I swam alongside Zenn along the base of the island, where its sheer edges flattened out into an endless sea of sand. We scanned the ocean floor for wrecks and fragments that could be salvaged, but were not having much luck. We had told Penna and Otta to stay on the beach. I asked Tary to come, but Zenn would not allow it so we went alone.
We swam for what felt like miles. We had fabricated some diving gear, which was all we really needed, and Sampson had created three Seaglides for us; what he lacked in kindness he made up for in his handiness. We whizzed through the blue, until the sand beneath us ended and dropped far, far below anything we could ever see. Then we looked across this abyss and saw islands that floated in the ocean, giant pink spheres attached to their bases. The Aurora Survivor had talked about Floating Islands, and how they were able to support life. Perhaps this is what he meant.
"We should go back." Zenn said. I heard the fear in his voice, and thought it unfounded.
"Sampson's far ahead of us when it comes to tech; maybe we can find some things here that will help us get the upper hand." I hated that Sampson was ahead. It pleased him, it made him want to keep going how he was. I needed to show him that he was wrong somehow. This was how.
"Is this a game to you?" Zenn was deadly serious. I understood the danger of heading somewhere new, but I didn't understand why Zenn wouldn't take a risk.
"No." I answered. "But we need something new, something that will help us later on. I'm sure we'll find some things here."
Suddenly a shadow loomed over us. We thought it to be an eclipse (these were quite common on the planet) but then it became apparent that it wasn't. We looked up and saw a magnificent creature swimming overhead. It was enormous, the shape of a turtle, great tentacles trailing behind it. Surrounding it were three smaller creatures with the same shape and colours.
"Reefbacks." Zenn remembered the stories he had heard.
"Beautiful, aren't they?" We shared the sight for more than five minutes, whilst they passed over slowly.
"Come on." Zenn smiled. "Let's head back." He thought I forgot what we were here for.
"You can go back." I didn't understand why he would want to. "You would be a fool to, but if you insist."
"You're coming with me." Zenn demanded. It was here I snapped. Sampson needed to be put in check, and if he didn't see that he was insane.
"No I'm not." I snapped. "I'm going on." Zenn began to swim back, leaving me without saying a word. I continued over the abyss to the nearest island.
A second before I reached the island I spotted a small fish swimming towards me. It wore armour, and resembled a dolphin as it swam. As it got closer I realised it was much more than a small fish. It had teeth as sharp as razors, and eyes as green as emeralds. Its armour was a dark brown and grey, and it was quick; very quick. I noticed more and more appearing around me, from beneath and above, left and right. Behind them I saw a wreck, crossing between two islands like a bridge. I began to swim towards it.
Suddenly I felt a sting in my leg, and I wasn't able to kick it anymore, not able to swim. I jolted and lost a hold of my Seaglide. It span out into the distance. I looked back and saw a cloud of blood surrounding my leg, as did the teeth of one of the predators. It shook its head left and right, sending more blood oozing from the wound. I tried to pull myself free, but the teeth just sank further and further in. I could no longer see through the cloud. The pain became unbearable. Then I felt it again on my arm, and the creature began to pull at my elbow. I heard my bones cracking beneath my skin, and more and more of these predators swarmed me.
The tearing of my skin was pain as had never been felt before.
That's brutal and awesome. Let's hope Zenn happened to take a backwards glance just in time for a heroic rescue! I wonder if they realise there's a reaper leviathan living just off the other side of the island.
A second before I reached the island I spotted a small fish swimming towards me. It wore armour, and resembled a dolphin as it swam. As it got closer I realised it was much more than a small fish. It had teeth as sharp as razors, and eyes as green as emeralds. Its armour was a dark brown and grey, and it was quick; very quick. I noticed more and more appearing around me, from beneath and above, left and right. Behind them I saw a wreck, crossing between two islands like a bridge. I began to swim towards it.
A second before I reached the island I spotted a small fish swimming towards me. It wore armour, and resembled a dolphin as it swam. As it got closer I realised it was much more than a small fish. It had teeth as sharp as razors, and eyes as green as emeralds. Its armour was a dark brown and grey, and it was quick; very quick. I noticed more and more appearing around me, from beneath and above, left and right. Behind them I saw a wreck, crossing between two islands like a bridge. I began to swim towards it.
A second before I reached the island I spotted a small fish swimming towards me. It wore armour, and resembled a dolphin as it swam. As it got closer I realised it was much more than a small fish. It had teeth as sharp as razors, and eyes as green as emeralds. Its armour was a dark brown and grey, and it was quick; very quick. I noticed more and more appearing around me, from beneath and above, left and right. Behind them I saw a wreck, crossing between two islands like a bridge. I began to swim towards it.
The stalkers... they're LEARNING!!!!
Don't you mean the bonesharks?
Ah, you're right. For some reason there I was under the impression that the creatures jamezorg described were stalkers, plated in scrap metal. I must've been more tired than I thought when I read that...
A second before I reached the island I spotted a small fish swimming towards me. It wore armour, and resembled a dolphin as it swam. As it got closer I realised it was much more than a small fish. It had teeth as sharp as razors, and eyes as green as emeralds. Its armour was a dark brown and grey, and it was quick; very quick. I noticed more and more appearing around me, from beneath and above, left and right. Behind them I saw a wreck, crossing between two islands like a bridge. I began to swim towards it.
The stalkers... they're LEARNING!!!!
Don't you mean the bonesharks?
Ah, you're right. For some reason there I was under the impression that the creatures jamezorg described were stalkers, plated in scrap metal. I must've been more tired than I thought when I read that...
They couldn't be plated in metal, they would look more like this with the way they pick up scrap metal
A second before I reached the island I spotted a small fish swimming towards me. It wore armour, and resembled a dolphin as it swam. As it got closer I realised it was much more than a small fish. It had teeth as sharp as razors, and eyes as green as emeralds. Its armour was a dark brown and grey, and it was quick; very quick. I noticed more and more appearing around me, from beneath and above, left and right. Behind them I saw a wreck, crossing between two islands like a bridge. I began to swim towards it.
The stalkers... they're LEARNING!!!!
Don't you mean the bonesharks?
Ah, you're right. For some reason there I was under the impression that the creatures jamezorg described were stalkers, plated in scrap metal. I must've been more tired than I thought when I read that...
Huh. I actually thought they were Sandsharks at first.
