*The survivors had ditched the captial. Having to go against killer white monsters, many ravils claimed those attempting escape. All of it, part of a sick "ritual" to make natives reborn via savagery. But with Johnny and Date's quick-thinking along with planning under pressure, the humans have a chance. Already, they were inside the island, crossing through the capital outskirts. The group pushes through the green brush.*
*Behind them, a lone hunter was sedating the escapees with darts... a mimiga.*
 
*Jack was jumping high from each elevated rock, to tree. Gripping his tranquilizer rifle, Jack closely follows. Johnny had an idea; they were heading towards open ground. It would force Jack to emerge out of cover. Circling back, the journalist deliberately lags behind, circling back with a U-turn.*
 
*The humans had crossed into the plains. For now, the grass was too short for anyone to hide in. Jack made tail, stopping at the edge. Crouching, contemplating that he would have to reveal himself to get a clear shot.*
 
Jack: "Got to stop them... They get any further, we may have fugitives to deal with for the next months to come. Torture to search; then physical torture by Midas to me."
 
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*The mimiga starts hopping across the field, letting off more darts. Exhaling rapidly, tensing up. Jack was serious about capturing all these humans. For his own sake mostly. The threats uttered by King Midas during that emergency call. The memory playing on repeat, giving him motivation.*
 
King Midas: "Ja- ack!" *Cough cough* "JACK! I need you back down here in the island, immediately!" *Cough hack.* "Euuaagh, the ravil graduates are too incapacitated by a stinging cloud. Can barely see!" *Cough.* "Capture the escaping humans, save me the man in the blue jacket. If you fail, I'll have you water-tortured a second time!"
"-Ack pwwegh! Somebody phone the medical personnel! Our eyes are burning."
 
*Jack abided by his orders, as expected. Always ridiculed for being Midas' lapdog, his "yes man." Easy to push around. Skilled, smart, strong just enough that he isn't a major threat like King. Always ending up drained at the end of the day.*
 
Jack: "I despise everything about '2nd in command.' Eugh."
 
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*Least Jack was making progress, noticing they were all heading towards the river. Jack became nervous for a couple reasons. If they decide to try wading through the river, he couldn't tranquilize them. Or else the humans will risk drowning. The next obvious reason, Jack was afraid of water. Time to face his fears, prevent any of that from happening. To chase, he went.*
 
*Johnny, who had made a full U-Turn, trailed behind Jack, recharge pistol at the ready. His face holding the impression of a frustrated rival. Johnny was about to charge into confrontation, yet his judgement told him to hold back. Trusting his wit, he checked his surroundings. He saw a wide piece of broken log wood that can be used as an improvised shield. Picking it up, he held it to protect himself from syringe darts. Stalking Jack, Johnny now attacks.*
 
*The journalist fires his energy bullets at Jack. Missing the first shot due to his target frequently hop running. Sounds of gunfire was enough for Jack to turn around, realizing these humans were not going down without a fight. Jack instinctively fires a dart to Johnny. It gets deflected by the wooden shield. The mimiga went cold, heart pumping harder. Now he was juggling between tranquilizing the humans, and avoiding lethal gunfire.*
 
Jack: "Hey, that's not cool-"
 
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*It was a dog chase cat, chase dog game. Jack, ditching this dangerous play, instead speeding ahead. Putting his rabbit legs to good use, outrunning most of the competition at beating them to the river edge first. Johnny watched Jack disappear from his line of sight. Kicking the dirt in sore anger. "Bah!"*
 
*Jack sat upon a tall boulder, aiming down on the fugitives while they revealed themselves. One escapee goes down, yelling "He's on the rocks!" Before succumbing to the sleep drug. Jack felt confident now that he has them where he wants them.*
 
*The humans had other plans, not wanting to become future ravil-food. Date sharpens his eyebrows, sprinting towards the river edge. Picking up some rocks then tossing them at Jack. Forcing Jack to slide off, onto the ground. The dart, narrowly passing Date.*
 
Date: "Get him!"
 
