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

[Nicodemus]

Noah Archer, the Awesome ACROBAT

Arc One: Long Time Coming​

I crawl in through Caroline's living room window, tear off my goggles and ski hat, and throw up all over the wooden floor.

To her credit, Caroline doesn't flinch away. Instead she kneels down next to me and rubs my back as I sit on my hands and knees, retching onto her brand new floor. It's comforting. It's very mom like.

And that scares me a little. I stand - shakily, but I stand - and stumble off towards the counter. I bend over the sink and splash some water in my face, but it doesn't help.

"It isn't you fault," Caroline says.

"It is," I say, and my words sound hollow and empty, even to my own ears. I sound defeated. I shrug off my jacket and the bulletproof vest and sink to the floor, back up against the cabinet. "It is my fault. I should've been more careful. I should've worked on getting the hostages out of there, or worked with the police, or something. Anything. Anything would've been better than that."

"Noah," she says, kneeling in front of me, "Noah you're going to make mistakes. You're only human."

"I'm not though," I say. "Just human. I'm not just human. I'm superhuman. I'm supposed to be better than that."

"You're a teenager."

"I'm a hero!" I shout, slamming my fist against the cabinet. My hand starts to throb. "I thought I was, anyway. I'm not cut out for this."

"You are," Caroline insists. "You're just being hard on yourself Noah. You messed up, ok. You messed up pretty bad. A little girl is dead, and from what they were saying on the television, the kid...Fredddy...is probably going to have brain damage. You really did a number on him."

"He deserved it."

"Yeah," Caroline says, "he did. You can't be angry at yourself because of this Noah. He was hurting people, and you stopped him. And that's all that matters."

I swallow.

Caroline sighs and sits next to me, keeping her hand to herself this time. "People are going to get hurt Noah. You might get hurt. but what might've happened if you hadn't been there, huh? He might've hurt a lot more people. And you'll get better at this, alright? You just need practice. Nobody's perfect Noah - nobody's actually superhuman. The superheroes you love, like Icon and Flux? They're just people too. People with abilities, but still just people."

I sniffle. I hate myself for sniffling. What an unmanly thing to do. "Flux is an alien."

Caroline smiles slightly. "My point still stands. Noah, you can't hate yourself over this. It isn't worth it. The world needs Acrobat."

"Do they though?" I ask. "Do they really? They've got the Guardians. They've got real Heroes. Do they really need Acrobat?"

"I need Acrobat," Caroline says with a sad smile. "And Charlie needs him. Acrobat's his favorite superhero."

I swallow. I nod. I stand up. It's one the hardest things I've ever had to do, but I stand up and walk over the couch.

"And now," Caroline says, sitting in the chair across from me, "I have a few confessions to make."

"So make them," I say, laying down and putting my feet up on the other end of the couch. "I've got nowhere to be."

And she tells me. The story of how I got my powers. It's long, and complicated, and I really don't want to repeat it verbatim, but basically my mom was a party girl when she was younger - like, extreme party girl. Several attitude problems. She got pregnant with me when she was fifteen (which I knew) and at the time was looking for anything that could possibly get her high.

That's where things start getting interesting. You see, she takes part in an experimental program - something that wasn't entirely legal, if they're running experiments of fifteen year olds without parental consent. She said they were called G.A.T.E.S. (which apparently stands for Gentic Alterations To Enhance Saftey) and when they learned she was pregnant, they tried to get their hands on her unborn baby - namely, me. She wouldn't give me up (which I think is ironic, considering what eventually happened to me) and booked it out of town. Lucky for her, GATES wasn't omniscient, and she slipped between the cracks, and well...the rest is my life.

"You came from something...less," Caroline finishes, spreading her hands to show she's still not entirely sure what all this means. "But you...you proved that you can be something more. Show them Noah. Show them you can be a good person. Show them you can be awesome."

I grin. Because I've realized it now. I'm more than awesome.

I'm ACROBAT.

 

[Mr. Majestic]

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

How are things? To be honest I don’t even know if I truly know the answer to that. After what happened to me I have been taking things one step at a time.

“I guess things are good. I’m not sure if Icon told the rest of you guys but I was going through some mental issues, had a problem controlling myself at one point. I was close to doing something I think I would have regretted for the rest of my life but Icon brought me back out of the darkness so to speak. I cut myself off from the world to get my head back together.” A choice I think about every day if it’s the right one.

Besides Icon, Vigilante is really the only other member I get along with. He’s the only person who knows about my real power.

“Look I’m sorry I didn’t keep in contact I didn’t really know how to handle the situation. At that time I didn’t think I was safe to be around and I didn’t know if I would lose control at any moment. But now I believe I’m fine so I guess everything is pretty good for now.”

 

[NiteMare Shape]

After the confrontation between Isaac and Pinup, and the conversation that followed, I find myself back in my room trying to relax for a few minutes, just to gather my bearings and take a moment to think about the situation we're in, and how we can fix it.

I lay on the bed in my quarters flipping the channels on the TV when I'm suddenly drawn to a single image on the screen. I watch as the news ticker scrolls across the bottom of the screen "Mount Asama errupts, threatens Tokyo."

Some days you just can't get a break. I quickly spring from my bed and make my way to the nearest exit, and head directly for Japan.

 

[NiteMare Shape]

Anderson leans back in his chair after hanging up the phone. He takes several deep breaths before reaching for his favorite mug. He takes a long drink of water before pouring alittle bit out on his hand and then splashing it on his face as if trying to wake himself up.

He reaches out, pressing the button for the intercom.

"Yes Director?" his assistant answers.

"Ms Powers, I have a personal matter to attend to. Please cancel all my appointments for the rest of the day."

 

[Blacklight]

Chapter 17: The Nerd's Guide to Punchin' B****es...



I don't like confrontation. Not even verbal for the most part. That being said, what Ryan asked me the next day after our meet with Josh perfectly encompassed the next hurdle I would have to overcome in my journey to becoming a superhero.


"How are you supposed to beat people up when you can't fight?" he asked rather bluntly as the two of us were lounging in his room at his place.

"I dunno. I do have superstrength..."

"Which could kill somebody if you can't control it, Mr. Comic book reader. Do you even have the slightest clue how to control it?"

"No. I haven't really used any of my powers at all since that day in the cafeteria."

"Right. So you need to learn how to pull your punches... Not to mention how to punch in the first place." Ryan joked.

"You know... It's not that I don't know how to fight. It's just that I don't like to." I stated matter-of-factly.

"You don't know how. Just admit it."

"Fine. I don't. What's your point?" I cut to the chase.

"I'm going to train you." He replied simply, grinning.

"How exactly?" I questioned.

"First lesson starts now!" he said too fast for me to process before I felt his fist collide with my head.

I stumbled back, trying to regain my balance as I felt a overwhelming combination of anger and utter "what the f***?"-ocity.

"RYAN! WHAT THE F*** WAS THAT FOR!?!" I yelled.

"First lesson: Hit back, you p***y." He straight up answered.

"WHAT!?! You want me to hit you!? Why!? You're my f***ing best friend!!"

"Do it!!" He said as he punched me again.

"NO!!" I yelled, but he pressed on. The third punch was right in my gut. Despite the enhanced durability, I could still feel it.

"COME ON!!" He pushed. He went back to hitting my face with the fourth punch.

"F***!!!" I screamed, my eyes closed as I punched my best friend in the sternum, the impact forcing him into the wall.

"Jesus Christ! Ryan! Are you alright!?" I asked as I quickly rushed over to him to make sure I didn't just murder my best friend.

His head was drooping down, but soon enough he lifted it up to reveal a smile.

"Good job, Jon. You passed the first lesson." he said as he let me help him back up to his feet.

"That kinda hurt. Remind me never to hit you again..." he said as he grasped his ribs with his arm.

"Same here! I could've killed you if I didn't hold back!" I shouted, still in shock of punching my best friend.

"You held back? Good. That means you'll be able to control your strength with practice." he responded.

"What was the point of all that, anyway!?"

"Jon, you don't like confrontation, but you can't be a superhero without being able to stop someone who'll endanger the lives of others. By punching their lights out if necessary. I had to help you get over that first before we could start the real training." he alluded.

