[The Brummies!] HQ…
“Tsk... You broke the damn navigator incog!” - "Lord" Krinj
Incognito silently takes the navigator and walks off.
“Gonna go see scratch.” Incognito says, waving.
“Bring ‘im ‘ere!” A voice orders, riddled with static.
“Sir!” A gangster replies.
A group of gangsters lug in Bogdan’s now partially healed body.
He sits. Still somewhat dismembered. Barely conscious.
“The hell do you guys want…” Bogdan mutters.
“Karaharaharahra!” The man laughs.
He continues, “This is how this is gonna go. You're gonna do as I say or… The entirety of the Chamomile District is dead! Karaharahara!”
“Coward. You can't even show yourself.” Bogdan replies
A device transmitting audio is sat atop a grandiose chair. His voice is being transmitted by it.
A gangster heaves over a clunky old fashioned telephone.
“This is what you used to communicate with Vostok correct?” The man in the device says.
“How did you find this..!” Bogdan says, stiff with shock.
“Imma need you to send them a message.”
Vostokian Headquarters - Voskhod, Joint Capital City of Rodina and Vostok
“Good grief… Another attack. I’ll definitely be sending some captains down.” General Sofia says.
A first-class soldier runs in in haste
“General! General! Bogdan has confirmed his safety! He said we shouldn’t worry and no help is needed!”
General Sofia sinks into her seat in relief.
“What’s going on with you… Bogdan…” She ponders.
The Maple District of Siropia
*
Back at the Farmhouse…
Lando is pacing around trying to think of a way to repair the faulty navigator.
Kenzo is sitting on the floor, meditating in the corner.
Manya is sitting down on the couch, impatiently tapping his foot.
“That’s it lemme see the thing!” Manya says, getting up.
He snatches it out of Lando’s hand
“Manya give that back you’ll make it worse!” Lando says, snatching it back.
It falls on the floor, breaking open and revealing the interior.
“Oh shit…” they say simultaneously.
Kenzo opens one eyes to see what happened.
“Wait. What’s that?” Manya points.
Writing is engraved on the inside of one of the plastic shells.
Lando picks it up.
He reads, “Busted Navigator? Visit Scratch in the Harebell District.”
“Finally! Something to do!!” Manya shouts, both arms in the air.
“Ugggh another trek?” Lando sighs.
“...I need booze.” Kenzo says.
The trio leave, making their way to the Harebell district of Shuttburg.
Hours of walking in the freezing snow later…
"Arriving at The Harebell District, Property of Shuttburg." A robotic voice says as the navigator buzzes once more.
The Harebell district, surrounded by a thick forest much like the Maple district of Siropia. However, unlike the maple district, the Harebell district produces and sends a variety of forest products to Heaven such as pulp, paper, paperboard, sawn wood amongst many others.
“I see it” Manya shouts, running off into the district.
“We’re not there yet Manya!” Lando shouts.
He’s already long gone. Kenzo shakes his head.
“We’ll find him after. Let’s not waste anymore time.” Kenzo says.
Following the navigator, Kenzo and Lando arrive at a humble, somewhat dilapidated cabin. Slowly, carefully, Lando approaches the door.
Knock, knock knock…
Lando rhythmically knocks three times on the door as the frigid air bites his reddened nose.
The door flings open.
“Whhaaaat?!” A grumpy old man shouts.
Peeking into his cabin, an array of contractions are littered throughout the cramped interior. Strange techy looking goggles sit on his head.
“I’m busy. Goodbye!” he says, slamming the door shut.
Elsewhere in the Outer City…
“Wooah” Manya says, fascinated by the bustling culture of the Harebell district.
A smell tickles his nose. Meatballs.
“What’s that!?” Manya shouts running into the Pistil, towards the smell.
Bump!
Bumping into a 9 foot frame, a strange man towers above him.
“Do I know you..?” An unsettling familiarity lingers in the air.
“You… Why are you here…” he utters.
He places his hand on Manya’s shoulder.
He begins to chant, “『 Up in F- “
Manya darts away, sensing the murderous intent laced in the atmosphere.
“Clever boy…” he says, walking backwards as disappears into the crowd.
“Get back here!” Manya shouts, weaving his way back into the crowd to find him.
Suddenly, the air shifts.
Silence…
“『 Up in Flames 』”
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
The pistil is consumed in an explosion. Hundreds of people erupt into a violent fiery blast.
Simultaneously, back at the old man’s cabin…
After minutes of nonstop knocking, it’s clear he won’t answer.
“Shall we just break in and force him to help us?” Kenzo asks.
“No! You gotta respect your elders!” Lando exclaims.
“We don’t have time for this… Bogdan is-”
“I know…” Lando agrees.
The door suddenly opens again.
“You guys know Bogdan?”
“We do!” Lando says, giving a thumbs up.
Kenzo affirms with a polite nod.
“Come in.” He says as he walks into his cabin.
He continues, Names Scratch. Forgive my prior impatience. Those darn Abara brothers. Tsk… They made me the damn maintenance guy for their stupid navigator thing without asking me.”
He walks over to a work bench and starts messing with things.
“You have no clue how many people come here expecting me to repair their things.”
He pours himself a glass of orange juice.
“Lemme see it” he says, holding out his hand.
Lando politely places it in his palm.
“That’s a real mess you got here. Should only take a few minutes.”
He takes it over to his work bench and begins smacking things together, screwing and unscrewing different things.
“So… How do you know Bogdan?”
Lando says, “We met his brother on Para Island. We came here to send him a message but… He’s been kidnapped now.”
“Pffffffffffffft!!!” Scratch spits out his juice and drops the navigator on the bench.
“Careful! That Navigator has his location saved on it!” Lando shouts.
“Ahh so that’s why you need this fixed… Let me guess, the brummies.”
“Yeah… How did you know?”
“They’ve come here to recruit me a few times. They’re the only prominent gang in Sepentria so… Either them or Rodina I guess. And you’re sure you’ll find them with this?”
“Well.. Probably?”
“Probably huh… I hope you kids know what you’re getting into.”
He finishes up.
“This should work now-”
Suddenly the ground convulses beneath them. A rumble echoes from the Pistil.
~ END ~
