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Prologue: Wannabes

Fate can be a funny thing. You never really know what it is until you die, and sometimes, your real fate is what happens after it. Fate can also seem to completely ignore some people but drag others kicking and screaming into the spotlight.

Today, fate has steered several young wannabe heroes towards each other, and perhaps a greater destiny then any of them had ever hoped.

In Times Square, a man walks nervously down the sidewalk feeling as if fate has bitten him the ass as several of his former gang have escaped custody and he fears their first move will be to take their revenge on him, and rightly so as they converge on his location at this very moment.

Fortunately for him there a few young individuals with heroic aspirations that are positioned to witness this event and step in to save his reformed life, and just maybe, bring them all one step closer to greatness.

Elsewhere in this city are a few young individuals whose desires are more personal. Some simply want to use their powers to get what they want, other just enjoy causing mayhem, and a few just have loose morals and sell their power to the highest bidder.

These are the ones who’d rather fan the flames than put them out and a young woman seeks just those sorts to help her start a very, very large fire.


Chapter 1: Heroes and Villains: Assemble!

Karma is totally biting me in the ass.

Four months ago I decided that I’d had enough of getting the crap kicked out of me by superheroes and decided to put the armor and gauntlets I designed to the purpose I designed them for. Helping people.

Yes, the vibronic arm cannons that have been blowing holes in buildings and roads for the last ten years were designed as a non-leathal alternative for the police and armed forces.

So I sat in my piece of shit car and drove around looking for something heroic to do. Didn’t take long to find a bank being robbed, and the looks on every ones faces when I blasted the guy leading the operation was almost worth all of this. Almost, but not quite.

The cops came and arrested me, which wasn’t a surprise, I don’t know why I stuck around looking back at it. I explained myself to them and even ratted out my old crew. They were mostly assholes anyway.

Uncle Sam himself actually vouched for me, and agreed to keep an eye on me, and so I was allowed to go out and do the hero thing on a probationary basis.

I must admit it’s been weird, fighting against former comrades in crime. Though I have to admit, fighting Quarry was kind of exciting. Blasting a guy who just crumbles and reforms was as exciting as it was dangerous, and the people who stuck around to watch loved it.

The fight with Destructor was probably the fan favorite though. Yes, I have fans now, isn’t that weird? But that was definitely hair raising, since if he got those gauntlets on me he could have destroyed my suit, and then I just would’ve been shit outta luck.

Xantar though, man, I am going to stay the hell away from him. I don’t care if he’s pulling a job right in front of my face, I’m not taking on a guy who can control of my suit with his mind ever again.

You don’t realize just how heavy these armor suits are until you have to use them without their power source.

So yeah, I was actually managing to do the ass kicking for once, and getting cheered on for doing it. Life was good.

Then, Sam, I call him Sam, tells me the bad news. The guys from my old crew? Merc, Chimera, Tank, Python, Ripper, Harpy? Those guys? Yeah, they broke out.

And to make matters worse, the World League of Protectors wants me to wander around as bait.

Sam is following me, somewhere, and they’re tracking me so they can send in the cavalry if they attack me. Said it wouldn’t take more than five minutes. Plenty of time to be turned into a smear on the pavement.

Five minutes against these guys is like five years.

I’m really not liking this truck. There’s a full size U-Haul up ahead and it’s completely bottomed out on it’s suspension. It’s practically scraping the ground.

“So how’s the hero life treating you Thomas?”

Aw shit.

I turn slowly, hoping I really didn’t hear what I thought I did.

Yeah, it’s him.

Lucas Mercer, now just goes as Merc. Test subject for one of the last legal super-soldier projects. They were basing this stuff on samples taken from good old Uncle Sam. It was going pretty well until he got power hungry and beat the shit out of the scientists. For awhile there he had a pretty good combination of crack addiction and roid rage going on with all the crap he was injecting himself with. He’s got it under control now, and the result is exactly what they wanted, except for the fact that he’s a psychotic bastard who hires himself out to pay for the stuff he needs to keep his power running hot.

“Did you really think you’d get away with it? Switching sides and turning us in?”

I really need to try to keep this guy talking, he’s not exactly in full “uniform’ so it could take a while for people to realize how screwed I am right now.

I wonder how many guns and knives he’s got hidden under that jacket, cause you just know there’s a lot of them.

“Actually yeah, I did.”

Right now I am so glad it looks like it could rain at any moment. It makes the trench coat look completely natural and not like I’m hiding my power armor under it, which I am, otherwise Luke here would have probably just put a bullet in my head.

He smirks at me and then barks, “Tank!”

The back of that u-haul I was worried about rips out as Sherman Abraham bursts out of it in eight feet of power armor. People scream and scatter as he marches over the cars, crushing them.

I really didn’t want it to come to this. Sherman and I were friends since high school. He was always a big guy, topping out at seven feet and over 300lb of muscle. He wasn’t the brightest guy, so we made a good pair. His mutant power was fairly basic. He’s big, he’s strong, and you can pound on him all you want and he wont care. So that’s how he got the name Tank.

It wasn’t until we ended up working together that he said he wanted some armor like mine. And, with a name like Tank I couldn’t help it. I tricked it out. The armor is powered, but even still I built it to take advantage of his strength. The suit weighs more than twice what he does(that armor is almost a foot thick in some places), and I gave him arm cannons as well as some serious, fire power on the back, as well as motorized treads that work for him almost like roller skates.

I turned my friend into one of the most dangerous villains on the planet just because I thought it would be fun.

I totally deserve this.

Doesn’t mean I’m going to let it happen.

I hit the switch on my belt and my helmet slides up and into place as Luke pulls a gun. I was expecting that and was ready for him with my switchblade which I manage to stab into the hand holding the gun. He drops it as I toss aside the coat and power up my gauntlets to level five, hoping that will be enough to knock Sherman on his ass.

Luke rips the knife out of his hand and growls into a radio at his wrist, “Everyone get in here now!”

The street blows open as the monstrosity known as Chimera bursts up out of the sewer. I hate this guy not only is he psychotically animalistic, he’s just fucking scary. He’s seven feet tall when he’s hunched over, he must weight a ton, his head is like a bulls, with an eagles beak which is full of pencil sized fangs, the his body is just massive and hairy with long gorilla like arms and legs like a giant cat complete with rip-through-your-armor sharp claws and then there are the god-damned tails. Eight ten foot long tails like octopus arms, pure muscle, flexible as hell and topped off with suckers.

Hate him.

Python is with him, bullet proof scales, stretchy body, and strong as hell. Honestly? He’s the least of my worries.

Scratch that, Ripper is here too. He was just a regular old enforcer type until he had his arms and legs replaced with bionic ones stuffed full of enough blades to make a meat processing plant jealous. Yeah, the guy is dangerous as hell, but last time I checked those blades can’t cut into my armor.

Harpy is probably up in the sky somewhere, since she never got caught in the first place. Powered wing suit, armored but still light enough to fly, her talons are dangerous but she had to get close to use those, and then she has that laser pistol. More of a threat because of her mobility, but still a threat

Half the deadly dozen ready to curb stomp me into oblivion.

Fate hates me.

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

A young woman pushed her way through the crowd surrounding a caged arena in the center of a warehouse. The noise was nearly deafening by the time they reached the ring, and she pushed a large man aside to finally got a good look at the combatants.

A wiry skin head with piercings all through his face was facing off against a shorter man with shaggy black hair, and threw a charging punch. The shorter man stepped to the side reaching his hand out, grabbing the skinhead by the back of the head and pushing him passed him. Before he could fall face first into the mat though, a long monkey like tail whipped out of the back of the black haired mans pants, caught the skin head by the neck, and then hurled him backwards into the opposite side of the cage.

So this was “Rabat”.

The crowed screamed and booed as Rabat glared at the crowed through the cage, his tail twitching before he pulled it back into his pants.

A large man came up to the cage, handed over some cash, and was let in. He removed his leather jacket and tossed it aside while Rabat paced back and forth. The large man came at him swinging, and Rabat easily dodged the first flurry of punches before twisting and driving an uppercut into the mans gut. The large man was lifted off his feet, but he had latched onto Rabat’s arm, and when he came down, lifted the smaller man and tossed him through the air at the side of the cage.

Rabat twisted in mid-air and “landed” on the side of the cage, his toes and fingers gripping the interlocking wires of chain link. He glared at the large man again and launched himself off the side of the cage, torpedoing the man in the gut. He stood and lifted the man by the arm and tossed him through the air into the side of cage. The man had risen to his knee when Rabat reached him and booted him in the face, knocking him back against the cage where he lay unconscious.

