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

[Carnage27]

"So where are you going to start looking for these others?" Chiron asks as he closes the door to my room in the Eye behind him. "We didn't even know Penny was a demigod, let alone where the other surviving children of Olympus are across the country."

"I dunno," I shrug. It's the truth, too. Hades, my father, really had no idea how to find them either. The Gods' power has been draining for hundreds of years due to people failing to believe in them. Their omnipresent power has dwindled in the same vein. I'm on my own on this one. "Guess I'll just go and try my luck on the open road."

"Take Sirius with you," Chiron says. "He's Orion's hunting dog. He'll be able to find Godly blood."

"I summoned him to protect mom," I respond as I lie down. I'm so tired after the past few weeks.

"She'll stay here and Nysus and I will do that," he responds. "You need every resource you can get."

I think about it for a while, and realize it's the best idea, "You're right, as usual. I guess I'll rest up for a week or two and then-"

BAM

An explosion of light forms in my room and three beautiful women clad in black mystically appear in the center of the room.

Before I can say anything the three begin to talk at the same time, "The heavens and earth have crossed before, and they will cross again. Power swells in the dark corners of the earth, and only they can stop it."

BAM

Another flash of light and they disappear, but the light gives me a vision of myself fighting alongside what looks like a devil and an angel.

"Did you see that as well?" Chiron asks.

"Yup...looks like I'm not going to be resting for long."
​

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Dylan closes the files on S.T.R.I.K.E given to him by his Government contacts.

Interesting gentleman this Director Anderson. Dedicated to what he believes, is willing to what it takes to get the jobs done, and hates the Heroes as much as I do. Although we have differing reasons for it the bottom line is we want them out of here and if possible dead. I just need an open door to meet him and his team members.

He makes himself a scotch on the rocks and begins nursing it as he cuts on the evening news.

Tina Baldwin one of the local anchors begins relating a story about an accident on the interstate.

Ahhh yes if it bleeds it leads. I taught you well Tina. I still think the best move I ever made selling that media company. Nothing but glitz, egos, airheads....

Tina says, "More on the accident as the story develops. Now our own award winning Investigative Reporter Jon Price brings us part one of an on-going investigation into the Government Agency called S.T.R.I.K.E Jon."

Jon says, "Thank you Tina. For some time The Government Agency has been operating within our city without many questions being asked. Their on-going skirmishes with the meta-humans have been well documented, but what service do they exactly provide and who are they? To many they represent Government oversight into our lives run amok, they do more harm than good while the metahumans seek to protect us and aid an overworked and underpaid police department, and S.T.R.I.K.E is just another Government agency that has carte blanche to do whatever it wants without fear of prosecution or being held in check."

Dylan turns up the volume slightly as video piece about S.T.R.I.K.E. A lot of file video and anonymous sources. A few people telling about what they've seen, and some video of cell-phones are the most compelling peices of evidence.

Come on Jon do it you sensationalistic blabber mouth come on pull out the trump card now. If this is all you got your career is over! Anderson will rip you to shreds. Unless you say the phrase that pays. !

Jon says, "Over the next couple of nights I will not only be reporting more on this Government Agency but I will be introducing you to several more innocent citizens who have been directly affected by S.T.R.I.K.E's over-zealous methods who are ready to come forward to speak out against them and hold them accountable which our elected officials are unwilling to do."

Tina asks, "Jon are you saying that these people may be seeking to take legal action?"

Jon replies, "I'd rather not say at this time Tina that is for tomorrow night."

Dylan yells, "DING-DING-DING AND THERE IT IS! YES! THANK YOU!"

He quickly finishes his drink and says, "Oh Johnny boy! You did it! You gave me my opening you beautiful bastard! HA HA! Ask and ye shall receive."

Dylan watches the rest of the newscast and then calls Katy.

He says, "Good evening Katy sorry to be calling you at home. Are you busy right now? This is work related don't worry."

Katy replies, "It's all-right Mr. Chambers I was just getting ready to go get some dinner at the Italian Grill. What's going on? What do you need?"

Dylan asks, "Did you just see Jon Price's story?"

Katy replies, "Yes sir, but I didn't think too much of it. He's a clod and a blowhard."

Dylan replies, " I agree with you, but if you could please bring your dinner with you to the office. I need your help. I have a press release I want to draft."

Katy says, "All-right Mr. Chambers no problem. Do you want anything for dinner?"

Dylan replies, "No I'm good Katy thank you. Get here as quick as you can."

He hangs up the phone and within two hours of Jon Price's story Dylan issues the following press release:


For Immediate Release from Dylan Chambers Attorney at Law.

For the past several months I have kept a somewhat low profile in the legal arena taking on very few cases since my return from Washington D.C. as your Representative. My reason are my own for this low profile , but after watching KHON Reporter Jon Price’s extremely biased story against the men and women of S.T.R.I.K.E I can no longer remain silent.

The men and women of this Government Agency are doing all that they can for each of us. We live in dangerous times alongside those who see themselves as being above the law. Those who refuse to follow due-process as prescribed by the law and take the law out of the hands of the people and seek to use it for their own gain. S.T.R.I.K.E is a Government Agency that operates within the confines of the United States Government.

Therefore if there is any legal action taken against any member of S.T.R.I.K.E I will offer my services in their defense free of charge. I cannot and will not stand by while an over-zealous wanna-be tabloid journalist and a few money grubbing leaches seek to impede the progress of this valued organization.

I believe in the rights of all Americans and that both sides of a story must be told. Jon Price and the others are telling one side now I will do all that I can to ensure that the other side is told.

Respectfully,

Dylan Chambers Esq.

 

[Carnage27]

I stand on a roof in Lost Haven and wait. I know the one man in the vision the Moirae gave to me. It was of Archangel, from the group known as the Guardians. I had seen him on the news before, and I know he's based in Lost Haven as well, and I figure if I wait long enough I'll run into him.

After that...who knows. I've been pulled in the complete opposite way than I was expecting to go. Searching for more demigods would have been hard. But hell, at least I knew what I was getting myself into in that situation. Now? Who knows. I mean the Moirae, The Fates, just showing up to deliver me a message is not a normal occurrence. Even in stories of old warriors needed to search them out.

And the message. Heavens and earth colliding and darkness swelling. It doesn't bode well. And needing to team up with Archangel and this other...demon. I don't know what to think. But it's something important, that's for sure.

Getting impatient, I fire a plume of fire into the sky, attempting to draw attention to myself. If I'm going to meet these people, I want to meet them fast, and get back to my real mission.
​

 

[trustyside-kick]

It's pretty unreal but as I'm flying through the skies in the Armor of God...I feel like I'm not in fact wearing anything at all. It's that light. And with different pieces of armor I feel...incredible things. Yea, that's about the lamest and only way I can describe it. Makes me wonder if there is more to these pieces of armor than simply their names and the fact that, you know, it the freakin' Armor of God.

To my luck, I'm not tailed or even targeted by any potential S.T.R.I.K.E. convoys. I'm still within Lost Haven city limits, but I guess this district simply doesn't have as much meta activity or something. For the first time in a while as I'm flying about, breathing fresh air I feel...safe.

And the message. Heavens and earth colliding and darkness swelling. It doesn't bode well. And needing to team up with Archangel and this other...demon. I don't know what to think. But it's something important, that's for sure.

Getting impatient, I fire a plume of fire into the sky, attempting to draw attention to myself. If I'm going to meet these people, I want to meet them fast, and get back to my real mission.​

​

And that's when the feeling goes away. That ain't normal. That doesn't just...happen every day. Guess I was wrong and there is some metahuman activity and S.T.R.I.K.E. just doesn't know it yet. But they could. Soon. Real soon. Gotta try to figure out what the situation is before I--

Oh...oh dang. It's...him. One of the two guys from my vision! Sweet! Heh, at this rate, I'll have my blessings returned to me and bestowed upon me for the first Tuesday every and everything will be good again. Er...minus the part where I then have to try to prevent the potential End of Days.

I descend to the ground, my distance kept as I don't want to startle him nor do I want to make my presence quite known. I slowly walk my way into the open area he has left himself exposed to, and study him.

Thinking back I think...his name was Cerberus?

"YO! Cerberus!"

Instantly he faces me, in a defensive pose, and I can already see fire starting to whirl around him. Making it obvious that I'm not here to fight him, I toss down the Sword of Spirit and the Shield of Faith, rendering myself somewhat defenseless as that leaves the other remaining pieces of the Armor of God on me, and I gesture gently.

