The Create-A-Hero RPG Season III IC Thread!

[sabetoonth]

Elijah looked to the aftermath of the battle, he had seen nothing like it in his entire life, and now he was looking at the path into Heaven. Would he ever go there after he died? Or did the demon blood damn his soul to hell? Inferno watched as Michael and Michael talked, he gave a look to Cerberus, it seemed like they had no chance, why fight at all if the entire order of Archangels couldn't?

No, wait, screw that. This is not a time to feel like it is the end of the world. This is the kind of time were you grabbed the bull and ripped its horns off. They had to derail the train and right now they had to go to Heaven to do that. His resolved strengthened and his blood boiled as he thought about the consequences of this, people he cared about were going to suffer and die. He turned to look between the two other Prophets. then he looked at the light.

"We have to go. There is too much riding on this for us to just give up here." He took a few steps forward looking at the Archangels. "Archangel Michael said to find were you're strength lies." Looking at Michael, his comrade, then he continued, "letting this happen is letting it slip away not finding were it is. If nothing else I've got people I care about to protect. Saving the world comes after saving them." He would admit later if asked that yes he was being selfish, but that's how much he loved his mom and friends. "I say we go get the son of a *****."

 

[Carnage27]

It all happens so fast, I'm not even able to move. Michael's mentor steals his powers, starts talking about a plan to kill the Judeo-Christian God, kill all the people of Earth, then Satan, then remake the universe in his own image. Yea, this day is gone to hell in a handbasket. Or heaven. Or whatever.

Inferno asserts how important this mission is, and I can't deny it. This is the second time we've got to save the earth in the span of a few hours...Yea. This is terrific.

"You're right," I nod. "This d-bag isn't killing a deity on my watch. And he certainly isn't going to be killing the world's population. We've gone to hell and killed the angel of death, there's no reason we can't stop another crazy bastard."

As I finish, a bright white light appears before us.

As the three of us walk towards it, and towards our destiny, I say, "And I want it to be clear that so far, I'm the only one that isn't directly connected with the possible end of reality. Just remember that."
​

 

[trustyside-kick]

As I finish, a bright white light appears before us.

As the three of us walk towards it, and towards our destiny, I say, "And I want it to be clear that so far, I'm the only one that isn't directly connected with the possible end of reality. Just remember that."
​

"Yea...if we manage to make it out of this alive, I'll be sure to get you a T-Shirt. That way everyone walking by will know. Will be a good addition to the uniform."

We enter the beam of light that St. Michael the archangel had opened to us that is supposed to be a way into Heaven. The second that I enter that pure and warm light...I feel like I'm falling...up. Like, that gravity has suddenly decided to suffer from vertigo and go the other direction. It's kind of nauseating to be honest. Though not quite as nauseating as the fact that the Order of the Archangels couldn't stop Bath Kol and the three of us are somehow supposed to.

As we are being transported, I look over at Inferno and Cerberus. I pay attention to Inferno more as I recall what he said just before Cerberus chimed in. He talked about how protecting the ones he loves comes first no matter what the odds. I guess that's where he gets his strength from.

So what about me? I've been honored with these blessings for almost two years now and...is that what had given me strength throughout it all? I look back at the obstacles I've faced...and the feats I've accomplished. And I...I don't know what has been the thing that empowers me. Where my strength lies.

I pray that I find it. And soon.

"Whoa."

The journey finally ends, and we find ourselves at THE Gates. Yea. St. Peter's Gates themselves. Although...not quite as expected. Then again, there is a renegade angel rampaging through Heaven with the combined powers of the 7 Archangels. So much of it...is already in ruin.

"I wish I could've seen it in all of its Glory."

"Hey."

I look at Inferno, and he walks just past the entrance of the battered down Gates. He stops, looks back over at me, and points at the distance before us where we can see Bath Kol battling the other choirs of angels with sheer ease.

"Like Cerberus said: We went to Hell and back...who says this is going to be any different? We will see this place in all of its Glory...when it's our time to. When it's our time to die...that day isn't today. My life isn't going to be ruled by the prophecy of another. In Hell I overcame a prophecy that was forced upon me. Of my so called 'birth right'. But that wasn't my true calling. THIS...is it...this is our calling. Saving the world. Prophets of the Unknown, right?"

"Right."

I smirk, tighten my grip on the Sword of Spirit and the Shield of Faith as I ascend into the skies, flying past Inferno and Cerberus as I lead us into battle.

"Time to write our own Prophecy."

 

[sabetoonth]

This is it, Inferno thinks to himself as he starts his own charge on foot towards the renegade angel, this is the time were they were going to find out what they were made of, who had the tougher stuff. Eli tries to remember everything Grim had taught him up to that point about fighting, he'd never really learned a damn thing about angels, he'd change that, and he'd ask why Grim never told him about what would happen in Hell.

He did what he could to clear his mind of the frivolous and un-helping thoughts, things like how bad the Archangels were beat, how in comparison power wise he had never seen or done anything like that. He instead focused on what drove him, friends, family, the thought of saving them now and seeing them after. The world was one of the things he pushed from his mind because they were not on it, they were on another plane of existence, one you wouldn't expect to see him in, being half demon and all, what surprised him was that he didn't feel any weaker, in hell he felt stronger and you would assume he was weaker in Heaven. But he wasn't, he wasn't stronger mind you but he did not feel like he had ended up on the bad end of a handicap.

Bath Kol had a young looking angel back the neck when Eli was within sight, readying what would surely be a death blow to the being. Launching himself the cambion caught the angel just as the renegade dropped him and rose his knee, Inferno took the knee and he felt like his guts were going to pop open.

It was with a great loud sound that he hit he floor of heaven. He took a few short seconds to recover himself, god what kind of class of strength do you put that in? He had gone toe to toe with three different demons of known power and they didn't have **** on this guy. His armor was actually dented. Once he had his recovery Eli rolled to his knees, ready to get up and get going in the fight once again.
And now came the hard part.

"You surprise me, demon spawn." the rogue stated as he slowly, eerily slowly, approached. "I would not think your capable of thinking to pose a threat here."

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Dylan walks back into his office at the Towers with a few folders and tells Katy, "No calls or appointments for the rest of the day Katy. I have some other business to tend to. When it hits 5pm go ahead activate the voice-mail and go."

She replies, "Yes Sir Mr. Chambers."

Dylan closes and locks the door. He then spreads out several of the forms in the folders and begins scanning them and sending some of them to Director Anderson.

He faxes Director Anderson a note saying, "I am now on the Board of Directors form Williams Industries. I have first look and claims on all new weapons and tech. Any of this interests you let me know, and this is only the tip of the iceberg.--Dylan."

 

[Erin]

Pinup roams the halls of Guardians' Headquarters, considering the events of the previous few days and anxiously awaiting the results of Icon's meeting with Anderson. Acrobat had been transferred from recovery to a regular room in the infirmary several hours ago, and last Pinup had seen, he was drifting off to sleep, swaddled in a warm blanket of Guardians fandom and painkillers.

This, combined with the fact that Methuselah was once again missing from his cage, was enough to keep her from worrying too much about Icon and Anderson. She curses under her breath as she stoops to search under the sofa in the lounge. Though the initial tests seventy-odd years ago hadn't shown any vast improvement in Methuselah's mental capacity, Pinup had often wondered if the changes had been slower to come than anticipated. Certainly the rat had been easy to train, and capable of solving problems other rodents may never have minded. She vaguely regrets the long hours she had spent with him over the years, remedying her own boredom by training the rat to perform tasks outside normal rodent capabilities.

At the back of the underside of the couch, Pinup could only barely see a small hole in the decking fabric. She furrows her brow and wondered if Methuselah was still common enough to seek out a snuggly bed in the sofa stuffing.

A noise in the hall catches her attention and she looks up and over her shoulder. Someone is walking toward the lounge. She rises and crosses to the door, wondering if perhaps Icon is back with news.

The sight of the black masked figure is slightly deflating, and she sighs as Vigilante approaches. His broken arm still hangs unattended at his side, and gives her pause for consideration. Even injured, he had followed her out into Lost Haven and willingly put his life on the line with Youngster to help save Acrobat. Though Icon's peptalk the other night had been directed toward Michael and Matt, it held true for the whole group; they were all in the same boat, after all.

"Vigilante," She flags him down and crosses to him, ignoring the pain in her knee. "Listen, I..."

Damn it. Why does apologizing have to be so hard?

"Look, I want to apologize....We got off on the wrong foot, and well..." She watches him, unable to register his expression from behind the mask. "Look, it really doesn't make any sense for us to be at each other's throats. After all, we're playing for the same team here, right?"

