The other side of the Guard *completed*

[legacy-Hollehund]

Here's the beginning of a fan fiction in the Unreal Universe. I do not know much about UC2, but I'll try to write down something good enough to please me until the game comes out. Please, do not care about spelling errors, syntaxic errors, I'm not an english-speaking man, actually, and this is a first draw for this story.

Prologue :

- That was a fantastic game ! With a high body count, and bloody stains on the contestant's armors.
- And we have a new Tournament champion ! Wow, that should please the juggernauts fans all over the galaxy !
- But the Thundercrash fans will not be pleased to learn what I currently learn : Malcolm's injury is quite serious. In fact, it seems to the medical staff that he had his spine broken by that concussive strike from Gorge earlier tonight.
- I fear his career is over as well as his winning streak !
- Don't be sure of that, Malcolm has ressources...

Malcolm commands the holovision to shut itself. His face is red with anger and his blood fuels his anger all over his body. He is sit in his back-supporting chair, and to his right, stands his mates, Brock and Lauren. Those who fell with him the same dark day to the endless ambition of the Juggernaut's leader.

No word is necessary, Malcolm just shut up and stare at his friend's faces. Both of them know when he his angry. For Brock, the fall of Malcolm means the fall of more than a friend. Malcolm was close to a brother to him. But Lauren stands a little bit out-of-the-way, looking to Malcolm from time to time. She never got the point of being a faire-valoir for the glorious Malcolm. For her, a team neads no leader for a team deathmatch, and a defeat is always a team defeat.

If no word is necessary, Malcolm always likes to do discipline. If he could step up there and slap both of the playboy's faces, he would be relieved a bit. Instead, he just stays there, yelling at them :
- Why haven't you covered my flank, you pesky sons of a ***** ?
- My Link ran out of ammo while Gorge was charging you, says Brock, a little bit troubled.
- I was away, pressing Ambrosia and Frostbite in the mountains ! I can't do everything, captain, reacts Lauren, with a sharp smile on her face.
- Because of you two, I'll be lucky if I don't get paralyzed ! You can be sure the next time I'll enter an arena, I'll have someone else to watch my back !
- These things happen ! Stop worrying, we'll conquer back the title for the Thundercrash as soon as possible !
- No, Brock, no, you're better to go out of here, and to never come back before me !
- As you want, then, replied Lauren, taking Brock's hand in hers while stepping backward from the window.

To be continued...

[legacy-Dux0r]

no offence but i cba to read all of that, ill just agree with you for the hell of it.

[legacy-Retodon8]

Brock and Lauren never were Thundercrash.
They were originally Iron Guard, joined Malcolm in UT2004, but they never put on a Thundercrash uniform/armour or anything.

[legacy-Hollehund]

Somewhere in a grand mansion sitting on a lush hill of center Ontario, a silent revolution was waking itself in the wake of the last team deathmatch finals.

While Brock was shaving himself, okay, having himself shaved by a Liandri shaving bot captor Riptord, Lauren found herself thinking about her future in the deathmatch roster. She weren't part of a team anymore, and that's not gonna make her sad. There's a lot of rookies out there who always tries to show themselves out. One of them could do the trick for a couple of matches.

The only concern Lauren had at this time, is about her man. After they left Malcolm's Hospital room, he just began a big depression. He wasn't about to just overcome the fact he had been rejected. As a good girlfriend she is, Lauren just thought she could fight this sorrow with kind smiles and raw love, but it did'nt do the trick.

Suddenly Brock came in the kitchen, his face fresh as rose was expressing a not-so-fresh smile. The man wasn't fond of acting. He told her :
- I'll be facing Gorge, next Sunday.
- That's not what's on your schedule, cutie, you're set against Mr.Crow, Torch and Sapphire, Sunday, and I doubt your father may do anything against that...
- Laugh, my dear, laugh, but I need to fight Gorge, and I will.
- How will you do this ? You'll challenge him outside of the arena ?
- You got it, cherie.

To be continued...

[legacy-Mesoian]

Well, it's not the worst fanfic I've ever read. Though something tells me if there are more than a couple scenematics in the game outside of anubis and selket's storyline, a few of your character personalities are going to be dashed to the wind.

I always considered Malcom a cooler costumer than what you have him drawn out as.

[legacy-Retodon8]

Haha, Brock entering a kitchen with concern on his face...
Now I remember why I never read fan fiction. :)

Hollehund, nothing personal about your story concept, it's just fan fic in general that's too strange for me to read.

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

hollehund, not bad story, my question still is, does the people die in a match of UT? or they outside? :S that confuses me a lot.

[legacy-Hollehund]

They tried to talk to him...to convince him not to do what he was about to do. Challenging Gorge outside the protection of the Tournament. No rules. No respawn. No tomorrow.

Everybody tried. From his old, powerful father to Gorge's teammate Arclite himself. A friend of him, Nebri of the Gen'mo'kai even came from her hide to do her best to convince him but... there was nothing to do. Lauren didn't tried, for her part. Lauren just knew something about Brock. He is some kind of hothead. Once he has made his mind, even her couldn't change it in any way.

So she fell in sorrow, she cried, alone in her bedroom. He didn't came back. She knew it because Brock usually follow the rules, what Gorge never do. The Juggernaut killed Brock in about 40 seconds of dueling. What could her lover do ? A link gun versus a rocket launcher. There was nothing to do. Gorge told everyone he could do the same to the fallen's girlfriend if she wanted a revenge.

But Lauren didn't have a revenge in mind. In fact, she had nothing else that pain in her mind. She was all alone now.

Lauren didn't really listened to Malcolm's condolences over the virtuaphone. He was really disappointed of what happened to his team. In a sense, he may knew these events were his fault in the first time. Success is the poison of the sportsman.

When the Orbital patrol came with the bad news, along with a representative from the Liandri, she stopped crying for them. For the holo cameras. She was still a champion. At least, for as long she was living. And she wanted to let no one know about her intentions. She didn't really knew herself...

So, in this cold night of November, former great tournament champion Lauren, and survivor of the best trio ever formed was walking along the shores of Ontario Lake. Her eyes were fixed on the gray disk above her head, tears were rolling. While taking a last great breath of pure air, she grabbed her personal enforcer from under her cloak and pointed it on her head. But she waited. She can't do that.

Staring at the cold water that was coming close to her feet in silent wave of peaceful attackers, she saw the Thundercrash entering the Tournament platform 3...she was along a healthy, different Malcolm, and along with a living Brock. That was only a week or so ago...and it was so far already... Then she remember :
"I do I look ?"
"Not as good as me, baby"

Brock and her were playboys, Brock finally fell to the area of effect of a trident's rocket. His pretty face was still pretty...there was no reason for her to continue living without him, but no reason at all to leave a disfigured corpse for fans to find. So she put her enforcer on her chest, between her breasts and then, closed her wet eyes. She counted down the souvenirs she had of Brock while pressing the trigger. One shot. One single shot. No rules. No respawn. No tomorrow.

There was no more active Thundercrash, and never the Iron Guard should live anymore because its leaders were about to live in another world, together, far away from the pain, the gore, the adrenaline, the glory of the Tournament. Brock and Lauren were about to be happy forever.

But the Liandri don't like to have her profits endangered and they don't mind about messing with nature...

End of Prologue.
To be continued...

[legacy-lifesabeach6900]

i think you got ur point across

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

lol, you made all this? not bad but, well, this is like the story for a movie... lol.

[legacy-Hollehund]

Chapter 1 An bloody awakening

Red was the only color she saw. Lauren was drinking her own blood, trying to catch a breath while she was being "reengineered". Five men in dark blue costumes were standing near her severed body. One of them said :
- More shocks, please, we're losing her !
- Bring me another nanocannister !
- She may be nice, but she drank a whole lot of nanoblack and she's not ready to go yet ! It was easier this morning...
- Shut up with that, Clancy ! She might be earing.

Lauren was earing. But she didn't know what was going on with her. The last thing she remember was the gentle feel of the waves of calm water breaking on her head. She remember seeing the sand in front of her getting tainted in a dark red colour. She tries to take a look on her body, but one of the men forces her to stay down like if she was a prisonner. She may be one, actually.

It took seven hours. Seven long hours, to the boys in blue suits to drift two and half cannisters of the expensive nanoblack blood into Lauren's veins. Now she was alive, sleeping as she could, in a small, unknown hospital in downtown Neo-York. When she was awake, as a mindless automaton, she was watching the Holo-news all the time without reacting. Then she saw glimpses of the last Bombing Run game. Some fragments of memory took place in her mind.

The security tried to stop her, but with a newfound memory and still, her innate talents for brawling, she got outside, dual enforcers in hands, leaving behind her a trail of bodies and blood. She had seen her image in a mirror. Those responsible for her new life are about to pay.

To be continued...

[legacy-KQ12]

WOW! simply amazing?!?!

[legacy-KQ12]

seriously u should publish this book ur writing...tons of fans would buy it ... and if you did i would read over and over again because its just that good!

[legacy-Xarai]

LOL sadly this reminds me of some Halo 2 fanfic i was writing... sigh it was sexy, but no one but my friends got to read it :| I would do one for this too but then i'd just get bored with what i was doing. XD I could do one on the Liandri robots like raptor i'd be fun! ^.^ Anyone think i should? <,<

Oh and great story so far Hollehund n.n very sezy writing.

[legacy-Unrealman]

hollehund,yo continue the story its intresting

[legacy-Demosthenes62]

Hey man, this is some good stuff do u have a site, if not, can u post more, it's actually pretty interesting, unlike some other fan fics...

[legacy-Volt]

I'm not too big on fan fics, and I'm not a huge fan of Lauren, but I'm digging this. I really like how you're articulating the situations that the characters' back stories imply. Very nice.

[legacy-iReProphecy]

Pretty good. You should make a website with your stories in there. I have a template if you interested.

[legacy-Xarai]

I guess i'll just start mine anyways :\ if anyone wishes to read it, I'll just post it on epicboards. It will soon be up...

[legacy-Selkets_Vanguard]

That was great. You got a site collection?

[legacy-Hollehund]

Here's my website (He is very crappy, please do not mock me I suck at webmastering :( )

www.geocities.com/uc2pc/main

Under the downloads section, you can watch a trailer of my UT 2k4 mod that is coming sometimes, when I'll get some time :)

Please, don't be offended in any way about the site or the trailer, it's all stuff I made part-time that needs amelioration. And sorry, until I had found the way to put downloadable content on the web, my trailer can only be watched (and about 1 time per hour, that sucks)

Anyway, my next post will be the next part of the story. And its now.

Quote : Let me show you hell.

[legacy-Sashivan]

good story but HORRID GRAMMAR

fix that and you're good

[legacy-Hollehund]

Boring. Her "new life" was boring. Lauren couldn't even walk on the street because she was well-known and the Liandri was probably tracking her for what she had done in that hospital. Twenty-seven people were killed among citizens and police forces along with four harmed civilians. She got the update a couple of days ago in the Holovision news.

She still doesn't know what caused this rage in her. Yes, she had come to realize she was treated like the worst of objects by the Liandri, but there was something else. Something coming from her. She had always been in perfect control of her and her image but now... she wasn't sure anymore.

She goes to the refrigerator, took the milk cryobar and came back to her bed. She sat on it and took a look on her tight room. Another one.

She past the last two days looking around her and realizing her life was about to be very different. From a mansion that made even the common rich people look like cheap to this small, claustrophobic room in a mediocre hotel in downtown Neo-York. She felt like she was a rat. A rat pinned down by the Liandri's gigantic trap. She might be.

She chuckled at the idea of being forced to flee her "life" long, but even more about the perspective of crying forever for her lost love. But since a dozen of hours, she had some ideas growing in her confused mind. She took the risk, in the middle of last night to go out and send a distress call to a friend of her. She was coming from quite far. They'll meet and then they'll decide of some plan.

Lauren got up on her feet and approached the window of her room. She looked throught the dirty glass and took a peek on the street below, hoping and fearing to see a personal hovercar stopping under her window. But she saw none. She then began to think about what her new life could be.

She couldn't even leave Neo-York at this time, because of the Liandri omnipotence. The only way to escape Neo-York was the Internal Shuttle System because of this gigantic no man's land that encircled the last city in the old United States' territory. At this time, the once great champion Lauren, the once independant warrior was really more a newborn in her new life than a reborn adult. So was her distress.

While waiting her backup, she looked at her enforcers that were lying on her desk, the clips almost empty. There was nothing to hope from them. She asked herself :
- What will she do for me ? What can be done ?

To be continued...

[legacy-Hollehund]

I need ideas for a custom character to add eventually to Lauren's future team. I already got 7 on 8. Any ideas ? Its not for just now, but in a couple of chapters, if I haven't found out, I'll be likely dry.

Think about a mercenary, a repented jugg or even a skaarj.

Please, no automaton, no nakthi, no necris (already have some), no Gen Mo'Kai (I have some).

Here's the formula :

- Name of the character (or names)
- Age (or approximative age, or unknown if Skaarj)
- Class (heavy, medium, light)
- Physical characteristics (I let you loose)
- Moral characteristics (Psychotic, demoralized, suicidal...,etc.)
- Affinities with some know characters of all the UT, UC games (if any)
- Preferred weapon (in UT, UC, not ChaosUT or mods)
- Reason (s) why he or she goes against the Liandri and the NEG

Feel free to submit weird or infamous characters, I'll take ideas here and here, or a complete character if one fits with my storyline.

I thank you all in advance. I'll credit whoever had ideas that I'll take.

Höllehund, 2k5

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

eh, shall i put mine? im in the development of a character, at the moment im making his weapons, the race is Skaarj, thats me in Unreal Universe. my representation.

but im not sure though. i shall invent a new character for this.

[legacy-Demosthenes62]

K i sent mine to u Hollhund, enjoy!

[legacy-Rivet]

My char.

Name: Ramius
age: 35
class: medium
physical characteristics: wears an assasin like merc suit much like remus from UC1, dark hair, googles. (i tried)
moral: calm and cool guy, doesnt talk much, stays calm even in most serius situations
afinities: adr.(cloak, berserk, thunder, energy shield)
weapon: extended skaarj claws powered by plasma
reasons: Ramius was believed to be one of the survivors of vortex rikers crash on na pali. Rumors say he was the 3 year old son of the captain and was raised by the skaarj of na pali which explains his masterful use of the claws. Captured by the marines during the age of 25 ramius was taught english and served the 7th fleet ever since. Recently a talent agent observed ramius take down three brutes while using nothing but what seemed to be standard skaarj claws. Taking the offer Ramius was put into the arenas as well as equiped with the new prototype liandri plasma claws. Ramius fight by the side of Szalor as rumors say he was Ramius' teacher once.

[legacy-Hollehund]

When the cloaked figure entered her room around midnight, Lauren stepped to her table and took her enforcers. Her quick reflexes surprised the newcomer who stopped right on its feet. Lauren waited a couple of seconds before firing, and ordered the intruder to unmask itself. Then she was relieved. It was Nebri.
- I was expecting you earlier, Nebri.
- The Liandri soldiers are everywhere.
- Why are you cloaked that way ? Humans don't hate Gen Mo'Kai !?
- Humans don't hate Nebri. Gen Mo'Kai hate Nebri.
- How's that possible ?
- Gen Mo'Kai think Nebri is an assassin. Nebri lost her honor and exile herself on Na Pa Li.
- To prefer Na Pa Li to your homeworld, your crime must be serious.
- Nebri made nothing. Damarus died because of him. It was an accident !
- Calm down, friend, calm down. We must not let people get aware that I'm hiding here. As you said, Liandri soldiers roam around here.

The young Gen Mo'Kai went to the window, and stepped back after a few seconds of silence. She looked at Lauren's eyes and say :
- What are your eyes made of ? Fire ?
- I don't know anything about my new body. It seems my eyes are hot coals, and my blood is black...I sense like if I was possessed in some way.
- What happened, Lauren ?
- I died.
- No, you don't.
- Yes.
- You are here.
- I am back to life, but I died. By my hand.
- For Brock ?
- Right. I dream each night, Nebri, to exact a bloody revenge on those responsible for what I became !

While she was talking, Lauren put her enforcers back on the table and sat on her bed. She never stopped looking her alien friend. Nebri put a hand on her head and started thinking. She was trusting Lauren. Nebri always had the ability to feel when people were lying. Lauren wasn't. Suddently, the Gen Mo'Kai came to sat near Lauren. She said :
- You must go away.
- Easy to say, uneasy to do. Neo-York is crawling with enforcers of the Liandri military.
- We change your look. They won't know you.
- My look ?
- Yes. Your hair will be as your eyes and your veins...they look like tatoos. You'll dress yourself in a new way and stop respond to the name "Lauren".
- Allright. I don't really have the choice. If I stay here, they'll catch me.
- You will come with me, Marianne, and we'll hide together somewhere until the time for your revenge come.
- This is the most fortunate deed I have to do. You're so kind to me, Nebri. I'll be in your debt.
- We'll see later for that. Now, mind yourself...Marianne.

End of chapter one.
To be continued...

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

lol, wtf, you made Damarus die? looooool...

[legacy-KQ12]

wow thats great and Nebri was my favorite character in UC, and UT2k4

[legacy-Demosthenes62]

Yet another great add on to this awesome fanfic.

Great Job!!! seriously though

[legacy-Alucard_Liah]

I am really enjoying your story, but I can't, for the life of me, get past some of the grammar and syntax errors. I would enjoy your stuff that much more if you could get it proofread by a native English speaker before posting.

Again, loving the story.

[legacy-KQ12]

oww shutup leave him alone... if you have nothing good to say dont say it at all

[legacy-Unrealman]

character ideas

Name:Rolik
Age:Undead
Weapon:Necris Warhammer
Planet:Earth
Bio:Rolik was ounce a skilled merc but his death at the accident wear he was driving the space craft for his fellow ship members.So he was driving then lightning struckt and they were throw off the ship by the impact,only promblem was that survival gauranted death.He woke up after a nice cold sleep and his crew members along his side.another roar of lightning hit causing a avalanche all members were buried in the snow.Liandri scientists found roliks body and ressurected him with the necris process.once awaken he hijacked a speed jet and went on to complete his bounty........Hunting and elimanating ...Lauren

[legacy-Hollehund]

Chapter 2 A memento from Hell

As she was hearing the nocturnal critters expressing their joy to live, Lauren was stalking in the shadows of the tall bushes of dr. Clancy Morgan, of the Liandri clinical staff at Neo-York. She was looking through the window in his bedroom. The man wasn't there. All was dark inside the house. Lauren was keeping her attention on the road beside her. The doctor was surely about to come back. She had studied his daily schedule for a couple of days now, she knew he was always coming back home every night at nine o'clock. What a boring life he lived, with no woman, no children, no pet, nothing. Nothing but his job, nothing but the undead he helps to create. He had signed his death when he messed with a former tournament champion.

Lauren wasn't that mad about the poor doctor. He surely wasn't a big head of the Liandri, he probably wasn't one who benefits from the necris project of the corporation. She guessed this by looking at this rudimentary house he possesses. Lauren stopped staring at the building and lowered her head when she sensed a hovercar breeze behind her neck. She discovered her newfound sense recently. Her nerves were now extremely sensitive. Her fingers too.

Both of her hands were full. One contained an enforcer fully loaded, with a clip stolen to a "friendly" enforcer of the Liandri, a few days ago. The other was holding a present of Nebri, a typical Gen Mo'Kai blade, similar to a human scimitar, but made of a purposely rusted alien alloy. She didn't know what she could expect of this artefact but Nebri insisted on the usefulness of this blade, so she took it with her.

While the old man was unlocking the front door of his home, a shadow stealthily moved behind him. He didn't returned himself. When Lauren got about two meters behind him, he still ignored her. He opened the door. Lauren retained the closing door by hastily putting her sword between the frame and the door. She thought :
- Nice gift, Nebri, at least this thing has had an use.

Lauren entered the entry hall, her enforcer ready to fire. She didn't mind about the noise. Nobody really cares in those cities of the free human world. There's simply so much thing else to do than care about a neighbour's life ! Furthermore, Lauren was enjoying bloodsheds since her "rebirth". This night was simply an occasion to do such a thing.

She walked as a wolf - she had some knowledge of long-disappeared animals since she had some formation as an historian before entering the Tournament - inside the sheep's lair. In front of her, the man was sat in front of a cryomeal of some sort, reading the holonews of the day from his kitchen's datapack screen. He didn't even heard her when she pointed her gun on him. Then she said :
- Let me show you Hell. I went there, and these eyes, you'd see them in your nightmares if I wasn't about to kill you.

Then she pressed the trigger. Two times. The first bullet penetrated the man's throat, the second broke his datapack screen. She couldn't stand the so-called "news" anymore. There wasn't any life on Earth since the NEG came out. Everything that made life called life had long vanished and no one saw it. Who cares ? The tickets to the Liandri's Tournament were so cheap that everyone, even ten years old children can afford to see every match played on Earth !

To be continued...

[legacy-Fudruck]

Nice job with the plot, just wish that I could understand everything else...

[legacy-Hollehund]

It was hard to think she had become an outlaw. So, when she looked for the first time at a holovision news spot, she chuckled. Some video footage of her, walking in the night, following some Liandri medical staff's member had been published. The videos weren't that compromising since it only shows a pair of glowing red eyes moving in the darkest nights, but everyone in all Neo-York - and maybe on Earth - was now aware that someone was currently pissing off the Liandri corporation. Jerl Liandri was probably red with anger. Lauren stopped laughing to suddently smile to a couple of children coming by her. She then turned herself and evade the crowd gathered to watch the news spot.

Lauren has past the last few nights by killing some of the members of the Neo-York Liandri Research and Care Pavillion. Each night, one different man fell. Some night it was a woman. She didn't care. They were guilty because they knew what they did. Lauren was more and more of a threat for the operations of the hotshot corporation, so she her suspicions about nearby people was growing. She was thinking the Liandri would send assassins to her real soon.

She wasn't that wrong. On her way to come back at her hide, she watched another news spot, an updated one with her last crime. The one of the last night. A staff chief. A bounty was officially cast on her. Four millions of credits were offered to anyone who could apprehend and neutralize her and a chance to get a free pass into the Tournament for next year in the upcoming Liandri Gladiators team.
"Hell, dear Jerl..." Lauren thought "Kill me all you want!"

Lauren entered her room where Nebri was and instantly knew there was something wrong with her Gen Mo'Kai friend.

To be continued...

[legacy-Hollehund]

As Lauren stepped in the small room, she knew she was going to get hurt. A man in blue armor fired at her without even asking for surrender. Lauren fell on her side, with a bullet tightly inserted in her leg. She swept the man's feet off the ground with her other leg, while Nebri lept on the second assassin who was keeping her afar with his shock rifle.

The blast the second man fired when the Gen Mo'Kai pushed him on the wall broke one of the windows. He then tried to repel Nebri with a few punches, but she was tougher than she looked. The man knew what pain can be inflicted with simple claws. He quickly had his mask entirely painted with his own blood. While searching for the rifle he lost in the process of being slaughtered, the assassin grabbed a small bronze statue. He hit Nebri with a blind swept and she fell.

Lauren had more chance than her friend. She grabbed her attacker's enforcers from his belt and nailed him a couple of times. He stood back, begging for his life, while Lauren was keeping both of them in her sight. While she wasn't familiar with those particular weapons, she acted like she was, and the two injured men trusted her. Both of them were wearing blue masks. While she was indeed enjoying killing guilty people, Lauren wasn't fond of slaying unknown people, so she asked them to show their faces out.

Foes are never more terrible than when they are well-known. Those two were known to Lauren. She was their teammate for a couple of years. Othello and Riker, two of Malcolm's ex-henchmen. The fierce Othello was praying his gods not to let him die this pitiful way while Riker was cleaning his face up as he could. Lauren could have had pity for them, but she caugth a slight move from Nebri and realized she might be mortally wounded. Besides, if the two ex-Tournament warriors were there, others would eventually come. So she killed them both.
"At least, she thought, that makes two snakes out of the nest".
- Life is pain, get over it !
- Nebri will live. Nebri only see stars !
- Pardon me, Nebri, I've been quite rude. I owe you my life, again.
- Never mind. These stars remind me of my planet !

Nebri began to laugh. It was a bizarre laugh, like if she was really proud of her joke. Lauren just took her backpack and put in the weapons the mercenaries were holding. Then she said :
- Right. Assemble your things, we're going out. I have some things to attend to before, but basically, we can say we won't sleep here anymore.
- Your eyes glow with more fire than before.
- That might be because my desire for revenge just climbed up a level. I hate the Liandri. I hate their assassins. I hate their Tournament.
- That said by a champion, it is surprising.
- Don't forget I saw greater things in my...life...and that we'll both see things even greater in the future.
- Like what ?
- Like the fall of an empire.

To be continued...

[legacy-NightorrentV6]

Ooh, I liked that bit of foreshadowing. Great story Hollehund, keep it up.

[legacy-Fudruck]

-insert dramatic music here-
Another great add-on, Hollehund.

~edit~ "here" being the end of the story.

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

this one was, bad, you cant start making all the tournament fighters to die... ppl will protest. now if you want publish it it will be dificult cause of the tournament characters that are dead.

[CounterZeus]

*nobody was hurt during this fanfic*

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

ok... but i got hurt :'(

[legacy-Hollehund]

Chapter 3 Soul Mates with no souls

Lauren got awake early on monday night. She had been avoiding public apparitions since the assassination attempt by Othello and Riker at the dawn of saturday. Since that time, Nebri and her had to flee for one hide to another. Every time, the NEG military police, allies of the Liandri Corporation closed in so fast that many times, both of the outlawed women thought they were to be caught.

Things were different this day. Nobody seemed to be aware of their presence. Lauren was breathing heavily this morning, trying to catch some pure air. Nothing to do, it wasn't an atmospheric problem, it was fever. She was supposed to go to the mansion to pick up some personal things before Nebri and she disappears in the vast world but she couldn't by the monday morning, raise herself up. Her injury to the leg was more and more of a pain, and the blood she had lost before cauterizing the wound, black, as usual for her, seemed to drain her forces as well as a robot losing oil. Was she a robot ?

At these horrible thought, Lauren raised herself, ignoring the pain. She then dressed herself in her black trench coat, she left a note to Nebri and left the small hut she was living in, in the remote ghetto of Neo-York. On her way to the shuttle bay, she crossed a couple of known outlaws, anarchists and murderers. She knew her face was compared to theirs on the NEG criminal reports. She had a resigned smile.

The shuttle bay was a simple landing bay for incoming internal shuttles, as well as a starting point for new flights. Lauren was bold, she had no problem to hide herself in a small public vessel. She was sat among the passenger's pets. The scent of innocent life was flowing into that vessel. A weird sensation comes to Lauren. Was she some kind of primitive human now, or a superevolved one ? She didn't know what she had became. That question was troubling her more than anything else, the Liandri, the Bounty Hunters, the NEG, the loss of Brock...

She discovered she was still able to experience surprise when she landed in Shell Shore's shuttle bay. She was back in Ontario, the headquarters of the Liandri. Here, everything, everywhere was tainted by the Liandri corruption. But Ontario was also the place she lived with Brock. The place was theirs. Fans were dedicated to them both. She was surprised to see that things haven't changed. There was still posters of Brock on every wall. There was still some Iron Guard armor replica on the fans' shoulders. The name of Brock was still on the fans' lips. As if he was living.

Lauren saw glimpses of her past still living. She walking up the street, looking to Brock's supporters everywhere. Did they know ? Sure they do. In that state of confusion, Lauren saw images of Brock's last match. He was different than what she expected...he was living !

To be continued...

[legacy-hedgymister234]

man i've read fanficts but yours is so kick ass most fanficts are boring and uninspired but yours is the opposite. it drew me in and was very inspired and so dramatic.

[legacy-Demosthenes62]

Brock is alive!!!!

an even better twist...

[legacy-Utking]

Hollehund You ROCK :D ,Please continue.

[legacy-Hollehund]

The sole moon of Earth was high into the dark blue sky when a shadowy silhouette fell on it's feet in an enclosed garden. The tall brick walls were pretty primitive as a defensive means, but they were looking pretty along with the victorian mansion. The lone shadow ran on the recently-cut grass until it could hide in the taller shadow of a big statue in the middle of the small park. That statue was an angel wearing an Iron Armor. Nothing less. The shadow followed the howls of nightly creatures and went to the big door. There was a giant brass ring.

Lauren didn't knock. She had the magical magnetic card. At first, she didn't feel anything to be back at home. There was a subtle scent of male's appartments. She chuckled at the thought she can be surprised by her own man in her own home in a burglar suit while she was supposed to be dead. As him, however. She listened closely as Brock was watching the holovision in the grand room. She smiled while thinking :
"Living, dead, living-dead, he don't care, he's just himself. I should do as him". As she thought it was too late for her, she was an outlaw, her smile vanished. She began her silent march in the corridor behind her boyfriend. Because she didn't want him being involved in her quest, she was about to steal her own things in her own bedroom. This was really like a game in comparison what she had done these days.

Once in her bedroom, she took a deeper breath. It was a small, intimate room with in its center, a rather huge bed with a thin purple veil suspended between four ebony pillars. That was their battlefield back in their early days together. But with the duties of each other in the Iron Guards and then with the new Thundercrashes...she had barely the time to sleep in this warm den. She closed her eyes and went to her wardrobe. Inside, there was her clothes, her Iron Guard tank tops and armors, all left untouched. Yet again, Brock was still Brock. Not curious at all. He always thought he had everything. Lauren asked herself for how many days he cried her.

Lauren didn't had the time to think to an answer. She didn't even had the time to grab her enforcers on her sides. She received a painful shock blast in the middle of her back. She fell in the wardrobe, her eyes rolling in suddent terror. Her nerves calmed down a little after a couple of second then she looked behind her. She saw her boyfriend. Their eyes crossed each other for a second. He raised his shock rifle a little and aimed again. Then she saw he wasn't the same Brock she loved at all...

To be continued...

[legacy-Fudruck]

You keep us in constant suspense with all of these cliffhanger endings. My heart is gonna pop! lol. Very nice, yet again.

[legacy-Hollehund]

Lauren had to react quickly, Brock had been confused by her fiery eyes, but he was about to slay her. In two leaps, she was behind him. She grabbed his rifle's cannon, and tried to take it from him. But she couldn't. He held it and pressed the trigger. The shock blast crushed the wall on the opposite side of the room. Brock then said :
- I've been told you might be trying to come here...
- Who said you that crap ?
- That's me who ask the questions ! What is your business here, woman ? Were you going to set a bomb ? You're an anarchist, I believe, by the random killing spree you are on !
- That's ridiculous Brock ! We should stop this game right now ! I don't know how you live, but what I know is that your mind has been puzzled !

Brock and Lauren separates from each other, as Brock strucked his opponent with a powerful shoulder check. Lauren stepped back behind the bed, to use his veil in case Brock attacked again. But he stayed firm, but passive, as their conversation went further.

- What do you mean ? How can you know I have memory blanks these days ?
- Because you do not recall me, idiot !
- Should I ? I mean, I do not recall every single chick I had in my bed.. started Brock.
- Shut up ! At least, your personnality still ressembles what it was before.
- Before what ?
- What's the oldest thing do you remember ?
- I remember I've been in a hospital...
- Let me guess...in Neo-York ?
- Amazing ! That's it. The doctors told me I've got a serious injury in the Liandri's Unreal Tournament. I thought I had been lucky to escape death, until you came. They told me that some kind of alien demon would try to catch me because I defeated their team, long ago.
- The snakes ! I am no alien, nor that I'm demon, Brock, I'm the woman you loved, before Gorge hum...harmed you, said Lauren, thinking that "necris thing" wasn't a good thing to explain to him at the time.
- I have a woman huh ? I believe I should feel ashamed, as I didn't remember it, I can't be told infidel.

At the thought of Brock in the arms of another, Lauren grinned, she thought for a second to pulverize his chest with the sword Nebri gave her. But then, she realized her man was more confused than her, and Nebri was there for her in her bad moments. Then, she was about to do the same thing for him. She made a step in front, approached him, kissed his dry lips and told him :
- Be on your guard. There are really people who will try to harm you, but that's not me. I have the same problem than you.
- Yes, but moreover, the NEG and the Liandri search for you all the time ! My woman is an assassin ? Wow, that's cool !
- Forget about these kills ! They aren't as random you might think. I say, a war has broken and I won't rest until both of us are safe.
- So, what you are gonna do ?
- I'll give you a chance to come with me, to leave this luxurious house and to begin your cure !
- My cure ?
- You can't stay with no memories of your past forever ! I'm the precise one who will heal you !
- But...those of the Liandri...they expect me to lead their new robot team in the tournament !
- They'll wait, you'll go in the tournament some day, but not with them. I promise we shall go together, as we did long ago !

The moon was falling behind the lake shore while Brock, impressed by the strange woman he was supposed to kill, was abandonning his comfort to satisfy a newfound hunger for mystery. As he walked behind her in the bland garden, he recalled her fiery eyes and shuddered. Now, he was curious...

End of chapter 3.
To be continued...

[legacy-Unrealman]

nice work dude.you good at this i like your fanfic,now make chapter 4.

p.s make a book or something this is neat

[legacy-Hollehund]

Chapter 4 Of blood and guts all we are made

Lauren forced herself to put a smile on her face while talking to the "new" Brock. She wasn't having fun at all with the man. He was so confused that trying to explain him his past was most difficult than she first thought.

There was something about the Liandri doctor's reactions that was strange. Each time Lauren went to kill one, he was like shocked to see her. Not shocked because he saw a weapon, more like if he wasn't expecting to see her.

Nebri once told Lauren on this question that maybe those scientists really thought she would be thankful to them for having resurrected her, but Lauren seriously doubted of that.

As Brock left the room with the smile of a man with nothing to do, Lauren thought she was a problem to the Liandri because she had her memory. They lied to Brock when he came back to life because the Necris process was a secret ! As he doesn't remember the truth, his previous life she, however, was a failed experiment. She wasn't supposed to recall her past.

That's why she was an outlaw, not only because she was killing men night after night. There was a clear solution to get some answers to her questions. There were still some medical staff elements living under thight protection by the NEG forces. She might ask them, simply, in exchange for their life they would keep ! At this idea, an honnest smile appeared on her face.

Nebri was in the second bedroom of the small, miserable house the trio occupied. She was trying to converse with Brock about the days they were all three together in Europe, while the Gen Mo'Kai's Firestorm team and the Iron Guard were in competitions, years ago. Their friendship was of this time. Since, the young Gen Mo'Kai made herself lots of ennemies and so, she wanted to keep those friends she had, even if at least one of them was a wanted woman.

Then Lauren entered the room. She said :
- I'm about to go on a mission. I go alone. Brock, stay here and try to not catch the attention of anyone.
- It's you and your eyes who catch the attention, cherie.

She didn't responded. Her eyes. Why had she those piece of sun and not him ? They were both dead, they were both resurrected and now they are necris. She grinned while shutting the wooden door behind her. She had to disguise herself while running throught the streets during the day. So she put aside her black clothes and got dressed back her ancient Iron Guard suit, she wore dark glasses and a veil on her hair. Her outfit was merely enough to hide her necris marks on the skin, and the color of her hair was still evident, but her glowing eyes were well hidden. And that was the only evidence the soldiers had.

But during the day, while she was searching throught the streets around the dockyard, where there was always a high concentration of NEG guards, she was asked an autograph by a small girl. She grabbed the clothes at Lauren's knee level and pleaded :
- Can I have your signature ? Please, Lauren !
- How...

Lauren was about to write her name but instead, she handed down the paper and refused to sign. She said she wasn't Lauren. As the girl went away, trying to hold her cries, Lauren felt cheap as she never refused to sign an autograph for a fan. But she couldn't give any clue to the Liandri or the NEG. She wasn't about to help them to find her. And autographs are like a proof of purchase. You sign, then, everyone know you were there.

While Lauren was looking around her, she remarked a tall man who was watching her movements very carefully. She just walked away, hoping he wasn't an assassin but then, she heard the cries. The little girl was certain she was Lauren, even under her new condition and her disguise. Lauren said :
- Curse you, armor, I'm better to find cover quick or I'll be cornered in no time !

Lauren ran to the side of a small tavern in which men were yelling insults at each other. She stepped close to the door of the building and looked to the girl on the street, behind her. She was leading three NEG officers to her from the left. Also, the mysterious man was approaching on the right. Then, Lauren ceased to hesitate. She entered the tavern, dodged two men who were moving while punching each other and then, she ran to a darker section of the vast room. She looked at the entry door, as she feared the soldiers were about to enter.

As she saw one opening the heavy door, she received a powerful hit in her side...

To be continued...

[legacy-Hollehund]

- You there ! Wake up, lazy being !

The man was yelling loud enough for a dead to awake, but still, he was slapping Lauren's face while holding her a feet centimeters above the ground level, with the iron grip of one of his arms. When she finally get her spirits back, Lauren's sight was blurry, confused, she could only saw that the silhouette standing above her was quite large and by the voice, it was clearly a male.

