The Create-A-Hero RPG Season II IC Thread

[TrueMastermind]

Pulling up to Fedora Condos in his black and red Mazerati, Victor Palazzo was furious. The truck that contained money he had stolen from a New York Bank last week mysteriously disappeared on the way to Lost Haven. Bursting through the front door of the condo building, Victor was heading up to one of his top men, Drake Jackson's, condo to discuss their next step.

Drake's condo was as glamorous as the Taj Mahal, if not better. Beautiful paintings graced the walls as historical, vauable artifacts from his world travels littered Drake's spacious home. One could argue that the well-traveled swordsman's home was better than Palazzo's estate. Palazzo paid for the condo when he found Drake homeless, shivering in a dark alleyway in New York, where he somehow ended up after years in Europe and Asia.

" What the f** happened to my money!!! You said you had it all figured out!!! I'm about to blow someone's brains out and you better tell me who!!!" Victor started hollering as soon as he walked into the condo, which was suprsingly unlocked. But he spoke too soon. The once glorious condo was trashed, paintings all over the place, broken artifacts uglifying the place. " What the..." Suddenly, a grunt came from Drake's training room and in the Grim fashion, Victor kicked the door down, revealing a dozen dead men and a exhausted Drake standing over them. " The rest are headed to your estate....we must hurry...They know where the vault is...." Drake swiftly sprinted past Palazzo despite looking like he's about to pass out." Who? What? Ah, s***!"

 

[NiteMare Shape]

​

Several miles off the coast of Lost Haven; the barge "Liberty," which is en route to the beleaguered carrying essential supplies to the rebuilding effort is in distress. While navigating a particularly treacherous part of the ocean, the vessel struck an unidentified object in the water...and soon after horrified crewmen watched as the ocean began to make its way into their ship.

As the Liberty continued taking on water, the ship captain used the radio to call for help. The response wasn't what he had hoped for. The only Coast Gaurd cutter in the area was several hundred miles away assisting a fishing vessel with engine trouble, and would not make it to the Liberty's location in time.

With the ship continuing to slip toward the point of no return, the crewmen of the Liberty had come to accept their fate. They knew that a seafaring life was a hard one...and that each time they cast off from shore there is a very real possibility that they will never return. Although not a single man on the Liberty wanted to die, they ultimately accepted their fate.

Just as the bow of the ship began to slip under the water and the stern had started to rise out of the water, the captain thought he saw something hit the water a few hundred yards away. However, he dismissed it in the quiet chaos of his ship's last few moments.

Then something unexpected happened. The Liberty stopped sinking. With a sudden lurch, the barge began to rise up out of the water. After a few moments the stunned crew watched in amazment as the Liberty was no longer in danger of sinking into the watery abyss...in fact, it wasn't on the water at all...but hovering close to 30 feet above the surface of the water.

As the ship made its way toward Lost Haven, the crew stood in silent disbelief as the entire ship is carried toward shore by a lone man. Some of the braver crewmen tried to look over the side to get a look of the man who had saved them from certain death, though were only able to get fleeting glimpses of a blue cape flapping in the wind.

When the Liberty finally reached its destination at the Lost Haven docks, the ship was placed in the shallow water, where the ship was able to rest safely on the bottom. With the ship safe, the crew yells out in appreciation as the man who saved them takes to the skies, racing to whatever disaster should next require his intervention.

 

[Eddie Brock]

"Did somebody call for a hero?" I announce pleasantly as I descend from the sky. I reach out and grab onto a flagpole, spinning around it several times before releasing. I spread my arms wide as I soar through the air. I then reach out with both hands and grab onto the streetlight over an intersection, hoisting myself up onto a comfortable perch. "Jeez. What happened here?"

An armored vehicle is overturned in the middle of the street. It's rear door is blown wide open, and the inside appears to be emptied out. There's a patrol car crashed into a fire hydrant, causing a pillar of water to shoot through the air. The other patrol car looks like it got hit by a truck. The police officers are strewn about the pavement, moaning in pain.

"They're coming back!" a bystander shouts as she points into the distance.

I look in that direction. Sure enough, three figures approach from the sky. They're so far away that they only look like dots, but they're coming in fast. "Thank you, citizen. I'll take it from here." I hop down from my streetlight perch and land softly in the center of the intersection. I crack my knuckles as I anticipate the approaching figures.

As they draw nearer, the figures become clearer. Each of them is sporting a sick pair of wings, tucked back to promote maximum speed. They are all wearing matching outfits - adorable - with different color schemes. It appears as though the center figure is the leader of this ragtag band of outlaws. Oh, pardon me, flying outlaws.

"Stop in the name of the law! Or, failing that, in the name of lo--"

Before I can finish, the center figure has collided with me at top speed. After having the wind knocked out of me, I hurtle backwards as this guy directs my body towards a brick wall. He releases me at the last second, and I barely have time to think about how badly it's going to hurt.

WHAM!

The answer? A lot.

I collapse in a heap on the ground, groaning and moaning like a zombie. My brain feels like it's rattling around in my skull. The three figures have landed and are standing cross-armed in front of me.

"The world-famous Mantis, protector of Carver Lake and the surrounding area," the center figure announces in a deep voice. His jet black hair is slicked back - though I don't know whether that's by design or simply a result of the high-speed flying.

The figure to his left scoffs. "Not much to look at, is he?" I find myself staring at a particularly curly lock of hair which dangles over his forehead, slightly off-set of center. He's the youngest of the group, judging by looks alone.

"Don't get cocky. You weren't the one who took him out," the last figure reminds the young one. His brown hair is cut military style, not a hair out of place. His square jaw and broad shoulders make him look like the bulkiest of the group.

"No one took me out yet," I correct as I pull myself together. I manage to stand - albeit shakily - as I face the three. "Now, I'm a nice guy, and I like to know the names of the people I throw in jail. So?"

The three exchange glances before laughing condescendingly. The center figure steps forward, and his wings twitch threateningly. "I am Peregrine. This--" He motions to the young one. "--is Osprey. And this--" He motions to the bulky one. "--is Harrier. Collectively, we are the Birds of Prey."

The Birds of Prey? Sounds like a corny '80's rock-pop band. Then again, which '80's rock-pop bands weren't corny?

"We've been hoping to find an opponent worth fighting," Harrier explains.

Osprey scoffs once more. "And I genuinely doubt it's going to be you."

