to avoid his technique. The electrified air swept up under the giant crabs legs and shocked it’s under shell with enough force to leave black scorch marks along it’s body. The sudden updraft was enough to flip the crab entirely, dropping its heavy face onto a building at its side. Legs and pincers shaking angrily through the air however, the monster was far from slain, only momentarily stuck upon its back.
Collapsing to one knee Piyano used every breathing technique he knew to try and recover himself after his powerful blast. So when a sword blade found his throat he was far too tired to offer any defense. “Speak green man, tell me who you are before I slice your head clean off your neck.” said a voice that was actually quite feminine. Piyano felt the woman’s scaled lower body trample over his foot as she held a fine sword tight against his throat. “I-I… am Piyano… I found your mother, she asked me to see you to safety.” Piyano replied though his eyes never left the great crab, he would have preferred to flee first and ask questions later. “My mother huh, let me guess. You saved her huh?” the woman asked her voice somehow cold, yet still resounding with sadness. “No, she would not allow me to touch her.” Piyano said and waited, until the sword pulled away from his neck. “Well that does sound like her.” The Slithris said as she slithered out from behind Piyano and shot him an angry look. Rubbing at his throat Piyano slowly stood before as he withdrew two items from his pocket. One the scaled necklace, the second a capsule, “Your mother asked me to fly you out of here, she said to give you this.” Piyano said handing over the necklace, which the woman took and examined, her arms fell slack, including her four magic ones as she squeezed the necklace tight.
Rubble broke free with a crash as the giant crab worked to free itself, causing both of the pair to look over in concern, but the great beast was still trapped for the moment, its claws only smashing away bits of stone. “I can not leave until I find my sister. Then I may permit you to touch me long enough to fly us out of here.” The woman said with a determined look upon her face, but Piyano’s unflinching eyes only offered her more sorrow. “I’m afraid I already found her… though you may not wish to see what remains.” Piyano said passing over the capsule to the pink haired woman, who could only look upon the small vial with grief. Tears filling the woman’s eyes she clicked the top and tossed the vial down, in a puff of smoke she was greeted to the grisly body of her dead sister. A great scream escaped the woman than as she collapsed upon her sister to sob. Kneeling again Piyano touched the woman’s shoulder, she was so distraught that she didn’t even pull away from his touch. “Come, she will receive all the burial rights of your people. I promise. This however is not the time to grieve.” Piyano said, forcing the woman to turn his way, she gave him a deadly look, but only for a moment before she nodded and brushed fat teardrops from her red eyes. The woman glowed than, and her snake half slowly transformed into into a pair of slim legs, her long skirt billowing down to her knees. The now, fully human looking, woman re-capsuled her sister’s body with a puff of pink smoke and tucked the capsule away into a pocket on her dress. Next the woman sheathed her four swords at her back before her magical arms faded away into nothing. “Please… take me from here. Anywhere but here.” the woman said, her voice cracking while she spoke.
Showing the woman his back Piyano waited until the girl looped her arms around his shoulders and slowly took to the air. Her weight wasn’t what Piyano would have expected with her snake half hidden away. She still felt heavy despite her small body in this form, the pair drifted into the air and away from the giant crab long before it had time to shake itself free. Gazing out from on high the pair watched as hundreds of crabs marched out of the sea, legs scuttling side to side as they overtook Karkinos Bay with their vast numbers, searching for any other bits of food to fill their gullets. Flying east out of the basin the woman yelled for Piyano to stop just before they reached the cliffs. Looking towards the shoreline a lone Slithris fought with ax in hand as crab after crab clicked and clacked towards her. From the safety of the sky the pair watched as the woman fought until overwhelmed, several crabs killed before they simply clubbed her down and began to feast. They continued to watch even after that, until the woman whispered for Piyano to take her away, he could feel the woman’s tears soaking his neck and back as he flew towards Tsuno City.