"Real training?" I inquired.

"Follow me..." he directed me as we walked over to his closet. He opened it slowly to reveal a rather large case, and knelt down before it, and I watched as he unlocked it, revealing it's mysterious contents.

My jaw dropped.

Seasons of Dragonball Z, Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Copies of Mortal Kombat, Halo and Super Smash Bros. DVDs of Spider-Man, The Dark Knight, Kick-Ass, Iron Man and even Tron.

"You prepared a nerd training regiment for me!? Ryan! This is AWESOME!!" I gleefully exclaimed.

"Let's get started."


I'm going to learn to fight the American Way... by watching movies and playing video games!

 

[Erin]

Pinup walks through the halls, mulling things over in her mind. The morning hadn't started much better than last night had. Icon's exit from the library had been quick and awkward; he had hardly remarked on the seriousness of the looming trouble with S.T.R.I.K.E. She begins to wonder what she is doing at the Guardian's Headquarters anyway. She had wanted to warn the Guardians about Walter, and she had. She had needed an escape from the alley outside The Hub, and she had gotten that too. So why is she still there? Is it because she needed a safe place to hide away from S.T.R.I.K.E? She wants to help the Guardians, that much is true, but she can't see herself being much of an asset; especially not with the way things were currently going.

Pinup stops and looks over her shoulder uncomfortably. She's had the feeling of being watched since her first encounter with Vigilante. At first, she had supposed it was just the discomfort of their meeting, coupled with the contagious nature of his unmitigated paranoia, but now, as she watches a shadow move ever so slightly from around the corner, she is sure someone has been following her.

"Hey there!" She calls down the hallway. The shadow doesn't respond. "I know somebody's back there." She shifts her weight, resting her hands on her hips as she speaks exasperatedly to the unknown pursuer. "It's all right. Come on out."

Slowly, Gunny shuffles out from his hiding spot around the corner and stands in the middle of the hallway. Pinup pinches the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger as a new wave of frustration washes over her. She doesn't bother to ask why he is following her, and doesn't need to ask who told him to do it. There is only one person she can think of who would tell the old man to trail her like a hound to a rabbit.

"How long has Vigilante had you following me?" She asks pointedly. Gunny's silence serves as enough of an answer, and Pinup grits her teeth. "Right." She turns on her heel, stalking angrily down the hallway. "Come on." She orders as she turns a corner abruptly. She looks in to every room she passes, til she finally finds Vigilante and the newcomer. Not bothering to wait for their conversation to finish, she marches up to the masked man.

"You've been having me followed." She accuses, turning back to the doorway. "Get in here!"

Quietly, Gunny once again appears from around the corner and stands in the room. Pinup turns back to Vigilante, her eyes flashing as she fumes.

"You don't trust me? That's fine. I don't give a damn. But if I ever find out you or your goons are trailing me again, you'll have bigger problems than a snake in your path."

It is Pinup's turn to take advantage of his stunned silence as she shoves past him, leaving the room and making her way toward the Headquarter's entrance.

Bursting through the front door, she is blinded by the mid-morning sun. In the distance, low over the high rises of downtown Lost Haven, storm clouds gather black and heavy. With a disgusted look, Pinup strides the other direction, heading nowhere in particular except away from him.

 

[Carnage27]

Two Weeks Ago

An undead warrior's axe clangs off my shield as I cut one of his brethren in half, banishing its soul back to the underworld. The one with the axe takes another slice, which I roll under and respond with a blast of fire.

But as I come out of my roll, one of the other undead warriors slams his hammer into my side. The pain rushes through my ribs and knocks the wind out of me, knocking me to my knees. It raises its weapon for a crushing blow to my skull, but I slam a shadow construct into it, sending it tumbling into one of its allies. I finish the two off with a sweep of my sword.

I turn, and face the remaining two warriors, both brandishing long swords. They rush at me, moving much quicker than the others I had already taken out. Their blades flash, reflecting the moonlight with a deadly glimmer. The first one goes low, slashing at my ankles. I hope over the attack as the other goes high. I barely bat the attack away before the first slashes across my thigh, leaving a fairly sizable cut.

Cringing in pain, I retreat, driving them back a bit with a fireball from my fist. Luckily, the flame drives them apart and I'm able to toss my sword through the skull of the one on my right. The second comes at me again, but is engulfed in flame and shadow.

Hobbling over to my sword, I unlodge it from the undead warrior and drop into a defensive position as I face Tartarus again. I'm worn out and sore, and he can tell I'm easy prey.

"Impressive," he smiles and approaches me lazily. "You're good for someone so raw and untrained."

I try and give him a blast of purple flame and shadow, but he blocks it, and in the blink of an eye he's on me. He knocks the sword and shield out of my hands, driving an elbow into my chin, staggering me. "You really don't stand a chance, boy." He kicks me in the chest, sending me to my back. I struggle backwards as he laughs, "And even if you did survive...what then? You'd just die in the coming flood."

He unsheathes his sword and goes for a killing blow, but I manage to dodge his blow, "Flood? What flood?"

He laughs again. A vain arrogant laugh, "For eons they have been trapped, waiting for the opportune moment. And soon their time will come again. Maybe you'll see them in the underworld."

He stomps his foot onto my chest and raises the sword. But before he can strike, a gold and silver blur bowl into him, "Not today, pal."

Mercury and Herald, two men I met a mere week ago have come to my rescue. And to think I had petty jealousy against Kevin for his relationship with Penny. My how things change.

"Nice try, a-hole," James smiles as he and his brother circle Tartarus, landing body blows left and right.

"You are so slow!" Kevin taunts.

But the taunt is ill timed. As if Tartarus was merely biding his time, he drives a foot into James's stomach and flashes his sword into Kevin's chest. In that moment, I see in slow motion. The end of the blade goes in, and then splatters out the other side. Kevin's eyes go wide as he drops to his knees, and I can hear the villain's laugh yet again.

At that point my blood boils. I don't know if it's because I've just witnessed a fellow demi-god murdered or because I feel like it was my fault. But I feel an energy flow through me like I've never felt before.

I push myself of the ground and grab my sword, charging my half brother. He doesn't have the time to get his sword from Kevin, but manages to pull a short sword from his belt. But it doesn't matter. My rage is fueling me and I will not let him survive this encounter.

I break down his defenses, batting away a feeble counter attack and slicing though his sword arm, sending the weapon clanging to the ground, along with the soft thud of flesh.

"NO!" he screams and falls next to his unconscious enforcer. "No! I had you. I had all of you. I was so close. So close."

"And now you have failed, Tartarus," I respond, hate filling my every word. "You've killed an ally of mine. Someone who came tonight to my aid. And that was your mistake. You've put your stock into your own power, forgetting that it's nothing compared to that of the combined Olympus. Now, I banish you to the Underworld, where you belong."

I step back, concentrating on the Underworld and the planes of my father's realm. After a few moments, the ground begins to shake, and a fissure opens beneath Tartarus and his follower, emitting a faint purple light. A roar is heard, and three dog heads snap closed on the villains as my namesake drags them to the pits of Hades.

I turn to find James on his knees beside his brother. A yell from behind me tells me Penny has be freed from her bindings, "Kevin!" She rushes to her boyfriend's side as he looks over his fallen brother.

I approach cautiously and place my hand on James's shoulder, "I'm sorry, James. If you want...I can try and let you talk to him...one last time."

He nods silently, and I concentrate on his brother, and after a while, he appears before us. "James...Desmond...Penny...I'm sorry I wasn't fast enough."

"No, brother," James says, tears rolling down his eyes. "It's my fault. We shouldn't have been so cocky. We should have had a better plan we should have-"

"Stop," the ghost of Mercury protests. "We all knew the risks. And finding Penny here means we had no choice. I died a warrior's death. And I can ask no more. Do not despair for me, brother. But I need to go. My time on Gaia is over."

As Kevin fades into the mist, Penny and James hold each other and weep.

**********

Now

The hot water pounds out of the shower head, bathing my face, but not my conscious. The past few weeks have been hell on my mind, even though they have answered many of my questions.

