CHAPTER 1: The Universal Dominator
 
DAY 1 - February 1st, 2015 
  
It was a cold and bitter night, the sky was as black as the Devil's heart. Outside a club walked three drunk couples, laughing as they bumped into each other trying to reach their cars. One of the girls took a small bottle of rum from her purse and drank from it.
"Oww, this is a scary night," she said, almost falling to the ground. The guys were having a hard time getting their car doors unlocked. Little did they know they were being watched. The spy was hiding behind a bush and got up slowly, taking small steps into the light as he approached the young people. He accidentally stepped on a branch and they heard it snap sharply.
"What was that?"
"Nothin', Molly, ye be hearing things... the alcohol's gotten to ya head," one of the girls replied. They were standing around, laughing away and going on about nonsense that had happened the previous week in school. Their stalker had moved around them without being seen and made it to a truck not far away. Molly looked over and saw the hooded man get in but something about him felt eerie.
"Ya know," she said. "All week I've been gettin' the feelin' that I'm bein' watched." The rest of them laughed hysterically. The man got back out, holding something and approached the teenagers.
"I don't think you folks should be on the road," he said. "Would you like a drive?" he asked.
Just as Molly was about to decline his offer, her boyfriend replied, "Yeah, sure..." As they followed him over to his truck, he pulled something out of his pocket; a small dagger or knife. He then attacked one of the girls and killed her by slicing her throat. Two of the guys jumped him while Molly and the other girl screamed like butchered pigs. The man was much stronger than the boys and killed them both. He then slowly made his way to Molly and the other girl as they screamed for help.

  
THE SEPARATION OF DESUTOROIA!
Desutoroia X Khandejifer!
  
  
Sir Lord Desutoroia Khandejifer was out for a walk very late at night when he thought he heard something, or someone shouting. He assumed he was just hearing things as the noise quickly stopped. Desutoroia continued on his way until a truck stopped on the road he was on and the driver rolled down his window.
"Which way to the Kenji Sahara Desert?" he asked.
"Go straight for two miles, then take a right. That will take you to Gamera Fields. Keep driving and you should be on your way to the desert. Going on a little sight seeing trip to the mountains?" The man hesitated for a moment.
"Yeah. Thanks for the directions." Just as Desutoroia was about to respond, the truck drove off as if the man was in somewhat of a hurry. Desutoroia walked into the old park not far from the cemetery and Desu Hill. He sat down on one of the benches and pulled out a picture of his late wife, the Princess of Space.
"God, how I miss you so much," he said as a tear ran down his face. He was all alone and helpless without her at his side with no one to comfort and care for him anymore. Desutoroia then noticed a bright light coming from one of the bushes behind the bench. All the street lights went out but this light kept shining brightly against the moonlit sky.
"Desutoroia..." said a very deep, old and wise voice.
"W-who's there? Who said that? Hello?" He was amazed as from the light came a large orb. The light was so bright that any features it may have had were not to be seen. All that could be made out was its shape. "I said, who's there?"
"I... am the Universal Dominator..."
"W-what do you want from me?"
"I... am an ancient and wise creature who grants the wishes of those worthy enough to have what they want..."
Desutoroia was shocked. "This... this is nonsense! It's ludicrous!"
"I grant wishes to lost souls when there's something for all to gain, even myself."
"And... w-what will you gain from my wish?" Desutoroia asked rather nervously.
"Why don't you ask for one and see for yourself..." Desutoroia was fearful of making a wish, unaware that the Universal Dominator's true intentions were nothing but sadistic and cruel. However, there was one thing he did want more than anything.
"I... I wish my wife was alive again..."
"I'm sorry! I can't do that! It's against my... powers... to bring the dead back to life..."
"Then... Then there's nothing else I desire!" Desutoroia said angrily.
"Are you sure?" the Dominator asked with a sneaky tone of voice.
"You're right... There is one thing I do want..."
"Yes?" The demon was pleased that he now had Desutoroia within his grasp.
"I... I wish to be stronger both physically, mentally and spiritually."
"Excellent!" Desutoroia suddenly felt great pain.
"Arrrgggghhhhh! W-what's going on? Ahhhhhhhhhh!" He began to divide into two separate entities, like an asexual bacteria splitting into two identical parts. The Universal Dominator had separated his good side from his evil side. They lay weak on the ground as the creature used its powers to lift the evil Desutoroia into mid-air.
"I shall grant you... your wish, o mighty Khandejifer..." The good Desutoroia looked up as the Universal Dominator gave what he had wished for to his evil counterpart!
"No..." The evil one became filled with power and was stronger than Desu, physically, mentally and spiritually, just as he had requested.
"Now... my spawn," the Universal Dominator said to the evil Desu. "Kill that pathetic creature who lays there before you..."
"Why?" he asked.
"Because... there can be... only one... and that one... is you!"  The being then disappeared from the realm of Roostville.
"Well, well, well. Looks like it's only you and me, Des..." the evil one said. "It's time for you to meet your maker..." The evil Desutoroia lunged at his counterpart, his hands going for his neck but he was kicked in his gut and knocked to the ground. The good Desutoroia ran as fast as he could to escape and by the time the evil Desu had come to, the good one was long gone.
"Run all you want, Des... I can hunt you down, no matter where you hide!"

