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xMechaSheikx - Yay, I'm glad you like it and are intrigued by what's to come! Well, I'm curious to see what you make of the newest developments. Thanks for the review!

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IV. The Giant

"You see Richtofen, you're losing the war because you invest in this nonsense instead of gunpowder and wodka. That's why we'll beat you." Nikolai said in a matter-of-fact voice.

He was observing the facility around them. The group had just walked out a door and stood in an open area. Far off, they were surrounded by tall metal walls on one side, and a barracks on the other.

The factory was appropriately named.

The Giant.

The Nazi grinned at the Russian's observation. "Vhy Nikolai, I believe zhis var is no longer of any importance." Suddenly his attention was drawn from them. "Oooh, vhat could zhat be?" He hurried away, abruptly turning to dash up a set of steps leading to an odd platform.

The others followed, walking up onto the platform. There was a teleporter pad on the floor with several thick wires leading out of its sides. On the far end of the landing was a strange apparatus with a closed door. The four peered into the glass window on it, to see a small blue machine within.

"Pack. A. Punch." Richtofen read the label on the odd inside. "Hmmm, curious."

"What the hell is it?" Dempsey leaned forward and knocked on the glass. He gazed upward towards the top where several electricity conductors seemed to jut out. That was a long way up too. It was huge.

"All in good time, American." Richtofen turned away from the machine. "I believe zhis is called zhe mainframe."

Then, Dempsey liked the way the device sounded, "Heheh, Pack-a-punch. Reminds me of a sweet chick I knew once!"

Richtofen clapped his hands together loudly by the American's head. Dempsey glared as the doctor spoke, "Alright everyvone. Let's stock up. I have a feeling zhat zhe dark vone brought us here, and ve have to play he- it's, game. Hehe."

Dempsey looked around and sighed. It was always something. "And what is this place exactly?"

"A veapons factory...obviously."

"You seemed to recognize it when we arrived."

"Vell, American," Richtofen spat. "I vas a soldier for some time. So ja, I vould know a veapons factory." He ran a hand over his Swastika armband slowly and smiled fiercely.

Dempsey rolled his eyes.

"It seems, we must find the power switch," Takeo suddenly spoke.

He'd been quietly observing the area for some time, and now decided to cut in. Indeed, he was right. Everything was electrically down, without a single hint of power in it.

"Great, no power!" Dempsey snapped in realization, he kicked a small rock which flew off through the railing of the platform. "That's exactly what we need." He quipped.

Edward smiled. "Zhere's probably vone big switch somevhere zhat powers everything! Ve Germans are very efficient."

He had no idea if Samantha was responsible for the power outage, or if the men who'd been left to her mercy had managed it. However, it would be necessary to turn in on, if they were to leave. The teleporters would probably need to be re-linked too.

He needed to go, to get back to get back to Griffon Station.

There's more to do!

To usurp the brat!

Edward nodded slowly to himself.

Dempsey stomped up to a nearby door that had a strange symbol on it - a fist holding a ball of energy - and the numbers 935 painted on it. He pushed the button on it. Nothing happened. "The fuck? Broken doors?"

"We require more funds," Takeo said.

"Right," Tank sighed. "I forgot about the points thing. I had so many before I came here that it was like I didn't need to worry about it anymore...wonder where they went? Ugh, that devil man must have reset them, shit. He'll get a Marine's response one day; a solid kick in the ass."

Ah good, so the American has an antagonist now. Which means he will leave me to my work, Richtofen thought distractedly. "Personally, I recommend a knife in zhe heart!" He said lightly.

Before the Marine could reply, the demented howl of a zombie filled the air.

"Great," Dempsey groaned. "Looks like round one is starting...fuck! I lost my gun when we teleported! What happened?"

"Ve all have zhese nearly vorzhless pistols now. I believe it's part of zhe game," Richtofen informed them, walking down the platform and towards the window with the zombie at it. He held his knife in one hand and his pistol in the other.

"Time to get to vork!"


Three rounds had passed before the group had agreed to leave. It now boiled down to who was willing to sacrifice their hard-earned points to get deeper into the facility. Unfortunately, everyone wanted someone else to bother with it.

Dempsey and Richtofen stood before one of the doors leading from the mainframe, glaring at each other tensely. Takeo and Nikolai hung back, as if worried approaching the two would get them physically shocked by the tension.

Fuck it, this one's probably cheapest anyway, Tank thought. He can get another.

