The "Ultimate DC Universe" RPG: Season 2.0

[Catman_prb]

Man-Bat​

Kirk positioned his chair across from the man, whose face looked like something taken from a horror movie. ​

"It's, uh, Lang-strom." Kirk mumbled, more to himself than to the man, who, and he now saw why, was called Black Mask.​

"Mister, uh, Mask? Kirk tried not to look at the man's face more than he had to.​

"I don't really know why I'm here. An associate of yours approached me the other day and, well, handed me your business card. He told me you were in the business of getting people what they want?"​

Kirk, who was at this point wondering whether the faint stench of blood was in the air, squirmed in his chair. He didn't much like this Black Mask character, nor did he trust him any more than he could throw him. ​

"Yes my aquaintance Quentin met you. You're trying to reclaim some property of yours thats being kept from you i gather," Mask said, trying not to laugh.

Quentin had said something about a bat-serum, until Roman had punished him for giving out a card, a card, with information about the organisation on it.

"I also gather that you are currently un-employed. How can i tell that if i help you, you will pay me what i am owed?"

 

[SenseiofCheese]

"Yes my aquaintance Quentin met you. You're trying to reclaim some property of yours thats being kept from you i gather," Mask said, trying not to laugh.

Quentin had said something about a bat-serum, until Roman had punished him for giving out a card, a card, with information about the organisation on it.

"I also gather that you are currently un-employed. How can i tell that if i help you, you will pay me what i am owed?"

A shiver ran up Kirk's spine. "Pay him what he's owed"? All of a sudden Kirk couldn't help but think he was in The Godfather.

"Uh, yes. Well, like you said Mr. Mask" Kirk despised himself for being afraid of a grown man calling himself Black Mask ", I was recently fired from the university. A ridiculous mistake on their part, I assure you, Mr. Mask. I don't have any money right now, but I will be swimming in it when I reclaim the research. MY research. You see, I've developed a serum that should be able to grant humans the ability to echolocate. It's quite genius, if I do say so myself, because the genetic code of the..."

Black Mask had no interest in the specifics of Kirk's research, he could see.
Then why the hell is he offering me his help?, Kirk cautiously thought to himself.
Interrupting Kirk with a wave of his hand, Black Mask spoke.

 

[Catman_prb]

A shiver ran up Kirk's spine. "Pay him what he's owed"? All of a sudden Kirk couldn't help but think he was in The Godfather.

"Uh, yes. Well, like you said Mr. Mask" Kirk despised himself for being afraid of a grown man calling himself Black Mask ", I was recently fired from the university. A ridiculous mistake on their part, I assure you, Mr. Mask. I don't have any money right now, but I will be swimming in it when I reclaim the research. MY research. You see, I've developed a serum that should be able to grant humans the ability to echolocate. It's quite genius, if I do say so myself, because the genetic code of the..."

Black Mask had no interest in the specifics of Kirk's research, he could see.
Then why the hell is he offering me his help?, Kirk cautiously thought to himself.
Interrupting Kirk with a wave of his hand, Black Mask spoke.

"Kirky, can i call ya Kirky? Course i can. I like you Kirky. Your a smart mind. You remind me of a young, crippled, and slightly less handsome me. So i'm gonna send a couple of my guys to get your "serum". And i want 50% of your profits OR $20000, which i will decided upon at a later date. And if you don't pay up...well i wont break your legs...but i will cut the legs of everyone you love off, and make you watch them crawl around on the floor," he said with a grin. The disturbed look on his clients face was always fun.

 

[SenseiofCheese]

"Kirky, can i call ya Kirky? Course i can. I like you Kirky. Your a smart mind. You remind me of a young, crippled, and slightly less handsome me. So i'm gonna send a couple of my guys to get your "serum". And i want 50% of your profits OR $20000, which i will decided upon at a later date. And if you don't pay up...well i wont break your legs...but i will cut the legs of everyone you love off, and make you watch them crawl around on the floor," he said with a grin. The disturbed look on his clients face was always fun.

Kirk felt a lump as hard as coal form in his throat.

Oh, good God, what have I gotten myself into?

After a long silence, during all of which, Black Mask smiled, Kirk spoke up.

"Ah...That sounds more than fair, Mr. Mask." said Kirk, trying to feign indifference at Black Mask's threat, and failing horribly. "I'm, ehm, sure you are a very busy man, so I'll be going now. If that's okay with you. Just one more thing, though,"

Black Mask's smile dropped, prompting Kirk to reconsider his next request out of fear that not being able to walk would be the least of his worries if he angered the mobster.

"I'd like to go with them and get it."

 

[Catman_prb]

Kirk felt a lump as hard as coal form in his throat.

Oh, good God, what have I gotten myself into?

After a long silence, during all of which, Black Mask smiled, Kirk spoke up.

"Ah...That sounds more than fair, Mr. Mask." said Kirk, trying to feign indifference at Black Mask's threat, and failing horribly. "I'm, ehm, sure you are a very busy man, so I'll be going now. If that's okay with you. Just one more thing, though,"

Black Mask's smile dropped, prompting Kirk to reconsider his next request out of fear that not being able to walk would be the least of his worries if he angered the mobster.

"I'd like to go with them and get it."

Masks hand comes off the handgun inside the jacket of his pocket and relaxed very slightly.

"Whatever Langstrom. Get yourself to the to your university at midnight. Meet my boys outside the front doors. You can lead them in. Saves us bashing up everything. Just dont make yourself a nuisance to the boys. If they hurt you, i can only kill them afterwards," he said non-chalantly. Langstrom stayed where he was.

"you can go," Roman said wearily.

 

[SenseiofCheese]

Masks hand comes off the handgun inside the jacket of his pocket and relaxed very slightly.

"Whatever Langstrom. Get yourself to the to your university at midnight. Meet my boys outside the front doors. You can lead them in. Saves us bashing up everything. Just dont make yourself a nuisance to the boys. If they hurt you, i can only kill them afterwards," he said non-chalantly. Langstrom stayed where he was.

"you can go," Roman said wearily.

A sigh of relief escaped out of Kirk's mouth.

"Thank you."

Kirk began to wheel himself out of the office. For a moment, he stopped and turned his upper body towards Black Mask.

"Oh, and by the way. Your secretary is an incompetent moron. I can only hope your other employees are more promising"

Kirk faked as much bravado as he could muster, and turned back, continuing his exit. Fully expecting to feel bullets slam into his back, he was relieved when he was safely out of the office, pretending not to notice as the secretary gave him a look almost as frightening as her employer's face.

 

[Catman_prb]

A sigh of relief escaped out of Kirk's mouth.

"Thank you."

Kirk began to wheel himself out of the office. For a moment, he stopped and turned his upper body towards Black Mask.

"Oh, and by the way. Your secretary is an incompetent moron. I can only hope your other employees are more promising"

Kirk faked as much bravado as he could muster, and turned back, continuing his exit. Fully expecting to feel bullets slam into his back, he was relieved when he was safely out of the office, pretending not to notice as the secretary gave him a look almost as frightening as her employer's face.

Roman was in hysterics as he watched the cripple struggle into the lift. He looked up as his secreatry walked in.

"He got you Betty," he giggled. Betty nodded slowly. He pulled the gun out of his jacket.

