tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40400129368957293302024-03-13T20:37:41.203-07:00Maveric ThoughtsEric Mavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030679716404828710noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4040012936895729330.post-45346301636293888062008-06-23T19:44:00.001-07:002008-07-01T10:41:36.334-07:00Wanderer Ascension 1<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Right,” Noah replied, shrinking under Death’s withering gaze.<span style=""> </span>He prudently decided to change the subject.<span style=""> </span>“So what’s next?<span style=""> </span>What do we do now?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“Now we wait,” she replied sternly.<span style=""> </span>“The next step requires one of higher rank than I.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“Of course.<span style=""> </span>Frantically avoid a grisly death, then sit around waiting for the brass to show up.”<span style=""> </span>Noah feigned a nostalgic tear.<span style=""> </span>“It’s just like being back in the Corps.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“Must you accompany every situation with a joke?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“It was a lifelong dream of mine to make people laugh.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Death’s expression softened slightly.<span style=""> </span>“I don’t suppose I’ll ever get a serious answer of you, will I?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“You first.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“Excuse me?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“You’ve been dodging my questions since we met.<span style=""> </span>You’ve supposedly been watching me for I don’t know how long, you know all this about me, and yet I can’t get you to tell me anything about this place, or even why I’m here.”<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Death ran a delicate hand through the hair at her temples.<span style=""> </span>“Please believe me when I say that you will receive complete understanding soon.<span style=""> </span>Be patient.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>“All right then, let’s talk about you.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“Me?”<span style=""> </span>Death responded, meekly toying with a strand of crimson hair.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“Yes, you.<span style=""> </span>You’re the only friend I’ve got in this place; I’d like to know a little bit about you.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“What…What would you like to know?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Noah sighed.<span style=""> </span>“Look, this isn’t an interrogation, I’m just trying to make conversation, since you apparently aren’t allowed to tell me anything useful and the big hat is taking his sweet time.<span style=""> </span>Where are you from?<span style=""> </span>How’d you get this gig?<span style=""> </span>What’re your hobbies?<span style=""> </span>What do you do when you’re not escorting the dead or playing tour guide to cantankerous retired corpsmen?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“I’m not ‘from’ anywhere, anymore than the ground or the sky comes from somewhere.<span style=""> </span>I didn’t receive this ‘gig,’ I was born to it.<span style=""> </span>There is a need within the universe, and therefore I exist.<span style=""> </span>As for my hobbies, my duties keep me quite busy enough without me dwelling on extraneous concerns.<span style=""> </span>Though I can’t remember the last time I spent this much time dealing with a single man.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“A workaholic, huh?” Haynes smirked.<span style=""> </span>“Y’know that’s really not healthy.”<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“This from a dead man?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Blinding light blasted from a hole in the sky, and a figure appeared. His skin shone like it was on fire as he descended from the heavens on six alabaster wings.<span style=""> </span>The light in the sky faded, but his radiance remained, clothed in a simple white garment wrapped loosely around his slight frame. He halted his descent just short of touching the ground.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Death smiled at the figure.<span style=""> </span>“Gabriel, it is good to see you again.” <span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“And you, Lady of the Chill Embrace,” he replied with a voice that somehow sounded like both a thousand trumpets and a gently strummed harp. <span style=""> </span>“How is the candidate?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“Inquisitive.”<span style=""> </span>Death directed a glare at Noah.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>The angel seemed not to notice.<span style=""> </span>“Of course he is.<span style=""> </span>It is to be expected.<span style=""> </span>But it is not for us to wonder at His plan.”<span style=""> </span>He smiled down at Noah.<span style=""> </span>“Noah Haynes, I am Gabriel, First of His Seraphim and Metatron, the Voice of God.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Now that he was closer, Noah realized how feminine the newcomer was.<span style=""> </span>If his simple garment didn’t leave his chest exposed, Haynes would have had a hard time determining his sex.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“Good to meet you,” Noah responded more nonchalantly than was appropriate.<span style=""> </span>“I assume you’re here for the next step of whatever it is I’m doing.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Gabriel’s face registered a hint of annoyance.<span style=""> </span>“You are correct in that. <span style=""> </span>I have been charged by the Lord to prepare you for His service.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“What exactly is it I’m helping God with?<span style=""> </span>I didn’t realize I had any skills that would make me especially useful to Him.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“Few men do.<span style=""> </span>But with His will as guide even the dullest tool can cut like a razor.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i style="">I think that insult was intentional<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“Right, so anyway, what’s next?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“Next we look at the previous, Noah Haynes.<span style=""> </span>In order to prepare for your future, you must understand your past.”</p>Eric Mavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030679716404828710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4040012936895729330.post-65168077667519643482008-06-16T21:20:00.000-07:002008-06-23T18:35:14.033-07:00Wanderer Exodus 8Sunlight caressed Noah’s face like a mother waking her child. As he opened his eyes he noticed the feel of grass underneath him. He raised a hand to shield his eyes from the sun.<br /> “And I was so hoping I’d get to throw a bucket of cold water on you,” announced a familiar and welcome voice. “Did you disappoint all the women in your life, Noah Haynes?”<br /> “Only when I left,” Noah smiled up at Death. It was good to see a friendly face. “I’m surprisingly no deader than when I left. What happened out there?”<br /> Death scowled at her unruly charge. “What happened is that you hurled yourself headlong into a situation you had no understanding of and that you had no hope of resolving. Had I not been there you would certainly have been torn apart by those devils.”<br /> “I thought you weren’t allowed to help me,” Noah responded peevishly. He had a growing suspicion that he was being played.<br /> “During your first test, I was not. However, during your second trial it was my responsibility to prevent your death, should you pass.”<br /> “I wasn’t told about this second test.”<br /> “Of course you weren’t. Awareness of the test would invalidate the result.”<br /> “Of course,” he replied, genuine annoyance creeping into his voice. He was starting to develop a good idea of what had happened, and he was not pleased. “So when exactly did I pass the first test?” Noah demanded. “Was it after I fought off a crazed badger while hiding in a hole in that cliff side? Or was it when I fought the scaly turkey on top of that plateau? Maybe it was after I dropped the demon brother of the deadly mantis?”<br /> “Devil,” Death corrected. “Devil brother of the deadly mantis. Demons are mythos based, traditionally Judeo-Christian, though the Japanese Oni could technically be considered demons.”<br /> “Semantics is not a big priority for me right now.” Noah growled.<br /> “Nor are manners, it would seem.” Death replied coldly. “Here I was, worried that at an moment something would tear you apart or swallow you whole, then when I finally see you again you pick a fight with a type 4 devil, before trying to take on the rest of his bask. Now, after the utterly predictable beating, you wake up and belligerently harass me like it’s my fault you show atrocious judgment.”<br /> Noah squirmed under Death’s penance stare. “I’m sorry, I didn’t- wait, were you there when I first ran into Belron?”<br /> Death looked to the side and tucked a lock of scarlet hair behind her ear. “I monitored your progress throughout the first test. When the time came to progress to the next, I was required to take a more active role.” She glanced back up at Noah. Their eyes met.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> Green eyes.</span><br /> “You were the girl.” Noah stated evenly.<br />Death nodded. “The deception was integral to the test. We had to be able to judge your response.”<br />“There was never any danger?”<br />“None. Those devils didn’t have the power to harm me.”<br />“Sure did a number on me, though.” He smiled ruefully. “Suppose the body parts I saw were fake as well.”<br />“Meat prepared to bait the devils. No human had walked that place in generations.”<br />“You should get a Tony for that performance,” Noah observed. “Standing in mute awe at my presence, as if I was the last thing you expected to see.”<br />“Oh, and I suppose you don’t feel you were in any way overly dramatic. The way you swept in to my aid I half expected you to start calling Belron a ‘fell beast’ and demanding that he ‘unhand me’”<br />Noah chuckled. “My name's Noah Haynes, and I’m here to rescue you.” He shook his head. “No, the best performance of the show was after I dropped Kazzak. The way you blushed, it was brilliant.”<br />Death glanced down slightly, and Noah thought he caught something in her body language.<br /><em>Is she….? No..., of course not.<br /></em>“Is it safe to assume you put those devils down after I took that hit?” Noah changed the subject.<br />“They were dealt with.” Death replied, her gaze returning to Noah.<br />“Care to elaborate?”<br />“No,” Death replied icilyEric Mavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030679716404828710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4040012936895729330.post-69709778345796632602008-06-11T06:29:00.000-07:002008-06-11T06:30:13.408-07:00Wanderer: Exodus 7<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Noah stood victorious over his fallen opponent.