Hdc: Wasteland

[ferretchucker]

For every story there is another to be told. Corpse in Orbit was set on the site of two crashed space stations orbiting Earth, which was left uninhabitable after a nuclear war.

Uninhabitable...or so they thought.

You may recall it ended with The Flayed One, an ex "space pirate" crash landing on Earth and being taken into a mysterious underground base. I wonder...what was going on on Earth?

This will be the sequel to Corpse in Orbit. Yes, it will likely be very similar to Fallout 3, but who really cares?

Anybody in?

[_____V_____]

http://blogs.suburbanchicagonews.com/sportsbeacon/Mad%20Max.jpg

[The Flayed One]

Me, obviously! The ex pirate is ready to continue his adventures.

[ferretchucker]

http://blogs.suburbanchicagonews.com/sportsbeacon/Mad%20Max.jpg

Pretty much.

Is that you being willing to join?


-Good, good Flayed. I still remember smiling to myself as I wrote your closing scene in CIO. You so didn't deserve to survive when the others died for all the stuff you did but still, it just seemed right.

[_____V_____]

Naturally. :cool:

[ferretchucker]

w00t!

I would like the point out that the only character returning would be Flayed. So anyone who was in CIO but wants to feature in this, NO WORRIES! You will be a brand spanking new character.

[Straker]

Throw me in there, please. :cool:

[Angra]

http://blogs.suburbanchicagonews.com/sportsbeacon/Mad%20Max.jpg

Damn he looks gay

THAT'S A HUGE BITCH!!

[_____V_____]

Damn he looks gay

THAT'S A HUGE BITCH!!

He was gay for awhile, you didn't know that?

He actually kissed a man on-screen for a movie called Summer City. He didn't even receive the $450 he was promised for it. Must've been quite the smooch.

[roshiq]

This time I like to be one & only host of highly contagious deadly virus or an Alien infection that needs to be spread as much as possible to make me live in a good shape.;) In background, you can add that I have a traumatized past as once abducted by alien & cause sever memory loss and eventually become a fucking twisted character. :D

Go on FC, your fans are waiting.

[friday13thfan]

Interested, I am.

[bwind22]

You can use me, but in all honesty, I usually don't get around to reading these threads so feel free to kill me off early.

[ferretchucker]

You can use me, but in all honesty, I usually don't get around to reading these threads so feel free to kill me off early.

No deal. You can be in it, but after the final episode you must write a 5000 word essay on how I use life, or the lack thereof, to set the scene of the future of Earth. :D

[ferretchucker]

Anybody else? Some female participation would be nice. I'll probably draft you in anyways, but now's your chance to say what kind of character you'd like to be...

[Rayne]

Anybody else? Some female participation would be nice. I'll probably draft you in anyways, but now's your chance to say what kind of character you'd like to be...

*looks down...pats body*...OOO, I'm female! :D

And I would like to be...ME!...You write me very well...I can't wait to read this one :)

[_____V_____]

*looks down...pats body*...OOO, I'm female! :D

And I would like to be...ME!...You write me very well...I can't wait to read this one :)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51igu-l%2BcdL._SS500_.jpg

[newb]

*looks over...pats Rayne's body*...OOO..she IS female. :D



you can throw me into the mix if you would like to, little squire.

[Rayne]

I could be gone for months, and you guys still manage to make me laugh every time I show up :)

[ferretchucker]

*looks down...pats body*...OOO, I'm female! :D

And I would like to be...ME!...You write me very well...I can't wait to read this one :)

Good girl. I'll get to work on it tonight.

[friday13thfan]

It be nice to be in one of your tales.

[Freak]

Sure I'll take a role.If haven't already picked somebody I'd like to be one of the main villians.

[ferretchucker]

Do not forget that this is a sequel to Corpse in Orbit. If you have yet to read it, I suggest you follow the link in my signature to at least read the last episode.

Fade to a shot of the Earth. There are large, dark clouds covering entire landmasses and the land that is shining through is a tainted yellow. A voiceover speaks. As it does so, a small montage of clips showing what is being described plays.

"It was Christmas Day 2010 when the first strike was made. A day that has affectionately been named 'Red Button Day' amongst it's survivors. It was Holland, unexpectedly who pressed it. 50% of the population was wiped out over the next week. The majority of the rest were slowly wiped out from the many complications caused by radiation, starvation, dehydration. But the human race being what it is, it refused to succumb entirely.

Preparations were made. Countries rounded up the best of the best and sent them to live on space stations, orbiting the Earth, thought to be the one way the human race would survive.

But back on our home planet...there were others. People who hid. The paranoid freaks who dug holes in the ground, only to be proved correct. Others just got lucky. For two centuries, they struggled for survival. Salvaging technology and food. Small colonies emerged of people who clung together to survive.

It was the year 2247 that things changed. The most malevolent force that could be imagined raged a silent war with folks in the space stations. Of the disaster...only three survived. Two were rescued."

A shot of Chronogrl smothering Gorephobia with a pillow is shown. She menacingly holds up the ball in which Roshiq, the robot, is held.

"Another, an ex space pirate who knew the ways of the world he was orbiting crash landed after the Secundum catastrophe. He crashed down to Winnipeg, Canada. His name was The Flayed One."

A shot of the escape pod crashing to Earth is shown. The Flayed One is shown, bloodied and bruised, walking through a dark landscape. Ruined buildings are all around him. Suddenly, there is a deep noise, and a light. He looks ahead and the ground is opening up. Two people in radioactivity suits walk out towards him. He smiles, then laughs maniacally as they lead him into the shelter.

