V M Ecker's Return [An Arbiter's Rage Quest]

Ecker Fax

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Markov was, as ever, full of life. Even in the reaches closer to the barrier were active. Citizens, surviving by the skin of their teeth on this harsh, unforgiving world, were moving to and fro, going about whatever business they had that day. Noise aplenty even with the dangers beyond the barrier so close. Their entire world could come to a ruin in an instant if the barrier ever failed. Ecker knew the dangers quite well. Mission after mission had seen him outside the barrier, whether it be to root out and destroy ravaging zoids, search for useful items of technology among the many ruins or patrol the surrounding landscape.

That was a life ago, when he had been a mech pilot in the Pilots Union. Yet not so long that the memories of those missions were still burned fiercely into his brain. Especially his last mission.

Ecker ran a hand through his gray-streaked hair, scowling at his thoughts, a half-chewed cigar between his teeth. He never actually lit the cigars, but they were ever present. Something he picked up from his old man. A reminder of where he came from.

The air was hot, as usual, with Ecker wearing a tight, short sleeved shirt and his usual pilot pants. His belt held his pistol, ever needed on this world, with a pair of shades covering his green eyes. A pack was slung over one shoulder containing food and drinks he had just purchased. His destination? Home. A hovel of a place he rarely visited these days ever since he had been discharged from the Union. One large room with a mattress, table and small kitchen. Little else except for the lavatory. At least it had a window so he could get a view of the outside world - such that is was. Around him, other citizens moved about, ignoring him, some keeping their distance, his presence alone enough to keep himself from receiving unwanted attention. Not that he minded. The regular citizenry were largely shielded from the world outside the barrier. They had no clue what was really waiting for them. Ecker knew all too well.

Eyeing those he passed, he felt a rage building up inside of him. Anger at those who he had, in the past, sworn to protect. What did they know of suffering? Of loss? His anger was imbued with sadness. Memories of his unit came forth, unbidden as always, their dead bodies freshly recalled. He fought the emotion, cursing to himself and clenching his teeth. Why? Why was he feeling this madness now? What had triggered these emotions? Ecker stopped and looked around. A normal roadway, if a bit decrepit. Like any other in Markov. Nothing out of the ordinary that might have been a trigger. Others around him looked to be suffering as well. Pained expressions, many holding their heads, some seated and visibly crying. Ecker spotted one man punching a wall, his hand bloodied and broken.

"What is going on?" he muttered, his right hand reaching for his holster. He unclipped the cover and rested his hand on the grip just in case there was trouble.

And trouble there was.

Screams started in the distance as the ground began to shake. Ecker planted his feet firmly to keep his balance, his keen eyes staring off into the distance. Another scream entered his mind, raging in agony, so powerful it nearly knocked him to his knees with its intensity. Staggering away, his Battle Sense kicked in at that moment, a natural ability he had honed over the years. How he had gained the strange power, he could not say, but it had saved him on many occasions. It enabled him to see unlike regular humans. His eyes adjusted quickly as heat signatures moved all around him. The screams intensified, the ground quaked as it erupted right in front of him. Stumbling backward, Ecker caught himself with his hands and rolled to the side barely avoiding the hole that opened up. Emerging from the hole, at a speed he could not fathom, were various sorts of plant life. Fauna, distorted and ghastly, next appeared, some baring large pointed teeth. They were like Ecker he had ever seen before.

'What in the ...' Ecker had no time to finish the thought as a long vine grabbed a nearby pillar and pulled down a section of the building next to him. Jumping away, Ecker could feel the large chunks of the building fall around him. Cursing, Ecker got to his feet quickly and began to run. What was happening? Damn this cursed world.
 

Ecker Fax

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Down the road Ecker ran as the hordes of strange creatures began to attack anyone standing nearby. The sound of flesh been rendered and torn filled his ears along with the screams of pain and calls for help. There were too many for Ecker to pause his pace. No one he could save until he could survey the situation from a safe vantage point. Survive. That is all he could focus on in that moment. Drawing his pistol with practiced skill, two shots escaped the chamber, striking a dog-like creature that had appeared in his path. He jumped over its body even as it fell dead. It proved to be a welcome distraction as other creatures leapt upon the dead beast he had killed sinking their sharp teeth into its body.

