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Chapter Six: The Industrial Quarter
"The Nexus Stone"

“KAIN”
I left the relative safety of Sanctuary and ventured once more into the night.  The Industrial Quarter of Meridian was, I discovered, a heavily guarded fortress.  Rather than assault it directly, I stole into the workers’ commons and began my quest for the Nexus Stone there.
 

Two workers speak in hushed voices.

MALE WORKER
There’s more guards about than ever these days.

FEMALE WORKER
I’ve seen two of the bastards yesterday, and three today.  They make my flesh crawl.  Can they talk?  I’ve never heard ‘em.  Why so many of them nowadays?

MALE WORKER
They must be here for our protection.
 

Two workers take their lunch break in a room upstairs.

INDUSTRIAL WORKER A
You hear that?

INDUSTRIAL WORKER B
Hear what?

INDUSTRIAL WORKER A
Sounds like fighting below, and then a ‘thump’.

INDUSTRIAL WORKER B
Thump?

INDUSTRIAL WORKER A
Like a body striking the floor.

INDUSTRIAL WORKER B
Ooh, that’s an evil kind of thump.

INDUSTRIAL WORKER A
What should we do?

INDUSTRIAL WORKER B
What we always do.  Go on like we never heard nothing.

INDUSTRIAL WORKER A
(deliberately)
I-never-heard-nothin’.  
 

Kain makes his way through a residential building to gain access to the Industrial Quarter.  He finds himself on a balcony overlooking the main complex.  Vorador contacts him.

VORADOR
(Whispers)
Were you followed?

KAIN
Bah.  These humans never looked twice in my direction.  Little do they realize their future lord walks among them.  Now, tell me of this place.

VORADOR
Umah tells me the Nexus Stone will be found in the Main Factory beyond the Dam.  There will be a gondola to take you there.  If this is deactivated, you must look below for the Glyph to repower it, but be careful of the guards.

KAIN
Have you any further wisdom to dispense?

VORADOR
I sense the presence of another vampire close by.  He may be watching you.  I will Whisper you again, when it is needful.

KAIN (VO)
Once again I began to feel the obligations of power, to deal justice fairly to all.  One day my people would know me again for their lord. But the vampires who were traitors to their kind would know me   first of all. 

 

Two mercenary guards approach a palette of the explosive devices produced by the factory.

MERCENARY 1
Ever seen anything like that?

MERCENARY 2
Don’t touch it!  I’ve heard it’s magical and dangerous.

MERCENARY 1
Oh, they say that about everything.  The workers move them all the day.  C’mon, it won’t do any harm to –

The first mercenary pulls a lever, detonating the entire palette, and demolishing the nearest wall of the room.  (“Kain” is knocked flat on his ass behind that wall.)
 

A glyph guard and mercenary guard approach Sebastian.

GYLPH GUARD
Sire, a body!  We found a body, sire!

SEBASTIAN
It won’t be the last.  He’s here.  I sense the taint of his overblown arrogance.  Tell the guards in the power chamber.  He must not be allowed to approach the Nexus Stone. 

GYLPH GUARD
Who is it, sire?

SEBASTIAN
An old friend, who will learn his place in the world at last.  If you see or hear anything out of the ordinary, report to me at once.

Sebastian

 

Kain approaches the Nexus Stone.  As Kain approaches it, hand outstretched, a figure appears behind him.  This is the vampire Sebastian.  He is young, handsome and arrogant. 

SEBASTIAN
Behold the great Kain, now a common thief. 

KAIN (VO)
The fiend that dogged my shadow showed himself at last, and in the light, I knew him.  Another visage from my past…

KAIN
Sebastian!  It is you who have been following me.

SEBASTIAN
And how long it took you discover it.  My master sent me, to prevent your meddling further.  And now you must die.  

KAIN
Your master knows his days are numbered.  I might have spared your life by asking that you join me, but I learned that lesson two hundred years ago.  You arranged the ambush that destroyed my army.  You sold yourself to our enemy.

SEBASTIAN
I dealt the blow that cost you the war.  Glorious, was it not?  So many killed, so quickly.  And all my doing.

KAIN
I never learned why.

SEBASTIAN
Did you think I would serve, while you ruled Nosgoth?  You, and not I?  The Sarafan Lord knows how to value me.  I am to rule by his side, and achieve what you never could.

