Heroes and Demons [2.0]
Under the fading dark of night, Dragoon, once known as Onzi Jarek, closed the door with his clean hand. With the same hand he pulled his hood over his head and started towards the center of the city, his head facing the ground to avoid any unnecessary attention. From his pocket he pulled out a rag and wiped the blood from his midnight-black outer skin. He finished cleaning up and shoved the rag into his pocket.
Tonight had been unproductive. He’d gone to more than three apartments, visited three Giants, and hadn’t gained any information. He hadn’t always been like this. Ever since that night nine years ago, Dragoon had been watching the Giants. He’d kept track of them, but had never hunted them… or interrogated them. Until six months ago, that is.
Everything had changed because of the accident. A meteor. Who would have thought that a meteor would have done this to him? Dragoon stopped, his hands balling into fists. His face flushed, his ears burned. Six months ago the meteor he had stopped living the normal life. Because of his… metamorphosis, Dragoon had begun his search for the one who had ended his sister’s life.
Everything is so different, he thought to himself. And I can’t even find them. He clenched his hands tighter. The rage coursed through his body. A picture of his sister of when she was alive flashed through his mind; her young, tender face, those beautiful hazel eyes. It was soon replaced by a face much like hers, but swollen and purple. Blood covered the top of her head and dripped into her eyes. Dragoon shuddered and exhaled sharply.
He turned into a dark alley to his right and strode to the end, his body shaking. At the end of the alley, he raised his fists and, without looking around for bystanders, began to pummel the walls with a flurry of blows. Under such furious pressure, the brick wall crumbled bit by bit. Dragoon threw a punch with his left hand, then his right, then three quick blows with his left. He wanted to scream, to shout, but all the while he was silent. The only sounds that could be heard were the impact of his fists and his shallow breaths.
The rate at which he was punching dropped until he had stopped completely. He turned his back to the wall and sagged to the ground. His back heaved as he cried. Though he couldn’t shed tears, Dragoon moaned and breathed in sharply. It was a wonder that he had kept himself together for so long; it had helped that the police had been chasing him for months, which kept him busy. Now though he had time to think, and what he saw scared him.
It made him angry.
As Dragoon stopped crying, he looked at large his hands, which were covered in a black alien substance, or rather, an organism. Six months prior, when a meteor had hit outside of Crisis city, he had gone with some friends to investigate, but things didn’t go according to plan. The black organism had attacked him and molded itself to him, covering his entire body, and because of that the government had imprisoned him. He had grown two extra arms and eventually escaped. However, they had been hunting him for months. He couldn’t visit his family or his girlfriend. Not now. No, now he had to make things right.
I’m not getting anywhere, though, he thought. This is all It’s fault. It did this to me. It caused all of this. It--he paused. He was letting his emotions get the better of him. His anger had gotten out of control. No. This alien, it’s only ever helped me. I can use it. I can go further.
Soon, he would find his sister’s killer or killers, and he would make them pay.
Get up, whispered a fluid familiar voice that was so much like his own voice that he almost missed the subtle difference. It was the difference between warm water and lukewarm water.
Nevertheless, another one of his episodes having concluded,Dragoon pushed himself off the ground. They were becoming more frequent, but that wouldn’t stop him from finding the Giants. So he stood, cracked his knuckles, and walked out of the alleyway.
Dragoon soon took note of the dull yellow rays of light penetrating the hungry clouds in the east. Looking towards the center of the city, he remembered what he had been told some few nights ago by a low level Giant thug. Apparently there was an apartment building down near Terra Co’s building in the center of the city. One of the Giants’ lieutenants lived there and Dragoon had finished his business, so he’d be able to pay him a visit in the time he had before he had to go back into hiding.
Dragoon set off in that direction, then paused. Something caught his attention, something that wasn’t quite right. It was the light to the east. It wasn’t its normal color; it was more dull than normal. He shivered as the alien-suit cooled. Something wasn’t right.
As he walked in uncomfortable silence, more and more people came outside for work and joined him on the sidewalk. The majority of them walked in the same direction he was headed. Most people usually worked in the center of the city, which was the industrial part of Crisis City. There were enormous skyscrapers for the most important companies, like Terra Co, where huge amounts of employees were required to work make sure the companies could run smoothly. Dragoon had gone to school at Crisis University, which was situated in that area.
