Daniel Ross's Story

Daniel looked at the bank's interior. It had infared cameras, ultra-violet sensors, motion mappers so they could see all movement in the bank on a monitor. The guards were alert and armed. This would be a tricky situation. Well, it would be for most people. But not him.

All of a sudden, the entire world stopped. Daniel could already feel the pain. He took the key from the bank manager, unlocked the main vault, and then entered. He took out his backpack, and put the large amounts of money in it, not putting in the transmitters or the ink packs. He then took one of their gold bars, and then he left. It had only been a minute, but he could already feel the drain on him for stopping time.

He quickly left the bank, and dropped the time-freeze. Now he had enough money to keep himself funded and alive for awhile. Now he just needed to get back home.

"You! Freeze!" someone said behind him. Daniel slowed time, and looked behind him. It was a guard. He walked over to the guard, took the gun out of his hand, discharged the gun into an empty car, and put the gun back into the guards hand only he took out the ammo. He tossed the ammo to the side, and walked an entire block before resuming normal time.

Controlling time was exhausting. But it gave him the ability to walk into a bank and take the money before they even realized what happened. So he began the walk home to stash his new found wealth.

Daniel couldn't help but see the news report. There were news screens everywhere. So when he saw SOLO's broadcast, he had to worry one of those three was him. Still, he didn't show up on any of the cameras thanks to the time manipulation, so there was no way he could know what Daniel looked like. Not unless one of the few people in the world that knows what he can do leaked it, of which less then ten existed. Seven in total. Four didn't even know his current location, two are in hiding, and the last one is his best friend.

Daniel paused time again as he entered the apartment building, until he got to an open elevator. He got in, keeping out of the camera angle, and unfroze. He went up to his room, avoided the camera as he got out and entered his apartment. It was a very good apartment, two bathrooms, three bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a patio, as well as a TV, some computers, and a large amount of tools used to make fake IDs.

Daniel had other sources of income then just taking money from banks. People needed fake IDs, especially in this world, and he provided. He was concerned a cop or two might be onto him, but if they were they had no evidence. He never showed up on cameras, wore gloves so he never left fingerprints, and no one really ever saw him. Even that guard would be unable to put him inside the bank vault.

He took out one of his many credit cards that got billed to nowhere, and considering going on a shopping spree. Sometimes he stole from stores, sometimes he just used stolen money, sometimes he ordered things online. He constantly changed MOs, so it made it difficult to track him. He had gotten very good over the years. And now he had a big order, a group of college kids who wanted to get into a party. Plus another guy who wanted to get away from his psychotic ex-wife who he thought was planning to kill him.

As he created the IDs, he found himself thinking about his parents again. They had been dead for a few years now. Their deaths are why he has to do what he does. He cant go to social services, not with his powers. And he didn't trust them anyways. He finished up the IDs, before looking out the window. It was a really nice day. But he was careful, none the less. The glass was replaced with thick bullet resistant glass. The walls were brick, and had reinforced metal walling. The door, on the inside, was made of steel. Did Daniel suffer from slight paranoia? Pretty much. Probably some result of his parents deaths.

He looked at the table his shotgun was under. Never hurt to be careful. Plus his aim was on and off, sometimes good sometimes bad. With shotguns aiming was very easy. This, plus the fact he had several other apartments around the city that were also fortified, let him have multiple safehouses.

He continued to monitor the news for anything he might want to worry about.

(Double post)

(Triple posts are possible?!)

~ SOLO. A name like this had been common in the past, but none took the spotlight like this unknown figure did. SOLO knew the city inside out, and the worst part, no one dared to question it. SOLO was like an unspoken law, but whether it was good or evil had yet to be seen. It's messages brought confusion, but always had a big offering. Whoever SOLO was, they seemed like a god in Union City. ~

~ Meanwhile, with Daniel... ~

Daniel would find he had a message, not specifically for him, but as a sort of calling card, as if he was new or something. Since Daniel didn't have much on him, they wanted him to come down so they could do an examination. A requirement to not be warranted a criminal, this way the city knew about you and what your power was, if you were a superpower that is. Who knows if this was Daniel's first time getting the message, if he checked it out or not was up to him.

~ Back with Gabriel ~

"Look, I'll go out and find out more about this, you have a job to do though." Gabriel's boss told him. You don't need to remind me, Electro. Gabriel thought to himself, rising up to his feet as he looked to the news one more time.

"Special forces would like anyone to report to them should they find two individual's. These highly wanted men are superpower's, but use them for nefarious crimes. Mainly causing chaos and murder, these two brothers, one of red hair and one of light blue hair, have joined forces to use their powers against mankind. While their powers are unknown, we do know they are destructive, dangerous and must be stopped."

"The Power Twins?" Gabriel asked, looking over to his boss.

"Yeah, they got altered physically and mentally by their powers and were a duo team that have been on a rampage ever since. Funny, I wonder how one gets physically altered, like you." Is he saying I stand out from the crowd in this city? Gabriel did wonder though, how did he get this purple hair and red eyes? What happened to him that changed him to become like he is now. No one had the real answer.

"I'll see you in two hours, like usual."

"Yep!" Gabriel exited the room and closed the door, taking in a breath before quickly letting it out.

"If there is a God out there, may he give me strength in the pain I am about to endure today."

~ Meanwhile, somewhere unknown... ~

"So the train had an accident, did it?" One voice said in the barely lit room, the other figure spitting on the ground before answering.

"Don't be call it a bloody train. And why is you asking me that?"

"Clarification. I wonder, what would happen if we... Oh, I don't know, did something of a similar effect?" The man smirked as he put on his sunglasses, watching the other figure turn to him slowly.

"What ya got up mind, stranja?"

Daniel finally noticed the message, but did not open it or read it once he saw it was addressed to him. This meant his position was compromised, and he had to move. He couldn't afford to let anyone catch him. He knew the strain would be painful, but he had no choice. He had to move.