The crowed went wild, screaming everything from encouragement to obscenities and death threats.

The man who seemed to be running the fights called Rabat over to the side and she moved to where she could listen.

Rabat was kneeling to be on a more level ground with the manager and she managed to catch a snatch of conversation, “-ant do that.”

“He pissed me off,” Rabat said in the kind of gruff voice that could be either comforting or the most threatening thing you’d ever heard.

“They always piss you off. They have to think they can take you or there wont be any fights.”

“Fine.”

Kat stood and thought for a moment, and then said to the man who was standing behind her, “If you even think about groping my ass again I’m going to stab you, skin you, burn you, shit on you, mount you on the wall, and then I’ll make you wish you were dead.”

The man moved away quickly.

She decided what she was going to do and moved towards the fight manager, “How much to fight the monkey?”

Inside the cage, Mark took a sip of water. It got hot enough sitting here in a cage with no shade, under spotlights for hours at a time even without having to fight people. He didn’t mind the fighting though. Most of the people he fought where the kind of assholes he’d beat the shit out of for free anyway.

It was a pain having to hold back though.

He briefly contemplated totally obliterating the next one and starting a riot so he wouldn’t have to hold back and could start to really crack skulls. He smirked at the thought then perked up when he heard the cage door open and close. He put the cup of water down and turned around and was startled to see a woman.

He didn’t see women in these things often, unless it was a special girl-on-girl fight night or something. But, this one didn’t seem the usually type anyway. She didn’t look like the punked out skinheads or neo-nazi bitches he’d usually see; she looked to feminine for that. Not that he clothes weren’t punk, and that hair style said she was either punk or dyke. Unless of course it was natural.

As a mutant, he always remembered to never discount something like that.

“All right cutie, lets do this. I promise not to mess up your face to badly.”

“Oh, what a shame. I didn’t think you were the kind of guy to go easy on a girl, Rabat.”

She came at him quickly; almost fast enough to surprise him.

He juked away from the right cross and ducked under the left fan kick, then threw a straight punch at her jaw. He felt his knuckles connect with her jaw, but felt absolutely no resistance whatsoever. His arm extended all the way, and her head turned all the way to her left, and she winked at him, before stumbling backwards.

Oh. Hell. No. He was not going to let this cocky bitch think she could play with him like that.

Eh rushed in an put a straight kick into her hip, which he knew connected properly, and sent her sprawling across the floor. She dodged the next kick and grabbed his calf, flipping him onto his back. He hit the mat and bounced back up.

They exchanged a fluty of punches that where parried and dodged, for a moment looking more like a professional boxing match than a street fight, until she connected the heel of her palm to his jaw. He reeled back and she dashed around him and locked her arms around him from behind and whispered into his ear, “Aww, is this all the big bad monkey’s got?”

“Fuck you.”

He grabbed her arms, planted his feet, bent his knees, and sent them both flying across the ring and smashing into the chain link fence, bending it out over the edge to the crowds cheers.

“Stop showing off!” his manager hissed at him.

“Shut up.” He and the girl said in unison.

She kicked him off of her and then pushed off the cage launching herself into the cage and landing in a low crouch, “Don’t you want more than this? Something more rewarding?” she asked.

“I get paid to beat the hell out of people I’d beat on for pleasure,” he said and ducked a spinning kick at his head, “what more could I ask for?”

He snap kicked at her and stepped in for a head but to her chest and then grabbed her jacket and tossed her over his shoulder, she flipped in mid-air and landed in a crouch, “I don’t know. Getting to kill them? More money? Power outside of this little dinky ring?”

He raised an eyebrow as she launched a flying knee kick that he barely got out of the way of, “What the hell do you want?” he said, catching her as she went by with his tail and dangling her in front of him.

“Just you baby,” she said, blew a kiss at him, and then punched him right in the mouth.

The hit the mat and she said, “I’ll be around after the fights. Why don’t you come look for me?”

He answered with a rising uppercut that caught her square in the jaw, lifted her off the mat, and sent her crashing back down.

The crowd cheered and when she didn’t move, someone came in to collect her. Rabat turned and spat at someone creaming obscenities at him from the edge of the cage as she was helped to her feet and assisted out. He looked at her again and her pain free purple eyes looked right back at him and then winked.

Perhaps he should go check her out.

The city is sick, twisted from its once wondrous wiles to become a diminished collection of the broken, poor, and damned. Every building just another tall headstone to overshadow the dead below them. It mattered not who they were. Be it the supermen, the mega sinners, or even the average child. They were all tangled in the web they had constructed with cement and plaster. Trapped in the dregs of their lives conflicted, restrained, or in constant trials with another.
Here was where their battleground was lain. Among the damned and cursed, all sorts of unnatural beings were gathered. Sorted and huddled off into their various categories in order that they would be in contest. Fighting all the others less fortunate for territory, power, or whatever reasons they give themselves.

There was a young man who was learning these facts. Beside himself in a back alley, hunched slightly from weariness, his chest heaving gasping desperately to fill his lungs with air once more. The edges of his dark jacket were frayed and bits of it burnt. He had cool dark eyes that watched intently through the darkness waiting in anticipation for his opponent to reemerge.
There was movement, his enemy was lazy and noisy finding where he stood was easy enough. With nigh lightning reflexes the man dove his right hand behind him drawing fourth a steel blade. The knife was quickly readjusted so that he had its tip pinched between his index and middle. A graceful arc from his arm would see the knife flying off into the shadows. Now a moment of silence began.
Then it emerged, the smooth black muscles of its body glimmering in even the dulled light of the moon. It towered over him, its burning red eyes like beacons that were boring down upon him. The wild strands of what would be its hair hung weightlessly, its only accomplice was the slender tip of a tail which waggled slowly beside the locks.

In its right claws it clutched the blade by its handle. Little streaks of dark blood slid down its glimmering surface, proof that the weapon had hit its mark. However its body showed no signs of this, there was no puncture marks, no blood, no bruise. The creature chuckled quietly to itself, raising the blade up and positioning it against him. With a forceful shove it sank the steel up to the handle into its own flesh. More laughter was to follow. The process repeated a few times, but with each plunge the situation became clear. The moment the knife left the skin, it reformed and sealed itself as though it had never been touched.
Once satisfied the point was made the creature tossed the worthless weaponry aside.
The man at the other end was unusually calm and gradually readied for the inevitable. His hands were repositioned so that his palms were half curled before him, not a defensive form that was recognizable but perhaps he had another trick up his sleeve yet. The monster wasn’t going to wait this time for the human to attack. It was rushing down the short distance between them claws reaching out to take up this small speck of a man and tear him apart.
The split second when they met could hardly be made clear by any eyes that were eavesdropping. The end product had been that the monster was thrown clear out of the alley and was left lying propped against some poor person’s sports car. As for the man he was now the one to approach, lightning cackling through his bare hands.
The beast was far from beaten and it seemed to be reborn from its failed attempt. Rising up it had already taken the vehicle that caught it. A second charge was made, this time it wielded the sports car like a club. Using both hands to bring the crunched metal down overtop the human generator. An unforeseen aftereffect was the watts of power that now coursed amplified between the two.
The car wasn’t to last as the surge of electricity triggered an explosion that interrupted their struggle. Rocketing each in an opposite direction. The monster would break through the wall of a closed department store. The human would be less fortunate as only half of him managed to clear a stationary lamp post. The missing half had passed out of sight, only droplets of blood gave any clue as to where it landed.
War grumbled all the while recovering gradually from his flight. The lightning was a dirty trick and it disoriented his senses, not to mention agonized every inch of him. The store’s security alarm had been awakened from the intrusion and was now providing him with quite the headache. There wasn’t much time, there was surely other government metahumans on their way now.
There was a distinct sound, though it was just a whisper next to the blare of the sirens. It still woke War when he recognized the approaching clicks to be footsteps. With a wide swing of his arm, he would force enough debris from him to finally get to his feet. A dizzy head and drunken like stumbling would see him free from the ruins. It was too late though, immediately those fiery orbs beamed at a slender figure. The sway of the hips and controlled posture, War had no doubt a woman was approaching. With a quick brushing of his shoulders, and a sharp slap of his face, War readied himself. Likely the former superhuman wasn’t alone even if he was a forerunner. Standing square to face this incoming threat, he readied his claws.
Stretching his neck would give way to a loud popping sound, a satisfied sigh escaped after. It’s mouth could hardly be seen, it was very well hidden and only emerged when it spoke. The vocal chords sounded tested as if they struggled to vibrate. The words are formed clear but with malice.

