"The world that was forgotten"
Of all the things that Markus had lost in the last 24 hours he missed Thunder his horse was the most. Markus moved slowly across the barrens he had been injured in a recent battle he moved with a limp and his right knee had a mechanical sound emanating from within. Darkness was approaching and the sunset gave a purple glow to everything, it was almost beautiful. Unfortunately Markus did not have the time to appreciate the splendour for he had to find shelter before darkness fell. There was a small cave up ahead in Marlet Gorge but it was still a good hour away and the sun set too fast this time of year. Markus reached the cave within the hour but inside the gorge there was hardly any light left and already he could hear movement above him. He got down on his knees slowly and crawled into the cave hoping that nothing else had come to live here since the last time he had to use this place as a shelter. As he moved inside he let out a sign nothing looked like it had been disturbed. He moved to the back of the cave where a bundle was wrapped in a old cloak. He opened it very slowly careful to keep the inner layer tight. When he got near the middle he placed it on the ground and slowly rolled it along the ground. There was a soft click and a grenade rolled out Markus hand shot out with inhuman speed and clasped it tight before it could arm itself. He hunted around in the cloak and pulled out a pin, which he put back into the grenade. Then placed it near the entrance of the cave. Moving back to the rear of the cave Markus examined the contents left within the cloak, which he threw around his shoulders to keep himself warm. There were two small throwing daggers and a very old six shooter half full and his pride and joy a samurai sword that was the sharpest thing he had ever seen. There was also a torch that had worked back when he had left this stuff here almost six months ago and a small first aid kit. He had been on the run to many times and had lost his stuff to many times to not leave a few weapons around here or there. All of them well protected like this one his thoughts started to move back to were his bad luck had started.
Markus had been travelling from Carson city to Marlet city he had bought a large supply of ammo in Carson city the worlds major supplier of ammo and Markus had wanted to make a quick buck unfortunately he must have been seen buying the ammo for he was only a day out of Carson city and he had been jumped by six guys it had all happened so fast they had shot out him rather than hurt his horse. He got hit in the knee first Markus rolled and came down on the left side of his horse in an attempt to shield himself not realising that he had been surrounded. The next shot had been high a warning but the guy was a terrible shot and had hit Thunder Markus pulled his shotgun and charged the two guys coming towards him. With two quick shots he took down the guys in his way but was then out of ammo. Markus went into a roll a came up into a crouch facing the way he had been running and his heart went to there was four more guys running towards him with guns drawn there was nothing left to do but run. It had taken him four days to lose them but he finally had. Now finally he could see to his wounds.
Two days later Markus looked out over the cliff face that was the end of Marlet gorge. Beyond the cliff on the plateau was Marlet city it was huge and it was bigger every time he sore it. It was layed out before him in all its beauty and it really was a beautiful thing one of the last left on this planet. All the buildings were made out of a white stone it was this stone that was the cities major export as it was not only a strong building material but it could be polished to a very high sheen. But being in such a barren land they relied heavily upon other cities to survive and that was what Markus had been relying upon to make a quick buck. Markus moved to the ladder that went down to the side of the cliff it was about a twenty minute climb but one that was very dangerous more than one person been forced of the cliff face by certain things. Markus had just reached the ladder when he heard the noise turning just in time to see his attackers less than one hundred meters away and closing fast they were on foot which means that Thunder had not lived or they had made a meal out of him. Markus pulled his six shooter and dropped into a crouch and took aim on the lead man who was a tall gangly fellow with a very ugly scare running down one side of his face. A small red dot appeared between his eyes and then a loud explosion that echoed down the gorge. Gangly mans head just seemed too exploded and his friends stopped in their tracks and dove for cover. Then Markus just leaned back jumped over the edge of the cliff the others almost fell over in shock the biggest of the three remaining who seemed to be the leader moved towards the edge and carefully looked over thinking that he was just over the edge. The guy was not he was more than half way down the four thousand foot drop but he was moving to slowly Gunthar took his binoculars out and had a closer look the guys cloak had unfolded to almost three times it's normal length and he was using it as a sort of kite to glide down the cliff. Who was this guy Gunthar thought to himself he had taken down half of Gunthar's party he just seemed unstoppable it was at this moment that Gunthar decided that he wanted nothing more to do with this stranger.
