TrashPanda
Just a Humble Dictator of Dumpsterdom
Dungeon Master
Inner Sanctum Nobility
♔ Champion ♔
- Local time
- Today 12:58 PM
- Messages
- 959
- Age
- 34
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Chicago.. A thriving utopia in the year 2509. Held strong throughout the course of history. Survived countless number of wars. Invasions from the land across the lake. Or what was a lake way back when. However now it sat empty of all its water, caused by the Great Drainage of 2090. Where there was a strange alien life form that invaded the earth. In seek of draining the world of its precious resource of water. That plan was thwarted by the world rising to the cause to take down a common foe. But that however is another story.
In 2450, Chicago and other parts of the world began to create other forms of defense. One in particular were Mechs. Giant machines that looked and moved like any human. Knowledge passed down from a space stranded race of humanoids known as Elves.
Elves were an alien race that arrived a few years prior to the knowledge gained of the might machinations. They were widespread across the planet. This became known as The Treaty.
In the Treaty itself the world's many leaders gathered and proposed a way to keep war and disagreements to a minimum. They proposed a way to challenge other nations to a simple contest of battle using said mechs. Winner takes all agreed gambled contents. Land, resources, ect.
Chicago itself had become its own nation. Strongest Mechs and Pilots that reigned supreme for years. The nation itself had managed to gain most of the upper United States.
Rigurd Torevald, a young male engineer, sat on the edge of the large Mech operation building eating an old earth lunch meal known as a PB&J Sandwich. He is favorite by far of all the earth's traditional lunch meals that could be replicated. Rigurd wore a white t-shirt under a set of suspenders that kept his heavily padded work pants up. Safety was their number one thing. Rigurd was a utility worker within the establishment. Cleaning the outside armor. Fixing dents and missing parts. He even cleaned up the inside of the machine's cockpit. Some of the pilots were very messy individuals. However he didn't complain. He got to work with them all in all. Piloting was another dream of his but the training and the publicity of it all. Was just too much for him. Wage wise and people wise.
Rigurd sighed as he stared out to the city before him. "Well it seems to be time to get back to work." He wrapped up the last half of the sandwich and tossed it in his side pack. Inside that pack he also carried a flashlight, his communicator, and two notebooks. One was his own ideas and roughly drawn schematics to improve the mechs in ways of mobility or combat prowess. However those were kept to himself. Afraid of what they might think or even deny that he may have the knowledge.
Rigurd retrieved the communicator and with a click of a button. On screen it said. "Calling Base"
After a brief moment. A female voice came through. "Base to Torevald?" The woman's voice was none other than Gwen. The base's head operator and Rigurd's friend. They had known each other since school. Gwen had been the one who pushed Rigurd to just join the Operation in the first place. She had a way of talking with him that could literally make him do whatever she wanted and what Gwen wanted was Rigurd to be happy. Their last conversation though. Had gone too well. She had offered Rigurd the credits to pursue training with the mech. Rigurd declined and told her that it was too much and that he would rather pay his own way through than accept her help. Well he called it "Charity" and well that started a whole whirlwind of anger coming from her.
He knew he had been wrong. However, that started off bad and ended. Well…. Worse.
Rigurd spoke to the screen. "Torevald. Returning to work. Please send authorization to my locator. Locator number U1337. For hanger 5."
"Authorization sent to U1337, Torevald, Rigurd. You are clear to enter hanger 5 on arrival." Gwen responded.
"Hey Gwen. After work you want…."
The line had already gone dead.
"Damn is she mad." He sighed and headed off back to the stairwell. He took the stairs down a floor before heading down the hallway to an elevator and said to the elevator command after entering. "Hanger 5, please."
Moments later the doors opened once again to a small halfway. He walked few steps forward and stopped by a machine. Where the computer screen read. "Hanger 5. Samurai" He tapped the screen and said. "Authorization Code: U1337."
The screen then reads. "Access granted."
"Yeap she is mad. No denied entry prank this time. I'll have to make it up to her." Rigurd then walked into the automatic door.
Inside the large hanger bay stood a mech 1,454 feet tall. The size to the tip of the old earth Empire state building. The black colossus was menacing looking unpiloted. It had the look of traditional Samurai armor or at least what the creators envisioned it would have looked like. Close or not. It was a work of art before him.
The pilot to the Samurai had died a year back. The mystery of his death hadn't been solved however. One day he just didn't show up to base. Operators had tried to contact via communicator but to avail they couldn't reach him. Dispatching military personnel to his homestead. Only to find him dead. The only clue was that his stomach had been pierced with a blade of some sort and then decapitated. Head just mere feets from his body.
Rigurd had known Wes before his mysterious murder. The only thing that he could recall about his friend was the amount that had changed him after a simple mission. Wes had come back different. The usually happy sarcastic demeanor seems to have vanished like a leaf in a hurricane. He kept to himself and was less enthusiastic about returning to base for work.
Proof that even the best of us can fall into darkness. What had caused him to change so much. Rigurd spent months looking into it secretly. However all footage that he could pull up was erased. Someone or something meant to keep whatever it was secret.
He walked over to the small utility platform. Set his pack down and began to pull on his safety jacket and gather his rather bulky belt of tools.
Two hours flew by as he inspected the lower half of the mech. When he heard the alarm go off. Rigurd looked about as he then heard Gwen's voice come over the intercom. "Attention. All Personnel, please report to the main corridor at this time. I repeat…"
Rigurd lowered the platform before throwing his coat off, grabbing his pack, and hurrying out the hanger. His mind raced at what was going on. Gwen had sounded slightly panicked over the intercom. Whatever was happening had spooked her bad.
Rigurd entered the main corridor and saw that it had been himself, Gwen and a few of the desk workers still within the facility. Gwen and him worked the night shift and it was late. Not just late but also Christmas Eve. Rigurd had no one waiting for him at home. So working into Christmas Day didn't matter.
Gwen wore a black top with a white over coat that covered the upper half of her torso. Her tight black skirt reaching her knees. Her long brown hair which she wore tied up complimented her small soft facial features with a set of beautiful brown eyes. She stood ready to address the others.
As soon as everyone that was still there that night was in the room. She spoke.
"We have a slight problem…. Over the last two hours we have what I am afraid to admit is snow fall. In the span of 2 hours nearly 4 feet of snow has fallen all over Chicago." She then brought up a live feed on screen of one of the cameras posted outside revealing a large bulk of Chicago. Completely covered in unknown white snow that has fallen.
