The "Ultimate Marvel" RPG Seasson II Game Thread

[Noon]

[Angel]

"War! Wait!"

I stop at the elevator and turn to see Ali jogging up to me.

"Im.......im sorry Ali, I just couldnt stand to hear his voice anymore."

I break eyecontact with her and look at the floor, ashamed by my lack of control.

"It's ok, babe. C'mon, lets go play hero, we'll be back to sort him out soon enough."

War gets in the elevator, but before I follow I turn back to Hammerhead's office. I point to the suitcase and speak just loud enough for him to hear.

"I'll be back for that, this is not a freebie"

I get in the elevator with Angel, I get the feeling he's not happy with me, and I feel divided between being a hero, a girlfriend and a poor musician. Not to mention a bunch of other personalities I won't go into.

As the lift descends, I slip my hand into Warren's.

 

[Venom160]

"It's ok, babe. C'mon, lets go play hero, we'll be back to sort him out soon enough."

War gets in the elevator, but before I follow I turn back to Hammerhead's office. I point to the suitcase and speak just loud enough for him to hear.

"I'll be back for that, this is not a freebie"

I get in the elevator with Angel, I get the feeling he's not happy with me, and I feel divided between being a hero, a girlfriend and a poor musician. Not to mention a bunch of other personalities I won't go into.

As the lift descends, I slip my hand into Warren's.

[Angel]

The silence in the elevator is almost deafening, Ali probably thinks im mad at her but im not, I could never be mad at her. Its just the whole situation, Im starting to see why people like Spider-Man and Daredevil or that nut with the half moon on his chest does the things they do. Scum like this Hammerhead need to be removed by any means necessary, I feel Ali's hand grab mine as the elevator doors open revealing the lobby. I smile at her and gently squeeze her hand.

"Lets exterminate some pests."

 

[Spider-Man9X17]

"Look what that suit is doing to you Eddie. Look what it does to anyone who touches it. Our fathers wouldn;t have wanted this for us. This isn't how they would want us to remember them."

 

[Venom160]

[BLACKOUT]Venom[/BLACKOUT]/Eddie Brock

We get to our feet just as Peter gets to his.

"I never did anything to you!"

We split our face open revealing Eddie's face underneath.

"Oh so you didn't stump on my trust and destroy the only piece of my father I had left? Gee what was I thinking? Tell ya what I'll just kill you and we'll call it even! And by the way, hows you girlfriend oh wait your ex-girlfriend? I heard you two had one hell of a night."

"Look what that suit is doing to you Eddie. Look what it does to anyone who touches it. Our fathers wouldn;t have wanted this for us. This isn't how they would want us to remember them."

[BLACKOUT]Venom[/BLACKOUT]/Eddie Brock

I laugh and shake my head.

"Ya know Pete we're getting sick of you blaming the suit! Your just saying that cause you couldnt control it yourself! We....."

Thats when we felt it, it was very faint but it was there, something was calling out to us. I allowed the suit to reach out trying to find where it was coming from, we jerk our eyes back on Peter and smile.

"For someone who hates the suit so much it didnt seem to stop you from connecting to another."

 

[Mr. Marko]

"You crazy b$&ch," Forge chuckled, "it wasn't necessary to kill all of the guards too."

Mystique chuckles, completely comfortable as the Triskelion shakes around her. "Don't be such a kill joy, kid."

Moments earlier the plastic prison was shaken from its foundation as explosions had rocked through the Triskelion. Now, after taking out a couple dozen guards, she was standing in front of Forge's cell. She was back to her own blue form, which was nice. As wonderful of a man Magneto was, he wasn't the prime form that Mystique liked to take. Sure, it served its purpose, but it was nice to have a figure again.

"It was nice of you to come by and pick me up," Forge said as Mystique opened the cell door.

"Don't be rediculous," she said, "you're the genius kid, and I have use for you." She tossed him a large assault rifle that was just the same as hers. "Now lets get the hell out of here, I have some personal business to attend to."

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

Moments later, Mystique and Forge emerged out the back of the Triskelion, just to see Nick Fury in the tentacles of Dr Octopus. "Poor f#$@er," Mystique said as she quickly changed her form into a SHIELD officer. She turned to Forge. "If we run into anybody, just follow my lead." She jumped into a small powerboat that was along the shoreside, started it up, and sped away from the island she had called home for so long.

"So, what is our plan?" Forge asked nervously. "We should probably let Magneto know that we're out. How are we going to get to the Savage-"

"Kid. Shut up. For a genius you talk way to damn much. We're not going to contact Magneto yet."

"We're not?"

"No. I've had alot of time to think locked away in that plastic prison. I think Eric was right. I think my loyalty to him IS fueled by my hatred for Charles."

Forge looked at her, confused.

"Its time I took care of some personal business."

 

[Mr. Marko]

*MYSTIQUE*

A few days later...

"Do you want to let me know what the hell exactly all this is for?" Forge asked. The two of them had taken temporary hideout in one of Mystique's several apartments that she had set aside for her various personalities she liked to play from time to time. On the kitchen table were various rings, earrings, sunglasses, and other such clothing. Forge had spent the last few days fitting these to various purposes that Mystique had given him. Making the sunglasses make the wearer psychic proof was not an easy task, but he had managed to create a psychic masking device that fit in the arm, just beside the temple. As long as these shades were on your head, not even Charles Xavier could get inside.

"Its like I said," Mystique said, "I've got some unfinished business to attend to. Charles and I have history to address. How am I supposed to walk into the X-Mansion undetected if there I can't be protected from Charles' psychic scans." She turned to the overcoat that was lying on the table. "Now, you're sure this is going to cover my scent too? The last thing I need is Wolverine on my a**"

"Positive. Your entire wardrobe is fitted with a self-sufficient pheromone producers. They gives off a scent completely unique to its own, which, just like you requested, gives off the scent of a 17-yr-old girl."