Opening Credits roll. Fade to day time. A gun lays down on the edge of an old garden wall, steadied. A finger wraps around the trigger. In the distance, a scruffy looking cat, a descendant from the old domestic kind, cautiously approached a rotting bird. It sniffs. So does the owner of the gun. The cat looks up, it's tail suddenly puffed up. The finger squeezes the trigger and a hole explodes through the cat's head. The gun user is shown to be a teenage boy with long, dark hair. He is wearing a scruffy hoodie, the Nike tick barely visible and the colours long faded. This is Demon Seed.


Demon Seed: Gotcha!

Cut to a woman with dark hair also. She has charcoal around her eyes to simulate makeup. This is Rayne. She is sitting in the basement of an old house. A skeleton lays in the corner of a not so lucky attempted survival. In the center of the room is a dented pot with water boiling in it. She pours in a small amount of coffee from an old tin. A series of three quick knocks at the steel door at the top of the stairs alerts her. She fiddles with a rigged shotgun facing the doorway.

Rayne: Enter.

The door swings open and in walks Demon Seed holding a satchel. Blood drips from it. Rayne turns and walks back to the boiling coffee.

Rayne: Close the door. What have you got for me then.

As he lists each item he takes them out of the bag.

Demon Seed: Well, in a small set of draws about a mile away I found some pickles. Some...dihigatid-

Rayne: Dehydrated.

Demon Seed: Dehydrated milk. This weird box of stuff.

He hands her a box of Twinkies. She looks inside and grimaces.

Rayne: Whatever it is, it doesn't last.

She throws it over he shoulder.

Demon Seed: Oh, and Dinner!

He turns the bag over, letting the cat drop out at Rayne's feet with a sickening crunch. She clasps her hand to her mouth with disgust as he chuckles.

Rayne: Right. You can prepare that then we're having another lesson!

Demon Seed: What?! Why?

Rayne: Are you kidding? Dihigatid milk? You need to be able to read!

Demon Seed: Why?! Nobody writes anything! Haven't done in years.

Rayne: Right. So you'll get a head start, won't you? You need as many skills as you can get out here. That's what my mum taught me. Now...coffee?

He shrugs. Cut to The Flayed One, standing in at the base of some stairs leading underground. The sky above him is covered by cloud. The faint hum of a computer can be heard through some reflective glass in the wall in from of him. From a door in the wall a man walks out. He is very young and his clothes are a bit too big for him. This is Ferretchucker.

Ferretchucker: Well, this is remarkable. You have the lowest level of radiation I've ever seen for a man your age.

Flayed raises his eyebrows.

Ferretchucker: Not that...you're old.

Flayed shakes his head, laughing slightly. Ferretchucker suddenly stands up straight and recites.

Ferretchucker: So, representing the entire settlement of the of Highly Developed Cave-

Flayed: Yeh, yeh, HDC. I been here before kid, let me in.

Ferretchucker nods and hastily opens the small door. The Flayed one walks in casually. As he does, a huge shadow appears above them. As Ferret turns to see what it is a huge pair of talons pick him up, one on each shoulder as a large, ugly bird picks him up and carries him away. Someone rushes up and closes the door quickly. This person is a woman with ample cleavage. This woman is Chronogrl.

Chronogrl: Shit! I told that kid to keep an eye out for the Cloud Eagles. Shit...

Flayed: You don't seem too upset.

She looks at him and glares.

Chronogrl: Forgive me for not breaking down into tears at the loss of just another kid. When you've seen death as much as I have -

Flayed: You think you've seen a lot of death...you don't wanna know where I've just come from. Fuckin' Lux Lucis...

Chronogrl: What did you call me?

Flayed: What? Nothing. No...long story-

A finger taps his shoulder. He turns around to see a man with loosely brushed dark hair, wearing a rough suit patched together from bits of metal and tough leather. The man is wearing a patch over one eye and has a beard growing. This is V.

Flayed: V?

V: What the fuck you doing here?

Ending credits roll.

[_____V_____]

Tadaaaaaaaaa!

So we FINALLY meet, Flayed! :p

[Rayne]

Awesome beginning and it's sooo fitting, I love it!...I can't wait to see where it goes.

Alex read this and asked, "Hey, how does Ferret know exactly what I look like?"

LOL...I told him, "You have both been at this forum for many years...Ferret obviously pays attention to details" ;)

[ferretchucker]

Awesome beginning and it's sooo fitting, I love it!...I can't wait to see where it goes.

Alex read this and asked, "Hey, how does Ferret know exactly what I look like?"

LOL...I told him, "You have both been at this forum for many years...Ferret obviously pays attention to details" ;)

Haha, yeh, I thought that it might be a bit odd for him. I remember literally years ago after one of the first pictures I posted of myself, you posting a pic of him for comparison. :D

Glad you both liked it. Next episode will be sometime this weekend.

[ferretchucker]

Opening credits roll. Nighttime. Fade to a shot of a crumbling statue. Somebody wearing a torn black cloak is bustling around. Cut to a close up. He has short, messy dark hair and tanned skin. His face is cut slightly and very gaunt. This is Roshiq.The man is positioning a limp body against the base of the statue, making it looks as though it is sitting up. He smiles nervously, as though both horrified and pleased with his work.

Roshiq: Th-there we are. You just died from the sun light, didn't you, Geddy? Died and...

He regards the body, whose skin is dry and cracked.

Roshiq: And you've weathered a bit.

The sound of a twig breaking startles him. He spins around, and over a small ridge spots the slow moving outline of a large dog against the moonlight. The dog stops, realizing it's been spotted and growls.

Roshiq: But. I dealt with you.

His voice becomes harsher as he speaks through gritted teeth.

Roshiq: I got you.

The dog creeps slightly closer keeping low. Roshiq turns his body fully to face the dog. He sniffs the air gently and smiles.

