The "From The Pages Of..." Comics Universe RPG

[Byrd Man]

​

Mid-World

The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.

The desert was the apotheosis of all the deserts, huge, standing to the sky for what looked like eternity in all directions.

The Gunslinger marched on through the endless sand. From the campfire leavings and the man in black's droppings, he was no more than two days ahead of him.

"Skaa!!"

A crow cawed as it flew close by his barehead with a chunk of rat in it's mouth.

He marched on, his holsters swayed as he walked, the heavy guns swinging in the holsters fine oiled leather. The guns were his birthright, passsed down from Arthur Eld himself.

The sun was slowly sinking as he stopped on a ridge and look down at the sprawling desert below.

With his hawkeye's, the gunslinger spyed a black figure marching towards the hazey moutains miles away. He was heading towards the moutains, to palaver with the King himself.

Here he was, only mere days from the man in black. The same man who had seduced his mother and had helped The Good man, John Farson kill his father, Steven Deschain, and bring down the fall of the gunsliger's home Gilead. He would remember the face of his father as he took Marten Broadcloak's life, something he should have done the day he won his guns from Cort.

The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.

​

*************
​

Night had almost graced the land as The Gunslinger started to make camp. He used the bits of devil grass that graced the land as kindling, for it was the only bit of vegetation that grew in the harsh desert.

He sat cross-legged by the fire as he used the last little bits of tobacco in his pouch to roll a cigarette. He had last restocked his supplies in Tull, a town that, thanks to him, was as dead as this endless desert.

He pushed these thoughts out of his mind as he inhaled the tobacco deeply and savored it's flavor. If his thoughts didn't haunt him tonight, he might just find his hand before he falls to sleep.

Slowly, his eyes grow heavy. Even though he does not mean it, his thoughts drift towards Tull, Susan, his father, and Cuthbert and Alain.

The ghosts of his past haunted him.​

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"Hello, Mr. Manning", Ray smiled at the balding man standing in front of him.

"Ray, Egon, Winston...Venkman", Dr. Manning greeted with obvious difficulty when it came to acknowledging Peter.

"Why, it's lovely to see you too, sir", Peter replies with a mocking smile.
"Might I say, that is a fantastic toupee you're wearing. Looks positively real."

"Winston, could you tell that thing was a fake when you first saw it", a grinning Venkman asks as he puts his arm around Zeddemore.

"Enough", Ray says, nipping Venkman's rant in the bud.

"So, I hear you have something for me", Manning finally asks.

"Oh yeah, and believe you me when I say we're in some serious trouble."

--------------------

"And, as you can see", Egon went on as the the gang sat in a briefing room along with Manning and one of his agents, Liz Sherman.

"The phenomena is beginning to occur throughout the world", Egon went on as Manning flipped through the file Ray and Egon had prepared.

"It's only been in a few random spots as of now, but the crossover events are beginning to occur more rapidly."

"And they're letting in some real nasty critters too."

"Yeah, just last week we fought some ugly lookin' sucker up in the Bronx. Called the Violator or somethin'."

"Yeah", Ray exclaims excitedly, "a mean class 7 demonic manifestation! It was great!"

"Down, Ray."

"Eventually", Egon began, bringing everyone back to the matter at hand.
"Eventually, this other dimension that is crossing over will have weakened the barriers enough that nothing will stop it from taking over our world."

"We need to stop this thing before it's too late", Ray said gravely to Manning after a few moments of silence.

Manning sat there looking at the information provided to him and then up at the Ghostbusters.

"All right, you boys are working with us on this one", Manning finally said.

"You guys better get ready. You leave for Alaska in one hour", Manning states as he gets up from his seat.

"Alaska", Venkman repeats in surprise.
"Can't we go investigate Maui, or maybe Rio? Or how about any place warmer?"

"Liz, you'll be accompanying the Ghostbusters. Once in Alaska, contact Hellboy and join the ongoing investigation."

"Being stuck in a plane for six hours with Ms. Sherman? Why, maybe Alaska won't be so bad after all", Peter smiles as he winks to Liz.

"Great. This is going to be a fun trip", Liz sighs as she rolls her eyes.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

****in' Hype.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"So, Liz", Venkman smiles as the plane rocks a bit thanks to the turbulence.
"That's a pretty name. How long have you worked for the Bureau?"

"Take a seat, Dr. Venkman", Liz replies annoyed. Off and on, he had been at it for almost an hour now. And Peter's sweet talking was starting to get on her last nerve.

"I didn't mean next to me!"

"Oh, don't be mad, sweetheart", cooed Peter.
"I won't bite, unless you want me to."

"So", Ray interjected, trying to defuse the situation.
"A colony of bloodsuckers just happen to pop up in some podunk Alaskan town?"

"We were wondering the same thing", Liz said as she created a thin layer of heat around her that singed the encroaching hand of Dr. Venkman.

"Yow!"

"She's a firecracker, this one", exclaimed an excited Peter as he shook his hand in pain.

"There's not a lot of food sources up there to support a large vampire colony. We couldn't figure out how they got there, or why they were there. So we sent Hellboy and Abe in to investigate."

"Granted, it is Hellboy, but you sent two guys up there to take on a whole next of vampires", questioned Winston.
"Shouldn't you've sent in an entire team of field agents or something?"

"Trust me, Z", Ray says, "HB is an entire strike team all to himself."

"Be that as it may", Egon interrupts as he munches on a granola bar, "this vampiric event occurring in Barrow has to be a part of the other world encroaching into our own. We need to gather as much information as possible while there."

"Right. We've got to figure out just what the hell is causing this hostile reality takeover from happening and shut it down."

"Let's not forget about a town filled with angry bloodsuckers we gotta take out", added Winston.

"Yeah, there's that too."

"We'll be reaching the LZ in approximately fifteen minutes", came the pilot's voice over the intercomm as the plane shook and rattled it's way over Alaskan airspace.

"You think for a government-funded agency they could afford first class travel. I mean, what kind of freak show is this?"

