Fictions Mentioned:
Episode 19
OP Song:
Adele - Skyfall (Lyric Video)
Insert Song: Start
Johnny Cash - God's Gonna Cut You Down (Official Music Video)
PART 1
Somewhere in an unknown universe...
There was someone firing a couple of shots that would pierce the multiple targets of holographic projections, men in black combat gear, disappearing instantly in rapid fire. There were red beams of pure light, coming out from the advanced pistols that the man had been carrying. The advanced pistols were a modified WE Hi-Capa 5.2 K, retrofitted with many in-built functions that could no longer be considered a modern weapon and leaning heavily towards the sci-fi realms of hypothetical thought.
The man was someone in his early twenties, with black hair and green eyes. He was wearing a bat-like mask that covered his eyes. He wears a black leather coat and a greyish-blue tightly-fit shirt with a zipping line from the center. There were also a pair of grey pants with a pair of holsters on both sides, and there were two military combat knives made out of adamantium-vibranium placed near the holsters. Overall, he was wearing a silver utility belt where he keeps many of his gadgets, including ones that he could use for potential emergencies and plans for escape.
To most of the world that he had left behind, he was officially dead, and should have been and rightly so. However, things didn't quite work out that well. He didn't stay dead due to a certain pit that he'd rather not like to remember or dwell on it if only because his head would pound with an excruciating sensation that made even a hangover much more preferrable.
In fact, when one thinks of the city of Gotham, one would think of a superhero called Robin. The man was the second one to take that name, and since then, there were others who had taken the name as well. He was Jason Peter Todd. And now, he was going by a different name. Red Hood. Having been resurrected by an accursed pit, forced to wander alone, and then had a couple of adventures over the years, it all contributed to the changed man he is today. Now, he was somewhere in a remote location far from civilization. There was a safehouse just nearby, one of many that he had built just for him to lay low.
And as of now, he had officially taken care of all of the holograms that he would use for simple target practice.
"...Hmm, needs more work," the man said, unimpressed and desiring to try to raise the level a bit in order to provide a more adequate challenge.
"Probably five more shots rapid if one needs to maintain an accurate balance..."
The man, surprised at the voice that manages to sneak up on him, and it was something that almost no one can do, raises one of his pistols towards someone who had been sitting down on the wooden bench for quite some time and...apparently reading a newspaper with shades on his calm face...as ridiculous as it sounded. It was an old man with tousled mop of silver-grey hair, wearing a navy blue Crombie coat with crimson lining and a midnight blue cardigan, an ivory shirt with a pointing collar, indigo trousers, and black brogue boots.
The man was surprised...and a bit trepid as his hands twitched. What the hell is he doing here, he thought.
"...Doctor," the man said, hesitant but never lowering his weapon. He recognized this particular face of the man that he considered to be a mentor figure from since his Robin days. Memories of a more happy life resurfaced and it made him rather conflicted. He glances around with quickened-paced reactions, as if trying to ascertain a few possible others besides the man that was just sitting there and reading the newspaper.
"You could put the gun down, Jason, it's just me, no one else," the Doctor reassured the man, casually turning the page and never intimidated by the gun that was drawn towards him.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Red Hood asked. This was the very first time he and the Doctor had met face to face after all this time. Last he saw the Doctor, he had a different face and wardrobe, a bit more young. Now, the Doctor seems to almost look the part of his age at long last, but is still Scottish as usual.
"What? Am I not allowed to pay a companion a visit?" the Doctor asked while reading the newspaper.
"...I ain't your companion anymore though," Red Hood's eyes became a bit sad, recalling happy memories, lowering his side arm and putting it back in his holsters. "Not since that night..."
"I know," the Doctor said simply. "But I didn't come here to talk about that."
"Then why the hell are you even here, Doc? Shouldn't you be doing some adventuring with someone else? Cause I ain't in the mood for any adventures," Red Hood asked with a bitter and conflicted voice.
"It's not about adventures anymore, Jason," the Doctor said, taking off his sunglasses and revealing those piercing old eyes that made Red Hood rather intimidated. "I just came here to warn you, that's all."
"Warn me?" Red Hood raised an eyebrow.
"Do you remember all of those stories that I used to tell you back then? Tales of the Time War?" the Doctor asked.
"Yeah, what about it?" Red Hood asked.
"Well...something from that War is coming back to haunt me...and everyone else," the Doctor grimly smiled.
"What? Another Dalek problem? Something about the Master doing shit again?" Red Hood said, looking exasperated and unimpressed. "Listen, Doc, I can handle any old Dalek or whatever that pops out in your neck of the woods just fine-"
"It's neither the Daleks nor the Master nor anything else," the Doctor cut Red Hood off, shaking his head. His grim smile never wavered. "Not even close. Something far worst than all of them. The DARKNESS...The one with crimson colors and carrying a regal namesake..."