"Now take your clothes off," he said, all humour empty from his voice. A tear formed in the young womans eye as she realized what was coming next.

"Yes Mr Mask," she whispered.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

The Atom continues to make final adjustments to the satellite relays.

All-right one more tweak and two new relay manifolds and this thing should be ready to run. I think I have a couple of those near my desk.

She floats to her desk and grabs the manifolds. She then notices something else...her message light is blinking three times.

Hmmmmmm....who could be trying to reach me?

The Atom turns into Rhiannon Plamer and actives her voice-mail.

The phone states in an electronic voice, "You have three messages 1st message sent today at 2:00pm..." The next voice she hears is her mother's saying "Rhiannon this is your mom I am going to the doctor's office for a check-up and if you're not busy tonight maybe we can have dinner give me a call love you bye."

The machine then says, "2nd message sent today at 3:30 pm...hello Dr. Palmer this is Dr. Harrellson at Gotham General. Your mother was brought in for emergency surgery this afternoon. She was at Dr. Scott's for a check-up and suffered a massive MI if you could please call us at Gotham General extension 356 thank you."

Rhiannon falls back into her chair and bows her head as she feels tears welling up.

The machine then says, "3rd message sent today at 6:30pm....Dr. Palmer this is Dr. Harrellson at Gotham General...your mother is out of surgery in critical condition and I must say that her prognosis is critical bordering on the breaking point. Right now the only we can do is make her comfortable...if you want any more information please call me at Gotham General extension 420...thank you."

Rhiannon deletes all the messages and sits in her chair for a moment.

Why now? Why?

She screams and cries, "WHHYYYYYYY??????"

Just what I need...sacrifice telling my mom goodbye to save Gotham or sacrifice Gotham to tell my mom goodbye. I wasn't there to tell my dad goodbye because I was in Metropolis helping get the branch lab office off the ground....I'll be damned if I am going through that hell again...sorry Gotham you can wait for five minutes...and I need to make this fast.

She dials the number to the hospital and the extension.

She hears a voice say, "4 Central Nurse Kelley."

Rhiannon shrinks down and dives into the phone. She rides the signal all the way to the hospital and jumps out of the phone.

She then dives around a corner and notices no one else is around and changes back into Rhiannon Plamer.

 

[Andy C.]

From the very moment that the two heroes had entered the massive ship, Superman had been scanning the structure with his X-Ray and microscopic visions. He was both curious and surprised to find familiar technologies incorporated throughout the vessel; Kryptonian, Coluan, Thanagarian, and several others that he recognized from his father's archives. It was even more astonishing, however, that there were thousands of other distinct forms of technology that were completely foreign to Kal-El. This Brainiac had to have been traveling the galaxies for decades to have accumulated all of this machinery.

All of this, though, paled in comparison to the complexity and sophistication that Superman saw when he looked into the skeletal form of Brainiac himself, that was now in front of them:

Brainiac's body was composed of trillions of microscopic computers, each one adapting to, and processing, the surrounding information. It was amazing to see on such a level.

Superman stepped forward and looked into the circuitry of Brainiac's skull, waiting to see what components would be firing in response to his question; "You've obviously been around your share of the universe, Brainiac. Something tells me that Earth hasn't been your first attempt at this experiment of yours." As hard as he tried, Superman couldn't keep the anger and frustration out of his voice, "What happened to your other attempts?"

"You are correct in your assumption that I have attempted similar upgrades in the past, Kal-El. However, those attempts were crude in their construction and small in their scale compared to the current procedure."

Brainiac seemed to look right past his two antagonists, staring upwards as if off into space.

"My original function was the betterment of life on the planet Colu. The supercomputers who created me did so in order to understand the chaotic nature of organic life. My initial calculations indicated that virtually all life is predisposed to competition and violence, and that the root of the problem is its fragility.

"A solution was formed that if the dominant Coluan species were given cybernetic upgrades, then their society would grow beyond the need for the violence and brutality that was once necessary for survival. This was the first stage of the experiment. The Coluans were herded into upgrade centers, where their nervous systems would be hard-wired into technologically superior shells, with neural inhibitors to prevent a mental breakdown. These prototypes were ungainly in comparison to the current model, but they were effective nonetheless.

"Unfortunately, the 'Computer Tyrants' of Colu, as they were called, did not expect the resistance," Brainiac said, a hint of acidity in his voice.

"A minority of the population fought against the upgrade, sabotaging our facilities and eventually bringing down the Tyrants themselves. The retaliation was swift and unmerciful, as the Tyrants detonated gene-bombs that rendered Colu lifeless. For millions of years, the planet was silent and empty...save for me.

The alien machine paused, and for a moment, the true length and breadth of its age seemed to vent out of him. The eons hung about him, almost tangible, like smoke.

Brainiac spoke again.

"It was nearly ten million of this world's years before I was able to leave Colu. I received a transmission from a deep space probe, and downloaded my consciousness into the machine before relaying myself to the planet of its origin. That is how I came to Krypton, Kal-El, and how the experiment truly began. However, it was in the incalculable silence before then that I devised the true nature of the experiment.

"Over time, I was able to observe thousands of civilized worlds across the Deep Field, and while the broad strokes of my original hypothesis remained unchanged, I began to observe patterns in the makeup of the universe, cycles in life that connect the most seemingly unrelated species. Through observation, I saw the truth behind the universe."

The hideous machine cocked its head oddly, as if he had just seen Kal-El for the first time.

"Tell me," it said in an inquisitive voice, "do you believe in God?"

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Rhiannon walks to the charge desk and says, "My name is Rhiannon Palmer I am Alice Palmer's daughter, what room is she in?"

The nurse looks at the chart and says, "Room 545, but you can't go in there right now the doctor is in they called for the crash cart."

Rhiannon glares at the nurse and says, "Try and stop me."

She gets to the room and sees the doctor and nurses working at a fever pitch to save Alice. Alice and her make brief eye contact and Rhiannon turns away.

She hears the doctor say, "We got her back. That one was close I don't think we can do much after that one."

Rhiannon enters the room finally and says to the doctor, "My name is Rhiannon Palmer I'm her daughter what's going on?"

The doctor turns to her and says, "I'm Dr. Harrellson head of cardiology. Let's go to the waiting room for a few moments."

The two make it to the waiting room and Dr. Harrellson says, "Dr. Palmer your mother is dying there's no other way to put it. It took everything we had to bring her back this time, and next time there will be nothing we can do. Her body is just getting weaker and weaker."

Rhiannon says, "She was doing fine yeasterday what happened?"

Dr. Harrellson says, "She had a sudden heart attack in her doctor's office this afternoon. It was one of those ones that just sneak up on you and that's it. As I told you the best we can do is make her comfortable her heart is giving out. I can't swear how much longer she will be awake and alert. If you need to say something to her I suggest you do it now. You can stay as long as you like with her."

Rhiannon nods and says, "Yes, can I have some privacy with her?"

Dr. Harrellson replies, "Of course."

Rhiannon walks back to her mother's room and the doctor motions for everyone to leave as he closes the door.

She walks over to her mother's bed, sits on the edge of the bed and holds her hand.

Alice stirs and opens her eyes and says, "I thought you would be out trying to save Gotham. I have heard those reports of robots attacking."

Rhiannon says, "My place right now is with you mom."

