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

[Erin]

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]

"You can call me Pinup." The edges of her mouth curl as a faint smile creeps across her features. She looks down, watching her hands tour up and down the keyboard. The melody softens, only slightly, as she continues. "To answer your question earlier: Yes. Icon did bring me here." Her head down toward the piano, she looks up at him through her lashes, trying to gauge his expression through a mask. Failing, she returns to watching her hands. "After a...misunderstanding at The Hub. As to what I do, well...I guess for the time being I help you lot."

 

[Hound55]

Isaac's neck stiffens at the mention of The Hub as he remembers the terror that crossed the faces of the evacuating patrons when he arrived at Icon's alter-ego's club.

[BLACKOUT]
"What kind of misunderstanding, exactly..?"
[/BLACKOUT]

 

[NiteMare Shape]

Isaac's neck stiffens at the mention of The Hub as he remembers the terror that crossed the faces of the evacuating patrons when he arrived at Icon's alter-ego's club.

[BLACKOUT]
"What kind of misunderstanding, exactly..?"
[/BLACKOUT]

"That's enough Vigilante." I say as I walk into the library, having initially been drawn there by the melodious notes coming from the piano, and then the tense bickering that followed.

Isaac looks at me, and even through his mask I can see his confusion.

"It wasn't her fault." I say knowing that he will undoubtedly argue the point, just like Keira had last night.

 

[Hound55]

"That's enough Vigilante." I say as I walk into the library, having initially been drawn there by the melodious notes coming from the piano, and then the tense bickering that followed.

Isaac looks at me, and even through his mask I can see his confusion.

"It wasn't her fault." I say knowing that he will undoubtedly argue the point, just like Keira had last night.

[BLACKOUT]"What's enough? What wasn't her fault?"[/BLACKOUT]

Isaac turned and looked back at Pinup who's expression showed that she'd been deeply affected somehow.

[BLACKOUT]
"Why can't I get a straight damn answer out of anybody?"
[/BLACKOUT]

 

[NiteMare Shape]

[BLACKOUT]"What's enough? What wasn't her fault?"[/BLACKOUT]

Isaac turned and looked back at Pinup who's expression showed that she'd been deeply affected somehow.

[BLACKOUT]
"Why can't I get a straight damn answer out of anybody?"
[/BLACKOUT]

Pinup opens her mouth to speak, but I cut her off. She feels guilty enough as it is over what happened, and I'm not going to let Isaac add to her problems right now. I saw how shattered she was when she learned about the extent of the damage caused by her "accident," so I decide to deal with Isaac myself.

"She accidentally cause a mass panic with her...abilities. I found her in an alley by the club a few minutes later. " I pause for a moment before adding, "3 people were killed last night, and another died this morning."

Isaac eyes me suspiciously, and I can already tell what is going through his mind. But before he can say anything, I cut him off.

"There wasn't anything she could do."

 

[Mr. Majestic]

"Sir you have been doing these test for quite some time. Don’t you believe it is safe to say you are back to normal?”

Maybe AL is right about this, not like he is ever really wrong he’s a computer program I built myself. So I know his predictions are close to accurate.

“It has been a while and since I havent been on costume I haven't had any problem controlling myself and I haven’t had any black outs since me and Icon defeater the Destroyer. It may just be time for me to return.” And of all the times, I decide to return once stuff is about to hit the fan. Talk about perfect timing.

I get up from my chair and walk over to the other side of the room to my uniform closet. As I open the door I can do nothing but look at my costume just hanging there. I haven’t put it on since me and Icon had that talk, seems like it was just yesterday.

*******​

“What is it you want to talk about Youngster?”

I have been fighting myself with this choice but I feel that it is the right one. I slowly remove my hood and mask from my face.

“I don’t think I can do this anymore.” It’s no point for me to hide behind my mask Icon already knows my identity and I want to talk to him as myself Sam Osborne not the Younger. “After what took place between me and you and the whole thing with the Destroyer I been feeling that I have been losing who I am. As you seen I wasn’t myself and I couldn’t control my actions. So because of this I think I need to be kick out of the Guardians.”

“Sam I can understand you were in a dark place but you never did cross that line, reason being because no matter what you were going through you didn’t allow yourself to go pass that point of no return.”

“Maybe so but there were so many times I felt as if I wanted to and I don’t know where those feelings were coming from.”

“Do you still feel that way now?”

“After we had beat Destroyer I have been myself but I don’t know how long it is going to last.”

“I understand. Listen how bout you take a break for a while to give yourself some time to recover mentally. You made some mistakes and I know you’re sorry for it. You’re a good hero and friend and also an important member of the team just like everyone else. Once you feel like you are ready, me and the rest of the Guardians will be waiting.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“There is nothing that needs to be said. Just do what you have to do to get well.”

*****​

After all that time I think I’m finally ready to get back on the horse. I reach in the closet and grab my Youngster outfit.

“Been a while since I wore this.” With super speed it only takes me a second to put the outfit on.

“How does it feel Sir?”

“I don’t remember it being this tight but its going have to do till I can make a new one. But now I have to go to headquarters and make it known that I’m back. With everything that is about to go down they are going to need the help.”

I then make my way out of my base walking up the stairs leading to my farm. Exiting I close the door leading down to my little base. I walk over to the side and lift up the tractor that is missing its wheels and place it over top of the door. Now that the entrance is secure I take off to Guardians headquarters.

One thing I love about having super speed it doesn’t take me long to get to my destination where ever it may be. As I head to the door before entering I enter the passcode on the electrical padlock. Walking in right away it feels like I have been gone for years, I kind of feel like a fish out of water. I start walking around the building. While walking I use my super hearing to see if everybody else is here and to my surprise I hear more voices more than I thought would be here.

All the chatting leads me to the lounge and before I reach the door I hear Icon speaking.

"She accidentally cause a mass panic with her...abilities. I found her in an alley by the club a few minutes later. " I pause for a moment before adding, "3 people were killed last night, and another died this morning."

Isaac eyes me suspiciously, and I can already tell what is going through his mind. But before he can say anything, I cut him off.

"There wasn't anything she could do."

I walk in and just stare at everyone not knowing what to say. They don’t notice me yet because they are talking about a serious matter.

“Hey everyone.” I say to grab their attention.

 

[trustyside-kick]

I wake up, and I'm starting to regret the idea of crashing in the meeting room. Back is a bit sore, and the way my neck feels makes me wish I just slept on the floor rather than this chair. So naturally I get up, try to crack my neck and stretch, however as I aim to head out of the meeting room to get some breakfast I'm greeted by someone I haven't seen for quite some time.

"I can't believe this actually has become something normal for me. And the fact that you always creep just behind me when you make your hocus pocus appearance, is rather unsettling because I'm not spooked by it."

"I suppose it is a good thing that your humor remains intact, Michael."

Turning around, and giving my body one last stretch, I walk over towards Bath Kol.

"Been some time. Guess that means that I've done something wrong again? I know that my focus should be on The Seven, but you guys couldn't really expect me to stay out of Lost Haven with what has been happening for much longer."

"First reaction, indeed, was one of caution...however Hazard was eventually taken down. On Guardians grounds. Though the purpose of this visit is not to somehow scold you for your actions as much as it is to help you with your current predicament."

"Huh?"

"Alongside the Archangels have I watched you rather closely as of late Michael. Much more than usual. Since you had been bestowed with the Helmet of the Agnus Dei. To say that I am worried with your feelings of late, would be an understatement."

I sigh, even though I should have known that I would have to address this crap again. If not someone else on the team still wanting to understand, Bath Kol or any of the Archangels which bless me at least.

"I've just felt--"

"I am more than aware, Michael. I am not here to judge you. I am here to help. You wish to be of more aid to your friends, however this day does fall on Tuesday. You wish to be in the presence of your blessings once more...and each second you wait, eats away at you."

"...Yes."

"There may be a way."

 

[sabetoonth]

​

Elijah let the cold rain come down, let it drip down his armor. He was perched on a gargoyle on a building rising above the majority of the skyline. Dinner with mom just went great. Really, it did.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
​

"Eli." She was always the only one to call him that. He used to hate it, but now, it'd been so long since he'd seen her he honestly missed it. She went in for a handshake, the last time they spoke hadnt been the most tender of occasions. But her son softly moved her hand away and gave her a hug. She'd always wanted him to be the best at what he did. And, even though in most things he had slacked, in what he'd succeeded in, he was good at it. Like his new...job. He was ruthlessly effective.

"Mom." sounding calmly happy to see her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
​

Then he hears it. A call to action for him. Broken glass and vocal distress calls from a young girl. It almost seems to call o him like a song bird. He takes off down the edge of the roof in the direction from which the sound seems to emanate. When he gets to the ledge he simply leaps off, spreading the large leathery wings which fold behind his back, seemingly disapearing when they do so. Learning to fly...oh he'd never forget that.

Three months ago:

"Come now Elijah, there are wings made by your body built so that you could fly with them protruding from your back." Grim had taken him too the room of a building downtown. A very tall building were at 2 am few people would see an old man in a black suit and over coat and a figure clad in demonic armor with a hood over his face and glowing red eyes.

