Easy Squad Part 2 of 3

2

"Did you drop your shit back there? How did they find us so fast?" I shouted as I reached over from the side of the big tree trunk to place the next shot. We were on the trail back to our camp now for two days and we came onto this ambush. Seth and Rat has just joined up with us some click back. Now the whole squad is pinned down by the hidden enemies. I could not see the enemies clearly but the shots coming at us are very clear to take our life's.

"Where's Lizzie?" I looked around and see all the teammates but missing the new one.

"Lizzie got it in the first wave." Now I remember, she took point today and she paid for it. Its the most dangerous position in the patrol, and we fouled it all up. "Don't blame her. Makes no fragging different." That was nice of Seth to read me my thoughts.

"Frag the sentiments. Seth, take right and Rat, you take left. Circle and wipe them out." Rhono and myself raised our rifles and cannons to lay some ground fire. Then we ducked behind the tree and the replies came in short and hot on our position. We laid down close to the ground and given our size that is still very exposed in this jungle.

"Aargh! I nicked one on my lower left rear." I looked towards Rhono was the one shrieking off. "But I am okay to fight on."

That's my trooper, Rhono; never say die. I heard two explosions over there followed by some shots. Then it was all quiet again. So Seth and Rat done their part again. I ran forward to check on Lizzie. She is breathing but weak in her breath. I looked at her body and see no real marks on her.

"Lizzie, you are doing that on me again, are you?" I grabbed her by her shoulders to jolt her up.

"Hey, Big Boy. A lady needs a respite from it all sometimes. So you boys can play hero and save the heroine." I loved this spunky lady but she sure scared me off my furs back there. This is her second time doing it; the last one was over the cliff and I thought she dunked it down the edge for good. But she came crawling up smiling.

"Trooper Lizzie, you get up and take the front again. If you let up one more time, I will personally frag you down to rookie rank." I pulled her up and she grabbed her phaser rifle off the ground.

"Promises, promises, and more empty ones. Big boy, if you coming at me, I would not shout violation of conduct but viola to my senses." She is one of her periods when she is all slutty. I pushed her to take point and told the rest to followed on. Darned this reptile to put me on my raging hormones mood. Its not like we are back at camp and I can look up Maggie, but here in the jungle, even the tree barks are tempting.

But we made it to Camp without any more casualties or mishaps. I reported in to the Senior Commander on the status of the mission. He was happy we slap the General quick and painless as the General is the first of ours of that rank that ever get caught. It would be too embarrassing to tell the other battalions that we lost our General to capture. I also told him that Man could no make it out too. He fell into a trap and was killed immediately. I was told the squad can rest for now while he sort out the correspondence and reports of our General which died in a craft crash in the jungle. I saluted and took my leave of the Senior Commander.

The squad billet in the rear of the camp with the other squads, but ours is an improvised bunker. Its was to be a mass grave but someone decided to lay iron sheets over it and then laid the dug up soil to became a mound. The ingenious alien created an entrance to the 'grave bunker' as they all called it. That alien was Ferret-ion type and they all lived underground. But since then we took over the bunker and named it "Our Graveyard'. Lizzie is still praying the day a nuke will fall directly on us sleeping there and leave us as a wisp of smoke. But it ain't happening just yet.

We were to bunk in when the alarm went off. Its to say we got enemies in the line; but where we are supposed to find out. I caught hold of a running trooper and haul his butt in. He's telling us some reports of enemies seen in the camp and they doing a search now. So all squads are to keep to their bunker including ours. The Military Robotic Squad are policing the camp now. They have always been trigger happy and they would shoot any of us for the sake of their perverted programming. I would keep my squad in safe.

Then they came; them mechanical droids; all six of them with their phaser held ready to shoot then answer the questions themselves.

"Easy Squad, Alien Trooper. We are moving to check your place. Kindly move to the side so we can do our work." Fragging polite they are until you twist their screws hard. Like what Lizzie is trying to do; remove her phaser. "Warning! Recruit is armed."I jumped in front of her and held out my hands.

"No! No! Don't terminate. She is just putting in her phaser. She is not shooting it at you." I held my ground watching them droids. They have their phaser raised but they are holding fire. "Please."The droids lower their phaser and proceeded to search the place. When I said search, I meant they thrashed it. They fished out everything and leave it outside its original place. Soon the search was over. It took us some time to clean up and then we bunked in. It was a short rest as we got the call to see the Senior Commander. I wondered if those idiots actually sleep or rest.

"Squad Commander, Easy Squad. Your new mission is to go here with a black ops. Your departure is in two hours. Go and tell your squad." You don't question orders; you followed them or you take on the droids. Either way you are dead. I went back to tell the squad. But I saw them facing off some humans; must be from the neighboring Battalion. I heard they are called the Human Legion. I walked in the discussion and heard some harsh terms.

"Aliens scums, you tell us where we can find Tom and we be on our way?" That was a burly looking man when compared to Lizzie, but with me, he is a young sapling to be plucked off the ground. In this case, there are eight saplings to be handled. But Seth has to open his jaws.

"Tom? Is that the tall chap who fell into a big hole and got himself strangled. I heard he broken some bones too. Was it then he got later chomped up some meat eater. Delicious it was." He had to demonstrate with his extended tongue to his lips. That got the humans to showed their hidden blades.

"Boys, are we too harsh here. I am sure Tom is somewhere in the camp. So be nice, and we will all be fine. No aliens humans conflict. You don't need it." I had then walked in to stand by my squad.

"Sonny, we need you here. We got some Grizzly in our fight." I saw the puny man shouting and his men are cheering. Then I saw the man named Sonny. He ain't tiny and he is about below my head but his arms are huge. "Sonny used to wrestle crocs and bears. That's your cousin in the zoo."

