Brandt Fuhr Junior Review -- On the Run

[Tate 328]

 

"Avalon"

Planet Zulu's Capital City

Location: The Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy

 

 

The Stone of Enchantment had been laid to rest in the highest chamber of the most recognized structure in Avalon, the Tower of Champions. The Tower, also known as the heavily guarded palace of the, "Great Warrior," Bekn Damari, was first constructed over six thousand years ago with the sole purpose of housing the Stone. After all, it was Damari herself who had first captured the Stone and had used its incredible power to give her the strength needed to rule over an entire civilization, and because of it's immense power the Stone had been kept under heavy guard ever since.

 

Being that one of the many gifts that the Stone gave to its possessor was immortality, legend had been passed down to Zulu children to this day that Damari remained alive in the Tower, waiting for the next champion to come and claim the Stone.  It is here where our story begins, on the outskirts of the Tower, and in the shadows -- because it is from the darkness in which the next champion would emerge. The moment the Champion stepped into the light his physical features became clear- He was of average size and build for a grown man of Zulu and dressed in such rags you'd often find a vagabond wearing in the streets, and while hardly anything was remarkable about his appearance- it was what he hid inside that would matter in this evening's venture. 

 

 

 

"The Champion"

 

 

Like most who grew up in the slums of Avalon he felt a sense of entitlement to the Stone, and like all young men he had dreamt that he was, "The One."  The mysterious figure written about in the prophecy who would rise up from the depths of Avalon to claim his rightful place at the top of the Tower and remove Damari from her position in the only way a Zulu citizen knew how to do-- Combat. But the rules of war on this planet were not the same as they were on Earth and claiming victory in battle did not always have to come from hand to hand combat. In Zulu you could fight using whatever strength you were gifted from birth, and for this Champion it would be his speed and stealth. 

 

The Champion knew that penetrating the walls of the Tower would be near impossible and that if he were to have any success in his mission, it would have to be done from the outside, and so it was that the Champion produced a grappling hook from the inside sleeve of his ragged clothing and raised it high in the air- pointing its tip at the highest visible balcony he could see. The Champion pulled back on the trigger, firing the grappling hook at its target and watched as it hurled through the sky toward its destination. He kept his eyes fixed on the hook, not bothering to scan for anyone who may have been alerted by the sound of the grappling hook being launched, for if he had been discovered he had little time to act before he would be captured. 

 

The moment the grappling hook snagged its target the Champion resisted the urge to smile, and instead relaxed his body as the forces of the hook pulled him up off the ground and toward the visible balcony.

 

 

 

"The Tower of Champions"

 

 

Once inside the Tower, our hero stayed low and used his skill of stealth to blend in with the shadows and his vision to seek immediate shelter. He could hear the voices of guards echoing in all directions, but our hero paid no mind to their distraction and instead focused on the only destination he had in mind -- Up. The Stone of Enchantment was said to be kept in the chamber at the top of the Tower, and from here on out his preparation and skill would now be tested to their very limits. 

 

Like most people from the planet Zulu, our hero did possess a modicum degree of magic but so limited was his knowledge and use of the ancient power that he had only been able to hone a handful of spells, most of which he intended to use tonight. The Champion raised his hands, holding them in the designated position for his first incantation, "Sollemico," he whispered as a flash of light appeared between his palms and dissipated almost as fast as it had appeared and this time our hero did smile as he watched his hands and arms blend with the background of his surroundings, giving him a chameleon like effect in camouflage. Ready to move, he took his time in making each step as to not create any noise as he slithered his way the arching steps that ran from the bottom of the Tower to the very top. 