Roshiq: I did get you. Didn't I. Well...come on little doggy.

The dog is only around 20 yards away now.

Roshiq: (Shouting) I said COME ON!

The dog sprints forward, barking loudly as it does so. It bares it's sharp teeth and Roshiq crouches low. The dog leaps into the air, springing off the ground towards him, but Roshiq acts fast. He spins, brining his foot hard into the side of the dog's face. It falls with a quick whine and before it can regain itself Roshiq leaps onto the dog's back, proceeding to hammer his fist into the back of the creature's head. The dog lets out a loud wince on the final, hardest punch, sending it's bloody head hard onto the base of concrete surrounding the statue. Roshiq looks down at the creature and quickly puts his head to it's chest.

Roshiq: Still breathing.

He steps off it and stands perfectly still, then sniffs the air.

Roshiq: Come on, come on, come on...here we go!

Suddenly, the dog's skin gains an ominous white glow. The aura grows. The same thing is happening to Roshiq. He takes a deep breath as his light grows brighter and the dog's dims. At the same time, the dog's skin seems to dry and crack painfully. The light reaches a huge intensity then without warning fades. Roshiq opens his eyes and looks down at the dead dog.

Roshiq: Oh...oh no. OH GOD! What have I done?

He slumps to the ground and begins to weep. Cut to a small dark room with no windows. A desk made of both scrap metal and wood sits in the middle and some tatty office chairs are on either side. V sits on one side as Flayed steps through the crude door. The only light comes from a single bulb dangling from a wire running through the room.

Flayed: About time, too.

V: Well, we couldn't just talk in the hall.

He leans closer and laughs slightly.

V: I know the kind of things you do out there in the wastes, and the last thing I need is the people here frightened.

Flayed: Yeh, still. Did you have to leave me stranded out there for three hours? Nobody would talk to me!

V: Can you blame them?

He has a touch of anger in his voice.

V: A lot of people here still remember you. The way you left. Three years worth of scavenged goods and you ran off with it to god knows where! Who's you give it to? I bet you sold it to the rivermen, didn't you?!

Flayed: Oh...oh I did much better than that. But first...what the hell are you doing here?

V: I was here when you lef-

Flayed: No...here. In this room. How did you become Topdog?

V: Ah! Well...not long after you left a few others followed suit. Took goods and made a run for it. Most of their bodies turned up a few days later but with the goods still gone. It wasn't long before Neverending had a revolt on his hands. Rather than be forced out of his position he honorably agreed to step down. You can still find him most night in the Stalagmite bar; which Friday13thfan took over after that bitch Nella left.

Flayed: So much has changed...

V: Yes...well, it wouldn't seem so sudden if you had just stayed put. We have a nice life here.

Flayed: Whatever, I got bored of this place pretty quick.

V: Bringing me onto my next point. Where on Earth did you get to?

Flayed: Oh, oh god you don't know how good of a pun you set me up for with that last sentence, dude.

V: Just get on with it.

Flayed: Alright, alright...the crap I stole from here was worth a lot to everybody else aswell. People were dying to get their hand on it, but I never got a good enough deal. But then one of the rivermen-

V: HA! Knew it!

Flayed: One of the rivermen told me he could get me up there.

He points up to the ceiling.

V: What?

Flayed: Up there! In the sky. In space! One of those space stations.

V's mouth drops open.

Flayed: One of the rockets was all primed to launch there back one Red Button Day but never left. Radio communications were lost at the base and so nobody was sent to evacuate there. I gave him half my stuff to take me to the base, and the other half was for the keys which he'd cut to get him in.

V: But...but...what? You flew a rocket into space?!

Flayed: Everything was set. Literally, everything. The base worked off Nuclear power so it was all still running. The guy pressed a few buttons and off I went.

V: And he stayed? What was he called?

Flayed: What? Yeh. Said he didn't fancy it. Roshiq, I think he called himself. But anyway, it's true. It's all true. The people up there, the technology they have it all. I drifted in space for a few days when I was picked up by some folk with slanty eyes. Never seen anything like it before in my life! Anyway, I was eventually sent to a space station where they all spoke english. They had computers, they had proper bars with proper alcohol. Everything was clean and comfortable.

V: I...I don't believe this. They're all dead up there! We've tried to send messages.

Flayed: Ah...yes. I found some people and spoke to them in the control room. Nobody believed I was from Earth. Nobody except Captain Dante. Anyway, he told me that they get all the messages but that they never reply. If people on the station believed there was life still on Earth, they'd want to go back. It would waste resources setting up links. People from Earth would want to come to the station and contaminate it.

V is visibly angered.

V: What?!

Somebody bursts into the room. A young man, with worry on his face. The distant sounds of screams echo through the underground halls.

Man: They're attacking sir!

Ending credits roll.

[Doc Faustus]

Nice job. Do you need someone to be leader of a band of technology hating mutants a la Anthony Zerbe in the Omega Man?

[ferretchucker]

Nice job. Do you need someone to be leader of a band of technology hating mutants a la Anthony Zerbe in the Omega Man?

You, sir, are far too good at predicting where the story is going. And yes, I think I might just need such a person.

[Doc Faustus]

Excellent. I'll be a blind former psychiatrist whose enhanced senses and knowledge of human behavior make him seem precognitive, which allows him to control people with superstition.

[ferretchucker]

Sorry for the delay. :o

Opening credits roll. Fade to a shot of a forest of sorts at night. The trees are without leaves and a sick yellow color and the soil is eerily dry. The camera focuses on a small ridge. The distant sound of an engine slowly approaches. Two engines. The calm atmosphere of the dead forest is suddenly broken as a motorbike leaps over the ridge, catching air. The rider, wearing only tattered shorts and a vest formed out of other pieces of clothes sewn together, shouts with joy and excitement as he crashes back to the ground. He is followed by another biker. This one has long, dark hair, and is wearing black jeans. They both carry on driving. The first one shouts.

