First-Light: Part 1 Chapter 9 by AtomicZu, literature
Literature
First-Light: Part 1 Chapter 9
THE CITY OF SKULLS
Mount Drakken had disappeared completely and more often than not, I questioned my sense of direction. "This is The Valley of Souls," I reminded myself time and time again; come the next bend it would be right where it used to be, perched on the horizon like a dragon on the highest tower of a medieval castle. By mid-afternoon it was still not there and slowly but surely, insecurity became my best friend.
By late afternoon, following the sun, I noticed that The Stainless-Steel Road had acquired a downward slant. The roadside forest was thinning and had given way to steadily ascending red-rock cliffs. As the sun disappeared completely over the horizon, the cliffs grew to over three hundred feet in height, with less than five inches between it and The Road.
I spent the night on the cold, hard surface of The Stainless-Steel Road and contemplated the absence of my other-self ever since I had ended up in this place. At first, I thought that we might have been
Rules of Engagement 13 by Door3Designs, literature
Literature
Rules of Engagement 13
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
7.2
Sam contemplated the situation that confronted him. They didn’t teach you in Ranger school how to acquire foreign transportation through legitimate mean. Illegitimate means, sure, but somehow it didn’t seem right to conk someone on the head and take their credits while maintaining the reputation of Samantha: the Shining Knight. Her means if given enough time would have sufficed as well. A few dozen trapped game, probably a week’s work and she could have earned enough for her to ride the flying train with the uprooted oak tree emblazoned on its side but that wasn’t an option.
Improvise, Overcome, Adapt…
Or…
Beg, Borrow or Steal…
Let’s try the first one Sam thought: Beg.
Samantha approached the Purple haired young woman Shelby. “Can you pay for my passage?” Samantha asked straightforward. No sense in sugarcoating her poverty. Surprisingly the girl had enough of what passed for currency in the wild lands to resolve Samantha’s dilemma and a quick exchange garnered
Sundari Chapter 3: The gangs all where now? by mattwandcow, literature
Literature
Sundari Chapter 3: The gangs all where now?
Disclaimer: I wrote @OneMessedUpHero's character Paul really really badly here. Please do not use this for any indication of what the character should sound like. I was contemplating skipping to the next chapter, but I was convinced otherwise.
A week ago, you couldn’t leave your front door without tripping over some sort of turf war with various gangs fighting over control over the city or something. Today though, when Sundari actually wanted to talk to someone of that ilk, they weren’t anywhere to be found. A tale as old as time.
She could go to a legal weapons broker, of course. There were a lot of shops that sold all sorts of things. In collecting the pieces for her shrine, she’d poked around. The problem was she was still vague on the currency of the Island, and the related question of how you acquired it. There certainly weren’t people paying tithes in exchange for divine services. Well… not as she was used to. The Thosers would revert people to their baseline and took
TUGS: Preparations and Conversations by Star-N-ZeroMarine, literature
Literature
TUGS: Preparations and Conversations
While Hercules was away up coast at the naval base, things in Bigg City were still busy with everyone working hard to meet the sudden spurt of activity. Big Mac and O.J were getting close to finishing their timber run. Ten Cents and Sunshine were still busy at the Steel Works, Top Hat was busy moving pier to pier with Frank and Eddie dropping off and picking up wagons and Warrior was busy on his Garbage runs. The Z Stacks too were still busy transporting their Munitions barges to the naval pool. They were on their last run of the day towing the final five barges down from Upriver. It has been a good day and nothing had gone wrong, even Zi...
Dawn of the nugget: a new leaf by disneyromance, literature
Literature
Dawn of the nugget: a new leaf
“It all started with a mission with two agents, when one night two agents, agent valentino volatili aka Steelbeak a yellow rooster with a metal beak of fowl”
Steelbeak is seen standing outside the Avian Heritage Museum.
He wears a white suit, dark red undershirt, a black bowtie, shoes, and pants and has green feathers.
The night is shrouded in secrecy, and the mission to acquire the Rosette Radiance Steelbeak prepares to infiltrate the museum, his determination fueled by the weight of a world-altering diamond and the sinister plot he's been entrusted with. The night unfolds, promising a high-stakes heist that could shape the destiny of nations.
“Agent Steelbeak are you at the location” the director who is a female called through his comlink.
