The "World of Heroes" DC RPG Season III

[SuperFerret]

IC: Wally West

I wake up to see a bright white ceiling and the sound slowly returns to my coliflowered ears. Just barely though. I can barely hear, I can barely see...talking is damn near impossible (there's some kind of irony in that somewhere. I'm positive of it.) and I need this whole apparatus hooked up to me to even breathe...<sigh>...What a fine mess you got yourself into Wally...Haven't even started to think about how I'm going to pay for all of this...

Not used to this. Not at all. One of the advantages of my powers was my insanely fast metabolism. I could take a beating like this and heal in a matter of minutes if not less. This time? I have to lay here and endure it...I would never admit this to anybody...But boy what I'd give to have my powers right now.

That's when my left eye (my good eye, relatively speaking) catches a figure sitting in the corner.

"Oh. You're up." it says. Very feminin. Not like a grown woman or anything but--

"Hi."

...a 16 year old girl.

"...hey kiddo." Throat's killing me.

"I just came by to bring you some flowers."

"..." If I could, I'd raise an eyebrow.

"It was my mom's idea...Don't know what you bring a guy who's in the hospital.

"...thanks...hot pockets woulda been nice though...lotta good they'd do me now." Damn. Can't even laugh at my own lame jokes.

"heh. yeah..." She looks around nervously. Feeling around the flowers. Shy kid.

"...I just wanted to thank you...For what you did...It really meant a lot to me." she finally opens up.

"It's no problem kid."

"Says the guy in the hospital bed."

"...touche."

"...yeah...well...I just wanted to say thank you...I'll leave you alone now. You need your rest."

"wait...what's your name?"

"...Ariana."

"Ariana...Cool name. Don't hear that too often where I'm from...Name's Wally West."

"Alright..." She starts heading out the room.

"Not much for conversation are ya?"

"Well...No. I don't have too many friends."

"Why not?"

"I dunno...Not too many people like me I guess."

"Sure didn't look that way to me."

"...yeah..."

"Sorry. That was a bad one. Expect a lot of that from me...The guys that attacked you...You know them?"

"Just two...Chavo. He's a senior at my school. Super-senior actually. Guy's 19. His brother Edwardo was there too. He's 17."

"Why do you think he attacked you?"

"I dunno...He never paid me much attention though...His brother though bugs me every day. Always throwing stuff in my hair and picking on me. Then he has the nerve to ask me out one day...I told him off in front of everybody. Made his face red...Probably the only good moment I've had there...That was a long time ago though."

"...hmm...I'm no rocket scientist but I think I can figure out the rest...What were you doing out so late anyway?"

"I was just heading to the store to pick up some milk for my niece."

"Niece?"

"Yeah. My older sister. Gets knocked up at some party and 9 months later, there you go...without a father."

"...I'm sorry."

"Don't be...we do fine for ourselves...This kind of thing happens all the time."

"...yeah..." Yeah, over here maybe.

"Well...I gotta go now. It was nice meeting you Mr.West."

"Wally."

"mm. Mr. West sounds better."

"heh. Suit yourself."

"If you ever need anything from us, I left my number on the card."

"Can you pay for this hospital bill?"

"hahahahaha."

"...I wasn't kidding."

"hahaha. You're funny Mr. West."

"...yeah. Sure."

She suprises me when she kisses me on the cheek.

"You feel better Mr.West."

And with that the door closes shut and I'm left in her by myself with the blinds open...Friendliest person I met here yet.

Meanwhile, high above New York City...


Using a combination of my X-Ray and Telescopic vision I scan the city in a manner similar to the way I searched Gotham when the Joker had hidden his anti-matter bomb. It's amazing to think that it was not long ago. Sure as hell feels like it was.

I locate Wally quickly, he's in a hospital in the center of a small area that's relatively untouched by the Unity. It seems his lingering Speed Force aura is doing what we've hypothesized it would do.

I fly down and tap on his window.

 

[Red]

“Will you now”, said Garth as looked Red X in the eyes with conviction, “Well, I guess you’re going to start liking to not talk to my woman in that tone again. Ever.”

"Is that a threat?, i don't think your girl would be impressed if i have to kick your ass" X crunched his knuckles.

