The Create-A-Hero RPG Season II IC Thread

Status
Not open for further replies.
I nearly vomit in my mouth. It hits me like a ton of bricks. 2009. I thought it was just a few months that I was stuck here, maybe a year, but... my God... 2009.

The last thing I remember was May 2007. I've been here, being tested on, tortured, used, for two and a half years.

I fall to my knees, feeling myself change back to my human form as my stomach churns. What does everyone think happened to me? Are they still looking? Do they think the wolves got me? Is Jill still waiting? Is Mom still alive?

"Oh God, two and a half years..."

"Holy crap!"

The furry monster falls to his knees and changes to...a human. He's naked, save for a bloody lab coat wrapped around him.

"Hey, buddy," I say as I shake his shoulder.

"Are you alright. We need to get out here ASAP. I'll carry you if I need to."
 
"No... no, I'm not alright. I need... I need to see my family." I stand up, closing the lab coat to hide my nakedness. "Let's get out of here. Fast."

"You don't have to tell me twice."

I could take us both out of here in the blink of an eye, but I let him walk on his own power. Sometimes, that's the best thing you can do for a guy who's been held against his will for so long.

The two of us go down the corridors.

"We still making a stop at the record room?"
 
"Yeah." I change back to my beast form as we walk, "These guys did stuff to me, and I want to know exactly what. My name's Ben, by the way."

"I've been away for over two years, since mid '07, what happened since then? Are there a lot of super people like you running around out there?"

"Yeah...they've been springing up from left to right....pretty cool how you did that whole changing process without really warning someone. But other than that, life goes on as it always has. We had an alien invasion about six months back, chunks of the moon blew up and destroyed a few big cities. Ahh, here we are."

We come to a stop in front of the record room.

"What exactly are we looking for?"
 
"Sorry about changing without warning, I don't give it much thought it's so natural. So aliens blew up the moon? Sounds like the world's turned into a friggin' comic book out there."

"Heh. Yeah, you should meet this guy named Survivor. Guy is a walking crash test dummy."

I zip over to the file cabinet and start going through files at superspeeds.

"Bingo. Got a file on one Blackfoot, Ben. Part of something called Project: Wereweasel."

 
I take the file from him and start skimming through it.

"Hmm... looks like they were trying to make me into some sort of psychic assassin. That's why I can control animals, so any assassinations I would've made would've looked like accidental maulings. Guess they should've done the brainwashing first, huh?

Makes sense, I've always had a connection with other non-humans, it seems like they just ramped this up, along with my physical abilities.

Good Lord, they've turned me into a goddamn super-weasel."

"Super-Weasel," I say as I roll my eyes. "And people say Blue Blur is a stupid nickname."

Before Super-Weasel can get off another quip, two heavily armed men walk through the door.

"Put your hands behind your head and get down on the ground now!"
 
The two guards point their guns at me and the "Blue Blur" I guess, probably thinking that they've got us cornered, but they don't smell what I smell.

"Okay, no need to go shooting anyone." I say, speaking slowly, to deliberately display my fangs, and putting my hands behind my head.

Before they could do anything further, the three macaques, their muzzles already red with blood, leapt up and clambered up the two guards back, biting and scratching. It was all the distraction I needed.

Roaring, I pounce on them, grabbing them by the faces and slamming the backs of their heads against the ground as we land.

I just watch as he takes them both out with his savage, but effective tactics.

"Wow. That's some Super-Weasel ass kicking power right there!"

I kick step on the two guards as I walk across the room.

"Come on, I hear sirens off in the distance. Cops are probably bringing a chopper too."
 
I change back to human form and hold the file under my arm, smoothing out my clothes as I stand.

"Let's go then. I want to get out of here."

"And don't call me Super-Weasel again."

"There you go, not telling me you're going to change."

I scope out his human form for the first time.

"You know, you look like that guy Egon from Ghostbusters. Who you gonna call? Super-...uhh, animal psychic!"