- Stop daydreaming ! They're after you, it would be easier for me to save you if you could walk !
- What ? Who the Hell are you ? asked Lauren with a touch of anger in her voice.
- My name is Garrett. We already know, I think. I've been in your reticle a couple of times already.
- Garrett ? Is this name supposed to recall me something particular ?
- My team, in the tournament, the Hellions, was eliminated to the Thundercrash in last year's semifinals. Don't you remember ?
- Ahh, the Hellions, a bunch of rude men and intoxicated women ? Yeah, I do remember. Why were you slapping me ?
- Because you were unconscious and I was tired of walking with your weight on my shoulders.

Lauren realized the man was also an outlaw, a kind of space pirate, sworn enemy of the NEG. He could be useful to her. He already were as he saved her from the soldiers in that tavern. It took several minutes to Lauren to completely come back from her state of shock. It was Garrett who pushed her aside, out of the NEG trooper's field of view at the last second. Finally, she expressed some confidence in her savior, she said :
- Do you know why I'm a wanted woman ?
- Sure I do. Serial murders on the person of Liandri doctors.
- And you still came to my help ?
- Bah ! They already want my skin, one crime or another...and I don't care what they could think ! You are fighting the same assholes I do !
- How did you know ?
- My...boss knows about your whereabouts for some days now. You might not be aware of it, but there's sometimes a pair of eyes watching over you. This time, it was mine. I have been sent in Shell Shore only to take you under my protection, and so, my clan's protection.
- Is your boss a ghost or what ? I saw no one, and I always take good care of...
- Don't tell me you don't believe in the undead !
- You know ?
- My boss knows, so the Hellions know.
- Where were you trying to get me ?
- In my hide near the lake. But I believe you'd prefer coming back to your dear's side ?
- Right. Would you come with me ?
- I am suppose to make sure no one kills you, so I'll stick to your pretty butt, coal lady.
"So rude", thought Lauren, "He's so ruthless he can't be brilliant enough to fool me."

Besides, it was true that the Hellions were enemies to the NEG. As she was. Lauren looked carefully at Garrett's shape as he was walking before her. He was taller than her, maybe close to seven feet, he was very large for a human, and was of muscular type. It was pretty much evident he was a brawler since one of his fists was bigger than both of Lauren's together. He was bald, and had green eyes. His big nose was pierced and a green pin was reflecting the light of the sun. Each step of the pirate was enough to convince Lauren she could have great confidence in him. He was a brute, not an assassin.

As Lauren saw Garrett violently opening the door of the trio's hide, she remembered the says of the man about his "boss". That was surely some neat being, to be able to spy her while she was absolutely certain to be covered by the shadows ? Maybe that was only creature of the shadows too...

To be continued...

[legacy-Utking]

POST MORE
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!

[legacy-Hollehund]

Brock and Nebri were unsure at first, when the big space pirate entered the first of the two small rooms. His attitude wasn't helping him. He made comments about the way rats would live well in that kind of "hole", and accidently broke a jar from Nebri's Gen Mo'Kai religious items.

But the man himself, when he was finally sat at the table, in Lauren's room, showed some kind of understanding of his gruff behavior. He was about to put his feet on the table, but he didn't and his giant leather boots grounded heavily. He then laughed unexpectingly and, when Lauren asked him why was he so suddently happy, he responded with a big smile :
- I have had non-hellion fans for a long time, but I'd never thought I'd have non-hellions mates !
- Mates ? What do you mean, asked Brock.
- You know why the Hellions had participated to the Liandri's Tournament these last years ?
- To show your skills to customers, I believe, answered Lauren.
- That's part of the answer, but there's something else, too ! We wanted the immunity the Tournament provides its warriors !
- Are you suggesting we do the same ?
- It's you who said it, coal Girl !
- There's no teams sporting only three members anymore. The rules are simple enough, eight members are required to fight in the tournament !
- In the elite league, yes, but who said we're forced to participate to the big show ?
- Big man speaks of the minor leagues ? asked Nebri, like shocked.
- Why not ? No one here is safe, particularly you, Lauren. I saved you today, but what can one man do in the long term ?
- We would use their rules to protect ourselves from them ? said Brock, slowly realizing what everyone else had already in mind.

Lauren suddently raised herself from her bed on which she was sitting for a few minutes. She went to the window and said :
- We can't do that, we can't serve the Liandri again, I can't do it, after all I've done to endanger them...how would I do that ? Helping them to make more profits...
- It is only a matter of days or hours before they catch us, Lauren, added Brock.
- Anyway, no one here can go to the Liandri's office to register us, there's no ways criminals to simply walk there freely.
- I am no outlaw, proudly said Brock.
- Not yet, nodded Garrett.
- We're only three... the minor league is for teams of four !
- We are four, I'm here for you, coal Girl, don't forget me. If I can save your butt outside of the arena, I believe I can do as well in !
- We can't accept that...
- Shut up, freak ! I know what you, champions of old think about us, the wannabe champions, we're punks, we're pretentious to even try ? Then I shall prove you that you're wrong, Lauren. You're no longer of the Iron Guard, not even from the Thundercrash. What you see here, is what's left of your chances. Take it, it won't be offered a second time !

Garrett was on his feet, his face what red with anger and his fists were closed. Brock didn't looked at the stranger's face, he prefered to forget a little longer he was Lauren's boyfriend. Nebri, for her part, was not that precious. She came up on her feet and went right under the man's nose. As he was two heads taller than her, it was an impressive scene to see. The small Gen Mo'Kai was looking for a fight. She was that loyal to Lauren. Lauren was about to try to seperate them both, but the Hellion heavyweight started to laugh. His voice would've alerted everyone in the neighborhood if it wasn't during the day. Nobody was caring.

Then, Garrett put his large hands on both of the female's shoulders and hug her violently. He said :
- Arrggh, the well-known loyalty of the Gen Mo'Kai ! be proud of yourself, Lauren, to have such a friend.
- I will, said the necris woman.
- What did I heard ?
- I will, repeated Lauren.
- It's weird, I'm pretty sure I've heard something ? I must have a bee flying in my head again, joked the hellion.
- I will take part in the Tournament again. But it must be clear that I'll continue the guerilla fight I'm doing right now outside of the arenas...
- Alright captain ! It will be a pleasure to fend off some bastards by your side ! acknowledged the burly man.

Then, the four warriors sat down and tried to figure out what was the image they wanted to send to the compleasant crowds. Outside of the "hole", a shadowy silhouette faded in the night...

End of chapter 4.
To be continued...

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

nice, this is getting more interesting, i think people would love that if you make like 20 chapters :P

[legacy-Hollehund]

Chapter 5 To please the crowds

Lauren's was fastening her belt on her hips when Brock entered her room. She was surprised by his reaction, later on, because he haven't made any progress other than the fact he didn't doubt she was his girl before his "death". So, when he layed one of his arm on Lauren's shoulder, she felt light-hearted for a couple of seconds before she realizes that he was desiring her, no loving her. She turned away and said :
- Have you registered us already ?
- Yeah I do. The leagues starts tomorrow. We got a match on some kind of backwater planet.
- Did they tried to convince you I am a terrorist ?
- Sure they did. But as they saw that my mind was made, they just typed our names in their terminals.
- I hate these terminals. What's the team name ?
- As you have decided, the Ghosts of Days Past.
- I know that, idiot, I want to know our opponents.
- The Gladiators, the Radiators...something like that, I don't remember.
- Nice. At least, your memory is as short-lived than before your death.
- I said them you were Lauren. For your false identity...
- Never mind. In the tournament, a true identity can hide true intentions. Furthermore, they can't refuse I reenter the Tournament because there's a possibility to make lots of credits...That's why I wasn't sure about Garrett's plan.
- At least we'll be secure, they can't arrest you now.
- No, but they know there are many ways for accidents to happen in the Tournament.
- You are a veteran, as I'm supposed to be. We're not newcomers !
- So selfish !

***
In the locker room, under the Rankin arena, Lauren was completing her garb. Her new armor was similar to a long dress, but made of a very resistant alien alloy. She was also wearing her twin holsters on her sides, and she was sporting Nebri's gift Glaive at her hip. As her mate was looking at her, she grinned. She was more a warrior than ever before. Her pale face, on top of this black suit was a delightful contrast. When she was ready, she grabbed her rifle and her flak and then, walked to the locker's door. She turned her back on the door and took a look on her fellow contestant's garbs.

As his girlfriend, Brock was wearing dual enforcers on is sides, but his armor was a replica of the Iron Guard traditional armor, only different in its color. The playboy was now wearing black as Lauren did. Brock's face wasn't that pale, but still, he was giving the impression he was a ghost. Brock raised his link and rocket launcher over his head while sporting a large, confident smile.

On his left was Garrett. The space pirate grinned and said to Brock :
- You're not with fans, so put your smile where we both think !
- My fans expect me to be glorious !
- Shut up, freak boy ! Like it or not, they expect us to be the bad guys ! You see, a space pirate, a serial killer, a primitive alien assassin...
- Nebri is not an assassin ! yelled Nebri.
- Never mind, Nebri, he just making fun of you, intervene Lauren.

Garrett was all dressed in a large body armor made of pure Earthmade Iron. His breastplate was heavier than Nebri herself and was sporting some weird alien symbols. Lauren knew it later, it was Necris symbols meaning "We are ghosts, we came to haunt you". At the moment, Garrett wasn't speaking, he was just adjusting his shoulder pads. They were black, as Lauren and Brock's entire armors. Then he put one of his feet on the table in front of him and Lauren noticed the boots were partly made of iron. No wonder he was muscular, dressed as he was.

Finally, Nebri was simply protected by a classic Gen Mo'Kai warrior outfit, made partly of bone and some alien alloys. As Garrett was still laughing and causing an irritating metal clank by hitting his breastplate with his hand, Nebri put her mask on her face. And so, she hid her facial deformations, signs of a troubled past. She joined Lauren near the door as the cheer of the crowd was announcing the entrance of the other team, a minor league clone to the Juggernauts.

Then, a security staff member came next to the door and said :
- Please, give a good show, people do not want a team to be completely blown off.
- That may very well be the last of my concerns, replied Lauren.

Finally, as the wait was over, Lauren entered first by the arena's service door, by the way of the challengers. All over the arena, the cheer stopped as the people were breathless to Lauren's new look. Finally, a man raised himself and yelled :
- We're with you, Lauren, crush them all !

At this time, the crowd started to chant an heavy boo, some even called Lauren the "red butcher" other called her, "freak chick" and so, she made an effort to keep her head up. Then she heard the commentator's voice in her headset :
- There is Lauren, the Ghosts of Past Day's leader.
- Talk about a team name !
- We all know she is a grand Tournament champion, we all know she a master sniper, an experimented leader, but what we don't know is how her skills of old will fare against armed opponents !
- Yeah, it's pretty easy to slaughter innocent citizens during the night...

Lauren grinned as Nebri entered after her, being presented. She looked at her opponent's faces, they were impressed, they were fearing her. And the crowd was booing her. Because they didn't have to fear. Then, Lauren took out the lock on her rifle...

To be continued...

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

keep that, is going to be great story.

[legacy-Dread]

Love this one's ending.

[legacy-Hollehund]

Lauren felt the thrill of killing and being killed. As she was walking slowly in Rankin arena's entry level rooms, hunting for the last kill, she sensed a bizarre shiver coming down her neck. She had her scoped rifle well in her hands and was walking with some confidence due to her team's strong lead, but still, she was cautious as if the life she was living was the last. She knew the death. The real one.

When Garrett and her had been outnumbered three to two, the big Hellion took things in hands and defeated two of them. Then he fell and Lauren got the third. It was nearly two minutes ago, and now, Lauren was alone, her three mates were in the upper part of the arena, dealing with most of the Gladiator's crew. Still, Lauren was alone with an unloaded Flak Cannon. She stepped in front of one of the many hiding spots in the arena's lower floor. There was no one in sight.

Lauren suddently sensed the danger as she was entering the vast open room. She looked at the last second to her right where, from behind a tole laid vertically against the wall, a geneboosted woman emerged, her rocket launcher loaded. With a deafening warcry, the woman released the three rockets. Lauren was well-known for her cat reflexes. She dodged the two closer rockets. While she was doing her accrobatics, she unsheated her Gen Mo'Kai's gray glaive. In a desperate move, she repelled the third rocket with the small light blade. The projectile exploded on the wall, close to the harpy who just laid down, unprepared. But Lauren wasn't more prepared. She was so surprised of what she just did that she didn't moved at all. Her jaw down, she just saw a ripjack blade opening her assailant's chest. The woman fell in pain while Nebri jumped close to Lauren with a proud battlecry.

Then, the commentators did their job, while Lauren and her teammates left the arena under the applauses of the pleased fans. They had seen enough blood, even if the Ghosts of Days Past were too strong for their foes. One of the officials said :
- Pretty much of a surprise. Even in her...state, Lauren is still as fast as wind ! Her team was unstoppable tonight !
- Don't forget this is minor leagues. There's not five warriors in these leagues who will reach the Tournament someday. I prefer to reserve my comments for later.
- You may be right, but rarely have I seen such teamwork. All the time Garrett was there to cover Lauren and Nebri and Brock never got separated. We call that good tactics !

Lauren didn't listened more. She just went out of the arena, still dressed in her strange armored robe while walking under the renowned rain outside Rankin facilities. Her face was paler than ever before as she was realizing she had more power she thought it possible. Her instinct should have brought her to unsheate her twin enforcers, but instead, she took the strange sword. There was sorcery in this blade. She would give it back to Nebri as soon as possible. There was no place for another unexplainable thing in her "life". Everything was already complex enough for her.

Brock had little problem to find her in the storm. He spotted the woman from afar because of her burning eyes. She was alone under a mild temperature, walking on a humid soil. Her black platform shoes were leaving prints on her track. So he reached her in no time.

He approached her while she stopped herself, knowing he was there. As he was a few centimeters from her, Brock stopped moving suddently. He scented her mild perfume made of a pretty weird mix of unexpended adrenaline, boiling nanoblack and her new prefered perfume, spilled blood. This actually charmed him. He thought he had recovered a souvenir, but it was desire that spoke to him. In laid a hand on her right shoulder and approached her face to her ear. He said :
- Were we very important for each other ? I heard Garrett speaking to Nebri...it seems our relationship was pretty unstable and superficial.
- Your relationship might've been superficial, but not mine...at least, not at the end.
- The end ?
- When you died, something in me broke up. So I thought I was better to die too. To follow you.
- You did what ? uttered Brock,
- Put your hand here, you'll know what I did to myself for you.

Lauren grabbed and led Brock's free hand to her torso. He sensed the nanoblack cauterized bullet hole his girlfriend had there. A unpleasant feeling invaded him as he was pressing his hand on hers. The feeling of this deep, symbolical wound was to stay in his memory forever. Not even death would take it from him. He then found the courage to speak again :
- Why ? I don't understand why you aren't happy to live, as we both live...
- Don't you see we're freaks ? Monsters ? We're not even true necrises !
- I'll talk to that brute, Garrett, he'll stop treating you that way...
- Forget about this ! He his right to think that way ! Look at you ! Look at me ! You have no souvenir of all those years you lived, of all those sweet moments we lived together from the most relax high school nights to the bloodiest Tournament match ! And me, with my permanent plasma-like eyes, and my skin, white as snow ! Look at me, idiot, look at us and...tell me that what we are is not ugly ! Tell me the Liandri hasn't took enough from us ! Tell me they do not deserve to pay !

Then, Lauren started to cry. As she fell in Brock's arms, a cold, black tear rolled on her face. At this precise time, Lauren's favorite song came back to Brock's shattered mind. He did said nothing at this moment. He just put her head under his chin and closed his eyes as water was sliding on the dead skin of his face. He put a hand into her wet red hair and smiled. For him, she was more human than she thought.

A powerful voice interrupted this soft moment yelling :
- Hey, the *****es, come over there, we have to leave until the next match starts out !

To be continued...

(By the way, if you are able to guess who is the last person to speak, I'll give you a car (joke) )

[legacy-Utking]

More More!!!!You Rock [)00[)!!

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

Garret? a powerfull voice lol, my car!!!!
nice, is GREAT.

[legacy-Hollehund]

While they were all four in the hovercab, none of the Ghosts said a sole word. Lauren was repressing more cries, a bit worried about the fact Brock was becoming increasingly soft with her, and because she was terrorized that her tears were pure, unrefined nanoblack. No longer she was asking herself what she had became. She knew, at least, she wasn't a human anymore.

Brock did said nothing because he just couldn't remember how he was supposed to react. He didn't knew he was indeed reacting as always before. The living Brock had never worried about anything. His family's wealth always had given him a clear path. But this time, as he thought he was a poor high school student enroled into the tournament as a mercenary, too poor to live otherwise, he just kept his mouth shut, trying from time to time, to wipe Lauren's remaining tears of her face and her chin.

Nebri and Garrett missed nothing of what was going on under their eyes. As they thought, both of the undead lovers were confused. Surprisingly, Lauren was the one who expressed the more concerns. Brock's doom was his lost memory as Lauren's was her presence of memory. Nebri finally tried to intervene :
- We won, why are you concerned ? We, Gen Mo'Kai, believe that everything will be solved in time.
- Nebri, take back your glaive, I can't help but refuse your gift, I have enough concerns for now on to care about sorcery.
- Sorcery ? What sorcery ? Gen Mo'Kai make no sorcery. The gray blade is a Nikarion forged blade, no more.
- Whatever you say, my friend, take it, I'd rather fight with guns from now on.
- As you want, if you ever change your mind...
- Go on, ****ers, go on, cry, cry and yell. Your mind is broken, yes we know, every single second we live close to you is only there to show your pain to the entire galaxy. That's enough, Lauren, choose what you want to do ! My boss doesn't give a **** about your concerns, we, the Hellions, have been enlisted for a task greater than all your problems of soulless freaks !
- Mind yourself, buddy ! I won't tell you twice ! said Brock, with all the anger he could find in his empty heart.
- No, you, mind yourself ! You are unhappy to walk this world as undead, we know that, we know all the **** of that ! You want to make the Liandri pay, then fine, that's want we all want here. We all have personal grudges against those ****ers, but for now, we're four, until we made ourself a name and some momentum, we'll stay four and in the minor leagues ! When we'll be known and loved enough, we'll recruit and fight in the Tournament, then, we will have the chance to defeat the Liandri. For now, we just have to act...
- To act as mindless automatons...that's it ?
- Right ! You may not be mindless automatons, you two, but you'll make as if you were, we don't need enemies in the crowd, trust me. In the events to come, we'll need all the support we may gather from the fans of all over the galaxy.

In her confusion to be shaken that way, Lauren ceased to cry and only looked on Nebri's face. This time, the little Gen Mo'Kai didn't came to her rescue. Again, Garrett was right. The champions they were wouldn't have even worried about the Liandri's abject plans for global dominance. Lauren decided she had to be stronger from this moment to the glorious moment where she would inflict fatal pain to her true foes.

Then, Lauren stared at the Hellion's face, he was not in any means angry. He was only able to shake the ribs of weak, disorganized minds at will. That was probably why he had been chosen to come to Lauren's help by his so-called "boss". At this thought, Lauren said herself she would be pretty satisfied to meet that creepy leader. But for now, she had other concerns. She planned a new action for expressing her hatred for Jerl Liandri's subordinates...

End of chapter 5.
To be continued...

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

you rock, you should make a movie of this.

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

this must be alive.

[legacy-Fudruck]

Hollehund, you are excellent. Very awesomeful so far.

[legacy-Hollehund]

Chapter 6 The hellish Mistress who hunts sinners.

Her previous torments aside, Lauren had returned to her state of pure hatred against her Liandri enemies. She was determined to mark her first victory in the minor leagues by scoring a real hit against the mining branch of the company.

So she was all dressed in black, to make no change to her new "natural" self. She was walking in the cold night in the vast no man's land around Deck 19 on a small, remote homeworld of the Gen Mo'Kai. The poor lizard people of this planet was for a long time enslaved by the Liandri enforcers, employed at the exploitation of Tarydium, a crystal which was increasingly useful to the Liandri, because of her new partnership with the throne of the Nakhti. They were showing their news weapons in the Ascension Rites tournament, a sub-Tournament of the Liandri, her first parallel event in all those years.

Lauren never felt really outraged about the Liandri's deeds in matters of slavery, but now that she was officially at war with them, she just thought there was nothing to prevent her from striking them, not even the distance. Using Garrett's secret allies, Lauren and her team used a External Shuttle that led them there. Since their arrival in the mountains, a couple of hours from the facilities, Lauren walked alone, each of her teammates was having a particular role to play in this night's raid.

While roaming in the shadows, Lauren recalled what Garrett said to her just before they leaved the shuttle :
"As you wish, Mistress, we'll stole lives of the rich to give them back to the poor".

At this time, she haven't realized she could even been considered as a hero by these people who worked as slaves for the Liandri. She was just thinking about her vengeance. She only thought about her vengeance even when she saw a motorized patrol coming her way. She didn't thought she could ever be a hero when she broke the neck of the driver and shot the passenger in the head. She just thought she was exacting revenge for herself and maybe for Brock. But nothing more.

So was her thinking as she killed the three guards at the entrance, by sneaking behind them and broking their soft bones. She was more and more angry when she entered the security perimeter of the outer compound. She heard the warnings from the central computer. She expected it would happen, so she hid herself behind a stack of crates, waiting for the first guards to arrive. She didn't had to wait very long. A dozen of unarmored guards came in the compound, found their buddies dead, sat against the wall in a lighted corner. They gave the official alert.

The alert was exactly what Lauren was waiting to act again. She aimed for the head of the first man, and shot him with her old sniper rifle as nobody was expecting a direct strike. They were numerous.

Lauren, well hidden in the darkest corner of the inner wall, fired again, killing a second man. Nobody knew from where she was hitting them. Another shot, another sting in the arse of the Liandri. Everytime, Lauren didn't care about being seen. She was in such a state that she couldn't care less about her "life" as long she was trimming the ranks of the guilty.

When her rifle's clip ran out of ammunition, Lauren raised herself, her enforcers in hands. She then stormed in the open. She saw the men were seeing her coming, some of them were fleeing, seing the red fireballs of Hell coming their way. They were wiser. The other ten who stayed there tried to kill her. They were stupid. Lauren didn't stopped when she was first struck by a small pistol round. She replied with all her agility. Her speed was enhanced by her nanoblack blood's infinite energy and her rage was fueled by the fear she sensed in the heart of the survivors. Soon, she went between the remaining guards, her two guns sending some in Hell, while others were trying to flee. Those ones decided too late to escape.

When Lauren had defeated all of the enemy platoon, she fell on her knees and listened to the computerized voice saying :
"Intruder in the outer compound. All the security teams are ordered to deal with the intruder on sight. Intruder is armed and represents a abnormal level of danger. Every armed guard is to be careful."

As the same warning was repeating itself, Lauren went behind the crates again and said in her headset :
- Now is the time to go. Team two, bring them Hell !

Soon enough, as the first fire team was entering the compound to eradicate the threat, they found themselves under heavy fire. Laser blasts and Plasma balls were raining on them as water on some planets was falling from the sky. The shots were coming from the roofs. There, Brock and Nebri were standing, proud, they were dealing with the Reaper at their advantage.

Then, Lauren raised herself and shot the survivors. She advanced slowly while her friends were coming to her by jumping from roof to roof. They then advanced slowly as lone guards were coming from all sides to try to stop them. There was no way to stop them.

The three outlaws reached the giant iron door of the inner compound. As Nebri was trying to hack into its computer, the door opened. An entire assault team was there. They haven't expected to fight so soon, so they were surprised.

As a herd of sheeps, they all came in the open ground, their assault rifles firing. They all got slaughtered.

Brock and Nebri entered the bowels of the main facility with at their head, a newfound goddess of death. As they were all vanishing in the shadows, the voice of Garrett warned them by their headset :
- Robots ! They are sending the heavy artillery to catch you ! I repeat, a dozen of security bots are coming to you from Factory Three. Don't stay there or you'll be even deader than now !
- There's no way we get out of there now. It is not those trash cans who will stop us ! answered Lauren, still victim of her boundless anger.

So, the three warriors marched in the staircase leading them to Deck 19's underground levels...

To be continued...

[legacy-Utking]

[)00[) email epic to sponsor you to make a movie and/or book out of this!







BTW. K ][ C K @ $ $ [)00[)!

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

i must agree, its very professional.

[legacy-Hollehund]

- Prioritize intruders in inner compound, pronounced the first robot of the convoy.
- Have you heard that, snowballs ? I'm taking direct shots at them for three minutes and that's the only thing they do !

Lauren listened for Garrett's message in her earphones. The heavyweight space pirate was harassing the security bot convoy who was walking in the open in the direction of Deck 19's main facility in which the assault team of Lauren was still, and deeper than ever.

Garrett swapped his assault rifle for his rocket launcher and fired a couple of rockets on the robots. Some fell, a leg crushed, others exploded and soon enough, Lauren, Brock and Nebri heard another of their mate's coloured comment :
- Another one ! Are they dumb ?!?
- I must presume you handle the situation outside, Garrett ?
- Sure you can, coal girl !
- Nice ! Then we have rendez-vous with some slaves !

As Lauren was speaking, a light appeared in Nebri's eyes. She just thought about a new reason for her to bring death to the men of the Liandri.

The three warriors went down a wide ramp, all guns out, listening for eventual ambushes. This brought her goods very soon. A bullet passed near Lauren's head. The necris squadleader jumped behind a crate, and fired in the overall direction from which the shot came. While she was pinning down the sniper, Brock and Nebri moved in the middle of the boxes spreaded all around in the room.

Nebri protected Brock from a hidden guard. As the necris was passing throught the soldier's reticle, the Gen Mo'Kai pushed the entire stockpile of boxes on the attacker. Brock escaped death by a few centimeters. The sniper was killed soon after and the three sweepers accessed a small corridor in which mines were set all around. Nebri took care of them by using the good old Gen Mo'Kai way. She ran throught the corridor, detonating traps with the tip of her glaive while dodging the impacts of the explosions in a very intuitive way.

But a big robotic guard surprised the Gen Mo'Kai by stepping just in front of her while she had crossed the entire minefield. The robot aimed his stinger tool on her head and pressed the trigger.

Nebri avoided the first shots by miracle, she fell in front of the bot. Then, Lauren didn't missed her chance, she fired her sniper shot right in the robot's head, disabling it.

After having been so close to death, Nebri just stepped on her feet and said :
- We must continue, remember ?
- Right, nodded Lauren, for which it was normal to be so quickly ready to fight again.

But Brock knew his alien friend was injured. It was like if he had a sixth sense for that. He ran behind her and put a hand on her shoulder. She turned to face him and he saw the two small holes in her body. There was not a lot of blood, but Brock paniqued. He said to Lauren :
- She is injured !
- Another reason not to stay here !
- But it's for real this time, Lauren.
- Do you think she will get better if another of these mining robots shows itself up ?
- You must be right...can you continue, Nebri ?
- Nebri will live, Nebri is okay.

Then the alarm sounded again, as the three commandos were advancing in the bowels of Deck 19 even deeper, they heard Garrett saying :
- Hey, snowballs, I finish with the airfield and I come to your rescue, don't fear too much !
- The airfield ?
- Yeah, we'll cut their supply lines as we're here !

A couple of seconds later, the loud sound of explosions outside the facility were heard. Then, Lauren feared, she heard Garrett swearing. His voice expressed pain. He was harmed. There was something going on up there and they couldn't do anything. Anything except reach the core that was powering the mining facility and destroy it. As the three of them were approaching the heart of the enemy base, one kilometer over their head, an epic fight was practically over...

To be continued...

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

nice, its getting always better.

[legacy-Hollehund]

Garrett fought with all his courage, but there was too many of them. He forced himself to retreat with an empty rocket launcher. He opened the side door his own way, by crushing the magnetic rail card driver with a solid punch. His bruised ribs were painful enough to keep him from thinking to his severed hand. The man let fall his empty, useless weapon and ran as quickly as he could. He would have avoided patrols if only he saw them. Instead, he just ran through them, sending some of them on the ground.

The helpless warrior fell before a mining robot. The golem turned itself. But it was too late. Garrett had already caught his stinger tool and turned it against him. Then, the lone Hellion fired. He fired the entire clip, sending the ventilated mechanical worker on the ground. Garrett looked around him and took the chance to breathe. He heard the alarms all over the facility. He heard guards yelling hateful messages to him. They were looking for him. In one second, he gazed to his new weapon's counter and sweard :
- **** this crap ! What should I do with twenty-three shots ?
- What are you saying ? asked Lauren, from her vantage point in the turbine's room.
- I say I'm going to get my ass buried, coal girl. You're better to come to me as I can't do the same !
- Stay where you are, we're coming ! said Brock.

Brock was ready to go, but Lauren intervened :
- What are you thinking ? Who's the leader ? That's me ! I command you and Nebri to stay here and place the charges on the turbine's core, I'll go to rescue the brawns myself !
- Alone ? asked her boyfriend.

It was too late, Lauren was already running in the next corridor, her enforcers fully loaded. She heard Garrett's message as she was about to reach an elevator :
- They're coming, they're coming ! Fasten your seatbelts, that's gonna be a wild ride !
- Calm down, big guy, that's not the time to go berserk !
- It's you who say that ? I must dream, coal girl !
- Oh, shut up ! Do you see an elevator ?
- No, but I see a sign that indicates an elevator !
- You know what to do ?
- Kill 'em all ?
- No, run !

All went crazy at this time, Garrett followed the signs on the walls, he dodge a couple of lone sniper shots and reached a lone iron pillar. Hiding himself behind it, he saw the shadows of incoming guards on the walls in front of him, at the other side of the corridor. They were closing on him quickly. As they approached, the ground seemed the crumble. He turned himself as a fire wave came in, torching some of the soldiers. The others retreated, afraid of something. There was "something wrong with the core".

Lauren also sensed the blast, but she heard it as well. Swearing in her earphones at the intention of Brock, she sensed an incoming danger. She didn't have the time to hide in a near room. The fire wave caught her as she was trying to do it. But she didn't die. Instead, she sensed a buzz in her ears and a strange sensation of well-being. The nanoblack in her veins was heating up, due to the ambiant heat. But she didn't died.

Garrett saw Lauren first, as she crossed the corpses of roasted soldiers. The man came out of his hide, his jaw down. He just saw that her hair was burning, as well as her fingertips. But she didn't expressed pain. No pain at all. She turned to face him. His chest was bloody as well as his hand, but he wasn't complaining. Lauren heard footprints from the other side of the corridor.
- They are coming in again, follow me !
- I agree, freak !

They both returned to their squadmates who were idle in the turbine's second level. As Lauren approached, Brock came to her and said :
- I was worried about you, have you always been that crazy ?
- Actually, it's not quite the time to relax. There's the worker cells below
- We can't continue, Lauren, intervened Nebri.
- What ?
- Garrett is bloody, Nebri is bloody, Lauren has burns on her body. We should go now.
- But...your kind...
- They will capture Gen Mo'Kai again later, said the young alien.
- Well...you may be right...I'm so dumb to have taken you by force this far...
- Shut up, coal girl, if we have to go, we should go now before these assholes try to encircle us !
- He is right. Now we go ! added Nebri.

Lauren was feeling something similar to what she remembered being shame as the four commandos ran to the staircases abandonning the slaves a few levels below, a few feet from them. When she saw the light from the inner compound's first blast door, as fresh air was coming to her lungs, real shamed was catching her. The uselessness of her action came to her mind. She felt like if she sacrified Garrett and Nebri's health for her personal struggle against the Liandri.
"This will never happen again" thought her before emerging to the surface.

As the four battered warriors were making it to the compound's main doors, they saw, in front of them, something that was about to change the meaning of the lives of some of them...

End of chapter 6.
To be continued...

Note : I believe that part is not on par with the others, but it's because I was in a hurry with a friend urging me to return home. Anyway, this will be fixed when I'll have the time to correct all the grammar errors later this summer. Here it is, available on a rather very busy week-end :)

[legacy-Utking]

More [)00[) more!!!!

[legacy-Rivet]

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaay tooooooo looooooong!!
im not gonna read all that
hollehound u have a lot of spare time on your hands.

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

good job, you always do good works.

[legacy-Utking]

cum on [)00[)!!

[legacy-Demosthenes62]

Awesome work man

[legacy-Hollehund]

Here's a trivia question :

- What is green, blind, angry, dead and fights with dual scythes ?

Höllehund, April 10th 2k5

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

no idea, a Skaarj?

[legacy-OnagiPower]

your mother?... im just playing...

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

dude, if you dont give us more hints its just impossible roofl.

[legacy-Hollehund]

Hum...another hint I can think off is that the creature has a very bad temper, you could consider it worse than Lauren's or Gorge's temper.

Ahh, and something else, that's a necris hybrid thing once again. The Liandri is really messing with laws of nature :)

Höllehund, 2k5

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

that pal with that sortof glasses that cover hes eyes and its from UT99?

[legacy-Hollehund]

Chapter 7 A warning from greater minds

In the sunlight that was sifting throught the main door frame, there was a shadow. A single, thin silhouette. Lauren raised her gun, but she heard a strange alien voice ordering her to calm down. As she had an hesitation, Garrett stepped in front of her and said :
- We're in trouble, coal lady, it seems the boss isn't happy !
- What do you say, hellion, asked Brock.
- He sent his henchmen to meet us for him.
- Henchmen ? Your employer is an alien form ? Why didn't you talked us of this rather important piece of information ?
- You didn't asked, coal girl, answered the space pirate with an ironic smile stretched on his bald face.

The silhouette was a dark haired woman dressed with a shining silver rune tatooed on her forehead. She appeared unarmed at first, but as Lauren was passing next to her, she noticed an almost invisible whip hung at the woman's belt. The newcomer was indeed known to Garrett. As Lauren, Nebri and Brock were standing together near the compound's front wall, the bully was speaking to her in her native language.

A few seconds later, the woman walked outside the camp and Garrett transmitted her "orders" to Lauren. The necris mistress went red with rage. She walked next to the mysterious woman and yelled at her :
- It's not a puny alien who will command me after I refused that to even a friend of mine !

The woman turned herself and in one swift move, whipped Lauren's chin. Nanoblack began to sift throught the painful wound. Lauren fell on one knee, surprised. Brock came to her rescue, as did Nebri, but Garrett just made a sign to the woman to go away. Lauren would be no more of a trouble for her autority.

When she got on her feet, Lauren asked why such a stranger would be the boss on the field, Garrett said :
- You have no idea of who is my boss, she is only an humble servant.
- The woman is a necris, said Nebri.
- A true necris ? I wasn't sure, considered ourselves...replied Brock.
- How did you came to work for necrises ? asked a calmer Lauren.
- I'll talk about that later, here is not the place. "They" want us to come in their shuttle.
- Are we prisoners ?
- No, Brock, I would rather say that we are guests...special guests, answered Lauren.
- Very funny, now, if you want to shake your bony ass so we might get out of here !

The four commandos followed the necris blademaiden for a couple of kilometers, avoiding the incoming assault squads from other facilities. Once they made it to the mountains, they saw a small, black shuttle hidden at the entrance of a cave. The woman was waiting at the entrance, with a couple of hooded men of her race, both armed with shock rifles. The woman approached Garrett and transmitted other orders to him, orders that he gave back to Lauren and her friends :
- Her captain wants to see you, it appears that there's something she have to learn to you.
- I hope it's important matters of else, I'll dry them of their blood !
- What do you just said ? asked Lauren.
- I'm not pretty sure...I seem to lose control of myself at times...
- Lauren said she wanted to suck the necrises' blood, intervened Nebri, a glimpse of fear in her yellow eyes.
- Don't worry, I won't do anything like that.
- People don't do everything as they say, necris *****es less than others !
- You, shut up !
- Come to shut me, mister playbone !
- Shut up ! Both of you ! Must I remind you that we just escaped death ?

As Lauren was talking, the mysterious necris lady was gazing in her fiery eyes. A strange smile took place on her pale face as she turned herself to face her shuttle commands.

A few seconds later, the small space vehicle was rumbling and ready to fly. Soon enough, the diminished squad was away from the surface of the Gen Mo'Kai's second homeworld. As she let her plans behind her in a half defeat, Lauren thought she left there a small part of her humanity. Everyone could have been killed in those mines, they could have been killed outside, or in the run for the shuttle, in the return. She silently shedded a tear while thinking to losing Brock once again. Sat near her, Brock noticed her grief and wiped her black, thick tear as well as the blood that was sifting through her harmed chin. He stared at her pale visage and kissed the back of her hand. Then, she had a new reason to fight, she sensed some sort of love in this late move from her husband. There was maybe some hope...

To be continued...

Höllehund, April 10th 2k5

[legacy-Utking]

Y R !
O O !
U C !
...K !

