Pheonix (Archive)

[Toneh]

Ira:

The sound of loose dirt and rocks could be heard crunching from below Ira’s feet as his pace slowed and he paused. His helmet-covered head turned to his right and then sharply to his left. His rifle snapped up, and he slumped over and suddenly broke into a run aiming his rifle up, down, in front of him nervously. He said nothing, but pushed forward and slammed his shoulder and side into an ancient brick wall, and held his position waiting for his comrade to catch up with him.

It was a dark moonless night, but it most certainly was not a silent one. The screeches of predators assailing their prey could be heard, the pain filled squeals of prey being captured screeched through the night. Ira was breathing heavily. His dusty black armor heaved as he took in heavy breaths. His face could not be seen as a mask covered it, and a ruffled tube ran from the beak of the mask up his shoulder into his re-breather. The machine hummed softly, and then released a plume of mist with a satisfied hiss. Ira’s breathing slowed.

He turned and looked behind him, his eyes covered by pair of goggles that glowed through the darkness, allowing his vision the gift of seeing the blood bath in the city. He turned his head, and slowly leveled his massive MAC rifle around the corner of the brick wall. He took in the view, noting a decrepit highway, hollowed out buildings and a structure made of steel rods that slumped over. Dangling from the tower was a tattered sign, in amazingly good condition. The letters “Ph e x 5” could be seen. It meant nothing to Ira. Once he found what he needed here he could return to Rose and his makeshift squad, and finally get some rest. Of course the main reason he opted to go on this suicide run was the fact that he may not even return. This idea appealed to him.

Mathilda:


It hadn't been hard for her to sneak away from the campsite. The others hardly even noticed her existence, much less cared if she had wandered off into the beast- infested landscape. Most of them would even encourage it rather than have her around, and she really preferred it better that way. When they did pay any heed to her they were scrutinizing Mathilda’s every move with relentless suspicion. The only exceptions seemed to be the ANC Soldier that had saved her life not more than two nights ago and now a matronly woman who insisted on fussing over her as needlessly as if she were her own daughter. The lady now ran about like a chicken with her head cut off, seeing that Mathilda was being properly fed, chiding the others for mistrusting the girl, and even providing her with a crusty, oversized duster to cover herself up with before she was called off to tend to something or someone else, and Mathilda had the chance to slip off after the soldier that found her in the Sub-human encampment.

Mathilda crept silently about 20 feet behind Ira, sizing him up. She stalked along the streets of an ancient city that had been recently re-settled only to fall quickly into decay once more. The land was completely feral, and nothing here lived for very long that didn’t fight relentlessly to prove its worthiness to exist. It was due to this that the humans who decided to colonize this glorified bone orchard some time ago quickly perished, falling prey to the super-beasts and Sub-humans that had called this land their hunting grounds hundreds of years before the unfortunate Neopilgrims happened to stumble upon it.

Completely oblivious to her surroundings she walked without hesitation into pools of partly congealed blood, the sticky ichor clinging relentlessly to her bare feet, and past the myriad of corpses, human and animal alike, that lined the streets and charred doorways. Their bodies already bloated and stinking from their frightful repose, left to rot in the scorching desert sun.

The night air around her was almost lethally frigid yet Mathilda hardly seemed to notice it, much less anything else. Unlike Ira’s her ears were deaf to the countless cries and death rattles that permeated the unending darkness. She had learned long ago to block these outside distractions from her mind. That, and all that truly mattered to survive were the sounds and smells in your immediate vicinity. That is what she honed in on beginning with herself. Mathilda felt the slow rise and fall of her chest, breathed in her own rank smell and moved slowly outward . . . nothing but silence, and the prominent smell of constant decay until she reached Ira. There was no real breath or heartbeat that could be heard beneath the layers of armor so she focused instead on the soft, and almost inaudible drone of his mechanical re-breather and coolant system, becoming familiar with the sounds he and his armor made as she hovered behind him like a vulture.

Faster than she thought was possible in that bulky armor, Ira’s head suddenly snapped in her direction, The lights of his goggles glowing almost daemoniacly in the darkness towards her. If he wasn’t aware of her following him before this he definitely would be now. Mathilda froze completely in mid-stride. While she was by no means in plain view she was most certainly visible through the night-vision goggles.

Ira:

Ira’s head swiveled around scanning the perpetual darkness, and he silently observed the killing field. He felt his primal nature starting to tug at his conscious mind. “Flee, RUN this is no place for you!” It cried.

Ira of course knew where having fear in your belly got you. It got you dead. Just like the members of his original squad, just like his commander, and the chief physician and all the other members of Convoy F-13. No Ira was here for a purpose, his only real problem was that he wished he had made Rose and the kids accompany him.

He turned his head, and his night vision detector went off the charts as they began scanning over attract a hungry predator to his location. It was Mathilda. He let our a soft growl, a silent scream that would not attract a hungry predator to his location. "Get over here now!" He commanded in a low voice. He had, as a reflex raised his rifle, and the barreld was leveled up to her head. His finger on the trigger. As if coming to his senses he lowered it...slowly. He exhailed a deep breath, and his re-breather let out a plume of humid mist into the air.

He would have been loathe to tell her he was happy to see her, but on the inside it did make him feel safe that he would not be crawling down the deepest darkest tunnel alone.

As he spoke, he jerked his head to the left, bringing up his HUD in his goggles. An arrow pointed to the north, and his blinked violently. He was detecting a power source. This was where they would be going.

Mathilda would hear hungry growls, and see glowing eyes on all through out the darkness. Some were eying her up.

