{A group of men are playing cards at a table while a stranger lingers in the shadows- The men appear to think they are alone}
Man 1: 100 credits... {the man tosses in credits}
Man 2 & 3: ... Call. {Both men toss in credits}
Man 4: I raise {he smiles then looks at his cards} 300 Credits...
{Man 2 & 3 lower there cards, then throw there cards in the center} We fold...
Man 1: {Stares at his cards then looks at man 4 smiling} I call... What ya got?
Man 4: {lowers his cards with the second highest possible hand} ... Beet that lad...
Man 1: {looks at his cards, Still smiling- He acts a beer spill, Dropping all cards... he quickly grabs cards from his pocket- It's the best hand. He rises from the table, seconds later and places down the cards} Okay... I beet it... {He smiles while the 3 men are jaw dropped}.
Man 4: {Looks at Man 1 and is greatly suspecting cheating- However, plays on} Well done... Ya got lucky...
{The Man in the back shadows drops his glass- It smashes, grabbing all the men by surprise}
Stranger: {in a muffled voice} You {a hand- scarred and bruised cuts through the shadow into the light and points at Man 1} have appeared to have dropped your cards...
Man 1: {suspecting the stranger knows, Snaps at him} Heh, take that finger an start cleaning that mess you made... {turns to his fellow players, nodding his head and breathing out his cigar}.
Stranger: {Drops a sheet of paper- It glides through the sky, Landing on the men's table} You know what that is...
{All men grab the sheet, coming to realisation that it is a wanted bounty poster for each man. The bartender quickly notices the stranger- and runs, leaving the register open}
Stranger: {Sees the bartender run and smiles} Smart man.
{All men rise and turn to the stranger, revealing the guns the poses}
Man 1: Alright lad... Seems like you now have a problem, That sets of the chain of events... tell him {he looks at man 3}
Man 3: Well. ya see *giggles* ya got a problem with us? ya got a problem with these {points to their guns}, when there's a problem with these- There's a problem with people like you! and wh.... {the stranger inturups}
Stranger: And when there's a problem with people like me... Bartenders leave the bar- registers open... And people like you .... { A pressure released valve goes off- Then hissing follows } ... Tend to make my living... {A gas canister flies to the floor in-front of the men's feet.}
{the men appear frightful- Except man 1}
Man 1: Calm down, it's just smoke... Alright fool... where are you... Come t.... {Immediately cut off from his words as a blade noise appears behind him ... He turns to see all other men have been sliced down}
Man 1: ... {shocked an terrified to see his friends beheaded} Who are you? ... {the man screams out} WHERE ARE YOU!
Stranger: {a muffled voice from the corner} That's three... one left...
Man1: {tries to reason with the stranger, offering more money than the bounty} here! Take this! just leave me be! {Turns to his friends} oh please!
Stranger: {a muffled voice from above} Very well... Triple it... {man 1 throws more than triple the bounty on the table} heh heh heh... {the stranger am-urges from the smoke, Man 1 is petrified of what he sees}
Man 1: You! ... {he begins to cry while saying} Take it... please... just take it and leave me be {while he pleads for mercy, the Stranger walks to his side claiming all the money on the table}
{The stranger stops just after the table, Man 1 looks at his back}
Stranger: one more thing... {Throws a card down} .... Add it to the deck...
{Man 1 grabs the card, without looking at it, still staring at the stranger walking away. As the stranger leaves the bar, he grabs the registers cash. Just outside the door the stranger sees the barman}
Stranger: Thanks for the tip... You're going to need a shovel. {the stranger keeps walking off and around the corner}
{The barman runs into the bar- Horrified at what he sees- then turning to Man 1}
Man 1: {whimpering on his knees while faintly saying} to the deck... to the deck... add it... add it...
{ he looks at the card then immediately goes into another cry. Looking up praying}
Bartender: Gas Mask... {whispers and places his hand on Man 1} Your a lucky man... might not seem it... but you are.
News woman: All the talk is here ladies and gentlemen... where a newly discovered remains of a wanted cybernetic human was found floating in the Omega-7 system. While the remains were found above the plain and badly damaged- the experts managed to view the last images it had received.
