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Snippet #957499

located in The UO-Universe, a part of The Knights, one of the many universes on RPG.

The UO-Universe

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The mundane aspect of removing his armor going smoothly he laid each piece with great care in the black and gold trunk set at the foot of his bed. The Black Armor still shone with it's polishing as Kazuki had been careful unlike most who rushed and pushed against each other. For this Phoenix despite the fact he found the armor itself useless could appreciate what it represented. It was the physical embodiment of everything he had striven for, the undeniable proof he was the best of the best. And despite his recent doubts about the nobility of the order and it's leaders the Black Knight would treat this armor with the care and respect it deserved. It was useless as battle gear, it's weight a hindrance to his combat style, and he could care less for it's aesthetic value, but even with that all he still cherished it. If for no other purpose then it was the dream of Melina to don this ebony shaded armor.

The others, his fellow knights the men and woman he would fight next to for the rest of his life went about their business. Some a last socializing and boasting, others a early attempt at sleep. Each of them where part of a greater whole but Kazuki even with the burden of his officership could feel no real connection to them. They were children all of them younger then even his youthful 21 and none of them shared the common experiences that bonded humans together. They were of a different race and culture, the words they spoke held no bearing in his mind. He was a Phoenix, and while he would bear the burden of their lives and faith if ever the commander deemed necessary they were not his friends and would likely never be. Even their movements seemed alien to him used as he was to solitude and intense training.

But perhaps it was for the best, a officer had to remain detached from his troops and vice-versa. If command ever fell to him the Black Knight would have to make choices and decisions that might and would probably lead to their deaths. In the battlefield even a moment spent agonizing over the choice between leadership and friendship could mean the difference between life and death, defeat and victory would one day hang on his shoulders. And a hard heart would be needed, to bond with these fellow knights would mean one day bearing the horrible burden of a friend's death. And after Melina this knight had no inclination to go through anything of the sort. He was a rock, a rock with a code of honor dating back to the Phoenix Empire and faith in a God no longer worshiped by the universe but he was a rock. It was what let him endure the loss of his wife, what gave him the inner strength that saw him earn the Black Armor. A cold and silent man who hid his thoughts and feelings from the world, a man who hid behind his skills and honor.

And so he watched his fellow knights sleep, some looked at him with unspoken questions, some ignored him, others still looked on curiously as he removed his armor. But no matter he watched them then as the last piece of that steel skin that would shape his fate as a Phoenix living in a world that thought his race monsters from a dim past. That last piece of shadow colored steel in it's light catching shine went into the silk lined black and gold trunk.

Then as others feel asleep he left the bedroom heading to the kitchen carrying his weapons and the needed tools and liquids. While a wiser head might have suggested sleep before a mission of this importance the Phoenix for all his hard exterior had no wish to enter his sleeping mind. There dwelt dreams of Melina and nightmares of the day he felt her hand grow still, of the sight of life and hope leaving her eyes, of that last kiss that would forever seal his heart to new pain. Kazuki had no wish to enter that realm in the presence of others, if he was to be their officer they would learn no respect from watching him in nightmare. Besides his weapons needed tending to, Nero Angelo in particularly needed a adjustment of it's Force Fire mechanism.

Laying it on a back counter the black carbon alloy sword was soon the target of tools and Kazuki's efforts. The Force Fire mechanism had been his crowning achievement during his brief apprenticeship to his father. Kazuki's father had been a renowned weapon-smith for a child hood accident left him unfit for combat. And so instead gained glory and honor through the crafting of weapons of legend. And upon his son's 13 birthday knowing Kazuki wished to join the knights taught him how to shape a weapon that was forged of true willpower. Taking Melina's design and his father's training the Black knight at the age of 18 had crafted Nero Angelo or Dark Angel. A unbreakable sword that had the power of the element of fire it was to be a gift for Melina. Working on it in that cramp kitchen on this equally camped ship the Knight had to admit a certain twist of fate was so cruel.

The sword attended to Kazuki moved onto his guns. Trademark they had been scoffed at by his weapon-smith father. Fire and Ice were custom designed to fit his hands alone, every singe curve and angle shaped to serve him. A highly accurate 15 shot semi-auto pistol that fired a superheated round hot enough to burn through almost all known metals. The only downside was the High velocity inferno rounds were also custom made meaning he could only afford to make and carry so many at a time. And there was Fire's polar opposite, Ice. A somewhat accurate, at least as far as Micro SMG's go, 30 round clip micro smg that fired a dense yet soft round with a liquid nitrogen charge that absolutely destroyed any exposed skin it hit. The rounds temperature would snap freeze any organic target it hit causing intense pain and trauma with the off chance of shattering a frozen limb like glass. Again the custom made ammo made carrying extra ammo beyond a few clips far too expensive to be even considered.