Steelbeak discreetly responds through his comlink, "Affirmative. I'm in position outside the Avian Heritage Museum. Ready to proceed with the mission."
“Ok and you remember your assignment right?”
Steelbeak confidently replies, "Crystal clear. I'm here to secure the Rosette Radiance. Once in my possession, we'll be one step closer to our grand plan. Operation underway." he awaits the opportune moment to make his move inside the Avian Heritage Museum.
“Well good good luck agent steelbeak”
"Thank you, Director. I'll ensure the success of the mission," Steelbeak acknowledges, his focus intensifying as he prepares to navigate the museum's defenses. The night holds the promise of intrigue and suspense as the fate of the Rosette Radiance hangs in the balance.
But up on the rooftop was another agent, of shush getting ready to guard the diamond
“Agent Ann are you at the museum?” Says the director of shush calling through the comlink
“And agent Ann o’neale a willow ptarmigan and an agent of shush”
The agent of shush reminded mysterious as she was wearing a black jumpsuit with long black boots and black gloves, she also had a black helmet to hide her face.
From the rooftop, Ann replies through her comlink, "Affirmative. I'm in position, ready to safeguard the Rosette Radiance. Steelbeak won't get far."
“Very good girl this is why you are one of my best agents of shush”
Ann responds with a determined tone, "Thank you, Director. I won't let you down." The accolade fuels her resolve as she readies herself for the imminent showdown at the Avian Heritage Museum, where her loyalty to S.H.U.S.H. and the safety of the Rosette Radiance take precedence.
“Just remember agent Ann you must guard that diamond with your life we can’t have fowl get thief hands on that diamond”
"Understood, Director. The Rosette Radiance is in safe wings. I won't let F.O.W.L. lay a feather on it," Ann affirms, her commitment echoing through the comlink. The high-stakes mission intensifies as both agents, each with their own purpose, stand poised for the unfolding heist.
“Steelbeak it’s important that we must get that diamond it is the key to our plan for world domination”
Steelbeak, resolute in his mission, responds through the comlink, "I'm fully aware, Director. The Rosette Radiance will be in F.O.W.L.'s grasp soon, setting the stage for our grand plan." The heist is underway, and the fate of the diamond becomes a linchpin in the power struggle between F.O.W.L. and S.H.U.S.H.
“And whatever you do-“ says director of fowl.
“And no matter what happens-“ says the director of shush.
“We cannot let shush/fowl get their hands on that diamond” both directors said.
“Yes sir” says Ann.
Steelbeak affirms, "Rest assured, Director. The Rosette Radiance will be secure, and our rivals won't even catch a glimpse of it. F.O.W.L. will prevail."
A subtle moment of collision sends a shiver down their spines. In the dimly lit corridors of the Avian Heritage Museum, the unexpected contact between Steelbeak and Ann disrupts their stealthy maneuvers. They freeze, locked in a fleeting, shared moment, their eyes meeting in the shadows. The tension in the air grows as the agents grapple with the realization that they are not alone in this high-stakes mission.
“Hello agent steelbeak”
"Ann," Steelbeak responds, his voice a quiet acknowledgment in the shadows. The museum's silence amplifies the weight of their encounter, two agents from opposing worlds brought together by the twists of fate in the pursuit of a single diamond.
“What are you doing here”
Steelbeak, keeping his composure, replies, "I could ask you the same, Ann. Let's just say we both have a vested interest in what's behind these museum doors." The air thickens with intrigue as their paths intersect, and the Avian Heritage Museum becomes the clandestine battleground for F.O.W.L. and S.H.U.S.H.
“If you after the diamond forget it you’re gonna have to get through me first”
Ann, her tone resolute, asserts, "Steelbeak, if you're here for the Rosette Radiance, you'll have to go through me. This diamond won't fall into F.O.W.L.'s hands on my watch." The tension escalates as the Avian Heritage Museum transforms into the stage for an unexpected showdown between the two agents.
Steelbeak, maintaining a calm demeanor, retorts, "Ann, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. I have my orders, and I won't let anything stand in the way of F.O.W.L.'s plans. Move aside, and we both get what we want without unnecessary feathers flying." The air hangs heavy with the unresolved conflict as the two agents face off in the shadows of the museum.
