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November 27, 1999 |
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Ruined Cathedral -- Hell's
Kitchen
Once a grand catholic Church, this cathedral has been reduced to little more than a military bunker, as well as a refugee shelter. Ragged cloth partitions have been erected, bunks set up in one corner. There are no pews, what remains of the m likely being used for firewood, makeshift construction, or blockades on the doors and windows. There are about 250+ people huddled here, some sleeping, some praying, others staring off into space.
Two armed guards are at the door, guns Trained on Pestilence.
Cisco is very near the door. About six other people have guns pointed at her. He smiles at Pestilence as the guards slam the door shut behind her. "Hey," he greets.
"Hello, Cicso."
Riva arches an eyebrow, guns aimed at Pestilence. The doors are slammed as soon as she is in. Riva lowers her guns, recognizeing the woman's face. "Welcome to the strong hold."
Pestilence holds her empty hands outwards.
Riva looks at the guards. "She's safe, relax."
Erich stands straight and begins pacing,"strange you survived out there with no weapons or the like"
Pestilence offers for Erich's benefit, "Not so strange.."
Riva straightens and faces Yosannah,
tottering slightly. "I don't know. Mailboxes, shopping carts, lamp
posts all came to life and started attacking people. Demons are ever
where, and the dead won't stay dead."
Pestilence wanders among the many people cramped in the church. She pauses over a cot and kneels before the lifeless body that lays there. She mumbles something softly and places a gentle hand over its blank eyes to close them.
Riva looks over at Yosannah sharply. "Dead?"
Cisco mutters softly "What?!"
Erich lifts his eyes to Yo's patient, he mouths, "dead?"
Pestilence turns her head slightly from her crouched position, "I'm sorry."
Riva shrugs. "You're welcome to stay...but if someone dies you need to tell us immediately." she looks to one of the people walking about talking to people, probably social workers. "I need the lighter and the gasoline." Riva moves towards the body, grim and saddened look on her face.
Pestilence tries to explain to Riva, a painful expression on her face as she notices Riva's sadness. "I have been drawn here...all the signs are clear. Others like myself will be here soon."
Robin asks, out of nowhere, "Others like yourself?"
In Pestilence's mind, Cisco says, ~ Sacramento? ~
Erich once again looks up. His curiosity sparked by Yo.
Cisco looks at Yosannah, too. Yosannah seems about to explain but turns sharply in Cisco's direction. She seems mildly angered at the intrusion he has made into her mind.
Mora frowns, "You are one of them." Mora has ceased drawing.
Cisco blinks, bows slightly to Yosannah, and turns towards the door again.
Riva blinks. "The horsemen, War, pestilence.." she looks at Yosannah. "Death, and Famine, right?" she chuckles bitterly. "Knew I recognized you from somewhere." she winces. "And I hope I never meet war again. That was...unpleasant."
Yosannah sighs, "Let me explain something to you. This shadow - it's time is coming. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Mora has the same frown on her face, "Which one are you?"
Pestilence ignores the question as Riva carries the body cradled in her arms towards the door, a man with a small soda can and a lighter following her.
Cisco's grin fades to almost nothing. "Riva, I can take care of this." He holds out his arms.
Pestilence turns and wanders among the refugees.
Erich stands and gestures to Pestilence, "excuse me, would you mind?" and motions for her to join him. "I want to talk to you about.. this... I wanted to ask you about your position as... death?"
Pestilence stares at Erich, "There's nothing to know. And You've mistaken me"
Erich says to Pestilence, obviously not happy, in a low voice that is not quite whispering but in reality would be hard to hear any further than a few feet away, "No, I was just wondering about what it's like to 'be' death. How do you feel about yourself?"
Bryce considers Yosannah, "She isn't Death or War."
Pestilence stares at Erich blankly, "How do I feel," She shakes her head at that as Thomas/Famine materializes. She turns to regard Thomas, though she seems slightly disturbed by his presence.
Erich turns his back on Pestilence, coat whipping around behind him, He walks off slowly and returns to his wall.
Pestilence seems oblivious to Erich's apparent disapproval her attention completely focused on Thomas. "Greetings, Brother."
Riva looks up. "Another one? ho-boy..."
Thomas slaps dust off his pants leg as he appears next to Pestilence. "Evenin', Miss Yosannah." He looks around at the rest of the group and smiles, his lips pulling back to reveal a great many teeth.
Pestilence offers before he can continue further, "The signs here are premature, but time is quickly slipping past..."
Riva looks to Thomas. "Hello, I'm Riva. Welcome to the Stronghold." she glances at Pestilence.
Bryce laughs, "And here we have Famine, which makes her Pestilence. It all comes back to me."