Casual_PlayerThat...is a really good questionJoin Date: 2016-08-30Member: 221875Members
I don't know if this is the effect of roleplaying with the FMMA on the Elections thread for too long, but I can't help but feel how idiotic some of this characters are. Risking thenselves in such a way just because a guy they don't like "has more tech than they"? I though the fabricator was for communal use, not exclusive to the captain. Ironically, looks like Sampson is the only one really trying to survive here. Others are just being angry that he's focusing on it. I finding myself really liking Sampson, and expecting for the idealists to face the Reaper.
I swam to shore. I had abandoned Malla. He thought that by beating Sampson in the tech race he could 'put him in check', because he knew he was wrong and needed a way to show it. I understood that much. But was Malla so idiotic as to swim into uncharted waters searching for something that may not even be there?
Of course when I got to shore Sampson was yelling at Penna for being useless. She wasn't useless, I told him, but just grieving. He stormed off. Otta had defended Penna in the situation. Tary was nowhere to be seen.
"Where's Tary?" I asked Penna.
"Malla told her to explore the caves after you said for her not to go in the water." I was furious. I turned back to the ocean, hoping that Malla would surface so that I could drown him. I was about to go into the caves when Sampson stopped me in my tracks.
"Good news." He seemed happy. "I received a signal back from Alterra; a rescue team is on its way." I nodded and pushed past him. Then as I was to his side he stuck out a leg and tripped me over, sending me spiralling through the sand. He bent over, looked me in the eye and began to speak to me. "If Tary's dead," he said, "and if you don't come back either, don't expect us to mourn."
"You speak for Penna and Otta too, now?"
"I'm more intelligent if that's what you mean." Sampson grinned and stood up I picked myself up and brushed sand off me. I was about to head into the caves when I heard a scream. It was shrill. With it came the sounds of scuttling against rock, and snapping. I realised it came from the tunnel, and I dashed towards it.
Out from the cave, running faster than I, was Tary. She was covered in insects the size of dinner plates. They hung onto her clothes like a vice, blood oozing from beneath their circle bodies. Tary beat one off of her, and another, and then she collapsed, squirming in the sand. I rushed to help her, skidding through the sand on my knees to her side. I pulled out a knife and stabbed one of the creatures in their great big eye on the top of their body, and if fell from Tary, dead. I did this four times until they were all off of her.
"Help!" I yelled. I looked back at Sampson who was still standing there. He looked at me, then at Tary, and he shrugged. I've got better things to do, I think he said; I couldn't hear over the screaming.
I looked at the ocean again. Malla was kind, but it would kill us all; Tary wanted to explore so he let him, and look where it got her. If I ever saw Malla again I would kill him myself.
The girl was fine. She lay on a bed, no longer bleeding; she was all patched up, thanks to Penna. Those things that nearly took her I called Scuttlers. The Scuttlers ran back into their tunnels after Zenn killed a few, and now here we were.
Tary would be fine, and even if she was to die I wouldn't care so much. I was more worried about Malla; he was a hard working man, when it came to it. I thought him dead; no one had seen him in two days. Zenn says that Malla had abandoned him in the ocean to die, so he came back here. It isn't something Malla would do, I felt, but I was inclined to believe Zenn about it. He was the most trustworthy person on this god damn island.
Malla had left us, either willingly or not, and I was going to go find him. "Otta!" I called. "We're going to find Malla! Get your seaglide!"
Then something burst out of the water. It jumped from the water and landed on the beach, sliding across the sand. The figure was covered in blood, and water, and it twitched in the sand, clutching his wounds tight together. A seaglide flew out of his hands and became half submerged in the sang, still whirring.
"Malla!" Penna cried and ran to him. I was angry; where had he been?
"Where the hell were you?!" I yelled. He looked at me that accusing way again. I was done with people looking at me that way. "Don't look at me like that; tell me where you were!" He was awake, and it hurt me that he was. Penna dragged him across the sand, inside the base. I stared as he was pulled in, and smiled when he was out of my sight. Then I saw over the beach Zenn. He watched this unfold, and he was not smiling. I looked at him, and even from that distance I saw in his eyes a burning anger. It was Malla who had sent Tary into the caves to explore.
"You can't let him stay." Zenn said to me.
"You can't order me." I reminded. "Stand down before I force you down." Then Zenn advanced on my position. I backed up, but I shouldn't have. It gave him the mental edge. He put a finger on my chest and looked me dead in the eyes.
"That man nearly killed Tary." Zenn spat in my face as he spoke. "Throw him back in the water, he'll sink in his condition and it will all be over."
"Malla may be stubborn but he's valuable. He'll be able to help us, will he not?" I stood up straight again.
"No. He thinks that this is a competition. Before I -- he left me, he told me that he was only going forward to beat you in the 'race'." Zenn and I were now finding common ground. I liked it.
"You're a vengeful creature, aren't you Zenn? You value your revenge over much, don't you?" Zenn did not answer. "You shall have your revenge, dear friend." I held out a knife in my hand, by the blade, the handle sticking upwards. Zenn took it. He lightly ran his finger up the edge, and even that faint touch was enough to make blood pour from his finger tip.
"What's this for?" Zenn asked.
"If it's revenge you want it's revenge you'll have. And, if it isn't, Malla will wake tomorrow, after all."
"I want to get revenge in another way, not by killing." Zenn was purposefully trying to vex me, and I would have no more of it.
"There is no other way." I leaned over him, his back bent. My finger was on his chest as I spoke. "Do it or he'll strike again; you know he will."
Zenn turned around and walked away, down the beach lit by the orange light of the setting sun. Would he do it? He still had the knife, so I supposed so.
Sampson wanted me to kill Malla. He wanted him to die more than I did, and that was saying something. I had no idea he hated him so much. He talked about keeping him as a valuable ally and then he put the knife in my hands to kill him. Why? Did he really want him dead? Or could he just not care less? Either way his notions were vile and I would not fall to his level.
Malla lay dreaming at the other side of the circle room, opposite Tary to my left. They both were wrapped in bandages like mummies, and had been asleep for hours before the sun set. Otta and Penna lay on the floor as they slept, and Sampson slept outside. I watched him, too, sleeping in front of a backdrop of stars, the great red moon looking down on him as he slept.
The knife was still at my side. It glistened in the moonlight. I felt the burning inside of me. I looked at the knife. It was like glitter in the nighttime lights. I held it tight, and at my side. Sampson lay on a rock, dreaming probably of torture and deceit. The knife no longer looked evil to me; it looked splendid. I walked across through the base, and then out across the sands.