DANIEL SHAW: Daniel had finally caught up with Ira. He came creeping out of the rubble with the crunching of pebbles. With each breath a small spit of steamy mist splashed out of the rebreather tube. The armour was painted black head to toe. The only color was the name 'SHAW' written in white block letters over his right breast and the letters ANC with a small logo in red on his left shoulder. Dan's MA carbine was nestled in his sure hands. His NVGs were flipped down over the helmet's vision ports allowing him to see into the darkness.

Ira was standing with a young woman about Dan's own age. She reminded him of Nicole. A swift pang of grief overcame him when he saw her. Dan pushed it down inside him as he turned it into determination. "She wasn't in the camp." He whispered it to himself again. Daniel had so much hope he would find his sister in the camp they raided the night before.

The crumple of debris derailed his train of thought. Dan spun about bringing his carbine up to bear. It was instinct now to flip the selector switch to semi. Through the NVGs he scanned the rubble searching for movement. He finally found his target. A small wild boar traunced away from the three deeper into the city. Dan safed his weapon and turned back around. He moved approaching Ira. He remained as quiet as possible behind the cover of the brick wall. "How's it look ahead?"

Ira: *Just to keep it alive*

Living and surviving in the wastes Ira had seen some strange shit. One of the more remarkable ones was the day he bumped into PFC Daniel Shaw. Ira was shocked to say the least at seeing another ANC trooper making it in the wastes. That and the fact that he zeroed in on Ira’s power signature disturbed him. But the encounter to Ira was a welcome one. Ira had many independent thoughts about Shaw. Much of what he said made little to no sense to Ira. But Ira was no commander, he was in fact a lower rank then Shaw, but the formalities of the ANC go out the window when it is two troopers and a few outsiders attempting to survive.

When Shaw came in through the darkness and ended up next to Ira who seemingly paid him no mind, one would find the pair a stark contradiction. Ira’s armor was sporting scars; its fine black plates were bleached from the sun and were turning gray in some areas. His over coat was tattered and riddled with holes. Shaw had no coat, and his armor was in much better repair, which meant that his case was similar to Ira’s. They were obviously deserters, but clearly claimed to be survivors.

Shaw was looking for his sister. It kept him going, and optimistic, but the callous Ira figured the chick had been killed. At best she was probably in some sort of gulag being raped regularly. Either case was unimportant to Ira. As long as Ira promised to help him look, Ira had another man handy with an MA rifle. Of course Shaw was out here.

Ira paused and kept his vigil over Mathilda. He responded to Shaw’s question in his muffled voice. “It looks terrifying as always…” He paused and then snapped at Shaw “What the hell are you doing here…I thought I said to stay at Cydonia and help protect it?”

[Toneh]

Aishe:


It was late. Aishe's eyes gazed up at the full moon through the thin fabric that covered the window of what used to be the upstairs ballroom of one of the most elaborate theaters in Los Angeles. That was seven hundred years ago when her part of town hosted the most posh parties for the rich an famous. Now it was a small, desert territory for a group of young survivors. She had recently turned twenty and was the eldest. Next was eighteen year old Capris sleeping in the corner, tangled, pale hair surrounding her heart shaped face. Sixteen year old Tristan slept closest to the door, his lean frame spread eagled across one of the more comfortable pallets. The twelve year old and ten year old brothers, David and Michael, shared a bed next to a faded vase, and finally six year old Daya sleeping next to her.

They were all she had, each dreaming face from the same destroyed village. That massacre was six years ago and she had changed immensely. She was no longer the timid and somewhat spoiled little girl the others would tease. She sacrificed everything to keep her family together. She learned how to take of of a toddler before she was sixteen, she knew the best times to plant by the scent of the air, she could fight and even kill if she had to (which had only happened twice). She was almost completely sense and seriousness. Her skin was lean, tan, and rough, her slander hands calloused. Her clothing was a sort of sleeveless dress made from scrap cloth. Her hair was messy and tied back. Her feet were blistered from the rough hide of her sandals. Everyone else was in a similar state. She sighed as she looked at all of them. She was determined to find a better home for them someday, but things were better if they stayed put for now. She quietly got up, and climbed out the window, grasping onto places she chiseled out until she was on top of the building. She had trouble sleeping ever night so she took to the roof to keep an eye out for any possible danger and to mentally divvy out the chores for everyone.

Tonight, however, she was just feeling overwhelmed and helpless. It seemed that there was no way out of the city. Well, there was but she had no idea how safe it would be or how long they would have to go before reaching a safe home. There were gangs, sub-humans, creatures, and of course who knows how many countless miles of desert. Her hands gripped the brittle railings. All she wanted was a safe place for her family. Good soil and new clothes would be nice as well. She leaned against the skeleton of a billboard and for the first time in many years, she prayed.

Mathilda:

Mathilda felt the hairs raise on the back of her neck as she heard the growling in the darkness. Barely noticing Shaw closing the distance between them, she stepped forward and tenderly placed a hand on Ira's armor glaring into the night in front of her. A noise escaped her throat that could have been a low and agitated moan, or a poor attempt at a growl.

"It seems that Abyss . . . is looking in our direction. We should pay it the same favor."

Her voice was nothing more than a hoarse whisper, and the words themselves came out in a painfully forced manner, as if she were just learning how to speak, yet the words and their meaning were still fresh in her mind.

Daniel Shaw:


Shaw's heavy gauntlet knocked a piece of dirt off his shoulder making sure to keep his armour clean. Although he was a deserter Dan kept himself to standard. Not ony was it engrained in him but Daniel didn't see himself as a traitor. Dan believed he was doing the right thing and just taking a short hiatus from the ANC. His father should've sent a scouting party out it was the right thing to do.