He pulled his hoodie down a little farther, feeling his skin become colder and itchy. This discomfort made Dragoon cautious; he’d never felt anything like this before. He scanned the crowd discreetly, keeping his head down. Here and there he glanced behind him, but he couldn’t see anyone. No one seemed to be following him or watching him. Still, a cold hand gripped his stomach and crushed it under its icy fingers.
A few minutes had passed by when Dragoon spotted someone that made his hairs want to stand up on end, and he didn’t know why. It was a boy who couldn’t have been older than twenty, maybe younger. His clothes were tattered beyond repair, probably from years of living on the street. He had a darker face and his eyebrows were knitted together, as if he was confused about something. Dragoon didn’t know why, but there was something menacing about this character. Something about him caused a fire to burn hot in Dragoon’s stomach.
He clenched his fists, the heat pouring into his face and ears once more. Maybe he’s a Giant, Dragoon thought fluidly, he fists closing even tighter. His head was on fire. He could feel the fire intensifying, becoming a bonfire, as he came closer. Yeah... Yeah, he has to be a Giant. He’s looking for someone, thinks he’s being followed. Someone must have warned him about me.
By now Dragoon’s fists began to shake with an intensity that he had never known. His heart raced. Every instinct he had screamed at him to make this boy pay. He pushed through the crowd of people to the right side of the walkway, which was the same side the boy was walking on. Dragoon quickened his pace. His whole body shook in anticipation. He’d never felt like this before. About ten feet away from the boy, Dragoon could barely contain himself anymore.
The boy looked up. He spotted Dragoon and stopped in his tracks, his mouth opening and eyes widening in shock. Fearing he would run, Dragoon closed the gap with a jump and grabbed the boy. People around him jumped back and shouted, but he hardly noticed. The boy tried to stop him, tried to break his grip, but Dragoon knew it wouldn’t happen. He looked upwards for a suitable location and found one in a three story building on the opposite side of the street. The boy kicked and shouted incoherently, but Dragoon hardly heard him. He crouched, braced his legs, and jumped.
They soared through the air, the boy fighting him for the moment. His second pair of arms tore out of his sweatshirt and grabbed hold of the boy’s wrists. Presently, they landed with a thud on the edge of the building. Dragoon’s body shook violently. He walked towards the door leading to the inside of the building and pressed the protesting boy up against it. The boy coughed, inhaled sharply, and was silent, but his body shook furiously.
Dragoon could only guess what he was thinking. Here he was face to face with the Soldier of Crisis city, the Dragoon, the faceless man. All that the boy could see was a jet black face with a silver slit that covered his eyes. In this city, it was the face of death or the face of salvation.
“I’m going to ask you one question, and you’re going to answer,” Dragoon said, finally.
The boy’s face contorted in fear. He shook his head. “You’re gonna let it out,” he whispered.
Dragoon let go of his chest with two hands and punched the wall behind the boy. He was not in the mood for games. There was no time for this.
“Don’t mess with me, boy,” Dragoon growled. “Who murdered my sister? Who? I know you know!”
The boy shook his head violently, squeezing his eyes shut. “No. No. No. No. I can’t. I don’t know. You have to stop. Please.”
Dragoon gritted his teeth. What was he talking about? Dragoon tightened his grip on his wrists and brought his face closer to the boy’s. The boy squeezed his eyes further and turned his head to the side.
“What’s your name?” Dragoon asked, his tone rough.
“I’m De… No. I’m Alejandro,” he said. Tears welled up in the corners of his eyes.
Dragoon squeezed his wrists harder. “Al,” he sneered, “tell me what you know. Tell me! I know you’re a Giant. So tell me what you know.”
The boy sobbed, his head shaking. Then he growled. His eyes opened. They were orbs of the same dull yellow he had seen earlier. The same discomfort from before returned “I. Know. Nothing,” the boy screamed.
Dragoon huffed and threw the Al to the ground. Al landed in a heap on the roof. He rose to his knees and arms and convulsed, screamed. Leaning over Al, Dragoon pulled back his two right fists for a punch--but he stopped short. To his horror, Al began to grow, a purple ooze--much like Dragoon’s own suit--replacing his skin, his muscles becoming larger, and claws emerging from his hands and feet. A large tail extended out of his tailbone area.
