Behind the Curtain

[kathryn]

In the year 2012, the world as we know it ended with a catastrophic event. Intense fields of a strange energy flooded the earth, tearing large cities apart, twisting the forests into something unnatural, causing natural disasters, violent volcanic explosions, deadly twisters, earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, blizzards. The world entered a stage of darkness and many lives were lost. Only about a million humans survived out of the six billion that inhabited the world.

What made things worse was that the energy did not fade away. It had formed this mysterious, colorful form, flittering through the land like a snake-like aurora borealis. We have dubbed this single energy field as "The Curtain". As harmless as it looks, and as beautiful as it is, it transformed the land, wherever it touched. Lakes and swamps turned alive when it touched it, and the living swamps travel the land, sometimes toxic to drink, other times becoming so acidic that it burns the ground where it touches. The living animals that passed through, those who did not die upon contact, became monsters, physically transformed into hideous beasts. Few were given a heightened intelligence and could speak in the language of humans. Forests grew and were warped under the Curtain's influence. As the dangers of living on the earth grew, humanity despaired.

But hope was not lost. As governments tried to grope for an answer or solution, one man by the name of Dr. Kent Monroe came forth with a plan. He realized that the Curtain could not enter high altitudes and seemed to stay close to sea-level. With this knowledge he was able to build cities on top of mountains, flying cars, and skyrails that traveled between peaks. Gathering the few remaining humans together, he finally built a vast floating city which he called "the City of Aer".

As the years went by, the people looked to Monroe as a new leader. He created cities, made agriculture possible, created protective shields for when the Curtain drew close to the summits. But as time went on, the people realized that it was not just the animals who became changed. Humans who had passed through the Curtain were changed. They formed psychic, telekinetic, and even seer powers. As their numbers grew, Monroe took actions to prevent the people from panicking. He recruited these changed men and women into his services, boosting their physical form into a new form of human, an ultra human. As more were collected under his power, he called these super soldiers "Dragons", and with the Dragon Army in his control, his conquer of the last humans was complete.

As the new leader, he ruled from his floating city, always thought of as the last hero of the human race.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Years had past since the beginning of the new age of humanity. The year is now 2084, and Commander Supreme Monroe continues to rule. As the only person who seems to know of what is happening in the world, his authority had not been questioned by the general population, which had slowly yet steadily risen to a population of a few million, and as such, the summit cities drained downwards, until the boarders were dangerously close to the wastes, and to the territory of the ever wandering Curtain.

Soon, it became so bad that where you lived equalled with your rank in society. In the two floating cities, the City of Aer and the City of Aqua, lived the top officials, the strongest, the smartest, and the best. But it was only in Aer that the Dragons lived, staying close to the towering palace where the Commander Supreme reigned. Then, on the peaks of mountains were those who were rich enough and had enough influence within the government. As you went down the mountains, the city became dirtier and poorer, until you reached the Rims, where many who live there could become touched by the Curtain and either live a life of luxury as a Dragon... or die a horrible death as your body rejects the mutations.

But even with this, the people never question the wisdom of the Commander Supreme... until one fateful day.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

It was a normal day in Aqua. The people roamed the bustling streets, going about their business as flying cars zoomed above their heads, the crisp thin air filtered through by the ever going Shield surrounding them.

A silent sound breaks the calm. On the edge of the city, in the Fairrgood district, the screech of breaking shakes the people to the ground. Screams fill the air as the people realize that a fire has broken out and is quickly spreading. Guardians try to quiet the inferno, but as the fire quickly spreads, an order from the top causes the Guardians to make a drastic decision. In their floating vehicles, they begin to launch explosives into the ground, at key points. Men, women, and children are shocked as they watch their homes fall away from the city of Aqua- and themselves included.

From near and far, onlookers can only watch as the burning rubble is cast down, falling from the floating city, down to the wastes below. People from miles away are shaken to their knees as the vast and crumbling bits of buildings land, collapsing onto the ground, shaking the earth to her core.

As the dust settles, those who were not killed by the fire or the fall come to their senses. They were cast aside? What will happen to them? They have no home, no way of knowing where they are or who was at fault. And one man lifted his face from the rubble, his arms sheltering a broken girl, his mind set and his eyes hard. Only one thought ran through his head.

"I will kill Monroe."


(OOC: Yet another relay. I would like to thank the ever talented Lau for helping me. Respect! Without his help, this would be a disaster, but without your help, it will be more of one, so please, I beg you, please join this. If you need any information with the settings or the story, please pm me.

Also, if you do join, be sure to obey the rules of the forum. Thank you and don't make me change this to an M rated thread)

[Lau]

"Eric!!" He screamed amidst the Chaos and rubble,"Eric!!!"

"Simon?"His innocent voice twisted weakly to Simon's ears as he sifted through the rubble barely able to breath through the smoke and dust the glimmering light filling this dark cramped hole that was once their home. He soon found his way to Eric his smile broken, his losing their sparkle, and color quickly fading away. Simon frantically trying to dig him out until the rocks began to carry a warm slick fluid, Simon froze eyes wide at the horror he beheld.

If not for Eric's trembling hand on his shoulder he would have never recovered, he gently wrapped his arms around his brother in a loving embrace as he whispered into his ears with failing breath. "Will I see Mommy and Daddy now Simon?"

With tears flooding his eyes he could only whisper "Yes."

He remebered all that came moments before, he'd woken up to the early morning sun standing at he wide windows letting the warm light soak into his skin. Waking his brother for breakfast was a daily chore but the smell of breakfast was more than enough rouse that little runt from the deepest sleep. "Simon, when's Lisa coming over? I like her." Lisa was Simon's beau a girl he trusted even with the care of his brother.

"Not until afternoon, besides you have school, now finish your breakfast, I'll take you there after I take a shower okay." Simon patted his little brothers head before marching off to the shower.

Feeling the hot water trace lines around his form, dancing about the burn scars dotting his skin, most were from work, he was a maintenance engineer and the welding torches tended to spatter some hot metal through his clothes, and hauling around heavy scraps of steel copper and so on kept him fit he had the wirey frame of a labourer with the upgraded education and paycheck of a 'button pusher' up in the main complex pretty good for a 21yearsold he balked.

Stepping out of the shower steam swirling upwards as he stood infront of the mirror short Auburn hair, hazel eyes and devlish grin, he wasn't vain but modesty wasn't his strong suit. It was just as he was pulling on his black jeans when it happened the rush of vertigo, the screams the crash, pain and thenholding his dying brother in his arms.

The building shook and shambled around him as he witnessed the last breeath escape this little body. Seemingly out of nowhere some one grabbed him, and hauled him away, fighting these strong scaley hands as the dragged him from the collapsing rubble of his home. He breathed deep and stared to the sky before being hit by a feeling he would never be able to explain and a strange face hovering over him "Sleep Simon, sleep it'll all be better soon."

Meanwhile above staring down from the heavens of the Aer was figure in black, his form encased in flowing leather his face behind an onyx faceplate "Was that neccessary?"

"Yes, my Knight it was neccessary." The Black Knight of the Dragons watched the sections fall without feeling or emotion. A beauty in white hanging over his shoulder "What are Commander Monroe's orders?" The knight had a feeling this was not the end of it yet again he may have to dirty his hands, despite the quiet regret hanging among his thoughts.

