Night visions.



Thursday December 12th 2069.
They are deep into the occupied zone of the Canns Landing Corridor, it is now two hours before sunrise and the members of team alpha have found themselves in a bit of a standoff with other human beings. Human beings who shouldn’t be here, human beings who shouldn’t be alive. And yet here they are, survivors in this wasteland. They stand for a time in silence, as if trying to size up the members of team Alpha, the guns do not appear to concern them. There are all in all eighteen people surrounding them, they are all dressed in cloaked hoods their faces concealed, each covered in a hood, each carries a long staff with a wide sweeping blade at the ends, the feeling is uncomfortable for all parties, until Samantha Bliss decides to break the silence.
“We are government agents, from Threshold.. Identify yourselves.”
One lone figure begins to move forward slowly in the direction of Samantha Bliss.
“All we want are the two reds.. The male and the female.. The rest of you may pass unharmed.”
She shakes her head no.
“The female is with us.. The male is a prisoner of Threshold. Now .. How far do you want to take this game?”
She can see his eyes studying her for signs of a bluff, her eyes never leave his as she addresses the members of Team Alpha.
“Team Alpha… Assemble and present arms..”
They raise their weapons each acquiring a target.
“Klinger?”
“Yes Ma’am?”
“The first one that takes an aggressive stance or moves towards us?”
“Yes Ma’am?”
“Kill them.”
“Yes ma’am.”
He studies her for a moment before raising his hand to the Fellowship.
They stand down.
“I am Derek Conner, the leader of the Florence Street Fellowship.”
She motions to Klinger.
“And what are a group of armed civilians doing wandering the streets of the reds occupied territory?”
“We live here.”

Dark City Streets.



She listens as Derek Conner relates the story of how the fellowship came to be, how they all in one way or another became homeless long before the reds occupied this place. How they’d lived on the fringes of a society that had long before abandoned them to the lives of street urchins and panhandlers. Left to live by their own devices, with nowhere to turn and little to lose. When the reds came with their onslaught, those who could not run went underground and banded together, a few short years ago they began to attack the reds under the cover of night, fighting for and taking back their streets, and their home. Through whatever means necessary.
“And you torture them?”
“Sometimes.”
“For what purpose?”
“Have you been to a market here lately Miss Bliss?” they took all of the food and they have it stored all over the place, all of the way back to Cuji’s outpost. If we don‘t fight.. We go back to starving.”
She looks at Priss who seems quite captivated by Derek Conner’s story. She moves in behind Samantha Bliss and leans towards her back to whisper in her ear.
“They do this for food? Samantha.. I do not believe him. There has to be more to it than that.”
She turns her chin towards Priss, her eyes never leaving Derek Conner.
“You have great instincts my girl, I wasn’t buying it entirely either, there is more.. I can feel it.”
she asks Derek Conner about the missing agents, and if he’d seen them, and he tells her that they have been killed by the reds, their bodies most likely back to Cuji’s outpost. This revelation cause’s the red prisoner they know as Thed to show some concern, but he says nothing in the company of Derek Conner. Later however he manages to get Klinger and Milo Tripper away from the conversation. Thed’s level of discomfort is all Klinger and Milo need to see to know that something isn’t right. He pulls him to the side.
“Something you want to share with us Thed M’boy?”
“Mr. Klinger, He…. Is not telling the truth.”
“How do you know that Thed?”
“The three agents that Samantha Bliss has spoken of?”
“Yeah? What about them?.”
“My comrade Lugz and me, three days before we were being chased by other Threshold Agents, we were on training maneuvers with a field detachment, when they came across the bodies of three humans who were carrying threshold Identification.”
“And?”
Thed pauses slightly to look at Klinger and Milo.
“They were already dead when we found them.”

Scratch. ABT Copyright © 2007.

I found some really at Doobix.com

Hiding from the Dark.