I smirk, even though they can't see it beneath my mask. "Well, you know what pride comes before." Without warning, I jump and kick Osprey in the face. Peregrine and Harrier take to the sky, circling me like the vultures they are. "And, no, the answer is not 'prejudice.'"

Osprey recovers and takes flight like his teammates. I stand on the ground with clenched fists. Now, this just isn't fair. They're looking for a worthy opponent, but they have an unfair advantage.

"Please, Mantis, prove us wrong," Peregrine begs. "We're getting terribly bored."

I race down the street, knowing that the Birds of Prey will give chase. I keep my eyes on the overturned armored truck. I can hear the wind whistling under the wings of my pursuers. They're drawing close. I leap into the air, pushing off the side of the armored truck with my legs. As I spin in the air, I catch a surprised look on Harrier's face.

"Just the reaction I'm looking for," I state with joy. I bring my fist down on his cheek, causing him to spiral out of control and crash into a parked car. Before that happens, though, I use his body as a springboard, and I launch myself at Peregrine. He, however, simply moves out of my way. I flail hopelessly as I plummet to the ground, landing with a thud.

Osprey begins to laugh. "What a fool! No one can touch Peregrine! No one! He's too fast!" he boasts. Oh, how I love a braggart. They're always so mad when they're proven wrong.

"Too fast, eh?" I repeat to myself with a glimmer in my eye. "Let's see."

 

[Hound55]

Just the trail, the drifter and the impatient sun incessantly reminding the young man who used to be Joseph Nelson what time it was.

Joe had taken the Appalachian trail south from Maine and had been drifting with little more than the clothes on his back for months now, stopping on occasion by some of the bigger towns to work and do His Work. The newspapers would lie and spread their filthy depraved spin across the landscape, but they were part of the Demon as well. News-for-profit can't be trusted for fact. They're as bad as the banks, taking money from decent hard working people in turn for a false service that they can neither guarantee nor provide. They had the money, they had the Dark-Angels of politics on both sides. Bush threw money to the banks as the banks were throwing hard working people like his father out of their homes and into the streets. Blake would do the same in his wake. "Change" an empty word, another false service, for more power. None of these power brokers could be trusted for real change. Real change comes from the True message. The True Form. It wasn't Joe's message to claim. He was merely the deliverer of the message. God's message.

He would spread the same message of God that Jesus had millennia before him. But the True message that one as pure as the son of God, a form that was bound by Love and good, could never truly deliver. They had not heeded His warnings in the temple over 2000 years earlier, so it was time the message was delivered somewhat more... emphatically.

And he had.

The police had searched for him. Highly trained Homicide Units in several different states unable to track down and find a single youth. A single youth who was not alone though. He was merely walking on the right hand side of God. He must be. How else could a homeless 19 year old male who had no money and never walked or lived alone before evade highly trained detectives and law enforcement officers? There was no other explanation. The Voice must be right. He must be doing His Work.

But now the winter was coming in and each day was getting colder on the trail, Joseph was ill-equipped to handle the cold northern nights with only the clothes on his back, he'd have to leave the trail and find a city for the coldest months. A big city, no point wasting time, that way he could still do His Work on his way to the Demon's lair... Wall Street, New York, New York...

The trail came to a cross-roads ahead, the less-familiar-now-than-months-ago sight of a bitumen road. So Joe veered from the trail, time to find a job and do His Work. He'd spend the next 4 or 5 months in... "Lost Haven" as he came to a sign bearing the next major city's sign and distance from his current location.

Joe's empty eyes peered into the distance as he would follow each step with another, spotting a sight that would have him nervous if not for the fact that he knew he were carrying out God's message. A police cruiser headed his way. Since he'd begun carrying out God's Work little made him nervous anymore these days.

The cruiser pulled alongside of Joe on the opposite side of the road, the drivers side window rolling down like the opening eye of a sleeping dragon...
"You look a long way from home, kid..."

Joe looked at the officer with the cold, dead eyes of a killer. A killer who believes he understands the world through his own deeds.

"I am a long way from home, officer. My parents have died, I have no home and I'm looking to start a new life in New York City. The city of dreams."

The cop looked at the young vision in front of him, confusing the killers eyes and deadpan tone with the young man merely being tired from walking for a long time. Looking at the young man with a sense of pity, he'd never last in New York (if he ever managed to get that far - these lonely roads often had unstable drifters and vagrants), technically he could run the youth in for vagrancy (and in a lot of ways that may even be best for him) but he remembered that Jody was short staffed down at the local roadhouse she could use an extra set of hands and this kid looked like he could use a meal, a bit of money in his pocket to get him to the next city.

"Look, kid... its a long way into town. Hope in the back and we'll give you a lift into town. The girl down there could use a good young worker and you look like you could do with a feed."

The cold, dead eyes remained but the youth's mouth cracked a smile.

God had shined on him and once again lightened the burden on his long mission of spreading the Truth...

 

[Rain Dog]

MADLOVE

CHAPTER 10: RESURRECTION​

“I want to talk to Stacy. Now,” the young man growled.

“I’m sorry sir,” said the receptionist. The receptionist joined the church about three months ago and was quickly moving up the ranks. The boy showed promise.

“Ms. Tinton is currently in a private session with the Reverend in his quarters and cannot be disturbed.”

“Private session? What bull**** is this?! What the hell is going on back there! Let me see Stacy now!”

“Sir,” the receptionist said sternly, “The Church is open to everyone on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during the sermons, however right now only members have access.”

“I will call the ****ing cops if you don’t let me in there right now!”

“We are doing nothing illegal, sir. Ms. Tinton is in there by her own free will. If you’d like I can take a message and notify her as soon as she’s finished.”

“Don’t ****ing bother. We’re through,” he said as he stormed out the church.

Thanks to the money garnered from the ever-increasing amount of donations from my lovely followers and some of their “extra-curricular activities,” the New Church of Madlove” was able to rent out a small building on Central Street. We’ll more than likely be able to afford it, as religious buildings are granted tax-exempt status by the human government. Not to mention the fact that the church gets more members with each week. And more members means more donations.

The doors to my quarters slowly swung open. With messy hair and smeared make-up, the young Stacy Tinton steps out and into the main corridor.

“Thank you, Reverend.”

“Of course,” I said as I stepped out of the room, straightening my tie, “I’m always more than happy to share the pleasures of Enlightenment with my lovely followers.”

