Theater of Pain 2099UG #3

Act 3 of 4: Rapture

The Curtain Rises

The Island of Hawaii, 2099

Once, this island and it's brothers claimed fame as a vacation retreat, a place for families and for lovers. Today, only those seeking death reach the island's obsidian shores, only to find something worse. A citadel rises on the superheated slopes of Mauna Loa, a scar on the surface of the earth and the sadistic heart of humanity. The Theater of Pain.

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Scene 1

The halls of the volcanic citadel were cold, surprising for a structure immersed in the fiery lifeblood of the earth. Few people could conceive of such a building inhabited by people. Fewer still could imagine that two such people are trying desperately to escape.

Chris Blake stood at the door to his cell, a cramped, dark and fetid prison for over 20 years of his life. At his side stood Succubus, his surprising savior. Surprising because she was a Norn, one of the Theater's servants. Surprising because despite this he was in love with her. They had met in battle in the Splatterpits, one of the many forms of entertainment the Theater of Pain specializes in. Their fight ended when this woman destroyed his left eye, which was now covered with a metallic patch. The other wounds she had inflicted had all but vanished, thanks in entirety to the drugs which pumped through his veins.

"We'll head out to the lifts in the corridor near the 'Pits," she told him. Chris looked down at Succubus. Despite the pain she caused him, there was something about her that attracted him. Only moments ago he had been ready to kill her and now here he was about to escape with her. 'I must be crazy,' he thought.

Together the sped down the corridor. A cat's grace filled their movements as they traveled. Ahead, Chris spotted two uniformed citadel guards standing watch over the lift. They cradled rifles in their arms as they surveyed the hall. Chris pulled Succubus back into a small door jam. "Up ahead, the two guards," he whispered to her.

"Don't worry about them, just wait here."

Succubus stepped out into the hall and sauntered over to the men. "Hello darlings," she cooed to them.

"Lady," one of the men said bowing is head. Succubus smiled as she laid her hand across the man's cheek. Even from the distance he was from the scene, Chris could tell something had changed about the guard. He nodded his head as she spoke to him, turned and walked over to his companion. The two talked for a moment before turning and walking towards a small side chamber.

"What happened?" he asked as Succubus returned.

"I just convinced them to wait in there for a couple of hours. Now we have a clean break for the main level."

"What about security sensors?"

"Don't worry," she held up her hand showing him a small wrist band. "All Norns in the Citadel have one of these, so when we move prisoners around it doesn't set off the detectors." She smiled, "Like I said, we are clear to go."

"All right, let's go."

Together they moved to the lift. Chris could feel the hairs on his neck standing on end. Something was wrong, but he couldn't place his finger on it. The doors to the lift closed with a dull thud and he could feel the floor moving beneath him. Gravity pulled him downwards slightly. A digital display above the door cycled through numbers as fast as his eye could see. His eye trailed down to the gauntlet covering his right hand. The thin mesh of golden wiring gleamed in the light from the display. A small crackle of energy swept over the wires and sent a small surge into his arm, causing the hairs to stand on end.

Finally the elevator slowed. Chris' breath caught in his throat as he waited for the doors to open. He realized for the first time that he was actually nervous. For so long he had been lead like a sheep and now he was finally doing something of his own free will. He knew he couldn't fail. At this point, it would lead only to his death. He flexed his muscles as the doors slid open. He looked up and stood face to face with an army.

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Scene 2

Fyre lounged in her spacious observation lounge. Across the walls monitors flickered from scene to scene, from torment to torment. She held a glass in one hand, sipping the sweet wine occasionally. Her crimson hair was fanned out behind her as she relaxed.

"Don't you think you're a little too relaxed?" Deva asked as she stepped into the dim red light. She wore an elegant robe, the color of blood, which hugged a fit body. Even though her faced was that of an older woman, she moved with the grace of a young child.

"Not at all. After all, with Succubus and the Gladiator now surrounded by the Citadel guards, our little show is going exactly as planned." Fyre took another sip of wine, "Besides if anything starts to go wrong here, I've already instituted some back-up plans."

"Crevice, you mean?" Deva asked as she worked the monitor controls. A single image sprung up on the screens, Succubus and the Gladiator surrounded by over two dozen guards. "What about the nanotech?"