{Autopsy video segment plays}
Scientist 1: Extracting the data record drives... Maintaining visual link connections with the brain for now- until we can receive the data...
Scientist 2: Extracting data.... .... .... annnnn {stalls momentarily- as if he has seen a flicker on screen} nnnnd done...
Scientist 1: cutting visual link connections...
{Back to the news woman}
[color=#FFFFCC]News Woman: {talking like the camera is off} yes... yes I saw him- {Notices the camera is rolling- Corrects herself and smiles} Ladies an gentlemen- There is a possible suspect on who claims this bounty here today.
Records are showing another ship was docked within seconds of the ships destruction- The docking codes are being retrieved as we speak. Meanwhile- Enjoy more of the Autopsy.
{Video goes back to the autopsy}
Scientist 1: What's this... {opens the stomach area of the body} ... It's core ventilation systems have been clogged...
Scientist 2: cause of death?
Scientist 1: no, The cause of death comes from this large gash at the back of the head, Slicing the main spinal segments... Along with the power.
Scientist 2: {Intrigued} What about the blockage...
Scientist 1: The blockage, whatever it may be, would of had to of been after death consumption...
Scientist 2: You mean it was placed there?
Scientist 1: Precisely ...
{back to the news}
News Woman: Ladies an gentlemen, The codes are in- The dock sequence was over-ridden by a mercenary ID'd Ship. The ID was tracked to the proclaimed "Gas mask", The man in the mask who has been taking all of Sirus, and its bounties- By suprise... {Trying to act cheerful- yet secretly is hiding something}.
{Autopsy}
Scientist 1: ... {shocked an appalled} ... Cards... hundreds...
Scientist 2: A message?
Scientist 1: No... A warning... {Immediately noticing the gas mask has proclaimed the body and bounty} Load the body into the garbage... jet it! Now!
Scientist 2: {Confused an standing there} I don't understand?
Scientist 1: {Franticly packing the body} The so called "Gas mask" He is like a lion! The kill is his! If the kill is taken by something else... {gets cut off by the other scientist}
Scientist 2: {Becomes frantic, talks faster- realising what they are in for} He gets it back with aggression!
{ the power flickers... a hissing noise forms }
Scientist 2: I don't understand!
Scientist 1: {trying to pack his things with intention to leave... quickly} When we take his bounty! He will take us with it! He leaves bodies... ships... Anything in space with the intention to come back!
Scientist 2: {Starting to pack his things as well} What if he just kills something an leaves it there!
Scientist 1: For god's sake man! He kills for bounties! And now he has placed a bounty on us! For taking his bounty! {goes to open the door- it's not moving} No no no no no! Come on you stupid thing! MOVE! {Bashes the door with his fist, before calming himself} ... Look, we just need to find awa---- {interrupted by the bashing of the door, same rhythm as the scientist's rhythm}
Scientist 2: {Whispering} was that hi {cut off by the other scientist}
Scientist 1: {calmly turning to face Scientist 2} Shhhhhh.... Don't move... {they watch the doors light underneath- A shadow passes by... slowly}
{while the footage plays live- The news woman has a voice over}
news woman voice over the footage: {Calmly whispering} Cut it, Cut the footage... {The video stops} Ladies an gentlemen... the following footage could be to violent for you to view, News One has chosen not to let it air. {Static takes over her voice- The footage statics it's way back on}
{The scientist stand motionless and silent while staring at the door. the shadow stops- it appears to be facing the door. The sound of metal slowly creaking shivers the scientist spines}
Muffled voice through the door: Play his last sight... Play his last image... See what he saw... you are about to live what he lived...
