Necrosiac 40 (1063 hits)
Category: NoneLabels: Necro
Rating: 1.95 on 36 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Snark << snarkk.at.gmail.com (View user info) at 2005-03-30 03:40:45 EST
NECROSIAC 40
Terri closed the folder in front of her then turned angrily to Nick.
"How the hell did this get missed?"
The intelligence analyst looked back at her sheepishly for a moment then turned to his computer screen and answered in a voice almost too low to hear.
"The reports were wired in on the day following the attack. I guess I must have missed them when we moved back in..."
"This was wired in the fall Nick. God knows where she could be by now"
Terri grabbed the folder again and opened it to the synopsis of the last page.
"If this is right, she left a trail of infection that a blind man could follow. Do you have any idea how many lives this information could have saved?"
Nick sat staring at the screen for a moment then turned his ashen angular face defiantly back.
"Listen, I'm sorry alright? What do you want from me? The office was trashed. They wouldn't let us back in for over a week, and when the finally did, there were blood stains all over the place and a piece of my supervisor in the coffee pot. I've been working on an average of three hours of sleep a night since then and... well... fuck! Just fuck!"
Something about the genuine look of frustration and guilt playing over him shook Terri from her anger.
"Ok Nick... you're right. I'm sorry. It's easy to forget that this has been hard on a lot of people. How about we just go over what we have"
Nick nodded almost gratefully then shook his head as if coming out of a trance, picked up the report and walked to a map on the wall.
"The red pins here mark the reported incidents of Necrosiac infection. As you can see, there is a definite pattern north along highway 97, to the last reported incident at a road side gas station here... about a 9 hour drive would be my guess...."
"That's the middle of nowhere" replied Terri morosely "That does us no good"
Nick ignored her and returned to his seat at his desk then clicked to a folder full of reports on the screen.
"True. I was just as frustrated as you when I put it all together, but look at this"
Terri watched as he clicked on one of the reports and a weather forecast dated late in the fall came up onscreen.
"It struck me that it didn't make a lot of sense for her to be heading that way" he continued "I mean, winter is not known to be a Necro's favorite time of year.
"She's not a Necromancer"
Nick paused and for a second she thought she might have triggered another outburst, but after a moment he continued.
"They tend to freeze solid in the cold. So I pulled up this report. We didn't get snow here for another three weeks after the attack but our altitude is much lower. According to this, the area north of the last reported infection was covered in snow less than 5 hours later"
"You think she's still in the area? Snowed in perhaps?"
Terri looked at the report then got up and walked to the wall map and pointed to a symbol representing a town a little ways north of the last pin.
"The nearest city is Piggton" she mused.
Nick remained silent as she continued to scan the map. Finally, after a short while she shrugged and returned to her seat beside his paper strewn desk.
"No. It's nothing. We have nothing Nick. She had a heated vehicle... There are just too many questions here. Why did she leave a trail of infection then suddenly stop? Why travel North? Look ..." she said as she pointed to a part of the map where the grey line representing highway 97 crossed a similar one "97 hits 16 there. She could have gone anywhere. Maybe the infection stops because she turned back. She could be honeymooning in Vegas for all we know. We need more Nick. Spring is almost here."
Terri turned from the wall to find Nick standing in front of her, a self conscious smile stood out on his face and one skinny arm thrust a newspaper towards her.
"The Armageddon Times?"
"It's a guilty pleasure. Turn to page 61"
Terri shot him a look of warning then turned to the correct page and the headline entitled "Zombie Cow Ate My Family"
"You gotta be fucking kidding me"
Nick blushed then answered almost excitedly "I know but read the article. The time fits perfectly and the place is a farm outside of a village by the name of Vanderhaven"
"Vanderhaven?"
"Yeah" he replied, then walked to the map and placed one thin finger on a spot a little way's west of Piggton.
"Nick. Everyone knows Necromancy doesn't work on animals..."
"She's not a Necromancer" he shot back.
"I know kid but this is fucking crazy"
Terri watched with trepidation as Nick returned to his desk, opened the top drawer and returned with another edition of the paper, this one recent.
"Page 33"
She shook her head and opened it - as much to humor him as anything else - and read the headline out loud.
"Demon Lady Ate My Cow"
Lillith shook her head in disbelief and made to throw the paper on the desk but stopped as her eyes came upon a grainy, badly focused, photograph of something large and fleshy crouched in the snow beside the carcass of a cow. The image was blurry yet something about it was setting alarm bells off in her head.
"The face..."