"Still functioning. Although, I have to admit its a shame we have to waste so much on this single show."

"You do know what they say, the customer is always right."

"True," Fyre said as she moved from her chair. "And he did pay handsomely for this private audience."

"You're taking a risk on this one Fyre. If the Gladiator does get out, Brimstone will have your head."

"Brimstone has other matters which hold his attention right now*. Anyway, it looks like it's almost time for my scene."

"Your scene?"

"Well, did you honestly believe I would allow this show without having an appearance of my own?" And Fyre slipped through the door with a smile.

* (see Tales of the Chicago Reserve issue #3 )

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Scene 3

He dove into the mass of men, arms slashing outwards, sending waves of electricity tearing into their skin. Behind him, Chris could feel Succubus' presence, not through any sixth sense, but the simple instincts of a trained warrior.

"We have orders to take them alive," one of the men called out, most probably a lieutenant, "Repeat ali . . . aack." He was silenced as Chris' hand landed a solid blow in the throat, crushing it closed.

More men streamed into the corridor. Like lemmings heading to the sea, they threw away their lives against the two escapees. Succubus seemed to dance around the guards, evading their clumsy attempts to subdue her and returning with lethal force. Men lay around her, clutching throats, or gashes in the face and eyes.

One guard attempted to force Chris down, by grabbing him around the waist. This only resulted in the guard being crushed up against a nearby wall. He was left on the ground, his spine broken and blood flowing from his ears.

"Here," Succubus called moving towards a side door, "This leads out to the docks."

Chris forced his way across the corridor. One of the guards swung the but of his gun against the back of Chris' neck. Before he could retaliate, Chris was swamped by several more men, clubbing him with their weapons. He fell to the ground hard, feeling a sharp crack from his left arm.

"Get off me!" he yelled as he shoved his way upward. He tossed the men off him like dolls and surged forward. One guard got in his way. Chris reached out, grabbing the man in the face. As electricity surged into the guard, Chris took care of several others with sharp kicks.

"Hurry up," Succubus called to him. She was still holding her own, but was slowly being overtaken by the numbers.

Chris dropped the scorched corpse and ran forward. He gritted his teeth against the pain of his broken arm. Already the Stimulant flowing through his blood was pushing his body to repair the injury.

With a grunt, Chris broke through the rank of guards between him and Succubus. As he reached the door, he turned and gave one final kick, sending a man to the ground with a sickening thud.

"Let's go," he breathed through clenched teeth. Behind him, a security door slid down into place. "What?" he asked.

"Just a little precaution," Succubus told him. I don't think we'll need anyone else following us."

"Right."

Together they continued down the dark hallway. Chris noticed that the air temperature was beginning to rise. Sweat poured from his body in rivers. Strange, he thought as he looked at Succubus' dry smooth skin, she doesn't seem to notice the heat at all.

Ahead of them stood a set of double doors. Chris neared them cautiously, feeling a wave of heat wash over his body. He started to reach out to touch the metal surface of the door when Succubus pulled his hand back, "Don't," she told him. "If you touch that door you'll be in for a nasty surprise."

She walked over to a side panel and rested her hand on its surface.

"Step to the side and wait until I say so." Succubus began punching in a sequence onto the keypad as Chris stepped back. The doors slid open slowly. A red glow seeped out from the crack between the doors, only moments before a gout of flame burst past. "We have to be careful. I don't know much about this area of the citadel."

The flames at the door died away. Chris nodded to her as he stepped into the inferno. The sensory enhancing drugs flowing through his blood was enough to make this chamber almost unbearable. A rocky ledge circled a large central pit. When Chris looked over the edge he had to resist a rush of vertigo as he stared into a lava-filled abyss. Molten rock churned far below, hissing and bubbling. Across the walkway, small tubes ejected spurts of flame into the air.

"I think we have to reach that door," Succubus told him, pointing up to a door at the other end of the room. The ledge moved upwards at a steep angle, creating a treacherous slope.

"What do you mean think?"

"Well, I hadn't planned on coming this way. If those shocking guards hadn't been in the way, we almost be out now."

"What is this place?" Chris asked her.

"It's a small side chamber from the main volcano shaft. I don't know what it's used for though."

