Alcath:  Off the Map (Full Story):  Written by Exodus, Original Story by Exodus  

Alcath was the capital of the kingdom of Grandulen, and a busy port town that 
had recovered since the tragedy that occurred nineteen years ago.  
The town was rebuilt and business was bustling as usual.  
Carlos Ruwin and his two sons had moved away some time ago, and only two of the 
original Freedom Force members were still around, James Rook and Andrew Gear.  
James had raised Ross on his own, and so it was undeniable that Ross would show 
interest in becoming a knight, recently, he trained with his father every day, 
preparing for a day they hoped would never come, a day in which knights were 
needed to protect kingdom leaders.  
That day had happened and finished too soon for James to make a difference, 
instead, he trained extra hard with Ross, his body was getting old and Ross was 
old enough to make a difference.  
Ross had brown hair and three large curled strands that stuck out, he wore a 
blue headband, a yellow scarf, silver armour, blue and bronze shoulder pads, a 
yellow belt, blue trousers and brown boots.  
Andrew had been depressed for several years after his wife’s death, the Euridium 
Crystals had been thrown away in a fit of rage, and Andrew set aside the 
creations that absolutely needed them, because he kept on thinking of Shirley, 
and how those crystals cost her her life.  
He had returned to the ranks of chief scientist, but not for a group, but for a 
simple lab that was built when Alcath was undergoing repairs.  
Kyle, his son, was glad his father would create again, he had learned to cope 
without a mother, and was there for his younger sibling David, or Dave’ as 
everyone called him, Kyle was simply known as ‘Gear’ around Alcath.  
Kyle and Dave followed their father, and while Kyle studied to be just as smart 
as his father, Dave went into the field of mechanics.  
He had never been told the real reason for his mother’s death, because he might 
feel he was responsible.  
Kyle’s hair was still purple, spiky and stuck out over his head, and was held by 
a thin blue headband, but he now wore a pale green smart shirt, a black coloured 
belt, blue trousers and brown shoes.  
Dave’s hair was brown and spiky, though he wore a large blue baseball cap 
backwards to cover it, he also had a white shirt and blue trousers, though he 
had a few patches covering old tears and cuts, he wore white trainers and 
usually carried around a small pack of tools.  

But now the town would face another tragedy, one that couldn’t be averted like 
the last.  
Iyaxxl wanted the Freedom Force members dead, and this town above all others to 
be destroyed.  
It didn’t take long to organise...  

Snide burst into Tiffany’s Salon, two people were there, Tiffany, the owner, a 
beautiful lady with green hair that had assisted Freedom Force in the past 
battle of Alcath, and her husband, Walter, a nervous cook that took a lot to be 
brave, and usually wore a yellow uniform and hat.  
“Who... are you?!” stuttered Tiffany.  
Snide smiled and drew his gun, “My name is Snide, and you... are dead!...”  

The empire quickly stormed in with their best warriors:  Snide, Krytus, Brutor 
and Helena, who had quickly reached the same status as Krytus.  
About two hundred troopers were brought in to guarantee the victory.  

James was in the residential district with Andrew and his son.  
“James, I’m going to retrieve the other scientists, you’re going to challenge 
their leader, aren’t you?” said Andrew concerned.  
“I have to.” said James in his usual stern manner, “The recent death of the 
kingdom’s leader has thrown the castle into panic, and the majority of soldiers 
have been alerted to similar attacks around the kingdom, leaving no one but us 
to defend the town.  I must protect those that can’t defend themselves, and 
defeating the leader of these soldiers might end things quickly.”  
“Then good luck to you, please make sure Kyle, Charlene, Dave, Ryan and Mary get 
on the boat for me, I promised their parents I’d look out for them...”  
“I will.”  
Andrew ran off towards the lab on the hill.  
“Now Ross.  Give this map to Captain Mac.  He’ll take you to a secret base 
planned for an occasion like this.” said James, handing over a tattered scroll.  
“But what about you?” asked a concerned Ross.  
“I’ve taught you everything I can.  You and young Gear must bring together those 
who wish to fight this new evil, and forge a resistance.”  
“Dad, I can’t do this without you.”  
“No Son, you can, I won’t always be around, and I must fulfil my duties as a 
town protector.  Just make sure anyone left gets on the boat.” said James, 
turning away and closing his gold helmet.  
“I want to help you...” pleaded Ross, but his father got angry.  
“Get going! NOW!”  
Ross stared at him, aware that he was shouting at him for his own good, and then 
ran.  
Ross couldn’t help but feel as if his father knew he wasn’t coming back...  

