Normally, when the Huntress attempted to sleep, one of two things would happen. Either she would enter the Dream, speak to Eve, tend the graves a bit, possibly buy more supplies from the Messengers, then return to the Waking World. Or she would simply sleep and wake up once the sun rose. This was how it had been ever since she purchased her house in Pran and began actively attempting to sleep.
But tonight was different.
Tonight her sleep was plagued by nightmares.
The sounds of her victims screaming as she bled them dry. Ghost of dead Hunters lamenting why she killed them, asking why she got to survive and they did not. The pungent smell of blood constantly filling her nostrils until she could feel bile rising in her throat. Beasts jumping from the shadows and eating her innards while she was still alive.
They were varied, but all horrid. However, one stood out among them. One where she would return home and find her children devoured by Beasts while their voices asked her why she wasn't there to save them.
That was the one that woke her up in the middle of the night. And the reason she went out for a walk through the silent city streets. The moon was in its half phase, only some light shining down on the streets below. It was dark enough that the Huntress needed to turn her hip lantern on to see a few feet in front of her.
Well, she didn't need to. Ever since her time in Yharnam her eyes had a much easier time adjusting to dark environs. Whether this was a result of having to traverse through the perpetually dark Yharnam, or another side effect of the Blood she couldn't tell. She would not doubt its usefulness, though.
Her shoes muffled her steps, so the only sound outside were the chirping of insects and hooting of owls overhead. A sigh escaped her lips as she walked down the empty streets. It felt strange to walk down a darkened street and not constantly feel on edge. To be able to trust that there wasn't a monster with the head of a dog and body of crow waiting to rip her innards out. And instead, while she knew that the city wasn't entirely safe at night, to simply walk through the street as the cool night hair blew across her skin. However, it did little to ease her worries. The things she learned yesterday were at the center of her thoughts her entire walk.
What was she to do? The fact that she wasn't fully involved with the war meant little. War saw no difference between active participants and simple bystanders. It envelops all things in its choking grasp, stifling every aspect of life from beginning to end. She couldn't simply pretend the war wasn't happening and had nothing to do with her. It would reach her sooner or later, and force her to get involved.
But how could she get involved if none of her current possible decisions sat well with her? The Mamono were a threat, that was an undeniable fact. But were they enough of one to warrant the death of their whole species? Even those who wished to remain uninvolved and live their lives in peace? What about the humans who have forged genuine relationships with Mamono? Are they to be put to the sword as well?
And what of the Order? They're meant to be humanity's defenders, yet they've shown her nothing to prove they deserve the moniker. If they were triumph over the Mamono, could it really be called a victory? Would they truly create something worth fighting for once everything was said and done?
She rounded a corner with her head hung low and hands balled into fists, until her musing was interrupted by the sound of a girlish giggle coming from behind her. She stopped walking and turned around only to see nothing save the empty cobblestone streets. She heard it again and let out a sigh of frustration. Rather than turn around once more, she called for the Messengers to bring her the Burial Blade. She knelt to the ground and gripped the familiar wooden shaft. She stood up and shouted to the air, "Whoever you are, reveal yourself! I am in no mood for games this night."
"How boring."
The Huntress' gaze shot up to the sky as he prepared herself for battle. In the skies above, was a strange woman. Her dark blue skin, pitch black tail and wings, marked her as a Mamono but the Huntress could tell she was different than any she had faced before. She wore spiky black and red gauntlets with matching greaves, while everything else was laid completely bare. She stared down at the Huntress with red glowing eyes in pools black as obsidian. One hand tapped away at her hip while the other fiddled with her tail as it snaked its way down to below her waist. She spoke with a predatory smile on her face, and a seductive tone to her voice, "What a wonderful woman you are. I'm sure you've got a body to die for underneath all those wrappings. Why not let it out for the world to see?" Her giggling was replaced by a moan as a hand went to one of her boobs and started pulling at nipple through her "bra".
"Sorry to disappoint," the Huntress said while kneeling to grab the Evelyn from the ground, "But I prefer to have protection in case I find myself in battle."
"Oh? But what good is 'protection' if it can be easily ripped away? Like so..."
The Huntress felt her instincts take over just as the Mamono snapped her fingers. She dodge rolled forward just as a tornado as large as her body appeared where she once was. She reached into her clothes and pulled out three throwing knives that she launched at her flying opponent. She didn't want to risk waking people up with the report of her gun, lest she get innocents involved in this battle.