I wink at her. She smiles.

“Come now, we mustn’t keep the others waiting any longer.”

I lead her to the nave. There, dozens of other “veteran” followers sit, waiting for me. Stacy quickly takes a seat as I strut down the aisle towards the altar. My herald quickly stands before I step up onto the altar.

“Presenting, the Cosmic Messiah, the exalted Reverend Madlove!” he shouts.

​

He quickly returns to his seat. I face the crowd, raising my arms in the air, absorbing the subsequent applause. I let loose a few colorful bolts of energy from my hands to really get them going. With a silencing gesture, the applause gradually dies down and my veterans quietly await for my commands.

“Babies, you have been good to the Church. We have a lovely new home, lovely new followers, and a lovely facility to make our goodies at.”

I was referring to the warehouse cellar that was used as a bomb-shelter during the Arlaaekan invasion. It has since become a lab where my veterans go to make our “goodies” for communion.

“But it seems as if we still have some problems to be solved. A resident of Denton Street, a Ned Vazquez, has a goodie lab of his own. He’s taking business from us, preventing others from reaching Enlightement. He, my babies, is a Negative. A threat to the collective cosmic conscious. Eliminate him and free your brothers and sisters.”

They all nod silently.

“Live to love!”

“And love to live!”

​

 

[Eddie Brock]

"For my own piece of mind, have you guys even considered putting your abilities to good use and doing something other than the cliche 'supervillain team' thing?" I ask, knowing better than to expect an answer other than "no." But, still, I felt compelled to ask.

Harrier slams into me from my blindside. I go careening through a pane of glass, colliding with some well-dressed mannequins. He hovers proudly outside the broken window. "It pays the bills," he remarks dryly.

I grab a belt from one of the mannequins. It's sequined. How stylish. I throw myself at Harrier, wrapping the belt around his neck. "You guys pay bills? How thoughtful of you." I use the belt much like reigns, making Harrier fly - roughly - in the direction I want to go. Once I'm close enough, I leap onto Osprey's back.

"Let's see how funny you are now!" Osprey proclaims proudly. He immediately takes for the skies at the fastest speed our combined weight will allow. The higher we go, the colder the air gets. However, since he appears to breathe like a normal human being, I know he won't go high enough to endanger me.

That's when he drops me. Should've seen that coming.

Well, I've imagined quite a few ways to die, but this is a new one. Plummeting through the air at high speeds. This must be what it's like when your parachute doesn't open. In a way, it's almost cool 'cause for a second there, you stop accelerating, and it almost feels like you're floating. What's that called? Terminal vel--

Something grabs the back of my neck before I can hit the ground. It gives me the worst whiplash of my life. Suddenly, I'm falling sideways. Wait. That's not falling. I was just thrown. Wonderful. Whatever breaks my fall certainly isn't soft or cushy.

"Lucky for you, we don't kill," Peregrine explains. He must've been the one who caught me. He quickly adds, "Typically."

Harrier nods. "Yes, there have been...instances..."

"Look, I already explained and apologized for those, okay? Let it go!" Osprey interjects angrily. Why am I not surprised that he's the one who's killed people? He certainly seems like the type. Of course, I'm just jaded because he dropped me from the height of a small skyscraper. Silly me.

SHHNK!

I leap at Osprey with my arms - and blades - outstretched. "Time to clip some wings!" Osprey tries to roll out of my way, but my blade pierces his wing. He yelps in pain as I give my arm a quick tug - removing more than a few feathers. There's no blood, though, so I don't feel too guilty.

Osprey struggles to stay airborne for a few seconds more before landing hard.

I turn my attention to Harrier next. He shows a little more athleticism than Osprey, easily dodging my first few jabs. However, I get lucky on one and just manage to get the tip of my blade through his wing. I yank as hard as I can, spinning Harrier around. With a simple kick between the shoulder blades - where his wings are attached - Harrier is down.

"You and me, hombre," I announce as I turn to Peregrine. He appears unfazed. "Not too late to give up."

"Surrender?" Peregrine replies as if the concept is unfamiliar to him. "There's no dignity in that." He hovers slightly higher now so that he can look down on me. I guess it's supposed to intimidate me or something. "If you truly are the opponent who beats me, you'll have to prove it."

I glance back at Osprey and Harrier. They weren't too hard. "Okay."

Rather than being patient and forcing Peregrine to make the first move, I lunge. Stupid move, I know. Okay, so bear with me 'cause the next sequence happened so fast it's a little blurry. I make a few feeble attempts at making contact with Peregrine, each resulting in me flailing through the air. At one point, he even puts his arms behind his back. Smug bastard. In the middle of one of my elaborate, overdone moves, Peregrine connects his heel to my jaw. I stumble back, my entire face throbbing.

"Hm."

So, naturally, rather than learning my lesson, I come after Peregrine again. Similar results. I flail, he connects, not good. This repeats itself a third time before I get the idea. I guess that he hit me in the head so hard that he beat it into me. Realizing the pattern, I pursue him once more. But this time, I'm slightly more reserved. As soon as I see him flinch, I throw my hands up and pray that reflexes take care of the rest.

They do.

I catch his incoming fist with one hand, while my other hand grabs his outstretched forearm. With a firm grip on his arm, I swing Peregrine around my head like a lasso. He's heavier than I thought. After one full rotation, I release him, and his body flies into the side of the armored vehicle. He hits his head pretty hard and looks dazed. I lumber over there and retrieve Peregrine, dragging his body next to the others.

"Satisfied?"

"He warned us you were resilient," Harrier groans.

"He?"

"We were raided a high-rise penthouse," Osprey begins. "And this guy started talking to us through the TV."

Oh no.

"He told us that we were being insignificant. That if we wanted to be considered great, we needed to show our greatness," Peregrine continues.

"A worthy opponent. That was the only way to test ourselves. Or so he said."

"So he told us about you," Osprey explains. "He told us where to find you and how to draw you out into the open."

Fearing the answer, I ask, "Did this guy have a name?"

"He called himself..."

"The Coordinator."

I swallow the lump in my throat. That's what I was afraid of. Man, when will this guy ever let up? I'm starting to think he has a mancrush on me.

"He said that if you beat us, we were to congratulate you on another fine victory," Peregrine states obediently.

