Calloway had reacted almost in slow motion to the breaching of the neighboring home. This demonic entity had to be stopped, even if handling it was much beyond his mental capacity as he had just seconds before watched the dead become undead. To stop it, it either had to be melted with the acid or burned from existence. If it went inside it was cornered, there had to be a greater chance of killing this thing with it indoors.
...
It was indoors.
Calloway's eyes went wide and half of his face became pale as he watched House bust through the door with the shotgun raised. Even if it was choked down, it still had a spread. In his hands was their most pinpoint weapon. He broke into a dead sprint to make for the broken window, being blocked from the door by House's damaged presence. His voice was ragged, tired, and winded. His breaths were becoming labored and his heartrate was spiked. "DETECTIVE! WATCH THE FOLKS AND AIM FOR THE LEGS!" He was only just able to get to the window, and failed to vault it. He slammed against the frame of the window and broken glass with a pained grunt. He drew for what he could see, hoping that this deer was still visible. The hum of his sidearm low and warbling in its highest allowed setting.
There were most likely people in this house. If he missed this beast, or it wasn't swiftly ended, everything was going to get worse. Fast. If House could immobilize the thing, this fight would shift rightly. He just had to hope that each shot landed where it needed.
[Mudwater PD] Episode 1: Last Things Last
Re: [Mudwater PD] Episode 1: Last Things Last
House staggered up to the porch, the heat from the growing fire on the roof and overhang baked into her sensors, but not enough to sear her as she barged against the door, but what stopped the deer also stopped the gynoid. The door had been locked, and she felt a weight against the other side to keep it there and a thick layer of black oozing tar-like liquid coated the small windows through the door.
She stepped up to the smashed window the deer and driven itself into instead, jagged glass daggers some still with strips of flesh hanging from them still stood where the window had been. But as she peered inside the situation revealed itself. Everything was covered on torrid, steaming black tar, flash-boiled from the laser pistol striking the deer.
She could feel sweltering heat of the cruor on her face even through the fire, which only backed and charred the tar as the fire began to spread. Against the wall by the door was a man, screaming, covered in the broiling gore and holding his eyes in agony as it scalded his skin. He had been holding the door shut with a chair wedge under the door handle when the creature had smashed into the house.
There, on the floor, desperately scrambling on its front legs was the Thing, bisected at the torso where thick coagulating black blood sealed itself into remaining corpse. It’s single remaining horn scraped and smashed across the remains of the dining table it had crashed into as it dragged itself like a creature possessed. It spared House only a glance, hate in its dead black eyes before redoubling its efforts to reach the man.
She stepped up to the smashed window the deer and driven itself into instead, jagged glass daggers some still with strips of flesh hanging from them still stood where the window had been. But as she peered inside the situation revealed itself. Everything was covered on torrid, steaming black tar, flash-boiled from the laser pistol striking the deer.
She could feel sweltering heat of the cruor on her face even through the fire, which only backed and charred the tar as the fire began to spread. Against the wall by the door was a man, screaming, covered in the broiling gore and holding his eyes in agony as it scalded his skin. He had been holding the door shut with a chair wedge under the door handle when the creature had smashed into the house.
There, on the floor, desperately scrambling on its front legs was the Thing, bisected at the torso where thick coagulating black blood sealed itself into remaining corpse. It’s single remaining horn scraped and smashed across the remains of the dining table it had crashed into as it dragged itself like a creature possessed. It spared House only a glance, hate in its dead black eyes before redoubling its efforts to reach the man.
GM of two-time simming award winning plot, Mudwater PD. Thank you players, thank you award site.
Re: [Mudwater PD] Episode 1: Last Things Last
The man's screams deafened that Marshal. His eyes fell from the burned man to the wounded demonic stag that lay attempting to stand and reach the man. His mind was wracked with emotion and exhaustion, he'd burned him and most likely would destroy his home, but at the same time slowed the beast to a literal crawl. The fight had turned, but he needed both the beast and the man out of the home. His arms were strong enough, he hoped, to wrestle the wounded stag out of the home, he just had to make sure that he did it quickly before his legs gave out or the building came down on him.