Kyle turned away while the others squabbled.

"Power check."

"35.7 percent."

Kyle opened up the dimensional rift with his ring and grabbed his lantern. Holding the ring to the battery, he felt the power return, felt the seering heat course through his entire body. 10 seconds. Full charge. That would do him for ay least 2 or 3 days unless things got really ugly. And judging what he had seen in the last few hours, that was a very strong possibility.

"OK, I like insulting people as much as the next guy, but there will be time for that later. Right now, I believe we have a planet to save."

X tilted his head over to Kyle "Besides jackolantern over there is right, Whats our next move?"

 

[twylight]

“Huh”, Garth said giving a chuckle. Imra smiled, she loved it when he laughed. “looks good on him.”

“So, I hope whatever Wonder Woman is planning is good, because, from what I’ve seen, this sprocking Unity thing is going to be a pain to beat.”

***Garth, stop swearing.***

She turned her attention to trying to find Wonder Woman to no avail.

"I will do what i like sparkie"


“Will you now”,“Well, I guess you’re going to start liking to not talk to my woman in that tone again. Ever.”

"Is that a threat?, i don't think your girl would be impressed if I have to kick your ass"

Imra turned.

***I doubt that will be a problem since I can kick yours just as bad.***


"Besides jackolantern over there is right, What’s our next move?"

Imra stared out over the city wondering the same thing.

 

[Spider-Man9X17]

"I can fly out over and do some recon. Power should shield me, and I don't think we have to worry about this things tapping into my ring's power. It'll only respond to my genetic signature, which is probably why that thing attacked my head."

Kyle walked to the door of the rocket.

"Besides. It's made it personal."

 

[Red]

"I can fly out over and do some recon. Power should shield me, and I don't think we have to worry about this things tapping into my ring's power. It'll only respond to my genetic signature, which is probably why that thing attacked my head."

Kyle walked to the door of the rocket.

"Besides. It's made it personal."

"luthor" the group all looked at X "wouldn't he know what was on those files?"

 

[Savage]

Meanwhile, high above New York City...


Using a combination of my X-Ray and Telescopic vision I scan the city in a manner similar to the way I searched Gotham when the Joker had hidden his anti-matter bomb. It's amazing to think that it was not long ago. Sure as hell feels like it was.

I locate Wally quickly, he's in a hospital in the center of a small area that's relatively untouched by the Unity. It seems his lingering Speed Force aura is doing what we've hypothesized it would do.

I fly down and tap on his window.

Hmm. Must have been like...9 days I've been in the hospital now. Ted only called like once to ask if I could get more cheez-its while I'm out. I told him I've been in the hospital for the past two days and his response was

"...So that's a no?"

...I was touched. -_-

<hangs up phone>

Got daily visits from Ariana though, which was nice. She's opened up a little more. Really nice girl. Brought me hot pockets once and I friggin burned my throat attempting to scarf it down out of sheer joy...Her heart was in the right place though. Oh yeah, guess who doesn't need to be hooked up to a machine to breathe anymore? Mmmuah. Yeah, looks like Barry felt a little charitable and helped me with the recover. Ribs are stable too. Not too strong. Can't take a punch or anything yet. But they won't fall out. Should be out of here and back to my regular life pretty soon...<sighs>...Yeah...


I'm half asleep when I hear a loud tapping at the window.

"What the hell could..."

No...No way.
I push myself to sit up and my eyes nearly fall out when I see who's. There.

"C-C-Clark! Superman! Holy s**t!"

I get up as fast I can but a cord pulls me and fall right back down on my pillow. Hurt like a son of a b**ch too.

"W-Wait a second. I'll be right there."

I carefully but quickly get out of bed and I take the I-V pole and pull it with me. I unlatch the huge window open to let him in...wow. I'll never get used to seeing this guy. It's like meeting Santa Claus, you know? I've known this guy since I was a kid and here I am, shaking like it's the first time I've met him...Maybe it's because it's been too long, maybe because I'm hoping he can just pick me up and get me out of this mess I've made for myself. All I know is I'm 13 all over again.

Okay man. Play it cool. Don't want to look desperate.

