*AAAAHHH!* *Glurp*

  Somewhere above in the sky the unnatural, nail-on-chalkboard scream bellowed.

  In the small maze of narrow alleyways, the group stuck close to the windowless walls, stretching high for about four stories on either side, Becker and Sae pointing upward trying to figure out the direction of the screams.

  Close to them, they heard a satisfactory low ugh brimming with pride at the end of every blip.

  There was no more activity, no more ughter, save for the low hum of mayhem across the city.

  Becker signaled them to walk slowly. Despite not having a weapon, Sor-Harach gripped tight on the staff,, eyes seeking for the vile fiend in the air. He jumped slightly when a soft hand gripped his shoulder.

  Sae: Don't worry, boy. I'll keep an eye on the rear.

  She gave Sor-Harach a wink, which made his rosy cheeks brighten crimson. He was gd that the cool rain could assuage him at this moment and keep him focused on staying alive.

  *Spt*

  The group immediately turned around to find a perfectly fyed corpse crash down into the small empty square behind them, blood spreading over in a rge area on the enclosure. Sae was left speechless, Sor-Harach gulped hard, Iku quickly covered the mouths of Sta and Ajka, and Becker pointed the muzzle upward, but nothing else came by.

  The air swooshed with one fp, but no shadow manifested on the square.

  Becker's fingers squeezed hard on the grip, joints cracking, but he kept his nerves steadied.

  Though it felt like the anticipation would never end, at st, no sign of hostiles.

  Becker: Where to, Iku?

  Iku: Follow me.

  He took the lead along with Becker, guiding him across yards and abandoned buildings, through alleys and narrow streets.

  Nights prior had a couple of scenes of violence and rapine, but now, it was a genuine free-for-all. Those left were killing each other for the carcass of the city. Those looting were accruing wealth that would not buy them security. The mercenaries have been given their excuse to sughter each other, and they wasted no time to let the blood flow.

  And the smoke plumes widened.

  Iku's living pce was a complex of four buildings surrounded by high walls that covered half a block, trees thick with leaves partially covered the buildings. Contrasted with the surrounding neighborhood, now empty one or two floor lots.

  Before they made it to the walls, Becker paused for a moment, and with an uneasy feeling in his back, trained his muzzle to the sky.

  Becker: Move!

  Firing at semi-auto, he shot at the winged figure heading down while holding onto a metal spear with its head forked in two. From the gap, energy shards shot downward to the group.

  Desperately throwing the duffel bag off his back, Becker took steps back as he adjusted his aim. Iku, though injured, clenched his fist and produced an energy shield, breaking the shards like gss as they made impact. Sae pushed Sor-Harach as she trained her weapon at the oncoming threat, missing her first two shot. When she finally nded a shot, the projectile shattered upon the enemy.

  Moving its arms with intent to swing its spear, the others backed off while still trying to fire, except for Becket, switching out the empty magazine for the one taped to it.

  Sta fired a few shots before the figure fell upon them, undeterred by the shots to the head.

  Iku: Get away!

  As they did, another energy shield popped up, and as quick as it formed, it dissolved when the creature smmed the spear upon it. Iku felt the cold metal scrape him on the forehead as he fell back.

  Rather than crashing onto the ground, the creature used its legs to swing itself on the ground akin to an ice skater, positioning itself ready to lunge at the others with its spear raised to hack. For a brief moment, Becker saw its segmented armor tainted in red, its sharp armored talons gripping to the ground, the thick leathery wings ready to fp. Its vile helmet, with four thick horns sideways, had two bck pits where eyes should be, and in the narrow slit that was the maw, the jaw of the helmet snapped its jagged canines upon itself. There was a bright orange material wrapped on its pauldrons as one would tie a sweater over the shoulders.

  For a fraction of a second, Becker noticed that the ends of the fabric had the shape of hands.

  As it dashed forward, Becker opened fire, and though the bullets made impact, the axolo did not slow down.

  Closing the distance between them, Becker threw himself forward, the spear brushing upon his hair, and hitting the ground hard, fired at the wings. Sae approached from the back and shot the armored fiend in its back with bitterness at the munitions breaking upon impact. As the axolo swung its spear again, Sae nicked it with her weapon just enough to giver herself an opening and firing point-bnk at the creature's hip.

