Are We Heroes: Broken World [IC]

by **The Cyberiad Council** » Sun Sep 16, 2018 7:36 pm

Friday, September 16, 2022
Ruins of NYC, NY

New York. One of America's most famous cities, now reduced to smoldering rubble. Its massive skyscrapers had collapsed onto one another, creating a dangerous uneven terrain full of broken glass, exposed rebar, and mountains of concrete riddled with tunnels made from floors that had retained some semblance of their structural integrity. Most of Manhattan's population had either perished in the attack that had claimed the city, or had evacuated nearly two years ago. The ones that stayed were those with nowhere else to go, or that had ties to activities that would bring them under scrutiny in normal society. It was almost 300 square miles of lawlessness, perfect testing ground for the paramilitary force in advanced armor running down the street.

They were chasing a lone individual through the ruined streets. Their prey looked frightened, it looked like there was blood on his hands and clothes, likely coming from the large gash on his upper leg. That didn't stop him from reaching speeds that would make an Olympic athlete throw in the towel. The agents were easily keeping pace, their secret given away by the mechanical whirs that accompanied their footfalls. "Damn he's fast," one of the men yelled over comms as their chase rounded the corner into Times Square. One of the buildings had fallen across the width of the square, creating a seemingly impassable wall of concrete and rebar. The runner leapt through a gap in the regolith.

Sliding to a stop, the pursuers slid to a stop, and looked around to try and find a way through. "Forget it!. Send the Cinders through, we'll have to go around and hope the Golems will push him back to us," The leader shouted as he ran off towards West 46th Street. A detachment of the initial group and split off, launching themselves through the same gap the meta. It was clear that they were some kind of advanced androids carrying what looked like a large cylindrical container on their backs with deadly looking rifles mounted next to them.

After crawling through the fallen building, the meta staggered to his feet and rushed out onto the street. He saw his goal, another gap in the concrete rubble that could stall his pursuers. But before he could make it, he heard what sounded like a jet or rocket and he looked up just in time to see three armor-clad agents swooping down from on high. The thrust from their jet-packs kicked up dust as they landed and trained their weapons on the lone meta who rapidly dashed to the left. In a shower of debris, a massive 10-foot tall mechanical armor burst through a wall, cutting the meta off. Growing desperate, the man tired to run back into the gap in the fallen building that had saved him just previously given him sanctuary, but he was met with the mechanical soldiers crawling out to block him once again.

With only one option left, the meta took off at a remarkable sprint down the open street, but the first group of soldiers rounded the corner, boxing him in.

"Put your hands in the air. We have you surrounded," the man in charge shouted as the forces converged on their target's position.

"No, please, just let me go! What the hell did I do to you?" The man sobbed as he complied.

"Nothing yet, and we're going to make sure of that. On your knees, freak!" The meta hesitated, and one of the jet troopers drove a foot into the back of his knee, forcing him to the ground. One of the agents in the back of the group threw a small sphere into the air that deployed into some sort of drone. It quickly circled the man on the ground as his arms were pulled behind his back and handcuffed together, recording the everything. "Gabriel Tyson..." The leader said as he let go of his rifle, letting rest on a strap around his body, switching to his sidearm. "...you are a crime of nature..." the agent continued as he leveled the pistol at the bound man's head. "...And a plague to be exterminated."

A final tear rolled down Gabriel's face as the man pulled the trigger before turning to face the drone. "This Metahuman threat has been allowed to continue unchecked for far too long. We are CADMUS, and we will end this infestation."

"This footage has quickly gone viral as what appears to be a paramilitary force claiming to belong to CADMUS: the anti-metahuman agency disbanded over fourteen years ago..."

"Ach..." Andrew Giles spat as he turned off the television. "Damn idiots." He grabbed his beer and walked through his small house to look out at the surf. "Not too bad. Might be able to head out later," He muttered to himself as he took a sip from his drink. Giles liked it here. No noise, no hustle and busts, and most importantly, no people to piss him off. He let his thoughts wander for a bit. It didn't matter how strong you were; it couldn't make you unsee a damn thing. An urgent beeping pulled Giles from his daydream. "You've got to be kidding me..." The old hero groaned as he realized the source of the alarm: his laser trip lines he installed around his property to give him the heads up of any unwanted guests.

