Chapter 5 - Bonus - Happy Halloween

It was strange for the Legends to be asked to kings Canyon at night for a special event. Only Wattson has seen the Canyon during the night but even she appeared to be on edge.
    “Anyone think its creepy being asked here at night? I mean I don’t but I could get it if you guys do.” The ship appeared to hit some turbulence causing Cowboy Mirage to jump.
    “Calm down brudda. It's a match just like any other.” Frankenstein Gibraltar slapped him on the back.
    “It's not like any other tho. Wearing costumes and the rules are going to be different.” Witch Wraith slipped her way into the conversation.
    “They should have already told us the rules.” La Muerta Bangalore commented as she cleaned her rifle.
    “No matter what the rules I Vould have not recommended doing a match at night.” Batty Aviator wattson’s right hand gripped the elbow of her left arm as it was straight and she twisted nervously side to side.
    “What is your guys costumes?” Mirage asked as he pointed at Octane and pathfinder.
    “Amigo you def should see it. I’m undead Octrain forced to wear a better version of your newest clothes.”
    “And I’m Octanes Legs.” He held up a hand for a high five.
    Lifeline laughed shaking her head in her green widow costume. “Nice choice path.” Octane high fived path as he came over to wrap an arm around Ajay.
    Mirage’s shoulders drooped a bit at the couple before looking off to the side adjusting his hat, “How does everyone feel about all this?”
    “We all wear costumes to hide who we are daily,” Crypto added referring to more than just the event in his vampire costume as he played with his holographic overlay, “This event has to do with Halloween gives us an excuse to show them. No big deal.”
    “We must honor the spirits today.” Bloodhound nodded once in their jackolantern pumpkin head costume.
    “I find these insipid celebrations of the Macabre… amusing.” Caustic commented in his really disturbing clown costume.
    Mirage shivered at caustic, “You are creepy. Like something out of my nightmares.”
    The visual notifications to get ready for a match started but the voice was nothing but static.
    “Must be a glitch in the system.” Gibraltar commented as he headed towards the jump area with a few others.
    “Doesn’t look like we have teams.” Wattson followed.
    “Better be fixed by next match.” Bangalore sounding more annoyed heading over with wraith.
    “Hey wait for me.” Mirage jogged over with Caustic right behind him.
    Lifeline and Octane headed over together, “ready to cheat death Mi Chica?”
    Over the intercom in the ship came a deep rumbling voice as the platforms lowered, “Hahaha You will be doing just that. For in my games you will fear the Shadows.” Dark figures appeared out of the sky falling towards the ground.
    “Anyone else think that's creepy. I think that's creepy. Please tell me others think its creepy.” Mirage pointed back and forth between where the voice came from and the falling figures.
    “The rules are simple… Survive.” Then all of a sudden the platform beneath all of them collapsed and they were forced to decide quickly where they were going.
    Wraith and pathfinder both headed towards pit. Pathfinder acknowledged wraith by flipping in the air waving at her which she nodded in response too. Then they both flew through the top cylindrical opening before slowing to a land.
    The place was dimly lit up by candles and there were eerie red stream of light breaking through the haze created by some none existent light in the sky.
    “Stuff on the ground doesn’t look to good.” Wraith walked thru the place picking up a few things to put in her bag.
    “What about the bins?” Pathfinder opened up one and out echoed a loud guttural eerie angry moan from the creature that laid within it. “Oh? did I wake you?”
    The zombie slowly started to sit up and stand up out of it. Pathfinder didn’t back up not registering it as danger. The face on his chest showing a question mark. Wraith took her time to look over there figuring it was a flyer or a sound from the leviathans who seemed to have undergone some change.
    “Hello I’m pathfinder. What's your name friend?”
    Danger close. The voices in her head warned her eyes widening as she turned to pathfinder. She ran to him from the other side of pit trying to get a good angle to kill it. “Path get away from it!”
    Pathfinder turned his back to it. “But it's our new friend.”
