Part Five: Crashing Down
Chapter One
"All things truly wicked start from an innocence."
-Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961)
The Barrens
Redmond, Seattle
July 9, 2059
9:40 pm
Nightsky adjusted the goggles. The dark, empty school suddenly became alive to his eyes. The goggles switched to a thermographic overlay with the touch of a button. Small specks of heat darted up the hall.
Mice. Lots of them. Fortunately they weren't devil rats. Those critters were at the bottom of a list of things to run into.
Nightsky knew the layout of this school. Once, before Gideon left the team, the ork and he had come to train here. The two had spent many hours in the old gym perfecting new techniques. It seemed like a distant memory now.
What has it been, Nightsky thought to himself, four months now? None of us has seen Gideon in four months. Will we ever see him again?
A crashing sound echos through the halls. It draws Nightsky's attention like a shot. A mouse slips out of an abandoned locker a moment later, knocking over a stack of locker doors.
"Rats." Nightsky cursed, passing a momentary glance at the Roomsweeper.
The Roomsweeper wasn't his. Smiley had left it at the team's safehouse over a month ago. Nightsky took it for his own when the street samurai failed to claim it. The compact shotgun wasn't in great shape. The handle seemed to be warped, almost like Smiley had used it to beat something with. That wasn't surprising with Smiley.
It was loaded with flechette rounds. Flechettes were notorious for their effect on unarmored flesh. Just the thing for the prey Nightsky was hunting.
Ghouls.
Nightsky was being paid several hundred nuyen to clear the school of ghouls. A few of the local gang had gone in, but they had met with an ill fate. The dark shadows and winding passages gave the ghouls an advantage. Nightsky was here to eliminate the advantage as well as the ghouls.
Though, personally, Nightsky would do this kind of work for free. Ghouls weren't human. They are creatures that were infected with the Human-MetaHuman Vampiric Virus. HHMVV for short. That made ghouls no better than vampires in Nightsky eyes.
The basement was his destination. All of the other people who had gone down here never came back up. At least not in one piece. Nightsky was beginning to believe that most of the stories he had been hearing were greatly embellished. Things were not as bad inside as he had been lead to believe.
Nevertheless, Nightsky cautiously pulled the basement door open.
Endless darkness stretched beyond the door. The goggles helped some, they brought shapes out of the darkness. Heading down the stairs became much safer. At the bottom a hallway reached to a boiler room. There were a few other doors along the way.
Something moved behind him. A thumping sound like bare feet falling on cold, wet concrete. A horrible raking sound followed, like nails on a chalkboard.
Nightsky dropped to his knee, spinning around in less time than it took to blink. The barrel of the Roomsweeper came level. The choke was set tight, ensuring a concentrated burst at close range.
The naked eye saw little in the darkness. However, the thermographic goggles picked up a glowing humanoid form tearing its way down the stairs. Hands, with fingernails like talons, tore against the walls while the mouth of the horrible creature held needle-like teeth. It screamed something awful, sending a shriek into Nightsky's ears.
The shotgun roared. A flechette sprinkle splashed off the wall, showering the ghoul with metal strips and paint flakes. The slide action worked quickly, ejecting the empty cartridge onto the dusty floor. A second burst tore right through the creature's torso. The ghoul's tattered shirt was ripped to shreds against the force of the blast.
The ghoul slumped, but got right back up. Hard finger nails took a swing. Nightsky narrowly ducked.
"Just die you freak!"
The ghoul screamed at him with malice right before the gun went off. The ghoul's neck exploded in a mass of blood and soft tissue. It died instantly. The meaty corpse fell on the stairs, sliding the rest of the way down.
"Animals." Nightsky said, mainly to himself.
He didn't believe that any other ghouls down here would understand normal speech. He shrugged it off, thumbing new rounds into the Roomsweeper. He left the dead ghoul on the floor. Thick, red liquid was slowly collecting around it.