[kathryn]

Rebecca was crying. Large tears rolled down her face as her voice wailed with the others, calling out for her parents. Was it only a little while ago that they were all walking down the street on their way to the small girl's school? And then when the noises came, her parents got worried and rushed into an alley way, covering their daughter with their bodies, shielding her from harm.

The memory blurs after that, when a feeling of falling took over, and then there was a large crash and Rebecca was thrown out, her parents disappearing under a large boulder, and then...

Her elbow hurt, but she couldn't feel the pain, didn't see the blood drip onto her pants. She wailed louder, scared, alone, and confused.

"Hey. Stop crying, okay?" A figure came out of the dust and Rebecca looked up at the unfamiliar man. His eyes were hard and there was blood drying on his blue and white uniform. A name badge shone out from under the grime saying "Jacob Miller: Guardian of Aqua". The little girl sniffed, surprised, but no longer wailing.

"Mu-My Mommyy an an daddy..." she blubbered, trying to say something, but finding it difficult. The man's face twisted into sympathy.

He could remember a girl like this one, alone and frightened on the street. She wasn't as chunky or as small, but she was crying for someone to help her. He... he remembered shouting as he launched himself out of his Aer-car, rushing forward to save this one child that someone sentenced to death. His arms just wrapped around her when they fell... And next thing he knew, he was lying on top of her bloody form, battered and damaged from the shock of the impact.

He acted without thinking about it, both that time and this time. His arms just reached for this little girl, just like his arms reached for the other girl, and he cradled her sobbing form to his chest.

"Come on, it's alright. Let's get you out of here..." he said calmly, picking her up and walking out from the rubble, leaving behind a large pile. Neither he nor Rebecca could have seen the bloody broken bodies of a man and a woman underneath the concrete and dust just a few feet away.

Many people began to gather away from the rubble, seeing more as the dust settled. The giant shapes of the forest gave them pause as the reality of the moment shook them. Some feared death and fell to their knees in prayer. Some continued to look for loved ones and cried out in sorrow as they realized that their hopes were in vain. But those who decided to live despite the deaths of their family and the destruction of their home, these people gathered together, looking for a leader, someone who would take charge and be able to lead their broken group back to humanity.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kendra Ryan took off her headset for a moment. Her job was a snazy one, and for the most part she found it very nice. But when a man from the higher ups called her to send the order to the Aquan Guardians to cut away the burning part of the city... She began to doubt if it was the right decision. This wasn't back in her grandparent's day when the people fought hand and foot just to escape a famine, this was a Utopian world founded by the great hero, Commander Supreme Monroe!

The doubt sank into her heart and gave rise to a new thought: What if Monroe was not the hero everyone thought he was? And this thought gave way to fear, as Kendra sat in her chair, looking at her small office. She trembled, her hands catching her head, and she gave out small tears of pain for those who died by the word of her and her commanders.

[Lau]

"Simon are you okay? Wake up Simon." Lisa hung over his bed side a make shift medical tent had been put up by oldman Reece Palmer, he ran the clinic down on 5th street or what was left of it.

"Leave him be Lisa, he's taken quite a beating, I think he broke a few ribs for sure and may have some fractures, it'll be best if he sleeps while he can." Palmer's gloved hand was on Lisa's shoulder as she hovered over Simon "Come help me with the others Simon will be fine."

"Where's Eric!" She was shocked into realizing that he wasn't there if anywhere Eric would be with his brother Simon but...this had her worried.

"He didn't make it," Palmer was the one who pulled Simon from the rubble before it collapsed, he also saw the body of Eric just before Simon's home collapsed "It was quick he didn't feel anything pain." Lisa trembled as the tears began to flow Eric was like a little brother but now...now he was......gone. She worried about Simon now more than ever, remembering how Simon lost his parents and now losing his brother. It was too much to bear even for her. "Too many people have been lost today Lisa we have to save what's left, come Simon will live."

Years ago when Eric was no older than four, Simon twelve their parents were killed. Simon never spoke of it to Eric but this moment haunted his dreams, every time he closed his eyes he could see the fire, hear the screams and feel the heat. 'Most' of his scars were from his work the but the oldest of them were born of that winter night. They were moving from one of the mountain cities to Aqua, something went wrong at the arriving terminal, to this day it remains something of a mystery a fluke of engineering in which the end result was that of a crash, Simon escaped with his brother as his parents ordered him, he saw there faces as the flames exploded outward searing his back. The explosion didn't kill his parents he could still hear them screaming his name.

Now he'd lost the last piece of his family no one could guess what would go through his mind when he came to, but neither could Simon.

[kathryn]

(I just noticed something about this story: So far, it's just a whole stream of tear jerking moments. I guess that's what happens when you start a story with a tragedy)

A knock at the door drew Kendra's attention. "Miss Ryan? May I come in?"

Kendra recognized the voice, wiping away tears. "Sure, the door is open." A young man walked in, wearing a military red and white outfit, the same as Kendra's. "What is it, Lucias?"

Lucias Brown blushed and looked away for a moment. "Um... well, I heard that you were the one who sent the order to terminate the Aquan district Fairrgood... I was wondering if you were alright... I mean, those were some heavy orders you had to give, and... No one should have to do that..." His words were slow and uncertain. His gaze was always at the floor and never met Kendra's eye.

"Thank you. But I'm alright..." She didn't want to admit her suspicions that there was something bigger behind this, not wanting to look treasonous to the Commander. "Really, Lucias, you don't have to worry. And call me Kendra, after all, we're the same rank. There's no need for formality."

Glancing at her for a quick moment, a harsher blush crossed his face. "Okay... Kendra." He smiled, less worried about his comrade. He didn't want to say the real reason he didn't look at her or call her by her first name. Her chocolate brown skin, her velvet black hair, her soft figure, even her name Kendra, it was all too beautiful. Calling her by her masculine surname usually covered his feelings of want and admiration for her, even if he failed to keep those emotions from showing on his face. It wasn't until Kendra coughed that he realized that he had been staring at her. "Oh! I'm... um... I'll let you get back to work then... I should probably go too, the boss man has me working double time on writing those reports!" he said clumsily, walking out the door.

Before his frame disappeared, he gave her a quick wave. She smiled and waved back, turning to her computer as soon as he was gone, her smile instantly faded.

"Enough of this... I need to get back on track here." She muttered to herself and turned to her computer. Putting back on her headphones, she became immersed in the system, saving her mutinous thoughts for later.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"I wonder if we'll be able to get out of here?"

"The Dragons will come, I'm sure of it!"

"But what if they don't? We'll have to get food..."

"I'm just hoping the Curtain doesn't come through..."

Several conversations spread as some survivors set up tents for the wounded. Occasionally you would see a man or woman running through the crowd, crying the name of a loved one. Someone would glance over at the forest looming over them from time to time, but that was natural. These people had lived in the city for all their lives, the forest was an unknown place of fear. For the most part, the crowd gathering didn't even go near it, but just on the outskirts of the crowd, almost touching the forest, Jacob, holding the hand of the chubby little girl, stared into the dark and dense forest.

Rebecca's tears had stopped, and for the moment she could almost forget that she was lost and without her parents. She looked up at the mysterious man. "Mister... What's your name?" she tugged on his jacket.

