V S M Sunrise [Unmaking Quest]

[Altanis]

Still fighting to regulate her breathing, Altanis jerked and jolted where she sat. Scrambling and thrashing about to try and find her bearings.

It was cold now, and dark; only faint moonlight streaming in through a window gave any illumination at all to the scene. Some kind of small old storage shed, or other similarly dilapidated building. How repulsive.

A shuddering cough projected a wad of phlegm and blood from her throat, splattering onto the ground before her as she slowly pushed herself upright. She quickly deduced that she was not alone, in no small part thanks to the half-breathless squeak of "what the fuck" that came from nearby. Shaking her head to clear the dust of a brush with death from her thoughts, the hellspawn slowly looked over the room to find the source of the noise...and settled on it after only a moment.

"You," she hissed, through bared teeth. "Still alive, in spite of everything, I see..."

"Th-That's my line, you..." the mechanic sputtered, her face ghost-white in the dim light. "...you were dead. Like, not even just unconscious or passed out from shock or pain or something; you were dead-dead!" She jerked one arm up, pointing and jabbing her finger toward the gingerly straightening form of the centaur. "You were cold, no pulse, not breathing, nothing! So how..." She faltered momentarily, her arm shaking as she swallowed her own words. "...how are you..." And she trailed off helplessly, just waving an arm limply in the demon's general direction.

"Hmph...how, indeed..." Altanis murmured, slowly lifting an arm to stare at her hand. Still smeared with her own blood, and now also covered in a thorough layer of desert sand and dust. "You are not wrong. I died, quite surely." Her hand drifted up to where she had been shot through the head, her sharp nails delicately brushing across the skin of her forehead...and finding no trace of the gaping bullet wound. "Whatever the reason, however...it seems my strength is restored."

"What do you mean?" Joey straightened up slightly, sitting up on one knee and shuffling back away from the other waking occupant of the dingy little shed.

"When you found me before, I was...injured. Weak. It was all I could do to stand and travel with you." She clicked her tongue, waving her hand slightly as a dim swirl of dark smoke crawled over her body. The layers of filth; dust, dirt, sand, grime and blood slowly peeled away, like something reptilian shedding an old layer of skin. "Using any of my power at all was...taxing. And it nearly broken me entirely to manage even getting us past that gate. Now, however..." She trailed off, and flicked her fingertips toward the wall. The layers of filth she had peeled away from herself splattered against it, leaving an ugly smear upon it.

She ran the clawed fingers of both hands through her long mane of hair, and rose up to her full height. "That is no longer the case. As ignominious as my untimely death may have been, it has inadvertently served a purpose, in that I return from it healed and strong again." She curled one hand into a tight fist, as face slowly split into a leering, vicious grin. "And I saw things, in my death dreams...heard things...learned things. Things which have given me purpose, and no reason at all to remain in this place."

"So, wait, hold up a sec here..." Joey brushed at her face with one grimy, gloved hand. "...you just...die, and then wake up like nothin' happened, suddenly right as fuckin' rain, and...now you got some big thing to go do?"

"Precisely. These ingrates upon this mountain...they are little more than a symptom of some other problem." She slowly swept her arm out in a lazy gesture. "This entire world...and apparently others beyond it, is effected. Under siege, by an entity called...Darkseid."

In the shadows, there was a faint twitch of movement. Slowly, a humanoid shadow stirred, and the silvery moonlight glittered against the blue of their eyes in the dark.

Beginning the Unmaking quest 'The Fleeing Masses' here.
Post Words: 681
Total Words: 681/2500

 

[Altanis]

"Dark...side?" Joey repeated blankly. "What, you tellin' me we're dealing with some edgelord teenager's newest made up character here?"

Altanis scoffed. "Unfortunately, I was not made privy to...specific details. Only broad terms, and that whatever this entity is, not even those n charge of these worlds wish to treat it lightly."

"You mean...the Aribiters?" The mechanic heaved a sigh. "Jeeze, what kinda rock were you born under to now even know that..."

"I am not from these worlds at all!" the hellion snapped. Somewhere within the shed, several glass objects cracked and shattered, making the human flinch. "Your ridiculous terms and gods are alien and foreign to me, and at the moment I care very little for learning more of them than is necessary to further my new goal."

"Alright, alright already! Chill out!" Joey cried, rubbing one arm nervously and slowly scooting away from any other easily exploded objects. "Don't get your non-existent panties in a twist... So what's your new big idea?"

"She wishes to fight." The dry, cracked voice of the shed's other occupant finally spoke up, startling both Joey and Altanis. "Against this...Darkseid and his corruptive influence." The pale blue of his eyes gleamed brightly in the dark, as he slowly leaned forward. "Is that not right?"

