The Create-A-Hero RPG Season II IC Thread

[NiteMare Shape]

Icon doesn't wait for the members of the Lost Haven Police Special Crimes Squad to arrive on the scene to take Richter in. Instead, he takes to the skies and heads straight for what was once Centennial Square.

Flying at top speed, it only takes him seconds to arrive at the once thriving neighbor hood. Once this area had been a busy neighborhood, filled with apartment buildings and local businesses. Now it lays in ruins, first devestated by a massive bomb that Icon himself was unable to stop in time, then futher decimated during the alien invasion.

Icon stops over Centennial Square, looking for any sign of Riot and Jenny. He focuses, utilizing his super hearing to try and get a clue as to their whereabouts, however there is too much noise in the area and he is unable to distinguish the background noise from any signs of his sister and his arch enemy.

Growing desperate, Icon closes his eyes and concentrates, using his radar sense he scans the area. It takes several seconds, but he gets a hit. About three blocks from his current position he picks up two people barricaded inside one of the destroyed hotels. Immediately, Icon makes his way toward his target.

Icon crashes through the side of the building, sending a rush of plaster and stone cascading into the building with him. When the dust settles, he finds himself inside the old hotel's grand ballroom...and he is not alone. He finds himself staring into the eyes of one of his oldest enemies, Riot. Standing just to Riot's left is Icon's little sister, Jenny.

"It's ok Jenny, I'm taking you out of here."

"I don't think so, Scotty."

"What is it that you want Riot? This is low, even for you."

"You've ruined my life. Because of you, I lost everything. So I'm going to return the favor. I'm going to destroy you, Icon. That is why I came back....revenge, nothing more, nothing less."

Icon wastes little time. He leaves his feet, flying toward Riot. However, Riot steps aside, grabbing Jenny by the hair until he can clutch her neck, using her as a human shield.

"Get back or I'll snap her neck!"

"Let her go Riot. She's got nothing to do with this."

Riot gives a sadistic smile as he produces a sharp blade, threatening to cut Jenny's throat.

"No, she has everything to do with this. You took everything from me..I'm just returning the favor."

With that Riot takes the blade and jabs it into the side of Jenny's ribcage, then pushes her to the ground, using Icon's distraction to escape.

"JENNY!"

Icon rushes to where his sister lay. Cradling her in his arms, he keeps telling her that it will be alright. He scoops her up in his arms, immediately taking off in the direction of the nearest hospital. However, as fast as he is, he's not fast enough. She is gone before he arrives at the hospital.

 

[NiteMare Shape]

“Listen,” the lead swine said, his hands out, palms facing me, in a calming gesture.

“I don’t know who you are or what you want but I assure you I’ll get you whatever you need if you just let these people go. I’ll even stay behind if you want, just let everyone—“

I fire a shot into the ceiling. He shuts up.

[BLACKOUT]“Down.”[/BLACKOUT]

He reluctantly gets down on his knees, his glare fixed on me. Epsilon and Zeta stand guard at the doorway. I watch the mayor closely. I’m not sure of what the Illuminati higher-ups are capable of. No doubt a silent alarm has been hit and more authorities are on their way. Perhaps even the Guardians. But we’re prepared. I’m prepared.

[BLACKOUT]“I want some answers.”[/BLACKOUT]

“To what? You haven’t asked anything. You haven’t told us anything, I have no idea who you are!”

[BLACKOUT]“The Illuminati. I want everything you know…” [/BLACKOUT]

I stop and look around the room and the city council members taking shelter in here, trembling and lying on the floor.

[BLACKOUT]“…All of you…everything about this region’s chapter. Who’s on top, how you got the metas on your side—everything!”[/BLACKOUT]

“I don’t know what any of that means. Please, just explain to me what it is—“

[BLACKOUT]“—Talk or one of these swine gets it.”[/BLACKOUT]

He sighed and shook his head.

“I can’t talk if I don’t know—“

[BLACKOUT]“One.”[/BLACKOUT]

“There’s no need for this. Please, just listen to me—”

[BLACKOUT]“Two.”[/BLACKOUT]

“Are you insane?! Just explain to me what it is you want! I can’t help you if I don’t know—”

[BLACKOUT]“Three.”[/BLACKOUT]

I fire a shot into one of the councilmen. He screams, then the rest scream. There’s sobbing and shouting all around.

“God dammit! What are you doing?! What do you want?! Is it me?! If you want me just leave these people alone, please!” he shouts.

[BLACKOUT]“I am NOT STUPID, YOU FASCIST BASTARD!”[/BLACKOUT] I scream as I give him a swift kick to the face.

[BLACKOUT]“I know what you are a part of. I know what you are doing to this city—this nation—this world! We are tired of sitting idly as you’re organization and its agents make slaves of us all! The New World Order is doomed to fall, just accept it! You’ve failed. Now, tell me what I want to know or I assure you that we will all pay. Everyone one in this room will pay.”[/BLACKOUT]

“Listen to me. Listen. To. Me. I don’t know what the Illuminati is. I truly don’t. I don’t know what the New World Order is. I can get you some help. I can—”

I finish off the councilman I shot before. I then march up to the rest of them and brandish my gun at them.

[BLACKOUT]“You’re leader won’t talk. Let’s hope you’re not as stubborn. Tell me everything you know about the Illuminati.”[/BLACKOUT]

“Wh-what do you want to know?” one of them whimpers. The other look at him with surprise.

