The Rebirth of Hyperion Pt.3 (Supremacy)
Jan 24, 2018 0:25:18 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer, Dave D-Flipz, and 1 more like this
Post by Hyperion on Jan 24, 2018 0:25:18 GMT -5
Allegheny Regional Hospital
Pittsburg, PA
5 Days Ago...
***********
BEEP...BEEP...BEEP…
-That sound...it continues to haunt me...it traces me despite my attempts to elude it…-
BEEP...BEEP...BEEP…
-The beast fell at mine own hands, the witch’s death combined...why must this sound pursue me...unless…
BEEP...BEEP...BEEP…
...this sound is not of magic or sorcery, but something else. My eyes...they remain shut, they seal against my will!
~...heartbeat is strong, patient is self-sufficient…~
~...resources are low, beds are in demand…~
~...there must be another way, there must be somebody we can alert…~
~...it has been two weeks, nobody has looked for him, police have approved the decision…~
~...but we might be able to save him…~
~...nurse, it's too late...James Knox is clinically and medically dead...turn off the machines, that's an orders…~
-Voices...these voices from before, only now...they are closer to me. By my side even...oh to open my eyes and observe the world! My body, numb and cold, betrays my commands. I have left my old self behind, but alas, I have not yet found my new self.-
BEEP...BEEP...BEEP…
~...I’m sorry there is nothing...holy shit, did he just move?!~
~W-what?...yes, his eyes! Look!...his brain activity is spiking...his vitals are normalizing…~
-The time is nigh, my restraint will not be accepted. I am Hyperion, and I must go forth!-
Battling his body and urging himself back to consciousness, we open in Allegheny Regional, to see Hyperion laid across a bed, draped in a gown only. His head is bandaged heavily, blood soaked. His body is a culmination of scratches, scrapes and road rash but most concerning of all...he is lying still, unconscious.
-This body will not be my prison, I will not remain in purgatory a moment longer! Cruel world, you try to withhold me, but you cannot. For I am the King of Olympus, Titan of Heavenly Light...Hyperion LIVES!
In a sudden surge of power, Hyperion defeats the restraints on his body, the mental block forbidding mind to control flesh. Surging forward, his mind races to catch up with reality, all his adventures and encounters with beasts and monsters falling behind him. His mind speeds ever more, wheezing and whirring until it finds its destination…
~Doctor, come quick! It’s...it’s a miracle!~
~I don’t believe it...he’s awake!~
His eyes burst open, his mouth stretches and explodes in a defiant roar, his chest heaves…
RRRAAGHHHHH!
-I AM ALIVE!!-
Allegheny Regional Hospital
Pittsburg, PA
3 Days Ago...
************
Two white coats meet by the reception desk of the hospital ward, files in hand. The male doctor, tall with glasses, flips through a binder reviewing information scripted across it. The other, a shorter female speaks with the receptionist, gathering updates. She reconvenes with him, discussing her findings as he continues to browse, looking down the bridge of his nose through the frame of his spectacles.
Prognosis, doctor?
Well, he’s awake, he’s cognitive and most importantly...he’s insane.
Insane?
Apparently so, not remembering who he is, babbling in tongues and speaking about monsters, demons and angels. Even his name is crazy...nurse said he's calling himself ‘Hyperion’.
Hyperion you say...I’ve heard that name before, but I can't quite place where...alas, that is not the concern. This...delusion he's suffering, might it be from the accident? Trauma? Post trauma stress?
Hard to say, as you saw yourself he was brain dead two days ago, beyond vegetative states. Without assistance, he would have died. But this new persona, the patterns...just look for yourself.
Both doctors lean in to review the findings, studying them finely.
I have seen this before, but it is rare...extremely rare...it seems we have indeed lost our patient, Mr. Knox.
Well if Knox is dead...who is that in there?
Well, it’s hard to say but...I had a case in ‘94 similar to this. A male, mid-thirties, swore he saw and heard ghosts. It drove him crazy, wild. He could hear voices, could hear movement, and now and then he would see things moving around him, ghostly blurred images.
And what was it?
...schizophrenia. But a very mild, very complex version. See, what he saw were not ghosts...but memories. His alter-self would take control, often doing the same everyday things. However returning to the original mind, these ‘flashbacks’ or ‘ghosts’ would reappear. Was is deja-vu to you and me became a living nightmare for him...shame really, for he was a sweet man truly. The strain of these episodes however…
What happened to him?
Well, lets just say a few took many pills and a bathtub are a poor mix. His wife found him, submerged and lifeless. She did her best to resuscitate him, but by the time the ambulance crew arrived he was barely ticking. They saved him, but his brain...dead. As a dodo.
Comatosed?
Indeed. However, his wife continued to speak with him, visiting him each day, never giving up hope. One day the decision was made to make the hardest choice ever...and he woke up! Almost as if he knew what was in store!
Amazing! A full recovery?
Um, not quite...see his mind was destroyed, not his brain. His flesh suffered, but his wife claimed it was his soul that died. For you see, the man that woke up was not her husband, not the loving sweet man she married. In fact…
...it was the alter ego…
The doctor nods and smiles as his subordinate.
Yes, and I fear whatever demons Mr. Knox was harboring might just have awoken. Is this…’Hyperion’, as he calls himself, was a dark passenger to Mr. Knox all along, I believe it might be his time to drive, so to speak.
Which would mean Mr. Knox…?
...sadly, his mind might have switched. Not gone, never gone, but just subsided and comatosed. The brain is an amazing machine, capable of feats we still cannot fathom. This alternating personality is only the tip of the iceberg. With new personalities often comes new memories, new languages, even new abilities. It truly is amazing to observe.
The nurse has just finished her rounds, so Mr. Knox...erm, lets say Mr. Hyperion should be sated and in his room. Shall we go see him?
Lets.
With that, the two doctors gather their items in their hands, the female holder a binder along with a clipboard of information, the senior male holding a cup of coffee in his right and his left tucked into his pocket. They casually walk the hallway until they reach Hyperion’s room...but find it empty, only a vacant bed remaining.
Do we have the right room?