<span style=""> </span>To Kazzak’s credit, not so much as a whimper escaped his lips.<span style=""> </span>With a broken knee, that silence was no mean feat.<span style=""> </span>He glared at Haynes murderously.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Noah stepped back to the recently rescued damsel.<span style=""> </span>“Who..?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“Like I said, my name is Noah, and everything’s going to be fine.” He smiled, retrieving his blades.<span style=""> </span>“Thanks for keeping an eye on these for me.”<span style=""> </span>The girl blushed as their eyes met.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i>Green.<span style=""> </span>Here eyes are such a<span style=""> </span>beautiful green.<span style=""> </span>Where have I seen that color before?<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“Kazzak!” an enraged yell shattered the tranquil moment.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i>Oh, right.<span style=""> </span>Those guys.<span style=""> </span>I should probably get on getting us out of here.</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>While Noah’s back was turned, Belron had stalked over to his fallen champion.<span style=""> </span>“You promised me victory!<span style=""> </span>You swore to grind him into dust!”<span style=""> </span>If before his eyes had been stormy, now they held tempests.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Kazzak looked up at him resolutely.<span style=""> </span>“Lord Belron, I have failed-”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“You have failed your entire bask!”<span style=""> </span>Belron grabbed him by the neck and drug him to his feet.<span style=""> </span>“A human into our realm.<span style=""> </span>Not a human, no, <i>two</i> humans fall into our laps, and you can’t win a simple contest of combat.”<span style=""> </span>Belron released him, forcing the hobbled devil to balance on one leg.<span style=""> </span>The other hung at a sickening angle.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“You’ve made me a laughing stock.”<span style=""> </span>Belron’s massive fist uncurled and tensed into a claw.<span style=""> </span>“What I do now is for the sake of every member of the bask.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Sudden understanding dawned upon Noah.<span style=""> </span>He broke into a run and cried “Belron-”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Belron’s hand flashed up under Kazzak’s chin.<span style=""> </span>His talons tore chunks of flesh from his subordinates throat.<span style=""> </span>Kazzak bowed his head one final time to his lord as blood boiled forth from the wound, and then fell back on the dusty ground.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Noah stopped dead, starring horror struck as the devil lord casually flicked blood from his claws and strode towards him.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“I apologize for that,” he said, smiling with teeth that were never meant to be reassuring.<span style=""> </span>“It really was a kindness.<span style=""> </span>He would never have been able to live with the shame of being defeated by a human.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i>Heartless bastard.</i><span style=""> </span>Noah checked his wrath.<span style=""> </span><i>Nothing for it now.<span style=""> </span>Just get the girl home.</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“The contest is over,”<span style=""> </span>he stated brusquely.<span style=""> </span>“I want assurance from you that of your group will harass us as we leave.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Whatever shred of friendliness had managed to take root in Belron’s smile was swallowed whole by predatory glee.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“I can certainly grant you that guarantee,”<span style=""> </span>he replied, oozing smug self assurance.<span style=""> </span>The other devils formed a loose rank behind him.<span style=""> </span>“You see,” he chuckled, stepping back to stand at the head of his vassals.<span style=""> </span>“We don’t plan on allowing you to leave at all.”<span style=""> </span>Vicious laughter emanated from the assembled devils.<span style=""> </span>“Riffle, the girl,” Belron commanded.<span style=""> </span>“And don’t kill her.<span style=""> </span>We’ll need post dinner entertainment.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>A short, lithe, reptilian devil burst from the rank, no doubt intent on downing the groups original prey.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Haynes’s blade snapped out across the devil’s flank as he passed, opening up his side.<span style=""> </span>The devil dropped to the ground and whimpered, ineffectually clutching the terrible wound and trying to rise.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>The line of devils collapsed as they rushed to fall upon Noah.<span style=""> </span>The first was a smaller was easily kicked aside as a second, larger devil took a point in his stomach.<span style=""> </span>Suddenly Belron erupted from the mass of devils, intent on taking down the troublesome interloper himself.<span style=""> </span>The scaly grey-black mountain slashed downward at him with five steely talons.<span style=""> </span>Noah voided the blow with a stop cut to the forearm, slice to the bone effortlessly.<span style=""> </span>Another slash opened Belron from hip to short rib, and the imperious devil fell, spilling infernal organs onto the ground.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>The victory brought no respite.<span style=""> </span>Noah parried attacks from two different devils.<span style=""> </span>Pain shot through his body as his vision exploded with light.<span style=""> </span>As he fell, Noah saw a clubbed tail whipping at the edge of his vision.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i>God, please let her have had the sense to run.<o:p></o:p></i></p>Eric Mavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030679716404828710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4040012936895729330.post-71709663288545332572008-06-02T18:59:00.000-07:002008-06-02T19:00:58.210-07:00Administratum 1I will be attempting to update a weekly update schedule. Monday shall be the appointed day for Wanderer to go up. Hopefully I will be able to maintain this over the summer.Eric Mavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030679716404828710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4040012936895729330.post-82826545133582828112008-06-02T18:58:00.000-07:002008-06-02T19:40:57.086-07:00Wanderer Exodus 6<p class="MsoNormal"> The devil lunged at Haynes with a jab to the head.<span style=""> </span>He slipped under the blow and countered with an open palmed hook.<span style=""> </span>Before it could connect a blow slammed into his side, hammering his ribs.<span style=""> </span>Haynes staggered back and his legs were swept out from under him. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i style="">What happened?</i><span style=""> </span>Noah wondered from the ground.<span style=""> </span>Then he saw the long, streamlined tail whipping behind Kazzak.<span style=""> </span><i style="">Great, one fall and all I’ve learned is that the guy has a tail.<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>The crowd of devils roared with laughter.<span style=""> </span>Kazzak smirked down at him with relaxed contempt.<span style=""> </span>Noah stood and dusted himself off as nonchalantly as he could manage.<span style=""> </span>He’d expected something like classical wrestling.<span style=""> </span>This was more like pankration without the submissions.<span style=""> </span>And a tail.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Man and devil assumed ready stances.<span style=""> </span>Noah performed a side kick at the devil’s legs.<span style=""> </span>Kazzak stepped back and countered with a jab.<span style=""> </span>Noah parried, but was knocked to the ground when Kazzak’s tail struck the back of his knee.<span style=""> </span>The gleeful shouting grew louder.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Haynes rose and the dance began again.<span style=""> </span>Haynes moved in and out, varying the distance to his opponent without ever quite closing enough for either of them to strike.<span style=""> </span>Every time his opponent would try to close, he would slip away.<span style=""> </span>The spectating devils were getting restless.<span style=""> </span>They began to cast insults at Kazzak, demanding he end it.<span style=""> </span>Spurred on by the derision of his fellows, Kazzak lunged, trying to engage his elusive foe.<span style=""> </span>Noah stepped to the side and began to counter when Kazzak’s tail whipped at his head.<span style=""> </span>He blocked the blow, then grabbed the troublesome appendage and pulled.<span style=""> </span>The devil stumbled at the unexpected force, <span style=""> </span>and then fell as Noah swept one of his legs from under him.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i style="">One.<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>The yells from the infernal crowd increased: “You should have had him.”<span style=""> </span>“A child could have countered that.”<span style=""> </span>“Are you blind as well as stupid?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Kazzak stood.<span style=""> </span>The contempt in his eyes had turned to hatred.<span style=""> </span>He hurled himself at Noah and threw a vicious swing at his head.<span style=""> </span>Noah stepped in and blocked the swing.<span style=""> </span>The heel of his hand drove into the devil’s chin, slamming his hairless head back with a brutal chin jab.<span style=""> </span>Haynes grabbed Kazzak’s still extended arm and hurled his opponent to the ground with a perfectly executed hip throw.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>As Kazzak impacted the ground, the crowd went silent.<span style=""> </span>The human had turned what they had thought was a fluke into a rally.<span style=""> </span>The score was two-all, and Lord Belron was not happy.<span style=""> </span>His eyes were stormy, and his face twisted into a scowl.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Kazzak stood and regarded Haynes warily.<span style=""> </span>The hate in his eyes had boiled down into suspicion, and maybe a hint of fear.<span style=""> </span>He could not allow himself to fail again.<span style=""> </span>He squared off with Noah, but made no aggressive motions.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i style="">He’s scared of my counterattack.<span style=""> </span>Good.<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Suddenly Noah threw a front kick.<span style=""> </span>As Kazzak began to respond, the kick melted into a lunging straight punch.<span style=""> </span>Despite the feint, the devil still parried the blow.<span style=""> </span>Haynes quickly disengaged his hands and spun around under his opponent’s guard, slamming a hammer fist blow into his temple.