PROJECT NOVOCAINE

★│Three

It felt like the longest trip to Crossroads Hyperlaser had ever been to in a while.

He looked out Zuka's truck window. Clumps of dark clouds were caving in on different areas of the sky. As he looked around more at the buildings, plants outside were wilting and turning into lead gray. A lot of shops were closed down, signs on the doors saying that they were not open.

Crossroads looked so depressing now. There were only one or two civilians out walking, but they walked so stiffly, almost like zombies, a curse brought upon the great deity Venomshank almost. But then again, the deities were weak. He couldn't be the cause of this.

Hyperlaser squinted to look at one of the dazed civilians. They seemed to be mouthing the same words over and over. He was snapped out of attention by Zuka's truck screeching to a stop. All the phighters departed, including Hyperlaser and Katana.

"Wait here for a second, Katana." Hyperlaser commanded, running off to inspect one of the brainwashed civilians. The monotone person was just there, so still and zombie like. It was creepy.

Suddenly it started to rain. Beads of water tapped lightly against Hyperlaser's helmet. He was glad that was waterproof. He studied the civilian's words.

All the person said was: "Corruption will consume us all," over and over. Hyperlaser backed away, his eyebrows upturned. He ran back to go find Katana, but he was gone.

Hyperlaser looked around himself. "Katana?" He called. No answer. He realized that he was all of a sudden deserted. Where had everyone else gone?

Then he spotted a red figure heading towards the Thieves' Den. He rushed over to see Katana doing the same zombie movements as the civilian, but not chanting anything about corruption. "Katana!"

Katana didn't answer. He continued walking.

Hyperlaser breathed. Why was he acting so weird all of a sudden? He was fine, kind of, just like a few minutes ago.

He followed the samurai through the tunnel to the Thieves' Den, where the land was a lot brighter. Flowers were in bloom. A soft wind howled, wisping Katana's red and white hair in the air. The ponytail sticking out the back of Hyperlaser's helmet did the same. It was strange how it was so gloomy in Crossroads but not here.

Katana finally spoke up. "Home."

'Well, that was awfully vague.' Hyperlaser thought. Katana picked up his pace of walk, which startled Hyperlaser.

"We have to get there quickly, Hyperlaser."

"Get where, exactly?!"

"Just, follow me."

The mercenary started to sweat. This was so awkward. Such supernatural activity. He started to sprint at the same pace as the samurai, who was now intervaling between trees and walking in small streams. Hyperlaser followed behind. Water from the streams splashed up on his pants.

Finally, Katana came to an abrupt stop. He was standing in front of a waterfall. "You might have to not care about getting your attire wet."

Katana stepped through the waterfall with no problem, water splashing on him. He was not affected. Now it was Hyperlaser's turn. The mercenary scanned the waterfall and then ran right through it, letting water trickle down his helmet and absorb into his clothes.

On the other side of the waterfall, what Hyperlaser saw made his heart drop to his feet and onto the floor.