Endgame Earth

[Byracka]

Jave sighed and with a smile and a slight squint in his eyes he glanced at his face in the rear mirror. "Well Himawari, my fancy looks I got 'bout a month ago". He soaked his lips, dragging the bottom lip quickly against his fangs. "Passed by the... Big Apple as you used to call it, and thought I could find something valuable, unfortunately violence found me first". Jave smirked and looked directly at Himawari. "Well less that it found me and more that I stumbled by and decided to get involved".


He awaited a reaction before continuing.


"Though my methods kinde went out of control and I got caught in the fire"... "Luckily the side I helped decided to be kind to their hero, heh, and that's how I got with the humans".


"I feel you want to know why I was in the cage, no?" Jave cracked his fingers.


"Those bastards are pretty paranoid about the furs, if you trust them for too long they will without and doubt turn against you and.."  Jave shut his mouth realising that it was a human sitting by his side.

[Ventus Fall]

Himawari sensed Jave didn't mean to upset her on purpose.
She sighed, while trying to put away her uneasy feeling, and said: "No, it's alright. I haven't had good deadlings with humans myself." She paused for a moment and looked outside. "It's funny. You anthropomorphs seem very co-operative and friendly towards eachother in these... times. While humans just turn on eachother and go mad."
She wanted to look back at Jave, but knew she couldn't. Instead, she looked at the floor. "I sometimes feel dissapointed in the human race... in myself for being part of it, for not trying to find a way to stop it. You can say what you want, but the fact is I am indeed a human. There is no trusting me. For all you know I will betray all of you. I don't want to, but something tells me humans are meant to self-destruct. That there is no hope for us, for me."


She smiled and looked at Jave. "Not to worry though, it isn't my intention. And... where should I go anyways in this forsaken place?"
She shifted in her seat, trying to sit comfortably again. Himawari suddenly felt anxiety, her tummy felt as if it was turning. She had the urge to tell someone about her experience in the car when she was by herself.

"May I tell you something, Jave? Something I don't want you telling any of the others, at least not yet. I ask you this, because... Because I feel something terribly wrong will happen and I just want to make sure someone knows about this. Can you keep a secret, Jave? I don't have much time I think."

[Byracka]

With a stern look on his face Jave leaned in towards Himawari as she began to speak. He clutched the side of his seat, rasping a pair of claws against the leather. Jave did not trust Himawari the human, but he felt some slight reliance with Himawari the person. There was just some genuine sincerity in her voice as she worded contempt for the species' self destruction.


Now, that voice was filled with genuine anxiety, it felt too real to be a simple lie. Or could she really fabricate such emotions? Jave leaned in even closer, whatever Himawari had to say he did not want to miss a single word of it. He wanted to snap up even the smallest tint of hesitation or odd accent that would reveal her clever lies.


He leaned in even closer. A cloud of warm, moist breath took charge towards Himawari's face. The car was cold and even the floating dust seemed to make deafening noises in the moment of silence.


"What are you worried about, Himawari?" He asked with the same genuine sincerity.

[Takamei Edevane]

Ip turned around facing away from the stairs with his weapon raised. When Nova had reached the doorway, Ip carefully came up the stairs still looking behind them. All of a sudden bullets thudded against the wall in front of Ip, his instinct to duck and take a few steps back away from the doorway. Nova got up and whipped round the cornr "Hey! Where ya go-" Nova had bolted down to a door at the end of the hallway before he could finish his sentence. Ip heard Nova yelling, and started to walk down one side of the corridor with his gun aimed at the door. Then an old man revealed himself with a gun by his side. Nova stepped into the room, Ip started to walk quicker to the room "Nova! What the bloody hell are you doing?" He said just outside of the door. "Do you really expect me to walk into a room full of armed humans?"

[Ventus Fall]

"I..." Her pupils dilated while she spoke, her mind began to slowly cloud.
"...have been hearing... I don't know what exactly, and I don't... don't know or remember." She paused a few seconds and felt something clouding her mind. She sensed something was trying to 'pull' her away.
Another part of herself was trying to tell her that this was not a smart move to do.
But she weighed up all the options quickly and figured it best to say something.
"I felt something, or no. I heard someone talking to me, but I was driving alone in the car. You see why I'm worried? It's... it's frightening me. I don't know you all to well, but you're the only one here and, to be honest, you seem to be a fair person. I hope you can keep this a secret for now. Can you do that for me, please? I don't want the others upset, nor do I want to arouse, perhaps unnessesary, suspicion. And, of course as you might know so well yourself, I do not want the odds turned against me if there is indeed nothing to fear. It could be something temporary or I could be going insane, but I do not think I am, I mean... Well... You see what I mean here?"
She sighed again and looked down. "I'm sorry to burden you, but I had to telll someone, I hope you understand..."