He rolls his eyes and leaves the room. We get out of the facility without incident. The staff, after hearing that he was out and I was there, turn tail and ran.

I can hear the police chopper now. It's close.

"I don't know if you want help or not. I know you said you wanted to see your family. If that's the case, you need to get out of here ASAP. If the cops find you, they'll want to study you. If anyone asks, I'll just say I found everyone but you. You got the file, that's probably the only proof anyone has you were here."
 
I ignore his comment on my looks, but his next statement has a good point.

"Yeah, good idea, I guess. How the hell am I going to get back to New York though?"

"Hold on to your whiskers!"

Three seconds later, I set him down on a busy New York street.

"I wasn't sure what borough you wanted, so I just settled on Manhattan. Is that okay, or do you want somewhere else like Brooklyn, Bronx, or Queens?"
 
This time I actually do vomit. The shock of moving that fast I guess.

"This... ugh.. this is fine." I say between gasps of breath, "I can take the subway from here..."

"Okay, then."

It's funny. Here we are, a man dressed in blue spandex and a another man wearing a security outfit that appeared out of nowhere in the middle of the busy New York sidewalk.

Nobody looks at us or even finds us unusual.

New Yorkers, gotta love 'em.

"Good luck with whatever you're going to do. If you ever need any help, look me up in Chicago. I'm listed in the phone book under Blue Blur...seriously, I paid good money to have them do that."
 
Jody's Diner

"Kid, we're short-handed! Get that bacon off of there and serve those customers!"

Joe moved to the stove and reached for the frying pan...

"Whoa, kid!!! You want to give yourself a God-damned 3rd degree burn?!"

Joe turned slowly and looked blankly at the chef.

"Look! Take a dish-towel, see. Use that to grab the handle. Now your hand's unharmed and you're still free to spend the rest of your night whackin' it or whatever the hell you do alone in your room of a night with the door shut..."

"Mike, leave the kid alone! Take a couple seconds if you need, but we kind of need someone to run these plates out."

Joe took the plates and ran them out to a booth. Forcing an unnatural odd-looking smile at the patrons. Strangely these expressions didn't bother customers as much as you would figure. Out in the sticks, as the diner was, the people were more concerned with the effort of being good natured than the actual outward appearance of the servicepeople themselves. Jody was an embodiment of that, with her plain looks yet good natured protection of him from Mike's treatment.

Jody knew this wasn't going to last. The new boy had good intentions but was clearly a slow one... Mike was growing more and more impatient with him and she couldn't afford to hire another worker to work in the diner, nor was it fair to expect Mike to make do under the current hectic conditions.

There was only one fair thing for everyone. She would have to try and help him move on towards New York and failing that, the closest major city Lost Haven, as was his desire. He'd spoken of this on numerous occasion.

"So... Where ya headed, stranger? Been out walkin' the trail?" Jody asked a middle aged man who had clearly been hiking the trail.

Rapport. Words could be as good as cab fare for one as good-natured as Jody.

45 minutes later the man was driving his station wagon down the highway towards Lost Haven with Joe in the passnger seat and his scant belongings in the back seat.

"Yeah, so I've been section-hiking the trail every month for the past 4 years. I load up the car with gear and drive out to the last section I was at... within reason of course, this trail goes all the way down south to Georgia... I've been walking up and down this trail for years."

A lengthy pause filled the front seats with the sound of the engine awkwardly present.

"So... Whereabouts do you hail from? Jody said you weren't from around here. That you'd been up walking the trail yourself. How long have you been walking it, this thing goes all the way up north through Maine, I mean surely you haven't been walking it that far. You've got pretty much nothing in the back."

Another pause.

"OK... she said you're a silent one. Whereabouts are you headed? You got family out in the Haven..?"

Another pause.

"Alright... well this is pretty awkward. I've gotta level with you kid. This silence is a hell of a lot more difficult to take when there's two in the car and I'm not one for AM radio... So if you aren't goin to say anything that's fine. You don't like to talk then that's your perogative... but I'm going to talk becuse these silences are killing me... That fine with you?"