Thomas looks around, "Premature?! But Miss Yosannah, I recon I can fix that... He looks Riva up and down, "Evening, ma'am"
Riva looks at Thomas, eyes hard chin set. "You heard her, they are premature. This shadow isn't dying yet." her tone is laced with steel. Riva stands tottering slightly with fatigue, but her shoulders are squared and her grimy chin lifted. She strides towards the pair.
Thomas meets Bryce's gaze, then looks again to Riva. "What is it you...desire, ma'am?" There's a lot of weight in that word, desire.
Riva says "Desire? Very simple. I wish to destroy the cause of this hell on earth, and try to rebuild. If you are inclined to help me do this, I welcome you. If you wish to do the opposite, I will fight you til my last breath. If you don't care, you are welcome to leave."
Thomas casts his eyes back to Riva and takes off his hat. "Don't get me wrong, ma'am, I been told I'm blind in one ear and can't see out of the other one. It'd be my right honor to help ya'll come face to face with what ya' really, REALLY want.
Bryce frowns, "Perhaps it is best you leave. Thomas."
Erich stands and walks towards the door, guns in hand.
Pestilence eyes Bryce, "that's not necessary."
Erich says "Does anyone mind if I leave? I'm not helping anyone, this is obviously not my problem. I'm getting out of this shadow."
Riva says "I know you, And Yosannah, and the others have a job to each of you, but it's not the end of days here..." she looks at the others and snaps a sharp command. "Put your Weapons AWAY! There are no enemies within these walls!"
Nol' removes a trump between two scales of his armor.
Riva looks at Bryce. "I am in charge, and I thought you had a job to do?"
Bryce grins, "Ok." He turns and strides towards the door.
Thomas says "So what's all this a-hootin' an' a-hollerin' about? If'n this ain't the End of Days, it sure do a fine impersonation of it."
Riva looks at Thomas. "You're telling me, I'm the one that's been awake trying to fight it since it started." she lifts her chin. "It's not the end of days, period. It will be stopped, and we will rebuild. Life /will/ Go on." her voice though weary holds a steady steely conviction.
Pestilence offers for Riva's benefit, "Then we are on the same side, Riva. You will come to realize this."
Thomas grins, as if Riva's words delight him. "You look tired, ma'am, like a horse that's been rode hard and put up wet, if ya' don't mind me saying so. "
Riva says "And I sure the hell don't want to fight the four horsemen, I've got enough to worry about as is."
Nol' calls out suddenly, staring at a trump already, "Evacuate the shadow!"
Thomas turns to face Nol'. "What in tarnations?!
Riva looks at nol. "I can't you know I can't. Tell me what's going on!"
Nol' asks, "Can someone shift the refugees into a parallel shadow? We're about to be firestormed."
Riva's go wide as people begin to panic. "I..I can't do that...where's Avim?! How do you know this?"
Riva says "Wait... The basement...."
Nol' continues to look at the trump as people around him panic. His reply is, "Other end of this trump. "
Thomas looks around as the panic spreads. "Firestormed? Hoo-boy, that sounds BAD." He grabs a figure running by, stopping him in his tracks. "Don't that sound BAD?" He releases the man and chuckles as he runs away.
Riva ignores Thomas and Pestilence, now having a more important task. She raises her horse voice as high at possible. "Everyone listen and keep calm, do EXACTLY as I say, and remember what I said about helping each other out. There's a basement door on either side in the back of the church. I need you ALL to get in there quickly, no stampeding.
Pestilence watches the man as he runs.
Riva looks at the pair. "If you two are going to stay out of this or join up, you are welcome in the basement shelter from the fire. If not, I'm leaving you to fend for yourselves. Either way, better hurry."
Thomas tips his hat to Riva "You think we should mosey on?"
Pestilence takes Thomas by the arm and nods briefly at Riva, "Be well."
Small White Church -
Sacramento
Yosannah is rather irritated. "That shadow is doomed and Riva insists on wasting her time."
Thomas smirks. "I wadn't there more'n five minutes, looked like the Lard's work to me. He plops down in a pew, wood creaking and dust flying. "Seems like we'll becalled there real soon if ya' ask me." He leans back and picks his teeth with a splinter from the pew. He flips through the pages of the book there until..."Aha!". Lowering his voice an octave he reads, "And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet." All in good time, Miss Yosannah....the Lard works in mysterious ways." The smile in his bright blue eyes gives lie to his profession of faith.
She nods, "Perhaps you are right. Very well. I'll take my leave of you then."
Thomas raises his hat to her. "Well then, ya'll take care, Miss Yosannah. I think there may be a few things that need my attentions, anyway. Ya' give me a holler the next time ya' need me!"
Yosannah nods, "Certainly. Thank you." She reaches into her jacket...