Um, yes, Room 7B. He was here earlier, they moved him yesterday...let me ask the nurse?
The female doctor leaves to find some help, as the male walks around, observing his surroundings. He feels a chill run up his arm, and notices a breeze. He walks to close the window and it dawns on him...he pushes the window open wide and looks down, to see an ambulance parked below him, sporting a heavily dented roof. He quickly pops back in and looks to the washroom of the private room, and finds bloody bandages on the floor, and a very noticeable lack of clothes folded away.
...yes right here, we came here but the patient is missing.
The female doctor returns with the ward nurse, but the look on her seniors face says it all.
Looks like Mr. Hyperion had somewhere important to be.
But...but...he jumped? We are on the third floor! And he just woke up from a coma! He should be dead.
The doctor smiles, surprising both the ladies.
...I knew I've heard that name before...don’t worry, I think I know where Mr. Hyperion is going…
...where?
...to War…
Somewhere between Pittsburgh and Bethesda
3 Days Ago
**********
-Knox? Knox! Answer me! Blast you simpleton...you speak when undesired, and you hold your tongue when needed. Knox, answer me...-
Marching along the side of a busy highway, Hyperion stumbles and staggers and he progresses, still shaky on his legs after days of comatosed sleep. His injured head weeps as he walks, sending fresh crimson blood down his brow. He marches ahead blindly, not quite knowing which direction to move in. He spots a road sign in the distance, and reads it to himself.
-...Cleveland...blasted, that is too far out of my way. I need to venture west further, perhaps find myself a car service or...what is the blasted hells! Where is this information coming from! Knox, this must be you, answer me!-
Phased and baffled, he stands on the side of the highway, oblivious to the traffic speeding by. He staggers onto the street, walking along the hard shoulder when a passing semi blows its horn and startles him.
-Curses on you foul beast! I have fought monsters too often this week, I will not let you win today!...Knox, what has become of you? How has it that I have come to be in control? Our body, shared before but now feels vacated...Knox you fool, what have you done.-
A pickup truck slows down and pulls in, passing Hyperion by a few feet. Hyperion walks to the passenger side door, where the window is rolled down.
You there, might you assist me in my hour of need?
Whoa sonny, I don’ know what kinda accent you is talkin’ in but you’s...holy shit! You’s Hyperiun! The wrassler!
Yes, my name is Hyperion...shall I accept your excitement as assistance?
Assitan-, sure thing! Where ya headed?
...New Athens, Ohio.
It’s a bit outta the way...I could bring you near I guess…
If you take me there, I can promise you a feast of ale, tender meats and the bosom of a beautiful maiden.
Gondangit, yeh drive a hard bargain...but yer on! Hop in!...my my, it’s really Hyperiun, in ma truck…
Hyperion makes his way into the passenger seat, as the truck pulls out and joins the flow of traffic.
Me an’ ma cousin, w watch you wrasslin’ all the time! You’s is one of our favorites, you and them other big guys. Um, Thunder and er, Maverick...and the guy with with the mask. He’s a sure favorite back in the trailer! My cousin and me, we wus gonna be wrassler’s too, but then my brother said that…
The hick mumbles on, ignored by Hyperion who has more things on his mind. Or more precisely, lack of things on his mind.
-Knox, this charade has continued long enough. I demand to know what has happened us, why I am in control and what has become of you...this body, it feels different now, strange to me...like it can feel more, sense more around me...prior to this, what I felt was almost surreal, non-existing. But now...I really am alive...and you are lost…-
...then Ma comes in and jus’ spills beans all over Susie Lou! She was fine though, her baby just bounced back and that gator didn’ even catch a bite…
-The power you felt, the energy you spoke to me of, this ‘Godly’ essence...I feel it. Truly this time. You had access to a portion of my true might, but now...I have it all. The power and control is fine...but I feel I may have lost you. I never wished to lose you, or to destroy you. You were simply a vessel, and I your concubine...how the tides of change has washed us both.-
...and then I jus’ kicked him in tha nuts and screamed, ‘Get yer hands off my dick ya damn tranny!’...
-...I feel...I am uncertain of what to say...perhaps once back in my safe haven, back with my people...might then I have more understanding of what has transpired…-
The hick continues to ramble on about nothing in particular.
You...might I ask you to you silence your noise. This drabble is irritating me, I have just awoken from another lifetime, and escaped from another facility, the second in under six months…
...um, sure thing Hype, ye gots it...og boy, Hyperiun, in ma cab!
The driver silences, as Hyperion finally rest his head on the torn up head rest behind him and closes his eyes, drifting into to a deep sleep once more.
Sirens Gentlemens Club
New Athens, OH
3 Days Ago
*********
Inside the prestigious new location recently opened in the tri-city area, Sirens has rapidly grown to become a sure fire winner with all folks. From those who enjoy theatre, live shows and a taste of the exotic, the pantomime stage and performance area serves well. For those looking to indulge in cocktails and some fine dining, the bar and restaurant tickle the fancies of those salivating for a taste. And for those who prefer pleasures of the flesh...well, that is where Sirens got its name. Based on the folklore of old, sirens were beautiful women, who would entrance travelers on the sea to come closer to them and join them. Those who didn't crash or sink on the voyage to their island, ultimately lost everything once they docked on the shores. And there is no difference here; concealed behind curtains, the rear of the building houses exotic dancers renowned for their beauty. And like the female of mythology, hapless travelers lose their fortunes in the bosom of such attraction.
Today the location looks less lively than usual...with most of the lights off, the main hall looks more like a storage facility that a top club. The stage area is lit up, the only lights activated pulsing a beam down on the wooden stand, and from there we can see the shape of a gathering...numerous men and women are stood around the stage, wearing black robes but with their hoods draped low. Upon the stage stands two familiar men...the Brothers of Valhalla. Murmurs from the crowd indicate there is some commotion, some uneasyness. After a few moments, a door opens beside the stage and Ezriel appears, Hyperion’s right hand. He walks to center stage, observing the people before him, the members of ‘Church’. Hyperion's legion, now passed to Ezriel to control, to command and to lead. Those with hoods low quickly scramble to pull them over their heads, faces and identities concealed to honor the golden rule…’It matters not what you do, so long as you do it for a greater cause.’ In other words, don’t try to be a hero, nobody wins in the limelight of chaos and anarchy. Join the legion and grow powerful as a hive. With the Brothers on stage, and now Ezriel joining them, a portly man shoves his way through the crowd and onto the stage...Derrick Donovan.
