Chapter 2
THE SHEPARD
Oh God, I was here again. I was in the bar. The same bar that I used to work in. Upon seeing where I was, I looked down, and saw the man I killed lying there at my feet, face down in a puddle of his own blood.
That's when I looked at my hand and saw the gun I used to kill him. But I didn't mean to kill him. It was an accident! I look to my right and saw Diana, holding her bleeding shoulder while looking at me in shock and horror. But I didn't mean to Diana. I was just trying to help.
"Freeze!" I looked and saw three policemen running into the bar. All their pistols aimed right at me. The building was then filled with the police shouting 'Drop it!', 'On your knees!', or some other words. I wasn't able to hear, as it all became muffled. But I did drop the gun and got on my knees. Then the police rushed me instantly. Pushed face down to the ground, I was forced to look at the left side of the dead man's face as they cuffed my hands behind my back.
I didn't speak. Nothing was going to save my skin from this. Pulled up to my feet, I was walked across the room by one of the officers before he pushed open the door.
Suddenly, there were no cops. No bar. No street.
Upon walking through the doorway, I was facing a large city that was going up in flames and being torn apart by explosions. The air was filled with the screaming men and women, as airships similar to the ones I saw in Colombian flew overhead. Firebombing everything and everyone on the street.
"What the fuck?" All I could do was look in wide-eyed horror. This couldn't be happening. First, I see my sister, then I was arrested, now this!?
Looking to the sky again, I saw a massive city floating above the city with what looked like and angel standing over all of it. Was this another dream like Columbia? If so, someone please wake me up!
One of the airships suddenly turned towards me. It turned its spotlight on me. And everything went white.
When I came to, I started coughing violently. With my lungs filled with water, I quickly rolled over on my hands and knees and forced out all of it from them. Afterwards, I started inhaling and exhale some much needed fresh air. Jesus! Does that idiot priest not know the difference between baptizing and drowning a person?
As I sat up with me body still in a foot of water, I started to hear some people talking. I raised my head and opened my eyes, praying to God that this was all some bad dream. That I wasn't in some city in the sky and that, even though I didn't want to be, I was in a jail cell.
But when I opened my eyes, I was stunned to see my surroundings. I was in a garden of some kind, with the sun shining down from the sky. For a second, I was sure that I'd gone to Heaven, but then I noticed three unusual statues. Nothing was wrong with the statues, but theses ones were actually of the founding fathers of America; George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. And just like everything I've seen today, they had the key, scroll, and saber.
"What…?" I stood up and stared closer at them. The plaques of the statue presented them as 'Fathers'. Now look, I'd like to consider myself as a patriotic guy and I love my country, but I wouldn't go as far as to worship these guys like gods. But just by looking at the people in white robes on their knees and praying before good Old Georgy, I'd say these people did.
Something wasn't right about this place, that's for sure.
Looking through myself to make sure that everything was still on me. Luckily it all was. But I should get out of the pond, right?
Treading through the pond, I tried to get out of the water as quietly as possible. The last thing I wanted to do was disturb the people. Or talk to them. However, one of the priests walked over to stand in front of me with a smile. "Our Prophet fills our lungs with water, so that they may better love the air."
"Yeah, yeah." I pushed him out of the way. After almost getting drowned, I wasn't in the mood of talking about this Prophet of theirs.
Walking away from the pond and statues, I was treading through perhaps the most beautiful gardens I've even seen. Looking around as I moved to the exit, I saw how the grass was so green and neatly kept. Planters filled with beautiful flowers that I have no idea the name of. I'm not a plant person.
My negative attitude faded away as I looked at the marble and wood structure, passing by people in robes that were praying softly.
They called this place Eden, and I really could see why. Even so, just because this place is in the sky, it's not the sort of fools that try and drown people.
As my clothes became dry in the warmth of the sun, I shook my head. Okay, David, got to stay focus. I then approached a set of doors. They were the only ones, so it had to be the exit.
I took a deep breath and let it out. "Alright, time to find the girl." I pushed the doors opened.
And I took my first step into the city of Columbia.
What a sight I tell you so. So much so that I had to stop to take it all in. Just like what I saw when I first saw the city, there were buildings floating up and down around the large one I was currently on. There were some railway systems that connected to several of these buildings that allowed supply crates to move around on them. There were a couple of airships hovered and slowly flew between the structures around them.
As I stared at it all, I noticed a new island coming up in front of this one. My little island was lowered down to the end of that island, before they connected together by a ramp.
I nodded my head. Okay, show time. I began walking down the cobblestone road and walked forward. Heading towards a small town-square ahead, I looked around at the people around me as I passed. All of them were wearing formal suits and dresses, but all looked like they were from the 18th century. What is this? Founder's Day for these people? Compared to their clothing and the way they were even talking to each other made me feel like I was sent back in time.
"Hey there, son," someone said to me. Looking in the direction it came from, I saw it was a man selling hotdogs at a stand. Just like everyone here, he was dressed in old clothing with a hotdog all ready for eating in his hand. "You look like you could use a something to eat. Here's a frank! On the house!"
At that moment, my stomach growled. That's right, I haven't had anything to eat since getting in the police curser and getting involved in this fucked up adventure. And it's free! So, I walked up to him and took the hotdog. "Thanks," I simply said with a nod.
Walking away from him while eating, I headed for the town square. Heading there, I saw a giant statue of Father Comstock himself. He was towering over everyone with a sword in hand and with a posture that made him look like he wanted to lead you. Had to admit, it made him pretty good.