A small gasp came from the small group gathered in the main lobby. There had been no sign of snow for hundreds of years till. A small bit of panic started to build from the crowd.
Gwen is trying to settle everyone down by saying. "I need everyone to remain calm and collected as we keep a close watch on this situation. Many of you know that snow hasn't fallen for hundreds of years. I am directly in contact with other stations keeping an eye on the situation. For now we have been ordered to remain calm and stay indoors. If this had only been 2 hours worth of snowfall and it is still falling at an alarming rate. Then we may be stuck here for some time…."
It was at that moment a news flash came on screen. It show a large section of northern Chicago territory. Buildings covered halfway up in the frigid powdery white substance. In the distance, there seemed to be a roiling storm brewing. A thick fog that showed no sign of parting. The anchors voice now began to speak. "At this time we are keeping an eye on the front. There have been reports of something within the storm. Local mech pilots are now being dispatched to investigate the storm within."
The camera then panned to the left showing a few large mechs of different sizes. One wielding a large hammer-like weapon the others seem to be gunners. One of the gunners had a turret mount on its shoulder.
They began to advance towards the storm. The anchor's voice returned. We now give you a live feed from the helmet comms of the lead pilot."
"Pilot Jameson to base. We are advancing on the storm. All detectors on and steady." Moving slowly towards the storm taking each and every step of caution.
"Still nothing base. We are roughly 1 kilo from the storm…. Wait! What was that!?"
The pilots now closer to the storm were unaware of just what was going to emerge from the storm. As a slightly larger almost raptor-like ice skeletal creature launched itself from the mist and pounced on one of the struck unaware mechs.
"Base we have contact! Pilots open fire!" But before the order could be followed. The slight pause of shock was the pilots undoing. Several more raptor-like creatures emerged and began to savagely attack the mech. The last thing everyone could hear was the screams of the lead pilot. One of the creatures dispatched its victim then with a loud roar from its frozen bone jaw. A silence came over the area as the fog began to retreat. However it wasn't leaving. No. More like being inhaled. Inhaled by something gigantic.
The creature behind the fog was now revealed to be a frozen bone-like creature. The head of the creature had no eyes, with a large mouth that showed large razor sharp jagged icicles like teeth. It was low to the ground before it began to rise up. The frozen bone arms holding its large frame up. Three sword-like claws came from each hand.
The onlookers in the crowd gasped almost in unison. Rigurd stared in disbelief as this could be real. He walked up to get a closer look. He stared unbothered till a presence was next to him. Looking to his left stood Gwen. She had moved closer to him till she was nearly an inch away. He then felt her hand in his. She was frightened and he could tell from how much she was shaking.
"I'm scared, Rigurd."
Rigurd nodded and with a gentle squeeze of her hand said. "I would be lying if I denied my own fear of the situation."
Just then Gwen's hand comm buzzed. She brought up the comm with her free hand. Still not letting go of Rigurd's hand with the other. "Gwen here."
"Sector 7 has fallen and it seems to be heading straight in your direction. Order all pilots to engage hostiles. Whatever you do…. Protocol S is not to be activated. Understood." A mans voice came from the comm.
Gwen tensed up before responding. "Yes, sir."
With a simple beep the line was dead. Gwen hit another button on her comms. "Attention all Pilots. Orders are to mobilize and confront the threat at hand." She then clicked off the comms after repeating the announcement.
Rigurd looked to her and asked. "Protocol S?"
Gwen shook her head. "Classified and unable to share… I have to go to the desk."
"I will head down and help with preparing the pilots." Rigurd said before attempting to move away and towards the elevator. However her hand had not let him go.
"Rigurd.." she paused then continued. "Whatever happens don't do anything stupid please."
Rigurd looked at her face and knew something was bothering her, but now was not the time. He smiled. "Me?… Do something stupid? You know me better than that."
"I am serious Rigurd. Just promise me." She said angrily to him. But he could see more worry than anger. Rigurd put his one free hand up. "Alright. I promise. I will just help them get the mechs ready. Then I'll be back here."
Gwen nodded then let his hand go, before heading off towards the Ops station. Rigurd took the moment to watch her leave. He smiled. "When do I ever do something stupid?" He shook his head and too began to head off. To help prepare the other pilots for combat.
It hadn't been long before the alarms started to ring across the facility. Rigurd had just finished up with mechanically loading live rounds into one of the mechs. He wiped his forehead and gave a thumbs up to the pilot. "All set. Reloading stations also have been authorized to your pilot protocol. Stay safe!"
The pilot nodded before entering his mech. Which was a bulkier mech that carried a large cannon on its back. Heavy firepower and thick armor for melee combat. Rigurd lowered himself off the platform hitting the auto release button on the console. So when the pilot was ready. They could disengage at will.
Rigurd exited the bay and found himself having finished his task. Rigurd sighed deeply before walking down the hall.
As he traversed the hallway. He found something strange. The door to the black samurai's bay was wide open. Rigurd slowly approached a hand on his utility belt. Where he had a taser like device ready for defense. Looking into the small hallway before the bay, the console inside was disengaged showing on screen that access was breached.
"What the hell…." He walked over to the console pulling out his comm. "Base."
Gwen's voice came back. "Rigurd?! What do you need?"
"Gwen, did you activate the bay to Black Samurai?"
"No, wh…" Gwen went silent for a moment. "Breached…. How? Rigurd. Whatever you do! Do not enter the bay!" The panic was very apparent in her voice.
Rigurd responded. "What is going on Gwen? I am entering." Before she could talk him out of it. Rigurd ended the comm line and moved into the bay. Nothing was out of place. The mech was still there. He looked over the room again and found one thing that stuck out. The console screen had been lit up. Rigurd approached the platform. The screen displayed a male struck with grief on screen with the play button option ready. The male onscreen was Wes. He touched the screen and the video began to play.
"Rigurd. Hey buddy. If you are seeing this well. I am either dead or I have finally gotten away from this life. Either way I need to make you aware of what exactly you and I are. My name is really Herald James Torevald and I am your father Rigurd. I had never been completely ready to raise a son. So I substituted that with becoming your friend and mentor. The reason I had been with the Black Samurai is because it has chosen me to pilot it instead of your mother. Part of my mindset of being a father from afar was because when you were born. She had passed away during childbirth. Your mother was the one who built and piloted the Black Samurai. I was then proxied into it. Till you were of age. However somewhere down the line. I wasn't ready to reveal any of this." Rigurd paused the video and took a step back. He looked up to the Black samurai in disbelief. "What the hell is going on?"