"The location is a farm on the other side of Vanderhaven" said Nick "I figured it was all just a coincidence at first but I was desperate. I called up the paper and had them send a copy of the original photo to me. It wasn't much better than the one in front of you so I ran it through our image enhancer and got this"
Nick clicked on an icon on his screen and a somewhat improved version the face of the woman from the paper popped up on it.
"Then I ran it through the usual suspect comparison algorithm and got this..."
Another click brought up a face that Terri instantly recognized as Madeline Penance.
Terri studied the two images before her, but try as she might, she couldn't deny the similarities between the two.
"She's hunting the Necrosiac"
"Yeah"
"Jesus Kid, you just might be on to something here"
Nick crossed his arms over his flat chest, leaned back in his chair, and beamed smugly back at her.
"Anything else you need?" he asked.
"Yeah, as a matter of fact there is... Tell me, what do you know about Twistcasters?"
= = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Mattaius had no doubt that the Hag was powerful.
In all his experience he'd never seen a caster so alive with magic. He could see it pulsing in the veins below the skin of her round wrinkled face. It glowed crimson from her eyes and wafted in a similarly colored cloud from her mouth when she spoke. The symbols on her face were thick and black and seemed to stand out against it. He found himself almost mesmerized by them and wondered if they were meant to enhance her power or keep it from spilling out from her in a torrent.
Her voice was commanding yet strangely melodic, despite the obvious cruelty of age evident on her glowing features.
"Mr Pitt. You've come at last"
She held the door open for him and he entered the dingy apartment despite himself.
"Please come into the kitchen"
He followed the back of her bald glowing head and filthy brown dress down the dark hallway towards the dirty kitchen beyond, doing his best to keep his attention on his surroundings.
"Fester sent me"
"I had suspected as much" she replied emotionlessly "I hear he ran into a spot of trouble. Is it true he attacked an agent and was shot in the face? I have heard he languishes in prison and eats through a straw"
"It's true"
The Hag's kitchen looked as old as she was but lacked the luster of her power. The cement floor was bare and stained, devoid of any covering save the odd patch of yellow where bits of linoleum remained. The walls were the kind of yellow that probably had once been white, and as bare as the floor.
He watched her warily as she crossed to a cupboard, opened it on squeaking hinges, then removed two plain white tea cups and turned to him.
"And what of his collection? The puppets he animated with the flesh and emotion donated by fools?"
"Destroyed"
Mattaius shook his head politely as she held up a cup enquiringly then watched her bend to pour a tea from a black steaming pot on the stove.
"A fitting end. Fester was a man of questionable character"
Despite his growing unease, Mattaius couldn't help but nod in agreement.
"How did you know I was there?"
The Hag took a loud sip from the cup
"I dreamed you Mr Pitt. I dreamed a dream I never thought to have again and you were in it. I saw you and Fester and a woman I cannot name. It is not my gift to dream and so I thank you for the wonderful taste of it. You showed me that I am not yet alone"
Mattaius moved a little further into the room and put his back to the wall out of habit.
"I'm afraid you lost me"
The Hag took another sip from her cup then wiped tea from where it had dribbled down her chin, with the sleeve of her dress before replying "I do apologize. I'm afraid it is the curse of age to wax cryptic Mr. Pitt. I promise to be straight forward from this point forward... do you mind if we stand? It is good for my digestion to drink tea standing up"
Despite her age, he doubted she was anything close to fragile but played along and nodded agreement.
"I was told you might be able to help me"
The Hag raised the bulge above one eye where an eyebrow should have been.
"I don't see how that's possible"
"I have a magical entity... a mage's familiar attached to me. I've heard you might be able to remove it"
Mattaius tensed as she took a step towards him, his eyes searching for any sign of her magic making its way towards him but none came
"What is it you do?" she asked.
"I work for the Agency"
The Hag's eyes flashed as she frowned and shook her head.
"No. I mean what is your talent?"
"I can see Magic"
"That is all?"
Mattaius nodded and crossed his arms, placing one hand inside his jacket to rest on the butt of his pistol.
Something about the way she was looking at him was making his unease grow and he found himself developing a sneaking suspicion that she was waiting for something else.
He didn't need Spivey to wake up to tell him he didn't want to find out what it was.
"I think this may have been a mistake..."
"You really don't know do you?" she interrupted.
Mattaius took another step as the Hag threw the cup with a nimbleness that belied her appearance. Instinctively he brought one hand up and caught it inches from his face.
"See!" she yelled "Do you see?"
For a moment he didn't understand what she meant but her words became horrifyingly clear as his eyes moved their focus from her to his hand, and the wormlike web of crimson magic writhing on his skin.