KAIN
You fool.  Do you think that butcher will permit you to live one moment longer than he has need
of you?  I will save you from your disappointment, Sebastian, and kill you now.    

SEBASTIAN
I have waited two hundred years for the pleasure of killing you with my own hands. While you
have been sleeping, my powers have been increasing.  You haven't the smallest chance of defeating me.  

The battle ensues in a circular, industrial room, where the Nexus Stone is held.  Jets of steam rotate around the walls.  When “Kain” is able to throw Sebastian against the walls, he cries out:

SEBASTIAN
Ugh! It burns!

After dealing enough damage, Sebastian begins running in circles along the walls. 

SEBASTIAN
Getting dizzy, Kain?
(laughter)
Here I come, Kain.

After being fried by the electricity in the center of the room three times, Sebastian calls out to a human worker in a protected observatory chamber off to the side.

SEBASTIAN
Jon, raise the dais!
I will destroy this precious jewel!
We will die together, Kain!

“Kain” jumps up to the dais, but Sebastian retreats.

SEBASTIAN
Can’t hurt what you can’t touch!
You can’t lay a finger on me!

“Kain” mind controls the human worker to fill the room with steam, forcing Sebastian to fight him on the dais.

SEBASTION
Hah!  No one fools me with my own trick.

“Kain” grabs Sebastian and throws him into the steam.

Kain stands over Sebastian, who lies dying on the ground.

KAIN
Tell me of the Nexus Stone, and this portal.  What is its purpose
here?  Speak, and I will spare your life.

SEBASTIAN
(Laughs and coughs)
Come, Kain.  You lie in your throat and we both know it.  You are going to kill me.

KAIN
Indulge me then, before you die.

SEBASTIAN
I'll tell you, so that I may see your face when you learn – you are powerless – you cannot win – your
death is inevitable.  The Nexus Stone's portal leads to an ancient Device, deep underground, that will spell your destruction, Kain. A new reign will begin in Nosgoth.

KAIN
What is the purpose of this device?  How will it serve the Sarafan Lord?

SEBASTIAN
Alas, he has not entrusted me with that knowledge.  But soon, everyone will know it.  His plans are even now coming into fruition.

KAIN
Where is the device?  Where under the earth?

SEBASTIAN
It lies beneath Meridian.  Seek for it, if you will.  I die happy in the knowledge that all your efforts will be wasted.

KAIN
Oh Sebastian… Our destiny could have been glorious.  The land was ours for the taking.  History would have been rewritten in our image.  But not everyone shared my vision.  And now, your time is up.  Your death will only make me stronger.  I hope that knowledge comforts you, in your grave.

Kain takes the Berserk ability from Sebastian, then approaches the Nexus Stone.  He rips it from its housing.  The Portal suddenly closes, ripping machinery and starting a chain reaction of explosions.  The room begins to fall apart around him.  Kain runs towards the window, and leaps out as the room explodes.  Everything goes black.
 

Return to Sanctuary

After a pause, the scene slowly fades back in.  We see Umah looking down on Kain.  Kain sits up from the bed he was lying on.

UMAH
You are welcome back.  How do you feel?

KAIN
A little better than dead.  How did I come here?

VORADOR
You are fortunate.  One of our vampires saw you thrown from the roof of the factory as it was destroyed.  He carried you here.  The Sarafan were too occupied to notice you.  I see that you have the Nexus Stone.

KAIN
And I see that you were courteous enough not to relieve me of it while I lay unconscious.  I met another old friend, a vampire, guarding it.  Before I killed him, he told me something…unsettling.
(Kain stands up)
He spoke of an ancient Device underground that will bring about victory for the Sarafan Lord.  What do you know of this, Vorador?

VORADOR
I have heard tell of strange discoveries deep underground.  Ancient legends speak of huge machines deep in the earth, left by the gods in eons past.  And I know of one who can tell us the truth of this matter.  She is a Seer, a being said to be older even than I.  We are fortunate in that she owes me a favor.  Go to her, Kain, and learn what she knows.

KAIN
Go to her?  This city is a walled fortress.  How do you propose I get out?

VORADOR
There is a secret way out of the city.  I will show it to you.  You may follow a canyon that leads north to her abode.  The way will not be easy.  Strange beasts roam outside the city, preying on travelers.  The people call them demons.

KAIN
I believe I have met one of these already.  I hope your Seer's knowledge is worth the risk.