The Mamono moved faster than the Huntress expected, landing right in front of her just as she came up from her roll. The Mamono had a clawed hand raised to strike but paused as her eyes fell on the Huntress. Then she screamed in pure terror before flying back into the sky. She strafed to the left while aiming the palm of her right hand towards the Huntress, "What was...who or what are you?! Are you the reason the Order's been sending more Heroes to Vinvers?"
"And if I am?" the Huntress didn't know what the Mamono was talking about, but there was no need to let an enemy know that. She'd act the part for now.
The Mamono sneered as purple colored fire started gathering in her outstretched palm, "Then I am sorry, but I need to stop you here! I won't let the Order harm any of the monsters in this city!"
The Huntress readied herself to dodge the oncoming attack...until she heard the telltale sound of hooves rushing down a cobblestone road behind her. Keeping the Mamono in her line of sight she slightly turned her head to look behind her. She spotted the shadowy silhouette of someone getting closer to their conflict. She got ready to yell at them to get away, until another familiar sound reached her ear.
The sound of an arrow being loosed.
The projectile whizzed over the Huntress head and directly towards the flying Mamono. The blue-skinned monsters was forced to abandon her attack and dodge to the left, right when the newcomer entered their battlefield. The Huntress' mind was filled with questions. Who was this? What were doing out this late at night? How'd they know about this battle?
However, all those questions were pushed to the side as the Huntress realized a few very important details about the newcomer.
First, that while she had a human torso, head, and arms, her entire lower half was that of an equine.
Second, that it was very clear she was a Mamono.
And last, that she was aiming her bow at the flying Mamono.
"Foul demon!" the horse girl shouted to her apparent adversary, "Leave this fine citizen alone, lest you reckon with I, Nikon, one of the three Guard Captains of Vinvers!"
...
The Huntress silently wished she had stayed in bed that night.
"Do not interfere!" the flying Mamono shouted while pointing a hand at the Huntress, flames gathering on the tips of her fingers again, "This is between me and the freak over there!" Three tiny balls of fire shot out of her fingers towards the Huntress, leaving blue streaks behind them as they flew. The Huntress waited until the last minute and dashed forward just as they hit the ground around her. They exploded into an azure conflagration, while she tossed another knife towards the Mamono. She stopped just as the flying creature flew backwards to dodge her first knife and threw the second one just as Nikon launched another arrow.
The Mamono’s tail whipped around and knocked both projectiles out of the air with a clang. Her wings fold inward as she dived towards the ground. She landed far enough away from her two opponents to prevent her two opponents from immediately retaliating. Hands glowing a dark pink, she slammed her arms into the cobblestones at her feet. Within moments the stones exploded forward, their forms morphing into grasping hands as they flew through the air.
Nikon withdrew the sword from the scabbard on her side, slashing the stone hands down as they got close. Meanwhile, the Huntress was charging straight towards her enemy. Any stone hand that got close was either struck down with a swipe of her scythe, or dodged passed with a single tilt of her head. The Mamono raised one of her glowing hands and waved it across the space in front of her. It left a trail black orbs in its wake that shot out. The Huntress didn’t flinch as the orbs crashed against her body and exploded into purple smoke. She ran through the mist towards her opponent, her curved sword raised as she prepared to slice her opponent down.
The Mamono dashed towards her, claws out as she dodged to the left to avoid the Huntress’ vertical slash and followed up with a knee to the Huntress’ stomach. The Huntress grit her teeth as she fought through the pain. The monster’s spaded tail wrapped itself around her left arm before she could elbow it in the face. It swept the Huntress’ feet from under her, placed one hand on her chest, then forced her down to the ground...hard.
The Huntress gasped as her back hit the ground. Pain shot up her spine but she didn't lose her focus. She gripped the tail wrapped around her left arm and pulled as hard as she could. The Mamono lost its balance and fell on top of the Huntress, giving her the chance to roll the monster over and straddle her. She raised her blade to end it just as the Mamono placed both hands on her chest. The glow on the monster's hands expanded until a explosion of flame knocked the Huntress off the Mamono. She got to her feet as soon as she hit the ground, cursing as the purple flames started to burn parts of her clothes. She ripped off what she could without completely destroying her outfit and focused her attention on the Mamono.
