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Accessing Memory Files

Opening File: Day 411

Joseph was standing in the office of Phil Ken Sebben, facing the mayor of GrimmFall himself as he pressed a switch. The wall on the right slid open, revealing some sort of painting depicting warriors facing creatures that appeared to be humanoid Grimm.

"Joseph, let me start by saying congratulations on how far you have come. From your early training days to the time you spent in the Darklands and have faced many powerful enemies. Your main mission has been to learn as much about the Fallen as you can and I've told you almost all I know…Except this." Sebben gestured to the painting. "This painting is an ancient depiction of a battle during the Forgotten Age, before the Time of Awakening."

"Before the Time of Awakening? Wouldn't that mean the Grimm have been around even before the Emperor of Japan awoke them?" Joseph asked.

Sebben nodded. "Indeed it does. Despite modern history saying that the Grimm first awoke at that time there is evidence suggesting that they have awakened in earlier times. Each time this has happened, there has been an event in which somehow the people of those times learned how to fight against the Grimm for a certain amount of time before the Grimm suddenly become dormant and the source that created them sealed. The Time of Awakening would be considered just another part of the cycle, except this time the Grimm did not go dormant when the Pool of Darkness was sealed away and I believe we both know what happened."

"The Fallen." Joseph guessed.

Sebben nodded. "Through the cycles the Fallen had somehow evolved until they have become what they are today and I have a theory as to how this was possible. It all starts with a woman who led a cult to worshipping the Grimm, claiming she could communicate with them and share their powers with people even though it should have been impossible. This cult was known as the Daughters of the Grimm."

"The Daughters of the Grimm." Joseph softly repeated. "So how did she create the Fallen?"

"I am not sure entirely but I believe she somehow infused her female followers with the essence of Grimm and this led to them giving birth to first generation of Fallen." Sebben answered, watching as Joseph's optics flashed in shock.

"They…gave birth to the Fallen…That would mean they were born half human and half Grimm!" Joseph realized.

Sebben nodded again. "And when their powers awoke they mutated into monsters, overwhelmed by their Grimm instincts to kill. They slaughtered what was left of the cult and then went on a killing spree. Thankfully the warriors of that time managed to stop them by sealing the source of the Grimm and sending them back into dormancy. That action caused the Fallen to lose their powers, forced back to being human just as the Forgotten Age ended in a cataclysm that changed the entire world. The land broke apart into smaller lands, with the Pool of Darkness becoming part of the land that would one day become Japan."

"And…The surviving Fallen?" Joseph slowly asked.

"Left behind descendants would unknowingly carry the essence of Grimm inside them through the generations until the Time of Awakening." Sebben answered, pushing the button and the wall slid back down, hiding the painting. "When the Grimm awoke, the dormant essence in those descendants would awaken and fuse with them from the inside out. But the Fallen were completely changed this time which I believe had something to do with the poison the Emperor had intended to use to destroy the pool. The essence still slowly consumed them but it slowly bonded with them as they grew and the Grimm protected them as they grew and the few that mastered their powers were soon driven to aid the Grimm. I believe the Emperor's poison had in fact given the Dark Substance a form of life that spread through the Grimm and created the new Fallen that we have come to know today."

"But…That means that reason Fallen are born is because of their families having the essence of Grimm in them!" Joseph exclaimed. "And what about the newborn Fallen of today, like Skarr? He was born a Fallen so that meant one of his parents carried the essence. Why did it wait for him and not his ancestors?"

"I believe because the essence of Grimm inside the human bodies did not simply die over time or in battle. Instead they passed themselves on with each new potential Fallen that is born, replacing the previous ones that die. It is hard to tell just how many Humans or even Faunas that have been infected with this 'Grimm strain'. Mobians remain safe since the original Fallen survivors only bred with other humans at the time." Sebben explained carefully. "That's the reason why some Fallen are born. The Grimm essence passed down through the lines and when one dies the essence awakens in another at the right time and slowly begins changing them into a Fallen."

"Is there a way to detect this strain in people who aren't converted?" Joseph asked, taking all of this knowledge in.