Shaw took Ira's snap like a physical blow. Rank wasn't a concern out here so neither was command. Shaw redoubled felling defensive. "I do as I please, Ira. I can't sit around while she's still out there.... alone." Dan knew he didn't have to explain who SHE was. By now Ira knew how important Nicole was to him. Nothing could keep Dan from looking for here. "If I left the ANC to find her why would you think I'd babysit Cydonia for you." Dan did leave another soldier in his stead though. "Chris is watching the place. It'll survive the night." Chris was definitly a step down from Daniel. The boy barely had any battle experience. The raid on the cromag camp was his first baptism. Dan still couldn't figure out why the soldier had left to join Ira and his small band of outcasts.

"The abyss? You always this dramatic? It's just a city." Daniel attempted to change the subject. He leaned around the corner and took his own peak. Nearly a quarter mile down the street Dan could make out a human figure running between the rubble buildings. Halfway across the road a raptor like animal caught the person from behind. With a leap the dino sunk it's toe claw deep into it's prey. As the raptor began to feed two more emerged and started chowing down. Without remorse all Dan could think was: thats three enemies that won't be hungry for me tonight. "So what's our next move? And what do we do with her?" Daniel nodded to Mathilda knowing she would probably slow them down.

Ira:

Ira drew silent as Dan spoke of his worry for his sister. Ira kept his eyes on the feeding and hunting predators, and inched ever closer to the edge of the wall, actually to the point of peering around it to check all angles, but mainly to make sure that nothing was lurking on the other side of the wall waiting to grab them as they passed. He did not respond much to Mathilda’s musing. Ironically enough it made sense. “She was quoting Neitzsche.” He said more to him self, but intended for Dan to here. His head turned around to him and those glowing goggles locked on to Daniel’s body. “They made us read him during our training.” Ira turned back to the looming maw of darkness in front of them. He then shook his head more, and started inching out from behind the wall. “Dan….this WAS a city…now it’s just like everything else.” He said in a callous tone.


Ira left the wall and began slowly prowling on down what used to be an old highway into the former metropolis. “Come on lets go find your sister…both of you…” He said with a sense of dread in his voice. In truth Ira wished Dan was more correct in his assessment then Mathilda had been in hers. It used to be a city. But there was one primary difference, and the fact remained that cities were full of people.

This city has long since been dead, a skeleton of its former glory, now just a husk, filled with thousands of different species of predators, hunting and killing each other.

“We are going to go in, find that power source, and then leave. Stay close, keep the girl in the middle, and keep step with me.”

But like prayers do sometimes get answered. Off on the far end of this city a girl stood making a silent despirate prayer. It was in the moments after she had resolved her prayer, a sound of thunder would echo out through the city. Then another crackling explosion of thunder. Then a third. Ira stood holding his weapon into the air, its magnetic coil in the barrled of the long slender weapon glowing a bright blue as it had been powered up. "Good thing im so bad ass." He muttered. Dan and Mathilda would both notice the predators who were looming and hunting had all turned and scattered in fear, clearing the way.

Aishe:

The boom jostled her from her thoughts. She heard squealing down below and leaned over to get a look. The sub human creatures were running from whatever made that sound. Her heart pounded with fear and she quickly darted back down into the bedroom window. Everyone else seemed to have been starled from their slumber. Daya collided into her sobbing. She didn't like to wake up without her next to her. Tristan already had a dagger out. "What's going on?" he asked. "I don't know Aishe answered. "But it's scaring away the monsters." Capris was holding the hands of the brothers. David was stone faced a gleam in his eye saying he wanted to fight whatever it was. Poor little Michael looked terrified. Aishe was already heading out the window.

"We need to get on the roof. The kids will stay down and hidden in the middle. Tristan, you take the East corner of the building. Capris, you'll take the South side. I'll take West, and Capris and I will both have to keep an eye on the North. Get your weapons ready and let's climb up there."

So they they had bows, arrows, knives, and a few spears. Even the children had a dagger. Daya clung to Aishe tightly as the made it to the roof. She gave her to David before going to her station. They had wood and the means to make fire if the had to throw anything down onto invaders and there was a fast but dangerous exit if the had to abandon their home. She thought of everything.

She drew her bow, eyes scanning he dark horizon for any sign og the possible threat.

Mathilda:

Despite all she'd been through in the past year and a half Mathilda's training had been hard-wired into her brain. She never forgot a single thing, it just happened automatically now. She remembered through instinct that if she didn't follow her commander's orders people died, and as far as she was concerned this was her new team, and Ira was their leader.

Mathilda followed his orders implicitly, and kept pace with he and Shaw, staying in the middle of them all the while with her dull eyes intently fixed on Ira's every movement.

Ira:

As Ira discharged his weapon everything in the city was no alerted to the presence of the small group. Ira looked around and found that every animal, every predator had fled and taken a safer position. They either hid or abandoned their prey and moved off to a point where they could hide. From Ira’s viewpoint he saw through his goggles thousands of pairs of varying eyes glaring at him.

They would not attack now. He had put the fear of god into them. He looked around and smirked under his mask. He turned his head back around to view Dan and Mathilda “We may proceed.” Ira did not smile often, but it was moments like this…or when he generally got to discharge his weapon that he took pleasure in.

The city became deathly silent. Which was unusual. But there was no growls, no squeals, or howls or screeches of any kind. Ira said nothing but he halted, and held his hand up giving Dan and Mathilda the signal to cease following him. His rifle fell from its up right position in the air, down to his chest, the grip under the barrel of the weapon landing in his gloved left hand with a soft slap.

He said nothing.

Then they would hear it. A growl. It was soft, a mere rumble that could only be heard if you stood still and listened past the sound of your own heart beating.

Ira turned his head back to Mathilda and Dan. “Run.” He said. Then in a snap he turned around and bolted down the ruined street. His equipment slapping his body as he took each stride.

