The Create-A-Hero RPG Season II IC Thread

[trustyside-kick]

"Perhaps this time things will be different", Izanagi's Chosen stated with a far off look as he watched the ripples dance across the pond's surface. His thoughts were going back to the turn of the twentieth century, and the last time a group of heroes banded together to 'save the world' in a small area near the Tunguska River in Russia.

"If you need me for this team, Michael, my sword is yours. The gods willing, this time things will be different."

"Sweet. Maybe you can give me a few pointers. I've got this sword and uh, well...don't really know how to use it. Matter a fact...haven't really gotten to use it much. Eh it's complicated but I can only use it pretty much if I'm defending the innocent. Otherwise no flames or nothing; just me holding a hilt."

He doesn't say a thing right away, merely nodding with a brief smile. This dude's real chill and laid back; a pretty cool dude. For a moment we both just stare at the water before us, and I start to think about my painting idea.

"Well, I gotta head outta here. My place is back in Boston and I've got this strong feeling about this painting. And when I get this artistic urge I gotta get my hands on a paint brush and canvas as quick as possible."

I look around us, making sure no one is watching since I'm not exactly looking to expose Kensei, and start to sprint past some trees. As I'm running I feel secluded enough to begin the transformation. The symbol of Faith on my back burns bright and a light from the heavens shoots down through the clouds. I start to ascend into the air and my wardrobe starts to come together as my angel-fire wings sprout.

"Woohoo!!"

I speed through the park, going higher and higher. Within seconds I'm out of plain sight.

 

[NiteMare Shape]

Rebuilding 6 Months Later

Micaela Pearl, Staff writer


In the six months since the end of the Arlaaekan invasion of Earth, we have seen many changes in our world. We have experienced an unprecedented spirit of cooperation as we work to rebuild what the aliens destroyed. It seems that each day the scars from the battles that raged across our planet fade, and which each new skyscraper that is erected, each home rebuilt, and each neighborhood revitalized, our spirit is renewed.

However, the rebuilding process has not always been so smooth. Over the past six months, we have experienced an unprecedented rise in violent crime, much of which is blamed on the destruction of Lost Haven's Tartarus Island correctional facility. Fortunately, most of the escaped inmates have been recaptured and have been relocated to Steelhammer until reconstruction on the island prison is completed later this month.

Super criminals have not been the only setbacks we have faced during our reconstruction period. Severe storms and other natural disasters stemming from the near destruction of the moon have slowed rebuilding efforts in several parts of the world. The team of superheroes known as The Guardians have aided with the disasters, but are only able to do so much. However, hope around the world is that the newly announced multinational Lunar Restoration Initiative will in time lead to a decrease in these severe storms, eventually returning them to a normal level.

In the wake of the disasters, both natural and "metaman" made President Blake has announced that the previously secret government agency known as S.T.R.I.K.E. has been granted the following powers-


Rebuilding, cont. page 6

 

[Hound55]

A factory in Murrayfield - northern suburb of Cooktown, Terraria

22:30hrs, TST (Terrarian Standard Time)
High up in an upstairs office, the silence and tranquillity is suddenly broken by the solid thud of an object hitting a wall near to the large office window.

Twenty metres below a curse word is quietly grumbled. A rope retracted on a device that is new to us. Fast and wild like an ill-tempered vacuum cleaner retractor or a builders tape measure, as the device makes a fairly quiet whirring noise. The figure stepped to one side and releases the retractor function letting the tough hook bounce off the pavement next to him.

Chink!

He holds the hook and finishes retracting his device until the hook is once again in the barrel of the device.

Back up in the office, a window shatters under the force of a metal hook in a high office window, the slack is taken and the hook shoots back to the sturdy base of the window frame where it catches. The hook leans slightly as weight is shifting on the line which holds it in place as a much slower whirring noise can be heard, gradually getting louder until a hand dramatically snatches at the balcony ledge, the dark frame heaves itself over the top and very quietly steps onto the balcony. Silence reigns now.

A small mag-light is removed from his pocket as he quietly empties draws, searching for records. They had to be here somewhere... a book, something. They were storing and running vast quantities of drugs on premises once or twice a week for the Knaves, alongside of their legitimate business. They couldn't keep track of the kind numbers involved in this without a book and surely they wouldn't store it on a computer.
Changes in online seizure laws meant the police would have significantly better chance of tracking data on the computer, at least with a book they could try to shred or destroy it the second they see cops on the premises.

The light flicked around frantically as Fontaine began to get frustrated as the book couldn't be found in any of the obvious places.

A safe? No, if cops appeared they'd want the book to be accessible and destroyed whilst entertaining police. Off premises? No, he wouldn't be stupid enough to keep the book on him and risk being caught with the damn thing...

"Where the hell is it!" He screamed in his head as he looked behind shelves. "It's not in drawers, it's not on the computer, where the hell is it!" "I've looked on the drawers and in the computer... wait, in the drawers and on the computer..."

He stopped mid-sentence, a slight grin sweeping across his face.

Opening up the drawer of the desk he removed a small tech screwdriver and slid the hard drive forward, unscrewing the case. A thin pocket book fell to the floor, flicking open through pages of transactions made and pending before falling open at a random page that had seen a particularly great amount of use.

Fontaine let the grin wash over his whole face, extracting a scrunched up trademark note with magazine cut-out letter from the pocket of his cargo pants. Walking toward the whiteboard by the balcony door he removed a pair of fridge magnets from his pocket, and stopped short, thinking about this action for a second the smile on his face was now taking on a more devilish quality.

Seconds later he was screwing the hard drive case up again, minutes later he was abseiling down the balcony with a whole new list of people of questionable reputation, leaving only a little broken glass and a message reading "Don't worry yourselves, Knaves, I'll have your book back by the due date" in his wake.

A message held on by magnets, that were already corrupting the data on the hard drive, as the message waited patiently in the computer case to be read...

 

[Hound55]

In Transit - Cooktown, Terraria

A generic-looking dark blue Ford Falcon sedan cruised down the aptly, yet somewhat uncreatively, named Factory Rd before indicating and turning onto Main North Rd. He was surprised by a rattle and a flashing light by his right arm.

Idiot. Irresponsible idiot. He'd brought his phone with him and left it in the car. Something to identify him if his car was found. Dumbarse.

Isaac looked at the screen, it displayed "RS" he had cracked down a little and changed his contacts to initials to try and protect himself and them a little in case his phone was discovered. But a simple call to any would likely get an identity from any of them anyway. Trusting souls who shared this Earth, but not his world.

[BLACKOUT]"Hi. Renee?"[/BLACKOUT] He said as he frantically looked to plug his phone into its hands-free kit whilst driving a tad erratically with the other hand.

"Hell-llo." Renee greeted him melodically.