  Quickly repositioning its form, the axolo aimed to pierce Sae's armored belly, and just as it was thrusted, an energy shield appeared before her. Throwing himself at its back, Iku stabbing it wherever he could slip the bde. As the bde sank, Iku's hands scalded from the foul bck ichor emanating from the wounds, infming the flesh with its touch.

  With little effort, the axolo grabbed him by the head and flung him off. Backing away, Sae continued to empty her weapon at it. Getting back up, Becker continued to shoot with caution, each bullet peppering the axolo's armor with bck steaming liquid jumping out, dripping on the ground, filling the air with the smell of petroleum.

  Without hesitation Sae lunged to club the axolo, quickly brought to the ground by the axolo's calf and snapping the rifle's barrel. She tried to get back up, but the axolo stomped her back and gripped her torso, squeezing hard.

  *Aahhhh!*

  Her wish to die rather than endure another second was a low howl compared to the piercing orgasmic ugh of the axolo.

  Arching its back and stretching itself, the axolo quickly shed at Becker with its armored cws with a ferocity that cut the air. Becker dodged one pair of sharp hands, then another, and when the axolo made one more swipe, Becker moved in the gap, swinging butt of his sub-machine gun upward toward the chin of the winged predator. In quick succession, he rammed the butt downwards to the chest, moving his left leg behind the axolo's right. Shoving the muzzle forward, he emptied the clip in its belly, striking it sideways with the butt once more while thrusting himself onto the axolo's body.

  Staggering for a moment, the axolo shifted its legs backwards steadying itself, and before it recomposed itself, Sta sank Iku's bde through fyed skin hanging from the axolo and into its ribs from behind, twisting it as hard as she could. Rather than fall down, the axolo bashed its left fist at Becker's chest, pced its weight on its right leg and mule kicked Sta in the chin. As her head left its foot, the axolo's talons snapped close, ripping some of her hair and much to the axolo's disappointment.

  Ajka popped a few rounds into the axolo, and at st, the armor chipped away. Underneath the armor she saw ghastly, pale dead skin with a green-yellow hue over well toned, tense muscle. She saw the bck holes of Becker's bullets, still oozing the sickening liquid, small red polka dots in random patter, and the veins pulsating so slightly.

  The axolo took a step towards her, raising its head with haughty pride. Sor-Harach, still injured, stepped in front of Ajka with nothing but his stick for a weapon.

  Instinctively, the axolo twisted around and smmed its right hand to the left side, catching Becker attempting to sneak upon it. He struggled to breath, much less try and knife the arm of the creature, as the axolo turned around and lifted him. Smming him down on the ground, the axolo sank its left cws into Becker's abdomen, twisting them with a sickening glee.

  With ire in his belly, Sor-Harach forced himself to leap in the air and hammered the stick on the creature's back. The axolo fell far enough away from Becker, only slightly bruised. Sor-Harach fell next to Becker, and despite his effort, he was aware that they would all be dead soon - it was a pointless maneuver to try and save Becker, but so would have trying to flee with Ajka who was now cowering in horror at what was about to happen next.

  Grunting in pain, Becker got back up with the sounds of shards coming from his body armor, and before the axolo was back on its feet, Becker rammed himself towards it sinking his knife wherever there was an opening. He punctured and cut while gritting his teeth even as the axolo rose back to its feet. Moving closer to the axolo, Becker had no time to get out of the way as the axolo's fist swiped down and smacked him in the face.

  With his head ringing like bells, he struggled to crawl away from the axolo and keep his neck covered.

  With a sense domination flowing through its grunts, the axolo savored the new additions to his skin collection, starting with Becker. That is, until an explosion ripped its wings, tore its backside, and sent it flying like a rag doll onto the ground, the spear slipping away from its grip.

  Gritting through his pain, Becker got back up to assist the others, stumbling himself on towards Sae and relieved to see her still breathing. As he helped her get back up, the pain made her hug herself hard unto Becker's neck, almost bringing both down, and as she steadied herself, she buried her head onto his shoulder and crushed herself to him.

  Becker: You did well.

  Sae: *Grunt* I only wish I had a proper weapon *grunt*...

  Sor-Harach got back up on his feet, pale faced and all the fight out of him.

  Leaving Sae with Ajka, Becker moved on to Sor-Harach, who was fumbling the more he tried to move.