If Mathilda and Dan were hot on his tail, they would hear a loud monstrous squeal erupt into the night air. Ira no longer saw those glowing eyes in his night vision goggles. All the predators had cleared out of town. He just ran, he climbed over cars, stumbled through rubble, all the while just booking as fast as he could manage.

NPC Biker/Raider:

The roar of close to two dozen motorcycles could be heard in the still, peaceful night. They rode across the dry, sandy wasteland, throwing dust up in a huge plume behind them as they approached the town. Upon reaching the town’s borders, one dozen of the group moved off to the left, while the other half moved to the right, circling the town in opposite directions, one outer circle and one inner.

The leader of the pack in the inner circle broke off from the group, stopping inside the town. He rolled to a stop, planting a foot on the ground and reaching behind him to withdraw his shotgun, pumping it and letting off a round into the air.

He had no hair upon the top of his head, glinting in the sunlight as it as. Dark, brown eyes scanned the area closely as his free hand stroked the two braids hanging down from his chin.

“Come’on out folks! We just wants to be playing with ya, specially those soldier boys you got here, bring em on out now!”.

The other raiders revved their engines up as they withdrew their own weapons. This town was gonna be theirs, it was just a matter of bloodshed or no bloodshed.

[Toneh]

Daniel Shaw:

Dan snapped a quick glance at Ira when he fired his warning shots. He tilted his head and wished Ira could see the anger in his eyes. Sure they won't attack now, but everything in the city was watching the three of us, Dan thought to himself. Letting it go he walked backwards a few steps watching their rear for anything following. There were plenty of eyes out in the darkness but none made a move.

Dan turned in time to see Ira's hand gesture. He nearly toppled into Mathilda. "What?" Ira's silence alerted Daniel to the danger at hand. Sidestepping past Mathilda Dan took a knee and brought his carbine up to his shoulder. He stared intently into the darkness illuminated through his goggles. Knowing his partner had the front covered Dan scanned the left and right. He saw something disturbing. The pairs of eyes that were watching the small party began disappearing into the night. In an instant they were all gone. Dan turned to let Ira know when the soldier told the two to run. "Huh?"

Dan's own re-breather had kept him from hearing the growl of the incoming predator. Before he could ask any questions Ira was on his feet and running. Without delay Dan jumped up and began following. He pumped his legs for all he was worth. In the back he continually looked over his shoulder to try and see the coming danger.

Npc Biker chick:

As the leader rolled up and was over looking the trio on his motorcycle, the thumping of another engine roared past their flank. She had seen them through the darkness using the ancient model Night vision goggles they had salvaged from what used to be an old army base to the north.

Cheese as she loved to be called was sitting on her ride, with a sawed off double-barreled shotgun strapped to her thigh. “Don’t hurt em eh?” She said with a cackle as she tilted the two-wheeled vehicle slightly to the side forcing it to turn. Her shaved head and tattooed body had all the markings of a raider; the thick rusty metal plates across her body were all signs of her outfit. Not to mention the well kept chrome colored chopper. Extended under carriage, gorilla hangers, and the works of a high performance cruiser. Skulls rested all over the machine, and ears and bones dangled all over her crudely fashioned armor.

Pushing the machine up to almost 100 miles per hour she flew past the trio. But the explosion of a gun shot could be hear at that precise second that she flew past a break in the buildings, that would allow her solid slug round to fly free to its intended target. The target being the side of Ira’s head. Normally a very difficult shot to take…but living on these machines managed to give these murderers and rapists the skill of making chance shots and succeeding, as well as performing death defying stunts.

Flying up ahead, she flicked her head light on, and sharply squeezed the breaks and turning the front wheel to her right managing to perform a 180 as she delivered a shot into the building in front of her. She meant to scare them, that grouping of heads that was looking down into the streets. But when she finished with the ones on the ground, she would dismount to deal with them.

“Come on soldier boys! I’m coming for yaw!” She said letting out an animalistic howl into the night as she one handed reloaded her shot gun, and went racing around another set of derelict buildings.

Aishe:


The noise made her stomach nearly jumped into her throat. She had never heard anything quite like it. The booming made Daya and Michael cry. David had to hold them closer to muffle the sound. The roar of engines and whoops and hollers that followed just added to the tension and uneasiness. She motioned to Capris to duck down and the girl joined the others. Tristan joined her and the both peeked over the building at the scene. There were a terrifying group of individuals and a woman astride some strange moving creations. She and Tristan were both wide eyed. On the other side of their viewing range were three individuals in clothing she had never seen before wielding what she assumed were some sort of weapons considering how they were holding them. Her assumptions were correct when more loud bangs erupted. She and tristan ducked down in unison as a stray bullet nearly grazed by her head. Daya stared crying harder. It was time to escape. It seemed the larger group were more interested in the three other individuals, but it was better to be safe, especially with weapons like theirs. She had no idea how dangerous these threats could be and she would be dammed if her family was going to be harmed. She secured her weapons, scooped Daya into her arms and led the kids to the wall opposite the danger. They climbed down as quickly and as quietly as possible. David nearly slipped and knocked down a brick. tristan caught his wrist and caught him however it made Daya scream. It echoed into the night. She quickly shushed her. Shit. Shit. she thought. Finally, they made it into the second story window.


"Okay, everyone. Quickly, down into the tunnels!" And so they spend down ancient staircases and across skeltons of theatre seats. The were heading to where there was once a stage, but only a hallway heading into the basement remained.

