"For you, my friend, they are the angels of death."
-Man against monster. Monster against self. The story is as old as time. Living above us, below us, and among us, they assimilate themselves into our culture, and us into theirs. To the common man, they are simply known as night terrors, but to the initiated, they are the Darkstalkers-
EPISODE ONE: MAN'S ANCESTRAL ENEMY
Jacob let out as mighty a shout as he could with his little lungs to put his enemy on guard, just as Sensei had always taught him. The boy was no taller than three foot-two with short, hay blonde hair, steel blue eyes, and fair skin. His training gi was upset by the overly large spectacle he wore on his disproportionately large head. He was a frail boy of nine years, but he had somehow talked martial arts world champion Jon Talbain into training him at his private estate.
And speaking of the Sensei, he was watching as Jacob and another boy, the larger Mark, circled on the mat and prepared for battle. Talbain was a middle-aged man with long, thick, gracefully silver hair and healthily colored skin. His dark blue eyes always seemed to have a discerning look to them, as if he was watching for something in everything. He was dressed in his usual deep violet training gi and wearing a deep red belt around his waist.
Normally, it was madness to pit a little guy like Jacob against an opponent that was not only larger, but also tougher in build. However, the Master had a keen eye for talent, and there was something different about this boy. His lupine senses never failed him.
Mark sprang into action, flipping in midair, and coming down with a massive forward elbow assault. It looked like it should have been over before it began. Jacob cried out in terror. Mark fell onto the ground at the other end of the blow, and his elbow had been fractured. The older boy lay there helplessly, trying not to scream in pain.
Several of the other students gathered around Mark. One of them looked over at Jacob accusingly, "What did you do to him kid?"
Jacob was so stunned he was stuttering, "I, I don't know!"
Talbain stood up, "That will be enough. Joshua, I want you to take Mark and get his arm in a cast. Jacob, I want you to come with me."
Jacob lowered his head, knowing he had done it now, "Yes Sensei."
Talbain took Jacob behind the dojo area. They walked into the woods on the estate a little bit where they could be alone before they finally stopped by a bridge.
Talbain turned to look at his student, the evening sun glinting off his face as he spoke, "Jacob, do you know what you did back there?"
Jacob was flushing with shame, "No Sensei, I am sorry."
Talbain put a hand on his shoulder, "I want you to listen to what I have to say because these may be the most important words you will ever hear. You were born different. You are not disabled: you are special and unique, especially by the standards of a warrior."
Jacob looked up, squinting through his spectacles, "I do not understand Sir."
Talbain looked up at the sun, "Promise me you will not share with anyone what I am about to reveal to you. I am different too."
Jacob looked determined, "I promise Sensei. Please make me understand."
Talbain closed his eyes, "Good." His muscles began to tense and spasm with the force of what was about to come over him. He felt his hands grip at the hairs on his head, which were turning a shade of gray blue. His body began to contort into an odd shape: the shape of a creature which is neither man nor wolf, but both. As his body changed in structure, hair sprouted all over. Blue and white hair. His shirt tore from the strain of the muscles bulging under it as his pant legs inched up to his knees, which now bent backwards. The horrifying truth was made clear as an eerie howl escaped the Master's lips. Sensei Talbain was, without a doubt, a werewolf.
Talbain looked down at Jacob, slowly placing a clawed cross between a white furry paw and a hand over his snout so he didn't look so scary, "Please don't be afraid."
Jacob only smiled, "I still see you in there, Sensei. Why do you hide your real self?"
Talbain looked askance, "Because to show my true form in public would make me an exile in this world of men. Creatures like me are not welcome here, or anywhere on this world really. I showed you this because it has become obvious to me that you too are of the strange heritage that gives you supernatural powers. You must learn to accept who and what you are, and you must learn how to safely interact with the world around you. I do not want you to suffer through the tragedies I have experienced as a result of not being able to control my own inner self."
Jacob nodded firmly, and reached up, lowering the paw from Talbain's face and holding it in his own little hand, "I don't think you're that scary Sensei: you look pretty cool to me."