  Iku dragged himself towards Sta and was trying to wake her up. With his eyes watering, Iku's impotency was turning into rage, balling his fists until his nails sank in his flesh. When she winced at the rain droplets, Iku hugged her close as if trying to fuse each other. Still dazed from pain, she slowly opened her eyes, giving shallow breaths as Iku rocked her a bit.

  Sae: Ajka, it's all right. We're all right!

  Slowly, she came back to her senses, hugging Sae hard.

  Ajka: I'm sorry! Sta, Iku...I'm sorr...

  She was in that state of breaking down but having a shred of self-composure, incapable of mustering a torrent of tears. Nevertheless, Sae continued to comfort her as she lifted her up.

  With weak knees and sore legs, Becker moved to reloaded his sub-machine gun. Just as his hand went for the pocket, he gently rocked himself while taking in the cool air, slow rain bouncing off his face. Each sway of his body was an intoxicating invitation to let it all go and sleep. At st, the thin smell of smoke brought him back to the moment, much to his dismay.

  They still needed to get Iku's payment and get out of the city.

  And from the ground, the axolo rose back up, bck ichor dripping from its broken wings and torn exposed back. It hopped and shook its shoulders, readying itself to fight on.

  Reacting much slow than he should have, Becker pulled out his revolver and drew his knife, doing his best to ready himself for the incoming assault. Though all his instincts told him to kill his companions in mercy, he would not have time to do so, dooming the ones that survived to being ravished by the horned helmet axolo. To fight it alone would be suicide, but if he could injure it, perhaps some may escape.

  There can not be anymore hesitation.

  He put away thoughts of disappointment and self-recrimination. There was only him and the axolo, taking the first step towards him.

  *WRAAAH!*

  From the street behind the axolo, a shadow moved fast, bearing down a hand axe with a curved bde, almost half a circle reaching to the hilt.

  Moving to face the new threat, the axolo blocked the axe but could not stop its attacker from choking it. In the struggle, the axolo squeezed at the wrist that held the axe, while the attacker tried to squeeze the life out of the injured monster. With a forceful shove, the axolo freed itself from the assaint, and on closer inspection, Becker saw the scars on the chest and wrists of the individual, now clothed by the waist and feet with items stained in the blood of their owners.

  The axolo moved to tear out the guts of the savage, and in turn, the brute used the axe to simultaneously block the attacks and hack the axolo down. Becker moved as close as he could into the dance with death to find an opening. Noticing this, the axolo moved to trap Becker in its talon with a kick. Just about blocking it with his knife, he opened fire with the revolver, puncturing new wounds into the creature. Despite this, the axolo moved in with the other leg and struck Becker with its knee, forcing him on the ground.

  In an opportunistic move, the savage caught the axolo from behind and choked it in its arms. He moved his prey and rocked him about to tire it, ignoring the axolo sinking its cws in his arms.

  Getting back up, Becker lunged at the axolo, sinking his knife in its belly. With much struggle, he brought the bde across the belly, removing the shattered, loose armor as it went by. The axolo did not made bestial howls or screams of agony,rather, it was akin to orgasmic release tinged with a hateful murderous desire. When the knife would move no more, Becker stepped out to let the axolo bleed while he tended to his burning hands.

  Dropping the axolo to the ground, the savage took hold of the axe while pulling him by one of the horns, lightning gleaming in the bde. With one blow, the axe let out a stream of bck blood. With another, the axe made deep into the flesh, but it was not enough. The savage hacked and hacked, and still, the axolo struggled for its life. Another blow, and the axe hit bone. Another strike, and the head of the axolo could easily hang from a strip of skin and flesh.

  With one more blow, the savage at st got his prize. Holding the helmet on high, he let out a victory cry that cut the background sounds of the coming night, throwing it on the ground where it spshed a bck stain.

  The savage went for the axolo's spear on the ground, and contempting it for a moment, decided to take it with him. He then returned to the axolo's corpse, and slicing off a strip of skin, he fashioned himself a string from which to hang the axolo's helmed head to the spear, unconcerned with how it made it cumbersome to wield. Looking at Becker still some pained in his hands, he returned back to the corpse. Stretching its arms out, he chopped off the hands with the axe and squeezed the bck liquid out.

  Without saying a word, the savage offered them to Becker, accepting them after a moment of hesitation. Though he wanted to say thank you, he figured the savage would understand.

  With his axe holsted at the waist and the spear resting on a shoulder, the savage continued down the road with pleasure, not minding that the city would soon be vioted by an invading force, much less its current state of degradation.