Ira:

The bullet tore through the air at sub-sonic speed, moving too fast for the human eye to even trace it. Nothing even seemed bent on halting it from its intended course, ad as expected their was no way for Ira to even think, let alone move faster then the bullet. It flew and smashed into the temple of Ira’s head. The projectile being halted by the thick dusty helmet that encased most of his head. How ever it had a side effect, the actual round that had been discharged shattered like a piece of glass, catching Ira at that perfect point on his helmet where it ended, and the goggles that protected and enhanced the usefulness of his eyes met. Tiny pieces of the lead flew forward cutting through the sturdy binding of the goggle eye-piece, avoiding the plastic lenses, and going into the fiber. The tiny blade of lead ripped through skin and flesh, and his eye. It proceeded through his eye until it slammed into a wall of armor that sat around the fragile bridge of his nose, thus saving his left eye.

Ira’s head suddenly jerked, and he stumbled off, toppling over on to his side. He would have dropped his weapon had the strap on the top of the rifle been securely around his back and in his hands. “AAAAAAHHHH! FUCK! MOTHER FUCKER!” He screamed loudly in a mixture of rage and excruciating pain. He was in a daze, his head rattled and shaken. Ira then weakly stumbled to his feet and reached down into his belt, removing a small syringe filled with a clear liquid. He slammed it into a small crack in his armored plate that surrounded his right thigh. “OH! Shit! Shit…shit shit shit.” He said over and over again.

He looked around and did not seem to notice that his right eye no longer functioned. Then attempting to run forward, he lost his balance, and started to lag behind Shaw and Mathilda. He ran, but paused as he heard the growl of the Raider’s engine grow closer. Ira knowing Shaw and Mathilda were no fools would keep on his ass. He made another break for it, this time heading building that seemed largely intact. The engine drew closer, He rushed up to a glassless window and vaulted through, landing on his arms and breaking into a roll. He ended up on his feet, and leapt back, slamming his back against the wall. He would then call out in a yell “Everyone Okay?!”

Then his rifle would snap up, and into a dark corner of the large open room. The room used to be a reception area, now just poorly imitated room, clearly somebody tried to make it resemble its former image.

It was a small child huddling in the corner of the room. "Fuck, Daniel, secure that civilian!"

Ira would then turn and prepair a proper response to the attack that had just been launched on he and his.

Daniel Shaw:

Peering over his shoulder as he ran Daniel saw the approaching raider and the gang that awaited behind her. She was moving to fast for a well aimed shot. Dan held his carbine out behind him in one hand and pulled off three rounds. He didn't expect his shots to do anything but hopefully scare the raiders off.

As he turned forward he heard the loud crack of a shotgun. Almost instantaneously Ira fell to the ground. The train of expelatives let Dan know that Ira was still alive. Knowing his partner was still a functioning soldier Dan slid to a knee and took aim on his friend's assilant. He fired in three round bursts pulling the trigger and holding it four times. The twelve rounds were aimed at the vehicle. Shaw's hope was to take the raider's ability to outrun them.

When he finished firing Shaw didn't look to see if he had hit. Shaw jumped up and noticed Ira was already on his feet and moving. Without any instruction Shaw began running after him. Only a few feet behind Ira he slid as his partner threw himself through an open window. Unable to stop his own momentum Dan bent his knees and tossed himself in behind Ira.

Tumbling across the floor Shaw rolled across the carpet. "I'm good," he replied as he pushed up off the floor. Dan popped up standing upright. He leaned against the window frame that they had just jumped through. He poked his head around the corner. Sighting in on the gang of raiders Dan fired off the remaining rounds in his weapon. As he was reloading Ira shouted out about a civilian. Immediately Shaw began scanning the room and located the child. Moving across the room he grabbed the kid by the shoulder. Dan unaffectionately forced the child behind a heavy wooden counter. "STAY HERE!" Dan shouted as he pointed downward emphasizing his command.

Turning about he jogged back to his place at the window frame. Looking around the room he brought his viewfinders down on Ira. "We gotta get to higher ground."

Aishe:


Something wasn't right. Aishe skidded to a halt and whirled around facing David. "Where's your brother?" she asked. David glanced backward his face turning to shock "H-he was right behind us-" he stuttered and a sudden fit of rage overcame her "Oh, GODAMMIT, David!!!" she threw Daya into Capris' arms. "Wait for us at the tunnel's entrance. Hide in that back room and don't make a sound. We'll be back shortly." With that, she yanked Tristan by the wrist and the pair ran as fast as they could back to the room. She knew that Michael went back to get his stick people.

There was shouting coming from inside. She held an arm out in front of Tristan and shook her head. "Not yet" she whispered. Then she heard Michaels screaming and a loud, gruff voice. Before Tristan could stop her she was in a room. She saw Daniel shove the boy behind the counter. Some primal roar came from deep within her as she leapt impressively towards the enemy. Rage consumed her. She aimed a swift punch towards the strange man's jaw and darted over the counter. She scooped the terrified Michael into her arms and ran, partially noticing the blood from whatever was covering the other man's face. Whatever it was, she figured he deserved it. She threw Michael into Tristan's arms. The boy was a bit heavier than Daya and Tristan was faster and stronger than she was.

[Toneh]

Mathilda:


Mathilda stuck close to Ira as she ran through the darkened street fast as her skinny legs would take her. She felt a distinct chill run up her spine as it reminded her of the time during her incarceration. Even now in the wide open of the world she longed for the sunlight to come out as she did during the time in her captivity. Back then the light of day was a precious luxury that she barely had the chance to indulge in. It was one of the few things that gave her comfort in those dark times. The selfsame comfort Ira had lent her soul these past few days. She rather admired his grim will to battle on even when the odds were against him. Before she could process what was going on Ira had been hit.