She's rambling.

Stop rambling.

She clears her throat. " The fact is that without you and the Youngster...well, even though I told you not to follow me...I guess I'm glad you did. Thanks."

There. A perfectly legitimate apology. Regardless of his reaction, she can at least say she tried. In the back of her mind, she wonders if Methuselah will know enough to avoid any traps lying about. Even deeper, she wonders the same about Icon.

 

[trustyside-kick]

It was with a great loud sound that he hit he floor of heaven. He took a few short seconds to recover himself, god what kind of class of strength do you put that in? He had gone toe to toe with three different demons of known power and they didn't have **** on this guy. His armor was actually dented. Once he had his recovery Eli rolled to his knees, ready to get up and get going in the fight once again.
And now came the hard part.

"You surprise me, demon spawn." the rogue stated as he slowly, eerily slowly, approached. "I would not think your capable of thinking to pose a threat here."

I muster up all the speed I can and tackle Bath Kol with the Shield of Faith at my front side. The attack is successful, but...I'm so much weaker than I usual am. He wildly swipes with one of his arms to strike me and I luckily manage to dodge in time, but the second I think I'm in the clear, he slams me down by manipulating the wind above me. Crushed and feeling like there is so much weight keeping me pinned as the wind won't give me way, I start to feel so useless again.

To think, all of this happened because I felt useless without the Archangel State...and my pursuing of it brought the End of the World. How could I know though right? I shouldn't be so hard on myself...right? Don't worry. I'm not feeling this crappy because I brought the Day of Wraith upon us.

I'm feeling so useless because...yet again I am useless. I have no strength left. St. Michael the archangel gave me his sword and shield, the second time I've wielded these two magnificent pieces that make of the Armor of God and...I can barely keep Bath Kol off of my two teammates.

I'm nothing.

...but maybe I can buy some time for someone who is more than nothing.

"You're...making a terrible mistake, Bath Kol. This...all of this...you really think you can do better than the Creator? Even if you succeed...I don't see how you're going to suddenly grasp how to wield such power and re-create your perfect little world without Man. Even if you win...you fail."

"To err is human, Michael. Not divine."

"You...you seriously see yourself as being so high above all other creatures of God's world. Think that just because your kind came first...that the rest are just lambs to slaughter. Because they are not of divine origins such as yourself. You wanna know what is divine, Bath Kol? Life. ALL life is divine."

"All life? Divine?! HA! Take a look at your life, Michael, you poor fool. Can you honestly say that at the end of the day, you look back at everything that has happened to you and smile? How can you call Life divine when yours has been anything but."

"I..."

It hurts like hell...and I have been to such a place that I can rightfully say it, but I manage to muster up some strength and get on one knee from the ground. All the wind that Bath Kol is using to keep me crushed down, it...it's so heavy.

"I have forgiven myself for Jake's death."

"Have you now?"

I--I...I...don't know.

And then suddenly I crumble and I'm back on my stomach once more as the wind intensifies.

"If you had listened to me you could've perhaps prevented it."

If I was stronger maybe I could have stopped it.

"I warned you to focus on your path rather than be led astray by Earthly desires."

Taken control of the elements...stop the space ship before it even got close. But I wasn't nearly in control of my powers as I have been recently...or was I?

"You saw everything as one sacrifice after another. It's how humans always think. Selfishly. I tried to aid you in becoming something bigger. To become divine."

All I was trying to do was help.

"As I am trying to do now, Michael. You will be spared from my purging of the Earth. Take it as you will, but I will make it so. For once, thank your angelic heritage for something good happening in your life. You will live to witness the glorious new world I shall create. So...take my advice this time, Michael...and back off."

He punches me. Son of a gun...as if it isn't bad enough he's got me pinned to this heavenly ground he hits me while I'm already down: mentally and physically. I spit blood at his feet.

"Who knows...at this point I just might have no chance other than to back off...but I think you're forgetting something as we've had this awkward 'mentor and mentee talk': my teammates."

"That's right!"

Inferno propels Cerberus off his shoulders, sending Cerberus soaring through the air, and as Cerberus swan dives he summons an awesome shadowy power and hits Bath Kol. The renegade angel goes tumbling, crashing through marble pillars and heavenly statues as he does so.

 

[sabetoonth]

​

I launch Cerberus off my shoulders and instantly get moving myself, I was not going to risk giving this guy an inch. What is that saying? Give them an inch and they'll take a mile? Bath Kol had taken enough miles to get him a round trip across the planet.
I make sure to stop by over were Michael is to see if he was alright and to offer a suggestion to my teammate.

"Keep an eye on the prize, maintain awareness of your surroundings." Something Grim had taught me when he first starting teach me to fight like I did now, so I knew what I was doing and wasn't just brawling until someone was unconscious. Before I could fight, now I can fight. Passing that onto Michael if he hasn't already heard it or something could be a good thing right? Of course in hindsight it could also sound kinda *****ey like I think he doesn't know how to fight.

After that I make a dead sprint for the other two, wanting to follow up on Bath Kol and not give him a chance to recover should Cerb's strike land. I put a foot forward and land on it, carrying all that kinetic energy through my body and into a single punch, added in with about as much force I can throw into a hit and Bath Kol gets a knock off his feet.

Of course the damned angel has to be able to ****ing float.

Because that is what he's doing. Floating because he is forcing winds to keep him off the ground. I try to follow through and get him with a spin kick but he's faster, avoiding the leg and flicking his wrist to trip me up with a gust of wind and a sliding of the ground beneath my feet. I fall, I'm in the air on the way back down when I realize this guy has control of four elements, water, fire, earth and air. Fire is a big one with me, I have the same or a similar ability. I'm either gonna have to move with it faster than him or I need to take that power away from him. I swing for his ankles with my arm, trying to trip him up again.

And this time he must have been looking away because I catch him and I see him hit the ground before I get back on my feet. Hey I knocked him over.

And hey he's planting his heel into my chest. As he starts to do it again I grab his foot and do something I don't think any angel would do, let alone a god. I bite him. I'm half demon, they fight dirty and I'm not afraid too.

"Filthy!" Disgusted, Bath Kol flings me through the air with a huge gust of wind, I follow his move with a more graceful landing than he'd hope, but just barely. Well we know he has nerves and a sense of feeling. If he can feel, he can have a sense of pain. If he can feel pain, that means we can beat him.

 

[NiteMare Shape]

"Thank you Wilkins, that is indeed good news." Anderson says before hanging up the phone. He sits back in his chair, a massive smile on his face as the news he has just received sinks in.

After years of trying to develop a serum to give special abilities to normal men and women unsuccessfully, thanks to Professor Kennedy, the serum has been perfected. Up until now, the attempts to manufacture metahumans for S.T.I.K.E's own purposes have been...unstable at best. At worst, certifiable disasters. However, thanks to the research of Professor Kennedy, a new serum has been successfully tested on the first subject, and unlike previous attempts, the subject is experiencing no signs of physical or mental deterioration, and is resting comfortably in his room after yet another battery of tests.

Anderson leans back in in his chair, his arms folded behind his head as he congratulates himself on the realization of the next part of his plan.

***​

Alexander Anderson steps to the podium before the large contingent of press who has gathered to cover the S.T.R.I.K.E leader's prepared statement. Over the last several months, Anderson has held several such media sessions which have always provided the media with plenty to write about, and the gathered press stands before the Director, hoping that this will prove no different.

Anderson steps up to the mountain of microphones and looks out at the assembled media and other spectators who have gathered here before him.

"Thank you all for coming today. Over the last several years, we have seen a number of so called 'meta humans' reveal themselves to the world. Some have seemingly been a force for good, using their extraordinary gifts to help the people of the world. However, there have also been those who have chosen to use those same gifts for their own ends. These meta humans have put the populace in danger time and time again. They have used their abilities to commit a number of crimes, everything from theft to mass murder." Anderson pauses as he lets his words sink in.

"These rogue meta humans have proven to be little more than living weapons of mass destruction. They are weapons that need to be kept in check. The so called super heroes who have dedicated themselves to protecting us have done an admirable job of putting down threats as they arise, but I want you all to ask yourselves, are you safer because of their presence, or in spite of it?" A low murmur buzzes throughout the crowd as Anderson's words sink in.

"The threat needs to be proactively addressed, and not just dealt with in the reactionary manner that heroes such as The Guardians seem to excel at. The threat needs to be contained in a manner that allows us to identify the threat before it is able to commit heinous acts such as the attacks on the Harrison Bridge or the Plaza Hotel." Anderson pauses again momentarily.

