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

[MST3K 4ever]

Dylan continues to work the media and sees a wounded child who is unconscious and walks over to them.

He says, "This is the price of what these so called heroes and their fight has brough to us. Since they've arrived have they made our city any safer? The property damage and the loss of innocent lives. How much longer do we have to endure this non-sense before we say enough is enough?"

Dylan looks over and see the EMS personnel wraping up their duties and he says, "Ladies and Gentlemen I have nothing further to add thank you very much."

He gets back to his Lambourghni and begins to drive off.

Dylan calls his secretary Katy and says, "Katy remind me tomorrow to have the Building Security system tested and upgraded."

She replies, "Expecting potential unwelcomed company Mr. Chambers."

He smiles and says, "Counting on it."

 

[Aleksei]

The Misadventures of Storybook Jack

The Preface: Part One


​

It was at sunset that Jack Holcomb first really looked at the strange key that had been handed to him the day before. Very few lights had been turned on yet in Jacks loft apartment so he used the last light of day to look at the strange artifact.

As symbols go keys had become a tad cliché as of late. As a writer Jack tried hard not to fall into the comfortable grove of convention. He did have to admit that it was a really interesting key. It was made of old metal. At one end it had a very simply spiral contained in a circle of metal and its other end was of surprisingly simple design. It looks as if it might fit into almost any lock but it was slightly too big. So far Jack had tried a dozen doors and none came even close.

There was something else about the key. It had a strange quality that left Jack at a loss for words and that was most strange. Words was Jack’s trade yet he could not find the right description. He would simply stare at it trying to find the words and loose track of time. By the time he realized what he was doing the room was dark.

Jack put the key in his pocket and wheeled his chair in the dark. He was an expert by now at moving in his chair and did not bump into anything as he rolled to the hallway light.

The old man that gave him the key offered little insight. He had been in a hallway yesterday as well. It was at Village Books, he had just gotten done at a book signing. The man looked like a hermit from the Tarot deck or like he had walked in to the store from another world. He had walked right up to Jack, shoved the key and its metal keyring into his hand and whispered in his ear.

“The burden is now yours scribe. All the doors are open now. All the doors are yours to protect.”

Then the old man ran off and left Jack holding the strange relic. He had not been able to get any work done since. He had been trying to solve this riddle for a day now and could not figure it out. It was as if the solution was on the tip of his tongue. Jack suddenly felt compelled to check his first editions for possible clues.

Jack had written seven novels based in three different settings. His “first editions” were not the first published versions of the books but leather bound journals. He wrote much of the content that made it into the book and a lot that never would by hand before he ever started work on the computer. He had a large journal for each world. They were massive tomes that most likely made little sense to anyone but himself. They were also Jack’s most prized possessions.

He picked up the first journal. Another Alton was written on the front in an old English script. The world was a mixture of steam punk and American river culture. It had been the source of two novels. When he opened the book a key sat on top of the front page.

The key was made of brass. It had a gear on top with a riverboat inside the gear. It was even more strange than the first key and just slightly smaller. Small enough to fit in a lock.

“The plot thickens,” Jack said to himself as he studied the key.

 

[Hound55]

Pinup's jaw drops as her temper rises.
“I beg your pardon!?” She snaps at Vigilante, tightening her grip on the towel. “What do you lot do with your spare time that you'd all think I'm some kind of loose fan girl!? For your information - “ She stops short, the smell of sewage reaching her nostrils. She crinkles her nose, covering it and her mouth with her hand and regarding Vigilante with an undeniable look of disgust.
“You reek.” Her voice is muffled from behind her hand. She watches him expectantly for a moment, before finally prompting. “Well!? Get out! You can have the shower when I'm changed. God knows you need it.”

[BLACKOUT]"..."[/BLACKOUT]

Isaac, still stunned at everything he's seeing, stood stock still while the girl slammed the bathroom door in his face. Trying to take in everything he's seeing.

He stood, back to the door, pinching at his mask just above the bridge of his nose.

"Great... Just great. Not enough that I beat the hell out of my reputation, now I go ahead and drag his name in the dirt..." Closing his eyes, he bops the back of his masked head soundlessly against the wall in frustration, leaving a brown smear.

"Well I've got to try something..."

Hedging his bets, he chooses to go with his first guess.

[BLACKOUT]"It was Icon though, right? Who brought you here? I'm sorry to take it out on you. He's... He's not really like that. We just have very different views on things like security. If he brought you here he probably felt he had a good reason, I just..."[/BLACKOUT]

Isaac sighs. This is not going very well at all. Gone is the Vigilante, master of intimidation. Back once more is Isaac Fontaine, master of the botched first impression.

[BLACKOUT]"...I just don't expect to come here for a shower and see some strange woman wandering around our secure facility unescourted."[/BLACKOUT]

If it was Icon, it was probably another metahuman he was protecting... the last one was.

[BLACKOUT]"Not saying that you're 'strange' strange or anything... Just that I don't... well, WE don't really know who you are. I mean, around here you'd have to be pretty strange for 'strange' strange to apply..."[/BLACKOUT]

"Ugh... What are you doing you imbecile? Why doesn't she say something? What kind of person just lets you keep on digging a hole for yourself..?" He thought to himself.

 

[Erin]

[BLACKOUT]"..."[/BLACKOUT]

Isaac, still stunned at everything he's seeing, stood stock still while the girl slammed the bathroom door in his face. Trying to take in everything he's seeing.

He stood, back to the door, pinching at his mask just above the bridge of his nose.

"Great... Just great. Not enough that I beat the hell out of my reputation, now I go ahead and drag his name in the dirt..." Closing his eyes, he bops the back of his masked head soundlessly against the wall in frustration, leaving a brown smear.

"Well I've got to try something..."

Hedging his bets, he chooses to go with his first guess.

[BLACKOUT]"It was Icon though, right? Who brought you here? I'm sorry to take it out on you. He's... He's not really like that. We just have very different views on things like security. If he brought you here he probably felt he had a good reason, I just..."[/BLACKOUT]

Isaac sighs. This is not going very well at all. Gone is the Vigilante, master of intimidation. Back once more is Isaac Fontaine, master of the botched first impression.

[BLACKOUT]"...I just don't expect to come here for a shower and see some strange woman wandering around our secure facility unescourted."[/BLACKOUT]

If it was Icon, it was probably another metahuman he was protecting... the last one was.

[BLACKOUT]"Not saying that you're 'strange' strange or anything... Just that I don't... well, WE don't really know who you are. I mean, around here you'd have to be pretty strange for 'strange' strange to apply..."[/BLACKOUT]

"Ugh... What are you doing you imbecile? Why doesn't she say something? What kind of person just lets you keep on digging a hole for yourself..?" He thought to himself.

At length, the door opens. Pinup, now fully dressed in the new clothes she had found, rests one hand on the door frame and the other on her hip and regards Vigilante with a mix of amusement and disgust (no doubt due to the overwhelmingly putrid stench emanating from him).
"Are you this awkward with all women?" She asks, "Or just the ones you've seen naked?" Without waiting for an answer, she pushes a nearly full bottle of body wash into his hand. "I hope it's enough. Shower's yours." Eager not to spend more time in smelly company, she continues down the hall and around the corner, back into the kitchen. She glances at the cage, noticing the hasp has been flipped and the door opened. Methuselah is nowhere to be found.
"Blast." She thinks as she drops to her knees, looking under the cupboards and along the floor. She knew she should have fed the rat before taking a shower, but she just couldn't wait. A scratching noise comes from inside one of the cupboards hanging over the sink and Pinup stands. Opening the cupboard, a box of crackers falls over, spilling its contents onto the counter. A thin, ropey tail disappears from the top of the box as a curious pink nose emerges, followed by two bright black eyes.
"Clever old man." Pinup laughs, pulling the box out of the cupboard and extracting the rat from inside it. His belly is round, and its clear he has been trying to make up for the lack of food by gorging on a feast of tremendous proportions.
"You stay in your cage." Pinup scolds lightly as she places the rat back inside his cage, along with a handful of crackers. "I doubt the others would be so welcoming to you if they knew you could get out whenever you wanted."
Methuselah's whiskers twitch as he examines and sets to work on the small heap of crackers in his cage, more than content to stay put, provided a steady flow of food is provided. For a rat that rarely needs to eat, Methuselah certainly knows how to pack it away.
Throwing the box away, Pinup continues down the maze of hallways, passing through a library with beautifully glossy piano as she winds her way back to the lounge. As she draws closer, she can hear the meeting has already begun; Rather, she can hear Icon's raised voice as he addresses the team. Quietly, she slips in through the door, leaning against the wall next to the door frame, trying to be discrete.