The monster had her clawed feet spread apart and ready to strike. Then one of her pointed ears twitched and she took to the skies an arrow hit the ground where she once was. Another arrow was already on its way towards her new position, and the Huntress saw an opportunity. She reached into her slightly charred clothing and watched as the flying Mamono focused on dodging the arrows coming from the horse girl. When she spotted a clear pattern, she threw one knife and quickly followed it up with another.
Right on cue the Mamono's tail deflected the first the knife, but the second flew right passed it. She screamed in pain as the knife embedded itself in the small of her back. She froze in the air for just long enough for Nikon's next arrow to pierce through her right wing's membrane. She yelled in agony as she yanked the knife free and tried to keep herself afloat. She shot over the Huntress head and started heading deeper in the city, launching a wave of energy at the ground and sending more cobblestone hands towards the Huntress. The Huntress cut them down but lost sight of the fleeing Mamono.
Cursing under her breath she prepared to rush after her assailant, but stopped as the Guard Captain galloped to block her path. She responded by pushing past the horse woman and charging down the cobblestone road. Her eyes remained glued to the trail of red blood left behind by the flying monster. The sound of hooves hitting the stones signaled the Guard Captain galloping after her. She easily kept pace with the Huntress, quickly catching up and keeping pace with the rushing woman.
She was close enough that the Huntress could make out specific details of her attire. A green cloth, long enough to cover everything down to her waist, hung down from her shoulders. A leather gambeson guarded her chest and neck with a small circlet sitting atop her head, a white feather sticking out of the top. The lantern light reflected off her crimson locks of hair as it cascaded down her back, framing the tanned skin of her face underneath.
She looks like a completely normal girl...save the large, black equine body attached to her waist. She put the bow in her hands over her head so that the string wrapped around her upper body. The sheathe sword at her side remained still even as she moved, likely due to the studded wraps that twine around her equine half. She speaks with a sense of clear purpose, her amber eyes completely focused on the Huntress, "Halt citizen! If we are to chase after our adversary, then we mustn't rush ahead without a plan."
"Our adversary?" the Huntress doesn't slow down as she questions the Captain, her eyes focused on the direction the Mamono fled.
"Yes," Nikon turns and points towards where the Huntress is staring, "That Mamono has been sighted attempting to seduce and subvert the city guard for the past four nights. As one of their Captains, it is my sworn duty to stop her from accomplishing her task!"
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
The Huntress looks at her with a raised eyebrow, "What exactly do you mean by 'stop'? Is she not one of your kin?"
Nikon shoots a glare towards the Huntress, "I'd prefer you to not lump me in with her. I have been entrusted with keeping the citizens and my subordinates safe from any and all threats. Whether they be Mamono or human, if they threaten the peacefulness of this city, I will bring them down."
"...Understood. However, I suggest you leave this opponent to me. The enemy likely has the ability to corrupt those who face her. If she does so to you, then Vinvers will be in grave danger."
The blood trail led the two around corners and down alleyways, disappearing for a few moments before showing up a short distance away. The entire time, Nikon managed to keep pace with the Huntress. She moved with the grace and skill of someone who had long since come to terms with their equine half. She replied to the Huntress after they rounded their third corner, "Do not dismiss me so quickly citizen. This is not my first time dealing with her type. I will ensure it will not be the last, for either of us."
The Huntress didn't bother answering. It was clear the Guard Captain wasn't going to leave, and every second they wasted conversing was a second the Mamono was using to get farther away. Eventually, the trail ended when they made it to an intersection that split off to the west and east. The north was blocked off by a row of houses built in the shadow of Vinver's wall.
There the two of them caught sight of their quarry...as well as a man who had his trousers down with the Mamono kneeling in front of his crotch. The Huntress and Nikon managed to reach the two just when the armored man loudly moaned with pleasure as she gasped in elated surprise. As the pearl white liquid splashed onto her it seemed to slowly fade away. As it did, the wound in her wing started to mend along with the one on her back. She got to her feet as the man ran dry, patting his still hard length while speaking in a sultry voice, "I feel soooo much better now. Thank you for all your hard work."
"Anything for you, Cerci," he pulled up his pants before saluting the Mamono. His dark gambeson blended in with the surroundings with a halberd strapped to his back. He let the salute fall as he smiled at the Mamono, "We'll continue this once we get back to camp, alright my Love?"
