The "From The Pages Of..." Comics Universe RPG

[Saved]

Yamagato Industries, Japan

The sun sets on the country of Japan, its bright yellow glow slowing disappearing beyond the horizon. As the city begins to fall in a shadow, the workers realize the time and smile. Closing for most companies comes at this time, and soon, the workers can be home with their families for the night.

Inside the buildings of Yamagato industries things are no different. Workers turn off their computers, exit their cubicles, punch in their time cards, and leave the buildings for the day. As the buildings begin to empty, one man stays, not planning to leave just yet. He is conflicted, distracted. He is special.

In the large head office of the company, Hiro Nakamura paces back and forth. The large windows in the back of the room show the sun's slowly fading light. As the room begins to dim, Hiro doesn't notice, his mind too preoccupied.

Suddenly, a knock comes at the door. The sudden noise startles Hiro, and he breaks from his deep thought. He stands in the middle of the room, his hands held behind his back, as he stares at the door. "Come in," he speaks in Japanese. The door opens, and in walks one of his co-workers, one of his friends.

"Hiro," the man responds with a smile. Hiro nods to him, and turns toward his desk.

"Hello, Ando." He says solemnly. Hiro walks toward the desk and soon takes his seat in the cushioned chair. As Ando stares at Hiro's face, he sees distress in his friend, and quickly, he becomes concerned.

"Hiro, what is wrong?" Hiro takes a deep breath as he thinks of his reply. He slowly pushes the glasses further back on his brow as he leans back in the chair.

"It's..." he starts, his mind torn between the present and his thoughts. "Ando, do you think I should go back and save my father?" Ando stares at his friend for a few moments in silence, surprised by his question.

"Hiro...your father told you not to save him, remember?"

"Yes, Ando, but...his death was my fault. I went back in time...I met Takezo Kensei...and I messed up history. I shouldn't have been there! I ruined my hero, and created my nemesis."

"Hiro...it's not your fault." Ando says, consoling his friend. "You went back in time by accident. Maybe it was fate. Maybe what you did was suppossed to happen." Hiro drops his head, disagreeing with his companion and still feeling a heavy guilt inside him for his father's demise. The young man stands from the chair, and walks to the window in the room.

"Ando," he starts, his eyes continuing to gaze at the horizon. "My father always told me I was wreckless. That I was too impulsive and disobediant to be anything. But...when I made my greatest failure...he told me he was proud of me."

"Hiro, you have done so much good with your powers. You helped stop the explosion, you saved people from their deaths, you even stopped Monroe before he could release that deadly disease! How could you question yourself?" Ando walks toward his friend, slowly moving across the room. As he reaches him, he places his hand on Hiro's shoulder, and gives his friend a smile. "You are superhiro!" He says with a grin. "You're not a failure, Hiro. Your father was proud because somehow...he knew the man you'd become."

Hiro turns his head to stare at Ando. He smiles weakly, but yet, still enthusiastically. He puts his hand over Ando's, and he nods to him. "Thank you, Ando." He says proudly. "I can always count on you." The two friends laugh together, taking advantage of the first chance they've had in months to be at peace.

Unexpectedly, a large flash shoots across the walls and floor. Dazzling blues and whites flicker in the dim room, and a loud boom soon follows. The room shakes, and a strong wind rushes through the room. Hiro and Ando turn to see what is happening, both surprised and afraid.

As they look at the source of the disturbance, they see a blue man standing at the far edge of the room. The man's body is well built, naked, strong and glowing. His eyes are pits of white, surrounded by triangles of black. A strange symbol is burned into his forehead, a scar or perhaps a purposely placed mark.

Hiro and Ando stare at the being with confusion and terror, both unsure of what to make of this creature's presence or arrival. "Hiro Nakamura," the man speaks in a deep and serious tone. "You have altered the past for the last time." Hiro stares at the being with wide eyes, his mind filling with thoughts as he hears the being's words. He tries to speak, but only one word exits his lips.

"...Me?" The man nods, a stern expression on his face.

"Why are you here?" Ando suddenly asks bravely.

"I am here to correct this problem." He turns to Hiro, and stares deeply toward him. "And you will aid me or else."

"...Or else?" Hiro asks in fright.

"Or else everything you know will change, collapse, and die."

 

[RGDurant]

After the last three hours of re-wiring and cleaning rusted machinery, Darkman had his factory's generator running nicely. Now that her had power, he could start on setting up his lab area.

With the twenty thousand dollars he took for funding, Peyton managed to get the necessary equipment wholesale from a medical surplus company that was going bankrupt, so they sold off their surplus cheap out the back for some cash to fall back on. He purchased more than enough for his chemistry needs, flasks, tubes, bunson burners, materials for the skin ,a decent electron microscope, even talked them into throw in a computer for half price. The funding went quick, but he had what he needed, all there was to do now was to set everything up, then he could re-assemble his Bio-Press and put his masks to use again.

*****​

Ash arrived at S-Mart two hours early before opening time, the sun was just barely rising when he entered the darkened store.

He walked to the wall panel in the employee lounge and flicked a number of switches, florescent bulb buzzed on and filled the whole building with bright light.

After finishing with the coffeemaker, Ash went on to the closet the retrieve the mop and bucket, but when he got his hook around the plastic handled, the lights flickered and died, leaving Ash confused in the dark.

"Damn, guess I should call the electrician."

Ash closed the closet door and went to the phone, putting the reciever to his ear, all heard nothing, just static. He dropped the phone on the floor and ran out into the store area, it was pitch black for except for one flickering light shining in a aisle.

A lone woman was standing under the light, her head bowed, her long, mousy brown hair covered her cover.

"Ma'm, I'm sorry but the store's closed, you could come back in the few hours....."

The woman stirred and made a strange murmering sound.

"Ma'm?"


AAAAAHHHHHHHHAHAHHHHAHHH!!!!!

