Opening File: Dr. Algernop Kriegar
Born in the early twentieth century Kriegar was a brilliant teacher, adored by his students at Hamburg Polytechnic. In 1933 he was forced to resign as he was a Jew, whereupon he set about seeking his revenge: he faked his own death (from Tuberculosis), obtained false papers for his birth and education before getting a job working in the Nazi robot program. He was able to convince Hitler to finance his robotic super-soldiers, ostensibly wasting 3 years and millions of Marks by failing to achieve his goals owing to an apparent inability to overcome 'systemic shock' (caused when the remaining body parts reject the robot components leading to agonizing death). It had all been a ruse: his rationale was that every penny 'wasted' on his robots could not be spent on rifles, bullets, bombs, Dust or coal for transporting Jews to concentration camps. It was thus a boondoggle.
It turns out that he had been secretly injecting his subjects with carbolic acid, intentionally killing them, leaving open the possibility that the robot program was not entirely without success. Krieger is shown to murder the Gruppenfuhrer, along with his colleagues and his own nurse (after she denounced him for being a Jew), using robo-Dobermanns. Despite his actions Kriegar's DNA had already been taken and used in a secret cloning program set up by Dr. Von Reichter and several clones were already made by the time the real Kriegar fled Germany. It is unknown what happened to the clones but its suggested that they had been found later, frozen in suspended animation.
It is known at least one is still active well into the twenty first century, nearly eighty years after the end of last Great War otherwise known as World War II. Krieger studied and became accomplished in a variety of different sciences including bionics, electronics, neuroscience, chemistry, biotechnology, surgery, and robotics, but, despite this, never earned a formal doctorate degree of any kind. Doctor Krieger's scientific experiments satirically mirror those of Nazi scientists who evaded death at the Nuremberg Doctors' Trial by escaping to South America or continuing to work for the US Army's biological and chemical research division (Chemical Corps), either in the US or Europe. Free of morality, Krieger shares the same dubious moral character and agenda as his forebears, pursuing only the utilitarian goal of power and control - and his own sexual satisfaction. His 'frontier' work operates in the same murky taboo and grey areas of science which include human experimentation(non-consensual), human and animal cloning, human-robot interfacing (cyborgs), biological and chemical agents (nerve gases and psychotropic drugs), advanced AI and robotics.
In Empire City Krieger lived in a run-down, 'transitional' neighborhood which allowed him to focus his salary for 'pet projects.' His apartment is only shown once and is full of strange and disturbing items, such as a skin-colored wet suit and jars of human remains. He temporarily relocated to the island of Mitimotu when his current employer moved there but has since returned to America. Though is often neutral he is often hired by various clients for various experiments that are not all done for the greater good.
Close File
Xxx
Deep in the Darklands, at the center of the Black Maw a pair of red eyes stared out the window with hands folded behind the person's back. Behind him the doors opened up and in stepped a man with short brown hair and sport's a beard and moustache. He wears a white lab coat and khaki pants along with a yellow dress shirt and dark green tie.
"I am sure you know what is happening." The red eyed man started. "A force of great power known as Crom Cruach has awakened and it is much too dangerous to be allowed to run around. He will more than likely delay our plans and I will not accept any more delays. That is why you are here now."
"I figured but I have to point out I'm not much of a fighter, especially against a god." The man pointed out.
Sammael smirked. "Don't worry. I and Am have already snuck into GrimmFall and are monitoring the situation. They will meet with you and be your protectors. I have no doubt Sebben and the others are scrambling their forces to deal with this force but that's not why you are here." He turned around, facing the man. "Tell me, do you remember Clovis Bray and Project YoRHa?"
Dr. Kriegar nodded. "Indeed I do."
"The mission I have for you involves them. My sources have already told me that Clovis Bray is meeting with Sebben to discuss pooling their resources against Crom. This presents an opportunity." Sammael explained as he walked over to his chair. "I want you to dig up all of Clovis Bray's secrets regarding Project YoRha, including the secret dealings with P.O.I.N.T., Outer Haven Academy and every black ops mission they have been involved in."
