Judge Rum's rampage of destruction began inside the City Block's gymnasium. Here were people in the peak of credit card purchased fitness, lean, healthy and above all having a blood alcohol level so minute as to nearly cause a squint to develop just trying to imagine it. Using the tried and true method of locking the doors, by breaking off the handle with brute strength (it came off in my hand!) Judge Rum grabbed the door attendant by his throat. "Drunk on duty?" Asked Rum with a hiss of breath through his black stained lips.
"Nooooooooooo," stammered the more than slightly scared to be confronted by a cross dressing maniac door attendant.
"As I guesssssssssssssed." With a swift move Judge Rum threw the door attendant through one of the many exercise machines and moved on to the next person. Moving with a slow lope that efficiently covered ground without any fear of having leg hairs plucked out or abraded off by his jingling leather skirt and garter belt Judge Rum slowly worked his way through the crowd, no one was too big, too small, too young or too old to be spared. The crime was sobriety and the punishment could only be death.
Meagre City One wasn't defenceless however. This version of time also possessed A Judge Force. Barely surviving the Nuclear Flame War Holocaust Armageddon Death Match of the late 20th Century humanity gathered together it's remaining resources and rebuilt. Rather than repeat the problems of the past age and return to the dark ways of argument and interruption the forepersons of what would be Meagre City One decided to rebuilt from scratch. The old cities were buried under steel and concrete, forgotten but for the history books. The new City was constructed, a new beginning removed from the scares and prejudice of the past years. Old mistakes were forgotten and humanity got together to forge onwards and outwards in harmony.
With the failure of the military forces and the domestic police forces to maintain control of such a diverse society accelerating anew with the latest technological developments the forepersons forging this new land decided to create a new police system. This system was based on centralisation and the use of all necessary force. They were called Judges with their role description allowing them wide sweeping powers of the local populace. Judge and jury all in one the Judges were allowed to enforce the law as they saw fit. A swift application of force was bought onto all those who considered themselves beyond the law. There was no excuse, there was no pity. Rather than wilt under the tyranny of such a right wing organisation ruling the streets Meagre City One flourished instead. The Judges provided the key missing components vital for a successful society. Stability and structure. The Judges controlled domestic as well as external security. Meagre City One was blooming and hence a possible military target for foreign powers. As such with the first casualties starting to fall at the hands of Judge Rum the Judges of Meagre City One were mobilising.
With any organisation there are those with natural raw talent that survive and excel. Such was the way with Meagre City One's Judge Force. Ask any one on the street and the name you'll hear time and time again is Judge Erehwon, Ol' Stony Britches himself. Erehwon, the name congruous with the law. Erehwon was a clone, one of a series created to be beyond corruption and beyond the taint common to the previous police force. Of the clone series which contained Erehwon only one other survived past the rigours training programme to walk the streets. Erehwon's clone brother Erewhon. Erewhon however was not as stable as his brother, not as dedicated. Confronted with absolute authority and absolute power over the community Erewhon went a little strange. The story is well documented and resulted with the imprisonment of Erewhon on the Judge prison colony orbiting Saturn, known as "Tight-Arse."
Erehwon had just finished his morning shift and was sitting down to read the latest briefing when the call came in. Answering with a grunt and a nod Ol' Stony Britches remounted his motorbike (restricted to Judge use only due to it's armament and performance) and rode off to the scene.
The area was a nightmare congregation of victims, media and the ever present Lurker population. Pushing through the watching crowds Judge Erehwon was surrounded by a media circus that would not have been out of place inside a big top. "Move aside. Nothing to see here. Be kind to Meagres," added Judge Erehwon with his catch phrase. Kindness and consideration were the key words to his philosophy for himself as well as others. Even so being a Judge does not allow to much sentiment, after the kindness run out and the consideration was awash with abuse it came down to break hits and removing the stains to the gene pool.
