Quakester
05-31-2005, 05:16 PM
Quake opened his eyes. It was dark, but there was no moon or stars. His head was throbbing. Quake reached back to touch the top of his head and winced in pain. He felt the stickiness of blood on his fingers. The blood wasn’t what frightened him most though. “Where are my gauntlets?” he asked himself frantically. He began feeling around on the ground. He hadn’t moved far before he hit a wall. Dazed he started back the other way. A few feet away and he hit another wall. “Where am I?” Carefully Quake pulled himself up on the wall. Then the voice started.
“Welcome to our Maze of Shadows Quake. I’m sure you’ll find yourself most comfortable here. Sorry about your gauntlets. We couldn’t have you using your powers, now could we?”
“If you think that will stop me from using my powers, then you’re sadly mistaken.” Quake replied, his fury building. “They were merely what was going to hold me back when I catch up with you.”
“I wouldn’t get so loud if I were you. You might wake the others in there with you. And they are ever so grouchy if they haven’t slept till at least moon rise.” The voice chuckled, the sound echoing down the hallways.
“What do you mean, others?” Quake asked his voice slightly hushed.
“Well it was going to be a surprise, but seeing as you’ll soon be dead anyway, why not. Our Warwolves are obviously powerful weapons. However, some of them do not turn into the loyal servants we had intended. Sometimes the beast within is more then even they can control and they become entirely feral. This is where we keep those ‘failures’, as well as where we stick troublesome foes like yourself. They haven’t had hero in quite awhile. I’m certain they are dying for another taste.” The voice let out a laugh and a snort could be heard down the hall. “Ooops looks like I’ve awakened one myself. I’ll just let you two get acquainted. Enjoy your stay Quake.”
“Oh shi-“ Quake’s swear was cut short as the beast lunged at him, tackling Quake to the floor. In the darkness Quake couldn’t see his opponent, but he certainly could fell him tearing at the already tattered remains of his uniform. Quake’s mind raced with indecision. Can I risk using my powers, with no way to control them? He thought. The Warwolve’s claws tore into his shoulder. Well that answers that question. Quake’s body began to glow as he summoned forth the power that was his birthright. In the bright glow of his powers, Quake looked into the eyes of his foe and felt his heart drop. The eyes were human.
The beast immediately lowered its arms, the deadly claws falling away from Quake’s face. The beast seemed to writhe, as if fighting with something. What, Quake could not tell. Then as if its fur were melting away the lupine features began to vanish, the face becoming gradually more and more human. Finally a young man, bearing the scant remains of clothing, stood before Quake. He coughed and looked up wearily. “I’m sorry.” He said then collapsed at Quake’s feet.
Quake knelt to help the young man up. He’s only a kid Quake thought. The Fifth Column are true monsters to do this to a child. He lifted the youngster back to his feet, where he wobbled unsteadily. “Who are you son?” Quake asked trying his best to act the hero.
“My name is Daric Halsting.” Daric coughed violently, almost loosing himself from Quake’s grip. “Why are you glowing?” he managed. Startled Quake looked at himself and released that he was still glowing with the unexpelled energy. “They took my gauntlets away…” he started. He looked down to see the boy nodding. The boy understands? Quake thought. But how? “I..I can’t control my powers for long without them.”
“They took my armor as well.” Daric replied. Quake looked down at the young boy, a puzzled look upon his face. Daric looked up at him and spoke again. “I have trouble controlling my…condition without my suit of armor. Its magic holds back the transformation. I wouldn’t have attacked you had I been wearing my armor.”
“Why are you down here and what is your condition?” Quake asked, his mind abuzz with questions.
“I can only assume that the Fifth believes me to be a rogue Warwolve. Unfortunately for them, I am a true Werewolf. Cursed by the bite of one hundreds of years ago. My condition is a bit different from theirs.” The boy sighed and hung his head.
A werewolf! Quake thought. Of all the things to run into down here I run into a werewolf. “I’m not sure I understand.”
“Few do, few do.” The boy cast his gaze around the dark tunnel. “You think I’d feel at home here, with more of at least a similar kind, but I do not. I belong to neither the human nor the beast worlds. I am an outcast. I had found a home with Yin and the Children of the Elements, but my condition led me to become a hazard to my friends. I can’t risk them, but I still miss them. I wish someone understood how I feel.”
