One Universe RPG: Season V IC Thread

[wiegeabo]

"This guy is un****ingbelievable!"

Hill angry grabs up the papers on his desk in his fist and throws them and the general direction of his campaign manager Strouss, and Commissioner Grogan.

"I still don't believe that Wayne-"

"If you stand there and tell me that Wayne isn't a threat, you are not going to like the results." Hill rubs his temples, but the headache that's building stubbornly refuses to go away. "How many points am I down?"

Strouss shifts uncomfortably. Eight, as of the last poll."

"Eight...Eight ****ing points. And you were going to sit there and say-! Can you believe him?" Grogan remains unperturbed while Hill's attention stays focused on Strouss. He knows what's coming, no need to get Hill riled up prematurely.

"And Wayne?"

"Um...he's caught up to Councilman Kane, and will probably pull a point or two above him by the next polling."

"A point or two above Kane."

"The business community loves that one of their own is running. And his 'fundraisers' calls to 'end corruption' are ralying the man in the street vote."

"Remind me why I pay you again?" Strouss says nothing. Hill just grumbles under his breath. We need to play Wayne and Kane against each other."

"How?"

"Wayne has no political experience and Kane's been investigated in the death of his wife. Think of something. Plant a story where they're attack each other. Make them fight between themselves. And make them fight dirty. I want the public to hate them."

"What about your image, sir?"

"Play me up as the hero. Because Commissioner Grogan is going to make sure those crime numbers stop going up and start going in the direction we need. Isn't he."

Grogan quickly straightens under the Mayor's glare. "Of course. That's why you brought me in, Mr. Mayor."

"Damn right. I want the people of this city to know that their mayor and commissioner are making it a safer place. And I want the number to back that up. So you're going to make those numbers back that fact up, with whatever method it takes."

"I already have Flass on it."

"Well, at least one of you is somewhat competent."

***

Standing outside the mayor's door, a lone figure stands shocked by what he hears for just a moment, before dashing away before he is seen....

 

[NiteMare Shape]

Sitting in his cell, Eddie Brock contemplates the ramifications of the bombshell that has been dropped on him.

Durning the battle that had leaft him temporarily crippled, his alien symbiot had spawned an offspring. That offspring has apparently bonded with another, and together they have been committing brutal acts of murder and mayhem all across New York.

Ever since he bonded with his other and became the creature known as Venom, he has done some questionable things. People have said terrible things about him...called him a lunatic, a monster...and that is just not true. He is a man determined to make those who have wronged him pay...particularly Peter Parker.

But this is bigger than that.

His offspring has been ruthlessly murdering innocents...

The very innocents that deep down he looks to avenge by taking down the man who took his innocences...

Parker.

He looks out at the scientist who has been monitoring the cell's sonic walls which hold him prisoner.

"Richards...Get us Parker."

Though the thought makes Brock ill, deep down he knows it's the only way.

 

[wiegeabo]

The soldiers escort me into the great hall of the palace. I ignore the tightness of the cuffs around my wrists as they march me towards their country's leader. The hall is empty except for the overwhelming presence of the man who sits on the throne.

"Black Adam," I say with a respectful nod as the procession stops.

"Jay Garrick. Flash of the Justice League of America." I take note of the way his say justice. "Should I take your presence hears as a sign of another invasion by your country."

"Hardly, Lord Adam. Is it lord? I'm not sure of the proper honorific."

Adam raises an eyebrow. "At least you show me the respect of trying. Adam will be fine, for now." He motions for the guard to unlock my bindings, but I just hand him the cuffs I've already phased through. Adam almost smirks. Almost.

"Why is the League here?"

"Well, a League. Not exactly the League."

Adam remains silent. "I'm helping to start a new group. A Justice League Europe."

The silence continues.

"We'd like your help."

"To build your League?"

"To join it."

***

The Shi'ar Imperium is vast. And while not at the peak of its power or size, it remains one of the most powerful empires in the universe. it has countless allies, and almost as many enemies. It's citizens have enjoyed cycles of peace and war. And while they've lost battles, they've never been defeated.

Over three centuries ago, the 144th Battlegroup, reinforced by the 17th and 30th Honor Squadrons engaged the Kree Sigma Contingent over the vast and mysterous energy resources detected in the Vega star system. The battle was fierce and lasted for half a dozen cycles with neither side gaining an advantage, and earning only mounting losses. Until something happened. Something unexplained and even more mysterious than the energy they had been fighting over.

Only two squads of Shi'ar fighters and a lone attackship survived to report what happened. The rest of the Shi'ar fleet was destroyed, while the entirety of the Kree forces simply disappeared.