The screeching bansee turned to face a shellshocked Ash, her hair flew wildly all about, her eyes were bulging and milky white with purple veins bugging from them, teeth gnarled and bared, she flew forward and forced Ash against the wall from around the throat. The deadite woman stared him dead in the face.

"I'LL SWALLOW YOUR SOUL!"

Ash let out a strangled yell of pain and fright as the life was being choked out of him.

****​

Ash awoke from the nightmare and found himself still in the employee lounge, the lights were still on and he himself was resting in a chair.

"Huh, just a nightmare."

He let out a sigh of relief.

"WRONG!!"

The deadite woman reappeared in his face and had him again around the neck, Ash screamed as he was flung violently from the room by the possessed woman.

 

[absonic93]

JESSICA SANDERS
COMPANY FACILITY


I step into the car as the old man takes the drivers seat.

"So what's up with this Sylar case? You seem pretty passionate about catching this one guy."

Ocelot starts up the car, taking us out of the garage and into the road.

After an awkward silence of driving, he finally speaks.

"He's a threat, and we're going to take him out."

I stare at him as he keeps his eyes fixated on the road.

"So it's that easy? What's his power?"

God, why won't the old man talk to me. I can't believe I agreed to this. I should let them tell Niki the truth for all I care. It'd be better than going on some mission for a worthless man who can't use his powers right.

"I mean, he does have a power right?"

He hands me a file, something he might have mentioned before. Seems like he randomly just pulled it out of his ass.

"A few years ago, this guy was the cause of a potential nuclear explosion of New York City. Luckily he was stopped, but what exactly happened that night is unclear."

He finally takes his eyes off of the road and meets eyes with mine.

"Records say, one Niki Sanders was there as well, a bystander of the incident involving Gabriel Gray, or Sylar, and Peter Petrelli."

I pondered that information for a moment. That night I had let Niki feel a false sense of security, like she was finally rid of me. A little while later, I had posed as Gina, a seemingly new personality. I couldn't let Niki know I was still around just yet, so I used Gina to get rid of DL, one of the two things preventing Niki and I from reaching our full potential. How silly family can be.

But I don't seem to recall a super battled showdown in some Kirby Plaza as the file indicates. It seems this crazed killer doesn't have just one ability though, but many. Dear God, he's insane. Cutting off peoples heads to take their brains. Some people are just frickin crazy.

"So are you saying Niki was there those years ago, perhaps even assisting this Peter guy in saving the world. That definitely doesn't sound like Niki."

It doesn't. She's weak, and that's what she's got me for. Sure she was able to defeat that illusionist girl, but I had helped her there, like I always have. Niki just didn't seem to appreciate it.

"Well then, let's get to it Old Man. Do you even have any idea where he is?"

 

[Blacklight]

​

UCS Headquarters, 2003...


"Simmons. Have a seat..."

Jason Wynn watched from his desk as one of his best soldiers came in at his command. The African-American man that stood before Wynn was former Marine and CIA Agent, now working for UCS Scurity, a task force that deals with high level threats in foreign countries as well as here in the United States itself, and Jason had a mission to be done, and he needed someone good. Someone like Al Simmons...

"What is it, sir? Another problem in Iraq? Bin Laden found yet?"

"Try a little closer to home..." Wynn retorted, tossing Simmons a file containing his next target.

"His name is Arthur Petrelli, and he's the head for a company that's been abducting citizens and experimenting on them. Weird Sci-Fi-type stuff..."

Simmons flipped through the file, reading up on this mans biography. Wife. 2 kids. One a nurse, the other a politician. The man didn't seem like a bad guy, but he must be doing something bad if he's on Wynn's radar.

"So what do you want me to do?"

"Kill him. Him. His family, and the co-founders of his company."

Simmons sighed. He honestly couldn't understand why Wynn had to make him kill so many people, and unbeknownst to Wynn, each and every kill that's undeserved weighed heavily on Simmon's shoulders.

"But sir as much as I don't have a problem killing Petrelli and his cohorts, why his family? They haven't done anything. One of his son's is a freakin' nurse, and the other's trying to run for congress. I doubt they have anything to do with what their father is doin–"

"I DON'T CARE! I want them dead, Simmons! DEAD! Do you hear me, Al? Dead. Period. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, sir."

"Now go. I want you on a plane to New York by sundown."

Al soon enough got up from his chair and went on his way, albeit reluctantly. He still didn't understand why Wynn wanted the entire Petrelli clan massacred, but nonetheless, a mission's a mission, and as much as Al Simmons didn't like the mission, someone had to do it, and who better than him.

Petrelli... What could be so special about them that he could want me to kill them all?

 

[Watchman]

It's hard to believe that this is all real...

The giant steel buildings loomed over him blocking the sun. Shadows could be seen flying over him watching the prisoners every move. Men who though themselves as gods walked by his side pushing and dragging them as they went. His suits have been replaced with gray rags. His watch with built in supercomputer has been replaced with shackles. He felt an electrical shock on his back knocking him down.

"On your feet!" the guard who did the deed screamed at him. He was forcefully pulled up and pushed forward. When did this all of this happen.

"Keep your hands off of me..." his voice was very weak.

"What did you say?" Dax continue walking away from the guard but he continue to chase after Dax.

"Get back here." He fires off an electrical shock knocking Dax back down. His hands glow blue as he approaches Dax. "That's no way to speak to your superiors." Dax on his knees raises his arm toward his attacker. A flash of energy erupts from Dax's hand blowing off the guard's head.

"Idiot." He begins blasting energy at his hands at the other guards and freeing prisoners along the way. Microscopic weapons attached to his hands paved the way to freedom. "Do you know who I am? I am Darius Dax! Savior of humankind!" Suddenly, he was back on his knees with a samurai to his throat.

"Hiro" he spats. He is now in a prison cell with a sword to his throat held by a Japanese man.

"Darius." A woman looks on from the other side of the cell.

"Angela."

"I have nothing to say to you, Darius. Just that you will rot here for all eternity." She leaves with Hiro. He is now all alone. He has failed, humanity has been defeated. The door on the other side opens up he hears boots clicking on the ground. He squints his eye but he can make out the person in the dark.