"it seems we have yet another guest..." Altanis murmured. "And quite a daring one, to speak so out of turn." She grinned faintly, turning her upper torso to face him directly. "You are, however, correct." She folded her arms over her chest, regarding the ragged, broken-looking figure huddled in a corner with a critical eye. "Now tell me...who are you? And why are you here? I have gathered that this group of mad brutes doesn't just capture everyone and throw them in this place."

"No...not everyone," he croaked. "Only those they think weak and fragile enough to break into alignment of their own desperate plans. Them...and anyone who they think may be some kind of threat or danger, however minor." He heaved a dry, dusty chuckle. "...I'll leave it to you to guess which of those two categories I fall under." It took him a moment to quiet down again, as his laugh trailed off into a dry cough.

"As for who I am...you may call me Joshua Graham." He leaned forward into the light, the silver glow casting his bandaged face into view. "Or 'The Burned Man', if you are so inclined."

Joey immediately recoiled with a yelp, frantically scrabbling and scrambling back across the shed away from Graham until she had flattened herself against the wall. "N-No fuckin way...holy shit..." she whispered. Her eyes seemed to have doubled in size, and her entire body was shaking; from the desert night's chill, or from this sudden revelation, it was hard to tell. "The...the Burned Man...and some dead chick walking..." She shook her head numbly, as if in a daze, before slumping forward and letting out a long sigh. "...oh, fuck me..."

"Perhaps later, if you remain civil enough." Altanis lifted a finger in Joey's direction, but seemed to pay her no further mind.

For her part, Joey's shock and disbelief was so severe that it took her nearly five full seconds to finally register that. "W-Wait, hold on, that..." she sputtered and stammered, her pale face regaining its color with a sudden deep red flush. "S-S-Sarcasm...just...figure of speech!"

"I am aware." The demonic creature shook her head. "But I find your...moping, shocked state to be even more repulsive and unbearable than normal." Her head turned to look down at the flustered mechanic, now glaring daggers back up at her. "But that attitude there...all fiery and stern and angry. So flustered and embarrassed." She smirked. "Far more appealing."

"Y-You..." Joey's face went an even darker shade of red, this time for an entirely different reason. She grit her teeth, jabbing her arm up to point at the larger woman in her best effort to be threatening. "Knock it off, already! You keep acting like...like...!"

She was cut off by a sudden blur of movement from Altanis, leaning down toward her and placing one single finger over the human's half-parted lips. "Enough of that, girl. I do not 'act like' anything. You should take it as a compliment...most humans I have encountered are so dreadfully dull and repulsive, with little in the way of redeeming qualities. I would sooner toss them out of my way than give them even the time of day. Much less even consider finding them..." She trailed off, slowly lowering her hand and dragging her sharp nail down the mechanic's chin, leaving a thin red line that didn't quite break the skin. "....appealing."

"You..." She laughed, as Joey sputtered again and recoiled, both hands balled into fists and lifted up halfway between hugging herself and punching the arrogant bitch in front of her. "Would you just stop it already! This ain't the time or the place for that kind of shit!"

"Oh?" This brought an almost predatory grin to the hellspawn's face as she rose back up to her full height, leering down at the mechanic with bared teeth. "You will have to show me the proper place for such things, then, when we have left here and arrive at such an appropriate time." She waved a hand dismissively at the woman, turning away. "But be silent, now; I have more questions for our patient friend, here."

Graham sat in silence in his corner, watching the other two with an impassive and unblinking stare. "Both of you have the spirit of a survivor, at least," he finally said. "Good...you will need that, with what is to come." He slowly moved to stand up, and shuffled unsteadily into the light.

Not just his face, but his entire body was swathed in bandages. A long-sleeved shirt, perhaps white once upon a time, but now so covered in the grime of desert survival it had been reduced to a sandy gray-brown. Dirty, torn and ragged denim jeans covered his legs, full of holes both from simple wear and tear as well as what were unquestionably bullets and blades. Scuffed, ragged and thoroughly well-worn boots finished his attire.

"I am far from the most educated or knowledgeable about the full extent of this corruption...but I will tell you what I can." He nodded toward the doorway. "But first...we should leave this place. We can talk on the way."

Unmaking Quest "the Fleeing Masses" progress
Post Words: 1,075
Total Words: 1,786/2500

 

[Altanis]

The door of the old storage shed that had been haphazardly converted into a prison groaned and creaked. Splintering flakes of rust jumped from it as the metal warped and twisted from some unseen force being applied to it. Slowly but steadily, it started to crumple inward, folding in on itself and peeling away from the frame until it had been compacted into something the size of a jagged basketball, surrounded in a dim haze of red and black.

"I trust whatever information you might have for us includes where we should go from here, mister Graham," Altanis murmured quietly as she slowly stepped out into the chilly night. The remains of the door slowly hovered over to float near her head, slowly revolving in place as it did so.

