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He gets another call from his old friend, the captain. Another zombie. But this time, things get a little more reanimated, and Tag must fight for his life. But he's been practicing his magic, and has his fancy new gun. But will it be enough?\n\n[b]Chapters[/b]\n[url=https://inkbunny.net/s/2919475]Case 1 - The Wolf[/url]\n[url=https://inkbunny.net/s/2937556]Case 2 - Noxumbra[/url]\n[url=https://inkbunny.net/s/2953837]Case 3 - Hydromancer[/url]\n[url=https://inkbunny.net/s/2964544]Case 4 - The Favor[/url]\n[url=https://inkbunny.net/s/3084693]Case 5 - Ancient Stalker[/url]\n[b]Case 6 - Hoard Master[/b]\n - [url=https://inkbunny.net/s/3246341]Part 1[/url]\n - [url=https://inkbunny.net/s/3246343]Part 2[/url]\n - Part 3 <~ You are here\n - [url=https://inkbunny.net/s/3246347]Part 4[/url]\n - [url=https://inkbunny.net/s/3246348]Part 5[/url]\nEpilogue\n\n- - - - -\n\nA massive thank you to my top tier subscribers:\n[fa]booleangemini352[/fa] | Sedyna | [iconname]typhoonthesuicune[/iconname] | [fa]Kaden22[/fa] | [fa]jafferroshak[/fa] | RoleplayCentral\n\nIf you would like early access to my stories, polls, monthly commission raffles, weekly previews and updates, behind the scenes talks, and other bonus content, please consider subscribing to my [url=https://subscribestar.adult/xp_author]SubscribeStar[/url]", "description_bbcode_parsed": "Tag learns more about his foe. He gets another call from his old friend, the captain. Another zombie. But this time, things get a little more reanimated, and Tag must fight for his life. But he's been practicing his magic, and has his fancy new gun. But will it be enough?

Chapters
Case 1 - The Wolf
Case 2 - Noxumbra
Case 3 - Hydromancer
Case 4 - The Favor
Case 5 - Ancient Stalker
Case 6 - Hoard Master
 - Part 1
 - Part 2
 - Part 3 <~ You are here
 - Part 4
 - Part 5
Epilogue

- - - - -

A massive thank you to my top tier subscribers:
\n\t\t\t\t\tbooleangemini352 | Sedyna | \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttyphoonthesuicune\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t		\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttyphoonthesuicune\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
| \n\t\t\t\t\tKaden22 | \n\t\t\t\t\tjafferroshak | RoleplayCentral

