Bullets and Blades

Bullets and Blades

Chapter One: Hasty Exits

Written by: The Solitary Man and Smexy Sombra

Edited by: Smexy Sombra and The Solitary Man

“Oh shit!” Panted a young woman as she ran towards the elevator. “Oh shit! OH SHIT!” The roars of the monstrous creatures from behind spurred her on like an olympic athlete. Her boots echoed on the floor, only attracting more of her pursuers to the chase. “SHIT! SHIT! SHIT! SHHIT!” The lights went out, leaving only the light from her helmet and the plasma cutter she clung to.

“OH GOD! SOMEONE HELP AAAAAAHH!” A male voice screamed far off in the distance, it was drowned out by the soul shaking roars of the beasts in the darkness. The woman paused for only a moment and brought up her locator, the blue line spread itself across her vision and pointed her in the right direction. She started running again but felt something grab her shoulder, she whirled around and fired a blast from her weapon into the face of a horribly deformed creature. Its head exploded and the grip loosened enough for her to make a dash in the right direction.

“Come on! Come on! Be there! Be there! BE THERE!” She shouted at herself, praying to whatever deity was available that the elevator would be there. When she reached the hallway where it was meant to be, she was glad to see that it still sat unused. The blue interface indicated it still had power, which gave her hope. The woman sprinted towards the elevator, the light from her engineering suit helmet was her only guide. She could see the blood trails on the floor, the screaming echoed through the air vents like a sick symphony. It was accompanied by gunfire that never seemed to end.

The woman reached the elevator and activated it, she turned around to fend off any of the monsters that were following her while the gears to the door turned. They came in a massive swarm, their blades of bone clanging on the floor. The woman fired several blasts into the oncoming horde, severing limbs and heads. But even without their heads they continued to charge, blood and gore pooled on the floor. Finally, the door to the elevator opened. The young woman backed into it, still firing like mad. She used her foot to activate the elevator, the door shut just as she ran out of ammunition. One of the creatures managed to stick its horrid arm through just before the door shut, it was sliced off and writhed around on the floor for a few moments.

“RRRRRAAAAAHHHH!” The young woman shouted as she brought her boot down on it, squishing the fleshy appendage into mush. She panted for several seconds, her helmet undid itself and she brought her hands to her temples. She brushed her long black hair out of her eyes and looked at the squashed appendage. Her stomach contracted and she retched loudly, before vomiting. “Oh god… Oh god save me…” She said, wiping her mouth on her armored for arm. She stood there for a few more moments, then the vent above her broke and a deformed creature dropped in. The woman let out a scream and used her kinesis to pick up the disembodied limb from before.

She shot it into the deformed creature, causing it to stagger. It was enough time for her to reload her plasma cutter and then unload into it. When the weapon clicked empty the monster from above lay in a pool of black blood. The young woman stared at it for a moment before her helmet closed up on her again, the elevator came to a stop on the hanger deck. There were gunshots and screams coming from beyond its door. She contemplated not opening it before remembering the dead creature in the corner.

Reluctantly she opened the door, what she saw horrified her. Even after all she had seen that day, the new sight horrified her. Soldiers were shooting every living thing, even each other. One of them popped up in front of her and took aim, she ducked and fired her plasma cutter into his head. His bullpup rifle clattered to the floor in front of her, and was quickly grabbed in her shaking hand. Another soldier came upon her, she fired the bullpup and scored a headshot. She had found that doing that was relatively simple in the past few hours. The woman took some ammunition from the dead man as well as his rifle. It could come in handy later.

“KILL HER!” A voice shouted, she barely had time to duck behind a stack of crates before a hail of bullets came at her. She blocked out the fear, forced herself to fight. She would die on her feet with a gun in her hand rather than on her knees with a gun to her head. The woman held her bullpup over the crates and fired blindly before dashing towards the only remaining shuttle.

“MAKE US WHOLE!” A man shouted, grabbing her. He didn’t hold her very long however, as he was riddled with holes. The woman shrugged him off and climbed into the shuttle.

“Welcome, Corporal Isabella Gregoyev.” The computer chimed.

“Computer, prepare the shuttle for emergency shock jump!” Isabella shouted, closing the door to the fighting outside.

“Warning, Roanoke Docking Master has denied all shock jumps. Airlock doors are closed.” The computer replied. Isabella was about to order the override, then remembered the dozens of innocent people outside. “Proceed with Emergency Jump?” The woman took a deep breath, if she stayed, she died. If she went, she killed who knew how many people. But, they would die anyway, right? She had pieced together that it was a cleanse order, and they were definitely thorough. “Proceed with Emergency Jump?” Isabella took a deep breath.