I've sent James and Penny into hiding to hone their skills. If some sort of flood or invasion is on the way, they need to be ready, just as I do. The decision even surprised me. A month ago I would have been too jealous to realize that Penny and James truly care about each other. I wouldn't have been able to look past my own feelings to realize what needed to be done. The right decision isn't always easy, but it's worth it.

I don't even know where they are. James insisted he knew of a secluded spot where Hermes, his father, often used as a safe house on Earth. He said it'd be smart to keep it secret. The less people that know the better. I can't say I disagree with him.

I get out of the shower, and I find Nysus, Mom, Sirius, and Chiron waiting for me in the living area. The dog of Orion licks my face happily, and mom gives me a hug, "I'm so glad you're okay. You had me worried."

"It's okay," I smile and hug her back. "I was with...dad."
​

 

[Hound55]

She looks in to every room she passes, til she finally finds Vigilante and the newcomer. Not bothering to wait for their conversation to finish, she marches up to the masked man.

"You've been having me followed." She accuses, turning back to the doorway. "Get in here!"

Quietly, Gunny once again appears from around the corner and stands in the room. Pinup turns back to Vigilante, her eyes flashing as she fumes.

"You don't trust me? That's fine. I don't give a damn. But if I ever find out you or your goons are trailing me again, you'll have bigger problems than a snake in your path."


It is Pinup's turn to take advantage of his stunned silence as she shoves past him, leaving the room and making her way toward the Headquarter's entrance.

Bursting through the front door, she is blinded by the mid-morning sun. In the distance, low over the high rises of downtown Lost Haven, storm clouds gather black and heavy. With a disgusted look, Pinup strides the other direction, heading nowhere in particular except away from him.

Isaac watches her leave and hears the heavy door shut loudly in her wake then turns to his older friend, with his face tilted down and eyes looking up in a patronising fashion.

[BLACKOUT]"You let her see you, 'Goon'?"[/BLACKOUT]

Colonel Bracken shrugged, "Apparently I'm not as stealthy as I was 30 years ago. Who'duthunkit?"

Isaac pinched behind the bridge of his nose behind the mask and let out a deep exhalation.

"You know it's not safe for her out there, right?"

"I know well enough..." Isaac thought to himself before letting out more air, this time unmistakable for anything but a sigh of resignation.

[BLACKOUT]"S***, you know they'll find some way of saying this was my fault..."[/BLACKOUT]

A smirk crossed Gunny's face before Isaac shot it down with a glare.

"Either he thinks that's exactly the case or he's confused as to why I'm going..."

[BLACKOUT]"This girl is fast shooting her way up the "Pain in the arse of the week" board..."[/BLACKOUT]

"Apparently..." the Colonel said, barely hiding his smirk.

[BLACKOUT]"Cork it, Gunny. Gimme two minutes to get my s*** together."[/BLACKOUT] Then he stopped and thought further about last night and getting chased all over town and under it by S.T.R.I.K.E agents and turned back.

[BLACKOUT]"So how bout it, kid..."[/BLACKOUT] addressing the Youngster [BLACKOUT]"are you coming or staying?"[/BLACKOUT]

 

[Carnage27]

Two Weeks Ago

I stand back from the grieving couple, not really knowing how to feel. I'm angry, sure. But I barely knew Kevin and James before tonight. We were allies of necessity more than friends. Sure, I like the two of them, but I have no real connection. I feel bad for not being heart broken but...

A whoosh of purple flame next to me startles me out of my thoughts. I turn to find a man standing next to me. But instantly I know it's no mere man. It's a god. It's Hades. It's my father. He stares at the scene in front of us before turning to me, "You did well...son. You've become truly powerful, though you have some ways to go."

"Not powerful enough, obviously," I respond, not breaking my eyes from the Olympian whose blood runs through my veins. I've wanted to meet him for so long, this moment almost feels like a dream.

"Heroes fall in battle, Desmond," Hades says. "It is the way it has always been. And Kevin will not be the first to fall by your side in the struggle to come."

"What do you mean?" I ask, obviously frustrated, and somewhat scared at the omen. "What's going on. Tartarus said something about a flood-"

"We have much to talk about," the god of the Underworld cuts me off by raising his hand. "You need to come with me. The tide must be changed, and I need you to help me. We need you to help us."

"What the hell is going on here!?" Penny asks as she approaches the two of us, shooting a tearfully angry look to James as well. Tears stream down her face, the weight of the night crashing down on her, "Last thing I remember is being in my room and having that madman burst in and knock me out. And now Kevin is dead, I just talked to his ghost, and you two are dressed like would-be superheroes."

"Yes...," Hades says, obviously dismayed. "My dear...you, as well as Desmond, Kevin, and James are the children of the gods of Olympus."

"I dunno if you can tell, buddy, but I'm really not in the ****ing mood," Penny growls.

Hades sighs and snaps his fingers. Instantly, the four of us are transported to a vast cavern, carved in ornate patterns and bathed in purple light. The cavern is beautiful, not something I would have expected from the Underworld. I move to an opening in the chamber, which looks over a golden field and a building that looks like the Parthenon.

"Elysium..." I say to myself.

"Indeed," Hades nods. "Penelope...you are now in the Underworld. A much more...macabre name than the reality of my realm. Still think I am lying?"

"My...my..." she walks to the window next to me and looks over the plains of Elysium.

"This is where the Gods' chosen spend the rest of eternity," I smile at her. "Not a bad way to spend forever, huh?"

James comes up behind her and puts his arm around her, "It's real, Pen. That's Hades, the god of the Greek Underworld, and Desmond's father. Mine and Kevin's father is Hermes, the messenger of the Gods."

"And yours is my brother Poseidon," Hades says, joining us at the window. "God of the sea."

My eyes go wide at the revelation. If it's true that Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon are the most powerful of the gods, then Penny has as much untapped power as I do.

"So that's why Tartarus wanted to kill me?" she says in no more than a whisper.

"Indeed," he nods. "And it's good that he did not. He did not lie when he said the Olympians have been weakened in recent centuries. We have be relegated to myth. While not deadly, it opens up the possibility of evils we have held back since the dawn of man escaping. And Tartarus is merely an example of that. Which is why you children are so important. You are failsafes on Earth. But I fear you might not even be enough."

He turns and heads to the center of the room and waves his hand. In a puff of smoke, a globe appears with glowing points strewn across it. "Poseidon and I, along with a select other group of Olympians have brought our concerns to Zeus...but my brother has become disenfranchised with the humans. He feels spurned by the creatures he helped protect and nurture for so long, and has turned a blind eye to them and us. And his hurt feelings stand to doom us all."

"What do you mean?" I ask coming up to the globe and inspect it.

"For the past three hundred years it's taken our combined strength to ensure the Titans remain in their eternal prison," my father seethes while clenching his fist. "And my brother's vanity and apathy has threatened our hold on them."

"That can't be good," James says after a sudden intake of breath. He then turns to a fairly confused Penny, "My dad told me the Titans were monstrous beings that ravaged the earth for eons before the Olympians sealed them away before the dawn of man."

"Indeed," Hades nods. "And if one learns of our current..weakness. One that has designs on freeing the Titans...well...I cannot imagine the results. Which is why the three of you need to learn to fully master your abilites. James, Poseidon has tasked you with training Penny. Keep her safe." He opens a portal back to Earth, "Go. Now. Tell no one where you are going."

Before stepping through the portal, Penny looks back, "Des...take care of yourself."

They step through and I turn back to my father, "And what am I going to do?"

"Stay here for a while," he responds. "I have an important task for you."

**********

Now

I finish telling the story of my time in the Underworld, conversing with my father and the other gods that have allied themselves to keeping humanity safe, save for Poseidon. I was told the god of the sea had his hands full...but something in the Olympians eyes told me other wise.

"So what's our next move?" Chiron asks, leaning forward in his seat in anticipation.

"I'm to look for more demigods," I respond. "Hades...dad says there should be a few more across the country. I need to make sure we're ready in case...well you know."

"When will you start?" mom asks, obviously I'll leave too son.