{Scientist 1 looks at the screen with the visual data... he plays the last images of the cybernetic human}
Scientist 1: Nothing... it's blank... {he turns to the door an yells out} Suffer the same as him? He suffered nothing! it's just blank! {While he is yelling out the door, the image in the background goes from blank- to having the last images loop, over an over. Scientist 2 sees the last image an begins to cry... Scientist 1 has not yet noticed}
Muffled voice behind the door: turn around... what do you see.... {Scientist 1 turns to face the screen... Immediately recognising his mistakes- Again. The scientist grabs a firearm- places it upon his skull... and fires. The muffled voice sighs from behind the door} Now that was a waste {he begins to walk off when he hears the last scientist shuffle under his desk, He turns and goes back to the door} Now... What have we now? two of you? ...Tell me ... Have you learned not to touch anyone else's property? Have you learned to not touch MY bounties?
Scientist 2: {Almost like begging for mercy} Yes! Yes! I've learned! oh god... I've learned!
Gas Mask: Then tell me one thing....
What do you see....
Gas Mask- The Beginning.
Aboard the S.S-Betrayal Wreck. Previous ship of the Proclaimed 'Gas Mask'.
{You find an Organic memory drive in a locker labelled 'G.M Gas mask' You play it, only to find that your are the memory. You see several armed men scouting a snowy field, Followed by a young boy and his family crouched under a dug in bunker re-enforced with wood.}
Father: 'Shhh {Placing his hand on his boy} hold it lad... They're just passing by... No need for tears.
{A tear drags its way down the boys face while he silently cries}
Mother: {Whispering under her breath} please god... Let them find nothing...
Father: Here lad {Hands a pistol to the boy} Take this... God forbid you need to use it... But don't hesitate. {The boy takes the pistol while trying to stop the tears}
{The memory peaks over the wooden frames of the bunker, to see the armed men appear to have left}
Father: {Breaths out slowly} they appear to have left lad... its okay... we will be okay lad {He hugs his son while wiping his tears, followed by his nose} C'mon, Let's move... {You see the father move over the bunkers frame. You hear his footsteps in the snow... they are slow, as if he is walking on his knees}
Father: {from a distance not to far} All right... Let's move.
{The mother climbs over the bunkers frame, {the memory attaches itself to the boy's eyes} you are about to climb- Yet hesitate and look through the slits... You see a shadow... behind a tree 70 odd metres away. At first it doesn't faze you. The shadow shows no initial signs of movement, you begin to climb over the frames}
Mother: What is that {curiously pointing to the shadow}
Father: Get down! {he looks through thermal binoculars} Back to the bunker! {Running back to the bunker, the shadow comes to life. Your eyes widen seeing the horror running from the trees... as if in slow motion... You see it... It burst through the trees breaking every branch in its path- A beast and its rider as one hunting machine. The beast runs faster and faster towards your father}
Father: Move! GO! {Looking back at the beast and its steaming breath getting closer} Go! F***ing MOVE! {Your mother falls to the ground, Your father picks her up, then runs with her, holding her hand} Get in the burrow lad! Get in the god damn burrow!
{You turn around, starring at the burrow behind the bunker... You turn back to look at your father}
Father: No! Just go lad! GO! {He clearly knows what you are thinking}
{You grab the pistol from your jacket... You aim at the rider on the beast, the guns sights are on him... yet your thick gloves make it impossible to place your finger on the trigger... Before anyone or thing could occur, you hear a scream of pure agony while running back to the burrow, You slide into its entrance only to turn to witness your father and mother within range of the beast...}
Father: I love you lad! Don't bloody forget it! I bloody love y... {One of the horns pierces his chest... The snow goes red around the beast feet as it shakes it head in an attempt to rid the horn of the corpse... Finally placing its foot upon the corpses head while raising its own head tearing the corpse off}
Mother: No! {Dropping to her knees at the horrific death of her loved one} You son of a b**ch! {She grabs a rock on hurls it at the rider- It smashes into the top half of his mask... The mask's eyes begin to bleed} I'll kill you! You monster! {She grabs another rock} Take this you son of a b**ch! {She draws her arm back to go throw again, as she propels the rock forward the masked man reaches behind him swiftly... You turn away only to hear a slicing noise followed by drops of a heavy object, bigger than the rock...}
{The rider dismounts and walks to the corpse of your father. He bends down only to slice the head of his body placing it in a bag, twisting it, tying it and finally placing it on the beast's saddle}.