"Excellent," she said. She pulled out a cellphone and a wallet. "Let's see here," she said, opening the wallet.

"Where did you get that?"

"Just some brat I found sneaking around the back of the Cornerview Mall. Figured the little punk would be a good disguise. Jubilation Lee? What the hell kind of name is that?"

"Sounds like the fourth of July." He chuckled a bit at his own joke, but stopped when he saw Mystique wasn't laughing. She then began to change her form again, this time taking the form of a young, 17-yr-old Asain girl.

Forge took a moment to admire the view. "Not bad."

"Keep your pecker in your pants, Brain-Boy." She began to put on the assorted jewelry that Forge had created. "How do I use these rings and things?"

"They have a trigger on the inside. I figured you could use your little shapeshifting abilities to press the button." Mystique pressed the button and firework-like explosions came firing from her hand.

"What-the-hell? They've already got a color-blazing member of the team...remember?"

Forge shook his head in disgust. "No appreciation for the innovation. Do you realize the technology you're looking at here?? Nick Fury would kill-"

"What does it do?"

"It creates globules of volitile energy which explodes on impact. Its NOT the same as Dazzler's abilities, her powers are based on heat."

Mystique shrugged. "Well, points for effort anyways." She put on more of the rings and then turned to the mirror. "Hi, Professor Xavier," she said in a sweet, plastic voice, "My name is Jubilee, and I'd like to join your school."

 

[Mr. Marko]

MYSTIQUE
Season 2: Part III

Funny, the place is smaller than I remember, Mystique thought. The taxi pulled up to the mansion that Mystique had called home for those wonderful months oh-so-long ago. Back then it was a school. Now it was some place for a bunch of homeless kids to play superhero. Fine by Mystique, just gave her new identity more of a place to let loose.

"Alright kid, that's fifty bucks."

"Fifty bucks?!" She stared at the driver over her Oakleys. "Are you serious?"

"Hey kid, gotta make a livin'." She put her hand into her long trenchcoat and pulled out a bill, slamming it into the driver's hand. She pushed up her sunglasses over her eyes and opened the door. Showtime, she thought to herself. She walked up to the door and rang the bell.

"Anybody home?"

 

[guitarsingerguy]

"My name is Chris Powell. I don't know how to explain what's happening to me. I guess I'll simply start from the beginning. My father was a police officer. A good one at that. Well, at least that's what I thought. Turns out my dad was a piece of ****. He got himself wrapped up into something he shouldn't have. It got my family killed. That's an understatement. They were butchered and left for me to find. It was meant to be a message I guess. They were looking for something, and I knew exactly what it was. Luckily they hadn't found it. It was stashed under my floorboards where I keep my dirty magazines. Mom would have flipped. It was a crystal that my dad had given me. He didn't tell me exactly what it was, but I figured it was worth a lot of money. Boy was I wrong. The crystal entered my chest. I don't think I've ever been in more pain then at that moment. It seemed like it would never end. Then, it was as if I had a moment of clarity for the first time. I felt stronger then I ever had before. It almost seemed like I was someone else. That's when I realized....I was. I was wearing some type of armor. Who knows how it happened? I don't even believe it myself. I keep waiting for the alarm clock to go off. I ran to the bathroom, and let me tell you. I looked like I was ready for World War III. There was a symbol on my chest. It looked just like the crystal that had entered my body. That wasn't even the worst of it. That's right about when I took off the helmet. Was it really me? Was this some sort of sick joke? I looked like I had been dead for months. I wasn't even sure if it was me. It's pretty hard to tell when half your face is missing. I must have passed out from shock, and the next thing I knew, I was here. I'm telling the truth. You have to believe me!"

The detective looked across the table right into Chris' eyes. "Take Mr. Powell back to his cell please."

Two heavily armed guards escort Chris Powell out of the interrogation room.

The detective turns to a woman wearing glasses and reviewing notes. "What'd I tell you doc? Kid's out of his ****ing mind."

"Well detective, I don't think there's any other explanation for murdering your entire family."

 

[guitarsingerguy]

After several hours, a six minute shower, and an unedible meal, the psychiatrist wanted to have another meeting. Chris Powell is once more escorted to the interrogation room. He is sat down in a chair and bound to the floor.

"Chris, after reviewing your statements, I'd like to ask you a few more questions. You mentioned looking in the mirror and seeing your face mangled. Was that a metaphor for how you feel after having killed your family? Is that how you now see yourself?"

"What are you talking about lady? I didn't kill my family!

"Chris, you're looking at the death penalty here. Please, I'm trying to help you."

"Lady, all you want me to do is cop up to this so they can play pin the tail on Chris' ass. I'm not stupid. You forget my father was a cop. I know how this bull**** works."

"Chris, please, you're delusional. Noone here is out to get you. I honestly don't believe you were yourself when you did this. Now I need you to cooperate, or they're going to light you up like a Christmas tree. You mentioned a crystal. What exactly did it look like?"

"Wait....are you saying you believe me about the crystal?"

"I'm saying if the crystal truly does exist, and it entered your body, then we should be able to see it with an x-ray right? If I have one of the guards let one of your arms loose, will you draw a picture of the crystal for me? It may be your only shot."

"Of course! If it will prove my innocence of course!"

"Good. Thank you Chris."

The doctor calls the guards in so they may let Chris' right arm go. He is given a single piece of paper and a pencil. One of the guards stands over his shoulder the whole time to ensure Chris isn't planning on using the pencil as a weapon. As Chris finishes the drawing, he slides it over to the doctor. She takes a long look at it.

"Thank you Chris. These gentlemen are going to take you back to your cell for a little while. I'll get an order for an X-ray immediately. Just be patient."

"Thank you doctor. It means a lot that you believe me."

"Of course Chris. Now don't worry. We're going to get to the bottom of this."

As the two guards escort Chris back to his cell, the doctor pulls out her cell phone. She dials the numbers and waits.