[NovaAurora]

    Nova was shocked out of his stunned silence and glanced back at Ip to say, "You don't have to come in, but I don't think they're gonna harm us." He looked back at the men. "Something tells me they're on our side." He paused to let the elderly man validate that point.
    The man smiled slightly and nodded. "I suppose you can say that... When we saw your little convoy coming from a distance we weren't sure what to make of it. We thought surely you'd attract their attention and when we heard you coming up the stairs, we didn't know if you were one of them, or some other hostile being. I'm sorry, but you can't be too careful."
    Nova blinked. "'Them?'" he asked, confused. "Who are you talking about?"
    The old man took a breath and suddenly became much more sullen. "...You're not from around the rural areas are you? No... that's how you have such a large group. Where DO you come from?"
    "We came from New York City. I'm the leader of the fur resistance that until yesterday resided there."
    The man looked down at the floor. "Ah... I see." He turned away and walked a few paces before turning to face Nova again. "I suppose I should tell you, then, as much as it saddens me, that you have doomed us all by your arrival. Whatever you came here seeking, you shall not find it." Nova was about to open his mouth to protest but the man held up a hand and silenced him. "You see, you're not the first to come seeking this base as refuge. I, and my two sons here, were part of a very large human group that settled here shortly after the Consumption had run its course. We thought it would be defensible and sustainable. We were dead wrong. The harsh mountainous backcountry, it breeds a different type of Consumer. They have developed pigments in their flesh that change to their environment and blend them in, and they are far stronger and smarter than your average Consumer. They conducted nighttime assaults on this base, surrounding us and taking us out little by little. We would kill them off and they would retreat, but they would always be back, and unlike them we could not replenish our lost members. The scariest part is that they would steal our basic communication technologies, like radios, something I've never seen regular Consumers do, and apparently use them against us. It was like they could listen in and understand our communications- whenever we broadcast anything over electronic mediums, they would be prepared to assault us when we executed our plan. They always seemed to be watching... they were drawn to, not repelled by, our activity outside. Our people were always ambushed if they left the base for any reason. We found it was best to hole up inside and do nothing, make as little noise as possible, and hope they would leave us alone. Eventually the others got tired of waiting, and they made the decision to take all they could carry and try to make an escape back to more urban land. My sons and I were the only ones who stayed behind... and watched... as they were overrun less than 30 seconds from leaving the garage. They were swarmed like nothing I've ever seen... they never had a chance. And then... the Consumers came to the compound, thinking we were all gone I suppose, and ransacked it for all it was worth. They carried off all manner of mechanical equipment and tools I would never think they'd have a use for... but they took it all into the woods and disappeared. Like I said, they're intelligent. That's why the base is so empty. We rode out the attack by hiding up here, and have been surviving inside on the leftover rations ever since. Now, I'm afraid that your arrival will attract them out of the woods again. I assure you, they know damn well you're here, and no matter how well armed you are, you are no match for them." He finished speaking and sat down against a filing cabinet, not looking at Nova, not saying any more.
    Nova felt as if he may have preferred getting shot after all to hearing what he just heard. The concept that whatever alien life created the Consumers had developed significant intelligence was terrifying. He couldn't imagine what they would be doing with machinery, but the empty base spoke for itself. His mind swam with possibilities. He put a hand to his head and slumped against the nearest wall, partially wanting to scream, partially wanting to cry, partially wanting to just run and get the hell away from the place. "Ip..." he said painfully, "Please, go tell the others what you just heard and bring them inside. I need a minute... Go!" He shot a look up at Ip that he knew was angrier than Ip deserved, but Nova was barely keeping himself together.

[Luke White-Heart]

Luke heard Nova's voice and the voice of an older man. He exited the room he was in, having grabbed his weapons, and saw Nova and Ip, facing an older human.
There was a look of horror in Nova's eyes.
"Nova, what's going on?" Luke asked.

[MrRazot]

"I found some tools! Under the benches... I think there are allot more, but im going to check the next building, Are you coming or going to poke about a bit more?"

"Well it's something," Warren said as he skipped with his hands over his head in the rememberence of an old internet meme.
"But I think I'll stick with you for now" and he followed closely as the empty building, however now beautiful as the orange light of the setting sun seeped in through the ice and reflected it's self around the room, just became a lot more uneasy.
Warren drew his sword.