If you would like early access to my stories, polls, monthly commission raffles, weekly previews and updates, behind the scenes talks, and other bonus content, please consider subscribing to my SubscribeStar", "writing": "[center][b][u]Noxumbra Files[/u][/b][/center]\n[center][b]Case 6: Hoard Master[/b][/center]\n[center][u]Part 3[/u][/center]\n[center]By XP Author[/center]\n\n\"Well... this is new.\" Tag looked around. For one, he had the ability to look around. Normally he had no control over what happened in any vision, only a passive observer. Though he still had no physical body. He was surrounded by darkness... but not complete darkness. There was a light coming from... somewhere. It took him a long moment to realize it was from... him. He was a... flame? No, not quite, but there was a flame. He felt no heat from it, though. Or from himself... however this worked.\n\nHe decided to focus more on his surroundings... what little he could see of them. There were some sort of walls around him. Tinted glass of some kind, joined at the corners by black metal. The metal made some kind of design he could only just barely make out through the glass, though it had no meaning to him. Random spirals, almost like it was designed to look like growing ivy. Looking up, the four corners bent inward and met in the middle. Was he in some kind of greenhouse or glass hut? Looking down, he saw more metal, something familiar about the design. He gasped... or would if he could... as it clicked. He was inside of a lantern of some kind. Or he... was the lantern? That wasn't quite right. He was definitely inside of the thing. Though he had no sense of scale if it was normal sized or huge.\n\n\"Well well, what do we have here?\" He looked around for the source of the words. It was not a voice, so much as the thought of a voice. It was deep, like rumbling thunder inside his very being, translated into meaning by means he would probably never grasp. \"It seems a wandering fly has found its way into my parlor.\"\n\nHe looked around in all directions. \"Who is there?\" Did he actually speak? Or think [i]at[/i] whatever being was there? He could not tell which, but he knew he communicated.\n\nMostly because he got a response. \"I should be asking you that question. Who dares intrude?\" Finally the presence manifest some form he could see... and it was disturbingly familiar. A crescent moon design materialized before him, a green flame floating right above the inner curve.\n\nTag thought for a moment how best to respond. \"Who I am is none of your business.\"\n\n\"I think it is very much my business when someone touches my mind like this.\" The flame before him flickered... angrily? \"How is it you have done this? It should be impossible.\"\n\nTag would have shaken his head if he could. \"I don't know myself. I guess I traced a connection back to its source. And that would be you.\"\n\n\"A connection?\" The voice paused, then started to laugh. \"Oh. I see. You are the tall rodent she has feelings for? The psychic? Victor, was it?\"\n\n\"You seem to have me at a disadvantage. You are the necromancer who has been influencing Ginny?\"\n\nThe presence laughed again. \"Yes. Necromancer.\" There was a mocking tone somehow conveyed in the answer. \"I suppose there is no harm telling you my name. It will do you no good. You may refer to me as Archonos Athanatos.\"\n\nTag scoffed. \"Quite the name. I'm going to just call you Art for short, kay?\" He got the essence of annoyance from the presence. He projected smugness in reply... probably. \"So. Art. What exactly do you want with a 600 year old revenant who already completed her revenge?\"\n\n\"She [i]was[/i] a revenant once, yes. Now, revived once again, she is so much more. An undead with a soul. Incredibly rare. Incredibly powerful. Near immortal. What is there not to desire about owning such a servant?\"\n\n\"But she is not your servant, is she? She's resisted you since the moment you brought her back.\"\n\nAthanatos let out a chuckle. \"This was anticipated. A being of her power takes time. And I have all the time in the world. Her will grows weaker by the day as her anger grows. Her lust for killing will soon be too powerful for her to hold back any longer. She has already given in so many times. Soon, it will consume her. And when that happens, she will be mine.\"\n\nTag felt a coldness run through him. \"We won't let that happen.\"\n\n\"Yes. I would expect nothing less. I look forward to crushing your little organization.\" He cackled. \"And I will do it using her. The irony of it. Noxumbra destroyed by one of their own from within. You cannot stop her. You cannot stop [i][b]ME[/b][/i]! Your little cage is but a minor inconvenience. It has not stopped my magic, and it will not hold her fury.\"\n\n\"Then we'll just have to put you down instead.\"\n\nThere was a malicious joy in the voice now. \"I look forward to your attempt.\" Tag felt something push him, forcing him to suddenly start moving away from the presence. Struggle as he tried, he could not find any way to push back against it. \"I grow tired of this conversation. Begone from my presence. Best of luck surviving what is coming for you, Tag of Noxumbra.\" With that, he was fully blow away, send hurtling into the darkness. For a terrifying moment, he was worried he might be cast into nothingness, but soon the familiar white light overtook him, and he was forced back to the physical world.\n\n[center]* * *[/center]\n\nHe gasped as his consciousness slammed back into his body, eyes snapping open. Then he groaned. \"I'm getting really tired of waking up in the infirmary...\"\n\nDoctor Sarah giggled nearby. \"You have become one of my most frequent patients.\" He sat up as the angelic doe moved over to him. \"Are you alright?\"\n\nHe nodded, putting a hand on his head. \"Yeah... fine. Just a massive headache. That was... a unique experience.\" He looked around, but didn't see Rachel anywhere.\n\nSarah answered his unspoken question. \"I discharged her a few hours ago.\"\n\nHe nodded. \"How long was I out?\"\n\n\"About 6 hours.\" She tilted her head. \"You should be alright physically, but try not to do your vision thing again for a little while if you can avoid it. And get some rest. Also a full meal.\"\n\nHe smiled. \"Yeah. I'll do my best on all counts.\" He pushed himself to his feet, thankfully not feeling too unsteady. \"Gotta talk to the director first. Then... a lot of other things.\" He took a deep breath and let it out. \"Got a lot to tell her.\"\n\n[center]* * *[/center]\n\nBeatrice nodded slowly as he finished filling her in on everything that had happened. \"I see. So we're dealing with a necromancer of extraordinary power. I'll have research look into this... Archonos Athanatos. Though that sounds more like a title than a name. It's Greek for 'Master Immortal.' Or something along those lines. My Greek is a little sketchy.\"\n\nHe shrugged. \"Sounds about right. He was pretty full of himself.\" He leaned back in the chair in front of her desk. \"I'll see if I can dig anything up on him or that symbol, too.\"\n\nShe nodded. \"Yes. Tell your police contacts to keep an eye out for it. But... discretely.\"\n\nTag shook his head. \"I'll do my best, but Art already knows we're going to be looking for him.\"\n\n\"Art?\"\n\nHe blinked, then laughed. \"Ah, yeah. Called our big scary floating flame 'Art' for short. Seemed to irk him.\" He shrugged. \"Which was the point.\"\n\nShe frowned at him. \"You know it's not wise to antagonize someone that powerful, right?\"\n\nHe shrugged again. \"Hasn't stopped me before.\" He was about to stand, but stopped. \"How... how is Ginny holding up?\"\n\nBeatrice held a breath before answering. \"She is still in Zeta.\" She held up a hand. \"Don't worry, I saw the security tapes. I know she didn't do anything to you. And she hasn't tried anything, either. Other than... asking about you. I already let her know that you are fine.\" She looked away. \"Though if what you said is true, then the fact she is still up and around while in Zeta is concerning.\"\n\n\"Why?\"\n\n\"I don't know if she can survive on her own power now.\" She leaned back a little. \"She is a unique case, so there is no precedent for it. Undead risen via necromancy need a constant connection to their master... for lack of a better term. That cell should block all magic.\"\n\n\"Oh...\"\n\nShe nodded. \"So, the issue comes to this. Either she is running on what little power her soul has left, which will run out sooner rather than later...\"\n\nHe finished the thought. \"Or Art is a lot stronger than your wards.\" She nodded again. \"Great.\" He stood up and turned. \"Well, I'm going to go talk to Rachel and then start looking into that symbol. I'll let you know if I find something.\"\n\nHis mother nodded to him. \"We'll do the same. And Vic- Tag.\" He looked over his shoulder, seeing an uncharacteristic look of worry on her face. \"Be careful. Please. Now more than ever.\"\n\nHe smiled. \"I will, Mom.\" That got a slight smile from her as well.\n\n[center]* * *[/center]\n\n\"[i]You got it, Tag. I'll put out a notice to all the local precincts to keep an eye out for that mark.[/i]\"\n\nHe smiled. \"Thanks, Susan.\"\n\nThe beaver on the other end of the phone hesitated. \"[i]Even if I ask you what this is about, you won't tell me, will you?[/i]\"\n\n\"Yeah. It's probably best you don't know anyway. Trust me.\" He quickly added. \"It's nothing illegal on my end, though. So no extra paperwork for you.\" That was... mostly true, at least.\n\nShe sighed. \"[i]Yeah, better not be. I'll be in touch if we get anything.[/i]\" She hung up with no extra fanfare. She was probably busy as it was. He stuffed the phone back into his pocket and continued down the hall.\n\nDoors lined each side, each leading to a small dormitory area for the staff that chose to live on base. He got to the door he was looking for and pushed the button to ring the bell. It opened after a moment, and before he could even say a word, a pair of grey arms latched around his middle, a small body pressed up against his belly. \"You're okay!\"\n\nHe smiled down at Rachel. \"Yeah. I'm fine. Just pushed my vision thing a little too far again.