Liz narrowed her eyes and shot Peter a look.

"Sorry."

Ray shook his head and looked out the window at the dark, cold world outside. His hand found it's way to the ghost trap on his hip, and his fingers began drumming against it.
With a sigh, Ray leaned back in his seat, readying himself for the terror to come.

 

[Red_Robin77]

Me and Abe trudge through the town, as the wind whistles around us.

"Stop."

I turn around as Abe kneels down and lays his fingers down on the snow, his face expressionless.

"What is it?"

"Hmm. Nothing."

"Oh come on! You've done that 5 times now!"

"You've counted?"

"Nothing else to do. What're you even looking for?"

"Blood."

"Natta?"

"Indeed."

"So we're stuck in a snow village with hungry vampires with no leads. Just my luck..."

Suddenly a buzzing comes from my pocket. I look down and feel inside the pocket with my left hand and pull something out. My phone. I look at the caller ID quickly before answering. Liz.

"How's the nice and warm BPRD HQ, Liz?"

"Not a clue, I'm flying over to you guys as we speak."

"You'll regret it, I can tell you..."

"I know I will. I'm escorting some guys over."

"Bureaucrats or guys that can actually hold a gun steady?"

"The Ghostbusters."

"Little of both I guess...

 

[wiegeabo]

I sit in the tiny dining room of the small hotel, trying not to make it obvious that I'm hiding behind the overturned table. And also trying not to shiver in the cold and dark. That was Casey's idea to try and avoid detection. Keep the lights and heat off so we just blend in. I can't complain though. I'd rather be cold than fighting vampires. Until the hypothermia sets in.

Vampires...if I wasn't sure I was going to have my blood sucked, I'd almost be excited. You know, that terrified kind of excited. And Morgan would already be lining our places with crosses and garlic.

Wait, will that even really work? Holy crud, I'm actually trying to think of ways to kill vampires!

Casey and Felix guard one of the entrances, rifles at the ready. I'm not sure why. Guns don't really do much to slow those things down. But I guess it makes them feel better to do something. The other doors are guarded by the last two of Felix's men. We went from a team of over twenty, to just six in the matter of minutes.

Sarah kneels down next to me to make sure I'm ok. "Chuck?"

"Can we go home yet?"

Sarah smiles and sits next to me. I put on a brave smile, but my guts are twisting in terror. "I'm trying to make contact with the Agency. The weather is still blocking out our radio."

"They took out our plane." I shake my head. "I guess vampires aren't just mindless bloodsuckers."

"Chuck..." Sarah looks at me in that way she has when she wants to say something without hurting my feelings, but knows that she can't. She sighs. "They're not vampires."

I give her a sympathetic look. "I wish they weren't, Sarah. I do. But...how can you guys deny what happened? Casey shot that one vampire in the head, and he got right back up. How does that happen?"

"Well, maybe..." She tries again. "It could have been..." she struggles to find another reason and just ends up looking down at her gun. "Vampires don't exist."

"Are your trying to convince me, or yourself?"

She gives me an unsure look. And suddenly all I want to do is hold her. Or...she can hold me. Either way works right about now.

"So...until help arrives..." Sarah nods. "How long will that be?"

"We're gonna be stuck here for a long time, Bartowski. Better suck it up and keep your head down. Our ammo won't last forever if they come for us."

"And how long until we freeze to death?"

Casey looks at Sarah, then back at me. "We just need to wait for help..."

 

[RGDurant]

Durant's hired scientists watching over were at a down point for the time being, the blood and tissue samples that had been extracted from Jason had been sent to the lab upstairs. So they spend they're time going over charts, drinking coffee, and anything else to pass the time.

In the next chamber, Jason's head was bowed, chin resting against his sternum, looking quite motionless.

The head scientist seeing nothing to observe from their specimen, took up his coffee and contented himself to his newspaper.

Jason suddenly seized up and regained conciousness. Enraged to find himself still in this room, he thrashed violently against his bonds.

The head scientist spilled his coffee in shock and the air of monotony had shattered, one of the assistants actually messed his pants.

"Give him more sedatives!" the head scientist yelled against the sound metal straining. An assistant rushed to his panel and pressed a button, delivering massive amounts of sedatives into Jason's IV line.

He soon went still again, the scientists breathed a sigh of relief and started to collect themselves.

The metal bonds holding Jason to the table while still intact, had buckled under his strength. A few more tries and he would have been free.

 

[Optikal]

The dark tower sat defiantly at the side of the mountain. Like a huge black crennalated scar down the dusty red cliff face. High above, the skies were in the final stages of welcoming the night, deep oranges and pinks turning to hues of blue and purple.

On the high pass to the tower, a lone man navigated the treacherous footholds and deadly overhangs. the high wind that whipped through the canyon lashed at his heavy cloak. The man stopped and muttered a few words under his breath. A heavy bubble of warm air settled around him, deflecting the wind with its invisible barrier. It was a simple spell for a wizard of the mans stature and one that barely touched the last reserves of his energy.

Staggering over the last few feet, the wizard came to a pair of huge double oak doors. Each one was studded and spike with iron and steel and sat on huge golden hinges. The wizard touched his power and used the added strength to lever a gap in the doors and slip himself inside.

The wizard shrugged off his cloak and with it, his air spell also dissipated. He was stodd in a huge antechamber, lit by sputtering torches sat high on the walls in rusted sconces. Water had leaked into th old tower allowing a sheen of green slime to grow upon the walls, giving the tower an eerie feel. High above, the wind whipped through the crenalleted battlements, echoing deep in the towers shadows.

In front of him stood a long wooden table, at least ten feet long and three feet wide. Upon it lay a mighty feast with every kind of food the wizard could ever imagine. A lone figure sat the table. The man rose, the light dancing across his bald head and blue skin. He smiled warmly, though his eyes remained cold and threatening. "Welcome Shang Tsung!" he said, spreading his arms wide. "Welcome to the tower of Arguro! Once a bastion of strengtand power for the mighty Shinnok himself!"

