The 99th Platoon – The FlatFeet Saga
Act Three: Into the Lair

(A/N Just a note: When characters conveniently vanish from the plot, supposedly lost in the mind of Omega, this occurs when their participation in the mission ended, or went on hold till later. Seeing how making people disappear at opportune moments is what the Omega does, it doesn't pose too large a plot hole, and I hope that you, the reader can forgive me for taking such and easy and weasel-like path out of that problem. Till then, I can entertain you with the stories concerning the active member's, and in this particular one, a certain maniac that we all know and love…)

Chapter 15: The Pyst Effect

"Where am I?" CoolGuy asked groggily. He opened his eyes, his vision blurry at first. He could see nothing but black. Not darkness, but pure pitch black. He felt as if he was floating in a sea of it. As he rolled over, carried away in this dark stream of nothing, he saw a pearly white orb float dreamily past him.
"Who the hell are you?"
I am FlatFeet's unconscious projection…
 "I thought you were evil."
That would be the Omega. FlatFeet's conscience, meaning me, has been subdued when the Omega took control
CoolGuy could feel the cool stillness that came from floating in the black void of FlatFeet's subconscious.
"This feels good…" he sighed.
It's the only good part of FlatFeet's mind that still survives. It's a stream of his happiest moments
The orb pulsed with a strong and brilliant white light that fluctuated when it spoke.
You may rest here Kenny. You are safe in this unconsciousness. Both FlatFeet and I shall protect you. Now I must go
"What do I do here?"
Regain your strength. Before the end, you will need it
"You have to help Stealth! He's also knocked out."
Don't worry Kenny, I will collect him as I did you
In a burst of pure white the orb vanished, leaving CoolGuy floating in the endless stream of FlatFeet's purest memories.

Chael took a look at Oreos' wound from the wolf bite. The flesh was turning green, and blood was slowly spewing out.
"! This hurts..." the Double-O agent groaned.
"I don't have any medical supplies with me," Pyst growled, "You're just going to have to stick it out buddy."
Chael stood up slowly, examining the landscape, before Oreos cried out in pain.
"Oh ... I feel something!"
"What the hell is that stuff!" Pyst groaned, pointing at Oreos' wound. Green maggots started to pour out of it. Chael stepped on them, but twice as many came out.
"Oreos! Stay calm! Oreos!" Chael continued to stamp out the maggots, "Cover the wound!"
"No! Get this stuff out of me! Get it out!" Oreos shrieked
Pyst's head was hung low. He clutched an axe in his paw. Oreos and Chael did no notice when or where he got it, since they were distracted. Pyst had no idea where he got it either, but he suddenly an idea.
"Chael, get out of the way." His voice came out in sporadic rattles.
Chael looked over his shoulder, to see the axe in Pyst's paws.
"What is it?"
"I can help Oreos."
"What? How?"
"Just step aside. I can take away the pain."

"What are you going to do to?"
"I SAID MOVE!"
"NO!"
Chael reached for the weapon, but before he could, Pyst raised the axe with both hands high into the air, and brought it down upon Chael. It landed right in Chael's chest. Pyst yanked the axe out, and Chael's body fell to the ground. He then proceeded to Oreos, who was still sitting down leaning against the wall, and was panting hard.
"Pyst! Fight it! DON'T DO IT!" Oreos backed further against the wall.
"Don't worry," Pyst said calmly "I'm going to help you... relax."
Oreos tried to shift away from Pyst, but he kicked the wound, growling unnaturally, and Oreos could move no more. Pain swept through his leg, a fantastic amount of pain, and he had no choice but scream out loud.
Pyst raised the axe, and brought it down.

After what appeared to be years of screaming and endless pain, Oreos caught his breath, and looked at what Pyst had done. He had chopped off Oreos' leg.
"There you go boy... no more pain... no more..."
Pyst eyes were now empty, with his face swollen and pale.
"Death would be a godsend now," Oreos thought, breathing deep, "Compared to this place."
Pyst stood there looking at the destruction he caused. The sound of maniacal laughter filled his head.
Didn't you enjoy that?
Pyst grabbed the axe and looked for the source of the voice.
What? Are you going to use that on me? Very well then, here I am
Chael's body rose and floated in the air. The wound across his chest healed up and his eyes opened. Instead of his usual pink they were a burning red.
"You've used that on me once already. What do you think will happen if you use it again?"
"I could try it and find out."
"I have a better idea. How would you like to help more, as you did him?" The floating Chael pointed a finger at the fainted Oreos. "Now look at this."
In front of Pyst the world seemed to bend. It formed a circular view-screen. Within it, Pyst could see the other Platoon members. Chael appeared behind Pyst, whispering into his ear.
"Look. Stealth and CoolGuy are both unconscious. You need to help them as you helped Oreos. Go to them now and help them."
As Pyst stepped through the portal, Chael collapsed to the ground. He stared at Oreos in shock, and then at Pyst vanishing through the portal. He stared upwards at the rust-red sky, placing his shades back on.
"For doing that to me, I will kill you." The scientist sniper finished raging at the Omega and slid to Oreos' side. He closed his eyes, forming the image of a whole and healthy leg in his mind. He held his hands over the wound and concentrated.