Calloway hurriedly holstered his sidearm and vaulted the broken window. This beast needed what the former Captain had said needed to be done. It was a bold move, but any further attempts to shoot the beast would no doubt doom the dweller of this burning house. Calloway grunted as he went for the beast's remaining horn in an attempt to drag towards the door. He only hoped House could get the man out as well and that the Warden still had that barrel of acid ready. He didn't say anything, just gave frustrated efforts of movement and angry grunts.
Calloway hurriedly holstered his sidearm and vaulted the broken window. This beast needed what the former Captain had said needed to be done. It was a bold move, but any further attempts to shoot the beast would no doubt doom the dweller of this burning house. Calloway grunted as he went for the beast's remaining horn in an attempt to drag towards the door. He only hoped House could get the man out as well and that the Warden still had that barrel of acid ready. He didn't say anything, just gave frustrated efforts of movement and angry grunts.
Re: [Mudwater PD] Episode 1: Last Things Last
On the list of things that could possibly happen today, chasing down a necromorphic slime lady thing that was now a deer wasn’t even in the relm of possibility for Boudica. Frankly if you told her what she would be thrust into the middle of she would think you were insane or maybe ate some sort of mind altering thing that grew in the forest.
That However wasn’t the case as she peered into the broken window and saw the carnage that was inside. Pressing down the thoughts streaming into her brain of nightmares and other things that would be wonderful to talk about in therapy at a later date, the elf muscled open the container of acid that she had been toting around and vaulted into the room. Getting as close as she dared she started to pour the contents onto the scrambling daemon deer.
That However wasn’t the case as she peered into the broken window and saw the carnage that was inside. Pressing down the thoughts streaming into her brain of nightmares and other things that would be wonderful to talk about in therapy at a later date, the elf muscled open the container of acid that she had been toting around and vaulted into the room. Getting as close as she dared she started to pour the contents onto the scrambling daemon deer.
Re: [Mudwater PD] Episode 1: Last Things Last
Dozens of possible actions rang through House's head at once, possible actions and responses blurring uselessly before her eyes. No matter what she thought of, she was far more limited in what she could do than she would like to admit. Jumping a window, or getting hit by a wayward foot from the demented thing would likely misalign some important synapse and render her useless. All that while an abomination unleashed chaos, able to feed upon and leap between bodies with ease. She elected to ignore what that meant for any unfortunate enough to come in contact with it.
"Sir!" She called out, her own voice audible to them, but little more than a buzz to herself, as she looked to the unfortunate civilian. She had to trust the others in doing their job, even if it meant accepting she could no longer do her own. "Come to me!" She shouted, reaching a hand through the emptied window, to grab at the man and pull him out the moment he got close, no matter the risk to herself.
"Sir!" She called out, her own voice audible to them, but little more than a buzz to herself, as she looked to the unfortunate civilian. She had to trust the others in doing their job, even if it meant accepting she could no longer do her own. "Come to me!" She shouted, reaching a hand through the emptied window, to grab at the man and pull him out the moment he got close, no matter the risk to herself.
Not a fan of combat oriented RP.
Re: [Mudwater PD] Episode 1: Last Things Last
What had been a deer thrashed in Calloways grip, its nostrils flared in rage as it kicked and scratched at him with its remaining front hooves. The creatures lips were curled back to bare its tusks as it twisted and bit at himm desperate to break the detectives grip on its one remaining horn. Calloway could feel the bone creak and groan in his hands as he wrestled and dragged it across the floor, spattered with viscera.
The door to escape the growing inferno remained jammed shut by a chair the residents had fortified it. Between the grapple with the deer, and the slippery black gore on the floor Calloways boot glanced against the chairs leg but failed to budge the sternly propped barricade.
House's words reached the other man, who still held his face in agony as he rose, his back slid against the wall as he blindly rose and staggered towards her. Each teetering step threatened to spill before House's hand managed to reach him. Her touch raised several warnings from her firmware as the torrid substance covering the man nearly blistered her own synthetic flesh. Despite her diminished state, Houses arms still worked, and she carefully drew him through the window and out onto the wooden porch and took his shoulder. The flames at their backs lighting their silhouette even in the dusky light of the day.