Talbain grinned a bit, "Go on back to the dojo. Tell the others you got a lucky break with Mark and I'll catch up to you as soon as I'm fit to be seen again."
~
The wooden dojo was completely silent. Mark had been sent home with his injury for the day and none of the other students would go near Jacob. He sat alone in a corner, quietly reading a book.
About that time, the door to the establishment busted open. Three strong looking men in flannel shirts, jeans, and big boots toting rifles made their way in.
One of them looked to another, "Pour it!"
The man addressed took out a can of gasoline and began pouring it in front of the door. The children were too scared to move. Another man took out a match, lit it, and the three of them were out of the building. They threw several logs they had brought in a truck in front of the doorway to bar it shut so there would be no escape and ran.
Talbain looked up when he heard an explosion. He had just finished meditating enough to assume a human form again, but now he ran with the speed of the wolf towards the source of it: his dojo on the hill.
As he caught sight of the billowing fire all around the dojo, his immediate instincts were to ensure the safety of his 'pack'. He hurled his muscular body through one of the walls, but he was too late. The charred remains of the students, many of whom had tried unsuccessfully to escape the mass murder, lingered where they lay.
Talbain became overcome with shock, "Who? Who could do such a thing to children! They were just children!" He lost his concentration as the rage overtook him. He was transforming again, but this time not by choice. The beast was back, and he wanted answers.
~
Officer Tasha Makabaya was off-duty, but that didn't stop her from taking the work home. Since she had been transferred to the heart- wrenching job of locating missing children, the auburn-haired twenty- something had been burying herself in her work. She had a burning desire to help children, and that's exactly what a certain visitor was looking for.
There was a loud scratching at the window. Tasha approached, gun in hand: in this neighborhood you could never be sure what was waiting outside your door. She almost freaked when she saw a lupine shape outside the window, that is, until it demanded entry in a familiar voice.
"Johnny, you jackass", she glared, "You almost gave me a heart attack." She unlatched and lifted the window for him.
No sooner had she stepped aside than he leapt through, "I'm a wolf actually."
Tasha crossed her arms over her busty torso, "Should I make you some coffee?"
Talbain grinned, "You always did look good in uniform."
~
The two of them sat across from each other at the kitchen table, sipping on coffee. Well, actually Tasha was sipping: Talbain had to lap it up but we won't get into the logistics of how a wolf man drinks his coffee.
"You're pretty gutsy, coming into the city like that", the officer said bluntly.
"It couldn't be helped", Talbain said, finishing his coffee, "This time I didn't choose to do it. I was just that mad over what happened tonight and I lost my head."
Tasha's amused grin became a look of concern, "You didn't kill anyone did you?"
Talbain winced, "No, I didn't. But someone did, and it was close to home."
"How close?"
"Too close", Talbain glared up at her over his cup. He reached up with his clawed hand and gave her a list, "This has all the victim's names on it. Most of them weren't even ten."
Tasha twitched in her seat, "That's horrible. Who did this?"
Talbain closed his eyes, trying not to let himself appear weak, "I'm hoping you can find out. Please. They were my students, all of them. I can't let this go unavenged. I need to go."
The wolf-like warrior leapt around the corner and out a window again, dashing off into the night. Tasha called after him, "Leave the heroics to the police, god damnit!"
~
Deep within a castle in Romania known as Zeitzereich, the demon nobleman Demitri Maximoff sat upon his throne in intense thought. Demitri was a younger looking man with fine features, dark eyes, and spiky brown hair. His entire build, clothing, and mannerism served to establish him as a mighty Lord of the Night.
"Someday soon", he thought to himself, "Belial will know what it is to truly suffer. The way I did all those years ago. My humiliation will not go without restitution. I was weak when they banded together to destroy me, but that was a century ago. I am stronger now, and I will have my revenge."
A laugh rang from the halls of Zeitzereich as the clouds of darkness loomed overhead.
