The Create-A-Hero RPG Season II IC Thread

[wiegeabo]

"What's going on?! Someone tell me what the **** is going!" I struggle against the guards that hold me and pull me back towards the entrance to the facility. All I can do is shout my questions in utter shock and anger, and stare up at the moon...at the pieces of the moon in the sky. "What the hell happened to the moon?!!!"

They finally pull my inside as force me down on a gurney. "No! NO! Let me up. Talk to me! What's going on?" They finally start getting the restraints on my arms and legs, but I still fight and shout.

"Darren. Darren! Calm down or I'll have to sedate you!" Kevin shouts, trying to get through the haze in my head.

I latch onto his presence as the only point of sanity. "Kevin, you have to tell me what happened." I strain against the straps as they wheel me back towards my room. You have to understand, I've literally been locked down in this facility for I don't know how long. At least in prison there's a sense of time. You hear occasional news about the outside world. Me, nothing. They give me nothing, all somehow in the name of National Security. So when a person who's been deprived of any current events walks outside and sees the moon floating in three pieces, it tends to turn their world upside down.

"They won't let me say what happened. They...they didn't want to upset you and risk the gland."

"Upset me. UPSET ME?" I suddenly pull as hard as I can against the straps, making Kevin jump.

"Get me a syringe," Kevin says sadly.

"NO!" My heart starts pumping even faster and I feel the now familiar warmth/coldness. The world turns black and white. But there's something different. I notice the straps seemingly crystallize with ice and become brittle. I yank against them, and they snap. Heh. What's worse then a raving escapee? An invisible one.

I punch and kick at the guards, jumping up from the gurney, ready to make another escape. But the sound of a gun shot stops everyone dead in their tracks, and we all hit the ground. The corridor is instantly silent except for a set of footsteps. Standing behind us all is The Director, gun pointed up to the ceiling, a fresh hole where it points. "I may not be able to see you, Mr. Cole, but don't assume that will keep me from filling this hallway with bullets until I put you down."

"Don't!" Kevin shouts

"Don't worry, Doctor. The chance of me hitting the gland is slim..." The Director stares ahead, and somehow, he's looking right at me, with a look of anger and annoyance. As if I was nothing but that snapped at it's master. It's the creepiest I've ever felt.

I drop my invisibility, the dried flakes of quicksilver falling to the floor. "Will you at least tell me what's going on?"

The Director smiles and lowers his gun as he walks up to me. "No." The last thing I see is his gun cold-cocking me across the face...

 

[NiteMare Shape]

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

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

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

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

As Ultima continues to laugh maniacally, Icon, Blacklight, Survivor, and the rest of the beings fighting to save this planet look up as the Eradicator roars to life.

Icon, Survivor, and Blacklight move in to engage Ultima for one last time when the four super beings suddenly stop dead in their tracks. Something was happening, something big.

Goddess finally reached just above the clouds, the air thin, her body in massive pain, her ability to reason fading. She once more pushed her hands out, and the spread her arms wide as a large circle began to form in front of her, and then grew and grew, at least ten times the length of her body in diameter. The circle began to shimmer, like water being disturbed by an earthquake, eventually becoming a tide of magic itself, glowing blue, silver, and white. The activation word was one only those blessed with the training could mutter, for when Goddess opened her mouth, it resembled what most would describe as a simple yell. However, those who listened closely could tell that it was more than such, but at any rate, it did achieve what she wanted.

From the circle exploded a large white light, rushing down like thick lightning, fanged and horned at it's head, a roar piercing like thunder across the landscape as it nailed the ground next to the massive object, and then ripped from the ground on the other side, repeating the process until it was surrounding the object completely. When finished, the head of the magic itself roared once again, cracking like thunder, and began to pull the object up towards the Goddess. The object itself was obviously buckling under the spells clinch. And when it reached up near the clouds, the head of the spell bit itself, unleashing its energy in a fierce coccoon around the object, like a tornado of magic localized to that small area. And then, nothing. It simply sparked out of existance, with no trace of anything behind it. Well, maybe a few scraps here and there. The Goddess was tired after all, and that was all she could support.

Indeed, the Goddess was very injured, her sealing spell on the alien slave going undone, and in one rare moment of bravery, Patches killed him. However, the concern was the slowly descending spell slinger, who simply corrected herself, and landed on her wobbly legs.

A bright light emerges from the sky, engulfing a secondary tower that had risen several hundred yards away from the Eradicator. Another weapon of some sort, but they are unable to tell for sure exactly what it's function is. In a matter of moments, the light show is over, and there is nothing left of the tower.

"Woah...Do you think she can do that again?" Blacklight says somewhat in awe of what he had just seen.

"Ha... To summon the butterfly dragons, one must sacrifice life magic for it..." And with that, she simply blacked out and collapsed.

"I don't think so. Looks like we're on our own here." Icon says as he looks to the masked woman laying unconscious on the ground.

"Hehehe...Why fight it? Just accept your fate. You put up a hell of a fight, but it's over." Ultima says with a grin

 

[NiteMare Shape]

"Woah...Do you think she can do that again?"

"I don't think so. Looks like we're on our own here." Icon says as he looks to the masked woman laying unconscious on the ground.

"Hehehe...Why fight it? Just accept your fate. You put up a hell of a fight, but it's over." Ultima says with a grin

Icon is about to respond to Ultima when he picks something up with his super hearing...a faint, yet familiar voice.

"The firing mechanism..." The voice says.

It takes Icon a moment to realize who the voice is coming from. He quickly scans the area, finding Flux, barely conscious...barely clinging to life.

"You have to destroy the firing mechanism, it's the only way..." She says as she drifts back into unconsciousness.

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

"How do you plan to do that?" Survivor asks.

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

"That's suicide, the weapon is about to go off."

"Someone has to do it." Icon pauses for a moment. "Make sure you finish this...make sure that this world lives on."

