-Chapter 2-

The Search

Pip had never really expected to make it to Valhalla. Now that he thought about it, he only brought it up in a throwaway conversation about what he wanted to do when he grew up. He remembers now, looking at the sky and saying the first thing that came to mind.

"I wanna go to an Acadamia. You know, on The Valhalla 7."

Ammon practicly spit his drink, and stared at him confused. "Seriusly?" He had asked, "What on Earth would you want to do with those pompus jerks?"

He thought for a moment before replying. "Well, they have a dependable school system and all the materials for things I would wanna do, yeah? Dont get me wrong, Miss. Shelly is a wonderful teacher! But... she was raised with the same stories an stuff they were tought before The Fall. she can only know so much."

He cast his gaze to the sky. "While we've been frozen in time, stuck with the scraps of a lost world, they have been advancing for over a hundred years! There is bound to be more to learn in the stars."

Ammon snickered "You sound like a nerd right now. Not that thats a bad thing!" Pip had reached to punch him in the sholder. Ammon put his hands up in mock surrender. "Its just admirable, I guess. At least you have something. I'm still trying to figure it out. Yeah?"

Pip sighed and smiled. "Yeah, I get that." He looked back at the sky, admiring the full veiw of Valhalla 7. "You'll find your thing, don't worry. Heck, my thing will probobly change over time. But for now? Im dead set on going to space."

And now here he was. Alone in an unfamiliar settlment. He and his friends had agreed to split up and learn whatever they could about this Izma guy. They would meet back in an hour and fourty five minutes to share what they found. So whatever Pip could do, he needed to do it quick. But so far, his search was going poorly. 15 minutes, 37 people, not one seemed to know what he was on about.

"Excuse me? Do you have a moment?" He ran to a larger man with an eyepatch, who was weilding an opened bottle of bootleg-beer and had a pistle strapped to his side. "By chance have you seen a Valhalli? Answers to the name of Izma?" The man glared at him and kept walking. He persued.

"Sir, please, ive been looking all day, if you have anything at all, it would be apreciated-" He was shoved away, with a raspy "Beat it, squirt" from the man. He felt downtroden, picking himself up to dust off his red vest and khakis. 

"Hey, small one." A soft voice murmered. He wipped around to see a frail woman with long dark, spindly hair hiding most of a stone like face. her bones were almost visable, despite her young age. Her robotic arm held a knife, and her flesh one held an infant, no older than a year. "Heard you lookin' for that Valhalli. What what buisness do you have with Izma?" she asked.

Pip was so excited he almost ran. Someone who knows something! But he tried to keep a chill deminer about him, saying "I want to ask him some questions. Just how he got here and why he's here in the first place. Maybe he could help me." The womans face softened, and she whispered "Why would he answer questions for some child on the road?"

He was cought off gaurd, but he responded with determination "Well, I have to try! He's my first lead in forever! I wont just sit back and let this slip by! I cant-"

The woman laughed, cutting Pip off. "No need to fret, little one. I'm sure he'll listen." amused, she glanced about then leaned in and said "He sets up shop around noon in the clearing to blocks down. take a right three streets up and you'll find something."

Pip glowed. "Are you being serious?" The frail woman smiled, cradling the infant to her chest. "Quite." He beamed. "Thank you!" he yelped, shaking her hand and slipping her some food he had in his bag, "Thank you so much!" and he bolted off, leaving the frail woman to wave at him as he left.

Running around the third corner, he could see in the distance the clearing where Izma would set shop. He had only hoped for information, but he got the Valhalli himself! He was sizzling with excitement as he walked through the tight allys of 372B. He thought about what he would say to the Valhalli when he tracked him down. "Hello, my name is Pip Yates." He held out his hand in mock greeting. "I heard about you in my town and was wondering if you could help me?" He furrowed his brow. Was that  too familiar? Perhaps too begging? He tried again. "Excuse me? Hi. My name is Paragrin Yates-" He cringed. That was too formal.