"Woah dude. Chill for a second. Me? Good guy. You...also good guy? This is going to sound insane but...something about me finding you here and us working together is...destined to be so."

He doesn't seem convinced, and it looks like he is studying me rather thoroughly and I decide to remove the rest of the pieces of the Armor of God to make myself 100% exposed and vulnerable.

"The name's Michael Angelo. You know...Archangel from the Guardians. I'm not here to harm you, bud. You...might be wondering where my usual, well...'get-up' is right? I mean, I don't even got my wings for one and...well, that's partially what this is about. Let's just say right now I'm technically off-duty putting in some over-time."

 

[Erin]

[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]

A spray of gunfire rains over their heads as the android loses track of The Youngster momentarily. Pinup grabs Vigilante's shoulder, pushing him to the pavement and ducking, covering her head with her hand.

"I thought I told you not to follow me." She grumbles at him in a tone that seems to say "I'm glad you did, but you didn't have to shoot me you dumb bastard."

Pinup glances back in time to see the droid once again lock on to The Youngster and turn its back on the pair of them. She takes the moment and grips the car boot. With both hands, she pulls the boot apart and, with moderate force and the squeak of straining metal, the boot separates from the wheel. The head of the android swivels back to the car and Pinup stands, hurling the boot with tremendous force and surprising accuracy. The twisted heap of offensively yellow steel collides with the android's gun, succeeding in knocking the droid's entire arm from its body. Confused sparks spout from the socket and the droid stands dumbly in the street.

"If that thing's loaded, I'd use it now." She nods her head in the direction of Vigilante's grapple gun before taking a painful step backward. She looks down at her leg. The shot from Vigilante earlier has left an angry welt, already darkening as the area around the point of impact swells. "Damn." She mutters again as she realizes her only method of healing herself is across town in a storage locker. She makes another dash to the car, opening the door and sliding into the driver's seat.

"When you're done, get in." She orders the others quickly, retrieving her keys from her belt and jamming them into the ignition. They aren't her first choice for company, but she'd readily admit she wouldn't want to face any more STRIKE droids alone.

 

[sabetoonth]

"The Apocalypse!?" Elijah damn ear shouted towards Death incarnate.

"Apocalypse, End of Days, Final Battle. Many names for the same event. The end of the world as you know it." For the topic of conversation Grim was pretty freaking casual about it.

Elijah could only wonder about this more, any words he tried to express quickly became lost in the trip from his brain to his mouth.

"Elijah Stokes. Go yo Lost Haven, home of the Guardians, home of these men. Lives depend upon it."

********************************

Elijah had made all the way from New York City to Lost Haven. He thought about making the trip in flight but decided he would rather assure himself he was going to dive into the sea. With access to Grim's accounts he rented a car and drove.

But now he was in the sky, some time had passed since Grim had shown him the apparitions of Archangel and this Cerberus guy, but Eli still had their faces and attire committed to memory.

He stalked the shadows as he searched for one or for a way to contact them.

The Apocalypse. Stokes couldn't help but shake his head at the notion he was supposed to save the world while perched on the back of a gargoyle. And that had nothing to do with being the son of Satan. Until recently sure he'd felt like there was something more but he had been normal, he had just been him, just Elijah. Now he was going to save the world with the help of a demi-god and an angel.

And the message. Heavens and earth colliding and darkness swelling. It doesn't bode well. And needing to team up with Archangel and this other...demon. I don't know what to think. But it's something important, that's for sure.

Getting impatient, I fire a plume of fire into the sky, attempting to draw attention to myself. If I'm going to meet these people, I want to meet them fast, and get back to my real mission.
​

And then from his perch, he was pulled from his thoughts by a column of fire shot into the sky. There were few things it could be but really all were things that could more than likely use him. And so he leaped off the stone figure and took flight. He was feeling kind of anxious about meeting these other two, they seemed to have some kind of divine connection while his connection to the other world(s) was to the damned. Very different, Angels, gods and devils.

Instantly he faces me, in a defensive pose, and I can already see fire starting to whirl around him. Making it obvious that I'm not here to fight him, I toss down the Sword of Spirit and the Shield of Faith, rendering myself somewhat defenseless as that leaves the other remaining pieces of the Armor of God on me, and I gesture gently.

"Woah dude. Chill for a second. Me? Good guy. You...also good guy? This is going to sound insane but...something about me finding you here and us working together is...destined to be so."

He doesn't seem convinced, and it looks like he is studying me rather thoroughly and I decide to remove the rest of the pieces of the Armor of God to make myself 100% exposed and vulnerable.

"The name's Michael Angelo. You know...Archangel from the Guardians. I'm not here to harm you, bud. You...might be wondering where my usual, well...'get-up' is right? I mean, I don't even got my wings for one and...well, that's partially what this is about. Let's just say right now I'm technically off-duty putting in some over-time."

He landed some distance from the column's source, trying to remain unoticeable. He stuck to what little shadows there were, not that they were sufficent for over as he cautiously approached, he saw both of them there. Archangel stripped of some kind of armor. It wasn't his usual outfit, and Cerberus seemed to be on the defensive. He remained some what distant and observed and listened to them before he revealed himself. Wings folded on his back but not tucked away as if never there, his eyes glowing that shade of red that is usually attributed to the bad guy in the cartoon, movie or video game. But what else would you be expecting from a cambion? baby blue? He kept his distance, but they both seemed to notice him easily regardless, and they both seemed more worried about him now than each other. But you could you blame them when they were looking at him?

"Hey." Inferno held up his hands. "I'm one of the good guys." Wanted by the police for multiple charges of assault and destruction of property, but he was a good guy regardless. Just protecting the innocent with more force than some others did.

 

[trustyside-kick]

He kept his distance, but they both seemed to notice him easily regardless, and they both seemed more worried about him now than each other. But you could you blame them when they were looking at him?

"Hey." Inferno held up his hands. "I'm one of the good guys." Wanted by the police for multiple charges of assault and destruction of property, but he was a good guy regardless. Just protecting the innocent with more force than some others did.

"Could've fooled me."

But he does match 100% the image from the vision that Bath Kol showed me. Though...the real thing is a bit more intense. This morning was the first time that Bath Kol ever showed me 'how he sees things' through that left, gifted, eye of his. And seeing as Cerberus seems to put down his guard, I can only assume he knows of him as well or something. Plus the fact that this Inferno guy--I think that was the name Bath Kol told me--popped in just as I did really...well that says something.

And is freaky as hell.

"I don't know about you guys, but I know for a fact that our meeting up here isn't mere coincidence. I was just telling Cerberus here that this was meant to happen. While everything about me screams 'supernatural and angelic' to be honest my forte isn't in that department. I've just been more of a superhero than a divine agent in the long run."

As I am bending down to pick up the pieces of armor and such, as I think it and am about to act, they suddenly just fit themselves back onto me.

Awesome.

Freakin' cool. Like it just all 'returned to me' on commanded. Only, you know...appeared rather. Manifested itself once again.

Wicked.

Do that again, please. Though, obviously it is on to business. All three of us start to walk towards one another, and as we are a few feet away, suddenly I feel something overcome me.

"AAHH!! AAAARRGGGH!!! What...THE--AAAAAAHHH!!"

It's like something is...ripping into my head all of a sudden. Falling onto my knees, as I look up, the other two seem to be going through a similar type of excruciating pain. I try to get on one knee, all the while clasping my head with both hands, but it is no use.

Suddenly, I'm levitating into the air, and while I cannot control my body or even utter a word for myself, I can see what is going on. It's like...being in a costume that is in fact your body and seeing the actions through someone else's eyes. It's like...well...similar to what I felt when The Goddess took control of me and used me to attack the other Guardians.

But how can this be possible? How can this be--

"To err is not in fact human at all. Let justice be done through the heavens' fall."

WHAT? What did I just say? I--AAAHHH!!
​

"A sense of betrayal of the simplest kind, inflicting wounds in which there is no healing of the mind."

"An act of great deceit, the oldest of old, through hubris of incalculable scales, these wicked deeds be bold."

"Employing a prophet to a level so atrocious, so vile, the most unforgivable of them all: Let justice be done through the heavens' fall."

"For the sake of the world shall The Prophets of the Unknown form. Trials a many shall bring together unity, peace, but first bring much scorn. A Prophet of the Immortals, a Prophet of the Divine, and a Prophet of the Damned. Lo and behold, one will play into a higher power's most devious plan."

