Out In The Wild (Orb)

[MKR]

Derrick surveyed their destination, this would be the shower Vasco has previously warned him about. Though he had to admit, the surrounding scenery was a beautiful one. One he had loved to have visited when his life wasn't being flipped up its head every fifteen minutes.
Regardless, the Astranagant dove. Water pressure coming down on the external frame as the ever present reminder and warning of what were to happen should he opt to open the hatch of his cockpit.

Regardless the scientist kept going onward, following the trail of his guide, and as he lost sight of the wyvern. The man's instructions instead.
The submerged Astranagant moved with roughly the same grace as it flew with but more sluggish but not long after the Wyvern had done so, the black angel appeared in the hidden beach.

The massive black mech slowly walked to an empty corner as Vasco informed him of the plan. One which was perfectly fine with him, the sooner he was back home the sooner her could take a proper shower and rest. Hopefully the knights had dealt with the bastard that sent him out on a tour to begin with by now to hear his demise would not only lighten his workload but also brighten his day.

But first, the Astranagant powered down. The lights on its frame going dim and then off as the titanic monstrosity stood silently, motionless. Almost statuelike in its construction and position.
Derrick simply exited the same way he'd done before, though now from higher up on the ground. Regardless his descent was made easy by his knowledge of the machine and once he was at the foot, his hands went in his pockets. His clothing was not exactly perfect before but the cooler area made it much better even if still a bit hot.

"It is a nice place, I wish I could've seen it under calmer circumstances." He replied, now he had the fun task of planning a course from here to the moon in roughly ten hours. And account for location, and season.
Derrick rotated his head a bit, cracking his neck.
"You wouldn't happen to have the weather forecast handy would you, newspaper or anything else will do."

 

[DuelSieger]

Vasco watched Derrick with a curious eye, eager to see the way a Lunarian behaved, though he probably knew of a better way. The better way involving shuffling his way to the bags of the little shelter.

Walking over to the wooden lean-to, he took one of the canvas bags, and searched it. A multitude of rustles and jimmying occurred as he searched bag after bag, carefully and precisely returning each one after he had searched it. He certainly wasn't going to come back here anytime soon, so he might as well make sure it stayed tidy.

With a gasp and a pump of his fist, Vasco reached his objective. Bringing a duffel near the gentle waters of the hidden beach, he pulled out a folding table, two folding chairs, a large plastic bottle of water, and an electric kettle. He poured some water into it and turned it on, heating the water before reaching back into the bag.

With a smile, he placed a small box of assorted teas coffees, and other powdered mixes on to the table.

He waved over at Derrick, beckoning him to the empty seat beside him. “You like tea, or coffee? I have some old powdered juices here too. We have lots of time to kill, so...might as well enjoy the little serenity we have.”

 

[MKR]

The Lunarian looked over to Vasco dig through the bags, taking the lack of answer as a 'no.' on the weather information department, an issue for later. He needed to sit down for a moment. So the white haired scientist headed over to the lean-to and took the free seat, it was no collage of ancient architecture but frankly a simple hidden beach was much more pleasant then the endless plains even if those plains provided the only remaining insight into lost greco-roman architecture.

"I prefer coffee myself." Derrick replied. "Keeps me functional when I need it, like now."
Taking a moment to adjust his seat to sit more upright the scientist looked over to the Wyvern for a moment before returning his focus to Vasco.

"Agreed, I've honestly had too little of it recently so at this point I'll take any second of rest the world deems fit to grant me." He sighed, "As an aside, I've been wondering. That Wyvern of yours it seems similar to a Huckebein but very distinctly different from any other I've seen. Let alone the transformation ability you've showcased. Where did you get it?"

The way he phrased it was deliberate, having made them himself he knew how those that made mechs handled them this man had not made the unit, maintained perhaps, likely even if he was going alone. But its original creator? No, he doubted that.

 

[DuelSieger]

With a nod, Vasco set aside the boiling water and poured it into his little cup, a chamomile teabag already within. He then began searching through the little box for packets of coffee. "You have a preference? I'll just be brewing you one of these 3-in-1 packets if you don't. It's got a ah...'perfectly matched' amount of coffee, sugar, and creamer in it, It works enough if you just want a cup of coffee, but if you're more particular...I have Black, Americano, and some low acid if you care about your stomach...do you need to care for your stomach? Probably..."