He got his laptop, a large amount of cash, and everything else of use. All his fake IDs, passports, ect. Anything that could incriminate him. Thankfully he had a dozen or so safe houses with the same setup and the same number of rooms. He then froze time again, and he could feel the pain building. He left the building, having either taken or burned anything incriminating. He got into the subway system before resuming time. He was in pain all over. He took a painkiller, to help.

As he got onto a subway car, he sighed with relief as he was convinced there was no way he could follow him. As a precaution, he ditched the current phone he was using and activated a new one. He didn't trust the system. They would just plop him in some home or a lab, and he didn't want that.

As the subway car came to a stop, two people got on as nearly everyone else got off. The two men went onto either side of him. "You have what we wanted?"

Daniel gave them the gold bar. "It wasn't there. But I thought this gift might buy me a few more days. Whoever is holding her may have an inside man in your organization. Tell Korra to start spreading rumors of misinformation, and that he better not harm her".

"Korea honors his deals. A life for a life. And he doesn't want you as an enemy, especially when he doesn't even know what your power is Daniel. I will deliver your gift myself".

As the two men got off, Daniel sighed with relief. Daniel had one other person he could trust with his life. His cousin. She was the last blood relative he had. His uncle and aunt died four years ago in a car crash, before the rips. About a year ago, his cousin nearly died during a super powered Terrorist attack. Korea saved her life, but he knew what Daniel was capable, to an extant. He would only release her if Daniel helped him find his sister, who was kidnapped. A life for a life. Daniel was closing in on her. The bank he robbed is sometimes used to store human cargo.

Only two men made a "Special Rate" request when transferring funds that morning. He checked on his computer. He had an acquaintance who gave him a skeleton key to most of the banks files. One of them had her, because someone walked into that vault with food last night but left without the food.

He found himself worrying about the earlier message. How did they find him? He needed to get his cousin, so they could disappear before someone caught up to him.

~ Union City had it's methods of handling criminals, too. There were the traditional ways of doing it, with a few modifications if they had a power, but there was one that was like a plague to talk about. How SOLO handled them. Those he summoned were never seen from again, and once they had been confirmed to have been taken care of, the citizens of the city never talked about them again. Power in anyone's hands could be scary, and SOLO is no exception. An icon of fear, respect and power, SOLO has a plan to make a brighter future for all, but that future doesn't seem so bright to many. ~

~ Meanwhile, somewhere under Union City... ~

"That is the plan, gentlemen." The man with sunglasses spoke to a group of shady individuals, each of them glaring darkly at the man. One wrong move and he was a goner, he knew this, yet he smirked in the face of danger. "I am currently acquiring a complete map of the underground systems of Union City. Any questions?~"

"You excluding women from this?" One of the shady figures asked.

"Please, gentlemen. I see everyone as an equal, so I want every crime-associated group in Union City informed about the plan. If they want in, they'll have to send me some proof."

"You mean money." Another shady figure stated.

"Yep! About five thousand from each one." This made every shady figure stand up and pull out a gun at the man with sunglasses.

"You serious with us? What makes you think we'll do this?!" The man with sunglasses gained a serious expression, grabbing hold of his sunglasses and adjusting them.

"Because, this is our big chance to eliminate SOLO."

~ Elsewhere, with Daniel Ross. ~

After his encounter on the train, Daniel's new phone receives a text message. If he bothered to check it, the message would read as follows: I know you're in my city. Resistance will only lead to punishment. THIS is your only warning. - SOLO. SOLO had sent him a text message on his new phone? This would be considered legendary to the public, unfortunately for him, he'd also become infamous and suspected as one of the three SOLO had mentioned.

~ Earlier, with Gabriel. ~

"Oi, Gabriel!" One of his fellow colleagues called out to him. "You got a phone call."

"I do? From who?" Gabriel asked, thinking of no one in particular who would call him.

"It's the police." The woman's words made him feel as if time had stopped around him, he could feel his own heart beating in his chest and his mind raced with so many thoughts. The police, are you kidding me?! Why, why me? Do they suspect me to be one of the three SOLO mentioned?! Oh my god, I'm going to jail and I'm going to be nothing more than a forgotten memory?! Wait, calm down Gabriel, think for a moment! If that was the case, they would of come down personally to do that! Just go to the phone and answer it, go to the bloody phone and don't freak out!

"Alright." Gabriel calmly stated, heading over to the phone. He took a hold of it as the woman left, putting it up to his ear. "This is Gabriel, the Memory Man."

"Hello Gabriel." An officer's voice spoke to him. "I would like you to come down to Union City's Central Police Station."

"Huh? What for?" Gabriel asked.

"We believe we have one of the three superpowers SOLO was talking about." Gabriel couldn't believe how much SOLO could do with just one unannounced message. The police even seemed to follow him, Gabriel thought of who SOLO could be to have so much power over an entire city, especially one this large and with more superpowers than normal people. Gabriel thought of the possibility of SOLO being a superpower himself, but shrugged it off.

"Alright, I'll come down."

~ Present time, at the Union City Central Police Station. ~

"A lot of light? What on earth could that --" Gabriel's question was interrupted as he walked with an officer, hearing the screams and shouts of Brandon. Looking at the man, he found a young adult acting like a child in his cell. Gabriel hated to see the man go through such pain, but what could he do? If they removed the lights, the man might go berserk and kill officer's or even himself. Gabriel realized he was completely in the dark, he needed info. If I don't, I'm admitting to myself I'm SOLO's lapdog. No way, I'm not going to do that. Did they call me down here because SOLO knows who I am? I can't seem too suspicious, who knows if SOLO is even watching this. Just what the heck is going on in this city?