And suddenly...I have full control of my body yet again, I no longer feel persuaded or possessed, and like the others I fall right onto the floor. Flat on my ass.

I...don't know what just happened. I--I knew that the three of us was going to be fighting together to prevent the end of the world, but...that...prophecy that seemed to envelop us beyond our control. So much of it...shrouded in mystery and not really clear. Only bits and pieces as I try to recall it made any sense to me at all. There is one thing that is for certain though. One thing that ringed true oh too well.

And I'm scared straight.

...

...

...

One of us is going to bring about the end of the world.

...But who? And how?

"Guess that...makes me the Prophet of the Divine? Heh...'go team'?"
​

 

[sumowrestler]

3pm An old strip mall on the outskirts of Lost Haven

Angela sneaks another glance at Victor behind the counter. The assistant manager of Odd Collections Bookstore is a cute 5’8” blonde fine built early 20s guy who flirts with almost any woman who walks into the store. It seems that Angela is one of the few exceptions to that rule. She doesn’t know if it is because she a co-worker or simply lack of interest. Very likely it is more of the latter then the former as is the way with every guy Angela has ever met. Angela then returns to her dusting, organizing, and straightening the books on the shelves. It isn’t a bad job for $8.00\hr especially she when she can sneak in the occasional glance at her cute co-worker wishing that he would bestow even a fraction of the attention he gives the women customers. All she hears from him is commands to clean this or get that book or put this book there. Her attention isn’t drawn back towards the front counter and door until the bell above the door rings whenever a customer walks in. Out of habit, Angela looks over and sees an attractive older woman walk in with a good sized book in hand. The woman sets the book on the counter and looks at Victor’s name tag.

“Hmm, I can’t read the cover. What kind of book is this?”

“OH, Assistant Manager Victor, it is a book that would fit in here quite nicely. You see, it is indeed very odd and old. It pains me to depart with it but I simply running out of room in my own library. I’ve sold off several other books to various book stores and to my surprise made a decent amount of money. You see, most of my books are what some would consider antiques. The hard part is finding stores that not just understand what I have to sell but must have the right people in the store who would appreciate the books. This book didn’t like any of the other places that I sold the rest at but definitely had a connection to this one. Once I saw your sign, I knew it was right in choosing this place. Now, what will you give me for such rare artifact?”

Victor stares at the book dumb founded but when he looks slowly up at Holly taking his sweet time from the book and counter all the way from her waist to her large bosom then up to her face, he smiles and has the usual glean in his eyes when he notices a beautiful woman. He then picks up the book which he struggles for a moment to lift and then takes a step backwards almost falling over onto his back. Luckily he regains his footing as he turns the book over in his hands

“I think I will give you $10 but no more. I’m very uneasy buying a book even from such a beautiful woman such yourself if I can’t understand the cover.”

“Would you then let me do a trade then, my dear Victor?”

Victor’s face reddens a little when the woman called him ‘dear’ Victor. He then places the book down back onto the counter.

“A trade, for a gorgeous woman likes you? I believe I could swing that even though it isn’t usual store policy if I have troubles understanding the cover. Amanda, come here and take this book for this customer.”

Angela walks over to the counter with dust rag in hand. She puts the rag down onto a stool next to the counter.

“It is Angela, not Amanda, Victor.”

“It is Assistant Manager Victor to you and I’ll call you whatever I want to. Now take this book and show this lady whatever she wants to look at.”

Angela takes the book and the woman follows her to the back of the store. Angela looks at the cover and is surprised. Then she looks back at Victor and slowly shakes her head.

“I don’t know why he had troubles reading the cover. It is in English and the letters are large enough that an almost blind person could read it.”

“My young Angela, one has to be open to different languages and possibilities in order to read this book. You, my friend, are such a person while your assistant manager is so full of himself that the only thing he is interested in is looking at women and drool. He isn’t worth your time or effort. Now, let me see what other books you have that may peak my interest.”

Angela is taken back by what the customer had said about her and her crush on Victor. She then starts putting the book in the occult section by alphabetical order. The customer scans the books starting with ancient history and then goes over to the ancient languages.

“May I be so bold to ask your name? This may sound strange but you really don’t sound or look like our more usual customers. If I would have to guess, your outfit would come from the Baltic region of Europe during the 1300s.”

“So I was right in thinking that you had a brain in that head of yours after all, Angela Thornberry. You still need to train your heart but that will take time and effort. As for my name, it is Holly Warshink in this time but you can call me Hagath. I can tell that you have a very natural gift for the unusual even more then your ancestors have had. Yes, you are definitely a young woman with great potential indeed. Ah, this book on Ancient European Baltic region will do. It is always good to find a book about your old home especially one that starts post Roman era. Way too many people focus on Rome and a little bit of its fall and then the Byzantine Empire but not much after that.”

Holly takes her new book and walks on out waving it in front of Victor as she exits the door. Angela stares at her as she walks out wondering what the world she was talking about. Victor shakes his head and then notices what time it is.

“Hey Ashley, it is 5:30 and I need to get out of here for my date. You know what to do to close up the shop at 6:00. I probably won’t be in tomorrow morning until 11. That means you get to open up the store with what is his name at 8. Don’t be too surprised that I come in later than that. It might be one of those nights.”

Victor walks out the door not even looking back at Angela. She then turns back towards the books knowing that they won’t ever abandon her or feel like she is anything less then some random name. Maybe this Hagath was correct and Victor with all of his looks she would simply be wasting her time chasing after him. Then the book that Hagath dropped caught Angela’s eyes again and she pulled it out. Angela starts thumbing through it and comes to a page. The words had a faint glow to them and Angela starts to mouth a few of the words. The more she read and mouthed, more excited she got because it was a spell for great beauty. Somehow the words’ meanings made sense to her even though the literal meaning didn’t make sense. She rereads the words but louder.

“Hedra sala ohe zeula”
(She who wants beauty)

“Gwour dhelia fah cour”
(Can have her greatest desire)

“Tola quer swala vehna”
(If she is willing)

“Lilla prit wada beeni”
(To offer own self)

“Ou tre vehna”
(I am willing)

“Ou tre vehna”
(I am willing)

“Ou tre vehna”
(I am willing)

After the second reading, the letters glow a bright red and a red mist comes from the book becoming a cloud around her. Angela waves her hand trying to the mist away and then it goes back into the book just as quick as it came out. She shuts the book and puts it back scratching her head wondering what just happen. Then she shrugs and goes to check the time. It is 6:15 and knows she’ll hear it from Victor when or more likely if he comes in tomorrow for keeping the shop open the extra 15 minutes. She does the usual closing routine and shuts off the lights as she walks out the door locking it. The sun was starting to go down and Angela pulls up her jacket to shield herself from the slight wind during the fall early evening. She then heads home and upon reaching her humble apartment, slumps on top of her bed and find her suddenly asleep.

 

[sabetoonth]

"To err is not in fact human at all. Let justice be done through the heavens' fall."

WHAT? What did I just say? I--AAAHHH!!
​

"A sense of betrayal of the simplest kind, inflicting wounds in which there is no healing of the mind."

"An act of great deceit, the oldest of old, through hubris of incalculable scales, these wicked deeds be bold."

"Employing a prophet to a level so atrocious, so vile, the most unforgivable of them all: Let justice be done through the heavens' fall."

"For the sake of the world shall The Prophets of the Unknown form. Trials a many shall bring together unity, peace, but first bring much scorn. A Prophet of the Immortals, a Prophet of the Divine, and a Prophet of the Damned. Lo and behold, one will play into a higher power's most devious plan."​

​

The event couldny have been fast enough for Elijah while that pain coursed through his body and the prophecy spilled out his mouth. It felt like someone was tearing into his skull, and not just to get at his brain but his mind. If that was anything like demonic possession he never wanted to suffer that again, in any form. The words strange as they entered the air from their mouths.

So when they were finally let...dropped down from their suspension. Inferno took a moment to get his head back together, his usual semi cool self was not so. He was kind of scared because of what had just happened. He got to his feet when he could. Looking at the first of them to speak, Archangel.

"Guess that...makes me the Prophet of the Divine? Heh...'go team'?"

