1.15 Brimestone Part 1

After quickly and silently dropping off Necromantress at the police station, Gears swiftly heads off, leaving the supervillainess with the stunned officers.

Which member of the Slaughter Seven is closest?

Demonica.

She is actually heading towards you.

Hmm, we need to be careful then if she is willingly facing us.

Gears changes his direction to intercept Demonica, his Gardium halberd in his hand. It isn’t long before he spots his foe. The Aphrodite woman is zooming through the air right towards him.

No, not an Aphrodite, but an Abnormal.

Not that it is harder to mistake her for the former.

Very true.

Demonica is a red haired Aphrodite, not a natural copper, but an unnatural bright red that looks like blood. Her skin is an eerie pale white while her eyes are black with blood red pupils. Her costume is nothing more than a set of gold and black exposing armour.

Absolutely impractical.

She can afford to be so with her A+ Nigh Invulnerability.

It is still shameful.

Not to mention ridiculous.

Gears adjusts his position, but not slowing down as he approaches Demonica. He raises his halberd back, ready to strike the villainess.

Demonica looks up at she spots Gears approaching and pulls something out of her belt. She crushes it in her fist and throws it at Gears as he enters within a few metres of her. The vigilante rolls out of the way of the dust and brings down his halberd.

But before his blade can connect with Demonica, a red black hole-like portal appears from where the dust is. Gears tries to fly away, but he is already engulfed by it.

What the heck is this?

I don’t not know.

Let us hope it isn’t fatal.

Or at the very least, our armour can withstand whatever it is.

Within moments, Gears is sucked into the portal and his world is replaced with red and black fiery swirls. He is spat out the other side of the portal, slamming face up into crimson red ground.

Gears looks up in time just to see the portal close, the swirls of red energy imploding.

“What happened?” asks Gears as he sits upright.

My head feels so much clearer and lighter.

I know the reason for that.

We all do.

“We have been transported to another dimension,” answers Enduring Iron, “A pocket reality created by Demonica’s power.”

Gears snaps his head around to face Enduring Iron before looking around as he realises what has happened. All of this companions are surrounding him, given physical form in this pocket dimension just as they are given form in virtual reality.

“Great,” mutters Gears sarcastically before raising his voice, “So how do we get home?”

“Unknown at this point in time,” replies Iron before pointing at something in the distance, “But my guess would be that the citadel over there may contain answers.”

Following Iron’s indication, Gears looks at the multi-towered black citadel built into a mountain in the distance.

“A good a guess as any I suppose,” says Gears, “Who can fly?”

Burning Heart, Joyous Star and White Tea all raise their hands while Iron morphs pair of jetpack wings.

“Okay then,” says Gears, “I’ll ride on Lion then.”

“No problem,” replies Vigilant Lion as he kneels down on his forelegs to allow Gears to climb onto his back.

Gears does just that and clips his halberd to his back as Lion gets up. Gears holds onto Lion as he observes this dimension.

It has crimson red dirt, black rocks, rivers of lava and a blood red sky.

Geez, I wonder what place this pocket dimension was modelled after.

“So what can you guys do?” asks Gears, deciding to see what he has to work with when they run into hostiles.

“I am a brick with ability to render myself immune to some of the total damage inflicted,” answers Lion.

“I am an energy projector,” comes Star’s answer while Heart replies a moment later, “The same.”

“Healing and repair,” says Tea, “Basically restoration.”

“I can morph myself into different things and I have your Gadgeteering,” says Iron, “Except I don’t have the restraint of physical resources when I’m morphing my form.”

I got a lot to work with here.

Don’t forget we can still mental communicate.

I won’t. I just hope all of this will be enough for whatever we face.

We will be.

“Okay guys, this is the battle plan,” says Gears, “Star and Heart will be our frontline hits. Lion and I will be the second line while Tea and Iron provide support.”

“Sounds like a good plan,” agrees Lion.

“Yes, it does,” Iron also agrees.

“Contacts up ahead,” reports Heart as they near the citadel.

Using his armour’s telescopic vision, Gears looks at dozen guards of the citadel gates. Each is about two metres tall and humanoid in shape, all wearing bulky black plate armour with an assortment of weaponry.

“Looks like some fun,” says Gears, “Let’s take them down.”

1.14 Slaughter Part 12

Gears roars in anger as he guns down another fast runner of Necromantress’ horde. The supervillainess is now focusing on protect herself rather than expanding her horde as she is using all of her undead to defend herself from Gears instead of sending them out to create more corpses for her to use like she usually does.