He lay there, sleeping. I lay my left hand on the rock beside him. I raised the knife high above him, the blade pointing downwards like a stalactite about to fall on his head. It glistened more now. I looked at it, and back to Sampson. He wanted me to kill Malla, and he would want me to kill others for him next, I gathered. He was nothing but trouble.
The knife fell. It was about to pierce the skin when their was a deafening cry behind me, and great hands pulled my arm back away from Sampson. I turned around. It was Otta who held me in place. He looked terrified.
"What are you doing?!" he screeched, whilst remaining quiet. I looked him dead in the eyes.
"He is evil. He would have me kill for him. I'd kill him."
"You're no better than he is, are you?!" Otta threw my arm back. The knife fell into the sand.
"Sampson, wake up!" Another voice yelled. It was Penna. Sampson woke.
"What is the meaning of this?" he asked after rubbing the yellow from his eyes. "What do you all want with me?" Penna grabbed my other arm. They held me in front of Sampson like I was a prisoner.
"Zenn was just about to stab you." Otta told him. "With a diamond blade." Sampson was silent for a moment.
"A diamond blade, eh?" He looked at me, displeased. He nodded and stood up. Penna kicked my in the knee and I fell to my knees. Sampson flicked a switch on the stone and four floodlights shone on, all four pointing to me. They were blindingly bright. Sampson walked over to the diamond knife and snatched it from the sand. He grabbed my hair and pulled my head back, putting the diamond blade to my throat. "You would betray me." He whispered. "You would betray your honour."
"Please!" I yelled. "Please let me go!"
"Only if you swear your loyalty to me, and abandon your free will. You will be mine, and do as I command." he was crazed. I panicked.
"Yes, yes, whatever you say I do!" I yelled. He took the knife from my throat.
"You aren't the first to try and kill me." he whispered. I looked at Penna and Otta, and how they did everything Sampson asked. I knew what he meant.
the_marinerUS of AJoin Date: 2016-12-29Member: 225653Members
edited January 2017
Jesus, this is insane. Zenn seems to be the only one here with any sanity; everyone else is blindly following Sampson even when it's clear he's BLATANTLY unfit for command. Clearly, he's cracked under the pressure.
I tried to kill Sampson, a while ago now. I tried to drown him on a scouting trip. I took his oxygen tank, but he promptly beat me over the head with it. Then he pulled out that blasted diamond knife. Now I know my place; beneath Sampson. I should not have attempted his life, as no one should have. He was our leader, he would lead us off of this planet.
He used fear. I did not respect him for that. I did not respect him at all. If it meant salvation, however, I would follow. His crimes were beyond count as it stood, so upon our return to the federation I could put him in a cell for good and be done with him.
I respected Zenn for trying to gut the bastard where he lay, however. I was just worried that, if he was willing to do that to the man who lead us, would he be willing to gut the man who sent Tary to her near death? Granted, he was injured now too, more so than Tary, so he may have got his revenge in a different, twisted way, but the two were close. Tary and Zenn were scarcely seen apart. They were close; very close. I was sure Tary would live, and I wouldn't be surprised if the only reason she held on was to see Zenn once again.
I sat with them through the night. I cared for Tary and protected Malla. Then, surely enough, a man wielding a blade walked into the room. It was obvious he wasn't expecting me there.
"Where's the diamond one?" I asked. "Does your new master have it?"
"Get out of my way." Zenn hissed. He wasn't as bad as he made out. I had sworn to Sampson, too, but I didn't truly follow him and what he said and wanted.
"Malla was only doing what he thought to be right." I pleaded. "Now, just turn back and sleep. Everything will be better by the morning."
"Not with him around." Zenn advanced on my position. I held my arms out stretched to my sides, forming a wall between him and the sleeping Malla.
"Please. He's our friend, Zenn." I reminded. "We played Chess on the way here, remember? A tournament that you won?" Zenn remained still and silent. "Please, stop; I don't want the room getting bloodier than it already is."
"We're already past that." Zenn walked forward. "He nearly killed Tary." I understood why he was angry. Was it really a reason to kill Malla? I suppose when you put the knife in a man's hands it gives them power, and power reveals. But this I didn't want revealed. This was horrific, and wrong, and Zenn was blinded by revenge so much so that he could not see the light behind the dark.
"Yes, he nearly did, but only because he granted her what she wanted to do!" I begged. "Now stop this madness."
"He did." Zenn stopped and lowered the knife. He then looked over to Tary. "Was that really kindness he was showing? Look at her now, Otta, and tell me she isn't in pain."
"Pain can be inflicted by kindness." I said. "Now put down the knife and walk away." I shouldn't have brought up the knife. The power stirred within him once again.
"He nearly killed her!" He repeated the same points. I threw a quick punch. My fist landed on his cheek, and he fell stumbling backwards.
"Leave, now." I stood up tall and straight. "We don't want to wake them." He was angry now. He reluctantly backed out of the room. I understood why his hatred existed, but it should surely be aimed at Sampson and not Malla. Maybe that's just from an outsider's perspective, and Zenn knew what it felt to loose someone special. I'd never had that experience.
But at some point in the next week I'm sure I would.
Like the flick of a switch my life turned from darkness to reality. My eyes snapped open and I gazed about me. My arms and legs were in pain, but I knew I would be able to walk; I could feel it. I was in the base. Sampson's base. It looked more polished than it had before; plants were hung on the walls, as were pictures on tables that lined the room. A computer sat comfortable on one, and a chair nicely beside that. The scanner held pride of place on a wall, nothing surrounding it except a chair in front. Then over the other side of the room was a bed, and someone lay sleeping on that bed, drenched in dried blood like a cocoon.
"Tary!" I managed. I rolled out of the bed and picked myself up, stumbling over to her. I felt her cheek; it was like ice.
"She'll be fine." A voice called from behind me. I turned, and saw Zenn standing in the doorway.
"What happened to her?" I asked. I just hoped that what I guessed wasn't true.
"You sent her into the cave, and giant insects thought her to be their supper. I taught them otherwise."
"Zenn, I am so, so sorry, I didn't-"
"Hey, it's fine. Just as long as you don't do something stupid like that again." He smiled, which is something I needed to see.
"She'll be fine then, I take it?" I wondered.
"Oh yes," he replied, "quite fine. We have bigger problems. Sampson is going mad, you can see it in his eyes. He would kill us if it meant us getting off of this planet. I tried to stab him in his sleep, as have Otta and Penna in the past, but he stopped me, and made me swear loyalty to him, which I did. That was just after he had ordered me to kill you in your slumber."