"H-Hey man. It's been a while..." I say nodding with a goofy smile on my face.

"...What're you doin' here?"

 

[Sentry2005]

I.C.: Guy Gardner

I turn to walk away, to find a way out of this Museum without bumping into the hoards of Unified outside the front door.

Then I hear a movement behind me. I can already guess what I will see before I turn around.

There she is. All covered in rubble and staring me straight in the eyes.

Damn.

I go to use my ring to grab a hold of something i can throw at the b**ch, but befire I can, she has thrown some rubble at me.

The shield protects me, but I still hit the ground.

As I stand up, she's already there.

An uppercut sends me flying up into the second floor of the museum.

I try to yell.

My mouth doesn't want to work right now.

As i clamber up and look back through the hole I made as i crashed into this room, I can see her smile up at me.

She disapears.

Probably trying to find a way up.

This should be fun....

I.C.: Guy Gardner

I jump down through the hole, using my shield to cushion the fall.

My ring seems more powerful when i'm near the unified.

It's a problem that it refuses to work ON the unifed.

Life's a b***h.

And then there's Guy.

I look around as I land.

Seems the chicks gone.

Then I feel it.

A blast of energy.

I feel my ring powering up.

I also feel a voice in my head.

Yelling at me, but in the calmest voice i've ever heard. Screaming in reasoned tones. The contrast is hard to explain.

It's telling me to give in. To help them save our world from the chaos.

I've heard enough of thie c***.

"GET THE HELL OUT OF MY HEAD!" I yell.

A blast of energy hits the woman. And she falls back.

Seems I must have put some willpower into that shot. Somehow.

As soon as I've hit her, she's back up and sending a pillar of rubble at my face.

I could really use some back up right now...

 

[wiegeabo]

Pathetic. And Amusing.

I could watch this all day long and never tire. But, unfortunately, the situation in which we find ourselves requires that I intervene. A shame really. I have rarely enjoyed myself this much since coming back to this planet. I sigh. If I must, I must...

I phase through the ceiling and will two beams from my ring. One catches the debris soaring through the air, the other smashes into the young woman, crashing her into a wall. After seeing her recent displays of strength, I take a moment to bring the wall down on top of her.

I turn in the air, smiling with satisfaction. "What's wrong?" I ask. "I thought you could always handle any situation...Gardner."

 

[Sentry2005]

Pathetic. And Amusing.

I could watch this all day long and never tire. But, unfortunately, the situation in which we find ourselves requires that I intervene. A shame really. I have rarely enjoyed myself this much since coming back to this planet. I sigh. If I must, I must...

I phase through the ceiling and will two beams from my ring. One catches the debris soaring through the air, the other smashes into the young woman, crashing her into a wall. After seeing her recent displays of strength, I take a moment to bring the wall down on top of her.

I turn in the air, smiling with satisfaction. "What's wrong?" I ask. "I thought you could always handle any situation...Gardner."

Sinestro. Great.

"Hey, It's not my fault that this stupid peice of junk doesn't work on the Unity boys!"

I look at the ring.

What use am I going to be in this fight? I can't hurt the Unity.

"Flash isn't here,"

I look up at him.

"So where to now?"

 

[wiegeabo]

Gardner's ring does not work against Unity? How suspicious. Perhaps my paranoia about the Blue Lantern was not unjustified after all. Not only does he now draw power from Unity, he can no longer fight it? How...convenient. How can we trust him? Perhaps this was all a setup. They knew I was following and put on this show to keep up the illusion...

Paranoia? Perhaps. But it will keep me alive.

I have to say something. If I remain quiet, they may become suspicious.

"Is there a way you can track this speed force? Without scanning it before hand, I am unsure if I can find it with my ring."

Let us see how Gardner fairs in this test. He should not be able to detect the speed force if he is unified since it interferes with unification. But If he can detect it, it may mean he still retains control of his body and ring. And if he can't detect it...I can't take the chance of a battle. I'll need to bide my time and find allies to assist me. Maybe the Flash. It shouldn't be hard to find areas where the speed force isn't working...