 

[Hound55]

At length, the door opens. Pinup, now fully dressed in the new clothes she had found, rests one hand on the door frame and the other on her hip and regards Vigilante with a mix of amusement and disgust (no doubt due to the overwhelmingly putrid stench emanating from him).
"Are you this awkward with all women?" She asks, "Or just the ones you've seen naked?" Without waiting for an answer, she pushes a nearly full bottle of body wash into his hand. "I hope it's enough. Shower's yours."
Eager not to spend more time in smelly company, she continues down the hall and around the corner, back into the kitchen.

[BLACKOUT]"..."[/BLACKOUT] Isaac grasps the body wash in his gloved hand and watches her walk all the way down the hall.

"Nope... Women, children, pretty much everyone really." He muttered under his breath under 5 seconds delay.

He saw Gunny Bracken standing opposite watching him, looking stunned that he'd returned. Isaac silenced him with a singular gesture holding his gloved finger up (but more than a little away from) his lips. Following it up with another gesture, point at his own eyes and then at the woman who had walked down towards the kitchen, and finally another finger to the lips suggesting he remain discreet. Unseen.

The old Colonel nodded and furtively followed the girl, keeping a distance.

"Well, if nothing else she's not roaming unescourted through the place anymore." And with that thought putting his mind at ease he entered the bathroom with his bag of clothes and locked the door behind him.

Isaac scanned the walls and ceiling again, as was his way. Paranoid of the thought of hidden cameras, he was eventually satisfied that he was not being watched he removed the mask and looked down at the bag.

"Damn... I forgot to get another balaklava..."

Isaac put the plug in the sink and turned on the hot water in the basin, adding a heavy squirt of the body wash until soon the basin was full of bubbly hot water. Isaac put his balaklava in the basin and stepped back as he saw something unexpected run into the corner on the floor.

"Is that... that's a roach? What are they breeding on me or something?"

The building was secure, never had any problems with pests before. It must have come in with him. Isaac made a kick at it and it scurried away, seemingly behind the bathroom cabinet. Bending down to get a closer look he saw that the cabinet was grouted to the wall.

"Eh..? Where'd it go?"

Dropping to his hands and knees (and leaving rather nasty brown smears on the tiles and bathmat in the process) he tried to look under the cabinet. No luck, it was grouted to the floor as well. It can't have just vanished into thin air though... and then he laughed. Not hard, but chuckled at himself crawling around looking for problems as if they didn't have enough. The roach just ran off to some dark corner when he wasn't looking, surely. In desperate need of a shower and determined not to waste any more time he dropped his clothes on the bathmat (he'd burn that too, why not?) after he got out. He turned the water on hot and fast, letting it pelt his head as the brown muck poured off of him and spiraled down the drain. Running everything; S.T.R.I.K.E, The Wanted, everything he'd seen at Tartarus, this strange new girl, through his mind.

 

[NiteMare Shape]

I stand in the center of the lounge as the rest of the team makes their way into the room. I watch as Kayla and Flux take a seat on the sofa, Kensei standing behind them with his hands on the back of the couch. Matt comes in and leans up against the wall, his usual smirk nowhere to be seen. Finally Michael comes in and takes his place among the others.

"Get over it." I say, as the others just look at me with surprised expressions on their faces.

"Whatever the problem is, whatever reason you have for going at each other like a bunch of high school kids...get over it now."

I look over to Kensei who just nods approvingly as I continue.

"I don't know what the problem is, and to tell you the truth I really don't care. But it ends now."

Matt goes to say something, but I cut him off.

"Don't you get it?" I ask, and by the blank looks on some of their faces I can see that they really don't.

"We're all we have. If you haven't noticed, S.T.R.I.K.E is out there turning everyone against us...and they're doing a damn good job. We can't be in here fighting amongst ourselves, when everyone is lining up out there to fight us." As I speak, I notice Pinup creep into the room and stand against the door. Her expression is hard to read, as are the expressions of some of the others.

"So settle whatever the issue is, and get over it. But do it now, because the only ones we can trust, are each other."

 

[trustyside-kick]

I stand in the center of the lounge as the rest of the team makes their way into the room. I watch as Kayla and Flux take a seat on the sofa, Kensei standing behind them with his hands on the back of the couch. Matt comes in and leans up against the wall, his usual smirk nowhere to be seen. Finally Michael comes in and takes his place among the others.

"Get over it." I say, as the others just look at me with surprised expressions on their faces.

"Whatever the problem is, whatever reason you have for going at each other like a bunch of high school kids...get over it now."

I look over to Kensei who just nods approvingly as I continue.

"I don't know what the problem is, and to tell you the truth I really don't care. But it ends now."

Matt goes to say something, but I cut him off.

"Don't you get it?" I ask, and by the blank looks on some of their faces I can see that they really don't.

"We're all we have. If you haven't noticed, S.T.R.I.K.E is out there turning everyone against us...and they're doing a damn good job. We can't be in here fighting amongst ourselves, when everyone is lining up out there to fight us." As I speak, I notice Pinup creep into the room and stand against the door. Her expression is hard to read, as are the expressions of some of the others.

"So settle whatever the issue is, and get over it. But do it now, because the only ones we can trust, are each other."

My talk with Pinup comes to mind as I think of things to say to Matt to better explain just what happened earlier. For me, at least. As I look over at him, he still looks upset. After a few seconds of silence, I figure out what I think I wanna say but before I utter a sound Matt blurts out a response. Surprisingly not aimed towards me.

"Funny to hear that from a guy in a mask."

The room was already silent, but right now there is a certain vibe where you'd expect to see some tumbleweed roll across the room. Smooth talking, Matt. Aside from being out of line not something you want to say to a guy that could, for all of your speed, still crush you to a pulp.

But yea, in the end, it's just completely out of line.

 

[NiteMare Shape]

My talk with Pinup comes to mind as I think of things to say to Matt to better explain just what happened earlier. For me, at least. As I look over at him, he still looks upset. After a few seconds of silence, I figure out what I think I wanna say but before I utter a sound Matt blurts out a response. Surprisingly not aimed towards me.

"Funny to hear that from a guy in a mask."

The room was already silent, but right now there is a certain vibe where you'd expect to see some tumbleweed roll across the room. Smooth talking, Matt. Aside from being out of line not something you want to say to a guy that could, for all of your speed, still crush you to a pulp.

But yea, in the end, it's just completely out of line.

Matt's response takes me by surprise. I just stand there for a moment, looking at him, not exactly sure what to say. For an instant, I can feel a surge of anger race through my body, but it is a fleeting sensation...as the realization that he is right dawns on me.

I have fought beside these people since the invasion, yet, aside from Flux and Kayla, I've never really let any of them get close to me. How can I be standing here talking about trust when I haven't even trusted them with the most basic aspects of my life.

I turn my back on the others, lowering my head as I look to the floor. I reach up and unfasten my mask, and slowly remove it. I turn back toward the others, my mask in hand.

"The name's Scott Morse."

 

[Erin]

Matt's response takes me by surprise. I just stand there for a moment, looking at him, not exactly sure what to say. For an instant, I can feel a surge of anger race through my body, but it is a fleeting sensation...as the realization that he is right dawns on me.

I have fought beside these people since the invasion, yet, aside from Flux and Kayla, I've never really let any of them get close to me. How can I be standing here talking about trust when I haven't even trusted them with the most basic aspects of my life.

I turn my back on the others, lowering my head as I look to the floor. I reach up and unfasten my mask, and slowly remove it. I turn back toward the others, my mask in hand.

"The name's Scott Morse."

Pinup tilts her head, folding her arms across her chest as she squints at Icon. Scott Morse? She's sure she doesn't know the name, but there's something about him... something very familiar. Certainly, she's seen him before. She must know him from somewhere.
I look out over my teammates, who are all looking at me in kind of surprised silence, nobody seemingly knowing what to say... until my gaze finally rests on Pinup. She is still standing against the door, but she's looking at me, almost as if she recognizes me. And then it clicks, and I know why she is confused... she saw the photos of me and Eric with the different acts that have played at the club since it opened. I meet her gaze, and then tell her.
“I own The Hub.”
The color drains visibly from Pinup's face as her eyes widen. She opens her mouth as if to say something and closes it again. He owns The Hub? THE Hub?”
“Oh, God...” She manages a hoarse whisper, her throat dry. Why didn't he say anything? Why bother saving her at all? If anyone would have been justified in seeking justice, it would have been him. “I'm...I..” She stammers in barely audible whispers. Her eyes dart over the others in the room, who watch her expectantly. She's not sure what to say in front of all of them.
I can see that she is visibly shaken by the revelation, and I'd be lying if I said I hadn't expected that she would be. I walk over to her, looking her in the eyes, looking at her stricken face. She looks back at me, again not sure how to react to me, but seemingly expecting the worst. I simply take my hand and place it on her shoulder, never breaking her gaze as I force a weak smile and nod.
Pinup gazes back, her eyes searching his, trying to connect; trying to tell him something – trying to make him understand.
“I'm so sorry.” She whispers feebly. It's a lame attempt to express what she really means, but they are the only words that come. She retracts only slightly as he reaches forward, the gentle weight of his hand upon her shoulder surprising her more than a heavy blow would. The shaking inside her steadies, and she searches his expression again, knowing he really does understand what she means. But how could he trust her? Certainly he must think of her as a liability, and why not?
“I'll make it up.” She insists quietly. “I think I'm learning to control it.”
I can see the regret in her eyes, as well as the sincerity in her desire to make up fr what happened. There are a thousand things I could say to her at this moment, yest I simply say, “I know.”
At a loss for words, Pinup looks down. Biting her lip, her cheeks flush as she realizes the others in the room are watching them, some with looks of confusion, others as though they are privy to a sneak peek of a deleted scene from their favorite soap opera.

