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  1. Friendly, he ain't
  2. Meet Mr. Lizard
  3. Down in the Dumps
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Printed from https://writing.com/main/interactive-story/item_id/1012646-Where-Worlds-Meet/cid/279643-Friendly-he-aint
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by Sage Author IconMail Icon
Rated: 18+ · Interactive · Action/Adventure · #1012646
A tale of survival on a strange world. Additions, Ratings, and Reviews Welcome
This choice: Approach the creature  •  Go Back...
Chapter #4

Friendly, he ain't

    by: Sage Author IconMail Icon
Amadeus, after only a few seconds thought decided to try and approach the creature. If he was indeed the target then finding out why the thing wanted him was a priority. Besides if the thing was evolved to exist in only the one grav that the planet had then he would be able to at least fight on its level. He was after all a trained soldier, and had taken on much bigger foes, though usually with backup waiting in the wings.

"Excuse me, would you happen to be looking for me?" he asked the creature as he climbed out of the derelict vehicle's remains. The creature, surprised by the new voice, jumped up onto one of the piles of chassises. The thing looked nothing if not like a cat waiting to pounce on a mouse that had suddenly emerged from its hole. Amadeus though recognized a fighter when he saw one, and knew that unlike the cat, this thing wasn't likely to give up if he ran back into his hole.

"Now, let's not be hasty here. I'm sure two gentlemen like ourselves can come to an accord without resorting to violence," he said, fingering his pistol. Hopefully the creature recognized the tiny thing as a weapon of immense power. If it didn't then Amadeus might actually have to fire the thing, with results he didn't think he could predict.

For a moment the creature eyed the weapon before grabbing something from the pile that Amadeus believed was called a hubcap, though this one was razor thing and looked almost as sharp as the creature's own claws. After a second of worrying that thing might throw the hubcap as a weapon Amadeus relaxed as the creature's attention seemed focused on the object, and he began to hope that maybe he hadn't been the object the thing sought at all.

Then without any sign or warning the creature threw the hubcap straight at Amadeus. Unable to react in time Amadeus believed he was dead for a moment, before observing that the projectile's flight path just barely intersected the spot where he stood. Before he could use that information though the human cried out in pain as the sharp disk bit into his hip, and then he felt the weight of his belt fall away.

About to go for the weapon that was still in the belt Amadeus was stopped when the lizard creature landed nearly on top of him, having used the spring like back legs to vault into the air, leaping a dozen meters high before coming down right on top of Amadeus. Rolling to one side to avoid a sweeping slash of the things poisoned claws Amadeus took the only immediate action that seemed appropriate and ran into the junkyard away from the belt and the creature.

His hope was that maybe the thing would try and use his weapon against him, kicking in the devices safeties which allowed only Amadeus himself to wield it giving a stunning shock to anyone else who dared try and raise it against anyone. Unfortunately either the creature knew about that particular defense or simply did not wish to wield the unknown weapon, bounding after Amadeus on all fours.

Knowing instantly that he could not outdistance the creature, who's top speed was almost twice his own even in the light planetary gravity, Amadeus knew he needed a new plan, and fast or he'd become a scratching post for the odd creature. Looking around provided him with dozens of ideas that ranged from using a car part as a weapon to trying to push a stack of cars over on the creature, but he doubted the thing would be hurt by anything Amadeus could wield directly, and that it wouldn't stay still long enough to get crushed.

Then out of the corner of his eye Amadeus glimpsed one of the larger stacks of derelicts and an idea formed in his head, though it would involve a bit of gymnastics that he wasn't sure he could pull off. Still with nothing else presenting itself Amadeus switched his course, and proved his guess about the creature's limited mobility while running on all fours. The thing had to almost stop to change direction, or it would literally topple head over heels in the direction it had been moving.

That fact against a non-sentient or even just a beast-type mindset would have given Amadeus the chance to get away by running in a zigzag pattern, but he doubted seriously that the creature would fall for such a trick, especially if Amadeus really was his target, a fact which seriously did not doubt now, but wasn't going to let go until the creature confirmed it himself.

Arriving at his target Amadeus leaped up in a manner similar to a cat, coiling his body like a spring before releasing every erg of his energy upward. The force of the leap carried Amadeus up a good five yards before he felt his momentum slacken and Amadeus grabbed one of the vehicles that made up the pile before him. Not resting for a second the human began to climb as fast as he could up the precariously rocking tower of metal, which seemed almost ready to tip over.

Sensing a trap the creature slid to a halt just out of range of the tower's fall. Arriving at the top Amadeus observed this fact with some consternation as his plan relied on the creature getting closer to the tower. Looking over the hood of the top derelict of the pile Amadeus stared down at the creature which stared back with bloodthirsty eyes, and he knew that if he fell off his perch the creature was likely to charge in an go for the quick kill.

That thought did not help when Amadeus suddenly found the ground under his feet titling, and looked back to find the vehicle he was standing on leaning forward towards the edge of the tower. Falling to his knees he tried to grasp the hood of transport, but found that the smooth metal of the hood provided no traction. Swearing profusely the human slipped those last few centimeters and in a mimic of his earlier dive fell to the ground below, though this time he landed on his butt rather than his face.

"Well, better than another face plant," he commented to himself, springing to his feet. Before him the creature sensed a chance to take down his prey, and rushed forward with reckless abandon. Amadeus, seeing the look in the things eyes, began to run away, but found his path blocked by the tower of derelicts that had moments ago been his salvation, but now spelled his doom. The creature, jaws wide and claws dripping poison rushed forward, and Amadeus turned to meet him. At that moment a new sound overtakes the dump. It is the sound of...

You have the following choices:

*Noteb*
1. various voices

2. scraping metal

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