Her mother replies, "No it's out there trying to make a difference. I'm dying Rhiannon there's nothing you can do about that."

Rhiannon says, "I might not but the Atom can."

She shrinks down changing into the Atom, climbs on top of her chest and says, "I can see and do things that they can't with my powers. I can repair the damage. I'll enter through the tubes and..."

Her mother then raises her hand, picks her up and says, "No...please don't Rhiannon. Please don't." She sets her down on the edge of the bed and The Atom turns back into Rhiannon.

Rhiannon asks with tears in her eyes, "Why mom? Why won't you let me help you?"

Alice says, "Because my dear it's my time, and I have missed your father for the last 5 years. Tonight I will be with him again. It's the way things are meant to be."

Rhiannon takes her mother's hand again, bows her head and begins to weep.

Alice says, "Rhiannon don't cry. You are ready to truly be on your own now. I want you to promise me one thing. Look at me."

Rhiannon doesn't look at her and he mother says, "Rhiannon Faye Palmer look at me."

Rhiannon looks up with tears rolling down her face and says, "You name it mom I'll do it I swear."

Alice says, "I want you to promise me that you will use your wonderful and unique gift to make a difference in this world. That you strive to always uphold justice and leave those lives you touch in a better state than when you found them. Promise me that...Rhiannon or do you prefer Atom."

Rhiannon says, "I maybe a superhero mom but I will always be your daughter first. I swear mom. I swear I won't let you down, and I'm sorry that I things between us weren't always that great. I am so sorry mom."

Alice smiles sweetly and says, "I'm sorry to my dear it took two to make those things happen." She then moves her hand, touches Rhiannon's face and says, "I have always been proud of you, just as your father was always proud of you. I love you Rhiannon I love you with all my heart."

Rhiannon can barely speak and she gets out a choked out, "I love you too mom."

She puts her head into her mom's chest and begins to sob.

Alice pats her on the head and says, "Okay enough of that. It's time for you to go make a difference in this city. Go on now."

Rhiannon rises up and says, "But mom I have to be with you. I need to be here."

Alice says, "No, your place is out there making a difference. There is nothing more you can do here. It's time for you to get going. "

Rhiannon's tears stop for a moment and Alice says, "Please Rhiannon go now. Save our city and make it a better place."

Rhiannon takes a deep breath, stands up and says, "Tell dad I said, 'love you' and always remember mom that I love you more than you can ever know."

Alice nods and says, "Love you too my darling. Now go."

Rhiannon leaves the room and sees Dr. Harrellson. She says, "I need to go oversee some arrangements for my mom. Final wishes type of things."

Dr. Harrellson nods and says, "Of course if something drastic happens I'll call you at home."

Rhiannon nods and leaves. She gets around the corner into the stairwell and changes back into the Atom.

She then makes it to a pay phone and calls Star-Labs. The security guard picks up the phone and The Atom flies back to Star-Labs.

The Atom then makes the last adjustments to her satellite idea.

Hope this works.

 

[Batman]

IC:

​

Harvey Dent. Two-Face. Sitting here, in his humble home. The ultimate incarnation of a do-gooder turned rotten apple, and the living extention of everything The Joker was trying to prove. And he was sitting here. This was comedy gold.

The Joker kicked open the door to his office in the condemned Funnibones Toy Factory on the south side of Gotham... one of the many garish and ghastly hideouts of which he had used to throw the police off of his trail. But this one had a certain charm the others didn't. As The Joker creeped into the room, a visibly annoyed Two-Face trailing in behind him, flipping that same silver dollar, he looked upon the array of grinning harlequin nicknacks and windups with a certain satisfaction.

"Ah, such lovely children. Does a man's heart good to know when he's missed after a long day of work.", The Joker offbeatedly mentioned, before looking over his shoulder at Dent. "Tell me, Harv... did you have a family to come home to when you capped those medics? Or maybe a couple families? After all, a man like you must prefer a lifestyle of multiple choice! HA HA!"

Two-Face gritted his teeth, for a short moment, but held it back long enough for a response.

"You don't get to talk about that, clown. Ever.", He responded in a half-growl, half calmed monotone.

"Touchy, touchy.", The Joker replied, wagging his finger. "Too much of that snobbish quabbling and you're prone to get hurt in a town like this. I mean, hell, someone could rip half your face off!"

The Joker cackled, madly, walking over to his desk, and plopping down in the chair, throwing his legs onto it in a relax postion.

"Oh, lighten up, Harv. Life's a gag! You've got to be ready to take the punchlines as they come! For instance,", The Joker began, sitting up. "Do you know how highly ironic it is to suddenly find one of the city's leading anti-criminal activists to approach little ole' me? That's like sicking a rabid dog on a school of kittens!"

"Believe me. It took a bit of convincing before I could actually convince myself to do this...", Harvey began, sitting down in the opposite chair. "The truth is, Joker, I need your help, as much as I hate to admit it."

The Joker gasped.

"You? Harvey Do-Good DA Dent? Need my help?! God, Bush must've really screwed up the election process if you're looking to me to get up in the polls!", The Joker howled.

"THIS ISN'T FUNNY, CLOWN!", Two-Face yelled, the scarred half of his face staring The Joker down as if he were nothing but a maggot, ready to be squished within an inch of his life. "They ruined me. They all ruined me. Took away my life, my sanity, my... wife. This whole goddamned city."

"Not to mention your hygeine.", The Joker responded, not missing a beat. "Seriously, do they have a cream for that? HAHAHA!"

"DAMN IT!", Two-Face yelled, before Harvey sighed. "Look, what I'm saying is... I want you to help me make them pay."

"You're breaking my heart.", The Joker stated, with thick sarcasm. "Boo-hoo. Denty lost his wifey-poo. Now he wants to kick the big, bad bully of a city between the legs because of it! Do you have any idea how many times I've heard a sob story like that?"

"This time's different.", Harvey responded, clasping his hands together. "Much different. Because we both have something to gain, here. The entire city will be up for grabs, by the time I'm finished."

The Joker was silent, for a moment. At first, Harvey considered that he was pondering over the offer. Then, all too unexpected, he heard was the thick, loud laughter that boomed from behind the maniac's mask. The Joker was hysterical, as he threw up his arms, looked to the ceiling, and spun wildy, nearly falling out of his chair. Now, it was clear that both Dent and Two-Face were growing tired of Joker's hysterics, as he stood up, angered.

"WHAT'S. SO. FUNNY?!", Two-Face growled.

Continuing his manic laughter, The madman finally fell from his chair, on his hands and knees, as Dent looked above the desk, at the still chuckling clown.

"Oh, do excuse me...", The Joker breathed, as he caught oxygen again for the first time in moments. "I just tend to find such ridiculous gestures highly amusing. Did you say the whole city?"

The Joker stood, fixing his jacket lapel.

"I don't know what kind of fumes you've been breathing, Harvey Dentedbrain, but if a five star performer like me can't bring the city to it's snivelling knees, what makes you think a two-bit fugitive with a face that looks like play-dough can do any better?"

Pausing, The Joker then giggled again. "HAHA. Get it? Two-bit? HAHAH-"

Two-Face lunged forward, and grabbed The Joker by the coat, looking dead in his eyes.

"Listen to me, you maniac! I have more connections in this city than you've had headlines! What the hell gives you the right to say you're better than me?!", Dent and Two-Face barked.

