((gdhjshdg the bit is great!! james is a character i cant wait to get to know better. and can i just say, the way you used the word 'mechanically' in reference to him, paired with his love of mechanics, is incredible and it's weird how happy it's making me))
(ooh thanks Crocs!! Yeah I did that on purpose, and honestly I really like James too lol)
I'm a huge fan of chapter 3!
I'm a huge fan of chapter 3!
- I love the opening sequence. Normally I'm not a huge fan of introducing people based on their damns but oh hot damn did you do a good job with James! Every detail helps to characterize him and give us some tidbits about his backstory and I'm really into it!!
-also, the way you integrate larger elements of the world (the holographic meeting room, droids, Sculpting, etc) is really well done! I like getting the little tidbits and they don't detract too much from the flow of the chapter either, so great job!!
Ahh! Tysm! Yeah I made an effort in this one to really scatter the information as much as I could, while still accomplishing my goals of giving a good description of James and his life, and I'm really glad I accomplished that!
I agree with the others, this chapter had something about it that made it come to life, I could almost see James working in the engine room, the meeting room (kinda imagined it like the one in avengers lol), and the expressions and emotions of the characters
I agree with the others, this chapter had something about it that made it come to life, I could almost see James working in the engine room, the meeting room (kinda imagined it like the one in avengers lol), and the expressions and emotions of the characters
Ooh thank you!!! Damn i don't know what I did differently in this chapter but…I'm super glad I did whatever it was lol
Chapter Four: Tessa
He had said that his name was James Donovan, son of Henri Donovan, who had started Rising Technological Incorporation. RTI for short. She wasn't sure she believed him, but disguised as one of Acenthianrae's maids, she had to pretend she did.
"Of course, sir. Anything at all we can do to help." Tessa lied, making her voice sound soft and smooth and sweet as honey.
The boy across from her ran a hand through curly dark hair. He looked nervous. She could see sweat beading along his hairline and by his full lips. "Thank you, miss…?"
"Tessa." she supplied with an easy smile, shaking his hand and wishing she wasn't in this ridiculously short skirt. It was one of the different uniforms for the handmaidens. She hated the designer with a passion, whoever he was. She was sure it was a he. Only a man would come up with such a uniform for a ladies maid.
James nodded. "Right. It's nice to meet you, miss Tessa. And please, don't worry about the princess. I'll find her, I swear."
As he walked away, she wondered if he really believed that. She also wondered if the reason he kept referring to Acenthianrae as simply "The princess" was because he couldn't remember or pronounce her name. Queen Aline had certainly chosen a strange and difficult name for Ace, that was for sure. Not that Tessa really cared anyway. Her job wasn't simply handmaiden. Her job was spy, informant. Nothing so lowly as a simple handmaiden.
She went back to her room and changed out of that disgusting, skimpy outfit, and put on a full black ensemble. It stuck rather close to her skin, to ensure it wouldn't flap in the wind and draw attention. She hummed softly as she slipped gadgets onto her wrists and slid knives into hidden sheaths all over her body. Her thighs, her arms, her stomach, her chest. Even a tiny one hidden in her hair. The silvery metal glinted against her coppery skin, shone in her dark hair. She pulled her hair up, twisting it around the knife to hide it. She slipped on the special grippy shoes that would let her climb anything, and climbed out the window of the palace, as silent and deadly as a shadow.
Tessa Lycan. Handmaiden. Spy. Dead. She repeated those words to herself in her head. She was already dead. That was how spies like her operated. They didn't exist. They were dead. She leapt from the building and rolled as she landed just outside the walls. The sun was setting, and Ace had been gone for a full day now. She remembered helping the princess to escape the palace. Now, she was going to find her and bring her back. Build her trust as she was supposed to do.
She had a head start on James Donovan, too. She knew where the princess had gone. The Golden Star, a bar deep in the planet's underbelly. Tessa had been there twice. It was a good place, if you were looking for someone to kiss you and distract you and take you into their bed.
She slipped through the streets, staying well-hidden. Any of the gangs around here would do anything to get their hands on a good Shadow like her, and she couldn't let that happen. Especially not now.