"If it isn't too much trouble officer, I'd like to know more about this man and what he's done exactly. Any information you have about him would be useful." Gabriel saw the shadows moving around them, only to go into the light and fade away. Gabriel realized this might be the man's doing. A scary thought, who knows how dangerous this man could be if he was a criminal. But Gabriel had to keep a neutral mind about this right now, he had to know this man's side and reasons. I don't justify murder, but what if he isn't a murderer? I know there's self defense, but the police seem to be pretty convinced that he's one of the three. I don't know what I'm going to do, I have to buy my time, that's it. If I'm being tested by you, SOLO, I'll play against you, if only to see what your intentions are. Let the game begin!

Daniel quickly replied to SOLO with a very simple answer. He plugged in a device into his phone that would send SOLO a shitton of viruses and spamware that would jump wirelessly to any and all tech it could within the range of the phone. He had a lot of tech friendly acquaintances. This would, or at least should, slow him down. He looked around, looking for a camera. Everyone else had left the car by now. "SOLO, last time I checked this city belongs to the Mayor, or the United States of America excluding private property. You wont find me so easy to find or track. I know how to go dark".

Just like that, Daniel disappeared from the train car. He had left the phone in it though, smashed to pieces. He had slowed time down enough to leave the train without being harmed, and get a good ways down the tunnel. He resumed normal time until he got to a station, where he slowed time again enough to pass unnoticed, and went to the station past that one. He found an engineering closet and before he entered the station, he took out an extra change of clothes and put the hood up. He put on a pair of reading glasses, because sunglasses were too suspicious. He then left the subway system, and took out a paper map.

He had a huge distrust of a lot of people, SOLO included. He was sure the guy was evil, planning something bad. Granted, he wasn't an angel himself, but his crimes had no victims. No one got hurt, no one died, no one went to the hospital. It was clean. No one knew for certain, but many people believed there was a mass grave somewhere with SOLO's name on it.

But now, he had to focus. He had to raid all the properties of two people, find Korra's sister, and get her to Korra before SOLO caught up to him. He needed to disappear, and he wasn't about to leave his cousin here. Korra's deal was all that mattered, then Daniel had to escape the city with SOLO after him. Easier said then done.

He entered the penthouse, where two security people shot at him. He chrono-clocked their movements, and shot them first as well as dodging their bullets. He then went towards the man himself. "Tell me where she is, or I start putting bullets into places that together wont kill you".

"Listen, okay. We can be reasonable about this. Your young for a hitman, I bet I can pay you..." he started, but then Daniel shot right next to his foot.

"Tell me where she is, or I start doing things you don't like".

"Vault, behind you! Code 516!"

The man quickly found himself tied up almost instantly. The vault looked as if it had been rusted open or something, like it was so old it broke. Daniel was leaving with the girl. He was impressed that it actually worked at his first stop. It was never this easy, but the girl's face matched Korra's picture. "Okay, lets get you to your brother".

Daniel had a bad feeling that if he took the elevator back down, SOLO would be waiting for him.

~ The Great Rip Event. An event that left the world as it is now, people have tried associating the rips with the powers, but since no one knows how the powers came to be, this theory seemed far-fetched. The rips are currently seen as more of an alien presence in our world, with intentions unknown and disaster believed to follow. No one knows how the rips came to be or how they even work, some say this is because we have yet to truly test the out, others don't want to take the risk. There is one thing we do know, and that is something is on the other side, and they are alive. ~

~ Somewhere unknown ~

"Clever little duck." The mechanical voice spoke out, as two people in black uniforms stood before a monitor. "Ah, one of the newly formed superpower units. Is everything ready as I requested?"

"Yes sir. We hope you appreciate our services."

"I do. I need a superpower involving technology immediately. I appear to have caught a few bugs in the system that need removing by the end of today."

~ Meanwhile, with Gabriel and Brandon. ~

Gabriel took the file and looked it over, he had become used to this by now. It's just another part of the job, wait, that's it! SOLO, prepare to be amazed! "Officer, I'd like to test out a theory I have in mind." Gabriel closed Brandon's profile and looked over at Brandon again, he hated looking into those eyes. This man has some nasty side-effects on him, if my theory works, maybe I can put his mind more at ease. "I wish for this man to be released from his cell and given a nice, comfortable room to rest in, I will pay for whatever he does tomorrow. I want his actions to be monitored, I want him to be given food when he is hungry, water when he is thirsty, a nice bed to have a good night's sleep on. If this works, we may find out the truth behind Brandon Wallace and his situation."

The plan was to find evidence that Brandon was innocent of his crimes, he wanted to save this man, he didn't believe this man could be one of the three SOLO mentioned. I hate this situation as much as you do, but I need time. I wish you could hear my thoughts, but then I'd probably be freaking out.

As Daniel and Korra's sister Nami started down the service elevator, and attempted to access the systems he had sent the viruses to and download any data to an offsite location. It might be the Superpower age, but information was valuable, and information on SOLO would prove priceless. At the very least, he hoped SOLO got the message. "Stay away".

As they reached the ground floor, Daniel noticed several armed men had taken over the lobby. He slowed down time to an incredibly degree, and ran past them. Daniel was trying to conserve energy. However, as soon as time went back to normal, one of the Russians he missed spotted them and started shooting at their legs. They took cover inside a vehicle.

At that point, things only got worse as a pickup truck ran into them. Daniel quickly started the van and started driving away, but it was as if the whole city was hostile to him. Well, no. It was just certain security forces, the Russian Mafia, and the rioting started by SOLOs request. What Daniel didn't understand is why SOLO tried to contact him. He had to know Daniel was careful enough to not show up on camera. He was never reported on the news. But it looked like the city was tearing itself apart looking for the three people solo mentioned. One million dollars went a long way.

A bullet shot by some strange went through one window and out another. "SOLO you idiot. You put a one million dollar bounty on someone without any recorded face, and you really think the city wont go to hell? A lot of people want one million dollars".

