Steve is turning pale... He doesn't have much time left...

"If you haven't figured it out... Your best bet out of here is the Center... If you even try the main entrance, those turrets will chew you up. Karter architected this Village... So he also added several fail-safe puzzles in the Village... in case something went horribly wrong. I notice that book you have there," Steve nods towards AZ's hand, "I bet you it's blank... Isn't it? One of those puzzles Karter developed has to do with the electric fence surrounding the Research Center. There is a way to turn off the fence and open it, without the use of a Keycard... It involves the use of bookcases and blank books. There are four bookcases around the Village, one red, one blue, one green, and one yellow. All of these bookcases are filled from top to bottom with blank books of the same color as the bindings of the book. There is also one book missing from each of those bookcases... To deactivate the fence... The missing books have to be replaced to their respective bookcases... At the same time. That means there will have to be at least four people to do this task. ...It's difficult, I know... But Karter wanted this to be used only in extreme emergencies... Only a few people even knew that that was what those bookcases were for... Most thought they were simply for decoration... I only know of where the Blue Bookcase is though... It's in the grocery store. I believe that the bookcases are hooked directly up to the Electric Fence's computer system, and if a synchronized replacement occurs, it deactivates... Only Class 6 and 7 researchers know this, but only Class 7 researchers know the locations to the books and bookcases... I guess to prevent the misuse of the system... I don't know how you'll get in... But that'll get you past the fence..."

AZ knew how... He had the Keycard. AZ holds up the blank yellow book to his face... That was going to help him get into the Center? And what about the Red one he found in the Grocery Store? That going to help too...? Wait... Didn't CC say that the bookcase in Room 003 was filled with empty green books? Steve coughed again, getting paler by the minute... He's trying to get out everything he can all at once... His words becoming eratic...

"The prison... is no longer... safe... Karter turned it... into storage... for... failed BOWs... Dangerous... The Judge... too powerful... Run... Only be killed... Level 7... Center..."

Steve coughs, and blood starts to trickle from his mouth... He was dying... He was in pain... His words were becoming more and more incoherant... And this tore up Nate, who could not stop from crying...

"Don't worry Nate... I'm getting what I deserve... I just hope that what I've been able to tell you will aid you in getting out of here... Don't let... Trio... Get away with this... But I deserve this death... Judgment Day... Was my fault... I... So sorry... So sor.... sorry... So so---"

Steve coughs again and blood flows from his mouth... He convulses in the couch for a few seconds, before lying perfectly still... His eyes open up wide, and he exhales one final time... His arms go limp, and his grips on the hands of Nate and Tur loosen... Steve had passed... He died giving up all of the information he knew... And he died with a guilty conscious... He was a good man, with a good heart... He did not deserve a death like that... Trevor had wanted him to suffer... Trevor was a heartless fool... The room was silent...
---
I think FFDragon just became my new Idol. Screw Clockspider. ~Crimson Sword

Many of the researchers in the room were weeping for Steve's death, but they were trying to hold it back... Nate fails though, and he openly mourns Steve's passing, which starts a chain reaction across the room. TJ, Tur, and Natus, the closest people to Steve in the last hours all break down in tears. The others who had known Steve for just a short amount of time were torn up as well, but not nearly as rough as the Hospital Crew. TJ leans over and gives his best friend a final hug goodbye... Nate does the honorable thing, and closes Steve's eyes... May he finally find peace... Tur covers Steve with a blanket, and then heads off to a corner of the room to be alone. Nate tries to restrain his crying... Although it was a sad moment... There was still the problem of actually escaping the Village... And with the aid of Steve's words, it might just be possible. Steve's death had become a driving point for the researchers. If they hadn't hated the Unholy Trio before, they now loathed them with the fire of a thousand suns. The first strong rays of sunlight started to pour through the Inn's windows, casting eeire shadows all around... Nate returns to his feet, finally releasing Steve's hand... It was difficult to continue... Part of each of them wanted nothing more then death right now... To join Xanitos, Bravo, biolink, Hunu, Key... And Steve... But that would be the easy way out... More then anything else, everyone in that room wanted to live long enough to see the Unholy Trio pay for their crimes... And if they were extremly lucky... To Survive the Village... Steve had charged them with a great responsibility: 'To exact an unholy vengeance upon all three of those Renagade Researchers... Not just for him, but for everyone who died here because of them...' Each and every one of them silently vowed to fulfil that promise... Nate had finally regained control of his emotions, as did most of the others... TJ was the only one left in shambles, but that was understandable considering how long he had known Steve... Nate joined Tur, who was now by the window, staring out into early morning horizon. The ground just outside the Inn was charred and covered with blood and body parts. This place was a blasphemous purgatory... They had to escape. But as Nate went to talk to Tur, he realized that he was not only looking out the window, but he was reviewing the files he had found in the hospital... Injured, and distraught from Steve's death... Tur was still determined to live, and to survive this whole ordeal. Tur first pulls out the Crumpled Paper he found in the Doctor's office...

File #22- Crumpled Paper
The Village Hospital, Head Doctor Sellers ~8/23/04
Anne,
Something weird happened to me today. When I went to the Right Tower earlier, I couldn't access the basement anymore. I mean, I had the key to the elevator and everything, but when I tried to put in the password for the basement, 'Sir Spencer' it came back up as Denied... I couldn't get to our extra supplies stored down there... When I tried to talk to Dr. Karter about this, he said it must've been a computer glitch... but I don't know... The look he had on his face was one of extreme happiness... Like he was glad that I was locked out... And with the sudden increase in patients, I don't know if we'll be able to treat this influx capably... Our warehouse supplies are all but diminshed... It's horrible... Could he be hiding something down there? Why won't he talk to me anymore? Ever since those two other researchers came, Karter has been acting stranger and stranger... Could you try and find out what's going on around here, and if it's possible to get into the RT basement? Thanks...

~Dr. Mark Sellers
</file>
---
I think FFDragon just became my new Idol. Screw Clockspider. ~Crimson Sword

Tur was surprised... Karter had started to lock people out of areas around the Village... And on the 23rd? Didn't Evan say that the Second Judgment really kicked off on the 24th? Did Karter know that the Village was going to be infected...? Had he purposely made the hospital run off of a shortage of supplies? Or had he locked something up down ther himself?Ugh... So many unanswered questions... After pondering that file for a few moments, and after letting Nate complete his reading, Tur switched out the crumpled Note for the encrpyted Note... which made no sense... at all...

File #23- Encrypted Note
Vgkfx Rsuip Fywcqcrr Gmhc: Kmh Iepxcv

</file>

It looked like gibberish to Tur, and Nate voiced the same thought with the look in his eyes... But it had to mean something... but what? Why had this note been hidden underneath a plant in the Doctor's office...? Tur had no idea right now, and he was no condition to do any heavy thinking... So he switched out that mass of jumbled letters for the bloodied note he found in the ER...

File #24- Bloody Note
I got bit... I've seen what happens when you get bit! I don't want to die like that... Not like that... I don't want to become one of them... If I could've just gotten back to the well in time... Anne, I'm done for now... I'm choosing to take my own life, to save my humanity... So please, head back to the grocery store and pick up the crank... Please don't let yourself end up like me... And don't listen to Karter... He's betrayed us all... He betrayed me... He's the reason I have to take my own life... But don't cry for me... Just survive... And, Remember... You were always my favorite... ~Mark

</file>

As he reads each file, Tur becomes more and more confused... It's sounds like the Hospital was a living hell for the past week... It sickens him to think that Karter and the Trio took so much satisfaction from this... They had sabotaged the Hospital and sat back while they watched those doctors die one by one from infection... It was horrible... But where was this well? Tur hadn't seen any signs of a well anywhere in his travels through the Village, and it wasn't labeled on the map... Was there even a well in the Village, or was the doctor to delusional in his final moments...? These were all things that swam through Tur's mind as he tried to comprehend everything that he was reading... It wasn't working... His head throbbed constantly, and he still wasn't quite over Steve's final rant... It was all too much for his weakened state to handle... He couldn't read another word. It hurt his head that much... Luckily for Tur, he didn't have to read anymore... All he had to do was listen... He reached into his pocket and pulled out the Voice Memo Recorder that he had found in the Doctor's chair... He pressed the rewind button just to be sure it reached the beginning of the tape. He looked over at Nate, raised the volume to 'MAX' and pressed 'Play', afraid of what he might hear... Almost instantly, Tur recognizes the voice of Karter...
---
I think FFDragon just became my new Idol. Screw Clockspider. ~Crimson Sword

File #25- Voice Recorder
[Karter]: Mark... What do you want? I am a very busy man...

[Mark]: Please Kris... Just tell me what's going on here... I pronounced those people dead hours ago... But now they are pounding on the ER door! How?! Why?! As head Doctor in this Hospital I think I should have the right to know what is happening around here...

[Karter]: As head Doctor of this Hospital I think you would give me more credit then that... Why do you automatically assume that I know what's going on? For all I know, it could be the flu... For all I know, you are just trying to pump me for classified information.

[Mark]: But if what Steve said is true--

[Karter]: Oh! Our fallen researcher! You'd take that mass murderers word over mine? That is a riot.

(The sound of a door opening and closing is heard)

[Trevor]: Kris... He's slowly dying... We need another vial of the T-Dragon to stabalize him. Otherwise he's going to be useless to us and 'they' won't get us out of here...

[Mark]: Wait... What?! You're abandoning the Village?

[Karter]: Mark... Must you persist in asking an endless array of obviously useless questions? Pardon me for a minute...