"Hey, it's me. He's seen it alright. He just drew me a picture, that's how I know. Of course."

The doctor closes her flip phone and smiles.

 

[Watchman]

IC Flint Marko: The Sandman
Season II - Part Six

Ock's arms raised him from the ground. The exploding ultron had left some dark burns on the back of his jacket, but other than that, he seemed unharmed. He grabbed two of Fury's Hulkbuster agents and smashed their heads together. They slumped to the ground; their helmets dented and cracked.

"Ultrons, deal with the S.H.I.E.L.D agents."

The three remaining Ultrons closed in on the Hulkbuster agents. A few more Ultrons appeared from over the side of the building and joined in the carnage. Carnage was a good way of describing Flint's surroundings. Electro had been apprehended and issued a genetic stabilizing collar. He was still knocked out from the beating he had recieved. Captain America was battling the Hulk, who was the reason Bullseye was currently stretched out on his back screaming in pain. Loki and Thor were at eachother's throats in a confrontation that was darkening the sky... What else could go wrong?

Just then, Ock snatched Fury off the ground and leapt onto the wall of a nearby building. He began using his tentacles to climb up to the roof.

"Come now Marko, you don't want your new boss to go splat!" Ock called out.

To Flint, this was perfect. Fury was gone, Ock was gone... things were going to be alright.

"Hurry up you dolt! Go get that lunatic!"

It was one of Flint's babysitters. Apparently, the Hulkbusters were doing fine against the Ultrons, which freed up these knuckleheads to push Flint around.

"What are you, deaf?" The agent shot his Hammer Industries weapon at the roof, inches from Flint's foot. "Get your freak butt up there, or I swear to God I'll end you right here. MOVE!"

The other babysitters raised their weapons. Flint snarled at them angrily. Several of them used grappling hooks to climb across to the other rooftop, where Octopus had taken Fury. Flint transformed into a cloud of sand and poured himself over. When he landed, he stabilized himself and looked Octopus in the face.

Octopus transformed his arms into electric orbs once more and swung them at Flint, who narrowly avoided the blows by transforming his body into a variety of odd shapes. Ock was only attacking with three arms, he was using the other to hold Fury out over the edge of the roof.

The SHIELD agents who had followed Flint to this roof were of no use to him. They had their orders from Fury, and there were not about to defy them, even if that cost Fury his life. Flint assumed that Fury would rather be dead than be held responsible for The Sandman getting loose and wreaking havok. Therefore, the SHIELD agents acted as if Octopus wasn't even there, and kept their specialized weapons trained on Flint.

Ock connected with his three arms. Sandman screamed in pain and fell down. Ock stood over him one of his arms goes over to Fury head his claws near his eye.

"Now you're going to watch as I rip your boss apart, Marko,piece by piece"

 

[Feature]

IC Flint Marko: The Sandman
Season II - Part Seven

Ock struck at Flint with three of his tentacles, all of which found their mark. Flint was temporarily stunned but kept an eye on Ock, who brought one of his tentacles up to Fury's remaining eye.

"Now you're going to watch as I rip your boss apart, Marko. Piece by piece!" A wicked smile spread across Ock's face.

Flint was panting heavily, still affected by Ock's attack. He felt like giving up. Going back to the bottles.

"Do it." Flint gasped. "I mean it. Do it, you maniac. I'm done. I quit."

"HEY!" The leader of Flint's babysitters yelled. "Don't you get it? Finish this nutjob off or you're toast!"

Flint said nothing. He did not even budge. He just stared down at the rooftop.

"Are you some kind of idiot or somethin'? GET! THAT! FREAK! ...NOW!" The SHIELD agent walked up to Flint and pressed his specialized weapon against Flint's temple.

"Gimme a reason. C'mon. I dare ya."

Flint's face flooded with anger. His countenance was distorted with a look of all-consuming rage. Doctor Octopus was clearly thrown off by this exchange. He had all but forgotten about Fury. He was simply watching the disfunction in front of him.

Suddenly, Flint sprung into action. Enraged, he transformed his body into a wall of sand and moved towards Octopus.

Octopus was caught off guard by this lightning-fast attack. Soon, Flint was swirling all around him, connecting with several hard blows. Octopus began flailing his tentacles wildly but could not connect. Each attempted strike would simply contact a cloud of loose sand. In the confusion Octopus dropped Fury, who was able to crawl over to his agents, safe at last.

As Flint continued to pound Octopus, the six-armed scientist lost consciousness and slumped to the ground. Flint became normal once more and stood over his defeated foe.

"Well done, Marko." Fury said. "Someone get Mr. Octavius into a containment unit ASAP. I want him locked up pronto. Let's get a collar on Mr. Marko too, I've seen enough for one day."

Flint turned to Fury, his face one again lit up with anger. "What?"

"You heard what I said, boy. You stepped out of line enough today. Now you put that collar back on before I deci--"

Fury's words were cut off when Flint slammed a huge sandy fist into his gut. The force of the blow knocked Fury backwards into two SHIELD agents. All three of the men fell to the ground. Instantly, Flint was blasted by the remaining agents. He writhed and screamed in pain as he fell to the ground.

"ENOUGH!" Fury yelled from his back. He held his ribs as a painful grimace appeared on his face. "I want him alive!"

"You want me to put this creep back in jars, sir?" An agent asked him.

"No..." Fury responded. "No. Slap that collar on him and take him back to the Triskelion. But don't take him to his room. Put him in a cell. And keep him there till I'm ready to see him. Now take me back to where my Hulkbusters are."

 

[guitarsingerguy]

The two guards show up at Chris' cell with a stretcher. They're accompanied by the psychiatrist, Ms. Denton.

"Come on Chris. They're ready for you upstairs."

"Do you have to strap me down in that thing?"

"Chris, it's for our safety. There's nothing we can do about it until we sort this whole thing out." says the doctor.

Chris lays down and the guards fasten his restraints.