Ecker's luck continued to play in his favor.

With time enough to enter a building, Ecker burst through the doorway of a food store. Diving behind one of the rows of shelves, he just got hidden when the doors crashed open, the snarling of beasts heard loudly from the entrance. He soon discovered he was not alone. Panicked cries from elsewhere in the store hit his ears causing the creatures to bound towards them. Ecker hunched low on his feet peering around the edge of the shelf. Three creatures, each sporting a variety of technological and biological parts, bounded down another aisle. Screams were soon drowned out by the snarls and attacks of the odd beasts. Ecker felt bile rise up in his throat at the sound of flesh being torn apart. Even with his training, this was a bit much to handle. Moving towards the back of the store, he hoped to find a way to escape.

Escape. Survive. They were the only priorities now.

Weaving his way back, he found the doors leading to some kind of storage room. With the creatures busy with their meal, Ecker slipped quietly into the next room. Leaning against the wall, he took a deep breath looking around for an exit or other means of escape. The room was not very large with boxes of foodstuff and other groceries lining the walls. A single door at the back was the only exit.

I he pondered briefly, 'or take my chances with the unknown.'

A crash within the store made up his mind quickly. It seemed meal time was over.

Moving to the back wall quickly, he put his ear to the door while his free hand found the handle. There were sounds from beyond, but they did not appear to be too close. Better than what awaited him back in the storefront he thought. Opening the door slowly, Ecker peered outside. His eyes went wide in surprise. Running towards him was a young woman with a child in her arms. The back of the store lead to an alley where woman was now frantically looking for a place to hide. Spotting Ecker, she called out to him.

"Please, help us!"

That is when one of the dog-like creatures appeared, snarling as it bounded towards the woman. Peering back, the woman screamed and turned quickly to run towards him. Ecker opened the door wider so they might get inside. Raising his gun, he tried to get a clean shot of the beast, but it was difficult with the woman blocking his target.

'There is not enough time, they are done for,' his thoughts quickly assessed. There was nothing he could do but watch.

The mother, seemingly aware of their fate, kept running, tears streaking down her face. As they neared Ecker, the creature lunged forward crashing into the woman's back. In a last ditch effort, the woman tossed her child before the jaws of the beast clamped down on her neck. Ecker reacted quickly, rushing forward to catch the child. Grimacing at the impact, Ecker pulled the child to him as he rolled on the ground. Rising quickly, he hid the child's face from the scene before him and turned to run back into the store. Slamming the door behind him, held the child to his chest.

"What is going on?" he muttered as held the child, a girl he soon realized, who was crying and calling for her mother. Slowly, he placed the girl on the floor whispering she would be okay in her ear. "I am not going anywhere. I just need to barricade this door."

Whether the girl understood or not, she did allow him to release her. Quickly, Ecker moved boxes and anything else he could find against the back door and the door leading to the storefront. The girl continued to cry as he worked, which was well in good, since it did work to drown out the chaos happening outside. As he moved one stack of boxes, another door was revealed, and after quick inspection, Ecker found it hid a small ladder that lead to the roof above. Ecker pondered this new information as he looked back the girl. She could be no more than six years old with shoulder length blonde hair. Her clothes were dirty and torn, her skin dirty, her tear streaked face looking back at him as she whimpered where she sat. A bead of snot was dripping from her nose, which she wiped away with the sleeve of her shirt.

Kids. Ecker never knew what to do with them. Her mother was dead. He did not need to check the alleyway for confirmation. The sounds of the beasts teeth digging into her neck had been enough confirmation. What was he to do with her? Running a hand over his face, he looked back at the ladder. First they had to survive whatever was happening. A slam at the back door told him they might not much time left.
 
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