[BLACKOUT]"What can I do for you, M' lady?"[/BLACKOUT] Isaac asked Renee, the pair had gotten quite close... after he had found that she was still alive. What? He'd been busy. World doesn't save itself...

"You could tell me you're coming up again tomorrow..."

[BLACKOUT]"Ha! Well, you know this is still my place. I told you I'd be going between at times, I'll find my way back down, but for now I'm still pretty busy here. I'm expecting some results from these scientists. Its my work."[/BLACKOUT]

"C'mon, don't give me that. You've come down before and you don't even do any of the research. It's not like you have a 9 to 5 job, your "work" is collecting the profit from shares and collecting a token wage for an executive position you don't even have to do anything for..."

[BLACKOUT]"Ah yeah, I told you that, didn't I..."[/BLACKOUT]

"Now why don't you want to come down. You're not cosying up to any of those girls back in Cooktown are you?"

[BLACKOUT]"What? No. You're not cosying up to any of those blokes up the Haven are you?"[/BLACKOUT]

"No... I won't have to either if I know that you're coming back soon..." she said coyly.

A vibration kicked in just above his right hip. This could only mean one thing. Only about a half dozen knew the number to this pager and none of them were in Terraria. The number when dialled would bounce around 7 different countries, none of them got on particularly well with either Terraria or the United States. Making it a jurisdictional nightmare for any authorities to trace the number and extremely difficult for even the most resourceful and as far as he knew, nobody with that kind of funding either knew or cared about the pager number.

[BLACKOUT]"Renee, you know I'll be coming back soon. If you stop asking, maybe I'll surprise you..."[/BLACKOUT] he said, with a suggestion of knowing. Sooner than he'd planned, he'd be back now.

[BLACKOUT]"I've already got a trip planned... I swear, I've got a date set, flight is planned."[/BLACKOUT] Yeah, tonight...

"You swear?"

[BLACKOUT]"I swear. I'll give you a call when I'm in."[/BLACKOUT] ...give or take a few days.

The pair spoke for another 30 minutes while he drove home to his house in ritzy suburban Welland Heights. The page and its potential meaning plaguing the back of his mind.

One thing for certain, it could be no small thing.

 

[Rain Dog]

“Jesus Christ,” the man said, tears streaming down his flushed, fat, flabby, burnt-dead face, “I don’t know what the **** you’re talking about, man! Please, just take you want and leave me alone, please, God, please!”

He seems scared. Shiver, chatter-teeth weeper. Maybe he doesn’t know anything. Should I trust him? I should trust him. Burn. I won’t trust him.

[BLACKOUT]“Why is it still standing? You’re with the lizard men?”[/BLACKOUT] I said with my shotgun pointed steadily at his doughy face.

“What?! What the **** are you sa—“

--Boom-splat.

His sentence is cut short by his face being blown off.

The Babylonian Brotherhood, or as the media has dubbed them, “Arlaaekans” have nearly destroyed the world. Scale critter blood gulpers. The city was ravaged and ruined, reduced to rock and rubble. Burn. But one building stood virtually unscathed from the extraterrestrial onslaught—the post office—pristine and safe. Bastards. A federal building. Coincidence? I think not. The mailman was far too loyal to talk. Need answers. Double time.

Mmmmraaaow

Mubbles sniffed a newspaper on the ground. Burn. I picked it up and read through it. The world has been trying to rebuild these last few months. Fools. They think it’ll matter. They think it’ll change things. Paper says there’s a new sense a unity. Fools. They think it’ll matter. They think it’ll change things. It’s what the Illuminati want. The singularity. The New World Order.

[BLACKOUT]“Yes, Mubbles, it’s foolish, I know.”[/BLACKOUT]

Meeeow

[BLACKOUT]“What? What is it?”[/BLACKOUT]

He wants me to read on. I do. Guardians. “The Guardians”. Meta-humans. I don’t trust them. I don’t like them. Says they’re forming “Guardians” burn. A team of meta-humans with authority. No, no, no, no, no, burn, no. I don’t like the sound of that one burning bit.

[BLACKOUT]“This isn’t good, Mubbles…it’s only a matter of time before they’re deputized. Then the government has direct authority over them. Meaning the Illuminati will have direct control over them. Meaning we’re doomed. And then there’s this post office business….”[/BLACKOUT]

The Babylonian Brotherhood, or as the media has dubbed them, “Arlaaekans” have nearly destroyed the world. The city was ravaged and ruined, reduced to rock and rubble. Burn. But one building stood virtually unscathed from the extraterrestrial onslaught—the post office—pristine and safe. Bastards. A federal building. Coincidence? I think not. The mailman was far too loyal to talk. Need answers. Double time.

Raaaow

[BLACKOUT]“What do you think I should do about it? No one seems to notice the post office. None of their cronies are responding to my threats. The meta-humans are taking power. What do we do?”[/BLACKOUT]

Meow

Of course. Mubbles’ wisdom amazes me. It’s so obvious. Burn the post office down. It was staring me in the face the whole time.I don’t realize why I didn’t notice it before…

 

[Eddie Brock]

"Attention, dispatch, we have an 11-80 at the corner of Lexington and Fifth. Requesting emergency crews at the scene."

The police officer in the squad car hangs up his radio and grips his steering wheel tightly. His sirens wail as he races down Lexington Avenue in the direction of the chaos. He glances at the rearview mirror, spotting flashing lights in the distance behind him. He redirects his focus forward as he nears the next intersection.

SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECH!

The officer's head slams against the window as an SUV slams into the side of his squad car. The squad car bends around the SUV's fender, and the mangled hunk of metal squeals to a halt in the middle of the intersection. An oncoming motorcyclist is forced to swerve out of danger, narrowly avoiding the wreck.

Above them, all four traffic lights glow an ominous green, while a voice rings out over the city. "ATTENTION, CITIZENS OF THE CARVER DISTRICT: I AM IN COMPLETE CONTROL NOW. PLAY YOUR PARTS, AND LESS PEOPLE WILL BE HURT."

***

Why is this still happening?! For months now, the Coordinator has unleashed a remote reign of terror on Carver, with no signs of slowing down. And I'm not sure what I can do. I mean, how do you stop a bad guy that you can't simply beat down? Especially one who's powerful enough to hack into the power system of a maximum security prison.

Or the entire city's traffic lights, apparently.

"I enjoy the color green as much as the next guy," I announce as I leap down into the chaos, "But there is such thing as 'too much.'" With a well-placed punch, I shatter the squad car's windshield. Reaching inside the car, I tear the seatbelt and pull the unconscious officer from the vehicle.

"MANTIS. SO GLAD YOU COULD MAKE IT," the Coordinator bellows from...somewhere. Man, I wish I knew how he did half this stuff. "YOUR RESPONSE TIME IS REALLY IMPROVING."

I roll my eyes beneath my mask. I've learned that it's pointless engaging in banter with this guy. And for someone like me to turn down banter? You know it's serious. Ignoring the Coordinator, I focus on extracting the SUV driver. He's bleeding from the head. Looking up, I see an ambulance coming.