Hours later the pair landed outside Jlute’s orange home, the woman was untrusting at first to enter, but after Jlute came out to greet them, the Namekians finally managed to coax the woman inside. It didn’t take long for the Slithris to pass out on a couch in her exhaustion, which gave Piyano plenty of time to explain all that had happened to Jlute. The wise old Namekian gave the only advice he could think of, which really didn’t turn out to be advice at all. “Guess she’s your problem now.” the man had said, before both him and Piyano had settled in for sleep. Waking up the next morning Piyano ran outside the house upon seeing that the woman was missing, only to find her curled up at the edge of the vegetable fields in her snake form once more. Coming up beside the woman Piyano became her silent vigil as she stared off into space, he simply didn’t have the words to comfort her. They stood their for hours until the Slithris finally looked back at him, in her hands she clutched the capsule containing her sister.
“I have no place to go.” was all she said to him, eyes downcast. Piyano had no reference to sympathize with the woman, she had lost a great more yesterday than Piyano had lost throughout his entire life. All he knew was that he wouldn’t let her go through the coming hardships alone. “You can come with me. Live with me until something better comes along. All you need to tell me is your name.” Piyano said, ready to bring this woman all the way back to his home with nothing more than a single word. “Piper, my name is Piper.” she replied, slithering forward enough to clasp Piyano’s offered hand.
End.
Word Count: 5,278
PL: 92,861 (Medium Weighted Clothes: 46,431)
PL Please
To accommodate the influx of new races living on the southern islands of New Namek the fields outside of Tsuno City had been converted into farming fields, several Namekians and a mix match of other races were even now tending to the new crops, and picking a large variety of produce. Each race had brought their own seeds and grains for tilling, a few had brought animals to increase Namek’s population of wildlife. Most visitors to Namek were forced to eat green however, as the planet lacked any large population of land based creatures. The floods and climate changes that had decimated Old Namek over twelve hundred years ago had reduced Namek’s native species to Namekians and the creatures that lived under the placid green seas.
Walking through a field of tomato plants Piyano pondered what could have made members of the new immigrants to his planet disappear, the Namekian only had one true idea in mind. Man races upon many worlds fed off the bounty of the oceans just as much as they did the bounties of the land, and even though New Namek’s rich soil and three suns made for record breaking produce growth… some people just had to eat meat. On Earth Piyano had learned that humans in particular loved to capture and eat crabs, a small shellfish on their world. Namek too possessed a species of crab, however on Namek even a baby crab could weight over a hundred pounds and have pincers that spread three feet in length. The adults were even worse, elder crabs being fully capable of growing twenty feet tall and weighing thousands of pounds. Such creatures rarely left the ocean bed and were normally quite docile. They were territorial however and if the newcomers to Namek happened to be fishing the creatures babies from along the coast… such actions would be bad for everyone involved.
Passing through the vegetable fields Piyano made way to a very specific home located on the edge of Tsuno City, a large domed capsule home painted a vibrant orange in color. The house was easy to spot for miles due to its garish coloring, standing out like a fourth sun that hung low on the horizon of the planet. As much as Piyano was forced to cringe upon looking at the house however, the green man could not deny that one of his greatest friends lived within as well as owned the farming fields. Soon enough reaching the orange dome home Piyano approached the front door and rung the doorbell buzzer positioned beside it. Several silent moments passed before the door burst forth and green arms shot out from the shadows. The stretchy Namekian limbs moved to fast for Piyano to evade and quickly wrapped around his person, pulling him into the shadowy portal.
The gloomy transition took place due to the fact that Namekian’s rarely used electrical lighting inside their homes. On a planet with three suns and a night cycle that only came once a year for less than sixteen hours the green species hadn’t seen much point in developing illumination based technology. At the mercy of the arms that entrapped him, Piyano was dragged through the doorway into the waiting embrace of a Namekian man. Jlute was a strange Namek, he was of great age, and sported a thick white mustache that only a very select few tribes of Namekian were capable of growing. Strong as ever though the older Namek squeezed Piyano until he thought he heard a rib crack, the old instructor and friend than set Piyano down upon his feet once his bear hug was finished, arms returning to normal size.