Shouting at the top of his lungs was a boy standing on top of a crate filled with newspapers. "A full transcript of the Prophet's recent address to you," he said, waving a newspaper, getting my attempt as I chewed, "the Columbian people on the holy forgiveness of our dear Lady Comstock, our beloved Mother of Forgiveness."
There's a Lady Comstock now? Figuring I might as well get some information, I walked up and asked, "Can I see one?"
"Certainly," the boy said, handing me the newspaper. "Why the sad look, friend? Rejoice! For today's a wonderful." I nodded and grabbed the paper. I didn't know if I should be rejoicing after what happened to me.
Looking down at the paper's front page, I looked to see what today's date was. I woke up on that lighthouse after being knocked out, so I might as well see how long I was really out for.
So today was…
I nearly choked on my hotdog when I saw the year. Figuring it was a mistake, I turned to the boy and pointed to it. "Hey, I think there's been a bit of a mix up with the date," I said to him, as the newsboy looked at the date.
He just looked confused and shook his head. "I don't see anything wrong with it."
"What do you mean, it's clearly the wrong date," I insisted.
"But it is! It is 1912!"
I was stunned and froze for a moment. Any thoughts of it being a mistake or a prank were shattered. I must have dropped the paper, because the boy looked worried and tried to get my attention, but I just made a gesture to tell him I was okay, before turning and walking away. This wasn't real. It couldn't be real. But then that would explain everything I saw in the lighthouse. The clothing everyone was wearing. Everything!
Getting away, I shook my head. Remembering back to what caused all this, I thought of those that sent me here. Whoever these R & R Lutece were, they were sure as hell going to expand what the fuck was going on!
But to get to them, I first had to find the girl.
So, I head down a street, passing by many shows and stores. However, not everyone was as old fashioned as I imagined. Coming across a horse-pulled carriage, selling ice of all things, I saw that the horse wasn't really real. It was mechanical! Seriously, it was like looking at something from a steampunk fantasy. Powered by electricity coming from a conduit on its back, it walked at a steady pace as I walked past it in awe.
Okay, this was seriously freaky.
Continuing on, I stopped at a group of people waiting at the end of the road. The bridge that connected it to the next island wasn't there, but I looked to my right and saw why. Three floats were passing by, and everyone wanted to watch.
The first said 'A VISION OF A GREAT CITY!' and it showed, an angel meeting with a simple farmer, with a white silhouette of Columbia as the background. As I watched it, someone spoke on an intercom.
["After the victory at Wounded Knee, the angel Columbia did present herself to Father Comstock and showed him a vision of the future."]
Wait, Comstock was at Wounded Knee? And Columbia being an angel, huh? I wish I had my phone, so I could look that up. But I doubt it would have worked. The next float came around, showing what I saw back in the church, with Comstock leading the people to the city. This time it said 'THE PROPHET COMSTOCK LEAD HIS PEOPLE OUT OF THE SODOM BELOW!'
["And so our Prophet led the people away from the Sodom Below, up, up into the city, where they created an even more perfect union."]
Now the last one was really interesting. It depicted Comstock with a woman, most likely his lady, and he was holding a child in his arms. The float's banner reads 'A MIRACLE CHILD IS BORN, THE FUTURE OF THE CITY IS SECURED!'
["But it was the miracle child, the lamb, that is the future of our city. For the Prophet has that she in the tower will lead the Sodom Below into righteousness."]
That couldn't be good. But wait, tower? Could they be talking about the angel? Then, does that mean Elizabeth is the miracle child they're talking about? It was my best bet.
After the floats flew away, the bridge came up and connected the islands. "All clear. Good luck at the raffle, folks!" said a police officer. See him made me look away and try and blend into the crowd as they started crossing. I know I'm not a criminal in this time, but I couldn't risk it. I'm actually surprised that no one was commenting on my clothing, as it was new compared to what everyone else was wearing.
Walking through the city, I was honestly surprised when finding some Columbian money on the floor, called Silver Eagles. It was like everyone had holes in their pockets. However, I stopped and took note of a poster on the wall. It showed a lamb and a grim reaper like figure. It told about a 'False Shepherd' and how he's seeking to lead the lamb astray.
Sounded like a bad guy.
Walking away from the poster, I continued making my way through the city. Walking past some guys singing together about how God only knows or something like that. And just finding more money. Seriously, do these people not think they're going to get robbed?
But other than that, I can't deny how beautiful this place was. However, as I pasted through an archway, I felt my luck starting to change. There it was, Monument Island. The statue of the angel was larger than I ever thought it'd be. Reaching into my jacket's pocket, I pulled out the card of the island. Holding it up to the statue, I made sure that they were identical. "That's where they said I'd find her."
So, now how am I going to get there?
"Telegram, Mr. Dyer." What the! I jumped a little and looked down to see a boy standing in front of me. When did he get there? He was holding a letter and held it out to me with a smile. "Telegram for you, sir."
I took it and was about to give him a coin, but he just saluted and ran off. So, I just flipped the telegram over and read it to myself.
Dyer STOP
Do not alert Comstock to your presence STOP
Whatever you do, do not pick #77 STOP
Lutece.
Okay, will do. At least they're trying to help in some way. Tearing up the letter and throwing it away, I kept moving to keep myself from being suspicious. I agreed that I didn't want to make myself be known to someone how everyone's crazy over, but what was with that last part? Either way, I had to get to Monument Island and find Elizabeth.
But now things were getting really weird when I approached a fair of some kind. There were games, free foods, and attractions.
Looking to one of the attractions, I was stunned to see a man in a devil jester costume shooting magic from his hands and figures, and doing other things like making another man float in the air. Apparently, it's all thanks to the powers of Vigors, which were superpowers in a bottle that you're able to drink!