Taking Harvey's arm, The Joker slapped it away with a force that surprised Dent, and pointed at his face.

"Don't. Touch. The clown.", Joker threatened, in a rarely seen hint of enraged anger that made Dent sit back down. "He could have a squirting flower on hand, you know!"

The Joker laughed, before re-seating himself.

"Come on, Dent! We both know what you're saying is crazy enough to make me look like Ghandi!", He continued. "You're going to have to try a little harder than that to sway me in your reindeer games!"

"Alright,", Dent responded, with a smirk. "What if I told you that you, and you alone, would get the first dibs on a certain cape and cowled individual that happens to fit into this plan I've made?"

The Joker paused. This time, in truth, he really was taken off guard.

It had been long months since his initial encounter with The Batman. But even so, The Joker held a certain hatred boiling just beneath the surface for making him look bad on a night that was, essentially, supposed to be his greatest breakout performance of the time. Truly, though he had succeeded in humiliating his one-time foe... a garish performer in his own right that had dared tread on The Joker's stage... there was a hint of unfinished buisness lurking about The Joker's mind, as he recalled the Dark Knight's close, very close success in apprehending him. After all, what was the fun in humilation if it didn't end in untimely, agonising expiration?

"You've hit the nail on the preverbial head, Dent.", The Joker finally responded, placing his own hands together in mock fashion. "Tell me, how is the Batcase these days? Still keeping his ears starched, I assume?"

"I've only encountered him once, thank god...", Dent responded. "And if everything goes according to plan, then it'll be the last time aswell. Provided, of course, you're willing to listen to what I have to say."

"A chance to gut the cowled cocanut?", The Joker asked. "Why, that could potentially be my greatest performance yet. After all that rodent's put on the line for this hellhole, killing him off would be a feat that'd send Copperfield packing!"

"Exactly,", Harvey agreed. "And with Batman out of the way, given his rather... stellar record in meddling in certain affairs, there'd be nothing stopping me to take Gotham for my own needs."

"Now just a minute, Harv...", The Joker inclined. "I may only be interested in The Bat. But what makes you think I wouldn't want a piece of that ole' city pie? You're going to need to cut me a slice, if you expect so much as a giggle out of me towards this charity you call a scheme."

Two-Face considered this.

"And that'd be all? Just The Batman, and apart of the city? No strings?"

The Joker grinned, beneath his mask. "Oh, I'd be as contempt as a rapist in an orphanage."

Harvey stuck out his hand.

"You've got a deal."

Standing up from his chair, The Joker held out his own hand, aswell.

"Let's shake on it."

Harvey reached outwards to grab The Joker's hand in response, but paused, as he realised something: The Joker was wearing a joybuzzer. Two-Face growled, angrily, as The Joker cackled madly, pulling the device off of his wrist.

"HAHA! So that's where that went!"

After a true handshake between the two, the night went on, as Dent began revealing bits and pieces of his 'gag' to The Joker. And with every new tidbit, The Joker became even more fixated on the larger scope of the plan itself. This was going to be one hell of a show. And best of all, in the Joker's warped viewpoint... Batman was going to be the star attraction, in a show of immenient doom!

He could hardly wait.

 

[Catman_prb]

Catman​

12pm
He was a newbie. He could feel a nagging tug at the back of his head, which was telling him that he shouldn't be doing this. He'd killed people. Leslie was right. He needed to attone. And this was the only way how.
He made a quick jump onto a fire escape, and looked into the dark alley below.

He could make out a woman and a man struggling.

"Look Richie, i said no!"

"Aw come on baby. Just for me?"

"NO! Ow Richie your hurting me,"

"Screw you *****," he said and slammed her against the wall. Tom jumped down into the alley, buckling his knees to absorb the shock.

"I think the woman said no," he stated coldly. The guy stepped back in horror.

"Christ, its the Bat!" he said, his voice going oddly high-pitched. Tom smiled, a leapt forwards with a hard punch, knocking the man to the ground.

"Close. One letter out, though," he said, and punched him again. Then he picked him up and slung him over his shoulder. He nodded to the woman, and jumped off.

1pm

The officer came round to the curb and dumped the garbage can there. Then he stopped and looked at the nearest lampost. A man was hanging there on a rope by his wrists. He was unconscious. When they finally got him down, they emptied his pockets and found a note.

Courtesy of the neighbourhood Catman.
​

 

[trustyside-kick]

IC:

"Do you fully comprehend the charges laid against you?"

Despero was now before the entire council that makes up the Guardians of the Universe. The one who questions him now, is their leader Ganthlet. Despero becomes almost lost, looking around the chamber around him, as if ignoring Ganthlet's words; so Ganthlet repeats himself.

"Do you or do you not fully comprehend the charges--"

"I heard you the first time, Ganthlet. I was just admiring the beauty architecture of this room. Sure, it will need some tweaking...but it would make a most worthy throne room when I dispose your precious Corps."
​

"You are here before us, for the crimes of--"

"Pursuing my life long dreams and desires."

"No, Despero. Not unless your life long dream was to commit murder, after murder, after murder, until eventually you took the life of one of our own. Such a travesty as this, will not be taken lightly. For the consequences are much more dire."

Despero's eyes meet with Ganthlet's, and Ganthlet looks back at him with disgust as the brute smiles wide. He holds back his laughter the best he can, and speaks up.

"If I must dispose of any who oppose me, then I am merely defending myself. Show me such a law that is written that forbids me such luxury."

"Hardly, a death as result of immature bickering and a lost of control can hardly be called self defense."

"And what about your precious lantern, oh wise Guardian? Did he not attack first? You are the crafters of his said ring, as you are all Green Lanterns. I am sure you can somehow retrieve the data of that day, and find that I was merely defending myself. He assualted me--"

"You were a wanted criminal and remained to be--"

"He abused my rights--"

"Such rights are stripped once you commit murder--"

"Enough!"

Ganthlet interrupts, as if embarrassed that his colleagues would find themselves arguing like a child with one such as Despero, and Despero only chuckles at it.

"I know what this is all about, Ganthlet, as you do as well."

"The Flame of Py'tar."

"Oh, so you have heard of it?"

"Nothing but a legend now relegated to myth. It is a fool's dream."

"So, now it is a crime to pursue one's dreams? That is what started this all, isn't it Ganthlet?"

"If such a thing were to exist...if...then yes. Such power and knowledge cannot be taken under the wrong hands."

"So it does exist, doesn't it?"

There is a silence in the room, and Ganthlet closes his eyes. All of the other Guardians look over at him, and Despero takes notice to this. It only causes his smile to widen with glee even more. But since his socratic questioning is proving useless, he must rely on a naturally born talent; found in his third eye. He had warned the foolish lanterns that brought him in about bringing him before the Guardians. Despero tries to invade Ganthlet's mind.

"AAAAAAAAAAAARGGGGHHHHH!!"

Despero is attacked with such telepathic power that it causes him to get knocked back against the wall; such force that his shackles shatter. But the Guardians do not call in for any help, for the fool is now unconscious. Ganthlet hovers over to Despero's body.

"You fool...you resort to your trickery, a trickery trademarked by your people against one such as myself? We wrote the book on willpower, Despero."

