Life After the Cataclysm - Chapter 1

Tears fell from his cheeks as he realised what he had done “I was there I even killed the nomadic people afterwards every time you and did what was right I was at all those events.” He began to remember memories he had trapped behind the wooden doors of his church.

“I would never take you back understand that!” reaching out his hand to touch her she recoiled slashing his hand with her nails leaving four small jagged cuts. Zack’s eyes went wide in fright as a flash of memory came upon him his worst fear the yellow eyed beast had escaped from its cage. Zack had fought it with his bare hands when he had thought it beaten he had turned his back then a low growl caused him to turn. The beast had slashed his face open this memory continued showing Carl backhanding the animal it turning human it was Sin who had done this to him.

He looked down at Sin taking a step back “It is not you who has to leave I should have left once I saw you but I knew you wouldn’t remember me, I should have just turned round and left.” His face stuck between fear and pain at all the happenings he turned on his heel towards the door preparing to run from Sin afraid of how she would act but his mind blanked and the voice came. *“Why don’t we take her in we might get forgiveness from old Doc? We can watch the experiments again.”* Zack realised that his mind was split between indeed taking her back ‘home’ or running from her it was impossible for him to stay now which he indeed had intended to leave stuck between this he suddenly gave a scream of pain his mind exploding into white light he fell unconscious in front of Sin.

Zack slowly opened his eyes his splitting head ache still aching he could feel wet tears upon his face his hair being stroked in a croak of a voice “I thought I was leaving the confusion on his ace evident.” He slowly sat up looking to Sin seeing her distressed. “I’ll take a shower first.” He pulled himself form her using a wall to help him stand he walked to the bath room “clothes on the bed!”

Zack walked in the shower locking it he took his clothes off piling them in a corner his claymore sitting in the corner. His head pounding he got in the shower turning it on he found to his delight the warm water had ran out a cold shower to ease the pain. He cleaned himself washing the blood from his hands getting it out his hair. He cleaned his coat quickly the material would dry quickly compared to heavy cotton he hung it off the sink he turned to his boots he had been wearing cleaning the caked soles scratching the blood off of them. “Messy really.” Once finished he stepped out the shower drying himself he threw on his T-shirt and trousers he left his hair remembering how he used to be in the guard his loose hair to his shoulder. He looked to his claymore wondering why he had never binned it he stared at it intently. Before he picked it up with the damp coat knocking on the door

“You changed yet Sin?”

Zack unlocks the door looking at Sin he gives a weak smile his head still hurt but he finally noticed her side. “Sin you want a bandage for that?” Going to the side table where he had left the medic bag he pulled the bandage out walking over to Sin he carefully wrapped it round tying it off. He looked round the room happy “we should move out.” Picking his two possessions his coat and sword throwing the damp coat on but carrying the sword he goes to the door with a flourish of a bow “Let us exit these premises.”

Zack allowed her to walk past him then quickly caught up to walk beside her but once they reached the lobby he stopped her his head had began to hurt he was worried it was another black out but then the clear voice came into his head *I think your in trouble now Zacky boy gonna have real fight and you not even ready and even worse you only got about 3 minutes till dawn cya round Zacky* the voice fading Zack looked to Sin a small hint of fear in his face “I think he sent more!”

Zack takes the bag his mind milling over the words she had said “I was supposed to protect you now you expect me to run that’s mad aren’t you the one who haven’t lived free yet ill take the imprisonment.” He walked past her she could do nothing but realise he had left the bag and had walked past her Zack opened the door closing it he ripped off the doorknob closing behind him grabbing from a pile of junk a iron bar he barred her in to find a different route to go he smiled at his own stupidity. “3 minutes to fight?” He turned round to find the ‘recovery team’

“Long time no see Clarence!” Zack had recognized the Komodo dragon quickly he walked forward his hand bringing the claymore to rest on his shoulder. He measured up Clarence wondering what he could do against such a ‘thing.’ “You still using poison in those teeth of yours?” slowly stretching his left arm he would kill his underlings he knew their was no victory in this only time “It is your turn to live a better life Sintara!” Zack eyed each man slowly sliding into his fighting stance his claymore in one hand the strain on his wrist was almost unbearable but he would cope only to die by the ‘Docs’ hands.