Markus moved up to the trading bar that was the heart of Marlet cities economy when he was next he lifted his shirt and pulled two small flat packages from his chest and walked up to the trading clerk. By placing the packages on the table Markus was telling the clerk that he wanted to sell regardless of the price the clerk opened the packages and gasped a few people in the line tried to see over Markus's shoulder but he moved to stop them. The clerk opened the other package and licked his lips with a greedy glint in his eye but then he looked over the gentleman again and noticed the pump action shotgun on his shoulder and the fact that out of the 100 rounds that could be in the packages the was only ninety six. Four were missing the same amount that the gun could hold. The clerk had grown up in a world where it paid to notice stuff like that. "One thousand trading chips for the lot" the clerk said. The crowd gasped for no one could even imagine that much money. Markus nodded and took the chips and moved of into the town egar to spend the spoils of a job well done.
Markus new he was in being followed he could feel thier eyes on him but he didn't care he just adjusted his cloak a bit to better show his shotgun. Then changed his walk a little a bit slower and more confident than before there was just a way people carry themselves when they are armed a move a walk that shows that they are not to be messed with. It wasn't long before the eyes left him Markus was not surprised Marlet city was a nice city a clean city (by today's standards anyway) and he was confident that he could handle any one who would try and take away what was his. Markus moved towards the centre of town towards the auctions it was time to get a means of transport something that didn't die as easily as a horse. The auctions were open twenty four hours a day and they sold everything you could possibly imagine Markus moved through the crowds towards the auctions and it always amazed him at the diversity of the world there was people of every shape and background here from the poorest beggar to the richest Merchant that act like kings of this world. Markus was alert for pick pockets which were everywhere throughout the crowd he always kept his purse inside his vest so a thief would have to stick his hand down Markus's front to extract the purse not a practice that would keep the youths hand attached to his body for long and that’s what they all were youths with nothing else to occupy there time with. Most kids were thrown out of the horse by age ten these days. The world had become a rough place to live and survive. Markus didn't have to wait long the auctioneers were selling young virgins at the moment and young they were but Markus had never gone in for that sort of stuff that being more the thing for rich older merchants. The last auction was for a young girl she was only about 14 years old, which would have been young at one stage, but in this place it seemed very old indeed. She was very pretty she had light blonde hair and soft skin with clear blue eyes she differently was not a street kid probably one of the merchants daughters he had realised that she would make more money on the slave blocks than in a marriage dorery. She looked directly into Markus's eyes he looked back at those soft blue eyes and sore the innocence in those eyes. The bidding started and after a while there was only two merchants left both fat ugly creatures and he was positive that she would end up in there harems that night. Both seemed like they would not give in to the other. The price was up to five hundred trading chips now and before to long the young girl was sold for 750 trading chips there was a murmur throughout the crowd for that was a large fortune but one that could be understood for in a world of evil she was a pure spark. Markus looked over at the merchant that had one and his heart fell he could see the nightmares the girl was going to face in this fat merchants eye's. He then looked over at the girl and was shocked for he sore in those eyes a cold resolve he would not of believed he just new somehow that there lives would cross again one day.
The auctions them moved onto what Markus was interested the first couple were for horses and buggies and the like but Markus had decided that he needed to move onto something a bit more stable. After the livestock they moved on the the bikes and this is what interested Markus small fast and very fuel efficent. They all ran on a methanine gas now rather than the petrochem that they use to. All the bikes that were up for auctions seemed to have something wrong with them and they would need work which did now sutie with Markus's timetable he wanted out of this town as soon as possible. Then the last bike came up for auction and it was a real beast the name on the side was Kawasaki ZX-9R it was painted green and purple it was in very good condition tyres looked new. The auctioneers started it up and the engine roared to life Markus new that this was the bike for him but he also new that it would probably go for more than one thousand trading chips but he would just bide his time and see what happen's. The auction started and there was a couple of people that were interested but the price didn't go as high as Markus had thought it would. Nearing the end there was what seemed to be the final bid at 580 chips going once going twice it ws here that Markus made his move and put in a bid at 600 chips jumping the last bid by 20 chips there was another murmur throught the crowd but Markus could not work out why, not much longer and the bike was his. He moved over to the auctioneers and moved to check out the bike it was even more beautiful up close no rust whatsoever Markus could hardly believe that it had gone for so little. He paid and moved of to the bike shop to purchase a few defenses for the bike and then to the weaponsmiths to get a few more supplies there. Then he moved into the middleclass district and he was once again amazed Marlet city was so clean the building looked new and fresh and the streets were kept clear of litter. In fact it was a crime in Marlet to litter they had a very strange idea they had public bins which the local Council cleaned out every day. People paid to clean it was just amazing. He booked a couple of nights at a local inn Markus's just wanted a couple of days to recoup from everything that had taken place over the last couple of days. The most important thing was that he wanted nothing to happen in the next couple of days so he knew there was no chance of that.