\" She leaned up, and he bent down to meet her in a gentle kiss. He definitely had overtaxed his visions. He only got a brief flash of emotion when his lips touched hers. Mostly worry, about him, about Ginny, about what would happen now that everyone knew about their relationship, a little relief that it was in the open now, and elation upon seeing him. And a moment of shock when she realized she was touching him directly.\n\nShe pulled back away, giving him a sheepish grin. \"Sorry. Should have done a spell or something first...\"\n\nHe shook his head. \"It's alright. Only got a little flash.\" He reached out to gently brush her cheek with his fingers, not getting anything this time. \"When I overuse it, it kind of turns off for a bit.\" She smiled, leaning her face against his touch. Before she could even think to ask, he answered the question he knew was coming. \"It'll come back after some rest. Which... I could really use. I just wanted to come see you before I head to my office for some much needed sleep... it's been a hell of a day.\"\n\nThe mouse smiled, stepping back away from him and into her room. \"You could always... sleep here if you need?\" She motioned to her bed just to the side. The room itself was not particularly large, with just enough space for a shelf of books, a desk with a laptop on it, and her bed. There was a door that led to a tiny bathroom, and a closet hidden in the wall beside the desk. There were also a half dozen books scattered around the place. They looked like spell books. He also noticed a few scattered bits of clothing here and there, including a skirt and bra hanging over the chair at the desk. \"Sorry about the mess...\"\n\nHe shook his head. \"You've seen my place. It's not much better.\" He took a deep breath, picking up her scent filling the room... which was rather pleasant. \"I probably shouldn't though. I wouldn't want to end up getting woken up by a vision as your bed and see you... in whatever that would entail.\"\n\nShe tilted her head, but had a teasing smirk. \"Just what are you insinuating?\"\n\n\"Nothing! Just don't want to accidentally invade any private moments...\"\n\nShe giggled softly. \"Are you sure you won't get any of those from your own bed now?\"\n\nHe blinked. \"Oh shit, I hadn't even thought of that...\" Normally he got visions from objects that were around during emotional moments for people. And they had been rather... passionate on it all night. \"Well, best find out sooner rather than later, I guess... Though it will be very expensive very quickly if I have to buy a new bed every time we... use it together.\"\n\nRachel couldn't help but giggle at him. \"You can say we had sex, you know. We're adults.\" Still, she found his awkwardness really endearing. \"But yeah, I do hope that it isn't an issue for you. I guess we'd have to find some kind of workaround. Maybe a nice hotel?\"\n\nHe quickly shook his head. \"Oh no. Those beds ARE an issue! I've tried staying in hotels in the past. Trust me, people do things on those beds they wouldn't do in their own house. And with people they really shouldn't.\"\n\n\"Lotta cheating husbands?\"\n\nHe nodded. \"And sometimes fathers not being very... fatherly... with their kids.\"\n\nIt took her a moment to get what he meant. \"AH... yeah, no, let's avoid hotels then.\" She frowned. \"Man, you really need to find a way to turn the visions on and off at will.\"\n\nTag let out a heavy sigh. \"Trust me. I've been looking. Magic is about it so far. And it's temporary at best.\" He shook his head. \"Anyway, I should get going. I just wanted to see you before I headed out. Let you know I'm okay.\"\n\nShe smiled, leaning up to give him another gentle kiss. \"Alright.\" Before he could walk out, she called out. \"Oh! What happened with Ginny?\"\n\n\"Oh, right.\" He proceeded to tell her everything he told his mother earlier. About the strange vision, the necromancer he spoke with, the symbol that he had seen on the body at the morgue and how it was the same shape the necromancer manifested as, and that they know Noxumbra is onto them and they are expecting it. He even mentioned the nickname he gave, which made her smirk. \"That's about it, really. I'm going to do some more research on that symbol, see if any of my contacts can dig anything up.\"\n\nShe nodded. \"Yeah. I'll help out with the research team here.\" She hesitated for a moment. \"How... How is Ginny doing?\"\n\nHe shook his head. \"Not so good. She's... really upset about trying to attack you. She's worried she's losing control of herself.\"\n\nRachel nodded slowly. \"We'll help her.\" She looked up, giving him a determined look. \"We'll find a way to stop this Athanatos dickhole!\"\n\nHe smirked. \"Yeah.\"\n\n[center]* * *[/center]\n\nAfter a full day of rest, and another full day of searching, nothing of any use had turned up. The crescent moon and flame design was not part of any known gang logo, and the research could not find anything associated to it in regards to cults, covens, or magical organizations. The only thing he had found even close was from some moon-themed superhero from comic books, though Athanatos didn't strike Tag as the type to be a comics nerd in disguise, even if his name sounded like something from a comic book, so he chalked it up as a coincidence.\n\nOn day three of the search, he got another call from Captain Sudders. Another body had shown up with the mark on it. So now he once more found himself at a morgue, though a different one from the last time. As he stepped in, he was greeted not by the beaver, but by a middle-aged otter in the staff uniform. The name on his tag said 'Charles Nandak.' The wolf looked up from some paperwork at his desk. \"Hello. Can I help you?\"\n\nTag nodded. \"Yes. I'm Victor Takdt. Captain Sudders called me here.\"\n\nThe man gave him a smile that was a little too friendly. \"Ah! Yes. She did mention you.\" He motioned to the door to his right. \"She is inside now. In room 4. I can show you there if you need...\"\n\nHe shook his head. \"No, I can find it. Unfortunately, this is not my first time here.\" He paused. \"Uh... no offense.\"\n\nThe otter chuckled. \"None taken. The morgue is hardly what most would consider a tourist spot, after all.\"\n\nTag nodded and walked through the door and down the stairs past them. When he got to room 4, he found Susan there, sitting at the desk to the side, doing what looked like more paperwork. He smiled as he walked in. \"Hope I didn't keep you waiting.\"\n\nShe looked up and shook her head. \"No. Just taking the time to catch up on some work.\" She stood up. \"I swear I do more paperwork than actual police work these days.\"\n\nHe smirked. \"You could always retire and become a private detective like me.\"\n\nShe scoffed. \"Maybe. Would be a lot less red tape, at least.\"\n\n\"You'd be surprised.\" He motioned to the table in the middle of the room, a body laying upon it, covered by a sheet. \"You said you had another one?\"\n\nSusan nodded to him, moving over to the table, Tag following. \"Yeah. Male horse this time.\" She pulled back the sheet to show a tall but slender horse with red-brown fur. There was no obvious signs of how he died. \"No zombie talk this time. Was found in the park, naked as the day he was born.\"\n\n\"Cause of death?\"\n\n\"That's where things get odd.\" She picked up the clipboard and handed it over to him. \"Coroner says the most likely is asphyxiation, but there's no marks around their neck, and no traces of water in the lungs if they were drowned.\" He read through the report. \"Tox says no drugs in his system other than a bit of caffeine and trace alcohol. No different than anyone with a hangover getting a coffee in the morning.\"\n\nTag nodded. \"We have an ID on this one?\"\n\nSusan sighed. \"Yeah. And that's where more strange keeps piling on. Roger Delvin, age 29. He was in our system for a minor misdemeanor when he was 19. Vandalism. But he's cleaned himself up since then, it seems. Roger here works for some local store out in Salt Lake City.\"\n\nHe blinked. \"Utah? What the hell is he doing in Alta Ferro?\"\n\nShe shook her head. \"No clue. There's no missing persons report about him, but we called his place of employment. Or former place of employment, I should say. Seems Roger here quit rather suddenly last month. His former employer said he was pretty sure he was moving, but didn't know much else. Though he did say by the way our vic here had been saying some odd things the last few weeks before he vanished.\"\n\n\"What kind of odd things?\"\n\nSusan shrugged. \"Didn't say exactly. The man didn't know how best to put it. Was more about how he was saying them. Like, changing his personality. As he worded it 'it was like he finally found a purpose.'\"\n\nTag frowned. \"I know that kind of phrasing. Either our boy here found religion, or more likely, a cult.\"\n\nShe nodded. \"That's my thoughts, too. Would also explain the sudden disappearance.\" She pointed to his chest. \"And he's got that mark. Similar spot to the fox.\" Sure enough, on the left side of his chest was a tattoo or branded mark, the same crescent moon with a line to form an upside down Y, though he now knew the teardrop was supposed to be a flame. It was still strange that the whole symbol was the reverse of the one Athanatos had manifest as in the vision.\n\nHe reached out, then paused. \"Let's see if I get anything this time.\" He touched the mark, and the world faded away to white.\n\n[center]* * *[/center]\n\n\"Do you accept the task I have given you?\" The voice was that of Athanatos, though Tag could not see him. He was not really sure what was happening. All he saw was red-orange light, and feel an incredible heat.\n\n\"I do.\" A voice he did not know.\n\n\"Do you accept the responsibility to use this vessel?\"\n\n\"I do.\" A different voice this time, one that sounded vaguely familiar.\n\nAthanatos continued. \"Very good. You will lure the agent of Noxumbra and claim his body for our cause. Do what you wish with his soul. It is of no use to us. You may consume it for your own power.\"\n\nThe familiar voice sounded pleased. \"Thank you, my lord. I will not fail you.\"\n\n\"You had best not.