“No worry female, we have enough fight left.”

Emily:

Weary eyes fluttered open as the train lurched forward, slowing its speed as it gradually came to a stop at the platform. “Time to get up sweetie,” Her mother said as Emily turned her head to see her smiling at her.

The train ride from Seattle hadn’t been all that long, although Emily was dead tired since being unable to sleep the night before. Anxious thoughts of the school visit plagued her all night as she sat in bead, staring at the ceiling. Her mother had taken the day off of work so that they could attend a tour of the educational facility that accommodated people that are in the same situation as her.

The brochure they had sent to her made the school seem legitimate enough, as she recalled the images of the amenities that were being provided to her. A large Olympic sized swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts, a fully equipped gym and most importantly, the library all set in a very serene rural surrounded area that was away from the central riff-raff of downtown New York.

She followed her mother as they made their way through the morning traffic of commuters heading to work as they progressed to the streets in search of a diner. The mixture of morning cologne and perfumes were enough for Emily to cover her nose as she elbowed her way out into fresh air.

Finally on the street level, she took the moment to stretch out her arms. The morning sun was peeking itself out from behind one the many skyscrapers in the city as Emily and her mother crossed the street and found a local diner to take a seat in and catch a meal.

The welcoming jingle of the door bell rang as Emily and her mother entered and found themselves an open booth to seat themselves in. The waitress came and offered them a set of menu’s as the two girls looked the orders over. Emily already knew what she wanted; eggs over easy with whole wheat toast and a side of bacon. Her mother, an order of french toast.

They waited in silence as the waitress left with their menu’s and orders as her mother looked her over. “What’s wrong hun?” Her voice was always comforting and concerned.

Emily looked up from the cutlery she had laid out on the table and looked at her mothers eyes. Her lips parted as she kept her voice low and soft. “I’m a little scared. I mean, what if this school isn’t the answer? What do we do then?”

Her mother reached across the table and held her daughters’ hands in hers and replied, “Emily, listen to me, no matter what happens today with the meeting at the school, your father and I will always love you, unconditionally. You’re a special girl with and without the gifts God has given you, never forget that OK?”

Emily smiled, how could you not? How many other kids were in her situation and were kicked out of their house because they were feared or put an even bigger burden on their parents? Here she was with the coolest set of parents one could ask for and she felt totally up to seeing what the school would be able to offer her now. She smiled back and squeezed her mothers hands back.

The waitress came back with their order and set it on the table in front of them. The aroma of freshly cooked eggs and the cooked bacon wafted into Emily’s nose as she greedily picked up her fork and began to eat.

The ceramic plate in front of her shook as she was about to dab her toast in the egg. “Haha, what’s wrong mom, table to small for you?” Emily joked as she stuffed a piece of toast in her mouth.

“That wasn’t me Em,” Her mother said, “I thought you kicked the table.”

Again, the plate shook, this time more violently, jumping in place as it rattled around. There was a loud tremor as the ground shook in the diner. Screams rang out from the patrons as they looked out the window and saw a giant mechanized suit trample over cars as their drivers ran from the streets to find safety. There seemed to be an altercation with another armored man and a gentleman waving a gun around.

Her mother grabbed Emily by the arm as they stood up, her mothers heels turned to run but Emily was frozen in place. “Emily! Let’s go!” She shouted as the diner began to empty.

She wasn’t sure what it was, or if she’ll ever know, but she couldn’t keep her eyes off of the battle that was unfolding in front of her. The faces of the people she cares about, back home scrolled through her head as she looked at the innocents who were fleeing for their lives.

She looked back at her mother, who had a frantic look of concern on her face. “It’s ok, go, I...I need to help these people.”

“No, absolutely not!” She grabbed her arm tighter “Those men out there are criminals Emily, this isn’t some playground fight where a teacher will break it up before you get a bloody nose.”

Her mind was set and looked at her mother who sighed and began to get teary eyed. She let go of her daughters arm as she wiped away a tear that had ran down her cheek. “Be careful sweetie.” She took refuge behind the counter where others were hiding as she watched her daughter venture out into the chaos of the street.

The person, and she's quite sure that she's looking at a "who" not a "what", shoulders it's way out of the rubble and looks at her, "Don't worry female, we have plenty of fight left," he says.

"Oh, I don't want to fight you," she says, looking the magnificent being up and down, lithe and powerful with a huge mane of hair like a great black lion. She walkes close enough to reach up and gently caress his face, "You're really quite beautiful you know," his skin was smooth and slightly rubbery, like a dolphin. "I've heard about you, roaming the streets at night, hunting, and being hunted. I could give you a refuge, and a greater purpose."

________________

I hit Sherman with two level fives while he's in mid step and knock him on to his back. He's still not really vulnerable like that, but it's as close as he'll get.
I keep one gauntlet on him to keep him down and turn the other on Luke who is coming at me with knife, probably trying to get through the small gaps in my armor since it's bullet proof. I blast him in the face and turn back just in time to get bull rushed by Chimera, launching me through the window of a dinner.

There's a girl standing next to where I land, and she's the only one there everyone else have hauled ass away from this impending disaster area, "Are you retarded? Get out of here!" I say as I sit up and blast Chimera in the face as he charges in again. Sherman hasn't gotten back up yet, but he's almost there. I need to get out here and back onto the street before I'm cornered.
_______________

Walking up out of the subway tunnel Jostica takes in the sights for a minute before continuing on down the street. Suddenly there's the shriek of rending metal as a huge metal horror rips it's way out of a truck. Suddenly people are screaming and running everywhere is it stomps over cars as it moves towards whatever it is it wants.

For a moment Jostica intends to join the people fleeing for their lives, or in some cases a safe distance so they can watch, before she remembers that this is why she trained. To be able to protect herself and others.

She spots the man the mech is after, fighting with another man, as another horror appears with two other men. The first man, she now sees in an armor suit and he blasts the mech over, then the guy he was fighting a second ago before he's launched into a building by the monster with the tentacles.

She recognizes the amor suit now, black with gold trim, the swept back helmet, the arm cannons, it's Shockwave, the villain who turned hero a few months back. She didn't know how this started, but she at least knew who to help, summoning her staff from her cloak, she prepared an ice spell to disable to one of them.

Alexander's eyes were fixated on the knife,he had no thought but for that inanimate piece of metal wrapped in red plastic.His thoughts were nothing but for it,every single particle in his brain was burning with a taste of the irony that it held for him.The very object that held the voices at bay was instrumental for their summoning.He reached a hand out and pocketed the knife,closing it then thrusting it into a navy blue jacket pocket with almost enough force to make it rip through.Alexander took a deep breath and fell back on the dark blue covers of his bed,"I'm gonna go get a life now."Alexander locked the door to his house and placed the key in the pockets of his dark sweat pants.He briefly rummaged in his jacket pocket,accidentally cutting himself on the thumb in the process.A thousand things perked up at the drawn blood and Alexander hastily stuck his index finger in his mouth to stop them from getting too excited.With delicacy Alexander pulled the blade out and closed it this time,cursing himself for being such an idiot.

Once he'd put the knife back Alexander pulled a thin jade green tube shaped mp3 player from his pocket and set it to shuffle.With a hint of a smile he set off to the side of the road,he was going opposite the cars and liked the way the faces looked all blurred whenever they came close enough for him to see them.Alexander continued that way for a while,listening to some music and watching the car faces.It amused him,it took his mind off of the demons.Fuck,I'm thinking about them,no no no no.Ugh.......Alexander began to sing the lyrics to the song that never ends in his head but it was no use.They'd noticed his mind again,Their incessant pleas were coming back full force,again he felt that same taste in his mouth.He felt the taste of cruel irony in him and he couldn't get it out.The conduit,the demons,the powers,the cut he had on his index finger.All because of some random twist of fate,all because a bus couldn't have hit him before the magic spasm came.The smiling left his face as he focused on a single voice,this one was much more drawn out and ancient then the rest.It began to recount the tale of when he truly began to curse his inevitable mortality.As the voice started to speak something black appeared in the sky.As the demons taunted him and the voice continued to talk in that smug and drawn out way it got closer.As Alexander's eyes began to cloud it slammed into the ground right in front of him.