(Karter and Trevor's voices get lower, but from the position where the recorder was hidden, it still manages to pick up their conversation...)

[Karter]: What do you mean he's dying? He's our ultimate creation! He is the most adequate use of the T-Dragon virus to date! Who would have thought that the Nemesis Parasite could feed off of the makeups of superior viruses?

[Trevor]: That's just it... The parasite has become unstable because of the T-Dragon treatments that we've been giving it. If we don't give it the final injection, the parasite is going to die...

[Karter]: But we've used up all of the Virus infecting the Village! There isn't enough left to give him an injection! And it'll take too long to manufacture another series of the T-Dragon... It took too much effort to secure that parasite from the Umbrella compund in France... I am NOT losing it... Do you hear me Trevor? Think of something...

[Trevor]: There has to be a vial somewhere... There are two that are still unaccounted for... We just have to find them before it is too late... And I just have to ask you Kris... If the Village is completely infected... How are we going to get combat data?

[Karter]: Let's just say that our subjects will be dropping from the sky in a little over a day and half... We can easily survive in the Mansion until then... But for now, find those vials... And take Trent to the Supermarket and elimate our fallen angel...

[Trevor]: With pleasure... I just hope this all works out, Kris...

[Karter]: Don't worry... He wouldn't let me down... He was my mentor... He wouldn't abandon us like that... Not when we have so much to offer... Umbrella is useless to us now. Especially after they mocked our research and told us we were wasting our time. We'll see who's wasting their time when we bring upon the Armageddon by our very own hands...

(Trevor snickers, and then the sound of a door opening and closing is heard again... Karter's voice gets louder again...)

[Karter]: Mark... Mark... Mark... Why would I abandon all of my research here in the Village? Hmm?

[Mark]: I... don't know...

(There is a loud bang, and then a low moan is audible on the tape)

[Mark]: Oh my god! It's one of those corpses! Wait... Kris... Where are you going?! Kris! Wait! Don't lock me in here!! No! Ahhhhhhhh!

(A door slams... Screams and the sound of tearing flesh escape from the tape... After a few moments the sound of a door opening is heard again, followed by several gunshots...)
---
I think FFDragon just became my new Idol. Screw Clockspider. ~Crimson Sword

[Karter]: Enjoy what humanity you have left Mark. Because soon you will be just like him... Farewell my over zealous friend.

[Mark]: *sobs* No... Kris... Please help... Me...

(The door closes again, and the tape is filled with nothing but sobs... Then, there is silence......)
</file>

Wait... Karter just admitted to infecting the Village... But over the intercom he refered to Village's condition as an accident... No... He kept refering to an accident... He must've been talking about the Judgment Day that Steve caused a few months ago... But Karter had specifically said over the intercom that 'if the accident hadn't happened, they would have never finished The Judge.' If they were talking about the orignal Judgment Day... Does that mean that Steve was responsible for the Judge's creation?! Had his accident given the Nemesis parasite it's first exposure to the T-Dragon virus without him even knowing it?! This was all too much... Karter had been planning this incident for months... He had been planning his defection from Umbrella for quite some time now... He was just using the Village as a platform to extend his research... And worst of all... He had simply brought the 15 researchers here for one reason... To Die at the hands of his Bio Organic Weapons... Nate was just as stunned as Tur... Karter had just been putting on a show... There was never a need to replace the researchers that were killed... Never. He just needed credible test subjects. How sick was this man...?

"I don't feel so good..." Tur mumbled after turning off the voice recorder and placing it back in his pocket

"We have to get out of this Village..." Nate said with great force, "We have to avenge everyone..."

"We need some sort of group meeting... and fast!" MF bellowed out across the room, gathering everyone's attention

AZ took this time to finally check up on the semi-comatose CC... He heads behind the front desk, to check on her, pulling the blanket back to see her all curled up, snoozing away... He gives her shoulder a slight shake, to bring her around... but that doesn't work... He gives her a severe shake, but still she doesn't wake up... Finally, AZ slams the yellow book down on the ground by her ear... She finally shows signs of life... CC rolled over to her side and opened her eyes slightly...

"Morning sunshine. You missed a thing or two catching up on your beauty sleep..." AZ says with a smirk

CC couldn't help but think he was being sarcastic... GSMY comes over and retrieves his coat from the now awake CC. AZ fills in CC very quickly about everything that has happened since here nap, to the best of his knowledge... including the most recent death of Steve... CC wipes a tear from her eye, but regains her composure just as quickly... AZ helps her up to her feet and they join the group that has come together in the center of the room... Tur, Nate, and Natus spend a few minutes chronicling their Hospital adventure... Telling everyone everything from Troy to Key's death, to the betrayal of Troy and the second Judge encounter... In turn, the Inn crew takes turns telling of their adventures with Charlie Greene, Crimson Jim, and the fireball explosion that they to resort to... MF finishes up with something that brings a sparkle to the Hospital crew's eyes...
---
I think FFDragon just became my new Idol. Screw Clockspider. ~Crimson Sword

"Nate, Natus, Tur... You guys should head into Room 001 for a while, and open up your safe compartments. I managed to crack the safe while you were out..." MF sounded a little more smug than he intended...

"But don't get your hopes up too high..." AZ said with a frown, "It doesn't look like Karter ever had any intentions of giving us keycards..."

"The safe's open? Good..." Tur shows a half smile, "But you have to listen to this..."

Tur then reveals to the rest of the crew the voice recording...

"...He never expected us to get into the safe..." GSMY sighs, "He never even expected us to live this long..."

"I can't believe this..." MF kicks a nearby couch, "I can't ****ing believe this..."

"You guys should open up your safe compartments now, so we can come up with a plan of action." AZ reiterates

Tur and Nate nod, and walk through Room 001 and into the safe... The bright lights of the safe catch them off guard, as does the abscence of Natus. Nate and Tur shrug at each other and search out the screens with their names. Tur finds his first and scans his thumbprint. His compartment door slid open and he looked inside. The first thing that caught his eye was an Umbrella T-Shirt with his name across it... It made his stomach churn... On a shelf below that is #a handgun clip#, and #a key#. Tur takes both and exits the safe. Nate then finds his name, and he scans his thumbprint. Of course he finds his Umbrella T-Shirt, but he wanted what was on the bottom shelf... There he found a #yellow gemstone# and #a Green/Green herb combo#. Nate happily took these and he exited the safe. Upon re-entering the main room, it was an uproar of everyone trying to talk at once. Everyone was trying to speak at once, so therefore no one could speak at all. Finally, GSMY took action by silencing the room...

"ALRIGHT EVERYONE SHUT THE **** UP!!!!!!" His voice actually sounded kinda demonic there for a second, "I know we hate each, I know things are messed up, we hate this place, we hate each other, but if we ever want to see life again we are going to have to deal with each other to do it!!"

The room was stunned... Most of them got along... It was just the fact that most of them were headstrong, and wanted to take the lead... Not everyone could take the lead, so conflict brews... They would have to learn to wait their turn in line to speak...

"Alright. I am heading off to the Right Tower to see if this key can get us in there. If there is a way to take that gun down, or even program it to take out the Judge, we need to try." MF starts off, "But anyone else who wants to come with me, feel free."

"I don't think you should go alone..." Nate responds, "Going alone is like resorting to suicide..."

Nate felt like he had given the same speech before... MF was beginning to sound a tad like Tidus...

"I'm going..." MF resigns himself

"When you're finished, feel free to meet up with us at the unmarked area of the map, or even the Market Place if it doesn't take you that long. Whatever you choose to do, good luck." AZ smiles

"What?" Nate is confused by AZ's remarks... "You're condoning this? He's acting just like Tidus!"
---
I think FFDragon just became my new Idol. Screw Clockspider. ~Crimson Sword

"Tidus is in it for himself... MF is in it for us all... Don't you ever compare MF and Tidus as equals again..." AZ snaps

"Consider that a deal, AZ." MF smiles at the group and nods towards Nate before exiting the Inn, and into the mid-dawn sky...

Nate still doesn't believe it is a good idea, but he keeps quiet for the good of the group...

"Why'd you tell him the marketplace?" Tur questions

"I'm heading over to the Market Place for something, and to check up on that psycho Hardware Store clerk... We never even learned that poor fool's name. There was a back room there I couldn't get into the other day, and there are a few herbs left in the Grocery Store freezer. After that, I plan to check out what I believe on the map is the Prison. If anyone wishes to accompany me, feel free. But let me know now, because I'm about to head out. You coming along, Rachel...? Lloyd? LJ?" AZ sets up his plan

"I'm ready AZ, hopefully that clerk has an extra shotgun and maybe something for CC to use as a melee weapon. Oh CC don't forget to open your safe compartment." GSMY reminds CC... She had never even gone into the safe...

"Soon." CC replied, paying her last respects to Steve. "I’ll follow after you soon. Go ahead."

AZ nods to her, as NES comes over to him and places his hand on his shoulder.

"I guess I'll go to the Marketplace... I need a damn gun..." NES grunts, showing off little more then animal instincts

"You know... I think we need to set up shop in the Market Place. I mean, Tidus got the gun there. So, we can get supplies there. You know find whatever is left there, put a bullet in anyone there who refuses to help us." GSMY tries to joke, and it gets a little reaction from AZ

"Alright... We're not leaving just yet. Everyone has to access their safe compartments, then once we're all set to go. LJ and Tur still need to be taken care of as well. Glad to see the hospital crew back with us again..." AZ smiles, and then almost in afterthought, "You know what... We'll leave as soon as I check something out..."

