DD Origins - A walking dead - Chapter 5

DD Origins - A walking dead - Chapter 5

Marlun's little repair bay was full of mechanics, which seemed only too eager to further improve the team's truck. Among other things, they upgraded the breaks, steering and gave it a more powerful engine. And there were two seats in the back, too, with seatbelts. Probably for safety reasons.
A zombie sat on a pile of tires, throwing his knife and then catching it. Not always by the non-lethal parts. One the mechanics turned to him, a welding mask on his face:
“Could you stop doing that? You could hu...” as the zombie lost his concentration, the knife cam down and plunged into his shoulder. He just pulled it out and continued with the throwing, “nevermind.”

The room was silent for a while, save for the welding and hammering. After twenty minutes, the experts were getting ready to test their masterpiece. One of them got inside, waited for a signal and then turned the keys. An only too known sound came from the new engine, saying, in Darken's mind, 'sorry, guys, I'm lazy today.'. No start. He tried again, but received similar results. And on the third try, a small cloud of smoke started rising from under the hood.
“Goddamnit!”
“Looks like you blew something, boys. I thought you were experts!”
“Well, experts in training. Don't worry, we'll fix it! Eventually...”
“Riiiight. I'm gonna' go stretch my legs. Happy fixing, champs!”
With that, Darken caught the dagger one last time and headed outside.

Marlun was filled military buildings, since it was an ex-boot camp. Though, the only buildings which retained their functions were the barracks, command centre and vehicle bay. Other buildings were remade into shelters. And Markus' lab had been built from scratch. In Darken's words it was 'something like Coolsville.'.
Survivors walked here and there, or helped with many tasks. Those tasks included farming on small fields, taking care of a bunch of pigs. Strangely, mankind was returning to its roots. And all it took was a few billion hungry undead. He still missed videogames, though.
In the distance, he spotted a small group of guards heading towards the gate, Leon in the lead, and he decided to join them. The zombie approached and asked:
“What's up, boys?”
“Oh, not much, Darken. Just someone knocking on the gate and saying there's a horde of zeds on his tail. Routine work, really.”
“Mind if I join you?”
“Not at all.”
“But sir... won't the newcomer be afraid of him?”
“He'll be glad he's behind walls, mate.”
“Good point.”

He was right at the entrance, while the rest formed a defensive perimeter. And the gate started opening. In seconds, a figure wrapped in a brown cloak burst through the opening with great speed. Just behind the man, a half-eaten face popped in, trying to get through. It soon met Darken's fist and its skull was crushed.
Uncountable hands rushed inside, trying to keep the defenders from closing the gate. To no avail, for the undead were silenced by a hail of bullets and the gate was closed soon after. They all looked at the new figure.
The man was a giant among them, standing a full foot taller than Darken. And yet, his entire body was covered by a dark brown cloak, which he was tightly wrapped in. Nothing was visible, nothing. From inside the hood, a raspy voice sounded:
“Thank you for your assistance. I see, however, that you have strange aid of your own.”
The hood turned towards Darken.
“Hey, you can stay away from me later. Just be glad you're alive for now.”
“Stay away? Nonsense. I am quite interested in the undead. Especially... the peculiar kinds. Talking ones are now top of my list.”
“What are you? A scientist or something?”
“Indeed. My name is Damien. Damien Clark. I was in the wilderness, observing them. They must have smelled me. I guess I have grown careless.”
“Where are you from?” came from Leon, “I don't suppose you've just been living out there.”
“Of course not. I come from Paradise, the largest and greatest of our settlements.”
“What? Were ya tired of all the snobbish assholes there?”
“You could say that... errr...”
“Leon. Everyone calls me that.”
“Excellent. And what is the name of this charming... specimen?”
“Darken. A nd I don't like being called specimen, thank you.”
“Oh, terribly sorry. I shall refrain from that.”
“Hey, stop with the hostility! We're all friends here. Darken, could ya take Damien to the barracks? We need to take care of the remaining zeds.”
“Sure, whatever.”