"Why wait, Edward?" she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and drew her wings around them both, "We can continue where we left off right-"
"Stop in the name of the Vinvers City Council!" Nikon shouted while rushing forward, her bow out and ready to shoot. She got half way to the couple before skidding to a stop as she the man's dark skinned face became clear. Her head shook in disbelief as she backed away, "No...no...you're that Edward?"
"Oh, Nikon," the man stepped into the light, a wide smile on his slightly wrinkled face, "So, they gave you the position after all? I knew you'd make it. And I also know you're not the type to put posion on your weapons. I'm guessing that was your friend here who threw a poison dagger into my beloved's back?" The Huntress stepped up next to the horse girl as the older man pointed at her. She narrowed her eyes and got into a battle stance. This man may have been old for his time, she'd guess around late forties at least, but she had long since learned to not judge others by appearance alone. Her eyes focused on the Mamono who was holding him close, his right arm pressed in her bosom as she eyed the Huntress with a smug smile.
"But, why? Why would you do this?" confusion and uncertainty layered Nikon's voice, as the hands holding her bow shook, "Why would you join forces with a Demon? Let alone sleep with her?!"
Edward wrapped his hand around the Demon's waist, turned his head to hers, and brought her in for a kiss. The Huntress' teeth grit as she observed the couple making out in front of them. There was a good chance that if she struck at the Demon she'd end up killing the human instead. Something she wanted to avoid right now. What if he had been seduced or brainwashed? The last thing she wanted to do at the moment was kill an innocent man who had been coerced through corruption. She glanced at Nikon and saw that the horse girl had one hand over her heart. Her eyes were focused on the ground while the other squeezed her bow until it shook in her grip.
When their lips finally parted, Edward answered Nikon's question, "Why else? Because I love her. I've been searching for a wife ever since I left the Guard, but I've found no one. Until I met Circe here."
"That's right, honey," the Demon giggled, slowly separating from the older man while keeping her tail wrapped around his arm, "We met while he was out exploring the woods near the West Gate. Made love on top of a field of roses. We've been together for three years."
"That still doesn't explain why. You must know she's trying to undermine the Guard, right?"
"Of course. I'm helping her do it."
"What?" Nikon's hand dropped her bow and went to her blade as Edward took out his halberd. He held it in one hand as blue lightning crackled across the silver weapon, lighting up the area around his feet. Circe followed suit, her claws extending while purple fire engulfed her hands.
The wind blew the older man's white hair out as he bowed to the two of them, "That's right. And don't worry. I'll make sure to explain everything to the two of you once you've been pacified. Ready, my Love?"
"Always," twin firebolts flew from the Demon's hands towards the Huntress and Nikon. Nikon, still shocked at her predecessor's admission, didn't notice until it was too late. The bolt hit her square in the chest as she drew her blade, sending her to the ground in a heap. In contrast the Huntress easily knocked hers out of the air with the flat of her blade. She prepared to charge the Mamono, but was forced to hop back to dodge a sweep from Edward's halberd. The man pulled his weapon back and started stabbing away at the Huntress with speed matching hers. His polearm left afterimages bolts of lightning in its wake, sending the Huntress farther and farther back. The Huntress stopped backing up when a shadow fell over her from behind.
She rolled to the right just when a stone hand as big as her body closed its fingers. She got to her feet only for Edward to leap at her with his halberd held high. Metal struck metal as her Burial Blade came up to block the man's downward swing. Lightning worked its way down her blade, guard, then up her arm. She grunted as the shock lanced through her body, but didn't fall. I wasn't nearly as bad as what she went through fighting the Darkbeast.
Edward raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Impressive," he said before pulling his weapon back and sending a back kick towards the Huntress. She blocked the blow with her knee and struck out with the flat of her blade, only for her attack to blocked by a cobblestone column that had risen from the ground.
"Most normal people would've been brought to their knees by that last strike. Are you, perhaps, a Hero as well?" Edward ventured as the Huntress dodged two purple fireballs from Circe.
