INT. CTHULU'S LAIR
The ACTOR leads them deep into a cavernous LAIR full of HUMAN BONE, and strange symbols, pictographs and CREATURES far and wide, that were sleeping or staying put in little dug out parts in the walls, under the ground and in the ceiling.
THE GAMBLER looks about as THE CREATURES stared them down.
THE GAMBLER
Why am I feeling such dread...?
THE ACTOR
The farther in the lair you go, the closer to madness you will feel, it will be wise, that those with no eternal darkness venture no further.
THE STRANGER
He's right, ROUGE...I'll need you to stay here...
THE ROUGE
Yeah, I won't argue that...
THE LONER
The GAMBLER will stay with you.
THE GAMBLER
Yeah, sure why not.
THE ACTOR
Then let us press on gentlemen.
THE GAMBLER and ROGUE stop as they turn and head back towards the way they came, THE STRANGER and the LONER heading on behind the ACTOR.
The ACTOR draws them farther and farther into the caverns, before stopping near a void-less dead end.
ACTOR
The DARK ONE lies beyond that dark veil, I know not what you seek with him, he would cast you into eternal darkness without hesitation, but I sense...that that would be a release for you...good luck.
The ACTOR turns and leaves as THE STRANGER and LONER look at the DARK VEIL and looking at each other, nod and step through.
The TWO are immersed in DARKNESS but are able to see in front of them, as a MAN was standing rigid in front of a very large CREATURE, the creature seemed to be asleep, it's massive monstrous dragon/squid like frame taking up a large amount of space as the MAN looks up at them with RED EYES.
CTHULHU
I am CTHULHU, the DARK ONE, this is the vessel that speaks for me as I slumber...why have you come, human beings...do you wish to experience eternal darkness first hand, or have you simply come to die, and pledge your flesh to my beings...Wait...
The MAN takes a long whiff of the air, before beginning to chuckle.
CTHULHU
You are not fully human, are you little one's?
THE STRANGER
No...
CTHULHU
I smell...The DESCENT...ahhhh...yes...
THE LONER
DARK ONE, we have come for two things.
CTHULHU
You dare come and ask things from me! How foolish...the shadows will have you!
THE STRANGER
We are already the shadows! You cannot send us to a darkness that we do not fear, for we already have it within!
CTHULHU
Hmm...true, the words you speak. I will not waste more time with abominations such as yourself. Speak your mind, and leave me, before I decide to change my mind about your fates.
THE LONER
We first, have come to ask you...ask you about what you know about what we are...what we will become!
THE STRANGER
Great DARK ONE! Tell us...about THE DESCENT...
CTHULHU
THE DESCENT were created from the darkness as was I, though My darkness comes from ancients such as THE DESCENT themselves. The DESCENT were beings here before time and space even began, shapeless sentient all powerful beings of the eternal rule and dominion of the cosmos. Then...something happened, the ASCENT appeared.
THE LONER
The ASCENT?
CTHULHU
You do not know? Where there is darkness...so must there be light. THE ASCENT arrived, along with someone of enormous power, The ASCENT created him, as they did with life in all the solar systems.
THE LONER
God...? Are you saying these ASCENT created GOD?
CTHULHU
God was created out of their image. The ASCENT chased the DESCENT and allowed GOD to create the worlds. In God's creation, I was created, as were other beings of darkness. The DESCENT, angered that the ASCENT created someone so powerful, so radiant and all knowing, decided they would corrupt all. So they traverse the universe, destroy the inhabitants and slowly find beings to transform into warriors.
THE LONER
For what reason?
CTHULHU
Simple, to wage war against the ASCENT who are out there somewhere...and to amass enough dark powers of the shadows and cosmos, to create an ANTI-GOD.
THE STRANGER
Why not just anoint you?
CTHULHU
I care not for cosmic war, I care not to battle GOD himself, two god's should not battle, but the weak should be ruled. And once this little angel and demon war is over, I will conquer you all.
THE STRANGER
Then you have led us to our second and final request...
CTHULHU
Intrigued.
THE STRANGER
Help us...
CTHULHU
You speak nonsense.
THE LONER
You wish for this war, this peace to be over, we want to stop it all together, together, we can achieve this goal...
CTHULHU
The likes of THREE will not be able to stop an ethereal battle for humanity and souls. It is not and will not be possible.
THE STRANGER
We have no desire to fight alone, though if it is what must happen, then it is what we will do...
THE LONER
With your help CTHULHU...we will cripple both sides...leaving this world ripe for your taking...
CTHULHU
Why would you want me to destroy your world? Do you wish to live in maddening darkness and horror?
THE LONER
Better than the fate that awaits us if we don't try....
CTHULHU
I...will agree to that.
THE LONER
We also never said we wouldn't stop you when you tried.
CTHULHU
Hahaha, I doubt you will live long enough to do anything about it.
THE STRANGER
Then please...help us...
CTHULHU breaths heavy before closing his eyes and opening them, the monstrous frame suddenly moving as the TWO jump back.
CTHULHU
I will help.
THE STRANGER
Yes!
THE LONER looks relieved as THE STRANGER smiles.
CTHULHU
But my help will only come in the form of information, since I am bound to this eternal resting place until my army has been fully amassed.
THE STRANGER
Anything from you will be greatly appreciated oh DARK ONE!