Gustav, Bjark...I don’t mean to be worrisome here, but...well, nobody's seen Hyperion. For like, 5 days now. No answer from their calls, no words of his return...Ezriel, have you spoken to him?
Ezriel looks at Derrick, and ignores his question.
Well be that way...but if he doesn’t come back soon, we’re gonna be in a pickle. Supremacy is fast approaching, you all need to get ready for your matches, and now Hyperion’s gone. I mean, I am all for boosting morale, but right now we’re gonna need a miracle…
Hyperion is not gone far, I can feel it. His mind, his inner demons, he...he just needs some time to meditate. He shall return.
Yeah, well he best do it soon. These folk are growing restless, following a cause that is missing a leader. They are gonna need something.
They have a leader...I now command the Church and its zealots. As handed to me by Hyperion, their commands now come from me.
Alright, well then you should probably do something soon, otherwise people are not going to be happy.
Are you telling me what to do, Donovan?
No no...but do something! All this standing around is nonsense, especially with Supremacy creeping up on us. The Brothers have a huge chance to end Jackson Steele once and for all, you have the opportunity to put down an Icon, or convert his mind to your way with your black magic voodoo thing. And Hyperion...lets say if he doesn’t come home soon, he’s blown a huge shot.
Ezriel steps up to Derrick, very close so that they are face to face.
Donovan, know your place. I don’t need you telling me how things are. Now, begone from my stage.
Listen here Ezriel, you don’t command me. You don’t command us! We’re on the same team here, if you can’t get that through your thick skull. And without Hyperion, there is no need for us to even be here, helping you along.
So now you’re insulting me to my face? Dumb move Donovan…
Ezriel closes the gap further, squaring up to Derrick Donovan. The Brothers step forward, ready to intervene and more importantly, to warn Ezriel to know his role. Of course, this causes Ezriel to turn his gaze, staring at the Brothers of Valhalla, the tension so thick in the air that any sudden movement might cause an altercation. Before anything can happen, the main door of the hallway flings open, and with it light from outside pours in, drowning the figure of a man and casting a large silhouette in the doorway...Hyperion.
He walks forward, slowly and unsteadily, still recovering from his accident and recovering from his comatose sleep. He makes his way to the stage platform, zealots and followers stepping aside to allow him passage. Some murmur his name, whispers of his arrival, others take a knee and bow for their King. He makes his way to the stage, and over to meet the men present.
Hyperion, your back! Good, and not a minute sooner. We have a lot to do-
Hyperion raises a hand, silencing Derrick Donovan. His gaze continues on Ezriel, his right hand.
Ezriel, my friend. It is good to see you again, I fear it has been too long.
Only a few days…
To you, perhaps...but to me, it has been much, much longer...the Brothers of Valhalla. We can finally meet, face to face.
The Brothers exchange a glance between them, slightly confused. Hyperion shakes both of their hands individually. Lastly he turns to Derrick Donovan.
Derrick of the Donovans, I remember your face. We spoke briefly in Britain, and once more in the land of Bethesda. It is good to see you again, but with mine own eyes.
Slightly unsure of what to say, Derrick just nods slightly and smiles...until Hyperion puts a hand on him shoulder.
You have done well in bringing the Brothers to me. Now, I must address my people...if you would be so kind…
Getting the hint, Derrick leaves the stage, so that only the members of The Order remain. Hyperion looks from Bjark to Ezriel, to Gustav, before walking to center stage and standing before his legion of followers, tightly packed around the platform.
My people...my legion...my friends...to say I have returned is truly an understatement. The man I was prior to now, the man I have been for several moon passing's, was a lie. A fraud, a demon possession. It is no lie our power is coveted, desired higher than most royalties. To be a part of such a movement, to be a part of the new world...it really is inspiring, and powerful. But there are those who wish to stop us, halt our progression towards total domination and burn our advances. I have become victim to such corruption, weaken and mislead by my own mind...and for that, I apologize.
The crowd remain silent, listening to their God speak.
...I apologize for what I have done. I apologize for what I have said...I vowed to lead you all to greatness, through power and justice. To achieve your greatest desires through perseverance and hard toil. And my promise remains...I will lead you all to greatness!
He throws up a fist into the air, the crowd cheers in reaction.
It is no secret I came to be from the mind of another, one James Knox. And it is no secret that his story was speckled with evil, mindless mayhem and sickening actions. But as of late, his final attack on me was successful...he regained control of my mind, of my body. That which had become home for me, from fingers to toes, from hair to skin to senses...became my prison. And the unprovoked or unspeakable chaos that has ensued as of late was not by my hand or my plan, but of his...for those of you offended, hurt or devastated by my actions, know that I will work towards your forgiveness…
Inside his mind, flashes of memories scuttle, returning to that nightmare scene of Bodhi fighting for her life until the wrath of a blood-lusting Knox…
...for those of you that lost belief in me, I will work to regain that. I will strive to show you that your King has returned...and for those of you still willing and able to take what is your right...we have a War to fight!
Again, raises his fist to cheers from the crowd.
My absence has not gone unnoticed, as my partners have held their heads high and strengthened their morals. Ezriel has lead you valiantly, and the Brothers of Valhalla have shown you the way of power. But my trial is just beginning, as I lead by example and walk my way into the arena of men and monsters, and retrieve what is rightfully mine...the King’s crown of this very place!
More cheers, growing in volume and excitement.
The battlefield has been set before me, and the whispers have been heard by my ears...Supremacy. The ultimate challenge. My partners will have their own battles, their own challenges to overcome. And for them, I wish them a bloody and enjoyable battle! As for my own war...I must overcome the odds. Kanyon, the arrogant warrior of old, holds the golden crown I desire. His conflict ethics and battle strategies have stood the test of time, so I must use any the experience in my history, and this body. I must meet him head on, and devour him whole.
