The End for Someone (Open to JaK & Silent Night)

OT: I love this! Silent always making me actually think hard about my next moves. Makes everything so much more interesting for me.

Something that didn't happen too often just did. Malferus was caught off guard, surprised, or better yet somewhat outsmarted. This battle was getting ever more interesting. Malferus was trapped underneath the dumpster or so Zack thought he was. Malferus was crouched down so his head wouldn't have gotten hit. Malferus would hear the sound of metal bending. Malferus would now know that Zack also had the power to manipulate metal objects. More and more knowledge for Malferus to use. It was now time for Malferus to get out from under this dumpster that was slowly coming down on him. Soon Malferus would unleash the full potential of his force field abilities. The dumpster with Zack on it would fly off of the ground due to Malferus creating a full force field around him. The force field would also push JaK back away from the dumpster that Zack was on.

"It looks like both of us have been holding back somewhat. I think it is time that we all take off the gloves and stop holding back our true abilities. You've proven to be quite the match, but so you know I won't be going down so easily."

Malferus would say in the safeness of his force field. This momentary pause of battle gave Malferus time to think out a strategy for the two boys. His force field was more than enough to hold up against anything the two teen "heroes" might have had. Malferus now knew that his knives would be useless, his sword would be useless, and even physical attack would be useless. It would seem that Malferus would be playing a losing hand right now. All the odds were stacked against him. Malferus would get down onto the ground and fold his legs in a meditation position. He was sitting in the middle of his force field thinking of some sort of strategy for him to use against these two.

Ooc: I take that as a compliment. Thanks, you aren't to bad yourself.

Ic: Zack laughed maniacally as he was launched into the sky. Every time he thought the battle was over and he would be disappointed, it would continue. Zack pulled on the sewer system again, stopping his ascent and bringing him slamming into the top of the shield above Malferus, his knife flying to his hand. The dumpster crashed to the ground and was ripped apart by the impact, though the ruined sheets of metal quickly sucked themselves to the side if the shield. The moment the shield was dropped, Zack was prepared to attack from every direction he could, even giving Jak a slight tug, not enough to actually move him, just enough to give him a warning to brace himself for the moment Malferus' shield dropped.

Zack cackled madly as he dropped to the ground, appearing relaxed. The dumpster dropped as Zack's grin widened. Zack may not have been able to get at Malferus, but Malferus was still armed. Closing his eyes, Zack reached out, being careful to only effect his target. With a sudden jerk, Zack's eyes flew open and Malferus was dragged towards him as Zack pulled on anything and everything metal the villain was holding. They were inches apart, face to face, the only thing between them, the only thing keeping Malferus alive, was his shield. "Ya don't have to worry about him buddy..." Zack's eyes glimmered at the prospect of killing once more. "You should be worried about how long you can last in there. If air can get in, we can smoke you out. And if the air can't get in, you won't last long. And of course there's always little ol' me." Zack's laughter echoed throughout the night as he released the villain and lifted Malferus' blade halfway from it's sheath before dropping it. The point was obvious: he could have impaled the villain on his own weapon. But he hadn't. That would have been too easy. Too boring. Zack was the cat here, and Malferus was his mouse. Zack wanted a little more fun before the end.

Ooc: Oi, warning, it's a little graphic. My apologies if anyone is offended and I will happily delete this post if that is the case.