[BLACKOUT]“How did you get the Guardians on your side? How did you take control of the meta-humans?”[/BLACKOUT]

“If I tell you…will you let us go?”

“Robert, don’t do it, he’s insane!”

[BLACKOUT]“We’ll see.”[/BLACKOUT]

“Well, they saved us during the invasion, and we—”

I shove my pistol in his face.

[BLACKOUT]“Do NOT feed me that, blood-rice smog liar bRaIn!!!! They orchestrated the invasion didn’t they?! All of you orchestrated the invasion to make them look like heroes and grant them absolute power. Didn’t you? DIDN’T YOU?!!!”[/BLACKOUT]

“Yes!!!” he screams hysterically, tears streaming down his face. I grab hold of his throat and tighten my grip.

[BLACKOUT]“How did you find about Prometheus?! The Angel of Death attacked us nights ago, how did it know?! HoW dID yOu kNoW BRAiN?!?!!”[/BLACKOUT]

“We…uh…we had the place...bugged?”

“Robert, stop, you’re making him angrier! He won’t let you go!!!”

[BLACKOUT]“ACK!!! RUNNING DRIBBLE brain SCARLET CRY!!!! ****! Power is greater than I had thought. Need IMMEDIAT action. AfFirmAtivE?! Immediate action, IMMEDIATE!”[/BLACKOUT]

Zeta looks at Epsilon, then me, then back at Epsilon.

[BLACKOUT]“Holy ****…holy **** this guy is ****ing insane…nothing he said was true…he was just bat-**** crazy this whole ****ing time?! Oh God, what the hell are we doing?!”[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]“YOU! You were wearing a wire weren’t you?!!”[/BLACKOUT] I snarl at the traitor. I quickly point my pistol at him. He raises his shotgun at me in retaliation. I unload four shots into him before he fires. He hits the ground, his gun goes off, and a shower of plaster and dust comes toppling onto him from the ceiling. I point my gun at Epsilon next—was he a traitor too? Were they all traitors? This whole time, was I under the watch of the Illuminati?

Epsilon lowers his head and raises his hands submissively. I suppose not.

[BLACKOUT]“BrAiN PiG BaStARD !!!” [/BLACKOUT]I scream as I shoot at the squealing councilman’s head. Grey matter splatters all over the wall behind him and the adjacent councilmen.

“ROBERT!”

I grab the walkie talkie at my belt.

[BLACKOUT]“West wing secure?”[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]“Roger.”[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]“East wing secure?”[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]“Roger.”[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]“Kill everyone inside. Everyone. No more hostages. Out of business sale.”[/BLACKOUT]

No one can be trusted. No one can be spared. They’ve been POiSoned. Poisoned.

Gunshots ring out inside the building. This is getting out of hand...fast. I take off in the direction of the gunshots. I don't get far before coming up against one of the Dummy's henchmen. The henchman levels an assault rifle at me. Running at full speed, I suddenly phase out several paces in front of the henchman, then I reappear just behind him.

"Over here."

The henchman turns, unnerved by my sudden reappearance, only to be met by a hard right hand that shatters his jaw. The henchman falls like a ton of bricks. I reach into my belt, grabbing a pair of hand restraints. I put the henchman in a classic "hog tie" position, securing him.

After he is taken care of, I head off in the direction of the city council meeting chambers.

 

[trustyside-kick]

OOC: This post is in third person and Michael does not appear in it.

Heaven
Chamber of the Archangels

"I know you of all have sensed it, Metatron. The darkness that has seemed to start to stir about without care or control."

Bath Kol, the Angel of Prophecy, stands silent in the Chamber of the Archangels. He speaks to seemingly no one, but he can feel Metatron's presence within the chambers. Approaching from behind Bath Kol, towering the already very tall angel by several feet, the Archangel Metatron voices booms at it naturally does.

You speak of the Seven.

"Yes, Metatron."

Bath Kol turns around, with the golden and brightly shining Metatron, the strongest of the Archangels and the Archangel who blesses Michael on Sunday, granting the Angel of Prophecy an audience.

"...But it is impossible for all of them to escape from Hell. For Lucifer can never truly leave."

"It does not however stop him from influencing the people who walk the Earth; along with the rest of the Seven. Whether the rest escape or not, I fear for the Lord's newest and latest pet. If Lucifer or any of the other Seven have discovered some of the few flaws that even we had not accounted for before--"

"You speak of the one known as Michael Angelo: The Archangel. Though I'd watch your words, Bath Kol. The Lord is infallible. To speak in such a way, would bring...well, I shall not have to remind you, old friend."

"Yes but...should the Seven learn of what has recently transpired with the witch Goddess they will surely try to act against Michael if nothing more than the mere sport and joy of tormenting him so. The gift of foresight is never clear, with the visions never absolute...but something evil stirs out of the Gates of Hell."

"Then report to your duties, Angel of Prophecy, and warn Michael Angelo of your latest of prophecies. You must give him whatever wisdom and guidance you can, should any of the Seven try to contest him."

With those words Metatron disappears into the vast corners of the chamber, leaving the Angel of Prophecy in thought.

 

[Rain Dog]

Gunshots ring out inside the building. This is getting out of hand...fast. I take off in the direction of the gunshots. I don't get far before coming up against one of the Dummy's henchmen. The henchman levels an assault rifle at me. Running at full speed, I suddenly phase out several paces in front of the henchman, then I reappear just behind him.

"Over here."