He heard the faint sound of engines pulling down the long drive leading to the secluded house. He wasn't expecting anyone: he was never expecting anyone. "Fuck," he whispered under his breath. Two armored trucks stopped a few feet from the old hero's front door. As soon as they stopped, the rear doors flew open and SWAT officers poured out. They fanned out to surround the house as one group came forward with a battering ram. Giles cracked his knuckles and increased his mass and density, preparing for a fight.

The battering ram group made it to the door and the one holding the instrument in question reared back to knock in the door. Giles threw the door open and caught the battering ram, his fingers sinking into the hardened metal like it was butter. "Don't you assholes know how to knock?" Giles ripped the battering ram out of the man's hand chucked it underhanded towards one of the armored trucks. It hit with enough force to puncture the steel plating and penetrate over a third of its length. "So, who wants the first shot."

The men held their composure and quickly backpedaled from the door, opening fire, but the bullet's just bounced off. Vindicator just wore an unimpressed look on his face as he walked forward through the hailstorm of bullets. "Oh, fuck off, all of you," he deadpanned as he slammed into the nearest armored truck, easily lifting it and throwing it into the second truck. Another SWAT officer raised his weapon, a power dampening rifle and opened fire. Vindicator was expecting as much. With a bit of extra willpower, Giles' density shot through the roof, making Osmium look like thin air. His feet sunk a few inches into the grassy ground beneath his feet, but the blue energy pulse from the rifle couldn't get past the first layer of his skin.

"Nice flashlight, pal," Vindicator mused as he rushed forward and shoved the nearest officer as gently as he could, but it sent him flying back. "Look, guys, I'm tired, I don't do this sort of thing anymore, so fuck off to whoever your boss is and tell him I'm not interested." Giles said as he turned back towards his house. The officers just looked at each other. One tried opening fire a few times before realizing it was futile. Once Giles got back inside his house, he just sat down in a recliner and turned on the television, leaving the SWAT to do their best to move him.

by **WhatsamattaU** » Sun Sep 16, 2018 9:10 pm

September 16, 2022
Eureka, California, U.S.A.
Sally Three Spells

It was early in the morning when the GreyDog bus pulled into the Eureka depot. Sally had been awake all night, riding a caffeine high and knitting a scarf, which was almost finished when the bus door opened. She hated feeling so wired, but she couldn't risk falling asleep and having someone see her in her undisguised form.

As Sally disembarked, the bus driver wished her ‘good luck’. He'd seen young girls running away from things before. He'd learned to figure out why young boys and girls rode the buses by the looks in their eyes. Some struck out on their own because they wouldn't have any kind of future in their home towns. Some thought that they were escaping a bad situation at home. The driver looked at Sally and he believed that she was looking for a place to call home and that trouble had driven her to get on his bus. But he would never know how right he was, because all his other attempts to help runaway youngsters in the past hadn't worked out, so he just wished her well as she got off.

Sally wandered about Eureka. She asked some of the local people about a shelter or a YWCA. There had been a YMCA in town, but it had closed before World War Three and was abandoned. Sally asked for directions to it anyway. When she arrived, she walked around the building. It was locked and boarded up. There we no indications that anyone had broken in and there was a realtor's “For Sale" sign near the front door.

Sally looked around to make sure that she was alone before extending her wings out her back and through the slits in her coat. Then, with her belongings slowing her down a bit, she flew up to the roof of the abandoned YMCA. The access from the roof to the inside was locked, too, but that suited Sally fine. It meant that she was likely to be undisturbed if she rested here. Finding a shady spot, she cast a spell that allowed her to be comfortable in both hot and cold weather. Then the fairie girl used her pack as a pillow and went to sleep.

by **Higher Japan** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 12:17 am

Unknown, North of North Europe

"Come on you god damn piece of scrap, work." Catherine muttered, hitting the radio in the cabin up north. She had found it a few years back and now operated out of it more often than her own town home slightly south. The radio only gave off white noise as she continued hitting it, before eventually smacking it with her spear as it began to clear up. Taking this chance, she tuned in as she eventually listened in on an American radio network. Something something more dead, something something CADMUS, something something defunct for 14 years. Most of it to her was just random nonsense, but what caught her eye the most was the fact that it was anti-metahuman.

