#apartment demolish in explosion

[kostektyw]

Detco movies rated based on how much shit gets exploded / destroyed

The Time-Bombed Skyscraper - the whole premise is about blowing up stuff, but it's shame no trains got got, 7/10

The Fourteenth Target - it's just an underwater restaurant that is pretty out of the way from anything else and we have no prior attachment to. bonus for the helicopter crash, 5/10

The Last Wizard of the Century - an entire castle does get burned down, but it's no explosion, 6/10

Captured in Her Eyes - just some regular old murder, 0/10

Countdown to Heaven - truly a 9/11 movie. point detracted for leaving the second tower intact, 8/10

The Phantom of Baker Street - the entire thing takes place in VR, so it shouldn't even count, but no one even gets their brain blown up :( 0/10

Crossroad in the Ancient Capital - somehow nothing gets bombed or destroyed? Conan tries a little arson but is unsuccessful, -1/10

Magician of the Silver Sky - a plane gets somewhat mistreated, 2/10

Strategy Above the Depths - a whole damn ship sinks, it's all very dramatic, 9/10

The Private Eyes' Requiem - despite the constant threat of exploding people, barely anything gets exploded. half a point for Kid using a gun on some windows, 1.5/10

Jolly Roger in the Deep Azure - i guess they do find that ancient pirate ship and it immediately falls apart, 5/10

Full Score of Fear - plenty of shit gets blown up including a concert hall while no one inside realizes anything's wrong. you'd think they'd have some fire warning system in place, 10/10

The Raven Chaser - sadly no explosions, but the tower gets shot at hard, and the helicopter does not end up fine, tho no actual crash on screen, 5/10

The Lost Ship in the Sky - only a research facility we don't care about gets exploded in the opening, and that airship barely gets scratched up, 4/10

Quarter of Silence - we have a train exploding out of a tunnel, a dam blown to smithereens, and an avalanche, what more could you want, 10/10

The Eleventh Striker - who can say no to some exploding stadiums, great movie for people who hate football, 8/10

Private Eye in the Distant Sea - just a rando ship at the beginning, who cares, 1/10

Dimensional Sniper - some police cars and incredibly light bombing of the tower, eh, 3/10

Sunflowers of Inferno - a cool museum gets absolutely demolished, the burning fake sunflowers are a lovely image, plus we got some proper plane mistreatment, 10/10

The Darkest Nightmare - both an explosive car crash at the beginning and a ferris wheel gets extremely destroyed, 9/10

The Crimson Love Letter - lots of explosions, and in beautiful scenery too, 10/10

Zero the Enforcer - destroying shit with a satellite is pretty imaginative, but there was not as much destruction as i hoped, 7/10

The Fist of Blue Sapphire - they're surfing on some iconic Singaporean landmarks, meanwhile an oil ship freely wrecks shit, 11/10

The Scarlet Bullet - i fully admit i have no idea what Masumi and Conan were trying to do, both the train and station ended up looking pretty rough. 10/10

The Bride of Halloween - for a movie about bombs not all that much significant shit gets destroyed, but they do go out in style at least. bonus points for covering Shibuya in goo, 9/10

[bloogers-boogers]

The battle field was messy, you could see splattered blood everywhere you turn, broken shards and buildings demolished, the bodies of angels, hellborns and sinners laying around, countless of them.

More explosions could be heard from afar and even more angels flew down to hell some to help the injured others to cause the injuries.

It was absolute chaos. And Charlie Morningstar couldn’t help but feel like she was to blame, from hell’s perspective she was the cause of this but like a mirror of their own Emily the seraphim’s reflection mirrored Charlie and so did heaven see Emily at fault of this.

Both most powerful angels were plucked to the ground, captive, as an evil force layed upon them, wrapping them tightly on to their bodies; back, wrists and legs. Michael tried reaching for his sword but it was useless; he never gave up for his people, he couldn’t give up now, he wanted, needed to protect them. Lucifer growled as he tried pulling roughly at the chains on him; worried for Charlie, trying to reach out to protect her as much as he can. He had to. He can’t give up. He can’t lose her. He must protect her.

Neither could move however, they looked like worms wiggling around with a missing head. Like a snake having its head chopped off but its tail still moving. It was devastating to hear their people scream in both panic and rage. They couldn’t accept their fate this easily, Lucifer couldn’t. There was so much to lose than to win if they did.

But in a blink of eye, as a miracle had happened Lucifer heard a faint scream, a familiar voice. He looked up and saw Adam standing not too far from both archangels. Actually, to be specific, on the other side of the edge of the huge cliff that broke apart from pentagram city and kept the archangels apart from the chaos. Keeping them far from reach of anyone. It was cruel, because the view was fantastic, they could see everything, oh god they could see fucking everything.

“Adam!? Holy fuck! Adam!” Lucifer for once, was genuinely happy to see the first man. He was alive, that was good.

But being alive doesn’t take away that Adam was limping his way even further to the edge of the cliff to get a better look at them. It didn’t take away that a wing was missing and the other was only half of it. He held his side as blood poured from what seemed like another injury of many more.

“You’re alive!” Adam shouted as he stopped his walking once he hit a high dangerous level of risk, “I know how to get you guys out! All you need to do is save heaven and hell if I do it!”

Both archangels looked at him in a ‘what?’ Manner.

“Typical Adam thing to do to try negotiating with us while everyone is agonizing pain, suffering, and most likely about to be all wiped out from existence. Now let’s hear what you have to offer!” Michael hissed sarcastic as he felt horns popping out from his head, being in hell for this long has been turning him slowly.

“I’m more surprised he hasn’t just left us to die to be honest,” Lucifer admitted, his eyes still on Adam trying to analyze him.

“He won’t, because we have to save his ass too in the process.”

“We can still leave him to the side.”

“You know I’m right fucking here!” Adam said with frustration, “it’s not that type of deal.”

Both archangels blinked, doubtful.

“How do we even know you actually know how to get us ‘out’ for all we know you may think that but it won’t?” Michael interrogated further.

“Fuck! I just know, okay!?? Just trust me on this. I know what I’m doing. In all the thousands of years of just existing, I finally know what I’m doing and meant to do,” Adam exclaimed before slowly lowering his voice the more serious he got into his speech.

They looked at him expectantly.

“And thats to save humanity. Lucifer may had doomed it but I can save it! This is where my deal starts. The moment I do this, you both are gonna shove your differences aside, work together to get this evil out of the way and finally shake hands to one of Charlie’s little activities. Because I suppose redemption isn’t so bad and second chances are always welcome. Got it?”

Both archangels winced at the idea of working together but at the same time, looked at Adam as if he had grown another head.

Lucifer winced his eyes, the words echoing in his head warning him of something that’s about to come, that he’s not ready to face just yet. That he never considered to ever happen. He just couldn’t tell what that was until the words sank in.

“Fine.” Michael and Lucifer said at the same time.

Adam smiled. Like actually smile for the first time since his fall he fucking smile and that was before Lucifer could realized it’s gonna be his last.

Before Lucifer realized what was going on, what Adam was about to do.

“Wait…” he looks up in panic as he saw Adam dash his way back down to the chaos, “ADAM, WAIT!!” his blurry figure could be seen disappearing into the dust particles of the explosions, far away from view.

Lucifer cried out in a panic as he kept pulling forward with even more force trying to get loose from the chains.

“What’s happening?” Michael asked alarmed as Lucifer demeanor changed more frantic and desperate.

“Adam is gonna sacrifice himself!”

Before he could do more a green explosion was heard, one too powerful and loud in comparison of the rest. One extremely different and unsettling. One that made all the grounds of hell shake tremendously.

Maybe he was being a little bit dramatic, maybe he was being genuinely honest about Adam being a small misfortune to deal with in his life since the angel fell to hell, but fuck, Lucifer didn’t want him to die nonetheless to take it himself!

From the sudden explosion and the release of his wrists, Lucifer right there knew…

Adam was gone. Like actually gone this time. Like he’ll never see those golden devilish eyes on him thinking he’s slick after planting a prank on him mid-day time.