Helena and Krytus were at the port.  
Krytus stabbed a villager while Helena held a large energy cannon.  
“Okay, I’ve got my target, but I don’t trust this device.” moaned Helena.  
“Jus’ use it.  Morn wants it tested before ‘e starts buildin’ ‘is so-called 
invincible robots.” explained Krytus, who hadn’t had so much fun since... the 
attack on Kylandia Castle not so long ago.  
She fired the device and an energy blast burst out, but hot particles were blown 
by the wind and Helena was burned.  
“Arrrrgh! My face! My beautiful face! Its burning!...  I knew I shouldn’t have 
trusted that little freak!” Helena screamed, throwing the cannon down and 
holding her face, her cheeks were slightly seared now.  
“But ‘elena, it worked, jus’ look at the lab!”  
Up on the hill, the lab was in flames, fire easily spread through their many 
chemicals and helped to explode the entire building.  
Krytus and Helena watched the pure destruction, and then turned towards the 
castle...  

Meanwhile, James approached Brutor, who was directing soldiers.  
“So its true, someone betrayed King Edward...  Are you the leader of this army?” 
he ordered.  
“That Ah am, ye must be the town protector, James Rook.” said Brutor 
confidently.  
“I will stop you.” said James.  
“Once people like ye, who oppose us, are gone, this kingdom, and all the others, 
will bow down tae Iyaxxl.  But now that ye know this, Ah can’t let ye live.”  
They clashed their weapons together, Brutor, a large knife, and James, a small 
sword.  
They slid the weapons across and pulled away, Brutor swooped his knife upwards 
in an uppercut stance but James blocked it and pushed Brutor to the floor.  
James struck down but Brutor blocked the hit, surely he was at a disadvantage 
fighting on his knees.  
But Brutor had a hand free while James used both to hold his sword.  
Brutor reached towards his belt and drew a second knife, which with a quick 
flick, made its way into James’ chest, he collapsed soon afterwards.  
Brutor wasn’t finished and kicked James over so that he’d drop his weapon, he 
then plunged a knife through the eye hole of James’ helmet.  
“Eeeyyyaaaaaa!!!” he screamed.  
“Ha ha ha!” laughed Brutor openly.  

The scream pierced through the ears of many, especially Ross’.  
“... No...  Dad!” screamed Ross, leaping out of the boat and running towards the 
residential area.  
“Ross! Don’t!” warned Gear, but Ross was long gone before long.  

“No...” muttered Ross, overlooking his father’s body, “You did this!” he shouted 
at the man walking away.  
“Obviously the man was important tae ye, ye’ll be nae challenge.” laughed 
Brutor.  
“Don’t walk away from me! You’ll pay!”  
Ross drew a short sword and charged towards Brutor, he turned around too late 
and Ross dragged the blade across Brutor’s chest, so fast and hard that it 
pierced through and cut into his skin, Brutor backed away in time so that Ross 
didn’t cut into his organs.  
“Ughhh!” shouted Brutor, holding his chest, it wouldn’t kill him, but it would 
leave a scar, “Ye stupid lad! Ye had yir chance tae live!”  
He quickly threw a small knife which stuck into Ross’ right arm.  
As he tried to pull it out, Brutor was on top of him and quickly sliced through 
his other arm...  
“Aaaaaarrrrggghhh!!!” screamed Ross.  
A dismembered arm dropped to the floor and leaked, Ross clutched his shoulder 
and breathed heavily, trying to hold on, but the shock and blood loss caused him 
to collapse.  
“That’s what ye get fer scarring me.  Nae one messes wit’ Brutor an’ lives!” 
shouted Brutor, approaching Ross.  
A flash of gems flew by Brutor’s face and blinded him for a moment, giving Gear 
the chance to roundhouse kick him.  
Ryan Stella, a spiky black haired boy in purple and silver armour ended his 
spell and helped to carry Ross, along with Mary Hein, a short spiky blonde with 
a red bow in her hair, wearing a black dress, gloves and boots, she used a 
healing spell to help ease Ross’ pain.  
Gear wrapped the arm in a cloth, and the four returned to the boat, but barely, 
they had to make a huge leap as the boat left the port.  
“That was as long as I could stay!” shouted Captain Mac, in his usual pirate 
accent.  
“That’s all the people we’re going to get, Mac.  Go! Go! Go!” shouted Gear.  

