------------------------------------------- G.U.A.R.D.I.A.N A Thrash's chronicle by ROMeo Thrash is a Role Playing Game (RPG) about videogame fighting games and anime martial arts created by Blackbird (AKA Ewen Cluney). G.U.A.R.D.I.A.N is the settig of my current Thrash's campaing and, in fact, this writing is the product of my current game which is being translated here in 90% original form. ------------------------------------------- Chapter 6: Close encounters of the weird type The Centinel's transport was already leaving earth's atmosphere. Solomon is a space fortress in Mars' first moon, Phobos; the Centinels found Solomon during one of their missions, probably the last remain of an alien culture; the reasons why the famous hero team decided to settle on it as their base of operations remain unkown. As the transport left earth's gravity pull and Soka's stomach returned to place, Scarlett started inquiring her the way a big- sister would... "So, tell me Soka ¿How much time have you been training with the grandma?" "Since a little child" "...and ¿How much have you learned from her? ¿Are you an elemental master already?" "..er...just let me ask you something ¿Are you related to the grandma?" "Why? No, I'm not related to her" "Only those of the family have the talent" "Well, no. To be honest, I wasn't able to learn much of the grandma's mystic teachings, but I was beneffited with the greatests of her powers: her wisdom an experience, and that's the most valuable gift she could have ever given me". Saying that, the warrior hughed Soka with her left arm. "However, let me tell you something dear Soka, the gift of magic is not something that is just inherited, but something that is learned through discipline and effort. There are many people that come from families of renowed mystics but die without being capable of the simplest trick. With the adequate tuition and guidance, almost anyone is capable of tapping the force of magic. With time, you will discover that on your own". "Calm down Scarlett, you're only confusing her more" Bullseye interrupted from his seat "Come here Soka, take a look". Bullseye slided open his window slit, giving Soka a glimpse of outer space. After a moment of staring into open space, Soka was now really confused. "YAAAAI!!!" she exclamed "¿¡Where are we!? ¿¡Where are we going!? ¿¡Where's a SODA DISPEEEENSEEEEER!?". "Ehm, Sorry" Bullseye excused himself "I Guess you'd have realized by now... we're heading to Solomon, our base in Mars, where our mutual friends are waiting for us... oh, here's your soda". Bullseye got a soda from a small compartment below his seat. On the sight of the soda, Soka relaxed almost inmediately. For some reason, at some point in her life, she developed a special love (if not fixation) for soft drinks. "Ex-cuse-me mr. tourists' guide" Mercury remarked. "We ARE about to land so you better return to your seats before we have an accident like the one we had last month ¿Okay?" The transport landed on one of Solomon's hangars. Upon getting down, the group started heading through the base's corridors. "Over here Soka" Scarlett said. "Our guests are waiting for us in the other hangar". "¿Other hangar?" was Soka's question, which was answered by Bullseye: "Yep, the big one". Soka was still a little skeptic regarding Scarlett. Two times along the travel she said she wasn't of her family, and still, she just seemed to know too much. Furthermore, besides Soka herself, the grandma doesn't take other students... in fact, many powerful sorcerers from all over the world have come seeing her in search of tuition, and without exception, everyone has recieved the same answer: "You are already in possession of the gift and the knowledge, in order to unlock its secrets, first you must unlock the secrets within yourself"... regardless of what Valguss said, she must have the mark somewhere... "Soka..¿Is something wrong?" asked Scarlett when she noted her friend was inspecting her through and through. Soka, sure that Scarlett had the family's mark somewhere, was stubborn in finding it: every inch of her hace, her arms, hands, stomach, everywhere, and as the mark was nowhere to be found, she tried a last ditch resource... lifting her top. After a brief nosebleed from Bullseye (who had to excuse himself to go wash himself and his shirt), an angry Scarlett took Soka by the shoulders and whispered so only she could hear: "NEVER do that again ¿Understand?. Bullseye has a camera in his eye!" As group resumed their walk, on the corner of one corridor, a frowning figure was leaning on the wall. Black and dark green spandex outfit showing a strong and muscular body. His dark green cape denoted the stereotypical "superhero", as did his dark green mask that covered the upper half of his face. Looking upset, the figure waited for the escorting group to pass to mumble a line to Scarlett... "Another more?" The brown-haired stranger kept his frown as the reply from Scarlett arrived. "Listen, we have already discussed this topic many times Justice. I'm not in mood of starting another discussion". Scarlett pointed the rest of the group to resume their course, surprisingly, this time even Mercury followed, refraining from saying one of his smart-@ss lines. Upon arriving to the second hangar, Soka realized why Bullseye refered to it as the "big one". The hangar the group was now in was really huge, capable of housing several dozens of aircraft. However, the most impressive visage inside was the massive spaceship in front of her. It's engines looked like the ship had just landed, and a door near of what could be the cockpit was now opening. A bright yellowish light coming from the inside, and the door also started to slide a ramp to the floor. A voice came from inside the ship: "HA! ¿What did I tell you guys? My very FIRST landing and I DIDN'T CRASH!... guess I won the bet ¿huh?". A young man stepped out triumphantly to the door's frame. 23 years at most. His blond hair was a bit long and styled upwards. Athletic appearance, his body was clad in full body blue and black spandex. "HEEEELLO CENTINELS!!!" was his greet, complete with a couple of men in brown, military like suits, that started rolling downwards the ramp almost unconscious, their faces the live incarnation of dizzyness. "Where-are-we-GOING?" asked Soka. "Relax" answered Scarlett, "You're going to start a journey I did many years ago, don't be afraid". The blond man now addressed the two girls: "Hi Scarlett!! So ¿Where's that prodigious child everyone's talking about?". "She's right here" answered Scarlett. "Ooh... well ok, not to be rude but we're on a tight schedule. ¿Shall we go?" As Soka stepped foward, she noted Scarlett no longer walked by her side. "¿Scarlett?" "I'm staying here, this is your training journey, not mine" With that, Scarlett smiled kindly to her friend. "Make the grandma feel proud!". The noise from the engines was increasing as a sign of near departure. Soka hughed her friend goodbye, and turning to the ship's entrance, she walk through the ramp. ------------------------------------------- feedback and flames to azalin1@lycos.com Visit G.U.A.R.D.I.A.N's HQ at: http://g-u-a-r-d-i-a-n.net AND the Thrash's Official homepage can be found at: http://www.blackbird.nu/thrash/ CYA!