Even as the wounded civilian was extracted, Boudica jumped in to replace him, the heavy barrel sloshed threatening in her hands as she unscrewed the cap. She did not pour so much as throw the contents onto the creature in Calloways grip. The liquid was clear, almost colorless, it had no identifiable smell but the mild tang in the nostrils telling one something should be there, and wherever it touch the effects were immediate. Fur and skin crinkled and sloughed off the black mass of the creature as the fluid spilled across its body, a high-pitched, ear-splitting death whistle erupting from the creature as the acid touched it. It thrashed ever more wildly as its black eye rolled up its skull at Calloway most disconcerting way that reminded Calloway of blind panic.
Outside, House helped the man smear the bracken sludge away from his face and eyes revealing seared lobster red flesh and painfully burned bloodshot blue eyes. The man gasped in pain, trying to speak, but only being able to spurt out a desperate plea in a hissing wheeze.
"My wife..."
A woman, dressed in stripped down hunting garb similar to the man, came around the corner of the cabin beside them. Her dark features drawn tight in stress as her wild eyes locked onto the pair, her eyes welled with tears as she saw them. She was stocky, as most country folk tended to be, and clearly as much of a bushwoman as her husband.
"I'm here, babe." She spoke as she approached, breathless. "I'm here, I got out the back door."
She took the man by the other shoulder, helping House drag him away from the burning cabin. As they laid him down on the grass, the woman rushed to the well and returned with a bucket to wash of the scalding black sludge. Occasionally she turned her head to the horrific noises that came from the burning cabin.
From the outside, the shapes of Calloway and Boudica were clear as fire began to overtake the cabin. The flames had spread across the roof and walls, and the temperature was becoming unbearable within as thick black smoke began to fill the room. It was clear their time to remain inside was rapidly running out.
"House? Emergency Unit is on the way." Captain Vals voice rose from the mess of static and compression from the low data rate. "We just got pictures from Calloways weapon- Forget the techs, send everything with a siren to that area! House, we're sending the fastest thing with have but you've still got at least fifteen minutes before EMU's arriv-" The message cut off as the local repeater, clearly within the cabin somewhere succumbed to the heat.
The door to escape the growing inferno remained jammed shut by a chair the residents had fortified it. Between the grapple with the deer, and the slippery black gore on the floor Calloways boot glanced against the chairs leg but failed to budge the sternly propped barricade.
House's words reached the other man, who still held his face in agony as he rose, his back slid against the wall as he blindly rose and staggered towards her. Each teetering step threatened to spill before House's hand managed to reach him. Her touch raised several warnings from her firmware as the torrid substance covering the man nearly blistered her own synthetic flesh. Despite her diminished state, Houses arms still worked, and she carefully drew him through the window and out onto the wooden porch and took his shoulder. The flames at their backs lighting their silhouette even in the dusky light of the day.
Even as the wounded civilian was extracted, Boudica jumped in to replace him, the heavy barrel sloshed threatening in her hands as she unscrewed the cap. She did not pour so much as throw the contents onto the creature in Calloways grip. The liquid was clear, almost colorless, it had no identifiable smell but the mild tang in the nostrils telling one something should be there, and wherever it touch the effects were immediate. Fur and skin crinkled and sloughed off the black mass of the creature as the fluid spilled across its body, a high-pitched, ear-splitting death whistle erupting from the creature as the acid touched it. It thrashed ever more wildly as its black eye rolled up its skull at Calloway most disconcerting way that reminded Calloway of blind panic.
Outside, House helped the man smear the bracken sludge away from his face and eyes revealing seared lobster red flesh and painfully burned bloodshot blue eyes. The man gasped in pain, trying to speak, but only being able to spurt out a desperate plea in a hissing wheeze.
"My wife..."
A woman, dressed in stripped down hunting garb similar to the man, came around the corner of the cabin beside them. Her dark features drawn tight in stress as her wild eyes locked onto the pair, her eyes welled with tears as she saw them. She was stocky, as most country folk tended to be, and clearly as much of a bushwoman as her husband.
"I'm here, babe." She spoke as she approached, breathless. "I'm here, I got out the back door."
She took the man by the other shoulder, helping House drag him away from the burning cabin. As they laid him down on the grass, the woman rushed to the well and returned with a bucket to wash of the scalding black sludge. Occasionally she turned her head to the horrific noises that came from the burning cabin.