He looked down at the streets below. If this didn't work he'd splat. He hesitated a minute longer and just before he was about to take a deep breath and leap. Grim Pushed him off.

He tumbled through the air, his wings not catching enough air to even slow it down. And he was screaming. Who wouldn't when falling from the top of a skyscraper and not knowing if you'd survive?

But he managed to reach a hand out and rake his claws against the building to slow him down and allow him to straighten up some. With some of that momentum still going he planted his feet, letting them slide some before pushing off and entering mid air. His legs curled under him, his arms up and prepping to catch a window seal on reflex since that'd been how he'd handled crossing the street before. His wings spread at the same time, catching wind and enough lift as they flapped he began to rise.

Meanwhile on the roof, Grim the constant observer of his pupil smiled, proud.

It wasn't as tiring as one might expect, the constant flapping to attain or maintain altitude. At first Inferno had simply maintained just over the tops of passing cars. Then he stated gaining altitude and gaining it fast. He came up the side of the building then just spread his wings, catching air in them and gliding. That was a freedom he hadn't really understood til then. This must be almost what its like for Icon to fly.

Back to Now:

The wings flap with a powerful beat and Inferno remains air born, swerving through the skyline a distance none too considerable before tucking in the wings for a free fall into the alley.

The scene as he arrived there was three men, all dressed in black caps and jackets, one wielding a knife, another a gun. The third had no visible weapon.

Their victim was a young woman, 23? 24 maybe? Was Elijah's best guess. Her dress was ripped but only just. This assault was still fresh and these goons had yet to get what they came for.

Descending on the first with a simple "death from above" most he punched the next nearest in the gut, as their friend pointed the gun Elijah grabbed his wrist, pointed it into the air, and with the other hand broke his elbow before delivering a incapacitating punch to the sternum. "Fights" like this were always too easy for Elijah and it'd began to almost feel like he was simply going through the motions night after night.

He went about immediately after, destroying the weapons. Melting the gun and knife in his hands.

The woman he'd saved from a fate unknown but more than likely unpleasant was shaking, her coat now here to be found.

"You should get out of the rain." His voice not human, a distorted sound to it, a growl underneath the words. Not that he was growling, was simply the sound of his voice when he was like this.

Her previously cowering figure was now not so scared. She was laughing. And if he was going to be honest in any retelling of this story. It was not only creepy. It was kinda scary.

"Maybe you should go home little boy." She practically floated to an upright position half sprawled against one wall of the alley where he'd found her.

'Oh boy.' He thought to himself as she seemed to float towards him. Her feet finally touching terra firma only feet from him.

One of the downed thugs moved. It was the one who had been holding the gun, who had taken a punch to the sternum and had a broken elbow. Which suddenly snapped back into place. This wasn't looking good.

He cracked his neck as he approached Elijah. "You do better than I thought kid." He stopped about the same distance from the demonic vigilante as the female had. At least Stokes thought 'she' was female. "But not at all as good as I'd heard." Sounding almost disappointing.

"And who are you?" Elijah asked.

The pretending victim answered first, "Well, my name is Lilith."

"My name's Belial." Elijah new almost instantly they were demons, not metas. It was the names, He'd heard them before connected to demons.

"What do you want?"

"Your head on a platter works fine for me." Belial, a master Illusionist, answered.

"I'm not feeling too inclined to hand it over."

"We're far more inclined to take it then." Belial moved forward and so did his partner. Elijah got ready for what could likely became a big knock down drag out fight...if he could take on two ancient demons at the same time.

 

[Nicodemus]

Noah Archer, the Awesome ACROBAT

Arc One: Long Time Coming​

Noah was to the television in what felt like moments.

Sure enough, there it was - his high school. The same faded brick buildings, harsh concrete sidewalks, and windows that made the school look more like a prison than an institute of learning. He could even see the outdated satellite sitting on top of the roof, staring up into the sky waiting for signals that would never come. Good old hell on earth school.

The cop cars were knew though. All half dozen of them. Noah swallows slowly and feels Caroline come up behind him.

"-No new reports from the police," the reporter says into the camera. "As far as the law can tell, Freddy Samson has not moved from the cafeteria, and neither have his seven hostages.

Noah groans and slumps into the nearest chair. "Freddy Samson," he said, shaking his head and putting his face in his hands. "Freddy frickin Samson."

"Who's Freddy Samson?" Caroline asks from behind him. She's still got her hot chocolate cupped in both hands and is watching the television with a slightly horrified face.

"Some crazy kid," Noah says, grinding his teeth together. "Sits in the corner all day, staring at people and pitying himself because he has no friends." He stands up, grabbing his bag and his keys as he stomps towards the door. "I have to go."

"Noah-" Caroline says, her voice strained.

"No, Caroline, just..." Noah shakes his head. "Just trust me. I have to do this."

Caroline nods slightly. Noah turns his head, and sees that she's smiling, but there are tears in her eyes. "You're a meta," she says sadly. "You're a meta, aren't you."

Noah swallows slowly. "How do you-"

Caroline cuts him off. "I'll tell you when you get back. Who are you?"

"Acrobat."

Caroline laughs slightly. "I never would've guessed. Acrobat. It...doesn't really fit you, you know, I would've thought...I would've thought a lot of things." She sighs and puts her hot chocolate down, jogging back towards the back of the house.

Noah shakes his head again and began to suit up. He could move faster jumping than he could driving, and now that he didn't have to hide it from Caroline it wouldn't be worth it to get in the car and change somewhere else.

He finishes putting on his costume just as Caroline walks back into the room, carrying something black and bulky in one hand. She seems startled by his garb but instead of saying anything, hands him the black thing. "It's a bulletproof vest," she explains. "It was gift from when my neighborhood wasn't so great...one of my uh, friends was a police officer."

Noah bites back a remark about this "friend" and instead smiles weakly. "Thanks. I guess you know I'm not bulletproof then." He takes off his jacket and shirt and puts on the vest - it's heavier than he's used to, but his mind subconsciously adjusts the weight so it feels like it isn't even there. "It's a little bulky, but it'll work," Noah says, putting his jacket and shirt back on.

"Good luck," Caroline says, and a moment later Noah's out the window, flying through the air at highway speeds.

He doesn't exactly know his way to school from Caroline's house, but jumping takes him high up, and it's easy to spot landmarks. He's at the school in ten minutes, landing on the roof without even a thump, the police officers none the wiser to his presence.

The broadcast had said Freddy was in the cafeteria, so Noah decided to check there first. He ran across the rooftop, staying low to avoid the cops' gazes, until his made it to the large skylight that marked the cafeteria.

Getting on his stomach and peering through the old glass, Noah is able to see the whole situation. Freddy is in the middle of the room, pacing wildly, waving his gun in the air like a madman. He appears to giving some sort of speech, though all Noah can hear is a few muffled words.

The hostages are stuck behind the serving table, all with their arms layed out so Freddy can easily see them. Noah scans their faces and is relieved to see that none of them are Dani or Conner - and immediately feels guilty for feeling relieved.

They're victims, he thinks to himself, taking a deep breath. It doesn't matter who they are...or who they're not.

Freddy turns to them, still ranting and raving, and Noah figures now is his best shot. He stands and presses one hand to the glass, increasing the gravity pressing down on it tenfold.

After a short screech, the glass shatters, and Noah tumbles through the air towards Freddy Samson.

Three shots are heard.

 

[Johnny Drama]

__The Phantom__

[BLACKOUT]--Episode 4: Intriguing Circumstances--
[/BLACKOUT]

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]

"Calling all cars, calling all cars, report to a 187 on 3rd and Fairbanks. Armed robbery and homicide, eyewitnesses report the shooter vanished into thin air. Repeat, the shooter vanished into thin air, all units report."


The Phantom glides through the air on his sleek black hover bike, barely noticeable amidst the black clouds that cover the skies above Lost Haven. His glowing white eyes are like shooting stars, radiating the night sky. Aproximately 15 feet away from The Phantom is a metahuman named Richie, a small time thug gifted with a silver tounge and a special ability to fly. It was 20 minutes ago that Richie robbed the 711 on the corner of 3rd and Fairbanks. It was actually the 3rd corner store in 2 nights that Richie has hit, and The Phantom has picked up his location thanks to the police dispatch airing on Hoverbikes radio.

[BLACKOUT]"Auto-Pilot ON"[/BLACKOUT] The Phantom says as he propels off the bike, which takes a sharp turn left as The Phantom glides through the air towards the fleeing Metahuman. They meet with a tackle and crash through the the window of the nearest building, the BarretTech building in downtown Lost Haven.

CRASH!!!

Office workers panic and scurry away like roaches as The Phantom and Richie crash through the window into the upper-level offices.
The Phantom gets on top of Richie and begins delivering a series of punches to the face of the Metahuman criminal. With each hit, blow after bloody blow, The Phantom turns Richie's face into a bloody mess of mush.

"S-stop, please" Richie mutters which cause The Phantom to pause.

"I am no Super-Villan man, I just needed the money" He cries before spitting up a bit of blood.

[BLACKOUT]"And I am no Super-Hero, I'm just doing my job"[/BLACKOUT] The Phantom says before pulling his pump action shot gun out of the holster on his back.