"Go team? What the hell was that?" He question to the better known among them. Stokes knew nothing about a prophecy, his mentor had told him that they had to fight together to stop the end, but gave him next to no details. But what "they" had all just said, gave a simple notion all to clear to the demon spawn. One of them was going to be responsible for bringing on the End Times. But Elijah had no better idea of the culprit or how they'd be doing it. He knew it was a good chance he was going to be the most suspected for his...less than admirable looks and heritage. And so on the offensive it was.

"All I know is that we're going to fight. Together. And our fate's tie into the Apocalypse. That's what the Grim Reaper told me...." The armored hero made his reveal of how he found out and what he knew, his tone aggressively assertive, those were the facts he was putting forth. A demon and the Grim Reaper still didn't look like the most heroic duo ever. And so his eyes moved between the Prophets of the Divine and the immortals. it was clear he was the Prophet of the Damned. Yippy Skippy.

 

[Carnage27]

I stumble a bit as I regain control of my own body. I don't know what that was, but it sure was creepy. The prophecy that the three of us spoke took us over, mind and body. It was like I was watching the three of us from outside my body, reciting the words.

And the words were fearful. Apparently I'm the Prophet of the Immortals, which makes sens. But one of us is going to bring about the end of the world. Even though we were supposed to fight together, one of us would end everything we know and love. Everything would cease to exist.

I know it's not me. I mean, I have a mission to stop the Titans from returning and tearing the Earth apart. It has to be one of them. It has to be.

"I know one thing," I say to my two new "allies". "I'm no horseman of the apocalypse. I'll keep my eyes on you two."

I don't draw my sword or raise my shield, though. "But we need to work together for now. The Greek Moirae, you probably know them as The Fates, came to me in a vision yesterday and showed me a vision of you two fighting by my side against some common threat. I don't know what that threat is, but I think we should deal with that before we deal with who's going to end the world."
​

 

[sumowrestler]

R.O.C.​

Five Months Ago-Lost Haven

Keith was an ordinary officer of the bike unit for LHPD. His skills at riding including stunt driving though surpassed anything that the LHPD instructors have ever seen including the professional motorcycle stunt drivers. He has served faithfully for 10 years in the LHPD and 8 years in the bike unit. On one of his days off, he drives around on his Honda bike enjoying the beautiful sunny day. Unknown to him, one of the criminals he put in prison six months ago got out that day and sought revenge. The criminal launched a rocket at Keith but stumbled backwards as it launched.

"Take this you stinking bike cop. It is hard to drive when you have no wheels underneath of you. Ah ha ha AHH!!!"

Instead of a direct hit, the rocket landed a few feet in front of Keith.

KKAAABBOOOOMMMM!!!!!!!!!
​

The explosion was enough to send both Keith and what was left of the motorcycle flying into the air. Keith landed several yards away onto an empty part of the street. His motorcycle landed in pieces a few feet away. The last thing he saw was someone in white running up to him. He couldn’t feel or sense anything below his neck.

"Hold on there, you better not move. You probably have a head or neck injury the way you landed even with your helmet. In fact, you are only alive because of your helmet or what is left of it."

When he woke up, he was in some sort of hi-tech room with doctors and others around him. They explained to him that his legs were severally damaged and have several cybernetic implants replacing or helping torn tissue. His upper portion didn’t suffer as much damage with the exception of the damaged spinal column at the base of his neck. To help with the damaged nervous system, the doctors implanted a chip connecting his brain to the rest of his body. If he didn’t have the chip implanted, he would be paralyzed neck down. Even if he did have the chip, his legs were so badly messed up that he would be in a wheel chair if it wasn’t for the cybernetic implants. To prove their point, the doctors had him get up from the table he was on. He was able to walk and do everything he usually done including his kickboxing\boxing mix. All of a sudden, he felt a slight jolt in his neck and back and he fell on the floor not able to move at all. This perplexed him and was told that it was a kill switch in the chip. This appalled him that the doctors would put this kind of safety measure in him. He asked why and a man who he knew quite well stepped into the room. It was his former cycle instructor from the police academy.

"I see you made it through the sugery, Keith my boy. You were lucky that a friendly nurse was close by who knew who you were. Apparently you saved her sister's life from some lunatic a while back so she felt like she owed you. She took you to the closest hospital and that is where we stepped in. You see, with your dedication to the force and exemplamary driving ability, you were selected to be OUR part of the whole metahuman incursions. We can't always count on the Guardians or anyone else being there for us so we started a project several years ago and you are the result of it, well part of the result. Now with the investment we have in you above the initial cost of training you, we have to make sure that no one else gets a hold of you or the technology we have placed inside of you. That is why there is a kill switch just in case you do get captured. Ever since I've trained you those many years ago, I knew you had something special especially since you hardly needed any real training in handling the motorcycles."

The Director knew that Keith’s heart was in the right place and hence why he was selected for this program but they still had to cover their bases. Then the Director turned off the kill program and Keith was able to get back up as if he just slipped. Keith was also told that there was a tracking device installed in him somewhere but wasn’t told where. The Director told Keith that it was a huge gift to give a man who would have been paralyzed neck down the continuation of moving on his own power. Then the Director took Keith on a brief tour of the facilities and the last stop was the garage. There Keith saw the most beautiful machine he ever laid eyes on.

[insert very nice motorcycle picture here]

The motorcycle was long enough for two people to sit comfortably on it. Then the Director told the machine to activate and the engine revved and all sorts of lights flashed on. It was a bit noisy but then the Director told it to change modes. Keith wondered what that meant but in a second he quickly saw what the Director meant. The bike transformed into a ten foot robot that was black with silver lines going down the arms and outside of its legs with red eyes. There was a badge very similar to the LHPD badge over where its heart should be. Then the Director explained that Keith will become a very unique part of the bike unit and of the LHPD. The robot\bike would be bound to him and him to it.

"Say hello, R.O.C."

"Hello, R.O.C."

The Director shook his head knowing that the intelligence wasn't quite up to speed or somehow it developed a since of humor already.

"Officer Keith, this is your new partner. I know that your bike unit typically didn't have official partners even though there are some unofficial pairs but this black towering machine will be your partner. It packs quite an arsenal and is very adaptable in its weaponary including your own guns. We've got some further plans for its design but want to test out the initial model before we go modify anything. You see, that is where you come into play. Your chip and the suit that will be given to you will help you interlace with this machine. You'll test it by pushing it to the limits like I know you can but also help it learn what it means to be on the Force. Its A.I. is still very young and we've uploaded every single law of this city, county, and state."

"I appreciate the gift of movement and all but can't I have my old bike that I thought was somewhere in this garage? I can still serve this city and the bike unit as I am even if you will be watching me to make sure no one gets ahold of this chip in the back of my neck. The bike mode of the robot was very nice even if it did seem extra long."

R.O.C. walked slowly forward towards the two guys and bends slightly down and picks up Keith. Keith struggles to get free of the grip but R.O.C. stands up to full height and brings Keith up to its eye level. Then R.O.C. turns its hand and arm looking closely at Keith and stares at the base of his head for a few moments. Once it was done, it put Keith back down onto the ground and transforms back into the bike mode. Keith looks at the motorcycle and then back at the Director.

"Are you sure it is safe? It just picked me up without you or me telling it to."

"You did insult it by preferring your old bike. It does have a right to inspect you as much as you have looked at it. Come over here, this is your new uniform."

The Director and Keith walks over to where what looks like a jacket is hanging along with a bike helmet. The Director then tosses the jacket and helmet to Keith.

"Here, put these on. Both should fit you like a glove. You are already wearing a part of the uniform since it is permanently attacked to your legs. Don't worry about chaffing or anything like that. We built in plenty of ventilation and you can even take a bath or shower with it on."

Keith slips the jacket on and the helmet. A computer screen appears before his eyes and notices it move as he moves his head around. It glows when he looks at the motorcycle and all sorts of information starts to display.

"What...what is going on? What am I seeing?"

"What you are seeing is your personal interface with R.O.C. We figured it would be the easiest for you to learn about it instead of reading manuel after manuel and taking tests and basically wasting your and our time. Since you are such a fast learner, lest us just say you'll be taking a crash course without the crashing of course. Even if you do find yourself in a similar predictament, R.O.C. can take a beating and is programmed to protect you at all cost. We can replace R.O.C. a bit at a pricey cost but replacing you isn't possible. Now, Keith, get onto R.O.C. and take it out for a spin.

Keith does take his new bike and 'partner' out for a spin and quickly learns what it and he can now do.