“Come on Jlute, you have to do that every time?” Piyano asked stretching his spine with meditative motions, the Namek was used to this… Jlute was a little more hands on than the majority of Namekians. “HA ha ha, oh come now Piyano. I haven’t seen you in three years time. You needed a hug.” Jlute replied as he pulled out two chairs from a nearby table, glasses and a jug of water already set out for Piyano’s visit. Namekians measured time differently than Earthlings did, four months to a human was one year to the people of Namek. Having spent one Earth year away Jlute’s words rung true from the Namekian perspective. Taking a seat and a fine glass of cool water Piyano and Jlute discussed the reason for his visit. Jlute had been the person to telepathically contact Piyano and inform him of the disappearing immigrants to Namek, of course Piyano’s old teacher was aware of the disappearances as the owner of the farmlands most of those missing worked for him.
The pair talked for several hours, mostly about those missing but also about times passed and old training sessions. Before becoming a farmer Jlute had been a priest of the Guru’s Hand, more than just any priest the odd Namek had been the finest psychic the order had ever known. Always fascinated by the psychic arts Piyano had spent a great deal of time studying under the old master. By the time the two wrapped up their conversations it was getting to be late in the day. Jlute had revealed that the disappearances had all happened in close proximity to a rocky shore known as Karkinos Bay. Foreigners new to Namek would know nothing of the place, yet even the smallest Namek child knew to be wary of Karkinos Bay. A term that translated from Namekian meant ‘Tides of the Crab God’.
Deciding to spend the ‘night’ for rest and to work out a plan for searching Karkinos Bay, Piyano enjoyed an evening of mental sparring and classic tales with Jlute before setting out with the early morning. Piyano took to the air as he left Jlute’s orange home, mostly because Karkinos Bay was a dangerous place located seven miles from Tsuno City. Flying would be faster to arrive as well as help Piyano avoid the dangers that came with touching the ground in that area. Soaring overhead Piyano looked on with dread as the farther south he traveled, the more homes he saw springing up along the coast. The many races that had recently begun traveling to Namek and taking residents upon the planet were more than welcome to stay, but clearly the aliens to Namek had never bothered to learn the dangers of Namek’s seas. This was a problem Piyano knew he would have to find a solution to, before it cost even more lives. Pushing himself to fly faster Piyano would reach Karkinos Bay within the hour.
Reaching the geographically isolated black shore of Karkinos Bay the Namekian floated down into the wide bowl canyon, a natural formation of rocky spurs made travel into the bay impossible by foot. Allowing for approach only by flight or water, the nature bowl connected directly into the green waters on one side, had a centralized sandy beach of black soil, and then jutted into the rocky cliffs that overlooked the bowl. Huge in size the area could easily fit a village within the central sand banks alone, and at one time did. Weathered, broken homes stretch across the sands. The remains of an ancient Namekian settlement, no one alive today knew what had wiped out the populace of this old village. Whether it had been weather conditions, storms, Mazoku raids, or even giant monsters from the sea. All any Namekian knew was what had moved in with the towns passing. Even now Piyano could see them scuttling along roofs, walls, and sand below him as the Namekian wisely kept his flight several dozen feet above the tallest structure. Giant crabs clicked and clacked along the land ranging in all sizes from just a few feet in length upwards of ten feet in height.
The massive crustaceans were all currently moving into the sea as low tide pulled water away from the skeletal remains of the old town. The crabs only surfaced during high tide, or when they sensed food within the bay. Unwilling to risk confrontation with the creatures Piyano waited a full half hour for all the sea predators to leave before he risked setting down on the sands, putting the cliffs at his back and the town remains before him. The Namekian didn’t wish to venture near the sea unless he had no other option. Standing in the basion of death Piyano reached out with his senses, he searched for any sign of life that might still inhabit the bowl. If Piyano was unlucky and no one had survived then he would be forced to search for remains, something the green man was hoping to avoid. Reaching out with his mind Piyano was capable of sensing power across entire planets, so when his mind locked in on six energy readings in Karkinos Bay he allowed himself to feel hope at finding survivors. Two energy readings came from behind him along the cliff base, one was strong while the second was fading fast. Piyano decided he would start there first.