  The rain slowed, but did not let up; far above, the clouds funneled upwards, swelling at the center before its collected mass pushed back down, threatening to spiral down until it split to merge back upon itself.

  The group boarded Iku's vehicle stacked with enough supplies and to st a couple of days along with Becker's other bags already tucked underneath the seats. The vehicle resembled a safari vehicle with a makeshift, hard pstic canopy, no wheels and no exhaust pipe. The seats were on the sides, long with space underneath to pce the cargo. At the center front, the open cockpit resembled half a moped, with a yoke instead of side handles, a shift stick, and a seat with armrest. As it is immobile on the ground it is completely ft, and when it activates by turning on a switch where the key would go in, it immediately raised itself a few feet in midair. Such is one example of a "floater" as these vehicles are named.

  Once securing the bag with explosives, Becker steered the group onto the smaller eastern harbor with not a ship in sight. Already waiting at the docks were the three hakas with fresh new scorch marks across their frames and the jumbled one of the trio in a bout of ecstasy.

  Jumbled haka: yesyesyes...BURN! Oh, you...YOU Kanekas and your weak frames!

  The floater slowed down just before touching it.

  Becker: Good to see none of you broke down just yet. How was your spree of mayhem?

  Jumbled haka: ohhhhh! Aliv...ALIVE! Such a sight to see them run on fire and...

  Becker: We get the point.

  If the haka continued to speak it might disintegrate in front of them all.

  Off at sea, the shape of a ship approached looking like a low level barge with the bow rising like fishing boat and two conning towers - one small box at the bow and a two story high, roughly eight meter wide silver slick tower with one entrance in the middle all located in on the port corner of the stern.

  First the hakas boarded onto the ship, followed by the floater; extending a drawbridge from the ship, the hakas moved away before the vehicle boarded, albeit with some struggle as to how much to twist it so that it would not go into the water. Once in, the drawbridge was returned, and the ship continued on, with the fires highlighting the city ndscape.

  Shutting the vehicle off and removing his body armor, Becker let open the front pouch, pulling the shattered ceramic pte out of it - for as vicious as the axolo's cws were, they went no further.

  Keeper: Unbelievable, Becker! I dare say I pced too much trust in your skills!

  Becker: I dare say you dare say; we are alive at least.

  Keeper: Well, if your companions need attention, I have some begambili canisters below. You can rest there as well or stay above in the floater. Just don't go overboard. Other than that, welcome aboard!

  His forced smile could not hide his worry - for all the wealth that were in the holds below, a well-id pn was worth more, and ferrying a wounded crew was not part of it.

  Once the keeper dismissed them, the hakas went up the other conning tower to the second floor.

  Iku and Sta said their thanks and proceeded down, Ajka meekly but frenetically bowing to the three older adults before rushing to help Iku. Sae and Sor-Harach opted to stay on top. Though Sae was in pain, the axolo had only meant to incapacitate her, so she walked on deck for a while before sitting down with her back on the solid piece rail port-side.

  Free from his body armor, Becker headed over to the small cube at the front to speak more with the keeper, walking with shivers coming from his chest.

  Reaching for his pouch, he handed the keeper a toasted gumio he looted from the dead as he sat behind.

  Becker: How long until we reach the swamps south of the Wailing Husks?

  Keeper: A day at least. Perhaps two. If you fail in your endeavor, you will be on your own, you know that?

  Becker: Thank your for the worry, *grunt* but it's all been bog-standard anyway.

  Keeper: Becker, where is the convoy heading to?

  Becker: To the far southern continent. *Grunt* it will be a pear-shaped life for them, but at least they'll be unmolested. Why?

  Keeper: All that grass and lonesome wind? Now that's a high risk bet.

  In a fsh, he observed any potential profit swallowed by the dry jungle and pnes of solitude. His fingers betrayed his frustration as they tapped on the yoke.

  Keeper: Will we be seeing you again?

  Becker: Perhaps not...but it was good doing business while it sted.

  With a heavy sigh, he got back up and left him to steer the ship.

  Sae was already trying to keep her eyes closed when Becker made his way towards her, slowly sitting down.

  Becker: You are not going to tend to your wounds?

  Sae: *Ghrn* give me a moment, I need to rest. Let the little ones go first...Outsider, how do you do it?