 

[Johnny Drama]

[BLACKOUT]__The Phantom__[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]--Episode 3: Monsters In My Closet--
[/BLACKOUT]

Previously on
The Phantom

Jack Barret stands in his office atop the BarretTech building in down town Lost Haven. He is looking out his window overlooking all of Lost Haven.
He takes a sip of his Gin and Tonic as he observes the scenery. Grey clouds cover the sky and drown out the sun. A crack of thunder is heard and rain begins to fall from the sky.
Jack lights a cigar and exhales the smoke from his nose, lost in thought. He sees his reflection in the glass window. He studies his face for a bit, almost as if he is trying to see through himself. Then, a shadowy figure appears behind him. His hair is long and black, his skin is cocaine white.

"And people think I am a monster. For shame, Jack. For Shame." Ultima says.

Jack turns around quickly but there is no one behind him. Perhaps it was a figment of his imagination, maybe it was the alcohol. Jack takes a moment to collect himself before heading to his desk where he takes a seat and props his feet up.

-


"Whats that, Captain? That you think I'm such a stunning example of what a Lost Haven Police officer should be that I give you a *****? Are you promoting me for doing what your boys in the DEA weren't capable of of?" Joseph asks.

"You done?" Captain Sharp asks.

"Just getting started, Captain. I gave you Diamond Carter, something you could never do on your own, and I found stolen Tech that was, how did you put it, a priority ONE affair? It's okay Captain, don't hold back your excitement." Joseph says.


"These are cheap knock offs. Military issue, yeah, but BarretTech grade? Not even close. There is about $1,200 worth of **** in here, not the 150 grand shipment that went missing. Your old buddy Diamond was trying to rip you off" Captain Sharp says.

"Figures. Diamond is still Diamond I see. Goddamn it. So then, do I still get that promotion or...." Joey says.

"Is Everything a joke to you, Barone?" Captain Sharp asks.

"Lately, Captain? Yeah. Everything is a joke because there are some funny things going on around here. BarretTech relocates from New York to Lost Haven and then upon arrival they loose $150,000 worth of dangerous weapons within our city. And that creep Diamon was right, there are big things at play in this city right now, heroes, villains and the guys in between. I guess that's us, Captain. Either way, that tech is out there somewhere, and whoever has it can not have anything good in store...

40 Years Ago

"Auto sequence start" Mission Commander Chris Kennedy hears over the radio as he sits within the control deck of the U.S.S Supernova, a space shuttle bound for a secret voyage into space, going beyond the moon for the first time ever.

"T-Minus 15 seconds and counting" he hears as he lets out a deep breath. The astronaut to his left, Command Module Pilot Paul Stark, mans the controls.
"14..."
Lunar Module Pilot Casper Jones shoots Chris a thumbs up and a wide smile.
"13"
"We are going to do it, Chris. This is what we were born for" Casper says.
"12"
"History in the making, Casper" Chris replies.

"11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, Main engine start, 3, 2, Booster ignition, and Lift Off!!"

The shuttles takes off into flight, a magnificent sight to behold. The shuttles flies for what seems like a lifetime until it reaches the stars.

"Welcome to space, guys" Chris replies.

Suddenly, A green flash of light explodes in the distance as a huge black cloud quickly approaches.

"What the hell is THAT!?!" Paul asks.

"I don't know, we just lost all of our communication with command central. The whole damn system is down..." Casper replies.

"It's getting closer..." Chris says

The black cloud consumes the shuttle. All the 3 astronauts can is green radiation entering their confines like a thick fog.

"What in gods name is happening!?!" Chris asks.

"I don't know, all the computers are down. I can't read the screens, we have no power" Casper replies.

"Casper, can you get the power up??" Chris asks


"My f**king skin is burning!" Paul says.

The green fog begins eating away at the astronauts space suits like an acid, and then shuttle begins to split in half. Paul's helmet shatters and his face begins to turn purple as he looses all of his oxygen.
"What the f**k!?!" Yells Chris.
"Aaaaaaah!!" Casper screams. Chris panics and rushes towards Paul, but it is too late. Paul's head has already has been exposed to the negative-pressure of outer-space as his eyeballs squeeze out of their sockets and his face turns purple. Paul is dead.
[B]"Casper, can you get the power back on?"[/B]
"I...I..." Casper says before pausing.
"You NEED to try!" Chris interrupts.
Casper rushes towards the controls, although both Casper and Chris know this is futile and that they are both doomed.
The control board where Casper is near catches fire, which spreads quickly. Casper tries desperately to get the Supernovas power on, but he is consumed by the flames at the ships control deck.
"AAAAAAAGGHGG!!" Casper screams.
"NOOOO!!!" Chris yells as he watches his fiend burn. Chris' helmet begins to crack under the pressure, Chris just closes his eyes and begins to pray.
"Our Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name."
The shuttle rips into two pieces, Casper and Paul's bodies are freed into outer space as the lower half of the shuttle continues to burn.
Chris watches as he clings to the other half of the shuttle.
"Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread."
The flaming half of the shuttle explodes in the distance as Chris continues to pray on the remaining half of the shuttle.
"forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen" Chris finishes as his helmet completely shatters and exposes his head.
ZOOM
Just then, the green flash reappears and the shuttle vanishes, the black cloud consuming itself behind it until all that is left is cloud of smoke.

"Where am I?" Chris thinks as he awakens in an empty white room. Chris feels strange, different. He looks around but there is nothing in the room but a large mechanical door, with no knob a strange oval mirror, illuminated by a blue neon light above it.

Chris attempts to get up and walk towards the mirror, but falls to his feet as soon as he rises. He has no strength right now. He manages to crawl towards the mirror and pull himself up. Chris looks in the mirror and is shocked to see what he has found...

His once blond hair now jet black, his skin now snow white and his once blue eyes now a glowing yellow.
"What...What am I?" He asks himself. Chris tries to remember what brought him to this place, but he can not even remember his name...
"Who am I?" He finally asks. Chris notices a large cut on the side of his head, stitched up.

Then, through the one airlock door in the room, a tall blue man enters.
Chris panics and backwards at the site of this...man.

"Christopher Kennedy of Earth. We have been awaiting your arrival. 5 years later than expected but alas, we are glad you could make it. Welcome to the planet Arlaaek, I am Admiral Keelan" he says.

"What...Who...I..." He says, trying to find the words.

"The wormhole you entered brought you to us, as we expected. Your comrades are dead but we treated you of your radiation poisoning. But you have been changed. You are different now, Christopher Kennedy of Earth."

"What...what did you do to my head?" He asks.

"You belong to The planet Arlaaek now, Christopher Kennedy. Your world launched you to your death, our world took you in and saved your life, not only saved it, but made it better"

"Made it better?"

"Your world will soon be ours, and we are willing to let you walk among us when we take it. You are no longer one of them, you are no longer human. You will soon find yourself hungry, so hungry it will drive you mad. You will only be able to find satisfaction in human flesh, primarily brains. You will be our general on Earth, Christopher, because you will use your hunger to seek out and devour earths mightiest heroes, those that would attempt to stop us when we invade."

"But what did you do...to my head?"

"We implanted a microscopic computing system in the form of a chip, something to help keep contact with you when we return you to Earth. The CHIP also ensures you do as we say, or it shuts your entire body down, sending an electrical charge in your brain and exploding within your head"

"Why would you do that do me!?!"

"Because we save your life. We saved your life and now we own you. We could have let you die, especially since that radiation turned you into a monster. But you are going to go back home, and kill for us. You are no longer Christopher Kennedy, you are now ULTIMA, the walking apocalypse."

1 Year Ago

"I have to admit...this has been alot of fun. But enough is enough, now...you die." Ultima says as he brings his arms up over his head, preparing to deliver a fatal blow to Icon.