It wasn't long before she arrived at The Golden Star. She ducked down the alleyway, and made some alterations to her clothing. The pants she opened up and pressed together. The invisi-seams held, forming the pants into a tight black skirt now, and she altered the shirt to dip far lower on her chest. She wasn't very big up top, or anywhere, really, with a slim, non-existent figure, but she knew how to make it look like she had more than she did. She ran her hands through her hair, messing it up a little, then sashayed inside, a secretive and flirtatious smile on her face. Her shoes, now heels, clicked lightly on the plasti-wood flooring.
She sauntered straight up to the counter and got a drink, then turned and surveyed the room. Nobody stood out to her at first. Her eyes widened a little when she thought she saw a tall, white-haired form, but when she looked again, it was nobody. It didn't take her long after that to spot Ace in her disguise, and slipped off of the glowing bar stool, weaving through the crowd.
"Hey sweetheart, wanna come home with me? I'll show you a good time." crooned a man, trying to slip his arm around her shoulders. His eyes were on her chest, not her face.
She smiled in a silky, seductive way, and pressed her body close to his. "Ohh, I have plans now sir, but…" she ran her hand down his chest and stomach, swallowing revulsion at his smell. "Perhaps later?" she purred, looking up at him.
He smiled in a lecherous way, and let go, but not before squeezing her ass. "That would be lovely indeed. I'll look forward."
She would bleach her clothing when she got back to the palace, she decided, as she walked over to Ace and the boy across from the princess. She braced her hands on the table, looking at the princess, her hazel eyes flared wide. "So. Who's the new boy toy?"
Without looking up from the chess board on the table, Ace replied, "Not interested in girls, that's what." she moved a piece, then looked up at Tessa. "Tessa, meet Avitas. Avitas, this is Tessa."
Tessa turned to the boy, this…Avitas, one of her hands on her hips as she looked him up and down. "Nice to meet you, Avitas." he didn't seem like much of a threat, she decided. She looked around again, on edge after seeing the pale hair earlier. She thought she saw the figure again, but when she looked again, it was gone as quick as she saw it.
Avitas gave her a friendly smile. "Nice to meet you as well. And like Ace said, I'm not her…boy toy. I don't like girls that way, though if I did, I might be tempted." he turned his attention to the gameboard, and moved a piece after a few minutes of deliberation.
"And how do you know you don't?" Tessa asked, arching an eyebrow as she sat down, looking at the game board, then at the two players.
Avitas grimaced. "I had a girlfriend for a while. It didn't work out. Kissing her felt…I don't know. Wrong, I guess. I liked her, but I figured out eventually that I didn't love her. At least, not in the way she wanted." he sighed. "But let's not talk about my romantic life or lack of one." as he played his next piece, Tessa noticed that he was missing his left pinky.
Interesting. What does he do for a living? "So, what do you do for a living, Avitas?" She asked, leaning towards him a little.
"Music. I'm a musician." Avitas replied blandly, looking straight at her for a moment before his gaze slid away.
Liar. "But how, with only nine fingers?" she asked, keeping a sweet smile on her lips. "What happened to the missing one?"
Avitas lifted his chin. "Did you come here for your friend, or to interrogate me? I wouldn't hurt Ace, or you, miss Tessa, so please stop asking questions that aren't your business."
He's nervous. Hiding something. Apply the right pressure, and he'll crack open. But Tessa didn't think he was a danger. She turned to Ace. "By the way, the Donovan's came today. James Donovan has said he would look for you. I expect he shall eventually find you. His family has money."
Ace rolled her eyes. "Gods damn it. Is a few days of peace too much to ask?" she sighed as she moved her piece forward.
Tessa raised an eyebrow. "Peace? Is that what you call this…place?" she wrinkled her nose as she thought of the man who had touched her.
"I grew up here, Tess. It's always going to be home. Pedophiles and perverts not counted." Ace replied, flashing her a quick, almost sarcastic smile.
Tessa sighed, leaning her elbows on the table. "Well, your home sucks." she replied, taking a long gulp of her drink, then looked up to find Avitas studying her. She bared her teeth in a snarl. She was tired of playing the temptress already. So she was dropping that mask.
Avitas blinked, sitting back and his eyes darting around the room.
She smirked, satisfied. Good. He feared her. Good.
She cracked her knuckles, and gulped down the last of her drink. "Come on, princess. We're going home." she said, voice slurring. Her eyes narrowed as her vision blurred. "What the…?" she looked at her hands, vision fuzzing in and out. "Whass happenin'?"
"Drugged." she heard Avitas say, as if from a long ways away. "Your friend's been drugged."