DAY 2 - February 2nd 
  

"So, what do you have this time?" Sheriff Jaguar asked as he entered the Mod Station.
"Homicide," Raptor replied with dread. "Six teenagers were murdered outside of a strip club/bar. No witnesses... All of the victims had their faces painted by whoever killed them..."
"Painted? Face paint?!"
"Yes... the three girls had sad expressions and tear drops painted on their faces... The guys, probably their boyfriends, had happy expressions. Each 'couple' was placed about the parking lot..."
"So all the girls had sad expressions and the boys happy faces," Sheriff Jaguar mused. "Now tell me, what would that be together... happy, sad?" The expression on Raptor's face was pure dread and horror.
"Comedy and Tragedy," she replied.
"Their killer must have had a lot of time on his or her hands to paint all their faces. Has Forensics checked for fingerprints or other leads?"
"It'll be a while before the tests are completed..."
"Blasted..." Sheriff Jaguar entered into his office, followed by Raptor. "Can nothing ever go right in this town? I was hoping that Desu's murder would be the last... But I guess, with the way the world is now and all, there'll always be killings..."
"Listen, JJ. I want to nail this psycho as much as you do. Don't get me wrong but don't you think..."
"Think what?"
"Forget it. Let's just back to the case..."
"Right." Jet pulled out some of the late Sheriff Varan's old case files, specifically the one on Mitchell Laurence and the Desutoroia murder case. "Only two men have ever gotten away with murder in this town," he said. "Occultist Mitchell Laurence and the devil himself, Hellspawn."
"Mitch Laurence?" Raptor asked. "Why... he was Michael Lazarus, the reverend and he's dead. But what about Hellspawn? Last I heard, he was still about..."
"You're right," Sheriff Jaguar replied. "Hellspawn hasn't been seen in about three months but from his profile, he definitely makes it to the top of the suspect list at this point. But what would he gain from the mass murder of six teenagers? And what is the significance of 'Comedy and Tragedy'?"
"Comedy and Tragedy is mostly associated with theatre plays, movies and such. There must be a deeper meaning to it..."
"Well, Raptor, the most important thing is we catch this nut before he kills again. Have you spoken to the families of the victims?"
"No, not yet..."
Across town, a couple walked out of a diner.
"Hey, I'll be right back! Got to use the bathroom."
"Okay. Hurry." As the man was running back toward the building, a blade flashed and slit his throat. The woman turned to run to her car, only to find herself on the killer's knife.
"My god... that's just sick..." exclaimed Raptor as the bodies were taken away. Their faces were carved to look like Comedy and Tragedy.