"HOLY SHIT."Alexander took a step towards it and could see a few words on it.He took another step and turned his head to the side."N-New York Sewer System."It was a manhole cover.Alexander looked in the direction it had come from and started running.The thunderous sounds superfighting echoed from somewhere in the city and Alexander followed it to find a scene not like any other.Shockwave was standing in the center of the fight,now its not to say that shockwave was weak.Far from it,he was simply outmatched and outclassed.Alexander stood on the sidelines with everyone else,he watched the battle rage on and his finger twitched.As Alexander stood there,watching Shockwave get the crap beat out of him,listening to the people cheer him on despite his beatdown.I want to be like that.Hesitant hands rose and curled as he eyed his target,it was the the big one,he'd heard his name on the news lately."TANK."The hulking beast looked at him and Alexander prayed he was doing the right thing.

Well he knew he was doing the "right" thing,but he didn't know if this was one of those right things that ended up with your death.Alexander willed it to come and pushed through his hand;using magic always made him feel so tingly.The power itself though,it held a tainted feeling and no amount of tingly hands could ever put him at ease after he'd used his powers.The fireball started as a single speck of red in the air around his hands,it flickered there and floated complacently for a moment.Then it puffed and roared,the fireball didn't blossom before it flew,it exploded open in his hands before some unseen force had sent it on a course for the behemoth.It struck with pinpoint accuracy and the beast roared with what Alexander hoped was pain but quickly realized when it cam charging towards the gaggle of people that were foolishly sticking around to watch the battle and take pictures of it.Tank charged,they ran,Alexander put his hands up in the air and willed the power again.This was it,he'd see the strength of his magic.Alexander stood there as Tank came closer and closer,his arms shook,sweat formed a thin and salty film over his body as Tank reared a fist and Alexander brought his arm down.The impact of such a fast moving and heavy object against something of pure magic was a thud and Alexander felt more and more of his power going into the shield to help it hold up against Tank's punch.SON.OF.A.MUTANT.

The smoke cleared and Alexander was on the ground,blood was leaking from his head in alarming amounts but the barrier had held,Tank had managed to crack it but not destroy it.Alexander whimpered in pain and fear as Tank slammed his fist into the pale blue glass like structure.Fueled by fear and desperation Alexander curled his hand into a claw with one hand and flipped Tank off with the other.He was sure that even in all that power armor that someone as dumb as Tank could recognize that symbol.He was right,Tank roared and started his charge again,but this time Alexander was ready for him.Again his arms went up and again Tank went for him,again the arm went down and Tank's arm reared back.This time though,the wall was shorter,it only came up to Tank's knees and for good reason.The armored monster was too strong to defeat by brute force,so he had to improvise.

Tank's knees hit the wall,and he went flying.Alexander knew he had no time to waste and snapped his arm into ready position.One fireball would do little more then annoy the brute,two would make him mad and three would feel like he's just touched something metal after leaving it out in the sun for a few hours.So Alexander took to the most widely accepted rule of firepower and drew upon his power.More Dakka,although they might not have meant the fire in firepower to be taken so literally.Four finger flames later and Alexander had scampered off,happy in the thought that he had incapacitated Tank and not killed him.Tank was helpless on the ground,his suit's knee joints had been welded shut as well as his arm.

The difference between right and wrong. Can a person truely not know the difference between the two? Perhaps the concepts of right and wrong are flawed and should be replaced by, chaos and order. Can someone do something the majority see's as wrong, for the right reason?

Warehouse 11, by the docks.

A well known drug lord, known as Calypso owned this warehouse. The police could never stick him with any charges, and eventually they just gave up on trying. In fact for the past year everyone did. Not this night however. No. A young new to the scene hero known as Viper went to the warehouse to take it down once and for all. Unfortunately, vigilante heroes that go in alone against a big time drug lord almost always die.

It wasn't long before a shootout began. Calypso wasn't there. Instead just his goons were triyng to kill Viper, who could summon and control snakes. It was going well for Viper as his serpents cleared out half the warehouse. The rest would kill any snake and kept Viper pinned against a wall. With things looking bleak, a giant snake was summond forth that ripped through half the remaining men with ease.

Things looked bleaked for the criminals until someone showed up. He was shrouded in darkness and appeared out of nowhere beside Viper. Before the Hero could move, a golden sword had sliced through his neck, cutting his head clean off. The snake vanished and the criminals rejoyced. One of them yelled out to Shadow.

Us criminals got to look out for eachother, ya?

The man know as the shadow walked to the middle of the room. After glancing around the room he turned to the man who spoke out. "The Goddess does not discriminate. She judges and has deemed you unworthy. You will not be spared." Instantly the remaining men were ensared in shadow tentacles. The building around them came crashing to the ground crushing all inside, save one. Atop the rubble stood Shadow as he looked upon a woman standing close by.

"And who might you be?"

How strange was this meeting War was experiencing. Most hadn’t the guts to approach him and next to none would dare touch his ebony frame. Her reach would be cut short, the length of his claws pushing at her wrist to set her hand aside. This warrior had no room for even the most carnal of pleasures. A sort of sad fairy tale, as though the beast had quietly rejected the first to ever extend their hand. Plus his expressions didn't seem to show through save those blazing red eyes. The truth was that if the hybrid possessed a heart, it was surely buried in a coffin of ice.
What bothered War was that she was fearless. Only those he engaged showed this particular trait. To have a person casually approach him like a friend was nearly disturbing. Especially when one considered that his whole mission was the destruction of every metahuman in existence. Which brought to his attention something even stranger about this women.
Though no groundbreaking revelation could be made, there was something altogether amiss about her. Her mannerisms and coy playfulness, an underlying confidence that surely cheated others. There was a sort of charm, perhaps an actress merely using those foolish enough to believe the lies? The more War debated, the more his head hurt. He would hiss a reply through clenched teeth.
“… We will listen. Make your offer.”

Part of him was amused, perhaps the subtle seductions had tamed the creature within. After all, a predator can appreciate an ego boost. The thrill of hunting was far better a reward, but it didn’t hurt to be admired. Besides, he had become dreadfully curious as to what this lady was talking about. She used a lot of fancy talk and innuendos, hinting at some sort of plan. War only knew she wanted something and it involved him, and there was really only two things War was good at. Hunting and fighting, the former was for sport, the latter was entertainment.

“If we don’t like it, then female will not go home.”

It wasn’t so much a threat as it was business. She looked perfectly human, and she was obviously more then she let on. A regular earthling wouldn’t even be within his presence. At least, not one that couldn’t defend themselves. It stood to reason that if they were not allies, he would have to do his very best to kill her.

When Tank tried to stand, it was difficult for some reason. The joints were stiff and didn’t want to move. He forced himself up though, as the metal shrieked it’s complaint, he looked down to see what had happened and saw that the metal had been torn apart, and one of the motors was damaged. He’d be a little slower on that side, and the joints weren’t nearly as well protected as they had been, but it wasn’t a real problem and he could get Tom to fi- He roared with rage and charged the kid who had messed up his armor.

He didn’t notice the blue light coalescing around him as he brought his fist up to smash the kid until it was so bright it was blinding, and then he couldn’t move. He blinked, looking at the world through thick ice, he tried to move, but there was no give. He tried harder and he could feel the ice begin to crack.

---------

Jostica was glad she hadn’t released the ice spell when the big armored guy seemed to be down, since without the extra charge time it looked liked it wouldn’t have been nearly enough to stop him at all.

She turned back to Shockwave who was getting knocked around pretty bad. He was getting some good hits in every now and then, but anytime he hit someone there was someone else there to hit him right back.

She couldn’t decide who to try and attack next, so she decided to cast something defensive on Shockwave, a dome shield, to give him a chance to recover and herself time to get another spell ready.

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

Walking up to the rubble that was once a drug-lords warehouse, she took in the man who had caused the destruction. He was about what she had expected.

“And who might you be?” he asked her.

“A kindred spirit. I bring judgment down on a corrupt world that has been found lacking, though I have found methods such as this," she gestured at the ruble, "a little slow.” She smiled at him, “I’m looking for allies in my quest to bring judgment to the whole world.”

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

She smiled at him, gently testing the strength of his grip, “I’m hunting, and I’ve heard you’re a bit of an expert at that. The prey is well hidden and well protected, a perfect challenge for one such as you. In return, I offer you a safe and comfortable retreat, as well as protection from those that hunt you.”
She had some slight difficulty controlling herself, this creature, this magnificent being, sent thrills of excitement through her, and her heart was racing from being this close.