"...!"
The Doctor now has Red Hood's full attention due to the mere mention of the DEVIL Himself.
"...You mean...Him, don't you?" Red Hood grimaced.
"Yes," the Doctor said, standing up from the bench and rolling the newspaper. "He's making His move after all this time. Just thought that I should give you a simple heads-up and prepare for what's coming. That's the only reason why I even came here since I'd figured that you need some time alone, away from the others, even me. And so, I simply respected your wishes. It was the least that I could do."
At this point, the Doctor begins to walk away in the opposite direction. But then...
"Doc, wait!" Red Hood called out for the Doctor who simply glanced at him. Red Hood made a solemn, concerned expression. "...How's...How's kitty kat?"
What was Red Hood asking?
He was asking about a certain individual with a pair of black cat ears, a young woman who was of his general age, with fair-skin and wavy black hair and amber eyes. Her name was Blake Belladonna. And she was someone that was important to him, enough to the point of keeping a general eye on what she had been doing.
"...She misses you," the Doctor said with a sad smile before eventually walking away. The TARDIS was just nearby for him to enter, opening the door and closing it. The sound of its engines was heard, breezing as the winds pick up.
Vworp Vworp Vworp
Red Hood simply looks at the TARDIS leaving in silence. By the time it left, Red Hood raised his right hand and materialized something from out of his hand, summoning it through sheer concentration.
It was a blade of pure light, one filled with flames. It was a blade that is to be used against all forms of evil. And naturally, the DARKNESS and anything connected with it just so happened to be the greatest of all these evils. Of course, even Red Hood knows that this weapon that he's carrying wouldn't kill the DARKNESS, he's far more powerful than that, and neither would those in the higher totem pole. But he can use it to hurt the lower ones.
"Guess all of that training with the All Caste really paid off in the end, huh?" Red Hood said to himself as he looked at the blade.
PART 2
Aureolus Izzard was not amused and concerned.
How so?
Because Index had been lost to his sights the moment she entered the flower shop called Fensalir's Nordic Wonders. The flower shop was quite the enigma. He could not detect what lay inside its domain, like it was barred from any probing or perception from any side. This place was heavily warded and protected in a way that reminded him of that great cathedral that the Church of England had. And he had a strange inkling feeling that he should not enter its domain lest he incurs the wrath of the owner of this particular shop.
Strange...
And then there were the strange occurrences that happened on the highways of the city. He was not blind to it. He felt the world shifted however slightly in an unnatural way. He heard reports from people who were confused as to where they had landed. There were reports about monsters and troopers with advanced gunships engaging them, with the law enforcement of the city assisting them in this task. And then there was Captain Nippon...
His name was quite legendary among all sides of the world, both magic and science, ever since his first public appearance in the month of April. There were whispers of the few incidents that he had been involved in and put a stop to, one of which included a plot carried out by a dead magician of the Rosenthal Family. Because of these incidents, there were a few talks about what exactly is there to do with him. Some would say that he could make a powerful ally. Some would be reserved of him, not knowing whether to trust him or not due to living in the capital city of science.
There were these whispers of his ability, of an Imagine Breaker, the ability to negate the supernatural. These and many more had gotten Aureolus rather curious.
He knew that Captain Nippon was with Index so he could be assured at least that she would be fine and knew where to pick her up for his plan to restore her memories. However, it also made him concerned about one thing. The fact that Index looked quite afraid before meeting Captain Nippon. Afraid of what? He didn't know. He never really saw anything no matter how much he look from any direction. He also knew that Index had made her way into the city through unknown and seemingly convenient means.
She was afraid of something. That made him feel the need to further observe Index and her actions from here on out. It made him remember that anonymous letter that he received quite randomly a few days ago and one whose handwriting he couldn't trace the source to. It was only written in the following in English:
"Keep a close eye on that nun friend of yours, aye mate. Let's just say that an awful lot of people are keeping a close eye on her besides the Church of Her Majesty's."
And the ending of this letter had a symbol of the Seal of Solomon. It was a complex variant of the symbolic image that was found in the 17th-century grimoire Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis. It depicted a circle, and within this, there are smaller symbols around the edge and a tower-like symbol in the center. The tip of the tower touches the heavens, and the base touches the ground representing the harmony of the opposites. One could say that this representation of balance is said to symbolize the links between science, beauty, and metaphysics while bringing in the elements of medicine, magic, astronomy, and astrology.
What did this all mean? What did had to do with Index?
The letter did not provide further explanation. But Aureolus did see the hint relating to the 'Church of Her Majesty's'. The Anglican Church. Who else could it have been referring to? Of course, he would know by now that the two magicians associated with that church, specifically the 0th Parish—Church of Necessarius, were here in the city, he just didn't know specifically where in the city at this time. But of course, he knew that one of their goals besides Index was to hunt him down as well. As if that wasn't enough, the Roman Catholic Church, the church that he had betrayed, was after him. Of course, this one wouldn't really be as much of a problem. The main problem right now is Index and the fact that there are other possible individuals keeping an eye on her, and he had a feeling that whatever random nonsense appeared to be happening in one single day appeared to be connected to her somehow.