~
Tasha was a wreck. She had been handing out the bad news to every family all day long. None of them took it well, but how could they? She knew that if it had been her child, she would have been just as angry as Jon. She thought of him leaping out into the night in a blind rage and a sick feeling of worry came over her. What would he leave in the wake of his grief?
As she was heading back to her patrol car from the last house, someone jumped in front of the car. She jumped back, raising her gun, and then blinking in surprise, "Jon?"
Jon's clothes were ripped and his fur was mangy. He looked out of breath and he stunk with ale. He looked up at her, "I think I know who did it."
~
The patrol car pulled up in front of the Ewing's home. Mark Ewing's father was a big game hunter and a known supporter of the Darkhunters of Claysburg Village, a band of would-be redneck darkstalker hunters who were far more trouble than they were worth. Given Mark's injuries yesterday, he was the most likely suspect in the entire area.
Talbain had managed to assume a human form again, though just barely, and Tasha had cleaned up his wounds from fighting in bars all night as well as giving him a change of clothes. He currently had his hair pulled back and was sporting a light blue button-up shirt with tiny vertical stripes of a slightly different color, blue jeans, and white tennis shoes.
Tasha looked at him sternly, "It was great that you gave me a lead, but now I want you to promise me you'll stay back here by the stoop and not cause any more trouble."
That said, she walked up the porch and knocked on the door. It was a minute before a large man in blue suspenders answered, "Yeah?"
Tasha held up her badge, "I'm Officer Makabaya with the Missing Children's Division of the Claysburg County Police."
"No missing kids here. My Mark is home safe and sound. Damn lucky too, after he was attacked by a dark one yesterday", the man replied gruffly.
Tasha nodded, "Are you aware that the establishment where your son was injured was burned down, killing twelve of his fellow students, only one hour afterwards?"
The man glared, "Where is this going Officer?"
Tasha's stare was as impartial as she could make it, "You have two options sir: either you let me come in and have a look around, or I'll get a search warrant from the judge based on the grounds of withholding possible evidence on the case and come back to see you in a week."
The man was silent for a minute, then stepped aside, "Come on in."
Tasha walked past him, entering the building. She had a look around the main rooms of that level of the house and then, upon noticing no stairs going up, looked back at him, "You got a basement in this house?"
The man wiped a bit of sweat from his brow, "Yeah: door's in the kitchen."
Tasha nodded, finding the door and opening it. She didn't notice Mr. Ewing creeping up behind her with a crowbar. There was a loud smack, and her unconscious body flew through the doorway, crashing at the bottom of the stairs.
Mr. Ewing panted, still wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"And you call us cowards", a low growl sounded. Ewing turned around to stare straight into the eyes of an angry werewolf. He had no time to react: not even time to scream as two white-furred claws snatched him up by his suspenders and slammed him hard enough against the tiled wall to make an indent on it.
Talbain's eyes met his again, those lupine orbs filled with rage, "Why did you do it. They were children you creep. I wish you knew what I'd like to do to you. You DESERVE to be scared, just like those kids were scared before you killed them!"
Ewing gagged, "Go ahead darkstalker! Do it! You scum."
Talbain wanted to. He wanted to make this guy, who was the TRUE monster out of the two of them, suffer like he'd never suffered in his life, but he just couldn't do it. It wasn't what he was all about. He tossed the worm of a man hard into a mirror, the loss of blood from the cuts that made knocking Ewing out, and then bounded down the stairs to get Tasha out of this place.
~
Talbain was a man again, and right now that man was helping a certain police officer bandage her forehead. He shook his head, "You're lucky that didn't break your skull."
Tasha looked up at him and grinned, "You know me. Thickest skull on the force."
Talbain looked down at his hands, "Are they really worth killing over?"
Tasha put a hand on his shoulder, "There will always be haters, but what you do is done out of love. Don't ever let them take away whatever it is that makes you Jon Talbain."
Talbain nodded slowly, "I guess I need to get to know myself a little better."
