Ferryman Trading Co., Sydney
9 May, 2011
23:34—Two's Perspective
:-:
It's quiet in the loft. Not a sound has been heard since Babyface's decisive attack, and the Highwaymen are beginning to worry.
One should be done with the zombie by now, given his experience. However, as we all know, Babyface got the best of him: A sneak attack; overpowering him with a wall of serpents that have all but eaten the Methuselah alive.
Two's tracking system serves its purpose: He detects two existential forces from Babyface's bedroom; one at a normal sync rate, the other…critically low.
Using the building's circulation system, Two makes his way to the scene via his airy composition, his elemental form allowing him to move with haste.
When he arrives, he notices a familiar scene…
Seriously, One? This trick…
—talk about "old school". I'm surprised this zombie hasn't caught on by now.
—the fallen Methuselah released a hint of his existence, and traced his entire body; a technique with origins from Germanic Christian magic.
Tracing not only pertains to summoning Judgment, it can also completely rewrite an object's physical composition, which is exactly what One has done to himself. The person Babyface killed…isn't even the *real* One.
The zombie hears the unlocking of a gun, and then experiences the familiar sensation… "Feeling confident, dusty britches?"
—of being held at gunpoint. The barrel of Judgment is aimed at his skull!
"W—Wha…how did you…" Babyface wrestles with what to say, how to react, what to make of all of this. For One to pull something like this off: The zombie is definitely in the presence of a force to be reckoned with.
"I ain't tellin' you shit about it, dusty britches. You had your chance ages ago.
I'd ask you to give my posse and my girl a hug for me, but after all the hell *you* raised… Well, I think you know where you're going."
The zombie shivers with fear. "W—Wait, don't shoot. I—I'll stop, I'll shut Ferryman down myself. Just…please… I don't want to die. Please!"
"Please, *please,* drop to your knees. You're going out the old-fashioned way.
You know… The same way you did *me* in?" Babyface complies, prostrating himself, One's barrel pressed against his head.
This is how they used to do it back in the old west. If One's going to kill him, he'll do it *his* way: Hang 'em, shoot 'em, drag 'em, things like that.
Kind of cool having a real cowboy on your team. But he's cutthroat most of the time, leaving no openings for anyone, not even us… I may not say this out loud, but I'm scared *shitless* of this man when he gets mad.
Oh, well… Sayonara, Babyface.
Without another word, One pulls his trigger and executes the zombie with a bullet to the skull. The impact causes Babyface's head to explode into billions and billions of dust particles, before his corpse collapses to the floor.
Tender Lover's serpents, as a result, rot and decay, and are revealed to be nothing more than dust given form… An existence of dust and sand: Tender Lover could be shaped into anything Babyface wanted it to be, and, should the sun have shined upon his body…he might have won this battle.
"And with *that* done…" One adjusts his hat, and begins tracing the cadaver. Line by line, bit by bit, Babyface's body is traced…until it's completely covered in mystic circuitry. Then, in an instant, the circuits contract and compress into a ball no bigger than an inch all around. "—another one bites the dust."
Judgment has been delivered:
The zombie has been added to the old cowboy's collection. One is very meticulous; he'll either erase or collect all evidence before exiting the scene. Not a single spec is left behind, and, if I know the guy well enough, he's rewired the entire building by now with his magic circuitry: Testament…
—the clever old bastard. Gotta love 'im though.
Anyway, it's time for us to leave.
As soon as One focuses his existence, Ferryman will be history. This entire building will be erased off the map, and all its branches will crumble within a few weeks… The Old Man's going to lose it after this one. But what can you do?
"Let's roll out, Two." The spying Methuselah has been figured out. One observes the vent to the southwest, but his teammate has already left.
It seems Two is a step ahead of his squad leader.
A clever smile decorates his face. "Sly little cowpoke… I'll get 'im later. Heh."
The Fitzwilliam Hotel, Belfast
9 May, 2011
23:39—Theodore's Perspective
:-:
It's been a little over an hour now. Theodore continues to endure the strain of his existence, fighting to keep Natalie, his girlfriend, confined. His diamond barrier has weakened over time, but it's still strong enough to contain her.