The guards went towards their firing positions and the pair left. The hood was still turned to him, not bothering to watch anything else. And it was getting annoying.
“Okay, listen, bub.”
“Hmmm?”
“Stop staring at me. It's annoying. REALLY annoying.”
“I simply find you utterly fascinating.”
“Your tone suggests your thoughts are somewhere near 'Dissection'. Not gonna' happen. Now, gimme' some personal space.”
“As you wish.” Damien's head turned away from him, but Darken could still feel the stare, for some reason, “this place is a bit... small.”
“Hey, better your ass eaten in the wilderness.”
“I cannot argue with that.”
“Damn, you're annoying.”
“As much as you are rude.”
At that moment, Darken stopped, pointed with one of his fingers and said:
“That green building over there is the barracks. Just go.”
“As you wish.”
Darken was more annoyed by the minute. That guy was weird. Really weird. He made his way to the top of the walls and just watched the surroundings. Peaceful. Not that there was anything left alive to disturb the peace, but still.

In one hour, everyone knew about the newcomer. And everyone was mildly creeped out by the guy. The monotonous, raspy voice, almost fanatical usage of precise expressions... not to mention that body-hiding cloak. No one knew if he was looking at them, someone else, or at nothing in particular. He was unsettling, indeed. Ellen had a theory, though. And according to that theory, Damien was simply nuts. Which seemed quite plausible.

She made a right turn and her eyes spotted one of the camp's walls. A dead end, yet again. She still hadn't got used to the place and it showed. She turned... and nearly had a heart attack. There, inches from her, the hooded madman stared at her from within the darkness of his hood. She made a step back.
“Damnit! You idiot! Do you have any idea of how you scared me?!”
“Terribly sorry. Did you not hear me approach?”
“No. Not at all.”
“Aaaah, understandable. After all, those I follow... rarely find out. Until it's too late.”
“F-follow?”
He came closer, she retreated. And again, but this time, she could feel the cold wall on her back.
“Oh, yes. Your scent is quite bewitching, after all.”
He leaned closer still.
“Get away from me!”
Her foot went into the air and connected with a place most important to any man on the planet. Very, very important. But the cloaked figure didn't even twitch.
“Heh. Pathetic.”
One of his hands started moving under the cloak, going for her neck. She could soon see the tips of... claws. Five inch long ones. She was silent, sheer terror making her mute. But then, a dagger bit into the assailants shoulder, stopping him. But Damien left the blade right there.
“Well, well, well. Ain't we more than meets the eye? Considering there's not much we can see, anyway, that's not a surprise.” she knew the voice and her eyes went to the roof of the barracks. Her masked, zombified knight stood there, assault rifle aimed, “I'm getting the feeling, that the lady is not very happy about you existing. Saw ya walking around all creepy-like. Seemed fishy.”
“Oh, I had hoped you would notice. Though, now I can no longer feast. Oh, well.”
Darken jumped down and aimed from ground level, Ellen using the distraction to make her way to his side.
“Any last words, bub?”
“Only three. You are pathetic.”
Before he could pull the trigger, a wave of stinging agony went through every cell in their bodies. Standing became a chore and they fell to their knees.
“It... it...”
“I believe the word you are looking for is 'hurts'. Oh, yes. You have not felt pain for some time, have you? Your body may have grown numb, but your mind still remembers. Oh, yes it does.”
“You're a... telepath?!”
“Yes, that would be the term. Though, I so rarely get the chance to use them on the living.”
The pain seemed to lessen a bit, but it was still strong.
“What are you talking about?”
“You may calm me the overlord of the dead. For the hordes are not without a leader. What may seem as random assaults are actually part of my brilliantly devised plan. I tell the masses where to go. And punish them, if they do not listen. Heheheeheh. But I did not come here to chat. Rather, to make you, Darken, an offer.”
“Offer?”
The overlord took a few steps closer, so that he stood right next top the two.
“Yes. Join me, Darken. Join my legions. You are unique, like me. An undead being with a mind. We could bring about the ascension much faster.”
The other zombie looked up.
“I have... this to say.”
Darken raised one knee and used both his hands to stand up.
“That... should not be possible!”
The overlord seemed to show a bit of emotions during the shout.
“Fuck. YOU!”
Then, a mighty punch of thrown. It was so mighty, that the scholars of old would have called it 'godlike'. In more modern times, humans started calling such feats 'awesome'.
The pain was gone and Ellen emitted a sigh of relief. The cloaked figure stumbled and took a couple of steps back. Darken took the opportunity, grabbed his dagger and pulled it out, only to slash the overlord in the stomach area. And his eyes settled on the blade, which was covered with... not quite blood.
“Green?”
Darken's eyes went wide and the other's wounds slowly closed and vanished without a trace.
“Yeees. We are quite alike, are we not? Except for one fact. I'm better.”
Claws then tore the cape apart, leaving only the hood and areas close to it intact. Underneath the cloth, there was no skin. Only a layer of muscles, which were scarce enough at places to reveal the thing's bones. Claws also grew on its feet, seemingly even longer than those on the hands. The monster immediately went into a battle stance.

