» Sat May 28, 2011 6:59 am
Chapter 7
A Challenge... The Tools You Need
Morning had arrived. Mammoth stretched out his body. He groaned as the muscles in his body ached from sleeping on the extremely large hammock. Big boy blue got up and greeted the morning by showing his teeth.
Blue was his normal grayish and blue tint. Sawtooth greeted him, "Mornin' bub, we got a big day ahead of us. We're gonna build some more housin' maybe a shop, go from there. Excitin' ain't it?! Hehah let's go."
Mammoth followed and Johns let him know how he felt, This mutant, he is good for you. He will work well with you when I'm gone.
The younger brother was confused, "Gone?"
Johns nodded from inside the dome, Yes, I'm leaving soon, but in a manner of speaking you will still have me with you. I have prepared everything so that when I go you will obtain all my knowledge, it will all fuse. It'll be as though we were always the same being. You will be able to discern who's memories are who's. You will also have all my combat knowledge."
Mammoth felt sad, but wasn't entirely sure how he could express it. He walked beside Sawtooth. A noise broke the calm of the morning: gunfire. What could possibly cause gunfire?
Sawtooth had stopped walking. His cigar fell out of his mouth and hit the deck. The ashes burnt in the light of the sun and slowly dwindled away. "[censored], he's here!"
Mammoth wondered what he was talking about, "Who be he?"
Sawtooth bolted off, "The Dragon! Follow me Mammoth, we gotta set up the defenses."
Blue jogged behind him and kept up. The buildings blocked some of the chaos. The only thing he could see was bodies, bodily fluids, and limbs flew into the air like fireworks on the 4th of July.
The two mutants ran to the edge of town and looked to their left to see the battle. A huge, twenty two foot beast towered above everyone. There were only a couple behemoths that were close to his height.
Shotgun pellets, .50 caliber rounds, rpg shells, nothing seemed to hurt him too bad. Sawtooth dropped his shotgun and ripped his blade and attacked with the fury of a white rhino. Sawtooth was very small compared to "The Dragon," but he assaulted with bravery and courage.
Mammoth watched his mentor fight valiantly, actually giving some hell to the beast. Johns knew it was useless. The man also knew that Sawtooth was confronting his fear, he was confronting death itself. The two watched as Sawtooth jumped and dodged the swipes of the beast. It was like watching cat and mouse, except the mouse drew blood. The super mutant was fighting like a wolverine.
The two must have fought for a half an hour. Mammoth was unsure of what to do, other than watch and learn from Sawtooth, and the new creature.
Johns had been examining the creature before them. It reminded him of his former rival, at least who he thought was formal. Corporal Jackson and James Johns went way back. Back to basic training. The two differed on all levels. Johns, the man of faith; Jackson, the man of himself. Jackson sought pleasure, and power above all. James was quite the opposite, with seeking to help others before himself, and not forgetting his place as a servant of his graceful taskmaster.
He hasn't been able to help many since the bombs though. He wonders sometimes if he lost that purity he use to have. The only one he helps is Mammoth, and he only teaches him the best he can without a physical body.
Johns suddenly snapped to the present. He could see Sawtooth, the new mentor, struggling with The Dragon. What are you doing Mammoth?! Get off your ass and help him!
Sawtooth was panting. He could feel his life coming to a close as death approached. Something told him this wasn't the bitter end. He still had someone to teach, and that someone was holding the wrist of The Dragon in his hand.
Sawtooth wondered to himself, How the hell can he match his strength? He watched as the grayish blue beast took on the demon. The skin of his friend started to become darker. Mammoth started to become a deep oceanic blue.
Sawtooth stood up with the help of his blade. Only he, Mammoth and The Dragon remains Ron the battlefield. The others had crawled away to safety. Big boy blue was really given it to the bastard. Of course, Sawtooth had worn him out.
Mammoth wailed overwhelmed the tired enemy. He could see the blood become to drip from his enemies eyebrow as he wailed upon his face.
Sawtooth was reminded of something, Reminds me of a prewar boxing match, literally good versus evil goin' on here.
The Dragon finally put up a block and countered with a right jab of claw. This knocked back Mammoth, for what was to the two of them, a couple of feet. The demon chuckled, his voice deep. It was even a lower octave than that of Mammoth. It had a scratchiness to it that made it even more demonic. There was an echo in it, it almost sounded as if two people were speaking, "Finally... A challenge."
