Chronicles of the Apocalypse: Condemnation

Nightfall, Kyle, Jake, Shawn, James and Barnes camp out, before James speaks begins to tell scary stories.

James: So then...there once was a horrible creature in the middle of the night...in search of blood....in search of flesh....in search of anyone who is caught in the middle of the wasteland...alone and afraid....never to see the sunrise nor the sunset again.

Kyle laughs.

Shawn: You are full of shit, shit-sniffer.

James: Oh, fuck you. I'm a good ass storyteller.

Jake notices Barnes sitting alone in the corner, having a cigarette.

Jake: hey...Kyle...you think we should invite Barnes over for a cold one?

Shawn: Yeah...when pigs fly...

Jake: Hey, man...anything's possible now these days...

Kyle: Yeah...I guess it couldn't hurt. 

Kyle turns to Barnes.

Kyle: Hey, Barnes! Why don't you join us?

Barnes: Wow...really...a welcoming seat with the cool kids around the fire. No thanks...

Kyle: All right...you're missing out on s'mores.

Barnes sighs.

Barnes: Fuck it.

Barnes flicks his cigarette away, before he stands up and sits down with Kyle, Jake, Shawn and James.

Barnes: So where's the s'mores?

Shawn: Fortunately, back home....

Barnes: Oh, you pricks.

Jake: Sorry, man...didn't want you to get picked off by the coyote?

Shawn: Or my brothers' "chupacabra".

Barnes: Huh?

Kyle: You've never heard of the "Chupacabra"?

Barnes: Of course, I have...more or less...Rick and I used to hear about it back when we were kids....my Dad would tell us these stories to get us to piss ourselves...those were....those were some fun times....As always, Rick would watch and I would demonstrate.....Rick was the bullied and I was the protector...that's how it always goes with brotherhood....the oldest protects the youngest....and the youngest becomes the strongest...or the smartest....Rick was strong....just wasn't smart....

Jake: You miss him?

Barnes: More or less...

A short pause.

Barnes: But then again...I'd hate to have the bastard see me like this.

Shortly after Shawn, James and Jake are resting with Barnes laying down, but still awake, Kyle is on watch, looking out into the sky, before he notices a figure, which appears to be a hallucination of Nathan, his fatal stab wound on his body.

Nathan: Hey, fearless leader. I see you got desperate and had to rely on big bad Barnes for help...you killed me and you know if you had just died before, I wouldn't have had to kill Billy.....maybe me and him being alive would've changed things with Walter, who figured out what happened.....Maybe he wouldn't be dead right now. Maybe Alexandria wouldn't be dead right now...all those innocent lives in Midtown Manhattan....maybe not....

Kyle shudders.

Kyle: You're not real...you're dead.....you're just a long gone memory.

Nathan: Am I? You know; my sisters may have gotten lucky when you were out saving the day, but soon, either one of them or both of them will die.....because of you....you can't keep them safe....you can't keep Sarah safe....she'll die....they both will.....because of you!

The next morning, a thunderstorm is approaching as Jake shakes Kyle awake.

Jake: Kyle! You okay?

Kyle: Yeah...just a bad dream.

During a shower of rain, the abandoned Kronos Outpost, the A.O.W Tank bursts through the gates, before Kyle, Jake, Shawn, James and Barnes exit.

James: Anyone believe in ghosts?

Kyle: Shawn, James, stay here and guard the tank. Jake, Barnes, you're with me.

James: What the hell, dude? You think that something's going to come out of this empty shithole?

Kyle: twenty-four years, James. You should know that an empty shithole doesn't mean it is an empty shithole from the outside. We'll keep you informed.

Kyle, Jake and Barnes search the Abandoned Kronos Outpost.

Jake: So why the fuck would they build a base all the way out here in the mountains and what are we looking for anyway?

Kyle: I don't know. Though I got a bad feeling, we'll know it when we see it.

Barnes: But if this place has answers, why look into it now? Doesn't make sense.

Kyle: Yeah...does anything now a days.

Ahead of the courtyard, a infected is running into the outpost.

Jake: Something's up there. What the hell was that?

Kyle: Infected maybe. Couldn't tell. It was too fast to see it.