Mathilda nearly screeched when he fell to the ground, but like a mother wolf bent on protecting her cub she didn’t hesitate in the least, rushing to his side to try and give him the cover he so desperately needed. While Ira was busy fumbling through his gear for his syringe, Mathilda took the opportunity to discretely grab hold of the grip on his MA pistol and draw it from its holster. She looked him over quickly, realizing with a sight of relief that he was fine, but in a good amount of pain judging by the foul language practically pouring out of his mouth.

“Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.” She chanted as she looked around the blackness wildly, a feminine echo to Ira’s own words. She turned to Shaw with a wide-eyed expression, and then back to Ira again, finding another useful item that she recognized. A thin strip made from the same material as the ANC armor, only thicker. She removed it from Ira’s utility belt on his back as quickly as she could, and strapped the device to her arm. Giving it a quick flick of the wrist, the material snapped outwards and into its proper place, detracting large wing-like plates in all directions, which formed a formidable riot shield that would offer her body, as well as Ira’s excellent protection for the time being.

When she turned back around Ira was back on his feet once more, and flinging himself through the nearest window. Shaw followed suit and she jumped through after him as well, just in time to see a young girl preparing to take a punch at him. Without even noticing the broken glass that was now imbedded in her feet, she lept into action. Mathilda swung her arm in Aishe’s direction, full force, with the intention of pistol whipping the poor girl.

NPC biker:

He grinned wickedly as he watched one of his raiders take a shot at the military leader, causing him to start having something that resembled a nervous breakdown as he stuck himself in his thigh. Twisting the clutch on his handlebar some, revving the 244 cc engine up as the gas poured through it’s system. The roar of the motor echoed between buildings as his back tire spun, then he released his hold on the brake and was off as the soldiers ran for cover.

He leapt off at the last moment, watching as the motorcycle wobbled and finally fell to the ground, spinning till it’s back wheel caught the ankles of one of the soldiers. The man started to fall, Piraten lashed out and grabbed ahold of his hair to drag him through the dirt before yanking him back up. The leering grin on his face had brought untold fear to dozens upon dozens of people in the past, but this soldier was tougher then that.

Piraten ducked a jab launched his direction, catching him in the stomach with a backhanded swing that doubled the man over. Even as he straightened he reached behind to withdraw his sawn off shotgun from it’s holder on his lower back and smashed the soldier’s jaw to pieces with the butt of the weapon, causing him to fall to the ground in pain again. Using the toe of his black steel toed boot, he kicked the man’s helmet off his face, then spun the shotgun around his finger to aim the barrel at the man’s face.

He reached up and cocked the slide on the neck of the gun, before smiling that rot toothed smile of his.

“Have fun in hell, soldier boy”.

The crack of the weapon discharging was even louder then the motorcycle earlier, and people flinced as if they themselves had been shot. The soldier lay lifeless and bloody on the ground, nothing left of his face as his heart finally stopped beating, even as Piraten stood and began looking around for his next target. Automatic weapon fire began spraying out around the town, a few of the raiders having fifty caliber machine guns mounted to side cars on their motorcyles for mobile support fire.

Aishe:

There was noise outside, but Aishe was paying no attention. There, next to the bed where the boys slept, were the little handcrafted figures David had made for his brother. She only paused for a moment, her brain taking a second to decide if her life was worth drying that little boy's tears. She pushed herself to dodge around and snatch them. Her grip was easy on the brittle twigs. Her weary body was starting to protest all the exessive running, but panting, she was heading towards the door.

She felt something cold and solid collide into the spot where her skull ended and her spine began. The room began to spin and sparkle and the edges of her sight grew black. She fell back on her rear, hands skidding on the weathered cement to keep for hitting her head, the figures snapping and splintering. Her entitre head was pounding and she couldn't see strigt. She was a little cross eyed, but she was determined to get out of there. She crawled winching from the splinters in her hands. "Leave...my children...alone" she panted unsure and uncaring if they understood her.

Ira:

Their was the crack of a shot gun blast. The sound of a roaring engine as it sped off. The thump of a body hitting the floor. Ira clinched his eyes shit as the bullets began spraying into the abandoned building ripping its innards into kindling. Ira laid low and did not return fire. “Shaw?!” Ira howled. He got no response. Ira turned his head to see Shaw laying on his back, twitching lifelessly. His face was a crater of blood and mask. The shot gun round was released only a few feet away. At a greater range it would have turned such a bullet away, but not this time. This time it went in and smashed the life out of Shaw.

Ira crawled across the ground and made it to Shaw’s body. Ira did not say a word, he did not flinch, nor did he cry. He did grieve how ever. He let out a soft sigh, that would have sounded hopeless were it not for the sounds of bullets tearing the building apart. Ira removed Shaw’s weapons and ammunition and began stuffing them into his back and slinging the gun over his shoulder. He would have stripped him of all of his gear, But he only focused on the essentials. He removed Shaw’s bloody helmet, which was more like a bucket as the dead mans blood spilled on to the floor, and slid it across the floor over to Mathilda. “Shit.” he hissed as he rose from his feet and into a crouch. He turned lunged at Aishe, He then laid her down with him and place his body on top of hers, as another round of bullets ripped through the building.

He put his face into hers. His masked covered face, goggles. He looked more akin to a machine then a man. But when he spoke you could hear his fear. “You are going to tell me how to get the fuck out of this building!

Mathilda:

Her brow furrowed in confusion upon hearing the girl mention children before blacking out. She glanced to the corner at a makeshift bed space, and hand-fashioned toys. Mathilda’s expression softened, her hand slipping almost instinctually to her stomach. For a moment actually being able to feel the life that was now growing inside her.

The sound of the myriad of guns cocking brought her plummeting back to reality.

Mathilda hit to the floor just in time to keep from being torn apart, and turtled both herself and Aishe under the shield as the bullets ripped through the walls. A stray bullet bounced off a metal girder and managed to catch Mathilda in the arm just as she hoisted the shield up to protect them both. She let out a low hiss of pain, but luckily the wound was superficial, and could be taken care of later.