He would have kept on if he hadnt ran into something. Or, better put, someone. Standing in front of him were three massive, burly men in red and gold uniform. Through the sleeveles tops, he could see each had a different skull shaped tattoo. He had to look up just to see their faces, as he was rather small in comparison. He gulped. Is this a cult? It sure felt like a cult. "H-hi, I'm so sorry, I didn't-" His mouth went dry when he realized who these were. Those tattoos wern't just decore, they were brands. A half skull tattoo ment you served under the dreaded land pirate, Captain Oliander. If they were here, then it was crucial that he got out of here as soon as possible. 

"Uh-Um- Thats my bad pira-I MEAN SIRS! I will be going now! good bye!" He whiped around and started to sprint, but rammed into a thinner man wearing a tattered blanket around himself like a handmade cloak, carrying a thick bag that rattled like metal pipes when he dropped it. The man stepped back, stunned. Just as he did, both the pirates drew their wepons; one having electric powered gauntlets of some kind and the other having a modified sword. The man in the cloak quickly regained his surroundings, and uppon seeing the hostil men, pulled out a cow prod with what seemed to be two home-brew tazers duct-taped to the ends. 

Pip took this moment to realize he war trapped and would probobly have to force his way through. Prepared for a fight, he drew his machette and flipped the switch. It sparked to life violently before settling on an electric hum. He pointed it at everyone, unsure who would break the stailmate.

Thats when blanket man lunged.

Pip tried to strike, but he was too fast. The figure grabbed his machette, shoved it to his chest and pushed him aside. Confused, Pip watched as the blanket man fought both men. He blocked a gauntlet attack and sword attack in one swipe, and took the opritunity to electrify the sword man. He tried to get the other guy to, but he dodged and grabbed the stick, pulled the blanket man close and shoving him into a wall. Trying to punch the blanket man, he wound back and slammed with enough force to break the wall. Blanket man had ducked though, and now put his legs on the other guys chest and kangaroo kicked him with all his strength. The man fell back, wheezing and crippled over, and the cloaked figure took this chance to run. "Follow me!" he shouted to Pip as he ran by. To stunned to think twice, Pip ran after him. 

They ran for what felt like miles, though it was only about 100 yards. Blanket man dashed into a building, and Pip followed inside. Once the door slammed shut, they both sat there, out of breath. The man tore off his hood, and Pip finally saw him. He was a young adult, around 25 at latest. He had currly dark brown hair and skin, but vitiligo had covered his skin with white blotches, and givven hus hair a very pronounced white stripe. Almond eyes, green like the forests his mom painted, and white eyelashes to frame. Pip looked at his rescuer, and after a long time, broke the silence.

"Thank you." Pips voice was unsteady, and he looked exhausted. But he was greatful. "Don't mention it, kid. You alright?" the man asked, out of breath. "Yeah.." The room was silent once again, and this time it was the mans turn to speak. "What were you doing running with pirates?" Pip looks confused. "What do you mean? I'm not running with them!" The man looked curiously at him. "Then why did you, why did you go to fight me for a second there?" Pip huffed a bit, annoyed. "Because I didn't know they were after you, okay? I thought maybe you were in on it! I dont know, I was stressed!" The man raised his hands reashuringly. "Hey hey, no need for that! I was just curious!" Pip stared at the man. 

"Why were they after you, anyway?" The man shifted from side to side, uncomfortable. "Well, every now and then people try to steal my stuff. I'm sure now is no different." Pip looked at the man, curious. "Why would they want your stuff?" The man stared at the wall, uncomfortable. "well, um, so, I, may or may not, be well engrosed in the making and selling of weapons. and well, you know how grou-um-we are about safty." He rested a hand on his staff, as if to ensure himself it was still there. Pip found this reason agreeable, so the room went back to silence.

After a bit, the man went to leave. "Be more careful next time, yeah? Red coats are not to be toiled with." Pip went out too, awkwardly. "Thanks again." The man smiled down at him. "My pleasure, Mister...?" 

"Pip. Pip Yates." He held out his hand, which the man took into an odd handshake.

​"Izma. Just Izma."

And Pip nearly choked.