I was watching Blade II the other night, and after becoming reacquainted with my favorite character I decided to look to see if there was any fanfic about him…there was, but nowhere near enough for my liking. So I wrote my own. That and the second (third? I've lost count) viewing left me unsatisfied as to why Scud would become a familiar after Blade saved his ass from vamps (no, I do not subscribe to the group of people who think that was part of the plan…remember, Blade said "I was onto you from the moment they turned you": that would have to mean that Scud wasn't a familiar when he met Blade). So here's my take on why Scud is a familiar in the movie. Enjoy.
I didn't want to. Before I say anything else, before I start telling it, before you start judging, I honestly didn't want to. B had been good to me; put a roof over my head (or at least let me borrow his), gave me something productive to do, just let me do my thing. Yeah, I know; he more put up with me than anything else. Fuck, I know I can be a bit of an ass. But he was a good guy, really; killing all the suckheads, saving the damsels in distress, whatever. It was nice, for once; coming from a life I did, getting shunted from one foster family to another and then living on the streets for a few years, it was paradise. So what if it made me a bit more of a target to the vamps; I'd been on the streets most of my life in one form or another, I knew how to handle myself. Or, at least, I thought I did.
We were in Prague at the time, looking for W's puckered ass. It started like most days did; B went out to do his thing, I stayed at camp to do mine. You know, fiddling with the computers, checking security, working on a new weapon, etc. Nothing new. I think I must have fallen asleep or something; I hadn't been sleeping well. Nothing serious, just a little insomnia; it happens to the best of us. Anyway, I must have fallen asleep, 'cuz the next thing I knew, there was this guy standing over me, just…staring. I jumped like a foot, looking the guy up and down without being, y'know, obvious, assessing the situation. It's something I learned growing up, and believe you me, it's kept me out of trouble a few times. He was a tall motherfucker, bald as a cueball, and pale. And he had this look in his eyes, predatory. So he's a vamp. Obviously; that's my luck for you, right?
I tried to get the hell out of there; always been a flight kinda guy. If it keeps me alive, who's to judge, right? But this guy, he just shoved me back in the chair like it was nothing. Kinda unnerving. He gave me this look, like I was a piece of meat. Well, that's what I was to him, I guess…
"Where is the Daywalker?"
It took me a minute to figure out what he was asking. I mean, most people, well, vamps, just call B Blade. Sure, he is the "Daywalker," but what with the fear that the cocksucker was gonna go for my neck preoccupying my brain, it took a while for the words to sink in. "Oh, B. Yeah, well, he's out. Ashing your buddies, probably." Okay, word to the wise: never, and I mean never, tell the bad guy the hero is out. Always a bad idea, mainly because it leaves you all by yourself, with no incentive for the bad guy to not kick your ass.
I smirked. Yeah, probably not the best option, but I thought I was in the clear; B was out, it was obviously B the guy was after, he'd leave me alone. Right? Wrong.
The suckhead gave me an evil grin. "Out, eh? How…fortunate." It quickly became apparent that it wasn't B the guy was after.
I backed the chair up, looking for a possible exit as I did. Usually this escaped the notice of people, but not this guy; he was sharp. With one perfectly planted kick the chair upturned, and I fell sprawling on the floor. Kinda hard to run away when your legs are tangled up in a chair.
"You are the Daywalker's pet, no?" Immediately this was an insult to my ego. Pet? Hell no; I was no one's property. Sure, he let me stay there and help, but I was my own man. I gave him a glare, daring him to say anything else. Yeah, vampires, not so easily intimidated. He grabbed me by the collar of my t-shirt, lifting me into the air until we were nose to nose. "Answer," he hissed.
"Fuck no; I just help the guy out…technical stuff. I don't 'belong' to anyone. Least of all him." The suckhead let go, and for the second time that night I was lying on the ground. It was beginning to be something of an issue.
"We'll see about that…" It was kind of muttered; I didn't really realize what he said until later, when I was able to fully appreciate the irony.