DARKSTALKERS: THE SERIES WRITTEN BY REGIS A WELCH DARKSTALKERS © 2004 CAPCOM
-Man against monster. Monster against self. The story is as old as time. Living above us, below us, and among us, they assimilate themselves into our culture, and us into theirs. To the common man, they are simply known as night terrors, but to the initiated, they are the Darkstalkers-
EPISODE ONE: MAN'S ANCESTRAL ENEMY
Jacob let out as mighty a shout as he could with his little lungs to put his enemy on guard, just as Sensei had always taught him. The boy was no taller than three foot-two with short, hay blonde hair, steel blue eyes, and fair skin. His training gi was upset by the overly large spectacle he wore on his disproportionately large head. He was a frail boy of nine years, but he had somehow talked martial arts world champion Jon Talbain into training him at his private estate.
And speaking of the Sensei, he was watching as Jacob and another boy, the larger Mark, circled on the mat and prepared for battle. Talbain was a middle-aged man with long, thick, gracefully silver hair and healthily colored skin. His dark blue eyes always seemed to have a discerning look to them, as if he was watching for something in everything. He was dressed in his usual deep violet training gi and wearing a deep red belt around his waist.
Normally, it was madness to pit a little guy like Jacob against an opponent that was not only larger, but also tougher in build. However, the Master had a keen eye for talent, and there was something different about this boy. His lupine senses never failed him.
Mark sprang into action, flipping in midair, and coming down with a massive forward elbow assault. It looked like it should have been over before it began. Jacob cried out in terror. Mark fell onto the ground at the other end of the blow, and his elbow had been fractured. The older boy lay there helplessly, trying not to scream in pain.
Several of the other students gathered around Mark. One of them looked over at Jacob accusingly, "What did you do to him kid?"
Jacob was so stunned he was stuttering, "I, I don't know!"
Talbain stood up, "That will be enough. Joshua, I want you to take Mark and get his arm in a cast. Jacob, I want you to come with me."
Jacob lowered his head, knowing he had done it now, "Yes Sensei."
Talbain took Jacob behind the dojo area. They walked into the woods on the estate a little bit where they could be alone before they finally stopped by a bridge.
Talbain turned to look at his student, the evening sun glinting off his face as he spoke, "Jacob, do you know what you did back there?"
Jacob was flushing with shame, "No Sensei, I am sorry."
Talbain put a hand on his shoulder, "I want you to listen to what I have to say because these may be the most important words you will ever hear. You were born different. You are not disabled: you are special and unique, especially by the standards of a warrior."
Jacob looked up, squinting through his spectacles, "I do not understand Sir."
Talbain looked up at the sun, "Promise me you will not share with anyone what I am about to reveal to you. I am different too."
Jacob looked determined, "I promise Sensei. Please make me understand."
Talbain closed his eyes, "Good." His muscles began to tense and spasm with the force of what was about to come over him. He felt his hands grip at the hairs on his head, which were turning a shade of gray blue. His body began to contort into an odd shape: the shape of a creature which is neither man nor wolf, but both. As his body changed in structure, hair sprouted all over. Blue and white hair. His shirt tore from the strain of the muscles bulging under it as his pant legs inched up to his knees, which now bent backwards. The horrifying truth was made clear as an eerie howl escaped the Master's lips. Sensei Talbain was, without a doubt, a werewolf.
Talbain looked down at Jacob, slowly placing a clawed cross between a white furry paw and a hand over his snout so he didn't look so scary, "Please don't be afraid."
Jacob only smiled, "I still see you in there, Sensei. Why do you hide your real self?"
Talbain looked askance, "Because to show my true form in public would make me an exile in this world of men. Creatures like me are not welcome here, or anywhere on this world really. I showed you this because it has become obvious to me that you too are of the strange heritage that gives you supernatural powers. You must learn to accept who and what you are, and you must learn how to safely interact with the world around you. I do not want you to suffer through the tragedies I have experienced as a result of not being able to control my own inner self."
Jacob nodded firmly, and reached up, lowering the paw from Talbain's face and holding it in his own little hand, "I don't think you're that scary Sensei: you look pretty cool to me."