With that, he heads over to the item box, and pulls out the Laptop. Thumbing through the folder of documents, he tries his hand at logging in. He turns on the laptop, and the Umbrella logo appears on the screen, followed by the prompt boxes. AZ types in a few things and prays for the best:

Username: James Jones
Password: SomethingCorporate
Access Code: 7x24j6

AZ presses enter and is met with the hourglass symbol... After a few seconds, AZ is met with a confirmation screen.

[Access Granted: Welcome James Jones]

AZ grins from ear to ear... He waits for a few moments for the computer to boot up to the desktop screen. There are a few clickable icons, including @My Documents@ and a folder titled @Omega Research@. AZ didn't see anywhere for the computer to be plugged into the internet, but he knew it was possible somewhere, because the history folder of IE was filled with pages... Hmm... Perhaps this computer hadn't belonged to Jim originally... Maybe it belonged to a former researcher, and was passed onto Jim when he was accepted to work in the Center... What to do now...

"The rest of us need to decide on what we're doing..." Nate speaks to mostly Tur and Natus on this one, "Should we go with AZ or follow MF?"

The hospital crew came together once more to make a decision... A decision that could possibly get them killed, or get them out of the Village alive...
---
I think FFDragon just became my new Idol. Screw Clockspider. ~Crimson Sword

Nate-
[Status] Fine
[Equip] Aluminum Baseball bat, Dagger (Def. Item)
[Items] Starter Set[Doctor's Memo], $600, 'LT:E' Key, [Yellow Herb, Blue Herb], Yellow Gemstone, Green/Green Herb Combo

Natus-
[Status]: Fine
[Equipped]: Self Defense Magnum (2/2), Steel Pipe(Def. Item)
[Items]: Starter Kit, $500

CC-
[Status]: Fine
[Equipped]: Crossbow
[Items]: Starter Kit, $500, Yellow Plug, Patron's Diary, Quiver(4/4), Circular Crank, Fire Emblem, Lighter

lj-
[Status]: Okay
[Equipped]: Crowbar
[Items]: Starter Kit, $500, log book, Warehouse Office Key, Blue Gemstone

AZ-
[Status]: Fine
[Equip]: Modified Handgun (15/15), Survival Knife(Def. Item)
[Items]: $500, Starter Kit, Clip (4/15), Green Herbs x2, Computer Circuit, Cookie, Lvl2 Keycard, Blank Yellow Book

GSMY-
[Status]: Okay
[Equipped]: Shovel, Sheathed Knife(Def. Item)
[Items]: Starter Kit, $500, First Aid Kit, Hidden Note

NES-
[Status]: Fine
[Equipped]: Rusty Axe
[Items]: Starter Kit, $500, Self Defense Grenade, First Aid Spray, Red Gemstone

Tur-
[Status]: Okay
[Equipped]: Samurai Edge(0/18; Burst Mode), Stun Gun(Def. Item, 50% Battety)
[Items]: Starter Kit[Crumpled Paper, Encrypted Note, Bloody Note], $500, Voice Memo Recorder, Water Emblem, Mr. Stabby, Clip(15/15), 'Key'

MisterFurious- MF leaves the Inn and makes the reasonable trek to the Right Tower... The morning air is nice and cool, and it is overwhelmingly refreshing... If MF didn't know that he was walking through a biohazard, he actually be enjoying himself... While he walks, MF reloads his handgun to it's maximun capacity and ditches the empty clip. Within a few minutes he makes it to the RT, without incident. MF walks over to the door with the RT:E key in hand, and goes to place it in the lock, but... it doesn't fit. MF curses out loud and kicks the door... It opens... It was never locked! MF lets out a laugh out of relief and then enter the tower... It was quite the ominous place. The entire entrance room was white. White paint, white ceilings, white furniture... Everything in white... But besides a few chairs and couches, there was nothing in the room... Nothing! The only thing MF saw in this room was an @elevator@. I guess they kept the good stuff on the other floors... But what surprised MF was the fact that there were no stairs whatsoever... None. The elevator was the only way up or down...

"That's not very effective in case of fire or emergency..." MF said to himself, dripping with sarcasm

MF was about to head to the elevator when a twang of fear shot through him... Things were too quiet here, and that made him suspicious... Would he be safe going alone...?

MF-
[Status]: Fine
[Equipped]: Handgun (15/15)
[Items]: {Jacket Item- None}, Starter Kit, Empty Flashlight, 'RT:E' Key
---
I think FFDragon just became my new Idol. Screw Clockspider. ~Crimson Sword

Tidus41390- Tidus blew off the entire group at the Inn. Who needs them anyway? A lone wolf always wins. You are your only burden. And you can only blame yourself if you fail. With his head raised proudly, Tidus heads off from the Inn and to the Hospital. He manages to make it there with little problem. He is overjoyed by this, but his stomach sinks when he sees the swiss cheese door into the hospital... The Judge had done a serious number on this place... Tidus opens the door to the Hospital and is met by the corpse of his former pal, Key. Key had been Tidus' original running buddy, and it was sad to see him in such a messed up condition. Tidus said a quick prayer for him, and then ventured down the entrance hall... But then there was a scuffle... And a groan... Then two groans... This was not good. At the end of the hall, Tidus watched as two Crimson bodies rose from the ground... They looked just like Jim did... Just as angry... Just as lethal... They both growl in Tidus' direction and look like they are ready to charge...

"Oh hell no!" Tidus screams

It's fight or flight Time... Which will Tidus choose?

Tidus-
[Status]: Fine
[Equipped]: Shotgun (7/7)
[Items]: Shotgun Shells (11/14), Video Tape, Red/Green Herb Mix, 'OR' Key
---
I think FFDragon just became my new Idol. Screw Clockspider. ~Crimson Sword

<OOC> I thought Tur was in 'Caution'...? </OOC>

---

Nate is not pleased with Tidus and MF's departure. Seeing that there is nothing that can be said to persuade them, he hands off his green herb mixture to Tur, offering to apply it to his wounds for him.

Once this is done, Nate drops the gemstone he acquired into the item box, as it had no use at the moment. He also filed away the doctor's memo, but not before reviewing a few of the other files AZ had stashed away the day before. With a new sense of enlightenment, Nate turned back to the rest of the group.

"If we're going to split up, we should at least distribute the firepower evenly," Nate began. "If you're going with AZ, stand by him, if you please. If you're coming with me, stand by me (good movie)."

Waiting to see how the teams fall out, Nate examines the mysterious yellow herb he acquired and questions the others as to what its use could be.

Once my team has been assembled, we will follow MF to the right tower.

---

[Status] Fine
[Equip] Bat, dagger
[Items] Starter Set, $600, 'LT:E' Key, [Yellow Herb, Blue Herb]

It's statements like that Nate that make me thing people don't read the updates...

Nate continued to comfort him, while GSMY headed over to Tur. He pulled out his first aid kit and used the rest of the bandages and spray on Tur's wounds... A few moments later, Tur stirred on the couch and woke up, groaning...


Which reminds me... I have to remember to take the kit out of GSMY's inventory.
---
I think FFDragon just became my new Idol. Screw Clockspider. ~Crimson Sword

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

Walking to the Right Tower, I am refreshed be the cool, late summer air of Spain. "This isn't such a bad place to live. I'll hand it to Umbrella, they sure can pick the spots." Approaching the tower, I am reminded of a military camp, and not of a research center. Shaking off that uneasiness, I open the door.

"Finally, thats two doors I've found that were actually unlocked!" Inside, it looks more like a hospital waiting room than a turret-equipped tower. "Sheesh, who's the decorator here, Morpheus? This looks like a 'loading program' or something..."

Noticing nothing in the room aside from a few couches, I see the elevator at the end of the hall. "Alright key, let's see what you're worth..."

Sliding the key into lock located to the side of the double doors, a hear a ding, and the whirr of the elevator making its way to the ground floor. When the doors open, I see that there are only two choices: roof or basement. "Ok, well, the file that Tur found at the hospital said there are extra supplies down in the basement, but that it's locked. The old password is 'SirSpencer.' So, let's try the roof. If I can somehow get that gun turret, or reprogram it, SOMETHING....."

"Maybe I will leave the 'RT:E Key' in the lock, that way, since Nate was talking of following me here...."

With that, I leave the key in the lock, and press the button for the roof. "Hopefully there aren't any flying BOWs...."

The door opens, and I walk out onto the top of the tower....

Status: Fine
Equipped: Handgun (15/15)
Items: (Jacket), Starter Kit, $500, Empty Flashlight

---
There's more to life than video games! Like television!

It keeps getting better and better, eh Natus? Kicking the safe and turning to leave the room, he couldn't help but feel angry - he really liked that gun! And the Laptop! Oh...the Laptop....it had info on all the other researchers - For example, Rook was in fact Frank Castle...had UMB known that, he'd be dead now...Unfortunatley, that was about all Natus had got off of the Laptop before it had been packed up by Nicholai...He knew Castle as well - apparantley he's a friend of an enemy. Heh, Natus couldn't help but smile a little at that - AZPunisher, good friends with Mikail Victor...and Seymour Natus, great comrade to Nicholai Ginovaef - the man who had been responsible for Mikails Death!

"If AZ found out, you'd probabley end up a dead man!" Natus reminded himself...tell him when the time is right...Natus was still silently seething over the loss of his equipment...but hey, he still had an advantage - that stupid wavelength puzzle. It's gonna be cake to finish...unless...