Just then, Richtofen shoved past Dempsey through the door. But Dempsey had paid for it. Edward was pleased that the American had wasted his points on the process and he'd been able to hang on to his own.

He was met with another door that stood before him a little ways inside a garage-type structure. On the sign hanging above the locked door, was a written sign helpfully saying, Automobile Garage.

"Heh." Dempsey strolled in, leaning a Kar98k across his shoulders. He said with smug satisfaction, "the other door over there looks like it needs power... But this one's all yours, Richtofen."

"Nein, Takeo will get it," Edward said confidently. He turned his venomous gaze on the Samurai as the Japanese man walked up to them.

"Hai," the Asian moved forward and opened the door.

Richtofen grinned while Dempsey pinched the bridge of his nose, irritated. "Why couldn't you let the bastard get it, Tak?" He groaned.

Just then, Nikolai caught up to them, spattered with fresh blood. His bottle sloshed as he took a drink of vodka.

"We must work together, to survive." Takeo defended his actions. "The skilled doctor most likely has a pla-"

"Stop rambling, Takeo," Nikolai then burped, interrupting him. "In the real world, men are working."

Takeo mumbled in Japanese, a dark look on his face.

Dempsey and Nikolai both grabbed the double-barreled shotgun from a chalk outline on the wall. He was glad to have enough points for that, at least. The four blood-stained men entered the newly-opened auto garage.

It was dark and quiet. The smell of blood and death hung in the air like a demonic perfume. The only illumination in the room seemed to be coming from a few working emergency lights on the ceiling and the fires burning here and there on wooden wreckage and spilled oil barrels.

Richtofen nodded at some stairs, and they started towards them.

Suddenly a noise made them stop short and train their weapons into a corner where there was movement. What had appeared to be a body stirred on the floor, turning towards them. Dempsey tensed, ready to shoot what he thought was another freak-bag.

"St-stay back! You won't get me!" Yelled a voice in an English accent.

Dempsey squinted. "It's a person!"

"Vhat?! But how did he survive zhe outbreak?!" Richtofen snapped, peering into the corner. Then his voice became more innocent, almost until it sounded strange. "He's English...so vhat could he possibly be doing in a German facility?"

The group lowered their guns at this. They were all as confused as the doctor.

A man cowered in the corner, his hands shaking on a gun. "No, no, no, stay back..." Then he blinked a few times.. "You're people," he gave a hysterical cry. "REAL PEOPLE! ALIVE, LIVING PEOPLE!"

Dempsey took a step forward.

The man whipped his gun up and stood, visibly trembling. "No, no, you're with that...that little girl. And him! They killed ev-everyone!"

"What girl?" Dempsey asked.

"Sh-she's going to come. She's going to kill me! YOU, STAY BACK, I'll..." Suddenly he trailed off, wide-eye.

The group stared back uncertainly.

Then, he moved forward so suddenly, they jumped in surprise. The man dropped his gun. It clattered to the ground. He grabbed Richtofen's shoulders and shook the doctor who was just as wide-eyed.

"Y-YOU! HOW COULD YOU? AND DR. MAXIS. THEY KILLED EVERYONE, YOU KNOW? THE UNDEAD KILLED THEM ALL! GROUP 9-"

The sound of a Colt M1911 firing cut him off and he stumbled back, clutching his chest. It was bleeding. He looked down, staring at his shaking, stained hands. He coughed and sank against the wall, blood dripping down his chin.

"Don't think this s-saves you...t-they'll get...you...too," the man closed his eyes and coughed weakly, dying.

Richtofen stared down the barrel, narrowing his eyes. He shot the man's head twice more for good measure with his pistol. He'd just stopped any chance of the corpse reanimating itself. He blew off the end of his gun shortly, and then tucked it back into it's holster.

Dempsey had taken a step back, away from the Nazi. He had known the man was insane, but to see such a murder shocked him.

Richtofen coldly turned and looked at the others. He was pleased to see Dempsey's look of surprise. The other two were less concerned. In fact, Nikolai seemed amused, and Takeo looked vaguely impressed.

Nikolai chuckled, swigging his vodka. "That's exactly what happened to third wife. Except it was her and me, instead of him and you. hehe...She tried to take wodka away."

Edward laughed and patted Nikolai on the shoulder as he passed. "Und zhat's vhy you are more amusing zhan zhe American!" The doctor looked straight at the Marine.