 

[Sentry2005]

Gardner's ring does not work against Unity? How suspicious. Perhaps my paranoia about the Blue Lantern was not unjustified after all. Not only does he now draw power from Unity, he can no longer fight it? How...convenient. How can we trust him? Perhaps this was all a setup. They knew I was following and put on this show to keep up the illusion...

Paranoia? Perhaps. But it will keep me alive.

I have to say something. If I remain quiet, they may become suspicious.

"Is there a way you can track this speed force? Without scanning it before hand, I am unsure if I can find it with my ring."

Let us see how Gardner fairs in this test. He should not be able to detect the speed force if he is unified since it interferes with unification. But If he can detect it, it may mean he still retains control of his body and ring. And if he can't detect it...I can't take the chance of a battle. I'll need to bide my time and find allies to assist me. Maybe the Flash. It shouldn't be hard to find areas where the speed force isn't working...

I look down at my ring.

"Should be able to, I remember the frequency it produces,"

Then something hits me.

"But if Flash hasn't been using his powers, it won't do us much good."

I straighten my jacket, and run a hand through my hair. I stretch, and hear my neck click as bone grinds bone. Nice.

"Ring, scan radius for speed force frequency,"

'Ring cannot compute. Frequency is of opposing nature to Unity power.'

I look at Sinestro. He thinks i'm faking.

"Ring, explain,"

'Ring's power is broken by speed force emissions. If speed force is undetectable by Unity sensors, and interupts Rings power supply'

I look at the ring. My mind clogs start rolling. Twice in a day.

I'm going to get a headache.

"Ok, I got a theory. It's my theory so, ya' know, it might be completely wrong, but basically, you carry me around with your ring. I'll keep the scanner up. When the ring detects nothing, we know the speed force is around,"

 

[wiegeabo]

The idea is sound, but to randomly fly around looking for disruption could take days. Unless...

"Let me scan your ring. If I can find Unity frequencies, we can track them from the air, scanning for the absence of the frequencies."

And we can also see whether you are unified or not. Unity would not allow Gardner into these areas since his ring would likely fail. Then I will know for sure which side he is on. On the other hand, Gardner himself may be thick headed enough not to think that far ahead and blindly travel into a 'blank zone', losing his power, and likely falling to his death.

Either outcome works for me...

 

[Sentry2005]

The idea is sound, but to randomly fly around looking for disruption could take days. Unless...

"Let me scan your ring. If I can find Unity frequencies, we can track them from the air, scanning for the absence of the frequencies."

And we can also see whether you are unified or not. Unity would not allow Gardner into these areas since his ring would likely fail. Then I will know for sure which side he is on. On the other hand, Gardner himself may be thick headed enough not to think that far ahead and blindly travel into a 'blank zone', losing his power, and likely falling to his death.

Either outcome works for me...

I think for a minute. He doesn't trust me.

Meh.

I can work around that.

"Sure,"

I hold out my fist, so he can link directly with the ring.

The traitor doesn't trust me. How's that for perverted.

 

[wiegeabo]

I hesitate for a moment.

I think to the time Unity made me that offer. To how Unity's corruption of Garnder may be passed on to me. To how I was thrown across the room trying to pull a charge off of Gardner.

If that happens again, I will kill him rather than take any more chances.

I scan his ring while continuously rechecking the functioning of my own. It is very...odd. It does not feel like a Lantern ring at all. The energy signature has no resembelence whatsoever. I'm not even sure how his ring is functioning.

But soon, I have the frequency. It too is very odd. My ring does not seem able to analyze it all. As if it is too...large, too...complicated. But it does not matter. I believe I have enough to find what I am looking for.

"I have it," I say, pulling away from his ring a little too quickly. I rise into the air. "Where do we go first?"

 

[The Question]

"luthor" the group all looked at X "wouldn't he know what was on those files?"

"Probably. But he hasn't been seen since Parasite's stand off (really a massacre) with the MPDSCU a few weeks back."

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"Probably. But he hasn't been seen since Parasite's stand off (really a massacre) with the MPDSCU a few weeks back."

"Well, we could always take the files back to Brainy", chimed Garth as he looked around at the gathered group of heroes, "If anyone could figure out what's on that disc, it's him."