What didn't really help was the fact Daniel was driving. Daniel was the better driver in the car, but still. At least it was automatic, not stick. Daniel managed to hit the mirrors off of two cars before he stabilized. "Have you ever driven before?!"

"Uhhh...maybe" Daniel half lied. At that point, a van ran straight into them and knocked the van on its side. Daniel instinctively slowed time as a self defense mechanism.

This was going to be a very long day.

~ Every power came with a price, that is what was discovered after the Great Rip Event. During tests and experiments on superpowers, the results became clear. Most people believe most of the superpowers involved in the war for the Earth died due to overusing their powers. But something else caught everyone's eye, something no one had taken into consideration before. It was only when SOLO made it's first announcement could it of been confirmed. In it's own words - "Everyone could have a superpower, and yet, we are divided. Not every human being became sick and suddenly gained powers afterword. The reason for this is obvious, and yet, so many people were blind to the truth. It isn't because they were highly resisted to it or had immunity. They simply just didn't match." ~

~ Meanwhile, somewhere unknown! ~

"Sir, I have a picture of the man we are looking for!" One man spoke out, the squad of superpowers watching him with blank stares as the man approaches SOLO's scanner. "With this, we can track down this man and --"

"That photo is irrelevant now. Take another look for yourself and tell me if it's the same."

"What? But this photo is only three weeks old! Surely it -- N-no way!" The man was shocked to see the photo was altered, the image he once had in his mind had been ruined, edited, altered. "I just got this only two hours ago!"

"You failed to realize that this man or woman is one step ahead of us right now. Always on the move, always on the go, careful not to let anyone see what he or she looks like. Gentlemen, I want you to keep an eye on any police-related incidents. I want someone to see this person's face or name, I want any information related to this individual. We are dealing with a dangerous person here, all of Union City could very well be at risk."

~ Elsewhere, with Gabriel... ~

I've avoided one problem, but now we have another to worry about. I can't dwell on it for too long, I have to get back to work. If I don't, I'm going to appear like a slacker and go home with a heavy heart. I have to get moving! Gabriel couldn't very well remember how long it had been since he went underground, looking for one of the new train's to get on to head to work. But he knew the day was coming close to an end, and he wanted to be able to go home without feeling like he slacked off. "I trust you can handle the rest officers. I must be off now, please, keep us updated on his situation if you can." Gabriel headed off to exit the police station, happy that he was able to make Brandon happy, even if it was a temporary one. I've gotten out of SOLO's game. Now I can focus on the real task at hand. I have to find at least one of the three SOLO mentioned, that way I can prove Brandon's innocence, as well as maybe over half of Union City's.

Daniel woke up with Nami right next to him, conscious and making sure he was still alive. His body ached, but the fact he was unconscious made him feel a little bit rested. Sore and in pain, but rested. He crawled out of the car, and saw chaos around him. The idiot who rammed him went right into a large truck carrying a ton of cars next. It looked like a simple auto accident though, so it was more traffic and EMTs and less police. Daniel was easily able to get by them all.

Daniel could feel the pain coursing through his body. His power had activated on reflex, which allowed him to prevent breaking a bone. But he knew he had to avoid cameras. He pulled out a baseball cap, the Unity Tycoons, and put it on. He moved out of the view of any traffic and security cameras, heading towards Korra. That is when he got another call, on a burn phone. Only one person had this phone. He immediately picked it up. "I hear there was a break in and a shooting at a certain man's apartment. I assume the fact this crime spree did not continue means you have her?"

"Yeah. Any reason the Russians are coming after me? Or her?"

"There is a reason they kidnapped her. She has a power. You don't need to know what that power is. Just that she is only safe with me. Please...just bring my sister home safe". Daniel had almost forgot what Korra was like. Korra was the leader of a criminal organization, but he valued family and he had some decency. Daniel was getting tired of dealing with criminals who treated him like trash. Korra didn't.

As Daniel turned a corner, he saw a police station and quickly went back behind the corner. He took out a mirror and looked again, to make sure. He saw someone leave, and it was definently police. "We cant go this way. Too many cameras. We will have to take the subway from here".

He knew the Russians would be right behind him, pointing guns at everyone they found to demand if they saw anyone go in a direction. Daniel entered the subway, taking the train that would take him right towards Korra. He was almost done. All he had to do was avoid the cops, avoid the hitmen, and avoid any of the muggers that were around. As he looked in the subway car's window, he realized his face had some cuts and scrapes on it. "Nearly there..."

(sorry for the late post, been busy. hopefully the extra length makes it up :3)

----About one year ago----

Daniel waited outside the hospital, waiting to hear about his cousin. She was his last blood relative ever since that night, so many years ago. The night the rips opened, and he got his superpowers. It was all he could think about right now. That and his cousin. He got strange looks, a 14 year old alone sitting in a hospital. He had gotten stranger looks though when he was 12.

He had established a good medical insurance for his cousin. He was making a lot of profit in this city, between the banks and the forgery. He was fairly well known by his alias, Donny Reed, but no face went to that name. Well, there was, but not his. The ID got checked by the police already, but no one could ever put a finger to him. The police nnearly got him during an undercover operation, but they never saw him. One detective got close, but he didn't get a good enough look for a description, or to realize he was under 18.

That is when a man sat down next to him. "You have a beautiful cousin. Don't worry, she will live. I made sure of that, after bending a few rules".

Daniel looked at him. "Who are you with, what do you want, and how did you find me?"

"A mutual client is how. My name is Korra, and I run a business with less then likable means. What I want is simple, a fair trade. Family for family. In the envelope under your seat is a picture of my sister, and details on her last known location. I want you to find her, rescue her, and bring her to me. Do this, and I release your cousin. Understood, Danny?"

"Fine. But only my friends call me Danny. And if you so much as harm her..."

"Don't worry. I just spent quite a bit of money to save her life. She would have died without that transfusion. I gave her my blood too, we were compatible. I care for my family, like you care for yours. But I find people can only be trusted if they prove their loyalty or if you have leverage. My contact information is in that envelope as well as a phone that can only call my number, or one of my lieutenants in case I am busy. Good luck".