  
*****
 
 
Rodan2000 and his new wife, Yuri Manda were at the Jalepino Club with Prince of Space, Godzilla Guy and Kiryu Goji that evening. They had just heard on TV that a killer was on the loose and struck only while the sun was down and primarily in parking lots of clubs and restaurants. Rodan decided to let his friends stay the night in the Club.
"You sure you have the room? You don't have to do this for us," said Prince of Space. Though creeped out, he did want to get home.
"Well, if any of us went out, we'd be choice victims," Godzilla Guy figured.
"And we have more than enough space," added Yuri. Kiryu Goji was all ready to stay.
"This is gonna be great! It's been a while since I had a sleep over!" Godzilla Guy was already spread out on the couch with the remote. "You got any drinks?"
"This is a club, you know!" Rodan2000 laughed and tossed him a Coke. "Since you guys are spending the night, how about we stay up late and watch MST3K episodes?" Prince of Space wholeheartedly agreed. Yuri rolled her eyes at how childish the guys were when together but she was going to have fun, too.
About three and a half episodes later, they were all asleep on the couches and chairs. Rodan2000 woke to a scream outside and got scared, especially since it sounded very much inhuman, or perhaps that was just his imagination. He got up and slowly approached the entrance to find out what was going on. He put his hand out to the door knob and opened the door. Desutoroia, his face badly mutilated and burned, stood there, begging for help as Rodan2000 backed off, screaming. He woke up in a sweat. The nightmare worried him enough to call Desutoroia and see if he was all right. There was no answer but he hoped he was okay.

  
*****
 
 
It was early morning at Baragon's, Roostville's equivalent to a Tim Horton's restaurant. A man who hadn't been home in two days sat inside, lost in thought. In his mind, he watched over and over again how the Universal Dominator, a creature far beyond the comprehension of any human brain, separated into two individuals all the bad and evil within him from the good. He could feel a part was missing from him for without the evil, he felt incomplete but he liked not having it to misguide him.
"May I take your order?" a waitress asked.
"Huh? What was that?" Desutoroia asked, finally coming out of his trance.
"Are you going to order anything?" she repeated.
"Yeah," he said. "How about a cup of coffee?" She went to prepare it as Desutoroia pulled out a newspaper and read the front page. 'Serial Killer Strikes Roostville' was the headline. The article stated the teens had been killed the same night he was separated from his evil part by the Universal Dominator. He wondered if his evil half could be responsible. Desutoroia checked the time of the murders and was pleased to read they had happened before his separation which meant that his counterpart couldn't have been the killer. Desutoroia read a description of the vehicle supposedly driven by the killer that was familiar. The truck that stopped by him that night to ask for directions fit the description perfectly but sadly, he never got a look at the driver's face in the dark.
"Here's your coffee, sir," said the waitress.
"Thanks" he replied, picking up his cup to drink. A girl who was about a year younger than Desutoroia came over and sat down across from him.
"You're Lord Desutoroia Khandejifer, right?" she asked. He nodded. "I've always wanted to meet you. I was a big fan of you as an actor on ROOSTVILLE: THE SOAP OPERA. You made me like the show." Desutoroia put his newspaper down.
"I don't know if this is such a good time," he said. "I lost my wife a few months back."
"My gosh! I'm sorry," the stranger said with sympathy.
"I also lost a friend..." he added. "Now if you'll excuse me, I must be off... Perhaps we can talk another time." He then left Baragon's to wander the streets of Roostville.

  
Meanwhile, the evil Desutoroia was visiting a sporting goods shop and purchasing some guns and other weapons.
"Well, it was nice seeing you again, Desu," the cashier said. "Have fun hunting."
"One thing," the evil Desutoroia said, loading one of his recently purchased pistols and shooting the man in the head. "I am not Desutoroia. The name's Khandejifer."

