Chapter CCLV: Lefty? ~Multehx

After a brief intermission of existence, the death of one or a few, take your pick, it’s casino night in the plane; once again, the puzzle pieces began to fall into play...

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On the surface of a desolate wasteland...well, mainly desolate, save the ashen remains of a place of laying to rest of a wretched fiend, there was a slight whistle as a single shard of metal streaked from the heavens and plunged to the earth. Following it, several other shards did the same, connected, blended, and formed a unique body. The metal rounded being glanced around the area. It looked rather bored and confused, tapping its head again. Little electronic words flew by the display of its robotic eye instantly.

It heaved a wary breath and glanced around again. "This can't be the place...there's nothing HERE! What can be emitting such an energy source?!"

It was about to storm off in a huff when it noticed the burial remains. It slowly grinned, and its eyes narrowed and its smile twisted into a dark show of glee.

"Why...I do believe I might not get a check-up after all..." it snickered, walking over to the remnants.

It pointed a clawed index finger at the slight ashen traces and its systems beeped and whirred with activity. On another small chime, words flashed across its eye again:

ANALYSIS: COMPLETE

ASSUMPTION: OCCURANCE OF GREAT FIGHT

DIAGNOSIS: BURNT REMAINS OF A TWILIGHTER DEMON

Metallic tapped its head again, causing the words to vanish.

"A Twilighter...hmm...interesting proposition," it hummed to itself.

It thought for a moment, waved its hand over the spot where ash covered the ground from a fire, and frowned.

"It seems its energy core was removed long ago, thus rendering it non-functioning, and obsolete for assimilation." It sighed and shrugged. "Still, as he said, the more the merrier."

The metal hand was extended over the spot once more. With sudden speed, the metal plating on part of the wrist dislodged from the main arm, its entirety disconnecting in similar fashion. The hand dropped to the earth, scrambled over it to a spot on its fingers, then instantly burrowed deep into the ground. The being stared nonchalantly and totally uninterested as the ground began to shake slightly, then erupting into a geyser of rocks and dirt.

From the wake of the geyser a deafening roar echoed as a large, dirt covered figure rose from the earth. It threw out its arms and shrieked to the heavens. But, as the ghastly cry subsided, and the last of the earth fell to the ground, it at last could be seen. It was still quite dirty, caked in mud and the fresh soil/rock mixture, stood around eight feet high, was muscular of build, had empty, black sockets for eyes, and matted somewhat spiky hair.

The new being shook violently for a brief moment, sending the dirt and debris in every direction. Metallic glanced at it again, noting that this time it was almost entirely free of its earthen coating. It was comprised of silver metal that shone in the seeming luminance of the planet's own production. Its hair stood slightly in golden, metallic locks. But, strangest of all, it lacked a nose.

A growl rumbled in its throat for a brief moment before it sank to a knee on the ground and knelt before the round one. When it finally did, it spoke in a hollow, metallic tone. It seemed somewhat...dark as well.

"Hail...master."

It crossed a hand over its chest in a gesture of servitude.

Metallic waved a hand deftly. "Well, my new servant, what is your name?"

The being bowed its head after glancing up and replied, "I was called 'Rebdok' during my function."

Metallic shook his head. "I don't like it. Your name is...hmm...Tractul now." It grinned in its computerized mind. I AM quite a genius animation.

Tractul nodded in acknowledgement of this name. "What are my orders, Master?" it resonated.

Metallic Multehx was about to respond when electricity sparked from its joints. It spasmed violently, and fell to the ground on all fours. Tractul almost leapt to his feet, but almost as soon as it started, the shaking and the electricity faded, and noises like a computer reactivating emanated from the fallen figure's body. He rose to his feet, glaring at Tractul.

"WELL?! What are you dallying for, FOOL?! I clearly gave you an order!"

"But...but, Sir," Tractul repeated, obviously confused. "You had fallen and-"

Metallic snorted angrily. "Do I look like I've fallen down?! You're just trying to shirk your responsibilities! Get to it already!"

"....Sir...what were my directives again? My systems must have been malfunctioning and I did not hear your sacred word."

Metallic scoffed. "They indeed malfunctioned! I ordered you to establish a point of relay here, among the wasteland, and I will in the meantime attend to my business!"

Tractul gave a hasty salute, rose to his feet and began charging off quite nimbly for his size across the barren terrain.

Metallic shook his head. "What incompetence this does breed."

He glanced down to his right arm, which ended at the wrist.

"And I require absorbing more metallic structures to make up for lost appendages. I am composed of so little currently, it cannot reform." It waved the finger of its other hand in front of it. "Though, let's not be hasty, there still is the mission directive."

It closed its eyes and put a hand to its head, its systems working and reaching out to the far corners of existence.

Oooh Host, where are you hiding? Come out come out and pla-ay.

* * * * *

Kenzo tromped along the streets, alongside the mercenary. Jaded hadn't spoken since they resolved to get to the bottom of things, but now he turned his head and spoke to the knight.

"So...Kenzo, have you explored this place well yet?"

Kenzo shook his head sadly. "Not really...I was sorta busy with some punk kid. It sorta took up my time thus far." He rubbed the back of his helmet with a metal glove.

Jaded half shrugged. "Quite alright. Understandable." He stopped in the street and pointed off down an alley between two houses ahead. "I looked around a bit, and I found that road leads off onto some moorland. I'd go, but I've got the funny feeling there are numerous dangerous creatures out there; you know, the sixth sense you develop when you've been doing this for a time?"

"Yeah," Kenzo nodded, "I know just which one." He tightened his grip on his axe and frowned determinedly. "But I think we should check this moor out. It could be important to us..."

Jaded started towards the alley first, Kenzo walking close behind.

"Oh, and one thing."

"What?"

"Don't call me Kenzo. I'm Oznek while we're here."

Jaded chuckled to himself. "Fine, fine" he grinned, continuing walking. But he muttered to himself, "Of all the corny, lamebrain names one could..." and grinned.