#t: armageddon (boss rush)

[vgtrackbracket]

Video Game Track Bracket Round 3 (Three-Way Poll)

Black Tar from Xenoblade Chronicles X

vs.

Diego Brando Battle from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Eyes of Heaven

vs.

Armageddon (Boss Rush) from The Binding of Isaac: Repentance

No propaganda was submitted for any of the tracks.

If you want your propaganda reblogged and added to future polls, please tag it as propaganda or otherwise indicate this!

[goodoldfashiondemon]

Choices

This concept came to me in a rush and really needed to write it down. I don¡t know if it is a theory, a fanfic or just rambling, but is something and here it is.

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When the concept of “choice” first presented to him, the supernatural entity now knows as “Crowley” choose what it can be called “a wrong one”, because he hang out with the wrong people at the time the choice had to be made.

Immediately after that, the concept of “consequences” and its relation with the concept of “choice” was presented to him. Since that day, he decided that, if in need, he was going to take the right choice every time. 

Short after, he was sent to The Garden of Eden with a simple task: make some trouble. He remembered the awful trouble the concept of “choice” bring upon him, so he decided that if he was going to make trouble, best doing it with style.

He gave Eve an idea. The idea that take the apple was a choice she could make. And that it was a good idea. “Is just an apple, really” he said to her, smooth and subtle “you could take it if you want to”. He didn’t put the apple on Eve’s hand. He didn’t shove the fruit down Eve’s mouth. It was all hers doing, her decisions, her choices. Or at least that what he thought, once the job was done.

Later that day, he looked up at the Eastern Gate and saw a with figure, and the concept of choice now came to him without someone actually telling him what were his choices. He just knew: choice nº1, slither up; choice nº2, slither back to Hell. Then again, the consequences of “choosing Hell” gave him shivers, and up he went.

When he was close enough, he saw that the white figure was an angel, and a choice presented to him again: keep his demonic form and strike (the angel looked like he wasn’t awake of his presence) or take his human form and strike. Just because the second one remembered less of Hell, he decided for that. And with that little choice, he met Aziraphale. Hi didn’t strike thou, because the angel talked to him about giving away his flaming sword. The ethereal being showed the same sorrow as him when facing the consequences of his own choices, so he felt they weren’t that different. 

Later in their life, Crowley understood something very important about the angel: Aziraphale was as bad, or maybe worse than him taking choices. But not because he didn’t know how to take them, but because of his fear of Heaven. And who could’ve blame him, really.

Upon that realisation, another choice came at him without someone verbalised it: he could teach the angel how choices really work, help him understand the concept and all, or he could leave him be, after all, he was the opposition. 

He decided that enough occult beings suffered because of not understanding the concept of choice, and since then, he tried very hard to be the “voice of reason” around the angel, verbalising the choices for him every time they presented.

The first ever choice he verbalised for Aziraphale was The Agreement. It took him some time, but the angel ended up choosing it. Crowley felt a mixed of feelings because of it: first, he was proud, of course, he made an angel take a bad choice. But was it bad, really, if it made him feel so warm inside?

He went on with it, presenting Aziraphale choices here and there. It sticks to him that the angel always ended up choosing the ones that, on the demon’s mind, kept him away from Heaven’s path, and wasn’t that craftsmanship?

Aziraphale is a clever angel, and took at this all “choices deal” of the demon fairly quickly, but he enjoyed Crowley’s company too much. That’s why he kept letting the demon presented him choices, even thought they scared him to his very Grace. 

Armageddon is upon them, and he has an idea. But he knows the stubborn angel, so he has to presented it to him like it was his choice. Yet again, not without a fight, the angel took the choice that kept him away from his Head Office, but this time it also kept him near Crowley.

The demon presented the angel yet another choice, eleven years later: “you could kill the Antichrist yourself” he said “one life against all the earthly things you enjoy”. But this time, Aziraphale doesn’t make the choice that Crowley thinks is the right one. He tries to convince him twice and fail.

And then, the reminder of the consequences of the big bad choice he made so many time ago strikes him, and he is not having it. If he can’t stop the Armageddon, then he is not going to be there when all started, so he chooses to leave. And Aziraphale made a really pointed remark, with troubled manners. “You can’t leave Crowley, there isn’t anywhere to go”. But that’s not true. And Crowley hopes that, if he presented another choice to the angel, this time he would accepted. “Is a big universe ! We can go off together”. But Aziraphale is deep into the thing that keeps troubling him relentlessly since Eden: The Fear of Heaven. He yelled the demon how opposite are their sides in this whole situation and end up alone in the bandstand, his own words echoing on his mind. “It’s over”. But, as it turns out, is far from over.

The thing is, in that moment, Aziraphale is the one presented with choices that are not verbalised, but is so new he can’t understand it well the first time. He thought that his choices were either do something to avert the Apocalypse or not doing something. He tries with Gabriel, thinking that presenting him the choice of “no need for a war” is enough. As it turns out, convinced beings into making the choices that he wants them to make is harder than Crowley portrayed. This all “choosing deal” is becoming a real pain in his mind. He doesn’t need to choose, does he?

The thing is, he doesn’t want to choose, because he knows that the choice that feels right for him is no the one that is expected Above. Human make choices, not angels. Angels are there to make sure that humans can make choices, and if there is no Earth then there is no place for the human to make choices.

And now is Heaven who talks about choosing sides to him, and he can’t deal with it right now, because the first person that presented that choice just told him that he was going to Alpha Centauri, not even thinking about him.

He is certain that the pure source of free will could help him if he can reach it. If he explain to Her that the Earth has the sole propose to be the material place so people can take choices, maybe She can help him stop all this nonsense. But, as it turns out, Crowley was right. She is not talking to any of them.

And then, he hears his choices clearly now: avert the Apocalypse alone or with Crowley. The choice is pretty simple this time. He reached the right people this time, but something is happening in the other end and now Sergeant Shadwell is on his bookshop and Fuck he is discorporating now. Making a mess of things because he couldn’t choose Crowley sooner.

Crowley runs to the angel that finally chooses him, found the bookshop in flames and that’s it. He doesn’t have anything worth choosing for. He only has all this flames, reminders of his baddest choice he ever took, and a single book hardly touch by them. He took it as a memento. “Do not to forget what drag you into this; Do not forget what you lose for this”. Because of course those are consequences of his bad choice. He didn’t choose to be a demon. He didn’t choose to be bad. He didn’t choose to be in the wrong side. But he did made a bad choice, and now he has to suffer the consequences, once again.

But then Aziraphale is there, sort to speak, and he is asking for his help. He doesn’t present a choice, he present a plan. Just like him, eleven years ago, but with a difference: it doesn’t involved their occult and ethereal nature, it only needs for Crowley to be there, by the angel side.

The demon doesn’t need to be asked twice. Because he believes in the angel. And that believed gives him the sheer willpower to drive a car through hellfire with only a flaming perfectly driving car as a result. 

He made it to the angel’s side and the car gave up on him, making this situation a bit too much, but he chooses to get over it quickly because the angel needs him.

And this is it. Aziraphale, in a woman’s body, is ready to kill the Antichrist and if he just get along with it so they can go back to London and drink all their fathers out. 

But the human interferes and now the kid is bringing the angel back, because is wrong to be two people in one body it seams. But the important thing is that the angel is now on his side. Even thought there is no way to stop the war, at least they tried to stop it together.

And then there is not war. The Antichrist, as human as he can possibly be, made the choice to not start the war. Is commendable, of course, but Heaven and Hell want the war, and there they are, their bosses, talking about The Great Plan and the destiny of this little brat...

Until Aziraphale takes the stage. Did he just said “ineffable”? Crowley can’t believe his ears. What’s with that word any-.

And then it hits him again. Aziraphale chose his side. And now he is trying to use that clever mind of him to protect the place that this side is based. But is not only Aziraphale’s side, is it? Is their side now. And he would do anything to keep it as safe as possible. Even stop time.

Later that day, after Adam and the all “you are not my dad” to Satan, the sides came again. The last straw of power that Heaven has around Aziraphale’s heart. Crowley doesn’t want to push it, and simply said “neither of us have a side anymore”. 

They have to make a choice now, a real big one. “Chooses your face wisely” says the prophecy.

In the End, it all comes down to choices. God herself understood it that way the instant She saw her fallen children, because one of them wasn’t falling as much as saunter vaguely downwards. And when one of Her brightest children gave away the weapon She procured to guard a Garden that was not longer needed, She came to the realisation that this two apparently opposite beings were going to be a great deal on Her Ineffable Plan.  

Because She knew that, when the time comes, that special pair would make the right choice. 

[xleeingthetyran-blog]

  Ever the eternal optimist aren't you Sharrady?

I Could say the same of your pessimism Mistress. Having second thoughts? 

No Of course not  It`s just...

Mistress Death sighs in ageless frustration.

All  Mortals have done is find ways to destroy themselves. I mean Fighting? Killing? It`s practically second nature for them. Even two centuries after their self made Armageddon and they haven`t changed. Yet your love for them is unwavering. Now I`m left asking what makes them worthy of such devotion?

Because in life there will always be a struggle. Such is the nature of things. But in Life, there is also hope and happiness.   People are much the same.  True some may fall short of their potential. But just because someone stumbles and loses their way doesn't mean they`re lost forever. Sometimes we all just need a little help. My faith in them doesn't ignore all that they are but instead sees all they can be. So no my optimism is not blind faith. I just refuse to ignore the good in them.

Always the virtuous one Sister.

 Death chuckles sarcastically concealing admiration for her Sibling with a weary pessimistic tone as an Ominous black portal materialized in front of the two deities. A cold wind blows past them hinting at the snow-capped mountains that lay beyond its veil as two figures stepped out from it.  Death smiles beckoning to the two figures who step forward the shadow of the portal peeling away revealing the figures to be  Oriri and Ciri the two of them then bow in respect to her.

~What would you ask of us, My Lady?

Oriri  and Ciri look  up to Death

Death follows life. Just as Spring follows winter. One balances the other. As Nature Intended.  But now this war threatens to extinguish the last few flickers of life in this world.  This cannot be allowed to occur.  Life must be protected. And that is your task.   This Conflict spreads from East to West.  Thus to cover both fronts each of you will take one.  One will go East to assist Array and the Humans there against the Serans. The other will contend with the Seran Horde  Westward.   I realize what I ask of you is far from an easy task but it is necessary.  Now I ask who goes where?

The Mistress produces  two glowing  stones from her cloak

^I`ll take the West Mistress.

~That just leaves me with Array then always good meeting new people.

Oriri smiles tapping her Warhammer against the ground in anticipation While Ciri runs a hand along her shortsword impatiently.  Death smiles proudly watching her children for a moment before giving them each a glowing stone.

These will start you on your path but the rest is up to you. Good luck my children.

Death Embraces Oriri and Ciri tightly nearly tearing up before releasing them as the two crush the stones waving farewell to each other one last time just as they are engulfed in flames and disappear in a puff of smoke.

Always knew you still had a heart in there deep down.