Markus slept all night and most of the next day only waking to use the privy a couple of times he finally awoke at about 7 o'clock the next night and instantly realised that something was wrong there was a buz in the air a hint of danger that he couldn't quite put his finger on but there was something wrong he could feel it. Markus dressed quickly and moved outside to were his bike was parked and gave a praise to the gods when he sore that it was still there. Jumping onto the bike Markus removed the security device wedged between the fairings and started the monster up Markus did not know the nature of the trouble did not even know if there was any trouble at all but he trusted his feelings and they said get the crap out of town now.
Markus but the bike into gear reved the engine and tore away the tyres throwing sand at the inn's son who was asleep in the garage/stable. Markus headed for the northern entrance of town hoping to get away from what ever his nerves were feeling was wrong with the town. As he got closer to the market place which unfortunately he had to go through to get out of town Markus sore a large number of people milling about the entrance to the market place he slowed down a little as his curiousity got the better of him and moved closer to the mass of people
Markus had been travelling from Carson city to Marlet city he had bought a large supply of ammo in Carson city the worlds major supplier of ammo and Markus had wanted to make a quick buck unfortunately he must have been seen buying the ammo for he was only a day out of Carson city and he had been jumped by six guys it had all happened so fast they had shot out him rather than hurt his horse. He got hit in the knee first Markus rolled and came down on the left side of his horse in an attempt to shield himself not realising that he had been surrounded. The next shot had been high a warning but the guy was a terrible shot and had hit Thunder Markus pulled his shotgun and charged the two guys coming towards him. With two quick shots he took down the guys in his way but was then out of ammo. Markus went into a roll a came up into a crouch facing the way he had been running and his heart went to there was four more guys running towards him with guns drawn there was nothing left to do but run. It had taken him four days to lose them but he finally had. Now finally he could see to his wounds.
Two days later Markus looked out over the cliff face that was the end of Marlet gorge. Beyond the cliff on the plateau was Marlet city it was huge and it was bigger every time he sore it. It was layed out before him in all its beauty and it really was a beautiful thing one of the last left on this planet. All the buildings were made out of a white stone it was this stone that was the cities major export as it was not only a strong building material but it could be polished to a very high sheen. But being in such a barren land they relied heavily upon other cities to survive and that was what Markus had been relying upon to make a quick buck. Markus moved to the ladder that went down to the side of the cliff it was about a twenty minute climb but one that was very dangerous more than one person been forced of the cliff face by certain things. Markus had just reached the ladder when he heard the noise turning just in time to see his attackers less than one hundred meters away and closing fast they were on foot which means that Thunder had not lived or they had made a meal out of him. Markus pulled his six shooter and dropped into a crouch and took aim on the lead man who was a tall gangly fellow with a very ugly scare running down one side of his face. A small red dot appeared between his eyes and then a loud explosion that echoed down the gorge. Gangly mans head just seemed too exploded and his friends stopped in their tracks and dove for cover. Then Markus just leaned back jumped over the edge of the cliff the others almost fell over in shock the biggest of the three remaining who seemed to be the leader moved towards the edge and carefully looked over thinking that he was just over the edge. The guy was not he was more than half way down the four thousand foot drop but he was moving to slowly Gunthar took his binoculars out and had a closer look the guys cloak had unfolded to almost three times it's normal length and he was using it as a sort of kite to glide down the cliff. Who was this guy Gunthar thought to himself he had taken down half of Gunthar's party he just seemed unstoppable it was at this moment that Gunthar decided that he wanted nothing more to do with this stranger.
Markus moved up to the trading bar that was the heart of Marlet cities economy when he was next he lifted his shirt and pulled two small flat packages from his chest and walked up to the trading clerk. By placing the packages on the table Markus was telling the clerk that he wanted to sell regardless of the price the clerk opened the packages and gasped a few people in the line tried to see over Markus's shoulder but he moved to stop them. The clerk opened the other package and licked his lips with a greedy glint in his eye but then he looked over the gentleman again and noticed the pump action shotgun on his shoulder and the fact that out of the 100 rounds that could be in the packages the was only ninety six. Four were missing the same amount that the gun could hold. The clerk had grown up in a world where it paid to notice stuff like that. "One thousand trading chips for the lot" the clerk said. The crowd gasped for no one could even imagine that much money. Markus nodded and took the chips and moved of into the town egar to spend the spoils of a job well done.