The man looked at the child, forgetting that she was still there. She was a cute thing, small but with some fat on her skin, her brown curls flying out from two pony tails on the back of her head. She wore an elementary school uniform, beginning grade, telling that she wasn't that old, probably five or six.

Jacob knelt down and got to her level. "I'm Jacob. What's your name?"

"'Becca..." she said, forgetting what her last name was.

"Well, Becca, can you tell me how old you are?"

"I'm six!" she announced proudly, lifting her fingers to show him the number.

"That's good." He grinned, a sad smile, his hands running through her hair. He turned as he heard a loud voice. Someone had gotten on top of a piece of rubble and had began to speak.

"Everyone, listen! We need to have a plan. None of us are sure when the Dragons come for us, but we need to be ready when they do. We need to get together the injured and put them inside the tents that some of us have put up. If there's any doctors, or anyone with medical experience, please come forward and help! Also, we need a group of volunteers to gather food and make shelters for the rest of us in case we have to spend the night..." his voice trailed. Some stopped to listen to him, and a few with minor medical backgrounds began to look for tents.

"The fools..." Jacob muttered. Rebecca looked at him with curious eyes, and as he began to walk in anger towards the crowd, she followed after him.

"Now, if we can gather everyone's name, when the Dragons come we can-"

"The Dragons won't come." Jacob's voice was louder than the man's and cut through the crowd. A small murmur of silence broke out and people turned to the new speaker.

"Oh? And how do you know?" the man said, his voice a little louder than before. He adjusted his cracked glasses as he looked at the man, his stance a little uncertain now.

"Because I was part of the Guardians, and I know that what happened here... Despite what you think, what happened here was no accident!" Gasps of shock rose up and flooded through the crowd like a ripple. "I know this because I am... was part of the Guardian team in charge of fire control. The blaze was spreading too far, and eventually an order went out to cut away this neighborhood. Sacrifice a few to save many, as my leader would have put it. But I know that as standard procedure, the Dragons won't come for us, no one will! They will all assume that any who didn't die from the fire or the crash would be contaminated by the Curtain or killed by the forest."

The man on the building fell to his knees, visibly shaking. He wasn't bad by saying that the Dragons would come, but in his greed to take command of the chaos, he didn't even imagine that something like this would have happened. "Then... what can we do?" A chorus of agreement called out with that. Quite a lot of people were now looking at Jacob.

Rebecca pulled on his sleeve, intimidated by the crowd. Jacob knelt, pulled her to him, and walked onto a pile of rubble. "What that man said was right, we do need a plan. Do as he says, look for any injured survivors. Everyone needs to pull their weight. If you're not clearing rubble or treating the wounded, search for any supplies. Rope, first aid kits, flashlights, matches, food, whatever we can use! The Dragons aren't coming for us, and staying here is suicide with the damned Curtain flowing through the valley. Tomorrow, we leave for the nearest city. Let's try and make it out alive, even if no one else wants us to!"

[hookedoncandycanes]

He hadn’t moved for some time.

It was hot. Fire’s still singed the rubble and debris surrounding. From head to toe his body was covered in soot. Sweat plastered his brown hair to his head. His clothes, ripped. His glasses, cracked. His heart, broken.

He touched her cold face…surprisingly cold despite the stifling heat. Lines of white skin could be seen where the tears had undeniably washed away the brown. Tears for his sister, dead within his arms.
He hadn’t moved for some time.

His tears were all gone. Every last drop trickled out onto her burnt pink blouse. His entire body ached. He couldn’t believe it. He wouldn’t believe it!
His hands pounded the hard ground. What a splendid friend…the one he had left.

The sound of assertion ripped him free from his nightmare reverie. A man with broken specks, like his, stood upon a risen place, directing the crowd. His words seemed slow and monotone…as if it were all in some slow-motion vacuum of space.

He tried to make his ears work. Squinted, began to inch his way closer to the sound. Another man retorted and he was beginning to catch the words.
“…atever we can use! The Dragons aren't coming for us, and staying here is suicide with the damned Curtain flowing through the valley. Tomorrow, we leave for the nearest city. Let's try and make it out alive, even if no one else wants us to!"

Leave? He couldn’t leave her…no. He would stay with her. Keep her warm. She’s so cold.

“Hey, are you okay?” An older man, hobbling from an injured leg, stooped down and shook his shoulder. His head bobbed back and forth, hardly possessing the strength to hold it still.

“…nooo…” it was long, drawn out, lacking inflection. The man saw the girl, dead and strewn out upon his legs.

“What’s your name son?”

“Cameron…Snow…”

“Come on Cameron, it’s time to go.” A new a final wave of tears surged Cameron’s face. “Here.” With effort the man stooped down and took him by the shoulders. “It’s gonna be okay…” forcing him to his feet, Cameron was overtaken by grief and threw himself into the man’s arms. He sobbed uncontrollably. The man was taken aback and at a loss of knowing how to console him, patted him on the back of the head. “You’re gonna be okay…”

As they walked away, Cameron still huddled into him, he mumbled something to his shirt.

“I’m Vincent…Vincent Graham.”

[Lau]

Simon Roused to the sounds of pain, some wailed into the darkness, and others lay simpering in their beds. Simon felt the ache coursing through his veins but more than that he just felt...empty.

The makeshift nurses and doctors were stumbling over one another treating the injured. Simon himself could barely breath without feeling a shudder of pain, the lefts side of his chest felt as if it would burst if he wasn't careful.

One of the volunteers stopping only to say "You shouldn't be moving about just yet."

"'Shouldn't' doesn't mean I can't you have other things to worry about." Simon's voice quite but as harsh as his words implied. Clutching his ribs as he went his eyes traveled the ruins before him he felt nothing....

***********************

"Sir you requested to see the new recruits?" the young private stood nervously at the door to the Black Knight's office, where still he observed the Aqua as the dust and debris cleared away, an army of small specks buzzing about the cities wound like flies, Aqua was quick to respond to the damage it's army of workers and machines ensuring the cities safety, yet that which was cut away left to plummet into the abyss below weren't given a second thought, thus was the beleif in the Commander.

"Yes he did Private." The White Lady, Silvia Angle according to official records, she held no rank much like the Knight himself but acted as his second in command.

"They are in the Training yard Ms. Angel." He stood at attention waiting to be dismissed like a good soldier, a result of the Knight's reputation.

"Dismissed." The Knight uttered at half a whisper.

"Shall we." Angel graced a hand across a cold shoulder.

"We? No, I will see to this personally, you have your duties to adhere to I assume." The Knight knew of Angel's unhealthy obsession with him it provided a sure loyalty but a slightly inconvenient attachement.

"You would have me run scans for 'him' correct?" She spat dejectedly.

"Yes 'him'." The Knight left his office without a second word, there was something about this prey of his that even he couldn't give up so easily.

*************************
Among the wreckage something slipped and oozed through the crash curious about that which fell from the sky, this creature had never known the world above but it wished to see the sky the way only the gods could. This creature clung to the shadows and watched carefully for everything in this world could be fatal when handled carelessly.

(OOC:Left alot of ????? I know but I will reveal all in time or to those who ask nicely:D)

[hookedoncandycanes]

(OOC: In an attempted to keep things moving. Help me out :P)

Vincent almost had to drag Cameron.

