Episode 19
With a gentle squeeze Oliver let fly his first blast from
the Thunderbolt’s barking barrel. The slug’s super-dense mass broke down in a
flash to accelerate into a hyper velocity stream of heated light that traveled
directly towards an oncoming revenant. A condensed bean of white matter plowed
into the creature like the impact of the weapon’s namesake. The brutal blow
sent the unnatural thing free from its feet as the majority of its chest
vanished against the destructive force.
“Nice shot,” Vedia complimented as Oliver chambered another
slug and took aim again. Another revenant found itself unfortunate enough to
cross within the waiting crosshairs of her Phoenix. The crackle of released power
rippled through the air to ride its way into the foul fiend with a concussive crash.
Thermal energy devastated the decayed flesh as it ripped its way through to
burn the baleful body.
As the revenant fell to the ground Vedia immediately primed
her kinetic charger once more and moved to train her aim upon another target.
Already Vedia felt a sense of pride at how effective these weapons were proving
as opposed to their standard issue side-arms. But for every well placed shot
they both made to bring down one of the approaching abominations another seemed
to come into view. There was no way of knowing exactly how many of these things
there were to contend with. And while they dealt with the disgruntled dead the
sounds of growls from behind them told them Gabriel was still otherwise
engaged.
Staring up through the shock and tear stained cheeks that
had plastered her hair to her face a terrified young woman wailed at the
madness unfolding before her. While she watched on, tucked behind trembling
knees tightly curled into a ball a second horror joined her shattering sense of
a sane reality. This new monstrosity shined in the moonlight with patches of
metal mixing with its furry flesh.
For Gabriel the growing sounds of desperate fear from behind
him fueled his fury and drove his determination to defend them. A part of him
began to wonder whether or not this vocal victim could understand that he was
fighting on their behalf or if they even cared. Would they simply fear him as
well if he proved victorious? He didn’t have any way to know for sure but as
another series of swiped and slashes scrapped along his left side all such
thoughts left him. Replacing the contemplation was a stinging pain that
violently tore its way through him. Brought with it was the overwhelming rage
that accompanied the fact that this animalistic opponent had hurt him.
Impulsively Gabriel’s hammer lashed out to respond to the
sudden suffering as it slammed to strike a series of pounding pummels. Each
echoed blow met breaking bones that quickly began to re-knit themselves.
Confusion caused chaos to ignite its way through his mind as he reeled at the
realization he wasn’t causing any lasting damage. In the face of this frenzied
foe he seemed to be stumbling. He hesitated to swing his hammer again and instead
attempted a clumsy thrust with his own claws.
But where Gabriel was acting on conscious thought he found
his adversary easily responding brutally with primal instinct alone. The Doc
had been right, this shifting savage had grown so completely comfortable with
its own nature that it didn’t need to think about what to do. Like some wild
predator it merely acted by reflex alone. The time Gabriel was taking to think
everything through was beginning to cost him as another assault left his
abdomen bloody with a fresh stream of warmth before his own body could race to
deal with the burning sensation.
As a flurry of fangs and claws continued to lash out at
Gabriel he could hear fresh cries of terror from behind him. He had to do
something before this crazed creature managed to tear him to pieces. The beast
inside him begged for release against the shackles of self restraint. It howled
in the face of the horror and promised to destroy it. But with every step
closer to being unchained Gabriel found his own fear of lost control rallying
against it.
A sharp shriek pierced the night as the painful presence of
snapping jaws clenched down upon his shoulder and claws shredded at his skin.
Gabriel could feel the chains of his conscience shatter in response. An
explosion engulfed his insides as rage roared through him and he seized upon it
to ride it upwards. His hammer smashed solidly into his foes skull to stagger
it with a stunned shock. Immediately his open hand found an opportune grip on
the beasts flailing arm and held it fast. A second savage swing connected his
mighty mallet with the lethal limb with a loud shatter that was quickly
followed by a sharp snap from his own jaws.
Dangling at its side the barbaric beast retreated back
several steps as its arm slowly started to try and repair the terrible trauma. Distant
sounds of Vedia and Oliver struggled to reach Gabriel’s ears as he found his
focus squarely centered on his adversary. Even the cries from behind him now
seemed muffled as he moved to give chase. The only goal gripping his mind in
its sway was the need to destroy this thing before him completely. Only then
would he be satisfied.
Vedia rushed another cell into her Phoenix and risked a look back just in time
to see Gabriel moving to pursue his chosen enemy. “What is he up to,” she found
herself asking as her brow furrowed with concern. “He’ll leave them defenseless
if he ventures from his position! Oliver, I’ll cover you why you make for that
survivor. Keep them secure,” Vedia ordered as she squeezed off a quick blast
before priming a second.
“On it,” Oliver answered and immediately threw himself into
a dash to take up Gabriel’s vacant location. “Don’t worry, you’re safe now,” he
reassured the frail and frightened figure. Oliver had to appreciate the sense
of irony of the moment as he heard himself trying to console someone
confidently. Perhaps he was cut out for this assignment after all.
No comments:
Post a Comment