I pushed myself to my elbows, giving him my best badass look. "Listen, Nosferatu, just get the hell out, alright? Your buddy B isn't here right now, so you're shit outta luck." I pulled a joint out of my pocket and stuck it in my mouth and began looking through my pockets for a lighter. Given recent events, I really needed a hit.
But, alas, it was not to be, 'cuz the bastard pulled me to my feet, eliciting a noise of protest, causing me to drop the joint. I barely had time to mourn my loss, because the guy started talking again. "You do know of our plan, no?"
I raised an eyebrow. I had heard of the vamps' "master plan," where they would wipe out the entire human race, since it was the main reason why business was booming as of late; they were getting bold, beginning to really set it into motion. But I feigned ignorance, figuring it would lengthen the stay of execution. "Enlighten me."
"We have created a new race, a type of vampire that is perfect in every way. It is our hope that, with this new development, we can become the dominant race instead of you humans." His features twisted with distaste.
This was new information; I hadn't heard about this at all, despite my numerous reliable sources. I couldn't wait to tell B; he'd want to be all over this. But my excitement, no matter how well-hid, was short-lived.
"However, there is a problem. The specimen we have has turned on our kind, favoring our blood over that of humans. This cannot be allowed to continue."
"And how is this my problem?"
He tightened his grip on my shirt, shoving me harder, if possible, against the wall. "We need Blade's help."
I laughed to myself. So that's what this was about; he didn't want B's help, he wanted him dead, and he had just created an ingenious way to accomplish it. "Cut the bullshit, D. If you've got some new plan on how to kill B, just fuckin' say it."
D's eyebrows furrowed, his anger obvious. But he controlled himself; he obviously wanted me to do something for him, and it wouldn't be a good idea to kill the helper before he could be convinced to help. He closed his eyes, paused a minute, then opened them again. "You are quite perceptive, human. So you are open to the proposition."
I snorted. "Fuck no. I just hate bureaucratic bullshit; if you've got something to say, no reason to sugarcoat it, just say it."
His eyes narrowed. "I am going to explain the plan, and you are going to carry it out."
I kept pushing, watching the vein pulse in his forehead as he got more and more frustrated. "We'll see."
"Your role is threefold; you must allow my 'representatives' to get in here to present their case, you must report all important developments to me, including the Daywalker's weaknesses, and you must allow him to feel in control as my plans are set into motion. And any further instructions I give you must be followed."
"Fuck that. I'm not doing it."
"Yes, you are. You have no choice." No anger, no commanding, just a calm declaration of fact.
"That's where you're wrong. There is always a choice. And I choose to tell you to get the fuck out of here, 'cuz there is no way in hell I'm gonna go Mata Hari on Blade. He saves my ass from you suckheads, and I turn around and betray him to the enemy? Sorry, bub, not happening. Get yourself another errand boy, 'cuz I'm staying out of it."
The cocksucker shoved me against the wall. Hard, none of that holding-back shit he had been pulling earlier; for a minute I couldn't breathe. "You will do it, and you will not complain again. When our plan is complete, when we number in the thousands and are all Daywalkers, do you think there will be any place for your kind other than as the cattle you are? We tolerate you now, only because you outnumber us. But when it is we who outnumber you, who will save you? Not your precious Blade; he will be long dead. If you do not help us in our goals, you will join them, I can guarantee it." He backed up and I slid to the floor, overwhelmed.
I had one last rebellion in me, and I took it. "Yeah, fat chance. Blade's one bad motherfucker; he's not gonna go down easy. You know how many of you he's taken out already? Millions. And he's just getting started." I was grasping at straws, trying to save my own ass, and he knew it. Sure, Blade had everything under control now, but if the suckheads had something new, something that even they were afraid of (yeah, I had picked up on that; I'm smarter than I look), maybe B's days were numbered.
The damn bloodsucker read my mind. "He may be 'just getting started,' as you put it, now, but for how long can he keep it up? He is but one man, albeit a superhuman one, but mortal nonetheless. And he has no one to take over if he falls; we have the old man, and you are not fit to take up the mantle." Touché.
