Chapter 11
Hirachi
Colin was hot on their trail, tracking their heat prints through the twisted landscape. Due to the unstable climate and narrow roads, they had to trek by foot. This was one of the ' black spots ' on Robotnik's map. Area's that have either proved too difficult to conquer or where all communication became impossible. Luckily, the Swat Bots weren't bound to these signals, running off their own regenerative battery supply. As he neared the bloody red mountains he stopped. One of the Swat Bots handed him a communicator he motioned for and after punched in the co ordinates he began to speak. This was the closest he could get before radio silence.
" Robotnik! It's Colin speaking. Do you read me? "
" What is it Colin? " His voice came through in a rather annoyed yet lazy tone. " Have you found them yet? "
" Not exactly. "
" What do you mean not exactly? Either you have or you haven't. "
" They've crossed into the territory of those pesky vampires. "
" Ah yes...I've been meaning to deal with them for awhile now. Every infantry unit I have sent in has never returned. The ones that dared to venture into my land weren't very informative. As I recall, they bit their own tongues off before any of them talked. You may proceed, and if you do not report back with the Princess then I shall be quite...cross " he said, whispering a thinly veiled threat through his teeth before cutting to radio silence.
Colin gave a disdained sigh. " Bloated bastard, lets see that smug attitude when your precious Babylon inevitably falls. "
Meanwhile Sally and Bunnie were exploring the great city feeling the eyes of the locals on them. The buildings were magnificent and wonderfully crafted. There were many statues of men and women decorating the streets and buildings resembling ancient human societies of Greco-Roman period. Many of the locals wore intricate outfits, brightly coloured scarves and head dresses showing a novel sense of decadence to this hermit kingdom.
" Bunnie...what on Mobius are we doing here? " she asked, feeling as if they had made a wrong turn. This strange society did not seem like a place where they would find any familiar faces.
" Not really too sure mahself, sugah. But we dun got to stick around for long if ya'll don't want to. "
Sally shuddered when seeing the fountains of dark red blood in the town square, various vampires clinking their glasses together celebrating. Among the crowd a green robed vampire approached them dressed more intricate than the others. His cloak dragged on the ground with jingling pieces of loose jewellery at his side, his face covered by a mask with a wide smile on it. He gave a curtsy bow to them both.
" Greeting, guests. I am Cauldron " he spoke in a polite tone bowing his head slightly. His voice sounded very odd. Clicks of mechanical noises and metallic filters eliminating through his vocals. " I have been sent to be your guide."
Sally gave a polite bow back. " Thank you, Mister Cauldron. This place is very strange and new to me. I can't say I have ever visited a place quite like this. "
" I would imagine so. This is the last city that remains of a once great empire " Cauldron said. " Our numbers are dwindled, but we still live as we did from the times of old. "
Cauldron led them around the city showing them its sights. It would seem they had incorporated the use of blood into almost every part of their daily living. From a food source, to creating their clothing from it, and even using it as an energy source. But all these rivers of endless blood had to come from somewhere, and she could not get used to the metallic smell that reeked throughout this land.
" All of this would not be possible were it not for our great leader, Vladimir Tepes, the great and powerful Draconia. No other vampire has ever been as loved or as feared as he. He truly is like a god made flesh. "
Bunnie made a stink eye at this. Fanatical leaders, cult of personality, isolated societies. All this reeked of another dictatorship. They had to be careful here, one step out of line could cost them their lives.
" Do you know if this Draconia is aligned with Dr Robotnik?" inquired Sally.
Cauldron paused.
" The personal dealings of our leader is not to discuss with commoners, much less outsiders " he said sharply. " But I can tell you personally I have never heard of this Robotnik you speak of. "
As they were led around more shown the sights they came across a horrible sight. Just outside the grounds of the castle were dozens of bodies strung up on pales impaled from the groin through the mouth. Sally gripped Bunnies hand tightly, her eyes wide her face pale.
" W-wh..what is... "
" Oh, these. This is what happens to the dregs of our society. Anyone who breaks the laws or brings sham to Draconias name. I would be careful, many others like yourself have ended up on the pole " Cauldron said giggling.