Just what in God's name has she gotten herself into?
Things have been moving awfully too fast and making things unpredictable. The entire city is on edge after what had occurred throughout the highway because it came so suddenly without any warning. Judgment has all of its officers from all of the districts mobilized and provides for any assistance and so would Anti-Skill mobilizes all of its forces and were providing multiple inspections, assists in guarding individuals and securing confidential locations, and many other important duties. There are even rumors concerning the city's military being tasked to prepare for war.
Everything was moving too fast and that he, and he believed that a few others too, can feel that ominous wind blowing on the horizon.
PART 3
What is a prophet?
That is a question that has multiple answers depending on who you asked. This concept is as old as even before humanity had the idea of gathering historical records, an office that came with divine predilection.
But...
This kind of prophet was neither divine nor holy.
There was blood. And it was everywhere. A massacre even. There were people lying down: men, women, and children. And the one standing on them all was a little girl...but there was something wrong with her...
The little girl was of eight years of age. She was wearing a white shirt that has the words 'SHE LEAVES A SPARKLE WHEREVER SHE GOES'. She wears a pair of dark blue jeans, white socks, and brown shoes. Some of the blood has stained her clothing. And her smile...it was odd and cold, very cold, disturbing even. Her eyes, once pure blue, from all parts of the eye from the pupil to the eyelids were now covered in unnatural crimson colors. Meaning that there was a dark spirit that is currently possessing the child.
She was simply walking in the darkened hallways of a once lively mall. The mall was once packed with over a hundred people. However, there was no one left. Everyone is...dead...lying down on the floor from various positions...
How did this happen?
No one knew. The lights suddenly went off without any prior warning. There were a few whispers and raised voices as to what had just happened. And then, in the next few seconds...the bloody massacre occurred. Those who were outside of the mall were quite fortunate...or not so fortunate as they have borne witness to a bloody massacre that made a few women scream and flee in terror.
The child was walking towards a certain location in the mall. A few steps down the unmoving escalator and towards the center where there were tall wittered trees whose leaves had turned to ashes. And she would meet up with an individual in black robes and with silver-colored gauntlets and armor. It had neither a face nor a body. Accompanying him were at least five Elemental Parademons of the Angel Rank. They were tall, terrible war-mongering beasts with humanoid physiques, heavily built and imposing figures that would make sinners run like mere cowards. They have helmets that have hornlike protrusions that cover most of their heads save for the mouth, exposing their sharp teeth. Their armor has numerous glowing red highlights, including a glaring eye sigil at the center of the chest. They all have retractable ribbed twofold wings on their backs. their armor was of the color gold as if they were of service to the worship of the precious, beautiful, or of the most superior quality.
The child stops and acknowledges the presence of the hooded figure, the once alive infamous serial killer called Jack the Ripper, but now deceased and damned, serving the dreaded Red King.
"Over 200 souls hast been satisfied for the sacrifice to prepare for the seal that would allow for the cometh of His Majesty's Army," the girl spoke with a regal tone that was out of place for someone of her age. "To summon me hither to one of the five worlds as the bodement is dictated, Squire, is of the least that one can doth in preparations for what is to cometh. What goes from the macrocosms (universes) that hast the multitude of Angels attend for the sound of war?"
"They are merely bidding their time, my Prophetess, as am I," Ripper respectfully addressed the girl with respect.
"And what of the girl, The Index?" the girl asked.
"She is heavily guarded as of this time, my Prophetess," Ripper reported. "Not only is she with the Wanderer but she is also joined by the Sorcerer Supreme and by the Norse Goddess. It would be unwise to simply take her when she has this many formidable guardians by her side."
"I see. That would not need to be a cause for worry. There are far more options that we hast available to exploit the weaknesses of the strings. That would be satisfactory for now," the girl said as she walks ahead, with the rest following behind. "Join, all of thou to I, for we dare not cause our presence to be made known ere the time comes. Hail to the Scarlet King."
"Hail to the Scarlet King." Ripper respectfully said in a solemn voice, bowing his head low, following the girl.
"Hail to the Scarlet King!" the Elemental Parademons respectfully said with terrible echoing voices, following the girl.
Insert Song: End
ED Song:
Terminator Salvation - Break The Silence (Soundtrack)
Incarnation(s)/Regeneration(s) of the Doctor:
The Twelfth Doctor - A: Peter Capaldi
New Characters:
Jason Peter Todd/Red Hood - A: Jensen Ackles
Aureolus Izzard - VA: Tomokazu Sugita