It's safe to say i didn't take this very well. I was still half asleep, and half the information didn't enter my brain, but the outline was clear; Sampson had fallen mad.
***
I limped outside, Zenn holding my left hand side up as I walked. Otta and Penna cheered I greeted them with open arms, and we talked about what I had dreamt of in my sleep, and what they had seen whilst I was away. It was a glorious conversation. Then something caught my eye.
He stood on the beach. A glistening knife he held in his hands. It looked blue, and shone so bright it could have been made from a star. The sunrise was behind him, as were the waves crashing against the sand. Sampson looked at me, his features staying as still as the stars. I glared at him, my smile wiped from my face, turning into a flat line. He had so much power, and it was dangerous. I no longer felt jealous of the man, but fearful that if he didn't loose his throne we would all meet a grizzly end.
I shoved past Otta and Penna who were talking to one another about the beasts they claimed to have spotted in the seas, and I limed towards Sampson. I stopped when we were less than five feet from each other. I'd hoped that I'd shown some amount of intimidation, but Sampson didn't seem to budge because of it.
"If you hurt any of my friends again," I started. His face did not change. "That action will be your last. Do you hear me?"
He stared at me. He looked more menacing than when I had first walked over. Then he smiled.
"I am your captain." He said, like it made a difference.
"Aye, and that won't stop me from slitting your damn throat when the time comes." I stated. "Get back to the scanner."
"I don't take orders from you." He spat. He walked inside, past Otta and Penna. I limped back over to the two. As I approached they both stopped their conversations and turned to me. I felt honoured. I looked at them dead in the eyes; even Zenn.
"Do you really take orders from him still?" I asked.
"No." Otta snapped.
"No sir." Zenn added. Each of them smiled, and I admit, I did too.
SkopeWouldn't you like to know ;)Join Date: 2016-06-07Member: 218212Members
I kind of want to see something along the lines of a group separation.
Something like Zenn, Tary, Otta, and Penna find an ion crystal, go through the teleporter on the island, and make a base of operations on the Floater Island.
All the while, Sampson stays on the Mountain Island, slowly drifting into complete insanity, as he blames the rest of the crew for no rescue coming. And he actively tries to kill them.
I kind of want to see something along the lines of a group separation.
Something like Zenn, Tary, Otta, and Penna find an ion crystal, go through the teleporter on the island, and make a base of operations on the Floater Island.
All the while, Sampson stays on the Mountain Island, slowly drifting into complete insanity, as he blames the rest of the crew for no rescue coming. And he actively tries to kill them.
Just remember that this is very much going to be the Game of Thrones to @Bugzapper 's Lord of the Rings.
Just wanted to put that out there before I post the next few things
I kind of want to see something along the lines of a group separation.
Something like Zenn, Tary, Otta, and Penna find an ion crystal, go through the teleporter on the island, and make a base of operations on the Floater Island.
All the while, Sampson stays on the Mountain Island, slowly drifting into complete insanity, as he blames the rest of the crew for no rescue coming. And he actively tries to kill them.
Just remember that this is very much going to be the Game of Thrones to @Bugzapper 's Lord of the Rings.
Just wanted to put that out there before I post the next few things
I kind of want to see something along the lines of a group separation.
Something like Zenn, Tary, Otta, and Penna find an ion crystal, go through the teleporter on the island, and make a base of operations on the Floater Island.
All the while, Sampson stays on the Mountain Island, slowly drifting into complete insanity, as he blames the rest of the crew for no rescue coming. And he actively tries to kill them.
Just remember that this is very much going to be the Game of Thrones to @Bugzapper 's Lord of the Rings.
Just wanted to put that out there before I post the next few things
For those of you who don't know what this means, I'll give you a statistic.
In Lord of the Rings, about 25+ die in the series.
I limped back over to the two. As I approached they both stopped their conversations and turned to me. I felt honoured. I looked at them dead in the eyes; even Zenn.
"Do you really take orders from him still?" I asked.
"No." Otta snapped.
"No sir." Zenn added. Each of them smiled, and I admit, I did too.
Ohhhhhh yes. Finally, someone has the spine to stand up to Sampson and his lunacy. This is going to get interesting.
I kind of want to see something along the lines of a group separation.
Something like Zenn, Tary, Otta, and Penna find an ion crystal, go through the teleporter on the island, and make a base of operations on the Floater Island.
All the while, Sampson stays on the Mountain Island, slowly drifting into complete insanity, as he blames the rest of the crew for no rescue coming. And he actively tries to kill them.
Oh, yes. I love the potential to this idea. The survivors hiding from a deranged man in their sabotaged sea base, with the glint of emergency lighting reflecting from his diamond blade.
The speculation's awesome guys, keep it coming I've got this series planned from start to end so I know what's coming and what you get right! And don't blame me for this, it was planned...
Malla Corren
"Okay, Zenn, there are old fragments of a Nuclear Reactor down in the Blood Kelp, so if you want to go down and scan some of them we could have this base working day and night in no time. Penna, there are Uraninite Crystals all around the base of this island, all you need to do is dive down and collect a few; should be a piece of cake. Otta, you take care of Tary." I looked at Zenn after the order was given. "She's in good hands, partner." He smiled, and I waddled over and pat him on the shoulder.
Then Sampson walked out. It had been three days since the crew had named me captain; three days of Tary sleeping, and three days of me dealing out missions behind our true leader's back. Sometimes I thought it was rather obvious what I was doing, but all the while Samspon didn't seem to notice and/or care about what I was doing.
I nodded, and Penna and Zenn dived into the ocean, their seaglides driving them forward. Otta walked past Sampson, glancing at him with a menacing look, and submerging into the base to comfort Tary.
"What are they doing?" Sampson roared.
"We're going to get a Nuclear Reactor up and running; if we succeed we'll have power day and night, and you can sit at that damn transmitter for even more hours of the day." I grinned at him, although my eyes told a different story to the rest of my face, it seemed.
"I didn't give them clearance, did I?" He growled. "Damn moron, send them back."
"No." I growled back, equally as terrifying, or so I'd hoped.
"Say that again." Sampson pulled his diamond knife from his side and waved it in front of his face vigorously. It shone gloriously in front of the noon sun.
"Gladly." I said. He seemed taken aback. I continued. "I said I'm not going to be calling them back. Would you like me to elaborate on why?"
"You idiot Corren; even your sister was soft in the head!" This made me angry, but I dare not show it. "You forget I'm the one with a scanner, so I'll call whoever back whenever I want." Sampson marched inside. There wasn't much I could do about it. I looked behind me, over the ocean, waiting for Zenn and Penna's heads to pop back out of the water. I heard Sampson screech commands into the machine, which was normal.