I dislike my reference to the earthling bears. We shared the looks but not the intelligence. I grabbed the puny man and was to crack his head in when I saw the droids coming. I let go of the puny man. The whispers has gone off; droids. So everyone backed off and try to act normal. Droids went past us and we are back in our own line. But time is running out; I got a mission to move out on. I juts walked up to Sonny and grabbed his nuts with my right paw and jabbed him in the right ribs with my left fingers. Sonny hauled out in pain and I head butt him from above. He is out by the count of two. Then I hauled back at the six men. I turned to my squad and told five minutes to get ready. Then I walked to my bedding space inside the bunker.

One hour later we were outside the Senior Commander bunker. He came out with the Black Ops personnel. I never like them. Black Ops like to takes on these alien species; the incorporeal nation of Mist. One of the few species with no physical form, but they take on other host to housed their form. This one is in a human skin form, or we termed as skin walker. The personnel is dressed like us Alien Trooper but its not carrying any weapons. They do need any as they have their self defence mechanism.

"Easy Squad, this is Commander Pond. It will be a pleasure to served with the best squad in this battalion." But I can feel the tension in my squad. They dislike incorporeal species and more when they served in black ops. "You are to assist me in my new mission. You take me there and come back with me. That's all."

"Dead or alive, Sir." That has to be Lizzie. She is the outspoken member of my squad.

"Alive preferable. But being dead would be acceptable as long as the mission is done." I almost puke.

But the mission is a green for Easy Squad. They are flying us into the hot zone but we were never told the odds of being blown out of the skies.

And four miles out of the drop zone.

With about six dozen enemies troops around us.

Oh, I forgot.

They are all armed and pointing at us. We've just being taken prisoner.

Crusaders Part 17

6.

Present

The city of Mapu lies not far from where we were but its still a day's ride through the thick undergrowths. The city is almost destroyed and what's left are some slabs and the stoned doorway. Its heavily covered by the jungle foliage as if its slowly reclaiming its land. The Alcade took us the underground holdings where the treasure was kept. We had to alight from our horses while he led us by hand to the spot where the entrance to the underground holdings area. We helped him raised a heavy slab and then down the stairs to the holdings. If you are expecting cache of golds, they are all removed by now, but we come to faced with the creatures that inhibit here. We stepped down and Helmut lighted up a torch that was left on the ground. The new light scattered the nocturnal creatures including some slithering reptiles. Helmut lighted a few more torches and we each held one in our hands. 

"Alcade, you may leave us now. Or stand guard over the entrance while we explore the holdings here." I advised the Alcade as the rest went back up there to move some of the things we need for our next journey from here. "There are something that a mortal man may not want to see."

"I am a devout Christian and God would protect me." The Alcade does not know the level of danger which we are exposed to. I tap his hand and told him that there are some places that even God may not be able to assist but ourselves and our wits would suffice. Again I advise him to go back up to the jungle and await us for two days. If we are not out by then, he was to sealed the holdings forever. The Alcade took my advise and left the holdings to ourselves. We split the items which we brought among ourselves and Helmut showed his latest acquisition; a long pike from the Spanish army.

"Micheal, please do the honor."

Micheal took out the scroll and looked for the proper signs before he stood before the wall. Its like any part of the wall in the holding but this one has a eye etched on it. Micheal took up the scroll and recite the words that has been written on it. Its a very old spell of over a thousand years and used to belong to the old masters. Once Micheal has completed the reciting the spell, he took out the ruby he had used to displayed the city. He placed the ruby near the eye and recite another essential line on the scroll.

A streak of light came from the eye in the wall and hit the ruby piece. It slowly darken the ruby from its bright red to that of a darker crimson before the light shone back on the wall to reveal a large portal that leads to our next destination; the next world of Hell. Micheal holding onto the ruby motioned for Helmut to take the point, while I followed suit with the squire. Micheal was last and all of four are in the other world. The portal behind us closed upon our entry and we come to faced is a large dark cavern and although our torch still burns but we cannot see much further than a few feet in front us.

"Give us light and be lighted the lights around us in this dark cavern." Micheal spoke while holding the ruby in his hand. The ruby emits a low hum sound and then we can see duplicates of the ruby appearing around us. The duplicate rubies are like mini torches and they illuminate the surrounding up to over a hundred feet. As the light reveals some tunnels, its also showed us who else dwell here; lifeless human carcass who shies away from the light.

"By the power of the ruby, show us the path to the Lord of this place." The rubies starts to vibrate and they all moved in unison to one of the tunnel. But before we move out, Micheal left his torch on the ground alongside with the pile of woods he brought with him.

"In case we need to find this place", Micheal walked with us holding onto the ruby in his hand. Our walk was not long as soon we find ourselves in another cavern where this one has lots of lifeless carcass all standing at the side of the wall. But the major difference is that this cavern is lighted with a number of torches and a huge fireplace.There is also a large throne seat at one side of the wall and on it sat an image of a man. He is all dressed up in the some skins coats and wears a feather hat to complement his dressing style. His face is coated with a white powder leaving only his eyes with a paint of black. He also holds a long sword in his left hand and on his right is the skull of a human being.

"Who dares to come into my realm? Answer me or be prepared to join my undead." The man who sits there asked of us. "I sensed a tinge of goodness and yet violent emotions, plus some killer instinct in all of you. Aha! I see now who you truly are; the warriors of the Son 's of Light. Tell me your business and be on your way."

"Baron Osu, as you know who we are but we are not here to fight you. We only come to seek information on the Labyrinth of Belit." I reached for my bag and produced the a small chest. "I bring you gifts for your hospitality."

The chest was opened and I showed him the bundles of eye balls to appease his desire. The guardian of this portal lacks the sight of the eyes and he takes on his victims and removed their eyes. But the eyes he attached to himself would only last sometime before it goes sightless. So he is always looking for new eyes to replace the ones which has gone bad. Baron Osu reached for it but I placed my rapier in between his extended hand to the eye balls.