The Goddess laughs playfully punching Death in the Shoulder.  Death ignores her looking up to the sky wearily, Wiping her face of a few tears...

Don`t lose heart Sister you've already shown them they can achieve anything.    Now you just have to let them see for themselves.

I...I see. Thank you.

You`ll see them again soon.

 As you say One can only hope...

"Sometimes that`s all you need" The Goddess grins and with a snap of her fingers she, Mistress Death, Ede, Carol, and Stan are enveloped in Arcane blue flames before vanishing into the smoke to the Goddesses realm for her plans next stage.  As the first battle for the East reaches its bloody conclusion...

Sunlight barely penetrates the smoke and dust circulating above the raging battlefield know as the Castle. The echoing roar of gunfire and laser musket beams rang throughout the fort as Minutemen came to blows with Gnash`s men. Musket fire blasts  Sharkarr off the Fort`s Walls vaporizing their flesh and bones. The battle growing increasingly chaotic as Minutemen and the Claws clash with Gnash`s forces.  The Claws advance on the Sharkarr their claws rending them apart in a spectacularly bloody fashion, the mangled remains of Sharkarr being vicious examples of their "Deathclaw" Monkier. 

Minutemen take up the rear behind them opening fire on the advancing  Sharkarr filling the air with lead and red hot laser fire leaving numerous charred, bullet-ridden corpses in their wake their advance seeming to tip the scales in their favor against the Sharkarr.   Alas, they and Gnash would not go quietly with the distant yet booming roar of the massive Sharkarr beast as it grapples with Deathclaws and the enraged snarling of advancing  Sharkarr Serans being indications that their fight is far from over...

Meanwhile, Gnash and Array continue wrestling tooth and claw along the ground with Gnash emerging the victor pinning Array by the neck under his vice-like grip his claws digging into her neck drawing blood. 

-I`d consider this a mercy traitor at least more than the Queen would give you.

Gnash smirks cruelly displaying his ghastly maw of sharp yellowed teeth picking up his ax raising it high above Array`s head preparing to separate it from her shoulders.  Array manages to free an arm frantically reaching for her dagger, She then stabs Gnash through the lower jaw eliciting a pained growl from him as he loosens his grip. Array follows up with a blow to Gnash`s jaw with the dagger`s knuckle duster knocking him off along with a few of his teeth. He recoils back for a moment before regaining his footing spitting a few bits of bloody teeth fragments out a frustrated snarl emanating from him as he stalks back over to Array slowly getting to her feet dagger at the ready. 

-A spirited effort but it will not save you.  Losing a few teeth is hardly fatal.

Then enjoy choking on the rest...

Array growls tensing up in preparation for Gnash`s charge gripping the dagger tightly between her fingers a bit of Gnash`s blood drips off the blade`s tip. 

-Hmph Defiant to the en-

Gnash began to laugh before a large stone hammer struck the side of his face knocking more teeth out in a spray of gore, his body slamming into one of the Castles stone walls the sound of fractured bone following soon afterward.

~Doubt he`ll be smiling anytime soon.  

The woman holding the stone hammer grinned glancing over at Gnash before turning back to Array casting a shadow over the woman towering over her as sunlight illuminated her rocky blue-grey skin and reflected off the sparse chainmail covering her form.

~Seems my timings impeccable.  I`m Oriri. 

The woman waves to Array who simply gives her a confused glance before picking up and throwing her Mauler shield at one of Gnash`s hunter`s charging at them embedding it in his chest. A gurgling sound escapes the hunter before he falls dead blood dripping from his mouth. 

~Right...  Introductions Later.  I`ll follow your lead then? 

Oriri cracks her knuckles readying her Warhammer. Array responds with a snort prying her shield from the hunter's corpse loading two shells into her sawed-off before rushing back into the fray.  "I`ll take that as a yes then!"  Oriri laughs enthusiastically following after Array.   A few feet away,  Nate, Preston, Glow Claw engage in fierce conflict with Ravvage and Gnash`s remaining forces,  Their resolve to butcher all the Castle`s defenders unwavering even in the face of The Deathclaws sudden appearance and Gnash`s apparent death, Furious Roars erupting from them in fact indicating renewed bloodlust in spite of these setbacks.

/Jesus! Their boss is dead and they`re still relentless assholes! 

Nate remarked breathlessly eyeing Gnash`s body in the distance while slamming a Sharkarr biting down on his arm into a wall stunning and breaking its jaw following with a laser rifle beam through the skull prying the now deceased Sharkarr`s jaws off his arm soon after. Across from him, Preston fires his laser musket taking a Seran`s head off leaving a charred headless corpse afterward before ducking to avoid returning fire from Ravvage. While Glow Claw tore into Sharkarr eviscerating them with its massive claws.  

/Preston!  Some Artillery would be good right now! 

Nate shouts firing into a Sharkarr`s legs knocking them out from under him before finishing it off with a brutal curb stomp crushing the Sharkarr`s head beneath his half-ton power-armored boot.  

'That`s a no go, General! Can`t fire we`d hit our people! We`re inside the fort!

Preston shouts  firing at Ravvage grazing his shoulder only managing to piss him off as he roared "Die Hominid!"  unloading his twin Sawed off `s at Preston`s head almost taking it off if Preston hadn`t ducked at the last moment the rounds instead shattering the wall behind him,  Ravvage growled agitated reloading his sawed offs taking aim again at Preston and Nate Shouting "For the Queen!" .  

/Oh, I got something for your Queen asshole!

Nate fired at Ravvage blasting a hole through his shoulder as he growls in pained rage dropping one of his sawed offs recoiling before firing back blowing off Nate`s helmet knocking him to the ground. Ravvage aims at his head preparing to finish him off.

|Your head will make a fine trinket homin-

Ravvage begins to growl until two twin blades pierce his back impaling and lifting him off the ground a gurgling sound escapes from him before he`s blown off the blades his remains showering Nate in a red mist of blood and viscera.  Nate wipes his face looking up to see Array, smoking bladed sawed off in hand who quickly helps him to his feet. 

/Oh God! I think some of his blood got in my mouth...

 Better his than yours!

Array fires another shell splitting an advancing Sharkarr in half before slashing another`s throat open with her sawed off`s blades finishing him off with a blast through the back of his head. Nate coughs up a bit of Ravvage`s blood and shakes his head vaporizing another Sharkarr advancing on Array. The two of them soon standing back to back engaging Gnash`s forces. 

Eventually, Array runs out of shells and switches to her mauler shield and a bolotok pistol taken from one of Gnash`s hunters. Which she uses to spectacularly grisly effect to take off the heads of advancing Serans while blocking shots from the rest of Gnash`s Hunters attacking her and Nate with her mauler shield caving in the skulls of any that got too close with the shield`s edge. 

 Across from them a Sharkarr pins Preston to the Ground looking to take off his head until its grabbed by the tail and slammed into a wall a stone Warhammer crushes its skull soon afterward.

~Get up my friend this is no place for a warrior to die. 

Oriri helps Preston to his feet dislodging her hammer from the Wall a bit of Sharkarr blood and grey matter still dripping from it.  Preston simply nods bewildered yet thankful for her sudden appearance and charges his musket blasting back an advancing Seran who Oriri finishes off with a swift strike to the skull.

~That`s Three for me!

Oriri exuberantly exclaimed knocking the Sharkarr`s corpse aside.  Preston then orders the remaining  Minutemen forces to focus fire on Gnash`s men. 

Red-hot Laser fire engulfed the Castle as the Minutemen like their forebearers volley fired their muskets at Gnash`s remaining forces reducing them all to charred bones and scorched ashes in short order.  Subsequently, the Sharkarr beast succumbs to the Deathclaws onslaught as they rip its throat out. The beast drops dead down its emergence hole soon afterward. With its death, the Castle finally fell silent signaling the battle`s end.  

/I... I think we won...

Nate exhales deeply injecting a stimpak into his bloody arm while Dogmeat licked his face overjoyed his owner was okay. Nate pats his velvety muzzle reciprocating his feelings. The remaining Castle forces let out a long overdue sigh of relief now moving to clean up the bodies,  tend to the wounded, bury their fallen, and get things back in order with Preston coordinating it all.  

Array slumps against a wall catching her breath for a moment a bloody mauler shield and smoking boltok in her hands while Oriri yanks her hammer from a Seran`s ribcage before depositing it in the pit of bodies the Minutemen had made.  

It is then coughing began to be heard, Array moves to investigate  Oriri and Nate follow close behind her. The two discover the source to be Gnash surprisingly still alive crawling away leaving a trail of blood behind coughing up more as he crawled along.  Array growls blasting one of his legs off, Gnash howls in pain stopping in his tracks while Array leans down to him all eyes in the Castle looking towards the commotion.  

What was that you said about beating all?  How`s that working for you writhing around like a maggot Gnash?

Array smirks looking Gnash in the eye who spits blood in hers in disgust. 

 -Your victory here means nothing.  My death matters not for I am one of many. For every one of us, you kill a thousand more of these humans will die by our hands. Their blood will flood the earth and then you will be flayed screaming like the damned harlot you are. You know I speak the truth Array. For our name is Horde and we are many with Vengeance!

Gnash snarled spraying blood in Array`s face his time with the living nearing its end.   

Well, Gnash your right about one thing. 

-And what might that be? Traitor?

You`re just carrion for maggots to feed on. Nothing more. So you're right you don`t matter.

 Array coldly proclaims unhinging her sawed off `s barrels wrapping it around Gnash`s neck and then with a sudden twist of the wrist she crushes and snaps his neck blood pulsating out from it soon afterward.

/Well, that was dramatic. 

~Indeed...

Nate and Oriri watch Array free her Sawed-off from Gnash`s neck and then rummage through his remains for supplies. Meanwhile, the Minutemen go back to work while Preston walks over to Nate and Oriri leaning on his musket to catch his breath.  

/So you ever going to tell us your name or what your doing here Hammer Lady?

~Of Course!  I`m Oriri and Mistress Death tasked me with your People`s and Array`s protection. 

/Death itself Huh?  Well, that`s a first wouldn`t more corpses be like Christmas for her?

~It`s true that my Mistress dominion is death. but that doesn`t mean she wishes life`s flame extinguished completely. Which she fears will be this war's end if there is no intervention.  After all, there can be no death without life. Put simply I`m here to help in any way I can.

/Well I guess it`s my job to welcome you to the Commonwealth Oriri, I`m Nate and that`s Preston and Dogmeat.  We could always use more people.

Nate shakes Oriri`s hand not inquiring any deeper into her origins simply thankful for the assistance having accepted all manner of Wasteland insanity ever since he left Vault 111. Preston nods listening to her Dogmeat laying next to his feet. 

It is then that the Minutemen's third in command Ronnie Shaw, an elderly female clad in Military Fatigues gripping a gauss rifle wrapped in the organization `s flag between her fingers walked over to Nate, Oriri, and Preston face appearing to fume with anger. 

\General, If you`re inviting any future guests some early notice would be damn appreciated!