"It comes to eat you!" she cried jubilantly "It smiles upon me and makes me the last!"
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
"What do you want to know about Twistcasters for?"
"I think Mattaius may have gone to see one"
Nick sat forward in his chair, his soft brown eyes wide.
"For real?"
"Possibly. He made some excuse about talking to an insurance agent about the stuff we lost when our places were torched, but I know him better than he realizes"
Nick turned towards the computer and started working the mouse and his mouth in furious unison "I came across something I probably shouldn't have a few weeks ago. They've pretty much given me the highest security clearance since this whole fiasco started so I could raid our archives for anything Necrosiac related. Dammit... where is it"
"Do you remember what it said?"
Nick stopped typing and squeezed his eyes tight in thought.
"It was about an operation code named Clean Sweep in the sixties... around the same time the CIA was performing those LSD tests in Canadian universities. There was a group of children born around the same time in some town whose name I can't remember who all exhibited early signs of being Twistcasters. The Agency sent a team of investigators and then a year later another team, but that time they were Seers"
"Hold on. Back up. What's the big deal about them being Twistcasters?"
Nick opened his eyes and turned back to his computer to continue his search.
"What do you know about them?" he asked.
Terri forced her mind back to long forgotten high school history lessons.
"They were students of many types of magic instead of masters of one. The majority of them died out about a hundred years ago from some kind of paranormal plague"
Nick nodded as he continued to search.
"Yeah that's pretty much what I had heard as well but the report had a somewhat more ominous tone to it. According to it, they are a freak occurrence that happens once every ten generations or so. The report kept referencing a previous incident in a small town somewhere in Prussia. It didn't give a definitive history of them but from what I could make out, they aren't students of magic so much as shapers of it. It's like they can take it into themselves and spit it out as something different"
"So what's the big deal? That's a far cry from Necromancy"
"Yeah, I pretty much wondered the same thing until I got into the juicy stuff. According to the report, the magic that builds up over time in a mature Twistcaster can become unstable and violently reactive. If they come into contact with another caster it causes something like a nuclear meltdown in the less powerful of the two. So say a mature Twistcaster is walking around with the vestiges of years of magic built up and rotting inside him. Say he walks by a Seer, if said Seer is less powerful than him, she makes it about a block and her power erupts like a volcano. Apparently something like that happened in that town in Prussia and half the town went insane over night. Basically a Twistcaster who's power has gone bad could walk down the street and commit multiple homicides without even knowing it... I know it's here somewhere"
"What about people with little or no talent?"
Nick shook his head and kept working his mouse and keyboard. "I got the impression that there had to be some major talent involved. I think the flashpoint comes when both parties are relatively powerful"
Terry leaned forward to watch the screen and took solace in the fact that her partner was all but devoid of the most basic of talents.
"So the Agency went after a bunch of kids?"
"It's not as bad as I made it sound. The reason Twistcasters die out so fast is because their talents are naturally reactive to each other. Even if they don't absorb enough magic to have it fester in them, they pretty much self destruct when they come into contact with each other any time after puberty. The poor kids were little walking time bombs so the Agency went in and did what they could. I imagine they covered it up to keep public scrutiny off of them and prevent a panic. They brought the Seers in, made the parents sign some papers guaranteeing their secrecy and then did something to prevent the kid's talents from maturing"
"So the Hag might be one of those kids"
"Couldn't say for sure, although by the sound of her name she's a little old... ahh here it is"
Terri chuckled despite herself as Nick beat his chest in triumph then leaned forward to join him in reading the report.
"What's that link at the bottom?"
"Post Wipe Report? I don't know. I didn't get that far, let's see"
Nick clicked on the link and several short paragraphs appeared on the screen.
POST WIPE STATUS REPORT - February 10, 1970
-------------------------------------------
Operational Director: Dr. William Sheere
A Preliminary Examination of Subjects 112 through 129 - 2 Years After Wipe.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
With the last round of examinations completed: It is my recommendation to the committee that this Operation be considered closed and activities cease immediately.
All subjects tested negative with regards to reoccurrence or growth of vestigial Twistcaster ability.
Results from psychological tests yield results well within acceptable bounds.
It is the opinion of myself and my team that the treatment has, and will continue, to suppress any possible reoccurrence to a degree that might be deemed dangerous to the subjects or those around them.
In response to the query put forth by Director Marllen during the quarterly review, I would like once again to stress that, all psychological side effects from the treatment that have occurred (stuttering, loss of time, innate hatred of magic) were agreed upon as acceptable prior to treatment.
In addition, it is also expected that some subjects will retain trace amounts of talent (ability to bend magic, ability to feel magical essence, ability to see magic) as a result of their unusually advanced stage prior to Mind Wipe.