Shang Tsung stepped forward, coldly appraising the othe man. "I'm aware of where I stand", he replied curtly. "You seem to have quite the feast for merely yourself Quan Chi", Shang muttered, nodding towards the food.

Quan Chi chuckled and dropped the leg of meat he had been chewing, licking his greasy fingers. "Not for me Shang, but Moloch does indeed like his food". From the shadows, Shang could make out the pale glowing eyes of the huge Oni. The creature was an animal. A monster from the Netherrealm. Shang Tsung knew the beast to be quite deadly.

He turned his attention back to Quan Chi who had risen from his seat and had moved around the table, placing himself directly in front of Shang tsung as he approached. "Well I didn't travel all this way to see you feed your pet Quan. Do you have the Amulet?"

"That depends on whether or not you have the Mirror..." Quan Chi sneered. "Unless of course The Emperor is too much of a problem for you to deal with?"

Shand Tsungs scowl grew deep, his eyes gleaming under his furrowed brows. "The Emperor is not a concern. Soon he will learn where the true power of Outworld has always laid". Shang Tsung delved into his robes and produced the mystical Mirror of Souls, an ancient artifact so powerful that he had to retrieve it from Shao Kahns own personal archive.

Quan Chi's smile spread "Oh Shang Tsung, you devious little snake. Stealing from your own master!"

"He is not my master..." Shang growled, his teeth gritting at the insinuation.

Quan Chi merely laughed. Handing back the mirror, he clicked his fingers. From nowhere, a dark figure materialised in front of the men. Cold dead eyes set in a body that was as dark as night glared at Shang Tsung. The wizard winced at the stare, instinctively drawing his power tight to him ready to strike.

"Shang Tsung, this is Noob Siabot, Wraith of the Netherrealm. It is him you have to thank for bringing you the treasure."

Shang Tsung held out his palm and Noob Siabot obediently dropped a small amulet into his hand. Shang muttered a thanks and held the amulet up in the air for all three to see. In the background even Moloch craned his neck to get a look.

Hanging from golden chain, the amulet sat in a golden disc, framed by two flaring horns. In its center a green jewel hummed a deep vibrating noise, throwing off a painful warmth. Shang grinned and nodded his head before clasping the amulet into his closed palm. "Yes. You have done well Quan Chi... As have you Siabot. With the amulet and the Mirror of Souls, the plan can finally come to fruition and then all of the realms will be ours to control and finally, the Earthrealm will have a worthy master!"

 

[Byrd Man]

​

Gilead
Then

"Father, I cry your pardon." The young man said as he entered the house overlooking the city.

"What is it, Roland?" Steven Deschain said as he looked down at his son.
Steven was the head of The Gunslinger clan, son of Henry the Tall and descendent of Arthur Eld himself. If things progressed the way they did, then Steven would soon wear the crown.

"I wish to challenge, Cort." Roland said with a look of determenation in his eye.

"You have forgotten my face, my son. You are only 14, two years younger than I when I beat Cort and I-"

"Was the youngest, yes I know. I am ready."

Steven shook his head as he turned from his son.

"No. The price for impatience is the same for foolishness. The path west is littered with many Gunslingers Cort has broken."

"I can do it! I must!"

Turning on his heels, the man looked down at his son with steely blue eyes of resolve, the same hardened eyes that would one day belong to the son are now only privvy to the father.

"Go then, you are an outcast of your father's house. Either return with your apprentice guns, or do not return at all."

The boy's eyes flicked down to the large guns with the sandalwood grips that now belonged to Steven.

"I said go!" Steven roared.

Turning on his heels, Roland speed away from the house and out into Gilead's streets.

​

***********

​

The old man Cort rested peacefully in his bed. The maggots had gone for the day, leaving him to his thoughts.

In his fifty years on this Earth, Cort had seen almost every form of combat known to man, and had trained over a thousand potential Gunslingers. Steven Deschain had been his greatest pupil, besting him at the age of 16. The scar that ran down his chest was from Steven's blade.

Now, his offspring was being trained by Cort, and the old teacher had a feeling young Roland would surpass even his father. Cort had no idea how right he was.

BOOM!

"CORT!" Roland roared as he kicked in the old man's door.

"I want you in combat, now!"

The old man shook his head as he emerged from his room.

"Is your need that great?"He said with a bit of sadness as he looked the lad over.

"Very well. Do you come to me as an outcast from your father's house?"

"Yes."

"Do you come to me knowing full well the price of failure is banishment?"

"Yes."

"Very well. We will meet in an hour outside. I will have my blade, what weapon do you choose?"

"That is for me to know and for you to find out."

"Smart enough to start with. Now, go palavar on your task ahead. Much good it will do ya."

The desert
Now

As his feet crunched beneath the sand, he looked up at the mountains, the one distant and hazy peaks now stood before him. The cast a shadow on him as he looked up.

His eagle eyes caught movement hundreds of feet above him. Someone was climbing, a man dressed in a black cloak.

As the man in black climbed, the gunslinger took hold of a rock and pulled himself up.

He would not let a trivial thing such as a mountain keep him from his prey.​

 

[wiegeabo]

The Guardian of Forever? Spock and I look at each other, more confused then before. I try to wrap my mind around what is happening, but I can only grasp at straws. Still, since the...Guardian likes to answer questions...

"Are you machine or being?"

"I AM NEITHER. I AM MY OWN BEGINNING. MY OWN ENDING."

Well, that certainly helps.

"I see no reason for answers to be couched in riddles." Apparently Spock is thinking the same thing.

"MY ANSWER IS SIMPLY AS YOUR LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING MAKES POSSIBLE."

Spock looks at me as if he's been insulted. I'm not sure we haven't been. We walk around the Guardian as Spock looks over his readings. And then, something clicks for him. "Time portal, Captain. A gateway to other times and dimensions. If I'm correct."

"AS CORRECT AS POSSIBLE FOR YOU. YOUR SCIENCE KNOWLEDGE IS OBVIOUSLY PRIMATIVE."

