The other day I did a little bit of storytelling in the Bar Veto, down in Eve. Its an interesting story and certainly worth sharing here. If nothing else, consider it as a small piece of fan fiction that was improvised and makes for good reading
In any case, enjoy. The formatting is edited from the chat log, which explains the staggered format.
and YES. It IS long - those with short attention spans beware!
Hope you enjoy.
****
Alternate22 > anyways...
Alternate22 looks up
Alternate22 > I just heard a very odd story from a stranger I met a little ways out
Alternate22 > its somewhat....saddening, and long. Anyone care to listen? It is quite interesting, I assure you.
Nikolai Nuvolari > Oh, please share it.
Nikolai Nuvolari > I very much enjoy stories.
Alternate22 smiles and takes a glass of water > excellent.
Alternate22 > I met this old man out at a bar near Adrel. Normally, wouldn't have given a second thought - seen dozens of people just like him., especially as drunk as he was.
Alternate22 > But this guy....he was different, far different from the ones I had met before....for one, the poor man was weeping himself into the grave; and the expression on his face was....frightening, to say the least.
Alternate22 > I offered to buy another drink for him first, before asking him why he was weeping so, but he refused - rather surprising for an Amarrian. He said that he had taken too much help from others, and that he didn't deserve anymore.
Alternate22 > Then i asked him why he was crying, and what had depressed him so - was it the loss of a loved one? The death of a grandchild, or the loosing of his estate?
Alternate22 > The old man simply shook his head. It was none of those. He said I wouldn't be interested, or bothered in what he had to share - for there was nothing that I could have done to help him in either case.
Alternate22 > I stayed there for an hour or two, coaxing the old man into revealing his story. He finally relented, and told me.
Alternate22 > He started with the beggining, or more appropriately; a planet.
Alternate22 > It was at the edge of known space, and didn't have a name. Lost to the other civilizations of Eve, the planet was the total opposite of what went on elsewhere.
Alternate22 > Where in Eve, there was conflict, borders and strife, on this planet lay the essence of Utopia.
Alternate22 > It was so remote, so little known, none of the other empire's influence had reached it, allowing it to flourish with a significant diversity of people.
Alternate22 > Although the planet had an Amarrian ruler, the minmitar population did not mind,for he was a wise and kind one.
Alternate22 > Although the planet had the strictest Caldari corporations, the Gallente flourished with them, for they were mostly honest and dependable.
Alternate22 > Although the planet, had the same elements that had started so many wars elsewhere, somehow, peace flourished for the thousand years that Eve was at war.
Alternate22 > Our story begins with the king of this realm
Alternate22 > The king was Amarrian, and his name was Ravar Lenyn.
Alternate22 pauses to take a sip of water
Alternate22 takes a glance around the bar and sees if anyone has fallen asleep yet
Nikolai Nuvolari continues to listen
Schroni is listening...
Alternate22 takes another sip and continues
Alternate22 > The king was wise, but very old. He had led his kingdom for over fifty years without even a hint of uprising or rebellion amongst his ranks.
Alternate22 > But he finally retired, and handed the torch down to his son, the prince. The Prince's name was Joseph Lenyn. He soon became king after his father retired, and led his kingdom as well as he could.
Alternate22 > For 10 years, Joseph ruled with the wisdom and guidance of his father. But within those ten years, he found a woman whom he fell in love with. She was Caldari, and her name was Alma Hanson.
Alternate22 > They got married, and a year later, had a son.
Alternate22 > This came much to the joy of the now grandfather Ravar, who looked forward to having another person in his life - after all, the greatest blessing to any old man, is to have a grandson, is it not?
Alternate22 > The young son grew strong and steadily; bringing much joy not only to the family, but indirectly to the planet as well.
Alternate22 > But entropy has a way of acting upon many things, and the planet's status was not exempt.
Alternate22 > Within Gallente space, a band of vicious pirates had conducted a significantly high crime and were on the run from the authorities.
