h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

[Angel] You... You wouldn't /dare/ touch me! When Incubi finds out, you'll pay for this!!
*Recrash notices she's on the verge of tears.*

*Dharackni lunges into the ruined buildings to find he had lost Incubi. He calmly advances slowly through the dangerously damaged buildings, pieces of building fall as he touches them and as he comes into a clearing he spots a small red laser dot strafing across the ground to his position. He dives into the nearest building just as there is a shooting noize. The building around him covers him in a blanket of dust and light rubble. He gets up to find a sharpened disk imbedded in the wall next to him. Eldar!*
*mumbles under his breath* Grr! Curse those Eldar! Ever since I burned their precious grav vehicle to the ground in the third battle for Armageddon they've sent rangers after me!
*A poison dart flies into Dharackni's neck, and shaking he gets up and runs, only to fall unconcious in a ruined building.*

*Dharackni has been dragged off*

*Incubi watches as the Tzeenchian sorceror is dragged away.*
[Incubi] Hmm... should I play with them, or perhaps see in Angel is done yet... So many hard choices...

Heeheeheee... You're baaaaaaaad - and I'm so goood at what I do - ain't pleasant tho. I never told anyone, but I'm the happiest sadist. Digest dat while I drag you to the shuttle to throw you in a hard-edged scrap-metal holding cell. A shower, a haunch of something, maybe a casualty, and we'll see-

Oh. Or mebbe I should help out Dharakni.

You have been Erezzed.

*Angel staggers to her feet. There are footsteps behind her.*
[Angel] I've never faced anyone like you... you're... lucky... You'd have to be to hurt me...
*Recrash notices how much she's trembling. She's terrified, as if she's never been in real danger before.*

"Quiet, you!" and deliver a savage backhanded slap that catches Angel in the mouth. WHAM! She staggers, turns slightly from the force of the blow, and collapses into the dust. I charge with a roar and kick the lifeless form in the guts. Blood gets coughed up involuntarily, but she doesn't stir. Insensate.

My hands have been hurt. Damn. Sharp teeth.

Looked at his scarred and bloodied knuckles - two people's blood, intermingling.

*Extends tongue slightly to taste.

"Oh, and it is nice."

*There is a scream from behind Recrash, and Incubi plunges a dagger upto the hilt into his side.*
[Incubi] Haaaaa!!! Angel!! Angel!!! Are you okay!?
Recrash lies stunned on the floor. The blade missed all his organs, but it hurt like hell. The wound feels strange... tingly... Recrash knows that he needs assisstance. But with Dharackni missing and no-one else around, he knows he's in trouble. Incubi was tough when he was okay. Now Recrash is injured, and when Incubi stops worrying about Angel, there'll be hell to pay...

[James] Sir! Recrash sir! This is James. I've been sent to collect you. Please give me landing co-ords. Are you there? Hello?

I move slowly, carefully, getting at my wrist comm. and keying in a retrieval lock-on so James can home in on me. I also prime the explosives in all sixty-four weapons drops all over the area. Ten seconds.

Ha.

*The dropship lands, and James lowers the ramp to allow Recrash aboard. Just as they pull away, Incubi seems to realise what's happening, grabs Angel, and moves with inhuman speed into the ruins...*
[James] Damn! look at him go! He'll be out of the sector in seconds!
*The ship rocks from the force of the shockwaves made by the explosions. Three medics are treating Recrash's injury. It's relatively minor.*
[Medic] You're lucky, sir. You should see action again within a day or two.

The dust settles; it blows back up again. The earth cools and after a while, all is as it was before. The blood dries, and wreckage is covered over. Yet; in this savagely contested wasteland, there is activity. Witness: a manhole suddenly appearing among the sand dunes, a doorway into the depths.