Ann squares her shoulders, her eyes narrowing in determination. "Steelbeak, I've faced worse than F.O.W.L. in my time. You won't intimidate me."
Steelbeak, unfazed, leans in slightly, his metallic beak glinting in the low light. "Ann, I've navigated through the toughest situations. Your loyalty to S.H.U.S.H. won't change the outcome tonight. The Rosette Radiance will be ours."
The standoff intensifies as each agent attempts to outmatch the other in a battle of wills, the silent echoes of their rivalry reverberating through the museum's hallowed halls.
“It was a battle for the diamond as the two agents fought”
Ann, with lightning speed, deploys her gadgets in a rapid sequence aimed at disabling Steelbeak's metallic beak. The room becomes a battleground as they engage in a swift and acrobatic fight, each showcasing their skills and determination to fulfill their respective missions.
Steelbeak lunges forward, aiming to use his metallic beak as a formidable weapon, but Ann, displaying remarkable agility, maneuvers narrowly avoiding his attack. It was like a dance of evasion and strikes, highlighting the finesse and skill of these two agents in the midst of their clash.
A moment of physical exchange unfolds as Steelbeak manages to tear Ann's sleeve, revealing a glimpse of determination etched on her face and leaving a scar on her arm. In response, Ann retaliates with a swift and precise move, scratching Steelbeak's jacket he looked down then glared at her. The room echoes with the intensity of their struggle, the torn fabric and scratched material bearing witness to the clandestine conflict between these formidable agents.
The espionage evolves into a fierce fist-to-fist combat. Ann and Steelbeak, locked in a relentless struggle, exchange powerful blows in the dimly lit museum room. The echoes of their punches reverberate through the space, creating a cacophony that underscores the intensity of their rivalry. Each move is calculated, and the outcome remains uncertain as they engage in this high-stakes physical confrontation.
Ann kneed his chest, he fell holding his chest then he glared at her and he swings fist at her, she walks backwards dodging his fist then he swings his leg kicking her helmet off revealing her face.
She had mascara, black short hair and blue eyes, her beak was small and black, she glared at him.
“But suddenly…something magical happened”
In the midst of their intense physical confrontation, a surprising moment occurs. As Ann and Steelbeak lock hands, their eyes meet in a charged gaze. Steelbeak pinned her to the wall, In that instant, a subtle shift occurs within Steelbeak. He sees something in Ann's eyes—determination, perhaps, or an unexpected connection. A moment of vulnerability emerges, and to his own surprise, Steelbeak finds himself captivated.
The intense glare softens, and a flicker of something unfamiliar crosses Steelbeak's expression. It's a moment of realization, a twist in the narrative as the boundaries between adversaries blur. The room, once filled with the sounds of battle, now carries an unexpected tension, leaving both agents momentarily caught in a different kind of struggle – one of conflicting emotions.
In a surprising twist, as Steelbeak's gaze softens, Ann, too, begins to feel a shift within herself. The charged atmosphere takes on a different hue, and amidst the chaos of their confrontation, a subtle connection forms. It's a moment of unexpected vulnerability, where the lines between adversaries blur into something more complex.
Their hands, once locked in combat, now hold a different kind of tension. The realization that they may share more than just opposing allegiances introducing a thread of intrigue that weaves into the midst of their ongoing clash.
The unexpected tension between Ann and Steelbeak culminates in a moment of vulnerability. As if compelled by an unseen force, they find themselves drawn closer.
“And in that moment as they gaze into their eyes, they fell in love”
Leaning in, they let their hands go and fall on each other, steelbeak right hand cups her tail and his right hand holds on the other side of her ribcage pulling her close and Ann wraps her hand s around his neck.
The fierce confrontation transforms into an unexpected and passionate kiss, a moment that transcends their roles as adversaries.
The dimly lit museum room becomes a backdrop for this unexpected connection, and for a fleeting moment, the world outside their rivalry fades away. The lines between F.O.W.L. and S.H.U.S.H. blur, leaving only the echo of a shared moment that neither anticipated nor fully understands.
“Agent steelbeak, agent steelbeak are you there? Do you have the diamond? AGENT STEELBEAK! Do you copy!” Says the director coming from his comlink.
“Agent Ann, is the diamond secured? Agent Ann? Report back” says the director of shush in her comlink.
