Something Strange

Name: The Creatures
Difficulty: Experienced [1,000 WC Minimum]
Description: The creatures are what resulted when the natural life was exposed to all the radiation. Sometimes, on very rare occasions, a human would be mostly unaffected by it, maybe vomit a bit. Then a larger some would become a brute. But animals and weak minded and/ir bodied humans were transformed into monstrosities. Your job is to do some research on them, capture a few of them and kill a few.
Gains: Either the skill anatomy or 200 coins
Requirements: none

Pulling himself up the small flight of stairs, one shaky step at a time, the fair-faced punk had emerged from the small room underground and had attempted to hide the entrance that had found him his new vest and coin. With a slow pan of his eyes across the alley way to scout out any would-be threats or prying-eyes; Vicious concluded that there were none to be had at this time and nodded slightly in approval. Without delay the pyromaniac with the short, spiky hair moved away from his new discovery spot, traveling west down the alley and back toward the main road of Newport. He had just recently come from the bar and had quite literally stumbled upon and fallen into the room which granted him his new loot. With a renewed confidence and some extra coin in his vest pocket; the punk headed straight for the only place he saw fit to go... back to the dive bar.

Placing his right palm against the cracked and splintered wood, Vicious pushed gently against the door and followed its swing inward to gain access to the bar he had just recently left. As he entered, he lifted his head slightly; narrowing his eyes and looking toward the counter. He had been gone only a short time, and Jen; the bartender, had not touched his glass, nor wiped the few drops of alcohol off the counter top where he might have drooled or splashed.

"Figured you'd be back.." said the cute woman behind the counter with a grin.

Jen was just the type of gal that Vicious might like to court and eventually build a relationship with. However, due to his rowdy nature and his current discomfort in the quiet town of Newport, he had kept a tight lid on any such matters up to this point. And, with his legs carrying him to the bar stool and his posture resuming previous slouch with elbows on the counter top; he did not plan to deviate from the plan at the moment.

Familiar to the ways of the quiet punk and his lust for the drink, Jen smiled softly and filled his glass to the brim. In turn, the punk rifled through the pocket on his new vest and pulled a few coin from the confines of the material. The coin jingled in his hand and clapped with sweet resound as he lay them upon the counter top. Jen turned her head slowly, raising an eyebrow to the announcement of payment and moved softly; gliding like an angel to pick it up off the counter top. Before she could turn her back, the sound of more coin was heard clapping against the counter top as well as the sound of Vicious' empty glass touching down.

"Thirsty are we?" laughed Jen as she turned back to face Vicious and poured him another.

Her hands moved quickly as she pour his drink and took the coin off the counter in the same move. Vicious kept his eyes on the glass in front of him and nodded to himself as he watched the alcohol flow and fill the container. Clearing his throat, the punk wrapped fingers round the smooth glass and lifted it to his nostrils. Inhaling gentle and long, he took in the fine aroma of the beverage which reminded him of gasoline mixed with jet fuel. The substance was strong indeed and probably the only reason Vicious kept coming back, other than the occasional glance of the beauty behind the bar. As he parted his lips, about to swallow down the latest installment, Vicious stopped; dug into his pocket and lay another few coin on the counter.

"Care to join me?.." said Vicious softly.

Jen stopped in her tracks, lifting her head and pinning her beautiful blue eyes on the punk at the bar. It was rare for her to hear him speak, and she began to wonder if she had ever before. Without too much delay, she regained her slight loss of composure and pour herself a glass to match the one in his hands. With a gentle grin, Jen moved her glass through the air toward Vicious' own and the pair of glasses clinked with a pleasing cheers.

"Salud" proclaimed the punk quietly as he touched the base of his glass down on the counter, waiting for Jen to follow suit before bringing the drink back to his lips and downing the wicked elixir.

Both parties downed their drinks and Jen's face twisted slightly to match the expression of Vicious' own. The drink was indeed strong, but the company was even better. Vicious closed his eyes as his empty glass touched back down on the counter top and he leaned backward on the bar stool slightly. Inhaling deep and hard through his nostrils the punk's dark mind filled with images of the beauty behind the bar. However, there was something else which occupied the spaces in the dark of his mind. Images of a stranger in the bar, whom he had noticed upon entering. Though he had paid little mind to the figure sitting alone, he had kept close caution and awareness for the individual. Normally, he would not waste a minute obsessing over things he couldn't control and people he didn't know. This time, was different though and the constant shifting of the stranger in their seat and low growling noises coming from them was a little more than unsettling. To survive out here, one had to be more than on their guard and always a few steps ahead, especially when intoxicated and flirting with the opposite sex.

There was something strange, about this one.

As if she could read his mind, Jen's eyes were locked on Vicious' own and she slightly shook her head at him, as though to confirm his discomfort.
Just as the thought crossed Vicious' mind, the low growling grew intensely loud and the punk turned his head just in time to see the stranger standing and drawing a weapon of some sort. The gleam of cold steel caught Vicious' eye and he registered the weapon as a gun. With his finger tips still caressing his empty glass, Vicious snatched it up and hurled it at the stranger's face. The glass shattered hard against the figure's forehead and caused him to drop the gun. As the gun smacked against the floor, it discharged a round that went zinging right past Vicious' head. The punk grit his teeth and charged the stranger, leaping over the table in between them and tackling him to the ground. As he rolled over and came up on top of the attacker his eyes widened at the sight of the stranger's face.

Creature! thought Vicious as he froze up in disbelief.

In the moment he hesitated, the creature grabbed both of Vicious' wrists and rolled him over, coming up on top of him in a mounted position. The creature could no longer maintain it's civilized-facade and it's distorted face began to writhe and surge as its mutated jaw opened wide and his razor sharp teeth emerged from behind black, boiled gums. The creature lowered its head toward Vicious' throat and prepared to take a monstrous bite out of the punk that would surely end his life.

The sound of a gunshot ripped through the air and deafened Vicious momentarily. As the feeling of goop ran over his face and down his neck, the punk slowly opened his eyes and looked upward to see Jen standing above him, a shotgun in her hands and the barrel smoking. Placing the weapon on the table, she quickly knelt down and helped to pull the creature off of Vicious. The pyromaniac slowly shook his head, still trying to comprehend what had happened as he worked his way to his feet.

"You sure got lucky.." said Jen as she began straightening the tables and chairs back up.

It would appear she had dealt with this type of creature before and was unfazed by the encounter. Vicious however was new to this type of beast and was more curious than anything.

"Pull yourself together and help me get him outside before he starts to stink." shouted Jen, clapping her hands to bring Vicious back to reality.

Vicious nodded and helped her carry the creature outside, laying his body atop some garbage cans and debris on the south side of the building. It was now clear to the punk, mutants and freaks like this one were real and they were not only roaming around the land, but beginning to infiltrate Newport with a moderate-level of resolve. It was also clear to him, that a shotgun blast to the back of their disfigured skulls would do the trick.

ACCEPTED (however your word count is 1458. Thats still over the required wc though!)