Ronnie stated irritated at the Castle`s state after Gnash`s attack looking around at the smoke and bodies.

/Sorry Ronnie next time you`ll be the first to know.

\Don’t say sorry just don`t do it again!

/No worries Ronnie I promise. 

Nate smiles to her and her eyes narrow disapprovingly as Array comes up from behind Nate reading a bloodstained piece of paper picked off Gnash`s body.

~I mourn for your losses. Do you need any help with Burials? 

Oriri puts a hand on Ronnie`s shoulder in sympathy.  "This is my fault." Array sighed looking up from the paper glancing around the bodies of the Castle`s defenders her face racked with guilt over their fates. Ronnie shakes her head not wanting to hear any of it. 

\No, it`s alright you two killing those scaly bastards is more than enough for me. That goes double for you Missy. 

Ronnie grins punching Array`s shoulder pushing another Sharkarr corpse into the growing pit of them.  Array nods picking up another dropping it in the pit after her. 

Sorry Ronnie but we can`t stay here. Nate, I have something to show you. 

Array sighs calling Nate over to her holding the bloodstained note up for him to see revealing it to be a proclamation from the Queen for her capture and execution.  She tenses up now realizing Gnash couldn`t have been working alone. And that her sister Izzy has a similar scent to her. Which meant her and anyone near her were now in imminent danger.  "Well Shit,"  Nate exclaimed reading over the note reaching the same conclusion.  

/Array, don`t worry she`s probably fine.  Besides, Damascus, Elise, Dom, Black, and Kirra are with her and I doubt anyone`s getting past them. And it`s not like she`s a pushover either.

I Pray you`re right..

/Alright, Then we should get moving. Preston, you coming with us?  

Nate pats Array`s shoulder in reassurance stepping out of his power armor which falls to pieces soon after pocketing a few energy cells from the armory and stands outside the Castle`s gates.  Array and Oriri follow behind him  Dogmeat laying beside them.

'No, you go ahead General I`ll finish up here with Ronnie then prep the rest of the Settlements for when more of these things pop up. Not like I`m getting any sleep after this...

Preston grins lightly attempting to hide his newfound apprehension of what now lied underground beneath him as he orders the Radio  Freedom operator to get it working so they could reestablish contact with their forces. Miraculously,  the Operator does just that in spite of the numerous bullet holes in said Radio.  

\Well General if you're hunting more of those big bastards you should take this. 

Ronnie hands her Gauss Rifle to Nate who inspects it grinning like a child unwrapping a Christmas present. 

/I knew you loved me, Ronnie. 

\I admit you`ve lasted longer than most of the other dumbasses that ran this outfit so consider that rifle a gift for not being another one.  Now get going before I come to my senses.  And Array, keep an eye on him for me.

Yes, Ma`am.

Array nods managing a weak smile signaling the Deathclaw horde to follow her. 

/All right then we`re off to the Airport.

~Goodbye Ronnie and be careful.

\Pfft takes more than some overgrow lizard bastards to put me down.

~Heh Heh I see...  

And with those parting words Array opens an emergence hole in the ground with a quick stomp. Nate then walks down into it waving goodbye to the surviving Minutemen. Array picks up Claptrap who had long since shut down due to fear from the Castle siege and slings him over her shoulder before she and Oriri follow Nate.  The Deathclaws then follow after them making their own holes. The holes seal themselves up soon afterward as the group now made their way towards the Boston Airport just as a Power armored Minutemen with a flamer began to cremate the pile of Seran corpses.   

Elsewhere, Izzy`s old Friend AL receives unexpected help when the Seran Horde reveals they aren`t through with him yet...

You like the sight of your own blood!? Cause I`m gonna eat your spleen!

~Sorry, Dickbag Mcgee no spleen for you.

Al puts a 308 round right through the last Fiends left eye smirking to himself as it exited the back of his head leaving a large hole where his eye once was as he dropped dead amongst his numerous dead compatriots. 

~Okay everyone, we`re clear. Let`s get moving Outpost`s just a ways ahead.  And watch your step don`t wanna trip over these hussies...

Al signaled to the Goodsprings refugees and his Companions who following behind him stepping over the dead Fiends as he leads them onward out of what burning remains were left of Primm it`s few surviving residents having joined with the Goodsprings refugees.  

He reloads Paciencia,  his hunting rifle the flag of the long-dead and dissolved Mexican Government was wrapped around the stock for use as a cheek rest not that Al or many in the Wasteland knew or remembered many of the Old World Governments annihilated by the nuclear hellfire of the Great War. But that hardly mattered to Al as leading the settlers to the Mojave Outpost the one place he knew they`d be safe or at least safer was his main goal that and getting paid for Duane`s finger.  

The Sun barely shined above them the smoke from the fires raging across the Mojave as a result of the Seran Queen`s ongoing genocidal crusade against Humanity having blocked most of its rays making it hard to see as smoke mixed with the raging sandstorm engulfing the road the group was traveling on. 

It is then almost biblically a column of fire falls from the sky onto the road parting the sand and smoke. Al and his group cover their eyes to avoid getting dust in them. Before he and his Companions ready their Weapons reflexively seeing a large figure stepped out from where the Flaming Column once stood.   

~Freeze Dickbag! You got five seconds to tell me who you are. Best start talking unless you wanna know what a lead cannoli tastes like...

Al growled leveling his rifle at the figure emerging from the smoke revealing itself to be a towering female covered in stonelike grey skin clad in metal splint armor which gleamed in the few remaining slivers of sunlight.  A glaive and wooden shield were sheathed on her back while a hammer and shortsword hanged on her waist. 

^Sorry but I’ll have to decline your offer. Blood and metal aren`t exactly an appealing mixture. Nevertheless, I am not your enemy. My name`s Ciri and I am here to help you. 

The female raises her hands to indicate she wasn`t a threat smirking at Al who processes her words for a moment before lowering Paciencia his companions minus Ballarms following his lead.

~Right... And I`m a teddy bear with a penchant for violence. Whatever Name`s Al and this is  Jerry, Steve, Janet, Cuddles, and Ball-

*Today`s a hell of a day to die,  Commie! 

~She`s not a... Just put the laser away Ballarms!  Jesus Christ...

Al chides Ballarms who responds with "Protocol Thumb up your ass initiated." and depowers his lasers the snark evident even through his metallic voice. Al simply shakes his head and finishes introducing Ciri to the rest of his Companions. Ciri nods waving to them ignoring Ballarm `s threat. 

~Anyway we`re headed to the Mojave Outpost. You can come with us if you want or whatever...

^I`ll be right behind you. 

~Fanstastic... Don`t worry about Ballarms he thinks everyone`s a communist.

Al groans loudly passing by Ciri expressing regret over his growing menagerie of in his words "goofy-ass" Companions sarcastically wondering if he was just a lightning rod for weirdos continuing to absurdly rant as he walked down the road.  

Ciri laughs listening to his ranting following behind him alongside his companions and the surviving Settlers.  They pass by the Old Nevada Highway Patrol Station navigating between the long-abandoned rusted derelicts of police cruisers their driver's skeletal remains frozen in place forever trapped in their last desperate moments before the bombs vaporized their flesh.  The group finally rounds the corner onto the cracked pavement and rusted vehicle littered highway leading up to the Mojave Outpost. 

~Almost there, I can see those two magnificent Bastards shaking hands!

AL exclaimed seeing the two large statues of a Desert Ranger and NCR Ranger shaking hands symbolizing the historic merging of the two factions under the cause of the New California Republic.  "They are certainly a sight though I don`t believe statues can have fathers or Children for that matter."  Ciri chuckled hearing Al walking behind him Janet laughs as well hearing her. "Well fuck me sideways with a bag of Ferrets".   

AL grumbles in annoyance hearing Janet and Ciri as he walked up the road before signaling for the group to stop seeing a light machine gun barrel sticking out of the makeshift wall of decaying car husks which was covered in dried dark red Seran blood indicating the grisly aftermath of an assault surrounding the Outpost as an ad hoc defense against the Queen's army along with the mounting standoff outside it`s gate.

NCR Troopers  manned the wall  armed with service rifles, caravan shotguns, and anything else they could scrounge up  as all of them took aim at the group of Brotherhood Knights, Paladins, and Scribes  standing a few feet away outside who level their weapons back at them in response a standoff ensuing between them as their Elder, McNamara argued with Ranger Jackson commander of the Outpost  to let his people inside. Ranger Ghost, Jackson`s albino counterpart aims down at the Elder with her sniper rifle atop the Outpost`s HQ rooftop ready to fire at the first sign of trouble. 

-You`ve got a lot of nerve showing your face here after Helios McNamara... So you better give me a good reason not to bust you and your tin cans wide open.

Jackson growled to him mocking the dilapidated state of the Paladins power armor their suits armored plating composed of various pieces of bullet hole-ridden T45 and T51 power armor, Jackson then spits in McNamara`s face disgusted by him. The Memories of his fallen comrade's faces after the battle to take Helios from the Brotherhood came flooding back to him. Their deaths still an open wound for him. The Paladins insulted by this,  angrily pointed their lasers toward Jackson preparing to reduce him to ashes.

'Ranger Jackson I understand your anger. I lost many a Brother in defense of  Helios.  And on this day alone a hundred more to those abominations. Now only 30 of us remain.  But now is not the time to open old wounds for we both stand to lose many more if we cannot put aside our enmity.  Therefore, I propose a truce my forces will aid in your outposts defense.  My guess is your in no position to refuse.  For we must combine our strength or these monstrosities will be the death of us all.

McNamara wipes his face of spit a look of seething contempt spread across his face as he spoke of the Seran abominations that decimated his people. He motions for his Paladins to stand down which they do a few murmurs of discontent heard underneath their helmets.  He then offers his hand to Jackson in a show of good faith. Jackson contemplates his offer for a few moments and with a huff of resignation shakes his hand signaling to his troops and Ghost to hold their fire. 

~Great! Now that you two are done grab assing each other. Can you open the gate? I got a finger to deliver and some People to drop off. 

AL calls out to Jackson and McNamara holding Duane`s finger up for them to see as he walks up the highway to the gate.  Ciri, his Companions, and the Goodsprings/Primm Survivors following close behind him until the Earth began quaking and rumbling violently beneath them large cracks forming in and around the highway splitting the asphalt along the road.  A feral roar echoed from underground startling the Settlers and terrifying their children who reflexively hide behind their parent's legs.

^I believe we should be vigilant now Al...

Ciri calls out to Al taking up her glaive and shield sensing the imminently approaching Seran horde.  NCR and Brotherhood forces follow her lead readying their weapons in preparation for the imminent assault the shaking earth beneath their feet increasing in intensity. 

~Oh you think!? I thought they were coming to invite us to their fuckin bar mitzvah!  Whatever,  Sunny! Get the settlers inside the Patrol Station!  Any scaly hussie tries to open that door you blow their goddamn face off! 