"Bloody hell." She sighed, turning the radio of and taking her spear with her as she left the cabin. She'd heard of the agency years before, for they were the reason why she was under a form or house arrest. Once outside, she let the cold air cover her body as she looked around. It's of course a fucking bear. Looking at the bear dead in the eyes, she tightened her grip on her spear obviously she couldn't just kill it, that'd be wrong. Slowly walking backwards, she quickly went back in and slammed the door and kept it locked, even securing it with her spear across. She turned back to the radio, sitting down and propping her foot up as she turned the radio on and continued listening across the continent.

by **Union Princes** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 7:49 pm

Katyusha

Kharkiv, Eastern Ukraine

September 16, 2022

Dabria Smirnov walked next to her mentor Sherkov, whom that she celebrated her 20th birthday with a few months ago, with her seven barreled gun at the ready as they walked down the streets of the ruined city of Kharkiv. A city that fell victim to the border conflict between Russia and Ukraine and later the Third World War when the Russians manage to overrun Ukraine defensiveness and wrought havoc upon it. Monuments desecrated by bullets, the university smothered with bombs and the city council building barely standing with so many holes in its walls. Glass, metal bits, and debris littered the streets where the pair walked.

Scanning the buildings, Dabria felt the sense of pity for the city folk that fled knowing full well that they may never return. Potholes punctured the roads, wrecked cars and military vehicles clogged up the intersections, and alleyways filled to the brim with bricks and stone. No one can live here anymore, at least, live comfortably.

Picking up a teddy bear left behind during the chaos, Dabria gingerly wiped the debris off the bear with her right hand. After she blew the dust off, her eyes devoured the current state of the stuffed animal. It was missing a left eye, it was torn at the neck, and a leg had a hole that needed to be patched. Dabria's face silently mourned for the child that has lost this toy as she softly put the teddy bear into the giant backpack that contains food, water, ammo, clothes, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbush, brass knuckles, and her PPSH-41.

Turning towards Sherkov, she softly called out to him. "Sir?" Dabria address him polietly, speaking in Russian. "Should we move on or stay?"

They have been walking for quite a long distance together and since they were Russians in Ukraine, its best if they found a secure place to spend a night without fearing retaliation from Ukrainian revanchists. Given that she was the one with the most combat capabilities with her weapons and metahuman powers, Dabria would bear the burden of watching over the both of them.

by **Okayanos** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:07 pm

A.S.E.T.

Argus Headquarters

The call from SWAT was unexpected, and the voice on the other end had been obviously upset with the developments of their situation. But, far be it from Argus to refuse a request for assistance. And far be it from A.S.E.T. to turn down an opportunity to apprehend or recruit a powerful meta. The four youngest members of the team- Kaiju, Synchro, Drachenkampf, and Prophet- are roused from their relaxation time by their technical boss, Yoake Akai- better known as The Shogun. The white-haired Japanese woman explains the situation to her young teammates as best she can.

"The American special forces have attempted to make contact with the meta calling himself Vindicator. As their contact was hostile, they've made him upset. After he made their energy weapons looks like children's toys, they called for A.S.E.T. intervention to deal with him. You're going to either recruit Vindicator, or put him out of commission. The intel on him has been sent to all of you. You've got five minutes to review it before dispatch. Good luck to all of you."

Responses to the intel are... mixed. "Well, fuck us with a cheese grater." Eli, better known as Synchro, says as she reads over the descriptions of Vindicator's powers and the history of the rebellious old meta. "This dude's got himself a rep. He's pretty much invincible against most kinds of direct attacks, too. So I'm thinking we drown the fucker. Maybe not, like, killing him, but showing him who's boss. That kinda shit. It's kinda like Satyr, except this guy isn't a furry and he doesn't break physics as hard."

"What about heat?" Xander speaks up. Codenamed Drachenkampf, the pyrokinetic is the youngest member of the A.S.E.T., and is something of the resident edgelord. "My flames can burn hot enough to bring anything to the ground." Th tall, blonde-haired boy grits his teeth, and a lick of red-black flames escape the corner of his mouth.

Fionn gives Xander a look for a moment, then answers. "It's worth a shot. I think I've got something of a game plan here- if we want to recruit this guy, we'll go in without costumes. Suits only.

Northern California

A.S.E.T.'s VTOL jet blows Vindicator's lawn flat as it hovers down low. Four kids in black suits and color-coded ties jump out, one after the other. Fionn with light blue, Xander with red, Eli with yellow, and Nate with dark blue. Fionn's the one who deals with the Spec Ops- flashing his A.S.E.T. credentials and introducing himself as Kaiju instead of using his real name. The four take a moment to stare down the walkway to Vindicator's front door. Eli ends up breaking the silence.