But both Nero Angelo and Fire and Ice were reflections of his soul. No store bought junk like most knights or modified versions like the smarter ones.From their birth to their first taste of blood had happened at his hands, they were physical embodiments of his will and honor. For that had been the way of the first the Phoenix Empire and then the Phoenix knights. A knight had to truly know his weapons and to do that he needed to create them. Need to give them shape and form, then to learn their secrets they spoke as use wore calluses into your hands. And then to know the purpose behind any weapon when blood is first spilled by their power and your skill. That more then anything alienated this Phoenix from his comrades.

Kazuki unlike most knights truly knew his weapons of choice. And while he could use any weapon to it's full effectiveness in so far as one could use a weapon they only half knew his weapons were his soul. And Nero Angelo in particular was his soul, for it's creation was for the one person who had owned his. It's light weight meant for a woman's hand, it's prefect balance and molecular sharp edge meant to cater to a woman's agility and speed not a man's brute force and strength.

Sheathing his weapons at his hips now that the needed maintenance was done Kazuki strode from the kitchen after cleaning the counter upon which he had done his maintenance with a rather potent cleaner he had found underneath the sink. Striding the short distance from the Kitchen the Black Knight ignored as a matter of fact the knight called Jove who per orders had not slept in his bed choosing as alternative the Pilot's cabin. Keeping his steps light for the sleeping quarters of the knights was filled with the quiet breathing of those asleep he made his way to his trunk and grabbed a change of clothes and his brush along with a small bulging bag.

Once more tip toeing out the Phoenix strode to the bathroom and proceeding to lock the door changed his clothes and washed his face with cold water. The washing of his hair done more leisurely as he brushed that long silver hair that marked out his Phoenix heritage more then anything. The strands of his hair brushed into a gleaming order Kazuki began to braid it opening the bulging sack at the same time. inside where exactly 172 silver rings each inscribed with varying numbers of Phoenix runes. These rings were woven into the braid of his silver hair spaced in prescribed intervals. For these rings were no simply vanity or adornment. Each of these rings told the story of one of his ancestors life,each rune first of all indicting that at least 10 years had been lived, then telling how those ten years had been lived. Some rings bore up to 12 runes speaking of an ancestor that had lived a long life, others only bore 2 or 3 runes. Together the runes told the story of his bloodline from it's founding to his grandfather's time. For each generation was responsible for crafting a ring that told of their life. But only in death would the son gain his father's ring and as Kazuki's father was very much alive his life story was not in the knight's braid. Kazuki had gained this story of his bloodline while out on a training mission on the edges of the Sora Republic. After the mission was done he had spotted them in a museum among many other Phoenix artifacts, his grandfather had died with his rings and they had been stripped and sold by his killer to this museum apparently. Breaking in late at night he reclaimed these family heirlooms. A unlawful act theft but how can one steal what already belongs to them. Needless to say no one ever thought it was him, even when he took to wearing them after his father told him to keep them.


Kazuki's braid done and the rings of history woven into his hair the Phoenix went back to the sleeping quarters were he folded his previous outfit he had worn under his armor atop his still made bed. Then he opened his trunk and grabbed the pieces of armor he would be wearing. First came the gorget, a steel collar that protected the throat during sword fights. Next came the curiass, the torso armor it had been shaped to fit his body snugly so as not be in the way. And then the armoring of his sword arm, which any civilian found odd.In their minds the sword protected the sword arm so why not armor the off arm. But as any swordsman can tell you from numerous small cuts upon the sword arm no one is aiming for the off arm. Furthermore his combat style required using a gun in his left and the weight of armor on his gun hand would throw off his aim.


Refreshed, weapons tended to, and his partial armor on his body this Phoenix decided a little mediation was in order. For cleaning and adjusting Nero Angelo had disturbed his once calm mind. Always it was thus with his beloved sword. Kazuku could not tend to it with out thoughts and painful memories of his wife coming to the surface. Returning to the kitchen as it was the only room devoid of people at this late hour the Black Knight sat cross legged making sure not to scuff his shin high black leather boots and leather breeches for leather was a bitch to polish scuffs out of.

Breathing in and out slowly he closed his eyes letting his mind wander although no too freely. Focusing his thoughts inwards Kazuki began to calm his inner self. Banishing the painful memories of Melina he instead focused on only the positive. On her azure eyes, a blue so clear and deep he often found himself drowning in them, on her golden hair that had shone brighter then the sun, and most of all the feel of her skin underneath his hand. With such memories he felt the return of his calm mind. He would need that calm, unchecked emotions would only lead to his death once steel was bared.


Feeling a slight jolt as the ship landed Kazuki realized his mediation had taken the whole night and then some. Great late on my first day that will look good on the mission report. A more fortuitous start to my officership I couldn't imagine, actually I can. How about showing up on time. He thought with hidden self anger as he strode out of the kitchen in time to see his fellow knights greet two new comers. Which was not unexpected no doubt they were Major General Yoff's aides welcoming them and showing them were they were to be quartered. Although it was odd a White and Red Knight were doing the job of a grunt.