Turning in place the Namekian lept into the air and flew towards the fading energy, reaching the base of the cliffs Piyano found a truly horrifying sight. A young girl lay upon the broken stones and sands, breath labored as she struggled to suck in air, the wet suction of her lungs was audible to Piyano even from several feet away. Touching down the Namekian knelt beside the child, her green hair matted with soil and blood, her bright yellow eyes turned to look his way, but she more looked through the green man than anything else, barely registering his presence. Pincer marks laced the girl’s body and clothes, revealing bones and organs that had fallen free from the vast amount of lacerations she had suffered through. The crabs had done more than eviscerate this child, they had been eating her alive only to leave her moments from death as the tide called them home. Piyano’s heart fell like lead through water as he examined the young woman, her lower body was comprised of a single, muscled scale covered tail; similar to a sea serpent… or a Earth snake. The crabs had truly savored this portion of the child’s body however as little more than scales, skeleton, and scrapes remained of her lower portions.
Piyano wished to any gods that would listen that he could heal this youth, prayed that his magical abilities were great enough to save such a life. Yet the man knew that praying would not make it true. Knowing he lacked any ability to save this girl the green man did the only thing he could, he stayed by her side until the end. Piyano moved to hold her hand, only to learn that both of her hands had been severed free, so instead he placed his palm upon her forehead and closed her yellow eyes. The child’s breathing seemed to relax at his touch, and moments later still altogether. Piyano felt tears sting his eyes as the girl dead, but it did not stop him from pulling forth a capsule and placing the girl’s body inside with a puff of pink smoke, the Namekian would not leave what remained of her to be picked apart further. The gruesome business done Piyano breathed a deep sigh of regret and took to the sky, moving for the second, stronger power level he could feel along the cliff face several dozen yards away.
Reaching a rocky crag that broke forth from the cliff walls Piyano landed and surveyed the land. The Namekian saw nothing, but still sensed life within the area. Searching the scene Piyano discovered a small cave beneath the crag and stepped into the darkness. Filled with cool, wet air the Namekian could see nothing past the wall of shadows that filled the small tunnel, all he could hear was water from the last tide trickle down the sloped floor. “Anyone alive?” Piyano asked in a whisper to the darkness, his voice echoing along the cavern walls. A splash sounded below as something moved within a shallow body of water, the sound of Piyano’s voice causing a stir in the pitch cave. Suddenly a rush of several clicks sounded off the stone walls as a creature with many legs charged up the slope towards Piyano, its shape only becoming clear once it was nearly upon the man.
Firing a KI blast down the tunnel Piyano turned and fled out into the sunlight. An explosion sounded from within the tunnel as Piyano, a cloud of thick dust, and a seven foot tall crab came flying out of the cave to land in the sands. Hitting ground first Piyano recovered before the armored monster, watching as three of the crabs legs flailed through the air as it pushed itself upright with its pincers. Scuttling side to side the monster clicked its claws and foamed at the disgusting hole Piyano knew to be its mouth. Standing taller than Piyano and twice as wide the crab must weigh hundreds of pounds, Piyano knew he would not benefit from a physical confrontation with the monster. Thinking to leap into the air and simply fly away Piyano was caught off guard when a stream of frothy water erupted from the creature's mouth, the high pressure stream took Piyano full in the chest and hit with enough force to send him sprawling onto his back. The crab charged than, its six legs kicking sand all over as it rushed forth and tried to slam it’s heavy pincers down on top of Piyano. Rolling to the side, not a easy task in loose sand, the Namekian just managed to avoid the strikes and scramble away from the crab.