It was funny. The ghoul's head looked nearly human. Almost like a person had just died. Ghouls were once people. What was this person like before he became infected? Did he have a family before he was turned into this monster?
Nightsky frowned. This thing was no more a person than he was a dragon.
He wasn't worried about being quiet anymore. The blasts from the Roomsweeper ruined any further use of stealth.
Nightsky kicked a door open, shotgun at ready. He repeated this process for the other three doors in the hallway. At the end of the hall was the door to the boiler. No one knew what lay beyond it.
The door knob was locked. Small obstacle. The door was more than fifty years old, made from some kind of cheap composite. Nightsky stabbed through it with his Sai, penetrating the latch. He paused long enough to put the Sai away before pushing the door open and rolling into the room.
"Normie!" A crackled voice snapped.
A horrid creature hunched in the corner. A lanky monster with skin clinging to dry bones and rags covering its decaying body. Its eyes were sunken into its skull. The mouth held rows of jagged teeth. The teeth were chipped, like they were being used to chew on bones.
Nightsky flinched for the briefest of moments. He thought that the ghoul had said a word! Was this one talking? Nightsky had never known a ghoul to speak. Ghouls just wanted to kill and eat, making conversation was not their strong suit.
Nightsky shoved his thoughts aside like so much dust. The Roomsweeper came to bear. Nightsky took a breath, slowly letting it out, before squeezing the trigger.
Click!
"Slide action!" Nightsky cursed at himself. It was hard to get use to using such a weapon. His hands worked the shotgun's pump quickly.
"Baaaddd........normie..." The ghoul rasped, slowly turning in the adept's direction.
It sounded like words again, but in Nightsky's ears it was more like an hissing animal. .
"No!" A boy darted out from behind crumbling machinery, keeping himself between the barrel of the Roomsweeper and the ghoul in the corner.
The boy is young. Nightsky guessed no more than nine or ten. Age wasn't the only thing that he could guess from the kid's looks. He was human! Sure his clothes were rags and covered with grim, but the kid was definitely human.
"What the hell are you doing?" Nightsky yelled at the kid.
"Go away!" The boy screamed.
"What?!" Nightsky stood shocked. "Get the frag out of the way, kid! That's a ghoul behind you!"
"No!" The boy yelled at the top of his lungs. The ghoul behind him seemed to cringe. "This is not a ghoul!"
"I'm not blind, kid. I know what I'm looking it and it sure as hell isn't human!"
"This is my dad!"
Dad?
Not possible. That is a ghoul. Ghoul's don't have families. They are just a walking virus.
"You the one who's blind, kid! Look at that thing behind you. Do you see anything human in there? Do you see a person?"
The boy seemed to stare at the ghoul for a moment. Almost like the two exchanged a glance of recognition. When the ghoul lifted its boney hand, Nightsky tightened his grip on the Roomsweeper. Even though he knew that a blast from the shotgun would hit them both.
The ghoul didn't strike the boy. The hand rested on the boys shoulder. Almost like the ghoul was comforting him.
"Get away from it!"
A look came across the ghoul's face.
A flicker of movement shot from the hallway. A force slammed into Nightsky hard enough to rattle his teeth. His shoulder met the wall with a painful thud.
BOOM!
The Roomsweeper went off, blindly killing anything in its path. Claws raked across the armored long coat and struck Nightsky's head.
BOOM!
Something hit the floor.
The Roomsweeper's slide stuck. Nightsky let a curse before using the barrel against his adversary. The ghoul that had slammed him into the wall quickly recoiled in pain as the barrel struck its nose. The impact knocked the slide free allowing a flechette round into the chamber.
BOOM!
Blood splattered against Nightsky's skin. An empty casing hit the floor. Fingers like talons swatted at the Roomsweeper, knocking it aside.
BOOM! Kler-Chunk.......BOOM!
The ghoul howled at piercing flechettes the Roomsweeper spat into its flesh. The second blast nearly blew the monster in half.