Upstairs the doctor prepares Chris for the X-ray. After several snapshots, Chris is brought back into one of the exam rooms. Ms. Denton is there as well as the X-ray technician. Chris can hear the two talking.

"I don't see anything. There's a bit of scar tissue there, but that's all."

Ms. Denton sighs. "Cut him open anyway. Just to be sure."

"What the ****?! What the **** are you talking about?!?!"

"Chris, the good doctor here is fixing to cut you open from dick to chin. You have something we're looking for. Where is it?"

"I told you!"

"Inside of you? Ok, we'll just have ourselves a look around in there. Ok doc. Do your thing."

The screams can be heard throughout the prison. These are screams of pain. These are screams of torture. These are screams of Chris Powell dying. When the guards finally get to the infirmary, there's noone there. The room is empty......save for Chris Powell's lifeless body.

 

[guitarsingerguy]

As Chris Powell awakens, all he can see is black.

Am.....am I dead?

Chris rips through a black bag with a claw. He sits up to find he's in a morgue.

What the **** is going on. Last thing I remember I was...

A memory flashes through Chris' mind. A memory of blood and pain. He looks down to find there is no damage done to his body at all.....thanks to the armor.

Wonderful. Not again.

The man known as Chris Powell is gone. Replaced by Darkhawk once more, he jumps up and heads for the door. Once he enters the street, he notices everyone staring at him.

God, I bet I look like a ****ing madman.

Darkhawk bolted for the alley. There was nowhere to go.

If only I could get up there.

Almost as if a reaction to his thought, his grappling claw shot out towards the roof embedding itself into the rock.

You've got to be kidding me.

Darkhawk shot towards the roof. He landed with the grace of a bird.

Ok, first things first, I've got to get my bearings. What else can this...crystal do? Once I figure it out, I'm coming for you Ms. Denton. I'm coming for answers, and don't expect any of this after school special bull**** superhero crap. I'm coming to rip your goddamn lungs out.

 

[guitarsingerguy]

On the rooftop, a man jumps out of the shadows. He fires a gun at Darkhawk and connects dead aim. Luckily it's just a tranquilizer. Darkhawk's vision becomes blurry, and he falls to the ground.

When Chris wakes up, he is in an old abandoned warehouse. It's dark. Chris can barely see. Darkhawk is gone. Chris Powell is all that is left. Remarkably, Chris' body has sustained no injuries from his death in prison.

A voice speaks from behind Chris. "I'm sorry."

"Dad?

"Yes son, it's me."

"I...I thought you were dead Dad."

"Yeah, so did I Chris."

"I guess you know about......about Mom and the twins right?"

"Yes Chris. I do."

"What happened Dad? Where the **** have you been? Why weren't you there when Mom and my brothers were killed!!!"

"I was."

"What?"

"You're my son. You're the last thing I have on this Earth, so I'm not going to lie to you, regardless of how bad it's going to hurt."

"I'm listening Dad."

"I was at home. I had dropped in to warn your Mother. I was planning on going into hiding, so you all would be safe. She didn't want me to do it, so of course, we got into a fight. That was when you came home. You went straight to your room. When you came out....."

"What Dad? What is it?!"

"I'm so sorry son. You weren't ready for the crystal."

"Dad, what the **** are you talking about?"

"When you came out of your room, the crystal had become one with you. You lost control. You...you killed your mom and your brothers."

"Dad, what are you saying?"

"It's my fault. You weren't ready, and I gave you the crystal to save my own ass. I've turned my son into a killer. Oh, God, I'm so sorry!"

"Dad. What the ****? Oh, God Dad. I'm....a murderer?!"

"You deserve some answers right now, but I'm afraid I can't give them to you. There's another crystal on the table son. Take it. You're going to need all the help you can get. I'll let them know it wasn't your fault Chris. I love you son."

"Dad, what are you talking about? We'll figure this ou...

*BOOM*

"Dad!!!! Oh God!!!! Dad!!! Nooooo!!!! Please!!!"

Chris walks over to his father's body, but he knows it's pointless. His father is gone, having taken his own life.

"I'll fix this Dad. I swear to God I'll fix this. I'm going to kill them. I'm going to ****ing kill them all."

Chris runs over to the table, grabs the second crystal, and rams it into his chest. The crystal enters his body and it begins to change. First, Darkhawk emerges, but then, Darkhawk's body changes. It becomes more streamlined, more practical, more....lethal.

"For you Dad. I'll become even more of a monster for you. They're all going to die."

 

[guitarsingerguy]

First things first. I better learn how to utilize these abilities before I try and kill anybody. If Dad felt this was a safe place, then I guess it will be.

Darkhawk throws a tarp over his father's body and wraps him up in it.

I'm sorry Dad. I'm sorry you felt the need to do this. I'm sorry for what I'm fixing to do. I'm sorry.

Darkhawk throws his father's body over his shoulder and climbs a set of metal stairs to the roof. He feels even more powerful then before. He begins his journey to the waterfront. First running, then jogging, then running at speeds humanly impossible. He begins leaping from roof to roof like a trapeze artist.

So there's still some tricks left to this thing.

Darkhawk stops on the ledge of the last roof before the waterfront property. There's dock workers everywhere.

Great. I guess I didn't think this all the way through. It would be nice if I could fly.

Metal wings suddenly sprang out from his back attaching themselves to his wrists.

Uhm....I wish I had a Playboy Playmate right now.

Nothing happens.

Figures. Ok Dad, let's see if it's as easy to fly as it is to run.

Darkhawk jumps off the roof with his father's dead body over his shoulder. He extends his arms and flies like he was always capable. As he reaches the water, he prepares to do the unthinkable.

I'm sorry Dad. This isn't the funeral you deserve, but it's all I can do now.

Darkhawk drops his father's body, and it falls three stories into the water.

Time to prepare. I'm giving myself a week, and then I want the smell of blood on my hands.