"The Wild Wyvern?", he muttered, looking up at his machine. It was powered down in its alternate mode, to save on vertical space. " I didn't build it, definitely. I stole it. A skirmish happened, and a bunch of people were in the middle of it, me included. Some of them got hurt. I got mad. When the heat of the fight starts to run around, nobody notices the little thief."

He continued, a sorrowful little smile on his face. "I...well...I managed to draw the fight away from the group, but I was still too late to save them all. I couldn't exactly take vengeance either.", he mumbled. "Only knew how to finagle with the controls enough to fly haphazard circles around the enemy. Couldn't shoot or fight. No time to learn back then. Just...flew around, cut a few people with the Plasma blades on the wings, and then away I went."

As he searched the box for other options, he hummed an odd little ditty, a song about one who waits for him across a sea. He did so to tune out the memory. Above them, where the sky was present in a small hole, a few birds squawked, bringing a little smile to Vasco's face. A thought dawned upon the freedom fighter, and he spoke, curious. "Say...bit odd to ask, but what kind of music do you guys listen to up in Lunaria? Always been interested as to that kind of thing. How people live there, and all."

 

[MKR]

"I prefer regular black, so if its not too much trouble I'll take that over the other options and seeing as I don't have any stomach ails either." Derrick answered, as Vasco detailed the Wild Wyvern and his tale of obtaining it the Lunarian removed his jacket, hanging it over his chair before loosening up the tie he wore. The heat of South Eastern Asia somewhat getting to him and the lack of jacket was already helping.

"I see." was all he really could say on the story, of course he sympathized but he wasn't exactly the most proficient in helping people deal with their issues. Let alone a tragedy, in many ways his youth like that of many Lunarians was a certain kind of Utopian. All that had been expected of him was academic performance for the rest he was left to his own devices. Which in his case ended up being research into whatever field struck his fancy that week and working inside his fathers, or later his own, workshop.

When his host asked about Lunarian music he did raise a slight eyebrow. Finding the question rather odd in its own right as Vasco had admitted. Nevertheless he supposed answering it was only right given his inquiries and him being a guest.
"Music? Well, given we have the internet a lot of the same trends in that regard as the same as down here. Though some of the more... Elitist may be loath to admit it our taste in music is not all that different. Probably best compare to how Europe, Africa or the Americas like their music compared to here. Same gist with some local changes. The biggest difference would probably be a resurgence in classical music."

"Now if you want to know how people live up there. You'll be asking about four very very distinct groups, of which I can only confidently answer one."

 

[DuelSieger]

The underwhelming response to his story caused a slight chuckle to escape the pilot's lips. As he prepared the coffee, he couldn't help but smile. "Black, eh? You enjoy the more bitter things in life then...or you'd rather feel the bitterness in your mouth instead of the bitterness in life. Or you just like black coffee."

He finished mixing the drink, and placed it in front of Derrick, the steam still floating up above the surface. While the coffee may have been powdered, the scent smelled authentic. A scent Vasco was all too welcome to take a good, strong whiff from, waving his hand to waft it over to him. "Let it cool down a little bit, yeah? I can tell the heat's getting you."

"As for the music bit...it's nice to know that tastes transcend cultures...at least, internet taste does.", He muttered. "If anything, it's not only nice, it's downright comforting. Even if it's something small like music...seeing that even those out there can all listen to the same thing we do...yeah."

Vasco turned to Derrick with a sleepy little grin, his eyes half-lidded. "We should enjoy the little rest we have. It'll be some time before nightfall. I'm gonna be taking a nap, yeah? Just wake me up if you need escorting out early, Derrick..."

He nestled into the chair, leaning back into it with a long, relaxing sigh. "There's food and rations in the bags...if you need any..."

And thus, Vasco drifted off into a light mumbling slumber.

 

[MKR]

Derrick looked at the man as he talked about coffee, believing there was a much too philosophical approach being taken over a simple cup of coffee. Nevertheless the advise on letting it cool for a bit was taken as Derrick looked over the black liquid for a second before letting it stand on the table.
In the mind of the scientist his host, good Samaritan, however you wish to call it was a peculiar fellow. But he realized it was probably much the same vice versa. Though he at least wasn't one of the moon obsessed ones, who believed all that transpired on the surface of Luna could be material for a sit-com about knights, princesses and tales of heroism.