She didn't answer the man, choosing to keep her focus on both of her targets. Her opponents were not only skilled, but knew how to work in tandem. Edward made each of his attacks wider and wider, each time getting better at hitting the Huntress even if she dodged. He managed to get in a good hit while she was avoiding three cobblestone hands. She tried to block the horizontal slash with Evelyn, but the gun wasn't thick enough to block the entire strike. She winced as the edge of the polearm's head sliced through her armor. She felt the familiar warmth of blood flowing down her arm as lightning lanced into her body. The shock flowed through her body, until she pushed the older man back...just when a stone fist came up from the ground and punched her in the stomach.
The wind fled from her lungs as she skid backwards on her feet. She forced herself to remain standing as the two started to advance on her. Edward's face was a mask of impassivity, while the Demon had a smug grin plastered across her face.
'Damn it. I need to do something about that Hero. If I could just get him away from the Mamono...'
"Edward!" the old man turned around as the horse girl crashed into him. He was sent flying through the air, but landed on his feet right when Nikon caught up to him. The center of her gambeson had been fried by the firebolt leaving her bare breasts shaking in the night air. But she didn't seem to mind as she launched a number of furious swings at the older man. He blocked the majority of the strikes but a few did manage to pierce his guard and leave cuts on his arms. Though no blood was drawn, it was clear he was being pressed.
"Edward! Hold on! I'm-fuck!" the Demon jumped back as the Huntress blade came crashing down where she once stood. She struck again, but this time the Demon grabbed the blade between her hands and held it there, her knees buckling at the effort.
"Circe!" Edward tried to disengage, but Nikon blocked his attempted. He sneered with clear anger, "Move, Nikon! My Love is in danger!"
"Tell me why!" Nikon ignored his cry as her sword came down. He blocked it with his halberd's shaft as the centaur continued to yell, "Why are you doing this!? Why did you betray the Guard!? Betray Vinvers?! Betray the City!?"
"To save it!" Nikon's head turned to Circe as the Demon dodge rolled away from the Huntress' blade, "Haven't you noticed the Order's sending more and more of their Agents to this city? They're planning something big here, and we've been trying to find out what!"
"I didn't ask you, Demon!" Circe rolled her eyes as she narrowly avoided the Huntress cutting off her tail. She conjured a wall of stone and sent it at the Huntress, who dashed to the side to avoid it.
"She speaks the truth, Nikon," the centaur's eyes widened in shock as Edward confirmed what the Mamono said, "I've been gathering information for months now. Based on my findings, the Order's planning to purge this city of all Monsters and Monster Sympathizers. That includes the City Council and the Guard."
Nikon felt the strength leave her arms as she stepped away from her friend, "Bu-but-but that can't be. We've welcomed the Order with open arms as long as they don't cause any trouble."
"And you thought they would keep to that agreement? You still have much to learn when it comes to dealing with those charlatans" Edward shook his head, then held his hand out to the centaur with a smile, "Listen, I don't want to fight you. I want to work with you to stop this. We've got an entire group of Mamono camped a day's ride away from the city, ready to move in and help defend the people. Just lay down your arms, come with me, and we can find a way to save Vinvers."
"Listen to him, Guard Captain. Isn't it your duty to defend the citizens of this city? Human and Mamono?" Circe took to the skies to avoid the Huntress, but didn't retaliate. Her focus was completely on Nikon as the centaur's eyes shifted from Edward's face to his hand. The centaur's hooves clopped out a rhythm on the cobblestone road. Her face was flushed and her heart was beating in her chest. Her gaze lingered on the old Hero's hand. The same hand that had taught her how to wield a blade. The same one that helped her get into the Guard when she was but a filly. The same hand that had entrusted this position to her.
The hand she knew she could trust.
She nodded then reached her hand out to take his-
"And what about after?"
-Then stopped as the Huntress' voice cut through the silence like a knife. All eyes turned to stare at the black clothed woman who looked between the flying Mamono and the human Hero. She spoke again, "Let's say that what you say is true. What happens after the Order is dealt with? Will you Mamono leave the city and populace alone?"
Nikon turned to the Huntress, shock written all over her face, "How could you ask that? Of course they-"
"Of course not."
Nikon felt her heart sink. She slowly turned to stare at the flying Mamono. Her words came out as a whisper, "What did you say?"
Circe crossed her arms and spoke with a matter of face tone, "It's obvious that if we leave the city after the Order is dealt with, they'll simply send another force to do the job instead. Thus our forces will stay in Vinvers, and it will officially join the Demon Lord's Army. You're all living with Mamono already, I don't see why you don't just fully join us."