Johns's eyes went wide, "Sonuva[censored], that's Jackson. Mammoth, you better watch yourself. You might have a helluva body with all your perks and such, but you better watch out. He has all the same perks, 'celt he's got a little vinegar on it from the deathclaw mixed in."
Mammoth heard the from Johns, but he didn't no what to do with it. All he could do was take what be had, and apply it to thing in front him him to make it even uglier. The blue boy jumped at his enemy.
The Dragon laughed at this tactic. He lifted his leg up and shoved the unique behemoth down with it. The force broke the ground and created and impression in it of Mammoth. Jackson held his foot down firm and started stomping on his adversary with his left foot.
The clawed foot of Jackson slammed into Mammoth, who screamed out in anger and pain. It felt like he has a spike being shoved down onto his chest, making new orifices with each it. The right foot was still digging in.
The left foot came down, but Mammoth caught it. He pushed it up with all his might, he veins were bulging in his body. His body tensed as he pushed up. He bellowed his roar as he pushed up on the foot, "Wrrrroooaargh."
Jackson was surprised by the strength, he was pushing down with all his might, but the blue bastard was somehow stronger. What was this that powered him so?
Johns cheered for Mammoth, "Yes, that's it Mammoth, you push him back now, you got this."
Mammoth's adrenaline kicked in and he tossed The Dragon off him. Jackson was shocked, and ticked that he just got tossed like a school yard bully. He hit the ground like a meteorite and the ground picked up and flew through the air.
Sawtooth couldn't comprehend what he was seeing. Then his protege exclaimed, "Mammoth protect mutants of Tar-heel-lia! Dragon mess with wrong mutant today! Raaagh!" Sawtooth watched as Mammoth slammed his fists onto the ground and created a fissure the splintered the ground.
This small fissure cracked and creaked it's way toward Jackson. The demon quickly recovered from his situation and rolled out of the way. He watched as the crack moved beyond his impression and slowly stop. The devil dog turned around and sprinted towards his enemy.
Sawtooth watched as the two best dashed toward each other, what resulted was The Dragon spearing Mammoth. The beast clawed his protege. Lacerations started to appear on Mammoth, who began to quickly lose more and more blood.
Johns watched from within as Mammoth kept taking deadly blows. "Gah dammit, get up Mammoth. Defend yourself!"
The blue boy tried too, but he was losing energy quickly as the blood began to dribble from his face.
Jackson placed his hands on Mammoth's head ready to break his neck. Looking into the eyes of Mammoth, he could see a glimpse of his old rival, Johns. Decades ago the two clashed at every corner, they differed in all ways. He remembers wanting to humiliate Johns whenever he could, but there was always a superior officer around to him up. He smiled with joy as he looked at his beaten foe, "Any last words, Johns?! Hehahaha."
The marine's jaw dropped. Johns quickly regained his composure, "Yeah, I'm gonna [censored] you up."
Mammoth spit blood out of his mouth, "Johns says, he will [censored] you up."
Jackson laughed at this, "Hehahaha, graaaaah!" He screamed as something pierced his lower back. It was Sawtooth's blade, Jackson tried to reach for it, bug his arms were too big.
Sawtooth jumped back from the beast, "How about that bub."
The Dragon turned around to see the mouse, Sawtooth, give a hand motion, "Come get some."
The Dragon chased the mouse with a fury.
Sawtooth led the beast away from Mammoth, Maybe this will buy him at least a little time to recover.
Mammoth blacked out...
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Johns stood in front of the mental machine. "Mammoth, I have taught you all I can." He looked over to Mammoth, for the first time they stood gave to face. "Buddy, I'm going to go now. See this machine here? It is going to terminate me, but don't worry yourself.
Mammoth felt confused. "Why Johns go now? Mammoth needs Johns help."
Johns smiled at his brother, "I go because you need me to. The tools you need all around you. This library has all that you need to beat Jackson."
Sorrow filled Manmoth, "No, Mammoth don't want Johns to go. Mammoth love Jonns, Johns Mammoth's brother. No go. Boy blue hugged his brother.
Johns embraced his brother foe the first, and final time. "I know little boy blue. I will miss you too." The marine let go of the now man sized mini-hemoth, who also release him.
The man stepped to the computer terminal, and engaged it. James looked back to see his brother shedding tears of sadness. He walked over to Mammoth and picked his chin up, "Hey, your gonna be fine, okay? I'll be with you in mind," Johns placed his hand softly on his brother's forehead, then moved it to his chest, "and heart."