"Considering it has been that way for more than a century, I would be worried if it stopped being a universal constant." He replied, after all musical tastes tended to align from all kinds of people.

As Vasco drifted off to sleep the Lunarian looked up to the sky, one day on earth and after that the travel yet remained. The Astranagant was most certainly capable of exiting orbit on its own though it would not be a pleasant ride. Let alone all the mathematical preparation for it. It seemed that unlike the Wyvern's pilot he would not be getting shut eye.

His eyes went back down to the black liquid. His ever stalwart guardian against drowsiness. It carried him through the creation of the Astranagant, so it would also care for him as he prepared to return the black mech to the moon's surface.

---

The sun was beginning to go down Derrick noted to himself, crossing his arms. Luckily no interruptions had come during the day, and hopefully none would come during these last decisive minutes on earth.
He walked over to the chair he had sat in prior, empty coffee mug halfway across the table along with a few extra packets of the coffee he was poured and a few remaining crumbs of food he had eaten in the meanwhile.

The course was planned, all he needed was to take off from the right location. Only a slight bit north of here would provide a fine take off point.
So now he walked back to the chairs and picked up his coat, slinging it over his shoulder as he looked at Vasco. If the man wouldn't wake up himself Derrick would give him a shake at the shoulder to rouse him.

 

[DuelSieger]

Vasco grumbled, unsettled, before he turned aside and opened his eyes. As they fell upon Derrick, he smiled. "Rest well? Though I can guess by the dim of the night that it's time to go, then.", He muttered, still a fair bit groggy. "I'm gonna assume it's gonna be a bit hard to make your way back home, what with all the complicated measures that come with getting out of the atmosphere. And that maybe going back the way you arrived would be...dangerous."

Standing up and stretching his back, Vasco eyed the Astraganant, with a hint of fear in his eye. The sooner Derrick and that machine left, the sooner this place would have less trouble. He did have to admit, though; Derrick wasn't altogether unpleasant company. With a drowsy smile on his face, he walked up to Derrick.

"...you need any special equipment or location you might need to launch into orbit? I'll be with you all the way to the sky. Maybe even a hint of space.", He chuckled, stretching, as Vasco's cheery demeanor finally returned from his sleepy state. "Wyvern was meant for space ops, after all. Would be a shame if she never got to see it."

 

[MKR]

"Not particularly, but it'll have to do." Derrick remarked, for he had not slept but the time of calm had helped lessen the stress. Even if that time of calm had been working out math equations and flight courses.
"As for the hard part, that is already done. Two and a half kilometers south from here is the optimal launch site. As optimal as it gets within the region at least." Any undergrad knew the real optimal launch location on earth was Houston, but not only would that require going halfway around the globe it also required dealing with whatever defenses the Directory put in place.

"Because yes, arriving by Dimensional Quake is not something I wish to repeat." He began heading back to the Astranagant, putting on his coat in the meanwhile. Especially after his time here he would need a fresh set of clothes once he returned home.
"No equipment is needed, everything I need for orbital exit is built into it."

"You are of course free to come as far along as you want, though I cannot promise you entry to the moon should you consider coming that far." He remarked beginning the ascent to the Astranagant's cockpit.
"Regardless, we should get going."

 

[DuelSieger]

"That's...remarkably close. Lucky I took you out here, eh?", He chuckled, amused by what he perceived as a stroke of luck. He straightened out his own little jacket and began walking towards the Wyvern, parked in its alternate mode. "South is good. Search party might've been sent out since the morning, and we'll be going opposite where we came from. Finding the wreckages of the Hucks, with the others nowhere to be found is bound to be disconcerting. Still, there's one or two patrols that might fly past us. As always, if worse comes to worst, I'll draw them off."

As the Wyvern powered up, he took a moment to inhale, then exhale. This would all be over soon enough.

The Wyvern began moving, hovering slightly over the beach as Vasco opened the private channel once more. "All good here, Derrick. Looks like you'll be home sooner than you think. Wait for my signal."

