Post by Blackwater on Jul 20, 2013 14:11:03 GMT -5
Trying to keep his breathing even Tang sprang back as Bray threw an angry fist. Responding with a quick strike to the wrist, Tang looked for an opening to deliver a debilitating blow, but before he could make another move his face was bashed brutally by something very hard. Ow!
Stumbling backward a few steps, he blinked away tears as Bray flung what looked like half of a rifle. The metal was rent and warped where the butt had been separated from the barrel. Though he should’ve been more attentive of the fact that a weapon and been introduced to the fight he was more interested with the teeth marks that had been gouged into the iron portions of the weapon. Are those creatures really that strong?!
Air rushed out of him as Bray doubled him over with a blow to the gut. Folding like a chair, Tang dropped to his knees. For a time only the sound of the two combatants breathing and the raucous noise of the ensuing battle going on beneath them could be heard in the mostly empty room. Men cried out in anguish and it seemed that many orders were being shouted as thunderous booms sounded frequently as the impossible might of one man stood against the entire base’s military power.
Shaking as racking coughs left him even more breathless Tang slowly got to his feet, his eyes tired as he observed Bray. Sam Greer’s son had the haunted look of a madman in his eyes and there was a stilling moment that banished all the controlled passion that Tang had garnered in order to beat the cowboy into submission; there was no victory to be had here. Bray would continue trying to destroy the base for as long as he lived. That was the kind of darkness that lurked within those eyes,
“Bray,” Tang began cautiously. He was trying to find the harmony within himself so that perhaps he could impress that tranquility on to the other man, but so far all he felt was suppressed rage and excitement.
And his gut still hurt. A lot.
“Let it go. There’s no need for all this madness. Just tuck the pouch of seeds away and leave the base. I’ll even help you escape.”
At his words he saw Bray’s head dropping into his hands. Tang felt the animosity that had stood between them since their first meeting begin to evaporate as he was beginning to see the broken, sad man that Bray Blackheart really was. Taking measured steps Tang approached while talking softly, “All you’d have to do is leave this island and you’d escape from the marines—you don’t have to annihilate them. Even if you did manage to do it, what would that mean for everyone else on the island? You think the World Government would just sit down and allow this to happen?”
“Kid; shut yer trap.”
Tang stopped in his tracks. Bray hadn’t been hanging his head in shame. The man had been staring down into the hole of the floor which also served as the ceiling above the hallway where thousands of men and women battled against a pirate. All of them were potential targets for his dastardly plan. Even now the howls of the other beasts that were running rampant through the base could be heard with the tinny metallic sound of an echo added for effect. Mouth dry as he stood speechless, Tang could do nothing except watch Bray. He could feel veins jumping from the skin along his arms and temples. His heart pounded in his ears as images of mangled bodies and injured innocents invaded his thoughts. He couldn’t let this happen.
“Yo-You don’t have to do this; think of the blameless people you’ll be hurting…” he stammered, his wide eyes locked onto the pouch that held more evil than he’d seen in a long time.
“Yup. Yer right. I am thinkin’ o’ them. They’ll be casualties and I ‘pologize fer that,” Bray answered flippantly in a voice that could have been talking about the weather, “but ya see—they’re the reason I’m doin’ this in the first place. Once some bystanders get hurt, folk around here will stop believin’ in the government. Then…Then we’ll rise up as one!”
Unable to take the suspense any longer, Tang threw himself at Bray. Everything slowed down as those precious seconds passed by with him flailing with all his might, hands outstretched to catch the unsuspecting brown pouch that now dropped seedlings down into the hole below. He was too late.
Cold disbelief trailed through him as his mind raced to come up with something to counter the insanity that was going to take place. Nothing came to him. His sense of failure blocked all other thought from his mind.
Stumbling backward a few steps, he blinked away tears as Bray flung what looked like half of a rifle. The metal was rent and warped where the butt had been separated from the barrel. Though he should’ve been more attentive of the fact that a weapon and been introduced to the fight he was more interested with the teeth marks that had been gouged into the iron portions of the weapon. Are those creatures really that strong?!
Air rushed out of him as Bray doubled him over with a blow to the gut. Folding like a chair, Tang dropped to his knees. For a time only the sound of the two combatants breathing and the raucous noise of the ensuing battle going on beneath them could be heard in the mostly empty room. Men cried out in anguish and it seemed that many orders were being shouted as thunderous booms sounded frequently as the impossible might of one man stood against the entire base’s military power.
Shaking as racking coughs left him even more breathless Tang slowly got to his feet, his eyes tired as he observed Bray. Sam Greer’s son had the haunted look of a madman in his eyes and there was a stilling moment that banished all the controlled passion that Tang had garnered in order to beat the cowboy into submission; there was no victory to be had here. Bray would continue trying to destroy the base for as long as he lived. That was the kind of darkness that lurked within those eyes,
“Bray,” Tang began cautiously. He was trying to find the harmony within himself so that perhaps he could impress that tranquility on to the other man, but so far all he felt was suppressed rage and excitement.
And his gut still hurt. A lot.
“Let it go. There’s no need for all this madness. Just tuck the pouch of seeds away and leave the base. I’ll even help you escape.”
At his words he saw Bray’s head dropping into his hands. Tang felt the animosity that had stood between them since their first meeting begin to evaporate as he was beginning to see the broken, sad man that Bray Blackheart really was. Taking measured steps Tang approached while talking softly, “All you’d have to do is leave this island and you’d escape from the marines—you don’t have to annihilate them. Even if you did manage to do it, what would that mean for everyone else on the island? You think the World Government would just sit down and allow this to happen?”
“Kid; shut yer trap.”
Tang stopped in his tracks. Bray hadn’t been hanging his head in shame. The man had been staring down into the hole of the floor which also served as the ceiling above the hallway where thousands of men and women battled against a pirate. All of them were potential targets for his dastardly plan. Even now the howls of the other beasts that were running rampant through the base could be heard with the tinny metallic sound of an echo added for effect. Mouth dry as he stood speechless, Tang could do nothing except watch Bray. He could feel veins jumping from the skin along his arms and temples. His heart pounded in his ears as images of mangled bodies and injured innocents invaded his thoughts. He couldn’t let this happen.
“Yo-You don’t have to do this; think of the blameless people you’ll be hurting…” he stammered, his wide eyes locked onto the pouch that held more evil than he’d seen in a long time.
“Yup. Yer right. I am thinkin’ o’ them. They’ll be casualties and I ‘pologize fer that,” Bray answered flippantly in a voice that could have been talking about the weather, “but ya see—they’re the reason I’m doin’ this in the first place. Once some bystanders get hurt, folk around here will stop believin’ in the government. Then…Then we’ll rise up as one!”
Unable to take the suspense any longer, Tang threw himself at Bray. Everything slowed down as those precious seconds passed by with him flailing with all his might, hands outstretched to catch the unsuspecting brown pouch that now dropped seedlings down into the hole below. He was too late.
Cold disbelief trailed through him as his mind raced to come up with something to counter the insanity that was going to take place. Nothing came to him. His sense of failure blocked all other thought from his mind.