From the outside, the shapes of Calloway and Boudica were clear as fire began to overtake the cabin. The flames had spread across the roof and walls, and the temperature was becoming unbearable within as thick black smoke began to fill the room. It was clear their time to remain inside was rapidly running out.
"House? Emergency Unit is on the way." Captain Vals voice rose from the mess of static and compression from the low data rate. "We just got pictures from Calloways weapon- Forget the techs, send everything with a siren to that area! House, we're sending the fastest thing with have but you've still got at least fifteen minutes before EMU's arriv-" The message cut off as the local repeater, clearly within the cabin somewhere succumbed to the heat.
GM of two-time simming award winning plot, Mudwater PD. Thank you players, thank you award site.
Re: [Mudwater PD] Episode 1: Last Things Last
Calloway began to sweat profusely, struggling to keep the beast in his grasp. It was quite clear that the fire was only getting worse, and the air would soon be tainted with smoke and ash, not to mention the acid. Yet if they let the thing go there was no guarantee that the fire and the acid already poured would be enough to kill it. It could run out the door the moment someone dislodged the chair. With the window open the risk of a backblast was almost nil yet the airflow was only making the flames grow just as fast. They were going to run out of time quickly. He looked up to Boudica with a worried, cybernetic eyes no longer concealing themselves as they went through different lenses to attempt to cut through the smoke.
"Little hot, ain't it?" His dry gallows humor was only beat by the sweat stinging his eye sockets, stinging the nerve endings still remaining from his surgery. He went to say something else but only managed a gross growl and a dry cough. He sucked in a visible amount of smoke before managing a growled voice.
"If you can get the acid to dump faster, do it! Don't worry about me just kill this fucking thing!"
"Little hot, ain't it?" His dry gallows humor was only beat by the sweat stinging his eye sockets, stinging the nerve endings still remaining from his surgery. He went to say something else but only managed a gross growl and a dry cough. He sucked in a visible amount of smoke before managing a growled voice.
"If you can get the acid to dump faster, do it! Don't worry about me just kill this fucking thing!"
Re: [Mudwater PD] Episode 1: Last Things Last
Boudica starred deadpan at the Marshal her eyes slightly narrowing. Holding the jug snugly under her arm with her biological arm, she pulled back with her bionic one before quickly punching a hole though the side of it. As she retracted her hand, letting the remaining liquid cascade out onto the squirming elk creature below, she never broke eye contact with Calloway. Once the remaining liquid glugged out she tossed the jug onto the thing on the floor.
“This has been one hellova day so far, and I have so many questions for y’all!” The elf said before grabbing Calloway and tossing him over her shoulder and making a beeline towards the window.
“This has been one hellova day so far, and I have so many questions for y’all!” The elf said before grabbing Calloway and tossing him over her shoulder and making a beeline towards the window.
Re: [Mudwater PD] Episode 1: Last Things Last
Numbness crept through synthetic nerve-endings like a cold flood, deadening feeling at an alarming rate. A cold wash that would have brought upon panic and terror before, but in its wake, she could not stir such emotions, and as it enveloped her, the thoughts and emotions to stave it off grew dim and tired. Shotgun shells running low, she could sparsely think of much else than to empty her remaining supply into that beast-that-be. Footsteps instinctive found their way back towards the burning house, the enveloping heat and stench of acid no longer registering through damaged receptors as she found the familiar window once more. Passing thoughts of infection and spread through exposure passed through her mind, but she elected to ignore such thoughts. The bigger risk was here, writhing and thrashing in the smoldering remains of a cabin.
She peered into the cabin once more as Bodica pulled Calloway from the building. The thing remained, and she leveled the shotgun low. It could create new limbs from old mass, but it either needed a large amount of muscle or pre-existing bones to support them. Splintering shells belched from her shotgun would deal with either. Anything to cause it to stumble, anything to cause it to lurch down into its hell once more.
A gust of heat shoved her, and she stumbled backward, suddenly aware that she had no more shells. It had to be enough, she decided, finding the ground no longer beneath her.
It had to be enough.