  
*****
 
 
Desutoroia once again walked through the cemetery in Monsterzeroville.
"Pity is for the living. Envy is for the dead," said the sinister voice of Mephistophelian.
"You... let them catapult me into oblivion!" the angry voice of Hellspawn declared.
"And you let them stop my only chance of returning... I am but a ghost in the night... only to be seen by those who have the eye..." spoke the voice of Apocalypse. Desutoroia walked on, looking around and reading the names of those who had died recently. Even though there was no body (for obvious reasons), there was a grave for Hellspawn of Roostville marked with his name. The presence of evil seemed to emanate from the grave and it was darker than most. Blood leaked from the carved words on the stone to the green grass that blew in the wind.
When Desutoroia returned to Desu Mansion, the place was dark and dusty; great empty halls with no one there except him. The maids had been laid off and it seemed to just rot there on Desu Hill, like a decaying piece of bread. He went over to the phone and found he had one message on his machine left by Rodan2000 but decided against checking it. Desutoroia walked upstairs and down the long corridor that felt as though it stretched on forever. He reached the end of the hall and entered the last room on his left. It was empty, old and filled with the smell of rotten flesh, the same room where the victims who contributed their life force to him had died. Mitchell Laurence's coat was still laying on the floor. He picked it up and found the tablet he and the others had discovered on Mt. Rodan.
"How strange that I find this here..." Desutoroia couldn't read it but there were hieroglyphic symbols he had seen before, some of the same markings that were on the outside of the Universal Bridge, the alien space craft that had been under the control of Mephistophelian. He remembered it all with dread, always thinking about yesterday rather than tomorrow. The word had no meaning to him.
Desutoroia came downstairs, feeling much better. None of the lights were on, creating an almost eerie feeling but there was nothing in the house that could hurt him. He left the kitchen and walked into the living room to sit on the sofa when the door bell being rang.
"I wonder who that could be?" he asked himself. He opened to the door to find Prince of Space standing on his door step.
"I've come to pick up the rest of my sister's belongings."
"Yeah. Come on in." The Prince entered. "I've packed everything away... I know you'd be around for it. It's in the attic." Prince knew the way and went to retrieve his sister's property on his own as another visitor came knocking. It was Rez0007.
"Well," he said. "What a mighty fine place you have here... Desu."
"And how may I help you?" Rez pulled out a letter from his pocket.
"This envelope was addressed to you but sent to me, oddly enough. But don't worry. I haven't read any of it."
"Thanks." Desutoroia took the letter and placed it on the counter.
"Well, I must be off now." As Rez left, Desutoroia picked up the letter. There was no return address. He placed it back on the counter to read later as Prince of Space approached.
"I've got what I came for. So, see you at the Club."
"Yeah." Desutoroia closed the door behind him.

  