----The Present----

As Daniel approached the drop zone, he made sure his sidearm was reachable. He trusted Korra more then other criminals, but he knew not to trust a friendly face. SOLO could be anywhere and anyone. The only people he knew SOLO wasn't was Korra or his cousin. Korra had plenty of reason not to like SOLO.

The crime rate appeared to drop when SOLO came into the picture. But Korra suspected, and Daniel agreed, that this didn't nessisarily mean it was gone. The crime rate is determined by reported crimes that were officially put into the system. And while the crime rate dropped, the number of arrests didn't make as much of a change. There was another explanation for the decrease: Someone was taking out the competition and trying to gain more control of the city.

As Daniel approached the drop zone, he was glad this was almost over. He looked over to Nami. "We are almost to your brother. I am sure he will be happy to see you".

"But you wont be happy to see him".

"If you mean I shouldn't trust him, I don't. And I wouldn't if he was planning to betray me or not".

"Not Korra. Korra isn't the one you should fear. What you should fear is what you threaten".

Daniel looked confused. "What, is your power Precognition or something?"

Nami looked out the train window as they approached the subway station that they would meet Korra near. "I...know things. I don't see or hear, I just know things. Random things. Most of it is unhelpful, like which tooth Hitler got first. But I know some things that people want to, and every so often I know another new thing".

As they got there and they stepped off the station, she looked back at Daniel. Daniel was fairly confused. "Then who should I fear? And what do you mean 'I threaten'?"

As they got out of view and entered an abandoned part of the subway station, Daniel saw Korra. And his cousin. "I don't have that name, but I have another. Gabriel. He may be a friend or a foe, but either or he could be an ally. Good luck, and when you ask don't go left".

Daniel watched as Nami passed his cousin and soon she was with Korra and he was with his cousin. They nodded, and then walked away. "Is it over?"

"I hope so".

"Alright, we'll see what we can do. Thanks, Gabriel." the officer said, hanging up the phone. He then phoned an institution for people with super powers who are mentally unstable, and explained the situation in as great detail as he could to them.

"We've delt with something similar to what you're describing, and it isn't easy to move them without violence. We'll send over an extraction team to pick him up immediately." The Warden of the institute said. "He will be treated humanly while he stays here, and we will take measures to make sure he won't relapse into madness if he is cured."

"Alright, sounds good, when can I expect your extraction team to be here?" the officer asked calmly.

"Within two days, most likely around noon tomorrow, when the sun is at its brightest."

"Alright then, I'll talk to you soon."

"Let's not make assumptions. People with shadow manipulation almost always have to be killed, but we try our best to save them. It's a pity, really, that there isn't more shadow manipulators in the world, yet at the same time, it's a blessing." With that, the Warden hung up the phone.

The Next Day, at Noon....

The sun was extremely hot today, and very bright, the summer heatwave had begun; it was the perfect time to extract a shadow manipulator from his cell. A truck akin to a swat van pulled up in front of the police station, and a team of six people piled out, all wearing heavy armor and armed to the teeth with high-powered assault rifles and tranquilizers.

The flood lights outside of Brandon's cell were turned onto full power, and were lowered and pointed towards the door to prevent escape. The extraction team took their positions, ready to enter and tranquilize their target and then haul him off without any fight.

Brandon's dark, glowing eyes opened, and stared at the door. Shadows concentrated around the door and his body. The door opened, and even the floodlights weren't able to cleanse the darkness. The extraction team all looked at each other, and one by one, they entered the cell, only to find a squirming mass of shadow surrounding their target, making him appear almost god-like as he sat in that chair of his, which by now looked like a throne of darkness.

"Gentlemen...welcome to the end of your lives." Brandon said, lifting a hand up and spreading his fingers, pointing at the extraction team. Tendrils lurched forward and started to assault the team, all of them staying professional and launching their tranquilizer darts at Brandon, none of them connecting with their target; eaten up by the shadows surrounding the young man's body. From the outside the cell, shots could be heard as well as screaming as the extraction team both fought the tendrils and tried to close distance on Brandon to knock him out.

One by one, the extraction team members either were killed, or were thrown out of the room, slamming into the wall opposite the door. Officers and surviving team members all opened fire on the darkness, only for the shadows to reach out and destroy the flood lights, then reach out and kill everything around the door.

The police chief managed to get a message to Gabriel, if not call him during the chaos. "Gabriel, we called the nearest institute to get him cured, but he's gone crazy! They sent in an extraction team, and they're all dead..." Brandon's voice could be heard laughing darkly in the back ground. "...Oh god he's loose, he's coming this way.....No, no no! N-" The message ends there, there's nothing but Brandon's laughter before the phone is crushed and the message cuts out.

The Next Week....

The newspapers all had headlines saying "Mysterious Man with Superpowers Escapes Police, Cannot be Found!" or "Strange Superpower-wielding Man Kills Eighteen, Still Not Found!"

Brandon, meanwhile, had taken refuge in an abandoned building in the slums of town, making the inside his castle, as if he were proclaiming himself king of the city. He sat in a throne made from pure shadow, and had amassed a small following of people both with and without super powers, who committed crimes around the city, such as robbing a bank earlier that week, or stealing food from a store to feed themselves. Those who failed or were caught were killed by Brandon himself; he had no use for those who were, in his own words "Incompetent idiots."

Word started to spread around the city about Brandon, that he could help you hide, even from SOLO, that he could even protect you from SOLO if need be. This news would inevitably reach Daniel's ears at some point; that a man known simply as "Shadow" could hide, shelter, and protect those who needed it, if they came bearing some sort of gift, whether that gift be money, food, or even themselves as members of his group of criminals.

