Dead Man Walking
Chapter 2 - Look Before You Leap
The customary bright light flooded his vision, and Lister stepped into a white room, the usual "loading" place for most A.R games. He stepped forward, his heavy steps sending echoes along the smooth floor. When he reached the centre of the room, objects whooshed into existence. A filing cabinet and wardrobe appeared to his left against a wall, and a cork bulletin board on his right. Before he could think of what to do next, a huge door appeared in front of him. It was as black as a void, with intricate carvings that swirled and looped around each other, seeming to move all by themselves. A thin plume of purple-ish smoke rose from the tiny crack at the bottom of the door, and it emitted a sulphurous smell that made his nose scrunch into itself, his whole face contorting with disgust.
Lister staggered back, and decided that diabolical weirdness was not on his agenda. He may not be a coward, but no human, not even the last one alive could subject his nose to that for long and stay conscious. He was just about to clap his hands and leave when the doors flew open and a figure glided - not walked, glided - towards him.
He was not completely surprised, these A.R games were known for their corny mascots. What better mascot for a game with "Dead" in it's title than the Grim Reaper. Well it looked like the Grim Reaper. Sort of.
The more he looked at the silent figure the more he noticed that it didn't look all that much like the Grim Reaper. It was.well scarier. It's scythe was absent without leave, It's cloak was a dull red, not black and it had no limbs as far as he could see. Two flickering flames replaced its eyes.
Lister's stomach hadn't felt this worried since he had eaten that pasta vindaloo - One proof that curry cannot make everything in the world taste better. Two days later in the medical bay, Lister had reflected that he should have listened to his body when it told him in a churning, squeezing, hopping sort of way that things were very bad. This was one of those times. His stomach was yelling at him that compared to a pasta vindaloo, this thing was a French salad and croissant with grated carrot.
Trying to clap his hands, Lister realised they were manacled. Heavily manacled. They were the sort of things you used on rabid elephants. He could not even lift his arms to his waist. He was squirming around, and trying not to overbalance when the thing spoke:
"Welcome Dave Lister, to Dead Man Walking - The adventure of a lifetime. Are you prepared?"
It's voice was low, but very raspy. Lister took a deep breath (through his mouth!) and decided that he had had enough.
"Get these off, pal. I have an appointment with reality and its way, way overdue!"
The flaming eyes bobbed up and down as the thing laughed. It was not a nice laugh - it was the kind of laugh that Bond villains perfected in their spare time, a laugh that made evildoers want to join in and other people to cower. Lister shuddered and resumed struggling, refusing to accept that a psycho with flames for eyes was essentially holing him hostage in an artificial room with manacles that were not real. He really could not cope with that now.
"How do you know my name, I haven't told you yet."
"We scan your mind. It essential for your adventure." The thing smirked
"I am afraid that your appointment is with me. We have important matters to see to."
Lister was not buying it, whatever this game was supposed to do, it was not supposed to lead him to a change of pants. He decided that he would have to find the exit program, and so he attempted to keep Beelzebub's cousin talking.
"What matters are those then? I thought this was an adventure game"
"Oh it is, it is all a big game - to me. I find it amusing. You of course may not be as enamoured with its little "peculiarities"."
Lister felt a huge shooting pain enter him. It seemed to come through the top of his head and pass like a beam, or a wave down his body. A red light flashed before his eyes, and he fell to the ground. The manacles kept holding his arms under him as he struggled to rise.
"What the smeg was that?!"
"I'm sorry, the process is far more painful when using illegal methods. Hacking into your ships databanks was more difficult than expected."
Through gritted teeth, Lister threw himself backward and then slithered across the floor until he found the cabinet. Propping himself up, he caught his breath, and waited for the shock of the pain to die down.
"I'll say again - What was that? What is a game doing hacking into the ship's computer?"
"Enough talk. The process is complete and it is time for us to begin."
The doors to the cupboard opened. The shelves inside were filled with weapons of all kinds, from swords to guns and some alien things he couldn't even name.
"Make your choice. One weapon only."
Lister pondered. He reasoned that he had to go to past the loading section before the game would let him quit. Also thinking about ammunition issues, and durability (the Bazookoids were about as reliable as an Aldi tin opener) he selected a mid-length curved sword with a double edged blade. When he named his choice, the manacles and all other weapons vanished, and he picked up the sword. It felt heavy in his sweating palms.
"Sweat? That shouldn't be there!"
"I think you will find this game more.realistic than most. Now comes your final choice, one you will find difficult I fear. Your first and last decision in this adventure of a lifetime - How will you die?!"
The thing's voice faded into insane laughter, and its body was consumed in flames. The room vanished, and Lister found himself being propelled toward the black door. He clapped and clapped, but the clammy palms and the sword remained. He was in darkness, and he was a dead man walking. In any form, dying was not a good thing - even in A.R. He had met Death himself and found him to not be a very pleasant bloke.
"If only this thing had a smegging instruction manual - what the hell have I let myself in for?"
Voices issued from the dark.
"Dead Man Walking, are you ready? The end has just begun."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please review, I appreciate all constructive criticism! Thanks go to those who reviewed chapter one: I am very grateful for your advice.