\" Tag started to see things as he was moved. He realized what he was, a branding iron. He was pressed to the chest of someone, probably the horse, who grit his teeth in pain. Suddenly everything shifted, and he was looking from the outside. He felt the emotions of the horse now. He was shocked, looking at his own body as the brand was burned into his flesh. Athanatos held the iron in one hand, a staff in his other. A staff with the head of a crescent moon, a green flame floating above it. The horse looked down to see he had no form, floating outside of his body. His body fell to the floor a moment later, lifeless.\n\nThat was when Tag saw the other man, and instantly recognized him, despite having only met the once. It was the otter from the morgue, Charles. He had a wicked grin on his face as he looked down at the horse. \"I will place him in public and call it in anonymously to the police. That beaver will tell the psychic about it. They will be trapped in the morgue. Neither will leave it alive.\"\n\nThe man with the staff nodded. \"Very good.\" He turned to look right at where the horse's consciousness floated... his soul. He finally got to see the man. Athanatos was a jackal, gaunt and nearly skeletal. His fur was faded pale and wispy, his eyes sunken black orbs with red irises. But he was not looking at Roger. Tag knew that he was looking at HIM! \"We will meet soon.\"\n\nWith that, the soul was dragged forward, into the flame atop the staff. The horse welcomed it, even as his very essence burned away in a kind of agony that no words could describe. He would empower his lord, welcoming an eternity of torment for this purpose. Tag felt the flames, as if they were burning at his mind. He had never been so grateful as the white void took over.\n\n[center]* * *[/center]\n\n\"Tag!?\" His consciousness came back to his body. He was still standing, but only because of the grip Susan had on him. \"Did you get-\"\n\n\"Th-The otter!\" He shook his head quickly, trying to clear it of the jumbled mess.\n\n\"Otter?\" She blinked at him. \"What are you-\"\n\nHe grabbed her and yanked, diving to the side almost on instinct. \"Get down! It's a trap!\" He was mid-way through the dive before he realized why he even was doing it. Out of the side of his eyes, he had seen the man from the front, Charles, green flames in his hands. Those same flames streaked just above him as he moved, missing him by inches, the heat still enough that he felt singed. As the two hit the floor, they shuffled behind the solid exam table, using it as cover.\n\nSusan already had her pistol in hand by the time she pressed her back against the metal. \"What the hell is going on!?\"\n\nTag also pulled out his gun. \"It's a trap. Charles there is working for... look, I'll explain if we make it out.\"\n\nThey both winced as a blast of green flames struck the ground nearby, making them flinch away from the heat. \"Neither of you are going to make it out of this!\"\n\n\"Officer! What the hell are you doing!?\" Susan shouted.\n\nHe laughed. \"Oh, isn't it obvious, Captain? I'm trying to kill you! Now come out and I'll make it quick!\"\n\n\"Not a chance.\" She looked at Tag, then motioned to his side, at another table nearby. He nodded. With no other signal, the two moved. Tag dove one way, dashing to get cover behind the other table while Susan leaned out from the other side and fired off a pair of shots at the otter. The man had to duck back out of the doorway, using the wall as cover. \"I don't know what the fuck is happening, but I'm taking you down!\"\n\nCharles laughed. \"I've wanted to claim your body for a long time, Susan! Having a police captain as a thrall would be a wonderful gift to my lord!\" He leaned in and shot another blast of green fire, hitting the metal table she hid behind. It was left glowing orange where the fire struck.\n\nTag popped up and aimed. \"Not happening!\" He fired. Instead of bullets, it fired small shards of silver, which held an electric charge very well. So when he channeled his own magic into it, it was like he shot bolts of lightning. They struck the metal door, which momentarily arced lightning all around it, making the otter have to retreat further away from the opening.\n\nSusan looked at him. \"What the fuck was that!? Did you just shoot lightning!?\"\n\n\"I'll explain later!\" He stood up and moved over to the doorway, pressing his back against the wall.\n\n\"You fucking better!\" She also stood and moved her way closer to the door, staying low, her pistol at the ready. She risked taking a peak out into the hall and saw the otter ducking into another room. She cursed. \"He's moved. Room 3.\"\n\nJust as she was standing up, Tag grabbed her shoulder and threw her to the ground. \"Look out!\"\n\n\"What the fu-\" She barely got that out before she realized he had just shoved her out of the way of a punch. A punch strong enough that it cracked the wall when it struck. The man that threw the punch was the horse that had been very much dead seconds before. \"What the fuck!?\"\n\nThe horse turned to Tag, making a guttural noise at him. \"Zombies. Remember?\" He had to dash out into the hall to avoid another punch. The thing followed, its attention on him. He raised his gun, but the horse was too close and just batted his hand to the side, making him drop the weapon. \"Shit.\" He ducked, narrowly avoiding having his skull turned to paste by another wall-cracking punch.\n\nA pair of shots struck the horse in the back, making it flinch. \"Over here, you damned cadaver!\" Susan shouted. The undead man turned, unphased by the pair of bullets that had been pumped into it. Seems it was easily distracted as it started to move back into the room to go after Susan now. \"Shit.\" She dashed away from the door, as the horse charged through, missing her and tumbling over the table it had been laying on moments before. \"Not very smart, is it?\"\n\nTag looked around, for his gun. \"Doesn't have to be.\" He frowned as he found the thing in three pieces on the floor. Hinumaru would not be happy about that. \"Aim for the head.\"\n\n\"Easier said than done!\" She still raised her gun as the horse pulled itself up. It groaned incoherently as it turned to face her. \"Yeah, over here. C'mon.\" She fired a shot into its chest. \"Get over here you son of a bitch!\"\n\n\"What the fuck are you doing!?\" Tag asked from the doorway.\n\nThe zombie let out a loud, bestial roar at her. The moment it did that, she emptied her mag into the thing, firing shot after shot into the gaping mouth. The first made it flinch, the next two had it stumble back, and the last was just for good measure as it was already falling, most of its head turned to a bloody mess by the time it hit the ground. She moved over and fired one last shot into the thing. \"That.\" She ejected the mag and slid in a fresh one. \"I've seen enough zombie movies to know the rules.\"\n\nHe smirked. \"Okay then.\" He picked up the pieces of his gun, letting out a sigh as he stuffed them into his pockets. \"You don't happen to have another gun, do you?\"\n\nShe shook her head as she joined him in the hall. \"Not in the habit of carrying multiple with me.\"\n\nHe sighed. \"Well, that'll make things a little harder. Not so good with that lightning trick without it.\"\n\n\"Yeah, you'll still need to explain that to m- TAG!\" She suddenly dove in front of him as a blast of green came streaking down the hall. She put herself between him and it, and it struck her right in the middle of her back, making her scream in agony.\n\n\"SUSAN!\" He grabbed her and yanked her back into the room as another blast flew past, hitting the far end of the hall. He pulled her behind one of the now upturned tables. Looking at her back, he winced. It was bad. Her uniform was completely burnt off, as was most of her fur and a good portion of her flesh. She was still groaning in pain, so she was alive. \"Dammit.\" He pulled off his coat quickly and put it around her to cover the exposed wound. \"Stay still.\"\n\n\"I'd be more concerned about yourself, scarecrow!\" Charles was in the doorway again, and shooting his green flames. This time, he shot a constant blast at the table, which started to glow orange from the heat. \"Stay there and slowly roast, or dive out and burn! Your choice, Tag!\"\n\nHe swore. There was no way he could aim the lightning without diving into the flames. He also realized Sarah had dropped her gun when she was hit, so it was in the hall behind the otter. \"Shit...\" He looked up, but of course there weren't any exposed wires for the lights. The best he could hope to do there was blow out a fuse and maybe send a shower of sparks at the man. He doubted that would do anything. Without his gun he was-\n\nHe quickly reached into the pocket of his jacket, pulling out the magazine for his pistol. \"Perfect.\" He turned it over, dumping a handful of the little silver shards into his palm. He tossed them out around the table, flinching away as he nearly burnt his hand in the process. He did it again, and again, until there were no more shards left. He just hoped there were enough out there. Looking back up, he focused his attention on the light overhead. With a snap of his fingers, a bolt of electricity arced up and struck the light. He willed it to pull down, looking for a target. It found one. It found a lot.\n\nWith a scream, the otter was suddenly caught in a rain of electricity. It struck every one of the little shards that had been tossed out, turning the ground into a mass of sparking, bouncing lines of blue sparks. They surrounded him, striking at him again and again in a rapid feedback loop, with him as the final target. He was hit by dozens of small bolts of lightning within a second, frying him on the spot. When it was all over, he crumpled to the ground.\n\nTag panted and risked taking a peak. He saw the otter's body, burnt and blackened by electrical burns, smoke slowly rising from him. His eyes were wide with shock, but blank and lifeless. \"Asshole.\" He turned to look down at Susan. \"Hey...\" She was not moving anymore. \"Susan?\" He gripped at her hand. \"Susan!\"\n\n[center]* * *[/center]", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "
Noxumbra Files

