Lucca's Desert Journey Chapter 2
Mirage on the Horizon
By The Game God
Lucca was hurled into the middle of a seemingly endless desert. She
stood up, put the Gate Key away and clipped her shaded lenses onto her
glasses. She wiped the sweat from her brow, ‘Well, I’m
here…’ she thought, ‘… wherever here is.’
Lucca took out her compass and headed north. After two hours of walking
in the stifling heat, Lucca looked up at the sun, “Oh man… I think
I’ve made a mistake.” she said before she passed out from the heat.
?????????????
The woman’s voice invaded Lucca’s mind as she slept, but the words
were lost in the heat. Lucca awoke in a dark room. She could
feel a cold cloth on her forehead. She felt around for her glasses,
but couldn’t find them. She heard a noise from across the room.
Lucca grabbed her gun and pointed it in the direction of the sound,
“Who’s there?!” Someone took the gun from Lucca’s
hand and gave her glasses. Lucca looked up to see the tall, dark man
in front of her, “Who are you… where am I?”
He smiled, “My name is Asaahn, and you are in my home. You passed
out in the desert. You are very lucky I found you when I did.”
He handed Lucca a glass of water, “Where are you from, Lucca?”
Lucca sipped the water, “Far away, you wouldn’t unde… hey,
how do you know my name?”
Asaahn sat down in a chair across from Lucca, “We’ve been waiting
for you.”
“Are you the one who’s been in my dreams?”
Asaahn shook his head, “No. I am merely a scientist, I don’t
dabble in the supernatural.”
Lucca stood up, “You know more than you’re telling me, Asaahn!”
He sighed, “Yes, but now is not the time to tell you… you need
rest.”
“The hell with rest!” she shouted as she moved towards Asaahn.
Asaahn helped Lucca to sit again, “You are not ready to help us, you
will need all your strength!”
As Asaahn turned to go, Lucca asked, “Asaahn, what is going on here?”
“You will find out soon enough.” Lucca laid back down and
drifted off to sleep, still haunted by the heat-warped voice in her head.
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Lucca woke up in Asaahn’s bed. She looked around, Asaahn was nowhere
to be seen. Lucca went outside to see a small desert town and the setting
sun on the horizon. “You’re awake…” Asaahn’s
voice said. Lucca turned to him. “… welcome, to Mirage,
the city on the dunes.”
“Am I ready now?” Lucca asked sarcastically.
Asaahn nodded, “Follow me.” Lucca and Asaahn walked through
the dusty desert town. Lucca noticed how worn down the people of Mirage
looked. Asaahn reached a small pyramid made of white stone. It
seemed out of place in the worn out city of Mirage. “This is the
Mirage Medium Sanctuary…” Asaahn said, “… you will find
your answers inside.”
Lucca entered the pyramid. Only bright, white candles in a circle lighted
the dark room inside. A dark, young woman sat in the center of the
circle, wrapped in a long, white cloak. “You have come, Lucca.”
The voice echoed around the room and in Lucca’s ears. It was the
voice she heard in her dreams, “It’s you! You’re the
one who has been speaking to me.” The woman looked up, her deep
brown eyes filled with a sad, kindness. She nodded and motioned for
Lucca to sit next to her. Lucca sat down across form the girl, “Who
are you?”
“I am called Ta-Kahjet.” she answered.
“How were you able to contact me?” Lucca asked.
“I am a psychic medium, Lucca. I know everything about you.
I know about how you and your friends saved the world from Lavos. I
know you can save us.”
“Save you from who?” Lucca asked.
Ta-Kahjet closed her eyes, “The Pharaohess.”
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Far from the sandy, wind-swept streets of Mirage, beyond the City of the
Dead, a mammoth pyramid towered over the desert sand. Deep inside the
pyramid, a dark woman sat on a cold, lapis stone throne. She was deep
in a trance state as deadly snakes writhed around her ankles. A massive
creature lumbered into the Pharaohess’ throne room.
She opened her eyes and smiled, “Karnak, what do you have to report?”
The beast bowed, “Our medium in Oasis has reported a premonition he
had. He said that Medium Ta-Kahjet has brought a warrior here to challenge
you.”
The Pharaohess smiled, “I know.”
“Should I bring this warrior to you?” Karnak asked.
A snake slithered up the Pharaohess’ leg and wrapped around her arm.
The Pharaohess smiled and petted the snake’s head, “No… bring
me the medium and the warrior will follow.” The sun set over the
sandy horizon as Karnak and an entire legion of the Pharaohess’
serpent-soldier headed for Mirage. Everything was proceeding as the
Pharaohess had foreseen.
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