Dempsey shook his head, scowling in disbelief. "The fuck did you do that for?! He wasn't even a freak-sack!"

The Nazi replied smoothly, "he vasn't going to make it."

"How the fuck do you know?"

"If a living person is infected vizh zhe el...vell zhe infection, zhey are ignored by zhe ozher abominations. He vas infected, but perhaps did not realize it. Hmm...zhe transformation must be slower in certain subjec-er, creatures. Look at his skin if you still don't believe me, it vas graying."

Dempsey turned his gaze on the dead body. After a glance at the skin on the arm of the man, he realized the bat-shit crazy doctor was right. He shook his head.

Still, the Englishman had held the appearance of life.

And that hadn't fazed the Nazi in the slightest.

"Also," Edward added. "His pupils vere dilating. You couldn't know zhat...afterall, he vasn't yelling in your face, now vas he?"

"Yeah...what was he going on about?" Dempsey's brow furrowed as he changed the subject. "You know about what happened with these freaks? Did you know that guy?"

"He vas hysterical," Richtofen said quickly. "He saw zhe uniform and assumed... Nein, I did not know him."

Dempsey noted this was the calmest he'd seen the other for awhile. Especially when they were talking.

"Now, if you vill all follow me." The man winced as he turned away from the others, as if he had a sudden headache.

And just like nothing had happened, the group walked towards the stairs again. However, Tank broke away long enough to investigate the chalk outline on the wall nearby. He grabbed the Thompson it beheld, pleased with the weapon. The four men walked around a set of barrels and ascended the steps.

Takeo frowned, despite admiring the doctor's cold steadiness in making necessary decisions, something had been off.

He knew the now-dead man had been infected, but that wasn't the sole reason the doctor had killed him. The Englishman had said something about a Dr. Maxis, something he'd seen in the reports in the swamp. The guy had also yelled about a group. Group 9-something. Did it have to do with the symbols on the doors. 935... Group 935?

Yes, it sounded familiar to him, he just wasn't sure why.

He stopped at the top of the stairs as the others continued, an old memory surfacing in his mind, clear as day.

"Do you Germans never knock? You are intruding." Takeo turned to find the triumphant-looking general standing in the doorway.

The doctor stared at him. "I'm not the intruder. Not when I have this! You're coming with me!"

"And who else knows of this?"

"Just me, schweine, and a guard has just went to-"

There was a glint of steel, his blade flashing out.

But it missed.

The memory evaporated like fog. Takeo wondered if either Dempsey or Nikolai had this problem. From the looks of them, probably not. Nikolai was too drunk, and Dempsey too focused on what was in front of him. The Samurai decided not to dwell on its meaning yet, that could come later. For now, there were enemies to kill.

A group of undead had gathered at the boarded window nearby, pulling down the barricade. They were nearly finished with the task. The zombie reaching for the last board lost its head when Takeo pulled the trigger. The zombie behind it moaned and grabbed its own head, as if wondering if the same could happen to it.

It did. The beast fell dead.

Takeo heard moaning to his left and saw zombies entering the building from outside.

He wasted no time in granting them the same fate of the others.

A Nuke power-up floated above the lifeless corpses. Takeo crossed over and touched it.

"Kaboom!"

"They die!" He yelled.

He then crossed the room, entering the outside area. In front of him was a vent, but it looked like it'd been out of use for some time. On the other side of it was a bridge that had been raised, probably when the power had been turned off. To his left was another barricade and a broken down perk machine, Double-Tap Root Beer.

Since the others were not here, he assumed they'd dropped down to the courtyard below. Following this lead, he crossed the platform, stepped over more bodies, and reached the ledge. He dropped down it lithely, catching himself on his feet just right to avoid injuring himself.

Takeo half wished he could have witnessed the Russian clumsily try to navigate this part. It would have been amusing.

When Richtofen reached the power switch, he didn't turn it right away. Instead, he grinned and giggled maniacally.

They died gloriously for it!

HAHAHAHAHA!

"Okay," Dempsey muttered behind him. "That's gross."

A severed hand was attached to the power handle, darkened with burns and dried blood. It appeared to have been severed brutally while the owner turned the power off. Perhaps by a zombie. The blackened skin also indicated the owner had been electrocuted by a power surge.

"Well," Tank said as lightly as possible. "Doctor, this one's definitely yours."

