Richard Alpert
original islander.
"If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old!"
Posts: 139
|
Post by Richard Alpert on Sept 8, 2008 20:46:40 GMT -5
He never got used to it. Never. Even if he lied and said he did. He never got used to the stomach-twisting, head-throbbing pain that traveling. He would have thought he would by now, after having done it so many times.
The Orchid was cold, that was the first thing he noticed. The air smelt like rain-water and dust, even from inside the chamber. A low hum started, first from what seemed down from the tips of his toes to the very core of his brain.
Faintly, Richard heard the sound of the doors hissing open, and he realised that he was on his knees. A loud rush of air made him wince and he, as if for the first time, felt not in control of his body. His vision was a mixture of dark spots and blurs. He instantly fell forward, his hands barely bracing his fall. Why had this been worse than before?
He felt his stomach shift, and he brought himself up to his knees, arms curling tightly around his stomach,before he threw up onto the dirty floor of the Orchid. Deep breaths were inhaled and exhaled from his lungs, and faintly he heard beeping coming from a machine.
And then breathing. Breathing that wasn't his own. Then he realised, quite suddenly, that he hadn't been alone.
Alex.
He turned quickly, ignoring the pounding in his chest and in his head, the stark white of the egg-shaped room shining back at him, and he saw Alex. All in one peice, good. Slowly, his body was becoming adjusted to simply being itself again. His head still spun, but he moved, pulling Alex out of the chamber and onto the floor.
"Alex?" he said, pressing a hand against her cheek. "Alex, I know you can hear me. Slow your breathing down. You're home now, just slow it down." He brought her hand up, pressing it against his chest. "Focus on my breathing, okay. Match it."
It was going to come soon. He lifted her up to sitting, bracing her so she wouldn't choke if she threw up. Faintly, he could hear the sound of thunder overhead.
|
|
|
Post by Alex Linus on Sept 9, 2008 5:52:32 GMT -5
She hadn't woken up the entire time, starting from when she had first passed out back at Mittelos. So of course, she had no idea what had happened. She had been having a very lovely dream, and then it felt as all the air was being pressed out of her lungs.
When the feeling stopped, her dream returned to normal, and then, she was in pain, feeling as though she were going to be sick. She was breathing heavily, nearly panting in her sleep state.
Alex?
She heard the voice from what sounded like far away, but she knew enough to tell it was Richard's. What had happened? He said she was home...so what did that mean? His apartment......or the Island?
When she felt his breathing under her hand, she attempted to follow, keeping her breaths steady as she tried to match the rhythm of his own lungs.
She suddenly took a deep gasp, bolting upright, her eyes snapping open. Her breathing increased again as her eyes scanned the dusty room, but when they fell on Richard, she tried to control it again, pressing a hand to her chest.
Ales looked at him with wide eyes, waiting to confirm her suspicion without words.
|
|
Richard Alpert
original islander.
"If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old!"
Posts: 139
|
Post by Richard Alpert on Sept 9, 2008 15:41:38 GMT -5
"I want the entrence FOUND and I want it NOW!"
Richard looked from wide-eyed Alex, to the ceiling of the Orchid...were they still trying to get into the Orchid? Of course, when he had left, some of the mercenaries had been moving closer to the Orchid. Of course.
It wouldn't take long to take care of the men, even if they had back up already. They may have been a good shot, but Richard...Richard was a better one. It'd take five minutes, tops.
Richard stood, moving to a large cabnet. "Alex, I want you to stay down here, alright?" he asked, pulling out a pistol. "This wont take long." He placed one pistol in the wasteband of his pants, before grabbing another pistol.
Without another word, he made his way towards the elevator.
|
|
|
Post by Alex Linus on Sept 9, 2008 16:32:26 GMT -5
The shout from above startled her, making her jump slightly. She watched silently as Richard took the guns from the cabinet and nodded when he told her to stay there. She had no problem with that.
When he headed toward the elevator, she managed to stumble to her feet. She swayed for the breifest of moments, but regained her balance as she headed toward the main part of the Orchid. She had never been in this station before - well, not while she was awake and consious - and Alex's curiosity was getting the better of her.
She was back on the island, she knew that much. The mercinaries shout had gave that away. She ran a hand through her wild curls, picking up a few pieces of dusty paper off the desk - something about time-travelling and pockets of energy and a bunch of other numbers and equations she didn't understand.
Alex sighed -- she wasn't going to go off at Richard. Afterall, he had to obey the island or else. But she didn't want to take it out on him -- the man was a better father than Ben ever was to her.
|
|
Richard Alpert
original islander.
"If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old!"