She peered into the cabin once more as Bodica pulled Calloway from the building. The thing remained, and she leveled the shotgun low. It could create new limbs from old mass, but it either needed a large amount of muscle or pre-existing bones to support them. Splintering shells belched from her shotgun would deal with either. Anything to cause it to stumble, anything to cause it to lurch down into its hell once more.
A gust of heat shoved her, and she stumbled backward, suddenly aware that she had no more shells. It had to be enough, she decided, finding the ground no longer beneath her.
It had to be enough.
Not a fan of combat oriented RP.
Re: [Mudwater PD] Episode 1: Last Things Last
Wherever the acid touched the flesh it broke out into bubbling sores and leaked black, viscous fluid as the creature shrieked and thrashed with its animal throat. The growing pool of acid even started to melt the soles of Calloway and Boudica’s boots as it spread across the floor. Boudica jumped out of the house with Calloway over her shoulder as the flames began to claw down the walls and encircled the thrashing creature within.
House’s shaking hands gripped the laser weapon with a cold grasp as House drew on the last reserves of what, to her, would have been a massive android version of an adrenaline rush. The hiss-crack report and blue flash of the laser weapon flared through the cabin, accelerating the flames as House blew away whatever chunks of the creature looked like it might still be able to move until finally the steadfast, loyal piece in her hands beeped, almost apologetically as it quietly died in her hands.
The entire cabin was engulfed in flames, the heat was such it drove them all back ten meters until it became bearable. From within the screams of the beast slowly faded over the course of minutes, before drawing to a bubbling, gurgling stop. Each of them felt an audible pop in their ears, as if a great pressure had been relieved from them as the last silence rang out. It was as though they had been listening to a sound with no noise since they had arrived, and now there was nothing but the crackle of flames and the breathing of those still alive.
House’s shaking hands gripped the laser weapon with a cold grasp as House drew on the last reserves of what, to her, would have been a massive android version of an adrenaline rush. The hiss-crack report and blue flash of the laser weapon flared through the cabin, accelerating the flames as House blew away whatever chunks of the creature looked like it might still be able to move until finally the steadfast, loyal piece in her hands beeped, almost apologetically as it quietly died in her hands.
The entire cabin was engulfed in flames, the heat was such it drove them all back ten meters until it became bearable. From within the screams of the beast slowly faded over the course of minutes, before drawing to a bubbling, gurgling stop. Each of them felt an audible pop in their ears, as if a great pressure had been relieved from them as the last silence rang out. It was as though they had been listening to a sound with no noise since they had arrived, and now there was nothing but the crackle of flames and the breathing of those still alive.
GM of two-time simming award winning plot, Mudwater PD. Thank you players, thank you award site.
Re: [Mudwater PD] Episode 1: Last Things Last
Calloway was numb, his duster charred and burned and his skin covered in soot and ash. He looked back at the burning house with a silent expression of awe and relief. It had to be dead. It just had to be. He coughed coarsely as he sucked in the fresh air. His throat was like sandpaper, and his natural joints felt ached and felt exhausted.
Bits a flush red covered his face as he looked to the Elven ranger. "I... uh... thank you ma'am but you can put me down now." He gave a tired smile as feeling began to return to him. His eyes falling from his height over to the detective.
"Detective, you alright?"
Bits a flush red covered his face as he looked to the Elven ranger. "I... uh... thank you ma'am but you can put me down now." He gave a tired smile as feeling began to return to him. His eyes falling from his height over to the detective.
"Detective, you alright?"
Re: [Mudwater PD] Episode 1: Last Things Last
With a shug of her shoulders Boudica shuffled the Marshal off of her shoulders before gingerly setting him down on the ground. Dusting her hands together to finish the job she looked at the two officers, a motherly scowl coming across her face. As she raised her hand to indicate the verbal tirade that was to flow from the angry elf she paused before her face quickly blanched.
“Excuse me for ah moment” She said calmly before quickly doing an about face and marching over towards the nearest tree before promptly emptying the contents of her stomach next to it.
“Excuse me for ah moment” She said calmly before quickly doing an about face and marching over towards the nearest tree before promptly emptying the contents of her stomach next to it.
