En Route to Belfast, Kilkenny

9 May, 2011

22:13—Theodore's Perspective

:-:

We survived it… The headhunters came at us with everything they had.

But then…they…

—their existence…is a nightmare!

Dead Motion is the strongest headhunter unit employed by the church; we should all be familiar with this by now. But these are not mere words: In one swing, via their Storm Resonance: No Love release, the siblings felled three radicals with centuries of experience under their belt.

At a sync rate of 76%, No Love cuts the wind and unleashes a storm likened to a category 4 tornado. Due to their nightwalker heritage, the siblings and their contracts can withstand the impact; the former much more than the latter.

Natalie, Theodore and Stephen can barely move. D. Remedy stands above them, blood dripping from Li'l Thrills Cutting Edge form.

"How did that feel, Infinity?

Hurt like hell, I'm sure. The eyes can only lie so much." The elder sibling speaks not in a taunting manner, but one that confesses a level of guilt; emotions bordering insanity. "Sorry about that. We wanted to finish you off quickly.

But don't worry, Infinity. Li'l bro and I will make the pain go away."

That attack managed to crack my skin. That blade he's holding…

—it can't be…silver?

All pureblood nightwalkers are weak to silver: It has the potential to bind them, and, if applied correctly, can instantly kill them. Li'l Thrill's silver is of a unique quality, however, in that it can easily be imitated via transmutation. His advantage…is his blood: The Oti are hunters born and bred to slay other nightwalkers. Though they are monsters by heritage, they are mostly human; thus, they can implement purifying agents such as silver with ease.

When properly synced, the Oti can evoke the full potential of any agent, and use it as they please… D. Remedy and Li'l Thrill are at their strongest right now. The radicals' only hope of survival…as they are now…seems so very far away.

Theodore's instincts are pushing him to protect his loved ones. But he can't, his body is far too damaged for him to move. However, this isn't where his reserves end: If given enough time, he could transmutate his body and piece himself back together again. He'd need no more than three minutes to complete this process.

…The golem sees through their strategy… A hint of strength has returned to him. So, if he could just have a moment…perhaps…

—I could end this.

Natalie and the doctor are too injured to continue on. They've lost a lot of blood; that puts everyone here in danger. This *must* be done before…those two…

"You…should have…killed us...when...you had…the chance…" Theodore's words strike the sibling headhunters, reminding them of what happens when vampires lose too much blood. The golem isn't the problem; at any moment, Stephen and Natalie will *lash out* at Dead Motion in an attempt to consume their blood.

Stephen realizes something: Perhaps it was meant for him to leave his B pills behind. Right now, in this moment, their vampire instincts… They just might be…

"—It…*must*...happen…"

Natalie seconds. "Yes…Paddy…"

Together, the ancient vampires stand with ease, as if their wounds mean nothing… Their sync rate, their existential force; everything skyrockets, overwhelming the area with a *monstrous* territorial pressure!

D—Damn it! Their levels have…

—I've never felt this kind of power before!

Their sync rates are…no less than 80—no, 85%? I can't tell… Either way, it's too much; the area's already destroyed, and our ride is totaled.

…Any more damage, and…and…

"S—Stop…please…" Unfortunately, Theodore's voice can't reach them. Natalie and Stephen have fallen into the darkness of hunger.

The speed of a monster is infamous: Before one knows it, a nightwalker can leave their sight; a method called Stepping. As speed is the focal point of Stepping, this method of movement is best characterized by how fast a monster can get from point A to point B in the least amount of Steps.

Training and skill are what determines how fast a Stepper can move. Ironically, Stephen and Natalie are out of practice, so their Stepping technique is a bit slow. But that only pertains to them…when they're *not* hungry. Dead Motion may have won the first round, but, the way things are looking…

—They'll kill them to compensate for the blood they lost. Natalie, Dr. Farrelly… I've never seen them move *this fast* before.

…They're… They're going to strike!

Stephen forces D. Remedy to Step backwards, just in time to avoid his claws! The impact of Stephen's pursuit razes the earth, and expands a large wave of Green Day's toxin! Natalie follows-up by blitzing D. Remedy from the left with an inflamed claw across the chest, striking blood from the headhunter!

"Gah! Guh, ah—!"

So fast…D. Remedy can *barely* keep up with their movements. And they're not giving him a moment to rethink his strategy: The vampires continuously blitz him from different directions, punishing the headhunter until he loses hold of his little brother… Li'l Thrill is flung to the earth, some feet away from his brother.

"Know your place...AND BOW TO ME!"

Natalie rushes D. Remedy from behind, grabs his head with her right hand, and slams him into the ground, critically injuring his face! "Gah, UWAH—!"