Hyperion begins to pace a little, still at the front of the stage. Ezriel and the Brothers watch on from behind him.
The faces of Damien Young, and Jackson Grace are not familiar to me. From reviews of their past conquests, both will be worthy opponents, and will best my skills in the ring. To overcome them, I must try new angles, attack from new routes...it will be a challenge, but they will be satisfying to defeat.
He continues to pace…
James Raymond...a name unknown to me more than the others. A face I have not seen, a name that has not travelled well. The jester is the shade, the trickster in the grass...he will learn the power that my fist contains, and he will fall as so many have. As will Michael Storm...my recent adversary and current rival, Michael Storm has bested me in the ring, and provoked me dearly. He has helped push my inner demon, and has cost me so much more than he cares to consider...I look forward to confronting him once more. Perhaps this time I might be able to retire his beaten body for good!
Some more cheering from the crowd, even a ‘Woo’ from someone.
The organizers of this match have thought to put on a show, to entertain the masses of the audience. And why not, the gladiator pits they call a ring houses the best fighters in the world. But to pit a man versus a beast...now that, that will boil the blood of the spectators. That will entertain the masses as they curl will delight, craving the sight of blood. Our organizer, our Lord Mongo has seen to it to increase the novelty of this battle, and will be unleashing a live bear into the fray. We are to joust with a wild animal, starved and beaten, angry and afraid. It will kill anyone that dares cross it...but to further add spice, they have provided a meal for the bear, in the female form. The offerings of Alexis Grace and Azumi Goto, two seasoned warriors, capable of delivering a sensational death to me or any fortunate soul...but their inclusion to this swarm is for one thing only. To sate the appetite of that grizzly bear...and should they think otherwise, then I will make sure of it!
The crowd cheers, as Hyperion pretends to do a biting, eating motion. He makes his followers laugh, continuously boosting their mood.
Lastly, two soldiers I have seen in action with my own eyes...Rob Arnold and the man named Price. Myself and Ezriel ventured forth, our masterplan in the works as the empire was growing beneath me. We took the offering of visiting far away lands, to see what the terrain might be and what recruits could be sourced. I witnessed these men in the flesh, watch Rob Arnold beat a crippled, old man in the ring. I watched Price come close to shattering a man's skull with his foot, aggressively trying to take a life. These men are now wrestlers, they are not fighters...these men are mercenaries. Hired swords, looking to kill their mark for a bite to eat, or a bottle of ale. They work for themselves, they consider nobody as allies, and most importantly they are more dangerous than a wild animal. To tangled and sway with these ruthless killers...it will be a quarrel I anticipate to end in blood!
As he says it, some blood actually trickles down his forehead, his wound from the crash still tender and now unbandaged or unprotected. It trickles down as far as his lips, as which stage he licks and tastes the copper/ iron nectar of his heart.
Yes...to taste blood now pumps my heart even harder. This warzone will be one the observers speak of for years to come, one sure to be rested in the books of history. The ultimate competition, the greatest brawl. I enter as a man, opposed by ten combatants of varied age, size, sex and species. I must fight not only to win, but to survive. I must lead by example, to show you how to fearlessly stand on the frontlines of war. And I will reemerge and return to you here, not just a man, not just a prophecy of a returned King...but truly, as a God! Holding high my crown of gold, and leading you into a new age...the age of Hyperion!!
The crowd just loses their shit, cheering and shouting for their leader. Hyperion raises both his arms in the air, and gets excited with the crowd. He is approached from behind, and turns to meet Ezriel who embraces him in a quick hug, but follows with a solid arm grasp. He bows, and accepts Ezriel’s admiration. He turns to the Brothers of Valhalla, and shakes with them both also, before walking back to the center stage to speak with his family.
I will leave you with these words…’Let no man stop your advance in life. For no man shall follow you in retreat.’ I will lead us to a new age, and to new heights. As the sun has set on these passing turns, I have defied death from a motorcycle accident, destroyed my cranium and entered a nightmarish coma, only to awaken as my true self!
The crowd cheer, but Ezriel and the Brothers exchange glances.
...Did he just say he was in a coma?
...I have escaped the shackles of a mind that didn’t want me, and turned my fortress into my salvation! I have leaped from the top of a medical facility, ran wild in the dark of the night to make my way home, bled myself dry to lead you once more…
As he says it, blood continues to pour from his crown, now more heavy than before. He begins to look woozy on his feet.
...I have lost time, power and strength to return here, and have not eaten or drank anything more than the love of your souls for days...I feel myself rising now, closer to the heavens, weightless and lighter than air…
As he says it, he begins to sway even more, on the verge of collapse. Ezriel intervenes, walking forth to speak with him. He turns Hyperion and begins to lead him towards the back, as Hyperion continues to babble, his past few days of injuries and trauma catching up t him. Ezriel motions to the Brothers, saying something as he leads Hyperion away, and they both step down from the stage, seeking someone in the crowd. As Hyperion is almost gone from the stage, he raises his arm triumphantly once more, the very pinnacle of defiance and courage, as his legion cheers and shouts his name. Despite a near death experience and barely surviving his venture home, their leader is back, their King and savoir returned to save them...their God to guide them in heavenly light. As Ezriel and Hyperion begin to leave the scene, the Brothers of Valhalla are following behind them with a zealot of Hyperion’s Church, a white medical aid box in her hand to inspect her King’s wounds and medical condition…
Despite the voyage it has taken him, his internal struggles with his past self, the ‘true owner’ of his body, Hyperion has triumphed in the face of adversity. His cruel past, the actions of a mindless beast, playing him still. However moving forward he can take the knowledge of those actions, plus the memories of his former self, his would-be captor...it is true, the very personality of James Knox has passed, ceased to exist in this realm. But his knowledge, his experiences, his memories...all live on in his body and brain, and have merged with Hyperion’s mind. With the combined forces of two behemoths, a mind full of war tactics and a legion of follows, there really is only one man to watch out for in the XHF Network...the road leading to here was only the beginning, for a new age has come to light…
Pittsburg, PA
5 Days Ago...
***********
BEEP...BEEP...BEEP…
-That sound...it continues to haunt me...it traces me despite my attempts to elude it…-
BEEP...BEEP...BEEP…
-The beast fell at mine own hands, the witch’s death combined...why must this sound pursue me...unless…
BEEP...BEEP...BEEP…
...this sound is not of magic or sorcery, but something else. My eyes...they remain shut, they seal against my will!