Kriegar raised an eyebrow. "That's certainly…A tall order, sir."
"Do you mean to say it cannot be done?" Sammael asked, leaning back in his chair.
"Of course not. I have more than a centuries worth of skills and experience over a third rate hack like Clovis Bray. He is certainly not the genius his father was." Kriegar shook his head. "I would perhaps need direct access through something connected to the project though."
"That will be of no trouble. Like I said, Clovis Bray will be speaking to Sebben and I am sure he will have one or maybe even a dozen androids with him. He knows the threat Crom represents so he'll want extra protection and he'll no doubt have them ready because he will predict Sebben asking for help." Sammael explained.
"If I can directly access Bray's systems, I can find the files. What would you want me to do with them? Hand them over to you?" Kriegar asked.
"No." Sammael smirked as he leaned forward now. "I want you to release them all to the public."
Kriegar's eyes widened in shock, not expecting Sammael's answer at all. "Release them to the public?"
"Yes." Sammael nodded, folding his arms on the table. "Every detail, every model, every mission behind official statement that would deny anything condemning."
"Sir, pardon me for asking but what would the point be of releasing these files? It's not like they aren't known to any important officials like Sebben." Kriegar said.
"Consider what would happen if every civilian, every hunter and anyone who might have reason to believe they are being hunted were to learn of Clovis Bray's project in creating androids made to act and resemble Humans, Faunus and Mobians in every exact detail. If the public were to learn of this there would be paranoia from them for being unable to know if the person next to them was a YoRHa android and outrage from the Hunter community for the creation of androids who will seem them as their expendable replacements." Sammael explained slowly. "Hunters are seen as humanity's protectors but if they discover that a group of machines resembling humans are used to carry out secret missions they would see it as just an attempt by government officials to carry out what was attempted at the Golden Age of Huntsmen."
"To recruit Hunters into the military." Kriegar caught on. "Entire armies made with not only the skills of Huntsmen but as machines they would not need food or rest and they would be programmed to carry out orders with no question or hesitation."
"Exactly. There were would be demands for the project to be disbanded, people losing in trust in the governments that they rely on for protection. Sebben and the others would be forced to deny having ever known the project's existence despite condemning it or they too would face scrutiny while Clovis Bray himself would face steep repercussions. Kriegar, do you remember Professor Zinnia?"
Kriegar nodded. "I do."
"Did you know that before he died he left behind a will stating that all information on Project YoRHa were to be made public and that the androids were to be given equal rights alongside the rest of humanity?" Sammael questioned with a knowing smile.
The surprised look on Kriegar's face answered for him before he even spoke. "N-No. He truly left behind a will stating as such?"
"A will that has gone unfulfilled by Epsilon, Foxtail and Clovis Bay II themselves. They have no intention of carrying out the last will and testament of their departed friend." Sammael stated.
"And how do you know such a will exists?" Kriegar asked.
"Epsilon and the Grey Agency may be skilled in the game of espionage but I've been playing their game long before their ancestors came together to form their little group. I have watched the world and how it has grown, taking an interest in the small dark corners that no one cares to look." Sammael remarked with a chuckle. "Epsilon has yet to understand that I was already well aware of the will even before Zinnia died and that I have been waiting for the right time. If that will were to be revealed after the YoRha androids playing an instrumental role in the defeat of a threat such as Crom there would be calls from those who respected Zinnia to fulfill his wishes and even the androids themselves would demand to be given the rights that have been denied to them. Epsilon and Clovis would be forced into a corner, trying to claw their way out with whatever cover ups they can use but it's more than likely Epsilon and Foxtail would abandon Clovis and leave him to take the fall. Clovis would then be forced to explain why he refused to carry out Zinnia's wishes along with the wishes of his own father."
"His partners would back out to avoid the fallout, costing him millions in money. He would lose all of his customers and it would only be a matter of time before the entire corporation collapses. Clovis would lose every bit of trust from everyone he ever had." Kriegar said, understanding now where Sammael was going with this. "But this all depends on them defeating Crom."