Oh Adam! You stupid airhead bitch!

~~~~

After thinking the impossible would be, well, basically impossible. It became possible. Lucifer and Michael had a lot to work on when it came to their issues, but they sure made a good team. Defeating evil with another entity as strong as you made things much more easier to handle, and with the addition of Charlie, Emily and the many other seraphim and hellborns it was absolutely a breeze in comparison of the suffocating heat of it all, they finally defeated evil.

And it was all thanks to Adam. The first man. The so called ‘dickmaster’. The first fucking dumbass of humanity. Not having managed to release them in time could’ve doomed both heaven and hell (double doom for hell).

Lucifer sighed mournful after being released of a soul crushing group hug with Charlie, her friends and that dickhead of Michael and Gabriel. Walking away, the devil reached towards a huge hole on the ground that lead to the real depths of hell. He looked down seeing nothing but darkness and screams echoing the inside.

Charlie stepped closer, trying to reach out but keeping herself at a comfortable distance from her father.

“Adam.. he-“

“I know, sweetie,” Lucifer kept looking away from the rest just looking at the darkness of the hole as if he could feel the last remaining of Adam’s aura in there. But there was nothing more there to find if he looked, “we thought we were the heroes but in the end, it was the villain who saved us all.”

“Does Adam even count as a villain? He was more of a bitter asshole than something to feel threatened about,” Angel dust added as everyone else approached the scene. Husk giving him a hard nudge on the side of his elbow; to keep quiet.

Lucifer tightly clutch his chest, suddenly feeling an overwhelming sadness hit him in ways it had never before, tears fell like waterfalls as he falls on his knees, hands touching the ground trying to feel Adam.

“Dad..?”

“I think… I just lost something I love.”

[girlactionfigure]

🟢 Tue morning  - ISRAEL REALTIME - Connecting to Israel in Realtime

❗️YESTERDAY’S MASSACRE STORY FALLS APART.. the attack DID NOT take place in a designated safe zone but 1 km away.  The fire was caused by a nearby vehicle loaded with EXPLOSIVES - more specifically rockets.  The IDF used a “very small” bomb, and the damage shows no bomb dispersal pattern (meaning it wasn’t from the bomb).  

▪️UNRWA - 1 MILLION LEAVE RAFAH.. everyone who wanted to leave Rafah has.

▪️AID PIER DIFFICULTIES.. most of the aid pier was floated to Ashdod, to shelter during wavy seas.  One part broke away and beached in Ashkelon, along with a vessel trying to pull it off.  Another 2 pieces washed ashore in Gaza.  Several experts weighed in: bad place for this type of pier, there were other better options.

▪️ROBOT / DRONE ARMOR?  Spotted in Rafah: armed APC’s with no humans aboard - new drone armor by the IDF.

▪️HEZBOLLAH LAUNCHES A CROWD FUNDING CAMPAIGN.. you too can buy a drone or missile to kill Jews.  

▪️PROTEST CONVEY.. is slowing traffic along the coastal highway.  The protest for the "return of the mandate to the people" motorcades left from several points in the country as part of the protest calling for the elections.

♦️RAFAH - TUNNELS.. The IDF has so far located more than 10 smuggling tunnels along the Philadelphi axis, crossing from the Gaza Strip to Egypt. Some were destroyed, the IDF is working to destroy the rest.

♦️RAFAH - FIGHT.. a 6th combat brigade has entered the fight.

♦️GAZA CITY TUNNEL DESTROYED.. 800 meter-long and 18 meter-deep tunnel was located close to the Netzarim Corridor, n the Sabra neighbourhood.  Demolished by explosion.

⭕ 3 IRAQ SHIA MILITIA SUICIDE DRONES at EILAT, intercepted.

⭕ NEAR TULKARM, TERRORISTS FIRING AND IED.. shooting attack combined with an explosive device against the Deir al-Hausun checkpoint North of Tulkarm.

⭕ HEZBOLLAH - “WE’RE USING BOMB DROPPING DRONES NOW”.

⭕ 3 ANTI-TANK MISSILES at Shtula.

[strange-relics]

The first episode of season two of Leverage just became my favorite episode so far. The way they all con Nate into the job? Hardison messing with Eliot over those small explosives? The end where Hardison buys the building just so he can do whatever he wants to Nate’s apartment and also for the added bonus that he gets to be Nate’s landlord? Parker basically skipping into the apartment with that awful painting of old Nate, I guarantee just for the reaction she knew she’d get out of him? Eliot demolishing a wall with a silly grin on his face?

I am LIVING for this found family. LIVING! This might become a comfort show. Oh, I’m in so much trouble.

[eilwen]

Visiting the Dragon's Nest District

Most cities and towns in No Man's Land have been similar in appearance, with a ship or a portion of a ship watching over its people. However, in Ryutsu, where many things happen, the ship is not the only structure that dominates the landscape.

I wanted to do a dive into the city, what inspired it (and speculate on some of the visuals) and what we can potentially understand about No Man's Land.

Some spoilers for Vol. 4 and 5. Also, this is long.

Even without the baos and wonton-fonts on signage, Ryutsu visually does not match with other cities in No Man's Land. It’s not just the citadel which can be seen from afar, but it’s also the crammed housing and confusing architecture. The tone of Vol. 4 shifts and leans towards neo-noir. As this arc's villains move into the city, Hoppered says: "This place is truly the bottom of the dark. [...] We'll walk into a place where the light does not enter." These lines may not be literal but it certainly brings ideas of seedy places. They move through pitch black and eventually…

The big showdown happens at the city's main feature: the Dragon’s Nest District - an area that brings up memories of the old Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong. No Man's Land is a sparsely populated planet, yet for whatever reason, people have sardined themselves into this city and into this district.

Kowloon Walled City had been called ‘City of Darkness’ and it was possible to move through the city without ever seeing daylight. It carries a bit of romantised nostalgia because of its weird part in Hong Kong colonial history, its uncontrolled and chaotic construction, and its lawlessness (though apparently the ungoverned city was tight-knit and communal). The city became a source of inspiration for a lot of media, but not many films were shot in the city itself. Those that I had seen tended to use the city as a 'cool film location' so apart from the examples below, there aren't many I know to recommend (happy to take suggestions for films I may have missed).

Clip from Bloodsport (Arnold, 1988)

"No joke, man. It's a random piece of No Man's Land in the middle of a tourist paradise. It goes way back to the old lease agreement between Great Britain and China. Once you step out of the sunlight into the narrow corridors, it's time to protect your nuts, guys."

Clip from Crime Story (Wong, 1993). This is the climax of the film, which featured actual explosions from Kowloon's demolition, according to its wiki page.

Off the top of my head, good fiction film substitutes (unrelated and unlike Trigun/Trimax) which more illustrate what life might have been like in these places, may be films like Wong Kar Wai's Fallen Angels (1995) and Chungking Express (1994) - though these films take place at the Chungking Mansions, Kowloon Walled City's more modern cousin. I thought of Wong's films because he treated the mansions as a character more than as a location. His films showed examples of immense density, globalisation, and a bit of that noir crime stuff within small and unusually intimate spaces. They also reflected Hong Kong's complicated anxiety as the city was approaching its handover from British to Chinese rule.

Panel from Vol. 4 Ch. 7; Screencap from Chungking Express (Wong, 1994).

To talk more about Hong Kong cinema itself would be much longer than a tumblr post but if Nightow is connected with Rodriguez's films via Desperado (1995), Rodriguez and his collaborative friend Tarantino are connected with Hong Kong films from those like John Woo and Ringo Lam. One example: Mexican standoffs are tropes used in various films, but we see them frequently enough in Tarantino's films and in Hong Kong action cinema that it becomes noteworthy.

Panel from Vol. 5 Ch. 3

Panel from Vol. 5 Ch. 5

Kowloon Walled City which was demolished in 1993, was visually ‘resurrected’ as Ryutsu's Dragon's Nest. Kowloon Walled City was not a city that just looked interesting. It was an agreement between China and Great Britain that was then kind of weirdly botched, thus leaving it pretty much ungoverned. Trimax Vol. 4 was released in 2000, three years after Hong Kong's handover from Britain to China. We don’t get Ryutsu’s history and with the multiple panels of silhouetted buildings against the night sky and hanging laundry in balconies, Ryutsu’s citadel falls into the 'cool manga location' category. Also, I should be clear: these chapters in Trimax are not an analysis or an allegory of Hong Kong's colonial history.

Panel from Vol. 4 Ch. 4; Photo of Kowloon Walled City's alleyway from wiki article.

At the same time, many eyes, including those outside of Great Britain and China, were on the news when the handover occurred. The point is not if Nightow was considering that historic moment or if he happened to be watching Hong Kong films when he was working on these chapters. Instead, I wonder if readers, when they picked up these volumes from the bookshelves, had thought about Hong Kong, Hong Kong’s movies, and Hong Kong’s past and uncertain future, as they were skimming through the pages. But you know… this is 2023 me thinking about 23 years ago. All of this is daydreaming.

I bring up Hong Kong's history and cinema because I wanted to see what I can envision and interpret about Ryutsu and thus about No Man's Land. If Hong Kong via cinema brings imaginations of transnationalism then Ryutsu via Vol. 4 and 5 could do the same for No Man's Land.

There is no literal ocean to divide cities and there are no named countries. There is a broad ‘Federal Government’, so I assume that means the government concerns itself with all settlements in the entire planet. If Ryutsu itself is No Man’s Land’s ‘Hong Kong’ (which opens another discussion of the use and/or misuse of Hong Kong in media - some other time), then despite No Man’s Land being an incredible dystopia, the elimination of borders is, very plainly, very interesting. I am leaning to this being a good thing, considering that one major problem in No Man’s Land tends to be ‘Humans vs. X’ (plants, worms, the planet’s environment etc.). Also, No Man’s Land is already very sparse. No spoilers for later volumes but I am curious about the planet’s future if the population demographic changes.

Panel from Vol. 4 Ch. 4. Western and Eastern hats in the same panel.

There are also thoughts about its class struggles. Vash says in Vol. 4 Ch. 4: "There are too many people here. I don't like it. The lower and upper class all cramped together." ... which really made me think about the conditions the upper class were living in. Kowloon Walled City was known to be unhygienic, dark and cramped and the wealthy did not live there, so how rough was it to live in Ryutsu when a rich person might still need to live in the citadel? I didn't interpret Vash's statement to mean 'citadel plus those outside of it' when the high stakes in these volumes were because of the high density and maze-like streets.

Panels from Vol. 4 Ch. 6; Ch. 7; Ch. 7.

The above panels remind me of establishing shots in gritty crime thrillers than the sci-fi western I had been reading up to this point.

Featured is the Juukei Building - a building that looks pulled from the 20th century. It is tall, drawn sometimes in narrow panels to emphasize its height and to show how small the characters are in the claustrophobic space as they navigate towards it. As characters move through the structure once inside, it becomes more difficult to tell where in the building they are or if they are somewhere adjacent. Combining historical and futuristic designs in Trigun/Trimax isn't new, but it's not often you see 20th century structures. Maybe wealthier residents lived in buildings like this, though the interiors of Juukei look like abandoned offices.

Panel from Vol. 5 Ch. 3.

Or maybe this was meant to be a mixed-use building? But it seems the entire building is abandoned anyway.... So I'm not sure where the upper class is supposed to live or how I should imagine the upper class to be.

Panel from Vol 5. Ch 6.