~...heartbeat is strong, patient is self-sufficient…~
~...resources are low, beds are in demand…~
~...there must be another way, there must be somebody we can alert…~
~...it has been two weeks, nobody has looked for him, police have approved the decision…~
~...but we might be able to save him…~
~...nurse, it's too late...James Knox is clinically and medically dead...turn off the machines, that's an orders…~
-Voices...these voices from before, only now...they are closer to me. By my side even...oh to open my eyes and observe the world! My body, numb and cold, betrays my commands. I have left my old self behind, but alas, I have not yet found my new self.-
BEEP...BEEP...BEEP…
~...I’m sorry there is nothing...holy shit, did he just move?!~
~W-what?...yes, his eyes! Look!...his brain activity is spiking...his vitals are normalizing…~
-The time is nigh, my restraint will not be accepted. I am Hyperion, and I must go forth!-
Battling his body and urging himself back to consciousness, we open in Allegheny Regional, to see Hyperion laid across a bed, draped in a gown only. His head is bandaged heavily, blood soaked. His body is a culmination of scratches, scrapes and road rash but most concerning of all...he is lying still, unconscious.
-This body will not be my prison, I will not remain in purgatory a moment longer! Cruel world, you try to withhold me, but you cannot. For I am the King of Olympus, Titan of Heavenly Light...Hyperion LIVES!
In a sudden surge of power, Hyperion defeats the restraints on his body, the mental block forbidding mind to control flesh. Surging forward, his mind races to catch up with reality, all his adventures and encounters with beasts and monsters falling behind him. His mind speeds ever more, wheezing and whirring until it finds its destination…
~Doctor, come quick! It’s...it’s a miracle!~
~I don’t believe it...he’s awake!~
His eyes burst open, his mouth stretches and explodes in a defiant roar, his chest heaves…
RRRAAGHHHHH!
-I AM ALIVE!!-
Allegheny Regional Hospital
Pittsburg, PA
3 Days Ago...
************
Two white coats meet by the reception desk of the hospital ward, files in hand. The male doctor, tall with glasses, flips through a binder reviewing information scripted across it. The other, a shorter female speaks with the receptionist, gathering updates. She reconvenes with him, discussing her findings as he continues to browse, looking down the bridge of his nose through the frame of his spectacles.
Prognosis, doctor?
Well, he’s awake, he’s cognitive and most importantly...he’s insane.
Insane?
Apparently so, not remembering who he is, babbling in tongues and speaking about monsters, demons and angels. Even his name is crazy...nurse said he's calling himself ‘Hyperion’.
Hyperion you say...I’ve heard that name before, but I can't quite place where...alas, that is not the concern. This...delusion he's suffering, might it be from the accident? Trauma? Post trauma stress?
Hard to say, as you saw yourself he was brain dead two days ago, beyond vegetative states. Without assistance, he would have died. But this new persona, the patterns...just look for yourself.
Both doctors lean in to review the findings, studying them finely.
I have seen this before, but it is rare...extremely rare...it seems we have indeed lost our patient, Mr. Knox.
Well if Knox is dead...who is that in there?
Well, it’s hard to say but...I had a case in ‘94 similar to this. A male, mid-thirties, swore he saw and heard ghosts. It drove him crazy, wild. He could hear voices, could hear movement, and now and then he would see things moving around him, ghostly blurred images.
And what was it?
...schizophrenia. But a very mild, very complex version. See, what he saw were not ghosts...but memories. His alter-self would take control, often doing the same everyday things. However returning to the original mind, these ‘flashbacks’ or ‘ghosts’ would reappear. Was is deja-vu to you and me became a living nightmare for him...shame really, for he was a sweet man truly. The strain of these episodes however…
What happened to him?
Well, lets just say a few took many pills and a bathtub are a poor mix. His wife found him, submerged and lifeless. She did her best to resuscitate him, but by the time the ambulance crew arrived he was barely ticking. They saved him, but his brain...dead. As a dodo.
Comatosed?
Indeed. However, his wife continued to speak with him, visiting him each day, never giving up hope. One day the decision was made to make the hardest choice ever...and he woke up! Almost as if he knew what was in store!
Amazing! A full recovery?
Um, not quite...see his mind was destroyed, not his brain. His flesh suffered, but his wife claimed it was his soul that died. For you see, the man that woke up was not her husband, not the loving sweet man she married. In fact…
...it was the alter ego…
The doctor nods and smiles as his subordinate.
Yes, and I fear whatever demons Mr. Knox was harboring might just have awoken. Is this…’Hyperion’, as he calls himself, was a dark passenger to Mr. Knox all along, I believe it might be his time to drive, so to speak.
Which would mean Mr. Knox…?
...sadly, his mind might have switched. Not gone, never gone, but just subsided and comatosed. The brain is an amazing machine, capable of feats we still cannot fathom. This alternating personality is only the tip of the iceberg. With new personalities often comes new memories, new languages, even new abilities. It truly is amazing to observe.
The nurse has just finished her rounds, so Mr. Knox...erm, lets say Mr. Hyperion should be sated and in his room. Shall we go see him?
Lets.
With that, the two doctors gather their items in their hands, the female holder a binder along with a clipboard of information, the senior male holding a cup of coffee in his right and his left tucked into his pocket. They casually walk the hallway until they reach Hyperion’s room...but find it empty, only a vacant bed remaining.
Do we have the right room?
Um, yes, Room 7B. He was here earlier, they moved him yesterday...let me ask the nurse?