"Surfing. He's thinking about surfing." She says, quietly and almost hesitantly.
"It's going to be hot enough for perfect surfing weather." Xander replies, as he sets up the 'defensive measures'. With a wave of his hand, a line of the same red and black fire that had come out of his mouth forms around the house, widening and growing until the barrier of flame stretches up nearly 12 feet, and circles the entirety of the property. It's in place both to keep Vindicator in, and to keep the SWAT lads at bay.

Fionn takes the point as the Agents of Argus walk up to the door of one of the most powerful metahumans in existence, and knocks on it. "Vindicator? We'd like to speak to you. We're metahumans that fought in the war, same as you."

by **WhatsamattaU** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:39 pm

a Lunas Legion and WhatsamattaU collaboration

Cameron Community Cemetary,
Cameron, Arizona, U.S.A.

It was noon-ish at the Cameron Community Cemetary, on the fourth anniversary of the battle at the Greenland Meta Prison and the death of Mastermind. The autumn air was dry and a light wind blew from the north. The cemetery was empty, save for one woman, who was probably Navajo, judging from her appearance and the location of the Reservation near the town. That and the leggings and moccasins that her trenchcoat didn't cover.

Mary Merkas didn't have any family buried here, but she liked the memorial to the townspeople that had died here on that day, four years ago. She'd taken the day off, from the ARGUS office in Flagstaff, to be closer to her homeland, even though Flagstaff wasn't terribly far away, Cameron was the town of her childhood.

Mary hoped that she'd built up some trust with the people she worked with and that they'd respect her desire to grieve, in her own way, and leave her alone. There was a possibility that she'd see an old comrade in arms, today, too. It wouldn't do at all for ARGUS agents to be around if that woman showed up. Mary had promised, four years ago, to put aside their differences, at least for today.

"I don't even get why this is such a big deal." XIII: Death snarked from the back seat as they drove along the tracks at a frankly reckless speed, a plume of dust behind them as Mari scrambled with the wheel, following what her power said.

"You wouldn't." Mari grunted in response. "She's one of the few at that bloody Academy who even cared about Jess, even if she did play a role in how things ended. I owe her this much at least.

XIII: Death snorted and opened his mouth as if to say something more, but a knife pointed at him caused him to quickly shut up.

"Let her have this." Three of Swords said, pointing the knife away and sliding it back into its sheath. The car, a battered Humvee, fell into silence for a few more minutes.

"We're here." Mari hammered down on the brakes, the Humvee skidding to a halt as the brakes locked up and the three people climbed out of the car, forming into a line in front of the cemetery gate. Even four years later, Mari hadn't changed. Her hair was still the same pink, although now that was from VI: The Lovers biokinesis rather than any form of hair dye, and she still wore the same black jumpsuit with a silver 'x' across the chest and the same heeled boots. XIII: Death hadn't changed much either, although he was now festooned with weaponry, covered in gun holsters and bandoliers holding knives and grenades. Three of Swords, by comparison was blander, wearing an armoured black jumpsuit, the only colour a tattered red shawl-cape, a katana sheathed on his right hip.

"She might not even be he-" XIII: Death began to talk, but a glare from Three of Swords made him fall silent.

"Come on." Mari said, walking forwards into the cemetary, Three of Swords following immediately after and XIII: Death reluctantly following at a slower pace. The cemetery wasn't that large, and there wasn't anyone else in it beyond a single solitary figure. Well, she'd survived it seemed.

She didn't stop, instead walking forwards.

"Been a while." Her voice was slightly raspy as she spoke, stopping a few meters behind Mary, Three of Swords and XIII: Death stopping just behind her, Three of Swords' hand going to rest on the grip of his katana while XIII: Death's fingers twitched, ready to draw.

Mary had heard the trio's footsteps on the walkway. She was confident that Mari hadn't come to the meeting with murder in her mind, but she wasn't sure about the other two. She gracefully rose from the bench and turned to face them, favoring them with a small and ironic smile, her Skinwalker eyes softly glowing. She had noted the rasp in the woman's voice, had Mari taken up smoking?

"It has been a while," answered Mary, "hasn't it? Thank you for coming. No one else I know cares that you came back to help when you were free to leave...."

She paused and looked at the two men, they were ready to fight. Mary hoped that no one had followed her.

"It meant a lot to me." Mary said. Then she asked, "How have you been?"

"Alright given the circumstances. Survived what may as well have been the end of the world, given how much it's changed." Mari shrugged. "Company hasn't gotten much better, but there's more of it at least. You should recognise XIII: Death-" She gestured with her head to one side. "And the new guy's Three of Swords. My little band of people in the bigger band who try and stop this mess from getting even worse."