Tessa swayed, fell, and blacked out before she felt her body hit the floor.
She awoke in a bed that smelled of fresh laundry detergent. The sheets were soft against her skin. She wasn't…she wasn't wearing anything. She was upright and out of the bed in a shot, the sheet wrapped around her body and her eyes wide. She swayed and stumbled, leaning a hand on the wall, trembling.
"Hey hey hey, Tess, sit down!" she heard Ace's voice, felt cool hands touch her back and guide her back to bed, helping her lay down. "We had to take your clothes off you or else you were going to tear them with how you were thrashing."
"We?" Tessa asked, her voice cracked and raspy.
"Me and Sita. No boys allowed. Though Avitas has been here to keep watch and figure out who did it." Ace replied, patting Tessa's shoulder.
Sita. Right. The bar owner's sister.
"Wha happened?" Tessa asked.
Ace handed her water, which she gratefully drank while listening. "Near as we can figure, someone thought you were there alone and drugged you, hoping to…well. You know what."
Tessa nodded. She knew who would have drugged the drink, and it wasn't who Ace thought. He had been here. She knew what that meant. She was running out of time.
(bumppppp. I realize this chapter might be a little rushed but….I'm just super excited for the next chapter)
I honestly love this! XD Please keep writing, I'm excited to see how this all ties together!
Ooh yay!! Thank you! Yeah the next chapter will come sometime next week. It's honestly going to be the hardest one yet because the character has a really fucked up mindscape.
But anyway
Who's your favorite character so far??
Avitas by far for me!
He seems to be a lot of people's favorite lol. i mean if i'm honest he's my favorite too but shh…..i'm not supposed to have favorite childre-I mean characters
James definitely!
Ooh yeah, James is fun!
Oh yeah, James is a close second for me. Honestly, I love all of the main characters so far.
Haha my favorite one is the one I haven't written a chapter for…because he's the kind of character I always fall in love with… tragic boi with a bad backstory who just needs to be loved
OMG same XD
also if you look at the prophecy and compare it to the chapters I've already written you can tell sort of who he is………
mhm. And I can't wait to read about him
well good, bc i can't wait to write him lol
Hey, this is just a heads-up that I might not get the next chapter up this week, because of thanksgiving and other stuff going on. Which I'm very upset about, since I'm looking forward to this next chapter :')
I have nothing to sat that hasn't already been said! So far I think that James might be my favorite character.
(this was probably the most difficult chapter so far…for point of reference, the main character is referred to as "it" the entire chapter, save for a few notable times)
Chapter Five: VE-19-0
It stood outside of the bar known as The Golden Star, with its hands loose and by its side. It knew it looked like any other human might. It was tall, with a masculine body. Its hair was white, and its skin was pale, its eyes a pale blue. It observed everyone that came out of the bar, its memory taking note of each face and mannerism. It didn’t understand why people came here. To get drunk and leave with someone else? It did not understand the motivations of humans. It was here for Tessa Montvier, as she was calling herself for this mission. Her time was running out. The overseers were growing impatient, and if it failed to bring Tessa or a mission report of her back, it would be punished for this failure. It had drugged Tessa, and had meant to grab her after she passed out. But the princess and her friend had gotten in its way; now it was not sure what to do.
Heading for the back door of the bar, it waited in the alleyway. Tessa would leave out this door, and it could speak to her if it caught her. And it would. It had been designed to be superior to humans, no matter what they could do. But to its surprise, if indeed it could feel surprise, it was not Tessa that came out of the door. It was a boy, who looked to be about the same age as VE-19-0 was.
The boy was the princess’s friend, it realized, cocking its head a little as it watched, expressionless.
The boy looked at VE-19-0, his eyes flickering over its body in a way that made VE-19-0 wonder what he could be looking for. “Hey.” the boy greeted. His voice sent a strange jolt through VE-19-0’s mind, and it blinked. It was being spoken to?
“Hello.” it greeted cautiously. It was taller than this boy by approximately 5.25 inches. It was very tall, it knew.
“I haven’t seen you around before, are you new around here?” the boy asked. His name was Avitas Calon, VE-19-0 recalled. A petty thief and pickpocket. He ran with Josen Lothar’s group. He was missing a finger. He was also objectively handsome. Not that VE-19-0 cared.
“Yes, I am.” it replied to Avitas, its blue eyes studying the boy. His pants were mud-stained and worn, his shirt threadbare at the elbows.
