Episode Three

The Hunter

Nervous, scarred, adrenaline pumping, heart beating a terrible rhythm of fear and doubt. The bitter thoughts of never seeing tomorrow or the ones you love and care about again. The feeling of pain…dying and what comes after death. Those are the thoughts that run through a person mind and body when staring down the barrel of a gun. Especially one that can incinerate the organs of a living being. Inferno, Athame’ and LD walk cautiously through an old and abandoned facility. Only sound that was noticeable was the sound of old boots connected to the floor as the small squad walked them down unstable stairs at gun point. The three do see rusted signs that are burned, destroyed and rusted saying things like “Electroshock Therapy,” and “Psychiatric Ward.” But still wonder who and what their new found captors are as they are put into a small holding cell.

Being in gas mask: Now sit tight, and shut up.

Inferno: What are they Athame’?

Athame’: Human, I’m sure. Five male two females…

Inferno: Yuck, *sighs* Sure doesn’t Smell like it…

Athame’: …I think we are in some old abandoned Asylum…

Cutting her off.

LD: … I’m sorry, don’t mean to interrupt, but how can you tell those guys in the mask are human? Yet alone their gender?

Inferno: oh, she’s an Atlanta.

LD: A what?

Inferno: An Atlantian. She was born in the hidden city. See the natives of the city are all blind, but they can see the aura of any living thing. I can’t remember how the colors go…what are they again…?

Athame’: Human males are blue, human females….a light shade of red resembling the color of pink….hmm

Inferno: What is it? What’d you find?

Athame’: This cell. It’s iron …just iron, no special design or anything…

Inferno: So what does that mean?

Athame’: You took Pyro and elemental basics right?

Inferno: Yea…

Athame’: Well what happens when you heat iron with a fire like torch?

LD: The metal heats rapidly…

Inferno: …and the iron breaks.

Cut off quickly.

Man: Hey shut the hell up!

Turns and starts talking to guard with him.

Man: So what do you think?

Man 2: Don’t know.

Man: …Well there has to be some reason why the Colonel wants us to hold them.

Inferno: Wonder what they are saying?

As he ignites a small flame at the end of his finger, the size of a blow torch flame, and puts it to the bars.

Athame’: I don’t know, I can’t really read lips.

LD: Their talking about us…something about the Colonel usually shooting enemies on site. He’s the one who ordered our capture and holding to this cell.

Inferno: You can read lips? (Sarcastically)

LD: Yea, a habit I picked up when at sea….uh oh their coming put that flame away.

Opening the cell.

Man: Alright freaks, your about to be get a once in a life time chance. Cuff ‘em Briggs. The Colonel will like to pass judgment on you himself…

Inferno: I don’t know about you to, but I don’t like jail anymore.

Inferno ignites a large flame engulfing his body burning the hands of the guards holding him at the arms and hands. He then uses heat to force the guards into the near by walls with a powerful push. All three begin to head for the exit. When they get to the stairs an alarm is finally sounded.

LD: Come on this way!

Inferno: I see the exit!

Athame’: WAIT!!!

Inferno is hit with a powerful shock of electricity in his back force him to the ground, knocking him unconscious. Athame’ and LD look up to once again find themselves at gun point.

Four hours pass. Inferno is still knocked out cold. LD and Athame’ attempt to figure out how to get out of their cell with Inferno out cold. Their many thoughts are soon interrupted by a large platoon of troops in gas mask.

Troop: Attention!!!

Large group of troops enter and salute as a tall, muscular male enters. He has a large scar over his right eye, and one of his arms is artificial cyber technology. He wears a small ear piece in his left ear, and wears a similar grunge and dirty commando army suit. He is called Colonel Zero by his troops, but wears an ID badge with words Colonel Patient Zero.

Zero walks through his troops and up to the cell door.

Zero: Troops! Dismissed…

Troop: But sir?

Zero: Leave, I need a minute alone with the prisoners…

The troops quickly leave the room. Zero then pulls up a chair and just stairs at the three in the cell for a few minutes.

LD: What do you want?

Zero: …

Athame’: What’s wrong with my friend? Why hasn’t he woken up yet?

Zero: … I will ask the questions.

Athame’: Then until we get at least some sort of an answer you get nothing.

Zero: Then this is gonna be a long night miss…

Athame’ gives Zero a very irritated look. She then looks at LD while sitting next to Inferno’s unconscious body.

Athame’: I’m Athame’

LD: My names LD.

Athame’: We are…

Cutting her off.

LD: …Travelers… Just trying to find the Hidden City like every other human out there…

Zero looks at LD and Athame’ slowly with simple glares, back and forward.

Zero: Well… I see. Then explain to me how she and sleeping beauty there can do the things they do… only demons and creatures can do that.

LD: You forgot mutants too. You know evolved organisms. Or people who once were regular humans.

Zero: You seem to know a lot stranger… oh I’m sorry…LD.

LD: I’ve been around.