Barnes: Lot of open space and rooftops.....snipers could be here.

Jake: You know; this place doesn't really look like an outpost. More like some sort of warehouse.

Barnes: Well, we did have warehouses hiring from all across the country....before the world went to shit.

Kyle: It's probably just a mirage on the outside to fool people. They're obviously hiding something here.

Jake: Yeah, but what?

Kyle: That's what we're here to find out.

Kyle kicks the door open as they enter the entrance lobby.

Jake: Looks like some recent wastelanders were here.

Barnes sniffs.

Barnes: Ugh...smells like the plumbing's out.

Kyle: This place is a damn pigsty.

Kyle, Jake and Barnes check the restroom to discover a terrible stench.

Jake: Barnes, you called it. Plumbing is so out.

Kyle: And someone forgot to flush. 

Kyle whistles, before he, Jake and Barnes continue down the hall, before Bowers calls on Kyles' radio.

Bowers: Kyle, this is command. Do you have something to report yet?

Kyle: Uh...no...can I ask why you're contacting us?

Bowers: We need to be informed of your progress. You'll report directly to us, son. Command out.

Kyle: Uh....sure...

Jake: We're fucked.

Barnes: Yep.

Kyle, Jake and Barnes come across a sealed vault door with an holograph of a Caucasian man with red hair, glasses and an English accent, automatically turning on.

Todds: Welcome to Austin Outpost. Proper identification of employment is required for entry.

Kyle: You gotta be fuckin kiddin me.

Todds: I'm sorry, but proper identification of employment is required for entry of this area. Also, vulgar language will not be allowed while in our facility. Good day.

The holograph of Todds turns off.

Jake: Damn, man. Looks like you got in trouble for cussing at the wrong time.

Kyle sighs.

Kyle: Barnes, rip this door. Now.

Barnes: Got it.

Barnes transforms his mechanical arm into a blowtorch, before attempting to saw the door open, but has no success.

Barnes: Damn it! It's a tough ass door.

Kyle: Forget it, Barnes. We're going to have to blow it.

Barnes: My arms not equipped with a grenade launcher or explosives.

Kyle: I figured that out. 

Kyle to James through his radio.

Kyle: James, you remember those charges that the A.O.W handed us?

James: Yeah...why?

Kyle: Get one ready.

James: Of course...oh, should we do the 1.1 kilogram or the 5.5 kilogram?

Kyle: 5.5. We're on our way back. 

Kyle turns to Jake and Barnes.

Kyle: Let's see if we can find some power.

Kyle, Jake and Barnes continue moving through the inside of the outpost, before infected are scurrying around, knocking down a few cases and boxes. Kyle, Jake and Barnes come across another locked door.

Barnes: Well, shit....another locked door....wait, this looks like it can be opened by a power box.

Kyle: how can you tell?

Barnes: See the red button? If it's red, it means it needs power to open the door, then it will turn green.

Jake: Well, let's find the junction box and get the power on.

Kyle, Jake and Barnes locate the junction box room, along with a Zeus Corps Flame Thrower.

Jake: Hell, yeah, a flame thrower. You think it still works?

Kyle picks up the flame thrower.

Kyle: Never know if you like it til you try.

Jake: Remember how Cameron was always talking about his burning love? He would've loved that flamethrower.

Kyle: Yeah....but he would've barbequed our asses with it.

Jake scoffs.

Jake: Give the kid a chance....then again....he was just a kid....still....rest in peace, Cameron.

Kyle turns on the junction box as the outpost power turns on.

Jake: Should we try that main door?

Kyle: Nah...we need access to get through that door.

Barnes: Then let's get back to the tank and gain our access.

Kyle, Jake and Barnes make their way through a garage, just as infected attack.

Jake: Infected!

Kyle: Time to get have us a barbeque!

Kyle shoots the flame thrower at a few Skinners, severely burning and killing them. Barnes sniffs.

Barnes: Mmm....damn, they actually smell good.

Kyle: Dare you to taste one.

Barnes: Nah...I'll pass.

Kyle, Jake and Barnes manage to take out the rest of the Skinners, before they exit the garage. Kyle, Jake and Barnes walk over to the A.O.W tank, where James is prepping an A.O.W Charge as Shawn keeps watch.