Biker #1: Yo, Ang! Up ahead, 10 o'clock!

Angra: Go for it Newb!

They speed on, going over the ridges. In the distance one of the large birds that carried Ferretchucker off sets down at the top of a steep rock face. Newb holds his hands up and both bikes skid to a halt around 300 yards from the face.

Angra: This is your call.

Newb: Torches, definetely.

The men step off their bikes and reach in to the back storage compartments. Newb gets out two large torches whilst Angra assembles a sniper rifle of sorts. As Angra positions the gun, Newb glares at him.

Newb: Whoa, whoa. This is my call, so it's my kill.

Angra: Bitch...

He hands over the gun and Newb gives him the torches. Angra turns them on and the bright beams reach the bird who is illuminated by the moonlight. It spins it's head and lets out a piercing "caw". It flaps it's wings menacingly. Angra persists with the torches. The bird jumps off the ledge and begins gliding towards them.

Angra: Looks like we got a twenty footer...you sure you got this?

Newb: Oh yeh...it's mine.

The bird gets closer and closer.

Angra: Now?

Newb: No...not yet...not yet...

The bird opens it's gaping beak to show serrated rows of jagged teeth. It's long tongue is partially forked.

Newb: NOW!

He pulls the trigger but at that moment the bird swoops around, baring down on Angra who jumps back. The bird's talons don't catch him, but instead knock in to his face, cracking his nose.

Angra: FUCK!

Newb spins and fires the gun again. This time it makes contact. The bird's left wing explodes in blood and feathers. It's bright green eyes widen as it shrieks with pain.

Newb: This is ridiculous!

Angra: Just kill it, you douche!

Newb fires again at the bird as it struggles to get back off the floor. This time he hits it's right foot just as it takes off. It falls to the floor again, but is still very much alive. Newb tries to shoot again.

Newb: Out of ammo!

Angra: Do something!

Newb grabs on of the torches runs up to the bird. He smashes it into the creature's neck. It yells, and he hits it again. On the third time he cracks the skull. It squeals a bit, then goes limp. Angra picks himself up off the floor and limps over to the bird, giving Newb a scornful look. He puts on a mocking voice.

Angra: "I got this" "Not yet...not yet" WHAM! All our ammo...one of the wings is unsellable, that's our money halved...

He looks at the smashed torch.

Angra: One of our torches gone...and I need medical help.

He wipes blood from his nose and winces. It's clearly broken.

Newb: Sorry?

Angra erupts and kicks Newb's bike over.

Angra: SORRY!? You're fucking sorry?! Jesus, Newb, how hard is it?One swift shot to the back.

He signals to the bird's large protruding spine.

Angra: How do you miss that?!

Newb hangs his head.

Angra: Well, that's a trip to The Cave tonight, then.

Newb: HDC? Nah, wouldn't go there tonight. One of my riverman mates had a tip off. There's a branch of Tekkies planning a storm on it. Been in the works for months.

Angra: Great! We'll just have to go back to the shed. You get to carry this thing.

Cut to a brief shot of Angra speeding ahead of Newb who is looking rather disgruntled. Behind him, tied to the back of the bike by a thick rope, is a large bundle wrapped up in a thick tarp. Cut back to HDC. Flayed and V run out of the small office. They're at the top of some scaffolding with stairs leading to the rest of the cave. People are screaming and running around. Groups of men and women in pseudo futuristic suits are setting things on fire and beating people senseless. They wield long metal spears and a few have guns. One of them shoots at V before an unseen protector takes him out with a throwing knife. The man who warned them of the attack jumps down from the scaffold.

Flayed: Who are these?!

V: Tekkies...I'll explain later- FRIDAY!

The man who warned them of the attack looks up at them.

V: Is everyone soundchecked?

Friday13thFan: I believe so, sir!

Into the cave a group of men wearing metal suits rush. Chronogrl throws open a hatch at the floor just in front of them and shoots at their legs. Some of them fall down and another quickly jumps. He lands on top of the hatch and drives a spear down in to it. Another group of tekkies run out into the room carrying various computers, walkie talkies and one even has a microwave. The man who jumped on the hatch looks up at V. This man has a long black thick coat on over a bullet proof vest. He also has a black, tattered hat and round glasses. This man is Doc Faustus.

Doc Faustus: Tell your people to surrender! We just want what is rightfully ours!

V: Give over! You really think that's gonna work.

Doc Faustus: It is owed to us! His divine light came to me, he showed me the way!

V: I strongly urge you to leave.

Doc Faustus: So you will not come quietly? So be it...

He takes an object around the size of a felt tip marker from his pocket. It's solid chrome in appearance.

Doc Faustus: Three years ago, one of the heavenly stations blew up. The explosion could be seen quite clearly.

Flayed speaks up.

Flayed: China 4, a weapon developing ship. A malfunction with the black fusion room.

Doc Faustus: Ah, so you have an intelligent one here now, V? You would make an excellent Tekkie, my friend. Now, after the explosion there was some debris. A gift to us...a solid crate of these babies were found in Mexico, I payed a great deal for them. They have these strange marking along the side, but I just call them metal molotovs.

He smiles slightly as he twists the top off the device revealing a red button. From the other side, a bright flame ignites. The chrome suddenly falls off revealing transparent glass. Inside, the device is filled with fuel. Doc throws it at the base of the scaffolding and instantly it lights up. Flayed and V rush back into V's office and close the door.

V: Bastard Tekkies...