<span style=""> </span>He sidestepped as the devil’s tail lashed out from behind his shoulder, and drove a side kick in the devil’s knee.<span style=""> </span>Noah felt a tiny spark of pride as the joint broke.<span style=""> </span>The sound of Kazzak striking the ground seemed to echo, despite the openness of the plain.</p>Eric Mavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030679716404828710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4040012936895729330.post-86277038818829047012008-05-20T19:39:00.000-07:002008-05-20T19:40:33.867-07:00Exodus 5<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>The girl was running from a group of devils.<span style=""> </span>At the head were several that resembled mastiffs the size of small horses.<span style=""> </span>The rest were all at least nominally human shaped, though many had fallen to running on all fours in their haste to reach the prize.<span style=""> </span>In all there were thirteen.<span style=""> </span>Noah hoped that made them unlucky.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>The girl was fast.<span style=""> </span>She was managing to stay ahead of her diabolic pursuit for now, but she had to be exhausted.<span style=""> </span>There was no way she could outrun those devils.<span style=""> </span>There was nowhere for Haynes to set a trap for her pursuers.<span style=""> </span>A frontal assault was the only option that would allow him to reach the girl in time.<span style=""> </span>He’d have to engage a more mobile and numerically superior force of unknown capabilities while preventing them from harming a civilian.<span style=""> </span>It was stupid.<span style=""> </span>It was suicidal.<span style=""> </span>Noah was already running.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>There was an outcropping that ran from the mouth of the canyon into the basin.<span style=""> </span>Haynes ran along it, hoping the devils were too intent on their prey to notice him.<span style=""> </span>He stopped for a moment, gauging the timing, then charged forward and leapt off the cliff. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>He landed on one helldog, snapping its spine.<span style=""> </span>His twin blades trisected a second.<span style=""> </span>He spun around, opening the stomach of a third.<span style=""> </span>The last dog’s lunge landed on Haynes extended point.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“The rumors are true!” shrieked a lesser devil.<span style=""> </span>“The human has grown claws.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i style="">Rumors?<span style=""> </span>Was I spotted earlier?<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“It matters not.”<span style=""> </span>A scaly grey mountain stepped out of the crowd.<span style=""> </span>He stood nine feet tall, and muscles rippled under pebbly skin the color of charcoal.<span style=""> </span>Tiny black horns dotted his hairless scalp.<span style=""> </span>A breechclout of rough leather was his only garment.<span style=""> </span>He glared down contemptuously at Noah.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i style="">I wonder if this is how Beowulf felt.<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>“I know not what sorceries with which you summoned the talons of the blood mantis, but they shall not save you.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“He’s killed my beauties!” cried out a whip thin devil the color of swamp muck.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“Cease your sniveling,” intoned the massive devil, punctuating his imperative with a backhanded blow.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“This girl is under my protection,” Noah declared, desperately hoping his voice sounded more imperious than he thought.<span style=""> </span>“I have been sent to retriever her.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“By whom?” the chief devil asked incredulously.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“Death.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Behind Noah the girl started.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“The Velvet Hand has no business here,” he sneered.<span style=""> </span>The other devils seemed to shrink back from him slightly.<span style=""> </span>“I demand a game be played for the girl.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“A game?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“We know the law.<span style=""> </span>Death and her servants must submit to a game of possession if challenged.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i style="">Crap.<span style=""> </span>Crap crap crap crap crap.<span style=""> </span>Is he bullshitting me?<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“As you will.<span style=""> </span>What game do you propose?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>The devil drew himself up to his full height and took on a more regal bearing. “A simple match between you and my champion.<span style=""> </span>The first to force the other to the ground three times will be declared the victor.<span style=""> </span>You shall fight in the manner of the high Aetherians<span style=""> </span>Neither tooth nor claw shall be used.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i style="">Champion?<span style=""> </span>This guys built like an </i>Abrams.<span style=""> </span><i style="">Why does he need a champion?<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“Who shall be your champion?” Noah asked, dreading the answer.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“Kazzak, come forth.<span style=""> </span>You shall be my harbinger of violence.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>A devil with skin the color of clay stepped forward.<span style=""> </span>His skin was smooth and hairless.<span style=""> </span>While shorter than the first, this devil was nearly as broad and just as muscled, and he was still a head taller than Noah.<span style=""> </span>He wore a breech clout, like his larger counterpart, and long, pointed ears framed his face.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“Lord Belron, I shall grind him into dust.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“What guarantee do I have that you will allow us to leave should I win?”<span style=""> </span>Noah asked Belron pointedly.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>The devil lord looked affronted.<span style=""> </span>“The law of the game is sacred.<span style=""> </span>Should you win, we should not dare attack you for fear of Atherial justice.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“Of course.<span style=""> </span>Just making sure you remembered that.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i style="">First order of business when I get out of here: Find a copy of </i>The Afterlife for Dummies.<i style=""><o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Noah handed his blades and his shoulder bag to the damsel.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“My name’s Noah.<span style=""> </span>Watch these for me, eh?” he said, smiling as reassuringly as he could.<span style=""> </span>The girl accepted the weapons and stared at him in mute disbelief.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>The two combatants faced of on the dusty battleground.<span style=""> </span>Behind his opponent the other devils jeered at him from a rough half-circle.<span style=""> </span>Behind Noah stood a terrified girl who looked much too young to die.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i style="">What now, Galahad?</i> he wondered ruefully, just before Kazzak leapt into motion.</p>Eric Mavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030679716404828710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4040012936895729330.post-23497025167871679252007-10-28T20:58:00.000-07:002008-07-01T11:29:37.530-07:00Wanderer: Exodus 4<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Noah rose and regarded the carcass before him.<span style=""> </span>The massive corpse was a monument to his determination to survive, and his willingness to kill any devil that tried to stop him.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Haynes approached the body and began examining appendages.<span style=""> </span>The massive fore claws were obviously too large to be of use to him.<span style=""> </span>They massed as much as he did.<span style=""> </span>Each leg segment was at least as tall as Noah.<span style=""> </span>They were likewise useless.<span style=""> </span>Then he noticed the smaller second set of claws.<span style=""> </span>They projected from below the primary claws, tiny mockeries of the two massive engines of destruction.<span style=""> </span>Tiny being relative.<span style=""> </span>The foremost segment of each claw was a yard long and wickedly curved.<span style=""> </span>The outer edge of each was razor sharp.<span style=""> </span>Haynes smiled.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>With a little work one claw came free.<span style=""> </span>The second followed soon after.<span style=""> </span>Halfway along each massive digit was a large spur that had been part of the joint.<span style=""> </span>They made good handholds.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Noah hefted his new weapons.<span style=""> </span>They were lighter than he expected.<span style=""> </span>Not too light, though.<span style=""> </span>They reminded Noah of his high school days, when he would hurl himself into any martial art he could find a teacher for.<span style=""> </span>He’d spent a lot of time with tonfa in his hands.<span style=""> </span>It was just like old times, except bigger and sharper.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i style="">I just killed a hundred long foot mantis with a pair of sharp rocks.<span style=""> </span>I can raze Hell with these.<span style=""> </span>Or a hell, anyway.</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Despite his momentary jubilation, Noah knew his best chance for survival was to stay hidden.<span style=""> </span>The lesser devils would probably go to ground if they thought something of this size was on the move, but it was only a matter of time before someone realized the titan was dead.<span style=""> </span>He didn’t want to be there when the scavengers showed up.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Thick, cord-like tendons had pulled out of the forelimbs along with the claws.<span style=""> </span>Haynes evaluated this material, and decided it was the best rope substitute he would find.<span style=""> </span>He fashioned a lanyard for each of his blades, and placed a length of the sinew into his bag.<span style=""> </span>As he worked, he noticed something odd.<span style=""> </span>Beneath the thick layer of red dust, there seemed to be a faint design on his right trouser leg.<span style=""> </span>Noah started to brush away the dust to view it more clearly, but then decided to leave it for another time when he wasn’t being chased by corporeal manifestations of negative emotions.<span style=""> </span>Or whatever the hell they were.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i style="">Another question to ask Death when I get out of here.