 

[Keyser Soze]

It's hard to believe that this is all real...

The giant steel buildings loomed over him blocking the sun. Shadows could be seen flying over him watching the prisoners every move. Men who though themselves as gods walked by his side pushing and dragging them as they went. His suits have been replaced with gray rags. His watch with built in supercomputer has been replaced with shackles. He felt an electrical shock on his back knocking him down.

"On your feet!" the guard who did the deed screamed at him. He was forcefully pulled up and pushed forward. When did this all of this happen.

"Keep your hands off of me..." his voice was very weak.

"What did you say?" Dax continue walking away from the guard but he continue to chase after Dax.

"Get back here." He fires off an electrical shock knocking Dax back down. His hands glow blue as he approaches Dax. "That's no way to speak to your superiors." Dax on his knees raises his arm toward his attacker. A flash of energy erupts from Dax's hand blowing off the guard's head.

"Idiot." He begins blasting energy at his hands at the other guards and freeing prisoners along the way. Microscopic weapons attached to his hands paved the way to freedom. "Do you know who I am? I am Darius Dax! Savior of humankind!" Suddenly, he was back on his knees with a samurai to his throat.

"Hiro" he spats. He is now in a prison cell with a sword to his throat held by a Japanese man.

"Darius." A woman looks on from the other side of the cell.

"Angela."

"I have nothing to say to you, Darius. Just that you will rot here for all eternity." She leaves with Hiro. He is now all alone. He has failed, humanity has been defeated. The door on the other side opens up he hears boots clicking on the ground. He squints his eye but he can make out the person in the dark.

Click....clock....click....clock....

The sound of rundown bootheels on hard, cold stone echoes through the impenetrable dark of the prison cell. And then, out of the blackness, a pair of eyes begin to glow bright red.

"Oh, Darius. I have seen the future. How do you like it?"

 

[Watchman]

Click....clock....click....clock....

The sound of rundown bootheels on hard, cold stone echoes through the impenetrable dark of the prison cell. And then, out of the blackness, a pair of eyes begin to glow bright red.

"Oh, Darius. I have seen the future. How do you like it?"

He grabbed the bars he looked the figure right into the red. He instantly stepped back. His hair stood up and something ran down his spine. Darius Dax had never experience this emotion. For the first time in his life Darius Dax was experiencing fear. He didn't believe in God, he didn't believe in the Devil, but this...this was the closes thing to the Devil he thought. He had to keep his composure. This was just one of them he thought blocking those feelings of fear.

"You can leave. You're little mind games won't work on me." His voice trembled. "W-what do you want?"

 

[Venom160]

It took me a month of hunting but I finally found a ghost (what normals call a person with the gift of invisibility, a rarity among supers) and I wasn't gonna let her go. I committed my full attention to memorizing her habits, where she went and who she met. Like clockwork she always ends up at this little diner a few blocks away from time square and has dinner with some guy, a nobody. They always eat the same thing and at the same time everyday. It was a simple matter of "disposing" of the nobody than take his place at the table using Candice's ability to disguise myself from my prey and the other patrons. A grin spreads across my face as the seat opposite me pulls itself out and an indentation appears in the seat.

"Hey Alex, how was work?"

My prey finally becomes visible and im temporarily stunned, shes' quite beautiful. Plastering a fake smile on the illusion I concentrate on the voice of the man that is now stuffed in a trash can a block away.

"Eh the usual. You?"

My prey (Diane I think her name was) lets out a sigh and wipes a lock of hair from her eyes.

"That creepy old guy came in again today. He didn't even order anything, he just sat at the bar and stared at me. *sigh* Sometimes I wish I could just stay invisible all the time you know."

"Now why would you want to do that? Why would you want to waste such a special gift just to hide from the world?"

A worried look crosses her face as she stares at me. I think my charade isn't working.

"Are you ok Alex? Your acting really.......odd."

That's it, time to end this.....

"Maybe I am.....I really haven't felt like myself today."

I bind her body to the chair just as she goes invisible. I let the illusion fade but cast a new one for the crowd around us, to them we're just a happy couple having a very interesting conversation.

"Wouldn't want you to be heading off somewhere now would we?"

Even though I couldn't see her face I could hear the gasp as she recognizes me.

"Oh god! Sylar!"

I get to my feet and approach the seemingly empty chair.

"My my I didn't know I've become so famous...."

"Are......are you gonna eat my brain?"

I can't help but let out a laugh. I mean who makes up these things?

"Diane that's disgusting. I simply need to take a look...."

I hear her anguished sobs as I push the chair back from the table and turn it towards me.

"Please don't do this!"

"Don't worry, it'll all be over quickly."

I point to her forehead and the cut starts to appear accompanied by her screams. Nobody hears it, nobody ever will.....

Five minutes later.....

I wipe away the blood from my hands as I turn away from the now visible body of Diane. My focus now is on my hands as I try out my newly acquired gift. My hands slowly start to fade away than spreads until I'm completely invisible.

"Amazing....."

Suddenly screams fill my ears as people around me look at my table in horror and than run. Looking down at myself I notice that I'm fully visible again.

"It's over Sylar!"

Ignoring the suited man that addressed me I focus my attention on the man behind him, the source of my power loss.

"Good evening I'm Alexander Grant and welcome to Fox News at 10. Tonight's top story the serial killer known as Sylar has been captured today in New York by Primatech agents. As Im sure our viewers already know Sylar has wreaked a bloody path of destruction across the United States targeting supers and taking their abilities. Sylar is currently being held in an undisclosed Primatech facility until a more permanent solution is found. Primatech executive Angela Petrelli had this to say at a press conference earlier today.

"This is a great day for the public at large to finally see this monster put away. Im gonna make it my personal mission to see to it that Sylar will never see the light of day again!"

"No word from the FBI as to what will be done with Sylar but we will keep you informed on any developments as they happen. In other news more sightings of mysterious humanoid creatures have been seen in New York......"