"I am not sure. Truth be told it's possible the Grimm and their very essence has embedded themselves so deep that they have become not just part of the planet but part of its people as well." Sebben admitted.

"Then…For now we'll have to focus on the current Fallen." Joseph said, forming a plan. "We know of Fallen like Skarr, Sammael and Moloch. They are among the strongest we know of and if we can stop them we can gain an advantage."

"It will still be difficult, given the strength we have seen from the current ones and even formidable ones like Skarr are still newborns among the more powerful ones like Sammael and Moloch." Sebben pointed out.

Joseph nodded. "We know where Sammael hides and that Skarr and Moloch won't be far away. What do you know about the others?"

Recording Ended

Xxx

"When you are faced with a plague how do you best stop it? Do you spend days, months, perhaps even years finding a cure? Wait for it to die out after it has infected who knows how many? A plague is not an ordinary enemy and has been known to be one of the greatest harbingers of death in the world." TOM lectured, closing the recording. "It can spread across an entire world so as long as there is something to carry it and keep it alive. So, how do you defeat something that clings to life inside the bodies of every living thing? Can you defeat it or simply struggling to not be infected is the only way to stay alive?"

Xxx

BOOM!

Katz rolled out of the way as Ashley transformed her club into its rocket launcher form and fired several rockets at him. The Mobian serial killer had expected an easy mission with the chance to exact some sweet personal revenge on a rather old annoyance but found himself seriously outmatched by the Hurricane Sisters. The two girls utilized teamwork, one attacking while the other covered the attacker to keep Katz from trying to counterattack or use his Semblance on either one of them. It didn't help that Katz's own so-called partner offered no help at the moment.

"Sammael should have sent someone actually reliable." The Mobian muttered as he took cover behind a large rock. "This is why I prefer working alone or at least have the option of choosing who I want working with me."

To be fair it wasn't as if Katz could have just requested someone else or asked if he could work alone.

He had done horrible things that led to him being hunted and he had no nowhere to run until he was offered a place deep in the Darklands. His ambitions, his cruelty and his joy of bringing absolute terror on anyone in his way had brought his current employer to him.

Sammael had promised him wealth, power and status and he had accepted without hesitation.

The chance to be feared had been his greatest desire.

But at the time he had understood one important fact: Sammael had only a few equals standing in his way and all he truly needed was to remove those obstacles.

Katz was not an equal.

He was a follower but cared little as long as he got what he wanted.

"HAAAAAA!" A shout from above made Katz jump and roll forward as Nancy Monroe jumped over the rock he had been using for cover and swung her club at him.

Katz spun around and unsheathed his claws. "I do hate having to get my claws dirty."

The two fighters then attacked, Ashley using her club and Katz using his claws. Ashley used her club for defense from Katz who repeatedly struck at her with his claws. Luckily Ashley was able to block them all and was careful not to look in Katz's eyes and risk being caught in his Semblance. Katz lashed out with his tail, grabbing Nancy by the leg and pulled it out from under her.

Nancy fell to the ground on her back and Katz moved to grab her head, planning to ensnare her in his Semblance. Just before he could touch her a familiar dark cloud slammed into him and knocked him back a few feet. Ashley Monroe walked forward, calling back her dark cloud and produced two Dust crystals, yellow and green.

Wind and Lightning.

The dark cloud surrounded her and took the crystals into it, causing a surge of energy from them that made the cloud grow larger. Katz looked up, watching as the dark cloud grew and expanded, sound of thunder echoing from above and howling winds slamming into him, making him cover his face to keep from going blind. Ashley had used her Dust crystals and combined them with her storm cloud Semblance, upgrading from a mere storm to a hurricane. Katz jumped back, his feline instincts telling him to run and the flash of lightning scorching the ground where he had previously stood.

'This is not what I signed up for.' Katz thought, scowling as he started running. 'I was so close to getting revenge on that tin can as well. If Skarr was working with me like he was supposed to those girls would not be any trouble. How can a Fallen fail to kill two Huntsmen?'

