After the Pandemic - The Onion Run - Part 3 (990 hits)
Category: NoneLabels: Necro
Rating: 2 on 30 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Snark << snarkk.at.gmail.com (View user info) at 2005-03-15 00:48:56 EST
The Onion Run - Part 3 of 3
It all started here: http://www.ubersite.com/m/61238
"Once upon a time, in a world almost as fucked up as this, there lived the Grey Knight"
Mattaius paused and took another puff of the thick Cuban cigar in his hand, held the smoke in his mouth for a moment, then exhaled luxuriously into the space between him and the Prime.
"The Grey Knight hated his world" he continued "Partly because he saw lies everywhere he looked and partly because it had been an unforgiving place to live"
"These lies, did they have a name?"
"Yes... Magic, the world was full of it and he dedicated himself to fighting its darkest forms"
"Oh Bravo... I think I like this already... tell me, had this world been touched by the disease? Did my kind inhabit it?"
Mattaius gave Leland a curt smile and shook his head.
"No there were no (pardon the term) Leeches in this world but there were men who practiced control over the dead, and it was they who he had sworn to defeat..."
"In the name of the King of course" interjected the Prime with a smile.
"Partly I guess, but not entirely. Mostly he did it because they embodied the purest form of the lie that is magic. He fought many battles against the practitioners of the dark arts in his time. Some he lost and some he won, but the war itself was beyond the efforts of one man, and no matter how hard he tried the world around him spiraled further down the abyss..."
Leland Smithy leaned forward; his face a pale mask of delight, then slapped his hand on the table.
"A tale of Chivalry as told by the original Man-of-Few-Words! This is the kind of story worth drinking too"
Leland reached inside his desk and produced a bottle and two small glasses. "Despite my condition, I still have a weakness for fine brandy" he confided "Will you join me in a glass?"
Mattaius nodded emotionlessly and waited for the Prime to fill the glasses and slide one towards him before he continued.
"Finally, when the Knight found himself at the end of his days, he looked around himself and despaired. His world stood on the brink of doom and age had robbed him of the power he'd once wielded. It seemed to him that he'd failed and so he embarked on a journey to the place where he knew his life must end. He had given up the fight but Lady Fate would not have it and presented him with a miracle of sorts"
"Wait! Let me guess; A sword? No, magic beans perhaps?" The office around him filled with the hollow laughter of his Vampiric host.
Mattaius smile patiently and waited for the Prime to finish having his fun.
"Apologies my friend" Leland gasped finally "I'm afraid I'm somewhat more vulnerable to the effects of brandy since the change. Please, continue"
Mattaius took a mouthful of his glass, contentedly let it mix with the taste of cigar in his mouth, then swallowed and continued.
"At the end of his life and the world, the fates gave the Grey Knight one last chance to strike a blow against the lies that he'd fought against. He hesitated at first. Age and defeat had filled him with self doubt, but in the end he found a strength he'd thought long dead and embarked on one last Crusade"
"The last stand of a righteous man"
"No. The Grey Knight was far from righteous but he was steadfast, and so, he traveled back to the beginning of it all. He went back to the dawn of things when the world was new and Magic was little more than a spark the size of a snowflake and just as fragile"
"What did he do?"
Mattaius grimaced, glanced quickly at the soulless man on the other side of the desk, and then finished the rest of his drink.
"He stomped it out. He killed it in its infancy so that its lies would never have a chance to take root in the beauty around him"
"And then?"
"The newborn sky of the infant world filled with a shriek as sorrowful as anything he'd ever heard then, just like that, he was back on the road he'd been standing on at the start of his journey"
"But not the same world..."
"No the world had changed of course, as had he. That was his gift you see. He found himself in a world ruled by science. He found himself at the prime of his life in a world devoid of the evil he'd fought against because, thanks to him, it had never had a chance to exist. He had no memory of his time in the new world but it knew him well. He was regarded as a great hero for deeds he had never performed. He found himself a legend in his own time and soon after realized the greatest gift of all"
"Oh do tell..."
"He met his son"
Leland Smithy threw his head back and laughed at the ceiling.
"You my friend, have either a grand imagination or the most incredible case of self delusion I've ever seen. Tell me, did he live happily ever after or is there a moral to this story of yours?"