Shawn: So, what's up?

Kyle: Some kind of advanced security door we need to gain access to.

Shawn: "Gain access"? You mean you're going to blow that bitch apart!

Kyle: Exactly.

James: The charge is ready. Just make sure you get your ass out of the blast range....oh, and don't drop it.

Kyle: Anything else?

James: Let me know how it goes.

Shawn: I think we'll know how it went, dude. 

Shawn imitates explosion. Kyle and Jake carry the heavy charge, before they and Barnes make their way back to the garage.

Jake: Goddamn! If I knew 5.5 was going to be this fuckin heavy, I would've just stuck with 1.1.

Kyle: Barnes, keep an eye out for more Skinners....and Jake, quit your bitchin. I'm skinny as hell and you don't hear my complaining.

Jake: Oh, fuck you.

Barnes: You know; this is an example of brotherly love. Bonding. Getting your issues out.

Kyle and Jake: Barnes, shut up.

Kyle, Jake and Barnes make their way into the garage, before they are attacked by Infected.

Jake: Infected!

Kyle: Ah, shit! Barnes!

Barnes: I'm on it! Keep that charge off the ground!

Barnes holds off the Infected as Kyle and Jake use their free arms to shoot at the Skinners, killing a few. A infected attacks Kyle, who barely hold it off, before Barnes transforms his mechanical arm into a blade and decapitates the Infected. Kyle gives Barnes a look.

Barnes: What? I wasn't trying to kill you...

Barnes smirks.

Barnes: Yet....just kidding....maybe...

Kyle: Are you done with the jokes?

Kyle, Jake and Barnes approach the secured door as the holograph of Todds returns.

Todds: Welcome back. Do you have proper employee identification?

Kyle: Oh, yeah....I got some "employee identification" for your ass.

Todds: vulgar language will not be allowed in this facility.

Kyle: Yeah, fuck off.

Todds: Vulgar language will not be allowed in this facility.

Kyle sets up the A.O.W charge, before James calls the three on his earpiece.

James talks through radio.

James: Hey, guys.

Jake: Yeah, what's up?

James talks through radio.

James: I forgot to mention you need to press the yellow button on the charge, not the green one. Yellow means time to avoid the explosion. Green means like ten seconds before it explodes. Red means five seconds to explode.

Kyle: I wish you said that when we were outside before I pressed red!

Barnes: Shit!

Kyle, Jake and Barnes run from the charge as it explodes, destroying the secured door. Outside the outpost, Shawn and James hear the explosion.

Shawn: Told you we'd know.

In the outpost, Kyle, Jake and Barnes recover.

Todds: Access granted. Welcome.

Jake: Thanks for the update, James....

James: Well, I know you guys were alive...what'd you press?

Kyle: Red.

James: Why would you press red, man?

Kyle: Why the hell didn't you tell us about the colored buttons outside?

James: There's was a lot of rain coming down at the time.

Kyle: Dude, what the f-James!

Jake: Dude, just say thank you.

Kyle sighs.

Kyle: Thank you, James. (quietly) Prick.

James: I heard that.

Kyle laughs.

Kyle: I love James, but he's a dumb-ass sometimes..

Jake: Dick or not. He's got some handy work.

James: Still hearing you, pricks.

Kyle, Jake and Barnes progress further into a area, noticing a row of computers.

Kyle: Whoa...

Barnes: Don't remember this part of the facility...

The holograph of Todds reappears.

Todds: Welcome to the Kronos; Revelation facility. I'm Jared Todds. Please let me know if I can assist you in anyway.

Jake: Is that a recording?

Kyle: I think so...a busted one.

Todds: Actually, Mr. Desipich, I'm not just any old, expired recording.

Kyle: Huh? What the hell?

Todds: Vulgar language will not be-

Kyle: Dude, stop with the damn "vulgar" crap. We're not five!

Todds: Please do step inside as I can tell you more about the facility.

Jake: Uh....should we?

Kyle: Don't think we have a choice.

Kyle looks outside the window to notice working quarters outside.

Kyle: Looks like some kind of prison camp.

Barnes: More like the camps back in Germany.....you boys read about the holocaust?