Turning after several feet Piyano fired another blast of KI at the creature, his pale yellow beam striking the crabs hard, armored shell and deflecting up into the sky. “Well… shit.” was all the Namekian could say as he had to leap left to avoid another jet of high pressure water that carved a deep furrow in the sand. Piyano’s mind rushed to think on how to fight this walking tank, his KI attacks would require some serious power to breach the crab’s shell, meaning he would have to charge his attacks. Such a tactic could work in the future, but the Namekian knew he didn’t have time for such a plan now, as he was already running in circles to avoid getting clobbered by the sea creature. Even worse the only opening Piyano had observed so far was the crab’s mouth, a place which came with its own attacks. An idea struck Piyano than, causing him to stop running and turn to face the large creature. Pale green energy flowed over Piyano than as he readied his plan, the crab quickly gaining ground on him, razor sharp pincers waiting to shredded Piyano into celery sticks. The pincers were almost upon him before the crab finally opened its mouth, and Piyano struck, his green energy zapping the crab psychically with a stunning blow. Coming to a halting pause the creature lost it’s power to move and Piyano sprung into action. Quick stepping passed the large pincers, Piyano slapped his palm over the creature’s mouth and released a full powered beam of KI through the monsters mandibles. Even the giant crabs of Namek were soft on the inside, and the creatures shell kept the energy from break free as it bounced around and exploded within the crab’s body. By the time Piyano’s psychic spark had released the crustacean from its impairment, smoke was billowing from its mouth and eyes as it collapsed dead upon the sands.
Huffing and puffing in air precious air Piyano took several seconds to recover himself from the fight before leaping into the air again and flying up over the deserted village. The Namekian had sensed six life signs originally and upon checking again he was down to four. Two were hiding within the remains of the village, one was to the east of the basin that was the bay and the largest one… the largest one came from the waters off shore. The massive source of power brought great dread to Piyano, as he only had a single belief as to what such a life force could belong too. Shaking his head to clear it of fear Piyano first flew out to the east, reaching the only place in the basin that actually grew a sparse field of blue grass. What was more impressive was the slaughtered remains that littered the field, eight bodies of snake women were strewn about, all with various life ending injuries. Yet so too were the remains of dozens of crabs, carved, blasted, and crushed to death in the grass, staining the blue leaves red to create a sicking purple. Still sensing at least one life within the area Piyano eventual found a ninth snake woman, easily older than the remains of the others. She lacked a arm and was soaked in blood, both her own and others, but she clutched a wicked looking axe in her remaining hand and seemed to sense Piyano’s approach.
The woman turned to face him and hissed at his descent onto the grass, but she was weary and offered no violence towards him. Instead she only spoke with a voice filled with anger and pain, “What brings you here Namek? Have you come to watch us all die for your sick pleasure?” she said with a grunt as she slithered towards him, a dangerous edge in her eyes. “Of course not, I am searching for missing villagers from Tsuno City. What are you doing here?” Piyano asked, staying cautious, but not wishing to battle this woman. The snake woman gave him a hard glare, but finally could only shrug and turn away from him. “My people are known as Slithris, we fled a war on our home of Levias and came here hoping to start a new life.” The older woman said, her shoulders slacking as she spoke. “Your missing villagers came here after my people landed on this planet and travelled south to avoid the main population. When we tried to settle in this basin seeking solitude your villagers came to warn us. We didn’t believe them… I didn’t believe them and so I killed them all.” The woman said with a sorrow entering her voice. “I cast them into the sea, not knowing their blood would bring the creatures they had tried to warn me about.” she said before casting her single arm around to point out all the death that surrounded them. “I lost everyone. Including my two daughters.” she finished, curling her lower body into a coil and ‘sitting’ upon herself.
Piyano was both amazed and disgusted with the story, this woman had killed the missing villagers and in so doing had doomed her people. The hard irony of the situation was not lost upon Piyano, but he felt himself at a loss. This woman was a vile criminal by her own admission and would be tried and killed should she leave, yet Piyano did not wish to leave her here to die either. “Why don’t you come with me, I sensed two more living creatures towards the town. We can all escape together.” Piyano asked, his question only causing the old woman to spit upon the ground. “I would rather die than touch your green flesh with my own, besides. I have failed my people, and must stay here until atonement claims me.” the woman said staring out toward the sea, it wasn’t hard for Piyano to put two and two together to determine the woman was searching for a honorable death. “Perhaps though, you can save my daughter's.” The snake woman said turning back towards him, tears rimming her yellow eyes. Chopping her ax into the sand the snake woman pulled a scale necklace from around her neck and offered it to Piyano, tossing it into his awaiting hands. “If you find them help them escape, they can not fly and the great one sunk our ship into the waters. My scales should prove enough to them that I trust you to help them escape. My youngest has green hair and yellow eyes. My oldest red eyes with pale pink hair. Do this for me, and my soul can at least rest upon my death.” the woman said softly, clearly not liking putting faith in Piyano, but knowing she had no other choice.