The ship pulled out and left the port before the troopers could get on board.  
“We made it.” sighed Mac, adjusting his black hat and suit similar to a 
pirate’s.  
“This isn’t over!” screamed Brutor raising a knife, “Ye tell that lad that he is 
dead! Dead! Dead! Dead!!!...”  

Later, the environment on the boat was depressing.  
“Its so gloomy...” stated Mac without really thinking.  
“A lot of lives were lost, everyone in Alcath were all so close, its hard to 
accept that so many have died...” explained Gear sadly, “Charlene.  Where are 
your folks?” he asked, addressing the girl that had just approached the wheel.  
A green haired girl in a sleeveless pink dress (that revealed her shoulders), a 
pale blue skirt and pink sandals stepped up, her hair was tied back by a 
headband and a hairpiece.  
She sighed, “They’re both dead, a man named Snide shot them...  It was totally 
awful! They were, like, hiding me and then he, like, burst in...  I saw them 
die...”  
Charlene needed a shoulder to cry on and Gear willingly obliged.  
“Your mother was Tiffany, right?” asked Mac inquisitively.  
“Yes...  Did you know her?” sobbed Charlene.  
“Yes...  Yes I did.” he replied sadly.  
Gear waited until Charlene stopped sobbing, and went towards Ross and the 
others.  
“Mary, how’s Ross holding up?” he asked.  
“He’ll live, but he needs an operation to fix his arm quickly!” she replied.  
“Ryan, Mary, those powers of yours, they sure are useful...”  
“You didn’t know?” smiled Ryan.  
“We’re part Gaian.” added Mary.  
“You don’t think any different of us, do you?” asked Ryan upon seeing Gear’s 
astonished face.  
“Of course not, I think Ross is going to be very thankful of you...”  

Later on in the secret hideout, Gear was talking to a doctor that worked in 
Fawra, Doctor Lewis Zimmerman, the one who lost his parents in the previous 
Alcath tragedy, after his family died because of a lack of doctors, he decided 
to become one, and do what he could to save the lives of others, his mentor 
Doctor Heath had passed away some time ago, but Lewis had learnt everything he 
could and continued to run the hospital.  
Lewis wore a white doctor’s uniform and had little hair, he was practically 
bald, apart from a selection of hairs on the top of his head.  
Unfortunately, there weren’t many to save, the evil warriors had struck quickly 
and deadly, but the few survivors that had been transported here, were all 
saved.  
“Its a good thing you joined up with us Doctor Zimmerman.”  
“Please, call me Lewis.  Now, we’ve managed to stop Ross’ bleeding, but we 
couldn’t save his arm, god, he’s going to be so upset when he wakes...” said 
Lewis sadly.  
“Lewis, I have an idea that could help...” suggested Gear.  

Ross woke up later and was a little shocked, on his left shoulder was a metal 
ring and attached to it, a mechanical arm and hand.  
“What the hell?! What’s happened to me?!” he yelled, staring at the sharp claws 
on the hand with a disgusted expression.  
“Ross, you’re finally awake.” smiled Gear, but his expression soon changed.  
“Gear! Explain this!”  
“Ross, the damage to your arm was too much, we couldn’t save it.  This was the 
best I could do...  Its made of a new metal, and so, responds as quickly to your 
brain patterns as a real arm.  I might also be able to design some unique 
weapons for it.  Its all thanks to this nifty device my father left me.  Its 
called a Personal Access Demonstration Device, a P.A.D.D for short, what do you 
think?” said Gear trying to lighten the mood.  
In his hand was a flat cuboid device with ports at the sides and on the base, a 
small screen and a keyboard, it used to belong to Andrew, his father, but he had 
no use for it anymore...  
“I’m a freak...” moaned Ross, “... And its all Brutor’s fault! I’ll kill him!”  
“Ross!” shouted Gear, “Don’t you think blind rage has proved itself useless so 
far?! If you had just not lost sight of your father’s teachings, this might not 
have happened to you.  Promise me you’ll control this anger and not do anything 
rash!”  
“My father is dead!” yelled Ross.  
“And so is mine!” retorted Gear, there was a brief silence, “But you don’t see 
me going crazy.  I know everyone has different ways of dealing with loss, but 
your rage is going to get you killed! I will have my revenge, but that means 
bringing the people responsible for this to justice.  Our fathers wanted us to 
fight this evil and make them pay for their crimes, now will you help me do that 
instead?”  
“I’ll see how it goes...” grumbled Ross, “... But if I’m not satisfied, I’m 
doing things my way.”  
“Ross, My father ordered me to organise a special group of expert warriors to 
take on the invaders more often than the soldiers here, I’ll keep a place for 
you, but only if you learn to control your rage.  I’ll run you through the 
functions of your new arm after I talk to a new fighter...” said Gear leaving 
the room.  