Jake: Pssh....Which one? The modern one or the Hitler one?

Barnes: Smart ass....back in the 1940's, World War 2, Hitler thought the Jews were....animals...so they treated them like animals...even killed some by placing them in gas chambers...it's a terrible way to die....this place reminds me a lot of the Jewish camps.....my great grandfather served in World War 2....war's in your blood....from generation to generation.

Todds: Our facility holds the most in proper care. We take pride and initiation in our work...

Kyle: Uh-huh. 

Kyle talks in his radio.

Kyle: Command, do you copy?

Bowers talks through his radio.

Bowers: I copy you, Kyle.

Kyle: We're in the facility, but it's got a few kinks.....and I don't think it's been properly abandoned.

Bowers: Weird it should be empty. What do you see?

Kyle: We're not seeing, but we're hearing. Some guy is controlling the security.

Bowers: Is he hostile?

Kyle: He's annoying as hell.

Bowers: Sounds like you have the situation under control, son. Keep us informed. Command out.

Kyle: Roger that.

Jake: Fucking great....

Kyle, Jake and Barnes continue moving through the facility as Barnes speaks to Kyle just as Jake moves forward.

Barnes: So, how'd he die?

Kyle: Huh?

Barnes: Nathan....how'd he die? I mean...hell, I figured he wasn't one of the causalities of the Condemned attack.....heard you talking in your sleep last night also; saying stuff like "you're dead.....you're not real.....sounds like a haunting memory".

Kyle gives Barnes a look, before Kyle speaks

Kyle: He and Billy both.....died on a run.

Barnes smiles, knowing Kyle is lying.

Barnes: You're a fucking liar, son....Nathan hated you...he hated you bad.....something happened and I'm going to find out....Does Sarah believe that he died on a run? Hmm? You did something to him...I can see it in your--

Kyle pulls out the detonator, causing Barnes to stop vexing Kyle.

Barnes: Okay, okay, okay, I'm done....I'm sorry....I'm just bored.

Kyle, Jake and Barnes enter another room, where they discover test tubes with subjects, who are mutated into mutilated Condemned.

Jake: Holy shit....definitely not prisoners.

Barnes: What the hell's in these things?

Jake: What the hell are those things is more like it?

Kyle: they're in some kind of cryostasis tank...but what are they? 

Jake: Skinners? Condemned?

Kyle: Those aren't infected.

The holograph of Todds appears.

Todds: I don't believe you have access to this part of the facility.

Kyle: Hey, buddy, unless you want to go through our "access" routine again, I suggest you leave us be.

Todds: My apologies, but employee identification will prevent disasterly conclusions...after all, we don't need you tapping into computers, discovering something you shouldn't.

Kyle: Uh-huh. 

Kyle talks in his radio.

Kyle: Command, this is Desipich. Is Pierce near you?

In Midtown Manhattan, the command center, Pierce appears next to Bowers.

Pierce: I'm here, son.

Kyle: are you getting this?

Bowers: I am...but we're not pulling up anything on our computers...it's like it's been erased....they were definitely hiding something here....you got me with this one.

Kyle: Roger that. Desipich out.

Jake: Fucked.

Kyle: Enough.

Kyle, Jake and Barnes enter a primary data room with terminals.

Kyle: Barnes, plug in and see what you find. Maybe, one of the terminals will have info on this place and where the fuck we can find the goddamned Condemned horde.

Barnes uses his mechanical arm to plug into the terminals, before power begins to turn activate on the stasis pods. In the terminal room, a screen turns on, before Kyle, Jake and Barnes approach the recording.

Todds: Save the necessary. That's what we must do. In this particular case, we're doing it....or at least, we're doing all we can to save these people.

Jake: Is that Todds?

Kyle: Sounds like it...before he went psycho.

Todds: The trip to Mt. Whitney won't be easy. After all, we have to travel through a wasteland of all sorts of dangers....bandits...monsters...we'll have to move during the night into the snow....Chairman Koster won't even give us vehicles to transport the subjects safely.

Jake: Subjects? Who does he mean?

Kyle: I don't know. 

Kyle turns to Barnes.

Kyle: Barnes?

Barnes: Wait...

