Chronicles of the Apocalypse: Condemnation

In Midtown Manhattan, Pierce is addressing the attack of the Hive to the crowd of Midtown Manhattan people including Sarah, Ashley, Caleb, Mitchell, Cassandra and Maya.

Pierce: As of now, the A.O.W army is engaging the Condemned stronghold. We don't know if they will succeed, but so far, we only have little casualties. Among the army are the Desipich and Burton brothers....now, as this is a military operation, we fear the enemy will know where they are being hit from and attack....therefore, we ask that we keep all of the women and children in a safe and secluded home til further notice....ladies and gentlemen, you have my word...you will be protected.

After the meeting, Sarah, Ashley, Caleb, Mitchell, Cassandra and Maya approach Pierce.

Sarah: We're going up with you into the command center.....we're among the Midtown Manhattan council...so we're waiting.

Pierce laughs.

Pierce: You are one head strong woman, Mrs. Desipich.

In the Hive, the lift is descending into the palace.

Shawn: Lock and load.

Jake: This bitch has one creepy house.

Kyle: This is it, boys. We kill this bitch. We end this nightmare.

The lift stops at the entrance of the palace as Kyle, Jake, Shawn and James walk towards the entrance while in the palace, the Condemned Queen is sitting on her throne, before she looks into the camera feed of Kyle, Jake, Shawn and James.

Condemned Queen: He's here.

At the entrance of the palace, Kyle, Jake, Shawn and James approach the palace as movement is seen above them.

James: My spider sense is tingling and it says "ambush ahead".

Shawn: You and those damn Spider-Man movies, man. Don't know why Dad had to show you that shit.

Kyle: Hey, both of you stay focused. They're not going to give up the palace or the queen without a fight.

As Kyle, Jake, Shawn and James prepare to enter the palace gates, suddenly, Condemned attack from above as the palace gates close.

Jake: The windows!

James: Oh, come on, dude! Those gates just had to close!

During the gunfight, the cover for Kyle, Jake, Shawn and James suddenly drops into the floor.

James: Who the fuck is dropping all the goddamn cover, man?!

Kyle: Up above us!

Kyle and James shoot at the Condemned attempting to drop the cover, managing to kill them. Shortly afterwards, the Condemned retreat.

James: So I guess we're going around the back.

Jake: Yep, if there's a front door, you can damn well bet there's a back door.

Kyle, Jake, Shawn and James travel through the back of the palace, where they are confronted by more Condemned.

Kyle: You were wondering about a back door, James? You got it.

James: See? Told ya.

Kyle, Jake, Shawn and James take out the attacking Condemned forces, before stepping onto a lift.

Jake: So where do we find the queen?

James: Well, where does every queen live in her palace?

Kyle: At the top...

The lift takes Kyle, Jake, Shawn and James to the top of the castle.

Shawn looks over the side of the lift.

Shawn: Shit...this is too damn high.

James: If you puke, dude.....puke over the side.

The lift stops in the cages, where the two-legged creatures from the Dallas attack are seen in cages along with a holding of human body parts.

Shawn: Damn! They're just straight giving them heads, huh? 

Shawn laughs.

Jake: Shawn, I want you to think about the entire sentence.

James groans.

Jake: Damn! Man! How the hell do these things breathe with this stench?

Kyle, Jake, Shawn and James come up to two closed doors.

Kyle: This is a big ass palace....so just in case one leads to the queen, let's split up. Shawn, you and I got the right. Jake, James, you two take the left.

Kyle and Shawn separate to the right while Jake and James separate to the left side.

Shawn: Let's do this, Kyle.

More Condemned forces appear, before Kyle and Shawn give Jake and James some covering fire. After a brief gunfight, the group manages to kill all of the Condemned before regrouping. Kyle, Jake, Shawn and James step outside, before looking down to a river of radioactive fluid.

Shawn: Holy goddamn! That's a lot of fluids. Anyone want to swim?

James: Yeah, and see what happens if you swim in a radioactive fluid river.

Kyle, Jake, Shawn and James travel through the palace, before they engage the Condemned as they continue throughout the palace, eventually reaching the terminal room, where a giant map of Midtown Manhattan underground structure is shown. James approaches the map.

James: Look at this. This must be what the queen keeps talking about.

Jake: So they're trying to sink Midtown Manhattan. We figured, but it looks like the ocean mass around it will flood the entire Shallows. That doesn't make sense....why would they risk destroying their home to destroy ours?

Kyle: They're trying to kill the Krens. They're desperate and we never knew. James, plug in and see what you can find.

