GTA: Liberty Through Agita
Mission Four: Dust and Shadows

Boom! Cha-click! Boom! The shotgun roared, both barrels being emptied into the head section of one of the Things. The creature fell over, 'dead.' The holder of the offending shotgun smirked...

"Officer Tenpenny! We got more coming up!" Officer Pulaski warned, dropping the empty clip in his FN SCAR Assault Rifle and slamming a fresh one in. They were deep in downtown Los Santos, surrounded by both walking dead and the 'Things.' Their squad cruiser was flipped over, still flaming. Many of the skyscrapers here were ablaze still, the interiors a blazing inferno where nothing lived.

The Freeway overpass had been destroyed some time ago by someone with bombs, making the freeway inaccessible. Officer Tenpenny and Pulaski were ones of the few living people remaining in Downtown Los Santos. They were running low on ammunition.

"Damnit! This city is dead! Let's get the fuck out! Follow me!" Tenpenny shouted, emptying the shotgun into the head of a zombie as it neared him. Pulaski fired off a quick trio of rounds from the FN SCAR rifle, and then followed Tenpenny as he fled the scene.

Panting, the two leave the mob behind, cutting a swath through anything in front of them, eventually coming to the freeway that would lead them to Blueberry City, where Tenpenny had a Dodo stashed away for an occasion where he'd have to leave San Andreas and in a hurry. The freeway was littered with wrecked cars and smoking debris. The only way they'd be able to use the freeway to get there would be on motorcycles.

"Damnit... If the station wasn't fucked, I'd say we head back and pick up a couple bikes." Tenpenny curses, looking out over the freeway. No way did he want to walk the entire way to Blueberry County. "We're going to need to jack some rides somewhere..."

Pulaski peeps up, holding the FN SCAR behind his head. "I heard, that above Jefferson, there's a mansion with a helicopter parked on the roof. If we get there, we can use it to get wherever we need to."

Tenpenny nodded, recalling that the police Maverick usually used by the LSPD had been destroyed when an outspoken rookie cop wasn't allowed on. Tenpenny had been there, but Pulaski hadn't. All of the top ranking police officials were crowded on the Maverick, and when the pilot told the rookie he couldn't even hang onto the struts, he just snapped. As the pilot guided the helicopter into the air, the rookie drew his gun and fired once.

Tenpenny had to admit; the kid was a good shot. The bullet caught the pilot in the head, and the helicopter crashed into the ground, killing all inside. Tenpenny hated having to execute him on the spot, as he knew that the kid would have proved to be useful in the upcoming ordeal. But, even he knew the kid was too far gone then to be of any use to anyone.

Tenpenny shook his head sadly, returning to present matters. "Well, Madd Dogg's Mansion is way the hell in Mulholland. Last I heard, Madd Dogg was at the Royal Casino tonight when this shit broke out, meaning he probably hasn't had time to get to his mansion yet, or better yet, he's already dead. Regardless, I ain't walking there, that still leaves us with finding rides." Hmmm... Two equally viable options for escape. Although, with the Sparrow, Pulaski won't be able to tag along. Too bad, maybe along the way I can 'lose' him.

"Car parks, those are always good places to find rides."

Tenpenny coughed, putting a hand to his mouth. "I think that all the local car parks have already been raided..."

A sound came to them, causing the two to jump and turn towards the source. It was a loud metallic scraping sound, like something heavy and metal being dragged across asphalt. Which wasn't far from the truth.

Raising his Shotgun, Tenpenny moved up alongside Pulaski as the other brought the FN SCAR rifle to his shoulder, easing his breathing.

The scraping sound grew louder as it came near, a tall, hulking figure emerging from between two buildings. It was headed right for them.

The figure was tall, standing at a straight seven feet, easy. It was muscular, like a body builder would be. A full apron like thing covered the entire body, which appeared to be made of many tiny rusted metal chains. Fresh blood covered both the apron and the huge sword it dragged behind it. The fact that despite its obvious strength, it had to drag its sword meant the bladed weapon was very heavy indeed.

The visible parts of flesh were muscular, and like the Things, what didn't the apron cover was a sickly brown color, although his flesh glistened, and seemed to be in a constant state of decay and regeneration. A large, vaguely pyramid shaped metal helmet-like box covered its head area. The box was completely solid, with no visible holes whereby the creature would be able to see through. Although this should have made it blind, it seemed to know where its prey was at all times.

Although Officers Tenpenny and Pulaski never realized it, they were facing down the Butcher, so dubbed by most who saw it due to the butcher's like apron it wore.

"Christ! What the hell is THAT?" Pulaski called out.

"I don't know. But we're going to kill it on general principle." Tenpenny said as he fired his Shotgun at it.

Pulaski nodded and dropped to one knee, steadying his aim even more and opening fire with the assault rifle.

Bullets and buckshot peppered the Butcher as he neared the two, to no avail. It took the blunt of the assault without ever missing a beat, not even trying to dodge.

Tenpenny cursed as his shotgun clicked empty, searching his pockets for spare shells, but found none. "Fuck it! Let's get the hell outta here!" He turned, hoping over the divider that separated him from the freeway.

Pulaski nodded, firing off a quick triple shot before turning to hop over too. Then disaster struck.

The ground he was standing on collapsed, caving in. Pulaski slipped, hitting his head on the concrete divider, he groaned, slipping into the small rut.

Tenpenny cursed, turning back around and vaulting over the divider. "C'mon man! Get up!" Behind them, the Butcher drew nearer.

Pulaski twitched, then pushed himself to his hands and knees; he was bleeding from his head. "Shit man... Shit, I'm fucked." The ground rumbled again, a figure beginning to rise from the small crater. It was another Thing, and the first action it made was biting into Pulaski leg, hard. The officer screamed. "AHHHHH! Run! Forget about me! I'll cover you! GO!"

Tenpenny's features hardened for a second, then he drew his pistol, firing it point blank into the creature. It released Pulaski leg, Tenpenny scooping him up and latterly throwing him over the divider, before following suit.

The Butcher was on top of them by now,raising the sword over its head and bringing it down in an overhead arc. The massive blade just missed Officer Tenpenny's foot by a literal inch, slamming into the divider and smashing it, reducing it to rubble and both destroying Pulaski FN rifle and killing the semi-buried Thing in the process.

Cursing, Tenpenny helped Pulaski to his feet, and the two hurried away from the scene, Pulaski using Tenpenny as support. They were on the freeway towards Los Santos and Ocean Docks...