Icon lifts off the ground, heading toward The Eradicator's firing mechanism. A million thoughts running through his mind...His parents, how he never had the chance to make things right with his brother...and how hard Jenny will take losing her big brother. His thoughts shift to his friends...Eric, Keira, Mark, Brenda, and Ryan...and how he has lost touch with them since taking up the mantle of Icon...and finally Lisa, and how he's going to die without seeing her beautiful face, or hearing her voice, or holding her for one last time.

He picks up his speed as he approaches The Eradicator, watching as the machine's lights seemingly dance as it continues to power up, preparing to unleash unprecedented death and destruction on the world...destruction not seen since a massive astroid ended the reign of the dinosaurs. Icon is determined not to let the same thing happen to mankind. He lowers his head and prepares to enter the firing mechanism of The Eradicator.

But he feels something...Something tugging on his leg. Icon quickly turns and looks at what is trying to stop him, and is shocked to see Blacklight looking up at him.

"Someone has to do it, right?" He says with a slight grin. "Don't worry Icon...I got this."

"Blacklight, get back down there...Help Survivor---" Icon is cut off as Blacklight hits him with a hard roundhouse right, grabs him and hurls him into the ground.

"Sorry Icon...I hope you can forgive me someday." Blacklight says as he turns and continues the journey into the very heart of The Eradicator.

He is almost stunned by how bright the lights are as they charge, preparing to fire. He is even more shocked by the intense pain he feels as The Eradicator's main cannon begins firing. Blacklight absorbs most of the blast himself, taking the concentrated beam directly into his own body. Most heroes, even Icon himself would have already gone into shock, or even perished by now, but somehow Blacklight pushes on into the main reactor of The Eradicator. There is no big explosion, no grand finale...but The Eradicator goes dark, it's lights extinguished with the destruction of its heart. Moments later the infernal machine begins to shake, and come apart.

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

 

[trustyside-kick]

"Sorry Icon...I hope you can forgive me someday." Blacklight says as he turns and continues the journey into the very heart of The Eradicator.

He is almost stunned by how bright the lights are as they charge up, preparing to fire. He is even more shocked by the intense pain he feels as The Eradicator's main cannon begins firing. Blacklight absorbs most of the blast himself, taking the concentrated beam directly into his own body. Most heroes, even Icon himself would have already gone into shock, or even perished by now, but somehow Blacklight pushes on into the main reactor of The Eradicator. There is no big explosion, no grand finale...but The Eradicator goes dark, it's lights extinguished with the destruction of its heart. Moments later the infernal machine begins to shake, and come apart.

I'm bookin' as fast as I can, taking out several battle cruisers and sky bikes as they get in my way towards the fancy light show when I see it. Some sort of colossal machine that is causing all of this unknown and unpredictable havoc. In the distance I see someone flying towards it, though I cannot quite make it out just who it is. To be honest, the scene reminds me of the end of Independence Day. You know, the part where that wacky pilot flies into the heart of the mother ship, blowing it to smithereens and such?

Wait a second, that's Blacklight. That kid saved the President of the United States once and everything. I'm starting to recall the most dramatic part of that scene from Independence Day: the pilot dies with his heroic deed. I gotta stop him. There's gotta be another way to stop whatever that is than to sacrifice your li--

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

The destruction of the machine causes the skies to ripple with a sonic boom, knocking me off balance. I keep myself airborne, but as I stare at the sight before me I'm still in complete shock. The entire time he was falling to the ground, I couldn't help but stare. Was it really the shock of it all? I'm not a heartless person after all. No. That's not why I didn't try to catch him as he fell.

It's because he's dead, and I don't want to believe it.

"No. No no no no no."

He did what he felt he must to stop that machine. Years from now, he's probably going to be remembered for this; remembered a hero. There might be a parade for him, and who knows possibly even this very date will be recognized in his memory. To be honest, though? None of that truly matters. All that glory and such that you see written in stories, movies, and comic books is great, but...

...geez he was just a kid. His entire life was still in front of him.

 

[Spike_x1]

No.

"Blacklight...he...dammit." The Survivor's words trailed off as he tried to find how to best describe what he had just seen. "What'd you have to go and do that for?" he murmured through his gritted teeth.

"Heh. Kid went and popped his cherry, did he?"

Hearing Ultima's words, Adam's eyes blared with pure glowing hatred as he suddenly spun around to face the villain.

"SHUT UP, YOU FILTH!"

Shattering the bones in his hand against Ultima's face again, and sending the villain flying backward, Adam ignored the pain and blood pouring from the remains of his fist, and fell to his knees. I should have done something to stop him. If only I could fly, I could have caught up with them and pulled him back, maybe take his place inside that thing. I... I could have...

"God damn kid. What'd you have to go and do that for?"

 

[NiteMare Shape]

​

No.

"Blacklight...he...dammit." The Survivor's words trailed off as he tried to find how to best describe what he had just seen. "What'd you have to go and do that for?" he murmured through his gritted teeth.

"Heh. Kid went and popped his cherry, did he?"

Hearing Ultima's words, Adam's eyes blared with pure glowing hatred as he suddenly spun around to face the villain.

"SHUT UP, YOU FILTH!"

Shattering the bones in his hand against Ultima's face again, and sending the villain flying backward, Adam ignored the pain and blood pouring from the remains of his fist, and fell to his knees. I should have done something to stop him. If only I could fly, I could have caught up with them and pulled him back, maybe take his place inside that thing. I... I could have...

"God damn kid. What'd you have to go and do that for?"

Icon stands there for several moments, trying to peice together what had happened. Why had Blacklight done that...Why did he sacrifice himself?

He does not have long to dwell on this as Survivor is down on his knees, and Ultima is poised to strike.

He never gets the chance.

Icon hits Ultima with several heat blasts that knocks the villain off balance. Icon follows it up with a flurry of punches, each landing with such a force that they can be heard from across the city.