... After the end of the battle, once morning comes, we no longer see the citadel. The landscapes return to those reminiscent of American Southwestern deserts. Like we dipped into darkness then we returned to the light.

Anyone who knows about Kowloon Walled City would instantly recognise it in Trimax. The imitative Ryutsu Citadel could be read as a cool manga location where a massive shootout plus some serious revelations occur, but I personally am always interested in what else a location can do. It matters if you set a film in New York City versus a nameless location and how you visually convey that city because it can tell us about its people and helps us understand its characters. So to me, I thought it would be fun to look at certain locations in Trimax (with all of Nightow's free-form inconsistencies and confusions) and imagine or interpret what they can tell us about No Man's Land and by extension, the people in No Man's Land.

Other fun facts include: "[...] Japan, in particular, developed a keen interest towards Kowloon. Its demolition in 1993 was broadcast on national television."

[outta-my-tree]

On July 4, 1914 - An explosion demolished the upper stories of an apartment building in East Harlem, killing anarchist Arthur Caron and several colleagues. Caron had been among those who protested the involvement of the Rockefeller family in April's "Ludlow Massacre." It appeared that Caron and his associates were building the bomb meant to kill John D. Rockefeller Jr., when it exploded.

(The Ludlow Massacre occurred April 20, 1914, when Colorado state troops and a private force hired by a Rockefeller-owned coal mining company attacked and destroyed a tent camp of striking miners and their families.)

An official report stated that at least twenty-five people - including fourteen children and two women - perished in the massacre. Earlier reporting put the death toll at a minimum of forty-five people, with women and children accounting for thirty of those deaths.

Left: Photograph shows French Canadian anarchist Arthur Caron, a member of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), who was killed in the Lexington Avenue bombing of July 4, 1914 in New York City.

Right: Photograph shows members of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), who were involved in the Lexington Avenue bombing of July 4, 1914, New York City. Group includes Arthur Caron and Charles Plunkett.

Photograph shows the destruction caused by a bomb at 1626 Lexington Avenue, New York City, which killed four people and injured many others. Anarchist conspirators were making the bomb which they intended to put at John D. Rockefeller's home in Tarrytown, New York.

Above: Baptism record of Joseph Arthur Caron, Beauport, Quebec, Canada, 1883. His father is recorded as a day laborer.

Below: Fall River, Massachusetts marriage record for Arthur Caron and Elmina Reeves, 3July, 1905.

Indexed New York death record information.

Funeral procession for French Canadian anarchist Arthur Caron, a member of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), who was killed in the Lexington Avenue bombing of July 4, 1914 in New York City.

More information:

[autisticsupervillain]

It's Fictional Throwdown Friday!

This Week's Fighters...

Tom Hansen vs Robert Cross!

Conditions:

No restrictions.

Scenario:

After the events of Cold Fear, Tom gets reassigned to Blackwatch for his proven proficiency in combating bioweapons. Robert Cross challenges him to a sparing match to see how advanced his skills are.

Analysis: Hansen

The ocean depths are a mysterious and dangerous place. At the lowest survivable levels of Earth's surface, strange creatures straight out of Lovecraft's nightmares evolved to survive the dark, cold, crushing depths of the ocean floor. And humanity was about to unearth some of its most dangerous creatures.

In the coldest parts of the Atlantic Ocean, Russian oil diggers discovered a new form of life within the ice they were mining. Exocels. Parasitic creatures that were completely uncategorized by existing scientific theories. Capable of overtaking the higher brain functions of their host and mutating them in response to dangerous external stimuli. Naturally, the crew of the Star of Sakhalin begain trying to weaponize these new creatures to sell for a profit. Predictably, it didn't work out. The ship was quickly overrun by mutant zombies and a distress call was sent out.

The call was answered by Tom Hansen, an officer of the United States Coast Guard who really wants to be Leon Kennedy. He and his crew were sent to rescue everyone on board, only to find everyone already dead or zombified. Narrowly surviving the massacre of his crew, Tom was left alone on the ship as the only thing stopping the Exocels from falling into the shadowy hands of the CIA.

Luckily, Hansen comes equipped with every weapon a survival horror protagonist could ever need. He comes decked out with the usual affair of pistols, shotguns, and automatic weapons, each laser scoped to ensure perfect accuracy. Even his standard M1911A1 can completely pop a human’s skull like it was made from confetti, to say nothing of his MP5, AK47, and Benelli M4. But all of that pales in comparison to his sawed off M79 Grenade Launcher to blow apart any Exomutant that gets hit by it, even shredding through Exo zombies that evolved specifically to withstand bullets and fire arms.

Tom would quickly adapt against the rapidly evolving Exocels, using a modified harpoon gun whose harpoons emitted a protein gas, allowing his shots to distract Exocels with delicious smelling harpoons. Perfect for luring them into a trap or grouping them together for a grenade. Hansen has fought through squadrons of Russian mercenaries, defeated invisible Exocel zombies, dodged a steel door that was blasted at him by an explosion, and survived getting infected by an Exocel that tried to eat him alive from the inside out twice.

With nothing but raw wit, determination, and witty one liners, Tom rigged the entire ship to blow with C4 and faced down the man behind the entire disaster. Kamsky, the mad scientist turned sentient Exomutant out to replace humanity with his zombified master race. Kamsky is strong enough to completely demolish a metal bridge just by jumping right through it, generating an energy equivalent to 397,700 kilojoules.

Source:

Ultimately, Hansen defeated Kamsky, blowing the Star of Sakhalin to pieces and exterminating the Exocel threat once and for all.

Analysis: Cross

Captain Robert Cross. The Specialist. The elite of the elite and Blackwatch's greatest operative. When everything's gone to hell and the zombie apocalypse is knocking on the door, he's the man the US government calls in. He's insurance. Cross contained the viral outbreak in the underground city of Springfield. He's chased down powerful infected by himself and killed them with his bare hand, and he's the only mortal man to fist fight Alex Mercer one on one and live to tell the tale.

So when the Blacklight Virus contaminated New York and turned Manhattan into a post apocalyptic warzone, Cross was called in. His mission: Kill Alex Mercer.

Cross would prove to be the most tenacious and devastating human opponent Alex would ever face. Cross had done his homework. He'd use a shock baton to keep Mercer at a distance, fire homing rockets to harass him from afar, and control the battlefield with tactical use of land mines and fire grenades.

Now, Cross is one of the earliest bosses in the game, so he doesn't actually scale to the endgame feats Alex demonstrated. No earthquake scaling or relativistic reactions for him. Mercer at this point in the story was still getting ragdolled by Elizabeth Greene.

That said, he's still clearly superhuman. Mercer in the early game could still dodge tank shells, catch helicopters, and tear down buildings by himself. Alex could even burst clean through a two foot thick metal door, a feat that would require roughly 235,600 kilojoules to perform.

Source:

How did Cross compete with this? He's Robert Cross, don't ask questions.

Even laying defeated, Cross still had one last trick up his sleeve. Realizing that Alex hadn't yet regained all his human memories yet, Cross would refer back to Alex's death at Penn Station, triggering a painful flashback that distracted Mercer long enough to be injected with a parasite. This virus would hamper Mercer's powers and nearly kill him, with Alex only escaping being brought in right there by sheer luck.

Unfortunately, this would be Cross's undoing. After Mercer expunged the parasite from his body, it would become its own entity, becoming the Supreme Hunter. It would then track Cross down, assimilate him, then use his memories to attempt to manipulate Mercer into helping it consume all life on the planet. Alex would only narrowly defeat it by the skin of his teeth.

In a way, even in death, Robert Cross was the biggest human threat that Alex Mercer would ever face.

Throwdown Breakdown:

This is a fairly simple fight, honestly.

Hansen should be pretty even with Cross in terms of stats. Cross scales to Mercer catching helicopters, while Hansen can dodge explosions, both being roughly in the hypersonic ranges of speed. If anything, Hansen should even be slightly stronger, 397,700 kilojoules vs Cross's 235,600. Buuuut, that's where it all swings the other way.

Cross is better equipped. His electric baton is a better melee weapon, his homing rockets allow him to destroy or get around Hansen's cover, while his incendiary grenades and mines give him better battlefield control over Hansen's mostly stock arsenal. Everything short of Hansen's grenade launcher is just completely outpunched by Cross's destructive weaponry.

And skill is something that Hansen can't even compete with. Hansen is a regular Coast Guard officer in out of his depth against the zombie outbreak he's faced with, while Cross was hand picked to be a part of Blackwatch, an organization designed specifically to combat such bioweapons. Cross's status as a legend by Blackwatch standards, as well as his ability to fisticuffs Alex goddamn Mercer, puts him on a different level of skill entirely.

Hansen would compete evenly initially, maybe even getting an early advantage with his greater strength and superior reflexes, but once Cross had his number, he'd be swiftly outmatched and beat down.

Then, Cross would offer him his hand, compliment his right hook, and welcome him to Blackwatch.

This Throwdown's Winner is....

Robert Cross!

[therealbl0om-blog]

A DAY OFF - PART TWO 2/3

Meanwhile… Somewhere far in the Griffin's lands. A small red figurine was seen on top of the Griffin Mount, right on the Griffin's beak. Heatwave was sitting on the Griffin's beak, swinging his legs as he watched the sunrise… Just how Kade did last night at the sunset. He had a 3D projector of Cybertron in front of him. He was replaying his own memories on it. He was feeling homesick, he felt homesick every day.. But he refused to show vulnerability in front of others. What kind of a leader would do that?

The bot sighed and stared at the project, he zoned out again… Just staring deeply into it. Unaware of that fact that the memories were playing way too fast, causing it to get to the part where the war was started. Heatwave was just too hypnotized while staring at Cybertron. Till from the projector made screams that emerged from the war. His optics widened as the hypnosis was broken apart. The screams… It got to his mind. Flashbacks of the war.

He remembered every single bit of the war… Every. Single. Bit. He was nothing back then, just a simple Cybertronian trying to live his own life. He heard his own screams, and tears to the point his own voicebox crossed its limited and broke. Even on that day he was apart of the Rescue Bots, but he wasn't the main lead. The Rescue Bots were all scattered around Energon Town, who knows if they were alive or dead… Heatwave was damaged as if there was no tomorrow, numbness in his legs, whole body.

Explosions, gunshots, nukes, everything was all around him. He even called out of his own family, his parents, siblings.. No answer. He only heard screams coming from them, and massive slashes… And then just… Quietness. Heatwave froze heavily as he was unaware of the massive amount of oil dripping out of his optics. He stared deeply into the projector. He started to shake, his energon levels rising, his spark beat getting higher… Only that he could hear was the screams of pain and agony… Listening and watching his own ancestors get demolished with no mercy at all.

