Approaching Ferryman, Sydney
9 May, 2011
22:59—Three's Perspective
:-:
The skies of New South Wales are quiet tonight. Amid this silence, the Highwaymen enter Sydney undetected…just as they had planned.
From their view in the sky, the city's nightlife is just as vibrant as ever: Locals, commuters and tourists alike paint the night with adventure; the reckless kind. But such foolishness is expected from a city overrun by Gideonites.
Down, down, down… Will the fall never come to an end?
I say "yes," but fate says "no".
…I wonder how many miles they've fallen by now. Perhaps to the center of the earth… Yes, that would explain their ignorance.
Three's artful smile hides an excess of witty thoughts about the people of Sydney. A stress reliever on his part; he hates killing, though his ability with a sword far surpasses even the most experienced cleric.
Having arrived seconds before they predicted, the Methuselah squad retains confidence in their unique talents. They're a demolition unit, destroyers best employed when dealing with tasks such as this one: Babyface has hired a special forces unit to protect him; thus, bigger and badder soldiers are in order.
Two's existential head-up display receives a signal. "I'm sensing an A-class existence fifty seconds to the west…
—the zombie… He's there. Proceed with caution."
"Nice work like always, Two." Four is impressed by his professional behavior, which makes Two smile. As the squad's best tracker, this is nothing to him. But Two is the kind of person that doesn't like being praised; it embarrasses him.
"...Don't kiss my ass, Four. It's annoying."
"You're welcome."
One once again retains the stability of his squad. "Enough of that, cowpokes.
We're closing in… Be prepared for anything."
Ever the vigilant one, Three admires the togetherness of his squad. If it weren't for their leader's guidance, Two and Four would constantly be at each other's throats, but that seems to be their strong point: Two is a tracker and Four is a strategist; when they're heads are butting, they get along the best.
The maddest people make the most interesting team.
"Impossible," one might say. But I believe at least six impossible things before dinner a day… I then ask if *I've* gone mad. Then, I don't answer.
…Hmm…
*Have* I gone mad? My, that's quite the puzzle.
The Highwaymen touchdown in Ferryman's courtyard, still undetected. As planned, they take their positions: Three moves in to deal with any sentinels; Four approaches the wall, and Two enters the ventilation system via his respective ability; One approaches the main office at the summit of the building.
Everything is going according to plan.
Four employs a shock wave through the building with a touch of her hand, which deactivates the building's electricity. This strategy serves well in destroying Ferryman's security system, leaving all therein vulnerable to an attack.
Two instantaneously breaks down his physical composition, becoming a noxious gas that makes it hard for everyone inside to breathe. But with a little concentration, this effect only applies to the zombie, Babyface… The last thing he wants on his conscience is having to deal with Three's wrath at a later time.
Both units maintain control over the environment, making Three and One's co-op approach that much easier.
Ferryman Trading Co., Sydney
9 May, 2011
23:01—Major Lewis' Perspective
:-:
It's dark inside the building, a bit too dark… And the air; moments ago, Major Lewis had trouble breathing. Her head is a little light now.
"...Damn… What…was that?"
Suddenly, the major is alerted by the sound of bloody murder. "Gah—!"
"Guh, ah—!"
"Aah—! M…Ma-jor…"
"Gwah—! R…Run...Major...everyone…" Steel… Four of her men were just cut down; Major Lewis would know that sound from anywhere.
In her defense, the major readies her automatic for anything. But as she checks the area, gun in hand, a lone blade haunts her from the darkness: Three.
I knew it… Those radicals sent machines to do their dirty work.
These damned things just killed half of my team… And I sense that I'm being watched… The chills; I could never forget them.
But I'm not afraid.
It's common to get like this around machines. Against a monster of this caliber, you'd have to be brainless not to get worked up a little.
Then, as if things couldn't get any creepier, the major is met with a most curious development: The sweet scent of roses.