Primatech Research, Level 5, Newark, NY.

I continue to stare at my guard, this Haitian, as I relive the events in New York. Discovering that my powers were being blocked I made a run for it. I had only made it a half a block before I was taken down by the agent's stun gun. Before I know what was going on I was injected with enough sedative to knock out an elephant and brought here. I had never felt so helpless, so weak, so.......normal. I'll see to it that it will never happen again!

"Well you certainly gave us a run for our money Gabriel."

I recognize the voice of the new arrival before she can get a look at her, Angela Petrelli."

"My name Sylar...."

"Cut crap with me Gabriel, I know everything about you. Gabriel Grey born to Virginia Gray and....."

I lunge to my feet and slam my fists against the reinforced glass.

"MY NAME IS SYLAR!!! THAT PATHETIC LITTLE WORM DIED YEARS AGO!"

Petrelli sneers at me as I get control of myself.

"It doesn't matter who you are, you'll be dead soon enough. The publics' demanding your blood and we're all too willing to give it to them."

She turns to the Haitian.

"If he so much as twitches an eyebrow shoot him."

 

[Keyser Soze]

He grabbed the bars he looked the figure right into the red. He instantly stepped back. His hair stood up and something ran down his spine. Darius Dax had never experience this emotion. For the first time in his life Darius Dax was experiencing fear. He didn't believe in God, he didn't believe in the Devil, but this...this was the closes thing to the Devil he thought. He had to keep his composure. This was just one of them he thought blocking those feelings of fear.

"You can leave. You're little mind games won't work on me." His voice trembled. "W-what do you want?"

"What do I want?"

A hearty laugh cascaded from the darkness. It was a welcoming laugh, soothing almost. It was a laugh that said, ignore the warnings your blackened soul is screaming at you. You'll be just fine if you stick with me.

"I'm here to help you, dummy! You have the power to change the future. Initiative 13 is the key. Initiative 13 must come to pass, before it's too late..."

Tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick...

The ticking clock pierced through the dark, pounding incessantly at Dax's eardrums.

"Midnight is approaching. A new day is coming. You have to decide if that day will belong to them... or you."

The glowing red eyes flickered and vanished, and Dax was once more left looking at nothig but solid black. But the dark man's voice remained, echoing all around him, coming from everywhere and nowhere.

"You must show The Company that Initiative 13 is the only way. If you do that, under my guidance you will become the saviour of the human race. You can have it all, everything you ever dreamed of. I can give it to you. I can set you free."

And just like that, Dax's shackles hissed and smoked, and melted away from his limbs. His restraints were gone.

"You have done good work, Mr. Dax. And much more good work awaits you."

All of a sudden, a pair of hands thrust out of the darkness, clutching onto Dax's hands. A horrible warmth surged through Dax's body, feeling at once comforting and poisonous. And then it emerged, out of the darkness. Like the heart of the abyss taking form right before his eyes. The dark man's face. His features were outlined with shadow, but the grinning face was before him, in all its hellish majesty.

"My work."

 

[Watchman]

"What do I want?"

A hearty laugh cascaded from the darkness. It was a welcoming laugh, soothing almost. It was a laugh that said, ignore the warnings your blackened soul is screaming at you. You'll be just fine if you stick with me.

"I'm here to help you, dummy! You have the power to change the future. Initiative 13 is the key. Initiative 13 must come to pass, before it's too late..."

Tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick...

The ticking clock pierced through the dark, pounding incessantly at Dax's eardrums.

"Midnight is approaching. A new day is coming. You have to decide if that day will belong to them... or you."

The glowing red eyes flickered and vanished, and Dax was once more left looking at nothig but solid black. But the dark man's voice remained, echoing all around him, coming from everywhere and nowhere.

"You must show The Company that Initiative 13 is the only way. If you do that, under my guidance you will become the saviour of the human race. You can have it all, everything you ever dreamed of. I can give it to you. I can set you free."

And just like that, Dax's shackles hissed and smoked, and melted away from his limbs. His restraints were gone.

"You have done good work, Mr. Dax. And much more good work awaits you."

All of a sudden, a pair of hands thrust out of the darkness, clutching onto Dax's hands. A horrible warmth surged through Dax's body, feeling at once comforting and poisonous. And then it emerged, out of the darkness. Like the heart of the abyss taking form right before his eyes. The dark man's face. His features were outlined with shadow, but the grinning face was before him, in all its hellish majesty.

"My work."

"Initiative 13." It seemed so long ago. That was the solution to all their problems. It was stored in a folder hidden deep within his home. All the information that was needed to save the world, to save humanity, was in his hands. "I'll do it. I'll save the world." The dark man grabbed his hand and shook it.

"Good man. I'll see you around, Darius." The Dark Man backed into the darkness. Everything went to black as Darius Dax awoke from his dream. He looked around his office. Nothing seemed out of place. He walked to the window looking out to the city. He raised his arm and metal clanked against the window. The shackled was attached to his arm. He stepped back and noticed it was gone. He thought he heard a laugh.

"Initiative 13." He said to himself. It was time to bring it back. It was time to save the world.

 

[Optikal]

Connor stared at the image on the scren a few moments longer. An image that had permeated almost every waking hour since his youth. An image burned into the very fabric of being. An image that his mother had spent her life teaching him to prepare for.

John leapt to the door, racing across the factory. coming to a large yellow panel his slapped a huge red button and the machinery began to creak and groan as it came to life. He reached the weapons cache and pulled forth a shotgun and an old rifle. If he was going down he was going down fighting.

From the outside of the huge steel shutter that marked the front of the factory, he heard the approachin rumble of the Harley. It grew closer, it's engine growling like an angry mechanical bear. And then it stopped. John raced, head ducked out of site back to the big yellow controls of the factorys machinery and hunkered down. Before he even tried to catch his breath, the shutter groaned and folded as the leather clad behemoth folded it out and up, ducking under slightly to gain entry.