The henchman turns, unnerved by my sudden reappearance, only to be met by a hard right hand that shatters his jaw. The henchman falls like a ton of bricks. I reach into my belt, grabbing a pair of hand restraints. I put the henchman in a classic "hog tie" position, securing him.

After he is taken care of, I head off in the direction of the city council meeting chambers.

[BLACKOUT]"Beta, I heard some commotion coming from your position. Is everything arlight?"[/BLACKOUT]

. . .

[BLACKOUT]"Beta, this is Alpha, are you there?"[/BLACKOUT]

. . .

[BLACKOUT]"Beta! This is--aw ****! All units--we have a breach! Repeat: we have a breach!"[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]"Locate and destroy the intruder!!" [/BLACKOUT]a voice on the walkie talkie growled.

[BLACKOUT]"See to it he doesn't reach the council chambers!!!"[/BLACKOUT]

 

[NiteMare Shape]

Conway, Three days later

Scott leads the other pall bearers out of the small church which hosted the funeral services for his sister, Jenny. Someone once said, that if you wanted to see how you effected those around you, you just have to attend your own funeral. If that saying has any merit at all, then Jenny Morse had indeed effected the lives of many people.

Hundreds of people file out of the church, solemnly watching as Scott and the other pall bearers load Jenny's oak casket into the back of the hearse. As he begins walking toward the limo to join the rest of his family, he numbly walks past countless people expressing their condolences.

Scott climbs into the limo, sitting next to his mother. People come over to the window, again telling them how sorry they are. Scott just sits there, completely lost inside his own head.

He thinks back to his youth, and how Jenny was always the one person who could keep him grounded. Even though she was a few years younger, she always seemed to know how to keep him in check...even as his powers were developing. Through everything, she was always there for him. She was his kid sister, and his best friend...and now that she was gone, he doesn't know how he will get along without her.

He didn't even notice when the limo pulled away from the curb, accompanied by the other cars in the procession, as well as the police escort that was assigned out of respect for Scott's grandfather, who had been Detective Sergeant with the Conway police.

When the procession of vehicles finally pulls into Eternal Peace Cemetery, Scott is relieved to finally get out of the limo. He feels cramped, claustrophobic...he just wants out. After exiting the car, he slowly makes his way to join the rest of the pall bearers at the hearse. They listen to the funeral coordinator give his instructions again, and they slowly remove the casket from the back of the hearse.

As Icon, Scott has done some incredible things. He's caught city sized chunks of the moon in midair, hurtling them back out into space. He personally directed the alien invaders' doomsday missile away from Earth, back into the alien mother ship itself, effectively ending the war. But carrying his kid sister's casket the short distance from the hearse to the grave site is without a doubt the hardest thing he's ever had to do.

Scott stands in silence as the minister begins the service. As the minister speaks, Scott just stands there, staring at the casket...unable to believe that this is really happening...feeling an intense guilt for not being able to save her when he had the chance. After several more minutes, the minister approaches Scott's parents, who are each holding a small cage. On the minister's instructions, Scott's father opened the cage, releasing three white doves into the sky. As the doves flew skyward, the minister explained that the three doves represented the Holy Trinity. Then on cue, Scott's mother opened her cage, releasing a single white dove, which the minister explained represented Jenny.

Through all this Scott was able to keep his composure. It isn't until the four doves had flown out of view and the funeral director began playing Josh Groban's version of "You Raise me Up" that a single tear began to run down his face.

The funeral director indicates that it was time for everyone to say their final goodbyes. Scott's mother and father are first to the casket, each placing a hand on the solid oak. Then follows Scott's older brother Brandon. Scott is next. He slowly walks up to the casket and places a hand on it. He stands there for a moment before reaching into his coat pocket to take out a small envelope. Inside the envelope is a letter with the lyrics to a song that Scott had heard during one of the club's theme nights. He had reworded some of the lyrics to fit this occasion.

The words read:

"If you get there before I do
Don't give up on me
I'll meet you when my chores are through
I don't know how long I'll be
But I'm not gonna let you down
Sister wait and see
And between now and then ‘til I see you again
I'll be loving you, love me


Between now and then ‘til I see you again
I'll be loving you...​

Love me."​

Scott places the envelope on the top of the casket, followed by a single rose. He lowers his head, putting it where he imagined his sister's would be inside the casket, turns slightly and kisses the top of the casket.​

"Goodbye."​

The he walks away as the others go up to say their goodbyes, unable to stay and watch as the casket is lowered into the ground.

 

[NiteMare Shape]

.doublepost

 

[NiteMare Shape]

[BLACKOUT]"Beta, I heard some commotion coming from your position. Is everything arlight?"[/BLACKOUT]

. . .

[BLACKOUT]"Beta, this is Alpha, are you there?"[/BLACKOUT]

. . .

[BLACKOUT]"Beta! This is--aw ****! All units--we have a breach! Repeat: we have a breach!"[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]"Locate and destroy the intruder!!" [/BLACKOUT]a voice on the walkie talkie growled.

[BLACKOUT]"See to it he doesn't reach the council chambers!!!"[/BLACKOUT]

I stand over the henchman, Alpha as he had identified himself. He saw me coming before I put him down. I'll have to work on that. I reach down and take his walkie and press the "talk" button.

"I'm putting an end to this tonight." I say as several more henchmen advance on my position.

The first to reach me takes a wild swing with the butt of his assault rifle. I duck, hitting him with an uppercut square on the chin. I feel his jaw break on impact, and see several teeth fly from his mouth along with a mix of spit and blood.