" This is sick! " Bunnie said. " Do none of ya'll find this all revoltin'? How could you do this to someone? "
" I have no idea what you mean. Whenever a fresh body is put upon the pole its always a great time to watch them squirm. Draconia made it a rule to always remind its people to embrace and celebrate pain and torture. For is one not alive most when their body screams out for death? "
Bunnie and Sally turned their gaze away from this, their eyes to the floor. This was no way to run a kingdom or treat its people. Cauldron led them away from the castle grounds warning them it was off limits to everyone but his soldiers. Eventually he led them to a small lodging for them to stay, with two large guards stationed outside, each having one hand resting on a large sabre at their sides.
" Who are they? " Sally asked.
" Insurance " Cauldron stated. " We don't want you running off now do we? "
When inside the doors slammed shut behind them, the sound of a iron lock clicking into place. Sally slumped against the wall wiping the sweat from her face.
" This has been a very long day " she said.
Bunnie brandished her demonic weapon and began pacing around the room checking to see if they were truly alone. No doubt they were being listened in on through wires hidden through the building.
" So what do we do now then? " Bunnie asked Sally.
" Rest for now. We can think of a plan later. I am very tired " she responded.
The two found a small bedroom with a bed they curled up and passed out on, a fortuitous dreamless sleep. When the two awoke it was sometime during the night and heard the sound of the front door being unlocked and many footsteps and clattering of armour. They were coming for them. Bunnie was ready to stand and fight on the spot but Sally had a better idea. She barricaded the door and found a trap door hidden under a rug beneath their feet. The two made their quick escape climbing down a dark shaft taking them below the city. Sally and Bunnie found themselves in a maze of corridors dimly lit by torches, rivers of blood running through the tunnels.
" One of these paths should lead us away from here. If we can slip past undetected we won't have to worry about being chased " said Sally. This sort of situation felt more familiar to her and easier to deal with, as many missions back home involved her climbing through sewers and dark tunnels.
Through many winding bends and breaks in the tunnels the two found a vent with light coming from it. It wasn't the outside but seemed to be some kind of metal room. Bunnie effortlessly wrenched the grate aside as they found themselves in a new unexpected environment. Somewhere deep underground was a gigantic laboratory facility. Strange machines humming all around them, ruins etched into machinery that gave off a red glow. Sally looked for a computer hoping to use her skills to find some kind of map to get their bearings, or some useful information.
" Ah, Sally girl? Ya might want to take a look at this " said Bunnie giving her a tap on the shoulder.
Sally turned and found beyond a wall of plexiglass were rows of hundreds of people. Their bodies were pale, deformed, malnourished. Many not even conscious. They had tubes feeding them a brown sludge mix that was a cocktail of rapid growth hormones, liquefied meat, and a multitude of chemicals. Various tubes were draining them of their blood that would pool into great industrial vats churning the life essences to purification. Some cried out to scream but found they had no voice in their throat, too weak and drugged to even resist their bonds. The dead are ground down and disposed of, their remains helping to feed and grow the newest batch of unfortunate souls for this blood drunk society.
" I knew it " Sally said, her eyes wild with anger, her fists balled and shaking. " All this blood had to be coming from somewhere, from someone. "
Bunnie gulped, taken back by the magnitude of it all. " Terrible! "
" Is nothing sacred in this world. Does everything born here have to suffer? I won't allow this, Bunnie! I am tired of running away. The line is drawn here. From here on out, we start to fight back! "
Sally went to the computer and through her tech skills brute forced her way past any security checks and took control of the generators powering everything. She set the reactors to build up pressure for a grand explosion. Destroy everything. Release those in their grasp. She turned to look at all the pitiful souls, tears welling in her eyes. Sally picked up Bunnies sword and brought it down like a hammer on the console, sparks flying. Sally screamed with all the pain, anger, and sadness that had been billowing up for some time striking back at this world of despair. The sound of pipes beginning to rupture, alarms going off, and machines giving off a sickly cry before silent. Bunnie saw the harvested people slump forward, their life lines cut.
