Post by Archon No'ki on Apr 19, 2004 16:24:23 GMT
The small private shuttle settled on to the landing pad to the groan of the supports. As the hatch lowed down a man strode out, he must have been about 50 but the scars across his face made him appear much older. His amour resembled that of an imperial storm trooper, but was cut off in certain places to allow freer movement. A helmet was clipped onto his belt, a heavily modified lasgun on his back as well as a huge double bladed axe. A more detailed scan would have shown the numerous blades nestled under his amour. Behind him came four other men, all similar in apparel but not quite as impressive as the first. The Devil Chasers had arrived on Benin IV.
A hush came over the bar as Barok and the Devil Chasers walked into the local bar. Barok could hear people muttering about them, especially his scar. He allowed himself a slight simile then walked over to the bar tender. “Barkeep! Barkeep!” Barok laughed at the fear in the bar tenders eyes when he shouted. The bartender quickly ran over to where Barok was standing. “Barkeep. I’m looking for a man named Kane.” “Over there sir.” Said the bartender pointing to an old man in the corner. Of course that old man had been the only person not to have reacted when the Chasers had walked in.
“We need to talk old man.” Said Barok as he sat down at Kane’s table. “You’ve come about the Gathara beast. I knew some one would sooner or later.” Kane smiled. “ The Gathara beast is a legend of the people on this planet. It is said that it haunts the forests and prays on anything it can catch, and that is every thing. It is the ultimate predator on Benin IV, but it has never been seen. Legends say that it gave birth to the other predators on the planet, that it made Benin IV a death world. But that is all just legend, what is truth is that many have entered the forest in search of it but non have returned.” With that Barok pushed himself up from the table, throwing a few credits down as he did so. “Well lads looks like we got ourselves a challenge. Saddle up.”
It seemed like the whole town had come out to watch the Devil Chasers go into the forest. Dax was overwhelmed by the amount of people, the constant murmurings. He picked up on a few of them, “there goes another bunch to feed the Gathara.” “The fools, they’ll be dead in a day.” He’d only just joined the Devil Chasers. This was his second hunt, but Barok had faith in him. Dax was amazed at the size of the city walls, he’d never seen anything that big back on his home world. How he wished he were back there now. They soon passed through the gates and into the forest.
It had been two days and still no sign of the Gathara beast. They’d kill countless other beasts that lurked in the trees and bushes but still no sign of their pray. Just then a flutter of wings was heard and a loud squawk. It had come from a clearing a few meters in front of them. “Positions” came the order from Barok. Quickly the Devil Chasers fanned out and took up their positions with Barok at the front with his custom lasrifle ready. Nothing. It had to be there, but there wasn’t anything. Barok span round to the scream of one his men and the sound of weapons fire. “Cease fire!” he yelled, “Who’s it taken?” “Ali…it came out of no where…he didn’t stand a chance.” Stuttered Dax. Barok could see they were all shaken, but the loss of one man could not cause the loss of another four. “Lets keep moving. It’s fed so we should be safe from it for now.” “Fed! Fed! That’s Ali you’re talking about!” cried Zap. Barok quickly put him back in his place; “Ali was with me from the beginning boy! You know just as well as I do that had that of been me he would have carried on. We will morn him when we’re out of this hell!” This took the entire group aback. “Ok, now lets get moving.” And with that Barok shouldered his pack, and Ali’s, and started to walk into the forest again, the rest of the Chasers following suit.
A hush came over the bar as Barok and the Devil Chasers walked into the local bar. Barok could hear people muttering about them, especially his scar. He allowed himself a slight simile then walked over to the bar tender. “Barkeep! Barkeep!” Barok laughed at the fear in the bar tenders eyes when he shouted. The bartender quickly ran over to where Barok was standing. “Barkeep. I’m looking for a man named Kane.” “Over there sir.” Said the bartender pointing to an old man in the corner. Of course that old man had been the only person not to have reacted when the Chasers had walked in.
“We need to talk old man.” Said Barok as he sat down at Kane’s table. “You’ve come about the Gathara beast. I knew some one would sooner or later.” Kane smiled. “ The Gathara beast is a legend of the people on this planet. It is said that it haunts the forests and prays on anything it can catch, and that is every thing. It is the ultimate predator on Benin IV, but it has never been seen. Legends say that it gave birth to the other predators on the planet, that it made Benin IV a death world. But that is all just legend, what is truth is that many have entered the forest in search of it but non have returned.” With that Barok pushed himself up from the table, throwing a few credits down as he did so. “Well lads looks like we got ourselves a challenge. Saddle up.”
It seemed like the whole town had come out to watch the Devil Chasers go into the forest. Dax was overwhelmed by the amount of people, the constant murmurings. He picked up on a few of them, “there goes another bunch to feed the Gathara.” “The fools, they’ll be dead in a day.” He’d only just joined the Devil Chasers. This was his second hunt, but Barok had faith in him. Dax was amazed at the size of the city walls, he’d never seen anything that big back on his home world. How he wished he were back there now. They soon passed through the gates and into the forest.
It had been two days and still no sign of the Gathara beast. They’d kill countless other beasts that lurked in the trees and bushes but still no sign of their pray. Just then a flutter of wings was heard and a loud squawk. It had come from a clearing a few meters in front of them. “Positions” came the order from Barok. Quickly the Devil Chasers fanned out and took up their positions with Barok at the front with his custom lasrifle ready. Nothing. It had to be there, but there wasn’t anything. Barok span round to the scream of one his men and the sound of weapons fire. “Cease fire!” he yelled, “Who’s it taken?” “Ali…it came out of no where…he didn’t stand a chance.” Stuttered Dax. Barok could see they were all shaken, but the loss of one man could not cause the loss of another four. “Lets keep moving. It’s fed so we should be safe from it for now.” “Fed! Fed! That’s Ali you’re talking about!” cried Zap. Barok quickly put him back in his place; “Ali was with me from the beginning boy! You know just as well as I do that had that of been me he would have carried on. We will morn him when we’re out of this hell!” This took the entire group aback. “Ok, now lets get moving.” And with that Barok shouldered his pack, and Ali’s, and started to walk into the forest again, the rest of the Chasers following suit.