[legacy-Hollehund]

The small necris shuttle was one hell of a blazing vessel. It quickly reached a suborbital cruiser slightly larger around the remote milky way planet of Neptune. This vessel, Garrett informed Lauren, was named "Tenebrae Homine" in a sarcastic hommage to the dark champions who destroyed most of the necris champions in the first tournament. It was a recon ship currently in mission. The Hellion couldn't be any more specific as the Blademaiden approached, alarmed by the sudden curiosity of the three "special guests".

The shuttle had to wait a short time for the radarblurring sensors of the "Tenebrae Homine" to disarm themselves, to allow a smaller vehicle to land in the landing bay.
- Will this be long ? asked Brock, innocently.
- Not too long, simply answered the necris woman in common english.
- So, she know our language ?
- Don't try to upset her, she's a potentially dangerous ally to make an enemy of, warned Garrett.
- How do you know ? You tasted her...wrath ?
- Don't be so overly sure of yourself, coal girl, there's much things you can't control in any way, there's greater minds and greater plots than yours floating around.
- Shut up ! They'll scan what you say from now on ! yelled the blademaiden.
- Just hope they won't be pissed about what they'll hear...
- Shut up, arrogant ***** !

Lauren obeyed when she saw the green laser that were scanning the entire shuttle in search of any suspicious thing. Anything.

But the "fake" necris and her mate weren't considered as suspicious. In fact, the shuttle was exactly what was waited by the commander of the recon cruiser. So, the shuttle landed freely after a few seconds. Then, the rear door opened and a regular hosting committee was waiting, with standard guns and quite bizarre swords in their hands.

Nebri was the first to put a feet on the bay's floor. She was followed by Garrett, already known by the crew. Those two haven't any importance to those of the official greetings squad. Then, Brock and Lauren descended too and four soldiers gathered around them. Lauren sent a distrusting eye to Garrett who wasn't any threatened. Was this a trap set by the Liandri ? She knew Liandri officials and necrises were all but friends, but she believed the giant corporation could buy anything with their hard-earned credits. Maybe even some of their greatest foes.

Lauren's fear of being betrayed did grown bigger when the Blademaiden violently said :
- Follow and don't speak yet.

As she was walking, Lauren asked herself why she didn't have shackles yet. Her sarcasm, even directly aimed at her made her chuckling. The necris officer noticed it and whipped Lauren's leg in a swift move. The two women shared a hateful regard then the hosting party reached the dormitory where hundreds of necris soldiers were still sleeping. Some of them awoke and stared briefly at the two Tournament champions who were walking between their beds in a crude alley ressembling to a bridge between male and female troopers.

Then, at the end of the corridor, there was an elevator leading to the officer's quarters. The four soldiers stood at the door of the elevator while the Blademaiden accompanied Lauren and Brock in. For Lauren, this was increasingly suspect, but Brock seemed quite confident. She thought he had always been a little naive. But she may have been too.

As they reached the second level, they were standing in front of an heavy blast door with a message crudely written on it in necris old runes. The Blademaiden pronounced a few words in the same language and the door opened wide as if she was doing magic. Lauren thought it was a pretty uninteresting trick but as she saw Brock was impressed, she sensed a newfound feel of trust. She said to herself :
"If this is a trap, it's a pretty raw one, Liandri could afford a much better ambush...and anyway, if I was to die here, I would die along my husband." At the thought of a romantic death, Lauren had a weird smile.

But a woman walked in front of her and removed this smile of Lauren's face by her only appearance. Lauren recalled the visage. She then asked herself in what Hell she had accepted to be involved in...

To be continued...

Höllehund, April 10th 2k5

[legacy-Hollehund]

It was certainly a wiser Freylis but she still was the same highly-ranked Blademaiden who had arisen to a all-new level of terrorism by using mind-channeling poison on the crew of a couple of NEG owned science vessel in outer space. Since then, she was among the most wanted outlaws on Earth. NEG president Orland said one day that he would "bow down to the feet of the one courageous being who will bring him the corpse of the outrageously dishonorable necris assassin".

Some adventurous mercenary fleet tried their luck. Not a single warrior came back from the trip of five small cruisers. So, one day, president Orland just offered billions of credits but then, the fiercest and the best bounty hunters available were too busy with their own business, the Liandri Tournament. Both the Iron Guard and the Hellions were in and both of them were fighting for taking some edge. So, this time, not a single ship answered the call.

So, Freylis was free to roam. The NEG suspected she wasn't at all an outlaw among necrises. Instead, she was likely to be a war hero for them.

As Lauren saw the woman advance toward her, she knew Freylis was used to have a calm behavior. She wasn't the mighty criminal the NEG said she was. It was impossible. Burying one hand in her loose white hair, Freylis made a sign to the lower Blademaiden to step back from her way. The tough necris obeying without the blink of an eye and Freylis moved forward to stop just in front of Lauren's nose.

The two women gazed in each other's eyes. That contemplation lasted for a couple seconds before Brock cracked, he made a step forward and the lower Blademaiden made her move. But in one swift move, Freylis caught her subordinate's invisible whip to her right and put an open hand in the middle of Brock's chest. He stopped right there. Then, Freylis spoke :
- Those eyes...I was expecting some kind of weird things from our enemies but Hell...that's just amazing. I must give them that, they always manage to overcome their previous projects.
- Get to the point, Freylis, what do you want from me ?
- Arrr ! You recalled my name ? This is more surprising...even disturbing...You don't have even a subtle idea about the reason I chose to send Cryss to take you here ?
- You find that I'm too bad for your image and you want to suppress me ?
- Bad guess. In fact, it's the opposite. I want to assure you of my entire support. That's why I put Garrett on your butt. And I can assure you he's no cheap wannabe bodyguard !
- Just get to the ****ing point ! replied Lauren whose Freylis' soft mood was about to get on the nerves.
- I have to warn you, however. What you did in Deck 19 was reckless at best ! I won't allow this to happen again.
- So you command me now ?
- You owe your life to me, by Garrett, remember ?
- Right, why should I cease my attacks on the Liandri ?
- Because you are far too precious to perish on these pointless attacks.
- Pointless ? I paralyzed crystal mining for weeks at best on that damned planet !
- Indeed. But you had all the chances to get slain while doing it.
- Do my life worth something more than your crewmember's lives ?
- Sure, you do not even know what you mean to us, to our war.
- I believe you will tell me ?
- No. That's not my job. A good friend of mine will tell you. Cryss will lead you to him. For now, just consider yourself as honor guests. In a couple of days, we'll have a very important meeting to which you will attend with Cryss and a few others. You'd better learn the basics about your "new yourself" right away if you want one more advice.
- Why did you took every single one of us here ? Nebri, Garrett and I could simply have returned to Earth with our ship, intervened Brock.
- Cryss destroyed it, on my order, just to be sure you would follow her. And anyway, Lauren plays the role of your two souls united, playboy, without her, you were lost earlier than you think.

As the two honor guests were following Cryss in the back corridor of the officer's quarters, Brock asked Cryss :
- You were from the early Tournaments also. The one were the necrises got...
- Got slaughtered by Xan and his team ? Yes, be sure that I know. I remember I were there. With Freylis, Kragoth and Malakai that we're going to meet right now. All the others didn't survived the trickery. We believe the Dark champions of Xan have a debt to the people of Necra as they took some of their best warriors.
- Surprising how you set you loose when we talk of your past...
- You ! You may be important to Freylis, and Malakai, and even Kragoth, but to me, you're still the arrogant whore who was showing more skin that real talent in the Tournament !
- I like that, continue to ***** me, you fuel my energy ! mocked Lauren.
- From now on, just listen to what Malakai has to tell you, it is serious matters. I wonder if you can be really serious sometimes, whore.
- You'll see for yourself, scum, simply replied Lauren.

As she was walking between Cryss and Brock, Lauren didn't realized the important matters were going to be that important to her...

End of chapter 7
To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

[legacy-Hollehund]

Chapter 8 Dancing with the Devil

Lauren wasn't sure she wanted to listen to what Malakai had to say. True, the man had made his knowledge desirable as she entered his armoury by refusing to speak unless he had warned her. But after all these kind words about how she should mentally prepare herself for his revelations, she just got tired. Then, she asked directly :
- You talk now or I go the gory way on you.
- So, let's talk. You know about your parents, I suppose.
- I do remember, I don't have the same undesired effects than Brock.
- I see...from a scientific perspective, we would try to track the differences between Brock and you but...I'll spare you the details. Basically, you are more different than you think, that's why a total success on Brock could be considered a total failure on you.
- What do you mean by "more different" ? He's a man and I'm a chick, that's what you mean, ****er ?
- A chick, sure you are, but the difference is far greater than that. In fact, to have a single idea of it, I must remind you of what you were as a human.
- Again, I must ask what do you mean ! said Lauren, more and more irritated.

Malakai was a veteran of the necris commandos. He was well-known for his superior intelligence and his interest in the matters of the races. As he was walking to a datapad on the other side of the room, Lauren and Brock followed him closely. The man typed some runes on the screen and turned himself. He said while moving to let Lauren see the screen :
- Here you are.

On the datapad screen Lauren saw herself, walking, a shock rifle in hand, in an arena, a few years ago. She immediately knew something was about to go wrong. She turned herself to face Malakai and he said :
- You know something is not right with your human self. Maybe you weren't as human as you thought...
- Are you trying to say that... started Lauren.
- You know your father, director of the Mecadrake corporation from Ouspace 4 ?
- How should I not ?
- But do you know your mother ? You have never seen her and the good man who is your father never spoke of her. Am I right ?
- Where did you learned that ? It's private information even the Liandri couldn't acquire !
- I know someone who, long ago, claimed to have given birth to a human child, a young girl. Our concile sent her in a mission in far spaces to force her to forget, but I never forgot the fact there was an half-human necris somewhere on Earth.
- I don't like what you are trying to say, Malakai !
- Then shut up and listen ! A couple of months ago, Freylis had a new order. She had to secure a VIP on Earth who can serve us in our liberation war. I, personally, had to convince her she was one of us. You are one of us, Lauren. The reason the nanoblack didn't had the exact effect on you than it had on Brock is because your genes are not completely human.
- So, my girlfriend is a necris ? asked Brock with a half-smile as if all this was a joke.
- That's it. The Liandri, as you said, didn't knew that. Their operation was supposed to bring humans back to life. It just did so with Brock, but with you it didn't worked so well.
- I can't be necris, I never looked like one of yours ! objected Lauren.
- But you were. Since I knew you were the VIP Freylis spoke of, I made researches on your genes and here it is...

Malakai typed a few more runes and a complete drawing of Lauren's genetic makeup appeared onscreen, as well with a draw from a generic human makeup and one from the necris. He then added :
- As you see, you share some genes with us, some with them. You are only partly necris, Lauren, it's why you didn't look like one but that, no one knew it on Earth. The Liandri tried their process on you and failed while they succeeded with Brock.
- I...I...I can't believe that. Bring me my mother and I may...
- She is long dead, on Terena, a remote planet, she died while battling the Skaarj. As many of us. That's why you are important.
- To replace her ?
- No. The role you will play is unique, can't be played by anyone else.
- What is it ? Tell me !
- You will be Freylis' champion on Earth. As we will prepare our commandos for the ongoing war against the NEG, you will make yourself known of the good people of Earth and stand ready.
- I don't understand how my presence in the Tournament may help you to win your war.
- You know all the power the popularity can give ? You'll have influence on your fans. It will be easy for you to convince them they shouldn't try to resist us when the Liandri and the NEG will call for them to rise as a cheap militia.
- You want to make use of me to invade Earth ? asked Lauren, a bit horrified.
- You got it. Our goal is justice. As you see me, I have no homeworld. I spent my childood on Morta, our second homeworld. The NEG stole it from us and the Liandri is exploiting it. They did as well with Tora, our third planet. If they don't have conquered Necra yet, it is because no one but necrises know it's location.
- We want to force the NEG to take a backseat. We want to force the Liandri to recall it's operations from outer spaces. We want our planets back. That's how you will be useful, added Cryss, while silently approaching.

Lauren stepped backward while thinking. The cause of the necrises was just, it was true that the NEG was conquering every planet on their way in outer space without a thought about the people they destroyed by doing so, but she never really cared about that. As she knew she had been partly a necris in her "living" life, she couldn't be more confused. She just thought she had no other choice, so she asked :
- You don't want to have the entire population of Earth against you...you want to save their lives ? You ask me to protect them from you ?
- And them from our wrath, added Malakai, while shutting down his screen.
- It's how we want to see the Goddess of Death...like the Goddess of Life, remarked Cryss with a sharp smile.
- I believe I have no choice. May I have the remaining of the day to clarify things up in my mind ?
- Sure you can, but be ready, tomorrow, we'll have a meeting with some other VIP's you have to be there, answered Malakai.

As Lauren retired with Brock, followed closely by Cryss, she looked on her husband's face. He wasn't expressing anything except cheer surprise. This was so sudden, even for him who wasn't put into question. Lauren just looked at every necris soldier on her way to the room she was guided to. She saw only one thing on their visage : hope.

During this night she couldn't sleep, she she let herself, like them, feel hope once again. If she hadn't been resurrected, she wouldn't had known about her mother. She thought that with her curse, she had at least accessed to full knowledge of herself. At least, she thought she knew everything about her...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

[legacy-mag7spy]

s/he is just kidding THE END

[legacy-LoNeWoLf666]

awesome story so far Hollehund...you should definetly consider being a writer lol

[legacy-Utking]

1 word and 20 lines of exclamation points :)


AWSOME
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!

[legacy-Hollehund]

When Cryss, who seemed to be her shadow while being the honor guest of the necrises, knocked at her door, Lauren woke up from a state close to sleep where she couldn't do anything else than thinking. She didn't show a friendly face to Cryss who answer the same way. The two females walked in the corridor in the direction of the officer's quarters where Freylis was waiting them. This time, Garrett and Nebri were invited to the meeting as well as Brock usually was.

It was in a vast, empty room that the necris blademaiden was waiting, along with Malakai and a few other unnamed phayders. There, by looking at Malakai's costume, Lauren saw the similarities with the one Cryss was wearing. Both of them were wearing rich suits as if they were about to show up in a reception of some sort. Then, Freylis, who was still wearing a necris battle armor, walked to Lauren and said :
- There you are, champion, Malakai was waiting for you to leave.
- To leave ? Where am I going ?
- You will go with Cryss and him to a small dinner given by some important people. It is there that our commando will contact a few specific people who can be our future allies in our war.
- And why must I go ?
- You will learn it when you will be there, do not fear too much. And...anyway, you have to return to Earth, they will bring you back there. You still have the minor leagues to dominate.
- If I have to...I'll go but I don't have nicer clothes than what I have here.
- Worry not, undead one, my officers will correct your appearance while you will be onboard, answered Freylis.
- I suppose you will contact me again later ?
- By Cryss, yes, but you probably won't see me again. I must be careful about my whereabouts, especially from now on. My "terrorist" activities must not get associated with you.
- So much for your kindship, and hail to Cryss' whip ! chanted Lauren, with a sarcastic voice.
- I believe she will be more...calm as she will serve under your orders.
- What did you just say ? asked Lauren, whose ears were buzzing, as she doubted Freylis' intentions.
- The Tournament, the main Tournament, you will have to enter it, as a prize for winning the minor leagues...but with only 3 teammates, it's impossible, you'll have to enlist a few more. That will be Cryss' duty.

Lauren learned that the necris blademaiden's role will be to pay mercenaries to serve Lauren. Cryss was actually Lauren's fourth teammate.

- It is about time I know that ! Are they any more surprises I should know ?

Freylis stayed silent as Brock was entering with Nebri and Garrett. The three of them were dressed exactly like Malakai and Cryss.

- The time goes, you have to embark, Lauren, there's a long road before you.
- I will, may Jerl Liandri die himself in your war...
- If we win, he will, simply replied Freylis while closing the door behind her.

Let alone in the meeting room, Lauren thought about her new position. Necrises and humans were eternal enemies, and she was now officially linked, not to say allied with the necrises. How should her gets fans now ?

With a serious headache, Lauren silently followed Cryss in the straight corridors until they arrived in the landing bay of the "Tenebrae Homine". The Ghosts of Days Past entered Cryss' shuttle before her and lent a last regard to the cruiser while they were on their way to Earth. New surprises were indeed waiting only for the new necris champion...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

[legacy-Utking]

YOU NEED TO MAKE A BOOK OR MOVIE OUT OF THIS!

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

nice, your doing so well.

[legacy-Hollehund]

Once again, Lauren was forced to stop completely to express her rage. As soon as her convoy stopped in the middle of St-Whilms, a recently-build city near Shell Shore, she knew there was, again, something that had been hidden to her. She looked throught the window of the hovercar she was sat in and saw the guards at the entrance of a medium-sized one-story building.

They were Liandri enforcers. Of course, Cryss didn't speak of this before their arrival. In one quick gesture, Lauren got outside of the car and walked to the car who followed in which she knew Cryss was with Malakai.

Lauren opened the door in one rough move that had became her habit over the weeks she past in the ranks of the occult, impossible things. She then grabbed Cryss' dress and took her outside. The blademaiden hadn't any weapon on her. She had been screwed if Malakai didn't acted quickly. He leaped on the champion's shoulder and pushed her on the ground while the other necrises of the convoy stopped the guards from joining the mess. As Malakai was forcing Lauren's shoulders to the ground, she managed to get a hand free and knocked his jaw. The brilliant necris lost his grasp and two others had to came to his rescue.

Finally, Lauren was calmed. But she wasn't because of the sheer superiority of the necrises, or even by her own fatigue. Instead, she had been calmed by Brock. Her mate slowly made it to her throught the crowd of guests and laid a hand on her forehead. She took some time to breathe and finally asked, without any demonstration of anger :
- Why are they Liandri scums here ? Do you took me in this cut-throat willingly ?
- Lauren...started Malakai, visibly impressed by his champion's wrath.
- I'll answer, weakling ! Bunch of weaklings ! You are the worst, dumb piece of crap called "living", you stupid ***** ! This is an important meeting ! You know, like a diplomatic congress ! Sure, not everybody can be our friends, but even our enemies have the gift of nature called : voice. They will talk, tonight, not attack you, I believe you can do me and everybody a small favour to control your nerves for a few hours. We need, we really need to meet with some specific people, even if that mean to smile to Jerl Liandri himself or to clean Xan Kriegor's iron ass ! Do you understand that, you vengeance whore !?!
- I'll do what I want. I have no order to accept from you...started Lauren.

But as she was speaking, Lauren looked for Brock's eyes. She didn't met them. As if he knew she was staring at him, he simply muttered :
- Please, Lauren, I don't want you to be so agressive, especially not tonight. Just forget your desire for vengeance. Just for a few hours...
- I hate to say this, Brock, but your tone make it impossible for me to disobey you...I'll do as you want. I'll show my best visage...but as soon as I see a weapon, I'll furnish their champagne cups with their guts !
- So much for the soft voice...said Garrett, with his own cynical tone.

Then, Lauren entered the shining building in the last place. Brock before her, holding his hand, was all smile. Lauren thought that maybe, he didn't yet realized that his doom was due to the pigs who were looking at him. Or maybe he was just a good actor. Suddently, she felt guilty as if she had become one more pain to his life. She had some tough moments in which tears were threatening to show up.

While Lauren was in this state of vulnerability, Gorge and the Juggernauts entered. The maniacal was, as usual, taunting everyone in his sight. His rough behavior was only equaled by Garrett's on the Tournament's boards, but the latter was a bit less prone to berserker rage in his "real" life.

When Gorge saw Lauren and Brock standing side by side in the rear of the vast room, looking at him, he suddently stopped and gazed at Brock. He said with a vicious smile :
- I didn't thought it was true. I though it was marketing ! At last I know ! I hope you will reach the Tournament, Brocky, I'll have fun to split you in two ! I'll make resurrection harder next time !

Then, the juggernaut looked at Lauren, he past some time gazing at her breasts and said :
- Lauren ! Dear Lauren ! If only you were...more big boned... you could have been a good **** friend to me ! I would have taught you a few...lovely techniques Brock will never know even in four lifetimes !
- Vanish from my sight, you mother****er, I won't tell you a second time. My hatred for you didn't disappeared with my death.
- Aaarrrgg ! Am I scared !?! Hey, Frosty, do I should be scared ?

Turning to face Frostbite, his loyal friend, Gorge catched a brief, but true wind of terror in his eyes. In fact, while he was always silent, Frostbite's face was always expressing his feelings. This time, he was hiding the goosebumps the verified undead rumors were causing him. Realizing he was alone in front of the entire necris convoy, he simply walked away.

After the juggernauts arrival, a few other surprises were waiting for Lauren's attention to commence...

To be continued...

(this time, a chapter will contain 4 parts)

Höllehund, 2k5

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

NOOOO MORE MORE !!!!

its getting more interesting more.

[legacy-LoNeWoLf666]

Epic should consider having this fanfic as their storyline for another Unreal game... lol keep up the awesome work Hollehund =)

[legacy-Hollehund]

The newcomers shocked Lauren a little bit more. It was Malcolm and his "new" Thundercrash, younger, faster, improved ex-military. All humans, all arrogants. Even the old wolf adapted to this new breed of feral beasts. The team name was no longer the Thundercrash. Malcolm was now leading the Thunderbolts. A change that only Lauren noticed, as Brock was kind of paralyzed while Malcolm walk past them without a comment or regard.

Using all of her mind to contain her rage, Lauren didn't noticed that Brock's face enlightened. The ex-captain of the Iron Guard was remembering the face. He somehow knew Malcolm and him were close in a previous life...litterally.

Then came the second generation of the Iron Guard. There wasn't a charismatic leader at their head. And because of that, they well falling match after match in the standings. And some of the Guard's fans, still hoping for their champions to return someday until the news about their deaths had officially turned their coats for the new pack of competitors from far away. The sagacious Nakthi and their young emperor, Anubis. The teams were similar, but never the love for the Nakthi, in Ontario, will approach what it was with the Iron Guard. Lauren knew that as she watched the holonews from time to time, since her resurrection. She knew the team for which she dedicated so much of her time was falling apart. No longer should her adoptive country on Earth have notable representatives in the Tournament. She would never reenter the Iron Guard's outfit. Because she was no more a Guard. She was an attacker now, a terrorist. And she was in the same room than her foes.

Suddently, the craziness of being there, among a crowd of the Liandri's partisans, almost all of them in fact, came back to Lauren's mind, as applauses and cheers where fusing from everywhere. Some popular men were entering the dinner from the left.

Again, Lauren didn't notice Brock's glad face. She just walked in the crowd who was spreading around her, in an attempt not to touch her at all, not to sense her evil breath. Her ex-teammate Blackjack moved and let Lauren see what she feared.

Xan Kriegor himself was backing Jerl Liandri as he was entering the small reception from which he was the honorable host. The man was an aged, gray-haired human, whose age had long enough past the normal human frontier between life and death. He was the owner of an omnipotent and very very rich company, so he could expand his lifespan using secret and still renowned process. Lauren grinned as she asked herself if this lifespan-increasing process was created for use on humans only like some other she knew...

Jerl Liandri saw Lauren among the crowd. Her red eyes made him hesitate, but he finally stepped forward and made a quick and silent sign to Xan to leave him some space. Then, he advanced right on Lauren and stopped a few metres from her. He was a feet shorter and his long white beard was seriously irritating Lauren, but again, she said nothing. She did nothing to alert the guards. She thought it would be so easy, almost too easy, to end the corrupted man's life.

She was ready for the sacrifice, and even unnarmed, she could end his life in a couple of swift slaps and blows. No one could react, not even Xan's, who was standing nearby, his magnetic movement sensors probably ready for any of Lauren's suspect move. Lauren took a peek behind her and saw Brock's eyes. This time, she noticed the change. His eyes weren't all black. There was a small, luminous globe in the middle of both of them. Back to his life, Brock had this expression when he was happy or such nice feeling. Even dead, the playboy was an open book.

Finally, Lauren's eyes met the visor that served as eyes to Xan Kriegor. They gazed into each other's soul for a moment and then, Lauren heard a loud, disturbing voice in her head saying :
- I won't be moving...fast enough...to stop you...

Lauren crossed her fingers and readied herself but then, as she was to strike, she reminded of Brock's enlightened visage. She stopped her motion. It wasn't Xan's voice. It was her confused mind who gave her that last argument. She uncrossed her deadly fingers and put her hands in each other as she said :
- Welcome into your modest home, Jerl Liandri.

Then, she turned herself, swearing about the opportunity missed. She thought she was a strong woman but again, Brock's cute eyes got her doomed to regrets.

Behind her, she heard the footsteps of Xan who was coming back to his master's shadow as the conversing was resetting.

The tension was out on the assistance's shoulders, but not on Lauren's. She walked to Malcolm, the 'Bolts' leader. She stopped a few centimetres from him, just in position to see his nostrils opening and closing as he was breathing heavily, betraying his uncaring attitude. She smiled, not a forced smile, but not a gentle one either. It was more cynical than anything else, and then said :
- Good evening. How do you...feel ?
- A little bit out of my place, actually, I expected to see someone who never shown up.
- As Brock did. He waited for excuses. He never got them. He fought for...well...I hate to say that, but he was respecting you. He seemed to be considering you as an older brother to him.
- Nice enough. Look what he became.
- I won't ask for compassion from a old-timer, drugs and lust for popularity probably have crushed your mind to bits by now. But I did have a request for you.
- What is it, dear ? Please, speak, I'm a rather busy man. Currently, I have to go speak to my hand.
- I only have to ask you to train your team well, since they are newbies and will probably got owned either by my Ghosts in a few weeks or by Gorge's doll of chemical death.
- I really like your metaphors, Lauren, you really should do other things of your life than being killed for a dumb father's son like Brock. Maybe you could even...

Lauren suddently lost her temper. Even if her calm was merely acted, she couldn't hold any longer. As Malcolm was speaking, his natural impudent facial expressions were enough to settle the score with her good intentions. She slapped him as fast as Cryss could have done with her whip.

As Lauren was going away, Malcolm wiped out a small amount of blood that was pouring from his left lip corner. While doing that, he lowered his sunglasses and watched his ex-teammate going away. A shadow of regret came in his mind as he remembered a few good moments he had with the two lovers in the arenas. They were unstoppable, but they got stopped. Malcolm put his glasses back in place and shouted :
- Lauren !

She didn't turned herself, but stopped, definitively waiting for something else. But nothing came out. More or less, she was satisfied, as her friend of old's voice was not expressing that much confidence.

Then, Lauren looked in Cryss' eyes. She was impatient. Maybe the necris' champion had, again, done something wrong for her. Lauren lowered her shoulders as if this should be enough to get a smile from her shadowy mate. But Cryss' regards went to Malakai, who was talking with Jerl Liandri himself. As she saw that, Lauren felt like if she was under a cold shower. She closed her fists in rage and looked at Brock. Her husband was still enjoying the progress he had probably made without her. She thought for one time she could give him time for him alone. But for now, she had one last thing to do...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

(Again, chapter 8 isn't finished yet...I still have another part to be satisfied of it. It's an important part of the story as Lauren's and Brock's minds are not the only one I describe in it)

[legacy-x_djs_x]

yes you think Hollehund could make his own game for a spinoff of Lauren. you have potentinal. I like that.

[legacy-Hollehund]

The whole idea of it was crazy, but Lauren couldn't tell the difference with a godly illumination. In her state, she just wanted to behave such a way her corrupted mind was inspiring her.

She turned to face Jerl Liandri who was still talking to Malakai and to some representative from other planets. She was so far away she couldn't understand. Then she walked straight to them without paying attention to the regards that were all turning to follow each of her steps.

As she was getting closer, she met Xan's robotic robot in front of her. He didn't say a word, she didn't too, and he stepped aside almost respectfully as Lauren continued her journey to the Liandri's boss. As she reached him, she extended her arms in front of her and said his name. He turned to face her as he didn't have noticed she was approaching.

Then the whole reception stopped to leave the greatest part of the floor to the weird couple that formed. Lauren, the undead terrorist, was holding the old manager's hand on her sides as she was taking him from his habitual reserve into a undecent waltz. As she was moving, as swiftly as the wind in an empty house, she never stopped looking at him, right in the eyes. Her hatred burned this man's soul as they were both moving in one Hell of a swift tango.

The assistance had his breath cut when Lauren let the old man fall but grabbed him by the hand just before his head touched the ground. She then approached his visage from hers and said, in a whisper :
- I hate you, I really hate you, and I will endlessly hunts you.

The old man replied the same way :
- I hoped so. That's why I came here. To have an idea of what my guards will have to shatter.
- So, be it. I want to kill you, you want to kill me, but I have an advantage.
- Which one ?
- All your riches cannot prevent your men to fell to my wrath. For now, I'll just walk away so that you may live for tonight.

As Lauren was leaving the room, under the eyes of a frozen crowd, she let behind her a frustrated Liandri who said :
- Pretentious fool. I can promise you more pain than you ever imagined !

He had no response as she didn't even listened to him. She went out, followed by Brock alone. They both walked in the darkest of the nights. The two of them were only shadows of their former glory, but more than ever, they were linked together. One could hear the other breathe. One could sense the other's thoughts.

Lauren sat under a nearby tree. She heard Brock did the same, behind her. She sensed his hands on her shoulders and closed her eyes. The night became even darker as two fireballs were vanishing from the sky.

Brock didn't know what to say. He couldn't dare to mention that his memory was slowly reappearing and he couldn't venture in commenting Lauren's dance with Jerl the Great, so he just found one subject :
- Do you knew that Garrett tried to became a juggernaut but personla grudges with Gorge came close to put his life into danger ?
- Do I care ? He's a mercenary, not a friend. He only do his job. Nothing more. The only friends I have is Nebri, and you, but both of you are as complicated as **** and I can talk to any. I'm more alone...
- Don't say that, you aren't alone. Everyone is caring about you. Garrett may be a mercenary, but he still is like a father to you, always caring for your "bony" ass to be safe. And Nebri doesn't talk much, but she always steps up to defend you even again bullies like Garrett himself.
- And you, Brock, you ? What is the most important person thinking of me, right now ? Do he loves me as he used to ? Or I lost him to the seas of Hell forever ? It is what I fear, Brock, the only thing that I fear...intervened Lauren, a dark tear rolling on her white cheek.
- I...believe I'm changing, cherie. My mind is coming back, I remember...a few things. But everything is still in turmoil in my head. I need more time, but what I fear is that you won't be giving me much more time. I feel like you are about to do something stupid.
- Am I not unable to judge my actions ? What I did tonight seemed reasonable to me, but you seem to think I'm dumber than ever ! Please, talk to me. Talk to me as you used to do, when I was down.
- You want your revenge so hard, my dear, that everything is secondary for you. Just stop worrying about that. Avenging our pain is not an emergency to me. Give us some time to find ourselves back. Just give us some time...
- Alright, I will try to stop messing with everything and everyone...know that I will have tried, the day I'll fell to Liandri's assassins. I'll have tried the harder I could.

As Lauren was talking she felt something similar to fear entering in her. She quickly corrected her mind by thinking to Brock's smiling face when he was still living. But then, his new, dark smile came in her mind. She cried and he put her head on his chin as the songs of Earth's nights were chanting around them...

End of chapter 8.
To be continued...

[legacy-Hollehund]

Chapter 9 To feed the beast

- Today's match will be a great one ! At least, I hope so, since it will put together two teams with the core skill to fight in the grand Tournament !
- Yes, Dudley, entering the arena is the cybernetic team known as the Blood Fists who were part of the main Tournament, years ago.
- I know, they got forced out by the same Iron Guard whose leaders are fighting under a new banner today ! Talk of fate's irony !
- This is a semifinals team deathmatch that is supposed to look like a grand final as both teams are battle-hardened, having already crushed everyone in their wake !
- Leading the Blood Fists is a new generation Liandri battle bot whose technical name is K-144K, also known by the Fists' fans as Externa, the mistress of the factory ! She's build only for combat, a unique prototype modeled from the sexy and cunning Tournament mercenary sniper Sapphire !
- Now, that rocks !
- On the other side, here's Lauren, the rather unloved Ghosts' captain. As you see, she did changed nothing of her usual battle gear. A sniper rifle and a flak cannon.
- How original !
- Still, she's the current leader for frags in the minor league's Tournament, only topped by Gorge and Torgr for the grand Tournament !
- And there's her squadmates. Brock, who seemed less distracted these last matches, Nebri who always kills her share and Garrett whose I prefer not to talk of.
- Garrett, also known as the "Father", as he always get fragged to spare Lauren a few deaths per match. Know what, this match will be one Hell of a ride, hear me, fans, get your goggles on or you may just be blinded by the gibs !
- It's all ready, Team Deathmatch, 35 frags required to proceed to the finals, it's Liandri's minor league Tournament's semifinals ! Here's the traditional word between the two team leaders !

In the middle of Turbine's primary respawn area, Lauren advanced to meet the robot leader. The undead lady let the mechanical one speak first, as she usually did. With a clunky arm sweep under her throat, Externa said :
- You, humans are weaklings. You have too many holes already.
- Quite funny, actually, I was about to say I will craft new holes in you to bleed or...to get your oil away...too bad you are programmed to steal other's speeches as well as their looks...

After this small talk, Lauren moved back close to Garrett and Brock. She muttered to them :
- They are programmed to hunt me. I can feel it. Don't get too much in my vinicity, as they'll frag me, I'll set high scores by taking as much as I can to the board by myself.
- One on four ? Why should we let this happen ? Our fans won't be pleased at all !
- They'll be pleased for sure...as they'll see the scores. And anyway, you'll still have to cut down the freshly spawned bastards.
- But...tried Nebri.
- Shut your mouth, save your words for the finals, let me handle the robots ! My new "friend" Jerl must know that he can send as much of these trashcans he can, he won't make me madder than I already am. Besides, he must learn a few strategies on his own, such as not to send a bunch of fighters on a single enemy, as the one foe only have to beats two to get an edge each and every time. Let's teach him boys !

As Lauren walked back in the middle of the room, under the sheers of a fresh fanbase, Brock looked at her, her movements were those of a conviction-packed little bomb. And she was ready to explode...or implode. Anyway, she was ready to deal death even to things that can't really die. He thought she was back to a more stable mental state, but when he saw her spawning before him in the actual fighting arena, he lost his certitude. She charged right from her spawning point, enforcers in hands.

Garrett said to himself :
"Here goes another little step for us, and another greater for inhumanity..."

Then he loaded his rocket launcher and ran as far from Lauren as he could, as did Brock and Nebri under the boos of the fans all over the arena. The fight was not between the Ghosts of Days Past and the Blood Fists, it was between a rising terrorist threat and a giant corporation. It was a propagandist deathmatch that had yet to prove it can be bloody...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

[legacy-Utking]

MORE!!MORE!!MORE!!MORE!!MORE!!MORE!!MORE!!

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

still, good job.

[legacy-Hollehund]

As the game was advancing, the boos vanished. Lauren was making her team winning and that was all that was important to the fans. But the last remaining frag couldn't be gained as the four bots were programmed to give the Ghosts a hard time. So they all got on the upper levels of Turbine, establishing there some sort of bunker. And nobody could even try to kill one without being dispatched. Over time, the Ghosts' lead was dying and Lauren's calm was leaving her.

Finally, under the elevator that was leading to the locked down area, Lauren assembled her team and said them :
- Bait one of them, do as you want, but I want one's head out for my rifle to feast !

So, Brock sacrified himself. He ran to the upper level after having took the elevator and then retreated as Widowmaker was shooting at him, even making a few steps forward. Critical error. A crystal fired from Lauren's sniper rifle came to pierce his central processor, in his head. The sniper robot fell and the crowd cheered at the winners, as the game systems were taking the competitors out of the virtual arena.

The commentator officialized the results :
- Wow, that was a good match ! The Ghosts of Days Past are in finals now, how will they be stopped ?
- The final score for today's minor leagues semifinals, 35-22 for the new local favorites, led by former Iron Guard second in command and master sniper, Lauren !

As the fans were pleased, Lauren walked out of the arena without a word, her plan realized. Her team was heading for the finals and there was only one last opponent standing before her and the main Tournament : The Red Claw Skaarj, a lesser tribe from ouspace. She wasn't interested in celebrating the victory as others were, as she felt something more was about to happen.

As the Ghosts' captain was walking outside the arena, it was already night, because of the Blood Fists' strategy, the match lasted a few moments longer than expected. Lauren felt strangely drawn to look at the sky, to simply gaze at this dark world that was spreaded over millions of kilometres of this pure darkness. She thought she had already seen a lot of things in her life, she never though she was such an important being for someone. Her parents, she would rather not think to them. Her father, rich and power-hungry, as any Jerl Liandri of this world, and her mother, an assassin forced to leave far from her. Brock, her lover, was formerly a hothead who cared more for his image than for his girlfriend, and now, as a dead man, he didn't remembered how their relationship was before all this...

Then she heard footsteps behind her. She said, thinking Brock was trying to get behind her for some kind of a surprise :
- It is not the time to play. Do you realize, a few weeks from now, we were somewhere in this sky, learning we were about to face an empire while fighting for another ?
- I do realize, answered a woman's voice.