Icon in unrelenting, each punch more ferocious than the last.

"I've had enough of you Ultima. This madness ends now." Icon says as he hits Ultima with an uppercut that sends the villain through the burnt out remains of one of the Arlaaekan battle suits.

"You're an animal Ultima...you're nothing more than a rabid dog." Icon says, delivering another devestating punch to the side of Ultima's head.

"I blame myself. All the people that you've helped kill, their blood is on my hands as well. Because I let you walk away the last time, I'm just as responsible for their murders as you are. But it ends here and now." Icon grabs Ultima and takes to the skies flying high above the skyscrapers of Lost Haven.

"Like I said before, you're a rabid dog Ultima. And it's time that you are put down." Icon spins in mid air, gaining momentum he hurls Ultima back down to the street below. When Ultima hits the pavement, he hits with what feels like the force of an atomic bomb, people from all over the city will report feeling the shockwaves from the impact, and the large crater that results will be a reminder of the events of this day for years to come.

Icon touches down at the edge of the impact crater, prepared to continue the battle. But it isn't necessary as Ultima remains in the crater, motionless.

Icon begins heading into the crater when he is stopped dead in his tracks by a disturbance of some sort. A large convoy of black vehicles roars onto the scene, reminding Icon of the old action movies where the heroes of the film would do all the dirty work, only for the calvary to arrive after the fight had been won.

Too little, too late.

Icon notices the vehicles are all marked with the familiar shield of S.T.R.I.K.E. He stands there for a moment as the vehicles circle the crater where Ultima still lay motionless. Dozens of men get out of the vehicles and move in on Ultima, putting some sort of collar around his neck, and loading him into the back of one of the transport trucks.

"Thanks for your help Icon, we can take it from here."

Icon turns to face the person addressing him, only to see a man in some sort of battle armor.

"Nice of you folks to show up."

"Yeah, sorry about the delay. We were held up across the city, assissting a special S.T.R.I.K.E. task force with another weapon."

"Another weapon?"

"That's right. But you don't have to worry about that. It's been neutralized. It wasn't quite as nasty as this one here, apparently." The armored man says before adding, "The name's Frank West, and I do appreciate your help in apprehending Ultima here. So we'll just take him and the alien girl and be on our..."

"You're not touching her."

"I beg your pardon son?"

"She's with us. You're not taking her anywhere."

"Well then...it looks like we might have ourselves alittle problem."

 

[NiteMare Shape]

Admiral Keelan​

From the sanctity of his quarters aboard the Arlaaekan mother ship "Pride," Admiral Keelan monitors the situation on the ground. The conquest of this planet had started off as planned, and with the planet's military defenses weakened, the Arlaaekan armada should have easily crushed the resistance. But something went wrong, a group of super beings fought back, not only pushing the invading forces back, but doing something that never has been done before...Destroying the Eradicator. ​

Keelan is a proud man, a man who has never known defeat...and he has no plans to become acquainted with it on this day. That is why he has studied his opponents...that is why he had sent advanced scouts to the planet years before in order to infiltrate the highest levels of this primitive, backwater world's governments. Staying in constant contact with his operatives, Keelan was able to learn everything he needed to know about the people of the planet Earth. Employing the knowledge that he has gained over the years, his forces should have run rough shot over this planet's defenses...yet they persist.​

Keelan is someone who has never once underestimated an opponent, however, in this case it seems that he did not take into account the resolve of the planet's mightiest inhabitants...the so called "superheroes." They have fought back hard, and come closer than any other force in the galaxy has to repelling that Arlaaekan war machine. However, in the name of The Autocrat, Admiral Keelan cannot let this stand.​

Admiral Keelan activates the com link on his desk and speaks to his assistant at the desk outside his quarters.​

"Nalini, contact Captain Tri'Karda...I need a full status report immediately."​

"Of course Admiral."​

Keelan turns the com center off and leans back in his chair.​

"Curious creatures, these humans. I am almost sorry that they will not even be a memory."​

 

[trustyside-kick]

I finally shake that feeling I had over myself, and swoop down to the kid's body. He deserves a proper burial, with his loved ones overlooking the service. And seeing as the threat seems to be over, I'll be the one to do it. As I pick his body up, the goggles on his head become brittle and split apart. His body...my goodness, it's still hot. All that energy he absorbed while taking out that machine practically microwaved him. The thought about trying to heal him with a prayer came to mind...but he isn't dying or wounded...

--He's dead.

Turning to my side, I spot the other heroes I saw before all gathered about. There's no longer any cracks or booms echoing the night sky, so whatever fist fight that was going on, looks like the good guys one that fight too.

"Guess it's time to say hi to the rest of the party..."

Being as careful as I can be, cradling Blacklight's body I take to the skies, making sure to not go too fast. I want to make sure there is a body left to bury when his family find out about his brave sacrifice. His family deserves to have a body for the funeral as they say their final goodbyes. I can give them that.

"You're not touching her."

"I beg your pardon son?"

"She's with us. You're not taking her anywhere."

"Well then...it looks like we might have ourselves alittle problem."

I arrive at the scene, making a gentle landing and there seems to be some sort of commotion. Looking at the suits the men approaching Icon wear, as well as the vehicles not too far away...oh, yea, and the giant letters on said suits and vehicles reading "S.T.R.I.K.E." I realize that, well...you know where I'm going with this.

I've had a minor, brief, encounter with two of their agents. Looks like they are finally making their presence known. They seem to be bickering back and forth with Icon and all the commotion seems to be about that alien chick lying unconscious.

"What seems to be the problem here?"

They all give me an odd look; an angel--well, they will assume I'm an angel--swooping down from the heavenly skies holding Blacklight cradled in his arms? Man, I just keep living up to these cliches all day long it seems.

