Prologue: Bruce Valkyrie.
It’s a shame honestly, the poor old lady never asked for any of this. Her left eye had swollen up to the size of a watermelon dwarfing the rest of her swollen red face as it bulged out from its expanded socket. Reflected briefly in its abyssal pupil was the image of a sharp and angular man, Luciferian with a blend of masculine and feminine qualities. His silver eyes were his most striking feature, they were so sharp they cut straight through the woman’s core.
Black blood dripped from underneath her stained nightgown as her two sets of swollen red knees popped and cracked. The razor sharp nails adorning her six limbs scraped the grimy walls and floor as her massive silhouette merged with the blackness behind her.
Black blood was splattered everywhere as her weak and delicate voice uttered repeatedly and deliberately. “Bastard, I’ll rip you apart before I have my babies!”
Bruce didn’t understand the Cosmic Death, no one did. Even after living for over one hundred and sixty seven years, it was still a total mystery to him. Even now as he stood in this corridor about to kill this poor woman infected with it, he couldn’t help but sigh deeply.
With a single thought, he activated the helmet of his black anti Cosmic Death armour as it quickly shifted into place and enveloped his head and face. Just above his helmet’s two sound wave detectors were a pair of backward curving black wings on either side of his head. There was also a pair of downward curving wings that coiled around his jaw.
He figured it gave him an angelic appearance, it suited him quite well as he fancied himself an angel of mercy and death in this moment. He slowly and carefully stepped forward while drawing forth his black katana from its sheath.
From within the darkness at the end of the corridor the old woman moaned. “I have to find somewhere safe to give birth…”
Loud scratching and the sound of tumbling furniture could then be heard as the woman charged into the last room off to the side.
Bruce quickly followed after her and entered into the pitch black. He immediately activated his night vision and saw that the old woman was now crawling on the ceiling. Facing the ground, her stomach bulged rapidly before several thick tendrils erupted followed by a blood curdling scream that shook Bruce to his knees. His ears were particularly sensitive, as with all Immortal Soldiers.
He slammed his eyes shut from the pain before a heavy and fleshy thud forced him to open them again.
It appeared as if her “baby” had just landed in front of him. It was more of a gigantic mangled lump of flesh and limbs than a baby despite being just as loud as one. With a heart wrenching roar, It quickly lunged after him as its mother hit the ground behind it.
Bruce quickly twisted around one of its thrusting tendrils, using the momentum to propel himself into a wide horizontal slash. Such a creature was a miserable sight, it was most humane to kill it as quickly as possible.
The “baby” was quickly bisected causing the mother to fly into a frenzy.
She grabbed Bruce by the neck and threw him behind her sending him crashing towards the window. He then stabbed his katana into the wooden floor to slow his momentum until his feet touched the ground.
Wasting no time he charged at the woman who was now hunched over her dead child.
“MY BABY” The woman screamed before her singular disgusting eye fixed itself on the fast approaching Bruce, baring a look that was the furthest thing from sane.
Before she could do anything Bruce twisted, swivelled and swirled stripping away limb after limb as black blood stained his already black armour even blacker.
With nothing left to attack with or even stand on, the woman quickly fell to the ground still screaming. “My baby! My baby…”
Bruce quietly fixed his eyes on the child that was still wriggling around in the form of its two halves.
Placing the katana back in it’s Sheath, Bruce prayed that they may find peace in their fast approaching deaths. He then stepped over the old woman before squatting down to pick up the two pieces of her child. He gently placed them over the mother’s chest causing her to quickly try to cradle them as she cried.
He stood up straight hoping that this would give the two the slightest bit of comfort. He extended his right index finger towards the two of them as a small flame sparked from its tip. With a merciful thought that spark became a torrent of flames that incinerated the two ending their suffering. He continued to blast the entire room causing everything in sight to go up in flames. Cremation wasn’t the most painless way to go, but it was the only effective method to kill a Cosmic Death outbreak permanently.
Within the now illuminated room Bruce saw a cradle lined with toys and children’s books at the side of the large burning bed. They all appeared to be dusty and quite ancient. According to Bruce’s briefing the woman had been suffering from fertility problems her entire life and couldn’t bare a child. This information was necessary to know as the Cosmic Death would often grant the wishes of the people it influenced, albeit in a rather twisted manner. The “baby” that she had given birth to was likely a mutation produced by the Cosmic Death when it infected her.
Not just this mansion, but everything within the one mile quarantine zone had to be thoroughly incinerated. Satisfied, Bruce quickly stopped expelling flames as to not be too wasteful. The fire would spread eventually, now it was time for him to find the old woman’s husband. Unfortunately the Briefing was one of the ones where they didn’t provide the names of the infected. To many people, once a person was infected with the Cosmic Death they were immediately considered to be Necromorphs. After that point the names of the infected didn’t matter anymore.