 

[guitarsingerguy]

Darkhawk reenters the abandoned warehouse he now calls home. He sat down on the mangled couch and dozed off to sleep. When he awoke the next morning, Darkhawk was nowhere to be found. The only person lying on that couch was Chris Powell.

I wonder if Dad kept anything. Old papers, a journal, anything.

After several hours of scouring the warehouse to no avail, Chris puts on a hoodie and heads to the library. With a newfound purpose and an energy boost thanks to the free coffee there, he spends hours searching, reading, studying, anything that might give him a clue to what's happening. That's when he found it. In a book of old rare gemstones and minerals, he found what he was looking for. Well...sort of. He found the name of the crystal. Actually, all three crystals. The crystals that entered his body were two out of three known Darkhawk crystals. Not much more information was included in the text, but it gave Chris a starting point.

The Darkhawk crystals.....

 

[guitarsingerguy]

Chris Powell makes his way from the books in the library and decides to give the world wide web a shot. Since he knows what the crystals are now called, perhaps he can find more information that way. Thank God for Google. Chris types in Darkhawk crystals into the search engine. What comes up is a myriad of nonsense and babble. Alien invasions, Roswell, little green men, nothing useful. That is...until he saw a government link. He clicked on it. In large letters across the top it read "Project: Darkhawk" terminated. Debriefing held on March 13th 1986. All other information classified. C27 clearance. All other questions should be addressed through Senior Project Chairman: Mike Powell.

Mike Powell?! Dad, what the hell where you doing working with the government? I don't understand. You said you'd been with the force since '69.

Chris backtracks to Google once more. This time he types in "Project: Darkhawk." Hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles pop up. Chris clicks on the first one and begins reading. Project: Darkhawk was a defense project the Federal government began in 1980. They claimed that they had launched a satellite into orbit that would be able to shoot down any type of nuclear threat before it came anywhere close to US soil. They also claimed that the laser the satellite emitted was so hot it would vaporize every single particle of the nuclear weapon, therefore making fallout impossible because it would burn up in the atmosphere. They claimed to have used "state of the art" technology that was being used in this application for the very first time.

I don't understand. What does this have to do with Dad?

Chris continued searching through the websites finding basically the same information. He finally found an article with a picture. It was his father alright. There it was, clear as day. Project head "Mike Powell, Secret Service" it said. There was no indication in any of the information, past or present, about any sort of end date.

If the satellite was still working, then why the hell was there a debriefing? If the project was terminated, why isn't there any information about it in the headlines. What the **** is going on?! What in the hell was this "Project: Darkhawk"?!

 

[Mr. Marko]

MYSTIQUE
Season 2: Part IV

"Uhh...hi?" Bobby Drake said in the open door. "Can I help you?"

Jubilee shifted a bit nervously, her hands in her overcoat pockets. Her Oakleys were pressed tightly over her eyes, and her oversized ring earrings dangled from her ears. "Hi...is this Professor Xavier's school?"

"Yeah...come in." Bobby opened the door and stepped aside as Jubilee walked inside. "What's your name?"

"Jubilee."

"I'm Iceman."

"Yeah...I know." Bobby flustered a bit when she said that. They shared an awkward moment of silence.

"...are you hungry? The Professor is a little bit busy right now, but if you want a corn dog or something I could hook you up."

"Sure." Jubilee and Iceman walked into the kitchen. "How long have you been around here anyways, Bobby?"

"Haha, since the beginning. I've been through Magneto, Hellfire Club, Apocalypse. Its been pretty crazy around here lately actually. The professor has really been on edge."

"Who's this?" Storm asked, entering the kitchen.

"Jubilee," she answered. "I was hoping to talk to Professor Xavier."

Storm shot a look at Bobby that said Is this a new girlfriend you've dug up? Bobby shrugged, just as confused as she was.

"Are you a mutant?"

"Yeah, that's actually what I wanted to talk to him about." She pushed her unglasses up to rest in her jet black hair. "My family abandoned me when they found out. I had nowhere else to go."

Storm's countenance softened a bit. "Well, don't worry about it. That's what this school is for, helping out mutants when they need it most."

A smile made its way onto Jubilee's face.

"There is actually free room ever since..." She fell silent. The two X-Men exchanged glances.

"Since what?"

"Nothing. Is this your bag?"

"Yeah, but I can get it."

"Nonsense, Bobby here is a gentleman and can get that for you. I'll let the Professor know you're here." Bobby grabbed her bag and threw it over his shoulder. He grunted a bit under the weight.

"What do you have in here, rocks?"

"Clothes, actually. And alot of jewelry."

 

[guitarsingerguy]

Chris took to the streets. There was no more information he was going to get from the internet. He needed answers from people involved. People who were there. Chris did get one more lead out of his research. He recognized a second name involved in "Project: Darkhawk": General Joseph Leblanc. He was his father's old partner.

Come nightfall, Darkhawk is going to pay Mr. Leblanc a little visit. It's as good a name as any I guess. I'll make Joseph talk to me.....as long as I can get that damn armor to work.

Chris heads back to the warehouse to rest up for tonight's excursion. At dusk he began preparing. Was he ready to take a life? You bet your ass he was.

Everything else seemed to happen with thought. Let's see if this is an exception.

Chris Powell closes his eyes. When he reopens then the now familiar feeling of power and confidence reside over him again. He has become Darkhawk.

Guess I'm getting the hang of this.

Darkhawk skyrockets up and out of the warehouse through the roof. He takes flight and feels at ease in the sky. For the first time since everything has happened he feels....human again.

Inside Joseph Leblanc's house, the former general was sitting alone on his couch, eating a TV dinner, watching "To Catch a Predator" on television. He didn't even hear him coming. A long metal blade is put right in front of Joseph Leblanc's face.

"Does this sort of thing get you hot Mr. Leblanc?"

"What the ****?!?! What do you want?!"

"Answers Mr. Leblanc. Answers and a pound of flesh. Are you prepared to give me both?"

