Post by Bonnie Blue on Dec 27, 2015 16:43:18 GMT -5
When last we left our intrepid heroine...
Bonnie leans against a wind-bent pine, drained from her experiences in the bunker. The door they'd come through yawns in the eerily bright moonlight, steady on rusted hinges despite the cold breeze picking up. Surging wind howls through the trees like some wild god on the Great Hunt; and Bonnie could almost swear she can hear a piercing scream in the distance. Damnit, Brian Setzer, where are you?
Another furtive movement on the trail ahead, simliar to the ones that had come and gone before, and the young woman chooses to ignore it. Every time before, it had been a squirrel, a rabbit, even an armadillo, crashing through the underbrush with all the subtlety of a drunken bear. If it had been the cat, she'd never have seen him until he chose to show himself. Maybe he's out there hunting.
Now the movement is nearer, and Bonnie can hear a sound; a dry rustle, as of fallen leaves. But there are only pine needles here, and those sodden with the day's rains. A shotgun blast, unmistakeable, draws her attention for a moment. When she turns back to watch the trail, she unexpectedly finds herself face-to-face with someone, and gasps. Her second, longer appraisal revises her impression: not someone, some thing. It stands a good two feet taller than she, with a silvery cast to pale skin stretched over taut muscles. The creature's form is, in essence, human -- with a few striking differences in looks, and subtler ones in physiognomy. Its face is like a man's, with features that might be handsome, if not for an underlying sense of malice. The creature regards her with the sort of interest a cat shows a mouse when he's bored, but not particularly hungry. A predator's smile reveals a mouth full of pointed teeth as it reaches out toward the girl. Reflexively, she shies away; the RIpper's fingers pass through her harmlessly, and it hisses with frustration.
Bonnie Blue: You still can't cross over. An' I'm gonna see to it y'all never do!
Ripper: Soon, Bonnie Blue. Very soon. We are coming; no one can stop us. The playacting fool has only delayed us....
Coal-black eyes fall on the object clutched in Bonnie's hand, and the apparition grins.
Ripper: Only delayed. And you have taken the next step for us.
Bonnie Blue: What?
Ripper: None can wield the Mask but that have worn it, surrendered to it...
Bonnie Blue: I ain't surrendered shit. I beat the damned thing.
The creature's derisive laughter is like nails on a chalkboard.
Ripper: Believe what you like, girl. But you have sealed your own doom. Only a matter of time...
A deep frown creases her pale brow, her eyes clouded with worry.
Bonnie Blue: What's that s'posed to mean?
The Ripper simply continues to grin unnervingly at her before offering a reply.
Ripper: You'll find out -- assuming you survive One. But you should know that we have not been idle. The fool, Jenson, has served his purpose. Circumstances have been arranged so that for every drop of your blood spilled, another Ripper manifests in this reality. And we are many.
With that, the creature turns translucent and fades away, leaving behind the barest odor of decay. Bonnie stares at the spot where it had been, focus turned inward.
Brian Setzer: That was desperation talking. Don't pay any attention to what that thing said. Most of it was lies.
The young woman whirls around swiftly, hands balled into fists and ready to strike. She relaxes the next instant as the cat's voice penetrates her conscious mind, and her eyes recognize a friend. Even so, she punches him in the arm.
Bonnie Blue: Don't do that! What the hell took you so long, anyway?
Sulking, the cat rubs at his bicep.
Brian Setzer: Ow! You could really hurt somebody, you know that?
Bonnie Blue: That's the idea.
She grins at him; he shakes his head and pretends to be annoyed.
Brian Setzer: To answer your question, I was moving the car. There's some fucked up shit goin' down on this stupid mountain, and I wanted to make a fast getaway.
As if to emphasize his words, another scream echoes through the night air. The cat grabs Bonnie's arm and propels her down the trail until it forks, then directs her toward the left. They hasten; from deeper in the woods come the sounds of a pack of wolves feeding -- or at least, that's the most comfortable explanation. Rationalizing doesn't stop their brisk walk from turning into a steady run along a path that seems to wind endlessly. But at last, it widens out into a little-used gravel parking lot, its single light shining down on the black Dodge Magnum.