Okay, stay focus. I walked away from the stand and passed some of the games and attractions, most of them were still handing out those Vigors. And then there were—HOLY FUCKING GOD!
One the mainstage of the next big attraction was a giant mechanical man that size of a yeti. Talk about steampunk, because all there was was a man's head sticking out of the neck of a giant robot body with a window in the center of the chest showing his heart inside. Though, with all the flashes scaring him, the guy didn't seem to want to be used as a sideshow. Or even want to be turned into that.
Walking away, I approached the gates at the end of the fair. They were closed, locked with some kind of ticket taking automaton.
Yes, I just called it an automaton.
"Sorry, pal, the raffle is all sold out!" Oh, great, it talks. But can I at least get through? "Entrance is reserved for dignitaries and important personages alone."
"I'm guessing that don't mean me huh, dick-bot?" I asked. Fuck! That was the only way to get to the island. What am I supposed to do now?
"Dear friend," said someone beside me. I looked and saw it was a young woman. By the look of it, she looked like a hawker with that basket of green bottles she was holding. "Have you ever lost a penny to a vending machine?" I haven't lost a penny, but I've lost a dollar once. "Has a pay telephone ever refused to connect you with a beloved spouse? Well! It's time to take back control from the men of metal! With Possession, you are the master! You will bend any machine to your will!"
Now that sounded cool! And I could use it to get the gate to open. I walked up to her and grabbed one of the bottles. It was weird looking. It was a normal green bottle, but on the top was a green woman leaning back in a seductive way, with a heart on her breasts. Another thing that stood out was the symbol on the bottle, which was a heart getting stabbed by a dagger.
"So, how much?" I asked her.
The hawker smiled. "Well, normally I've had to charge you; but with it a good day, I've let you have it on the house."
Wow, this was awesome! Free powers! "Thanks!" I said happily, getting a giggle from her. I grabbed the Vigor bottle's heart and pulled it off. Then drank now the liquid.
It was like drinking a soda with a metallic taste to it. Then a strange feeling went through my body with my vision going blurry. I almost stumbled and fell, but quickly stabled myself. The girl then used her fingers and made a moved them, leaving green outlines as she made a green heart in the air between us. The woman then leaned forward to me. "With just a whisper," she said sultry, "they're all ears…" she then gave me a kiss on the cheek, before leaning back.
Leaving behind a glowing green woman that held the pose of kissing me. The glowing woman moved and stood in front of me as I looked in amazement, before disappearing. My vision went back to normal. The hawker then winked seductively at me and walked to another buyer.
I shook my head from any other strange feelings left by the Vigor. I walked up to the automaton and stood in front of it. I then raised my left hand, seeing that there was a green power covering my hand. So, I threw my hand at the robot, and a green ghostly woman was sent out. What the hell? I watched as she flew around the automaton and then entered it.
"Well, if it isn't Assemblyman Buford!" Who? Ah, who cared. The gate opened. "Your spot at the raffle awaits. Don't know why I didn't recognize you before."
I looked at my hand. Okay, that was cool. I walked through the gate, before seeing as if they were waiting for me were two people. They looked like they were twins, with red hair, and were wearing beige and brown clothing. The first was a man holding up a chalk board that was keeping score of Heads or Tails. The second was a woman, who was a little shorter than her brother, holding up a plate with a coin on it.
The man said, "Heads…"
"…or tails?" the woman finished.
"I'm sorry, but I've got somewhere to be," I politely said to them, moving around them to continue onwards.
"Oh, we already know about your mission, Mr. Dyer." I stopped in my tracks. What? "We were just wanting to meet you face to face," said the woman. I spun around to face them, as they were already turned to face me.
Wait…how did they know about my mission? I haven't even told anyone! How could these twins… oh shit.
"Lutece?" I asked.
The woman smiled and held out her hand for a handshake. "Rosalind Lutece, at your service," she said. I looked at the hand for a cautious moment, before shaking it.
The brother then held out his hand. "Robert Lutece, at your service."
I shook his hand and then glared at them. "Alright, somebody better tell me what the fuck is going on!" I took a step forward with my fists clenched. However, they didn't seem at all threatened, even though knowing I was a criminal.
"You were sentenced to prison time for manslaughter," Rosalind said.
"You were about to die, but we saved you," Robert said.
"And in exchange, you sent me into the past, gave me a mission that would clear my name, and then shot me up into the sky in a rocket," I said. You could say that I was still mad about the rocket thing. "And why me? Not someone else?"
"Would you have liked for us to get another dangerous criminal? You're here and are working to gain your freedom, so what does it matter," asked Rosalind. I sighed. Okay, they had me there. Still would have liked a different way up here. "Let us reassure you, Mr. Dyer that we're not going to harm you. We will honor our agreement, and are here to aid you."
Wait, really?
"But we can't intervene in anyway on your mission. We'll just be giving you little pushes along the way," Robert said. Goddammit! "The rest will be up to you. You're the one that has to complete the mission."
I sighed. I didn't like it. Not one bit. But there was still something that was bugging me. "Who's this Elizabeth, and why's she so special?"
The twins turned their heads to each other, before looking to me again with smiles. "That's something you'll have to see for yourself," the sister said, walking past me.
"Quite so," said Robert, walking past me.
What? "Hey, wait!" I turned around to stop them. But they were gone! As if they just vanished! What the hell? How did they do that? "Dammit!" So, with those two gone, I continued on to Monument Island.
