It's been a long time....
DOZ: I can hardly remember which limb I ripped out of Thraxy. Can you, Sig?
Sig: Dunno, ribs perhaps?
Thraxenel: (looking tortured ) Oh you guys are soooo fu nny.
Sorry for the late update guys, been rather distracted by my devianART account, since I really loved drawing. Eitherway, thinking of remaking Dark Destinines to make it bigger and more of a thrill-ride for our wonderful Jak, but then again maybe not.
I know you guys are just DYING to sue me for this late update. Epp!
Proteus awoke groggily to find himself in a small room. He felt a soft linen blanket over him, and a lovely pillow behind his head. His moaned softly-gratefully. But then he started to wonder how did he get there.
Proteus: Eyes opens, looking around Sig? Sig??
Rushing noises came from the corridor outside. Almost immediately a large young man came stumbling in, nearly falling over in his rush to get inside. Proteus squinted to see who it was- and his heart lightened.
Proteus: Sigfried!!!
Sig grinned from ear to ear and rushed towards his friend. Both of them stared at each other-suddenly speechless. And then after a few seconds, they both started to laugh like idiots. They were so happy to see one another again.
Another Metamorphagan stepped into the room, smiling gently. He shook his head at them both.
Metamorphagan: All right, Sig, you know that's not good for him in his condition.
Sig ignored him. Both of them did. Proteus continued to laugh until he gave a loud gag and started to cough. But despite his fit, he was still smiling.
Sig waited for his friend to recover and looked at the Metamorphagan at the door curiously. His eyes widened.
Sig: Hey—is that you, Chrome??
The Metamorphagan raised his eyebrows, then nodded.
Chrome: Yeh, it's me.
Sig: You're looking damn well.
Chrome: It's been a long ride. You were very brave to head back here after your long disappearence. The Sentinels are in awe. The whole city's talking about you.
Sig: Ah...let them talk. I'm used to it.
Suddenly another Metamorphagan stepped into the room. Sig recognized him immediately as Vorador. The older Metamorphagan looked as scarred and vicious as ever- except that he was wearing a look of concern and shock on his face. Sig;s eyebrows raised. Vorador never gave a damn about anyone or anything else but himself.
Vorador: Voice trembling Is...is he?? Is that him?? Points at Sig.
Chrome: Yes, sir.
And then without warning, the huge Metamorphagan went up to Sig and- to his greatest surprise and horror- grabbed him with both arms and gave him a bone-crushing hug. Sig gagged loudly, but not loud enough to drown Vorador's sudden weeping....
Vorador: Sobbing idiotically Fenris told me what happened years ago....sob...sob....the fight and how you went off....sob I-sob I didn't know what to say.....brave boy. You were a brave boy.....welcome back......
Sig tried to speak, but all that came out was a loud choke. Vorador finally released him and immediately walked away, as if ashamed of his tears. He went out of the room, but before he left he said:
Vorador: And incase you're wondering, Sig....you've got an A-.
He went off, and before he was completely out of earshot Sig heard him blow very loudly into a hanky. Proteus looked as if he were going to burst with laughter.
Proteus: WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!
Sig: Hey, Pro- don't get your lungs in a knot!
Proteus: I-AHAHAHAHA- can't help it!! Hehehe....Vorador HUGGED you!!
Sig: Shakes head Yeah, that was new.
Chrome neared Proteus's bed and began inspecting his wounds, tutting especially at the deep stab-wound on his arm, where Baz's pulse-rifle spear had pierced him. Proteus grimaced and gave a slight hiss.
Chrome: This looks bad, Captain.
Sig: (Surprised and stares at Proteus) Captain? You're a Captain, Proteus?
Proteus: Captain of the Sentinels, yeah. Got elected five months ago.
Sig: Man, congrats!
Chrome: Well he won't be able to get into the battlefield in this state- the wound's nearly cut his arm bone off- you're lucky your arm is still attached.
Sig: You can do something about it right?
Chrome: Sure. Just get some Green Eco and it'll do the job- I'm not sure about the bones though, but I'll try. Turns to get out of the door, leaving them Good-bye, Captain.
Sig: (As Chrome left) Man- Captain Proteus??? I mean....that's a helluva title.
Proteus: You're telling me. It's not easy being a leader- Metalhead hunts everyday and everynight! You wouldn't believe the beasts we had to kill.
Sig: The war still going on? Even after all these years?
Proteus: I don't know....the Metalheads are pretty keen on getting their claws on our Eco. Three raided our city two weeks ago. They were desperate- I don't know why. Their Leader must be whipping up something.
Sig: That's bad.
Proteus: Yes....and we don't even have any weapon up-grades. The Metalheads are getting really strong- our assault rifles just don't work like they use to.
The two were silent for a moment, until Proteus suddenly exclaimed:
Proteus: Oh, and yeah.....
He, with a bit of difficulty, reached down from under his bed and grabbed a bag from underneath it. He opened it and reached inside. Sig curiously stared at him as he began to pull out something old, scruffy and brown in colour. It looks oddly familiar....