John allowed himself a look at his nightmare, Knowing that under the fleshy exterior of the man in the entrance there was the chromed endoskeleton of a mindless killing machine. The Cyborg glanced left, then right before making his way straight forward. He looked unarmed, but as John knew first hand, that didn't make him any less lethal.

Slowly, the Terminator moved through the factory, weaving in and out of conveyor belts, its scanners tracking any possible movement or sign of life. Then suddenly in open space it found itself being pulled... connor, hidden behind the panel had activated the factories magnetic crane and had dropped it on top of the Machine. The Terminator, unable to resist the power of it's grasp found itself pulled up off the ground and stuck steadfast to the large round magnet. Its arms pulled out to the sides and the Machine was stuck, helpless, swinging about ten feet from the ground.

Only when Connor was sure he'd immobilized the Terminator did he emerge, Shotgun and Rifle both levelled towards the captured Machine. Standing a few feet away, he dare not approach even further. The Terminators shades had fallen off as he was pulled up and John found himself staring up into a face that lacked even the slightest emotion. "Are you here to kill me?" he shouted, angry and frightened in equal measure.

The Terminator looked upon him, its head tilting from side to side as it regarded him. "Are you John Connor?" it asked in reply.

Connor knew that there was no point in lying. The previous Terminator had been programmed to detect physical human signs of emotion. "Yeah, I'm the one you're looking for. Now answer my damn question."

"My program is to keep you alive at all costs".

Connor took an involuntary step back. "Why? Is there another one? Who sent you back?"

"You sent me back. The reasoning has not been specified. The only thing in my memory circuits relating to my being here are random words. Clock. Midnight. Judgement Day."

"Wait... what? A-a clock counting down to midnight or something? Judgement Day? I thought we averted Judgement Day back in '95?"

"When your mission to destroy CyberDyne systems and Skynet succeeded in 1995 you did not stop what oyu call Judgement Day, you merely postponed it. Skynet is still in development by the Cyber Research Systems Division and will go active in 2008."

"So that's why you need to keep me alive? to destroy Skynet?"

"My programming designates that I must help you survive Judgement Day and ensure that you take your place in the war".

"Just survive? Run away? we've got to try and stop this all from happening!"

"Calculations indicate that attempting to stop Skynet will lower your chances of survival by 89%. We must travel to southern Mexico to ensure your survival and fulfil your destiny."

John took a breath and dropped his head into his hands. "No. I'm tired of running. the only way to stop this is to face it now and take it down. We need to stop the bombs from falling".

John glared up at the Terminator looking in vain for any sign of emotion or feeling.

The Terminator merely stared back.

 

[Byrd Man]

"Sounds fun to me. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say you'll be wantin' me to use a sniper rifle to pick off those pesky Alliance troopers before anythin' serious goes down," Jayne said, putting his hands behind his head and yawning. The rest of the crew stared at him.

"What? I can think tactics," he protested.

"Yeah...Jayne I'm sure you'll get your chance to do some killing and whomping."

"I have a question, sir." Zoe says as she stands to Mal's side.

I don't hear watch she says, I just watch her.

We're both friendly towards each other, but since Mal took over the ship, I've been working up the nerve to ask her if she'd like to be more than friends. But I know I don't have a shot, the way she and Mal act towards each other, there has to be something going on.

"What do you think, Wash?"

Oh my god, I've ignored this whole discussion.

"I...I agree."

"You agree?" Kaylee says confused.

"What exactly is it you're agreein' to do?"

"I meant, could you repeat the question?"

"How long will it take us to get to the planet?"

"I'll have to look at the charts, but I think Serenity can make it in two days burn."

 

[Keyser Soze]

Times Square was a teeming nest of humanity, the beating heart of Manhattan. Which was itself, of course, the beating heart of New York City, which was in turn the beating heart of America. At night the place glowed with flashing lights and glowing advertisements. But even during the day, this town centre was buzzing with motion. People sifting to and fro, on their way to work, wandering around the shops. A sea of life, and all of them on the move.

But one man wasn't moving. One man had been standing perfectly still, for quite some time now. The dark man blended in amidst the wave of ordinary people, just one of a crowd. Situating himself on the island seperating the busy intersection's two roads, just by a traffic light adorned with a NO TURNS sign, he stood with his hands in pockets, staring up at the cascade of television monitors and gigantic advertisements.

This was by no means an uncommon practice in Times Square, and merited little more than a passing glance from the scores of people who walked by him. But those who did found a chill breeze through their veins, and for several minutes they were struck by a sombre mood they could not explain. It was the feeling one got from passing a parked ambulance or a line of yellow police tape outside a familiar setting, their unsettling implications not immediately registering. And funnily enough, while elsewhere in New York City citizens were enjoying what was by all accounts a pleasant October morning, a dark gray cloud had gathered over central Manhattan.

He had been walking for so long, rundown bootheels treading the roads through America, carrying him to his destination. And now he had stopped. Now he was looking at what had drawn him here, eyes gleaming with fascination. For, among those television monitors and gigantic advertisements, there was one unusual addition. A large analog clock, with a seemingly unmoving second hand, a minute hand pointing at 8, and an hour hand teetering dangerously close to the number 12.

Twenty minutes to midnight.

In fact, it was early afternoon. The clock was in no way a reflection of the actual time. The passers-by who looked up at it dismissed it as part of some obscure marketing campaign, and didn't think it was an actual working clock. Randall Flagg, of course, knew better. He knew that, though it was working on a time-frame few could comprehend, the clock was working just fine. He could hear it.

Tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick...

He closed his eyes, letting the sound of clockwork wash over him. The tick-tick-tick of the clock was pointing him to where he must go next. He saw his next destination crystal-clear in his mind's eye, like someone was playing a film projector into his head. It was a man. Hate blossomed within him like a rare flower. He sat alone, in an empty room. A prison cell. Yes, an... underground prison cell. Five floors underground, to be precise. Five floors under the Primatech Research Facility, in Hartsdale, NY.

His name is Gabriel Gray.