-------------
“I’m taking a break” Rabat told the manager.

The girl had given him a bit to think about. Mainly, that he’d just met someone who seriously outclassed him and just smacked him around enough for him to know it. She had a nice ass though, so that was reason enough for him to go after her.

He found her off to the side. She’d had her eyes locked on him by the time he’d spotted her, which was kind of surprising since he was shorter than the average ass-hole, and she was sitting up on some crates stacked against the wall.

“Right, so, what do you want?”

“Just your services.”

“And what services would those be?”

She shrugged, “At the very least, the ones you’ve displayed here. Of course, as I said, you’d be under far less restrictions.”

“And what do you want these services for?”

“Simply put, there are things I want, and I one of them is your help in getting the rest of them. I can assure you though, that you will be adequately compensated for services rendered.”

“Well, I’d like some more specifics but it sounds interesting.“

"You want specifics? I’m collecting artifacts. Artifacts of great power and aren’t the sort of things that you can just go buy. Artifacts that could give us the power to rule this world.”

“Well…” he wasn’t wanted by the police doing this cage fighting thing. And what she was proposing sounded like it was most definitely illegal. It also sounded fun as hell “What do I get in return?”

“Aside from power and respect?”

“Yes.”

“What more do you want?”

“How about a spot in your bed.”

She glared at him and growled, “Try again.”

“How about a price to be named later.”

“I can work with that.”

“Then I’m in.”

Voidance, Sifen, Perry:

The blaring sirens of fire response units and paramedics wailed through the dead of night as they raced to their destination, hoping to provide some sense of balance in the growing chaos that was New York. 24 floors up in a non-descript penthouse suite however, the distractions were silenced as Voidance sat in meditation on the straw mat at the centre of his study. His eyes closed, legs crossed and elbows resting on his knee’s, helped to establish his inner focus as his mind remained calm and at ease.

His inner ki, the latent force in every being required a rigorous amount of discipline on his behalf before it had honed itself to the sixth sense that he achieved currently. Tonight however, was not one of those nights that he would make full use of his spare time as he was snapped out of his state by the vibrating tone of his cell phone. He reached beside him on the mat and read the caller ID, blocked number. Most of his clientele preferred the secretive approach to conducting business, so rather than being unsure of the caller, he flipped it open and spoke.

“Speak,” His voice was curt but gentle.

“You’re a very hard group to come by. I’ll keep this short, I’m a potential suitor interested in your services. Meet me by the east side docks; you remember that place don’t you?” It was a female’s voice, one that he didn’t recognize. “Sure you do, you had taken out your previous target there” She paused again and when no response came through she began through after a deep sigh. “Not talkative, fine. Meet me there in an hour. All three of you.” The phone call ended and Voidance rose to find his clothing.

He grabbed the violet dress shirt and black slacks that were laid out on the ottoman and began to dress. His mind began to formulate possibilities of the mystery caller’s identity as he traced back any potential female clients that he had come in contact with. Specifically one who had knowledge of their previous contract but none came to mind. He slipped on his leather dress shoes and walked out into the hall towards the rooms of the others. It appeared Sifen had some company over as Voidance approached his bedroom door and the carnal sounds of pleasure could be heard through the walls. A gentle knock on the mahogany wooden door silenced the noise as the heavy footsteps approaching the door were heard.

The door opened, creaking halfway to reveal a topless and most likely completely nude Sifen, sweat dripping from his forehead as he nodded towards Voidance who spoke. “Get dressed, and get them out of here.” He turned to leave but Sifen pleaded.

“C’mon man they just got here, I’ve barely gotten to any of the fun toys yet.”

Voidance paused in mid-stride and turned to shoot a glare over his right shoulder. Sifen hesitantly nodded his head as he closed the door. “Fucking buzzkill” He muttered under his breath as he walked back to his king size bed where four women lay in wait for him. Their latex covered bodies made him salivate but it was the whips and paddles that got him going. It was a shame that they had to leave so soon but business called. “Grab your shit and get the fuck out.” He said as he picked his pair of jeans off of the floor and stepped into them.

The women looked at one another, unsure of what to do. He found his wrinkled t-shirt under the bed and slid it over his head. He turned and grabbed the nearest one by the arm and yanked her off the bed, “Now.” Was the only word he said as they all frantically scampered from his bed and ran down the hall. He tied up the one Converse sneaker he found and went out into the living to find the other one.

Perry and Voidance were by the doorway as they watched his harem leave and grab the elevator in the penthouse hallway. “Where the fuck is my other shoe?!” He asked as he frantically flipped the cushions of the white leather seats over.

“Did you check your ass? Maybe one of them stuffed it in there again.” Perry sneered as she slammed the door shut and walked to the kitchen. Her suede heeled boots clicked on the marble tiled floor as she approached the counter top and finished snorting the remaining line of cocaine she had measured up. She wiped the residue from her nose with the back of her hand and asked, “So you said this bitch called you and you didn’t recognize her?” Voidance shook his head. “No one gives out our number cheap so she must be running with someone heavy.” She paused as she thought over the families in the area and who were looking for some reinforcement muscle. Her mind was racing, maybe from the cocaine or maybe it was from that excuse of a human that she had to work with. She wanted to rip out those annoying piercings on Sifen and shove them down his throat but a part inside her knew the sick freak would like it more than anything else.

She made her way back to Voidance who grabbed a set of keys from the table. “The Audi again? Why cant we take the Lexus or the Escalade this time?” She asked after already voicing her displeasure of riding in anything white.

“Shut your face you dumb cunt, you’re not sitting in my Escalade.” Sifen shouted from across the room as he discovered the whereabouts of his missing accessory. “It was under the piano, not in my ass.” He tied up the shoe and made his way to the doorway as the three headed out and down the hall.

“You talk to me like that again and I will send you out through the window.” Perry threatened as she grabbed Sifen by his throat and slammed him against the elevator as they waited.

“Ooh yeah talk dirty to me like that baby, I like it when you’re rough.” He joked back as he licked his lips. She let him go in disgust as the doors opened up. “The fall probably wouldn’t kill me from this high up, the girls did work me over quite a little.”

The East Side Docks
One Hour Later…

A cool breeze swept through the area, brining in the fresh sea air across their noses as they waited for their rendezvous to make her appearance. The Audi S8 remained parked beside a large cargo ship that had recently came into the city that provided them with cover from obtrusive eyes and potential snipers keeping a vantage from a nearby skyscraper.

“Huh, you guys are early.” A slender female figure emerged from the shadows as she cautiously kept her distance from the three, making herself seen but not close enough to distinguish an identity.

“You’ve been watching us for thirteen minutes now; we don’t have time to waste. What is it you want?” Voidance addressed the woman who he didn’t recognize. His sense had been reverberating within him as soon as they had pulled up, alerting him that something was amiss.

(Omnem dimittite spem, o vos intrantes.) Time Keeper chuckled at the message sprawled over the archway of the warehouse door in florescent spray paint. The condemned warehouse would make a perfect ambush point for the would-be hero that was chasing him. How had it come to this? Why was he the one running? The answers to theses questions were difficult to discern. Reaching for the door handle his arm started tingling, the numbness was finally wearing off.
What the hell is up with that guy? It felt like I stuck my hand in a 210 outlet. Then there was that look, it was filled with malice and I’m almost certain I felt the intent to kill.

The door was stuck so he created a small bubble of ‘future time’ to give the door a few decades of wear. With a solid kick it nearly flew off its hinges. Once inside he suspended time then began to explore, by the time his pursuer arrived he’d know every inch of the place thus giving him the advantage. Yes, this will do nicely. Abandon hope indeed.

<<<<>>>>
I was too late. Images of the bloody scene flashed before him as he ran after the one responsible. The Time Keeper wasn’t just a Super Villain he was a serial killer who liked to stab his victims then slice out their eyes; once this was done he'd fill in the empty space with small clocks. The left socket held a time that was said to be the time of the victim’s birth while the right was the time of death. The piece of trash had been captured three times now, with each escape came more victims. Gritting his teeth he steeled his resolve to put an end to this madness. After tonight there would never be another attack.

“A dark condemned warehouse, of course, where else would a villain hide?” Before entering the building he closed his eyes and concentrated till his mind’s eye pictured the gamma spectrum. Opening them he could now see the world with x-ray vision. Scanning the building he found what or rather who he was looking for in the form of a skeleton crouch behind an object about midway through the storage area. Knowing the general area gave him an advantage, but he’d still have to be careful, seeing the world as an x-ray while effective wasn’t perfect, depth perception was horrible. Keeping the location in mind he entered the darkness.