<span style=""> </span>I should be making a list.<span style=""> </span>Maybe the next devil I see will have a pen attached to his tail.<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Noah slipped his hands through his newly made weapon straps and began to walk.<span style=""> </span>He moved away from the area where he had started his journey.<span style=""> </span>Away from the cave with the corpse at the bottom.<span style=""> </span>Away from the field of slaughter.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Time passed.<span style=""> </span>Noah couldn’t tell how much.<span style=""> </span>He didn’t need sleep, and there was no night or dawn here, only twilight.<span style=""> </span>He moved carefully, using the terrain to hide his movement and climbing to scout for opposition.<span style=""> </span>He spotted the occasional devil, but he evaded notice.<span style=""> </span>He resisted the urge to fight, even though the weight of the twin blades and at times even his own body screamed at him to do so.<span style=""> </span>Combat wasted time and made noise.<span style=""> </span>Haynes could afford neither.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Devils seemed to be becoming more common.<span style=""> </span>At first Noah thought he could had just wandered into a more populous area, that he could just double back and travel through a less popular area.<span style=""> </span>But the area behind him was also noticeably busier than when he had passed through it.<span style=""> </span>The devils were becoming more active.<span style=""> </span>Or there were more of them. The devils were also larger than before.<span style=""> </span>Once Noah worried when he saw anything larger than a big dog.<span style=""> </span>Now most of the devils were man sized.<span style=""> </span>It didn’t bode well.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="">I’ve got to come up with a new strategy.<span style=""> </span>Roaming like this was fine when there were only a one to an acre, but I can’t evade them if the keep concentrating in this area.<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Then the situation changed completely.<span style=""> </span>Noah had been traveling along a shallow, wide canyon when he came to a sharp turn.<span style=""> </span>Peaking around the corner he saw a sight that would fuel his nightmares for years to come.<span style=""> </span>The canyon expanded out into a basin, and on the floor of that basin was a pack of devils.<span style=""> </span>A pack of devils and one young woman.</p>Eric Mavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030679716404828710noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4040012936895729330.post-67525632487305458402007-10-08T19:25:00.000-07:002008-07-01T11:26:41.137-07:00Wanderer: Exodus 3<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span> The blood was already drying as Noah climbed out of the cave.<span style=""> </span>He listened for several moments at the mouth of the cave.<span style=""> </span>No monster broke the silence.<span style=""> </span>It was only a matter of time, though.<span style=""> </span>Even if they hadn’t heard the struggle, the smell of the corpse at the bottom of the hole was bound to attract notice eventually.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="">Best to be gone when that happens.<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Noah climbed out of the hole and looked around.<span style=""> </span>The landscape was still deserted as far as he could see.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i style="">Time for some more recon.<span style=""> </span>Let’s hope it goes better than last time.<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Noah began to climb again.<span style=""> </span>He reached the apex faster than he expected.<span style=""> </span>He tensed as he surveyed the plateau’s summit.<span style=""> </span>It was blessedly empty.<span style=""> </span>From his vantage point Noah could identify several knots of devils, as well as a few large individual ones.<span style=""> </span>All were distant enough not to be an immediate concern.<span style=""> </span>On the other side of the plateau, on the plain that had become a butcher’s floor, there was no sign of the strife that had stained the rocky sands dark.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i style="">These guys sure don’t like to spend time out in the open.<span style=""> </span>Can’t say I blame them.</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Noah heard claws scrape against rock and spun around.<span style=""> </span>Climbing onto the plateau was some sort of large flightless bird that hadn’t quite made the jump from dinosaur to avian.<span style=""> </span>It stood four feet tall, with a pair of wicked claws on its wings, and four more on each foot.<span style=""> </span>The saurian bird let out an odd clattering yell from a throat covered with both feathers and scales and then lunged at Noah.<span style=""> </span>He dodged to the side.<span style=""> </span>They circled, the bird squawking and snapping its beak at Noah.<span style=""> </span>Finally, it committed to a strike.<span style=""> </span>Noah slipped to the side and grabbed the bird by its long neck.<span style=""> </span>Before it could bring its claws into use, Haynes twisted until he heard a snap. <span style=""> </span>The bird went as limp as the weasel.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i style="">That’s two for the away team.<span style=""> </span>I didn’t even get dirty with this one.</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Noah looked around.<span style=""> </span>He thought he’d avoided detection, but then he saw it.<span style=""> </span>It was awesome.<span style=""> </span>It was terrible.<span style=""> </span>It rose up from the land, sand pouring off of its carapace like water.<span style=""> </span>It looked like a crimson mantis, but its head was longer, and it had two sets of fore claws.<span style=""> </span>It turned and regarded Noah with one multifaceted eye, and then the other.<span style=""> </span>He started running when it took the first step towards him.<span style=""> </span>Footsteps rang like sledge hammers falling one after another.<span style=""> </span>This thing was impossible.<span style=""> </span>It was the size of a house.<span style=""> </span>Noah had ridden in aircraft smaller than this thing.<span style=""> </span>The only direction Noah could run was towards the valley where he’d seen the dead men.<span style=""> </span>The other sides of the plateau were too steep.<span style=""> </span>Noah hurtled over the ridge and tucked into a roll.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>He came up unharmed and started to run.<span style=""> </span>The monstrous insectoid’s head appeared above the plateau.<span style=""> </span>It had been at least a football field away only a moment ago.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i style="">This thing’s too fast.<span style=""> </span>Gotta come up with a plan B.<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Noah ran through an arch in a rock wall and took a hard left.<span style=""> </span>Winding along the wall was a steep path leading upwards.<span style=""> </span>Haynes took it as high as he could and then climbed up over the arch.<span style=""> </span>When the monster came through the opening, it stopped and looked around quizzically.<span style=""> </span>Haynes pulled two jagged rocks from his bag and steeled himself.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i style="">God help me if I screw this up.<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Noah leapt from his perch onto the beasts flattened abdomen.<span style=""> </span>It was like hitting the ground.<span style=""> </span>The impact didn’t even phase the monstrous devil.<span style=""> </span>It turned its head to glare at him with one eye, but that’s as far as it could turn.<span style=""> </span>Its arms couldn’t reach its back.<span style=""> </span>Before it could try and throw him off, Noah ran along its carapace and started climbing its back.<span style=""> </span>The monster thrashed back and forth.<span style=""> </span>It almost dislodged him.<span style=""> </span>But Haynes reached its head.<span style=""> </span>He wrapped his legs around the mantis’s shoulders, then slipped a sharp stone into either hand and stabbed them into either eye of the monster.<span style=""> </span>There was a hellish shriek, and Noah was hurled clear of the beast.<span style=""> </span>It was a miracle he didn’t break any bones.<span style=""> </span>The beast fell to the sand and moved no more.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Noah rolled to his feet and stared at the carcass.<span style=""> </span>It somehow seemed more massive now that it was dead. It didn't seem possible that he had killed it.<span style=""></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i style="">Just when I was starting to believe this was going to be easy, they break out the giant insect demons.<span style=""> </span>Death and I are having a long chat about travel destinations next time I see her.<o:p></o:p></i></p>Eric Mavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030679716404828710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4040012936895729330.post-25985834790300032652007-10-07T21:18:00.001-07:002008-07-01T11:23:10.134-07:00Wanderer: Exodus 2<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Haynes ducked back out of sight.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="">Okay.<span style=""> </span>That may have been the worst thing I’ve ever seen.</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span> Noah considered the implications of the scene on the plain as he tasted bile.<span style=""> </span>Who were those people?<span style=""> </span>Why were they there? <span style=""> </span>How did they get there?<span style=""> </span>Were the candidates like Noah?<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>Did they come as a group?<span style=""> </span>Were there other people there? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i style="">I won’t find any answers here.<span style=""> </span>Time to move.<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span> Noah risked one last peek over the ridge.<span style=""> </span>The fighting had died down.<span style=""> </span>Rags that might have once been similar to Noah’s clothing lay bloodstained on the ground.<span style=""> </span>He couldn’t see the bodies.<span style=""> </span>Noah wasn’t sure he wanted to.<span style=""> </span>The devils started to disperse.<span style=""> </span>Most headed towards the mouth of the valley plain.<span style=""> </span>A few clusters of nightmares headed back towards the ridge.<span style=""> </span>Back towards Noah.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span> Noah moved away from the ridge and walked around the other edges of the plateau, looking down.<span style=""> </span>He saw an outcropping that looked like it might conceal him.<span style=""> </span>He started to descend.