Re: [Mudwater PD] Episode 1: Last Things Last
The ground felt hard beneath her, as she lay on her back facing the sky above. It seemed different now, calmer. She hadn't realized how tense the clouds and breeze had felt before. Like the whole world had been holding its breath for years, waiting for that scar to breach its cancerous tomb and spread its sickness. Now it all relaxed, the threat handled and the time passed. She ignored the reports and diagnostics, having categorized them all as well as she could. There wasn't much use in continuing to sort them, she was broken and nothing she could do could fix it all in any meaningful way.
"Calloway." She spoke, her voice sounding distant to herself, but still largely coherent to the others. "I believe I'll be taking medical leave for the time being." It seemed almost comical to note, but now? She felt calm. Nothing left to do, just wait for help to arrive, put her trust in strong hands. There weren't many here who likely knew how to repair her, but she had a few ideas.
She frowned, but she wasn't sure how well her facial motors pulled the expression into being. Her head seemed to be in fair shape, all things considered. "You wouldn't happen to know the number of my neighbor, would you?"
"Calloway." She spoke, her voice sounding distant to herself, but still largely coherent to the others. "I believe I'll be taking medical leave for the time being." It seemed almost comical to note, but now? She felt calm. Nothing left to do, just wait for help to arrive, put her trust in strong hands. There weren't many here who likely knew how to repair her, but she had a few ideas.
She frowned, but she wasn't sure how well her facial motors pulled the expression into being. Her head seemed to be in fair shape, all things considered. "You wouldn't happen to know the number of my neighbor, would you?"
Not a fan of combat oriented RP.
Re: [Mudwater PD] Episode 1: Last Things Last
The group had another ten minutes of staring into the flames of the destroyed house before help arrived, the pair of fringe survivors with them simply rocked in place as they watched their home and livelihood burn. The crackling of flames was broken as radio traffic filtered erratically towards them, growing stronger and stronger until the roar of engines overhead broke them from their reverie. Above them the braking jets of a small dropship flared and faded as it settled on its AGRAV engine, its red and blue lights flashed in the growing dark.
The dropship touched down and the agile armored police team fanned out towards the party, their names and ranks flashing up in Calloway and House’s augmented reality. Three senior constables and a police sergeant Montes. Two of the EMU’s strode forward to treat the wounded. House felt the intrusion of a datalink connect to one of her external ports and a request for her diagnostics and a power supply offer, despite the heavy armor the EMU’s fingers remained dexterous as they shined a light through the exposed guts of House’s mechanical throat and head.
“Central, two wounded, one synth one organic. Police Detective Ada House, major chassis damage to head and neck, retrieving diagnostics and providing backup power. Zac Hendry, large burns to face, eyes, and hands. Administering pain killers, fluids, prepping for freeze. Need emergency teams ready at ER.” The words broke the silence of the group House and the man were loaded onto floating stretchers and carted towards the dropship, the woman was shepherded with them.
The door of the dropship snapped closed, Bunny and Calloway got one last look at House’s unmoving boots on the stretcher as it shut. The sound of more emergency vehicles sirens in the distance seemed dim as the dropship took off, the engine roared, and it began the long flight back to town.
END CASE
The dropship touched down and the agile armored police team fanned out towards the party, their names and ranks flashing up in Calloway and House’s augmented reality. Three senior constables and a police sergeant Montes. Two of the EMU’s strode forward to treat the wounded. House felt the intrusion of a datalink connect to one of her external ports and a request for her diagnostics and a power supply offer, despite the heavy armor the EMU’s fingers remained dexterous as they shined a light through the exposed guts of House’s mechanical throat and head.
“Central, two wounded, one synth one organic. Police Detective Ada House, major chassis damage to head and neck, retrieving diagnostics and providing backup power. Zac Hendry, large burns to face, eyes, and hands. Administering pain killers, fluids, prepping for freeze. Need emergency teams ready at ER.” The words broke the silence of the group House and the man were loaded onto floating stretchers and carted towards the dropship, the woman was shepherded with them.
The door of the dropship snapped closed, Bunny and Calloway got one last look at House’s unmoving boots on the stretcher as it shut. The sound of more emergency vehicles sirens in the distance seemed dim as the dropship took off, the engine roared, and it began the long flight back to town.
END CASE
GM of two-time simming award winning plot, Mudwater PD. Thank you players, thank you award site.