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The Eternal Conflict, Chapter 1:The City
Posted By: Caleb the Jackal<custombuiltsongs@yahoo.com>
Date: 24 November 2005, 6:28 pm
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"So CoLd what should we do?" Ark Night pestered CoLd BlooDed relentlessly as they walked down the dusty street. "So where are we going? Please tell me! Oh please!" Ark Night continued to carry on as the two made their way to the long dark pier that protruded out into the water. Rain fell gently, casting a dreary mood to an already grim city. The air was grey and hazy, hiding much of the space in front and behind the duo. CoLd BlooDed pulled the collar of his long black jacket up a little higher to fight the feeling exposure which slowly crept up his spine.
"Settle down Ark. We will be there shortly. The best thing that you can do now is to just settle down and watch our backs." They continued walking down the drab grey streets, passing the broken neon signs that advertised shops and products long dead. Looking around as they walked, the two had the uneasy feeling of being watched. Each apartment passed greeted the men with curtains being drawn tight and the sound of deadbolts, grinding tightly to a halt, securing the door from most outside intrusion.
Drawing a silenced, flat black M6D from his coat CoLd BlooDed whispered, "Ark I want you to be quiet now. We are about to get into the bad part of town, or the worse part by the looks of it." CoLd BlooDed had never liked the city of Posting Practice.
Gleaming alloy doors parted with a hiss, allowing the lone figure in a black overcoat and mirror finished, black shades to walk through them, coat billowing behind him. He gripped in his hand a massive war hammer that could turn a fire hydrant into a manhole cover. The hardwood walls of the restaurant gleamed cleanly in the white light. An heir of high living and business people met the tall warrior but no one seemed to notice him enter. He moved strait to a table filled with a mixed company.
"Wado, it's good to see you. Sit down, order yourself a drink my friend," offered BlasTech genially.
"Well I would but you see there is no place for my hammer," said Wado lifting his massive titanium-A weapon for all to see. "No I can't sit down right now, I suppose I must go. I just came to tell you that we are having some trouble in Posting Practice City and I think that some of the regulars are about to take it into their own hands. I think that I am going to go down there and take a look. What do ya say? After dinner you, Jilly, and I head down there?" Wado looked around the table, taking in all the Mods and Regs that sat there.
"Right then, directly after dinner. You might want to get MCC in on this too. We could always use another hammer on the team." Wado lifted his massive shining hammer and laid it gently on his black clad shoulder. "Catch you Vets later." Starting to walk out and as if he had remembered something highly important, he turned back and said, "Wear something you won't mind getting dirty or a bit singed.
Grey paint flaked off of the warehouse doors that stood bent and decrepit before CoLd BlooDed and Ark Night. A gentle breeze blew past sending dust and chips of paint across CoLd's hand as he reached to slide them open. Still holding the silenced sidearm at an uneasy readiness, he slowly pulled the doors open the slightest bit. Chanting reached the ears of the two and CoLd pushed Ark Night backward until he faced out with his back to the flaking wall.
"Listen to what they are saying Ark Night and listen well. What you are hearing is a clan of n00bs. Their only goal is to destroy this city."
It is just fiction! It is only meant to be enjoyed, not quality! This isn't a book! My spellchecker is broken! Someone help me fix it! Wow nice story I had some waffles this morning that would blow you away! I hate your freaking guts why don't you just say something nice!
"I brought you here because you were beginning to sound a lot like those fools. I want you to know how close you actually were to tasting Wado and Master Chief's Cousin's hammers. I don't want that for you Ark Night and I know you don't either." CoLd pulled out another pistol from a tattered leather shoulder holster underneath his aging black jacket. It was a stock M6D with a makeshift silencer on it. "This was the first weapon that I ever used to kill a n00b with. I am giving it to you. Can you do this?"
"I can and I will," was Ark Night's simple answer. "But how will I know the
difference between a newb and a n00b?"