"What the **** are you talking about? You sick ****!"

"Let's deal with the answers first Mr. Leblanc. If you're a good boy and you don't **** around with me, I may not take the entire pound. Now are you going to talk to me?"

Joseph Leblanc shakes his head yes.

"Are you going to be truthful Mr. Leblanc?"

Joseph Leblanc shakes his head yes.

"Good. Then let's start with an easy one. Did you just piss yourself Mr. Leblanc? And remember, honesty counts.'

"Yes."

"Ah, beautiful. Now comes a toughie. What is or was Project: Darkhawk?!"

"It was a defense satellite created for...."

"Wrong answer Mr. Leblanc."

Darkhawk shoves his face into his cheap salsbury steak and mashed potatoes.

"I bet they don't taste as good that way. The real Project: Darkhawk *******. If I don't believe you this time, I'm taking the pound of flesh from between your legs."

"No! No! It was....it was a goddamn weapon."

"I'm a sucker for the details Mr. Leblanc. Don't keep me waiting."

"It....oh God...it was alien in origin."

"Alien? As in some illegal ******* brought it across the border from Mexico alien?

"No you dip****! From outer space alien! They claim they found it at Roswell. That was years before I got involved obviously. They thought they had figured out how to use it. It destroyed one poor bastard from the inside out, and the other went insane and bashed his ****ing head against the wall until his brains were mush!"

"You expect me to believe this load of ****? You don't value your privates very much do you? Tisk tisk."

"Truthfully, I don't give a **** if you believe me or not. I'm dead anyway just for talking to you."

"I sure don't envy you right now. One last question, what did Mike Powell have to do with the project?"

"You ****ing kidding me? Mike cooked the whole damn thing up."

"This doesn't make any sense."

"Oh God. Chris, it's you isn't it? Your Dad told me he was gonna give you the crystal, but Jesus, he didn't tell me he wanted you to use it! Are you out of your ****ing mind?! That thing's probably tearing apart your insides already! How long have you had it in you

"About three days.

"What?! We never got either of the other two guys past 16 hours. You having any kind of side effects or anything?"

"There was one...

The thought of Chris slaughtering his own family passed through his mind.

"...but it was nothing. There's something else Joseph...I'm not holding one crystal in me. I'm holding two."

"Jesus Christ kid. You have no idea the amount of power you're holding onto inside of you right now."

"You ever hear the name Denton?"

"Yeah, I knew him. Sick son of a *****."

"Not a him Joe, a her?"

"Well, he did marry someone about 45 years younger then him. He was me and your Dad's boss on the project. She was just around to collect his money when he keeled over. She was always so damn interested in what was going on in Darkhawk. ***** gave me the creeps."

"Yeah, well, she split me wide open in prison."

"And now you're okay? Chris, I don't know how you've done it, but you're actually tapping into what those crystals can do. The only person who's gonna have the data that Mr. Denton kept on the project is..."

"Let me guess....Ms. Denton?"

"You got it. Now get the hell out of here before you get both of us killed. I've already told you way too much."

Darkhawk slips into a shadow and disappears. In the sky Darkhawk thinks to himself,

Well Ms. Denton. Looks like you're next on my to-do list.

 

[Mr. Marko]

MYSTIQUE
Season II: Part V

Storm entered the Professor's office quietly. "Professor, there's some girl here who wants to talk to you."

"I could sense some unknown force enter the mansion, but strangely I have not sensed her at all psychically."

Storm looked at the Professor. "Well, she said when her parents kicked her our when her powers came up. She seems legit. Maybe she's psychic proof or something."

"Perhaps..."

"Well, Bobby is showing her to Jean's old room. If you want I can get her for you."

"Thank you, Storm. That would be wonderful."

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

"Well, here it is." The room was one of the nicest in the mansion, which pleased Mystique.

"Wow, are you sure this isn't like...the ballroom?"

"This used to be Jean's room before we ran into Apocalypse. Its been empty ever since."

"What happened to Jean?"

Bobby went quiet. "She...died..."

"Oh...I'm sorry."

"Yeah, well, welcome to the mansion anyways." Suddenly Storm entered the room.

"Jubilee, the professor said you could go and talk to him. It's just down the hallway."

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

"Have a seat, Jubilee."

Mytique sits down, holding back the rage and hatred that he has felt for a very long time. She sits down in the rich leather seat.

"I'm sorry to show up at such a bad time, but I really had nowhere else to go, sir."

"Things are worse than you can imagine, my dear, but I realize the fact that life can throw us a few...unexpected surprizes."

You have no idea baldy, Mystique thought to herself. "Yeah, I just wanted to know if I could just stay here for a while. Maybe help out a little bit. I got tired of hiding in the mall at night."

Xavier gave her a strange look, but shrugged it off. "Well, my dear, you are safe here. I'm afraid you cannot join the X-Men until you run through our Danger Room Training Exercises, but it will be nice to have a new face around. Hopefully you can bring some cheerfulness back to the company."

Jubilee smiled. "I'll see what I can do, sir. Thank you so much." She stood up and wrapped her arms around Xavier's neck. "I can't tell you how worried I was about being accepted here."

Xavier smiled a bit. "I'll make sure Storm makes you feel at home."

"Thank you, sir." She turned around to the door and exited with a skip in her step.

<Storm.>

<Yes, Professor?>

<Help our new friend feel at home. I'm afraid until recent...issues...are resolved, she is of little concern. Just make her comfortable.>

<You got it. By the way, have you seen Ali or Warren lately?>

<I'm sorry, Storm, I have another visitor waiting to speak with me.> Xavier placed his head in his hands, alone in his office.

 

[guitarsingerguy]

The next day, Chris Powell heads back to the library. He takes one more shot at the internet. At Google's search engine once more, he types in "Mr. Denton, Project: Darkhawk." A laundry list of information comes up. Chris clicks on the first link, and an article comes up, complete with pictures and all. There is a picture towards the bottom. The caption reads, "Larry Denton with newly married wife, Patricia Denton."