"No moral I care to think of" Mattaius replied morosely "Just tragedy"
"Ahhhh yes. The Pandemic"
"Yes. Towards the end of his years a great Plague swept the earth. It was an evil far beyond the ability of science. The Knight stood with unbelieving eyes and watched as it swallowed almost everything he loved. He stood helplessly and watched it devour friends and family, completely unstoppable and completely free from the one thing that could have killed it"
"Magic"
Mattaius nodded once then placed his empty glass on the desk.
"Magic"
The room filled with a thick silence as both men sat and pondered the space between them. Finally, Mattaius broke the silence with a question.
"How long do I have Leland?"
Leland Smithy looked coldly across the desk at his old friend, immediately aware of the point to the question.
"Two days Matt. Two days and I have to send them for you. I'm sorry old friend but you know too much. Despite your help, you're too much of a symbol to the Resistance...Of course if you were to accept my offer..."
"The answer remains No. I've lived long enough and tasted the kind of death you're living enough times to know it's not for me"
Leland Smithy stood and offered a warm smile and his hand which Mattaius took.
"Will you try to make it to your son? Have you two remained in contact?"
Mattaius pulled his jacket around him with a shrug, then turned and walked to the door of the office.
"You were a good man once Leland"
He opened the door then hesitated and turned back to towards the Prime "Markus and I had a falling out some time ago. He didn't enjoy my story as much as you"
The Viper came to a screeching abrupt halt less than 10 feet from the barricade just as Markus snapped his newly reloaded shotgun shut with a metallic snap. He opened his eyes to find the car had turned as it slid and had come to a stop parallel to the hulking mass of destroyed vehicles.
"This is gonna get Hollywood" he told himself as he slid across the onion strewn passenger seat and out the door to the side facing the barricade.
A quick glance around the back of the car confirmed that the riders had dismounted and were rapidly approaching, weapons at the ready.
Common sense told him that he had a chance if they all approached from the same side of the car but another quick glance killed the idea. He could only see three men approaching and didn't have to slide down to the hood to know he'd find the other two.
"Shit"
Markus popped up and fired both barrels at the group of three in the hope it would force them towards their brethren, but his aim was wild and met with an immediate hail of small caliber metal.
"Double Shit"
Markus reached into his jacket to retrieve more shells for Otis, but the sound of boots on pavement from his immediate right told him he was too late, and he turned to find himself face to face with a grinning bearded Spike and the Dirty Harry sized pistol pointed at his head.
A single shot sounded out from the direction of the barricade and the greasy beard on the other side of the pistol disintegrated into a red mist.
Markus turned towards the barricade then instinctively threw himself to the pavement as a barrage of gunfire flew over his head and into the flailing bodies of his attackers.
The cracking of automatic weapons ended almost as immediately as it had begun and the sound of boots hitting pavement filled his ears again, this time from a small gap in the barricade somewhere behind him.
"Move and your dead"
The voice was strangely muffled but clear and Markus made no move to challenge it.
From the other side of the car, an equally muffled voice spit the word "Spikes" followed by another "All clear chief.. look at em bleed out... fricken waste if you ask me"
A thick boot suddenly stomped down painfully on the wrist of his outstretched hand while another kicked Otis out of his grip.
"Got a live one here boys. Who's hungry?"
Markus turned his head and looked up, despite the man's earlier warning, and found himself face to face with the tinted glass of a military issue gas mask. He didn't need to see through it to know the teeth on the other side would be long and sharp. He'd heard the Leeches were using some kind of drug to send out day patrols but had hoped the rumors were false.
Another unfamiliar, muffled voice sounded excitedly out from the interior of his car.
"Yank me toothless! Look at what I found Chief. Looks like we got ourselves a Runner. Fucking car is full of contraband"
"Is that right?"
The boot on Markus wrist lifted then came down hard on his back.
"Let's bleed him dry" said the man in the car.
Markus watched as one standing above him stood with his head slightly tilted as if contemplating his next move. Finally, he shook it negatively and said "No, he's probably tainted with the shit in the car.,, high on his own supply. He's gonna die like these other scum but he's gonna suffer first... get him up.
Inhumanly strong hands grabbed him by the shoulders, lifted him as if he was a rag doll and threw him painfully against the back of the car.