“God, forgive me.” She whispered to herself. “Computer, engineering override code seven seven seven. Proceed with Emergency Jump.”

“Confirm, seven seven seven passcode.” The computer ordered.

“Jackpot.” Isabella replied, she heard a confirmatory beep.

“Jackpot confirmed. Opening airlock. Prepare for Shuttle Launch.” Isabella turned away from the window as the airlock opened. She could hear the screams and gunshots outside die off as everything that wasn’t tied down was sucked into the vacuum of space. The shuttle lurched and took off out into the void. The ships were firing on each other, killing each other like good little soldiers. Isabella’s helmet undid itself and folded back into her suit. She strapped herself into her seat before the shuttle lined up a course. “Shock jumping to Quadrant zero zero one.” The computer beeped out. As is prepared to make the jump, a stray blast from one of the other ships slammed into the shuttle. “WARNING! SHIP DAMAGED! ABORTING JUMP!”

“NO! OVERRIDE SEVEN SEVEN SEVEN!” Isabella ordered, clenching her eyes shut. Trying to avoid looking at the faces of the dead that were now floating in space. Little did she know, the main jump core was damaged severely. It crackled and sparked in the back of the shuttle, energy building as the computer began laying in a course.  The power from the core reached dangerous levels in mere seconds.

“Override accepted. Jump engaged.” The shuttle buzzed with energy, flinging off into space at immense speed. The jump was faster than anything Isabella had ever felt before, and the force kept her stuck in her seat. Time and space began to split apart as the unstable jump core powered on like an out of control steam train. The blue light that normally was present outside a shocking ship began to fade into complete darkness. Isabella saw darkness creeping up on her vision, seconds later she passed out. The shuttle exploded through the fabric of space and time, passing into an entirely different dimension. Leaving the planet of Tau Volantis and all of the unfortunate souls behind.

(^*^)

Alexander walked through the paths of Lordran, the elitist knight armor upon his body clinking and jingling along with his movements. His lifeless eyes behind his helm scanning the area around him. He was not hollow, yet, and wished only to find a way out of the hell he was imprisoned in. He had found long ago that time in Lordran flowed differently opposed to the typical flow he remembered before he found the darksign upon his skin. The day he was cast from Astora and banished to this hell. The same day he found himself cast into the undead Asylum.

He escaped after several years of perpetual madness and anger. When he left he found several of the other undead, hollowed and blood thirsty, having to slay many familiar faces as well as those he did not recognise. He learned quickly the terrors that laid before him, promising himself that he would find a way to escape his curse. Unfortunately for him, he never found any hint of being able to return home, and in turn became a sword and shield for any other undead who had yet to subcome unto the fate of the Cursed.

He subconsciously looked over his body, seeing the plate armor and blue cloth that hid his body. The helm on his head hiding the sunken, green eyes and the tired expression that was permanently casted onto his face.

Alexander was brought from his thoughts by the sound of heavy boots falling against the ground, his head swiveling to the sound of the noise. The sounds of hollowed knights and grunts filled the air as he saw a undead traveler, garbed in rags and leather rushing towards him. The traveler’s blade on his back and shield held tightly, only a look of pure fear on his face as he bolted away from the monsters clamoring after him. He was certainly not hollow, if the face of the traveler was any indication.

Alexander turned in place pulling the large black greatsword from his back, taken from the corpse of a black knight, and the crest shield from his back, the extra sword on his hip jingling against his armor as he moved. The traveler stopped only a few feet from him, fearful that he was about to perish to another hollow, only to find Alexander rushing by him and swinging his blade with an angered roar of hatred and rage. The blade effortlessly cleaved through the hollowed, their rusted and broken armor shattering and crumpling against the impact.

Thick and coagulated blood flung against the walls and across Alexander’s armor as he hacked his way through the undead. Lopping off the head of one, he leaped to the side and stabbed his blade through the chest of another, merely kicking the corpse off his blade. After he was finished, the bodies of his victory laid strewn across the ground, limbs and bodies circling the former knight.

He turned and looked at the traveler, seeing his terrified expression. Walking over to him, he stopped and sheathed his blade. Alexander tilted his head a moment before clearing his throat. “What is your name, traveler?” He asked, his voice raspy and underused.