"And to tell you that he'll be seeing you soon."
​

 

[NiteMare Shape]

​

I was so close.

I had Midas and The Cartel on the ropes. Midas had been sending his big guns after me, the biggest of them was someone calling himself "The Franchise." I was closing in on Midas' organization, all I needed was a few more weeks and I know that I would have had my foot on that organization's throat...

Then the world was attacked by an alien invasion force. I did my part, fighting off the extermination squads that the alien high command had sent into the city. I wasn't the only one. A group of super powered beings fought back, eventually defeating the aliens. Unfortunately, during the chaos that followed Midas was able to take The Cartel back underground.

It's taken me nearly six months to get back on his trail, but I'm getting closer. The tip I got from one of Midas' lieutenants' arrand boys puts me one step closer. A shipment of enough high powered firearms to arm a small militia will be making its way into Summers Pier tomorrow at midnight...and the collection of the shipment will be overlooked by one of Midas' top aides.

And for the first time in six months....

I'm so close.

 

[wiegeabo]

Kevin and I keep running down the halls, and gunshots keep ringing out behind us. Every so often a couple of guards would rush past us, there would be more gunfire, and then Kevin would yell for us to keep running.

"What's going on?!"

"They attacked a few minutes ago. Security couldn't stop them. It's like they knew the ins and outs of the whole place."

"Inside job?"

"I don't-" We slide to the floor as the wall above us explodes with bullet holes.

"Don't move!" One of the three masked intruders shout. I freeze on the spot. But Kevin slowly stands up.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm trying to save your life." He whispers. He finishes standing, hand in the air, and address the gunmen. "Whatever you want. I can help you. Just tell me what I can do."

The gunmen look at each other for a second. "Ok. You can die."

"NO!" But the intruder's gun still rings out, and bullet holes erupt from Kevin's chest.

"BASTARDS!!!" Everything goes black and white as the quicksilver floods over me.

"What the-?!" The gunman can't finish his sentence as I put my fist into his face. He drops like a rock.

The other two start firing aimlessly. I grab the downed intruders rifle, making it invisible, and swing at one of the gunmen. His rifle goes flying and I put the butt of my gun into his nose, breaking it. He also drops like a lump.

The third man goes running, but I put a bullet into his leg as he passes by me. He hits the ground screaming, and I jump on his back, my quicksilver flaking away as I lose my concentration.

"I'll kill you! I'll kill you!" I start smashing his head into the floor. "I'll kill you!!!"

"Darren..."

"Kevin?!"

I let the bloodied head of this groaning piece of scum hit the floor as I rush over to Kevin. I lift his head up. "Kevin. It'll be ok."

He shakes his head weakly. "I'm a doctor, Darren. I know it won't. I'm not going to make it."

"Bull. I'll get you out of here, find a hospital to get you patched up."

"No, it's too late." He grips my arm tightly. "You have to get out of here. You can't let them get their hands...on you."

"I'll get the Fat Man-"

"No!" He gets a sudden rush of energy, and squeezes my arm so hard it hurts. "You can't trust...anyone..." He coughs. I hear more gunshots, but ignore them.

"In my...office. Address book. Page...42...safe place...go...find help..."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Go...n-now..." Kevin's eyes start to flutter closed.

"No, no you don't." I give him a shake, but his head just falls to the side. The only man in this place who gave a damn about me. Treated me more like a person than a science experiment.

There's a rush of footsteps. I look up as half a dozen gunmen turn the corner, guns at the ready.

But they don't see anything...

 

[Eddie Brock]

FLUX

When Chrissy gets home from work, she throws open all the blinds in her small apartment. Basking in the sunlight, she ties her hair back into a ponytail before going to the sink to wash her hands. Above the sink, she has taped a picture of herself first arriving in San Diego. She smiles every time she looks at it.

There's a knocking at the door as Chrissy finishes drying her hands. She skips to the door with a coy smile. "Who is it?" she asks softly, anticipating the answer.

"The best boyfriend in the whole world," a familiar voice from the other side answers.

Chrissy smiles to herself. "I'll be the judge of that." She opens the door and is immediately picked up in a warm embrace. Laughing, she kisses the man who walked in.

His name is Ian White. He's an orderly at San Diego General Hospital. An area native, he met Chrissy within a week of her arrival, and the sparks flew instantly. Under the guise of showing Chrissy the area, Ian began to spend more and more time with Chrissy, and the attraction was undeniable. They've been together since.

"Hey, I'm glad I caught you because I want to talk to you about something," Ian confesses. He guides Chrissy to the kitchen table, placed in front of a large bay window. Chrissy sits in the seat closest to the window, and Ian pulls up a chair next to her. Holding her hands, Ian continues, "I think we should move in together."

Chrissy is momentarily taken aback. "Oh?"

"Yeah!" Ian replies excitedly. "Look, we've been dating for almost six months now, and I just think that we're both at a point where we can start taking this a little more seriously." After Chrissy says nothing, Ian adds, "I'm not suggesting we make this anything heavy-duty. It can be a...'trial period,' if you will."

Chrissy considers this offer for a few seconds before breaking into a smile. "Okay, let's do it," she agrees. Ian lights up with joy. "Let's move in together."

Laughing broadly, Ian picks up Chrissy and spins her around.
​

 

[Spike_x1]

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

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

"I hear ya," sighed Adam. "Can't stand crowds like this, applauding and wanting autographs or whatever. I'm all for teaming up with everyone if the situation calls for it, but I can't see myself making any real public appearances like this, or delivering speeches."

Arching an eyebrow and letting a small smirk creep across his face, the Survivor chuckled a little. "I saw some of your moves back when you were fighting that fire alien. Even without the sword, I reckon that you could've held your own against those creeps. I've never seen moves like those."

 

[NiteMare Shape]

As he walks through the gates of Pine Hill Cemetery for the first time since Lisa's funeral, Scott can't help but to feel somewhat guilty for his failure to come visit her grave sooner.

Once inside the cemetery; he secretly hopes that since it has been so long since he has stepped foot inside the cemetery, that he can even find her grave. However, he effortlessly navigates around all the other gravestones until he finds himself standing in front of the small stone that marks Lisa's grave.

He stands there for a moment in silence, not quite sure how he is supposed to do this. He can't help but chuckle to himself as he wonders if the world would still see him as some great hero if they could just see him now. If they could see him, standing so awkwardly at the grave of the woman he loved...what would they say?