Dawn's deep amber glow filtered through the stony ruins as the man-beast dragged his prize across the shards of debris protruding from the sandy ground. Despite the protests of the screaming girl he continued onward but stopped suddenly, alerted by a strange scent. He swayed his head from side to side trying to locate the source then lead by his nose he tilted his canine head upward to see a giant cloaked figure balancing upon a steel beam high above him.

The hyena-man growled defiantly and tugged on the girl's chain. "Mine!" He barked.

The cloaked giant descended from his perch, landing softly upon the sandy ground. He rose to his full height, appearing much taller than the stooping hyena. Broad shoulder bulged beneath the dark cloak, and and two luminescent eyes peered out from beneath the dark cowl in the eerie silence that ensued as the two monsters stood their ground, neither backing the other down. Then the larger beast spoke.

"You speak, beast." The stranger remarked in a deep raspy voice.

"Of course I speak!" Hissed the hyena, tugging once more on the chain, causing the girl to whimper in pain. As he pulled he reached with his other large hand toward the dwarfed pistol on his belt. His hand trembled, although the creature did not know why. There was something about this creature's scent something familiar... something that instinctively he feared.

The stranger nodded and brought up his large clawed hands to his head and drew back the hood revealing a tawny mane of hair and beneath it the face of a snarling lion.

The Hyena drew back as the primal memories of his species recognized he who protected the pride, the one who rose only to kill his kind!

The fight was short. The hyena instead of trying to dodge the lion's attack went for his gun and tragically it was the creatures final mistake in life. Claws sprang out from the lion-man's powerful hand-like paw, raking the hyena across his throat, tearing away part of the beasts jaw in the process. The hyena slumped to the ground, gurgled and died.

The lion-man, relaxed and shook the blood from his hand. Saying nothing he stood over the bloody Sintara studying her wounds and waiting for her to speak.

Pheyd had hung up his apron and said good bye to his brief employment at Lu's Noodle House since he had obtained all the information he presently required. Being able to forego sleep when necessary the Synthecan stole away into the night, traveling north of Perdition into the jagged landscape of the ruined city.

Movement was slow through the maze of fallen buildings, most of them nearly claimed by the sands of the wastelands. Sand concealing pits that could pull a body down into an ancient basement and suffocate them or leave falling to their death to the buried streets below. So, Pheyd was cautious in his movements but there was not much that eluded his vision, surpassing the acuity of a cat's eye and able to see into the ultraviolet and infrared spectrums.

It was indeed fortuitous when he came upon the hybrids in the small hours of the morning and thought that perhaps these beasts would lead him to the lab he sought. He watched curiously as the young woman, transformed into the semblance of a wolf and the tall man with the blade struggled to defend her. He felt something for a brief moment as they fought for their lives, it was an emotion that some of the scientists on board the deep space exploration ship had assisted him with understanding. It was compassion, but it hardly moved him to take action, that would only hinder his current goal. An objective that he was becoming closer to as he surreptitiously followed the young woman being dragged away by one the enormous hyena-men.

The intervention of the lion-beast had been most unfortunate for Pheyd, but from the perspective of the girl, he assumed that the hyena creatures demise perhaps outweighed his own agenda. He narrowed his eyes in contemplation as he watched the events unfurl below him from his high plateau, far beyond the lion-man's sense of smell, yet oddly enough he seemed aware of his presence.



Stasinus, while waiting for the girl to initiate any conversation she felt necessary, tensed and shot his eyes around, searching for something. He could 'feel' someone watching them, but from where he could not tell, as the creature's emotional state was inconsistent preventing him from pin-pointing their general direction. It was difficult to say how many they were, but he was certain that there was at least one person out their focusing on he and the she-wolf.