Looking at the necklace Piyano knew he had found one daughter already, he struggled with whether or not he should tell the woman. In the end, he decided she deserved at least one last kindness. “I will find them both, I promise you.” Piyano said as he floated into the air and turned away. Flying back towards the town he looked back only once, to see the woman ax in hand, slithering towards the shoreline as high tide was beginning to return. Reaching the remains of the dead town once more, Piyano looked to the sea to watch as the tides drifted high and higher up the coast, he would have minutes at the most he knew. With so little time left Piyano descended into the town, its shattered buildings reaching towards the sky like the rib cage of some long dead giant. Sensing the two life sources Piyano was surprised to feel that they had moved together, and the closer he moved towards them faint sounds of battle began to reach his ears. Kicking himself forward with a burst of speed Piyano came on the scene as he rounded the bend of a building to see full on battle.
A crab nearing fifteen feet in height smashed down a small house with one powerful strike of its pincers as a red and white snake tail slithered out under the creature’s legs. This Slithris had pale pink hair, as well as four extra blue arms holding aloft swords connected to her back. If Piyano had to guess it was some kind of spell, as the arms were vaguely see through. Swiftly escaping the attack and coming around behind the crab, the woman extended her two real arms, each holding a paper card. The tags fired off volleys of KI that struck the giant sea monster and bounded harmlessly aside as the big beast slowly turned itself around to try and catch its small opponent. Having learned himself that such weak attacks would do nothing to the thick armor Piyano activated his power enhanced state and leaped out from his cover. “Keep it distracted!” he yelled, and from the turn of the woman’s head in his direction Piyano knew she had heard him. This Slithris would likely be as untrusting as her mother, but in the heat of battle even an enemy could become a temporary friend. The Slithris continued to pepper the crab with small blasts as she snaked back and forth to dodge terrible blows, any one of which would have crushed her flat. During the girl’s display of agility Piyano charged his most deadly attack, arms spread and turning in motions to power up his energy to the maximum level. The charging took time but when Piyano was finally finished he shouted a quick warning before releasing his attack. “Clear the area! Destructive Wind! AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!” Piyano shouted as he brought both of his arms forth, a gale of hurricane level air blasted the crab in the side as the Slithris bolted into a abandoned building to avoid his technique. The electrified air swept up under the giant crabs legs and shocked it’s under shell with enough force to leave black scorch marks along it’s body. The sudden updraft was enough to flip the crab entirely, dropping its heavy face onto a building at its side. Legs and pincers shaking angrily through the air however, the monster was far from slain, only momentarily stuck upon its back.
Collapsing to one knee Piyano used every breathing technique he knew to try and recover himself after his powerful blast. So when a sword blade found his throat he was far too tired to offer any defense. “Speak green man, tell me who you are before I slice your head clean off your neck.” said a voice that was actually quite feminine. Piyano felt the woman’s scaled lower body trample over his foot as she held a fine sword tight against his throat. “I-I… am Piyano… I found your mother, she asked me to see you to safety.” Piyano replied though his eyes never left the great crab, he would have preferred to flee first and ask questions later. “My mother huh, let me guess. You saved her huh?” the woman asked her voice somehow cold, yet still resounding with sadness. “No, she would not allow me to touch her.” Piyano said and waited, until the sword pulled away from his neck. “Well that does sound like her.” The Slithris said as she slithered out from behind Piyano and shot him an angry look. Rubbing at his throat Piyano slowly stood before as he withdrew two items from his pocket. One the scaled necklace, the second a capsule, “Your mother asked me to fly you out of here, she said to give you this.” Piyano said handing over the necklace, which the woman took and examined, her arms fell slack, including her four magic ones as she squeezed the necklace tight.