Posts: 139
|
Post by Richard Alpert on Sept 9, 2008 17:13:14 GMT -5
Richard pressed the button on the elevator, feeling it jolt to life and start it's ride up slowly. He moved, pulling off his tie. The voices were getting louder as he rose and then the elevator stopped.
"Wait! Wait, I hear something! SHH!"
As the elevator opened, Richard stepped out slowly, his hands raised up as he saw three men, who instantly turned sharply to him, rifle's drawn.
"FREEZE!"
"Hey. Hey, it's okay. It's okay, just--just put the guns down." Richard said evenly, holding his hands up. "Just drop 'em and it'll be okay..."
"I SAID FREEZE--"
Richard grabbed the gun from his waist band, shooting the first man in the head. He grabbed the other man, holding the gun to his head as he looked at the other man. "I said drop your gun," he glanced at his name badge. "Private Hensley." Richard said evenly. "Now, I know that in your schooling, you were told never to leave a man behind. Always protect your fellow man in uniform. Now I wouldn't even dream of making you disobay that oath, but Private, I'm going to need you to put your gun down for me and step back. Can you do that for me?"
"I-I said--I said--"
"Put it down."
Richard watched as the man put the gun down slowly onto the grated floor of the Orchid. "Very good. I'm proud of you, Private."
Richard moved, shoving the man he was holding towards the Private. He shot both of them, watching as they fell with barely a blink. He bent down, minding the bodies as he picked up the two rifles, slinging the strap around his shoulder.
"Alexandra?" He called. "You can come up now."
|
|
|
Post by Alex Linus on Sept 9, 2008 17:24:24 GMT -5
When she heard Richard's shout, she replaced the papers back on the desk and headed to the elevator, pressing the button to call it back downstairs. When it arrived, she carefully stepped in it, wincing as the gears nearly groaned as it took her back up to the ground level. It made her slightly uncomfortable, so she was shifting her weight frequently, nervously, as it ascended.
Stepping out, Alex paused lightly, frowing at the bodies. "Obviously you're happy to be back to your old job." She muttered, glancing at Richard as she shaded her eyes against the bright light, after the darkness of the Orchid.
"So where to now? Back to the Barracks?"
|
|
Richard Alpert
original islander.
"If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old!"
Posts: 139
|
Post by Richard Alpert on Sept 9, 2008 21:45:41 GMT -5
As Alex came into view and spoke, Richard found himself scoffing slightly, moving to hand her one of the guns. When she spoke of the Barracks, Richard nodded. "We need to see if anyone else is here." There had been many Others left; they had been going to the Temple. "Once we get it, I believe we should head to the Temple."
As Richard walked out of the Orchid, he squinted slightly, and looked up as he realised it was going to rain. "It shouldn't take us too long to get there if we cut through the Jungle."
|
|
|
Post by Alex Linus on Sept 9, 2008 21:53:04 GMT -5
She took the gun, the metal familiar in her hand, even if it was different than her slingshot - which was only where God knew where. She made sure it still had bullets left before slipping it into the waistband of her jeans. Alex nodded. "All right. So let's get these morons taken care of - I want to get to the Temple to see if my mother is still alive. And Juliet." She muttered. She didn't mention Karl, as it was probable that he was dead, as Richard had said before.
She followed him out of the Orchid. "Yeah, and I don't really fancy getting caught in the rain first day back."
|
|
Richard Alpert
original islander.
"If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old!"
Posts: 139
|
Post by Richard Alpert on Sept 18, 2008 17:18:41 GMT -5
As they stepped out from the Orchid, Richard looked up at the sky as Alex spoke about the rain. "Yeah, well, I think you're going to be disappointed." he told her, hearing thunder rumble. "Come on, we need to keep moving." Richard wasn't too keen on getting caught in the rain, either.
However, as they walked through the jungle, Richard's hopes of making it back dry was dashed as the rain started to pour down in typical Island fashion. As they walked through the darkened jungle, he felt the hairs stick up on the back of his neck. The Island...it didn't feel different, but...Richard couldn't pinpoint it. A sound made Richard turn sharply, gun drawn, only to see the large, black cabin staring back at him.
Jacob. His heart actually hitched up to somewhere in the middle of his throat as he saw the cabin in the middle of the rain. He knew it would have only been a matter of time, however, he didn't expect this. Not this sudden. "Alex," he said, his voice slightly lower than it was before. Was it fear? A little, Richard thought silently. "Alex, I want you to stay here, alright?"
|
|
|
Post by Alex Linus on Sept 18, 2008 19:29:04 GMT -5
"As usual." Alex muttered, following him as he took off. He was right about keeping moving - what if there were more of those army guys around? Alex sure didn't want to be caught by them. She'd be dead before she opened her mouth.
