Board Thread:What Would You Do?/@comment-28718853-20200717161018/@comment-43782881-20200915080359

'''"Medusa. I mean...I think the sharpshooter seems liike the best companion for the job you've given me." My lord and the others in the hall stare at me.'''

"Are you sure you understand the situation, young man? The Order's ship is approaching The Capital and it will arrive here in a matter of days. We are a blip on the map. We cannot hold the defenses for long and we need someone to stop the ship! Are you thinking clearly about which hero to bring with you?"

'''"Of course sir! Between the lady's skills with guns and my magic we'll make a strong offensive team. We'll take any foes that try to stop us". '''

"Good! Miriam, are you prepared to fight alongside this man for the sake of the city and its people?"

'''"Of course sir! I've trained for weeks to um, well you know. I won't let my friends down either". Miriam said, nodding to the other heroes.'''

'''"Go get em Miriam! We'll stop the Order ship right in its tracks. And have fun with that guy!" The minotaur snickered, pointing at me. Miriam looked away, and the Inari chuckled quietly. '''

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'''"So what's your name? And what kind of magic can you use anyway?" Miriam and I had been making our way as quickly as we could down the road out of our city. Our hope was to make it to the next town over, where the ship was going to dock temporarily. Then we would sneak aboard and stop it from the inside. '''

"Cliff. I've learned a variety of spells, but I prefer to throw lots of elemental magic until whatever is threatening me stops moving. Honestly, I'm not that familiar with your weapons. How exactly do you use them?"

'''"You don't even know how a gun works? Why did you pick me then?" Miriam scolded, her tail twitching. "Look, they're real simple. I pull this trigger and the bullet launches out of the barrel at the target. I can shoot pretty far, and quite accurately, I'll have you know. These demon silver bullets won't kill anyone, but they'll incapacitate anyone they hit. And my snakes let me see on all sides of me. Including you lot!" She turned around and stared into the bushes. 3 men appeared, grinning wickedly and holding crude knives.'''

'''"Alright, you caught us, miss! But it won't make a bit of difference. Drop all your belongings and we'll let you leave with your lives!" Miriam glowered, and the man froze before her with a look of shock. As the other 2 looked at their companion, Miriam lunged forward, knocking them on their backs and freezing them both.'''

"Let's go. We can't afford wasting time on these clowns."

"Just leave them there?"

"That's my other specialty. They're only petrified. They'll become unstuck in a few hours. If monsters don't find them first."

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"Ladies please! I assure you we didn't mean anything by trespassing in your forest. We were just in a hurry to get by. Now if you'll excuse me, my companion and I are-"

'''"It doesn't matter what your intent was. You are clearly unclaimed by the medusa, so there is no way we're going to let you go now". The amazoness said. She was standing at the head of a group of about 10, all surrounding us. I tried to back up closer to Miriam, but there was hardly any room as they closed in around us. '''

'''"Seriously! There's a giant Order ship traveling through the skies as we speak! It's loaded with weapons and they have every intent to blow our city up, and more on the way. We have to reach it and stop them before they take more people's lives!" The amazoness tilted her head in confusion.'''

'''"A likely story. I will be taking you as my husband now. I'm afraid you will have to find someone else", she nodded to Miriam. I was going to have to take it up a notch.'''

"MIriam, close your eyes!"

"What? Uh-"

'''"LIGHTNING!" I held my hand up to summon one of the most powerful spells in my arsenal. The group jumped back, suddenly opening up a space to escape. I grabbed her hand and unleashed a ball of bright light. "GO!". The amazonesses fell back, staggering and covering their faces. I raced away in the direction I hoped led out of the forest. It was meant to be a shortcut! We didn't have enough time to go all the way around. '''

'''"It as a trick! The head amazoness called out. That was just a light spell! After them!" '''

'''Miriam heard their voices long before she heard them. Clutching Cliff's hand and trying to keep up with him, she heard their voices. Suddenly there was a rustling in the bushes. The head amazoness lunged out of the bush and swiped at Miriam, tripping them up and sending them skidding across the ground.'''

