Kyle Crane

Recent Posts

1. 

   Fever Dreams

   16 hours ago

   Now that he was closer, Kyle got a real good look at just how much smaller than him she was. He was a lot bulkier than he'd been as a human, and sometimes it was difficult for him to accurately compare himself to those who were uninfected, or even those who had their infections under control. Even with his skewed information, this woman seemed tiny. Her size reminded him of - he pushed the thought down and buried it. This was not the time to get lost in the confusion of that hallucination. 
    
   She'd held her hands out in gesture, showing she meant no harm. The gesture by itself was worth very little - too many times he'd let his guard down only to be attacked by bandits or scientists looking to recapture and further experiment on him. But she'd also hung her weapon, instead of keeping it in hand when trying to calm his suspicion. He couldn't help but notice her voice, her mannerisms, and other nuanced things that stirred memories in him, but he pushed that to the back again. Now wasn't the time.
    
   He stepped forward, leaving the cover of the trees. Wincing up at the sun, he grimaced a bit. Even with everything done to him, direct sunlight still sometimes hurt. It also had a tendency to cause his bad eye to flare, manifesting in a slight glow around the pupil.
    
   "Where are you trying to get? Not many places in this shithole now. At least, none that are worth risking to scavenge. Believe me, many have tried before you and many will try and fail after you."
   
2. 

   Fever Dreams

   16 hours ago

   As he'd continued forward, Kyle had taken to the trees. What had been done to him allowed him greater strength and speed, but at a cost - if he used the various abilities too much, he was liable to slip into that more feral state. While he still had control when that happened, every intentional reaction and movement took far greater effort and once he'd come down from a particularly bad fury it left him lagging, his normal skill clumsy for at least a few minutes after. Exhaustion was a hell of a consequence; one he paid grudgingly. Allies, leads, and just ensuring he and those near him were safe were all reasons he'd make the same choices over again, given the chance, even if he bitched about it the entire time.
    
   The tentative "Hello?" from whoever it was let him know the threat he'd suspected was likely not one at all. Hopping down from his spot in the trees, he straightened and regarded the small survivor in front of him. Something was familiar about her, though he was struggling to place it. The masks and gear worn when out in the wilds made it difficult to identify even those you were close to, let alone someone who just gave a niggling sense of deja vu.
    
   "Hi there. You're on my land. Need something?" His words were gruff and carried an unspoken warning - I'm armed and ready for a fight if need be.
   
3. 

   Fever Dreams

   17 hours ago

   After inspecting the church proper, he moved to the small grounds just outside. There was an iron fence surrounding it, with gates that only protested slightly when moved. The amount of rust on them was deceptive as to how well they actually held up.  A cursory glance around told him nothing beyond the fact that there were no intruders in his little safe haven. His more advanced senses hinted to a presence a little way beyond the grounds, in the forest itself, though he wasn't really picking up more than that. Infected, human, or something worse?
    
   He didn't wait for whatever - or whoever it was to come to him, preferring to meet on his own terms. Plus, he really didn't want anyone near his church. It'd been difficult to clear it of infected the first time. Last thing he needed was an infected that could summon others. And if this was another survivor, well... he didn't want his hideout known. Looters had come through his previous base several times once they'd realized he was there and no amount of threats or killing some of them had stopped them from stealing from him and attacking him. 
    
   Kyle cleared the fence in a single jump, though his landing was rougher than he'd have liked. After pausing to let the wildlife settle down, he began to slowly make his way toward the intruder. He didn't really mask his approach, but he also didn't bother to announce himself either. He readied one of his favorite weapons - a bat that had been modified with attachments to give a slight concussive directional blast, as well as jury-rigged electricity.
   
4. 

   Fever Dreams

   December 14, 2024

   Kyle shot upright, chest heaving as his eyes darted around  his hidden campsite. Though, you really couldn't reasonably call this a campsite, he thought as he glanced around again as his heartrate slowed down. At least he'd not fallen off the narrow boards he'd attached way up in the eaves of the church. That'd hurt. A lot.  "Hmph."
    
   He shifted to swing his legs over the edge of the perch, rolling his shoulders as he tried to blink the haze from sleep away. Time to get moving. He had a hunt to continue; the bastard was proving far too slippery and all Kyle had managed to find were his low level stooges and freaks of nature that the man had unleashed in the woods and the town itself. 
    