He puts the gun to Richies face, and to the shock and horror of The BarretTech employees, pulls the trigger and sprays Richies brains all over the ground

BOOM!!!

-

Meanwhile, at The Cornerstone Rehabilitation Center

"You are not drug addicts. You are real people with real problems and the moment you realize there is a difference is when you take the first step to recovery" Dr. David Schulz says to his Friday Night AA Group.

They all sit in a circle, broken people with broken lives trying to bond with another over a common disease, once they all share with one another: Addiction. Jesse Dreamer sits in the middle of the circle, anxious and nervous.

"We all have our demons, everyone has a cross to bear. But once you realize that you are in control of your demons, then you have begun to put your demons behind you. Now, we have some new faces in here tonight and I want everyone to introduce themselves, even the regulars, just so that our new guests get to know everyone. Let's start with you, Monica" Dr. Schulz says.

"My name is Monica Sheers, and I have been clean and sober for 3 months. It started with pain pills, then when I lost my husband and children in the Invasion last year I took to the pipe, then the needle. I came to Dr. Schulz for help and he has help me find the person I once was, the person I know I can be again"..." She says as everyone in the circle except Jesse begins to clap their hands.

"Jesse, Your awful quiet tonight. Please, introduce yourself to our new faces" Dr. Schulz says.

"Heh, the new faces. Allright then. My name is Jesse Dreamer, and I have been clean and sober for 2 months now. For the longest time, all that mattered to me was getting high. My drug of choice was Heroine when I could afford it, but mostly it was Meth. I didn't stop because I wanted to get better or that because I had hit rock bottom, and truth be told if it wasn't for the hallucinations I would have a pipe in my mouth right now. I came to Lost Haven to get clean, because these hallucinations, along with the powers, these new poweras I have, I thought they were just the drugs talking, the "demons" as Dr. Schulz puts it. Here is something you all may not realize, and that is that your so called "demons" aren't anything more than excuses you make for yourself to downplay the fact that your all complete f**** ups. No, I have see REAL demons, one in particular, with skin as white as the finest Cocaine money can buy, and those eyes....those glowing yellow eyes..." Jesse says.

"The Hallucinations can't hurt you anymore, Jesse...." Dr. Schulz says.

"You would think, but they have only gotten worse. I may as well start using again. Every time I look in the mirror, I see his face. I see Ultima, telling me to kill for him. At least when I was an junkie I wasn't homicidal. Truth is, if the voices in my head had his way...you would all be dead right now..." Jesse says before covering his face with hands and crying.

-

Meanwhile, back at The BarretTech building, police have the crime scene blocked off as the coroner takes pictures. An angry Jack Barret surveys he area, smoking a cigarette and scratching his head before turning around to see an approaching Joseph Barone (aka Joey Bones)

"If I knew office jobs were this exciting I would be behind a desk right now, instead of behind a badge" Detective Barone says.

"Detective Barone, Nice to see you again, although I must say I wish this meeting would have been under better circumstances." Jack says

"Oh, I would say these are rather intriguing circumstances, Mr. Barret." says Joseph

"Oh? Explain that one to me Detective?" Jack asks.

"This guy, this "Phantom" was sporting the finest in BarretTech armor, wielding a top of the line BarretTech 12xg Pumphandle Shotgun, taking off on a flying black motorcycle that I am fairly confident was Arleeaken modified with military issue BarettTech gadgetry. If I had to guess, I would say this vigilante is not only the one responsible for the missing BarretTech inventory, but I wwould also say he is responsible for the pile of dead Metahumans that are piling up in Lost Haven. I think we have your guy, Barret." Joseph says.

"Fancy that. Detective Barone, I trust that you and your men will find this Phantom and I sincerely hope you do. I can not afford the bad press that is sure to come from this." Jack says.

"I'm a cop, not a PR guy, Barret. I will do what I can to find this guy, you can trust that. Your image, well that's in your hands" Joseph says.

"Fair enough, Joseph. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a few phone calls to make." Jack says as he takes a drag from his cigarette and walks away.


"Whole worlds coming down around him and he has to make "phone calls". What's going on inside that head of yours, Barret?" Joseph asks himself.

-

Jack enters his office and immediately heads over to the table with crystal liquor bottles and glasses. He pours himself a drink of Scotch, chugging the liquor before throwing his glass at the wall, shattering it in a fit of rage. He looks over to the window and sees Ultima standing their, smiling like the rabid hyena he is.

"You should know better than to bring your work home with you, Jack" Ultima says before disappearing.

Jack heads over to the window where he saw Ultima and looks down over the city of Lost Haven.

"Say what you will Ultima. But soon enough you will pay for what you did to me. You will ALL pay..."

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

 

[trustyside-kick]

"Do you remember what it is I told you about St. Michael the Archangel?"

"Uh, about that one time Lucifer somehow was able to escape the Gates of Hell? And how he gave his life in order to make sure that this time Lucifer be sealed no matter what the circumstance regarding the Gates? That? And how the helmet I got earlier was actually his."

"Precisely. Though while the helmet was lost to us, the rest was not."

"Rest?"

I swear. These guys never tell me the full story. I get bits and pieces. Little snippets. And then down the line they decide that it's time to give me a little bit more information. Treating me like a child. What is it now?

"The Armor of God."

...what?

"What? That helmet that I put on, that gave me this recent power boost...is part of the Armor of God? The Helmet of Salvation? Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"I did not want further burden to be bestowed upon you because you had been entrusted with an item that was above your abilities. And since you are familiar with the Helmet of Salvation I trust you are aware with the rest of the armor?"

All right. Let's see. A few verses from different books make mention of the Armor of God. Ok ok. I think Ephesians brought it up. Geez, I feel like I'm being quizzed. Here goes.

"The Breastplate of Righteousness, the Shield of Faith, the Sword of the Spirit, and the Cloak of Zeal are the rest that come to mind. But how is the Armor of God supposed to help me bend the rules and get my blessings today?"

"Oh, they will not."

...what? Then what is the point of all this?!

"They will simply assist you as you parade through the realms of Hell. Given your de-powered, natural, human state. I wouldn't have you go unprotected of course. And seeing as you were worthy of the Helmet of Salvation, as the Lord's new Agnus Dei, wielding the rest of the Armor of God should be of no issue."

Oh, help me through...WHAT?

HELL?

...

...

...

"...WHAT?! Why in the hell would I be going down to Hell?"

 

[wiegeabo]

"So what happened?" Hawkes asks the person sitting across the table from him.

"Like I told the other investigators...why are you asking about this again? I thought the investigation was closed."

Hawkes looks up from the case file he's been glancing through. "You know how it is, working for the government. An investigation is never done..."

"...until everyone's ass is covered," he finishes with a small laugh.

"And my boss has a big ass. That's why I'm glad you agreed to meet me here, Special Agent Travers."

"Well, dont' let anybody say NCIS isn't always willing to help."

Hawkes points at Travers with a sly smile. "I'll be sure not to. So, this was a joint operation."

Travers nods. "That's right. NCIS and CID...I assume you have clearance?"

"You wouldn't believe the clearance level I have. How do you think I got this."

"Of course. Anyway, it was the semi-annual meeting of the Joint Chiefs with the Secretary of State, and a bunch of other bigwigs. NCIS and CID were charged with protecting them, as always."

"Go on..."

"Well, I can't explain what happened. I was on rounds outside the Secretary's mansion with two dozen other agents..."

***

It's the middle of the night. Inside, most of the guests are asleep. Although all the Joint Chiefs are in the middle of an intense game of Texas Hold'em. Although everyone knows the game is a pretense, and that's when the real work gets done.

"Travers, checking in. All clear."

"Roger, all clear."

Travers nods to no one in particular and starts walking his route again. But he doesn't get more than a couple of steps before sweat starts beading on his forehead. He suddenly feels dizzy and tries to lift his wrist to call in again, but he suddenly forgets how to get his arms to work. His knees give out, and he buckles to the ground.

Everything goes black.


***

"And you saw it happen?"

"Well, I didn't actually see Special Agent Travers fall, sir. But I came around the corner at the scheduled time and saw him convulsing on the ground."

***

Special Agent Mirole spots Travers on the ground and instantly rushes over to try to help. While running, she's yelling into her wrist-comm.

"Emergency! Travers is down. Code 2. Send medics!"

***

"So you broke protocol and went to help him."

She whithers slightly and Hawkes' look. "I know, sir. I should have stayed at my post and called it in. But I couldn't just stand there and...watch him flop around like that."

Hawkes nods. "I understand. Honestly, I might have done the same thing." She smiles slightly. "But probably not." The smile is instantly gone.

"But it seems your superiors were sympathetic for your reasoning and you just received a reprimand?"

"Yes, sir."

"And then what happened?"

"I stayed with him, Special Agent Travers, this is. Over the comms I could hear the lockdown being issued and the call for the medics and Bravo positions."

***

"Bravo positions?"

"Yes, sir," Special Agent Timmony says. "Once Special Agent Mirole put the call out, I ordered the medics to her position and had everyone else take up their secondary positions."

"Which were?"

"Inside the house, covering all the entrances. We couldn't be inside without reason because of the classified nature of any discussion that might be going on."