I look forward to tabling my final report in two weeks time during Operational debriefing.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Mattaius dropped the cup, pulled his pistol and pointed it at the giggling old woman across the room.
"What the fuck are you doing?"
"Watching it feed!"
The Hag rubbed her bony hands together, licked her thin lips and took another step towards him.
Mattaius flicked the safety off his pistol and brought his other hand up to steady his aim. He could feel the magic writhing on his skin begin to burn, followed by a twisting at the small of his back as Spivey awoke and began to writhe.
"Stop it" he ordered.
"It needs to feed"
The Hag took another greedy step forward, her eyes twin crimson suns of blazing insanity.
Mattaius tried to follow suit and put one foot in front of the other but the web around him reacted to the movement and tightened its grip.
"Fuck!"
Without warning the Hag darted along the far wall to stand directly adjacent from him.
"Does it burn? Tell me what it feels like?"
He tried to spit an answer at her but the web tightened further in response to his efforts to keep the agile old lady in his sights and the burning had become almost unbearable.
"One chance" he grunted "Stop it now"
The Hag looked at him seriously for a moment as if unsure of her next move, then shot one hand up and sent a spray of crimson mist towards him. Instinctively he pulled the trigger and his weapon jerked in his hand, filling the room with its roar as a red hole appeared in the Hags forehead. The force of the impact sent her hard against the wall, against the reddish pink spray from the inside of her skull.
For a moment he watched as she stood there, eyes blazing, then all at once the fire went out of them and she slid to a sitting position, as lifeless as the room around her.
"Not again" he grunted then forced one hand down to press the panic button on his belt. He managed to spin on his heels, to face the doorway leading out of the kitchen, but the web reacted again and tightened further.
Suddenly the world tipped on end and he realized he was falling backwards, helpless and burning and stiff as a board like an alcoholic six drinks too late.
Panic reared its ugly head but he quelled it with the knowledge that the woman was probably not a Necromancer. Everything he knew told him that whatever hex she had cast on him must soon follow her to her grave.
All he had to do was wait.
If you can't remember what happens next, go here:
http://www.ubersite.com/m/40647
User Reviews
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-10-19 18:49:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2005-10-19 04:33:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
There are a solid four pages of +2 streaks with 30 or more reviews. That is stupid. I am weeding it all out by giving every one of them a +1; that way posts that have 1.99 with 200+ reviews gets best ever.
Submitted by c1ndy (user info) at 2005-06-23 12:32:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-06-23 12:18:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Damage Control
Submitted by ProgramGeek (user info) at 2005-06-22 17:38:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
No Comment
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2005-06-16 21:17:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
another question: was madeline a Penance as well, or have you confused the family with Pasteur?
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2005-06-16 21:05:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
surely you did not intend this to be the final episode?
Submitted by Revolutionman (user info) at 2005-05-07 00:21:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Circe (user info) at 2005-04-13 11:11:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
dayum.
Submitted by Benny (user info) at 2005-04-05 23:01:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Malificent (user info) at 2005-04-05 06:33:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Gah!
Submitted by Cryopaul (user info) at 2005-04-04 21:00:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
guess i forgot to review...crazy me
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-03-31 18:29:25 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Oh Yeah,
One more thing.
The Necrosiac story also is also referenced in the two trilogies I posted.
"Recital" and "The Onion Run"
Recital is actually kind of a set up for the second Necrosiac book. Rubin Penance plays a large part in it... or at least will.
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-03-31 18:18:25 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Wow Charrred,
Thanks a TON for the reviews!
It's awesome when I hear that someone enjoys the story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
I have not talked to a publisher as of yet. I have corresponded with an Editor concerning the full version of the story, and hope to resume communications with her once I'm done the next re-write.
Chances are I'll end up taking it to a vanity publishing house in the end.
-----------------
And a +2 from Bickerstaff - the best writer on the site - to top it all off...
This is turning out to be a very good day indeed.
Submitted by Charred (user info) at 2005-03-31 16:54:37 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
As you may have noticed I've taken the time to respond to every installment in this series with the same reply. All of which are sincere.
Your imagination and creativity are golden. And grammar? That's what proof readers are for.
Some of your posts hint that you may have already been picked up, if that is the case - Congratulations, well deserved. If that is not the case, please push it yourself, you have what it takes.
Now I've finished the series thus far, time to read some of your stand alone posts, I'm certain I won't be disappointed.
I await the next installment with crackling anticipation. Thanks for a good several hours of prime entertainment.