"Which is why I am here to announce the new citizen outreach program. We will be setting up recruitment centers throughout the city where those interested in helping S.T.R.I.K.E keep the streets safe for the people can come in and begin the application process. All applications will be considered for enrollment in the program." Anderson pauses as the buzz from the crowd grows louder, and some of the members of the media begin shouting questions at the Director.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is time take back our streets from the meta human terrorists who would have us live in fear. It is time to end the meta human threat before and can evolve into something more. Thank you." Anderson says as he steps away from the podium even as members of the media continue shouting after him.

 

[NiteMare Shape]

Flying above the city, I can't seem to get the argument that Pinup and I had had over my meeting with Anderson. She was so angry that I would put myself at risk like that, that I'm not entirely sure that I can do anything to repair the rift that seems to have formed because of it.

Then I remember something from the first night that I had met her. That night, she had told me the incredible story of how she had come to be. She had also mentioned the vita ray chamber that she had in a storage unit in one of the self storage facilities in the city, and how worried she had been when she found out that her friend Walter Kennedy and turned to S.T.R.I.K.E with his research. I have no doubt that she had been on her way there last night when she and the others were attacked by Anderson's drones.

And a plan begins to form in my head.

I alter my flight path just slightly and moments later I touch down at the storage facility that she had indicated. Once on the ground, I focus my senses. I am able to hear a whole myriad of sounds that other people could only imagine. The sounds of construction workers pounding the pavement with a jackhammer, car horns blaring in in the gridlocked traffic on the highway, people talking, cell phones ringing. I can even hear a cabbie getting an address for a pickup from his dispatcher.

I continue to focus my hearing, and after several seconds I'm able to zone in on what I'm looking for, the sound of machinery inside one of the units. I make my way to the unit from which the noise is emanating. I take the lock in my hand, and with a quick pull I tear the lock from the hasp.

I enter the unit and don't find anything out of the ordinary. Then I remember that Pinup had mentioned that they had managed to build a secret lab under the unit itself.

I can still hear the mechanical hum, but I'm not able to pinpoint its origin due to the strange acoustics caused by the aluminum and concrete walls of the unit. So I concentrate again, this time using my "radar sense" to see if I can hone in on anything out of the ordinary. It only takes a few seconds to confirm that there is something underneath the floor of the unit.

I quickly spin around and around, digging into the floor of the unit like a man sized drill, moments later I've managed to bore all the way through the floor, and I find myself standing in the hidden laboratory that she had told me about.

And at the back of the lab I see the vita ray chamber. It only takes me a few minutes to disconnect the chamber from the power source and haul it up out of the lab and into the unit itself.

Carefully, I pull the chamber out of the storage unit and set it down on the ground in front of the door. As I begin to pull down the door to secure it, I'm suddenly aware of someone else behind me.

FREEZE! The orders a mans voice.

I turn around to see a pair of men dressed all in black, no doubt a pair of S.T.R.I.K.E agents who have been watching the place since Walter defected, standing before me pointing their service revolvers at me.

You can't be serious. I say, slightly amused.

"Don't move, we've already called in for backup. It should be here any second." The second agent, a shorter man with a few extra pounds says as he waves his gun in my direction.

I'm sorry agent, but you can't stop me. I say as I reach down to get a grip on the vita ray chamber. And as I do so I hear the sound of a single gunshot, and feel the bullet as it bounces off the back of my head.

I turn and see the agents standing there, nervously training their guns on me. I shake my head in disbelief and focus a controlled optic blast on the first agents gun, the gun turns red as the metal heats up just before the agent drops the gun to the ground, where it makes a slushing sound as the molten metal strikes the ground.

A moment later I hear a familiar sound, I swing around to see coming right at me, several of the drones that had attacked Pinup and the others just last night.

There is no warning, no order to cease and desist. No order for surrender. The drones simply open fire. I return fire with a pair of optic blasts, which takes the first two drones down with ease. However, the third drone fires a rocket in retaliation. The rocket finds its mark just behind me, and the entire row of storage units explodes, sending the two agents who were watching the facility flying off of their feet. I take to the sky, flying directly into the drone, ripping it in two.

I circle around and return to the smoldering remains of the storage building, and I retrieve the vita ray chamber. I can see that it was slightly damaged by the blast, but looks to be mostly intact. Once I get a grip on the chamber, I take off, on a course for Guardian Headquarters.

 

[Hound55]

Isaac was slumped in a chair in the front room, his numb muscles heavy and inert and would have been even if they held sensation.

He grunted in his solitude, struggling to keep his mind ticking over. He held an internal argument for what felt like hours, but had been barely a minute - his body attempting to justify that he only needed a few minutes rest, with his mind demanding he get up before sleep consumes him - his mind won, barely.

With several more grunts he forced himself to his feet standing blankly in the large briefing room.

Now what?

Walk. Keep moving. Half the fights over. It's inertia - objects want to do what they're already doing. An object at rest is want to remain at rest, but an object in motion will maintain until a force is acted upon it.

"Bloody hell. I'm so tired I'm thinking in high school physics..."

And with that he began his walk - or stagger, at first - through the halls of Guardians Headquarters. He walked past a stain on the wall, then the main bathroom. Stopped, thought for a moment and approached the door.

He couldn't see any light under the door, or hear any noise from within, but knocked on the door anyway.

Silence.

Isaac turned the knob and stepped inside, locking the door behind him.

Repeating the old procedure, almost on auto-pilot, he searched for cameras, listening devices, hairs out of place and just like the last time there was nothing. Isaac turned to the bathroom mirror and even without removing his mask he could see the strain around his eyes. He went to pull his mask off at the top of his head and then thought twice.

Unnecessary... and you probably don't really want to know how you're looking anyway.

He looked back at himself and instead removed the leather glove and then the latex one on his right hand. This had served him well in the past, but how much could it help when he'd gone almost 44 hours without sleep?

He put his thumb and forefinger to his mouth and licked the tips, then used his saliva to moisten the inside corners of his eyes. Blinking several times his eyes felt more awake already, even if the rest of him felt exhausted. He put the gloves back on his right and had one more inspection of the ghostly vision in the mirror.

Better? Better be.

And with that he went back to his march of the living dead throughout the halls of Guardians Headquarters.

At the back of the underside of the couch, Pinup could only barely see a small hole in the decking fabric. She furrows her brow and wondered if Methuselah was still common enough to seek out a snuggly bed in the sofa stuffing.

A noise in the hall catches her attention and she looks up and over her shoulder. Someone is walking toward the lounge. She rises and crosses to the door, wondering if perhaps Icon is back with news.

The sight of the black masked figure is slightly deflating, and she sighs as Vigilante approaches. His broken arm still hangs unattended at his side, and gives her pause for consideration. Even injured, he had followed her out into Lost Haven and willingly put his life on the line with Youngster to help save Acrobat. Though Icon's peptalk the other night had been directed toward Michael and Matt, it held true for the whole group; they were all in the same boat, after all.

"Vigilante," She flags him down and crosses to him, ignoring the pain in her knee. "Listen, I..."

Isaac stared blankly, his eyes on Pinup, but his focus seemingly miles away.

She'd been on all fours looking for something under the sofa when he came in the room. The rat? It turned up here around the same time she did... mind you, so did the roach in the bathroom... the snake which she supposedly knew about, which for some reason Youngster hadn't seen. For an almost impenetrable facility it had turned into a menagerie of late...

And again she'd been looking at his arm. "She's not going to go on about that again is she?" he thought to himself "I am not awake enough to deal with this s***."

His mind was still running, even if his face had stopped miles away, and it would be clear to anyone else who may be watching that his awkward silence was not making whatever she was trying to say any easier.

Damn it. Why does apologizing have to be so hard?

"Look, I want to apologize....We got off on the wrong foot, and well..." She watches him, unable to register his expression from behind the mask. "Look, it really doesn't make any sense for us to be at each other's throats. After all, we're playing for the same team here, right?"

[BLACKOUT]"Hnn"[/BLACKOUT] he grunted, with his exhaustion and the artificial tone of his voice modulator combining to produce what could easily be mistaken for a disinterested demeanour [BLACKOUT]"I guess I said some things I probably shouldn't as well."[/BLACKOUT]

She's rambling.

Stop rambling.

She clears her throat. " The fact is that without you and the Youngster...well, even though I told you not to follow me...I guess I'm glad you did. Thanks."

There. A perfectly legitimate apology. Regardless of his reaction, she can at least say she tried. In the back of her mind, she wonders if Methuselah will know enough to avoid any traps lying about. Even deeper, she wonders the same about Icon.

[BLACKOUT]"'S'awlright."[/BLACKOUT] He uttered, his words slurring together in a thick haze.