Rigurd then stepped back towards the console and resumed the video.
"Your elven mother's bloodline was of the first to arrive and create these mechs and from my observation. You are exactly like your mother. Rigurd you are half-elven and the power of the Permaris bloodline flows through you. I hope it is well into the future that you may see this.
I was out on patrol along the upper part of the world. Responding to a distress call.I had found something terrible there. A dangerous entity. Not knowing what this entity was I had found a way to push it back and seal it away. Ever since then I have had to keep it secret. Classified. The Black samurai is not only a weapon, it is an entity of its own. It is the key to dealing with the entity. If this is being shown to you now. That means it has come seeking revenge. Rigurd. Whatever my fate might have been. One must climb into that mech and pilot it. Due to your blood. When you pilot it. The black samurai will transfer all of its combat knowledge to you. Do as you must with the rest. Survive. Goodbye my son."
With that the screen went blank. Rigurd could only stare at the screen. He did so for quite some time before he heard the heels of his friend enter. "Rigurd!" Gwen yelled into the mech bay. She turned her head and spotted him. Walking over, she could tell something had happened.
"How long have you known Gwen? Am I Protocol S?" Rigurd asked, still staring at the screen.
"Long enough. Rigurd, you have to understand why we couldn't tell you. Especially after his death. It would have devastated you." Gwen walked up and put a hand on his shoulder. "It was after his death that we found out. It was the Director's orders. I had my hands tied."
Rigurd placed his hand on the console and it came to life. He then pulled up the mech of the lead pilot. Showing the combat cam. They were barely fighting off the army of creatures from the fog.
"Gwen…. I can't keep my promise. I may have to do something stupid." He looked at her.
Gwen gasped and then began to argue. "Rigurd, No! You promised! I won't allow you! I don't… want to lose you.." She looked him in the eyes as if demanding him with some sort of mind control power. "If I lose you….I…"
He looked at the screen. Which now displayed the last remaining pilot's mech being pummeled by the onslaught of creatures. Then he looked up to the mech before them.
"Gwen, listen. I know what I must do now. To protect everyone. Especially you." He put a hand under her chin then caressed her cheek. "You have protected me. Now I must repay that. I understand why you kept this from me."
"Rigurd, no. Please." Tears began to well up in the corner of her eyes. Enough that one tear did make it escape down her cheek. Only to be wiped away by his thumb.
"Gwen. I must go." He then leaned down and planted his lips to hers. Without hesitation she began to kiss him back. For a minute they stood there in the moment before they stopped and looked into one another's eyes.
Gwen placed a hand on his chest. "I don't like this one bit. If you must, I will stay at the comms. If it becomes too dangerous. I want you to run. Come back to me."
Rigurd nodded and replied. "Now that… I can promise you." He then gave her a quick kiss. "After I get back. We can talk about this."
"The video. I don't know if I…" She was cut off by a well placed finger to her lips. Rigurd smiled.
"No. I meant us." He chucked.
"What is there to talk about? Other than what took you so long. I swear I almost wrote it on my forehead so many times. Hey… I am not done talking!" She frustratingly yelled to him as she now noticed he was halfway up and into the cockpit of the mech.
"Gwen! I am a man. Not a mindreader. A simple species with simple ideas and goals. Now I have the greatest goal of them all. To come back to you." He then pulled down the hatch and moved over to the pilots console.
The console lit up as he took his seat. "Alright. Let's see what we can do here."
A small device popped out from the left of him displaying a place to set his hand. He placed his hand down on the device and a small sting came to his hand. Out of reflex he pulled his hand back. "Damn. Ok let's try this again." He placed his hand down and fought the stinging sensation.
Nothing happened at first. But then the entire cockpit lit up. "Rigurd Torevald, Welcome. Keep your hand on the console for the memory injection process."
Rigurd did as he was told and with a sudden pain to his head. He closed his eyes. Flashes of images began to bombard his mind. As if his mind were a computer and downloading every bit of knowledge. When the computer had told him the transfer was complete. He opened his eyes. As if he had done it a billion times. His hand moved to the other part of the console. Outside the mech began to move. Below he could see Gwen near the door looking at him.
The mech then reached over and pulled the blade from where it was resting on a large weapon rack nearby. Sliding it into its sheath at the mech side. Rigurd then hit a button on the console. The floor beneath the mech began to rise and the hatch above began to open. Revealing the sky above.
After the mech fully cleared the rise and was available to move. Rigurd commanded the mech to step off the platform and onto the ground below. With a loud crunch to the snow below. Rigurd pointed the mech towards the storm and set it to run. There was no time to worry about the amount of ground shaking beneath the mech. He had to get out there.
He was right before the storm in no time. The creatures were beginning to tear their prey apart. Rigurd commanded the mech to draw its blade. The blade slid out from the sheath letting out that song-like ring. "Alright, let's see this thing in action." Rigurd said, trying to fight the slight nervousness that was starting to eat him up.
The first group rushed towards him. One reached him almost instantly. Rigurd blocked the claw coming down with the katana blade then bashed the creature with the hilt before overhead slicing downward cutting the creature in two. The second one just after it attempted to lunge at him. He sidestepped and swept the creature's back. The blade cuts into the hide of the creature like butter and it falls limp to the ground.
A third creature ran towards attempting to leap at him. He lunged at the creature basically shish kebabing it in the stomach area before whirling around the creature and back handing a forth creature attempting to join in the fight.
Rigurd fought these creatures. Taking as many as he could down. When suddenly it was as if they stopped advancing. Rigurd knew this might be a bad sign. The creatures were looking to get its leader to attempt to take him down.
The fog behind the line of creatures again began to be inhaled by the same creature. The leader of them, began to move forward. Rigurd readied himself. Without any warning the creature swiped its big claw towards Rigurd.
Rigurd jumped backwards and away from the swipe. Still within reach he brought his blade down catching the creature's claws with a good bite. Rigurd then attempted to strike towards the creature's head. But was met with its other claw catching him in the side. The Samurai went spiraling across the ground. Using the momentum, Rigurd rolled the mech back to its feet and charged forth against it again. The creature tried to counter with a sweep of its claw. However Rigurd was ready and commanded the mech to jump over the swipe and attempt to attack the creature. The blade connects with the upper part of the arm of the creature. Leaving a good gash in the frozen armor.