<span style=""> </span>Under the outcropping he found a small cave.<span style=""> </span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Providence</st1:place></st1:city> had smiled.<span style=""> </span>Noah slid into the cave and hoped nobody was home.<span style=""> </span>The opening was only two feet wide, and the cave narrowed as it angled down into the cliff. <span style=""> </span>It was dark, but it was dry and unoccupied, and anything coming down the cliff should miss it completely.<span style=""> </span>Unless they were looking for it.<span style=""> </span>Unless they lived there.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Several sharp stones broke off from the cave walls as Noah climbed into his hole.<span style=""> </span>He noticed this mostly because he broke them off with his shins.<span style=""> </span>When he reached the bottom he collected a few of the stones.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>A couple looked like they’d make good tools.<span style=""> </span>One felt especially good in his hand.<span style=""> </span>If felt almost like a real knife.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="">I’m in a cave in the middle of unfamiliar enemy territory, and I’m happy I found a rock.<span style=""> </span>I need to take a long hard look at my afterlife when I get out of here.<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Noah half stood, half lay a few yards from the mouth of the cave.<span style=""> </span>The walls at the bottom didn’t seem to hold any recesses or passages.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">He heard scrabbling and rocks falling along the cliff.<span style=""> </span>It sounded like several somethings were climbing down the cliff.<span style=""> </span>A silhouette passed the cave.<span style=""> </span>Noah tensed, holding his knife-rock like a blade.<span style=""> </span>A second devil passed.<span style=""> </span>Noah sat in the dark, one shadow among many.<span style=""> </span>A tiny, frightened shadow clutching a pitiful weapon.<span style=""> </span>Several terror-filled moments passed.<span style=""> </span>The world was silent.<span style=""> </span>Then came the sound of claws on stone.<span style=""> </span>A triangular head appeared at the mouth of the cave.<span style=""> </span>The bestial devil chattered with a mouth that was all teeth, then hurled itself into the rock burrow.<span style=""> </span>It hurtled towards Noah like a hellish missile.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Haynes reacted without thinking.<span style=""> </span>He crouched down and then lunged towards the creature.<span style=""> </span>His empty hand shot forward and grabbed the thing by the side of the head and slammed it into the cave wall.<span style=""> </span>A vicious stab pierced one eye and went into its brain.<span style=""> </span>His assailant went limp.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Noah held in his hands the corpse of a weasel the size of a German shepherd.<span style=""> </span>The fur was a rich purple where it wasn’t stained blue with blood. <span style=""> </span>The same blood that stained Noah’s hands.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Noah was an accomplished close combatant.<span style=""> </span>He had trained in several martial arts in high school.<span style=""> </span>In the marines he’d been the best unarmed fighter in his platoon, and no one snuck up on him while he was holding a knife.<span style=""> </span>In a few years he could have been teaching unarmed combat at a police academy.<span style=""> </span>But he’d never killed anything with his bare hands before.<span style=""> </span>He expected to feel nauseous, or horrified, or at least shocked.<span style=""> </span>Instead Noah only felt a new sense of determination.<span style=""> </span>This world held many horrors.<span style=""> </span>But those horrors were made of flesh and bone.<span style=""> </span>They knew pain, and they knew death.<span style=""> </span>Haynes would bring these nightmares both.</p>Eric Mavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030679716404828710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4040012936895729330.post-71523644957611472952007-09-22T23:19:00.000-07:002008-07-01T11:20:19.413-07:00Wanderer: Exodus 1<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span> Noah Haynes looked across the jagged, scarlet terrain.<span style=""> </span>Ragged plateaus and worn cliffs jutted from the rocky sand.<span style=""> </span>The entire landscape was a deep menacing red.<span style=""> </span>It looked as if the Martian planetscape had sired a child with one of the desert national parks of the American west.<span style=""> </span>The sky was the ugly blackish purple of a half healed bruise.<span style=""> </span>A nasty orange sun sat in the angry sky.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">There was no smell of sulphur.<span style=""> </span>There was no fire.<span style=""> </span>There was just the empty landscape and the faint stench of fear and rotting meat that seemed to emanate from the ground itself.<span style=""> </span>Nothing moved.<span style=""> </span>Nothing lived. <span style=""> </span>No birds flew the unfriendly sky.<span style=""> </span>No animals traveled across the shattered wasteland.<span style=""> </span>No plants grow from the broken ground. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i style="">How long will I have to stay here?<span style=""> </span>What will I eat?<span style=""> </span>Do I even need to eat?<span style=""> </span>Great questions to ask Death, Noah.</i><span style=""> </span>He berated himself.<span style=""> </span><i style="">Way to walk into this prepared.<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span> Noah still didn’t see anything that looked like a devil, or much of anything else.<span style=""> </span>As he examined his surroundings, he realized how difficult equipment would be to find.<span style=""> </span>There was no wood.<span style=""> </span>He hadn’t found any flint.<span style=""> </span>So far the only useful thing he’d found were several small round rocks, ideal for throwing.<span style=""> </span>He slipped them into his bag.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Noah needed to find the enemy.<span style=""> </span>Without intelligence on their movements, he’d be too likely to walk into an ambush.<span style=""> </span>There was a small plateau behind him.<span style=""> </span>Haynes started to climb.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center">*<span style=""> </span>*<span style=""> </span>*</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>The heat was oppressive, but Haynes didn’t thirst.<span style=""> </span>He’d been climbing for an hour, but his muscles didn’t ache.<span style=""> </span>He hadn’t eaten in recent memory, but he didn’t hunger.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i style="">So far, death is a lot like life without the distractions.</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span> He reached the top of the plateau.<span style=""> </span>The summit was as deserted as its base had been.<span style=""> </span>The other side of the plateau was les steep, and dropped into a dry, barren plain.<span style=""> </span>Noah suddenly realized why he hadn’t seen any life before now.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span style=""> </span>Everybody’s at the party.</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span> More than a hundred nightmares roared and gibbered below him.<span style=""> </span>Some were bizarre mockeries of the human form.<span style=""> </span>Others were more bestial or insect like.<span style=""> </span>More than a few looked like they had drug themselves out of a pit of rejected Lovecraft stories, all slimy tentacles and rubbery bodies.<span style=""> </span>Most of the devils seemed to be fighting over something, or watching others fight.<span style=""> </span>Noah’s blood ran cold.<span style=""> </span>Not because of the monsters that strove below him on the crowded plain.<span style=""> </span>He’d expected worse.<span style=""> </span>But Noah had just gotten a good look at what was in the middle of one of the battles.<span style=""> </span>It was a severed human head, partially stripped of flesh.</p>Eric Mavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030679716404828710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4040012936895729330.post-42434352683635136492007-09-20T21:20:00.001-07:002008-07-01T11:18:07.831-07:00Wanderer: Genesis 4<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Excuse me,” Noah Haynes said, staring at his new acquaintance levelly.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>“I think I’ve misunderstood you.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Did you just say you’re chucking me into Hell?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Yes,” Death replied, avoiding his gaze.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>“A hell.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Part of a hell.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>One of the upper levels of a hell.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>It’s not the death sentence it seems.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I’ve seen beings come out of worse places.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Oh, well that’s different then,” Haynes retorted angrily.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>“As long as its one of the nicer hells.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I’m sure it’s lovely this time of year. I don’t suppose you’ll be coming with me on this one, Virgil?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Virgil?” Death looked puzzled.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>“Oh.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Right.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Dante.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I’m sorry.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>This isn’t my fault.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I wish I could help you.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>But you must be tested.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>There are rules for this sort of thing.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“What sort of thing is that?” Haynes demanded. “I still don’t know what you people want from me.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“I’m sorry, I can’t tell you anything else.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>You will understand in time. <span style="font-size:0;"> </span>For now, please trust me.”<span style="font-size:0;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“So I’m supposed to march into Hell,” Haynes growled “Fight who knows how many demons, and then accomplish whatever else your bosses come up with while I’m down there, all for the privilege of doing a job I never applied for and don’t even know the most basic information about. <span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Is that what you’re telling me?