Nightsky drew a quick breath before chambering another round. The brief silence was cut short by a horrible cry.
Blood covered both the ghoul and the boy. The boy's was on the ground, his face splattered a crimson red.The ghoul gargled something before lurching towards him. Ragged teeth snapped and lankly fingers reached out.
Before a word could be whispered the shotgun rang out. The ghoul collapsed like a doll.
Nightsky's eyes snapped wide open. It was over so quickly that he hardly realized what had happened. A hallow feeling crept up inside. It made the shotgun tremble for the first time. The feeling was vaguely familiar. A tingling that few from his stomach to make one numb. Shock and disbelief all rolled into one.
"No." He whispered to himself. "I didn't want it to end like this." Nightsky cursed ashte boy's body grew cold.. "No! It was a stray blast. It's not my fault."
The shotgun visible shook. Nightsky dropped it, his eyes wondering to the body of the ghouls. "It's my not fault. The ghoul grabbed the barrel. He made it go off. I didn't do it. Thoughts of hatred crept to the surface, reminding Nightsky of his willingness to fire. He didn't hold back. He never held back. That was what kept him alive for so long. "It's not my fault."
The boy's eyes were still open. Staring blankly at the ceiling.
"It's not my fault?"
It is my fault. The words were daggers. Hatred Nightsky harbored let him perform this crime. It gave him the will he needed to pull the trigger. Denying it was his only defense.
Walking away felt like leaving part of a leg in that room. Almost like personally cutting off a foot and tearing the muscles away with each step. Staying here was like staying in a coffin. Leaving was like letting someone drown. At the top of the stairs the air seemed cold and distant. It was so alone.
There are no happy endings in this life, Nightsky thought sadly to himself.
Nukit Burger
Tacoma, Seattle
July 10, 2059
7:30 am
"Hey, Sarah. How's about the two of us getting together tonight?" Bradley leaned over the fry cooker and cooed at Sarah. His words were amazingly serious. A change from the normally brash and impulse teenager.
"Not tonight, Brad." Sarah shrugged him off, returning her attention to the customers. "I have to work the late shift."
A bulky, yet quiet orkish woman stood at the counter. Sarah gave the woman a warm smile before taking her order.
"Sarah, how many times have I asked you out?" Bradley sighed. "At least a dozen. Every time you are either working late or have to study. You need to take things a little easier, girl. You're going to get old before your time."
"I've got things to do, Brad. I can't afford to fall behind. I need this job." Sarah took the ork woman's money before handing over a Nukit Egg-McNugget-Burger and fries.
"Have a nice day." Sarah said as the woman smiled and left.
Bradley frowned.
Sarah went about her duties, thoughtfully ignoring him.
"Come on, Sarah, give a guy a chance."
"Maybe later, Brad, now are you going to get the drive-through?" Sarah pointed at the blinking light that indicated there was a customer at the drive-through.
"Whatever, girl. I know you want to." Bradley pulled a headset over his ears. "Welcome to Nukit Burger, how can I help you?"
He cupped his hand over the microphone. "Hey, Sarah?"
"Yes?"
"What's em have a little fun with this chump." He pointed at the microphone.
"Brad?" Sarah started, but she didn't finish her objection.
"Yes, sir. I think I got it all." Bradley silently giggled to himself. "That's four Egg-Muffins, four coffees, and a pretzel?" He switched on the audible microphone so the customer could be heard by Sarah.
"I said a Nukit Breakfast and a coffee."
"Oh, I'm sorry. A number two and a surge?" Bradley was on the verge of bursting out in laughter.
"No, you stupid sod, coffee and Nukit Breakfast."
"Nuke your face?"
"Nukit Breakfast!"
"Nukit make fast? Oh, yes sir. Nukit Burger always makes it fast." Bradley was barely controlling himself.
"Bradley!" Sarah blurted. "You're going to get us fired."