AL reloads Paciencia motioning for his Companions to ready their weapons or Claws in Cuddles case. "On it!" Sunny nods to him ushering the settlers into the Patrol Station.  It`s then a haunting shrill shriek radiates out from underground a Seran male clad in the vestments of a Kantus priest leaped out from  underground onto a car`s roof unholstering his gorgon pistol catching the Humans by surprise he shrieks  like a demon  "Slaughter the  Humans!" Calling forth Drones a few Sharkarr among them who burst out from the ground with a roar firing upon the Humans killing a few of the settlers in the process their blood splattering against the asphalt. 

Sunny curses under her breath putting a round through an advancing drone`s scaly head before she`s clipped in the shoulder by returning fire she winces quickly pushing the last of the settlers inside the Station slamming the door behind her, Accidentally dropping her rifle outside in the process. 

 A few drones advance on the door by order of the Kantus intent on slaughtering everyone hiding behind it, Until they were cut in half by machine-gun fire courtesy of the Outpost wall`s light machine gun nest operator. "Die Sapiens!" The Kantus roared vengefully seeing the fallen drones ordering the rest to charge the Outpost`s Walls as he took cover behind a car wreck firing at the Humans.  

~Shit! Jerry get to Punchin! Everyone else get to shootin!  We got some dirty whores to put down!

Al exclaimed firing upon the advancing Drones putting one of them down with a shot through its left eye whistling to himself. "Looks like your mind`s blow." as the drone fell backward dead with a thud. Jerry nods to him a smile spread across the ghoul`s normally stoic face as he punched the first Drone in his line of sight breaking its jaw shattering many of its teeth in a spray of blood and gore.  Ciri is close behind him cleaving a drone`s head open with her glaive the two then charge forward to meet the advancing Seran onslaught. 

 Jackson and McNamara order their forces to engage taking cover behind a wrecked car which they do so in haste firing upon the advancing Serans blasting a few of them to bloody bits and glowing ashes.  In moments the road was alight with bullets and laser fire pure pandemonium ensuing as the NCR and Brotherhood battled the Serans.  Human and Seran blood was spilled all over the asphalt road as the battle raged onward.  

*There`s nothing I love better than making some other poor bastard die for his country!

Ballarms spouted reducing charging drones to ash with his lasers,  Some return fire seeming to take umbrage at his words if their rage-filled snarling of "Kill Metal Hominid!"  were anything to go by.   "Hmph Typical Chickenshit Commie Maneuver,"   Ballarms exclaimed sensing a few bullets hit his chassis which only managed to piss him off as he fired back blowing a hole through one of the drone`s skulls. 

~They`re  Lizard people Ballarms. I don`t think they understand Communism.

Al rolled his eyes ducking into cover behind an old military truck bullets whizzing past his head as a dead Paladin falls next to him half his face missing eliciting a "Sweet Jesus!"  from a shocked  Al seeing the body and many more sprawled around the battlefield a grim indication of the status of their forces.  

~Bullet Delivery! 

Al snarled firing his last rifle shot taking a drone out with a headshot falling back into cover to switch to his revolver before seeing an old China Lake grenade launcher nestled in a pre-war soldier`s dead skeletal hands inside the truck.  

~Mmm Groovy... Time to show these sluts some explosive love.

Al smiled to himself grabbing and loading the launcher with a few rounds he found.  He then pokes out of cover and fires a  shell into a car some drones were taking cover behind.  Causing the rusted hulk of a pre-war vehicle to explode engulfing many drones in the nuclear fireball the heat melting their chalky scaly white flesh, shrapnel tearing through their insides. 

~Tell the devil... I`m having a barbeque. 

Al smirked looking over the charred remains of drones firing another shell at an old mail truck another group of them were passing by, Taking a couple of them out in the resulting explosion.   "Extra, extra... Bleed all about it."  Al laughed ducking back into cover to avoid returning fire from the surviving drones pumping the launcher to unload the spent shells.  

A few feet away from him Ciri, Janet, and Jerry battled Sharkarr.  Jerry punches one in the jaw breaking it some blood splattering across his sunglasses as a result knocking it to the ground.

 Ciri finishes it off with a blow to the skull bashing another in the face with her shield reducing it to splinters in the process.  She then pierces the stunned Sharkarr`s skull knocking its corpse aside to free her glaive, "Bleed Human!" A Drone bellowed about to open fire on Jerry until its head is taken off and pinned to a car door courtesy of Ciri`s thrown glaive  "Don`t worry, You look better this way!" Ciri smirks looking down at the headless drone.  

A few drones take notice of their fallen comrades severed head and concentrate their fire on Ciri not appreciating her sarcasm, she instinctively tears off a car door for use as a makeshift shield blocking the barrage of bullets unsheathing her shortsword preparing to charge forward.  It`s then that bullets perforate the drones in front of her reducing them all to twitching dead carcasses. 

‘Maybe save the quips for when you`re not being shot at. Just a suggestion. Janet groans reloading her carbine standing behind Ciri not appreciating her quip it being too reminiscent of Al, her boyfriend. 

  ^I was only being honest.  

Ciri laughs bashing a drone in the face with her ad hoc shield thrusting her shortsword through its chest right after kicking aside its corpse as she raises her shield to block fire from advancing drones. She then rushes forward blade raised high to meet them head-on and skewers the first hapless drone in her way a wild smile spread across her face as she was clearly in her element.  Janet simply shakes her head sniping Drones ahead of her and Ciri. 

Down the road from them, The Kantus surveyed the battlefield and frustrated by his lack of progress in breaching the Outpost`s wall screams "ARISE!" towards the ground which roars back in response a few tremors spread out all along the road from the roars epicenter.  Shortly after, the ground violently erupts with dirt, rock, and dust flying in all directions as a hole forms within it.  Subsequently, a massive hulking humanoid brute of a figure rises up out of the hole, colossal  in stature over the  Humans and Drones the road could be heard cracking and quaking beneath its feet as  it walked out from the dust to the Kantus casting a shadow over him  revealing itself to be a Berserker  the living, breathing battering rams of the Seran Horde. 

"CRUSH!” The Kantus screams at it pointing to the Outpost`s gate before a shot from Ghost`s Sniper rifle bursts his head. The Berserker glares at her and savagely roars charging towards the gate crushing any cars and more than a few unfortunate humans in its path. 

-New target Kilborn!  Split that bitch in half!

Jackson barks to Sergeant Kilborn, operator of the light machine gun to engage the Berserker as he and Mcnamara fire on the fast-approaching drone advance. "Engaging!" Kilborn yells firing upon the creature the machine gun`s muzzle flash illuminating his ebony skin as he unloads round after round into the Berserker who stops temporarily raising a hand to block incoming rounds catching a glimpse of him between its fingers narrowing its dull gray eyes in an agitated manner.  

“Shit need another mag here!” Kilborn calls out to a nearby trooper tossing an empty magazine aside, the Berserker feeling the volley of machine-gun fire had stopped lowers its hand and snarls more pissed off than hurt the rounds having failed to even dent its thick armored white hide. It continues charging forward a crunching sound was heard as it ran over countless bullet casings.  

"Die Monster!" A Paladin roared  ineffectually firing his minigun at the charging Berserker who lunges picking him up in its massive hands and subsequently begins  to tear the helpless human limb from screaming bloody limb lacerating tendons and ligaments as if they were string splattering  the Paladin`s blood all over itself his screams could barely be heard over the shattering of bone and rending of flesh.    

~Oh Wonderful...

Al remarks sarcastically hearing the far gone Paladin `s cries as he`s torn apart by the Berserker a few feet  in front of him, "Over here  you fat fuck!" He then exclaims popping out of cover firing a shot at the beast trying to get its attention to commence the first part of his plan. 

The Berserker turns around hearing  Al barely affected by the grenade blast meeting his gaze and narrowing its eyes tossing aside one of the Paladin`s mangled legs as it picks up a car and hurls it at the old military truck he was taking cover behind seeming to take offense at his crack about its large stature. 

 ~Well, Shit...  

Al ducks barely avoiding being crushed by the car and cooked in the subsequent explosion before quickly rolling out of the way of the enraged Berserker`s fists who misses smashing the car next to him. It then growls in frustration knocking the car aside continuing its onslaught intent on reducing him to a bloody smear on the pavement.

   ~Look I`m sorry you`ve got love handles. But you don`t have to be such a bitch about it.

 Al promptly gets to his feet firing another grenade at the Berserker`s face continuing to taunt the beast and draw it`s attention away from the gate.  But sadly the grenade round misses blowing up a car behind him. The Berserker then smacks Al into the side of a car and raises its fists preparing to pulverize him.  

Al`s life seemed to flash before his eyes which he thought was awful all things considered.  The Beserker then slams its fists down before they`re caught by Ciri holding them in place with her shield the ground cracking beneath her feet as she strained under the beasts fists.

^Fear, not my rotund friend. For in death you will hunger no longer!  

Ciri strikes the Berserker under its jaw with the hilt of her blade surprisingly managing to stagger it followed by a slash across its face drawing blood causing the beast to recoil back with a pained growl. "Hungry? Have a taste Motherfucker!" Al snarled firing a grenade point-blank into the Beserker`s face knocking it off its feet a bit of blood and presumably,  a few teeth go flying out its mouth.

^This beast `s no problem just a mean boar with a thick hide. 

~Well I`ve made bacon outta worse things... 

Al smirks pumping the launcher to unload another spent shell while Ciri readies herself as the Berserker stands back up spitting a few more bits of its teeth out feeling the cut Ciri gave it with its fingers for a moment before charging forward now hellbent on tearing the two of them apart.   Ciri rushes forward bashing the Berserker across the face with her shield slashing its face again ducking and dodging to avoid its swings while slashing and stabbing at any opening she could find.

 All while Al fires his launcher at the Beserker`s head keeping it disoriented and off-balance. The two of them bobbing and weaving to avoid the Berserker`s crushing blows. Ciri then attempts a fatal follow-up stab through to the eyes which the beast catches snapping the blade in half like a twig as it knocks Ciri to the ground effortlessly. 

It then raises its fists over Ciri`s head intent on smashing it to bloody bone chips, who hastily raises her shield halting the crushing blows. The Berserker roars in frustration continuing its attempt to crush her beating on the shield beginning to dent and warp it in the process, Ciri holds tightly gritting her teeth blocking the beast`s barrage. The ground cracks underneath her from the force of the blows.    

~Hey Dickface! 

Al barks to the Berserker who looks up for a split second seeing the incoming grenade round detonate in its face blinding and disorienting it temporarily.  "Cuds your up!"  Al calls out signaling to Cuddles his Deathclaw who uncloaks with a deafening ferocious roar and rams the Berserker from behind knocking it off Ciri and the road crushing a car in the process.  

The Berserker soon gets to its feet locking eyes with Cuddles the two circle each other for a time before they roar and charge forward. Cuddles swipes with his claws wounding the Beserkers face goring it in the chest with one of his horns eliciting a pained growl from the beast as it strikes his head attempting to pull out his horn. The two then fall to the ground their fight now devolving into a snarling tooth and claw brawl reminiscent of the battles featured in pre-war giant monster films.   