A short drive and several hours later find Bonnie, Brian Setzer, and Cyborg Hank Brown sitting in a booth at a truck stop. CyberHank stares straight ahead, blinking at disturbingly regular intervals, and obediently shoves another spoonful of soup into his mouth under the cat's direction.
Brian Setzer: There. At least he can feed himself now.
Bonnie Blue: What happens when he has to pee?
Brian Setzer: He'll probably short circuit.
Bonnie Blue: Can you fix him enough to do an interview?
The cat shakes his head and sighs.
Brian Setzer: We'll have to take him to an expert.
Bonnie Blue: Who in this era is an expert on cyborgs?
Brian Setzer: Tesla. I know how to find him.
Bonnie Blue: Why didn't you say so before?
Brian Setzer: Promised I wouldn't tell anyone. But this is an emergency. If we don't get Hank put back together right, there's no telling what could happen.
The young woman nods, pushing some syrup around a plate of pancakes in a disconsolate way. Things could probably be worse, but she isn't certain how.
Brian Setzer: You're still uptight about what that thing said, aren't you? Listen, kid, that's what Rippers do. Get in your head, real mindfuck. But it's only ever insinuation. There's no truth to any of it, except what you put into it. Now... about Oblivion...
Bonnie Blue: I'm sick of Oblivion. He's been nippin' at my heels for two whole months. I'm gonna end it at One. This shit is his fault. All of it. Oblivion and the Dark Timekeeper created the Rippers, set 'em loose. Everythin' they done is 'cause of IT. What they did to AJ...this...
She holds up the Mask to show him. The cat frowns.
Brian Setzer: Why the fuck are you still playing with that damned thing? Put it away. Hank, eat.
CyberHank does what he's told without question, while Bonnie continues to stare at the Mask, ignoring her friends.
Bonnie Blue: No... no, I get it. I understand, now. What I have to do...
Brian Setzer: Really, Bonnie. Put it somewhere... not here.
At last, she slips the offending item into her backpack. When she looks back at the cat, there's a look on her face he's never seen before.
Bonnie Blue: Too long have I fought with monsters. If I'm going to see this through, I'll have to become one.
Bonnie leans against a wind-bent pine, drained from her experiences in the bunker. The door they'd come through yawns in the eerily bright moonlight, steady on rusted hinges despite the cold breeze picking up. Surging wind howls through the trees like some wild god on the Great Hunt; and Bonnie could almost swear she can hear a piercing scream in the distance. Damnit, Brian Setzer, where are you?
Another furtive movement on the trail ahead, simliar to the ones that had come and gone before, and the young woman chooses to ignore it. Every time before, it had been a squirrel, a rabbit, even an armadillo, crashing through the underbrush with all the subtlety of a drunken bear. If it had been the cat, she'd never have seen him until he chose to show himself. Maybe he's out there hunting.
Now the movement is nearer, and Bonnie can hear a sound; a dry rustle, as of fallen leaves. But there are only pine needles here, and those sodden with the day's rains. A shotgun blast, unmistakeable, draws her attention for a moment. When she turns back to watch the trail, she unexpectedly finds herself face-to-face with someone, and gasps. Her second, longer appraisal revises her impression: not someone, some thing. It stands a good two feet taller than she, with a silvery cast to pale skin stretched over taut muscles. The creature's form is, in essence, human -- with a few striking differences in looks, and subtler ones in physiognomy. Its face is like a man's, with features that might be handsome, if not for an underlying sense of malice. The creature regards her with the sort of interest a cat shows a mouse when he's bored, but not particularly hungry. A predator's smile reveals a mouth full of pointed teeth as it reaches out toward the girl. Reflexively, she shies away; the RIpper's fingers pass through her harmlessly, and it hisses with frustration.
Bonnie Blue: You still can't cross over. An' I'm gonna see to it y'all never do!
Ripper: Soon, Bonnie Blue. Very soon. We are coming; no one can stop us. The playacting fool has only delayed us....
Coal-black eyes fall on the object clutched in Bonnie's hand, and the apparition grins.
Ripper: Only delayed. And you have taken the next step for us.
Bonnie Blue: What?