Even as he falls to the ground, the other two press their attack. I phase from my position and reappear right behind them. I grab them by the scruff of their necks, cracking their heads together. They go down without putting up much of a fight at all.

Remind me to thank the Dummy for confirming his current location over the walkie...I had suspected he was still in the city council chambers, but I didn't know for sure, but with a positive identification on his location I take off for the chambers.

I reach the council chambers door and find the body of one of the henchmen. Shot. Point blank range. Inside I can hear the panicked cries from the city council members as they plead for their lives.

This has gone on long enough. The door splinters as I kick it open, and I find myself looking directly into the masked eyes of the mastermind behind it all.

 

[Rain Dog]

I stand over the henchman, Alpha as he had identified himself. He saw me coming before I put him down. I'll have to work on that. I reach down and take his walkie and press the "talk" button.

"I'm putting an end to this tonight." I say as several more henchmen advance on my position.

The first to reach me takes a wild swing with the butt of his assault rifle. I duck, hitting him with an uppercut square on the chin. I feel his jaw break on impact, and see several teeth fly from his mouth along with a mix of spit and blood.

Even as he falls to the ground, the other two press their attack. I phase from my position and reappear right behind them. I grab them by the scruff of their necks, cracking their heads together. They go down without putting up much of a fight at all.

Remind me to thank the Dummy for confirming his current location over the walkie...I had suspected he was still in the city council chambers, but I didn't know for sure, but with a positive identification on his location I take off for the chambers.

I reach the council chambers door and find the body of one of the henchmen. Shot. Point blank range. Inside I can hear the panicked cries from the city council members as they plead for their lives.

This has gone on long enough. The door splinters as I kick it open, and I find myself looking directly into the masked eyes of the mastermind behind it all.

[BLACKOUT]“Azrael…”[/BLACKOUT]

The Angel of Death. Spectre unleashed by the invisible forces that control this world. He has come to protect his masters. Shadow needs sun blasting. Will oblige.

Epsilon leaps from behind the broken doors and ambushes the demon. He pounds the back of the meta human’s head with a billy club, sending him staggering forward. I aim my pistol at the monster’s head and fire—only to hear a loud click. Out of ammo. Damn it damn it damn it kill it damn it damn it.

Azrael quickly recovers and grabs a hold of Epsilon’s arms and flips him over his shoulder. Epsilon smacks the ground with a loud thud. The meta stomps on his chest with one foot and with the other, kicks his head and then brings his leg back for a second kick with his heel. Epsilon goes limp. I’m alone. I can’t call the others. They need to keep those chokepoints secure. Nothing out.

I lunge forward, putting all my power into a punch aimed at his torso. Too slow. He sidesteps, avoiding the punch and leaving me off-balance and defenseless. A swift right hook to the face sends me flying back. I stumble backwards, desperately trying to regain my balance. I see him coming for me—he’s fast. Very fast. Too fast maybe? Maybe. I have to hang on. I’ve come too far now. I can’t let them win. I just can’t.

I regain my balance and draw a combat knife from my belt and hurl it at him. And he vanishes. Sticks to the wall. Thin air. I’ve seen it do this before. Think fast. Very fast. Too fast maybe? I drive my elbow backwards and feel it hit something. His gut. Very good. Anticipated his movement. I quickly spin around and grab hold of his head. I pull it towards me as I bash it with my own. He’s stunned now. Very good. I deliver a flurry of punches to his torso. He’s surprisingly resilient. He manages to knock away of few of my punches but I’m able to make contact. He goes down. I pin him to the ground, delivering punch after punch to the face. He’s fast. Very fast. But so am I. I don’t think he was expecting that. My men were trained for weeks. I’ve trained for years. I’m ready. I've been ready.

My fist slams into the floor. Knuckles hurt. He’s gone. Vanished again. I quickly drop down, roll, and spring back up on my feet. He rushes at me—and vanishes again. He reappears beside me and strikes me with a roundhouse. I try to counter but he vanishes yet again. He reappears in front of me and gives me two powerful jabs to the face. I can feel my face get soaked with warm blood streaming from my mouth and cheeks. I rip my mask off and spit out the blood. He’s gone again. I pull two uzis from their holsters and spin around, guns aimed and ready. Not there. Damn it.

I duck after hearing a loud ZIP. Some sort of cable-like weapons whizzes over my head. Behind the mayor’s desk. I unleash a barrage of hot lead. He effortlessly lifts the desk and tosses it up in front of him. It absorbs most of the fire. He dodges the rest. The mayor rushes over to his lackies, attempting to shield them from splintering wood and rogue bullets. He’s tough. Too tough? Can’t give up…must save the city…

[BLACKOUT]“You’re of reign of terror ends NOW!”[/BLACKOUT]

 

[Byrd Man]

Blue Blur

​

With Jen, Mom, Captain Johnson (he says to all him "Clark", but he'll pretty much always be Captain Johnson to me) along with Doc Brown and Johnny and Bruce, we watch the first episode of Life in The Fast Lane.

From Bruce's antics in the cape, to the run-in with the Ambulance Chaser, and to the fight between the three Guardians and Archangel with his Goddess, it all gets caught on camera. After the program goes off, the phone in the house starts to ring, as does everyone else's cellphone.

"Looks like we got a hit."​

****​

Tokyo
3:25 P.M.

A crowd looks on in horror as a window washer holds on to the edge of a building, the pavement looms twenty stories up.

A collective gasps goes through the crowd as the washer lets go and falls towards the ground. His head is almost flush with the Earth when the man suddenly disappears.