 

[sumowrestler]

R.O.C.
​

Four Months Ago-Streets of Lost Haven
​

It was Monday and Keith was on his usual patrol on R.O.C. It was still strange being what he was now. He was glad to still be alive and able to serve the LHPD and in somewhat of his former capacity but being a cyborg was odd. He was thankful that he really didn’t have much of a social life and not too close to his family who so happen to be across country. As he was driving, he noticed a car parked illegally. Usually he didn’t give out parking citations but he was still technically able to so he started filling out the ticket. As he was almost done with it, he looked up when R.O.C. alerted him to odd looking men coming out of a bank a block away. Upon further examination, it became very clear they just got done robbing the bank. The group of five guys came running at him and to his surprise started shooting at his direction. Keith dropped to the ground forgetting that his new suit could withstand the small caliber rounds they were shooting.

“Do you want me to shoot at them or launch something?”

“No, ROC, we don’t want to kill them. Let me see what I can do. Give me the .45mm that you have. I do prefer the smaller weapons but the Director thinks I need a bigger gun now. One thing that my martial training had taught me is that it isn’t how big you are but knowing to use what you do have.”

R.O.C. gently launches out the gun next to Keith. He then stands up pointing his gun at the five men who were almost on top of them. They laugh as they point their assault rifles and shotguns at him.

“What does a lone bike cop expect to do? It is five against one and we have the bigger guns. You might as well drop the gun and we might let you live. If not, it is your funeral.”

“I’ve came close to dying once. It wasn’t fun but I doubt you five will be putting me that close again.”

“Oh look, we have a funny one here. Maybe he is a comedian on his off days. I hope it pays better then the cop job because it may be all he has left when we are done with him.”

With a quick jerk of his left hand, Keith shoots the back passenger tire shredding the tire, damaging the wheel and cutting the brake line causing brake fluid to ooze out. The car quickly dropped onto the now destroyed tire with a loud crunch causing more damage to back wheel. He then ducks expecting to be shot at and lunges at the center guy. To his surprise, the five thugs were too shocked at his action and also cussed him out at damaging their getaway car that he was able to take down the middle guy with ease. Keith then tossed his gun back at R.O.C.’s general direction letting the gun slide next to the front wheel. Keith then started on the other four by kicking one in the gut with his left leg causing that one to drop automatically. The next target he grabbed the gun and butted it against the thug’s head knocking him out. The two remaining thugs still being in shock did not dare fire in such close corners. This hesitation is all Keith needed to extend his arms fully out and hitting both in the face giving them an early afternoon nap. By the time he walked back over to pick up his gun, he heard sirens coming down from the bank. He waved a couple of the cars over to himself and they arrested the five men. Keith got onto R.O.C. and continued his usual patrol.

"We need to get you some non-lethal weapons for the humans. The heavy weapons are fine for taking down vehicles and maybe even the heavily armored metas but you need some sort of stun grenades or taser rifles."​

 

[Hound55]

A spray of gunfire rains over their heads as the android loses track of The Youngster momentarily. Pinup grabs Vigilante's shoulder, pushing him to the pavement and ducking, covering her head with her hand.

"I thought I told you not to follow me." She grumbles at him in a tone that seems to say "I'm glad you did, but you didn't have to shoot me you dumb bastard."

[BLACKOUT]"Oh, I'll go home then, will I? Seems like you've certainly got all of this under control..."[/BLACKOUT] Isaac attempted to mutter, but carried far louder than he intended under the power of his voice modulator.

Pinup glances back in time to see the droid once again lock on to The Youngster and turn its back on the pair of them. She takes the moment and grips the car boot. With both hands, she pulls the boot apart and, with moderate force and the squeak of straining metal, the boot separates from the wheel. The head of the android swivels back to the car and Pinup stands, hurling the boot with tremendous force and surprising accuracy. The twisted heap of offensively yellow steel collides with the android's gun, succeeding in knocking the droid's entire arm from its body. Confused sparks spout from the socket and the droid stands dumbly in the street.

[BLACKOUT]"Huh..."[/BLACKOUT] Isaac looked on, somewhat impressed by the sudden feat of strength.

[BLACKOUT]"You know, parking laws are there for a reason..."[/BLACKOUT]

"If that thing's loaded, I'd use it now." She nods her head in the direction of Vigilante's grapple gun before taking a painful step backward. She looks down at her leg. The shot from Vigilante earlier has left an angry welt, already darkening as the area around the point of impact swells. "Damn." She mutters again as she realizes her only method of healing herself is across town in a storage locker. She makes another dash to the car, opening the door and sliding into the driver's seat.

"When you're done, get in." She orders the others quickly, retrieving her keys from her belt and jamming them into the ignition. They aren't her first choice for company, but she'd readily admit she wouldn't want to face any more STRIKE droids alone.

Isaac looks down at his now empty single shot weapon. Instinct sees him put his hand into a pocket for another concussive bolt, before he remembers what he's dealing with and digs into his other pocket for a "shredder", he looks at it and the sparking robot before him before putting the bolt back in his pocket.

"I don't even know whether it could penetrate one of these damn things... Even if it could, would that necessarily DO anything?"

[BLACKOUT]"C'mon kid! Finish this rustbucket off and get in the car."[/BLACKOUT]

Isaac opened the passenger side door, and removed his pack before sitting in the front. He felt a soft "squish" as he sat back, prompting him to lean forward and see the stain that had transferred from the pack to his clean clothes, to the seat of the classic roadster.

[BLACKOUT]"Yeah, you're going to want to get this reupholstered..."[/BLACKOUT]

 

[trustyside-kick]

"I know one thing," I say to my two new "allies". "I'm no horseman of the apocalypse. I'll keep my eyes on you two."

I don't draw my sword or raise my shield, though. "But we need to work together for now. The Greek Moirae, you probably know them as The Fates, came to me in a vision yesterday and showed me a vision of you two fighting by my side against some common threat. I don't know what that threat is, but I think we should deal with that before we deal with who's going to end the world."
​

"The one who showed me the vision of us united...is an angel from Heaven that goes by the name Bath Kol. And there's no way I'm going to bring about the end of life as we know it. I'm a hero for goodness sake! I'm a registered member of The Guardians! Heck, I was the first one Icon went to to start the team...I think. Guarding and protecting humanity is part of the job description."

I try to recall the key points of the prophecy. And to be honest...none of it makes sense. Though when I say none of it makes sense, I'm not actually talking about the prophecy itself. What my main concern is...why? Apparently each of us prior to meeting up had a vision revealed to us. Said vision was about us uniting to stop a huge threat that could bring about the Day of Wraith. Now we find out that one of us is responsible?

"I gotta say, I'm more than relieved to see that the three of us aren't attacking and strangling each other at this point. We all understood the gist of what just happened. And I can't say I didn't immediately suspect one of the two of you. So that really is a relief. As I think about what was revealed to us...I think that we were told that one of us would be responsible for the sole purpose of us preventing it. Think about it. Now we know that no matter how things may seem or how bad they must get...we have to stick together and have each other's back. Although..."

Looking down at the Armor of God that has been trusted with me, I think about the--if anything--greater mission at hand. For me at least. This is a sweet set of Armor and I'm sure it will wow me me in combat more than it is now...but I'm needed at my peak. Which means I need to get to Hell like Bath Kol said and free St. Michael the archangel so that we can avert this even greater crisis.

"As, uh, the first task of the...Prophets of the Unknown was it? I've already got our first mission lined up. You guys may have known me as Archangel, but as I made it clear, that ain't the case right now. I need to go into Hell, and free a captive angel. The problem is...I don't know the way or how. I was told me that one of you could help me...any ideas?"

 

[sumowrestler]

Jessica Vanders, Were-Vamp​

​

Party Haven-9pm

Another club just a few blocks from downtown Lost Haven, a scantly clad woman walks in and barely notices the cool temperatures for the evening. She is enjoying the night as if it was her first night. In reality, it was her first night sense she somehow came into being at dusk. The first couple of clubs she went to just didn’t quite appeal to her. It was something about the music or atmosphere or even the food. Nothing really appealed to her. Once she entered this club, though, something or more like someone caught her eye. He is 5’8” blonde finely built but not overly muscled. The age couldn’t be much more then 23. It looks like he is definitely popular with the women since three to four of them were around him. Jessica grabbed a drink from the punch table and took a swig of it. She then made a face and dumped it onto the floor. Her main goal and appetite is for that cute blonde guy who thinks he is every woman’s dream. As she saunters over there swinging her hips she pushes aside the other women and then reaches up and kisses the guy on the lips heavily. It surprises the guy who fully embraces the new woman and enjoys the kiss. Then they walk away hand in hand and out the door.