  Becker: You mean...how do I stay conscious?

  The heavy words left his mouth with a trail of breath behind them.

  Sae: Are you a sele'kwai or something like that?

  Becker: *Grunt* I just get on with it. And I 'ave a sense of humor. Well *cough* at least that's how we were trained to go about.

  He paused to massage the top of his nose, right where it intersected with his forehead.

  Sae: And that's suppose to be encouraging?

  Becker: Better than letting the weight of it all sink you. Why do you ask?

  She took a moment to respond.

  Sae: I don't know why you insist on going on. I know, you have your reasons, but...WON'T you consider giving it all up?!

  Becker: And do what?! When I'm not killing perfect stranger, I'm mad-pissed on the gutter...

  He wanted to continue on, but thinking about it, he doubted the effectiveness of so much poured over so fast in one instant. So he kept it short.

  Becker: What you ask of me...I cannot do...

  Still, there was something in Becker's words that made Sae wonder what was perturbing his mind. After a few moments to think of what it may be, she took a chance, moved closer to him and pced her arm around him.

  Sae: You got most of them out. You did not had to rescue any more than you needed to, but you did. Everyone else knew that they would die, but...What more could they do? What more could you do?

  Becker did not responded to her. His eyes moved left and right, up and down. His fingers ticked with energy, trying to re-configure, re-analyze, re-calcute. He bobbed his head slightly with every new assertion, knowing well that it was only of academic interest and unable to change the way things went.

  Becker: It was too rash, and there is no excuse for that.

  With a heavy sigh, she gave up trying to convince him to shut off.

  Sae: Don't die too early, huh, old man?

  Becker: Not on your life.

  After a brief exchange of sly, skeptical smiles, she parted down bellow deck, not before tapping on Sor-Harach's leg.

  There was one st thing he needed to do, but the cool air was getting the better of him. Lifting himself back up, he headed over to the floater where Sor-Harach was, lying on his back on one of the back.

  Becker: Open your shirt.

  Looking confused for a bit, Sor-Harach at st opened the buttons on his shirt. Taking it off, he exposed small bruises and bite marks of equal size across his body. There were also a few bck dots where there were no bruises, scorched right into the skin.

  Becker: Take off your trousers.

  Sor-Harach: I'm fine, thanks.

  Becker: I need to be sure...

  Sor-Harach: I'm fine!

  As he clenched his teeth at the end of his sentence, he made clear that he did not want to remove them. Somewhat stunned, Becker nonetheless did not press on with the issue, albeit with worry that he would die from unknown wounds.

  Reaching for his bag nearby, Becker took out a bottle of yellow pills, and taking two out, he handed one over to Sor-Harach, along with his gourd. When he finished drinking the water, Becker took the pill in and the water.

  Becker: It won't heal your wounds, but it will alleviate your pain.

  Sor-Harach: Wouldn't begambili be just as effective?

  Becker: You've had it worse. I can't tend to you as is, so for now, just sleep it off.

  Inspecting the small bag where the axolo's hands were, he tied it back and pced it underneath a seat.

  Becker: So what did you tell the warden master?

  He took a moment to think back.

  Sor-Harach: I told him my side lost the battle.

  Becker: You what?!

  Sor-Harach: I...uh...we were almost devastated.

  Becker: So why did they tortured you?

  Sor-Harach: I think they were just scared. They probably wanted to know if I knew more.

  As much as Becker wanted to press on, the both were fast running out of time. Shaking his head with incredulity, Becker still wished to expin his situation to him.

  Becker: I have been informed you are an acquaintance of one Colonel Wilrd. When we wake up, I want you to tell me everything.

  Sor-Harach slowly colpsed on the seat, so did Becker on the opposite side

  Becker: You best learn how to survive torture, and learn fast. Your days of training with spear and shield are not enough.

  Sor-Harach: ...I...apologize...For Not being a real warrior...

  His speech was becoming slurred.

  Becker: Of course you would. What else do muppets do?

  The clouds continued to be tight and fluffy, and the thunder fshed far to the south. The freshness from on high mingled with that of the seawater. Inhaling once, Becker closed his eyes. Inhaling twice, he squeezed to let the moisture in his eyes fall off. Inhaling once more, he let the pills take him to sleep with nothing more left to do but take care of oneself.

  Clicking the safety on his sub-machine gun, he held it in his arms on top of his chest.