But he prefers to be called Sylar.

 

[Eddie Brock]

Casey had pulled himself out of his bed and dragged his hungover self over to his bathroom sink. He wet a washrag and slapped it over his face to wash the gunk out of his eyes.

What time is it. 6:30? Goddamn it. I think I was supposed to open today. Oh well. What's Lester gonna do, fire me? Ha. He's scared of me, the little ****.

As he turned off the water, he heard the latch on his door click. Instantly, his hand went to his gun, and clicked the safety off.

He hugged the wall waiting by the open bathroom door, looking in the mirror to see the approaching enemy.

I follow closely behind Sarah as she crouches through the doorway. I step on a loose board, and the squeak echoes throughout the hollow house. Sarah turns around sharply and glares at me. I mouth, 'Sorry!' Sarah carefully removes the magazine from her gun and slowly inserts a new one. She gently pulls the barrel back until the faintest of clicks can be heard. We keep moving.

"Casey?" I whisper. No response.

Sarah spins around and hisses, "Quiet!" She gives me a serious case of evil-eye.

"What?" I respond in a hushed voice. "I'm just trying to find out if he's home!"

"Just be quiet, Chuck!" Sarah orders.

Ignoring her, I stand up and call out loudly, "Casey? It's just us! Chuck and Sa--" Sarah smacks me in the gut. "Oof!" I half-expect fire to come out of her eyes. She opens her mouth to say something, but we both hear the click of a gun.

Turning, we see Casey standing at the end of the hall - gun in hand. He's putting the safety back on. And, as usual, he looks as irritable as a Yankees fan at Fenway Park.

"Good morning, sunshine," I greet with a nervous laugh. I still have a hand on my stomach. "Say, weren't you supposed to open the Buy More today?"

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"Yeah...Jayne I'm sure you'll get your chance to do some killing and whomping."

"I have a question, sir." Zoe says as she stands to Mal's side.

I don't hear watch she says, I just watch her.

We're both friendly towards each other, but since Mal took over the ship, I've been working up the nerve to ask her if she'd like to be more than friends. But I know I don't have a shot, the way she and Mal act towards each other, there has to be something going on.

"What do you think, Wash?"

Oh my god, I've ignored this whole discussion.

"I...I agree."

"You agree?" Kaylee says confused.

"What exactly is it you're agreein' to do?"

"I meant, could you repeat the question?"

"How long will it take us to get to the planet?"

"I'll have to look at the charts, but I think Serenity can make it in two days burn."

"Shiny", Mal nodded in acceptance.

"And, yes, Jayne", the Captain said as he turned to regard the man.
"You'll be coverin' Zoe and me while we make for the transport. We get in and out real quick-like with as little fuss as possible."

"Now, if there ain't no more questions..."

"Yes", Simon interrupted as he leaned on the table top.
"What will the rest of us be doing while you're out on this...job?"

"You'll all be stayin' put on the ship. I want her ready to go second we get back. Clear?"

"Crystal, Cap'n", nodded Kaylee as she glanced over at Simon.

"Good. Consider this meetin' over then. Wash, best go get us headin' in the right direction."

 

[Keyser Soze]

Randall Flagg had never been to the Primatech Research Facility before. But he made his way through the complex with ease, as if he knew every minute detail of the structure like the back of his hand.

He had no ID, no lawful reason to be in the building. Dressed in his rundown demins amidst a sea of gray suits, he even looked out of place. But nevertheless, not one security guard thought to stop him as he strode through the front gates, or out of the revolving door into the facility, or as he passed them in the corridor. It was like he was invisible, in a way. Everyone could see him, but nobody noticed him. Hiding in plain sight.

Later today, when the employees of Primatech were interrogated about the cause of today's incident, none of them would remember the dark man that walked among them. All they would remember is a feeling of distinct unease, like a bad dream forgotten in the waking hours. Investigators would find this particularly frustrating, considering the mysterious malfunction of all surveillance equipment Flagg would have encountered on his journey in and out of Primatech.

Deep into the restricted area of the facility, Randall Flagg casually asked one woman for her clearance card to access the secure elevator down to Level 5. The woman immediately complied, as if this was the most natural, harmless request in the world. And so the dark man found himself stepping out of the elevator, and into the festering gloom of Level 5.

"Hooooo-hooo! Anybody home?"

 

[Venom160]

Randall Flagg had never been to the Primatech Research Facility before. But he made his way through the complex with ease, as if he knew every minute detail of the structure like the back of his hand.

He had no ID, no lawful reason to be in the building. Dressed in his rundown demins amidst a sea of gray suits, he even looked out of place. But nevertheless, not one security guard thought to stop him as he strode through the front gates, or out of the revolving door into the facility, or as he passed them in the corridor. It was like he was invisible, in a way. Everyone could see him, but nobody noticed him. Hiding in plain sight.

Later today, when the employees of Primatech were interrogated about the cause of today's incident, none of them would remember the dark man that walked among them. All they would remember is a feeling of distinct unease, like a bad dream forgotten in the waking hours. Investigators would find this particularly frustrating, considering the mysterious malfunction of all surveillance equipment Flagg would have encountered on his journey in and out of Primatech.

Deep into the restricted area of the facility, Randall Flagg casually asked one woman for her clearance card to access the secure elevator down to Level 5. The woman immediately complied, as if this was the most natural, harmless request in the world. And so the dark man found himself stepping out of the elevator, and into the festering gloom of Level 5.

"Hooooo-hooo! Anybody home?"

The continues screams of outrage and desperation that I have tuned out suddenly stops, like someone simply flipped a switch on every prisoner here and silenced them without fight.

"Hooooo-hooo! Anybody home?"

A strange feeling floods over me, a feeling I haven't felt in years: fear. Without really even thinking I get to my feet and back into a corner feeling the cold wall press against my back. Moving my gaze back to the Haitian I notice that he hasn't flinched. Hearing approaching footsteps I get myself under control and reluctantly step from the corner even as my mind begs with me to just stay quiet and hopefully he'll go away.

