Post by The Circle Television Network on Oct 26, 2016 3:28:48 GMT -5
Gateway Park
Empire City
Chapter X: Condemnation… (Part 2)
Gateway Park seemed so idyllic to Brandon Knight in days before this, the only blight upon it was the blasphemous statue of Superius that had been placed here. It was a pagan symbol to him, made all the more hideous as the limousine pulled up and he got a glimpse of the large banner that now hung from it, a message from Reaver. His heart sank as he saw the scene. There were hardly any police around, all that could be spared were running around the city doing what they could to restore order.
As they drove up to what should have been a police barricade…the two officers that were there did little more than wave them through, allowing them to pass unquestioned. This was odd…but maybe a blessing from God…and he did not question it. As they drove through, he glanced up and hanging from the statue was an obviously unconscious Stacey Jordan, and he cringed before bolting out the door the second he caught a glimpse of her. Daria Knight moved to stop him but he had already made his way across the cement square that led up to the giant statue. Daria cautiously stepped outside the limousine, watching as Brandon stood beneath the slowly swaying Stacey Jordan.
As Brandon ran to the base of the statue, the two remaining guards ran over to stop him. “SIR!! You can’t be here! This is a dangerous situation!” The officer that had spoken glanced at his partner, “Go tell Simon and Lendy to stop letting people in here!!”
Before either of the two officers could do anything else, one fell to the ground clutching his chest…several sharp barbs protruding through him as the other simply burst into flame and ran screaming into the side of a parked news van. Brandon stumbled back, already realizing that the trap was now sprung.
In the crowd, Arella watched intently as the scene unfolded. She had not be seen since loosing Gaia on the prison, and now, inexplicably she was here. It was no accident that she was here and this was of particular interest to her…
"Well, well, well. Lookie what we 'ave 'ere.' A woman's voice called.
From the relative safety of the limousine, Daria could see the two now walking towards her brother, who regarded the two familiars coldly. Brandon calls out to they, “You two...haven't you caused enough devilry already?" Reaver and Vixxxen stalked towards him in unison. Brandon made a move towards them but Vixxxen launched a massive fireball at him, missing him by inches, the back draft enough to knock him off his feet.
Vixxxen laughed, "Temper, temper!! I thought all of you holy men were supposed to be about nonviolence!"
Reaver added, as the two women approached. "Tell me Father…who goes first? You…or your soddin’ girlfriend?" Reaver hissed as she pulled out the detonator for the explosive vest wrapped around Stacey.
"Why are you doing this?! Let the woman go...what has she done to you? What has the church done to you?" Brandon asked woefully.
"Nothing, Luv...that's why it had to burn. When will you bible thumpers learn? We Metas are your new Gods…YOUR So-Called God…doesn't exist!"
Arella’s eyes widened as she listened to the exchange. This was her purpose and there was no denying it. The man was a priest…a ‘holy man.’ This was the reason she was drawn here. To pave her father’s path…what better way would there be than to orchestrate the slaughter of one of God’s prophets…before the whole of Empire City. She reached out to the minds of the two women who approached the priest, their minds were deliciously dark and vile…but their intent was petty and low. They would kill the priest here and now…but his death would be for profit…and not for cause. Ignorant fleas…they could better serve under her guidance on this night.
Brandon said a silent prayer as he attempted to scramble away. Reaver put her finger on the detonator button, as Vixxxen took careful aim with yet another fireball. This was it…and he knew it…his efforts to save Stacey would end here and now.
Suddenly…inexplicably…the two women stopped as their eyes seemed to glaze over. Brandon watched as the detonator fell from Reaver’s hand. He held his breath as it hit the ground, but failed to activate. For a moment, the two women seemed as idle minded as the pair of police officers at the park entranceway. Brandon got slowly to his feet, taking a wary step back. A small crowd had started to gather despite the blowing cold wind and the cameras from several different news agencies were focused on him. Brandon glanced up at Stacey who seemed to be coming to…slowly.
Reaver turned to the masses and spoke, but even as the words came out, Brandon knew that something was not quite right. Her unusual accent was gone, and underneath it all…just barely underneath he could swear he heard not one, but two voices speaking in concert. The hairs on the back of his neck rose and he crossed himself without thinking.