And right before that, he watched the Cybertron projector have a massive crack between the planets surface… Splitting into two, right after Sigma 17 flew out of its atmosphere. The only Rescue Bots left alive at that time… Heatwave was interrupted by a sudden airplane flying right above him to get to the station. He removed his servos and watched the Cybertron projector vanish into thin air as its blue particles scatter around. "No, no, no no no… Come back, please!" Heatwave pleaded with tears as he tried to catch the particles, but he failed as they disappeared…

He was shaking badly, and dropped down on his knees as he saw how high we was in the air… Heatwave couldn't help but get odd thoughts, staring down into the deep dark depths of the forest beneath him. But luckily, he was interrupted again by a old firetruck coming near him. Kade… How in the primes did he find him?! Kade jumped out of the truck and looked at Heatwave. "Heatwave!? Where the FRAG have you been? I've been looking for you everywhere, I was concerned for you!" Kade shouted and walked over to the giant bot, clearly mad and upset at the same time.

Heatwave immediately wiped out his own tears and looked away. "That is none of your business… I'm fine." Heatwave mumbled and crossed his arms, facing the sunrise. "Not my business…? How many times do I have to tell you that It is my business! You are my partner, I care about you! Can't you already see that?!" Kade growled at him, shouting at him. It caused Heatwave to flinch. "No Kade, no I can't see that." Heatwave spoke with sarcasm… "Why don't you just leave me all alone, and let me do my thi-" Kade then shouted loudly at him, causing Heatwave to flinch yet again. "I am NOT leaving you alone like this, Heatwave! Something is CLEARLY WRONG with you and you're not telling me anything. You aren't just making this worse for me but also for yourself! Are you that stupid and blind?! Why do you keep bottling yourself up for no damn reason when you clearly have the whole team holding your back and being there for you each time something goes wrong?!" Kade shouted, having the nerve to interrupt Heatwave.

"Bottling myself up?" Heatwave looked at Kade with a empty expression. "BOTTLING MYSELF UP?!" Heatwave shouted and stared down at Kade. "I DO NOT HAVE ANY DAMN RIGHT TO OPEN UP TO ANYONE ON THIS GODDAMN MEATBALL OF A PLANET!" Kade flinched when Heatwave shouted… "Heatwa-" Heatwave interrupted him… Oh how the tables have turned. "I don't want to hear it, I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR IT AGAIN! All that you're going to say for yourself that you care about me, bla bla bla bla, that you want to make me feel better. WELL THIS TIME YOU CANNOT! BECAUSE FROM WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH, IT CANNOT BE ERASED FROM MY HEAD, AND IT WILL ALWAYS BE WITH ME, TRAUMATIZING ME EACH, EVERY, DAMN, DAY AND I CAN'T EVEN GET A BREAK FOR ONCE!" Heatwave shouted loudly at him, stomping his feet, oil tears streaming down his cheeks. "I JUST WANT TO HAVE A BREAK, TO STAY AT HOME, RELAX, HAVE SOME PEACE TO MYSELF!" Kade remained silent, listening to Heatwave. "THIS DOESN'T EVEN FEEL LIKE HOME ANYMORE, I DON'T FEEL APPRECIATED HERE! ALL I HAVE TO DO, IS PRETEND THAT I'M SOME STUPID MINDLESS ROBOT, HAVING TO DO THAT HUMANS DESIRE, AND WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A CHOICE WHETHER WE WANT TO DO IT OR NOT!"

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2/3 part! one more left... Links below after I post all!

PART TWO 1/3 PART TWO 3/3

[kjngdomheartz]

jjba part 5 matchup for @lady-of-endless 🐞

thank u so much also for doing another matchup with me!! i hope i wasn’t too much of a nuisance, especially with your rqs closed 😭 i hope you enjoy!!

gifs aren’t mine once again- thank you creators!

i match you with…

2 of the La Squadra boys, your choice!

it’s a battle between the two for you, but the only one who can settle the conclusion is you!

and if you want both of them, then i guess if they don’t find out right—

first up..

Ghiaccio

-For Ghiaccio, he’s just 100% explosive. Even when he’s talking normally, his tone of voice is always sarcastic or booming, but for some reason you’re always able to tell it apart. He’s such a sucker for that since you’re the only person that can do that, and when you recognize his intention to be gentle with his words, he’s ecstatic. He feels like you’re the only person who can read him, and because of that he notices you first everytime out of everyone in La Squadra, and you’re always the first one he looks for during battle and missions.

-Like him, he admires your stubbornness and likes that you reflect him in a way. He would honestly get kinda frustrated with someone that didn’t have your stern characteristics. Though he’s aware of your more soft and affectionate traits and it makes him melt. He��ll only show it with you, privately, and when he does, he’s like a puppy kicking its leg happily.

-Protectiveness is a competition. With a stand as powerful and abusable as his, it’s his first instinct to create an ice barrier between you and the enemy, taking on the lead as your big strong knight. He’ll let you defend yourself as well, but the second he senses uneasiness in your combat, he’s going apeshit. Expect this a lot, along with his complaining after your lectures about how you’re also in La Squadra for a reason. But of course, one day you decide to show him with your actions rather than words, and absolutely demolish an enemy stand user with very minimum help from him and La Squadra. He grumbles to himself a bit and lays off the knight in shining armor play for a while. (only a while, he’s back on track soon enough ;)

-He’s the type to express his emotions 24/7, 365 days a year. He thinks it’s nothing to be ashamed of, even though he lets his anger get the best of him all the time. Just being around him makes you want to blow off some steam, and he’s all for it. Though communication isn’t a key factor for him, he’s not good at it without letting his anger drive it. Which is another reason he loves you so much, your touch is like a stress toy to him. A lot of the time when he notices you getting overwhelmed, he tries to aid it with pep talks and your favorite snacks. He has a hard time comforting people himself, but for you, he’ll sure as hell try.

-He doesn’t mind your style at all, and while it’s different than what he’s used to, it reminds him of Risotto so he validates it (as he should).

——

option 2, Risotto

-Risotto is always just so intimidating. Though this didn’t bother you at all, and it didn’t stop you from interacting with him a bit. From the start, Risotto took note of your gentle and mysterious nature (with the assistance of your style) and was glad you did the same. He was rather pleased with your arrival to La Squadra, in which Sorbet and Gelato pick up on immediately with a few glances to eachother.

-Believe it or not, Risotto just wants a cuddle session with you. He has so many worries that he’s a little too good at hiding, and when he’s just in your embrace alone with your hand tangled in his hair, it gives him moments of peace and silence. He prefers you over any sort of drug, he’s the type to get panicky when under the influence. It took a while to crack this out of him, given his blank manner. He dies for physical affection whether it says it in his face or not. Just no PDA. It’s not that he’s ashamed of you, it just makes him feel weird. His expression when he’s like this is always calm and the same as how it always is, he’s not an expression guy. Despite this you always just know, and a lot of the time when he wants this he just pulls you in without a word.

-He enjoys both of your sides, angel or devil. Both are beautiful and admirable to him, and he’s glad you’re hardened enough to handle everything in La Squadra. Though again, he knows how dangerous everything is and even you being apart of the squad adds another worry onto his plate. He’s even tried to convince you to leave before. You always tell him not to worry and that you can defend yourself, so he listens to you but lets the worry linger. Of course, all of this is all pent up though. It’s something you both struggle with.

-Your medical expertise comes in real handy with Risotto, he bleeds a lot after combat. How could he not, with a stand so extreme?

-Risotto doesn’t mind taking the lead at all. In fact, he’s used to it and is more than willing for you. Count it as an act of service, though to him it’s just common decency.

-His idea of taking you out is just spending quality time together, no matter what you’re doing. Despite him being a match for nobody, (besides Doppio) he wants you close to him and away from any possible threat.

-Your style is very close to his favorite part of you. Screw the opposite aesthetic couples- you guys are like Morticia and Gomez. It makes him feel like you guys were made for each other, and that brings him at ease more than anything.

i also think Bruno would take a liking to you. He would quickly analyze you in battles and for some reason unknown to you, avoid attacking you but willing to take hits from you. He’s intrigued with your character and though he won’t admit it, wished you weren’t on an enemy side to get to know you better.

[gamergirlbonestaskforce141riot]

im so sorry for being downright annoying but im confined to my apartment since it's 40 degrees where i live and i have nothing to do :((

could you pls do like a headcannon post for your interpretations of the 141? like you said, soap plays drums, ghost prefers solitude to being mean and aggressive, gaz doesnt get caught doing the kind of shit soap gets caught for, etc. i just find your hc so damn interesting and good. AND believable!!

here's some flowers for your kindness!! ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶

𖤣.𖥧.𖡼.⚘𖤣.𖥧.𖡼.⚘𖤣.𖥧.𖡼.⚘𖤣.𖥧.𖡼.⚘𖤣.𖥧.𖡼.⚘𖤣.𖥧.𖡼.⚘𖤣.𖥧.𖡼.⚘𖤣.𖥧.𖡼.⚘

Ok! I want to make clear first that these are just my own interpretations/headcanons, for what I'm writing (although I'll try not to mention Riot much), so if someone feels I'm going off-canon, or I don't write them as they should be (whatever that means) just... meh

Ok, so... Gaz, Price, Soap, Ghost and Nikolai because certain someoneeee asked and I can't deny them anything (and he's going to appear in my fic anyway)

Under the cut because it's going to be long. Edited to add after I finished: God it's horribly long

He gives me elder brother vibes, as in, responsible, overachiever, trying to do the right thing, being the one making way so his younger sibling(s) have it easier

He is nice and respectful to everyone, specially his elders and/or superior officers, but finds it difficult to tolerate shit or incompetence. Still, he is diplomatic enough to hide it (mostly), and will make a good officer in the future, in both Price and Ghost's opinion

He loves cooking and baking, and thrives learning other culture's cuisine. Doesn't mind spicy food, and absolutely gets a laugh out of sneaking some spice in what he cooks to make his friends sweat

Both him and Soap became fast friends. Not only they're close in age, they're both nerds (Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Dungeons and Dragons...) and gamers, and play together fighting games like King of Fighters in an old playstation that Price allowed them to have in the common room.

Friends as they are, they absolutely cheat and piss each other off while playing, to the point of swearing to not ever talk to the other again.

They also absolutely prank each other. Salt in their coffee, googly eyes glued to their bedside lamp (Soap had the fright of his life), toothpaste inside the pockets...

He once covered Soap's side of the office in post-its. Took almost the whole night, but Gaz is a dedicated individual

Everyone thinks he is the serious and responsible, but he is just too good to be caught doing shit. But seriously, the worst ideas come from him

(aaah look at my baby)

PRANKSTER. In capitals.

Younger brother vibes. Like, with three elder sisters. I hc that he has a quite big age gap with his sisters and, although they love each other, they were almost teens when he was a wee boy

Loyal to the bone, will get a bullet for you. Will give you shit if you get it instead covering for him

Friendly with everyone, his love language is touch, patting your back or shoulder, or if it's with a close one, a plain old bear hug. If you're certain someone who he sees as another sister, the bear hug involves swaying and lifting you up

Can't be subtle to safe his life. Can't lie either. You'll know when he's lying because he'll grin so wide that you'll see all his teeth

Learned to play the drums in his teens as a way to channel his energy. In boot camp organized a music group with other privates, Riot included, as a way of bonding and letting out steam. He likes about anything music related, but rock, pop and folk music specially