Looking up at the towering floors of the City Block Judge Erehwon upholstered his weapon and walked forward. Known as a Law-Suggester the pistol spoke with a thunder far beyond it's size. The pistol was capable of using six different types of ammunition. Setting the weapon onto "warning" Erehwon walked towards the entrance.
Once past the main stair well Erehwon found the floor littered with bodies and gore. Broken torsos sat sit by side with heads and limbs belonging to a multitude rather than an exact individual. The perpetrator had not been idle since the alert came through. Reaching for his belt radio Judge Erehwon summoned back up, with a special request to the Chief Judge for a Telepath. With the motives for this carnage seemingly random one who could read thoughts would be an advantage. Climbing upwards towards the scene of the first call Judge Erehwon walked silently with weapon outstretched. With senses on overload drawing detail from every blood stain and every broken window Erehwon was suddenly confronted by a hushed voice from behind.
"Welcome officer, may I offer you a wee drink?" Hissed the voice with a mocking lilt as the end.
"Never on when on duty scum!" Shouted Judge Erehwon as he span about and fired a series of warning shoots over the speaking individuals head.
Unfazed by this show of force Judge Rum mockingly laughed and bowed to his 'guest.' "Ah, a spirit at last but so unfortunately not the variety that would be acceptable. I beg you good day kind sir as I have further work to do here. My employment is in such great demand along your fair shores. I wonder, I wish, I conjure and search for bliss. We shall meet again gentleman sir." Judge Rum stepped backwards through the shattered wall of the bar and disappeared.
Judge Erehwon examined the scene and found a number of cowering individuals huddled under the bar top. Each had urinated themselves in fear and stank of stale beer mixed in with vomit. Rolling the senseless figure over Judge Erehwon found the filth under the body to be less than what the smell would entail. They were all drunk, drunk and near catatonic with fear. Alerting head quarters to position and existence of the survivors Judge Erehwon leapt through the shattered wooden planks at the rear of the bar in search of the murderer.
Erehwon's search was short as the hairy skirt wearing figure of Judge Rum, the name plastered on the parody of a Judges badge along the man's figure, was found pouring alcohol along the floor inside the warehouse behind the bar. Candles sat along each corner with the pouring of volatile liquor seemingly to be the final piece in a ritualistic endeavour. "Hello good sssssssssssir, hale and well met once more. Please forgive my lack of hospitality but I my abilities have been recently ever so taxed. Your world seems to be full of sin and debauchery. Cluttered with false idols and pale religions. Of this I could forgive but the sickening taint of evil can not be passed by. You live in a sober world kind sir, I and mine find you lacking. Judge the name says but only worthy of being judged are you. I curse you kind sir for not completing such an obvious task."
"Easy on the slander there fella, the building is surrounded. You'll come quietly or you'll not be coming standing up. Do I make myself clear?" Asked Judge Erehwon as he circled the mocking figure of Judge Rum.
"Indeed you do kind sir, it seems I was not mistaken.. You would make a find addition to the Judge force once this desire to be sober is beaten from your bloody bones. Alas I find you in error once more. It is not I who am surrounded by indeed it now becomes you. I'll introduce you in just a moment. Welcome my Bothers! The sport is lacking and desires to be judged!" Judge Rum shouted the last words and sparked his giant silver ring off the damp with alcohol floor. Flame leapt up at the touch of metal upon stone and engulfed the room along the poured designs made previously by Rum.
Erehwon leapt back to avoid the scorching heat of the alcohol blue flames as they flickered. The flames were drawn to the opposite cardinal points away from Rum twisting and turning with some inner torment. Pillars of flame were formed that exploded through the ceiling leaving clear razer circular sharp edges through the above floors. Looking back down Erehwon saw the flames die down but leaving obviously solid shadows in their wake. The shadows gained detail and expression, shape and form in front of Erehwon's eyes. Instead of shadow moments later stood four men, Judge Rum stood beside three more of his kind.
