The Church of the TRUE-EYE.
It was a paradise to most, really. Sanctuary, supplements, free food, warm clothes… what sort of victim wouldn’t refuse all that? Yeah, that’s right—none.
Katana was a victim themself. Being one of the many victims of The Scorch, courtesy of Firebrand, then & their two caretakers, along with their sibling, had fled the faction in desperation to survive. They’d wound up at the Church, them & their sibling working directly under the high priests of the establishment. It couldn’t be a better life, truly.
Somewhere else across The Inpherno, a bodyguard born into loyalty was getting just as scorched as the more unfortunate ones had in that fire. Hyperlaser, a victim of some brazen fire, had fallen the most primary victim to the flames, the fire having swallowed more than 95% of the unfortunate victim’s body. He didn’t quite remember the incident, as he’d collapsed only minutes after being exposed to the barrage of flame & smoke; Subspace had just managed to save the bodyguard, but it had been far too late to prevent any injuries.
Scars. Scars ranging from the top of his head to his feet, marked the mercenary completely. His horns, previously long, curling beauties, now reduced to nothing but mere stubs, like a fox’s cut tail. It hurt for him to even look in the mirror after the incident, & it took him a while to get back into commission after the traumatising incident.
Now, after the fire, Hyperlaser could only work with a special suit, a helmet provided to him by Subspace which allowed him to see better—because ever since the fire, his eyes hadn’t exactly been in tip-top condition either. He struggled to see without aid, couldn’t even see past his nose… or what was left of it.
As Hyperlaser got to working status again, the military administration he worked for, Korblox of Blackrock, had a new job for him; venture out into the Lost Temple in search of the Church of the TRUE-EYE, & retrieve information on it, in any way possible. The Church’s odd characteristics of its cultists had caught the attention of Blackrock, especially more as the faction was in the middle of a civil war as of current.
So, Hyperlaser set off. He trudged across the desert, high-tech suit & all, no matter how blazing hot it was out there—& how much hotter it was currently getting in his suit.
As night fell, he saw the Church in the distance; looming, situated near a mountain, as his higher-ups had said it would’ve been. He aimed to get in, or at least spy through, an open window on the side the mountain was, so he could lay low & observe simultaneously. He crossed the desertous mountain, panting as night fell. He eventually reached the top, & began to cross over to where an outer wall of the Church was curling round the base of the mountain. He was a little distracted as he did this; he had taken off his helmet as he was sweating profusely, & was in the middle of wiping his brow with his hand when—
BANG!
He collided right into someone, sending him tumbling to the sand, his helmet rolling off somewhere beside him. He doesn’t cry out, being accustomed to silence, but gasps slightly as he realises that there’s someone out here.
He can’t even see their face in the dark light & with his poor eyesight; a friend or foe? He… can’t be sure.
All he can hope for is that he can reach for his helmet in time & get to the defence.