Charred
P.S. Seriously? Find a publisher.
Submitted by GodLovesALittleLovin (user info) at 2005-03-31 13:51:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
wow, the way you brought it back....just fantastic. This whole fucking series should be B@W.
Submitted by Bickerstaff (user info) at 2005-03-31 02:49:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Adjomak (user info) at 2005-03-30 18:38:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Sucks that Mattius had to die. I don't suppose he's going to come back in some future episode to wreak havoc against the undead, hm?
Hah, the plot thickens
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2005-03-30 14:32:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Dannie (user info) at 2005-03-30 14:02:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-03-30 13:37:21 (#)
Ranking: 0
Dannie,
Ooooh that's just too damned tempting.
The full version branches about half way. With the exception of a few things, it is an entirely different plot. I struggle with myself everyday not to post it but I have put waaay to much effort into it and I have at least one more rewrite to complete before it's done.
-------------------------------------------------
Well, when the rewrite is done I would be thrilled to have the chance to read it. I do love your writing style and this story has really grabbed me. And, boy howdy do I like to be grabbed!
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-03-30 13:37:21 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Dannie,
Ooooh that's just too damned tempting.
The full version branches about half way. With the exception of a few things, it is an entirely different plot. I struggle with myself everyday not to post it but I have put waaay to much effort into it and I have at least one more rewrite to complete before it's done.
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-03-30 13:34:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I will give the damn thing away free once it's done and I get tired of publishers laughing their asses off at me.
Submitted by Xena (user info) at 2005-03-30 13:31:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I loved it!!! You're doing an awesome job of bringing everything together...
I'm surprised you killed the hag
Submitted by snarf (user info) at 2005-03-30 13:07:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Kre8rix (user info) at 2005-03-30 13:04:40 (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Dannie (user info) at 2005-03-30 12:58:42 (#)
Ranking: 2
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrg.
Can I subscribe to the full version? I have PayPal.
=====
Hey I'd like to get in on that as well
-----
Me three
Submitted by Kre8rix (user info) at 2005-03-30 13:04:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Dannie (user info) at 2005-03-30 12:58:42 (#)
Ranking: 2
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrg.
Can I subscribe to the full version? I have PayPal.
=====
Hey I'd like to get in on that as well
Submitted by Dannie (user info) at 2005-03-30 12:58:42 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrg.
Can I subscribe to the full version? I have PayPal.
I know where Canada is.
I have things I could offer in trade.
Round things.
With points on them.
<insert innocent look here>
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-03-30 12:18:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Oh Yeah,
Cows! You're in Vangroovy!
You just might be able to figure out the hidden city references if you been far enough north from here.
Not that they would mean anything to anyone but me...
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-03-30 12:15:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Dannie,
This series was meant to be a trilogy.
I doubt the whole thing will make it to Uber but I'm sure bits and pieces will.
Submitted by Jogging_Monkey (user info) at 2005-03-30 12:14:45 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
IT CANNOT BE PERMITTED TO END! I WILL DESTROY YOU... unless you become my necrosiac writing slave.
your choice.
+2 DIE
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-03-30 12:14:20 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Thanks guys.
Snarf,
Yeah I fucked up there.
Mal!!!
Welcome back! How have you been?
I have pretty much stuck to the timeline so if you're wondering what's coming go here.
http://www.ubersite.com/m/57353
Submitted by Dannie (user info) at 2005-03-30 12:10:03 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Ohhh.
So, will we get to read about the time span after this and before http://www.ubersite.com/m/61941 ?
Submitted by cowstastegood (user info) at 2005-03-30 11:54:45 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
This series has been amazing... and it is great to see the story come around full circle.
On a totally unrelated note I didn't know you were a Vancouverite too until just recently. I don't know why that even matters, but it seems important somehow. Maybe I can find some inspiration in this place like you have.
Submitted by wookie (user info) at 2005-03-30 10:29:00 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
"Death came for Mattaius Pitt arms wide and grinning"
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
I refuse to believe that.
Submitted by Kre8rix (user info) at 2005-03-30 10:16:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Great as always
Way to bring it full circle, though now more than ever I want to see where you go with it.
Submitted by Timmah (user info) at 2005-03-30 06:06:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Genius as ever. The one thing I come back regularly for and I'm never dissapointed. Well done
Submitted by snarf (user info) at 2005-03-30 03:50:08 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
awesome as always,
but surely you meant to say Terri here, not Lilith.
"Lillith shook her head in disbelief and made to throw the paper on the desk but stopped as her eyes came upon a grainy, badly focused, photograph of something large and fleshy crouched in the snow beside the carcass of a cow"