Over the relatively short time that Icon has been a superhero, he has met numerous foes, each powerful in their own right...but none have ever been a true match for him. Many of them have made the same threats as Ultima, taunting him...telling him that this will be his last day in this world. Each vowing to kill him...But something is different now, there is something different about Ultima. Icon knows without a shadow of a doubt that this madman can make good on his threat.

"Not today scumbag!" Blacklight exclaims as he flies into Ultima's back, sending him reeling over Icon's head, crashing into the side of one the destroyed buildings.

Icon gets to his feet, and together with Blacklight again presses the attack on Ultima. Together, the two heroes are joined by Survivor, and as a team the three heroes are too much for Ultima, who tries to fight back, but every attack is countered by Icon and Blacklight.

Ultima staggers back several feet, trying to get separation from his attackers. As Icon, Survivor and Blacklight move in to finish the fight, Ultima holds up a single finger, beckening them to stop.

The three heroes hesitate, and when they do Ultima does something strange, and unsettling.

He laughs.


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Today

A sweaty and distraught Jesse abruptly wakes up in the middle of the night after the nightly nightmare finishes up. Every night it's the same thing, he dreams about the invasion, but not what he was doing during the invasion, no, he instead dreams about super heroes. A reoccurring scene Jesse lives out is the confrontation where Ultima fought Icon, The Survivor and Blacklight. The strangest part is this actually happened, but Jesse was in college, down in Florida, during all of this and had only seen the news coverage, though he relives the dream clear as day, through the eyes of Ultima.

Jesse wipes the sweat from his brow and heads over to the computer nearby. He sits down and positions his web cam, ready to record his latest blog.
"The date is October 4th, my name is Jesse Dreamer, and this is blog #34, I believe. So it happened again...." Jesse says as he runs his fingers through his hair.
"Why do I keep dreaming about the super villain known as Ultima? I don't understand what the hell is going on, but every night it's a different dream, usually he is killing a girl, or he is killing a lot of girls, or he is fighting Icon, fighting him on a bus, in the air, in the streets, all over.." Jesse says.

"Whats worse, is that I have been trying so long to hide my powers from my parents, but I feel like I can't keep my powers a secret anymore. The telekinesis was bearable, but now this random teleportation stuff is making it hard to hide things. My mom is talking to me, she turns her back and then *Bamf* next thing I know I am in Lost Haven, which is like a 3 hour drive from Greenview. How does this keep happening? I don't understand. It's all new to me but what if people judge me?

Do my dreams about Ultima have a connection to my powers? There are so many questions I have, yet so many.....

*BAMF*

Jesse looks around and finds himself in Lost haven, in a dark, wet alleyway.

"DAAAAAAAAMN IT!!! F***k! F***k!!" An angry Jesse screams as he begins punching a brick wall over and over again untill his fists bleed.

Jesse stops when he notices the 3 drifters approaching him, the leader holding a box cutter...

"I don't want any problems guys, I'm just a little lost"

Bum: I'll say....

The 3 criminals rush towards Jesse, but then, something happens. Something....strange.

Jesses eyes begin to glow and it's almost as if someone else has taken control of his body, a wild animal or something. Jesse puts his fist through one bums chest and holds in his hand a beating heart, and swiftly turns around and lifts the 2nd bum up by his head, that is, before crushing his skull to mush and dropping his lifeless body.

The 3rd bum makes a run for it, but the possessed Jesse uses telekinesis to bring the bum towards him, turn him around and completely skin him in one quick and fluid motion.

He then drops to his knees and stays there for a few seconds, before looking up and "awakening".
Jesse looks at the 3 corpses in front of him and he panics.

"Oh god oh god oh god!!" he yells as he springs up and makes a run for it...

-


[BLACKOUT]I stand atop the Lost Haven Trade Center in downtown Lost Haven. Across the street I see Lost haven national Bank, BarretTech Industries, and the Heisenberg Building. The people below me waste their lives waiting on a hero to save them. They look up to the likes of the Blue Blur, Icon and The Survivor, worshiping them as gods as they wait for them to grace them with their devine presence. They rely to much on their demigods. The people of Lost Haven are in for a rude awakening.
When the dust settles and their are no more Metahumans left decaying this once beautiful planet, I will be the last one standing. And when that happens, when I am the last Meta on earth, I'll put a bullet in my head and wipe us all out. And it will all have been done....for her[/BLACKOUT]

The Phantom leaps over to the adjacent building with impeccable agility and approaches what looks to be a Black motorcycle without wheels. The Phantom starts the bike and it literally hovers above the ground. The sleek black Hover bike is looks Arlaaekean but modified with advanced BarretTech enhancements. The hover bike elevates even higher and turns around before taking off, The Phantom flying through the air on it like a witch on her broomstick.

[BLACKOUT]The filth spreads through the city like a virus, a dirty filthy festering disease that robs the youth of their innocence, and what's worse: The ones they look up to are all part of the problem. The heroes are wicked, the cops are dirty, and the citisenz have become no better than pigs wallowing in their own filth waiting for more garbage to be poured upon their heads.There are two men who will soon feel my wrath. Too men who have done enough to decay this city. These men have abused there power and must now suffer the consequences. The Only question I have for myself is which man to I kill first...[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]Ultima...Or The Icon?[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]To Be Continued...[/BLACKOUT]

 

[trustyside-kick]

Matt's response takes me by surprise. I just stand there for a moment, looking at him, not exactly sure what to say. For an instant, I can feel a surge of anger race through my body, but it is a fleeting sensation...as the realization that he is right dawns on me.

I have fought beside these people since the invasion, yet, aside from Flux and Kayla, I've never really let any of them get close to me. How can I be standing here talking about trust when I haven't even trusted them with the most basic aspects of my life.

I turn my back on the others, lowering my head as I look to the floor.

Oh dang.

This is huge.

I know that Matt was out of line, but it looks like Icon is actually going to unmask. Which is pretty interesting to be honest. You're still an ass for what you said though, Matt.

But yea...our fearless leader, for all of this time, has been secret to us. Never really thought about it before, to be honest...I guess I just thought that there was only Icon. No one or anything else. Like for him, this superhero gig was full-time and over-time...all the time. Kinda intense to be honest.

Look through an Entertainment Weekly magazine or anything similar and you will always find something in common: guesses as to who could be the masked hero known to all as Icon. They even post people's guesses and comments, and you get the people who have...seriously given this way too much thought and then some who just give a comment to get a good laugh.

My personal favorite is the theory that Icon is Elvis.

I reach up and unfasten my mask, and slowly remove it. I turn back toward the others, my mask in hand.

"The name's Scott Morse."

He unmasks, tells us his name and...

...I have no idea who this is.

 

[Blacklight]

Chapter 16: The Wasp is Watching...



The latest post title read:

Barry Jordan's assassination was not random. It was planned...



As recently as a few months ago, a website was created with the sole purpose of exposing the truth. Within it's first few days, it received mere hundreds of hits. Now?

It averages tens of thousands.

thewaspiswatching.com had become an overnight sensation. An "investigative blogger" known only by their screename "the_wasp1130" or more simply "The Wasp" had created the site with the intention of exposing East City's darkest secrets in hopes it will lead to the dissolving of organized crime in the city and the restoration to it's former glory, and also to allow those who seek the truth to have it with the click of a mouse. Secrets especially pertaining to those of the criminal underworld.

As for the Wasp, they say he (or she) is an expert hacker. One of the world's best. And they use their skills to get the dirt on anyone they have their sights set on. For the most part, they target the bad people in particular.

The Wasp was the first one to reveal to the public when it was first discovered that the previous mayor, Hal Allen, currently resigned, had received funding from notorious mob boss, Raphael Badafucco, currently serving his last year of imprisonment for tax evasion, under the condition that he not meddle in Badafucco's affairs. The Wasp was also the first one to let the people of East City know that public icon, entrepreneur Felix Marlin, was secretly running a drug smuggling operation in his spare time. Even heiress to the Goodchild fortune, Stacey Goodchild, was not immune to "The Wasp's Sting", as her secret life as the head of a human trafficking ring was brought to light.

The Wasp's latest info: Barry Jordan's murder was no coincidence.

Though they had no idea who orchestrated it (yet), the Wasp was able to hack into the ECPD's Police Database and look up the file on Jordan's murder. On that file was a picture of the bullet that had penetrated the new DA's skull. And on it, a three-letter engraving. "Nex".

With further research, the Wasp had learned that "Nex" was not the name of the bullet's manufacturer nor a serial code, but the name of one of the world's top assassins and the most elite of mercenaries. To this day he still tops a majority of every major country's most wanted lists, as he has yet to be found. The man is a ghost. He's there one moment, then, after his target's been eliminated, he's gone. But that doesn't make him shy by any means. He kills every one of his targets with a bullet with his name on it, just so the authorities know it was him.