And all they would need to do, was find him. They would be guided by a series of intricate riddles and puzzles given by high-ranking members of the "Shadow Legion." who were usually dressed in all black, with the hoods of their jackets up at all times, as well as wearing a black mask with the eyes painted red.

~ People like Gabriel were very common among the superpower's. Most of them had their bodies altered because of their powers, the rest were lucky they didn't get it. However, a mystery sprouted out among the normal's, why did the powers hurt the superpower's in the first place? Why all of this changing, all of this pain? Was it really worth having these inhumane abilities that mankind had been bestowed with? Some think that this is a sign of things to come, that mankind is actually being tested. Most throw these theories off, but some have come to fear this theory in their hearts. ~

~ With Gabriel. ~

He walked out of his apartment to find a limousine parked in front of it. He blinked, looking to the scarred driver that stood, bowing from his waist before Gabriel as Gabriel approaches the long black car. "Welcome, sir Gabriel." The scarred driver spoke. "Please, make yourself comfortable. We have a room you may use for the night, as per SOLO's request."

"Ah, um, thanks?" I'm not coming back to my apartment? This is a test, a frikking test of sheer will under pressure. Maybe i'm over-thinking it, but it doesn't sound far-fetched. Not for SOLO. Gabriel made his way inside the limousine as the scarred driver gets into the driver's seat. Gabriel frowns as he tries to get used to the unneeded long space as the man drives off with Gabriel in the limousine.

Gabriel realized that the ride was going to take a few hours, he wished he was back at his job with his friends. He knew, deep down, that people in this city hated him for what he was. Some out of fear, some out of jealously, others out of something else he couldn't say what. Closing his eyes and putting his right hand on his forehead, Gabriel concentrates on remembering something from his past. He was going to need it.

~ Meanwhile, at the Central Superpower Services! ~

"Ah, you've come just in time. Please, sit down." Electro said to the cloaked man. The figure sits down across from Electro as Electro gives a friendly smile, while the cloaked man glares at him with red eyes. "What did you call me up for today?"

"Where is the Memory Man?" The question made Electro frown.

"I'm sorry, he isn't here today. He left, I'm afraid."

"Left the Superpower Services?" The cloaked man did not sound pleased.

"Not like it matters to you."

"Oh, but it does." The man takes out a pair of sunglasses and puts them on, a red glow coming from where his pupil's should be. "Where is he?"

"Can't tell you, sorry."

"Is that so?" The cloaked man snaps his fingers as a tall woman suddenly appears in the room with them.

"A teleporter?!" Electro was shocked, the cloaked man had come prepared.

"Look up Gabriel, the Memory Man, on the internet for me." The man spoke to the tall woman, who smirks before vanishing from sight in an instant. "Sweet girl, she always finds what I want." The man pulls out a pistol and aims it at Electro. "Always. Now, let's talk." Electro had a feeling he was going to be here a while.

Daniel got a change of clothes out for his cousin Rebeca, and let her change. "You look a bit older since I last saw you. How long has it been?"

"Almost a year" Daniel told her, looking towards the exit. "Did he treat you okay?"

"He told me everything. He knows what you have been up to" she told him, looking at Daniel. "As well as his own story. Daniel, are you okay?"

"Only some minor scrapes and bruises. Nothing broken I am pretty sure".

"That is not what I mean and you know it" she told him, having finished changing. She went over to him. "You have been having nightmares again. I can tell it. About the night they died..."

----Three years ago, Ross House----

A 12 year old Daniel Ross and his 14 year old cousin had decided to camp out in the living room watching a movie. It had cowboys fighting industrial looking robots. It was one of Daniel's favorites. He had just taken a bath, and was still fairly wet. Rebeca threw a pillow at him. "You know, it would be nice if you didn't hog all the hot water".

"Then don't hog all the towels" Daniel replied, smiling from his sleeping bag. "That way, I can dry off. Among other things".

"You started this" she shot back. Daniel denied this, claiming she started it. The two continued to say each other was wrong before Daniel's father came down. "What is it this time?"

"Dad, tell her she started it!" Daniel mentioned.

"How about both of yo..." he started, only something then happened. Something torn through the skies, and all of a sudden in his dad's place there was this Rip in space. It had pulled him through. His mother came down to see what was going on, only to get pulled in as well.

Daniel and Rebeca were pulled in two different directions. Daniel was actually feeling the pull of all the Rips, he could feel their energy and their power trying to pull him into themselves. He was perfectly in the middle of two Rips, being pulled equally by both. He and Rebeca held onto each other for dear life, as they felt like they were getting torn limb from limb.

When they woke up again, it was over. Daniel's parents were gone, just like Rebeca's, and neither one of them trusted Social Services and the Government. Not with all the shit that had been going on. It was only hours later did Daniel discover his power.

----At the Present----

"I am fine. I do remember the night though. I remember, you and me were bickering over the bathroom".

"Oh yeah. I stole the towels..."

"I KNEW IT!" Daniel exclaimed with a half smile.

"Oh shut up Danny. Stop diverting the subject. You need help" Rebeca told him, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"I cant. I have to keep off the radar now more then ever. SOLO has me in his sights, and considering what I am wrapped up in I cant risk that" Daniel told her, leading her up the stairs into the city. "Its too risky".

"Then let me help you..." she told him.

"Maybe. First, let me get us into a hotel. I still have some safehouses in the city that no one could possibly know about" he told her, leading them towards the hotel.

What he didn't know was that someone was following him. Someone bad.

~ Meanwhile, with Gabriel. ~

Gabriel woke up a few hours later, the sky had turned to an orange-like color and the night was growing ever closer to the city. I've made it, now I just have to keep calm. "When will I see SOLO?"

"Tomorrow, sir." The scarred man replied to Gabriel. Gabriel got out of the limousine and entered into an elevator. Blinking to himself, he pressed a button before being feeling a great rush as the elevator blasted it's way up.