~Hell yeah, Cuddles! Kick his Ass! 

Al chortles seeing Cuddles impale the Berserker with his other horn as he ducked behind the crushed car to avoid incoming fire. He then turns to see dozens of murderous drones advancing towards him and Ciri who seemed to be unconscious as a possible result of the Beserkers assault. 

 "Look at these goofs..."  Al lobs his last grenade at a car the drones were running past taking a handful of them out in the resulting explosion before stepping out of cover smirking to himself as he took at the survivors with his 44. Magnum.   

~Okay who wants to die first? None of you? All right, it`s gonna be all of you.

Al fires six shots blowing holes in five drone`s chests while taking the sixth one`s head clean off blood squirting from its headless neck like a fountain.

”Looks like you`ve just been tenderized.”  Al grins glancing at the drones he gunned down as he drags Ciri into cover behind a car unloading his revolver at advancing Drones to cover himself and her ducking down to quickly reload bullets darting past his head. 

~Listen I know it`s tempting. But this isn`t the time for a nap! Might wanna wake the hell up! 

Al calls out to Ciri trying in vain to wake her up before he`s knocked to the ground by a drone,  "Die Groundwalker!"  The Drone growled kicking Al`s revolver away preparing to execute him not paying much mind to Ciri until a fist strikes its lower jaw shattering it and sending teeth and bone splinters up into its brain causing it to shudder in place its upper jaw left forever agape seemingly in shock at its sudden demise. 

^Look at it this way you`ll never have to chew your food now!

Ciri tosses the drone aside before ripping the car `s door off to shield herself and Al from enemy fire.  "Back to the Fray, eh?"  Ciri kicks Al`s revolver over to him straining slightly under the unrelenting hail of drone gunfire. 

"Damn right! Time to drop these bitches, Quick and Deadly!"  Al quickly gets to his feet rapid-firing his revolver at the advancing drones quipping  “Guess that head`s going into orbit." as a drone`s head goes flying off its shoulders from a revolver round blood gushing from its neck stump. 

He then ducks behind Ciri for cover blowing apart any Drone stupid enough to try and rush them until his ammo runs dry and he hastily switching to his sawed-off the remaining drones approaching their position about to overrun them.  It`s then that Kilborn cleaves the first line of Drones in half with machine gunfire.  

*Alright, people give em hell! 

Ballarms barks as he,  Janet, Jerry who`d picked up a rifle during the fighting,  the troopers, and surviving Brotherhood all fire simultaneously at the last remaining drones obliterating them in a storm of bullets, lasers, and plasma leaving only glowing ash, bullet-ridden remains,  and piles of green plasma goo in their wake. 

Off the road from them, Cuddles finally finished off the Berserker crippling its legs with a swipe of his claws before ripping out its throat with his teeth roaring triumphantly over its lifeless body blood dripping from his mouth flesh stuck between his teeth.  With its demise and the subsequent silence afterward signaling an end to the fighting. 

~You guys are gonna be fine ..... Not really. 

Al steps out from behind Ciri sarcastically trying to console the dead hostiles blowing the heads off of a few of them to make sure they were dead as he walked down to Cuddles who seemed bewildered as he looked around the desert ground for something.  "That`s how we do things in the US Army hoorah!" Ballarms exclaimed his hand lasers still smoking from their recent firing as he surveyed the dead hostiles.   "The danger has passed you are safe now."  Ciri knocks on the Patrol station`s door glaive in hand having freed it from the severed drone`s head signaling to Sunny and the survivors to come out which they do so in haste moving towards the outpost`s gate in earnest.

 -Hold fire! That`s the last of them.  

Jackson motions for his troopers to cease fire as McNamara does the same with his forces.  "For now they`ll be back" Kilborn reloading the machine gun wiping nervous sweat from his bald head and beard. 

 "Stow it, Kilborn. Jenkins! Payne! Open the gate wounded coming in!” Jackson chastises Kilborn not needing his pessimistic assertions right now with his troops resolve shaky as it is, he then orders some of his troopers to open the gate which they do with haste allowing the settlers,  wounded troopers, and Brotherhood inside the Outpost with Jackson and McNamara shepherding them inside. 

~Aww Cuddles did you lose your hat? 

Al calls out to Cuddles noticing his top hat was missing who turns nodding lowly in sadness, "Gotta be around here somewhere"  Al looks around for a bit soon finding the hat sitting most gentlemanly atop a cactus he then cleans it of dust and spines and puts it back on Cuddles`s head.  

~There better?  

Al pats Cuddle's forehead affectionately.  Cuddles nuzzles  Al`s forehead appreciatively the two then began walking back up the road to the Gate before stopping next to the Beserker`s corpse.  Al shoots it in the gut bloody bone shards and entrails go flying from the shot a few near his face. He then aims at the beast`s temple preparing to double-tap it. 

'Woah Careful!

Janet calls out to Al seeing the Beserkers viscera go flying in all directions. 

~Really Janet? Oh, oh, oh God forbid I shoot the dead enemies!  You know you gotta watch the dead, even when they`re dead because then they become undead, and when they`re undead we gotta shoot them again to make them dead-dead, but then sometimes they become undead-dead which is undead squared and that`s dangerous. So you gotta shoot them in the head again to keep em dead you know this why`s it so hard to understand?

Al huffs turning to Janet before suddenly the Berserker swipes at his legs taking him by surprise knocking him to the ground intent on mauling him until Ciri`s glaive penetrates its skull exiting through the beast`s mouth a few gurgling sounds were heard until it once again fell silent dead and motionless.   

^He`s right.  Vigilance is the mark of great warriors.  Never know when a viper may strike at your heels!

Ciri pries her glaive from the Beserker`s mouth agreeing with Al`s double-tapping tendencies,  "See told you so. Now time to get paid and get a- Goddamnit Ballarms don`t hug me! We`ve been over this!" 

 Al laughs getting to his feet shooting the beast in the head before going ballistic as Ballarms embraces him with his metallic claw-like fingers. Ciri struggles to suppress a laugh watching the two of them.  Al pushes him away in annoyance walking to the gate Duane` s finger in hand calling out to one of the Troopers manning the wall "Got that asshole Duane`s finger for ya Denise."  

<Good hope that murdering bastard died screaming.  Here are your caps.

Denise takes the finger from Al who replies "Oh don`t worry I raised his voice an octave." taking the caps with a smirk as he walks inside Cuddles, Jerry, Steve,  and Ballarms right behind him.  

'I swear I`ll shove a rad scorpion down his throat that should shut him up for a while. 

Janet throws her hands up in frustration.

^Perhaps it `s best to embrace what you cannot change.

Ciri smiles placing a hand on Janet`s Shoulder sensing her annoyance with Al `s seemingly innate inability to stop talking.  Janet rolls her eyes storming off through the gates with a huff  Ciri following close behind her. 

Inside, the two of them catch up to Al passing through  the gaggle of tents making up the Outpost`s makeshift hospital a white flag embossed in the black cross of the Followers of the Apocalypse blows lazily in the wind at the center of the Encampment,  agonizing moans of wounded soldiers  could be heard from inside the tents. 

Followers Doctors darted from patient to patient desperately working to stabilize the numerous wounded many of whom were missing arms, legs, or both.  

Julia Farkas, The Follower's head doctor sat outside one of the tents head buried in her hand's blood-caked beneath her boots splattered across her white lab coat as she sighed exhaustedly before going back inside the tent intent to do what she could for the wounded.  Across the way, some of the Settler`s Children played with the Brahmin in their pens laughing thankful to be alive.

Al and the group then enter the Barracks and he calls to Lacey, the bartender for a  Sunset Sarsaparilla. "This one`s on the house.  On account of you killing those scaly sons of bitches."  Lacey slides a Sarsaparilla to Al who sits down and takes a swig of it.   

It`s then that the normally static radio hums to life a voice stating  "Multiple reports from contacts across the Mojave frontier attest to Monsters, not Legion striking from underground, without any warning annihilating everything in their path..... NCR forces are waging a courageous defense, however, casualties among them continue to mount.  We now go live to President Kimball addressing the Nation`s concerns in light of these attacks."

Al motions to Lacey to turn the radio`s volume up which she does and she, Al, his Companions,  and the troops in the Barracks, all sit around the bar listening to the President's address.  Ciri leans against a wall behind them curiously listening to the radio as well.  

Far from them, In Shady Sands, the capital of the New California Republic and one of the last bastions of true civilization in the West, President Kimball prepares to address the fear-stricken Republic now charged with the seemingly insurmountable task of rallying his people against this new threat from below...   

Tension mounts among the  citizens gathering outside the NCR`s Hall of Congress, who stand  around the large statue erected in the middle of the square depicting the Vault Dweller who saved their most beloved President Tandi`s life and contributed  in establishing their Republic proudly marching ever onward towards a brighter future as a symbol of progress and a shining example for all those under the New California Republic`s flag to follow. 

A Plaque at its base read "To the Stranger and Vault 13: What doesn't exist, we must sometimes dream and let our dreams inspire us to greater heights. So it was with the Stranger and his belief in the legend of Vault 13."  Commemorating the Dweller `s drive to build a better future in spite of the Wasteland`s endless Cruelty.  

NCR Military Police stood in front of the crowd keeping them under control riot shotguns at the ready in preparation for the worst-case scenario.   Citizens looked up to the Hall of Congress`s steps trepidatiously waiting for President Kimball`s oration regarding the reports of attacks across the Mojave by the Subterranean Seran Horde. Radio Reporters set up a few feet from the steps to record and relay the Speech to the Republic`s border territories.  Inside the Congress, building Senators from across the nation argued vehemently over the best course of action against the now pressing threat of the Serans. The shouting growing in volume and intensity. The stenographer's fingers were a blur as she frantically recorded every word the bickering Senators uttered.   

Down the hall from them, President Kimball coordinates with General Lee Oliver and Head Scientist  Morgan Enstrom of the Office of Science and Industry to plan their next course of action while he gets ready for his speech.    

~General what is the status of our forces in the Mojave?  Give me the Bad News first. 

Kimball puts on his tie with a weary sigh straightening it and pours three glasses of scotch giving the other two men a glass before downing a shot himself bracing for General Oliver`s report. 

^Well, we`ve lost contact with Chief Hanlon at Camp Golf and Colonel Hsu at McCarren along with most of our major holdings in the first few hours. Most of Vegas is in flames as well.  Casualty reports are spotty due to this but from what Communications could gather it`s bad, and we`re running out of body bags.  That`s about it.  Whatever these Bastards are their efficient I`ll give them that.  It`s as if they waited four years for us to spread our selves thin across the dam fighting Caesar.  Then the fuckers made their move. 

General Oliver states a grim look spread across his face as he looked over the Casualty report taking a sip of his glass of scotch.  

~And the Good News? 

Kimball looks up from his glass at Oliver visibly morose.   