The creature, frustrated, then attempted an attack with its jaws. Rigurd raised the blade up and it caught both top and bottom of its mouth with the two sides of the blade. Finding it lodged in it's jaw. Rigurd moved outside of the jaw and with the fist of the Samurai. Started slamming onto the snout to attempt to have the blade pierce the inside. Hitting with all the mech might. Lost in the moment of driving that jaw shut. Rigurd didn't see the claw coming towards him till it was too late. The Claw hit with a loud thud that drove Rigurd and the mech into the dirt.
Inside the cockpit Rigurd had gotten thrown around in the slam. He peeked from the seat. The Samurai's console screen showed critical damage to the lower half of the mech.
"Damn." He pulled himself from the seat and started for the exit latch. When he climbed out and jumped to the ground. He looked up to see the creature too had been dispatched. He sat down and took a breather. His nerves finally started to calm.
But that was short lived. As there was a hiss from the head of the creature's skull. It too began to open revealing a more organic cockpit.
"You have got to be shitting me. Hey buddy! I think we need to call it a truce here." Rigurd called out into the fog. Exiting the mist like fog was a large frozen knight. Its armor was covered in ice across the plate. Almost viking-like in design.
Rigurd pulled himself to his feet. "Alright, I will have to admit. Your armor is amazing looking. Almost jealous of it…."
Rigurd's comm then rings. He pulls it from his belt and speaks. "Gwen. I am ok. Well for now. Sir Frozen Foods might have something different to say."
"Rigurd you need to get out of there. We have lost visual feed." Gwen answered. He could hear the panic in her voice.
"Torevald…." The knights voice rang out across the field separating the two of them.
"Shit, he knows my name.. Gwen…It might be too late now. But I need you to know. That I regret not seeing the signs. If I could go back. I would take the chance to kiss you again. I've always wanted to but was always afraid that you hadn't felt the same way. This might be the end. So I want you to know that if I make it out of here alive. I owe you the world. A better world. For as long as you are happy. Well. Then my world is happy. You are that world." Rigurd walks over to the mech and climbs into the cockpit and hits a button on the side. Revealing a Katana within a locked case. He straps it to his belt. Gwen had not answered back to him yet.
"Rigurd… Please. Come back to me. You too mean so much to me and I can't lose you." Said after he landed on the ground outside. He put the comms his jacket over his heart.
"I would. If I could move the mech. Send a Tow-mech. I have a request. I want you to stay on the comms till this is done."
Her answer came quickly afterwards. "Dispatched and sent your way. I am not hang up on you."
Rigurd nodded then with a sigh. "Well let us see this bastard on the battlefield. Shall we?"
Rigurd then walked towards the approaching knight.
"Torevald…" The knight repeated.
"Let's cut to the chase buddy. You know my last name and that is fine. However it seems we need to settle this, whatever this is?" Rigurd stopped and drew the blade. The knights blade already in hand was a large greatsword made entirely from ice and it looked deadly. The knight then began to pick up speed and charge towards Rigurd.
The first swing came from the knight. Rigurd ducked under it and struck with his own blade. Knight was able to quickly recover the swing and block with the blade just below the hilt. Swinging the blade upward. Sending Rigurd back peddling away. Rigurd regained his footing and had to immediately put up his guard as the knight Attempted to slam its plated fist into his face. The fist collided with the blade and once again he was sent backwards.
Rigurd now taking big breaths ready for the next attack. Which came in an overhead slam down towards him. The flat of the blade coming down.
"Shit!" He said before rolling safely out of the way. That attack would have flattened him. He took the opportunity to counter attack. Rigurd lunged forth and swept across the Knight's chest. The blades harmlessly scraped off the frozen parts of its chest before the blade caught the arm of the knight cutting a large gash on it.
The knight stumbled back and attempted to return to the attack without one of its arms .The knight rushed Rigurd. With the intent this time is to kill. Rigurd returned the blade it's sheath and took on the draw style technique. "This is for you Wes…" Closing his eyes and taking that steady breath. He then firmed up his stance and waited.
When the knight reached to strike. Rigurd took a firm step forward drawing the blade and striking. The sword now cut the air above his head as he could feel his own blade making purchase onto the flesh of the knight.
The moment hung there for what seemed to be an eternity before. The sound of metal hitting the ground signaled the fall of the knight. The blade in Rigurd's hand pointed outward before he sheathed it back into its casing.
—--------
Back at base. Gwen sat against the wall. Her head in her arms. Tears free flowing from her eyes. Her comm with Rigurd had gone completely silent. Communications were silenced due to the cold. She felt alone. She didn't know the fate of Rigurd. It had been hours since the tows had headed for the Black Samurai. Her heart hurt to the core. The fate of the man she loved was lost to the wind. She started to sob into her arms again. "Rigurd… You promised." She whispered.
"I did promise you, Gwen." The familiar voice said just before her. She looked up. Her eyes are red and puffy from crying. Her heart leapt from its darkened state when she saw who had said those words.
Rigurd knelt before her. His smile vanquished all the sadness and grief in an instant. See threw herself at him. Who caught her and pulled her into a hug. "I had thought I lost you." She cried as she nuzzled into his chest.
"I blame the comms personally. The one I had froze in the arctic wind. Fried the poor thing out. Is it too late to ask for another one for Christmas?" He said as he rubbed her back. "Everything is ok now." She pulled away and forced a kiss to his lips. Where they shared that moment for a good minute.
—---------
Months later, Rigurd sat on the shoulder of the large Mech known as the Black Samurai. That familiar sandwich in hand. Peanut Butter and Jelly. He was going to take a bite when the comms flared to life inside the cockpit. "Base to Rigurd. Come in Rigurd." It was Gwen's voice. He set the sandwich in his trusty tool box and climbed back into the cockpit. Hitting the button to the comms.
"Rigurd here. What do we got, Beautiful?" He said with a smile.
"We have hostiles moving in from sector 9. We are dispatching the Black Samurai." She returned.
"10-4, Moving to intercept. Hey when I get back. Dinner? I was thinking of something simple but romantic in the setting." He looked at the small photo of the two of them on their first date together as a couple. She wore a black dress that day and in the booth they took the opportunity to share a kiss that was now captured in the photo.
"Well, Torevald… You have to make sure to make it back to me in one piece." She replied. Rigurd smile grew wider. As he sat down in the seat and fired up the Mech.
"Well then we will have to make sure of that. Black Samurai out!" He hit the comms end button. He then drummed his hands against the console.
"Alrighty Bud. Let's go take out the trash." Turning the Black Samurai south toward sector 9. He set the mech to an easy running pace.