“So may I have the name of a great kisser who knows who she wants?”

“The name is Jessica, Jessica Vanders and you are indeed correct that I know what I want. I want you and me in some fun positions in a comfortable room.”

“Then I think I know where to be of some help in that department. Let us go to my apartment.”


Clausius Hotel –Lobby 8am

Angela wakes up in her clothes from yesterday with a migraine looking around hearing a weird report on the TV. Someone found her assistant manager and current crush dead in his apartment drained dry of his blood. The police are refusing to say this is a vampire running loose in town, again. In the town of Lost Haven, something like this isn’t too terribly unusual but still a bit shocking for Angela. The reports say no sign of a struggle or break in. Then she hears a scream from one of the maids who runs down the hallway saying they found a dead man. With the additional noise of the scream and people turning the TV volume up, Angela gets up and almost falls but gains her balance. She then heads out of the hotel lobby wondering how she got there. Last she knew she was out cold on her bed in her apartment right after she got home from work. Shaking the last of the cobwebs from her head, she decides to head back home away from the noise. For whatever the reason, everything seems a bit sensitive but a migraine would do that to you. By the time she reaches her apartment, news about both deaths is on the news. It seems that both died in similar ways but the police are still refusing to say they are connected and everyone is talking about it. Angela simply ignores them as she unlocks her door and walks in to find the book that Hagath traded in on her kitchen table.

“What the world is that doing here? Last I remember, I thought I read something back in the store but don’t remember bringing it home.”

The only response was a meow from her black and white striped cat.

“Oh hey Zeeb, I guess you are hungry. Let me see if I can find you some cat food. Ah here you go. You really should lie off or you’ll be as fat as a pig. I wonder if I should head into work since most likely the police will eventually go there and probably want to talk to me and every other employee. It probably will be easier on them if I do head into work and take back this book. Oh well, I guess I go find some Aspirin for this migraine and maybe a good hot tea to wake up with.”

Angela walks into her bathroom and finds her Aspirin. Then she heads back to her kitchen and stops in her tracks as Hagath stand there smiling broadly Hagath is in another old fashion dress that laces up from her waist up to her neck line. The dress is a solid brown color except where the laces are at which a nice orange with the strings is being yellow.

“Good morning, my sweet Angela. I see you decided to keep my book. Something about you told me that you and it should be together. It seems we have some very peculiar news this morning even for this town.”

All Angela could do is stand there with her jaw dropped at the site of the customer from yesterday standing there as if she owned the apartment and knew Angela for ages. Angela then closes her mouth a few times as if to speak but nothing comes out.

“Would you be a dear and show me where you’re hot drink mixer is at? I have a cankering for some of the hot tea I brought with me but didn’t have time to make at home. With everything going on from last night, I figured it would be wise for me to come see you before you went to work.”

Again, all Angela could do is raise and lower her mouth once and then point towards the cabinet next to her fridge. There sits a coffee maker, hot tea pot, and a cappuccino mixer. Hagath walks over to the hot tea pot and starts making her tea and puts it on the stove. Angela walks over and watches this acquaintance and one time customer make tea which oddly enough is what Angela was craving at the moment. Hagath then proceeds to rummage through the cabinets until she finds the coffee mugs. She also finds the honey in the cabinet. Once the tea was ready, she pours two mugs and adds honey to one of them. Then she walks on by Angela who is still staring in somewhat disbelief and sits down on the couch.
“Come, my dear, we have lots to talk about. You might want to bring that book over here as but leave it shut for now. It would be safer for both of us if you did.”

Angela does as if she was an obedient student which was her norm. She lays the table on the coffee table between her and Hagath as she sits in the chair opposite of her guest or maybe intruder which Angela has yet to figure out which one is more appropriate at the moment.

“Here dear, you will want this tea. It is great with honey even though I’m so much in the habit of drinking it straight. You won’t need those medicines once you get a sip or two down your throat. Your head will clear right up and you’ll be right as rain on a crisp spring morning.”

Angela takes a couple of sips of the hot tea and then quickly puts it down after burning her tongue and mouth. Then she shakes her head again and her migraine is gone and is fully awake.

“Who are you? How did you get in here without me noticing you following me? Why are you here? My cat would have hissed like crazy since she doesn’t like anyone besides me. What is so important about this book? What is it doing in my apartment? When…?”

“Ah, one of the few times you are on sensory overload and can’t understand anything. Such a fine brain and intelligence even with some of the more odd interests for one of your caliber unless someone knows you better then you know yourself. I see graduating from Harvard with a double major and triple minor in four years. Congrats on that accomplishment since that should have taken seven to eight years to do especially with summa *** laude honors college and top of your class. You really should have had offers coming at you from the best companies and universities but I found you working part time at a bookstore. What would someone do with a double major in sociology and political science attached to minors of ancient history, linguistics, and occult studies? The majors could have been applied to many areas especially with the linguistics minor but the other two minors stick out like a sore thumb.”

“I…I eventually plan on getting my doctorate in archeology. Sadly, I was so busy trying to keep my 4.0 that I missed out on the deadlines for the qualified schools and I guess I did want a break from school. Pushing 21 hours for three years and 9 hours during the summer straight didn’t help. The only reason it wasn’t four years of 21 hours is that I started light with 15 hours and then went to 18 hours. Had to beg my advisor to let me break the hour limit and do the 21 my second year. After I proved that I could do it, then it wasn’t an issue even though the advisor still protested the additional majors and minors.

“So with all of your intelligence, all you want to do is dig in the dirt. Child, you didn’t need to go to school for that. All you needed was the right shovel and a patch of dirt.”

“But for me to understand what I was looking at, I would have to understand the culture and political structure of things in both present and past. I may go into the Master’s program somewhere and pick up either geology or geography before I head towards the PhD. There is so much to understand of an ancient civilization for one to truly get a grasp of what they are looking at when they dig up a piece of pottery or hopefully a scroll.”

“Ah, one who understands patients and learning before she goes plunging into the unknown? However, curiosity surely does kill the cat; present company excluded of course, Zeeb. Only if your master read a different spell then what she did then the news and police wouldn’t be on another vampire hunt as if this city needs anything to be scared about at night.”

Angela looks down at the book and then back at Hagath with deer in head lights look. She then takes a longer sip of her slightly cooler tea and is able to relax once again. There is something different and yet comforting about this tea which Angela enjoyed.

“You have yet to answer my questions, Hagath, it was Hagath correct?”

“Yes it is, Hagath and as for your other questions, all in due time my dear, all in due time.”

 

[sumowrestler]

[BLACKOUT]"Oh, I'll go home then, will I? Seems like you've certainly got all of this under control..."[/BLACKOUT] Isaac attempted to mutter, but carried far louder than he intended under the power of his voice modulator.



[BLACKOUT]"Huh..."[/BLACKOUT] Isaac looked on, somewhat impressed by the sudden feat of strength.

[BLACKOUT]"You know, parking laws are there for a reason..."[/BLACKOUT]



Isaac looks down at his now empty single shot weapon. Instinct sees him put his hand into a pocket for another concussive bolt, before he remembers what he's dealing with and digs into his other pocket for a "shredder", he looks at it and the sparking robot before him before putting the bolt back in his pocket.

"I don't even know whether it could penetrate one of these damn things... Even if it could, would that necessarily DO anything?"

[BLACKOUT]"C'mon kid! Finish this rustbucket off and get in the car."[/BLACKOUT]

Isaac opened the passenger side door, and removed his pack before sitting in the front. He felt a soft "squish" as he sat back, prompting him to lean forward and see the stain that had transferred from the pack to his clean clothes, to the seat of the classic roadster.

[BLACKOUT]"Yeah, you're going to want to get this reupholstered..."[/BLACKOUT]

A black motorcycle with silver streaks running down its side just above the tire well comes barreling through with what seems to be silver flashing lights. The sides of the motorcycle pop out revealing a pair of gattling guns, one on each side, firing at the robots in the street. To the enjoyment of the rider, the robots don't take it well as pieces of them start flying off. Sadly, some of the robots still are functional even though they are struggling. The guns shift back into the motorcycle and a grenade launcher appears chucking a few grenades towards the remaining robots who explode into shrapnel. Then the rider pulls up next to the car with the two passengers and gets off his bike.