DAY 3 - February 3rd 
  

The Sheriff wasn't pleased. "Alright!" Jet demanded angrily. "Who let out the info on the serial killer to the media? Such stuff could cause a panic!"
"I don't know," said Raptor. Melkor also shook his head.
"That blasted new D.A., what's his name?" Jet asked.
"Wallace, sir. Freek Wallace." He wasn't too pleased with the news.
"This is my town," he reminded them. "And if that punk won't do things by my law..." Jet stopped before he could finish what he was saying.
"What about this psychopath, dubbed the Comedy and Tragedy Killer," Melkor asked. "Are there any clues that could help us?"
"Not yet," Raptor said. "But hopefully, we'll get something soon. We've got to work hard before this... lunatic strikes again..." As they were about to review what little they did have, a call came in from KG's Sporting Goods. The blaring headlines of a serial killer in Roostville had prompted those who might be a little light in the way of personal weapons to rectify the situation. Kaiju-O Gojira's shop was a town favorite for the discriminating sportsmen, hunters and shootists in the area so when the lunchtime crowd made it there, they expected the usual prompt service. Despite the sign on the door being turned to read CLOSED, a disappointed customer tried the door and found it unlocked. He also found KG on the floor behind the counter, dead from a bullet wound to the head. 
Soon, Sheriff Jaguar and the Mods were on the scene.
"It doesn't appear to be a robbery," Raptor noted the cash register drawer was open and a small pile of bills lay beside it. "CID might get some clues here but I'm not betting on it myself." When the necessary photographs had been taken and a chalk line made of the position of KG's body, once again an ambulance made a silent trip to the hospital morgue.
"I suggest we DO NOT tie this in any way to the serial killer situation," Sheriff Jaguar told his staff. "There is enough panic among the citizens as it is, what with the news media going crazy with speculation. Everyone is too scared to venture out at night, but BROAD DAYLIGHT? With more activity going on, what's to say someone doesn't over react and cause further grief?
"You're right," Raptor agreed. "The best thing for everyone to do is go about their business and keep an eye out for anything unusual. Hopefully, having all the Mods as well as the regular deputies highly visible on the streets will discourage any further incidents like this."
Mayor Gamingboy soon stormed into the Sheriff's office, glad to be away from the constant barrage of media and concerned citizens wanting everything from personal police protection to confidential information on the situation. As far as the latter was concerned, he was as in the dark as everyone else but refused to believe SOME of the rumors that had already started making the rounds.
"Would you mind telling me WHY I was not informed you have a suspect in CUSTODY?" he raged at Sheriff Jaguar. The robot looked at Raptor and Melkor who were as surprised by the revelation as he was.
"The only people we have incarcerated are two hung over Orcs that were found passed out at the entrance to the Baragon Subway Lines and a guy who took it on himself to raise a posse to hunt down the killer. Firing a fully auto machine gun in the air isn't how you go about such things, especially in front of MY customers!" Raptor had every reason to be mad when the commotion sent everyone in the Knights of the Superhighway Travel Shop and Restaurant hustling back to their vehicles and quickly on the road to wherever they were heading. Judge Saruman would probably let him off with a little fine for disturbing the peace but this was the kind of thing Roostville didn't need right now.
"So where is this 'information' supposed to have come from?" Melkor asked the Mayor.
"The Internet, of course! I DO manage to keep an eye on what goes on in this burg, you know?" As smug as Gamingboy was about the reliability of his "sources", there was no denying the truth. All the FACTS they really had were six teenagers killed outside a club two nights ago. They had been stabbed to death and the girls' faces made up to represent the theatrical masque of Tragedy. The guys, believed to be their boyfriends, the opposite expression of Comedy. The next day, a couple was killed outside a diner. Again, death was caused by a bladed weapon but for them, their faces were CARVED to represent the masques.
"I would say this indicates an ESCALATION on the killer's part," Raptor informed the group. "At the same time, according to the staff at the diner where the last two victims were found, it isn't just the dead of night when this psycho is likely to strike."
"Let's hope Mr. Wallace and the rumor mongers aren't as astute as you are, Raptor, and decide to scare everyone to death..." Sheriff Jaguar was looking pointedly at Mayor Gamingboy when he realized his choice of words could have been a lot better. Since becoming Sheriff, the robot had hoped to get a better understanding of the human thought process (as illogical as it so often was) but too often found himself getting drawn into random, reactionary paths rather than straight forward analysis of things. His earlier frustration and rage at not being able to find the killer had brought surprised looks from Raptor and Melkor who would not have expected such outbursts from a machine.
"How about EVERYONE try to discourage such things?" JJ stood and personally escorted the Mayor to the door. "Maybe a nice speech by yourself would be in order? I'll appear with you if you wish."
"Good idea! I'll get right on it!" The Mayor liked nothing better than appearing before his constituents and delivering "good news". It wasn't until he got back to his office and began dictating his address that he realized he really didn't have anything much to say.