"Hang in there," I mutter to the SUV driver as I start heading in the direction of the other accidents. God, this is going to take a while to clean up. I'm bounding from streetlight to streetlight when the building next to me explodes in a sparking fireball. My body is flung across the street like a ragdoll into the side of a city mailbox. I dent it like an empty soda can.

"I'VE ALWAYS BEEN OF THE BELIEF THAT THE BUILDINGS IN THIS AREA OF TOWN NEEDED RENOVATION," the Coordinator states matter-of-factly. "THE INSULATION IS QUESTIONABLE AT BEST. ALL IT WOULD TAKE IS ONE LITTLE GAS LEAK AND A SHORT CIRCUIT..."

I hold my side as I stand up. I think I cracked a rib. Who knows? Maybe I got lucky, and it's just bruised. Yeah. That's adequate consolation. I shake the cobwebs out of my head as I sprint down the street. Like I said, the Coordinator has to be stopped.

I only wish I had a plan.
​

 

[NiteMare Shape]

Icon returns home from dealing with yet another natural disaster. This time it was a tsunami on the coast of Japan. Since the Arlaaekans nearly destroyed the moon, there has been an increase in these natural disasters. For the last six months, Icon has been busy dealing with these events all over the globe. If it's not a tsunami in Japan, it is a hurricane in the Caribbean...or a tornado in the heartland.

These disasters as well as helping to round up the Tartarus escapees has helped keep Icon, as well as the worlds other heroes quite busy....and for Icon it is a relief. While he is busy with one catastrophy or another, his mind is focused on the task at hand....and not on her. But when he doesn't have a life or death crisis to confront, he is confronted by the memories of his lost love. Even though his sister Jenny, as well as his closest friends have all gone to great lengths to show him that he isn't alone... grief, lonliness, and even guilt are his only true companions.

He opens the door to his apartment to find Jenny sitting on the couch watching a WLH7 news report about his activities on the coast of Japan. He has noticed that since things had gotten back to a semi normal basis after the attack, she has been keeping a closer eye on him. Even though he's one of the "Earth's greatest heroes," his is still her big brother...and she knows when something is bothering him. He knows that she just wants him to talk to her, but he isn't ready to talk yet. He also knows that she thinks that he blames her, at least in part for Lisa's death...because she couldn't stop her from trying to go back to Lost Haven that night. But he doesn't...the only person he blames is himself.

"Nice work, Scotty." Jenny says indicating the images of him diverting the raging tsunami waters away from a small fishing village.

"Thanks." He says nonchalantly as he walks past her toward his bedroom.

"I wasn't sure when you'd be back so I ordered some pizza from Johnny's Place. There's leftovers in the fridge."

"Alright."

"Oh, and I almost forgot...Keira called again. You guys seem to be getting pretty close." She says teasingly, hoping to get some sort of response from him.

"Not gonna happen Jenny. We're just friends...so get it out of your head." He calls from his bedroom in a tone that told her that he is serious and that she should just drop it.

"No...I'm just saying, it's good to have someone to talk to."

No response.

"Scott?"

Still nothing.

"Scotty?" She calls as she gets off the couch.

She goes over to his bedroom and taps on the door. "Scott?" She calls becoming slightly annoyed at being ignored. She taps on the door again, and again there is no response. She pushes his door open and goes in, only to find that the room is empty, and his window is open.

"One of these days I'm gonna put bars on that window...like that'll do any good."

 

[Blacklight]

Can't say I remember much... Not that I should. I mean, I died. You're not supposed to remember things after you're dead... Right?

Or can you?

Jon Small tried desperately to recall what transpired during his last moments of existence, hopefully for the answers he seeked... If for nothing else, than to learn where he was and how he got there. For he felt that if he didn't, his soul would be unable to move on as it deserves to...

Blacklight​

​

​

in:

One's Final Minutes...


(featuring dialogue and scenes originally written by NiteMare Shape, Johnny Drama and Spike_x1)


* * *​

It all started after the Survivor told me to help with damage control...

"...My main priority, though, is damage control. God only knows how many people are trapped under tons of rubble, and in burning buildings. Ordinary rescue crews could take hours to get to those people." Leaping upward and bounding off of a flagpole before landing on a rooftop running, Adam called back to the younger hero;

"Get moving!"

I quickly nodded back in agreement, rushing to any burning buildings or collapsed towers and homes in search of any civilians in need of rescue. Eventually, I managed to save them all, deciding that looking for Icon and the Survivor and rejoining them was what I had to do next.

But even though it only seemed like a few moments to me, in the time I took to clear the area of any endangered innocents, the Invaders already played the ace up their sleeve...

* * *​

Flying as fast as my body would allow, I made it to Central Island and was heading for the heart of the island, where I was hoping I'd see Icon.

Stopping as I spotted him below me, I looked on as Icon continued his fight with the man I suspected was behind this invasion force. A man that went by the name 'Ultima'.

Icon was going blow for blow with the monstrous being, but as powerful as we all thought him to be, the villain managed to knock him down, gaining the upperhand. I watched in shock as he was about to land the killing blow, unable to move as one of Earth's most powerful was about to fall...

"So much about this world that I won't miss. These people and their illusions...." Ultima says as he approaches Icon, who again falls to his knees.

Ultima kneels down with him an begins carressing the side of Icons head.

"Didja know, that I was in love once. And boy she was she beautiful. She was my one and only. We were gonna get married and I was going to have the happy life my mother and father never had, complete with a white picket fence and a miniature poodle. Then she hurt me. Baaad. Got with my best friend while I was in the Army. Boy, I felt so hurt...I felt soooo....human. But then I left this world, changed, and had a different perspective on love and life in general. Love is just a chemical inbalance, something that happens to a human brain, it's self medication, you see. And it goes far beyond love. Every feeling, every emotion, is routed in a human beings own selfishness. I mean, say for example, I kill that beatiful little Jenny of your that you kept eyeballing on that bus a few nights ago..."


"You bastard..."

Ultima stands up, and steps back.

"You see, If I kill her, and she is dead and gone, you would hurt. But not because you care about her well being, but because you would miss her. The slow, intense pain she would feel wouldn't be what kept you up at night, it would simply be the fact she is gone, That would never see her face or hear her voice, EVER again. That's pretty selfish, Icon..."


"You... you know nothing about the human race, or the strength that lies in our compassion..."


"Still clinging on to your ideals, I see. You remind me of myself when I was human. Optimistic and stupid..."


"And you remind me of ever other super villain I ever come across. The maniacal twist with too much power who monolouges when he should be aware of his surroundings. You are a walking cliche..." Icon says as The Survivor spears Ultima out of nowhere.

"It's about damn time..."