He was hard to move as well, but he grinned a bared it despite his injured leg. Cameron sniffled in his arm beside him. He kept trying to look back at his sister’s corpse but Vincent was sure to keep his eyes fixed and forward.

They moved around the mound, through the convening people standing massed before the speaker like he was some breadbox speaker. As Vincent laboriously lugged around Cameron his sight was obscured to one plane and so didn’t realized till it happened that he had collided with a small girl.

She fell upon her bottom rightly; nothing excruciating, but enough to cause shock in the present situation. A yelp audited from her with collision of the ground which drew the attention of but a few individuals around and the man upon the mound.

“Hey…” Jacob took a step down.

“Calm down mate. Accident.” Vincent was short. With minor effort he forced Cameron from his body and attempted to stoop to the little girl’s height which was rather short, compared to her already minor height and the fact that she was in a sitting position. “I’m sorry,” he directed at her, more as an apology for her injury, not that he bumped her.

He felt many eyes on him and for what he felt no reason. Vincent wasn’t the kind of guy who coveted attention and so looked around with awkward eyes and a matching smile. “It’s okay.” Jacob was the one to say this, not Rebecca, who remained a little startled on the dirt. She began to stand and hurried to Jacob’s side, a last refuge in an unfamiliar place.

By this point everyone had settled down. Knowing what was to come of the situation, or more of actually what they were going to try, had quelled them some and instead went back to looking after the injured and procuring good enough resting spots for the evening. “I’m Jacob,” he said, offering a hand.

Vincent didn’t notice.

“Hi.” Vincent became erect once more, knees cracking from it. Cameron remained as quite as ever. Vincent looked at the woods they were close to. Seemed dark, mysterious. He had never seen forest. All he had ever seen was the city. Never even thought to leave. If you did there was so much precaution take in case you were infected that it was more of a hassle then anything. Not that it mattered now. Seeing as they’d been down here this long he was sure they’d never be let back into a city unless extensive tests were run. That is if they survived the curtain.

“…Jacob.” He reiterated, gestured to himself.

“Oh, Vincent.” The reverie he painted melted away at his reply.

“And…” Jacob looked at Cameron. Cameron looked at him like a deer in head lights.

“Cameron?” Vincent touched his arm.

“Cameron.” He repeated his name like he’d forgotten it. As if it were something any normal person does.

“I’m Rebecca,” Rebecca interjected in a juvenile though quite cute attempt to remain in the conversation. Jacob placed a hand on her head affectionately. Vincent viewed the bond, looked at Cameron and almost laughed.

“Now that introductions are through, how about you clarify exactly how the hell we’re going to get out of here, move all of these people and beat the curtain?” Vincent was a little harsh. It seemed sticky in the air and so abrupt that Cameron could feel it in his lungs.

“Well…” Jacob started.

[kathryn]

(Thanks for keeping up the rhythm! I'll post the next part either today or tomorrow. And, btw, welcome to Behind the Curtain. =D)

[Lau]

(Thanks for keeping up the rhythm! I'll post the next part either today or tomorrow. And, btw, welcome to Behind the Curtain. =D)

OOC:LIAR!!:cry:
Oh I'll get over it.
oooo shiny!
Ummmm what was I saying???:confused:

[demonic_monkey]

(Just going to slide in here. Sorry if it's a little short.)

He lifted up onto his hands and knees. Stools and tables were strewn all around and the people that had been in the bar with him at the time of the collapse were laying about, either injured or dead. He moved toward the nearest, checking for a pulse. The began to administer CPR to the person, managing get the person breathing again. He moved about, checking others and helping those he could. Eventually, a hand grabbed his arm.

"Sir! We can take it from here," the man said.

"I'm a doctor," Andrew said, shaking the man off.

"And I'm a Guardian, sir," he said.

"Just let me help," Andrew said. "You might need it."

"Sir, I'm asking you to leave this site," the Guardian said. "The roof won't stay up forever."

Andrew Harrison looked up to see that the roof of the former bar was indeed close to collapse. He growled and lifted the woman he had just revived, carrying her out of the wreckage. He was followed by the Guardian, who carried another survivor. Those that were capable of being revived had been removed and Andrew looked back at the building as the Guardian exited. He checked the badge name; Abraham Heller. Guardian Heller looked at Andrew.

"What's your name?" Heller asked.

"Dr. Andrew Harrison, sir," Andrew answered. "I work for Reece Palmer's clinic."

"Come with me, then," Heller said. "You'll be needed when we set up some temporary medical stations."

Andrew followed Heller, still carrying his unconscious passenger. He looked back at the bar and then down at the woman he carried. His morning drink after a hard night's work would have to wait. There were more important things at hand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once the medical tents had been set up, Andrew and Abraham parted ways. He busied himself with his emergency medical duties, nodding to Dr. Palmer when he passed by. He noticed a young man walking through the medical encampment clutching his ribs. The young man had already told off a volunteer.

"Excuse me," Andrew said, "but he's right. You need to rest for now. Give your injuries some time to heal. If you strain yourself, you'll tear yourself up. Trust me. I'm a doctor."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Heller found Jacob amidst the crowd and wandered to stand by as he started to state his plan for evacuation. He crossed his arms and leaned against a wall that had managed to retain some structural integrity after falling from the sky. He was prepared to absorb the plan into his memories.

[kathryn]

Jacob scratched his head, looking at the small group around him. He dug out a map, unfolding it and spreading it out on a large bit of rubble. The map was a topographic map, and showed the valleys and the mountains fairly well. He pulled out a blue pen and began to make his markings, looking up at the sky. Rebecca looked at the map curiously, listening but not understanding while Jacob spoke.

"If I'm right, we're... here," he began, making an x mark in the valley. "And... the nearest enclosed city is, here, Terrin. Now, if I remember correctly, there's a river that runs from the summit of that mountain, right by Terrin, and it shouldn't be that far from us."

Vincent looked at the map, nodding, following what he's saying. "Wait, so you think if we follow that river it'll lead us out of here?"

"Exactly. It looks like it would take a few days of walking..."

"But there's injured people! Some can't even walk anymore, and let's not forget why the river only runs beside Terrin and not through it," a random voice said.

"But that's just speculation. If nothing else, it won't hurt to at least try," Jacob argued back.

Not much was known about the Curtain and it's abilities. It's said that it changes the water to possess the same mutation as the Curtain itself. Another speculated theory is that things in water changes to more dangerous things, but the water stays the same. Either way, most thought it dangerous to go near anything but rainwater.

The voice didn't argue back and Jacob went on. "Okay. So, if we're able to get from here to at least the water, we can follow it upstream until Terrin. There are always gates at the lower cities for those who wander away, we should be able to get in..." He thought it over some more. "And if we leave tomorrow, we'll have less of a chance to be caught by the curtain."

There was a bit of silence as people thought it over.

"Wait, wait, you're suggesting we move these people? I've seen some of the injured, some of them are so severe that you can't move them."

Jacob turned to the voice. "If they're that injured, they need medical assistance, which is in the cities. We can carry those who can't walk."

"I'm a doctor, dammit, not a work mule." Andrew said. "Sure, some will need medical assistance. But if we move the others, instead of risking death by their side, they will be dead!"

Jacob thought it over for a moment. "Then do them mercy and kill them now. Time won't be merciful, and the curtain certainly won't be."

It was Andrew's time to think. "Fine. But we'll need more volunteers to make litters for the wounded."