" Lets make sure none of this can come back, Bunnie. We have to destroy everything in this room! "
" Ah think I can make that happen " Bunnie said with a grin, taking back her sword and powering up her buster cannon.
The two set to work destroying every piece of machinery in this place, the reactors within the city now exploding to a great shower of fire, graphite, and metal raining down on the inhabitants. They could feel the shock waves ripple through the tunnels and the room vibrating.
" Bunnie, move! " Harvey the Sword cried out.
A powerful laser blast sliced through the layers of earth above them with pin point accuracy targeting the two. Harvey sensed danger and warned its master, their stunt now most likely earning the wrath of every vampire in the city.
A great hulking mass dropped down from above, the floor buckling under the impact. Before them stood a giant beast of a vampire, towering above them over five meters. He was covered head to toe in a thick black layer of armour, spikes covering almost every inch of his body. His head was exposed, showing a long flowing white mane of hair with sunken in dark eyes, a wide squared chin with a long stitched scar down the middle of his face. In each hand were two great swords matching the intense black shades of his armour with serrated edges.
He let out a primal roar showing his fangs. " How dare you! " he roared.
Sally and Bunnie ran from him hoping to escape the way they came but he proved to be far quicker than he looked. Bunnie had herself plenty of tough fights but not even she was sure she could handle this tough looking brute. He looked like a champion straight out of a gladiator coliseum. They could tell this was no ordinary grunt they were dealing with. This was one of Draconia's elite sholdiers.
Explosions and the dripping of blood from ruptured pipes filled the room. Sally could read his moves but lacked any form of power to get in close and deliver any kind of blow, but Bunnie could. Their only option was to go for the head, his only exposed area. That would prove to be quite difficult as neither were able to get anywhere near him, barely able to outrun and dodge his quick swings. Looking at her surroundings Sally had an idea that might give them the opening she needed. She pushed over a large vat of blood splashing the large berserker. He seemed to barely even notice, swinging his sword at Bunnie who was now trying to counter.
Sally yanked some exposed wires and shoved them against his body, waves of crackling electricity rippling through his body. He froze on the spot, smoke rising from the inside of his armour, the smell of flesh beginning to burn.
" Now, Bunnie! "
Bunnie leaped into the air and brought her sword down upon his head splitting it like a melon. The large berserker collapsing to its knees, its hands still tightly gripping both swords as its body slumped back.
" Great strategy, Sally girl! Ya'll certainly know how to- "
Her congratulations was cut short as the body of the fallen foe seemed to rise back to its feet. Sally felt the sharp metal fist hit her in the stomach like a freight train sending her flying back. Sally was now knocked out unconscious on the floor. Her right ribs shattered with small punctures from spikes penetrating.
" Oh...shit " Bunnie cursed.
The headless berserker picked up its swords to bring them down on Bunnie like hammers. She braced herself for the impact feeling the two metal blades slam her into the earth, her sword holding back what would be an instant death. The impact she still felt through her body dropping to her knees feeling her body give out. He was too strong. She shut her eyes prepared to meet her end when instead of the final blow of steel to her head their was the sound of something wet tearing with a loud thud beside her.
The sound of boots clapped on the ground as a man approached her. She felt four long spidery fingers curl around her hand and then grab in a powerful grip and picked her up off the floor. She suddenly felt a rush of energy come back into her and her mind cleared. She looked at this stranger. He was standing roughly 10 feet tall wearing a tall black top hat with a familiar pointy nose with his eyes hidden behind a pair of old fashioned perfectly round eye glasses. He wore a dusty grayish black trench coat with red sleeves poking slightly out. Behind him was the great berserker, torn to pieces resting in a pile of gore.
" Who are you? " Bunnie asked bewildered.
" For now, an ally. You may call me Mr Snively. "
She looked at him rather surprised and confused. Everything about him gave off a very sinister and malicious vibe, and yet he saved her. He shredded that monster with his bare hands to pieces. Bunnie gave a shudder and stepped back.
" I am glad I made it in time. This is a very dangerous place for Mobians to travel through. You must be going, more like him will be on the way. "
" Hold on, who are you workin' for? Why did you save me? "
" All you need to know right now is I wish the both of you to stay very much alive and healthy. Especially her " he said pointing to Sally's unconscious body.