"Leave the matter of Crom to the defenders of mankind. I will keep the Grimm under control on my end." Sammael replied.
"Sir, one final question. Why bother? Surely Crom's actions will benefit you in the long run and Clovis Bray isn't that much of a danger." Kriegar said, trying to understand Sammael's motives.
"He may kill one or even a dozen of the Huntsmen, heroes and other obstacles but Crom himself just becomes an even larger and more difficult obstacle for me. As for Clovis Bray, him and the Grey Agency represent a rogue element in the coming battle. I will not accept any rogue elements whatsoever." Sammael said as he conjured a chess board with pieces representing many heroes along with criminals, super villains representing the League of Super Criminals and the Satyra and in the middle were pieces of the Grey Agency, P.O.I.N.T., Clovis Bray, Bill Cipher and Crom. "If conflict breaks out now the entire world would be devastated in the process. What would the point be of owning real estate if it's completely ruined and destroyed? In the end, the Grey Agency, Cipher, Clovis Bray and Crom along with other factions such as the mafia, the Yakuza and any group pursuing their own self-interests will be exterminated, leaving the clear threats out in the open."
"You plan to exterminate them all?" Kriegar questioned, staring at the board.
"Yes. They will either be assimilated or destroyed. There will be no forces in between, no shades of grey and no group believing they are committing heinous acts in the name of the greater good. A clear board with a clear sign of who is on which side. Crom is just another in a long list of tests for the heroes, Huntsmen and the youth who will take their place in the next battle to ask the question." Sammael remarked. "Will we all be worthy for what comes next?"
Kriegar straightened his posture, understanding Sammael's plans now. If the heroes and hunters were not strong enough to stop Crom they would be unable to handle the threats that came after. He also wanted to ensure that the Grey Agency and Clovis Bray along with others like them would be pulled out of the shadows and into the light for all to see, forcing them to decide which side they will stand on when the time comes.
"I understand now, sir. I will head to GrimmFall immediately." Kriegar said.
"Good. I and Am will scope out the situation and report to you everything they know when you find them." Sammael nodded. "Be sure to leave no stone unturned, Kriegar. I am entrusting this important mission to you and you alone."
Kriegar nodded. "Of course sir. I have been looking forward to putting Clovis Bray in his place for some time now, anyways. I'll be sure to look at him with an extra set of eyes."
Xxx
"We have been called to GrimmFall to answer the situation regarding this entity known as Crom Cruach." Commander White, lead unit of Project YoRha stated to her fellow units in the Bunker, the headquarters of Project YoRha with Agent Epsilon standing next to her. "Agent Epsilon has already briefed us that one of Crom's agents is Agent Francis's target Pinocchio. Due the threat this Crom represents all governments are discussing pooling their resources together to counter this threat. Executive Head of Bray Corporation Clovis Bray is preparing to head to GrimmFall to speak with Mayor Phil Ken Sebben regarding the threat. Agents 2B and 9S will be his personal escorts while the rest of us prepare to move out. Your assignments will be transmitted to you as more information is made available…Dismissed."
The android units moved to carry out their assignments but Epsilon quickly approached 2B.
"2B a word." Agent Epsilon said to the female android.
"Agent Epsilon, sir." 2B replied.
"At ease. My people and I have devised a way to control this Crom Cruach." Epsilon said as be pulled out a small object. "This grenade releases a swarm of SIVA nanites that once close enough to its target will enter it and bring it under our control."
"SIVA? I thought Clovis Bray destroyed it all when we recovered it from Dr. Robotnik?" 2B asked.
"My people acquired some of the nanites you recovered and studied it. We preformed tests and learned that it could control organic targets. This grenade was originally meant to be used against the Fallen named Sammael. We hoped we could control him and use him against other threats in the world. However with this evil god on the loose we may have found a better insurance policy against future threats to the world." Epsilon replied.
"This seems...wrong sir." 2B said.
"I know but the world is a chaotic place. And sometimes you need to control the chaos to bring order to it." Epsilon said. "2B what if I were to tell you that when the creator of Project YoRHa Professor Zinnia died he left behind a will that went unfulfilled?"