 
*****
 
 It was dark that night and Desutoroia was out and about, wandering the streets, trying to get away from the death of his wife, the loss of his friend, corruption to his city and the monster that spawned his evil clone. He was thinking of just leaving Roostville. As he walked, he was heading in the direction of the harbor with a boat ticket to North America. He looked up at the sky and saw nothing but blackness, sin and malice disguised by the night's beauty.
"Desu?" A feminine voice called out to him. It was the girl he had seen at Baragon's who praised his work as an actor, and perhaps much more. She was lovely looking, her hair golden blonde and shining bright against the moonlit sky. Desutoroia didn't seem interested in anything at the moment.
"Hi," he said.
"And where are you going?" she asked as if she had known him for years. He quickly hid the ticket in his pocket.
"I was just out for a walk..."
"At such times as these?" she asked, very concerned.
"I've been dead once... Another killer after me won't hurt. And what are you doing out this late?"
"I was just going over to a friend of mine's..."
"Ah."
"We'll, see you around, Desu," she said.
"Yeah, see you around," he replied as he started to walk off. "By the way, I didn't catch your name?"
"Jennifer."
"Ah. Well, see you around, Jennifer..." The two went their separate ways into the night.
Desutoroia coincidentally passed the park where he had encountered the Universal Dominator and the evil that once laid dormant within him. He stared into the empty park, cold and filled with evil. Malice was in the air and the place smelt of the damned. He wasn't the first to come across the path of the Dominator, nor would he be the last to have their life taken by such a creature. Desutoroia knew it and could feel it. Many citizens of Roostville who went missing were last seen in the same area of this park. He wondered if this was what led Hozay to become the ruthless Hellspawn he now was. Desutoroia felt the urge to enter the park. He could hear laughter and there was a thick mist in the air. In the distance he could make out a shape, laughing and mocking him.
"Welcome. To the abode of Khandejifer." Bullets from a rifle flew past, barely missing him.
"No! I will not kill you with these human weapons! I will kill you myself with my own hands because I am Desutoroia, the murdering maniac."
"No!" Desutoroia shouted. "I am Desu... You... are the evil that was inside me... All the nasty thoughts... I..."
"Wrong!" Khandejifer said. "I am not Desutoroia... And you are not Desutoroia. Neither of us are the real thing. Both of us together make up who Desutoroia Khandejifer once was." Khandejifer then rose from his bench and lunged. He was stronger and a fist grabbed Desutoroia while his other pounded his face. But Desu wouldn't give up without a fight and was able to kick Khandejifer and get him to the ground. Khandejifer lunged again and the two battled like the most hated of enemies. Jennifer, who had secretly followed Desutoroia, tried to help him, being able to tell the two apart by their clothing.
"Desu!" she cried as she beat Khandejifer with her purse. He merely grabbed Jennifer and got her into a head-lock.
"What's this? Just lost your wife three months ago and already getting back into it?"
"Khan... let her go... please!" Desutoroia was concerned for the girl's safety. She was strong but on the inside she was crying. Khandejifer threw her to the ground.
"Fine. This war is between you and me." The two began fighting again as a helicopter passed overhead, patrolling the area.
"This is the police. Put your hands up!" a Mod called down over the loudspeaker and a spotlight shined down at the two fighters.
"Another time, Desu!" Khandejifer yelled as he fled the scene. "Mark my words!" Desutoroia quickly helped Jennifer up and the two ran. Luckily, the Mods didn't recognize him.
"What was... that all about?" Jennifer asked.
"Don't follow me around like that. It's best if you stay out of my life," Desutoroia said. "I'm sorry... but I have more important issues that need to be dealt with." Desutoroia left Jennifer there, crying. He knew Khandejifer hated and despised him more than anything and wouldn't stop hunting him until he was dead.

  
*****
 
 
Rodan2000 was once again at the Jalepino Club, spending the evening with the other guys who usually hung out there. They were watching the news and apparently, there was a new guy in town named the White Rikku. He hadn't done anything except arrive in Roostville but they were waiting for him to do something. It wasn't every day someone came to Roostville from the real world. Come to think of it, Rodan2000 was one of the newest citizens. There was a sound at the door and when he opened it, there was a tall, skinny, lanky, well built tiger tabby she cat.
"Hey girl, who are you?" asked the pterodactyl, picking her up and stroking her. "Do you have a home?" Looking around, he saw a note on the ground that read:
 
Please take care of her and give her a good home.
For whoever finds her, she is a great treasure.
Thank you. Her name is Tigerlily.
 