"WHAT THE GRAVY?!" Gabriel shouted out, the elevator suddenly coming to a halt and making Gabriel collapse to his knees. The elevator doors open to reveal a butler, with a monocle over his right eye and a strange tattoo of a symbol on his right cheek.

"Good evening, sir. I am the butler of this fine place. Please, do come in." Gabriel managed to walk in before leaning against a nearby wall. "I shall escort you to your room." Gabriel let out a sigh and was forced to follow the butler, wanting a bed to rest on. Gabriel decided to try to make conversation.

"So uh, does everyone remember the two rips that opened up a year ago?" He asked.

"Everyone recalls it differently now, sir. Some say they opened up a year ago, some say ten years ago, some say five years ago." I've heard about this. It's all part of the Rip Theories. Everyone has their own version, their own story as to how the events happened. The most who remember the rips appearing say it happened a year ago, since the sickness started three years ago. Everyone does remember that they got sick at some point before their powers truly awakened. The sickness could of lasted from a month to a few years. Some are still sick from it now, but we can treat them better now, prevent them from dying. We know they're going to acquire powers, we're just trying to help them ease into it, unlike the rest of us.

"I see."

"It must be hard for a Memory Man, to see so many sides on top of his own. Perhaps one day, you'll be able to piece it all together." The butler stops before a door and opens it. "But for now, rest up. Night will be here soon, and we don't want our guests out of their rooms by then."

"Uh, thanks I guess." Gabriel awkwardly commented, entering the room as he heard the door close behind him. It was like Gabriel had just entered into a five star hotel, the room was far better than his apartment by at least three times. Gabriel made his way immediately over to the bed and dropped down on it. "I feel like I'm going to puke. Ugh."

~ Meanwhile, somewhere unknown. ~

"SOLO, sir." One of his assistants called out. "What is your next course of action? We have done everything you have asked so far."

"I wish to see The Oracle." The assistants looked to each other, blinking at his words.

"Sir, The Oracle is rare to find. She travels around the world, how are we going to contact her?"

"Simple. We send out a signal to her."

"A signal? Of what?"

"A signal of power. A superpower. Bring me a Sound Superpower at once! We are going to get into contact with The Oracle tonight!"

As they hit the sunlight from a setting sun, Daniel looked back at his cousin and smiled. With the money he had saved up in all his hiding spots around the city, he could go into hiding. He had enough enemies in the city as is, and he doubted the Russians would forget what he did. He wasnt even sure why the Russians wanted her, but he bet it was related to her powers.

As they reached a hotel, she stopped him. "I have to say, you are taking an unusual amount of precautions. How many times did we go around a block just so you could spot a tail? What did you get yourself wrapped up in?"

As they entered the hotel, they immediately went towards the elevator. Daniel nodded to the clerk, who walked over to him and gave him a key. She then quietly told them. "Welcome back, Mr. Anders. Your family's apartment is all set up for you. As per agreement, this has been kept confidential. Is this your girlfriend?"

"My sister, Clara Anders. Bring the usual order, we will get settled upstairs" Daniel told her, and she left to place the order while they entered the elevator. He put the key into the elevator, hit three buttons, and the elevator began going up to the presidential suite.

"Clara? I would like to have some say in my alias names" she remarked as they went up rather quickly.

"I worked on it for six months. You have a paper trail by the way. You own a netflix account, have a library card, a facebook, and you have a brother who thinks all online social networking sites are filled with internet stalkers and prefers not to have his picture online" he told her, smiling. "You graduated high school two years early, and have partial ownership in a cosmetics company. However, you have been sick with a serious disease for the past seven months, which is how long ago I made this alias official".

Rebeca looked back at him. "Let me guess, you want me to stay here for a few days, let the heat die down, then slip into this alias? Let me be the face of the family?"

"Pretty much. We both know I cant..."

Rebeca grabbed his sleeve and pulled it back, revealing a mark on his right arm. A tatoo. "You mean because you got marked as someone's property? Damnit Daniel, what did you get yourself into?"

"I had no choice. It was a situation even I couldn't get out of. Not unless I wanted to lose either me or you".

As they entered the penthouse, Rebeca gave him a hug and kissed his forehead. "Danny. I know I cant make you stay in this room, but please be careful. You are all I have, just like I am all you have. And if you die, and someone sees through this alias, I am screwed and will need your help. Understood?"

"I promise, I will be careful" Danny told her. As he said this though, he thought he saw an open rip in the reflection of the window. He looked behind him, but nothing was there. Just my imagination...

----Meanwhile, near the Police Plaza----

A Rip opened up near the middle of the street, and it spat some things out. Mostly junk. A few toys, some silverware. But there were some things of significant. A body fell out of that Rip, a body of a 12 year old boy named Daniel Ross. Which is strange, as the body of Daniel Ross was supposedly buried by police three years ago, or whenever the Rips opened up. The first body they found had been ripped to pieces by the Rips, but not sucked into it apparently.

This second body was different. It looked like it was torn to pieces by an animal, but the claw marks would not match any known animal. A superpower would obviously be implied, but that didn't explain a second body. No one was looking for Daniel Ross because everyone thought he was dead.

However, one question might plague people's minds. What creature could do such a thing? It was highly likely they would call someone with experience, like Gabriel, to investigate this.

~ Meanwhile, at Central Superpower Services! ~

"Yes, this'll do nicely." The cloaked man spoke to Electro. "It's been a pleasure doing business with you." He chuckles and exits the room. Electro sighs as a woman appears in sight, leaning on a wall in the room.

"Did you get all of that?" Electro asked her.

"Yes, I did. What should we do?"

"They want Gabriel for a reason. We have to make sure they don't get to him." Electro rises up to his feet. "The man kept himself hidden for a reason. Red eyes are a common thing among superpowers now, we'll have to search underneath the city."

"Understood." The woman vanishes again, but her footsteps could be heard as the door closes.