<<<>>>
The encounter didn’t go as planned for either side. Derek needed to wait for his eyes to readjust before he could change spectrums. This gave his target an advantage even though it was practically pitch black. Having had time to get used to the dark and learned the layout, Time Keeper was able move freely throughout the facility. It didn’t take long for him to realize his prey was nearly blind. Though at the moment he was unable act, their first encounter was enough to make the time manipulator cautious. Even after trapping this young man in a 'suspended time' bubble he was still dangerous, remarkably he was still able to move though at a reduced speed. Still it was enough to turn what should have been a fatal stabbing into mere flesh wound. Then there was that jolt I received, my hand have close to a third degree burn. “I see,” Time Keeper said in realization, “you’re an electric type, but unlike others yours is based on touch. I thought something was odd when I stabbed you earlier while in ‘suspended time." Though I'd like to know how you were able to move within that bubble. How's your arm by the way?"

Derek held his sore arm; he didn’t need to worry about blood loss but it was still painful. Ignoring Time Keepers questions he closed his eyes and concentrated till his mind’s eye could see various shapes in the warehouse in illumination. Opening them he could finally see his target in multiple shades of gray…why was he pointing up? Resisting the urge to look he prepared his attack, he’d have to be careful this time though. His goal wasn’t to kill him…yet. Before he could make his move a groaning sound made him look up. A pipe was deteriorating at a rapid rate. Realization hit him spurring him into action. Quickly jumping backward he barely escaped the downpour.

“So, you can’t turn it off. All electrics are prevented from using their power when wet, but they just loose the ability to use it till they dry off, but are still capable of fighting. You on the other hand can’t can you?” Standing on the other side of the spray Time Keeper focused on the rest of the piping in the warehouse. It wasn’t his usual style but he could always cut him up afterward. A smile crossed his lips as the sound of more pipes bursting reached his ears. “It’s only a matter of time now.” His words were drowned out by the sound of the groans mixed with water hitting cement, but he didn’t care, he’d…what was that? Before he could revel in his victory he felt something wrap around his leg, a few moments later darkness overcame him.

Derek dragged the body through the spray (soaking it in the process) to his feet. “Clever bastard,” pipes had burst all over the building but thankfully the exit was clear… It still wouldn’t be easy; why wasn’t this building’s water shut off? In the morning he’d have to file a complaint with the CPC. Their blunder damn near got him killed.

<><><>


The fight was escalating rapidly and Shockwave looked to be in serious trouble. Sting observed the battle from a high vantage point debating whether to jump in and give the villain turned hero a hand. A group of newcomeres had joined the battle and seemed to be doing pretty well but they were young and could probably use some help. Before he could act however, his communicator gave an audible beep; placing his index and middle fingers just behind his right earlobe he spoke, “go ahead.”

“Time Keeper escaped early yesterday morning and has been missing since last night.”

“What? Why wasn’t I informed of this sooner? What do you mean missing, is he still in New York?”

“He was last seen fleeing the scene of a murder with your loose cannon chasing after him.”

“Loose cannon? …Oh no! Derek…I’ll take care of it.” After disconnecting the call he left his observation point. “Derek, what have you done?”

“You’ve been watching us for thirteen minutes now; we don’t have time to waste. What is it you want?”

“Impatient aren’t you,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “Fine then. I want you fly down to Chili and gather some information on a rather elusive cult operating there that is rumored to have an artifact I need. I’ll provide a private jet to get you there as well as matching your last jobs payment.” She paused to let them think it over before continuing, “Depending on what you report back to me I may have another job for you.”

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

Rabat didn’t know what he expected, but it certainly wasn’t to be taken to a penthouse suit overlooking the city.

“Swank. How’d you afford this?”

“The previous owner was done with it.”

Rabat stepped through the foyer and passed a reasonably sized kitchen and dinning room, before walking down a couple of steps into a large, combination living/recreation room. One wall was a large picture window, another, sliding glass doors leading out onto a balcony. The third wall was almost all shelves; full of books and small statues, and a large, widescreen TV.

Two hallways lead off from this room in either direction, one short with only one door, the other longer with multiple doors.

“The short hallway leads to the master bedroom, it’s mine.”

“Then I guess it’s mine too, then.”

“If I find so much as one of your hairs in my room you wont live to explain yourself,” she said, jabbing her finger into his nose. She then turned and waved over her shoulder, "Make yourself comfortable, I have other people to meet.”

Two roads diverge on a yellowed path, wasn’t that how the famous poem started? War couldn’t correctly recall, words were not so much language as they were symbols. A jumble of scrawling and sounds all mixed and matched to form thoughts and ideas. Things that both of his sides understood but neither rightly grasped. His head was more like a jumble of madness blended from the realities of two living things. Trickling years of history, memories, and experiences into the fragile form of one powerful body. It was no wonder War was hesitant to accept her offer.
He had to chew on every bit of information, process it twice, and then debate until both sides of his own self made a decision. Two roads diverged, or was it two roads divided? Perhaps two roads parted, two roads split? Eventually he would just get frustrated and distract himself by allowing his nature to take the reigns of nurture.
The grip he had about the stranger’s wrist tightened subconsciously. A reflex to keep her touch at bay, after all he didn’t care to drive his head into another state of thinking by having an outside stimulus. When the beast realized his reaction, he tried to reaffirm his point by applying force in order to not only move her hand away but keep it that way. Those glimmering red lights lit up like a roaring fire, and the smooth features of her face was bathed in its crimson hue.

“We love a challenge. Give us our prey, we will break them.”

The monstrous alien grew with excitement. The intoxication of her thrill quickly growing onto himself. Even his tail had found a symphony in which to dance to. Swaying back and fourth in anticipation, taking on a life of its own.
Though he hadn’t even begun to delve onto the topic, it certainly wasn’t going to be a bad idea to have a more permanent shelter. It would be hard adjusting to one location, becoming stationary after such a nomadic routine. Staying always ahead of those that would pursue was just part of the great game.

Earlier Today
D.J. rode her black on black vintage Harley pan head down 105th street, headed to one of her favorite locations: The Conservatory Gardens in Central Park West. She loved the wonderful mix of plant life there. It was always so bright and vibrant. She increased her speed a bit in anticipation. Her heavy black leather jacket flapped in the wind as D.J. imagined the early morning sun and the wonderful shadows it would cast on the plants and hopefully she thought would provide some unique photos of the foliage.

As she approached the park she forced her thoughts back to the here and now and began to scan for an unoccupied area to drive up to. Once D.J. spotted an area free from people, she pulled the Harley into the grass. She looked around to ensure no one could see her and mentally signaled the nearby bushes to grow around and hide the bike. She grinned in approval as the boxwood hedges engulfed the Harley, obeying her every thought. D.J. looked around one more time to ensure she wasn’t seen, adjusted her blue paisley du-rag and headed into the garden.
The garden was as glorious as she had imagined it would be. The sprinklers had recently been on and the sun reflected off of the water drops like one would image the morning dew in the Garden of Eden. To D.J. it was bliss.

It had been about an hour and D.J. was just starting to get truly relaxed. She had taken some great pictures and what few people had been in the garden were clearing out, probably headed off to work. She sat down and leaned against a Royal Palowana Tree and carelessly lit a Marlboro, basking in the sounds crickets, frogs, birds, the gentle flow of water from the nearby Harlem Meer and… Screeching Metal?

What the fuck was that? The sound was so loud and so vile that it drug D.J. far from her silent revelry and back into the here and now. Just another reason I hate people she thought, as she rose to check on her Harley.

A few seconds later when D.J. got to her beloved bike, she saw the cause of the horrible screeching. It was taxi on taxi violence, typical in this city she thought. She surveyed the accident and surmised that is was probably road rage that caused the two taxis to side swipe in this fashion. She had had enough. They had ruined her moment.

Disgusted, D.J. decided to go get breakfast. Because of the accident there were to many people around for her to get her bike out of hiding, so she started off on foot headed to Time Square, the location of her favorite diner.

The here and Now
D.J. was shocked by the panic and the noise that erupted around her. She was thanking whatever god existed that she could not free her Harley this morning as she watched the Giant Mech crushing the cars outside of the diner. She reached up onto the counter she was hiding behind to steal the bacon that was sitting there. Minor annoyances should not ruin breakfast. “I hate this city” she mumbled with her mouth full.