After the snow had fallen during Christmas. It had changed Rigurd Torevald's life in so many ways. Now if he can keep it all. Well that is another story for another time.
Happy Holidays to you reader and may you enjoy the many adventures ahead of you. Those that are in the art form of literature, in movies, or when you are simply are just walking to your next destination.
In 2450, Chicago and other parts of the world began to create other forms of defense. One in particular were Mechs. Giant machines that looked and moved like any human. Knowledge passed down from a space stranded race of humanoids known as Elves.
Elves were an alien race that arrived a few years prior to the knowledge gained of the might machinations. They were widespread across the planet. This became known as The Treaty.
In the Treaty itself the world's many leaders gathered and proposed a way to keep war and disagreements to a minimum. They proposed a way to challenge other nations to a simple contest of battle using said mechs. Winner takes all agreed gambled contents. Land, resources, ect.
Chicago itself had become its own nation. Strongest Mechs and Pilots that reigned supreme for years. The nation itself had managed to gain most of the upper United States.
Rigurd Torevald, a young male engineer, sat on the edge of the large Mech operation building eating an old earth lunch meal known as a PB&J Sandwich. He is favorite by far of all the earth's traditional lunch meals that could be replicated. Rigurd wore a white t-shirt under a set of suspenders that kept his heavily padded work pants up. Safety was their number one thing. Rigurd was a utility worker within the establishment. Cleaning the outside armor. Fixing dents and missing parts. He even cleaned up the inside of the machine's cockpit. Some of the pilots were very messy individuals. However he didn't complain. He got to work with them all in all. Piloting was another dream of his but the training and the publicity of it all. Was just too much for him. Wage wise and people wise.
Rigurd sighed as he stared out to the city before him. "Well it seems to be time to get back to work." He wrapped up the last half of the sandwich and tossed it in his side pack. Inside that pack he also carried a flashlight, his communicator, and two notebooks. One was his own ideas and roughly drawn schematics to improve the mechs in ways of mobility or combat prowess. However those were kept to himself. Afraid of what they might think or even deny that he may have the knowledge.
Rigurd retrieved the communicator and with a click of a button. On screen it said. "Calling Base"
After a brief moment. A female voice came through. "Base to Torevald?" The woman's voice was none other than Gwen. The base's head operator and Rigurd's friend. They had known each other since school. Gwen had been the one who pushed Rigurd to just join the Operation in the first place. She had a way of talking with him that could literally make him do whatever she wanted and what Gwen wanted was Rigurd to be happy. Their last conversation though. Had gone too well. She had offered Rigurd the credits to pursue training with the mech. Rigurd declined and told her that it was too much and that he would rather pay his own way through than accept her help. Well he called it "Charity" and well that started a whole whirlwind of anger coming from her.
He knew he had been wrong. However, that started off bad and ended. Well…. Worse.
Rigurd spoke to the screen. "Torevald. Returning to work. Please send authorization to my locator. Locator number U1337. For hanger 5."
"Authorization sent to U1337, Torevald, Rigurd. You are clear to enter hanger 5 on arrival." Gwen responded.
"Hey Gwen. After work you want…."
The line had already gone dead.
"Damn is she mad." He sighed and headed off back to the stairwell. He took the stairs down a floor before heading down the hallway to an elevator and said to the elevator command after entering. "Hanger 5, please."
Moments later the doors opened once again to a small halfway. He walked few steps forward and stopped by a machine. Where the computer screen read. "Hanger 5. Samurai" He tapped the screen and said. "Authorization Code: U1337."
The screen then reads. "Access granted."
"Yeap she is mad. No denied entry prank this time. I'll have to make it up to her." Rigurd then walked into the automatic door.
Inside the large hanger bay stood a mech 1,454 feet tall. The size to the tip of the old earth Empire state building. The black colossus was menacing looking unpiloted. It had the look of traditional Samurai armor or at least what the creators envisioned it would have looked like. Close or not. It was a work of art before him.
The pilot to the Samurai had died a year back. The mystery of his death hadn't been solved however. One day he just didn't show up to base. Operators had tried to contact via communicator but to avail they couldn't reach him. Dispatching military personnel to his homestead. Only to find him dead. The only clue was that his stomach had been pierced with a blade of some sort and then decapitated. Head just mere feets from his body.
Rigurd had known Wes before his mysterious murder. The only thing that he could recall about his friend was the amount that had changed him after a simple mission. Wes had come back different. The usually happy sarcastic demeanor seems to have vanished like a leaf in a hurricane. He kept to himself and was less enthusiastic about returning to base for work.
Proof that even the best of us can fall into darkness. What had caused him to change so much. Rigurd spent months looking into it secretly. However all footage that he could pull up was erased. Someone or something meant to keep whatever it was secret.
He walked over to the small utility platform. Set his pack down and began to pull on his safety jacket and gather his rather bulky belt of tools.
Two hours flew by as he inspected the lower half of the mech. When he heard the alarm go off. Rigurd looked about as he then heard Gwen's voice come over the intercom. "Attention. All Personnel, please report to the main corridor at this time. I repeat…"
Rigurd lowered the platform before throwing his coat off, grabbing his pack, and hurrying out the hanger. His mind raced at what was going on. Gwen had sounded slightly panicked over the intercom. Whatever was happening had spooked her bad.
Rigurd entered the main corridor and saw that it had been himself, Gwen and a few of the desk workers still within the facility. Gwen and him worked the night shift and it was late. Not just late but also Christmas Eve. Rigurd had no one waiting for him at home. So working into Christmas Day didn't matter.
Gwen wore a black top with a white over coat that covered the upper half of her torso. Her tight black skirt reaching her knees. Her long brown hair which she wore tied up complimented her small soft facial features with a set of beautiful brown eyes. She stood ready to address the others.
As soon as everyone that was still there that night was in the room. She spoke.
"We have a slight problem…. Over the last two hours we have what I am afraid to admit is snow fall. In the span of 2 hours nearly 4 feet of snow has fallen all over Chicago." She then brought up a live feed on screen of one of the cameras posted outside revealing a large bulk of Chicago. Completely covered in unknown white snow that has fallen.
A small gasp came from the small group gathered in the main lobby. There had been no sign of snow for hundreds of years till. A small bit of panic started to build from the crowd.