I opted to change tactics. I know when to cut my losses; now was the time to look after my own ass, since it was now painfully obvious B wasn't going to be able to do it for me forever. "What's in it for me?" A serious question, I thought. Sure, it may sound selfish, but why would I do something for a vamp if I wasn't getting something out of it? Yeah, I know you're all about ready to smack me right now, but I'm a realist, not a romantic. I've seen more than most of you will probably ever see in your entire life; heroism gets people killed and usually yields very few results, at least in the field I'm in.
"For you? I will guarantee your safety from others of my kind as long as you do what I ask."
"That it? I get that from B. Sorry, buddy, you're gonna have to do better than that."
He gave me a glare intended to paralyze me with fear, but, honestly, B had given me worse for less. "Fine. If you do as I ask and do it very well, when the time comes, I will ensure that you join our ranks. You show potential; I believe that one day you may be useful."
Well, that was about as much as a guy could ask for. Ensured survival. For eternity. Hard core.
One more question. "And if I don't?" His eyes narrowed. He approached me until my back was to the wall. He gripped under my chin, right where the windpipe is, and squeezed. Not enough to be painful, just enough that it was reeeally uncomfortable and kind of hard to breathe. "Let's just say that it would be better for you if you didn't, no?" It was painfully obvious what he meant; I refused and it would be the last thing I did.
He drove a hard bargain. Oh, don't get me wrong; I have my loyalties, and will fight to the death to protect them. However, first and foremost among my loyalties is saving my own ass. Much as I hated myself for doing it, I nodded weakly, letting out a wheezing "okay" that was barely audible unless you were listening for it.
He let go of my throat, letting me slump to the floor and try to regain my breath. "Okay what?" The bastard knew what I was agreeing to, he just wanted me to say it myself. The sick fuck.
"I will do what you say. I will," I swallowed thickly, "betray Blade so you can succeed in your fucking plan." I mumbled the rest, wishing desperately that it hadn't come to this. Sure, B had been waaay too focused on saving this Whistler guy to actually pay much attention to me, but I was used to that kind of thing, really; it was nothing new. And B didn't deserve this, not really. No one deserved a betrayal this big.
The guy nodded, obviously pleased with himself. "Come here."
I gave him a look. There was no way in hell I was going to get anywhere near him; sure, I'd be his errand boy, since it seemed I really had no other choice, but I was going to stay right where I was, thank you very much.
"Come here, boy. I need to mark you." He was a little more insistent this time. But, typical Scudster, I didn't take the hint. It's not that I'm slow or anything; I heard the words, I knew what he wanted, and I could hear the thinly veiled venom in his voice. I just like to push people's buttons, even if it gets me into trouble. Hell, especially if it gets me into trouble; it's too fun to pass up.
"What do you mean, 'mark' me?" The dots just weren't connecting. I was just doing the guy a favor, that's it. Give intel on B, do a little sabotaging, and that was the extent of our relationship. Hah. What did I know?
"You are mine now, human. I need to mark you so the others know you are not to be touched." I gave him a questioning look. He sighed. "I knew you humans were slow, but I thought I had picked one who was competent. Especially since you work with the Daywalker; you should know about the…relationships that sometimes develop between vampires and promising humans." Nice ego stroking; everyone likes to be appreciated, and this guy knew it. Flattery will get you everywhere. "I have chosen you as my familiar; you now belong to me. As I have said, I need to mark you as such."
The pieces fell together with a clank. I had somehow managed to get myself tangled up in exactly what I had hoped to avoid by working with B; I was a fucking familiar. How the hell had I managed that? A lot of the guys I had known on the streets were familiars of one vamp or another; it was a good way for the suckheads to know what was going on in the human world without being too suspicious. Kids on the street are overlooked. And the ones that weren't familiars either died quick when they refused, were turned for being especially helpful, or floated under the radar, like I had, successfully avoiding what had been termed 'recruitment'.