"Aw, not again!"Natus sighed mentally...it's entirely possible that the Trio had found another way to screw with his mission - what if they'd removed the plugs from the machine? Natus would have to find all 3 plugs, and they could be anywere!

"Whatever Nate...I'm with you..." He said to the group...

Natus stopped, wondering if he had any advantages left...only one as far as he could see - the release code for the RE3s, "Birkens-lovechild"...but that really isn't much...

The only thing that kept Natus going right now was the reward..and the healthy dose of Omega he would be giving himself...The Raw power of Tyrant Virus...the Adaptability of GIMAGO...the absolute control and mental power of T-Veronica...The control over the elements provided by T-Dragon...all together...

Seymour Natus could hardly wait...
---
"It's coming...It's not going to stop...it'll never stop...it's coming for us...It's coming to kill us..."

I’d narrowly avoided the literal kiss of Death, which was just part of that crazy dream. It had to be. I hadn’t been teetering between life and death. Sure, I got my ass kicked pretty badly, but I was far from dead. That dream was clearly just a warning. That I could have died there. Maybe it was an omen. Who knows?

The room was a mass of shapes, blurred and frightening. I couldn’t see straight. Stupid Judge. Violently coughing, my mind was bombarded with what had happened since our arrival, yet again.

"My head hurts..." I groaned, the room still slightly gooey from my eyes.

MF said something, but I didn’t catch it. Flopping off the couch, I waited on my hands and knees, like a dog, for my head to ease its pain marginally, for my vision to correct itself. Slowly, so slowly, I found myself standing again.

Why was I always getting the snot beaten out of me? Oh, right, the reckless actions. Still woozy, I knew I couldn’t afford to pass out. Not good. Hey, wait a tic. A Sam brother was AWOL. And of course, Mr. Stabby…forever lost to the Judge’s god damn shoulder, no doubt. After all, that’s where I left him…

I missed him already…

Hey, lj had a Sam. Which one? He noticed my…noticing, and came over, to…return it? I was surprised by that. A pretty honorable act. Couldn’t say a lot of people would readily return a gun like that when they had next to nothing in a place like this.

My bloody head (indicated by the hand that went there) was just more crap thrown on the crap pile that had accumulated from my “scuffle.”

"I'm sorry Tur... When I came out to get you and all, I just took it for protection until we got back here,” lj explained. I could tell when someone was lying (well, most of the time. Trevor had taught me I wasn’t as good at that as I thought), but I could also tell lj was telling the absolute truth. And he’d brought me inside on top of that?

He was injured. Pretty bad, too. That surprised me even more that he was so willing to return a Sam, when he was hurt, and I had one already. I couldn’t allow that. He was keeping that Sam.

"Don't worry about it lj... You keep it. I don't need two, and you really showed your character... Thank you..."

"No, thank you." lj replied. A mutual respect formed between us. I gave a humble nod.

"But I think I have something you do want..." MF told me, smiling.

What’d he mean by that? What could he pos…MR. STABBY!!!!!! He had Mr. Stabby!!! But how?! I left you in the Judge!!

I let out a squeal of joy, which hurt my head but I ignored it, saying, "Huh? I thought I left you in the Judge's shoulder. You came back, old friend!" I accepted him happily, and even hugged the broken pool stick. An odd display, I was sure, but I didn’t give a damn. He was always there for me, and came back after I thought I lost him forever.

And my happiness was shattered. Steve… The Judge had destroyed him, and his sobs thrust the recent events into my head. Oh, no… I rushed over to the poor man, looking sadly at his ruined legs. He had to be in shock. The others had apparently done their best to prolong his clearly eminent death. I took Steve’s hand. Another friendly face might help him; another reassuring hand might make his pain soften…

(cont'd)

---
It's a turkey, stuffed with a duck, stuffed with a chicken!
- About my user name

But I don’t think it helped much. Steve looked to be in unbearable amounts of pain. I didn’t think any number of our healing items could stop him from passing now. He was mortally wounded…just as Trevor told the Judge to do…

Damn…

I felt a lump in my throat, but managed to work it down. For now.

"Is there anything else you want, Steve? Let us help you... please. Let us help you!" Nate is trying to do anything in his power to help his wounded friend, "Why did Trevor want you dead? What's going on here? Please, Steve... don't die on us. Stay with me!"

Nate was pleading with Steve to live. I admired him not wanting Steve to give up. We couldn’t, either.

With all of his strength, Steve began to unfold his tale, and stick more pieces into the puzzle of everything. He explained he had been a researcher, and had accidently caused Judgment Day…

"Why didn't even mention this?!" I yell at TJ, "The whole time, you didn't even mention this ONCE!!"

Steve told me that it was okay. That TJ was trying to protect him. I guess I could understand that. Steve knew he was going to die, but bravely continued his story, through the pain. He wanted us to know everything possible. To save us…

Steve had worked in the Center, and had made his way to a very high position. One day Karter planned to release the T-Drag on the prison. Steve tried to stop them, and almost had, but had caused the accident in the process. Even though Steve did what he could to warn the others, Karter turned the situation on him, making himself out to be the hero, and Steve to be a monster.

No. It was the other way around… God damn that Karter…

And the bastard left Steve to be vilified by the entire Village. That’s when Trevor and the other one, Trent Wilder, came.

Steve beat himself up, saying most of it was his fault, for playing hero. But you didn’t “play” hero, Steve…

"You were doing the right thing..." I insisted, "You might have caused the accident, but you were trying to save all those innocent people..."

"You are a hero, Steve..." Nate added.

Steve went on, explaining he had been Karter’s…right hand man. But after everything went down he began a rebellion against the Trio, and stormed Karter’s mansion. It hadn’t gone well. So badly, Steve had to keep refuge in the Grocery Store, where Trevor and Wilder came, turned his brother into a zombie, and shot Steve. Steve was attacked by his zombified brother and had to kill him.

How horrible. I had brothers of my own. I couldn’t imagine what it had to be like to do that. Evan had to kill his son, Steve his brother…god damn the Trio!!! Such sick ****s, Wilder had even taped the ordeal.

And of course, Steve wounded Trevor, after killing his brother, who’d bitten him.

Steve than said something that caught me completely off-guard. "And then you betrayed me by aligning with Trevor... You too, TJ... I thought I knew you..."

NO! We hadn’t joined them! Trevor tricked us! Damn it!

TJ voiced my thoughts. "I didn't know that that was Trevor! I had never seen him before, except for outside the Center! I thought he was just another researcher! None of us knew! Tur didn't! Nate didn't! Natus didn't! Key didn't!"

I looked at Steve, my look signaling my innocence. I gave his hand a squeeze, reassuringly.

"Where IS Key?" AZ asked.

Ugh. I wanted to vomit just thinking back on the brutal slaughter of Key, and my narrow escape from an equally messy death. "The Trio got to him... He was Judged. He went down with honor..." He’d done what he could. He shot it, but it was useless… I hung my head.

(cont'd)

---
It's a turkey, stuffed with a duck, stuffed with a chicken!
- About my user name

wll lets go to the marketplace az and cc puts blue gem in item box where r we goin after the market place???
---
i like chicken:) and....................RESIDENT EVIL!!!

"The Unholy Trio love to play the role of 'Cerebral Assassins...' They toy with your mind and your emotions... I saw Karter do it all the time in the Center... I suppose I will believe you TJ... You've never lied to me before... I doubt you'd do it to me now... You guys... Especially Nate, Natus, Tur, and TJ... You are honorable people... I want you to get out of here, and I want you exact an unholy vengeance upon all three of those Renagade Researchers... Not just for me, but for everyone who died here because of them…”

Thanks, Steve… I swore I would honor his request. No matter what. But he wasn’t looking long for this world. Tears began to well in my eyes. I ignored them. I didn’t care. I was sad, damn it.

Steve told us about the Center. The blank books had a purpose after all. They could switch off the Center’s electric fence. We’d have to replace each blank book in its bookcase at once. But how could we do it at the same time when the four were all in different spots? There’s no way of knowing when one person was inserting a book halfway across the Village, was there?

Typical Karter architecture. Ass.

Steve fought to continue his info. "The prison... is no longer... safe... Karter turned it... into storage... for... failed BOWs... Dangerous... The Judge... too powerful... Run... Only be killed... Level 7... Center..."

And I’d wanted to go to the prison area. Maybe not such a great idea.

Steve was so very near-death now. I lowered my eyes, on the verge of crying.

"Don't worry Nate... I'm getting what I deserve... I just hope that what I've been able to tell you will aid you in getting out of here... Don't let... Trio... Get away with this... But I deserve this death... Judgment Day... Was my fault... I... So sorry... So sor.... sorry... So so---"

And I felt his hand go limp. He was gone. This wasn’t right. This was unforgivable. Those three had caused so much suffering, so much pain, so much death. I couldn’t take it. Many of us wept for the loss of this poor man, me included. At least he could finally be free from this nightmare…

I covered Steve’s body with a blanket, then walked off to a corner. I needed to be alone. I would annihilate the Trio. Every last one of them. I wanted nothing more than to kill Karter, Martin, and Wilder with my bare hands. To squeeze the life from their bodies, to crush their bones, to paint the room with their blood. I’d skewer their hearts with Stabby, I’d sizzle their flesh with Shocky!!!!

There would be no mercy. For they had shown none.

It was time to go over what I’d gathered. More information would help us in our duty. Nate joined me by the window, and I shared the info with him.