Rubble broke free with a crash as the giant crab worked to free itself, causing both of the pair to look over in concern, but the great beast was still trapped for the moment, its claws only smashing away bits of stone. “I can not leave until I find my sister. Then I may permit you to touch me long enough to fly us out of here.” The woman said with a determined look upon her face, but Piyano’s unflinching eyes only offered her more sorrow. “I’m afraid I already found her… though you may not wish to see what remains.” Piyano said passing over the capsule to the pink haired woman, who could only look upon the small vial with grief. Tears filling the woman’s eyes she clicked the top and tossed the vial down, in a puff of smoke she was greeted to the grisly body of her dead sister. A great scream escaped the woman than as she collapsed upon her sister to sob. Kneeling again Piyano touched the woman’s shoulder, she was so distraught that she didn’t even pull away from his touch. “Come, she will receive all the burial rights of your people. I promise. This however is not the time to grieve.” Piyano said, forcing the woman to turn his way, she gave him a deadly look, but only for a moment before she nodded and brushed fat teardrops from her red eyes. The woman glowed than, and her snake half slowly transformed into into a pair of slim legs, her long skirt billowing down to her knees. The now, fully human looking, woman re-capsuled her sister’s body with a puff of pink smoke and tucked the capsule away into a pocket on her dress. Next the woman sheathed her four swords at her back before her magical arms faded away into nothing. “Please… take me from here. Anywhere but here.” the woman said, her voice cracking while she spoke.
Showing the woman his back Piyano waited until the girl looped her arms around his shoulders and slowly took to the air. Her weight wasn’t what Piyano would have expected with her snake half hidden away. She still felt heavy despite her small body in this form, the pair drifted into the air and away from the giant crab long before it had time to shake itself free. Gazing out from on high the pair watched as hundreds of crabs marched out of the sea, legs scuttling side to side as they overtook Karkinos Bay with their vast numbers, searching for any other bits of food to fill their gullets. Flying east out of the basin the woman yelled for Piyano to stop just before they reached the cliffs. Looking towards the shoreline a lone Slithris fought with ax in hand as crab after crab clicked and clacked towards her. From the safety of the sky the pair watched as the woman fought until overwhelmed, several crabs killed before they simply clubbed her down and began to feast. They continued to watch even after that, until the woman whispered for Piyano to take her away, he could feel the woman’s tears soaking his neck and back as he flew towards Tsuno City.
Hours later the pair landed outside Jlute’s orange home, the woman was untrusting at first to enter, but after Jlute came out to greet them, the Namekians finally managed to coax the woman inside. It didn’t take long for the Slithris to pass out on a couch in her exhaustion, which gave Piyano plenty of time to explain all that had happened to Jlute. The wise old Namekian gave the only advice he could think of, which really didn’t turn out to be advice at all. “Guess she’s your problem now.” the man had said, before both him and Piyano had settled in for sleep. Waking up the next morning Piyano ran outside the house upon seeing that the woman was missing, only to find her curled up at the edge of the vegetable fields in her snake form once more. Coming up beside the woman Piyano became her silent vigil as she stared off into space, he simply didn’t have the words to comfort her. They stood their for hours until the Slithris finally looked back at him, in her hands she clutched the capsule containing her sister.
“I have no place to go.” was all she said to him, eyes downcast. Piyano had no reference to sympathize with the woman, she had lost a great more yesterday than Piyano had lost throughout his entire life. All he knew was that he wouldn’t let her go through the coming hardships alone. “You can come with me. Live with me until something better comes along. All you need to tell me is your name.” Piyano said, ready to bring this woman all the way back to his home with nothing more than a single word. “Piper, my name is Piper.” she replied, slithering forward enough to clasp Piyano’s offered hand.
End.
Word Count: 5,278
PL: 92,861 (Medium Weighted Clothes: 46,431)
PL Please