He’d watched what they had done to Lugz, how they had ripped him to pieces, each strike of their blades slicing yet another piece of his flesh from his body, Thed was barely out of their reach when he’d decided that for him, it would be best to be elsewhere, so with the very best of intentions he’d ran from the hooded figures because he knew that once they had finished with their slaughter of Lugz he would be next. So now here he was, crouching , hidden from view behind a garbage bin, listening to the faint echoes of foot falls reverberating off of the rain soaked asphalt of Florence Street. Faint sounds of angry voices talking back and forth looking for more prey to feed their bloodlust upon. And just when he’d thought that they would find him cowering there behind the dumpster, it all suddenly fell silent. No more voices, no more footfalls, they had all fallen back into the shadows, all that was left was the sounds of the rain, but Thed knew there was still danger to be had, and he was staying put. Huddled there, cold and wet and alone in his own private hell. Hoping against hope that the light would come. For Thed, it couldn’t come soon enough.

The Alleys Of Florence.



Thursday December 12th , 2069.
It is three hours before sunrise, and they are now seven miles east of 32nd street, four miles into the occupied reds zone of the Canns Landing corridor. Just one block north of Florence Street. Against her better judgment, Samantha Bliss has allowed Priss to be a part of Klinger’s patrol detail, while Milo Tripper stays back and covers the rear flank. Lifeguards night vision has picked up the heat signature of one adult male red, and while Klinger and Priss investigate, the rest of the team slowly maneuver their way through the misty alley ways of Florence street.
“Uhhh… Samantha?”
“Yes Lifeguard what is it?”
“Isn’t this region supposed to have been deserted by humans?”
“Yes.. Right after the reds occupation here.. Why?”
“We’re picking up a series of signatures beneath the surface. The spikes are too low for reds.. They’re definitely human.”
“Human? Are you sure?”
“Yes ma’am, they’re underground, moving northeast of you..”
“Probably in the abandoned subway, most likely. Probably the only place civilians could survive here. Are they coming towards us?”
“No.. away from.”
Klinger and Priss appear holding the runaway red known as Thed at gunpoint. Samantha Bliss looks the red up and down and then at Klinger and Priss.
“Look what Priss found boss lady.”
She looks down at Thed, he is much smaller than the other red males that she has seen, he is cold wet and shaking, and he cowers at their feet, silently begging for mercy.
“What do they call you?”
He is holding both hands up, and there in his eyes is a look that she is very familiar with, it is the look of genuine fear. He very much looks like a pet dog that has been beaten by its owner.‘
“What is your name?”
“T..T..Thed. Madam…My N.. Name is Thed.”
Klinger appears at her side and whispers something under his breath to her. She looks down at Thed.
“You had a friend with you did you?”
He silently nods.
“And someone took his head from him did they?”
Again he nods.
“Well Mr. Thed. We are from Threshold. And we are going to find out what’s been going on here on Florence street.”

The Fellowship.



He relates to them what transpired with his friend Lugz and the hooded humans, and how he was chopped to pieces by them, the stories that he has heard about the mysterious residents of Florence street, keeps their attention for a time, until he mentions general Cuji. Then Samantha interjects into the conversation.
“How far is the Cuji’s outpost from here?” She asks him.
“Six miles to the southwest.”
She knows that they must save Cuji for another time, and that there are three Threshold agents to consider. And somehow their disappearance has something to do with those people in the deserted subway. Thed agrees to take them to where the hooded humans first appeared to them, and where they had cut down Lugz. Along the way an odd thought crosses through her mind, and Samantha only halfway wonders what two lone red soldiers were doing so far from their outpost.
“So.. tell me something Thed, how far did you and your friend get before you decided to chicken out, and go back to your outpost?.”
He gives her a nervous look.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, two soldiers, unarmed.. Six miles from their out post. You had to have been on the other side of Fremont street otherwise you wouldn’t have had to turn back to cross over Florence street putting yourselves in any danger. You wanted to desert, and you got lost and chickened out so you tried to cross Florence at night so you could be back before morning Muster. Cuji would never have known. Was it something like that?”
He nods again.
“Yeah.. Lugz and me hated this whole army thing. We were both too small to engage in real combat, they only used us for training, we were supposed to pretend like we were Threshold agents in field maneuvers, and when the bigger soldiers took us prisoner they would beat on us. Like we really worked for Threshold.”
Samantha listens intently..
“Well I don’t blame you for wanting to leave then-”
“SAM?”
When she hears alarm in Lifeguards voice she knows there is something wrong.
“They are coming Sam!!, picking up human signatures, maybe fifteen to twenty all around you and closing in fast! Find cover Now!!!.”
Instinctively, the members of Team Alpha draw their weapons and soon find themselves standing in the middle of a large circle, of hooded figures all wielding edged weapons, but with blades against Guns.. Samantha Likes her teams chances.. The fellowship of Florence was about to meet the best field team in Threshold’s history.