Jerimiaha, , pulled the small portable Kieger counter from his packpack and scanned the Mutant Jackrabbit, it ticked slowly. "There you happy now you worry wart, like I would feed us anothing not semi safe to eat." he said to Dog "I am not the one that brought the raccoon that was infested with maggots."

"Jeasus, Jerimiaha, that was two months ago and how was I to know it looked and smelled like recent road kill." Dog said "Just make sure you cook that damned thing done this time. The last one you cooked I had to chance for ten minutes after it jumped out of the pan."

Zack had winced at the scenes which happened to Sin he was about to go and attack Sin when suddenly his head told him to roll from experience he rolled in time to dodge the long swords arc standing up he used a straight thrust only catching the mans cheek as he veered out of the way Zack gave a quick jump backwards as another swing came round then a lunge came Clarence knew how to fight that was for sure.

Zack continue to dodge blades cutting his cheeks and his forearms even a cut to the forehead. Finally Zack tried a vertical attack Clarence parried it into the floor Clarence stepped forward thinking he had made an opening on Zack aiming for the killer blow when Zack brought the sword round in an arc at foot level simply knocking Clarence’s left foot but then carving through his right the severed foot rolling across the floor pumping blood from the would causing Clarence to fall to the ground. “Sin!” Zack was about to walk away when he felt the sting and wetness from a sword slice across his back not deep enough to kill but cause excruciating pain turning slowly toward Clarence swinging his sword in a arc the blade cutting through the dirt coming towards Clarence’s face in a final killer blow his eyes wide as it got closer only chaos was in his eyes.

Pheyd casually moved behind a pillar of rock, obscuring him from the vision of the lion-man. The creature had some kind of heightened sense he surmised, the acuity of which he could not yet determine, but would demand caution as he followed. From his high location he looked back the way from which the woman-wolf creature had come and concentrated his vision to breach the distance. Focusing on the tiny images, his manufactured eyes were able to telescopically zoom in on the scene of the tall, cloaked swordsman battling the lizard-man.

It was an impressive display, the tall man was far to skilled and quick to be a Human, Pheyd figured and he seemed to be weakening. No doubt succumbing to his injuries and he wondered if he would have the strength to deal with last hyena-man that anxiously awaited to join the fray. How long before the lizard showed his cowardice and called for assistance?

The Synthecan leaned back and folded his arms across his chest. He was rather enjoying the display and it had been centuries since he had been able to observe a real battle. The komodo-dragon was sloppy but he made for his lack of finesse with sheer determination and speed, while his opponent demonstrated great skill with his claymore. Every step, every swing, the Synthecan processed the information against his comprehensive knowledge of combat tactics and calculated that were the swordsman healthy he would have already defeated his opponent. As it was, the tall man was hindered by pain and fatigue making the contest all the more exciting to watch.

Even running full out, Pheyd doubted he could close the distance in time to be of any use to the stranger, not that he would offer him assistance in his fight anyway. It was a great insult to rob a warrior of his victory or death, but if he could he would ensure that the hyena did not interfere with the fight. Perhaps the lion creature was within sprinting range but even his great strides were at least ten swings of a sword away.

Pheyd reached up with his hand and touched his face, examining his mouth, and was surprised to find that he was smiling. Probably from the enjoyment of the fight he considered and as the battle waged on he found himself uncharacteristically willing the tall swordsman to victory.

Zack had miscalculated his swing no the lizard had seen it coming it was an obvious finisher he had rolled to the side Zack exhausted had not thought to hide his actions instead he was simply fighting. With a load of frustration he quickly made his boot connect to the lizards think skull the power causing the lizard to roll over twice across the floor.