The first was confusing. It stated that Karter had started to lock people out of areas around the Village... And on the 23rd? Didn't Evan say that the Second Judgment really kicked off on the 24th? Did Karter know that the Village was going to be infected...? Had he purposely made the hospital run off of a shortage of supplies? Or had he locked something up down there himself?

Too many more unanswered questions. What was the next item? Guh…well, that made no sense. There had to be some way to decode it. We’d find it. I was hopeful in that, anyway.

The next note was from the author of the first. It tragically detailed his end days. Was it possible this Anne person was still alive? Who knew… This brought me back to the Jones family, and my total failure in regards to them. I sighed.

All of this was a bit much for me to take in as I was, still recovering. Agh. My head my killing me, and Steve’s death weighed heavily on my soul. I was supposed to be the diversion. If anyone got blown into kibble, it was supposed to be me. Yet I live, and he died… DAMN!!

(cont'd)

---
It's a turkey, stuffed with a duck, stuffed with a chicken!
- About my user name

All that was left was the recorder. KARTER!!! That **** was the first thing I heard. My blood boiled. It seemed he was hiding info from the other man on the tape. Hmm, Head Doctor…so the other man WAS the same guy who wrote the notes.

Just mentioned Steve… WHAT?!?! Karter dares to call him a mass murderer?!?! I hated Karter more than anything. We’d met with him sticking a gun at me, he’d brought Martin and Wilder here, he’d had the 4 at the airstrip murdered, he’d had martin infiltrate our ranks, which in turn got Key killed. It all came back to Karter. If I could only kill one, it would be him…

And there’s Martin’s voice. As my enemy, I would not give him the familiarity of calling him by his first name any longer. The deceptive bastard. Hmm. Now he and Karter were having a sidebar, but lucky for us the recorder still caught it.

Whoa. Sounds like they were talking about the Judge. And now, our soon-to-be-arrival…

Karter ordered Martin to take Wilder and deal with Steve. Which lead me back to what Steve said. Wait, what? The Judge was really Karter’s mentor? God.

And here comes Karter, back to lie to this poor doctor, Mark. The same man from the notes I’d gotten. I felt for him. Soon a commotion began, and it sounded like they were under attack. Gunshots rang out. Karter taunted Mark, and left him to die. The last sound was poor Dr. Mark’s crying…

If Karter infected the Village, the accident he meant before must have been Steve’s. Did that mean Steve inadvertently helped create the Judge?

"I don't feel so good..." I groaned, returning the recorder to my pocket.

"We have to get out of this Village..." Nate said with great force, "We have to avenge everyone..."

Yes, and yes. But at this point, if I could only pick one, it’d be vengeance.

"We need some sort of group meeting... and fast!" MF bellowed out across the room, gathering everyone's attention.

AZ woke CC. What? She’d slept through all of this? Like a log, no less? I’d only gotten sleep once my brain forced my two, or once I’d been spiked like a football, and she’s sawing logs, tra-la-la, while I’m going toe-to-toe with the god damned Judge?!?!?!?!

I wasn’t pleased.

"Morning sunshine. You missed a thing or two catching up on your beauty sleep..." AZ said. I glowered. He should be biting her head off. I know we’d needed sleep, but damn.

After she’s up, everyone relates their adventures. It takes a little while. Seems they had a bit of an ordeal themselves. But she’d napped through a lot of that, too? Christ.

"Nate, Natus, Tur... You guys should head into Room 001 for a while, and open up your safe compartments. I managed to crack the safe while you were out..." MF bragged.

"But don't get your hopes up too high..." AZ said with a frown, "It doesn't look like Karter ever had any intentions of giving us keycards..."

Figured. "The safe's open? Good..." I smirked, "But you have to listen to this..." And I play the tape. Afterward…

"...He never expected us to get into the safe..." GSMY sighed, "He never even expected us to live this long..."

"I can't believe this..." MF kicked a nearby couch, "I can't ****ing believe this..."

"You guys should open up your safe compartments now, so we can come up with a plan of action." AZ reiterated.

So Nate and I go to check it out. Ah, there was mine. What would I find? A shirt from Umbrella, my name on it. I wanted nothing to do with it, and cast it across the room in disgust. However, the clip and key were good. Ammo…cool. Nate found some decent stuff, too.

(cont'd)

---
It's a turkey, stuffed with a duck, stuffed with a chicken!
- About my user name

We headed back into the Welcoming Room, to the noisy uproar of everyone trying to talk it once. Made my head hurt more than it did already.

"ALRIGHT EVERYONE SHUT THE **** UP!!!!!!" GSMY screamed. Yeah, thanks. That helps my headache… "I know we hate each, I know things are messed up, we hate this place, we hate each other, but if we ever want to see life again we are going to have to deal with each other to do it!!"

I didn’t hate any of them. What was he talking about? I knew AZ and Tidus were at each other’s throats, but I thought beyond that everyone was getting along. Did I miss something here?

"Alright. I am heading off to the Right Tower to see if this key can get us in there. If there is a way to take that gun down, or even program it to take out the Judge, we need to try." MF started off, "But anyone else who wants to come with me, feel free."

He was going by himself? Not the wisest move. I wobbled, my brain beating on the side of my head. I didn’t ctach what AZ and Nate were squabbling about. Everything was spinning. All I heard was AZ tell MF to meet up at the Marketplace, and then he was gone.

I did my best to focus on AZ. "Why'd you tell him the marketplace?"

AZ explained about the Hardware clerk, and that there was a back door in the Grocery Store, along with spare herbs. I could use a few right now. I braced myself up against a wall.

"I'm ready AZ, hopefully that clerk has an extra shotgun and maybe something for CC to use as a melee weapon. Oh CC don't forget to open your safe compartment." GSMY reminded her.

"Soon." CC replied, paying her last respects to Steve. "I’ll follow after you soon. Go ahead."

"I guess I'll go to the Marketplace... I need a damn gun..." NES said.

So AZ, GSMY, and NES were all teaming up, at least. But MF had gone off alone, as had Tidus. So much for a united front.

AZ decided to fiddle around with the Laptop for, and from his expression, it seemed he got access.

"The rest of us need to decide on what we're doing..." Nate addressed us. "Should we go with AZ or follow MF?"

I wasn’t too sure anymore. The prison sounded like a deathtrap. Though I’d initially wanted to explore it…it just didn’t sound too smart as I was. But we knew it WAS dangerous, so maybe I should go to assist the others…

(cont'd)

---
It's a turkey, stuffed with a duck, stuffed with a chicken!
- About my user name

I didn’t know. I took this chance to reload Sam and switch him over to plain old semi-auto mode. Reloading would be a *****. This 15-shot clip I found was too small. I’d have to manually transfer the bullets from the 15-shot clip to Sam’s clip. Augh.

I wonder what this key was to? I looked it at very closely, hoping for some clue as to its use. With that info swirling somewhere in my head, I didn’t need some of these notes anymore, so I left all except the encrypted deal in the box, for anyone else that wanted to check ‘em out.

I accepted Nate’s offer of the herbage (if it was still on the table) and then listened to what he had to say.

"If we're going to split up, we should at least distribute the firepower evenly," Nate began. "If you're going with AZ, stand by him, if you please. If you're coming with me, stand by me."

I really was torn. The prison was confirmed dangerous, but I still felt somewhat of a need to back them up even if I was hurt. I did have ammo now, after all. And tower…well, we didn’t know what we’d find there, and I was worried about MF.

I had no idea what that yellow herb could be for, so I just shrugged and shook my head when asked. I’d wait to see who went where before I chose where I’d go. A little irked still, I walked over by CC for a moment.

“I just had a playdate with our buddy the Judge while you were having a sound sleep” I told her, my voice low, and slightly angry. “Glad we could all go about killing ourselves so you could have a proper nap.”

What was I doing? We shouldn’t be arguing amongst ourselves. That was the last thing we needed. “Sorry,” I said. “Just forget it. I’ve had a bad night. But anyway, I did have a run-in with that Judge.” A pause. “Yep. I kicked his ass,” I grinned, pretending to brag. I wasn’t fooling anyone.

Returning to a chair to sit down, I felt like an idiot.

Shrugging it off, I reconsidered the groups. Not only did group size and firepower come into play, but oddly enough, I felt certain social aspects playing on my choice. I could stick with Nate, Seymour and the rest, whom I’d already bonded with, or go with AZ and his gang, who I’d hadn’t really learned much about. Of course the mere fact that MF had returned Mr. Stabby to me was a pretty big point in his favor.

And then there was a part of me that just wanted to go out and try to hunt down the Trio, and go Rambo on their asses. But those cowards were likely holed up in the Mansion.

But here were so many others places to check and we couldn’t afford to spread ourselves too thinly. Damn it…

I’d just have to wait and see who went where first, and make my choice. Sitting, I tented my hands, and stared off into space in thought.

[Status]: Okay
[Equipped]: Sam (15/18- Single), Mr. Shocky (Def. Item, 50% Battery)
[Items]: Starter Kit [Encrypted Note], $500, Water Emblem, Mr. Stabby, 'Key'

---
It's a turkey, stuffed with a duck, stuffed with a chicken!
- About my user name

"Aww WTF!?!?"

*I Hold my shotgun out and point it towards the two Jim look-alike, While pointing my boomstick towards them I quickly run into the OR room. If those things take one step closer I'm firing.*

(If I make it to the OR)

"Damn! This village sucks! What the hell are those things man!?*

*I walk over to a cabinet.*

"Hmmm...I wonder If those guys checked in here?"

*I try to open the cabinet.*

"It's locked! Damn! Wait a sec. I have an OR key."