Zero: Hmm… well sorry to say your journey to the Hidden city is a pointless one. My self and my people have been searching for it for years. And still we have found nothing…

Athame’: Just because you don’t see something…doesn’t me its not there…

Zero: *Sighs and looks down then looks back up toward cell.*  Your friend will be fine until the morning, the electroshock surge only stunned him for a few hours… unfortunately, even though you are all human, your advanced abilities would scare the people here, so I’m afraid you must leave. You can stay here for the night… in the morning I will have one of my guards unlock the cell and escort you to the door of the building…sleep well.

Zero leaves the room and shuts door.

Athame’: Well, I guess that’s good…

LD: Yea get out of here in the morning… least Inferno will be alright…

Athame’: …Why did you lie to him about Inferno and I?

LD: To find out his motives…get him to talk a little easier…if you had said something…’bout what you really are…who knows what the out come would have been. Not all humans in this world…have good intentions toward the city…plus I knew if I had lied to him he would believe it.

Athame’: How?

LD: That yellow eye he had- the same eye wit the scar? I have seen it before; it’s a cyber-Lens. It enhances the wearer’s sight as well as his tone of nerve detections. Meaning… it can detect lies. Being a native of the city, wouldn’t think you knew of that…so I lied for you…

Athame’: …Thank you…

LD: Well better get some sleep, gotta long walk ahead tomorrow…

Athame’: …Maybe we can get them to loan us a vehicle or something…

LD: Doubtful…but can’t hurt to ask…

Both role over to sleep until their freedom comes in the morning. Meanwhile in a watch tower Zero visits one of the guards on duty.

Zero: Anything?

Troop: No sir. The wastelands are clear of any threats. Nothing to be seen within a 25 mil radius.

Zero then takes a various scans with his eye (infrared scans, heat and light).

Zero: Well we are safe for another night. If the machines were to attack they would have done so by now…and I see nothing in a 5 mile radius…keep watch for now… I’ll send up someone to relieve you in 20 hundred hours.

Troop: Yes, sir.

Zero then walks slowly backed into the building with a troubled look on his face. The words of Athame’ were sinking into him very slowly. What if there was a hidden city?

A loud and startling alarm awakes Inferno, LD and Athame’ the next morning. Red and yellow lights mixed with loud rumbling of the building filled the halls and all rooms.

Inferno: What’s happening!?!

Athame’: I don’t know!

LD: It’s an Attack!!! Let move!!

All three head through the cell door as fast as they can. When they get into the hall way they see many people running in terror to hide and escape while soldiers ran toward the battle in all directions.

Athame’: Wait we can just leave! These people are under attack!

LD: I agree we need to… look OUT!

A large blast force its way through the wall almost hitting a few kids as they run pass, LD moves them quickly out the way. Inferno quickly steps in and uses a stream of fire to fire into the distance at what ever blasted the shot.

Athame’: It’s an ambush! Their being attack on all sides!

The three head outside as quickly as possible. When they come to the front of the outside building they see 3 giant size robots making their way to the front firing lasers and beams of all kind. They quickly take cover, and soon run into Zero barking orders at troops left and right, while at the same time defending the facility.

Zero: What you 3 doing hear?!! I thought you would be gone!!

Inferno: We came to lend a hand!!!…

LD: …But if you don’t want it that’s fine!!

Zero: Not sure what’s going on! This has never…!!

Get cut off by a huge explosion.

Zero: ... Never mind if you all wanna help defend this facility and the people with all you have!

Inferno’s eyes grow bright flaming yellow and he engulfs his body in fire and runs to one end of the facility. Athame’ takes herself to the sky. LD runs to a nearby catapult looking machine.

LD: What is this thing!?!

Troop: No time for history lesson! Just grab a gun and fire at anything that’s huge and moves!

LD then jumps into the catapult.

Troop: Hey get outta there!!! It for EMP Spheres only!

LD: Launch ME!!!

Troop: What?!?! You’re fuckin’ crazy!?!

LD: LAUNCH ME SOLDIER!!!!

The soldier does what he is told and LD is thrown into the sky with great force from the machine, heading head first toward a large Sky Hunter. He then lands on the wing of the machine, jams his sword into it, and runs it all the way to the back separating the wing from the machine. The Sky Hunter starts taking a nose dive into toward the ground. Meanwhile, Athame’ looks around briefly and sees a large stack of the EMP orbs all over the facility.

Zero: NO!! What are you doing?!?!

Athame’ takes all the orbs at the same time and launches them at the Ground Killer heading straight for the Facility. Doing this she shatters it into pieces leaving only one large Mega Sentinel to destroy in the distance. The troops cheer loudly, and Zero is even somewhat impressed. All see the troops on the other end trying to survive the attack from the mega sentinel. While troops fire randomly at the machine it fire back accurately destroying many. Inferno melts the ground around the machine slowing it down in a tar like substance, LD and Athame’ soon come to the scene with a Zero and a few troops behind him.

Zero: Fire!!!!!