Ignoring the voices in his head, the Nazi grabbed the handle of the switch over the bloody fist, and shoved it forward. He chuckled slightly at the hand as if it were some long-running joke he was recalling. He turned to see the factory come to life. The bridge up ahead lowered itself, its gears spewing plumes of steam. The main lights flickered on in the factory, granting more light.

A few more zombies entered the courtyard, but fell dead to the ground without advancing much farther to the firing weapons. The four men prepared to face more as the next round started.

A few growling zombies lumbered up to a nearby window and began pulling at the boards.

"Here we go again," Nikolai complained.

Dempsey moved towards it, taking it out with a shot from his double-barrel. "Oorah, good target practice!"

Nikolai killed some zombies with his double-barreled shotgun, but he was struggling to reload the weapon with his vodka in one hand. He got frustrated with it to the point he tossed it aside and started using his Kar98k. Even though he hated this weapon too, it had to be easier to handle with his vodka. The only reason he'd even bought it was because Dempsey had, and he'd figured the Marine knew what he was doing.

All the while, as Nikolai struggled to get his rifle working, Richtofen yanked a grenade from his belt and tossed it down the courtyard where several undead were moving in. Takeo added in fire from his Gewehr 43. A group of crawling corpses emerged from the smoke, clawing their way forward across the groudn.

"Zhere's less blood in zhese stump-valkers...vhat's zhe point?" Edward complained as leg-less zombies crawled over the ground, leaving trails of blood in their wake.

"Saving some for later, I see," Takeo observed.

"Hey, Richtofen, stop playing around!" Dempsey reprimanded scathingly, firing into the window he was covering. He reloaded and continued.

Nikolai plaintively said, "All my weapons are empty!" And threw his Kar98k away too. It wasn't empty, but it may as well have been.

He suddenly hurried to the random box, determined to get something worthwhile this time. He flipped the lid, and the weapons cycled to the sweet noise within.

Then, something strange hovered in the golden light. He grabbed it, frowning.

"Great! Now I have to hold this fucking monkey?!"

The strange device appeared to be a stuffed monkey toy. A pound of C-4 had been strapped to its back, and it even had a wind-up handle too. Nikolai instantly disliked it. He thought the red eyes were creepy. In fact, he was certain it was making a fool of him somehow.

"The Russian does not deserve the gift of the monkey," Takeo pitched in.

"Nikolai," Richtofen said cheerily. "Do you vish me to cram it down Dempshey's zhroat? I vill if you like!"

"Shut up, Richtofen!" Dempsey snapped. He knew when the Nazi pulled that Dempshey shit, he was trying especially hard to piss him off. He turned from the empty window, unloading his Thompson on the zombies rushing into the courtyard.

"Heh, his arm fell off!"

"Use it, Nikolai! Vind it up!" Richtofen encouraged.

Nikolai shrugged and tucked his vodka under his arm so he'd have both hands to wind it up. He wished they'd invent more one-handed weapons. How was man to hold his precious vodka otherwise? He turned the handle three times and nearly jumped when the toy spoke,

"You aren't Sam!"

Nikolai now definitely knew he hated it. He flung it away as if it were on fire. It flew down the length of the courtyard.

"Ouch! Oof!" the toy complained when it hit the floor and bounced a little.

Then, it began clapping its symbol and started bouncing up and down to an eerie tune that played from it. Everyone watched in surprise. Except Richtofen, who grinned monstrously at the toy. Steadily, zombies began to surround the monkey, standing still as if uncertain what to do.

Richtofen thought, the soundwaves made by the toy disrupt the ability of Samantha to communicate with the undead, how interesting!

The monkey stopped, "I don't want to-" It exploded, taking down the group of zombies around it. All that was left was a pile of corpses and a double-points power-up hovering over the bodies in a familiar green light.

"Heh, they just got fucked by a monkey," Nikolai suddenly laughed. He decided it wasn't so bad. The song had been horrible, but at least it'd killed the undead. He felt two more of the little bombs dangling from his belt.

Richtofen chuckled. "Vhat vondrous toy!"

He was absently looking around when he noticed a large message on the nearby wall for the first time.

RETURN THROUGH AETHER, it proclaimed in large letters. Of course, he knew what it meant.

He shook his head. It was strange, but he swore that it'd been left there just for him. It was as if it were reminding him of his purpose, which he had no intention of forgetting. For now, he had to keep them alive long enough to succeed. And then, all would be his.

Yes! Yes! Yes!

I want more blood this time!

In time, the world will be ours!

And the Aether will be your power!