"I detest those things. Stupid S.T.R.I.K.E. thinks they can simply come in here and take over everything including the work of the police force. I hope you two inside are alright. As much as they claim to be trying to retain 'order', this city seems to be going down the drain. Things were much better when the Guardians were allowed to do their thing without too much interference. I know the LHPD appreciated them even if they weren't always around when needed. Even though S.T.R.I.K.E. has yet to claim this, it seems they have basically declared martial law in Lost Haven with them as police, judge, jury, and executioner if you simply look at one of their agents wrong. By the way, the name is Centurion."

 

[Mr. Majestic]

[BLACKOUT]"C'mon kid! Finish this rustbucket off and get in the car."[/BLACKOUT]

Isaac opened the passenger side door, and removed his pack before sitting in the front. He felt a soft "squish" as he sat back, prompting him to lean forward and see the stain that had transferred from the pack to his clean clothes, to the seat of the classic roadster.

[BLACKOUT]"Yeah, you're going to want to get this reupholstered..."[/BLACKOUT]

Before I dismantle the robot I decide to take a quick look inside, find out what kind of tech we’re dealing with. Last time when we were all attacks by the aliens I learned about their technology all to late. But this time I’m going to be a head of the game.

Using my accelerated probability time around me slows down and I remove the chest plate off the machine and look over everything within the robot before a person can blink. Once finish I place both my hands inside the robot and rip it in half. When I get back my base of operations I and AL will go over this together.

I then quickly make my way to the others to the car. While approaching I see that a new guest has arrived on the scene.

 

[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."

"I see our guy. I got him."

"Got who?"

"Keep eyes on him."

"Right." I bump Hawkes with my elbow as I cover my comm. "If you screw this up, Broiles will can you. And, let's face it Hawkes, you've pretty much run out of agencies. So why don't you walk away, ok?"

Hawkes looks hurt. But I'm too angry at the idea of him screwing up my first chance at getting some freedom from the Agency to care.

"Walk."

"I'm walking."

"Good. Go."

"Can't you see I'm walking?!" He starts getting angry, and I feel a pang of regret. But I'm angry too and shove that pang aside.

"Good."

"I'm walking! But I'm not leaving until we talk."

"Fine." I roll my eyes as Hawkes walks away and focus back on the target. I watch him settle into one of the poolside lounge chairs. A hostess talks to him, and he orders something. And then he's left alone with his newspaper.

"Hey, um, our man is settling in, but I don't see a briefcase."

"Don't worry about that. Open yours. The combination is 8-4-9."

"Alright," I say, wondering how we're going to salvage the mission. "You're the boss."

I set the case on the ground in front of me and get on my knees. I spin the dials and pop it open.

There's a dismantled rifle inside...

And I grab the back of my head as a sharp pain hits it...

"The hell is this?"

"Welcome...to your new career..."

Oh crap...

 

[sabetoonth]

"The one who showed me the vision of us united...is an angel from Heaven that goes by the name Bath Kol. And there's no way I'm going to bring about the end of life as we know it. I'm a hero for goodness sake! I'm a registered member of The Guardians! Heck, I was the first one Icon went to to start the team...I think. Guarding and protecting humanity is part of the job description."

I try to recall the key points of the prophecy. And to be honest...none of it makes sense. Though when I say none of it makes sense, I'm not actually talking about the prophecy itself. What my main concern is...why? Apparently each of us prior to meeting up had a vision revealed to us. Said vision was about us uniting to stop a huge threat that could bring about the Day of Wraith. Now we find out that one of us is responsible?

"I gotta say, I'm more than relieved to see that the three of us aren't attacking and strangling each other at this point. We all understood the gist of what just happened. And I can't say I didn't immediately suspect one of the two of you. So that really is a relief. As I think about what was revealed to us...I think that we were told that one of us would be responsible for the sole purpose of us preventing it. Think about it. Now we know that no matter how things may seem or how bad they must get...we have to stick together and have each other's back. Although..."

Looking down at the Armor of God that has been trusted with me, I think about the--if anything--greater mission at hand. For me at least. This is a sweet set of Armor and I'm sure it will wow me me in combat more than it is now...but I'm needed at my peak. Which means I need to get to Hell like Bath Kol said and free St. Michael the archangel so that we can avert this even greater crisis.

"As, uh, the first task of the...Prophets of the Unknown was it? I've already got our first mission lined up. You guys may have known me as Archangel, but as I made it clear, that ain't the case right now. I need to go into Hell, and free a captive angel. The problem is...I don't know the way or how. I was told me that one of you could help me...any ideas?"

As Elijah stood there he listened to Archangels words. And he was right, they now knew one of the would bring on The End. And because of that, they could keep their eyes open for it. Intentional or not. The notion did scare the guy, in all honesty he was scared of the notion if he really was the son of Satan, didnt that make him the Anti-christ? He remembered the book of Revelation, the Anti-christ was supposed to ready Earth for the Devil. Like Hell would he knowingly do that.

"I've never really been downstairs myself..." he started, hesitant almost, going into Hell. He had some difficulty facing off with two demons. But Hell? Weren't most demons present there? And weren't the number that fell something like a third of the Host of Heaven? He shifted his eyes over to their 'immortal' team meat. "What about you? Know of anyway into The Pit?" Though somehow he knew it would be through him, or Grim, that they were going to get into Hell, be it by the old entity's magic or a secret location to a devil's gateway into Hell. Trying to think on it he could have sworn he'd heard about one in New Jersey, in amongst a system of sewer and drainage tunnels.

Looking at his hands a moment as he sees the armor that Archangel is wearing, having definitely noticed its trick for getting on earlier, the contrast was amazing. His armor not so shiny, more wicked looking, and what Michael Angelos was wearing? It was beautiful. As for Cerberus' attire, it was a Greek helmet and a long coat over a body suit of sorts. The more modern look amongst the three of them. He drew his wings in as far as they could, they seemed to disappear in doing so. He felt more comfortable without them, more human when hey were tucked away.

 

[Erin]

[BLACKOUT]"C'mon kid! Finish this rustbucket off and get in the car."[/BLACKOUT]

Isaac opened the passenger side door, and removed his pack before sitting in the front. He felt a soft "squish" as he sat back, prompting him to lean forward and see the stain that had transferred from the pack to his clean clothes, to the seat of the classic roadster.

[BLACKOUT]"Yeah, you're going to want to get this reupholstered..."[/BLACKOUT]

Pinup glances at the stained leather upholstery forlornly, but has no time to mourn as the Youngster does his best in finishing off the droid behind them.

An explosion ahead of them makes Pinup jump as shrapnel peppers the side of the car, rendering the stain, by comparison, a minor offense.

A black motorcycle with silver streaks running down its side just above the tire well comes barreling through with what seems to be silver flashing lights. The sides of the motorcycle pop out revealing a pair of gattling guns, one on each side, firing at the robots in the street. To the enjoyment of the rider, the robots don't take it well as pieces of them start flying off. Sadly, some of the robots still are functional even though they are struggling. The guns shift back into the motorcycle and a grenade launcher appears chucking a few grenades towards the remaining robots who explode into shrapnel. Then the rider pulls up next to the car with the two passengers and gets off his bike.

"I detest those things. Stupid S.T.R.I.K.E. thinks they can simply come in here and take over everything including the work of the police force. I hope you two inside are alright. As much as they claim to be trying to retain 'order', this city seems to be going down the drain. Things were much better when the Guardians were allowed to do their thing without too much interference. I know the LHPD appreciated them even if they weren't always around when needed. Even though S.T.R.I.K.E. has yet to claim this, it seems they have basically declared martial law in Lost Haven with them as police, judge, jury, and executioner if you simply look at one of their agents wrong. By the way, the name is Centurion."

Pinup blinks at the man, then turns her head to Vigilante and gives him a meaningful look. It's true the stranger had just blown up several droids on their way to the scene... but he was also wearing a LHPD uniform. There seemed a silent agreement between the two of them, and as Youngster slipped into the back seat, Pinup looked back to Centurion.

"Uh... Thanks for the help." She said cautiously. A scrape of metal from behind them caused her to glance in the rear view mirror. More droids answered the silent distress calls placed by their fallen comrades, and now make their way around the corner.