[BLACKOUT]"Hoow-*yawns*ooow's your leg? Any better?"[/BLACKOUT]

 

[Erin]

Isaac was slumped in a chair in the front room, his numb muscles heavy and inert and would have been even if they held sensation.

He grunted in his solitude, struggling to keep his mind ticking over. He held an internal argument for what felt like hours, but had been barely a minute - his body attempting to justify that he only needed a few minutes rest, with his mind demanding he get up before sleep consumes him - his mind won, barely.

With several more grunts he forced himself to his feet standing blankly in the large briefing room.

Now what?

Walk. Keep moving. Half the fights over. It's inertia - objects want to do what they're already doing. An object at rest is want to remain at rest, but an object in motion will maintain until a force is acted upon it.

"Bloody hell. I'm so tired I'm thinking in high school physics..."

And with that he began his walk - or stagger, at first - through the halls of Guardians Headquarters. He walked past a stain on the wall, then the main bathroom. Stopped, thought for a moment and approached the door.

He couldn't see any light under the door, or hear any noise from within, but knocked on the door anyway.

Silence.

Isaac turned the knob and stepped inside, locking the door behind him.

Repeating the old procedure, almost on auto-pilot, he searched for cameras, listening devices, hairs out of place and just like the last time there was nothing. Isaac turned to the bathroom mirror and even without removing his mask he could see the strain around his eyes. He went to pull his mask off at the top of his head and then thought twice.

Unnecessary... and you probably don't really want to know how you're looking anyway.

He looked back at himself and instead removed the leather glove and then the latex one on his right hand. This had served him well in the past, but how much could it help when he'd gone almost 44 hours without sleep?

He put his thumb and forefinger to his mouth and licked the tips, then used his saliva to moisten the inside corners of his eyes. Blinking several times his eyes felt more awake already, even if the rest of him felt exhausted. He put the gloves back on his right and had one more inspection of the ghostly vision in the mirror.

Better? Better be.

And with that he went back to his march of the living dead throughout the halls of Guardians Headquarters.

[/COLOR][/FONT][/COLOR]

Isaac stared blankly, his eyes on Pinup, but his focus seemingly miles away.

She'd been on all fours looking for something under the sofa when he came in the room. The rat? It turned up here around the same time she did... mind you, so did the roach in the bathroom... the snake which she supposedly knew about, which for some reason Youngster hadn't seen. For an almost impenetrable facility it had turned into a menagerie of late...

And again she'd been looking at his arm. "She's not going to go on about that again is she?" he thought to himself "I am not awake enough to deal with this s***."

His mind was still running, even if his face had stopped miles away, and it would be clear to anyone else who may be watching that his awkward silence was not making whatever she was trying to say any easier.

[/COLOR][/FONT][/COLOR]

[BLACKOUT]"Hnn"[/BLACKOUT] he grunted, with his exhaustion and the artificial tone of his voice modulator combining to produce what could easily be mistaken for a disinterested demeanour [BLACKOUT]"I guess I said some things I probably shouldn't as well."[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]"'S'awlright."[/BLACKOUT] He uttered, his words slurring together in a thick haze.

[BLACKOUT]"Hoow-*yawns*ooow's your leg? Any better?"[/BLACKOUT]

Pinup crossed her arms and shifted her weight, glancing down at her knee. "No," she shrugged, "and it won't be for a long time. Not unless there's a spare Vita Ray chamber lying around." She cocked her head as she registered the faint look of confusion through Vigilante's mask. "I don't heal. At least, not quickly. My regenerative and degenerative processes are so slow they're almost non-existent... it's why I look this young."

She frowns, noting his bloodshot eyes. She watches him critically, seeming to look through his mask at the exhausted face underneath.

"Are you okay? You seem dead on your feet. When was the last time you slept?" She was so used to going days without sleep she sometimes forgot about the concept entirely, but judging by the glazed look in Vigilante's bloodshot eyes and the limp, barely mobile shuffle down the hall, he required more than a few hours once or twice a week.

 

[Carnage27]

Not wasting any time, I jump into action while Bath Kol is focusing on Inferno. A tornado of shadow and purple flame engulf him as I put everything I've got behind the whirlwind, praying it'll be enough to slow the rogue angel for at least enough time for my teammates to regain some strength and recover for a bit.

But it barely works. The angel bursts from the construct like a bat out of hell, and rushes towards me, snagging me by the throat and holding me over his head and grasping tightly, "Nice try, Olympus born. But you out of all this motley crew stand no chance against me. You defile my throne by being near it. I might make your father suffer before I re-write existence."

I feel my throat beginning to crumble under his strength, not even my strength is able to stand up to his. But as my vision begins to blur, I feel a connection I haven't felt since reaching heaven. I smile a bit and he lets go a bit, "Why do you smile at your doom?"

"Because of this," I respond as a sword pops through his shoulder. He howls in pain, and he drops me. He spins and decimates the attacker that wounded him, but by that time more and more are popping up in the midst of us.

​

"Say hello to the warriors of the Underworld," I smile as at least twenty Greek warriors from my father's kingdom fall into formation around me. "Smashing the gates of Heaven did more than you thought. Now, bring it."

My small battalion rushes the angel, as my teammates recover as well.
​

 

[NiteMare Shape]

The sun shines through the spaces between the vertical blinds, combining with the pounding in my head to give me a rather rude awakening, particularly after the night that I had.​

I sit up in bed, and am half startled to find that I'm not alone. Last night is kind of a blur, though as I look around at the empty bottles and articles of clothing scattered around my bedroom, some of the events of last nights debauchery come back to me. Though the name of the girl sleeping next to me is not one of them.​

Kelly?​

Candy?​

Becky?​

I look over to her, studying her face...but I'm at a loss. Suddenly, she begins to stir. She looks at me and smiles.​

"Hey." She says dreamily.​

"Hey." I respond. ​

"Did you want to get some breakfast?" She asks just as there is a knock on the door.​

Saved by the bell.​

"Hold that thought." I say as I bound out of bed, wrapping myself in a blanket as I make my way to the door of my apartment.​

I open the door a crack and peer out, and the pounding in my head almost takes on a life of its own.​

"Morning Candice, what can I do for you?" I say to my official S.T.R.I.K.E babysitter, Queen Buzzkill herself.​

"Good morning Hunter. Get dressed, you're late for the morning briefing...again."​

"Oh...right. I uh, forgot about that."​

"I'm sure you did. I hope you at least got her name this time." she says.​

And my heart almost stops...She made a joke.​

"Give me five minutes, I'll meet you downstairs."​

 

[trustyside-kick]

"Say hello to the warriors of the Underworld," I smile as at least twenty Greek warriors from my father's kingdom fall into formation around me. "Smashing the gates of Heaven did more than you thought. Now, bring it."

My small battalion rushes the angel, as my teammates recover as well.
​

An small army of underworld warriors seem to swarm at Bath Kol, and by this time I'm able to stand on my own two feet again. I look over at the short distance as he beheads one of the undead warriors, only for it to still continue to keep fighting, and the shock on his face...starts to give me a small amount of hope.

We're instilling fear into Bath Kol...someone who has taken a hold of my blessings...twisted it...and become stronger than the entire Order of Archangels...and he's starting to actual doubt himself. And even if I'm wrong this strike is certainly at least starting to fill his mind with doubt.

I take a good look at the Sword of Spirit in my hands, and I recall something that Gadriel in Hell said to me...how I'm able to wield the awesome power that is the Armor of God and yet I don't know how to actually use it. Sword of Spirit...St. Michael the archangel's sword that is now in my hands...is part of that armor. Sword of Spirit...Spirit...so maybe--

And then I get a crazy idea. And awesome idea. A crazy awesome and insane idea.

"The Sword of Spirit is...more than just a sword. It's...the Word of God. Dangit...which verse was it the nuns used to say in the orphanage? In The Book of Hebrews, right?"

Believe in the words, Michael...believe in it...this is no mere sword. I pull my arm back, ready my aim, and throw the Sword of Spirit.

"Come on...work...'for the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart'."

"AAAARGGH!!"

YES!

The Sword of Spirit hits Bath Kol right into the shoulder and he tumbles backward. The small swarm of undead soldiers use this to their advantage and advance their attack. I fly towards the fray, summoning the Sword of Spirit to return to me, and it materializes back in my hand like magic. Unfortunately, this leaves Bath Kol free to attack and with a burst of angel-fire he summons forth, roasts several of the undead soldiers. He ascends into the skies, pieces of the broken pillars rising with him, and covers his wounded shoulder.