The floor of the ledge was very uneven, and several sharpened ridges of obsidian rose out of the floor. Chris' arm ached in the heat. He could feel the drugs forcing the bone to mend. Unfortunately this drew from his metabolic energy, thus speeding up the rate at which his body absorbs the drugs. With his broken arm, he would only become consumed with the Need sooner.

"Hey, are you with me?" Succubus' words brought him out of his thoughts. He realized he had stopped moving at was merely staring into the hypnotic glow of the lava.

"Yeah, I'm fine. We better hurry. It won't take them long to catch up with us."

Succubus nodded and they continued to the door. The door seemed to emanate a reddish glow, but Chris couldn't tell wether that was from the metal being hot, or the reflection of the room's natural light. His depth perception was still shot. He instinctively moved his hand to the metal covering his missing eye. It was warm.

Succubus pulled the door open and together they stepped out into a much cooler exterior. Dark metallic walls stretched off into the distance. High above them, bright neon lights flooded the ceiling with illumination. The two stood on a narrow walkway, one which circled what appeared to be a large launching bay. The floor below swarmed with yachts and pleasure craft, the property of the Theater's demented cliental. Across the bay, a large door opened out into the surprisingly bright afternoon sky. Chris stared at the light, his eye captivated by the freedom it promised.

"Come on," he said to Succubus as he moved across the walkway, "we're out of here."

He slipped towards a ladder, one which extended down to the main level. His adrenalin pumped, the thrill of escape wrapping itself around his thoughts. He landed quietly upon the metallic floor and walked confidently over to the nearest transport. Before he could reach his hand out to pull open the door, a sound caught his ears.

"What . . . !?"

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Scene 4

His name isn't important. Nor is his position. It is enough to say that he is powerful, enough to say that he can do what he wants. He was clothed only in his own sins, and the bio-cybernetic link to his entertainment. The black strips wound their way across his torso, connected to the ring of metal at his throat. A shudder coursed through his body like electricity. "Ahhhhh," was the only sound to escape from grey pallid lips. His eyes fluttered as the adrenalin surge passed, leaving him empty. Sweat collected on his skin, from the heat of an inferno hundreds of miles away.

The sound of an poignant beeping brought the man out from his reverie. Nearby, a computer monitor flickered on illuminating the room with it's pale green light. It's glow bathed the man as he moved from his reclined chair and walked over to the terminal. The collar from his neck was clenched tightly in one hand.

"Yes, what is it?" the man demanded from the monitor.

A young face appeared on the screen, fear washing over its expression. The young man's face bore the tattoo of a coiled serpent. "Sir, you asked to be informed when the newest shipment arrived."

"Of course, please send her right up," he looked over to the far wall of the room. A wall slid open, at the same time the sound shield fell. When the screams coming from that niche were transmitted across the wire to the young officer, his face blanched visibly. With difficulty, he swallowed, and stared away from the monitor.

"I believe that is all?" the man asked the younger before switching off the screen. He strode over to the far wall, enjoying the music of torment. Chained up to the interior were two young children. The one on the right a young girl with strawberry blonde hair and a tear streaked face, the one on the left a dark haired boy. The two screamed in harmony as sharpened blades were slowly and methodically pulled down their chests. The skin was being peeled away slowly by sharpened hooks. Both instruments gleamed in the sterile light. Already, sharper implements had stripped them of their clothing and dignity. Thick scar tissue covered the rest of their bodies.

"Ah, very good my children. I see the nasty tool hasn't quite finished its work." The man smiled as he slid a pale hand across the girl's cheek. "I really hope you remember not to tell daddy fibs anymore, but this is the only way you'll learn." He ended the conversation by placing a kiss on either's cheeks and slid the wall back into place.

As their screams died from the air, the man moved back over to his seat, slipping the silver collar back around his neck. "And now back to the show."

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Scene 5

"So you're that escaped Gladiator, huh?"

Chris Blake hit the ground hard. As he caught his breath he heaved the weight of Succubus' unconscious body off of him. A large purple welt was slowly spreading out across her temple, and blood flowed from her nose. He looked up to the top of the catwalk where a large humanoid was moving out of the shadows.