Alternate22 > They ran out into space, beyond the edges of Gallente control
Alternate22 > But none of them knew....the lead investigator in the case was someone they had wronged, someone whose family had been in the way of their crime, and someone who had nothing left to loose.
Alternate22 > His name was Admiral Thames, and he thirsted for revenge.
Alternate22 > Thames led a fleet of Gallente ships loyal to him and only him, and headed out into the unknown in hot pursuit of the pirates.
Alternate22 > The pirates, realizing what they had done, panicked and tried to run farther and farther away.
Alternate22 > They eventually stumbled upon the little known planet, unawares of what it truley was. Tired and Desperate, they throw themselves at the feet of King Joseph, begging for Amnesty and safety.
Alternate22 > They promised to him, to return what they had stolen back to the Gallente, and agreed to serve their sentences if King Joseph would stop the madman chasing them.
Alternate22 > King joseph was a kind person, and the criminals were obviously repentfull of their crimes, and had suffered immensly in their run from Thames.
Alternate22 > He agreed to their terms. He then took a fleet of ships out to meet Admiral Thames, in hopes of talking to him and convincing him to at least have some mercy on them.
Alternate22 > They met two jumps outside hte system, where Joseph pleaded with Thames, attempting to get through to his better side.
Alternate22 > But Thames would have nothing of it.
Alternate22 > He had lost his family, his friends, everything that had mattered to him - the criminals would Pay, no matter what the cost.
Alternate22 > Then Joseph pointed out to the good admiral, did this include the Admiral's friends as well? His friends, his allies that had followed him all the way - they too had suffered, and indeed, some of them too had died.
Alternate22 > Did they deserve to be punished as well? Did they deserve the wraith of Thame's revenge, even though they had not wronged him in any way?
Alternate22 > But Thames didn't care
Alternate22 > his mind was burning with one desire only. Joseph soon realized that talking to Thames was useless; for the man was too consumed by pain and by grief, two things of which Joseph had never known throughout his life.
Alternate22 > So, Joseph did the only logical thing he could do.
Alternate22 > He stood his ground, and dared Thames to attack him, he dared thames to spill more innocent blood in the name of his family and to dishonor not only himself, but their memory as well.
Alternate22 > This caused Thames to pause
Alternate22 > Realizing he might have made a breakthrough, Joseph took it one step further. he lowered his shields, and switched off his weapons, but physically blocked the stargate. He dared Thames again, saying he would make it even easier
Alternate22 > All Thames would ahve to do is press one button, and he would be done. If Thames wanted revenge her eand now, it would have to come at hte price of his family's honor, and their memory.
Alternate22 > This caused Thames to pause even more
Alternate22 > He was unsure what to do next, his finger hovering over the button to open fire against Joseph
Alternate22 > And then, after nearly a half-hour of tensions, something happened.
Alternate22 > An explosion filled the space in front of the stargate, where Joseph's ship had once been.
Nikolai Nuvolari waits in suspense
Alternate22 > Thames did it.
Nikolai Nuvolari > Wow, that sucks balls
Alternate22 > Out of rage, out of anger, out of denial, he pressed the button.
Alternate22 > After the first shot was fired, combat instantly broke out between the parties involved
Alternate22 > several of Thames friends were killed in the ensuing combat, but they finally overcame the defenders and went on towards the planet.
Alternate22 > But guilt and Joseph's words racked Thame's mind all the way
Alternate22 > his base was shaken, and he no longer could find reasons to argue what Joseph had said
Alternate22 > but he continued, nonetheless - at the very least, he had paid the price for his revenge. By hook, or by crook, he would have it.
Alternate22 > Meanwhile, news of Joseph's demise reached the planet, as well as the approach of the fleet
Alternate22 > the defenses were rallied, and panic ensued for the king had been killed and his killer was on the way.