"I see. So, from your post in the watch room, you could see everything on camera?"

"Yes, sir."

"So you saw Special Agent Travers go down, and then Special Agent Mirole saw him and ran over to him."

"Yes, sir."

"And, how long until the medics arrived and everyone was inside the house?"

"No more than 40 seconds. 50, tops."

"And how long before Travers went down and Mirole found him?"

"32 seconds. We have that timed."

Hawkes nods again, looking at Timmony like he can see through him, although Timmony doesn't seem to notice. "So...you saw Travers go down, and then Mirole found him and made the call, and then you had everyone take their new positions."

"Exactly."

"...That's not a lot of time for someone to break in and kidnap the General."

"No, sir, it's not. Would have taken split second timing."

"...Indeed."

 

[Erin]

"That's enough Vigilante." I say as I walk into the library, having initially been drawn there by the melodious notes coming from the piano, and then the tense bickering that followed.

Isaac looks at me, and even through his mask I can see his confusion.

"It wasn't her fault." I say knowing that he will undoubtedly argue the point, just like Keira had last night.

Pinup once again stops playing when she hears the voice behind her. She doesn't turn as she sees Icon approach in her peripheral vision. Instead, she watches Vigilante's reaction nervously. Though he was enough of a member of the guardians to be familiar with the headquarters, there was definitely something very different about the Vigilante. She isn't completely sure how far she can trust him, and she is certain the feeling is mutual.

[BLACKOUT]"What's enough? What wasn't her fault?"[/BLACKOUT]

Isaac turned and looked back at Pinup who's expression showed that she'd been deeply affected somehow.

[BLACKOUT]
"Why can't I get a straight damn answer out of anybody?"
[/BLACKOUT]

Pinup opens her mouth to speak, but I cut her off. She feels guilty enough as it is over what happened, and I'm not going to let Isaac add to her problems right now. I saw how shattered she was when she learned about the extent of the damage caused by her "accident," so I decide to deal with Isaac myself.

"She accidentally cause a mass panic with her...abilities. I found her in an alley by the club a few minutes later. " I pause for a moment before adding, "3 people were killed last night, and another died this morning."

Isaac eyes me suspiciously, and I can already tell what is going through his mind. But before he can say anything, I cut him off.

"There wasn't anything she could do."

From her seat at the piano, Pinup watches the exchange between the two gentlemen. Rather, one gentleman, she figures, and one cad in a ski mask. Her eyes dart from Icon to Vigilante and back again, and she waits for Vigilante's reaction until another voice startles her. She turns, sitting sideways, her knee bent and leg resting across the bench as she turns her attention to the young man standing in the entrance to the library.

"This is turning into quite the party." She exhales a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

 

[Johnny Drama]

__The Phantom__

[BLACKOUT]--Episode 5: Bulletproof--
[/BLACKOUT]

The Phantom glides through the air on his sleek black hover bike, barely noticeable amidst the black clouds that cover the skies above Lost Haven. His glowing white eyes are like shooting stars, radiating the night sky. Approximately 15 feet away from The Phantom is a metahuman named Richie, a small time thug gifted with a silver tongue and a special ability to fly. It was 20 minutes ago that Richie robbed the 711 on the corner of 3rd and Fairbanks. It was actually the 3rd corner store in 2 nights that Richie has hit, and The Phantom has picked up his location thanks to the police dispatch airing on Hoverbikes radio.

[BLACKOUT]"Auto-Pilot ON"[/BLACKOUT] The Phantom says as he propels off the bike, which takes a sharp turn left as The Phantom glides through the air towards the fleeing Metahuman. They meet with a tackle and crash through the the window of the nearest building, the BarretTech building in downtown Lost Haven.

CRASH!!!

Office workers panic and scurry away like roaches as The Phantom and Richie crash through the window into the upper-level offices.
The Phantom gets on top of Richie and begins delivering a series of punches to the face of the Metahuman criminal. With each hit, blow after bloody blow, The Phantom turns Richie's face into a bloody mess of mush.

"S-stop, please" Richie mutters which cause The Phantom to pause.

"I am no Super-Villan man, I just needed the money" He cries before spitting up a bit of blood.

[BLACKOUT]"And I am no Super-Hero, I'm just doing my job"[/BLACKOUT] The Phantom says before pulling his pump action shot gun out of the holster on his back.

He puts the gun to Richies face, and to the shock and horror of The BarretTech employees, pulls the trigger and sprays Richies brains all over the ground

BOOM!!!

-


-

Later, The BarretTech building, police have the crime scene blocked off as the coroner takes pictures. An angry Jack Barret surveys he area, smoking a cigarette and scratching his head before turning around to see an approaching Joseph Barone (aka Joey Bones)

"If I knew office jobs were this exciting I would be behind a desk right now, instead of behind a badge" Detective Barone says.

"Detective Barone, Nice to see you again, although I must say I wish this meeting would have been under better circumstances." Jack says

"Oh, I would say these are rather intriguing circumstances, Mr. Barret." says Joseph

"Oh? Explain that one to me Detective?" Jack asks.

"This guy, this "Phantom" was sporting the finest in BarretTech armor, wielding a top of the line BarretTech 12xg Pumphandle Shotgun, taking off on a flying black motorcycle that I am fairly confident was Arleeaken modified with military issue BarettTech gadgetry. If I had to guess, I would say this vigilante is not only the one responsible for the missing BarretTech inventory, but I wwould also say he is responsible for the pile of dead Metahumans that are piling up in Lost Haven. I think we have your guy, Barret." Joseph says.

"Fancy that. Detective Barone, I trust that you and your men will find this Phantom and I sincerely hope you do. I can not afford the bad press that is sure to come from this." Jack says.

"I'm a cop, not a PR guy, Barret. I will do what I can to find this guy, you can trust that. Your image, well that's in your hands" Joseph says.

"Fair enough, Joseph. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a few phone calls to make." Jack says as he takes a drag from his cigarette and walks away.


"Whole worlds coming down around him and he has to make "phone calls". What's going on inside that head of yours, Barret?" Joseph asks himself.

-

Jack enters his office and immediately heads over to the table with crystal liquor bottles and glasses. He pours himself a drink of Scotch, chugging the liquor before throwing his glass at the wall, shattering it in a fit of rage. He looks over to the window and sees Ultima standing their, smiling like the rabid hyena he is.

"You should know better than to bring your work home with you, Jack" Ultima says before disappearing.

Jack heads over to the window where he saw Ultima and looks down over the city of Lost Haven.

"Say what you will Ultima. But soon enough you will pay for what you did to me. You will ALL pay..."

The Lost Haven Strip, where all the popular clubs are located, is always a busy area, lively and colorful, full of life. However, the mood is different tonight. It was only last night that Icon found Pinup in an alleyway behind the clubs, and it's only been 30 minutes since The Phantom killed a metahuman criminal named Richie Perkins. It would seem that The Phantom is not done with his work and has another Metahuman on his list: Pinup.

The Phantom sits atop Club Sky, surveying the area a bit before pulling out some state of the art BarretTech binoculars and scoping the city.

[BLACKOUT]"The one they call Pinup is next. God willing I find her and make her pay for her actions. Not as if I have a choice. I am doing my job, and whether or not she killed those people, she would still be on that list. All she did was shoot her way to the top of it."[/BLACKOUT]

"My scanners indicate that her presence is no longer here, Sir. By my estimate, she hasn't been here in nearly 24 hours." Says a robotic voice from the speakers inside The Phantoms mask.

[BLACKOUT]"And you say it was Icon who found her, C.H.I.P? "[/BLACKOUT] The Phantom asks.

"Based on the clubs back alley security cameras I have hacked into, I have determined that the man who came to her aid was none other than the man you seek." Says C.H.I.P

C.H.I.P (Cybernetic Humanoid Intelligence Prototype) is The Phantoms trusty sidekick, a sidekick who isn't there physically but rather, an advanced Computing system that aids The Phantom. Imagine that your cars GPS was smarter than you and could hack into any computer on the planet. That's C.H.I.P. He communicates with the Phantom through his cowls internal speaker system.

[BLACKOUT]"Well then. I'll play my odds and hope they come back here. Looks like we have a steak out, C.H.I.P."[/BLACKOUT]

Meanwhile, at The Cornerstone Rehabilitation Center

"You are not drug addicts. You are real people with real problems and the moment you realize there is a difference is when you take the first step to recovery" Dr. David Schulz says to his Friday Night AA Group.

They all sit in a circle, broken people with broken lives trying to bond with another over a common disease, once they all share with one another: Addiction. Jesse Dreamer sits in the middle of the circle, anxious and nervous.

"We all have our demons, everyone has a cross to bear. But once you realize that you are in control of your demons, then you have begun to put your demons behind you. Now, we have some new faces in here tonight and I want everyone to introduce themselves, even the regulars, just so that our new guests get to know everyone. Let's start with you, Monica" Dr. Schulz says.

"My name is Monica Sheers, and I have been clean and sober for 3 months. It started with pain pills, then when I lost my husband and children in the Invasion last year I took to the pipe, then the needle. I came to Dr. Schulz for help and he has help me find the person I once was, the person I know I can be again"..." She says as everyone in the circle except Jesse begins to clap their hands.