He quickly leapt through the already smashed bedroom window and landed outside. Having already Thoroughly searched the mansion before encountering the woman, he knew that her husband wasn’t there meaning that he was outside somewhere.
Looking around he saw a life sized statue depicting a winged Immortal Soldier, Written on its pedestal were the words: “Honourable Stark, angel of mercy. The universe awaits your fated return.”
The sight of it made Bruce sigh deeply. Why was it always Stark? What about all of the other immortal soldiers that died trying and failing to stop the Cosmic Death.
Beyond the statue and anywhere else Illuminated by the flames there was no sign of the husband anywhere.
He quickly jumped up several metres before landing on the tip of a tree. Looking around again from higher ground, not even the light of the planet’s two moons were of any help. He only saw the silver outlines of countless trees stretching until the edge of the quarantine zone, beyond which were countless stars illuminating the night sky.
People hated to look at the stars, it was a constant reminder that the universe was coming to a fast end. Right in the centre of the night sky was the Cosmic Death itself, a great ever expanding black void that formed a scar dividing the stars themselves. It took away the Pleiades when he was but a little boy and Andromeda when he was a teenager. Betelgeuse, Altha Centauri, Orion, Kepler, all of them lost to the Cosmic Death. Even his home, the earth and its sun were long dead and he remembered it being devoured as if it was yesterday. The screams of millions as they were crammed onto massive chariots and the deaths of his comrades after the Cosmic Death corrupted them with it’s seductive power. Of course these stars and planets were only the most note worthy examples among many thousands in just the past hundred and sixty seven years.
“AAAHH!!”
Bruce snapped out of his daze when a blood curdling scream rattled his ears. Upon looking back he saw a long centipede like monstrosity emerging from underground. Each of its segments were pale and fleshy with swollen round stubs for limbs, it made for quite the unfortunate sight.
Its head resembled that of a giant baby with bulging white eyes and puffed up cheeks. It tried to rush into the burning mansion only to scream when its body made contact with the flames. It was so loud that Bruce had no choice but to activate the noise cancellation feature in his armour or else he would surely die miserably.
The creature staggered back and whimpered before slowly turning around. It’s flesh were it had been burned bubbled with a fatty pale colour and thick almost paste like black blood dripped from its swollen lips.
Its pale milky eyes became fixed on Bruce, or a least they seemed to as it didn’t appear to have pupils.
The husband had mutated much more than the old lady, at this point it was a full blown Necromorph.
Bruce and the husband stared each other down as the burning mansion blackened both of their silhouettes.
The creature immediately attacked, lunging forward with its mouth wide open.
Bruce extended his right index finger sending a pillar of fire down its gaping mouth.
It tried to scream but couldn’t so instead it swung its burning head around narrowly missing Bruce who flipped over it deactivating the flame thrower built into the armour’s index finger. The tree was knocked over and uprooted by the force of the Husband’s assault.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Bruce landed and almost tripped on several jagged rocks, before muscling his way through several thick roots that the beast tore free from the soil in its rampage.
In a flash he dashed forward unsheathing his katana before slicing through the husband’s midsection and jumping up on to the burning roof of the mansion.
The massive creature fell to the ground where it quickly coiled up before slowly dying.
Looking to spare him of any further anguish, Bruce extended his index finger a third time and ended the husband in a roaring inferno.
He gazed down upon his fallen foe with melancholy, he would’ve carried the husband to lay with his wife and child if they weren’t already burnt to a crisp.
With all of the infected now free of their suffering, Bruce quickly hopped from the burning roof to the main road leading to the exit of the mansion grounds and by extension the quarantine zone.
He dashed down the stone road while breaking the sound barrier, arriving before the massive electromagnetic barrier that sectioned the mansion grounds off from the rest of the region.
He slowly walked through it burning off the black blood that stained his body in the process. With his armour now clean he continued forward emerging before a massive closed gate. On the other side was a large watch tower on the side of the road that had two regular soldiers stationed on it. From high up they nodded at him as he nodded back while walking around to the side of the watch tower where a three dimensional transporter was awaiting him.
The vehicle’s two horizontal propellers made no sound as they spun within each of its two large wings. The round glass front opened up to reveal his employer, Nancy Sanders.
She was an old stern looking woman who appeared to be carved from jagged steel. Her silver eyes were even sharper than the scar across her right cheek. She was ordinary, not an Immortal Soldier like himself, and a stoic woman with a soft spot for him as if he were her son. It was ironic considering that he was practically twice her age. He couldn’t blame her though, he looked barely twenty.