"But enough about me, how've you done these past few years? One small perk of the Tarot is we get to hide away on our little submarine when we're not up top. Can't have been easy out here."

Mary remembered how Mari had joined the Tarot. It had cost the older girl dearly, as she'd believed in the ideal of being a hero and had been forced into the shadows, away from the public recognition and approval of her deeds.

"It hasn't been easy", said Mary. "Lots of people trying to kill me, but to be fair, it was a war. I never can get used to the killing..., even though I'm a killer."

"It's not something anyone should get used to, but when you do enough of it, well. You grow numb to it eventually. I know I have." She turned away from Mary, looking off into the distance. "I'm not sure if it's better or worse I went this road at times. I'm really not."

Then Mary slowly raised her left hand and showed Mari her engagement and wedding rings, saying, "But it hasn't been all bad." She smiled, hoping the older girl might be happy for her.

She smiled a small smile as Mary held up her hand, the sun catching on the ring. "Congrats. Wish I could've been there, but, well, you know how things are. Bit difficult to get the invite to me." She let out a low chuckle. "No luck for me on that front, even though someone-" She glared at XIII: Death. "Seems to keep pining after me and won't take no for an answer."

XIII: Death just grinned. "I take no for an answer, I just keep doing it because it's fun."

"See?" Mari grumbled. "At least Three's alright, but you're just insufferable."

"Of course I am." XIII: Death laughed. "It's part of who I am. Maybe you should take Fool's method of bashing me over the head whenever I get annoying."

"Don't tempt me." Three of Swords finally spoke up. "I just might."

Mari just shook her head and sighed. "And this is what I have to deal with."

Mary found herself liking Mari's companions, they were almost like frenemies in an action bro-mance movie. She gave XIII: Death a wink, saying, "Keep trying, I think I see her defenses weakening. "

XIII: Death just kept grinning in response. "She'll come to appreciate me eventually, she's just finding it hard to admit it."

Mary got serious again. "It would have been nice if you could have been there. If there could have been a cease-fire."

It had been four years, but Mary's conscience still ached. Originally, she'd been shocked, angry, in denial, and eventually accepting the part she played in Jess Margaryan's decision to commit suicide. But it still ached.

"I still miss her," Mary said. "not the troubled and pushing everyone away from her part. That drove me crazy. I miss the part of her that was loving." Mary hung her head down.

"Saying I missed her would be a lie, because I don't miss what was." Mari shook her head, continuing to stare out aimlessly over the desert. "I miss what could've been. It was my fault she turned out how she did in the end, and it took her dying to wake me up to, well, everything."

"I wonder what she'd make of all this, how everything turned out. She'd probably just say it's what I deserve or something. I guess I do."

Mary considered for a moment. Empathic Jess would have said that no one deserves that kind of death on their conscience. Angry Jess would say that it wasn't enough. "Everyone needs something to wake them up from the sins of omission" she said. "Sometimes the cost is terrible. I can't imagine she'd have wanted World War Three, though. Nobody deserved that." Then Mary said, "I think, maybe, by now, she might have forgiven us. Or, at least I hope she might have."

The cemetery was quiet with their silence as they reflected. What had Mary been expecting? A return to innocence? Why was there even a shred of that hope? No, there was only moving forward and praying for forgiveness when it was all over. But the sharing helped.

Mary reached into the pocket of her trenchcoat and pulled out a scrap of paper. She handed it to Mari, saying, "This is how to get in touch with my mother, Eliza Santiago. She can call me. I know that you and the Tarot are outlaws and vigilantes, but if the human race needs you then we can be on the same side again."

"Thanks, although I'll have to correct you on the whole vigilantes thing." Mari took the piece of paper in one hand, gripping it tightly. "Vigilantes save people, we... We don't. Ten of Swords and World always called us cleaners, janitors, people who clean up the messes and stop them from getting worse than they are. It's accurate enough." Mari turned on her heel, facing away from Mary. "We were always on humanity's side, always have been, always will be. We're just willing to do things that others won't for it."

Mary couldn't fault Mari's straight forwardness. She had been trying to be diplomatic. "I respect that," said Mary. "Maybe you're more of a hero than I am. It wasn't anything I planned on. We both know my hands have blood on them, too. I just wanted to...."