"Take his clothes off"
Markus tried to struggle with the two gas masked men ripping at his clothes but the impact of a rifle butt to the side of his head knocked the strength out of him ,and moments later he hung suspended between them, naked and bruised.
Their leader reached one gloved hand into the car and pulled out an onion, tossed it in the air a few times then chuckled hollowly and voiced another order to his willing men.
"Bend him over"
The knowledge of what was going to happen to him shook Markus out of his daze and he brought his knee up towards the army fatigue covered crotch of the Leech with the onion. His aim was true but the Vampire was quick and sidestepped easily before shoving the onion into his stomach hard enough to knock the air out of him.
"This one's gonna be fun. Bend him over I said!"
Despite the pain in his lungs and gut, he kicked and fought with the Leeches holding him but their strength was too great and a moment later he was bent over, exposed and helpless before the Leader and his reeking toy.
"Jesus do you see that?" said the man holding his left arm.
For a moment no one spoke and Markus realized they were looking at the birthmark on his back - the undeniable proof that he was his father's son - the dark brown stain on his skin in the shape of a horned devil.
Once again the Leech at his side spoke, this time excitedly "We got us Markus Pitt! Shit! We're gonna be famous boys!"
"Fuck you, you rednecked rat sucking Sunofabitch!"
The words shot out of Markus mouth, fueled by rage and embarrassment, but his tormentors were too caught up with what they had to acknowledge them.
"What's wrong Chief?"
"Let him go"
"Huh?"
"I said let him go. He's on the list. He can't be harmed"
Markus watched in wide eyed disbelief as the grumbling masked Vampires released their grip.
"Fucking cars full of Contraband!" growled one of the men.
"Doesn't matter" replied the leader "He's on the list. Open the gate. Let him through"
Markus cautiously bent down and retrieved the tattered rags of his clothing as the men reluctantly followed orders. A few minutes later he was in his car with Otis laid out across his lap, as the make shift gate in the barricade was slowly wedged open.
He drove through the hole in the barricade slowly as the realization of what had just happened to him sunk in, then howled in defiance and stuck his middle out the window as he kicked the battered Viper into high gear.
A quick glance in the rear view mirror gifted him with the vision of the Leeches standing dejectedly behind him, weapons held loosely, heads shaking.
He didn't need an explanation to figure out what had happened. He'd only ever known one man in his life that could have pulled the strings necessary to ensure his safety. A few minutes later, when the exhilaration of the adrenaline coursing through his veins was replaced with salty tears, he uttered the sentence he'd swore he never would again.
"I love you too Dad"
Mattaius Pitt stood and looked up at the tower above him and the office of the Prime. The fact that Leland hadn't taken his final advice seriously weighed heavily on him. Part of him hoped the man who had once been his friend would be able to see through the blinding conceit that somehow came with his condition. Part of him hoped that he would understand the wisdom that "Trust know one" held, just as part of him hoped that he would find the bullet proof vest he'd left behind as a parting gift.
For some reason Kevlar vests were almost impossible to come by. Weapons could be bought almost anywhere but he'd had to call in a lot of old favors to get a hold of the threadbare vest that now sat on the chair of the Primes office.
He didn't have to be psychic to know Leland would be chuckling at his last gesture of friendship before shaking his head and putting it on. He knew the man well enough, even in un-life, to understand his ways.
The new Leland would have no respect for the lengths he'd had to go to get the vest for him, just as he had no respect for the lengths he would go to ensure the safety of his son.
Getting the vest had been hard but removing the Kevlar and replacing it with C4 had been easy.
"Goodbye Leland"
Mattaius pressed the button on the transmitter in his hand and watched as a bright flash filled the night sky and the top corner of the tower exploded violently outward.
"Always room for one more Crusade old friend"
None of the undead who filled the street that night, to watch the fortress of their leader burn, noticed the old man who slowly made his way between them. They were all too busy - staring in wide eyed disbelief at the end of the man who could not be ended - to acknowledge the grey haired wraith shuffling through them.
On any other day, a man full of life wouldn't have made it half a block without becoming food for the multitude, but this was not any other night.
He drifted through them like a lost soul, surreal and out of place and somehow not quite there.
Lost and unrighteous, but somehow steadfast.
Like a man who belonged to another world.
User Reviews
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2006-01-08 21:51:00 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
i'm glad you told me about this.
excellent work.