D.J. was pulled from her loathing and enjoyment of her stolen bacon by a young girl standing out into the chaos. What in the hell did she think she was doing? Was she mental?

Kat didn’t bother to hide her excitement, “Excellent", she exhaled, “follow me.”

Kat took her new ally up to the roof tops and lead him across the city. She noticed, with pleasure, that he was keeping up with her pretty well, not that she was pushing it.

When she reached the high-rise apartment building her base of operations sat atop, she scaled the buildings architecture with leaps and bounds, War following closely behind until the reached the roof, which she crossed and dropped down onto the penthouses balcony, startling Rabat who was lounging on the couch watching television.

She opened the door with a flourish and gestured for War to enter, “Your new home. Pick a room, not the big one, and try not to kill the monkey. I have some more business to conduct.”

And with that, she turned, trailing her fingers across Wars arm, and leapt from the balcony.

-----------

Rabat jumped when Kat suddenly dropped onto the balcony, followed by a massive…thing with glowing red eyes that was apparently supposed to be another partner in crime.

His eyes didn’t miss the way she trailed her fingers across him.

“Aw, what the fuck,” he groaned dropping back onto the couch and switching away from the monster movie he’d be watching. The new guy was creepy enough as it was.

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

I have no idea where this dome came from, but I’m guessing it’s magical and Chimera hasn’t been able to bust it open yet, and Luke has emptied two clips into it with no effect so far.

I’m partially grateful for it, and partially worried about this, as it did let me get my feet under me and wind back, but I have no idea who made this thing or what their intentions are.

“Ripper! Girl!”

What is Luke yelling about now…oh Damnit. That girl in the diner hasn’t moved and now Ripper has her.

“Allright, ‘Hero’, come on out of your little shell or we’re going to turn the girl into a set of twins.”

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

With the shell cast, Jostica just needed to come up with a spell that could take them out, preferably all at once, without tipping off her position. She didn’t think she had any spells that would work though. Maybe a fore storm spell would w-“WAAAAAAAA!” she shrieked as hard metal claws wrapped around her arms and lifted her off the ground and into the air.

“We’re not having any more spells little miss magician,”

Despite the inherent danger, the only thing she could think of was to yell, “Magicians are fakes!” prompting the woman in the flying armor to laugh and drop her, from 20 stories up.

“Derek Masters is a promising young man with a power unique even to the most gifted of aura manipulators. Most aura types are bound to the natural world, but Derek’s limits haven’t been discovered yet, mainly because his power encompasses energy as a whole; his potential for growth is staggering. While it’s true he hasn’t used this power in the wisest fashion, I still believe he will make a welcome edition to the growing ranks of gifted heroes. As his mentor I will personally vouch for him.”

“Very well, Derek Masters, you are hereby granted license to freely use your gifts to uphold the laws of justice.”

“Derek, I have never been more proud of you then I am today, you’ve become like a son to me.”

<><><>
“Don’t you get it? This cycle must end! Are all of you blind?”

“We are not above the law Derek, we uphold it.”

“The law is broken, it is flawed and I’ll have no part of it!”

<<<>>>
“Derek, you had so much potential…why?” Sting used his Aura Sense to locate the unique pulsating aura of his former student. Many people have multiple colors in their auras that fluctuate based on mood, but Derek’s was unlike anything this world had to offer, explaining it would be akin to describing dimensional theory to a three year old. It never ceased to amaze him.

The old apartment complex had long since been abandoned and it was disheartening to see his former apprentice reduced to hiding in hovels. Had he fallen so far that even his parent’s house was no longer a haven? No something was wrong; Derek wouldn’t be hiding like this. A tingling sensation went through him causing his own aura to fluctuate. “It seems I’m expected. Did he set a trap…for me?”

<<<>>>
“Why have you brought me here? Are you a fool? No cage can hold me I can just simply…What the hell did you do to me?”

Derek said nothing to his captive; words were too good for the marked man. Soon it would be over and he could move on. No matter how hard his prisoner tried to escape it would be impossible, his powers were no longer of use to him. He glared at the monster as he set a stack of folders on a table. Sitting in a chair facing the door he rested his elbows on the table and clasped his hands in front of his mouth waiting patiently.

The room in which he sat was once a two bedroom apartment that had probably been inhabited by a nice family like the one ruthlessly cut down last night. Now it was like them, gutted and mutilated… a former shell of a previous existence. A table was set in the center of the room with two chairs placed on either side. Fifteen feet from the table was the cage that held the condemned Time Keeper. Connected to the cage were a series of wires that led back to the second chair. Upon closer inspection one could see that the wires were actually attached to a pair of gloves strapped to the arms on the chair.

His guest had arrived, the one who had trained him, his mentor in all things gifted, the only real friend he had. A friendship that would be strained afterward, for when it was over his mentor would be forced to act against him, the price for his chosen path, a price he was more then willing to pay. Concentrating he focused on the familiar aura and with a bit of effort sent a small welcoming in the form of a pulse. “The witness has arrived.”

<<<>>>
Entering the gutted space Sting could see his former student sitting at a table facing him. Time Keeper was screaming ‘let me out’ mixed a few expletives, but Derek ignored it, it was as if the serial killer wasn’t even in the room. On the table sat a rather large stack of manila folders. The young man gestured toward the chair across from him. “Please, have a seat.” Sting nodded his agreement; perhaps this was Derek’s way of reaching out. Could this all be resolved with talk? “Slip your hands in to the gloves. Don’t worry they’ll fit.”

Sting complied trying show that he was willing to work with him. However, the moment his hands went in to the gloves he lost sight of the pulsating aura. “Derek, what have you done?”

“Relax, it’s only temporary, but I can’t have you using your powers against me.” The strain of nullifying two power levels was more then he expected, gripping his hands tighter he pressed on. “The folders before you should be of some interest.” Slowly unclasping his hands he grabbed one of the folder’s with a trembling hand. Opening it he set before his guest. “Wanda Thatcher, look familiar? She was his sixth victim and the beginning of your failure. Take a good look old friend; she was his first kill after escaping imprisonment. How did you feel? When you arrived at the scene?”

“Derek, I know about the victims, they haunt my dreams every night. I tell myself I could have prevented it if I only I’d arrived sooner, but reality doesn’t work that way. I was too late plain and simple. We can’t afford to let every death get to us.” Sting could see that Derek was suffering; beads of sweat had formed on his brow causing tiny electrical sparks, they must have felt like tiny pin pricks. The young man was pushing himself to the limit. “Derek, release my power, if you keep this up Time Keeper will escape, neither of us want that happening.”

Derek was becoming more agitated as the minutes ticked by. His whole body was trembling, but he wouldn't quit not yet. “No that’s what you want, to be the hero and save the helpless, even if that person deserves to die.” Wincing in pain the world began to flash through multiple spectrums. Stripping his glasses off, he gripped the sides of the table trying to steady him self.

“Derek, are you alright? You have to release me the strain is too much for you!”

There was no reply, only a blank stare, his eyes couldn’t focus on any one spectrum, and the world was flashing before him like a psychedelic kaleidoscope. With a white knuckle grip on the table he squeezed his eyes shut and focused. Ignoring the prickling pain he shot up from his chair, quickly making his way to the cage. It was too soon, there was much more to reveal, but time was not on his side. Time Keeper had stopped yelling awhile ago, but seeing those solid blue eyes pulsing with electricity... he had time to let out one last scream before the hand of his captor closed around his throat. The last words he heard would ring through his head like a gong. “She was only six years old!”

Sting watched Time Keepers limp body slump to the floor. The shock on his face had nothing to do with the villain’s death, but the words that escaped his former student’s lips before he collapsed. “Your fault, If you had only…done what was right…I wouldn’t need…I wouldn’t have been too late.” Sting, his power now active breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Derek’s aura present.

A call came over his receiver, “this is Sting.” They wanted a progress update. Looking at the young man he responded. “I couldn’t find them.” The call was cut before they could respond. Sting collected Derek’s unconscious form then left the apartment. As he drove away he could see the black smoke rising in the rear view mirror. The apartment fire would appear to be just another random arson. Maybe he’d crossed the line, but Derek didn’t need to be brought in, he needed a new beginning.

Alexander didn't break his stride when Tank was frozen behind him,partly out of fear and partly out of courageous stupidity.He stopped with a gasp as he saw some girl falling from the sky,with a flourish he swept his arms to and fro to stir the wind up under her.The sharp crack of the ice breaking Tank's struggles got him running again and his feet were barely touching the ground.He thought that he'd had his little moment in the limelight and he was going to run.Then it struck him,more then a little too late.