Hunter: {Muffled voice looking into the burrow} I know you are there boy... Come out, the bounty is not with you. You see, your father here {cleaning his blade while walking to the burrow} was a bad man. Cardamine, Smuggling, Dealing ... You name it- your daddy dealt it. {He sits at the burrows base, staring right into you} I know you're armed... Personally I wouldn't blame you if you did {He removes the mask and starts to wipe his bloody eyes} Man hunts your daddy down...yeah... I'd say personal revenge lays there.
{You gather the courage and remove yourself from the burrow} [color=#FFFFCC]What about my mother... What the hell did she deserve...?
{The hunter points to his eyes with a blank look on his face}
[color=#FFFFCC]So if someone throws a god damn stone at your face after murdering their loved one your murder them too?! Yet when it comes to their son you say 'Personal revenge lays there'?!
{You are broken inside... Yet you know deep down the day would come}
Hunter: Think of it this way you ungrateful little! {he stops himself and takes a breath} You ALL would have been dead if it were not for me... you little piece of sh... {Cut off by the boy}
Ungrateful!? Are you mentally unstable by years of branches hitting your face! {you stop yourself then charge the Hunter} How the hell did YOU {Shoves the man} Save US!
Hunter: You saw all those men before? With those big a** guns?! Looking for a certain family?! They disappeared didn't they? {He looks at you- Very agitated} No! They bloody well didn't! {He points to the back of his beast... All armed men are dismembered on the back chains- being dragged behind} so I suggest you shut your mouth an sit here and mourn the death of your family {he begins to walk off towards his beast}
Heh... Mourn... What's there to mourn...? Will that bring them back? Will that make me strong! Will that make it all better?!{You shout so loud at the hunter he stops an turns around}
Hunter: Don't you dare raise your voice at me! {He grabs a large knife out, holding it to your mouth} or it will be the last thing your shout... Understand? I'm the hunter! I'm the shadows! I'm the god damn {he is cut off as you push the knife away from your mouth. The hunter walks to his beast... You take your gloves of a throw them behind you. Grabbing the gun as fast as you can from your coat you are only met with the hunter holding another gun to you}
Hunter: ha-ha! Now what boy! You're in a thing I call a standoff?! Get any advice from ya daddy about this?! {The ego the hunter has for himself and the disrespect he has shows all too well... you grin slightly} Yes... he gave me 2 words... don't Hesitate! {The hunter's eyes widen as you pull the trigger} {You slowly walk over to the mask} You're the hunter? ... Wrong... I am the hunter, I am the shadows.
I ....am the gas mask!
{The memory begins to fade out... Small flickers appear here and there. One is of your hands... making cards... Others of your mother pushing you in the snow, throwing snowballs...
The last audio segments of the memory are as clear as if being whispered from near metres away... as if real}
Don't... Hesitate....
{The memory unit ends... You turn to your navigational officer...}
'There's a man with issues {you smile at your officer an walk to exit the ship only to face a gas masked man staring at you from your ship, walking down the docking arms hall} G-g-g-g-g-g {you turn to your officer who immediately arms himself an points the gun at the masked man} Who are you? {You are stuttering in your voice} What do you w-w-want?' {The masked man stops in the hall- Blocking the only path from his ship... he stares at you... then slowly tilts his head to the side while dropping cards}
Gas Mask: 'there's a man with issues' ... Wrong... {He walks to your face, staring right into your eyes with his blood dripping eyed mask} Each card is a life in itself... they rise... {He holds a card up} and they then fall {he drops it to the ground}... What card is yours... commander? {He holds a deck to you} {You do nothing... You don't take his cards- or his games}
Gas Mask: I see your mind is not open. {You stare at him with a blank face} Open?! Open?! As far as I can tell your mind is nothing?!
Gas Mask: {Chuckles and holds a blank piece of paper} what do you see on this page? {You look} Nothing...
Gas Mask: Exactly, When there is nothing... There is everything. {You feel as if you were enlightened} Gas Mask: Now do me a favour... Get off my ship.