BOoooom

The people look in awe at the window washer on the ground, alive and well and his savior nowhere to be seen.


Los Angeles
3:26 and 15 seconds

A pair of armed robbers flee the police in their muscle car. The cop cars do all that they can, but they're no match for the suped up automobile.

"We can't catch them!" One officer says to dispatch.

"He's too fast!" His partner agrees.

BOoooom

The crimnal's car crashes into a lightpole, the occupants nowhere in sight.

"What the hell?" The officer mutters as he slams on brakes.

Hearing a muffled noise in the back of his car, he turns to see the two robbers in the seat, with their hands tied behind their back.


London
3:26 and 20 seconds

In the London Underground, two subway trains careen towards each other. The train conductors are unable to stop the run away cars. One of them whispers a silent prayer and closes his eyes...

BOoooom

He opens his eyes after the worst does not come. He, his fellow conductor, and the people of the two other underground trains are standing safely at the next platform. Off in the distance, the sound of the two empty trains crashing echoes through the underground.


Lost Haven
3:27

"Come back here!" A woman yells to her three-year-old as he starts to walk down the street, ignoring his mother. She lets out a scream when she see the child walking into traffic.

"NO!" She screams as a truck slams on brakes to avoid running over the child.

BOoooom

The child disappears and is back safely in his mother's arms.

Chicago
3:28

A blue streak races through the Windy City, only seen by the keenest eye, It races through the northside and tears through Logan Square and Humbolt Park.

Suddenly, the streak stops in the middle of the road, revealing the man known as The Blue Blur. A curious noise coming from his side.

Camp town lady sing this song, do-da do-da, camp town race track five lo-

"Hello?....Yeah, I'm on patrol right now....okay, I will....uh-huh...so that's a quart of milk and a dozen eggs? Okay, I'll run by there on my way home....love you too."

He closes his cell phone and is gone again in that spectacular blue streak, heading out of the Windy City and towards parts unknown.​

 

[Spike_x1]

The Survivor​

Murderer. Even after six long months of trying to keep himself busy with hunting down the scum of this city, the Survivor's mind always fell back to that title that hung over his conscience. He tried to rationalize it and make excuses for his actions--It was war! Keelan was out to kill us all!--but no, Adam knew better. There were alternatives to killing the alien when his back was turned. The Survivor was teamed with some of the most powerful beings on the planet; they would've found a way to stop Keelan's plan. No, even more than the regrettable action itself of killing the Admiral, the Survivor was more worried about how comfortable he was with the act, as if it was what he was made for. He saw an opportunity to go straight for the kill, and he took it, slipping into the role of a killer as easily as one would slip into some new clothes.

Standing over a half empty bottle of scotch sitting on the bar in his apartment, Adam looked down at his hands. He could still feel the slickness of the alien's blood as he had run the villain through with his very arm. The memory of Adam's gloved hand stabbing into Admiral Keelan's back, and coming out through his chest should have revolted Adam Locke, but it didn't. The wet warmth of his victim and the feeling of life leaving the body of the fresh kill... it felt natural. That is what truly made the Survivor's stomach turn.

"I'm supposed to be a damn hero," he sighed. Looking down at his mask that was lying on the surface of the bar beside the liquor bottle, a sneer covered Adam's face as he resisted the urge to just burn the whole place down. "Heh, yeah right. I don't even know my own real name, but I've somehow convinced myself that who I am is a superhero. ****. Maybe if I keep telling myself that, I might actually believe it."

Resigning himself to what he perceived as his failings as a human being, the Survivor's head fell into his hands, but not even a single tear trailed down his cheek. "GOD DAMMIT!" Exploding in sudden rage, Adam grabbed the bottle of scotch and hurled it straight through the nearest wall before reaching for the telephone and dialing an escort service.

**********​

"He doubts himself, and he killed another living person. Perhaps he's not the avatar of Life that you believe him to be, huh?" Lighting a cigarette, the enigmatic entity known only to the physical world by the name Shades smirked and pushed his drooping sunglasses back up. Bending light and matter around them, Shades and his companion were invisible and intangible to the human plane of existence, and free to talk in private as they observed the Survivor. "He's already forgotten the lives he's saved in his career, choosing to just focus on one unfortunate event. Not exactly the pinnacle of heroism if you ask me."

"You will never convince me of that," replied the figure beside Shades. This otherworldly being wrapped in darkness and the atmosphere of death itself was known by the name William Blake to the human world, President of their insignificant United States. "You know as well as I do, despite your feigning ignorance, that he is the key to my destiny. In spite of his moments of weakness in character, his soul is like his body. It will rebuild itself from even the most grievous wound. And if you did not believe him to be the one, you would not have appeared to him, given him his regenerating uniform, and set him on his path to destiny. So do not play dumb with me."

Exhaling smoke, concern washed over Shades' face behind his sunglasses. The Reaper was right; there was no fooling him. All that Shades could do was pray that things worked out in the end.

 

[Carnage27]

"Breath easy, Desmond," Chiron says through the earpiece from the Eye. "You're doing fine."

It's been weeks since I've started training, and I'm on my first patrol in Lost Haven by myself, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. The past few weeks have been full of the normal high school drama that I've tried so hard to avoid. Penny's been pissed ever since the morning with the bully. The bright side was everyone else was leaing me alone for a change as well.