Spinning on his heel his breath coming in gasps the ribs had grinded causing vast amounts of pain. his technique as a swordsman causing constant movement had meant the ribs had felt the impacts and movement. Zack looked up realising his next enemy he ran towards the Hyena-man taking large strides he came to the hyena throwing his sword into its foot pinning it to the spot it had not even acted yet surprise written all over its face. With a flourish of a crouch and spin he brought a open palmed upper cut to its chin lifting it into the air as it fell he bunched his hand into a fist the eyes of the Hyena bulging in terror as it hit the floor suffocating and choking. Zack standing slowly lifted his booted foot with a final act of mercy he ended its pain his foot smashing through its throat breaking the spinal cord its eyes dimming and glazing over. Zack pulled his sword from its foot hunching over holding the wound to his side he began to follow the trail of blood leaving Clarence to his fate in the wild.

Zack simply ignored the stares he was getting from an unknown person as long as they stayed unknown he had noticed half way through his fight some staring eyes. Zack had followed the trail for a good duration when he saw a figure in the distance he looked behind him wondering if another Hyena had survived or had this one come back to report the death of Sin then he realised as he got closer none of them had curving thighs and. Zack gave a wave with his right hand his left holding his side. “Yo you alright Sin.” His face breaking into a smile seeing the survival of his new found friend this smile fell slightly as he saw the condition she was in.

Zack had got to her crouching down next to her seeing how badly hurt she was he his eyes sad as he slowly looked to the lion his claws wet with blood he guessed he had saved the women “Don’t worry Sin he should have lost us for the time being we should get moving.” He looked to the lion “May I ask you to lift her into my arms.” Using his left to hold his right into a cradle he held them open so the lion could lift her into them.

The lion stood not saying a word Zack shrugged “I’ll do it then.” Care carefully wrapped his arms round her like a child and picked her up. “Just sleep I’ll get us out of her.” Hoping she would take his advice and fall to sleep in his hands he himself felt sleepy after all day time is when he enjoyed sleeping.

Zack began to walk almost ignoring any complaints Sin gave only giving reassuring words that they were fine no one would come after them. Well he knew till Clarence got back and reported his failure that was when maybe the Doc would search again.

Zack continued walking away from the lion all he had to do was find a building to hole up in they would be fine he continued walking when suddenly he felt true exhaustion his pace slowing. Looking outwards he saw a small building deciding it would do he walked towards it. “Sin we are gonna go in a building patch our wounds and take a rest.” Knowing full well if he fell to sleep it would take him almost three quarters of a day to wake up he reached the building pushing it open.

Zack found it empty taking the stairs he climbed them to the master bedroom lying Sin down on the double bed he pulled his remaining bandages the last he had slowly covering her wounds. Zack walked across tearing what seemed a sheet for the bed as his bandages wrapping them over the minor wounds which Clarence had given him he lowered himself down to the floor. “I’m just gonna take a snooze here.” His head falling forward he was asleep his whole body at peace his features calm and serene almost at peace.

Zack had not taken his pills when he had fallen asleep a first of one of his mistakes he is stuck within one dream he is powerless to change its happenings watching what he had done all that time talking to the people he had killed exactly as he had left them. He felt sick walking between the corpses all sneering and insulting him. When Zack noticed at the end of his show of blood stood Sin happy and unwounded at the sight of him her face became fearful Zack tried to reach out to her but suddenly a fog obstructed him. It took form the fog becoming him but the emblem on the coat of the copy showed him to be when he was a guard.

“Hello brother.” Zack’s twin sneering at him looking deep into Zack’s eyes as he looked back to the girl he couldn’t help but add more to his insult. “You know why she runs the fear of your anger killing her you never were good with anger killing everyone.” Zack grimaced as he looked back upon the corpses. “They were all evil!” Hoping to convince himself over his actions but his other half wouldn’t allow this. “What of the nomads then?” Zack backed away from his brother hoping to make distance but for every step he took back his brother simply took one forward. “Do you help this girl for atonement? Cause the last time we were travelling we were just killing people for fun.” Zack gave a scream in his dream which caused him to move from the dream and submerged into black an exhaustion sleep.

During his part of the dream his facial expressions had changed and twitched with what happened within the dream.