^Good news is We`re still in control of Hoover Dam so the power`s still on. Plus Jackson filled the Bastards with lead when they came knocking on the Mojave Outpost`s doors.  They haven`t found a way to get past the Outpost yet,  So we`ve still got control of the I-15 for use as a supply line. Additionally, Jackson and Knight got some assistance from the Brotherhood along with some psycho with a Top Hat-Wearing Deathclaw and a woman that allegedly fell from the sky in a pillar of fire. Whatever the case it seems their Elder, McNamara wants to bury the hatchet between us. 

~Tell McNamara his request is granted we can`t afford turning away any assistance against these creatures. And send my Thanks to this woman and psycho you mentioned Oliver. 

Kimball pours himself another shot seemingly taken aback at the General`s mention of Al, Cuddles, and Ciri.  Oliver orders a soldier standing guard to relay the President's order to Communications and subsequently the Mojave Outpost which the Soldier does in haste. He then continues talking.

^Even better, the ugly fucks seem to hate the Legion even more than we do.  I`ve gotten reports of their main fort being razed to ashes.  The damn things just rose up out of the ground and started butchering everyone inside. Now they`ve got the Legion running back across the Colorado River, scattering them all over the East like jacks.  Giving those slaving bastards the what-for. So now we don`t have to worry about waging war on two fronts for the time being at least.  

~Thank God for small favors,  Now we can focus on the task at hand destroying these Monstrosities. Doctor Enstrom, what information have you and your team gathered about these Creatures? 

Kimball calls to Enstrom Chief Scientist of the  Office of Science and Industry as he and Oliver finish off their liquor and begin walking down the hall towards the Hall of Congress`s steps. Enstrom quickly followed after them eyes wide with fear behind his glasses as he looked up from his notes.

-Frankly, other than the fact that they want to kill every man, woman, and child out there, we know nothing about them all we have are scattered radio reports. We've tagged them Locusts since this degree of death has only been seen in times of plague. Their subterranean nature is obvious. Aside from that,  I'm afraid...

Enstrom trails off visibly shaking in terror.  Oliver quips "So you're saying all we need are some fly swatters and zappers for the troops then?" Eliciting a slight chuckle from Kimball.  Enstrom narrows his eyes in frustration not appreciating General Oliver`s humor in light of their current situation. 

-You don`t seem to grasp our situation, General. We don`t know where these creatures come from.  Or what they want. They don`t even seem to want territory.  All they do is kill.   At least with the Legion,  they`re human we know they can think.  But these things, They`re worse than animals.  We can`t even begin to negotiate or work out their objectives because we just don`t know the first damn thing about them.   That `s not an enemy, Mr. President.  That`s a monster. 

Enstrom shakily downed his shot fingers trembling with dread as he fixed his glasses.

^See that`s where you're wrong Enstrom. You see while you and Kimball focus on tomorrow it`s my job to make sure there is one no matter the cost. I`m a warfighter and I fight to win. Nothing else matters except whether our people are still here, tomorrow, next week or next year.  This war will be no different. We didn`t bend over and take it from the Legion and we sure as hell aren`t gonna take it from these Locust sons of bitches either.  That`s for damn sure. 

Oliver snaps back at Enstrom rubbing the two head bear insignia signifying his rank of General and dedication to the Republic`s ideals on his cap with pride. 

~Agreed General which is why law and order must be enforced among the people.  Our Republic cannot survive a war against itself and these Locust.  Unity is needed for our survival and it requires order.  The Road Ahead will be long and full of toil. But the only other choice is to fall into lawless savagery, and then these Monsters will have won because we`ve handed them victory.   

^ Looks like we`ve got our work cut out for us Mr. President. 

~Indeed General and now it`s showtime.

Kimball nods to Oliver as the two reach the doors leading to the Hall of Congress steps.  Oliver opens the doors and Kimball walks out to the microphone stand on the steps in front of the crowd of citizens who look up to him in dead silence.  

He scans the crowd consisting of all manner of people, from Humans of all shades to the Nercotyized flesh-covered former human Ghouls and finally the green-skinned formerly human giants known as Super Mutants.  The crowd standing as a testament to the Republic`s advancements toward unity.  Kimball takes a deep breath and then begins his speech. 

 ~ As all of you standing here know, Our Republic is no stranger to hardship. From Wars with the Brotherhood, the Enclave, and the Legion. To beating back the Raider Hordes and Master`s Army.  Throughout our history, we`ve paid for our freedoms with our blood. But like our mighty Sierra Nevadas, we endured. We thrived in the face of impossible odds and built ourselves a future out of this lawless Wasteland.  And though many of our brothers and sisters were left on those battlefields, we carried the weight of their sacrifice. It did not break us.

 Now these inhuman genocidal monsters, these Locust believe they have broken us. That we are but a sick, impotent animal fit for butchery.  But today,  My Fellow Californians, we prove them wrong. We prove that they cannot break us. Today we face the monsters at our door and drive them back into the Earth.  Today we show all those who`d try to extinguish the light of our society with their tyranny that we will not go quietly that we will fight to defend our principles of equal respect, representation, and protection under the law. With the same fire that burned in the heart of the Vault Dweller that helped found this Republic. Who believed, like our forebears in fighting for the common good no matter the odds. Now we carry that righteous fire of civilization into the cruel darkness of this Wasteland.  A fire fueled by our shared unity and commitment to the ideals of Democracy. 

Soldiers of the Republic, I know the weight you carry is heavy and what I ask of you now is not an easy thing. But it is necessary. If we are to survive... To live to see the seasons pass, our children grow and experience a peace that we have never know.  We must eradicate these Locusts. We must go to where they live and breed and purge their infestation from the Earth wherever it festers. Soldiers know that today you honor all Californians by shouldering that weight.  For you are the sequoias rising from the Sierra Nevadas, defiant and enduring. Torchbearers of the great western fire of California, living reminders of all that is best in our republic.  So I ask you now Soldiers of the Republic, my Fellow Californians, go forth and expel the darkness of this Wasteland with the flame of our Republic! 

And know that all who reside under the flag of this great nation stand with you! 

Thank you. Thank you. 

Kimball finishes his speech eliciting a roar of applause and cheers that seemed to echo out of the capital and across the sun-scorched Californian wastes from the crowd in response. Kimball smiles proudly waving to the crowd until Oliver whispers to him

 ^Sir you`re not going to believe this but I`ve gotten reports of a derelict aircraft carrier washing up onto our shores. We could get it up and running with a bit of work according to Enstrom`s boys and with a couple of artillery pieces.  We`ll be able to blow those Locusts away no matter where the bastards decide to pop up

~Extraordinary, absolutely extraordinary.  Get the Shi Emperor on the line getting this carrier operational again shouldn`t be much of a challenge with his people`s help.  

Kimball nods to Oliver as the walk back inside the Congress building and the crowd began to disperse the pair now forming the Republic`s strategy for the war against the Queen`s army.  With the sudden appearance of this carrier being essential to their plans just as the goddess intended. 

Miles away from them beneath the Earth, the Seran Queen plots the next phase of her plan to exterminate what remained of Humanity. While her old friend, Jawry attempts in vain to deter her from that path.

~The Humans are certainly tenacious, this is good makes piling their corpses high when we come for them easier. Nothing worse than fleeing Vermin. For they do not understand. They do not know why we wage this war.  Why we cannot stop, will not stop.  Why we will fight and fight and fight. Until we win... Or we die.  And we are far from dead.  

The Seran Queen smiles staring into the terrified captured human trooper`s eyes, savoring his fear. Her dagger-like teeth reflecting off his fear-stricken pupils as she listens to the last of  Kimball`s speech on his radio sitting atop her gilded throne.

 ~General Karn, dispose of this filth.  

The Queen gestures to Karn, one of her generals standing behind the frightened human who then grasps his head with a clawed hand and twists snapping his neck in one fluid motion.  Karn then orders some drones to carry the body out of the palace which they do in haste carrying it to the stables intent on feeding the Bloodmounts the remains.  Karn then hands the Queen the head of Caesar, the supposed son of Mars and dictator of the slaver nation known as Caesar`s Legion as it`s delivery had been the task the Queen set before him.  

~So much for the son of Mars. It seems the son of a god dies like any man. You`ve done your Queen a great service General Karn you are dismissed.

The Queen grins examing Caesar`s head pleased with Karn`s gruesome work before dismissing him from her chamber.  She then pushes out a false wall behind her throne and walks down the passageway hidden behind it with Caesar`s head in hand. 

 A Seran woman lay bloody, beaten, and naked chained to the wall at the end of the passage who snarls glaring at The Queen. The fresh cuts covering the woman`s entire body and face indicating she was recently tortured or “aggressively reeducated” as The Queen would say.

`How conceited you are. Tell me how many of these Humans and our people must die to satisfy your ego? Oh, wait you call them vermin. I suppose that makes it easier to paint wholesale slaughter as righteous and moral.

The woman spits blood in the  Queen`s face revolted by her monstrous demeanor towards Humanity having heard everything she said behind the false wall. The Queen sighs wiping the blood from her face leaning down to the woman the pair`s golden eyes locking as they met each other`s gaze. 

~Is honesty conceit? Two hundred years ago Humanity nearly drove themselves to extinction in their self inflicted nuclear holocaust.  And now two centuries later they scamper pathetically through their world`s remains like rats. Fighting and killing over what little scraps remain.  What other word is more fitting for them than vermin?  Indeed it`s telling the best excuses for Civilization they`ve built since are a legion of rapist slavers ruled by a decrypted old man following in the footsteps of an empire long turned to dust.   

The Queen holds up Caesar's head looking into his eyes for a moment a self-satisfied smirk spread across her face. "They`re even more repulsive when dead."  she frowns putting his head back down the smell of decay having gotten to her and then continues speaking.   

~And an ineffective Republic that`s barely able to defend its people let alone spread their pathetic notions of democracy.  The same ideology that failed to prevent their race`s near annihilation in the past. 

In truth, I pity them.  But Humanity,  as time has shown, again and again,  begets destruction upon itself.   Compare this to us, in those same two centuries we have not only survived but we have thrived.  All that resides beneath the earth now belongs to our empire. We`ve shaped the very earth around us through our will alone.  Not even war with the traitorous Uzil could stop our glorious expansion.  So I ask you Jawry, my naive old friend where is the conceit in my words?  Humanity`s time has passed.  They`ve proven themselves unworthy of this Earth when they almost destroyed it fighting amongst themselves.  And since they failed to kill themselves the first time we`ll finish what they started. For we are the future.  

The Queen takes hold of Jawry`s face hoping to see she finally saw the truth so she wouldn`t have to hurt her anymore.  "How you have eyes but cannot see your own arrogance astounds me. Though I suppose feigning  blindness makes it easier to justify your lack of morals."  Jawry jerks her head back from the Queen`s grasp plainly showing her utter disgust.   The Queen sighs in disappointment and stands back up. 

~That`s the difference between us. You see there`s no moral case to answer, Jawry.  I must ensure the survival of our race. And every action I take no matter how merciless or cruel is for our people`s benefit. When I fight for them, I fight to win. I don`t believe it matters how you win in the end, because being fair is fine for sport, but it`s an irresponsible way to wage war or lead a people.  