I spring off the rooftop and land hard onto the dark alley below. My strength, speed, and agility have grown by leaps and bounds since the training began, and my other powers are also coming under control. I still can't summon warriors from the Underworld, but my fire and shadow powers are almost fully under my control.

Sirens down the street grab my attention, and I run deeper into the shadows of the alley. Allowing the darkness to envelope me, I summon the powers of the Underworld and teleport to other shadows closer to the scene.

I can see police set up in a barricade formation in front of a bank, shouting instructions to an assailant inside, "Release the hostages, and we'll talk!"

"Chiron," I say into the communicator, "I've got a hostage situation. I'm going in."

The shadows again swirl around me and I feel myself displaced into the darkened bank. I can see the five hostages, and the lone gunman standing, obviously nervous, a sub machine gun shaking slightly in his hand.

"Let the people go, man!" I yell from the corner of the building before teleporting to the other side of the room. He fires wildly, hitting nothing but drywall. Slinking quietly in the darkness I come up behind the people, and quickly teleport them outside, and then quickly I reenter the building.

"Where the hell did they go!? Who the hell is in here!?" the man with the gun screams, obviously terrified. He begins pacing back and forth, as I watch him from the wall behind him. I summon the forces of the night, and tentacles of darkness spring out from the shadows around me, disarming him and raising him off the ground. "Wha-what the hell is this!?"

"Not so tough now, are you?" I ask mockingly as my figure emerges from the darkness, my helmet the only thing clearly visible in the haze. "Next time you or anybody like you tries something like this, remember what happened here tonight. Remember the fear you felt as the powers of the Underworld closed in around you. And remember my form. For I will always be here. I'm the shadow in the corner of your room when you go to sleep. I'm the living nightmare, sprung from your dream. And I will not rest until the evil of this world is judged."

"Who are you?" he asks, tears rolling down his cheek.

"Call me Cerberus," I snarl before driving my fist into his face, knocking him out. I turn and hear the police attempting to break into the barricaded door, and teleport out, disappearing into the night.

 

[Carnage27]

-edit-

 

[NiteMare Shape]

After leaving the Jenny's funeral, Scott skipped the post service reception and headed straight back to Lost Haven. Since his arrival back in the city, he has been aware of someone following him.

Standing alone in the apartment that he had shared with his younger sister, is distracted from his grief by the sudden realization that whoever it was that had been following him is with him now in his home.

"I figured you'd show up."

"Scott, what are you doing?"

"I'm going after your Ex."

"If you really want him, he's hiding out in what's left of Sherman High School. But I want you to think about this. Go, get him and bring him in. Don't let him drag you down to his level."

Icon spins to face Haze for the first time since she entered the apartment.

"I'm going to do what I have to do. Let's just leave it at that."

****​

Icon rockets toward what remains of Sherman High School. At one time he had been a teacher within its walls, today he is something different. He is a man seeking justice, or perhaps revenge.​

Using his radar sense, he locates his target hiding in what was once the high school gym. Once he finds his target, Icon lowers his head and increases his speed as he hurdles toward the man who killed his sister.​

The roof of the gym explodes inward as Icon crashes through it. In one fluid motion, he swoops into the gym and hits Riot with a hard right hand, knocking him off his feet. Icon doesn't let up, instead he presses his attack, pounding Riot with a flurry of punches the likes of which he has never unleased before.​

Riot is unable to defend himself as Icon grabs him and hurls him across the gym, where he lands hard scraping skin from his limbs as he skids across the parquet floor. Once he finally comes to a stop, he lays motionless for a moment before trying to get to his feet.​

Icon doesn't relent. He makes his way to where his battered and bloodied enemy is trying to get to his feet, hauls him up and hits him again, this time with an uppercut that shatters several ribs. Icon grabs Riot by the throat, brings him up off the ground and slams him hard into the gym floor, shattering the hard parquet upon impact.​

Icon grabs Riot by the collar and hauls him up on his knees. He stands over his fallen enemy, preparing to finish this once and for all. Icon raises his fist over his head, letting it charge with kinetic energy...just as he's about to deliver the killing blow, he feels a hand on his shoulder.​

"Scott, don't do it." Haze says, pleading with her friend.​

"He's a monster. There's no other way to make sure he never does this to anyone else again."​

"He isn't worth it. I know what he did...and I'm so sorry. But this isn't the way. Don't let him do this to you."​

"What else could he possibly do to me?" he says, raising his fist back in the air, again preparing to deliver the killing blow.​

"Don't let him destroy you...Don't let him bring you down to his level."​

He ignores her as he looks into the eyes of the man who murdered his sister.​

"Scott, this isn't you. You wouldn't do this. You're better than this, Scott. Don't you see what he's done? He wants to ruin you. He wants to destroy you by making you do something that you'll never be able to come back from. Don't you see that this is what he wants? If you do this...if you kill him, he wins. Don't you see that?"​

"Heh...*cough*cough*...if you don't....I'll...hunt down every single person you've ever cared about...heheh...and you can bury them all with that---" He doesn't finish his sentence as Haze thrusts a blade into his heart, silencing him forever.​

"Why...Why would you do that?" Icon says as he turns to face Haze.​

"You saved me once. I just returned the favor."​

"What are you talking about?"​

"Don't you see? He did all of this so that you would kill him in cold blood. If you did that you would have destroyed everything that you've stood for. You would have fallen down to his level, and all the good that you've done would have been ruined. I couldn't let you do that."​

"It doesn't matter."​

Icon turns and begins walking away from Haze, toward the battered exit doors of the gym. ​

"I'm finished."​

And with that, Icon walks out of the remains of Sherman High School, where he takes to the skies, leaving Lost Haven behind him.​

 

[NiteMare Shape]

[BLACKOUT]“Azrael…”[/BLACKOUT]

The Angel of Death. Spectre unleashed by the invisible forces that control this world. He has come to protect his masters. Shadow needs sun blasting. Will oblige.