The female doctor leaves to find some help, as the male walks around, observing his surroundings. He feels a chill run up his arm, and notices a breeze. He walks to close the window and it dawns on him...he pushes the window open wide and looks down, to see an ambulance parked below him, sporting a heavily dented roof. He quickly pops back in and looks to the washroom of the private room, and finds bloody bandages on the floor, and a very noticeable lack of clothes folded away.
...yes right here, we came here but the patient is missing.
The female doctor returns with the ward nurse, but the look on her seniors face says it all.
Looks like Mr. Hyperion had somewhere important to be.
But...but...he jumped? We are on the third floor! And he just woke up from a coma! He should be dead.
The doctor smiles, surprising both the ladies.
...I knew I've heard that name before...don’t worry, I think I know where Mr. Hyperion is going…
...where?
...to War…
Somewhere between Pittsburgh and Bethesda
3 Days Ago
**********
-Knox? Knox! Answer me! Blast you simpleton...you speak when undesired, and you hold your tongue when needed. Knox, answer me...-
Marching along the side of a busy highway, Hyperion stumbles and staggers and he progresses, still shaky on his legs after days of comatosed sleep. His injured head weeps as he walks, sending fresh crimson blood down his brow. He marches ahead blindly, not quite knowing which direction to move in. He spots a road sign in the distance, and reads it to himself.
-...Cleveland...blasted, that is too far out of my way. I need to venture west further, perhaps find myself a car service or...what is the blasted hells! Where is this information coming from! Knox, this must be you, answer me!-
Phased and baffled, he stands on the side of the highway, oblivious to the traffic speeding by. He staggers onto the street, walking along the hard shoulder when a passing semi blows its horn and startles him.
-Curses on you foul beast! I have fought monsters too often this week, I will not let you win today!...Knox, what has become of you? How has it that I have come to be in control? Our body, shared before but now feels vacated...Knox you fool, what have you done.-
A pickup truck slows down and pulls in, passing Hyperion by a few feet. Hyperion walks to the passenger side door, where the window is rolled down.
You there, might you assist me in my hour of need?
Whoa sonny, I don’ know what kinda accent you is talkin’ in but you’s...holy shit! You’s Hyperiun! The wrassler!
Yes, my name is Hyperion...shall I accept your excitement as assistance?
Assitan-, sure thing! Where ya headed?
...New Athens, Ohio.
It’s a bit outta the way...I could bring you near I guess…
If you take me there, I can promise you a feast of ale, tender meats and the bosom of a beautiful maiden.
Gondangit, yeh drive a hard bargain...but yer on! Hop in!...my my, it’s really Hyperiun, in ma truck…
Hyperion makes his way into the passenger seat, as the truck pulls out and joins the flow of traffic.
Me an’ ma cousin, w watch you wrasslin’ all the time! You’s is one of our favorites, you and them other big guys. Um, Thunder and er, Maverick...and the guy with with the mask. He’s a sure favorite back in the trailer! My cousin and me, we wus gonna be wrassler’s too, but then my brother said that…
The hick mumbles on, ignored by Hyperion who has more things on his mind. Or more precisely, lack of things on his mind.
-Knox, this charade has continued long enough. I demand to know what has happened us, why I am in control and what has become of you...this body, it feels different now, strange to me...like it can feel more, sense more around me...prior to this, what I felt was almost surreal, non-existing. But now...I really am alive...and you are lost…-
...then Ma comes in and jus’ spills beans all over Susie Lou! She was fine though, her baby just bounced back and that gator didn’ even catch a bite…
-The power you felt, the energy you spoke to me of, this ‘Godly’ essence...I feel it. Truly this time. You had access to a portion of my true might, but now...I have it all. The power and control is fine...but I feel I may have lost you. I never wished to lose you, or to destroy you. You were simply a vessel, and I your concubine...how the tides of change has washed us both.-
...and then I jus’ kicked him in tha nuts and screamed, ‘Get yer hands off my dick ya damn tranny!’...
-...I feel...I am uncertain of what to say...perhaps once back in my safe haven, back with my people...might then I have more understanding of what has transpired…-
The hick continues to ramble on about nothing in particular.
You...might I ask you to you silence your noise. This drabble is irritating me, I have just awoken from another lifetime, and escaped from another facility, the second in under six months…
...um, sure thing Hype, ye gots it...og boy, Hyperiun, in ma cab!
The driver silences, as Hyperion finally rest his head on the torn up head rest behind him and closes his eyes, drifting into to a deep sleep once more.
Sirens Gentlemens Club
New Athens, OH
3 Days Ago
*********
Inside the prestigious new location recently opened in the tri-city area, Sirens has rapidly grown to become a sure fire winner with all folks. From those who enjoy theatre, live shows and a taste of the exotic, the pantomime stage and performance area serves well. For those looking to indulge in cocktails and some fine dining, the bar and restaurant tickle the fancies of those salivating for a taste. And for those who prefer pleasures of the flesh...well, that is where Sirens got its name. Based on the folklore of old, sirens were beautiful women, who would entrance travelers on the sea to come closer to them and join them. Those who didn't crash or sink on the voyage to their island, ultimately lost everything once they docked on the shores. And there is no difference here; concealed behind curtains, the rear of the building houses exotic dancers renowned for their beauty. And like the female of mythology, hapless travelers lose their fortunes in the bosom of such attraction.
Today the location looks less lively than usual...with most of the lights off, the main hall looks more like a storage facility that a top club. The stage area is lit up, the only lights activated pulsing a beam down on the wooden stand, and from there we can see the shape of a gathering...numerous men and women are stood around the stage, wearing black robes but with their hoods draped low. Upon the stage stands two familiar men...the Brothers of Valhalla. Murmurs from the crowd indicate there is some commotion, some uneasyness. After a few moments, a door opens beside the stage and Ezriel appears, Hyperion’s right hand. He walks to center stage, observing the people before him, the members of ‘Church’. Hyperion's legion, now passed to Ezriel to control, to command and to lead. Those with hoods low quickly scramble to pull them over their heads, faces and identities concealed to honor the golden rule…’It matters not what you do, so long as you do it for a greater cause.’ In other words, don’t try to be a hero, nobody wins in the limelight of chaos and anarchy. Join the legion and grow powerful as a hive. With the Brothers on stage, and now Ezriel joining them, a portly man shoves his way through the crowd and onto the stage...Derrick Donovan.