    The zombie took the chance to pounce digging his claws into the robotic friend and tearing out some parts of him. Pathfinder’s now lifeless body fell to the floor. Wraith shot only taking one bullet to cause it to shatter.
    The pieces of pathfinder’s body started to gather together. The haze turning to fog which thickened around it making her unable to see it anymore. Then it turned black and strange sounds almost like grinding gears and static combined creating an eerie growl.
    “Path? You okay?” She asked hoping it was her imagination.
    Get out. Run. The voices in her head told her and just as they did clawing through the fog was a dark solidified shadowy pathfinder.


    Near bunker where the small shacks just outside is where Wattson and caustic landed. She ran through a few of the shacks looting a havoc and low tier armor. When she started to see and hear the sounds of the shadows land nearby she holed up in one of them. Throwing down her fences and hiding in a corner.
    The shadows ran around and outside even climbing on top of it before the sounds of a spitfire mowed them down. Caustic’s heavy footsteps could be heard walking near the shack. Then suddenly they stopped and staring through one of the cracks his single eye with part of the white red streaked mask looking around thru it before settling on her. It sent a shiver down her spine before he walked away and into the building, setting up a gas trap to block the door.
    “Mirage is right. You are creepy in that costume.”
    “Thank you.” Caustic said taking it as a compliment.
    It didn’t take long for more shadows to land nearby the number increasing. The shadows movement didn’t make any sounds of footsteps instead their movements were accompanied by wispy howling wind with the occasional deep raspy screech. More shadows swarmed the area making their movements deafening.
    Finally they broke down the door their claws powerful enough to shatter the metal door into small pieces. The gas canister went off Wattson far enough away to not have to worry. Caustic observed closely, quite a few of them were destroyed by his gas appearing to choke on it.
    “Fascinating… They breath.” Caustic took note of it.
    Then the cloud of his gas dissipated and the swarm continued and right as they launched themselves forward to pounce they got destroyed by the fences in front of him. They seemed to evaporate into the air when killed by the fences. More of them started to rush in and the same thing happened even when they attempted to jump over it.
    “You lack intelligence.” He stated with a small coughing fit afterwards.
    Some of them got the idea to climb on the ceiling and he fired his spitfire taking them out. When he had to reload Wattson took over with her havoc. The onslaught of shadows seemed to be never ending but they seemed to only be interested in taking out Caustic confirmed by them jumping over her to get to him.
    Wattson ran out of ammo and Caustic was on his last clip. He wrapped his arms around wattson pulling her to the farthest place from the door whispering into her ear. He threw his gas grenade which filled the entire shack with his gas. She started to cough which he pulled out another mask and put it on her face to filter. Then he let go and ran out of the shack wattson hearing his heavy steps leave the entire swarm chasing him.
    What caustic whispered to her, unable to believe it but she did what she was told. “I’m going to lead them away. Run away from bunker.”


    Elsewhere Mirage was running from two shadows that didn’t look like anyone in particular to him. He was unlucky that as soon as he landed at market he was greeted with one. Not given a chance to pick up anything other then a golden armor and a few heals he has been on the run since. The 2nd jumped down from the cliffs next to skull town in an attempt to ambush him but falling for his decoy.
    He was to scared and confused to even celebrate the bamboozle. He kept running barely managing to stay ahead of them.
    “If I knew I had to run this much I would have stayed home.” He told himself trying to defuse his fear then his vanishing act notification sound beeped. “Yes! Exit stage left.”
    He activated it at the time he thought was best and ran towards bunker while they were distracted destroying his decoys. Right as he entered the thru the fenced entrance to bunker. There crouched on the car a shadow caustic staring and observing twitching his head in inhuman ways. Shadow wisps coming from his breathing apparatus with each breath
    Mirage slide to a stop panting out of breath, “Oh great, now this is my worst nightmare!”
    He turned around and ran back towards the direction of skull town and market. Then was cut off by the two shadows from previously. “How can this get any worse!”