"How about a reprise?" She slipped the car into drive and peeled away from the curb, putting as much distance between them and the officer as possible, and leaving him to deal with the androids.

Two blocks down and around the corner, she glanced at Vigilante.
"I assume you don't trust cops either?"

It was the closest thing to a civil remark she had made to him since they met. Comparatively, in fact, it was downright friendly.

 

[NiteMare Shape]

"How are you feeling?" Dr. Miriah Mayes asks as she walks up to the hospital bed where Agent Rick Hunter lay, after a pair of successful surgeries.


"Like hell." Hunter says, as he looks at his heavily bandaged arm.


"Well, that's to be expected. You've been through alot."


It was true, less than twenty four hours ago, he had been clinging to life after being severely injured during an attempt to capture a potentially dangerous metahuman. His arm had been badly wounded, and he would have bled to death if it weren't for the actions of a stranger. She had kept pressure on the wound, doing her best to keep it from bleeding out. Her efforts had paid off and had kept him alive until the medics could get to him. Soon, he was back at headquarters undergoing the first of his two surgeries...the first would save his life, the second would give him a new one.


He lifts his head, reaching back to scratch the itch at the back of his neck.


"No, don't touch. You have to let it heal."


"Right." Hunter says sheepishly, feeling almost like a school boy being called to task by his teacher.


The second surgery was something else altogether. Having been chosen for S.T.R.I.K.E's new initiative, the "True Hero project," this surgery would see a small chip infused at the base of his spine. Then, the chip would act as a sort of high tech remote control, allowing Hunter to communicate with the experimental suit of armor which he would soon be wearing, controlling it as if it were an extension of his body. The surgery seems to have been a success, the chip was placed into the correct location and it seems to be functioning properly, however, the true test will come later, when Hunter puts on the suit for the first time.


"Are you experiencing any sort of discomfort-"


"Yeah, lots." Hunter answers before she finishes her question.


"In neck?"


"No, not really. Itches though."


"Well, that's normal. Now-" She is cut off when the door to Hunter's hospital room opens, and one of her collegues, Dr. Tanaka enters.


"And how is the patient?"


"He's doing well, Doctor."


"That's good to hear. I just got the call from the boys in the tech lab, it's time."


After several minutes of waiting, a nurse comes in to the room pushing a wheelchair and motions for him to get in. He looks over to Dr. Mayes as if to say "Really?", but is met only with an affirming nod. Reluctantly he climbs from his bed and plops himself down in the wheelchair, and motions for the nurse to take him away. Moments later, he is being wheeled down the pristine hallway, the smell of harsh chemical cleaners burning his nostrils. Normally, he would try making smalltalk with the nurse, or even Dr. Mayes, or anyone for that matter, but not today. Today he is too nervous. Today is the first time he will set his eyes on his new wardrobe.


They come to a stop in front of a large black doorway, an armed guard standing just in front of it. After verifying their credentials, the guard opens the door and allows them to pass through. And then he sees it for the first time, the A-Tech Battlesuit, the very suit that he will soon wear in his new assignment. He is impressed, almost at a loss for words. As he gazes on the sleek suit, there is just something about how the light reflects off the black and red armor, and he manages to say the only thing that comes to mind...


"Wicked."​

 

[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?"

"The Director asked me to come find you, fortunately you tend to be an easy 'person' to find."

"What is it that you want Ryder, I don't have time for this."

"Relax hero, I'm just here to deliver an invitation. Director Anderson wants to meet with you, he didn't say what it was about. But he's expecting you tomorrow morning around 9:00AM. And I suggest you make it on time."

"I'll see what I can do. Now, if you'll excuse me..." I say as take my leave of the chopper.

 

[Carnage27]

​

"What about you? Know of anyway into The Pit?"

I shrug and shake my head at the one called Inferno, "No idea. I don't deal with your guys part of the deity spectrum. I'm the son of a Greek god. Not the God everyone seems to thank for winning Oscars and scoring touchdowns." I turn to Michael, "Does he hate that? Wait, nevermind."

I sigh, "I've been to the Underworld. But the Greek one. Don't have a clue on how to get to the devil one."

Turning back to Inferno, "Kinda looks like you're thick as thieves with some place like that with the wings and all."

 

[Nicodemus]

Noah Archer, the Awesome ACROBAT

Arc 2: Never STRIKE Twice​

So all in all, today has not been one of my better ones.

I was nearly killed by a girl who could fly and called herself Jetstream. She had swooped in, introduced herself, and then tried to murder me with the side of a building. Only some quick reflexes and a lot of luck had allowed me to turn the tables on her, and now she was bleeding out 3 feet into the sidewalk.

I'm having a hard time feeling bad about it, to be honest. She seemed like kind of a *****, with the trying to kill me and all. Even if she was being forced to do it by some shadowy group of scientists who were responsible for my super-powers.

Weird. I'm just trying to get it out of my head. I launch myself from the top of one building, soaring through the air with near utter weightlessness for a few blissful moments.

The blissful moment doesn't last long though.

ALERT. META-HUMAN. YOU HAVE BEEN APPREHENDED. SURRENDER IMMEDIATELY OR FIRE WILL BE OPENED."

The voice is robotic, and the grammar is horrible, but the thing gets it's point across. I look behind me to see some large black and grey robot shaped something like a man flying behind me, several miniature jet boosters built into it's chassis allowing it to keep pace with me. One of it's arms turns into a huge machine gun at the elbow, and it's currently being aimed at me, holographic targeting flickering to life along the barrel.

I recognize it, vaguely. A STRIKE drone. Some kind of model I haven't really seen before, but the design is close enough to it's brothers to allow me to figure out what it is.

"ALERT," It says again, "META-HUMAN. YOU HAVE BEEN APPREHENDED. SURRENDER IMMEDIATELY OR THESE UNITS WILL OPEN FIRE."

These units? As in plural? Why would it be saying....

A shadow falls over me.

I look up.

There's another half dozen drones right above me, all of their deadly looking machine gun arms pointed straight at my exposed head.

Suddenly, a math test I haven't studied for seems the least of my problems.

"ALERT. META-HUMAN. YOU HAVE REFUSED TO COOPERATE. OPENING FIRE."

I drop.

The wind whistles past my ears as machine gun fire splits the air around me. The drones are good enough shots, but they can't seem to adjust their aim fast enough to keep up with my sudden acceleration, especially since I'm falling faster than any earth object could fall under normal circumstances.

I hope that the physically impossible speed of my free-fall throws off their circuits, but no such luck. They simply drop after me, still rattling off rounds in my vague direction. I feel myself subconsciously slowing as I streak towards the top of a building, and as I land a shot takes me through the shoulder.

The bulletproof vest takes most of the impact for me, but I'm still thrown off the side of the building. Luckily, I'm Acrobat - no fall can hurt me, and the slope of the wall gives me temporary cover from the drones' barrage, but now my shoulder is bleeding and hurts like hell. I twist and hit the street feet first, pushing off hard but low. I streak through the street as fast as I can, trying to keep the buildings in between me and the drones, but no such luck - they've opened fire again, and they're much more accurate this time. Another shot hits me in the back and throws me face first into a brick wall.

As I stumble to my feet, clutching my head, I realize that I am probably going to die.

 

[sabetoonth]

​

I shrug and shake my head at the one called Inferno, "No idea. I don't deal with your guys part of the deity spectrum. I'm the son of a Greek god. Not the God everyone seems to thank for winning Oscars and scoring touchdowns." I turn to Michael, "Does he hate that? Wait, nevermind."

I sigh, "I've been to the Underworld. But the Greek one. Don't have a clue on how to get to the devil one."

Turning back to Inferno, "Kinda looks like you're thick as thieves with some place like that with the wings and all."

Inferno nodded, acknowledging what Cerberus said. He did seem the best fit.

"I think Ive read about a thing called a Devil's Gate in New Jersey." He tried pulling what useful information about the place as he could. It was a lot. Aside from being a portal to hell and the system of tunnels it was a part of. "I don't think anyone's ever come out who found the actual gate itself. Somewhere in with a bunch of drainage and sewage tunnels, easy to get lost in there." Not recalling the rumor of an evil spirit guarding it. Okay in a bit of hindsight it now looked like he was holding out on them. "But I've never even been to Jersey, you just hear about these things where I live." Becuase everyone in NYC knows about the Devil's Gate in Jersey. Perhaps they'd believe that and he'd get a repreive from suspicion.