Apparently, someone with rather deep pockets and a secret in need of keeping had hired the professional killer to silence Jordan before he could reveal who it really is who's behind East City's becoming a place to be eaten alive.

Upon coming across this information, the Wasp immediately posted it on the front page of their blog. It's views are in the thousands... and it's only been up for ten minutes.


Sitting back in her chair, "The Wasp" smiled. In the name of truth and justice, they had stung again.


Meanwhile, the man behind it Barry Jordan's assassination slammed his fist on his table as he read the latest article on thewaspiswatching.com. Because soon after he had finished reading, he had realized one thing.


...The Wasp was watching, and soon they'll be watching him.

 

[Nicodemus]

Noah Archer, aka ACROBAT

Saturday wasn't exactly Noah's favorite day.

Not every Saturday of course. Just every other one. Because every other Saturday he was forced to pack up and drive over to 437 Woodley Drive and spend time with his biological mother.

He pulled into the driveway and rested his forehead against the steering wheel, sighing a sigh that was part frustration and part defeat. Then he grabbed his backpack, locked his car, and walked up the steps to his "mom"'s house.

He had to admit, she had been doing fairly well for herself. The house was small and neat, and the neighborhood was certainly a step up from the places she had lived beforehand.

Good, he thought as he knocked on the door. Maybe now she can stop worrying about a break-in and start focusing on taking care of Charlie.

The door swung open a moment later, revealing a small, blonde woman. She was dressed in a comfy sweater that was much too large for her, and her hair was pulled into a messy bun - a pair of glasses obscured her grey eyes.

What Noah hated about her more than anything about her was that she looked so much like him. He had here hair, and her eyes, and even her nose, now that he thought about. He was much taller than her - that was the only thing he had gotten from his father though. Other than that he could be her twin, if you took fifteen years off her and added a lot of testosterone.

"Noah!" She said, reaching around his waist to hug him. He stood there awkwardly and let her hug him, but didn't hug back. She took what she could get. Just a few months ago he wouldn't have let her near him, let alone touch him.

"I made cookies," she said, smiling to herself and showing him into the kitchen. "Chocolate chip, just like you said you liked. And hot cocoa, because it's so cold outside right now."

"Uh, thanks, I guess," he said, taking the cocoa she offered him. He was cold - his car didn't have heating or air conditioning, which was a crime when the weather wasn't good. "Where's Charlie?" He asked.

"Charlie? In the playroom, building with his blocks," Caroline said, pointing towards a small room near the corner of the house. "Are these cookies any good? I think I might've taken them out too early."

Noah grabbed one and took a bite of it as he made his way to the playroom. "It's fine," he said, not looking at her as he stepped into the playroom.

The playroom was Charlie's domain. A white carpet covered the floor, and various books and toys were strewn around the room. Charlie sat in the middle, carefully placing a block on top of another one in an attempt to make a block pyramid.

Charlie didn't take after their mother at all. He was dark everything - skin, eyes, hair - he looked more italian than anything else, and Caroline had claimed that his father was probably an Italian man she had met soon before going completely clean.

"Hey Charlie," Noah said, sitting next to his half brother. Charlie smiled but didn't look directly at him, instead carefully selecting a new block to place on his pyramid. "What's up little dude?"

"Building," Charlie said after a moment, turning over a block in his hands. He said nothing more after that, and neither did Noah - both were content to sit in silence, watching the block pyramid grow higher and higher.

After about ten minutes had passed, Caroline came in and tapped Noah on the shoulder. "You need to come quick, to the television," she said, her voice hushed and worried. "There's been a shooting at your school."

 

[trustyside-kick]

Geez. You'd think that after a big reveal like Icon finally showing us who he is, someone would have said something by now. Granted, he and Pinup had a brief moment as it appears that that club that was...let's say rattled with, was his very own property. Taking a look at the rest of the people in the room, as I get to looking at Starlight and Flux they seem the least surprised. It wouldn't surprise me if they knew given that out of the group they really only know Icon. So I don't take offense.

Though to break the awkward tension, I'm going to act like I jokingly take offense. That is, I plan to before Flux speaks up.

"It would appear that the current setting is a bit...unsettling. If you want I can damper everyone's emotions to--"

"That won't be necessary, Flux. This is good. Awkward, but...good. We need to get anything and everything out now. And after what I've been told so far, it looks like the best course of action is to see what S.T.R.I.K.E. does next since their actions have been of sporadic nature. Coordinated of course. But sporadic in terms of what we can tell while working towards a goal. Are there any objections? I think everyone could use some rest."

He looks back at me, and gives me a certain look and I know exactly what it means. Because as I look past him and over at Matt, the dude still seems a bit heated still from our dispute.

"Uh, one last thing. Figure...I ought to do this in front of everyone given it started with mostly everyone present. Feels a bit odd since I already had a talk with Pinup here, but it's only right."

I take the center stage of the room, with Icon stepping aside so I can get the focus of the team.

"First off I'd like to apologize to the team for not controlling myself when responding to Matt's comment...and I wanna apologize to Matt for getting so easily heated. It's not my way normally. I know it spooked and confused a bunch of you because normally I'm right on that wagon with Matt in being the comic relif, easy going, all around cool guy. I won't boggle you guys down with the details of things but...I'm working on coping with a few things right now. And if I act cynical like earlier...feel free to call me out."

I take a glance at Matt who seems to accept my apology as he seems to smirk a bit as he looks back. Which lets me know that we're cool now since, after all, I more than know Matt. So I toss one thing in as I walk up to him to give him a handshake to seal the deal.

"Just, next time, if you could also try not being such an ass about calling me out I'd appreciate it."

"What can I say, I say it how it is. Sometimes you need people like me."

"Yea, I know."

"Also...Kensei filled me in on a little bit of stuff since you apparently got back...and I guess I didn't know the full scope of stuff. Still though, man. I'm here if you need me."

Matt heading towards his quarters, as also Kensei does, Icon walks up to me and simply nods and pats me on the shoulder. Though before Matt turns the corner he snaps back another joke.

"Just try to not get overly sappy when you do or anything."

I simply smirk, and take a seat on the couch. Then Icon leaves to show Pinup a living quarters she can temporarily use for the time being and it's just myself and Flux & Starlight in the meeting room. Flux turns to Starlight though, and tells her where she can stay and Starlight exits as well.

Then...I get the odd feeling that Flux is looking at me. Staring, in fact.

"Something on your mind?"

I turn my head, and she does in fact have the type of look I predicted: curiosity. And she quickly notices how it is making me feel.

"Oh. Am I making you uncomfortable? I'm sorry. I just thought that maybe, after your apology, you'd like someone to talk t--nevermind. It's not my place. Er, again, sorry."

And then she bolts out the meeting room. I feel confused for what happened, bad for possibly making her feel awkward, and...well...mainly confused...and bad. Smooooth, dude. Last time you saw her you took her to nearby shelter for safety after Ultima tossed her around like a ragdoll.

Then the oddest thing happens, she walks back in.

"Forgot my hairband."

She does an awkward, ashamed and blushing smile, and exits the room again. I just lean back, take a look over at the clock to see what time it is and my mind starts to wander. Maybe I'll just crash right here as I think about how the day is going to go after I wake up.

It's only Tuesday, dude. You've dealt with it perfectly fine before. What S.T.R.I.K.E. might do put totally aside, there's no reason you should feel so dependent on the Archangel State. Just think back to how things used to be. You didn't always feel this weak without it.

Maybe I'll paint something tomorrow.

If S.T.R.I.K.E. eases off our backs.

 

[NiteMare Shape]

The sun beats down on the large contingent of media members who have gathered outside of the front entrance of City Hall, where Alexander Anderson, the Director of S.T.R.I.K.E had called this press conference.

Less than 12 hours ago, there were several major operations carried out in the city of Lost Haven. Some were very large, public shows of force, while others were more...covert.

His office had already received numerous calls about last night's operations, and that was before the incident at Guardians Headquarters. That...misunderstanding would require great care in explaining, as the Guardians are still overwhelmingly liked by the populace...for now.

Anderson steps to the podium, and before he is able address the gathered media, he is met with a barrage of questions. Anderson looks out to the crowd and gives a somber smile.

"Thank you all for coming this morning."

The questions continue to come, however, he does not allow himself to be distracted.

"Last night, there multiple large operations that were conducted within the city. As you know, one major operation was conducted in the area of Lost Haven known by the locals as 'The Gulag.' I am happy to announce that more than three dozen meta humans believed to be connected to the terrorist group responsible for the recent attacks all over the city. However, that operation was not without casualties. Our forces were met with significant resistance and a housing tenament was destroyed in the melee, and I can confirm that there were numerous fatalities. However, as of right now we do not have a confirmed death toll."