 

[NiteMare Shape]

I arrive at the scene, making a gentle landing and there seems to be some sort of commotion. Looking at the suits the men approaching Icon wear, as well as the vehicles not too far away...oh, yea, and the giant letters on said suits and vehicles reading "S.T.R.I.K.E." I realize that, well...you know where I'm going with this.​

I've had a minor, brief, encounter with two of their agents. Looks like they are finally making their presence known. They seem to be bickering back and forth with Icon and all the commotion seems to be about that alien chick lying unconscious.

I take my eyes off of West for just a moment as the same angelic figure that I saw earlier lands between us, holding Blacklight's body in his arms.

Blacklight...Stupid kid, why did you do that? I think to myself.

"What seems to be the problem here?"

They all give me an odd look; an angel--well, they will assume I'm an angel--swooping down from the heavenly skies holding Blacklight cradled in his arms? Man, I just keep living up to these cliches all day long it seems.

"Mr. West is here to take Ultima into custody. And he's under the impression that I'm going to let him take Flux with them."


"Now Listen here..." West starts, but I cut him off.

"No, you listen. That girl gave everything she had to help us stop the Eradicator, and it damn near cost her life. And if you think I'm going to let you repay her by sticking her in some kind of cell, or some lab for the rest of her life...you've got another thing coming."

I look to the angel.

"Can you get her out of here...to someplace safe?"

 

[trustyside-kick]

"No, you listen. That girl gave everything she had to help us stop the Eradicator, and it damn near cost her life. And if you think I'm going to let you repay her by sticking her in some kind of cell, or some lab for the rest of her life...you've got another thing coming."

I look to the angel.

"Can you get her out of here...to someplace safe?"

Both Icon and this Mr. West look at me, waiting for my answer. One on side, we have a superhero...heck the superhero of our age. On the other...lies a government official that could seriously make my life hell for 'interfering with a government case' and such. Then again...I just helped save the world. That's gotta count as something, right?

Walking over to one of the agents next to Mr. West, I leave the body of Blacklight in his hands. Infuriated, Mr. West looks at the agent as though he just shot the President of the United States or something. Frankly I don't care.

"You guys take this boy's body to the LHPD Special Crimes department, ok? That kid died a hero and he sure as heck better get the best darn care taken with him to the morgue."

I walk past Mr. West who grabs me by my arm.

"Son, if you take that alien from this scene, you are in direct violation of--"

"Save it, supercop. In but a day the entire world knows my secret identity and I lost one of the most important people in my life. My girlfriend never wants to speak to me again and I still came back to do my 'part' and job here. Why don't you do yours and help with the clean up. I'm taking this chick out of your governmental hands whether you like it or not."

And to add a bit of a persuasion, I the rubble from the ground starts to shake and rise in the air as I command them to do so.

"Unless you want to try to stop me."

He pauses for a moment, with all of his agents ready and willing to put me into custody I'm sure as soon as he gives the order. But I can see how nervous he is. That, and I'm pretty sure Icon flexes those damn impressive muscles in the background because otherwise I don't recall being that intimidating. I wonder what gym he goes to. You know, the entire time I was laying waste to those aliens scum I thought 'I really gotta hit the gym, I'm getting way too tired just mustering up all that power'.

"No? Didn't think so."

Letting the rubble drop to the ground, I walk over to this alien chick Icon referred to as Flux and I take to the skies. He said to bring her somewhere safe. Well, darnit time to be cliched once again. Here I am, flying through the sky that's already filled with chaos and panic and the only place I can think of that's safe enough to leave this girl is painfully obvious.

A church. Those priests won't discriminate against her just because she shares the same genes as our alien invaders. And, heck, if they do give me trouble for it I got the whole 'angel' thing going for me.

Man, being the Archangel does have some perks.

 

[Mr. Majestic]

I take my eyes off of West for just a moment as the same angelic figure that I saw earlier lands between us, holding Blacklight's body in his arms.
​

Blacklight...Stupid kid, why did you do that? I think to myself.

"Mr. West is here to take Ultima into custody. And he's under the impression that I'm going to let him take Flux with them."

"Now Listen here..." West starts, but I cut him off.

"No, you listen. That girl gave everything she had to help us stop the Eradicator, and it damn near cost her life. And if you think I'm going to let you repay her by sticking her in some kind of cell, or some lab for the rest of her life...you've got another thing coming."

I look to the angel.

"Can you get her out of here...to someplace safe?"

Both Icon and this Mr. West look at me, waiting for my answer. One on side, we have a superhero...heck the superhero of our age. On the other...lies a government official that could seriously make my life hell for 'interfering with a government case' and such. Then again...I just helped save the world. That's gotta count as something, right?
​

Walking over to one of the agents next to Mr. West, I leave the body of Blacklight in his hands. Infuriated, Mr. West looks at the agent as though he just shot the President of the United States or something. Frankly I don't care.

"You guys take this boy's body to the LHPD Special Crimes department, ok? That kid died a hero and he sure as heck better get the best darn care taken with him to the morgue."

I walk past Mr. West who grabs me by my arm.

"Son, if you take that alien from this scene, you are in direct violation of--"

"Save it, supercop. In but a day the entire world knows my secret identity and I lost one of the most important people in my life. My girlfriend never wants to speak to me again and I still came back to do my 'part' and job here. Why don't you do yours and help with the clean up. I'm taking this chick out of your governmental hands whether you like it or not."

And to add a bit of a persuasion, I the rubble from the ground starts to shake and rise in the air as I command them to do so.

"Unless you want to try to stop me."

He pauses for a moment, with all of his agents ready and willing to put me into custody I'm sure as soon as he gives the order. But I can see how nervous he is. That, and I'm pretty sure Icon flexes those damn impressive muscles in the background because otherwise I don't recall being that intimidating. I wonder what gym he goes to. You know, the entire time I was laying waste to those aliens scum I thought 'I really gotta hit the gym, I'm getting way too tired just mustering up all that power'.

