The Create-A-Hero RPG Season II IC Thread

[Johnny Blaze]

Then...

"It's got to be dream."

He had been leaving the local bar, half-cocked on whiskey, as usual. But then Terrence noticed the strangest star up in the sky. It was amazingly bright, and it was getting brighter.
Then Terrence noticed that the "star" was in fact an orb-shaped object that was on a collision course for him.
As the strange glowing object came at him, Terrence tried to run away. But the orb slammed into his chest, jolting Terrence backwards and into the ditch on the roadside.

Terrence had slowly awoke, but instead of wet grass and the dark of night greeting him, he found nothing but light.
Terrence got up and looked around for something, anything. But there was nothing. Nothing but white light in all directions. Up. Down. Left. Right.
Everywhere.

Terrence Myers.

Terrence jumped as the voice boomed, seemingly inside his head and all around him.

"What the **** is going on here!? Jesus, did they spike my beer?"

Terrance Myers, you have been deemed worthy. I am the First One, the One before time, and before thought.

"Oookay", Myers replied in a state of shock.
"So...you're what? Some sort of a god?"

I am above the whims of deities, Terrence Myers. I am the primordial force of this universe. The hope for all sentient beings throughout existence.

"Yeah, still not seeing what this has to do with me."

Throughout the eons, I have chosen the beings of this universe that possess the spirit of a hero to become my avatar on this plane. Only those truly worthy receive the honor to become my champion.

Terrence paused as he tried to process all the startling information that just fell into his lap.

"So...what does this champion do?"

My avatar helps this reality by seeking out and destroying the darkness dwelling within it. My champion protects the innocent and the good against those that would do them harm.

"Wait, so I'd be like some sort of cosmic superhero", he asks aloud as his lips crease into a smile.
"I think I'm going to dig this."


Now...

Terrence grunted in pain as the fist connected across his jaw. The force of the punch sends Terrence hurtling backwards and smashing into the side of a hovering car along the street.

"I hate my life", Eternus mumbled to himself as he picked himself up from the wreckage.

"Why you make Grok angry!? Grok hurt you now!"

The world was Hol, known throughout the galaxy as the hub of piracy, smuggling, and all sorts of illegal activities.
And the mammoth slowly lumbering towards him, an angry, beetle-like Insectoid named Grok, was a notorious gun for higher. He was wanted on Rigel 3 for the murder of a senator, and Eternus had volunteered to bring him in.

Now, Terrence was beginning to regret that idea.

"Yeah, yeah. Grok angry. Grok smash", Eternus replies as he flies at the bug, ducking under a wild blow and shooting up with an uppercut that levels Grok.

"I get it already", Eternus finishes as he reaches out his hand and calls on the Alpha Force, warping the nearby car into a casing that covers the bug completely.

"You can just call me the Orkin man", Eternus smirks as he puts a boot on Grok's chest.

"Oh, ****", Terrence exclaims as he smacks his head with the palm of his hand.
"Nearly forgot the air holes."

Eternus concentrated and a series of tiny holes opened around the mouth region of the metal cocoon.

"All right, Sparky. Time to get you to court", Eternus said as he lifted the large bug with one hand, slinging him under his arm like he would a package. Eternus then took off into the sky, the imprisoned Grok in tow.

 

[Hound55]

Fontaine thumbed the keys in his pocket as he strode from his plane to the terminal, it would be two weeks before he’d need them again. The combination of angst from what he knew he was leaving behind back home in Cooktown and the discomfort of flying long distance in a cramped environment had left him as agitated as a pack a day smoker. He hadn’t flown economy in years, at least not internationally, he thought he’d only make that mistake once at the time. In fact, he’d only flown about three or four times since the death of his father, but things Barnes had been saying to him and the looks received were suggesting that his ever-increasing introversion from society was beginning to alarm even the people who knew him best.
And that’s when he knew he’d have to get out, if only short term.

He’d always been a little awkward socially to begin with, it was just like there was a barrier between himself and the general populace. He hadn’t put it there, he didn’t particularly like it, but its presence was undeniable. It took a lot for people to penetrate that barrier and most simply wouldn’t bother. It didn’t surprise him. It was the way society was going with its “advancement”. Even Cooktown and its meagre 1.2 million population wasn’t immune from this “progress”. What he’d heard was once a large country town of friendly people in his father’s day had now turned. Where once people would supposedly greet strangers on the street, now sneaking a smile to someone or being so audacious as to utter a word to your fellow man would result in others mentally sizing you up for a straitjacket. Of course while that wasn’t bad for him, he did kind of feel sorry for other people who he felt may not need to live such isolated lifestyles.
I mean, even “Ice” needed to melt a little and get away from the solitude of his life a little and try and socialise again a little. He just needed a reason.

Then he got the call.

He hadn’t heard anything whatsoever from Renée Stevens since school, and really he didn’t think they’d been so close even then. Not that he had any issue with her, just ran in different circles. She mixed with some girls, and the odd guy, with expensive tastes… even by his exclusive boarding school’s standards. Even though Isaac and his family were far from poor, his father had been an extremely young man by normal standards when he first hit the board of Cooktown Provincial Bank and invested his own funds very prudently, not resting on his laurels until he wound up at the top. Cooktown Provincial was far from being even the biggest bank in Terraria, however. And when money becomes a factor in status, the Fontaines were but a shoal of minnows in the Pacific – if trying to make that comparison with fish and ponds.

That’s why the call was so odd. It wasn’t so much that he was viewed as pond scum at Cornwall Grammar School, far from it. He was largely respected if only for his athletic aptitude, out-spoken nature and finely honed ethics in a world where money seemed to make ethics redundant. But the fact that she’d never particularly gone out of her way to bridge that gap over those years. Not that he blamed her, hell, neither had he. But it did seem odd that she would now. He began to wonder how she could have possibly gotten his phone number… before remembering that he’d not moved an inch. Holed up in his father’s house… well, the disjointed mess which flagged the rooms he most frequently used sort of claimed it as his… ever since his father’s tragic death, he had to admit; he wouldn’t have been the hardest guy to track down. 5 seconds with the school’s old Colleagues and Contacts Book would have been all the sleuthing she’d have had to do.

But the call. Renée had seemed cheerful and almost with a sense of longing in her voice at the time… but why? While he was a very respected guy the out-spokeness and social awkwardness he often exhibited made him hardly the most eligible bachelor at Cornwall… and that was before you considered that he was a comparable pauper.
But that wasn’t what got him on the plane. Hell that “hint of longing” wasn’t even what intrigued him most about the tone of her voice.
It was practically impossible to describe what most intrigued him about the situation in one word. She… she had that same tone of voice that told him to beat whoever he’s interrogating harder, in his own line of work. But in social circles, that wouldn’t exactly be acceptable. It wasn’t impossible to describe that silent stammering, the almost imperceptible hesitation as she said how much she’d missed him over the years and wanted to catch up, in one word after all… Bulls###.

She was pushing manure and he had a lot to fertilise.
Not because that’s what he was into… hell, Isaac knew himself to be maladjusted, but he wasn’t that psychologically broken. No, it was curiosity. Why lie? Why to him? What possible reason could there even be? He didn’t have any more money than she did. There was only one possible reason that made the lie make sense to him. She was in trouble… and even on vacation; Isaac couldn’t get enough trouble…

Coming up through Cornwall Grammar he was considered to be a hard man, quite outspoken, stood heavily behind his principles. He wouldn’t tolerate bullying or jerk-like behaviour amongst his friends. He wouldn’t out and out beat up people infringing on that, no he’d learnt early on that that was the fast tracked route to detention, suspension and those places beyond, but he would drop a scowl that suggested it wasn’t far from his mind and in a place as soft as Cornwall that was generally more than enough. So whilst he knew his reputation there generally wouldn’t be enough to make him the first considered to bail people out of trouble amongst friends outside of Cornwall (where ironically, he’d be more likely to be asked to bail them out with money), he also knew that there was a good possibility that he was the first person she could think of in that regard. That’s if he’s not reading into things too much…
And lets face it, he had been getting increasingly isolated and paranoid. Paranoid. Heh. Paranoid is the word people who don’t know use to describe those who understand the world, to justify their apathy for the real state of things.

But this paranoia was a natural effect of his recent investigations, digging below the surface to get to the people who profit off of crime, rather than just beating up hoods and punks, who frankly also deserved everything that was coming to them. That was the vacation he needed. To get away from that part. The investigation. It took up so much of his time that he felt guilt and a yearning to crack heads before he finally was in a position to apply pressure to someone who truly deserved it. He needed the action without the Intel… for a break. Plus the change of scenery wouldn’t hurt either. The way he saw it, best case scenario he was right, Renée was in trouble and needed someone to confide in… trouble she thinks he can handle. He might get to lean on maybe a louse of an ex-boyfriend or something, which kind of bothered him, he was getting to love the conflict so much that this actually seemed a little appealing. Worst case scenario, he is paranoid and reading too much into Renée’s call… in which case he gets two weeks away from it all in a nice fresh environment in New Haven. All he has to do is collect his luggage from the carousel…

He’d had to leave his grappling gun at home, no way that was passing airport security, but no matter. He’d made his last one, all he’d have to do is pick up some supplies. His hatred of being unprepared for any contingencies would see him do that fairly soon, with a strong tail-wind his plane had arrived just over two hours earlier than scheduled, so he had time to spare. He would scope out a pub and have a few, definitely not in here though - airports charge like they’re their own damn country and their range is disappointingly limited, then he would pick up his supplies, go to his hotel room and put the grapple gun together and get online to ask Renée where she wanted to meet.