"I think that can be managed."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Is that the time? I have to go, or I'm going to be late..!" Kendra muttered to herself, looking at the clock. She went through her machine and shut systems down, locking her computer up. She smoothed out her uniform, stood up, and walked out the door, grabbing her coat on the way out. "Room, lock." she muttered. The computer locked the room shut, automatically turning off the lights. The curved hallway was dark, with only the security lights on. The familiar sight didn't frighten her, but she hurried as she put on her coat, her feet guiding her on the way out.

"Kendra!" A voice called out to her as she walked out of the offices. Surprised, she twisted around to see Lucias walk out to her. "What are you doing here so late? It's already 1800 hours! The Transent has already closed for the night."

She sighed in relief. "Lucias, you scared me. I know it's late, I was just busy filing and- wait, why are you here so late?" she asked, turning curiously towards him as they walked out the door.

He blushed and looked away a moment. "Me? Um, just working, like you. I drive to work, so I thought I would take my time..." He glanced at her a moment and took his chance. "I know you don't have an aer-car, and the next Transent arrives at the nearest station fairly late... would you like a ride home?" he asked, smiling shyly, hoping for her to say yes.

"Um... Thank you, I'd really appreciate that." Kendra smiled, watching his face brighten as they walked out the doors. The day was still going on, but the sun was nearing the summit of the eastern mountain. The glare shone on the shields brightly, turning their twilight into day.

(Makin' fun of ma favorite Monkeeeey. :D)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
(EDIT: No one showed the change of time... or something, so I'll do it.)

The volunteers worked quickly, clearing the rubble and making make shift stretchers from various supplies. Some continued to find bodies underneath the rubble, and the crying in the background never seemed to fade away. It took less time than Jacob thought to really gather everyone, and either if it was with or without his permission, a silent agreement arose to begin to gather everyone for a final trek into the woods, even as the sun began its slow descent.

What no one knew, but everyone guessed was that it was barely a few hours past noon.

(Yeah, since this edit, I realize that I'm writing on two different times. It's okay though.)

[demonic_monkey]

Andrew wandered through the medical encampment, assisting people where he was needed as they moved the injured from their makeshift cots to their makeshift stretchers. He would occasionally warn a volunteer to be careful with his patients as they moved them onto the stretchers. As time passed, he grew more and more exhausted from the exertion of lifting human bodies, but he continued to press on, knowing that they had to leave this place quickly, lest some sort of mutated monster attack the camp. In time, he found himself preparing to move the woman he had carried out of the demolished bar onto a stretcher.

As he began to lift her, she stirred. Her eyes slowly opened and she looked up at him.

"Where am I?" she asked.

"We're on the ground," Andrew said. "The section of the city of Aqua that we were in had to be quarantined from the rest and apparently destroying it seemed like the easiest way to achieve that. Do you remember anything?"

"I remember the bar," she said. "There was a tremor and then everything went black."

"What's your name?" he asked.

"Rhiannon Sommers," she answered.

"Well, Miss Sommers, I'm Dr. Andrew Harrison," he introduced himself. "Can you walk?"

"I think so," she replied.

She slowly got back on her feet and looked back at Andrew. He nodded, satisfied that she had not sustained any crippling injuries. He began to move on to the next patient that would need to be moved onto a stretcher. She followed him and assisted in moving the injured person. He gave a wan smile after they had moved the man onto his stretcher.

"Who got me out of the bar after the collapse?" Rhiannon asked.

"Me," Andrew said.

"I thought I recognized you," Rhiannon said. "You were sitting at the bar with a scotch on the rocks."

"Yeah," he said. "That was me. So you were looking at me?"

"Yeah," Rhiannon said, blushing slightly. "I was sort of checking you out. You're rather handsome, you know."

"I suppose," Andrew said. "I'm a mess right now, though."

"I don't know," Rhiannon said. "The blood and the dirt give you a more rugged appearance. Very appealing."

Dr. Reece shook his head as he passed Andrew and Rhiannon. It seemed that, even in these settings, his protege was being flirtatious. He merely sighed and moved on to continue in the preparations for evacuation of the area. Andrew wiped sweat from his brow with his forearm and continued his work. Soon, Heller found him again.

"How's it coming?" Heller asked.

"Those that can be moved are almost ready," Andrew reported. "Only a few more are left and then we can leave. Those that can't be moved..."

"Right," Heller said. "Hey, isn't she...?"

"The girl I carried out of the bar," Andrew confirmed.

"Abe Heller," he said.

"Rhiannon Sommers," she replied. "So, I have to ask, what will become of the ones that can't be moved?"

"Those whose injuries are too grave to risk moving will sadly have to be euthanized," Heller answered.

"You can't be serious," Rhiannon said.

"It's the only logical course," Andrew said. "Sacrifice the few for the many. If we stayed here long enough for them to be healed to the point where they could be moved, we'd either be hit by the Curtain or some mutant monstrosity would attack. In times of chaos such as this, we have no choice but to rely on our strongest of instincts; the survival instinct. Believe me, I don't want them euthanized, but there's no other choice left to us. At least take comfort in the fact that there aren't many of them that can't be moved."

"And how many would that be?" Rhiannon asked.

"Twelve," Andrew answered.

"In these conditions, they might not have survived much longer anyway," Heller said. "Freeing them of their lives now is more merciful than leaving them behind alive to be killed by something else."

Heller walked away and Andrew and Rhiannon continued to move the last of the injured people onto their stretchers. They looked at each other for a moment and looked away. Andrew saw anger and sadness in her eyes. He felt compelled to offer her comfort, but he also felt that she would not be willing to accept it. He followed the only logical course left to him.

"I'm sorry," he said.

[Lau]

(OOc:mind your turns monkey*wags a finger jugdingly*)

Simon ignored the doctor's kind request he didn't really care anymore, even when he heard several patients would be euthanized and left behind he felt nothing. Seeing the dead eyes of his brother staring him down every time he dared to shut his own seemed numb him to the world around him.

A few more nurses and volunteers asked him to take it easy, but he knew just as well as any doctor would nothing can be done for broken ribs just painkillers and rest. He refused to be carried around like luggage he had the strength to stand and that fact made him all the more stubourn. Soon someone came screaming through the camp, "It's eating them IT's EATING THE BODIES!" Someone grabbed ahold of her in an attempt to calm her and she stuttered out a better explanation "This slime covered thing it...it came through the cracks in the rubble where we were collecting the dead, and IT latched on to one of them!"

Not too many people wished to see this 'thing' the woman spoke of and much of the camp was alarmed enough to start urging a move, scared people all thinking along the same lines, 'if the scavengers are here' the predators will soon follow'.

(OOC:forgive the itty bittyness of this but I'm kinda strapped for time, BUT I WILL NEVER GIVE UP:notworthy:)

[hookedoncandycanes]

EDIT: OOC: I looks like Lau and I replied at the same time so I didn't add his post to my part of the story yet, but his post doesn't negatively influence my post at all. Just tag it in in the next post :D)

"This is stressful." Vincent sat down of a particularly large piece of debris to rest his hurt ankle. Cameron rested himself on the rock, leaning his back against it, one leg up and crossing his arms. His brownish hair fell down around his glasses and was silent per usual.
"Hey, where were you?"