Spock looks taken aback. "Really," he says flatly, obviously not happy with the Guardian's conclusions.

"Annoyed Spock?" He looks unhappy, for a Vulcan. But I suppose that Spock's own conclusion could explain what happened to McCoy.

"BEHOLD." We look at the Guardian and the fine mist returns, seemingly falling from withing the stone to coat the opening. "A GATEWAY TO YOUR OWN PAST, IF YOU WISH." Within in the mist, almost as if being projected from inside, images begin to appear. Images of ancient cultures from around the Earth.

"Spock! If that is a doorway back through time...could we, somehow, go back a day in time and-"

"Relive the accident? This time be certain that the hypo accident is avoided?" I nod in agreement and we all look at the images, contemplating the idea. "Look at the speed with which the centuries are passing, Captain. To step through on precisely the day we wish, and with McCoy already gone..."

Spock's right. Who know what could happen if we change the doctor's past without him with us. Meaning we'll need to get him back before trying. But my science officer's words do trigger an idea. "Guardian...can you change the speed at which yesterday passes?"

"I WAS MADE TO OFFER THE PAST IN THIS MANNER. I CANNOT CHANGE."

Spock suddenly starts fumbling with his tricorder. "I am a fool." If the situation wasn't so grim, I'd laugh at his comment. "My tricorder is capable of recording, even at this speed. I've missed tapping centuries of living history."

"Including the date the doctor passed into?" Scotty asks. It's the first time he, or anyone, has spoken since McCoy jumped through. And I can tell he feels guilty about letting the doctor escape.

Spock checks his tricorder. "Unfortunately, we do not know the date."

"But we do, sir," Uhura says. She offers Spock her tricorder. "My tricorder was recording the entire time. Including the...Guardian."

Spock stands next to her and compares her readings to his own. "Lietenant Uhura is correct, Captain. She did record the time of Dr. McCoy's departure."

I nod. Finally, some good news. "Good work, Lieutenant. Can you sync it with your readings Spock."

"I am doing so now. It appears we are fortunate. We still have several minutes before we arrive at the same time."

A plan starts rolling around in my head. "We're going to need to go through ourselves. Try and bring McCoy back from where ever...when ever he's gone. Lietenant, call the Enterprise for support. The more people we can bring along, the better the odds of finding McCoy."

"Aye, sir." Uhura snaps her communicator open as Scotty and I look over Spock's work and Giotto and his security man stand watch. "Landing party to Enterprise. Landing party to Enterprise, come in." Uhura gets nothing but empty static. "Landing party to Enterprise, come in." We look up and watch as she tries frequency after frequency, but to no avail.

I whip out my own communicator. "Kirk to Enterprise, respond."

Scotty slings his tricorder off his shoulder and starts scanning. "Sir!" he says with shock.

"What is it, Mr. Scott?"

"The Enterprise...she's gone!"

"HE HAS PASSED INTO...WHAT WAS. YOUR VESSEL, YOUR BEGINNING, ALL THAT YOU KNEW...IS GONE."

Shock takes hold of us all. What the Guardian has said, what that means...

"McCoy...has somehow changed history."

"You mean we're stranded down here?"

"With no past...no future..."

"Earth's not there. At least...the Earth we know." I look up at the stars, now impossibly out of reach. "We're totally alone..."

Spock works with Uhura, both pouring over their tricorders and the data being presented to them I pull out my communicator, more out of desperation and habit than anything else. I‘m not sure if I‘m preserving what‘s happening for the official record once the timeline is reset, or for the next people who visit this world in case our mission fails. Either way, I begin recording.

“Captain’s Log: No Stardate. For us, time does not exist. McCoy, back somewhere in the past, has effected a change in the course of time. All of Earth’s history has been changed. There is no starship Enterprise. We have only one chance. We have asked the Guardian to show us Earth’s history once again. Spock and I will go back into time ourselves and attempt set right whatever it was that McCoy changed.”

“The scans from Lieutenant Uhura’s tricorder at the time McCoy left show he traveled to a rather barbaric period in your planet’s history.” As before, images of Earth’s history rapidly progress within the Guardian’s frame. “I believe I can approximate just when to jump. Perhaps within a month of the correct time. A week, if we are fortunate.”

“Make sure we arrive before McCoy got there. It’s vital we stop him before he does…whatever is was that changed all history.” I take a step closer to the alien device. “Guardian…if we are successful…?”

“THEN YOU WILL BE RETURNED. IT WILL BE AS IF NONE OF YOU HAD GONE..”

I nod and turn back to the rest of the away team. Uhura joins me, having finished her work with Spock. “Captain…it seems impossible. Even if you were to find the right date…”

Scotty finishes her thought. “…then even finding McCoy would be a miracle.”

“There is no alternative,” Spock says from his position in front of the Guardian.

I look at him for a moment. “Scotty…when you think you’ve waited long enough…” I take a moment at the prospect of failure, looking over what remains of my crew. “Each of you will have to try it. Even if you fail, at least you’ll be alive in some past world.”

“Aye.” It’s all he needs to say.

“Seconds now, sir. Standby.”

“Good luck, Captain,” Giatto says.

“Hapiness at least, sir,” Uhura’s offer makes me smile a little.

“Good luck to you all.” With a nod I turn back to Spock and the Guardian.

“And…” we get ready to jump. “…Now!”

We leap into the maw of the Guardian, and disappear…

 

[Byrd Man]

​

He grimaced in pain as the rock cut in his hand. He silently cursed, but he kept on climbing.

The man in black had already made it over the rocky peaks of the mountain.

Now, the Gunslinger clung to the mountain as he continued his journey up the mountain and towards the man in black.


Then

"This is crazy, Roland!" Alain cried out as he stood in the field with Roland and Cuthbert. On Roland's arm was his pet hawk, David. David's head was hooded.

"Now, now, Alain. Maybe Roland is just tryring to trick us. That's it, isn't it?!"