He quickly brushes the thought aside as he kneels down in front of the headstone.

"Hey, Babe...Sorry I haven't come by before. It's just..." He stops himself.

"Heh...It's not like I didn't want to come visit...I did. I just couldn't bring myself to do it. It's like, if I don't come, it's not real. I keep thinking that maybe, just maybe...if I don't come here, that you'll come back to me."

He feels a lump begin to form in his throat, and as he tried to speak again he finds that he is unable to get the words out.

"It's stupid, I know. It's just that I miss you so much...I've been lost without you. Since you've been gone everyone's been trying to be supportive...and when I say everyone, I mean everyone. Keira and Eric have been great, and I don't think a day goes by when Mark and Brenda don't call...but it doesn't really help. I've been burying myself in my work as Icon, doing everything I can so that I don't have to come home and face the facts that no matter how many people throw themselves at me, I feel so alone."

He quickly wipes away a tear as it begins to run down his cheek.

"I want you to know that there isn't a day that goes by when I don't think about you. And I just can't get over the feeling that what happened to you was my fault. If I hadn't sent you away when...if I hadn't sent you away, you might still be alive."

He reaches into his pocket and procuces a small box.

"Got this for you acouple of weeks before it all started."

He opens the box and holds it out toward the headstone, revealing a diamond engagement ring.

"I...I had it all planned out. I knew exactly how I was going to give it to you. I just never got the chance....and believe me Babe...that's going to be with me forever. I just hope you knew what you meant to me."

Scott takes the ring from the box and kneels down directly in front of the headstone. He reaches down and digs a small hole with his hand, puts the ring in it and then covers it back up.

"I love you baby...I'm only sorry I never got the chance to tell you just how much."

He gets to his feet, gently touches the top of the headstone with his fingertips, then turns and begins making his way through the seemingly endless rows of tombstones which mark the landscape of the cemetery.

 

[Mr. Majestic]

Last Night, New York City

Here I am chasing a driverless train full with a lot and I mean lots of civilians. For the pass week I have been hunting down a group of metahumans who has been going by the name Themis. They have done a lot of things to the city of New York but this is the first time it involve endangering people. I have yet to find out their real goal but it won’t be long before I do.

I run a head of the train and I see that there are bombs link together on the subway tracks. They are placed on each side of the tracks. I’ve done my research on these and if I disturb one all the rest will go off, I’m fast but this isn’t something I would want to risk. I seriously wish I had back up on this. I then run back in the opposite direction heading to the on coming train. As I’m approaching the train I jump in through the window. While in the train I see everyone is in a panic and confused and don’t know what to do. I have to ease them but I don’t want to waste my time with that. I have to get to the point.

“Okay everyone listen.” I shout. “I need for you all to get up and go to the last train car. We don’t have much time.” Without skipping a beat the New York citizens got up from their seats and all rushed to the back. Normally I would tell them not to push and shove but I don’t have time to make sure they do what there’re told in an orderly fashion.

Within no time everyone who was on the train was all within the last two cars, I swear they moved so fast you would think this is an everyday thing for them. Now their job is done, it’s my turn for me to do mine. I exit the train and run back in the front of it. Since the brakes are not working themselves I’m going to have to be the substitute. While running I realize that the train is coming close to setting off the first bomb and once that happens it’s going to be a chain reaction. I then place myself in front of the subway train. I slam my feet into the ground and press my back and my hands against the nose of the train giving it everything I have to slow it down and stop it before its to late.

It seems that even though I’m giving it all my strength the only thing I’m being successful of doing is tearing up the tracks. I then see that the first bomb is approaching. Right when I think that I might make it in time.

“Ahhh ****!” I utter as I brace myself as we go pass the first trap. Once the trap was trip the bombs began to go off. Each one of the bombs that we were going pass began to rock the train back and forth almost to the point that it was going to tip over, till I turn around and implanted my hands into the front of the train mustering up all my might to stop it from doing so, I only hope that the train cars are strong enough to keep it together. With one more effort I was able to stop the train from continuing to ride down the tunnel as the rest of the bombs continued to blow.

2 hours later.

I watch as all the passengers get off the train safely. It is going to be a while before anyone use this tunnel again. If only there could have been another way for me to solve this problem without these people lives being in danger.

Right as I’m about to take off the media comes rushing to my face.

“Kid, nice job on the rescue.” One the reported stated.

“I did my best.” I replied.

Another reported forced his way in front of the previous report that was talking to me.

“Looks like your best wasn’t good enough wouldn’t you say, Kid?”

This guy, I’ve seen him before.

“My name is not Kid, it’s Youngster.” Yeah good come back, not like that makes a difference. Normally I don’t care if people call me Kid or The Kid I been getting it since I was part of the Guardians but when this guys says it, man it really pisses me off.

“Don’t you think that something of this magnitude you should have called for reinforcements?”

Damn he is really trying to make me look bad here.

“Of course I could have used the help but I did just…”

“But I guest you really can’t call for back up since you were kicked out of the Guardians correct?”

I can’t believe he just interrupted me and how does he know about my situation?

“What? Where are you hearing this?” I’m trying to stay clam but I’m really about to lose my cool.

“So it is true then right? You just got tired of being Icon’s sidekick? They wouldn’t give you your own chair at the real heroes table?”

Nothing would satisfy me more than to throw him through a wall right about now but I know I can’t do that. I need to leave before I do something reckless.

“No comment.” I say fallowed by me taking off at super speed.

I had stop running a couple of states away. I went into an alley and fell to the ground and rest my back against a building wall.

“It seem like no matter how many people I help that guy always seems it have it out for me.” I state to myself. It’s almost as if no matter what I do it's never good enough. I gave up my life to help people and this is the things I get. Sad thing is I know he was right about saying I should have called for help. But there really isn’t anyone I feel like I get along with, sure Icon did decide to train me but it wouldn’t feel right for me to ask him to help me with this. There’s got to be someone else. Wait… how could I forget about the Vigilante. Me and him worked together before and he is the only one who knows the truth about me. I can’t believe I didn’t think about him before. I quickly get back to my feet.

“I just need to contact him.” To bad I don’t have a cell phone, let me rephrase that to bad my cell phone got turn off since I didn’t pay the bill.