"What was in the will?" 2B asked.
"As I'm sure you know Zinnia and his backers were surprised to learn that the androids developed sentience, this made you and the others more efficient in the field. A few years later Zinnia became ashamed of what he'd done, so he wrote in his will that Project YoRHa become public knowledge and that me, Clovis Bray, and the rest of YoRHa's backers were to make sure that you'll be granted the same rights like the other races in the world. Help me do this and I'll see to it that the will is fulfilled."
2B hesitantly looks at the SIVA weapon and accepts it from Epsilon. "Okay I'll do it."
Epsilon pulls out a data chip and hands it to 2B. "Install this plug-in-chip to your systems you'll need it to control the SIVA nanites."
"Understood."
Xxx
"You told her about the will!?" Bray shouted. "After my father and Zinnia died you, me, Foxtail, and Colonel Kubritz agreed that we would hide its existence. You're putting us at risk here Epsilon."
"Calm yourself Mr. Bray, the plug-in-chip I gave 2B to control the nanites erased any memory of her hearing about the will we're not in danger here." Epsilon calmly replied.
"That maybe but it was dangerous to mention." Bray said. "I should report you to the others about the fact that you stole some of my product, one that is too dangerous to see the light of day."
"A product that you know doubt used the alien technology that Kubritz and her predecessor supplied you with breaking the promise that your father made not to use in your company's products, the very same one that you promised to uphold." Epsilon said as Bray began to narrow his eyes. "We analyzed the nanites old fiend and they were too complex for the brightest minds in your company to come up with. I'm sure Kubritz would be happy to abandon her current alien hunt in Arcadia Oaks to deal with you. But I'll make sure not to tell as long as you promise not to tell the others of what I did."
"Lying to one of my androids, secretly erasing her memory, and blackmailing me. You're a cruel man Epsilon." Bray said before smirking. "I knew there was a reason why I like you."
"Social actions aside you are going to allow Sebben to use your androids." Epsilon said as they stepped onto Bray's personal jet.
"Of course. It's a matter of survival and Sebben won't jeopardize his pride at the expense of his city." Clovis said as he sat down and the jet took off.
Xxx
"All right, everyone. We're going to try and sneak into Avalon and rescue Gabriel and the others first." Eliza said to the Gargoyles as they boarded the boat. "We'll deal with Crom once all the Gargoyles on Avalon are safe."
"Angela." Goliath turned to his daughter. "You know the island better than anyone here. You'll be the one to lead us in and find them."
Angela nodded. "Don't worry. I won't fail any of my brothers or sisters."
"Once we're there we'll hide the boat and learn all we can about this Crom." Eliza continued, turning to Arthur. "Your Majesty, you said Excalibur wounded Crom back in New Jersey."
Arthur nodded. "Yes it did. I believe I will stand the best chance against Crom if we face him. Merlin has gone to seek the help of others. If we are to stop this mad god we need an army."
"So where will he go?"
Xxx
"As much as it pains me to do this Bray, I need the aid of Project YoRHa." Sebben said while glaring with his good eye.
"Well since we are facing a threat unlike any other I'll send Project YoRHa to help you." Bray said smugly over the view screen. "I am already on my way to GrimmFall with my own personal batch. They will do their job well. I guarantee that."
"Thank you, Mr. Bray." Sebben said, ending the call.
As galling as it was to rely on the help of a man like Clovis Bray it was necessary one. Crom's rampage through GrimmFall showed just how dangerous he truly was and there was no time for personal grievances.
"The things I do to try and save the world." Sebben sighed, bringing a hand to his eye.
"It's really not about to get much better."
Sebben stood up, watching as a portal appeared in front of his desk and from it came Merlin along with… "James Lake Jr?"
It was indeed the very Trollhunter himself along with Claire who had gone with him to New Jersey to set up a new Trollmarket.