The Burned Man slowly hobbled out of the old shed, using a length of pipe as a makeshift walking stick to support himself. "It does, rest assured," he spoke quietly. "Our first destination, in fact...is quite close at hand." He pointed, off further into the compound. "There, toward what passes for the barracks and living quarters for these mutants. They take more...feeble and broken prisoners there, to be properly 'taught'. The armory is also there, where they store certain...valuable items."

"And why the fuck would we want to go anywhere near that?" Joey snapped as she shuffled out into the night, elbowing past Graham. "That sounds like nothing but trouble waiting to happen!"

"It is." Graham turned his unflinching, unblinking gaze on the woman. "It is also where much of what I have to tell you can be seen firsthand and verified...and perhaps, where some of those who have been taken can yet be saved."

Altanis snorted derisively. "And why, pray tell, should we even care about such things?" She made a show of studying her nails in clear, open disinterest. "If they were as feeble as you say, then what worth do they have? What possible reason or benefit could there be to saving them?"

"There is no benefit, or reward." Though his words were still quiet, his voice remained firm and even, every bit as cool as the desert night's air. "It is simply the right thing to do. I was supposed to be a guide for them, on this world...and lead them to some place they could be safe." His bandaged hands tightened on the pipe, as the look in his eyes turned darker, a touch of something between regret and a dull smoldering fury taking root in his gaze. "And I may yet still have a chance, if we can set them free."

He took in a deep breath, his shoulders slowly relaxing. "...and along the way, we will dispose of the mutants, and others who follow them. The insane, the broken, and the cursed; those who believe that giving aid and supporting the goals of this...Darkseid entity will grant them some sort of favor."

"Hmph...very well then." Altanis clicked her teeth once, with a scowl. "I am feeling inexplicably generous....we will see to disposing of the remainder of these fools who cling to such foolishness upon this mountain. If we should happen to run across any of your misplaced followers while we are at it...then I suppose I may see fit to set them free."

"Wow. Real fuckin generous." Joey said flatly. "I'm blown away by such an overwhelming display of kindness. I think my heart might explode."

"You are welcome to leave on your own," the hellspawn said with a dismissive flick of her wrist. "I am sure you remember the way back down the mountain."

"That would not be wise..." Graham shook his head. "it is likely they have placed patrols or guards along the way, after your earlier arrival and sudden entry. It will not be as peaceful and quiet on your trip out, I assure you."

Joey muttered darkly under her breath, shivering in a sudden breeze as she fumbled with zipping up her jacket. "Fine, then, whatever! I guess I'm stuck with you until you're done here!" She hunched her shoulders, subtly shifting closer to the other two. "Just...I'm no good at any kind of fightin' or anything. So this is gonna be all up to you guys."

"There's no need to worry..." Graham shook his head, gently placing a bandaged hand on the mechanic's shoulder. "If we can get to the armory, and I can recover my equipment...I can fight well enough for the both of us."

"And until then, it will rest entirely upon me to ensure our protection and progress, I suppose." Altanis rolled her eyes, with an overly dramatic sigh. "Oh, very well, then...just do not make this unnecessarily difficult for me."

"I would never dream of it." Graham nodded toward the distant compound. "We should keep moving. There is much more to be said about what we are dealing with...and why there are so many here to be saved."

Unmaking Quest "the Fleeing Masses" progress
Post Words: 827
Total Words: 2,613/2,500

Word count technically done; one more post following to finish out quest requirements

 

[Altanis]

"...I was born here, on this world." Graham spoke up quietly, after several paces. "Not in one of the larger cities or settlements...but out among the sands and wilds and the smaller towns. I grew up to be a guide and instructor...helping others to safely traverse the wilds and keep out of the common territory of the raiders, bandits and other psychotic individuals roaming the sands."

"That's pretty different from what all the stories about you say," Joey cut in rather bluntly. "They all make it out like you were some boogeyman mercenary or something. This big monster, roaming the desert and causing trouble for anyone not paying you to keep them safe."

Graham let out a weak, dry chuckle. "Yes...I suppose I can see why they would say that. That is what the ones who eventually got tired of me spread around." He lowered his gaze slightly with a weary sigh. "It is not entirely inconsistent with the truth, though it is...exaggerated. I was every bit as relentless and merciless as they say. Far from a monster simply out for blood and money, but when it came time to a fight, or to keep those under my charge at the time safe, there was little time to be had for things like mercy or hesitation, or leaving survivors. I did not seek out battle or conflict, or go out of my way to track down those who had wronged me or were known as trouble...if they did not come before me, then they were not a problem to be dealt with."

"A very pragmatic and reasonable approach," Altanis murmured. "Quite an effective one, as well, if properly carried out...though I suspect it was not quite so successful for you in the long run."