Lauren turned herself recognizing Cryss' voice. The necris Blademaiden was standing a few metres away, her whip at her belt, with a white cloth in her hands. She seemed to value the content of this cloth very much, as she just lend it to Lauren with a jealous smile on her face.

Lauren took the item, she instantly sensed that the content of this rune-decorated package was something important. She sensed strange vibrations coming forth from her chest. She opened the cloth and on her face, a red glow suddently appeared...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

[legacy-LoNeWoLf666]

Wuts the cloth!!!!! wuts the cloth!!!!!plz tell us!!!!ppppppppllllllllllzzzzzzzzz!!!! lol

[legacy-LoNeWoLf666]

every1 lets make a fanclub dedicated to Hollehund and his fanfic *waves flag that says "Ghosts of Day Past" on it* lol

[legacy-Demosthenes62]

Seriously man, this is great! if you were to contact Epic, they would probably sponsor you... at least

[legacy-unrlPPLE]

This is great plz write more

[legacy-Hollehund]

Lauren had her breath cut straight, as she was gazing at the broad edge of a sword she was holding in her hands.

The blade was apparently forged in some kind of alien alloy and was covered with a kind of red goo. As she pressed a finger in the sword's coating, she sensed the vibration even more. It was nanoblack. She knew it, as the dark liquid was leaking on her hand. She took the swords in her hands and looked at Cryss' satisfied face. The blademaiden was only waiting for this confused regard. She said :
- You know about the Ascension Rites ? Because of this...Tourney, melee weapons have been added to the main Tournament. You will need to have some, and Freylis thought that as you are to represent us, you shall do it with our items. So, she ordered me to bring you these.
- But...what is it ? Magical ?
- Don't be foolish, you know magic doesn't exist, you are living because of science, not because of magic. These blades are only coated with nanoblack. I belive the Liandri will have fun realizing we copied them.

Lauren and Cryss observed a pure silence for a couple of minutes, as the undead lady was swinging the broadswords in the air in front of her. She turned herself to her friend and said :
- We just won the semifinals. I'll need my other teammates real soon.
- You'll have them. It was the second reason I came to you. I enlisted the help of two mercenaries already, and I'm working to get the last placeholder. All will be done in time.
- I certainly hope so. Tell me. Who are those mercenaries you just spoke of ?
- Tamika, an ancient warrior from the Thundercrash, which you may know.
- I know her. She will be pleased as my team is not a man's squad.
- Why do you think she accepted my offer, you pesky ***** ?
- So...who is the other ?
- I know Garrett won't be pleased with this one. You know about the Hellion ex-captain, Zarina ? She offered herself to join you.
- And you accepted ?
- Sure I do, I made some economy.
- The cash over the talent. It seems my Ghosts can't escape this simple law ! muttered Lauren, with frustration in her voice.
- Stop worrying, it's not your role. You are the captain, the public visage of your team, not the thinking head behind it. Remember your place !
- Sure I will, simply answered the champion.

As the time was passing, the swords' glow began to falter. Lauren turned herself to help Cryss to attach her scabbards on her shoulders. Then she inserted the blades in it and bowed in front of her, saying :
- We will see again after your next match. Be careful, as you hold a part of your destiny.
- This really doesn't please you...said Lauren, with a sharp smile.

Then, Cryss vanished into the night, leaving Lauren to her thoughts. She took a deep breath and turned back. She started to walk in the cold night in the direction of the hovercab in which she sat to wait for her teammates to leave their party.

While she was waiting, she fell into a calm sleep...

End of chapter 9
To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

[legacy-Rivet]

Hollehound, u should publish a novel and make millions and than laugh at J.K. Rowling

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

you are the ROCkZz0rzs, you must show this to Epic.

[legacy-LoNeWoLf666]

make SAPPHIRE a mercenary =)

[legacy-Utking]

AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[legacy-Hollehund]

Chapter 10 The sun rises on Phobos moons

Brock entered the hovercab. He was all smiles. He didn't realized that Lauren was sleeping. In his state of pure joy, he couldn't see she was dreaming. After some sleepless nights, Lauren couldn't hold any longer. The detonation of a rocket launcher near her ears wouldn't have disturbed her sleep.

Brock tried to awake her with a few kind words, but as she didn't even move, he approached his face and kissed her cheek while pressing her hand softly. She didn't react. He took his place on his seat and never stopped staring at her. The more he observed her visage, the more he found her beautiful. Before she came back in his life, he had made himself a few girlfriends. Not one of them held more than several days. But as since he knew he was Lauren's official boyfriend, the passion never faltered, never weakened. It just kept growing again and again.

Suddently, the low noise of her breathing awoke a souvenir in his mind. As he reacted, smiling, Nebri entered the cab. The Gen Mo'Kai outlaw said to him :
- Lauren sleep ?
- Yes, she does, and I believe it's proven right now, undead can still get drunk !
- Brock is drunk ?
- Totally wasted. In my mind, ideas float right now, joked the warrior.
- You should go out to take a breathing.
- I can't. I want to stay here, to watch over Lauren's sleep. She's so nice.
- Brock know his love for Lauren ? asked Nebri, unsure if he has recalled something.
- I do not remember everything yet, but some bribes are slowly coming back. Just before you entered I...
- Brock was doing what ?
- I...I was remembering something but...**** I lost it ! By talking to you, I...lost it ! Oh, **** ! I hate alcohol, I can't concentrate for longer than a breath !
- Brock will remember. Brock should sleep. Lauren will not go away from Brock.
- You must be right. Anyway, as soon as Garrett drops by, we should go, our final is on Phobos Moons and I want to practice before going in.
- Nebri remember Phobos arena.

As his friend was talking, Brock wasn't listening. He was desperately trying to remember. But he couldn't. So he transported his anger in his dreams, where he hoped to meet Lauren.

As Garrett entered, all of his teammates were sleeping, each of them were more of less drunk. Brock and Nebri, with Buzon-40, the most common drink, and Lauren, with an overdose of nanoblack. The Hellion ordered the nali driver to drive the Ghosts to their base. As the hovercab was starting, the heavyweight looked at Widowmaker's pierced head case, his last one he had been able to keep. A cruel smile stretched his face...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

[legacy-unrlPPLE]

give me MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

yeah, he's making the next part.

[legacy-unrlPPLE]

yes Id definitly read it if it was published
keep us posted if you can DoM

[legacy-LoNeWoLf666]

Phobos moon i know that map!!!! lol its one of my favorites!!

[legacy-Hollehund]

Phobos Moon...what a place to awake ! As Lauren opened her eyes, she realized that they were on the minor leagues final arena's ground. Sure, it wasn't Phobos2, as the newest arena was kept for the bigshots of the Main Tournament, but Phobos original was still a hook for most warriors. A tradition of good fragging was in store inside the thick walls of the old arena.

As Lauren realized she was alone in the hovercab, she got out, took a sniper rifle and a flak from the weapon stash at the entrance and walked throught the entry door.

As she was looking for Brock, the door closed behind her. She looked back but didn't tried to reopen it. That was no big deal as the match hadn't yet begun. So she started to walk into the arena, trying to get a feel of it, before the countdown.

But as she was taking the elevator to the rooftops, she realized something strange. There was no one in the stands. There was no warrior anywhere. There was not even a cleaner bot to be found ! She was all alone.

She didn't feel as if she was lost, because she knew she was to play in this arena before long, but she was definitively finding this little walk in the arena too weird. So she stopped on the rooftops, near the ledge to the middle levels. She looked at the bottom of the arena and recalled of a match she had there with the old Iron Guard. Phobos was quite a souvenir for her, since it was the second arena she fought in, after Turbine. And it was the arena of her first victory.

Lauren shook her head up. Those memories weren't necessary. She had other things to think. So she made a few steps towards the elevator and then, something happened in her mind. She truly realized that she was alone. There was no one in the cab, at the entrance when she awoke. Not even the nali driver. She was confused, as she was frequently was, since she was an undead. But this time, there was something else. Something like a shiver down her neck.

Her entire body seemed to feel the cold, from her chin to her legs, through her back. She looked at her skin. It was pale, but the black veins she had on her belly and on her hands were gone. Like if there was magic at work in the arena. She felt strange, as if something dangerous was going to happen. She walked straight to the elevator, took it and started to walk faster in the direction of the exit.

Behind her, from the elevator, she was hearing a strange wailing coming. As the cry was approaching, it changed for being almost like child's tears. Along with these tears came a dark, cold wind that passed right through Lauren's bones, leaving her chilled in its wake.

Then, the tears stopped and a small girl's voice said :
- Who is there ? Are you my mother? My sister ? I know you...
- Who...who is there ?
- No...my mother you are not, we're like sisters, twin sisters...except for two things...
- Show yourself up or...yelled Lauren.
- No I won't show myself or you'll shoot me because you fear me...and you must not shoot me...I know you so well...it's almost as if I was you...
- Leave me be ! added Lauren unable to reach the door that was far, far away, always farther as she was walking towards it.
- I may well be you...except that I live and you don't live...I live because all souvenirs live...and you live because of science...And you are old...though your age I don't know...while I'm young and pretty...
- That's enough of it ! I don't know what's happening but...
- You must think all this is weird...but do you know what is truly weird ? The fact that although I am young and I'll live forever, I will be the one who will age and you will no longer age as you are not truly living !
- I asked you to let me see you !
- No, I won't let you see me...besides, you don't want to see me, there are things you refuse to see... In your hunt for revenge, there are things you can't see, and others you don't want to...
- Please, let me be ! I don't want to hear you anymore !
- Look ! Was I right or not ? You don't want to see me !

Lauren felt her blood warming up as frustration overcame fear. She raised her flak cannon and said to herself :
"I don't know if a flak can pierce through ghosts, but I know it definitely pierce throught necris"

Then she approached the pillar from behind which the voice was coming. As she past it, what she saw made the effect of a cryobomb on her. She got her breath totally cut as her entire body was filling with freezing nanoblack...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Note to myself, this cliffhanger ending is really a cliffhanger, be pround, hund, be proud ;)

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

Good Job!

[legacy-rucnok]

after ur done with this copy all ur text and make a new topic to read all at once. Im to lazt to really read but im just gonna say gj anyway :D

[legacy-Hollehund]

Standing before her was a small girl, her body was faded, the arena's lower lights were passing throught it. Her little face was no pleased, she was not truly cute. In fact, she seemed angry. Lauren instantly stepped back as she recognized the ghost. It was her !

A younger version of herself was standing before her, in a shadowy, unsubstancial form. That was enough to give her uncontrollable goosebumps. Even if she claimed to everybody she was fearing nothing, she was scared at this particular time.

But being the woman she had became, she quickly regain her calm. She said to herself, with a sarcastic smile :
"Calm down, Lauren, you fear no other thing, living...there's no shame to fear that thing. Anybody would"

- There is no reason for you to fear me, Lauren, I am you. I am you, when you got sick, at the age of seven. This day, I died. At least...a part of me...and you, died. I came here to inform you of a serious threat to your new existence.
- Talk, little ghost, I'll listen...I hope that's important.
- Do not fear, old one, your terror will not be in vain. Do you remember having fallen ill, at least, when you turned seven ?
- Sure I do. It lasted several weeks, and for a few months after that, I felt like if was not totally cured...
- Of course, you were not completely cured, because you soul, inside you, was tainted.
- Tainted ? What do you mean ? And make this short, this is starting to get on my nerves !intervened Lauren, in a yell, to hide the suspicions she had.
- Exactly. It took me quite the time to realize what caused this disaster, but, from the netherworld, I finally had the illumination !
- What ? I fear it will be an impossible thing, once again ! said Lauren, with a depressed voice.
- Look at you ! ordered the ghost, changing her face into a mirror.

Lauren couldn't hide her image from her eyes as she couldn't stop looking to her reflection on the mirror on the creature's face. After a few seconds, the ghosts took her former appearance and added :
- The nanoblack did this to you ! You know it reacted badly to your necris genes the Liandri didn't knew you had ? That's basically the same thing that happened at your 7th birthday !
- I don't like how it's shaping up, ghost me...
- You remember the gift from your father, of course ! He gave you a mechanized doll produced in the Mecadrake factory he owned ! He gave ME, a doll which was poisoned with the nanoblack her mechanism was using to powers itself !
- Father tried to kill us ? Huh...me ?
- No, idiot, you definitely didn't get any more brighter with years ! No, he didn't knew it would do that ! He wasn't a chemist, he wasn't even an intelligent being ! I don't even thing he knows this illness was his fault, yet !
- I should go to tell him ! The big piece of...
- Shut up, old one ! You have more important matters at hand than trying to avenge yourself against every single being in every single galaxy ! You have to make a choice : you discard the two nanoblack blades you have in your possession, or you learn to channel their energies to avoid further overdoses !
- The swords are pretty cool, besides, I must have melee weapons for the Tournament. Tell me what will happen if I try to master them and I fail ?
- How do you want I know, you filthy piece of **** ? Go back to try yourself ! My duty is done, I shall wander the netherrealm in peace with your image far from my mind ! yelled the ghost while disappearing.

As Lauren was taking her time, realizing the ghost of her pure child's soul was gone, she heard another wailing. She yelled :
- Will this crap have an end ?!?

Then she sensed the icy chill of the corrupted souls. She saw, passing throught the far wall of the arena, a first ghost, it was Riker's. The creature from beyond the grave was approaching slowly, with an amused grin stucked on its face. Behind him, two others appeared. It was Othello and a Liandri doctor. Then, Lauren sensed a cold grasp on her shoulder, she turned herself only to see the pale face of a ghost with the mark of an enforcer bullet in the throat.

Lauren screamed. She screamed with all the power her lungs could provides her. Then she ran in the direction of the door, as the spirits of those she had recently slain were pursuing her. She knew they were just behind her, on her tracks, they were finding it amusing, as they were suddently laughing. All of them were laughing. They were more and more numerous. Lauren finally reached the door and tried to open it. She couldn't, it was locked from the other side. Then, she tried again, and again. But it was impossible. She asked for help. No help came. So she ran again, charging throught the spirits.

They were still laughing, still quick to follow her trail as she was heading to the elevator. The only means to survive she was thinking of, in her desperation, was the rooftops. She knew she was set if she stayed in the enclosed arena.

Then she reached the top of the arena. She looked around her, she saw the moon around which the station was orbiting. She ran from the elevator to the border of the arena, with all her strenght. She wasn't thinking anymore. She was just running, running as a nali was usually doing. She was stucked. She couldn't run anymore. The ghosts were all in front of her. She saw no escape route. She felt like if her legs were about to give up, then she saw her opponents starting to approach. As they were floating towards her, she heard some whispers, it was like words, but it was too late. She prefered to jump into the vast nothingness of space rather than get caught again. And she fell...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

[legacy-unrlPPLE]

how long have you been writing this

[legacy-Hollehund]

As the air was starting to lack from her lungs, Lauren closed her eyes, preparing herself to meet her end. She didn't think that end was frustrating. It was only the end. An end like so much others.

Then, as she was about to lose her consciousness for the last time, she felt a burning pain to the interior of her left leg. She awoke in gasps, as she had suddently access to the most needed oxygen.

At first, she didn't saw through her eyes, as if dark veils were laid on them, but after a few seconds, she realized she was in her bedroom in Shell Shore's Mansion. She would have recognized this place among billions of others, even blinded, she recognized Brock's odour.

But it wasn't only Brock who was near her. Nebri was there, as well as Garrett, who was holding a kitchen knife in one hand. There was black blood on the knife's blade. Lauren looked at her leg before she even asked a question.

She was bleeding, nanoblack was leaking through her thigh to her foot. That was why she sensed a burn. Later she learned that Garrett pierced her in an act of desperation, as the three Ghosts were helplessly watching their leader dying in her sleep.

Lauren was asked about what happened during her dream, her nightmare, to be precise, but she didn't want to answer. She was still too shocked about the souls of those she had killed.

While she was supposed to relax, to recover from her strange nightmare, she couldn't sleep again. It was impossible for her to calm down. Even with Brock sat near her as a security, she didn't close her eyes. She just had the ghosts' faces in mind and the revelations of her younger self's soul. Then, her sight came down on her swords, that were laid on the table in the room. She didn't know why, but she knew what to do...

End of chapter 10.
To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5


MAJOR MILESTONE : The other side of the Guard officially broke the barrier of the 75 pages on a pocket book dimension word document. I learned in my litterature courses that a book is a book when it contains about 62 or 64 pages, else, it's a long novel. Then, it's a book, right now (think to this announcement like when a doctor say : It's a little boy ! to frenetically happy parents...Hell, I can't believe I used THAT metaphor)

Official page count : 76, after chapter 10.

[legacy-NightorrentV6]

Great story Hollehund, one of the best fan fic's I've ever read.

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

yeah HolleHund rocks doing this.

[legacy-LoNeWoLf666]

whens the next fight scene!

[legacy-Hollehund]

Chapter 11 ...And a painful death many times retold...

As Lauren entered the Phobos arena, she couldn't help but feel a strange fear insinuating in her. She sensed, once again, a shiver coming down her neck. But Garrett told her, with a brutish laugh :
- Do you need another shot with my special treatment ?
- No. Just mind your killing. We're in the finals. After that, we're going to need all our wits to overcome...
- Yeahm, yeah, yeah...enough of your casual chit chat about pride and work that brings rewards ! Keep that for that emptyhead Nebri !
- What big man just called Nebri ? asked the main interested.
- Stop that ! Do I must replace you with the new ones ?
- The new ones ? Where are they ? asked Garrett, surprised.
- There, they are watching us throught the giant screen, I saw them a couple of minutes ago, while you were out to smoke your horrible cigars ! answered a moderately friendly Lauren.
- Did you forget your style is the ***** style ? quickly replied the "father".
- Go to Hell, big loaf of crap ! answered an amused necris.
- I think you were there before me...
- Oh, crap, I forgot it. At least you're there to reminds me everything little detail of my oblivion...
- My moto is : you suck, I make you know it !

As the Ghosts of Days Past were taking their positions for the initial spawning, the leader of the Red Claw team refused to advance to exchange words with Lauren. So, Lauren spoked alone. She said to the crowd she couldn't see because of the one-way glasses :
- Today is a great day for the Iron Guard fans and the Ghosts' fans all alike ! Because today, we will reach the main Tournament. There we will be able to prove ourselves, to show our foes who they truly have pissed up !

In the stands, hearing what the favorite team's captain was saying, there was a couple of thousands of fans, impatiently waiting for the "first blood" comment by the commentator. Among them, there was Cryss, sat in the middle of two other women. Two well-known warriors of the main Tournament who left it at the approach of the Ascension Rites event.

Zarina, in her usual manner, was cheering at her favorites, she was sending good words to her captain, at least, what she though was good words :
- Oh man ! Oh man ! They are really going to split those greenskins in thin slices ! I can't believe we'll do it in the Tournament again ! Can you believe it, Tam ? Man, that's unbelievable !
- I hate that when you are saying "man" all the time !
- And for my part, I hate behind sat between the two of you. I'll be just fine in the arenas, covering your asses !
- You won't be too busy to steal Brock from Lauren, Cryssy, heh ? added Zarina, leading a small injector to her arm.

The injector, filled with a green bubbling liquid quickly emptied itself in the Hellion's small arm and she gazed to Garrett's image and said :
- It will be a pleasure to smash everyone with you, ogre !

She had made an habit of calling him that way. Usually, that earned her a couple of slaps or punches to the face. But she didn't care. She turned to Tamika and said :
- Oh man ! Isn't he glorious ? Do not say me he doesn't interest you ? He's handsome ! With muscles like that, I bet you never catch cold ! Man, that's cool !

Tamika didn't answered. In the very bottom of her, the flame of hatred was still hot. Tremendously hot. So, she didn't really noticed when the announcer said his traditional crowd-teaser sentence. She just recalled about her past. Another time. Again, these memories weren't to let her go...


To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : On page 78 in book format...

[legacy-unrlPPLE]

what about the memories

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

another awesome work, btw, why the guy of the Red Claw doesnt want to say some words?

well, the Skaarj never spoke much to other races...

[legacy-Utking]

MAKE A BOOK!
PLZ EPIC DEVS COME LOOK AT THIS TOPIC!

[legacy-Hollehund]

The battle was much of an enjoyment. The Red Claw Skaarj weren't very intelligent, but even primitive as they were, they were cunning enough to offer a memorable competition to the Ghosts.

All the match long, Lauren and Brock were having a good day, fragging to the first two spots on the stats sheets. But for Nebri, too weak for the skaarj it was another story. She was constantly broken by her big opponents.

Garrett, who had made party the day before, was slower than the skaarj, he had no reflexes and got fragged quite a few times because of typical errors. On top of this, he was having a terrible headache. So, at the beginning, he tried to cover Lauren, as he was usually doing, but soon enough, she understood he was more a nuisance than a big helper. She let the goon behind and joined Brock for the rest of the game.

In the last few minutes, the skaarj, losing by four, were all in a berserk stance, running afar from each other, charging the Ghosts on sight. On the rooftop, Nebri got cornered by two. Her fate was sealed.

In the meantime, Garrett brought down another in the lower levels. Lauren and Brock got separated by a fight near the elevator. Let alone on the elevator, Lauren saw the two skaarj tearing Nebri apart. She jumped and used the lack of gravity to get on the main rooftop floor. Then, she taunted the two beasts. One of them turned himself and charged with a loud roar. She stood right on his track until the last moment. Then, she stepped aside and avoided the terrible claws of the monster. She pressed the trigger of her sniper rifle and decapitated the other skaarj.

The other was about to bring her down but a ray of plasma mowed his interiors. Brock arrived near his girlfriend. The announcer said :
- Five kills to go for the Ghosts of Days Past !

In the lower levels, Garrett got encirled by three brutes. He tried to make a last stand. He got slashed by all three beasts at the same time.

Lauren and Brock ran to the pit, they jumped in it and arrived at the time the three skaarj were about to split up to continue the hunt. A couple of flak shells later, they were two on two.

The first skaarj, a tall and muscular fellow named Gordox tried to eviscerate Lauren, but she avoided his blow with an accrobatic move that pleased the crowd. Then, she got on her feet and fired again, her last flak shell. The skaarj, still alive, but quite injured, ran right to her. She jumped in the stairs. He followed her there. Once again, she avoided the blow. The big guy deflected the unprecise sniper shot on the next wall and advanced to her.

Lauren didn't see that while she was walking backwards, she was going right in the space occupied by Brock and his own opponent. So she got in the middle of them.

Brock wasn't that surprised, he had seen her the instant before. So, he pulled his rocket launcher, using Lauren as a screen, as yelled to her :
- On the ground, cherie !

Lauren jumped back instead and saw the two rockets zipping next to her nose. They hit the skaarj in the belly, sending parts of him on the floor on the second level.

Gordox used this second of delay he had to strike Brock with his claw. The boy got badly injured by Nebri arrived at this precise time and ripped the skaarj head off.

Brock fell on his knees, as the announcer was saying :
- One more kill to go and they're champions !

Lauren saw, in the corner of the room, Gordox respawning and Nebri saw him too. Garrett and another skaarj entered the room from opposite directions. Quickly, the leader of the ghosts got on her feet and aimed her sniper rifle at Brock's head. Her mate saw her and said :
- What are you doing ?

Then, the announcer said :
- What is Lauren doing ? Is she going to kill her teammate ?

In the crowd, Zarina yelled :
- What ? She will kill him ? Man, that's uncool !

But as Nebri and Gordox were engaging each other, as Garrett engaging the second alien, she fired. Brock head got pierced. After one second, the announcer said :
- Two kills to go for the Ghosts of Days Past.
- Friendly fire !

While Brock was respawned in another part of the arena, Lauren turned herself to Gordox and did another headshot. Garrett wasted his own opponent and the Ghosts reached the limit of 35 frags.

- The match is over ! The Ghosts of Days Past are the champions of the minor leagues !

Lauren felt strange as she reappeared in the real Phobos arena. She didn't participate in her team's celebrations. The fans stepped in the arena and overwhelmed them. They grabbed the victors and held them over their head. But still, Lauren didn't smiled. She crossed Brock's eyes. He asked her :
- Why did you do that ?
- I have good reasons, I promise...We'll have to discuss.
- Sure we will !

As Lauren managed to get on her feet, she found herself in front of a known face...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

[legacy-Zirilian]

God I hate you for these cliffhangers!

Still,great job on the fanfic :D

[legacy-LoNeWoLf666]

An action scene!! good job man!! wut page r u on now?

[legacy-Hollehund]

- You did pretty well. I never though you weren't to reach the Tournament, fair lady.
- I appreciate to have you saying that today. Especially today, Malcolm.
- I saw what you just did for Brock. That's encouraging to see you still have some soft feelings in you.
- I do have soft feelings. I definitely do. But that's worse for the Liandri dogs. And even you might get to see how they can empower me.
- What have I done to you at the end ? Nothing, if not given you my condolences in time.
- Two of yours tried to kill me. Say me you didn't know.
- Othello and Riker ? I officially broke up with my old time a long time ago. You should have already noticed that I have new teammates.
- Yes, and they fare well. But I still think you knew that the Liandri was about to pay them to eliminate me.
- I didn't know. Since they are no longer my teammates, I didn't care about their deals, nor that I really cared about them when they were my mates anyway !
- So, you are going to be fair with the Ghosts ?
- I am fair and I will be against Brock and you.
- Not against Brock and I, against all the Ghosts.
- Well...that's what I mean by Brock and you...talking of the better over the worse...we all do that regularly...er...forget it.
- So be it, we will stand on our own. We have our chances and we plan to seize it.
- Fair enough, bye, Lauren, and give my thanks to Brock for his friendship of old.

As Malcolm was walking away from her, Lauren felt that a share of anger was vanishing from her. Malcolm's says were true, he wasn't related to Riker and Othello, and he didn't asked Brock to avenge him. So she knew that from this time, her rage had to be more precisely directed to her true enemies.

Lauren was still thinking when her entire team went to her. Cryss and the other two women had joined the veteran Ghosts a little earlier and now, they were all reporting to their captain, as any good squad.

Lauren took a look on her two new recruits. Besides being physically older and battle-worn, Tamika was showing no sign of weakness. Her old Thundercrash armor was gone, and she was already wearing the new Ghosts' uniform, given by the superintendant Cryss. Tamika was very disciplined, she was more of a soldier than many soldiers. And her face was like if it was cut by a knife, almost perfect. Even with all of her experience of the arenas, and the abuses of the past, she was still unscarred. At least, physically. Her only concern in joining the Ghosts was Brock and Garrett, but she knew that Brock was linked to Lauren, she thought that as an undead, he didn't had sexual sensations at all. She was wrong, but still, he was linked to Lauren, so he wasn't truly of concern. But Garrett, in his usual way, was a concern. He was exactly the type of man who don't realize enough is enough, after a few drinks. But he was alone in this case, a rare fact in the Tournament teams, so she was best with them than with any others.

Zarina was different. She was undisciplined at all, a punk, like Garrett, but her love for drugs and chemical enhancers of all kinds was slowly transforming her body into a late teenager one. She wasn't even close to be as muscular than Lauren, and no even comparable with Tamika, a strong woman. Zarina was still a fair shooter, and that was enough for the Ghosts to be interested in. She was personality-wise incompatible with most of the Ghosts, though, as she had the time to realize, in the stands.

And as usually, Cryss was standing outside of the line, she was dark-mannered and pretty much always silent. If no one was speaking to her, she didn't say a word. Never she was starting conversations unless forced to do so. Physically, she was capable to hold her ground to Lauren, but not as strong as the ex-Thundercrash she just recruited.

- Here is my crew, then. I still lack one warrior. We'll have to find one real soon, said Lauren.
- Never mind, Malakai contacted me and said he had found our last mate during a raid on a Liandri shuttle recently.
- Why isn't he here, that mate ?
- According to Malakai, he needs some healing before being able to engage in combat again. But do not care, he will be ready.
- So I have no choice.
- No you don't. Freylis also wants this warrior to fight under her banner. And she said that you will understand why when you'll see him.
- Right then, we shall leave, we have nothing to do here.

The seven Ghosts went in two hovercabs. Garrett made everyone notice the team was now needing two transports. For him, it was the symbol of a great team. Some cheered, like Zarina, but most didn't. They were already busy to think about the great Tournament that had yet to come...

End of chapter 11.
To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : That's 50% done, ladies and gentlemen. I'll have to hurry if I want to finish it in time for when I'll no longer have access to Internet. That means more updates in shorter times... Currently, in pocket book format, it's about 82 pages and half.

[legacy-x_djs_x]

wow... anyways, are you not going to play the actual game, or are you just inetersted in writing?

[legacy-NightorrentV6]

I PM'ed you the team, I hope you can use them.
:)

[legacy-Hollehund]

Chapter 12 Much needed rest ?

The Iron Guard mansion in Shell Shore was a vast, clean, victorian building set in a rather calm neighborhood. It was the kind of place where most of the Tournament hopefuls and some of the veterans would like to live. That was the place acquired by Brock and Lauren during their first career as the leading duo of the Iron Guard. But since their deaths, they have had little use for the place. As they were leaving the vinicity of the Phobos moon, Lauren realized she was no longer an endangered outlaw to the Liandri. Her team, while still being considered as an hopeful, had good ratings and that meant good credit income for the corporation. So, there was no reason not to return to the mansion.

That was why the two hovercab arrived in Shell Shore in the morning of the first match of the Great Tournament. As usual, the reigning champions, the Juggernauts, were facing the lowest-ranked team, Jacob's Raging Centaurs, so the city was in turmoil. The giant screens in downtown were watched by an incredible number of prying eyes as Shell Shore fanbase had been partly shared between the Juggernauts, the Iron Guard, and the Ghosts of Days Past. Besides, a match with the Juggernauts in it was still something even for those who hated them.

So, the hovercabs had quite a lot of difficulty to cross this overcrowded main place. They had to wait a few minutes behind a wave of Gorge's fans. During that time, Gorge and Arclite were doing very well, showing in this exhibition game that the their team was still a beast to take down.

When the two Ghosts-filled vehicles reached the corner, Brock showed himself to the crowd. Lauren, seeing this, though :
"No, no matter what he is, he'll always be glorious..."

Those who saw him first cheered and soon enough there was cheers and boos everywhere in the place. Some of Gorge's fans tried to do as he was doing himself, by trying to crush the opposition and a giant melee started. Then, Lauren ordered the nali driver to accelerate. She said to Brock :
- What was the meaning of this ? We are not in our good days with Malcolm, fool. For now, we should try to stay in the shadows, just remember the troubles you just caused.
- I'm sorry, my dear, I didn't planned that...
- Sure you didn't, you never plan anything !

As the vehicles were making it to the mansion, a deep silence was holding in the first one. Even Garrett didn't dare to say anything. He always knew when the things were spicy enough. He just talked when they arrived. He said :
- We're here, let's get the others installed.
- You are right, said Lauren.

Once in the house, past the park and Zarina's inevitable remarks, Lauren said :
- I will cook you something while Brock will lead you to your rooms. Cryss, may I expect some news of your 8th man soon ?
- I don't know. I have been promised he was to meet us in time for our exhibition match.
- Why are you cooking, Lauren ? Why it is not the opposite ? So, you are Brock's slave, finally ? asked Tamika, with some untold frustration in her voice.
- No, if I cook it is not because I see it as a duty, but more like an obligation. You see, I don't want to die...again, answered Lauren, with an unusual smile.
- I'll turn on the holovision first, I want to see how our opponents fare, said Brock while throwing his coat on the ground.

Lauren staid frozen in place for a few seconds. She remembered saying Brock so many times to put his jacket in his right place in the closet while they were living. He always forgot and simply threw it down right on the ground. He had still reflexes from his past, and every time Lauren saw him behave like he usually did before his death, she had this reaction. She had the feeling that things could only get better.

Nebri only saw Lauren's odd behavior. She asked her with a low tone that kept the others in the holovision room from hearing :
- What is Lauren having ? Is Lauren ill ?
- No...I...Brock always did just that ! I always have this same feeling when he do something he was doing before...
- Brock will heal in time. Nebri is sure. Body can be permanently injured. Not spirit. Spirit heal. Nebri knows.
- You may be right. But I have other things to do. Yes, there's much to be done.

And Lauren turned herself to her cryogenerator, with a newfound storm in her spirit. Once again, hope was gaining a small share of her mind over blind rage. As Brock was more and more looking like he was in his previous life, she did just that too. But their current lives were so much different...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : Page 85 1/2 (about 52%)

[legacy-NightorrentV6]

Top-Notch again, Hollehund.

[legacy-Hollehund]

During the supper, all was silent enough. The geneboosted guys won all the way against the mercenaries and Brock was only thinking about one thing, getting those hulks down. On the opposite side of the table, Lauren was silent too, but for other reasons. She was still thinking this rest was the last she had to hope for. The Tournament was about to start for them too, at she knew it wasn't about to be over so soon.

So there wasn't much talking at the table and when everyone got to think about going to sleep, Lauren and Brock were left alone in the dining room. Each was on his side of the long table and each had nothing to say to the other. Finally, Brock broke the ice. He said :
- Do you know if I must expect to get the same swords you got from the necrises ?
- I don't know. I don't really care either.
- What do you have ? I did nothing to upset you, I believe, I even think I was nice to tell you nothing about this headshot in Phobos !
- I don't have any grudge with you. I'm only silent because there's nothing to say. I have nothing to tell you.
- I think I know what you mean. You want to know if I make progress ? You want to know if I will ever become the man you once loved ? But how do you want I know that ? I don't even remember the name of my own father !
- Well, I think I should do more to help you. During all these battles, I thought I was fighting for you, but in fact, I fought to avenge myself, to avoid being consumed by my hatred for the Liandri. It is about time that changes.
- What do you mean ?
- I want you to be the same man you were, but that's impossible...But at least, we can live as if you were.
- I still don't see where you want to take me ?
- I love you, Brock. Long ago, I thought you were the most beautiful man I'll ever see. And I thought I loved you for that. But that was all a fake. I'm no different from most women : I love as much the person than the appearance. So, I'm consumed now, not only by my desire for vengeance, but also by my love for the new you.
- Well...that's a love declaration or I'm a goat ! said Brock, with a subtle smile.
- Up to now, I refused us the right to become intimate because I thought our "lives" could end the next day. But the more I fight, the more I see hope...

While she was talking, Lauren raised herself and walked to Brock. She took his right hand in hers and pressed it on her chest, near her heart. She added :
- We might be monstrosities, we might be terrorists, I'm most certainly an assassin, but I want you to find the love you lost so that we both can enjoy our second chance.

This night, the mansion was the home to a new tale in a once fair saga of love. Two lovers of the past, that even death couldn't separate were giving to each other. While some were polishing their personal weaponry, while some were injecting themselves chemical joy, while some were fighting demons of the past, two creatures of the night were opening a rift for light to pass by.

But as fate is unpredictable and inevitable, it is also unfair. Nothing shall compromise the frontier between life and death and those few brave hearts were about to learn it...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : page 87 (about 52,5%)

[legacy-Hollehund]

Lauren was definitely needing to catch a breath. Giving away all her bad feelings in such a short time to enjoy her new life had weakened her a lot. She was suffering for every little bit of joy she had during these last days. So she left the room as soon as Brock fell asleep. She walked in the vast hall for a time, slowly, carefully, as if she was expecting to be attacked by ghosts.

When she arrived to the entry door, she pushed it and instantly took a long, deep breath. The night was dark on Shell Shore, and it was the time she learned to prefer since her resurrection. She stepped outside the mansion and walked in her enclosed garden, each of her steps was reminding her how fast the life was going and how hard it could be. She was feeling the cold from everywhere, from the sudden gusts of winds that were bringing dead leaves to her to the ground she was walking on, with her naked feet. She looked at her skin. She was having goosebumps. But for the first time, it was because she was feeling cold, not fear or hatred. She smiled.

As she was walking aimslessly, she reached the statue in the middle of the garden. Its tall shadow was providing Lauren a much-needing break for the moonlight that was blinding her since her arrival outside. She sat at the feet of the statue and closed her eyes to enjoy the pure moment of bliss she was living. She never felt that good since a long, a very long time. She was feeling as if she knew anything of her and as if she had helped Brock to proceed further on his road to memory.

The garden was silent, the night was silent, there wasn't a single noice in the entire area. Nobody was at work, nobody was wandering in the streets as usual. There wasn't a lone nocturnal bird and the wind had stopped for a few seconds. Lauren wasn't expecting this. Nobody ever expect to be surprised. Because it wouldn't be surprises.

The shot created a sudden crash in the night, awaking the sleepers in the Iron Guard mansion. Soon enough they were all six in the garden, weapons in hands, almost naked. There was nobody standing there. There was nobody except the bleeding body of the mistress of the Ghosts.

Lauren was like sleeping, sat on her back, near the statue. She was having a hand to her chest, pierced once again. Nanoblack, like oil from a machine, was leaking between her fingers and black tears were rolling for her lips on her entire frontal body. Her dress was torn from her neck to under the breasts. The shot was a powerful one. It was certainly a tough injury. And she was quickly running out of nanoblack and the Ghosts of time...