Joe turned and looked at the driver, showing another unnatural smile.

"Good. Well... I've a wife and a couple kids, we live out in the suburbs. Place called West Beach. The wife works as a doctor and I work as a bank manager, dealing mainly with mortgage applications... y'know helping people buy homes..."

Joe stiffened and his neck cricked noticably at this most recent piece of information. Turning to the driver the first natural smile crossed his face since he'd begun working at the diner as he realised that God had once again shown him his righteous path...
"Hey, was that a smile..? See, talk will make this ride quick and painless." As the driver returned a grin.
 
Kensei stood silently by as the rhythmic beeping of the machines echoed through the cold hospital room. It had been two days since the attack on his home, and Kensei had made sure to rush Hideyoshi to the nearest hospital as quickly as possible.
Two surgeries later and here he now rested, finally stable.

As his friend had slept in the hospital bed, the Celestial Samurai stood by his side, ever vigilantly, since he had brought him in. But now he had to leave. He had to go after Leevoth and rescue Ami before it was too late.
But the road will be difficult. Izanagi's Chosen could definitely use some help...

<"Penny for your thoughts?">

Kensei turned to see a beautiful nurse with bright blond hair stride into the room carrying a clip board.

<"I am sorry, ma'am">, Kensei stated with respect, <"but I'd prefer to be alone right now, if you'd please.">

The nurse smiled and giggled as she shook her head at the warrior.

<"Oh, Kensei...you're always too gloomy.">

<"You need to learn to let your inner light shine through">
, she winked at him, and, as she did so, a bright fire flashed in her eyes.

<"Amaterasu">, Kensei stated and bowed in respect.
<"Forgive my rudeness, please.">

<"It is alright, Kensei">, the sun goddess in human form replied.
<"This is a trying time for you, so I thought you could use some cheering up.">

<"I'm afraid I don't feel in a particularly cheerful mood, my lady. My friend, Hideyoshi, nearly died because of me, and still may not survive. And Ami...">
Kensei inhaled deeply and let out a long sigh of frustration.

<"Do not worry, my champion">, Amaterasu purred as she walked up to the Swordsman and ran her hand across Kensei's cheek.
<"No matter how dark it gets, the dawn will always come. You will find Leevoth and rescue the Kenshin girl. Of that, have no doubt.">

<"Thank you, my lady, but I fear this is a fight that may prove more than I can handle. I fear I may fail and condemn Ami to a terrible fate...">

<"Always gloomy! You need to relax, samurai. Let the cold feeling in your soul melt away">, the goddess bade as she gently rubbed Kensei's shoulders. And, as she did so, Kensei felt his troubles seem to dissipate, like the frost melting away in warmth of the morning sun.

<"The gods will always be with you, of that you have no doubt. And there are allies that you can call upon to aid you, no?">

<"There are other heroes, yes. But most don't have the stomach or knowledge for this kind of mission, against this kind of power.">

<"I believe you underestimate them, Kensei. But, be that as it may...there are other allies you can call for help...">

Amaterasu let her words trail off, and, as she did, Kensei's eyes widened as it finally dawned on him.

<"By the gods...I am a fool.">

<"Do not worry, Kensei">, the goddess giggled as she slowly backed away from the Swordsman.
<"Even divine champions have lapses from time to time.">

<"It will take some time to find them">, Kensei stated.
<"But they would indeed be the perfect people to help me stop this evil and save Ami.">

<"Do not worry, Kensei. Inari is already traveling to them as we speak. They will meet you at the Futarasan Shrine in Nikk&#333; in two days.">

<"Thank you, my lady">, Kensei said with a low bow.

<"It is nothing, my champion">, Amaterasu smiled warmly.
<"Just promise me you will allow yourself to be happy from time to time, and you may consider us even.">

This time it was Kensei's turn to let out a slight chuckle.
<"I think I can manage that.">

<"Good luck, Musashi">, the goddess stated as she slowly faded away.
<"We will be watching over you...always...">

As the sun goddess disappeared from the mortal plane, Kensei was once again left alone to the beeping of the machines.
Turning to Hideyoshi, the Demon's Bane placed his hand on his friend's shoulder.

