LOTM: Chaos Simmers: Lost Challengers Arc - The Prologue Epilogue

 CIS Productions presents... 

 A Legends of the Multi-Universe Spinoff... 

 An opening Story Arc... 

 Written by PhantomSix.. 

 Adie98... 

 TheLonelyCrocodile 

 Chaos Simmers: The Prologue Epilogue... 

Part 0
''The armored bunker doors sealing the Observation Dock from the generality of the facility slid open, a mere crevice at first, before extending to its entirety. A string of black cords overlooked the bunker doors - all of them cut or defaced.''

- Hikarijo: ''So this is where we harbor our intelligence. I thought there was an armed patrol on deck. ''

''Doctor Hamilson ignited the gaslight and illuminated the mess of cables and wires that was the Observation Dock. Hamilson's light came to rest on a pool of blood. The engineer's mutilated corpse rested on top of it, with deep gashes surfacing across his neck and wrist.''

- Dr. Hamilson: That makes twelve. And yes, we did have a patrol. The room was quarantined the night before, wasn't it? How the hell could anyone get in?

''Hikarjio nodded, grabbing hold of Kagaku's token. As Doctor Hamilson continued to marvel over the body, Hikarijo took note of an aluminum cabinet. The lock was broken off. ''

- Hikarijo: Quarantined, huh?

He pried the locker doors open and stepped back.

- Hikarijo: Rosa?

''Doctor Hamilson left the body and followed his gaze. Pinned to the locker were diagrams among diagrams along with layouts of the facility taking up any free space on the tarnished doors. Hikarijo tore off a draft and inspected it. The paper detailed a DEM relic left behind after the climax of the ExKreig Genocide and currently stored within the holding shed on the facility's second understory. Doctor Hamilson photographed the design before folding it and carefully dropping the paper into her coat pocket.''

''- Dr. Hamilson: We destroyed the remaining träger vessels after the Outbreak. Nobody else could possibly have obtained this information. Unless...''

''- Hikarijo: ...unless they were working from the inside. ''

''Dr. Hamilson took several photographs of the locker from inside and out for documentation as Hikarijo clears gathers a stockpile of notepaper from the bloodies floor. Cautiously, he flips through the pages before catching another glimpse.''

- Hikarijo: Someone had time on their hands.

''He continues to finger through before reaching the final page. His eyes narrow on a diagram aligned in the very center of the page. He folded the page and handed it to Hamilson for custody. Flaring red lights suddenly irradiated the chamber, accompanied by a muffled siren. ''

- Hikarijo: We're leaving.

''- Dr. Hamilson: What? No, we can't just-...''

- ''Hikarijo: NOW. Get the memory and we're clearing.''

''Dr. Hamilson transcribed the facilities failsafe into the enormous machine and launched the Intelligence Bridge. Hikarijo stood guard at the gateway just as the monitor flickered the life, displaying a mess of information and ciphers. She inserted the thumb drive into the computer's rectangular port and waited. The screen flashed weakly before dying.''

- Hikarijo: I thought this was going to be quick!

''- Dr. Hamilson: It's not me! The piece of shit mainframe isn't responding. ''

''The display quivered with light. A new cipher of code, pigmented as neon red, took the place of the last. Hamilson advertently backed away. The red code grew in intensity. ''

''- Hikarjio: What the hell?! ''

''A surge of red energy struck him across the stomach. Hikarijo absorbed the blow and collapsed onto the floor, blood pouring from his mouth. The Man in the corner, engulfed in wires and frame work, lowered his hand. He remained with his back turned to them as the red lights faded, the man's head still overshadowed. ''

''- ???: You've surprised me, Hikarijo. It's always been my belief that people have some false sense of judgment. Some ill-bred vision of superiority. ''

''The visible cybernetic veins popping through his hand and wrist dimmed before vanishing completely. Hikarijo lamely rose to his feet and put himself between Doctor Hamilson and The Man.''