Along the way, I had to pass by two cops that were talking to each other. I tried not to look at them and walked a little faster past them. However, I was able to notice what they were talking about. One of them had an arm device that had three hooks that spun around like a buzz saw. Must be a new weapon of some kind. A little extreme.
After about a few seconds of wandering around and checking out the sights, I found myself approaching an archway that led to the raffle that was going on. However, in front of it was a sign. On it was an evil looking black hand with the infinity symbol in the middle of the back of it.
"What the…?" Wait…that looked like…
I raised my right hand and pulled back my jacket's sleeve. It was! It was the same tattoo as mine! I looked at the sign again.
'You Shall Know The False Shepard, By His Mark!
Wait…I was the False Shepard?
Hyperventilating, I yanked down my shelve and covered more by putting it in my open jacket. I looked around quickly, seeing that no one saw. That…That can't be possible. I only got here, and I can't be the False Shepard! I'm a nice guy, I swear!
Okay, David, get it together. As long as no one sees it, you're fine. So, I just headed through the archway, hearing some singing going on. Trying to avoid as many people as I could and being as calm as possible. I then came to the raffle, which was at a park with a giant stage. In front of the stage was a large crowd of people and there was a man in a business suit on it.
I wasn't interested and tried slipping behind the crowd. The last thing I needed was to test my luck and had to say focus. However, I couldn't leave the part because more people were coming, and I was soon facing a crowd that was blocking the exit. Fuck! What now? I walked away to look for another way back the way I came.
"Mister! Hey, mister!" Crap. I turned towards the voice and saw a young woman, who must have been working for the raffle, as she was holding a basket of baseballs, and each had a number on them. I don't know why baseballs, but okay. "What's the rush? Don't you want to try your luck?"
Not really. "Sorry, no sale."
"The girl giggled. "Silly, you don't need to pay to play in the raffle," she said. "You been sleeping under a rock?"
Well, if it meant I could get going and not blow my cover, I guess I have no choice. I picked out a ball from the basket and looked at it. It had a bright red 77 on it. "77," I told her, showing the number.
Wait, didn't the Lutece tell me not to pick that number?
"That's a very lucky number," she said, leaned in and whispered flirtingly. "I'll be rooting for ya." And with a wink, she walked away. Please don't I don't know what 77 will bring me, and after that sign of my hand, I don't think I want to.
"Bring me the bowl!" The man on stage said, gesturing to his right. On cue, another young woman with blonde hair came walking towards him. "Is that not the prettiest young white girl in all Columbia? Ha ha!"
"Wait, what?" Were you serious? You're not even going to hide how racist that is?
"All right then…" the man with the most stereotypical mustache I've ever seen put his hand into the bowl the woman brought over. Oh, please don't be 77. Don't be me, please! He pulled out a red card. "The winning number is…Number 77."
Oh, son of a bitch. The crowd cheered and started looking around to see who was number 77. Okay, time to just walk away like I'm not the winner and didn't want to see what the winner gets. "Over here!" The young woman that was handing out the balls called to the man, pointing at me. "Over here! He's the winner!"
Oh, you backstabbing cockbite.
Everyone started cheering for me, as the man looked at me and smiled. "Number 77, come and calm your prize!" He exclaimed and threw the card away. Music started to play as the stage curtains began to move. "First throw!"
First what? As people chanted, I just watched as the curtains rose and revealed that it was filled with cutouts of a jungle scenery. There were trees and leaves, and I thought I saw two monkeys. What the hell was all this.
Then I heard a woman scream, and what happened next made my eyes widened.
The fake jungle scenery was pulled away to the sides, and pulled out to be shown to the crowd was a white man and a black woman tied to wooden pulls. Those monkey cutouts were fully shown, one with an engagement ring and the other with a flower basket. Then a cutout a very racist stereotype black priest popped up behind them.
I couldn't make this up if I wanted to. The man and woman begged for people to not do what they were about to do. This…This couldn't be real. They were really asking me to stone these people for being in love?
The man on stage turned to me and grinned. "Come on, are you gonna throw it, or are you taking your coffee black these days? Ha ha ha ha ha!"
You know what, that's it! I wasn't going to just stand here and let this happen!
But, he did say to throw the ball.
"Alright! You asked for it you, fucker!" I yelled and cocked my arm back. I was just about to throw it right at his smug face and break his nose…
"Wait!" The man on stage yelled. When I swung my arm forward, a police officer grabbed my arm before I could even release the ball.
He looked at my right hand and saw the symbol. "It's him!"
Fuck, why did I have to be a righty. I tried to pull out of the cop's grip, but he didn't let go. I was about to punch him when another cop came over and grabbed my left arm. The top hat man on stage walked over to me and squinted down. "Now, where'd you get that brand, boy," he asked in a dark tone. I just glared at him as he waved his finger in my face. "Don't you know that that mark makes you the backstabbin' snake-in-the-grass False Shepherd?"
The crowd gasped and stepped away from me, as I was held in place. I struggle to get free, but the cops kept a firm grip on me. This was bad. This was really bad.
The man sneered, stood up and spread out his arms. "And we ain't lettin' no False Shephard into our flock, ha ha!" He yelled to the crowd, getting cheers from some people and roars of agreement. "Show 'im what we've got planned boys!"
I looked at the cop holding my left arm, as he pulled out the same hook-device I saw before. Please don't tell me he's going to do what I think he was going to do. But he did. Pulling the trigger, the hooks started spinning around like a buzz saw. He brought it close to my face.
When I killed that guy in the bar, it was only an accident. But now, I wasn't given any other choice. God, help me.