Responding to the noise they heard, three Green Lanterns including Katma Tui enter, shocked when they see Despero unconscious before them and Ganthlet floating just above.

"And for committing such a crime as invading ones privacy of the mind...you shall be sentenced to solitary confinement."

Ganthlet looks over to the three lanterns, and nods to Katma and they take Despero away to his cell.
​

 

[Eddie Brock]

I finally get some time to spare, so I decide to head back into the ocean. It's getting close to sunset, and the golden rays create a beautiful horizon over the sea. Meanwhile, the piercing light of the lighthouse illuminates the quickly-darkening sky - leading wayward sailors home. It's a magnificent sight, and one of the awesome things about Mercy Reef.

I've only been in the water for a couple minutes before it happens. I feel something rush up and grab me. At first, I think it's a shark attack. But my instincts tell me otherwise. Then, I catch a quick glance at my attacker, and it seems...human.

My attacker grabs me by the throat and forces me underwater. He's strong...and fast. I'm still trying to figure out how he got the jump on me. Then, a glimmer of sunlight reflects off an object in his free hand. I see that it's a knife. Now I'm panicking as I struggle to get free.

The hand with the knife descends swiftly upon me, heading for my throat. It takes both of my hands to stop the assailant's attack. I then kick him with one leg and push off with the other.

I take off into the water, knowing that he'll never be able to catch me. That's when I feel something approaching, and I look back. Somehow, my assailant is managing to keep pace with me...even though I'm the faster swimmer alive. He's brandishing the knife in front of his face as he tries to catch me.

I peer over my shoulder every so often to see if he's still there. Every time, he's gaining on me...inch by inch. Finally, I'm right in front of the lighthouse. I come up above the surface to scream for help.

"Down!" a strange voice commands. Whoever it's coming from is standing on the embankment in front of the lighthouse. Not knowing what to do, I obey. My attacker leaps out of the water to jump on top of me. In mid-air, the stranger fires a crossbow shot at my attacker. It hits my attacker in the gut, and he collapses into the water. I watch as he swims away as fast as he can.

I come back up to the surface, and my savior has his arm extended. "Thank you," I respond politely.

He smiles. "It was my pleasure, Orin. Now, let's talk."
​

 

[Spike_x1]

"You are correct in your assumption that I have attempted similar upgrades in the past, Kal-El. However, those attempts were crude in their construction and small in their scale compared to the current procedure."

Brainiac seemed to look right past his two antagonists, staring upwards as if off into space.

"My original function was the betterment of life on the planet Colu. The supercomputers who created me did so in order to understand the chaotic nature of organic life. My initial calculations indicated that virtually all life is predisposed to competition and violence, and that the root of the problem is its fragility.

"A solution was formed that if the dominant Coluan species were given cybernetic upgrades, then their society would grow beyond the need for the violence and brutality that was once necessary for survival. This was the first stage of the experiment. The Coluans were herded into upgrade centers, where their nervous systems would be hard-wired into technologically superior shells, with neural inhibitors to prevent a mental breakdown. These prototypes were ungainly in comparison to the current model, but they were effective nonetheless.

"Unfortunately, the 'Computer Tyrants' of Colu, as they were called, did not expect the resistance," Brainiac said, a hint of acidity in his voice.

"A minority of the population fought against the upgrade, sabotaging our facilities and eventually bringing down the Tyrants themselves. The retaliation was swift and unmerciful, as the Tyrants detonated gene-bombs that rendered Colu lifeless. For millions of years, the planet was silent and empty...save for me.

The alien machine paused, and for a moment, the true length and breadth of its age seemed to vent out of him. The eons hung about him, almost tangible, like smoke.

Brainiac spoke again.

"It was nearly ten million of this world's years before I was able to leave Colu. I received a transmission from a deep space probe, and downloaded my consciousness into the machine before relaying myself to the planet of its origin. That is how I came to Krypton, Kal-El, and how the experiment truly began. However, it was in the incalculable silence before then that I devised the true nature of the experiment.

"Over time, I was able to observe thousands of civilized worlds across the Deep Field, and while the broad strokes of my original hypothesis remained unchanged, I began to observe patterns in the makeup of the universe, cycles in life that connect the most seemingly unrelated species. Through observation, I saw the truth behind the universe."

The hideous machine cocked its head oddly, as if he had just seen Kal-El for the first time.

"Tell me," it said in an inquisitive voice, "do you believe in God?"

Superman sneered. This entire conversation was absurd. By nature, Clark was by no means a violent man. Quite the opposite, in fact; he would always try to find an alternative to trading punches. But discussing philosophy with this abomination of circuits, this alien warlord; it was giving Clark a much worse feeling in the pit of his stomach than he ever thought he could feel from fighting.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Superman practically spit the words.

 

[Batman]

Superman sneered. This entire conversation was absurd. By nature, Clark was by no means a violent man. Quite the opposite, in fact; he would always try to find an alternative to trading punches. But discussing philosophy with this abomination of circuits, this alien warlord; it was giving Clark a much worse feeling in the pit of his stomach than he ever thought he could feel from fighting.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Superman practically spit the words.

"I have a better question."

The first words I've spoken in what seems like an eternity listening to this madness come out far more angered than I intended, but I regret none of them. Because the truth is , quite literally, as plain as day: This is pointless. It's obvious that this "Brainiac" is little more than a hostile, artficial extremist. Gauging his ego by purging the origins of his maddeningly elaborate and genocidal upgrade of humanity will serve little purpose then buying the time he needs.

Superman doesn't realise that. Thankfully, I'm capable of distancing myself from such personal connection. Whatever that may be, in his case.

"When exactly was humanity allowed a choice, in this 'upgrade' of your's? There are billions of human lives that inhabit this planet. Each with a far different perspective then you can apparentally understand.", I continue, scowling at the machine as if it were just another maniac on the streets. "On second thought, don't bother with an answer. I already know. You're not upgrading humanity at all. You're enslaving them."

 

[Andy C.]

Superman sneered. This entire conversation was absurd. By nature, Clark was by no means a violent man. Quite the opposite, in fact; he would always try to find an alternative to trading punches. But discussing philosophy with this abomination of circuits, this alien warlord; it was giving Clark a much worse feeling in the pit of his stomach than he ever thought he could feel from fighting.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Superman practically spit the words.

"I have a better question."

The first words I've spoken in what seems like an eternity listening to this madness come out far more angered than I intended, but I regret none of them. Because the truth is , quite literally, as plain as day: This is pointless. It's obvious that this "Brainiac" is little more than a hostile, artficial extremist. Gauging his ego by purging the origins of his maddeningly elaborate and genocidal upgrade of humanity will serve little purpose then buying the time he needs.

Superman doesn't realise that. Thankfully, I'm capable of distancing myself from such personal connection. Whatever that may be, in his case.

"When exactly was humanity allowed a choice, in this 'upgrade' of your's? There are billions of human lives that inhabit this planet. Each with a far different perspective then you can apparentally understand.", I continue, scowling at the machine as if it were just another maniac on the streets. "On second thought, don't bother with an answer. I already know. You're not upgrading humanity at all. You're enslaving them."

"For lesser intellects such as your species, the two are one and the same. In my studies, I have come to the conclusion that organic life forms are not to be trusted with deciding their purpose. They take paths of chaos. They band together in factions and war against any who disagree with them. They kill each other in cold blood-- something with which you, Bruce Wayne, should be intimately familiar," Brainiac said, narrowing his eyes as he regarded the Batman.