[NovaAurora]

    "Luke..." Nova said, voice raspy and lowered, "I think I may have just led us all into a death trap. There's a reason nothing's here. It was all pillaged by Consumers. Super Consumers. Ones that think and plan and strategize and kill and hopelessly outnumber us!" He didn't even know if what the old man had said was true, but there was nothing to suggest otherwise. The feeling of hopelessness was suddenly overwhelming and he didn't know why, normally he itched for a fight, to protect what had to be protected, but there was something in that human's eyes that terrified him far beyond any foe he had ever fought. "These men..." he continued painfully, "used to be part of a human resistance like the one in New York. They came here months ago for the same reasons we did. And now... they're all that's left. They say the Super Consumers killed the rest and took much of the machinery and equipment." He looked straight into Luke's eyes. "I need you to help Ip tell the others. Bring them all inside. If there's any hope of surviving... we'll need to plan it together."

[Byracka]

Jave had a stern look.


Himawari started swaying back and forth; her eyes were dull and unfocused. Jave let go of the leather seat that he had so fiercely clawed into and took a grip of her shoulders, forgetting to sheathe his claws he made a rasp into her clothes. They weren't sharp enough to cut her skin but they certainly made a scratch since she jolted back.


Jave spoke slowly.


"Focus..."


How do you answer a confession like this, or was it still all a lie from a clever human? It seemed to serve no purpose if it was indeed false. This wouldn't in any way benefit her. Or would it? How? How? How?


He flushed away all the little irritating voices from his mind.


"Himawari, ask yourself. When you are having these little talks with the other voice. Who is the sanest one?"

[Ventus Fall]

Himawari hesitated for a moment before answering. She was the sanest one, wasn't she? Or...
"I am," The voice spoke to her again.
"No," she said, answering to the voice. "I am! You just have these terrible thoughts." She stopped and focused on Jave again, her eyes drawn to his face. "I... I'm sorry. I can handle it. I must." She tugged at her now partially destroyed jacket.
"Ever since we drove here it's started. And for some reason it's getting more powerful. I don't know what's going on. It's the unknown that frightens me the most, Jave."
She started up the car to turn on the heater again. "There, that should be better, right?"
Himawari trembeled, not because of the cold, but because she was beginning to break down. At least there was almost no one that could see her in this state, only Jave.
Just moments after she felt some kind of swelling in her throat, she cried, holding her arms around  herself, as she did many times just after she lost her father a couple of years ago. The only hope she had was trying to find him, but if she was going insane now, she thought she might as well... give-up.

[FurryJunky]

"Well it's something," Warren said as he skipped with his hands over his head in the rememberence of an old internet meme.
"But I think I'll stick with you for now" and he followed closely as the empty building, however now beautiful as the orange light of the setting sun seeped in through the ice and reflected it's self around the room, just became a lot more uneasy.
Warren drew his sword.

Nodding towards Warren she turned to face outside looking at the grouping of cars infront of them. It seemed so peaceful and the ground a perfect sheet of white witch glimmered a soft orange from the retreating sun. Without the footprints or the ravage of war, it would allmost look peaceful.

Sighing she shook her head idly before resting her right hand on the handle of her handgun witch was strapped to her waist. Making for the next building to the right of the garage it was common in most ways but there was a sense of fortitude to it. The windows where tinted and had steel bars going through them, obviously made before the way because of how well they where made. Only a few where broken and bent in a few places, but it all looked well kept. Walking to the front door set in the middle of the buildings she placed her right hand on it giving it a light push. Much to her surprise the door swung open before t eh top hinge gave a loud screech and snapped off inside leaving the door only holding on by the bottom hinge. Retracting her hand she examined the steel noticing dents and scratches along the steel. "See this?" She said to Warren, pointing out the dents and scrapes. "Looks like someone tried to hold out here... and it didn't go so well..."

Swallowing she stepped inside the building drawing her handgun out with one fluid movement. There where no tracks leading inside except for there own so it should be empty.. should be. Inside there was an old oak half circle desk with old papers scattered about. Most of them seemed to be purchase orders for... Ammunition?! Holding one up to her face she smiled lightly as this must be the armory. Now to find the vault! She thought to herself before venturing deeper into the building, taking a set of double doors to the right. The hallway had sheet metal plating to the waist along the walls and the rest was normal drywall with a coat of white paint. Thought there was blood everywhere. Along the wall there where spatters of red, along the floor stains and even a few droplets on the ceiling, but no bodys... Looking over her shoulder she eyed Warren with a bit of concern before walking forward slowly, taking a combat position. Angling her body so that her left side was slightly forward she continued forward placing one careful step infront of the other, making sure her gun was ready to fire.

