Author Topic: Awaken into the Dream  (Read 2677 times)

Kyuuen

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Awaken into the Dream
« on: June 26, 2013, 03:21:08 AM »
-Years Ago-

"I know you hate pictures, Allison, but you need to stop being shy. The world won't stop for you if you just curl into a corner."

Alexei looked at Allison squarely in the eyes, trying to search for recognition from the girl that he called his daughter. For several months after they had moved, she had drawn back into herself, and became soft spoken to a fault.

"You're growing up now. The sooner you learn this, the better."

He let go of her shoulders and perched back on the velvet draped seat that was a part of the photo shoot. Allison, all of sixteen years old, did her best to put on a brave face, but her hazel eyes looked haunted. Her childhood was coming to an end and horrible things were over the horizon, according to her father at the very least.

She was already thinking about what she would do once she was back within the refuge of her room, the only sanctuary she had in this horribly changing world.

"Ooh, is mopeyhead ready yet? I'm all dolled up and good to go!", a voice rang out - and from behind the backdrop came a tall woman wearing  fancy lavender rimmed glasses, wearing a sparkling dress of the same color, and white elbow-length gloves.

Maria did a pirouette in front of her daughter and husband, then kneeling down to pick up a parasol that had been laying on the ground. She plopped down into Alexei's lap, almost spilling over onto Allison and startling her.

"Ugh. No. No! I told you to leave all of that at home.", Alexei was trying to push Maria off after he kept her from dumping everyone over their seats. Neither of them seemed aware that Allison was slowly scooting away from them both and taking out a flip up Gameboy to play. In the meantime the parents started to fight and squirm over who should sit where.

"Not on my lap, Mari! This isn't that kind of shoot!"

"Mm, you won't even let me keep the cute umbrella. Can't I just savor the moment?"

"Just for once I wanted a normal family picture, please!"

"We've got to be ourselves, muffin! I was just hoping you'd loosen up just once."

Maria slid off Alexei's lap, finally - but suddenly grabbed both him and Allison around the shoulders, and pulled them tightly against her. Allison found her chin pushed up by the soft, but firm fingers of a white glove to face towards the camera.

"Savor the moment, cupcake. It might not happen again.", Maria smiled - and faced forward right before the picture was taken.
« Last Edit: August 17, 2013, 01:06:14 AM by Kyuuen »

Kyuuen

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Awaken into the Dream
« Reply #1 on: July 04, 2013, 02:07:04 AM »
-Several Weeks Afterward-

"..a Nemesis plot to spoil the planned New Years celebration in Blyde Square was foiled today by a group of young aspiring heroes.", said the grainy image of a female reporter that was tucked away in the corner of a screen. Fanart of the newest, and final Airship Princess game was everywhere on the three monitors that made up Allison's desk.

"A brazen plan to replace most, if not all of the celebrants with robotic dopplegangers called "Automatons" would have come to pass had it not been for a mysterious girl who calls herself by the name of Overrider. Know everything in our exclusive at 11!"

In the center monitor, a cursor was slowly drawing and erasing a head upon an online whiteboard, over and over again. Allison's finger twitched over the mouse once she failed to draw a perfect circle for about the twentieth time. A huge "X" was slashed over the imperfect circle, and she lain back in her chair, looking at the ceiling, which was adorned with an old promotional poster of "Airship Princess - The Legend Begins", creased into folds.

"The Sky Is Yours - January 1998!"

The smiling, large eyed image of Emika*, who would become the Airship Princess in the sequel, could be seen from a low perspective, reaching down towards the witness.

A beautiful blue sky, surrounded by a ring of white clouds overlooked the smiling protagonist from above.

Allison remembered when that poster was new, before the move, and before the demands of a harsh life that her father promised would be only as good as you work for.

She was not looking forward to the end of Winter Break.

There was a project due on the first day back, but it was something that would just have to wait until that fanart submission was finished. It was her last chance to get her creative brainchild published - even if it was on the back pages of a fringe manga that was ending.

About an hour an a half later into the evening, she heard her fathers near monotone voice just outside her door, "She's never going to come out, I need to get back to work."

Allison quickly closed the several windows she was working on, leaving only the low resolution broadcast playing over the gentle hum of her computer.

That was when there was a gentle tapping on the door before Maria came in. She wasn't quite as dressed up as she was during the photoshoot, with hip hugging jeans, and a lavender t-shirt that had a black heart over her chest. Behind her, Alexei was putting out his cigarette.