Bunnie went over to collect her, Snively gazing longingly at her.
" I have the power to give you both what you want " he said. " She wants to go home, you want to become normal again. Both are within my abilities to do. "
" Hold on, you ain't trying to pull mah leg are you?
He placed his hand on her head, Bunnies metal body transforming before her very eyes to the brightly golden furred flesh and blood body she so longed to have again. When he removed his hand her metal body returned. Bunnie stared at her hands choking back tears.
" You really ain't fooling...! "
" Take her and get as far away from this place as you can. I have done all I can for you. "
In a puff of smoke he was gone. Bunnie knew time was short and for Sallys sake, they had to start moving again. As they moved through the tunnels she could hear more explosions and shouting above ground, the sounds of boots gaining on them from behind. Bunnie did a flying uppercut punching through the concrete finding herself back in the city. They had travelled a good ways from the main areas as the gate exiting out was within sight.
With a single clean slash her sword belched out a blast of energy blowing the guards in front of them to smithereens. She waved the sword again and blasted apart the gears keeping the drawbridge up. The draw bridge came crashing down with a thunderous boom. They wasted no time as they ran across it. With a wave of her trusty partner, the bridge shattered like glass sending it crashing down into a giant crevasse into the earth beneath them. As they made their way into the woods the sky was filled with sharp spears. Guards towers coming to life, turret guns firing metal stakes in their direction. One grazed Bunnies shoulder as she still was carrying Sally off. She felt a stab of pain as the edges of it were filled with razor sharp spikes slashing open her shoulder. Cauldron was now to be the one to tell his master of the news.
He shuddered as he walked up the steps and entered the great halls shaking in fear. He passed by many great black halls with great water tanks housing curious exotic pets he had gathered. One looked like a very large giant black jellyfish that had spotted patterns resembling a skull. It seemed to watch him as he moved past the aware of is fate. He reached a giant door crafted from bone made entirely from the remains of failed coups against his rule. Finely sculpted images of his likeliness were carved as elaborate busts with curvaceous succubi women adorning the halls. When he entered their was a great rattling of rusty chains hanging off the doors. His master sat in a great chair at the end of the room. Sitting down he towered twenty feet tall, his stature as great as his reputation. The man had a large cape clipped to his armour that extended above the wall behind him becoming part of the room itself. On his back he had eight leathery wings that were folded and pressed against his back. When he showed his wings it was always a sign of danger. The armour he wore was a polished black and red taking on the shape of living muscle tissue. His shoulders of two open mouthed skulls with long fangs in a permanent scream.
His facial appearance was that of a man in his later years, long black hair against a pale white face. His long hair was wrapped into various braids at the back with golden threads holding it in place. He had a long unusually spikey mustache that drooped down past his chin, the tips frayed. On top of his head was a mighty crown that held two great horns that pierced the skys. His most notable appearance however, was the two large tusk-like fangs that stretched stretched past his jawline. He was the dreaded Draconia, the King of Vampires...and he was not pleased.
" Speak, priest " he commanded.
Cauldron removed the mask in his presence and knelled down, prostrating before him.
" Their has been an attack on the farms, sir. Two outsiders escaped our security and were able to penetrate the lower levels. We believe they may have been sent by Lupe " he said, sweat dripping from his face.
" You were tasked to monitor these two and you let them slip through your fingers. Had you a hand in this little operation I might have just put you on a pike myself. But incompetence is a weakness I will not tolerate in my empire! " Draconia said, angry.
He reached out his hand and the priest began to writhe and spasm on the floor, clutching and grasping at himself. Through his pores Draconia pulled every droplet of blood from his body absorbing the liquid into himself leaving behind a husk of a mummy.
A new priest stepped forward taking the place of the old one, kneeling down on the crumbled remains of Cauldron, the corpse dissolving into powder.
" What are your orders, sir? "
" For now, with our enemies so near to attack let these two go for the time being. Have the bridge fixed by the end of the day and have everyone prepare for battle. The time has come when we will crush the werewolf armies once and for all! "