Anderson pauses as even more questions are asked, which he ignores as he continues.

"Also last night, our forces were in pursuit of an individual wanted in connection with a cyber attack on S.T.R.I.K.E servers, and the possible theft of sensitive information regarding current and future operations. We did set up several roadblocks in an attempt to capture that individual. One of those roadblocks was located near the Guardians Headquarters. However, we do not believe that the group was involved. Although, it was here that our agents were attacked by a rogue meta human, before finally being subdued and taken into custody. Unfortunately, several agents lost their lives in the attack, though I will not release their names until their families have been notified."

Again, the gathered media shout questions.

"Please, hold any questions until the end." he says, and the crowd quiets down, allowing him to continue.

"Also, as I'm sure you're aware, while these operations were underway, there was another meta human attack, this time at the nightclub 'The Hub.' In this attack there were 3 fatalities as well as a number of injured parties. Sadly, I would like to inform you that as of 8:03AM one of the victims from that attack, Sandra Walsh succumbed to her injuries. Unfortunately, assailant responsible for that attack is still at large...for now."

For the first time since the confrence started, he is not met with a barrage of questions, instead the media covering the press conference remain quiet as he continues.

"I want you to know that I am personally making it a priority to bring the meta humans responsible for recent events to justice, and in the intrest of transparency, I would like to introduce you at this time to some of the tools that S.T.R.I.K.E will now be employing to ensure that the people of this country are kept safe from the threat of meta human violence."

There is a buzz in the crowd as the people that are gathered for the conference begin talking amongst themselves. Anderson smiles, and begins to speak over the crowd just as several of the unmanned Hunter Drones fly in from the west.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you one of the key tools in the war against meta human violence, The Hunter Drone. This unmanned drone carries a full arsenal of lethal and non lethal ordinance, and is capable of tracking a target from over a quarter mile away."

The buzz grows louder as the crowd marvels at the machines. However, they are silenced again as the ground rumbles as several large troop carriers roll into the area, coming to a stop in the street in front of city hall. The doors open and a number of figures clad in black and gold armor exit the vehicles, and stand in formation behind the gathered media.

"And now I proudly present to you, the future of S.T.R.I.K.E. The men and women who will lead the charge against the meta human threat...The Vanguard."

He pauses as the gathered media marvels at the new arrivals, before adding...

"The only guardians that the people of this city need."

 

[Carnage27]

A fiery maw opens in an alley of Lost Haven, and I step out of it a changed man. I'm no longer Desmond. I am Cerberus. I've been changed with what I've learned the past few weeks. With what I've done. There's no looking back now. I need to be the warrior I was born to be. The warrior I've been trained to be.

"You're going to need a new overcoat," a familiar voice announces behind me. I turn to find my mentor and trainer Chiron smilling with his arms crossed. He's noticed the tattered garb I'm wearing over "I'm proud of you. You did well. How was the past week?"

"Enlightening," I respond simply. "How are...?"

"Safe. Hidden," he responds with a nod. "Penny will get her training, and James will make sure she stays safe. Now, let's get back to the Eye. We've got some things to talk about. A lot has changed in the time you've been gone. Your mother is waiting there, as well as Nysus."

"That's exactly what I need right-"

"FREEZE!" a voice shouts from the rooftop. Chiron and I quickly fall into a defensive stance as I draw my sword and bring up my shield. "You are ordered to stay where you are under the authority of STRIKE!"

"Told you things have changed," Chiron grumbles next to me.

**********

Two Weeks Ago

"So what now?" James Harvey, also known as Herald and the son of Hermes. "I mean we know who we're up against. We know how many there are. We take the fight to them and be done with it."

"It's reckless," I respond thinking the plan over in my head. "And they could be expecting it."

"Doubtful," Chiron shakes his head. "Tartarus has relied on fear and his opponents cowardice since he began. He won't bank on someone standing up to him. It may take him off guard, especially form a group of kids."

"Hey, we're college age," Kevin Harvey, James's brother laughs.

"And I'm thousands of years old," Chiron smiles. "Now, let's get to the plan before Tartarus kills us all."
​

 

[Erin]

Walter cruises down the highway, watching the street signs and looking for his exit. He blinks hard, trying to stave off the looming exhaustion that comes from staying up all night long past the age where doing so is socially acceptable. As he drives, he thinks over the events of the previous night. He had been more than impressed with S.T.R.I.K.E.'s expansive laboratories, and Dr. Teufel seemed nothing less than an enthusiastic scientist. Like himself, Walter thought, only a few years younger and undoubtedly more successful. The doctor seemed highly revered among his team, something Walter noticed and respected. In all, he was looking forward to working with S.T.R.I.K.E, even if it did mean moving into the company housing development and having to call one of his grad student advisees to watch his house. Teufel had even informed him that S.T.R.I.K.E personnel would handle moving his belongings from the house to his new residence, which Walter had to admit he was grateful for. Once his car arrived in the wee hours of the morning, Walter informed his new superior he would be leaving the premises to collect some data that was not at his house. To his surprise, Teufel had agreed without question.

The old scientist navigated the streets of the Bradley district, moving through them comfortably, as he had done for several years. He pulled into the parking lot of an outdated apartment building and removed the keys from the ignition. Walking through the halls of the complex, Walter was forced to admit they seemed rather empty. Dozens of metas had been arrested from this building, and though he had told Emily it was a miracle she escaped, it was the first time Walter grasped the truth behind his words. Walter inserts the spare key into the lock only to find the door open. He entered tentatively, taking into account the scattered papers and clothes. Dishes, neglected in the sink for weeks, had grown mouldy. Walter hung his head. It was as though, for the first time since meeting her, he was getting a glimpse into Emily's thoughts. Usually a fastidious housekeeper, Walter could almost feel the panic and desperation Emily must have felt, forcing her to leave the apartment in such a state. The rooms, which had once seemed so warm and welcoming, were now cold and foreign to him.
“You lookin' for Miss Henry?”

Walter turned to see a little boy of about five standing in the doorway, clad in a blue and white rugby-style shirt and jeans.

“She's gone.” He said dismally. “They took her away when they arrested everybody.”

“No they didn't.” Walter shook his head quietly, trying to offer some kind of meager comfort to the neighbor boy. “Nobody took her away.” He turned his gaze over the empty living room once again, before turning back to the boy. “She used to keep a rat.”

“She let me play with it, sometimes.” The boy seemed happier in knowing his neighbor and friend wasn't in S.T.R.I.K.E custody. “She'd let me feed him crackers.” He frowned. “Only he's not here anymore. They took him away.”

“What?” Walter frowned.

“A man came last night and took him away. He had a key.”

Walter headed into Emily's bedroom to find the boy wasn't lying about Methuselah being gone.

“Who took him?” He questioned the boy keenly.

“I don't know. Some guy. I saw him walk into Miss Henry's apartment, and when he came out he had Methuselah.”

Walter didn't know what to make of the information. Certainly S.T.R.I.K.E couldn't have tracked down Methuselah...could they? Perhaps Emily had found help somewhere else. Even though he hoped that was true, a lingering pang of jealousy and frustration shot through him. Didn't she understand? He was trying to help.

Walter walked into the bathroom. Emily's toothbrush and hair brush sat on the edge of the sink. With little more than a second thought, Walter pocketed both inside his jacket. If he couldn't use Methuselah's DNA for their research, Emily's would have to do. He knew her feelings toward S.T.R.I.K.E, and he would have rather kept her out of the whole mess, never letting Teufel or anyone else on to her existence. But he needed DNA for the research, and right now, this was all that was available.

Walter exited the apartment silently, feeling as though his legs were made of lead. Even though he felt sure he was doing the right thing, the thought of Emily's outrage was enough to make him doubt his actions. The child followed him down the hall a few steps.

“Hey, Mister! Is Miss Henry coming home soon?” He asked, keeping pace with the old man.

“I doubt it.” Walter answered, not bothering to look down. The boy stopped walking, watching the scientist grow smaller as he retreated down the hall.

“Well if you see her, tell her I miss her, okay? My name's Jameson!” Jameson shouted at Walter's back as the old man rounded the corner and disappeared into the stairwell.

Returning to his car, Walter was struck by idea. Instead of returning back to the S.T.R.I.K.E labs, he headed the other direction, toward the Lost Haven Storage Facility. Upon arriving, he jumped out of his car, sliding open the locker door and placing his palm on the podium scanner. He was suddenly nervous at the thought of finding Emily in the laboratory. He didn't know how he would ever explain himself in person, and seriously doubted whether Emily would bother to let him try.