The boy remains silent as he pets his hawk.

"You fool."

Roland continues his silence as he walks away from his friends and towards Cort's hut.

​

************

​

"Who comes before me?" Cort says as he stands on his lawn, his stick in his hand. Across the lawn, Roland stands with his hooded hawk.

"I, Roland Deschain, son of Steven Deschain of the line of Eld."

"And you come before me knowing that you either return home a Gunslinger or you won't at all?"

"Aye."

"Very well. I have chosen my stick, what weapon have you chosen?

"My hawk, David."

"....Hmm...very well, then. To battle!"

Cort was a master of combat. He knew every fighting style and weapon that ever was.

But because he knows what has been, doesn't mean he knows anything about what will be.

He did not even fully understand Roland's choice in weapon until the boy removed the hawk's hood and let if fly towards Cort.

"At him, David!" He cries as the hawk crashes into the old man, tearing into his face with its claws and beak.

"Ahh!!! My face!" Cort yells as he tears the hawk from his head. In his rage, he rips the bird in two and tosses it to the ground, just in time to feel young Roland's fist strike his wounds.

"Yield!"

Cort shakes his head and smacks the boy in the head with his stick. Roland stumbles backwards and falls, narrowly avoiding another blow from Cort's stick.

The boy kicks the teacher hard in the leg, his knee makes a sick pop as the bone comes out of joint. He falls to the ground and yells in pain as Roland grabs his stick.

"Yield to me now!" He says as he holds the stick to Cort's throat.

"....I...I yield...I yield smiling, Gunslinger. For this day, you have bested me and have honored the face of your father."

"The key to the birthright that is mine."

"Can ye not wait?....Aye, I suppose not." Cort says as he grabs the small charm on his necklace and yanks it off. He hands the small key to the boy.

"The hawk was a clever move. How long did it take you to train him?"

"I never trained David. I friended him. I'll send word for a nurse to see to your wounds, and I shall go down to see the ****es by the seaside and tell them that you will not be joining them tonight...mayhap I might comfort one or two of them in your place."

He drops the stick as he turns to leave.

"Wait, Gunslinger. I have one last word of advice."

The boy turns to face his former master.

"Wait and let the legend of your deeds here today spread. For if the legend go before the man, then the man himself will be almost unstoppable."

​

************

​

After burying his hawk, the boy made his way to Gilead's armory, using his key to open the box that held the nickle-plated guns of an apprenctice.

The large guns with the sandalwood grips would not yet be his.

He removed the guns, staring at them in awe and caressing them as if they were a woman....except he caresses these guns with more love.

Now

Sweat rolled down his brow as he finally reached the mountain's peak.

Breathing heavy, he brushed the matted up hair out of his eyes as he looked down one the other side of the moutain.

As if to mock the gunslinger who had marched through the endless desert, an almost endless ocean now laid before him. His eyes focused on the fire on the beach at the bottom of the mountain.

It was a campfire.

After the years of chasing, the man in black had now stopped and allowed the gunslinger to catch up with him.

Looking down at the camp, the gunslinger began to slowly climb down the mountain and towards his meeting with the one who had consumed his thoughts for all these years.​

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"Jesus, it's freakin' cold", Peter shivers as he looks around at the quiet little town around them.

Street lights illuminated the still thoroughfare as the Ghostbuster, along with Liz Sherman, stalked down the boulevard.

"I don't like this. This doesn't feel right."

"I wonder why that could be, Ray", scoffed Peter.
"Hmmm...let's see...could it be that we're in the middle of a vampire infested town right outside of the North Pole?"

"I wonder if Santa's okay", quipped Winston as he peered down a dark corner between two buildings, the gun of his proton pack leading the way.

"Winston", Peter looks at his friend quizzically.
"Did you just make a funny?"

"Hey, you're not the only one who can make jokes", smirked Zeddemore.

"Sorry to interrupt", Egon said as the PKE meter in his hand began to beep faster and faster as they neared an old convenience store.
"But I'm picking up enormous amounts of psycho-kinetic energy from inside this building."

"Strange things are afoot at the Circle K."

Liz cocked an eyebrow at Peter as the walked pass the gas pumps.

"What? Not a fan of Bill and Ted? I'll have to remember to cross that off of potential movies for our first date."

"Does he ever turn it off?"

"Heh, not usually", chuckled Ray as he moved up to the shop's window, trying to peer through the dirty glass.
It was difficult to see in through the grim on the window, but the shop appeared to be a mess. Goods were strewn about the floor, some of the ceiling lights were torn out and hanging by thin wires.
All in all the place looked deserted.

"Huh, seems deserted to me", Ray proclaimed as he turned back to face the group.

The window smashed to bits and the hissing vampire leaped out at Ray, it's claws sinking into his shoulder.

Ray yelled in pain as he smashed the butt of his proton gun into the creature's nose again, and again, and again. But the creature would not let go.

"Duck down, Ray!"

The panicked Ray complied, and the burst of energy from the particle stream singed his hair as it lanced into the vampire on his back.
The bloodsucker howled loudly as it was knocked off of Ray's back and slammed in through the store window.

"Thanks, Z."

"You okay", Egon asked as Winston helped Ray to his feet.

"Just a little frazzled and some minor wounds. I'll be all right."

The vampire burst from the shattered window again, but this time Ray was ready. Spinning around, Stantz unleashed a torrent of energy from his proton pack that burned into the vampire's chest.
The creature screamed in anguish as it's body began to erupt in flames. Within seconds, nothing was left of the vampire save for a charred skeleton and a patch of black water around it from the melted snow and ash.

"Wow! Total particle disintegration! I had a hunch that would be the case, but man was that cool!"

"Yeah, I'm happy for you, Ray", Peter sarcastically exclaims as he kicks the blackened skull, taking a step back as it crumbles into dust.

"I don't mean to interrupt", Liz chimes in, "but we should get back to finding Hellboy and Abe. They're out there somewhere and they may need our help."