"Thank god..." I muttered to myself as I watched The Survivor save Icon from Ultima's wrath. But I didn't celebrate just yet, because I knew that as tough as The Survivor was, he wasn't going to last long against Ultima either. So I immediately rushed towards the ground to help my allies...

As Survivor engages Ultima, Icon tries to get himself together. He struggles to get to his feet, his legs feel like spaghetti and he isn't sure if they will support him. But he has to try, he knows that the fate of not only Lost Haven, but the entire world depends on what happens tonight.

Icon took a step toward Ultima and Survivor and stumbled, almost hitting the ground, but I landed by his side and caught him as he fell, attempting to help him up. He looked over to me in surprise, but I smirked.

"Looks like you could use a hand."


Icon turned towards me as I helped him to his feet.

"I'd say. We have to shut down the Eradicator...If that thing goes off it's game over." Icon said as he pointed out monsterous machine, the one that created all that noise earlier while I was saving those civilians.

Immediately I looked over to where Survivor fought on against Ultima, beginning to falter as Ultima began to overpower him...

Quickly, I took off and attacked Ultima myself, Icon following suit. Together, the two of us began to turn the tables.

As Icon began to take over in keeping Ultima at bay, I took a quick moment to check out to see if Survivor was okay after his fight with Ultima that took a huge toll on his stamina.

"Survivor, are you--"

"I'm fine. Go help Icon, I don't know how much longer he can keep this up." The Survivor advised me as I curtly nodded, before turning back to the fight.

Icon continues his assult on Ultima, each punch sending shockwaves throughout the immediate area. Icon has Ultima down on one knee, barely conscious as the hero continues to attempt to beat him into submission. Suddenly Icon feels a sharp pain in his back as one of the few remaining battle suits attacks from behind.

The momentary distraction is all that Ultima needs, hitting Icon with an uppercut that sends the hero crashing into the battle suit, destroying it.

"I have to admit...this has been alot of fun. But enough is enough, now...you die." Ultima says as he brings his arms up over his head, preparing to deliver a fatal blow to Icon.

After knocking out the battlesuit that blasted Icon, I quickly flew at Ultima before he could finish Icon off.

"Not today scumbag!" I yelled out as I crashed into Ultima's back, sending him flying over my ally's head, and crashing into the side of one the many demolished towers.

Icon quickly got back to his feet, and with me by his side, we resumed our assault on Ultima. He tried to fight back, but every time he went to punch one of us, we moved and countered his attempts with our own attacks. Soon enough, the Survivor came to help us in keeping Ultima down for the count. Together, the three of us were unstoppable.

Ultima staggered back several feet, trying to get separation from us. And as we moved in to finish the fight, Ultima held up a single finger, causing us to stop for a moment..

We stood there in hesitation, and while we did, Ultima did something that caused me to become slightly uneasy.

He laughed at us.

"Give it up Ultima, you're beaten. It's over."

"Hahaha...You're right about that hero. It is over. I've won."

"What are you talking about? Your forces are retreating from the island, we've stopped you. Just give it up, no one else needs to die here today."

"You don't understand. All the meddling that your friends have done with the Eradicator has activated the fail safe. All your efforts to disable the machine and save this pitiful world has doomed it. You and your friends have ensured our victory. I want you to think about that as you die."

As Ultima continued to laugh like a crazed hyena, Icon, Survivor and myself and the rest of the heroes that were helping to defeat the Arlaaekeans looked up as the Eradicator roared to life.

* * *​

"Hehehe...Why fight it? Just accept your fate. You put up a hell of a fight, but it's over." Ultima said with a grin that made me boil in anger.

It looked like Icon was angry as well, as I saw him about to punch Ultima in the face, until he stopped. I noticed his ear twitching, and he took off. Following him, The Survivor and I stopped as Icon landed in fron of the alien girl that was aiding him before.

"You have to destroy the firing mechanism, it's the only way..." She muttered before slipping back into unconsciousness.

"Blacklight, Survivor...The two of you take care of Ultima. I'm going to take out The Eradicator."

"How do you plan to do that?"

"I have to fly into the heart of the machine, inside the firing mechanism."

"That's suicide! The weapon is about to go off."

"Someone has to do it."

Icon stopped and paused for a moment.

"Make sure you finish this...make sure that this world lives on." Icon finished as he took off towards the Eradicator.

"Icon, no!"

I can't let him do this. If there's anything I've learned through all this, is that the world needs Icon now more than ever. He's the symbol I try to be everyday. He needs to be the one that saves this planet now, and for the years to come...


I have to stop him.

I'm sorry Mom. Molly. Jeremy. Nick...

...and I'm so sorry Steph. Sorry I can't be there when you wake up, but I have to do this. I love you...

"Survivor..." I said to the dark-clad hero and my ally. As he turned to me, my feet slowly began to lift off the ground in preparation for what I was about to do next.

"I'm going to stop him..." I began as he looked at me through his mask with one of confusion.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Icon's right. Someone has to do it... But I'm not going to let that someone be him. The world needs him more than it needs me..."

"Wait... You're not going to--"

"Win this for me..." I ended as I took off after Icon before he reaches the Eradicator.

"Blacklight, NO!"

Eventually reaching Icon in the air, I tugged on his leg to get his attention. His face was plastered with a look of shock.

"Someone has to do it, right?" I said with an assuring grin.

"Don't worry Icon... I got this."

"Blacklight, get back down there...Help Survivor---" Icon began as I cut him off by punching him in the head with a good amount of my strength before grabbing him and throwing him to the ground.

"Sorry Icon...I hope you can forgive me someday." I prayed before continuing my sacrificing trek into the center of The Eradicator.

The lights... They were so bright as I entered the heart of the deadly machine, and as the energy inside began to singe my entire body, my whole life flashed before my eyes...

My becoming Blacklight...

You're a nice person, Jon You have a name? I'm Blacklight now... WOOHOO! Thank you, Mr. Weirdy-eyes! It was nothin, kid Just doin' what's right... You saved us How can I ever repay you? You don't have to That's what superheroes do They save people... Wait! What's your name? It's Blacklight...

The sword...

Hand over the sword! I have to return it Why? How are you sure it didn't choose you? You think it chose me? I have faith in you... This is your destiny... Stay the HELL out of my city... Kristi, I-- Jon, don't say it... But I love-- I don't care You're not the same Jon You've changed... You've become this monster... C'mon! ANYONE ELSE!?! FACE ME!!! Jon, STOP! NO! You hit her! You monster! What's happening to me? I don't know who I am anymore... You're a hero No I'm not A hero doesn't do those things... He doesn't hit the woman he loves! I made you do those things... You're the spirit of the Descender aren't you!? Embrace your DESTINY! NO I'm Blacklight! JOIN US!!! NO!!! I am Nightking! and I WILL kill Blacklight, no matter what it takes...

Kristi...