“There’s got to be another way.” As soon I make that comment I notice a pay phone. I quickly make my way other there. I reach in my pockets and realize that I don’t carry money on me, simply because I don’t have any. There is one thing for me to do but it’s not the right thing but of late a lot of things I've been doing isn’t what most would call the right thing. So I bust my fist into the pay phone and watch as all the coins fall out. I grab 75 cent and then sent a page to Vigilante.

Today, Reedsville (Couple miles outside of Lost Haven)

I see they wasted no time printing this. Head lines reading “Youngster Kicked Out?!” This guy really has it in for me. Oh well it’s not going to stop me from doing what I have to do.

I then toss the paper down on the kitchen table, after the paper hit the counter top dust flew in the air. Guess I need to be home more often. I grab the scissors from the drawer and walk back to the paper and cut out the section about me actually saving the people lives on the train. Afterwards I headed over to my barn with the article. In the middle of the barn I kneel down and flip the rug over revealing secret door. I personally made this little secret base myself. After the house and barn were destroyed during the invasion i took it upon myself to do a little remodeling. Thats when i made my own base of operations. Nothing to fancy, only really security I have is this 1,000 pound door. No avenge person will be getting in here.

I walk down the stairs and head straight to my wall of accomplishments, well it’s the name I gave it. It displays my saves within the last three months, over 250 and still counting. All these people lives I saved and I still feel like it’s not enough. Maybe Icon was right i shouldn't have left the team.

 

[Hound55]

Roosevelt International Airport

Isaac Fontaine strode through the "sleeve" which connected the front passenger door of the jet with the terminal. He'd slept well, great in fact. And had dealt with the flight attendant surprisingly well, he was with Renee and none of that would be happening. Regardless how tempting an offer in-flight entertainment could be. He wasn't just going to throw Renee away.

No matter what his reasons for the relationship were. Still, he didn't want to think about that now.

There was a call to answer.

Fontaine caught a cab to Lost Haven City... downtown and into the thick of what was fast becoming his "Home away from home".

He'd been following the papers back home somewhat, the US Government (much to Isaac's chagrin, although he largely tried to keep his cynical thoughts to himself - many wouldn't be willing to hear about it, particularly without evidence) had forked over a pretty penny designing and building a high quality Base of Operations. Isaac felt a little uneasy in there... Government building he never saw built... the place probably had more mics and cameras than the Big Brother house...

Still. There was only one way to find out who called him in... The Government's cage for their most prominent pet metahumans. Oh, and him. The "Other".

In fairness to the Government they hadn't spilled the beans and come out and announced his existence... but that wasn't saying much. It didn't really surprise him at all. That's a big damn chip they're carrying there. A big damn bargaining chip in case they ever really want to bring me into line.

And it was something else Isaac had been already left thinking about.

It was a line that he'd have to cross if they ever threatened him with it. He couldn't let them have that much power over him and he could still always go back to just doing his thing solely for Cooktown.

The identity thing..?

That was another issue, entirely.

Isaac knew full well the kind of tech the Government could implement if they cared enough... voice recognition software. Pinpoint his voice down to a few candidates. Its why he'd had some work done on a device.

A voice modulator.

Believe me... the logistics of making that happen without leaving a trail was a nightmare.

But now he had it. Transparent plastic as well and he had made some adjustments to his simple balaklava to have it cover the mouth hole.

The new winchable grapple gun had been left back home in Cooktown... again, Airport security don't look fondly on these things. But that was of little consequence. He could still climb a rope, his muscles hadn't atrophied that much since living the charmed life of the high-powered winch...

Now he had to make the change. Five blocks away Fontaine had the cabbie pull over. Tipping him generously, Isaac alighted the taxi and walked down the street where he came across an ATM. Isaac withdrew $500, rolled it and pocketed it, walking on with purpose he turned down a dark alley.

Fontaine had brought only a carry-on back-pack with some key essentials, he had a great deal of clothes still at a property he'd purchased on the cheap. He'd been offered a room in the base whenever he was "In" but again, he still didn't trust the BofOps fully. He'd visit, and be cautious with his comments there, but he knew how his mouth got in that environment... eventually he'd run his mouth and leak too much.

Fontaine emerged from the other enterance of the same alley, now only 4 blocks from Guardian HQs, decked out in full kit and balaklava.

Now would come the interesting part... 4 blocks of invisibility with no grapple gun and civilians walking the streets. Ugh.

Its never simple...

Minutes of creeping behind traffic-jammed cars, sprinting behind oblivious pedestrians and wishing that he had super-speed or invisibility later he came to the front door. Ignoring the finger-pad he punched in an excessively long 14 digit passcode. It took a lot of explaining as to why he wanted to be an exception to the proposed security system, albeit with a longer code he'd have to remember (and change it every other week), but he was still desperate to cling to maintaining a secret identity whatever the expense. It was a lot easier to argue when he had a few other team-mates who understood where he was coming from as well, to back his decision up.

The heavy door opened and Isaac stepped inside. Checking the "Clock-In" board. A brilliant idea in a place as large as this one. Isaac took his plastic card and "punched" it into his own designated slot, a second light flashed onto the board.

Hmm... only Mike is in. Damn. Well, better check it wasn't him calling me in just in case.

Now to find him in this palace...

 

[Mr. Majestic]

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...." ​

3 Months ago

At the base of operations of S.T.R.I.K.E, there was a meeting regarding their current plans. They showed a video of the confrontation between Icon and Spartan dealing with the alien girl.

“As you all know she was one of our major priorities for capture, you all are also aware of is that since the day of the dedication she has became a member of The Guardians. With means she is no longer priority number one, for now. As of today your only goals as S.T.R.I.K.E member should and will be the detaining all of the metahumans who have been running free since the disaster had occur.”

Frank West then gives the man behind the projector a head nod signaling him to turn if off. He then walks from behind the podium and addresses all the agents.

“On your desk is files that contain a list of meta’s your teams will be focusing on. If you do not contain all the meta’s on your list do not even bother coming back to S.T.R.I.K.E because you will no longer be a member. Now if that is clear you all are dismiss.”

All of the teams got up from their seats but one, the Executioners. This team didn’t have your regular STRIKE agents. Each member on this team were metahumans who caused a lot of damage and were considered level 4 hazard risk, with 5 being the highest. Now you may be asking yourself ‘Well if they were such bad asses how were they captured?’ Good question and the answer is they sent an even badder bad ass, Spartan. He is STRIKER perfect soldier, there isn’t one task he hasn’t completed. That along with a list of other reasons is why he leads this team of bad asses.