A light wind circulates the warehouse, trailing rose petals of a different color.
"W-What…the hell…?" Major Lewis doesn't know what to make of what's happening around her. It's beautiful, but, at the same time…frightening.
The next thing she hears…is the uneven sound of footsteps and a cane.
"My dear, here we must run as fast as we can, just to stay in place. And if you wish to go anywhere, you must run twice as fast as that." The voice of Three comes from everywhere, as do the uneven sounds.
That…was from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. The Queen said that to…
—Alice… What kind of lunatic am I dealing with here?
In a flash, Three appears at her side, holding the brim of his top hat. Major Lewis backs away and aims her automatic at him!
"Who… Who the *fuck* are you?"
Three lowers his head and smiles. "Who am I? Who are you? Who are we?
How puzzling these things are.
I'm never sure *what* I am, from one minute to another. But you…" The Methuselah flips his cane, and holds it in a drawing manner.
Major Lewis readies her trigger finger, bold and courageous.
"Yeah. What about me, freak?"
"—you had three other rabbits with you. But no more." Three's response sends a cold chill down Major Lewis' spine… If what Three says is true, he killed *everyone* on the major's team; not just those four men.
That means… "Simmons, everyone… They're dead, *all of them*!?"
Three draws a scientifically-enhanced blade from to his cane, brandishes it and smiles. "Don't let them escape… Off with their heads!"
This man…this monstrous machine… He's crazy. He's bloody insane!
But I'm not backing down. No way in hell!
Major Lewis snaps, and ragefully sprays Three with bullets…
"Damn you! YAAAAH—!"
—to no avail, unfortunately: Three instantaneously disappears, right before her eyes, in a breeze of rose petals, escaping her rounds… It happened so fast, the major was unable to keep up with what happened.
"Running away, are we? Don't play that game with me…
—don't you even *think* of trying it. *Face me like a man*!"
Suddenly, Major Lewis hears the sound of steel swinging from her rear. Thinking quickly, the experienced soldier holds her gun at her side, ducks, spins and attempts to sweep the crafty Three to the ground!
Unfortunately… "W-What the…?"
—this attack, ironically, is revealed to be an illusion. A cluster of rose petals that trail away in the currents of her counterattack.
Major Lewis suddenly notices something strange about her firearm: It's much lighter and it feels… "—!? Y-You've...got to be...shitting me!"
—cut completely in half!
It happened in the instant the illusory Three was behind her: Before he drew his blade to behead her, the swordsman swiped his sword beyond the speed of sound. His reconstructed body enables such skill; a miracle of Mr. Black's technology.
After his blade bifurcated the major's automatic seven times, his rose petals attached to them and caused the severed parts to fade from existence.
I didn't hear it, I didn't see it; what he did was too fast… Not only is this machine insane, it's unbelievably skilled. I've *never* encountered one like this before.
This…isn't a machine… This man. Is he a demon?
"It is better to be feared than loved… Right, little rabbit?" Major Lewis drops her ruined firearm, and draws a machete from a sheathe on her hip… The sound of Three's voice continues to haunt her. No matter where she turns, he's there.
"You… You don't scare me. *You hear that*!? *You don't scare me*!"
In a rough breeze, Three appears before her, close enough to stab or cut… But he seems so far away from her. As a matter of fact, just being near him makes Major Lewis feel...faint… She feels faint, and she doesn't understand why.
"Everyone's afraid here; no more, no less than the next.
To discard fear is to be courageous, to discard courage is to be human… Humans are naturally afraid. So to deny fear is to deny oneself: That which *you* cannot accomplish, child." The Methuselah's words haunt Major Lewis, before she collapses onto the floor…unconscious.
Ferryman Trading Co., Sydney
9 May, 2011
23:07—Babyface's Perspective
:-:
In less than an hour, the end of the day will arrive: Midnight, when the blood moon will be at its highest.