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2005-09-21 19:30:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
this is what I get for forgetting to read the final installment of this one. brilliant tie-in to the Necrosiac universe, but shouldn't the Matthias in this universe still be undead? poor Leland, I still remember being gutted when I thought he was about to become a zombie in Necrosiac.
"trust know one" is a bit of a howler though.
Submitted by notyou (user info) at 2005-07-01 17:10:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Awesome.
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-06-23 12:20:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Damage Control
Submitted by ProgramGeek (user info) at 2005-06-22 17:37:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
No Comment
Submitted by nrduncan (user info) at 2005-05-12 17:53:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I have just got done reading these all and I have enjoyed them all. Great work everyone, +2's for all!
Submitted by mbstateside (user info) at 2005-03-23 12:15:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Grrrrreeeeeaaaaaat!
These have been really good
Submitted by Jo_of_the_golden_P (user info) at 2005-03-18 03:14:18 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Hahahaha Carol Richards likes you.
but I <3 you.
also, awesome story.
Submitted by tlozoot (user info) at 2005-03-16 21:20:03 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I can't believe how good these are.
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-03-16 15:26:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
The death of Mattaius is about 3 episodes away in the Necro Universe...
You'll see, I promise.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-03-16 14:49:37 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-03-15 11:41:36 (#)
Ranking: 0
There are still 6 episodes left of the original Necro series.
This is just a look into the much distant future. Don't think that it gives anything away. Everything is still very wide open as far as I'm concerned. I haven't done anything here that can't be easily explained into something else.
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I guess I made an assumption based on that whole "Death of Mattaius Pitt" thing....mistaken, am I?
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-03-16 00:00:25 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Nice ending...with I knew what the hell was going on, but that's my own fault for not reading your other series.
Submitted by hcp28 (user info) at 2005-03-15 23:17:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
awesome
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-03-15 19:51:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
AHAHAHAHA!!
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2005-03-15 19:41:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Attempted Anal Onion Assault.
I believe the commonly used police code for this is '249.'
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-03-15 19:28:25 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2005-03-15 18:53:09 (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 for AAOA.
================
I'm probably going to kick myself for this but, I'm not sure what AAOA is...
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2005-03-15 18:53:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 for AAOA.
Submitted by LadyPlural (user info) at 2005-03-15 14:33:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Onion? Ouch.
Submitted by Xena (user info) at 2005-03-15 12:53:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm disappointed that this is over...
onion up the ass eh?? i always knew you were sick and twisted...nice job
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-03-15 11:41:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-03-15 08:10:12 (#)
Ranking: 2
I guess this means the Necrosiac series is over?
It's all good. I like this ending.
=====================
There are still 6 episodes left of the original Necro series.
This is just a look into the much distant future. Don't think that it gives anything away. Everything is still very wide open as far as I'm concerned. I haven't done anything here that can't be easily explained into something else.
Submitted by Dannie (user info) at 2005-03-15 10:56:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
If I had a dick, it would be hard.
Submitted by Rocktsrgn (user info) at 2005-03-15 09:05:06 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-03-15 08:10:12 (#)
Ranking: 2
I guess this means the Necrosiac series is over?
It's all good. I like this ending.
___________________________
Hell no! It can't end like that! Well, it can, but I need more in-between stuff...
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-03-15 08:54:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
good stuff - one of the better pandemic series'
Submitted by Professional_Peon (user info) at 2005-03-15 08:53:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Onions + Ass = OUCH!!!!!
Submitted by Adamdidit2u (user info) at 2005-03-15 08:36:18 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
You son of a cocksmoking cumguzzler bitch bitch ass raper! Sorry Tourettes...
This rocked
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-03-15 08:10:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I guess this means the Necrosiac series is over?
It's all good. I like this ending.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2005-03-15 07:58:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
You have an incredible imagination.
Submitted by Avals (user info) at 2005-03-15 03:21:02 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I knew from the very beginning he'd leave the vest there and kill the dude.
Why? 'Cause I'm psychic, bitch!
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-03-15 01:28:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
AHAHAHAHA
Yeah Bro. I imagine it would.
Submitted by Benny (user info) at 2005-03-15 01:22:03 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Twice in a row being the first to read your stuff? What are the odds.
Very cool story. Putting C4 in the vest was a neat twist.
On a side note having an onion shoved up your ass would be rather horrendous.