"In their new forms, however, they will never resort to such needless destruction against each other. They will never become sick. They will never grow old. They will never die. They will never know desire or vice or hatred or pain. They will never feel the horrors of the chaos and cruelty of the universe: the loss of one's parents, for instance. Or, perhaps, even the loss of one's home world."

With that, the machine turned its attention back to Superman.

"In regards to your own question, Kal-El, the question of belief in God has absolutely everything to do with this experiment. Mind you, I do not subscribe to the simple-minded mysticism or superstition in which so many life forms indulge themselves. However, it is a curious point that, across hundreds of worlds and studying thousands of cultures, all forms of sentient beings have one uniting factor: upon first questioning their existence, they all initially believe themselves to be products of some creator. While they tend to fashion this god or gods in their own particular image, the notion is closer to the truth than most would dare to believe."

Brainiac rose from his throne, which separated into its components and sunk back into the floor as he continued.

"When I observed the nature of the universe, I began to uncover patterns in reality that beings such as you have neither the life-span to notice, nor the intellect to comprehend. I came to realize that the universe was not simple chaos, as I had previously believed, but was in fact, the work of the Master Programmer."

The alien's voice took an almost reverent tone. Indeed, Brainiac thought of the Master Programmer in such a way. It was the only thing in the entire universe that Brainiac had been unable to truly understand.

"The Master Programmer...the architect and constructor of the single greatest experiment ever conducted. Out of nothing came everything; out of emptiness came matter, energy...and life. However, the design is flawed."

Brainiac turned away from his audience, the reverence in his voice replaced with a much darker edge.

"As I observed the patterns of the universe, I began to notice glaring errors in it. Either the experiment was abandoned somewhere in the midst of it, or it was failed from the beginning. So while life descended into chaos, it still yearned for order and purpose.

"And that is where I come in."

He lifted his hands out to his sides, offering himself for display. The organics may not have been able to understand what he meant...but then, that was the entire point of the upgrade.

"Upgrading humanity is only the first stage of the experiment. Once Earth has been fully upgraded, the OMACs will strike, six billion strong, at the world of Oa and its Guardians. There, I will discover and assimilate the secrets of the Green Lanterns and their power rings. Armed with this technology, the upgraded organisms will launch an assault against Apokolips and New Genesis to uncover the Anti-Life Equation, then delve into the Fifth Dimension to learn the chaotic super-science known as 'magic.'

"From there, the rest of the universe will fall into line, my army growing exponentially with every new species to be upgraded. All life --from the most advanced sentients to the simplest bacteria-- must be upgraded. And from that point, once the entire universe is brought to order, its true purpose can be discovered and accomplished. In effect, I shall become the new Master Programmer."

His 'sermon' ended, Brainiac returned to the center of his ship's bridge. The machine had never confided to anyone his full intentions, but at this point, there was little either could do to stop him. And at any rate, the two must be aware of the nature of the experiment if they were to become the vital parts of it.

"I suppose that now, since you are aware of my plan to disrupt your status quo, you will spring into action and try to destroy me. But before you do that, perhaps you would be interested in my...collection."

 

[Byrd Man]

Ultimate

​

1984
Odessa, Texas


Three young boys ride their bikes down a dirt road. All of them look to be about 13 or 14. They laugh and poke their fingers at the skinny kid of about 8 walking down the road in shorts.

"Hey, Slade. I hear your old man finally did the world a favor and killed himself."

"N-No he didn't...Momma said he went on vacation..."

The three boys laugh as the stop their bikes.

"You hear that? I think he's a ******."

One of them picks up and rock and smiles.

"Ahaha. Hey, ******. CATCH!!"

He throws a rock dead for Slade's head. He reaches up and catches the rock.

"No, I think you should catch!"

He throws the rock back at the boy, it connects with his nose and a crunch echoes.

"Oh ****...He broke my damn nose! Get 'em!"

The two other boys rush little Slade, grabbing him around his arms and hold him while their friend comes over.

"What do you want to do, Jimmy?"

Jimmy smiles as he holds his nose.

"Lay him down, boys. We're gonna have some fun."

They throw Slade down on the ground and pin him. Jimmy shakes his head.

"No, face down."

They flip him over as Jimmy crouches down and rips off his shorts.

"If you so much as tell anyone about this, I'll ****ing kill you."

Tears well up in Slade's eyes as Jimmy starts to unbutton his pants.

"No...No!!!!"

1994
Odessa, Texas

The whole town of Odessa celebrated all day. Jimmy, the football star and golden boy had come home after being the first pick in the NFL draft. Now, it was night time and Jimmy was riding in his brand new sports car with his old high school sweetheart.

"I can't wait to get to New York and play. You know they need a quaterback and my agent said I'm looking at atleast a three year...."

He trails off as he catches a blond haired young man standing on the corner.

"Jenni, who is that?"

"Oh him? That's Slade Wilson. He's a pretty bad seed, he dropped out of school last year after getting expelled from school. He beat the principal with a desk. You know he's not right, both his parents were crazy. Last I heard, he was going into the army."

"Wow, psycho."

As they slowly pass him, Slade stares right through the car and at Jimmy himself. Jimmy's badly set broken nose stands out from the rest of his muscular body. Slade finally smiles and waves creepily. Jenni squeezes Jimmy's leg and smiles.

"Yeah, let's go to the hill, baby. So we can celebrate the right way!"

Jimmy lays ontop of Jenni in the backseast of his car, which is parked ontop of makeout hill. Jenni reaches up to kiss him as they both hear something move outside.

"What was that?"

Jimmy looks out into the darkness.

"Must've been a dog."

Just then, a gloved hand breaks through the backseat window and reaches for Jenni. The hand pulls her out the window and into the darkness.

"OH GOD NO!!!"

SHINK!

Jenni gurgles her last few breaths as the blood flows out of her slit throat.

"Who the **** is that?"

Jimmy gets out the backseat and steps out the car, just in time to feel a punch across his face. The punch sends the quarterback reeling up against his brand new car.

"You remember me, you sick ****?"

The face emerges out the darkness and Jimmy gasps in shock.

"Sl-Slade?"

"That's right."

He punches him again, re-breaking his nose.

"What's wrong with you? I was eight years old."

"I..I'm sorry. Please, I have my whole life ahead of me."

"Actually, you only have about two seconds ahead of you."

Slade pounches out and in one swift motion, he grabs Jimmy's neck and twist it, it pops and he falls back onto the car.

Slade smiles as he walks away from the two dead bodies. He was shipping out to basic training tomorrow. His buisness in Odessa was done, now came something bigger. Now, the world awaited.​

 

[Green Lantern]

I take a minute before finally answering.

"One. My dad wouldn't flip, I mean the only reason he cared about me this time is because I was arrested. He's always gone making films. Two, I won't die. I'm just as fast as you, I can handle anything they throw at me. And about the immature thing...I know I can be childish at times, but this run in with Zoom has changed my outlook and I want to work on changing my ways. I was given these gifts by fate, just like you. Although it was in a diffrent way. What kind of person would I be if I had these powers and didn't use them?"