Quake’s heart broke at those words. He remembered his family, His Grandfather’s last words and the blood of is brother on his hands. He remembered how his powers would eventually kill him and finally he spoke. “ I understand.” He mumbled. “I understand perfectly. An ironic pair we make.” He mused, “One cursed to live forever, another doomed to die early. That’s life for ya.” There was a scuffling sound down the hallway. “I’d say we’ve been lamenting our pasts for to long, our neighbors are waking up. What say we get moving?” Quake said, trying to put on a brave face. Events were moving very fast and all he could do was try to smile as the cavalcade continued.
The boy seemed to take heart at these words. “Yes, we should get moving. But better yet, why not tempt fate a little more. Let’s show the Fifth what real heroes can do.”
Quake listened to the scrabbling of claws on cement and allowed a wry smile to come to his face. If his powers were to take him, why not take someone else with him. Preferably the Fifth. “Yes lets!” Casting one more look to the Quake turned to the hallway. Come what may, he thought, they’ll pay.
His thoughts were answered by a bone-chilling howl. The terrible sound echoed down the chamber diminishing with each repetition. Daric and Quake met the first wave of Warwolves with a flurry of glowing fists and lightning quick movement. Quake danced amongst the slavering beasts sending them flying with well placed blows. Deep inside his mind, however, he felt the control of the power slipping and its intensity increasing. Quake doubted he could hold it back much longer. The blood was pumping in his ear now, pounding and pounding in a rhythmic chant that threatened to split his head open. His muscles clenched and tightened, the strain of holding back the power within him becoming to much. He began to falter, until a scream brought his mind back to focus. Quake turned to see Daric, Warwolf’s jaws clamped down on his shoulder, fall to the ground. Blood splashed out in a sickening red tide. “No!!” Quake shouted. He unleashed his power in a wave, slamming the crazed beasts into walls, bones cracking audibly. “I’m coming Daric.” He battered his way through the sea of swarming wolves.
“Aaah!” Daric screamed once more, the sound muffled beneath the bulk of the monstrous brute that held him pinned to the floor. Quake raised his fist and bashed it into the head of the vile creature. The titanic blow caused the Warwolves head to explode like a rotten pumpkin, showering the two heroes in gore. Shocked by what he had just done Quake stood there stunned, his focus no longer on the swarm of Warwolves yet behind him. He raised his shimmering fist to his face, eyes wide in horror. He did not even hear the warwolves advance towards him. Daric was quicker to react, blood flowing from the wound in his shoulder Daric waded into the sea of beasts, knocking them away from the stunned hero. “Forget about it!” he yelled. “He was no longer human, the Fifth changed that. If you want to blame somebody, blame the Fifth!” Daric begin to be pushed back by the waves of warwolves.
“The Fifth…” Quake muttered. “The Fifth..” His voice began to raise, “The Fifth” Chanting it like a mantra Quake advanced on the swarm. “The Fifth!” His powers pulsed in time to his chant. “The Fifth will pay for their crimes!” His shining aura shot outward in a moment of sheer brilliance. The Warwolves, all facing him, fell back blinded by the fury of a light a hundred times brighter then the sun. Even Daric was knocked off his feet by the blast of pure power. “The Fifth deserves no mercy!” Quake shouted as he moved past Daric. Before him the Warwolves scattered like the four winds. Those that stood, or were to slow to react, were burnt to a crisp by the waves of energy blasting out in front of Quake. In moments Quake’s powers had returned to their normal glow and the hallway stood as empty as a ghost town. Quake looked around and took in what his powers allowed him to see. He fell to his knees, placed his head in his hands, and cried.
“Believe me. I know your pain. I felt it to the first time I was made to kill. It is a terrible burden you bear. But perhaps knowing that you aren’t alone will help.” A bloodied Daric said, offering Quake a hand back up.
Quake slammed his fist into the ground, creating a small crater. “Damn the Fifth! Damn them all to Hell!” he cursed. I’m sick of being their pawn. When I get my hands on them they’ll pay.” His eyes burning with rage Quake stood up. “Will you help me?” he asked.
“Look I just want to escape. I don’t like the Fifth anymore then you, but I’d rather not involve myself in their affairs any longer. Common. Forget this foolhardy plan. Come with me, together we’ll escape.” Daric offered him his hand once more.