That's her alright. Who uses their real name? Honestly?

Chris returns to Google again, and types in Patricia Denton address. There it is, clear as day.

That's only about 8 blocks from here. That's a really ritzy part of town. I'll have to be careful. Too early to go as Darkhawk, and I need information now.

Chris catches the bus to O'neal Ln which is three streets over from Ms. Denton's listed address. He reaches her apartment building and climbs the stairs to her number. He knocks on the door.

"Special delivery."

No answer. Chris looks around, takes out his license, and breaks into her apartment. There's nothing. Completely empty.

Another dead end. Wonderful.

Come nightfall, Chris transforms into Darkhawk and returns to Joseph Leblanc's house. When he walks in, Leblanc is on the couch in the same position he was in last night. Salsbury steak again? The TV was still on as well. Darkhawk walks up to Joe and puts his hand on his shoulder.

"Joe, I went to Denton's apartm....."

Joes' head slumps backwards. It's barely connected to his neck. All of the sudden, flood lights are turned on and bathe the room in light.

"Christopher Powell! This is the police! You're under arrest for the murder of your family as well as the murder of Joseph Leblanc. Come out with your hands up!"

Darkhawk walks out the front door with his hands up. It looks like the entire police force is there, strapped and waiting.

"Drop him!"

Bullets begin to perforate Darkhawk's body endlessly. The assault would have ripped apart a normal man. Halfway through the barrage, something emanates from Darkhawk's chest and surrounds his body. Bullets begins bouncing off of him. Darkhawk stops in his tracks while the barrage continues to come down upon him. When the man in charge sees the attack has stopped causing their target any harm, he calls for the cease fire. Darkhawk stands to full height, dozens of holes with coal black blood dripping from them fill his body. In an instant, the two blades that reside on Darkhawk's wrists elongate. Darkhawk releases a roar that sounds like hell itself has ripped opened inside of him. The poor bastards never stood a chance. When Darkhawk regains another moment of clarity, he is covered in human blood from head to toe. The police force has been massacred, and in Darkahwk's right hand is the head of the man who yelled the orders.

"Did....did I do this? What the **** have I become?!?!"

Darkhawk drops the man's head and takes to the skies. He is bleeding intensely.

Is this black blood? Hahahaha. I really am a monster. Oh God, what the **** am I? I have to get back to the warehouse.

Darkhawk reaches the roof of his home. He begins to walk down the stairs, and in mid stride, he passes out. He falls to the floor, hard. Is he going to survive the attack? Even he isn't sure.

 

[guitarsingerguy]

Chris Powell wakes up in a pool of black with a large gun pointed in his face by a man who looks like his alter ego.

"Those cops really ****ed you up."

"Who the hell are you?"

"They call me Portal. Ms. Denton sends her regards."

"You're in on this with her?"

"Not exactly. It's a trade off. I bring her your body. She figures out how to get the crystals out of you. I get the other two crystals. Then I work for her."

"You honestly think she's going to cooperate?"

"Doesn't matter. Either she cooperates or I kill her."

"How many crystals are there?"

"It can't hurt. I'm not opposed to granting a dying boy's last wish. There's three."

"Why do you want the other two?"

"Hahaha. You really don't know **** about what you've got inside you do you? You're not even worthy of it's power. The first crystal is a primer for your body. It's the beginning. It's a test for your body to see if it's capable of containing the power. The second crystal, well, think of that as an upgrade. It's the finished product. The endgame. The real weapon. It takes all the power and concentrates it, makes it better, more efficient."

"Then what's the third for?"

"The third? Now that's the really important one. The third crystal makes you the master of the crystal instead of the crystal mastering you. Have you lost any chunks of time? You wake up and you don't remember causing the death and mayhem you're standing in front of. That's the crystal protecting it's wielder. When the third crystal enters your body, you have absolute knowledge about the weapon you wield. You gain access to every ability and every ounce of power the crystals are capable of. The third crystal takes you from being a weapon to being a god. "

"Why do you look so different then me? My armor looks nothing like that, and my crystal isn't sticking out of my armor. Mine are inside of me, and yours is right there for the world to see."

"It's different for everyone. The outer shell the crystals create for you reflects something they found inside of you. I'm a murderer, hence the guns. As far as the crystal, I'd chalk that up to a defense mechanism. I'd say it's working negative in your favor though. Since we can't just rip the crystal out of your chest, we're gonna have to take you apart to find them."

"I'll never let you do it."

"Here's the real beauty of the situation, you can't stop me. You could turn into Darkhawk, but that body hasn't had enough time to heal. You'll be dead in no time. I guess you haven't figured out how that works either. Ah well, too bad."

"I've killed my family because of these things. I have NOTHING because of these crystals!!!! Today seems like as good a day as any to die!!!"

In a flash Chris Powell turns into Darkhawk. The wounds inflicted on him by the police are still there. He jumps up at Portal but not fast enough. He takes a shot of some type of laser right in the chest.

"Give up boy. If we can find the crystals and leave you alive, we will. Then you'll be free and normal."

"I don't think so Portal. Today, we both die!"

Portal fires a shot right at Darkhawk, but Darkhawk rolls underneath it. Darkhawk can feel himself losing control. He feels the rage, the power. He takes a shot right in the shoulder. It doesn't even phase him. Darkhawk reaches out and grabs the barrel of Portal's gun. He crushes it like it's tinfoil.

"You ****ed with the wrong "boy" Portal."

One of Darkhawk's blades grows to protrude past his hand. He shoves it right inbetween two of Portal's ribs.

"You'll NEVER get these crystals! You hear me you son of a *****?"

Darkhawk's second blade grows to weapon length as well. He shoves it underneath the crystal sticking out of Portal's chest.

"I'll bet your wishing you had my "negative defense mechanism" right now don't you?" Goodbye Portal."