Talbain grinned a bit, "Go on back to the dojo. Tell the others you got a lucky break with Mark and I'll catch up to you as soon as I'm fit to be seen again."
~
The wooden dojo was completely silent. Mark had been sent home with his injury for the day and none of the other students would go near Jacob. He sat alone in a corner, quietly reading a book.
About that time, the door to the establishment busted open. Three strong looking men in flannel shirts, jeans, and big boots toting rifles made their way in.
One of them looked to another, "Pour it!"
The man addressed took out a can of gasoline and began pouring it in front of the door. The children were too scared to move. Another man took out a match, lit it, and the three of them were out of the building. They threw several logs they had brought in a truck in front of the doorway to bar it shut so there would be no escape and ran.
Talbain looked up when he heard an explosion. He had just finished meditating enough to assume a human form again, but now he ran with the speed of the wolf towards the source of it: his dojo on the hill.
As he caught sight of the billowing fire all around the dojo, his immediate instincts were to ensure the safety of his 'pack'. He hurled his muscular body through one of the walls, but he was too late. The charred remains of the students, many of whom had tried unsuccessfully to escape the mass murder, lingered where they lay.
Talbain became overcome with shock, "Who? Who could do such a thing to children! They were just children!" He lost his concentration as the rage overtook him. He was transforming again, but this time not by choice. The beast was back, and he wanted answers.
~
Officer Tasha Makabaya was off-duty, but that didn't stop her from taking the work home. Since she had been transferred to the heart- wrenching job of locating missing children, the auburn-haired twenty- something had been burying herself in her work. She had a burning desire to help children, and that's exactly what a certain visitor was looking for.
There was a loud scratching at the window. Tasha approached, gun in hand: in this neighborhood you could never be sure what was waiting outside your door. She almost freaked when she saw a lupine shape outside the window, that is, until it demanded entry in a familiar voice.
"Johnny, you jackass", she glared, "You almost gave me a heart attack." She unlatched and lifted the window for him.
No sooner had she stepped aside than he leapt through, "I'm a wolf actually."
Tasha crossed her arms over her busty torso, "Should I make you some coffee?"
Talbain grinned, "You always did look good in uniform."
~
The two of them sat across from each other at the kitchen table, sipping on coffee. Well, actually Tasha was sipping: Talbain had to lap it up but we won't get into the logistics of how a wolf man drinks his coffee.
"You're pretty gutsy, coming into the city like that", the officer said bluntly.
"It couldn't be helped", Talbain said, finishing his coffee, "This time I didn't choose to do it. I was just that mad over what happened tonight and I lost my head."
Tasha's amused grin became a look of concern, "You didn't kill anyone did you?"
Talbain winced, "No, I didn't. But someone did, and it was close to home."
"How close?"
"Too close", Talbain glared up at her over his cup. He reached up with his clawed hand and gave her a list, "This has all the victim's names on it. Most of them weren't even ten."
Tasha twitched in her seat, "That's horrible. Who did this?"
Talbain closed his eyes, trying not to let himself appear weak, "I'm hoping you can find out. Please. They were my students, all of them. I can't let this go unavenged. I need to go."
The wolf-like warrior leapt around the corner and out a window again, dashing off into the night. Tasha called after him, "Leave the heroics to the police, god damnit!"
~
Deep within a castle in Romania known as Zeitzereich, the demon nobleman Demitri Maximoff sat upon his throne in intense thought. Demitri was a younger looking man with fine features, dark eyes, and spiky brown hair. His entire build, clothing, and mannerism served to establish him as a mighty Lord of the Night.
"Someday soon", he thought to himself, "Belial will know what it is to truly suffer. The way I did all those years ago. My humiliation will not go without restitution. I was weak when they banded together to destroy me, but that was a century ago. I am stronger now, and I will have my revenge."
A laugh rang from the halls of Zeitzereich as the clouds of darkness loomed overhead.
