Chronicles of The Omniverse Archived Cerulean Coast

[Fishman]

Just out of Lutetia territory, the coast became slightly more desolate of villages. With any luck and a map, one could travel from one to another with a few days of hiking. Rough country roads wound between them. Now and again, someone would stumble upon one of these villages, not having recognized their departure from Lutetian soil.

Every now and again, they would discover something a little startling.

Within one of these quaint villages, which went by the name of Ghastin, a semi truck was parked. It was attached to several tanks that rose five feet into the air, able to hold several gallons. Tubes ran into the tops of these tanks, stained red on the inside.

Sitting in front of the truck were several people, some sitting down, others standing over them. Upon closer inspection, one would see that the thin tubes that ran from the truck were attached to the people who were seated.

Simultaneously, one could make out that the figures before them didn't have much in the way of a face. Or skin. Or eyes.

In fact, the lot of them were a skeleton crew dressed in blue scrubs... sapping blood from perfectly healthy, human people.

 

[Crim]

Bas knew that on his time off he shouldn't be investigating something he'd heard on the grapevine. He really shouldn't be. But when Bas heard something that was investigative worthy, he wouldn't just leave it. Especially when it involved helpless humans and xeno's. It had only been a whisper about mistreating, but it had been enough to send him in the direction of said whisperings.

He was about to give up hope, thinking that this had just been a whisper when he stumbled upon something else entirely. What he'd heard and what he was suddenly looking at, was completely different. He'd heard only of mistreated humans. He hadn't heard of... of this.

Bas found himself on the outskirts of a village suddenly. Of what village he had no idea. It was obviously one controlled by Xeno's from the looks of things. They were... it was like a makeshift hospital of sorts. It was horrifying to the Paladin. He'd never seen such an operation and he wondered what they'd done to make the humans' cooperate on such a level. Yes, Xeno's and humans lived together in Lutetia... but to be doing this?

Assessing the situation, Bas knew he was outnumbered. But that didn't mean that he couldn't snoop and investigate; collect vital information to take back with him so that he could bring more Paladin's back with him and on good grounds. There was a truck up ahead. He needed to get closer. Checking his Lawkeeper, he made sure it was loaded and the safety was off in case he got in trouble, Bas made his way as close to the truck as he could, keeping his cover as much as possible.

 

[Fishman]

Very soon, the last participant in the blood drive, a young, golden-haired woman, was relieved of the tube in her arm and was given a bandage. She wobbled as she stood up, and with a laugh, one of the skeleton nurses swept her off her feet and carried her into the village.

As he left, the rest cleaned up behind, discarding bloody bandages and the like. One of them put his hands on his hips and sighed a breathless sigh.

"Where the hell is Dave? He can't be fraternizing with the living like tha', man. He can't give her what she wants and he should understand that!" he complained. His partner scoffed.

"If this gets us in trouble with Thornell, I'm grabbin' his head and droppin' it down a well."

As they laughed, the paladin might have been just distracted enough to miss the pallid figure creeping up behind him holding a large rock. This rock was hefted into the air and let go right above the paladin's head.

 

[Crim]

Bas had seen blood drives before, for humans. It was a common thing to do. But this... this was unheard of to him. Was it even legal? They could be doing anything to get vulnerable humans to cooperate. Surely there had to be some sort of governance and controls in place to make sure that humans weren't exploited. He couldn't see anyone looking like they were making sure of that from what he could see.

He was focused on the unfolding scene that he didn't notice something creeping up to him. Not until he went to grab his radio to report in and check. Just within his sight he thought he saw something. It was too late to react though because the rock was dropped just as he turned his head, colliding right with his skull.

He was a big man, an intimidating man, but he was no match for the rock. he dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes, having been taken him by complete surprise. For a moment he struggled to focus, trying to see what had hit him. Moments later his eyes closed and he was out like a light.

 

[Fishman]

Hearing the racket, the other two skeletons hurried over, one taking off his hat and tossing it to the ground in anger. "Fuck, Dave! What've you gone and done now?" he complained.

The skeleton who had assaulted the paladin shrunk inwardly. "Wh-what do you mean? He's a paladin, boys! What else was I supposed to do? He was gonna sabotage the whole mission!"

"Wha... what else were you supposed to... Dave, you idiot. You couldn't have explained to him the situation? This isn't Lutetian territory either. Now you've gone and attacked a fuckin' paladin. Do you know how bad this could be for us?"

"Well, I got scared, Markus! Damn pally was hidin' in the bushes like a wolf!"

"That ain't gonna hold up well in front of Miss Thornell, Dave. You're fucked if this gets back to 'er and someone sues th' company."

Dave fretted and clamped his skull in his hands, teeth chattering like a pair of maracas. "Let's... take him with us."

 

[Crim]

His head was pounding. His eyes were closed as he groaned. Maybe he was actually coming down with something. What time was it? Should he be getting ready for work? God did his head pound. What was he doing last night or yesterday or whenever?

The last thing he remembered was taking a walk. He'd gone out of Lutetia following something - a lead? He couldn't remember. Maybe he'd gotten sick on the walk or something. Bas still wasn't entirely sure what had happened. Wait - he did remember. Suddenly it all came back to him. The Xeno that had been behind him... the rock... blacking out.

Suddenly Bas opened his eyes and looked around, trying to figure out where he was and how long it had been since he'd been attacked.