Lester Crane (Apex)

Weight: 210

Apparent Age: 60

Archetype: Cybered Physical Adept: Circle Unknown

Preferred Weapon: DAOD Combat Sword

Runner Song:

 Bio: Once in a lifetime there is always one man that is so dangerous, so deadly that words do not express the sheer terror that just being in the presence of this individual can cause. Well this is the tale of that such man, his name is Apex and he is the older brother to the dreaded Stamps, this man has been in action for decades and has left ruin in his wake where ever he treads. Apex is the final piece of the puzzle to complete the roster of the Wolf Pack and with this man back in Seattle I actually fear for the lives of anyone that dares to cross his path. Lester hails from Texas like the rest of the Cranes and has been directly affected by the events that would unfold during the early days of the UCAS. He would become a changed man and I must say not for the better, Apex would be the only other Crane to survive the Ghost Dance and the nights of blood, he would not only survive he would walk away unscathed from the natives magic, even the spirits would avoid the presence of Apex fearing for their unlife. Apex is just that damned good, with the only man to stand on par with him being his brother Stamps and thats arguable since Apex taught his brother everything before heading off for parts unknown. Unlike Defender who ventured away from the violence and joined the clergy, looking to escape the family curse and live a life of peace, Apex and Stamps stayed true to the Crane nature and left a wake of widows in there path.

          Apex is the connection between the DiCane family and the Crane’s seeing that this man as well rode along side the Gunfighter and Chief, sending many to an early grave for nothing more than a few credits. Apex was always driven by his disdain for the Mexicans that where flooding into Texas during the later part of the twentieth century and would partner up with like minded Texans to slow the infestation by taking it upon themselves to protect the boarders and hunt down the illegals that would manage to sneak past them. Apex used this as an excuse to partake in his favourite past time, that being murder and savouring the sounds of the screams of his victims as he would paint the wall with there brains. Apex is just like his father and his fathers father, nothing more than a killer with no remorse. Though Apex used his hatred as an excuse to kill claiming that his beloved Texas was being illegally invaded and he was trying to keep Texas free of the unwanted Mexicans.

          This would leave a lasting impression on the young Arthur who would ride along side Apex and would commit his first murder at a ripe old age of five years old, when he would crush an illegals skull under the hooves of his horse. His next murder would be just as normal for young Arthur as he would place the front wheel of his four wheeler on the subdued illegals neck and with a quick push of the throttle he separated the man’s head from his body. Arthur would receive praise and reward from Apex and the others for his acceptance of murder and thus setting the stages for Stamps life, ad becoming the predator he is today. Well for Apex, he was thrilled to have his baby brother taking up the family trait and joining him on raids, killing natives and Mexicans alike for little to no reason other then they didn’t belong in Texas. So it is not a shock that when the Ghost Dance ravaged the land and the Nights of Blood would begin that the Crane Ranch was the first place targeted by both the natives and Mexicans that where fighting for their ancestral rights as well. Leaving the Crane family shattered and the brothers would end up separated only to reunite many years later in Seattle. During the Ghost Dance Apex would walk away clean and unscathed, he would see this as an opportunity to murder openly and freely killing anyone that got in his way, this would also be the time that he would separate from the DiCane’s and Chief, not for any disagreement no Apex felt that they could kill more redskins and beaners if rode separate. Well for Apex this was more then an opinion and was fact, he was a unstoppable killing machine that was thoroughly enjoying his work and collecting the scalps of his fallen foe. Though it’s hard to tell if he actually cut it off a wounded or fallen native or he just tore it off a still living and fighting target. The reports are murky, but according to the Pueblo Nation, Apex would rip the scalp of the living victims and let them bleed out. They also have reports that indicate Apex is to be avoided and not engaged, as video evidence reveals that he would catch arrows in mid flight, deflect bullets with his sword and even after being struck with a barbed arrow he just ripped it out and calmly walked towards the archer and shoved the arrow through his skull and then quickly yanked it out with the natives brain still attached to the arrow tip. Since that footage still exists, the Pueblo Nation has issued an open edict to there solider that if you see Apex on the battlefield to avoid and full retreat seeing that even the spirits are fearful of that gringo.

             This man has travelled all throughout North America on foot, walking from engagement to engagement fighting on behalf of his beloved Texas and the Confederacy. Though even with the rise of the Texas Elite and his baby brother being directly connected to that order, Apex still felt he could do more for the war if he staid on his own and killed the only way he knew how. Brutal and soulless, he cared little for anyone he engaged in battle and even though he was wounded countless times, Apex would just naturally regenerate and keep fighting, thus propagating his claim that he was the top of the food chain and no one could best him. This still stands true today and even the founders and legends know better then to engage Apex, they just help propagate the legend about this man. Though as the years would go by, Apex would grow tired of fighting against just the natives, and UCAS forces that endangered his beloved Texas. This is when he would begin his pilgrimage north, surviving of his skills and wit, he would venture north deeper into the native lands, questing for further challenges and knew and exiting battlefields to spill blood upon.

         After many years this killer would eventually end up in Seattle, why the Emerald City well that is unclear but I believe it has something to do with his brother Edmund and seeking out his own. Though others say that Apex had gotten wind of a new battlefield with a new breed of warrior and he wished to take on the challenge of being a shadow warrior. Well for Apex this was a new and exciting prospect, with an increased challenge and a new level of danger, though for him the opposition would be sub par as he was used to fighting seasoned soldiers and not poorly trained security officers. To him the guards where like killing civilians and that he could do with his eyes closed and one arm tied behind his back, and according to legend this actually accord when he was drunk and dared to attack a group of civilians protesting for peace in the Native Lands. The Professor told Apex he would pay him fifty credits for each civilian he killed in five minutes, well the Professor ended up buying Apex a nice steak dinner and would leave many families in mourning.

          Though nothing prepared the world for when Apex would here about the Wolf Pack and his brother being the commander of this unit of elite runners. Even though Apex has gone his entire life feeling superior to anyone else and would always choose to stand on his own two feet, this was a chance to work along side his brother once again and seeing that Defender was to goody two shoes for him Stamps was his protege. Apex felt that it was his time to work alongside some of the cities best hunters and killers, hoping that this would again increase the challenge, So Apex would seek out the Wolf Pack and eventually be accepted on the spot do to Stamps vouching for Apex. The Pack was already a feared unit, but once Apex joined the ranks, he brought them to a knew level, there where some issues in the membership, Gunslinger and Ducky where not to keen on his level of brutality though eventually they grow to accept Apex’s level of intensity.

          Well if you want a transcript of Apex’s work record, there is an entire wing at the Seattle Crime Museum dedicated to Apex and a wall that holds all the names of his victims throughout the ages, so I will not go into his operations since that can be easily looked up on your own. This article is more of a warning that Apex has returned to Seattle and has returned to the Wolf Pack to finalize there roster. This man left Seattle in the 2050’s when the Pack headed Fables warning and when to parts unknown, though according to my research he migrated over to Africa to throw his hat in a new war, since he grew bored with the shadows and refused to just retire. Though this is just a rumour and my sources are not all that reliable on Apex being over in Africa, where he was is a mystery but his return to Seattle is more then a conformation. He returned shortly after Hook did and since he has been back he picked right up where he left off almost twenty years ago. Apex has decided that he needs to return to his roots and start sending natives to the grave and fighting against his hated UCAS, so it seems that his current agenda blends perfectly with the rest of the Wolf Pack. I can only hope that he will grow board once again and wander off to find a new and exciting battlefield to be the scourge off.

Page Written By: Shadow Writer