“No!!” Quake shouted, slapping the hand away. “I’m going after the fifth. If you won’t help me.. then I’ll do it on my own.” Standing up Quake pushed the smaller hero out of his way. “It would be best for you to get going now.” He stalked down the tunnel, his power rippling off him like simmering waves of heat.
Leaving Daric behind Quake made his way down the tunnel. The passages seemed to get darker as he went, the musty smell of wet dog faded and a stuffier scent of dust and cobwebs took its place. “Warwolves must not come down this way.” Quake mused. “I wonder why.” Silence answered him. Quake continued on. In moments he came to a fork in the tunnel. “Damn it! Now what?”
Footsteps echoed in the passage to his left. “There!” He whispered. As quietly as he could, Quake raced down the left tunnel. He followed the sound of footsteps for a long time, until they suddenly stopped. “What.. Where?” Behind him footsteps echoed again. “Oh no you don’t!” He raced back down the tunnel. Before he knew it, he’d come to another fork. One that had not been there before. “Where the Hell did this come from? Wha..” He stopped short as footsteps reverberated in the new tunnel. “Got you this time!” He raced down the new tunnel. The chase continued until Quake had no idea where he was anymore. He slowed his pace to a walk and tried to catch his breath. “Damn. Now I don’t know where I am and I lost the footsteps.” He cursed his misfortune.
“I wouldn’t say that you lost me.” A voice hissed from within the shadows.
“Who’s there?” Quake yelled. A chuckling issued out of the darkness.
“Wouldn’t you like to know..” Quake could hear the ragged breathing. A foul stench wafted out of the shadows.
“I don’t know who you are, but you sure could use a breath mint or something.”
“Oh that’s not just me. You see, my brothers are all here as well. And we’ve just been dying to meet you.”
Quake found the source of the sound. “Got you now!” He blasted forth a beam of energy. The projectile screamed as it shot into the shadows, illuminating the area as it went. Dozens of catlike eyes reflected the glowing beam. Suddenly it stopped in its path and hovered. “What the Hell?”
“This will do nicely.” The voice said. A ghastly figure stepped into the light of the energy ball. He gestured with a pale hand and the ball shot up to the ceiling where it settled down in an old lamp fixture, casting its pseudo light down upon the entire tunnel. The room, now lit, revealed itself to not only be much larger then the former tunnel Quake had just left, but to be host to several score of corpse-like men.
“Say hello to our little family. We were just discussing dinner. Would you care to join us?”
“Join this!” Quake shouted. He raised his hand to cast the energy forth again, but a quick gesture from the corpse man brought him to his knees.
”Now, Now, Now! Quake. We must learn our manners. If you’re going to be our dinner, you must learn to be polite. Our last guest was so pleasant.” He gestured to a tidy pile of bones on the floor. “Say goodbye to your mind.” The man pointed his hands at Quake and focused his mental powers on the worn out hero.
It was like a flood of pain pouring through his mind. Quake gasped as the alien presence of the vampire coursed trough his brain. “Gaaaah!” He screamed. His body convulsed on the floor. His vision began to fade and the room grew dark. Before his mind went completely, Quake heard a voice. It started quiet, but then it seemed to grow.
I live, I die, I drown, I am aflame.
I shake with cold and perish with the heat.
I leap from anguish to delight; from sweet
To bitter. No two moments are the same,
And all the leap of joy and lunge of gloom
Join in a single instant. Each delight
Aches with a hidden torment, and the night
Fades, yet survives. I wither, yet I bloom.
So Eros leads me on. And when at last
I know the full extremity of pain,
I feel, quite suddenly, at ease again,
Strangely at peace. And when once more I see
Some future hope, some present certainty,
He comes and flings the furies of the past!
The spell of the Vampire’s broken, Quake rose to his feet with renewed energy. The vampire’s, distracted by the song that still echoed within their chamber, failed to notice the swell of power coming from Quake.
“I believe we were discussing manners?” Quake said. The vampires turned to him. “Allow me to introduce you to mine!” The energy swept out from Quake in a ripple of bright light. The vampires screamed, but only for a moment. For after that first scream, they were no longer part of this plane. “Sayonara!” Quake spat. He looked for the source of the song and found Daric walking calmly towards him. “I thought you left?” Quake said.