Johns stepped before the machine, and he turned around, "Tell Jackson I'll be watching him burn in hell, while I rest peacefully in the Kingdom of Heaven. Goodbye, brother.
Mammoth waved goodbye, "Goodbye Johns."
His brother, friend, stepped into the machine. Doors closed outward to inward, and a light travelled down the from top of the door. A humming occurred as the light traveled from top to bottom.
The lights of the library shut off, Johns was gone.
-
The life of Johns flooded Mammoth's mind. It became him as well. The two lives began to mold together in the fabric of the mind. A certain memory stood out. Translation from Chinese to English: Wife and Children killed in China, Killer Not Found, the memory of Johns plays the scene.
Johns looked over to Jackson, "The spy cane by today, with the newspaper. Translators and decoders got on it."
The rival opened the fridge and pulled out a beer. He glared at Johns with a soulless smirk, "Well?"
"What the hell Jackson? You killed those children like it was no big deal." LCpl James Johns stood in a small room with LCpl Jackson.
Jackson looked at Johns, "Because it wasn't, at least for me. They sent me other there to kill a man, so I did. I killed his family too. It was easy, all I had to do was pull the trigger. You ever killed a man, Johns? Huh?"
Johns put the newspaper on the table. "You know the answer to that. You shouldn't just do that, not while we're stationed up in this cold, forsaken hell hole." His eyes narrowed.
LCpl Jackson was white, he had dirty blonde hair. He was an inch taller than Johns, and slightly larger. The dirty blonde went face to face with Johns. The two looked each other in the eyes.
Jackson popped a remark at Johns, "You know they will never find out I did it. They gave me a license to kill, so I used it. This place, it's my type of environment."
The good man shook his head, "Your gonna get your's one day. God's gonna cut you down, and you won't even see it coming."
Jackson scoffed at this, "God?! Ha! He's that thing that goes bump in the night. That phantom that goes boo, and it turns out to just be the wind. God is a child's fairytale story, and guess what?" He moved closer to Johns, "Jesus was a tool."
Johns had it, he went to swing at the faithless man, but he missed as Jackson had backed up quick enough. Jackson taunted him in the doorway by holding his hand like it was a pistol, "I'll see you later, prude."
The memory faded away with the others. Anger towards Jackson filled his being. More headlines faded in and out of murders. All connected to Jackson, who never was even thought of as a suspect. Mammoth could feel the anger in Johns's memories about this, and it helped make him stronger.
-
Mammoth opened his blue eyes. He felt different. He felt more intelligent. His wounds had healed, and he felt new life course through his veins. He picked himself up off the ground and the rubble fell off his back. He could see Jackson chasing Sawtooth like he was fresh prey.
Sawtooth had been sprinting fir five minutes. How long does the boy need?
"Hey!" Sawtooth heard Mammoth's voice, it sounded different somehow. He turned around and Mammoth standing, covered in blood sure, but his wounds were gone. This surprised Sawtooth enough to make him stop, thankfully The Dragon had stopped as well.
Jackson turned around to see his adversary standing.
Mammoth stood with an authority, a confidence he did not have before. He looked down upon Jackson "The Dragon" like he was something minuscule. Mammoth taunted him with a clearer, more intelligent diction, "Hey! Johns sends his regards. He's gonna watch you burn in Hell before the day's out."
Jackson crossed his arms, "You don't know what your messin' with. I'm a god among behemoths, among legendary deathclaws."
Mammoth nodded, "I'm gonna make you a legend. Your story will be told, but you will be long dead. Then again, after I kill you, people probably won't even speak of you."
Blood continued to drip from the stab wound in Jackson's lower back. He readied himself and growled, "I'm going to show you why the Corps picked me over him every time." The beast dashed towards the revived Mammoth.
The hero prepared himself. The mini-hemoth set up a solid fighting stance and readied for an assault.
Jack was yards, feet for him, away when he threw a right clothesline. Mammoth countered by ducking and slamming his knee up into the gut of his adversary.
Jackson groaned out of extreme pain. The blade dug further into him and continued to dig at his organs. He could feel it cutting through them like butter.
Big boy blue added pain to his enemy, he slammed his elbow into sword like a hammer hitting a nail. Jackson let out a screech of agony. The blade went threw the other side, and the hilt dove into the back of the beast.
Blood continued to pour like a river. Mammoth informed him, "You can't heal with that in you. If I don't beat you to death, you'll just bleed out. I'm going to enjoy beating you though. You gonna feel the lain you caused all those people you killed."