*I take out the OR key and try it on the cabinet.*

"This thing better have something good! Like a gun or something! Or it could have a healing item. Maybe something one of those bastards at the Inn needs :D That will be pretty funny."

(If it opens)

*I take whatever is inside.*

"Ok now...What can I do about those two Jim look-alike? I should take a few seconds to think of a way out of here."

*Thinking*

"Maybe I can drw them towards the door by banging on it a bit, Then when I'm sure at least one of them is behind the door, I kick it open with as much force as possible."

*I take note of the operating table.*

*Thinking some more.*

" Then after kicking open the door I can push this table out the door into the other one. Then when they both hit the ground I can run for the closest room."

*I try to remember the closest room to this one.*

"The waiting room!"

*Thinking just a bit more.*

" I can run straight for that waiting room. In there I should be safe."

"Time to put this little plan into effect."

*I walk over to the door and start banging on it, trying to draw the attention of the walking dead.*

(FF if my attempt at drawing the crimson heads works can you just make me do the rest of my plan in your update?)
---
I will Survive the Village. I find that following your own ideas is the only way to survive. Never listen to anyone else.

Lloyd had felt a little stupid yelling like that. He looked at his First Aid Kit..... empty, he wasn't surprised. Well AZ after hearing what Steve said about the prison my guess, when this is all over we'll find out our keycards are there. Anyway with the sun up we can also go to The Village Idiot through the front door. Since Evan is a regular zombie and few shots will gun him down.

What do you say AZ the Idiot is closer, might as well become better equipped?
---
What do you want here something witty? **** you I ain't that smart.

*Looks through all of the available information on the Laptop.. double-clicking the Doc folder, and then following suit with the Omega folder.. remembering a discussion a few months back he and Mikhail had about something having to do with all of the known virus strands merging into one.. he also examines the history folder, and the networking history pages, to see where the last access was to the net, and and what information was perused at that time, and prior..*

"It's decision time, boys and girl.. I still plan on heading to the Market Place.. but GSMY did bring up a good point.. the thing is, Evan locked the door from the inside.. and the side door is still locked, and we haven't got the key. Unless.."


*Turns his attention to Tur.. noticing he got a key from his safe compartment..*

"Any markings on that key..? If not, give it a go in the door to the Pub.. if it opens, we'll clean it out, then I plan on heading over to the Market.. Rachel, Natus.. you two might have the key to the Pub in your compartments in the Safe, if Tur's new key doesn't work after all.."


*His eyes narrow a bit as he speaks of Natus.. watching him a moment, after he ceases talking.. something... is amiss..*

[Status]: Fine
[Equipped]: Modified Handgun (15/15), Survival Knife (Def. Item)
[Items]: $500, Starter Kit, Clip (4/15), Green Herbs x2, Computer Circuit, Cookie, Lv. 2 Key Card, Blank Yellow Book
---
«« Â.Ž.P.ü.ñ.ï.š.h.ê.r ™ •¯`·._.·•
•---------------------------------•

(Yep, I'll give it a go on the pub door unless something on the key explicits states it is used otherwise)

---
It's a turkey, stuffed with a duck, stuffed with a chicken!
- About my user name

GamePlan:
-----------

1.) Give Tur the double-green herb mixture.

2.) Plead that either CC or Tur join us promptly, then leave for the right tower with Seymour.

3.) Assuming we make it to the tower without event, I'll get in the elevator and find out what floors we can go to.

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

lj puts the logbook in the item box. He then goes to explore the game room.


lj-
[Status]: Okay
[Equipped]: Crowbar, Samurai Edge(6/18)
[Items]: Starter Kit, $500, Warehouse Office Key, Blue Gemstone
---
President is Bush, vice president is Dick, so a whole lot of ******* is what we gonna get- Talib Kweli

"Alright good point I forgot that, a lot has happened since then." I'm tired of waiting as soon as Tur tries the key, if it fails I'm running for the Hardwear Store and Market Place. If it does I'm ready to go Shovel and all, I've been hiding here in the Inn with my tail between my legs, no more I'm getting over to that Hardwear taking a gun and if the clerk gives me any **** I'll slit his throat. I'm tired of this place, I'm tired of being useless, I'm tired of being hunted by an 8-foot-tall moron that only knows how to take commands.

He took out his Crimson Red Sunglasses and put them on. "No more games, its war now."
---
What do you want here something witty? **** you I ain't that smart.

ya i need a gun to a asault rfle with like 15 clips wit th 2 clips on each clip so thats 30 clips in total or like double uzis that uses handgun ammo :) or a bazooka---
i like chicken:) and....................RESIDENT EVIL!!!

Why was I called Frost? He died before anyone gets to see his character, because he is mauled to death by dogs. Oh great, FF don't get any ideas.
---
What do you want here something witty? **** you I ain't that smart.

(Heh, it doesn't have to do with how they died. It's like I said in the thing, I see you both as reliable, solid members of your respective teams. And Joe's one of my favorites.)

---
It's a turkey, stuffed with a duck, stuffed with a chicken!
- About my user name

okay, I see what your saying. But, did Frost have a second person inside of him.......
---
What do you want here something witty? **** you I ain't that smart.

Reluctantly she approached Steve. After hearing of his tribulations endured and sacrifices made, she couldn’t with any justification regard him as a body, let along a mere store clerk. Having regressed to her now accustomed silent manner, she knelt beside the researcher’s covered form. Her eyes reflected regret and sorrow, sporadically retaining tears.

If she hadn’t procrastinated, slept; simply headed to the hospital after acquiring the crossbow, this could have been prevented. Slowly she clasped her hands before him, offering the minuscule comfort of prayer followed by a muted apology.

As Rachel removed herself from Steve’s side a voice came from behind, “I just had a playdate with our buddy the Judge while you were having a sound sleep. Glad we could all go about killing ourselves so you could have a proper nap.” Turk spoke quietly, yet his speech was understandably laced with irritation.

She felt her stomach clench. The village denizen tried mustering an apologetic treatise on her behalf. Nothing came. “I…know, but…sorry…yes.” she replied sullenly. “You have every right to be annoyed with me.” The tinge of self-disgust brazened her tongue. “I’ve just been selfish.” Despite her expectation of him unleashing continuous disparaging remarks, he apparently reconsidered; decided against this.

“Sorry.”

Rachel shook her head. “You shouldn’t be.”

“Just forget it. I’ve had a bad night. But anyway, I did have a run-in with that Judge.” A pause. “Yep. I kicked his ass,” He grinned, perhaps trying to lessen the extent of his other words. ‘Not bloody likely.’ After admonishing her actions, or lack thereof, Turk seated himself to rest. Using a moment to scrutinize herself, she consciously decided to habilitate herself. Become someone of worth, at least to the group. ‘First things first.’

The British lady already decided to join Az’s well-armed group, but she considered the groups temporarily anyway. The other lacked numbers and both weaponry or ammunition. She approached Nate.

“You go out there like that,” She motioned towards the dagger and bat. “And you will end up like Steve. Give me the dagger, and in return you get the crossbow. Quiver and all.” A grin then split her face as she lowered her voice, adding as an afterthought, “Besides, if you don’t take it off my hands, I may end up "accidentally" impaling Az for one of his little comments.”

After this, she headed to the safe to get her equipment. When this was done she planned to follow the group heading to the prison.

---
I'd give my right hand to be ambidextrous. - Zaloopa

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

hey wheres the update theres been none for 2 days
---
i like chicken:) and....................RESIDENT EVIL!!!

"Rachel we aren't going to the prison, while you were sleeping Steve told us the prison is full of BOW's and failed experiments. So we are going to the Hardwear Store, or the Village Idiot if Tur's key or a key you might get opens it."
---
What do you want here something witty? **** you I ain't that smart.

I sat still, my head in my hands. Everyone else had decided what they were going to do. I had not.

Seymour and Nate were going to head off and meet up with Furious at the Towers. The others were heading to the Marketplace, and after that, who knew? Maybe they were going to the prison, maybe not. Steve’s info on it may have deterred them.

I stood gradually. “Alright. I’m going to the tower as well. Not much firepower in that group. You guys’ll need some more backup, I think. Market people, good luck. We’ll all meet back there once we’re done with our errands, right?”

I looked out into the foreboding dawn. “Let’s go…”

(This is, of course, after we do all the other stuff: Checking the key, trying to use it, etc.)

---
"It's a travesty of corruption!" - Felix Blunk

After waiting for a few minutes for the others to decide where they were going and pay their last respects to Steve, Rachel approached Nate.

“You go out there like that,” she said, indicating the dagger and bat, “and you will end up like Steve. Give me the dagger, and in return you get the crossbow. Quiver and all.”

A grin then split her face as she lowered her voice, adding as an afterthought: “Besides, if you don’t take it off my hands, I may end up 'accidentally' impaling Az for one of his little comments.”

Nate's mouth was left hanging on its hinges as he stared disbelievingly into the eyes of his comrade.

"Wh... why?! I'm not a professional archer or anything; you'd be just as good with it as I would." Seeing that she was unwilling to negotiate, and guessing that she felt no need to give any more reason as to why she felt compelled to give up her current armament in exchange for a measly dagger than had already been stated, Nate accepted the trade and carried it out with a puzzled look.

Not saying any more on the matter, though he did wish an explanation for her rational, Nate strapped the quiver onto his back, slung over his right shoulder. (If there's a strap for the crossbow) He slung the crossbow from his opposite shoulder.