Three days ago, the Kree fleet reappeared in the Vega system. From their perspective, no time had past and the war was still raging. One day ago, after securing the system, the bulk of the fleet attacked the nearest Shi'ar outposts, reigniting a long dead conflict, and plunging two civilizations back into bloodshed.

And twenty-three minutes ago, the Kree fleet lost contact with the ships left behind in the Vega system. The ships that were annihilated by the collapse of the space-time continuum in the sector...

***

I bright light, and a sound like a mini-sonic boom, crack open the sky above the city. A figure emerges from the light just before the portal snaps shut behind him.

"Ah. Washington, D.C. What better place to make my first appearance and get my name on the map. Time to start my new life, free and clear. Yep, I'm gonna own this world."

"Sir...I believe this is London, not Washington."

"Can't wait to start making some real money. I bet there are tons of lovely, lovely ladies who'll...say what?"

"This is London, sir. You know...in England."

"...I told you to set the coordinates of the sphere!"

"And I said there wasn't time to properly calibrate the sphere's systems."

"Well, it's not my fault the security guard was early on his rounds!"

The man sighs, but quickly puts on a rather dashing smile and looks out over the city, even though it's the wrong city.

"Doesn't matter. Every one's going to know my name anyway. They'll all be talking about Booster Gold soon enough..."

***

I watch the monitor intently. The instant my sensors alerted us to a temporal disturbance, Sage had the nearest security camera trained on the incident. There isn't any sound, but the image of this man and the device floating next to him is more than enough.

"This should prove very interesting..."

Adam's lips curl upwards. "Your offer amuses me, Garrick. Slightly. Amused at the offer, and that you think Khandaq is part of Europe."

I chuckle a little. "I can see why that would be funny, but you know that's not what I mean."

Adam's smile fades and he exhales slowly with weary patience. "I see no point in joining your supposed justice league. My people here need my presence and protection far more than Europe does."

"I can give you a few points in rebuttle. You'll find that helping to keep peace in Europe actually benefits Khandaq."

I've stoked his curiosity. "Enlighten me."

"Okay. By joining the League, you'd be showing the world that they don't need to fear you, or your nation. It's far easy to be prosperous when you have the trust of other countries to trade with."

"Khandaq can survive on its own."

"Survive, maybe. But prosper and grow? The most prosperous countries are those either rich in diverse resources, or that trade with other countries for the resources they need. While Khandaq is rich in a few, it needs to work with others."

Adam considers my words, but says nothing. Which I take as good sign. So I continue. "Then there's the obvious fact that if you stop the bad guys while they're in Europe, they won't have the chance to do anything here."

"My presence will keep the undesirable element out."

"Are you sure about that?"

"You dare underestimate me?"

"No. But I also don't dare underestimate those that would try under your nose. But I happen to know about a group that is..."

***

"Get back to work!" The overweight man wearing the cheap business suit points at one of the large numbers of nearly nude workers. The large man made of muscle behind him slaps the slacking worker, sending him flying to the floor.

The large man kneels down and checks the unmoving worker. "Dead."

"Harumph!" the boss replies. "He was slowing down production anyway." He turns to all the other workers. "Take that as a lesson!" he shouts in their language. "Work and prosper, or die."

That's when one of the walls of the building explodes. There's a streak of black in the air, and the boss finds himself pinned to the wall, unable to get air down his constricted throat.

"You get the second option," Adam says through clinched teeth.

A streak of red follows Adam as I quickly clear out all the workers from the building, running them off to the waiting Khandaqi army Adam stationed a safe distance away. They'll help these people.

I get back just in time to see a rather large man break a chair over Adam's back. Furious at the insult, Adam drops the guy who look's like he's straight out of a movie from the 70's and punches the larger man right in the face.

And is stunned when the man shrugs off the punches and knocks Adam through a wall with one of his own.

The piece of sleaze Adam dropped tries to get up and run away, but I've already knocked him out before he gets two steps.

The ground shakes and suddenly the wall explodes again. I duck as the limp body of the man fighting Adam flies over me and crashes through a table. The drugs on the table burst into the air, but I create a whirl wind to blast it all outside into the desert.

"How dare they!" Adam picks both men up by their throats and begins to squeeze.

"No! Don't."

Adam glares at me.

"Dead men tell no tales. Which means they can't tell anyone else what just happened here."

Adam doesn't seem convinced.

"It also means they don't get to suffer in a Khandaqi prison."

"...You are right. A quick death is too good for these men." He drops the unceremoniously.

"How did you know about this."

"Doom actually found it about it."

Adam considers this. "I will not cow down to him if I join."