Gears hates Necromantress and hates fighting her undead. They might be monsters now, but each one was originally a person who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time and the majority are locals.

In fact, Gears has recognised multiple faces amongst the undead. The sight of each one increases his rage and his hatred of Necromantress even further, fuelling his determination to stop her.

Monsters like her should not be able to exist.

And they will not if we have anything to do about it.

He holsters his pistol as the empty mag is auto-ejected and Gears draws his latest invention. In Eldrim, he has been using the halberd as his favoured weapon and has made himself one in real life.

The pole is shorter than a conventional halberd, only a metre long while the axe blade is slightly curved. The axe blade, the spike and the thorn are all molecular edged and made from Heavy Gardium while the pole is made of normal Gardium.

Unlike a conventional halberd, Gears’ Gardium halberd is meant to be used to be used onehandedly by somebody with good protection, strength and speed.

Not only that, but he has upgraded the hilt with a magnetic attachment that allows him to summon it back to him and the halberd blade head has a limited electric and electromagnetic charges to it, powered by an ElecMag extractor.

Two heavy zombies stand between Gears and the fleeing Necromantress. From his experience and what information he has read about Necromantress, these heavy zombie are extremely tough with super strength and regeneration while also being slow and heavy.

Like some kind of revenant I suppose.

With a battle cry, Gears slashes at the throat of the closest before stabbing the spike of his halberd into the head of the second. He jumps backs as both undead freaks gurgle at him.

While both are injured, neither has suffered ant significant damage.

Looks like we’ll just have to cut the knot to get to Necromantress before she gets away.

A smash and bash?

You guessed it.

Using the mass and power of his armour and the momentum and speed of his KEPs, Gears smashes past both heavy zeds before flying down the street at Necromantress as the gothic Aphrodite flees.

Gears slams into her, tackling Necromantress to the ground. He lands on top of her, pinning her against the road. As he looks into her terrified eyes, Gears raises his halberd in preparation to strike down Necromantress.

Now this monster dies.

“Mercy,” croaks a scared Necromantress before Gears can make the final strike.

What now?

She is a monster. She deserves to die.

But to kill her now would require striking down Necromantress in cold blood.

An act of murder.

For the greater good.

She and the rest of the filth that makes up the Slaughter Seven have attacked our team, our hometown, our people and our loved ones. They all need to die!

So we just sacrifice our morals and principles then?

Our loved ones and those we care about are more important than any ideas and thoughts.

These are more than just thoughts and ideas!

Enough!

“Surrender,” demands Gears as he glares at Necromantress as the tip of his halberd touches her throat, “And rid your monsters of their unnatural life.”

“Yes, of course,” whimpers Necromantress as Gears stares in disgust.

Gears glances behind him at the two heavy zombies. Both of the unnatural abominations have toppled over and now lie lifeless on the ground. His gaze lingers for a moment before Gears turns his attention back to Necromantress.

“Let me make one thing clear,” hisses Gears as Necromantress cowers under his angry gaze, “If you start killing again or try to escape or get away, I will kill you without hesitation. No second chances. Are we clear?”

Necromantress makes a whimpering noise and Gears feels what little of his patience with her remains rapidly draining.

“I said ARE WE CLEAR!” yells Gears at Necromantress, making her flinch.

“Yes, yes we are!” cries Necromantress, tears leaking from her eyes.

“Good,” snarls Gears as he picks up Necromantress with his free hand.

He fires up his KEPs, taking them both into the sky.

What do we do with Necromantress now?

Drop her off somewhere secure until this is all over.

The police station is still intact, safe and well-defended.

Good idea. We’ll drop Necromantress off there and then go and help one of the others.

Gears turns and flies towards the police station. As he soars through the air, Gears looks at the status of the rest of his team as the Guardsmen battle against the Slaughter Seven.

Hmm, Defender and Protector are rallying at the Fowler Manor with Alexandria and Glowbug while Guardian has fallen. Nothing to worry about there.

Friend and most of the Slaughter Seven’s lackeys are dead. Aquiline, Sinister Man and Murderiser have fled and gotten away. Hackjob is pinned down by Sentinel while Murder Wolf has fled into the woods. Demonica is also attempting to get away while the rest of the Slaughter Seven’s organisation is scattering as their leaders fall.

What about Joan?

She is safe.

Good.

1.14 Slaughter Part 6

“Well Gears,” says a haughty male voice, “Despite what my compatriots thought of you, you have fulfilled all my expectations.”

“Aquiline,” hisses Gears as he recognises the voice of the sociopath.