He brought her inside, put her on a table and got her some milk and tuna. She was ravenous, seemingly not having eaten in days. He stroked her as she ate her fill and purred.
"What's that, Rodan?" Kiryu asked.
"A cat I found outside. A note asked me to give her a home."
"That's strange. There aren't very many cats in Roostville," Prince of Space added, getting used to the idea of spending the night with R2K and the other guys.
"Well, I intend on keeping her. I've always wanted a cat," Rodan grinned.
Yuri walked in and exclaimed, "Ohh, what an adorable cat!" and stroked her back. Tigerlily purred and rubbed up against her as she stood by the table. Her beautiful greenish golden eyes glowed with a strange, wild and untamable fire and there was something mysterious about her. She looked at Rodan2000 and he could have sworn she was thanking him and telling him his kindness would be repaid. He stared back at her, transfixed by her sparkling eyes. She could not be telling him something because she was a cat and did not have telepathy, he figured, but things aren't always as they seem in Roostville...

  
*****
 
 
Khandejifer had entered an old study. The room had been abandoned and the windows boarded up. Light poured through cracks in the walls and the window boards. There were books everywhere and shelves seemed to go on forever. The books were covered in dust.
"For too long has my mind held me captive," Khandejifer said. "I will free myself yet." One by one, he began his search through the old witch craft and occult literature, hoping to find Necromancer: The Book of the Damned Dead. It was a classic treasure with far more mysteries than the world could ever wish to understand.
"It's not here!" Khandejifer exclaimed with shock. "Of course!" he soon shouted. "Hellspawn had it when last I saw it. It's probably in the custody of the Moderators." He walked over to the door and looked outside. Snow was on the ground and people and cars were passing by.
"Can't risk having a mix up now... " He closed the door and remained hiding within the old room. "And mark my words, Desu... When I show my true colors, no one, not even you, will be safe..."
After dark, there was a feeling of unease and tension in the town. A psychopath was on the loose and had already killed eight people. But on this night, there was a deadlier threat walking the streets. At exactly 9:11 PM, Khandejifer left his hideaway, disguised with a hat and trench coat. The night was cold and bitter like most winter nights, the kind Khandejifer, like Desutoroia, despised as he traveled through the alleyways across town to the  Mod Station.
He was lurking in an alley on the other side of the road and peeked out to see some Mods leaving the Station. After they drove off and no one was in sight, he ran across the street as fast as he could, making it appear as if he were headed to the Baragon Subway Lines. By now it was 9:35 PM. Past the security cameras, Khandejifer entered the Mod Station.
"Is the Sheriff around?" he asked with his head down so he wouldn't be recognized.
"He'll be back shortly. Might want to wait for him in his office," advised one of the officers. As she walked away to carry on other duties, no one was looking as Khandejifer entered the Sheriff's office. Immediately, he began looking through the desk to find Necromancer but it was nowhere to be seen. Khandejifer then realized that if the Mods did have it in their possession, it would be in the Evidence Room downstairs. He quickly and sneakily got in without getting caught. After searching for a few minutes, he discovered a box with 'Michael Lazarus Case' written on it. Khandejifer ripped it open to find some of Lazarus' belongings taken when he was killed. And there it was! He was filled with a feeling of satisfaction and amazed as he stared at the book that held the manuscripts of the devil himself. He could hear his heart beating at a much slower, louder rate as it seemed to come to life and grab hold of his soul. Consume him, it would. Khandejifer picked it up and left the Mod Station, as if he was never there that night. He ran as fast as he could, holding Necromancer to him. It was only a few minutes before he was near the road to Maser City.