The Condemned Queen speaks through the speakers again as Shawn grabs the microphone.

Condemned Queen: We must not allow the Krens to infest the surface of the wasteland. We must destroy them here and now. For the world, truly belongs to--

Shawn shut off the microphone as the Condemned scattered around the palace give confused looks.

Condemned Drone: What the fuck?

The Condemned Drone shrugs.

Condemned Drone: I don't know.

Shawn: There we go, boys....and she said no more.

Kyle: James?

James: Hang on....I think I got something here.

James uses his hacking device as he plugs it into the terminal and searches the files, before noticing a file the states "Desipich".

James: Hmm....weird...it says your last name.

James plays the file recording as the voice is heard speaking.

Andrew: There appears to be only one way to stop this nightmare, but I fear the cost may be too valuable....too great.

Jake: Kyle...that's-

Kyle: Shh...

Andrew: If you were to sink Midtown Manhattan, it would flood the Shallows with the water dug into the ground....everything below would die.....we could kill the Condemned today, but in order to do that, we must sacrifice our last possible home.

James: who the fuck's this yahoo?

Jake: Andrew Desipich.

Kyle: Our father.

James: What? But....how? What's he doing in the Condemned computers? And how the hell does he know about the damn Condemned?

Kyle: We'll worry about that later...look, my Dad and the Condemned Queen are saying the same thing....everyone's out of time on both sides....but we need to sink Midtown Manhattan, before the Condemned can leave....not after...it'll be too late.

Shawn: What?

Jake: Can we even do that, man?

James: Kyle, I get it's your father, but listen to what you're saying, man. Sink Midtown Manhattan? Our home for the past three years? The home we fought for?

Kyle: James, we've tried everything to kill these things so has the A.O.W...this is our best shot we've got.

A short pause.

Shawn: Kyle, what you're asking, man....it's crazy...how do we know it will work? Because your dad said so? He's been dead since you were a kid and all of a sudden we hear a message from the dead saying we need to sink Midtown Manhattan in order to kill these monsters.....You're my boy and I'm with you....but not on this.

Jake: Kyle, they're right...we can't...

Kyle: We have to....

James: Jesus, man...you sound like Ryder...if Barnes was still alive, he'd agree to this fucking crazy plan of yours.

Kyle: Ryder wanted to kill every one of us to build his utopia...I don't....we do this and everyone out there....gets a chance to live...you've fought with me this far....against Butchers....against Blood Hogs...against Kronos...hell, the whole goddamn wasteland....fight with me now.

A short pause.

James: Cassandra's not going to like this....neither will Sarah...Alexandria, Daniel...Billy...Nathan...they're buried in Midtown Manhattan, man.

Kyle: They'll have to understand.

Shawn: Fuck it....let's give it a shot.

Jake: Yeah, I guess.

Kyle: James, send the data to command...tell em we've got a way to kill the Condemned for good.

In Midtown Manhattan, the command center, the information of the message from Andrew is sent to the computers as the technician receives word with Sarah, Ashley, Caleb, Mitchell, Maya, Pierce, Bowers, Marcus and Margaret present.

Computer Technician: Chairman Pierce, we're receiving word from Desipich....it's a message....he...uh....he says we need to sink Midtown Manhattan.

Ashley: Huh?

Sarah: What?

Pierce: He's lost his damn mind....

Caleb: Or on drugs.

Mitchell: He better have a good goddamn reason on why we should sink our home.

Cassandra: Because it's the only way to kill those things.....

Pierce: It's from his father....when was this recorded?

Computer Technician: I don't know, sir.....but....It sounds like it may be our only option.

A short pause.

Ashley: We're not really going to do this, are we?! This is our fucking home!

Maya: We can't! There's too many people here! Where will we go?!

Sarah: We'll find somewhere.....

Pierce: So be it....Bowers, get the men on patrol and start getting civilians evacuated....

An earthquake is felt in Midtown Manhattan.

Pierce: And fast...

The A.O.W Soldiers begin to evacuate civilians as Pierce makes an announcement.

Pierce: Citizens of Midtown Manhattan. It has come to my attention that we are out of options. Therefore, we must sacrifice this city in order to kill these monsters.

The Midtown Manhattan civilians shout in anger and shock.

Pierce: It is a difficult choice, but it will be a necessary sacrifice to ensure our survival. My soldiers will escort you to the vehicles and aircrafts to be extracted.

In the Tower, Sarah is giving a puzzled look as Ashley approaches her.

Ashley: Sarah, what do think of this?