<"I don't know if you can hear me, Hideyoshi...but thank you. Thank you for always being there for me, whether I wished it or not. Thank you for aiding me in my divine mission. And, most importantly, thank you for being my friend. One of the few I have in this world.">

<"Rest now, and get well">, the Swordsman said as he took a step back.
<"I will find Ami and save her from her tormentors. And, rest assuredly, I will avenge this injustice. Of that you must have no doubt.">

Kensei started heading towards the door, but stopped at the room's entrance.

<"Goodbye, old friend.">

The Celestial Samurai left, leaving Hideyoshi alone to rest to the rhythmic beeping of the machines...


<> = translated from Japanese
 
I laugh and shake my head, I bet he did.

"Will do. Thanks, now I've got to get my life back together. Have fun in the Windy City."

What a day I'm having. Friggin' superheroes. I bet Jill will be surprised to see me.

"I'm Matt by the way," I state as I hold my hand out.

We shake hands quickly. With a little wink, I'm gone from New York and racing down the road towards Chicago.
 
"Oh, sorry."

"Yeah, no problem," the man I bumped into says. He goes back to yelling on his cell about stocks, or futures, or some other money thing. I ignore him, more concerned about the wallet I just lifted from his pocket.

Turning the corner, I start digging through it. The id is useless, he doesn't look a thing like me. Credit cards are worthless too. Guy like this would certainly have some kind of fraud protection on his cards. He'll notice his wallet's gone in a few minutes, and have called into the credit card companies within the hour. If I used them, I'd be lucky to get five blocks before the cops rolled up.

So I just go for the good stuff. Cold, hard cash. Three, four, four thirty, four-thirty-one. Not bad. Not bad at all. I toss the wallet in a trash bin, and stick the money in a pocket. More than enough to get out of Reno. Yeah, I'm actually in Reno. I guess the Fat Man thought the desert would be a good place to hide a secret base. Well, he was right. It took me over a day of walking before someone drove by and I could catch a lift. And almost half that day was spent trying to avoid the whoevers that attacked the base. So I'm tired, and thirsty, and hungry, and want to get the hell out of this town before they figure out I'm not dead and where I am.

But, first order of business, some new clothes. These things I stole out of the locker room back on the base are way too tight for comfort. And I refuse to wear plaid. Ever. So, a quick stop in the local thrift store, and I find some things that are more...me.

2ed9o3d.jpg

Yeah, that's more like it.


Second order of business is the food. But I can't stick around here too long. So I decide to buy a backpack at the thrift shop and start walking towards the store down the street. I pass by a newspaper stall, and double back. I bend down and stare at the date.

...and stare.

...and stare.

Fourteen months...Fourteen months...I stand up and just keep repeating it over in over in my head. I figured six, maybe eight or nine on the outside. But fourteen?!

"Happy birthday to me..."
I mutter to myself, five months late.

I numbly walk into the store and load up my backpack with food and water. I vaguely remember overpaying at the register, but not caring. I'm not hungry or thirsty anymore. I'm not even angry. I just...feel nothing. I catch a cab and head down to the bus stop.

"What can I do you for?" the old guy behind the screen says.

"How far will three hundred get me?"

"East or west, son?"

"East."

"Hmm...how about Chicago?"

"Yeah, that's fine." I hand him my cash, and he spends a minute or two doing various things, the ticket prints out, and I'm ready to go. "Number 53. She'll be leaving in twenty-three minutes."

"53 in twenty-three, got it."

I pickup my stuff and start walking towards the buses. Chicago. Well, that's a good first step towards Lost Haven...
 
cooltext414946279.jpg




Step one. Eliminate the scum. Snow throat sniffing cutters. The neighborhood I reside in has a high crime rate. Possibly highest in Lost Haven. But do I see meta-humans protecting the innocent here? No. Too busy protecting the Illuminati-controlled banks from criminals stupid enough to rob it in broad daylight in a city full of flying super mutants. Stupid.