Scratch. ABT Copyright © 2007

Light in the Black.



Tuesday December 10th, 2069. Threshold head quarters Langley Virginia. 0300 hrs. They summon her to ward seven room 208, Samantha Bliss has buried a lot of friends in this struggle with the reds, she is expecting bad news as she knows that room number. She is going to see Roxanne Johns, one of her closest friends alive, Roxx has been through it all with her, stood and fought as hard as any man, her heart is heavy as she turns the corner and sees the doctor standing in the hallway, and when he usher’s her inside the room she sees Priss standing beside of the bed gently stroking Roxx’s hair. It seems as though her heart stops beating until she sees Roxanne John’s beautiful blue eyes staring up at her, and for the first time in many years Samantha Bliss can feel the tears forming in her eyes. Roxx’s hand gently squeeze’s hers and she can hear Priss’s words whisper to her.
“She’s going to live.”

Second stage.



When they enter conference room #2 both Samantha Bliss and Priss recognize the map of Canns Landing on the wall, both have been in the zone many times. The director of field operations Arnold Winthrop and the deputy director William Strong both enter the room and greet the two field agents. He tells them that before they get to business that he is relieved to hear the good news of Roxx’s awakening, and that they will be getting team Alpha a temporary replacement, until she has made a full recovery. Samantha shakes her head at the offer.
“If its all the same to you Mr. Director we would like to have Priss fully instated as a member of team Alpha.”
He nods.
“With all of that aside, we need to attend to other matters agent Bliss, our field intelligence has discovered who has the second half of the stone, we still don’t know exactly where it is but we know who has it. But as of now there is another matter that requires investigation.”
Samantha nods as Priss leans forward to study the map of Canns Landing.
“Something is happening in the corridor again?”
“Yes Samantha, we just don’t know exactly what.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You and your team have had exchanges with the reds in that vicinity well after nightfall, but there would appear to be something there that they have no wish to be involved in.”
“ I still don’t understand Mr. Director.”
She looks over at Priss, who seems equally confused.
The Director of field operations for Threshold rises from his chair and walks over to the map that hangs from the wall of Canns Landing.
“You are both familiar with a seven mile stretch of road in that region called Florence Street ?”
“Yeah I have heard of it,” Priss tells him. “It is not far from General Cuji’s outpost near the corridor.”
“ Florence street has supposedly been deserted since the beginning of the reds occupation. ” Samantha adds.
“Yes well, something is happening on Florence street, after the sun goes down that has them petrified of it. we are still gathering intel on this but from what our satellite images tell us, there is plenty of reds activity there during the day, but as soon as nightfall there is absolutely nothing, not one heat signature, it seems as though they run for cover, it is very strange.”
“And you want us for THIS?”
“Well there is a bit more to it Sam.”
“Tell us please.”
“We sent a three person team in to investigate the area, we haven’t heard from them in six days. We need you to go find them and see what’s happening on Florence Street. Oh and Sam?”
“Yes?”
“We think that the General Cuji that Priss mentioned has a part of the stone.”
“Wonderful.”

Looking to the Future.



