Ghosts Of Auroa

18. Meeting a Ghost

After fleeing from the battle between the Red Army and some humans, Staurolite and the Pearls are wandering in the forest together. Staurolite is with Beige Pearl in the front of the group to help guide them and alert them.

Grey Spinel: "These trees...they're everywhere. I don't understand what their purpose is."

Staurolite: "Humans require a gas called oxygen, which they inhale through their sense sponges to breathe and thrive. These trees produce that gas."

They continue moving through the forest and they keep their vision spheres peeled open in case any threat comes to harm them.

Switching perspectives...

Ryder is now in a chopper with the other Ghosts flying to another island. They're still on the Maunga Nui Island but they're heading to the other island of Darkwood Island. Sillimanite is on board again but this time, Topaz joins in. Then, Jamie spots something on teh ground, something colorful.

Jamie: "What's that?"

Ryder looks down and Sillimanite sees it too. Sillimanite uses her camera to zoom in and she sees a group of women with pointy noses running with a gem with revealing cothes.

Sillimanite: "Gems. They're Pearls and a Staurolite."

Ryder: "Possible on Red Diamond's side. Come on."

He flies the chopper down and lands it somewhere in the forest. Everyone gets out and Ryder is ahead of the group. They walk deeper into the forests closer to the gems' location. They hear the footsteps getting louder, indicating that they're getting closer to the gems. Then, they spot the gems and they stop and aim halberds, spears, swords, hammers and daggers at the Ghosts.

???: "Human!"

Ryder: "Stand down! STAND DOWN!"

The Ghosts quickly aim their guns at the gems and some of the gems with pointy noses and slim bodies back up while the brown and blue one stands her ground with a sword and shield.

???: "Who are you human? You don't look like the ones I normally see roaming the island and other parts of the archipelago. Perhaps you're spies of theirs? And I see you have 2 gems with you. Who do you serve?"

Ryder: "I don't know what you're talking about. But I know Red Diamond wants my head, and you will not take it!"

He makes them flinch by moving forward a bit and turning off the safety mode on his rifle. Then, Ryder notices something on the gem's wrist. His dogtags.

Ryder: "Wait...that's my dogtags."

???: "Just take these, human and leave."

She tosses them onto the ground in front of Ryder who lowers his rifle and the others do the same. He picks them up and puts them around his neck. Then he realises something.

Ryder: "Wait a minute...Red Diamond stole my- You're not with her."

The gems in front of the group lower their weapons or raise them and the gem lowers her sword and shield.

???: "Never. These Pearls were her prisoners. And you don't seem to be with...wait. I just remembered. She hates organics- wait, who are you?"

Ryder: "Ryder Sakura Kajika. But you can call me Ryder, or Grey Ghost."

Staurolite: "Staurolite. This is Beige Pearl and Brown Pearl and the rest are Pearls but their colours are what gives them their names. And I heard you say Ghost. You're the ones that Red Diamond are talking about."

Jamie: "She's been talking about us? Don't tell me she wants us dead."

Ryder: "Jamie. She probably does after what I did. I tried making her fear us."

Then they hear a loud noise. Tido looks up and spots an Azraël drone flying. The gems see it and look at it in confusion.

Tido: "Boss, Azraël in the air!"

Ryder: "DOWN!"

The Ghosts get down and cover themselves in dirt and mud while Ryder shoves the gems onto the ground and Topaz is dragged onto the ground by Jamie who helps covers him in mud and dirt. Ryder quickly grabs a large pile of leaves and tosses them onto the Pearls and Staurolite, covering them and Ryder prones and covers himself in dirt and mud next to the gems.

Ryder: "Whatever you do, don't move."

Staurolite: "Why? What is that thing?"

Ryder: "Azraël drone. If it spots any of us, we're screwed. All of us."

The drone flies away from the area and it's now out of sight. Everyone gets up and it starts raining. The Pearls look around the sky in awe as they've never seen rain before.

Light Blue Pearl: "What is...this?"

Ryder: "It's called rain. It's when water falls from the clouds in the sky, it's used to help plants grow. Oh, and we should get moving, we're heading on a mission. And I'm sure you gems can put up a tough fight.

Staurolite: "We can indeed. If your mission is risky. We are happy to assist you."

Ryder: "Come along. Ghosts! With me!"

They follow him to the chopper and they get in and the Pearls step into the helicopter and look around in it and Staurolite chooses to sit with the Pearls and the Ghosts.

Staurolite: "What is this thing?"

Ryder: "A helicopter. A vehicle which can fly, now hold on tight."

Ryder starts it up and the gems in the helicopter hold on tight as they are flying in the air and heading to the Ghost's destination, Darkwood Island.

To be continued...