Then I heard a cry, and crying shortly after.
He walked out, and dragging behind him, held by the neck, was Otta. He cried for help, trying to pull Sampson's vice-like grip from his throat all the while. Sampson stopped at the doorway and pulled Otta in front of him, setting the knife to his throat.
"You give command back to me right now!" Sampson ordered. "Or Otta won't live to see Tary wake." I stood still as a statue. I heard the ocean part behind me, and then two gasps, and the sounds of wet feet quickly slapping against sand. "Don't you two move or I'll slit his throat!" He was a lot louder this time. I put my arms out to stop them if they ran any further.
"Listen to him." I pleaded. "Sampson, let him go, and I won't give you command but I will give you--" he stopped me.
"Damn you, boy! I never thought I'd be surpassed by a stupid, ignorant man not even past forty! I don't care what else you give me, if it is not command then I won't have it! Do you hear me, boy?!" There was a moment of silence, and stillness.
"Please..." Otta managed through his tightened windpipe. Sampson's grip became tighter. Then it was done; with one motion from Sampson there was one less life in the galaxy. Otta's bleeding body fell to the sand, his eyes ghostly, his face still unsuspecting. He gargled for a second, and then fell silent. I looked at Sampson.
He smiled.
Penna cried out behind me and fell to her knees. "It will be her next!" Sampson pointed and grinned. "Unless you don't give me back comma--" My fingers were already tight around his throat; both hands gripping and tearing at his neck with claw-like nails. Sampson tried to jam the knife into my neck, but I turned my head and caught the knife in my mouth; it cut the backs of my lips, making my mouth bleed heavily. I bit down on the knife as if I hadn't felt a thing and pulled it from Sampson's grasp. He was on his knees now. I spat the knife over his head, but where I expected it to fall to the floor, someone caught the diamond blade. This someone grabbed Sampson's hair and, without a second thought, sent the blade into the back of his neck. It just missed my thumbs on the other side, surfacing just beneath where they crossed. I looked up, and Tary frowned down at me. I let go of Sampson, who fell dead to the floor. She kicked the bastard where it hurt.
Penna cried. Zenn cried. Tary cried. I cried. I looked at the diamond knife, laced with Sampson's blood. I snatched it from the sand. I would feel safe with it at my side.
I kind of want to see something along the lines of a group separation.
Something like Zenn, Tary, Otta, and Penna find an ion crystal, go through the teleporter on the island, and make a base of operations on the Floater Island.
All the while, Sampson stays on the Mountain Island, slowly drifting into complete insanity, as he blames the rest of the crew for no rescue coming. And he actively tries to kill them.
Just remember that this is very much going to be the Game of Thrones to @Bugzapper 's Lord of the Rings.
Just wanted to put that out there before I post the next few things
Comments
I think I have a problem
A mild case of the argle-bargles. Occupational hazard.
Wouldn't worby too muck about it.
I swam alongside Zenn along the base of the island, where its sheer edges flattened out into an endless sea of sand. We scanned the ocean floor for wrecks and fragments that could be salvaged, but were not having much luck. We had told Penna and Otta to stay on the beach. I asked Tary to come, but Zenn would not allow it so we went alone.
We swam for what felt like miles. We had fabricated some diving gear, which was all we really needed, and Sampson had created three Seaglides for us; what he lacked in kindness he made up for in his handiness. We whizzed through the blue, until the sand beneath us ended and dropped far, far below anything we could ever see. Then we looked across this abyss and saw islands that floated in the ocean, giant pink spheres attached to their bases. The Aurora Survivor had talked about Floating Islands, and how they were able to support life. Perhaps this is what he meant.
"We should go back." Zenn said. I heard the fear in his voice, and thought it unfounded.
"Sampson's far ahead of us when it comes to tech; maybe we can find some things here that will help us get the upper hand." I hated that Sampson was ahead. It pleased him, it made him want to keep going how he was. I needed to show him that he was wrong somehow. This was how.
"Is this a game to you?" Zenn was deadly serious. I understood the danger of heading somewhere new, but I didn't understand why Zenn wouldn't take a risk.
"No." I answered. "But we need something new, something that will help us later on. I'm sure we'll find some things here."
Suddenly a shadow loomed over us. We thought it to be an eclipse (these were quite common on the planet) but then it became apparent that it wasn't. We looked up and saw a magnificent creature swimming overhead. It was enormous, the shape of a turtle, great tentacles trailing behind it. Surrounding it were three smaller creatures with the same shape and colours.
"Reefbacks." Zenn remembered the stories he had heard.
"Beautiful, aren't they?" We shared the sight for more than five minutes, whilst they passed over slowly.
"Come on." Zenn smiled. "Let's head back." He thought I forgot what we were here for.
"You can go back." I didn't understand why he would want to. "You would be a fool to, but if you insist."
"You're coming with me." Zenn demanded. It was here I snapped. Sampson needed to be put in check, and if he didn't see that he was insane.
"No I'm not." I snapped. "I'm going on." Zenn began to swim back, leaving me without saying a word. I continued over the abyss to the nearest island.
A second before I reached the island I spotted a small fish swimming towards me. It wore armour, and resembled a dolphin as it swam. As it got closer I realised it was much more than a small fish. It had teeth as sharp as razors, and eyes as green as emeralds. Its armour was a dark brown and grey, and it was quick; very quick. I noticed more and more appearing around me, from beneath and above, left and right. Behind them I saw a wreck, crossing between two islands like a bridge. I began to swim towards it.
Suddenly I felt a sting in my leg, and I wasn't able to kick it anymore, not able to swim. I jolted and lost a hold of my Seaglide. It span out into the distance. I looked back and saw a cloud of blood surrounding my leg, as did the teeth of one of the predators. It shook its head left and right, sending more blood oozing from the wound. I tried to pull myself free, but the teeth just sank further and further in. I could no longer see through the cloud. The pain became unbearable. Then I felt it again on my arm, and the creature began to pull at my elbow. I heard my bones cracking beneath my skin, and more and more of these predators swarmed me.
The tearing of my skin was pain as had never been felt before.
The bonesharks... they're learning!
Don't you mean the bonesharks?
Ah, you're right. For some reason there I was under the impression that the creatures jamezorg described were stalkers, plated in scrap metal. I must've been more tired than I thought when I read that...
They couldn't be plated in metal, they would look more like this with the way they pick up scrap metal
Huh. I actually thought they were Sandsharks at first.