Bradley covered the microphone. "Don't worry, Sarah. I'm just playing around with this guy."
"Look, fragger, don't make me come in there."
"Oh, yes sir. I think I heard you that time." Bradley grinned. "Nukit Breakfast and coffee? Right. You total is five-eighty, please slot your credstick. Drive around please."
Sarah frowned. "I can't believe you did that."
"Believe it, babes. I'm not done yet." Bradley walked to the back. "Life with me is never boring." Bradley dug through a garbage can and found a Nukit Breakfast box. He filled it with trash and laid it around. Then he grabbed a cup and dipped it in a mop bucket before covering the muddy water with a top. "There." He grinned. "I've got the guy's order."
There was a honk at the drive by window. Bradley quickly opened the window and presented the order to a man who had a very peculiar smile.
"Have a nice day, sir." Brad said, shutting the window.
As the customer drove off brad collapsed in a heeap of laughter.
"Did you see that guy! I wish I could see his face when he opens that box! He'll puke all over himself. Hah!"
Sarah frowned. "That was mean, Brad. Imagine how that man's going to feel. I know I'd feel awful if someone did that to me."
Brad grinned before slipping an arm around Sarah's shoulders. "Don't worry, babe, no one would do a thing like that to a pretty girl like you."
A smile sneaked its way out.
"So how about tonight?"
"Sarah," The manager called her name. "There's a customer at your register."
"Yes, sir."
Bard said smugly. "Forget about the customer, Sarah. Wouldn't you rather spend time with me?"
"Sorry, Brad, but I don't want to get fired right now." Sarah shrugged him off.
Brad grinned. "So that's a maybe, then?"
Brad wasn't the kind of guy to take no for an answer. No matter how many times Sarah had to tell him. This time she chose to ignore him and focus on work. A man was at her register. He was tall with dyed blonde hair and an unusual smile on his face.
"Good morning, sir." Sarah said with a cheerful smile. "Can I help you?"
The man gave a sinister grin, showering bleached teeth behind his smile. "Yeah, would you mind awfully instructing the fellow at your drive through to have a word with me? I believe he forgot something."
Sarah had learned the first rule of working at Nukit Burger, the customer is always right. "One moment, sir." Sarah said before turning her head. "Brad! Someone wants to have a word with you."
"Okay, okay. I'm coming." Brad said, stepping out of his window. He took over Sarah's register. "What do ya' want." He blurted.
Smiley grinned wider than before. "You monkey-fragger, you fragged up my order!" He snatched Brad by the collar, hauling the boy halfway across the counter top. "What the hell do you think you are doing, drekface!"
Brad felt a wave of fear brush over him. He jerked at the man's grip, but it was too strong. "He, man, can't you take a joke."
"A joke? Oh I can take a joke." Smiley sneered. "In fact, I got a joke for you." Smiley yanked the boy over the counter, pushing him into a garbage can. "I'm a real funny guy, motherfragger. I got a sense of humor to go with it!"
"What are you, crazy?!"
"According to some people." Smiley reached inside his coat. "Now let me introduce you to my little friend........"
"Smiley!"
Smiley faltered. His eyes wondered to the door where a tall man with reddish brown hair stood quietly.
"Oh, hello, Lenny." Smiley grinned. "You here for the breakfast special too."
Lenny took a moment to look things over. The boy was obviously scared out of his mind. The samurai's activities were also drawing the attention of other workers. Smiley was just the kind of person to pull a scene like this in public and not care about the consequences.
"Not really, Smiley." Lenny walked towards him. "I've been looking for you."
Smiley dropped his hand from his coat. Fortunately it wasn't holding a pistol. "No need to look for me too hard."
"So I see. I got a call this morning from Hector."
"Is it good?"
Lenny nodded.
Smiley spared a glance at Brad, then back at Lenny. "Whatever Hector's got planned has got to be more fun than this drek. When's it go down."
"Soon as possible, Smiley, no time to waste.
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