In between the seemingly endless volley of rounds she peeked out from behind the safety of the shield. The damage the artillery nearly laid to waste the infrastructure of the building, causing the walls to be littered with holes that shed dappled and intensely white light of the Raider’s headlights upon the floor. With how old the building was she guessed it wouldn’t last for much longer. She heard the revving of engines and smelled the oil and gasoline and exhaust thick in the air. There must be at least 20 of the bastards, but what did they want? They screamed in the background like so many beasts waiting to move in for the kill.

Ira seemed okay enough. He was crawling towards them both now, wiggling his great mass of metal and flesh in their direction slowly but surely. Shaw on the other hand had definitely seen better days. Mathilda couldn’t even recognize something that remotely resembled a face on the man anymore. All that was left was a pulpy, bloody mess on the floor where Shaw’s head should have been.

She eyed the helmet Ira had given her with distaste, but slipped it on anyway. Mathilda realized she needed all the protection that she could get at the moment, but the things made her feel so damn claustrophobic.

“They’re others. . . she’s not the only one.”

Aishe:

She turned back staring at he dead man with an expression of utter shock. What sort of weapon was capable of doing that? Who were these monsters? What was going on? She cowered away from the roaring engines and these strange people. She was about to make it out the door and head bak to her family, but then she felt something collide into her. The force sent her down her head hitting the floor once again sending her into a mumbling daze.

Her head was pounding and she felt nauseous. Good thing she hadn't eaten yet or else she would have vomited. She looked up at Ira and mumbled something incoherent, but her tone sounded angry. She tried to struggle, but was far too dizzy. A little bit of drool found it's way out of her mouth right before the blackness overcame her and she passed out.

Just then there was a cry of anger. Tristan had returned. He noticed Aishe was taking for too long and sensed danger. His wild, blue eyes targeted onto Ira and his unconscious sister. He kicked the man in the head, stubbing his toe on the helmet. He tackled him off of her bringing him to the ground. He tried to yank the helmet off but to no avail, he gazed down horror stricken at this creature. He had never seen such a thing. Where was it's mouth? Was it part human part insect? He tried to maintain his bravery pinning down Ira's shoulders "What are you?!? What are you doing here?!?" he roared. He tried to punch the monster in the face, his knuckles hitting solid metal. He gripped his bleeding hand, courage gone, he leapt up, struggling to gather Aishe into his arms. He had her and he began running (though not real fast) down the stairs towards the theatre.

Ira:


(NPCing the bikers)

Out side the engines roared through the night as the gang dashed about on bald rubber tires shouting taunts and laughing as they discharged their weapons. They stopped at the beck of the leader who was parked in front and below the second story window…the spot where he had killed Shaw.

“Okay okay! Show’s over, now ya’ll are gonna come out all slow, and just give up. If ya don’t we are just gonna come and kill you soldier boy, either way were gonna be happy with that!” He shouted and then started revving the engine of his motorcycle.

--Ira--

Ira felt blows from the young man and was forced off of Aishe. He grabbed her and began attempting to run with her in his arms. “Get the kid!” Ira yelled to Mathilda as he stumbled to his feet and dashed after Tristan. Ira considered bringing Shaw’s corpse, but he could not afford to be slowed by the dead weight. He would have to come back for the body later.

Ira came to the stairs and looked down to find the boy holding the girl, and fleeing the scene. Ira was pointing his rifle at the kid’s back and then snarled. His heavy boots began thumping as his feet hit the stairs. “Lets go Mathilda!” Ira yelled loudly under the voice of the Raider leader.

Ira then leaped off of the stairs and would land behind Tristan. His gear snapping and clicking as his weight impacted with the Earth. Ira rushed Tristan. A gloved hand would grab the boy’s hair and give it a sharp painful jerk. “Shhhh.” Ira said softly as he pulled in close. “keep holding her.” Tristan would feel cold steel press up against his cheek.

Ira’s re-breather hissed. “I’m not going to hurt you…unless you show me a way out of here that does not involve those parasites killing us all.” Ira said desperate voice. His hand was shaking violently as his drug settled into his system His breathing could be heard from under his mask.

Mathilda:

Mathilda darted off down the hallway after the boy and the young woman, searching her under-used vocabulary for the words to say to get them to stop without utilizing force. The pistol was still in her hands and she was ready to fire if need be. Mathilda had made it halfway down the steps when she saw the heavy metallic bulk of armor fall past her in her peripheral vision. The blur of lights swam past her eyes for only a moment to disappear into the chasm below, yielding it's only light. She heard the familiar clang followed by a pneumatic hiss that signaled Ira was on the move yet again.

By the time she'd reached the bottom of the stairs Ira was upon the boy. He looked almost daemoniacal. Mathilda was taken aback by Ira's use of needless hostility. This was not the way a member of the ANC behaved . . . they were protectors, and this boy had obviously done nothing wrong, but at the same time she felt she couldn't act out against him. He was her superior after all, and you didn't question those above you, you just followed orders.

She quietly loped up to them both, biting her bottom lip in agitation. Her dark eyes darted back and forth from Ira, to the boy, and back up the stairs at the hostile bedlam that seemed to be drawing closer (Had they figured out they weren't in the building anymore?), completely at a loss of what to do under their current circumstances.

Were they coming? Please talk, boy. . . For all our sakes

NPC biker and Rose:

Out side the raiders were cruising about the streets of what used to be a city of the old ones. Firing their guns and causing what Rose assumed could be a ruckus.