"Hello cupcake. Good to see you again.", she smiled, stepping aside to allow Alexei into the dim room next to her. He waited until Allison had turned her chair around to look at him. Her father looked as grim faced as ever, but there was a foreboding calm to his actions. The last time there was a 'room meeting' like this, was when Allison got her only 'C' in school.

Maybe they found out she was slacking off on her project, or..

Alexei and Maria sat down on Allison's bed - and both of them developed expressions rarely seen on them. Alexei looked nearly apologetic, and Maria still had that faint smile playing on her lips, but the look in her eyes seemed dangerously close to sorrow.

"Your mother and I, have decided to let you know that.."

Kyuuen

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Re: Awaken into the Dream
« Reply #2 on: July 18, 2013, 08:57:09 PM »

Awaken Into the Dream - Chapter 0.1



(Art by funakounasoul.tumblr.com)
« Last Edit: August 30, 2013, 05:31:35 AM by Kyuuen »

Kyuuen

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Re: Awaken into the Dream
« Reply #3 on: July 29, 2013, 04:49:01 AM »
- April 21st, 2004 -

(Two separate cards and a slice of toast on the dinner table. At 5:45 AM.)

Happy Birthday, Cupcake!

Happy Birthday, Allison.

It didn't feel as depressing as it should have been, it had been a few months now since they told her of the planned 'mutual separation'. That feeling of crushing shock had taken a while to soften over the past months, but she had plenty to do and so much to focus on; living in Paragon City was like living in the fastest of lanes, and the level of competition was insane.

Within five minutes, she was running towards the blue glow that dominated the horizon in the distance. The downhill slope of the street carried her momentum down a suburban block that had seen better days. Rebuilding projects were forever left halfway finished, most of the neighbors had moved to 'safer' areas.

The buses and city shuttles were a thing of the past, evidenced by one of the abandoned stops that still had a pre-war advertisement behind it's severely cracked display. It was the Statesman, forever pointing towards the reader.

"Statesman Sez: See Something? Say Something! Report suspicious activity!"

Looking down below, most of the surrounding neighborhood of Sherrod Hills was a model of desolation until a couple of blocks before the great War Wall - a massive barricade that produced an incredible blue glow around what was Paragon Heights.

Everyone wanted to live inside 'Galaxy City', one of the new centers of Paragon City that had survived the Rikti War and other attacks mostly intact. There was simply not enough room for everyone, however - and there were huge, thriving areas of civilization that persisted outside the walls, damaged skyscrapers almost cramming up against the barriers.

Today, just like every other day - she would catch a small silver car on it's way to a controlled-access tunnel that came into Galaxy City, often coming within a minute or less of missing it. It was almost to the intersection, and she knew it wouldn't stop very long for her.

"Almost there! Wait.. w-wait up!", she stumbled on a risen slab of sidewalk and caught the fall on her palms and bare knees. She felt a damp trickle run down her leg as she rolled over - sat up, and looked over her injury.

"Marasel, you're holding us up! Get in and don't bleed over the suede!", the rear door of the compact opened up to reveal a girl who was Allison's age, wearing the same green skirt, and uniform that she did. The only thing 'off' was that she had perfectly silver hair and golden eyes. She also wore large metallic hoops around her sleeves and neck.

"Just a sec, Presh. I..", and she felt her nerves freeze the moment she heard the overwhelming, sudden hum of several black spacecraft that suddenly appeared around Galaxy City. The great barrier ahead of them immediately powered down, as did the other 'Protected Zones' in the distance, and the ships slowly began their advance - firing powerful beams into the streets and buildings.
« Last Edit: July 29, 2013, 04:57:39 AM by Kyuuen »

Kyuuen

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Re: Awaken into the Dream
« Reply #4 on: August 15, 2013, 02:45:07 AM »
- 7:14 AM -

The room mildly shuddered, barely rippling the massive green curtains in front of the stage. A few of the students, wearing various suits and dresses of green, red, or black held on tighter to their seats but mostly stayed put.

"Seriously? Now?"

Behind the curtain, Positron lifted his arm and looked into a wrist display that popped open to illuminate a glowing blue on black display of Galaxy City. A few small moving green arrows indicating responders appeared on the map shortly afterwards, followed by a far greater number of pulsing red dots representing sighted Rikti movements. He was already moving for the exit, to the mild surprise of Deputy Mayor Miller and a couple of nearby staffers. 