“Well… I did say that together we could escape. But alone I cannot. Besides. What kind of a hero would I be if I didn’t save you?” Daric managed between deep breaths.
“What did you do? How did you break the vampire spell?” Quake shook his head trying to get the last dregs of the mind control out of his thoughts.
“It is part of my condition. I found out that part of the magic of my trans-“ Daric was cut off by an announcement.
“Very good Quake. Well played. I see you’ve befriended that traitorous warwolf. But we have ways of dealing with scum such as him!” No sooner had the words echoed down the hall then there was a sharp pop. Daric wheeled around with the force of the bullet that tore through his shoulder. He let out a scream of intense agony as the wound began to burn.
“Silver!” He gasped. The flesh around the bullets entry point had already turned black. Without a moment’s hesitation Daric reached into the wound and ripped out the silver that was such anathema to him. He lay there struggling to get a proper breath. Steam rose of the remains of the bullet. Quake rushed to his side.
”Daric, what was that?” He examined the wound, the smell of burnt flesh causing him to wrinkle his nose in distaste. Daric’s face was pale, sweat trickling down it.
“Silver bullet. They must keep them in reserve for failed experiments with their warwolves. It disrupts the magic of the bond between wolf and man. Hurry you must stop them. I don’t have the strength now.”
“I can’t just leave you here. Not after you just saved me like that.”
“Go! I’ll be fine. This isn’t the first time I’ve been wounded. Just give the Nazi’s one for me.” He offered up a wry smile.
Quake paused. It wasn’t in the American in him to leave a man down. One look at the set features of Daric, however, and he knew it was the right thing to do. “Till we meet again. I will be back for you.” They clasped hands in a firm handshake.
“You Americans and your ideas of valor.” He laughed. “Now hurry! I don’t want those damned Nazi’s escaping.”
Quake shook his head in agreement and took of down the hall. He made his way through the maze swiftly, but with reason. He watched the walls for signs of repair and improvement. In due time he found what he was looking for and ran swiftly down a slightly better lit hall. A few war wolves sought to block his path, but a couple well placed blows of his fists put them down. Inside Quake could feel the energy boiling, trying to tear out of him. Through sheer force of will he suppressed those feelings. At last he came to a metal door. Taking a moment to catch his breath he examined it. It was solidly built, obviously meant to keep the warwolves out. After a few more seconds of examination he channeled his energy into his right fist. It shone red against the metal of the door. “Knock, Knock!” He yelled and slammed his fist into the door. For a second it seemed as if the metal would hold against this powerful attack, but it soon groaned and blew inward against the awesome blow.
The inside of the room was brightly lit. Machines and computers buzzed with activity and maps lay all around outlining the street’s of Paragon. Quake took a step into the room, but stopped as the voice that had dogged him since he awoke in this cursed maze boomed from around a corner. “Impressive Quake. Very Impressive. Requiem was surprised to hear that you had lived this long in the Maze of Shadows. And he will be even more impressed to hear you made it all the way to the control room. Terribly sorry I couldn’t be here to greet you personally, but..” Quake rushed around the corner to find a recording machine attatched to several sensors. “you know how awkward meeting someone you hardly know can be. I wouldn’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”
”Oh someone would’ve been uncomfortable that’s for sure!.”
“Now, now Quake. There’s no need to be snippy. You’ll find your gauntlet’s on the table behind you. I’m afraid that in my …haste to depart I forgot about them entirely. Just as well. Requiem expressed interest in greeting you personally, so it wouldn’t do at all to have you perish before he can get that opportunity. Ta-ta for now.” The recording clicked and went silent.
“Damn!” He picked up his gauntlets and slipped them on his fists. Immediately he felt the power of the gauntlets course through him, removing all the strain and pressure that his powers had built up. He heaved a sigh of relief and turned back to the room. He noticed the monitors that showed moving picture of all the halls. “So that’s how you knew where we were” he mumbled to himself. He noticed one hall where the camera was zoomed all the way in. There was a smoking bullet on the floor and a small pool of blood. “Well it seems like Daric found his own way out after all.” Comforted by that thought Quake turned and searched for an exit. He found a short ladder and hoisted himself up it. It led to a manhole, which Quake promptly climbed through. He pulled himself out of the drain and into the sunlight. He was ina back alley in one of the neighborhoods of Paragon. He breathed the fresh air in deeply and rejoiced to be out of that dank maze. He took a step to move when someone spoke up from behind him.