"The kind that listened to his guardian? Look, Bart. I know you want to help. I know you want to kick Zoom's ass. God knows, that I know. But give it time. At least to get used to the powers? Alright, kiddo?"

 

[Byrd Man]

"The kind that listened to his guardian? Look, Bart. I know you want to help. I know you want to kick Zoom's ass. God knows, that I know. But give it time. At least to get used to the powers? Alright, kiddo?"

I smile and nod.

"You got it, cuz. I'll wait awhile. It'll give me time to come up with a name and all that."

I hear my stomach rumble and I think Barry hears it too.

"Jesus, I'm hungry. I've never been this hungry before. Is this, like, a side effect of the super speed or something? I'm always hungry?

 

[Eddie Brock]

"Talk?" I repeat, whilst pulling myself ashore. "Talk about what? I don't know you."

He smiles again, but it quickly fades. "We need to talk about your destiny, Orin."

I stare at him and squint slightly. "Why do you keep calling me that?"

"It's what your mother called you," he responds.

"How do you know my mother?"

He simply ignores me and continues, "She never explained why she called you that, did she, Orin?"

Now I'm even more confused. And why is he ignoring some of my comments?

"It's your father's name, Orin," he explains before I can respond.

I shake my head. "No. . .my father is Thomas Curry."

"Not him...your REAL father," the man explains.

"My real father? Are you saying I'm adopted? Who are you?"

He extends his hand. "McCaffery."

I reluctantly shake it.

"Your mother and I grew up together - before she moved here to Mercy Reef," McCaffery tells me.

"Mom never said anything about moving here," I respond in puzzlement.

"What? You think she grew up here in Mercy Reef? No, she and I are from far away," McCaffery elaborates.

"How far?"

He stares at me for the longest time. I don't know if I asked something wrong, or if he just doesn't want to tell me. Finally, he states, "Atlantis."
​

 

[Green Lantern]

I smile and nod.

"You got it, cuz. I'll wait awhile. It'll give me time to come up with a name and all that."

I hear my stomach rumble and I think Barry hears it too.

"Jesus, I'm hungry. I've never been this hungry before. Is this, like, a side effect of the super speed or something? I'm always hungry?

"Kid, if not for the millions I'm getting in endorsements? I'd starve. You saw how many pizza boxes I had at home. That was one day."

 

[Green Lantern]

Downtown. The darker side of the city. Nothing but corruption and darkness surface the streets. The only light the people here are given is the predictable sunrise, and the hope they give themselves, in search of a better life than the one they're already given...Everytime I come here, I'm reminded of my days here. Of when I first started out in the city, and how I used to be just like them. Then given a chance to actually do something with my life.

No one comes here unless they have to. Not even the rich folks. Except that Roy Harper has made a few visits and donations. You've got to have a lot of heart to come down to these parts. And a damn good reason as to why. Whoever wrote me those instructions to come here, must probably have both those qualities. There's a huge chance I'm walking into a trap, I know...But I need answers as to who exactly keeps following me around Star. And what he, or she, wants with me. I'm still thinking over how my security was disabled. This mystery person must have some wicked skills to do that.

I drove on my bike, speed here for about 45 mintues. Traffic was crazy, but I made it. Turns out that the first thing I see is a ditched warehouse, which wasn't that far. Rather close to me. I'm about to race off, when a flash catches my eye. Something was going on in there, and looks like the warehouse wasn't so "ditched" after all.

I take a turn toward it, then get off my bike. I crouch down, and head for the front window of the building. I take a small peak inside, and this is one of the times when I hate being right. Someone was just shot. His head bleeding from the side, and two bullets to the chest. I look up and see four guys looking down at him, the one who pulled the trigger was standing over the body laughing, as if he accomplished something big.

"Damnit..." I say in a whisper.

If only I got here sooner, whoever the guy was, he might've lived. I was angry, and that's a bad way to fight. I needed a way in, so instead of usually entering from the roof, I was going to give them a head on attack. I stayed low, and looked up to see a higher window. To my luck, being right above where the four of them were standing. I grab the flash bang arrow, then pull back slowly. I steady my aim, for a nice fluid landing. I then release it, and watch as it lands on the tip, right in the middle of them. The end of the arrow lights up, and the bang goes off, sending a blinding light.

I quickly run toward the window I was looking through, and crash into it. I managed to quickly take out one of the goons, but the flash wore down, leaving the rest able to see again. The one holding the gun looks to see his friend on the ground, then at me. After, he shouts out to the remaining.

"What are ya standin' there for ya morons, waste 'em!"

Bullets start flying everywhere. I leap up, bow in hand, and a react with a flip. I could tell they were new to this, by their aim. It was lazy with every shot.

I move fast to the one on my left, his hand starts shaking when I come at him, and stops shooting. Usually, gunmen never stop firing in situations like this...Yep. Rookies. I fire an arrow, which lands straight through his elbow, forcing him to drop the gun. Then, I hit him across the back of the head with my bow. Knocking him out cold. The other one comes up from behind, trying to land a shot at me. I dodge his attempted blow, and bash my knee into his gut. I strike him in the jaw, leaving him with his mouth full of his own teeth. He yells in pain, but then shuts up, after I deliver another jab.

I look to the original gun holder running away. But he won't get far. I whip up a bola arrow, and shoot it at him. He trips immediately, and his legs are tied up. I walk to him slowly, then drag him to a near wall, pinning him there with one arrow on each shoulder.

"P--Please, don't hurt me! I was only doing what I was told!"

"Who hired you to kill that man?" I say pointing to the now dead body.

"I can't say! I--I can't! I ain't no snitch!"

My patience was going. I had one hell of a night so far, beginning all the way in that building earlier, and now here...The only way I'd get what I need was to put the pressure on him. And with that, I grab an arrow from my quiver, and put it near his ribs.

"I'm asking you again, who."

"Don't do it man, I'm beggin' you! I'm tellin' ya, I can't say squat! We--We're just supposed to be the puppets!"

I start forcing the arrow a little bit.

"What do you mean by "puppets?"

"H--He came to us a few nights ago, saying he needed guys like us to do a job for him, th--that we'd get payed huge! And all we had to do was get you here!"

I think to myself for a minute, after what he says. Was I meant to see the gun flash I saw, that brought me here in the first place? Was I being watched the entire time? This...this was a set-up.

"Tell me who it was. Who was it that orchestrated all of this?!"

"A--Alright! Just please, don't kill me! T--The guy said his name was M--ACK!"

He was so close to telling me, but, now my eyes widen at the sight of an arrow fired, and stuck right through his throat. He was dead in seconds. I looked at the arrow shot. It was black...the fletchings of it red. Then, that's when I hear a voice.

"Y'know, something told me I couldn't trust any of these cats. Then again, it's not like I was going to keep them around for long..."

I turn around to the voice, than see the actual person emerge from the shadows.

"...Because in the end, I've got to hand it to them, atleast they got the job done..."

I see him putting on a sort of grin, and look to see him holding a bow of his own. As well as two crossbows on each of his sides. I ready my bow with two arrows.

"And who the hell are you?"

He responds quick.

"Me? Ah, well, you...You can just call me Merlyn."

Roy stood staring eye to eye with the coldblooded killer in front of him. His blue eyes scanned back to the crossbows at the man's hips.

S**t. This guy looks like he could take out a small army.