I was still able to move my right hand. So, I threw the baseball at the man, hitting in the face, but it wasn't enough to knock him out. Just make him flinch and loosen his hold on me. I pulled my hands free I grabbed the cop on my right with both hands, my right behind his neck and my left clenching his left arm, and yanked his head right into the spinning hooks. I watched as the hook ripped into the man's face, as people around me screamed and ran away. Blood and bits of human flesh flew everywhere, before the horrified cop was able to pull his arm out from the device. Letting the dead man fall to the ground.
Wasting no time, I grabbed the hook and pulled it out of the cop's face. Blood drip from the three hooks, and I couldn't help but feel sick to my stomach. "Stop him…Stop him!" The top hat said as he ran away. "The False Shepard's come to lead our Lamb astray!"
The second cop came running at me with a nightstick. I was quick to swing the hook-device upwards while holding the trigger. Cutting apart his face. With the weapon in my hands, which turned out was called a skyhook, I looked around and saw another one coming at me. He swung at my head, but I ducked and jammed the hooks into his throat.
As he struggled a bit, I almost didn't want to do it, but I pulled the trigger.
As he fell to the ground, dead, I dropped to my knees. I know that what I did was self-defense, and if I didn't, they were going to kill me because of something that I wasn't in control of. But it was still hard to swallow. I shook my head. I wasn't here willing and knew that if I was going to live, then I was going to have to kill possibly more to get out of this fucked up situation.
And that meant I had to have more supplies. With the cops dead at my feet, I started looting them. Finding money and even a piece of cake. Who carried cake like that?
I got up and ran up the stairs of the exit, only to have three more cops running at me with the intent to kill. Bring it on, assholes! I cut into the head of the first one, before kicking away the second one. The third one ran at me and swung at me, but I cut the nightstick with the skyhook, before taking the guy's lower jaw right off. I then saw the second cop getting up and charge at me again, so I swung the skyhook into his skull.
Two more cops were coming. One was charging at me, while the other one stayed back and…crap! He had a gun!
As the first cop can at me, I knocked the nightstick out of his hand. Dropping the skyhook, I grabbed the cop and pushed him back towards his buddy with all my might. The police officer with the gun started shooting, but all he hit was his partner in the back, killing him. I then threw the dead cop away and grabbed the gun, getting out of the way before he could fire it. I then force his arms to aim at his head and put my figure over his to pull the trigger.
With a loud bang, he fell dead, and I collected the gun. I looted both cops for money and ammo, and I also found this blue bottle with the label 'Salt'. It wasn't the stuff you put on food, it was a liquid that could recharge your Vigors apparently. So, I popped the lid and drank it, before going back for my skyhook. It actually tasted kind of sweet. Afterwards, I continued down the path those cops came from, trying to get away from this place and maybe hide out somewhere.
That path led me onto an airship that was parked. However, before getting on I stopped at a vending machine. Hey, check it out! You can actually upgrade Possession. And I had to right amount of money. So, I bought it, drank it, and looked at the back of the bottle. Let's see, I was now able to…possess people?
That's the last time I drink some strange drink without reading what it was.
Afterwards, I ran up on board the ship. I looked down to the front of the ship and saw what looked like a gun turret with a mechanical man on it. But I looked like this thing was long enough get to the other end of the island.
But I wasn't out of the woods yet. More cops came at me, using their skyhooks to ride along those railway systems. Two of them jump down a few feet in front of me. I quickly took aim and shot the first one, before taking out the next before he could get out his gun.
Then another one landed right at the end of the ship. I was out of bullets, so I set out a Possession at the guy. At first, I thought that he was just going to be follow my commands. But he just put a gun to his head, and shot himself.
Who is funding this stuff!?
After a quick looting, I ran to the other end of the ship. I stopped next to the turret after reloading my pistol. I was going to jump off onto the island, when more cops came, landing on the island. Dammit, I leaped behind cover behind a crate. Bullets hit the wooden box, but it was able to protect me.
As I stayed behind the cover, I looked to the turret. Charging up a Possession, I sent the ghost lady at it. After she flew around the body of the turret, she entered inside of it, and the machine. The turret turned on, and rained hell on the cops. I peeked around the corner and saw the storm of bullets being shot out rip the cops that were just standing there.
Afterwards, the turret stopped. I got up and looked at the carnage.
Holy shit.
I looked at the mechanical man of the turret, and gave him a pat on the back. Good soldier. I then jumped off the ship and onto the island. I looted the dead men for more money and ammo, and even food to give me energy to keep me going.
"There he is!" I looked to my right and saw three more cops coming, like they were coming out of everywhere and nowhere. They charge at me with their nightsticks, so I quickly shot them down. One reload and I was running again.
Whoa! I was almost shot in the arm by more policemen riding the railways over me.
I ducked to cover as they jumped off. I started firing at me as I returned it from behind a stone structure. Killing one with a headshot and hitting another in the chest. He didn't go down, so I shot him two more times. That did it. I was too far to hit them with my pistol, and they were behind their own cover. So, I sent out a Possession and watched. It entered a man, who started hollering like a madman before shooting his other two buddies dead, before turning the gun onto himself and committed suicide.
I really questioned the morality of the person who came up with this thing, but as long as it was able to keep me from getting killed, then I'll deal with the consequences.
Moving up, I saw more shooting from an archway. I ducked to cover. These guys just don't know when to quit, and worse was that they had a turret that was working for them. But I quickly changed that with a Possession. Throwing it at the turret, I sat back and reloaded, waiting until it was over.
When it was over, I ran through the archway. "Yeah! Is that the best you've got!" I yelled at them, before quickly shooting another cop charging me. I then ran down the street, approaching a gate.