She sighed as it began to pour down rain, her clothes sticking to her body like a second skin, her hair plastering to the back of her neck and forehead. Staring at the ground, she nearly ran right into Richard when he stopped.
"Wha-?" She began, but stopped when Richard spoke, telling her to stay there. The curiosity welling up inside of her, she forced herself to remain rooted to the spot, nodding at Richard.
"All right."
|
|
Richard Alpert
original islander.
"If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old!"
Posts: 139
|
Post by Richard Alpert on Sept 20, 2008 17:44:05 GMT -5
He wasn't sure what was waiting for him on the other side of that door. He brought a hand up, brushing rainwater out of his eyes before he started up to the Cabin. Stopping at the door, he pressed one hand against the door, and the other took the old doorknob. Slowly he turned it, and stepped in, shutting the door behind him.
He stood a little straighter as he entered, seeing and hearing nothing. It was then that the creek of a rocking chair made Richard look through the darkness to the figure that sat in the chair. Clasping his hands behind his back, Richard pursed his lips. "Yes. Yes, I know. I know, but--"
Richard's brows narrowed as he looked to the chair. "Wait, what?" he asked, and then managed a slight scoff. "When we left, they--No, I'm just saying that--" Instantly, Richard's eyes and mouth shut, as if slapped. He could taste blood in his mouth, and instantly, he paled slightly. "No." he said finally, slowly, as if testing the waters and the word. "No, I'm not. If we run we can make it in a couple hours, if that. Yes. Yes, I know."
Richard turned to the door, moving to take the handle, but it was as if someone was pushing against the door, making him unable to open it. Richard felt his eyes close as he swallowed. "Of course, I havn't forgotten." he said, and felt as the door opened. The rain was still falling, and he wasn't exactly sure how long he had been in the cabin. Slightly pale, he exited the cabin, and moved to Alex, his face a mask.
"We're going to the beach."
|
|
|
Post by Alex Linus on Sept 21, 2008 18:30:55 GMT -5
Alex quietly stood, watching him enter the cabin. She saw the shadows moving in the flickering light in the window, and was so engrossed in watching, she barely registered the fact that Richard had left the cabin. So when he spoke, she jumped.
"The beach?" She questioned curiously, jogging to catch up to him.
"So we're walking to the Barracks, you go into this cabin, adn now suddenly we're going to the beach?" Alex questioned. "Richard, what is going on? Who were you talking to or whatever?"
|
|
Richard Alpert
original islander.
"If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old!"
Posts: 139
|
Post by Richard Alpert on Sept 25, 2008 16:56:18 GMT -5
Adjusting the gun slung on his shoulder, Richard glanced over at Alex as she spoke. "Yes. We're going to the beach." When Alex questioned what was going on, Richard felt himself stop, letting out a frustrated sigh. "He alerted me to the fact that we're not alone anymore on the Island. And it's not the mercenaries. Some of the survivors are on the beach." How they arrived there, Ricahrd didn't know, nor did he ask. "I don't know how they got on here, but He says they're there. And they're confused. We need to go and meet them on the beach."
Of course, Richard would do whatever Jacob said. "We need to hurry."
|
|
|
Post by Alex Linus on Sept 25, 2008 17:02:12 GMT -5
"Wait, what?" She questioned, nearly stumbling when he mentioned the survivors. They were back too? "All of them?" Alex asked quickly, not bothering to keep the surprise out of her voice. "And they hate us, so why should we go help them? Shouldn't we be going to find the others back at the Temple?" She continued with the questions, ignoring the fact she was probably annoying the heck out of Richard now. She brushed ferns and leaves out of her way as she walked.
"And He? Who's He?"
|
|
Richard Alpert
original islander.
"If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old!"
Posts: 139
|
Post by Richard Alpert on Oct 1, 2008 22:56:30 GMT -5
"No, not all of them." Two, according to Jacob. Possibly more. Jacob hadn't exactly been clear, but then again, Jacob hardly was. The young girl's questions just kept on coming, and Richard felt a sigh escape his lips. "Do you think it's strange that they are showing up on the Island after leaving?" Richard asked her, looking as they quickly walked towards the beach. "I do. And so does He."
Of course, the question came up. Who was He. "Jacob." Richard said, and then switched to her earlier question. "We're going to the Temple once we see why the Survivors are here. And believe me, they won't hate us when they find out we're here. Once they find out we're here, we'll be their saving graces, because they'll realise that they aren't alone."
|
|