I backed up, kind of difficult considering I was already standing against the wall. "No way. The betraying thing was bad enough; there is no way in hell I'm gonna be your fucking lapdog." I knew it was a lost cause; me versus a suckhead? No contest. But I was gonna put up one hell of a fight.
He grabbed the collar of my shirt again, but this time I pulled away, the collar tearing and the fang necklace I wore as a talisman breaking, scattering teeth everywhere. Fat lot of good it had done me. I broke loose and ran across the room, knocking over a table holding a pile of souped-up guns and knocking the guns onto the floor in the process. The next thing I knew, he was standing right in front of me, giving me an indulgent look. "What is your name, human?"
"Scud." It was out before I could think to give him a fake one.
"No, your real name, not a nickname. Detestable things, nicknames."
O-kay. No harm in giving the real one then; not many people actually knew my real name, considering I didn't use it much. "Josh."
"Josh. It is a good name. From Joshua, I would gather? I am Damaskinos. I would like to mark you now, and it would be better for all of us if the Daywalker did not learn of this, so it would do well for you to not try to resist again. If the Daywalker discovers your true loyalty he will likely keep you out of the loop, and if you are out of the loop you are of no further use to us." Three guesses as to what that would mean for poor little Scud. If you guessed death, congrats, you win. "We can do this easy or hard, I do not care which so long as it is done. Now, where should we put it?" He began muttering to himself, trying to determine where the glyph would go. He finally determined on the inside of my lip, as there wouldn't be too many people looking there. Most familiars get it on the inside of their wrist, or low on their hip if they are going to be used for…other things. But for undercover work, where I would be working alongside B and it would be bad if he discovered it, he opted for the lip.
It was painful. And not just because it was basically a tattoo on the inside of my lip; I did not want it, so I struggled, trying to get away even though I knew it was useless. Survival instinct, you know? So, every time I struggled, he'd smack me around a little; slice open some skin, squeeze a wrist, do a little choking, whatever it took for me to stop. By the time he was done, I wasn't struggling anymore, believe me. It wasn't worth it.
So he finished, and shoved me aside. "I am leaving now, Joshua. Remember your promise, and remember that I am your master now. Do not think to disobey me, or my promise is null and void, and I will kill you, slowly and painfully. And clean yourself up; you are covered in blood and scratches, and I think the Daywalker would ask too many questions. Do not tell him of your new allegiance, or you will regret it." And he left.
What could I do? Like I said; I'm loyal enough, but every man has his price. I'll admit it; I'm no hero. I don't understand how someone can give their life for someone else; it makes no sense to me. Sure, it's noble and all, but where does nobility get you? It gets you killed. And then what? You're no use to anyone dead.
So yeah, I did what D told me to. I didn't want to, and it killed me to do it. But I didn't have much choice in it, if you think about it. Could you seriously tell me you could be in the same situation and not do what I did? Bullshit.
In my defense, I tried to avoid it. I put it off for as long as I could, knowing that the minute I actually went through with it would be the beginning of the end for B, and, despite the fact that the guy is socially challenged, I honestly didn't want to see it happen. But I got found out eventually. One night, again, when B was out ashing suckheads, D showed up. This time I was actually paying attention, so he didn't get in. He did, however, demand that I let him in. Like that was going to happen.
We haggled over it, he threatened me more than a few times, and I went outside to meet him, after it came to my attention that things would be decidedly dicey if B came back before he left. Yeah, yeah, not exactly the smartest course of action, but, again, I value my own ass more than anything else.
He was pissed. Granted, I hadn't expected anything else; I had, after all, been neglecting my familiar duties. Trust me; you do not want to meet a vamp when he's pissed, especially not one as old as D. Apparently, the older they are the stronger they get, which makes no sense to me, but there it is. So I went out there, and in short order found myself thrown across the alley, at which point I hit a cement wall. Not fun. I sat up, a variety of comebacks on my tongue, but the minute he looked at me I couldn't remember a single fucking one of them.
"You are neglecting your duties, my pet."