"Jesse, Your awful quiet tonight. Please, introduce yourself to our new faces" Dr. Schulz says.

"Heh, the new faces. Allright then. My name is Jesse Dreamer, and I have been clean and sober for 2 months now. For the longest time, all that mattered to me was getting high. My drug of choice was Heroine when I could afford it, but mostly it was Meth. I didn't stop because I wanted to get better or that because I had hit rock bottom, and truth be told if it wasn't for the hallucinations I would have a pipe in my mouth right now. I came to Lost Haven to get clean, because these hallucinations, along with the powers, these new powers I have, I thought they were just the drugs talking, the "demons" as Dr. Schulz puts it. Here is something you all may not realize, and that is that your so called "demons" aren't anything more than excuses you make for yourself to downplay the fact that your all complete f**** ups. No, I have see REAL demons, one in particular, with skin as white as the finest Cocaine money can buy, and those eyes....those glowing yellow eyes..." Jesse says.

"The Hallucinations can't hurt you anymore, Jesse...." Dr. Schulz says.

"You would think, but they have only gotten worse. I may as well start using again. Every time I look in the mirror, I see his face. I see Ultima, telling me to kill for him. At least when I was an junkie I wasn't homicidal. Truth is, if the voices in my head had his way...you would all be dead right now..." Jesse says before covering his face with hands and crying.

Back at The Cornerstone Rehabilitation Center

"It's okay, Jesse. Just breath, you are no killer, you are just going through the withdraws of lacking your Methamphetamine. Your a good kid, Jesse. The fact that you are even here means that you are trying to better yourself." Dr. Schulz says.

"Kill them, Jesse." Ultima says, appearing behind Dr. Schulz.

"You don't see him!?!" Jesse asks as he stands up and steps back in a panic.

"See who?" Asks one of the members in the circle.

"Ultima!!!" Jesse yells as pulls a gun out of his jacket and aims it directly at Dr. Sculz, who is standing in front of Ultima. Everyone else in the room panics, as none of them see Ultima , who is now standing in front of Dr. Schulz. All they see is Jesse wiuth his gun drawn toward the doctor.

"You can't kill me Jesse, unless you kill yourself. You gonna kill yourself, Jesse?"

"I'm not you, I'm not Ultima!!!"

"Your not Ultima, Jesse, just please...put down the gun!" Dr Schulz begs.

"You don't have the balls to shoot me, Jesse. Pull the trigger. I dare you."

BAM BAM BAM!!!

Everyone in the circle panics and runs off in the direction of the door as Jesse puts 3 bullets into the skull of Dr. Schulz.

 

[Hound55]

Pinup once again stops playing when she hears the voice behind her. She doesn't turn as she sees Icon approach in her peripheral vision. Instead, she watches Vigilante's reaction nervously. Though he was enough of a member of the guardians to be familiar with the headquarters, there was definitely something very different about the Vigilante. She isn't completely sure how far she can trust him, and she is certain the feeling is mutual.

[BLACKOUT]"What's enough? What wasn't her fault?"[/BLACKOUT]

Isaac turned and looked back at Pinup who's expression showed that she'd been deeply affected somehow.

[BLACKOUT]
"Why can't I get a straight damn answer out of anybody?"
[/BLACKOUT]

Pinup opens her mouth to speak, but I cut her off. She feels guilty enough as it is over what happened, and I'm not going to let Isaac add to her problems right now. I saw how shattered she was when she learned about the extent of the damage caused by her "accident," so I decide to deal with Isaac myself.

"She accidentally cause a mass panic with her...abilities. I found her in an alley by the club a few minutes later. " I pause for a moment before adding, "3 people were killed last night, and another died this morning."

Isaac eyes me suspiciously, and I can already tell what is going through his mind. But before he can say anything, I cut him off.

"There wasn't anything she could do."

From her seat at the piano, Pinup watches the exchange between the two gentlemen. Rather, one gentleman, she figures, and one cad in a ski mask. Her eyes dart from Icon to Vigilante and back again, and she waits for Vigilante's reaction until another voice startles her. She turns, sitting sideways, her knee bent and leg resting across the bench as she turns her attention to the young man standing in the entrance to the library.

I walk in and just stare at everyone not knowing what to say. They don’t notice me yet because they are talking about a serious matter.

“Hey everyone.” I say to grab their attention.

"This is turning into quite the party." She exhales a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

"Ah hell... This complicates things." Isaac thought to himself as he saw the Youngster once more.

He'd left without a word to Isaac in a highly combustible style from what he could get out of Icon. So how was he now? Regardless, they could use all the people they could get and...

Is that why she's here?

Icon squinted and looked up at Icon, almost trying to see through his eyes. "Why in the hell is she here? Is it because you think we need all the help we can get? Or because of that blind, naive sense of chivalry you cling to? Or is it something else entirely..?" The pause was weighty, uncomfortable, and he realised that with with Youngster's lay-off this uncomfortable moment was probably the last thing in the group's interests as a whole. "There's no time for this to be drawn out... Surely Icon can sense the same."

Eyeing Icon with a stone cold gaze, [BLACKOUT]"I don't know what the hell I'm thinking with this, but..."[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]"Limited access. We've had no time to check her out..."[/BLACKOUT] turning back to Pinup [BLACKOUT]"...so to speak..."[/BLACKOUT] before turning back to Icon. [BLACKOUT]"She gets no access to systems, can't have a weapon within these walls and I want someone else with her at all times. I get that she needs help, but we can't afford the security lapse. Especially not right now."[/BLACKOUT]

Turning back to Pinup again he added weight to his statement [BLACKOUT]"And if I find you in my room or a restricted area, you'll wake up on the curb outside the building."[/BLACKOUT] The lady screwed her face-up, the smell of his mask still assaulting her senses. Isaac turned away and stopped.

"No don't..."

He turned back.

"Not a good idea... But it needs to be said... No it doesn't, just let it go... No, screw that..."

[BLACKOUT]"And yeah, I probably still stink."[/BLACKOUT]

"Ah s***..."

[BLACKOUT]"But last night I was out there cleaning up what was apparently your mess. Pulling twisted bodies out of my friend's nightclub, before hordes of S.T.R.I.K.E agents chased me into a sewer system where I spent all night crawling around in filth trying to figure out how in the hell I was going to get back here."[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]"I've had a shower, but it's clearly not enough. So just remember that if I stink, it's because I'm covered in your bulls***..."[/BLACKOUT]

Isaac took advantage of Icon's stunned gape by quickly turning away and addressing his returned teammate, putting his arm around his shoulder and leading him out of the room. Funny, Icon was pretty used to his abrupt crass self, but he still managed to shock him.

[BLACKOUT]"So how's things kid, long time no hear from. Wanna grab some breakfast? What've you been doing with yourself?"[/BLACKOUT]

"I'm gonna hear about this... Whoo-boy am I going to hear about this... But if I know Icon half as well as I think I know him, he's going to be too busy making sure she's OK to go chewing me out... at least for the time being. 'Til then, Good luck putting out my fires."

 

[Erin]

"There's no time for this to be drawn out... Surely Icon can sense the same."

Eyeing Icon with a stone cold gaze, [BLACKOUT]"I don't know what the hell I'm thinking with this, but..."[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]"Limited access. We've had no time to check her out..."[/BLACKOUT] turning back to Pinup [BLACKOUT]"...so to speak..."[/BLACKOUT]

Pinup folds her arms over her chest, as though trying to cover herself once again. She flushes red as she glares at Vigilante.

[BLACKOUT]"She gets no access to systems, can't have a weapon within these walls and I want someone else with her at all times. I get that she needs help, but we can't afford the security lapse. Especially not right now."[/BLACKOUT]

“Look, kid, I'm not the one who needs a babysitter here when you- “ Pinup begins, but her retort is in vain. Vigilante continues, speaking over her protests as though he doesn't even hear her.

Turning back to Pinup again he added weight to his statement [BLACKOUT]"And if I find you in my room or a restricted area, you'll wake up on the curb outside the building."[/BLACKOUT]

“Oh, you can be confident your room is the last place I'd ever be.” She snaps after Vigilante as he turns his back. The reek of his mask still hangs in the air, and coupled with his current behavior and the memory of their first meeting, Pinup can't help but look disgusted.

Isaac turned away and stopped.

"No don't..."

He turned back.

"Not a good idea... But it needs to be said... No it doesn't, just let it go... No, screw that..."

[BLACKOUT]"And yeah, I probably still stink."[/BLACKOUT]

"Ah s***..."

[BLACKOUT]"But last night I was out there cleaning up what was apparently your mess. Pulling twisted bodies out of my friend's nightclub, before hordes of S.T.R.I.K.E agents chased me into a sewer system where I spent all night crawling around in filth trying to figure out how in the hell I was going to get back here."[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]"I've had a shower, but it's clearly not enough. So just remember that if I stink, it's because I'm covered in your bulls***..."[/BLACKOUT]

Isaac took advantage of Icon's stunned gape by quickly turning away and addressing his returned teammate, putting his arm around his shoulder and leading him out of the room. Funny, Icon was pretty used to his abrupt crass self, but he still managed to shock him.