"Call out the Fireman!"
"It's the Fireman! Fireman's on his way!"
"Fireman! He's here!"
"He'll take care of the son of a bitch!"
"Fireman?" I asked. What's he gonna do? Hose me down? As I approached the gate, after drinking some salt I looted, I stopped for a moment. I was starting to feel really warm. What the hell was going? I touched the gate, and I nearly took it away from how hot it was.
I pushed opened the gate, and then I figured out why he's called the Fireman.
"Burn in the name of the name of the Prophet!" shouted the man, SHOOTING FIRE FROM HIS HANDS. The guy was wearing what looked like heavily armored in a padded fire-proof suit while several leather straps secure what looked like a boiler on his back. His entire face was concealed by a shiny mask with three vertical view ports.
After a display of his firepower—pun intended—the walking oven started throwing fireballs at me. I got out of the way before one could hit me, feeling it exploded on impact, before returning fire. Running away as he leaped at me and slammed his fist into the ground, which sent out a blast of fire.
This continued, and after about two clips of ammo, he still wasn't going down. However, I saw that the boiler was sticking out over his shoulders and took aim. As he charged, I started shooting. The first bullet hit him in the shoulder, then the next hit him in his face mask.
The third hit the boiler.
The result was a massive explosion that knocked me back. Crashing against a cart, I sat there for a moment to catch my breath. There was hardly anything left of the bastard. Burn in hell, bitch!
However, there was a red bottle.
Getting up with a bad sore in my back, I walked over to it. Picking it up, I felt warmth coming from inside it. The top had a topless woman with devil horns and breathing fire while looking like she was blowing a kiss. Just like the Possession Vigor, this one had a picture too; a devil's face and little wings. "Devil's Kiss," I read the label.
So, does that mean I'll have fire powers like the Fireman?
"Well, you only live once," I said to myself, popping the top and drinking it all down.
Oh god, that burnt! But that wasn't the worst of my problems. My vision blurred again, with a tint of red coming from the covers. Suddenly my fingers with glowing red heat. Oh my god, my hands were on fire from the inside! I freaked out and screamed as I could only watch as my fingers and hands were burnt all the way to the bone.
Then everything went blank for a moment. Fell to my hands and knees, before I was able to see again. I looked at my hands, and saw they weren't on fire. In fact, they were okay!
Wanting to see if it works, I tried out the new Vigor. In both of my hands, two balls of fire formed, called fire grenades. Okay, this was cool! I stood up and reloaded my pistol. Looting whatever I could find around here, I continued on. That's when I saw a large building at the end of the island.
But coming out from that building was a group of cops. Wanting to try out this new power, I threw a Devil's Kiss at them. They all caught on fire, screaming in pure agony. I decided to show mercy and shot them all dead. At left they didn't die painfully.
Looting them and some crates that were housing some pistols and money, I grabbed a first aid kit from the ground and ran towards the establishment. It turned out to be a restaurant called the Blue Ribbon.
With my pistol in hand, I entered the house. Leaving behind the streets. I slammed the doors shut, before looking around. This was actually a very nice looking restaurant with a bar in the back. Far nicer than the bar I worked at. There were some Silver Eagles on the table, and with no one around, I quickly swiped them.
"We have company." Whoa! I quickly turned around to see Rosalind was standing near an open door that lead to the kitchen. Her brother was behind the bar wiping the surface.
"We do indeed," said Robert.
Just seeing them made my blood boil. "What the fuck is going on!?" I yelled, walking over to them with a glare. "You wanted me to do this mission, but didn't even tell that I was some of antichrist to these people!"
"The False Shepard to be precise," said Robert, making me pause for a moment.
"Here to lead their Lamb astray," Rosalind finished. It was really weird.
I sighed and nodded, a little uncomfortable and shaken by everything that happened. "Serious, why give me this job if you knew about all this? I was just put through hell and could have died."
"Everything will be revealed in the time," said Rosalind, before going to a table. She then picked up a platter dish with a bottle filled with a glowing yellow liquid. What the hell was that, piss? "As for you also dying problem, I think you'll find this to be quite helpful."
I walked over and took the bottle. Looking at it, I saw a big L on the label, as well as it said 'Lutece Infusion'. I looked at her and asked, "What's this?"
"A magnetic-repulsive field. Think of it as a shield that projects around your body and that increases the amount of damage you can take before succumbing to your injury. Plus, it'll remove dirt and other outside contaminates from your clothing and skin."
"Wait, it'll give me a forcefield?" That's awesome! And with this insane journey to find Elizabeth, I was going to need it. So, without thinking anymore about it, I popped the top and drank the yellow liquid. I suddenly stopped and nearly started coughing as I dropped the bottle when a surge went through my body. It was like a jolt of electricity being sent through my body, with small glow yellow cracks coming from the corners of my eyes. They all disappeared after a second of that.
"Hmm, surprising," the sister said.
"Surprising that it worked," asked Robert.
"Surprising that it didn't kill him."
Wait, what!?
"But a magnetic-repulsive field around one's body can come in hardy," Robert said.
"As long as it doesn't kill you."
"A fair point."
"Seriously!? I yelled loudly, getting them to look at me. "You didn't tell me that I could've died if I drank that shit!?"
"Would you have drank it if you'd been told the risks," Robert.
"And if you didn't drink it and ran out there, if the drink didn't kill you, the city and the people living in it will most certainly will."
I opened my mouth to retort, but nothing came out. Oh, they were good. And they were right. I've never been in combat until today and I've just been lucky and trying to play things smart and react fast. But if I didn't die from the Infusion, then I'm going to die with Columbia out to get me.