Sig: Gasp! Poopsie!
Proteus: (Chuckling) Oh, that's his name. The three Metalheads I told you about- they thrashed up your home a bit and used the bear as a chew-toy. Luckily, your mother came up and gave them a helluva thrashing. For a Peacemaker, she sure was wicked when she transformed!
Sig: (Talking slowly) So...where is my mother?
Proteus didn't answer. His expression changed quickly- and he leaned slowly back into his pillows. Sig stared at him, brows knitted together. He waited tensely for an answer.
Sig: Where is she?
Proteus: I-I-I-
Sig: Proteus.....what happened to my mother!?
Proteus: She....she went out after you when you ran away that night. She went with the Sentinels and they looked all over for you. They couldn't find you....even after two months. The Sentinels gave up, but not her though. Everynight she would go out to the Surface, transformed into a Hura-Lycan, just to look for you. After that fight with the three Metalheads she went out again.......and.......
Sig: (Voice cracking, breathing deeply) AND-??
Proteus: She never came back.
Sig's heart dropped lower than it ever did in his whole life. He stared at Proteus, lost for words, unable to breathe properly. Inside he could feel his soul tearing apart- and deep within, he heard a long mournful howl of anguish.......
Sig: Noooo........
Proteus: (Sighing, looking guilty) I'm so sorry, Sig...
Sig didn't answer. His eyes burned with swelling tears, and his heart felt as if it would stop beating any minute. He clutched Poopsie tight to himself, shaking to the soul, feeling hot, grief-stricken tears run down his face. He regretted that he didn't return home. He regretted that he left his mother to such grief. And now she was gone, and he didn't even get to say good-bye....
Proteus: (Putting a hand on his shoulder) Sig?
Sig wiped his tears roughly and looked away. He remained silent for a few minutes, then asked slowly:
Sig: Where's Fenris?
Proteus: He's gone to visit the Pales. We need new weapons, and the Pales are our last resort. He's gone off to try and convince them to give us some.
Sig: Pales??
Proteus: Vampires.
Sig: (Shocked) What?? Vampires-???????
Proteus: Honestly, Sig. If werewolf-like Hura-Lycans can exist, why not Vampires?
Sig: You mean—never mind—where is Fenris? Where do these...Vamps....live??
Proteus: Far away at Haven City, at a place called Raven's Coven. I think it's underground, so we can use it without crossing the security walls. I've sent three Sentinels to get him back, but I guess things turned out for the worst. Metalhead ambush, probably. Fenris can't come back unescorted, especially during these days. It's too dangerous for a man to go out there alone.
At this Sig laughed. Proteus stared at him curiously.
Proteus: And what's so funny?
Sig: (Chuckles) Dangerous? Metalheads?? Hah! That's a laugh!!
Proteus: Sig, I'm surprised at you. You're laughing at out most dangerous enemy!
Sig: All my years as a Wastelander, Pro, there's not one Metalhead that I can't kill- except for us, I mean.
Proteus: (Shocked) You kill Metalheads for a living???
Sig: (Pouts) Yeah, $900 a week. A bonus everytime I get something rare. I'll go get Fenris back myself- don't bother to send you men after me, either. I can't watch their backs for them.
Proteus: But Sig-
But Sig had already left.
12.00 PM (Midnight)
Underground Haven City, Raven's Coven
Sig had journeyed from home for three days using the numerous underground tunnelways from the Metamorphagan City to Haven City. It had been a long journey, dangerous as well, but Sig coped quite well. The Metalheads in these tunnels were not as nasty as those above ground, so killing them was quite a cinch. It wasn't hard to get lost in the tunnels either, and Sig eventually threw his map of it away.
After two days journeying through dim-lighted tunnels on the back of a Flut-Flut, Sig eventually arrived to a huge cavern area with tall gates barring his way menacingly. Behind the massive gates however was a huge mansion made out of marble. Though ancient and dark looking, Sig couldn't deny its exquisite beauty. It looked unwelcoming, too, and Sig shuddered just thinking of Fenris being inside. He got off his Flut-Flut and proceeded towards the gates.
Sig: (Looking through the bars) Err...excuse me?
He felt stupid. There was no one around.
Or so he thought.
Voice: Who the f are you?
Sig: Huh?
A tall stranger came out out the darkness, dressed all in black with a large rifle in his pale hands. Sig was horrified at how pale he was- totally white and cold-looking, like the skin of a corpse. Blue veins were visible on his face and dark rings surrounded his eyes. Though dead and pale did he look, raging flames burned in his iron-grey eyes- so bright and evil Sig's stomach shrank slightly in fear.
Sig: Ohh.....
Voice: Well, answer my question!
Sig: I...I came here to escort my friend Fenris back to the Metamorphagan City.
Voice: You're a Hura-Lycan?
Sig was about to answer until he suddenly noticed something strangely odd about the man's teeth—oh no, wait—those aren't teeth. Those are fangs.
This guy's a Vampire.