Fontaine grunted quietly. Too quietly. He hated this. He had been jerked back into reality by one of his social pet hates. Some conceited jackass was treating the moving walkway like it was a fricking ride. Well, at least this was how he knew he hadn’t completely lost it yet, he still had enough self-restraint to not walk past and put his fist through this yuppie jackoff’s face. What in the hell is so important that this tool thinks he needs his blackberry for the next fifteen seconds while a queue, A QUEUE!!!, of 5 people wait behind this guy?!? All I want to do is get my luggage, get in a cab and go down to Little Ulster to find a pub and have a pint or three. He’s going to do it again… this F### is going to do it again Isaac thought to himself as he saw the 5 metre gap between moving walkways getting ever closer to the congregation. He’s reached the end. You’ve got to be kidding me, he waited for it to carry him every bit to the end and didn’t step off… like he’s surprised his little funhouse ride is over. 4 people scurried around him in the brief gap while he gathered his excessively large, yet carried on, luggage and sets up shop on the next moving walkway. What. An. A##hole. Fontaine mutters [BLACKOUT]“The Hell with this”[/BLACKOUT] and walks around the walkway with the atmosphere thick with irritation.
[BLACKOUT]“She’d better have some deserving a$$hole for me to unload on… and he’d better be a big one…”[/BLACKOUT]

 

[Byrd Man]

Kensei reacts quickly and leaps out of the way as an energy blast explodes where he once was.

"We will have to talk about our travel arrangements after we're through, Blue Blur", Kensei states as the Kusanagi cleanly slices through the legs of one of the battle suits.

With surprising agility, Kensei climbs up the back of one of the alien attackers, driving the blade through it's back and into the body of the surprised being inside.

Kensei somersaults off of the dying creature as another armored alien unleashed a blast of energy that blows it's dying partner apart.

Kensei rolls upon impact with the ground, rising up in one fluid motion and slices through the torso of the nearest battle suit.

It takes Kensei and I all of two minutes to take out all the aliens.

We stand around the wreckage of our battle.

My eyes pick up as I see an influx of alien crafts and pods heading towards Central Island.

"I have no idea what the hell is going on there, but we need to head that way." I state as I look at Kensei.

 

[trustyside-kick]

OOC: I will be doing this post in third person.

The police sirens finally stop just before they boomed, making it apparent they are at the scene. Michael don't give them any notice. He just lays there in shock with Jake in his arms. Naturally they radio in for back-up after seeing just how massive the destruction from the kamikaze alien craft crash landed. The ambulance parks, with several personel in uniform racing to the dead kids.

The media made it over to the scene just minutes later, as it's for certain that with the destruction of the city every news cast and channel in Lost Haven is covering the biggest news story to ever hit America...heck, history: Aliens Attack.

Michael doesn't even pick up his helmet to conceal his identity. He simply continues to cradle Jake's body, and as some of the ambulance workers come to him, he whiplashes like a lioness defending her cub.

"No! You--You don't touch him. Don't you DARE touch him."

One of the police officers noticing the outburst on scene walks up to Michael as the two ambulance workers slowly pace backwards giving Michael some distance.

"Come on, son, listen I get it. You couldn't save them. But if there's one thing I've learned in this job--"

"You DON'T get it."

The two paramedics slowly start to walk towards Michael again, one of them pushing along a gurney and prepping it for Jake's body. The police officer keeps his gun holstered, but rests his hand gently on it as they all slowly step towards Michael.

"Son, just let them do their job. That boy has a family, I'm sure--"

"Stay BACK!!"

Michael raises his hand, and with his gesture, rubble from the ground rises up, spiraling around his hand. His eyes are nearly blood-shot red from all the crying and angst he's felt in this short period of time. Tears still fall slowly down his cheek and his teeth grit tight.

And then...the debris and rubble drop, and Micheal's jaw practically drops as he comes to realization of what is at hand: he's losing it. The cop, no longer keeping his hand on his holstered gun, walks up to him as the two paramedics stand by.

"It's going to be ok, son...it's going to be ok."

Handing Jake over to the police officer, Michael drops to his knees as the officer carries him over to the paramedics who lie Jake's body gently on the gurney. Camera flashes go off and Michael can hear the voice of reporters in the short distance who continue to take video footage.

He stands up finally, picking up his helmet and looking around. He sniffs but it doesn't do much help. He feels disgusted with himself, and simply reacts on pure instinct and emotion.

Ascending into the skies, The Archangel is finally out of view within seconds.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

It takes Kensei and I all of two minutes to take out all the aliens.

We stand around the wreckage of our battle.

My eyes pick up as I see an influx of alien crafts and pods heading towards Central Island.

"I have no idea what the hell is going on there, but we need to head that way." I state as I look at Kensei.

"I agree", Kensei replies as he sheathes his blade.

The Blur moved to grab Kensei and depart, but the Swordsman stopped him.

"Thank you, but I can manage the trip on my own this time."

He didn't like the super speed travel. For some odd reason, it didn't sit well with Kensei.
Besides, he had a special item for just these situations.

Reaching into a pouch inside his tunic, Kensei produced a small Pegasus figurine and placed it on the ground.

"Come to me, my friend. For I have need of you, and the situation is most dire."

No sooner did Kensei finish, then a dark, glowing mist began to seep from the figurine. Quickly the mist swirled like a tornado, growing larger and higher. A bolt of purple lightning crackled inside the swirling cloud, followed by a loud sound of thunder.

And after the thunderclap, the mist began to dissipate. And, materializing from the haze was one of the most magnificent steeds in the world. The horse snorted and shook it's head as it stretched it's feathered wings.

Kensei walked up to it with a smile, gently patting it's head.

"I have missed you, my friend. It has been too long since the last time we fought together."

"A gift from Zeus", Kensei explained to the stunned Blue Blur.
"For helping his champion defeat the Titan, Perses, in the year sixteen-fifty four after he was freed by a witless mage."

"But that's a story for another time", Kensei finished as he leaped onto Pegasus' back. The horse reared back and neighed, flapping it's wings. The beast seemed almost excited to charge into battle.

"Are you ready, Matthew?"

 

[trustyside-kick]

OOC: I will be doing this post in third person.

Michael had to get away from it all. He flew from all the destruction that had come to Lost Haven and returned to his apartment: where it was safe...for now. But that didn't matter. At least here he knows he will find some sort of piece. All he can think about, is what he doesn't want to think about.

The death of his girlfriend's baby brother.

So he does what he rarely does, he turns on the television. Michael doesn't normally watch TV given TV's not what it used to be these days, but right about now he will do anything to get his mind off of what had happpened. That isn't easy though when the Earth has been declared the target of an alien invasion. Television's normal programming has been affected and just about every station that isn't a new station is down.

Lying on his couch next to his phone, Michael stares at the answering machine. 6 unread messages. He doesn't want to listen to them. He wants to escape it all. Escape everything; but he can't.

"...Do not let your eyes and ears deceive you, ladies and gentleman. Judgement Day has not come but rather an actual alien invasion. Just hours after the villain who calls himself Ultima broadcasted a live feed, declaring this planet for the people of Arlaaek. They started by taking out our Moon, and made their way to Lost Haven..."

He had checked the caller id log on his phone, one of the phonecalls are from Grace's parents, 1 is from Father Damian, and the other 4 are from Grace herself. But he cannot bring himself to hear the messages.

"...but there is hope. Heroes from around the nation are doing their best to avert the situation at hand. Heroes such as Lost Haven's Icon and the ever so quick Blue Blur along with other heroes have been doing their best efforts to make sure that America and the rest of the world retains their freedom..."

Michael should probably be there right now. He knows he shouldn't have left Lost Haven. Something was definitely not right and he knew it the moment that aliencraft crashed landed and blew to bits right near him and the kids.

But right now? He cannot even pick up the phone and call the woman he loves most to tell her that he held her brother's dead body in his arms. So how can he face the rest of the world--a failed hero--and try to save the day?

"...this just in: it appears that the mysterious guardian of Massachusetts capital, Boston, has been identified. For months this winged angel was nothing more than an urban legend among the people of Boston. He was said to have been seen months ago in Chicago, and in various places around the captial, but never before has it been confirmed. But live video footage and a police report confirm his existence."

"Noo..."

Michael looks at the television, he can see himself on the television, cradling Jake's dead body.

"No! You--You don't touch him. Don't you DARE touch him."

"Come on, son, listen I get it. You couldn't save them. But if there's one thing I've learned in this job--"

"You DON'T get it."

"Son, just let them do their job. That boy has a family, I'm sure--"

"Stay BACK!!"

Michael lies there in shock, and his telephone begins to ring. He doesn't look at it at first, because he cannot stop staring at the television as the live video feed of his tantrum being played. He lifts his knees up on the couch and buries his face in his arms as he crosses them, sobbing.

"It's going to be ok, son...it's going to be ok."

The ringing stops, and Michael's answering machine starts to play.

"Hey, you've reached Michael Angelo. No, not like the famous artist...but someday I hope to be! Leave your name, your number, and message at the beep."

Michael finally looks at answering machine, waiting for someone on the other line to speak. But for a while he just hears...heavy breathing. Then, he hears sobbing. Not a moment too soon does a familiar voice start to record on his answering machine.

"Michael...babe...I-I--...."

"..."

"..."

Michael can then hear the sound of Grace hanging up on the other line. The broadcast on the news station clings Michael's attention once more as the video feed finally stops.

"Police have just identified this guardian angel that has watched over Boston all this time as none other than Artist Michael Angelo. A painter from the Capital of New England, Angelo's work and fame within his hometown has been spiraling. He's been rising way up there with all the big names of his time. Now one can only imagine what will happen now that everyone knows--zzt."

Finally turning off the television, Michael gets up from the couch and starts to pace back and forth in his living room. His eyes locked on his telephone, staring at the small, red, number 7 blinking on his answering machine. He's heard one of the messages...