She would not meet any hostiles thought, instead at the end of the hall was a massive vault door. There was a dial on the front and a steel handle on the side where it would of swung open. The entire door was massive and took up the entire hall way. Along the floor there was even a curved line cut into the floor for where the door would swing open, and an indent in the wall for the door to tuck away neatly when in use, but it was closed tight. Stopping infront of it she looked about seeing scratch upon scratch, and even a few dents but nothing more, almost as if they tiried getting in at all costs but failed. Reaching out with her left hand it was bone cold and just as unyielding as the day it was put in. "Looks like the armory was untouched... But there is no way to get in..." She said as much to herself as Warren.

Just then a chill went through the air that cut to the bone. There was no draft, nor any notices, but a feeling of danger that caused the hair on the back of her neck to stand up. Looking down the hallway they came she blinked a few times before walking the way they came. They hallway seemed to be much longer on the return trip and each room they passed pitch black, every door busted in and some hanging on shattered hinges. Raising her handgun level she walked once more towards the main room hoping that Warren was right behind her. Walking through the double doors on the right side she saw a dark silouet lit by the snow from the open doorway. It was big, bigger then any human or furry she had ever seen, it must of stood at about seven feet tall and it stared at them with deep red eyes.

The sight came into view within a second at time began to slow, her heart dropping to her stomach. A consumer!! A huge one! Its limbs where cracked skin and the mussel shown as red fibers that rippled from the slightest movement. Across its chest it was not bare or had any ragged clothing, but a sheet of metal covered it, perfectly molded around it torso. Its legs where free in shaggy jeans that looked like they where falling apart and the feet where bare showing long claw like toes. Its head above all esle was the most defining as its teeth shown like a lions fangs, patruding from the mouth to form a nasty nest of teeth built for ripping and biting. Its hands where long and slender with black talons, everything rippling with unmatched mussel. But there was another thing, it held a weapon, a crudely made sheet metal sword in its right hand.

Almost at once Katelyn's mussles froze in place as sheer horror washed over her, causing her to stumble back as the beast took a step forward, raising its right arm. Almost on instinct her pointer finger tensed on the trigger, sending off a single shot that echoed through the building and the fort outside, a loud crack to break the silence that was the compound. The shot would soon be followed by two others as the projectiles ripped through the right arm of the consumer and two in the chest making low dings as they punched through the armor leaving them almost useless. Within seconds it was on her, and just then her mussles reached as she darted to the right, slamming into the wall as the consumers sword hit the ground in a savage arch. Just then its left hand darted out reaching for her hand witch she quickly snatched away just in time before stumbling back. "Warren!!" She screamed as she fell backwards, tripping over her own feet to land on her backside.

 

[MrRazot]

Warren jumped from the shadow he'd hidden in and managed to slice into the consumer's fore arm as it tried to grab Katelyn, stopping at the bone and leaving the sword stuck there. Warren stood in amazement out of shock at the resilience the consumer displayed only to retreat. Probably to come back with reinforcements.

Warren helped Katelyn up.
"It's gone for now, but I don't think it will come back soon. We have to get in the vault."
As Warren finished as the sound of multiple roars came echoing though to corridors.

[Luke White-Heart]

    "Luke..." Nova said, voice raspy and lowered, "I think I may have just led us all into a death trap. There's a reason nothing's here. It was all pillaged by Consumers. Super Consumers. Ones that think and plan and strategize and kill and hopelessly outnumber us!" He didn't even know if what the old man had said was true, but there was nothing to suggest otherwise. The feeling of hopelessness was suddenly overwhelming and he didn't know why, normally he itched for a fight, to protect what had to be protected, but there was something in that human's eyes that terrified him far beyond any foe he had ever fought. "These men..." he continued painfully, "used to be part of a human resistance like the one in New York. They came here months ago for the same reasons we did. And now... they're all that's left. They say the Super Consumers killed the rest and took much of the machinery and equipment." He looked straight into Luke's eyes. "I need you to help Ip tell the others. Bring them all inside. If there's any hope of surviving... we'll need to plan it together."

 
Luke stared aghast at Nova; the news wasn't quite registering. He shook his head; he had to get focused. Luke looked at Nova and nodded, then rushed out to find the others. When he reached the enterance, he heard a scream, and found a huge consumer.
"NOVA! We got company!" he cried over his shoulder, pulling one of his pistols from it's holster, firing at the area the head should've been. It didn't seem to even phase the creature. But it halted it's advance and retreated. He had to find the others; they had to leave NOW.

[Takamei Edevane]

Ip looked around him, he knew deep down something like this would happen. It was too good to be true. "Ill go with him, we will be back soon hopefully with the others" he said to Nova just before he jogged off lightly and quietly back on the route they had taken. Ip was approaching the entrance of the building when Luke had fired his pistol. He rushed up to him "Where is it?" he asked. Ip looked down at the floor where dark red blood had been spattered. He looked back up at Luke "and who's scream was it? it didn't sound like a consumer..."