Alternate22 > But not even they were able to do much - most of hte ships had gone with the King, and there was only a few left. In the king's place, his father, Ravar took over for the moment. He led the last few ships in the defense
Alternate22 > Unlike Thames, however, he was not bent on revenge; for since he was a king and for the sake of his grandson, the planet had to survive, else all would be lost.
Alternate22 > The criminals came with him - the news of the King's death had shaken them, and now they, too were ridden with guilt. Everything was falling around them, and it was all because of their crime, and the fact that they did not pay for their sins
Alternate22 > they joined the grandfather, and offered themselves as a sacrifice to Thames. Enough people had died here, and it was all due to them.
Alternate22 > But Ravar would have nothing of it. They had come and begged to stay in the king's mercy, and they had been granted it. That mercy would remain, regardless of what happened.
Alternate22 > Ravar led the fleet up against Thames, and a fierce battle ensued.
Alternate22 > Many were killed; and many of the Gallente empire's finest pilots were no match to the elite of the planet. But not even the Elite were a match for the sheer numbers they were up against
Alternate22 > They too fell, and King Ravar was captured.
Alternate22 > Thames, victorious, landed onto the planet, and began to search for the criminals he had gone so far to capture. He found them waiting for him in the palace, where they were ready to give themselves up to him.
Alternate22 > Thames was elated, his revenge was finally at hand, his family would be avenged!
Alternate22 > As he approached the criminals however, a voice shouted out from near him: "NO!"
Nikolai Nuvolari > The grandson?
Alternate22 > It was the King's son, Prince Alexander. Merely 9 years old, the prince held a fire within his eyes; and a sadness that struck it's way right into Thame's heard.
Alternate22 > Yes, the grandson.
Nikolai Nuvolari smiles
Alternate22 > The prince resembled so much Thames own son, that it was shocking
Alternate22 > from the shadows, Joseph's wife came out, attempting to hold back the prince, but failing so. Again, striking resemblence.
Alternate22 > Thames was shocked; shocked to the core not only at the scene in front of him,but of the true horrors of his actions.
Alternate22 > Never before had he met the lives of those he had shattered; never before had he stopped to consider whether anyone else's families were just like his.
Alternate22 > The prince rushed in front of him, standing in front of the criminals
Alternate22 > he looked Thames right in the eye, as Thames spoke.
Alternate22 > "Child, I admire your respect, and I admire your courage, but these criminals must pay for their deeds. I have killed too much, lost too much for this to end here. Your father paid the price for protecting them, please, I beg upon you, dont let me repet it once more."
Alternate22 > Hearing this, the mother rushed to the grandson, but he just pushed her away, and stood up to the mighty admiral. He replied back;
Alternate22 > "My father promised these men they would be safe from you. He died fullfilling that promise. If need be, as his son, I will fullfill that promise, Admiral. If you wish to take them, you will have to do the same to me."
Alternate22 > He stood his ground against the Admiral, who was aghast at this. But he didn't faulter either. He removed a pistol, and pointed at the boy's head.
Alternate22 > "This is your last warning, boy. Either move, or die with the rest of them. These people have done too much to be forgiven, by you, by me or by God for that matter. Justice will be served, and not even you can stop that!" he spoke.
Alternate22 > The boy still held his ground, but this time pointed to them
Alternate22 > "Have they not suffered enough already?" the boy asked
Alternate22 > "They have been chased to the edge of known space, and beyond. They have known nothing but the horrors that you have placed on them as you chased them through. Each would rather die, than live with the legacy youhave left them.
Alternate22 > Have they not suffered enough? Your justice has already been served here, by God, by Fate, and by the universe itself! If you still think it isn't enough, then to hell with you, sir! You can kill me if you wish, for just killing them will never be enough for you! After killing them - then what? You think your anger will end there? Or will it simply search for more and more victims to hunt down, and hurt, just because you refuse to face YOUR hurt, or the hurt you caused to others? If so, I DARE you to shoot me, otherwise it'll never end! Its your decision Admiral, make it now!"
Alternate22 > With that, the Boy stood his ground, and waited for the Admiral's reaction.