Maybe it's time to hear the rest. Taking a deep breath, he takes a seat on his couch once again and pushes the button.

You have 7 unread messages. Sunday, August 2nd. 1:16PM. First unread message:

'Michael this is Mr. Daniels. Grace's mother and I were a little bit worried because we drove by church to pick up Jake this afternoon and he wasn't there. We were just calling to see if maybe you or Grace picked her up. She hasn't answered her phone and--'

--Message deleted. Next message. Sunday, August 2nd. 1:27PM.

'Michael, it's me. Hey uh, did you happen to pick up Jake? My mom and dad are calling me like crazy say how they can't find Jake. You take him out bowling again?'

Message deleted. Next message. Sunday, August 2nd. 2:45PM.

'Are you there, babe? It's been almost an hour and a half since I last called. How are you not home yet? We still haven't heard of or seen Jake and my parents are reeaally starting to freak out. I'm driving over to their house now. If you get this message, please call and meet me at my parent's house. Love you.'

Message deleted. Next message. Sunday, August 2nd. 3:04PM.

'Michael. Where the heck are you? Listen. One of Jake's friends who was covering up for him just confessed that Jake never ended up going to Sunday School today. He doesn't know where Jake went, just that Jake wanted him to come with but wouldn't tell him anything about where they were going or what they were going to do. I'm worried, babe. My parents have already sent out a police car to go and--'

--Message deleted. Next message. Sunday, August 2nd. 3:37PM.

'Michael! Michael, my son! Are you home right now? Are you watching the news?! I have been sending my prayers to the Almighty, and my prayers led me to you. If you're not home, I sure hope it is because you are out there, being the Lord's sword and shie--'

--Message deleted. Next message. Sunday, August 2nd. 3:41PM.

'Oh my God...oh..oh my...they found him, Michael. The police have finally found Jake. He's, he's...*sniff*...baby he's...*sniff* *sniff*--'

--Message deleted. Next message. Sunday, August 2nd. 4:52PM.

"Michael...babe...I-I--...."

"..."

"..."

Message deleted. End of messages. For erased, skipped, messages, press--

*RING RING RING*

The phone rings madly, echoing through the apartment. Michael looks at the phone number on the caller id. He cannot bring himself to answer the phone. But he has to. He cannot just hang it up because then Grace will know he's finally home. And there's no way he will let the answering machine get it because he's afraid of what he will hear this time.

*RING RING RING*

He just stares at the phone for a moment. Finally he picks it up.

"...hello?"

 

[Eddie Brock]

THE CITIZEN

FIVE DAYS AGO

"Attention, Mr. Mayor, we will be landing in New Haven in fifteen minutes," the calm voice over the intercom announces. My eyes naturally look up in the direction of the voice before redirecting to the window. In the distance, the New Haven skyline beckons. It feels good to be home. I turn back to the man seated across from me in this private jet.

"Mr. Mayor," the reporter Greg Cobb begins in his soft, almost monotonic voice, "I want to thank you again for this eye-opening interview. And it was so exciting that you accommodated me in such style!" He looks around the interior of my jet - just one perk of being the Mayor. "I didn't want to believe that your down-to-earth nature was more than just a campaigning strategy, but now I know it's who you really are."

I smile warmly. "Thank you, Mr. Cobb. That means a lot." I've always been proud of my levelheadedness. Politics needs more of that. Hell, the world needs more of that. I pick up a glass and display it to Mr. Cobb. "One more drink before we land?"

Mr. Cobb waves his hand. "No, thank you."

I put down the glass and pick up my own. Through the plane's soft turbulence, I pour myself a glass of brandy. I bring the glass to my nose and breathe deeply. Mr. Cobb and I lock eyes, and we laugh warmly. It's been a good day. All that's left is to see my lovely wife. I begin to sip my drink when it happens.

The entire plane rocks with sudden force. The sound of scraping metal rings out through the cabin. My brandy spills out of the glass into the air, and I drop the glass entirely. The sound of it shattering can hardly be heard. My head jerks back, and it slams against the window. The overheard compartments fling open, and luggage rains down from the ceiling. Mr. Cobb takes the worst of it.

Gathering myself, I look out the window. Where the plane's wing once was, there is nothing but smoke. I lean forward and see the wing - as well as a giant rock - plummeting to the ocean below us. The plane banks sharply, and I brace myself against the seats. Mr. Cobb is unconscious, knocked out by one of my bags.

Above New Haven, dozens of similar rocks are falling. It looks like a meteor shower, but I know that's impossible. They burn up in the atmosphere or something. I never paid much attention to astronomy. I bring my focus back to the plane - which is falling out of the sky. I'm not in aviation, but I know that a plane can't fly too well without a wing.

The Amulet feels heavy around my neck. I look down and see that it's glowing. A thought occurs, but I quickly dismiss it. However, it continues to poke at the back of my brain. Something has to be done, or Mr. Cobb, myself, and the pilot are all surely going to die. I get up and make my way cautiously to the front of the jet.

I take a deep breath. "This is crazy," I tell myself. So was jumping off a roof. So was picking a fight with three superpowered beings. You've known where this was leading from the very start. There's no time like the present. I close my eyes. It's true. If there was ever a time to step up, it's now. I believe in fate and reason, and I believe that I didn't get this Amulet for nothing.

I check Mr. Cobb once more. He's still out cold. This is one thing I don't want him putting into the interview. Sighing determinedly, I push open the jet's door. The sudden rush of air nearly sucks me out. I brace myself against the door's frame. I'm looking down at the water. There's no more time for thinking. I have to do this now or never.

I leap out of the plane. Remembering the night on the roof, I will myself into flying. It's getting easier to do every time. I drift underneath the plummeting plane. It's an imposing sight, to say the least. I think I'm strong, but I don't know if I'm this strong. However, I can't just give up without trying.

"Nice and easy," I instruct myself. "Just guide the plane. That's all."

Heh. That's all. Like it's so easy.

I fly up under the plane and place my palms on the underside. The metal is cold. I breathe deeply once more, and I try to push upwards. Nothing seems to happen. I feel myself losing hope. No. Not yet. I try again with more confidence. The plane begins to shift.

"Jesus Christ..."

I strain as hard as my body will allow. The harder I push, the brighter the Amulet glows. Slowly but surely, I begin to right the plane. The ground is approaching quickly, though. Pieces of rock - meteors? - race by on their way to the ground. If I didn't have to save this plane, I'd do something to stop them. One thing at a time, Dave.

"Come on, you son of a..."

I strain so hard that I think my blood vessels are going to pop. Above me, the plane is flying straight - albeit still falling to the ground. Still need to work on that part. I pick out a clear patch of land to guide the plane towards. My arms begin to tremble under the immense weight. I can't afford to do this much longer. My feet skip over the tops of trees as the ground comes up in a hurry.

With one last concentrated burst, I lift the nose of the plane to keep it from driving into the ground. My work done, I quickly duck out from underneath the plane - narrowly avoiding being squashed. The plane kicks up a lot of dirt - and creates a sizable crater in the ground - but it's in one piece. That much, I can take credit for.

And, well, it felt good.

It felt really good.
​

 

[Hound55]

New (i)Zack Swing – Pt 2

As Fontaine strode with irritation around the moving walkways he saw what could only be described as a congregation way up ahead in the Landing Strip Airport Bar. “What a bunch of idiots,” thought Fontaine “as if you hold a function in the frickin’ airport bar. Booze costs a damn fortune, wait til you get to a hotel or something. Geez.” As he got closer it soon became apparent that there was more to this than he first thought. For one thing when people set up a work function in a bar… there’s not normally 200 people gathered around peering into a single, tiny 15 inch TV. Well, outside of major sporting events, of course. As the picture became more evident with each stride his desired drink was very swiftly upgraded from beer to whisky… and from sometime over the next 30 minutes to 15 seconds ago with another whisky chaser in 15 more seconds time.

Isaac was stuck at the back but from what he could tell, between crowd undulations and with audio assistance from some woman with an irritating voice up the front saying what she could see, it was not the Superbowl. Not the Superbowl at all. He could make out a sizeable blob hanging over the city. “Turn it up!” said another man who said what everyone was thinking. The green bars of the volume display quickly turned red across the bottom of the screen and the reporters comments reverberated through the crowd
“…and its unsure exactly what…”
“Oh, and we have movement Diane… and the main “mother” ship, seems they’ve been popping up all over the world, seems to be releasing a few smaller, pod like… OH MY GOD!”
“OH MY GOD!”
[BLACKOUT]“What the fuuu…”[/BLACKOUT]
Isaac’s obscenity is drowned out by the screams of others in the airport.
“Its clear that these… this alien presence has now proven itself to have designs on the Earth without a shadow of a doubt. The… the devastation here at Lost Haven International Airport is horrendous.”

Isaac was suddenly not quite so pissed off that his flight had been diverted an hour and 45 minutes out of his way to the Roosevelt International Airport due to “unpredictable skies”…

And suddenly a single thought washed over the entire mob. They’re cutting off the exits. And the mob sprang to life, Fontaine turned and faced the board… Every flight had been abandoned. And Fontaine began to feel pushing in his chest, the mob in front of him was turning, panicking.

Fontaine turned and ran, with the stampede of hundreds surrounding him it was all he could do. “Run. Run. Run.” That was the single thought going through his head, the mindset of the mob had infiltrated his own.

It was an amazing sensation, his gaze, focused on whoever was in front of him, running to live… suddenly he saw the man in front of stumble, instincts saw to it that Fontaine tried to catch him, grabbing at just underneath the arm and stepping past to try and pull him back to his feet and onward. But the guy behind him had stepped on the man’s ankle, pulling him down until he drowned under the charge of people. Suddenly a new clarity struck Isaac as he realised he had to get out of the mob before he met with a similar fate.