I swam to shore. I had abandoned Malla. He thought that by beating Sampson in the tech race he could 'put him in check', because he knew he was wrong and needed a way to show it. I understood that much. But was Malla so idiotic as to swim into uncharted waters searching for something that may not even be there?
Of course when I got to shore Sampson was yelling at Penna for being useless. She wasn't useless, I told him, but just grieving. He stormed off. Otta had defended Penna in the situation. Tary was nowhere to be seen.
"Where's Tary?" I asked Penna.
"Malla told her to explore the caves after you said for her not to go in the water." I was furious. I turned back to the ocean, hoping that Malla would surface so that I could drown him. I was about to go into the caves when Sampson stopped me in my tracks.
"Good news." He seemed happy. "I received a signal back from Alterra; a rescue team is on its way." I nodded and pushed past him. Then as I was to his side he stuck out a leg and tripped me over, sending me spiralling through the sand. He bent over, looked me in the eye and began to speak to me. "If Tary's dead," he said, "and if you don't come back either, don't expect us to mourn."
"You speak for Penna and Otta too, now?"
"I'm more intelligent if that's what you mean." Sampson grinned and stood up I picked myself up and brushed sand off me. I was about to head into the caves when I heard a scream. It was shrill. With it came the sounds of scuttling against rock, and snapping. I realised it came from the tunnel, and I dashed towards it.
Out from the cave, running faster than I, was Tary. She was covered in insects the size of dinner plates. They hung onto her clothes like a vice, blood oozing from beneath their circle bodies. Tary beat one off of her, and another, and then she collapsed, squirming in the sand. I rushed to help her, skidding through the sand on my knees to her side. I pulled out a knife and stabbed one of the creatures in their great big eye on the top of their body, and if fell from Tary, dead. I did this four times until they were all off of her.
"Help!" I yelled. I looked back at Sampson who was still standing there. He looked at me, then at Tary, and he shrugged. I've got better things to do, I think he said; I couldn't hear over the screaming.
I looked at the ocean again. Malla was kind, but it would kill us all; Tary wanted to explore so he let him, and look where it got her. If I ever saw Malla again I would kill him myself.
The girl was fine. She lay on a bed, no longer bleeding; she was all patched up, thanks to Penna. Those things that nearly took her I called Scuttlers. The Scuttlers ran back into their tunnels after Zenn killed a few, and now here we were.
Tary would be fine, and even if she was to die I wouldn't care so much. I was more worried about Malla; he was a hard working man, when it came to it. I thought him dead; no one had seen him in two days. Zenn says that Malla had abandoned him in the ocean to die, so he came back here. It isn't something Malla would do, I felt, but I was inclined to believe Zenn about it. He was the most trustworthy person on this god damn island.
Malla had left us, either willingly or not, and I was going to go find him. "Otta!" I called. "We're going to find Malla! Get your seaglide!"
Then something burst out of the water. It jumped from the water and landed on the beach, sliding across the sand. The figure was covered in blood, and water, and it twitched in the sand, clutching his wounds tight together. A seaglide flew out of his hands and became half submerged in the sang, still whirring.
"Malla!" Penna cried and ran to him. I was angry; where had he been?
"Where the hell were you?!" I yelled. He looked at me that accusing way again. I was done with people looking at me that way. "Don't look at me like that; tell me where you were!" He was awake, and it hurt me that he was. Penna dragged him across the sand, inside the base. I stared as he was pulled in, and smiled when he was out of my sight. Then I saw over the beach Zenn. He watched this unfold, and he was not smiling. I looked at him, and even from that distance I saw in his eyes a burning anger. It was Malla who had sent Tary into the caves to explore.
"You can't let him stay." Zenn said to me.
"You can't order me." I reminded. "Stand down before I force you down." Then Zenn advanced on my position. I backed up, but I shouldn't have. It gave him the mental edge. He put a finger on my chest and looked me dead in the eyes.
"That man nearly killed Tary." Zenn spat in my face as he spoke. "Throw him back in the water, he'll sink in his condition and it will all be over."
"Malla may be stubborn but he's valuable. He'll be able to help us, will he not?" I stood up straight again.
"No. He thinks that this is a competition. Before I -- he left me, he told me that he was only going forward to beat you in the 'race'." Zenn and I were now finding common ground. I liked it.
"You're a vengeful creature, aren't you Zenn? You value your revenge over much, don't you?" Zenn did not answer. "You shall have your revenge, dear friend." I held out a knife in my hand, by the blade, the handle sticking upwards. Zenn took it. He lightly ran his finger up the edge, and even that faint touch was enough to make blood pour from his finger tip.
"What's this for?" Zenn asked.
"If it's revenge you want it's revenge you'll have. And, if it isn't, Malla will wake tomorrow, after all."
"I want to get revenge in another way, not by killing." Zenn was purposefully trying to vex me, and I would have no more of it.
"There is no other way." I leaned over him, his back bent. My finger was on his chest as I spoke. "Do it or he'll strike again; you know he will."
Zenn turned around and walked away, down the beach lit by the orange light of the setting sun. Would he do it? He still had the knife, so I supposed so.
I hate Sampson.
Sampson wanted me to kill Malla. He wanted him to die more than I did, and that was saying something. I had no idea he hated him so much. He talked about keeping him as a valuable ally and then he put the knife in my hands to kill him. Why? Did he really want him dead? Or could he just not care less? Either way his notions were vile and I would not fall to his level.
Malla lay dreaming at the other side of the circle room, opposite Tary to my left. They both were wrapped in bandages like mummies, and had been asleep for hours before the sun set. Otta and Penna lay on the floor as they slept, and Sampson slept outside. I watched him, too, sleeping in front of a backdrop of stars, the great red moon looking down on him as he slept.
The knife was still at my side. It glistened in the moonlight. I felt the burning inside of me. I looked at the knife. It was like glitter in the nighttime lights. I held it tight, and at my side. Sampson lay on a rock, dreaming probably of torture and deceit. The knife no longer looked evil to me; it looked splendid. I walked across through the base, and then out across the sands.
He lay there, sleeping. I lay my left hand on the rock beside him. I raised the knife high above him, the blade pointing downwards like a stalactite about to fall on his head. It glistened more now. I looked at it, and back to Sampson. He wanted me to kill Malla, and he would want me to kill others for him next, I gathered. He was nothing but trouble.
The knife fell. It was about to pierce the skin when their was a deafening cry behind me, and great hands pulled my arm back away from Sampson. I turned around. It was Otta who held me in place. He looked terrified.