As it happened, his was an unreasonable nervousness. The lights were off in the laboratory, and has he flipped the switch and they flickered on, emitting a low buzzing noise, he found everything exactly as he had left it the night before. The laboratory, which had seemed like home a mere 12 hours ago, suddenly seemed as foreign as Emily's apartment. Though he knew every inch of the room by heart, he had to admit to himself it was no longer his. He had to admit things would never be the same, and he feared the empty feeling came from the sudden and obvious absence of Emily. They had been friends for so long, the thought of never seeing her again struck him hard, and his throat hurt as he choked back a rising pang of sadness.
“This is foolish.” He scolded himself. “Neither of you are dead. She may come back... if you can prove it to her, that this is the right thing...she may come back.”

Clinging to this feeble hope, Walter turned out the lights and once again passed his hand over the podium, rising to the surface and exiting the storage locker. Locking the door behind him, he once again settled into his car, turning the key and beginning his journey back to the S.T.R.I.K.E laboratories.

He never noticed the nondescript blue car which had trailed him all over the city. Parked at a random storage locker, several units down, Agent Matthews reports back to his superiors on his cell phone.
“Leaving the storage facility now. Recommend stakeout on unit 16. Yeah... he's got a partner.”

 

[Hound55]

Intermission

[YT]ZDrw5ZuZL1I&feature=related[/YT]

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Dylan opens the drapes to his Penthouse and looks out over the city.

He then cuts on his Plasma TV screen and watches the footage of what happened last evening. Dylan smiles as he admires his performance and as the News Reporters basically follow him around.

I really should get back into the media business. It was actually kind of fun. Nah too many regulations to keep me from being effective. Although it does seem that the hero population has changes since I've been gone. Time to make my presence known to them again in a much more dramatic fashion.

Dylan calls his secretary Katy and says, "Call Senator Daniels tell him I want to meet with him this morning at 10am."

Katy replies, "You're in court today. The Mathesion suit 9:30 am"

Dylan says, "All-right make it 11am trust me this won't take too long. If he refuses let me know."

Katy replies, "Yes Mr. Chambers."

Dylan hangs up the phone and smiles.

Time to make some noise. These super-powered fools are the only thing that stands between me and domination of the city. They must be dealt with.

 

[Erin]

Pinup sits alone on the couch in her room. It's a clean, comfortable size, not unlike a large dormitory room. Icon had told her it would be hers while she stayed at the Guardians' Headquarters, and had assured it would have everything she needed for a reasonable stay. “Not the Ritz,” he had said “But it's no Ho-Jo, either.”
Methuselah's cage, which had been brought in by Icon while politely ignoring Pinup's objections that she was more than able to carry it herself, sits on the coffee table before her. The far too cheery woman of channel 6 chirps the morning news in a manner altogether unfitting for the subject. The story was up to the minute coverage of Alexander Anderson's 8:15 press conference. A thin yellow line at the bottom of the screen scrolled highlights from the beginning of the address, to ensure people just tuning in would be well-informed about what they had missed. Approximately every 45 seconds, the same words appeared, and each time, they cut through Pinup like a hot dagger.
“Victim Sandra Walsh dies of injuries sustained in Hub attack, 8:03 AM. 4 dead in total”

Pinup glances at the clock. It is 8:45, and though Anderson continues to explain the benefits of his new team of S.T.R.I.K.E soldiers, answering questions from the eager press, she is busy counting the number of times she has been informed of Sandra Walsh's unfortunate end.

“Victim Sandra Walsh - “

Pinup chokes back a tear, as knowing the name of one of the victims makes the night playback in her head, all too real for her liking.

“4 dead in total.”

What are the chances, she thinks, that in another 10 hours, that number will be 5, or 6? A picture of Sandra Walsh, alive and well, appears in the the bottom right hand of the screen. She is young and fairly pretty, with a round face and blonde hair. Her smile eats into Pinup's heart like moths into a wool blanket, leaving it tattered and cold.

“Victim Sandra Walsh -”

Pinup wonders what the merry-looking woman was like. Where did she go to school? What was her major? Did she have a family? Did they call her Sandy?

“4 dead in total”

Unable to stomach the yellow scroll-bar anymore, Pinup turns off the television, tossing the remote onto the coffee table near Methuselah's cage. The rat pokes his nose through the bars, sniffing at the contraption curiously as Pinup stands and crosses to the bed. She collapses onto the mattress, slipping her hands underneath the pillow, propping up her head as she stares at the ceiling. Though mentally she is exhausted, she can't sleep. Rolling onto her side, she wonders if it's the serum, the coffee she had yesterday, or the news. Probably a combination of the three, though she curses the coffee under her breath. Giving up on the idea of sleep, Pinup sits up, looking around the room. Seeing very little to occupy her time, and having no desire to turn the television back on, she rises and heads for the door.

Guardian Headquarters is quiet, the halls still and a certain hush throughout the rooms that comes from the knowledge that all the residents are asleep. Pinup moves quietly through the halls, not entirely certain where she is going, but not wanting to wake any of the exhausted metas. Silently, she tours room after room, learning more about her surroundings as well as the Guardians themselves.

Everything, from the pictures on the walls to the state of the kitchen, speaks volumes about the regular inhabitants of the hideaway, and Pinup takes it all in eagerly. Eventually, she finds herself in the library. She remembers having walked through the room briefly a little earlier, and now peruses the shelves of books, reading their titles and sorting them in her head into ones she had read and liked, ones she had read and disliked, and ones she had never read. Turning her head, she sees a sliver of light shining through the closed drapes and reflecting off the polished black surface of a rather expensive-looking piano.

In the gray light of the shuttered room, Pinup crosses to the piano, tracing her fingers over the lid before lifting it, admiring the glistening keys. Pulling out the bench slightly, she positions herself in front of the keyboard, her fingers finding their places with a practiced ease. Effortlessly, her hands move, her fingers drawing warm rich notes softly up from the piano. She is careful not to play too loudly as she lets her thoughts wander away with the aimless melody. Her eyes scan the shelves of books again while her hands turn her thoughts into notes, sending them sailing into the air. Softly, she begins to hum along with the music, and gradually, the notes begin to form a steady, swaying rhythm. A tear rolls down her cheek as she plays, humming along to a song she had never heard before except in her own mind.

 

[Hound55]

Guardian Headquarters is quiet, the halls still and a certain hush throughout the rooms that comes from the knowledge that all the residents are asleep. Pinup moves quietly through the halls, not entirely certain where she is going, but not wanting to wake any of the exhausted metas. Silently, she tours room after room, learning more about her surroundings as well as the Guardians themselves.

Everything, from the pictures on the walls to the state of the kitchen, speaks volumes about the regular inhabitants of the hideaway, and Pinup takes it all in eagerly. Eventually, she finds herself in the library. She remembers having walked through the room briefly a little earlier, and now peruses the shelves of books, reading their titles and sorting them in her head into ones she had read and liked, ones she had read and disliked, and ones she had never read. Turning her head, she sees a sliver of light shining through the closed drapes and reflecting off the polished black surface of a rather expensive-looking piano.

In the gray light of the shuttered room, Pinup crosses to the piano, tracing her fingers over the lid before lifting it, admiring the glistening keys. Pulling out the bench slightly, she positions herself in front of the keyboard, her fingers finding their places with a practiced ease. Effortlessly, her hands move, her fingers drawing warm rich notes softly up from the piano. She is careful not to play too loudly as she lets her thoughts wander away with the aimless melody. Her eyes scan the shelves of books again while her hands turn her thoughts into notes, sending them sailing into the air. Softly, she begins to hum along with the music, and gradually, the notes begin to form a steady, swaying rhythm. A tear rolls down her cheek as she plays, humming along to a song she had never heard before except in her own mind.

A figure swaddled in blanket and slouched back into a sofa stirs in the darkness that is his natural element. He feels a presence in the room and then feels that presence leave.

He'd not slept a wink all night. He had doubts that he ever would in this place. Whilst Megan was able to convince him to trust Gunny, he still couldn't give all of his trust to this place and the people who paid for it. He knew and accepted that this meant they probably couldn't give him all of their trust either, but it would be a small price.

To the Vigilante, the secret of Isaac Fontaine was all he had.

Unable to sleep he'd spent all night thinking. So much so that he was lost on his own thoughts until the soft footsteps brought him back into the greater world at large. Trapped in another fight on the outside looking in. Wasn't that always the way? From stopping muggers to bringing down drug rings all the way to coming to Lost Haven and protecting it from invaders, he never seemed to fight for himself and what was his. He could justify that Cooktown was HIS town, but that didn't change the fact that it was always for others.

And how well could you really understand the fight when you're always on the outside looking in?

Still, he'd allowed himself to brood and dwell quite enough. Internalising the facts he already knew. He needed new information. Struggling to get his busted up body out of the chair that seemingly engulfed him, he crossed the floor wrapped in his blanket to turn the televison set on.