Case 6: Hoard Master

Part 3

By XP Author


"Well... this is new." Tag looked around. For one, he had the ability to look around. Normally he had no control over what happened in any vision, only a passive observer. Though he still had no physical body. He was surrounded by darkness... but not complete darkness. There was a light coming from... somewhere. It took him a long moment to realize it was from... him. He was a... flame? No, not quite, but there was a flame. He felt no heat from it, though. Or from himself... however this worked.

He decided to focus more on his surroundings... what little he could see of them. There were some sort of walls around him. Tinted glass of some kind, joined at the corners by black metal. The metal made some kind of design he could only just barely make out through the glass, though it had no meaning to him. Random spirals, almost like it was designed to look like growing ivy. Looking up, the four corners bent inward and met in the middle. Was he in some kind of greenhouse or glass hut? Looking down, he saw more metal, something familiar about the design. He gasped... or would if he could... as it clicked. He was inside of a lantern of some kind. Or he... was the lantern? That wasn't quite right. He was definitely inside of the thing. Though he had no sense of scale if it was normal sized or huge.

"Well well, what do we have here?" He looked around for the source of the words. It was not a voice, so much as the thought of a voice. It was deep, like rumbling thunder inside his very being, translated into meaning by means he would probably never grasp. "It seems a wandering fly has found its way into my parlor."

He looked around in all directions. "Who is there?" Did he actually speak? Or think at whatever being was there? He could not tell which, but he knew he communicated.

Mostly because he got a response. "I should be asking you that question. Who dares intrude?" Finally the presence manifest some form he could see... and it was disturbingly familiar. A crescent moon design materialized before him, a green flame floating right above the inner curve.

Tag thought for a moment how best to respond. "Who I am is none of your business."

"I think it is very much my business when someone touches my mind like this." The flame before him flickered... angrily? "How is it you have done this? It should be impossible."

Tag would have shaken his head if he could. "I don't know myself. I guess I traced a connection back to its source. And that would be you."

"A connection?" The voice paused, then started to laugh. "Oh. I see. You are the tall rodent she has feelings for? The psychic? Victor, was it?"

"You seem to have me at a disadvantage. You are the necromancer who has been influencing Ginny?"

The presence laughed again. "Yes. Necromancer." There was a mocking tone somehow conveyed in the answer. "I suppose there is no harm telling you my name. It will do you no good. You may refer to me as Archonos Athanatos."

Tag scoffed. "Quite the name. I'm going to just call you Art for short, kay?" He got the essence of annoyance from the presence. He projected smugness in reply... probably. "So. Art. What exactly do you want with a 600 year old revenant who already completed her revenge?"

"She was a revenant once, yes. Now, revived once again, she is so much more. An undead with a soul. Incredibly rare. Incredibly powerful. Near immortal. What is there not to desire about owning such a servant?"

"But she is not your servant, is she? She's resisted you since the moment you brought her back."

Athanatos let out a chuckle. "This was anticipated. A being of her power takes time. And I have all the time in the world. Her will grows weaker by the day as her anger grows. Her lust for killing will soon be too powerful for her to hold back any longer. She has already given in so many times. Soon, it will consume her. And when that happens, she will be mine."

Tag felt a coldness run through him. "We won't let that happen."

"Yes. I would expect nothing less. I look forward to crushing your little organization." He cackled. "And I will do it using her. The irony of it. Noxumbra destroyed by one of their own from within. You cannot stop her. You cannot stop ME! Your little cage is but a minor inconvenience. It has not stopped my magic, and it will not hold her fury."

"Then we'll just have to put you down instead."

There was a malicious joy in the voice now. "I look forward to your attempt." Tag felt something push him, forcing him to suddenly start moving away from the presence. Struggle as he tried, he could not find any way to push back against it. "I grow tired of this conversation. Begone from my presence. Best of luck surviving what is coming for you, Tag of Noxumbra." With that, he was fully blow away, send hurtling into the darkness. For a terrifying moment, he was worried he might be cast into nothingness, but soon the familiar white light overtook him, and he was forced back to the physical world.

*     *     *


He gasped as his consciousness slammed back into his body, eyes snapping open. Then he groaned. "I'm getting really tired of waking up in the infirmary..."