Ever the curious old soul, Stephen fetches Li'l Thrill from the ground and examines him, capitalizing on D. Remedy's concussion… He sees nothing special about the weapon, and that's because the siblings' sync rate has drastically decreased. As a result, the doctor tosses Li'l Thrill to the ground.

Dr. Farrelly was sizing Li'l Thrill up. And he wasn't impressed; to him, the headhunter is nothing more than a worthless piece of scrap metal. Not to mention he wasn't even fazed by the weapon, which means…

—right…their sync rate… Dead Motion's sync rate nosedived, so, as they are now, they're no longer a threat. But…we can't count them out just yet: I'm getting bad vibes; the earth is… This formation…this isn't good!

…Thirty seconds…just thirty more seconds, and… I've got to hurry up!

En Route to Belfast, Kilkenny

9 May, 2011

22:18—D. Remedy's Perspective

:-:

Theodore is right to worry, and more than wise to hasten his transmutation: The eldest sibling headhunter has been *gravely* offended! D. Remedy felt Stephen's disrespect; to think so lowly of his younger brother, going so far as to toss him to the ground like yesterday's trash… This is *guaranteed* to anger D. Remedy, spiriting him away to rageful shores best left uncharted.

Their sync rate, their existential force, the vividness of their territory; everything increases beyond comprehension, sending a chill up the radicals' spines!

How dare he…li'l bro...to you, he…

—unforgivable… Li'l Thrill, come to me. It's time to get serious!

"Right, big bro. And I can handle it this time.

…So, let's do this. Together!" Li'l Thrill comes alive, generating tempestuous winds that repel the radicals, forcing them into prostration!

By his own will, the weapon returns to his elder brother, and surrounds him with a storm that instantly detonates an explosive white light!

—This light…is the transmutation of Li'l Thrill's form, which merges with his elder brother… D. Remedy's hands and forearms are equipped with gauntlets, his legs with full greaves; a dual-equipping… Dead Motion has discarded their blade to engage Stephen at full strength. A daring move, motivated by kinship.

D. Remedy stands boldly, intimidatingly; like a malevolent black phantom cursing those who have wronged him in his former life. His eyes fixate on Stephen alone, completely ignoring the onlooking Natalie and Theodore.

"The others mean nothing to me, doctor. We came here to kill *you*.

…I've grown tired of horsing around.

If your friends get involved, I'll kill them, and I'll make you watch me do it. It's only fair, especially after what you just did to Li'l Thrill."

Stephen realizes how serious D. Remedy has become. To push his existence to this level: The elder sibling isn't holding back this time. "Then perhaps I should apologize to your little brother… Sorry about that.

I'm still hungry though. And I'm a greedy old man, so…I ask that you allow Theodore to take you away from this place, Kate." Natalie starts to protest, but Stephen halts her with strong tone. "I said GO! I ain't hearing your gob, Kate.

—Not tonight… Isolate yourself and behave until I can get to you."

Theodore stands, having restored his body well enough to implement his existence: With enough concentration, at no more than a 30% sync rate, the golem transmuates their damaged vehicle, himself and Natalie into the purest diamond. In seconds, they merge with the earth, and make a quick escape.

Above all things, Natalie and Theodore trusts Stephen's abilities as a nightwalker. There's no doubt in their heart, he'll come back alive.

Stephen looks up to the sky, and notices something… "The moon's coming out."

Yes, the clouds are beginning to part.

The blood moon's crimson light graces the earth, and a passing wind blesses the battlefield… It's majestic, too beautiful to put into words: The symbol of the hunt recognizes their killer instinct, and wishes them well amid their contest.

"Eh, sprog…"

"What is it, doctor?"

"—ever wondered what hell is like?" That's a sudden question to ask. But D. Remedy isn't fooled or intimidated by it.

"This world *is* hell, doctor. We open and close our eyes to it every day, hoping it treats us better the next time around.

I don't have to 'wonder' about a damn thing. And that's bad because I know, without the shadow of a doubt…how seriously *fucked up* this world really is."

That answer…seems to be exactly what Stephen wanted to hear… He lowers his head, and meets his eyes with the darkness of D. Remedy's hood.

"...Then...what I'm about to do to you, sprog…shouldn't scare you at all." A glint of bloodlust emits from the old vampire's eyes, provoking D. Remedy's defenses.

Intimidation tactics? Humph.

We don't have *time* to be afraid. This is for the tribe; to ensure their existence in this world… That's why we *can't* be scared. No matter what.

Li'l bro…it's time. Let's give this old-timer a true death!