Should his sync rate lower, however, Theodore focuses… No less than 50%: It's a challenge, it's testing to his body, but the golem endures….for her sake.
Keep going…keep going…keep…going… I don't know how much more I can take, but…I…can't give up. Natalie…needs me…she…needs me!
"…Teddy Bear…listen to me…"
He hears her voice calling him by his nickname… "N—Nat…a…lie…"
—so distant, so very far away, but he can hear her.
Theodore took more of a beating than he originally believed. He's even starting to have trouble controlling his regeneration.
Natalie balls her fists against his barrier, losing the battle against her hunger.
"…get out of here…run… If you don't, once your body gives out…" Her reasoning is suddenly quieted by the appearance of something familiar: Green Day's spores, circulating ever so gently throughout their bedroom.
Flowers… I smell…flowers…
Lavender: The sweetest scent conveyed by the doctor's existence.
"Keep inhaling for a few minutes…" Natalie and Theodore's senses are touched by Stephen's voice… He's in the room with them, having entered through their bedroom window. "—let it set in. You'll both be fine within the hour."
Their senses were dulling drastically. The worst would have transpired within minutes… But the doctor has arrived, right on time nonetheless.
Natalie smiles weakly, trying her very best to thank him.
"P—Pad…dy…"
Stephen lifts his hands, signalling her to hold her tongue.
"Don't speak, Kate. Same goes for you, TJ.
My scrap with Dead Motion replenished enough blood to last me 'til we get to the next pharmacy. I'll stop at one and pick up a few pills." They expected nothing less from the doctor: Never failing to deliver when he's needed the most. However, his mood darkens a bit, as he lowers his hands… "But we're not done yet. Someone's out there fighting for us… Let's keep our fingers crossed."
Stephen turns and approaches the opened window, where he takes a moment to observe the carnage in the distance… "Kate, TJ, my people have suffered quite a bit in the past 24 hours. We…won't be able to save most of them.
But this battle… I know our unexpected ally will win. He's found something to fight for, a reason to exist. So let's keep helping him.
I…know it's what *they* would have wanted." His friends realize who he's referring to: All the loved ones they've lost in their ongoing campaign against the church. From the first to the most recent, they have a legacy to uphold.
Ending Theme: Love Is A Battlefield
Artist: Pat Benatar
The doctor's right. We must continue our pursuit for universal love.
Attaining such a reward, it seems unrealistic to most, but…it has kept us going for a long time. It gives us power; the will to press on.
Through love, the world will be cleansed and restored: This ideology is sure to reconnect what's been broken for centuries. But…
—I wonder… When will the destruction finally come to an end?
Mullen Institute, Dublin
9 May, 2011
23:43—Stuart's Perspective
:-:
The ultimate question: When *will* the destruction come to an end?
Perhaps when the Nightlord falls from grace. Or maybe when he dies.
Virtue deems that no one should kill or be killed, which makes things that much harder on the radicals: Count Valdo deserves to undergo a true death, to be erased from this world, but no one has the right to kill another… Even if this person is a monster among men, it still isn't right. However…
—the monster Stuart engages in battle is unlike any combatant he's encountered in the past: The antithesis of himself.
This *thing* is breaking me… I'm bleeding…I feel pain…
—*real* pain… How is this possible? I don't understand!
Stuart's "other" self tilts its head slightly, confused and a bit frustrated.
"Scion of love, these feelings are illusory. But they *could* become real, should we behave like this during a real fight.
That's not what we want, we can't afford to lose.
To be the light amidst darkness: That's our purpose in life. Achieving such greatness calls for something *more* than strength."
Those words stand out to Stuart… "Something…'more than' strength?
I'm at a loss. What…are you trying to tell me?"