"Bah! He was here but he left early. He said something came up and he left." The guardian replied in haste to my question.

"What came up, Baron? Your ears are of the lightest that even the sounds of the beetle steps can be picked up by you. Tell me what he seeks?" The Baron retract his hand and smiled at me.

"For that, you need to give me more gifts. But I have one in mind. Duel my champion with that of your beast. If yours win, I would tell you. If not, you would leave here without both the beast and chest."

I stepped up to the Baron and hissed my reply to his face; "We would not deal anymore. I am taking my gifts with me." But my squire steps up and pulled at my sleeve. "No, squire. I do not want you to fight his champion. We would try another way. "

The squire pulled harder at my sleeve. He is asking me to look at him. I did and I see the young man who is doing his part for the cause. Its his duty as one of the four warriors but I have always looked at him as the youngest. He is to me like my son, and I love him very much. Unlike the other three of us, we are all older and volunteers, but he was recruited from the exiles.

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Insults for supper time

This is a tale on the dining table during supper of an extended family of five; husband and wife, wife' mother, husband' dad and the only child of the marriage, coming to her teens. The married couple are professors in the Uni for literary studies and research, although they reside in different Uni. The surviving parents' are also professor in language. The child however is a brat who is entering High School and thinks the world is a shit hole filled with more shit.

Its their usual fare of supper; leftover from last night and added in more mushy TV dinners reheat packs.

It was fine until the child muttered; " *God must love stupid people. He made SO many.* "

"Pardon me, young lady. Did you say something?" The mother looked at her with a disapproving look. The daughter looked up and then at the father for support.

" *When in doubt, mumble.* " The father replied without looking up from his plate. 

" *Women may not hit harder, but they hit lower.* " The old man could not help himself. He was however referring to the older lady across the table.

" *Never hit a man with glasses. Hit him with a baseball bat.* " The older lady smiled back at her retort. That took the old man to offense. But the daughter in law assisted the mother first.

" *Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.* "

" *Never get into fights with ugly people, they have nothing to lose.* " The son stepped in to defend the father. That riled the wife who retorted back.

" *Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.* " She glared at her husband but the father in law was not taking it down that lightly.

" *Why do Americans choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for Miss America?* " He was reflecting on his son's decision then. That riled up the lady's mother who think that the son in law is less than he claimed to be.

" *Women might be able to fake orgasms. But men can fake a whole relationship.* " Now she is glaring at her son in law and spat it out to him.

" *The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on the list.* " The son in law was trying to pacify the situation but the swords are drawn, and they would be blood tonight. The father stared at the son and then at the older lady.

" *Fighting for peace is like fucking for virginity.* " He took the low jab at the older lady. Then he looked at the younger version and added in this line. " *If sex is a pain in the ass, then you're doing it wrong...* "

The daughter did not take on well to that discriminating remarks. She added in her'; " *Having sex is like playing bridge. If you don't have a good partner, you'd better have a good hand* ".

The husband took offend to it, and he added in his line: " *There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can't get away'* ". He did not stopped there; " *I saw a woman wearing a sweat shirt with "Guess" on it...so I said "Implants?* "

The wife looked at him and said " *I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.* "

"Aha! To be blamed for something; I know how that feels. *I didn't fight my way to the top of the food chain to be a vegetarian.* " The Father in law was referring to the two days a week of vegan diet when he wanted was a T-Bone to chuck at her. He also added in this line; " *Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.* "

She remembered it well as the father said he was a better cook than her. She lashed back with this line; " *Some people are like Slinkies ... not really good for anything, but you can't help smiling when you see one tumble down the stairs.* "

"Pardon me. Slinkies? I never knew you could bow to so low. Well, son. *Good girls are bad girls that never get caught.*" Then he looked at the older lady to continue on; " *Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.* "

Then the child spoke up: " *Children, you spend the first 2 years of their life teaching them to walk and talk. Then you spend the next 16 years telling them to sit down and shut-up.* "

So they did and supper was fine after that until the next time they sit down.

The child once wrote on his blog; *We have enough gun control. What we need is idiot control*.

Easy Squad Part 1 of 3

A short tale on fantasy and aliens fighting as mercenaties. Its a Sgt Rock dedication, for those of us who reads DC comics



1

There is one thing I dislike most is Humans, and more so in depth when they are posted to my squad. They are clumsy and above all with an ego in them thinking that we are below them in the intelligence levels. Frag the Commander for sending me this species when I asked for is a reliable scout not an oaf in a uniform. If I had my choice, I would had pulled the trigger on that species the day it reported in.

I am on a recon with my squad of aliens in the Gazza sector. My squad is not large in number but we are the best in the battalion under the Alien Troopers. There is my second in command, Senior Officer Seth; a pythonian species with an affinity for crushed meat and bones. He is a scrawny reptile species with a short length of twelve feet but he made up for his strangulation skills, and he has this small two set of arms on the scale side that holds a phaser each. I seen him shot up four different targets in one click each of his four phaser. Next to him is Rhono; large bulk and good man in the field. He may be on his four limbs in movement, but his heavy bulk carries the twin mounted cannons on each side of his bulk. Them four cannons can tear a hole in a three inch thick armor with one burst. Many commented on Rhono as he has a curved horn on his snort, but they would regret it soon enough when he charges at them. His thick hide can stand up any phaser shots except the heavy cannons. But we complement his hide with the body armor as not every squad has a Rhono in theirs.