"One other thing," said Rosalind. Oh god, what now? "As of now, your field is weak and will go down after a few strikes. There are other Infusions in the city that can make your field stronger and more durable."
So, I can upgrade myself like in a videogame? Cool. "Thanks," I simply said with a nod. I walked into the back and into the kitchen. There were a few more Silver Eagers laying around on the counters and some food. My stomach grumbled a bit, so I eat some fruits like an apple, before eating a hotdog that was hot, ready, and just lying there on a silver platter with a soda next to it. Well, I wasn't going to let that go to waste.
After eating a nice lunch, thinking that it might be the last time I'll ever have one, I grabbed whatever I could carry and exited to building out the back. Exiting from the building, I quickly went back inside and took cover near the threshold. Looking out of the corner, I saw an airship that wasn't like any I've seen before. It had a flat platform with guns on it.
"Blood on the streets!" Said a woman on the gunship's PA. "And worse is the insult, because today is the day that marks our secession from the Sodom Below!" Secession? What the hell are you talking about? I don't think those on the gunship saw me, so I came out of hiding.
The golden angel of Monument Island was behind buildings in front of me. So, if I was going to get there I was going to have to move from island to island. Walking onto the patio and walking down to the end of it to the right, I saw that there was nothing connecting me to the nearest building.
"Great, now what?" I looked around to see something that could get me going forward again. However, I turned and stared at the wall of the next building in front, and saw two large lift hooks. "Wait a minute."
I reached for the skyhook, I put it on and pointed it to lift hooks. Thinking that it was perhaps magnetized, and that I could jump from the hooks that were all around the sides of the builds, I pulled the trigger.
"WHOAAAAAA!" I screamed because I didn't expect for it to yank me off my feet and sent me flying through the air! It all stopped when I was dangling from my left arm and the skyhook that was corrected to the lift hook. "What the hell kind of magnets are they using?"
I let go of the trigger, and I was released from the hook and I started falling again. I quickly pointed at the next hook, pulled the trigger, and was pulled right up to it.
Okay, I think I have the hang of this. I looked at the next building and saw the hooks. I swung myself over and attached to the first one, before moving to the next. I stopped on that last one because there was no other hook, but I did see a rooftop with a man in a soldier's uniform, with a rifle of some kind on his back.
They must have called out the army...or would it be the air force because, you know, we're in the sky.
Either way, I built up momentum and then let myself go. Launching myself at him, as he'd just heard the sound of the metal. He looked up and was only able to let out a scream, before I hit him in the head with the skyhook. Sending him flying off his feet and off the roof. His screams were heard as he fell to the 'Sodom Below.'
I looked down and saw that he dropped his rifle, so I picked it up. It had a unique submachine gun designed, with a wide barrel and the magazine at an angel on the left side. It almost looked like something that came out of WWI or WWII.
After quickly looking over my new 'toy', I looked at a nearby crate and graded more mags for the machine gun. Oh wait, there was a sign that said it was Repeater, or the Triple 'R'. I was still going to call it the machine gun.
"Who's there!" I quickly got behind the crate and looked over the corner. The soldier's voice was coming from an area that was completely covered in a thick blanket that made it impossible to see where he was.
I got an idea and shot off a round from my pistol into the air. That made the guy to start shooting wildly as he shouted that I was here.
And that's where you are!
I popped out of cover and aimed at where the flashes of the gun were coming from, and opened fire with the machine gun. Holy shit! This thing was full auto! But at least that simple burst before I let go of the trigger it did the job and killed the soldier.
I ran over to a flight of steps that were nearby and went down them, before a soldier came charging at me from the fog and shot me. However, I didn't have a scratch on me, and the soldier saw it too. I quickly killed the guy. Well, what do you know. It worked!
More soldiers heard the shots and came at me. One shot at me for the left, but my shield held up, allowing me to put him down. More came at me and started shooting. Figuring I'd have a better advantage back where I came from, I ran back up the stairs and stood near the crate. Wherever a shot came from, I shot back.
One was able to get to the stairs and ran up them. I saw him and took him out before I ran out of ammo. So, I pulled out the spent mag, put in a fresh one, and yanked back the charging handle.
With all of them die, I jumped down to the foggy area. But that's when they decided to make things interesting.
A gunship was next to the island and started shooting a volley of rockets. Why a volley? Because the sound they made were just like the sound of a volley being shot. I ran into the fog and disappeared, just as the rockets were slamming and destroying the rooftop.
My shield shatter when I was hit by a turret on that gunship and ducked to cover! Jesus! They really want me dead. As I waited for the shield to come back, I had to listen to the PA on that boat. "As our Prophet has seen, the False Shepherd has come to take our Lamb and lead her astray."
You just have to hate propaganda that's against you. With the shield back, I popped out of cover and fired at the turret. Dumping the whole mag until the machine exploded.
Reloading, I saw there wasn't anyone left and started running down the rooftop. I turned the corner, and guess what, I ran into another group of enemies! And they had a fucking gunship again!
"There he is!" Shouted the leader. I simply shot them, and then sent out a fireball at some guys that were standing on some spilt oil. As they were being burnt alive, I saw a guy running at me with a club, and whacked him in the face with the butt of my gun, before turning his still conscious body to use as a human shield to shoot the other remaining soldier. I then used the skyhook to tear out the guy in my arms throat out.
As he dropped to the floor, I couldn't help but look at what I've done. Jesus, could I really be calling what I was doing self-defense? And what was with them. They weren't even trying to take cover and act like real soldiers. All they've done was blindly charged and shoot at me.