Flayed: What the hell are Tekkies?!

V: Religious fanatics for technology, now put these on!

He thrusts some large ear defenders in to Flayed's hands. There are small flashing lights and wires attached. It has clearly been meddled with.

V: Now! You'll need them.

Flayed puts them on and turns back to V who has opened a draw at one of the filing cabinets. The room is beginning to heat up. V tears something that looks like a broken remote control from the cabinet. He rushes to the side of the wall which is covered in a sheet of wood with plenty of loose wires. He pulls one of them and attaches it to a metal prong on the device he's holding, then does the same with another wire. He them presses three of the buttons of it. Cut to outside the room where the tekkies and residents of HDC are fighting brutally. Not many dead, but plenty injured. Chronogrl has emerged from the hole in the ground, he shoulder bleeding somewhat.

Doc Faustus: Yes! Yes, get everyth-AHHHHH!

He clasps his hands to his ears, as do all the other tekkies. They fall to the floor in anguish. Doc looks up at V's office and his face contorts with rage.

Doc Faustus: This isn't over!

He waves his hand to signal everybody to leave. All the tekkies drop what they're holding and run out as fast as they can, still squealing in pain. V's voice sounds over the intercom.

V: Please allow our esteemed guests to leave their nearest exit. They couldn't be trusted if we kept them hostage. But feel free to rough them up a bit on the way.

Cut to a shot of all the tekkies fleeing into the wastes. Cut back to V's office. Outside, the fire is clearly being extinguished from the sounds. Flayed is taking off his ear protectors as V puts back the device which set the sound. He looks at Flayed.

V: Now, where were we?

Ending credits roll.

[newb]

Nice ....but I have 2 problems

1. I never miss

2.You never kick over another man's bike and live to talk about it

[ferretchucker]

Nice ....but I have 2 problems

1. I never miss

2.You never kick over another man's bike and live to talk about it

You were on the booze

You deserved it :D

[scouse mac]

Some nice work here FC, throw me in the story somewhere if theres room. No preference of type of character but I wouldnt mind being someones arch nemisis just for the hell of it.

[friday13thfan]

Very well done Ferret.

[ferretchucker]

Opening credits roll. Fade to a shot of the disheveled house which Rayne and Demon Seed live in. Fade to the basement. Rayne is lying asleep when her eyes slowly open. She rolls her arm over and grabs at the nothingness beside her. Her eyes grow sad. She stands up facing the wall and puts on a t-shirt fashioned from what looks like some curtains.

Rayne: Is there any of that cat left for breakfast?

No reply. She turns around and sees the rags on which Demon Seed sleep empty. Her eyes widen.

Rayne: Shit!

She grabs an axe from the floor and races up the stairs. Cut to Demon Seed. It's early morning and he's standing on a hill, gazing off into the distance. Up in the distance he can see a great cloud eagle flying. It appears to be carrying a figure in it's talons. He sighs. The sounds of footsteps breaks his trance. He spins around, pointing his rifle. It's Rayne. She looks furious.

Demon Seed: Ah, hell...

Rayne: Damn right, Mr! What the hell do you think you're doing? I thought I'd taught you better. Always tell me where you're going! At least leave a note. And look!

She signals towards the Cloud Eagle.

Rayne: For my sake, wait until mid day at least. Wait 'til the eagles go to sleep.

Demon Seed: I know-

Rayne: Do you? It doesn't seem like it! Your being here is evident of it! Lucky I found you. Anything could have happened.

Demon Seed: I know.

She looks sadly at him.

Rayne: I've already lost one man...don't make me lose another.

Her eyes begin to well up.

Demon Seed: He's out there, mum. I know he is.

Rayne: Of course.

She hugs him close.

Demon Seed: He's a fighter.

Rayne continues to hug him, his eyes are closed. As he opens them he spots something in the distance which clearly shocks him.

Demon Seed: Hey! Hey!

He breaks free of his mother's grasps and slides down the gravely hill. Rayne turns quickly and spots it. No more than 100 yards away, a figure crawls along the ground. Whoever it is, they look exasperated and dehydrated from the heat. Rayne runs after her son.

Rayne: D! D, don't get too close!

Demon Seed: Hey you!

The man looks up; it's Roshiq. He smiles with genuine joy at the sight of them.

Roshiq: Oh thank God!

He starts to stand up, but Demon brandishes the gun, stopping just short of Roshiq.

Demon Seed: Don't get up. What's your name, traveller?

Roshiq: Its...it's...

Demon Seed: Stop stalling and tell me your fucking name!

Rayne catches up.

Rayne: Language!

Demon Seed: Sorry...

Roshiq: Roshiq...my name is Roshiq.

Rayne: What?

Demon Seed: He said his name is Roshiq. What brings you here?

Roshiq: Water...I need water.

Demon Seed: We got water. What have you got?

Rayne: Wait.

Roshiq: I'm a good hunter...I can help you hunt.

Rayne: No-

Demon Seed: We'll give you some water...come with us-

Rayne: Shut up!

Demon Seed looks at her, shocked at the outburst. Rayne crouches and looks at Roshiq. She goes to touch his face but he flinches.

Rayne: Roshiq? Roshiq the river man?

Roshiq: What did you say?

Rayne: Was that your name? Were you a river man?

Roshiq: I...I think so.

Demon Seed: Mum, do you know this guy?

Rayne: Be quiet!

She turns back to Roshiq.

Rayne: It is you. You used to have a green boat, remember?

Roshiq: A green boat? Did I?

He clasps his hand to his head.

Roshiq: Ahgh...I can't think straight.

Rayne looks at Demon Seed, then back to Roshiq.

Rayne: You're coming back with us. We'll get you some water and see if you can't talk more.