Residents of this neighborhood are poor. Ethnically comprised of mostly blacks and Vietnamese. No surprise the fascist cross burning swine (police and metas) avoid the area. . Gangs and drug lords are the main authorities here. Everything from small time crack peddlers to Colombian cocaine cartels roam these streets. And no one does anything about it.

Crack cocaine is mass produced and distributed by the government. It was distributed to neighborhoods such as this one to get the poor and the un-white addicted, effectively keeping them poor, ensuring their second-class citizen status. It was their response to the Civil Rights movements. Profits from the drugs were then used by the Gipper to back Nicaraguan Contra Armies. The Gipper. Surprisingly not a fish. Most fascist and cross-burningest of the entire lot of Illuminati drones. But that’s just my opinion.

Kick and up by three.

The worst part is the people don’t know it. Can’t won’t don’t. The worst part is the people don’t know it. They need to know. They need to be given fire. They first need to be liberated from the scum. The scum—the criminals—they generate fear. Fear generate a needs for security. The Illuminati, in the guise of police and government and caped freaks provides says I'll provide that security. No problem. You just need to bow before me. And they do. If there is no scum there is no fear. And if there is no fear there will be no insecurity. People will see what is being done. They will rebel.

I cross “XBONEZ JONEZ” and “JULIO NIEVEZ” off the list. Two criminals. One gang leader. One drug lord. Both drug peddlers. Both murderes. Both doornails (dead as). Next is “BANK MAN”. Rival of Xbonez. Been watching him. His gang. Know their territory. Know their members. Soon to be doornails (dead as).


* * *

“Man, Ty just capped some more punk ass Bonez!”

“They ain’t nothin without Jonez. Just makes this ****easier.”

“—You hear that?!”

“Man, calm the **** down! Put the gun away, man!”

“I ****in’ heard something over there.”

“Chill--aw, look, see? It was just a cat.”

Mmmraaaow

“Shoo! Get the **** outta here! I hate ca—“

Thud.

“Jay?! What the--!“

Thud.

Two more doornails. Mubbles did his part. Excellent work, comrade. The sniper rifle I confiscated from drug lord Nievez did its part as well. I set the gun down and pick up my assault rifle. With the guards gone, I can rush the compound. But I won’t. I fire some shots around the main entrance. Gang members toting their weapons come rushing out. Happy birthday.

BOOM-BOOM-BOOM.

Three explosions go off. The gang members are blown to bits, the compound engulfed in flames. Spent the last few weeks watching them closely. Their compound was a run-down club. Spent days where fewest members were present posing as a homeless man. With the crippling of their rival gang, less of them are at their base and more are out on the streets claiming enemy territory. In between getting harassed and beaten by members, I hid plastique pipe bombs around compound. Remotely detonated, of course.

Now I strike. I pick off the survivors trying to rush out of the main exit. I’d imagine most of them were on fire or in pieces or both. Short, precise bursts. Pop goes a head, a knee, a shoulder. Little resistance. They’re all terrified. And on fire. I catch Bank Man making a run for it. Get him in the back. Twice. Doornail. All done. Granted, some probably escaped through the emergency exit. But no worries. Sufficient damage was done for the night.

I cross “BANK MAN” off the list. Step one 33% complete.
 
Nikk&#333;, Two Days Later...

The Celestial Samurai stood by the Sacred Bridge of the Futarasan Shrine. This was a sacred place of Izanagi and the Shinto deities, and, as such, Kensei took great care to be as respectful to place as possible.

He had arrived in the morning and waited all day for his allies to arrive. Eventually it grew dark, and now Kensei waited under the light of a hooded lantern as the moon and starlight were concealed by clouds.

Kensei sighed, and was beginning to doze off when he suddenly senses somebody approaching.