Epsilon leaps from behind the broken doors and ambushes the demon. He pounds the back of the meta human’s head with a billy club, sending him staggering forward. I aim my pistol at the monster’s head and fire—only to hear a loud click. Out of ammo. Damn it damn it damn it kill it damn it damn it.

Azrael quickly recovers and grabs a hold of Epsilon’s arms and flips him over his shoulder. Epsilon smacks the ground with a loud thud. The meta stomps on his chest with one foot and with the other, kicks his head and then brings his leg back for a second kick with his heel. Epsilon goes limp. I’m alone. I can’t call the others. They need to keep those chokepoints secure. Nothing out.

I lunge forward, putting all my power into a punch aimed at his torso. Too slow. He sidesteps, avoiding the punch and leaving me off-balance and defenseless. A swift right hook to the face sends me flying back. I stumble backwards, desperately trying to regain my balance. I see him coming for me—he’s fast. Very fast. Too fast maybe? Maybe. I have to hang on. I’ve come too far now. I can’t let them win. I just can’t.

I regain my balance and draw a combat knife from my belt and hurl it at him. And he vanishes. Sticks to the wall. Thin air. I’ve seen it do this before. Think fast. Very fast. Too fast maybe? I drive my elbow backwards and feel it hit something. His gut. Very good. Anticipated his movement. I quickly spin around and grab hold of his head. I pull it towards me as I bash it with my own. He’s stunned now. Very good. I deliver a flurry of punches to his torso. He’s surprisingly resilient. He manages to knock away of few of my punches but I’m able to make contact. He goes down. I pin him to the ground, delivering punch after punch to the face. He’s fast. Very fast. But so am I. I don’t think he was expecting that. My men were trained for weeks. I’ve trained for years. I’m ready. I've been ready.

My fist slams into the floor. Knuckles hurt. He’s gone. Vanished again. I quickly drop down, roll, and spring back up on my feet. He rushes at me—and vanishes again. He reappears beside me and strikes me with a roundhouse. I try to counter but he vanishes yet again. He reappears in front of me and gives me two powerful jabs to the face. I can feel my face get soaked with warm blood streaming from my mouth and cheeks. I rip my mask off and spit out the blood. He’s gone again. I pull two uzis from their holsters and spin around, guns aimed and ready. Not there. Damn it.

I duck after hearing a loud ZIP. Some sort of cable-like weapons whizzes over my head. Behind the mayor’s desk. I unleash a barrage of hot lead. He effortlessly lifts the desk and tosses it up in front of him. It absorbs most of the fire. He dodges the rest. The mayor rushes over to his lackies, attempting to shield them from splintering wood and rogue bullets. He’s tough. Too tough? Can’t give up…must save the city…

[BLACKOUT]“You’re of reign of terror ends NOW!”[/BLACKOUT]

He brings his uzis to bear again, pointing them directly at me, then turns the guns on the hostages. Quickly, I fire a grapple line from each of my gauntlets, imbedding them firmly in the wall behind the Dummy. Then I use them to spring forward, dropkicking him square in the chest before he can open fire again.

I had hoped that this would have ended the fight, but instead of dropping like a ton of bricks, this Dummy character simply rolls through and comes back up on his knees. Fortunately he dropped one of his uzis, leaving his with only one.

After resetting on the ground, I immediately leave my feet, diving at him, hitting him with more solid punches hoping to shake his resolve. But he fights back. Whoever he is, he's good. However, his mental instability has made him rash...he seems to lose his cool. Maybe this is something I can take advantage of.

I phase out, reappering right beside him, hitting him with a right cross before phasing again, reappering on the opposite side, repeating my attack.

As I do this several times, he begins to react just as I'd hoped, he begins swinging wildly as he tries to anticipate my next move. I phase out one last time, reappearing several feet behind him. For an instand I watch as he looks around, trying to figure out just where it is that I've gone.

"Over here." I say from behind him.

The Dummy turns toward the sound of my voice, and when he does he is met by a devestating roundhouse kick that takes him off his feet. As he hit the ground he begins to roll, as if he were to rebound and land on his feet. However, this time he isn't able to find his legs, he continues his roll and ends up sprawled out, unmoving on the floor.

 

[Rain Dog]

He brings his uzis to bear again, pointing them directly at me, then turns the guns on the hostages. Quickly, I fire a grapple line from each of my gauntlets, imbedding them firmly in the wall behind the Dummy. Then I use them to spring forward, dropkicking him square in the chest before he can open fire again.

I had hoped that this would have ended the fight, but instead of dropping like a ton of bricks, this Dummy character simply rolls through and comes back up on his knees. Fortunately he dropped one of his uzis, leaving his with only one.

After resetting on the ground, I immediately leave my feet, diving at him, hitting him with more solid punches hoping to shake his resolve. But he fights back. Whoever he is, he's good. However, his mental instability has made him rash...he seems to lose his cool. Maybe this is something I can take advantage of.

I phase out, reappering right beside him, hitting him with a right cross before phasing again, reappering on the opposite side, repeating my attack.