"Hi, Mr. Sebben." Jim said with a friendly smile. "Sorry to drop in but we have a problem. Oh and this is Merlin from the Legends of Camelot." He quickly said, gesturing to Merlin. "I told you about him before the night we met."
"Indeed you did." Sebben said as he sat back down. "Not to sound rude Mr. Lake but I have a problem of my own."
"Crom?" Merlin asked.
Sebben was silent for a second. "All right, we both have the same problem."
"Crom came to New Trollmarket to take Merlin's powers." Claire spoke. "We barely survived."
"I'm afraid we had as much luck as you then. Crom just attacked the city and has injured or killed a lot of our people." Sebben replied. "He's given us one day to surrender or he'll block out the sun…Much like Gunmar and Morgana tried to do."
"He's bringing the Eternal Night?!" Jim and Claire exclaimed.
"Not sure if it will be the same but for all appearances, I would say yes." Sebben nodded. "I've made calls to Russia and Japan, asking them to pool our resources together but we don't have a solid plan for stopping Crom. There is only one person who has knowledge on how Crom was defeated in the past but he's injured and it wasn't even in this country."
"Who?"
Xxx
Rolf was unconscious now as the paramedics work on his injuries. Meanwhile as he slept he dreamed…
Rolf stood before a burning village, watching in horror as demons slaughtered the villagers and stole the children away.
"You will worship him."
"Worship the Bloody Hand."
"Hail the Bloody Hand."
"Hail Crom!"
Rolf watched as twelve golden tablets appeared and in the center was a tall elderly bearded woman that he recognized. "Yeshmiyek."
"Young son of a Shepard." The goddess greeted kindly.
"Rolf has failed you. Rolf tried to stop He-Who-Must-Never-Be-Named but failed." Rolf bowed before his goddess. "Rolf is unworthy."
"You have not failed yet, young one." Yeshmiyek said, bringing a hand down on Rolf's shoulder. "Hope is not lost."
Rolf looked up at his goddess. "What must Rolf do?"
"These tablets are the answer." Yeshmiyek answered to the surrounding tablets. "Within them are the spells that can bind and seal Crom again. The hero will find them soon and with it will find the answer to defeat Crom. What you must do is…Ask."
"Ask? What must Rolf ask?" Rolf asked.
"Crom is made his home on an island of pure magic. He uses it for his own twisted ends. Rolf and the hero must work together as Rolf's ancestors did to stop him." Yeshmiyek answered as the dream started to end.
"Wait! Rolf does not understand!"
"Ask yourself this, Rolf. Who is Rolf?" Yeshmiyek asked as the dream ended.
"Yeshmiyek!"
Xxx
"This must be it."
Rory stood before a massive cave with a large boulder blocking the entrance. Summoning Gae Bolga Roary threw it at the boulder and shattered, sending little pieces flying everywhere. Rory's Aura protected him as he stepped inside. When the dust cleared Rory used his spear as a light source, walking down the dark cave.
As he walked Rory saw countless bones lying along the floor along with rusted swords. Finally he reached the end of the cave, coming upon a pair of giant stone grand doors. With a mighty push he was able to open the door and looked inside. The chamber was none other than the place that Crom had been sealed in at the end of his last reign.
Twelve monolithic stone tablets with the twelve Zodiac symbols inscribed on each of them, surrounding a golden statue of a monstrous worm.
"Deathworm…But still no more than that." Rory said as he stared at the statue. "A worm."
Summoning his spear he stabbed it into the head of the golden statue, watching as it broke apart and held out his hand. Reaching in he pulled out a wooden Shepard's cane as the rest of the golden statue shattered to pieces.
"The Shepard's cane. The magical weapon of the great ancestors who fought against Crom and defeated him." Rory said as more of Cu Chullain's memories returned before looking to the stone tablets. "The power chooses its holder."
One by one he touched each tablet with the cane, watching as powerful magic was absorbed from each tablet that was then followed by the tablets breaking apart into dust.
Once all the tablets were gone, Rory stood with the magical cane, holding it above his head. "Twelve symbols for twelve chosen and the Shepard to guide them."
And a hero to aid them.