"Because the people here don't want to get involved in the war! They want to live in peace! Both the humans and the Mamono!" Nikon shouted at the Demon.
"Ha ha ha ha ha!" the Demon's laugh made Nikon's hands clench into fists. Circe twirled in the sky with her arms spread out to encompass the whole city, "Look around you! Humans are much happier when they're with Mamono or turned into one. Just look at me and my Husband! Our life together has been nothing but absolute bliss ever since we met each other. And we want to share this feeling with the rest of the city!"
"And if they don't want that forced on them?"
"They'll come around to liking it eventually."
Nikon backed up while shaking her head at the evil grin on the Mamono's face, "No, no, no. Edward! You can't honestly...," her words died in her throat as she beheld her former mentor's face.
Not only was he nodding his head along with what Circe said, but he was smiling as he did it.
Nikon's hands went to her head as she fell to the ground. A scream began to rip its way through her throat...but went silent when a loud crack hit her eardrums.
She turned to see the Huntress, standing there completely still, with smoke rising from the tip barrel of her gun.
Circe blinked twice.
Then she felt a pain spreading out from the center of her chest.
She put a hand to her cleavage and felt a warm liquid reach her palm. When she brought her hand to her eyes, she realized that it was blood.
Her blood.
"Wh-wha...," her body went cold as her eyes closed. Her wings stopped flapping and she fell to the street below.
"CIRCE!" Edward was a blur as he ran to stop his beloved's fall. Lightning encased his body, making his hair stand up and glow with a white hot intensity. The air around him screamed, scorch marks appearing on the street as he shot towards his falling wife's body. He snarled when the Huntress stepped into his path, holding his halberd out to stab straight through her, "YOU MONSTER! YOU'LL DIE FOR-"
He lost track of what happened after that.
One minute, he was charging straight at the murderer that had killed the love of his life.
Then what he could only describe as a large chunk of iron with finger holes in it slammed into his face. He heard his skull crack as his forward momentum collided with the iron weapon. There was a brief moment where he felt his skull fragments impact his brain. Then he couldn't feel anything anymore.
He was dead before he hit the road.
His halberd flew down the street, clanging against the stones when it hit the ground. The Huntress let her arm fall before walking over to the Demon's fallen body. It remained completely still, crimson blood pooling around it and seeping into the cobblestones below. She had landed on her back, wings clearly broken from the fall while her arms and legs were bent at odd angles.
Nikon watched with clear awe as the Huntress grabbed the corpse's hair with her left hand.
The centaur realized what she was doing too late.
She resisted the urge to vomit as the Demon's head came off in a shower of blood. The Huntress let the severed head drop to the ground in a bloody heap. Then, without a word, she walked away from the carnage. Nikon's eyes followed the black clothed woman as she disappeared into the night. And as the citizens in the homes around her slowly woke up to check out the sound, she slowly reconciled everything that had happened.
Within the span of one night, she had discovered her former mentor had betrayed the city. That he was trying to save it from the Order by teaming up with Mamono. That said Mamono would not only remain in the city but force it to join the Demon Lord's forces, which her former mentor was completely fine with. That the Order was possibly planning a city wide purge of Vinvers. And she had witnessed the death of her former mentor, along with a Mamono. Both cut down by a black clad figure who spoke little but behaved like a trained killer.
...
...It didn't take long for the sobbing to start.
----------------------------------------
"Eve."
The Doll turned to see the Huntress entering the Workshop. She stood up and bowed in greeting, "Welcome home, Good Hunter."
The Huntress made a bee line to the chair in the Workshop. A heavy, stressful sigh escaped her lips before she said, "I need your advice."
The Huntress waved for Eve to stand in front of her. The Doll obliged, moving to kneel in front of the sitting Hunter. She looked up at the Master Of The Dream with an innocence that could never be found in the waking world, "As you wish, Good Hunter. I shall endeavor to answer you to the best of my ability."
The Huntress nodded, then went silent. For five minutes the only sound in the room was the crackling of the wood in the fireplace and the moaning of the Messengers outside.
Then, the Huntress spoke:
"You find yourself in a new world. You find it is in peril, but know you can drastically alter its course. You have found three ways to accomplish this. None of them lead to favorable outcome. What would you do?"