'''"Ouch, owoowoooowowowowow" Miriam groaned. As she tried to stand, she saw the amazoness pick up Cliff carefully, then turn towards the other direction back into the forest. "Cliff!" She tried to stand but the rest of the amazonesses surrounded her. He glanced back at her and her eyes lit up, encasing him in a layer of stone. The amazoness cried out and tripped, flopping face first into the ground and dropping Cliff from the increased weight. Miriam lunged over and coiled her tail around him. '''

"My dear, that was a rather clever trick you pulled. But I'm going to ask you to give up this man. He is completely unmarked."

'''"NO! Cliff wasn't lying. There's a big ship coming right for our city and we have to stop it at all costs. I can't let you take him". The amazoness stared into her eyes for a bit. '''

"Then why don't you consummate your relationship right now? Prove that he is as important to you as you say", Miriam turned red.

"N-No way! I can't do that now. I made a promise to treat him like a friend, that we'd only focus on the mission, 

"Isn't this how you would normally take a mate?"

'''"Sure, but I can't do that right now. I promised". The amazoness was silent.'''

'''"Well, I have to give credit to your dedication. Very well then, I shall allow you both to leave". Miriam sighed in relief'''

"Can we please travel through the forest the way we were going? We don't have enough time to go around."

'''"I'll lead you myself". So Miriam followed the amazoness through the forest, carrying me under her arm. I couldn't say anything, so I lay there, relieved that Miriam had been able to save us both, and trying not to think about what if Miriam had done what the amazoness told her to. '''

'''When I was free of my stone prison, Miriam, set me on the ground and I was free to stand up and stretch. We were through the forest, and the road led down a long slope that ended with the lights of our destination. Under the setting sun I could just barely see the large ship docked outside the town.'''

'''"Oh. My. God. We're almost there. We've made it! MIriam you saved us. That was brilliant". She wouldn't look me in the eyes. '''

"I'm really sorry I petrified you. I just didn't know what to do. I swear I wasn't going to...you know."

'''"I'm sure. You promised me not to take advantage of traveling with me and I know you meant it". We just have to get onto that ship". Was that the sunlight catching on Miriam's pale face, or was she still red as a tomato? '''

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'''We decided to enter the town after dark. I raised a smaller light spell, and we snuck around the ship. It took 10 minutes for us to walk from one end to the other, and this must have been much faster than navigating inside the ship. But we couldn't find any entrance either. '''

'''"Can't we just wreck it and stop it from taking off?" Miriam asked.'''

"No can do. It's solid steel. We have to get inside without drawing too much attention. I think we should find a place to sleep. We'll take turns keeping watch so that we know when the ship is starting."

---

'''I opened my eyes and looked around. Oh no. Had I slept the entire time? I looked around for Miriam but as I took my surroundings in my heart sank. A metal bench, surrounded by walls and blocked off by a heavy metal door in front of me. On the other side, a man wearing Order robes, smiling coldly at me. '''

'''"Good morning, old fellow. Found you and that monster hiding in the town. Thought you could sneak aboard our ship and stop it? May I have the names of our would-be saboteurs?" I didn't answer. "Well, never mind. I can tell you are capable of powerful magic, so I'll just tell you that though you may be able to break out of this cell, you'll still have to navigate the halls. And you wouldn't want anything to happen to that snake woman you were traveling with?" He let the threat hang in the air as he turned away and walked down the narrow hall, opening a door and disappearing. I clenched my fists, How could we let ourselves get caught when we were so close? "Joseph, I'd like to thank you for your assistance in guarding this monster. The other prisoner is being kept on a different level, but we should still make sure they can't find each other."'''

'''"Of course, Captain. I, ah..."He stared into space, as if trying to find some sort of assurance of his ability. "I won't let you down."'''

'''"Good. But be wary. Snakes are particularly crafty, so don't be fooled by her lies. And whatever you do, Do. Not. Look. Into. Her. Eyes. The snakes in her hair identify her as a Medusa, a particular type of snake that can petrify someone with a single glance. Your body will turn to solid stone and you'll never recover. Understood?" Joseph nodded.'''

'''"We'll be arriving at our next destination within the next few hours". The captain turned away and left them in the room. As soon as the door closed, MIriam looked at Joseph, who turned his back on her. '''

"Joseph? Please, you have to believe me-"

'''"Don't even try, monster. I have a job to do, so I can see my family again." Oh. Family? Miriam smiled a little. '''

'''"And what kind of family do you have?" Joseph cursed. '''

"Shouldn't have said anything. It doesn't matter. You're not going to get out of this cell. Our job is too important."