Cameron glanced at Vincent and then return his line of sight to the ground. "I was gardening with my sister."

"Gardening...cute."

"Something wrong with gardening?"

"Nothing, nothing at all," Vincent said with a chuckle. He massaged his knees...I'm not that old, why do I hurt so much? "Hey Doctor, got any pain killers?"

Andrew had begun to leave the area but stopped and turned to him. "Under these circumstances obviously not," was his curt reply.

"...Some doctor." Vincent crossed his arms and gazed back at the looming forest. Andrew scoffed and went on. Cameron followed suit, with Vincent too busy staring a to notice.

Cameron held far enough away to not be notices but was curious to see what the doctor did. He listened intently to the exchange between Rhiannon and Andrew.

"Freeing them of their lives now is more merciful than leaving them behind alive to be killed by something else."

He couldn't bear it. Cameron, though not quite as tall as Andrew and definitely not near his age, drew himself up as high as he could and stood in his path. "What the fuck kind of doctor are you!?" There was a hush in the general vicinity. "What, just because they can't walk you're just going to kill them! Not even let them die or try to fight. We just lost our homes and you want to be a fucking murderer!"

Vincent's attention was at last caught. He turned to talk to Cameron but notices he was gone. Instead, he heard his furious shouts from the area where the survivors were being treated. He hurried over as quickly as he could.

Andrew closed his eyes and breathed to calm himself. He hadn't wanted to start a panic but this little shit had done just that. Now he had even more work on his hands. "I don't think you understand," he began.

"I don't understand!? My sister is dead over there under a shit-ton of rubble. I don't fucking understand..." Tears rolled down his cheeks. Andrew was attempting to hold his ground though Cameron was pushing against him.

"Calm down kid." Andrew tried to sedate him with a hand on the shoulder to only discover it was like fuel for the fire, and the fire was raging.

Cameron reeled back with a fist. Andrew didn't flinch. Vincent took hold of Cameron's upturned arm and flung him to the ground with one hand on Andrew's chest though Andrew wasn't making any attempt to further the fight. Cameron jumped to his feet but Vincent was much larger then he was. "Cam...stop this," he said with a stern voice.

He held his gaze for a second. Vincent didn't glance away. Finally he looked at Andrew, "Piss off Doc." And with that turned and stalked away to be alone.

"I think it's best he be left alone," Andrew began.

"Naw, me too," Vincent said sarcastically, making fun of Andrew at his expense. "What did you say to let the steam blow the stack? I haven't heard him say that many words since I met him."

Andrew crossed his arms and readjusted his stance. "He overheard me talking about euthanasing the remainder of those who can't make it."

"What?" Vincent's eyes were squinted and he was looking at Andrew like he was a mad man. "Putting them out of their misery? That's how you want to solve this problem?"

"Under the present circumstances..." Andrew began.

"Under the present circumstances my ass!" he kept his voice at a whisper but held ever ounce of intensity. "You don't just kill someone cause they can't walk!"

"What would you have me do!?"

Jacob had long since come over to the commotion. He stood there, with Rebecca in toe, hovering behind his right calf. Vincent looked at Jacob, then back at Andrew. "I'll stay. Terrin isn't that far from here. Go get help and come back for the twelve or so that are left."

Jacob took a step forward, leaving Rebecca further in the open, "The curtain..."

"Don't tell me about the damned curtain! I know. Look, I'm old and my ankle is all sorts of screwed up. It'd be better to let an old man sit then go on this little excursion. I'll watch them. Bring in a few aer-cars and scout the area. If were done for by the time you get back it'd be better than euthanasia." The last bit he stabbed toward Andrew who physically cringed. Harsh.

"What about the kid?" Andrew asked, gesturing his head in the direction of where he ran off.

"Judging by his reaction he'll probably want to stay, though I think it'd be better for him not to waste his time," Vincent replied. "Let me deal with him. He'll come back."

"How do you know for sure? You haven't know him that long," Jacob asked.

"Because he doesn't have anyone left." Vincent stood there, eyes on him once again and he felt that same uncomfortable feeling he felt before.

They all stood quietly for a moment before, "Fine." It was Jacob. "We'll come back and see if you guys are still around. If the curtain comes then if anyone is able, get to higher ground, or figure out some way to avoid it."

"Don't worry about us." And with that, he went off to take a load off of his painful ankle.

"I'm sorry," Andrew said. It came out as little more than a whisper. Being a doctor was a shitty job.

[kathryn]

(reserved. I'm in the middle of moving... well, it's me moving both myself and my mom, so I'm pretty busy. This is a forewarning that once I do move, it'll be some time to get the internet again.

In other news, here (http://www.werewolf.com/vb/showthread.php?p=18571#post18571)'s the discussion thread. I'm pretty much yelling at you all at first, but if you get past that, then it will be handy if you have any questions, just post them there.)

[kathryn]

(I think I'll let someone else take care of the mess that Lau started. xD)

He sat on his throne, his mind in a dream like state, his face covered by the sleep-mask. A technicolor fantasy flashed through him, LCD dreams to the only druggie left in the world. The sounds from outside were warped and seemed beautiful to him, quickly becoming a symphony of celestial chords. As the choruses of colors flew through him and around him, he began to chase a dark and familiar figure ahead of him. His cries to the shadow fell away as he flew through the forest. It wasn't until he caught up with the mysterious figure, turning it around, and seeing the horror. A betrayed face looked at him in hatred so deep that it woke him up before he could hear the voice he desperately wanted to silence.

Breathing hard, he tore off the mask, his dilated pupils shrinking in the light. A faint static of noise caught his attention. "-row. Commander Supreme Monroe." Monroe, that was who the man was. A handsome figure, the definition of manhood, his muscles toned, his skin healthy, his eyes hard, frequently sparkling with charm. His hair was the only thing that told of his age, a blaring pure white and grey, long and tied back out of his eyes. No one would have guessed that he was over one hundred years old, no one would have seen it in his walk, his speech, or even his mannerisms. He lifted the noisy headpiece to his ear and spoke, his voice calm and dark.

"Yes, this is Monroe, comrade."

"Commander, this is the head of council of Aqua. A portion of the city is falling away, specifically the Fairrgood district. Please, send the Dragons to help us, or the whole city will fall under!"

A soft smile curled Monroe's thin lips. "No. Cut away the district. The code is 5, Alpha, Zeta, 6, 5, 5, Beta."

"But... but sir, there are people there! Please-"

"Better to cut it away now than to let me see the whole city go down! The Dragons are preoccupied and this is the only thing to do, or are you telling me that you doubt the word of your superior?!" He stood up, the navy blue suit making the slightest noise as he did it.

The line was silent for a moment and then a faint voice cracked out, "No... sir. I'll send the word." Monroe smirked and closed the call as the fool on the other end was in the middle of praising him. Calmly, with two fingers he removed the headpiece and put it on the table to the side of him.

"Those fools." He grinned, sitting back down in his chair and leaning back, turning towards his window and the beautiful view it gave him of Aqua, the burning debris falling to the forest below. "If my calculations are right, there would only be a ten percent casualty rate out of the survivors. And who else to have as my personal guard... than those who could not only survive the fall and the forests, but also the curtain itself...?"

(And so the villain reveals himself. Why is he so old and yet so youthful looking? And we now know why he wanted the district to be cut away. But what was that dream about? All questions will be answered in due time, most probably by Miss Kendra Ryan, and whoever else wants to help her.)