Gustav, Bjark...I don’t mean to be worrisome here, but...well, nobody's seen Hyperion. For like, 5 days now. No answer from their calls, no words of his return...Ezriel, have you spoken to him?
Ezriel looks at Derrick, and ignores his question.
Well be that way...but if he doesn’t come back soon, we’re gonna be in a pickle. Supremacy is fast approaching, you all need to get ready for your matches, and now Hyperion’s gone. I mean, I am all for boosting morale, but right now we’re gonna need a miracle…
Hyperion is not gone far, I can feel it. His mind, his inner demons, he...he just needs some time to meditate. He shall return.
Yeah, well he best do it soon. These folk are growing restless, following a cause that is missing a leader. They are gonna need something.
They have a leader...I now command the Church and its zealots. As handed to me by Hyperion, their commands now come from me.
Alright, well then you should probably do something soon, otherwise people are not going to be happy.
Are you telling me what to do, Donovan?
No no...but do something! All this standing around is nonsense, especially with Supremacy creeping up on us. The Brothers have a huge chance to end Jackson Steele once and for all, you have the opportunity to put down an Icon, or convert his mind to your way with your black magic voodoo thing. And Hyperion...lets say if he doesn’t come home soon, he’s blown a huge shot.
Ezriel steps up to Derrick, very close so that they are face to face.
Donovan, know your place. I don’t need you telling me how things are. Now, begone from my stage.
Listen here Ezriel, you don’t command me. You don’t command us! We’re on the same team here, if you can’t get that through your thick skull. And without Hyperion, there is no need for us to even be here, helping you along.
So now you’re insulting me to my face? Dumb move Donovan…
Ezriel closes the gap further, squaring up to Derrick Donovan. The Brothers step forward, ready to intervene and more importantly, to warn Ezriel to know his role. Of course, this causes Ezriel to turn his gaze, staring at the Brothers of Valhalla, the tension so thick in the air that any sudden movement might cause an altercation. Before anything can happen, the main door of the hallway flings open, and with it light from outside pours in, drowning the figure of a man and casting a large silhouette in the doorway...Hyperion.
He walks forward, slowly and unsteadily, still recovering from his accident and recovering from his comatose sleep. He makes his way to the stage platform, zealots and followers stepping aside to allow him passage. Some murmur his name, whispers of his arrival, others take a knee and bow for their King. He makes his way to the stage, and over to meet the men present.
Hyperion, your back! Good, and not a minute sooner. We have a lot to do-
Hyperion raises a hand, silencing Derrick Donovan. His gaze continues on Ezriel, his right hand.
Ezriel, my friend. It is good to see you again, I fear it has been too long.
Only a few days…
To you, perhaps...but to me, it has been much, much longer...the Brothers of Valhalla. We can finally meet, face to face.
The Brothers exchange a glance between them, slightly confused. Hyperion shakes both of their hands individually. Lastly he turns to Derrick Donovan.
Derrick of the Donovans, I remember your face. We spoke briefly in Britain, and once more in the land of Bethesda. It is good to see you again, but with mine own eyes.
Slightly unsure of what to say, Derrick just nods slightly and smiles...until Hyperion puts a hand on him shoulder.
You have done well in bringing the Brothers to me. Now, I must address my people...if you would be so kind…
Getting the hint, Derrick leaves the stage, so that only the members of The Order remain. Hyperion looks from Bjark to Ezriel, to Gustav, before walking to center stage and standing before his legion of followers, tightly packed around the platform.
My people...my legion...my friends...to say I have returned is truly an understatement. The man I was prior to now, the man I have been for several moon passing's, was a lie. A fraud, a demon possession. It is no lie our power is coveted, desired higher than most royalties. To be a part of such a movement, to be a part of the new world...it really is inspiring, and powerful. But there are those who wish to stop us, halt our progression towards total domination and burn our advances. I have become victim to such corruption, weaken and mislead by my own mind...and for that, I apologize.
The crowd remain silent, listening to their God speak.
...I apologize for what I have done. I apologize for what I have said...I vowed to lead you all to greatness, through power and justice. To achieve your greatest desires through perseverance and hard toil. And my promise remains...I will lead you all to greatness!
He throws up a fist into the air, the crowd cheers in reaction.
It is no secret I came to be from the mind of another, one James Knox. And it is no secret that his story was speckled with evil, mindless mayhem and sickening actions. But as of late, his final attack on me was successful...he regained control of my mind, of my body. That which had become home for me, from fingers to toes, from hair to skin to senses...became my prison. And the unprovoked or unspeakable chaos that has ensued as of late was not by my hand or my plan, but of his...for those of you offended, hurt or devastated by my actions, know that I will work towards your forgiveness…
Inside his mind, flashes of memories scuttle, returning to that nightmare scene of Bodhi fighting for her life until the wrath of a blood-lusting Knox…
...for those of you that lost belief in me, I will work to regain that. I will strive to show you that your King has returned...and for those of you still willing and able to take what is your right...we have a War to fight!
Again, raises his fist to cheers from the crowd.
My absence has not gone unnoticed, as my partners have held their heads high and strengthened their morals. Ezriel has lead you valiantly, and the Brothers of Valhalla have shown you the way of power. But my trial is just beginning, as I lead by example and walk my way into the arena of men and monsters, and retrieve what is rightfully mine...the King’s crown of this very place!
More cheers, growing in volume and excitement.
The battlefield has been set before me, and the whispers have been heard by my ears...Supremacy. The ultimate challenge. My partners will have their own battles, their own challenges to overcome. And for them, I wish them a bloody and enjoyable battle! As for my own war...I must overcome the odds. Kanyon, the arrogant warrior of old, holds the golden crown I desire. His conflict ethics and battle strategies have stood the test of time, so I must use any the experience in my history, and this body. I must meet him head on, and devour him whole.