"Ray, t-the speech? If the others can handle this.."

Positron turned around, his helmet visor glowing faintly in the dark passage. The entire sub-auditorium shuddered softly again.

("A level five Rikti attack is in progress. External passages have been restricted to cleared individuals only..")

"Just keep the kids busy for ten minutes, old friend. I'll call up a spare.", he quickly resumed striding towards the doors - past an older dignitary that was sitting obscured behind a crate, with his arms over his head.

Miller looked from the closing doors, to the cowering Senator, to his own aide.

"Spare?!"

- - -

"Presh! Mona! What are you.. PRESH!", Allison gasped and latched onto the other girl while the compact car drifted around the corner. The view out the windshield was of rushed, but practiced routine. Non-combatants headed for underground shelter, while the sparse resistance of PCPD artillery stationed outside the War Wall made their formations, supported by the odd hero or two. Many of the invading Rikti were already past the forcefield barrier, though.

The car also had no visible driver, an invisible force turning the wheel and pedals that were made of a silver material.

Precious Silver had the power to control the movement of the specially made vehicle, but what was more startling was that she was heading -towards- the Galaxy City tunnel, speeding past a pair of Vanguard strike tanks crawling towards the zone.

Precious kept her eyes locked outside, while pushing her classmate back to her side. "I bet it's not even a level four. Not stopping."

A another sweeping curve, shoved Allison back to her seat and almost flat against the door. The tunnel intersected with the main passage that connected Galaxy City to Kings Row, another strategic zone. Graffiti could still be seen in this area, along the walls, but became less and less frequent the closer they got to the end of the tunnel.

"The sky. Presh, look at the sky - you never get used to the glow.", Allison sucked in her breath and held it as they cleared the tunnel to witness a hauntingly green sky, and then the sight of the Rikti fleet converging towards the giant Galaxy Girl statue at the center of the zone, far in the distance. She looked down at her knees, wringing her hands at the end of her skirt, and started to develop a very distant look in her eyes. Precious gave pause for a moment, looking out the window before brushing back her hair and sighing.

"The Rikti War is over, Alis. This is just a reminant fleet.", Precious remained perfectly seated as the car took another sharp right, barely clearing the iron gate that fenced off the beautiful Gemini Park.

Allison widened her eyes and gripped Precious's jacket desperately, "Reminant fleet! When was the last time you took down a reminant fleet on your own, Presh!?'

Straight ahead of them was one of aliens, a 'naked' Rikti, armed with a glowing rifle and facing away, unaware.

There was suddenly very little distance between them, but Precious remained focused through the windshield the whole time.
« Last Edit: October 01, 2013, 03:05:09 AM by Kyuuen »

Kyuuen

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Re: Awaken into the Dream
« Reply #5 on: August 30, 2013, 03:34:38 AM »
- 7:17 AM -

Even without the armor, a Rikti was still heavy enough to crush in a car hood once it tumbled over the bumper.

It's head smashed into the reinforced glass, cracking it and leaving a dark green smear, just before the loud thud on the top of the car that also left a massive dent. A few tumbles and thuds in the space of a few moments, then the silver compact skidded sideways before coming to a stop, facing the prone body of the alien.

Allison slowly peeked up from under her arms, to see Precious Silver leave the car.

The Rikti was still moving, barely. It slowly lifted it's arm and grasped for the plasma rifle, which had flown out of it's hand.

Something whistled through the air, and  it's wrist was pinned to the road violently. Another whistle, the sound of metal cutting through air followed. A small sphere of liquid silver sailed from Precious, before forming into a half-ring that nailed the Rikti's other arm to the ground. Then it's legs, and neck.

The alien let out something between a gasp and a strange roar, before squirming weakly against it's bonds.

Precious opened the back door to see Allison close to tears and looking absolutely horrified.

Allison looked up at her classmate, and saw, that despite taking down a Rikti alien on her own, the magenta spheres in her eyes were jittering, unsteady. Behind her, the distant buzz of the alien spacecraft was unmistakable. Still, her voice was calm and low as she reached behind her and produced a small, silver pistol.

"Alis, don't you want to answer for what happened? To Teresa? To my family?"

« Last Edit: August 30, 2013, 03:44:12 AM by Kyuuen »