"What? Someone there? Join us…"
Sarge knew that the Platoon was in trouble. Those with him here were burdened by the weight of the unconscious Stealth and CoolGuy, and he was sure that the others, who had vanished since they arrived, were in worse trouble than any of them.
As they made their way through the labyrinth-like streets the sign of the Omega was appearing all throughout the city walls, painted in what seemed like blood; flies were hovering around them. The Shdows were again appearing. They continuously made their message clear.
"Join us… Blood will spill…"
Something behind them made a noise. Everything behind them made a noise. But they didn't dare look, lest it be something they never want ed to see in their life. Yet this voice was different. It was familiar.
"I'm going to help you…"
That wasn't one of the Shadows. Mon could resist the curiosity no longer. He threw a fleeting glance over his shoulder.
"Pyst!" he cried. Everyone stopped to look back.
A big mistake.
"Come and play…we'll play together!"
The hoard of Shadows gathered on the side of the street that Pyst was on, gliding with a bodiless motion across the street.
"Come and play with us…"
The figures weren't clear, shrouded in tattered shrouds and of course the layer of Shadow. They gathered behind Pyst, their eyes glowing red.
"Pyst! Boy, get out of there!" Sarge yelled, "Behind you!" He stopped. Something didn't seem right.
"You will play with us…You will play…NOW!"
The gathered Platoon watched helplessly as Shadows engulfed Pyst, swarming over and entering his body. He seemed to grow and grow until his body and size was blown to the proportions of a small building.
"I'M GONNA HELP YOU. DON'T BE AFRAID."
"Am I the only one that doesn't find that reassuring?" Dark growled.
Pyst's fire axe that had turned into a grotesque battleaxe, his eyes were white and his mouth was frothing, his muscles bulged and his legs turned into hooves. He smelled of gangrene and rot.
He leaned back an readied his axe.
"DON'T YOU WORRY. YOU'LL NEVER FEEL ANY PAIN ANY MORE."

The enormous Pyst swung the battleaxe, levelling buildings left and right. The Platoon scrambled in any and every direction possible.
"WHERE ARE YOU GOING! I'M GOING TO HELP YOU... FRIENDS..."
He picked up a large chunk of debris and threw it at Mon. Mon dove, barely missing the crushing rock.
"I CAN MAKE THE PAIN STOP... TRUST ME..."
He kicked over another building, creating a wall of debris. RedStorm, holding Stealth over his shoulder, was trapped. The giant Pyst grinned and raised the axe.
"THIS WILL TAKE THE PAIN AWAY..."
RedStorm closed his eyes, expecting it all to be over in a few seconds of intense pain.
Pyst demonic face was contorting. Suddenly he screamed in his own voice.
"NOOOOOOOOO!"
He turned the axe around and thrust it into his own chest. His grin grew as he watched his own blood seep from his chest.
"WHAT HAPPENED?" the demonic voice spoke again. Pyst grinned his psychotic grin.
"I won't kill my friends... If I have to kill someone from my team...IT'S GONNA BE ME!"
There was a high pitched shriek as the hoard of Shadows were forced out of the gaping wound that cut deep into Pyst's chest. As they disappeared, fleeting into the darkness, Pyst's body slowly returned to normal. He lay on the ground with the axe still stuck in his chest.
Sarge and Mon helped RedStorm and Stealth out of the rubble while Dark stood by, CoolGuy hanging from his broad shoulders.
The Shadows gathered once again around the still body.
"Fool…"
Without warning Pyst sprung to his feet, yanking the axe out of his chest, his face showing his trademark psychotic scowl.
"You can't hurt me! I love the pain... No… I CRAVE IT! YOU CAN'T MESS WITH A MIND THAT ALREADY GONE INSANE!"
Pyst charged into the shadows screaming. The Shadows swarmed over him, like a black cloud. From within Pyst could be heard yelling.
"DIE! BLEED YOU BASTARDS! YOU CAN'T WIN!"
With a low rumble both Pyst and the shadows disappeared.

Dark looked upwards, concerned.
The sky darkened even more, if that was at all possible. They stood, silent, in awe. Pyst was gone. He had disappeared with those Shadows. Then, there was a faint marching sound.
They looked straight ahead.
Shadowy figures began emerging above the horizon line. They marched towards them. Their deep, cardinal-coloured eyes stared with anger; wrath. They burned with fury. Murderous intent.
Dark growled, narrowing his eyes. His violet irises began giving way to a pearly white fog gathering at the corner of his eyes. His tattered black trench coat flowed in the breeze that had picked up. He looked at the oncoming troop of Shadows.
"This may be a little harder than we'd expected," the last Hunter said gravely, looking at the Platoon members that were still standing: Sarge, Mon and RedStorm. They hid Stealth and CoolGuy behind a chunk of rubble.

The four men lined up in the middle of the road, awaiting their opponents. They stared at the Shadows. Dark felt a bloodlust coming on. He unsheathed his sword and one of his combat knives. His grin widened with every step the Shadows took towards him, well, until he couldn't make it any larger. His fangs were glistening. There was a soft shwink as RedStorm armed his double bladed staff. Sarge and Mon preferred the path of the firearm.
Gunshots sounded the start of an epic battle. Sarge pulled up his shotgun, unloading on a few of the dark figures. He then moved into the fray, hitting a few of his foes with the butt of his shotgun. He fought with fury and rage, wanting to get all of his soldiers out of here alive.
Dark was also in the thick of the fight, his sword burning as it was wielded expertly. It rose and fell, ending the 'lives' of the Shadows. RedStorm nailed a shadow through the chest that had snuck up on Dark. The Panther then flung his knife into the head of one that was about to attack Mon behind his back. It fell over and with one last breath, faded out. It rose into the air, and exploded with a large amount of light. The battle slowed to a halt. Everyone, including the Shadows, looked up to the sky.
The rust-coloured eye appeared in the place where the recently departed Shadow exploded. It locked onto the Platoon. The Shadows fled from the scene, seemingly running for their lives. This was odd. The eye just stared at them. Something was happening though. A storm was brewing.
Not a storm… It was something else.