"Whos' there?"

 

[RGDurant]

CRASH!!!!!!!

The deadite had torn a check-out counter and flung it with unnatural force, demolishing several aisles and sending items to break on the once sqeaky clean floor.

"ASSSSSSHLEEEEEEY!!!! Come out, come out wherever you ARRRRRRRRRRRE!!!!"

She destroy another counter and sent it crashing through a window.

****

Ash had managed to crawl his way to the Sporting Goods department and broke open a display case with his elbow. from which he snatched a Winchester Model 1894 rifle and a box of shells .

Then he sat on the floor with his back against a counter, muttering incoherent curses under his breath as he clumsily loaded the rifle with one hand, the handless arm held the rifle in the crook of his elbow.

"Why did they have to come here of all places, why not that piece of crap house I'm living in? It could sure use some wrecking"

Ash cocked the rifle's lever one-handed, got to his feet, and quickly had to drop to the floor again to avoid a oncoming counter from smashing his head like a watermelon at a Gallagher performance.


"OH, THERE YOU ARE!!"


The She-B*tch flung herself torwards him, clawed finger out front to skewer the mortal's jugular.

Ash raised the rifle and shot her right in the forehead, sending her flipping backwards into an opposing wall.

It would take more than a taste of hot lead to put down a deadite, only complete dismemberment would. He gave the deadite woman a shrill whistle.

"Let's go sweetheart!"

The deadite hissed at the mortal's cockiness, she arose and charged at Ash again, he fired again and knock back on the floor, Ash then turned and fled, off to the only place he area of the store that could help to his advantage, the Garden department.

 

[Keyser Soze]

The continues screams of outrage and desperation that I have tuned out suddenly stops, like someone simply flipped a switch on every prisoner here and silenced them without fight.

"Hooooo-hooo! Anybody home?"

A strange feeling floods over me, a feeling I haven't felt in years: fear. Without really even thinking I get to my feet and back into a corner feeling the cold wall press against my back. Moving my gaze back to the Haitian I notice that he hasn't flinched. Hearing approaching footsteps I get myself under control and reluctantly step from the corner even as my mind begs with me to just stay quiet and hopefully he'll go away.

"Whos' there?"

The dark man stepped out of the shadows and into the stark light in front of Sylar's cell. Somehow, his face still seemed to be darkened by shade, but his eyes gleamed bright with wicked cheer as he flashed that awful grin. It was the face of a devil. But as he came to a halt right in front of the glass, he assumed a stance of such easy charm that it offered reassurance, perhaps even comfort.

"Goodness gracious, friend, how rude of me to... barge on in here and startle you like that! Allow me to introduce mah-self. I go by the name of Flagg, with the double g. Randall Flagg."

The voice was silken, it's soothing lilts serving to lift the listener, and draw them in. With his focus honed in on the man in the cell, Flagg barely even cast a sideways glance at The Haitian, who merely stood in the corner, staring ahead blankly. He wouldn't remember any of this. An amusing reversal of fortune.

"Of course, I don't need no introduction from you, my good friend. I know all about you! The legendary Sylar stands before me, as I live and breathe! I must say it's an honor, I'm a fan of your work. Pleased to meet you, friend!"

 

[Venom160]

The dark man stepped out of the shadows and into the stark light in front of Sylar's cell. Somehow, his face still seemed to be darkened by shade, but his eyes gleamed bright with wicked cheer as he flashed that awful grin. It was the face of a devil. But as he came to a halt right in front of the glass, he assumed a stance of such easy charm that it offered reassurance, perhaps even comfort.

"Goodness gracious, friend, how rude of me to... barge on in here and startle you like that! Allow me to introduce mah-self. I go by the name of Flagg, with the double g. Randall Flagg."

The voice was silken, it's soothing lilts serving to lift the listener, and draw them in. With his focus honed in on the man in the cell, Flagg barely even cast a sideways glance at The Haitian, who merely stood in the corner, staring ahead blankly. He wouldn't remember any of this. An amusing reversal of fortune.

"Of course, I don't need no introduction from you, my good friend. I know all about you! The legendary Sylar stands before me, as I live and breathe! I must say it's an honor, I'm a fan of your work. Pleased to meet you, friend!"

I listen to what this Randall Flagg has said but I don't acknowledge him. My attention is is still focused on the Haitian and the now silent cellmates around me.

"How are you doing this? I've encountered this Haitian before and there hasn't been a gift I've found that has been able to override his."

 

[Keyser Soze]

I listen to what this Randall Flagg has said but I don't acknowledge him. My attention is is still focused on the Haitian and the now silent cellmates around me.

"How are you doing this? I've encountered this Haitian before and there hasn't been a gift I've found that has been able to override his."

The dark man merely chuckled, and offered Sylar a knowing wink.

"My gift isn't the kind you get by poking around in folks' brains, friend. Me?"

With a click of his fingers, Flagg made The Haitian disappear. He'd come back to his senses, and find himself somewhere in California, with no recollection of how he got there.

"I'm magic."

 

[Venom160]

The dark man merely chuckled, and offered Sylar a knowing wink.

"My gift isn't the kind you get by poking around in folks' brains, friend. Me?"

With a click of his fingers, Flagg made The Haitian disappear. He'd come back to his senses, and find himself somewhere in California, with no recollection of how he got there.

"I'm magic."

I couldn't help but grin at Flagg's show of power.

"Interesting....."

With a thought I send the glass display flying inward shooting past me and smashing against the far wall of my cell.

"But im not what you call a believer."

I raise my hand and send Flagg flying against the wall pinning him there. Surprisingly he only laughs.

 

[Keyser Soze]

I couldn't help but grin at Flagg's show of power.

"Interesting....."

With a thought I send the glass display flying inward shooting past me and smashing against the far wall of my cell.

"But im not what you call a believer."

I raise my hand and send Flagg flying against the wall pinning him there. Surprisingly he only laughs.