But there is always a sneaky rat in one squad; mine is Rat-Daniel, the worst of the scums. He would run off in any battle if you are not winning or the odds are too great. I normally fight with one paw on his tail so he can't do the hiding trick. He hates me for it but he is the best sniper in the battalion. He can shoot well with the Sniper Class Rifle well so he tolerate his rat-like behaviour. My last member in the squad besides the human, is Lizzie. She is a Class One Amphibian with a set of orbs that you cannot be without. Her orbs are independent of each other and she can see more than any of us can. Her other best skill is her ability to blend into any background; so we sometimes nickname her 'Chameleon'. She is our pointer in the patrol. As for my human new recruit, its name is Tom but we just called it Man. He told me on my first encounter with it, that not addressed him as 'it' but him. I dragged him up off his feet with my paws and looked at it in the face. Man never complained again. Its not everyday, he comes to faced with a Grizzle like me. I am Squad Commander Yogi, formerly of the Grizzle Nation, now a mercenary here. I am about seven foot tall and my paws can crush a human head in a click but I let my sawn off twin barrel rifle phaser do the crushing now.

Lizzie raised her tail and that means halt. We are in the worst stretch of the Gazza Sector; the area where the thickets are dense and higher than my lower torso. We are also surrounded by the thick trunk of trees that has build canopies of shelter with its leaves, leaving little sunlight at the ground level. I signaled Seth to slitter off to the left while Man take the right. I pulled Rat-Daniel to take firing position on the upper branches. He is having problem to climb up or feigning one. So I grabbed him and hurled him up to the branches. He sneered back at me, but I ignored his gesture. I pushed Rhono to cover the left while I took the right.

"Liz, what you got?"

"Movements at twelve; I count ten or more. They are also alerted to us."

Ten or more, says bad odds against us. I need more confirmation so I comm to Rat; 'Do a re-count and assessment." We may need to retreat and re-route. Mission is more important than skirmish as the later may cost us time and lives.

"Enemies withdrawing. Count is affirmative but they are retreating to the rear. We are cleared on route." If Rat says they are withdrawing, I can agreed with him. He has an uncanny appreciation for no fight situation. He is not a coward but he hates direct confrontation especially when the odds are against us.

"Squad to proceed on caution. Give them five clicks start before we move. But new route is to the north left. We do not want to walked into a trap. Over."

Four clicks saids it all;order understood and confirmed. I let them move as I take the rear. I just do not want the enemy to be back tracked on us. We moved out in close formation to our target.

We finally made it there.

I had to lie down flat on my front to avoid being seen. Its not easy being of seven feet tall and with a dimension this large. I unslung the heavy launcher on my back and laid it next to me. I took our my Range View which will give me a magnify look on the area. Its there as Intel has provided the information before we left the camp. I counted fifty guards and two outpost with rapid fire tripod mounted phaser. There is the Command Post and our acquired target, the animal pen. That's where they stored the General who was captured by the enemies two days ago near the border. We been tracking him to here now. I can see that they have him strung up on the high beam in the pen. His lowe limbs are attached to the chains on the ground. So the Grizzle is not allowed to sit or sleep but stand all day. That is torturing to the humans.

I signaled Rat to take to the higher ground and on my signal take out the Outposts. Rhono was to move nearer to lay us cover fire during the attack. Seth as usual slitter off on his own recon and attack. I never hed him back as he is good at that maverick role. Lizzie set up cover fire to my left in case anyone comes in.

"What about me?" The Man has to asked.

"Unpacked your gear. I need those missiles for the launcher." I did not bother to see how he unpacks it as I am already setting the launcher for shoulder release of its missiles. The darned thing weigh heavy but it will hold on my large shoulder.

"Missile Set One in the bay." That means its a go for the mission.

"Goodbye, General."He is a broken Grizzle and its best he goes down with his pride intact. No one will know he was captured and displayed on those vids for the others to see. We, in the Alien Trooper do not condone capture by the enemy. We prefer death to that, as the torture by the enemies can be very painful, and humiliating. I sighted the launcher and pressed the trigger.

Missile One is away, and I still have three more rounds inside this launcher.

I sighted the Command Post as the first missile ripped the pen apart into a blazing inferno. Missile Two launched and I am onto the Outposts. Outpost One has been neutralized by Rat and he is mopping up Outpost Two. I took out the two outpost before I discarded the launcher. Rhono is laying down cover fire to those who were enthusiastic to run for our position.

"Easy Squad recalled to Rendezvous Point. Mission completed." We reached the RP coordinates to continue on our long trek back to our line. Man has to voiced his opinion then.

"You shot dead the General, How could you? I will have you reported for Court Martial." The human never saw Seth's move on him. He was dead in two clicks and we all got up to march back. I told Lizzie to take point while the rest followed on slow and easy.

"Seth, when you are fully ingested; join up." He is a chomper when its comes to food. With his jaws stretched, all he could do was nod at my request. "Rat, stay watch over him. He would need maybe a day to ingest."

"Why me?" Rat has to be the one to asked.

"Because you are next if Seth come to any trouble." I always like to joke with Rat-Daniel as he is so gullible.

Crusaders Part 16

Present

Micheal placed the long staff he borrowed from a nearby passerby. Its near to the height of required by the scroll so he broke a part of it. The owner was upset but he was soon relieved with the payment he got for it. Micheal then placed the ruby on top of the staff. We all wait the sun to set at the correct the correct angle before we can see the reflection on the tree. It showed us an image of a stone entrance to a city.

"The lost city of Mapu. Its rumored to be in the forest where the great rivers flows. But no one actually know its location." The priest was telling us of his knowledge of the local fables. "But there is one who may know. He is Zico; the man who is the leader of the local folks against the Spaniards. Some claims he financed the war with the gold from from the city. But how do we find the famed leader?"

"Why through the man's faith? The Church tells us Zico is a devout follower of the faith and tomorrow is Sunday. He would be in the church."

Sunday mass is a packed house as we spread the word that we have an important message to speak on. More so, we offered them some food to be collected on the end of mass. Its the charitable spirit of the Christian way. But the speech I was to offered made my point clear across to the invited guests.