~
Tasha was a wreck. She had been handing out the bad news to every family all day long. None of them took it well, but how could they? She knew that if it had been her child, she would have been just as angry as Jon. She thought of him leaping out into the night in a blind rage and a sick feeling of worry came over her. What would he leave in the wake of his grief?
As she was heading back to her patrol car from the last house, someone jumped in front of the car. She jumped back, raising her gun, and then blinking in surprise, "Jon?"
Jon's clothes were ripped and his fur was mangy. He looked out of breath and he stunk with ale. He looked up at her, "I think I know who did it."
~
The patrol car pulled up in front of the Ewing's home. Mark Ewing's father was a big game hunter and a known supporter of the Darkhunters of Claysburg Village, a band of would-be redneck darkstalker hunters who were far more trouble than they were worth. Given Mark's injuries yesterday, he was the most likely suspect in the entire area.
Talbain had managed to assume a human form again, though just barely, and Tasha had cleaned up his wounds from fighting in bars all night as well as giving him a change of clothes. He currently had his hair pulled back and was sporting a light blue button-up shirt with tiny vertical stripes of a slightly different color, blue jeans, and white tennis shoes.
Tasha looked at him sternly, "It was great that you gave me a lead, but now I want you to promise me you'll stay back here by the stoop and not cause any more trouble."
That said, she walked up the porch and knocked on the door. It was a minute before a large man in blue suspenders answered, "Yeah?"
Tasha held up her badge, "I'm Officer Makabaya with the Missing Children's Division of the Claysburg County Police."
"No missing kids here. My Mark is home safe and sound. Damn lucky too, after he was attacked by a dark one yesterday", the man replied gruffly.
Tasha nodded, "Are you aware that the establishment where your son was injured was burned down, killing twelve of his fellow students, only one hour afterwards?"
The man glared, "Where is this going Officer?"
Tasha's stare was as impartial as she could make it, "You have two options sir: either you let me come in and have a look around, or I'll get a search warrant from the judge based on the grounds of withholding possible evidence on the case and come back to see you in a week."
The man was silent for a minute, then stepped aside, "Come on in."
Tasha walked past him, entering the building. She had a look around the main rooms of that level of the house and then, upon noticing no stairs going up, looked back at him, "You got a basement in this house?"
The man wiped a bit of sweat from his brow, "Yeah: door's in the kitchen."
Tasha nodded, finding the door and opening it. She didn't notice Mr. Ewing creeping up behind her with a crowbar. There was a loud smack, and her unconscious body flew through the doorway, crashing at the bottom of the stairs.
Mr. Ewing panted, still wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"And you call us cowards", a low growl sounded. Ewing turned around to stare straight into the eyes of an angry werewolf. He had no time to react: not even time to scream as two white-furred claws snatched him up by his suspenders and slammed him hard enough against the tiled wall to make an indent on it.
Talbain's eyes met his again, those lupine orbs filled with rage, "Why did you do it. They were children you creep. I wish you knew what I'd like to do to you. You DESERVE to be scared, just like those kids were scared before you killed them!"
Ewing gagged, "Go ahead darkstalker! Do it! You scum."
Talbain wanted to. He wanted to make this guy, who was the TRUE monster out of the two of them, suffer like he'd never suffered in his life, but he just couldn't do it. It wasn't what he was all about. He tossed the worm of a man hard into a mirror, the loss of blood from the cuts that made knocking Ewing out, and then bounded down the stairs to get Tasha out of this place.
~
Talbain was a man again, and right now that man was helping a certain police officer bandage her forehead. He shook his head, "You're lucky that didn't break your skull."
Tasha looked up at him and grinned, "You know me. Thickest skull on the force."
Talbain looked down at his hands, "Are they really worth killing over?"
Tasha put a hand on his shoulder, "There will always be haters, but what you do is done out of love. Don't ever let them take away whatever it is that makes you Jon Talbain."
Talbain nodded slowly, "I guess I need to get to know myself a little better."
DARKSTALKERS: THE SERIES WRITTEN BY REGIS A WELCH DARKSTALKERS © 2004 CAPCOM