The Chronicals of Heinrich

[Solivagus]

I'm sorry for using the board as a place to store my story as it is building but my computer is starting to have severe problems. Please send me comments on how it can be improved and I'll fix them into the story. I'll finish the story asap so that it can be finally be counted as done and hopefully worthy of staying. Gah, right now my intro talk is taking up as much as the story...

 

Picture a street. A man, tall and proud walks down it. Shoes sparkling, clothes neat, he radiates confidence and character. The sort of person you’re certain you can ask for direction for the post office without being sent to one 5 miles away instead of the one across the street. The sort of man that’s crying out to the world “I'm a hero! Trust me!” He is, in fact, the sort of person that many others would like to kick in the nether regions and see what he says.

 

Turn to the left. There, a beggar in the street. Filthy, dirty and unkempt, this is the sort of man you’d never kick just in case you catch something. Suddenly the beggar vanishes. The hero figure blinks. Very slowly he turns into the nearest pub, orders a large bottle of vodka and prepares to get totally soused. It just goes to show…

 

In the Void, a place where time space and even reality is meaningless seven shapes looked first at the image infront of them and then at the filthy man on the table.

 

"You daft bugger, you got the wrong one!"

 

"Well I don't see how it's my fault that you've got lousy aim I was just supplying the power and..."

 

"Sssh, he's waking up."

 

"What do we do with him?"

 

"Give him a bath?"

 

Six figures turned withering gazes upon the last speaker. He looked defensive, or at least as defensive as a shapeless being can look.

 

"Just a suggestion."

 

The beggar groaned.

 

"Urgh...who turned out the lights?"

 

There was an embarrased silence.

 

"Well you see there aren't any lights in the Void."

 

"The Void huh? Let me guess, there's a world that needs saving and I'm the only one who can do it?"

 

"How did you..."

 

"I read it in a book. Can I go now?"

 

"Look you arrogant little weasel..."

 

"Thousands of people will die if I don't help? The world will be rent assunder by storms of gigantic and monstrous proportions? Am I getting warm?"

 

"Yes, but..."

 

"Not interested."

 

The Seven stood in shocked silence.

 

"Um...you're supposed to say 'I'll do what I can'" One said. "It is kind of expected."

 

"Otherwise we'll obliterate you." Another said, rather smugly.

 

"Obliterate. Right. Look, incase you hadn't noticed I'm not exactly hero material. What was wrong with the other guy across the street?"

 

"He wasn't what we needed."

 

"His mind was wrong."

 

"Somebody missed."

 

"Look it's not my fault."

 

The Seven came to an embarrassed silence again. They were getting rather good at it.

 

“Alright, I’ll help. But I want it clear it’s only because I was threatened. I'm not having people thinking I'm a hero-got it?”

 

“You can’t talk to us like that!”

 

“We’re more advanced and powerful than you can imagine!”

 

“Then why can’t you solve the problem?”

 

“Well…Oh al-right!” One of the figures snapped. “Only because of the threat. Okay, Now for the easy part. One of us has to be in your head.”

 

“What?!”

 

“We have to have some way of controlling you.” The voice seemed to be trying to sound reasonable, although a certain strain seemed to be coming through.

 

“Controlling me. Right. And if I refuse…?”

 

“We’ll obliterate you.” One of them answered.

 

“Arrogant little git.” The beggar muttered under his breath. A small snort of laughter came from one of the figures, who then looked shocked.

 

“What the…?”

 

The other six gaped at him.

 

“You’ve got a shape!”

 

“I've got a shape?! What about you?” He growled irritably. They looked down at themselves in horror. Black robes with cowls now encased their essence, each of them standing six foot tall. They glared at the beggar.

 

“What have you done?!”

 

“And how did you do it?!”

 

The beggar looked smug. “That’s for threatening me. Now, unless you want me to form you into the shape of pigs hurry up and get this going!”

 

The figures took on a sulky expression, which quickly turned to scowls as they realised they had expressions to look sulky with. They let out a collective sigh, concentrated and then gazed fixedly into the beggars eyes. There was a pause.

 

“Well?” asked the beggar. “You done yet?”

 

The seven figures gritted their teeth. “Not quite, no.” The beggar was amused to see beads of sweat appearing on their faces. He certainly hadn’t caused those.

 

“How is he doing it?”

 

“How should I know, he’s dangerous, send him back at least.”

 

“No! I'm not going to be beaten by some filthy beggar!”

 

“You can’t get in, can you?”

 

“Shut up Heinrich.”

 

The beggar gaped. “How do you know my name?!”

 

“We know everything!” One of the figures snapped angrily.

 

“Except why you can’t get in.”

 

“If we couldn’t get in then we wouldn’t know your name would we.” The voice was showing signs of strain. “And stop pissing about with our voices!”

 

“Not my fault.”

 

“Of course it’s your fault! We never had anything but calm voices until you came here!”

 

“So what’s the problem?”

 

“How are you closing parts of yourself off?!”

 

“Read it in a book.”

 

“A book.” Now the voice sounded like it was coming from someone who was passed slightly peeved and into highly annoyed and ready to kill.

 

“Careful Fred.” One of the voices said, then looked shocked and glared at Heinrich.

 

“You’ve given us names!”

 

“Watch who you call Fred, George!”

 

“Sod this, send him out into the world and let him find things out on his own.” Snarled one of the figures now known as Mike. “Someone who’s read so much should have no problems.” The voice seemed to have taken on a slightly purring quality, as if he was eager to see how Heinrich would blunder in the world. Heinrich’s face went blank. There was no way these beings were going to scare him!

 

“If you need us just call.” Said George, almost in a sweet voice.

 

“Got to give him the prophecy Mike.”

 

“Shove the prophecy! Let him find out himself!”

 

“There was a shocked silence, then Mike grudgingly began to recite as six pairs of eyes glared at him.

 

“Seven Wards of ancient lore,

For earth's protection, wall and door.

And one High Judge to command the Law,

To wield the staff and guard the core.

 

Seven Words to name evils might,

To bind it's cruel, foul might.

And one pure Judge to wield the staff,

To bar the earth from evils sight.

 

Seven hells for failed faith,

For earth betrayers, man and wraith.

And one brave Judge to stem the tide,

To stop the evil calling foes to it's side.”

 

“Nice rhyme” Heinrich grinned up at them.

 

With a snarl from all seven of them they waved their arms and sent him out into the world.

 

“I can’t wait to see him fall on his face.” Fred muttered.

Edited October 28, 2003 by Solivagus