Looks awesome in a kilt and learned to play the bagpipes when he was a wee lad, but hasn't played one in years

He is way more intelligent that he himself gives credit, and can calculate in seconds the apropriate amount of explosives needed to just demolish what he wants and not a single brick more

That said, he's obsessed with blowing things up. Only things! But if they happen to have ASSHOLES inside, so be it

He is a family man, and tries to speak with his ma as often as he can, but his ma is tiring, man... Always asking when he's getting off the military, when he's settling down, when he's growing out his hair... That mohawk, my son... that's why you're single

Flirt. Like, for fun. Just because. It works either way, because if you feel flattered, he already has you reeled in. If you get angry, he knows how to push your buttons and persuade you in the correct direction. Correct for him, of course.

He can get anything you want/need. It's his specialty after all. What was that, zólotse? You need [insert whatever you imagine]?. Don't you worry, sólnyshko. You'll have it. What does he want in exchange? Only your smile

Of course, if down the line he happens to need something of you, just a little tiny thing, not really important... you'd be a dear and help him out, right?

He not only is a fixer, but he is a trader. He trades anything, information, documents, intel, weapons, vehicles, favours. He doesn't need notebooks, he has it all in his head. All the debts, paid or unpaid, all the people that owe him something, all the people he owes something, people he can convince to 'help' other people so he can kill two birds with one stone, etc etc

He has that ability that can't be learned, of being able to sway anyone his way just with his words. One look at you and he knows what he needs to say to get you on his side, or to make his bidding. Do you need praise? Threats? A pitiful plea? He sure can act the way you need him to, even if you don't know that you need it

If you are friends though, his help comes with no strings attached. Well, maybe a tiny one. Or two. But completely easy things to do. Promise

(that's like my favourite gif of Price, he's so damn hot)

He seemingly has endless patience, but only with his subordinates. He has no patience nor tolerance for idiots in the higher ranks, and has no problem speaking up against them

Everyone knows/thinks Gaz is his favourite, but in reality all of the core 141 is his favourite, he chose them after all. He trusts each and any of them with his life, and would die for them without second guesses

He knew Ghost before he was Ghost, and seeing what he became destroys him. He was the one to recommend Simon Riley for the Special team that went after Manuel Roba, so he feels responsible of everything. Simon knows and has assured him many times that he shouldn't feel bad, he couldn't have known.

If he shares a cigar it's because shit's about to go down and there's no way out or against all odds you got out and needs to be celebrated. No in between, you won't get a whiff of them ever unless he's smoking them. Except if you're Simon, he's the only one with whom he shares, and it's not unusual for them to go for drinks alone or just share a drink and a cigar in Price's office from time to time. Sometimes they don't even speak.

Acts way older than he is, he's always been an old soul. That said, the shit he has to go through every day keeping those muppets in line makes him feel like he's three hundred at least

But if someone dares to raise their voice at HIS muppets, that someone better prepare for hell to rain upon them. No one gives shit to his kids except him

He smells bullshit when he's faced with it. Nobody knows how, but he knows.

Protective, obsessive, bossy and gruff, but loyal to his last drop of blood

That's why he's 'dad' to his kids, even if they don't call him that. But all of them go to him when they have doubts, Gaz and Soap even go to him to ask for advice about this or that, or how to...? Even Simon does ask him things from time to time, and it's not unusual for them to just drop by his office for no real reason, just needing dad

Stern, taciturn, solitary, stoic. Seemingly cold, but he is only guarded. He finds it difficult to trust, even before Roba, due to his childhood.

Stiff upper lip: displays fortitude and stoicism in the face of adversity, or exercises great self-restraint in the expression of emotion

He can be aggressive and mean, it's part of the job, but he takes it with an attitude more like 'Does this need to be done? It needs to be done', and Simon mentally checks out and Ghost takes the wheel, that way he can preserve his sanity and try not to feel like the ones who made him like this... both his father and Roba

He is slow to trust, but if you manage to get through his walls, his loyalty is unwavering. For example, he'd follow Price to hell, only asking 'when are we leaving' if his Captain would ask him to.

He has a soft spot for Gaz and Soap although he doesn't show it, physically or verbally, but with little things. His love language for others, if he even knows what that is or even remembers what it was, is acts of service. Little things like buying them snacks when they run out and haven't had time to go to the store, or taking over their watch turn when he sees them nodding off.

The love language you would have to use with him would have to be maybe quality time at first, even without touching, just spending time together. Having a smoke at midnight behind the mess hall, doing paperwork together in his office or yours, watching films together in the common room. After things progress, it'll evolve into a mix of physical touch (he's so touch starved it's not even funny, and once the dam is broken you won't get rid of him easily) and words of affirmation, but mostly touch.

[dreamersbcll]

A very happy prompt for you: tara is in a coma, and you know... she's a way easier target for ghostface

“Act III”

——————————————————————————

Sam slammed on the elevator button, and her brow furrowed with annoyance. Of course, she would pick the elevator with the slowest speed.

There was no reason to be rushing as Tara was in a coma. The latest attack by a jackass in a mask left Tara with two shoulder lacerations and a cracked skull. Sam had just tackled the attacker in time before he laid the final blow into Tara’s heart. He had gotten away, and Tara had gotten gravely wounded.

Too late seemed to be the theme of Sam’s life.

Now she had to wait by Tara’s bedside and hope her baby girl would wake up again.

And that asshole was still on the loose, still prowling the two. Sam hadn’t missed a day of her medication, even going as far as upping the dosage daily to ensure her clarity and precision. She wasn’t going to be too late again.

Yet here she was, waiting for a too slow elevator to collect her. It was amazing that she was still stuck in this battle of wits and blood, always coming out on top despite it all. Sure, it was all by the skin of her teeth, but she still came out relatively unscathed. Tara took most of the blows. Sam was just there for clean-up, it seemed.

Ding.

“Finally,” she muttered under her breath.

Sam stepped into the elevator, pressing floor four and leaning against the wall. Tilting her head back, she closed her eyes, breathing out. She let the shirt elevator music fill her ears as she tried to convince herself... It had to all be over soon. This couldn’t go on forever.

And that’s when the elevator music skipped, the tone suddenly turning garbled. She opened one eye, noticing that the lights were flickering. Her stomach soured and fell, and her hackles raised. Every part of her was on guard, and when the funky music turned into soft breathing, she knew.

She knew she was too late again the moment she heard his voice. The asshole in a robe’s voice.

“Hello, Samantha. I see we have ended up in the same place again,” he crooned.

Her breath caught in her throat, and her fists clenched at her side. She breathed out, trying to control herself. She couldn’t let him see her fall apart; she couldn’t admit defeat, even though it was imminent.

Oh, Tara. She was so close. So fucking close.

When the elevator halted, she cried out, slapping a hand over her mouth. She tried to jam the buttons, calling for help, screaming for anyone to get her out. Deep down, she knew it was futile, as she couldn’t ever love a perfect thing and not demolish it.

With her fists shaking and mouthing twitching with unshed tears, she spoke—more like plead for mercy.

“Please don’t touch her. Take me, please,” she whispered, her voice barely reaching her ears.

She knew it wouldn’t work. But she had to say that she tried.

Instead of answering, he just laughed and dragged his knife against the metal railing on Tara’s bed. Sam could hear the heart monitor beeping in the background and the soft exhale of her baby sister.

“I think I’ll take both,” he whispered back.

And then the elevator lurched down, falling to the ground with record speed.

Sam didn’t fight it. She retreated to the corner, head pressed against the wall, tears streaming down her face. There was no use fighting anymore.

It was all over now.

——

Confrontation

A knife scraped across the wall, the metallic edge grinding against cold brick. It gave him goosebumps, chilling him to the core. It felt so good to be so alive.

He could hear the elevator fall and crash, the explosion rocking the hospital. Alarms blared around him, and he could hear frantic footsteps run back and forth throughout the hospital.

A smile formed underneath his mask. It was all too easy to set this up. He didn’t even have to try that hard- and he still surpassed the bitch that was Sam Carpenter.

Incredible.

And now he could take his sweet time with the youngest Carpenter and show his love for the girl in the only way he knew how. Violence. He was excited at the chance to carve into the Tara.

He was mainly after Sam, and he wanted to take her down psychologically before her literal death. And again, he succeeded. The end here was coming sooner, but the end was already here. It was his carefully crafted ending.

Sidling up to the youngest Carpenter, his grin grew at the sight of her. Stitches, oxygen cannulas, dried blood galore. His work was solid. It was good.

This was how an actual director directed, not like the shoddy work of Roman Bridger. No, he was the new king of the Stab franchise. The only killer to take out two legacy characters.

Raising his knife above his head, he could feel the electricity flowing through his veins. This was the end. This was his ending. And he wasn’t at all disappointed.

It was all going to be over now.

——

Conclusion

Tara was driving.

But she wasn’t in the front seat. She was in the back seat, watching her body take the wheel.

It was funny, feeling the control stripped away from her. Like she never had it in the first place. Something was missing from her, but she couldn’t quite figure it out.

Tara reached out to grab her shoulder, but she couldn’t quite reach it. It was as if her body was light years away.

There was a scraping sound echoing in her ears. It sounded like a nail on a chalkboard, the noise chilling her to her bones. She felt slightly nauseous at the sensation, but she couldn’t pinpoint where it was coming from.

Looking back and forth, she tried to pinpoint her location. There wasn’t anything but darkness around her car, as if she was driving into the abyss. She had no control and no idea what was going to happen next.

Strangely she was okay with it. There was nothing else she was tethered to besides this car. Her consciousness was an abyss, and she was passing through.

The scraping noise got louder, and Tara closed her eyes, leaning her head back against the seat. She decided to let it swallow her whole.

She was safe in the darkness. It comforted her like an old friend, as that was all she had now. She wished that Sam could be with her.

But it was all over now.

——-

[brienneoftarth1989]

Blow

Miranda Hilmarson x fem reader

Summary: You’re out with your partner Miranda on a job. You have been sent to a house fire what has potentially been arson. Miranda could have sworn she heard a noise come from the house but you couldn’t hear what she was hearing. She decides to go in and worried for your partner decide to follow. While you’re both in the house the fire reaches a gas point and explodes causing half the house to get torn apart. You and Miranda escape but both end up hospitalised with serious burns and second hand smoke damage to your lungs.

Warnings: house fire, fire explosion, burns, hospital, potential loss of friend

Requests open

———————————

“All officers respond to 111 Bond Street. Suspected arson” you heard the radio announce as you quickly started the car and made your way to the scene of the crime.

