Dododex

ARK: Survival Evolved & Ascended Companion

Tales of Pandora

Origins of Salizar: chapter 13 ~starlit battleground~

The gang made their way to the floating isle, but some in the group were growing suspicious. “I think we’re being followed.” Killion said. They turned around and scanned the woods behind them, “come on out Salizar, we know you’re here.” Ryker called out. No response, “no point in hiding we know you are out there!” Ras shouted. Still no reply. “Killion, stay behind and torch the forest, smoke him out.” Ryker commanded. “Yes sir…” Killion said enthusiastically.

Salizar didn’t hear What Ryker said, he was sitting on a branch aimed away from them out of their view. Suddenly he heard the hissing of flames then the crackle of leaves burning up, he smelled the smoke and ash fill the air. “Time to go.” He said to himself, he built up courage to move and jumped to another branch, he could see Killion now, but he was too busy starting a forest fire to see Salizar. he made his move, he jumped and swung through the canopy until he reached the edge of the crater, a rough rocky path led down the steep walls of the great sea lake, he continued cautiously, he knew the gang would be close ahead and Killion would soon follow. He wanted to wait for Killion but the fire spread to the trees on the edge of the cliff, he had to make his move now. He abandoned the path and climbed down the rock wall slowly, he could see the other creatures down below, looking impatient, clearly Killion was having too much fun burning the forest. Just then Killion came into view, he quickly trekked down to his group, Ryker placed the keys in the terminal and the door opened, they entered the cave. Salizar was about to follow, but just then he heard shouting, “The sound came from down there!” Shouted Agent Fox. The taskforce was here, they must’ve saw the fire and came to investigate. “The door it’s open! Should we wait for backup?” Said Agent Raptor. “No time, it’s already closing.” Agent Fox replied. The taskforce marched down the rocky path and entered the cave. “Anyone else?!” Salizar whispered irritably. But no one else came, so he climbed down all the way, the door was slowly closing and it was almost shut, so much that a human probably couldn’t have fit, but a mesopithicus could. He slipped through the crack and the door closed behind him, nobody was in sight, both groups must have gone on ahead, so he followed.

Rykers gang made quick work of the caves defenses, and they used the transmitter to teleport up to the starlit sanctuary, the taskforce was close behind but they didn’t know how the transmitter worked so it took longer, they finally figured it out and transmatted as well. Salizar was the last to reach the teleporter. “Perhaps I should wait for them to fight it out,” he thought aloud, “but then I can’t watch, oh well.” He transported himself.

He entered the sanctuary, but the taskforce was still there, they were shocked to see what was there, Salizar was too but Ryker had told him about all of this so he was less so. “The arenas, they’re fake?” Agent Raptor said. “I think all of it is..” Agent Fox said. “Over here!” Another Agent said, “look, it’s earth. It shows it dying, all the plantlife gone.” He said. “Could this have truly happened? Is Pandora fake?” Agent Raptor said. “It’s just like the Matrix..” Agent Fox said. Salizar was able to shuffle out of sight without being noticed, it took a while but the humans continued to go down the hall. They moved slowly, looking at all of the strange revelations, until they heard Ryker roar, “what’s that?” Agent Fox asked. “We should investigate, come on men!” Agent Raptor said. They started to run through the halls. “Finally” Salizar whispered exasperatedly.

When they reached the control room’s massive door it was already opened, they looked in to see Ryker’s gang, finishing off the overseer and its enforcers. “What the-” Agent Raptor said. “What do we do Ma’m?” One of the Agents asked Fox. Agent Fox thought for a while, they shouldn’t have ever come here, how were they to escape now. Just then Ras spotted them, “Oi! Who’s that?” He shouted, the Agents only heard a roar but the rest of the gang understood and turned to look at the door. “Humans, you try to escape them but they always persist.” Ryker said wearily. “Get rid of them.” He said. Killion, Asher, and Ras rushed towards the humans, who mostly ran, only to get a knife in their throat at the hands of Salizar. “You!” Agent Fox shouted at the sight of him. That was her last word though, for Asher caught up to them. “It’s him! The mesopithicus!” Ras shouted. “Looks like Killion can’t finish a simple task as usual.” Asher said. “I’ll get him this time…” Killion said, he lunged at Salizar who barely, dodged. He jumped onto Asher’s leg and she flung him off, he got launched off directly onto Ras’s back, who ran around in circles trying to shake him off, finally with a well aimed fireball, Killion blasted Salizar off of Ras he landed on the ground, where he was then firmly stepped on by Ryker, “going somewhere Salizar?” Ryker asked mooching concern. Salizar could barely breathe under the pressure of Ryker’s heel, “I could kill you right now you know,” he pressed down a bit harder, “but instead I’ll give you a warning.” Ryker said “but boss!” Killion started. “SILENCE Killion! I will decide his fate!” Ryker snapped. “I will let you live, but don’t expect this kind of mercy again, if I ever see your weasley face again, I’ll end you here and there.” Ryker stepped off Salizar, “come, I’ve had enough of this place.” He said, turning to walk away. The others followed except Killion. “Your lucky Ryker’s here…” he said threateningly. “Killion!” Ryker called. Killion reluctantly turned away from Salizar, who was too injured to move.