“I see. Would you like a tour?” Avitas asked with a smile.
VE-19-0 blinked slowly, studying him. It needed to wait here for Tessa. Tessa was the mission. No distractions. “No, thank you. But could you tell me which way the wind is blowing?”
Avitas raised an eyebrow at it, then nodded. He licked his finger, not looking away from VE-19-0, then stuck the finger in the air. “That way.” he pointed.
VE-19-0 ignored the strange feeling that washed through it as it watched Avitas. Yes, the boy was objectively good-looking, but so was VE-19-0. “South.” it observed with a sharp nod. “Thank you.” it turned its attention away. Avitas would get the message and leave.
It could feel Avitas’ eyes on it for a few more minutes, then the boy headed back inside. It remained there to wait for Tessa for 2.5 hours, at which time it surmised that either it had mismeasured the drug and killed her, or she had left some other way. It headed back to its superiors, planning out what it would say to them. The superiors would not be happy if VE-19-0 had lost Tessa. She was one of their greatest achievements and spies. Excepting it, of course.
VE-19-0 was the pride of the facility. It was one of the first of its kind that functioned correctly and had the same mental capacity of a human. Indeed, it was, for all intents and purposes, nearly human. Its DNA and genetics were nearly identical, except that they were fake. It looked human, and behaved human, except any emotions had been forced away until it was simply cold logic that remained. It knew quite well that it, unlike humans, had no soul. It was lesser. It was nothing. That was why it was referred to as it, and referred to itself as an it as well. Sometimes in the night, when it was alone with its thoughts, it would dream of what it could be like, were it human and not what it was. It knew never to speak of these dreams, when it thought of itself as he, him, and his, and wondered what it would be like to kiss someone, or to have friends. It had been given a name, once, by one of the kinder nurses when it was younger. “Orion”, a hunter from an ancient myth. It quite liked the name, though it did not get a chance to use it much.
It knocked on the door of the facility, and the door was opened. VE-19-0 looked around, taking stock of the white walls and floor, the cold lights that remained on without a flicker or sound. The utter silence, save for the breathing of the humans that greeted him.
"Where is Tessa Montvier?" Demanded one. Dr James Cartridge. It recognized him.
"I located her and drugged her, but the princess and a friend took care of her. I did not get the chance to come near her." It replied, emotionless as it kept its eyes fastened on the wall in front of it. To make eye contact with a human was a challenge to them. That was what they saw it as, since it was inferior to them.
"So you failed." Dr Cartridge said in a low tone.
It dipped its head. "I did, sir."
"Did you speak to anyone?"
VE-19-0 did not know what to say. If it said anything about Avitas, there was a high possibility that the male would be examined and likely hurt because of the simple act of speaking to it.
"VE-19-0, did you speak to anyone?" Dr Cartridge repeated.
It shifted a little. "No sir." It lied. It did not lie often. But it found that it did not like the idea of Avitas being hurt for speaking to it. Strange. But Avitas had spoken to it as if it were human, as if it were an equal, when it wasn't. Perhaps that was why.
There was silence for a moment. VE-19-0 wondered if they knew it was lying. If they did…it would be locked in the box again. His limbs tensed at the idea. Not the box. Anywhere but the box.
"Alright. Anything else to report?"
"Tessa seems to have made good headway. The princess trusts her, and I believe even considers her a friend." It replied, relaxing again. It would not be put in the box. Not today, anyway. And that was all it could hope for. It shouldn't even be hoping in the first place. Hope was for humans. Hope was for people.
"That is good. You may go to your room, now." Dr Cartridge turned away, as if VE-19-0 were nothing. And it was nothing. Nothing at all.
So it nodded, and headed down the hallway to its room. It went inside, and it sat on the bed after changing out of the civilian wear. It now wore a white jumpsuit. White, like everything else in the facility.
He was awoken by the intercom system above his bed.
“VE-19-0. You have deceived us.”
His blood went cold as he sat up in bed and put on its shoes. His lie had been discovered. He blinked, and came fully awake.
It got off the bed and made the sheets, neat and tidy, and ran a comb through its pale hair, checking in the mirror. The more presentable it looked, the better.