West walks up to the table the Executioner’s were all seating.

“You all don’t have any files on your table because you already know what needs to be done. With that being said you all can leave but Spartan I need for you to stay.”

The group all got up from the table and walk out with no questions ask. Spartan sat in his chair with a flawless military manner. In West’s right hand he was holding a black folder that has the words classified on it. He drops it in front of Spartan.

“Read that.” He says.

Spartan opens the fold and gives it a quick glance. The more he read the more he began to get a little confused.

“This can’t be right?” he asks.

“Very much so.” West replied.

“What you are reading are for things to come. With the resent events that has taking place STRIKE is now getting ready to act. That fold that you have is some of our plans. What we are going to need from you is on the next page.”

Spartan then turns the page to see what the information holds for him.

“What you are looking at is a list Spartan.”

“Is a list of heroes.” Spartans say while still examining the paper.

“Exactly, read what is said on the bottom.”

Spartan quickly glances to the bottom of the page.

“Is this for real sir?”

“The time has finally arrived, you just make sure you and your team will be ready for what’s to come.”

Spartan eyes jump back to the first name on the list. His eye’s began to glow with excitement. Finally his chance has come, he will finally get to do what he has been dieing to do for years.

 

[NiteMare Shape]

Reedsville, it's been awhile since I've been here. I haven't been out this way since Youngster quit the Gaurdians. It was his decision, and I respect that, and I do understand where he's coming from.

But this is not acceptable. I think it's time that we had alittle chat.

I check his house, but I can tell that nobody is there, which means...he's in the barn. I make my way to his makeshift headquarters, and sure enough, with a quick scan with my radar sense I find him in the bunker he's built. I go over to the large door and head down into his sanctuary.

I find him over by a wall covered in newspaper clippings, and toss this morning's issue of the Lost Haven Times on the floor between us.

"Sam, I think it's time we talked."

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"I hear ya," sighed Adam. "Can't stand crowds like this, applauding and wanting autographs or whatever. I'm all for teaming up with everyone if the situation calls for it, but I can't see myself making any real public appearances like this, or delivering speeches."

Arching an eyebrow and letting a small smirk creep across his face, the Survivor chuckled a little. "I saw some of your moves back when you were fighting that fire alien. Even without the sword, I reckon that you could've held your own against those creeps. I've never seen moves like those."

"Thank you", Kensei nodded.
"I have trained to be a warrior since my childhood, and have had centuries of time to hone my craft. I would be happy to teach you a few techniques one day, if you are interested."

 

[Mr. Majestic]

Reedsville, it's been awhile since I've been here. I haven't been out this way since Youngster quit the Gaurdians. It was his decision, and I respect that, and I do understand where he's coming from.

But this is not acceptable. I think it's time that we had alittle chat.

I check his house, but I can tell that nobody is there, which means...he's in the barn. I make my way to his makeshift headquarters, and sure enough, with a quick scan with my radar sense I find him in the bunker he's built. I go over to the large door and head down into his sanctuary.

I find him over by a wall covered in newspaper clippings, and toss this morning's issue of the Lost Haven Times on the floor between us.

"Sam, I think it's time we talked."

I was so focus on the wall I didn’t even hear Icon come in. If it wasn’t for him fling the paper on the floor I might not have known he was here unless he wanted me to.

As I turn all the way around I look down at the paper on the floor. Right away I can tell this is not going to be a conversation about how I been doing.

“I never thought you’d be here, I figured you might be to busy to notice what’s been going on.”

With the entire mistakes I been making within the past three months I’m a little shock that he hasn’t come sooner.

 

[NiteMare Shape]

I was so focus on the wall I didn’t even hear Icon come in. If it wasn’t for him fling the paper on the floor I might not have known he was here unless he wanted me to.

As I turn all the way around I look down at the paper on the floor. Right away I can tell this is not going to be a conversation about how I been doing.

“I never thought you’d be here, I figured you might be to busy to notice what’s been going on.”

With the entire mistakes I been making within the past three months I’m a little shock that he hasn’t come sooner.

"I make it a point to try and keep up to date on what's going on with my friends." Icon says.

"But this article...You know that leaving the Gaurdians was your decision. I understand why you did it, you want to prove yourself. And you've been doing a good job of that, but there's no need. There's a spot open for you with The Gaurdians whenever you want it."

 

[Mr. Majestic]

"I make it a point to try and keep up to date on what's going on with my friends." Icon says.

"But this article...You know that leaving the Gaurdians was your decision. I understand why you did it, you want to prove yourself. And you've been doing a good job of that, but there's no need. There's a spot open for you with The Gaurdians whenever you want it."

If he would have said that to me 6 months ago I think it might have meant something to me but now its just empty words.

“You couldn’t begin to understand why I really left.” I say as I walk pass Icon and sit down to the chair at the right of him. I rest my hands on my face for a while then slowly take off my mask and hood. I knew that we would have this talk. I’ve played this out in my head a thousand times. I know I was told not to tell anyone about what really happened to me but its been 6 months and I haven’t heard a single word or thought from my birth mother so its safe to say she is no longer with me, besides no harm can come from Icon knowing the truth.

“There is a lot of stuff I haven’t told you, things that are the real reason why I left.”

I pause for a moment to get my thoughts together.

“Okay, I’m pretty sure you remember when the aliens attacked us. I and Vigilante fought the alien power house Titan. You all asked us how we defeated him and we pretty much just dodge the question. Well the truth is I stop him by myself.”

 

[NiteMare Shape]

If he would have said that to me 6 months ago I think it might have meant something to me but now its just empty words.

“You couldn’t begin to understand why I really left.” I say as I walk pass Icon and sit down to the chair at the right of him. I rest my hands on my face for a while then slowly take off my mask and hood. I knew that we would have this talk. I’ve played this out in my head a thousand times. I know I was told not to tell anyone about what really happened to me but its been 6 months and I haven’t heard a single word or thought from my birth mother so its safe to say she is no longer with me, besides no harm can come from Icon knowing the truth.

“There is a lot of stuff I haven’t told you, things that are the real reason why I left.”

I pause for a moment to get my thoughts together.

“Okay, I’m pretty sure you remember when the aliens attacked us. I and Vigilante fought the alien power house Titan. You all asked us how we defeated him and we pretty much just dodge the question. Well the truth is I stop him by myself.”