"Fight me, scion of love. Figure it out…through mortal combat!" The "other" self ruthlessly engages Stuart, forcing agility, defense and intelligence from him. The antithesis' assault is delivered at the speed of light, judging from what Stuart perceives. Such ferocity is unattainable to a normal man, but…
I can't keep up. This thing is attacking so… So fast. Trying to read this monster is making me dizzy. If I don't do something soon…I'm done for.
But this is a dream. It hurts like hell, but it's *still* just a dream.
I…I won't lose. I refuse to stand here and…
—Stuart isn't a "normal" man. The "other" self may be his antithesis, but they're still one in the same: Half human, half vampire.
He must remember that.
Stuart is called "the scion of love" for a reason; this saying isn't cosmetic.
Thus, he closes his eyes and clears his mind… "Focus, Stu, focus…"
—and, instantly, everything seems vivid to him, much clearer than before. Stuart can even see where his antithesis is attacking. Method, angle, velocity, striking power, stamina: He sees these things and much, much more.
The antithesis' barrage has become utterly predictable.
"What do you hope to accomplish by evading only, scion of lo—" Stuart silences his "other" self, by delivering a fierce right uppercut to its stomach. The impact of his strike is so powerful, the antithesis is sent flying to the ground!
Clear my mind. Must not see with my eyes; I must feel with my heart.
This thing *is* me. The "old" me: Hungry, willing to tear down anything and anyone that stood in my way, the dirtiest bastard out of the country… I *was* a monster, until I found "something" to keep me tame.
Dawnavan, our friends: Among them, I found… Family!
Infinity: A group united for the pursuit of universal love; a family in their own right. Their unity is their greatest strength.
Stuart was once "alone," or so he believed. From the very beginning, they were always on his side, monitoring his every move. It was not by chance that he met Dawnavan and their friends… "Fate brought us together. When I felt everything was slipping through my hands, they were protecting me from the shadows.
Love: That is the power I'm searching for. But still, my lineage…"
The antithesis stands from ruin, proud of how far Stuart has come. It took him a while, but he was able to understand this much.
"Scion of love, congratulations are in order. But this is *far* from over… We are important to both humans *and* nightwalkers. Without us, this world…will die." Once again, an antithesis' concluding words are spoken like a woman: The same same voice, the same tone, the same pitch. It's strange…
—Stuart *swears* he's heard it from somewhere before.
"W—What…is this?
Who are you? Are you…really me?"
Fight and rediscover yourself: This is the only way.
If you can't do that, you'll *never* survive this war. The voice speaks again, but not from the antithesis… It comes from *everywhere*. Even Dawnavan can hear it, booming loudly but gently enough to not be overwhelming.
Mr. Bennett, Mr. Crowley, I want to help you. With my guidance, you'll see great heights, but you must first conquer yourselves.
You've come so far already. That's good, I'm proud of you, and I know the others would be as well…seeing you come so far, blossoming in your own way.
Stuart's common sense comes into play.
"You…must be the person we've heard about: Dr. Lyte."
Yes, Mr. Bennett. And this is your first training course: To defeat both yourself and everything that you aren't; your antithesis.
Survive it… I know you can, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Crowley.
Stuart suddenly hears Dawnavan's voice in his head… We can do it, Stu.
Remember: "Stick and move, keep your feet light, and stay focused". That's how we've been doing it since day one, right?
…These words…register well with the impressionable Brit.
"Right you are, Dawny. Good form.
So, without further delay…" Stuart comes alive with vigor and courage, ready to exercise the full extent of his talents: Boxing, pro-wrestling, street smarts, and existence. "—I have *truly* arrived! Sorry to keep you waiting, 'other' me.
Class is now in session. Lesson start, *for real this time*!"
~ To Be Continued ~
When the moon rises,
Unlikely allies, unlikely motives. The will to protect enlightens the world.
A valuable lesson is learned: A deadman's revenge…is a natural disaster in its own right.
Conditioning sees incredible heights: The power of existence blossoms…beautifully.
A new enemy rises from the darkness to correct the mistakes of the past.
Next time on The BLOOD Saga: NIGHT:
:O:
:O: Can't Stop My Heart :O:
:O:
The conquest for unity continues.