[BLACKOUT]"So how's things kid, long time no hear from. Wanna grab some breakfast? What've you been doing with yourself?"[/BLACKOUT]

"I'm gonna hear about this... Whoo-boy am I going to hear about this... But if I know Icon half as well as I think I know him, he's going to be too busy making sure she's OK to go chewing me out... at least for the time being. 'Til then, Good luck putting out my fires."

Pinup stares at Vigilante, struck dumb by his outburst. Hurt gives way to rage as she watches him cavalierly exit, his arm around the newcomer. She glares at him, her blood boiling in her veins. Quickly, she locks on to his psyche. A black shadow forms on the floor, just outside the doorway. In an instant, the shadow morphs into the sleek, muscular body of taipan. Shining scales reflect as the snake coils, its small black eyes gleaming and its tongue flicking. The snake slides smoothly over the floor and silently out of sight around the corner. Pinup watches the two exit, rounding the corner, placing Isaac almost directly on top of the reptile. She waits to hear a reaction. When she does, she quickly breaks the connection with Vigilante's psyche, rendering the taipan nothing more than a harmless trick of the light.

It is a little victory, and Pinup finds herself taking no real pleasure in it, though she feels she wasn't entirely unjustified. Vigilante's words pierced deeper than the fangs of a harmless shadow-snake, leaving him the real victor in the argument.

“There's nothing for it.” She thinks. “I hate him.”

 

[trustyside-kick]

"They will simply assist you as you parade through the realms of Hell. Given your de-powered, natural, human state. I wouldn't have you go unprotected of course. And seeing as you were worthy of the Helmet of Salvation, as the Lord's new Agnus Dei, wielding the rest of the Armor of God should be of no issue."

Oh, help me through...WHAT?

HELL?

...

...

...

"...WHAT?! Why in the hell would I be going down to Hell?"

Before Bath Kol can respond, I can hear some chatter going on outside in the hallway. The steps are getting louder as what sounds like two people talk and soon I can make out the two female voices. Crap.

"Uh oh. You gotta go. Vanish. Vamoose."

"But Michael, the Armor of--"

"Yea yea, I know! Apparently I need to use the Armor of God to go to Hell for some reason. We can talk about that later. The last thing I need is Flux and Starlight walking into the meeting room and seeing a 7 foot angel with me! What we were talking about would eventually come up and I'm still grasping the concept without having to potentially worry my teammates."

"Very well. I will appear when the timing appears to be good."

"Ya ya, you do that. Just go they are already--"

"Michael?"

"We...heard some shouting going on. Everything cool?"

...here. But as I turn to my side, Bath Kol has already vanished. Whew. That was a close one.

"Uh yea yea. Sorry. Bad..."

Don't say dream. Don't say dream. That's only going to get you to lead to what you're thinking eventually if and when they ask about it. Then like the idiot you are, you will eventually spill the beans about this whole Hell thing prematurely.

"...dream."

You freakin' moron. Really...that hard to think of a different word?

"Oh. Well uh...ok. We were going to get some breakfast you wanna come with?"

"Sure. I'll be there in a sec."

Starlight leaves, but Flux remains. Dangit. Why did she have to stay behind? She's a nice girl and all but...she's an empath...she can practically read my emotions like a book given her power set.

Think about food!

Your favorite food!

Empanadas, a slice of pizza from Amazing Joe's, uh...brownies...

Get that mood up! Happy thoughts! No scary and confusing feelings about why the hell you might be taking a trip down to Hell!

"Cupcakes."

"...Huh?"

Dumbass.

Although she giggles. That...could be a good sign. Just go with it!

"I know it isn't particularly a nutritious or anything, but I could really go for some cupcakes right now."

She blushes as I walk up to her for us to head to the kitchen for breakfast.

"Hmm, I'm not sure if we have any. But if you'd like, I can try to make some for you. Though I've...never tried to bake cupcakes before. My time on this planet hasn't consisted of much skills in the culinary arts. But it can't be that hard, can it? Do you know how?"

"The last time I tried to make anything, the fire department came and broke down my old apartment door thinking it was something serious. That's when I learned my lesson: don't try to make scrambled eggs ever again. Just go to Denny's."

Another smile as we walk out of the meeting room together and I know that I've done the trick. Now I've just gotta keep my mood consistent and no one will expect a thing.

 

[NiteMare Shape]

Pinup folds her arms over her chest, as though trying to cover herself once again. She flushes red as she glares at Vigilante.



“Look, kid, I'm not the one who needs a babysitter here when you- “ Pinup begins, but her retort is in vain. Vigilante continues, speaking over her protests as though he doesn't even hear her.




“Oh, you can be confident your room is the last place I'd ever be.” She snaps after Vigilante as he turns his back. The reek of his mask still hangs in the air, and coupled with his current behavior and the memory of their first meeting, Pinup can't help but look disgusted.



Pinup stares at Vigilante, struck dumb by his outburst. Hurt gives way to rage as she watches him cavalierly exit, his arm around the newcomer. She glares at him, her blood boiling in her veins. Quickly, she locks on to his psyche. A black shadow forms on the floor, just outside the doorway. In an instant, the shadow morphs into the sleek, muscular body of taipan. Shining scales reflect as the snake coils, its small black eyes gleaming and its tongue flicking. The snake slides smoothly over the floor and silently out of sight around the corner. Pinup watches the two exit, rounding the corner, placing Isaac almost directly on top of the reptile. She waits to hear a reaction. When she does, she quickly breaks the connection with Vigilante's psyche, rendering the taipan nothing more than a harmless trick of the light.

It is a little victory, and Pinup finds herself taking no real pleasure in it, though she feels she wasn't entirely unjustified. Vigilante's words pierced deeper than the fangs of a harmless shadow-snake, leaving him the real victor in the argument.

“There's nothing for it.” She thinks. “I hate him.”

I watch Isaac and Sam leave, and for a split second, I think I see something follow them out of the room.I shake it off and look to Pinup who is clearly shaken by Isaac's verbal attack.

"Hey, don't take it personally...he's always like that." I say, even though I can clearly see that she has indeed taken it personally. The mixture of anger and hurt unmistakable on her face. I reach out and put my hand on her shoulder, and as I do so she kind of shruggs me off as she takes several steps away.

"Are you okay?"

 

[Erin]

I watch Isaac and Sam leave, and for a split second, I think I see something follow them out of the room.I shake it off and look to Pinup who is clearly shaken by Isaac's verbal attack.

"Hey, don't take it personally...he's always like that." I say, even though I can clearly see that she has indeed taken it personally. The mixture of anger and hurt unmistakable on her face. I reach out and put my hand on her shoulder, and as I do so she kind of shruggs me off as she takes several steps away.

"Are you okay?"

Still seething, Pinup takes a deep breath, letting it go in a quick exhale, trying to calm herself down.
“I'm fine.” She flashes a brilliant, if forced, smile. “Sorry if we woke you... I don't suppose anyone has gotten much sleep now.”

I follow her with my eyes as she moves about the room, and I can see that Isaac had gotten to her more than she would like to admit. But I don't force the issue.
“It's alright, I couldn't sleep... in fact, I can never sleep when I'm here. I prefer my apartment to this place. It just seems so...”

“I know what you mean.” Pinup nods, smirking. She walks around the piano, finally settling herself at the bench again. She talks as she once again opens the lid. “Unfortunately, I can't go back to my apartment, so... for now, I guess this is home sweet home.” She looks up at him as her fingers strike hearty chords, releasing a few bars that seem to sing “be it ever so humble” without the help of human voices.

I walk over and stand behind her as she strokes the keys of the piano.
“You're more than welcome to stay as long as you need to...regardless of what Vigilante says.” I pause a moment before adding, “He's really not all that bad, you just need to get used to him.”

Pinup chuckles to herself as she begins playing aimless melodies again. “If I haven't gotten used to his type by now, I don't hold out much hope.” She tilts her head. “Why don't you sit down? You're makin' me nervous back there.” She says good-naturedly, eager to forget the morning's blowout and move on.

I take her cue and sit down beside her as she continues playing. I listen to her play for several moments, the tunes she plays have no real rhyme or reason, and in fact seem to be somewhat whimsical. After several beats, I finally speak up again.
“But we have a serious problem... your friend, Dr. Kennedy.”

Pinup frowns, staring down at her hands as she thinks.
“Well...” She says at length, her fingers slow as she turns things over in her mind. Eventually, she stops playing. “There's nothing to be done about Walter now...” She shrugs helplessly. “What could we do? Rush into the S.T.R.I.K.E labs and get him out? He went there voluntarily. Anderson is looking for reasons to hate us, and we don't need to give him 'kidnapping'.” She traces her fingers noiselessly over the keys. “So I don't know... I mean...yes, we do have a serious problem.” She turns her head up to look him in the eye, “But I don't know what we can do about it.”

I maintain eye contact with her as I ask “Is there anything else we need to know about the research he was doing?”