"Don't worry," I give her a kiss on the forehead. "I'll stay for a while."
​

 

[Mr. Majestic]

[BLACKOUT]"Cork it, Gunny. Gimme two minutes to get my s*** together."[/BLACKOUT] Then he stopped and thought further about last night and getting chased all over town and under it by S.T.R.I.K.E agents and turned back.

[BLACKOUT]"So how bout it, kid..."[/BLACKOUT] addressing the Youngster [BLACKOUT]"are you coming or staying?"[/BLACKOUT]

He doesn't seem to be on her good side at all, they appear not to like each other at all. If he's going after her there is know telling what may occur. It may be best for me to come along just to try and keep the peace.

"Yeah I'll come along." Not even but for a strong 1 hour and things are still lively as ever.

Main reason for me coming back is to prove to myself that I'm ready to get back into the swing of things. I will admit this wasn't what I was thinking but I guess you have to begin with baby steps.

 

[trustyside-kick]

"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.

Lost Haven
The Guardians HQ
The Kitchen

There are no words.

Nothing to describe it that...that does it justice, at least.

I tell myself that this is crazy. That we have barely gotten to know each other.

So I check with myself while I remain latched onto her lips just as tightly as she remains onto mine...

...and my grip on her left arm loosens as my arm drops down, only to tighten again as I wrap it around her waist, dipping her backward as we continue to kiss.

And while I know, that at one point, Flux's as well as my own emotions could simply be the victim of her powers going out of wack...being fully aware of this possibility, I don't want to let go.

The fact that I'm consciously aware of that possibility, puts me to ease.

Simply put...I know that I want this.

And to my surprise, for the first time ever, my thoughts don't in fact trail back to Grace. Except to try to analyze and justify if my emotions do indeed ring true.

It's like I'm in Heaven.

And now I believe that I'm going to capture these emotions in color. I think I've got an idea for my next painting. The kiss ends, and she blushes as I simply brush back some of her hair over her ear. Right now I must have the dumbest looking grin on my face as I can't help but make it obvious how great I feel right now.

I know what I'll call it.

'Perfect Harmony.'

And that's truly the best way to try to describe this moment.

"I'm sorry, I...am not entirely sure to be honest, but I think that eventually I might have--"

"The second that I felt it, had I not wanted it, I could have easily pulled away. Believe me. Call it a fail safe because after a certain...incident, let's just say I'm not so easily pulled by someone else's strings."

"Really?"

"Really. Although, how about we take it slow. Yea? That work for you?"

Ecstatic, she jumps up, causing me to stumble backward and lays another kiss on me. As we remain lip-locked yet again, the entire time as I'm stumbling backwards on my feet I eventually land on one of the chairs by the table just outside the kitchen. After exchanging a quick laugh after the rough landing, she gets up, walks over to the counter, and picks up a plate of pancakes.

"Though I'm not necessarily objecting to any more of that. Just saying."

"Heh. I'm going to bring Starlight her breakfast now. You on the other hand...may want to finally take out that pancake. You know...the one we left burning on the stove?"

"Heh. Whoops. Guess that's two charbroiled pancakes for me then."

She winks at me. I love it when girls do 'the wink', and walks out of the kitchen. I lean back in the chair, stretch my arms out for a sec, think of how great this day feels like it's going to be and then...I'm reminded that I may have to go down to Hell today.

Crap.

"All right Bath Kol...I'm sure you've been doing just like you said and watching the entire time...perve...you can come on out now."

As I walk over to the stove, turn it off, and throw the burned pancake into the trashcan, Bath Kol's image appears across the counter. It's time to get back to business and understand the full scope of Bath Kol's idea here.

​

"All right all right. So what exactly is the purpose of me going down to Hell anyway?"

"As revealed to you when you received the Helmet of Salvation, the mere fact that St. Michael the archangel fell before your destiny had been set is the sole reason that there is no archangel whom blesses you this day. When one of divine origin or hellish ones fall...they simply return to their respective realms. One cannot truly slay an angel or demon. However, with St. Michael the archangels' sacrifice--"

"He's been in Hell this entire time?"

"Precisely. With his final attack he was able to drive Lucifer back into the depths of Hell. Before the flames of Hell could consume him, he cast the seal in which prevents Lucifer's escape. And as his spirit was trying to get back to Heaven, Lucifer's minions stopped it. Such is the reason that he did not make it back to Heaven. Knowing the risk was his great sacrifice. Rescue St. Michael the archangel from the depths of Hell which bind him, and as he returns to Heaven, he will reward you with your rightful blessings. Then you will no longer be powerless today, or any Tuesday for that matter, and you shall be able to aid your friends and satisfy your desire to be in the blessings of the archangels this day. As a halfbreed, Michael, you can enter the realms of Hell without burning. It is the perfect plan, Michael, to--ARRGGHH!!"

"Bath Kol!!"

He suddenly goes silent, and there is a mighty glow beneath the cloth that covers his left, gifted, eye. Bath Kol starts to rise into the air, removing the cloth that covers his gifted eye that is bestowed with the gift of foresight, and the room itself becomes shrouded with what look like little storm clouds and a grayish and black fog starts to envelop the room.

For a brief moment, Bath Kol appears to be in great pain. Covering his eye with his left hand, I quickly realize the source of his struggle and pick up the piece of cloth and hand it to him. He ties it around his head, concealing his gifted eye, and the pain seems to subside.

"Such is the reason that I keep it shielded. For this is no mere normal cloth. Unfiltered I...I soon begin to see too much. The gift of foresight is a power thing to bear, for things are always changing...it is...not easy on the mind. I am afraid that we may be in a bit of a hurry as a vision has just come to pass. It...my goodness...makes St. Michael the archangel's sacrifice, meaningless."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"While the seal St. Michael the archangel had cast kept the Gates of Hell forever closed for Lucifer, for some reason I...I see the destruction of the world coming at hand. There simply cannot be any other source of power that I know of that can...somehow the Gates of Hell are going to be opened. For it is the only way Lucifer can walk the Earth. And I have foreseen that this act may very well come to pass this day. I...I wish this vision had come sooner, I...we--"

Bath Kol raises his arms to the heavens, and a second later, I'm suddenly clad in a suit of armor unknown to me. And in my right hand appears the Sword of the Spirit, and in my left...the Shield of Faith.

The Armor of God. I am now wearing the Armor of God.

"There were two men that I saw in the vision...whether they are...responsible for the freeing of Lucifer or not...I cannot say at this time. Though...it also appears as though they are...fighting by your side. These visions...rarely are they ever clear. I shall show you."

He raises his hand, and images start to form in thin air, emerging through the storm clouds as though they were standing right in front of me.

"Their names...their names are...Inferno...and Cerberus. That much is for certain. Seek them out, Michael. Go to Hell. Save St. Michael the archangel."

Feeling weak and weary, Bath Kol starts to levitate into the air. Here am I, standing in the middle of the damn dining area of the kitchen room, and I can't recall the last time I felt this lost.

"How do I get to Hell?!"

"I am too weak to...one of them will...can show you the way..."

And then he is gone. He is gone, and I'm freaking out like crazy, and Flux must've been able to feel my emotions sky rocket because she storms into the room. Seeing the look on my face as I stand in the room, clad in armor, and looking scared and confused, she runs over to me.

"Are you ok? What is all of this?"

"...I need to find two people. Inferno and...Cerberus. I need to find them, Flux. This is so much bigger than I thought it was going to be. The fate of Heaven...Earth...everything depends on it."

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Dylan begins to stroll into his office as he does he says to Katy, "Get Senators Richmond and Edwards down here a-s-a-p. If they refuse or can't make it tell them my contributions and endorsements will go elsewhere."

Katy nods as Dylan closes his office door and makes a drink.

Nothing like S.T.R.I.K.E happens without the politicians being involved and Richmond and Edwards are two of the most powerful ones in this area.

He begins to finish his drink as Katy buzzes his office line and says, "Mr. Chambers both Senators will be here at 12:30."

Dylan says, "Excellent Katy call the Blue Fin restaurant tell them three orders of their cracked crab and lobster tails meals with drinks put it on my tab, and no disturbances once they arrive my dear."

Katy says, "Yes Mr. Chambers."

