Nickels and Nails

[Leo]

"Why do you want it?" Nails asked. "Why is it so important to you?" Nails eyed the force field to their right, the one that led into open space and then to his hip where his blaster still hung. A shipbay force field, a human one anyway, would allow any material through it as long as it was not biological. A case and fire from a blaster would pass right through it.

"Irrevelant" said the man. "Give it to me now and you will live."

"I doubt that." Nails replied. "You'll keep us as your slaves, human in appearance, but Nomad in mind. I think not. This artifact is far too precious to be allowed to fall into your hands. I'll destroy it first."

"That would be inadvisable." said the man as Nails got up to run, he stopped mid stride and stood there. "Give me the artifact now." The tension in the air was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Nails turned around, fighting the will of the Nomad that was clearly controlling the man. "Now, Joshua."

My entire life I have spent studying the ruins of your creators. The meaning behind them, why they left you behind. This isn't what you were supposed to be come I don't believe. Humanity changed your outlook, warped your view of the universe. Nails projected, hoping it could hear.

"You came to our home." it replied speaking aloud. "Give me the artifact, I won't ask again."

Josh stood there staring at the man and closed his eyes, he took one step towards the man then turned quickly and flung the artifact through the field and drew his weapon, focusing all his will on the one task.

"No!!!" screamed the man.

My entire life I have spent studying the ruins of your creators. I hoped that this artifact would unlock what they knew...that it would show us things...but mankind is far too corrupted by your presence to be trusted with such knowledge, so no one will have it...not even us.

Josh drew the blaster and fired at the artifact just as it passed through the field. It struck the case and shattered the artifact inside, triggering an explosion just on the other side of the field. The light was so bright the the Nomads shrunk back at the light and the man shielded his eyes, falling back as well.

"NOW JESS! GO!"

The two clambered up their ladders on their ships and shut the canopys. The man screamed in a rage as the two immediately activated the reverse thrust and flew out the back of the ship quickly. The Tundra turned and aimed it's weapons at the two small fighters...

---

You fear oblivion. Yet you forget. The universe remembers every atom of your being. Even dust hums your name in the dark.

---

Starlight Research Consortium | The Banished Legion | Astral
[OOC]Junker Gameplay Loop Suggestion | [OOC]Boneyard Mining Suggestion