    He took a left running through the open air space between bunker and market as he ran in the direction of cage. A couple more now joining in the chase. It was almost comical how he was being chased by 5 shadows, he’d laugh if he wasn’t so horrified. 
    “Oh come on! I’m sure pathfinder is around. You could be friends!” Then as if almost on cue sliding down one of the cliffs that he ran past shadow pathfinder. “Oh for the love of!”
    He sent a decoy down the way towards water treatment as he continued on his way to cage. They all chased his decoy and as he ran up the hill to cage he slowed down a bit to try and catch his breath running towards the tall metal structure.
    Wattson screamed and soon after that she was falling from the top of the metal structure. Two of the shadows following her close enough for their claws to get on each side slicing down through her body. She was dead before she hit the floor the shadows landing on top of her corpse.
    Mirage just stood there until he let out a scream that echoed through the area. Their heads shot up and looked at him for a moment they just stared at him and he stared back. Suddenly they launched towards him he slipped in the process of starting up his running moment again causing them to go over him.
    “That was lucky.” He talked to himself as he ran again not seeing what happened with Wattson’s corpse.
    He ran into the building that connected cages area with Hydro dam slamming the doors behind which they proceeded to destroy. His fear and panic levels through the roof now he ran down the stairs unfortunately he tripped and tumbling down the final few.
    Everything seemed to slow as the 2 shadows plummeted down their claws coming straight for his face. He closed his eyes turning his head to the side bringing his hands up to try and protect his good looks. A couple quick shots went thru the air hitting them dead on making them dissipate.
    Mirage lay their shaking waiting for it to be over missing the gunshots entirely. Some footsteps approached close to his head and when he braved to open them. Bangalore skeletal painted face stared down causing him to scream again.
    “Get a hold of yourself.” Then some more shadows made their way down the stairs which she proceeded to shoot with her G7. “Get up Witt.”
    “Oh man you don’t know how happy I am to see you.” He rolled over and crawled quickly before jumping up onto his feet behind her.


    At Relay is where lifeline and Octane found their LZ.
    “You really have a soft spot for this place.”
    “I like the running water. And” She pointed in the direction despite being in the walled and fenced in area, “Over there with the waterfall into the pond is my favorite.”
    She opened up the first bin and out jumped a glowing spider aiming right for her with its long tongue. Octane lunged forward punching it causing it to explode. The pieces disappearing into the air not long after they hit the ground.
    “That’s new right?” Octane double checked as he rarely messed with bins.
    “Yeah… If anything else glows it be like limin’ at a rave.”
    “If the rave was empty and eerily silent.” They both laughed none of it bothering them.
    Two bins later two more loot spiders each one Octane punching into bits, “Maybe you should stop opening bins.”
    “I don’t tell ya this often but I think ya right.” She stood there staring at the fourth bin. “I wonda if it’s just me or all bins have them.”
    “One way to find out.” Octane without pause threw it open and it was filled with a couple frags. “No, jus you.”
    Outside of the spiders their landing zone was rather uneventful but well stocked. Lifeline decided to stick around Relay finding it peaceful at night. Besides she wanted to play it safe as she had a bad feeling about this whole match. Luckily Octane decided to stick around and play on the Zip lines, maybe do some flips with his launch pad, run some laps around the place. Anything he could do to entertain himself and keep moving for he didn’t want to leave her alone.
    “Hey Ajay, Mira, there!” He shouted jumping down from the zip line and hitting the jump pad flipping to land right next to her pointing to the sky.
    Up in the sky was the missiles from a Bangalore ultimate falling from the sky. The smoke streaks seeming to lead to the area on the other side of the cliffs of wetlands.
    “Lets go!” She ran without a second thought.
    They took the quickest route Octane paces ahead of her only stopping at the zipline that headed to the buildings near hydrodam. The sudden stop causing her to slow with a questioning tilt of the head when he drew his hemlok. A rain of shadows headed towards the group of legends in the ruins of the two buildings that might as well be in the middle of nowhere.