“PEOPLE OF EMPIRE CITY!! REJOICE…FOR SOON YOUR SUFFERING WILL BE AT AN END!! The father comes to reclaim his throne…and false prophets touting long dead heathen religions…shall be cleansed…IN FIRE!!” Reaver bared her claws.
Vixxxen launched several fireballs at Brandon, each striking but a few feet from him and erupting into a flaming circle around him…trapping him…for all the world to see. Reaver continued her tirade, as Arella watched in muted satisfaction.
“Here stands a man…of God…but what God? Who’s God? YOURS? MINE? No…his God isn’t real…his God is false and he would lead you all into ruin and death. The Father…he is your salvation…” Reaver continued to speak with voice that was not her own. Arella smiled as she mouthed the words ‘he is your salvation…and his name is Lucifer!!’ and she waited for her puppet to echo it…
“…and his name is…”
Overhead they heard a ‘SWOOSH’ of wings. As the masses looked up, they all collectively gasped.
"Look Mama... it's an angel..."
Everyone stared, including Arella, who was shocked at the sight of a woman she had not seen in centuries. Her mouth fell open as she spoke, “…mother…”
Anka swooped down and landed in-close quarters directly between the two women and Brandon. Arella took a step forward, but she stopped as cautious confusion filled her. What did this all mean…why now? She backed away, melting back into the crowd.
Anka spread her wings, then folded them defensively in front of her. She had fought the one known as Reaver twice…and on both occasions she had come out on the losing end…in rather decisive fashion. This time would be different…it had to be. The Archangel Raphael had not said it…but he had said enough. The protection of Brandon Knight was her mission…her way into Heaven. “Father… now would be the time for you to leave…”
Brandon looked around at the flames all around him. He was going nowhere. “Don’t worry about me, save Stacey…”
Anka started to answer him, but Vixxxen and Reaver used the distraction to spring into action. Vixxxen slung a trio of fireballs at her. Anka quickly deflected them. Before she could recover, another trio were thrown. Again Anka blocked them, but right afterwards, the clawed woman leapt at her. Swiping and slashing, but each vicious swipe deflected off Anka's wings.
Vixxxen circled aiming to take out Brandon while Anka was distracted, but she was anything but. Anka grabbed Reaver and tossed her into Vixxxen, sending both women tumbling to the ground in a heap.
Anka moved quickly as she flew in Brandon’s direction and lifted him out of the flaming circle and started to fly off. Brandon grabbed her as he screamed at her. “NO!! Stacey!! We have to help her!!”
Anka reluctantly veered back towards the statue of Superious and flew up to the bound police detective. Her eyes widened as she looked at Anka and then at Brandon, but there was no time for questions. He looked down at the vest she was wearing, then he remembered the detonator on the ground below. “ANKA!! THE BOMB!! WE HAVE TO…”
He heard the loud ‘POP’ ‘POP’ ‘POP’ of gunfire and he reached out and grabbed Stacey as Anka fell from the sky. Brandon hung there holding Stacey as he looked down and saw her falling to the ground below…the two remaining policemen firing their guns at her the whole way down. Brandon began to pray, because only divine intervention could save them now…
Since the disappearance of Michelle Andretti, Spike Staggs had felt himself drawn to Gateway Park by his visions. He didn’t know what it all meant, but he hoped he would be able to do something and hopefully rescue her from the vile shadow thing that had come for her…and the ring…the one that had healed the two of them after Gaia’s attack…the ring that was now in his possession. As he got there, he felt a malevolent presence there and he looked around quickly, but he couldn’t locate the source. However, he did see the winged woman falling to the ground. The woman from his visions…and he whispered aloud… “Angel…” He turned quickly to the police officers firing at her. With a wave of his hand, the two officers flew off their feet and tumbled back several feet, their weapons flying from their hands.
Arella nearly cried out in rage as she realized what was happening. An interloper was spoiling everything. With what little energy she had left, she sent Vixxxen and Reaver against him.
Spike turned and saw the two women scanning the crowd, and he quickly hid himself from view. There was something else at work here…and he didn’t want whatever it was to zero in on him, but his vision…the nagging vision that had drawn him here. This was all somehow connected…all of it! The vision came back to him in a flash…
Gateway Park and the massive statute of Superious, all cloaked in the darkest of night…SHADOW…
There was the beating of wings…not like a bird…giant wings…ANGEL…
GUNFIRE! COMING FROM ALL AROUND!! There was blood all around…so much blood…
“SPIKE, THE RING!!” Michelle…?