Markus new he was in being followed he could feel thier eyes on him but he didn't care he just adjusted his cloak a bit to better show his shotgun. Then changed his walk a little a bit slower and more confident than before there was just a way people carry themselves when they are armed a move a walk that shows that they are not to be messed with. It wasn't long before the eyes left him Markus was not surprised Marlet city was a nice city a clean city (by today's standards anyway) and he was confident that he could handle any one who would try and take away what was his. Markus moved towards the centre of town towards the auctions it was time to get a means of transport something that didn't die as easily as a horse. The auctions were open twenty four hours a day and they sold everything you could possibly imagine Markus moved through the crowds towards the auctions and it always amazed him at the diversity of the world there was people of every shape and background here from the poorest beggar to the richest Merchant that act like kings of this world. Markus was alert for pick pockets which were everywhere throughout the crowd he always kept his purse inside his vest so a thief would have to stick his hand down Markus's front to extract the purse not a practice that would keep the youths hand attached to his body for long and that’s what they all were youths with nothing else to occupy there time with. Most kids were thrown out of the horse by age ten these days. The world had become a rough place to live and survive. Markus didn't have to wait long the auctioneers were selling young virgins at the moment and young they were but Markus had never gone in for that sort of stuff that being more the thing for rich older merchants. The last auction was for a young girl she was only about 14 years old, which would have been young at one stage, but in this place it seemed very old indeed. She was very pretty she had light blonde hair and soft skin with clear blue eyes she differently was not a street kid probably one of the merchants daughters he had realised that she would make more money on the slave blocks than in a marriage dorery. She looked directly into Markus's eyes he looked back at those soft blue eyes and sore the innocence in those eyes. The bidding started and after a while there was only two merchants left both fat ugly creatures and he was positive that she would end up in there harems that night. Both seemed like they would not give in to the other. The price was up to five hundred trading chips now and before to long the young girl was sold for 750 trading chips there was a murmur throughout the crowd for that was a large fortune but one that could be understood for in a world of evil she was a pure spark. Markus looked over at the merchant that had one and his heart fell he could see the nightmares the girl was going to face in this fat merchants eye's. He then looked over at the girl and was shocked for he sore in those eyes a cold resolve he would not of believed he just new somehow that there lives would cross again one day.
The auctions them moved onto what Markus was interested the first couple were for horses and buggies and the like but Markus had decided that he needed to move onto something a bit more stable. After the livestock they moved on the the bikes and this is what interested Markus small fast and very fuel efficent. They all ran on a methanine gas now rather than the petrochem that they use to. All the bikes that were up for auctions seemed to have something wrong with them and they would need work which did now sutie with Markus's timetable he wanted out of this town as soon as possible. Then the last bike came up for auction and it was a real beast the name on the side was Kawasaki ZX-9R it was painted green and purple it was in very good condition tyres looked new. The auctioneers started it up and the engine roared to life Markus new that this was the bike for him but he also new that it would probably go for more than one thousand trading chips but he would just bide his time and see what happen's. The auction started and there was a couple of people that were interested but the price didn't go as high as Markus had thought it would. Nearing the end there was what seemed to be the final bid at 580 chips going once going twice it ws here that Markus made his move and put in a bid at 600 chips jumping the last bid by 20 chips there was another murmur throught the crowd but Markus could not work out why, not much longer and the bike was his. He moved over to the auctioneers and moved to check out the bike it was even more beautiful up close no rust whatsoever Markus could hardly believe that it had gone for so little. He paid and moved of to the bike shop to purchase a few defenses for the bike and then to the weaponsmiths to get a few more supplies there. Then he moved into the middleclass district and he was once again amazed Marlet city was so clean the building looked new and fresh and the streets were kept clear of litter. In fact it was a crime in Marlet to litter they had a very strange idea they had public bins which the local Council cleaned out every day. People paid to clean it was just amazing. He booked a couple of nights at a local inn Markus's just wanted a couple of days to recoup from everything that had taken place over the last couple of days. The most important thing was that he wanted nothing to happen in the next couple of days so he knew there was no chance of that.
Markus slept all night and most of the next day only waking to use the privy a couple of times he finally awoke at about 7 o'clock the next night and instantly realised that something was wrong there was a buz in the air a hint of danger that he couldn't quite put his finger on but there was something wrong he could feel it. Markus dressed quickly and moved outside to were his bike was parked and gave a praise to the gods when he sore that it was still there. Jumping onto the bike Markus removed the security device wedged between the fairings and started the monster up Markus did not know the nature of the trouble did not even know if there was any trouble at all but he trusted his feelings and they said get the crap out of town now.
Markus but the bike into gear reved the engine and tore away the tyres throwing sand at the inn's son who was asleep in the garage/stable. Markus headed for the northern entrance of town hoping to get away from what ever his nerves were feeling was wrong with the town. As he got closer to the market place which unfortunately he had to go through to get out of town Markus sore a large number of people milling about the entrance to the market place he slowed down a little as his curiousity got the better of him and moved closer to the mass of people
posted by Bayin | 6:49 PM
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