As I do this several times, he begins to react just as I'd hoped, he begins swinging wildly as he tries to anticipate my next move. I phase out one last time, reappearing several feet behind him. For an instand I watch as he looks around, trying to figure out just where it is that I've gone.

"Over here." I say from behind him.

The Dummy turns toward the sound of my voice, and when he does he is met by a devestating roundhouse kick that takes him off his feet. As he hit the ground he begins to roll, as if he were to rebound and land on his feet. However, this time he isn't able to find his legs, he continues his roll and ends up sprawled out, unmoving on the floor.

[BLACKOUT]“Ugnnn….”[/BLACKOUT]

Got to get up. Got to keep fighting. I roll on my side and try to lift myself up. No dice. It stares at me with its glowing green eyes. Not moving. It knows I’m done. Finished. Will it finish me off? No. Got to get up. Gone too far. Can’t let them win. Fighting may be out of the question now…but it’s not over…not over…

crackle

[BLACKOUT]“Breach! Brea—AAACH!” [/BLACKOUT]

BLAM BLAM BLAM

Move, move, move!

crackle

[BLACKOUT]“We lost the chokepoints! Police have breached the building! Repeat:”[/BLACKOUT]

BLAM BLAM

crackle

[BLACKOUT]“No…”[/BLACKOUT]

Chokepoints lost. The police have managed to get past the explosives. Killed the guards. It’s only a matter of time before they find me. It’s over. It’s over. It’s all over.

[BLACKOUT]“No.”[/BLACKOUT]

It’s not over. I spit out some more blood and a few loose teeth. I slowly rise to my feet, all the while removing the body armor covering my torso. I stand tall, glaring into the hideous green eyes of the monstrosity before me. The armor drops to the floor. I can see his eyes widen with shock. I reach for a cord near my belt.

[BLACKOUT]“We will all pay…everyone in this room will pay,”[/BLACKOUT] I grumble as I continue to stare down the enemy.

[BLACKOUT]“I’ve come too far. I can’t fail…I must save the city…must save the world…even if it means death…”[/BLACKOUT]

Around my torso is a vest made up of metallic cylinders, covered in a jacket packed with nails and screws. C-4. Lots and lots of C-4. Nothing out. Nothing out.

 

[NiteMare Shape]

[BLACKOUT]“Ugnnn….”[/BLACKOUT]

Got to get up. Got to keep fighting. I roll on my side and try to lift myself up. No dice. It stares at me with its glowing green eyes. Not moving. It knows I’m done. Finished. Will it finish me off? No. Got to get up. Gone too far. Can’t let them win. Fighting may be out of the question now…but it’s not over…not over…

crackle

[BLACKOUT]“Breach! Brea—AAACH!” [/BLACKOUT]

BLAM BLAM BLAM

Move, move, move!

crackle

[BLACKOUT]“We lost the chokepoints! Police have breached the building! Repeat:”[/BLACKOUT]

BLAM BLAM

crackle

[BLACKOUT]“No…”[/BLACKOUT]

Chokepoints lost. The police have managed to get past the explosives. Killed the guards. It’s only a matter of time before they find me. It’s over. It’s over. It’s all over.

[BLACKOUT]“No.”[/BLACKOUT]

It’s not over. I spit out some more blood and a few loose teeth. I slowly rise to my feet, all the while removing the body armor covering my torso. I stand tall, glaring into the hideous green eyes of the monstrosity before me. The armor drops to the floor. I can see his eyes widen with shock. I reach for a cord near my belt.

[BLACKOUT]“We will all pay…everyone in this room will pay,”[/BLACKOUT] I grumble as I continue to stare down the enemy.

[BLACKOUT]“I’ve come too far. I can’t fail…I must save the city…must save the world…even if it means death…”[/BLACKOUT]

Around my torso is a vest made up of metallic cylinders, covered in a jacket packed with nails and screws. C-4. Lots and lots of C-4. Nothing out. Nothing out.

My eyes go wide as I see the vest of explosives this lunatic has wrapped around his torso. Enough C-4 to take this whole floor out...maybe the floor below us too. I almost find it comical that he's included nails and screws as part of the package...as if he needs the shrapnel to make us all even deader.

Almost comical.

Without thinking, I fire a grapple line at the had that is holding the trigger switch...and I hold my breath. I'm relieved when the grapple hits its target, going clean through his hand.

The Dummy lets out a shriek and drops the trigger switch, and with him momentarily distracted by the grapple hook going clean through his hand, I make my move.

I take off running at him at full speed, when I'm within several strides I leave my feet, leaping at him. As I reach him, I hit him with a right hand, then grab him and spin. Together we crash through the window and begin plummeting toward the ground.

As we freefall toward the earth, I am able to create enough slack with one of my gauntlet grapple lines to wrap around his waist and tie it off, then take him back in my grip as we continue to fall.

Holding him with one arm, I reach out with the other and fire a grapple line. Our descent is stopped suddenly as the grapple takes root in the side of the building. We dangle there for a moment, when he suddenly comes to his senses. He begins to struggle, trying to free himself from my grip.

As he struggles, I let go of him and again begin to fall. Before I fire another grapple line to keep myself from hitting the ground, I make sure that The Dummy sees what I hold in my hand...the C-4 vest that he had planned to use to kill everyone in City Hall.

I fire a grapple line, as as I begin to swing away I see the LHPD's SWAT unit pulling Dummy up from the side of the building. At least where he's going he won't be able to hurt anyone else, but at the same time I get a sinking feeling in my gut that this is not the last I've seen of him.