A flash of gold glimmering in night…a golden RING inside a bloody lifeless hand…the hand closing around it…
It was all coming to pass…just as his vision had revealed. He looked up as the ‘angel’ fell several stories and bounced off the concrete base of the statue, breaking a portion of it as her wings took the brunt of the fall. She hit the ground, gasping for air as she clutched at her neck, blood spurting from the place her neck had been torn open by one of the bullets.
Anka struggled against the massive loss of blood, her thoughts only on saving Brandon…and thus saving herself, but she had failed again. Her suffering would endure for an eternity now…
As her eyes began to close, she saw a gleam in the night…a flash of gold moving towards her in the air…spinning slowly as it moved, carried by some unseen force. Even as she weakened and began to lose consciousness, she reached out for the ring…her bloody hand closing around it…
Arella, Vixxxen, and Reaver looked around the crowd frantically, searching for any sign of the person who used their powers to thwart their plan. When they were unable to find them, Arella changed tactics.
Reaver turned and ran towards the detonator as Vixxxen made ready to incinerate the first person that moved. Spike’s hand would soon be forced and he readied himself. He could save the two people hanging from the statue, or he could save himself and do nothing…not really a choice at all.
Reaver ran to the spot where the detonator was, but as she reached down for it…she noticed a shadow looming over her…the winged shadow.
Reaver stood up and bared her claws. “WHEN I KILL YOU THIS TIME, THERE WON’T BE NO COMING BACK!!”
Reaver slashed at her in a fury, her claws actually getting through her guard in such close quarters combat. Anka staggered back, but she threw back her wings and battered her attacker right back with a flurry of punches…wading through the razor sharp claws. Reaver was rocked by a vicious right and finally sent crumbling to the ground by a thunderous kick to the face.
Reaver was in a daze, but her eyes widened as she watched the wounds heal almost instantly. Reaver scrambled backwards to get away from her. Vixxxen turned and tossed fireball after fireball at Anka, hitting her with shot after shot…each one causing her to blaze higher.
Arella watched on in amazement as Anka’s wings beat at the flames and finally closed completely shielding her as the flames swirled around and were finally blasted out as she spread her wings. Her entire body scorched…but healing before their eyes.
Arella collapsed to her knees as her eyes clouded over and the last of her power waned.
As she did, the possession she held over Vixxxen and Reaver dissolved. Vixxxen and Reaver didn’t wait to see what had happened, they quickly got to their feet and bolted through the crowd, wanting no part of the power that had just been used against them.
Suddenly there came another gasp from the crowd as they all turned and looked towards the statue of Superius as Brandon Knight and Stacey Jordan seemed to hover down all on their own. Even Anka had to turn and watch in amazement. Everyone was dumbfounded by the sight of what had to be divine intervention…almost everyone. Arella’s vison slowly cleared as she scanned the crowd and saw the reason for the ‘miracle.’
Spike Staggs used his telekinesis to lower the two to safety. Spike looked around, then moved away silently. Arella got slowly to her feet and melted back into the crowd. The day was won by them for now…but the end times would belong to her Father…and perhaps even her Mother, once she revealed herself.
Brandon carefully worked to remove the vest from Stacey, even as Anka stared at the ring on her finger in absolute wonderment. It had augmented her natural healing ability and made her something akin to a juggernaut as she beat back her foes. The crowd rushed in around them as there was talk of a miracle taking place this day. Things would soon change for them…as forces were now put into motion that would reverberate all throughout the whole of Empire City…
EPISODE CREDITS
CAST (In order of appearance)
Father Brandon Knight … Trace VanReardon
Daria Knight … Missy
Officer Simon … Crease Bradfield
Officer Lendy … Tony Standalone
Gateway Park Guard #1 … Sid Moore
Gateway Park Guard #2 … Lester House
Reaver … Melissa Reeves
Vixxxen … Katie Anderson
Arella … Orchid
Detective Stacey Jordan … Nina Stokes
Anka … Kenzi Grey
Directed by … DubbleFC
Screenplay by … Ron B.