With the teams now decided, and seeing that a reply to his questioning countenance was not eminent from Rachel, he wished the others luck on their journey, told them to play it safe, then stepped out of the inn. Looking back over his shoulder to see if his two closest allies in this hellhole were following him, Nate readjusted the straps for his new weaponry, then turned back to his destination - the looming shadows to the southwest - and directed his steps towards them.

---

[Status] Fine
[Equip] Crossbow (1/1)
[Items] Bat, Quiver (4/4), Starter Set, $600, 'LT:E' Key, [Yellow Herb, Blue Herb]

---
I will take comfort in the saying "united we stand, divided we fall", and wish Tidus a swift and painless death.

MY CONVENIENT GAME PLAN FOR FF
-DO NOT accept Nate’s green herb mix, but thank him anyway. Give it back to Nate. (I’m not hurt bad enough for a double green, I don’t think. I’ll be alright, and others may end up needing it more than I).
-Load Sam with clip I found, manually transferring bullets from clip to Sam’s, BUT only put 10 in mine. Give other 5 to lj, so that he has 11 total.
-Examine key I got, and unless it states explicitly that it is used otherwise, try to pub door. If it works, we go in, search the place, and I will try to help Evan (unless he is a zombie, which is likely. In that case we have no choice but to take him down, regrettably).
-Join the under-staffed and under-powered Tower gang.

---
"It's a travesty of corruption!" - Felix Blunk

I'm closing out now... If two days wasn't enough time to get your post in...

Then let whatever deity or deities you worship have mercy on your soul...
---
I think FFDragon just became my new Idol. Screw Clockspider. ~Crimson Sword

yay update im goin with az to the market place to get a gun if the jey works there or im goin in the bar if the key opens that
---
i like chicken:) and....................RESIDENT EVIL!!!

((We know, Rebecca.))
---
«« Â.Ž.P.ü.ñ.ï.š.h.ê.r ™ •¯`·._.·•
•---------------------------------•

stupid rebecca
---
i like chicken:) and....................RESIDENT EVIL!!!

Tidus41950- Tidus stares face to face with the two Crimson Heads... The Hospital crew must have taken them out in their 'less agile, less powerful form' without properly finishing them off... Great... Just ****ing great... Tidus quickly scanned the hospital's main entrance, taking note of the signs in particular... Operating Room, Waiting Room, Emergency Room, Doctor's office... What was that key had had? The OR...? Tidus didn't have any more time to think, as both of the Crimson Heads began to charge for Tidus. He didn't have much choice... He had to move... But before he could even get off a single step, the Crimson Heads were on him. Tidus raised his boomstick into a defensive position and fired a shot into the chest of the closest Crimson Head. The shot sent the CH flying backwards, and into his partner. Tidus took this oppurtunity to haul ass into the Operating Room, and slam the door. As he does though, he catches out of the corner of his eye the re-rising of both Crimson Heads... A shotgun blast to the chest wasn't even good enough to put them down... My god... Tidus just shook his head and held the door shut for a few seconds... This day was going to be as bad as the last... He just knew it... Tidus groaned as he fished around in his pockets for the key he had gotten from GSMY. He pulls it out and looks around. There is a pretty hefty lock hanging from the cabinet over there... Tidus walks over and and places the key into the lock, and turns the key. Lo and behold, the lock falls off. Tidus opens up the cabinet praying for a bazooka or something... He is sadly disappointed. He finds a #single green herb# and #a folded piece of paper#. Hey, you never know when an herb can save your life, and that paper could have useful info. ...Hey... Wait a minute. Something catches his eye, and Tidus leans down to inspect the bottom of the cabinet. On the very bottom shelf, Tidus reaches in and pulls out a #keycard#. It reads: Class 1 Researcher. Hmm... Okay. Whatever. Tidus pockets the keycard without further thought and tries to ponder his situation. He begins to mutter to himself...

"Ok now...What can I do about those two Jim look-alike? I should take a few seconds to think of a way out of here." He begins, "Maybe I can draw them towards the door by banging on it a bit... Then when I'm sure at least one of them is behind the door, I kick it open with as much force as possible. Then after kicking open the door I can push this table out the door into the other one. Then when they both hit the ground I can run for the closest room, which would be... The waiting room! I can run straight for that waiting room. In there I should be safe... Hopefully..."
---
I think FFDragon just became my new Idol. Screw Clockspider. ~Crimson Sword

Tidus takes a few deep breaths before putting his plan into action. Every single thing was going to have to fall in place perfectly for this to work... He could only hope for the best... Tidus heads over to the door to bang on it, but seconds before he can do so, the Crimson Heads start to bang into the OR door themselves... They had picked up on Tidus' location... They were hungry... Tidus jumps back, startled. He hadn't expected them to be that... smart... Tidus shakes his head; Smart or not, they were going down... He heads over to the door and gives it a very forceful kick. The door flies open, and bends on it's hinges, making it permanently inoperable. However, the force of the kick staggers the closest CH. Good, just as he had planned. Too bad for Tidus though, the second CH had fallen back a few steps in order to charge the door again. Tidus runs behind the OR table and attempts to push it... No good! The wheels are locked! Tidus' heart starts to pound... There was no time to unlock the wheels now... The far CH charges into the room as the near one rises back to it's feet. Tidus brings the shotgun up into a highly offensive position and aims it high into the air. When the CH gets close enough, Tidus pulls the trigger, decapitating the once former zombie, and once former human. The rest of the body takes a few more steps forward before hitting the ground, and bleeding out. But in the instant that that body falls, the other CH had charged in and took Tidus by surprise. It slashes out with it's claw and catches Tidus across the chest. Tidus gasps out and falls to his knees... But he knew if he stayed down, it would mean his death... So Tidus does get up... In time to barely sidestep a second swipe for his throat. Tidus blasts the CH in the chest, but all that does is stagger it for a moment. Tidus is unable to comprehend the agile nature and resilience of this beast, and isn't able to react in time when it brings it's claw down on his leg. Tidus cries out in pain... That was the same leg that AZ had bashed yesterday... Tidus falls back to the ground, where he blindly pulls the trigger on his shotgun. It tears across the leg of the CH, and removes it from it's body forever. The CH too falls to the ground, but that does not stop it's forward movement. Tidus manages to sit up and plug one final boomstick shot into the head of CH, killing it once and for all... Tidus then let out a very loud, and very shrill scream of pain... He was bleeding from the chest and the right thigh... He had taken a beating... But with two on one odds, he should be happy to have his life. Tidus manages to scramble backwards towards the sink in the back of the room... He was hurting... Tidus grabbed onto the lip of the sink and lifted himself to his feet... Injured and bleeding, he couldn't think too straight... But he had to think of something... For his own sake... For his life...

Tidus-
[Status]: Caution
[Equipped]: Shotgun (7/7)
[Items]: Shotgun Shells (11/14), Video Tape, Red/Green Herb Mix, Green Herb, Folded Paper, Class 1 Keycard
---
I think FFDragon just became my new Idol. Screw Clockspider. ~Crimson Sword

The Inn- Everything was beginning the blur into one for all of the researchers at the Inn... Although they were anything but researchers now... They were 'test subjects' for the Unholy Trio... They had just been privy too the knowledge that Steve had been able to divulge to them before his death... The history of Judgment Day, the bookcases to deactivate the electric fence, the warning of the prison... It was sad to see such a useful ally and friend die... By the orders of Trevor Martin, and executed by the Judge... No... Kris Karter had issued the original order... He was the one to blame... For everything... EVERYTHING that had happened here... His unnatural lust for the development of his own personal virus had led to the destruction of the Village... Karter wanted to become famous and renown for creating the world's most beautifully destructive virus... And he became greedy when he feared that Umbrella would steal his research... So with the help of his scientific confidants Wilder and Martin, he betrayed Umbrella for the sake of his virus... And his ultimate creation... The Judge... Sickening... There was an uneasy silence covering the Inn... That happened all too often these days... Everyone just wanted this ordeal to be over, but the plot just kept getting more and more twisted. Emblems, Gemstones, keycards, books, encrypted notes, passworded elevators, electric fences?! What the hell kind of place was the Village? What kind of company was Umbrella, that they needed all of... this to protect the Village?! What kind of man was Kristopher Karter, for architecting this Village?! ...What kind of men were the Trio, for blanketing the Village in the T-Dragon Virus, for their own selfish needs...? It was all too much to ask right now. AZ sat quietly at the file table with the laptop in front of him. He tried to access the last internet pages used by Jim, but someone had covered their tracks well... The entire history had been erased, and all of the cookies deleted... Someone wanted to hide something... The only thing left in the history was the 'yahoo' front page, and a link to a ytmnd with the phrase: 'Highlight the List' with the music set to "Konstantine" by Something Corporate. The music choice lets you know that Jim had definately made that webpage... He wanted to remind himself of something... What that was though... It was a mystery... AZ kept that in mind as he clicked on the 'My Documtents' folder. It was a list of music...