Then he heard it. Ebony and ivory, going together in perfect harmony... as Stevie Wonder once sung.

Forgetting the set he went to the door and poked his head out. Hesitating for a moment he let the blanket fall to the floor and followed the notes which hung in the cool morning air.

It was the same woman from before, seated at a large piano, still here.

Forgetting his mouthpiece wasn't fitted, he was surprised at the sound of his own voice when he broke the speechless melodious air. The words sounded as if they came from someone much younger as they flowed unaltered from the slightly cleaner balaklava.

[BLACKOUT]
"Everything alright, Ma'am?"
[/BLACKOUT]

 

[Erin]

A figure swaddled in blanket and slouched back into a sofa stirs in the darkness that is his natural element. He feels a presence in the room and then feels that presence leave.

He'd not slept a wink all night. He had doubts that he ever would in this place. Whilst Megan was able to convince him to trust Gunny, he still couldn't give all of his trust to this place and the people who paid for it. He knew and accepted that this meant they probably couldn't give him all of their trust either, but it would be a small price.

To the Vigilante, the secret of Isaac Fontaine was all he had.

Unable to sleep he'd spent all night thinking. So much so that he was lost on his own thoughts until the soft footsteps brought him back into the greater world at large. Trapped in another fight on the outside looking in. Wasn't that always the way? From stopping muggers to bringing down drug rings all the way to coming to Lost Haven and protecting it from invaders, he never seemed to fight for himself and what was his. He could justify that Cooktown was HIS town, but that didn't change the fact that it was always for others.

And how well could you really understand the fight when you're always on the outside looking in?

Still, he'd allowed himself to brood and dwell quite enough. Internalising the facts he already knew. He needed new information. Struggling to get his busted up body out of the chair that seemingly engulfed him, he crossed the floor wrapped in his blanket to turn the televison set on.

Then he heard it. Ebony and ivory, going together in perfect harmony... as Stevie Wonder once sung.

Forgetting the set he went to the door and poked his head out. Hesitating for a moment he let the blanket fall to the floor and followed the notes which hung in the cool morning air.

It was the same woman from before, seated at a large piano, still here.

Forgetting his mouthpiece wasn't fitted, he was surprised at the sound of his own voice when he broke the speechless melodious air. The words sounded as if they came from someone much younger as they flowed unaltered from the slightly cleaner balaklava.

[BLACKOUT]
"Everything alright, Ma'am?"
[/BLACKOUT]

The notes falter as Pinup jumps, startled by the sudden voice. She sniffs quickly and wipes her eyes.

“Fine, thanks.” She turns on the bench to face Vigilante, looking surprised. “Oh...” She wasn't sure who else she was expecting. She blushes at the thought of their last encounter.

“It's you...” She mutters, slightly uncomfortable. She turns back to the piano. “I'm sorry, I didn't know anyone else was awake.” She feigns casualness as she glances over her shoulder at him. “I'll stop if you want - “ She frowns, her brow furrowing as she notices Vigilante's slack left arm.

“What did you do to your arm?” She asks clinically, rising from the piano and walking around it to the window. She pulls open the shade, letting the vibrant golden light of day spill into the room.

“Come here.” She says, tying back the curtain. She glances up, seeming to see the expression beneath his mask. “I'm a nurse.” She says in a manner that implies her mind finished the explanation with “you idiot.”

 

[Hound55]

The notes falter as Pinup jumps, startled by the sudden voice. She sniffs quickly and wipes her eyes.

“Fine, thanks.” She turns on the bench to face Vigilante, looking surprised. “Oh...” She wasn't sure who else she was expecting. She blushes at the thought of their last encounter.

“It's you...” She mutters, slightly uncomfortable. She turns back to the piano. “I'm sorry, I didn't know anyone else was awake.” She feigns casualness as she glances over her shoulder at him. “I'll stop if you want - “ She frowns, her brow furrowing as she notices Vigilante's slack left arm.

“What did you do to your arm?” She asks clinically, rising from the piano and walking around it to the window. She pulls open the shade, letting the vibrant golden light of day spill into the room.

[BLACKOUT]"Ehh?"[/BLACKOUT]

Isaac looked down and saw the way his left arm was hanging.

[BLACKOUT]"Oh... I see. Don't worry about it. It's broken, not much you'll be able to do about that. I'll just wait 'til Mikey wakes up and... Ugh. It's his 'day off' isn't it?"[/BLACKOUT]

“Come here.” She says, tying back the curtain.

Isaac considered her offer while she tied back the curtains.

[BLACKOUT]"Don't worry about it, I'll be fine."[/BLACKOUT] Isaac walked around the piano, tapping the shiny surface with his index and middle fingers. [BLACKOUT]"We have one, bit bigger than this one actually, back at home. Never heard it get played though, but I couldn't imagine 'home' without it. My house, yes, but not 'home' if you can get what I'm saying."[/BLACKOUT]

She glances up, seeming to see the expression beneath his mask. “I'm a nurse.” She says in a manner that implies her mind finished the explanation with “you idiot.”

[BLACKOUT]"That may be, but down there is an infirmary..."[/BLACKOUT] Isaac started, pointing down the hall [BLACKOUT]"...filled with some of the best doctors, that tax payers can buy. I'll be fine... but if at any point I don't feel fine, I think I'll go with those people, rather than some woman who tells me she is a nurse, wondering around our HQ, who I wouldn't know from a bar of soap."[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]"...oh, and I'm sure you'd be glad to hear I'm now much more familiar with bars of soap than last we met."[/BLACKOUT] Isaac let a smile curl out of his mouth.

[BLACKOUT]"So if you want to play, play. But if you wouldn't mind telling me who in the hell you are and what you're doing here while you're doing it, that'd be greatly appreciated."[/BLACKOUT]

Slumping down in a chair he finished his thought.

[BLACKOUT]"Because someone bloody well should..."[/BLACKOUT]

 

[Erin]

[BLACKOUT]"Ehh?"[/BLACKOUT]

Isaac looked down and saw the way his left arm was hanging.

[BLACKOUT]"Oh... I see. Don't worry about it. It's broken, not much you'll be able to do about that. I'll just wait 'til Mikey wakes up and... Ugh. It's his 'day off' isn't it?"[/BLACKOUT]



Isaac considered her offer while she tied back the curtains.

[BLACKOUT]"Don't worry about it, I'll be fine."[/BLACKOUT] Isaac walked around the piano, tapping the shiny surface with his index and middle fingers. [BLACKOUT]"We have one, bit bigger than this one actually, back at home. Never heard it get played though, but I couldn't imagine 'home' without it. My house, yes, but not 'home' if you can get what I'm saying."[/BLACKOUT]



[BLACKOUT]"That may be, but down there is an infirmary..."[/BLACKOUT] Isaac started, pointing down the hall [BLACKOUT]"...filled with some of the best doctors, that tax payers can buy. I'll be fine... but if at any point I don't feel fine, I think I'll go with those people, rather than some woman who tells me she is a nurse, wondering around our HQ, who I wouldn't know from a bar of soap."[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]"...oh, and I'm sure you'd be glad to hear I'm now much more familiar with bars of soap than last we met."

[/BLACKOUT]

"Not from where I'm standing." Pinup mutters under her breath, folding her arms across her chest. From across the piano, she can still catch the faint smell of raw sewage emanating from his mask.

Isaac let a smile curl out of his mouth.

[BLACKOUT]"So if you want to play, play. But if you wouldn't mind telling me who in the hell you are and what you're doing here while you're doing it, that'd be greatly appreciated."[/BLACKOUT]

Slumping down in a chair he finished his thought.

[BLACKOUT]"Because someone bloody well should..."[/BLACKOUT]

Pinup watches him, her eyebrow arched as she feels her temper rise again.
"Fine." She says stonily as he slumps into the chair. "You want to let that go untreated, that's up to you slick." She sits down at the piano again. "You just better hope to God I know where the infirmary is when a splinter breaks off and damages an artery." She begins to play again. The music is no longer the soft, melancholic melody, but a darker, sharper rhythm.
"It would be the second one I've seen severed in the past twenty-four hours. And as for who I am," She shoots him a steady, stubborn look. "you first."

 

[Hound55]

Isaac laughs softly to himself.

"You're kidding me, there's someone else in this damn place as stubborn as me?"

[BLACKOUT]"Vigilante. I work here."[/BLACKOUT]

Thinking about it for a second he corrects himself.

[BLACKOUT]"Well, maybe work's a poor choice of words. Work suggests payment. I beat the hell out of people who deserve it and they provide me with the equipment and cover my expenses to do it."[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]
"And you, when you're not fussing over un-willing patients..?"
[/BLACKOUT]