"Starting to wish you had taken the Salus Dei as well, huh Bath Kol?"

"So, you've discovered the hidden power within one of the pieces of the Armor of God. Very good Michael...but you only have two pieces of the set. I granted you sanctuary and safety in my new world...you choose to spit in my face and smile."

He flies at me and I ready my defensive stance. I recall the bible verse in my head, trusting in the Word of God...knowing it to be true, and the angel-fire from the Sword of Spirit ignites like never before the more I recite the verse in my head.

"Kin or not...you leave this world with my hands clasped tightly around your neck."

We collide, and, dangit, he's too fast for me to strike him with the sword and we tumble through the air as he has me in a hold. We ascend further into the skies and I headbutt him which...turns to be foolish. I've unlocked the power of the Sword of Spirit...to bring it to its full potential...I've still yet to unlock my inner strength apparently. Feeling dazed from the foolish headbutt I have no control as Bath Kol throws me, making my crash straight through a rocky tomb he built just for me out of some of the rubble and broken statues.

The Sword of Spirit out of my hands, by the second I summon it to me once more Bath Kol has already dived right into me, kneeing into my stomach and causing excruciating pain.

"AAAAAAAAAAHH!!"

Annoyed and angry, with each word Bath Kol utters to me, he pulverizes me face and body deeper and deeper into the rubble with his raw strength. The raw strength he had taken from me.

"WHY. MUST. YOU. FIGHT. ME?!"

A gust of wind knocks me into the air as he gets off of me, and sends me soaring through the air. I try to steer with my angel-fire wings but the air is too intense as Bath Kol manipulates it. As I struggle to break free, I see Inferno and Cerberus try to strike Bath Kol as he is distracted. Turns out he isn't and he is just rather pissed off because as they try to attack him he dodges just in time for the two to collide.

Focusing back on me again, he guides the winds to send me right back into his 'arms' or rather...his fists and he uppercuts me just as we connect.

I'd fly for miles I bet if he didn't construct a wall of marble and rubble for me back to smash into.

"AAAAARRGGH!!"

I sit up, and then three of my ribs suddenly crack as I turn, causing me to lie back on the heavenly ground.

"AAAHHHHHHH!!"

I breathe slowly, trying to concentrate and tap into the Salus Dei with a silent prayer, and heal what little I can of my ribs. It doesn't take long for Bath Kol to approach me, towering over me as I heal myself slightly. He sees me turn my head, looking at the Sword of Spirit, and steps on my free hand so that I cannot summon it.

"NGGGGGHH!"

He breaks all my fingers in that hand.

"Why...why do you continue to fight me...when any of these moments I could have so easily taken your life? Without your full blessings...you are powerless to truly stop me...WHY DO YOU FIGHT?!"

Forcing an answer out of me, he strikes a little higher above my broken hand, stepping on my forearm and shattering every bone in that region of my arm.

"AAARRRRGGGGH!"

"I am going to eradicate the very existence of Sin! I will then be able to remove Lucifer from his lowly throne! There will be no mundane and sad Earth...no ungodly and forsaken Hell..only Heaven! Paradise will BE existence!"

Trying to cope with the torment of my wounds, I struggle to answer him.

"I...I..."

And then for a split second, I almost hallucinate...probably me going into shock. But...for that split second...I see something. And it's like I cannot even see Bath Kol right now...nor this once beautiful Paradise now turned horrid battlefield.

"You...you are doing this for them aren't you? Those teammates of yours...the woman who you believe doesn't love you anymore...the woman you now love...the stranger on the street corner and...and the idiot you might have to save from a fire he himself in his drunken stupidity started. You still hold on to such Earthly attachments, Michael...and this is what will be the end of you, Michael. As I've always said."

"No...I'm n-n--not...doing this...for them. I've spent...the past 2 years...fighting this. My destiny. My Fate. I've been stubborn. You...are right. You have always been right. Heh...I have been like...a child stuck...in a man's body. Concerned about...what...what I want. What I need. 'This is...too...hard' I'd often think...too much for...too much that someone should have to ever bear. This role of mine. And it's brought me to this moment. And I think...of how we came to this moment, and it's all because I..."

I tilt my head back, and a tear runs down my eye. I've cheated death several times when I thought I wouldn't. I thought it was always dumb luck. So many times I've tried to control everything.

I'm so sorry.

Please...forgive me.

Forgive me that it took me this long to understand.

"You're wasting your time, Bath Kol. You can strike me down. Break every bone in my body. I'll still get back up and fight so long as I'm breathing. I'll find a way."

I look up at Bath Kol, and I can finally smile. I feel like I'm smiling at Death itself. Life has never felt so good.

"You never thought that it would go down like this, did you? That I'd be the folly to your dreams? This is going to end with you on your knees and me feeling great pity for you."

"Me on my...you filthy f**king half-breed!"

Swelling with anger, he lifts both arms high before he attacks. He comes crashing down like a mountain, a hard rock...and he meets an immovable object as with my other arm I swing the Shield of Faith over my body as he connects. The sound of all the bones in his arms cracking thunders across the heavens like a like boom in a turbulent storm. He shrieks in pain as he falls onto his knees, in pure shock and confusion as to what had happened.

I stand up, slowly moving over to him as sheer terror and fright lights up in his eyes.

"How...how is this, possible?"

"Shield of Faith, moron."

That thing I saw for a brief second when I was hallucinating as I went into shock from his hard blow? It was my 'Leap of Faith' painting. And what it means. So I just...left myself entirely to God's Will.

As an artist...as a painter I'm ever so used to controlling what goes onto the canvas. That has been my problem. For the first time since I ever had been bestowed with the blessings of the Pax, Salus, and Cordis Dei...heck...for the first time in my entire life...I left myself entire to God's Will. I put Faith into Him.

I finally have let go of the paintbrush.

"You wanna know what happens next?"

He spits at my feet, and looks at me with such disdain before he replies.

"Save me the theatrics, boy. And kill me."

"Kill you? I'm...I'm not going to kill you. I mean...true...with the Order of the Archangels incapacitated I could kill you. They wouldn't be able to stop me like they did when I first tried to take a life out of my pain and anger...but I can do far worse without having to resort to such a thing."

With a silent prayer, I tap into the Salus Dei, and start to heal the wounds in my broken forearm and hand. As the healing process slowly starts to work, I kneel down at him, take a deep breath, and with my uninjured hand grab him by the jaw.

"You've committed many dark deeds this day, Bath Kol...should I kill you know you'd be sent down to Hell for eternal torment and punishment in the Frozen Lake no less I'd think. That wouldn't do. No. See, in Hell you'd be amongst the demons and the unthinkable for eternity. And there you would be, I can see it now: you thinking of how much better you are than the rest. No...I intend that you walk the Earth as a man."

His eyes go white, and now I have truly struck fear into the former Angel of Prophecy. My former mentor.

"No..."

"Oh yes."

I pull him forward just before I let go of him, and he slumps onto his stomach. He squirms about with his legs, trying to get up but I'm already pressing down on him with my legs, keeping him pinned. His wings fluttering about but with both hands I grab hold of his wings, and he lets out a whaling cry.

"NOOOOOO!! KILL ME! PLEEEEAAASSE! KILL MEEEEEEEEE!!!"

"What was it you said to me? Those bands you used to wear were forced upon you to keep you from cutting off your own winds and becoming mortal? Well, when you took my powers and the powers of the Archangels...you became one of them didn't you? And I do so well recall those bands coming off."

Gripping his wings with one hand now, I look to the Sword of Spirit and summon it to my free hand.

"You will walk the Earth as a man, Bath Kol. And with every step you take, you take those steps amongst those who are better than you. You will then KNOW for sure...that they are better than you. And that moment? Oh...the moment that occurs?"

With the Sword of the Spirit, I slice off Bath Kol's wings. He howls and cries like the baby he is as he now slowly starts to become mortal. And slowly but surely...I start to feel my powers returning to me. I can feel it. The Cordis Dei.

Standing over him, I turn him over like a dog, and I look down into his eyes.

"I pray that I'm there to witness it."

Then, there is a loud boom in Heaven, and thunder and lightning seems to strike the skies all around us. There is a bright light. A combination of different hues of colors that emerges and seconds later, the Order of the Archangels appear. Unharmed and back to normal.

"Michael."

"Metatron."

I take a step forward towards The Order, and I kneel down before them and bow my head. He levitates towards me, and gestures me to stand up straight as Gabriel and Uriel pick up Bath Kol by the shoulders. Ariel and Raphael fly over to Cerberus and Inferno, helping them up, and regroup with us. The Archangels look over at Metatron, he nods, and then Metatron looks over at me.