CTHULHU
What else do you seek?
THE LONER
We seek the help of the HORSEMEN, and of the Sentient MACHINES in MECHA.
CTHULHU
These will take you into the HELLZONE, and EDEN. To MECHA, you will need the help of someone named THE RENEGADE, an ANGEL who fell from grace not long after the truce was made, he will know how to enter into EDEN undetected. As for the HORSEMEN, their own land within the HELLZONE is still heavily watched by HELL'S ARMY, you will need the help of the DESERTER, a demon who was stripped of his name and rank a few years ago.
THE LONER
Where can we find these two?
CTHULHU
I sense the DEMON in VALLARIA....the RENEGADE...is in METROP.
THE LONER
Small town, and a big city. Great.
THE STRANGER
CTHULHU, if we need any more counsel, we will come.
CTHULHU
And here I will be, I do not care for the course your inevitable lives may take, but I do issue a warning...
The TWO perk up.
CTHULHU
Darkness knows darkness, and darkness...can feel the presence of other darkness...though there may be three of you now...A fourth is here on this planet...searching for you...preparing for when your time will come...this being will look like a man, but trust me...it is made entirely of pure darkness...a SHADOW...a shadow of your doom. Your clock is winding down...do not allow this SHADOW to catch you...or your quest may end sooner than you think.
The TWO nod and turn to leave as the MAN goes limp, his eyes closing as the darkness emerges around CTHULHU.
THE STRANGER
The SHADOW?
THE LONER
I'm not liking our odds very much...
THE STRANGER
Seems like it, on top of this MAVERICK now we have this thing gunning for us...
THE LONER
Where do we go first?
THE STRANGER
METROP is closer...
THE LONER
The RENEGADE it is..
INT. DEN
A NURSE attends to a SICKLY MAN as a DOCTOR looks at the pupils of a MAN who was shivering and shaking madly, his eyes bright red and bloodshot as the DOCTOR looks him over.
DOCTOR
What happened to these people...?
NURSE
I don't know sir...but they seem....like they've seen something very terrible.
There is a gust of wind, like a chill, as the NURSE rubs her arms as she comes over and puts a blanket over another MAN, the DOCTOR looking about as he comes towards his NURSE.
DOCTOR
I just don't understand...
VOICE
Allow me to enlighten you upon their condition...
DOCTOR
Who said that...?
The TWO turn to see someone standing at the DOORWAY, the SHADOW taking a few feet forward before appearing a bit in the light, his exposed features seemingly normal and fine, a handsome man almost.
THE SHADOW
These people have experienced enlightenment, though from a more darkened point of view.
DOCTOR
And...Why, why is that?
THE SHADOW
I showed it to them.
NURSE
Who are you!
THE SHADOW
Please do not raise your voice, I do not like shouting, it is a ugly quality in every sub species I have run across.
DOCTOR
I would like you to leave, now please!
THE SHADOW
I can't do that, you see I've combed these men's brains from far and wide, and have led them here, for in their brains rests information me and my superiors would like to acquire in the regards of coordinates and sightings of a few guests who seem to not want to make it on time to their party in a few months.
DOCTOR
I don't understand...
THE SHADOW walks up towards him, placing a hand on his chest.
THE SHADOW
I know...
The DOCTOR winces in pain as his eyes go wide as the sound of something piercing through flesh and bone can be heard as the NURSE screams, the SHADOW holding his hand forward as it was in the form of a DARK SWORD, the SHADOW pulling his arm out as the SWORD dissipates back into his hand as the NURSE backs away in horror, THE SHADOW turning to her as she grabs a gun that was lying on a nearby table, The NURSE turning as she aims and fires without hesitating, but as she did the SHADOW disappears, THE NURSE watching in horror as she turns and the SHADOW punches her in the face, the NURSE falling back as suddenly he holds a hand out and she stops in mid fall, THE NURSE watching as the SHADOW paces around her.
THE SHADOW smiles and touches the face of MAN who is only shaking, THE SHADOW putting his finger to the MAN'S FOREHEAD before looking at the NURSE.
THE SHADOW
Watch...
THE SHADOW pushes his fingers into the MAN'S SKULL, the MAN screaming as the NURSE tries to shut her eyes but seemingly cannot, THE NURSE watching as BRAIN CHUNKS seem to liquify and then shoot through the shadowing finger, running up the SHADOW'S ARM and into his BRAIN, THE SHADOW rolling his eyes before pulling his finger out, the MAN'S SKULL a drained skeletal feature with loose flesh drooping off of it, THE NURSE screaming as the SHADOW just smirks.
THE SHADOW
Ahh, you boys have been busy I see...But still no closer than I was before...
The SHADOW walks by the NURSE towards the next MAN, stopping as he notices the NURSE still levitating backwards.
THE SHADOW looks down at the floor and suddenly blades pop out of the ground, the SHADOW snapping his fingers as the NURSE quickly falls and gets out a tiny scream before being impaled on the FLOOR BLADES that had just appeared.
THE SHADOW snaps his fingers again and the BLADES disappear as the NURSE lay dead, holes sprung up all over her bleeding body as the MEN left about were all huddled together, staring the SHADOW down in horror as he turns to them.
THE SHADOW
Now...Back to the matter at hand…
End of Part 12