End of chapter 12.

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : page 89 (about 54%)

[legacy-Hollehund]

Chapter 13 Useless humans, where does it stops ?

There was a few hours that Lauren was crippled. At the private hospital, they could do very little for her. The shot had crushed bones on its way to the left lung. Lauren was barely conscious, but her mind was in tatters. She couldn't say anything, as if her jaw was also broken. So, they took her home, and a furious pair of men with them. Tamika and Cryss had a lot of job to prevent Brock and Garrett to break everything in the hospital so, when they all arrived at the mansion, they all fell on the chairs around the long table of the dining room.

Brock put his face in his hands, he began to cry while Garrett was in the next room, punching at the wall aimlessly. Zarina was drugged, unable to face the incoming problem. Nebri was deeply drowned in pain, she didn't say anything, she didn't move a single muscle. Tamika was also shocked, but she was standing near the door, looking throught the window, Lauren's sniper rifle in hands, like if she feared another strike from the mysterious enemy.

As Lauren was losing her blood rather slowly under the circumstances, the only Ghost who seemed to have kept its mind was Cryss. The blademaiden even seemed confident. She had contacted her superiors as soon as she had known for Lauren's injury. And she had received a response in the hovercab during the return to the mansion. Malakai was coming with the stuff needed to preserve her life. And he was bringing with him the last Ghost, who had seen his training and healing process shortened by a week due to the events of the night.

As the sun was raising on Shell Shore, a woman was fighting to live after having fought to avenge her resurrection. She was near the exhaustion when a shuttle nearly crashed in the garden, decapitating the great statue in its wake. When Tamika saw the four necris phayder jumping out of the shuttle, she said :
- It is not finished, yet, hold on, Lauren, rescue is coming.

Then she saw the stranger who followed the phayders from a distance. She just couldn't say a word. Cryss sent everyone in the next room to let the scientists work freely.

As he was waiting to hear any news from his beloved, Brock was listening to every little comment, but the necris were speaking necris language between each other. And Garrett was in such a state he could only marginally understand his own language. So, when he heard his name, he thought Lauren was dead and that the necris were to decide who was about to announce it to the others. So he raised on his feet and entered the kitchen despite the interdiction imposed by Cryss. He was followed by Tamika and Garrett. What they saw left them unable to articulate a word...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : page 91 (about 55% complete)

[legacy-Hollehund]

A skaarj. It was clearly a skaarj, a green, muscular being that was sat on the chair next to Lauren. She was quickly gaining back color. But her "colors" weren't different from each other. She was dead, after all.

The skaarj was sitting there, silent, while nanoblack was being transfered from his arm to Lauren's. Her wound was already cauterized and the members of the necris medical staff were slowly packing their stuff back.

Suddenly, she opened her eyes wide. Brock approached her and took her hand in his. He said :
- My dear, you will live, do you hear me ?
- Yeah, I may be dead, I'm still not deaf.
- I am not either. And I want you to shut up, human.
- I am no longer an human, monster. You may as well help my lady to get back on her feet or bring Jerl Liandri to my feet that I will not let you command me. Beasts like you exists only to be slaves.

Malakai intervened, realizing the state of high stress Brock was living was making him unstable at best, and certainly unable to control his says. The born-necris made sure he was between the two warriors and said :
- Oozoo is your eight member, you should be nice to him, as he is not forced by any contract.
- We need him, Brock, so shut your mouth, he's right.
- I don't like those stinking freaks who talk of honor while slaughtering innocent people to have fun.
- Will you shut up ? Didn't you see why he may have joined without any promise for credits or glory ?
- He is no normal skaarj, as you are not a normal man. He was known as project three, or take three, as the first two tries well...you know what happened to them.
- Are you saying that this skaarj is a necris ? The Liandri did to him what they did to us ?
- I knew you were about to understand...sooner or later...glad to see it wasn't too much in the latter category.
- How much will it take for they to understand what they do is of no use ?!? roared Brock.
- You speak for nothing, keep your tongue sleeping, we all think that, intervened the skaarj.

Soon enough, all of the Ghosts of Days Past were massed in the dinning room, gazing at the phenomenon of a blind undead skaarj sharing his black blood with a collapsing undead mistress. They weren't realizing that was the logical spin in technology, to always find the next step in evolution and forces it to evolve. That brings such results...

End of chapter 13
To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : p.92 right now, 55%, it progresses...watch for the next battles as they are against known foes...

[legacy-NightorrentV6]

I fear you've lost readers now that the game has come out. But it's still great. :(

[legacy-Hollehund]

Sure, I've lost some, too bad, I'll still update it, even if I also have the game. I take this job to heart, you know, the Passion of the Writer...

Anyway, I may have still 2 readers now, you and Lonewolf, whatever, they know where to find me lurking... ;)

Höllehund, 2k5

P.S : Do you like the last Ghost ? Another necris. A necris skaarj who is blind and sarcastic. Personally I do like him quite a lot :)

[legacy-LoNeWoLf666]

he's blind too, so does his hearing make up for his loss of sight i bet it does im sure he is a hell of shooter.

[legacy-unrlPPLE]

sorry hollehund I ve been gone a little but im still reading and still liking it

[legacy-Hollehund]

Chapter 13 (not finished yet, I made this error, sorry)

Lauren quickly got on her feet while the necris commando was preparing to leave Earth in urge. They knew the NEG was never too far from them in visits such as this one and they were probably aware of that particular visit in Shell Shore. Malakai stayed in the dinning room with Lauren, Brock and Oozoo, discussing the main Tournament and Lauren's role in it.

- I don't feel really weakened. With a good night of sleeping, I may as well be as nice as new tomorrow !
- I don't think so, the shot you took was no normal bullet. I didn't said that in front of my men, because I suspect them to talk in private with Freylis and I don't want her to know that.
- What do you mean by no normal bullet ? asked Brock.
- It was an empty crystal that I found in your chest, Lauren. I believe it was containing a poison of some sort before emptying in your body. Maybe it was even regular blood.
- What ? I don't get it. The nanoblack turned me into this, and now, normal blood could be harmful to me too ?
- Yes, to...create you, the Liandri's scientist were forced to drain your dead body of all his blood before filling it with nanoblack again. There's no way the two could be mixed and they knew it. So if your body contains a small dose of blood, it's pretty much nothing, but a larger dose, such as what the crystal could hold...
- I may die, it's what you mean, isn't it ?
- It's not what I've said. I believe you could be very ill at times. But look at the good side...
- There's one ? interrupted Brock.
- Yes, there is one good side at this situation. Your body is now the opposite it used to be as a human body. It reacts the opposite way. Each time you get ill, your nanoblack gets more like thicker and stronger. I believe that by the end of the Tournament, you should be able to use some of our innate powers to us, necrises.
- What do you speak of ? Lauren could use what kind of powers ?
- We, necrises, have limited telekinetic capabilities that we generally keep quiet, as special racial powers usually gets the race exterminated. And that's just one exemple of our birth advantages.
- Am I immune to fire ? asked Lauren.
- What do you mean ?
- Back in Deck 19, in our onslaught against the Liandri's mining facilities, I got caught in the explosion of the core and retired no harm of it. Garrett saw it all and said nothing. Is this some kind of your powers ?
- No. We are damaged by flames as normal humans are. I believe that if this is true, it's because of your nanoblack blood. You see, when we make nanoblack boil, it just make it thicker for a time, improving the potential efficiency of anything that could be fed by nanoblack. I didn't thought you would be immune to fire. Are you sure of what you just told me ?

And Lauren, as if she was insulted raised herself, grabbed a torch in one of the closets and immolated herself in front of her friends.

As they were frozen by terror and stupor, Lauren was standing right, with no apparent pain going throught her body. Her shoulders were burning, her hair were also torched and her fingertips were like candles. But she didn't screamed. She didn't sensed any pain. Then she surprised everyone again by touching Brock's hand with hers. He didn't felt anything. The proof was made. And another weapon was acquired, but the quest had just begun and many new tools were still to be found...

End of chapter 13.
To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : Page 94 (roughly 58%)

[legacy-unrlPPLE]

you sure are writing fast will you finish

[legacy-unrlPPLE]

fire proof could come in handy lol

[legacy-Hollehund]

Chapter 14 That's how to get a frag

Garrett sticked at Lauren's door while she was sleeping, not really to protect her from an intruder, but to prevent her to leave the door. He thought she was the greatest threat to herself. Because she was careless.

When she raised, she found him standing next to the door, a gigantic war hammer laid against the wall near him. The hammer's pole was in fact a spear. Lauren muttered some kind of salutations and she went to the kitchen to get herself a coffee or something. Mornings were her most dreaded enemies since her youth.

In the kitchen, she found Cryss, eating some kind of necris army ration. Lauren didn't want to know the origins. The sole aspect of the necris food was causing turmoil in her guts. She took a cryogeneized cafeine-infused drink can and sat next to the necris blademaiden. The "father" joined them and Cryss asked :
- How lovely to see how you care about your protégé, Garrett ? We weren't expecting that much when we acquired your services. Tell me, you aren't about to declare her your love, aren't you ?
- What do you think, crazy *****, Lauren is a nice partner in the arenas, and friendly in life, but I have...other engagements. Besides, I never cross that border in my job-related relationship.
- You are awaken since a while, Cryss, I can see it, do you know who will be our opponents today ?
- I may know. What if I keep that for me as a surprise ?
- You won't do this !
- Is it a challenge ?
- No, you can't do this or else, I'll turn you into saussages !
- Ahah! You make fun of it, isn't it ? We'll face the Dire Way, a team you may not know.
- Right, I'm not sure who they are...aren't they monks of central asia ?
- I see you are well informed...they are the champions of last year's minor leagues. We are where they were last year.
- I never saw them fight, I was...away, intervened Garrett.
- Away trying to join the Juggernauts ? asked Lauren.
- Yeah...anyway, I'm not with them, so you can relax, silly girl.
- I am relaxed, I have no problem with you, Garrett. Just do your job. Today, we have a eight poor men to humiliate. We don't have to win, we have to crush them !
- ...to send a message, added Tamika, entering the room.
- Right. To who must we send a message ? To the Juggs or the Liandri ?
- Everyone...except them, no one of them would understand anyway. We just have to make sure we aren't underdogs. Remember what is our job : we have to enlarge our fanbase which is on the good way.

Everyone stopped talking as Brock and Nebri entered the room, having heard people talking from their rooms. Brock said :
- I see you feel better now, my dear.
- Yes, I'll have to thank Oozoo for that one.
- No fire harm Lauren because fire is in Lauren, uttered the Gen Mo'Kai.
- Well, that is promising us quite a firework today ! joked Garrett.
- Yes...fireworks...nodded Lauren with a dark smile.

The Ghosts took some rest before their long-awaited first confrontation in the grand arenas...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : page 96 (about 59%)

[legacy-Hollehund]

- Today, we have two teams most fans have never seen fighting. We, at the Liandri, are proud to refresh our roster with new contestants and we're also most happy to greet several of our best veterans from past Tournaments.
- Today is a great day, because it's the first exhibition match of the Ghosts of Days Past, a team that totally owned their opponents in the Minor Leagues.
- Captained by fan favorite Lauren who is now a little bit...darker, the Ghosts roster is filled with great warriors. To name a few, there is Brock, Lauren's boyfriend and ex-captain with the Iron Guard. With them both are Nebri and Garrett, two warriors who had some great moments in the past.
- Today is also the first day we will see all of the Ghosts fighting together, as they were recently completed. Here we see the sole born-necris of the Tournament, Cryss, two known faces from the past, Tamika and Zarina and the last member. I just received confirmation of his identity. He is Oozoo, from an unknown skaarj tribe.
- Wait ! Is he blind ? And dead ?
- It seems so ! The Liandri never stops working for your enjoyment, beloved fans !

The Ghosts were walking without any hesitation. They knew they were the favorites and that wasn't for nothing. Their opponents, while they were capable enough to deal with the lowest-ranked teams of the Tournament, weren't even near to threaten the Ghosts in the Skill Department.

As usual, Lauren and the Dire Way's leader Kayrab made their way to the middle of the arena, and stood face to face. Then, Kayrab pronounced a speech to greet the crowd to be there, and Lauren, at her turn said :
- I know you all think that outside the arena, I'm a terrorist and a soulless murderer...I should try to convince you of the opposite but I never lie. So I'll rather say that today, you'll see it's not only outside the arenas that I am a soulless murderer !

After Lauren's short speech, the crowd instantly got divided. Some were booing, others were sheering. Lauren left no one cold. She was no longer cold meat either. As she joined her teammates in her team's first spawn point, her sight crossed Brock's. He saw in her a flame he never saw before, at least in intensity.

The sixteen warriors looked at the giant screen of the spawn rooms that showed warriors in the opposite room. Then, the crowd went silent. The match was started.

As she was running to get some ammunition, Tamika saw Lauren zipping near her ear, swords in hands. She saw on the other side of the arena three monks charging her as well. She took unsheated her twin falchions, raised her shoulders and charged as well. She had just given herself a new job. Helping another woman, even a dead one, to became the hottest superstar ever. Lauren wasn't really needing a lot of help, but she wasn't to stand alone anyway...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : Page 97 (59,5 %)

[legacy-loneshadows]

nice storyline i just made an acc (im a little late) but ive been reading the whole story. good job keep it up

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

hey, i thought you stopped, me retard. you stil own dude.

[legacy-Hollehund]

During the whole match, Lauren was running berserk in the middle of the opponents, swinging her vicious necris swords all around her, cutting, choping and killing. She was death incarnate, and every time she got killed, after some frags, the fans were more and more behind her and the Ghosts. At the end of the game, as she was charging the Dire Way's captain, her left sword held in the middle of her body to shield her and her right pointed to the man's heart, she saw fear in his eyes.

All the game long the monks were trying to understand who was this fury they were pit against. Near the end, one of them asked :
- Who is "her" Is she mad at us ?
- She is not mad, she is evil, simply answered Brock while busy unloading his link gun on a foe in another room.

- Corruption of the heart, corruption of the soul, intervened the leader, while Lauren was closing the distance between them.

Lauren, in her state, didn't answer. She just slashed the poor man's throat with a single blow, leaving him lifeless on the ground. The commentators did once again their job, announcing the incoming last frag. Then they updated with the official announce :
- 35 ! That's it ! Nebri is on fire ! The match is finished, the Ghosts won !
- 35-7, talk about a total domination ! And I still have the time to interview tonight's MVP, Lauren.
- Enjoy, fans of every world, the entertainment that the Liandri bring you ! We are listening to Centra1, our interviewer bot down in Praxis !
- I am Centra1, I am with Lauren and Garrett here in Praxis arena, where the game just ended, giving a final score of 35 frags against 7 in favor of the challenger team, the Ghosts of Days Past led by Lauren. So, what did you eat this morning to get that spectacular, devastating speed ?
- I ate nothing today, and blood, that's what I ate yesterday. Black blood, like the one the Liandri did gave me.
- Well...You were fantastic tonight, what inspired you to be that aggressive ?
- I have a brain and I can switch on and off my anger, robot, don't make me swap now.
- What she want to say is that she was expressing her anger, letting go part of her frustration, simply.
- Ahhh ! Humans with their emotions ! nodded the robot.
- I think this interview should end really soon, I'll just have a kind worn for our opponents : Tie your heart to your chest, I'm coming !

And Lauren escaped the camera's sight range. She didn't get followed while leaving the arena, her blades still in her hands. She was followed by her bodyguard who was most impressed by Lauren. He nearly thought she could be accepted as a Juggernaut. But even when crazed, she wasn't stupid. She never forgot what her true goal was.

When she entered her bedroom, this night, Lauren heard a song. Her favorite song that she remembered well. And it wasn't her who turned on the discplayer. She turned to Brock as if she was searching an answer to a question she hadn't asked yet. Her husband simply raised and said :
- I never saw such energy in you...at least of all the souvenirs I have. Except maybe when we were dancing on that tune back in college.
- You remember that ?
- That's already a progress, isn't it ?
- A steady one ! approved the woman.
- An handsome one, like you, nodded Brock, still sit near the window.
- There is hope, Brock, there is hope because of you.
- You must be joking, it's you who is the necris champion, and it's you who got seventeen frags today. You are the Ghosts, cherie. Not me.
- No, you are wrong. There's a common sentence that says that behind each great man there's a great woman, I believe the opposite is true as well. If you weren't in my life, I wouldn't even still live. I probably already have given the proof of this...
- Come here, my beloved.

She approached slowly, like a wild animal approaches a potential, unguarded meal. Brock took her in his arms and said with a sharp smile :
- You may be the devil, I prefer to have you in my arms than to have your arms in me !
- Very funny, I'm no devil.
- Some think so. Like those poor monks. They mostly never saw you coming.
- Others will follow, but those who don't see me coming doesn't interest me. It's the others, those who see me in action, those who know I'm going to kill them for true, it's these ones I care for.
- You might be the devil, after all, added Brock while kissing her cold forehead.

The two undead warriors resumed their conversation under the light of a large moon. Farther than the horizon, an assassin was gazing at the same moon, awaiting for his masters to come to pay him for a job well done...

End of chapter 14.
To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5
Update : Page 100 today ! (about 62,5%)

[legacy-Hollehund]

Chapter 15 Ambushes : Everyone can play this game

Lauren wasn't that sure, when she learned the next opponent of the Ghosts were the Thunderbolts, the newer (and improved) team led by Malcolm. She was unsure because she didn't know exactly how Brock's loyalty to Malcolm was deep. If his heart kept some glimpses of love for her, maybe Malcolm was still some kind of an older brother to him. But she got secured when Brock asked her to speak to him about the Thundercrash. He didn't remember a thing except that he was once part of them. So, she said, relieved :
- We were unstoppable, but everything has an end.
- Even the good ones ?
- Even the bad ones. I do believe we were too confident...or we were simply outweighted. All in all, Gorge took us by surprise and gave us some neat competition early on. Then Malcolm and you started to be nervous about our chances and we lost some ground.
- You, weren't you nervous ?
- Sure, but I didn't slowed my killing. Soon enough, we were down by five frags, then eight, then the crowd was shut down. Malcolm got angry, we found himself in a berserker rage like in his old days, those of the chemical treatments.
- Like you yesterday ?
- We can say that, I believe. At the end of the match, Gorge strucked Malcolm in the back and you missed ammo...at least, that's what you said.
- So ? They killed him and won ?
- No, that would have been too clean for Gorge. He let Malcolm down and turned on you. He killed you instead, so that Malcolm stayed nearly paralyzed for a year or so.
- That's horrible ! I can't wait we rematch the Juggernauts !

Hearing Brock saying that same sentence one year ago, Lauren got pale, but this time, she was pale already, so she just had the bad memory. She put a hand on Brock's shoulder and said :
- Malcolm was a friend to you, but he fired us from the Thundercrash for this defeat. It wasn't your fault, nor that it was mine. It happened because of Gorge's brain, drowned in geneboosting amplifying liquids. You tried to avenge him, a couple of months ago, and got killed. I don't want you to try something stupid like that again.
- Are you saying that I will let Gorge get away with both Malcolm's spine and my life ?
- Yes you will.

Brock chuckled, thinking she wasn't serious, then, his eyes crossed hers and she added :
- You will stay out of Gorge and Malcolm's way and let me handle the killing. Gorge means nothing. There are others behind him, far more ruthless and far more dreadead than him. He's merely a pawn.
- As you for the necrises.
- As me. I am a pawn. But on a chess board, Gorge would be a tower, forced to charge straight like a dumb ox, and I would be a queen, free to act any way I want. That's why you'll stay out of the way. I do not control every single action I do. I may as well hurt you in the process.
- So, you care for me ? I am not your boy-toy ?
- You might be this for me that I would still care for you, dear, since undead playboys are not yet available to order, answered Lauren with a fair smile.
- Hey, snowballs ! Cryss wants you in the kitchen, we have to plan the next match ! yelled Garrett from the corridor.
- Well...I seem to have strong-willed underlings, muttered Lauren as she went out the room, leaving Brock gazing at her.

Brock realized he was in the way to fall in love with her. That way, he also realized he wasn't loving her before. He felt guilty for taking her into his bed, she wasn't a whore or a willing fan, she was like a soul mate. She was feeling the same pains, living the same harsh deceptions than him. He planned to bring back happiness in her heart. But he knew he couldn't really make her forget her thirst for revenge. And do he really wanted that ? He didn't know, so he said himself that only time heals some wounds...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : page 102 (about 64%)

[legacy-Hollehund]

The Thunderbolts were younger, faster, equally cunning and they were commanded by an old champion with still plenty of ressources. The youngsters felt a little bit of fear when they saw their opponents entering the arena. Azure was not large enough for sixteen men and women. Everyone knew that, even in the crowd. And everyone knew the results of such matches. The 35-frag limit was reached very quickly as there was not a single corner secure in the entire place.

Like the Ghosts, Malcolm wasn't impressed. Very confident, as usual, the "green man" was already in the middle of the arena, ready to give his bless to the crowd. But as Lauren approached, leaving her mates behind her, he stepped forward and said a thing that only her could and had to hear :
- I learned what happened. They won't let you in peace. The top dogs are the best targets, you remember that, at least ?
- They don't want to take me out of the Tournament. They want to take me out of Life.
- Huh ! That's serious ! Anything I can do to help ? Except letting you win !
- You can remember your word of honor. You will be fair.
- Sure I will ! I'm the number two, and top dogs also are fair...at least, most of us !

As Lauren was leaving Malcolm to his declaration, he added :
- Whoever wants to kill you just made an error. It seems this shot only made you stronger !

Malcolm's speech was unimportant. Lauren's was far from interesting. The match itself was a thing she couldn't kept her attention on. She was out of her mind, and the results showed this easily, the Bolts were leading by two at midtime, despite the fact that it was Garrett's day. The space pirate was leading the way in frags, and Lauren was nearly closing it, being better than Zarina, Oozoo and a few of Malcolm's mates only.

Clearly, the crowd noticed Lauren's confusion as she got owned twice in a row to Proetore, the greatest of Malcolm's protege who was running after Garrett for the lead. Then she got slain in melee by Frost, another younger pupil. Finally, in the last few minutes, she got some headshots and the crowd got a little noisier as the two teams got head-to-head with only 5 frags to go.

Lauren was disturbed by what Malcolm has said to her. It was true that this agression only had made her stronger, and extended her willpower to twice what it was before. She was nearly inhuman, but she still got to think. Something was telling her that this assassination attempt wasn't right. The assassin would have aimed for the forehead, not the breasts. And he would have made sure she was dead. Paid assassins were usually professionals. And it wasn't very professional to leave living corpses behind. So, she thought it might be predicted she would survived. And she knew who had advantage to do that kind of weird thing. In her eyes, fire got fueled by a new source of anger. She aimed her rifle and decapitated Malcolm who was coming at her, confident as usual, knowing she hadn't been a great threat in this match.

With a new source of anger in Lauren's mind, the confusion went away and left all the place to a newer berserker rage. She zipped in the arena, weapons in hand, dealing death a couple of times more. The match ended with the voice of the commentator saying :
- It is finished ! What a match ! Our predictions went wrong during the course of the contest and suddenly, as Lauren finally got focused, her Ghosts gave a beating to the powerful Thunderbolts ! Its a 35-31, a close game like we have a lot to offer you, in the Liandri Unreal Tournament !
- Yeah, a quick match with a new MVP on the board ! Garrett, what do you have to say to explain your captain's problems today ? She nearly got you a first loss !
- But she didn't ! What do you have, guys, to think the only one able to get us to the finals is Lauren ? We, the Ghosts, are the best of this ****ty Tournament, first we crushed the Underlings, then we beat the Thunder, what do you want more to prove our wrath ! You cretins...

The Liandri interview bot got the command to put his captor on mute as Garrett was expressing too much of a sense of pride. Too much of swears and insults to members of the Liandri weren't too good for their image, besides, it wasn't too good for the team's ratings. And the Ghosts were making it to the top of the board rather quickly. But there was still many more challenges ahead. Not all of them being in the enclosed arenas...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : page 104 (65%)

[legacy-Hollehund]

There was no one in sight, but Lauren was able to sense the breathing of the two warriors. They were talking while paying much attention to not make any noise. They were, after all, in the house of their prey. And maybe they feared the sheep could morph into a bigger, badder wolf than they were. So, Lauren approached stealthily, she got courses with Cryss under the orders of Freylis. Both of the blademaiden were far to know that this knowledge was about to be turned against them.

Reaching the edge of the roof, above the entry hall, Lauren laid prone, trying to get back in the conversation. They were whispering, so she could barely understand a word on two, but she knew the voices. She slowly took one of her enforcers out of its holster at her hips. She crawled a little more to get a sight on the two silhouettes talking near the bushes of the garden. One of them was Cryss. Lauren grinned. There was some sense in what she thought. But she didn't know the other man. It was clearly enough a necris, but unknown to her. His long, black hair were falling on his shoulders, but it was a male. Lauren listened closely as she was watching trying to understand everything, must she read on their lips. The man sold the punch :
- So, you say I'll have to wait to get paid ? It's weird enough that you didn't had to wait very long before Malakai and his men were there to cure her !
- You will wait, Syn, do not test my patience. Private assassins are everywhere, we aren't forced to choose you the next time, and you know how well we pay !
- Yes I know, but every single time, I have to wait, and wait longer each time ! Its you who test my patience.
- Heh ! The "intruder" is known to be patient, doesn't he ?

Judging she have heard enough, Lauren stepped on her feet and jumped on the ground in the garden. She did it as silently she could, with little success, but surprisingly enough, none of the necris noticed her. So she walked at first, an enforcer in one hand, a sword in the other. She waiting the good moment and then, she leaped from behind the crumbled statue.

Syn turned himself, but too late, he only saw his own guts coming to say hello to his nose. He fell right on his back as Lauren turned herself to face Cryss. Their eyes crossed and the flame in Lauren's made Cryss step one step backward pretty quickly. That move saved her life, as Lauren second jump fell short a little. Cryss unsheated her whisper whip and caught Lauren's sword in one swift motion of the arm. She tried to take it from Lauren's hand, but the undead lady held her blade steadily.

Both of the women were catching a breath while being in a rather uncomfortable position, each one having a arm connected to her other's by a weapon chain. Cryss used this short moment to say :
- I understand your anger, but we did it to reinforce yourself !
- Sure you do ! But talk about a way to get it done ! As your champion, I thought I had some importance, but it seems I worth no more than a nali slave !
- No, you're wrong, we're spending a lot of credits on you, Lauren, just as the Liandri did. We do this in order to aid you to unlock your full potential.
- Again I must say that your methods are particular !
- I am deeply sorry, Lauren, but we had to do it. The way you act in the arena shows that you'll need all the strenght you can. You aren't a juggernaut or a skaarj, Lauren, but you act like one, we don't have the choice to strenghten your body with any means we can, because you are the flagship of our war, that means you must not fail !
- I nearly did, today, because of you and your arrogance ! You say the Liandri is mad to mess with the laws of nature, but you do just as well as them, pushing me to the border of Hell just to take me back tainting my body with blood that once ran in a skaarj's vein !
- You speak frustration and anger, Lauren, it is all legitimate, I can assure you you're right, but calm down, it is not necessary we kill each other here.
- We may enter the mansion and fight inside, if you prefer, said Lauren, with sarcasm.
- No, we should throw down our weapons and I will make sure you speak in private with either Malakai or Freylis.
- So, you agree to arrange a...meeting with your superiors so that I can deal with them at your place ? I see that all of your speeches about valor are just words !
- No, they aren't, we take great pride in you, Lauren, please, understand that we aren't exactly the most skilled people in making friends !
- If I let you live, Cryss, you will bring me Freylis' superior so that we can talk a little !
- I...I'm not sure if I can contact him...

While Cryss was hesitating, Lauren untied her sword and let it fell on the ground. The blademaiden did the same. Then, Lauren stared at Cryss' face. The necris understood too late. Lauren leaped on her and pushed her on the cold ground. She then put her enforcer under her white nose and, while looking in Cryss' generic white eyes, she simply said :
- You will arrange this meeting...or you will die for your cause.

Then Lauren got on her feet and left the garden to return to her room with a feeling mixed of both untold anger and satisfaction. She will be, at least, aware of who was on top of all this conspiration. She never thought Freylis was the true head of all this as she was more a woman of action that a woman of leadership. But Lauren never expected the "leader" her deal was about to bring before her...

End of chapter 15.
To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : page 107 now (about 67%)

Note : That's enough for tonight, my head is boiling, litteraly ;)

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

cool.

[legacy-Demosthenes62]

Absoluetely fantastic work dude, you've got some serious writing potential

[legacy-Hollehund]

Chapter 16 The show must go on

There was no shame to lose to the Ghosts of Days Past, even if they were just coming from the minor leagues. A good team needs no reputation to be good. But the Thunderbolts defeat did bring some serious sarcasm from the Juggernauts fans and players to their archrivals. As always, the Liandri knew how to exploit a potential grudge match and sent the Bolts against the Thundercrash in the well-known arena of Ascension. The result was unsurprising, both teams did well, but even with Gorge's mighty fists, the Juggernauts took a backseat facing the newcomer Proetore, a hooded warrior from an unknown world. After the defeat, Gorge asked for a revenge match and this time, Malcolm refused. His team, with a defeat was now vulnerable, past the three qualifying rounds matches. He didn't want to risk losing at the hands of Gorge, not again. Instead, the Thunderbolts' leader looked forward to face Anubis' Nakthi team who has still a blank sheet with three wins.

The Ghosts, for their part, were certain to reach the first eliminating round, as they could lose their next match without reaching the count of two. They were safe, and with the odds shared equally between the Bargain Hunters and them, they could relax a little, knowing they would not stop there. Sapphire's team was not the weakest team left, but this match was their last chance, after having met a brutal fate at the hands of the Skaarj team in their second match. So, Lauren expected a desperate team to face hers and try to bring everything possible to survive a little longer in the Tournament. But, even if she was aware of the threat Sapphire could be, Lauren didn't feared. She looked at Garrett and Brock wiping the remaining blood on their weapons and smiled. Both men were ready to rumble once again, and they were doing that for her.

Lauren got on her feet and went to a mirror where she gazed at her white skin, stripped with black veins. She recalled Cryss' word. She would meet the leader of the necris rebellion in time. For now, she just had to show her wrath to her ennemies, because whatever the foul deeds of her "allies", Lauren knew they were her best chance to reach Jerl Liandri and to force his empire into chaos. And as Malcolm was saying during his short career as a commentator for the same Liandri : "The killing must go on". It was about to go on.

The announcer presented Sapphire and her teammates to the crowd. They weren't the favorites, despite Sapphire's beauty. Male public was mostly enjoying the soulless freaks the Ghosts were sporting. And female were fans of Brock. So, it was another odd against Sapphire. But as she thought before, the game wasn't over yet.

Finally, after the initial cheers that welcomed the Bargain Hunters stopped, the announcer asked the Ghosts to enter the arena. Lauren stepped out first, as a good captain she was supposed to be. Tamika and Garrett followed, as the good bodyguards they were and the others followed. Cryss closed the march. She was in some kind of a situation she wouldn't dare to piss Lauren by any means. She wasn't fearing her, but she feared to be forced to fight her. Her own life was linked to the accomplishment of the necris freedom war. If their champion was falling because of her, she would suffer the fate of Syn which she burried herself to avoid any explanations. Lauren didn't want to attract attention on their little affair.

In the arena of Phoenix were already aligned their opponents for this final qualification match. The Bargain Hunters were an assortment of mercenaries of all classes and all worlds. At their head, Sapphire was doing well, but things were unpretty, as they faced the powerful skaarj and just after, the dreaded minor leagues' champions. Despite all that, Sapphire walked to the center of the arena and talked to the crowd. She said :
- What I offer you tonight, fans of all over the galaxies, is entertainment. I can assure you that you won't be bored as more blood and guts will fly today that it ever did. For this reason, I ask for today's match to be tweaked a little. I want it to be a melee only contest.
- If the Bargain Hunters asks for melee, it might be because they fear their aim isn't on par with Lauren's, commented the official voice of the Liandri Tournament.

Then Sapphire invited Lauren to take her place and to comment her request. She did just that, advancing to face the referee bot, Lauren simply nodded by a move of her hand and unsheated her swords. The memories of a true kill with one of these was still fresh in her mind, and she wasn't scared to use only them in the Tournament. So, she stared at the crowd and added :
- It will be a melee-only match, prepare, dear fans, to be amazed. You'll never have seen so much brutality. Soon enough, your choice of today will be rewarded.

And she left to join her team. Brock and Garrett both grinned as the locker bots were taking their ranged weapons. Garrett raised his giant hammer and roared. Cryss let her whip float next to her, and Zarina took her dual hatchets from her belt. The Ghosts gave the sign they were ready as Sapphire did just the same. A new confrontation was ready to begin on a road rich with opponents...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : On page 110, for about 68% of the story so far.

[legacy-Hollehund]

As soon as the bell rung, Lauren went crazy. It didn't surprise anyone, as she did the same in the two first matches she played. This time Garrett and Tamika were ready. They ran behind her, waiting for an occasion to strike, they had one when Sapphire and one of her teammates tried to slice their captain. The melee went just short of taking the breath of everyone in the stands. Lauren avoided Sapphire's first blow and Garrett crushed the Bargain Hunter's captain head in one blow. Tamika did a shoulder check to the other warrior and sent him on the wall where she crippled him with a flurry of hits with her two sharp falchions.

On the other side of the arena, in the straight corridors, Oozoo and Brock were making great fun with their new tools. Brock was using his staff for the first time and the blind skaarj was mauling through the Bargain Hunters with his long claws, similar to eight small daggers. Finally, both of them got overwhelmed as they were in the respawn area of their opponents. Lauren arrived there short of one protector, as Tamika fell to a foe in the previous room. The undead lady noticed the area was much too calm.

She was right. As she stopped to run, three opponents appeared from the corner and stepped on her. Garrett did his best, as she, but both were cruelly injured. They took one with them on that one.

The crowd was like in heavens as the rage that was going on in the arena was reaching dramatic highs with the kill count always increasing. They were chanting the names of their favorites players from everywhere and the commentator couldn't even be heard in such a fuss.

In the Ghosts' respawn area, Zarina and Cryss were dealing with an onslaught of foes, as the place was excellent to control the arena, killing everyone before they realized what was happening. But as Lauren got fragged in the farside, near the Hunters' base, she respawned near the battle. She joined the mess with her eyes more fiery than ever. Her two swords got to two opponents hearts, and despite Zarina's death, the Ghost's base got free of hostiles in no time. The announcer said :
- Ten kills to go. It's twenty-five to seventeen for the Ghosts.

Lauren realized that maybe her team was really too strong to be dealt with. She noticed that no one was in sight so she ran in the next corridor in the direction of her foes' respawn area. She got trapped again by Sapphire and two followers. Quickly, Lauren decapitated one, but the other strucked her so quickly that she didn't see Sapphire coming behind her. But even if she didn't see her, she knew she was there, she could scent Sapphire's presence as if she was a telepath. So, the trap failed because of Lauren's breathtaking acrobatics. She leaped from the deadly spot she were on and found herself just behind Sapphire's teammate. She mortally pierced him and pushed his corpse on Sapphire who fell on the ground, surprised. Brock arrived at this time and the two necris slashed the Bargain Hunters' captain together.

In the meantime, having lost their protege, Garrett and Tamika were trying to free their way to their base. But the opposition was strong. At a moment, Garrett fell to a sword and Tamika didn't resisted much longer, let alone. So, they respawned and heared :
- 5 kills to go ! It's thirty to twenty-one for the Ghosts !

The crowd roared as Lauren did when she avenged Brock death by decapitating Sapphire. Soon enough, the frustration of the defeat took over the mighty female mercenary. She ran right to Lauren to get owned once again. Then, she tried again. This time, she killed a weakened Lauren who appeared right in another melee in her base.

Tamika and Zarina were trying to hold on four mercenaries while Oozoo was respawning after having killed a couple of seconds earlier. Lauren ran in the mess and got one. She heard that her Ghosts were hunting for the last kill and a second after, she heard the bell's ring. Brock just slashed a mercenary in their own respawn area. Another match was over. Another victory. And this time, the enemy was done with.

As a Liandri bot was officializing the Bargain Hunter's elimination by clipping down their banner from the Tempest arena ceiling, the official procedure, Lauren left the arena, once again without talking to the interview bot. Brock took her place and told the fans, with a large smile :
- Stay tuned on the Liandri's Unreal channels for more eviscerating in the coming days as we, the Ghosts of Days Past, are climbing in the standings to the top.

Effectively, with Sapphire's elimination, thirty-five to twenty-seven, they lost their seventh place that now belonged to the Ghosts. Seven is still far from first, and considering being first was not Lauren's only goal, she wasn't thinking about holding a party...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : Page 112 for about 69% of the whole story.