 

[sabetoonth]

The first to move was Belial, drawing a sword seemingly from no where, El side stepped a downward slice and attempted to plant his elbow into the back, neck or head of the demon. Only to be blast by some kind of energy from his side. He had to stay aware that he was fighting two beings similar to himself. As he tumbled through the air he then hit the wall. Belial pounced him but before he could come down ontop of the hybrid viglante, Elijah rolled out of the way.

Before rising to his feet Inferno balled his hand, his taloned hand, into a fist, then his forearm changed form and became something akin to a blade, long and thin with a sharp edge on one side. He took a swing for Belial's legs. The demon just flipped over.

Seeing a pinkish glow in the alley he moved off the ground and against the opposite wall fast, barely missed by another energy blast from Lilith. What was that stuff? Hellfire? Wait Hellfire is pink? No, couldnt be hellfire. Had to be some kind of magic or other energy that she was able to produce with her body.

He didnt have much time to think about it though, he was soon set upon by both of them at once, Lilith weilding some long pole axe type thing and Bellial still swinging a sword.

It was right about now that Elijah was wishing he'd taken sword fighting lessons concerning two opponents.

He took a dive over the blade of the pole axe, rolling out of it and turning in time to receive a punch to his hooded face, his face jerked to the one side. The male demon's sword came down on the armor, there was a clang and the armor deflected the blow. But his fist did its damage as it came for Eli's stomach. The cambion doubled over in pain. It didnt penitrate the armor but the stuff hadnt absorbed all that force. He swung out a counter attack of a...well, swing. And it actually did something, catching the demon off guard and tripping him over.

Not having the time to remain still any longer Eli rolled out of the way of Lilith's pole axe as it came down at him. Eli morphed his arms to their hand shape and grabbed it, swing it around, well he tried, but Lilith wouldnt budge and she still had her hands on it. He pulled and yanked on the weapon but it wouldnt budge. The recovered Belial came roaring at him, knocking him off the axe and into a wall.

He held still to his sword, but had decided to kick the down cambion.

"For being the son of Satan. You're pretty pathetic." Belial, the illusionist, the sixty eigth spirit according to the lesser key of solomon, a demon with many possible name meanings. Grim had given him a copy of many bookks on demons, for the day he'd eventually fight one. Those words, from the demon they spurred a kind of fire in Eli, a fire fueled by his father's favorite sin. Pride. But it wasn't just thinking so much of himself. But thinking of himself as more than pathetic. He wasn't pathetic they were, they had to crawl out of hell to walk this earth, he was born here, and he worked to make this city a safer place. to take out dangers even remotely resembling them.

"Im not pathetic. Im human." He seethed before grabbing one of Belial's fee and kicking the other out from under the demon. He then rolled with the other leg to throw him into the wall. The sword was dropped, Stokes picked it up, swinging back and up. With the clang that came from the clashing weapons the axe stopped in the air, Inferno pushing back against the blade. Everything fell apart as El was takled forward out of the failing stalemate. Once again the sword was dropped, Forgoing any kind of formality, the two demons simply decided to beat on the now once again downed half-demon.

He felt each blow, each strike against him and his armor. Those words still rung in his head. Pathetic. He swung up, roaring out as he did so. He struck Lilith in the chin ausing her to fall back and as he opened his wings Belial was lifted off his feet and into a wall. Making mad dash for her Elijah grabbed Lilith, spinning as he threw her into her comrade.

Taking a running shot Inferno put his best foot forward to stop and swing his momentum through into a punch. Belial batted the first one away, El just spun a little and brought his elbow into his head. Lilith recovered quickly. Foregoing a weapon and simply leaping over Eli's head she planet a punch in the place where his neck was. Oh that hurt like a son of a *****. The vigilante cambion swung out as the other hand was held to his neck, bringing it back to view to ensure there was no penetrating damage. He turned in time to see a fist contact his face. Dazed for a moment he didn't see Belial come in with a clothesline. Knocking the cambion over. Then the fist came down.

But it never landed. There was a shock wave and the demons found themselves pinned to the walls of the alley. The Grim Reaper walked down the asphalt toward the three. Cane in hand, his black attire crisp and fresh as a brand new suit.

"You two shouldn't even be here." He spoke to the demons, his voice authoritative, clear and loud as he cut through the air as a blow torch through aluminum. The looked to this entity with loathing. He was more powerful then them. He could send them to Jupiter. Or banish them back to hell. And that is exactly what he did. With a bright flash of light they were gone. The damage was not repaired, but the demons were gone, vanished. As his pupil brought himself back to his feet, the mentor offered his hand to Inferno."I believe it is time to go."

 

[Nicodemus]

Noah Archer, the awesome ACROBAT

Interlude: Origins​

"My name is Jetstream. And I'm going to kill you."

Those are the only words she says before she starts to kill me. Normally I admire someone who's blunt and straightforward, but this is a little extreme.

Her hand are around my neck, stopping me from breathing, and we're flying through the air at breakneck speeds. This cannot be good for me. I try to focus, to increase the gravity around me and therefore my own weight - maybe I can make myself too heavy for her to carry? But the lack of air is doing horrible things to my concentration, and I'm finding it difficult to alter the fundamental forces of the universe when all I can think of is how much I'd love some oxygen.

She's wearing goggles - high end stuff, by the looks of it - but more important they're reflective, and I can see in them a rapidly approaching skyscraper.

She is going to slam me into the side of a building going God only knows how fast. I can't survive that, and she knows it. She could've flown me up high and dropped me - that's what most people would do, but I could survive that. This is not looking good.

The fear of imminent death however, does wonders for my addled brain, and I'm able to land a solid punch on her jaw (well more like I'm able to flail at her face and eventually hit something, but I'll take it) and she cries out in pain, loosening her grip. I make everything but my legs incredibly heavy, then swing them up into her stomach and shove as hard as I can.

It works. I tumble from her grip, and immediately start slowing down as my weight decreases. She zooms past me like a bullet, but I know it'll only be a moment before she turns and hits me again.

So I drop. Hard. I streak towards the street like a white lightning bolt, only slowing down at the last possible second. I hit the concrete of the sidewalk with a bone shaking thud, and rebound immediately, taking to the sky in the hopes I could...do...something. That would be a god idea.

Then she hit me again.

Except this time I saw it coming - at least slightly. I was able to twist, and then grab a handful of the blonde ponytail coming out of the back of her suit.

She screams. I cheer. She slows down rapidly, and I slam into her back, increasing my weight exponentially. I drop to the ground, and with an infinitely satisfying shriek of pain, she follows.

As we near the ground, I increase her weight and decrease my own. The hand currently clenching her hair swings down - and she hits the sidewalk with enough force to shake the cars going by.

"Boo-yah. Acrobat got moves."

The people are running in terror now, but I'm more concerned with little miss Jetstream. She's still breathing, amazingly...still conscious even. She's staring up at me from where she's laying, and since her reflective goggles are cracked I can see that she's staring daggers at me.

I pop a squat next to her and take a deep breath. "What...the hell...was that?"

She doesn't answer for a moment, and when she does, her voice is strained and angry. "Not my fault...they...they wanted you out of the way."

"They" wanted me gone. Fantastic. "They" is going right up there on my nemesis list. "Who wanted me gone?"

"GATES."

That gets my attention. G.A.T.E.S, or Genetic Alteration For Enhanced Safety, is the company that's responsible for what I can do. But Caroline had claimed they didn't know about me. So why were they sending assassins?

Apparently one of Jetstream's other powers is reading my damn mind, because she answers the question before I ask. "They've always been watching you. You were just another test Noah - what would happen if you weren't constantly trained, stimulated, altered. You were part of the control group."

Part of the control group. That's a scary thought. It means there are others like me - dozens maybe, depending on how extensive GATES was.

"I...wasn't so lucky," Jetstream continued. "When they figure out I've failed...they'll kill me. But that doesn't matter. I was never the strongest. Foster...Foster is the person you need to free."

She's obviously losing it. I don't know a Foster. I don't know where to find a Foster. I try to tell her this, but she just keeps talking.

"You're not the strongest either. But you have to potential to be dangerous...you're too powerful to leave unchecked. You need to find Foster. He can stop this. He's stronger than me. Stronger than you. Stronger than them."

And then nothing.