Ripper: None can wield the Mask but that have worn it, surrendered to it...
Bonnie Blue: I ain't surrendered shit. I beat the damned thing.
The creature's derisive laughter is like nails on a chalkboard.
Ripper: Believe what you like, girl. But you have sealed your own doom. Only a matter of time...
A deep frown creases her pale brow, her eyes clouded with worry.
Bonnie Blue: What's that s'posed to mean?
The Ripper simply continues to grin unnervingly at her before offering a reply.
Ripper: You'll find out -- assuming you survive One. But you should know that we have not been idle. The fool, Jenson, has served his purpose. Circumstances have been arranged so that for every drop of your blood spilled, another Ripper manifests in this reality. And we are many.
With that, the creature turns translucent and fades away, leaving behind the barest odor of decay. Bonnie stares at the spot where it had been, focus turned inward.
Brian Setzer: That was desperation talking. Don't pay any attention to what that thing said. Most of it was lies.
The young woman whirls around swiftly, hands balled into fists and ready to strike. She relaxes the next instant as the cat's voice penetrates her conscious mind, and her eyes recognize a friend. Even so, she punches him in the arm.
Bonnie Blue: Don't do that! What the hell took you so long, anyway?
Sulking, the cat rubs at his bicep.
Brian Setzer: Ow! You could really hurt somebody, you know that?
Bonnie Blue: That's the idea.
She grins at him; he shakes his head and pretends to be annoyed.
Brian Setzer: To answer your question, I was moving the car. There's some fucked up shit goin' down on this stupid mountain, and I wanted to make a fast getaway.
As if to emphasize his words, another scream echoes through the night air. The cat grabs Bonnie's arm and propels her down the trail until it forks, then directs her toward the left. They hasten; from deeper in the woods come the sounds of a pack of wolves feeding -- or at least, that's the most comfortable explanation. Rationalizing doesn't stop their brisk walk from turning into a steady run along a path that seems to wind endlessly. But at last, it widens out into a little-used gravel parking lot, its single light shining down on the black Dodge Magnum.
A short drive and several hours later find Bonnie, Brian Setzer, and Cyborg Hank Brown sitting in a booth at a truck stop. CyberHank stares straight ahead, blinking at disturbingly regular intervals, and obediently shoves another spoonful of soup into his mouth under the cat's direction.
Brian Setzer: There. At least he can feed himself now.
Bonnie Blue: What happens when he has to pee?
Brian Setzer: He'll probably short circuit.
Bonnie Blue: Can you fix him enough to do an interview?
The cat shakes his head and sighs.
Brian Setzer: We'll have to take him to an expert.
Bonnie Blue: Who in this era is an expert on cyborgs?
Brian Setzer: Tesla. I know how to find him.
Bonnie Blue: Why didn't you say so before?
Brian Setzer: Promised I wouldn't tell anyone. But this is an emergency. If we don't get Hank put back together right, there's no telling what could happen.
The young woman nods, pushing some syrup around a plate of pancakes in a disconsolate way. Things could probably be worse, but she isn't certain how.
Brian Setzer: You're still uptight about what that thing said, aren't you? Listen, kid, that's what Rippers do. Get in your head, real mindfuck. But it's only ever insinuation. There's no truth to any of it, except what you put into it. Now... about Oblivion...
Bonnie Blue: I'm sick of Oblivion. He's been nippin' at my heels for two whole months. I'm gonna end it at One. This shit is his fault. All of it. Oblivion and the Dark Timekeeper created the Rippers, set 'em loose. Everythin' they done is 'cause of IT. What they did to AJ...this...
She holds up the Mask to show him. The cat frowns.
Brian Setzer: Why the fuck are you still playing with that damned thing? Put it away. Hank, eat.
CyberHank does what he's told without question, while Bonnie continues to stare at the Mask, ignoring her friends.
Bonnie Blue: No... no, I get it. I understand, now. What I have to do...
Brian Setzer: Really, Bonnie. Put it somewhere... not here.
At last, she slips the offending item into her backpack. When she looks back at the cat, there's a look on her face he's never seen before.
Bonnie Blue: Too long have I fought with monsters. If I'm going to see this through, I'll have to become one.
