Life in another dimension (Emblem)

This adventure takes place in another dimension where the good version of Emblem and Krious now reside thanks to their evil counterparts.

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“And in Europe today, gangs continue their power struggle for regional dominance. Ever since the top figures of the underground seemingly vanished the world has been plunged into anarchy. There are shootouts in the streets, complete chaos among the populous and not even the military can guarantee anyone's safety. So far Europe has taken the brunt of the violence, but even here we are beginning to see the effects of their legacy.”

The small heads-up displayed in the top right corner of the television showed various footage of violence and destruction while the newsreader read his lines aloud. They specifically didn't include names or terms related with the duo where all of this originated. Everyone knew who they were and it wasn't long ago when they held this world by its throat. Emblem and Krious, a pyromaniac and diabolic mastermind, brought death and destruction to this world with their egocentric beliefs. The day they vanished was the first day in years people had time to take a deep breath. But with their disappearance came the fight for those that would take their place. That fight had been going on for months now, starting in Europe but spreading around the world like a contagious disease.

“We now go to Jennifer Ainsley, reporting live from Rome, Italy.”

The familiar image of the newsreader was replaced with the figure of a woman holding a microphone that clearly featured the letters G-N-N, standing in the middle of one of the many ravaged street in Rome dimly lit by the evening light. Several buildings were on fire and shots were being fired so close that you could sometimes spot the tracer in the background. Several civilians were trying to get away, passing by the news team in great numbers.

“Thank you John. As you can see there is a war going on in the streets of Rome. Gangs are gaining ground from the military street by street and a city wide evacuation has been ordered. Even now I can hear the shots getting closer and it won't be long befo-....”

Suddenly the gunfire wasn't a background noise anymore but originated from the buildings next to them. It started with a lone shot, but a minute later bullets riddled the air around them, catching the civilians and the news team in between the fight. The images coming in showed everyone running in chaos, some getting hit by stray bullets, others falling over each other in their attempt to escape.

“W-We got to get away from here, q-quickly!” The reporter said while holding in the panic. The feed from the camera shook as the guy holding it had trouble to resist his own urge for running away. “For Global News Network, this i-is..”

The camera shook heavily after a swishing sound ended in an impact. The camera dropped to the floor, a ray of static moved through the screen before the woman came back into view by pure coincidence. Unbeknownst to the viewer the camera man had been shot. The disbelief on the reporter's face clearly showing. Yet before she could react another man appeared next to her, straight out of nowhere.

“Get down”

The final second of video coming through before the static took over clearly showed Krious's mug on screen as he pulled the woman down to the ground. He clearly couldn't save them all in the chaos, but a reporter was his obvious first choice. Besides, he brought a friend to help.

“Emblem! Give these people some cover will you!?”

He spat towards his comrade who responded by throwing up a wall of flame to cover the retreat of the remaining civilians. The intense flames obscured vision but wouldn't stay up for long, they'd better get somewhere safer. While still firmly holding on to the reporter's arm he grabbed Emblem by the shoulder and teleported all of them to the flat roofed corner building nearby. The amount of lead in the air had diminished thanks to the fire, but now that the wall of flame started to die out the gang members resumed shooting each other. At least they were safe from the bullets up here and the civilians were out of harms way. Now they needed to stop this war...

“Y-you.. I know who you are.” The reporter spoke in shock. It wasn't every day that you got rescued by the two most wanted men in the world. Yet something was different. As a reporter she knew just about every detail known about them, but these two differed from what she knew. One was supposed to be partially synthetic but showed no sign of anything artificial, the other wore traditional robes he was normally never seen in and, for the first time ever recorded, used his fire to protect instead of harm.

''You know that contrary to prior beliefs, fire does not stop bullets!''

Although he could never stop himself with the cynical remarks in this world, but while he was talking, he did as Krious asked of him. It was easier to follow commands when you just got out of a teleporting session. Kind of took the daze away from everything. He was getting used to it...slightly..

Not long after Emblem Trailblazer had raised a curtain of pure heat and flame, he was yet again subject to a teleport. He knew fully well why though..Krious had brought company. When he was able to see again, Emblem noticed they were on a nearby rooftop. Corner of the street, best views on the whole thing that happened way down. Emblem's flames had done a rather marvelous job, he was about to praise himself at how lively he had made his flames act...most of the gangs thought they were going to be turned to charcoal.

The firing did resume after the wall was discontinued. It was a grim sign of his things were in this world. As Emblem gazed down at the carnage down below, the reporter stated she knew who they were. Rather impossible, but the confusion was understandable.

''Whilst I can understand how our good looks would proceed us both, I must say you are mistaken miss.''

Emblem turned to face the reporter. She had a rather terrified look on her face. Logically. Emblem had only met him briefly, but it was like looking in a twisted mirror of sorts. His evil counterpart was the one known here...and the one now wreaking havoc in the other dimension. Only a little, Emblem felt rather annoyed by the fact that he was so easily beaten. It did not matter now anymore.

This dimension was not so welcoming to say the least. Both Krious and himself had to rely on all of their skills in terms of stealth and survival to cope with the now-open warfare that had ravaged the world. To think two individuals were able to change so much of the world's mentality, it was baffling, and also quite impressive in a fearful kind of way.

It would also explain why all these gangs were fighting. They had a chacne to reclaim what they think was rightfully theirs. Things, thoughts, a life denied by two tyrants. Such a pity innocent life had to be sacrificed in the process. This world would consume itself in it's own sins if it were to continue like this.