Roshiq looks up at her and smiles again. Cut to a hollowed out cave room. It's relatively small but is full of loud people. Some music is playing through speakers on the wall. It's a bar. Tables are set out with odd chairs surrounding them. The bar itself is mad of corrogated iron with rags thrown over it. Behind it are large metal casks with makeshift taps sticking out of them. The casks have labels painted on, such as "Bodwoser" and "Vodkar". Friday13thfan is serving people. A middle aged woman is clearing dented iron flasks from the tables. She walks past Newb arguing with another older man who has a beard. She smiles. This is Hammerfan.

Hammerfan: Still not decided?

Neverending: I'm just not buying it.

Newb: I'm telling you, I've eaten it and it is awesome.

Neverending: Where did you get it from?

Newb: They still breed them all the time in England. They have entire fields covered in them.

Neverending: And that's where the story goes wrong. No way have you visited England. To cross the Atlantic is impossible. Hasn't been done since Red Button Day.

Newb: Think what you want, I'm telling you, I've eaten it.

Neverending: Sure. So you're telling me there's an ugly, fat, blubbery animal which has a tail like a spring and a flat nose? It's massive weight is supported only by tiny hooves and they bathe in mud.

Newb: Yep. And they're clever.

Neverending: Of course! They're intelligent too. And these creatures are called...?

Newb: Pigs.

Neverending: Right. Pigs. Of course, how could I forget? Such an elegant name. But for some strange reason, people don't call the meat pig?

Newb: Nope. They call it pork, ham, bacon, gammon, scratchings, sausages and faggots.

Neverending bursts out laughing.

Neverending: You're fulla shit, Newb. Why would they give it so many names?

Newb: Different parts of it, duh.

Neverending: Right, right...I'm off to host my show.

He gets up and walks out of the bar.

Hammerfan: I believe you, babe.

She smiles at him.

Newb: Thanks...been to see Angra, yet?

Hammerfan: No, where is he?

Newb: Hospital ward, had an accident with a Cloud Eagle.

Hammerfan: Holy shit.

Newb: Yeh...messed him up pretty bad. But it's his own fault. He made mistakes. If I wasn't there, I don't know what he'd have done...

Cut to Neverending walking through the caves. He gets into a very small room which still has some pipes leaking into it from the old sewer. He presses a few buttons on the makeshift mixing desk in front of him and puts on some earphones. He begins talking.

Neverending: Never fear, it's me, your crazy Uncle Ozma ready to liven up your no doubt shitty day in the eternally dreary wasteland! Still, better to be here in HDC than out in the wastes. I'm gonna talk about those mental Tekkies and the lengths they go to to get our...well, out tech.

The camera pans around to behind the table he's sitting at. Attached to the back of the table is a small bomb. It has the letter T imprinted on the back of it. One of the many wires sticking out of it leads to one of the switches on the desk.

Neverending: But first, I'm gonna play my first tune of the show. And trust me, this one's gonna blow your socks off!

He puts a casette in the player and flicks the switch. A small "ding" sound, then the room explodes. Flames instantly engulf Neverending melting the skin from his bones. His carcass flies out into the caves. The hollowed out town shakes and rocks begin falling. People scream in terror. Ending credits roll.

[Zero]

more monkeys

[ferretchucker]

They stay in their own little area and avoid The Forbidden Zone.

[_____V_____]

If you write Zero's part, FC, be sure to add me and a sawed-off shotgun.

Nothing better to spice up a post-apocalyptic scenario than some sizzling well-done monkey butt. :cool:

[ferretchucker]

Opening credits roll. Fade to a shot of an old motel. The pool is filled with tinted green sand and the metal railings have long since rusted off. There are no windows, they have been boarded up. Surrounding the motel is a large perimeter fence on which are two large makeshift turrets. They have large wires protruding and appear to have been constructed from a mixture of tin foil and old hairdryers. People dressed in the same armor as those who attacked HDC rush into the compound.

Cut to a shot of an upstairs room of the motel. The room has been covered in old sheets of corrugated iron and various pieces of Pre Red Button Day tech cover the floor. Laying on a bed, tinkering with an old laptop that has a hole through it's screen is Doc Faustus. He is in the process of trying to connect the broken parts of the screen together using an old metal necklace. The door swings open and in walks a man with messy red hair. His face is young but there is age behind his eyes. He wears a tatty green jumper and jeans. No shoes. This is Scouse Mac.

Doc Faustus: Ah, I was wondering when you would arrive Mr. Mac.

Scouse: Please don't call me Mr. Titles are pathetic in this world. A useless addition to a pointless name. Nobody truly cares. Nobody will ever remember you.

Doc Faustus: Yes...your cynicism proceeded you. I understand you have something for me.

Scouse: I do indeed. I won't say where I got it-

It looks as though Doc is going to protest, so Scouse Mac cuts in.

Scouse: It is useless asking. You will only waste my time and yours. And I have business to attend to.

He moves his hand lightly, curling his fingers as though imagining holding a knife.

Doc: Would you care to show me?

Scouse: Money first. I know what you folk are like. The things you get up to. If I show you and you decide not to pay, I will take it home with me. Then you will try and raid my home. I cannot allow that.

Doc: Do you seriously believe I would even let you leave the compound if that was my master plan?

Scouse: You make a good point...still. I want you to understand I am a man of my word. This...weapon will be in your hands within the minute on the condition that the payment is in mine first.

Doc: A weapon? In terms of, say...HDC. How many would said weapon be likely to eliminate.

Scouse Mac smiles slightly.

Scouse Mac: All.

Doc pushes the broken laptop to the side and stands up, amazed.

Doc Faustus: Impossible!