"No? Didn't think so."

Letting the rubble drop to the ground, I walk over to this alien chick Icon referred to as Flux and I take to the skies. He said to bring her somewhere safe. Well, darnit time to be cliched once again. Here I am, flying through the sky that's already filled with chaos and panic and the only place I can think of that's safe enough to leave this girl is painfully obvious.

A church. Those priests won't discriminate against her just because she shares the same genes as our alien invaders. And, heck, if they do give me trouble for it I got the whole 'angel' thing going for me.

Man, being the Archangel does have some perks.

After hearing and seeing what was taking place Spartan step out of the STRIKE vehicle and makes his way towards the others. While approaching Icon and Frank he watches as the angel fly's away with the alien girl. He wasn’t to worried about this at the moment because he knows that if he is given the word he can catch him in a matter of seconds.

Once at Frank’s side Spartan gives Icon a once over. He has always heard and seen Icon in action on the news but never face to face. With his first encounter he felt a little disappointed, TV seemed to make him look a little bigger.

“I believe you have it mistaken Icon. You have another thing coming if you think that we aren’t going capture that alien girl.”

All Spartan needs is for Frank to give him the word and he would make sure that nothing not even the world’s greatest hero gets in his way.

“If we don’t get her today, I’m giving you my word. I will eventually and you won’t stop me.” Spartan stated with a serious gaze into Icon’s eyes.​

​

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"While all this posturing is entertaining", Kensei said as he walked up with the Youngster and the Citizen, the latter who carried the injured Goddess.

"This ordeal is far from over. I suggest you all save the petty bickering until after these invaders are defeated", the Swordsman said sternly as he shifted his gaze from the S.T.R.I.K.E. soldiers to Icon.

 

[NiteMare Shape]

After hearing and seeing what was taking place Spartan step out of the STRIKE vehicle and makes his way towards the others. While approaching Icon and Frank he watches as the angel fly's away with the alien girl. He wasn’t to worried about this at the moment because he knows that if he is given the word he can catch him in a matter of seconds.​

Once at Frank’s side Spartan gives Icon a once over. He has always heard and seen Icon in action on the news but never face to face. With his first encounter he felt a little disappointed, TV seemed to make him look a little bigger.​

“I believe you have it mistaken Icon. You have another thing coming if you think that we aren’t going capture that alien girl.”​

All Spartan needs is for Frank to give him the word and he would make sure that nothing not even the world’s greatest hero gets in his way.​

“If we don’t get her today, I’m giving you my word. I will eventually and you won’t stop me.” Spartan stated with a serious gaze into Icon’s eyes.​

The kid walks right up to me and gets in my face. The entire thing kind of reminds me of a high school bully trying to throw his weight around in order to intimidate an adversary as well as impress his buddies. But I'm not intimidated, and I'm sure as hell not impressed.​

"Take my advice kid...Back off." I tell him.​

He opens his mouth to say something, but West cuts him off before he can utter a single syllable.​

"That's enough Spartan. Get back to the convoy, I want you to watch over Ultima on the way back to headquarters."​

The kid, Spartan as he was called turns to say something...I can see a spark of defiance in his eyes, I can tell that this kid has been waiting his whole life for a chance like this. But he stops himself.​

“Yes sir." Is all he says as he turns and heads back to the vehicles, but not before shooting me a look that told me that as far as he's concerned, this is far from over.​

"He's right you know...We won't stop until we have the girl. Things are going to get very difficult for you and Mr. Angelo...." He trails off as the samauri makes his presence known.​

"While all this posturing is entertaining", Kensei said as he walked up with the Youngster and the Citizen, the latter who carried the injured Goddess.

"This ordeal is far from over. I suggest you all save the petty bickering until after these invaders are defeated", the Swordsman said sternly as he shifted his gaze from the S.T.R.I.K.E. soldiers to Icon.

"You're right." I say to the samauri, before redirecting my attention to West. "This can all wait until after we deal with the Arlaaekans. If we hope to save this planet, we don't have any choice but to work together."

West gives a curt nod, and I can tell he likes the idea of working with us less than I do. But I can tell that he's not a stupid man, and he realizes that this is the only way.

Then I turn back to the samauri, "Any word on Blue Blur?"

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"None", Kensei states as his eyes scan the cityscape, hoping to find a glimpse of his former pupil.

 

[Mr. Majestic]

West gives a curt nod, and I can tell he likes the idea of working with us less than I do. But I can tell that he's not a stupid man, and he realizes that this is the only way.

Then I turn back to the samauri, "Any word on Blue Blur?"

"None", Kensei states as his eyes scan the cityscape, hoping to find a glimpse of his former pupil.

​

I myself even use my super hearing to try and see if i could pick up on Blur's movement but its worthless. Only thing i can think of is to volunteer to find him myself.

"If you all don't mind i can go looking for him. I could cover a lot of ground in a matter of minutes."

 

[NiteMare Shape]

I myself even use my super hearing to try and see if i could pick up on Blur's movement but it worthless. Only thing i can think of is to volunteer to find him myself.
"If you all wouldn't mind i can go looking for him? I could cover a lot of ground in a matter of minutes."

I look to Youngster and nod, "That sounds like a good idea...just to be sure he doesn't need any help."

 

[Mr. Majestic]

I look to Youngster and nod, "That sounds like a good idea...just to be sure he doesn't need any help."

"Don't worry if he does I'm pretty sure us two speedster's can handle it."

With nothing else to say i take off leaving nothing but a gust of wind in my place.

Since he isn't around here one can assume that he must of went to another area close by area to fight some more of the aliens. If that's the case I'll find him in no time. I then pick up my speed to go find the world's fastest man.
​

 

[Hound55]

Fontaine woke abruptly. As was his style. The darkness between the conclusion of dreams and the time he opened his eyes was always brief. It was a useless numb time and he refused to allow his precious time to be wasted in this way. He sat up in bad, yawning and scratching himself, he'd found that he could make this time less at ease as he believed it to be his body stupidly telling him he was still tired when it had no reason to be.