The closest to Erehwon stood easily two metres tall with a shoulder reach easily that as well. The man was dressed in a long leather apron that was revealed to be a calf length slit skirt upon his revolving. The skirt was barely covering twin stockings of sheer midnight silk, with the erotic image being destroyed by the very much masculine black legs hairs poking through the delicate weave of the stockings. The blouse of the outfit was a matching black leather ensemble with a deeply plunging neck line revealing the tender hint of a hairy left nipple. A stethoscope hand from the man's neck with a shining silver pocket watch draped along the bared nipple. The belt along the man's waist served to accent his peasant girl hips with the design along the front engraved with a twin lightening bolt symbol. A top the man's head sat a leather peaked cap sporting the name "Halitosis" along with the similar repeated lightening bolt symbol. More confusing was the leather arrangement covering the majority of the man's head and face. Strapped and buckled the leather formation appeared to be belong more towards a racing animal than a man. The light weight rectangular slats on the front hung just below the eyes rather than along side with the sharp in contrast silver bolt of the bit sliding underneath the blinders into what Judge Erehwon would guess was the mouth. Gnarled and chewed fingers reached up and flicked each horse blinder to the side, Erehwon shuddered and took another step in retreat as the blackened and ripe with decay mouth was revealed. Spit and pus oozed out of the man's mouth along his stubble encrusted chin to disappear along the matted hair underneath. With a puff of expelled air a black cloud of airborne death crossed the room to slide along the walls. The crack and splinter of painted filled the air as the wood visibly rotted against the strain of being. Judge Halitosis chuckled again and closed the blinders once more to conceal the eroded pits of his teeth.
Gagging at the possibly imagined taste of the fetid air Judge Erehwon reached up and applied his helmet respirator to his nose. Fresh life sustaining oxygen was supplied with Judge Erehwon being able to think clearly once more. Judge Halitosis retreated to stand next to the waiting form of Judge Rum. Rum had wasted no time and had procured a number of glasses filled with various liquids from the many shattered barrels around the room. Taking a deep draw from the glass offered Judge Halitosis dribbled a returning stream of liquid into the near empty glass. The glass visibly etched and cracked before crumbling back to the sand it was born.
The next closest to Judge Erehwon moved lithely to the side, closer to the offered drink. As tall as Halitosis this man was also dressed in a thigh length fabric. Instead of leather this time the material was tartan based and allowed more freedom of movement for the wearer. A gigantic steel wedge hung over the man's shoulder with a linin wrapped hilt along the upper edge showing it to be in actuality a sword. A billowing white shirt was carelessly wrapped around the mans shoulders and now hung flapping within the movement created breeze. The man ran a hand through his hair and turned to grin at the astonished Judge Erehwon. Opening his mouth the man opened his jaw far wider than normally possible to reveal a gigantic steel orb implanted along the raw and wet tongue. 'Judge Guinness' was engraved along the front of the orb. Snapping his jaw shut with a clatter of teeth Judge Guinness leaned beside Judge Halitosis, accepting the drink offered.
The final man stood directly in front of Erehwon and waited. Once the room was still the man stepped into the light and opened his mouth to sing. The air was filled with the titanic bellows of an Opera singer as the man declared an aria for this new lands of opportunity and judgement. Erehwon clasped his hands over his ears and examined the singer in greater detail. Wearing a pair of slip on sandals the man's badly stained toga barely contained the quivering mass of flesh inside. Almost twice as wide as tall the new Dark Spirit Judge was a monster of a man. A gigantic pizza dish hung from his neck with the words "Judge Lard" engraved with in. In one hand a two metre long spatular was held. The spatular continually dripped oil and grease on to the expanding puddle along the floor. Spinning the spatular around his nibble fingers Judge Lard stepped back to join his three companions.
"Well crap," muttered Judge Erehwon.
The Four Dark Spirit Judges were together again.
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