Well, ****.

This day just got a whole lot more complicated.

 

[Erin]

The light of the oncoming afternoon is obscured as clouds continue to gather over the skyline of Lost Haven. A low rumble of thunder is heard in the distance, and the air smells cold and damp. The pavement looks matte and cold, unlike the usual glittering mass of rock and glass it is in the sunlight.

Pinup rounds the corner, her anger still present, though gradually subsiding with each step farther away from the Guardians' Headquarters. She breathes a small sigh, grateful at least for the fact that it is 11 AM on a Monday morning and there are very few people on the street to cast sideways glances at her ensemble. She wishes she could go back to her apartment and change into some regular clothes.

She looks up, reading the street signs and regaining her bearings. She realizes she's not terribly far from The Hub and, taking a right at the corner, she continues farther toward the nightlife district of downtown.

The Hub looks different by daylight. While the rest of the city is buzzing with life, The Hub and other nightclubs of its kind are quiet, sitting huddled on the street like sleeping dragons. Across the street from the nightclub's neon sign, turned off in the light of day, a 1963 teal Studebaker Lark convertible sat parked, lonely and dejected on the abandoned street. Pinup could admit this was not the most practical car to drive for someone whose main goal in life is to live more or less under the radar, but the Lark had an appeal she could not resist, and though it was beat up, it was an otherwise decent car.

As Pinup drew closer, she noticed the inconvenience most widely hated by all drivers ever. The yellow boot hugged the back left tire, clamped to the car as if to say "I am here, and now so will you be. For all eternity. Suck it."

"Damn." Pinup crouched next to the boot, examining its hold on her car. She thought for an instant about removing the boot by force. Though her strength was not in the same arena as Icon or other metas, it was still superhuman, and still a force to be reckoned with. As she was considering the best way to extract the taunting yellow menace from the wheel without damaging her beloved car, a crunch of pavement behind her made her look up.

"Hold it!" An unfamiliar voice commanded.

Pinup looked over her shoulder, not needing an introduction as she recognized the drones Anderson had been introducing only a few hours before. He certainly wasn't wasting time saturating the city with this new form of law enforcement. The drone lifted a large, rather intimidating firearm, aiming it at her back, which her disadvantaged position crouched next to her car allowed full access to.

"Damn." She grumbled quietly under her breath. Her hand clenched onto the car boot as she and the drone waited, locked in a momentary standstill that seemed to last forever.

 

[wiegeabo]

I knock on the open office door. "You wanted to see me?"

Broiles looks up and smiles. "I did. Walk with me." He picks up a briefcase and walks out of his office. I follow.

"The Agency got a tip that someone is smuggling a bio weapon into the country. He's supposed to be selling it in the next 24 hours. What we want to do is make a switch. So the buyer finds himself with a bogus bomb. That way we leave it to the buyer to take this guy out."

"Nice."

"Thank you. You quicksilver the case, make the swap, and get the hell out of there."

"Sounds like a walk in the park."

"That's what it should be." He hands me the briefcase. "No fuss, no muss, no bother."

I take the case gladly. About time I get some respect.

"Let's do this."

***

"Let's do this."

Hawkes follows down the hallway as the pair turn the corner..."

***

We pull up to the hotel and get out of the car. I grab the case and we walk towards the entrance. The whole time, I'm stretching my neck from side to side, trying to get it to pop. The last thing I need is the stress headache that's coming on.

Broiles reaches into his jacket and pulls out a photo. "This is what he looks like."

"Got it." I put the photo away. "So, how do we play this? Head in opposite directions and keep in touch?"

Broiles nods. "Yeah, you got it. When one of us spots him, we contact the other, and decide just what to do."

He notices me rolling my head around.

"You all right?"

"Yeah," I say, dismissing it. "It's just a headache. It sort of feels like when I go to ling without..." I notice his look of concern.

"You know what? Never mind, it's fine."

We walk inside the hotel. "Check out the lobby." Broiles starts walking away.

"You got it." I stroll through the lobby, quickly scanning the faces. When you've spent your life picking out easy marks on the fly, finding a face in a crowd is simple.

I touch my earpiece. "Lobby's clean."

"Alright. Check out the pool area. I'm going to try the meeting rooms." I spy Broiles halfway up an escalator and give him a nod.

"On it." I walk towards the back of the hotel. It's a nice place. Big and fancy, but not too ostentatious. Plenty of tourists and buisnessmen just waiting for a visit from an experienced thief.

Too bad that's not why I'm here.

Outside, I slow down, taking in all the faces walking by. I stop at the stone ledge, and lean over, looking out at he scene. I pull out the photo and start scanning everyone down near the pool.

"I'm not seeing him."

"Stick around. He may still show up."

So I start walking around the pool area, keeping out of the way, and trying not to look too foolish or creepy for a fully clothed guy strolling around the pool with a briefcase in his hand.

"Cole!"

No way. I glance behind me.

"We gotta talk."

"Hawkes! Not now!"

"Right now. Right now."

Broiles comes on the line. "Cole, who are you talking too?"

"Uhh...just some tourist."

"Well get rid of him."

I put my hand ove the receiver. "He is going to have your ass."

"The kidnapping," Hawkes says, ignoring me. "There's something bogus about it."

"Fine. We'll deal with it later."

"Later ain't gonna make it happen. We need to move on it right now."

Looking over Hawke's shoulder, I see walking down to pool side...

"Broiles...I see our guy."

 

[Blacklight]

Chapter 18: Absurdity, Thy Name is "Weapon Choices"...



It's been about three days since Ryan and I had begun my rigorous (for the most part) training regiment. Four since Josh had begun crafting my suit. Josh said that very day that it would be ready soon, so after a few exercises, Ryan and I stopped by to see how it was coming along. For some reason I decided to bring my trusty Batman yo-yo with me to help pass the time, as well as keep my yo-yo skills as well as overall hand-eye coordination from getting rusty.

We headed up the staircase, Ryan leading, and when we reached the top Ryan immediately knocked.

We could hear the faint sound of welding, hammering and sawing, but only for a moment as we heard Josh approaching the door.

"'Sup, guys." Josh greeted after opening the door.

"Nothin' much, Josh. Me and Jon just wanted to stop by and see how the suit's coming along." Ryan answered.

"It's coming along fine. Want to see?" Josh asked.

"Yeah, definitely." I responded.

The three of us headed towards the workshop, myself taking the time to do some tricks with my yo-yo on the way there. As we walked inside, we watched as Peter was continuing to produce more of the superfabric and was in the process of dipping it in the anti-tetroxidation solution, then following up with letting it soak in assorted dyes ranging from gray to dark gray to silver to black.

"Awesome!" I cheered as I continued to yo-yo it up.

"So how's the training coming along, Jon?" Josh asked me.

"Great. I've been watching Dragonball Z and playing Halo to figure out how to focus my black light powers and shoot properly, as well working on my aim. Been playing lots of Mortal Kombat and Smash Bros. and watching Power Rangers and Ninja Turtles to practice my hand to hand, and lastly I've been watching a s***-ton of superhero movies to help me forge a new persona and how to go about making myself a symbol to help the city." I exposited as I never took my eyes off the yo-yo as I spun it around and twirled it in all kinds of loops and turns with ease.

"Nice." he complimented.

"Look! I learned this from Donatello and the Blue Ranger!" I exclaimed as I picked up a thin, solid pillar of aluminum and whipped it around in a circle really fast. Then I put it back down and continued on with my yo-yo.

"Cool. You decide what kind of weapons you want?" he asked next.

"Say what now?" I asked, confused, finally letting the yo-yo fall as my concentration was broken.

"Yeah. You can't be a super-awesome superhero with out a super-awesome weapon..." Josh argued with a nonchalant grin.

"Really? Superman doesn't use weapons..." I stated.

"Nobody likes Superman." Ryan followed up matter-of-factly.

"That's not true..." I argued.

I like Superman. Spike likes Superman, too.

"Besides, Spider-Man doesn't--"

"--Webshooters count." Josh interrupted.

"I guess you're right, then. Batman's got his gadgets and belt. Cap's got his shield. Iron Man's armor's a weapon in itself. Green Lantern's ring. Thor and Mjolnir... Damn," I began, sighing.