“D-Drake.... I was given a quest by a Knight who released me from my imprisonment of the Undead Asylum.” Drake stated, standing tall as to invoke confidence unto himself. “I am to ring the bells of Awakening and find the fate of the Undead!”

Alexander nodded at his words before walking past Drake, his heavy armor clinking and clunking as he did so. “I am Alexander the former knight of Astora, and I wish thou the best of luck in your journey. Only the heavens know of the damnation you will face in your quest. I pray that you fight as well as you speak. May we meet again, Drake.” Alexander spoke before he heard the patter of footsteps behind him. He turned to see Drake running up behind him.

“Wait! Mayhap you can help me get to the ruins of Blighttown! Tis the location of the Second bell!” Drake stated as he followed after Alexander. The Knight stopped in his tracks, thinking of his options. He truly had nothing left to lose but his own sanity. Turning towards Drake once more, he drew his sword and nodded.

“Very well, I shall help thou gain entry to the ruins. But be warned, tis a place of only anguish and the fallen. Once thou passes through those gates, your life will be back into your own hands.” Drake nodded at his words before Alexander gestured with his gloved hand. “Then follow me. Time may be bountiful for us, but there is no reason to dillydally.”

Alexander had wandered all across Lordan, having looked for his own escape away from the accursed land of the undead. This allowed him to swiftly find the gates to the area of which Drake sought. They were to part ways before one fatal thing stopped them. “Locked...” Drake muttered as he pushed against the large gates, finding them barely moving an inch. They heard a deep chuckle from their right, seeing a man sitting crosslegged on the ground.

“Yes, that place has been sealed and the key thrown into hiding.” The strange man stated, looking at the two from his horned mask. Drake walked over to him, a curious expression on his face.

“What are you talking about, stranger?”

“That place was sealed off because of the dangers within, not that it did any good. If you really want to get in there, you are going to have to find the key.” The man said before a smile graced his lips. “And that key is in the chambers through that way.” The stranger pointed a gloved hand towards a entrance to his left. “There you will find your key and much more.”

Alexander was gaining the continuous feeling that what the man was saying was that they were going to be walking to their doom. It was a fight through hollowed, giant rats, and other disturbing beasts of the sewers until they came to a large open area. The stench was far worse than the actual sewer as they walked forwards, bones and weaponry from previous knights littering the floor around them. The only light originating from the holes in the exposed roof above them.

“This doesn’t seem right. He said the key would be here. I pray that he meant not that we have to dig through this muck to find it!” Drake stated in a frustrated and angered manner. Before Alexander could even give a reply, the ground rumbled slightly as they saw a small creature poke its head from the hole at the far end of the humongous open room. They were stunned for a moment before they began to be filled with terror as a massive claw lifted from the opening and pulled out the monstrosity that was waiting for its next meal.

The beast was was larger than many dragons, towering over the two undead as it crawled from the water and straightened up to its full height.

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“.... We art about to be horribly violated, Drake.” Alexander spoke out as he drew his Greatsword from his back and replaced his shield with his other sword. Drake took a few steps back and brought out his flame and sword, getting ready to face the beast. They looked at each other as they saw the beast marching towards them and giving a battle cry, they split in opposite directions to confuse the beast, Drake going at its left and Alexander going at its right. As they rushed, Drake pelted the beasts hide with balls of flame, watching as it roared in annoyance while Alexander lopped and hacked at its legs.

After a moment the beast flew into the air and landed with a loud crash, sending both of the undead flying backwards. As they stood up, Drake turned to see Alexander slowly getting to his feet, staggering with exhaustion. As he finally got onto his feet, holding his blades tighter, he looked up only to find the gaping Dragon only a few years away from him. Time seemingly stopped for a moment as he turned to look at Drake, seeing his horrified expression. Alexander only spoke only thing as he raised his swords.

“This is how my journey ends?... Pity...” He spoke, before the maw of the dragon fell upon him, crushing and shredding his body with the rows and rows of serrated and razor sharp teeth. Drake could only scream out in horror and anguish as he saw Alexander fall. A loud guttural sound of agony sounded out, blood spurting out of his wounds and from his helm, as he saw the beast rise, revealing the mangled corpse of Alexander. His body slowly faded off into white mist, flowing out and into the air towards the opening in the ceiling. Drake was in shock for a moment before he glared up at the beast.

“I WILL SLAUGHTER YOU, MONSTER OF THE SEWE-” Before Drake could finish his roar of anger, the beast slapped him across the room into a wall, a sickening crack following his impact.