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*One fugitive charged towards Jack aggressively. Point-blank dart hit. But the man keeps on running. Jack fires a second shot, hitting the human. Yet, he was so aggressive. The human quickly tackles Jack, going for his tranquilizer rifle. A struggling session ensues.*
 
*However, since this was a human vs mimiga, the human was bigger and already overpowering Jack. The tranquilizer rifle is then stolen away from him by Date. The mimiga kicked them backwards with his powerful digi-grade legs, knocking one of the men out. Jack was now surrounded by hostile escapees.*
 
*Improvising, Jack simply pulled the dart ammo out of his jacket. Holding one between each finger. "6 darts..." Stabbing the syringes one after another between people trying to hit him. The group was starting to fall apart. Til a harsh punch was delivered by Date. Followed by another punch, dazing the mimiga. Bruises started forming on his milky-white fur. Gasping, Jack was then hit with a stick. Punching him into the water.*
 
 
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*The mob wouldn't stop there, they waded into the water, attacking their pursuer further. Punching, kicking, hitting, surrounded by his fear of water, Jack was starting to mentally break. Shouting from the humans they once treated with kindness, lured into an island death trap.*
*Date was busy taking the tranquilizer rifle into his own possession, and salvaging all the darts he can. He even went as far as to dig into Jack's pockets.. suddenly seeing Jack had a strange green-blue gun in the holster. Yanking it, Date stuffed the mysterious weapon, the Bubbline, into his jeans.*
 
"We trusted you!"
"Played by mimiga, planning to serve us to ravils!"
"Monsters hiding in sheep's clothing!"
"You little punk!"
"Colleagues died because of your actions!"
"Moromin and Sue are probably dead because of you! A kid, and a family!"
 
*All Jack could do was raise his hand above the water as they started to drown him. Pushing his body underneath the surface. Bubbles, splashing all about. The mimiga was beginning to cry, unable to take this anymore.*
 
Jack: "I mean I was sorry! Hate my job, not me! I wished humanity the best, but our worlds!- I had no choice, I had to serve my kind. Please stop, I'm not a monster-"
 
*Now to do something he absolutely despised. Sinking to the lowest action he can. Jack had be like the very bullies he worked with in his everyday life. Jack placed a hand into his back pocket, grabbing a dart with red feathers... sticking it into his own thigh.*
 
 
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*Jack started turning a pale purple, then red. When Johnny finally arrived at the river scene, he was awestruck. They were just ready to finish off Jack, but the atmosphere felt dreadful. Date looked into the water and noticed the transformation...*
 
Date: "Everyone run! Get away from him! He's turning!"
 
*Johnny was thinking of shooting Jack. But there were too many allies dog piling the mimiga. A clear shot was impossible. The investigator gasps, wading through the river to get to the other side alongside Date.*
 
Johnny: "Oh god-"
*He went from being empowered, to feeling vulnerable. He dropped the wooden shield.*
 
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*A loud explosion is heard inside the water, a geyser going off. Johnny and Date were fleeing the river, starting to seperate in panic. Neither bothering to see what beast Jack became. The vigilantes and scientists who were beating the mimiga, were flung several feet in the air. Everyone now was scattered, heading more towards Date's direction.*
 
*Jack's mind was warped. The mental destruction that left him broken, the void filled by darkness. Powerless became power. Fear became confidence. He truly was a ravil now. Jack's size was large enough he poked out of the river laying up. His completion actually resembled closer to that of a regular mimiga with less rabil deformities. Immediately springing to action. The monster before them raised arms with a muscle flexing pose. A tiger roar shook the landscape, mixed with a hiss.*
 
*To Jack's own word, he was no longer Jack. He was "Jackal" now. The person he wished to be, but refrained against it due to moral and personal standards. Betraying his beliefs, it wouldn't matter to him in this new state.*
 
*Jackal was a tall, imposing ravil with the outlook to back it up. His jacket was forced opened, fitting to his style. Growing a fluffy tuft on his chest. His goggles to cap stretched to fit the head better. Their fingers were that of claws, retracting at will. Holding both hands on the sides of their torso, giving a hoarse, deep, double voiced chuckle.*
 
Jackal: "Impressive. You pushed me off the edge, first in several years."
"Got a job to do, I take no pleasure in."
 
*He gives a finger snap, pointing at the group, other arm crossed in.*
Jackal: "...Except when the red flower is involved."
"Even if you win... None can flee the island, no matter of strong you are. The Lotus Curse will overtake you."
 
*Clicking his lips, jaw half open. Showing his array of teeth, fangs, and wide smile.*
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*Johnny was running left, now crossing into taller Grasslands. Moving down the path that was the river end. While Date and his group continued towards the right. They believed this tall grass could save them. However, this was where they messed up.*
 
*Jackal was right behind them, crouched. Taking a deep smell of the air. Half of his face was concealed inside the foliage. Whiskers flicking at the grass. The military styled ravil brought both claws up to his mouth. Licking both claws with his tongue, secreting a special saliva useful for just this occasion.*
 
*What sounded to be a boom, Jackal honed in on the first scent of prey. A man turned around to see what was coming. All he saw was a white figure scratching him by the legs, pulling him far deep into the grass jungle. Screams from the panicking scientist, then silence. Jackal held him down, nipping their shoulder, and leaving him against a tree for later.*
 