Darkhawk rips the crystal out of Portal's chest and severs his head with his right blade. Darkhawk shoves the crystal into his chest once more.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!"

Darkhawk's mind is opened and what seems like a floodgate of information pours in. His body immediately repairs itself.

"I know.....I know what I am.

 

[guitarsingerguy]

"I know who I am. Thanks to Portal's crystal, I know where Denton is too."

Patricia Denton is sitting in her unregistered estate outside of the city. It's like a fortress. There are guards everywhere, and they're armed to the teeth. Thanks to Darkhawk's enhanced sight and ability to see in other spectrums, he counted 18 guards.

I'd like to do this quiet if at all possible. That rules out a straight approach. There's only five guards upstairs where she is. Sounds like a winner.

Darkhawk flies above the guards on the ground. He silently lands on the highest point of the roof. Below is a balcony with a single guard on it. Darkhawk shoots his right blade towards the guard. In midair the blade separates into three different prongs resembling a bird's claw. The cable wraps around the guard's neck, making him unable to speak. He is reeled up to Darkhawk, where he cuts his throat. Messy but silent. Once inside, Darkhawk makes short work of the other four guards inside the house on the top floor in a similar fashion. Ms. Denton is residing in her room. She's playing solitaire on a laptop. She's completely unaware that anything is wrong inside the house. Darkhawk slips into her room.

"Portal, I assume everything went well?"

"Wrong killer Ms. Denton."

Patricia spins around shocked in terror.

"Mr. Powell....let's make a deal."

"No deals Ms. Denton, just a question. Why?"

"I...I'm dying. I've been dying for a long time. I've been staying alive by having organ transplants, blood transfusions, and anything else that can prolong my life until I figure it out."

"Figure what out?"

"A way to cheat death. I imagine you've been injured? You know what the crystals can do. Those objects are the key to my survival. I can't become a Darkhawk. It only works on men. I guess whoever created them figured that a woman would be too weak to fight in any war. Those crystals hold the answers that I have been searching for. Help me. Help me find the answer to save my life. Then, together, we'll find the answer to immortality!"

"I'm not interested in being immortal Ms. Denton. In fact, after these past few days, the thought of death seems rather comforting. I murdered my own family. Do you have any idea how hard it is to learn to live with something like that? I destroyed everything that meant something to me. I'll have no problem destroying you."

"Chris.....I....I'll tell your family it wasn't your fault."

"Not where you're going."

The symbol in Darkhawk's chest begins to emanate energy. A beam of light shoots out of it. When the light disappears, Ms. Denton has ceased to exist. Darkhawk flies up through the roof and heads back towards his abandoned warehouse.

With the power I possess, I can do a lot to help the people out there. I have much to atone for. I guess I owe it to my family to try.

When Darkhawk returns to his home, Portal's body is gone. There is no trace of him whatsoever. Nothing. Not even a drop of blood.

Even with a heavy heart and a confused mind, a new hero is born. A man who will fight against all who oppose what is right, to gain his rightful place with his family. Is there anything more worth fighting for?

 

[Mr. Marko]

Ben Grimm jumped out of Mr Lee's boat and onto the shore of the Triskelion. "Thanks, Stan."

He then turned to the battle at hand. He could hardly make out anything. From where he was, all he could see was a bunch of robots fighting SHIELD guys in suits. Suddenly, a familiar face catches his eye. "Namor..." Ben remembered their battle from before. "This time you won't be so lucky, pal."

Thing grabs a couple Ultron robots from the crowd and in a rage, hurls them at Namor. One smashes him in the face, sending the Atlantean spiralling through the air. "Gotcha!!"

THING
Season II: Part III

Namor spiralled for several seconds, then caught his barings. He stared down at Thing in anger. "You! Of all the useless, lowlife..."

Thing threw another three Ultron robots at Namor, nailing him each time.

WHUNK!
WHUNK!
WHUNK!

Namor shook of the blows angrily. He had to give it to him, he had a good arm. He sped toward him, and using himself as a human torpedo, smashed the Thing straight into the ground. Ben got up angrily. "You'll have to do better than..."

WHAM! Namor uppercutted Ben right in the jaw, dazing him. With another swift kick, Namor knocked the Thing into several Ultron robots.

"This bores me..." Namor excalimed. "I have nothing to prove here."

Thing sat up again, knocking several Ultron robots off of him as the attacked. "You're not giving up so easily, are you?!" He hurled several more robots at Namor, which he smacked aside with ease.

"Please, pal. I've taken on deep sea creatures that floss their teeth with people like you." He slammed his fist through the last Ultron that was thrown at him. "Its time to end this."

Ben stood just as Namor's shoulder slammed into him and the both of them flew into the air. Ben slammed is hands together several times on Namor's head, but he seemed to just shake it off. Namor stopped when they had reached an elevation so that the Triskelion was only a small speck in the distance.

"Tell Susan hi for me." He then hurled the Thing straight down, two miles to the waters below. The last thing Ben remembered was Namor mumbling something about the party going sour, and then firing off into the distance.

 

[Noon]

[Angel]

The silence in the elevator is almost deafening, Ali probably thinks im mad at her but im not, I could never be mad at her. Its just the whole situation, Im starting to see why people like Spider-Man and Daredevil or that nut with the half moon on his chest does the things they do. Scum like this Hammerhead need to be removed by any means necessary, I feel Ali's hand grab mine as the elevator doors open revealing the lobby. I smile at her and gently squeeze her hand.

"Lets exterminate some pests."

Warren and I stand in the shadows across the road, watching the take-away owned by these drug dealers, but like Hammerhead's file said, they're serving up more than kebabs.

"How do you want to do this? I for one am itching to give these guys a lesson they won't forget, but ya think maybe we should be more subtle?"

I'm starting to think this fight is too close to home for me, I'm being so indecisive. I look up at Warren, searching his expression for help.