Glancing at Protector as his fellow Guardsman fights the bloodied and beaten zombies, Gears turns to see Aquiline at the other end of the alley.

The black haired man smirks at Gears as he twirls a silver sword in each hand. A stunning, lithe woman in a black dress with a low V-neck is standing on Aquiline’s right. On his left, Gears can spot the heat signature of a fit, lean and bald human.

Aquiline, Necromantress and Murderiser.

We can take Aquiline and Necromantress. Murderiser might be more troublesome if he does have extra powers like some witnesses claim.

Especially if the rumours of his ability to charge objects with explosive power are correct.

Aquiline is an extremely skilled Bellator as well and we don’t know the full extent of his powers.

Necromantress is the weakest unless there human corpses about. Beyond her power to create undead, she is only an Aphrodite.

At A Class mind you.

We should never underestimate this group. Between them, they have killed almost a half million people in under four months.

And they weren’t even trying their hardest. They treat what they do as a game.

Perhaps that is what it is to them.

These are some of the few people I am just going to do my best to kill.

Agreed.

So what do we do?

Protector is still busy with those two undead.

We should buy time until he is done, then engage these three as a group.

Jaylyn should also be receiving data from our armour and passing it onto the authorities.

They’ll probably be having their hands full dealing with the other four members of the Slaughter Seven.

Do think Sinister Man is a member?

As a replacement for one of the Seven or as a lackey?

The latter.

I wouldn’t put it past for Sinister Man to be a replacement member. With their body count, the Slaughter Seven have a turnover rate as high as one would expect.

“Do really think your swords and armour can hold up against my gadgets?” inquires Gears as he cocks his head at Aquiline, “We all know your fear of technology, but how can you hope to beat me without it or any powers?”

“Don’t you remember that little gadgeteer girl down in Georgia?” replies Aquiline in a surprisingly calm and polite voice, “Called herself Armoury? Local hero to her precious town? Figured she could actually take us on singlehanded?”

“Let me guess, you killed her and everybody else in the town before stealing her gadgets?” replies Gears, his voice hardening in anger.

“Oh, dear little Armoury wishes she was dead I’m sure,” replies Aquiline with a sneer, “But while Necromantress’ undead can still use their powers, it doesn’t include non-physical mental powers such as thinkers, tinkers and gadgeteers. So I let Hackjob deal with Armour instead.”

Good Lord…

What is Armoury going through?

Let’s hope we can save her.

Or at the very least, end her suffering.

“You’re a monster,” snarls Gears as he receives a message from Jaylyn.

All local authorities notified as well as all state authorities in Michigan and the neighbouring states. All national authorities are also notified.

“So I’m told,” laughs Aquiline, “But what do I care? Anyway, I got some nano-sharp swords that can hurt even somebody with A Class invulnerability while this bodysuit is pretty much immune to bullets, explosions, energy blasts, fire and other elements.”

With that new knowledge, Gears takes another look at Aquiline’s full bodysuit. He thought it was some kind of black leather, but if what Aquiline says is true…

Here comes Protector.

Time to get this party started.

About time.

Gears throws one of his molecular daggers at Necromantress before moving his hand to draw one of the custom handguns that he brought with him from his belt. As Aquiline moves strike the dagger out of the air with one his swords, Murderiser strikes forward at inhuman speeds with a jagged knife in each hand.

Gears twists to the side as Murderiser stabs at his shoulder. An explosive force ripples off of his armour as Gears aims his semi-automatic pistol at Murderiser. While he doesn’t have time to aim it, Gears has a very strong and steady aim with the assistance of his power armour and he is firing at near point blank range.

The bullets that come out of Gears’ handgun are also customised made by him. An explosive core with a delayed charge while the Gardium outer shell pierces the target’s defences before exploding.

Gears calls them Renders, one of the severals sets of bullets that he has designed.

Of the four shots that Gears fired, the first two hit Murderiser in the shoulder, tearing into the flesh before detonating. The last two Renders explode in the wall as blood and gore splatters Gears.

As Protector swings a fist into Murderiser’s face, Gears turns his attention back to Aquiline and Necromantress.

Duck!

Glimpsing one of the silver swords coming at him from the corner of his vision, Gears follows Lion’s advice and ducks. As the first sword slashes through the air of his head, Gears spots the second stabbing at his side.

He positions his molecular dagger upwards in a position that it blocks the silver blade from his body. 

There are several sparks as the two molecular blades connect with each other. Gears fires the rest of bullets in his twelve-bullet magazine at the sociopathic serial killer.