A zombie sleeps heavily. The only thing that can awaken it is the presence of its equal or someone much stronger… Thus, Babyface's slumber is disturbed by the sound of shattering glass.
"—!?" He opens his eyes, not daring to move a single muscle.
At the moment, he senses existential force equivalent to his own. It's strong, of that there is no doubt, but nowhere near his lord's level.
…Someone's in my office… I thought I made myself clear: *No one* is to enter this place. The loft is *my* domain.
Damn it! In this state, if whoever this is…
—no… No, I won't think about it. That'll just get me worked up.
"~Oh, zombie… Come out, come out, wherever you are.~" One has entered the office in Babyface's loft, which doubles as the zombie's residential area.
He dares not move. Babyface knows this voice all too well: The boy he killed at the turn of the 19th century… The air suddenly feels tighter, and, even though he died a long time ago, the zombie finds it hard to breathe.
For the first time in a long while, Babyface…is petrified with fear.
"Hey, zombie! I know where you're hiding…
—I can smell your *rotted flesh*." Babyface hears One's boots crushing glass and tapping the floor, coming and closer… Still, he dares not move.
He…is entering my bedroom… That brat is coming to kill me!
No… No, no, don't choke. Don't breathe. Stay still… Stay still.
A door opens, sending a chill down the zombie's spine!
"Babyface! I'm home!
Did you miss me…*asshole*!?" One's murderous intent closes the zombie's eyes. Babyface is horrified… However, if he must, he'll face One in mortal combat.
But he's afraid to die. The last thing he wants…is to disappear forever.
"Hey, rise and shine, deadman."
The Methuselah knocks thrice on the zombie's coffin.
Babyface opens his eyes and glares with a warrior's intent, knowing well what this means: One is up to his old tricks; using old-fashioned scare tactics.
This brat… I hate him. I've *always* hated him.
I'll show him, I'll show *everyone*...just how powerful I really am!
One's provocations have awakened more from Babyface than originally intended: He senses a drastic increase in existential force.
"Existence, *activate*." One smiles, lifts his right hand, and opens its wide. Lines of neon green light trace…trace…and trace a lifelike projection: A refined image that materializes into an ornate, silver and golden handgun. One takes the handgun and aims it at Babyface's coffin. "Goodnight…asshole!"
The Methuselah unloads his existential handgun on the zombie's casket, filling it with holes…mercilessly...without restraint!
Then, in a fit of rage, One kicks the coffin off its mount with his right foot, holding onto his hat with a sly grin… The wooden casket crashes into the floor just beyond its mount, as One recovers and walks around to view his dirty work.
But when he arrives… "—!? Well, should've expected that."
—the zombie is nowhere to be found. The only thing left behind…is a pile of dust, fresh but reeking with the zombie's stench of death.
He's never seen my existence, so I have an upper hand on him. But…
—one false move…and that *really will* be me; a pile of dust.
Suddenly, the dust from the coffin disappears, as does the coffin and its mount!
One's eyes widen with shock… "The *hell* is this?"
—because he feels it: Babyface's existence…is massive!
"Sing, Tender Lover!" The zombie's voice booms from behind him, forcing the Methuselah to turn and point his gun…at a rampaging wall of serpents!
One is overwhelmed by a mixture of fear, shock and disbelief!
"W-What!? *Impossible*!"
In the blink of an eye, the wall of serpents overpowers One, forcing him to the ground, where they begin punishing him. Bite after bite, their venom enters his body, corroding him from the inside out!
Babyface stands and observes his serpents' feast from afar, unharmed and proud of his sneak attack. A coward to the bitter end.
That's what he gets for coming in here. Damned brat!
…I can't afford to die here. If that happens, our lord will be *beyond* displeased… Also, if I manage to survive and Ferryman falls, he'd personally kill me himself.
So…I must live. I must protect Ferryman!
I hate this brat. Killing is never a challenge, but…
—geez. I'm getting too old for this.