Sarah: I think we should trust Kyle.

Ashley: I do, but where are we going to go? We haven't had to move in the past three years and suddenly, when these monsters show up, we have to give up our only possible home?

Sarah: It doesn't matter if home is here or anywhere. As long as we're all together, that's home....we'll be okay, Ashley.

In the Hive, Kyle, Jake, Shawn and James enter the palace into the throne room, before confronting the Condemned Queen herself with Scorcher standing guard.

Scorcher: (in Condemned language) My queen....shall I kill them?

The Condemned Queen stands up from her throne.

Condemned Queen: No....stand down...for now. 

The Condemned Queen approaches to Kyle, Jake, Shawn and James. 

Condemned Queen: Welcome...for a gang of murders, traitors, thieves, rapists and cut throats...oh, and soldiers, I am impressed.....are you here to kill me?

Kyle: You attacked our home and sunk many cities...why wouldn't we be here to kill you? After all, you're just a monster in a mask.

The Condemned Queen scoffs, before removing her mask, revealing to be Mina as Jake gives a shocked look.

Jake: (quietly) Mom?

Mina: We're all monsters behind masks. You humans are the first to infect this palace with your presence, but I promise you, you will be the last.

James: The Queen is human?

Shawn: She's Subject 0. An immune human.

Mina: The immunity was fortunately not my choice.

Kyle: If you're planning on flooding the Hive and the Shallows, then I guess we are the last humans to come down here.

Mina: Yes, amazing how you managed to kill the Leviathan....but still there are ways for us to sink Midtown Manhattan....and when that happens, you and your people will die along with the Krens.

Kyle: Not if we beat you to it first.

Mina laughs.

Mina: Scorcher told me of your plan to sink Midtown Manhattan before us...and it won't work.

Kyle: Oh, yeah? And how's that?

Mina: Because we already have an army on their way to Midtown Manhattan to stop that from happening. Your men will be killed and your women and children...enslaved.

James: Shit! Cassandra....

Kyle: Sarah....

Mina: My boy...leader...tell me....you two are the sons of Andrew Desipich?

Kyle: You knew my father?

Mina: Your father was a great man....his boys are as handsome and strong-minded as he was....especially you....Kyle.....you were only a baby the last time I saw you....How you've grown.

A short pause, before Kyle gives a curious look.

Kyle: Who are you?

Mina: That no longer concerns you.

Mina leaves as Kyle gives chase.

Kyle: Wait! Wait!

Jake: Kyle!

Scorcher suddenly knocks Kyle backwards, causing him to slide into Shawn, Jake and James.

Mina: Kill them.

Scorcher roars, before equipping his two-bladed staff and engaging Kyle, Jake, Shawn and James in a fight. In Midtown Manhattan, the earthquakes begin to get stronger, while in the tower, Pierce yells out to Bowers.

Pierce: Bowers! The seismic activities getting a whole lot stronger!

Bowers: I know! We're getting the men ready for an attack!

Sarah, Ashley, Caleb, Mitchell, Cassandra, Maya, Marcus and Margret arm themselves, along with the A.O.W Soldiers, who continue evacuating civilians. The Midtown Manhattan fighters help get the women and children into escape vehicles. After a few tense moments, a giant earthquake ravages Midtown Manhattan, killing a few, before Condemned army emerge from the giant sinkhole and engage in a war with the A.O.W Soldiers and Midtown Manhattan fighters, leading to the siege of Midtown Manhattan. In the Hive Palace, Mina is walking through the halls as Scorcher continues fighting Kyle, Jake, Shawn and James.

Kyle: James! Shawn! Go after the Queen!

James: You two can't handle this big fucker on your own!

Kyle: That's a goddamned order, James! Go! Now!

Shawn: C'mon, James! They got this!

Shawn and James depart and pursue Mina. Scorcher jumps on the ceiling and severs the chandelier with his two-bladed staff. The chandelier crashes as Kyle and Jake dodge, creating a dust of confusion. Scorcher advances at Kyle, who holds off the attack with his Zeus Corps machete.

Kyle: What's the matter? You pissed off we gutted your pet slug?! Huh?! You killed my friend! I killed your pet!

Kyle head butts Scorcher, before punching him. In Midtown Manhattan, the Condemned army along with Manticores and Goliaths attack. The Manticores and Condemned destroy evacuating aircraft and vehicles as A.O.W automated turrets get a lock on the Manticores and Goliaths, before opening fire, taking down a few of them. Many buildings are destroyed in the battle. In the Hive Palace, Shawn and James finally reach Mina.