I can see that something is obviously bothering him, so I grab the other chair in the corner and take a seat in front of him.

"Why don't you tell me about it?"

 

[Mr. Majestic]

I can see that something is obviously bothering him, so I grab the other chair in the corner and take a seat in front of him.

"Why don't you tell me about it?"

"Well I came into some power and I mean some real power. I became another person almost something like Captain Marvel from the comic books.When I fought Titan as youngster I got my butt handed to me. I was only able to beat him because I was able to turn into Samson, that’s the name I gave myself when i transformed. I wanted to tell you all those times we were training together but i was promised not to but as of late i don't see the reason for keeping that promise.”

I waited a moment before continuing.

“The first three months I was with the team all the saves I did I didn’t do it as I am now I had to turn into Samson, that’s why I always would disappear but the job always got done. After I lost the ability to turn into Samson everything began to go down hill from there. I knew that i was no good to you all as I am. I felt that I couldn’t hold up my end so I decided to leave.”

I had to prove to myself that I could become a hero you all could be proud of, a hero she can be proud of.

“After my mom died I promised that I would do everything I could to make sure what happened to me never happen to anyone else. I relied so much on the power of Samson I forgot what really made me a hero in the first place. So I had to leave so I could find what I’ve lost.”

 

[NiteMare Shape]

"Well I came into some power and I mean some real power. I became another person almost something like Captain Marvel from the comic books.When I fought Titan as youngster I got my butt handed to me. I was only able to beat him because I was able to turn into Samson, that’s the name I gave myself when i transformed. I wanted to tell you all those times we were training together but i was promised not to but as of late i don't see the reason for keeping that promise.”

I waited a moment before continuing.

“The first three months I was with the team all the saves I did I didn’t do it as I am now I had to turn into Samson, that’s why I always would disappear but the job always got done. After I lost the ability to turn into Samson everything began to go down hill from there. I knew that i was no good to you all as I am. I felt that I couldn’t hold up my end so I decided to leave.”

I had to prove to myself that I could become a hero you all could be proud of, a hero she can be proud of.

“After my mom died I promised that I would do everything I could to make sure what happened to me never happen to anyone else. I relied so much on the power of Samson I forgot what really made me a hero in the first place. So I had to leave so I could find what I’ve lost.”

"Oh."

I sit there for a moment, not quite sure what to say. I have to admit, what Sam just told me completely threw me for a loop.

"Listen Sam, all that doesn't matter. The fact is that you were a hero before you became 'Sampson.' We all have different gifts...some of us have more powers than others. I mean, look at Vigilante...there's a guy who didn't get on the team because of his powers...he became a Gaurdian because he's proven that he's a hero. It isn't what you can do, Sam...it's who you are that makes you a hero."

 

[Mr. Majestic]

"Oh."

I sit there for a moment, not quite sure what to say. I have to admit, what Sam just told me completely threw me for a loop.

"Listen Sam, all that doesn't matter. The fact is that you were a hero before you became 'Sampson.' We all have different gifts...some of us have more powers than others. I mean, look at Vigilante...there's a guy who didn't get on the team because of his powers...he became a Gaurdian because he's proven that he's a hero. It isn't what you can do, Sam...it's who you are that makes you a hero."

Throughout this entire conversation i didn't crack a smile till now. I always looked up to Icon and wanted to be like him before i knew i had powers. Now he's at my house calling me a hero, who would have thought.

"You seem to always know what to say, Icon." I say with a smile as I lean back in my chair.

"I guess i never looked at it like that. I been letting the media get to me about how I am a kid and not ready to be a hero and stuff. Guess i just needed someone to steer me in the right direction."

 

[NiteMare Shape]

Throughout this entire conversation i didn't crack a smile till now. I always looked up to Icon and wanted to be like him before i knew i had powers. Now he's at my house calling me a hero, who would have thought.

"You seem to always know what to say, Icon." I say with a smile as I lean back in my chair.

"I guess i never looked at it like that. I been letting the media get to me about how I am a kid and not ready to be a hero and stuff. Guess i just needed someone to steer me in the right direction."

I listen to what Youngster has to say before nodding.

"Well, it's something to think about anyhow. You know that you're always welcome with The Gaurdians, your passcode is the same....if you decide to swing by." I say with a smile.

"But I have to get back to the city. I hope to see you back at the headquarters sometime soon." I say as I turn to leave Youngster's bunker.

 

[Rain Dog]

Big blue eaglehead looks thirsty. Clink clink clink clink clink clink

[BLACKOUT]“We’re gonna need to move fast, Mubbles. Unlike the rest of the population, the government cares about federal buildings.”[/BLACKOUT]

Real thirsty. What do eagles drink? Water? Clink clink clink clink clink

[BLACKOUT]“As soon as this place goes up, we get out. Remember—we return to rally point Zulu.”[/BLACKOUT]

Meow

[BLACKOUT]“No, not Echo 2. That’s just stupid. Don’t be stupid, Mubbles,” [/BLACKOUT]I said as I unloaded the clinking glass bottles from my satchel. Stupid thirsty eagle. What do eagles drink? Milk juice? Apple soda? Petrol? Probably petrol. Good thing I brought plenty of it. Big bird is going to get his thirst quenched.

[BLACKOUT]“Ready Mubbles?”[/BLACKOUT] I ask as I pull a matchbox out of my pocket. Skkkrrr-fwwwp. Blaze of glory. I dab each of the damps rags with the glory.

[BLACKOUT]“One, two, THREE!!”[/BLACKOUT]

I begin hurling bottle after bottle through the post office windows. I can hear the loud crash of each and every bottle followed by the roar of flames. Just as the embers begin to devour the post inferno, a loud ringing blasts my eardrums and the flames are quickly doused by ceiling water.

[BLACKOUT]“Damn it! Fire alarm! Damn it! Rally point Zulu, Mubbles!”[/BLACKOUT] I shout as I begin to run east.

REEEOW!

[BLACKOUT]“No, Mubbles! Zulu! I said Zulu!”[/BLACKOUT]

Mubbles continues scampering off in the other direction. The fool! I chase after him. Very difficult to keep up. He’s very agile. Very quick. I chase after him for a few blocks until I can hear the horrific wail of sirens.

Hrrrn….not good…swine on their way…