“Boy, remove that terrifying helmet right now!” She said. “It makes me think I’m looking at death itself. I’m already getting old, I don’t need to be reminded that death is just around the corner.”
“Is it really that bad?” Bruce was stunned. He had chosen this appearance for his helmet because he wanted it to bring comfort to the unfortunate souls he often met in battle. He had no clue that it could be perceived in such a manner. With a simple mental command his helmet returned to a liquid state before receding down his neck and exposing his pale angular face and jet black hair.
“Perhaps I was being a little too harsh.” Nancy said, changing her tune suddenly when she saw Bruce’s sorry expression. She then immediately asked. “All of the Demi Necromorphs are dead right?”
Bruce nodded before asking. “What was their names? Do you know?”
Nancy let out a sigh before sitting down on the steps leading into the three dimensional transporter. She reached behind her to one of the seats where she retrieved an Infopad and read it before answering. “Marty and Jackie Mathew, they both had no children and a weak relationship with both of their families. You want to know if they have anyone left to give them a proper funeral right?”
“Indeed.” Bruce nodded back.
“Well I don’t think anyone is going to arrange a funeral for them.” Nancy said with a sad smile. “That means your free to do your thing.”
Bruce smiled before quickly getting to work. He Stepped up passed the older woman before entering into the vehicle. He quickly went to the front passenger seat where he retrieved three large stone tablets from his suitcase that was resting on it.
Before long he jammed the three stone tablets halfway into the ground outside. With his katana he delicately carved the names Marty and Jackie Mathew into the first two tablets. As for the unnamed child Bruce had ultimately decided to just name them bob.
The crackling of flames grew louder and the orange glow of the burning mansion grew brighter as the fire spread to various trees in the distance. Every inch of anything within the quarantine zone had to be thoroughly incinerated in order to truly kill the Cosmic Death outbreak, so neither the two soldiers nor Nancy batted an eye.
With the graves now complete, Bruce entered into the three dimensional transporter before Nancy stood up and did the same.
The large round front window slammed shut before the vehicle quickly rose up into the air. Nancy gave the two soldiers one last wave before typing in their destination on her Infopad. The three dimensional transporter then blasted away leaving behind a sonic boom that shook the watch tower.
Bruce watched on as the silhouetted trees gave way to a vast ocean that shimmered under the two moons. The transporter was moving exactly at mach thirty, in half an hour they’d reach ward 2567 where Bruce’s residence was located.
The interior of such vehicles was often utilitarian with only a driver and passenger seat in the front and two rows of passenger seats in the main body. There was also a toilet built into the side of the vehicle causing it to have an odd amount of seats.
Bruce quickly entered into the toilet with his suitcase where he got changed into his civilian attire. He put on a black pair of trousers, a black Lenin shirt and a black trench coat while retaining his armoured boots. He didn’t like walking around the ward in his armour as it immediately gave away the fact that he was an immortal soldier. It would draw a ton of unwanted attention to himself and the others. Speaking of them, Bruce couldn’t help but wonder what they were doing. Little Finagan, little Samson and little Beverly, and last but not least Azalia.
They were probably worried about him, especially Azalia. She had a habit of forgetting that he’s an immortal soldier just like herself, and a stronger one too.
Bruce wondered what he’d eat when he got home. He also wondered when he’d inevitably have to leave this planet. The Cosmic Death was encroaching on this place and everyone knew it was only a matter of time before the planet had to be evacuated. He planned on leaving early with Azalia and the rest in order to avoid getting caught up in a space convoy. The outbreaks had been getting more and more frequent for the past ten years. When he first arrived here there was only one outbreak every six months or so and now it’s happening every other week. It was like this on earth too.
Bruce heaved a heavy sigh as he returned to the front passenger seat to sit beside Nancy.
Before Bruce could relax he felt the tingle of nicotine seep into his nose, Nancy was smoking again.
“What’s that smell?” Bruce asked playing dumb. “Let’s see… “ Bruce sniffed. “Benzene, Cadium, Hydrogen cyanide! Seems pretty bad for y-“
“You sit in the back if it bothers you.” Nancy sneered at him. “Let me have this one comfort, not everyone has a loving wife and children to run home to.”
“You think Azalia is my wife?” Bruce couldn’t help but chuckle, Azalia was a child, only fifty two years old. “Why don’t you swing around to the bar with me.”
“And just walk out on my duties as a ward officer.” Nancy kicked her feet up as she shot him an unamused look. “This planet is dying, I’m sure that must be obvious to you now.”