"...I need a weapon." I sadly concluded.

Heh. I just quoted Master Chief without even thinking about it.

As I continued to f**k around with my yo-yo, I decided that I needed to ponder what my choice of weapon (or weapons) should be. But soon after I started to think, I messed up my trick and the yo-yo hit me in the face and ricocheted and hit the aluminum pole I was twirling around earlier, knocking it over. Quickly I caught it before it hit the ground, and as I looked at both of my hands, the pole in one and my yo-yo in the other, the answers soon became clear to me.


"Guys... I think I have an idea." I started to reveal, grinning.

 

[trustyside-kick]

Lost Haven
Just outside of the Guardians HQ

"You are sure that you do not want my help? Before when you first brought it up...I was less worried. But when I got back from giving Starlight her breakfast there you were, more freaked out than before and wearing this suit of armor now."

"The Guardians will need you. I'll be fine. I've got the Armor of God on me for goodness sake."

I give her a hug as we lie in the sky. Gotta say that I'm relieved that the Cloak of Zeal, aside from apparently keeping me at my physical peak as I definitely feel a bit more powerful than having nothing at all, seems to allow me to fly. As I pull her back and give her a wink, she starts to descend slowly and I can see her starting to become invisible.

"Don't be sad. Come on, it's like you said before right?"

Forcing myself a style, and trying to mask how scared I am right now, I give her a wink.

"If I allow myself to, I can surprise even myself with what I can accomplish. Those were your inspiring words after all. Nothing says one heck of an accomplishment like stopping the End of Days does it?"

"But I'd feel better if I was there to--"

"One of the few reasons I can even enter there without being dead...is due to my mixed heritage apparently. With the other two guys? Who knows. Maybe they are the same...like me in a way. You? Well...I'm not willing to test that out and have you end up getting consumed by the Flames of Hell."

"Do you even know where to find them?"

"No, but...Bath Kol's vision showed us fighting together. In the vision, I was even in the Archangel State. So at least that must mean that I'm going to succeed in my first mission. And that also means that I'm going to somehow find them. I'll just...let my Faith in the vision guide me."

Nodding, she blows me a kiss, and that little gesture boosts my confidence. With me wearing this suit of armor that is the Armor of God, like the shining knight going off to battle my lady bids him farewell with the blow of a kiss. Come to think of it...I do look pretty awesome in this. Wonder if I'll be able to keep it.

Save the world, get the most awesome souvenir known to man. Sound fair, right?

I fly off into the distance, getting my mind set for what is to come.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Dylan finishes skimming over his copy of the Harvard Law Review shaking his head as the housekeeping staff leaves from cleaning up after his lunch with Senators Edwards and Richmond.

I went to school with most of these morons. I can't believe that they made the Review. They couldn't win a case against a mute prosecutor and a jury full of their own family members.


The manager of the housekeeping staff asks, "We're finished Mr. Chambers anything else you need?"

Dylan replies, "No Francine that'll be all. Good Job and thank you all very much."

Just then Katy knocks on the door as the staff is leaving and Dylan says, "Yes."

She enters and says, "Two couriers from Senator Edwards and Senator Richmond's office just delivered these documents for you."

Katy hands him two sizable manila envelopes and he takes them saying, "Nothing like a little light reading after a big meal."

She chuckles and asks, "Will there be anything else Mr. Chambers?"

Dylan shakes his head and says, "No Katy that'll be all. Go ahead and take the rest of the afternoon off. I'll be tied up with this all-day and a good chunk of the night. Reschedule any appointments from this afternoon and then just cut on the voice-mail when you leave."


Katy smiles and says, "All-right Mr. Chambers thank you I'll see you tomorrow morning."

Dylan replies, "Have a good one Katy."

He waits until Katy leaves and then opens the envelope from Senator Edwards and pulls out a file labeled: S.T.R.I.K.E

The file is stamped in red-letters: CLASSIFIED. FOR YOUR EYES ONLY.

Dylan shakes his head and opens the file.

Like that ever does any good.

He begins reading the file and he smiles.

My kind of people.

 

[Erin]

Deep in the belly of S.T.R.I.K.E.'s head quarters, the biochemical research labs buzz like a den of hornets. Interns scuttle from one lab bench to another, delivering paperwork and copying notes. Researchers hover over machines, reading printouts excitedly.

In the middle of it all, Walter Kennedy stands talking to one of the researchers, explaining his findings. The toothbrush, now stripped of all its bristles, lies on the bench next to him. The DNA pilfered from the bristles is being tested and re-tested, and conclusions drawn faster than anyone could have anticipated. Even Walter is unaware of the tremendous impact his research has had.

Like drones, the researchers continue their experiments, isolating compounds and mapping enzymes, never asking questions other than those necessary for recreating the Super Serum.

Only one eyebrow is raised in the laboratories. Dr. Teufel wanders through the rows of benches, checking on progress as he ponders the source of the DNA. This was no vial of rat blood or a genetically enhanced monkey.

"He has a partner." Teufel thinks. "Somewhere out there, someone is walking around who has actually been injected with the serum, and apparently it works."

He watches Walter blithely guide an intern through a particularly puzzling chemical change, and can't help but hazard the faintest semblance of a smirk.

"It doesn't matter." He reaffirms himself silently. "We have the old man. We have no use for whoever the mystery-meta is."

 

[swarm]

Swarm Chapter 1 an introduction



There on the40th floor was a cable inlet .A small detachment went up to investigate; the conduit was open and they crawled in , a mesh screen was no barrier . Down through the ducting they flew to the 15th floor and the management suite of Global Chemicals. Multifaceted eyes watched Robert Hathaway chief exec open the safe .


There they could see the data sticks which held the formula that had destroyed Philip.


This chemical could destroy the whole of humanity turning it into a buzzing crawling mass of insects . He had to have it , corporations had no sense and although they deserved to die as he had done there was still his wife . And yet...


A few individuals detached themselves from the group and waited the rest returned to the swarm .




Robert left the office heading for his car , he had seen a few wasps around today but you always got a few around the facility. He heard an angry buzzing and there wasps all around him in a thick cloud too many to shoo away . Then the voice came , “zoltaac your new pesticide destroyed me and now its time for me to destroy you “
The man screamed as the pain started with wasps crawling all over and stinging . They went into his mouth , down his clothes , up his shirt. In less than five minutes it was all over . The swarm started to chew detaching gobbets of flesh eating into his eyeball and tongue. There was enough meat for all. Then the pest control van rounded the corner ... Fortuneately they were not heading for him but he could taste the poisons coming off the van .


Phillip returned to the lab . Slipping in through the ducting he had originally left through . He moved not his clothes starting to try and maintain a vaguely human state. A few minutes later he managed to walk and fill his clothe.s although he looked like a drunk . A pair of neopren gloves gave a semblance to hands . The biggest problem was his face or rather the lack of it . Then Phillip remembered the beekeeping hats with the large brim and veil . This could supply him with something of a personality and keep prying eyes at a distance.
Using the computer was something of a problem but soon he managed to get some sort of work done .
His accidental attack on Penn ,his wife, last night , had left him with deep remorse and potential problems . Thee was he felt no going back to that relationship , he couldn't easily speak , and any kind of physical contact was out of the question. . Perhaps she would better off without him .
Carefully and difficulty he picked up the phone. She answered “Hello what do want what the h*** is going on ? “
“[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]I' m changed , the Zoltaan has destroyed me , what is left is a swarm of wasps. I can keep working and pay the bills . Any way I've go tenure. But I cant face us not being able to being intimate, knowing what I've done to you. [/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Her voice was shaking and she was choking back he tears , “ I love you Phillip, come back to me “ but there was only a buzzing on the line . [/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]A few minutes later Phillip swept downstairs , the lift was not an option and he couldn't fly in clothes . Security waved him out not even looking up form the evening paper and the report of a man killed by wasps. A hundred yards down he road was an undertakers phillip flew into the workshop and waited . There on the side were what he wanted glass eyes and cometics . The technician was working on a corpse . The stench of fly spray hung in the air he was already starting to feel unwell and one or two of the weakest were getting giddy. Taking what he wanted Phillip left and headed home . [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Penny was in the lounge he face massively swollen , he walked in she screamed , and then swung at him with the vicious punch he had learnt in boxing class. He began to speak in the long slow droing voice he now had .” [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Darling I'm here” , [/FONT]he buzzed the works forming with difficulty . [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]“I need clothes and bandages, so I can move around .” [/FONT]She screamed again and then started to get his disguise together . It was them against the world again .[/FONT]

 

[sabetoonth]

Edit

 

[sabetoonth]

They were down in that room, the one that seemed to be located in the center of the earth. Though in reality simply deep underneath the city, a room inside a cavern system. Grim sat in his big, forest green high-back chair. Elijah sat in the smaller reddish brown seat, drinking some concoction made by Grim. It tasted awful, he didn't know what was in it and wasn't sure if he wanted to.