"What are you doing?!" he screeched, whilst remaining quiet. I looked him dead in the eyes.
"He is evil. He would have me kill for him. I'd kill him."
"You're no better than he is, are you?!" Otta threw my arm back. The knife fell into the sand.
"Sampson, wake up!" Another voice yelled. It was Penna. Sampson woke.
"What is the meaning of this?" he asked after rubbing the yellow from his eyes. "What do you all want with me?" Penna grabbed my other arm. They held me in front of Sampson like I was a prisoner.
"Zenn was just about to stab you." Otta told him. "With a diamond blade." Sampson was silent for a moment.
"A diamond blade, eh?" He looked at me, displeased. He nodded and stood up. Penna kicked my in the knee and I fell to my knees. Sampson flicked a switch on the stone and four floodlights shone on, all four pointing to me. They were blindingly bright. Sampson walked over to the diamond knife and snatched it from the sand. He grabbed my hair and pulled my head back, putting the diamond blade to my throat. "You would betray me." He whispered. "You would betray your honour."
"Please!" I yelled. "Please let me go!"
"Only if you swear your loyalty to me, and abandon your free will. You will be mine, and do as I command." he was crazed. I panicked.
"Yes, yes, whatever you say I do!" I yelled. He took the knife from my throat.
"You aren't the first to try and kill me." he whispered. I looked at Penna and Otta, and how they did everything Sampson asked. I knew what he meant.
Fifty shades of subnautica.
i will never write the same way again...
Kudos to Zenn for trying to gut him in his sleep.
I tried to kill Sampson, a while ago now. I tried to drown him on a scouting trip. I took his oxygen tank, but he promptly beat me over the head with it. Then he pulled out that blasted diamond knife. Now I know my place; beneath Sampson. I should not have attempted his life, as no one should have. He was our leader, he would lead us off of this planet.
He used fear. I did not respect him for that. I did not respect him at all. If it meant salvation, however, I would follow. His crimes were beyond count as it stood, so upon our return to the federation I could put him in a cell for good and be done with him.
I respected Zenn for trying to gut the bastard where he lay, however. I was just worried that, if he was willing to do that to the man who lead us, would he be willing to gut the man who sent Tary to her near death? Granted, he was injured now too, more so than Tary, so he may have got his revenge in a different, twisted way, but the two were close. Tary and Zenn were scarcely seen apart. They were close; very close. I was sure Tary would live, and I wouldn't be surprised if the only reason she held on was to see Zenn once again.
I sat with them through the night. I cared for Tary and protected Malla. Then, surely enough, a man wielding a blade walked into the room. It was obvious he wasn't expecting me there.
"Where's the diamond one?" I asked. "Does your new master have it?"
"Get out of my way." Zenn hissed. He wasn't as bad as he made out. I had sworn to Sampson, too, but I didn't truly follow him and what he said and wanted.
"Malla was only doing what he thought to be right." I pleaded. "Now, just turn back and sleep. Everything will be better by the morning."
"Not with him around." Zenn advanced on my position. I held my arms out stretched to my sides, forming a wall between him and the sleeping Malla.
"Please. He's our friend, Zenn." I reminded. "We played Chess on the way here, remember? A tournament that you won?" Zenn remained still and silent. "Please, stop; I don't want the room getting bloodier than it already is."
"We're already past that." Zenn walked forward. "He nearly killed Tary." I understood why he was angry. Was it really a reason to kill Malla? I suppose when you put the knife in a man's hands it gives them power, and power reveals. But this I didn't want revealed. This was horrific, and wrong, and Zenn was blinded by revenge so much so that he could not see the light behind the dark.
"Yes, he nearly did, but only because he granted her what she wanted to do!" I begged. "Now stop this madness."
"He did." Zenn stopped and lowered the knife. He then looked over to Tary. "Was that really kindness he was showing? Look at her now, Otta, and tell me she isn't in pain."
"Pain can be inflicted by kindness." I said. "Now put down the knife and walk away." I shouldn't have brought up the knife. The power stirred within him once again.
"He nearly killed her!" He repeated the same points. I threw a quick punch. My fist landed on his cheek, and he fell stumbling backwards.
"Leave, now." I stood up tall and straight. "We don't want to wake them." He was angry now. He reluctantly backed out of the room. I understood why his hatred existed, but it should surely be aimed at Sampson and not Malla. Maybe that's just from an outsider's perspective, and Zenn knew what it felt to loose someone special. I'd never had that experience.
But at some point in the next week I'm sure I would.
Like the flick of a switch my life turned from darkness to reality. My eyes snapped open and I gazed about me. My arms and legs were in pain, but I knew I would be able to walk; I could feel it. I was in the base. Sampson's base. It looked more polished than it had before; plants were hung on the walls, as were pictures on tables that lined the room. A computer sat comfortable on one, and a chair nicely beside that. The scanner held pride of place on a wall, nothing surrounding it except a chair in front. Then over the other side of the room was a bed, and someone lay sleeping on that bed, drenched in dried blood like a cocoon.
"Tary!" I managed. I rolled out of the bed and picked myself up, stumbling over to her. I felt her cheek; it was like ice.
"She'll be fine." A voice called from behind me. I turned, and saw Zenn standing in the doorway.
"What happened to her?" I asked. I just hoped that what I guessed wasn't true.
"You sent her into the cave, and giant insects thought her to be their supper. I taught them otherwise."
"Zenn, I am so, so sorry, I didn't-"
"Hey, it's fine. Just as long as you don't do something stupid like that again." He smiled, which is something I needed to see.
"She'll be fine then, I take it?" I wondered.
"Oh yes," he replied, "quite fine. We have bigger problems. Sampson is going mad, you can see it in his eyes. He would kill us if it meant us getting off of this planet. I tried to stab him in his sleep, as have Otta and Penna in the past, but he stopped me, and made me swear loyalty to him, which I did. That was just after he had ordered me to kill you in your slumber."
It's safe to say i didn't take this very well. I was still half asleep, and half the information didn't enter my brain, but the outline was clear; Sampson had fallen mad.
I limped outside, Zenn holding my left hand side up as I walked. Otta and Penna cheered I greeted them with open arms, and we talked about what I had dreamt of in my sleep, and what they had seen whilst I was away. It was a glorious conversation. Then something caught my eye.