   The former special agent worried about what other plans the fucker had - he knew some of it, as the asshole had never been able to resist monologuing at him during experiments, but the full overarching plan? No clue, other than it was really, really bad. Hopping down and landing in a crouched position, he grumbled low in his throat and looked around the abandoned church. He'd heard rustling close by, potentially inside the run down building with him but not so close that he could see whoever - or whatever - it was.
    
   Time to get a closer look so he could decide if he needed to do anything.
   
5. 

   Descent into Madness (Private)

   January 4, 2024

   He couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed when she laughed at the noise and then his expression, but at least she wasn't freaking out about it. He'd not meant to kill any positive shift in mood with his words, but there was so much they had to talk about... She seemed less afraid now, even if there was a lot of (understandable) caution. He was glad that she'd not had much chance to react to his explanation about his arms - besides the jaw, that was one of the things he hated the most. It was so different, so inhuman, and made him feel so very alone. 
    
   Kyle wasn't sure if he could still blush, but he imagined if so, his cheeks were probably quite flushed. Damned stomach. He was grateful to her for trying to hide the laugh, but also for making him feel more normal - something that he just... didn't feel anymore. "Not really. Beans. Didn't like them before, and they taste pretty vile now." He eyed the contents thoughtfully, glancing over to her. "No idea if you like beans. All yours if so." His body was always running on empty, due to how hard his feral self ran itself ragged at night. And no matter how many he went after, the hunger never lessened. Though, if what he sometimes woke up in was anything to go by, he preferred volatiles to humans.
   
6. 

   Rage, Rage Against the Dying of the Light (Private)

   January 3, 2024

   Kyle had surveyed the room, noting that there'd not been much of anything there. It didn't bother him. He was an outsider, new to everyone at the Tower and he'd not made a good first impression. At least he'd been able to help out some, once he'd gotten on his feet. He'd not had long to think about everything though, as his exhausted mind and body had led to lights out almost the instant his head had hit the makeshift pillow. 
    
   Far, far too soon he felt a light shake to his shoulder. Not quite managing to stifle a yawn, he blinked his eyes a few times as he attempted to get them to focus. He acknowledged her with a slight nod and stretched, taking a moment longer to try and wake up just a bit more. "Thanks. As usual, even an hour goes far too quickly."
    
   He pushed himself to his feet, rolled his shoulders and looked down at Lil. "Anyone come to get me while I was out?"
   
7. 

   Descent into Madness (Private)

   December 17, 2022

   Crane was startled as she admitted she was glad he was alive. He wasn't sure if what he was counted as 'alive' but at least he didn't look exactly like the volatiles with their gaping chest cavities. He tried to clear his throat, but it came out as almost a chittering noise, which in turn caused a comical WTF??? expression cross his face.
    
   "I am... I'm glad you're alive too. I'm just sorry you have to see me like this, instead of-"
    
   He cut off there, before they went down into morbid places with his attempts to correct the wrong done to him - and everyone around him now, as they stood no chance when he was full on hunting at night.
    
   When she asked him about his arms - specifically the vents that kept his arms from bursting due to the extra muscles now housed there - he winced. Well. No poing in hiding it now. 
    
   "You remember how I used something to move us up here? They're stored in my arms. Those vents you see help my arms expand so they aren't cramped badly. I normally bind them as these arms are a dead giveaway that I-.... I..." 
    
   He gave up trying to talk, then his stomach rumbled again, and he glared down at it, shifting slightly to try and not cramp it as that just made the hunger pangs worse. Glancing around, he finally settled on a really beat up looking can of... something and used his clawed hands to tear the lid clean off. He sniffed at it, then wrinkled his nose. Beans. Great.
   
8. 

   Rage, Rage Against the Dying of the Light (Private)

   December 17, 2022

   She was smart, with a big vocabulary, and super caring and compassionate. All things that he valued. She was also cute, and a redhead - both plusses in his book. Not that this was the time or place for such things, but if they'd met under normal circumstances back in the US... well, he was sure he'd have asked her out for coffee or something like that.
    
   "Uh... for waking me up, just a light shake. Anything else you may get me reacting instinctively. All that training, you know?"
    
   He'd waited til there was a pause in the conversation with Lena to respond, then nodded to her. "I had her back while she was out, doc. You need me to run any other errands? If not I'm gonna take a quick nap-" He nodded to Lil and chuckled, "Her orders, and then go try and secure a deal for antizin from Rais."
    