"What did they want?" Eli was the first to speak since they'd arrived. the Reaper was staring into the fire, as if thinking intently. Something Elijah hadn't seen often, but he'd seen it enough on other people to know what it was. His mom, Mitch, he actually needed to go see them both to be sure they were alright. Who knew if the same demons or others might crawl out of hell to try and get to him through them. He didn't get an answer from the immortal mentor of his. "Grim?" He spoke louder, and the entity seemed to come back to this world.

"Things are setting in motion Elijah. They would be only the beginning. But there are more important things to be brewing at the moment." He focused his eyes on Elijah in the dim light. It no longer bothered Eli like it had in the beginning, he'd been spending plenty enough time down here. "There are two people you need to meet. Somewhat like you." His words were clear yet vague. Why did he need to meet this people? Who were they? Like him? Half demons? superhuman? "I believe the fate of this world depends upon it."

"The fate of this world?" Talk about laying it on heavy. He had to meet people like him and save the world? "What's going to happen?"

The old man, the very very old 'man', stood out of his chair and moved just to the side of it before casting an image into the shadows, And from the darkest shadows in the room stepped the forms of two men. One with wings, it was one of Guardians, The Archangel. And the other he didn't really recognize. But he wearing a Greek helmet and a coat.

"These men, like you they are not only of this world." the images flickered before finally falling back into the dark. Grim turned around. "You must find The Archangel and Cerberus. For your destinies intertwine with what is to come." Elijah looked at him like he was crazy. But he'd learned that really didnt bother the Grim Reaper anymore.

"And what's to come?"

"The Apacolypse."

 

[NiteMare Shape]

As I make my way home after rerouting the flow of lava that threatened a large portion of Tokyo, my mind races in a thousand different directions. My thoughts bounce back and forth between Anderson's increased aggressiveness in his campaign to eliminate what he calls the metahuman threat, as well as the tension between myself and Keira that has developed since Pinup's mishap at The Hub.

But most troubling of all is the infighting amongst The Guardians. With Michael and Matt at each other's throats, things have definitely been alittle uncomfortable around the base, though hopefully we were able to get everything hashed out, but I don't know...there's just something off about Matt, and I'm hoping that it's just the stress of the situation with S.T.R.I.K.E, but I'm afraid that there may be something more to it.

I make a mental note to talk to Matt when I get back and see if I can't figure out exactly what is bothering him, or if it really just is the pressure of the current situation...when suddenly I hear them.

I could have heard them from miles away...I take a second to scan the area and I spot them right away, several matte black assault choppers, heading right towards me.

I come to a stop, hovering in the sky as the choppers make their approach. An instant later, a voice booms from a megaphone.

"Icon! We need to talk." The amplified voice says, and it is a voice I recognize immediately. There, standing in the open doorway of the chopper stands Marcus Ryder.

Well, this can't be good.

"You don't need the megaphone Ryder, I can hear you fine without it. Now, What do you want?"

 

[Hound55]

He doesn't seem to be on her good side at all, they appear not to like each other at all. If he's going after her there is know telling what may occur. It may be best for me to come along just to try and keep the peace.

"Yeah I'll come along." Not even but for a strong 1 hour and things are still lively as ever.

Main reason for me coming back is to prove to myself that I'm ready to get back into the swing of things. I will admit this wasn't what I was thinking but I guess you have to begin with baby steps.

[BLACKOUT]"Great, great..."[/BLACKOUT] Isaac says, his mind pre-occupied with other matters. [BLACKOUT]"Gimme two minutes. See if you can do that thing where you listen in and trace her by her heart-rate... before she gets too far away."[/BLACKOUT]

Isaac goes back to his pack. He lifts his jumper and checks his new pager has had nothing incoming and then checks his gear.

Opening his pack he's met by a wafting stench which not only assaults his senses, but steals their wallet and leaves them bleeding in the moonlight.

"Ugh..." He checks his standard ordnance. All there still, seemingly undisturbed. He pulls his pack on and tightens the straps, before picking up his mouthpiece to check for traces off filth from the previous night... he can smell them before he can see them.

Walking into the bathroom, he runs it under water, being careful to hold the voice modulating apparatus away from direct contact with water.

"Not a great job but I guess it'll have to do..."

Before he leaves, he grabs his grapple gun and checks the room a final time before switching the light off.

Walking back down the hall to where the kid is waiting, he comes across Gunny, carrying something and walking towards him.

A clean pack loaded with gear.

An audible exhalation of frustration is emitted from the voice modulator, as the dark figure pinches at the mask on the bridge of his nose. Not bothering further with the irritation he passes Gunny with a grumble and storms towards the main entrance, where Youngster waits.

Remembering that he'd been forced to abandon his Guardians funded car after previous altercations with S.T.R.I.K.E he broke the silence with the news.

[BLACKOUT]"My car's... temporarily out of commission. But I hear you can push Blur to the limit these days... Looks like I'm luggage."[/BLACKOUT]

The Youngster beamed at this news. Clearly eager to get back into the swing of things and to show off just what he could do these days. Within seconds, the pair were following the trail of the new metahuman courtesy of the Youngster's superhearing and speed.

"So she went back down towards the strip..." Isaac made a mental note "...huh, makes sense."

"Looks like trouble..." Isaac hears, whilst Samson pulls up a safe distaance from the scene.

"Hold it!" An unfamiliar voice commanded.

Pinup looked over her shoulder, not needing an introduction as she recognized the drones Anderson had been introducing only a few hours before. He certainly wasn't wasting time saturating the city with this new form of law enforcement. The drone lifted a large, rather intimidating firearm, aiming it at her back, which her disadvantaged position crouched next to her car allowed full access to.

"Damn." She grumbled quietly under her breath. Her hand clenched onto the car boot as she and the drone waited, locked in a momentary standstill that seemed to last forever.

[BLACKOUT]"Some kind of robot... With a S.T.R.I.K.E emblem on it. Huh... that's new."[/BLACKOUT]

Isaac checks his ammunition and raises his grapple gun. Takes aim and pulls the trigger.

He sees the feminine figure, already crouching, drop to the ground in pain rubbing her leg.

[BLACKOUT]"I'm going to hear about that later..."[/BLACKOUT] he muttered to himself, before running in a straight line at the downed metahuman.

[BLACKOUT]"Stay down!!"[/BLACKOUT]

Silent command sequences triggered in the drone.
[BLACKOUT]Primary target now medium threat. Sensors detecting secondary threat. Detecting... Secondary threat located. Secondary target High Threat! New Primary Target. Threat High![/BLACKOUT]

While Isaac ran to the fallen Pinup, he hoped he'd read the situation correctly. A flash of doubt crossed his face as the drone's assault rifle swung across seemingly targeting him, causing him to duck further as he ran until he saw it swing over his he'd and target the Youngster who successfully ran decoy drawing the drone's fire.

Reaching the place where Pinup lay rubbing her leg, Isaac reached across and pushed the drone's firearm upwards causing it to shoot its own head, before yanking the firearm clear and finishing the robot with a burst of automatic fire.

Pinup looked up at him with disdain.

[BLACKOUT]"What? It's a concussive bolt, you'll just wind up with a bruised leg..."[/BLACKOUT]

She removed her hands revealing the injury's full extent.

[BLACKOUT]"Alright, maybe a welt..."[/BLACKOUT]