As he worked his way over to the side he could see the toilets coming up ahead on his side of the pack… [BLACKOUT]“Time to get lucky…”[/BLACKOUT] with good timing he dove across toward the bathroom door. As his weight forced the door open people behind him caught his leg and knocked it forward, his thigh driving into the outside frame of the door. He quickly pulled his lower half in and watched the back half of the horde go past whilst the door swung closed behind him.

[BLACKOUT]“They wanted this to happen.”[/BLACKOUT] Fontaine muttered to himself, [BLACKOUT]“Goddamn sons of *****es wanted this. They wanted to see us waste our own lives. They said ‘all over the world’… they could have cut all exits at once, stepped on our throats. They wanted to see panic. Us take ourselves out from this.”[/BLACKOUT] He pulled his pants down from the top to survey the damage, there was a sizeable bruise already starting to form. [BLACKOUT]“Tch”[/BLACKOUT] He made a noise from the side of his mouth [BLACKOUT]“Sadistic bastards.”[/BLACKOUT] Enough of that, he had to focus on what he was dealing with. [BLACKOUT]“Well, one thing’s for sure. They may have delayed hitting everywhere to try and take out more of us, but one thing’s for sure. They will hit here. An airport… too big a strategic target. Guess I’d better get my s### together.”[/BLACKOUT] Fontaine got up gingerly, mainly out of precaution; it wouldn’t have been the first time his legs gave out under him because they were in worse shape than first appeared. Nah. He was fine.

As Fontaine reached the carousel he saw the eerie scene of unattended baggage going around and around the conveyor unclaimed. He grabbed his bags and loaded them on an unattended airport cart and swiftly drove through the deserted terminal. With little idea of exactly what he was up against, he knew one thing; he must be prepared for as many contingencies as possible. He turned his mobile phone on and waited the ten seconds it takes to right itself after being turned off… steering with his right he hit the button for Tony Morris, his financial planner, and hoped like hell Cooktown was too small to be a major target.
“Isaac? Thank God you’re OK, I thought your plane was due to land in…”
[BLACKOUT]“Yeah, I know. We got diverted. They saw this but didn’t know what it was. Now Tony, listen to me. I need you to do something for me. First, is everything alright over there?”[/BLACKOUT]
“Yeah, I’m fine. They hit Grenville hardest (Grenville being the biggest city, this was no surprise) and of course Georgetown (Terraria’s capital) and took out Portsmouth as well. Over here we’ve been fairly safe but we heard word that they’re sending out some ships this way. They’re larger than their regular pods, but they don’t plan on sending a mothership this way from what we can tell.”
[BLACKOUT]“Alright. Tone, I’m going to need cash. I might have to bribe my way out of this town, New Haven has a mother here and its very thorough. I want you to pull strings, I need 400k in the next two hours and I want you to get underground and take some tech and that fancy super-WiFi thing you were showing me that lets you get coverage even in subterranean environments and just get out. Run fast and run deep. I’m counting on you, man. And don’t forget, I need that money. Send it to my Visa.”[/BLACKOUT]
“You take care of yourself, Isaac.”
[BLACKOUT]“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be under a rock.”[/BLACKOUT] Hanging the phone up, he continued

[BLACKOUT]“… looking to drop that rock on the son of a b**** who thought taking this planet was a good idea.”[/BLACKOUT]

 

[Johnny Drama]

I arrive in Central Island, which has already been ravaged by my

soldiers. This is an important site, as here I will raise my ultimate weapon. The most

dangerous piece of Arlaaekean technology ever assembled...

The Eradicator.

I watch as the giant, unmanned vessel lowers from the sky. As it lands it begins to

transform, planting itself into the ground and developing techno-organic roots, digging

deep into the ground and securing itself in place. It's beautiful... It becomes a living sky

scraper of sorts, expanding further and further into the sky.

It has begun... With this...I kill every, living, breathing creature on this planet....

HahahahaHAHAHAHA!!!

After hearing Ultima's threats on the radio I immediately took to the skies to find him, and put an end to this. Flying over Sherman Square, I was startled by yet another familiar voice.

"There's trouble on Central Island."

I stop in midair and an surprised to see the familiar form of Flux floating along beside me.

"What kind of trouble?" I ask, not really sure if I want to know.

"It's Ultima. He's begun preparing to activate The Eradicator. We have to get there now and stop him before it's too late." She tells me.

"The Eradicator? What's that?" I ask as I feel a bit of anxiety creep into my gut.

"It's a doomsday weapon. When its activated, it emits an electromagnetic field that breaks down the molecular make-up of non Arlaaekans. I've seen it used before, nothing it touches survives."

"Then let's make sure that he doesn't get the chance to activate it." I say with a grim determination.

Flux nods in agreement, and together we head straight for Central Island to stop Ultima.

Ultima stands in awe of the The Eradicator, so much power that even he

himself is intimidated.

"Let's see what you've got..."

Ultima begins to fly upwards, towards the highest point.

Near the Eradicators point, there is a rectangular screen, almost like a

small computer monitor.

Ultima presses his hand against the screen and it begins glowing, bright

green. Ultima smiles wildly as a large green orb appears above The

Eradicator.

[blackout]60 minutes until Activation Complete[/blackout] The Eradicators internal speaker proclaims.

"60 minutes? Guess I should find some way to kill some time, hehe"


Just then, Ultima notices someone very familiar in the distance. It's Icon

and Flux, flying towards Ultima with a fierce quickness.

"Well look who it is. This is going to be more fun than I had

originally imagined!" Ultima says as he flies towards them.

_____________________________________________________




Elsewhere, S.T.R.I.K.E General Frank West rummages through the

S.T.R.I.K.E Armory. He has already deployed all of his men, in addition to

the Marines, The Air Force and The Army.

He is fitted in the highest grade tactical armour, The only S.T.R.I.K.E issue

battle suit of it's kind, exclusive to S.T.R.I.K.E General West.

"You really do look good in that" a female voice whispers from behind him.

Frank turns around to see former S.T.R.I.K.E. General and former lover

Natalia Vladovich, who has been recently working for the CIA.

"Natalia, nice to know that it takes an impending apocalypse to get you

to come visit me" Frank says.

"I thought you might like my help, Cowboy..."

"No thanks. Not from you anyway" Frank says as he exits the armory.

He walks towards the garage across the hall, and Natalia follows.

"Come on. Now's not the time to hold grudges, Franklin" She says.

"I think it's the perfect time. I'll be dead by this time tomorrow and now i

can finally die knowing I said this to your face, Natalia... Fu**k you"

Frank responds as he enters the garage. He is shocked to see what

lies before his own eyes.

"I love you too Franky." Natalia says.

"Whoa" Frank replies, channeling his inner Keanu Reeves.

"I figure they have Hover Cars, this might even the odds a bit. I have

been to the future and back, Frank. And it's not pretty for us." She says.

"I thought the thing about you time travellers was that you couldn't

tamper with time. You travelling 200 years into the future, coming home

and bringing back high tech souvenirs, that's tampering." Frank Says

"Then if S.T.R.I.K.E wants to hunt me down, they can. But for now,

I have a war to stop. It's time to change history" She says as she pats

Frank on the chest and walks towards the bike.

"Now hop on, I'll ride b**tch" She says with a smile.

Frank smirks and hops on, without a seconds hesitation..

 

[Johnny Drama]

[BLACKOUT]MERCURY MAN[/BLACKOUT]

I fly through the air with my hands open, crushing every spacecraft I pass

like an empty soda can. This is relatively simple, as my powers involve

magnetic mastery. But I have been doing this all day, and I am getting

damned tired. I don't know how much energy I have left in me.

I come to a sudden stop. The spacecraft in front of me is not like the others,

it's less uniform, more...unique.

I try to use my powers to disassemble the large vessel in front of me,

but it doesn't work. The ship seems to be made up of carbon composite. I

wonder, did these aliens build ships like these in anticipation for metahumans

like me? It doesn't matter, the ship has averted it's attention to me now.

All I can do is run like a dog with it's tail between my legs. My father would

be so proud. I fly away but this is just the beginning, for this ship is following

me, flying as fast as I am..

[YT]ygtNdUuC84U[/YT]

As I fly closer to the ground, the ship is pulling out all the stops. I am shot

with several lazer blasts, most men would be dead after one hit, but thanks

to my liquid metal skin I am alive and kicking. I fly between two buildings

trying to juke him out, as the space between the two buildings is too narrow

for the spacecraft following me. The spacecraft goes through the opening

anyway, destroying the two large structures.

[BLACKOUT]"Oh Come on!"[/BLACKOUT] I say.

I am not sure what I am going to do next.

BOOM

I'm hit with another blast. I don't know how much more I can take. This one

pushes me through a window near the top of a tall skyscraper, and I can't

get up. Through the gaping hole in front of me, i see the ship approaching the

building I am in. I look around and realize that this building has been

evacuated for a while. The ship draws closer and I stand at the edge of the

broken window with my arms open, awaiting the collision. As the ship begins

to collide with the building, I use my powers to rip the ceiling off and I fly out

of the building at the VERY last second. The explosion is close enough to me

that I burn my feet flying away. I smile victoriously. Too bad i didn't notice

the other one behind me. I am shot with another blast and I begin to fall.

Why can't I fly? Am I that fatigued? I have never been so tired that I

completely lost my control over my powers.

Come on, Sandy Witter. Pull it together. You are Mercury Man now, you have

taken up your fathers mantle. The REAL Mercury Man wouldn't go out like this.