Two guards came, one taking each arm. It knew better than to try and fight them. Fighting led to punishment, and punishment was never a good thing. Punishment meant time in the box, or being hurt or cold or losing all privileges. It was brought into one of the interrogation rooms. Here, the walls were not so white and the floor was not so spotless. The lights were harsh and each noise seemed magnified a thousandfold. The walls were stained with blood that even after scrubbing could not be completely washed away. An apt comparison to VE-19-0’s hands, it realized. It cast a surreptitious glance at those hands, to make sure no blood was somehow upon them. No. Its hands were clean, though scarred. It was forced down into a chair, its limbs bound so it couldn’t move.
“VE-19-0. You told us you spoke to no one.” Dr Alistair said, coming out from another door. “That was a lie. Which begs the question: how many other lies have you told us, hmm?” he sat down across from VE-19-0, folding his hands on the table between them. “So. Who is he?” he slid a picture across the table.
The photo was of it and Avitas. The boy that had acted as if VE-1-9-0 was merely another human. Another person, that maybe…maybe could have been friends with. Or something else? VE-19-0 did not know. “I do not know.” it lied, keeping its pale blue eyes on the photo. It did not want to betray Avitas and bring about harm.
“Liar. You know who everyone is. You know everyone on this damned planet. We showed you all the files. So I repeat: who is he?” Dr Alistair’s voice was low, angry. VE-19-0 knew that punishment would happen if he did not give up the information that the Doctor desired.
“I really do not know, sir. I do know who everyone on the planet is, but not him. Perhaps he is a tourist?” Avitas Calon was no tourist, it knew. Avitas had grown up on Theta, on the planet. He had an adopted younger sister, though, who was from off-planet.
“He’s no tourist. He’s wearing Thetan peasant clothing.” the doctor growled, standing and looking down at VE-19-0. “This is your last chance to come clean, or you will be punished.”
It did not want to be punished. But it did not want to bring harm to an innocent, either. “Will he be hurt if I tell you?” it asked.
“Perhaps. We would have to speak to him to ascertain what he knows before making a decision. Besides, why do you care? He’s just another human. He might be scum, but he’s better than you. You’re nothing, VE-19-0, and I think you perhaps need a reminder of that.” the Doctor’s voice was low and angry as he glared down at VE-19-0.
“I don’t need a reminder, sir. I know that I am nothing in comparison to people.” it replied, looking down at the table. It was nothing. Which was why it would do anything in its power to save a real person, someone who mattered to someone, somewhere. “He is not a threat.”
“We’ll decide whether or not he’s a threat. You just tell us who he is.”
“No. I can’t do that.” VE-19-0 replied.
The doctor sighed. “Alright.” he cracked his neck a little. “Then, effective immediately, all privileges are revoked, and you will be locked in the box for a few days. Obviously you need a reminder about who is in charge here.” the doctor went to a guard. VE-19-0 could hear him speaking. “Take away everything but the cot itself. No mattress, lights, books, nothing. No clothes, either. It has lost that privilege. Put it in the box, highest setting.”
VE-19-0 felt its throat close up as it heard the punishment for trying to protect Avitas. A human he barely knew. But a human, nonetheless. A human, so he mattered more than VE-19-0. It would survive this.
But that didn’t stop it from fighting as it was forced into the box, tears already streaming from its eyes at the prospect of what the next few days would do to its mind and body.
Oh my gosh I have a new favorite character man Orion/VE-19-0 is awesome!!!! I love, love, LOVE him, I legit can’t wait to read more about him. I love how he’s put into this ‘it’ mind frame and just ahhhhhh I love him, that’s all I have to say lol Plus I might have already starting shipping him oops
((my son????? im adopting him effective immediately and i WOULD die for him. poor child just wanted to keep an innocent person safe. baby))
Ahhh I'm so glad you guys like him!!! @Rvan he's my favorite too lol, and yeah the "it" mindframe was the hardest part. i kept trying to write "he" and "him" instead lol oof lol
Crocs, you are welcome to him lol
His story is definitely going to be the most tug-on-the-heartstrings of all of them :')
Legit that kinda happens to me when I switch between past tense and present tense stories lol
I think I have a ship cackles maniacly
Actually though, I love this! You keep the suspense really well and don't tell everything at once which is good
Legit that kinda happens to me when I switch between past tense and present tense stories lol
Lol
I think I have a ship cackles maniacly
Actually though, I love this! You keep the suspense really well and don't tell everything at once which is good
Lol. Ooh thank you so much!!
OH LORD HE'S MY NEW FAVORITE.
HANDS DOWN.