Daemon X Core, Penumbra Wars Prologue part 3 (Patreon)

The killing of Artemis [Benjamin Felix]

When the Horn was blown, the Moon split in two, casting the world into an epoch of gray skies. Yet nothing died, nothing froze, nothing stopped, change was ever present. The goddess of the hunt was no more, but in her death she did not let the world starve, her blood fell from the heavens. When the skies finally parted she was still there, the wounds healed by time, to the naked eye she was as the forefathers said. 

Who was this imposter Moon?

All I could remember was being opened up by a strange presence, something that I can't even begin to describe to you. I looked into that thing for what felt like a lifetime and still feel the want to look at it again. It was perfect, I know how to make things as perfect and beautiful as this Imposter Moon, who is he within it, and what is so damn funny about it all. He was happy. I too want to be happy. My eyes are in a penumbra state now, lucky are all those who were fully taken in by the truth or mystery that lies within, for they know true beauty.

Corporate Farsider [Felicity Felix]

Felicity sat down with Johnny, they had to lay low now for at least a week or two. Well whatever was happening up in the 4th and 5th blew over hopefully, although she admittedly had a real bad gut feeling about it all. She felt so stupid, she didn't bring anything aside from what she had on her, at least her phone could be used as a card if need be, but Johnny said they should be careful with that, after all Fermi and Felix could be monitoring her activities. Now she is stuck in this rinky dink room with a cowboy and the place is run by a literal Rat Man. This is not how she imagined the new year would be going for her, fucking Benjamin this was all his fault, that dumb asshole.

[Johnny]: Hey Irony? You okay, it seems like you spaced out for a hot minute. 

Johnny had taken off his boots and was resting on the roll out cot with his hands behind his head. 

[Felicity]: No not really, my life is most likely fucking over cowboy! How the hell am I supposed to process that, look at me I look like a Farsider and here I am in a tiny room within the underworks of the 12th. 

[Johnny]: Hey, at least it has a bathroom and a closet, that's pretty cool. Been to places without any of that, just a mattress on the floor and exposed electrical wires everywhere. 

[Felicity]: I guess when you put it like that this isn't so bad, it's actually pretty good.

[Johnny]: Hey are you being sarcastic?

[Felicity]: Maybe, but listen I have-

[Johnny]: Had.

[Felicity]: Had a penthouse in the 4th, it had everything, so much luxury that the little Rat Man couldn't even imagine.

[Johnny]: He has a name, Shaw, and he is a great guy and so is his wife. Show some respect Irony. 

[Felicity]: Whatever Cowboy. This fucking sucks, you know If I was in charge of the corporation none of this was would have happened.

[Johnny]: Who knows about that to be fair.

[Felicity]: I know and I'm telling you! This place sucks Cowboy. I'm gonna go have a bath I think, this place does have warm water right? 

[Johnny]: Yep.

[Felicity]: Thank God, maybe this place isn't entirely bad.

Later that evening once they settled down to sleep, Johnny covered by a warm blanket and Felicity on the proper bed covered in two blankets turned and stirs, unable to rest.

[Felicity]: Cowboy you awake?

[Johnny]: Huh? What are you alright?

[Felicity]: No not really, having a hard time sleeping after all that happened today. You think we will be hearing about all this tomorrow on the news?

[Johnny]: Maybe, it's hard to cover up a whole building collapsing like that.

[Felicity]: Yeah, you think they'll pin it on the Synchronist?

[Johnny]: That's a good point, they might. Like who was it that did it?

[Felicity]: The Ministry. 

[Johnny]: Well damn whatever was going down must have been big. 

[Felicity]: Yeah, I heard that we received a signal from the moon.

[Johnny]: What like an image or noise, don't tell me aliens were talking to you guys.

[Felicity]: No, not aliens, at least I doubt it and I don't know what it was the Signal that is. It was like a “flash” when I saw it, nothing happened to me, but my security detail, they lost their minds. Their eyes were wrong, their pupils were wrong, they had this really awful smile too.

[Johnny]: I saw that too, not the “flash”, but employees smiling and their eyes were wrong. Gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.

[Felicity]: Tell me about it, hey what's your actual name?

[Johnny]: Johnny Sidewinder, but my friends call me Boa. 

[Felicity]: Felicity Felix, nice to meet you Johnny. Seriously though, thank you for helping me out of the building. 

[Johnny]: No need to mention it, it was a team effort really. 

[Felicity]: Yeah I guess it was.