He must have stood at least a head taller than Chris, who was himself about six and a half feet tall. The 'man's' face was twisted and misshapen. A thick ridge of bone wrapped itself along the upper half of his skull, and folds of hard flesh grew from his cheeks. The thing's skin was a dark crimson color, highlighted by shades of orange. The rest of the thing's body was enclosed in what appeared to be ebony body armor. It's legs were bare, except for the thick, leathery skin. Sharp protrusions ran the length of his arms, up to a point inches from a thick meaty neck.

"Well, don't think you'll be getting out of here any time soon!" the creature yelled as it jumped down to Chris' level. It landed with a tremor, almost sending Chris reeling into the luxury transport.

"Who the shock are you?" he demanded dropping into a crouch.

"Ah, I see your mistress over there never told you about the this little citadel's watchdog, huh?" It took a massive step forward and swung one gargantuan fist to the ground below. A shockwave tore along the metal plating, sending rivets into the air and throwing Chris back to the ground. "My name is Crevice, and I'm here to bury you on this mountain."

Chris threw his arms up just in time as one of Crevice's fists rammed into him. Unfortunately the blow struck his still unhealed broken arm, sending a cascade of pain through his left shoulder. The energy supplied to him by the drugs pushed him to his feet though. Crevice stared at him, satisfied to watch Chris struggle to his feet. "Impressive, you know. Most people don't get up from one of my shots."

"Well, you'll find out I'm a little tougher than the scum you usually deal with," Chris spat back.

"Don't be so sure, Gladiator. I've buried more opponents in these rocks than you could imagine."

The two clashed again, striking each other with full force. Crevice swung wide, missing Chris' head by mere inches. In response Chris planted the palm of his right hand, the hand clad in the still charge shock-gauntlet, onto Crevice's chest. Unfortunately, before enough electricity could be sent into his foe, Chris was battered back by a sharp backhand. Chris slid across the metal floor, careening into yet another transport deeper into the landing bay.

When next Chris looked at Crevice, the large man's eyes were closed in deep concentration and his hands were raised over his head. Suddenly he brought his arms down, pointed in Chris' direction, and let out a high pitched moan. Within a second Chris felt the wave hit. His body was send into the air and felt like it was being torn apart. He landed in a heap, across the bay from Crevice, the vibrations still wracking his torso. "Now don't you feel a little stupid, my little escapee?"

"Uunghh," Chris moaned, pushing his aching body to his feet. Before he could even get to his knees, he collapsed. His broken arm, worsened by the shockwave, was useless and provided no support. He could hear the sound of his opponent walking towards him. 'If I don't move, I'm gonna be slaughtered', was all he could think about. He quickly rolled across the floor to a nearby air yacht. It rested on large landing skids, resulting in its underside being located almost three feet off the ground. Moving as fast as he could, Chris grabbed a section of the craft and lifted himself to his feet with his good arm. Dragging himself to the undercarriage of the transport, he saw what he needed, a cargo door located on the vehicle's underside.

"Come on out you little son of a glitch. You have some pain coming your way and I wouldn't want our audience to be bored by your little ploys," Crevice yelled as he searched for Chris.

Ignoring the others taunts, Chris pulled open the cargo door as quietly as he could. It opened with a barely audible click. The interior, thankfully, was nearly empty. Except for a single case at the back, the rest of the area was clear. Taking a breath, Chris lifted himself up into the door, sliding as much as his body in as he could fit. It was tight, but he finally managed to completely hide himself. He needed a moment to rest, and try to figure out a way to stop Crevice. He completed his task by closing the door. "Now let's hope there's enough air in this thing."

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Scene 6

She lay still, not moving a single muscle. She could hear the sounds of fighting, of bodies being thrown around and the voices of the combatants. Still, even as they moved away from her she remained motionless. Finally, judging it to be safe to move, Succubus rose to her feet. She looked around, seeing the results of the fight between Crevice and Gladiator around her. Metal from an uprooted floor pane lay on the ground, and nearby transports spotted several new dents.

She hadn't expected Crevice to show up. When he caught her, she had tried to warn Chris, but was knocked out before that could happen. The last thing she remembered before blacking out completely was Crevice lifting her and throwing her over the edge of the catwalk. She could feel the welt on her face beginning to swell. The mass of guards earlier was bad enough, but sending Crevice after them? The Theater must be anxious to put on a good show for them to send him.