Blacklight? What're you doing here? Kristi... I came here to talk to you It's about Jon Small I know him MORE than you think... Why he struck you He didn't mean to He was being influenced... An evil force that was taking him over little by little, and it wasn't until he hurt the person he loved most that he was able to purge himself of it... That person was you, Kristi But how do you know all this? Because, Kristi... It's me, Kristi. Jon... I'M Blacklight Oh my god... Jon I'm telling you the truth I swear it wasn't me... Please believe me Believe in me again I... I love you, Kristi You're a staple in the story of my life and without you... The book would fall apart... I love you TOO, Jon...


All of it, and it all led to this moment. The end of my story. My death...

"Forgive me..."

The white, hot light that surrounded me began to get hotter and hotter as I absorbed it into my body, and when all was said and done, I was greeted by a single person as I embraced my death...

"K-Kristi?"

There is no big explosion, no grand finale... but The Eradicator goes dark, it's lights extinguished with the destruction of its heart. Moments later the infernal machine begins to shake, and come apart.

As The Eradicator crumbles, Blacklight finds himself on the ground looking up at the same stars that he has dreamily gazed at from his home in Vernova ever since he was a small boy. His gaze shifts to his new friends, Icon and Survivor, two men that he has fought with side by side since the invasion started, and he knew that with these two heroes still here, that this world will be saved. He smiles for a moment, knowing that his job here is finished. He closes his eyes and takes his final breath. And at the moment of his death, Blacklight truely achieves immortality...

* * *​

 

[Byrd Man]

Washington, DC
Now

"Wide load coming through!"

The monsterous human-dinosaur hybrid that used to be a Carver professor roars in frustration and stomps at my foot.

Terrence Carter Rex used to be the world's foremost scientific mind when it came to Palentology. He accidently turned himself into a dinosaur after experiementing with Dino DNA. A guy named Rex gets turned into a dinosaur, you really can't make this crap up.

Five Minutes Earlier

"We are so happy to have the Blue Blur and Archangel here as ambassadors of the meta-human community," the speaker of the house says as Mike and I stand besider her at the press conference.

"With the cooperation of The Guardians, we can move forward to make sure the safety of America is truly in safe hands.

Boooom!

The speaker turns and looks at us with curious glances. "Did you feel th-"

"BOOM!"

"That doesn't sound good."

BOOOOOM!

A roar goes out into the air as the monster rips off a part of the capital building. I turn to Mike and shrug.

"All in a day's work, right?"


Now

"Grr!!!"

"Heard ya the first time, big guy."

I look up and see the angeling figure soaring above Rex's head.

"Come on, Mike. Let's see that holy firey sword of God or whatever it's called."

 

[trustyside-kick]

Washington, DC
Now

"Wide load coming through!"

The monsterous human-dinosaur hybrid that used to be a Carver professor roars in frustration and stomps at my foot.

Terrence Carter Rex used to be the world's foremost scientific mind when it came to Palentology. He accidently turned himself into a dinosaur after experiementing with Dino DNA. A guy named Rex gets turned into a dinosaur, you really can't make this crap up.

Some people when they are faced with a large T-Rex man might say 'man, I sure wish I was elsewhere'. But not us. Not superheroes. We have a knack for being placed in the oddest of situations of all. You learn to ditch the 'man I wish I was elsewhere' line and go with something more like--

"Man I sure as heck wish it was Monday."

But it's not Monday. It's Thursday. Were it Monday, I'd go crazy with the water manipulation action and freeze the dino-crazed villain. I mean, he may be a man but he still has dino DNA within his body so the cold would be a nice darn touch in bringing him down. But it's Thursday. Though fire is still fun to play with.

Still...man, I sure wish I was elsewhere.

Now

"Grr!!!"

"Heard ya the first time, big guy."

I look up and see the angeling figure soaring above Rex's head.

"Come on, Mike. Let's see that holy firey sword of God or whatever it's called."

"Are you kidding me? I mean, really? It's not the 'holy firey sword of God'. It's...well, I haven't exactly named it but...well I wouldn't name it the 'holy firey sword of God' that's fore sure!"

Gosh, I really hate it when he rushes me.

Speedsters.

So impatient.

Blurry makes a sharp turn and the big scaly dumbo crashes into the wall of the building. I swoop down to grab some of the bystanders nearby and get them to safety. Thing is, I can only carry so much and have to swoop back around. Cowered in the corner are a few kids and their mom. Between them and me? A scientist who injected himself with dinosaur DNA and is now some sort of a T-Rex Man. But that also means one thing.

"Go-go holy fire sword of God!"

I pull out the hilt of my sword, and it ignites a beautifully white angel-fire blade. That dude is threatening the innocent, and I'm not going to have that. I fly at him, and he opens up his huge jaw to try to swallow me whole.

Yea.

Right.

Like I'm that dumb? I dodge in the nick of time as he chomps down those large teeth of his and slash at his mouth with my angel-fire sword.

"RAAAAAH!!!"

"You might want to pick those fragments up. I hear the tooth fairy still gives you some dough, even for broken teeth."

 

[Byrd Man]

​

Gosh, I really hate it when he rushes me.

Speedsters.

So impatient.

Blurry makes a sharp turn and the big scaly dumbo crashes into the wall of the building. I swoop down to grab some of the bystanders nearby and get them to safety. Thing is, I can only carry so much and have to swoop back around. Cowered in the corner are a few kids and their mom. Between them and me? A scientist who injected himself with dinosaur DNA and is now some sort of a T-Rex Man. But that also means one thing.

"Go-go holy fire sword of God!"

I pull out the hilt of my sword, and it ignites a beautifully white angel-fire blade. That dude is threatening the innocent, and I'm not going to have that. I fly at him, and he opens up his huge jaw to try to swallow me whole.

Yea.

Right.

Like I'm that dumb? I dodge in the nick of time as he chomps down those large teeth of his and slash at his mouth with my angel-fire sword.

"RAAAAAH!!!"

"You might want to pick those fragments up. I hear the tooth fairy still gives you some dough, even for broken teeth."

I run up Rex's back and stop on his spine.

"See, that 'Holy Firey Sword of God' has potential. The boys in marketing said I needed a catchphrase move, but then I said 'Hey, who the heck are you guys and why are you holding a meeting in my bedroom while me and my lady make sweet, sweet love?'"

Rex notices that I'm standing on him and starts to buck. I do my best to hold on and run in place, burning his scales up with friction burn.

He bellows in pain and rage and slings me off his back. I crash land on the grass next to the capitol.

"Archangel, your turn."

 

[trustyside-kick]

Rex notices that I'm standing on him and starts to buck. I do my best to hold on and run in place, burning his scales up with friction burn.

He bellows in pain and rage and slings me off his back. I crash land on the grass next to the capitol.

"Archangel, your turn."