“I wonder what this will bring?” Miranda said as she strapped herself in for the crazy ride through the city. “Who knows but we need to make sure we are on top of things. Until we get there the only thing we know is that there is a deliberate fire” you said blaring the sirens as you drove down the busy streets.

You continued to weave your way through the busy streets trying to get to the destination as quickly as possible. It took you about 10 minutes to get from your starting destination to the fire which was down by the coast. You parked the car up with the other first response cars before you both jumped out the car and made your way over to the other officers.

You and Miranda looked over to the block of flats that were currently engulfed in flames. The firefighters were doing their best to get the fire out but it was taking too much time. The two of you arrived at the group of officers to try and find out what was going on.

“So what is the status of the situation?” you asked the officers. “So as far as we are aware there is no one else left in the building. We have had two teams of firefighters in since we have arrived and no one else has been pulled out. We still have one team inside checking for anymore. However at this rate there is a good chance this building isn’t going to survive” one of the offices told you and Miranda.

“We believe even once the fire is out that structurally it won’t be safe and will need to be demolished which isn’t great news for the residents living here” another officer then chimed in.

“Ok so how do we know that this is suspected arson?” You asked one of the officers. “One of the residents could hear a load of commotion outside the front of the flat. They saw something get thrown into the main lobby of the building and before they even knew what was going the front of the building was engulfed in flames” they told you.

“So are you working on getting CCTV footage from the local area to work out if this definitely is arson?” You asked them. “Yeah, we have someone currently working on retrieving the footage to see if we can identify any of the suspects,” they told you.

While you and the other officers were talking about what was going on Miranda was just looking around the scene trying to understand what was going on. She has always found these types of crimes interesting but at the same time she was also looking around to see if anyone needed any help.

While she was looking around she heard a noise, maybe a voice coming from inside the building. She looked around to see if anyone else noticed but by the looks of things they didn’t. Miranda paid even closer attention trying to listen for the noise again to see if it was coming from inside the burning building.

“Help me!” She heard the voice weekly shout out. Miranda quickly ran over to you trying to get your attention as soon as possible. “Y/n, y/n! I think someone is still inside! I heard some shout for help” she quickly said as she grabbed your arm.

“That’s impossible. All the teams are out and they have confirmed no one else is in the building. You must be hearing things” one of the officers said to her. “I’m not. Please trust me and just listen for a moment” Miranda begged. Everyone went silent listening to the voice she was hearing.

“Help me” Miranda heard again. “There. Did you hear that? Please tell me one of you heard that” she pleaded with the officers. “I’m sorry Hilmarson but you are the only one hearing the voice” another officer laughed. At this point she was getting frustrated so walked away from the group.

“Why won’t they believe me?” She whispered to herself. She made her way back over to the building listening out again to make sure it wasn't all just in her head. “Please! Help me” this time the voice is much louder.

She couldn’t stand back and wait any longer. It was clear that no one else was going to go into the burning building so she knew it was all down to her. She ran over to the car to grab her torch and something to cover her mouth to try and reduce the chance of inhaling too much smoke.

Miranda made her way through the crowd and straight into the burning building. She did find it strange that no one had tried to stop her and even notice what she was doing. Just as Miranda entered the building you happened to turn around and just about catch her going inside.

“Oh for fuck sake!” You shouted as you ran over to the car to grab the essentials. “What is the matter? What happened?” One of the other officers asked you. “I just saw Miranda enter the burning building. She must still be hearing the voice and decided to check things out for herself” you explained to the officer.

“Ok and where do you think you’re going then?” They then asked you as they watched you sort out all of your stuff. “I’m going in after her!” You told them as you then pushed yourself through the crowd towards the building. “We can’t let you do that,” one of them said, turning to you.

“I don’t care. I’m going in. I’m not letting my partner get hurt because no one wanted to listen to what she was saying. If we get hurt then that’s on us. We know what we are doing and if we get hurt for our own actions then that is on us” you said before running inside leaving the group of men standing there as they watched you disappear into the smoke.

“Get a crew ready for when they come out. We don’t know what their condition will be like!” You heard one of them shout as their voices got quieter and quieter. “Miranda! Miranda! Can you hear me!” You shouted out to Miranda hoping that she would respond to you.

Nothing. Great, what were you going to do? “Miranda!” You screamed again. “Y/n?” You heard a voice scream back to you. “Where the fuck are you!” You screamed at her. “I’m two floors up. I found two kids!” You heard her respond.

To hear that she had found two kids made your heart race immediately. You were quick to make your way up the stairs before they caved in. Once on the same floor as Miranda you could shout to her again trying your best to follow the sound of her voice.

“I’m over here!” You heard her shout as her voice eventually got closer and closer. When you found her she was sitting on the floor cradling two young children trying her best to cover their mouths with the one scarf she had.

“I can’t carry them both! You’re going to have to give me a hand” she told you as she passed one of the children over to you. You looked down at both of the kids who were standing there in their Pyjamas. You quickly took your jacket off and covered the little girl with the piece of clothing.

“What are you doing?” Miranda asked. “She will get burnt. I’m protecting her. I suggest if you don’t want the little boy to end up burnt you do the same. They are too young to be covered in burn scars” you told Miranda before then covering the little girl's mouth with your scarf.

You were now completely exposed to the fire and its harsh smoke. “Come on Miranda. We don’t know how much longer this building can stay standing!” You shouted to her as you started to make your way back out the building.

The two of you carefully navigate your way back through the building trying your best to tread lightly hoping that the floor wouldn’t give up on you. As the two of you made your way through the smoky corridors you realised that the fire was getting dangerously close to one of the gas lines.

“Miranda, run and don’t stop!” You screamed to her as the two of you then quickly ran past the gas point and down one of the flights of stairs. Just as you reached the bottom you heard a massive explosion before the two of you were engulfed in a giant flame. You made sure the little girl you were carrying was still covered before you continued your way out of the building.

You turned to Miranda “are you ok?” You asked her. “Not really but I will be fine. Let’s just get out of here” she said as the two of you fought your way out of the building. You could finally see the light coming in the building from outside. The two of you quickly ran out to finally breathe fresh air.

Everything was happening so fast. You hand the child over to one of the officers before you fell to the ground. You were struggling to breathe and the only thing you could think about was how your skin felt so tight and sore. That was when the world went black.

You woke up a few days later in hospital. You could finally breathe a lot better but your arms were covered in bandages. You pressed the call button hoping that a doctor would come round and explain to you what has been happening. After about 10 minutes someone finally came round to you.

“Morning y/n. I see you are finally awake. You are most likely wondering what has happened to you” they said with a comforting voice. “Yeah. It would be nice if you could explain” you said in a raspy voice.

“So you are suffering from smoke inhalation. For the first few days you were here we had to intubate you but thankfully you started to improve so we moved you onto the oxygen mask which is what you're on now. You have a mix of second and third degree burns on your arms and legs and first degree burns on your face. We are changing your bandages regularly but you will most likely need a skin graft for some areas on your arms and legs” they told you.

You were trying your best to try and process everything that they just said. “And what about my partner? Miranda Hilmarson. She must have come in with me. How is she doing” you asked as that was the only thing you could think about at the moment.

The doctor walked over to the curtain that was separating you from the person next to you before pulling the curtain back. You were shocked to see Miranda also covered in bandages but still intubated. “Will she be alright?” You asked the doctor.

“It’s still early days. She was in the fire a lot longer so there is more damage. Everyone heals at different paces but it’s too early to say anything at this moment in time. If I were you I would keep talking to her. We don’t know if she can hear but it is worth trying. It might give her a reason to fight” the doctor told you before giving you some space so you could process everything.

You turned to look at Miranda. “I can’t lose you Miranda. I need you to fight” you whispered before breaking down into tears.

[jsdisposal]

House Demolition: A Comprehensive Guide to Safely and Efficiently Tearing Down a House

Demolishing a house is no small feat. Whether you're preparing to rebuild from the ground up, clear space for new development, or remove a hazardous structure, house demolition requires careful planning and execution. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the essential aspects of house demolition, from the reasons for demolition to safety considerations, and the demolition process itself.

What Is House Demolition?

The House demolition is the process of completely or partially tearing down a residential structure. This can be done for various reasons, including making room for a new building, removing unsafe structures, or clearing land. Depending on the scale and purpose, demolitions can range from taking down a single wall to completely razing an entire house.

Why Opt for House Demolition?

1. Structural Instability or Safety Concerns

One of the most common reasons for demolishing a house is the safety risks associated with its structural integrity. Older homes, or those damaged by natural disasters or neglect, may no longer be safe for occupants. In such cases, demolition may be the best solution to prevent accidents or collapse.

2. Renovations and Upgrades

Sometimes, homeowners opt for demolition when the cost of renovating or upgrading an old house exceeds the cost of starting fresh with a new build. By demolishing the existing structure, property owners can create a modern home tailored to their needs, without the limitations of an older layout or architecture.

3. Land Redevelopment

In areas experiencing economic or infrastructural growth, land redevelopment is a common reason for house demolition. Property developers may purchase older homes to demolish them and create space for new residential, commercial, or mixed-use developments.

4. Environmental Hazards

Homes containing asbestos, lead paint, or other hazardous materials may require demolition to eliminate health risks. In such cases, specialized demolition techniques and safety protocols are employed to ensure safe removal.

Types of House Demolition

Before proceeding with demolition, it’s important to choose the right type of demolition that fits your project’s needs. There are several demolition methods available depending on the size of the structure, the location, and other factors.

1. Manual Demolition