I shake it off, and right before I hit the concrete I regain my ability to fly,

and stop myself mid-drop, avoiding a messy death. I lower myself.

What I am about to do is going to take up every last

bit of strength I have left, so here is hoping this 2nd uber-ship is the last.

I open the palm of my hand, and the entire 7-11 gas station n front of me

rises from the ground. Underneath the 7-11 is a large, metal gas tank, with

enough gas to completely destroy Lost Haven. This is obviously heavy, I

don't know if my powers are strong enough to hold this, let alone hurl it into

the approaching ship, as I intend to do. I give it everything I have, I throw

the 7-11 and it's giant gas tank towards the ship faster than I thought I was

even capable of. Collision.

Thank god most of this area is evacuated, as all of eastern Lost Haven is

now destroyed, but thankfully a good majority of spacepods and hover cars

have been destroyed as well. Wow, first day on the job and I am already the

city's savior. But now I am not feeling to good. I have overexerted myself and

can no longer hold human form. I begin to revert back to liquid metal and

instantly melt onto the floor. It is now that I loose all consciousness.

 

[Byrd Man]

"I agree", Kensei replies as he sheathes his blade.

The Blur moved to grab Kensei and depart, but the Swordsman stopped him.

"Thank you, but I can manage the trip on my own this time."

He didn't like the super speed travel. For some odd reason, it didn't sit well with Kensei.
Besides, he had a special item for just these situations.

Reaching into a pouch inside his tunic, Kensei produced a small Pegasus figurine and placed it on the ground.

"Come to me, my friend. For I have need of you, and the situation is most dire."

No sooner did Kensei finish, then a dark, glowing mist began to seep from the figurine. Quickly the mist swirled like a tornado, growing larger and higher. A bolt of purple lightning crackled inside the swirling cloud, followed by a loud sound of thunder.

And after the thunderclap, the mist began to dissipate. And, materializing from the haze was one of the most magnificent steeds in the world. The horse snorted and shook it's head as it stretched it's feathered wings.

Kensei walked up to it with a smile, gently patting it's head.

"I have missed you, my friend. It has been too long since the last time we fought together."

"A gift from Zeus", Kensei explained to the stunned Blue Blur.
"For helping his champion defeat the Titan, Perses, in the year sixteen-fifty four after he was freed by a witless mage."

"But that's a story for another time", Kensei finished as he leaped onto Pegasus' back. The horse reared back and neighed, flapping it's wings. The beast seemed almost excited to charge into battle.

"Are you ready, Matthew?"

"Ummm.....I...a...that's a flying horse?......"

I shake my head at super-speed to knock the cobwebs out.

"Anyway. Yeah, let's do it." I say as I take off towards the battle.

 

[NiteMare Shape]

As Flux and I fly toward the massive Eradicator, I can't help but to feel a sense of awe, and dread. It feels as if we've been fighting this war for an eternity. I'm sore, tired, my entire body is screaming at me to stop and rest. But I know that I can't, if I do...who knows how many more people will die.

Suddenly I'm reminded of a Robert Frost poem that I red my senior year in high school. The exact words escape me at the moment, but it ends with, "But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep. And miles to go before I sleep." Those words didn't mean much to me when I had first read them. But now I have but them into a new context, and the meaning of those words have never been more poignant. So with Flux at my side, I fly toward the Eradicator, and another confrontation with Ultima.

Flux and I come to a stop in front of Ultima, who is standing at what looks to be some sort of control console.

"Ultima, I know what you're planning. And you know that there is no way that I'm going to allow you to go through with it."

​

 

[Johnny Drama]

As Flux and I fly toward the massive Eradicator, I can't help but to feel a sense of awe, and dread. It feels as if we've been fighting this war for an eternity. I'm sore, tired, my entire body is screaming at me to stop and rest. But I know that I can't, if I do...who knows how many more people will die.

Suddenly I'm reminded of a Robert Frost poem that I red my senior year in high school. The exact words escape me at the moment, but it ends with, "But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep. And miles to go before I sleep." Those words didn't mean much to me when I had first read them. But now I have but them into a new context, and the meaning of those words have never been more poignant. So with Flux at my side, I fly toward the Eradicator, and another confrontation with Ultima.

Flux and I come to a stop in front of Ultima, who is standing at what looks to be some sort of control console.

"Ultima, I know what you're planning. And you know that there is no way that I'm going to allow you to go through with it."

"Well hello to you to, Icon. And you brought a friend! Hiya, Chrissy. It's been a long time, now hasn't it?" Ultima says with a grin.

"You've made a huge mistake, Ultima. Have you already forgotten how this ended last time?" Icon asks.

Flux looks up to see the large, green, glowing orb hovering above The Eradicator. She then looks to Icon.

"Icon, He has already activated The Eradicator...." Flux says with terror in her voice.

"Yep yep yep! You are too late I am afraid..." Ultima says with a grin.

[BLACKOUT]55 minutes untill Activation Complete[/BLACKOUT]

"But hey, look at the bright side, Chrissy! You get to live to watch your beloved humans die a slow, painful death!" Ultima exclaims.

"You! You are a human being, Ultima, You are Chris Kennedy. You are not a monster, Arlaaek made you into this but we can help you. Deactivate The Eradicator, Chris..." Flux says with terror in her voice.

"Listen to her, Ultima. You can avoid a beating as brutal as the last one I gave you. I don't want to..." Icon says before being interrupted. Ultima disappears in a flash, teleporting right in front of Icon and delivering earth shattering blow to his jaw. Icon is caught severely off guard and Ultima riddles Icon with a barrage of punches, a flurry so fast and powerful Icon begins to wonder if this is the same man he originally defeated.

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!!!! You didn't beat me, I am STILL ALIVE! That's how it ends, one of us DEAD!" Ultima yells as he continues his assault on Icon.

Ultima swings Icon by the foot, like a cyclone ripping through the air. He releases the hero, hurling him into the ground.

"NOOOO!!!..." Flux screams.

"Let's see how those Anger based powers of yours work, huh sweety?" Ultima says before he rushes towards Flux.

She is flying towards him as well. She is nervous, if she had any fear based abilities, they sure would come in handy now.
Ultima tackles her mid air, knocking all the wind out of her.
She is no match for him, she knows it. Her best hope is to keep him busy until Icon gets back into the fray.

"Let's take a trip, Chrissy!" he says before teleporting away with Flux

"NOOOO!!!..." Flux screams before disappearing.

*BAMF!*



Icon is falling towards the floor, slightly unconscious. He can't snap out of it in enough time and meets the concrete with a powerful impact.

"Ugh..." He mutters. Ultima is now stronger, faster and, as Icon suddenly
realizes, Gone.

6 hover cars pull up to Icon as he struggles to get back on his feet.
The butterfly doors open up like something out of Back To The Future. 6 Arlaaekians exit in Battlesuits. But These suits are different, they look more...advanced. The armor looks heavier, made of metals from out of this world.

"ICON OF THE PLANET EARTH. YOU ARE MARKED FOR TERMINATION." The ringleader says as he approaches.

"No thanks..." He says as he gets up.

"I am not dyeing, not today..."

The menacing Aliens circle in on Icon, who is using all the energy he has to stand on his own two feet.

[BLACKOUT]50 minutes until Activation Complete[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]TO BE CONTINUED[/BLACKOUT]

 

[Johnny Drama]

Ultima holds tightly onto Flux as they travel through the stars. They are in The Astral Plane, the space between spaces, the place Ultima goes whenever he teleports.

"You are too scared to even channel any of your powers. This is too cute" Ultima says

"I am not scared of you, Ultima" Flux says nervously.

BAMF!

They exit the astral plane, teleporting back to Central Island. Icon is seen in the distance, battling the 6 Arlaaekian Exterminators. He is a little too distracted to notice Ultima and Flux's return.


"Your not scared of me? PLEASE." Ultima says, slamming her into the ground.

"If you weren't scared of me, then you would be using your little "mood" powers on me. Those will be nice to have, after I "pick your brain" for a bit, hehe"


"My father won't allow you to..."

"Your father turned his back on you, Chrissy. And then you went ahead and joined the human race. Lord Cyrax wants you to die with the rest of them. And when he arrives, I will have you and Icons heads presented to him on a ceremonial dish with parsley and parsnips!"

Flux stands at her feet, she is becoming increasingly angered, her face forms a scowl and Ultima smiles in response.

"YES! Get angry, Chrissy. Show me what you've got, babydoll!"

"You are a monster, Ultima. I can't believe I used to love you..."

"You still love me. That's why this is so hard for you..."

BAMF!

Ultima appears in front of Flux and delivers an uppercut to the chin. Blood flies from her mouth as she falls to her knees.

"But I am trying to make this easy for you, Sweetheart. HATE ME! GET ANGRY!!" Ultima yells as he delivers another blow to Flux's head.

With that hit, Flux's eyes begin to glow. Ultima has gotten his wish, Flux is officially pissed off.
She uses her telekinetic powers to push Ultima away, propelling him into the adjacent building. Flux stands, and everything around her, fire hydrants, street lights,garbage,and stop signs, violently swirl in the air like raging tornado.

"This ends now. I won't let you kill these people..."

Ultima gets up and dusts himself off

"THESE PEOPLE!?! These people are insects. Do you know most of them only live to be 70 years old!?! What quality of life do you have in 70 years?" Ultima yells

Flux uses her telekinesis to pull Ultima closer, meeting him with an elbow to the temple.

"YOU ARE HUMAN! WHAT DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?..."

"I LOST my humanity when I entered that wormhole in 1970"

Flux pulls her fist back for another punch. She throws it, but Ultima catches her fist. He delivers an open palm to Flux's nose, with so much brute force he breaks it. Blood rushes over her mouth as she stumbles and falls backwards.