Ic: Zack cackled in triumph as his outstretched hand flexed, and Malferus found himself pressed against a wall. A moment later, he saw something glinting in the night. He had just enough time to recognize the knives he had thrown at Zack before they pierced his wrists, pinning him to the brick. Zack placed his pistol on the back of his waist and twirled his knife as he walked forward, his eyes burning with a cruel delight. "Oh ho, buddy, you're not going to like what I'm going to do to you..." Zack reached his prey and his grin widened manically. "Do you know why I'm a monster? Do you know what they did to me?" Zack leaned in, his eyes wild. "Let me tell you a story, my story. We have plenty of time, the sun won't be up for a few hours. And of course, what story wouldn't be complete without a little visual aid?" Zack's knife flashed, and Malferus' shirt fell open, revealing bare skin beneath. Zack giggled as he lightly dragged the blade across the villain's chest, leaving a thin red line. "They took me you see..." Zack began, expertly slipping the blade beneath the skin of Malferus's side and sliding it up, leaving not a single mark on the muscle beneath. He continued speaking as he worked, his manic voice barely audible over his victim's screams. "They killed my parents. I was only nine and they killed my parents. The Bishop shot them both. The Bishop killed me too. I woke up in a room with two men standing over me. They promised me vengeance, they promised me life. What was I to do? I was nine, I didn't want to die. Had I known what they would do to me, what they would turn me into I would have told them to go screw themselves. Or eachother, I don't judge." Zack cackled at his joke before continuing. "I was awake when they did it you know. I was awake, just like you are now. But don't worry, you'll get off easier than me. You won't have the nightmares, the memories. You'll lose your sanity to the pain, we all did. But no one's going to bring you back once you're dead, I'll make sure of that. You'll never have to worry about losing friends, about controlling yourself." Zack finished and stepped back. Shaking his head as if coming out of a daze. He looked around. Behind him stood a horrified Jak, before him hung Malferus, still alive and skinned from the waist up, his voice long since given out, and he could only make a gurgling wheeze. Even his head had been flayed, his eyes wild and manic, his mouth twisted into an eternal grin. With the exception of the lack of skin and the shape of the face, Zack stared into a perfect reflection. "No..." He dropped his knife in horror. He had done it again. He had lost control, like an alcoholic unable to restrain himself after that first sip of whiskey. Zack dropped to his knees. "No..." This was why he avoided everyone. This was why he had been gone when his team was attacked. This was why he had failed to protect Evan, to protect Shadow, to protect Ben. This was why he had hidden while his friends died. If he couldn't stop himself from such acts of horror, how long before he was lost completely? How long before he never came back? It was getting harder every day, and the madness that once only plagued him in combat now haunted him every second of every day. It was like a dripping faucet, bit by bit wearing away at his willpower. How long before he was lost? How long before the person on the wall was Liev? Or Sage? Or, heaven forbid it, Jay? This was why Zack so desperately threw himself into combat, why he so ferverantly hunted down L.A.W.. "Do you see?" Zack's voice was soft, filled with shame and despair. "This is what they did to me... This is why I cannot sleep, why the screams echo whenever I close my eyes. Take a long look Sage. This is where you will end up if you follow me." Zack staggered to his feet, retrieving his knife. He stepped up to Malferus, who was too weak to struggle any more. "This... This is something no one should have to go through... And for that I am sorry. Know that you will one day be avenged fallen brother, for all of the pieces must go back I to the box. I know your pain, and I shall end your suffering." Zack drove his blade up through Malferus' chin, where it emerged through the top of his skull. Zack sagged to the ground his strength sapped. He looked at Sage, and for the first time there was a pleading look in his eyes. "Promise me Sage. Promise me you'll kill me if I fall. The one thing I fear more than anything is the madness. I'm afraid, so very afraid... I don't want to hurt my friends... If I turn on you or anybody, promise me you'll end it? And if I fall before L.A.W., promise me you'll take up my quest? If no one does, they'll just either bring me back and drag me too the room or make a whole new Knight. Please Sage, when the time comes, put this tortured soul to rest."

Zack sighed, an eerie gesture thanks to his grin. "I see... You know, I've searched and searched for someone who can best me... Tcha! We've come a long way, haven't we? Remember when we met. If I recall, I didn't like you very much..." Zack laughed. "With Mod gone, Liev is the second strongest in our team, and I've fought him before. He didn't last long. Granted, he wasn't making much use of his power, but I doubt it would have helped much. The Primarch could have done the job. But he's gone now too, he fell to the madness... He seemed so sane. I didn't even know he had any of it in him... My point is, if I fall, you're the only one I know who has a chance of stopping me... And the only way to ensure the horrors of L.A.W. never happen again is to burn it all. No scrap of evidence can remain or it will all start over... They have too many members of too high a rank to be stopped by prisons or justice. But you will realize that in time if it falls on you, eh? Anyways... Thank you. For everything. Though it's probably best we get going... If anyone asks, you weren't here. And you don't know where I was tonight. " Zack laughed mirthlessly as he stood. "People know I'm a monster, and you've a good reputation. I don't think anyone would be exactly happy to know you were a witness to this."

Zack laughed again. "Be a little counter productive if people saw us together or heard your bike drive off as I stumble in covered in blood? No. You go... I... I'll stay here for a bit... He needs a proper burial. Then I'll get myself home." Zack shook his head and stared mournfully at Malferus' body, and began removing him from the wall. "I'll see you around..."