“And you are?”  
“Ex mercenary, Rob’ Ruwin.” said the stranger, with a high pitched voice and 
strange accent.  
He wore silver, gold and bronze armour, and had short brown spiky hair and 
shades which were balanced above his eyes, “Ah wus formerly one o’ the Shinin’ 
Wonders, an’ this is mah brother Nicholas.  We’re from Fawra, in Scion, an’-”  
“Ahem.” said the younger boy, he wore some silver armour and had orange hair in 
a curtain style.  
“That’s a bad cough ya got there Nichol-”  
“Ah’d appreciate it if ya called me Nick...  ‘Roberto’-”  
“Shut up Nick...” argued Ruwin.  
“’Roberto’?” questioned Gear.  
“His real name, an’ he doesn’t like it much.” explained Nick.  
“Nick! You’re makin’ me look bad!” shouted Ruwin to his brother.  
“The name Ruwin is familiar, you’re not related to Carlos Ruwin by any chance?” 
questioned Gear.  
Ruwin and Nick looked at each other and grinned.  
“You’re his sons?” asked Gear, and was answered by a couple of confident nods.  
“My father worked with him... before he died.” mentioned Gear.  
“Drag.” said Ruwin, trying to be sympathetic.  
“I was told you had an idea that could help us?” questioned Gear.  
“Uh huh.  Firstly Ah’d like ta offer mah services ta yer cause.” said Ruwin.  
“You know we can’t afford to pay you at this point.” warned Gear.  
“Yeah yeah, Ah know, Ah’ve given up the mercenary work anyway.  Provided there’s 
cute gals ‘round here, Ah’m sorted.”  
“Riiight...” said Gear, a little suspicious of his intentions.  
“Mah other idea is that me, Nick an’ a lot o’ cute gals-”  
Nick elbowed him sharply as he mentioned the girls.  
“Whut, like you don’t wanna get hooked up wit’ a cutey?”  
“Ah won’t get the chance if this guy doesn’t take yer plan seriously.” said Nick 
annoyed.  
“Ah mean, myself, Nick and a group o’ others follow the invaders back to their 
hideout an’ set up a base near there.  Once Ah bug their headquarters, we could 
hook into broadcasts an’ meetin’s, an’ be there ta stop ‘em wherever they go.” 
explained Ruwin, amending the speech.  
“Its a good idea, and it would be a great help.  But its risky.” warned Gear.  
“But ya approve of it.” smiled Ruwin.  
“Well, yeah, but-”  
“Then we’ll take that risk.  Of course, Ah’ll wanna help you guys out once in a 
while.”  
“I’ll remember that.  Go downstairs and pick out some people to assist you.  
Good luck.” said Gear softly.  
“Pick out, he says.” grinned Ruwin, walking away.  
“You’d better not get too many gals, Ah’m watchin’ you!” argued his brother.  

“That means Ross, Ruwin and I are up for forming a lead group for the 
Resistance.” said Gear to himself, “But its not quite enough though, those 
invaders won’t stop at Alcath.  We need more people, people who aren’t happy 
with this new evil imposing its rule on our kingdom, and people with amazing 
skills or Gaian magic.  We’ve got a long way to go, but it’ll be worth it to 
bring those creeps to justice.”  

End  

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