“I know, I’m going to discuss the next planet to move to with Azalia when I get home.” Bruce smiled before yawning. “God, I need some rest…”
“So damn easy going.” Nancy sighed. “I was born and raised here, once this planet disappears, so will everything I have ever known in person. Hundreds of years of history wiped out by a universal disease that nobody understands.”
“It is what it is at the end of the day.” Bruce shrugged. “The universe was always going to die. Even in ancient times they said that the universe would die naturally after trillions of years, now we know it’s going to die in a few thousand years. In the end everything still disappears from our grasp. At least you’ll fade away with everything else, as for us Immortal Soldiers? Well, when everything’s gone we will be the ones left to morn its loss.”
“That’s easy for you to say.” Nancy took another puff before finally relaxing. “My back is killing me, my knees are aching and my shoulders need a massage. These are feelings you’re never going to know. You’re never going to have to see yourself waste away bit by bit.”
“Are you asking me to give you a massage?” Bruce asked raising an eyebrow.
“Not at all.” Nancy replied bluntly before she began to fiddle with her Infopad.
A wide projection of a screen soon appeared just in front of them. It first showed Kasper the cricket which was Bruce’s favourite cartoon from when he was a child before Nancy began to cycle through the various channels.
Beside her Bruce folded his arms behind his head before leaning back and closing his eyes.
Nancy finally stopped when she reached the Hoshiyomi news station.
There was a woman speaking with long white hair and green eyes. Two sun earrings hung from both of her ears as she spoke.
*with the interview nearing its end I’d like to make a grand announcement* the white haired woman said as her eyes began to gleam with excitement. She leaned in towards the interviewer and said. *Stark is returning!*
“What!” Bruce immediately sat up straight before glaring at the television alarmed. “What the hell does she mean stark is returning?”
Beside him Nancy had an equally bewildered expression. Stark was known as the strongest of all of the immortal soldiers. This was mainly due to his immunity to the Cosmic Death. Ever since she was but a child she had been hearing stories about him and was even taught lessons about him in school.
The white haired woman smiled widely as she continued to speak. *After having disappeared for over a hundred years, Stark has contacted me personally and tomorrow he will be here with me to re introduce himself to the world.*
Several surprised gasps could be heard in the background of the interview, Bruce wasn’t sure what kind of stunt this white haired woman was pulling.
He leaned forward before speaking in a mocking tone. “Sure he will…”
“Do you not believe her?” Nancy asked genuinely curious.
Bruce looked over at her. “Why the hell would I? I’ve seen plenty of fake stories and reports of Stark returning. There’s no reason why I should care now just because the Hoshiyomi are the ones declaring it to be so.”
“Well I think it’s good to have hope for a change.” Nancy frowned.
Bruce looked at the old woman with a hint of pity. To him, false hope was even crueler than despair. People would often desperately Delude themselves into thinking they could overcome the Cosmic Death. “Stark” was nothing more than a painkiller to a dying universe. The Cosmic Death was first discovered around four hundred years ago and since then humanity has made absolutely zero progress in understanding it. The only leap forward was the discovery that fire could harm it and that was a discovery made over three hundred and ninety nine years ago. In other words, humanity has not taken a single step forward since the very start of this “war” against the Cosmic Death. What hope was there in lying to a dying relative that they’d survive? The most merciful thing to do would be to ensure they met peace with their situation and found happiness as they departed from this world.
Nancy observed Bruce’s tense expression and said suddenly. “I’m an old lady Bruce. I won’t be here in a few more years anyway, can you imagine how awful it is to die without hope?”
Bruce sighed before suddenly changing his expression. He gave Nancy an unserious smile before saying. “If Stark really were to return, then I’d be the first to know.”
“What are you talking about?” She asked, raising an eyebrow at the lanky immortal soldier.
“Let’s just say I’m his right hand man…” Bruce grinned. “Me and him go way back. You wanna hear his true story?”
“Now is not the time for jokes.” Nancy sighed turning her attention back to the projection screen which was now showing an economy report.
“I’m serious…” Bruce said deepening his voice. “In the ten years you’ve known me, when have I ever lied to you?”
Nancy was stumped, he had gotten her there. “Well, you are definitely one of the more honest people I know… Fine, I’ll here you out…”
“Where should I start.” Bruce said tapping his finger on his chin as he leaned back once more. “Should I start at the part where he almost destroyed the earth in the final war? Or should I start one hundred years ago just before he disappeared? I guess I’ll go straight to where it all began. The week when stark first encountered THAT man… Back to one hundred and fifty years ago when he still had a family of his own and the earth had yet to become a dead husk of a planet. Before those rainbow eyes changed everything…”
End of prologue.