Doctor Sarah giggled nearby. "You have become one of my most frequent patients." He sat up as the angelic doe moved over to him. "Are you alright?"

He nodded, putting a hand on his head. "Yeah... fine. Just a massive headache. That was... a unique experience." He looked around, but didn't see Rachel anywhere.

Sarah answered his unspoken question. "I discharged her a few hours ago."

He nodded. "How long was I out?"

"About 6 hours." She tilted her head. "You should be alright physically, but try not to do your vision thing again for a little while if you can avoid it. And get some rest. Also a full meal."

He smiled. "Yeah. I'll do my best on all counts." He pushed himself to his feet, thankfully not feeling too unsteady. "Gotta talk to the director first. Then... a lot of other things." He took a deep breath and let it out. "Got a lot to tell her."

*     *     *


Beatrice nodded slowly as he finished filling her in on everything that had happened. "I see. So we're dealing with a necromancer of extraordinary power. I'll have research look into this... Archonos Athanatos. Though that sounds more like a title than a name. It's Greek for 'Master Immortal.' Or something along those lines. My Greek is a little sketchy."

He shrugged. "Sounds about right. He was pretty full of himself." He leaned back in the chair in front of her desk. "I'll see if I can dig anything up on him or that symbol, too."

She nodded. "Yes. Tell your police contacts to keep an eye out for it. But... discretely."

Tag shook his head. "I'll do my best, but Art already knows we're going to be looking for him."

"Art?"

He blinked, then laughed. "Ah, yeah. Called our big scary floating flame 'Art' for short. Seemed to irk him." He shrugged. "Which was the point."

She frowned at him. "You know it's not wise to antagonize someone that powerful, right?"

He shrugged again. "Hasn't stopped me before." He was about to stand, but stopped. "How... how is Ginny holding up?"

Beatrice held a breath before answering. "She is still in Zeta." She held up a hand. "Don't worry, I saw the security tapes. I know she didn't do anything to you. And she hasn't tried anything, either. Other than... asking about you. I already let her know that you are fine." She looked away. "Though if what you said is true, then the fact she is still up and around while in Zeta is concerning."

"Why?"

"I don't know if she can survive on her own power now." She leaned back a little. "She is a unique case, so there is no precedent for it. Undead risen via necromancy need a constant connection to their master... for lack of a better term. That cell should block all magic."

"Oh..."

She nodded. "So, the issue comes to this. Either she is running on what little power her soul has left, which will run out sooner rather than later..."

He finished the thought. "Or Art is a lot stronger than your wards." She nodded again. "Great." He stood up and turned. "Well, I'm going to go talk to Rachel and then start looking into that symbol. I'll let you know if I find something."

His mother nodded to him. "We'll do the same. And Vic- Tag." He looked over his shoulder, seeing an uncharacteristic look of worry on her face. "Be careful. Please. Now more than ever."

He smiled. "I will, Mom." That got a slight smile from her as well.

*     *     *


"You got it, Tag. I'll put out a notice to all the local precincts to keep an eye out for that mark."

He smiled. "Thanks, Susan."

The beaver on the other end of the phone hesitated. "Even if I ask you what this is about, you won't tell me, will you?"

"Yeah. It's probably best you don't know anyway. Trust me." He quickly added. "It's nothing illegal on my end, though. So no extra paperwork for you." That was... mostly true, at least.

She sighed. "Yeah, better not be. I'll be in touch if we get anything." She hung up with no extra fanfare. She was probably busy as it was. He stuffed the phone back into his pocket and continued down the hall.

Doors lined each side, each leading to a small dormitory area for the staff that chose to live on base. He got to the door he was looking for and pushed the button to ring the bell. It opened after a moment, and before he could even say a word, a pair of grey arms latched around his middle, a small body pressed up against his belly. "You're okay!"

He smiled down at Rachel. "Yeah. I'm fine. Just pushed my vision thing a little too far again." She leaned up, and he bent down to meet her in a gentle kiss. He definitely had overtaxed his visions. He only got a brief flash of emotion when his lips touched hers. Mostly worry, about him, about Ginny, about what would happen now that everyone knew about their relationship, a little relief that it was in the open now, and elation upon seeing him. And a moment of shock when she realized she was touching him directly.

She pulled back away, giving him a sheepish grin. "Sorry. Should have done a spell or something first..."

He shook his head. "It's alright. Only got a little flash." He reached out to gently brush her cheek with his fingers, not getting anything this time. "When I overuse it, it kind of turns off for a bit." She smiled, leaning her face against his touch. Before she could even think to ask, he answered the question he knew was coming. "It'll come back after some rest. Which... I could really use. I just wanted to come see you before I head to my office for some much needed sleep... it's been a hell of a day."

The mouse smiled, stepping back away from him and into her room. "You could always... sleep here if you need?" She motioned to her bed just to the side. The room itself was not particularly large, with just enough space for a shelf of books, a desk with a laptop on it, and her bed. There was a door that led to a tiny bathroom, and a closet hidden in the wall beside the desk. There were also a half dozen books scattered around the place. They looked like spell books. He also noticed a few scattered bits of clothing here and there, including a skirt and bra hanging over the chair at the desk. "Sorry about the mess..."

He shook his head. "You've seen my place. It's not much better." He took a deep breath, picking up her scent filling the room... which was rather pleasant. "I probably shouldn't though. I wouldn't want to end up getting woken up by a vision as your bed and see you... in whatever that would entail."

She tilted her head, but had a teasing smirk. "Just what are you insinuating?"

"Nothing! Just don't want to accidentally invade any private moments..."

She giggled softly. "Are you sure you won't get any of those from your own bed now?"

He blinked. "Oh shit, I hadn't even thought of that..." Normally he got visions from objects that were around during emotional moments for people. And they had been rather... passionate on it all night. "Well, best find out sooner rather than later, I guess... Though it will be very expensive very quickly if I have to buy a new bed every time we... use it together."

Rachel couldn't help but giggle at him. "You can say we had sex, you know. We're adults." Still, she found his awkwardness really endearing. "But yeah, I do hope that it isn't an issue for you. I guess we'd have to find some kind of workaround. Maybe a nice hotel?"

He quickly shook his head. "Oh no. Those beds ARE an issue! I've tried staying in hotels in the past. Trust me, people do things on those beds they wouldn't do in their own house. And with people they really shouldn't."

"Lotta cheating husbands?"

He nodded. "And sometimes fathers not being very... fatherly... with their kids."

It took her a moment to get what he meant. "AH... yeah, no, let's avoid hotels then." She frowned. "Man, you really need to find a way to turn the visions on and off at will."

Tag let out a heavy sigh. "Trust me. I've been looking. Magic is about it so far. And it's temporary at best." He shook his head. "Anyway, I should get going. I just wanted to see you before I headed out. Let you know I'm okay."