"Darkness had been around us for eons as you can see in the emerging signs of ignorance, misery, and sin among us mortal. We allowed it to rule over us and soon it would need not our approval as its would rule with or without our approval. The darkness of this world would be the total works of these malignant spirits just as they would dominate us and the world we lived in. Be known that by then the world you know would be a dark world, wretched and sinful. Its their desire to create it in that manner so they can degrade our life and we would soon resort to worshiping them as pagans. It has been consolidated by ages and more so it was sustained by all the authority of man; by all the omnipotence of the perverted religious principle; by all the reverence for antiquity; by all the power of selfish, corrupt, and base passions.

No empire however large cannot be destroyed if we know how. No darkness is without its nemesis in the world of light. We are the messenger of those light world. We are here to dispel the darkness influence and bring back the true balance of light in this dark realm. There is no total dominion of the world as the dark has portrayed to you, but we of the light seek to balance the scale on the world. We want to give the realm a choice of freedom to choose to which the side they may want to support. We do not dominate nor do we influence but we educate and protect the balance so the choice of yours is always free to choose.

Our battle has come here as we viewed there is an imbalance here. We want to correct that imbalance so you can choose your choice. Light or dark; its your to decide, but allow us the opportunity to correct the balance. Today, all of you have come here for a choice but we hope you would choose to return for more of the choices we offered. We pledged to guide you to be a better person. If you allowed us that into your life, we do not promise luxury but we promised you satisfaction of knowing you made the right choice."

The mass went without any incidents and the presence of the Spaniards conquistador did not help but we got our choice of answer soon enough.

"Senor, this is for you." I took the piece of paper handed to me. Its written in english; 'cedar tree tonight after supper'.

We made contact.

The cedar tree at night is a nice place considering that you are standing in the dark and all around you are more trees. The four of us sat there and took the opportunity to start a fireplace.

"Do you think the man would show?" Helmut is not of a man of patience and he prefer to let his sword does most of the introduction. I stoke the fire to make the flame soared higher. Just then we heard the crack of the twig and the figure of a man appeared from the shadow.

"Alcade, welcome to our fire. I trust you are cold after waiting for the last hour" The Alcade took his place with us and we all stoke the fire to get the flame bigger. "You created Zico so that you do not leave. But why? You stock no gold in your hut nor you shipped any out of the place."

"Sir Black, the Spanish Inquisition should learned from you. Yes, I am Zico and the Alcade as well. I created the character so that Lisbon would not take me away as yet. I am doing this to help the local natives who need to safeguard their treasure." The Alcade stretched his leg so that he would not be cramped in its position.

"Native treasure? You mean you found the city of Mapu." The Alcade nodded his head.

"I found it by mistake in one of my rides when the horse bolted. I was rescued by the natives who attended to me. Soon I befriend the Chief and he told me of the treasure in the city. He was worried that the iron heads would take it from them so he asked me to help him to hide it. He need my help to divert the conquistador from the route they would take. I asked him to show me the city as that what intrigue me more than the gold it holds. He did and I was awed by the ruins in terms of the history and it writings on the wall. I saw the treasure and its immense but I care not for it. So I created the man named Zico. I used that ruse to drive the conquistador to chase a ghost while the natives moved their treasure. I told the chief I do not want to know of the new hideaway. He smiled at me and said he was right to tell me of it."

"So the treasure is gone, but what of the city?"

"Its there in the jungle. But why do you seek it?"He is asking as I expected.

"As in my sermon, its to restore the balance." The Alcade stood up and he replied to me.

"I would take you there tomorrow." The Alcade left us with a fireplace which is getting smaller.

"How did you know he is Zico?" Micheal was asking this time.

"He confess in the Church and the priest told me in breach of that trust. I listened to his confession and I forgive him. I am a priest doing the works of God. Sir Black is only my official designation by the Archbishop." I got up and walked to the horse. I mounted my horse and rode back to the Church. Nobody could read my mind but I felt my lie to Micheal was uncalled for. It was Gabriel who told me of the Alcade in the dream but I felt Micheal needed another tale to be told to him. With my new identity, Micheal would looked at me with a different light. Its my first lie and I hoped it would be my last. But why did I lie baffles me as its not myself to lie to them. This is my first and I am worried if I am losing my faith on the light and leaning to the darkness.

I shall confess my sins to God tonight and hope for his mercy on my soul.

That night I had a dream of Glenwich and the whole incident again . I woke up in sweat and a heavier conscience. I did know of the children involved and I knew that they may die but how I was not know until then. The Council did warn me of the decision which I have to take. It was the only one to take then but nothing can cleared me of my conscience of removing a child from living a life. I told myself its the best decision than to be exiled but was I right?

Crusaders Part 15

Five years ago

The children of Glenwich are kept behind closed doors at all time, for there been cases of them going missing in the day or night. The parents tied their children to the beddings post and sleeps by their side as they feared that they would be taken in the night. It was by chance I came on the village on the return of dispensing off a gremlin who plague the road traveled by many. The village of Glenwich is not big nor small with a population of not more than a hundred but its a thriving one as its lays in the crossroads to two other larger towns. But the coming months, the village is shunned by many as the villagers are unfriendly to strangers and any hardly stops there.

I dismounted from my horse and handed it to the man but he refused to accept my horse. I threw the reins to him and walked into the tavern. Its likes any tavern but this one is quiet and dusty. Nevertheless, a weary traveler does not fret about cleanliness as long as the food and drinks are. I slammed my fist on the table and demanded to be served. I threw some coins on the table to show that I can pay. The owner at the bar then moved to the rear and can be heard to instruct his staff to prepare me a meal. He was later to served me a jug of wine which I was surprised is good.