“Where you go? Need pay Troll’s if want to leave.” Quake smiled inwardly to be facing such familiar foes.
“Back to the grind!”
((Thanks to Druid for writing this for me. ))
“Welcome to our Maze of Shadows Quake. I’m sure you’ll find yourself most comfortable here. Sorry about your gauntlets. We couldn’t have you using your powers, now could we?”
“If you think that will stop me from using my powers, then you’re sadly mistaken.” Quake replied, his fury building. “They were merely what was going to hold me back when I catch up with you.”
“I wouldn’t get so loud if I were you. You might wake the others in there with you. And they are ever so grouchy if they haven’t slept till at least moon rise.” The voice chuckled, the sound echoing down the hallways.
“What do you mean, others?” Quake asked his voice slightly hushed.
“Well it was going to be a surprise, but seeing as you’ll soon be dead anyway, why not. Our Warwolves are obviously powerful weapons. However, some of them do not turn into the loyal servants we had intended. Sometimes the beast within is more then even they can control and they become entirely feral. This is where we keep those ‘failures’, as well as where we stick troublesome foes like yourself. They haven’t had hero in quite awhile. I’m certain they are dying for another taste.” The voice let out a laugh and a snort could be heard down the hall. “Ooops looks like I’ve awakened one myself. I’ll just let you two get acquainted. Enjoy your stay Quake.”
“Oh shi-“ Quake’s swear was cut short as the beast lunged at him, tackling Quake to the floor. In the darkness Quake couldn’t see his opponent, but he certainly could fell him tearing at the already tattered remains of his uniform. Quake’s mind raced with indecision. Can I risk using my powers, with no way to control them? He thought. The Warwolve’s claws tore into his shoulder. Well that answers that question. Quake’s body began to glow as he summoned forth the power that was his birthright. In the bright glow of his powers, Quake looked into the eyes of his foe and felt his heart drop. The eyes were human.
The beast immediately lowered its arms, the deadly claws falling away from Quake’s face. The beast seemed to writhe, as if fighting with something. What, Quake could not tell. Then as if its fur were melting away the lupine features began to vanish, the face becoming gradually more and more human. Finally a young man, bearing the scant remains of clothing, stood before Quake. He coughed and looked up wearily. “I’m sorry.” He said then collapsed at Quake’s feet.
Quake knelt to help the young man up. He’s only a kid Quake thought. The Fifth Column are true monsters to do this to a child. He lifted the youngster back to his feet, where he wobbled unsteadily. “Who are you son?” Quake asked trying his best to act the hero.
“My name is Daric Halsting.” Daric coughed violently, almost loosing himself from Quake’s grip. “Why are you glowing?” he managed. Startled Quake looked at himself and released that he was still glowing with the unexpelled energy. “They took my gauntlets away…” he started. He looked down to see the boy nodding. The boy understands? Quake thought. But how? “I..I can’t control my powers for long without them.”
“They took my armor as well.” Daric replied. Quake looked down at the young boy, a puzzled look upon his face. Daric looked up at him and spoke again. “I have trouble controlling my…condition without my suit of armor. Its magic holds back the transformation. I wouldn’t have attacked you had I been wearing my armor.”
“Why are you down here and what is your condition?” Quake asked, his mind abuzz with questions.
“I can only assume that the Fifth believes me to be a rogue Warwolve. Unfortunately for them, I am a true Werewolf. Cursed by the bite of one hundreds of years ago. My condition is a bit different from theirs.” The boy sighed and hung his head.
A werewolf! Quake thought. Of all the things to run into down here I run into a werewolf. “I’m not sure I understand.”
“Few do, few do.” The boy cast his gaze around the dark tunnel. “You think I’d feel at home here, with more of at least a similar kind, but I do not. I belong to neither the human nor the beast worlds. I am an outcast. I had found a home with Yin and the Children of the Elements, but my condition led me to become a hazard to my friends. I can’t risk them, but I still miss them. I wish someone understood how I feel.”