Manipulating the white-fire from my angel-fire blade into my hand, I create a 10 feet long fire whip. I swing it about, probably having more fun with it than I should, and finally let the dude have it. He roars and swipes at me as I fly past him giving, Blur the time he needs to come up with an exit strategy. I block and deflect his attacks with my sword, and counter with my whip but it doesn't seem to do much.

Honestly I'm having trouble playing with fire here. Afraid that if I raise the temperature too high I won't just leave him a burn and scar...I might chop off a limb. Not saying I'm just giving him a sunburn...but this is a lot harder than you'd think. Makes me wish the Human Torch was reach so I could ask him when he knows just how much heat to bring on.

"This is going no where."

Circling him, I drop down my fire whip and manipulate it as it falls. Suddenly old T-Rex man here finds himself encircled in a ring of fire that spirals 10 feet taller than his gargantuan size. He swipes at the fire, but I turn up the heat and he suffers a few burns. As he lets out a roar I can tell he is thinking about just headbutting his way out.

"Don't think so."

The flames become violent as I holster my sword and guide them in a swaying side-to-side motion. I bring the fire closer to him, causing him to tread towards the center a little, and then bring the fire out just before bringing it back in to make him feel trapped.

Man Matt...hope you figure a safe way to end this. I hate playing with fire.

 

[Byrd Man]

​

"Don't think so."

The flames become violent as I holster my sword and guide them in a swaying side-to-side motion. I bring the fire closer to him, causing him to tread towards the center a little, and then bring the fire out just before bringing it back in to make him feel trapped.

Man Matt...hope you figure a safe way to end this. I hate playing with fire.

I kick into high gear and speed around the flaming circle as fast as I can.

"Oh, I fell into a burning ring of fire. I went down, down, down and the flames went higher."

My speed doesn't kill the flames, the oxygen only feeds it and the wall of fire grow larger.

"And it burns, burns, burns. The ring of fire....the ring of fire!"

T-Rex lets out one last feeble roar as the carbon monoxide from the fire fills his lungs.

I come to a skidding stop and let the flames die down.

The dinosaur man is layng on the grass, unconscious.

"There you go, Mike. Another move you can copyright. The holy ring of fire....just hope the Johnny Cash estate won't counter-sue."

 

[trustyside-kick]

I come to a skidding stop and let the flames die down.

The dinosaur man is layng on the grass, unconscious.

"There you go, Mike. Another move you can copyright. The holy ring of fire....just hope the Johnny Cash estate won't counter-sue."

"Nah, I couldn't do that. I respect the man way too much to do that."

I make my landing, and the authorities are already on the way. Several squad cards make it to the scene pretty fast but I think they realize that they will have to call in a helicopter to fly Rex's body to the maximum security prison. I sigh, relieved that Matt was quick on his feet--pun totally intended--and was able to end the situation.

Six months since the invasion and ever since that day I've been afraid of fire; my fire. There's something different about manipulating fire. When you pick up a large boulder with the mere gesture of your body you can practically feel just how heavy it is, so you now how much of an extra 'umph' you may need to give when you hurl it let's say. With wind and water you feel each individual particle so easily it's like it's a part of you.

With fire? ...I got nothing. It's wild. Sporadic. Fire just burns.

"Well...guess that's that, huh? Just another day saved by The Blue Blur and that angel dude. Hey, uh, I hear there Nationals are playing the White Sox today. I'm sure we could get some tickets off of a scalper and, you know watch the game. I mean, that is if you're not doing anything later today that is."

 

[Byrd Man]

​

"Well...guess that's that, huh? Just another day saved by The Blue Blur and that angel dude. Hey, uh, I hear there Nationals are playing the White Sox today. I'm sure we could get some tickets off of a scalper and, you know watch the game. I mean, that is if you're not doing anything later today that is."

"I hate to seem like I'm making things up to get out of it, but I gotta head back to Chicago and help with the wedding planning. Jen's threating to take my nuts off if I don't help. Funny, I can kick a two ton dino man's ass, but a 115 pound brunette scares the **** outta me."

I rub the back of my head and look sheepishly at Mike.

"Speaking of the wedding...its in a few weeks. I'm kinda short on a few personnel. I know how much you love church, would you be interested in helping me out by maybe being a groomsman?"

 

[trustyside-kick]

"I hate to seem like I'm making things up to get out of it, but I gotta head back to Chicago and help with the wedding planning. Jen's threating to take my nuts off if I don't help. Funny, I can kick a two ton dino man's ass, but a 115 pound brunette scares the **** outta me."

I rub the back of my head and look sheepishly at Mike.

"Speaking of the wedding...its in a few weeks. I'm kinda short on a few personnel. I know how much you love church, would you be interested in helping me out by maybe being a groomsman?"

"Course man. I'd be honored. And...hey, you know...don't worry about it. Not much of a fan of either team to begin with. Just came up, you know? Eh, forget about it man. I mean, you've got your wedding to plan and all. I understand. Yea. Cool."

He simply nods at me, and in a flash he is gone. As the cops radio in for a helicopter I decide to leave the scene. The dino-man is down for the count, and I'm not exactly one to sit around and smile for the newspaper. I venture towards Lost Haven City, returning to base.

Though it's not a base so much as it is my home. After the invasion with everything that happened, the government created 'The Guardians Act' which funds the team. It's quite a deal, really. We've got our own kind of mini-medical wing, a simulation room for training, full-blown kitchen and cafeteria...real nice. And I've pretty much got it all to myself seeing as how I'm the only one using the living quarters. Just me and six other empty bedrooms.

Such fun.

Yea, I tried it out...staying at my previous apartment in Boston after the invasion but eventually it just got too overwhelming. The lack of privacy on some days just interfered with my artwork way too much. Couldn't focus and concentrate and...just reminded me more of what I lost and will never get back.

Grace and I still talk...took about a month for that to happen seeing as she's pretty much my agent for promoting my artwork so it was bound to happen eventually. But we have remained to be strictly on a professional level; which kills me. I know it kills her too because of the way she always looks at me when we meet up, which is probably the reason why she reduced the amount of meetings we have each month and have kinda went with using a sort of mail system as well which ultimately just sometimes kills my inspiration to get my work done.

She used to be my inspiration...Grace. Six months ago her baby brother died after I failed to save him and I lost it all. Six months ago she wanted me to marry her, and I never told her why I kept saying we weren't ready.

Now? I'm thinking everyday of my life of how I should've said yes not the third time...not the second...but the first time.

So I've lived in this decked out superhero base, a place anybody would think to be so grand and luxurious, and have simply realized that I've never been so alone in my life.

 

[Eddie Brock]

San Diego, California

"Order up!"

"Mahalo, Louie," Chrissy Jones says with a smile as she picks up the dishes. Louie is her coworker at the Seaside Diner. A Hawaiian native, Louie is exceptionally nice towards the waitresses, which is more than can be said for most of the people in the kitchen. "Hey, have you got a new joke for me today?"