"We shall take it from here, child. Go. Return to your homes...all of you, and know that Heaven has your gratitude for what you have done this day."

Before I can utter a response, Metatron and the other Archangels fly off in the distance say for one: St. Michael the archangel. He remains, and approaches the three of us.

"I'm guessing you...want your gear back."

"You found where your strength lies."

"Huh? No...I didn't. I simply understood how some of the Armor of God worked is all. Had I not had the Shield of Faith, I wouldn't have--"

"No, Michael. What saved you was not only the Shield. Michael, what empowers you yourself is Faith in yourself. You think that at that moment you gave Faith only to the Creator...what you did was have Faith in yourself. It is why it is the angelic symbol of Faith that is branded upon you. Something I'm sure Bath Kol never wished to explain to you so that you could not have...well...done what you did this day. Have Faith in yourself...and you will find that your strength is nearly limitless. The fact that you held the Shield of Faith was merely a coincidence. Your Faith in yourself and in what you were about to do empowered it...however even without it, you still would have defeated him in the end."

I'm speechless, and as I stand there for a moment, St. Michael the archangel opens up what looks like a way back to Earth.

"What happens now? I mean...this entire thing. Me as Archangel...it really in the end was nothing but a lie. Right? Something Bath Kol had put together for his own sick endeavors."

"True...however myself and the other Archangels came to a quick agreement: it is a blessing in disguise. One could argue that Bath Kol could have found another way to accomplish his goals...in the end regardless what happened this day happened. What you and your colleagues had done had been done. So, here's the more important question to answer Michael: does it matter? Just live your life."

He starts to rise into the air, and he smiles.

"You have our blessings."

I watch him fly away into the distance, as surely he and the other Archangels and angels in Heaven plan to rebuild this paradise...and I turn around to Cerberus and Inferno.

"One liners are typically my thing...but I think we can all agree that this day has been hectic enough to just go without one. I just wanna go home."

 

[NiteMare Shape]

Once I arrive back at Guardian Headquarters, it only takes me a few moments to stow the vita ray chamber in the facility's storage room. As I take a look at the chamber before leaving to go find the others, I take a look at the scorched surface of the side of the machine. Fortunately, it looks like the vitaray chamber only took superficial damage, but we won't know for sure until Pinup gets a chance to look it over.

I make my way down the hallway and can hear someone in the lounge...Pinup and Vigilante. Well, this can hardly be good considering that they've been at each other's throats since she arrived. As I get closer, I'm pleasantly surprised to find that they aren't fighting, but actually seem to be having a civil conversation.

I lean back against the wall as they continue speaking to one another.

Pinup crossed her arms and shifted her weight, glancing down at her knee. "No," she shrugged, "and it won't be for a long time. Not unless there's a spare Vita Ray chamber lying around." She cocked her head as she registered the faint look of confusion through Vigilante's mask. "I don't heal. At least, not quickly. My regenerative and degenerative processes are so slow they're almost non-existent... it's why I look this young."

She frowns, noting his bloodshot eyes. She watches him critically, seeming to look through his mask at the exhausted face underneath.

"Are you okay? You seem dead on your feet. When was the last time you slept?" She was so used to going days without sleep she sometimes forgot about the concept entirely, but judging by the glazed look in Vigilante's bloodshot eyes and the limp, barely mobile shuffle down the hall, he required more than a few hours once or twice a week.

"She's right Vigilante, you look like hell."

 

[Hound55]

Pinup crossed her arms and shifted her weight, glancing down at her knee. "No," she shrugged, "and it won't be for a long time. Not unless there's a spare Vita Ray chamber lying around." She cocked her head as she registered the faint look of confusion through Vigilante's mask. "I don't heal. At least, not quickly. My regenerative and degenerative processes are so slow they're almost non-existent... it's why I look this young."

She frowns, noting his bloodshot eyes. She watches him critically, seeming to look through his mask at the exhausted face underneath.

"Are you okay? You seem dead on your feet. When was the last time you slept?" She was so used to going days without sleep she sometimes forgot about the concept entirely, but judging by the glazed look in Vigilante's bloodshot eyes and the limp, barely mobile shuffle down the hall, he required more than a few hours once or twice a week.

Once I arrive back at Guardian Headquarters, it only takes me a few moments to stow the vita ray chamber in the facility's storage room. As I take a look at the chamber before leaving to go find the others, I take a look at the scorched surface of the side of the machine. Fortunately, it looks like the vitaray chamber only took superficial damage, but we won't know for sure until Pinup gets a chance to look it over.

I make my way down the hallway and can hear someone in the lounge...Pinup and Vigilante. Well, this can hardly be good considering that they've been at each other's throats since she arrived. As I get closer, I'm pleasantly surprised to find that they aren't fighting, but actually seem to be having a civil conversation.

I lean back against the wall as they continue speaking to one another.





"She's right Vigilante, you look like hell."

[BLACKOUT]"It's been a busy couple of days..."[/BLACKOUT] Isaac turned back to Pinup [BLACKOUT]"...I don't sleep here."[/BLACKOUT]

Isaac staggered past Icon.

[BLACKOUT]"Bu-*yawns*-ut that's ok. You're here now, I wasn't going to leave with the only two metahumans here being a girl I know nothing about and some kid who got laid out by S.T.R.I.K.E."[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]"Your issue now. I'm taking one of the spare cars... mine's *yawn*, well... I don't know where the hell mine is now."[/BLACKOUT] He thought back, remembering S.T.R.I.K.E's pursuit from two days earlier.

[BLACKOUT]"I gotta get outta here and get some rest."[/BLACKOUT] he rambled.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Dylan enters Williams Industries R & D division and begins reading through some of the preliminary reports on some of the prototypes coming out next year.

He begins to smile and nod as he realizes the potential of these weapons.

I got to get these to Director Anderson. If anyone asks just tell them it's in the interest of National Security.

Just then a security guard approaches and says, "Excuse me sir are you authorized to read those reports."

Dylan replies, "Yes I am. I'm on the board of directors."

The guard replies, "Sir I need to see your written authorization to read those reports."

Dylan rolls his eyes.

I don't have time for this!

He says, "You will forget I was ever here."

The guard replies, "Fair enough."

Dylan says, "You will never bother me again."

The guard says, "Have a nice day sir." and leaves.

Dylan makes copies of the material and leaves.

 

[Mr. Majestic]

“Hello sir, I see you are back at the Guardian headquarters. How is your first day back?”

“I’ll tell you about that later right now my friend I need for you to analyze some information I’m about to send you. Let me know everything you can about these machines. Also I ran across some tech I have never seen. See what you can find out about that.”

“Right away sir.”

I use my decisive memory ability and began typing in all the information that I had received. Hopefully AL will be able to tell me something interesting.

With how I participated earlier during the robot assault I have to make up for it with some useful information. I told myself and by showing up at the Guardian headquarters I told everyone else that I was ready to rejoin the team. I must prove to not only them but myself that I am.

“Sir I have finish analyzing the information as you wish.” Al informs me.

Finally after moments of waiting I will be able to give us some helpful information to help turn the tide. While Al begins printing the information I give it a quick look over as it comes out.

Once all the papers have printed I speed read through all of it. From the info I now obtain about these machines seems like S.T.R.I.K.E wasted no expense. The technology they used is extremely high tech most of this stuff is not even on the market yet. I should know because I have been waiting for some of this stuff so I can upgrade my little fortress of solitude. Knowing that, it’s going to be even harder for me to make a weapon to fight against them. Myself and Icon won’t need such a weapon but others like Vigilante, it will help them a great deal if alone taking on these machines. Now I could make a weapon with the tech we have but there is no telling if or how long it will be effective. Which means the only thing left for me to do is get one of the robots and use the tech from that to create a weapon. But chances are one might not be enough. Its going to be a task to bring just one back with minimal damage but it can be done, it has to be. I should let Icon and the others know what I’m going to do just to give them a heads up.

While walking out of my quarters I use my reverberation vision to pin point everyone’s location to see if they are still here or some where else. I widen the range just a couple of feet and right away I hear a heart beat. One I know all to well, its Vigilante’s. By the sound and rate of every beat it appears that he is exhausted. No need in bothering him. As I continue listening two more voices can be heard from the lounge. It’s Icon and the one named Pinup. Good thing everyone is close by.

As I enter the lounge I approach Icon right away.

“Hey Icon sorry to describe you but there is something I wanted to share with you and the others.” I inform him as I look him and Pinup in the eyes.