Produced by … CTN Television Studios
Casting by … Maleek Raheem
Music by … Pedos Candy
Empire City
Chapter X: Condemnation… (Part 2)
Gateway Park seemed so idyllic to Brandon Knight in days before this, the only blight upon it was the blasphemous statue of Superius that had been placed here. It was a pagan symbol to him, made all the more hideous as the limousine pulled up and he got a glimpse of the large banner that now hung from it, a message from Reaver. His heart sank as he saw the scene. There were hardly any police around, all that could be spared were running around the city doing what they could to restore order.
As they drove up to what should have been a police barricade…the two officers that were there did little more than wave them through, allowing them to pass unquestioned. This was odd…but maybe a blessing from God…and he did not question it. As they drove through, he glanced up and hanging from the statue was an obviously unconscious Stacey Jordan, and he cringed before bolting out the door the second he caught a glimpse of her. Daria Knight moved to stop him but he had already made his way across the cement square that led up to the giant statue. Daria cautiously stepped outside the limousine, watching as Brandon stood beneath the slowly swaying Stacey Jordan.
As Brandon ran to the base of the statue, the two remaining guards ran over to stop him. “SIR!! You can’t be here! This is a dangerous situation!” The officer that had spoken glanced at his partner, “Go tell Simon and Lendy to stop letting people in here!!”
Before either of the two officers could do anything else, one fell to the ground clutching his chest…several sharp barbs protruding through him as the other simply burst into flame and ran screaming into the side of a parked news van. Brandon stumbled back, already realizing that the trap was now sprung.
In the crowd, Arella watched intently as the scene unfolded. She had not be seen since loosing Gaia on the prison, and now, inexplicably she was here. It was no accident that she was here and this was of particular interest to her…
"Well, well, well. Lookie what we 'ave 'ere.' A woman's voice called.
From the relative safety of the limousine, Daria could see the two now walking towards her brother, who regarded the two familiars coldly. Brandon calls out to they, “You two...haven't you caused enough devilry already?" Reaver and Vixxxen stalked towards him in unison. Brandon made a move towards them but Vixxxen launched a massive fireball at him, missing him by inches, the back draft enough to knock him off his feet.
Vixxxen laughed, "Temper, temper!! I thought all of you holy men were supposed to be about nonviolence!"
Reaver added, as the two women approached. "Tell me Father…who goes first? You…or your soddin’ girlfriend?" Reaver hissed as she pulled out the detonator for the explosive vest wrapped around Stacey.
"Why are you doing this?! Let the woman go...what has she done to you? What has the church done to you?" Brandon asked woefully.
"Nothing, Luv...that's why it had to burn. When will you bible thumpers learn? We Metas are your new Gods…YOUR So-Called God…doesn't exist!"
Arella’s eyes widened as she listened to the exchange. This was her purpose and there was no denying it. The man was a priest…a ‘holy man.’ This was the reason she was drawn here. To pave her father’s path…what better way would there be than to orchestrate the slaughter of one of God’s prophets…before the whole of Empire City. She reached out to the minds of the two women who approached the priest, their minds were deliciously dark and vile…but their intent was petty and low. They would kill the priest here and now…but his death would be for profit…and not for cause. Ignorant fleas…they could better serve under her guidance on this night.
Brandon said a silent prayer as he attempted to scramble away. Reaver put her finger on the detonator button, as Vixxxen took careful aim with yet another fireball. This was it…and he knew it…his efforts to save Stacey would end here and now.
Suddenly…inexplicably…the two women stopped as their eyes seemed to glaze over. Brandon watched as the detonator fell from Reaver’s hand. He held his breath as it hit the ground, but failed to activate. For a moment, the two women seemed as idle minded as the pair of police officers at the park entranceway. Brandon got slowly to his feet, taking a wary step back. A small crowd had started to gather despite the blowing cold wind and the cameras from several different news agencies were focused on him. Brandon glanced up at Stacey who seemed to be coming to…slowly.
Reaver turned to the masses and spoke, but even as the words came out, Brandon knew that something was not quite right. Her unusual accent was gone, and underneath it all…just barely underneath he could swear he heard not one, but two voices speaking in concert. The hairs on the back of his neck rose and he crossed himself without thinking.