Todds: Tis a shame what happened to these soldiers and scientists.....banished into the wasteland like rabid dogs after their facility in Kronos was destroyed.....but we have a chance to save them....with Subject 0's immune blood, and Commander Barnes' blood, we can change them....into something that can survive...it will be the only way to cure all the Blood Lung in their bodies...it will seem cruel...but it will be necessary.

A video footage is shown of former Zeus Corps Soldier, Jackal, strapped to a chair and injected with a syringe, before mutating into Scorcher.

Todds: This will be the first. Former Zeus Corps Soldier. Subject name; Darnel Jackson also known as Jackal-

Jake: Fuck me.

Todds: I must leave behind an advanced security system to watch over the facility. I would hate for anyone to disturb the age of a new evolution and we would wipe away any opportunity to study these amazing creatures as they grow....I am almost embarrassed to admit that the security system is programmed from my personality, but I-

The recording shuts off.

Jake: Holy shit....

Kyle: The Condemned....they didn't kill the Zeus Corps Soldiers we banished....they are the Zeus Corps soldiers we banished....I banished....they turned into something worse.... it makes sense....my god....that man.....Jackal.....he was a Zeus Corps Soldier.....he's that big fucking Condemned with the dreads and blades.....the rest of the soldiers and staff we banished into the wasteland.

Barnes: They used my blood and combined with some immune bitch's blood....turns out she was bit years ago, but never turned. They injected my combined blood with hers and into everyone else....and they turned into monsters.....they did the same thing to wasps....to centipedes...and to infected....I watched my friends and allies turn into something I know have to fight...guess life would've been easier if you had just killed them, huh?

Kyle: And then what, Barnes? I proved to be a better man by not killing them...I didn't think three years later, this was going to come back and bite me on the ass.

Barnes: Yeah, well it did....and there's a storm coming, Kyle....those things....are Kronos...except I'm not on their side anymore...but think; if you had killed them, maybe Walter....maybe Alexandria....maybe that Cameron kid...maybe the President of the Wasteland would still be alive....that's four lives...along with whoever the Condemned have killed and tortured, on your head....still think you're not like Ryder?

A short pause.

Kyle: Fuck you.

Jake: Hey, you two.....So, who's this Subject 0 woman?

Barnes: I don't know. I never saw her before.....but I'm betting that she's this queen...when those monsters broke out, Jackal or Scorcher almost killed her, but instead, they all bowed....and choose her....guess they must've sensed her special kind of blood.

Suddenly, a noise startles the three.

Jake: What the hell was that?!

Todds: I would begin to exit the facility...now.

Kyle, Jake and Barnes make their way towards the noise.

Todds: I tried to warn you.

Kyle: Warn us? Warn us about what?

Todds: What you have awaken and brought upon yourselves.

Kyle, Jake and Barnes investigate the disturbance, before one of the cryo-stasis subjects bangs onto the glass.

Jake: Uh...you saw that too, right?!

Kyle: Yeah...I did...wished I didn't.

Kyle, Jake and Barnes notice another cryo-stasis tube with another subject attempting to claw its way out.

Jake: They're trying to get out...uh...should we help?

Barnes: You want to help the fucked-up subjects out of their cages? Be my guest. I'm getting my gun ready to shoot whatever comes out of there.

Kyle: I don't think we should do anything. We don't know what's in there. Could be something infected or worse.

Suddenly, the mutated human/ Condemned breaks out and attempts to attack Kyle, Jake and Barnes, who shoots the human/ Condemned dead.

Barnes: Holy shit!

Jake: What the fuck are these things?!

Todds: The future....didn't you read the label before your arrival.

Kyle: "Label"?!.....fuck!

More mutated human/ Condemned break out of their tubes, before Kyle, Jake and Barnes repel and kill them.

Barnes: Jesus fuckin christ!

Todds: Those are subjects are the only ones that cannot be replaced. You are destroying our humanity's future!

Kyle: This cocksucker's so controlling the goddamn security! We gotta find a way to stop him!

Kyle, Jake and Barnes fight their way through the stasis pods, before reaching a locked door.

Kyle: Jake! Help me with the door! Barnes, keep us covered!