Louie smiles broadly. Each day, he comes up with a new joke to tell Chrissy at work. Very few people ever find it funny, but Chrissy always laughs hysterically. "I got a good one today, Chrissy. Wait 'til you hear it!" Louie promises proudly.

Chrissy glides over to her table, where she places the dishes down gently. The two customers are a mother and her child. The boy is too busy doodling to notice his food. "Whatcha drawing, buddy?" Chrissy asks happily as she examines the squiggly crayon marks on his placemat.

"A spaceship," the boy answers quietly without taking his eyes off his drawing.

"A spaceship, huh?" Chrissy replies excitedly, looking at the mother and smiling. "You know, I've been in a spaceship before!"

At this, the boy perks up. He stops coloring momentarily and looks at Chrissy. "Really?" he asks interestedly. "Was it a big one?"

Chrissy shakes her head. "No, it was a little spaceship," she answers. "Just for me."

"Cool!"

Chrissy smiles before directing her attention to the mother. "Is there anything else I can get you right now?"

"No, thank you."

"Okay." Chrissy swings by the counter and picks up a pot of coffee. She makes her way to a table where a man has just sat down. As he stares at the menu, Chrissy pours him a cup of coffee. "Good morning, sir!" she announces brightly. "How are we doing today?" she asks, already knowing the answer. She can feel his negative energy radiating.

"I'm...I'm fine," the man answers, as if he's trying to convince himself. After a small sigh, he adds, "Just a little tired."

"Well, if I may," Chrissy begins positively, "Might I suggest that I get you a cup of orange juice to go with your coffee? I find that it always brightens my mornings." She smiles pleasantly at him.

"Sure," the man responds, beginning to perk up a bit more.

"Okay. Well, I'm Chrissy, and I'll be your server today. Today's special is the apple cinnamon pancakes - which are delicious - served with hash browns and eggs. I'll go get that orange juice while you look over the menu."

Yes, things had changed for Christina Jones in the six months since the invasion. But for the first time in a long time, she was starting to feel at home again.

 

[Spike_x1]

Six Months Ago

Icon's speech has just come to a close in Olympus Memorial Park, and Adam Locke seemed to be the only one within a mile of the assembled crowd in the park who didn't erupt into heavy applause. Clapping's not my thing, conceded Adam as he turned around and began threading his way around the groups of people here and there, celebrating with picnics and whatnot, away from the stage. The Guardians already know that they've got my support.

As he casually strolled through the park, Adam found it so strange to see actual grass. So much of the world had been turned to rubble; it seemed like everything in Lost Haven was just dust and grime, but here in the park was real grass. "It's the little things that get to you," he sighed.

A shadow then passed over his head--a shadow that the Survivor recognized. The wings of Archangel were pretty distinctive, after all. Michael appeared to be leaving the park now, but not coming from the direction of the stage. Looking towards where Archangel had just come from, Adam's eyes settled on a familiar face. "Heh."

Walking towards the other man who, like Locke, was also dressed in a well cut suit and tie to show his respect, the Survivor didn't even need to introduce himself to Kensei, who already seemed to sense the comradery in Adam. "So. I guess we're teammates now?"

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"It would seem so", Kensei replied as he stared out into the pond.

"You fought bravely in the battle against the invaders, Survivor", the Swordsman states as he turns to regard the hero, giving him a respectful nod.

 

[Eddie Brock]

Summer is quickly coming to an end. Summer's always a special time. In Carver, it means days spent at Carver Lake, soaking in the sun and the water. It also means bikinis. What? I'm a guy. I take note of these things. Stop judging me. Anyway, it also gives me a chance to show off the result of endless hours of "heavy lifting," if you will. I'm not sure how much, exactly, I can bench, but I've been known to lift a small car, so...yeah.

"Holy crap, Sean," Abby exclaims upon seeing me. I consider responding similarly, but - with Brooke in earshot - I decide it's probably a poor idea. That said, Abby is definitely not the same little girl we all hung out with. She...well...she took care of herself, let's say. "Where did this come from?" she asks, pointing to my body.

I shrug. "Just been hitting the gym," I answer simply. "Jim and I go together every week." I look over to Jim, who has his shirt halfway off. He turns and faces us, staring out through the neckhole of his shirt. "Right?" I wink.

Jim finishes removing his shirt before replying, "It's true. Although, I'm a little upset that Sean's been getting all the results." Jim looks down at his own stomach. I mean, he's in shape, but he's more lean than anything. "Maybe I should look into those protein supplements or something..."

Abby smirks. "Don't sweat it, Jimmy. Your hard work is paying off, too," she assures him. Jim blushes a little, but I'm pretty sure Abby didn't catch it. He and I exchange quick glances.

"Hey, Sean, can you help me with this?" Brooke asks, holding out the sunscreen bottle. I look at Abby for another second before walking over to Brooke. She smiles as she hands me the bottle. I put a little bit of the sunscreen in the palm of my hand before rubbing it on Brooke's back.

"Hey, Mary!" Abby announces excitedly. Jim and I look up instantly. Sure enough, Marilyn is walking up to the lake, surrounding by her new friends. She looks at Abby out of the corner of her eye, but she doesn't openly acknowledge her. "Wow. She has changed, huh?"

"Tried to tell you," Jim says apologetically.

Abby shrugs. "People change," she remarks to herself. "I guess I shouldn't have expected us all to stay the way we were when we were kids." She frowns a little before suddenly brightening up again. "Okay. I'm going for a swim. Who's coming with?"

"About time!"

I turn back to Brooke. She's putting the sunscreen away. I wrap my arms around her and kiss her on the neck. "What do you think? Want to take a dip and cool off?" I ask softly.

"Sure."
​

 

[TrueMastermind]

Six Months Ago:

Victor Palazzo lightly clapped following Icon's speech, glancing at the clad of costumed life-saving freaks that were gathered around the dedication ceremony in Olympus Mermorial Park. The relentless Survivor, the world-renowned Blue Blur, the sky-walking Michael Angelo, the strange Flux, and the blue-collar Icon. They made him sick in the stomach, the way they flaunted their little capes and symbols around the city, looking like a crazed professional wrestler.

Victor Palazzo looked over to Drake Jackson, a loyal underling of his who seemed to question everything, an often annoying trait. Sometimes Palazzo just want to slit his thick, British throat so he didn't have to hear that irritating accent that seemed to plauge his pale, miniscule ears.

As the ceremony came to a closure and the formation of the Guardians was formally anounced, Victor was the only who did not start applauding the world's new international policemen. Vicor casually strolled to his jet black limosuine accompanied by a group of shady looky bodyguards and the only thought he had in his head was, its time to takeover.