[legacy-Hollehund]

Under an heavy rainstorm, Lauren was waiting for her man to come. She knew that if it was a man, he wasn't the leader of the army. In the necris society, women always were superior to the men, and the man Cryss confirmed the coming was probably only the second-in-command. But she knew she was right about Freylis. She was merely an henchwoman, with a lot of power and freedom of action, true, but still, she wasn't the brain behind the operations.

Her nali driver was silently waiting in the hovercab behind her. She was silent because he knew that if Lauren wasn't caring about her slave, she could get pissed if she heard a single comment in nali language. To him, she was a good boss as she rarely talked to him. Some other slaves he knew were beaten regularly by their masters and usually for no reason. But even if he considered himself well-treated, the old nali was scared about what was about to happen. He sensed, as all nali, when big troubles were about to happen and this time, he sensed something really big.

For a while, Lauren was considered by the public as a terrorist outside the arenas and as an insane berserker in the arenas, but the worse past was that she was always feeding such reputations. First, in the arenas, she was increasingly ruthless and careless and outside the arenas, she was more and more involved in a rising terrorist operation. Because for humans, the necrises were mere terrorists who didn't earned the right to exist. And she was one, at least, part of her. That was why she continued to serve the necrises even with what they did to her. The second reason was because she knew for having been shot already that the necris assassins were barely noticeable before the act. She wouldn't go too far if she questionned her loyalty.

But still, Lauren was daring the odds by requesting a meeting with the high brains of this operation. No one among the born necris would never asked such a thing. It was worst than a common mistake.

Lauren was waiting there for a few hours without moving, like a bronze soldier until she saw the camouflaged shuttle coming in her direction. It approached rather slowly but didn't land. Instead, a silhouette in black armor jumped from the vehicle sas and landed on his feet, several meters from Lauren. Then, the shuttle went behind the nearest mountains in hiding.

The man walked slowly to Lauren and stopped at the moment before she could recognize his visage. He spoke first :
- I have been told you took care of Syn in a rather bloody way.
- Cryss talked ? Does this mean you will kill me ?
- Ah ! Why should I came from Ouspace to this pitiful planet if we were about to kill you ? And should we ?
- I almost forgot I am your champion, said Lauren with evident sarcasm.
- Yes you are our champion, we will continued to support you without hesitation because the more you kill in the arenas, the more you draw public attention from our initial attacks. And in the end, you will be most useful than you think, as you will convince the sheeps who live on this planet not to get killed for the Liandri, replied the man.
- And what is in that for me ? Except a possible shot in the back sometime, as it seems to become an habit ?
- No, we won't do that again*. We think your strength is far superior to anyone else's in the Tournament. It would be useless to cripple you from now on. But it did prove useful until now.
- I begin to understand your ways. Who knows, I could even become a blademaiden someday ? added Lauren, again, with sarcasm in her tone.

The man stepped forward, his face went more precise, as the mist between the two warriors was vanishing. Suddenly, as Lauren was convincing herself it couldn't be what she initially thought, a lightning made his identity known. She knew him. Again, she got surprised.

The man walked to face her. Once he was close enough, he answered to Lauren's last question :
- You are already much more than a simple blademaiden. I would please your sarcasm if I said you are the chosen one, so let me just say that you are my hope for freedom.
- How pleasing ! I am the hope for freedom of the Star-slayer himself ! I am starting to think I'll never stop from being surprised ! Each time I meet a necris, I always know him or her, and each time I learn a terrific revelation. Please tell me you have something to learn me...something very important about myself...I will not be able to sleep tonight if I don't have a new sensationnal revelation ! added Lauren, even more sarcastic.
- It's nice from you to say that, because I just think I have something that should relieve you.
- Really ? Oh...I'm surprised.
- Your mother would be pleased to hear such things from you. Sarcasms and cynical jokes were her thing.
- You knew my mother ? asked Lauren, a little bit disturbed, as she really wasn't expecting something about her mother.
- If I knew her ! I was under her orders at Tondara, where she died nearly in my arms ! I was like a son for her, and I couldn't help but accept the task she asked me to do.
- I'd die again to know what this task was. Wait...I think I already know. It's related to an undead woman I may know, isn't it ?
- You are right to presume this, even on this tone that would have you killed if you weren't so important to me. She asked me to keep an eye over you. So I left the army rather illegally and became an outlaw, both for my people and for the humans I was forced to live among. So I entered the arena as it was a "safe" way to look over you.
- So, you spied me for long ?
- From your seven years old birthday to this day you died. Then I came back when I heard you were resurrected. I am the one who made known your importance to my queen's ears. And she named me Grand Chancelor with a simple task : leading the main forces in our upcoming battle against the NEG.
- Simple task ? What's not simple to you ?
- What you have to do seems tough to me.
- Winning the Tournament ?
- No, conquering your lover's heart and destroying your demons. I don't know how I would live if I had lost my soul.
- You may have lost it when you took over that cruiser by yourself. I don't think someone normal would do things such as this one.
- Do not presume of what you haven't seen, Lauren, only concentrate on what you have to do. It's safer and wiser.

Lauren took some seconds to meditate over what the phayder assassin just said when he made her know that he was to leave. So she turned herself and said, faking a complete control over her emotions :
- I hope we'll have time to speak of my mother someday.
- It might happen. If you do what you must.

Lauren entered her hovercab and it was two vehicles who left the small ledge that was dominating Shell Shore's horizon from the south side. In one of these, a renowned master assassin was gazing throught a window, a sad smile on his face. He was thinking he just sent the promising daughter of what should have been his mother to Hell. Even Kragoth himself didn't realized the full potential of the mix between nanoblack and anger...

End of chapter 16.
To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : page 115 for about 71% of the entire storyline.

[legacy-Hollehund]

Chapter 17 Nearing the goal

There's a time to unleash the fury of revenge. For the first time, the Liandri displeased Lauren. They didn't sent their robotic team, Evolution, to her in the quarterfinals. She was pretty sure they were about to be against her, but instead, Anubis got them in the first match of this round. He reprogrammed them with the function to feel shame as the Sun Legion destroyed Evolution 35-13. Brock made sure Lauren didn't get furious because she wanted so hard to deliver one more message to the Liandri and she couldn't. But it's definitely Garrett's intervention that convinced her. The bald man said :
- They probably feared you would humiliate their favorite team in the face of every nation, that's all ! Meh, they got served anyway !

Since she met with Kragoth, some unanswered questions were floating in her mind. Had she been toyed with one more time ? She felt it was impossible Kragoth would be tied with her mother, as he was an outlaw among necrises and she was a loyal soldier. She was thinking this link between them just came at the right moment, when she was unsure about her participation in the necris freedom war. But once again, her mates brought her a little bit of entertaining as Zarina rose the volume of the holovision which was covering the results of the other quarterfinals matches. As she thought back in the Iron Guard, Lauren knew it was important to think one match ahead of the current one. She always thought it was the way the champions were thinking.

The Ghosts were the favorites of their game, as their opponents were the lowest ranked among the eight teams who survived the first round. But the next opponent the winner of their match would meet was no fluke, it was the downers of the Juggernauts, another team of Nakthi warriors led by another Liandri experiment. This time, it seemed to Lauren that it succeeded, as Selket, former Nakthi princess and lead competitor in the ascension rites was fighting for her kind and her man, Anubis, as well as she was wearing a battle suit kindly designed by the Liandri. Garrett supposed :
- I got it, the Liandri still have two teams in the Tournament : they sponsor the two Nakhti teams ! I bet this was know all along !
- Are you kidding ? The ratings of their robot and android teams were sky-high ! Why would they abandon them to concentrate on the Nakhti ? asked Tamika, who never agreed to something said by "the father of all Ghosts".
- Garrett is as intelligent as a squirrel, but he might be right about this one, intervened Cryss. That's the way the Liandri work. They knew the robots were not programmed to manage Lauren's lust for vengeance and they probably thought that even Xan wasn't strong enough to stop us. They made them disappear to the hands of the Nakhti to raise their ratings because they thought their chance to suppress us was better with them !
- But why did they not send us one of their team this round ? They must know that the Bleeding Ravens don't have enough experience to handle ours ! said a confident Brock.
- Don't be so overly confident, Brock, we will meet some stiff competition from now on. They may be not as strong as the Juggernauts or the Thunderbolts, but they still have eliminated the Skaarj last week, I won't bet on an easy one this time.
- Bah ! You said just that before the monks came ! You're a damn, ****ing pessimist, coal girl, replied Garrett.
- You shut up, you have said enough already !
- Come to shut me up, playbone, or may I ?
- Both of you ! That's enough ! Sleep a few hours, today won't be an easy day.

The Ghosts went out of the holovision room. Only Tamika and Lauren stayed in. Lauren asked :
- Why don't you go to sleep as well ?
- I am not tired, besides, I want to know what will happen with the Thunderbolts.
- You're still thinking about them ? After what they did to you ?
- Malcolm flushed you as well, aren't you mad about that ?
- No, not really. I was, sure I was but I don't care anymore, he think as a manager, he has to make big ratings and for that, he needed new faces, new blood, to seduce the new public.
- Me, I can't believe what he has done, to you as to me ! I hope Xan will put him in his place once and for all.
- Do you realize Xan is a male...or was a male ?
- Yes, but I don't care. I prefer not to see their faces when I frag them. And I will, because we'll meet in the finals.
- Sure, it is possible, very possible. I'm going, you'll wake me up at sixteen o'clock.
- I will.

As Lauren left the room, she sensed that time was ticking out pretty quickly for her. The Tournament had became a place of newcomers, and two of these newcomers already were ensured of a spot in the semis. She knew this Tournament was her last, but didn't know how it will end, if it was to end in an arena or otherwise...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : page 117 (72%)

[legacy-Hollehund]

In front of the locker rooms of the Solar Flare arena, there were already dozens of fans wanting autographs and more simply, to catch a smile, or even a word from their idols. But Lauren didn't think about ratings and fans. She was only thinking to what had to be done. Sure, there was some relief to face the Bleeding Ravens instead of the Skaarj they eliminated in the knockout round for teams with one defeat in the preliminaries, but still, she was thinking ahead. Selket already has made a declaration stating that the Tournament would be crowning nakthi this year. Any of them. She was confident and Lauren could understand why. They were two of the four teams who had made it to the semifinals. But Malcolm was no newbie, he was able to hold his ground to Anubis, and his little protege, maybe the future of the Tournament, the stranger Proetore, could do all the difference.

Lauren stared at Brock while he was loading his enforcers, sit on the bench in front of her. He looked at her and smiled. She replied and took her swords from the table between them as she got on her feet. Since they were the favorites between the two teams, they had to enter the arena first this time. The privilege of ratings.

The announcer presented the Ghosts by naming them all, and they did as they were supposed to, they went out in the arena in the proper order. Lauren was the first, as a good captain should always be, and Oozoo was the last, as he was the unknown member of the team.

As they made it to the center of the battlefield, they looked all around them. The arena was a new outdoor killzone with two giant structure on each side and a thin one in the middle. Brock sensed a chill making it down his spine as he raised his link gun to cheer his fans who were watching the Ghosts from afar on giant screens. Brock's move was popular, and it was even before his death. Lauren looked at him, smiled, but didn't say anything. The flame in her eyes talked for her.

Then the Bleeding Ravens came. They also came from the minor leagues a few years ago, and they survived the rough laws about the teams in the Grand Tournament, and they survived another year by making it to the quarterfinals. Their ratings were high enough to not get fired right back in the minors.

Leading them was Ihsed, he was sporting long brown hair down to his neck and hazel eyes. In his hands, he had one of the newest tools of war, a grenade launcher and a good old truty shock rifle. Behind him were all his mates, Silla, Edes, Callio, Silliam, Drem, Peril and Dhalim, all of them were humans, and every single one of them had some past with the Iron Guard before. Lauren recognized some faces, but her memories were clouded by her death, some elements of it faded away just as it did with Brock.

When they saw the Ghosts, the Ravens approached right to the middle and sent greets to their opponents. None of the teams was having any grudge against the other. This kind of matches was getting rare in the Unreal Tournament, so both of them trusted the other to give a fair and honnest competition.

Ihsed approached the referee bot and turned himself to the camera. He then started saying :
- We will show you that in the shadows of stars themselves lurks much more skill than you would think. What you will see today is a match between underdogs, but pay attention, because one of these underdogs will reach the finals, I can assure you, because the nakthi princess seem to be more interested at talking with medias than practicing !

Then Lauren approached and nodded with a movement of her head. She added :
- I agree, and I'll just say one word to the Ghosts fans : they haven't seen anything yet.

After her rather short display of confidence, Lauren returned to her men and unsheated her swords. There was much talking to do, but it was not the time just yet...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : Page 119 (about 73%)

[legacy-Unrealman]

u rule....make a book already....i like this story its nice

[legacy-Hollehund]

As soon as the bells rang, Nebri went on a killing spree. The small Gen Mo'Kai speedster ravaged the Ravens' ranks on her way to the udamage. Then she came back and forth until Ihsed himself brought her down. But the damages were already done. And with Lauren bringing death to everyone who went for the big kill, it was pretty much impossible to catch up. At the first minutes of the game, it was already fifteen to five.

But Zarina and Oozoo were targets for the Ravens. The first was completely camed off, and the other couldn't keep up with the speed and overall agility displayed by the others, even if his predator instinct was a useful tool to compensate for his blindness.

The Ravens closed a little with the Ghosts until Lauren started sniping out her opponents in the open area. She was on the upper level of one of the main structures and she supported her mates' advance.

Garrett and Tamika were bringing hell to the Ravens in the only way they could, as Lauren ordered them to chase down those who escaped her deadly aim.

The crowd was a bit surprised not to see Lauren running everywhere with her swords. But some old-school Iron Guard fans recognized their long-time favorite as she was letting no one survived in the lower levels.

As the time was advancing, Cryss went on a killing spree as well, her foes learned that a stinger is a deadly weapon at close range.

The loose end of this match was truly Brock. He just seemed to find no one to kill. In fact, as soon as he saw one, this "one" was losing his head to Lauren's sniper shots or was getting pulverized by Cryss' stinger. In the end, he simply unloaded his rocket launcher all around him, staying in the main respawn area under the middle structure.

The commentator did his job, saying :
- Five kills to go ! The Ghosts lead thirty to eleven !
- Look for Lauren, she's now on a rampage !
- The semis will be very very interesting !

But as they were both talking about her, Lauren received her own medicine from the Ravens' elder Dhalim. She respawned right at the place were her head fell off. She grabbed her swords to finish the contest faster. So she ran. And she killed.

The Ghost were the clear winners. And most of the fans were on their side even before, giving them the victory in an easy way. But a 35-14 is not an easy way. It's more than that. It's a message. Lauren didn't go out of the arena this time. She approached the interview bot herself instead and said, with the voice of a tired woman :
- Are you happy, fans, to see that the rising team will be faced with three teams sponsorized by our good Liandri corporation ? The real question is : are you surprised ?

Then she left. With no explanation. The Ghosts thought something was wrong with her, once again. They left right after her, leaving the arena to their fallen opponents, who admitted they had been outwitted. But they also gave their bet that the team they just faced was about to deal with anyone who would try to set them off.

Back in the locker room, Lauren threw her weapons on the table and sat in front. She was breathing heavily as she was close to exhaustion. When Brock asked, she answered :
- I simply want to make them realize that this Tournament is not as random as it seems. The Liandri make sure we faced a weaker team only to make sure we would took a backseat to one of their team in a highly-publicized match. And by winning, we did just that, we brought them more money. We always brought them more money. I just can't believe I'm doing this !
- It is not a favor you do them, Lauren, remember for what reason you're in the Tournament, replied Cryss.

Lauren said nothing, but she knew her necris counterpart was right. She just thought about the risks that an offer might came from the Liandri's big heads in the next days...

End of chapter 17.
To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : On page 122 for 75%, yes, it's 3/4 done now ! :)

[legacy-unrlPPLE]

keep it going my eyes are starting to bleed now

[legacy-NightorrentV6]

It was awesome, I'm kinda sad they got destroyed, though.

[legacy-Hollehund]

Chapter 18 Got something to say, freak ?

As she predicted, Lauren received an offer of a large amount of spare nanoblack cannisters for her and her mate, as well as for Oozoo, for whom the official Liandri representative had shown himself much less concerned.

But as she predicted too, Lauren sent the man to his bosses with a warning. As usual in these situations, she told them through the poor man's mutilated face that she, neither as Brock, were to buy. In fact, she used the words "I am not in sale, your life might get, however, if you try to cheat the semis".

Her words never got to the intended target. The representative got swiftly backstabbed by a vigilant Cryss as he was about to set a suspect package next to the mansion's back door. As Syn before him, the human simply got burrowed in the courtyard behind the Ghost's mansion.

Then, the blademaiden returned to Lauren who was busy talking with Brock. They were uncertain about the next match, as Selket was known to be like a serpent in her "previous life". She could be as deadly as a necris. In fact, she could be much worse. But as Cryss entered the kitchen they were in, Lauren stopped talking and asked :
- You look pale. Have you seen a ghost ?
- It might not be the time to joke, Lauren, the Liandri just tried to kill you, once again. And this time, it is I who saved you from anihilation.
- I should thank you, but I'll rather forget some grudges we had before instead. So, what have they done, those dream-hunters at the Liandri ?
- The man they sent had two...uses. He was busy planting a bomb outside when I opened his throat with my whip.
- Oh well, there's nothing like home ! intervened Garrett, entering the kitchen with, as usual, an inhuman hunger.

Tamika followed with Nebri, drawn by the scent of burnt meat. The ex-Thundercrash said in the clear intention of hurting Garrett :
- Are you sure you aren't a born juggernaut, big fool ?
- Why are you asking ?
- Because I couldn't fill your belly with a complete stinger load, you piece of crap !
- Tamika, don't start fires you can't extinguished, uttered Nebri, wise as always.
- You, got in the chapel that serves you a chamber and stop binding us in a aura of purity. Men are unpure !
- Oh well, I must say, yes, Nebri, let her go, this promises to be quite a fun ! replied Garrett himself.
- We might even see blood spilling for us to take, joked Lauren.

Realizing her friends were joking at her, Tamika's face when red and she muttered :
- Was she joking ? No, I wasn't ! This pesky stinking pig was watching him while I was in the shower ! I saw him, and now, he needs food to calm down his red-hot testoterone ?!? And you take his part ?
- You must understand me, after such a show, I must calm down, as you said, but the problem is that you won't help me yourself !
- I'll kill you, bastard ! yelled the woman as she leaped on her fellow bodyguard.
- Hey ! Calm down, Tamika, he was merely kidding ! There's no way you kill him for this, at least, not before the end of the Tournament ! intervened Brock.

Brock and Lauren were on their feet as Nebri was already between the two protagonists. On her side of the kitchen, Cryss remained silent. Isolation was bringing out the worst of all teammates, even the best ones. Humans were predictable. She stared at the ground as Tamika was taken out of the room, her face still violet with anger from beyond all borderlines. The blademaiden thought that was promising for the match to come...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : On page 124, for about 76%

[legacy-Hollehund]

Things were mad, between Garrett and Tamika, but they went even worse during the breakfast, the day of the game. The hellion was simply toying with Tamika, as he didn't know about the dark torments of her past involving men. He nearly got to know them with both of his eyes strucked by a fork thrown by an angry mid-aged female.

So, when Lauren learned everything to Garrett, his face went dark, as he realized, being no fool, his actions might be more offending he thought. But while he was no fool, he wasn't a diplomat either, so he didn't stopped joking with Tamika. He just toned down his cracks. He changed the subject and she didn't responded either way.

Cryss never went too far from them, as she sensed there was more at work between the Ghosts she couldn't see as her telepathic skills never were as promising as they were in Lauren's case. So, the blademaiden stayed constantly near her human military counterpart. She told her, just before the two of them entered their hovercab to go to the teleport pods :
- You're experienced, you must know that rage is as good as a good stimpack. But don't be fooled by your hatred for males. Garrett might be burly, brutal or stupid, but he's still your teammate, and he isn't called "the father" for nothing. In time, he will be backing you up. He holds no grudges for you as you do for him.
- It's surprising that you open your mouth for more than a word, you're maybe more than a gravestone-styled assassin, you know ?
- We'll see that later, for now, there's some major ass-kicking to be done.

The two hovercabs left the mansion's entry alley as the moon wasn't still completely faded away. The november sky was troubled by a few grey clouds. Unsuspecting it can be getting darker real soon, the sky was still blue, a light tone of blue.

Lauren's eyes were drowned into the thin white lines over her head. She was thinking. Thinking that time was running short for Brock to regain his memories, as the actions of the necrises were coming closer to earth. War was inevitable, as the human military was already arming itself, as the NEG battleships were loaded with heavy weaponry. Her pale visage was always locked in a sad grin, but this time, it was worse. As if she knew things weren't about to go as she wanted them to...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : Page 125 (77%)

[legacy-NightorrentV6]

Great as always.

[legacy-Hollehund]

Selket was still one piece of art, even in death. And she brought with her masses of fans, as well as did her husband Anubis. Her teams wasn't as strong as the popular beliefs attributed to Anubis' but they were faster and more cunning. All in all, the Amuns of Destruction wore their name well and they knew it.

As Lauren and the Ghosts entered the arena, they quickly noticed the entire Praxis balconies, outside the arena compound itself, were divided into two distinct crowds, with the silent minority between them both.

On one side, there were the effigies of Selket, both living and dead. There were some fake Energy Swords flowing into the air as well.

On the other side, there were dark costumes, imitations of the Ghosts' and white-painted faces. Also, some plain red branches of wood were representing Brock's staff and red-haired wigs were most popular than the rest.

Brock smiled and saluted the Ghost fans while Selket did just the same. But, as she always showed herself, since her death, at least, Lauren went to the center of the main room with a darker mood. She didn't see the point in making those living, insignificant people sheering more. In fact, she was more and more thinking she was a tool. A tool in a plot she wasn't sure to like at all. She was no longer sure Brock would recover in time, and moreover, she wasn't sure he was to recover at all. She feared he wasn't destined to do so, even if she never believed in destiny for her destiny would have been brighter than being a freak forever...or until another painful death.

So, the official referee bot came to meet the two team leaders as the seven other warriors from each side were aligned to face the others. As a favorite, Selket would have to speak first, but she always liked to do things her way, so she gave her turn to her opponent. So, Lauren talked first. She took a breathing, showing her irritation to who wanted to see it, and she started :
- Up to this day, the Tournament has been a great way for people to get entertainment for cheap prices. And it was good entertainment, maybe the best you could find, as watching real people getting torn apart is always nice, I concede it. But in the past, abuse has been made, and nature has been desecrated. Its laws has been marched on, this had terrible consequences : more and more crystals were needed to feed the Liandri's need for Stinger and GES rounds, and as mines in Inworld were getting poor, Ouspace seemed the solution. But there were people living there already. There were Nakthi, like what we see just her used to be, there were Skaarj, who were warmer in the reception of NEG's battleships, there were Nali who were well...getting slaughtered even before we saw daylight first, and there were Necrises. As many other people, they suffered the lust for power of both the NEG and the Liandri. But despite their previous efforts to make their cause known to us, most of humanity still think they are a pack of rats, they are rampaging assassins, they are a bunch of terrorists...but they aren't ! They were pleading for your attention, but the Tournaments were so fun, and the Liandri so kind to constantly lower the prices and bring fresh blood that you saw nothing ! Even when they sent an elite corps of their proud blademaiden and mighty phayder, you didn't cared for what they had to say. When half of this squad of princes and counts from Ouspace were assassinated outside the arena in a trickery by the NEG, you saw only just vengeance for the crimes their kind commited on earth's valued possessions ! But as horrible is genocide, other atrocities were commited. Killer robots exponentially increased in numbers and lethality, genebooster assassins and rapists were given a new chance, genetic experiments were done with monstrous results...and good ratings...I ask you to open your eyes ! Even the gates of heavens...or any place you believe in have been crossed...no...smashed down, as the dead now walks the streets, and run the arenas ! When will you see that us, humans, like Nalis, are just the butter the Liandri and NEG spread on their toasts !
- Kind words, but I think we're leaving the subject...tried Selket, destabilized.
- Let me finish, sister-in-pain ! I ask you, all of you, not just Ghosts or Iron Guard, or Thundercrash fans, to hear this warning I have to send today. There was a life, before the NEG reunified Earth's factions and even before the Liandri who brought them into power founded the Tournament. There was a life where every people were at war, true, but were at war on their worlds, against willingful opponents. There was a life where vampires and cyborgs were fiction, where skaarj were a myth and where serial killers were kept in jail ! You lose nothing to not give your life for those who took this life from you ! When the war will happen, when you will be asked to help defend the Earth against the rising rogue army of Necra, I ask you not to answer the call. Be deaf, that day, it can save your life, and bring you, by the way, a life where hope means something. This war is not a citizen war, it's a corporation war. It's mere logic that it was their blood that shed not yours !

Then Lauren went silent. She just watched at the giant screens, she saw the good people hesitate, as their glasses were empty, she saw them talking to each other, she heard the buzzing of the crowds. They were scared. But they were not indifferent. She closed her eyes as the Liandri enforcers were coming in the arena. Lauren turned herself to Brock, aghast and said him :
- You might not remember the old Lauren, but please, never forget the new one.
- We'll defe...started Garrett before Cryss' hand met his shoulder.
- Don't move. We said nothing. They can't take us, and our duty is not done.

As Lauren let the soldiers take her, her teammates understood the sacrifice, especially Cryss, for her people being the god this mighty lamb sacrified for.

All of the Nakhti also let their head down as did the Ghosts while the teleporters alarms were sounding over a silent arena. Then, after a short while, the referee bot turned to Selket saying :
- Your turn to talk, Empress Selket of the Nakhti people.
- I know I should say something but I won't. Through death I learned the value of honor. I will step out of this match so that the odds might be fair. But let it go, as the fans won't have paid for no show !

Then Selket slowly went away from the arena, passing throught the favorite's locker room. She disappeared under an heavy silence. But the match was about to begin. The audience was concerned, though, as the third bell rang, about something that hadn't happened yet...

End of chapter 18.
To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Note : I'm pretty sure it's my best part ever in this fan fiction. I prefer it, at least. The most emotionally-charged, even more than when Brock found out what was hidden under those black leather clothes :| And by the way, a lot of spoilers were more or less hidden through this one, sure there's one to catch your eyes, if so, let the others knows it. I think this particular part earns a public discussion between you all, readers ;)

Anyway, that's it for tonight, I guess I'm tired and that's why my head is sounding like a gong. And by the way, I just passed my final English exam and I bet I'll got an A. :)

Update : On page 128 for about 79% of the total story.

[legacy-Utking]

4 words "Book And/Or Movie!"

[legacy-Lord_Erebus20]

I need........to go lay.....down...and take a tylenol....and stop..........READING!!!!

But seriously excellent writing. I have been reading your story and I love it.

Keep it Up.

[legacy-NightorrentV6]

I love it.

[legacy-unrlPPLE]

great stuff really great stuff keep it going

[legacy-LoNeWoLf666]

Selket isnt fighting =( lol jk keep up the good work man

[legacy-Demosthenes62]

great work man

[legacy-DoMiNaToR]

hey, im still here hollehund!

[legacy-Hollehund]

Sorry, I am real late in updates, but it's not because I'm lazy. I just had two really tough exams in french litterature today, so yesterday I studied, so I came for about four minutes and left without posting. But now, I'm relieved, only one to go, so I will post.

For information to who is interested in sharing my pain it was :

- An exam in French litterature of XVIIth century.
- An exam in French litterature of 1900-1950.

Both were pretty hard and... well, I'm not talking of UC2 right now...wait...Lauren is cool and I'll proceed with the update from now on. Just wait a few minutes so take I can type it... ;)

Höllehund, 2k5

[legacy-Xarai]

Hey keep it comming! Since mine isn't gonna be up anymore i can hope for yours n.n!!

[legacy-Hollehund]

Chapter 19 For burning honor

In the cold, steel-walled locker room, Selket was listening helpless to the sounds of battle, as the semifinal match played by her team was played outside. She knew she had deceived a lot of people by stepping back from the match. Anubis would be especially pissed off if his team didn't make it to the finals. He was honorable, but competitive. He wanted to win. Since the ascension rites, the victory had became more important to him. And Selket knew the necris process was unfinished on her and that the Liandri was alone to pay for it to continue. But as Lauren was speaking, she sensed all the pain she had suffered. She was the second prototype, and the first failure. In a second of compassion, she left the battlefield, a thing the living Selket would have made for no one. She raised herself as she heard the chants of the crowd becoming one-sided. She knew what was going on without the locker screen being turned on. Her team, the Amuns of Destruction, were sinking.

So powerful in the qualifying rounds, nearly perfect in the first knockout rounds but still defeated in the semifinal to a team fighting without their best warrior. It was all because of Selket's newfound sense of honor. In the arena, Apophis wasn't much of a leader. The Amuns, without a chief of Selket's grade, was disbanding to the Ghosts' predator instinct : the desperation of having lost more than a teammate.

Leading the Ghosts of Days Past, Brock was nailing one nakhti warrior after the other, on his path to victory. It wasn't he wanted to make Lauren proud of him, but to honor her sacrifice. Besides, he was thinking, in his grief, that she was probably already dead, killed by the Liandri's special assassins. So he was giving all if have. He was running in the arena, his link gun's clip nearly empty, shooting to all threats, as if he was in one of Lauren's famous berserker rage. But he wasn't nearly as tough as her, having no alien blood in his veins. So he was the one who fell the most among the Ghosts. A high price to pay for the body count he generated for his team.

Behind him, Tamika and Garrett were making sure Lauren's beloved wasn't making a target for everyone in his sadness. And when the announcer litterally yelled : "Five kills to go", to cover the overwhelming chants of the Ghosts fans, he just fell to Apophis' Axe. The nakhti second-in-command then made all what he could, slaying Tamika and Nebri in a couple of swift blows, but he got his spree ended by Zarina's double-bladed axe.

Overall, the nakhti weren't performing nearly as well as they were under Selket's leadership. They were losing all and every one-on-one battle against the Ghosts and it took only a few minutes for the Ghosts being controlling both main respawn areas. The Amuns of Destruction's fate was sealed in honoring a vow from their dead Empress.

Finally, the announcer did his job, commenting the final score :
- Wow ! Thirty-five to nineteen, who thought the nakhti second team, without their leader would go down so easily ?
- Not me, at least ! Selket must be regretting her decision at the time we speak, she must be preparing some words of excuses for her good Emperor !

But Selket was entering the arena, her head up. She was unnarmed, as if she was saying the fans that she knew their hopes had been deceived. She approached Apophis and slapped his face. She then took off his helmet and let it fall on the ground. The man was handsome, as many believed, but he was having a scar, on his right eye. He wasn't protecting his face with his helmet, but his reputation. She pointed in the direction of the locker room and the man went there, after having exchanged a long sight with her. Then, Selket turned herself to face the fans. She explained to them she wasn't about to come back unless she was fighting in the same team than her husband. Then she left.

Brock didn't talked. Instead, he left to the locker room really soon. In fact, no one of the winners was eager to speak to the fans. But Tamika was the last to start to walk to the locker. She heard the first boos of the deceived fans. So she stopped and faced them. She said :
- We will be there in the finals. You have the right to expect a victory, but you shouldn't count on Lauren's return, as some people dislikes the truth being told.

After those rather mysterious words, she left and didn't return to the buzzing of the fans chatting throught themselves. She looked at the giant screen and saw the Amuns of Destruction's banner being clip down from Tempest's roof. There was only one step to go to nail the cup so many would've died for...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : On page 130 for about 80%.

[legacy-NightorrentV6]

Keep it up, I wanna print the whole story off and read it at school.

[legacy-Hollehund]

In the darkest corner of a dark, haunting room, a shape vaguely ressembling a human form was sit. The light of the corridor was sifting under the door and throught its unique window, a mere crack in the cell's armor. A bleeding, naked feet was leaning on the ground, in the middle of the light spot. The blood was creating a small river on the cement, reaching the opposite corner of the cell and forming a small pool.

A grunt coming for the silhouette troubled the strange, heavy silence. A hand moved in the air and went on the knees of the silhouette, leaving its face. The only sounds to be heard in the dark room was the footsteps of a patrolling guard outside and the occasional grunts the creature was emiting, as pain was tearing its body apart.

Suddenly, the door slided open, a large silhouette appeared in the square of light. The shape leaped on its feet quickly to face the newcomer. It was a man, wearing the yellow clothes of a common guardsman. He was no officer and no specialist. The creature stayed in front of the man who was looking at it. He ordered to advance. The silhouette made one step forward.

A vaguely female body, naked and bruised appeared in the light. She was merely looking like a human, so she was pretty much unrecognizable as her face was scrapped with multiple cuts and her chest was heavily wounded. At her feet was already forming a pool of a dark substance. On her face was a cunning smile. As if the pain wasn't threatening her will. The soldier turned his sight from the injured woman and presented a pile of black clothes to her. She didn't move.

Realizing she was standing strong before him, the man approached as spat on her face only to see she had kept her defying smile. So he slapped her face. Once again, she was defying him. So he punched her chest, near her breasts, where a large wound was localized. She grinned and made a few steps backwards but she came back at her former position a few seconds of hesitation after. She was sporting the same arrogant smile. The guard then stepped back and told her :
- You arrogant ***** ! Smile as you want, you'll never have someone friendly to smile to anymore as you'll never see the light of the sun again, freak !
- I may not, but you won't see it for long, too.
- You like to feel pain, do you ?!? I won't do you this favor. I'll be going now, but you should have yourself dressed up, as you soon will receive a V.I.P visitor. Naked you're not even interesting, foul critter!
- Have a nice day, mister prey, simply said the girl as he was closing the door.

She looked at her feet, at these clothes. They were her own. The visitor had to be important for them to bother bringing her clothes. As she heard the first day she arrived, most of the prisoners were kept naked, as if this would prevent them from escaping this Hell if they had a chance. But it was all psychology. And she was considering herself barely sane, so she didn't try to understand. She just sat there and meditated all days long, between sessions of torture which were pretty frequent during the first days. But with a guest she had to prepare herself. So she wiped her face of the nanoblack that was accumulating there and dressed herself. She immediately felt the heat in the small cell but she didn't complain. She simply sat, waiting for her V.I.P visitor the guardsman spoke of...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : On page 132 for about 81%

[legacy-Hollehund]

As the door slided open, a dark-skined man entered the cell and had the door closed back behind him. The newcomer yelled some kind of order and suddenly, the light came from cracks in the walls and in the ceiling. The man was wearing a tan trenchcoat and was wearing a soft hat. He took it off and smiled to the prisoner. He then said :
- Hello, Lauren ? You look a bit tired, are you ?
- I am deceived, by coming her, I expected to have a lot of time to sleep, but the jailors all like to try their luck with me, in any way they can...
- Oh, I guess you don't sleep well then.
- You got it. But I don't need it since I pretty much do nothing. It's just pretty long and boring here. So you came from your pedestal to contemplate the remains of a fallen friend ?
- No, yes, no...I'm not going to laugh at you or to try to make you mad. The guards already told me it is useless. For them you have no feelings, you're as cold as ice.
- It's because they don't know how to do it.
- How to do what ?
- Either things. They don't know how to cut nor they know how to pierce, replied Lauren, with a bizarre smile stretched over her bruised face.
- So, I guess I'll go right to the goal...your team is in the finals.
- They might have a stronger mind of their own than I expected. Hopefully Selket didn't suicide.
- No, in fact, she stepped down to offer a fair chance of winning to your crew.
- She did that ? I'm impressed. If I ever leave this cage - not that I hope for this - I promise to send her a basket of fresh fruits, said Lauren with a nervous laugh.
- There's no nakhti in the finals. I bested Anubis...In fact, it's Proetore who won the MVP award but...
- So, both of the imperial infernal couple went down ? That should make them mad !
- Anubis, yes, but Selket seems fine. Who would believe such a situation ? But, to continue, you can be pride of your men as they are fighting terrible odds, you know ?
- Ah ! How could they not ? We all face terrible odds as the enemies of the NEG are coming our way !
- So you were serious about that...
- Yeah, Malcolm, I was serious. There's a countdown on Earth.
- So, this Tournament might be the last ?
- I guess it's a possibility.
- So you'll appreciate even more what I have to say. Imagine that both our teams are playing at this time in Tempest...
- Amazing, nine-time champion Malcolm is stepping down from a Tournament finals on his own ? The Liandri organisers are probably not very happy...said Lauren, as surprised as she was satisfied.
- You know ? I'm like a slot-machine, Lauren. If you pull the good lever at the good time, you can make a nice sum with me, but all this resurrection affair has been like taking off the plug from the wall ! No more cash from the Liandri for me, baby !