Gwen is trying to settle everyone down by saying. "I need everyone to remain calm and collected as we keep a close watch on this situation. Many of you know that snow hasn't fallen for hundreds of years. I am directly in contact with other stations keeping an eye on the situation. For now we have been ordered to remain calm and stay indoors. If this had only been 2 hours worth of snowfall and it is still falling at an alarming rate. Then we may be stuck here for some time…."
It was at that moment a news flash came on screen. It show a large section of northern Chicago territory. Buildings covered halfway up in the frigid powdery white substance. In the distance, there seemed to be a roiling storm brewing. A thick fog that showed no sign of parting. The anchors voice now began to speak. "At this time we are keeping an eye on the front. There have been reports of something within the storm. Local mech pilots are now being dispatched to investigate the storm within."
The camera then panned to the left showing a few large mechs of different sizes. One wielding a large hammer-like weapon the others seem to be gunners. One of the gunners had a turret mount on its shoulder.
They began to advance towards the storm. The anchor's voice returned. We now give you a live feed from the helmet comms of the lead pilot."
"Pilot Jameson to base. We are advancing on the storm. All detectors on and steady." Moving slowly towards the storm taking each and every step of caution.
"Still nothing base. We are roughly 1 kilo from the storm…. Wait! What was that!?"
The pilots now closer to the storm were unaware of just what was going to emerge from the storm. As a slightly larger almost raptor-like ice skeletal creature launched itself from the mist and pounced on one of the struck unaware mechs.
"Base we have contact! Pilots open fire!" But before the order could be followed. The slight pause of shock was the pilots undoing. Several more raptor-like creatures emerged and began to savagely attack the mech. The last thing everyone could hear was the screams of the lead pilot. One of the creatures dispatched its victim then with a loud roar from its frozen bone jaw. A silence came over the area as the fog began to retreat. However it wasn't leaving. No. More like being inhaled. Inhaled by something gigantic.
The creature behind the fog was now revealed to be a frozen bone-like creature. The head of the creature had no eyes, with a large mouth that showed large razor sharp jagged icicles like teeth. It was low to the ground before it began to rise up. The frozen bone arms holding its large frame up. Three sword-like claws came from each hand.
The onlookers in the crowd gasped almost in unison. Rigurd stared in disbelief as this could be real. He walked up to get a closer look. He stared unbothered till a presence was next to him. Looking to his left stood Gwen. She had moved closer to him till she was nearly an inch away. He then felt her hand in his. She was frightened and he could tell from how much she was shaking.
"I'm scared, Rigurd."
Rigurd nodded and with a gentle squeeze of her hand said. "I would be lying if I denied my own fear of the situation."
Just then Gwen's hand comm buzzed. She brought up the comm with her free hand. Still not letting go of Rigurd's hand with the other. "Gwen here."
"Sector 7 has fallen and it seems to be heading straight in your direction. Order all pilots to engage hostiles. Whatever you do…. Protocol S is not to be activated. Understood." A mans voice came from the comm.
Gwen tensed up before responding. "Yes, sir."
With a simple beep the line was dead. Gwen hit another button on her comms. "Attention all Pilots. Orders are to mobilize and confront the threat at hand." She then clicked off the comms after repeating the announcement.
Rigurd looked to her and asked. "Protocol S?"
Gwen shook her head. "Classified and unable to share… I have to go to the desk."
"I will head down and help with preparing the pilots." Rigurd said before attempting to move away and towards the elevator. However her hand had not let him go.
"Rigurd.." she paused then continued. "Whatever happens don't do anything stupid please."
Rigurd looked at her face and knew something was bothering her, but now was not the time. He smiled. "Me?… Do something stupid? You know me better than that."
"I am serious Rigurd. Just promise me." She said angrily to him. But he could see more worry than anger. Rigurd put his one free hand up. "Alright. I promise. I will just help them get the mechs ready. Then I'll be back here."
Gwen nodded then let his hand go, before heading off towards the Ops station. Rigurd took the moment to watch her leave. He smiled. "When do I ever do something stupid?" He shook his head and too began to head off. To help prepare the other pilots for combat.
It hadn't been long before the alarms started to ring across the facility. Rigurd had just finished up with mechanically loading live rounds into one of the mechs. He wiped his forehead and gave a thumbs up to the pilot. "All set. Reloading stations also have been authorized to your pilot protocol. Stay safe!"
The pilot nodded before entering his mech. Which was a bulkier mech that carried a large cannon on its back. Heavy firepower and thick armor for melee combat. Rigurd lowered himself off the platform hitting the auto release button on the console. So when the pilot was ready. They could disengage at will.
Rigurd exited the bay and found himself having finished his task. Rigurd sighed deeply before walking down the hall.
As he traversed the hallway. He found something strange. The door to the black samurai's bay was wide open. Rigurd slowly approached a hand on his utility belt. Where he had a taser like device ready for defense. Looking into the small hallway before the bay, the console inside was disengaged showing on screen that access was breached.
"What the hell…." He walked over to the console pulling out his comm. "Base."
Gwen's voice came back. "Rigurd?! What do you need?"
"Gwen, did you activate the bay to Black Samurai?"
"No, wh…" Gwen went silent for a moment. "Breached…. How? Rigurd. Whatever you do! Do not enter the bay!" The panic was very apparent in her voice.
Rigurd responded. "What is going on Gwen? I am entering." Before she could talk him out of it. Rigurd ended the comm line and moved into the bay. Nothing was out of place. The mech was still there. He looked over the room again and found one thing that stuck out. The console screen had been lit up. Rigurd approached the platform. The screen displayed a male struck with grief on screen with the play button option ready. The male onscreen was Wes. He touched the screen and the video began to play.
"Rigurd. Hey buddy. If you are seeing this well. I am either dead or I have finally gotten away from this life. Either way I need to make you aware of what exactly you and I are. My name is really Herald James Torevald and I am your father Rigurd. I had never been completely ready to raise a son. So I substituted that with becoming your friend and mentor. The reason I had been with the Black Samurai is because it has chosen me to pilot it instead of your mother. Part of my mindset of being a father from afar was because when you were born. She had passed away during childbirth. Your mother was the one who built and piloted the Black Samurai. I was then proxied into it. Till you were of age. However somewhere down the line. I wasn't ready to reveal any of this." Rigurd paused the video and took a step back. He looked up to the Black samurai in disbelief. "What the hell is going on?"
Rigurd then stepped back towards the console and resumed the video.
"Your elven mother's bloodline was of the first to arrive and create these mechs and from my observation. You are exactly like your mother. Rigurd you are half-elven and the power of the Permaris bloodline flows through you. I hope it is well into the future that you may see this.