 

[Hound55]

Grenville Airport

01:45 TST
A second call to Tony Morris that night saw a flight arranged from relatively close Grenville Airport, necessary because Cooktown had late night bans on overnight flights due to noise pollution. A car to pick him up 15 minutes after he'd arrive home was also arranged, as well as a sizeable cash injection to his Visa account.

Isaac was finding it difficult to discern just how much he cared for Renee and how covenient it was for him to be with her; both as an alternative to the the loneliness and as an alibi for his 'other' life.

But that wasn't what played at his mind most, as he boarded the plane, for the next ten minutes he ran through his mind wondering which of the 7 others called his pager number and what the issue was, he tried to logically figure it out in his head. "The kid, said his name was the Youngster, seemed to be the closest to him, but that didn't necessarily mean much. He wasn't even sure if he had his own phone..." Realising that it was pointless to speculate who exactly contacted him and that he'd find out soon enough anyway he turned his mind to other things.

His mind drifted back to how he originally joined the Guardians; the easily researched phone number, the short drive to the applicable address, the call from just outside that address, the somewhat naive hint of surprise in the Archangel's voice that he was outside calling from his car to avoid drawing even more attention to his previously secret home (I guess he hadn't thought through the consequences of introducing yourself by name at an Internationally televised memorial event... well, he had now), the conversation of why he wanted in and what he could offer (as well as how he wanted as close to ZERO publicity as possible in an attempt to preserve his work back home), followed finally by the offer to give the Archangel a new home (one with a silent phone number and deed in an alternate name) to prevent other... undesirables from turning up on his doorstep as well, the Archangel saying it wasn't necessary - but Isaac left the offer out there, perhaps with time he might realise his mistake...

It would be a 17 hour flight across the Pacific (18 if he were going the other way) with stops in Los Angeles and New York, but at late notice Tony Morris had done very well. To charter their own jet it would have only got him there an hour earlier, best case scenario two, and there was no way he could justify that kind of expense to Tony. All he could do is hope those 2 hours wouldn't make the difference, impossible to know with no way of contacting the others... or even knowing which one he should be contacting.

Isaac hit the button on the arm of the chair and looked at the little map with the plane symbol. He tried to calculate the flight for optimal sleep. He should get about 10 hours... he wished he could mark the monitor so that when the plane got to a certain point it would alert him so that he knew it was time to sleep, but he knew that was impossible. The map was just another channel broadcast to every monitor like the others. He flicked it onto the news in hope that there might be something mentioned that might relate to why he got the call. No such luck, the televisions went off as the flight attendants assembled to give their "In-case-there's-an-emergency-which-you-somehow-manage-to-live-through-these-are-the-exit-points-you-will-be-trampling-over-each-other-for-trying-to-get-the-hell-out-of-here-and-the-decorum-we-expect-you-to-have-but-wouldn't-have-a-hope-in-hell-of-enforcing..." spiel.

Official speak, the illusion of a plan being in place to protect for all possible contingencies... He knew why it was there. "Because its worse than what could potentially happen without it through fear." It still felt dishonest to him though... Probably no more dishonest than breaking the law to enforce it though...

After the speech he stopped a flight attendant and politely asked if he could be told when they'd been in the air 8 hours so that he could go to sleep then, she politely agreed giving him a big air hostess smile and telling him that she'd get back to him after they'd taken off. She walked past the two rows of First Class seats in front of him before sitting down on the little air hostess seat with her legs together, shooting him another big smile.

Isaac, brought his hand up rubbing his own face and surveying the scene, before thinking of Renee and telling himself... bah! Its cos you're in first class you ungroomed mug. Looking back at the hostess who still had the smile.

Gotta be the First Class.

This was the kind of 17 hour flight that could get a guy in trouble...

 

[TrueMastermind]

A Week Ago:

" Mr. Palazzo! What a pleasure to see you! How may I help you--

An enormous black man stampedes through the southern wall of the bank, taking the civilians and workers inside by suprise while Victor Palazzo swiftly snuck out the gaping hole made by his partner in crime, Julius Stone. Men dressed in a strange black attire started to flood into the bank, holding the frightened citizens captive while Stone prepared to crash through the vault, opening the way for Palazzo's cronies to collect the money.

" Time to smash this baby in!!!" Stone exclaimed before blasting into the vault door, revealing a numerous amount of green paper littered on the ground.

Suddenly, the sound of clapping comes from the opening left from Stone, where a man in a plain red mask and a red-and-black blazer stood with a confident pose. " Well done, boys. This is quite a job well done. Now haul the money into the trucks quickly before the cops stall us. " The mysterious man walked into the dark New York night, leaving behind confused faces.

" You heard him! Hurry, you fools!" Stone hollered out commands at the men in black and they swiftly loaded the money into the numerous obsidian trucks parked behind the bank, but not before the police arrived with a mission of justice. But the cunning Palazzo, who had found his way into the back of one of the trucks, started to pour a trail of gasoline as they attempted to shake the cops. When the moment was right, he tossed a lit match onto the nearly invisible gasoline and watch fireworks fly. He just laughed as they drove into the pitch black night, cop cars aflame and people scared for their lives.

Now:

Victor Palazzo stood in his office, staring out the enormous window that nearly covered the whole southern wall. Beyond the window stood the hazy Lost Haven skyline, where flamboyant cape-bearers wandered around the city, posioning the city with their corny costumes and stupid symbols. Maybe he just had a grudge but would you rather have your trust in a costumed freak or a superpowered police man who would not hide his identity to the public? Victor didn't know why he even cared at all, he would destroy them all.

"You called for me, Vic?" The Black Goliath, Julius Stone, stepped into the room, muscles nearly bursting out of his skin.

"Yes, friend. I plan to wreak havoc on the streets of Lost Haven, just to send a message in the mind's of the citizens. They're gonna recieve a little taste of their future herald. By the way, have you read the New York Times lately?" Stone shook his head. " Our little adventure from a week ago made front page and they had a picture of me, only under a new alias. Its sort of a compliment in my head, its a pretty nice name. You know, The Grim."

 

[Spike_x1]

"It would seem so", Kensei replied as he stared out into the pond.

"You fought bravely in the battle against the invaders, Survivor", the Swordsman states as he turns to regard the hero, giving him a respectful nod.

"Thanks. You too." Adam tried not to think of the feeling of Keelan's blood on him, sticky and poisonous to his soul. "I saw you with that sword of yours. Nice moves."

...the blood all over him as he used his own arm to impale the villain, stabbing him in the back...

...Keelan's last breath as the Survivor could feel the alien's body dying...

...it was worth it to save the Earth...to save humanity...

...it was worth it...

"So, uhh..." It was so hard to keep his mind from dwelling on certain things. "You're not one for public appearances either, huh?"

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"There was a time when I would have been the first one on that stage", Kensei replies with a chuckle and a faraway look in his eye.
"Basking in the spotlight and reveling in the glory of victory."

"But now...I much rather prefer to stay away from the public eye. Accolades and renown mean little to me now."