"Right. Besides, I'd put 4-1 odds on that this little encounter has alerted the locals. We stay here we'll probably be knee deep in vamps in a matter of minutes."

"In that case, after you Professor", Peter motions to Ray to lead the trek away from the gas station.

"Sure."

"Everyone keep your PKE meters out", an alert Ray said as he slowly walked down the main drag of the city.
"Don't want any more surprises."

"Uh oh."

"What do you mean, 'Uh, oh', Winston?"

"I'm picking up something big, right around that bend", Winston pointed ahead of the group to a small, two-lane road that disappeared on the other side of the large hotel.
"And it's coming this way."

 

[Venom160]

Oh my god she is so ****ing hot!

This single thought repeats itself as Kei Kurono stands waiting for his train home. The station slowly crowds as others go about their lives completely unaware of what their about to bear witness to.

Why the hell can't women like this go to my school?

Kei continues to ogle the magazine as an old women tentatively approaches.

"Excuse me young man. Is this the train to Hinode?"

I doubt it, but its too much of a pain in the ass to explain to this old *****...

"Uh yeah it is."

The growing concern fades into relief.

"Thank you young man."

**** off.

Before Kei can turn the page of his magazine the old woman is back again this time almost in a panic.

"Pardon me again but I......I don't think this is the right station. This map says nothing about Hinode."

Oh you gotta be ****ing kidding me!

Finally take his eyes from the magazine Kei fires a glare to the old woman causing her to step back startled.

"Look lady figure it out for yourself! You really should rely on yourself instead of others. Let alone someone who really doesn't give a ****."

The old woman stands shocked before finally composing herself.

"I'm...I'm sorry...."

Goddamn what is with people? Can't ****ing do anything for themselves! I know I'm not the brightest crayon in the box but even I can tell when things are completely ****ed!

Kei eyes scan across the crowded terminal finally falling on a man in his thirties but looks much older. He pulls at the tie around his neck.

Take this guy. If he doesn't keel over from a heartattack or something I doubt he'd ever think of anything deep...

Kei's eyes move to a group of teenage girls not much older than him. He can catch snippets of what they're saying.

"Damn when the hell is the train? I was hoping to get some action before heading home."

Hmph and the younger generation is no better. Absolutely **** for brains, I swear.

Kei is rattled from his thoughts when someone stumbles into him.

"What the hell!"

The bum continues his unsteady walk though the crowd not even acknowledging that he had hit anyone.

And these kinds of guys.....ahh who gives a ****....

A tall figure steps up beside Kei as the distant sound of a train horn blows. Out of the corner of his eye Kei looks up at the face of this new arrival. Recognition dawns as Kei shoots another glance.

I....I think thats Misaru Kato. He looks the same as we were kids. I guess he was the closest thing I had to a friend until he transferred halfway through Elementary School. Eh probably just another piece of **** punk now.

Screams echo throughout the station rattling Kei from his thoughts.

"Someone get help! Someone fell onto the tracks!

 

[Eddie Brock]

COLE MCGRATH

"I don't know about this, Zeke," I admit warily. I look up the immense statue. Hanging from the top is a crate of supplies, its parachute caught on the top of the statue. That crate is the key to our survival, but no one can get to it. No one but me, Zeke explains.

"Aw, come on," he replies optimistically, patting me on the shoulder. "You can do it! Hell, you used to climb all over this city! And that was before you had powers!" He smiles at me from behind those trademark sunglasses of his. His faith in my abilities is appreciated, but it doesn't bolster my confidence a whole lot.

He is right, though. I've never let fear of heights stop me before. And now? Now, I have these weird powers. And it's hard, sometimes, not to feel like I'm invincible or something. Still, climbing a statue isn't something to be taken lightly.

"Fine," I concede, "I'll do it."

Zeke beams joyfully. "That's the spirit!" He points to the crate. "Now, get on up there!" Yeah. 'Cause it's going to be that simple. How do I get roped into these things?

I grab hold of the bottom of the statue. Something feels different. My palms spark a little. I feel like I'm stuck to the statue or something. That's when it hits me. Magnetism. I can manipulate the electricity in my body to use magnetism. I slowly begin my ascent as a crowd of onlookers gathers.

Keeping my focus on the crate, I continue to climb. Before I know it, I'm high above the assembled crowd. Zeke is clapping and shouting words of support, but he sounds miles away. The sound of the parachute flapping helplessly in the wind is far greater. I use it as motivation.

Don't look down.

When I'm within range, I outstretch my right hand. The parachute's strings are affixed to the crate in one spot. I furrow my brow and concentrate. Electricity leaps from my fingertips to the strings, singeing them instantly. The crate falls, and the crowd moves out of the way. There is cheerful rejoicing as they tear the crate open. I smile to myself.

I let go of the statue and allow myself to drop through the air. I've done this a thousand times off Zeke's roof. For some reason, it doesn't hurt. Trish says it's because the electricity in my body stimulates my muscles to work faster. Whatever that means. All I know is that those few seconds in midair are the most peaceful I ever have.

When I land, Zeke already has an armful of food and medical supplies. He's smiling at me. At least someone appreciates my act of kindness. "Man, there sure is a lot of this stuff," he notes. He doesn't say what he really means, but I know by his tone. I've thought about it, too.

All these supplies could last me and Zeke for months. A few electric bursts into the crowd would be enough to back them off so Zeke and I could claim the entire load. After all, I was the one who got it down. Who's more entitled to it than me? Then again, there's enough here to feed this crowd for weeks. And isn't that more important?

"Good. Then, everyone can make do for a little while longer," I respond, dismissing the notion of taking it all. If I wanted to keep it for myself, I wouldn't have knocked it down. It's not like anyone else could have reached it, anyway. But I didn't. I got it down so everyone could have a share. In times like these, it's more important for us to stick together. "Come on. Let's get out of here before the Reapers try to take their cut."
​

 

[Carnage27]

-edit-
​

 

[Carnage27]

Somewhere over the skies of Colorado

Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones Jr. snored loudly as he traveled high in the skies on board the museum's private jet towards California, and then on to China. Brody and the trustees caught wind of a possible find of an ancient Emperor's tomb, and it was up to Indy to retrieve its valuables before profiteers.