I was out on patrol along the upper part of the world. Responding to a distress call.I had found something terrible there. A dangerous entity. Not knowing what this entity was I had found a way to push it back and seal it away. Ever since then I have had to keep it secret. Classified. The Black samurai is not only a weapon, it is an entity of its own. It is the key to dealing with the entity. If this is being shown to you now. That means it has come seeking revenge. Rigurd. Whatever my fate might have been. One must climb into that mech and pilot it. Due to your blood. When you pilot it. The black samurai will transfer all of its combat knowledge to you. Do as you must with the rest. Survive. Goodbye my son."
With that the screen went blank. Rigurd could only stare at the screen. He did so for quite some time before he heard the heels of his friend enter. "Rigurd!" Gwen yelled into the mech bay. She turned her head and spotted him. Walking over, she could tell something had happened.
"How long have you known Gwen? Am I Protocol S?" Rigurd asked, still staring at the screen.
"Long enough. Rigurd, you have to understand why we couldn't tell you. Especially after his death. It would have devastated you." Gwen walked up and put a hand on his shoulder. "It was after his death that we found out. It was the Director's orders. I had my hands tied."
Rigurd placed his hand on the console and it came to life. He then pulled up the mech of the lead pilot. Showing the combat cam. They were barely fighting off the army of creatures from the fog.
"Gwen…. I can't keep my promise. I may have to do something stupid." He looked at her.
Gwen gasped and then began to argue. "Rigurd, No! You promised! I won't allow you! I don't… want to lose you.." She looked him in the eyes as if demanding him with some sort of mind control power. "If I lose you….I…"
He looked at the screen. Which now displayed the last remaining pilot's mech being pummeled by the onslaught of creatures. Then he looked up to the mech before them.
"Gwen, listen. I know what I must do now. To protect everyone. Especially you." He put a hand under her chin then caressed her cheek. "You have protected me. Now I must repay that. I understand why you kept this from me."
"Rigurd, no. Please." Tears began to well up in the corner of her eyes. Enough that one tear did make it escape down her cheek. Only to be wiped away by his thumb.
"Gwen. I must go." He then leaned down and planted his lips to hers. Without hesitation she began to kiss him back. For a minute they stood there in the moment before they stopped and looked into one another's eyes.
Gwen placed a hand on his chest. "I don't like this one bit. If you must, I will stay at the comms. If it becomes too dangerous. I want you to run. Come back to me."
Rigurd nodded and replied. "Now that… I can promise you." He then gave her a quick kiss. "After I get back. We can talk about this."
"The video. I don't know if I…" She was cut off by a well placed finger to her lips. Rigurd smiled.
"No. I meant us." He chucked.
"What is there to talk about? Other than what took you so long. I swear I almost wrote it on my forehead so many times. Hey… I am not done talking!" She frustratingly yelled to him as she now noticed he was halfway up and into the cockpit of the mech.
"Gwen! I am a man. Not a mindreader. A simple species with simple ideas and goals. Now I have the greatest goal of them all. To come back to you." He then pulled down the hatch and moved over to the pilots console.
The console lit up as he took his seat. "Alright. Let's see what we can do here."
A small device popped out from the left of him displaying a place to set his hand. He placed his hand down on the device and a small sting came to his hand. Out of reflex he pulled his hand back. "Damn. Ok let's try this again." He placed his hand down and fought the stinging sensation.
Nothing happened at first. But then the entire cockpit lit up. "Rigurd Torevald, Welcome. Keep your hand on the console for the memory injection process."
Rigurd did as he was told and with a sudden pain to his head. He closed his eyes. Flashes of images began to bombard his mind. As if his mind were a computer and downloading every bit of knowledge. When the computer had told him the transfer was complete. He opened his eyes. As if he had done it a billion times. His hand moved to the other part of the console. Outside the mech began to move. Below he could see Gwen near the door looking at him.
The mech then reached over and pulled the blade from where it was resting on a large weapon rack nearby. Sliding it into its sheath at the mech side. Rigurd then hit a button on the console. The floor beneath the mech began to rise and the hatch above began to open. Revealing the sky above.
After the mech fully cleared the rise and was available to move. Rigurd commanded the mech to step off the platform and onto the ground below. With a loud crunch to the snow below. Rigurd pointed the mech towards the storm and set it to run. There was no time to worry about the amount of ground shaking beneath the mech. He had to get out there.
He was right before the storm in no time. The creatures were beginning to tear their prey apart. Rigurd commanded the mech to draw its blade. The blade slid out from the sheath letting out that song-like ring. "Alright, let's see this thing in action." Rigurd said, trying to fight the slight nervousness that was starting to eat him up.
The first group rushed towards him. One reached him almost instantly. Rigurd blocked the claw coming down with the katana blade then bashed the creature with the hilt before overhead slicing downward cutting the creature in two. The second one just after it attempted to lunge at him. He sidestepped and swept the creature's back. The blade cuts into the hide of the creature like butter and it falls limp to the ground.
A third creature ran towards attempting to leap at him. He lunged at the creature basically shish kebabing it in the stomach area before whirling around the creature and back handing a forth creature attempting to join in the fight.
Rigurd fought these creatures. Taking as many as he could down. When suddenly it was as if they stopped advancing. Rigurd knew this might be a bad sign. The creatures were looking to get its leader to attempt to take him down.
The fog behind the line of creatures again began to be inhaled by the same creature. The leader of them, began to move forward. Rigurd readied himself. Without any warning the creature swiped its big claw towards Rigurd.
Rigurd jumped backwards and away from the swipe. Still within reach he brought his blade down catching the creature's claws with a good bite. Rigurd then attempted to strike towards the creature's head. But was met with its other claw catching him in the side. The Samurai went spiraling across the ground. Using the momentum, Rigurd rolled the mech back to its feet and charged forth against it again. The creature tried to counter with a sweep of its claw. However Rigurd was ready and commanded the mech to jump over the swipe and attempt to attack the creature. The blade connects with the upper part of the arm of the creature. Leaving a good gash in the frozen armor.
The creature, frustrated, then attempted an attack with its jaws. Rigurd raised the blade up and it caught both top and bottom of its mouth with the two sides of the blade. Finding it lodged in it's jaw. Rigurd moved outside of the jaw and with the fist of the Samurai. Started slamming onto the snout to attempt to have the blade pierce the inside. Hitting with all the mech might. Lost in the moment of driving that jaw shut. Rigurd didn't see the claw coming towards him till it was too late. The Claw hit with a loud thud that drove Rigurd and the mech into the dirt.