Quake’s heart broke at those words. He remembered his family, His Grandfather’s last words and the blood of is brother on his hands. He remembered how his powers would eventually kill him and finally he spoke. “ I understand.” He mumbled. “I understand perfectly. An ironic pair we make.” He mused, “One cursed to live forever, another doomed to die early. That’s life for ya.” There was a scuffling sound down the hallway. “I’d say we’ve been lamenting our pasts for to long, our neighbors are waking up. What say we get moving?” Quake said, trying to put on a brave face. Events were moving very fast and all he could do was try to smile as the cavalcade continued.
The boy seemed to take heart at these words. “Yes, we should get moving. But better yet, why not tempt fate a little more. Let’s show the Fifth what real heroes can do.”
Quake listened to the scrabbling of claws on cement and allowed a wry smile to come to his face. If his powers were to take him, why not take someone else with him. Preferably the Fifth. “Yes lets!” Casting one more look to the Quake turned to the hallway. Come what may, he thought, they’ll pay.
His thoughts were answered by a bone-chilling howl. The terrible sound echoed down the chamber diminishing with each repetition. Daric and Quake met the first wave of Warwolves with a flurry of glowing fists and lightning quick movement. Quake danced amongst the slavering beasts sending them flying with well placed blows. Deep inside his mind, however, he felt the control of the power slipping and its intensity increasing. Quake doubted he could hold it back much longer. The blood was pumping in his ear now, pounding and pounding in a rhythmic chant that threatened to split his head open. His muscles clenched and tightened, the strain of holding back the power within him becoming to much. He began to falter, until a scream brought his mind back to focus. Quake turned to see Daric, Warwolf’s jaws clamped down on his shoulder, fall to the ground. Blood splashed out in a sickening red tide. “No!!” Quake shouted. He unleashed his power in a wave, slamming the crazed beasts into walls, bones cracking audibly. “I’m coming Daric.” He battered his way through the sea of swarming wolves.
“Aaah!” Daric screamed once more, the sound muffled beneath the bulk of the monstrous brute that held him pinned to the floor. Quake raised his fist and bashed it into the head of the vile creature. The titanic blow caused the Warwolves head to explode like a rotten pumpkin, showering the two heroes in gore. Shocked by what he had just done Quake stood there stunned, his focus no longer on the swarm of Warwolves yet behind him. He raised his shimmering fist to his face, eyes wide in horror. He did not even hear the warwolves advance towards him. Daric was quicker to react, blood flowing from the wound in his shoulder Daric waded into the sea of beasts, knocking them away from the stunned hero. “Forget about it!” he yelled. “He was no longer human, the Fifth changed that. If you want to blame somebody, blame the Fifth!” Daric begin to be pushed back by the waves of warwolves.
“The Fifth…” Quake muttered. “The Fifth..” His voice began to raise, “The Fifth” Chanting it like a mantra Quake advanced on the swarm. “The Fifth!” His powers pulsed in time to his chant. “The Fifth will pay for their crimes!” His shining aura shot outward in a moment of sheer brilliance. The Warwolves, all facing him, fell back blinded by the fury of a light a hundred times brighter then the sun. Even Daric was knocked off his feet by the blast of pure power. “The Fifth deserves no mercy!” Quake shouted as he moved past Daric. Before him the Warwolves scattered like the four winds. Those that stood, or were to slow to react, were burnt to a crisp by the waves of energy blasting out in front of Quake. In moments Quake’s powers had returned to their normal glow and the hallway stood as empty as a ghost town. Quake looked around and took in what his powers allowed him to see. He fell to his knees, placed his head in his hands, and cried.
“Believe me. I know your pain. I felt it to the first time I was made to kill. It is a terrible burden you bear. But perhaps knowing that you aren’t alone will help.” A bloodied Daric said, offering Quake a hand back up.
Quake slammed his fist into the ground, creating a small crater. “Damn the Fifth! Damn them all to Hell!” he cursed. I’m sick of being their pawn. When I get my hands on them they’ll pay.” His eyes burning with rage Quake stood up. “Will you help me?” he asked.
“Look I just want to escape. I don’t like the Fifth anymore then you, but I’d rather not involve myself in their affairs any longer. Common. Forget this foolhardy plan. Come with me, together we’ll escape.” Daric offered him his hand once more.
“No!!” Quake shouted, slapping the hand away. “I’m going after the fifth. If you won’t help me.. then I’ll do it on my own.” Standing up Quake pushed the smaller hero out of his way. “It would be best for you to get going now.” He stalked down the tunnel, his power rippling off him like simmering waves of heat.