“PEOPLE OF EMPIRE CITY!! REJOICE…FOR SOON YOUR SUFFERING WILL BE AT AN END!! The father comes to reclaim his throne…and false prophets touting long dead heathen religions…shall be cleansed…IN FIRE!!” Reaver bared her claws.
Vixxxen launched several fireballs at Brandon, each striking but a few feet from him and erupting into a flaming circle around him…trapping him…for all the world to see. Reaver continued her tirade, as Arella watched in muted satisfaction.
“Here stands a man…of God…but what God? Who’s God? YOURS? MINE? No…his God isn’t real…his God is false and he would lead you all into ruin and death. The Father…he is your salvation…” Reaver continued to speak with voice that was not her own. Arella smiled as she mouthed the words ‘he is your salvation…and his name is Lucifer!!’ and she waited for her puppet to echo it…
“…and his name is…”
Overhead they heard a ‘SWOOSH’ of wings. As the masses looked up, they all collectively gasped.
"Look Mama... it's an angel..."
Everyone stared, including Arella, who was shocked at the sight of a woman she had not seen in centuries. Her mouth fell open as she spoke, “…mother…”
Anka swooped down and landed in-close quarters directly between the two women and Brandon. Arella took a step forward, but she stopped as cautious confusion filled her. What did this all mean…why now? She backed away, melting back into the crowd.
Anka spread her wings, then folded them defensively in front of her. She had fought the one known as Reaver twice…and on both occasions she had come out on the losing end…in rather decisive fashion. This time would be different…it had to be. The Archangel Raphael had not said it…but he had said enough. The protection of Brandon Knight was her mission…her way into Heaven. “Father… now would be the time for you to leave…”
Brandon looked around at the flames all around him. He was going nowhere. “Don’t worry about me, save Stacey…”
Anka started to answer him, but Vixxxen and Reaver used the distraction to spring into action. Vixxxen slung a trio of fireballs at her. Anka quickly deflected them. Before she could recover, another trio were thrown. Again Anka blocked them, but right afterwards, the clawed woman leapt at her. Swiping and slashing, but each vicious swipe deflected off Anka's wings.
Vixxxen circled aiming to take out Brandon while Anka was distracted, but she was anything but. Anka grabbed Reaver and tossed her into Vixxxen, sending both women tumbling to the ground in a heap.
Anka moved quickly as she flew in Brandon’s direction and lifted him out of the flaming circle and started to fly off. Brandon grabbed her as he screamed at her. “NO!! Stacey!! We have to help her!!”
Anka reluctantly veered back towards the statue of Superious and flew up to the bound police detective. Her eyes widened as she looked at Anka and then at Brandon, but there was no time for questions. He looked down at the vest she was wearing, then he remembered the detonator on the ground below. “ANKA!! THE BOMB!! WE HAVE TO…”
He heard the loud ‘POP’ ‘POP’ ‘POP’ of gunfire and he reached out and grabbed Stacey as Anka fell from the sky. Brandon hung there holding Stacey as he looked down and saw her falling to the ground below…the two remaining policemen firing their guns at her the whole way down. Brandon began to pray, because only divine intervention could save them now…
Since the disappearance of Michelle Andretti, Spike Staggs had felt himself drawn to Gateway Park by his visions. He didn’t know what it all meant, but he hoped he would be able to do something and hopefully rescue her from the vile shadow thing that had come for her…and the ring…the one that had healed the two of them after Gaia’s attack…the ring that was now in his possession. As he got there, he felt a malevolent presence there and he looked around quickly, but he couldn’t locate the source. However, he did see the winged woman falling to the ground. The woman from his visions…and he whispered aloud… “Angel…” He turned quickly to the police officers firing at her. With a wave of his hand, the two officers flew off their feet and tumbled back several feet, their weapons flying from their hands.
Arella nearly cried out in rage as she realized what was happening. An interloper was spoiling everything. With what little energy she had left, she sent Vixxxen and Reaver against him.
Spike turned and saw the two women scanning the crowd, and he quickly hid himself from view. There was something else at work here…and he didn’t want whatever it was to zero in on him, but his vision…the nagging vision that had drawn him here. This was all somehow connected…all of it! The vision came back to him in a flash…
Gateway Park and the massive statute of Superious, all cloaked in the darkest of night…SHADOW…
There was the beating of wings…not like a bird…giant wings…ANGEL…
GUNFIRE! COMING FROM ALL AROUND!! There was blood all around…so much blood…
“SPIKE, THE RING!!” Michelle…?