"All those years trying to 'rehabilitate' me, and I pretended that I wanted to be rehabilitated, that I wanted to be saved. You must still feel hurt over that. Please tell me you didn't come to earth just for me..."

"t-to s-stop you..."

Ultima stands over Flux, smiling in her inevitable defeat.

"You fail. Epically." Ultima says as neals over her. He brushes the hair out of her face, leans in and gives her a kiss on the lips. Flux begins crying, tears and blood streaming down her face.

Then Ultima delivers the first of many punches to Flux's face.

Punch, after punch, after punch....

[BLACKOUT]TO BE CONTINUED[/BLACKOUT]

 

[Johnny Blaze]

Pegasus bucked and took to the skies.

Kensei felt the wind rush past his face as the magical horse rushed towards Central Island and the commotion that was ensuing there.

The Swordsman sees the massive, alien tower in the distance and three figures confronting each other before it.

Suddenly, one of the figures attacks the other, pummeling them into oblivion before launching him into the ground below.

Kensei reaches back, grabs one of the white arrows of Bishamonten, and knocks it into his bow.
Taking aim at the attacker, Kensei lets the arrow fly. But the man vanishes along with the female a split second before the arrow would have buried into his chest.

"Damnation", Kensei swears to himself as he spurns Pegasus on.

Alien vehicles now surround the injured hero as he struggles to get to his feet. Kensei steels his gaze as he focuses on one of the alien soldiers approaching the hero.

A whoosh of air signals the release of the magical arrow, and the crunching sound of metal and bone ring out as it slams into the alien's neck, a fountain of blood spewing from the wound.

The remaining aliens turn their attentions to the sky as Izanagi's Chosen leaps from his steed and land's on his feet before the injured hero.

His blade drawn, Kensei flicks his wrist, lopping off the head of the downed alien soldier he had shot with the arrow.

The others regain their composure quickly and advance on the Swordsman and the hero behind him.

"I hope you are still able to fight", Kensei says as he takes a defensive stance as the aliens raise their weapons and prepare to open fire.

 

[Byrd Man]

The remaining aliens turn their attentions to the sky as Izanagi's Chosen leaps from his steed and land's on his feet before the injured hero.

His blade drawn, Kensei flicks his wrist, lopping off the head of the downed alien soldier he had shot with the arrow.

The others regain their composure quickly and advance on the Swordsman and the hero behind him.

"I hope you are still able to fight", Kensei says as he takes a defensive stance as the aliens raise their weapons and prepare to open fire.

The guns that rest in the soldier's hands disappear.

They look down nervously as I come to a stop next to Kensei and Icon.

"I think I may have evened the playing field."

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"Very good, Blue Blur", Kensei smiles in pride at his former pupil.

The aliens suddenly look a bit hesitant.

Good, Kensei thinks to himself.

Out of the alien's armored hands, glowing energy blades shoot out with a snap-hiss.

"Excellent. I was hoping you would make this interesting."

The Swordsman charged the nearest alien, ducking under a swipe and side-stepping a chopping blow. Spinning behind the alien, Kensei brings the Kusanagi down onto the alien's head at an angle.
In one clean stroke, the alien's cranium is split in two and the creature drops to it's knees, dead.

The other troops charge in at the heroes, the furious final battle beginning.

 

[Eddie Brock]

THE CITIZEN

"You need to say something," Katherine urges. "You're the Mayor. The public needs to hear from you."

My eyes are affixed on the sky through the window. For five endless days, my city - our planet - has been ravaged by invaders from another world. And while our heroes have gone to work, I have been regrettably idle. It's like I'm living in a trance ever since the plane incident.

"I wouldn't know what to say," I reason. I know that now is no time to be making excuses. As Katherine has pointed out, I'm the Mayor. It's my job to have answers. "I don't know what's going on any more than anyone else."

Katherine lays a gentle hand on my shoulder. "No one expects you to," she assures me. "They just want to know that you're doing something."

Doing something. What can I do? Hold a press conference and tell the city that, like them, I'm terrified? Organize a fund raiser for the families of the millions of dead men and women? My position comes with power, but in the wake of this tragedy, it's not enough. As Mayor, I cannot right these wrongs.

A battle erupts over the city. Icon is engaged by multiple alien opponents. I'm sure he doesn't feel useless. Within moments, Icon is joined by a man on a flying horse. I recognize his companion. It's the Blue Blur of Chicago. Another man who has taken the world's safety into his hands. These are the men that the public wants to see. Not me.

"I have to do something," I announce determinedly. I turn around, and Katherine gives me a weak smile. I pick up my jacket from the back of my chair. "I'm going out there, and I'm going to do something."

Katherine rests her hand on my chest. It's mere inches away from the Amulet. "Will you call Tom and arrange a press conference?" she asks hopefully.

I shake my head. "Later," I explain. I kiss her once on the forehead before crossing the office in a brisk pace. I begin to put my jacket on.

"So, what are you doing, then?"

"I don't know, Katherine," I admit as I pass through the doorway. "I don't know." I maintain my pace down the hallway, my brow furrowed in thought. I stopped a plane from crashing. I flew. This day was going to come eventually. I even made some preparations for it. I just never thought I'd go through with it.

***

As I soar through the air, all I can hear is the sound of the wind rushing past and my cape flapping wildly. My eyes are squinted in determination. The raging battle is just above me. I lock my arms to my sides, gaining even more speed. The tips of the skyscrapers are far below me now. I begin to rotate slowly as I approach my target: an unsuspecting alien warrior. I stretch out my arms and drive my clenched fists into his chest.

And, damn, it feels good.
​

 

[wiegeabo]

Then...

"Ok Darren. You just have to concentrate. Just focus on the gland and make it work."

"What do think I've been doing for the last two days?! I can't even feel the thing inside me. How am I supposed to make it work if it doesn't feel like it's inside me?"

"I know it's tough Darren, but if mice can do this, then you can."

"Oh, way to pep me up, Kevin. Compare me to more successful mice. Maybe if you guys would actually tell me what the gland was supposed to do."

Kevin laughs. "You know what I mean. And you no we can't do that. Now close your eyes." I glare at him. "Just do it."

I sigh with frustration. "Fine." I close my eyes.

"Ok, just listen to the sound of my voice. Focus on your breathing. In and out. That's it. In and out. Feel every part of your body as if it's for the first time."

I peek one eye open. "What?"

"It's called meditation."

"Oh, just great. You're going metaphysical on my ass?"

"Just relax, Darren."

"Easier said than done." I look at my reflection in the mirror. "It'd be easier if the fat man wasn't glaring at me through that. Oh, yeah. I know you're there."

"Darren!" The sound of Kevin's voice snaps me back. "Just. Focus." I nod and close my eyes, focusing on my breathing. "That's right. In and out. Now feel every part of your body as if it's for the first time." I focus and try to do that, listening to every sensation my body produces. "Every part...including your gland. Because it's a part of you now. Can you feel it, Darren?"

"I...I think so." I actually think I do. It's like a spot that's both cold and warm at the same time.

"Good." I can tell Kevin's leaning forward. "Now concentrate on that spot. And with your mind, make it work. Squeeze it, force it, make it do what it's supposed to do. What you want it to do."

"I can feel it...I can feel it...I can..." I concentrate with everything I have. I'm so close. I know it's there. I know it! "THERE!" I shout with excitement.

Kevin and I sit motionless for a few seconds. "Well?"

"...I got nothing." I say, defeated.

Suddenly, the door burst open and the fat man stomps in. "Oh for the love of-!" In one swift motion he whips out his gun and pulls the hammer back, pointing it right at my head.

"HOLY ****!" And then...everything gets weird.

My heart races as I leap back against the wall. I feel the adrenaline pumping. And then my skin feels cold. Cold and warm at the same time. And slick. And then everything suddenly loses color, as if I'm looking at a black and white movie. It all happens in a couple of seconds.

"What the-?!" I look at my hands...and their glowing. I look in the mirror and my whole body looks like it's just made of light.

"What are you doing?!" Kevin shouts in anger.

The Director smiles smugly and puts his gun away. "Like your research says, Doctor. The gland is tied to his adrenal glands. I decided to give them a little stimulation."

"You bastard! That's not part of the protocol."

"I've changed the protocol."

"Uh...guys...what just happened?"

The Director looks at me, sort of. "Congratulations, Mr. Cole. You are now officially The Invisible Man."

 

[Hound55]

New (i)Zack Swing Pt 3

As the cart hooned ever closer to the exit the carnage of the mob became more evident dead bodies started to appear, scattered across the terminals wide corridors and sprawled in an uncomfortable fashion in increasing amount. Fontaine slowed the cart not knowing how it might handle running over an errant limb and heard a low groan up ahead and to his left. Manoeuvring the cart towards the murmur he tried to make out which of the motionless bodies had been making the noise, found the culprit and lifted them onto the back of the luggage cart. He then saw another up ahead in the same circumstance, sighing he crawled the cart onwards in that direction.

15 minutes later.