"Dr. Jones," the stewardess said quietly, nudging him softly on the shoulder.

Indy squirmed about, and with a grunt pushed up his fedora, revealing his stubbly face and sleepy eyes, "Yes? We there already?"

"No, doctor, I'm afraid not. There's been a change of plans, the entire west coast is being pounded by storms, we're going to have to make a stop somewhere else."

The tone in her voice didn't give Indy much hope for a desirable pit stop, "Where?"

"Alaska. Barrow, Alaska."

"Terrific," Jones grumbled to himself and zipped up his bomber jacket to the neck. He was cold already.

*******

The plane touched down quietly a few hours later in Alaska, and Jones walked up the the cockpit, "Any idea how long we'll be grounded, Captain?"

"Looks like the weather is rolling up towards us. I won't feel comfortable flying tonight. Earliest we can make for China is tomorrow."

Dr. Jones turned and walked down the exit ramp, not saying a word to the pilot, "Well this just keeps getting better and better doesn't it? I think I'd rather be in the Rajah's Palace..."

He walked into town, jacket still zipped up, hands buried deep in his pockets, mumbling to himself the entire way, when the neon sign of a bar drew his attention, and he allowed himself a small smile.

He pushed the door open, and a bell rang announcing his presence. But there was something wrong. The inside of the bar was pitch black, and there didn't seem to be a soul in sight.

"Hello?" the archeologist called out to no one in particular as he switch on the lights. He approached the bar, and reached for a bottle of whiskey, only to notice a grim sight laying on the floor behind the counter. A body, mangled and ripped apart, sitting in a pool of blood.

Before Indy had a chance to react, someone jump onto his back, and sent him sprawling to the ground. He reached for his gun, but the person was much quicker, and stronger than he was, and pinned him to the ground. And then, they did something he did not expect. They sunk their teeth into his neck.

Sharp pain echoed through the doctor's body and blood rolled down his skin, but almost immediately, the person recoiled and screeched in pain, as if Jones's blood was acid.

He flipped around, gun in hand, but the being was gone before he could get a shot off, "Christ. What was that all about?"

Jones grabbed a short glass, filled it with liqueur, and walked out into the cold Alaskan night, hoping to find at least one friendly face...and hopefully someone who could stitch him up.
​

 

[wiegeabo]

It's cold. Too cold. I sit with my arms wrapped around me and shiver. Sarah sits next to me. She's handling it better then me. Heck, they all are. But even I can see that it's getting to them too. We can't keep this up.

"We can't keep this up," Casey says, walking up to us. Great minds think alike, I guess.

Sarah nods. "I kn-know," she stutters. Maybe she's not handling it better than I am. The cold doesn't seems so bad as I'm suddenly more concerned with Sarah than with freezing to death.

"We need to try the radio again."

"I-If someone c-came..."

"They would have already called us," Casey fills in. He tries to hide it, but I see concern about Sarah in his face too.

Without thinking, I huddle up next to Sarah and start rubbing her arms. She and Casey both look at me and I stop, a little surprised at myself. Sarah puts her hand on my arm. "It's ok, Chuck. Thanks."

"No...let him warm you up." Now it's our turn to look at Casey. "Get your minds outta the gutter, you two. You keep her warm. Last thing we need is an agent who's too cold to handle gun."

"We're going to need to turn the heat on."

"Second we do that, those..."

"Vampires?" I offer.

"...things, can track us down."

"What choice do we have?"

"Chuck's right," Felix says. "I'd rather go down fighting than freezing to death."

Casey grunts unhappily. "Try the radio again. If we don't get anything..."

Sarah brings the radio up and clicks it on. "This is Agent Sarah Walker calling anyone out there. Please come in. Repeat, this is Agent Sarah Walker, come in anybody..."

 

[Carnage27]

Jones walked down the deserted street, dark building followed by dark building. His wound had frozen shut, but he knew it needed medical attention pronto.

Just then, Indiana's radio in his satchel sprang to life,

Sarah brings the radio up and clicks it on. "This is Agent Sarah Walker calling anyone out there. Please come in. Repeat, this is Agent Sarah Walker, come in anybody..."

He quickly pulled the radio out of the bag and pressed the transmission button, "Agent Walker, this is Dr. Indiana Jones. I am currently wounded, and walking through the town of Barrow. What is your location?"

 

[wiegeabo]

We all jump as the radio suddenly crackles to life.

"Agent Walker, this is Dr. Indiana Jones. I am currently wounded, and walking through the town of Barrow. What is your location?"

"Doctor who?"

"Why is that name familiar?"

Sarah ignores me. "Doctor Jones, this is Agent Walker. We...um...We're holed up at the hotel. We could use some help." Casey grunts. He has trust issues. "Do you know what's going on?"

 

[Carnage27]

We all jump as the radio suddenly crackles to life.

"Agent Walker, this is Dr. Indiana Jones. I am currently wounded, and walking through the town of Barrow. What is your location?"

"Doctor who?"

"Why is that name familiar?"

Sarah ignores me. "Doctor Jones, this is Agent Walker. We...um...We're holed up at the hotel. We could use some help." Casey grunts. He has trust issues. "Do you know what's going on?"

Jones chuckled a bit. How the hell could he laugh at a time like this? Must have been all the near death experiences with the Nazis.

God, please don't let there be Nazis here.

"No, Agent Walker I have no clue. My plane got detoured here on its way to China. All I know is this town is deserted, and some junkie bit me on the neck. Hard. I'm entering the hotel now. Don't shoot."

Within a few minutes, Jones was standing in front of three fairly confident looking, if not frozen, people. And one misfit.

"Well...which one of these things is not like the other?" Indy mused while staring down Chuck. "What are you? A consultant? I hate consultants."