Kyle and Jake attempt to open the door by force as Barnes holds off the mutated subjects. After brief struggle, Kyle and Jake successfully open the door and get inside.

Kyle: Barnes! Come on!

Barnes crawls under the door as the mutated subjects reach for him as the door slams. Kyle, Jake and Barnes stand up and back away from the door.

Jake: Hey, Barnes. You got something on your shoe.

Barnes: What?

Barnes looks down to notice a severed mutated arm on his leg, before kicking it off.

Barnes: Oh, man...

Kyle, Jake and Barnes turn to notice they are in the primary control room.

Jake: Whoa...holy shit...this must be where Todds is located.

Kyle: Look around for a switch or something....this system's getting more and more fucked up.

Kyle, Jake and Barnes search the main control switch as Kyle locates it and turns the switch off.

Kyle: There it is....Nighty-night, asshole.

Todds core shuts down, shutting off the security system.

Jake: Thank fuckin god.

Barnes: Let's get out of here.

Kyle, Jake and Barnes begin to make their way out of the facility, before a pack of Condemned drones burst in through the office and opens fire.

Kyle: that's the last thing we need, man.

Jake: What the fuck are the Condemned doing here?!

Barnes: I don't know, Jake! You want to ask them?!

Jake: Hey, Kyle! Try apologizing for banishing them and turning them into monsters!

Kyle: Ha. Funny. Fuck you. Smartass.

Kyle, Jake and Barnes are forced to fight their way through the Condemned forces, before eventually getting outside through the workers quarters. During the gunfight, Barnes uses the opportunity to attempt to flee.

Jake: Hey! Barnes!

Kyle: I got him!

Kyle pursues Barnes. After a long chase, Barnes stops for a moment and attempts to pry the neuru-bomb in his neck with his mechanical arm by transforming it into a blade but is attacked by a Condemned with a blade. During a brief struggle, Barnes is knocked to the side off the edge, but the Condemned drone falls to his death. Barnes hangs onto the edge, before Kyle appears and helps Barnes up. Kyle grabs Barnes by the collar, before throwing him into the wall.

Kyle: You stupid fuck!

Kyle punches Barnes in the stomach and face, before grabbing his face.

Kyle: Try that shit again! Please! Try it again! I'll blow all of your teeth into your head!

Kyle throws Barnes onto the floor, before Jake arrives.

Barnes: Go to hell.

Jake kicks Barnes in the stomach.

Jake: Hell? We're in hell, man and so are you. Now, get your ass up.

James is repairing the A.O.W Tank as Shawn stands guard, before Kyle, Jake and Barnes arrive.

Kyle: James? What's going on?

James: Minor damage. Nothing I can't fix. 

James turns to notice Barnes.

James: Huh....Barnes still has his head.

Barnes: You got something to say, boy?

James: No, no, no...just surprised Kyle didn't blow your head off.....

Shawn: What? The dog behaved himself.

Jake: Well, he did try to get away, but....he got his ass handed to him...

Jake glares at Barnes.

Jake: Lucky fucker.

Shawn: Manticores!

A pack of Manticores attack as Kyle, Jake, Shawn and Barnes repel them.

James: Well, this would be easier with music...minus those flying things shitting on us like seagulls.

The gunfight continues for a few minutes.

Kyle: James! How you doing?

James: Dude, I need you off my dick!

Kyle: Just asking.

Kyle, Jake, Shawn and Barnes hold off the Manticore for a while as James finally repairs the Manti-Core Tank.

James: Got it!

Kyle: Then let's go!

Kyle, Jake, Shawn and Barnes hop on the tank as James drives off away from the pursuing Manticores. After losing their pursuers, Kyle, Jake, Shawn and Barnes enter the tank.

James: So did we discover something new?

Kyle: The Condemned are Zeus Corps.

Shawn: Huh?

Kyle: Yeah, the soldiers and scientists we banished into the wasteland after we took out Kronos....they were captured and mutated by these animals.

Jake: Combined with the blood of Barnes and some immune woman.

Shawn: Oh, fuck....so we're fighting Kronos...again...cept as monsters...any good news?

Jake: we know where the back door is.

James: So where are we going now?

Jake: Mt. Whitney.

James: Through the snow?

Kyle: And at perfect timing during the winter...