"Glenwich serves one of the best in the county. If not for our troubles, this place would be crawling with patrons." The owner lamented on his lack of business as he wipes the seats around me. I offered him a seat and he took it as his wife came with the plate of stewed mutton.

"Hamish Donald, you mind your tongue in with this stranger. We don't want no trouble to the family." She was off to the kitchen without a word.

I dabbed the bread into the stew and took my first bite of good food for days. Its a good stew and more so when the mutton is well done with the herbs marinated well into it. I did not speak a word for the next few swabs of the bread and the biting into the chunky meat.

"Aye, you are no magistrate nor a clergyman. You looked more like dandy with rapier if you were younger but I said you are more of an adventurer. We could do with no more of your kind. The last one created a mess which made us all poorer and he ran with the tail between his legs. I am sorry, my good man. Eat your meal and rest if you want. Then be on your way. Your coins would cover the cost that is needed." The owner got up to move but I stopped him.

"I am no adventurer or mercenary. I am a soldier sent by the King to investigate the going on in this area. So tell me more as my services are paid for and you only lose is a guest if I don't come back." Its a lie and a damned good one but he bought the story. He told he was in the Highlands Army before he came here to settle down. He said its his small head who led him to the altar and stopped him from seeing the highlands. But he is contented with the life here until the recent events. Now he guards the children with his dirk and cutlass, and his wife sleeps at the bedding with his long spear.

"Well, she did need something to hold, so I offered her mine." It was our fifth drink and he is loosening on his tongue.

"But tell me of the children." The man who is the owner hesitated and then he recount the story for me.

It all started about a year ago when one of the family lost his son who went missing during the night. Then another kid went missing and more happened for the next three months. After the eighth one, the family kept vigil on the village roads and any strangers were shooed away. Its stopped the events but not for long as one more went missing after two months. Since then despite the patrols and locked doors, they still lose one child per month.

"When would the next one happen?" I had to asked him. But he said he is not sure, but its almost time. I told him I would sleep in the tavern area tonight and if need be I would hunt down this demon. It was easier said than done as I was soon asleep from my wine and mutton.

"Wake up, dear Sir. They have trapped the demon. Come with me."

I was led to a cottage at the edge of the village. Its a small one and the village folks are all around it with their swords and pikes. The cottage door was blocked by an old man who stood guard there with his pitchfork. He is preventing them going into the house. I stepped forth and announced myself to the mob.

"Old man, please allow me to come forth. I just need to talk to you." I did not wait for his reply as I move towards him.

"Come no more or I would strike you down." The old man threaten with me with his pitchfork. But I still move towards him. I reached the edge of the pitchfork and stood there.

"I just need to talk. Tell me what did happened."

The old man lowered his pitchfork and asked me to step inside. I signaled the mob to wait outside while I go into the cottage. Its only furnished with the essentials and there is a locked room. The old man offered me a seat and I took it.

"He is my son. He is possessed by what I know not of but he would go out and bring those kids here. He would invite them to play and then when he gets upset ......... he killed them." The old man broke down to cry and I took the opportunity to walked to the latched door. "He is in there and so is the young kid."

I unlatched the door and open the door. I see a young lad sitting with a you girl at the corner. I can smell the odor of blood and death in the room. I looked at the young lad and see he looks normal except he has a set of red eyes. He is also pale looking and has long tapered fingers. The little girl is crying in fear and she wants to leave but the lad is holding her back. I withdraw my pistol and point it at the lad.

"Demon, leave the child and be on your way. You had your fun and now you are trapped. Leave now or I would be forced to shoot you. My bullet is with silver and it would tear your spirit apart." The demon lad cringed further into the corner.

"Give me passage and I would released them both." I nodded and the demon lad stood up. He led the child out of the cottage past the old man with the pitchfork. The old man wants to stop his 'son' but I held him back. The two children walked out of the cottage and the child mother came running forth. But I rushed out to stop her.

"No one nears them. Or he would kill the child." The mob held back as they stood in arc facing the demon lad.

"Warrior, you promised me safe passage." The demon lad looked at me. I nodded and the lad turned back to the mob. I walked up to the children from behind and raised my pistol to shoot the lad in the back of his head. The lad fell down on his knees and released the child who ran to her mother.

"Be gone, demon. You have no host now." The dark shadow emerged from the lad's body and spirited away. The old man rushed from the cottage to his son, and embraced the dead lad.

"Why? Why?" The old man cries at his loss and I walked away. I had to do it as the lad is a killer with or without the demon in him. He is a killer in the eyes of the villagers and they would not let him forget it. So its best he die than to suffer for the rest of his life for the sins not of own doing. I walked back to the tavern and retrieved my horse and rode off. Its not far when I come across the place I was seeking. Its a small clearing in the forest.

"Come out, demon. I demand your presence here. And now." I stood my ground as the winds picked up and soon the an image appeared before me. Its a form of a short man form with a hideous face. It also has two large, dark, bat-like wings, a canine face, a unicorn-like horn, that acts as a simple weapon, dull-green fur, and an omnivorous, canine jaw.

"Why did you intervene? I meant no harm to the lad." The forest imp was speaking as if its actions were just mischief and not harmful.

"You killed those kids when they won't play with you. You broke the covenant. That is not allowed." But the imp was ever rebellious.

"They have many more children. I lost mine to the ogre's and they did not repent." But I was not listening. I withdrew my pistol and shot it in the face.

"Its not about an eye for an eye. Its about the balance of existence. You violate it and if allowed to go on, one day they would hunt your kind for revenge regardless of any provocations." I walked back to the horse as the wind collect the dead body of the imp and carry it back to its realm. The forest has it rules and conditions; any creature who defies it is a rebel and would be terminated.

I rode to the Druid's home and walked in unannounced.

"You never told me that I was to kill an imp that took children. You only said an imp who harassed the village. The next time you sent me out to kill children, I would shoot you first." I stared at the gray beard man shrouded in the dark cloak.

