Anatoly, the leather-clad giant, waved his sister over - reaching into one of the capacious pockets which had been sewn into his over-sized vest and producing a crumpled pack of cigarras. The beast of a man grinned, flashing a set of dark, nic-stained teeth as he pulled two sticks from the pack. He offered one to Pyotr, who accepted it with a chubby hand, and kept one for himself - placing it between his lips. "You will find not a creature is safe with that on your rifle, dear sister." he said, nodding approvingly at the young woman who beamed at him in response.
"Would you like to try our trick again, dear brother?" She asked, her voice music to his ears.
Anatoly gave out a booming laugh as he replaced the crumpled pack where he'd pulled it from, then fished out a small rectangular lighter from the same pocket. The cigarra, slightly bent, bloomed to radiant life as he puffed away - finally getting the stubborn thing lit. It tasted stale, but was smokeable all the same.
"Nyet. I would not like to lose my head, like poor Vasily."
The last time they'd played that game, and allowed Yulia to light their cigarras from afar, the foolish young man had been too drunk to stand on his feet. A strong gust of wind had struck the blonde-haired youth in the back, causing him to stumble...
...and his head to shift a few inches further forward.
Rather than a spark, there'd been a sound not unlike that of a wet paper bag filled with raw meat being dropped on concrete, and poor Vasily's skull had disappeared in a mess of blood & brain-matter.
That was the last time any of them took Yulia up on her offer.
Yulia rolled her eyes at her brother, then shrugged.
"It was his own fault." She said, defensively - but did not press the issue. Anatoly grinned at her, blowing a thick cloud of smoke in her direction.
"Go." He said.
"Keep an eye out for this flaming beast - and if you see it, shoot it dead. We will roast it for our supper!"
Pyotr laughed as he tightened the remaining screws on his latest creation, then set it aside. The short, balding man hopped down from his sitting position and gathered up an armful of his self-made explosives.
"While she does that, I will lay these out on the trail we found near the clearing's edge. We shall see who kills this beast first."
Anytoly grinned, taking in a lungful of the acrid, sweet-smelling smoke before exhaling in a stream from his nostrils. As he did so, the big man turned around to survey the encampment... suddenly finding himself staring toward the center of the clearing, near the ring of land-wags. His mouth hung open limply, the cigarra dangling from his lip - forgotten - as an expression of shock & disbelief settled on his face.
A dozen yards away, his younger sister Yulia was also staring. The girl was having difficulty registering exactly what she was seeing.
An emerald-green alien, with tails on its head, had materialized from the underbrush and approaching one of the Primakov Soldiers. The tall, swarthy man had fumbled for his rifle before pausing as the green-skinned alien began speaking. Anatoly was already moving in that direction.
quite the setup here, I'm impressed, but I'm not here to visit. I'll cut straight to the point for everyone, I am capo solus of the family, the emerald dragon. The family wishes to purchase this land for private use, however it would appear that...it is being illegally occupied...
She let her words trail off as she spoke and looked around just a minute before she continued
The tall, skinny soldier was dressed in a leather coat & worn denim jeans, clutching at his rifle as-if it were a pacifier and he a frightened babe. His eyes were wide, and he listened as the Twi'lek spoke her piece. His words failed him, and he said nothing in response. Two others, both seated around one of the camp-fires, had stood in response to the sudden arrival, hefting their blasters and shouldering them, muzzles pointed in the creature's direction.
now rather then chase you away I come with a proposal first, I see your people want a home, you likely know this land better. This land is prime for farming and maybe even a small town...help us in using this land and you shall have a home here, schools for your children, medicine for your sick and elderly, credits untaxed by the corporate greed, fresh food grown by your hands...and for those that do not farm there's a place among the family...I can give you that...but...if you wish to put up a fight and refuse to work with us I will insure ALL who dare raise a weapon is burned away and used to fertilize the land!
To make a point she raised a hand at a random bush, it would suddenly be engulfed in fire then it was out just as quickly as it was engulfed, the busy was blackened and all but ash
I will give you a hour to decide, attack before then and I will take it as you wish to fight...but if you wish to agree to my terms...you will send a elder of your people and three of your best to converse at the forest edge...do think heavily on this for I do not wish violence
As she spoke of an "Offer", the lowly criminal's eyes narrowed in suspicion - before going wide at the sudden immolation of a nearby bush; a show of power, for his benefit and anyone else watching. He took an involuntary step back and nearly dropped his weapon at the explainable occurrence - being only a farm boy & raised on Epica his entire life, he understood only that this creature possessed control over the forces of nature that he couldn't comprehend.
By the time "The Ox" arrived, the alien had disappeared into the forest from whence it came - leaving the stunned soldier speechless.
Anatoly grabbed the shorter man by the shoulder and spun him around angrily, snarling so fiercely that the smoking cigarra dropped from his lips and landed in the dirt at his feet.
"What was that?!" He growled, meeting the eyes of the man nearly two feet shorter than he.
"I...they... they wanted our land..." the young man stuttered. Then, his vision went dark as Anatoly's fist collided with his jaw. He crumpled to the ground, unconscious, with The Ox towering over him.
One of the men standing near the campfire, considered speaking, to explain what he'd heard... but decided against it. He was all-too familiar with their boss' sudden rage, and didn't want to risk injury...
Or worse.
The Ox of the Primakovs spent the next fifteen minutes stalking about the camp, shouting orders and ridiculing his men for their total lack of awareness. The fact that this emerald beast had appeared, so mysteriously, in the very center of their camp was simply inexcusable.
And if she came back, they would be ready.
Stardust Solus Skirae
R
RAV
Jai'galaar Gred
Jade Solus Skirae