What was all stood at its full height, which must have been seven feet, and turned around. Dragoon was horrified at what he saw. Al’s face had been replaced by something out a nightmare. The first thing he noticed were the yellow eyes. They were long and had no irises. The back of its head was elongated, and he now had long sharp teeth and a giant mouth. It was a monster. It was a Demon.
“KILL!” it roared, and leapt at him.
As frightening as it was, Dragoon had never been injured by much since he’d gotten in his suit so he stood his ground. The Demon swiped at Dragoon’s shoulder. Dragoon could feel his suit harden. The Demon’s claw smashed into his shoulder and sent Dragoon crashing into the wall. He shook his head and realized very quickly that this beast was not what he had expected.
Again, it charged as foam rushed from its mouth. Dragoon stood immediately and readied himself, spreading out his four arms. The Demon attacked with both claws this time, but Dragoon was ready. He ducked one of the claws and kicked the other one away. Then, with his left arms, he grabbed the Demon by the arm and used its momentum to throw it. It flew across the street and smashed through a second story window, destroying furniture and crashing into a large television. Dragoon ran at full speed and jumped the gap, sliding into the apartment head first and using his arms to launch himself at the Demon.
I have no idea what I’m doing, Dragoon realized mid-jump.
His prophecy turned out to be true. The Demon jumped up with unparalleled speed and tail whipped him. Dragoon crashed into the wall, breaking through the first layer of drywall and then through it altogether. After skidding along the floor he landed against the far wall. From the other room, Al, this Demon, tore the walls open and entered the room. Its throat produced a ear piercing sound like a chair scraping against the floor.
“What the hell are you?” he muttered.
The Demon stopped and cocked it’s head, a malicious grin creeping onto its face. “I. Kill. You.”
“Not if I kill you first, you bastard,” Dragoon promised. The Demon got down on all four limbs and sauntered forwards.
Dragoon took this opportunity to stand. He might have to put his other powers into use. Just before the Demon was about to charge, Dragoon disappeared, his cloaking abilities kicking in. The Demon halted. He could barely make out the subtle changes in its eyes as it scanned the room from left to right. Dragoons heart beat like a drum. He tiptoed to the left silently, making sure he was always facing the Demon. It tilted it lifted it head into the air and closed its eyes.
Dragoon leaped at him. When he was midway through the air, the Demon sensed the movement and shot his tail out, but it was too late. Dragoon crashed into the Demon’s hind quarters, just barely missing the swipe of the tail. Together they hit the wall. Dragoon was the first one up, pulling his arms around its torso and interlocking his fingers. He stopped his cloaking and squeezed with everything he had.
Holding onto the Demon was like trying to stop a freight train; it just wasn’t going to happen. Dragoon could feel its body rippling with pure muscle as it struggled and lashed at him with its tail. The tail smacked him in the head with enough power to knock a normal man out, but Dragoon held fast. He pushed the struggling Demon to the ground and released it, but using his fists to pummel it. His fists rained down furiously on the Demon, which roared and shook him off.
Dragoon rolled to the nearest wall, his chest moving rapidly as he breathed. There was no time to waste though. The Demon had pounced on him like lightning. Dragoon managed to dodge several blows but was caught in the side by its tail. He sucked in a breath and flinched. That was all the time the Demon needed. It grabbed him around the waist with his tail and hit him against the wall, then another wall, and another. Dragoon’s eyes became unfocused, his head hurt. He struggled against the Demon’s tail, but it was like a vicegrip. No matter how hard he punched, it wouldn’t let go.
Again he hit the wall, but this time he went sailing out into the streets. He hit the ground and rolled into the side of an incoming car, which hit another car and stopped. Dragoon shook his head and moaned. He hadn’t been beaten like this in a long time. Flopping onto his stomach, he pushed himself back up, readying himself to finish the fight.
I’m not done yet, he thought, defiantly putting his arms into a fighting stance.
Far in the distance Dragoon heard a sound: sirens. The whole city was about to get involved. Better finish him off before they get here, he thought. Let’s end this.
After jumping from the building the Demon landed and looked Dragoon straight in the eyes. It gave him a wicked toothy smile.