Pinup thinks hard, trying to remember anything that could be of use to him. “Nothing I haven't told you, except...” She bites her lip and looks away, unsure if Icon really grasps the severity of the situation. “Except that Walter and I were looking for a way to reverse my transformation. If Walter's found what causes meta powers,” She looks back to Icon. “It's only a matter of time before S.T.R.I.K.E can reverse engineer it. We may have bigger problems than S.T.R.I.K.E-made metas...” She swallows, finding it difficult to face him, but refusing to look away, "They could take all our powers away.”

 

[swarm]

Swarm saw the van and a great sussuration passed through him. The body was abandoned . " Into the ducting said swarm "
A great buzzing went up and he flew up the multistorey building in through the hole the scouts had found earlier . Bunched up and together in the duct he had time to think . Tomorrow he would watch whichever executive opened the safe and take the data tags then . He could then get into all thier computers and scrape the discs clean removing any trace of the formula .
Down on the ground the screaming started , and a few minutes later the police arrived

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Dylan strolls out of the courthouse with John & Melaine Mathieson having successfully defended Mathesion Industries from a potential 300 million dollar lawsuit brought on by former employees who were claming their factory was unsafe.

The gathered reporters begin yelling questions as Dylan and his clients try to leave the courthouse. They get to the Mathiesons Limo but the reporters keep up their pursuit.

Dylan looks at the Mathiesons and says, "The only way to get rid of these vultures is to throw them something just give me a minute."

Dylan says to the media, "Ladies and Gentlemen my clients have been through a difficult and stressful time dealing with this completely outrageous and now in the eyes of the court baseless lawsuit. They just wish to go home and get rest and continue being faithful stewards of this city and our country. I ask that you respect their privacy at this time and I will take any and all questions as long as my clients are allowed to leave."

Dylan taps on the roof of the Limo as the driver gets out and ushers the Matheisons into the Limo.

Dylan says into the Limo, "I'll call you later."

He says to the driver, "Get out of here."

The Limo drives away.

Ahh finally now it is time to accept the glory and praise rightfully due to me.

Dylan turns on the charm, chrisma and style. The gathered media doesn't even think of asking him any difficult questions but are rathered enthralled with him and his charming nature.

Dylan then gets to his Blue Lambourghni and drives off. He calls Katy on his car phone who tells him Senator Daniels is out of town until next week.

He hangs up the phone and cuts on the radio. Dylan hears reports of the S.T.R.I.K.E news conference.

Dylan is impressed with Anderson. Not only his plans but listening to him he hears someone who feels the same way he does about the Heroes.

Sounds like someone I should meet with.


Dylan calls Katy and has her cancel the rest of his appointments.

I think I'm forming several plans now and S.T.R.I.K.E certainly can help me accomplish them. As long as I get my cut.

He begins to smirk.

 

[Nicodemus]

Noah Archer, the Awesome ACROBAT

Arc One: Long Time Coming​

I tumble through the air screaming like a madman, all the while thinking what a horrible idea this is.

My body crashes into Freddy's, and as he collapse to the floor his gun goes off - there's a flash of fear, but no pain or even feeling, so I'm willing to bet he missed me.

His gun goes off again, a sharp, violent crack, and now I'm not even scared - I'm full blown terrified. But the terror must be doing funny stuff to the chemicals in my brain, because all I can feel is angry. I cock my arm back, and my hand balls up into a fist - a fist that quickly buries itself in Freddy's nose.

Freddy screeches - God, he sounds like a little girl - and I hit him again, manipulating the gravity around my fist so that it hits harder and hurts more. There's a sickening crack of bone, but I'm not entirely sure whether it's his face or my hand, because there's so much adrenaline rushing though me I don't think I would've been able to feel my sensitive areas being shoved through a woodchucker.

Just to be sure, I hit him again, and he stops struggling, slumping to the ground as I untangle myself from him and stand up. He's not even moaning - just lying there, head at an awkward angle. I look around the room triumphantly, expecting to see the grateful faces of the people I'd saved...but all I can see is horror.

Then I see it. A little girl - she was one of the hostages. She's not moving, even though an older woman, presumably her mother, is shaking her and sobbing hysterically. Her throat is ripped open, and I can see the bullet in the wall behind her.

"That..." I mutter, stumbling back. "That's..." He hadn't even had a chance to fire his gun.

Except he had. Several times. He was aiming for me at the time, but one of those shots could've gone wild, especially when I crashed into him. One of those shots could've hit and killed that little girl.

"Oh my God."

And then I leap away.

Back through the broken skylight, into the open air. The cops see me, and shout, and point, but none fire. They would never have hit me anyway - I'm moving far too fast. I come down on top of building and leap again, this jump carrying me high, high, high into the air, so high I actually start to shiver a little - though whether they were from the cold or the terror I don't know.

I had just killed a little girl.

Some superhero I was.

 

[wiegeabo]

"Hey, Doc," Hawkes says.

The Doctor looks up from her microscope to see Hawkes sitting on the counter next to it.

"Hello, Bobby. Please try not to contaminate my samples."

"Hmm?" He looks behind him and notices a number of liquid fill test tubes behind him. "Oh, right. Not a problem. Got a second, Doc?"

"Actually, I don't." She leans back down to peer through the scope. "I'm quite busy, trying to isolate this compound, so if you don't mind..."

"Working on something for Cole?"

"No, Bobby. You know very well that Agent Broiles-"

"Director Broiles."

She leans back to look at him. "...Director Broiles assigned me off of the I-Man project because he wanted his own people on it."

"So what are you working on now?"

"That's classified."

"Oh. Well, in that case." He drops the folder he's been holding onto her lap. "I need you to take a look at this."

She puts on a show of huffing and annoyance, but he can tell she's secretly excited at a mystery. She can't help but look inside and starts reading

"This bloodwork is...odd."

"Odd how?"

"It's incomplete for one thing. And there's no explanation for some of these numbers."

"Numbers?" Hawke's glances at the paper she's reading, but only sees scientific gobbledygook.

"They're just...off. It's very odd. Where did this come from?"

"Conclusion?" Hawkes asks, avoiding the question.

"I can't make one just from this."

Hawkes reaches into his jacket and pulls out a vial filled with blood.

"Run this."

The Doctor takes the vial. "Where'd you get this? What's this all about?"

"I'm running my own investigation on the investigation."

She looks at the vial. "Ok."

 

[trustyside-kick]

Lost Haven
The Guardians HQ
The Kitchen

Flux and I enter the kitchen together, and Starlight is already getting stuff prepared. She's got the pancake mix out, the pan lightly heated with some butter melting away on it, and I haven't been so excited in a while. Been a while since I had a home cooked breakfast. On the counter lie already a few pancakes.

"So, we're having pancakes? Sweet. Glad to know someone can make use of this place."

She smirks, puts down the whisk and the pancake mix in the bowl, and walks over to the pantry. I take a seat at the counter, Flux as well, and am as giddy as a school buy wondering what Starlight is grabbing. Walking back with a box of cereal in her hands, she places it in front of me and I already know where this is going.

"Oh, Flux and I are having pancakes. You can have cereal."

"I, er, uh..."

"He didn't mean it like that. Haha. He was just telling me how bad he was at trying to make something as simple as scrambled eggs."

I turn to Starlight, dumb smirk on my face and raising my hand up like I'm about to take an oath.

"Scout's honor."

One of Starlight's hands still resting on the counter as the other is holding the cereal backs, she taps a finger, determining the fate of my appetite, and I try to give her the puppy dog eyes. Won't know if that worked because Flux eventually giggles as she walks to Starlight's side and pats her on the shoulder, winning her over. She takes the cereal box from her, walks over to the pantry to put it away, and as Flux walks back to the counter, Starlight goes over to the bowl of pancake mix.

"Did you still want cupcakes, Michael?"

"Huh, what?"

She looks at me, blushing, and it's like I've never spoken before as I forget that the reason she asked is because while I was busy trying to get my mind off of--oh know you don't--I thought of food and cupcakes.

"Oh, no. That's ok. Pancakes will be plenty. So, uh, you ladies seem close. And, Starlight, I wanna apologize for...well, the first time you met me I was kinda 'hi and bye' and barely acknowledged your presence when Icon took you in. So, uh, sorry."

"It's cool. And, yea, after that Icon took me over to Flux's place in San Diego. She's been helping me with controlling my powers."

"Good stuff. Wish I had someone when I was grasping all I can do. Probably wouldn't had almost singed my eyebrows the first time I manipulated fire..."

"She has such a fun gift! She can manipulate light! It's so pretty sometimes..."

"Heh, pretty until I make real use of it."

"So...where exactly did you come from anyway?"

There is a dead silence, and Starlight was about to pour some batter into the pan but stops, pauses for a moment, tilts her head down, and puts the bowl to the side. Before I can do something stupid like talk again Flux walks up to me, gesturing me in a way that tells me it is a soft subject and walks over to Starlight. She whispers something that I don't make out, and I make sure to apologize.

"Sorry, I didn't--"

"It's ok."

There's an awkward silence, and Flux is still by Starlight's side over by the stove. She takes the bowl from Starlight's hands, and starts to pour the batter into the pan.

"Tell you what, how about I finish this up and you just take a rest in your room? I'll bring your plate over to you."

Starlight nods, looks over at me, and as we both trade the awkward smiles as she dismisses herself, I bury my head in my arms as I lean forward at the counter. You used to be such a smooth one with the ladies, dude. Or...maybe only Grace 'got you', perhaps?