Shawn: Hey! Stop!

Mina turns and smiles, before she puts her hands up. After a few tense moments, Mina falls off the edge, before Shawn and James react. Suddenly, Mina is riding the back of a Queen Wasp Creature armed with a energy cannon she uses the blast at Shawn and James, before she departs. Shawn and James recover, before James notices Shawn slipping on a piece of debris.

Shawn: James! James! Help!

James: Hold on, man! I'm coming!

In the throne room, Scorcher swings at Kyle and Jake with the two-bladed staff as they dodge. Kyle's shoulder is sliced as well as Jake's chest, but the two continue fighting off Scorcher. Jake pulls out his pistol and shoots at Scorcher, who blocks the attack with his two bladed staff, before being disarmed and knocked aside. Scorcher faces Kyle, who arms his shotgun.

Kyle: That all you got....Jackal? Yeah, I know what happened.....after the war.

Scorcher: You saying you're sorry for what happened?

Kyle: No.....I'm not....but you were right about one thing....I should've just shot you all dead...would've spared you all the pain of this....

Scorcher: No going back now....just so you know; your friend screamed like a bitch when I whipped him up....and now I'm going to make you scream, bitch.

Kyle: c'mon, you ugly motherfucker!

Scorcher screeches before charging at Kyle, who shoots at Scorcher. In slow motion, Scorcher severs Kyle's shotgun, before tripping him with his staff. Scorcher prepares to finish off Kyle, but Jake steps in and blocks the strike with his blade. Scorcher knocks Jake aside, before tossing Kyle into Jake.

Jake: Shit...we're getting the crap beat out of us.

Kyle: Well, do you have a plan to defeat this fucker?

Jake: Yeah....I do...

James cautiously walks over to Shawn as the debris suddenly falls, but James catches Shawn with one hand. In Midtown Manhattan, Maya is looking at the siege of Midtown Manhattan, crying. Cassandra walks up to her.

Maya: This is it, isn't it?

Cassandra: no.....no...this isn't....Mom and Dad wouldn't have given up.....Blake wouldn't have....we can't either....this isn't it, Maya.....we will survive.

In the throne room, Kyle stands up as Jake equips a smoke grenade, before he deploys it, creating a cloud of smoke to confuse Scorcher long enough for Kyle and Jake to disappear. After a few moments of Scorcher searching for his foes, Kyle runs out with his Zeus Corps machete charging at Scorcher, who prepares to block, but Jake sneaks up behind Scorcher and slits his Achilles heel, causing Scorcher to kneel. Scorcher attempts to attack Jake, who blocks the attack, but Kyle manages to stab Scorcher in the neck. Scorcher backs away, tending to his wound as Kyle and Jake move in, but suddenly, his flying creature, the King Wasp breaks through the glass and shoots at Kyle and Jake, who take cover. Scorcher jumps onto the back of the King Wasp as it flees. Kyle and Jake recover.

Jake: Damn it! Where'd he go?

Kyle: Damn...

James helps Shawn up as Kyle and Jake regroup.

Jake: Where's the queen?

James: She got away. Flew on one of those flying things, but bigger.

Jake: Which way?

Kyle: No, forget her. We need to find a way back to Midtown Manhattan.

Shawn: How do we do that? Walk?

James: Well, we could use those two flying things in there.

Jake: Uh...yeah...no...

James: Why not? They're fast. Reliable...not trustworthy, but it's a way out of here...which we need.

Jake: I don't care! We're not-

Suddenly, Scorcher and his King Wasp appear, opening fire on the group.

Kyle: No choice now! Move!

Kyle, Jake, Shawn and James make a run to the Manticore cages, before entering.

Kyle: There's our ticket out! Shawn! With me! Jake! James! Take the other one!

Jake: Kyle, this is not a fuckin horse! It's not going to let us just climb on it.

Kyle: What? You got a better idea?

Kyle and Shawn climb on top of their Manticore.

Shawn: Whoa...easy boy...girl...whatever you are!

James places his goggles over his eyes, before the Manticores that Jake and James is attempting to tame acts up.

James: Hey! Heal! Heal! No! No! yo, Kyle! Can we switch?!

Kyle: Let's ride, boys!

Shawn: Yee-haw! Yippe-ki-yeah, motherfuckers!

Kyle and Shawn ride their Manticores as Jake and James ride theirs.

Shawn: You know; I always wanted me a flying unicorn when I was a kid.....it's a flying monster instead. It's ugly, but that doesn't matter. Let's just beat it.