“Since we got back I been in my old quarter, which I’m surprise to see you guys keep it the way it is and didn’t use it for something else but that’s beside the point. Seems like S.T.R.I.K.E mean business with these new machines of theirs which we all have witness first hand. The tech on them bad boys is amazing I mean it is a geeks dream to just be giving the time to analyze them, I should know.” I hand Icon the information that I have gathered so far.

“Now as you can see the tech there is like nothing we have seen. Reason being is because that stuff is not due to come out for a few years from now but when you have deep pockets like S.T.R.I.K.E I guess you get dibs on everything before anyone else.”

If STRIKE is able to get their hands on tech like this there is no telling what other kind of toys they may have.

“Now as you know I’m the tech guy and I’m good at making things. So I have some good news and I have some bad. Good new is I can make a weapon to help us fight these machines. Now its obvious Icon with your and mine power set we won’t need it but say if Vigilante and the others who don’t have great powers like ours are in trouble it will be very helpful for them to have a weapon to even the playing field. Now reason I bring this up is because the bad news is we need to get our hands on one of them robots with little to no damage.”

 

[Mr. Majestic]

Spartan along with his teammate James observes in the monitor room the other executioner as they train. Spartan had ordered them to train for countless hours. As of late he has begun to believe that his team has not live up to their potential and being their leader he sees it as his fault. So he put it on himself to get himself and the rest of his squad into top peak shape.

“Spartan how long do you plan on having them train for? They have been going at it for over 6 hours now.”

“For how ever long it takes.” Spartan responds with an emotionless expression.

“You know not everyone has the ability to adapt like you. Us normal foke tend to get tired after a couple of hours, even us metahumans.” James tells Spartan trying to get him to take it easy on the rest of the team.

At first the only reply James was given was a dark cold stare. Spartan is not the type to explain him self to anyone who is below him. But James is the only one Spartan seem to consider something close as a friend if he had any.

“With the increase activity with metahumans we will be fighting for countless hours, which mean we may have to pull 24 hour days. The reason I have them doing this long hour training sessions is to found out everyone ones limits. If we are on the field and someone tires that means the rest of us will be in danger and I can’t have that.”

“I see.” James simply says.

Even though Spartan may seem like a cold hearted person everything he does is for a reason. Knowing his teammate fatigue time is something important for the leader of the executioner’s to know.

As they continue to watch a solider enters the room.

“Spartan sir Major Lee would like to see you.”

“Inform him I’m on my way.”

“Yes sir.”

Spartan then turns to James before he makes his exit. “James, tell the others they can have a break but when I return they will continue.”

“Will do.”

As Spartan makes his way to Major Lee office the only thing going through his mind is that now be the time he has been finally waiting for. It may finally be time for Spartan to fight HIM.

Spartan enters Major Lee’s office to see him standing facing his window with his arms behind his back.

“Spartan take a seat.”

Right away Spartan heads to the chair in front of the desk just a head of him.

“Have you heard about the current events that have been going on?”

Spartan is not one who care about what goes on in the outside world. The only news or information he care about is the details that have to deal with for his next mission. But with the stuff that has been taken place at S.T.R.I.K.E headquarters and in the real world it’s a bit hard not to notice.

“Yes sir I am aware of the things that are taking place. But since I myself haven’t been informed about the situation personally I haven’t gaven it a thought. My goal has been getting my team in order.”

Major Lee turns to face Spartan with a smile. “You know that is what I like about you Spartan. You ask no questions you just do what you’re told. Every solider should be just like you.”

That is why all the leaders of S.T.R.I.K.E likes Spartan he fallows their orders without question no matter what it maybe. He is a solider for them to be proud of and they should. Since he was born all they did was brainwash him to their liking and it paid off in the best way.

“Is this the reason why you called me here today sir?”

“Not at all Spartan we have others who will deal with those matter but please believe we have plans to include you into the fold. As of now we have something else in mind. Do you remember when you brought in the one named Destroyer?”

“Yes sir.”

“Our scientist has found out that Destroyer is not a metahuman but indeed a life form from another planet.”

This news is a bit surprising to Spartan but he doesn’t let the emotion display on his face.

Major Lee then grabs a folder from his desk and hands it in front of Spartan. “Our satellite has taken these pictures about 3 weeks ago. We believe that it maybe some friends of Destroyer. We asked him but he’s not talking and none of our ways are working. We want you to question him and find out what you can. If it is true that his alien buddies did indeed land on earth we want you to bring them in. We have to much going on right now for something like this to make headlines.”

“I and my team will get the job done sir.”

“I know you will Spartan you have never failed us.”

Spartan gets up and makes his way toward the door. As he is about to exit Major Lee stops Spartan.

“If they won’t come back with you, kill them and any witnesses.”

“Understood sir.”

 

[sabetoonth]

Cerberus must have hit me with something because I am down for the rest of this fight, I seem to have blacked out from the hit or something because next I know Michael is pulling of Bath Kol's wings. Looks like we got the son of a *****!

When the Archangels show up, and get to some kind of clean up, I'm helped up by the one I think called Ariel. She has this fierce beauty thing about her, but what would you expect from an Archangel right? Fluffy bunnies and long white gowns? And they don't have harps either. These guys look like warriors. And its both frightening and awe inspiring. Impressive entities for sure.

At the entryway back to our home world, the one we were all three born in Michael just wants to go home. Yea, he has the right. I had some other things to take care of. Grim and I were going to have a talk. I nod, just going home sounded good to me.

"So what if we need to a hold of each other?" I just had that question to ask. What if we did need to meet again? "Shoot a column of fire into the sky over Lost Haven?" Throwing back to the day before when we all met for the first time.

 

[Nicodemus]

Noah Walker, the Awesome ACROBAT

Arc II: Never STRIKE Twice
Recovery​

Finally, I get out of bed.

I know I probably shouldn't. I just took two bullets through center mass, and if it weren't for the Guardians I'd be nothing but a pile of meat in a poorly made costume. But I can't just sit there, because the waiting is driving me insane.

So I get out of bed. Slowly of course - I don't want to reopen any wounds - but nothing hurts too badly and after a few minutes of stumbling around woozily I'm starting to get a grip on things again.

I reach deep within myself, to that tiny little portion of me that allows me to do the things I do, and twist the gravity around me to better suit my needs. I feel myself float less than a quarter of an inch upwards, my body becoming lighter as gravity's hold on me loosens.

There. That should stop me from falling and cracking my stupid head open. Less gravity means it's much easier to keep my balance, and after a moment I'm walking almost normally. I half walk, half hop down a deserted hallway, eventually stumbling into a room with a few chairs and a television.

There's probably more to it than that, but the chairs and the television are what catch my attention. The chairs because I'm feeling woozy again and desperately need to sit down, and the television because what's playing both interests and terrifies me.

"Which is why I am here to announce the new citizen outreach program. We will be setting up recruitment centers throughout the city where those interested in helping S.T.R.I.K.E keep the streets safe for the people can come in and begin the application process. All applications will be considered for enrollment in the program. Ladies and gentlemen, it is time take back our streets from the meta human terrorists who would have us live in fear. It is time to end the meta human threat before and can evolve into something more. Thank you."

"Oh," I say to myself, sitting down and running a hand through my hair. "That's bad. That's very, very bad." I pause for a moment, briefly considering what this means for meta-humans like me.

Total extermination.

Awesome.

 

[NiteMare Shape]

[BLACKOUT]"It's been a busy couple of days..."[/BLACKOUT] Isaac turned back to Pinup [BLACKOUT]"...I don't sleep here."[/BLACKOUT]

Isaac staggered past Icon.

[BLACKOUT]"Bu-*yawns*-ut that's ok. You're here now, I wasn't going to leave with the only two metahumans here being a girl I know nothing about and some kid who got laid out by S.T.R.I.K.E."[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]"Your issue now. I'm taking one of the spare cars... mine's *yawn*, well... I don't know where the hell mine is now."[/BLACKOUT] He thought back, remembering S.T.R.I.K.E's pursuit from two days earlier.

[BLACKOUT]"I gotta get outta here and get some rest."[/BLACKOUT] he rambled.

Isaac stumbles past me and out of the lounge, my guess is heading to the garage to pick out another car to take home. If there is one thing I admire about Isaac, it's his dedication to his privacy...though it does tend to force him to go to extremes from time to time.

I turn to Pinup, who looks both annoyed with me, yet relieved that I've come back to the headquarters.

"Glad to see you made it back safely. How did the meeting go?" She asks as she takes a step closer to me.

"I'm not entirely sure to be honest. He wanted the Guardians to join forces with S.T.R.I.K.E, and he didn't seem pleased that I turned him down, again. Something tells me that Anderson is a man who is used to getting what he wants, and isn't used to be told no." I pause for a moment before adding, "So I think that everyone should be alittle more careful for the time being."