"So, I read in the paper about a samurai fighting alongside some other heroes in America back during the invasion."

Kensei watched as a tall man with long blond hair strode up in casual dress.

TheCrew-Achilles2.jpg

"Even said he was seen riding a flying white horse. So...how is my Pegasus doing?"


"Achilles", Kensei smiled as he extended his hand.
"It has been too long."

"Far too long, my friend", Achilles shook the samurai's hand.
"I hear that you can use a hand?"

"Yes, the situation is a dire one, indeed. But I will wait until the others arrive before explaining it."

"Others", Achilles arched an eyebrow.
"Who else did Inari go to?"

"I know of at least one more."

Kensei and Achilles looked to the other side of the bridge. There, under the lantern's light stood a dark-haired man in a black suit.

"Me."

TheCrew-KingArthur2.jpg

"Musashi...Achilles", the man nodded as he walked across the bridge towards the pair.

"Arthur", Kensei bowed respectfully.
"It is a pleasure to see you once again."

"It's an honor to fight with you again, Musashi", King Arthur returned the bow.
"And Achilles...I had heard you were in Crete last week."

"Ah, yes", Achilles smirked as he recalled the adventure.
"It seemed some fool had woke the Minotaur. Beast had to be put down."

"So, what are we up against on this one, Kensei?"

"I apologize, Arthur, but we are still waiting on one more warrior to arrive. Then I will explain everything."


"Don't let me be your excuse, you slant-eyed bastard."

TheCrew-Beowulf1.jpg
"Beowulf", Kensei turned around as the man approached the trio.
"You old Danish *****ucker. I had thought you would have been eaten by a dragon by now."

"No such luck"
, Beowulf smiled and slapped Kensei hard on the shoulder as he walked up and wrapped the Swordsman in a hug.

"Arthur, come here you limey ****", Beowulf laughed as he pulled Arthur in for an embrace.

"Achilles, you greasy, Greek, goat-****er, I haven't seen you since the Himalaya incident."

"Yes, and I was enjoying up until now", Achilles rolled his eyes.

Beowulf laughed heartily as he slapped Achilles hard in his arm.
"So, now that the gang's all here...what's the situation, Musashi?"
 
MADLOVE


The profits from the Unity program did wonders. Not only did we gain enough money to renovate the church but we have been graced with fourteen more members. This is truly my favorite form. In no other universe have I had such…fun. Power, perhaps, but nowhere near this much fun. The humans are absolutely fascinating. Especially the meta-humans.

I have learned more about them—apparently the angel and shadow creatures that attacked me were metas. They resemble humans but each one wields an array of unique powers. And the fools, rather than use their abilities to gain power use these abilities to stop robberies and battle monsters and what not. They really are quite amusing when they’re not meddling in your affairs.

“Babies, I have a new task for you.”

My veterans immediately stand at attention.

“A Recruitment Drive.”

“Another one, Reverend?”

“Yes. Another one. Although I ask that you target a different kind of citizen.”

“Reverend?”

“First, I ask that you have our members engage in some public works. Organize soup kitchens for the needy, volunteer work, anything to let the good people of Lost Haven know that the New Church of Madlove cares. Once the Church’s reputation has been built up, I ask that you begin the Recruitment Drive—but don’t simply target the wayward souls of Lost Haven. Target the wealthy. The famous. Businessmen, politicians, celebrities. Don’t ask them to join right away—get to know them. And I mean really get to know them. Their likes, dislikes…fears. Watch them. Follow them. Once you feel you know them enough, decide—can they be turned? If so, tell them of our lovely community and ask that they join. If not, at least try to illicit a donation or some sort of sponsorship.”

“Yes, Reverend,” they said in unison.

“Remember, tell me everything you learn about them. Everything.”
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users who are viewing this thread

Staff online

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
202,265
Messages
22,075,956
Members
45,876
Latest member
Pducklila
Back
Top
monitoring_string = "afb8e5d7348ab9e99f73cba908f10802"