Richtofen chuckled darkly, preparing for the next wave of undead.


Chapter 4.5 The Masked Warrior

Valens walked down the broken path, entering an ancient tunnel coated in green vines and moss. He was soon met with a low crumbling wall. Grabbing it, he pulled himself up onto the grassy ledge it led to. He couldn't help the gasp that escaped his lips when he stood up and gazed out.

Before him, far down a hill, lay the ruins the Masters had spoken of.

They consisted of dilapidated pyramids sprawled below, overgrown with dense vegetation and crumbling. They'd been abandoned for a long time, here in these mountains, but they had once been beautiful. Their faded glory still shone through with a proud golden hue under the dust and plants.

"No primitives would build these without a strong motivation. Perhaps they were worshipping something." He shook his head. "Well, I found the place. Master Sarth will be pleased."

"You know," A voice said behind him. "for a warrior, you should really refrain from talking out loud so much."

Valens spun around, staring at the intruder. Behind him was a silhouette in light armor, it's lithe shape thrown into stark contrast by the setting sun. A full helmet sat on the unknown person's head, and they were fully covered in armor. A sword dangled at the other's hip. A fighter, it seemed.

That voice had been curiously familiar, but distorted by the helmet

He found it strange. He should have been completely alone here, but that was not the case.

Then the fighter sprang forward and he quickly drew his own sword from his side. The other's blade crashed into his, and he noted that it looked familiar, too.

Before he could give it more thought the enemy shoved him back. He looked at the masked face, uncertain. Their eyes met carefully. Despite his own misgivings, he raised his weapon as he'd been taught to. Whatever was going on, if this other warrior wanted a fight, he'd give them one and test his own skills.

It was a perfect opportunity.

He charged forward with a cry, holding his weapon before him. The warrior stepped to the side and stuck a foot out. The next thing Valens knew, he crashed into the mossy ground. He rolled sideways, spitting grass from his teeth. Suddenly, the enemy's blade was in his face.

"I win..." the other said.

This was definitely getting very familiar.

His enemy reached up and pulled the concealing helmet off. Dark hair spilled from a long cranium over shoulders and deep blue eyes met his own with amusement. A smile crinkled features, and the glowing-blue veins shone through skin.

"Again," she added lightly. She sheathed her blade.

"Jaira," Valens gasped, scrambling to his feet in surprise. "What are you doing here? Did Sarth send you to test me?"

"What?" She said, looking confused. "Nope. I just thought I'd give you a scare. Well, this is such a wonderful place for a sparring match, and I thought it'd be fun."

Valens frowned. "I'm confused. You came on your own to scare me? For fun? This is not part of my training, I take it."

"Oh, lighten up," Jaira said. "Father's seriousness is rubbing off on you. One day you'll be frowning everywhere you go."

"Sarth doesn't frown."

"You're starting to. All the time. Mother insists it's because you are very serious about your training. But you should smile sometimes too, it's good for you."

"What are you wearing?" Valens asked.

"Oh this," she glanced down at her armor. "I found it once while I was in Cardon. I believe the sand-warriors use it in war. Fits pretty good, huh?"

"Yeah, I suppose it does." The young man sighed, "I still don't understand."

"Nevermind," Jaira sighed, sounding frustrated. "You should get back and tell my Father that you did what he asked. I don't understand why he gives you these little trials, there's no reason for them in particular. You can become a good warrior and Master without scaling mountains and travelling hundreds of miles."

"Are you returning with me?" He asked.

"Nah, this is your trial, not mine. Your discovery. If I go back, Father will think I helped you."

"I wouldn't lie to him, and neither would you, why would he think that?"

Jaira shook her head. "Because...well, I'm not sure. I guess I don't really want to bring up the scuffle with him."

Valens was still confused. "And the reason for that is...?"

"Look, I'm being nice! Now will you get going, I'm going to explore the ruins a bit." She turned away, and Valens rubbed his neck, uncertain why she was so annoyed.

"Sorry," she suddenly said. "Father said I should back off and give you more space. I don't want him to know I came after you."

Valens actually smiled a little, "I see... Alright, Jaira. Just be careful, these ruins could be dangerous. Will I see you tomorrow?"

She sighed but didn't look back. "Yes, Valens. You'll see me tomorrow."

She listened to him walk away and shook her head, willing away unwanted thoughts


End of chapter 4.

I hope you all liked this chapter. Don't worry, it'll will make sense...eventually. :) Apologies for any mistakes.