As the kiss deepens, the urgency of their directors' calls through the comlinks becomes a distant echo. In this unexpected moment of connection, the world outside their embrace fades away. The weight of the Rosette Radiance and the rivalry between F.O.W.L. and S.H.U.S.H. momentarily loses significance, drowned out by the intensity of the kiss.
Their comlinks drop to the floor, forgotten in the heat of the moment, as Ann and Steelbeak navigate uncharted territory in the midst of their clandestine clash. The museum room, once a battleground, transforms into a silent witness to a union that defies the constraints of their roles as agents.
“It was a forever love as it bloomed by the director of fowl felt betrayed and furious”
As the passionate kiss unfolds within the museum, unbeknownst to Ann and Steelbeak, the Director of F.O.W.L. stands on top of a building outside, a silent observer. The darkness conceals her expression, but her eyes glint with a mix of fury and betrayal as she witnesses the unexpected connection between two agents from opposing worlds.
The tension in the air shifts, and the outside world becomes privy to a moment that transcends the boundaries of espionage. The Director of F.O.W.L., left to contemplate this unforeseen twist, holds a glare that foretells potential consequences for the agents involved. The clandestine clash takes on new dimensions, and the ramifications of this unexpected union remain uncertain.
“And so agent Ann influenced steelbeak to leave fowl to join shush and together they defeated fowl”
In fowl’s headquarters, an explosion opened the door when fowl agents were working when the explosion made them jumped and shush agents plus Ann and steelbeak burst in, they started attacking fowl agents together.
“In the aftermath of their triumphant mission against F.O.W.L., amidst the echoes of victory, a new chapter began to unfold for Ann and Steelbeak”
transition to Ann and Steelbeak, victorious, amidst the subdued F.O.W.L. agents.
“With F.O.W.L. agents arrested and their sinister plots dismantled, the clandestine world seemed to bow to the triumph of S.H.U.S.H. Steelbeak found the perfect moment to seize his own victory. After all even crime deserve a little romance”
The setting shifts to a tranquil scene, where Ann watch shush takes fowl agents in, but sees Steelbeak stands before Ann, a glimmer of emotion in his eyes.
Then Steelbeak, his heart laid bare, dropped to one knee and extended a small, gleaming object, Steelbeak, holding a ring, looks up at Ann with sincerity.
The camera captures the emotion on Ann's face as she nods, accepting the proposal.
“ a future where love triumphed over the covert battles they had faced together”
They kissed and the it changed to them kissing on their wedding day, agents and friends and family were at the wedding.
Director Ludwig von drake, agent 22 (ms. Barkley) two British scientists lab rats of shush dr. Nick and fetcher who were crying, Ann’s mother, sister and grandmother and steelbeak’s brother Stefan
“And after the battle, steelbeak joined shush”
Steelbeak was nervous as Ann got him into shush then agents of shush surrounded steelbeak and cheered for him, welcoming him to shush as a new agent and as one of them.
He shook hands with ludwig von drake the directors of shush and he gives steelbeak a shush badge.
“But as time passed, it soon became time for Ann and steelbeak to hang up up the spy life, it became time for them to retire”
Steelbeak looked in his closet and frowned when inside was a small space brims with an array of F.O.W.L. memorabilia. The walls, cloaked in deep shades, showcase vintage propaganda posters featuring the ominous silhouette of the organization's emblematic vulture. A glass cabinet stands proudly, displaying meticulously arranged F.O.W.L. badges, each bearing the weight of the organization's clandestine history.
A weathered leather chair sits in a corner, where a framed photograph captures the leaders of F.O.W.L. from bygone eras, their steely gazes frozen in time. The room resonates with an air of secrecy, the shelves adorned with dusty files and ancient artifacts, each telling a tale of espionage and ambition.
In the center of the room, a polished mahogany desk holds a quill and inkwell, symbolizing the bureaucratic underpinnings of F.O.W.L.'s shadowy operations. The flickering light from an antique lamp casts an enigmatic glow, amplifying the mystique that permeates this sanctum of F.O.W.L. lore.
Then he shuts the door, having to let go of his past and he locks it, then he and Ann turn in their shush badges to Ludwig.
“When along The way they were gifted with a newborn baby on the way”
They moved in a small house, in a quiet town, in a nursery room, an was cradling an egg, it was their daughter Annie.