[demonic_monkey]

Andrew pulled a piece of rebar from a pile of rubble. It was a few feet long and had broken off at the end, leaving a sharp point. He started walking through the encampment in search of a few others to go on the mission through the forest. For the first time that day, he looked at his watch to check the time. 3:03 PM stared up at him fron the digital face of the timepiece.

"We need to hurry," Rhiannon said from behind him. "It's getting late."

He turned to see her holding a piece of rebar with a rectangular chunk of cement still attached to one end, a sort of makeshift hammer. She looked intent on going with him through the forest to find the town. He raised an eyebrow quizzically.

"Yes, I'm going," she said.

"Are you sure?" Andrew said. "It could be dangerous in the woods."

"I'm aware," she said, "but you saved my life today, so I plan to return the favor, if I can."

"Sounds like a good idea, but you'd be surprised how many times good ideas ended up turning bad," Heller's voice called from a few feet away.

"I take it you're coming with us," Andrew said.

"Of course," Abe said. "You need someone with a little experience to come along or you'll end up as a snack. I just wish Terrin wasn't so far away. We might not be able to make it back before the Curtain hits this area."

"Yeah, but we have to try" Andrew said. "We can't just let them die. That sort of thinking got us into this mess in the first place."

"Turned over a new leaf, have we?" Rhiannon said.

Andrew said nothing in response. He busied himself with preparations for the journey he was about to undertake. Abe climbed onto a pile of rubble and whistled loudly to get the attention of the throng. They turned to look at him.

"Now that I have your attention," he said, "some of us are going on to Terrin to bring back help for those that can't be moved in their current condition. Anyone able to go along is welcome to join us, but some will need to stay behind and look after the injured. Some have volunteered for that job already. As the few Guardians here, Jacob and I be going on to Terrin with the away team, for lack of a better term. I must warn you, the forest is likely to hold dangers that are currently unknown, so those that come with us will need to be able to defend themselves. Those who wish to go, please hurry and gather with us here. We need to get back as soon as possible and Terrin isn't as close as any of us would like it to be."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

High above the chaos on the ground, Charles Moreau took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. It had been a long day for him and as he looked at the clock on his computer's screen, he realized his shift had ended a half an hour earlier.

"Crap!" he said. "I need to get going."

He shut down his station and practically sprinted out the doors, nearly running into Lucias and Kendra. He skidded to a stop and ended up tripping over his own feet and nearly falling on his face.

"Whoa! You okay, Charlie?" Lucias asked.

"Huh?" he asked. "Oh, yeah, just in a hurry. I was supposed to meet Jimmy at my place fifteen minutes ago. Gotta go. See you guys tomorrow."

With those words, he took off running again. He jumped behind the wheel of his aer-car and started it up.

"Damn it, Charles," he scolded himself. "Jimmy's never going to let you hear the end of it now."

(And with that, there is another character to help Kendra. Bit of a nerdy guy, but he's useful.)

[Lau]

"Sir these are the new recruits, and their files Sir." The Black Knight wasted no time as the recruits were aligned before him, four men, three women. His eyes hid behind the black gleam of hardened glass that made up the faceless black dome that encased his face, and his black hair spilled free from it's back. He was an almost inhuman sight, it furthered his image as an icon of fear and respect thus were the games he was forced to play if only to achieve his own goals, and then there was Monroe.

Scanning the files before him he found no names no histories, just abilities and skills that's all the were to the Dragons tools, that's all they were, that was all he was. The Dragons tended to stray away from the grotesque in their recruits save for the most powerful of them but only if those could be controlled and those were rarely held within the confines of the cities. Those unfortunate freaks held the surface outposts while those retaining some semblance of humanity were allowed the luxuries of civilization like the souls standing here.

The Black Knight stared them down as he spoke "You all are to join my unit, I am not responsible for your lives but your actions, and those actions will either prove you loyal or force my hand."

He cast his gaze to the first, a simple soldier the mutations heightened the limits of her body in all aspects of human ability with experience and training she could very well find herself commanding her own troop "Each of you will earn your title against me..." He turned his gaze to the private at his side, "Show them all to the rack let them choose a weapon if any."

She returned to the center of this white and sterile training room aglow with florescent lights focus in on the red ring at it's center, the Dragons had a particular way of training a match held here would end only in surrender, and more often than not real weapons were used in these matches. The soldier made her choice a rather lager knife glinting in the light as she readied herself without question prepared to face the black figure before her.

She bowed and the Black Knight did not dare to draw his blade, the fight was wrought with her agility quick and decisive but each strike was more akin to that of a snake than anything, the Knight himself moved as if he knew every move before it made, and grounded this viper three times much to her dismay. She looked to force her way through his guard failing as a tinge of pain shot from her wrist to her shoulder ending in the pulsing throb growing in the back of her head, before she realized it 'he' had ended the fight. Her own weapon rest at her throat her arm held painfully in an iron grip "Do you submit?" He asked plainly, to which she nodded.

Releasing her and handing the knife back to her he spoke again "Well done Viper, you may go." Receiving the title Viper was all the confirmation she needed she had impressed the Knight and was now officially one of the Dragons. A title was something that described that soldier's skills and abilities, those without a title never managed to impress a commander and were tasked with menial duties at bases and outposts much like the private that saw to much of the Knight's errands.

Only three more would join Viper the others failed to meet The Knight's expectations, none of them had even winded their commanding officer but such a match was rare even among the Dragons' Elite. Those that joined him were Titan a man with the ability to increase his mass telekinetically reinforcing his body to the point he could crush stone, but he bled like any other man would when a blade grazed his flesh. Legion woman with the ability to create four psychic copies of herself that could harm you just as the real one could. Last was Whisper a psychic with a talent for hallucinations, creating a host whispers and shadows concealing himself among them and moving in on those left ungaurded. But still the Black Knight was two steps ahead, a warrior and a strategist his title born of a chessboard. He dismissed his recruits and returned to office for the remainder of the day, tomorrow they would depart for the surface, assuming Angel's information was ready and accurate but that would wait for the morning.

************************************

Simon saw no point in it march to ones death, or wait for it, either way they weren't likely to survive this. With a deep breath he stepped up to join those on the path away from this graveyard that was once his home his life, 'better to seek death than to wait for it' he thought his life wasn't worth much but he wasn't about to waist it sitting among the rubble.