 

[wiegeabo]

Jones chuckled a bit. How the hell could he laugh at a time like this? Must have been all the near death experiences with the Nazis.

God, please don't let there be Nazis here.

"No, Agent Walker I have no clue. My plane got detoured here on its way to China. All I know is this town is deserted, and some junkie bit me on the neck. Hard. I'm entering the hotel now. Don't shoot."

"Plane?! He has a plane."

The excitement from the six of us fills the room. And then a horrible thought hits me.

"Oh no."

"What is it, Bartowski?"

"He was bitten by a vampire. A vampire!"

"Oh for the love of-" Casey grabs me by the arm. "For the last time, Bartowski, there's no such thing as vampires."

"You willing to bet your life on that?" Felix asks. "Because I'm not." He motions for his two men to take positions on either side of the door. "I've lost a dozen men tonight. I'm not losing any more because of bad intel." He joins the others at the door.

Spoiler

Within a few minutes, Jones was standing in front of three fairly confident looking, if not frozen, people. And one misfit.

"Well...which one of these things is not like the other?" Indy mused while staring down Chuck. "What are you? A consultant? I hate consultants."[/quote]

The second the man walks into the room...my eyes cross...and...

Spoiler

...I flash...

"...no way..." I can't believe what this guy has done. The file the government has on him is huge. Nazi's, communists, and so much more. And there're huge chunks where they don't have anything on him. I don't think the government knows half the stuff he's done.

Felix's men grab Doctor Jones from behind and force him to his knees. "Hey, wait!"

"Check him," Felix says, his gun pointed at the back of Dr. Jones' head.

One of the men pull open a blood soaked shirt collar. "Got a wound, right here."

Felix readies his gun. "You better hope those things really aren't vampires, Dr. Jones. It'd be a shame to kill someone who could get us out of here."

 

[Red_Robin77]

Me and Abe continue our treck through the snow, looking for any signs of life. Natta.

"The bar."

"What of it?"

"Let's check it."

"I don't think so."

"And why not?"

"Because you think you'll get to relax in there, and then we'll be attacked by vampires. Let's just keep walking."

"Abe, there is nothing here. I bet even the vamps have gotten bored by now and gone somewhere with interesting, living people!"

"We will meet Liz and the Ghostbusters before deciding our next course-"

"-You hear that?"

I turn around and look back at the way we'd came. I swear I heard something. The shadows stir in the houses, confirming my suspicions. I pull out the Samaritan and fire a shell off at one of the windows. Suddenly a horde of vampires leap out through the broken window and begin charging towards us with blood-thirsty eyes.

"Shall we?"

In an instant the two of us sprint forwards down the street away from the hungry creatures, heading to the corner of the street before we skidded to a halt and spun around. I fired off the remaining rounds of my Samaritan at the many faces while Abe pulled out two pistols and fired them simultaneously at them. As soon as my large gun ran out of bullets and I slip it away and charge, my huge right hand hung from the air. I smash it down into the first one's skull, knocking it down to the ground. I throw my stone fist in an arc, knocking back a bunch, as I slowly back up a bit. I look around for something to use. As I look around the edge of the corner I spot a group of four men and a woman. Liz. The Ghostbusters. As I send another vampire flying and turn to them.

"You just gonna sit there?!"

 

[Carnage27]

"...no way..." I can't believe what this guy has done. The file the government has on him is huge. Nazi's, communists, and so much more. And there're huge chunks where they don't have anything on him. I don't think the government knows half the stuff he's done.

Felix's men grab Doctor Jones from behind and force him to his knees. "Hey, wait!"

"Check him," Felix says, his gun pointed at the back of Dr. Jones' head.

One of the men pull open a blood soaked shirt collar. "Got a wound, right here."

Felix readies his gun. "You better hope those things really aren't vampires, Dr. Jones. It'd be a shame to kill someone who could get us out of here."

Jones looked up into Felix's eyes, and flashed his trademark smile, "Vampires? You're kidding, right?"

He thought back to when the junkie bit him. He was pretty strong...

Snap out of it, Jones! There's no such thing as vampires.

Course he had run into stranger things before.

"Doesn't the vampire actually have to drink the blood to change someone? This one bit me, screamed in pain, and ran away. Doesn't seem like he could have changed me that quickly."

 

[Carnage27]

-edit-

 

[wiegeabo]

Jones looked up into Felix's eyes, and flashed his trademark smile, "Vampires? You're kidding, right?"

He thought back to when the junkie bit him. He was pretty strong...

Snap out of it, Jones! There's no such thing as vampires.

Course he had run into stranger things before.

"Doesn't the vampire actually have to drink the blood to change someone? This one bit me, screamed in pain, and ran away. Doesn't seem like he could have changed me that quickly."

"I'm sorry, Dr. Jones. But I can't take that chance."

"Hey! Just one damn second here. They guy seems fine. And we keep forgetting the important fact...vampires don't exist!"

"Um, Casey..."

"Shut it, Bartowski."

"Shutting it."

"You can keep living in denial, Casey. But I know what I saw. What we all saw. And if one of those things bit him-"

"He has a plane!" Sarah shouts, getting everyone's attention. "Don't you understand what that means? We can get out of here and report back to the Agency. But do you think his friends are going to let us do that if we kill him?"

Casey shrugs. "Ladies gotta point." He suddenly turns his weapon on Felix. One of his men quickly responds by aiming at Casey.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Guys! Let's calm down for just one second here. I mean, didn't anyone listen to what Dr. Jones said. The vampire bit him, screamed in pain, then ran off. What could make a vampire do that?"

"There aren't any-"

"Casey! Geez! Just go with it for one damn second!" Both Sarah and Casey look at me in surprise. Although Casey's eyes are soon back on his gun's sights.

"Garlic, right? Dr. Jones, have you eaten any garlic recently?" He gives me a withering look. "Right, that's dumb. Uh...crosses. But...you aren't wearing a cross around your neck."

"Holy water?" My eyes cross...

Spoiler

"..Holy crap! You drank for the Grail?!"