The cart was growing heavy and less responsive under the weight of so many injured, Fontaine’s luggage was now resting directly behind him and the flat bed luggage carriages were reserved for those seriously hurt. He had a guy called Mikey riding shotgun and he would not shut up. A small part of Isaac wished that Mikey were more hurt so that he would have the excuse to dump him in the back and be done with him. But he was pretty sure that he people back there had already suffered enough. He approached a woman cradling a child moaning loudly in despair. Obviously her child had been crushed in the stampede like most of these people and with 5 seconds of pity he endeavoured to get this woman on the carriage. He asked her to leave her child and get on the cart. Wailing ensued. He calmly told her
[BLACKOUT]“There’s nothing we can do for her now. She’s dead. Put him down and get on the cart.”[/BLACKOUT]
More wailing. With frustration boiling through his veins he barked
[BLACKOUT]“LOOK! THIS CART IS FOR THE LIVING! ITS FAST FILLING UP AND WHAT HAPPENED TO LOST HAVEN INTERNATIONAL COULD HAPPEN HERE AT ANY MINUTE! PUT THE DAMN KID DOWN AND GET ON THE F***ING CART!”[/BLACKOUT]
Empathy was beyond him at this point. It was 6:30 in the morning, he’d had a piss-poor sleep on the plane, he’d almost been killed himself, he’d lugged an average of 80kg of flesh onto a cart approximately 20 times already and he knew, no matter what followed, that he would be putting himself through many restless days until things were set right.
[BLACKOUT]“SO HELP ME I WILL KNOCK YOU OUT AND PUT YOU ON THIS CART, NOW DROP IT AND GET ON!”[/BLACKOUT]
Mikey spoke up “Man, that’s not necessary… don’t you think that’s a little out of line?”
Another woman tried to turn matters “Who put you in charge of the cart!” she hissed.
[BLACKOUT]“Well, I thought it was around the time I grabbed the cart for my stuff… Who put you ON the car?”[/BLACKOUT]
Fontaine didn’t have time for this…
[BLACKOUT]“We have to have order here… we don’t have room for the dead, if she has her dead kid on then we’re going to have to make room for all of the dead ANYONE cares about, the cart will fill up and there’ll be no room for people who CAN be helped.”[/BLACKOUT]
Fontaine knew what he was saying made sense and was logical… but he also knew these people could care less about logic. They’d been through a traumatic experience which was completely out of the ordinary for them and there would be little rationality going through their minds. He had to change things.
[BLACKOUT]“Alright. Mikey here’s in good condition. He can do what I’ve been doing and clearly he’s a bit more to what you need. You want him to run this, then he can run this.”[/BLACKOUT]
With that Fontaine grabbed his luggage from the back and swiftly made for the exit. He had no time for this, and time was invaluable at this point.

 

[Hound55]

New (i)Zack Swing Pt 4

Fontaine approached the exit sucking a lot of air down. He’d run non-stop and while he couldn’t feel the burn he knew it was hitting him as his body was forcing him to slow down. He stepped through the hole in the door where the rampaging mob must have hit the exit… all of the glass in the doors had shattered and there was a great deal of blood and broken glass. Not to mention the number of lifeless bodies had increased the closer he got to the exit.

Stepping out towards the curb he realised how hard his job would be. Not a cab in sight… they’d obviously high-tailed it out seeing the swarm of panicking people.

Nothing was ever easy.

He thought for a second and made his way over to the bus terminal, Roosevelt International was one of those airports which ran its own private bus service and for once he’d lucked out. Opening one of his bags he put his leather gloves on, he had no inners since he thought it cheap enough to buy more if he’d ever need them and too hard to explain should he be questioned. With gloves on he broke through the glass door of the office and tried to turn the door handle. It was deadlocked. Another sigh. After 5 years of doing this he thought he’d have learned nothing was as easy as it seemed in the movies, and with that he stepped back and made short work of the rest of the glass with his boot. Emerging 5 minutes later with a spool-ful of keys. Loading his things onto a bus he started it and edged out towards the street, with one final look back at the terminal and with a thought for those injured on the cart he gave a final sigh, uttered damn it and drove it back around in front of the terminal, grabbing his stuff and running back to the bus depot removing the key from the spool and putting it back in the ignition.
[BLACKOUT]“I’ll catch the next one.”[/BLACKOUT] He muttered to himself.

Five minutes later he was driving another bus down the empty streets of the Haven

The bus whinnied to a stop like a horse from a cowboy film of old… And a figure revealed itself. It had taken him an hour and 15 to reach the inner city… He’d done well to cut a half hour off considering his choice of transport… But he’d lost most of that trying to find a hardware store in the inner-city. Walking into the bus he felt it unlikely they’d be able to fill all his needs, but he’d get by. He’d always get by.

Hup… no harpoon guns, that was what he thought would be the one he wouldn’t be able to get, not a lot of spear fishing done around the Haven apparently. No matter, there’d been a few ideas he’d wanted to try anyway…

20 Minutes later he left with materials, tools and a new hope.

Two hours later the bus would be found parked 4 blocks out in the open from Crazy Larry’s Discount Cars. Crazy Larry was still pilfering his dodgy wares to all and sundry even in the face of Armageddon… his desire to shaft fellow humans until the bitter end was to be admired.

4 hours later a crappy, non-descript fawn Oldsmobile which had some minor issues with squealing brakes and an engine which could occasionally overheat if left idling too long was parked out the front of the nice plush house Fontaine had agreed to rent for two weeks (which would likely need be extended…). Its new owner inside working with newly bought tools.

10 hours later the project would be complete in a rough sense… some work would be required to fine tune.

13 hours and various holes scattered around the perimeter fence (and a cherry tree) later and the fine tuning was complete.

His new grapple gun was complete… and had a few advantages to his old one. Where his old version was a modified harpoon gun, this one was an airgun, built to fire something which looked like a light craft’s anchor or a very sizeable grappling claw. Whilst it was larger and thereby more cumbersome it allowed him to use a thicker rope, which would make it easier and quicker to climb, it also had the added benefit of possible use as a captive bolt gun (in case he ever chose to release his inner Anton Chigurh) and he’d used some washers and metal dowling from the hardware store to create some bolts for the gun. He’d created both pointed bolts and a dozen mushroom-tipped bolts. The gun had a nub which the rope could be looped and hung from. Whilst it was large (it was the size of an old time tommy gun) and a lot more cumbersome, it’d get the job done.

Fontaine went inside, ate, bathed and slept.

As the world fell down all around him Fontaine would sleep. He’d not get much of a chance to in the days to come…

 

[trustyside-kick]

OOC: Previously...
(I will be switching back over to first person)

The other end is silent for a moment, but I can hear Grace's sniffing in the background. She finally tries to speak, but her words are muffled and unclear as she just cannot stop crying. I hear her make one final, strong, sniff and she clears her throat.

"Michael..."

"Listen, Grace. I--I...I did my best to save Jake I swear. There was this nutjob wacko named Madlove and--"

"How could you lie to me all this time? How could you--and then you go and risk your life like that all the time?"

This is so complicated. So very complicated. See, in your cliched superhero comicbook when the superhero's girlfriend finally figures or finds out his secret identity everything is all good and well. The girlfriend is all understand and not at all hurt, but relieved to finally not have to wonder and worry about what's really going on behind her back.

But this is the real world. And in the real world, nothing is ever so simple.

"I mean how--how do you even have those abilities? Where did my boyfriend Michael go and this this...Angel come from?"

"It's Archangel, actually. But Grace, listen, I can swing by and explain everything ok? I will put my clothes on right now, drive down and--"

"You think I have time for that right now, Michael? My brother just died. This...this is why you wouldn't marry me, isn't it? You're worried that with you playing 'superhero' that somehow I'm going to get hurt, isn't it?"

My mouth is silent. That's only the tip of the iceberg. I know I just said over the phone to her that I'd swing by and explain it all but I just remembered...I can't. But at the same time, the entire United States just saw my mug on the television. So does that make what Bath Kol told me kinda invalid?

No, Michael. Grace is right. My biggest worry was defying God's will when really it's what just happened. My girlfriend's little brother just died...maybe because of me. Maybe if I hadn't defied the warnings of Bath Kol and Uriel...maybe if I hadn't tracked down Jake and got involved with this Madlove fiasco.

Maybe Jake would still be alive. That alien saucer that crash landed would've still hit, but maybe Jake and those other kids wouldn't have been at that very scene. Maybe those kids wouldn't have died.

I don't give her an answer, and she's no longer silent on the other line waiting for one.

"Well you don't have to worry about that any longer, Mr. Superhero. It's over. We...are over."

She hangs up so fast. I didn't expect her to hang up so fast. I'm standing still in complete shock. I tell myself that it's just an impulse. She's just angry. Girls can be so highly unstable and do this kinda stuff all the time.

But that's when it hits me: Grace has never made a comment like that before.

There's been fights. Oh...there's been fights. Plenty of arguments with us practically at each other's throats, but not once has Grace ever made a threat against our relationship. So that's why I'm dialing as fast as I can to call her back. But all I get is her voicemail; she immediately pressed the ignore button on her cell no doubt. I call again; same outcome. I'm starting to cry now, whispering to myself that it cannot be over. I cannot lose both Grace and her brother in the same day; I can't.

I call. Voicemail. I call again. Part of me probably just keeps calling because if I call and even if it is her voicemail, at least I can hear her voice. I keep praying in my head as I listen to the voice recording that she will finally pick up the phone.

I call again...and I just hear the same voicemail:

"Hi, this is Grace. Sorry I wasn't able to get to the phone in--Michael...Michael! Haha! Stop it! Sorry I missed you. Just leave your name and number and I wil get right back to--haha Michael will you cut it out?"
​

*beep*

My mouth is silent, and her voicemail records nothing as I remain on the line. I wait a few moments, standing in complete disbelief of what just happened. Her voicemail cuts in with that darn annoying message saying how the record time for leaving a message has been passed. I drop the phone on the couch, leaving it off the line. I just lost the love of my life and her young brother in one day. To top it off, the Earth as we know it is in for its last few hours of freedom. Any second could mark the end of it. Heroes gather around fighting the inevitable. There's no hope anymore. No faith in our survival.

I...have no Faith in our survival.

What a life.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

]Dylan continues to watch from the Newscopter. Like a King watching others fight in his name he delviers pronouncements and still maintains a cool-level headed approach.