"Umm...Michael?"

"...Yea? Oh!"

As I look up, I see Flux trying to flip the pancake, having trouble trying to do so, and quickly get up and around the counter to help her at the stove. Holding the spatula together, I help her flip the pancake and it only makes a minor mess...compared to what could have happened. We trade an awkward smile, much unlike the one I exchanged with Starlight as as Flux blushes I'm sure I do as well, and I take the bowl with the remaining mix and stir the whisk for the next one.

"Looks like you aren't as bad at this as you thought."

"Yea, while you definitely are, heh."

"Starlight...she...well, it took her nearly two weeks to start to open up to me about anything that happened before Icon found her. And even then, it's been pretty limited. We've focused mainly on her powers to be honest. So don't take it personal. She doesn't dislike you or anything? I mean, who does?"

"I'm not that likable. I'm no Icon. He's our leader. Without him there would be no Guardians. The glue that keeps the group together. A true hero. Me, I'm just...sometimes useful when I'm not playing the performing monkey with Matt as my P.I.C."

"P.I.C.?"

"Oh, sorry...Partner-In-Crime."

She giggles, and not quite sure why. Then again, it's lingo that I and everyday people are used to. Maybe it's because she's alien?

"I think you are too hard on yourself, Michael. From where I'm standing, I think, actually, that if you just allow yourself to, you will one day surprise even yourself with what you can accomplish."

I stop stirring and place the bowl down, flip over the now ready pancake and place it on a plate, and then pour the batter into the pan for the next one. I almost make a mess pouring it in as the entire time our eyes are fixated on each other. Then there is an awkward moment as there always seems to be one lately, and I lower the amount of gas on the stove to let this one sit there a little bit longer than the rest.

"...if you were in my position, unable to do a thing until tomorrow, fully knowing that S.T.R.I.K.E. is still out there and could make their next move at any minute...and you found out that there was a chance that you could in fact do something about it...would you do it?"

"Of course. I made it my duty to be a part of this team in a time of great need. And this team...this city...needs me."

"Thing is..."

I feel the desire to be fully honest with her, but while I am willing to tell her what appears to be the bigger picture here with my dilemma...I fail to mention the fact that part of this is selfish on my part as I am having trouble, for the first time, dealing with not being in the presence of my blessings.

"The thing is it would require me to go down into Hell."

"Ah. That would be scary."

"You know what Hell is?"

"I've read about the belief systems of your planet, and understand the concept. Seeing as you are what you are, the plane of existence must be real."

"I...well I first of course felt scared straight at the idea. Thing is, I still have yet to hear the full details of how I'd be getting there and even the purpose. Still don't understand how this will aid me but..."

"Listen to your heart. Let it and your Faith guide you. That is what sort of...empowers you, right?"

Thing is, this feeling of withdrawals is what has been guiding me most. That alone has me scared, overjoyed, angry with myself because of it, sad because I cannot control it...the list goes on with how I've felt lately.

All this thought on the subject and I almost forget to flip the pancake in time. I make sure to do so and figure I'll just eat this one since it's a tad bit burned on one side so far. As I do this, and turn around to face her again with my arms crossed, she seems to have something on your mind as she is playing with her hair.

"I have an understanding of what your abilities are and how they work...but do you know what I can?"

"Yea, I got the gist of it from your file. Depending on your mood, you can showcase an array of abilities. You're an empath. Like a really really cool telepath but with emotions."

She notices what she is doing with her hair, and stops and crosses her arms as well as she continues.

"Exactly. Also, when I'm around other people...if I'm not careful and not in control of my own emotions, I can enforce them upon them. Something I learned to master right away as I don't wish to instill any sort of...well, I think you can understand. In turn, if I don't keep focus, their emotions can transmit to myself, kinda like a sponge soaking up water. Or like...a paintbrush that is dipped into paint. And if I allow myself I...see...emotions on a person, as though...they were colored as silhouettes. You are a painter, correct?"

Then she walks closer towards me, and it's like she is looking right into my soul it's the only way I can describe it really.

"Yes. I definitely...have my familiarity with the use of colors. I can only hope to imagine what it is you see."

"I've learned to associate each emotion with a different color...red of course goes with anger, orange is the one I see when someone has a feeling of such great and big anticipation...and when they are simply overjoyed they seem to be filtered in a hue of yellow. Green when they are feeling an overwhelming amount of trust, and blue when--"

"When they are sad?"

"No...afraid. As they are taken over by a sense of great surprise indigo shines through, and it is violet when they feel a great deal of sadness. Put them all together, Michael, and what do you get?"

She leans in closer to me as my heart rate goes up as it begins to race. Feelings start to whirl about as if out of control, and eventually I manage to answer her.

"A rainbow."

"And since I've come back to Lost Haven...every time I'm around you...what I see...is all of that. All at once. Each and every one one of those colors flowing over you...as you never quite seem to settle on just one emotion. All of the colors. It's...one of the most beautiful things I have ever laid eyes on."

Our lips draw near, not quite touching just yet, and I've never wanted to kiss someone so much in my life.

"A rainbow."

We kiss.

 

[Carnage27]

Now

The gunfire from the STRIKE soldiers rain down onto my shield, which perfectly protects Chiron and me. I smile back at my mentor, "So, you say things have changed a little bit, huh? I never would have guessed."

"Yes, well, I wasn't expecting them to be here," he says as he slips a knife from his belt and tosses it at the leg of one of the grunts, dropping him instantly. "Over a thousand years and I still have it."

"Don't get to cocky," I respond as I fling a wave of flame and shadow to bowl over the others. I grab Chiron's shoulder, "Let's get outta here."

Instantly, we meld into shadow and head back to the Eye of the Fates.

**********

Two Weeks Ago

I materialize in the middle of a construction site on the waterfront of Lost Haven. Mounds of dirt and a half finished building structure of steel girders surround me. A sea breeze blows through the slits in my helmet and flaps against the bottom of the trench coat I wear over my armor.

I know Tartarus is out there. And it's my job to stop him before he kills another demigod. These are my people, and he won't kill the rest as long as I draw breath.

"So you came, brother," someone says through a laugh behind me. I turn to find my half-brother standing on a mountain of dirt. His gold armor shimmers in the moonlight, and his night black hair falls down to his shoulders. A sword is in his hand, and he smiles evilly at me. "I didn't think you are foolish. You should have run."

"You're no brother of mine," I sneer and draw my own sword. "We may share blood, but you have been damned by the gods. And I'm here to send you to our father."

He laughs again, "Oh, I will see the great Hades. And when I do I will topple him and the rest of the Olympians. They have grown weak in the past centuries. They have become 'myths', and the label has drained their strength. The need people to believe in them for strength. And once you and your like are dead, there will be no proof of their existence, and I will take Olympus from them."

"Unfortunately for you, you've killed your last demigod," I respond with a blast of fire fused with shadow in the form of a great snake. As it speeds towards my foe, he slams his foot into the ground, raising a wall of sand to block my strike.

"You have spirit, 'Cerberus'. I will give you that. But I will be killing at least one demigod tonight." With a wave of his hand, the sand next to him swirls and a form emerges, bound by shadows, and the image causes me to lose my breath. It's Penny. My best friend for as long as I can remember. She's unconscious, and gagged. All these years she's been a demigod as well. It has to be why we've had this connection for so long. Why we've always been drawn to one another. "I think once I've beaten you to submission I'll make you watch as I disembowel her."

"NO!" Kevin screams and rushes from the shadows at Tartarus, who promptly tosses him aside like a ragdoll. I curse under my breath. Him and his brother were supposed to be my ace in the whole. Secret weapons brought out when the the time was right. Now the element of surprise is gone.

At least for our side. Tartarus's Ares-born enforcer comes out of no where and slams into my side. James Harvey aka Mercury hits him with his super speed, and his brother joins him, keeping the big powerhouse busy.

I stand and dust myself off before locking eyes with Tartarus. With war screams we rush each other, and our swords clang and slash as the two of us draw all our Olympian power from our veins. The combat is fast and ferocious as we dance with blades.

Many times the sharp edge of his short sword slices through my trench coat and through the top layer of skin, and I manage to dodge any life threatening blows. He begins breaking down my defenses and pushes me back. Out of the corner of my eyes I see Mercury thrown through the air, but I can't focus on that now. I'm in the fight of my life.

I get backed up against a girder and my half-brother's sword slams down on mine, and I struggle against his strength. As we stand leaning against one another he seethes, "You must know you cannot win."

"Four months ago I knew I was a loner with nothing special in my future, a month ago I knew I was going to die in a trap by a drug lord, and five minutes ago I knew my best friend was a normal human," I respond, blasting Tartarus back with a blast of fire and shadow. He tumbles through the sand, and I slam my foot into the ground, using my control over it to toss a few girders on top of him, hoping it hurts as much as it looks. As he pushes his way out I yell, "Don't tell me what I know."

"Very well, hero," he growls as a fissure in the ground opens up before him. "Let us see how you deal with this."

The fissure belches fire, and out crawl twenty skeletal warriors, armed to the teeth.

"Terrific."
​