   He couldn't stifle the yawn after handing his own findings over to Lena.  Grimacing, he glanced over at the two women. "I think I'm going to go collapse face down on that mattress for a bit. If I'm not back in an hour, come get my lazy ass up." 
   
9. 

   Rage, Rage Against the Dying of the Light (Private)

   December 14, 2022

   He'd nodded at her observation. That was the key word. Things were anything but normal here, so his usual way of doing things might not be the best approach. That said, he wasn't going to take her with to Rais' outpost.
    
   "You're welcome to join up with me after I see Rais if you want. Going into the compound though - I'd rather do that solo so only one person is at risk if possible."
    
   Kyle shook his head as she commented on him taking a nap. Much as he wanted to, it wasn't really an option. Just flopping down on his sleeping bag on top of the mattress in his room sounded amazing though, and he paused to think about it. Well, maybe an hour wouldn't hurt. It would allow him to be a bit sharper and faster if he needed to be.
    
   "Yeah, the virus causes seizures entirely differently, from what I understand. Hopefully, if he rests and does what she tells him, he'll make a full recovery. Though getting him to listen is the issue." That was rich, coming from him, but it was a case of do as I say not as I do here.
    
   Stepping out of the elevator and holding the door for her, he closed it securely after she'd made it through, then headed for the stairs so they could get down to medbay. "I think I will take you up on that, so long as you promise me you'll get me up in an hour if I don't stir on my own. They're depending on me to deal with Rais. Don't want to let 'em down."
    
   He paused outside the medbay door, and looked down at Lil, hands on his hips as he did. He wondered if Brecken was in there or if he'd stayed up near HQ, to try and keep the extent of the injury hidden still. Either way, there was a lot to do. 
   
10. 

    Descent into Madness (Private)

    December 13, 2022

    As she moved around the safehouse apartment, his eyes traced her steps, never looking directly at her unless it was her feet. The longer he was able to heal, the more striking his eyes would become - instead of the standard red and yellow of a volatile they were an almost luminous orange in the light, and he'd noticed that even that changed in shadows - they glowed faintly with an orange-golden hue.
     
    Fiddling with his clothing from where he'd slumped after Jade had dropped him - he was heavier than he'd been before, but also a lot bigger if the height difference was true and the virus wasn't playing tricks on his addled brain. 
     
    "Well... I'm not entirely sure what to talk about since this wasn't exactly how either of us would have wanted to see each other again. Assuming on your part there, but..." He looked up briefly as she sat back down. Good, she'd grabbed the blanket and one of the rations. 
     
    His own belly cramped, reminding him that he'd not eaten anything at all today. When he'd woken the taste of raw flesh and blood had still been in his mouth and it'd turned him off of eating. Something in the recesses of his mind growled and insisted that he go hunting out in the rain. He shoved it back down, then pushed himself up to his feet.
     
    Swaying slightly, he took a moment to steady himself and assessed the new damage. It wasn't good, but nothing that wouldn't heal if he took precautions the rest of today and again tomorrow. There was another potential area to store food - a working fridge that hummed in the kitchen portion of the hideout, and he limped his way in there, his movements not quite human, but not the desperate creature scrambling to get out of the entrance UVs from earlier.
     
    There was a packaged 'hamburger' meal that looked a bit out of date, but would do nothing to him. It'd barely dented his gut before, when he was fully human, so now? It was just another bit of 'fresh' food. He scarfed it down, careful to turn from her to open his mouth fully. Last thing she needed was more nightmares about the thing he'd become.
     
    He spotted a few bottles of water tucked under one of the counters and grabbed them, then stared at the jackpot of energy drinks hiding just behind those. Grabbing two he brought those and a couple of the packaged 'dessert' things over to Jade, offering her first pick. Once she'd chosen he was going to go look for rags to bind his arms, since they looked quite different with the vents open to allow the tentacles under room to fit comfortably. Binding them hurt, but he preferred that pain to the one caused when he looked at what the virus - and fucking Jasmine - had done to him.
    

Topics I Participated In

1. 

   Fever Dreams

   Started by Kyle Crane · December 14, 2024

   Kyle shot upright, chest heaving as his eyes darted around  his hidden campsite. Though, you really couldn't reasonably call this a campsite, he thought as he glanced around again as his heartrate slowed down. At least he'd not fallen off the narrow boards he'd attached way up in the eaves of the church. That'd hurt. A lot.  "Hmph."
    