Killer and Hunter of Such Low Lives [Wisdomtooth]

As the sunset over a home within the 10th Ring, an unsuspecting victim finished their daily routine. Unbeknownst to them they were being watched by a dark presence, a remorseless hunter of his own kin, a bloody handed killer. A shadowy figure emerges, his rusty blade hungry for blood.

[Patchwork]: Roth.

Roth slowly turned around to face Patchwork.

[Patchwork]: I'm here to kill you Roth.

[Wisdomtooth]: I'll have to let him know I suppose.

It wasn't a weak frail man, but a Fixer, a veteran fighter that is not to be underestimated by any up and coming killer. 

[Patchwork]: Good grief.

[Wisdomtooth]: You sound disappointed son? Don't worry, this old Raven is still able to put on a good old display of power.

Wisdomtooth draws his HEAT Longsword and ignites it, the room is illuminated by a strong orange hue. Patchwork swung his cleaver only to be met by the edge of the longsword, sparks flew as the two engaged in an exchange of strikes. Despite the passage of time and all its eroding effects on Wisdomtooth, he is still a better swordsman than Patchwork. Knocking the cleaver out of Patchwork's hand, and driving the longsword through Patchwork's chest impaling him against the wall. A righteous end to a vile human.

Hearing a crashing noise upstairs Wisdomtooth goes to check on Roth, when he returns downstairs Patchwork is gone, the sword still impaled in the wall.

The Sidewinder [Johnny]

In the snow covered trench of the Northern Frontier, the ice melted and mixed with ground creating a frozen sludge of mud that bit down on any exposed skin. The cold kept the bodies from rotting away, the stench of death was overshadowed by the smell of burnt ozone. He had three older brothers all dead now, his father died shortly before the final day of the war and his mother died of a broken heart shortly after. Johnny was all alone in the world he didn't want to stay in the United States after that, at the end of the day no one would be left to mourn him there he was a traitor and failure.

Johnny woke up in the middle of the night. He looked around the small room, Felicity was snoring away, she finally had managed to fall asleep. He quietly got up and wandered out into the lodge’s hallway. He walked around until he reached the common room, Old Wisdomtooth was resting in the armchair he usually sat and slept in, he had a room. Johnny sat down on the couch.

[Wisdomtooth]: Cowboy? That's you ain't it, isn't it a bit late to be out of bed?

Wisdomtooth yawned and looked at Johnny.

[Johnny]: Just needed some fresh air.

[Wisdomtooth]: Well you're in the wrong place, you'd have to walk outside and climb out a manhole for that. 

[Johnny]: I know, I know.

[Wisdomtooth]: Does your lady friend bite or something?

[Johnny]: What?

[Wisdomtooth]: Just messing with you. You should go get some rest though, it's good for you, heck you might even make it as long as I have if you get good rest regularly. 

[Johnny]: Noted old timer. Well you get some rest too, goodnight. 

Johnny headed back to his room.

Nightshift and its Many Perks [Ripper Doc]

In a Corona Syndicate safe house with the 12th, Ripper and Surgeon cleared out the whole place, killing a dozen Syndicate thugs.

[Ripper]: Pass me the container please Surgeon.

Heart Surgeon handed Ripper Doc a Minerva Corp Head Container as he swiftly finished cutting off the head of a Corona Syndicate Capo, the purpose of this unpleasant action was the preservation of the brain as it can be used for a Wet-Drive Dive. A process in which information is extracted from the brain via biomechanical means. It is highly frowned upon, but still widely used by the Corporations, Government, and Ministry.

[Surgeon]: Do you think we are close to destabilizing the Corona Syndicate?

[Ripper]: Don't know, but we are definitely blooding their ranks. I met a priest or monk recently.

[Surgeon]: What's that supposed to mean Ripper, you're looking for absolution? 

[Ripper]: No, but he was telling me about these strange junkies, the reports from the Fermi and Felix HQ sound similar to what he described.

[Surgeon]: Odd behavior that results in bursted pupils, rigor mortis smiles, and murmurs. If that's what the priest described then I'd say yes.

[Ripper]: That's about it. We have to keep our ears out for whatever is happening on that front too. 

[Surgeon]: You reckon it's something big?

[Ripper]: I hope not, I'll send a message to Minerva to relocate Holly from the 4th ring and send her to the Minerva Cradle in the Gulch. Even if it isn't anything strange, F&F is going to want revenge against the Ministry. 

[Surgeon]: If you like I can handle the clean up here Ripper, go call.

[Ripper]: Thank you Rose.

[Surgeon]: She's my Goddaughter, her safety is always a priority you blockhead.