"I can't tell you that. You must look within yourself for the answer my friend," said CoLd looking directly into his younger counterparts eyes. "Now we are going to go in there and eliminate this gang of n00bs. I got a tip that Spanish Spartan is here rallying his n00by troops. We must act."
"Okay, I'm ready. I will follow your lead CoLd," said Ark his voice wavering. CoLd placed his hand on his young friends shoulder. Cock your weapon and let's go. The two metallic pops were barely audible over the chanting that had reached a excited roar.
Like shadows upon shadows the two slipped in together and got as close to the chanting crowd as they could.
"Burn, burn, burn, burn, until it hurts! The crowd of meandering, zombie like creatures, chanted loudly while dancing around a fire. A closer look revealed that they were burning constructive criticism and helpful comments.
"CoLd, why are they burning constructive criticism, reason, and helpful comments? I don't understand."
"I don't either," whispered CoLd. "They don't seem to have any rhyme or reason behind anything they do or say. All I know is that they are not only destroying Posting Practice City. It is spreading Ark, like a disease. One day if this continues at the rate that it is going, it will eventually destroy they entire country of HBOFF!"
"But that is impossible! HBOFF is our home!"
"I know Ark, that is why we have to do this. This is too big a job for the Mods. Eventually this will overrun even them. Now let's do what we came here to do!"
Ark Night ground the toe of his heavy black boot against the concrete, preparing to leap into action. Turning his head slightly he was just able to see CoLd BlooDed crawling toward the door. He had a primed fragmentation grenade in hand. Looking over he gave Ark the thumbs up right before tossing the grenade in.
Wham! The grenade went off sending chunks of rock, wood, and n00b flying over the heads of Ark Night and CoLd BlooDed. All of the n00bs that survived the blast saw the most terrifying sight of their newly shortened lives. Two men in trench coats blasted through the still falling rubble. The scene seemed to stand still for a brief moment as fire, smoke, rubble and whirling black became one. Every high explosive round met its mark and not a shot was wasted.
Four people, two with massive war hammers, stood among the rubble. They briefly walked around, every once in a while kicking a limp corpse, checking for life that they knew was not to be found.
"Dang it! I wish we had arrived just five minutes earlier. We could've seen who did this." Wado knelt and picked up the hand of one of the fallen n00bs. Half of the body was blown away but the blood was still flowing freely and the stiffness of death had not yet set in. "They've been dead for about fifteen minutes by the looks of it. It looks like the killers were looking for someone. As to whom that is, I am at a loss."
A smooth, deep voice echoed out from the corner. "Wado, I don't believe that we could catch up with the killers now. The best thing to do is to watch and wait. If this begins to get out of hand we can intervene. Besides, these were exactly star citizens."
"You're right MCC. I say that we all take separate sections of the city. We should each take a Vet as backup. Listen to any gossip you may hear about n00b gatherings and we will all meet back up at the Bar. If you hear anything do not hesitate to contact me. I will be in touch." A huge cloud of smoke burst into existence and just like that was gone again. Wado was nowhere to be found.
"Okay Jillybean, you take the south west quadrant. I will take South East and Dave, you take North East. Wado is heading to the North West because that is the worst part of town. I am going to take Russ687 with me. You would all do well to take someone that you can trust no matter what. I feel that this is just the beginning of a much bigger conflict. And remember… Look for all of the small details. They matter."
"I will take Arbitress. She and I should do alright," said Jillybean with a bow. Igniting an Energy Sword she looked up at the two remaining men. If anyone tries anything I will cut first, ask questions later." The light of the sword made her deep red hair gleam brightly. Beautiful as she was, Jillybean could take care of herself. She switched off the blade and walked out quickly.
"Well MCC, I believe I will be going alone. Right now I think I could handle just about anything that comes my way." As Dave spoke he drew a massive no-dachi from the scabbard on his back. "This thing is a folded steel, n00b killing, machine. You don't have to worry about me."