"But would it really do any harm telling me about your family? It sounds like you have people that are very important to you."

"Well...my wife and daughter. They live back in our home town. When the Order came through they were calling for men to work on this ship, said they'd pay well. We'd have the glory of saving the human race from the threat of monsters."

"And what kind of threat do monsters pose to humans?"

"Are you serious? You eat them! And...trick them with your appearance."

'''"And what if I told you that monsters actually love humans? We take men as husbands, and there's nothing more a monster wants than to have children and a family of her own." Joseph was still facing away from her.'''

"Am I really supposed to believe any of that?"

'''"Well..." What about that man I was traveling with? I wasn't trying to hurt him right?" Joseph paused. '''

"I don't know what you were doing together. But it doesn't matter."

'''"Joseph, you have to believe me! We're from a city full of both monsters and humans living together. The Order is going to destroy the city and kill thousands of people!" Joseph turned his head a fraction to the side, still not looking at her. '''

'"Nothing but cities of monsters, he murmured. "Waiting to bring humanity to ruin. Just like...the last city..."'''

'''"Joseph, have you seen what this ship is capable of?" Miriam asked quietly.'''

'''"Lasers. Explosives. Raining fire down over the whole city". Joseph's voice began to quiver. "I never saw such destruction. We were high up, so I couldn't see anyone. But then the ship landed and they dispatched soldiers".'''

"What did the soldiers do?"

'''"Take care of the survivors". Joseph had turned around, staring directly at Miriam, his face looking shell shocked. His eyes twitched, Suddenly they snapped into focus and he cried out, leaping away from the cell door and turning away, kneeling on the floor. He covered his face. "Don't look...don't listen...just do your job. It will all be over soon."'''

'''"Joseph, do you remember the captain telling you that I could petrify someone?" Joseph suddenly looked up in surprise.'''

'''"I looked! Was the captain lying?" He averted his eyes.'''

"Oh no, I can petrify people. But it won't kill them. And I can even undo it myself,"

"Then why didn't you? I was staring right into your eyes?"

'''"Because I still can't get out of the cell. And I wanted to prove to you that monsters aren't trying to harm humans". Joseph stared at the floor, thinking. '''

'''"If what you said is true, then that means that city we destroyed...there were people living there?" Miriam nodded. "Then that makes us killers! I can't face my family. Can't stop now or we'll be put in prison!"'''

"Would you really rather keep going and be responsible for more deaths?"

"What'll happen to us all?"

'''"Well, to be honest, I can't promise you won't be punished. But If you help us now, you can stop things from getting worse". Joseph pondered.'''

"Can you really stop this ship?"

'''"We have to". Joseph appeared to come to a decision. He reached for his keys, and unlocked the cell door. Then he unlocked the chains holding Miriam's arms and tail. She rubbed her wrists, then bowed to Joseph. "Thank you so much for believing me!"'''

'''"We have to find your friend. But I'll follow behind you, ok?" They ran out the door, and picked a hall to run through. "We've got to move downward. Your friend is probably in the lowest levels". Miriam yankd open the door and stumbled out, right into a control room. There was the captain standing in front of a large panel of buttons and levers, surrounded by soldiers. Oops, Miriam thought. She put her hand down near her waist, as Joseph ran in behind her and stared at the guards in front of them.'''

'''"Joseph. So sorry to see you. I warned you about that snake". The captain and the guards drew their swords. Miriam grabbed a small pistol hidden in a pouch around her waist and aimed. '''

'''"Don't move or I'll shoot!" But she was already sliding forward, flashing her eyes. The captain let out a warning shout, but his body was turned to stone. The soldiers were wearing helmets which prevented her from getting a look at them, but Miriam fired at the four of them, aiming close enough to their heads that they backed up, trying to guard the captain. '''

'''"Wait! We're not here to hurt you." Joseph shouted. "But we have to stop the ship. The captain is lying about our target." Miriam backed up as Joseph tried to explain to the soldiers, and finally they seemed to listen to him, despite trying not to look at Miriam. '''

'''"Hey. What does that mean for us? We've already bought one city to the ground. And..." One of the soldiers spoke up, He was barely an adult. He looked at Joseph and there was fear in his eyes.'''