Our first Queen A`vral, my mother understood this, as did your husband Sraak. An exceptional Seran specimen that one. Why he sired Array and Isabel with you  I`ll never know. Nevertheless, I speak not from blind arrogance. But merely with the knowledge that our time underground has passed. The Surface is our future these Humans have proven too weak to rule it. And so it is time we show them who rules the earth they tread upon. 

The Queen turns from Jawry and begins to leave, Caesar`s head dripping blood onto the ground as she walked.  Jawry watches her eyes seething with barely contained rage at the mention of her late husband Sraak.   Pure hatred consuming her every thought as she stared daggers at the Queen noting a hint of jealousy in her voice. 

'Spare me the Sanctimony.  This War isn`t about our people`s future. We both know it`s about your vanity.  You believe you're better than the Humans yet resort to the same evils you condemn them for. Your hypocrisy is stupefying.  

A`vral fought to unite our people, not for pride or gluttony. She fought to end wars not start them. 

To compare yourself to her is rich. You`re not even worthy to kneel at her feet. And now you throw away thousands of our people`s lives all in this asinine quest for power. I mourn the death of my friend. For the sad rotten spiteful husk standing before me is all that remains. Twisted by greed and fueled by hubris. Now nothing but a butcher.  You believe yourself untouchable but remember this your head is filled with evil and the righteous shall cleave it.  

Jawry snarls sickened by the Queen`s self-righteousness.  The Queen stops for a moment gripping Caesar`s head furiously her former friend`s words comparing her to her mother had hit a nerve. 

~Just like you to believe in old fable`s  

The Queen tosses Caesar`s head down at Jawry`s feet splattering blood all over her having recognized her last words as a paraphrase of an old Seran fable about the wicked receiving their comeuppance by the just.  “Enjoy your new companion. Soon you`ll see our time in the sun has come.” 

The Queen smirks pleased with herself seeing Caesar`s head his face forever frozen in fear looking up at Jawry before closing the passage behind her, Jawry screaming all manner of vulgarities at her as she did so.  

The Queen puts her ear to the wall frustrated by her friend`s hatred of her and lack of understanding that she was doing what`s best for Sera before sitting back on her throne plotting her next move, as the raging torrent of obscenities behind the wall were replaced by defeated whimpering.

^A good leader awakens courage in the fearful and emboldens the uncertain with the confidence to wade through Hell`s hottest fire without fear of the searing flames. It seems your President understands this as well.

"You know running through flames seems impressive at first. Until you realize fire`s still fucking burns no matter how ballsy you are.  And then you can`t even scream "I smell delicious" as Nightstalkers chow down on your smoldering corpse. 

^Heh heh very true my pale friend. There`s a fine line between valor and foolhardiness. Overconfidence has often been the end of many warriors who`ve never been tested.  It appears your troopers have this in abundance. 

"No argument here. 

Ghost laughs with Ciri taking her eyes off the road watching a trooper drunkenly stumble out of the barracks from atop its roof.  The Outposts overall mood having lightened considerably after Kimball`s speech the pained moans of wounded settlers and troopers muffled by newfound joyful revelry among the surviving Outpost defenders as they play games of poker, blackjack, and caravan. 

Some stumble drunkenly through the camp reveling in their alcohol-induced invincibility bolstered by the President`s speech, much to the Follower`s Doctors working in Triage tents dismay as they knocked over their equipment in their drunken stupor. 

A bit of turmoil ensued, at least until Major Knight the drunken troopers superior barks at them to "Get their shit together"  and aided by their uninebriated fellow soldiers the few inebriated troopers attempt to heed Knight`s command and form rank. 

Some trip over themselves as they form up others vomit a consequence of their intoxicated state much to the settler children's amusement as they laughed watching the troopers make fools of themselves.  Major Knight far from amused, facepalms directing Lacey to close off the tap to the Soldiers to save them and himself from further embarrassment. The turmoil eventually subsides and order returns to the Outpost.   

"So what brings you down to our little slice of heaven? It can`t be for the stellar company. 

Ghost laughs watching the troopers stumble around drunkenly while sipping a bit of  Saprilla turning her eyes from them and the road for a moment and onto Ciri. 

^Well, my Mistress and Cousin would say "Life is the flame in Death`s darkness, forever struggling against the shadow of inevitable oblivion. But sometimes life can`t do so alone and so we fight to keep the flame alight against all that wish to smother it." 

And while I love and believe in my Mistress, It is the prospect of a challenge that compels me to take up my glaive.  True I may fall but it`s better to die fighting in light then grovel in the shadow of fear. 

~Yeah that`s all fascinating but could you keep it down.  Tryin to sleep we got daylight to burn tomorrow getting to Shady.  

^My Apologies friend. And I believe I owe you my thanks. I wouldn`t be here without your help so I offer mine to you going forward.  

~Yeah Yeah Don`t sweat it. Just keep it down. 

Al waves Ciri`s off with a yawn closing his eyes beginning to drift off to sleep. 

"He`s right you get some sleep I can keep watch by myself.

^Goodnight pale friend.

Ciri nods to Ghost leaning against the ramp leading up to the saloon`s roof before nodding off to sleep with a yawn.  Across from her Al and his group fell asleep as well with Cuddle`s tail wrapping around Al, Jerry, Steve, and Janet like a scaly security blanket.

Ghost stifles a laugh watching Al`s group before turning her eyes back to the road surveying it through the scope of her sniper rifle for any surprise attacks by the Locust alongside a few sentries manning the Outposts makeshift wall. 

Soon after silence fell across the Outpost and the Wasteland beyond as most of the bases residents had fallen asleep.  With only the roar of the flaming ancient car wrecks blown up during the battle breaking the silence as they illuminated the night sky alongside various wasteland fauna gorging themselves on fallen drones and the Berserker remains long into the night.

Far from the sun-scorched Mojave however, Savvage, Gnash`s brother sets his sights on Array`s sister his hunting Nightstalker having mistaken her scent for Array`s beforehand as he now planned to collect her bloody severed head for bounty. 

_Hmph It appears our quarry has found refuge with the metal hominids. No matter her head will be in our grasp one way or another.

Savvage surveys the outside of the Boston Airport ruins now home to the Eastern Brotherhood of Steel or metal hominids as the Serans liked to call them and their armored airship the Prydwen through his rifle`s sights taking note of troop numbers and movement through the compound while ducking down to avoid detection by Brotherhood sentries as he  searched for his bounty.  

His hunting party stood behind him prepping their weapons to be ready to move at Savvage`s command While others snacked on a brahmin carcass from the remains of a settler caravan they`d butchered a few moments ago. Meanwhile, Savvage`s Nighstalker gnaws on the unfortunate human's bones licking its lips as it fed on their remains with it`s forked snakelike tongue.  

-So the coward hides amongst the humans? Pathetic... Though I suppose it`s fitting, Scum usually dwells in filth.  No matter, she`ll still die a traitor's death even if that means tearing apart every one of these wretched humans to pieces first... All that`s needed is your word Savvage and it shall be done.

Fraak, Savvage`s second in command smirked showing off a maw of jagged reptilian teeth affectionately stroking the blade underneath his breechshot rifle`s pommel fresh blood coated its surface from the settlers slain a few moments ago who`s murder Fraak gleefully participated in. With the prospect of massacring the Brotherhood forces filling him with sadistic pleasure as he barely restrained his bloodlust.  

_Collecting the Traitor`s head is our priority. These Humans are but a nuisance to be removed not our objective.  Is that Understood Fraak?

-Yes...Savvage.

Fraak croaked coughing a bit after being choked by Savvage`s sharkarr tail. "Good now, all of you follow me." Savvage grinned loosening his grip on Fraak`s throat satisfied he`d reaffirmed his leadership position. As while he appreciated his second's eagerness for battle he could be a bit overzealous and that would jeopardize their hunt. 

So a reaffirmation of who orders who was needed. Savvage then tunnels underground and towards the airport with Fraak, Savvage`s Nightstalker, and the rest of their hunting party following soon after. Leaving half-eaten brahmin and human remains behind. The next vicious battle for the East in the ongoing war for the surface to commence soon...

[comic-movieheroesranked]

Cinematic Comic Characters Ranked! (Year 2005) Final Part

Another year, another ranking of our favorite comic book characters to grace the movie screen! This year we have the debut of several movies including: Aeon Flux, Batman Begins, Constantine, Fantastic Four, and Sin City; a spin-off movie centered on Elektra; and the final installment to an outer space trilogy, Star Wars: Episode Three-Revenge of the Sith! Here’s TOP 25!

*SPOILERS FOR ALL THE MOVIES HIGHLIGHTED ABOVE*

25. Dr. Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow (Batman Begins)

"There's nothing to fear but fear itself!"

The second-class criminal that becomes a threat to Batman in a new way. Even though Bruce trained his body physically to withstand anything, he had no preparation to deal with Scarecrow's fear toxin, an attack on the mind. It's Scarecrows toxin that threatens to destory all of Gotham via terrified citizens but it's clear he's not the one pulling the strings. When the toxin starts infecting people, Scarecrow goes on a terror spree until Rachel shuts him down with a taser to the face.

24. Satan (Constantine)

"Looks like someone doesn't have your back anymore."

Don't quite understand why Satan's feet are dipped in black paint all the time but this man is P-E-T-T-Y. John brings him in to save the day (it took me a minute to wrap that around my head too) and that's kinda what he does. He stops his son from trying to overthrow him and take over Earth and he puts the smack down on Gabriel. He really wants John in hell though so before he goes to heaven he brings him back to life so he could sin again because the man is what? PETTY!

23. Hartigan (Sin City)

"An old man dies. A young woman lives. A fair trade."

Hartigan is what I wanted Marv to be. Doing what needs to be done and stopping the bad guy because it's the right thing to do, not because he got great sex. He dedicated to stopping the pervs that keep going after Nancy and asks for nothing in return, he even turns down sex, which proves he isn't a perv either! I don't really think he had to go kill himself but he looked like he wasn't going to last long anyway so at least he went out nobly.

22. Abby Miller (Elektra)

"I don't respond well to authority and I don't take bullshit."

Abby is that annoying little sister you never had. As soon as she meets Elektra she wants to be just like her. She wants to learn how to kill, she wants to use sais, and she also wears her hair the same way. Turns out she's the "Treasure" which is a big deal for both sides. She knows how to fight with a fancy chain and her witty banter with Elektra is adorable so I definitely was happy when she was saved.

21. Rachel Dawes (Batman Begins)

"But it's not who you are underneath, it's what you do that defines you."

I like Rachel and she is a huge reason as to why Batman exists. She knows Gotham is falling apart and she decides to help save it in her own way: the courtroom. She becomes a great lawyer in the DA and won't back down when criminals try to scare her. She also lets Bruce know the huge difference between vengeance and justice and shows Bruce that fighting for the greater good is better than just fighting for yourself. I think this is also why she finds out his identity by the end of the film while most romantic interests like Mary Jane haven't found out their heroes identities until the sequels.

20. Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic (Fantastic Four)

"I found a broken gasket from space."

Mr. Fantastic is the most boring out of the Fantastic Four, in my opinion. His flexible powers are really handy and make him near indestructible as long as you don't freeze him, but that's kinda it? He's mainly valued for his brains and it's the only thing he relied on when the team went up against Dr. Doom. Seriously, all he did was bark orders while Sue, Johnny, and Ben did all the heavy lifting.

19. Mace Windu (Star Wars: Episode III-Revenge of the Sith)

"May the Force be with us all."

Mace Windu is a boss. He knows how to shut shit down and if Anakin hadn't been a total back stabber (or hand slicer, really), none of the problems they're facing would've been a thing. Instead, Mace gets betrayed and killed by twp people he considered allies.

18. Gabriel (Constantine)

"You're fucked."

I kinda see Grabriel's frustrations in the film. Why should rapists go to heaven just because they repent? Like where's the justice in that? Do I think all humans need to prove their goodness by having Satan's son bring Armageddon to Earth? Absolutely not. Gabriel definitely goes a little insane and because he tries to help Satan Jr., God takes away his wings and makes him human.

17. Sithandra (Aeon Flux)

"You taught me a lot more than that."

Sithandra is a rebel and Aeon's best friend. She had a cool surgery done that replaced her feet with two extra hands. Her loyalty to Aeon is tested when it seems Aeon betrayed the rebels but their friendship prevails as she leads a team of rebels to protect Aeon and Trevor from Oren. Too bad she runs out of bullets just as Oren sends a missile her way, killing her in front of Aeon.

16. Chas Kramer (Constantine)

"You were right, John. It's not like in the books."

I was so angry when Chas died! Like here we have this young kid that just wants to help and actually does help in a huge way. At first all he does is drive John around in a taxi and fails miserably to get into Midnite's club, but turns out he really did his reading. When John couldn't muster up the chant to stop Satan Jr.'s birth, Chas came in and saved the day. And then he died, very brutally.

15. Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader (Star Wars: Episode III-Revenge of the Sith)

"You underestimate my power!"

Anakin is the type of person who will literally do every shitty thing possible and then still try to make himself the victim. Like how can you justify calling the Jedi evil when you're out here killing children? He even admits he wants all the power in the world to Padme but still tries to act like the Jedi are selfish when Obi-Wan confronts him. Wack! I'm glad he burned to a crisp and I straight up GIGGLED when he got his legs sliced off (Obi-Wan literally told him not to and he does it anyway). He SOMEHOW survives and is transformed into the dangerous Darth Vader that fans of the series have come to know him by.

14. Gail (Sin City)

"Always and never."

I knew I was going to like Gail as soon as she listed tying people up in chairs as one of her specialties. She seems to be the leader of the prostitutes that run Old Town and isn't afraid to get her hands dirty. I think she actually prefers it, which is why I think its accurate that Dwight dubbed her as "Valkyrie." Only thing off about her, for me, was her relationship with Dwight. I mean it seemed obvious she was into him from the get go but I kinda hoped they didn't end up together.

13. Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Fantastic Four)

"I can't believe I'm doing this again!"

Sue is still in love with Richard but since he isn't willing to courageously take their relationship to where it needed to go, she ended it and tried to move on with the douchebag known as Victor. After the space storm she learns she can not only turn invisible, but she can also create force fields. She spends most her time figuring out where she stands with Richard in their new lives as superheroes but when it comes down to the fighting she's quick and ready to get her hands dirty. Was the proposal a bit rushed at the end? Maybe, but it's clear her and Richard were meant for each other so positive vibes to them.

12. Alfred (Batman Begins)

"What is the point of all those push-ups if you can't even lift a bloody log?"

Alfred is way more than just Bruce Wayne's butler. After his parents are killed he basically takes responsibility over him and raises him. Now that Bruce is a grown adult and bringing the Batman to life, Alfred starts going on his own secret reason. While Ra's Al Ghul is teaching Bruce how to become a legend, something that will never die, Alfred is doing whatever he can to make sure Bruce doesn't lose his humanity. He keeps wanting him to enjoy life and embrace who he is when he isn't wearing the cowl.

11. Aeon Flux (Aeon Flux)

"We're meant to die, that's what makes anything about us matter."

Aeon is the best assassin working with the rebels. After the government kills her sister she's the one they send to take down their leader, Trevor Goodchild. Turns out he's actually good and used to be married to Aeon before the whole world fell apart. She has some really neat gadgets like tiny marbles that explode, shiny egg looking things that disrupt all technology, and she can make her eye pupil grow so she can see if someone spiked her drink. Plus she can do a bunch of flips and knows how to use a gun. It turns out she was meant to destroy everything about the society she lived in and lead it's people to the world outside, one they thought was a wasteland but turned out to be rich with nature and plant life.

10. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Star Wars: Epidsode III-Revenge of the Sith)

"You were the chosen one!"

Obi-Wan Kenobi wasn't as condescending as he was in the last film so that was nice. In fact I think he was very much on his way to seeing Anakin as his true equal until Anakin decided to turn to the Dark Side. His infamous speech to Anakin after he's forced to take him down is pretty sad, he really cared about the other dude and it sucks to see someone you care about ruin themselves like Anakin did.

9. Dwight (Sin City)

"I'm Shellie's new boyfriend and I'm out of my mind."

So he starts off his chapter in a relationship with Shellie, fighting for her honor and then ends his chapter in a relationship with Gail, shooting down all his enemies. Besides him being a bit of a player, he was actually my favorite hero in all the stories. He's not ridiculously unbeatable like Marv and has more of a personalty than Hartigan. He actually admits to needing help from Gail and Miho to stop his enemies. He's obviously pretty smart because he's able to come up with plans left and right once things keep getting shittier which is also nice because I feel like everyone else just goes about things guns ablazing. He does to, but I like that he has back up plans.

8. Elektra (Elektra)

"I died once."

Back from the dead, Elektra has turned into a deadly assassin with no emotion or attachments to anyone. To save her from this dark path, Stick has her tricked into protecting Abby from the Hand, a bunch of evil assassins. She takes care of them no problem, like it seems like she's afraid but when she faces them she pretty much kills them all with no problems. Despite the movie being kinda lame it was so good to finally see Elektra in her red outfit kicking ass with her pair of sai. Like most characters in the Daredevil universe, her tv counterpart ends up being a better version, but unlike the others I would go on record to say that movie Elektra wasn't bad, she was just decent.

7. Yoda (Star Wars: Episode III-Revenge of the Sith)

"At an end your rule is, and not short enough was it."

Yoda is my favorite and only because he really knows how to throw down when he needs to. Like some people try to talk the bad guy into seeing the error of his ways. Nope, not Yoda. He literally always just shows up and is like "So, we're fighting." Except, he mixes up his speech while he does it. His fight against the Emperor was epic and he totally won until the other got to his safety net of soldiers. Still, Yoda accepted failure with grace and decided to leave into exile.

6. Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Fantastic Four)

"Flame on!"

I feel like Johnny represents a lot of us in a situation where we discover we have powers and basically lose our minds because we've decided we're going to be superheroes. Like he changes their outfits, gives them their superhero names and basically creates the brand that is Fantastic Four because he's so excited to be a superhero. His fire/flying abilities definitely help feed the flame that is his confidence as he skyrockets to celebrity status via extreme sports and indulges in the pleasures of his female fans. Still, when it's time to actually be hero, he's there and ready to take on Doom, using his Super Nova heat to melt the metal man away.

5. Ducard/Ra's Al Ghul (Batman Begins)

"If someone stands in the way of true justice, you simply walk up behind them and stab them in the heart."

Ra's Al Ghul is the leader of the League of Shadows, a clan that serves their own justice against those who break the law. Wanting to take down Gotham, the international city of crime, he ends up training the city's prince, Bruce Wayne. Using the death of Wayne's parents as a tool, Al Ghul ends up basically creating the Batman. He's the one that really drills into Bruce's head that he won't fix anything as just a single man. Of course, his methods of justice are radical, to say the least, and it ends up putting him at odds with the new Dark Knight. This ends up being a classic battle of student vs teacher, with Wayne eventually outsmarting Al Ghul at the end.

4. John Constantine (Constantine)

"Gods a kid with an ant farm, lady. He's not planning anything."

My new aesthetic is John Constantine giving Satan the middle finger as he's ascending into heaven. I'm familiar of the character in the comics but I think I only know about the current magic-based one instead of the religious one they tried to portray in the movies. His goal is simple: get ins God's good graces so he doesn't get sent to hell. He doesn't accomplish this by defeating demons like he does throughout the whole movie, or by even stopping the birth of Satan's son, but by giving up his chance at life to spare one girl from a tortuous eternity in hell. He still doesn't end up in Heaven, but now he has a clean slate to live life right.

3. Ben Grimm/The Thing (Fantastic Four)

"It's clobberin' time!"

Ben definitely got the short end of the stick when it came to abilities. Sure he now has super strength but his new rock appearance has people, including his now EX-fiance, running away screaming. What's worse is that, unlike the others, Ben can't even turn it off or on, he's just stuck that way. So I totally get the depressed state he's in when he thinks Richard isn't trying to help him and appreciate so much that despite all that he's still loyal and quickly takes on the Thing again to help his friends go up against Doctor Doom and put a stop to him. In the end he does find happiness with Alicia and his witty banter with Johnny was one of the best parts of the film.

2. Miho (Sin City)

*Silently kills everyone*

Miho is the best damn thing about this entire movie. Each freaking story is about a man saving a helpless girl in some way, shape, or form and Miho just defies all that nonsense. She's a prostitute by day, assassin by night and she literally always gets shit done. She kills a car full of assholes all by herself and saves Dwight's ass several times during the chapter. She can handle several weapons including samurai swords, ninja stars, and a bow and arrow. I'm positive she could go toe to toe with every other character in this film and still come out on top, YES I'm even including Marv because his slow ass wouldn't even see her coming.

1. Bruce Wayne/Batman (Batman Begins)

"Bats frighten me. It's time my enemies shared my dread."

This is the first time we really get an in depth look at how Bruce Wayne becomes the Batman, Gotham's protector. The loss of his parents give him the anger, but its the teachings of Ra's Al Ghul as well as the advice from those close to him that give him the tools to truly serve justice in a city that knows no meaning of the word. It's a hard task getting the police on his side as he tries to rid the city of its most powerful criminals like Falcone and Scarecrow. There's even a personal struggle of keeping the bat separate from the man, as his romance with Rachel won't go any further unless he gives up the costume. Odds are he won't be giving it up soon after he investigates this new enemy that we all know very well. This film was a great birth to one of the most iconic super heroes in comics and one that finally gets DC rolling on it's feet.

[vgtrackbracket]

Video Game Track Bracket Round 2

Diego Brando Battle from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Eyes of Heaven

vs.

Armageddon (Boss Rush) from The Binding of Isaac: Repentance

No propaganda was submitted for either track.

If you want your propaganda reblogged and added to future polls, please tag it as propaganda or otherwise indicate this!