In the meantime Skarr was approaching Scotty and Quickdraw, his arms turning black with claws sprouting from his fingers and his red eye glowing. He lunged at the two, trying to skewer them with his claws but the two Huntsmen dodged and went on the counterattack, Quickdraw shooting the Fallen in the face and torso while Scotty viciously slashed away with his claymore. However after each attack Skarr immediately healed and his fingers grew in length as he swiped at the two hunters again.

"WAIT!" Suddenly X jumped in, only to be stabbed through the legs, arms and grazed his neck. "…Ow! I have been waiting to show up again and this is what I get? Did I complain too much?"

Skarr grunted, tossing X aside and looked around just as a white blur slammed into him and kicked him in the face. Quickdraw aimed and shot Skarr point blank in the face several times, pushing the Fallen back. With each hit Skarr let out a grunt as the dark markings on his skin grew and spread further. His arm lashed out, grabbing his broadsword which he had dropped earlier. Upon grabbing his weapon the blackness spread into the sword, lengthening and sharpening it as Skarr swung at Quickdraw.

The horse Mobian grunted as he ducked and turned into a white blur again, moving around Skarr and shot at him several times before regrouping with Scotty.

"You have super speed for a Semblance? Guess it fits, you being a horse and all." Scotty commented.

Quickdraw scoffed. "Go blow it out your pipes. What's happening with this guy?"

"He's going berserk, literally." Scotty answered as Skarr spun around, spotting the two. "Fallen at this guy's stage can lose control when pushed."

"So how do we take him down?" Quickdraw reloaded his pistol.

"Push him to the limit. Fallen can't use Aura when using their Grimm based powers such as creating or enhancing their weapons. If that dark stuff covers his entire body he can't rely on Aura to protect himself or even use his Semblance." Scotty quickly explained. "And in his berserker state he's like any other Grimm you slay. Go for the head."

"Good enough for me." Quickdraw pointed his pistol at Skarr. "All right, big boy. Draw."

Skarr lunged again, swinging his enlarged sword down and created a crater where the two hunters had previously stood.

"RAH!" Scotty jumped forward, head-butting Skarr in the face and causing the Fallen to stagger.

Quickdraw jumped in, using his Semblance and shot Skarr in the good eye for extra measure. Scotty then swung his blade, cutting past the blackness covering the shoulder and actually drew blood.

"My blade's enchanted with Celtic runes and Dust. It can harm anything Grimm based, even that flimsy Blood Shield I've seen you Fallen use to harden your bodies." Scotty remarked as Skarr staggered back. "I've been around long enough to know about most of your powers."

Xxx

"Skarr and Katz are failing. Katz is running with his tail between his legs and Skarr is useless against the Scotsmen." Moloch spat. "I knew it was a mistake to trust them."

"In Skarr's defense, Scotty Blake is a dangerous opponent that no one should ever underestimate. Not even obliterating his body was enough to keep him down." Sammael replied, relaxing on his throne.

"So what do you suggest? Wait for time to turn him into an old cripple again?" Moloch retorted.

"Hardly." Sammael rolled his eyes. "Skarr was bound to eventually face this test. It seems appropriate that it would happen because of the Scotsman. We'll wait and see how this turns out."

Xxx

Scotty Blake, AKA the Scotsman had seen many things in his life, both the previous and the current one. He was the leader of a clan of warriors, fighting against legions of evil and even took on an apprentice. Of course right now he was fighting against a member of the legions of evil while leaving the training of his apprentice to an associate he knew he could trust. Lou Beatles was after all one of the best combat specialists in the world and he even knew a few methods of training that would make little Fanny even stronger when Scotty returned.

CLANG!

That is if he made it back.

Skarr's sword was now ablaze with red fire and he constantly slashed at Scotty, attempting to hack him to bits. The Scotsman blocked with his claymore, his own considerable skills more than enough to keep up with the Fallen that was completely covered head to toe in the familiar blackness he had only seen from one other in another timeline. Skarr now towered over the Scotsman, almost completely pitch black with spikes sprouting from his joints, his glass eye remaining white while his other eye was completely red like a Grimm and four horns sprouting from his head. This form showed that the Grimm essence inside Skarr had now completely consumed him.