'''"We're going to have to take responsibility, son. I'm sorry. But the only other thing we can do is to let this ship ruin more lives." The other soldiers tried to console the boy, but there wasn't much they could say. Joseph looked at the control panel. There was a map, and some cells near the bottom level of the ship. "Think we can get to these cells, lads? The lady has a friend who's locked down there".'''

'''"I'll take you there." One of the men spoke up, and led Miriam out the door. She glanced back, worried that they could be deceiving her. But the man led her silently through a maze of halls and stairs until finally they opened a door and there was Cliff, sitting in a cell and staring at the door.'''

'''I stood up as the door opened, and gasped as Miriam walked through. '''

'''"Miriam! You're ok!" '''

'''"I'm so glad to see you!" She smiled. The snakes on her head were all looking at me as well. The soldier that followed behind her walked up to the door and unlocked it. I stepped out and Miriam jumped out to hug me. I hugged her back, surprised. As we separated, and left the hall, Miriam followed next to me, and a few snakes coiled around my arm. '''

'''"Sir? Is it true that the monster cities are populated by people and monsters living together?" '''

'''"As I live and breathe". I replied. The soldier leading us back didn't say anything else. He led us into a room with 3 other soldiers, and a fourth man with them. The captain was standing by a control pane, encased in stone. '''

'''"That's Joseph". Miriam said, pointing to the man. "He helped me out of the cell and it's thanks to him and the other men we were able to get out". I shook Joseph's hand.'''

"I can't thank you enough!"

"Don't thank me yet. We're not done. And the things we've done..."

"We'll finish this. Are these the controls to the ship?"

"No. They're at the bow".

"I think we can make it there."

---

'''Two armed soldiers, a medusa with multiple guns, and one magical man. We advanced through the halls, leaving one remaining soldier, Joseph, and the boy, in the maintenance room. The captain as well, still trapped. In the main control room, there were more workers and soldiers standing guard. A few icicle spears, gunshots and petrifications later, we wrested the ship from their grasp.'''

'''"Can anyone help us with these controls? We're trying to land it." I looked out at some of the technicians left in the room. No one seemed to want to cooperate. "Look. We're going to land. Everyone here is most likely going to be found guilty in an act of war. You can help us land safely or we'll figure it out ourselves". At last one of the women spoke up, and gave us instructions on how to land. I thanked her as we touched down, in the middle of the road. We could see our city from the front window. '''

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'''A week after we landed, I asked to meet Miriam in private. We returned as heroes. Joseph and every person on board was taken by the city guards. I could only thank the few people who had helped us, and tell them that it wouldn't be for life. Even the most severe crimes were punished by temporary sentences, after which they would be released as citizens, or free to leave. The captain and the other high ranking members proved to be the most difficult to deal with. They were rarely able to be convinced of their wrongdoing, but we couldn't just let them back into the Order. Maybe there's a monster girl who would be willing to help...'''

'''"What did you want to see me about?" Miriam was standing in the doorway of the chamber, a musket resting on her hip.'''

'''"Well, I just wanted to thank you again for how much you helped me." I stepped closer. '''

'''"Of course I helped you. Just like you kept an eye out for me. Is that all you wanted to say?" Miriam looked away as I came into arm's reach. The snakes reached out to me. '''

"And I also wanted to tell you how much I appreciated you holding yourself back."

'''"W-well obviously. I promised you, and my friends, I wouldn't do anything to compromise our partnership while we had a job to do". I could see the twitches in her long slender tail, her beautiful body, and her adorable face as she still refused to look at me. '''

'''"But you know, I'd love to continue our partnership, especially with such a lovely woman. This time without any restrictions." Miriam inhaled. I was standing right in front of her. She leaned in.'''

'''"Are you sure?" She asked quietly. '''

'''"It's a promise". She wrapped her arms around me, her tail coiling around my legs and we fell to the floor, I kissed her on the lips, and we lay there, her snakes coiling around me. As we parted I tried to move but my arms and legs were frozen. "I'm going to take you back to my house. I want to do this properly. Ok?" I grinned, laying in her arms as she shuffled out of the room. '''

"Whatever you say, cutie pie."