Until he sees a stretcher being loaded into an amubulance carrying...Brenda.

Dylan's eyes widen in horror and he says to the pilot, "Get us down now!"

Jamie the Newsroom producer says, "Mr. Chambers what's wrong?"

Dylan says, "I saw something."

The pilot replies, "There is nowhere really for us to land safely sir!"

Dylan then glares at him with his eyes almost turning red and says, "Find the nearest roof top and set us down NOW!"

The pilot says without heistation, "Right away sir."

They set down and Dylan bolts from the copter.

He uses his mindpowers to accelarate his speed to get to the ambulance.

Dylan reaches the ambulance and asks, "How is she?"

The attendant immediately recognizes him and says, "Mr. Chambers it's too soon to tell. It's hard to say"

Dylan says, "Tell me the truth."

He replies, "She lost a lot of blood and her heart is badly damaged. Chances are likely by the time we get to the hospital they'll catagorize her as priority 3. Meaning she'll be just a step above being declared dead."

Dylan says, "You will let ride to the hospital with you."

They reach the hospital and Brenda is rushed into a trauma room.

Dylan sees the Hospital Adminstrator Dr. Harrison Kemp going over orders with other medical staff. Dylan taps Kemp on the shoulder and Kemp looks right at him.

He says, "Dr. Kemp a word with you in private."

Kemp says, "Of course Mr. Chamber the least we can do for one of our biggest donors."

Dylan says, "My secretary Brenda Gallgado was just brought in she is in critical condition."

Dr. Kemp says, "We'll do what we can."

Dylan says, "You will do everything you can for her. You will spare no expense you will go above and beyond the call of duty. You call in whoever you have to to save her. You will devote every resource you have to her. You take charge of her care personally. She is your only patient. You will keep me apprised at all times."

Dr. Kemp says, "You can count on me."

Dylan replies, "Good. I'll be waiting. I have other matters that I must attend to may I use your office?"

Dr. Kemp says, "By all means."

Dylan takes the Keys to Dr. Kemp's office and begins calling Brenda's family.

 

[Spike_x1]

-The Architect-

As Zaine Black swallowed his eighth cup of coffee in the last two hours, he finally began to consciously put the finishing touches on his masterpiece. Lord, this has got to be the most ridiculous, yet desperately needed, project that I've ever conceived, he thought as the wireframe blueprints rotated on his monitor. "Computer, carry plans for Gravity-1 over to the holo-projection."

Instantly, the computer responded by projecting an interactive hologram of blueprints, realized on a 3D plane. Stepping towards it, Zaine crouched underneath of the projection to casually inspect the underside as his MP3 player blared 80s rock into his ears. "Mhm, this should do nicely," he mumbled to himself. Suddenly, the music player cut short and fizzled out.

"I should hope so, Mister Black."

Startled by the voice from the shadows, Zaine almost fell off his feet. This was a long abandoned STRIKE base deep within a cave in the Canadian wilderness that he himself had outfitted to be even more impenetrable that it had been before. The walls vibrated at an ultrahigh frequency that canceled out any would-be intruders who would otherwise be capable of phasing through solid matter (there's a few of those guys out there), and a quantum field disruptor also blocked anyone from teleporting inside. How could anyone manage to get inside the Architect's lair without his knowledge or consent? "WHO'S THERE?!" he demanded.

Ignoring the question, a large frame covered in an otherworldly dark cloak stepped into the light. "It's too late to do anything about the damage already wrought to our planet by the changes in gravity from the moon's destruction, but what you're doing here is a very good first step back to normalcy."

Regaining his composure, Zaine ran his fingers through his hair and pushed his glasses back up. "You're the Reaper, right? I've heard about you. You're here to set yourself up as my puppetmaster too?"

"Oh, I already am pulling your strings. Have been for a good while now. No, I'm here today to tell you to take your plans for replacing the moon's lost gravity to the President of the United States. Mister Blake will be more than accommodating for the funds and manpower you will need to put Gravity-1 into action."

"President Blake, huh?"

 

[trustyside-kick]

I've been standing on the rooftop of the apartment complex for minutes now. Grace hasn't bothered calling me back on my cell, and I gave up on calling her a while ago. She's not going to listen to me. There's nothing I can do right now.

My God...I've lost her.

I look to the distance, looking at the general direction of all the chaos. Just a few states away, yet the skies paint a horrid picture that would let anyone looking know that something is not right in Lost Haven.

These...Arlaaekans have declared their war on the Earth wanting to be the only ones left standing to reign supreme over whatever is left. What hope is there? How can anyone have Faith...in anything? Religions clash and some even bicker and fight over who is right. But now? In the end? Will it even matter? I haven't met Him directly, but I've been shed more than enough light to know that God is real.

"And he's forsaken me...I can't beat this. I can't--uh...UUUUHH ARRGGH!!"

The mark of Faith on my back starts to tingle. Why is it tingling? I didn't...do anything. It starts to ignite and burn so bright...my Gosh, I've never felt this before. Never before has the fire on my back burned to strong. I--I...

Everything suddenly goes black for me. For some reason, I'm transformed into the Archangel State and...yea, I don't recall doing that. I can no longer see the skies, although in a way that's a blessing. Nor do I see the roofing of the building as I look down at my fight. What the heck is--

Michael...you've become a sheep who has wandered away from The Shepherd.

I turn around and--woah...I see an angel. Better yet, I see an Archangel...THE Archangel.

"Metatron."

I drop to my knees, unsure of what I'm actually seeing. He's the angel that watches over me and blesses me this day, so I can kinda grasp what's happening...but when I sought out Uriel it was nothing like this. I...felt I could see Uriel as he spoke to me...but right now I KNOW I'm seeing Metatron's spirit.

You've become overwhelmed with the situation at hand, so different from your safe routine of light, which has discouraged you and caused you to question He who is Almighty.

"Yes. My...my girlfriend's little brother. He died, and I was entirely powerless to save him. If anything...it was my fault."

No, it is not your fault Michael. What has transpired, has simply been God's Will. Everything and anything that occurs in this world, is crafted by Him. You should have heeded the words of Bath Kol, Michael. You should have listened to the wisdom Uriel tried to bestow upon you. You had accepted all of the blessings from Uriel, except for what was most important.

"DON'T you talk to me about God's Will. I've had about ENOUGH of hearing about God's Will. So, it's God's Will that I'm suffering? So...it's God's Will that I have been brought to the brink of damn near--"

Do not dare finish that sentence. I am well aware of what you feel, which is why I have come to you rather you come to me in your time of need. But do not swear to me, Michael. And You are merely a vessel, I am--

"Yea! I know who you are! The Metatron! The 'throne beside the throne of God'. I don't care WHO you are!! YOU DON'T KNOW MY LOSS! YOU'RE AN ANGEL!! YOU...YOU DO NOT KNOW LOVE! YOU DON'T KNOW LOSS! Y-Y--YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING! YOU'RE A MINDLESS SERVANT OF GOD! ME? I'VE GOT A MIND OF MY OWN!"

He no longer floats all 'high and mighty'-like as he did before. Not sure if it's what I said or what. Maybe I actually did it. Maybe I actually pissed off an angel. If so? I just pissed off the wrong angel. But frankly? Right now I don't care. There's nothing he can say that will change my train of thought.

"I've...I've fought my best, I--I've...I've carried out God's will and I...I CAN'T do it anymore. You're one of the angels who bless me. Today is the day you, The Angel of Thought, bestows upon me powers that...that I don't deserve. TAKE them from me. PLEASE! I DON'T WANT THIS ANYMORE!!"

There's one thing I've come to know about angels through my experiences with Bath Kol: they don't seem to experience much emotion. Not sure if they simply cannot feel, or if they are just so devoted to God that they do not reflect upon what they could be thinking or feeling.

But...to my surprise, a look of concern comes across The Metatron as he gently places his hand upon my shoulder.

You do not have a choice, Michael. God is the ultimate painter. He paints the entire world.

The blackness seems to go away, looking like it's all being sucked towards one point that appears right behind some rectangular object. It looks like my painting...it...is my painting: Leap of Faith. As he speaks to me his last words, he too starts to fade away, but his words while they whane in volume...echo with such brilliance that I actually hear them as though he was standing right next to me.

You're used to holding the brush. Once you finally learn to let Him hold it for you...the rewards will be endless...

And like that, in an instant, the image of The Metatron goes away. I look around, and can see the city of Boston once again. I can hear the cars driving around the streets. I can see...the sky once more. I ascend, letting my angel-fire wings take me up, trying to take in Metatron's words.

He said...that once I learn to let go control of my life, and let God take full control all will be well. And my painting...why did it appear to me just before he vanished?

...That speech I made. At the Art Gallery tour in Chicago.

" 'We all have those times, believer or non-believer...and it takes so much courage to hold onto such thoughts, because in the back of your mind, no matter how much doubt you feel? At the same time you feel His presence. Sometimes, you think when you close your eyes, and listen clearly...He speaks to you; in the oddest of ways sometimes. Some of us...take a Leap of Faith. You look up, at the mountain you climbed, and the struggles you faced, and you take a good look at that cliff. You believe you can go through anything now. You become fearless at the journey ahead, because you know he will always be there with you when you need him most.' "

...

...

...

I'm tired of taking my Leap of Faith. I've taken one Leap after the other, and all it's brought me is pain.

I want to lose it all.

I want to just forget it.

I want to just...die.

Willing myself to transform out of the Archangel State, I start to fall from the skies. I open my arms, outstretching them towards the heavens, and tears start to form from my eyes. If Metatron and the other Archangels won't take this power from me, then I will take it from me.

Goodbye World.

Goodbye Grace.

It's a long ways down.