"Hey, I already joined, and sure I don't," I say with a smile.

***

"Well?"

"It should have been safe. But the bastard found our place and ripped it apart."

"Of course he did. I made sure he knew all about it."

"You did what?!"

I ignore the outburst as my 'associate' stands. The shade of red his face turns in rage amuses me. "You tricked me!"

"I told you you would be fairly compensated for moving your business to Khandaq." I snap my fingers and my servant sets a briefcase on the table between us. He opens the case, exposing the large sum of money inside.

"I think you'll find that covers the cost of your operation."

"But...why?"

"Because I now get what I wanted. And you no longer have a man in your operation so incompetent that he was so easily found."

The man just continues to stare. "Please, take your money and go back to Gotham, Mr. Maroni. I'm sorry you didn't find a new supply in that region of the world, but I hope you now realize how fruitless such a venture would have been. Better to have the operation end here and now, rather than later when Adam found it on his own."

"Now, please, feel free to enjoy this great land before you depart, Mr. Maroni."
​

"You'll-"

I sigh. "I hope you're not so predictable as to make such an empty threat. You've lost nothing, and you're now aware how dangerous setting up such an operation would be."

Maroni slams the case closed and takes it. "Don't ever contact me again," he says as he leaves.

"I wasn't planning on it."

 

[wiegeabo]

I open my office door and look out into the waiting room. I don't spend very much time at the office for so many reasons. But today is an exception. Another exception is that I'm here on the weekend. That was just to make sure the receptionist wasn't there. This is an important meeting. One too important to leave to chance or premature exposure.

"Hello?" I say, looking around, and not seeing my appointment. Until a head pops around the corner nervously.

"You're safe."

"A-Are you sure?"

"You came in the way I told you?"

"Yes."

"Then no one saw you or knows you're here." I motion towards my office, but he doesn't budge. "Of course, if a roaming security guard were to happen by..."

That gets him moving. I follow him inside and close the door behind me, making sure to lock it.

"I'm surprised you wanted to see me. But I'm glad you did."

"Glad? Do-Do you know why I'm here?" His body tenses as if he's about launch himself out of the window to get away.

"Not a clue. I was just going to ask to see you anyway."

"Oh...um, why's that?"

"How about you tell me why you're here first. I'm getting the distinct sense it's about something important."

"Very important, Mr. Wayne." He lifts his shirt and pulls out a folder he'd been hiding...


***


I walk down the steps of Wayne Enterprises to the flashing of cameras and reports yelling out their questions. Mostly asking why I called this press conference.

"You're all probably wondering why I called this press conference." That gets about half of them to go quiet.

"Well, I won't keep you with long speeches. I'm here to make an announcement and answer your questions."

"And what are you here to announce?" Vicky Vale asks above the noise.

"I know a lot of people have questioned my inexperience in politics. And they have every right to. That experience is as important as having a fresh take on how to run this city. So, to bring that much needed experience into my campaign...I have chosen my running mate in the mayoral race." The reports go nuts, but I put my hands up, calling for them to calm down so I can finish. "Please, please."

Eventually, they listen to me. "I'd like to introduce you to my new running mate. I present to you, your once and future Deputy Mayor Arnold Krohl!"

Krohl steps out from behind the barrier that had been setup. If you thought the flashing and yelling was bad before, you haven't seen anything.

Krohl puts on his political game face, but leans out of microphone range and whispers to me. "I'm signing my death warrant."

"Trust me," I whisper back, smiling and waving for the crowd. "You've never been safer in your life."

 

[NiteMare Shape]

Sitting in his cell, Eddie Brock contemplates the ramifications of the bombshell that has been dropped on him.

Durning the battle that had leaft him temporarily crippled, his alien symbiot had spawned an offspring. That offspring has apparently bonded with another, and together they have been committing brutal acts of murder and mayhem all across New York.

Ever since he bonded with his other and became the creature known as Venom, he has done some questionable things. People have said terrible things about him...called him a lunatic, a monster...and that is just not true. He is a man determined to make those who have wronged him pay...particularly Peter Parker.

But this is bigger than that.

His offspring has been ruthlessly murdering innocents...

The very innocents that deep down he looks to avenge by taking down the man who took his innocences...

Parker.

He looks out at the scientist who has been monitoring the cell's sonic walls which hold him prisoner.

"Richards...Get us Parker."

Though the thought makes Brock ill, deep down he knows it's the only way.

Brock paces in his cell, the agony of knowing exactly what it is he has to do eats away at him, and is only made worse by being forced to wait on his arch enemy.

"Come on Parker, where are you...we cannot wait much longer..."