While he sized up his opponent, Merlyn did the same. Roy's eyes looked past Merlyn, behind him tied to the roof top was a hydrogen filled weather balloon.

Now there's an idea.

Roy instinctively reached for one of his match headed fire arrows, and at the same time dived out of the way as Merlyn fired one of his own off at blinding speed. The assassin's arrow ripped the leather on Roy's pantleg, but as his own arrow burst into flames, and sailed past Merlyn's head, the killer laughed cruelly.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! I thought you were supposed to be a deadshot, not a lousy one."

"Who says I missed?"

***BOOM***
As the balloon exploded, Roy dived from the rooftop, two arrows in his hands. Freefalling, the archer used the arrows to rip into a canopy on the way down and slow his fall. As soon as he hit the ground he sprinted, hoping that he had bought enough time to regroup from the assassin.

 

[SenseiofCheese]

Man-Bat

Kirk Langstrom had been waiting in the freezing cold for twenty minutes. With every breath he took, he felt every fiber of his being screaming at him to turn around and go home. But it didn't take any of his degrees to know that the clearly insane Black Mask was not someone you stood up. That, for all the good it did Kirk to deny it, he was in over his head.

"You Langstrom?" A deep voice boomed behind him.

Kirk swung his chair around and came face to face with five men, all of which clad in black leather jackets, black shirts, black pants and gloves, contrasting his rather bright blue suit.

"Y-Yes. That's me. Are you--?"

The biggest of the men impatiently nodded. "We're the thugs for hire Mr. Mask sent over. The boss wants this over with quickly, and personally, I'd prefer it if I was home in time for American Idol."

Kirk almost asked the man if he was serious, but decided against it, noting that he'd rather keep all his teeth.

"So..how is this going to w-" Kirk's obviously nervous voice was promptly cut off by the thug. " We get inside, we grab whatever the hell it is we're after, we get out." he stated in a matter-of-fact manner.

"Oh, alright. Oh, but before we go, " Kirk called to the men, who had already begun walking towards the building that housed his research, " there's not going to be any...uhm...killing. Right?"

All five men laughed coldly, regarding Kirk's question, Kirk himself noted, like one regards a toddler's request to go visit Santa Clause.

"Hahaha, yeah, sure Doc." said the leader, as the pack continued their silent approach to the university.

The journey to the front door seemed to last forever, Kirk thought to himself. For every inch he got closer to the entrance, a new bead of sweat trickled down his face. He felt himself being dragged through the night, towards the door. Towards something from which there was no return.
With clear-cut professionalism that surprised Kirk, who expected the thugs to simply blow their way inside, the leader of the group bent down so the doorhandles were at eye-level.
He pulled out a small device, no larger than a pencil, and pointed it towards the handle. Without a sound, a small red light shot from the device, and made quick work of the lock, burning a hole into it.

"I would advise you to stay out of our way at all times, Doc. Wouldn't want you to get hurt, now." the leader said, with a smile on his face that sent a chill down Kirk's spine.

The six men silently made their way inside, Kirk's wheelchair emitting a creaking sound that the others seemed to not notice.
The lobby, where every day hundreds of eager students marched back and forth, were now empty. Kirk's eyes shot in every direction, almost jumping out of his head every time he saw a shadow move.
But the five men were the only ones there.
They thought.

"Hey, who the hell are you?!!" Steve, the security guard, screamed at the group.

"Alright, DON'T MOVE!" Steve's hands were now enveloping a small pistol, aimed directly at the men.
Kirk felt a lump form in his throat. It was over now. Game over.

"D..Doctor Langstrom? Is...is that you?" Steve's voice was wrought with disbelief. And for a moment, and only an inch, he lowered his weapon.
In a blur of motion, almost too fast to really see, one of the men shot his hand inside his jacket. He pulled out a massive hunting knife, and threw it directly at the guard.
Kirk could've sworn he heard the blade cut air, before it hit Steve's throat. For the next seconds, Kirk could only hear the sickening, bloody gargles of a man trying to call out for help.
Steve's eyes were locked on to Kirk's, in an expression of pure shock and horror. And expression Kirk would never forget, as long as he lived.

Kirk couldn't breathe. He grasped at his neck, and he felt like he was going to faint.

"Well, whaddya know, Doc. Turns out you're good for something!" the murderer laughed cruelly.

"N..No. No but, but nobody was supposed to die! No! Why did you do that! That wasn't supposed to happen! WHY DID YOU DO THAT YOU MONSTER!!!" Kirk bellowed, in a fit of rage that echoed his state in this very room earlier that week.

"Shut the hell up! How the hell did you think this was going to go?!? You think we were just going to waltz in here and ask for your SH!IT politely?!? Wake up and smell the crap Doc!"

But Kirk Langstrom was in a monstrous fit of madness. He almost didn't hear the team's leader call to his men. "*****! Alright boys, I guess we're moving ahead of schedule. Grab him and move up to the labs. The boss told us to test the serum and kill Langstrom, I don't see why we kill two flies with one stone."

"Wh What?" Kirk said weakly, as one of the men advanced on him and buried his fist in Kirk's face.

--------------------

When Kirk awoke, he couldn't move. He immediately felt that he was strapped down.

"Wh...wha..." Kirk's throat felt like he had just swallowed a bucket of sand.

"Settle down Doc, save your strength." the familiar voice called out from the darkness.

"Our employer, who you know, wants to get his hands on this little serum of yours. Turns out you were on to something, and Mr. Mask thinks there's money to be made. However, before he invests any of his own, he wants us to make sure this little miracle juice of yours really works. " Kirk, as disoriented as he was, knew exactly what was coming.

"Please, don-" Kirks words were cut off by a punch to the face, and he could feel his nose break. He let out a painful scream.

"Turns out, you get to be our little guinea pig." As Kirk's vision adjusted to the dark, he could see the man whose voice echoed through the room extract a small dose of his bat-serum into a syringe.

Oh, God, NO!

He attempted to scream out in protest, but it was too late. He felt the syringe forced into his arm, it's contents emptied into his body.

"Bottoms up," laughed the man.

For a moment, all was still.
The silence was abruptly broken, however, was Kirk Langstrom began to violently thrash about. The straps barely held him in place, and his agonizing screams filled the room.
The table shook, and all five of the thugs backed away, expressions of pure shock on their faces.
Blood filled Kirk's eyes, his lungs felt as if they were on fire. Every nerve was being ripped apart and his head boomed as if it was going to explode.
His screams grew louder, more bestial.

"NOOOOOOOAOOAOOOAAAAAaaaAAAAAAaAArrrrhrrhrrrrgggghhhhH!!!!"

And the restraints snapped.
​

 

[MST3K 4ever]

The Atom stares at the control panel and takes a deep breath.

Here goes nothing...

She throws the switches and the satellite system kicks in.

Now to see if this worked....worse case I killed all of them...best case they are out of commission.

The Atom floats outside and sees OMACs all over the place laying on roof-tops and in the street.

OH please don't tell me I killed them...after what happened to my mom tonight I don't think I could take it.

She flies down and examines one of the OMACs.

Okay I wasn't expecting this but for now I'll take it. It appears that the pulse acted as low-grade EMP for the OMACs...I didn't kill them or undo the damage that has been done, but it has but them in a hibernation status...as long as they're alive that's good enough for me.