Part 2:
The steamy jungle, perilous and sly, did not discriminate.
It welcomed any creatures who abided its conditions; it allowed all who endured its demands.
This included the six heroes who represented the QCP.
It also comprised the alien beings bent on worldwide disaster.
Bantinos, Criss Sallis, Proogg and Jimmy Sherman would launch the initial attack.
The assault would distract from the true strike: Lars Ember’s magma blasts, coupled with Elena Divine’s fiery spells.
Further recon had discovered a device the aliens had implanted in the Earth.
Its energy potential measured off the charts.
Enough to disable the Earth's magnetic field, causing global extinction.
Lars and Elena would be the ones to destroy it, via the massive powers each wielded.
The four members in the first charge would employ his or her own specific talents:
Bantinos caressed the Sword de la Vasquay, its precise edge ready to rend alien flesh;
Criss Sallis gripped her battle staff, planning to swoop and strike from above;
Jimmy Sherman, yet to blow his whistle, prepped a saddle built to adapt to any creature;
Proogg grunted, yawned and rested his club upon his shoulder.
They had all heard, from Bantinos, descriptions of what they’d face:
Thrashing clusters of vines wielding yellow tubers like truncheons;
Shambling husks on arachnid legs teeming with green thorns;
Blobby red beasts scuttling on cilia, eyes and tentacles snapping furiously.
It welcomed any creatures who abided its conditions; it allowed all who endured its demands.
This included the six heroes who represented the QCP.
It also comprised the alien beings bent on worldwide disaster.
Bantinos, Criss Sallis, Proogg and Jimmy Sherman would launch the initial attack.
The assault would distract from the true strike: Lars Ember’s magma blasts, coupled with Elena Divine’s fiery spells.
Further recon had discovered a device the aliens had implanted in the Earth.
Its energy potential measured off the charts.
Enough to disable the Earth's magnetic field, causing global extinction.
Lars and Elena would be the ones to destroy it, via the massive powers each wielded.
The four members in the first charge would employ his or her own specific talents:
Bantinos caressed the Sword de la Vasquay, its precise edge ready to rend alien flesh;
Criss Sallis gripped her battle staff, planning to swoop and strike from above;
Jimmy Sherman, yet to blow his whistle, prepped a saddle built to adapt to any creature;
Proogg grunted, yawned and rested his club upon his shoulder.
They had all heard, from Bantinos, descriptions of what they’d face:
Thrashing clusters of vines wielding yellow tubers like truncheons;
Shambling husks on arachnid legs teeming with green thorns;
Blobby red beasts scuttling on cilia, eyes and tentacles snapping furiously.
JIMMY: I hope we're up to the task. The world’s counting on us.
ELENA: Do not dwell in dark thoughts. We will triumph. Blow your whistle, Jimmy.
JIMMY: Really? Now?
ELENA: The time has come.
TWEEEEEEET!
When Jimmy sounds the magic whistle, there’s always a few moments of waiting.
Five seconds or so, until an entity begins appearing out of nowhere.
It comes into view and soon you are staring at a mythological beast you never dreamed you see.
Sometimes they’re fearsome, vicious things, and it’s scary, because you wonder if they will obey the boy who called them.
And yet they always do.
They always do.
Overhead came the sight of bright feathers and blazing red skin.
A serpent ten feet long, two feet thick, gliding through the air.
The brilliant snake flew without wings, its eyes curious as it landed before Jimmy.
BANTINOS: I know this creature … Quazextal. You’ve summoned the Quazextal of myth!
ELENA: Do not dwell in dark thoughts. We will triumph. Blow your whistle, Jimmy.
JIMMY: Really? Now?
ELENA: The time has come.
TWEEEEEEET!
When Jimmy sounds the magic whistle, there’s always a few moments of waiting.
Five seconds or so, until an entity begins appearing out of nowhere.
It comes into view and soon you are staring at a mythological beast you never dreamed you see.
Sometimes they’re fearsome, vicious things, and it’s scary, because you wonder if they will obey the boy who called them.
And yet they always do.
They always do.
Overhead came the sight of bright feathers and blazing red skin.
A serpent ten feet long, two feet thick, gliding through the air.
The brilliant snake flew without wings, its eyes curious as it landed before Jimmy.
BANTINOS: I know this creature … Quazextal. You’ve summoned the Quazextal of myth!
JIMMY: Brave one, I am grateful for your arrival. You are the Quazextal; born of sun, kissed by fire. Will you aid me this day?
The creature’s forked tongue flickered at the greeting.
The serpent twisted into a circle, spun slowly in the grass, uncurled itself and faced Jimmy.
There was no deeper communication than this.
Yet all could tell that it now acted in Jimmy’s service.
LARS: I do not know this animal. A flying snake?