''- Hikarijo: Stand down, C-6. ''

''The Man grabbed hold of a cord subjoined into his neck, prised it out as the slot in his cervix fastened. He turned to face them and stepped forward. His face remained obscured.''

- ''???: Like you, they fail to understand the bigger picture, as the weak-willed often do. ''

''- Hikarijo: Please. ''

''The gateway doors sealed together, obstructing the Observation Deck's single outlet. Forethoughtfuly paced backward and reached into her coat pocket. Her lips pursed together in a smile. ''

- ''???: These...questions begin to fill my head. Questions. So many questions. And you...''

''He extended his hand. One of the Deck's view scarce ambition lights popped. A stream of sparks showered Hikarijo.''

''- ???: ...my dearest friend...will provide me with the answers. ''

''Hikarijo lost his footing over a tangle of cables. The man stepped into the circle of light coruscating over Hikarijo and Doctor Hamilson. Almost instantly, the ampule flickered and broke. Glass and embers rained on Hikarijo, who stood to his feet. His face was now inches away from the man's. ''

- Hikarijo: You're behind all of this, then?

- Dr. Hamilson: No.

''She withdrew a pipe wrench from her tunic and struck Hikarijo over the head. He gave into the blow and knelt over. ''

''- Dr. Hamislon: I am. ''

''Ichor began to flow from his wound. Doctor Hamilson dropped her arm, still vibrating from a mixture of fear and excitement.''

''- Dr. Hamilson: It's done. Time for your end of the agreement. ''

- ???: Yes...

Two cybernetic appendages lowered from the faint ceiling and grabbed hold of the doctor's hands, detaining her.

- Dr. Hamilson: W-what is this?

''He adjusted his tie. Each appendage intensified its grip'''. '''Doctor Hamilson, despite her best efforts, felt dread being to take hold of her. Then panic. He stepped forward, his face mantled. They were now only feet apart. Hakirijo's corse was the one thing separating them. ''

- ???: There's just one...last...thing.

- Dr. Hamilson: What are you getting on about?

- ''???: I need one last favor from you, doctor. You possess something very valuable. Something beyond worth. ''

- Dr. Hamilson: N-n-no.

- ???: I wonder....what would your father have thought?

''The Man raised his arm. Rushes of violet fulmination emerged from his fingertips, just barely illuminating his forearm. The discharges slithered through the air, seemingly immune to any laws of physics, and landed in Doctor Hamilson's forehead. The purple glow spread through her skin.''

- 'Dr. Hamilson: A 'Tamashī ''Lock. But...but it's impossible to use it with such efficiency and....no. ''

''- ???: Yes. This was your final failure Rosa. You're last, inconsolable mistake.''

- Dr. Hamilson: No...I....I

''The streams of violet, spreading in every which way, began to take hold of her. The pain took over soon afterward. She screamed, struggled, all for nothing. Blood began to surge from her mouth. The "branches" of energy intensified.''

''- Hikarijo: Rosa. ROSA!''

''- ???​​​​: Failure to cooperate will only lengthen her suffering, Hikarijo. I am leaving with the relics. And the First Key. ''

- Hikarijo: I...I'M GONNA FUCKING KILL YOU!!!

Hikarijo grabbed ''hold of the Coronation Blade and took a jagged swing at the man's extended hand. The blade slit deep into his wrist, his hand hanging on a single strand of skin. The Man seemed unaffected. The loose strands of flesh joined together as his hand curved back into its original position.''

''Hikarijo switched the blade to his free hand and drove it through The Man's chest. Doctor Hamilson fell to her knees. Her eyes remained as they were during the trance - dead. ''

''- Hikarijo: No! Please. I can't lose you again. ''

''The Man approached him, placing his hand over his shoulder. Hikarijo glanced over his trembling shoulder. The Coronation Blade had vanished completely, along with any signs of the injured.''

''- ???: It hurts when the people we love disappear, doesn't it? ''

''He nodded weakly. In a quick action, The Man had fractured his neck with a single hand.''