"Heh heh heh, you might not believe in me... yet... but I certainly believe in you, friend."

Flagg smiled at Sylar pleasantly, as if he was pressed against the wall simply because he had chosen to lean himself against it.

"What if I told you that you were destined for great things? I'm not talking about this petty little blood-soaked scramble for your own gratification that you may currently define as great. I mean, truly special. Oh yes, you're special alright. Generations from now, the world will hold festivities in your name, and pay homage in temples to statues bearing your likeness. They will love you. Earth's greatest hero. I can give that to you, I can make your dreams come true."

He looked down at Sylar, grin widening. This man had hoisted him into the air, slammed him into the wall, but still couldn't look directly at his face, couldn't bring himself to look him in the eye.

"Aren't you curious, friend? I've walked the Earth for countless years, and all this time it's you I've been looking for. Don't you want to know why? We're connected, Sylar. I know that you can hear it too. The clockwork."

Flagg's hand began tapping against the cold stone of the wall.

Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap...

Tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick...

 

[Venom160]

"Heh heh heh, you might not believe in me... yet... but I certainly believe in you, friend."

Flagg smiled at Sylar pleasantly, as if he was pressed against the wall simply because he had chosen to lean himself against it.

"What if I told you that you were destined for great things? I'm not talking about this petty little blood-soaked scramble for your own gratification that you may currently define as great. I mean, truly special. Oh yes, you're special alright. Generations from now, the world will hold festivities in your name, and pay homage in temples to statues bearing your likeness. They will love you. Earth's greatest hero. I can give that to you, I can make your dreams come true."

He looked down at Sylar, grin widening. This man had hoisted him into the air, slammed him into the wall, but still couldn't look directly at his face, couldn't bring himself to look him in the eye.

"Aren't you curious, friend? I've walked the Earth for countless years, and all this time it's you I've been looking for. Don't you want to know why? We're connected, Sylar. I know that you can hear it too. The clockwork."

Flagg's hand began tapping against the cold stone of the wall.

Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap...

Tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick...

I have to admit I was interested in what Flagg was saying. Yet that strange feeling was still there, a sense of dread that I couldn't shake. Yet what he has said about the clockwork hit home. I started hearing it when I first discovered my uniqueness but I thought it was just in my head, something to focus me. Even now I can hear it ticking....

I slowly lower him back to his feet and release him from my telepathy.

"Alright Flagg, you have my attention."

 

[Gallagher]

JESSICA SANDERS
COMPANY FACILITY


I step into the car as the old man takes the drivers seat.

"So what's up with this Sylar case? You seem pretty passionate about catching this one guy."

Ocelot starts up the car, taking us out of the garage and into the road.

After an awkward silence of driving, he finally speaks.

"He's a threat, and we're going to take him out."

I stare at him as he keeps his eyes fixated on the road.

"So it's that easy? What's his power?"

God, why won't the old man talk to me. I can't believe I agreed to this. I should let them tell Niki the truth for all I care. It'd be better than going on some mission for a worthless man who can't use his powers right.

"I mean, he does have a power right?"

He hands me a file, something he might have mentioned before. Seems like he randomly just pulled it out of his ass.

"A few years ago, this guy was the cause of a potential nuclear explosion of New York City. Luckily he was stopped, but what exactly happened that night is unclear."

He finally takes his eyes off of the road and meets eyes with mine.

"Records say, one Niki Sanders was there as well, a bystander of the incident involving Gabriel Gray, or Sylar, and Peter Petrelli."

I pondered that information for a moment. That night I had let Niki feel a false sense of security, like she was finally rid of me. A little while later, I had posed as Gina, a seemingly new personality. I couldn't let Niki know I was still around just yet, so I used Gina to get rid of DL, one of the two things preventing Niki and I from reaching our full potential. How silly family can be.

But I don't seem to recall a super battled showdown in some Kirby Plaza as the file indicates. It seems this crazed killer doesn't have just one ability though, but many. Dear God, he's insane. Cutting off peoples heads to take their brains. Some people are just frickin crazy.

"So are you saying Niki was there those years ago, perhaps even assisting this Peter guy in saving the world. That definitely doesn't sound like Niki."

It doesn't. She's weak, and that's what she's got me for. Sure she was able to defeat that illusionist girl, but I had helped her there, like I always have. Niki just didn't seem to appreciate it.

"Well then, let's get to it Old Man. Do you even have any idea where he is?"

Revolver Ocelot

Ocelot had tried his best to ignore his new partner as much as he could this is why he hated being a team player the endless whining.

"Bishop has informed me that he's holed up in an abandoned warehouse in the industrial sector." He said uninterested, hoping to stop any more conversation as he drove the company vehicle through the busy streets.

Mere minutes later the two pulled up outside an old, bulky building that looked like an overgrown garden shed. Panels boarded up the small windows around the front of the warehouse, the whole thing looked ready to topple over. Something in the back of the old soldiers head nagged at him.

"I don't like this." He rasped, shutting the car door behind him and pulling a revolver from his belt.

"What's the plan?" Chimed in Jessica from his side, looking generally unfazed and unworried, her overconfidence made Ocelot chuckle to himself.

"You my dear go round the back, distract him long enough for me to blow his head off." Ocelot said bluntly.

"You have no intention of capturing him?"

Revolver let out a short laugh.

"Of course not."

He watched as Jessica walked off round the back casually, shaking her hips as she walked.

"If you were a younger man Adamska." He said to himself before readying himself at the front door, waiting for the commotion to begin inside. When non came he got aggitated, snarling at the door in front of him waiting for a sound.

"OCELOT!" He heard his new partner shout. Bursting through the door he found Jessica standing in an empty room next to a table, on the table there was a black device, wired to the door he just entered.

"OUT!" He yelled taking a running jump as a deafening explosion rocked the surrounding area, the blast blowing the old man another few metres before he landed hard on the street.

He shook the dazed feeling from his head and go to his knees, coughing up dust and ash. Clearing his throat he managed to call out for the girl.

"Sanders!?"