Under the fading dark of night, Dragoon, once known as Onzi Jarek, closed the door with his clean hand. With the same hand he pulled his hood over his head and started towards the center of the city, his head facing the ground to avoid any unnecessary attention. From his pocket he pulled out a rag and wiped the blood from his midnight-black outer skin. He finished cleaning up and shoved the rag into his pocket.
Tonight had been unproductive. He’d gone to more than three apartments, visited three Giants, and hadn’t gained any information. He hadn’t always been like this. Ever since that night nine years ago, Dragoon had been watching the Giants. He’d kept track of them, but had never hunted them… or interrogated them. Until six months ago, that is.
Everything had changed because of the accident. A meteor. Who would have thought that a meteor would have done this to him? Dragoon stopped, his hands balling into fists. His face flushed, his ears burned. Six months ago the meteor he had stopped living the normal life. Because of his… metamorphosis, Dragoon had begun his search for the one who had ended his sister’s life.
Everything is so different, he thought to himself. And I can’t even find them. He clenched his hands tighter. The rage coursed through his body. A picture of his sister of when she was alive flashed through his mind; her young, tender face, those beautiful hazel eyes. It was soon replaced by a face much like hers, but swollen and purple. Blood covered the top of her head and dripped into her eyes. Dragoon shuddered and exhaled sharply.
He turned into a dark alley to his right and strode to the end, his body shaking. At the end of the alley, he raised his fists and, without looking around for bystanders, began to pummel the walls with a flurry of blows. Under such furious pressure, the brick wall crumbled bit by bit. Dragoon threw a punch with his left hand, then his right, then three quick blows with his left. He wanted to scream, to shout, but all the while he was silent. The only sounds that could be heard were the impact of his fists and his shallow breaths.
The rate at which he was punching dropped until he had stopped completely. He turned his back to the wall and sagged to the ground. His back heaved as he cried. Though he couldn’t shed tears, Dragoon moaned and breathed in sharply. It was a wonder that he had kept himself together for so long; it had helped that the police had been chasing him for months, which kept him busy. Now though he had time to think, and what he saw scared him.
It made him angry.
As Dragoon stopped crying, he looked at large his hands, which were covered in a black alien substance, or rather, an organism. Six months prior, when a meteor had hit outside of Crisis city, he had gone with some friends to investigate, but things didn’t go according to plan. The black organism had attacked him and molded itself to him, covering his entire body, and because of that the government had imprisoned him. He had grown two extra arms and eventually escaped. However, they had been hunting him for months. He couldn’t visit his family or his girlfriend. Not now. No, now he had to make things right.
I’m not getting anywhere, though, he thought. This is all It’s fault. It did this to me. It caused all of this. It--he paused. He was letting his emotions get the better of him. His anger had gotten out of control. No. This alien, it’s only ever helped me. I can use it. I can go further.
Soon, he would find his sister’s killer or killers, and he would make them pay.
Get up, whispered a fluid familiar voice that was so much like his own voice that he almost missed the subtle difference. It was the difference between warm water and lukewarm water.
Nevertheless, another one of his episodes having concluded,Dragoon pushed himself off the ground. They were becoming more frequent, but that wouldn’t stop him from finding the Giants. So he stood, cracked his knuckles, and walked out of the alleyway.
Dragoon soon took note of the dull yellow rays of light penetrating the hungry clouds in the east. Looking towards the center of the city, he remembered what he had been told some few nights ago by a low level Giant thug. Apparently there was an apartment building down near Terra Co’s building in the center of the city. One of the Giants’ lieutenants lived there and Dragoon had finished his business, so he’d be able to pay him a visit in the time he had before he had to go back into hiding.
Dragoon set off in that direction, then paused. Something caught his attention, something that wasn’t quite right. It was the light to the east. It wasn’t its normal color; it was more dull than normal. He shivered as the alien-suit cooled. Something wasn’t right.
As he walked in uncomfortable silence, more and more people came outside for work and joined him on the sidewalk. The majority of them walked in the same direction he was headed. Most people usually worked in the center of the city, which was the industrial part of Crisis City. There were enormous skyscrapers for the most important companies, like Terra Co, where huge amounts of employees were required to work make sure the companies could run smoothly. Dragoon had gone to school at Crisis University, which was situated in that area.
