Home Coming
Basil was shocked by the emptiness that greeted him as he emerged in Battle Creek. There was no sound of gunfire, or even the cheers of both teams as they prepared themselves for battle. There were no bullets whizzing through the air, no soldiers running around as they engaged in yet another life or death battle, no movement at all... nothing. Just quiet.
Somewhere, a single bird's chirp rang out, and Basil jumped. There had never been any birds in Battle Creek since they had arrived. They had all been frightened off by the gunfire and the raucous shouts of the battle-crazed soldiers. The birds didn't even come back during their week-long Easter vacation, the longest vacation they had.
A movement in the corner of his eye caused Basil to turn and whip out his pistol. The rabbit froze, and turned wide, innocent yes to him, sniffing the air cautiously. A squirrel chittered from a tree.
Wildlife... Basil realized, looking around the glade. The bases must have been deserted for a long time for there to be wildlife...
The reason hit Basil like a ton of bricks. They were only in Battle Creek for testing, after all. The scientists must have decided that they had all the data they needed, and recalled everyone. But he had been sent to Blood Gulch. But why? Was he... defective?
"Professor, you can't actually be authorizing this test! If we do anything else to the poor kid, he'll go insane!"
"What does it matter? He's just the prototype, who'll care if he loses a few screws? It's probably even expected of him!"
"He's only fifteen! Do we really want to condemn a child to insanity for the rest of eternity?"
"The drug must be tested; it could be the key ingredient to immortality! Besides, he has no other purpose than to be our guinea pig. It doesn't matter if he's a child or an adult! We were instructed to create the perfect death machine, and I am not going to fail because of a little thing like ethics!"
"I just think we should give him more time to grow. How would you like to be stuck in the body of a fifteen-year-old?"
"I'd like it just fine! I'd be full or vigor, full of youth! I'd never have to feel the pain of old age. It's best to get him young; he'll never suffer, and he'll never get tired of fighting..."
The ageless, tireless death machine dropped to the ground, and wept.
((Eee...! I was gonna put this up yesterday, but I forgot to do it. I also forgot to leave a note that I'll be doing posts of what the Zealot's up to in Battle Crek from time to time, until I feel like bringing him back. Also, if anyone wants to go there and convince the kid to return at any time, you are of course more than welcome to.))
Somewhere, a single bird's chirp rang out, and Basil jumped. There had never been any birds in Battle Creek since they had arrived. They had all been frightened off by the gunfire and the raucous shouts of the battle-crazed soldiers. The birds didn't even come back during their week-long Easter vacation, the longest vacation they had.
A movement in the corner of his eye caused Basil to turn and whip out his pistol. The rabbit froze, and turned wide, innocent yes to him, sniffing the air cautiously. A squirrel chittered from a tree.
Wildlife... Basil realized, looking around the glade. The bases must have been deserted for a long time for there to be wildlife...
The reason hit Basil like a ton of bricks. They were only in Battle Creek for testing, after all. The scientists must have decided that they had all the data they needed, and recalled everyone. But he had been sent to Blood Gulch. But why? Was he... defective?
"Professor, you can't actually be authorizing this test! If we do anything else to the poor kid, he'll go insane!"
"What does it matter? He's just the prototype, who'll care if he loses a few screws? It's probably even expected of him!"
"He's only fifteen! Do we really want to condemn a child to insanity for the rest of eternity?"
"The drug must be tested; it could be the key ingredient to immortality! Besides, he has no other purpose than to be our guinea pig. It doesn't matter if he's a child or an adult! We were instructed to create the perfect death machine, and I am not going to fail because of a little thing like ethics!"
"I just think we should give him more time to grow. How would you like to be stuck in the body of a fifteen-year-old?"
"I'd like it just fine! I'd be full or vigor, full of youth! I'd never have to feel the pain of old age. It's best to get him young; he'll never suffer, and he'll never get tired of fighting..."
The ageless, tireless death machine dropped to the ground, and wept.
((Eee...! I was gonna put this up yesterday, but I forgot to do it. I also forgot to leave a note that I'll be doing posts of what the Zealot's up to in Battle Crek from time to time, until I feel like bringing him back. Also, if anyone wants to go there and convince the kid to return at any time, you are of course more than welcome to.))