 
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*The runners were hit with primal fear. Their chests beginning to hurt, adrenaline forcing those to sprint to their bodily limits. Humanity's old experience of being hunted, hard wired mentally into even the most mundane of city dwellers. Everyone was making different escape attempts. Johnny was taking his chances of heading somewhere that the ravil couldn't. Date wanted to go find help.*
 
*Another man saw what he thought was a white tiger pouncing from the bushes. Giving a slash to the guy's leg. It wasn't a deep cut. Just a scratch. Must've been a botched job, the man was grateful he wasn't murdered. Suddenly, his leg started giving out.*
Scientist: "Guys, I can't feel my leg... Tired. Everything's going black..."
 
*He collapsed; it wasn't exhaustion. Date had drawn a conclusion. More paralysing toxins? Date repeating "But I stole his tranquilizer!" Unless, this was an innate power from said monster.*
 
 
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*Johnny was able to see just the mound of grass get crushed, the dark green mass with white hiding underneath. Swimming through the shrubs like a shark. Johnny let off several rounds to hit the beast, all it did was make the military ravil run faster. Johnny looks at his weapon. "Turn the dial up a notch." Increasing power at the risk of damaging his recharge pistol. Jackal dives right up, all claws out. The investigator found himself frozen.*
 
*The military ravil opened his mouth to bite, width matching the size of Johnny's shoulders. Jackal's eyes were that of a tiger, better detail than the simple crimson of the others. The humans bides his time, waiting for Jackal to get close enough. Almost shoulder length. And finally, shot. A bigger plasma ball let fourth, striking the ravil in the throat. Making Jackal tumble.*
 
*The beast tumbles, coughing up smoke. Punching his chest to clear it of soot.*
Jackal: "Plagh! Arrgh!"
 
*Johnny set his eyes on his next to last plan. Reaching the end of his getaway, a massive cliff border. To the very bottom, a vague image of a dustbowl. Heat blurring the floor through a mirage. "Is that the desert down there? The Sand Zone?" Johnny is cornered. "Think man, think... I'm all out of tricks. Not like my pepper spray would be useful, that monster wears goggles."*
 
 
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*The journalist scanned frantically. "Uh, creatures, what creatures were native again?" Putting his gun back in his holster. Running from one side of the cliff to the other... Nothing.*
 
*Emerging from the jungle into the open, a towering figure casually walking out of the forest. It was Jackal, holding a neutral grin, arms folded behind his back. His steps audible from every distance of Johnny. The human wheezed, body temperature dropping to cold sweat. Believing his heart was going to punch out of his chest. Muttering gibberish to himself.*
 
*Johnny prayed for anything... he saw a green critter. One of the stables of Lotus Island. "Those things fly don't they?!" The human jogs right behind the clueless creature. Jumping double his own height. Balling up a fist, then nose dive that punch right towards the critter. The green flying gummy drop turns, and swiftly punched. Whilst the critter was knocked out, Johnny undid his belt. Tying the belt around the critter from top to bottom, as so he can hold onto it while it flies.*
 
*Guiding the awakening green critter towards the cliff edge, he holds onto the makeshift pulley. The critter already beginning to take off, carrying Johnny with it. Leap of faith. Die escaping, or die in a ravil infested cafeteria...*
 
 
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*He was being pulled into the air, but has stopped in place. His blue jacket was being yanked by a swift and clenched claw paw... Jackal teetered right at the cliff edge above certain death. Johnny stopped breathing, looking back at the military ravil. Jackal pitied the man, starting to frown. His authoritative voice taking a more humanitarian approach.*
 
Jackal: "... Few get this far. It's not worth it."
"There's a third way. It doesn't have to mean death."
 
Johnny: "Like I'd trust a backstabber like you. With that fake friendly mythos story crap back on the plane."
 
Jackal: "I know your options are terrible. Except you are talking about going to the Sand Zone. Your death will be slow, and agonizing. And nobody will ever know what happen to you... That same trick you use to helicopter to safety, even if you are able to escape Lotus Island, the curse will get you first... I'd hate to see someone like you die."
 
Johnny: "I'll take my odds."
 
 
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*The military ravil stretched his other hand paw towards Johnny, and gesturing him to grab on. Opening and closing his hand "Come here." Johnny looked down at the massive fall into the cliff desert, then back at Jackal... His breathing calmed, eye watering. Johnny might be lying to himself, blinding himself that this was possible. Johnny grabbed something from his pocket. His knife.*
 
*He began cutting his blue jacket open. Getting looser, slipping the jacket out of his sleeves. Jackal pulled the jacket right off... Watching Johnny fly forward, slowly with the green critter he held onto. The ravil went towards the side, picking up a large rock for his hand. Throwing the rock up and down, baseball style. Watching Johnny descend. Other arm holding the man's blue clothing.*
 
Jackal: "It's hopeless for you. Our worlds, are radically different. You'd stick out like a sort thumb."
 