Big boy blue started the punishment. He curb stomped "The Dragon" a couple of times. After this he went for the weak side, and kicked Jackson on the right kidney side. Jackson let out a howl of agony.
For the first time in his life, Jackson was feeling the torture, instead of giving it.
Mammoth asked Sawooth from afar, "Saw', you got any military strength barb wire?"
The mentor listened to Mammoth's voice. "Military strength? I don't know bout that bub, but I got barb wire."
The protege bellowed, "I'll hold him down, go get some."
Sawtooth sprinted off to his left. He ran up the hill and into the village. The other mutants were watching him, wondering what was going on. Wondering what to do. Sawtooth yelled, "We need barb wire, now! Anyone got any barb wire gah dammit!"
One yellow super mutant called for him, "Over here!" This mutant sounded like an old man for some reason. He had that high pitched whistle when he spoke, like that of a grizzly old redneck voice, of a redneck grandpa.
Sawtooth dashed to a small, in terms of super mutants, shack. It was filled to an assortment of tools, and useful metallic objects. There was an assortment of barb wires, Sawtooth was surprised, "I see I don't watch you enough, goodness."
"Well yessuh, we don't talk much. You're always busy for ooooooold grampa." The yellow super mutant walked like an old man, with a cranes back and all. He pointed to the particular wires, " Well that one, there see, that one there is just your standard farming barb wire n' such. Not used for huntin' or nothin. That one next to it the poultry wire, ya, ya got any chickens ya need to coop up?"
Sawtooth was confused by this, "Wha? Uh, not nearly. Grampa, uh, just gimme you best, strongest, behemoth proof barb wire ya got, or deathclaw."
Grampa looked at Sawtooth with boggled eyes, "Well ol' grandpa don't know what a deathclaw is. But I got sole ol' double lines diamond razor wire here. It'll cut through just about anything. Oh yeah, it took Grampa a long time to find that wire." The leading mutant heard howls of pain echo from the battlefield.
Sawtooth grabbed the roll of wire he pointed to, and dashed off. Grampa kept talking like he hadn't left, "Oh yeah, way back in '83 I came across this all the way over in Norfolk. My goodness it was infested with all sorta of critters." He looked around to see if Sawtooth was still there, and he was disappointed to see he wasn't, "Oh, ah shucks, gone done it again, offn' talk to myself."
Sawtooth ran back down the hill with the wire in arm. He caught up to Mammoth, who was still pummeling a now bloody pulp of Dragon. "I got the wire, oh my, did you break his arms and legs?" Sawtooth squinted as he looked at the appendages of The Dragon.
Blue nodded at this, "Yes, told you I'd slow him down. C'mon, let's wrap him up."
The two unrolled the wire and wrapped The Dragon in it. Jackson screamed in pain as they did so. When done, Mammoth looked down to him, "Your reign of tyranny is over. We are going to leave here. The more you struggle, the more it peels away at you, digs in. This is so you can think about all you've done, and feel the pain you caused all those people you hurt. Then, maybe, we will kill you."
Jackson tried to speak, but when he did the diamond razor barbs dug into his cheeks.
Sawtooth looked to Mammoth and extended his hand, "Thank you brother, you freed us of him."
Big Blue shook his hand. The blue started to go away and return to the original blue grey."I'm glad I could help."
The two walked away from Jackson. He thought about it, "Actually," he looked back and Jackson was still screaming, "Bury him alive in a few hours. After that you won't have any problems."
Sawtooth raised an eyebrow, "You say that like your headed somewhere."
The mini-hemoth nodded, "Yes, I think I've done all I could do here."
Mammoth's friend readied a cigar, "Well where ya gonna go, bub?"
Mammoth put his hands on his hip, assuming authority on the question, "I will find my way. Maybe set up another colony like this. I know I won't be sane forever. Eventually, my mind will decay and I will believe myself to be someone else. That is not now though, so I should use the time I have."
"Well, it was nice getting to know the old you then, huh? You have safe travels now." Sawtooth was dad to see him go, and hear that he only had a limited time of sanity.
"Maybe I will see you all again one day. God only knows. I'll take my leave. Sawtooth, see ya bub." He turned around and walked away. For the first time he was on his own, and it was time to make use of all h had learned.
Mammoth journeyed onward into the wilderness, and did what he could in this crazy, post-apocalyptia.
End
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Sorry everybody, this took quite a while to get up, and I can only hope it's good enough to be called an ending. Anyways, I hope that it canbe enjoyed for what it is, a very difficult ending, that took a few weeks to write, ha.
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