[_____V_____]

___V___ walks over to the counter, and sits down. Flayed One walks over with an inquiring look, but ___V___ shakes his head at him...Flayed One shrugs and goes back attending to other customers. A couple of guys lift PR3SSUR3, who gets up shakily and keeps yelling in pain, and escort him out of the bar. Massacre Man gathers up the money in a small duffel bag he's got with him, and walks over to ___V___ with a big smile.


Massacre Man (grinning): You came just in the nick of time.

___V___ (looking straight ahead): How did you end up here? I thought you had gone camping.

Massacre Man (reminisces): Long story cut short. I was in a werewolf situation, and Rayne...anyway, after that, Zero jumped me and bit me on the hand then disappeared. But not before I stuck a tracker on his back. I remember cutting him into pieces before...but how the hell did he get together again is beyond me...the tracker on his body brought me here, and I was looking for a drink before moving on, but got challenged to a poker match by Mr. Wussyface.

___V___ (looking at him): You said you were bitten?

Massacre Man (lifting his sleeve up): Hell yeah. Look at this.


The bite marks on Massacre Man aren't ordinary ones. Something deep inside the torn veins and red blood glowed bright green for some reason. ___V___ looks back at him.


___V___: Have you changed since then?

Massacre Man: Changed? what changed? I have stopped watching porn, if thats what you mean.

___V___ (keenly): No...changed into a werewolf yourself?

Massacre Man (surprised): Nope. I mean...not yet.

___V___: Put your hand out for a sec.


___V___ grabs a syringe from inside his jacket, and plunges it into the wound of Massacre Man, who winces for a moment. ___V___ drains the entire blue liquid into it, and then throws the syringe away.


___V___: If this works, good. If not...

Massacre Man: So...whats your story?

___V___: The block was quarantined. Some sort of viral outbreak...I got infected and they sent guards. Finished off everyone except a young chap who popped a bullet inside me and jumped out of the window himself, after I spitted on him. Luckily, he fell on an antidote-supply truck. He must have stopped it and got a shot for himself...because I crawled to the window to look what happened to him and noticed the truck stopping myself. I fell on it too...but the cover gave way under me and I fell straight into a full crate of antidotes, and got stuck with several syringes...

Massacre Man: Wow...seems like the shit never stops with us does it...anyway, I am tracking the redhead nuisance once and for all and putting an end to this.

___V___ (staring into space, unmindful of Massacre Man's response): The shots did something...at first I thought it was the antidote doing its work...but no. Something...something still runs inside me...

Massacre Man (staring): You okay? What about the bullet wound?

___V___ (coming back to the present): Yeah. And I still got the bullet inside me. (points to his chest)

Massacre Man: We gotta get you to a doctor and pull it out before-


Something inside Massacre Man's pocket beeps suddenly, and he fumbles into it and brings it out. Its a small, round device with a screen in its center. A red dot glows on it.


Massacre Man (excited): He's nearby.

___V___: Let's go.

A voice: What's the rush, ___V___ ?


___V___ and Massacre Man turn towards the entrance, to see a tall, shivering figure wrapped in a blanket, smiling at them. It's VampiricClown.


___V___: What are you doing here?

VampiricClown: Same as you. I came looking for answers.

___V___: Answers? You shot me and got cured of the virus. Happy ending for you.

VampiricClown: Yes, but I was given a job. And I intend on finishing it. I would-

___V___: And do what...pump another bullet into me?

VampiricClown: Nope. Don't get me wrong, ___V___. I am here to track down the person who invented the virus.

Massacre Man: Wait...the virus was invented?

VampiricClown: Yes, and the person lives near this town. So I was told by my chief.

___V___: You got more on your plate that you thought, officer. Its not only the virus and people you gotta contend with right now.

VampiricClown (turning slightly pale): What do you mean?

___V___: You will see.

Massacre Man (turning towards ___V___): See if we can get a ride northwards. I noticed stagecoaches lining up before the station in front. Till then, I ll go get some stuff...

___V___: Don't go looking for the signal yourself, Massacre Man. You might run into trouble...or an ambush.

Massacre Man: Nah. That's for us to deal with. I'll just get some stuff which we might need. (looks away for a moment)

___V___: Meet me in front of the station in 30 minutes.


They start to walk out of the bar, when a voice rings out from behind them.


Flayed One: Looks like you fine gents would need this. (tosses the shotgun to the three of 'em)

Massacre Man (grabbing it): Do you have some shells to spare?


___V___ and VampiricClown walk out, towards the station. Massacre Man comes out a few minutes later, holding the shotgun and looks at the receding figures. He takes the beeper out again and stares into it. His eyes light up while looking at it, and he looks in the opposite direction at a house nearby...then hurries towards it.

___V___ approaches the driver closest to him, which is Alkytrio.


___V___: Which way are you headed? And in how much time?

Alkytrio: Northwards on to Synthelvania. We leave in an hour.

___V___: Alright. I am expecting a friend to join us, so we have plenty of time.

Alkytrio: Leave a seat on the far side, you both. There's a booking for that already.


___V___ looks back questioningly at Alkytrio as VampiricClown climbs in.


Alkytrio: A lady. Hammerfan.