She smiled, leaning up to give him another gentle kiss. "Alright." Before he could walk out, she called out. "Oh! What happened with Ginny?"

"Oh, right." He proceeded to tell her everything he told his mother earlier. About the strange vision, the necromancer he spoke with, the symbol that he had seen on the body at the morgue and how it was the same shape the necromancer manifested as, and that they know Noxumbra is onto them and they are expecting it. He even mentioned the nickname he gave, which made her smirk. "That's about it, really. I'm going to do some more research on that symbol, see if any of my contacts can dig anything up."

She nodded. "Yeah. I'll help out with the research team here." She hesitated for a moment. "How... How is Ginny doing?"

He shook his head. "Not so good. She's... really upset about trying to attack you. She's worried she's losing control of herself."

Rachel nodded slowly. "We'll help her." She looked up, giving him a determined look. "We'll find a way to stop this Athanatos dickhole!"

He smirked. "Yeah."

*     *     *


After a full day of rest, and another full day of searching, nothing of any use had turned up. The crescent moon and flame design was not part of any known gang logo, and the research could not find anything associated to it in regards to cults, covens, or magical organizations. The only thing he had found even close was from some moon-themed superhero from comic books, though Athanatos didn't strike Tag as the type to be a comics nerd in disguise, even if his name sounded like something from a comic book, so he chalked it up as a coincidence.

On day three of the search, he got another call from Captain Sudders. Another body had shown up with the mark on it. So now he once more found himself at a morgue, though a different one from the last time. As he stepped in, he was greeted not by the beaver, but by a middle-aged otter in the staff uniform. The name on his tag said 'Charles Nandak.' The wolf looked up from some paperwork at his desk. "Hello. Can I help you?"

Tag nodded. "Yes. I'm Victor Takdt. Captain Sudders called me here."

The man gave him a smile that was a little too friendly. "Ah! Yes. She did mention you." He motioned to the door to his right. "She is inside now. In room 4. I can show you there if you need..."

He shook his head. "No, I can find it. Unfortunately, this is not my first time here." He paused. "Uh... no offense."

The otter chuckled. "None taken. The morgue is hardly what most would consider a tourist spot, after all."

Tag nodded and walked through the door and down the stairs past them. When he got to room 4, he found Susan there, sitting at the desk to the side, doing what looked like more paperwork. He smiled as he walked in. "Hope I didn't keep you waiting."

She looked up and shook her head. "No. Just taking the time to catch up on some work." She stood up. "I swear I do more paperwork than actual police work these days."

He smirked. "You could always retire and become a private detective like me."

She scoffed. "Maybe. Would be a lot less red tape, at least."

"You'd be surprised." He motioned to the table in the middle of the room, a body laying upon it, covered by a sheet. "You said you had another one?"

Susan nodded to him, moving over to the table, Tag following. "Yeah. Male horse this time." She pulled back the sheet to show a tall but slender horse with red-brown fur. There was no obvious signs of how he died. "No zombie talk this time. Was found in the park, naked as the day he was born."

"Cause of death?"

"That's where things get odd." She picked up the clipboard and handed it over to him. "Coroner says the most likely is asphyxiation, but there's no marks around their neck, and no traces of water in the lungs if they were drowned." He read through the report. "Tox says no drugs in his system other than a bit of caffeine and trace alcohol. No different than anyone with a hangover getting a coffee in the morning."

Tag nodded. "We have an ID on this one?"

Susan sighed. "Yeah. And that's where more strange keeps piling on. Roger Delvin, age 29. He was in our system for a minor misdemeanor when he was 19. Vandalism. But he's cleaned himself up since then, it seems. Roger here works for some local store out in Salt Lake City."

He blinked. "Utah? What the hell is he doing in Alta Ferro?"

She shook her head. "No clue. There's no missing persons report about him, but we called his place of employment. Or former place of employment, I should say. Seems Roger here quit rather suddenly last month. His former employer said he was pretty sure he was moving, but didn't know much else. Though he did say by the way our vic here had been saying some odd things the last few weeks before he vanished."

"What kind of odd things?"

Susan shrugged. "Didn't say exactly. The man didn't know how best to put it. Was more about how he was saying them. Like, changing his personality. As he worded it 'it was like he finally found a purpose.'"

Tag frowned. "I know that kind of phrasing. Either our boy here found religion, or more likely, a cult."

She nodded. "That's my thoughts, too. Would also explain the sudden disappearance." She pointed to his chest. "And he's got that mark. Similar spot to the fox." Sure enough, on the left side of his chest was a tattoo or branded mark, the same crescent moon with a line to form an upside down Y, though he now knew the teardrop was supposed to be a flame. It was still strange that the whole symbol was the reverse of the one Athanatos had manifest as in the vision.

He reached out, then paused. "Let's see if I get anything this time." He touched the mark, and the world faded away to white.

*     *     *


"Do you accept the task I have given you?" The voice was that of Athanatos, though Tag could not see him. He was not really sure what was happening. All he saw was red-orange light, and feel an incredible heat.

"I do." A voice he did not know.

"Do you accept the responsibility to use this vessel?"

"I do." A different voice this time, one that sounded vaguely familiar.

Athanatos continued. "Very good. You will lure the agent of Noxumbra and claim his body for our cause. Do what you wish with his soul. It is of no use to us. You may consume it for your own power."

The familiar voice sounded pleased. "Thank you, my lord. I will not fail you."

"You had best not." Tag started to see things as he was moved. He realized what he was, a branding iron. He was pressed to the chest of someone, probably the horse, who grit his teeth in pain. Suddenly everything shifted, and he was looking from the outside. He felt the emotions of the horse now. He was shocked, looking at his own body as the brand was burned into his flesh. Athanatos held the iron in one hand, a staff in his other. A staff with the head of a crescent moon, a green flame floating above it. The horse looked down to see he had no form, floating outside of his body. His body fell to the floor a moment later, lifeless.

That was when Tag saw the other man, and instantly recognized him, despite having only met the once. It was the otter from the morgue, Charles. He had a wicked grin on his face as he looked down at the horse. "I will place him in public and call it in anonymously to the police. That beaver will tell the psychic about it. They will be trapped in the morgue. Neither will leave it alive."

The man with the staff nodded. "Very good." He turned to look right at where the horse's consciousness floated... his soul. He finally got to see the man. Athanatos was a jackal, gaunt and nearly skeletal. His fur was faded pale and wispy, his eyes sunken black orbs with red irises. But he was not looking at Roger. Tag knew that he was looking at HIM! "We will meet soon."

With that, the soul was dragged forward, into the flame atop the staff. The horse welcomed it, even as his very essence burned away in a kind of agony that no words could describe. He would empower his lord, welcoming an eternity of torment for this purpose. Tag felt the flames, as if they were burning at his mind. He had never been so grateful as the white void took over.