(OOC:there More about the Dragons if Kathryn no like say so I change okyday....me go sleepy now:beerchug:)

[hookedoncandycanes]

His stomach growled. Cameron looked down at his empty belly and mourned for the loss of food. He sat away from the group, on the ground facing the forest. The way the light hit the trees was beautiful and terrible. The mysteries of the woods were alluring and seemed to call him from his place to its depths.
A series of steps broke his daydream. An autonomic response, he faced toward the direction of the gait. Vincent. He still hobbled slightly on one injured leg. He acknowledged his presence and returned his face to the forest.
“It’s calm isn’t it.” Vincent remained standing. Sitting would involve too much effort on his aged bones.
“I don’t know if I’d say that,” Cameron replied into his knees. “I’ve never seen the forest this close before.”
“Most of us haven’t.” Vincent grunted as he succumbed to sit. His joints popped as he did so.
Cameron grimaced, “You really don’t have to.”
“Naw, don’t worry about me kid.” Finally he sat there, feet outstretched before him, looking at the forest too. There was a surge of wind that shook the trees and they all waved the arms in unison. “This is one thing I love about the surface. I wish they could at least try to simulate it in the cities.
“You mean…”
“The forest, yeah.” They were in silence again. “So how old are you?”
“17…”
“Young.”
“You?”
“Oh I’m way older than that.” Vincent chuckled.
“What, 60?”
“Not that old!” He fake punched him in the shoulder. “I’m 54.”
“You’re old.” Cameron dared a smile. Vincent looked at him and they started laughing. Maybe it was for the sheer need of some comic relief from the stressful situation, but they laughed quite a long time.
When their laughter finally died down, Vincent leaned back on his hands and sighed. “Look, about what happened back there…”
His beginning was cut off by a scream. The two of them turned their heads in the direction. With Cameron’s help Vincent was on his feet again and they were rushing to the source of the sound. It had come from the area where the injured lie.
A green slime mass had engulfed one of the patients. Whether the old woman had tried to fight it or not was irrelevant for she was unmoving in the creature’s insides. As they witnessed they could see it’s body breakdown her form, like acid eating away the clothes and flesh. It was grotesque. “What the fuck is that thing!?” Vincent called aloud.
Andrew ran to the scene, carrying his piece of rebar. He pierced the creature’s gelatin like flesh, only to retract the weapon dripping with sizzling acid. “And we’re supposed to fight this thing how?” Andrew asked, retreating nearer toward the rest of the onlookers.
“Water…” Cameron said with a dry throat. “Water returns acids back to base.”
“Of course!” Andrew knew that. There was a plethora of bottled waters they had accumulated from the wreckage. A few of the surrounding people got as many as they could.
Cameron was the first to throw his water. It ate its flesh like its own acid. There was sound like an animalistic cry and the creature began to retreat. A torrent of assaults from the oncoming victims attacked the creature. It’s size began to diminish until finally, with the last of their water, it was nothing but a green hued puddle before them, the woman’s half dissolved corpse left in the middle of it.
Andrew walked past Cameron, “Quick thinking.” It was the only thank you he was willing to give.
“But…now we have hardly any water left.” Vincent was looking at their largely diminished pile of gathered water and food. Cameron held a look on his face. He blamed himself. “He man, it needed to be done, don’t worry.”
”It just means we have to hurry,” Jacob said.

(OOC: I could be wrong about the acids thing but...humor me. I remember reading something about it in biology class.)

[UnseenEYES]

It'd been a long day, but it was working out well finding a working hot-water heater was a small miracle, and manually rigging the plumbing, not too mention repairing the pipes and hooking up the water filter Tech slapped together made Lennox think to himself 'This better be worth the trouble.'

Most wastelanders weren't aware with the concept of showering, but Lennox wasn't giving up on the idea that crawled into his head the moment they found that hot-water heater. And the second that scalding water washed over his flesh he 'knew' that this was worth the trouble. He had it set up in an old community center, his crew set up shop here a few months ago. Tech wouldn't have it any other way swearing that he could get the whole building up and running electricity, plumbing, heat the works, but that guys mouth is bigger than his brain but at least he made good on the running water. Only problem was the sheer size of the building being stretched so thin made it hard to keep undesirables out not all intelligent life was willing to negotiate, a lot of them would just rip out your throat and take what you've got.

When he heard footsteps he didn't react, he listened closely, they were slow methodical he wasn't sure if they belonged to any of his crew, but they weren't quiet enough to be sneaking about, but weren't paced quickly enough for an attack, or so he thought up until *click,click* that was a shotgun unfortunately and none of his people had one.

"Hello handsome, nice ass but why don't you turn around and complete the view for me, be a dear and keep your hands on your head I'd really appreciate it." Lennox did as he was asked getting shot wasn't fun, and if he did he preyed that she only had buckshot loaded into that thing it'd sting but it wouldn't kill him outright.

He took record of the female in front of him deformed by the curtain left side was covered by a insect like shell while the right remained human for the most part, still she was ugly as sin and had poor taste in clothes patchwork rags and bits of leather. "Alot easier on the eyes than most freaks I come across," she held her weapon confidently enough she was prepared to fire, and not alone explaining the patience and swagger that and she was enjoying herself way too much to rush. Lennox looked to reach for his things "nuh uh big boy you stay right there 'we' like our men just like you are right now." A sickening smile graced her face, she and whoever was with her were Slavers and not the profit kind either, the kind that keep them for pleasure, amusement, food, and as moving targets, sometimes they'd hand over there finds to the Dragons if it'll spare there own execution.

It wasn't long before her freinds showed up two more females considerably better looking than the others blues skin on the right and tentacle on the left not too mention their backup a leashed hound about the size of a horse snarling and sniffing in his direction it had the hide of a rhino and the face of bulldog the ugliest thing he'd seen in months. "Well Ess you made quite the find didn't you." Blue-skin cooed.

"I think he'll need a pretty collar." Tentacles hissed in delight.

Lennox dropped his hands "That's where I draw the line ladies, I'm putting on my pants you can shoot me after.....then I'll kill you." Male, female, killing either was all the same in the name of survival on the surface besides.

He reached for his pants then *BANG*.. She pulled the trigger, Lennox was sent rolling across the tile floor and to the far wall "Well thats unfortunate, guess we'll just feed Shred the corpse." They let the beast off his chain.

Lennox growled as he twisted up from the floor catching their hound fully under the jaw with a closed fist, their mistake was using buckshot a well aimed slug might've killed him but the buckshot barely pierced the skin and pissed him off. The hound was slammed up against the ceiling landing on the tile floor dazed and confused as Lennox took hold of the beasts head and snapped it's neck before it could recover. Without that little surprise that monster would've been much more of a challenge. Lennox stared toward the ladies and cracked his neck "Start running, cause if I catch you I'm going pull your limbs off." He let them run as he slid on his leathers his boots and coat before setting out after them.

He meant it when he said he'd kill them at least the bug bitch that shot him. The other needn't be bothered with this, they made it out of the building but only as far as the open street just out the north entrance. He didn't announce his presence he didn't hesitate and he didn't think twice, he bolted into the street gaining ground on the three aiming for the insect as he wound back and followed through, plowing her into the ground. The other two readied to fight scared out of their minds, he just shook his head and waved them off as he circled round the bitch at his feet, he seethed with anger, she struggeld to reach for her weapon, and he brought his boot down shattering the arm beneath it.

She looked up at him her eyes begging for mercy "You shouldn't have shot me." He finished her quickly, a lot better than slavers deserve but Lennox wasn't in the business of torture, she tried to kill him he succeeded in returning the favor, and now he had to get Seury to pluck buckshot out of his chest, this was going to be an interesting conversation.

Twenty minutes later....

"Len what the hell? You wander off for second and you get shot?" Seury was warm hearted for a reptile more human than most.

"Then Boomer lock up those entrances, anyone can get in here, you're lucky they found me and not one of you-OW!!" He cringed as she plucked out another pellet.

"Dont whine, we need to get these out don't want to get an infection do you?"

"I doubt I could."

"Well we need you healthy so I'm not taking the chance." Seury was right, they needed him and he wasn't about to let them down what else would someone do their family.