He urged his frame onwards into the en suite bathroom. Washing his face and dousing his forehead and eyes to wake himself faster. Looking up at the prickly customer in the mirror for the first time in days he could only chuckle. After hours on a plane and the time he'd wasted previously his face had grown more than a fine fuzz. He could easily imagine what he'd look like with fully grown facial hair as it had grown out unsupervised. He spent 5 minutes shaving it down and sized himself up again...

[blackout]"Not too bad, if I were back home it might be expected of a guy in my position to have a hair-cut in a few weeks... but dammit I'm on holiday."[/blackout]

He cut a path through to the living room and turned the TV set on, he'd made sure he got himself a nice lush place when he booked his rental property for his trip away, lush garden, proper sized front and rear yards (which helped a great deal the previous night working on his grapple gun), but equally important was the home theatre... he'd become addicted to TiVo and the trimmings of the digital age and couldn't imagine it being a vacation without it.

He turned the TV onto the news channel... this was what he would need, information. Can't fight a war blind. That's the way he ran his business, recon, precision and appropriate pressure. Whilst it was slow, it bred results and he wasn't going to throw that out the door with the world on the line.

"... year of invasion. The cream of humanity has risen to the top. Aiding America's Greatest hero The Icon we have others of pure hearts including Blue Blur, and this samurai who we've just confirmed goes by the apt name of Sensei... excuse me... Kensai... and others have come out of the woodwork in this world's ultimate time of need."

The footage showed a blue figure high above a spire battling a black and purple ominous looking figure as another figure in blue and a Samurai looked on. Hmm... He knew this fighting blue figure. That is to say he knew OF him. It was the man they called the Icon. Isaac had always considered him to be something of a myth... a political creation by the US to instill fear and keep other countries honest. It just seemed too convenient. The Cold War ended and other countries with questionable agendas had been buying up nukes and other high powered weapons, taking advantage of the Soviet downfall and mass-corruption of those officers in charge of them, and out of the blue the US suddenly had this man who had somehow developed God-like abilities… It just seemed a tad too convenient. But suddenly he’s seen this man joined with others, out of the blue and fighting a threat he’d witnessed the devastation (albeit the aftermath… from behind the driver’s seat of a great damn bus). It could only be described as surreal.

At this point the screen displayed Icon taking a major hit from the black and purple man. Icon fell out of the sky like a dart and cracked the pavement far below. Isaac picked up the remote and put the set on live pause, just when the cameras switched to a close-up, as he made for the kitchen to make his breakfast. Returning a few minutes later with a large bowl of cereal he sat on the sofa reaching for the remote. A fraction of a second before instinctively hitting the play button he looks at the screen. He puts his bowl down and walks up closer to the screen, sizing up the fearsome face that is the centre of the camera’s attention. There was something “off” about it. This man was called Ultima, apparently he used to be an American hero, not in the same kind of fashion as this Icon or this Blue Speedball or whatever they choose to call him, but in the traditional sense. He was a model of aptitude and an astronaut, who had been “turned” by these aliens that were now invading. But something didn’t make sense. With the close up on Ultima’s covered face it only further highlighted those eyes. Looking closer at this paused image he could now tell that his eyes… were layered. Getting as close to the screen as he could without it getting blurry he looked deeper into the face of terror than most had dare, albeit in the comfort of his own living room.

The eyes had an outer glaze, the outer edges curled back and up in an outwardly aggressive fashion, but that was not what had caught his attention… Beyond that outer glaze he could see “inner eyes”, far more human, but as such, also more disturbing. It was these eyes that captured Fontaine’s attention and what he saw that caused him to break the lonely silence.

[blackout]“Holy s###... He’s not ‘been turned’ at all.”[/blackout]

[blackout]“…this is what he wants to be.”[/blackout]

And as he collapsed into the sofa, a stunned blank expression upon his face, the realization that this was an entirely different war had hit home. This was a war with vastly different rules of engagement than his crusade against crime back in Cooktown. Here he would have to pick his battles even more carefully.

Next: Toto, I don’t think we’re in Cooktown Anymore Pt II…

Isaac arose from the sofa 20 minutes later with a bemused expression, unsure exactly what he’d seen. He’d been watching the morning news and it rehashed the action last night as a superpowered (a concept that had not only just earned a new place in his mind as part of reality, but introduced many new pieces to the puzzle that he’d never heard of) crew fought and destroyed a major attack by… aliens…

Watching it all unfold on the television just made it all seem more surreal.

These, for want of a better word, superheroes had just destroyed the aliens first major plan of attack. A major spire erected in downtown New Haven (Fontaine’s temporary home) called the Eradicator had been laid to rubble. Fontaine viewed it as the first attack despite the optimism being spread by the local news commentary, because he just couldn’t buy an alien species making a trek all this way, having as many craft as they clearly had (there were motherships and smaller craft within these ships right across the globe covering major cities world-wide) laying down a spire to eliminate 99.9% of the population, watching it get destroyed and going back home, cap in hand… Something told him this wasn’t going to be over quite so easily.

That something was what had kept him alive to date in his own dangerous field of “unpaid work”…

Having seen their major weapon defeated at the hands of these special few, the alien general known by the name of Ultima, who had shown himself to clearly be at worst a decent match for some of the greatest of these; Icon – the only one he’d heard of prior to today’s bout, another who dressed himself all in black and seemed to be capable of taking more punishment than even Fontaine himself (although seemed to be showing a lot of hurt against the purple and black opponent) and another which Icon later referred to as Blacklight when talking to reporters later claimed as being the greatest hero of all after sacrificing his own life for the destruction of these... Arlaakians(?) finest weapon.