She walked around the area, watching as Crevice moved from transport to transport at the other end of the bay. An ache was spreading through her shoulders, so she began to massage them. As she kneaded her flesh she her the sound of footfalls above her.

"A wonderful performance, dear sister."

"Fyre, do you really think I need you here?" Succubus asked her fellow Norn. Fyre stood on the Catwalk, leaning up against the wall of the bay.

"Ah but dear sister, don't you know that a director should always keep close tabs on her production?"

Succubus approached the ladder to the catwalk and pulled her self up. "I hope you don't plan on interfering in this little show?"

"Of course not, after all Crevice seems quite capable of handling your little companion all on his own." The crimson haired Norn slunk over to Succubus and lifted her hand. A flame encircled her wrist as she said, "I'm here for you."

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Scene 7

Chris waited for a long time. His self imposed imprisonment kept him safe, only as long as he made no sudden movements. He was sure that any sound would bring Crevice tearing into him, and with his arm broken that wouldn't do any good.

"I'm not going to wait all day, Gladiator. You have ta come out sooner or later." The phrase was punctuated by the sound of metal being torn in half.

Chris knew he had to get out of the cargo hold. There was only so much air in here, and he could feel it running out. 'If I hit him hard and fast, I might make it out alive,' he thought, and slowly pushed the airtight door open.

Chris dropped to his feet running. crossing from transport to transport. Ahead of him, Crevice stood over the wreckage of one luxury yacht, it's broken frame twisted beneath his boot. Chris thanked the god he no longer believed in that Crevice's back was turned to him. He would only have once chance for this, and he had to make it good. With not so much as a noise, Chris leapt into the air, landing his feet squarely in the center of his foe's back with a crunch.

"Now what are you going to do?" Chris yelled as Crevice toppled forward. Not waiting for an answer, Chris took off back to the catwalk he took entering the bay. Behind him Crevice bellowed in anger and took up the chase. Furiously the two charged through the bay, between luxury transport and air yacht. The ladder to the catwalk was just ahead. Ignoring the pain from his arm, Chris hastened up the ladder, only feet in front of crevice.

"Get back down here you shocking maggot!" Crevice yelled. Chris saw him reaching for the ladder.

Atop the catwalk Chris charged for the door back into the lava shaft. As he did, he noticed that the wall and grating were scorched and showed signs of being melted. Paying it no heed, he dove into the inferno.

As fast as he could, he covered the distance to the other side of the lava cauldron. Sweat beaded up along his body. A sound from the opposite end turned him around, and he watched as Crevice entered the room.

"So you've stopped running, eh?"

"That's right," Chris whispered. "You, the Theater, it's all going to be in the past. History!"

Crevice was fast, closing the gap between them in a second. However Chris was faster. He knew he couldn't over-power the brute, but he could use him. Diving to the side, he landed between the wall and Crevice's legs. In a flash, he struck with the shock-gauntlet pouring volt after volt into the larger's leg. He didn't know how much it might hurt, but Chris was sure that it would be enough to kill all feeling in the nerves.

"This show's over!" Chris yelled one last time, before throwing the full force of his body into Crevice. He hoped it was enough. It was. Crevice tumbled of the edge of the precipice, and fell screaming into the lava far below. Chris pulled himself to the edge and looked down. All he could see was a bright burst of flame as a large shape sunk into the super heated molten rock.

He felt the cool air outside the lava tube caress his skin and it felt good. Once again he stood on the edge of the catwalk, looking over the landing bay. He was surprised that no guards had yet reached here. He didn't care though; he was free. All that was left was to find a way off the island. He wished he knew how to drive those larger vehicles, but the training of a Gladiator never covered that.

"Are you ready love?"

Chris turned to the voice of Succubus. She stood a foot behind him, her hair disheveled and several tears along her jumpsuit. When he moved forward to embrace her, he was thrown backwards by a powerful kick to the stomach. "Ready to die that is?"

Next Issue: The climatic conclusion. Will Gladiator ever be free of the Theater? Gladiator vs Succubus. Plus Fyre, Brimstone Love, Deva and more from the mysterious customer. See ya then.