"You shot the lad on your own accord. You could had saved the lad as asked by the Imp. But you knew the consequences. You took the initiative to remove the lad of his misery. It was not our decision. It was yours alone. That's why we called on you. Sir Black; like your name, your soul is black and its well suited to the task here."

I never work for the Forest Council after that day.

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Another finding explained by Detective Bomes

Another finding explained by Detective Bomes

Author's Note:

We are faced with wonderful discovery daily from the ancient civilization. I wondered if we do justice to them in our analysis. This tale is based on Planet of the Apes, or  was it Earth during the reign of the Apes.

To visualise the tal, picture an abandoned truck, preferably with a long bonnet like the old Ford trucks. Then let the imagination run free.

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"Detective Bomes, thank the Great Ape that you have arrived. I hope I have not intruded on your time to come here. This is a very secluded part of the county but this discovery needs your professional assessment. Ah, good afternoon, Healer Watts." We were met by the person who sent me a message by Fox Express, expressing that my presence is most required at this secluded place. It was past midnight then, and I would had ignore the message if not for my associate telling me earlier in the evening of having seen the far side of the world and met many different kinds of creatures. He was commenting on them and their beliefs that differs from us. This was all in his younger days when he was involved in the last Great War. He was describing some of these cultures have their own way of worshiping and it puzzling to us now in this modern era. His telling of the tale coincide with the message received. I pass the message to him to read aloud. "New Discovery sighted. Come quick. Mayor Gant.".

"Thank you, Mayor Gant for the invitation.We took the Morning Elephant transports but there was a slight delay when we tried to cross the Times River. The crocodiles was seen there and everyone had to wait for them to disperse. We are here now and please update me on this new discovery that you have discovered. I was reading about it in the Morning edition but they told me, you refused to allow them to take sketches of it." I dismounted from the mule train which brought me alongside with my associate on this rough terrain which is sparse of trees and thick undergrowths. If there was more trees, we would had swung in and be here earlier. 

I followed the pace set by my host, Mayor Gant as he lead us to the place of his discovery. Its in a low valley but well hidden by some thick undergrowth around it on the rim. I can see my associate struggling in the walking as his species are more suited to swinging on branches. I leaned back and tapped him on the shoulder to assured him we shall be there soon enough.

"Make way for the Mayor", my arrogant host pushes away some of the Enforcement Officers who stood in his way. I tapped each and everyone of those officers and assured them they are most kind to allow us to come through. Finally, we reached the area which supposed to hold the new discovery.

I wouldn't used the term holding as I can see the 'new discovery' is obviously not going to move anywhere.

"Detective Bomes. Tell me in your professional assessment, am I looking at a new discovery of our kind? Perhaps a headstone for a ritual ceremony of the olden days. " The Mayor points to the so called structure as it does looked like something of a pagan design. "Perhaps some grand ceremony then to worship the fabled flying fire breathing creature? Or maybe this is the fire breathing creature. It could be the discovery of the century for us. I am telling you that if words goes out to the county, I would be famous. "

My associate is more intrigue by the so called worshiping pagan structure as he had claimed to see some in his hey days. He went prancing around it while doing some somersaults.

"Does the Healer knows something we do not know?" The Mayor points to my associate who is very frantically jumping around. "I hear he is an ape which travel far in his younger days."

"No, Mayor Gant. My associate is a healer and not a conjurer of spells. More to it, he is hopping around as he just stepped on some ants nest and they are biting his soles. Rest assured he knows what to do with the bites." Watts can be a real pain in the investigation. It probably runs in his type of ape upbringing; they are always messing around.

Meanwhile I stepped forth to look closer at the structure. It does have a canine head feature, with the long protruded nose bridge but the wide gap between nostril holes are wider here. Then again on closer observation, its may not be any nostril holes as the mouth gaps seemed to come in between those 'nostril holes'.

"Most puzzling..." I muttered to myself. That got the Mayor more excited as he sat back on his haunches. I walked around the place and then I shouted out. "I know what its."

The Mayor came running up to me. "Please tell me."

"Tell your apes to leave this place immediately. We could be in danger. " I shouted out and it created a panic among the apes. They ran as I did to the far boundary. I stopped then and caught my breath.

"You are right on the fire breathing creature. It belong to that creature. Its his armor that he left here." I whispered to the Mayor. His expression turned to horror and then disbelief at the thought.

"Bomes, the creature does not exist. Its a myth and how can you believe in that?" I looked at the Mayor and then I turned to walk away. He caught my arm and asked me to explain.

"That is the armor of the beast. I examined it and I know. The beast wears it like a head armor. The top of it which looked like a covering for its eyes while its snort lay inside the front with the two holes for its flames to come out. But the creature may be injured as there are dark stains inside the armor. That is why I asked all of you to leave. It may come back for its armor. Mayor Gant, I would advised you do the same. Leave this place alone."

"But the monster does not exist. I merely say that earlier as to speculate on the findings. Surely you do not believe in the myth too?"The Mayor is enraged and he refuses to move back.

"Mayor Gant, some years back the tabloid told of the sighting of this creatures, but was later retracted as a fake. In actual fact it was the authorities forcing them to do it as it would encourage public alarm if the news of the creature spread. In this case, it has not so we can preempt the action to take. Surely, you do not need a crisis in your area. Your re-election depends on you. "

They did on the orders of the Mayor. On the way back, Watts asked me why I come up with that tale.

"Elementary, my dear Watts. I do not want them to desecrate the place if they think its an ancient site for digging. Its an old site but one best left untouched. I am trying to preserved the place for real scientific kind, not the materialistic ones. When I am back in the city, I would contact the Heritage Society to do the needed."

Crusaders Part 14

5.