“They were going to start a new chapter in their life: raising their daughter Annie, but when one agent retired the others followed, nick and fetcher retired to Hawaii, agent 22 became a housekeeper to Scrooge mcduck and as for steelbeak and Ann…well they had to move to a small town to live a normal life to raise their daughter…and that is the story of how I meet your amazing mother” the scene changes to steelbeak telling his story to someone that’s when Ann overheard and came in.
“Telling our story again” Ann has changed…literally, from a super spy suit she changed to black knee boots skinny jeans and a white shirt, she crossed her arms and smiled as she walks in.
“Val, don’t you think bedtime stories might be a bit premature?” She tells her husband who is now a Cockfighting champion to provide for them.
“What, come on Ann, you’re never too young to learn where you came from. I figured she would want you to know what her parents used to do” steelbeak says.
They both look down in a nest like cradle that was holding their egg Annie.
“We moved here so we don’t have to relive in the past, You know what? I think it’s time to put the past behind us” Ann walks to a board with pictures and papers about shush”
“Past? What past? That past, behind us. But these, these are our glory days. And it’s one of the days where I made the best decision of my life, I got you” he puts his arms around Ann, “and our daughter” he gently place his hand on the egg, “and our new life here nothing could be better then this, I don’t even miss going back to fowl” he throws a dagger at a poster of fowl.
“That’s who we are” steelbeak says.
“It’s who we were” Ann tells him.
“I can’t believe it’s been three years since we defeated fowl” steelbeak reminded her of the past.
“We retired from being spies so our baby, our little Annie doesn’t have to” Ann says.
“I know we moved so we could give Annie a normal life she deserves, Y’know, you are right. We put the past behind us, fowl is gone and from now on, the only mission we have, is to keep our baby safe. And Don’t you worry. I won’t let anything happen to our little girl” steelbeak kissed the egg.
But suddenly it started to crack and they both gasped and steelbeak panicked.
“What do I do? What do I do?” He stuttered.
“It’s ok calm down Val” Ann assured him by taking his hand.
And when the egg cracked, a baby was hatched, she had her mom’s feathers and eyes and beak, and from her dad she had his red hair.
She opened her eyes and tasked, her parents were in awed, as little Annie saw them, she smiled.
“Welcome to the world…little Annie” steelbeak holds her in his arms and Ann cups her face.
When Kim rolled over at dawn, the electric blanket was turned off, and he was gone. Again. Cursing felt like the appropriate response, but she swallowed the urge and leapt out of bed instead, hurriedly jamming her pistol into her waistband and smoothing her shirt over it. She stuck her feet into a pair of sandals and flapped to the front door, and she had just grabbed hold of the knob when there was a knock from the other side. Two hard, dull thuds. Kim swallowed hard to dislodge her stomach from her throat and pressed her eye to the peep hole. Ainslie. She let out a breath and opened the door. “Were you waiting by the door or something?” ...
December, 16, 1773.The shocked, warm smile on his face when I open the door makes my stomach churn. "Alfred? You've grown quite tall, haven't you, lad?"
I smile, trying not to let the bitterness seep into my voice when I speak. "I didn't know you were coming."
"I returned to England just in time to make it on the ship."
As he walks in, he looks at me awkwardly, not able to mess my hair like he had when I was younger.
He turns, putting water in a kettle and on the burner. "How have you been, Alfred?"
A cold, harsh chuckle scrapes from my throat. "You mean other than the ridiculous taxes you've imposed on me?" I laugh, shaking my head. "Won...
Contemplations of a Flyleaf by SnoringFrog, literature
Literature
Contemplations of a Flyleaf
Flipping through my favorite volumes
From Verne, London, Wells, and the like,
To the more recent Chriton, Preston, and Jordan
To the scarcely known authors of books rarely read,
That I've been fortunate enough to acquire
One thing pesters me ad infinitum It resides behind every cover,
Occuring sometimes more than once
The pure white page before it all
And the pure white page, just after end,
Just 'fore one closes the ending cover
What are these pages for?
Certainly it is not for notes, as it may at first seem
For what genuine collector,
Would mar these marvelous volumes so?
Perhaps a child, would create such petty marks,
Diminishing the b...