He pulled his hoodie down a little farther, feeling his skin become colder and itchy. This discomfort made Dragoon cautious; he’d never felt anything like this before. He scanned the crowd discreetly, keeping his head down. Here and there he glanced behind him, but he couldn’t see anyone. No one seemed to be following him or watching him. Still, a cold hand gripped his stomach and crushed it under its icy fingers.
A few minutes had passed by when Dragoon spotted someone that made his hairs want to stand up on end, and he didn’t know why. It was a boy who couldn’t have been older than twenty, maybe younger. His clothes were tattered beyond repair, probably from years of living on the street. He had a darker face and his eyebrows were knitted together, as if he was confused about something. Dragoon didn’t know why, but there was something menacing about this character. Something about him caused a fire to burn hot in Dragoon’s stomach.
He clenched his fists, the heat pouring into his face and ears once more. Maybe he’s a Giant, Dragoon thought fluidly, he fists closing even tighter. His head was on fire. He could feel the fire intensifying, becoming a bonfire, as he came closer. Yeah... Yeah, he has to be a Giant. He’s looking for someone, thinks he’s being followed. Someone must have warned him about me.
By now Dragoon’s fists began to shake with an intensity that he had never known. His heart raced. Every instinct he had screamed at him to make this boy pay. He pushed through the crowd of people to the right side of the walkway, which was the same side the boy was walking on. Dragoon quickened his pace. His whole body shook in anticipation. He’d never felt like this before. About ten feet away from the boy, Dragoon could barely contain himself anymore.
The boy looked up. He spotted Dragoon and stopped in his tracks, his mouth opening and eyes widening in shock. Fearing he would run, Dragoon closed the gap with a jump and grabbed the boy. People around him jumped back and shouted, but he hardly noticed. The boy tried to stop him, tried to break his grip, but Dragoon knew it wouldn’t happen. He looked upwards for a suitable location and found one in a three story building on the opposite side of the street. The boy kicked and shouted incoherently, but Dragoon hardly heard him. He crouched, braced his legs, and jumped.
They soared through the air, the boy fighting him for the moment. His second pair of arms tore out of his sweatshirt and grabbed hold of the boy’s wrists. Presently, they landed with a thud on the edge of the building. Dragoon’s body shook violently. He walked towards the door leading to the inside of the building and pressed the protesting boy up against it. The boy coughed, inhaled sharply, and was silent, but his body shook furiously.
Dragoon could only guess what he was thinking. Here he was face to face with the Soldier of Crisis city, the Dragoon, the faceless man. All that the boy could see was a jet black face with a silver slit that covered his eyes. In this city, it was the face of death or the face of salvation.
“I’m going to ask you one question, and you’re going to answer,” Dragoon said, finally.
The boy’s face contorted in fear. He shook his head. “You’re gonna let it out,” he whispered.
Dragoon let go of his chest with two hands and punched the wall behind the boy. He was not in the mood for games. There was no time for this.
“Don’t mess with me, boy,” Dragoon growled. “Who murdered my sister? Who? I know you know!”
The boy shook his head violently, squeezing his eyes shut. “No. No. No. No. I can’t. I don’t know. You have to stop. Please.”
Dragoon gritted his teeth. What was he talking about? Dragoon tightened his grip on his wrists and brought his face closer to the boy’s. The boy squeezed his eyes further and turned his head to the side.
“What’s your name?” Dragoon asked, his tone rough.
“I’m De… No. I’m Alejandro,” he said. Tears welled up in the corners of his eyes.
Dragoon squeezed his wrists harder. “Al,” he sneered, “tell me what you know. Tell me! I know you’re a Giant. So tell me what you know.”
The boy sobbed, his head shaking. Then he growled. His eyes opened. They were orbs of the same dull yellow he had seen earlier. The same discomfort from before returned “I. Know. Nothing,” the boy screamed.
Dragoon huffed and threw the Al to the ground. Al landed in a heap on the roof. He rose to his knees and arms and convulsed, screamed. Leaning over Al, Dragoon pulled back his two right fists for a punch--but he stopped short. To his horror, Al began to grow, a purple ooze--much like Dragoon’s own suit--replacing his skin, his muscles becoming larger, and claws emerging from his hands and feet. A large tail extended out of his tailbone area.