I shook my head and grabbed the Salt and ammo from their corpses. I can't stop. I have to keep moving. And lucky I moved before a gunship parked in front of me opened fire. I was quick to Possess the thing.
With it no longer my enemy, I jumped onto the next island, just was the PA went on again. This lady just would not shut up! "Everyone stay calm, and lock your doors if you can. The Prophet foresaw this day would come, and he is prepared. The answer is not in panic, but in prayer."
I don't have time for this shit. I saw a lift hook on the next island building, and jumped towards it. I then jumped towards a patio of a large white building. After landing with a roll on my side, I got up a scanned the area for anyone that wanted to kill me.
Seeing more airships were coming, I ran towards the double doors of the house and ducked inside. I shut them behind me and locked them. Finally. That was intense. "Violence is not the answer!" On hearing that being said, I spun around and pulled out the pistol. But there was no one there. Instead, it was coming from another room. "As much as I support her cause and her people, blood must not be shed."
Are they talking about me? Wait, no they were talking about someone else. "What do you expect these poor negros to do?" demanded a woman. What the hell was going on? I went to the door and opened it. the place looked like it was turned into a hospital with all the beds and people laying in them. "How they treated them…it was bound to happen!"
I turned to where the argument was coming from and walked towards it. I saw a man and a woman in the middle of a heated argument.
"Violence is not a forgone conclusion," the husband said. The wife was going to argue back, but then she saw me and gasped. Causing the husband to turn around to see me.
I quickly lowered my machine gun and raised my other hand. "It's okay. I'm just passing through."
He saw my tattoo and gasped. "You're him!" He exclaimed. Oh no. "The one they're after!" That's when we all heard a gunship outside getting closer.
The woman then rushed over and grabbed my arm. "Go! They're looking for you!" she said, leading me down a hallway and pasting many rooms of sick and dying people. From where the husband was, I heard the police yelling at the door. The woman then brought me to a large study and pointed to a door. "Though there and be careful. Comstock's men are going to be out there."
I nodded at went to it. I guess there were good people in the city.
I opened the door, and saw a soldier standing right in front of me. He heard me and turned around, and was about to shoot when I set him on fire. His screams got the attention of the others and they all started to move to attack.
From inside the house I heard the woman scream and gunshots. I quickly ran inside to them and saw that they were lying dead on the ground with a policeman and policewoman standing over them.
"Oh, you fuckers!" I was quick to kill them, and rightfully so. The couple didn't have anything to do with this!
Drinking a bottle of Salt, I ran out of the house and saw some more soldiers coming at me. I go to cover and reloaded, as a turret opened fire. I was almost hit in the head by a shot coming from the house, and saw those soldiers from before had followed me inside. I gun them down, before popping out of cover to throw a Possession at the turret.
Only for a guy to grab me by the throat and knock me to the ground. I was being choked to death as he and a crazed look in his eyes, but was able to pull out the skyhook and put it to his chin. I pulled the trigger.
AH! Gross! Some of his brain got in my mouth.
I threw that Possession and the turret became my ally. I got out of cover and started advancing forward, killing one soldier, as the machine took care of the other two. But a Fireman came out to play! Seriously, how many times am I going to get screwed over by this city? He threw a fire grenade at the turret and destroyed it.
When his attention to me, I opened fire with everything left in the machine gun. But one fire grenade hit me, a broke the shield.
Oh god! I'm on fire. I jumped behind a stone wall and rolled around on the ground, trying to put out the fire. When I was successful, I was reloaded, and aimed at the boiler like last time, as the barrel of the machine gun turned red from the heat.
Let's just say the guy didn't have time to charge at me before exploding. So, with that done, I started looting everyone I killed. "Gentlemen…" Really, this bitch again? "…the False Shepard is loose in the streets of our fair city!"
"I have some strong feelings about this hellhole being 'fair'."
"Will you suffer the shame of allowing your wives and your daughters to fall prey to his machinations?" What? Was that even a word? I grabbed the last thing off the last dead soldier and started running down the street. "Or will you act? Act for your women folk! Act for your Prophet! Act!"
Bring it on!
I ran towards the end of the street, coming to a large courtyard. I looked up and saw the angel of Monument Island off in the distance, but I was at least on the right track. But it looked like I was going to have to get through this place.
In front of me was a gate with an eye symbol over it on an arch. So, I kicked the double doors open, causing a flock crows to fly off. In front of me in the center of a walkway was a strange statue. It showed Comstock fighting a large hydra, I think, with a plaque that said "COMSTOCK FIGHTS THE SERPENTS OF NATIONS."
I really didn't know what to think of it, so I walked around it to the building. I stopped in front of it. I couldn't explain it, but it was like all my senses were telling me not to go through. To not enter. But I didn't have a choice. I didn't have any options.
I took a deep breath, and entered the building.
I really wish I hadn't. Because I was about to see just how far this city has fallen.
AN:
And that ends this chapter of "Long Odds".
I'm sorry for not getting to this story sooner. I know I only put up one chapter and just put the story on hiatus and I realized that was a mistake. I now I'm going to be uploading each story up to three times before moving onto the next, but I was thinking of updating "Long Odds" until I get to Elizabeth and then put the story on hiatus.
Thank you very much for reading. "Long Odds" will return. Please be sure to Favorite and Follow if you like the story, and if you want me to keep writing this story, then please leave a REVIEW. I would really appreciate it if you do. If you any questions or discussions you'd have for me, then please PM me or write it out in the review.
Until next time, goodbye, farewell, and amen.