Alternate22 > The Admiral simply looked at the Boy, dumbfounded.
Alternate22 > Everything the prince had said had been right, and true. He glanced over at the Criminals, and realized that yes, justice indeed had been served....but still.....so much had been lost in his name, so many had died.
Alternate22 > To have come all this way...and yet have nothing to say for it.
Alternate22 > The Admiral held the pistol steady.
Alternate22 > Tears started to spring from his eyes, as he slowly whispered..."my god....i'm so sorry."
Alternate22 > He closed his eyes, and then did the unthinkable.
Nikolai Nuvolari > He killed himself?
Alternate22 > He raised the pistol to his head, and pulled the trigger, killing himself on the spot.
Alternate22 > damn you.
Nikolai Nuvolari > Sorry
Alternate22 > You've heard this story, haven't you?
Nikolai Nuvolari > No, I actually haven't
Nikolai Nuvolari > But I've heard a lot of stories in my time
Alternate22 > indeed.
Nikolai Nuvolari > Some stories...you sort of know them even before you've heard them.
Nikolai Nuvolari > Those are usually the good ones.
Alternate22 > You are quite wise, good sir.
Nikolai Nuvolari > Thank you.
Nikolai Nuvolari > And you are a very good storyteller.
Alternate22 gives a small chuckle > Lets see how much more you can predict, for this story isn't over yet
Alternate22 > Thank you
Nikolai Nuvolari > Oh good...
Alternate22 > /emote gives a slight bow
Alternate22 > anyways, to continue.
Alternate22 > The Admiral killed himself, shocking everyone in the hallway.
Alternate22 > The young prince, completely shaken by what happened, cautiously approached the Admiral's Body. The criminals simply stared on as the young boy neared it.
Alternate22 > He looked at the Admiral, his face solemn, and his expression one of attempting to control sickness, for this was the first death the boy had seen.
Alternate22 > The admiral's face was frozen in an expression of extreme sorrow and sadness. But his eyes...amazingly...the life was still in thiem. The boy reached out nervously, and closed the Admiral's eyes slowly. He whispered, in a soft voice, so that only the two of them would hear.
Alternate22 > "The acts that we always regret the most are the ones we make in sorrow and anger....know this as you go with you....I know of the pain that you feel...for I felt it when you killed my father, and i nearly acted on it. I dont know how bad it was for you, but know this....in either case....I forgive you."
Alternate22 > With that, the boy was about to get up, when he was shocked by a soft reply from the Admiral. It was more of a gurgle, than anything, but somehow, he was able to make out two words, before the Admiral's heart stopped, and before the life left him.
Alternate22 > "Thank you."
Alternate22 > With that, one would have though the matter would have ended there....
Nikolai Nuvolari > One would.
Alternate22 > .....but life has a way to make bad situations far, far worse.
Nikolai Nuvolari > The criminals...
Alternate22 > Not exactly, no. Although the Prince knew his father was dead, and the immediate threat was gone, his Grandfather had been captured.
Alternate22 > King Ravar was most likely on his way to Gallente space, and knowing his age and condition, he would not survive long.
Alternate22 > The Prince turned to the criminals, and asked them for help, offering them a chance to redeem themselves. All the ships on the planet were gone, except theirs. He asked upon them, to help him chase the fleet back, and rescue his grandfather.
Alternate22 > The criminals agreed, giving their best ship to the prince, and then taking up escort around him. The group left the planet, hell-bent on reaching the Gallente force before King Ravar fell to the now-dead Thames as well.
Alternate22 > They raced accross space, through dozens of stargates and blockade after blockade
Alternate22 > the kid was only 8, with nary an implant
Alternate22 > But king Joseph had trained him well, and fate seemed to be on his side, giving them an opening almost every time, or creating an oppurtunity to exploit along the way
Alternate22 > It was almost as if the universe was behind the young prince as they dashed accross space to gallente space. along the way, one by one, the criminals began to fall. Each, gave up their lives to save the prince's, each, redeemed themselves to save another.