She slowly turns around under the watchful stare of Samantha Bliss, and stops in one place as though awaiting her approval. Her arms slowly drift to her side.
“Well Samantha Bliss? what do you think?.”
The black and red leather uniform with the large red “T” across the left breast clings tightly to every well proportioned curve of her body, Priss studies the look on Samantha Bliss’s face.
“You look good in that uniform Priss, wear it with pride, and don’t worry about what anyone says to you, you’re a member of team Alpha now.”
She looks down the length of her body and then back up at Samantha.
“I think it’s a little too tight around my butt.”
Samantha casts a suspicious glance quickly in Klinger and Milo Trippers directions. They are both are staring at the floor trying desperately to act normal.
“Do you two have business to attend to?”
They both nod and turn to leave once outside in the hall Milo turns to face Klinger.
“Chit buddy.. After seeing that I don’t blame you.. I’d want to jump her bones too.”
Klinger says nothing in response, but the look of disdain that he gives Milo Tripper speaks volumes of his disapproval of his last statement. Halfway down the hall they stop again as Klinger turns to face Milo Tripper.
“Yes big guy?”
Klinger gives him a blank stare.
“Well.. At least I don’t have fantasies about humping the boss.”
They both walk around the corner in silence until…
“Good comeback.”
“Yep.”
They both head for the mess hall. Soon they would find themselves in assignment waiting for last minute instructions from team leader Samantha Bliss before they were to return to the Canns Landing Corridor.

Scratch. ABT Copyright © 2007.

The Fellowship Of Florence Street.



They know that they were lucky to have escaped from the threshold agents that had them across the old industrial park just to the east of the Canns Landing corridor. The two reds calling themselves Lugz and Thed, were fortunate indeed to have eluded their pursuers. But they also know that they haven’t even reached Fremont street yet, and it is almost sundown, and what waits for them in the three blocks along each side of Florence Street is far worse than anything that Threshold agents would put them through. During the daylight hours the reds are free to roam the vicinity as they wish but after dark Florence Street becomes a different animal to them. There are whispers in the reds ranks, fearful whispers, of what lives in this place just beyond the shadows. The great red general Cuji does not understand this, what on this plane could hells finest possibly have to fear? Aren’t demons supposed to be the ones who instill fear in humans? What kind of human lives in this place? Despite his confusion and frustration, General Cuji has lost a great many red soldiers in the six block radius surrounding Florence and Fremont, and has placed a curfew on all of his soldiers who hazard its paths. Stay away come sundown. “There will be no help for you there.” he tells his soldiers. “To survive, you must adapt to the ways of the humans. If this body is taken from you, if you die here, you will never return to this place, you must guard your selves from harm for the greater good of our cause here, be wary Sons of Hell. This is a land of many perils, one that will not suffer fools.”

Pride and Fear.



Lugz and Thed now stand at the edge of Fremont St, and the as the sunlight slowing travels down the sides of the decaying buildings of the once bustling commerce district of Fremont street, they know that they are too far from the reds outpost. It is at this moment that they must make a fatal decision, find a place to hide until morning, or brave the perils of Florence St and the surrounding area. they make their way slowly across Fremont and head towards Florence, it is cold here, so cold they can see the breath as it slowly escapes their lungs, the anticipation of what waits for them has quickened their pace. They round the west corner of the remnants of the half destroyed Harden Hotel. There hasn’t been any electricity here since the beginning of the reds occupation, the sign hangs unlit serving as little more than an eerie reminder of what once was. Tonight there will be no light, man made or otherwise to offer them safe haven in this place. They slowly shuffle down the sidewalk and a half block down something has caught their attention, as they move closer, they can see the image of a head from a freshly decapitated red soldier, it is stuck on the top of an old parking meter, its horns freshly ripped from its skull, its eyes have been cut out, and it has no tongue in its mouth. Below it there is a message written it its own blood: “Death Comes For All Living Things..” Each sucks in a breath of the cold night air.. As the distant sounds of running feet begin to surround them, and then they hear nothing but the sounds of their own heartbeats. In the middle of the deserted street stands a lone hooded figure, and in its hands, there is a long metal shaft, with a sweeping steel blade half of its length at the end. When they see the light of the now full moon softly reflect along its sharpened edges, they know they have come too far. There is no welcome for demons in these shadows, there will be no smoke and mirrors to scare away the poor defenseless humans this night, and there will be no escape for them here, no magical plum of smoke to carry them away to another plane of existence. Here they are trapped in these fragile bodies of flesh and bone. Here there is precious blood flowing through their veins, here they are living breathing entities, here they will soon know of fear.