JIMMY: It has been part of South American folklore for five-thousand years. Believed to be a descendant of the sun, put here to devour the wicked.
LARS: That's just what we need.
JIMMY: Yet it is also seen as a helper: to the poor, the troubled, the desperate.
LARS: A helper?
JIMMY: Find a feather on the ground and offer it to the breeze; Quazextal may appear in your dreams. In the morning you’ll have a gold coin in your satchel.
CRISS: I’m always impressed with your knowledge of the creatures who arrive.
JIMMY: Someone told me once, ‘Preparation is the key to magic.’ Hmm, if only I remembered who.
ELENA: She sounds like a wise and clever teacher.
JIMMY: Well, she has a lot of rules, but I know she cares.
ELENA: You make her proud, more than you’ll ever realize. You have progressed to –
CRISS: Proogg, no! Don’t!
Quazextal darted to one side, just eluding the club pounding down.
The snake rose stiff, flashing razor-sharp rows of teeth.
The creature’s forked tongue flickered at the greeting.
The serpent twisted into a circle, spun slowly in the grass, uncurled itself and faced Jimmy.
There was no deeper communication than this.
Yet all could tell that it now acted in Jimmy’s service.
LARS: I do not know this animal. A flying snake?
JIMMY: It has been part of South American folklore for five-thousand years. Believed to be a descendant of the sun, put here to devour the wicked.
LARS: That's just what we need.
JIMMY: Yet it is also seen as a helper: to the poor, the troubled, the desperate.
LARS: A helper?
JIMMY: Find a feather on the ground and offer it to the breeze; Quazextal may appear in your dreams. In the morning you’ll have a gold coin in your satchel.
CRISS: I’m always impressed with your knowledge of the creatures who arrive.
JIMMY: Someone told me once, ‘Preparation is the key to magic.’ Hmm, if only I remembered who.
ELENA: She sounds like a wise and clever teacher.
JIMMY: Well, she has a lot of rules, but I know she cares.
ELENA: You make her proud, more than you’ll ever realize. You have progressed to –
CRISS: Proogg, no! Don’t!
Quazextal darted to one side, just eluding the club pounding down.
The snake rose stiff, flashing razor-sharp rows of teeth.
PROOGG: Proogg kill snake! Me kill, me kill!
JIMMY: Please listen, noble Quazextal. This is a mistake. I apologize. He is confused.
CRISS: The snake is our friend, Proogg. Jimmy called it to help.
JIMMY: All blame is mine, Quazextal, for not making sure he knew your proud and glorious legacy. Forgive me.
The snake’s puffed feathers returned to a flattened state.
The fabled reptile resumed its relaxed posture.
JIMMY: Thank you, benevolent one. Your mercy is even greater than your swiftness.
LARS: You know, I keep saying, ‘Why a caveman on the team?’ But no one ever listens. Never.
JIMMY: Quazextal, you have spared his life, now will you allow him to approach you? I wish him to teach of your legend.
Jimmy and Criss Sallis accompanied Proogg forward.
JIMMY: See how pretty the feathers are? Just be gentle, go slow. Pet it nice.
JIMMY: Please listen, noble Quazextal. This is a mistake. I apologize. He is confused.
CRISS: The snake is our friend, Proogg. Jimmy called it to help.
JIMMY: All blame is mine, Quazextal, for not making sure he knew your proud and glorious legacy. Forgive me.
The snake’s puffed feathers returned to a flattened state.
The fabled reptile resumed its relaxed posture.
JIMMY: Thank you, benevolent one. Your mercy is even greater than your swiftness.
LARS: You know, I keep saying, ‘Why a caveman on the team?’ But no one ever listens. Never.
JIMMY: Quazextal, you have spared his life, now will you allow him to approach you? I wish him to teach of your legend.
Jimmy and Criss Sallis accompanied Proogg forward.
JIMMY: See how pretty the feathers are? Just be gentle, go slow. Pet it nice.
PROOGG: Snake … like bird! This snake like bird. Me no try to smash.
CRISS: Nice job, Jim. I was just about to fly Proogg out of here.
JIMMY: The credit goes to Quazextal. I’m just glad … glad it worked out.
ELENA: I suggest we get moving. Prepare yourselves mentally for the hardships ahead. The fury of war soon howls.
With the final member of the group in place, they proceeded toward the alien encampment.
The six heroes, along with the mythological beast, faced a battle that would test them all.
CRISS: Nice job, Jim. I was just about to fly Proogg out of here.
JIMMY: The credit goes to Quazextal. I’m just glad … glad it worked out.
ELENA: I suggest we get moving. Prepare yourselves mentally for the hardships ahead. The fury of war soon howls.
With the final member of the group in place, they proceeded toward the alien encampment.
The six heroes, along with the mythological beast, faced a battle that would test them all.