Lauren stopped a second to gaze at the old man's expression. She saw some glimpses of regrets in it but she didn't tell it. She just took the hand he was offering her and told him that his choice was the good. Then he answered :
- Did I told you two times instead of one that I would be fair ? How crappy I would have been if I accepted a 8-on-7 against yours, baby !
- Excuse my doubts, you are still the champion I knew...after a few talks at least.
- Yeah, I know money makes you mad, I went mad in the first years, with those chemical enhancements and all, but as I get older, I have no use for more vision troubles and nervous mishaps ! I think I shouldn't even have tried to break the Tournament again, last year, nine titles are far than enough for one man, even if I'm really proud only of the last four !
- Again, you surprise me, but tell me, why exactly are you here ?
- Don't forget what you said, I am a Liandri-sponsored goon ! Until the Tournament's end, I may go as I want in most of their facilities ! But they made sure I wasn't taking you some weapons. They still fear you, you know ?
- I guess I may be injured as much as you want, but I'm still a vampire, heh ?
- I have to go, now, I have a cup to embrace...or a consolation tankard to pay my guys !
- It was nice to know you, Malcolm.
- You too, girl, but you can still expect to see other people. I came here as some kind of...scout. Stay at least as pretty as you are...just in case someone important drops by !

While saying these last words, Malcolm left. As the lights were about to went out, the warmaiden saw that her former teammate had left something on the ground. She took it. It was a magnetic card. Surprised to possess some useless keycard to higher levels, she sat on her bed and hid the card in her top. She then waited, she waited as if a lovely prince was about to come by to deliver her from the evil dragon of the Liandri corporation...

End of chapter 19.
To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : On page 134 for about 83% of the total story, the final end draws near...

Note : That's it for tonight, I am hope everyone will understand as my head is boiling after six long hours of university-grade exams and about two-and-halfs hours of typing for this story...I really enjoy writing this, though. And, in case someone wants to know, my plan for the rest of the story is done, there's still 3 chapters : 20, 21, 22 and 1 epilogue. Its closer and closer to the end...I'm starting to feel pride coming from my guts as it will be a long-term project coming to an end, in my second-language on characters who aren't mine... ;) Man, I even thought I saw Lauren today walking down the street but no, it cannot be her, since our graveyard here doesn't produce such lovely ladies ;)

[legacy-NightorrentV6]

Great again.

[legacy-Goop_God14]

Im so printing this out and pimpimng it to look like a book

note to self: need a lot of paper

[legacy-Hollehund]

Chapter 20 Saving private Pagan

Looking to the wall is possibly the most boring activity on Earth. Especially when it is so dark that you can never really see the wall. It was Lauren's curse, imprisoned in the dungeons of the Liandri, where no one knew she was. Except for maybe her prince in shining armor. But as the hours were shedding like tears, as the days were rolling down, hope was vanishing. She was thinking to these days she was happy, in her status of champion of the Tournament, in her relationship with Brock, in her life. But tragic circumstances messed with her life and morphed a wonderwul fairy tale in the epic story of a widow who took her life in sorrow before being kidnapped from death's hands to walk among the mortals again. Since then, her life was no more. It was a pitiful tale of undead, like she saw so many on the holovision.

While she was thinking to those foul bastards who messed with her dead body, she heard something. She stopped thinking and sat herself straight on her bed, lending an ear to what could be her knight. But she heard nothing more. So she doubted having heard anything.

Lauren put her back on the wall and looked at her feet in the darkness, they were standing at the edge of the bed. Nanoblack ceased leaking throught her wounds since what she though was a day. Habitually, someone was coming to torture her regularly, but since a day, the prisonner was in peace, as if she had been forgotten. Lauren suddenly felt as if she was nothing. From a champion for an entire Race, she became nothing in matters of days. Even in matters of a few minutes, the time she took for her pre-game speech.

But another noise, louder, like a gunshot surprised her. She jumped on her feet and ran to the door, despite her painful feet. She looked throught the small window, trying to see what was going on, but she saw nothing. The corridor were empty. She turned herself to return to her bed. Then she thought it was strange for the cell's corridor being unguarded. She returned to she and at the moment she was looking to the white wall in front of her door, she saw red blood being sprayed on it. She stepped back in surprise as her door took an heavy blow.

Lauren ensured the card was at its place and leaped in the darkest corner of the room. She stood there, her hands opened in an offensive stance, ready to jump on any hostile who could enter her cell. She never knew, and it wasn't the way things should go if someone was coming to her rescue. To extract someone from such an underground prison, stealth was in order, not raw strength. But skaarj don't think that way.

Oozoo went on his knees as the door he bashed down was falling in front of him. He looked at the room and grunted, as he didn't see her. Lauren jumped in front of him and saw his reaction. The mighty warrior, sensing fast movements nearby strafed, his claws out. But Tamika entered after the skaarj, saying :
- Dear Oozoo, never thought of an easier way to get in ?
- That is the skaarj way to free people !
- Sorry, Lauren, for this...unusual visit, but you'll have to express your insatisfaction later, because our friends are under fire at this same time we speak, replied Tamika, an ancient Assault specialist in the older Tournament formulae.

As Lauren was following her teammates outside of her cell, she heard Brock barking orders throught Oozoo's headset. She grabbed it from the blind skaarj's head and put it on her own. She then asked :
- You dared to face directly Liandri's wrath, my beloved ? I didn't even think you would try to save me !
- What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't try ? replied her husband.
- Where are you now ?
- Near the elevator that will take us out. We must swipe a card we don't have. Malcolm told us you would be useful to our escape...
- I have it. He left a card.

Lauren, Tamika and Oozoo turned around a corridor only to find that a battle was going on...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : 136 pages done for nearly 85%. By the way, as my semester is finished (today I did my last exam, that's a relief), I will be more "in" my story, so it should give results, and as the end draws close, I think most of you, my friends, will take pleasure in watching how things can get messy with only some guns and good intentions... ;)

[legacy-Hollehund]

In front of them, Garrett was engaged in an intense firefight, with shots coming from the left and the right. He was alone, attempting to hold the corridor to the elevator. As it was a X shaped area, Lauren and her mates were coming right from Garrett's frontside, with foes shooting from both sides of the transversal corridor.

As he saw his comrades approaching, Garrett jumped from his hiding spot and fired a full load of rockets in the corridor to his right and switched to his favorite assault rifle to fire on his left. Tamika yelled :
- He is covering our passage, hurry up, Oozoo ! You'll lead Lauren to Brock, I'll stay with the big horse to hold the guards behind a few seconds !
- Tactician, Tamika ?
- I've been in the army ! Spreading to conquer, so we've been told !
- Ah ! The learnings of the NEG as been good for them, as you use them against their allies ! added Lauren, with an ironic laugh.

As Tamika was taking place near Garrett, putting her back against the wall opposite to him, she told her leader :
- Brock have something that, I think, belongs to you !

Lauren and Oozoo ran the faster they can, but Lauren's feeling was that it wasn't enough as she heard Brock taunting someone and firing his link gun. So she accelerated, leaving Oozoo trailing behind her. Her feet were so painful than a normal human would just go down on the ground, waiting to be caught instead of continuing to run, but she was no mere human.

Suddenly, she heard gunshots distinctively on her right. A corridor was going that way. As she start running in it, she noticed the amount of robotic rubbles that were there. Most of them were V2 Liandri models and some were V3, the elite ones. She stopped thinking when she heard a grunt of pain coming from her husband. She yelled, desperate, as she turned the corner. She then saw Brock, leaning against the wall, three V2 robot's corpses near him. Oil was still leaking from his staff's tip. And his dark armor was leaking another kind of oil. Lauren didn't notice that she was crying when she came to Brock. She put a hand in his hair, thinking he was badly injured. He then said :
- That's nothing a good stimpack cannot hinders.

Then he took one and looked a little better. His pale face was still pale, but his shoulders weren't arched and his visage wasn't expressing the torments of pain. As he saw her hesitating, he laugh and said :
- You look far more wounded than me, you know you are too eager to think to others than to you ? Now, swipe your card in the elevator's lock, I'll call the others.

Oozoo arrived, angry against Lauren's pace. He fell down near the elevator, trying to catch his breath. He said :
- Liandri made me immortal to years and tough to take down with guns, but...I still need to breathe !

In the corridors nearby, Tamika and Garrett were making their way to the elevator by walking backward. They were continuing to fire to keep their foes' head down but they knew they were on their last clips. Garrett already had switched to his enforcers. On the enemy side of things, the losses had been enormous, as they weren't expecting such an assault on their facility. And no one of the human guardsmen were really trained to be elite warriors. But they were well paid and bound to their employer so much that they were eager to pursue their two enemies to Hell if they were to take them there.

But the two ancient soldiers weren't ready to die yet. As they turned the last corner, they turned their back to the enemy, and started a sprint to the elevator where the others were.

At the elevator, the situation had been dire as V2 robots were keeping coming from all around the facility, all by the service corridor leading to the elevator. Brock handed her swords and enforcers to Lauren a few minutes after her arrival, once she had unlocked the elevator hatch. So the warmaiden had put her concerns and pains aside and faced the bots, a sword in one hand and an enforcer in the other. She defeated four with the help of Oozoo, as Brock was still recovering from his previous injuries. Lauren smiled when she heard Brock saying :
- Those are yours, besides, I wouldn't see one of these trashcans using swords...it would be too...old-timer movie for me...

Tamika and Garrett's arrival signified the group's escape. They entered in the hatch in a hurry, as Liandri enforcers were coming. The bullets were zipping next to Lauren's ears as she was the last to take place in the elevator. Brock pressed the button to the rooftops and saluted the first guards who arrived too late in front of the closed plated hatch.

As the elevator was climbing levels at a relatively slow rate, Brock turned to Lauren and asked :
- How do I look ?

Lauren was shocked. It was Brock's traditional sentence. Before every match, he was asking her that very same question, for luck. And always, she replied :
- Not as good as me, baby...

Brock smiled to her, seeing her confusion on her face. She answered as always and felt strange, as if some barrier had just been broken...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : On page 139, for about 86% of the total story. I'm not pretty happy with this part just yet. I'll enhance it and correct rough edges during the summer, while I will be reviewing the full version. For now, I'll keep it because I like the ending ;) I was waiting since a LONG time for this dialogue to be inserted between a discouraged Lauren and a mostly healthy Brock. For those who didn't understand on their own, because I think it wasn't very clear this time...The fact that Brock asked this questions means that he recovered his memories. He reminds as he was before he dies. That's the magical moment he reveals it to Lauren, but it was some days she was in this cell. :)

[legacy-Hollehund]

As the hatch opened, Lauren went out of the facility with her hands on her face. The sun was burning her eyes, as she didn't see it at all for a long time. She even went on her knees as the air she was breathing was, for the first time since more than a week, pure air. She cried. Again. Her emotional system was totally disrupted by these last actions that happened in her life. First, captivity, abuses and torture, second, miraculous rescue from her good mates, and now, the news that her lover was whole, once again...all that in a mind that was already insane from time to time.

A pale hand appeared before her eyes. She took it and quickly was on her feet before Cryss. The blademaiden had her face covered with blood, and behind her, corpses of Liandri watchmen were lying, mortally strucked with her whip. Her silver eyes weren't expressing anything, never, but Lauren could sensed her happiness. She loved to slaughter those men of the Liandri. She had grudges against them, after all, as all necris had. The born ones like the undead ones.

Brock seemed in a hurry. He had a plan and that plan wasn't exactly followed at the time. He forgot in his preparations that Lauren would be blinded by the sun as she was freed. But he didn't want to attack at night, because it was too conventional, he was sure it would have been even harder. And he didn't want losses. As he was irritated with his own ineptitude, he approached Lauren and offered to support her, as they were climbing the wall stairs down to street level.

As they were nearing the edge of the roof, Lauren saw an internal shuttle waiting on the helicopter landing bay. It was Cryss' shuttle. She asked :
- Why aren't we taking this to fly away ?
- The guys of the Liandri knows we took it to come, they must have prepared their perimeter Ion Cannons. We wouldn't make a single kilometre.
- Very clever, and you, Cryss, accept to leave it right there for the taking ?
- It's a small price to pay for our cause, smaller than yours, for sure, replied the necris, with a dark mood on her face.
- Actually, the shuttle will play two roles to help in our escape. As long as it is on the rooftop, it will leave a doubt in our pursuers' mind. They'll believe we're still there, barricaded or something, and this should make them confident and slow them. And when they'll realize we tricked them, they will find it insanely unstable...explained Brock while leaving space for Garrett to start his descent.
- What do you mean by unstable ?
- I have trapped it with Ion Landmines. As they will approach it, they'll be blown off.
- Too bad we won't be there to see that, coal girl, intervened Garrett with a loud laugh.

As the Ghosts were making their way down the Liandri facility in southern Dumpwash, Ontario, they saw, on street level, in piles of rubbles, their remaining friends. Zarina and Nebri were patiently waiting hidden near the wall-mounted staircase to prevent it from being overrun in case things were looking bad. A sniper rifle in hand, Zarina was aiming at the street, as if she was really expecting an attack in the next seconds. Nebri, at her side, was acting as a spotter. And she had an headset to relay Brock's orders to her intoxicated friend.

When Nebri saw the commando arriving, she jumped on her clawed feet and ran to the staircase, waiting for Lauren to put her feet on the ground to hug her. It is right what she did when her best friend reached ground level. Lauren, surprised with so much affection from her habitually colder friend, asked :
- Did someone missed me ? I didn't expect to see such a daring rescue ! I may have underestimated you, my dear friends...
- You did, Snowball, people will always underestimate me, but they will always be deceived because of this ! barked Garrett.

The Ghosts ran while Liandri personnel was reaching the top from many different ways. They ran as if they were evading from Acheron and they ran again, in the streets of a backwater ontarian city to find a place they previously secured for use as cover until the zone went calmer for their escape from Liandri's immediate reach. But what they didn't know is that things could only get hotter, with a far greater plot approaching the no-return point...

End of chapter 20.
To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : 141 pages done. For about 88% of the story completed so far. Still, there's two chapters and the epilogue to go...the end really draws close...

[legacy-Hollehund]

Chapter 21 And the Hell went loose

A few days were necessary to get superficial wounds closed with stimpacks and generic health canisters, but the Ghosts never had those few days of peace to recover from their assault on the Liandri. Outside, something was really going wrong. Soldiers were patrolling in all directions, setting barricades at some important junctions, forcing some people out of their houses to free spaces for the military to live. Even Zarina, completely camed, noticed that something important was going to happen by a simple look throught the window. She turned to Lauren and told her :
- Man, we really pissed them off for they are turning the city like if they where searching for ants !
- The ants, it's in your head that they are ! raged Garrett, iritated by the woman who was once his leader in the Tournament.
- Calm down ! We will stay hidden right where we are and wait for this to be settled so that we can escape throught the night or something.
- I doubt it would be so easy, Lauren, but I fear we may not do otherwise, added Cryss.
- Sure we can. We can eviscerate all the humans ! It would make us go and it would be fun !
- You, put your alien tongue to sleep or I will be forced to cut it ! threatened Brock.
- You never liked me, human, but I will prove you were wrong someday. Skaarj are no people to be hated. They are meant to hate !
- Ah ! Very funny ! You know, instead of staying there, in the hall, all of us, we shall go to the living room. You owe me the story of the finals !
- We won. That's it, simply said Brock, still looking at the blind skaarj nearby.

So, all the eight went to the holovision room. They were having no signal, since they just moved there, three days ago. Tamika sat on the frame of the window and started to relate the match while watching the action that was going on outside.

As Selket did one week before him, Malcolm stepped down from the match, pissing off a large share of his fans and definitively breaking his association with the Liandri. The Thunderbolts and him were no longer sponsored by the big people.

Garrett took the next part, relating his way, bloody, as he was doing in the real Tournament...He learned to Lauren that during her absence, her husband showed himself a true leader, keeping them all, the "pigs they are", united together. But without their true captain's might, the Thunderbolts' superstar, the mysterious Proetore had a ton of frags on his side. He had no one of his skill to set him off more than a few times. But Garrett did his part, and bested all the other Thunderbolts, leaving the victory in the support crew's hands. Tamika and Cryss did a solid job, as usual, and the Ghosts finally fled with a close victory of 35-33. That match pleased the fans, but they were feeling as well that something catastrophic was to happen.

As the soldiers were running like bunnies outside, to dig themselves fortifications to wait for some enemies to arrive, the Ghosts were relaxing, comfortably sit in a warm room. As outside a cold wind of panic was chilling everyone to the bones, inside, the feeling was even worse, because most of the Ghosts knew the extend of the necrises' plans.

Sleep wasn't easy to find in such a situation : the Ghosts were outlaws, they were isolated in the middle of a complex pattern of ground defense set by both the NEG troopers and the Liandri enforcers. As they were trying to free Lauren from an underground prison, Dumpwash was beginning to look like an outdoor prison. And it was one Hell of a jail. Well-guarded and in a state of maximum awareness.

At dawn, the rolling of thunder awoke Lauren. At least, she thought it was thunder. But as she walked to the window, she saw that the sky was shared between violet and orange glows. In the higher part of the sky were orange clouds of some sort, covering black, large shapes. External Vessels. Only those, and warships were that large !

Near the horizon, the violet glow was well-known to Lauren. It was the glow that was forming near Ion Cannon batteries when they had fired for a long time. She already manned one in one assault arena, a long time ago. Horrified, she understood what the night and a much-needed sleep hid from her. She turned back to awaken Brock, but it was too late, he wasn't in their bed. She left her bedroom and headed for the living room where she heard voices coming from.

As she entered the room, she saw a frenetic Zarina, a blood-thirsty Oozoo, a shocked Nebri and a well...a silent and bold Cryss. On top of it all, Garrett looked worried. He was strangely sit in tailor, when his rocket launcher in hands, as if he was willing to jump into the fray, but his eyes were showing nothing else than concerns and hesitation.

Garrett wasn't alone to be left behind by the situation. Lauren was quite shocked too. She just realized that what she had been told all those weeks ago was realizing before her eyes. The war between necrises and humans was started...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : On page 144 (more or less 89%)

[legacy-Hollehund]

The war that was going on outside was a replica of the war that was raging in her body for a long time. Influences from both her half-necris genes and her half-human ones were mixing up with nanoblack-specific reactions to create some kind of a mixture she didn't even know how to describe. Her situation was as chaotic as it was outside.

While people were running away in terror, when a shell from one of the necrises' motherships was falling on their house, Lauren's humanity was forever vanishing as she was witnessing countless number of lives ending brutally. She turned to the cold Cryss and asked :
- Why didn't you awake me ?
- You still need some sleep to fully recover, besides, we aren't about to leave for a long time !
- Yeah, leaving now would be suicidal, intervened Tamika, trying to stay calm.
- Suicidal ! Suicidal ! We'll all end dead !

Zarina was completely out of her mind. Garrett went in front of her and grabbed her by the arm. He raised her at his heigh and tried to reason her his way. But he failed. The poor girl's mind was simply nowhere to be found in all this chaos. Lauren breathe loudly and said, simply :
- This, my friends, is the chemical enhancements in all of their glory ! As it strengthen muscles and reaction time, it burns entire parts of the brain. Glory to the lucky one who suffered them first for us to be warned !
- What's worse is that we will be forced to stay here, so, to suffer from her demencia as well as the bombing ! grinned Garrett.
- We won't stay here, we will go out when the necrises will send their ground offensive. We'll easily breach their barricades quite easily ! Think to it : we cannot stay here waiting for a bomb to nail her hide, intervened Brock.
- You are right, my dear, we have to go out, and yes, we must use the ground assault of the necrises to cover our movements, but where should we flee ? I highly doubt only Dumpwash is under siege.
- Lauren speaks the truth. The entire planet is currently besieged, nodded Cryss.
- How is this possible ? With the NEG's military might and the Liandri's infinite supplies ? asked Tamika.
- We...draw the main human fleet from our way to Earth by faking an assault on the surface of Tora, our last planet that is far, far away from here. They were fooled by their hatred for Kragoth, as he lead the fake expeditionnary forces.
- Very clever, so, the way is opened ?
- Not completely, in fact, Freylis is holding the siege while Malakai is already leading commando missions on the surface of the planets. He already bombed quite a lot of V3 robot producing factories in one night.
- Quite efficient, how do you know all that ? asked Lauren.
- While you were sleeping, I went to meet some...contact among the commandos. I got the news. And the main ground forces will attack tonight.
- So we will.
- Don't be so hurried, I expect quite a bit of resistance from the barricades. I saw them, all formed to block any access to anyone to the spire we see from a distance.
- The Liandri Spire ? Aren't they have more significant things to guard ? asked Brock.

An heavy silence went on the small assembly as Zarina was in her room, preparing herself for "the inevitable doom". Not one of the Ghosts was speaking because of the gigantic explosion that just happened a few streets to the north had litterally cut their breath. Brock let himself fall on his couche an avalanche of secondary explosions were breaking the silence.

Lauren walked right to the window. She couldn't remove her sight from the distant tip of a tower. She knew why they were protecting this particular building. It wasn't so much of a symbol, the Liandri always owned a lot of magnificent buildings and facilities, but this one had to be containing someone important, someone too important to even try to take it out of danger while the streets were still free of firefights. The flame in her eyes ignited back and everyone in the room had the same strange feeling that their leader was thinking to something that could get them all free...or dead...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : On page 146 for about 90%, yes, the final run is started !

[legacy-Hollehund]

Again, Lauren's idea wasn't very popular. In fact, even Brock was against the sole idea of charging the spire. Even him, though loyal and courageous, knew it was suicide. Even with the eventual help of the necris infantry. There was simply too much of a defensive system around the tower, as Cryss described the first few barricade layouts. The blademaiden, using her legendary stealth even came near the spire, so near that she could count the number of sentry bots that were protecting the entry door from potential intruders.

So, only Garrett and Oozoo showed themselves for the idea of this rush, as it was certainly the last thing the high command of the Liandri was expecting. Because there was no doubt that this high command was "hiding like dogs" in that tower. Lauren was thinking that Jerl Liandri himself could very well be there. Everyone knew the old man actually had some regular business to conduct in the industrial sector of Dumpwash. The warmaiden thought she could have been wrong, that the enforcers could be protecting the tower itself, for some obscure reason, but she didn't know why, but she felt as if the Man himself wasn't very far. As if her born-necris telepathic abilities allowed her to know such information. She turned to Cryss and asked :
- I'll get some more sleep, you'll awake me when it will be the time ?
- Are you sure it is a good idea ?
- Am I your champion or not ? I thought I was destined to accomplish great things. You all joined me, and I dumbly thought it wasn't only for the Tournament. It seems I was wrong.

Then Lauren went to her room, followed closely by Brock. He closed the door she left open for him, knowing he would try to dissuade her. She spoke first :
- After you rescued me, I thought you were more daring than that.
- I am willing to do many things for you, my beloved, but know that letting you go right in the dragon's mouth is not one of them.
- I let you suicide by challenging Gorge, a while ago. It was painful, but I knew that you weren't eager to change your mind. You never were. So I will be.
- There is nothing I can say to convince you not to go ?
- No. Understand one thing : yes, I could be wrong, I could die trying to chase a chimeara, but I may be right too, and if so, the end of our torment, at least mine, is near, so near that I can nearly sense its corruption from here.
- Do you believe what you ask me to believe ? You think fate would just let you find your arch-enemy on your way, just like...that ?
- Just as I said, I won't change my mind. I'm too curious, too willing to try. It's my chance to end my pain. I waited for that moment for a long time. I suffered for too long to just hiding here while Jerl Liandri, the consecration of my hatred, might be a few fights away ?
- So, be it. I will fell at your side. I have tried. I have failed. Damn, I hope you are right.

Lauren smiled victoriously and kissed her husband's chin before going to the window. She looked at the tower and added, as Brock was leaving :
- I do hope now.

In the necris mothership's bellies, dropships were being filled with soldiers. As the docking bay door was opening, the colors of a peaceful rural city at war engulfed the dark warriors in their lights. The day they would actually fight for their freedom was arrived. No one of those hapless lambs of a desperate nation knew that the man, the sole man who had the power to recall the human expansive troops from their homeworlds was somewhere below them, in the bombed city. The first dropships escaped in the glowing sky, leading other lives to their end...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : Page 147 done, for about 90% of a lenghtened story.

[legacy-Hollehund]

The necrises were known for their lightning-fast strikes. But this time, they didn't have enough time to set a hit-and-run strategy. The humans were virtually at their mercy, as the biggest part of their forces were far away, but they weren't trying to win, but to hold until the return of those battleships.

This time, the necrises adopted the strategy of the skaarj, jumping in battle using one unique, powerful wave, to overwhelm the first lines of defense before being forced to slow down and engage in real street combat. So, it was a veritable onslaught of black-armored soldiers who jumped on the human soil. They formed a massive, terrifying line of darkness.

From afar, the horrified defenders could have thought their enemies were as numerous as the demons of all Hell, but they didn't realize it was all ground forces the necrises had in store. They were compact as a pine forest, solid, they were all brothers, they were all sons of the same motherland, though they were originating from three distinct planets.

From their relatively remote position, the Ghosts had the dark privilege to see the first exchanges of fire. Rockets flew from both sides, with those sent by the humans dealing more damage due to the compact formation of the necrises. But the first positions fell quickly into the hands of the powerful wave of black-coated warriors.

Lauren noticed that Cryss was affected by what she was seeing. Those who were fighting and falling lifeless were her kin, her brothers and sisters. And she was bound to watch them helplessly until, at least, her number went out.

But as the necrises were encircling the positions they defended, the Liandri enforcers and NEG infantry were holding most of their initial positions, forcing the necrises to lower the head, spraying fire all over the hill the tower was in the middle of.

In her bedroom, Lauren wasn't sleeping. She tried but couldn't. Instead, she was also observing the massacre going on. She stayed in front of the window, slowly reciting a poem that seemed to her like written for this particular situation :

"Morne esprit, autrefois amoureux de la lutte,
L'Espoir, dont l'éperon attisait ton ardeur,
Ne veut plus t'enfourcher ! Couche-toi sans pudeur,
Vieux cheval dont le pied à chaque obstacle butte.

Résigne-toi, mon cœur ; dors ton sommeil de brute.

Esprit vaincu, fourbu ! Pour toi, vieux maraudeur,
L'amour n'a plus de goût, non plus que la dispute ;
Adieu donc, chants du cuivre et soupirs de la flûte !
Plaisirs, ne tentez plus un coeur sombre et boudeur !

Le Printemps adorable a perdu son odeur !

Et le Temps m'engloutit minute par minute,
Comme la neige immense un corps pris de roideur ;
Je contemple d'en haut le globe en sa rondeur
Et je n'y cherche plus l'abri d'une cahute.

Avalanche, veux-tu m'emporter dans ta chute ?"

Lauren wasn't so sure of her earlier impression anymore. Brock's sadness to accompany her to what he saw being a certain death was making her sad. And it was in this state of sorrow she was remembering this poem in a language she once knew well, before the Tournament, before the war, before her death. It was not only a second language, but also a second way to think*. The dire relationship between hope and despair, she had long forgotten these two opposite but so closely-related feelings. It was about time she decided to walk in the direction of the end of her curse for it was remembering her how deep was life...

End of chapter 21.
To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : Page 149 finished. For more or less 91%.

Note : I think I have had enough for tonight. And yes this poem is from a french poet, Charles Baudelaire, and titled "Le goût du néant" or, in english "The taste of the void", or something like that. I love that poem and I felt I couldn't go all about Lauren being canadian, knowing litterature, another language (french), and not knowing such a beautiful poem.

[legacy-UndeadMessenger]

This is the BEST!!!!!!!!

[legacy-Hollehund]

Chapter 22 ...and many things shall fall today

It took hours to the necris infantry to finally secure a foothold in the market squad, near the hide of the Ghosts of Days Past. It gave time to Cryss to "persuade" Zarina that all eight, they were having their destiny in their hands.

So, when a little squad of disbanding human soldiers tried to hide in the same building, they got served with quite a ration of violence. In the streets, some necris soldiers had stopped their rush only to prepare for their exit, thinking some of their kin were sending the ruffians right to them. But not one survived the Ghosts' shots. So, some soldiers continued their way, others approached the tall building, guns in hands, to investigate, just to make sure the humans lost the battle.

In the entry hall, a dozen of corpses were laid, some were dismembered, others were decapitated. A clean and short battle had just ended. It was a one-sided fight because the defenders were having the higher ground. In the staircase over the hall, Lauren, Tamika and Brock were alone, the others were getting their equipment back as well as Cryss and Zarina. Lauren was determined to go right now. She turned to Brock and said :
- Now is the time. The necrises are already pushing hard. There is no means the barricades hold me to reach the spire ! Nothing will stop me ! Not now !
- I gave you my word. I will go with you...but please, wait for the others.
- Timing is a fragile thing, added Tamika, but five minutes won't make our way tougher.
- Our ? So you will come with me ?
- Where should I go ? Earth is probably covered with battles anyway !
- That's the way to think !

Cryss arrived, her whip in hand. She looked at the necris soldiers approaching and told the others to stay behind. They were well-known of the necris armada as the Tournament champions, but they were still racial enemies to most. Some would not give them time to identify themselves before shooting.

The Ghosts saw their blademaiden teammate entering in discussion with a sergeant from the necris liberation army. A couple of minutes later, the man entered the hall, his weapon down, and came right to Lauren. He hugged her solidly and simply said, in a rough English :
- You are with us. We will fight harder.
- Tonight, soldier, the enemy of all who likes to think by themselves will fall. Along with his tower, replied Lauren.

The man turned to Cryss, but it's Garrett who translated the answer. Then, he looked back at Lauren and smiled. His silver eyes went large as she was drawing her sword and pistol. He turned himself and returned to his fellow soldiers. They all went back to the middle of the conquered square were soldiers were gathering, exhausted. They were already spreading the good news of Lauren's assistance when Cryss said to the hero of the day :
- They are all fighting with pride, with their heart, but many have found death on this planet. Here is Hell for them.
- For me too. They aren't alone, intervened Lauren, cynical.
- The only idea of having you at their side will inspire them, you are like a goddess to us, no, we are pagan, I should leave this damned planet as soon as I can...You are like a warrior-prophet. You were right earlier, when you decided to charge the Liandri Spire. I doubted but now, I doubt no more as I saw hope in that poor man's eyes.
- Now is the time ! barked Lauren, while turning to gaze at her fellows.

All were looking to the ground, even Garrett, as they were sensing, while they didn't know it, the solemnity of the last few seconds before battle. Every warrior of all times and planetary systems knew this feeling as war was in the genetic makeup of every race. Except Nali. But as this particular war wasn't about Nali, everyone in the hall, went dark by the absence of the outside light, were observing these last few seconds with a silence they didn't know to exist. As Lauren didn't plan to stop before reaching the Spire, it was the last silence before the final slaughter...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : On page 151 right now...I'll be on it again in a few minutes...

[legacy-Hollehund]

As Brock caught Lauren's eyes, he saw them burning. He knew she was thinking of murder. He could sense her hatred for those who made her a vampire and he knew that this time, there was no escape. No other mean than victory...or death. So, he wasn't surprised as she gave the order :
- Now, with me, give all you have because if you don't, there will be no tomorrow ! To the Spire !

And she jumped in the street, a sword glowing in a dark red color in her left hand, an enforcer in the right. Both her hair and her eyes were red as fire. Her lust for vengeance was about to be fulfilled, or the end of her pain. She could not lose. In any way.

When they saw the "Death Mistress" as they were calling her, the necrises jumped on their feet and saluted her as if she was an officer, or a savior.

Cryss was right on her trail. She made a quick sign to the field captain who approached her. She then told him :
- Order your men to charge !
- They are exhausted !
- It is the only order you could give them to make them happy ! Look at them, captain ! They burn to follow Lauren...and she'll burn if they don't !
- Enough, I am the one who give orders, and I received mine from Freylis' office ! I shall not give that order !

But some of the soldiers didn't wait. They took their guns and ammos and ran right after their hero. By little groups the others followed. Soon enough, an inspiring cheer was haunting the defender's hearts as an entire company was charging their positions on the streets, coming from the marketplace.

Lauren could have heard the human officers ordering their men to concentrate their fire on her, but she didn't listen. So she had to use her nanoblack-enhanced reflexes to dodge the first array of bullets that made a few victims in the soldiers' ranks. But never she stopped running.

Brock joined Lauren, as well as Garrett and Tamika. The four of them were leading the way in the streets that some NEG soldiers were abandoning, taken by surprise. The dead were legion in both sides, but by a miracle, all of the Ghosts were still standing. Still running among the military. But her initial berserker rage passed, Lauren let the first wave of the necris infantry take the lead. A sniper shot still went throught the legion, aimed at her heart.

In one swift move from her sword-arm, Lauren deflected the shot right on the chest of a soldier at her right. The man fell, dead. But the charge didn't stop as one death wasn't important, as long as it wasn't Lauren.

The moon wasn't yet in the middle of the foggy sky that the necris legion was already threatening the bunkers established a few streets before the tall Spire. The tower was already appearing in its full glory to Lauren as the swarm of furious necris souls took her forward, separating her from her friends.

In the place all around the two bunkers, some NEG officers had rallied disbanding soldiers from the outer defenses, and formed several squad from both Liandri enforcers and NEG troopers. They were waiting, hidden behind a small wall made of sandbags in the middle of place. As the first necrises were reaching their position, coming right in their line of sight, they popped from their hide and fired. They caused horrible damages in the necris ranks, even enough to make them hesitate.

When the mounted machineguns started firing from the bunkers, the survivors from the first wave really begun to run away. But the second wave arrived at this same moment, ready to wage death.

At the head of the new movement, Lauren was already gunning enemy officers with a sniper rifle she picked up from a corpse on her way to the place. Her discriminating fire sent back fear in the men's hearts. Disorganized, they tried to kill her. They tried hard, but they couldn't as someone was always walking before her at the last moment. Finally the last few members of this "fortune wall" were fleeing in terror as the first few necrises of the second wave were jumping over the sandbags.

The servants of the chainguns in the bunkers were reloading when Lauren stopped running behind the improvised wall. She aimed and fired. Her shot went right in a loader's head. He fell and lost his chain of bullets. Hurried by the lost of their captain and comrade, the Ghosts assembled around her as the machinegun of the second bunker started to fire on the hapless few soldiers who were approaching them, both friend and foes.

Lauren aimed down the scope again but couldn't fire as necrises were passing in her line of sight all the time now. She left her rifle, frustrated and she unsheted her two enforcers. She was about to start running with the infantry who was suffering terrible losses when Brock came to her and said her :
- I remember everything, my beloved, and that means I will be in the same state as you when I fell. Please, be cautious. Leave death to those fanatical enough to run in front of everyone.
- Ah ! By hearing you, I believe you didn't notice that I am a fanatic.

And she went. Brock and the others followed their captain in their mad rush, as she was passing throught the charging necrises, but none of them was having her energy, so she took some lead. And she was among the first to reach the bunkers. Both were spitting all what they were having in desperation.

Lauren entered the left one, her enforcers firing. The three men fell without even realizing they were killed by a celebrity. They simply fell in the greatest pain. As she was leaving, reloading, one of them, still living, raised his head from the pool of blood that was being created under his body and asked :
- Why are you betraying yours...
- Ah ! I expected that question, but not now ! It is too late to ask my dear ! Go get your paycheck in Hell !

And she fired the last bullet from one of her gun right in the Liandri enforcer's head. As she left the bunker, with her guns full, she saw a first personal tragedy happening, in the tense firefight...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : On page 154 now... I can feel the end... It pains me to even comment this...

[legacy-Hollehund]

Zarina wasn't surprised by the man who popped from behind the northern barricade, she was surprised that her biorifle was unloaded. So she got the fatal shot from a standard shock rifle right in her throat. She fell on her knees, choking with an electrical pain. And as Tamika went near her, she went face down on the ground. A Tournament champion was dead.

Lauren never really liked Zarina's teenager attitude, and dependency to chemical drugs, but she was like a sister-in-pain, as she was fighting in a war for causes that weren't hers. She was dying in front of her last captain. Then Lauren took conscience of the lack of respawn. She realized that life was, with the exception of those poor chosen ones, a one-frag last man standing match. And war was one Hell of a fragfest.

As she saw Brock and Oozoo passing before her, Lauren also realized that the battle wasn't over yet, even with the last of the Liandri's outer defense lines was down. She ran after them as Garrett was entering the bunker she was just leaving.

The hellion left the bunker a few minutes after, a dismounted chaingun in his arms and a threatening smile stretched on his face. He started running as fast as he could behind the soldiers of the third wave.

In the alley leading to the Liandri compound, another wall of sandbags had been erected, and even more soldiers were hiding behind it. But this time, the necrises knew the strategy well. Some rockets hit the bags a while before the soldiers popped from behind them. Some bodies went flying in the deflagration.

The second wave of the necris ground army took care of this loosened line of defense, as the third one pursued on the right path to the compound, Lauren and the Ghosts among them.