Hyperion begins to pace a little, still at the front of the stage. Ezriel and the Brothers watch on from behind him.
The faces of Damien Young, and Jackson Grace are not familiar to me. From reviews of their past conquests, both will be worthy opponents, and will best my skills in the ring. To overcome them, I must try new angles, attack from new routes...it will be a challenge, but they will be satisfying to defeat.
He continues to pace…
James Raymond...a name unknown to me more than the others. A face I have not seen, a name that has not travelled well. The jester is the shade, the trickster in the grass...he will learn the power that my fist contains, and he will fall as so many have. As will Michael Storm...my recent adversary and current rival, Michael Storm has bested me in the ring, and provoked me dearly. He has helped push my inner demon, and has cost me so much more than he cares to consider...I look forward to confronting him once more. Perhaps this time I might be able to retire his beaten body for good!
Some more cheering from the crowd, even a ‘Woo’ from someone.
The organizers of this match have thought to put on a show, to entertain the masses of the audience. And why not, the gladiator pits they call a ring houses the best fighters in the world. But to pit a man versus a beast...now that, that will boil the blood of the spectators. That will entertain the masses as they curl will delight, craving the sight of blood. Our organizer, our Lord Mongo has seen to it to increase the novelty of this battle, and will be unleashing a live bear into the fray. We are to joust with a wild animal, starved and beaten, angry and afraid. It will kill anyone that dares cross it...but to further add spice, they have provided a meal for the bear, in the female form. The offerings of Alexis Grace and Azumi Goto, two seasoned warriors, capable of delivering a sensational death to me or any fortunate soul...but their inclusion to this swarm is for one thing only. To sate the appetite of that grizzly bear...and should they think otherwise, then I will make sure of it!
The crowd cheers, as Hyperion pretends to do a biting, eating motion. He makes his followers laugh, continuously boosting their mood.
Lastly, two soldiers I have seen in action with my own eyes...Rob Arnold and the man named Price. Myself and Ezriel ventured forth, our masterplan in the works as the empire was growing beneath me. We took the offering of visiting far away lands, to see what the terrain might be and what recruits could be sourced. I witnessed these men in the flesh, watch Rob Arnold beat a crippled, old man in the ring. I watched Price come close to shattering a man's skull with his foot, aggressively trying to take a life. These men are now wrestlers, they are not fighters...these men are mercenaries. Hired swords, looking to kill their mark for a bite to eat, or a bottle of ale. They work for themselves, they consider nobody as allies, and most importantly they are more dangerous than a wild animal. To tangled and sway with these ruthless killers...it will be a quarrel I anticipate to end in blood!
As he says it, some blood actually trickles down his forehead, his wound from the crash still tender and now unbandaged or unprotected. It trickles down as far as his lips, as which stage he licks and tastes the copper/ iron nectar of his heart.
Yes...to taste blood now pumps my heart even harder. This warzone will be one the observers speak of for years to come, one sure to be rested in the books of history. The ultimate competition, the greatest brawl. I enter as a man, opposed by ten combatants of varied age, size, sex and species. I must fight not only to win, but to survive. I must lead by example, to show you how to fearlessly stand on the frontlines of war. And I will reemerge and return to you here, not just a man, not just a prophecy of a returned King...but truly, as a God! Holding high my crown of gold, and leading you into a new age...the age of Hyperion!!
The crowd just loses their shit, cheering and shouting for their leader. Hyperion raises both his arms in the air, and gets excited with the crowd. He is approached from behind, and turns to meet Ezriel who embraces him in a quick hug, but follows with a solid arm grasp. He bows, and accepts Ezriel’s admiration. He turns to the Brothers of Valhalla, and shakes with them both also, before walking back to the center stage to speak with his family.
I will leave you with these words…’Let no man stop your advance in life. For no man shall follow you in retreat.’ I will lead us to a new age, and to new heights. As the sun has set on these passing turns, I have defied death from a motorcycle accident, destroyed my cranium and entered a nightmarish coma, only to awaken as my true self!
The crowd cheer, but Ezriel and the Brothers exchange glances.
...Did he just say he was in a coma?
...I have escaped the shackles of a mind that didn’t want me, and turned my fortress into my salvation! I have leaped from the top of a medical facility, ran wild in the dark of the night to make my way home, bled myself dry to lead you once more…
As he says it, blood continues to pour from his crown, now more heavy than before. He begins to look woozy on his feet.
...I have lost time, power and strength to return here, and have not eaten or drank anything more than the love of your souls for days...I feel myself rising now, closer to the heavens, weightless and lighter than air…
As he says it, he begins to sway even more, on the verge of collapse. Ezriel intervenes, walking forth to speak with him. He turns Hyperion and begins to lead him towards the back, as Hyperion continues to babble, his past few days of injuries and trauma catching up t him. Ezriel motions to the Brothers, saying something as he leads Hyperion away, and they both step down from the stage, seeking someone in the crowd. As Hyperion is almost gone from the stage, he raises his arm triumphantly once more, the very pinnacle of defiance and courage, as his legion cheers and shouts his name. Despite a near death experience and barely surviving his venture home, their leader is back, their King and savoir returned to save them...their God to guide them in heavenly light. As Ezriel and Hyperion begin to leave the scene, the Brothers of Valhalla are following behind them with a zealot of Hyperion’s Church, a white medical aid box in her hand to inspect her King’s wounds and medical condition…
Despite the voyage it has taken him, his internal struggles with his past self, the ‘true owner’ of his body, Hyperion has triumphed in the face of adversity. His cruel past, the actions of a mindless beast, playing him still. However moving forward he can take the knowledge of those actions, plus the memories of his former self, his would-be captor...it is true, the very personality of James Knox has passed, ceased to exist in this realm. But his knowledge, his experiences, his memories...all live on in his body and brain, and have merged with Hyperion’s mind. With the combined forces of two behemoths, a mind full of war tactics and a legion of follows, there really is only one man to watch out for in the XHF Network...the road leading to here was only the beginning, for a new age has come to light…
The Age of Hyperion!