*     *     *


"Tag!?" His consciousness came back to his body. He was still standing, but only because of the grip Susan had on him. "Did you get-"

"Th-The otter!" He shook his head quickly, trying to clear it of the jumbled mess.

"Otter?" She blinked at him. "What are you-"

He grabbed her and yanked, diving to the side almost on instinct. "Get down! It's a trap!" He was mid-way through the dive before he realized why he even was doing it. Out of the side of his eyes, he had seen the man from the front, Charles, green flames in his hands. Those same flames streaked just above him as he moved, missing him by inches, the heat still enough that he felt singed. As the two hit the floor, they shuffled behind the solid exam table, using it as cover.

Susan already had her pistol in hand by the time she pressed her back against the metal. "What the hell is going on!?"

Tag also pulled out his gun. "It's a trap. Charles there is working for... look, I'll explain if we make it out."

They both winced as a blast of green flames struck the ground nearby, making them flinch away from the heat. "Neither of you are going to make it out of this!"

"Officer! What the hell are you doing!?" Susan shouted.

He laughed. "Oh, isn't it obvious, Captain? I'm trying to kill you! Now come out and I'll make it quick!"

"Not a chance." She looked at Tag, then motioned to his side, at another table nearby. He nodded. With no other signal, the two moved. Tag dove one way, dashing to get cover behind the other table while Susan leaned out from the other side and fired off a pair of shots at the otter. The man had to duck back out of the doorway, using the wall as cover. "I don't know what the fuck is happening, but I'm taking you down!"

Charles laughed. "I've wanted to claim your body for a long time, Susan! Having a police captain as a thrall would be a wonderful gift to my lord!" He leaned in and shot another blast of green fire, hitting the metal table she hid behind. It was left glowing orange where the fire struck.

Tag popped up and aimed. "Not happening!" He fired. Instead of bullets, it fired small shards of silver, which held an electric charge very well. So when he channeled his own magic into it, it was like he shot bolts of lightning. They struck the metal door, which momentarily arced lightning all around it, making the otter have to retreat further away from the opening.

Susan looked at him. "What the fuck was that!? Did you just shoot lightning!?"

"I'll explain later!" He stood up and moved over to the doorway, pressing his back against the wall.

"You fucking better!" She also stood and moved her way closer to the door, staying low, her pistol at the ready. She risked taking a peak out into the hall and saw the otter ducking into another room. She cursed. "He's moved. Room 3."

Just as she was standing up, Tag grabbed her shoulder and threw her to the ground. "Look out!"

"What the fu-" She barely got that out before she realized he had just shoved her out of the way of a punch. A punch strong enough that it cracked the wall when it struck. The man that threw the punch was the horse that had been very much dead seconds before. "What the fuck!?"

The horse turned to Tag, making a guttural noise at him. "Zombies. Remember?" He had to dash out into the hall to avoid another punch. The thing followed, its attention on him. He raised his gun, but the horse was too close and just batted his hand to the side, making him drop the weapon. "Shit." He ducked, narrowly avoiding having his skull turned to paste by another wall-cracking punch.

A pair of shots struck the horse in the back, making it flinch. "Over here, you damned cadaver!" Susan shouted. The undead man turned, unphased by the pair of bullets that had been pumped into it. Seems it was easily distracted as it started to move back into the room to go after Susan now. "Shit." She dashed away from the door, as the horse charged through, missing her and tumbling over the table it had been laying on moments before. "Not very smart, is it?"

Tag looked around, for his gun. "Doesn't have to be." He frowned as he found the thing in three pieces on the floor. Hinumaru would not be happy about that. "Aim for the head."

"Easier said than done!" She still raised her gun as the horse pulled itself up. It groaned incoherently as it turned to face her. "Yeah, over here. C'mon." She fired a shot into its chest. "Get over here you son of a bitch!"

"What the fuck are you doing!?" Tag asked from the doorway.

The zombie let out a loud, bestial roar at her. The moment it did that, she emptied her mag into the thing, firing shot after shot into the gaping mouth. The first made it flinch, the next two had it stumble back, and the last was just for good measure as it was already falling, most of its head turned to a bloody mess by the time it hit the ground. She moved over and fired one last shot into the thing. "That." She ejected the mag and slid in a fresh one. "I've seen enough zombie movies to know the rules."

He smirked. "Okay then." He picked up the pieces of his gun, letting out a sigh as he stuffed them into his pockets. "You don't happen to have another gun, do you?"

She shook her head as she joined him in the hall. "Not in the habit of carrying multiple with me."

He sighed. "Well, that'll make things a little harder. Not so good with that lightning trick without it."

"Yeah, you'll still need to explain that to m- TAG!" She suddenly dove in front of him as a blast of green came streaking down the hall. She put herself between him and it, and it struck her right in the middle of her back, making her scream in agony.

"SUSAN!" He grabbed her and yanked her back into the room as another blast flew past, hitting the far end of the hall. He pulled her behind one of the now upturned tables. Looking at her back, he winced. It was bad. Her uniform was completely burnt off, as was most of her fur and a good portion of her flesh. She was still groaning in pain, so she was alive. "Dammit." He pulled off his coat quickly and put it around her to cover the exposed wound. "Stay still."

"I'd be more concerned about yourself, scarecrow!" Charles was in the doorway again, and shooting his green flames. This time, he shot a constant blast at the table, which started to glow orange from the heat. "Stay there and slowly roast, or dive out and burn! Your choice, Tag!"

He swore. There was no way he could aim the lightning without diving into the flames. He also realized Sarah had dropped her gun when she was hit, so it was in the hall behind the otter. "Shit..." He looked up, but of course there weren't any exposed wires for the lights. The best he could hope to do there was blow out a fuse and maybe send a shower of sparks at the man. He doubted that would do anything. Without his gun he was-

He quickly reached into the pocket of his jacket, pulling out the magazine for his pistol. "Perfect." He turned it over, dumping a handful of the little silver shards into his palm. He tossed them out around the table, flinching away as he nearly burnt his hand in the process. He did it again, and again, until there were no more shards left. He just hoped there were enough out there. Looking back up, he focused his attention on the light overhead. With a snap of his fingers, a bolt of electricity arced up and struck the light. He willed it to pull down, looking for a target. It found one. It found a lot.

With a scream, the otter was suddenly caught in a rain of electricity. It struck every one of the little shards that had been tossed out, turning the ground into a mass of sparking, bouncing lines of blue sparks. They surrounded him, striking at him again and again in a rapid feedback loop, with him as the final target. He was hit by dozens of small bolts of lightning within a second, frying him on the spot. When it was all over, he crumpled to the ground.

Tag panted and risked taking a peak. He saw the otter's body, burnt and blackened by electrical burns, smoke slowly rising from him. His eyes were wide with shock, but blank and lifeless. "Asshole." He turned to look down at Susan. "Hey..." She was not moving anymore. "Susan?" He gripped at her hand. "Susan!"

*     *     *
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