*Holding the rock tightly. To the point of crushing the stone to dust.*
 
Jackal: "I wish you good luck... If you live, next time, I won't be so merciful."
 
*Jackal turned, walking away from the cliff edge, back towards the forest. Digging into his green jacket pocket, he pulls out his own comm device. Speaking in his deep, authoritative tone as usual.*
 
Jackal: "Send up a personnel squad here. Capital outskirts."
 
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*Date's group was moving towards the cave opening, the huge window to the outside world. Getting on his smart device, dialing every emergency service number he could. Ringing, nothing, the network was like dead air. The once marathon running escapees were now slouch walking.*
 
Date: "Come on, there's got to be some ES we can call."
 
*Fighting with his phone, pressing more numbers on speed-dial, something distracted his group. The scientists pointed at the huge dropship vehicle flying in. Noticing the human-made ship, everyone felt a mixed sense of relief and confusion. It touches down in the distance... Armored humans dressed in white and blue uniforms exit the ship, wielding energy weapons.*
 
Scientist: "Thank god, help! People. I thought I'd never see another human face again."
"You got to get us out of here. These, things, they're.. some kind of white monsters! Pretending to be small rabbits, soon turning into ravils!"
 
 
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*The security team walks over towards the escapees, who they heard talking. Their faces were partially covered. Others, fully covered. Marching towards the scientists, one of the armored men raised his hand. "Here." The remaining scientist kept on talking to the personnel.*
 
Scientist: "We, heh, you have no idea how thankful we are to see you. It's been a crazy day. Turning from paradise to pandemonium. If you could direct us out of here-"
 
*The security team didn't talk or respond to anything these escapees said. There was simply a loud beep, followed by a mechanical click switch. Date began to question these humans in white-blue armor.*
 
Date: "Guys, those aren't-"
 
*The first security guard aimed his energy rifle at the one escapee. Laser sight aimed right at his chest. It was unfortunate what happened next. A laser blast left a linear charred wound of 6 inches thick into his chest. The laser piercing all the way through the other side.*
 
Scientist: "Wai- wait... I thought you were on... our si-"
 
*Two more personnel let of 4 more shots, leaving the man in a diced, disintegrated mess. Everyone started running again.*
 
Personnel Guard: "Eliminate the fugitives! Our work will be jeopardized!"
 
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*Back to fleeing, this time. It was clear they weren't going to get far. The human security team was faster, more fit, and with more advanced weaponry. Date saw this as a lost cause. Despite the insanity, all he can think of was.*
 
Date: "What the hell is going on here?!...."
 
*The doctor was heading for the river. Jumping into the water and letting the rapids take him. Laser shots pierced rock, cover, trees, anything that was in its way. Ducking his head underwater to make spotting him more difficult. The water picking up speed as it takes Date down a slope. It was a waterfall.*
 
*Date peaks out of the water, his skin pale from hiding under as well as the incoming dropoff. The security team hot on his tail. This time, getting more accurate shots in. When he ducked to hide one last time, a laser scraped his lab coat. On the river bank, they had a bery strange "tracking dog with them." Except it wasn't a dog, it was one ravil with a scouting device in one eye. Body augmented with technology and armor. This thing must've been guiding the personnel even when Date was hiding inside the river.*
 
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*The doctor reaches the waterfall, and is washed right off, falling. Date, mid fall, stared up the cliff. Behind him, where the river continued into another deep part of the island cave.*
 
Date: "Well then, bye everyone. UuuaaaAAGH!"
 
*Falling for who knee how long, he was out of the captial outskirts, and into unknown territory. Date's vision went dark when he hit the water below, nearly out of breath.*
 
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*An unknown amount of hours later, Date drifts along the riverside. Barely conscious. Breathing was strained. All he saw was blurriness. He thought he'd sink at any moment. Slowly, a tugging sensation was on his collar shirt. Pulled to the bank of the river, and laid flat on the sandy bay.*
 
*Date sees white over him, guessing he was about to die, and this was an angel.*
 
Date: "Eeeuuuuwwgh, uuuuurrrh..."
 
???: "What my luck, I finally caught a big one! Knew I'd do it!"
 
*There was a very long pause between the catcher and the doctor.*
 
Kapanchi: "... What kind of fish is it anyway?"