Scouse Mac: I kid you not. In one foul swoop the town will be gone. Kaput.

Doc: Hold on. It's a bomb of some sort? What use is that to me? I want to eliminate the people, not destroy the system. There would be nothing to salvage!

Scouse Mac: Patience. I will explain further, but first you must hold up your end of the bargain. I understand you have a pair of cutters.

Doc: Whats?

Scouse Mac: Oh you fool...large hydraulically powered pincer like things. They were used by a group of people salvage survivors of vehicle accidents pre red button day.

Doc: How do you know this?

Scouse Mac: Research. It's not important! This particular pair are very important to me. They have been adapted.

Doc: Yes. I had Geddy downstairs attach a hydrogen converter.

Scouse Mac: They work entirely independently?

He speaks with a twinkle of excitement.

Doc: Indeed. I have them in here I believe...

He walks across the room to an en-suite bathroom converted into simply a storage space. Her reaches through the various pieces of rubble and pulls out the cutters, passing them to Scouse Mac. Scouse's eyes light up with malicious wonder as he presses the button, powering the cutters. The great metal pincers the size of a human head open and close.

Doc: Now where is this weapon you speak of?

Scouse Mac: Of course.

He reaches into his jeans pockets and pulls out a small chrome ball the size of a golf ball. A line runs around the outside of it.

Scouse Mac: I haven't thought of a name for it...I was given it but an...unfortunate riverman.

His eye twitches slightly.

Scouse Mac: He never told me where he found them. But he told me how they work. It's a type of grenade. Twist the two halves apart and throw. Wipes out biological thing within two square miles...except the thrower. Finger print recognition it would seem.

Doc: This is incredible! How ever did he find out this information?

Scouse Mac: An unfortunate slip up somewhere in what used to be New Illinois...

He suddenly becomes a lot more focused, lifting up the cutters and aking for the door.

Scouse: Pleasure.

Before Doc can say a thing, Scouse has left. Doc is left pondering the new weapon with a dark grin on his face. Ending credits roll.

[ferretchucker]

Opening credits roll. Fade to a shot of the outside of what was Neverending's studio. Flames are shooting through the door and crowds of people watch on in horror as others desperately try to fight the fire with some primitive garden hoses. Rocks are still falling from the ceiling, although it seems to have settled down now. Chronogrl pushes through the crowd of people that's gathered.

Chronogrl: Okay, people, you all need to go back to your compartments. Level 3s and above only from tunnel D through F. Anybody who lives in said tunnels needs to head to the town hall right away.

Newb: What's going on?!

Chronogrl: No idea, but it's serious. Some sort of explosion in here.

Newb: Shit, that's Neverending's studio isn't it?

Chronogrl: You're a non citizen, I'm sorry but you're gonna have to leave now.

Newb: Is Neverending okay?

She turns to him and suddenly looks less focussed.

Chronogrl: Look, I don't know who you are, but he was my friend as well. I want to know what happened to him just as much as you but at the moment my job is to clear you all out of here. Please don't make it harder.

Newb: My friend's in the medical block here, can I just go and get him?

Chronogrl: Sure, that's not mu juristriction. Go.

She turns back and tries to control the crowd some more. The flames have died down now. Fade to The Flayed One's temporary room. He's sleeping heavily whilst people knock at the door. Eventually he wakes up and walks over to open it. Standing there is V.

Flayed: Oh fuck, I don't have to go over wha-

V: Quiet, I need to talk to you quickly. You said you came here from some escape pod, right?

Flayed: What?

V: When you were talking to me about where you came from, that space station, you said you came here in an escape pod?

Flayed: Yeah, what about it?

V: How high tech would you say it was?

Flayed: I dunno, I'm not a technician. What's this abou-

V: How was it powered?

Flayed: Something called Black Fusion. I dunno, it's like they get a miniature black hole and just use it to power everything on the ship.

V: You're serious? That must be incredible...an infinite power source. If we can contain that...

He drifts off then looks back at Flayed.

V: Look, there was an explosion further down the halls, evidence suggests it was a little gift the tekkies left behind. It knocked out our electricity supply and we have no way of reconnecting that. We have four hours worth of power left.

Flayed: Shit dude...well, I don't see how I can help.

V: This escape pod must have some kind of fuel storage, some remnant of this black fusion. If you can bring that back here then...need I explain?

Flayed: Hold on! I see where this is going. No! I'm not sticking my neck out for you guys. I just want to relax. I have had enough of rescue missions. This one girl on the station, Papillon Noi-

V: You don't seem to understand. We need this, and you're going to get it for us. A young woman named Chronogrl, very determined lady, has agreed to go with you. We'll give you all the tools you need, including two motorbikes lent to us by some traders.

Flayed: Fuck you! I'm through with action.

V takes a menacing step forward to Flayed.

V: When you left with all that technology a lot of people here were very angry. You betrayed us. I've forgiven you...but a lot of others haven't. Neverending was particularly furious with you at the time.

Flayed: Where is that old dude?

V: He was at the center of that explosion. Now, I'm not saying you had anything to do with it, but rumors are starting to spread. I'm the only thing standing between you and them and if I move out of the way...

Flayed: You devious bastard. I thought I could trust you.

V: I'm mayor first and your friend second. Sorry, it's just the way things are.

Flayed: So what do I have to do exactly.

V: Go out on the bikes to wherever you left this pod and salvage all that you can from it, but most of all the fuel storage. With any luck we can find out our own way to create black fusion. Worst case scenario we have to use it to power this place for a few more days.

Flayed: What do I get out of it?

V: An unlimited level 2 clearance here.

Flayed: That's it? I don't need this place, I could find a home somewhere else.

V: And 3000 Rels. That should be enough to last you at least three years.