Coincidentally, he ran into an old enemy and his arch nemesis this very night. He and Desutoroia could sense each other when they were near. Khandejifer hid Necromancer in his coat and stared at his foe as Desutoroia turned around to face him. Khandejifer's left eye glared back like a shiny piece of glass as he threw his hat to the ground. No more hiding his identity and masking his face! Desutoroia jumped back and got ready to punch as Khandejifer leaped and pulled out his silenced pistol, aimed at him.
"What?!" Desutoroia exclaimed, afraid of death and dying.
"No one will miss you. And once you are gone, my destiny will be fulfilled," Khandejifer replied with an emotionless, heartless, remorseless voice. "I will enjoy knowing your soul shall rot in Hell!" The shadows of night and darkness of the clouds made Khandejifer appear more frightening and evil. Desutoroia could see no features except the shine of his left eye and could feel the presence of demons...
"I would have an eternity to witness you die," he said with a deep, dark voice as he fired his pistol. Desutoroia lunged to his left but the bullet pierced his right leg and he fell to the ground. Khandejifer walked over and looked down at him before kicking him in the side.
"It's over, Desutoroia... It's all over for you." He aimed at Desutoroia's head as he looked up at his evil counterpart. There was no good in his eyes, no remorse, no pity. No regret, nothing. They were as empty as his black soul. Khandejifer was ready to pull the trigger when he heard the sound of sirens and turned away from Desutoroia, pulling his gun away as well. Desutoroia grabbed Khandejifer's leg and tripped him to the ground. As he hit the grass, he dropped his gun and Necromancer. Desutoroia tried to reach for the book and the gun but Khandejifer grabbed them quickly and pounded his face before picking him up by the neck.
"I will be back for you!" he called as he fled with Necromancer down the road to Maser City, firing his gun and blowing out the two front tires to a Mod car. It was over... for now...
Desutoroia was taken to the Mod Station and questioned by Melkor.
"So, what happened out there, Des?" he asked with suspicion.
"Listen, Mel. I told you already... I was being mugged..." Melkor failed to believe his story. Desutoroia was calm and almost had him convinced but he knew what he had seen.
"Enshohma was driving that car, paying attention to the road but I was in the passenger seat. I wasn't hurt much but Enshohma's in the hospital... and I saw who shot at us." Desutoroia stayed calm but within him it was a shock to his system. "And he looked a lot like you, Desutoroia." At that moment, Melkor had a vision. Khandejifer was standing in flames, his skin burning as he said:
"You shall burn in the flames of Hell like all the others before who tried to defy me!"
Desutoroia stood up. "Alright... but you mustn't tell anyone."
"Okay."
"A few nights ago," Desutoroia explained, "I was out for a walk when I stopped by the old Roostville Park  not far from Desu Hill." Melkor could tell this was no lie. "And... and that's when it happened... I came across a fabulous creature with incredible powers... I could only see its shape... The light surrounding it was too bright..." He paused for a moment. "It called itself the Universal Dominator... He told me I could have anything I wished for..." Desutoroia looked away and fell to his knees with fear in his eyes. "In the end... I wished to be stronger physically, mentally and spiritually... And that's when it happened..." He got up and faced Melkor again. "My good was separated from my evil... and the evil was given the powers that I had wished for..." With the expression on Melkor's face, you'd think he had just heard the most ridiculous tall tale in his life.
"Well... under normal circumstances I wouldn't believe such a story but..." Desutoroia was concerned. "But... during the fight with Apocalypse, I looked into the future and saw a horrible world where only about 20 people were all that inhabited the Earth... I met you there... but it wasn't you... It was just like what you told me..." Melkor picked up his coffee. "The future I saw was what the world would be like if Apocalypse had won that battle... After defeating him," Melkor added as he turned away and started to mumble. "I thought that would have been prevented..."
"You can't tell anyone..."

CHAPTER 2: ROOSTVILLE: THE SOAP OPERA