Leaving Daric behind Quake made his way down the tunnel. The passages seemed to get darker as he went, the musty smell of wet dog faded and a stuffier scent of dust and cobwebs took its place. “Warwolves must not come down this way.” Quake mused. “I wonder why.” Silence answered him. Quake continued on. In moments he came to a fork in the tunnel. “Damn it! Now what?”
Footsteps echoed in the passage to his left. “There!” He whispered. As quietly as he could, Quake raced down the left tunnel. He followed the sound of footsteps for a long time, until they suddenly stopped. “What.. Where?” Behind him footsteps echoed again. “Oh no you don’t!” He raced back down the tunnel. Before he knew it, he’d come to another fork. One that had not been there before. “Where the Hell did this come from? Wha..” He stopped short as footsteps reverberated in the new tunnel. “Got you this time!” He raced down the new tunnel. The chase continued until Quake had no idea where he was anymore. He slowed his pace to a walk and tried to catch his breath. “Damn. Now I don’t know where I am and I lost the footsteps.” He cursed his misfortune.
“I wouldn’t say that you lost me.” A voice hissed from within the shadows.
“Who’s there?” Quake yelled. A chuckling issued out of the darkness.
“Wouldn’t you like to know..” Quake could hear the ragged breathing. A foul stench wafted out of the shadows.
“I don’t know who you are, but you sure could use a breath mint or something.”
“Oh that’s not just me. You see, my brothers are all here as well. And we’ve just been dying to meet you.”
Quake found the source of the sound. “Got you now!” He blasted forth a beam of energy. The projectile screamed as it shot into the shadows, illuminating the area as it went. Dozens of catlike eyes reflected the glowing beam. Suddenly it stopped in its path and hovered. “What the Hell?”
“This will do nicely.” The voice said. A ghastly figure stepped into the light of the energy ball. He gestured with a pale hand and the ball shot up to the ceiling where it settled down in an old lamp fixture, casting its pseudo light down upon the entire tunnel. The room, now lit, revealed itself to not only be much larger then the former tunnel Quake had just left, but to be host to several score of corpse-like men.
“Say hello to our little family. We were just discussing dinner. Would you care to join us?”
“Join this!” Quake shouted. He raised his hand to cast the energy forth again, but a quick gesture from the corpse man brought him to his knees.
”Now, Now, Now! Quake. We must learn our manners. If you’re going to be our dinner, you must learn to be polite. Our last guest was so pleasant.” He gestured to a tidy pile of bones on the floor. “Say goodbye to your mind.” The man pointed his hands at Quake and focused his mental powers on the worn out hero.
It was like a flood of pain pouring through his mind. Quake gasped as the alien presence of the vampire coursed trough his brain. “Gaaaah!” He screamed. His body convulsed on the floor. His vision began to fade and the room grew dark. Before his mind went completely, Quake heard a voice. It started quiet, but then it seemed to grow.
I live, I die, I drown, I am aflame.
I shake with cold and perish with the heat.
I leap from anguish to delight; from sweet
To bitter. No two moments are the same,
And all the leap of joy and lunge of gloom
Join in a single instant. Each delight
Aches with a hidden torment, and the night
Fades, yet survives. I wither, yet I bloom.
So Eros leads me on. And when at last
I know the full extremity of pain,
I feel, quite suddenly, at ease again,
Strangely at peace. And when once more I see
Some future hope, some present certainty,
He comes and flings the furies of the past!
The spell of the Vampire’s broken, Quake rose to his feet with renewed energy. The vampire’s, distracted by the song that still echoed within their chamber, failed to notice the swell of power coming from Quake.
“I believe we were discussing manners?” Quake said. The vampires turned to him. “Allow me to introduce you to mine!” The energy swept out from Quake in a ripple of bright light. The vampires screamed, but only for a moment. For after that first scream, they were no longer part of this plane. “Sayonara!” Quake spat. He looked for the source of the song and found Daric walking calmly towards him. “I thought you left?” Quake said.
“Well… I did say that together we could escape. But alone I cannot. Besides. What kind of a hero would I be if I didn’t save you?” Daric managed between deep breaths.
“What did you do? How did you break the vampire spell?” Quake shook his head trying to get the last dregs of the mind control out of his thoughts.