   He shifted to swing his legs over the edge of the perch, rolling his shoulders as he tried to blink the haze from sleep away. Time to get moving. He had a hunt to continue; the bastard was proving far too slippery and all Kyle had managed to find were his low level stooges and freaks of nature that the man had unleashed in the woods and the town itself. 
    
   The former special agent worried about what other plans the fucker had - he knew some of it, as the asshole had never been able to resist monologuing at him during experiments, but the full overarching plan? No clue, other than it was really, really bad. Hopping down and landing in a crouched position, he grumbled low in his throat and looked around the abandoned church. He'd heard rustling close by, potentially inside the run down building with him but not so close that he could see whoever - or whatever - it was.
    
   Time to get a closer look so he could decide if he needed to do anything.
   
2. 

   Descent into Madness (Private)

   Started by Kyle Crane · November 13, 2022

   The skies were overcast, threatening rain most of the night. By the time dawn hit a downpour was soaking the entire city and countryside. The hordes of undead didn't care, their groans and moans a low rumble as they shuffled back and forth in response to the thunderous cacophony raindrops made on tin roofs. As the storm passed overhead, the worst of the rain slowly crept from one area of the slums to another, though as the winds died down the storm all but stalled out above the remains of the once proud city.
    
   All the areas of Harran were caught in the deluge, though the slums were taking the worst beating. Some of the deep gullies started to flood, flushing the biters and virals out of them and into the streets, making them even more crowded than normal. With the influx of virals from incidents caused by Rais' men, it was far more dangerous than normal to be in the streets.
    
   Far from the Tower, but still in the slums, not far from what remained of Rais' skyscraper, a lone figure hunched its shoulders against the rain, huddled down with its back to the water as the water splashed off the building and hit the hood, baseball cap, and patchwork leather duster of the man hunkered down miserably.
    
   He'd come back to himself not long before, near the lowest levels of the basement, and had scaled his way up and out of the towering building. Hopping a fence and dragging himself up to the lower rooftop of the building closest to the massive former HQ for Rais and his men, the Hunter wasn't sure how long it'd been since the Mother had forced that phial of liquid down his throat.
    
   But he was all too aware of what had happened as he'd climbed out of the sewers just as the sun went down. How many sunsets since then? He'd lost count, let himself operate on instinct during daylight too - it lessened the pain - but the rain... there was something about it that dragged the small scrap of humanity left in his brain to the forefront.
    
   He hated it.
   
3. 

   Rage, Rage Against the Dying of the Light (Private)

   Started by Kyle Crane · January 12, 2022

   Crane sat up and sighed, running a hand down his face as he tried to wake up. It'd been a long night the night before - he'd had to bolt like hell to avoid those fucking volatiles. He wished he could say it'd been worth it - but the GRE's orders to burn the supplies had set them back a lot. He'd followed orders, but the guilt was already starting to eat away at him.
    
   It was far too late to do anything about it now though - aside from trying to get more, which he wasn't entirely sure on - all things considered. When he stepped out of his room he could hear raised voices from clear down the way and immediately headed toward them. The guilt started to eat at him even more, as he knew what they were likely arguing about.
    
   And sure enough the 'debate', if one could call it that, was about going to Rais to purchase Antizin. Before he could really think about it he found himself volunteering to go talk to Rais. Great. What'd I just get myself into? Well. Guess I'd better get to it - I need to confirm this asshole is who we think he is. With that, he headed back down, intending to head straight over to Rais' tower.
    
    
   Crane growled as he hurtled over a few zombies, slashing at one in the process, beheading it as he continued on. The plan had been to head straight to Rais, but the many undead between him and that place, and the survivors who'd been stupid fucks and had gotten in over their heads had required a number of detours. Even now, a good six hours later, he found himself busting his ass hauling fuckheads out of the jaws of death - quite literally.
    
   A piercing scream caught his attention - that of a survivor, not one of the virals, though they answered in kind shortly after. You'd think they'd know better than to make that much noise by now... He took a moment to orient himself on top of one of the higher roofs, trying to pinpoint where the screams had come from.
    
   He wasn't the only one who'd answer that sound of distress and he hoped it was another from the Tower or somebody who survived elsewhere out in the city, rather than one of Rais' men - he wouldn't hesitate to kill them if they did show up, but it'd make things a bit awkward to turn around and head to Rais' headquarters right after.
   

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