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Post by Ayen on Sept 15, 2024 20:15:54 GMT -6
The portal opened against a wall and Drake came rolling out hitting his side with a grunt and then rolling onto his front. Getting up to a single knee and looking around the area. He no longer saw the familiar skyscrapers or choppers that made up the Isafaro skyline. Instead he saw buildings not as tall and a full moon accompanying a starry night sky as he looked around for any sign of Zira.
"Zira? Are you there? Zira!"
As Drake rose to a stand he could see there was no sign of his comrade anywhere. He was alone once again. Without Melissa or Zach by his side. Or anything familiar. Dressed in nothing but a black military uniform of the Crimson Vulture and the weapons on his person. He walked out of the alleyway and started walking down the pavement. Looking for signs of life. He came up to a person and cleared his throat.
"Excuse me, but do you have any idea where I am?"
The sooner he learned of his new surroundings the better.
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Post by Jean Vilain on Sept 18, 2024 14:33:04 GMT -6
Jean emerged from the dimly lit alleyway, his face caught in the faint, flickering glow of a streetlamp and the cigarette he was smoking. He looked like any regular man who had just finished a long shift—tired, unbothered, and ready to go home. But for a brief second, his eyes lingered on the insignia of the Crimson Vulture on Drake, a spark of recognition flashing through them. Inside, he felt a thrill, something deeply intrigued by the uniform, but he quickly masked it, slipping easily into the role of a harmless local.
"Another one of you," Jean muttered softly, his voice warm and casual, as if this were a regular occurrence. "You must be another arrival. Seems like those damn portals keep dumping folks from all over."
He gave a friendly, lopsided grin, one that crinkled the edges of his eyes in an almost reassuring way. There was no menace, only a man who appeared to have just finished a long day of work. Extending his hand toward Drake, Jean introduced himself. "Name’s Jack," he said, the lie rolling off his tongue without hesitation, but with a genuine ease. "I just got off work, figured I’d help you out. You look a little lost, and I’ve seen enough folks stumble through these parts to know when someone’s new."
Jean glanced again at the insignia on Drake’s uniform, though this time with the same casual curiosity one might show when noticing something unusual about a stranger’s clothes. "Portals have been bringing in all kinds lately—some real strange ones. But hey, lucky for you, you ended up in a good spot. This place ain't so bad once you get your bearings."
The tension in the air faded, replaced by a more relaxed, almost welcoming atmosphere. Jean's tone remained friendly, his smile easygoing, as though he were just another helpful local trying to make a good impression. There was no hurry, no pressure—just a man offering a handshake and some help to someone who looked like they needed it.
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Post by Ayen on Sept 18, 2024 15:23:04 GMT -6
Drake looked over to the stranger who now stood opposite of him. Obviously a native to this world and someone who could offer some much needed assistance. As Drake had no earthly idea where the hell he had landed. He knew he had been dragged through a portal and the Spiral from his world made that note possible. But how? And why? As the man extended his hand Drake took it and gave him a firm shake. Seeing no reason not to.
"Drake White."
Drake retreated his hand and brought it back down to his side. His Desert Eagle in a holster on his hip and sawed off shotgun strapped to the back. It wasn't Vulture standard issue, but being one of the best soldiers in the army he was allowed to carry any weapon he wanted. And he felt most comfortable with the Eagle and shotgun.
"Where exactly is here?"
Drake also noticed the curious glance at the insignia on his uniform.
"Crimson Vulture military. I'm guessing by the look on your face I'm no longer in Isafaro."
He could tell that much by the skyline, but if he wasn't in Isafaro then where was he?
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Post by Jean Vilain on Sept 18, 2024 16:55:09 GMT -6
As Jean clasped Drake's hand in a firm shake, something deeper occurred beneath the surface—a connection, subtle and invisible, but infinitely profound. In that moment, as skin met skin, Jean's mind surged forward, diving into the endless expanse of Drake's experiences, memories, and life itself. Every battle fought, every decision made—Drake’s entire existence flashed before him, consumed and cataloged in a mind already teeming with countless lives and knowledge.
Jean swam through it all, each memory and experience unfolding like the pages of a well-worn book. The Crimson Vulture, the battles, the intense camaraderie with Zira, Melissa, and Zach, and then—there it was. The Downward Spiral. That twisted force pulling Drake from his world to this one. Jean lingered for what felt like an eternity, analyzing every detail, every hidden meaning. The Spiral was more than just a cosmic accident; it was an opportunity.
But in the real world, no time had passed. What seemed like an endless exploration in through Drake's experiences was, in fact, just a brief handshake, a mere split second. His outward demeanor remained unchanged, his eyes warm, his expression friendly—there was no sign of the vast knowledge he had just stolen from Drake.
As Drake let go, Jean chuckled lightly, as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. "Crimson Vulture, huh? Sounds like you’ve seen your fair share of battle." He spoke with the same casual tone, but now every word he said was carefully calculated, knowing exactly who stood before him.
“Earth, Metro City to be exact," Jean continued, folding his hands casually behind his back. "Welcome to the good 'ol US of A. It’s a bit of a rough place sometimes, but nothing compared to what you’ve been through I'm sure. And yeah, that insignia caught my eye. Not from around here, clearly.”
He glanced briefly at the night sky, as if taking in the stars. “Portals, man. They’ve been opening left and right. Dragging people from different worlds. You’re just another poor soul who got sucked in. You’re lucky I found you first. You never know what some creep in the dark could of found you.”
His eyes lingered on Drake, the friendly mask still in place, but beneath it, Jean was already several steps ahead. Plotting, planning.
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Post by Ayen on Sept 19, 2024 6:44:03 GMT -6
"You don't know the half of it."
From battling knights with muskets in the desert to rebels in the home land. To finally mutations caused by his own people experimenting on soldiers. He had agreed to be part of a genetic enhanced experiment, but he had a choice in the matter. Those bodies that fell in the Crystal Expanse after being reanimated and mutated didn't have a say. They didn't get a choice. That was why while he still wore the uniform he was no longer in lines with the Crimson Vulture. But now he was nowhere close to avenge his fallen comrades.
"Metro City, huh? US of A? Yeah all foreign concepts to me, buddy. In my world none of those things exist. I guess my next step would be coming in contact with some type of authority figure. Who runs this town?"
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