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">“I’m sorry,” Death replied despondently.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>“There’s nothing I can do.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">Noah’s face softened.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><i>She feels wretched about this, you bastard.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Do you have to make it worse for her?<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“No, I’m sorry,” he relented.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>“I know this isn’t your fault.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>You’re just a convenient target for my frustration.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Let’s not dwell on unpleasantness,” Death smiled weakly.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>“Your life is going to be difficult enough for the next few days without worrying about my feelings.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Now, let us be on with it.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“I’m going to send you to another plane in a few moments.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>It doesn’t matter what it’s called.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>It’s not mythos based.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>It’s just one of the sinkholes of nastiness that pop up in the Aether.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Once there, you will have to survive.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>That’s all.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>You don’t have to conquer it.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>You don’t have to take a castle, or hold a ridge, or retrieve an artifact.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>You can hide in a cave for the entire time and never have to face a single devil.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:0;"></span>“Do you think that would work?” Noah asked hopefully.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“It never has before.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>We’ve lost some very promising candidates that way.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:0;"></span>“As promising as me?” Noah replied with a smile.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“Several.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>None of them were as irritating, if that’s any consolation,” Death returned the smile.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>“I have one last thing to give you.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>A gift to help you on your way.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:0;"></span>“You said you weren’t allowed to help me.”</p><p class="MsoNormal">“The rules allow me certain liberties.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I can’t give you any item that would help you directly,” she explained, “but this shouldn’t cause anyone to complain too loudly.”<span style="font-size:0;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">She produced a small satchel, a canvas hunting bag, and handed it to Haynes.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:0;"></span>“It’s not much, but-</p><p class="MsoNormal">“Thank you,” Noah interrupted. “These pants don’t have any pockets, and I hate not being able to carry gear with me.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>You never know when something might come in handy.”</p><p class="MsoNormal">Death set her shoulders.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>“It is time.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>To delay further risks more than you can imagine.”<span style="font-size:0;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">With a gesture, she called forth the blue-white scythe and slashed another hole in reality.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>It was an ugly red scar against the grassy hills of paradise.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:0;"></span>“Step forward, candidate, and face your labor,” she commanded, suddenly all business.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Don’t wish me luck.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Not like I’m walking into almost certain doom, or anything,” Haynes retorted.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>He stepped through the gate, wondering what was on the other side and how it would try to kill him.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:0;"></span>The portal closed, and Death cast a melancholy gaze upon where it had been.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:0;"></span>“Take care, Noah Haynes.”</p>Eric Mavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030679716404828710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4040012936895729330.post-78117737017288148372007-09-17T19:55:00.000-07:002008-07-01T11:12:46.620-07:00Wanderer: Genesis 3<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“Gwaah!” Noah observed emphatically as he was hurled from the rent in space. <span style=""> </span>He rolled as he hit the grass covered ground.<span style=""> </span>The trip had been instantaneous, but it had felt like something had kicked field goals with his organs during that time.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">Okay, maybe this isn’t a bullet induced fever dream.<span style=""> </span>I certainly couldn’t have imagined </i>that<i style="">. <span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">His mysterious guide slid through the rapidly closing gate as Haynes got to his feet unsteadily. <span style=""> </span>The specter regarded him thoughtfully</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“I suppose a warning would have been appropriate. <span style=""> </span>I’ve heard that this particular form of travel can be somewhat unpleasant.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Haynes glared at the mysterious nuisance that had come into his life.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Okay, we’re here.<span style=""> </span>Explain.” </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Give a woman time to take her coat off, would you?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Before Noah could frame a question, she did just that. <span style=""> </span>With a flourish, the figure flung the cloak into nothingness.<span style=""> </span>Where once stood a shapeless phantasm now stood a fair, red haired woman. <span style=""> </span>She was clad in a gown of royal purple velvet that wouldn’t have been out of place in a medieval festival. <span style=""> </span>She stood shorter than Noah’s six feet and a hair, but only just. <span style=""> </span>Fastened to her gown was a brooch in the shape of a harp.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Huh.<span style=""> </span>Death is an Irish chick,” Noah remarked. <span style=""> </span>“Guess you were half right, Neil.” <span style=""> </span>Her quick change made him conscious of his own clothing. <span style=""> </span>Rather than the office dress plainclothes he had been wearing on the stakeout he was now dressed in a white T-shirt and odd, pocketless grey pants that seemed to be made from a canvas like material.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“I’m glad you’ve finally caught on to the situation,” Death said as she folded her hands in front of her. <span style=""> </span>“Now, I believe I owe you an explanation.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“You are dead.<span style=""> </span>I’m terribly sorry, but there’s no other way to tell you that. <span style=""> </span>The wound you received during your battle was very severe.<span style=""> </span>It should have been debilitating.<span style=""> </span>We’re all amazed you managed to get to that church.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“There you go using that word again.<span style=""> </span>Who’s we?”<span style=""> </span>Haynes demanded.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“We refers to myself and others who are concerned with maintaining balance within the cosmos,” she replied. “That explanation will have to suffice for now.<span style=""> </span>Now please stop interrupting me. <span style=""> </span>There is still much you need to know.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“These are the Elysian Fields, the final resting place of great heroes. <span style=""> </span>It is a convenient place to stop while I explain why you are here.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“We have been watching you for a very long time. <span style=""> </span>Your courage and tenacity do you credit. <span style=""> </span>You have been chosen to undertake a journey.”<span style=""> </span>She stopped for a moment, as if reluctant to speak.<span style=""> </span>“You will be tested to your breaking point.<span style=""> </span>You will experience things that have driven men mad.<span style=""> </span>Should you fail, you will be cast into oblivion.<span style=""> </span>There is nothing I can do to stop that.<span style=""> </span>But if you succeed, you shall become a champion of justice, a bastion against both chaos and tyranny.<span style=""> </span>You will be given power unimaginable.<span style=""> </span>You will have to master it and yourself. <span style=""> </span>For now, however, you merely have to survive.” Again she hesitates. <span style=""> </span>“I’m afraid that won’t be an easy task.<span style=""> </span>My instructions are very clear.<span style=""> </span>There is very little I can do to aid you.<span style=""> </span>I am sorry.”<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“You make it sound like I’ll be stepping into hell,” Noah said, concern in his voice.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">For a moment she looked as if she’d been struck. <span style=""> </span>Then Death’s fair features turned downcast. <span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“You will be.”</p>Eric Mavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030679716404828710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4040012936895729330.post-33431983782976452982007-09-16T21:51:00.000-07:002008-07-01T11:09:37.252-07:00Wanderer: Genesis 2<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Noah Haynes stood in an infinite blackness, occupied only by himself and a specter wearing a heavy hooded cloak.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i style="">Am I dead?<span style=""> </span>Did that bastard Jones actually kill me?<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“Who’s we?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“You have questions.<span style=""> </span>That is understandable,” the cloaked figure intoned.<span style=""> </span>It’s voice filled the entire space around between them, but sounded terribly hollow.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“I just asked one,” Haynes replied pointedly, staring coldly at the unidentified figure.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“Calm yourself,” the phantasm soothed.