Paul Dickey
Sage Kossman
01
story by
Paul Dickey
art by
Sage Kossman
HE’S HERE. HE FOUND ME.
YES...YES... HE MAY HAVE FOUND lT.
GET HER A TRANSPORT!
NOW!!
pt. 1
DESCENT
you...
* snicker snicker *
*snort* Well, there’s the cousin kiss.
click
Newcomer Zenith shocked the X-COMBAT world last night when he defeated crowd favorite, Harbinger, in the semi-finals match.
Kay, let’s go.
COPELAND!
I was going to ask you to stay after class, but I see that you’re already way ahead of me!
I realize you think my class is boring, but trying to correlate recent human history with the Xtreme COMBAT Cup is too much of a stretch... Unless you’re able to hone it a little more.
About your final project ...
I suggest you do that since this is your last chance to bring your grade up.
Got me?
Get serious. The world doesn’t just revolve around fighting!
WHERE ARE YOU? HURRY UP!
Oh, of course!
Nothing ...
What did you start this time?
I started replying ... and ...
I think I saw your dignity roll that way.
Who was that guy?
That’s what I was wondering.
whhiiirrrrrrrr
Hey kiddies, wanna go for a ride?
Aren’t we a little old for you, sir?
Whole town’s getting a bit old for me, if you know what I mean.
Oh, you poor baby.
Here, let me shine a little light down on you.
We got invited to this awesome party in Westwood.
How the hell did we get invited to a party?
Well, I mean... we weren’t. I was. But he said that as long as you guys were cool there’s no reason you couldn’t come.
The party’s in Westwood. There won’t be many Delmar people there. And if there are just don’t start shit. Easy as that.
...
I think we kinda renounced the whole being cool thing back when we, ya know, made the whole school hate us.
Well, now I’m hurt. I coulda sworn our reputation extended to at least the tri-county area.
Mason. In or out?
Hmmmmm, out. Kiley’s probably gonna be there. Her new douchebag boyfriend goes to Westwood.
Uh, who cares? It’s been, like, what? Two months? You need to move on, man.
You know, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about this, Dez. This “moving on” thing. It’s weird... how you girls seem to grasp the concept of moving on so well. I mean, it’s amazing how right in the middle of our relationship, Kiley just, “moved on”... with another guy. How do you girls do it? Seriously?
Castor?
Dez, I don’t really... drink... or party for that matter.
That’s not a no.
You’ll understand what I’m talking about when you do the whole girlfriend thing.
Thank you, Grandfather.
I’m serious, man. Girls are bloodthirsty. Bloodthirsty and attention- hungry. And you know where the very best place to get attention is, dontcha?
...
That is correct. The opposite sex. A boy. But not just any boy. An asshole. Nice guys are boring pushovers. But an asshole? Mr. Personality right there.
Right.
Then a few months... or years down the line she realizes that this guy isn’t interesting. He’s actually just an asshole! Then she cries her eyes out saying there are no good guys left in the world. Or she cheats. More than likely she’ll cheat.
I used to be. We all kinda start out that way in the beginning. Then we realize it doesn’t work. People. Relationships. Love... Like the kind of love you see in the movies and shit. It doesn’t happen. Not actually.
Are you saying you’re one of the nice guys?
KlNDA MAKES YA FEEL LlKE PARTYlNG, DOESN’T lT?
Be right back. Two seconds.
Dress nice ...
Even drunk girls care about fashion sense!
Do you really think he’ll go?
He said he wouldn’t?
Uh yeah. To your face. Remember?
Oh, that? He was just being dramatic. You know how he is.
Hm. What about you? I was under the impression you didn’t really like parties either.
Ooh, Derek Banner. Trying to get lucky or something?
It’s Derek Banner’s party.
Probably luckier than you’ll get with that attitude of yours.
CASTOR! CASTO R!
Shit. It’s Catherine.
COME lN HER HEREE !
I TOLD YOU TO DO THESE THREE DAYS AGO. I WON’T SAY lT AGAlN.
I’M RUNNING LATE AS lS.
I SHOULDN’T HAVE TO TAKE TlME OUT OF MY DAY TO SCOLD YOU LlKE A CHlLD.
...yeah.
YEAH, WHAT?
Yeah, I’ll do them.
YEAH.
YOU WlLL.
IT’S NOT LIKE I ASK MUCH FROM YOU AROUND HERE.
Yo, we’ll be in the basement if you need us.
Thanks ...
Looks like I’m just in time.
Oh c’mon, I’m not that heartless.
So hey.
So hey.
What’s your Friday looking like?
Um... I’m hanging out with Ethan later. Oh, yeah? Yeah, sorry. It’s just that we haven’t seen each other in a while. No, don’t be. I have some plans tonight too.
You? Plans?
You’re really going to make me go to this thing by myself? What if I get taken advantage of by some sketchy drunk dude, huh?
*snort*
I’m laughing because you and I both know what the actual issue is here.
What the hell? You’re laughing at that?
You don’t have a ride.
Yes. You caught me. What do you want me to do, beg?