Scratch ABT Copyright © 2007

Uplift.



They watch in silence from behind the wall of glass that separates them from her, each of them struggling silently with their own thoughts, each fighting the same battle over and over again in their minds wondering, what could I have done differently to spare her from this?. Why did I come through it in one piece while she lays there clinging to life. Her face has color but there are I V tubes sticking out of her body seemingly going in every conceivable direction, as the woman they know as a friend, a teammate, the one that has always jumped into the fire with them time after time, their sister Roxx fights for her life. Twitch, Thump and Cowboy have barely left her since they returned to Threshold, Klinger’s thoughts soon return to Priss, he wonders how she is holding up to the scrutiny of the Threshold board of reviews.

Reaching..



Saturday, December 7th, 2069. 1600 hrs, Threshold headquarters, Langley Virginia, debrief room #3.
She sits in front of the board patiently fielding their questions, making her own observations of the events that led up to the reds attack on team Alpha outside of the Storm drain just one mile from Mordes Keep, but it is only when she speaks of the attack inside of Krotas’s palace that she has the undivided attention of the chief of reviews.
“ The way you describe your personal attack on general Krotas, it sounds rather venomous on your part Miss Priss, we are really trying to understand here-”
She folds her arms in front of her chest, and considers the question carefully before answering. She rises from her chair slowly and addresses them directly.
“May I ask this panel a question of my own?”
A long uncomfortable silence follows. The chief of reviews finally nods his approval in her direction.
“ My species not withstanding, does any member of this panel know what it is to be a female, human or otherwise?”
“With all due respect Miss Priss, this panel is comprised of men. There is no way that any of us could answer that question.”
“ So.. Master chief.. Do any of you know what it feels like to have been beaten and raped repeatedly?”
The room falls silent. They do not answer.
“This panel wonders.. About my loyalties? About my venom towards the males of my species? I was brought here specifically for the purpose of sexually servicing the male reds, the women of my species are beaten, kicked, and raped on a daily basis master chief. It is true that while Threshold can use my services to help them against the red army, Threshold has given me my freedom in return, for this I give you my loyalty. It is my hopes that in my service that I may help to free other females who have suffered at the hands of these curs.”
She explains the events up to the time that Roxx is shot, with great detail, Klinger and Milo protecting the rear, to the time when they rendezvous with the pick up vessel. When it is concluded that no member of team Alpha was at fault in the shooting of Roxx, Priss is dismissed to rejoin Samantha Bliss and the others.

Roxx..



She is sitting in the hallway on the floor outside of Roxx’s room, when Klinger and Samantha Bliss find her there half asleep. Samantha bends down to see if Priss is awake. When she raises her head she sees Klinger and becomes more alert.
“Samantha? How is Roxx holding up?”
Samantha Bliss’s smile slowly fades, and her look becomes one of concern.
“She made it through surgery, but its touch and go right now, they say she’s got a fifty, fifty chance of pulling through, we're staying put for now until we know more, they’re giving us a couple of days to recuperate.”
“And what have they done with our newest guest Sil?”
Samantha Smiles.
“We were just on our way to go and check on her, she’s sleeping in the one of the dorms, of course she is being guarded. Although I suspect that she doesn’t need a lot of protection.”
Priss nods.
“Samantha.. I feel very bad about.. Well.. You know.. Roxx getting shot and all.”
“Well.. You shouldn’t, you carried her to the boat Priss. Like you said you were going to. Every step of the way, she’s alive because you kept up the pace, you didn’t let anybody or anything stop you why don’t you go get some sleep.”
She stands and turns toward the dorm, she walks down the corridor stopping momentarily by the door of Roxx’s room. She pause’s and rests her palm on the flat of the door as if trying to reach into her.
“I’m sorry Roxx.”

Scratch. ABT Copyright © 2007