<span style=""> </span>“Everything will be explained to you in due time.<span style=""> </span>But first-”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“Now seems like a pretty good time to me.”<span style=""> </span>Haynes interrupted.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“You certainly are a willful one, Noah Haynes.<span style=""> </span>This intractability could prove to be a problem,” the figure remarked.<span style=""> </span>Haynes could <i style="">hear</i> the smirk behind the comment.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“I’m a lot more agreeable when people don't dodge my questions,” Haynes replied peevishly.<span style=""> </span>“Who are you?<span style=""> </span>Where are we?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“I will answer all of your questions momentarily, but we must vacate this place immediately.”<span style=""> </span>The specter urged.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“How do I know I can trust you?<span style=""> </span>I don’t know where we are.<span style=""> </span>This could all just be playing out in my subconscious.<span style=""> </span>I just collapsed from blood loss.<span style=""> </span>This could be a response to a near death experience.”<span style=""> </span>Noah had been near death once before, though he didn’t remember anything like this. <span style=""> </span>Back when he was with the Corps, he’d taken a bullet in the leg saving his squad.<span style=""> </span>He’d almost bled to death.<span style=""> </span>That was what eventually led him to leave the military and join the police academy.<span style=""> </span>If he was going to die, he wanted to do it on American soil.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>The figure chuckled.<span style=""> </span>It was the most unsettling thing Noah had ever heard.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“You are not having a near death experience.<span style=""> </span>Although I suppose you could say you are having a near Death experience.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Noah cocked his head to the side quizzically.<span style=""> </span>The shadow-person had somehow pronounced capitalization in that last sentence.<span style=""> </span>He suspected his original assessment might actually be right.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“This place will not last much longer,” the figure admonished.<span style=""> </span>“I must carry you to the other side, before your link to the Mather collapses, and you are lost.”<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“What’s a Mather?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“What you call the universe, in your narrow definition of the term,” the specter replied haughtily.<span style=""> </span>“I can waste no more time.<span style=""> </span>Please accompany me.<span style=""> </span>Dragging you into the next world would be unseemly.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Maybe I’d be a bit more cooperative if you dropped the boogey man bit,” Haynes retorted.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=""> </span>“I realize my appearance may seem odd, but it is absolutely necessary for the completion of my mission,” the figure explained.<span style=""> </span>“I promise you that once we cross over my appearance will be more amiable.<span style=""> </span>Now I must ask you to decide.”<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Haynes eyed her suspiciously for a moment.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Alright.<span style=""> </span>But only because it doesn’t look like I’ve got anywhere else to go.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Excellent.”<span style=""> </span>Without further preamble, the specter turned and shifted its posture slightly.<span style=""> </span>From within the folds of the cloak burst forth a blue white arc of light, curving slightly backwards towards the specter before jutting out into a facsimile of a wickedly curved blade.<span style=""> </span>The light blade slashed downward, cutting the darkness.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="">A scythe?</i> Noah wondered.<span style=""> </span><i style="">Are we being this clichéd?</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">The blade left a rent in the darkness in its wake.<span style=""> </span>This laceration seemed to hemorrhage light.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Please enter,” the figure requested.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Please, you first.<span style=""> </span>I insist,” Haynes replied.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“I’m afraid that isn’t possible”</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Age before beauty,” Noah retorted, grinning and gesturing towards the glowing portal.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">The figure sighed, then stared directly at its seemingly impossible charge and gestured forcefully towards the portal.<span style=""> </span>Noah was hurled past the unearthly threshold.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Or not.<span style=""> </span>That works too.”</p>Eric Mavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030679716404828710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4040012936895729330.post-53412329492397369312007-09-14T14:55:00.000-07:002008-07-01T11:07:06.819-07:00Wanderer: Genesis 1<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"> The night had been damp. <span style=""> </span>It was that odd time when day had not begun to return to the world, but one can no long delude oneself into believing the night had not passed.<span style=""> </span>Light from the occasional functioning street lamp glinted off of puddles.<span style=""> </span>Officer Noah Haynes sprinted through the rain slick streets as a hound after a fox.<span style=""> </span>His quarry was no fox.<span style=""> </span>It was a murderer.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span> Randal Jones had been a small timer, a two bit street pusher with a smart mouth and a thick skull.<span style=""> </span>He’d been Haynes’s first arrest out of the academy.<span style=""> </span>Jones dropped a dime on a bigger fish, and he got to walk, like every time the police leaned on him.<span style=""> </span>The department had long ago written him off as relatively harmless.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Then he found a fallen drug lord's stash.<span style=""> </span>He suddenly had a truckload of uncut blow, three crates of black market weapons, and $50,000 dollars cash.<span style=""> </span>It had been meant as an emergency depot, but when the cops dropped the hammer on Cal Apone, no one else had been able to claim it.<span style=""> </span>His trusted lieutenants had all been killed, and he couldn’t arrange anything from inside a maximum security prison.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Once he realized what he had, Jones swung into action.<span style=""> </span>Rather than dumping the whole thing and retiring to a private island somewhere, the slime had started building a criminal empire.<span style=""> </span>Classic Jones.<span style=""> </span>Clever, but stupid.<span style=""> </span>Never knew when to put his skin before his ego.<span style=""> </span>He always wanted to be the big man.<span style=""> </span>Now he could.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">It took Jones less than a year to claw his way to the top of the local heap.<span style=""> </span>He stood atop a mountain of corpses.<span style=""> </span>Gang bangers.<span style=""> </span>Junkies.<span style=""> </span>Prostitutes.<span style=""> </span>Rival gang lords.<span style=""> </span>The old lady from upstairs who tried to borrow a cup of sugar at the wrong time.<span style=""> </span>Jones didn’t discriminate.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">As his body count rose, so did his priority within the department.<span style=""> </span>The case against him was a few months from being completed.<span style=""> </span>Then Jones slammed home the final nail in his own coffin.<span style=""> </span>He killed a cop.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Lieutenant John Moore had been Noah’s partner since the younger had joined the force.<span style=""> </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Moore</st1:city></st1:place> was forty-eight with more paunch than in his younger days, but he was a good cop and a good partner.<span style=""> </span>He shouldn’t have died.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">It was a stake out.<span style=""> </span>It should have been routine.<span style=""> </span>Somebody’d tipped off Jones.<span style=""> </span>Just after the third hour of waiting a pipe bomb had rolled under their patrol car.<span style=""> </span>The two had gotten out in time, but Noah had a concussion.<span style=""> </span>Blood dripped into his eye from a deep cut on his brow.<span style=""> </span>John was barely dusty.<span style=""> </span>He threw Haynes behind a parked car and took cover with him.<span style=""> </span>The bomber had already disappeared, but a black SUV pulled up.<span style=""> </span>They’d spotted the pair get free of the car.<span style=""> </span>They parked in the middle of the street, and five men with automatic weapons stepped out.<span style=""> </span>Randal Jones was one of them.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“You might as well make it easy on yaselves,” he’d said.<span style=""> </span>“We got ya’s outmanned and outgunned.<span style=""> </span>This is what you get for pickin’ on me all those years, Moore.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">John had told them they were under arrest.<span style=""> </span>When they didn’t drop their guns, he shot one of them to death and wounded another before they could respond.<span style=""> </span>Noah fired several shots, but head trauma makes for poor marksmanship.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">The thugs unloaded on full auto.<span style=""> </span>Flashy and stupid, but one bullet managed to graze Noah’s temple.<span style=""> </span>He dropped.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Moore</st1:place></st1:city> took out the last two thugs expertly, and then stood from cover when Jones ran dry.<span style=""> </span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Moore</st1:place></st1:city> told the criminal to freeze.<span style=""> </span>Jones went for his pistol anyway.<span style=""> </span>As he pulled his weapon from his coat, John fired.<span style=""> </span>The shot hit Jones in the left shoulder.<span style=""> </span>But the veteran officer’s gun jammed.<span style=""> </span>Jones staggered for a moment and then took advantage of the opportunity.<span style=""> </span>He emptied his pistol into Lieutenant Moore.<span style=""> </span>Noah could only lie stunned and bleeding as his friend fell dying to the cold pavement.<span style=""> </span>Jones sped off in the SUV, and backup arrived a minute later.<span style=""> </span>Two minutes too late.