Monster Ranger pt. 1

"I'm Emily Grey, Channel 5 news" A middle aged Ratatorskr in front of the camera said, her chestnut coloured tail stood in contrast to her dark business attire. "For centuries the legend of the Five heroes and their fight against The order of Jion has awed millions. Countless depictions and rumors throughout the ages kept imaginations both young and old filled with tales of good versus evil."

Emily shifted as an old man walked into the shot. His gnarled hands gripped a wooden cane that appeared almost as old as him. He stood with a slight hunch that showed his back wasn't quite what it had once been in his youth. The tan khaki shorts and work shirt he wore were covered in dust and dirt.

"Professor Stroff is the expedition lead on this latest find." Emily said putting her mic between her and Stroff, "Professor it's been five years since your dig began correct?"

The old man's hazel eyes sparkled as he smiled and gave a small nod, "That's right. It's taken years of hard work." He said motioning to the craggy mountain behind him. “Just last month however we made a breakthrough and found the resting place of the order of Jion."

    As the professor continued to talk, the camera zoomed in on the cave behind them. Various members of Stroff's team could be seen entering and exiting the cave carrying various tools and gear. As the camera watched a large bulldozer like machine was seen entering the cave before being swallowed by the darkness within.

"In fact," Stroff spoke as the camera refocused on the pair. "The discovery has brought people from all over to look at what we've discovered. Later on in the day I'll be showing the public  some of our more recent finds before they're moved to a special facility for study."

"Thank you professor and for those at home we'll have in-depth special covering the professor's finds. You'll find the full report on-line later this week on our site, this is Emily Grey, Channel 5 news." She said giving the camera one last warm smile as the feed cut.

    Emily's shoulders relaxed as the feed cut. The viewers would be focused on Rick and Dias back at the studio while she was free to do her special.

"Miss Grey, if you don't mind my presentation is going to start soon." Stroff said breaking the silence, "sorry if you wanted to take a break but I'm a man that likes to stay punctual."

"It's actually Missus." Emily said following the professor as he hobbled along, "In any case where is the presentation being held?"

"Not too far. I hope you'll get some good shots of what I'm going to show, we have some real interesting finds to show."

    Emily continued to follow the professor, having to help him down a small incline when the rocky terrain proved too much for him. Stroff lead her to a small cluster of tents and other canopies not far from the cave itself. Emily noticed a gathering of people at one of the tents on the outskirts.

"I'll give you a moment to set up." Stroff said as they reached the tent, "I'll be beginning in five minutes so be ready." He said as he held up an open hand to highlight the time Emily had.

    Stroff left Emily as he walked towards the crowd that parted as he walked through them. Emily followed closely marking a spot for the camera and boon off to the side mentally. Under the tent laid a single large table littered with various objects. In the middle of it was what to Emily looked like a full faced motorcycle helmet with a respirator stuck to the end of it. Two tubes ran on either side of it and up towards the back.

As Stroff began to speak the idle chatter from the crowd started to die."Before we begin," he said. "Let me introduce my granddaughter Deeta."

Emily and the crowd turned their heads as a young danuki wearing a similar get up to the professor stepped forward. Her short hair and small rounded ears poked out of the pilth she wore. From what Emily could see the girl's hair was such a deep shade of black it looked almost bruised blue. Emily could make out tan lines under the sleeves of the girl's top and shorts, she had clearly done more than just desk work.

"She's been my assistant during this dig as part of her aspiration to follow in my footsteps." Stroff said putting a hand on Deeta's shoulder as she walked over. "She's finishing up her first year of college all while helping me with this little project here."

Deeta flashed a small smile. Her hands clasped in front of her. Emily noted the girl's green eyes kept scanning the room. Even her bushy tail betrayed her feelings as it jerked back and forth, a smokey gray band of fur visible near the top. Emily smiled as it reminded her of herself when she was younger, shy around large crowds and bad at controlling her body language.

"Uh hello." Deeta squeezed out, "Grandpa-err Professor Stroff has some finds he'd like to share before they're shipped to the muesum."

"She's a bit shy." Stroff said, "but she's very helpful. Now before I forget what you're all here for would everyone please look at the table."

    Emily and the rest of the crowd looked down to see the strange helmet resting on the table. The olive green finish had dulled and chipped with age. Emily's brow furrowed as she noticed that despite all the scuffs and dings the helmet bore it showed no signs of rust.