"In the end...it did turn out to be my undoing, I suppose." His tone turned bitter and cold as he continued. "I was caught unawares one journey, as a group I was leading rested for the night. They struck with unprecedented precision, and took me down with a blow from behind. Enough to knock me down, and then they were upon me; they held me down, immobile, as they rounded up all those under my care..." His bandaged hands twisted about the pipe he held, squeezing and clenching tightly enough that the bones of his knuckles popped and the metal pipe squealed as it crumbled slightly. "...and put them to the torch, down to the last. The old, the sick, the infirm, the young."

"That's just sick, man..." Joey muttered, shaking her head in disgust.

"And entirely unnecessary." Altanis scoffed. "Such ridiculous brutality and violence...as if only for its own sake and nothing more. Surely there could have been more value or usefulness to be had from capturing them than simply butchering them so."

"And you are also fucking sick!" the mechanic snapped, shuffling a few paces away from the centaur. "In the head."

"Sick, perhaps...but correct. There would have been much more value to be had in keeping even some of them alive." Graham shook his head. "They weren't out for value, however...just blood, and to send a message. A message they sent all too clearly when they bound me in pitch-slathered ropes and threw me into the fires of my burning charges."

Joey visibly flinched, looking pale. "And you...didn't die? From being literally burned alive?"

"Not for their lack of trying..." Graham muttered. They stood by all the rest of that night, and all through the following day, as the fire burned...and when it had finally burned itself out, they found me. Still there, still alive. I don't know how...all I can remember is the searing, blinding pain. And an inescapable, all-consuming fury and sadness within my heart, burning even hotter than the fire around me."

For a few seconds that seemed to stretch into hours, Graham was silent. "....they found my survival...amusing. Heedless of my suffering, and taking great delight in it in fact, they dragged me from the ashes and across the desert. The sand and rocks scraping against my body...were a level of pain that I cannot describe. Eventually...they threw me from the edge of a canyon. I could hear their cruel, mocking laughter all the way down, as I smashed into the rocks and canyon walls. I don't know how I survived...but eventually, I awoke at the bottom of that canyon."

"The pain I felt was beyond compare...as if my skin had been turned to glass, grinding into the flesh beneath with every movement. But it was not enough to keep me down..." His voice grew colder still, darker and almost sinister. The weary, dry and cracked edges faded and for a moment he spoke strong and clearly. "I climbed up out of that canyon, and tracked down those who had tried to dispose of me. I visited upon them the same fate they had upon those under my care...death for every one, down to the last. And then..." His voice cracked, and he slumped slightly. "...then my fury finally started to cool, and I fell into blackness."

"It still eludes me exactly how I survived...but when I next awoke, it was in a hospital facility off world. They were able to save my life...but due to a genetic anomaly exacerbated by the burns, I was left all but immune to most forms of medicine. They could do nothing for my pain, or to actually heal my burns."

"That would explain why you are called 'the Burned Man', I imagine," Altanis said thoughtfully. "Surviving such injuries and treatment on its own would be a miraculous feat for a human...but to do so and immediately have the strength to enact vengeance!" She laughed, with a sinister curl of her lips. "It is the perfect origin for a figure that would become a nightmare."

"Was it really only the one time?" Joey seemed...flabbergasted and disbelieving. "All the rumors and stories make it out like you were out there doing that for...years, at least. Leaving hundreds or thousands of bodies in your wake."

"if I had stayed here...perhaps it would have been so. But once I was off the world, my fury and despair were reduced to mere embers, and for a time I could forget them." Graham exhaled heavily. "Until the coming of this...Darkseid." He looked slowly up toward the sky. "I was on Govermorne, when it was overwhelmed and consumed by that destruction and blackness. I fled, along with many others...and chose to return here. To help aid and escort the survivors, and guide them to relative safety even in such an inhospitable place. But..."

"....ah. I begin to understand now." The hellspawn let out a long, overly dramatic sigh that trailed off into a chuckle. "These people you want to save from this place...they are the ones you fled back to this world with. You feel responsible, because intentionally or not, it was under your guidance that they were captured." She crossed her arms over her chest, raising one eyebrow slightly. "You do not want a repeat incident of your...origin."

"You are...correct." Graham's shoulders slumped. "The moment they descended upon us, and we were doomed to capture...I could feel that old fire begin to rekindle itself. The unforgiving heat of that long-forgotten rage, and the roaring, consuming wail of that despair and sadness..." His bandaged hands clenched tightly around the pipe. "....I could feel them rising, growing stronger. I fear what may happen if I fail completely again."

"Hmm... Well. As interesting as it might be to see such a thing, it wouldn't exactly be favorable to my own motives." The demonic general shrugged dismissively. "So let us ensure that you do not fail."

"....you're a real fuckin' saint," Joey muttered darkly.

Unmaking Quest "the Fleeing Masses" progress
Post Words: 1,293
Total Words: 3,906/2,500

and now word count and quest criteria both met