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">The city gave John Moore a hero’s burial.<span style=""> </span>The mayor gave a speech.<span style=""> </span>There were floral wreaths and a shiny posthumous medal for valor.<span style=""> </span>But it was still a burial.<span style=""> </span>That’s the problem with a hero’s farewell.<span style=""> </span>You need a corpse.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Less than a month later and Noah Haynes was chasing down his most hated of enemies.<span style=""> </span>He’d gotten lucky, and Jones had gotten stupid.<span style=""> </span>There was a cherry Randal was fond of, a whore who lived for her next fix.<span style=""> </span>He always went to her alone.<span style=""> </span>He was afraid someone would use her against him.<span style=""> </span>He was right.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Jones would slip back to this apartment whenever he could spare a moment.<span style=""> </span>It was a sleazy part of town.<span style=""> </span>Randal liked sleaze.<span style=""> </span>Jones wasn’t completely stupid.<span style=""> </span>He’d managed to spot Haynes and take off before he got busted.<span style=""> </span>So now it was a footrace.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Winding through the back alleys, Noah wondered idly if he was being led into an ambush.<span style=""> </span>He wondered if he cared.<span style=""> </span>When he reported spotting Jones, the dispatcher told to wait for backup.<span style=""> </span>Hell to that.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="">The radio jockey doesn’t have to look John’s widow in the face and tell her Jones got away again.<span style=""> </span>No more escapes.<span style=""> </span>This ends.</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Kelly Moore was the only person who had taken the loss harder than Noah.<span style=""> </span>John had been the only thing keeping her going after their son had disowned them for his “new family.”<span style=""> </span>He said the people at the Gay and <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Lesbian</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Center</st1:placetype></st1:place> understood him better than a pair of useless old people could.<span style=""> </span>Now Kelly had lost the only other family she had.<span style=""> </span>Noah didn’t care who Daniel bedded, but once this Jones business was done he was going to have a serious talk with the kid about the pain he’d caused John and Kelly.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Noah was gaining on Jones.<span style=""> </span>Fury and superior conditioning allowed him to erode the distance between them.<span style=""> </span>Only Jones’s knowledge of the area’s back alleys had kept him ahead, allowing him to duck under fences and dart through obstacles Haynes had to climb over.<span style=""> </span>Even that was just delaying the inevitable.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Jones rounded a corner and realized he was done.<span style=""> </span>The alley was a dead end.<span style=""> </span>No chain link fence to climb over.<span style=""> </span>No dumpster to boost himself.<span style=""> </span>Just a brick wall.<span style=""> </span>He spun and saw Haynes come around the corner.<span style=""> </span>They both went for their guns.<span style=""> </span>Jones had a head start and came up with his first, but not quickly enough.<span style=""> </span>His aim was wild, and his only hits didn’t stop Haynes.<span style=""> </span>Noah’s three shots ravaged his circulatory system, piercing heart and lungs.<span style=""> </span>He fell to the ground, as good as dead.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Noah fell to one knee.<span style=""> </span>The wound hadn’t taken him out of the fight, but there was a hole in one of his kidney’s that was leaking fast.<span style=""> </span>He called in his location, though he knew he would be dead by the time help arrived.<span style=""> </span>At least he’d gotten Jones.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i style="">I won’t let it end like this.<span style=""> </span>I’m not dying next to a scumbag in some filthy alleyway.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>His eyes managed to focus on the building across the street.<span style=""> </span>A small chapel lay perfectly centered in his field of vision.<span style=""> </span>Probably there wasn’t even anyone there this time of morning.<span style=""> </span>But it was someplace.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i style="">I die on </i>my<i style=""> terms.<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Applying pressure to his wound as best he could, Noah dragged himself upright and staggered towards the church.<span style=""> </span>The sanctuary was unlocked.<span style=""> </span>Noah collapsed in the middle of the aisle.<span style=""> </span>Through rapidly tunneling vision he saw an incredibly surprised priest.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“Sorry about this, father,” was all Noah could manage before his injuries took him.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Noah came to awareness in an infinite darkness.<span style=""> </span>He could see himself perfectly, but everything else was like a starless sky, black and empty.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“Noah Haynes.<span style=""> </span>We have need of you.” <span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>He rolled onto his back and saw a figure wearing a hooded cloak</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Noah rolled to his feet and smiled slightly.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Who’s we?” </p>Eric Mavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030679716404828710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4040012936895729330.post-30765730472111005562007-09-06T20:41:00.000-07:002008-07-01T10:58:54.186-07:00Wanderer: Prelude<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=""> </span>The wind stirred dust on the abandoned street.<span style=""> </span>Nothing moved within the ruined house fronts.<span style=""> </span>The civilians had abandoned this neighborhood during the fighting.<span style=""> </span>Mixed among the rubble were erect and semi-erect homes, some perfectly unscathed.<span style=""> </span>Every few feet there would be a fragment of a former life.<span style=""> </span>A bent spoon.<span style=""> </span>An overturned chair.<span style=""> </span>A doll.<span style=""> </span>War was funny that way.<span style=""> </span>Funny as only wholesale tragedy illustrated on an individual level could be.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=""> </span>This was the last patrol of the day.<span style=""> </span>The squad had broken camp before dawn, and had been moving ever since.<span style=""> </span>No enemy had engaged them all day.<span style=""> </span>Corporal Noah Haynes was tense.<span style=""> </span>He just wanted to finish the day and get his men back to base.<span style=""> </span>Every darkened window and shadowed crevasse held a potential sniper.<span style=""> </span>Every piece of litter on the road was a potential improvised explosive device.<span style=""> </span>Haynes’s world was made of threats and responses.<span style=""> </span>He walked along avenue with his squad like a man who expected the world to come crashing down on him at any moment.<span style=""> </span>His eyes watched every direction.<span style=""> </span>Suddenly a shadow in a far off window shifted.<span style=""> </span>The world erupted into violence.<span style=""> </span>Rifle fire erupted from in front of and behind the squad. <span style=""> </span>A dozen marines dove for whatever cover was available.<span style=""> </span>Hayne hunkered down behind an abandoned car.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><i style="">They didn’t set up on either side of the street.<span style=""> </span>Thank God for small miracles.</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">Haynes shouted orders and gestured quickly.<span style=""> </span>Reinforcements were five minutes away.<span style=""> </span>All he had to do was keep his men alive until then.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><i style="">There are only seven of them.<span style=""> </span>They’re poorly positioned.<span style=""> </span>You have adequate cover.<span style=""> </span>You can do this, Noah.</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">Then he saw the RPG sticking out of a second story window.<span style=""> </span>The gunner had perfect line of sight to take out half his squad.<span style=""> </span>The orders to hold position and return fire had just become a death sentence.<span style=""> </span>Most of the insurgent’s fire was focused on other positions.<span style=""> </span>Haynes turned to the two marines next to him.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">“Cover me,” he ordered.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">Before either could respond, he hurled himself around the smashed front end of the car and sprinted towards the window that held death for six of his men.<span style=""> </span>The sporadic patter fire from his squad became a torrent.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><i style="">Can’t get a clear shot at the gunner.<span style=""> </span>Have to be indirect.<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">After firing one last burst from his carbine, Haynes drew a grenade and pulled the pin.<span style=""> </span>A shooter who risked perforation let out a long burst.<span style=""> </span>Most of the shots went wild.<span style=""> </span>One didn’t.<span style=""> </span>A bullet tore thru Haynes’s lower leg, nicking the femoral artery. <span style=""> </span>Haynes tumbled forward and slammed into the street on his chest.<span style=""> </span>The fire from the walls slackened as Marine precision defeated preparation and zeal.<span style=""> </span>And the man with the rpg took aim at six men.<span style=""> </span>Six men Noah Haynes called brothers.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><i style="">Like Hell.<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">As a dark tunnel formed around his vision and his life’s blood stained the dusty streets, he rolled onto his back and hurled the grenade at the rocket wielding insurgent.<span style=""> </span>As his grip on the world slipped, Haynes saw fire explode from that window.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">The world went dark.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">Two figures stood over Haynes.<span style=""> </span>One was shrouded in light.<span style=""> </span>The other was cloaked in velvet.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">“Is he the one?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">“He certainly has the courage.<span style=""> </span>Time will tell if he has the will.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">Then there was nothing.</p>Eric Mavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030679716404828710noreply@blogger.com1