"What we're seeing here is something I'm sure you've all seen recreations and mock-ups of, a Zaknight's helmet." Stroff spoke as he held it up for the crowd to see.

" This is the first time we've seen one up close...or anyone else has." Deeta said, her nervousness seeming to have vanished. "Normally the helmets recovered are either in pieces or imagined recreations."

"That's right," Stroff nodded. "This was a major breakthrough that we found just ealier this month. Even more amazing still is something we never thought of."

"Emily Grey. Channel 5 News." Emily said raising a hand. "What exactly is so interesting about this helmet?"

Stroff began to talk, "well that's because..."

"It shows that the order of Jion used magic charms to enhance their armors." Deeta chimed in, gingerly picking the helmet out of her grandfather's hands. "There's a air purification wind charm embedded in the front of the helmet."

    Deeta rotated the helmet for the audience, pointing to a vent on the sloped mouth guard.

"We thought it was just a chin guard at first, but this sloped piece on the front  actually contains a magic relic." Deeta said with increasing excitement. "To think magic was used in such a practical application back then is astounding."

    While the crowd was focused on Deeta, Emily noticed a man walk up behind Stroff and mutter something. Stroff nodded at the man's words before speaking.

"I hate to interrupt my granddaughter's enthusiasm" Stroff said. "There's something on site I need to attend to."

Deeta's excited expression fell as she heard. "Alright gran...Professor." She said.

"I'm counting on you Deeta to explain to the folks the importance of what we've found." Stroff said, a big reassuring smile spread across his wrinkled face. "We might even have a new discovery to share in a bit."

    Deeta tried to give a smile, but as Stroff left it waned. She seemed really down now that her grandfather had left.

"Excuse me Ms. Deeta." Emily spoke up, "but what about the charm makes it unique?"

Emily smiled as her question perked Deeta right up, "Well because it showed the Order of Jion was unlike any other paladin order at the time. using magics outside holy typed to create armors with enhancements gave them an edge in situations most normal paladins would have issues with."

"What about the tubing though?" Emily asked pointing towards the tubing that connected to the charm's housing and wrapped around towards the back of the helmet.

Deeta traced one of the tubes towards the back as she spoke. "The tubes a lot of us thought were just ornamental or made to deflect blows, but they actually are armored air hoses." She said pointing at a gap in between the armored rings. "The length of metal on the tube are a way of protecting the hose. The respirator itself is enclosed in case of damage the mask isn't compromised."

    Deeta continued on, talking about the order's armor and the theories researchers had about it. Every question Deeta was asked was given an answer based on not only findings but theories. Emily noted how focused the audience was on the girl who was before them. explaining the importance of the finds with such energy.

"Are you certain that it's ready Gregor?" Stroff asked. "This is good news, if we can breach that tomb today it'll be good not only for us but for the world."

    Stroff tailed behind Gregor, the man in front of him as the two walked through the cave. The occasional flood light provided the two with a way to see in the dark as they walked.

"I'm sure of it professor, we've think this should do it." Gregor said, "short of blasting the door apart which I know you're against we've made final preparation for it opening."

    The two stopped, in front of them the tunnel domed out into a massive underground cavern. Spotlights inside were pointed at a massive temple like building that sat at the back of the cave. The temple itself looked as if it was carved from the cave. The smooth stone surfaces gave way to rough cave wall where the two met. The footpath too gave way to a cobblestone path that lead up to the temple stairs, rows of armor standing on either side.

“It truly is amazing” Stroff said brushing a hand against one of the armors. “It’s amazing to see all of this still here.”

“We’ll have to thank our contributor.” Gregor said examining the same suit. “But what I’d like to know is why the asymmetrical design on the shoulder pauldron? What use is there in having a spiked pauldron when the other is simple a slab of metal.”

“An integrated shield maybe?”  Stroff mused aloud. “It isn’t attached to the armor itself but on some sort of metal arm that allows the slab to pivot which makes it interesting.”

“Maybe professor, but we should return to the matter at hand.”

“You’re right.”

    Gregor lead Stroff away from the statues and up the temple steps. Their footsteps echoing off the walls of the cave. As they came over the top step their shadows were cast over the stone pillars that supported the roof above their head and onto the massive stone doors that laid just a few feet away. Amongst the various runes etched in the door sat the order’s insignia etched in the center.

“Now then Professor,” Gregor said. “Would you do the honors?”