Manual demolition involves workers using hand tools and smaller machinery to dismantle a structure. It is typically reserved for smaller buildings or selective demolition projects, where only part of a house is removed (for example, tearing down an extension).

Best for:

Small projects

Selective demolition (like removing walls or specific sections)

Areas with limited access to heavy equipment

2. Mechanical Demolition

Mechanical demolition is the most common method used for tearing down houses. This involves the use of heavy machinery such as excavators, bulldozers, or wrecking balls to knock down the structure. Mechanical demolition is fast and efficient for full-scale house demolition.

Best for:

Large-scale projects

Full-house demolitions

Urban and suburban locations

3. Deconstruction

Deconstruction, also known as "green demolition," is a more environmentally friendly alternative. Instead of demolishing the entire house, materials such as wood, brick, and fixtures are carefully removed for recycling or reuse. While more time-consuming than traditional demolition, deconstruction is ideal for those looking to minimize waste.

Best for:

Environmentally-conscious projects

Maximizing salvageable materials

Minimizing landfill contributions

4. Implosion

Implosion is a rare technique used in densely populated areas for large structures like apartment buildings or skyscrapers. It involves strategically placing explosives inside the building to cause it to collapse inward. While it’s unlikely that a typical house would require implosion, the method is worth mentioning for larger structures.

Best for:

Very large buildings

Urban settings with tight space constraints

Steps Involved in House Demolition

Demolishing a house involves more than simply knocking down walls. Below is a step-by-step breakdown of the demolition process.

1. Obtain Necessary Permits

Before any demolition can begin, you must secure the appropriate permits from your local government. The permit process ensures that the demolition complies with local regulations, zoning laws, and safety standards. Be prepared to submit detailed plans of the project and pay permit fees.

2. Disconnect Utilities

For safety reasons, all utility connections must be properly disconnected before demolition. This includes:

Electricity

Water

Gas

Sewage

Failure to disconnect utilities can result in accidents, such as electrical shocks, gas leaks, or water damage.

3. Asbestos and Hazardous Material Inspection

If your home was built before the 1980s, it may contain asbestos, lead paint, or other hazardous materials. You are legally required to have the property inspected and abated (if necessary) before demolition. Specialized contractors will handle the removal of hazardous materials, ensuring the safety of both workers and the surrounding community.

4. Hire a Licensed Demolition Contractor

Choosing the right demolition contractor is crucial for a safe and successful project. Look for contractors who are licensed, insured, and experienced in the type of demolition you require. You should obtain multiple quotes and ensure that the contractor follows local regulations and safety standards.

5. Prepare the Site

Before demolition can begin, you’ll need to prepare the site. This might include:

Erecting safety barriers or fencing to protect neighboring properties

Clearing the surrounding area of furniture, vehicles, and other valuables

Creating designated entry and exit points for workers and machinery

6. Demolition Process

Once everything is in place, the actual demolition can begin. Depending on the demolition method, this may involve heavy machinery, manual labor, or controlled explosives. The structure will be dismantled carefully, with debris either sorted for recycling or hauled away.

7. Debris Removal

Post-demolition, the site must be cleared of all debris. Your demolition contractor will typically handle this process, either by trucking debris to a landfill or recycling facility. In some cases, reusable materials may be salvaged and sold.

Safety Considerations During House Demolition

Demolishing a house poses numerous safety risks, which is why strict precautions must be followed at all times. Here are some key safety guidelines:

1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

All workers on-site should wear the appropriate protective gear, including hard hats, gloves, goggles, and steel-toed boots. Respirators may also be necessary if hazardous materials like asbestos are present.

2. Hazardous Materials

Asbestos, lead, and mold are common hazards in older homes. Always conduct a thorough inspection before demolition to identify and safely remove any toxic substances.

3. Fall Hazards

Falls from ladders, roofs, or other elevated areas are a major cause of injuries during demolition. Scaffolding and safety harnesses should be used when necessary to prevent falls.

4. Machinery Safety

Heavy equipment such as bulldozers and excavators should only be operated by trained professionals. Maintaining a clear line of communication and establishing safe zones can reduce the risk of accidents.

5. Public Safety

Demolition sites should be properly fenced off to prevent unauthorized access. Clear signage and safety barriers help ensure that pedestrians and neighbors are protected from flying debris or accidents.

Costs of House Demolition

The cost of house demolition varies based on several factors, including the size of the structure, location, and the type of demolition method used. On average, house demolition costs range from $5,000 to $15,000 for a standard-sized house.

Factors That Influence the Cost:

House size: Larger homes naturally require more work and higher costs.

Location: Demolition in urban areas may be more expensive due to logistical challenges and permits.

Material disposal: Dumping fees and waste removal can add to the overall cost.

Hazardous material removal: Asbestos or lead removal can significantly increase the price.

House Demolition vs. Renovation: Which Is Right for You?

For homeowners debating between demolishing or renovating an old house, it's essential to weigh the pros and cons of each. Renovation may be a cost-effective way to update a home while preserving its original character. However, if structural issues or high renovation costs make repairs impractical, demolition might be the better long-term option.

House Demolition:

Pros: Total design freedom for a new home, removes safety hazards, faster process than extensive renovations.

Cons: Higher upfront cost, emotional impact (if the house has sentimental value), temporary relocation needed.

House Renovation:

Pros: Less disruptive, preserves historical or sentimental features, often less expensive than new construction.

Cons: Hidden structural issues can arise, potential for prolonged project timelines, and limited design flexibility.

Conclusion

House demolition is a complex yet necessary process for many property owners. Whether you're clearing land for redevelopment, removing a dangerous structure, or starting fresh with a new build, understanding the demolition process is essential for a successful project. By choosing the right demolition method, following safety protocols, and working with experienced professionals, you can ensure a smooth and efficient demolition experience.

[eretzyisrael]

In a statement, the IDF said:

IDF troops have secured control over Hamas’ “Elite Quarter” in the center of Gaza City, including the area of the ‘Palestine Square’, from where Hamas’ administrative and military leadership operated. The complex includes a large network of tunnels that connects terrorist hideouts, bureaus, and residential apartments belonging to Hamas’ senior leadership. This complex, both above and below ground, was a center of power for Hamas’ military and political wings. In recent weeks, the 401st Brigade in the 162nd Division, along with forces from the Shaldag Unit, Shayetet 13 and the Yahalom Unit have been operating in the area of Rimal in Gaza City, where ‘Palestine Square’ is located. The forces carried out a combined and coordinated offensive on ‘Palestine Square’ and took operational control over the area. Over the last few days, the area was completely secured. During the battles to secure the area, IDF forces eliminated approximately 600 terrorists in both ground and aerial operations. ‘Palestine Square’ was a center of Hamas’ military rule and is surrounded by buildings that served as command and control centers, terror tunnel shafts and strategic buildings belonging to the organization. This military infrastructure was located in the direct vicinity of commercial stores, government buildings, civilian residences, and a designated school for deaf children. The square is the center of the strategic tunnel network, of some of Hamas leadership’s strongholds and connects to the underground infrastructure in the area of ​​the Rantisi Hospital and the Shifa Hospital.  After securing the area, a “sweep and clear” operation revealed the underground terrorist city which is part of Hamas’ tunnel system and includes a strategic tunnel route connected to other significant underground infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. Tunnel shafts leading to the network of tunnels are located in the residences and offices of senior officials and allow for a covert descent through designated elevators and stairs. This enabled Hamas operatives to both escape and remain in hideouts for extended periods. The underground tunnel network includes blast doors and hideouts. In some cases, food products, water, and electrical infrastructure were found that allowed for prolonged stays. This network was used by the organization’s senior officials, Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar, Muhammad Deif, and others, to direct Hamas’ operational activity. It was also used for protected daily movement through the heart of Gaza City. In the vicinity of these buildings, Hamas established a specialized workshop for digging and building the underground network. A tunnel shaft used for logistics and tunnel construction equipment including tunnel walls and concrete arches that make up the tunnel ceilings, were found inside the workshop. Next to the workshop is a shaft 20 meters deep, with descending spiral stairs, as well as a blast door and forks in the tunnel’s pathway. The tunnel shaft was demolished by explosives embedded by Hamas there, and numerous weapons and technological devices were found nearby.

Palestine Square was used by Hamas to parade the bodies of dead Israelis, and to film propaganda videos involving terrified Israeli hostages before they were released, often with the acquiescence of the Red Cross. Israeli soldiers lit Hanukkah candles in the square earlier this month as a statement of defiance against Hamas’s atrocities.

[girlinlotsoffandoms]

day twenty nine - fallen

notes: we’ve made it guys! Two months later than originally intended but we’re finally at the last chapter! Thank you all for the continued support as this febwhump saga became Marwhump and ultimately whumpril 😅

This chapter is taken from a current WIP of mine that will hopefully one day see the light of day. Enjoy!

read on AO3 or below

Firehouse 51 had been one of three stations that responded to a gas main explosion that caused a partial collapse of an apartment building. Fifty-one had been tasked with searching for and evacuating any remaining tenants while the other houses worked to extinguish the flames.

The damage was devastating, and Kelly knew, as he weaved through the debris in the hallways, there was no saving the building. It was going to be condemned if not demolished. There was a small silver lining—the explosion happened in the middle of a workday, meaning most of the tenants were at work or school. The few residents that were still in the building were elderly or retirees.

The only downside was, according to the building manager, they were scattered over different floors and a few were in the direct path of the explosion.

Severide was clearing a unit on the second floor, almost directly over the site of the explosion when he found a victim. The victim was elderly and had clearly been thrown by the shockwave. They were obviously injured but the rescue would be dangerous, even getting into the apartment would be dangerous. The structural integrity of the building was lacking in the undamaged parts of the complex but in the area directly affected by the explosion? It was abysmal. If he was going to save this victim, Kelly knew he had to work smart and work fast.

“Fire department! Can you hear me?” Kelly yelled.

The response was muffled, but Kelly could hear it clearly. “I’m here! I need help!”