Emblem slowly walked up to the reporter, making sure to not startle her more and have her panic more then she had already done. Emblem sat down, his legs folded to show he was there to talk only. As he tightened his authentic wardrobe, he spoke calmly to her, keeping a clear line of sight with his goldenjade eyes.

''My name is Emblem, but I did not come from this world. The same can be said about Krious here. We too are from Earth, but a different one. A different dimension. Regretfully, our dimensional counterparts are nothing like we are. If you are as true to your craft as I think you are, you must be able to see some clear differences.''

Emblem was sure that if she was good at what she did, she would know of his counterpart. That few moments, in a flint of time, he already knew his counterpart loved to act and showboat his power.

''If it's alright, could we just...talk? We have quite a story to tell...and we're quite lost in this world of guerrilla gangs..''

Just as Emblem had finished his sentence, A large explosion was heard. The prodigal pyromancer got on his feet quickly, standing inbetween the reporter and the explosion so many streets away. Most gangs had guns and molotovs, a self-made bomb here and there, but this blast was massive...who could it be?

(( Again, sorry for my week long silence. ))

Emblem always was better at dealing with people so Krious let him do most of the talking on the rooftop. He moved over to the edge of the building, surveying the area and the horizon before them. There was an unending stream of bullets flying below them from building to building and the gangs showed no signs of stopping any time soon. A moment later they would be forced to do so however. A huge explosion lit up the sky a few blocks away and the loud boom resonated through the air not long after. Krious had to shield his eyes for a moment to not get blinded by the light. That was definitely not some do-it-yourself bomb kit explosion, that was a professional charge. Did the military decide to drop a bomb in the city? They wouldn’t do that would they? A lot more questions rose up, urging him to go and get some answers.

“That was no ordinary bomb, we’d better check it out.”

He moved back towards Emblem and the reporter. He grabbed Emblem by the shoulder and then focused on the reporter. A shade of doubt clouded his mind as he thought over taking the reporter with them. The teleport just now was to save her life, doing it again without consent wasn’t something he ordinary did, but time was of the essence. As if she saw the instant of doubt in his eyes she reassured him.

“Don’t you dare leave me here now! The people need to know what’s going on and if what you’re saying is the truth then you two have a lot of explaining to do once we’re done.”

This one had quite the spirit and almost seemed to order him. Good, she would need that out there. He had no choice but to grant her request now, not that he minded. She knew more about this world then the two of them together and having her tag along would surely prove useful. He extended his hand and she tightly gripped it. A few seconds later the trio appeared on top of a building further into the city. The building stood next to a large plaza, of which one side was now a partial smoking crater. Gang members were scattered and fleeing, but there was one small group who seemed to form around a single person while stacking up to an apartment complex. It was immediately clear they were behind the explosion and was made even more obvious by the grenade launcher the man, probably the leader, wielded.

“Who is that guy, do you see him? The one with all the protection around him.”

''Who is that guy, do you see him? The one with all the protection around him?''

Emblem had surely noticed. The explosions would have heads turned towards this man, but bodies would flee from the epicenter of this very explosion. When the smoke cleared up, Emblem could not believe his eyes. His mouth almost fell open as Krious asked him again, more firmly. His head turning to Krious, Emblem answered.

''You would not believe it if I told you.''

Krious wasn't satisfied with such an unfulfilling answer, but Emblem talked on.

''...It's our favorite Russian scientist.''

A bell the size of a large gong rung in Krious mind as he turned to face the gang as well. The reporter however, linked two and two and knew who they were talking about.

''Russian? You must be talking about Gregory Karkarov. He's one character. His illustrous career as a scientist was thwarted by the need to combat the threat that was...well..you two. The Alliance of Two, as some called you both, dominated life. Karkarov was fierce in his rebellion against you two, and sometimes he could surprise you, but he knew he could never beat you both whilst you were together. Alone however, he'd always have something up his sleeve. Krious found this mouse in his play entertaining, and Emblem loved explosions of the size he'd regularly create, which may be the only explanation why he is still alive. The only downside to Karkarov is his love of explosions. That man has destroyed much if not more then he created.''

''He is something special. We know that. I suppose you see him as evil.''

''He is, but one of the lesser evils.''

Krious and Emblem looked at each other before both looked back at the reporter, not really lowering the tension. Their story was not much different, giving question to seeing this man as an evil force in this world.

''I believe you might have mistaken his purposes. You see...our Gregory..''

Emblem was about to talk about how they had met Gregory Karkarov in France (of all places) and how this genius had helped them with his special powers. Gregory had a mindset unlike any other. His inventions were often misunderstood in purpose, function. Even Gregory would not understand at times. His love for explosions was a quick bond formed with Emblem Trailblazer, and his intellect matched well with Krious. There was more to this though then one simple bond, as Gregory Karkarov was a honorary member of the Alistair Foundation.

Yet when Emblem was about to tell how Gregory was neither good nor evil, another large explosion was heard. And it was aimed straight at the building. It was a weird explosion, and did not disperse dust and rubble...but cold mists of ice. In some way, Gregory's mechanically aided henchmen had found Emblem's particular specifications and started to nuke down the building with explosions and ice.

''Krious, we have to get down and talk to him. If he's still as bright, he's our Bane...or our ticket back!''