“Oh, really? We'll see about that!”
“Indeed we shall. Defend yourself!”
With lightning speed, the pair of clawed hands slashed at Darken's neck, but were blocked by his dagger. The thing's pure power was outstanding, however, and our zombie soon felt his body get pushed backwards, his boots making the ground part.
Ellen snapped out of her staring state and looked around. There, but a few feet from her, laid a steel pipe. A bit rusty, but still a frikin' steel pipe. She grabbed it and turned to the battling duo. Then, with all her strength, she swung it and slammed the creature in the back, making it emit a loud growl and turn its head.
“You pest!”
Darken used the distraction to get out of the deathly grip and tackle the overlord, who was soon sent into the barracks' wall. The beast almost went through, but only left a dent, instead. A quite sizeable dent.
“What did you mean by ascension?”
The claws scraped the metal walls as he got up.
“Surely it is obvious. Infinite life in the form of my undead legions. No worries, no pain. Only servitude.”
“Who do you think you are? A god?!”
“No. Not yet, anyway. I am the ruler of all unlife and the only being who can see humanity's true path. You may call me Morte.”
“Ain't you original...”
“Hmph! My name tells precisely what I am! Death. More precisely, its lord. And therefore, I can end you, Darken! But I would prefer having you on my side. I ask again. Will you join me?”
“And I repeat myself! Fuck. YOU!”
This time, the words were accompanied by a middle finger.
“Fine! In that case, prepare for your second demise!”
Morte charged with incredible speed and impaled Darken on his claws. Not stopping, he ran straight against another wall and smashed straight through. The building had been, and technically still was, a mess hall. Men and women stared in horror as the pair exited through the opposite wall and vanished into the settlement's 'square', if it could be called that.
The overlord lifted him high and pulled out one of his hands, only to stab the helpless zombie again and again. But Darken had had quite enough. He grabbed the stabbing hand and pulled, making his body slide down onto the clawed hand and into headbutting range. Steel impacted bone with such strength, that Morte was sent to the ground. Once there, Darken didn't even bother pulling out the arm and started beating the unliving crap out of the monster. Blow after blow landed within the hood and green blood could be seen on his knuckles.
The other hand then threw him off, however, and he landed in a pile of junk. Both combatants got up and both saw a small crowd gathering around them. All humans and all armed. From crude melee weapons to shotguns, they were ready to shoot something to bits. And 'something', in this case, wasn't Darken.
The hole in Darken's chest was nonexistant, but he knew the other's wounds had healed, as well. This could take a while... like, forever.
“I see you are nothing without allies.”
“Hey, you're the one who's gonna' his ass kicked, not me.”
“I beg to differ.” Morte raised both of his arms into the air, “and remember this. Keep an eye on the seat of power. It shall be mine, soon.”
I high pitched screech suddenly echoed for miles, its intensity seemingly paralyzing... humans. Darken stared at all those around in confusion. A massive, winged beast suddenly flew from the heavens with the speed of a bullet, caught its master and rose back into the sky. The escape had been so quick, that not even his keen, post-death eyesight could make out the creature's shape.

The surrounding humans started getting back to normal. But he didn't care, for his eyes were set upon the black shape on the night sky.