“I hear you! I’m coming to get you!” Kelly yelled back then radioed Boden about the victim and requested assistance. Severide heard Cruz say he was on his way over the radio and he took that as his sign to enter the apartment.

Severide made his way over to the victim, an older man as he came to find out, and from first glance it was clear that Severide wouldn’t be able to get the victim out himself. The man, Victor as he introduced himself, had a piece of metal protruding from his abdomen. There was minimal blood loss which meant the metal was acting as a stopper, keeping him from possibly bleeding out.

The scene was too precarious to allow Gabby and Brett inside so Severide (and Cruz whenever he showed up) would have to find a way to get Victor outside without moving the metal in him.

“Hang in there Victor. I’m just waiting for my teammate and then we’ll get you out of here.”

Victor nodded and Kelly worked to get the remaining debris off and keep him calm.

Voices from the others filtered through the radio: information on the search, updates on extinguishing the fire, but more urgently, the call from Boden to evacuate the building—the building was unstable and they needed to get out.

The order came just as Cruz arrived at the door to the apartment. Severide stood up to call him over, but he never even got a chance to say the words. The floor gave way, taking Kelly and Victor with it.

—

Kelly was greeted with blinding pain in his head and led when he came to. He'd lost consciousness in the fall but didn't know how long he was out. It couldn’t have been too long as dust and debris were still settling around them. A cough, which quickly turned into a groan, from his left captured his attention. Kelly turned and saw Victor just a few feet away.

Their situation was bad, but the most alarming part of it was the rapidly growing bloodstain on Victor’s shirt. The metal shard had moved during their fall. Victor was bleeding out— he was dying.

Kelly moved to crawl over to him but was stopped short by the blinding pain in his leg. He bit back a scream, and it took several shuddering breaths before Kelly steeled himself enough to continue the agonizing crawl forward.

Time felt like it was standing still as Kelly slowly inched closer to Victor, but he eventually made it to the other man’s side. Victor’s eyes were closed, screwed shut in pain, and his chest was moving, signaling he was still alive. As Severide’s eyes focused on the blood stain on Victor’s shirt, and the dark pool growing around them, he knew there was a very real possibility Victor wouldn’t stay that way for long.

“Victor? You with me?” Kelly asked, rubbing a fist roughly on the other man’s sternum. He only stopped when he heard the man groan. “Come on Victor, open your eyes.”

It took a few minutes, but Victor was finally able to open his eyes. He turned his attention to Kelly. “What happened?”

“The floor gave out on us,” Kelly answered distractedly as he grabbed a nearby piece of cloth and pressed it hard against Victor’s wound. At Victor’s pained yell, Severide pressed a little harder. “Sorry but the fall caused the shard to move. You’re bleeding pretty badly.”

Victor moved his head slightly and saw the blood. He groaned. “I haven’t seen that much blood since ‘Nam.”

“Hey! Victor! Help’s on the way so you gotta stay with me.” Kelly yelled as Victor’s eyes closed again. “Keep talking. Tell me about the Army?”

“Marines. Got a medical discharge after my unit ended up on the wrong side of an ambush.” Victor was quiet, thoughtful, for a moment. “I lost some good friends that day.”

Kelly was the one quiet this time. He knew loss like that as well. “I’m sorry to hear that. And I know you probably hear this all the time, but thank you for your service.”

Victor hummed in acknowledgment and Kelly could see him fading. Still holding pressure on Victor’s wound, Kelly looked around, almost praying for his team to appear and save them. When they didn’t, Kelly pressed harder. “Come on Victor… How’d you end up in the Marines? Family business?”

“Far from it,” Victor huffed out a laugh. “My old man wanted me to follow in his footsteps, groomed me from birth to take over one day. I tried it and it was fine….I was good at it but it wasn’t enough. You know? I wanted to do more, to be more.”

“One of my buddies enlisted and I decided to join him. Pops was mad—boy I’ve never seen him so angry. Everything I’d ever known, my family, my friends, my future, it was all up in the air but joining up was the best decision I ever made. I made my own path. I fought in two wars and I lost a lot, don’t get me wrong, but I found myself and a lot more along the way.”

Kelly didn’t say anything, couldn’t say anything, he just listened. Victor’s story was hitting him harder than the man could’ve known.

Victor kept talking but it was clear he was losing the fight. Kelly tried to keep him conscious and added more pressure to the wound, but the bleeding didn’t stop.

Victor’s eyes closed for the last time just moments before the rest of 51 made it through the rubble to rescue them.

[autisticsupervillain]

It's Fictional Throwdown Friday!

This Week's Fighters...

Saron vs Tom Hansen!

Conditions:

No Restrictions

Scenario:

Saron has finally returned with his vampire army ready to take over the world. The government sends Tom Hansen to stop him.

Analysis: Hansen

The ocean depths are a mysterious and dangerous place. At the lowest survivable levels of Earth's surface, strange creatures straight out of Lovecraft's nightmares evolved to survive the dark, cold, crushing depths of the ocean floor. And humanity was about to unearth some of its most dangerous creatures.

In the coldest parts of the Atlantic Ocean, Russian oil diggers discovered a new form of life within the ice they were mining. Exocels. Parasitic creatures that were completely uncategorized by existing scientific theories. Capable of overtaking the higher brain functions of their host and mutating them in response to dangerous external stimuli. Naturally, the crew of the Star of Sakhalin begain trying to weaponize these new creatures to sell for a profit. Predictably, it didn't work out. The ship was quickly overrun by mutant zombies and a distress call was sent out.

The call was answered by Tom Hansen, an officer of the United States Coast Guard who really wants to be Leon Kennedy. He and his crew were sent to rescue everyone on board, only to find everyone already dead or zombified. Narrowly surviving the massacre of his crew, Tom was left alone on the ship as the only thing stopping the Exocels from falling into the shadowy hands of the CIA.

Luckily, Hansen comes equipped with every weapon a survival horror protagonist could ever need. He comes decked out with the usual affair of pistols, shotguns, and automatic weapons, each laser scoped to ensure perfect accuracy. Even his standard M1911A1 can completely pop a human’s skull like it was made from confetti, to say nothing of his MP5, AK47, and Benelli M4. But all of that pales in comparison to his sawed off M79 Grenade Launcher to blow apart any Exomutant that gets hit by it, even shredding through Exo zombies that evolved specifically to withstand bullets and fire arms.

Tom would quickly adapt against the rapidly evolving Exocels, using a modified harpoon gun whose harpoons emitted a protein gas, allowing his shots to distract Exocels with delicious smelling harpoons. Perfect for luring them into a trap or grouping them together for a grenade. Hansen has fought through squadrons of Russian mercenaries, defeated invisible Exocel zombies, dodged a steel door that was blasted at him by an explosion, and survived getting infected by an Exocel that tried to eat him alive from the inside out twice.

With nothing but raw wit, determination, and witty one liners, Tom rigged the entire ship to blow with C4 and faced down the man behind the entire disaster. Kamsky, the mad scientist turned sentient Exomutant out to replace humanity with his zombified master race. Kamsky is strong enough to completely demolish a metal bridge just by jumping right through it, generating an energy equivalent to 397,700 kilojoules.

Source:

Ultimately, Hansen defeated Kamsky, blowing the Star of Sakhalin to pieces and exterminating the Exocel threat once and for all.

Analysis: Saron

Eternal Evil is a 2022 Resident Evil clone with vampires instead of zombies.

6000 years ago, the vampire king Saron ruled the earth and used humans as cattle to feed vampires. Alukar, a vampire who liked humans, decided this was fucked and helped start a human revolution. Saron got so mad about this that he turned into a tree(?) and turned the Earth's oceans into a blood(??). This escalated the conflict so badly that now all vampires are dead.

Decades later, in the year 2001, a group of vampire cultists resurrected Saron's minion Safar, who begain scheming his master's resurrection. To this end, he murders the wife and daughter of Cross, the local hotel manager, manipulating him with the resurrection of his daughter if he turns his hotel into a feeding ground to turn guests into vampiric minions. With Saron resurrected with blood and a vampiric plague spreading across the city, local cops Marcus and Hank team up to put a stop to the nightmare.

As the strongest of all vampires, Saron has all the powers you'd expect of a vampire king. He can fly with gigantic bat wings, tear you apart with superhuman strength, survive and regenerate from normallu fatal injuries, such as numerous headahots, and turn you into a vampire by drinking your blood. More over, vampire blood is infectious. Not only will any human who drinks it get turned into a mindless ghoul, but animals exposed with mutate into giant beasts with near human levels of intelligence. And, of course, vampires can be resurrected just by exposing them to human blood.

Saron is tough enough to defeat a revived Alukar in single combat and is stronger than his minion Safar, who is fast enough to dodge bullets and tough strong enough to punch through solid stone walls, which would require roughly 148,018 kilojoules.

Source:

Of course, he also has the standard vampire weaknesses. He requires blood to survive, silver weapons will completely vaporize him, and.... he has a conspicuous red glowing weakspot on his chest? Specific.

Eventually, Marcus would defeat the evil overlord, avenging Hank and becoming a vampire himself to defend humanity alongside Alukar. But, there was some complexity to this evil overlord. Saron genuinely believed that vampires and human healthily co-existed, with vampires keeping humans in line, preventing us from destroying ourselves in his own eugenicist philosophy.

Eventually, as humanity fell into a capitalist dystopia, Marcus would agree with his fallen foe, turning his back on humanity to rule them himself. Even long dead, Saron's dream of vampire supremacy lives on.

Also, Hank's backstory involves him failing to kill Osama Bin Laden and thereby allowing 9/11 to happen. This is mentioned once in an audio log and never comes up again. It's just there and sticks out like a sore thumb in an otherwise unremarkable vampire B movie plot.

Throwdown Breakdown:

A simple fight between two simple characters.

While Saron definitely has the skill advantage on paper, there are a few things holding him back here. Saron was a vampire king for a long time, he fought a hundred year war against other vampires for control of his kingdom.... but most of his fights are against either other vampires or pre historic humans. Against modern humand with modern weaponry, he struggles to adapt and cope.

Conversely, while a vampire king may sound like something Hansen's never fought before, all of Saron's powers are something he's seen before from the Exocel zombies. Regeneration, infection, flight, and mutation are all common abilities among the Exocel infested. This means that Saron would struggle against Hansen just as much as did against Marcus for roughly the same reasons, while Hansen is if anything better prepared for this fight than the Eternal Evil protagonists were. Guy who fights zombies and monsters is better equipped than guy who *checks notes* failed to kill Osama Bin Laden.

This just gets more definitive when you consider Tom's stat advantage, with roughly comparable speeds and a 2.6x strength advantage. Sure, Tom's lack of silver bullets means Saron could eventually be revived, sure, but he'd still solidly win the fight.

As for the whole "turning into a tree" thing, it's suggested that Saron can't do that anymore after being dead for thousands of years, so any god tier amp from the Tree of Vampires is outside the scope of this fight.

This Throwdown's Winner is...

Tom Hansen!