She......she'd tried to........Of course as had Tank had tried to kill him too but it hadn't hit him when it was against him,he could see it all in full view now that it was someone else suffering and he jumped,his arms above his head and then slammed down.He landed on a shimmering blue wall of power and he started up,one hand clutching the edge of the square and pure fury in his eyes.He started floating and then flying Tank's bellows at losing his prey were followed by several attempts to hit him with pieces of the pavement.Still he kept flying and it was too late that harpy realized a ball of flames was heading towards her.She was quick enough to jump out of its way but it still burnt the edge of her suit,"YOU BASTARD."she shrieked out and turn her herself upside down and took a careful aim with her pistol.Alexander lobbed another fireball and she twisted out of the way.

Again Alexander threw the a fireball,he couldn't let her get enough time to aim the pistol.She turned and blasted off at him but Alexander didn't move,he knew that if that had hit he'd feel it before he'd realized what hit him.Another fireball to the bitch,another twist.Their aerial battle continued this way for a good bit of annoying time.Suddenly it changed,Alexander waited until she'd made another turn to aim at him and faked a fireball to the right.She barrel rolled to the right and he shot it to the left.The blast hit her straight in the chest.It wasn't much but but was enough to disorient her and to allow Alexander another fireball.He heard a shriek of pain followed by a swoop and drop as she plummeted down.

There was no certainty to what War was getting himself into. It didn’t matter, he rarely understood the situations he wound up in. Unbeknownst to Kat a mere verbal agreement meant nothing to him. That was a human parliamentary favor that didn’t hold any water. Should he grow tired, or even bored it was likely his attention would become preoccupied elsewhere. Even going as far to just abandon his newly acquired ally.
There was nothing to say, certainly no more to do at their present location. The unusual woman thankfully was keen to relocate the two of them. There was no telling what spies would inevitably show now that their forerunner was half his size. A fate War found interesting, he hated anyone that actually had the capability to truly hurt him. To see his opponent forced into two pieces by his own gifts, well… it was somewhat comical if not ironic.

Kat would further unveil more of her capabilities while undertaking their ascension to the rooftops. War possessed godly strength and resilience, but he remained poor in poise and fanciful acrobatics when compared to the woman he was hounding after. She glided gracefully through the air and her movements had a certain fluidity War had never seen among Earthlings. There was something altogether off about this one, and if he had to guess, she wasn’t considered human. For now though, he wouldn’t be able to expand on his theories while chasing her backside to some unknown destination.
When at last they had come to a stop, he was surprised to see a decent built base of operations. Half expecting some shoddy shack, it was nice to preview a complex of sound and hardly questionable appearance. A clever idea, that way the headquarters didn’t stand out, and War’s newfound retreat would not betray him to those that would try to thwart the hunt.

Inside more pleasures and surprises were abound, and War was subtly introduced to another member of the gang. Of course Kat’s comment was obscure at first, but once the realization of what Rabat was kicked in, the joke became deliciously hilarious. It was not to last sadly, just as soon as the fun began, the enigma lady was well on her way leaving only a few instructions for him to regard. As well another sensual gesture.
With her absence he became immediately interested in the stout thing of a man lumped up on the couch. Likely trying to ignore his presence. A self-defense mechanism perhaps, but one that wasn’t going to help. War was intrigued and became curious with each passing second. He set out approaching with purposely loud footsteps. The tip of his tail cracking against the floor behind him, each step slowly paced as though War were closing in on Rabat.

“No need to hide male, we already ate.”

For War, he needed to know more about Rabat. What sort of competition he could possibly be in for, if this man was terrified of him, or indifferent. Was he the bossy temperamental type? Normally the beast could care less about another one of the masses, but if there was going to be a pecking order, War wasn’t going to settle for being underneath someone who hasn’t proven themselves stronger.

Josticas cape had an emergency, short range, personal teleport spell as part of it’s enchantments. All one needed to do was fix a position in within fifty yards in their mind, grab one edge of the cloak, and twirl.

Grabbing the edge of a cloak that’s flapping around as you plummet to your splattery demise is much harder than one would think.

Just when she thought her career as a wannabe superhero was over, the wind rushing around her intensified a hundred fold and her descent slowed almost to a stop.

Should feel the magical energies in the wind, though they seemed somehow foreign, and she thanked whoever had cast the spell.

And then spell died, and she fell the last dozen feet or so.

She was able to get her feet under self, mostly, so she managed to come away from the fall with only a slight ache in her legs. Looking around, she could see the one she believed to have cast the spell standing on a sort of energy platform, hurling fireballs at the woman who grabbed her.

The last one hit true and knocked her from the sky. She hit the ground, hard, but it seemed that the suit was sufficient to protect her from that sort of thing as she got up only seconds later. It was long enough for her to get a good look at her though.

She was tan skinned, Hispanic perhaps, or Italian. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and her features were attractive though she had a long beaklike, but obviously human, nose. When she stood the metal “feathers” on her wings folded back giving her complete mobility in her arms as she checked her armor suit over for damage.

Jostica decided to take advantage of her distraction.

The ice spell had worked well enough on tank, so she decided to try it again. She activated the spell and began channeling power into it, and after a few seconds released it. The blue nimbus surrounded Harpy who looked up and around shocked.

“Behind you!” Tank boomed, raising an arm and firing a rocket at Jostica.

Jostica yelped and brought her staff up as a shield, and when the rocket struck barrier shielded her and diverted the blast away. She’d lost the spell though, and Harpy turned her attention, and her gun, on to Jostica.

Jostica felt it was time for a tactical withdraw and dashed for cover, grabbing at her cloak to teleport away.

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

Rabat tried to enjoy the show, well, actually it was a commercial; Girls Gone Wild, but the new looming presence made thinking about anything else pretty much impossible. He looked up to find that whatever it was, he hadn’t gotten a name, practically on top of him.

“No need to hide male, we already ate.”

Rabat couldn’t help but wonder, ”With what mouth? How is he even talking?”

“Does it look like I’m hiding?” He asked, spreading his arms to show himself sprawled out on the couch, though he was keeping his tail under wraps, it tended to twitch when he was even the slightest bit on edge. “And I have a name, ‘Rabat’.” He turned back to the television, the girls were gone and it was an infomercial now and added, “And say it with respect or I’ll rip your dreads out.”

Perhaps he was pushing it, making threats to black beast of the back alleys over there, but he was still pissed that Kat was all touchy feely with this thing and he got death threats just from looking.”

"A kindred spirit. I bring judgement down on a corrupt world that has been found lacking, though I have found methods such as this a little slow. I'm looking for allies in my quest to bring judgment to the whole world."

This was the woman's response. Zen wasn't sure what to make of it but there was no doubt it angered him. Perhaps she truly meant what she said. However Zen wasn't so trusting. She obviously knew of him, what would stop her from putting on an act to try and fool him. He was no fool, nor was he so easily trusting.

"Who do you think you are? There is but one divine being worthy of passing judgment upon this world so abundant in chaos, strife, and inhabited by so many unworthy creatures. Any who claim the ability to judge what you call a corrupt world and punish those they deem worthy of said punishment, is guilty of a punishment worse then death. To claim a divine power reserved for only the Godess herself will serve an afterlife of pergatory for all eternity. Surely you did not intend to lure me in to join you with such a claim. No, I'm sure you simply mispoke and did not mean it how it came out."

Normally Zen would've confronted her with an act of violence rather then words, however there was something about her. The Godess did not judge her as she normally did others. The Godess had told him that sometime in the not so far off future that he would come across a choice to be made. She would not influence that choice yet it would lead him down the path he had chosen. That was a year ago. Of course everyone's fate was determined by the choices they made. Was this that meeting in where he would need to choose though? It was possible and hopefully through her response, Zen would be able to make a choice leading to a better world, seen as fit by the Godess.

Kat smiled as he delivered his speech about divine judgment. It was ironic to her that she was probably far more qualified to deliver “divine judgment” than he was, and as he spoke of fates worse than death and spending an eternity in purgatory, she had to fight not to laugh. They simply didn’t mean much to her.

“Perhaps I did misspeak,” no she didn’t, “I did not mean that I will judge this world, but that I will bring this world to be judged,” her eyes came alight as she added, “In person.” her smile turned into a smirk as she looked at him through lowered eyes, “Perhaps it will be your goddess herself that comes to pass her judgment.”