Alternate22 > Finally, in the last system, the prince was alone against a massive Gallente force, with no hopes of survival. But the prince relented on; determined to fight to his very last ounce of energy, the very last joule of shield
Alternate22 > But fortunately, he didnt need to fight. A transmission came in from the Gallente - they wanted to know what he wanted, and why he was here, offering him a chance to surrender. Using this oppurtunity, he asked for his grandfather back.
Alternate22 > He claimed that the Gallente had unrightfully attacked their space, killed his father and unlawfully indicted his grandfather, and that they should return him at once.
Alternate22 > It was nothing but a Gambit; nothing which the Gallente didn't know already.
Alternate22 > But then, a voice rang out through the channel.
Alternate22 > It belonged to an Admiral Yale.
Alternate22 > He then identified himself as Thame's brother. He asked the young prince, what had happened to his brother, and wether he had been stopped yet.
Alternate22 > As it turns out, Thames had gone off in search of revenge, leaving Yale behind. Unfortunately, they had lost contact soon after. Yale had been trying to contact Thames for months on end, but with little luck. He wanted to inform Thames of good news
Alternate22 > Yale had survived the attack, along with Thame's son.
Alternate22 > But hten, the prince told him of what Thames had done, and of what had happened. Yale's face paled as the story went on, and one could see that he was incredibly surprised and saddened.
Alternate22 > He was even more shocked, however, to hear of the things that Thames had done in the name of his family. After the prince finished the story, he simply shook his head.
Alternate22 > Yales then ordered the ships to stand down. There was nothing left to fight for, or about. The criminals had all been killed, there was nobody left to indict, as the universe had served justice by itself.
Alternate22 > He then provided the co-ordinates of where the prince's grandfather was being held, and let the lad go and get him.
Alternate22 > The prince was elated, and rushed to the location. Once there, he immediately ran to where his Grandfather was being held. He stopped just outside the door, somewhat unsure of what to say when he opened it.
Alternate22 > Finally deciding to deal with that later, the prince opened the door.
Alternate22 glances over at Nikolai > I think you can guess what happened next.
Nikolai Nuvolari > I hate to say...
Nikolai Nuvolari > But I doubt he's going to survive this story.
Alternate22 > indeed
Alternate22 > The kid reached there five minutes too late
Alternate22 > the interrogation had taken the grandfather over the edge - although the Gallente caught it in time, there was nothing they could do to save him.
Alternate22 > He had taken too many injuries in the combat with Thames, and it was merely a matter of time before he went.
Alternate22 > The prince was crushed, to say the least.
Alternate22 > He broke down into tears on the spot. The Doctor nearby questioned him, and was horrified to learn that he was the patient's grandson.
Alternate22 > The doctor, out of kindness, and a bit of compassion, took him aside and tried to calm the boy down, but to no avail.
Alternate22 > Then the boy recounted the entire story, the entire ordeal to the doctor, and what happened. The Doctor was touched by this, but was helpless in this situation.
Alternate22 > Rather than just let it remain, though, he took it upon himself to help the prince as much as he could. He took the fastest courior possible, and brought along not only the body, but hte prince as well.
Alternate22 > back to the planet, and the empire, where the grandfather was buried.
Alternate22 > The Prince was supposed to go on and rule the planet...but the sorrow was apperantly too much for him.
Alternate22 > 5 years later, he was found dead in his room, having consumed poison.
Alternate22 > His mother was grief-stricken as to the loss, and followed soon after, essentially ending the entire family chain.
Alternate22 > They have a saying, a very wise one.
Alternate22 > The fate of any empire, any planet, is linked directly to the ones controlling it.
Alternate22 > Soon after the death of the queen, the planet's connection and strength began to crack.
Alternate22 > Where alliances had once held strong, hate began to fester.
Alternate22 > Suspicion began to rot the friendships that had held the planet for so long, and soon after, the eventual fate of Eve befell the planet, exactly as planned by Entropy.