"I would hate to be the enemy of that Chameleon woman."

~ Back with Gabriel. ~

He was getting sleepy, as the night turned black and the stars appeared in the sky. Man, I'm going to miss this place. I wish I could do something more, but I just can't, not without betraying Electro like that. I have to do this, no matter what happens. Gabriel received a call, raising a brow as he thought it was one of the officer's keeping Brandon safe. "Hello?"

"Yes, Mr. Gabriel. We've, um, found something unusual. The body of a young boy, you see, who was thought to be dead. It's the same boy, but we've already found the body a year ago." The body of a boy who's supposed to be dead? Strange indeed, why do I always seem to be getting calls lately? I just bloody volunteer, I'm not the official go-to-person for everything people!

"I see. I can't say much without seeing it first hand or why it showed up. I can't exactly perform my powers on dead people, you know." Gabriel had a reason he didn't go into the world of the dead, for one, it was an experience he never wanted to try out for fear he would be caught in some wicked things. And second, his powers required the brain to be functioning and, in a sense, alive. Without the brain, there was no memories for him to access. At least, that's what science says, anyway. "But I do have a plan. You should report this on the news tonight."

"Tonight, sir?! Why not tomorrow morning?!"

"Tomorrow morning will already be too late, here's what I want you to say. I want the news to pretty much say the name of the boy, where it was located, information about the incident and one special detail. Gabriel, the Memory Man, will be performing his first ever performance on a dead body."

"WHAT?! But you just said --"

"I know what I just said! But people's powers have been known to develop, and besides, my strange disappearance today will likely draw people to that conclusion. Do as I request, please." Gabriel could hear a defeated sigh on the other side.

"Very well, sir. I hope you have a plan in mind."

"I do." Gabriel hung up and put away his phone. Of course this'll cause a surprise to the public, that's the intention. Whoever, or whatever is responsible for this, will have to be watching. I want them to, I want to see who cracks and freaks out over this announcement. I'm taking a huge risk here, but this is a risk I am willing to take.

~ Meanwhile, somewhere unknown! ~

"The Oracle will see you in a few days, within three to be precise." One of SOLO's assistants said.

"Excellent. Now let us prepare for tomorrow when we meet the Memory Man. I want to see where this goes --"

"SOLO, SIR!" Another assistant came running in.

"Keep it down, SOLO is --"

"Turn on the television, you fool!" The second assistant grabbed a remote and turned on the power button, the television coming to life.

"What in blazes are you doing?! This is no time for television --"

"QUIET!" SOLO's voice roared out. "Let us watch."

"Our story for tonight.." The news reporter said. "The boy of a twelve year old was found near the Police Plaza. No one knows how it got there or why, but the identity of this body is what is truly mind-blowing. The boy's identity was known as Daniel Ross, a boy who died during the Great Rip Event, what's strange is that his body was apparently found then, yet now it shows up in a different state and appears to be recent on top of that."

"It's probably just some idiot with superpowers messing with people." The first assistant claimed. "They're using someone who died during the Great Rip Event in order to gain attention. It's disgusting how they disrespect the dead like this."

"Thank the lords we have yet to see a necromancer appear." The second assistant got a glare from the first.

"If there was someone with powers like that, they probably died during the last two years."

"On top of that." The news reporter continued. "We have reports that Gabriel, known as the Memory Man." A picture of Gabriel came up on the screen next to the reporter. "Has confirmed that he will be using his powers for the first time on a deceased person."

"IMPOSSIBLE!" The first assistant shouts. "NO ONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT!"

"W-We can't say." The second assistant said. "Only Gabriel himself would know about this."

"Interesting, Gabriel." SOLO commented. "Bring me all the information you can on this Daniel Ross!"

"B-but sir! All known information on him would of stopped upon his death!"

"Information on him JUST started again, or did you not see that report just now? He is now the center of a mystery that Gabriel will apparently be attempting to solve, as far as the public knows, and they have confirmation that it is, in fact, his body! Now find me information on him!"

As Rebeca went into her own room, Daniel decided to shower, then rest on the couch and watch some TV. He quickly took the shower, before drying off and getting some clean clothes on. He went to the TV and turned it on, laying down on the couch. The urgent news report quickly caught his and his cousin's attention.

"The body of Daniel Ross was just uncovered again, according to unnamed sources. The twelve year old was found with unknown injuries that looked both brutal and animal in nature, yet matches no known animal profiles and the claws are bigger then any recorded animal. It is believed that a superpower may be responsible, although the body reportedly came out of a Rip. This has revived a question that has been dead for awhile now: Is there something on the other side of the Rips?

"Daniel, what happens when they open your grave and find your other body?"

This wasn't the first time this had happened. After the Rips, when he woke up, another body was there. It had been ripped apart, limb from limb. It looked like the result of what he had been feeling before, being pulled apart by two different Rips he was in the middle of. He had run out of fear, and when he calmed down decided to lead the police to the body. He decided at age 12 to fake his death. Daniel had always been a bit paranoid.

"Hopefully they dismiss it as a random Rip event. My power isn't on record, and no one knows I am really alive other then a few people. Less then ten. None of them from before the Rips".

"Still, it has been two years between the two. Do you think this has something to do with your power?"

"Its been three" Daniel corrected. Daniel's powers had an unintended side affect. He knew when the Rips really happened. While some people seemed confused on when it happened and changed their stories, Daniel never did because whatever was happening to them he was immune to. He always knew when the Rips happened, accurately and securely. "I don't know. I mean, this is the second time this has happened to me, and as far as I know no one else. So who really knows?"

"Daniel, you are thinking about doing something stupid. I can tell..."

"Maybe. That man claims he can access memories from my corpse. I am somewhat interested in finding out what killed me...".

"Danny, what you are suggesting is dangerous..."

"That is why you are staying here. I will be back" he told her, picking up his stuff and making his way to where he needed to go.