The Code of Chivalry
                               Chapter 5


    Malrick continued backing up, a cold sweat forming on his brow.  He
glanced to both sides, but all he saw were waves of demons pouring
closer.  At least he would take some out before he died, he thought.  As
the creatures were almost upon him, he smiled grimly, and began firing
his pistol.  He swung his psi-sword at anything it could reach, and took
out five demons before they got to him.  Their claws raked his body
armor, slashing it into shreds.  He felt the first talons pierce his
skin, and he grunted in pain.  The creatures piled onto him, and he
began to lose consciousness.  Everything became numb and black, as he
sank peacefully into death.
    Suddenly an ear-splitting boom sounded, deafening all in the forest,
and sending the demons sailing through the air as slugs of metal raked
through them.  Boom after boom sounded, and more demons were torn apart
as the flechette ripped through the ranks.  The creatures scattered
everywhere, fleeing this new threat.  Malrick gradually regained his
conciousness, sitting up to clear his head.  He found that he could not
hear anything.  He looked across the clearing and saw a ten foot
robot.  The armor glittered brilliantly, and he saw that the booming was
coming from the enormous rail gun attached to its shoulder.  Malrick
recognized the robot as a Glitter Boy.  The Glitter Boy finished driving
off the demons, then approached Malrick.  It stopped a few feet away,
and then the great arms raised up and removed the helmet.  Malrick saw a
young man, in his twenties, with light brown hair and a handsome, wild
look.  The man's lips moved, but Malrick couldn't hear him.  The man
realized he had been deafened by his Boom Gun.  He bent down and lifted
Malrick clear off the ground.  He carried him over to his frightened
horse, and plopped him on the saddle.  Malrick groaned in agony as he
felt his multiple claw wounds and broken ribs kick in.  The man
retrieved his weapons, and pulled Malrick's horse through the portal.
Once again he felt agonizing pain and searing light, but it was over
much more quickly.  The Glitter Boy replaced his helmet, and began
running off into the forest, leading Malrick's horse with him.  When his
hearing was restored, he shouted for them to stop.  The Glitter Boy
slowed, and stopped in a clearing.  He picked Malrick up and layed him
gently on the ground.
    Malrick heard the hissing of hydraulic pressure, and the back of the
armor slowly opened and lowered.  The man inside pulled himself out and
jumped to the ground.  He reached back into the suit and retrieved a
chest.  He placed this on the ground and began to stretch.
    "Damn armor makes ya cramped as hell!"  he smiled.  "My name's Jim,
Jim Starbrook.  Glad ta meetcha.  No need to thank me for that little
rescue mission back there.  I enjoy giving these fuckin bastards a
wallop.  So, who might you be, and what the hell was ya doin in that
portal anyways?"
    "My name is Lord Malrick.  I was following a demon army northward
towards Lazlo.  Some big ugly fuck grabbed me from the portal and sucked
me in.  I killed him, but those things came.  If it weren't fer you..."
    "Yeah, yeah.  So what might your profession be?  Myself, as you can
plainly see, is a GB.  You look like a cyber-knight ta me.  I've
traveled with a few in my day, nice bunch o guys."
    Malrick nodded.  "I am a cyber-knight.  What were you doing in the
Gate?"
    Jim grinned wolfishly.  "I was wantin to give them bastards a
headache.  I guess I got em pretty good!"
    Malrick grinned too.  He was beginning to like this man.  They were
alike in many ways.  For once, he actually trusted another person.
Maybe it was because he felt in debt to the man, but he trusted him
nonetheless.  As he was about to reply, he suddenly collapsed onto the
ground.  His deadening spell had finally worn off, and he felt the full
effects of his wounds.
    "You alright?  You look like shit.  Anything I can do?" asked Jim.
    "Give me some time, and I can regenerate myself.  I just need some
peace and rest."
    "Okey dokey.  You just sit back and do your psychic thing and I'll
keep watch."  He opened the chest, and took out a half eaten sandwich,
some beer, and a laser pistol.  Jim sat back and munched contently,
watching Malrick closely.
    Malrick layed back, and concentrated.  He felt the power begin, and
his ribs began to slowly move back into place.  The blood stopped
flowing from his wounds, and he sank into a peaceful sleep.

Creeping Death '93 [CHAOS CT]