Alternate22 > War broke out, and today, nothing remains of the planet that once never was.
Alternate22 > But it's memory remained. The old man in the bar that told me this was the Doctor that had attended to the Grandfather.
Alternate22 > He was racked with so much guilt, he was trying to kill himself. Although his actions then were sound, even to him, he never knew it was going to result in so much death.
Nikolai Nuvolari > But what did the doctor do?
Nikolai Nuvolari > He just tried to help.
Alternate22 > When attenting to the Grandfather, the doctor had the oppurtunity to save his life with a simple blood transfusion. The Doctor's son, however, was also in the operating theater, after suffering from a significant accident. He too needed the blood.
Alternate22 > The doctor had a choice to make. Either he could choose to save his son, or hte old man. The old man was at death's door, and chances were that the following interrogation would have killed him on the spot - if the drugs didnt
Alternate22 > while his son was at the same door, but with the transfusion, he would live.
Alternate22 > He made his decision. Something which, truly, nobody can really blame him for.
Alternate22 > Except, of course, for sheer irony.
Nikolai Nuvolari > I understand what he must think.
Nikolai Nuvolari > But such feelings of guilt are pointless and undeserved.
Alternate22 > Yes.
Alternate22 > Except for this...
Alternate22 > 7 years later
Alternate22 > when his son was a teenager, he was swayed by some 'wilder' elements out in space
Alternate22 > and drawn into a conflict
Alternate22 > one at the edge of known space; where few people roamed. It had once been a peacefull place, but where hate and voilence began to fester over after the loss of it's king.
Alternate22 > The son went to the planet, despite his father's wishes.
Alternate22 > Unfortunately, he never came back.
Nikolai Nuvolari > Again ironic.
Alternate22 > Indeed.
Nikolai Nuvolari > But again, impossible to forsee.
Alternate22 > For you and me, perhaps so. But the old man was unconsolable.
Alternate22 > He held himself responsible for the death of all those men, as well as his own son
Alternate22 > after that, I brought him another drink anyway. I was unsure what to say, to say the least.
Alternate22 > So, I did the only thing I could......
Nikolai Nuvolari > Yes?
Alternate22 > ?
Alternate22 looks quizzically at Nikolai's question, feigning ignorance.
Nikolai Nuvolari > You're want me to guess this part too?
Nikolai Nuvolari > Alright
Nikolai Nuvolari > I think you left him there to come here and tell us his story.
Alternate22 raises an eyebrow.
Alternate22 > Nope.
Nikolai Nuvolari > Then what did you do?
Alternate22 > You are right in saying, I left him. But I did not leave him alone, or in the bar, for that matter.
Nikolai Nuvolari > Go on.
Alternate22 > The old man was unconsolable, but I couldn't just leave him there. I took him down to the nearest counselling centre I could find, and then brought him the finest hotel room for the night. I asked him to wait a night, after which I would return, and then prove to him it wasn't his fault.
Alternate22 > The next morning, Alternate23 went down to fetch him.
Alternate22 > He was dead.
Alternate22 > hung himself off the ceiling. The poor, poor man.
Nikolai Nuvolari > Wow.
Alternate22 > indeed.....
Alternate22 > at the least, though, he's in a better place now. I just hope the guilt doesnt follow him all the way into death
Nikolai Nuvolari > That's a rather grim story.
Nikolai Nuvolari > I think Yale was the only person who survived.
Alternate22 > indeed
Alternate22 > its a shame Thames killed himself
Alternate22 > I ran a search on his son the next day
Alternate22 > the man's become a rear-admiral now; a real big-shot in the Gallente Navy. He's got a wife, and two daugthers.
Nikolai Nuvolari > Amaazing
Nikolai Nuvolari > I was about ready to think there was a curse on anybody named in the story.
Alternate22 > Yale's retired, for the most part. He's living peacefully
Alternate22 > indeed
The End.