 

[The Question]

"Did lightning lad here miss the part where a nihilistic clown stole the disk? Because I know I sure didn't."

 

[Red]

"Did lightning lad here miss the part where a nihilistic clown stole the disk? Because I know I sure didn't."

"So what…” X abruptly stopped.

"What have you learned from the resistance?"


"Not right now" X muttered to himself.

X fired his grappling gun to a near by rooftop "I’m just going to reload, I will be right back.” The others looked at X suspiciously as he left

He landed atop the roof top close by “Have you learned of their plans?”

“They are going to use these two superheroes to. Wait,” X paused for a moment. “Once I tell you this I’m no good to you any more.”


"You have my word I will bring back those who you have lost" answered the unity.

“Your world, sorry I’ve fell for that one before not until I know you can do what you say" Ordered X.


Suddenly X heard a constant high pitched piercing ringing his head; he fell to his knees holding his head in agony.


"Now tell me of the resistances plain" said the unity calmly.


"Go to hell!" the ringing became even more intense. X screamed out in pain, struggling to stay conscience he used the last of his energy and was about to fire a blast from his hand to signal the others, but his pride got the better of him and he fell to the hard ground.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"Did lightning lad here miss the part where a nihilistic clown stole the disk? Because I know I sure didn't."

"Obviously...yes, I did", said Garth matter-of-factly.

"So, in that case, what are we going to do to stop this thing?" said Garth, turning back to the others.

 

[The Question]

"Well, I...."

Wait.


Oh God, I am such an idiot.

I stand up, head towards the dor, open it, and walk downstairs to Luthor's office. The Joker may have stolen the files, but the computers I got them from are only about twenty feet away from me.

 

[DarkKnightJRK]

I watch as Question runs into the LexCorp building. I was about to hear something when--

A scream. It's about the same way where Red X ran off.

I shoot a grapple line towards the building he took off on and found him lying on the floor. I crouched down and checked his pulse.

"X? Are you alright?"

 

[Johnny Blaze]

Garth turned to face the other heroes after both the Question and Batman run off without a word.
"So...they do that often?"

 

[rigel7soldiers]

Nothing. I was beginning to think they were mocking me, because I was the new guy. But now is not the time for paranoia. We have to learn about this... this thing. everything's so... Grey. I know of someone who could be responsible for this. I think.

Opal City. If you know where to look, you can find the most wretched hive of scum and villainy this side of uptown Gotham. In Opal City, was a most generic man. No detail, no features... he is so generic, that it draws attention to him. then, he strikes. Stu Mosely had a few run-ins wth this guy before. He can make others like him, with but a touch. So far, he is our only suspect. If that comes up dry, we have nothing. We'd be without a hope, without a clue, and without a paddle. John Doe.

Opal's been infcted entirely too fast. We've been dodging these things all day. Godammit, we're still here. We need help. How can I signal for... I can't do this myself. My world has gone to pieces lately. I thought I was smart... thought I could see. But I'm as blind as anyone. They just seem to wander aimlessly, like some directionless teens. Doe can't have done this. He doesn't work fast. And the people aren't generic enough. A figurative lightbulb flashes in my head. Ira Quimby.

Where to find him? In the library, no doubt.

 

[Red]

I watch as Question runs into the LexCorp building. I was about to hear something when--

A scream. It's about the same way where Red X ran off.

I shoot a grapple line towards the building he took off on and found him lying on the floor. I crouched down and checked his pulse.

"X? Are you alright?"

X said nothing, and laid conscience on the ground. The unity had won this round.

 

[Spider-Man9X17]

Garth turned to face the other heroes after both the Question and Batman run off without a word.
"So...they do that often?"

"Yeah. After a while, you just learn to ignore it."

Kyle glanced out over the city. Every street light was on, all the traffic lights, signs, office lights. But there wasn't a soul around. No cars, no horns, nobody going home after a long days work. He'd seen something like this once before, when Parallax resurected Coast City. Creepiest feeling ever, being alone. Especially when there were close to a dozen other people with you. But Kyle couldn't let his fear get the best of him. They had a job to do.

"OK, let's go get them before they do something stupid."