After more than holding his own against these three, Ultima witnessed that first weapon destroyed at the hands of young Blacklight, he got his arse handed to him by a focused and angered Icon. Which just didn’t seem to fit… why now? Ultima seemed to attack with inconsistant interest. One second he looked like he'd be a match for the entire world on his own, the next he'd get pummelled, the next his eyes would flash alive and dangerous as ever and explode back into the fray against the world's finest.

But that wasn't the only question on his mind...

Not "Why now..?"

But "Why here..?"

The Haven wasn’t exactly New York, or Washington D.C., or any number of strategic targets which might be of quality political or military importance. Something was up in the air there and didn’t sit right with Fontaine.

One thing for sure, he doubted these aliens would be leaving in a hurry.

What made sense to Fontaine would be if these Arlaakians would look to go more "toe-to-toe" and try taking the fight more directly with the alien ships and tech they currently had at their disposal, a full fledged invasion would have to be an option, rather than just de-stabilizing “bombing” runs as they’d been used to date to distract from that terrifying spire.

Fontaine had to get out there. Sure, he didn’t have the power at his disposal than the guys working downtown had. But that made no difference to him before he knew who was fighting the major battles… why should that matter now. This town and now this PLANET needed what he could help provide, just as was the case back home in Cooktown before any of this.

He was just human… but he wasn’t just any human.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Fontaine arose and went out in the back room, emerging much later with a familiar, yet stronger dizzy sensation. Going to the kitchen he stuffed a plate from the fridge into the microwave, giving his pre-prepared meal 6 minutes. He then hit the pantry and came out seconds later with hands full of gummi bears. Scarfing them quickly and storming into his bedroom.

Unsheathing his robe and pyjamas a battered and withered purple and pink fleshling attached his dark skin to come to life as he had so many times before. Bruises as prominent, yet irrelevent, as ever. First the padding to shoulders, then the black clean tracksuit top, the cargo pants followed. He felt alive and re-invigorated, the dizzying sensation easing with every second and now but a background noise to the focus and resolve further taking over his mind, body, and if you believe in that sort of thing... soul.

After finishing with the shoes, socks and latex med gloves the taping would begin. Sealing what was left protruding from this transformation inside of this darker being where Fontaine’s true self could manifest guilt-free.

Striding back to the kitchen he checked each pocket of his cargo pants; right slip pocket – balaklava and leather gloves, right velcro’d pocket $500 in US currency, left slip pocket bolts for his newest toy. The microwave was opened with 10 seconds left and reset, Fontaine checked the time as he paced through the back-door to the car-port. As the garage door opened and Fontaine was revealed, reversing and eating with the other hand, changing gears and taking another mouthful as the automatic roller door shut. His grapple gun, harness and pack already under the seat, exposing the eagerness of Isaac the night before.

The night before everything would change.

Next: Toto, I don’t think we’re in Cooktown Anymore Pt III…

 

[Byrd Man]

The Blue Blur

​

My eyes adjust to the gray that is the world as I run through it at super speed.

My thoughts turn to that kid, Blacklight was his name. Stupid kid. He could have let Survivor do that job, from what I saw, he's almost immortal.

But he did it anyway. Does that make him brave? Sure. Courageous, no doubt.

Am I prepared to do that? Kensei thinks so, but I still have my doubts.

I don't feel a thing as I destroy the alien soldiers in Lost Haven and the surrounding areas. Before I know it, almost all the aliens are out of the city and I'm gasping for air on a Haven side street.​

 

[Mr. Majestic]

​

While doing my search I notice that the area is…quiet. I haven’t seen any of the aliens around for some time. I guess after the destruction of the Eradicator their only option after that must have been to retreat.

The Blue Blur

​

My eyes adjust to the gray that is the world as I run through it at super speed.

My thoughts turn to that kid, Blacklight was his name. Stupid kid. He could have let Survivor do that job, from what I saw, he's almost immortal.

But he did it anyway. Does that make him brave? Sure. Courageous, no doubt.

Am I prepared to do that? Kensei thinks so, but I still have my doubts.

I don't feel a thing as I destroy the alien soldiers in Lost Haven and the surrounding areas. Before I know it, almost all the aliens are out of the city and I'm gasping for air on a Haven side street.​

I drop out of super speed and take a minute to look around the area. Only thing that seems to be around here is just rubble from buildings and alien battle suits. Since my vision seems to appear useless I’ll try out my hearing. Focusing on nothing but the area around me I begin to hear the sound of someone trying to catch their breath.

“It’s got to be him.” I say out loud to myself.

I burst off into the direction the noise is originating from. As I’m running I see someone on the street wearing a blue costume, it can only be one person.

As I begin to approach the blue blur I slowly decrease speed until I come to a complete stop in front of him. Right away I want to say something but no words are coming to mind. Standing in front of one of my favorite heroes is kind of breath taking moment. I watched the episode of him guest hosting SNL every night since it aired. This is just am… wait I can’t be acting like a groupie in front of him I’m a hero myself. I have to get my self together.

“Ah Mr. Blur I’m the Youngster, Icon and a samurai dude sent me here to find you.”

Oh that was great, what superhero calls another one mister? I really need to work on my first impressions.

 

[NiteMare Shape]

"For centuries, mankind has gazed at the stars and asked itself, 'Are we alone.' And with the recent attack on our world by alien invaders, that very question has been answered."

"They gave no warning, did not attempt to make contact, but with a single act of brutality, they have forever changed our world. After nearly shattering our moon in two; the aliens descended on our planet like a plague of locusts, destroying everything in their path. "

"With the help of the super villain known as Ultima, the invaders began laying waste to our cities. In the wake of the initial attack, countless millions have lost their lives and entire cities have been wiped from the face of the Earth."