From a church nearby, a shot got fired. A man near Lauren fell, warning her that her red hair was making her an ideal target. And a famous one. She crouched and rolled near the wall that was encircling the tower. She then grabbed a necris sniper's leg as he was passing before her. He fell and turned to her, angry at first, but then, he realized who she was. She asked him for his rifle. He acknowledged and switched to his sidearm and smiled back as she thanked him. He stayed like frozen as she was aiming the tower's sniper. He even applauded as the poor NEG's elite soldier went down from his hide, his head pierced by the single tarydium round.

Lauren got on her feet and ran as behind her, some soldiers were falling to a side counterattack by soldiers of another street. Garrett got caught in the crossfire and hit the dirt. He saw about fourty courageous NEG troopers coming his way, while the necrises weren't even trying to stop them, with their attention focused on the rush. So he put the butt of the machinegun he was wearing of his shoulder and pressed the trigger. The array of hot bullets delivered quite a punch in the troopers' wave. With about a third of their forces down, they decided to leave the place to the enemy and retreated. So Garrett put himself a knee in the dirt and continued to greet them for their try providing them a rain of small rounds. As they were finding efficient cover, and only then, he followed the fourth wave on her way to the compound.

The remains of the second wave were pinned down before the walls of the Liandri compound by constant fire by automatic infantry weaponry fired from the wall's turrets. The defenders were still mere humans, but no one was daring to pop its head out to count them, so Lauren didn't get a clear answer when she asked a corporal near her. She turned to see Brock and Oozoo approaching, under fire. Her husband fell on his side near her and the blind skaarj got stopped by the small cement wall. He nearly fell over it while running because he was in a berserker rage, his senses were dulled.

Brock asked Lauren once again, his voice broken after having yelled her name so many times during the assault :
- How long will it takes to you to be satisfied ? How many death will it needs for you to the pleased ? Will you stop running in frontline ?
- The men usually love to see women fighting in front of them...replied Lauren with an ironic grin.
- The men, maybe, but not the husbands ! I do not want to be the one to find you dead...or any of our friends, but particularly you...so, how many will it takes ?
- We already have lost a friend, Zarina is dead. And to answer your question, I only need one death. You know which.

Brock chuckled as he was realizing to who Lauren was referring. He yelled at Tamika who was passing nearby without seeing them. She came to them as he turned to Lauren and added :
- You know...I don't like being that kind of troublemakers, but you force me to be it : he may not even being THE man who ordered you revived ! In today's world, some stealthy subordinates may be worse bastard than fascist dictators !
- Look...mon amour, I know that Jerl Liandri may not have given the order himself, it's probably the deed of one of his advisors or something, but as the leader of the richest and most dreaded corporation in all planetary systems, he is a greater symbol than any of these possible culprits ! Besides, I don't have time to investigate any further.

After these words, Lauren followed the third wave on its assault on the compound. A light siege vehicle was rolling in front of the running forces, in the direction of the main gate, made of two dozens of heavy steel bars. The gate was sealed shut, thus trapping everyone inside and forcing those outside to either climb the wall or break the door. And it wasn't a rocket-designed job as the bars were bigger than Trident rockets...

Behind that last wall were a few buildings, mainly factories, offices and barracks. But the tallest and the most important of these buildings was the Liandri Spire, were the most powerful man on Earth was maybe digging himself in the middle of a ravaged Earth. Was the invading fleet coming back fast enough to answer the distress calls ? Only god knows, and no one knows if a god was even existing...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : On page 157, and still, I experience breathing problems...nothing new, as it is always like that when I approach the end of a book or something :)

[legacy-Hollehund]

The siege vehicle was meant to be used as a battering ram, with a pole ending up in a tarydium dumb hammerhead on it. It was efficient, but not fast, and for each hit it strucked on the gate, a dozen of men were falling. Soon enough, the third wave disbanded, as the ram was finishing to crush the steel bars.

As the great gate fell, broken in three parts, Garrett was the first to break in the compound, unloading his chaingun at all the soldiers who where trying to leave the wall to retreat in the barracks. Soon, they spotted him and fired at this clear target. But the first shock rifle shot only enraged him and made him drop his tool and charge the poor Liandri mercenary with his giant war hammer.

The second shot, coming from behind him, got deflected by the second attacker to get in the compound : Lauren. The Ghosts led the charge for the fourth wave of necrises, strengthened by the remains of the three firsts.

The last few dozens of humans soldiers retreated if they could in the closest buildings down the street as four hundred enraged warriors were breaking loose in the grand military compound.

The alarm was sounding, and a few minutes of intense firefights with the barricaded soldiers later, a dozen of V2 sentry robots went out of the factories at the feet of the Spire. Quickly enough, the necrises reacted, sending a volley of rockets to them. Once the first bots got wasted, others went out. Cryss, who was in the last to enter the compound, heard a soldier yelling :
- They'll send an infinite number of these things ! We're screwed !
- Not if I can help it ! replied the blademaiden.

She jumped on the ram and ordered its driver to go forward. The man obeyed and as the vehicle was passing between the two first barracks, she leaped on the top of the left one. Then, she make a sign to the driver to continue to the factories. She ran on the rooftop and jumped on the top of the next building.

The movements of this individual didn't go unseen. Almost everyone saw her jumping from roof to roof until she reached the left factory while the tank was distracting the robots and the necrises were firing rockets at them. Even the soldiers hidden in their barracks were looking at her, helpless to stop her.

Lauren knew by her instinct what the blademaiden was trying to do. She was crouched on the factory's rooftop, waiting for another wave of robots to go out. The Ghosts' captain ran as fast as she could to support her sister's action. She went between the barracks, passing in front of the terrified human soldiers, and she reached the left factory in time for the next wave of robots. They were only three this time. The material was lacking, and time itself was lacking the Liandri.

The necris rocketeers directed their fire at the robots coming out of the other factory as the tank was serving as a screen to the two women who were fighting the three hulking mining robots. Lauren ripped one's legs off her body as Cryss was holding another behind, with her famous whisper whip, hanging her over the door. The third robot fired a flak shell on Lauren who, guided by her instinct and reflexes, sent it back right away with one blow of her sword. The steel creature didn't exist for ten full minutes that she had her chest opened by the hot mortar shell.

Relieved for her two opponents, Lauren looked at Cryss' prowess. The last robot, unable to free itself, initiated her self-destruction sequence. Then, the blademaiden jumped on the ground, pressed the door-opening button and swept the robot inside with one powerful roundhouse kick. Then, she jumped right on Lauren, as the blast initiated a terrible chain of explosions inside the factory.

Seeing such a display of strength and agility, the necrises began emitting a cheer. Then, Brock ordered them to support the girls' onslaught. And they obeyed him as they would have obeyed to one of their commander's orders or to any of Lauren's wishes.

It was four thousand chest who emit the traditional necris war cry while charging at the different buildings. No loss was enough to make them run away anymore. They were close to the end of the battle and they knew it. As the army was dividing itself to break into all of the buildings, the Ghosts, who had assembled while Lauren and Cryss were doing their show, followed a part of the company that was charging right at the Spire.

So Lauren and Cryss didn't have to seek their teammates as they came on their way to the final combat of the day. They joined the five other living Ghosts for their final run together...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : On page 159, and still a couple of parts to go in chapter 22, it's going to be a long one :) (and full of battles, by the way)

[legacy-Hollehund]

Under a full moon that had risen to the middle of the sky, over the necris motherships, the main assault force broke the doors of the first level of the Liandri Spire. Inside, they found quite a resistance.

In the lone first-level room, a vast reception office, about fourty Liandri enforcers were waiting, hidden behind tables, behind comptuters, in the staircase, in the elevator, everywhere. The first firefight for the tower couldn't have been more intense. Hundreds of rounds got fired in all directions, and dozens of lives got taken in less than a minute. Garrett fell on his side, with a sniper round having broken one of his ribs. He sweared as if he had just broken one of his nails and then he got back on his feet, swaping his enforcer for his war hammer. He charged the last few remaining mercenaries as did some necrises, with among them Cryss.

With the first level acquired, a necris lieutenant ordered fifteen of his soldiers to use the elevator to secure a foothold on second level, to help those using the stairs to assault. The Ghosts followed the others in the staircase that got crowded very quickly.

Lauren never liked being so closely surrounded. It was her secret, even Brock never knew this special agoraphobia that was affecting a fan favorite, a playmate, a well-publicized face. She felt strange as she was litterally paranoïing in the staircase, with dozens of necris soldiers, males and females around her. She didn't find a known face and panicked as the first gunshots were exchanged, coming from the elevator people.

When the staircase people arrived on the second level, they found that Hell might be a nice place to live. But as they were pagans, the necrises knew Hell for being forced to live as outlaws away from their own motherlands. Hell only made them more fierce in this war. So, they didn't realize how messy the battle was, even when the first ten of them got slaughtered by a human's flak mortar shot. Only the Ghosts realized.

Lauren arrived first among the Ghosts. She deflected an enforcer bullet right in the head of its sender, and jumped behind a table, avoiding a shock blast. She then got more peaceful, as battles were ending all around, as gunshots were getting sporadic. She caught a known face in the second elevator. The man was going away. Jerl Liandri himself was there, with two of his henchmen ! On the second level of his tower ! He definitely was too confident, even arrogant !

Lauren leaped from her hide and passed before Tamika who followed her to the staircase for the third level. Both of them got very surprised of what they found on this level : robots. They were only two, showing that the Liandri's defenses were weakening, but they were both V3 models, the most dangerous of them all.

Lauren wasn't concentrated on her own security, looking for the elevator. So, when the first bot tried to slash her with her hand scythe, Tamika had to deflect the strike with one of her falchions while choping the bot's head off with the other. Garrett arrived in the room next, and fired a rocket on the second bot who didn't have the chance to act before being send in the windows by the powerful Trident rocket.

Lauren was about to take the stairs, but she had an idea. Jerl was certainly trying to escape throught the rooftop. He was arrogant, but not stupid. That was his only chance no matter how many foolish mercenaries he had under his command or how many robots he was commanding. So, the best way to get to the top wasn't the staircase, as it would probably lead only to more of these annoying fights. So, she turned her regards to the elevator tunnel. She was tempted to try her luck by this way. But Brock arrived, as well as some necrises. He caught Lauren's sight and said :
- No ! You will be crushed ! There's no way you could make it by this way !
- If you want to go all the way up there fighting his underlings, do it, even for all the love I have for you, I won't follow you into this ! replied Lauren before starting to run to the tunnel.

She jumped into the chasm and grabbed the service ladder. She began her ascension quickly, skipping three bars each time. It was an energy-consuming way, but it was functionning. She was climbing up levels the easy way as the others were doing the dirty work against both soldiers and bots. She reached the twentieth level with her body choked with pain. But she arrived alive. The elevator hatch was right over her head, not moving. It was empty, as she discovered, by opening the trap door in the hatch's floor. She entered in it and saw the trap quite easily. A tiny napalm mine had been laid on the door's opening button. But as it had been laid in haste, it was not even hidden.

Lauren took a long breathing as she realized her ultimate fight with the man for who her hatred had almost became exclusive was behind that sliding door. Not one trap was to stop her. As no armed man as been up to before. But she was feeling weak, as her efforts had been great to get at this point. She was not only physically fatigued, but also mentally exhausted. She had the screams of all of her victims in her head, along with the face of some. She saw her hand, she was trembling as the cries were getting louder in her mind.

Then, she noticed her very apparent black veins. She remembered why she was fighting, the best and the most used reason (besides money and religion) in the world : vengeance. She remembered, even if it was hard, that all those men and women she killed to get there earned it, either by working for her enemy, either for supporting their fake-necris making program. She was no criminal, in true. She was no hero either, because heroes don't fight for vengeance. And she wasn't fighting for honor. She opened back her eyes, regarded at the mine and took another breathing as she moved her hand in the trap's direction...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : On page 162 right now... and one part to go with chapter 22.

Note : By the way, it's the thread's 200th post...mostly all by me...but anyway, it earned epic's proportions :)

[legacy-Hollehund]

As the button was being pressed, the henchmen were staring at the door, their assault rifles down, as was their luck. Jerl Liandri himself was expecting to see some necris torches running helplessly before him and dying in atrocious pain at his feet. He even thought that if they were to die far from him, he could have moved to bring his feet near the head of the dying men, just for the effect. His laugh got brutally stopped as he saw one single silhouette walking in his direction.

Lauren was immolated, true, but she wasn't screaming at all. She wasn't even showing signs of pain. She was only walking slowly her sword and enforcer down, as if she was made of steel and no fearing bullets. But the two elite mercenaries were too shocked to fire. As Lauren was drawing near them, Liandri shouted :
- Fire ! Fire, you damned bastards ! Kill her !

They tried. They really tried, but as her eyes were seeing the source of her endless pain, Lauren wasn't to be defeated by mere assault rifles, even when put in expert hands. She leaped left and right of the men, slashing the head off the first, stunning the other with an enforcer round she unconsciously charged with nanoblack sucked from the veins of her hand with all of her anger and grief. The man was standing like frozen in time, with only pain on his face as the corruption of the oil with his blood was slowly making him feel what Lauren had to feel all day long since her second birth. Finally, as the Liandri head was shocked in terror, she approached the soldier, throw her sword in the air, caught it reversed, the blade pointing the ground, and strucked the man in the heart with it, leaving him standing still, in a state between death and paralyzis. She then turned to face the real target of her hatred, gun in hand.

Jerl Liandri was an old man, he was scared, having lost his arrogance at the minute he had seen a living, conscious humanoïd torch coming to him slowly, like a ghost. He was more than all deceived of what had became of his creation. One of the most feared warrior in the arenas just became mad and became the most feared assassin in all the galaxies because he went too far in the experiments he was funding. But even if he was excessively scared with the fate that was apparently reserved to him, he didn't regret doing it, as he thought he had made a great thing in overcoming the odds and beating the nature. Brock, Lauren, Oozoo, Selket, they were only a few of the experiments, those who had effectively restarted living, as immortal vampires, but they only were testing for a greater experiment. He always feared dying. And few could buy eternal life. He could. But ironically enough, it was one of these "tries" who was about to end his life. With no certitude someone would try to revive him later, as promised by his scientists.

Lauren stopped walking a few metres from the old man and looked at the ground, to avoid falling in another berserker rage at his sight. She held her enforcer down, while she asked :
- It seems that your arrogance will get you killed, not as if someone had told you that before this day... isn't it ?
- I never thought someone was to break to the Spire...I realized too late that my mercenaries and even my robots weren't making the weight against the numbers of your friends...so I called for a pickup, but you arrived...too soon, you always are sooner than you should, Lauren.
- It is true, your men, while fighting with honor for someone who has no honor, were no match for the necris who wants revenge, like me. But don't even mention your bots. They were even more of a practice for me and my friends. You, of the Liandri should have learned this with time : humans think on their own. They adapt, and eventually conquer any machine.
- Possible. You speak truth, dear Lauren, maybe we can use this reason and power of yours to be on the same field ?
- Speak, bastard, while you still can, I want your death to be perfect !
- Uhh...good for you, but...Look, I know you lost a lot of things in your...afterlife but I fear I can't bring you all of these things...One thing I can give you back is fortune and fame ! Spare me and I'll make you richer than that upstart little pest Selket ! Spare me and you will be the flagship of the Liandri corporation's only sanctionned team in the Tournament. With your immortality and my future immortality, we can do great things and loads of credits together ! What do you think ?

Lauren waited a few seconds before answering, giving the old man hope. She then said :
- As I said before, I want your death being perfect. So I think to the more satisfying way to make you die, to make you understand truly what was my greatest loss in death.
- My...my offer does not please you ? asked the old man, chuckling in fear.
- No. I could care less about credits. Credits is for mere mercenaries. And I am no longer a mercenary. I have nothing to sell.

Seeing a dropship appearing from behind the building, gaining altitude, Jerl suddenly gained confidence. He taunted his foe :
- Ah ! You should have accepted my offer while it was still time ! Now, it is no more valid as I will escape you ! And you will die !
- Funny, and how do you hope to escape ? I think you make error, those feathers on your body aren't part of wings, it is your ridiculous coat. By the way, chickens don't fly for long before crashing. May I suggest you leave me the killing ? You already have messed with Nature, I'm sure you don't want to piss off Gravity as well...
- Look behind you, fireproof freak !

The dropship went over Lauren's head. It's rear sas opened and three robots jumped on the roof one at a time. There were two V2 and one V3. Jerl Liandri, with a reborn arrogance stepped back to watch the fight as Lauren was drawing her second sword from her back scabbard.

The three robots were armed with rocket launchers. Just to be sure to "eradicate the living flaming thing". But as the first V2 fired, Lauren quickly deflected it on the V3 that exploded in a terrible mess of steel and oil. Then, the second one fired and she deflected the shot on the other, making her stepping backward, to be near the edge of the roof. Then, Lauren leaped forward, sending her foot in the damaged robot's chest, sending it to a eventual crash on the street below. Then, with lightning-fast reflexes, she stepped aside and tripped the third and last robot in the vast nothingness. But at the last moment, she changed her mind, she regretted getting rid of the bot that cheap way again, and unconsciously, she held her in the middle of nothing using only her will and her extended hand.

As he saw what incredible tricks his opponent was able to do, Jerl ran as fast as he could to the helicopter landing bay. He yelled at the pilot to approach, to pick him up as fast as possible. The dropship started its approach as Lauren was bringing back the bot to her.

The vampire maiden was completely controlling her telekinesis power and was holding an heavy bot in mid-air before her with a single hand. She then pointed her sword on the robot's chest but stopped her motion, remembering she lost the other in the mercenary's chest a few moments before. She didn't want to lose an option for the ultimate kill. So, she changed her mind, dropping her sword at her feet. She opened her second hand and tried to concentrate enough for her next move. She was feeling a weird mix of extreme hate, the insane joy to kill and the childish feeling to discover a new use to her body.

Lauren was in such a state of concentration that she pulled off the V2 bot's head off from its shoulders. Then, she threw down the body that fell from the building. She turned to Jerl, while drawing her sword to her hand, like if she used a giant magnet, and asked Jerl :
- Now that we are finished toying with real size action figures, can we get to the point ?
- Xan ! Open the door ! I order you to open this door !

Jerl was yelling with all the strength of his lungs while giving a beating to the door that stayed closed. Lauren stopped, hearing the name of Xan, a warrior who could at least challenge her. She saw the robotic face of the ancien Tournament champion as he approched the dropship's frontal window. He looked at her from behind his green, lifeless visor. She started to walk in his direction, as he moved a hand near him. It wasn't a signal to his driver. It was a signal to her ! He was saluting her ! The well-know best bodyguard of Jerl Liandri was leaving him to his certain death !

The dropship slowly gained altitude, leaving a battlefield, as, in the other side of the rooftop, the paralyzed mercenary fell, dead, on the ground, after a few minutes. As Xan was leaving Dumpwash once and for all, Jerl was still taunting him, as if he has forgotten he wasn't alone :
- You traitor ! You will see when I will catch you ! I will make you suffer all the pains of Hell !
- Do you know about the pains we feel in Hell, Jerl ? asked Lauren, with a dark, haunting voice.
- Please, Lauren, we can find a way to...to...
- I said I wasn't to sell ! Now I will drop this robot's head and kill you. I will improvise a way. It should be memorable nonetheless !

Lauren's anger have reached new heights, as all her body was reeling with hatred, with the lust for vengeance, for murder. She threw the V2 head far in the orange sky and brought to her the weak old man using her newfound telekinetic weapon. She threathened him with her sword, but hesitated and threw the blade behind, thinking it has had it share of the killing. She thought to remove his head, to tear his chest, to dismember him, but that was all superficial pains compared to what she had lived. So she forgot about these means, and drew her pistol. She threw the man on the ground and prevented him from getting up by using her mind and her other hand. He looked at her, with the hapless regard of a sheep about to get slaughtered. But all he could see was fires of Hell in her eyes. She wasn't talking anymore. He only saw her enforcer getting encircled with a red aura, as if it was magical. The gun left the assassin's hand, levitating over her open palm, and a dark, red and black fog made a link from her palm to the gun that turned to face the old human who was still begging for his life in all the language he knew, to be sure she could understand him. But she was in another world, in another realm, in her realm. The shot was finally fired.

In the lower levels of the Spire, Brock heard the sound of a detonation. Then, he heard a counter ticking down, he jumped in the frame of the nearest door and he saw a V2 robot, still moving a few moments earlier, stopping only to self-destruct. Everywhere, it was the same thing happening to everyone, blasting everyone unlucky enough to be in range and to not have good enough reflexes. All over the city, all over the Earth, all over the galaxy, all over all the galaxies, all the V1, V2 and V3 robots were self-destructing, the ones after the other, creating immense carnages everywhere.

Brock was shocked when he finally saw Tamika who was pushing him in the elevator in which a dozen of necris soldiers and Nebri were waiting. The elevator went down as explosions were still heard all over the building. Back on the first floor, the Ghosts ran to escape the tower as its basement itself was starting to crumble.

Suddenly, as he was realizing that he was out and that Lauren wasn't with him, Brock tried to return in the tower that was clearly falling apart, bringing instant death to anyone in range, once again. But as Garrett, Nebri and Tamika were holding him, preventing him to meet his death in such a useless way, he seemed to cry all the nanoblack from his body. Dust finally came to settle his wet eyes. But it took a few minutes of pure pain for it to happen.

As Brock was calmed down a little, the others released him, but took his staff and link gun from him, as his reactions were now unpredictable. But he wasn't to suicide himself, lost in an impossible hope, he was walking in the tower's remains, searching for his beloved.

But the only known body the Ghosts and the necrises found was completely dismembered and was Oozoo's, trapped in a chain explosion during the apocalypse a few minutes ago. Cryss joined her teammates and the five remaining Ghosts of Days Past looked at each other, with as little expression as zombies.

Each was having its own little injuries, each except Cryss. Her body was still immaculate, but her whip was nearly still bleeding, proving she was not a coward who evaded the onslaught. Tamika had a couple of flak shrapnels in her legs, but was still able enough to walk. Green blood was leaking from Nebri's left arm, damaged by a ripjack during the early assaults in the street, her face was pale as she was near to falling in unconsciousness. Garrett was severely injured to his torso, the deed of a ripjack as well, he also had a few of his ribs broken by various projectile weapons and his face was sporting a large rip on his right cheek. He was bleeding from mostly everywhere, but again, he was looking more living than Brock, who was having "a few nothings", according to the hellion himself : a couple of assault rifle shots in his arms.

All the five were realizing that for them, at least, it was all over. Peace had just returned, as Lauren was no longer to instill vengeance in their life. But they weren't holding any grudges for her as they knew her cause was right. Toying with nature and creating intelligent pawns who suffered infinite torments all the hours of all the days was insane matters. It had to be stopped, but with these powerful symbols of the Liandri down, it was certainly slowed, if not stopped.

The silence got cut by a strange cheer of pure joy and relief coming from the western side of the crumbled tower. Some words were exchanged in necris language, making each time new soldiers raising their arms in happiness. With newfound hope, Brock made his way to the celebration's center...

End of chapter 22.
To be concluded...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : Wow, that was a pretty long one, but the last from the actual story, someone could have read this one and could say : "Hey, I read it all !" But I do not raise my arms in sign of victory and relied because I do not have finished yet, I still have the epilogue to write, to match the prologue beginning, and I'm sure my dear loyal readers will want to know what happened to the Ghosts after the end of the war (which did not end with the enemy's boss death, as many would have noticed right now : wars today are fought well after a faction leader's death, such an ending would be a terrible, horrible, despicable cliche)

By the way, it's now on page 168, about 8 more than I believed all along... and the epilogue is not done yet ! (this is a good thing for a writer)

[legacy-Hollehund]

Epilogue Behind all great men...there are guardians

Things had been changing quite rapidly after the NEG fell. It took only four days to the necris desperate armada to destroy most of Earth's defense bastions. The others surrendered to their might and hatred. Honorable, the necrises accepted the surrender of their mortal enemies, a thing neither the NEG or the Liandri ever did. They imprisonned the leaders of the New Earth Government, thus, abolishing the corrupted political regime that was reigning on Earth since the third and most desastrous world-level war.

The Liandri took a backseat on their own, with the rumor of Jerl Liandri's death - his body had been found in the remains of his tower back in Dumpwash's siege - the corporation recalled all of its ouspace-located mining activities that haven't already been either stopped by the necris commandos or by the self-destruction of all the Liandri's automated miners and soldiers. The first thing Great Blademaiden Freylis knew when she arrived on conquered soil is that Jerl Liandri, her mortal enemy as well, has had connected to his Earth's beating, a device that activated the autodestruction mayhem. Everyone saw how little the man was really caring for the "good people of Earth", as most of the victims of these explosions were Earthly civilians, having adopted the V3 household robot a week too soon scared of the announced necris invasion.

But the Liandri didn't fell completely. Partly because that their new leader was having a little more insight and promissed, in exchange for his company's life, to bring the entire Liandri family into the hands of Freylis herself. What he did. Such a tribute earned, in necris folklore, to honor a promise. So, the Liandri stayed, in exchanged of the blood of a family, fathers, sons, wives, everyone. But they were now limited in their activities, to the Tournament itself, with new rules preventing the corporation to either sponsor a team, or to build another team of any kind, mechanized or genetically-modified.

The new government got formed by the Freylis herself, in the name of Queen Tenebria of Nebra. She named two retired ex Tournament champions to be part of the grand Concile who was charged to keep a watchful eye on the activities of corporations such as Liandri or Axon among every other little things they had to do. Those two celebrities were Malcolm, who retired as he was thinking since the end of the last Tournament, as age was always making wins increasingly difficult to get; and Brock, the fallen Iron Guard, ancien third-in-command in the dismissed Ghosts of Days Past. Still extremely sad of his losses during the last days of the war, he didn't refused to be named honorific Knight of the Necris people. It was giving him power to watch over the Liandri, as Lauren would have appreciated. He knew he was only replacing her in this position, but being the second choice of a powerful Race was still as good as being the first. And in his qualities of Immortal, he was the perfect guardian of these new codes of law.

On the necris side of things, there was also a guardian : the once evil princess Selket, redeemed by her death, was the second undead survivor from the last war. And she was more than happy to acquire another nobility title from another Race, even an honorific one. She had to stay as a living witness of the events that happened to Earth in these four days of concrete battles. She was an alternative to Brock, in the case of another Liandri trickery, which was not probable.

Things were looking increasingly good for the people of Earth, as the necris battlefleet left the vinicity of the planet, leaving by the way the surrendered NEG invasion armada return to their home. It was generous victors who returned to their three homeworlds as free men and women for the first time since long before the birth of the eldest among them, like Freylis or Kragoth.

As he was attending his first official Concile without the attendance of Freylis or any other necris, Brock found it boring, at best, but it gave him much-needed time to fully realize the changes that happened in his life since that sorrowful day of november where he lost his darling. There were much changes on this side too...

To be continued...

Höllehund, 2k5

Update : Not too sure with the title of this one, it is actually a blend with 2 titles I thought would fit well, but "Behind all great men... with probably be my final title for my writer's introduction, in the final version"

Page 170 is finished, still needs one or two to tell what happened to the other Ghosts.

[legacy-Hollehund]

Brock became some kind of advisor, not more important than the next, not less than the previous. All fourteen of the advisors were free to speak at their turn. In his personal life, he remained alone, even if he was courted as a hero. He didn't want to give his heart to someone else after the intense relationship he was having with Lauren.

Garrett, even nearly as old as Malcolm, was still in the Tournament, as he was knowing nothing less to win his living, even if he had been paid the remaining of his salary by Cryss herself, there were enough of credits for him for his "father" job with Lauren to give him a good living, but he was needing battle, as he was having it in his blood, as some others were having nanoblack instead. He was leading the Honor Guard, a new team, first in the Standings, a team that was counting on great names like Sapphire and Arclite, but also on rising stars like Blackcherry and Frost, from Malcolm's Thunderbolts, and on the new Tournament superstar Proetore, also from Malcolm's ancient team. In his private life, he was still keeping his secrets with some kind of jealousy.

Nebri returned to her people, having been accepted back in the Gen Mo'Kai community, convinced she had overcome enough pain and sorrow to be freed of her pariah status and forgiven for the murder of her former teammate and friend Damarus. No one ever heard back of her, or of any other Gen Mo'Kai up to now, as the remnants of a shattered Humanity aren't even trying to expand anymore.

Finally, feminist-fanatical Tamika and her new friend Cryss returned on Necra, the oldest necris homeworld, looking to share some private moments together, far from the human passion for rumors and hatred of uncommon things. Last time public knowledge recorded deeds of any of them, they were still having good time, finally having found peace in a planet dominated by the philosophy of women's intelligence, an important bonus for Tamika to follow Cryss as an honorific guest on the planet they never showed to any other non-necris.

As for the other ancien Tournament warriors, Gorge is still fighting in the Tournament, as the most serious threat to the Honor Guard, while being not nearly as fast as Proetore, and unable to match Garrett's strength and stamina. He still haven't caught the new pace of action of the Tournament, while not having the geneboosting treatments of the Axon Corporation (judged illegal procedures by the new Liandri). And Xan Kriegor vanished not to be ever seen. No one knew what he has done, this day where Jerl Liandri fell. Some speculates that he had captured Lauren, thus, making it impossible for anyone to find her body. Others says that he cowered in Ouspace as he realized the Liandri was falling apart, as well as the NEG. No one knows.

Malakai died during the last few commando actions on Earth. He took with him half a dozen of V2 bots with a concussion blast emanating from his dying mind. Kragoth and Freylis, both right and left arms of Queen Tenebria, returned on Necra to serve her in more normal situations.

As expected, war never ended. Skaarj are still massacring Nali and sometimes others, Nali are still being slaughtered by Skaarj and some others, well...things can't truly change in every department of life. Men is men, and the genetic laws of nature wants it that way, ambition is as natural to the living being than the need for breathing. But at least, a people knew much-deserved freedom, that is, after having paid an immense price...

THE END

Höllehund, 2k5 (from March 21st to May 1st, 2k5) (for writing, general idea comes from a few weeks before that)

Update : Finished ! It gives 172 pages in all of its glory as a pocket book right now. But I expect 200 or 225 in its corrected full version at the end of summer. I'll inform you when I'll have it done ;) For now, you have the structure, the main idea is there, for you to enjoy.

100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 %

By the way, here's a last trivia question, I think this one's the harder of all :
- What is designating the word "Guard" in the title ? I do know it refers to the Iron Guard, but more specifically, what does it means ?

And I do except lots of comments this time, since it's a great feat to me to finish this as quickly as that in my 2nd language (except a poem). And I'll need comments such as action-dialogue balance comments, to guide me throught my correction during the summer. I'll be leaving around the 7th or 8th of may to came back only in the early september, so I hope most of you will have time to read all of this onslaught of updates I did lately and comment. (I'm really excited right now...I can't believe I blew 500 posts, mostly with this fanfic, and that I did blow 170 pages with it in exactly 6 weeks (42 days) :) ;) --- dramatic moment. aaarrgghghh 172 pages in 42 days in my 2nd language ????!?!??!? Man, I hope I'll get better in English with THIS practice !

Höllehund, 2k5 (yeah, it's still me, and it's still year 2k5)

[legacy-LoNeWoLf666]

VERY,VERY,VERY WELL DONE!!!! Plz make a sequel???

[legacy-Utking]

O-o
0 SEQUEL!

[legacy-cry_to_the_heavens]

that was a cool story.

[legacy-cry_to_the_heavens]

bump

[legacy-Xarai]

Good Job! Well done n.n Wish i could have gotten this far with mine p.q

[legacy-VOIDCHAOS]

DAMN THATS ALOT OF PADGES....(eyes bleading) just skimming through it all lol good story...

[legacy-Tutenarak]

Nice story! :)

[legacy-Hollehund]

Hello, that's me, Hollehund, again, I have some imagination left for a possible sequel... Liandri and NEG might be down, but Hell, evil and corruption are always everywhere. One cannot hinder corruption for long, even after feats such as what Lauren did on the Liandri spire, killing Jerl Liandri and disappearing in the process of the Liandri Bots exploding due to the autodestruction command controlled by Liandri's heart rate.

The new story would take the veterans of the Ghosts and some others as well as new faces in another all-out war against someone. For now, I'm still thinking about the details, but when I'll have my Internet Connexion in my home, I would like to write another end to this serie, while trying to please to more people by creating new characters and renewing older ones. Also, this sequel wouldn't be taking the form of a Tournament. I plan to merely mentions the next Tournament, since the winning team of such a Tournament would be determined far before its beginning...

Finally, I'll have to finish to correct the first one, before re-releasing it.

I hope there's still people to read fanfics even with the 360 coming on !

Well, that's it for my first intervention in months. Coming back in about 3 weeks.

Höllehund, august 9th 2k5

[legacy-Tutenarak]

I read the story... again and my eyes hurt @-)

@.@

edit: can damarus pllleeeeeeeaaassseeee be in teh next one [-o|

"...and little did her compatriot damarus know her feelings for him are considerably less than hostile."

That is a reason to get him in to the other side of the guard :D

[legacy-Hollehund]

Hey ! I'm back !

I now have Internet in my home, that means for now, that I can have more freedom to write an eventual sequel to 'The other side of the Guard'. I'm no longer forced to stay in a small uncomfortable room, unallowed to leave at any time (past midnight, the doors close so I couldn't enter back...)

I will also be online much more often and will be more regular. I'll download msn messenger today and I'll be available for any person to give me ideas.

By the way, to those concerned, Damarus is dead, killed by Nebri, and if she was accepted back among hers, it doesn't mean that she will live in peace and with no flashbacks about him...
And, Zarina is really really dead, killed by a shock blast. Unlike with Lauren, I didn't let a door opened to a life later on. Sorry, but some must die for the others to look good... :(

So, I'll be downloading tons of crap for now, but I'll stay around for anyone to respond to this message.

Höllehund, 2k5

[legacy-Tutenarak]

ok then can komek be in it? He is a ravage killer who is quite the fighter, and in single player of UT04, he always has the highest score of his team of the gen mokai's

"Like Makreth, Komek prefers to wear the death mask of his family into battle. This has earned him the disdain of Motig who prefers to instill fear into his enemies with displays of skill rather than gaudy facial art."

Now with his bio, that grants you access to making things have alot of action with him B-)

[legacy-Hollehund]

That's a nice idea. I was thinking about giving the Gen Mo'Kai more attention this time. Along with the Human, Necrises and Skaarj, I bet I can create something even more chaotic.

I keep Komek's idea running in my head, as I'm sure opportunities will show to put him in.

Thanks for your collaboration, I'm always happy to receive feedbacks of any kind.

Höllehund.

By the way, I read somewhere that some people would see The other side of the Guard well as a movie. I couldn't agree more that it would be pleasing to see Lauren live on screen. That made me thinking :
I will make a dream cast for the characters of The other side of the Guard, just for fun. I invite you to suggest actors ;)

Lauren - Michelle Rodriguez or Lauren Graham.
Selket (minor role) - Angelina Jolie
Sapphire (minor role) - Christina Ricci
Garrett - Till Lindemann (not an actor but he, that's a dream cast isn't it?)
Zarina
Anubis (minor role)
Malcolm (minor role)
Xan (minor role)
Gorge (minor role)
Tamika
Oozoo
Cryss
Brock
Nebri
Jerl Liandri
Freylis
Kragoth
Malakai
Frostbite (minor role)
etc. etc.

[legacy-Tutenarak]

Yah, your story rocks, ive never seen such detailed writing in fan fiction!

[legacy-BlooDDraineR]

Hey, If you really did that by yourself you are amazing... I really mean It, write a book!!

First when I saw this topic I thought "Holy sh*t that must be boring" and I didn't want to read It.. But then I gave this topic a look again and I read all of It, N-i-c-e [face_grin]

[legacy-4EverFatal]

Holy **** that was some Nice fanFic You wrote there. I almost Laughed when Xan Let Jerl for Dead. Xan Rocks![face_skull]

[legacy-Hollehund]

True, Xan's treason was not really one. Hardcore Unreal fans knows that he is a ''creation'' of the Liandri, their killing machine, their champion, etc. But as a cyborg, he is supposed to have a human part in him, and I thought that being transformed into a cyborg could eventually displeases him, as he cannot live like a normal human anymore. So, I made him abandon the man who made a monster of him.

More than that, when I'll start the sequel (if I do so, about 90% chance), Xan will eventually be back with a much more important role than in The other side of the Guard.

So, that's it for now, folks.

Feel free to throw ideas in your posts, for the sequel or the dream cast !

Hollehund

[legacy-Hollehund]

The sequel officially announced to The other side of the Guard :

The Burden of Power

You will be able to read it part by part, like with the first fanfic. I will start a thread with the very first lines of the story in a moment.

I will write (and try to finish) this story even if I have had only few feedbacks and suggestions from the community, because I like Unreal and I like writing. If only I could finish this story before Ut2007 is released...

So, for now, I will go on with the story number 2. I hope that some will enjoy it !

Hollehund, 2k5

[legacy-Tutenarak]

So, is komek going in the burden of power? And maybe komek having the burden of leading his tribe or people, that would be so dramatic (the sequel name fits it :p )
anyway, that is an awesome sequel name B-)