Inside the cockpit Rigurd had gotten thrown around in the slam. He peeked from the seat. The Samurai's console screen showed critical damage to the lower half of the mech.
"Damn." He pulled himself from the seat and started for the exit latch. When he climbed out and jumped to the ground. He looked up to see the creature too had been dispatched. He sat down and took a breather. His nerves finally started to calm.
But that was short lived. As there was a hiss from the head of the creature's skull. It too began to open revealing a more organic cockpit.
"You have got to be shitting me. Hey buddy! I think we need to call it a truce here." Rigurd called out into the fog. Exiting the mist like fog was a large frozen knight. Its armor was covered in ice across the plate. Almost viking-like in design.
Rigurd pulled himself to his feet. "Alright, I will have to admit. Your armor is amazing looking. Almost jealous of it…."
Rigurd's comm then rings. He pulls it from his belt and speaks. "Gwen. I am ok. Well for now. Sir Frozen Foods might have something different to say."
"Rigurd you need to get out of there. We have lost visual feed." Gwen answered. He could hear the panic in her voice.
"Torevald…." The knights voice rang out across the field separating the two of them.
"Shit, he knows my name.. Gwen…It might be too late now. But I need you to know. That I regret not seeing the signs. If I could go back. I would take the chance to kiss you again. I've always wanted to but was always afraid that you hadn't felt the same way. This might be the end. So I want you to know that if I make it out of here alive. I owe you the world. A better world. For as long as you are happy. Well. Then my world is happy. You are that world." Rigurd walks over to the mech and climbs into the cockpit and hits a button on the side. Revealing a Katana within a locked case. He straps it to his belt. Gwen had not answered back to him yet.
"Rigurd… Please. Come back to me. You too mean so much to me and I can't lose you." Said after he landed on the ground outside. He put the comms his jacket over his heart.
"I would. If I could move the mech. Send a Tow-mech. I have a request. I want you to stay on the comms till this is done."
Her answer came quickly afterwards. "Dispatched and sent your way. I am not hang up on you."
Rigurd nodded then with a sigh. "Well let us see this bastard on the battlefield. Shall we?"
Rigurd then walked towards the approaching knight.
"Torevald…" The knight repeated.
"Let's cut to the chase buddy. You know my last name and that is fine. However it seems we need to settle this, whatever this is?" Rigurd stopped and drew the blade. The knights blade already in hand was a large greatsword made entirely from ice and it looked deadly. The knight then began to pick up speed and charge towards Rigurd.
The first swing came from the knight. Rigurd ducked under it and struck with his own blade. Knight was able to quickly recover the swing and block with the blade just below the hilt. Swinging the blade upward. Sending Rigurd back peddling away. Rigurd regained his footing and had to immediately put up his guard as the knight Attempted to slam its plated fist into his face. The fist collided with the blade and once again he was sent backwards.
Rigurd now taking big breaths ready for the next attack. Which came in an overhead slam down towards him. The flat of the blade coming down.
"Shit!" He said before rolling safely out of the way. That attack would have flattened him. He took the opportunity to counter attack. Rigurd lunged forth and swept across the Knight's chest. The blades harmlessly scraped off the frozen parts of its chest before the blade caught the arm of the knight cutting a large gash on it.
The knight stumbled back and attempted to return to the attack without one of its arms .The knight rushed Rigurd. With the intent this time is to kill. Rigurd returned the blade it's sheath and took on the draw style technique. "This is for you Wes…" Closing his eyes and taking that steady breath. He then firmed up his stance and waited.
When the knight reached to strike. Rigurd took a firm step forward drawing the blade and striking. The sword now cut the air above his head as he could feel his own blade making purchase onto the flesh of the knight.
The moment hung there for what seemed to be an eternity before. The sound of metal hitting the ground signaled the fall of the knight. The blade in Rigurd's hand pointed outward before he sheathed it back into its casing.
—--------
Back at base. Gwen sat against the wall. Her head in her arms. Tears free flowing from her eyes. Her comm with Rigurd had gone completely silent. Communications were silenced due to the cold. She felt alone. She didn't know the fate of Rigurd. It had been hours since the tows had headed for the Black Samurai. Her heart hurt to the core. The fate of the man she loved was lost to the wind. She started to sob into her arms again. "Rigurd… You promised." She whispered.
"I did promise you, Gwen." The familiar voice said just before her. She looked up. Her eyes are red and puffy from crying. Her heart leapt from its darkened state when she saw who had said those words.
Rigurd knelt before her. His smile vanquished all the sadness and grief in an instant. See threw herself at him. Who caught her and pulled her into a hug. "I had thought I lost you." She cried as she nuzzled into his chest.
"I blame the comms personally. The one I had froze in the arctic wind. Fried the poor thing out. Is it too late to ask for another one for Christmas?" He said as he rubbed her back. "Everything is ok now." She pulled away and forced a kiss to his lips. Where they shared that moment for a good minute.
—---------
Months later, Rigurd sat on the shoulder of the large Mech known as the Black Samurai. That familiar sandwich in hand. Peanut Butter and Jelly. He was going to take a bite when the comms flared to life inside the cockpit. "Base to Rigurd. Come in Rigurd." It was Gwen's voice. He set the sandwich in his trusty tool box and climbed back into the cockpit. Hitting the button to the comms.
"Rigurd here. What do we got, Beautiful?" He said with a smile.
"We have hostiles moving in from sector 9. We are dispatching the Black Samurai." She returned.
"10-4, Moving to intercept. Hey when I get back. Dinner? I was thinking of something simple but romantic in the setting." He looked at the small photo of the two of them on their first date together as a couple. She wore a black dress that day and in the booth they took the opportunity to share a kiss that was now captured in the photo.
"Well, Torevald… You have to make sure to make it back to me in one piece." She replied. Rigurd smile grew wider. As he sat down in the seat and fired up the Mech.
"Well then we will have to make sure of that. Black Samurai out!" He hit the comms end button. He then drummed his hands against the console.
"Alrighty Bud. Let's go take out the trash." Turning the Black Samurai south toward sector 9. He set the mech to an easy running pace.
After the snow had fallen during Christmas. It had changed Rigurd Torevald's life in so many ways. Now if he can keep it all. Well that is another story for another time.
Happy Holidays to you reader and may you enjoy the many adventures ahead of you. Those that are in the art form of literature, in movies, or when you are simply are just walking to your next destination.