Flayed is clearly tempted by the money, his greed kicking it.

Flayed: Make it 3500.

V: Deal.

Flayed: And I want half before I leave.

V: You drive a hard bargain...but okay.

Flayed: Lovely.

He licks his lips, then takes a big swig from a jug of ale beside his bed. He and V shake hands.

V: Pleasure doing business with you my friend.

Flayed: Same to you.

The camera pans down to show Flayed's fingers crossed behind his back. Ending credits roll.

[ferretchucker]

Opening credits roll. Fade to a shot of the house that Rayne, Roshiq and Demon Seed are staying in. They have a small fire going, each of them sitting close to it. A very weathered metal bowl contains the remains of what appear to be some sort of soup.

Roshiq: I have to say, I really can't thank you enough for all of this. I'm not sure what I was doing out there...I can't really remember much.

Rayne looks at him, concerned. She doesn't speak. Demon Seed is also staring at him.

Demon Seed: So what, you just wake up each day without knowing who you are?

Rayne: D!

Demon Seed: What?! I was just asking.

Roshiq looks down into the fire as he speaks.

Roshiq: I usually end up remembering my name. If I'm in the same place for long enough I'll know from the second I wake that I'm safe. But other days I'll wake up in the middle of the night, screaming like a banshee. It usually subsides quickly though.

Demon Seed: And you have no memories of being a riverman?

Roshiq: What? No. Well...some. Occasionally I get flashes from my past. The green boat going down murky water. I had a hole in the floor.

Rayne smiles slightly, her eyes welling up.

Roshiq: Every time I'd forget that it was there and-

Rayne: Your foot would fall in. That's why your left boot was so mouldy.

Roshiq looks up at her, a frown on his face.

Roshiq: How did you know me?

Rayne: Huh? Oh..well, I'd just see you out and about sometimes. I'd often buy food from you.

Roshiq: I sold food? Really? I'm useless at finding it now...how was I then?

Rayne: I'm not sure, like I said I didn't know you that well...

Demon Seed: You must have some idea, mum!

Rayne: It was such a long time ago.

Roshiq: Was I fast? Did I get other people to catch it for me?

Demon Seed: I bet you used knives and just like, dived on them! Did he mum?

She suddenly gets very stressed.

Rayne: I said I don't know!

The two males suddenly go silent and stare at her. She doesn't make eye contact with them.

Rayne: Sorry, you didn't deserve that.

Roshiq: It was my fault for prying.

After a moment or two of silence, she speaks again.

Rayne: You always had plenty, I know that much. You always kept your passengers well fed. It's just so long ago, and you look so different.

Roshiq: It's okay, I understand. If you don't mind, I'm gonna go to sleep now. It's been so long since I had such a comfortable bed.

He signals to the pile of dirty sheets in a heap on the hard concrete floor. Rayne nods and he goes over to the piles. Rayne goes over to the corner of the room and picks up a few planks of old rotting wood. She throws them on the fire. She then signals to Demon Seed to follow her up the stairs and out the door. Once they're out, she turns to him and speaks very quietly.

Rayne: I know you're just curious, but can you please just not ask any more questions about Roshiq? It takes me back to a dark place, somewhere I wouldn't like to visit again.

He nods compliantly.

Demon Seed: How long are we gonna let him stay with us? How do we even know we can trust him?

Rayne: I don't know. I just really hope. He was a nice person back then, and he seems sincere right now. But he can't stay for too long. As soon as...if we find Dude-

Demon Seed: Hey! Don't talk like that. We're gonna find him.

Rayne: I know that he's out there. I'm just starting to wonder if we'll find out where "there" is. It's been three months. We have to be realistic.

Demon Seed: Stop talking like that! I know he'll be back. He's probably on his way now.

Fade to a shot of inside a dark cave, only lit by a single old fashioned bulb hanging loosely from a makeshift wooden stand. Drops of blood litter the floor and various sharp instruments are strewn around the cave. Up against one of the walls is a man with long, dark hair tied firmly to a wooden chair, which is firmly fixed to the ground, as though cement were poured on it's legs. This is Dude Guadalupe The hair is messy, as though it hasn't been washed in months. The man is growing a beard and his clothes are all tattered, and blood stains them. His entire body is covered in bruises, lumps and cuts. He is also very gaunt, as though he is barely being fed. His feet are submerged in a metal bowl of water and are purple with the cold. He shivers. Footsteps coming towards him as another man enters the cave.

It is Scouse Mac, and he is holding the hydraulic cutters menacingly.

Scouse Mac: Now, are you going to tell me the code?

Dude Guadalupe: I told you...I've forgotten it.

Scouse Mac: Then remember.

Dude Guadalupe: How the fuck am I meant to do that?

His voice is weak and raspy.

Scouse Mac: With a bit of persuasion.

He holds up the cutters and walks towards Dude.

Dude Guadalupe: No...no!

The camera cuts to an outside shot of the cave, where a cloud eagle soars overhead. Dude's blood curdling screams can be heard from with in over the top of the sounds of the cutters. After the sounds of the cutters cease, he screams one sentence.

Dude Guadalupe: I wrote it down!

Scouse Mac: Good...now we're getting somewhere. For your sake...I hope you're not lying.

Cut to a shot of Roshiq, slowly falling asleep next to the fire. The camera pans across to the fire itself. Scratched on one of the pieces of wood Rayne just threw into the fire is a series of numbers. As the flame continues, the piece of wood blackens. Ending credits roll.

[Dude Guadalupe]

The code is UP, UP, DOWN, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT, B, A, START :D


The story so far is great. I'm looking forward to more.

*edit*Rayne just said the reason she keeps reading is because the story is great.