~Kuja7Dax1~
Chapter 2 - Look Before You Leap
The customary bright light flooded his vision, and Lister stepped into a white room, the usual "loading" place for most A.R games. He stepped forward, his heavy steps sending echoes along the smooth floor. When he reached the centre of the room, objects whooshed into existence. A filing cabinet and wardrobe appeared to his left against a wall, and a cork bulletin board on his right. Before he could think of what to do next, a huge door appeared in front of him. It was as black as a void, with intricate carvings that swirled and looped around each other, seeming to move all by themselves. A thin plume of purple-ish smoke rose from the tiny crack at the bottom of the door, and it emitted a sulphurous smell that made his nose scrunch into itself, his whole face contorting with disgust.
Lister staggered back, and decided that diabolical weirdness was not on his agenda. He may not be a coward, but no human, not even the last one alive could subject his nose to that for long and stay conscious. He was just about to clap his hands and leave when the doors flew open and a figure glided - not walked, glided - towards him.
He was not completely surprised, these A.R games were known for their corny mascots. What better mascot for a game with "Dead" in it's title than the Grim Reaper. Well it looked like the Grim Reaper. Sort of.
The more he looked at the silent figure the more he noticed that it didn't look all that much like the Grim Reaper. It was.well scarier. It's scythe was absent without leave, It's cloak was a dull red, not black and it had no limbs as far as he could see. Two flickering flames replaced its eyes.
Lister's stomach hadn't felt this worried since he had eaten that pasta vindaloo - One proof that curry cannot make everything in the world taste better. Two days later in the medical bay, Lister had reflected that he should have listened to his body when it told him in a churning, squeezing, hopping sort of way that things were very bad. This was one of those times. His stomach was yelling at him that compared to a pasta vindaloo, this thing was a French salad and croissant with grated carrot.
Trying to clap his hands, Lister realised they were manacled. Heavily manacled. They were the sort of things you used on rabid elephants. He could not even lift his arms to his waist. He was squirming around, and trying not to overbalance when the thing spoke:
"Welcome Dave Lister, to Dead Man Walking - The adventure of a lifetime. Are you prepared?"
It's voice was low, but very raspy. Lister took a deep breath (through his mouth!) and decided that he had had enough.
"Get these off, pal. I have an appointment with reality and its way, way overdue!"
The flaming eyes bobbed up and down as the thing laughed. It was not a nice laugh - it was the kind of laugh that Bond villains perfected in their spare time, a laugh that made evildoers want to join in and other people to cower. Lister shuddered and resumed struggling, refusing to accept that a psycho with flames for eyes was essentially holing him hostage in an artificial room with manacles that were not real. He really could not cope with that now.
"How do you know my name, I haven't told you yet."
"We scan your mind. It essential for your adventure." The thing smirked
"I am afraid that your appointment is with me. We have important matters to see to."
Lister was not buying it, whatever this game was supposed to do, it was not supposed to lead him to a change of pants. He decided that he would have to find the exit program, and so he attempted to keep Beelzebub's cousin talking.
"What matters are those then? I thought this was an adventure game"
"Oh it is, it is all a big game - to me. I find it amusing. You of course may not be as enamoured with its little "peculiarities"."
Lister felt a huge shooting pain enter him. It seemed to come through the top of his head and pass like a beam, or a wave down his body. A red light flashed before his eyes, and he fell to the ground. The manacles kept holding his arms under him as he struggled to rise.
"What the smeg was that?!"
"I'm sorry, the process is far more painful when using illegal methods. Hacking into your ships databanks was more difficult than expected."
Through gritted teeth, Lister threw himself backward and then slithered across the floor until he found the cabinet. Propping himself up, he caught his breath, and waited for the shock of the pain to die down.
"I'll say again - What was that? What is a game doing hacking into the ship's computer?"
"Enough talk. The process is complete and it is time for us to begin."
The doors to the cupboard opened. The shelves inside were filled with weapons of all kinds, from swords to guns and some alien things he couldn't even name.
"Make your choice. One weapon only."
Lister pondered. He reasoned that he had to go to past the loading section before the game would let him quit. Also thinking about ammunition issues, and durability (the Bazookoids were about as reliable as an Aldi tin opener) he selected a mid-length curved sword with a double edged blade. When he named his choice, the manacles and all other weapons vanished, and he picked up the sword. It felt heavy in his sweating palms.
"Sweat? That shouldn't be there!"
"I think you will find this game more.realistic than most. Now comes your final choice, one you will find difficult I fear. Your first and last decision in this adventure of a lifetime - How will you die?!"
The thing's voice faded into insane laughter, and its body was consumed in flames. The room vanished, and Lister found himself being propelled toward the black door. He clapped and clapped, but the clammy palms and the sword remained. He was in darkness, and he was a dead man walking. In any form, dying was not a good thing - even in A.R. He had met Death himself and found him to not be a very pleasant bloke.
"If only this thing had a smegging instruction manual - what the hell have I let myself in for?"
Voices issued from the dark.
"Dead Man Walking, are you ready? The end has just begun."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please review, I appreciate all constructive criticism! Thanks go to those who reviewed chapter one: I am very grateful for your advice.
~Kuja7Dax1~