He was now left to somehow regain control of himself or fall prey to his own instincts.

Not that Scotty would give him the chance.

Scotty channeled his Aura into his claymore, causing the Celtic runes to appear as he swung his blade, easily cutting through Skarr's sword much to its owner's surprise. Scotty then aimed to thrust his blade through Skarr's chest and end the Fallen for good when the ground suddenly shook and a Deathstalker blasted out of the ground with a shriek.

"Oh for the love of-" Scotty ducked as the Deathstalker launched its stinger at him and he swung his blade up, cutting the stinger off.

The Deathstalker shrieked in pain but had no time to do anything else as Quickdraw jumped on its head and fired a quick round between the eyes. He jumped off as it died and its body dissolved into a mist that quickly vanished. Scotty quickly turned around to finish Skarr but to his irritation the Fallen had disappeared.

"Seems he ran off." Quickdraw remarked, holstering his pistol.

"No. He didn't have the sense to retreat." Scotty replied, sheathing his sword. "Fallen aren't much for thinking when they are like that."

"So what happened?"

"He had help."

Xxx

Katz had no idea when it happened but he suddenly found himself back in a very familiar place and he wasn't sure things were going to go well.

"Katz, did you find the trip back here a little surprising?"

Katz felt a chill but he tried to brush it off as he faced his employer who remained relaxed on his throne. Moloch was off to the side, hiding in the shadows. "There was a…unexpected complication."

"An unexpected complication." Sammael softly repeated, leaning to the side with a hand propped to lean his head on. "I suppose you didn't even lay your hands on the spirit I sent you and your partner to retrieve."

"We ran into Huntsmen, one of them being Scotty Blake." Katz quickly explained. "Skarr was absolutely no help at-"

Sammael held up a hand, silencing Katz as he stood up. "Scotty Blake was occupied with Skarr, leaving you to deal with two Huntresses who managed to outwit with their teamwork. They seemed to understand the dangers of looking in your eyes. I suppose that is the price one pays for having the reputation of a dangerous serial killer. Those two covered their bases when they faced you in combat."

Katz remained silent as Sammael slowly approached and paced around him.

"I consider myself a reasonable man, Katz. I am capable of many things, even forgiveness. I can forgive failure so as long as the circumstances show that it was not caused by…Internal problems. I can forgive defeat since in a war it is absolutely impossible to avoid a loss or defeat." Sammael stopped in front of Katz. "But the one thing I refuse to forgive is cowardice. Retreat is one thing but running away is another. I had assigned you to this mission to properly test you and your skills. You have a history of letting your guard down and running away…Literally with your tail between your legs."

Katz bristled but he dared not say or do anything.

"It seems I was mistaken to send you on this mission, considering who you were up against." Sammael remarked, surprising the Mobian as he returned to his throne. "Tell me Katz, if I offered you the chance to prove yourself again would you accept?"

"Yes." Katz nodded.

Sammael smiled, not putting Katz to ease. "You see, there is a situation with Skarr I need your help to solve."

"A situation?"

"Yes." Sammael raised a hand and the sound of chains unlocking behind Katz was heard.

The Mobian serial killer turned around, skin paling and eyes widening as Skarr in his corrupted form emerged from the shadows.

"Allow me to introduce General Reginald Skarr with a bit of a makeover." Sammael chuckled lightly. "He had a bit of an episode during his battle. We need to see if he can actually overcome this episode or just leave him down in the pit. This is where you come in, Katz."

"Wh-What?" Katz took a step back.

"Distract him long enough for him to take back control." Sammael leaned back, smiling as the show was about to start. "Do not worry. I have no intention of letting him kill you. Failure or not I do not overlook any potential I see."

Katz looked up as Skarr loomed over him, shaking now.

A moment later a scream followed by a primal roar was heard throughout the fortress.

Xxx

Name: Quickdraw McGraw

Aura: White with a mix of black

Semblance: Quicksilver

Description: Quickdraw is able to move so fast it almost appears like he is teleporting from one point to another. He can even use it to reload his pistol much faster than a normal eye can see.

Weapon: Pistol loaded with ordinary bullet and Dust shells.