File #26- Music List

End of the World- Cold
Lullaby- A Perfect Circle
Short Stories with Tragic Endings- From Autumn to Ashes
Immortal- Adema
The Leaving Song Pt. II- AFI
Across the Nation- The Union Underground
Where's my Mind?- The Pixies
Between Angels and Insects- Papa Roach
Radio in a Hole- Smile Empty Soul
Drop to Zero- TRUST Company
I Never Told You What I do for a Living- My Chemical Romance
My Plague- Slipknot
Escape from Hellview- CKY
Drunk Girl- Something Corporate
Between Angels and Insects- Papa Roach
Under a Killing Moon- Thrice
</file>

Besides it being a sexy, sexy list of music, AZ has no idea why this list would be under a password protected computer. But then AZ remembers the ytmnd... 'Highlight the List'. Had Jim hidden something in the list itself? Had Jim found out something in the Village before he met his unfortunate transformation? AZ couldn't know for sure, but he was going to follow this trail of clues as long as he could. So, without hesitation, AZ takes his mouse and highlights the entire music list... Weird... Some of the letters are glowing...
---
I think FFDragon just became my new Idol. Screw Clockspider. ~Crimson Sword

File #27- Highlighted Music List
End of the World- Cold
Lullaby- A Perfect Circle
Short Stories with Tragic Endings- From Autumn to Ashes
Immortal- Adema
The Leaving Song Pt. II- AFI
Across the Nation- The Union Underground
Where's my Mind?- The Pixies
Between Angels and Insects- Papa Roach
Radio in a Hole- Smile Empty Soul
Drop to Zero- TRUST Company
I Never Told You What I do for a Living- My Chemical Romance
My Plague- Slipknot
Escape from Hellview- CKY
Drunk Girl- Something Corporate
Between Angels and Insects- Papa Roach
Under a Killing Moon- Thrice
</file>

What did it all mean though? AZ couldn't be certain at this moment... He made sure to mark down this information in his notebook, and then returned to access the Omega Research. There was nothing in this file... Hmmm... At the bottom of the screen it reads '1 object(s) (plus 1 hidden)'. Someone had taken the effort to hide the document, but not well enough. AZ fiddles with the control pannel in order to view hidden files, and there it was. A single file named: 'Omega Notes'. AZ smiled. Simpletons had hidden this file. He double clicked on the file, but then an error screen came up: 'We're sorry James Jones, but a Class 6 Researcher Keycard is necessary to access this file. Please insert card now, or press 'Exit' to Cancel.' AZ checked the side of the laptop... Lo and behold, to the left of the CD/DVD Rom drive was infact a keycard recognizer. Lovely... The Omega Research was only available to Class 6 Researchers and above. Maybe Jim was going to eventually become a high class Researcher... Maybe he had copied the file from somewhere else, but had copied the security protection with it... Either way, they couldn't get in now. But something about that music list got AZ on edge... It seemed like it was going to be useful, but he couldn't put his finger on it... He closed the laptop and sighed, this was getting them nowhere right now... AZ pushed away from the table and got to his feet, securing his handgun, and walking to the center of the room... GSMY met him there, and was a little anxious to head into action...

"Well AZ, after hearing what Steve said about the prison my guess is that when this is all over we'll find out our keycards there. Anyway with the sun up we can also go to The Village Idiot through the front door. Since Evan is a regular zombie, a few shots will gun him down." GSMY was tapping his shovel on the floor; He was ready to go, "What do you say AZ the Idiot is closest to us now so... We might as well become better equipped, right?"

"Well, it's decision time, boys and girl... I still plan on heading to the Market Place... but GSMY did bring up a good point.. The thing is, Evan locked the door from the inside. And the side door is still locked, and we haven't got the key. Unless..." AZ eyes the Key in Tur's hand, "Any markings on that key, Tur? If not, give it a go in the door to the Pub. If it opens, we'll clean it out, and then I plan on heading over to the Market. Rachel, Natus.. you two might have the key to the Pub in your compartments in the Safe, if Tur's new key doesn't work after all."

Tur stares down at his key... It did have etchings on it. "Sorry AZ, but this key reads 'House 300.' So it's a no-go on the Pub for now..."
---
I think FFDragon just became my new Idol. Screw Clockspider. ~Crimson Sword

Tur winces as he talks... The pounding in his head just refused to go down... It was almost deafening in his ears... The Judge had done a serious number on him. He's actually in awe that none of his bones were broken after being spiked like a football from eight feet up... And then the pistol, er, magnum whip from Trevor... No, Martin... was painful as well... As my enemy, Tur would no longer give Trevor the familiarity of calling him by his first name.
A bold statement to make... One made out of pur hatred... Tur felt the back of his head. It had stopped bleeding, but it had begun to scab up... Lovely. Tur watches as Nate drops his gem in the item box and then as he walks up to him with the green/green herb mixture in his hand.

"Hey Tur... I saw what you did for us out there. It was brave... A little on the martyr side, but brave nonetheless. I'm proud to have you on our side..." Nate smiles and stares eye-to-eye with Tur, "So what I'm really trying to say is, because of your efforts and the injuries you got out there protecting us... I want you to use this herb mixture on yourself, and hell, I'll even apply it to your wounds for you."

Tur smiles back at Nate, but he shakes his head no. "That's a good gesture and all Nate, but I don't think I'm hurt enough to use that right now. GSMY fixed me up with a few bandages from his first-aid kit, so I'll be okay for now... But thank you. You're a good friend... But others may end up needing those herbs more then me."

Nate wants to help Tur, but he cannot do so if Tur is not willing, so he simply nods at Tur and walks back to the center of the room. Tur takes out the clip he found and realizes that it doesn't fit his Samurai Edge. The bullets are the right caliber, but the size of the clip is too small. He was going to have to reload each bullet by hand... Better do it now then... Tur transfers the bullets from clip to clip until he has ten in his Edge. He also switches the Edge to semi-automatic mode in order to conserve bullets... The last thing Tur needed right now was a dead man's click... He catches lj out of the corner of his eye, as he drops off the log book in the Item box. Tur gestures him over and hands him the rest of the clip.

"Here you go lj... It's another 5 bullets. You'll have to reload them by hand, but five bullets is five bullets, you know?"

"Thanks Tur. These could save my life." lj takes the five bullets and reloads them into his SE, giving Tur a thankful nod, before heading into the game room. Inside the Game Room, lj feels good inside the room, and it is actually a nice sight. There is a pool table here, which is devoid of anything on top of it. The room is covered in video game and movie posters, and there are even a few arcade games set up in the back of the room. Everyone's favorites of course. The Game Room is also home to a cabinet which must hold things like board games and the like. The cabinet is open, and lj looks inside to see monoply, scrabble, sorry, etc. There are also several board games scattered on the floor, like someone was tearing the place apart... Either way, this place had been searched from top to bottom... Doesn't Tur have a pool cue? Wonder if he got it from here... lj exits back into the welcoming room of the Inn and walks over to Tur.

"Hey Tur, thanks again for the bullets, but I have a question for you." lj leans against the marble counter, "Where'd you get the pool cue of yours?"

Tur is a bit confused by the question... "I got Mr. Stabby from the Game Room... But that was before he was good for stabbing... Why? The Game Room was the first place we really explored in the Inn."
---
I think FFDragon just became my new Idol. Screw Clockspider. ~Crimson Sword

"Oh! That makes sense then..." lj stiffles a laugh, "I had just gone into the game room and the place looked like it had been torn apart and stripped of useful items... It makes sense knowing that you guys ransacked it... Nevermind my rambling..."

And with that lj heads over to the couch to take a seat... His back still burned... He'd just take a quick break. You know... Just a few minutes to regain his composure... Tur then takes this oppurtunity to head over to CC and voice his evident anger towards her... His demeanor changed 180 degrees from talking to lj to barking at CC...

"I just had a playdate with our buddy the Judge while you were having a sound sleep..." Tur almost growled in a low voice, "Glad we could all go about killing ourselves so you could have a proper nap..."

"I... know, but... sorry... yes." She replied sullenly, with a tone of self-disgust to her words... "You have every right to be annoyed with me... I've just been selfish."

Hearing those words coming from CC is like a twang of pain to Tur... She felt real regret and self-hate for not being more helpful to the group... This softened Tur's words, and his feelings towards her...

"...Sorry," Tur said with a sigh. "Just forget it. I’ve had a bad night..."

CC shook her head and whispered quietly. "...You shouldn’t be..."

"But anyway, I did have a run-in with that Judge... Yep. I kicked his ass!" He grinned, pretending to brag. Too bad he wasn’t fooling anyone. CC smiled though, amused by Tur's faux boast. Tur smiled back, but left CC in order to place some of his files in the item box for public use... Then he returned to a chair to sit down... He was feeling kinda off the mark... Maybe it was his injuries talking... Whatever it was, it was beginning to take it's toll on Tur's body and mind...

CC, having been put down by Tur, decides to do something for the good of the group. Something that will make the group think of her as useful. Something... Anything... to make up for her earlier ineptness... She scans the room and her eyes fall on Nate, GSMY, and NES. They the only people left without a credible weapon. Natus had a small, but powerful magnum. lj and Tur each had a Samurai Edge. AZ had an enhanced handgun. But she decided to go with Nate... She had overheard his plan to head to the tower, and she knew that Nate's crew was going to be severly underarmed... So she headed over to Nate and slid the quiver off of her shoulder.

"You go out there like that," She motioned towards his dagger and bat. "And you will end up like Steve. Give me the dagger, and in return you get the crossbow. Quiver and all."

Nate is taken aback... Flabbergasted even... That was such an uneven trade it wasn't funny... Nate's mouth was literally left hanging on its hinges as he stared disbelievingly into the eyes of his CC. But then a grin formed on CC's face, as she added in another comment... A jab even...

"Besides, if you don’t take it off my hands, I may end up "accidentally" impaling AZ for one of his little comments..."

"Wh... why?! I'm not a professional archer or anything; You'd be just as good with it as I would." Nate stuttered out
---
I think FFDragon just became my new Idol. Screw Clockspider. ~Crimson Sword