“Do you think mister Ira their?” Tatum said in his deep voice. He wore full ANC armor. It would be much cleaner then the one Ira wore. In his hands was a large ANC smart rifle that had mechanical arm that fit into a plate over his armored chest. All five of Ira’s students had come with Rose. Jose, Tatum, Erica and Lauren.

The two twin girls held ANC MA repeaters and were crouched down low. Rose held an MA rifle similar to Ira’s. though hers was not covered in inscriptions…runes and tally marks. “Yes…this is where he said he was going.

“Yea, but those raiders look like they found him, I think we need to get down their and help him and Mr. Shaw.” Jose said in his Hispanic accent.

Rose nodded to all of them. “Okay..we are going to do this carefully…girls…get on my sides…Tatum…guard the rear…Jose me and you will take up point and take out as many of the raiders as we can at a range. If they get close the rest of you fry them.

The little squad fanned out and entered the city just as the gun fire started. They ignored it and tried to stay hidden in the darkness. The noise caused by their armor slapping their bodies was drowned out by the sound of the raider’s gun fire.

Rose and Jose came to separate windows. Rose placed the butt of the rifle into her collar bone. “I’m going to try to flush them towards you, when the move…fire….when the get close to our building the rest of you cut them down.

Rose took sight of her rifle and aimed down her digital scope into other heard of the raider’s machine mounted pack. A crack of thunder reverberate through the night air, sending the thin sharp MA round ripping through the air.

The round was aimed at the chest of an unfortunate raider who had his gun raised. The MA round would shatter his body, skin and clothing would fly off of him, and his insides would be sucked out of his body by the liquefied round that would go flying through him at supersonic speeds. By the time they heard the noise, the man would be dead.

Ira was handy with his rifle, but he had noted that Rose was an exceptional sniper. Ira could down multiple enemies in seconds, Rose could perform surgery with her MA rifle.

Aishe:


Tristan was trembling so hard, it was heard to hold Aishe in his arms. He swallowed wondering if this was the time to be brave or give in. On the one hand, he could die, leaving Aishe to fend for herself whenever she came to, and Capris alone with three kids. However, he could go along and when the time was right, plan an attack. The creatures were dangerous. He nodded and began to make his way down the stairs trying to keep his head away from the barrel of that gun as much as possible.

Finally they were in a large room, the skeletons of theatre seats sat neatly in rows, leading dow to where there once was a stage. Now the floor angled into a doorway that was completely dark. Tristan pointed. "That way." He was still plotting on how to keep Capris and the others safe.

Soon they were in the room. All was dark. "Tristan?" came a the hushed voice of Capris. When she didin't feel metal against this forehead he shouted "Capris! RUN!" And they bolted blindy through corridors theu had memorized counting steps until they knew where to turn. Six strides, turn, fifteen strides, turn. Michael tripped and started wailing. David doubled back to find him.

Mathilda:

Mathilda took off after them, but soon found herself in over her head. The hallways became pitch black, and nearly impossible for her to navigate. She followed the sound of the footsteps, only to run headlong into a wall. The force of impact made her fall disoriented to the ground below.

Sonofabitch. You should have known better than do that.

She feebly got up, blindly feeling around in the dark for the wall she knew was in front of her, and the hallway that branched off of it. Mathilda was wishing she remembered how to activate the night vision in the helmets when she realized she could hear them running. Their footsteps were clearly audible now, pattering hurriedly down the hallway, and there was more than just the boy as she expected.

She looked behind her to see where Ira was. Mathilda knew she wouldn’t be able to move thought the darkness without him, and a part of her didn’t want to.

Ira:


“Hold on to her.” Ira snarled as Mathilda trotted past he and Tristan. The knife was pressing into Tristan’s flesh at this point when the battle fever that had taken hold of Ira seemed to subside. He let go. This boy was an innocent…killing him for trying to flee a battle would have been sacrilege to an ANC soldier.

“Hold on to your sister. Ira said as he pulled away from Tristan. “Get out of here…hide.” He hissed in a commanding voice. Ira then moved in front of Tristan and replaced his knife back into the sheath that hung across his chest. He then gripped his rifle with both hands as he heard the thunderous sounds of weapons fire coming from out side.

Ira then charged forward moving through the darkness, his vision enhanced by the goggles of his helmet. An armored hand would reach out and grab Mathilda. He spun her around and reached onto her helmet, and gave it a sharp jerk down. The goggles would slide from inside of the helmet and slap snugly against her eyes. They would then switch on, and give her eyes that unearthly red glow that had so frightened Tristan. Mathilda would see the world clearly, but in a shade of orange and red.

“We are following those kids…where they are going is a better position!” His hissed at Mathilda. He then charged off into the labyrinth of twists and turns that would lead him to the theatre.

“I’m gonna kill every last one of those mother fuckers.” He growled to him self.

Aishe:

"Tri...Tri" he could hear his sister mumble. He quietly shushed her "It's alright, we're fine he said softly before jerking his head away from the creature's weapon. He was rather perplexed. These monsters seemed very human, they even spoke their language.

His arms were getting very tired and Aishe seemed to get heavier as they moved along. Then, one of the monsters left. He simply turned around. He glanced at the other. It was indeed outnumbered. It would be easy to take it down. However, this one seemed like less of a threat. It even ran into a wall. "This way" he uttered.

They continued through the blackness for about fifteen minutes. The cement gave way to a dirt tunnel. Then, the ceiling got lower and lower until they were almost crawling. After another ten minutes, they reached the end. "Shhhh..." he propped the half conscious Aishe against the wall and pressed his hands up against the ceiling. The cover lifted and they were greeted by blinding sunlight. He peered over to look at the city a quarter of a mile away.

"We must wait until Aishe wakes up" he said to his siblings. "You can do whatever you want." He said irritably to Mathilda. "Go find the other creature."