A flash of gold glimmering in night…a golden RING inside a bloody lifeless hand…the hand closing around it…
It was all coming to pass…just as his vision had revealed. He looked up as the ‘angel’ fell several stories and bounced off the concrete base of the statue, breaking a portion of it as her wings took the brunt of the fall. She hit the ground, gasping for air as she clutched at her neck, blood spurting from the place her neck had been torn open by one of the bullets.
Anka struggled against the massive loss of blood, her thoughts only on saving Brandon…and thus saving herself, but she had failed again. Her suffering would endure for an eternity now…
As her eyes began to close, she saw a gleam in the night…a flash of gold moving towards her in the air…spinning slowly as it moved, carried by some unseen force. Even as she weakened and began to lose consciousness, she reached out for the ring…her bloody hand closing around it…
Arella, Vixxxen, and Reaver looked around the crowd frantically, searching for any sign of the person who used their powers to thwart their plan. When they were unable to find them, Arella changed tactics.
Reaver turned and ran towards the detonator as Vixxxen made ready to incinerate the first person that moved. Spike’s hand would soon be forced and he readied himself. He could save the two people hanging from the statue, or he could save himself and do nothing…not really a choice at all.
Reaver ran to the spot where the detonator was, but as she reached down for it…she noticed a shadow looming over her…the winged shadow.
Reaver stood up and bared her claws. “WHEN I KILL YOU THIS TIME, THERE WON’T BE NO COMING BACK!!”
Reaver slashed at her in a fury, her claws actually getting through her guard in such close quarters combat. Anka staggered back, but she threw back her wings and battered her attacker right back with a flurry of punches…wading through the razor sharp claws. Reaver was rocked by a vicious right and finally sent crumbling to the ground by a thunderous kick to the face.
Reaver was in a daze, but her eyes widened as she watched the wounds heal almost instantly. Reaver scrambled backwards to get away from her. Vixxxen turned and tossed fireball after fireball at Anka, hitting her with shot after shot…each one causing her to blaze higher.
Arella watched on in amazement as Anka’s wings beat at the flames and finally closed completely shielding her as the flames swirled around and were finally blasted out as she spread her wings. Her entire body scorched…but healing before their eyes.
Arella collapsed to her knees as her eyes clouded over and the last of her power waned.
As she did, the possession she held over Vixxxen and Reaver dissolved. Vixxxen and Reaver didn’t wait to see what had happened, they quickly got to their feet and bolted through the crowd, wanting no part of the power that had just been used against them.
Suddenly there came another gasp from the crowd as they all turned and looked towards the statue of Superius as Brandon Knight and Stacey Jordan seemed to hover down all on their own. Even Anka had to turn and watch in amazement. Everyone was dumbfounded by the sight of what had to be divine intervention…almost everyone. Arella’s vison slowly cleared as she scanned the crowd and saw the reason for the ‘miracle.’
Spike Staggs used his telekinesis to lower the two to safety. Spike looked around, then moved away silently. Arella got slowly to her feet and melted back into the crowd. The day was won by them for now…but the end times would belong to her Father…and perhaps even her Mother, once she revealed herself.
Brandon carefully worked to remove the vest from Stacey, even as Anka stared at the ring on her finger in absolute wonderment. It had augmented her natural healing ability and made her something akin to a juggernaut as she beat back her foes. The crowd rushed in around them as there was talk of a miracle taking place this day. Things would soon change for them…as forces were now put into motion that would reverberate all throughout the whole of Empire City…
EPISODE CREDITS
CAST (In order of appearance)
Father Brandon Knight … Trace VanReardon
Daria Knight … Missy
Officer Simon … Crease Bradfield
Officer Lendy … Tony Standalone
Gateway Park Guard #1 … Sid Moore
Gateway Park Guard #2 … Lester House
Reaver … Melissa Reeves
Vixxxen … Katie Anderson
Arella … Orchid
Detective Stacey Jordan … Nina Stokes
Anka … Kenzi Grey
Directed by … DubbleFC
Screenplay by … Ron B.
Produced by … CTN Television Studios
Casting by … Maleek Raheem
Music by … Pedos Candy