She nods in agreement as she takes a closer look at me, and seemingly notices a small burn in my cape, a reminder of the S.T.R.I.K.E attack at the storage facility.

"I'd say. Looks like you didn't make it out unscathed."

"Oh, that's nothing. Just a little...misunderstanding with a couple of agents and their pet drones." I say jokingly with a half smirk. But the ramifications of what happened earlier today creep into my mind, and my voice takes a more serious tone.

"They were staking out your storage unit. They attacked me as soon as they saw me go in." I say as the expression on her face changes from concern to shock, to anger.

"They were watching my storage unit?" She says half asking, half repeating.

"It's gone. They hit the building with a rocket. Nothing is left but a crater."

Her eyes sink as the realization of what I've just told her sinks in.Then she looks back up to me and is about to speak, but I cut her off.

"Fortunately I was able to save the vita ray chamber. It's in the GHQ equipment room. It took alittle damage, but I think that it should still work." I say, and I can see a wave of relief wash over as I tell her that the vita ray chamber is safe.

Before she's able to say anything else, Sam comes rushing into the lounge and starts speaking excitedly.

“Hey Icon sorry to disturb you, but there is something I wanted to share with you and the others.” I inform him as I look him and Pinup in the eyes.

“Since we got back I been in my old quarter, which I’m surprise to see you guys keep it the way it is and didn’t use it for something else but that’s beside the point. Seems like S.T.R.I.K.E mean business with these new machines of theirs which we all have witness first hand. The tech on them bad boys is amazing I mean it is a geeks dream to just be giving the time to analyze them, I should know.” I hand Icon the information that I have gathered so far.

“Now as you can see the tech there is like nothing we have seen. Reason being is because that stuff is not due to come out for a few years from now but when you have deep pockets like S.T.R.I.K.E I guess you get dibs on everything before anyone else.”

If STRIKE is able to get their hands on tech like this there is no telling what other kind of toys they may have.

“Now as you know I’m the tech guy and I’m good at making things. So I have some good news and I have some bad. Good new is I can make a weapon to help us fight these machines. Now its obvious Icon with your and mine power set we won’t need it but say if Vigilante and the others who don’t have great powers like ours are in trouble it will be very helpful for them to have a weapon to even the playing field. Now reason I bring this up is because the bad news is we need to get our hands on one of them robots with little to no damage.”

Before I can say anything, Kayla rushes into the lounge. As we turn to greet her, I can immediately see that something is wrong. There is a look of panic on her face, a look that I haven't seen since the first time I met her.

"Kayla, what is it?" I ask, not able to hide the concern from my voice.

"You haven't heard? Anderson's announced his next move. It's all over the TV."

I walk over to the lounge's large tv and turn it on. I don't have to channel surf too long to find out what is going on, as Anderson's press conference is on almost every station. We all stand in silence as the director's voice fills the lounge.

"Thank you all for coming today. Over the last several years, we have seen a number of so called 'meta humans' reveal themselves to the world. Some have seemingly been a force for good, using their extraordinary gifts to help the people of the world. However, there have also been those who have chosen to use those same gifts for their own ends. These meta humans have put the populace in danger time and time again. They have used their abilities to commit a number of crimes, everything from theft to mass murder." Anderson pauses as he lets his words sink in.

"These rogue meta humans have proven to be little more than living weapons of mass destruction. They are weapons that need to be kept in check. The so called super heroes who have dedicated themselves to protecting us have done an admirable job of putting down threats as they arise, but I want you all to ask yourselves, are you safer because of their presence, or in spite of it?" A low murmur buzzes throughout the crowd as Anderson's words sink in.

"The threat needs to be proactively addressed, and not just dealt with in the reactionary manner that heroes such as The Guardians seem to excel at. The threat needs to be contained in a manner that allows us to identify the threat before it is able to commit heinous acts such as the attacks on the Harrison Bridge or the Plaza Hotel." Anderson pauses again momentarily.

"Which is why I am here to announce the new citizen outreach program. We will be setting up recruitment centers throughout the city where those interested in helping S.T.R.I.K.E keep the streets safe for the people can come in and begin the application process. All applications will be considered for enrollment in the program." Anderson pauses as the buzz from the crowd grows louder, and some of the members of the media begin shouting questions at the Director.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is time take back our streets from the meta human terrorists who would have us live in fear. It is time to end the meta human threat before and can evolve into something more. Thank you." Anderson says as he steps away from the podium even as members of the media continue shouting after him.

Well, this can't be good.

 

[Blacklight]

Up and Coming:
Act II
​

Chapter 21: Big Splash...



The sounds of the Channel 34 evening news echoed throughout every household in East City as the rumors of there being a superhero in their midst had viewers anxiously awaiting more details...

"Greetings viewers. I'm Chase Schaffer, here with Jenna Marks, and this is the East City News at 10. Tonight's Top Story: An honest-to-God Superhero in our city..."

"That's right. Channel 34 is here with footage from the earlier reported attempted kidnapping turned hostage situation, in which a young man, described by eyewitnesses Ramona and little Michelle Cahill, in his late teens, wearing a dark colored uniform or "costume" as they put it, was seen "flying" around the Stavoy Apartment Complex where said crime was taking place."

Marks ended as the trail end of her reading segued into the news cast playing the footage that Lois O'Neil's cameraman recorded as the young superhero made his first appearance.

"This mysterious hero, who the Cahill family said called himself "Blacklight", managed to subdue the attempted kidnappers, leaving them for the police to bring in and question," Schaffer continued. "Channel 34’s own Lois O’Neil proceeded to get an interview with the Cahill’s after their release from their captors following their arrest.”

The recordings of the superhero were then stopped as new footage was being broadcasted of O’Neil’s interviews with the then freed hostages.

“Miss Cahill,” O’Neil began as she held her microphone in Ramona and Michelle’s direction. “What can you tell us about this high-flying young man that rescued you and your daughter earlier?”

“Well, he looked about 16. 17 maybe… And he had black hair and strangely colored eyes. Umm… White pupils. White irises. And I forget what the white part of your eye is called but that part was… Black. And he could shoot this black… energy from his hands. He called himself “Blacklight”, and if it weren’t for him, me and my daughter, we could’ve been… Blacklight if your watching this. Thank you again. Thank you so much for saving us. This city needs more heroes like you.” she ended as the cameraman pointed the camera from Ramona to little Michelle.

“Thank you, Blacklight!” the little girl re-iterated.

The camera was then shifted back to Lois O’Neil as she put the microphone back up to her own mouth.

“You heard it here, folks. It looks like East City has it’s very own superhero watching over us. This is Lois O’Neil of Channel 34. Back to you, Chase and Jenna."

As the recording ended, Jenna and Chase were now back on screen as they began to give their thoughts.

“Thanks, Lois. Wow. Who would’ve thought we’d end up with our very own Superman watching over us, huh, Jenna?”

"It's certainly something out of the ordinary, Chase..." Marks closed out the report before moving on to the next topic, not that anything they had left to report to the denizens of East City could top the news that there's a young man with superpowers watching over them as he soars the skies.

Few even continued to keep watching. One individual in particular hit the power button on her TV remote and scurried over to her computer. An individual known to many as "The Wasp" of thewaspiswatching.com, and after witnessing that footage, she had the sudden desire to find out anything and everything about this mysterious hero know only as "Blacklight" and his true identity.

"Hmmm...."

But as she typed away, looking into every possible lead as to who this hero was and where he came from, there was but one, single question on her mind:


Is he friend? ...or foe?

* * *​

 

[Carnage27]

"One liners are typically my thing...but I think we can all agree that this day has been hectic enough to just go without one. I just wanna go home."

After fighting on the ruins of Heaven, taking down an uber powered angel, and saving all of existence, I can't agree more with Michael. The past few hours have seemed like a fever dream, and it's going to take me a while to understand and process what has just transpired.

But then I realize I don't have that time. There's another war I need to stop, another between deities and monsters. There's someone out there that's attempting to loose the Titans, and I need to find and stop them before they do. I have a journey ahead of me, and one I need to set out on sooner rather than later.

"Yea...this has been...interesting," I respond. "And I think we could all do with some decompression time."

The other two nod in agreement, and I turn to leave. But before I do, I turn to them, "But this may not be the last time we need to team up. I've got a mission I need to go on. A mission from the Gods of Olympus. And if I fail, I'll need your help to stop what'll be coming. I don't plan on that happening, but who knows what will happen."

Without another word, I turn into shadow and head back towards the Eye of the Fates.