"Yes Dave I will be going it alone as well." MCC hoisted the hammer and his sleeve fell back revealing his right arm to be chiseled and muscular. "My hammer has dealt with many a n00b and will deal with many more. Let's go Dave."
"CoLd, what happened? Were you able to get Spanish Spartan?" Caleb stood and set the eight gauge shotgun that he was cleaning, down on a small oak table. "How did Ark Night do?"
CoLd BlooDed raised his hand and stopped Caleb's questioning. "Spanish Spartan was either not there or made it out before Ark and I made it in. Ark did fine and is ready to move to the next level, Semi-Regular." Picking up the large, pump action shotty, CoLd examined it carefully. He turned and surveyed the two large ammo belts that traversed Caleb the Jackal's chest. They were filled to the last slot with green, three and a half inch, eight gauge shells. All with a trademark Hippo printed on the casing. "You know I don't see what it is that you like about this gun. So messy and brutal, but I have to say I love your style when it comes to that S2 over there. You're the best shot I know of." Setting the gun back down, he turned and placed his hand on Caleb's shoulder. "Don't worry my friend. Our cause will see its end in time. Go to bed. We have a lot of work to do."
Caleb the Jackal and CoLd BlooDed sat down, choosing their favorite barstools at AIAF Bar. The cedar bar was pockmarked by many cigars and cigarettes that had been set down on it in the past. A slight haze filled the air in the bar and the sound of cracking met the men's ears as couple of men shot pool in the corner.
"Caleb…CoLd… Will you two be having the usual today?" asked the bartender as he polished glasses and stacked them neatly.
"Ah mr bill, I'm afraid you know us too well. We'll have a double today."
"Coming right up CoLd. You want that on your tab, or will you be paying in cash?"
A large shadow rose up behind Caleb and CoLd BlooDed, filling their vision. The former slowly drew a pistol from within the folds of his large jacket. Mr bill's eyes grew wide and he set the glass that he was polishing down.
"Cousins? What brings you to this part of town?" mr bill said this as he flipped the rag over his shoulder and reached out his hand in greeting.
Caleb and CoLd spun around and stashed the pistol before anyone had the chance to see it. Their eyes grew wide and no one said anything for the briefest moment. Master Chief's Cousin took mr bill's hand and they shook briefly. Finally Caleb broke the silence.
"Jeez Cousins you have got to stop doing that. I almost shot you!" Caleb and CoLd both let out a visible sigh of relief.
"Now why would you go and do something like that?" Chuckled MCC. "You didn't think I was some kind of… n00b did you?"
"Well lately we don't know what to think. There are so many imposters running around this city… It is hard not to be paranoid." CoLd absentmindedly scratched the back of his neck as he said this. He took one of the drinks that mr bill had set down for him and took a long draw on it.
"I was waiting on the roof for these two to show up and I noticed that your gutters are rather clogged mr bill. I would look into that. You don't want to forget about that flow. It is very important."
"Right you are Cousins. I will most definitely look into it. So will you be having anything to drink?"
"No thank you mr bill. I am just here to have a chat with these two. Right this way fellas. We will need some privacy."
The three walked behind the bar and into the musty storeroom filled from floor to ceiling with bottles and bottles of ale. MCC's hammer was so large that he had to leave it setting just outside the door.
"Last night some of the Mods and I happened upon a warehouse full of dead n00bs. I don't want to point any fingers but… We believe that you two may have something to do with it." Cousins looked from one to the other, trying to see any sign of emotion.
"Well I think…" CoLd's stare stopped Caleb in his tracks. He turned and looked directly into MCC's eyes and just stared.
"So you think that Caleb and I killed some n00bs? Okay supposing it was us, why are here asking us about it like it was a bad thing? The guys that did that should be congratulated, not slapped on the hand."
"Well I almost feel that way. But you need to remember to let us Mods do our jobs. If we need your help we will ask for it." MCC laid a hand on each of the men's shoulders. "I trust that you two will keep your noses clean. In the mean time," Cousins paused as if thinking about something. "Keep me posted."
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