The Wyvern dove into the waters of their hideout, leaving the way she had entered, with a great splash of water. After a minute or so, Vasco's voice crept through the radio.

"We're clear, but try and keep external lighting to a minimum, and the hum of whatever engines you got low, just in case."

Vasco himself looked back over at the jagged formations, where he had left the pilot and sighed. She'd be picked up soon enough. He could only hope so, at the very least. Patiently, he waited for the Astranagant's arrival, the Wyvern hovering over the sea.

 

[MKR]

"They've likely spread their search area far beyond here. Making them that much less likely to run into it as they would want to cover much more ground." Derrick remarked, though he was no tactician it was an easy assessment to make, can't find what you're looking for? Look further away and given they hadn't stumbled into the hidden alcove whatever patrols Vasco knew would most likely not be where they usually were.

After the Wyvern left the massive black mech waited, staring at the water as Derrick contemplated what could possibly disrupt his exit, another Dimensional quake, the arrival of a being like the one on the ZONE and that was essentially it. Bar some cataclysmic event he was home free.
At Vasco's signal the Astranagant headed out, following after the smaller unit at long last.
"Afraid I don't have much of a choice in the intensity of my lighting." Derrick remarked as the vibrant green wings began to come out of the water, though the light over the unit's body was the same dim red as ever.
Dimming them meant he would lose his flight, given the Astranagant would have to swim to the moon in that case it wasn't exactly a choice.

Above them the sun was beginning to hide to be replaced among the stars by the moon herself, the inverse of his arrival and all he needed for his exit. If he left within one hour he would reach the area where the Astranagant could latch onto the moon's gravity otherwise he would need to do some extra effort.
Derrick pointed the Astranagant towards its destination as soon as it got out of the water, leaving their hiding place behind and heading to the destination he had calculated earlier.
It was still a truly beautiful sight, shame he had to leave it behind. But there were little other options currently.

 

[DuelSieger]

"In a hurry, aren't you?", He smirked. "Must be something exciting waiting for you at home,. Or someone! Or the most desirable thing of all!", Vasco wondered, the Wyvern quickly catching up to the larger machine.

"Some Peace and Quiet.", The freedom fighter joked, before boosting ahead.

As soon as he did, however, a click of his tongue could be heard through the comms. "You're right. I was hoping you weren't, and I was hoping it wouldn't be, but there's something up ahead. Several somethings.", He muttered. "I know I saw you take on three on your lonesome, but uhh...how confident are you on taking four times that?"

Up ahead were several Huckebeins, communicating with one another. From the spotlights, there looked be around twelve or so. Doubtless that more would be in the area, ready to be called for backup at a moment's notice. While easy enough to deal with in smaller numbers, a larger advantage with that many units would wear him down, unless the Astranagant had something special up it's dark metal sleeves.

"Two patrols meeting up nearby. Probably search parties consolidating information with one another.", Vasco clicked his tongue. It was a guess, but he hoped something worse wasn't the case. They could've found her earlier. The pilot he spared. A hiss escaped through his teeth. His fingers began to twitch, one of them beginning to outline a certain button. There was still that option.


"Tell me this, Derrick. Just how badly do you need to get home now?"

 

[MKR]

The Black Angel kept moving, keeping an eye on the Wyvern, and after that the direction the Wyvern had went in, twelve enemies. A trivial obstacle for him but for the Wyvern? It seemed best to avoid the matter entirely to both keep the true strength of the Astranagant concealed and trouble at an arm's distance.

"I would very much like to go home right now and dealing with them is not necessary." Derrick replied, they could be disposed of easily but there was no need for that. Five hundred meters away from the intended launch site would do, rocket science wasn't that exact in their locations. Sure it wasn't optimal, but one made compromises.
"The huckebeins are unable of exiting orbit on their own, all that is needed is reaching the stratosphere and they will be unable to do anything aside from watch."

As he said this the Astranagant halted its approach, looking upwards. Clear skies, no clouds to hide their ascent but at the same time a straight line of sight on his target. After that it turned its gaze to the huckebeins
"At least, unable to do anything against me. I do not know how heavily you rely on the external structure of the Wyvern as they would still fire whatever ammunition they have. Likely photon weaponry, so unless you have anti-beam equipment this will be it."