    She was a combat medic first pulling out her alternator she jumped on the zipline Octane already having an idea of what she was doing. He followed throwing his last jump pad when she swung off. When she hit it she jumped high firing at the shadows. He threw one of the frags opening the way for her landing it exploding just before she would be in its radius. Bangalore and wraith firing the last ones in her way as she ran straight into the group and sliding next to a downed Crypto.
    “Nice of you *cough* to join the party.” Mirage joked who was downed near Crypto.
    She sent D.O.C to put up its shield as she tended to Crypto first. She examined the slice marks on his body as her hands worked fast, “Shadows do this?”
    “What do you think.” Crypto responded the annoyance seeping from his voice.
    “Careful bruddah. Remember ta never piss off the medic.” Gibraltars jolly attitude still there even as he reloaded his shotgun after firing the last bullet of the Eva-8 drum into the shadows.
    “Your telling me you haven’t seen what they can do yet? *cough* Lucky.” Mirage rolled onto his side in the fetal position.
    “Can you hurry this up. We need the extra guns.” Bangalore said as she reloaded her g7 and R301.
    There was silence for the most part outside of the gunfire and the sounds of Octane trying to keep as many of the Shadows distracted chasing him. Wanting to give her time to examine figure out the quickest and best way possible to get them up again especially since they had no doubt it would happen again.
    “Ok, got it.” Lifeline informed as Crypto was up with a shield battery and she went on to Mirage.
    “Gibraltar brief her on the situation.”
    “Those Shadows kill*cough* Like, you die die.” Mirage interrupted as lifeline went to roll him onto his back.
    “If you have a strong armor you can survive one hit but well you see how the brudda’s turned out.”
    “If they do kill you, You become those shadows.” Wraith added.
    “Poor Wattson.” Mirage whimpered as it flashed in his mind again.
    “Everyone not here dead?” Lifeline asked.
    “Yup.” Mirage not wanting to be out of the conversation, hearing his own voice was a comfort to him.
    “Not true. Bloodhound.” Wraith informed.
    “Before Crypto was downed he found out that an Evac ship would be coming.”
    “Bloodhound went out to scout and find its LZ.”
    “I wouldn’t count on that.” Lifeline said taking a moment to fire thru her shield dissipating a shadow bloodhound.
    “Mother fucker!” Bangalore’s cussing coming out.
    A timer now appeared on the word above it saying Evac ship, “Oh look I've changed the game again. Better get running skin bags.”
    “Shit!… Crypto find the location.”
    “Already on it.” Crypto threw out his drone that he controlled to have a look around.
    Lifeline was done with mirage giving him a shield battery to finish the job. Then after giving Bangalore some more ammo went to cover Crypto. Things were so tense and the stakes were so high that it affected everyone. Bangalore cussed more mirage and octane both grew quieter. Crypto was starting to sweat and wraith’s arm burned more. Gibraltar and lifeline only ones that successfully hid it from the other legends.
    “Found it. Artillery.” He quickly closed it and stood up.
    “Octane get your ass over here!” Bangalore ordered.
    Octane found his way to them taking out more shadows on the way. Just as he was almost there a shadow got him in the back “That hurts!” he stumbled forward his high tier armor protecting him from instant death the covering fire preventing a 2nd hit.
    “Dome shield out!” Gibraltar’s shield just powered up the shadows unable to pass thru it but didn’t stop them from attacking it keeping the tension high.
    “Heh things are bad huh Mi Chica.” Octane lay on his front as Lifeline tended to him.
    “They aren’t good. Just stay with everyone things will be fine my wreck” She assured.
    “Things going to get loud.” Gibraltar opened up the skies before his shield power fails.
    Ajay helped Octavio up when he was done taking a moment to pull him close and tell him, “I love you no matter what happens.”
    “You talking crazy. Nothing is going to happen, I’ll tell and show you how I feel when we get home.” He started to use a pheonix kit to charge up himself fully.
    Shield went down before he got much progress in his charge and the shadows came in again. Mirage running out of ammo and punching the pathfinder Shadow. Shadow Bloodhound coming out of nowhere with their claws set on Octane.