Using various pieces left from the other robots Athame’ uses her telekinesis and fires them at the machine to knock it down. But they just bounce off the machine and it keeps coming. With assistance from the Zero and his troops, Inferno, LD and Athame’ begin a team assault on the machine. Inferno uses various fireballs of high intensity toward its legs but it continues to walk to the Asylum. Athame’ uses the element of lightening to attempt to over load and fry some circuits but still nothing. LD even tries to use his move he used on the sky hunter, but nothing works.

Zero: Aim for the eyes!!! The Eyes!! It’s it weak point!!!

Troops fire continuously hitting nothing. But the machine hit many as it fires back with its assault rapid fire guns.

Inferno: Athame’!!! Give me a boost!!!

Athame’: What?!?!

Inferno: A lift!! I have an idea!!!

Athame’: What are you planning!?!?

Inferno: Just do it!!! It’s our only shot!!!

She uses her powers of the wind to lift Inferno into the air.

Inferno: Now FIRE me!!!!

Athame’: What?!?!

Inferno: Remember our last simulation together!?!?!

Athame’ thinks for a second and then fires him like a sling shot toward the robots eyes. Inferno charges up like a blazing sun turning him into a human fireball and penetrates the eye of the Sentinel.

Stopping dead in its tracks the sentinel falls back slowly and comes to a loud crash to the surface as Inferno lands steadily to the ground. Everyone cheers for joy! The battle is over. Zero conjoins with LD, Inferno and Athame’.

Zero: Well done…I mean not bad for a few mutants…

He gets cut off by the robot turn its head, and he immediately slams his metal fist into its right eye.

Inferno: What are these things?

Zero: You don’t know? I thought you all were human?

LD: He’s joking. The question is what are they doing here, and how’d they get here.

Zero: Standard procedure. Early every morning, 8 troops are sent into the wastelands to hunt, kill, and salvage any robot and its parts… but today something went wrong, only 2 of my troops made it back. One is wounded the other in critical condition.

LD: So they followed your troops here.

Zero: I believe so… this won’t nor can’t happen again… lets tend to the wounded and salvage…

Cutting him off.

LD: You call yourself a leader? I don’t think you are fit to do anything of the sort…who are you to send helpless people into the wastelands for your own benefits, risking their lives and not your own…

Cuts him off.

Zero: Hey!!! I said this has never happened before… we were only slightly prepared for it, it wont happen again… anyone who joins this unit knows the consequences… and who the hell are you to question my leadership?! I have been at this a lot longer than you boy!!

The two get very close into each others face at this point and Athame’ cuts Zero off while at the same time breaking he and LD up.

Athame': Wait a second?! We survived, that is all that matters. NO one could have foreseen something like this happening...so just calm down.

Calming himself:

Zero: I just don't get it... I mean almost every robot and machine like these have been disabled since the Battle of the Pentagon in 2009. The only ones that should be up and running still are a few Artificial Humans. That's all...

Inferno: Maybe they have discovered the necessary means to rebuild and take over these kinds of machines?

Zero: ...

LD: ...You need to relocate...get these people and what's left of your troop’s outta here as soon as possible...

Zero: ...Something’s not right... I know... I need answers...

Inferno: ...

Athame': ...

Both Athame' and inferno talk briefly to themselves for a second.

Inferno: We can help you get those answers...

Zero: ?

LD: NO! What are you doing?!

Inferno: Its not you choice LD... It’s ours...

Athame': ...Come with us and we will take you somewhere where you can get the answers you seek...not promising anything...but it’s worth a try...

Zero: How is this so?

Inferno: Just come with us...

Athame': ...

Zero: I'm sorry I can't leave my people at such a time...we have to get to New Babylon...far from here...the journey is a great one... and they need me...

LD: ...I'll take them...

Zero: NO!

LD: You don't have much of a choice soldier... you seek answers; I can not get them for you neither can anyone else here, considering the shape they are in...

Zero: ...

LD: You find your answers...I'll make sure your troops...women...and children make it to New Babylon... safely.

Zero: ...

LD: ...

Zero: All... All right... All right red... But if you fail... you'll have a lot to worry 'bout other than a few robots...

LD: If I fail you can gut me with my own sword...

Inferno: *whispering to himself* Whew...Humans...

Athame': We should get going let’s get these people ready and out of here...

The Four split up and quickly prepare what's left of the people and troops left in the Asylum to venture through the wasteland to the city of New Babylon... One of 3 last remaining human cities.

Zero: I want you to report to me every chance you get when on the way... I'm trusting you with my most value asset...my people... they die... you die...

He says as he hands him a Communication link.

LD: ...Understandable...

The two gaze at each other and separate. For the first time ever, Zero wasn't leading his people somewhere and protecting them as he always had.

Inferno: ...You all right?

Athame': Yes... you seem a little distraught...

Zero: ... Nothin...Just...never have let my leadership go... 'specially to the hands of a stranger... but something tells me they will be alright...

Athame': Trust is a very fine line...

Inferno: Yea... it has to start somewhere...

Zero: ...

Inferno: Let's go...

The three walk back through the wastelands, toward the Hidden City… but their journey is far from over...