“It is part of my condition. I found out that part of the magic of my trans-“ Daric was cut off by an announcement.
“Very good Quake. Well played. I see you’ve befriended that traitorous warwolf. But we have ways of dealing with scum such as him!” No sooner had the words echoed down the hall then there was a sharp pop. Daric wheeled around with the force of the bullet that tore through his shoulder. He let out a scream of intense agony as the wound began to burn.
“Silver!” He gasped. The flesh around the bullets entry point had already turned black. Without a moment’s hesitation Daric reached into the wound and ripped out the silver that was such anathema to him. He lay there struggling to get a proper breath. Steam rose of the remains of the bullet. Quake rushed to his side.
”Daric, what was that?” He examined the wound, the smell of burnt flesh causing him to wrinkle his nose in distaste. Daric’s face was pale, sweat trickling down it.
“Silver bullet. They must keep them in reserve for failed experiments with their warwolves. It disrupts the magic of the bond between wolf and man. Hurry you must stop them. I don’t have the strength now.”
“I can’t just leave you here. Not after you just saved me like that.”
“Go! I’ll be fine. This isn’t the first time I’ve been wounded. Just give the Nazi’s one for me.” He offered up a wry smile.
Quake paused. It wasn’t in the American in him to leave a man down. One look at the set features of Daric, however, and he knew it was the right thing to do. “Till we meet again. I will be back for you.” They clasped hands in a firm handshake.
“You Americans and your ideas of valor.” He laughed. “Now hurry! I don’t want those damned Nazi’s escaping.”
Quake shook his head in agreement and took of down the hall. He made his way through the maze swiftly, but with reason. He watched the walls for signs of repair and improvement. In due time he found what he was looking for and ran swiftly down a slightly better lit hall. A few war wolves sought to block his path, but a couple well placed blows of his fists put them down. Inside Quake could feel the energy boiling, trying to tear out of him. Through sheer force of will he suppressed those feelings. At last he came to a metal door. Taking a moment to catch his breath he examined it. It was solidly built, obviously meant to keep the warwolves out. After a few more seconds of examination he channeled his energy into his right fist. It shone red against the metal of the door. “Knock, Knock!” He yelled and slammed his fist into the door. For a second it seemed as if the metal would hold against this powerful attack, but it soon groaned and blew inward against the awesome blow.
The inside of the room was brightly lit. Machines and computers buzzed with activity and maps lay all around outlining the street’s of Paragon. Quake took a step into the room, but stopped as the voice that had dogged him since he awoke in this cursed maze boomed from around a corner. “Impressive Quake. Very Impressive. Requiem was surprised to hear that you had lived this long in the Maze of Shadows. And he will be even more impressed to hear you made it all the way to the control room. Terribly sorry I couldn’t be here to greet you personally, but..” Quake rushed around the corner to find a recording machine attatched to several sensors. “you know how awkward meeting someone you hardly know can be. I wouldn’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”
”Oh someone would’ve been uncomfortable that’s for sure!.”
“Now, now Quake. There’s no need to be snippy. You’ll find your gauntlet’s on the table behind you. I’m afraid that in my …haste to depart I forgot about them entirely. Just as well. Requiem expressed interest in greeting you personally, so it wouldn’t do at all to have you perish before he can get that opportunity. Ta-ta for now.” The recording clicked and went silent.
“Damn!” He picked up his gauntlets and slipped them on his fists. Immediately he felt the power of the gauntlets course through him, removing all the strain and pressure that his powers had built up. He heaved a sigh of relief and turned back to the room. He noticed the monitors that showed moving picture of all the halls. “So that’s how you knew where we were” he mumbled to himself. He noticed one hall where the camera was zoomed all the way in. There was a smoking bullet on the floor and a small pool of blood. “Well it seems like Daric found his own way out after all.” Comforted by that thought Quake turned and searched for an exit. He found a short ladder and hoisted himself up it. It led to a manhole, which Quake promptly climbed through. He pulled himself out of the drain and into the sunlight. He was ina back alley in one of the neighborhoods of Paragon. He breathed the fresh air in deeply and rejoiced to be out of that dank maze. He took a step to move when someone spoke up from behind him.
“Where you go? Need pay Troll’s if want to leave.” Quake smiled inwardly to be facing such familiar foes.
“Back to the grind!”
((Thanks to Druid for writing this for me. ))