Do you wan’t me to beg?
You’ll beg for me, really? Oohhh man.
You’re being a dick.
Would you relax? I’m just messing around. Does that mean you’re going?
Now c’mere. Bring it in. It’s hug time.
What, did you forget? I’m like the nicest guy you know.
... Seriously? Very seriously. This is the price you pay for my fuel.
The first of many, many ... many boys.
See, It’s fine. I’m just your first boy of the night.
God, I hate you.
Well, yeah. It’s Dez’ idea. Not mine.
That doesn’t really sound like you.
You should go. You’ll have fun. Maybe meet some girls?
If you need some condoms, let me know. I bought a bunch earlier today.
Uh-huh.
Hey, Better safe than sorry. Pull-and-pray is no way to live, believe me.
Syd, no. JustI didn’t need to hear that.
Syd, there is a line. And you just crossed it. In a racecar.
Aw, c’mon. You’re such a grump all the time.
So, would you say Ethan’s a nice guy?
Or is he more of an asshole?
Um... I’m gonna go get changed. You can handle the rest.
If I had to pick from those options ... I’d say he’s more of an asshole.
I’ve been meaning to break up with him for a while now.
Have fun tonight, okay?
Hm. Yeah.
You ready yet!!?
Why the hell’d we park so far away?
Maybe because your car is a joke?
EH?
Wanna beer, bro?
Sup, little man. Lester, right?
... Castor.
haack-tchoo
You’re looking pretty lost there, cowboy.
Yo.
Did you bring those?
Nah. Stole ‘em from the fridge.
Seriously?
Yeah. Ah jeez.
Want one? No. Tastes like shit to me.
You don’t drink. You don’t smoke. You don’t date. You need to find your vice of choice, man. Or else you’ll wind up living forever. You don’t want that.
I know I don’t. Reach sixty or so and you’re just living to watch yourself fall apart. I saw her in there ... With that guy, naturally.
Planning for the future, huh?
Hey man, I’m getting shit-faced for the sake of the present too.
... yeah.
Hey, what’s up? You having a good time?
Party’s pretty nuts, eh?
You know, you seem really familiar for some reason. What’s your name? I’m Brent.
Listen, Brent.
I’ve got a hunch that this seems a lot more familiar to you than I do.
Fuck off, alright?
a Hell u u va part y.
Feeling okay?
Of course.
My old man’s been inadvertently teaching me for years. If I’m anything like him, this amount won’t even faze me.
You’ve had quite a few. I didn’t know you could drink like that.
You seem pretty fazed.
I believe... I need a bit more. Would you be able to snag something for me in there?
Uh... sure.
Just stay put. I’ll be back.
Hey, where you been?
Derek!
Looking for you!
Sorry. Let’s catch up.
I texted you forever ago.
Kiley?
I was just drinking ...
What the hell!? Were you spying on me or something?
on the roof.
N-No, no! It’s not like that! WHAT!?? Mason!?
What’s it like then!? You’re seeming like a total psycho!
Are you okay? I heard you crying.
That’s none of your business! Why the hell do you care anyway!? You said all that shit about me, and now you’re my friend!?
Would you just calm down?
what the hell, kiley!?
I was just making a phone call. He was watching me like a freak!
HEY!
Go in the house, Kiley. I’m gonna have a talk with him.
Oh yeah? Ya gonna teach me a lesson or something, Timmy Toughnuts?
Stay the hell away from Kiley or I’ll beat the shit out of you. Is that a clear enough lesson plan?
Sure, no problem. Give your sweet innocent angel my best, alright champ?
You know, I don’t like your fuckin’ mouth.
Oh yeah?
That’s funny. Because Kiley used to love my mouth.
Fight! Fight! There’s a fight out back!
Where’s your friend?
He got a little too friendly.
Stop it, Adam! He’s drunk!
Shut up, Kiley! Don’t try to defend this little asshole!
That’s right. Tough guy here has something to prove.
Ugh, I knew it.
Dez.
Got it.
Ah, jeez. Is that Kiley’s new boyfriend?
Xenogen?
Back off. This is between me and the clown.
You touch him again, I’ll put you in the fucking hospital.
You’re not tough, kid. Get outta the way.
I’m fine.
Friends of Adam?
Whoa, whoa, whoa! You punks realize four against one isn’t fair, right!?
YOU DON’T HAVE ENOUGH GUYS.
No way. That little guy’s the “Loose Cannon”?
What in the world...?
Who the hell is this guy? Some kinda pro??
You don’t know? He’s the one you always hear about from Delmar High.
You mean from “Those Three”?
You feeling alright?
I know I’m gonna puke. Just don’t wanna do it here.
Well... I think we overstayed our welcome anyway.
I guess this is what happens when I let you idiots out of your cages for once.
Oh, yeah, you let us come along. Right.
It’d be nice to trust you guys to behave for one freaking night.
No, Dez, please! We’ll do anything to keep getting invited to your super-great parties! Please give us another chance!
We’ll play nice, won’t we, Cas...tor?
Castor?
End // Descent pt. 1