"And we are faced with another question...'Why?' Why did the aliens, which Ultima referred to as Arlaaekans, feel the need to attack us in the manner that they did? What exactly did they hope to accomplish? We know that they are here to take over our planet; again, Ultima gave us some possible insight into their motives when he made his world wide television address, referring to this planet as 'New Arlaaek.' And this brings us to my next question...."Why.'"

"Why weren't we ready? Why did the world's governments not have any indication that this was going to happen. It is impossible to believe that something as large as the Arlaaekan invasion force could move across the galaxy, move so close to the Earth and yet, remain undetected. Yet that is exactly what happened."

"The moon shattered, cities across the globe completely destroyed, scores dead, and we are left to pick up the pieces and rebuild this world, that is...if we are able to win this war and repel back into the deep reaches of space."

"And that is a big 'if.' For the most part, our world's militaries have been relatively ineffective against the alien armada. It has only been through the efforts of a special few that we have not been wiped out completely. These super heroes who have worked for so long as individuals to try and make a difference in the world have found that this in no longer enough. They have come together as a collective unit to defend us from the alien horde, and only with their combined efforts will our gaurdians deliver us from this, our darkest moment."

-Micaela Pearl
Lost Haven Globe

 

[Byrd Man]

​

I drop out of super speed and take a minute to look around the area. Only thing that seems to be around here is just rubble from buildings and alien battle suits. Since my vision seems to appear useless I’ll try out my hearing. Focusing on nothing but the area around me I begin to hear the sound of someone trying to catch their breath.

“It’s got to be him.” I say out loud to myself.

I burst off into the direction the noise is originating from. As I’m running I see someone on the street wearing a blue costume, it can only be one person.

As I begin to approach the blue blur I slowly decrease speed until I come to a complete stop in front of him. Right away I want to say something but no words are coming to mind. Standing in front of one of my favorite heroes is kind of breath taking moment. I watched the episode of him guest hosting SNL every night since it aired. This is just am… wait I can’t be acting like a groupie in front of him I’m a hero myself. I have to get my self together.

“Ah Mr. Blur I’m the Youngster, Icon and a samurai dude sent me here to find you.”

Oh that was great, what superhero calls another one mister? I really need to work on my first impressions.

I swallow hard as I look at the kid in front of me. They call him Youngster for a reason I guess.

"That 'samurai dude' is called Kensei. He's a great warrior."

I turn away from him and scowl slightly as I look over all the destruction and chaos. Up in the sky, I can see the alien space ships retreating out of the atmosphere and heading back to where they came.

"I guess we won the day."

I turn to Youngster and nod.

"Come on, lead me to where Icon and Kensei are."

 

[Mr. Majestic]

I swallow hard as I look at the kid in front of me. They call him Youngster for a reason I guess.

"That 'samurai dude' is called Kensei. He's a great warrior."

I turn away from him and scowl slightly as I look over all the destruction and chaos. Up in the sky, I can see the alien space ships retreating out of the atmosphere and heading back to where they came.

"I guess we won the day."

I turn to Youngster and nod.

"Come on, lead me to where Icon and Kensei are."

​

I turn to my right and look back at him for just a second. I can't believe I'm about to run with the Blue Blurr, sweet. Instantly i take off breaking the sound barrier. There’s no way I’m not going to show him a taste of what I can do. It would be like passing up a chance with playing with your favorite basketball player.

It only take us seconds to make it back. We both drop out of super speed and Kensei and Icon both turn in our direction.

"Told you I would find him." I said with the biggest smile on my face, thankfully it was being concealed with the mask I'm wearing.

 

[trustyside-kick]

Lucky for me there's a church in a section of the city that hasn't been affected much by the assault by these alien invaders. I swoop down, landing at the stone steps of the cathedral, and with a gust of wind summoning at my finger tips swing the large doors wide open. Immediately I'm approached by two nuns and a priest.

"She's hurt. Badly. Please, if you could--"

Without even letting me finish, the two nuns take Flux out of my arms as I gently let them. Slowly carrying her over to one of the pews, they still do not utter a word and the priest walks up to me in complete awe.

"You're an--"

"The Archangel, actually. And I'm sorry to disappoint you, Padre, but I'm not the real deal. Just another guy in the world, trying to make a difference."

He chuckles and places his hand upon my shoulder.

"No, my boy. You are an angel. A blessing cast down from heaven to watch over us. We will see to it that this girl you have brought rests to recovery. You just keep being--"

"Yea yea, I know. Being God's sword and shield."

"My...that is a witty way of putting it."

"Got it from a buddy of mine. Fine priest, too. Though to be honest I haven't had much use of my sword yet, heh. It's complicated. Well, Adios. Time to go back to saving the world and all."

"God bless you, son."

Flying out of that cathedral I feel...amazing. Seeing the way that Priest was pleased to see me and know I'm out there, fighting the good fight? Maybe I haven't tapped into this 'superhero role' as active as I should have. Maybe I could make a difference if I did this full-time. 'Sides...with Grace gone I've got nothing better to do but paint, right?

Grace...man I hope she's safe. But no matter how much I want to check on her and her family, my place is back with the other heroes. Looks like the aliens are starting to see they aren't going to take us without a darn good fight.

Gotta remind them that. So I head back to where Icon and the other guys in spandex are having their round of arguments and pep-talks.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

​

I turn to my right and look back at him for just a second. I can't believe I'm about to run with the Blue Blurr, sweet. Instantly i take off breaking the sound barrier. There’s no way I’m not going to show him a taste of what I can do. It would be like passing up a chance with playing with your favorite basketball player.

It only take us seconds to make it back. We both drop out of super speed and Kensei and Icon both turn in our direction.

"Told you I would find him." I said with the biggest smile on my face, thankfully it was being concealed with the mask I'm wearing.

Kensei smiles as the two heroes return.
"Excellent job, young man."

"Blue Blur", he says as he walks up to Matthew.

"It is good to see you are still with us. You performed admirably this day. As a true hero would", the Celestial Samurai says with a respectful bow to his former pupil.