Present

The island was discovered by Christopher Columbus some years back but the place has yet to become a major trading city. It was formerly a fishing village, and after the Spanish has landed, they renamed the place "Puerto de los Hispanioles", later "Puerto de España". It was to be developed into a port for Spanish ships. An army camp was established there but much of the enforcement were by the ship captains and their first mate. The authorities who reports to Spain, was to housed themselves in open mud-plastered huts then interspersed between large silk cotton trees and other trees. The temporary army camp was a mud-walled enclosure with a shack inside, a flagpole, two or three cannon, and few Spanish soldiers.

The Holy group had a hard time time with the local natives as the priest were looked at in poor light and loathed by the locals. The people of Trinidad then are a mixed from the Caribbean which some of them worshiped pagan deities and other forms. We were offered to put up in the army camp pending our traveling to our destination. The priests who traveled with us was not to join us as they are met by some local missionaries who took care of their welfare. We said our goodbye at the port as well to our good Captain who decide a week off the sea would be bad for his health; he has decided to set sail to a bigger port where he can recruit more men and sell more wares. However he was without any hesitation to accept our promissory note on compensation for his losses in the men. The note would be honored by the Church although it would be our ears that would sting from its retribution.,

Then we met Alcade Jose' who was in transit to the bigger colonies in the upper part of the continent. But he has been staying here for the last six months on the orders of Lisbon. The Alcade was generous to host us in dinner at his temporary mud house and we shared some news of the home continent for his ears. It was during the meal, we heard the cries of people and the alarm was raised.

"Soucouyant.... There would be no peace until I can find this source of evil. Please excuse me as I need to check on this latest victim." The Alcade was soon to leave our table as he don his cloak and carried his rapier. The four of us looked at each other and was confused.

"Don't tell me that we are with a demon now? We just landed here for God's sake. How can Gabriel do this to us?" Micheal was a man without care of his words. He put down his goblet and was considering throwing it to the fire. Everyone are tired but the threat of any demon is our concern.

"What is that he mentioned in his words? I know of many demons but one that sounds like a French dish is not very appetizing at this hour." Baron Helmut is also upset but he is not stopping his indulgence in the food offered here. "Are there only chicken here? I see not any goose or pheasant on the table."

"Gentlemen, allow me to tell you of the soucouyant. My name is Galvez, and I am a servant of the Alcade." The one who spoke up was the one who served us the food. He has been very discreet and kept much in the background. He is a older man as we can see from his gray hair and who limp with his left leg probably from some previous battles. He also has a scar on his right cheek.

"The creature" he continued, "is a myth of a demon who lives here. The so called demon lives by day as an old woman but by night, however, she strips off her wrinkled skin, puts it in a mortar. She would then fly in the shape of a fireball through the darkness to seek her victim. The demon enters the home of her victim through the narrow cracks or openings. It would suck the blood of people while they sleep. At times, the demon draws out too much blood from her victim, it is believed that the victim will die and become one of them. The victim skin would then be used by the demon." The older man pause in this story telling and took up Micheal's goblet to drink the wine.

"The man is a drunk and he would tell you any tale to get at your drink." That was the Alcade who just returned from his investigation. "Be off, you drunk. I would attend to you later."

The older man bowed and walked back to his rightful place in the kitchen.

"Pardon my servant. He speaks too much and out of line to the subject. The true demon here is a rebel among the people who does not like to see the Spaniards on their land. His name is Zico and he is a man of flesh and blood. No demon dwells here but the one made by man. I am ordered by Lisbon to capture this man before I can depart for my rightful county. Bastard, he evades all my attempts and I am stuck here." The Alcade took his seat and picked up the goblet of wine. He finds it empty and put down the goblet. His mouth quiver but he did not called out for his servant but instead he reached for the bottle and poured his own drink.

We decided then that its time for us to retire to our accommodations which is actually a room with four beddings made of straw stuffing. The squire want to go out but I forbid it. They could be patrols and he could be discovered. He accepted my explanation and took his place on the bedding. After our early meal, we decided to be on our way and on borrowing some horses, we took to the route to our destination. Its a old manor we are to reached and was built some ten years ago. It may be old as its neglected by it previous owner and now its a sanctuary of the Church.

"Father Maris, we are the messengers of the Church." I introduced ourselves to the priest who was ever glad that we have arrived. His name is Father Maris; a young man of no more than three decades of lifetime but he looked like a lad of eighteen. He is in charge of the Church here which they have taken possession only a year ago. He told us of his parish and he is assisted by four more priests.

"We grow and feed on what we can grow. The food on our table is the gift of God's as he taught us how to plough the land and feed it well with the minerals. Please eat with me on this few dishes that we are able to prepared." Its a bare spread compared to that of the Alcade but its food in the home of God. We took our meal with the priests and soon we were with him in the prayer room for the discussion.

"You seek the way to the Labyrinth of Belit. Its a fable in this area but none has found it. If it was discovered by any adventurer then that person would be either dead or joined the undead. Its said that whoever can walk the labyrinth to its end would be granted access to the Underworld. But no one has seen the labyrinth." The priest shrugged his shoulder and laid his eyes on the last chunk of bread. I can sensed that he is hungry for it and I took up the plate to him,

"Please take it. We had our fill and we would like to start on our task." The priest took it as its rare for them to bake bread here as the flour supply is limited. We took some with us from the Alcade store with his blessing. The priest may not know it, but the Church has a lot of hidden and undisclosed secrets. "Father, can you show us the cedar tree that is over two hundred years. The one everyone calls the 'El Trunk'."

The tree is a known in these parts as it has been there for over two hundred years and maybe more. Its not a tall tree but it reaches above many growing tree and it canopy of leaves offers shelter to the weary travelers. At the base of the tree are an assorted range of offerings given by the local folks in their beliefs. It reminded me of one task which I was dreaded the most.

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