 

Trying not to get ahead of himself our hero ignored the feeling of ease as he slipped by the positioned guards one by one, and tried to pay attention to the fact that this had been far too easy -- 

 

 

 

"The Stone of Enchantment"

 

 

The moment our hero reached the top of the Tower and his eyes fell upon the Stone of Enchantment; he was mesmerized. Never in his wildest imagination did he foresee something so beautiful as the Stone and after becoming struck by its beauty he nearly froze in his place. Making a critical mistake he found himself lost in the light of the Stone as it hovered and swirled in the air and before he could realize what he was doing his hand began to reach out to claim the Stone from its resting place. 

 

"It's truly a sight to behold," the voice spoke from his right side, soft yet firm, strong yet silent, and immediately the power of its tone itself shook our hero from his temporary lapse of reality, "But it is forbidden for any person of Zulu to touch it," the voice said as it drew closer, "Anyone but my touch, that is." Our hero forced his head to turn in the direction of the oncoming voice, only to find himself almost face to face with the greatest warrior in the history of Zulu, Bekn Damari. In appearance she was nearly as mesmerizing as the Stone, and while legend stated she was thousands of years old you would never have guessed it. If there could be such a description as to what a perfect person might look like, our hero thought she fit the bill, and our hero also instantly understood that only the Great Lord itself had carved her by hand. "Who dares to enter my chamber? Who dares to call themselves a Champion!"

 

 

 

"Bekn Damari"

 

 

"I am a man of no name," our hero declared as he fought to stand strong and still, "I am the One."

 

Damari laughed at the declaration and with one fell swoop struck our hero cleanly across his face, sending him backward across the room and into the chamber wall behind him. Struggling for breath our hero gasped as he tried to breath and found himself almost completely defeated as he tried to get to his feet, "You call yourself a Champion! A man so weak that only one strike from my hand should cast him down, a Champion!? I think not. Now go you fool, go while I still have mercy to allow you to live."

 

"You would think I came here to fight you, Damari," our hero said as he barely had the strength to stand, "But it is not strength I possess-" As quick as he could he formed the incantation with his hands and as he was about to speak the words of his next spell Damari countered. 

 

"Gariatande!" She called out as she too formed her own incantation which sent a ball of fire hurling towards our hero, and just before it reached our hero he ripped a bag that had been sewn to the inside of his ragged shirt- tearing it open as he did so. What appeared as sand consumed the ball of fire, causing it to explode outward and as it did it flung the sand like material in all directions. Shielding his eyes from the material our hero avoided the temporary blindness he had now inflicted upon Damari. 

 

She screamed in anger and as her eyes cleared and her vision returned both our hero, and the Stone were gone. 

 

 

 

"The Renaissance"

Personal Spaceship

 

 

Now aboard his spaceship, the Renaissance, our hero found himself in dire need of medical attention. He had no choice but to flee from his opponent and using the Stone to teleport back to his ship was the only way he could escape. However, now that he had finally returned, he realized that he had suffered burns to his body and would need to admit himself to the medical treatment machine that all Zulu sanctioned spaceships provided. Fading in and out of consciousness our hero knew that he had only moments left to set a course destination for the Renaissance before he passed out and although his vision was blurry, he was able to punch in a destination similar in atmosphere and environment to the planet Zulu. One that could hide him while he healed and regained the strength needed to claim power over the planet of Zulu.

 

"Computer," he spoke in almost a whisper.

 

Yes.

 

"Access database for oncoming destination."

 

Accessed.

 

"Construct a disguise for me, representative of a male inhabitant of the planet. Something that will allow me to travel from one location to another without suspicion."

 

Processing. Need more description.

 

"Something..." he began to fade further, "... cultural."

 

Processing. Need more description. 

 

"Something..." he fell forward, collapsing on the console, "... involving warriors."

 

Processing complete. Enter medical chamber. 

 

He forced himself to stand and with his remaining strength he pushed his body inside the medically inducing machine, locking the door behind him. He rested his body against the cushioned interior and just before he lost consciousness, he saw an image of the disguise he was about to take. It was of a man like creature dressed in very odd-looking armor, and below the image of the man was a name the Computer suggested he take:

 

 

 

"BRANDT FUHR"