    Everything seemed to move in slow motion for Lifeline now. As her gun made the click sound of an empty mag and the others distracted, out of ammo or in the middle of reloads. She took a few steps and jumped Mirage and Crypto reaching out to her as if to try and prevent her. She managed to put herself in the way of those claws and the momentum causing them both to tumble down and away as Bangalore took the well placed shot to deal with Bloodhound. She reached out as she looked at him a relieved smile before the life left her.
    “Ajay?” Octane unable to believe his goggles taking steps forward Wraith halting them.
    “Why didn’t you tell me she had weak armor.” Crypto glared at Octane blaming him.
    Lifelines body started to give off black wisps from the wounds those wisps wrapping around her body as parts of her started to glow red. As the black got deeper and more ichor like her body started to rise before clawing at the air and standing up.
    Wraith took two shots with the havoc killing the newly shadowed lifeline, “We need to go. Now!” She started her portal and made her way towards artillery.
    “Why did she do that. Why did Wraith do that!?” Octane was pissed.
    “She did what had to be done.” Gibraltar who showed a bit of hurt from lifelines death.
    “I need to go find her.” Octane was about to bolt.
    “No you don’t.” Crypto grabbed him and threw him at the portal which just opened and jumped right after him.
    At the other side of the portal both wraith and Crypto took the moment to prevent him from leaving and talk some sense into him. “She made the choice to sacrifice herself for you.”
    “I would have preferred if she let you die”
    “That's not helping Crypto.” Wraith scolded.
    “He’s being an idiot.” Crypto responded.
    “Oh finally someone else is being an idiot…wait what am I saying?” Mirage commented stepping away from the portal entrance.
    “We gotta get moving. Evac incoming.” Bangalore ordered Shadows already cutting the distance some falling in.
    Crypto took control of his drone quickly and moved it into position. He set off the EMP of his drone to slow all the shadows blocking the path.
    “I’m not going. Leave without me.” Octane was making his way to bolt.
    “Oh yes you are Brudda.” Gibraltar picked him up.
    They ran to the ship wraith, Bangalore and Mirage now taking an every man for themselves mentality. Crypto hanging behind Gibraltar to make sure he got on with Octane as he would not let her sacrifice be in vain. Right as Crypto would be jumping on as the ship was getting ready to take off two of the shadows pounced and got him destroying his armor he fell to his knees.
    “Forever family.” Crypto uttered as he collapsed forward his drone coming to hover around him.
    The ship began its take off as everyone took a moment of silence. Mirage hugging his knees to his chest as he sat on the floor. Wraith holding her head as the voices were being loud. Bangalore checked her weapons and ammo realizing she only had one the one bullet left, the one in the chamber. Gibraltar hung his head loosening his grip on Octane him being so light that he forgot he was carrying him.
    Octane wiggled his way free but the doors were sealed shut. Through the slitted windows he saw shadow lifeline climb up to the top of the tallest structure in artillery. She just stood there staring up at the ship the others climbing up and joining her as it flew over.
    “Let me out!” He started to kick the door. “Déjame salir ahora!” He kept up the racket until Bangalore came and knocked him out collapsing loudly next to Mirage.


    Mirage woke with a start in his couch bed on the ship all the legends called home when doing worlds Edge matches. He didn’t waste anytime jumped up from the couch and straight towards Wattson’s area. “Wattson Wattson Wattson Wattson!” She had already started to make her way out to the common area as did everyone else. “Yeees you guys are alive!”
    Octane seeing lifeline ran up to her wrapping his arms around her and spinning her around. “I love love love love you! Te amo Ajay.”
    “Did my friends have a strange dream too?” Pathfinder asked.
    “That nightmare is going to give me nightmares” Mirage shivered.
    The same creepy voice from the nightmare spoke, “Trick or treat Legends.”
    On the table was a card in shadow gray with faded white bleeding eyes drawn on it and underneath them the words. “Happy Halloween.”