What was all stood at its full height, which must have been seven feet, and turned around. Dragoon was horrified at what he saw. Al’s face had been replaced by something out a nightmare. The first thing he noticed were the yellow eyes. They were long and had no irises. The back of its head was elongated, and he now had long sharp teeth and a giant mouth. It was a monster. It was a Demon.
“KILL!” it roared, and leapt at him.
As frightening as it was, Dragoon had never been injured by much since he’d gotten in his suit so he stood his ground. The Demon swiped at Dragoon’s shoulder. Dragoon could feel his suit harden. The Demon’s claw smashed into his shoulder and sent Dragoon crashing into the wall. He shook his head and realized very quickly that this beast was not what he had expected.
Again, it charged as foam rushed from its mouth. Dragoon stood immediately and readied himself, spreading out his four arms. The Demon attacked with both claws this time, but Dragoon was ready. He ducked one of the claws and kicked the other one away. Then, with his left arms, he grabbed the Demon by the arm and used its momentum to throw it. It flew across the street and smashed through a second story window, destroying furniture and crashing into a large television. Dragoon ran at full speed and jumped the gap, sliding into the apartment head first and using his arms to launch himself at the Demon.
I have no idea what I’m doing, Dragoon realized mid-jump.
His prophecy turned out to be true. The Demon jumped up with unparalleled speed and tail whipped him. Dragoon crashed into the wall, breaking through the first layer of drywall and then through it altogether. After skidding along the floor he landed against the far wall. From the other room, Al, this Demon, tore the walls open and entered the room. Its throat produced a ear piercing sound like a chair scraping against the floor.
“What the hell are you?” he muttered.
The Demon stopped and cocked it’s head, a malicious grin creeping onto its face. “I. Kill. You.”
“Not if I kill you first, you bastard,” Dragoon promised. The Demon got down on all four limbs and sauntered forwards.
Dragoon took this opportunity to stand. He might have to put his other powers into use. Just before the Demon was about to charge, Dragoon disappeared, his cloaking abilities kicking in. The Demon halted. He could barely make out the subtle changes in its eyes as it scanned the room from left to right. Dragoons heart beat like a drum. He tiptoed to the left silently, making sure he was always facing the Demon. It tilted it lifted it head into the air and closed its eyes.
Dragoon leaped at him. When he was midway through the air, the Demon sensed the movement and shot his tail out, but it was too late. Dragoon crashed into the Demon’s hind quarters, just barely missing the swipe of the tail. Together they hit the wall. Dragoon was the first one up, pulling his arms around its torso and interlocking his fingers. He stopped his cloaking and squeezed with everything he had.
Holding onto the Demon was like trying to stop a freight train; it just wasn’t going to happen. Dragoon could feel its body rippling with pure muscle as it struggled and lashed at him with its tail. The tail smacked him in the head with enough power to knock a normal man out, but Dragoon held fast. He pushed the struggling Demon to the ground and released it, but using his fists to pummel it. His fists rained down furiously on the Demon, which roared and shook him off.
Dragoon rolled to the nearest wall, his chest moving rapidly as he breathed. There was no time to waste though. The Demon had pounced on him like lightning. Dragoon managed to dodge several blows but was caught in the side by its tail. He sucked in a breath and flinched. That was all the time the Demon needed. It grabbed him around the waist with his tail and hit him against the wall, then another wall, and another. Dragoon’s eyes became unfocused, his head hurt. He struggled against the Demon’s tail, but it was like a vicegrip. No matter how hard he punched, it wouldn’t let go.
Again he hit the wall, but this time he went sailing out into the streets. He hit the ground and rolled into the side of an incoming car, which hit another car and stopped. Dragoon shook his head and moaned. He hadn’t been beaten like this in a long time. Flopping onto his stomach, he pushed himself back up, readying himself to finish the fight.
I’m not done yet, he thought, defiantly putting his arms into a fighting stance.
Far in the distance Dragoon heard a sound: sirens. The whole city was about to get involved. Better finish him off before they get here, he thought. Let’s end this.
After jumping from the building the Demon landed and looked Dragoon straight in the eyes. It gave him a wicked toothy smile.
Last edited by Doctor Jensen on April 25th 2016, 12:43 am; edited 1 time in total