The Astranagant slowly began moving upwards, the green wings growing brighter ever so slowly.
"That is, unless you want me to deal with them as payment for the refuge. Then I suppose I do have the time."

 

[DuelSieger]

"Payment?", Vasco asked. "Oh. Well, I mean...you getting home is payment enough, Derrick. I'll probably just wait out all of those Directory boys later."

Vasco set the Wyvern to hover about the frightening black machine. "...doubtful you won't be noticed at this distance, though. At the very least, I can draw their attention away from this place. That many Hucks shooting at you might get you in some sort of trouble. Not that I'm not confident in your machine...", He muttered. "Just that you'd be much better off if nothing were to hit you off course."

It wasn't entirely a lie. His doubts were not in the machine- they were with Derrick. To be able to brush off this many Hucks? Either the Astranagant needed to leave now or he was almost a tad bit too overconfident.

The Wyvern's engines began to surge with a low, increasing hum. "Besides, it's been a while since I've played chase. There's a jungle nearby, one I've scoped out before.", He chuckled. "Just in case the cove didn't work out."

Vasco turned the Wyvern about, towards the spotlights of the Huckebein. The smile was visible in his voice, smug and cocky, as he prepared himself and the Wyvern to mosey. "You owe me nothing, Derrick. Just get yourself home."

With that, he pushed the button, and the Wyvern went zooming off towards the Hucks' flank, in order for them not to take notice of the Astranagant "So long, Friendly. Take care."

Soon, the sound of Beam weaponry and the crashing of machine against the earth began to resound throughout the night. The spotlights in the distance all turned the direction away from Derrick's position, if only for this one moment.

 

[MKR]

The Black Angel looked down to the Wyvern as it slowly ascended, nodding in response to Vasco's claims. It seemed overconfidence ran thick among the both of them. Though of the two he was about to leave and the Wyvern seemed less well equipped of dealing with the threat. Regardless as the Wyvern confirmed the lack of combat for him, the Astranagant sped up its ascent to the heavens. Spreading its wings in a manner not to dissimilar from its code name, a black angel among the starlit skies green wings wide.
"Don't rush into death at least." He commented as the Wyvern headed off. Wanting to end their meeting on a somewhat positive note. "Take care."

With that communications were cut, the Astranagant heading upwards even more. Aiming to touch the moon with its cold grasp. From above Derrick watched the distant lights of beam weaponry cut across the ocean, reflecting the dark water below as spotlights hunted for the Wyvern.
The cockpit rocked and shook, rebelling against the cage that was earth's gravity. Defying the injustice of being bound to a single planet.

But inside, Derrick held the alien controls tight, not letting gravity shake him more than it physically was capable.
As he went on the pull became less and less, thirty seconds after he begun his ascent he was already beyond the Huckebein's reach, the image of the green winged, red lit, angel ascending to the stars emblazoned in the cloudless night.
The machine struggled somewhat to maintain its speed, earth clawing to contain it.

Fifty seconds after, the shaking stopped. The Astranagant speeding up even faster than before, the black angel had fought gravity and arose victorious.
Its pilot wondered how Vasco was doing below as he typed in the directions, plotting a course for the moon. Derrick kicked back and shut his eyes halfway, dwelling on the issue would do little, he presumed that Vasco would be fine. Now he could finally catch some rest as he headed home.

 

[DuelSieger]

Vasco smirked.

Now, Twelve Huckebeins? Impossible for him to take on, without some sort of preparation. It was a good thing that wasn't the case. Avoiding them? Especially with panicked and frightened pilots? It was also a good thing they didn't think of a reason why he would have to attack in the first place. Such was the reputation he held in the region: Wild, Unpredictable, and Free. The Wyvern rolled her way through blasts of photon fire, screeching through the sky as it made way for a jungle nearby. The thin frame of the Wyvern's humanoid form would be all he could use in the thick Vegetation, but it would be much easier to hide and lose them there.

He took a moment to turn about, as if to taunt those Hucks pursuing him. When he did, he began laughing joyfully through their comms. Partially to intimidate and irritate, and partially for something else.

For just a second, he had looked up to see the Astranagant's lights well into the sky. Derrick had launched well beyond what any of the Hucks could reach now, and to that thought, the thought that he would be alright, he couldn't help but smile.