He stood on the beach. A glistening knife he held in his hands. It looked blue, and shone so bright it could have been made from a star. The sunrise was behind him, as were the waves crashing against the sand. Sampson looked at me, his features staying as still as the stars. I glared at him, my smile wiped from my face, turning into a flat line. He had so much power, and it was dangerous. I no longer felt jealous of the man, but fearful that if he didn't loose his throne we would all meet a grizzly end.
I shoved past Otta and Penna who were talking to one another about the beasts they claimed to have spotted in the seas, and I limed towards Sampson. I stopped when we were less than five feet from each other. I'd hoped that I'd shown some amount of intimidation, but Sampson didn't seem to budge because of it.
"If you hurt any of my friends again," I started. His face did not change. "That action will be your last. Do you hear me?"
He stared at me. He looked more menacing than when I had first walked over. Then he smiled.
"I am your captain." He said, like it made a difference.
"Aye, and that won't stop me from slitting your damn throat when the time comes." I stated. "Get back to the scanner."
"I don't take orders from you." He spat. He walked inside, past Otta and Penna. I limped back over to the two. As I approached they both stopped their conversations and turned to me. I felt honoured. I looked at them dead in the eyes; even Zenn.
"Do you really take orders from him still?" I asked.
"No." Otta snapped.
"No sir." Zenn added. Each of them smiled, and I admit, I did too.
Something like Zenn, Tary, Otta, and Penna find an ion crystal, go through the teleporter on the island, and make a base of operations on the Floater Island.
All the while, Sampson stays on the Mountain Island, slowly drifting into complete insanity, as he blames the rest of the crew for no rescue coming. And he actively tries to kill them.
Just remember that this is very much going to be the Game of Thrones to @Bugzapper 's Lord of the Rings.
Just wanted to put that out there before I post the next few things
Aww, really? I'll get the headstones ready.
Why you gotta toy with our emotions like this?
For those of you who don't know what this means, I'll give you a statistic.
In Lord of the Rings, about 25+ die in the series.
In Game of Thrones, about 700+ die in the series.
So @subnauticambrian's depiction is quite accurate.
Ohhhhhh yes. Finally, someone has the spine to stand up to Sampson and his lunacy. This is going to get interesting.
Oh, yes. I love the potential to this idea. The survivors hiding from a deranged man in their sabotaged sea base, with the glint of emergency lighting reflecting from his diamond blade.
Malla Corren
"Okay, Zenn, there are old fragments of a Nuclear Reactor down in the Blood Kelp, so if you want to go down and scan some of them we could have this base working day and night in no time. Penna, there are Uraninite Crystals all around the base of this island, all you need to do is dive down and collect a few; should be a piece of cake. Otta, you take care of Tary." I looked at Zenn after the order was given. "She's in good hands, partner." He smiled, and I waddled over and pat him on the shoulder.
Then Sampson walked out. It had been three days since the crew had named me captain; three days of Tary sleeping, and three days of me dealing out missions behind our true leader's back. Sometimes I thought it was rather obvious what I was doing, but all the while Samspon didn't seem to notice and/or care about what I was doing.
I nodded, and Penna and Zenn dived into the ocean, their seaglides driving them forward. Otta walked past Sampson, glancing at him with a menacing look, and submerging into the base to comfort Tary.
"What are they doing?" Sampson roared.
"We're going to get a Nuclear Reactor up and running; if we succeed we'll have power day and night, and you can sit at that damn transmitter for even more hours of the day." I grinned at him, although my eyes told a different story to the rest of my face, it seemed.
"I didn't give them clearance, did I?" He growled. "Damn moron, send them back."
"No." I growled back, equally as terrifying, or so I'd hoped.
"Say that again." Sampson pulled his diamond knife from his side and waved it in front of his face vigorously. It shone gloriously in front of the noon sun.
"Gladly." I said. He seemed taken aback. I continued. "I said I'm not going to be calling them back. Would you like me to elaborate on why?"
"You idiot Corren; even your sister was soft in the head!" This made me angry, but I dare not show it. "You forget I'm the one with a scanner, so I'll call whoever back whenever I want." Sampson marched inside. There wasn't much I could do about it. I looked behind me, over the ocean, waiting for Zenn and Penna's heads to pop back out of the water. I heard Sampson screech commands into the machine, which was normal.
Then I heard a cry, and crying shortly after.
He walked out, and dragging behind him, held by the neck, was Otta. He cried for help, trying to pull Sampson's vice-like grip from his throat all the while. Sampson stopped at the doorway and pulled Otta in front of him, setting the knife to his throat.
"You give command back to me right now!" Sampson ordered. "Or Otta won't live to see Tary wake." I stood still as a statue. I heard the ocean part behind me, and then two gasps, and the sounds of wet feet quickly slapping against sand. "Don't you two move or I'll slit his throat!" He was a lot louder this time. I put my arms out to stop them if they ran any further.
"Listen to him." I pleaded. "Sampson, let him go, and I won't give you command but I will give you--" he stopped me.
"Damn you, boy! I never thought I'd be surpassed by a stupid, ignorant man not even past forty! I don't care what else you give me, if it is not command then I won't have it! Do you hear me, boy?!" There was a moment of silence, and stillness.
"Please..." Otta managed through his tightened windpipe. Sampson's grip became tighter. Then it was done; with one motion from Sampson there was one less life in the galaxy. Otta's bleeding body fell to the sand, his eyes ghostly, his face still unsuspecting. He gargled for a second, and then fell silent. I looked at Sampson.
He smiled.
Penna cried out behind me and fell to her knees. "It will be her next!" Sampson pointed and grinned. "Unless you don't give me back comma--" My fingers were already tight around his throat; both hands gripping and tearing at his neck with claw-like nails. Sampson tried to jam the knife into my neck, but I turned my head and caught the knife in my mouth; it cut the backs of my lips, making my mouth bleed heavily. I bit down on the knife as if I hadn't felt a thing and pulled it from Sampson's grasp. He was on his knees now. I spat the knife over his head, but where I expected it to fall to the floor, someone caught the diamond blade. This someone grabbed Sampson's hair and, without a second thought, sent the blade into the back of his neck. It just missed my thumbs on the other side, surfacing just beneath where they crossed. I looked up, and Tary frowned down at me. I let go of Sampson, who fell dead to the floor. She kicked the bastard where it hurt.
Penna cried. Zenn cried. Tary cried. I cried. I looked at the diamond knife, laced with Sampson's blood. I snatched it from the sand. I would feel safe with it at my side.
What the fuck?? What the actual FUCK??
Well, now Otta's dead. You weren't kidding when you said this was Game of Thrones.
That, that was dark.
Also, as @subnauticambrian said earlier