"I'm not your pet, and you damn well know it. And yeah, I am. So what?"
" 'So what?' 'So what?'" He gave an evil laugh. Not something I'd want to hear ever again. "We had a deal, you and I. You would ensure that we have a weakness for Blade, and in return I would ensure your survival when the new order rises. Was I wrong to entrust this chore to you? Should I have perhaps chosen someone else?"
"I just…feel bad about this." And, oddly enough, I did. After a few months of living with this guy, building him cool toys, keeping his ass safe when he was asleep, watching base when he was away, somewhere during all that I had somehow developed loyalty toward the guy, more than I had ever had towards anyone else, and it was getting harder to get my ass into gear betraying him. I respected him, and this, this was low.
"Well, you got yourself into this. You didn't seem to feel so bad about it when I marked you."
I subconsciously rubbed my tongue against the glyph. Even after a few weeks it still stung a little, and was a constant reminder that, on some level, I had sold my soul to the devil. 'Cuz that's what it was; I had thrown in my lot with the enemy, voluntarily or not, and no matter how much I tried to justify it, I was still stuck with the feeling that I had sacrificed part of my humanity in the process.
"Yeah, yeah, I know." I waved vaguely at him. I reached into a pocket, scrounging for a joint, put it between my lips, then began looking through my pockets for a lighter. This time I was successful; I had it out and got it lighted, only to have the damn thing knocked out of my hands again when D's frustration rose. The next thing I knew I was on the ground. Again. Are you beginning to see a pattern?
"Do not make light of your disobedience, human. It is not a trait I tolerate." He grabbed the front of my shirt and pulled me to my feet, then slammed me into a wall and held me there. "What have you learned?"
"Nothing of any interest." Not a total lie; I had been on surveillance for most of the past few days, and since B didn't talk much, I hadn't asked about what he was up to. He told me things on a "need-to-know" basis, and apparently he felt I didn't need to know.
The pressure on my chest increased, making it hard to breathe. "I will decide what is of interest. What do you know about the Daywalker and his activities?"
I sighed, a difficult feat when you can barely pull air into your lungs. "He found Whistler, and cured him. He brought him with him tonight so he could keep an eye on him."
"Anything else?"
I shook my head, maybe a little too enthusiastically. The next thing I knew I was tumbling ass-over-teakettle across the alley, the second time that night. I rolled to a stop and lay there, sucking air into my oxygen-deprived lungs, silently cursing myself that I had even gotten involved. This wasn't worth it. Sure, he wouldn't kill me, but there were an awful lot of things he could do that would make me wish he would.
He walked over, cool as a fucking cucumber, and squatted next to me as I coughed and wheezed. "I will ask once more, and if you lie I will not be so forgiving. Do you know anything else." This wasn't even a question; it was a command from a guy who was used to obedience.
I gasped out the rest of what I knew, flinching when he raised a hand. He chuckled. Yeah, you heard right; the fucking bastard chuckled. "You have done well, Joshua. Thank you." He ran a hand down the side of my face, an action that made me shudder with revulsion, and stood up. "Until our next meeting, my pet. Now, make sure you continue to hold up your end of the bargain, or I cannot hold up mine." And that was the way our meetings from then on went; he would stop by when B was out, blackmail me into leaving the building, get me to give him what info I knew through whatever means necessary (read: smacking around and threats), and would leave, giving one last threat to ensure I would do as I was told.
It was surprisingly easy. Ignore a security breach or two, sabotage a bomb, and that was all I needed. Of course, the bomb thing bit me in the ass, but that's B for you; sharper than he looks. At least I was honest about it in the end; granted, he had already figured it out, but I did admit to it. Added in some defensive bullshit so I didn't look like a whiny bitch, and that was it. Boom.
I know; talk about abrupt ending. But Scud's story isn't over yet…let me know if you want the next chapter. And tell me what you think; is this plausible? Is there anything I overlooked? Anything at all; I can take it, I promise – I've got a pretty healthy ego…it could probably stand to be taken down a few pegs…lol.