Mary couldn't find the words. She had left the door open, had told Mari how to get in touch with her, but there was nothing else to say, today.

Mary turned her own back to the trio. "Don't be strangers," she said to them. A dust-devil enveloped her body, leaving the trenchcoat behind, and when it ended a great vulture was seen flying from where she had stood.

"I'll try not to be." Mari muttered under her breath, raising a hand in goodbye as Mary left in vulture form.

"C'mon boys." She added, walking slowing back towards their battered Humvee, Three of Swords and XIII: Death falling in behind her. "We've got somewhere to be and bad people to kill."

by **Skyggeheim** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 5:46 am

Darius Ypsilantis
Early Morning, Somewhere in Korea
2022

The sun was just beginning to crest over the peak of the mountain in the early Korean morning. The snow glinted as rays of light touched it, sparkling. Despite the fact that the mountain was consistently covered with the stuff, it had received a fresh coat last night. A snow hare bolted across the top, barely leaving tracks. One could wonder what it was in such a hurry to flee from. It was bitterly cold, as was typical of mornings in this region, and a light breeze lazily blew across the mountain's slope.

The small group of North Korean soldiers, naturally, had been up for at least an hour prior to sunrise. They wanted to get an early start to the day, and so had rousted their prisoners and begun their march a solid while ago. Their ragged, labored breath frosted right in front of their faces. The soldiers looked almost as downtrodden as their prisoners, with the only exception being the quality of their shoes and the fact that they held guns in their hands. Their leader, however, was a resolute man. His face was stony and harsh, and he showed not one sign of weakness. He pressed the rest of his group to maintain a hard pace up the slope of the mountain, despite their exhaustion. He knew something the rest of them did not: they were being tracked.

"How much longer?" Complained one of the prisoners. A stiff rifle barrel jammed into the small of his back was his only answer. He grunted before scanning the horizon, looking for any sign of salvation. Instead, as the sun lazily showed itself over the jagged peak of the mountain, he saw the glint of a rifle scope. His eyes widened, and he quickly tucked his head between his shoulders and stared at the ground. Fear rose in his gut as they marched. Whoever was watching from the cliff face above them was either there to save the prisoners, or do something much more sinister. There was no in-between anymore.

The rifle round that slammed into one of the soldiers' head and dropped him like a sack of rocks was the prisoners answer. He rapidly dove behind a rock and cowered. Two more soldiers fell in a spray of blood and snow before they could find cover. The others tried to locate the shooter, shouting frantically and firing their weapons haphazardly up the slope. The leader tried to maintain order, screaming commands at his men. As everyone managed to find cover, an eerie silence once again grew over the mountain face, broken only by the echoing reports of gunfire. Suddenly, the leader shouted another command to his men. The prisoner found himself roughly dragged upwards and the barrel of a rifle pressed firmly into his back. He was pointed upwards in the direction of the shooter, and slowly marched forward. The soldiers were using what prisoners they could as human shields.

"Tsk tsk." Someone said from behind them. The soldiers whirled and pointed their weapons at the camouflaged man, but barely had time to fire a shot before the man sprung into action. In the blink of an eye, five more copies of the man leaped forward, pointing their own weapons. In a hail of gunfire, the remaining soldiers were torn to pieces before they could even react. The prisoner fell, quivering in fear. He muttered whatever prayers he could while he kept his eyes glued shut. In the silence, he heard the crunch of snow as someone approached him. His prayers grew louder, before a rough hand grabbed him and turned him over. The prisoner slowly creaked his eyes open and stared into the face of his mysterious savior. To his surprise, it was a white man. His long, black hair was well-maintained, despite the difficult conditions in this region of the world. His uniform was foreign, and his eyes had a weathered and wise look to them that far superseded the age he portrayed.

"Where were these men taking you?" The man asked, in near-perfect Korean.

"I...I'm not sure. They talked about a camp on the other face of the mountain. They said a lot of soldiers were gathering there. From what I heard, it's some sort of bunker." Replied the prisoner.

"Is there anything else you can tell me about it?"

"Um...they said it was some sort of testing facility during the War for the Motherland. They talked about 'avoiding the road' because of some group they called 'White Ghosts' that's been killing other soldiers."

The man chuckled, rolling his eyes. He offered the prisoner a helping hand upwards, which was graciously taken.

"So that's what they're calling us now." The man said, before handing the man a handful of protein bars, "Go back to your village. Ration those out for the voyage. And know that you have the protection of The Pathfinders now."

Once he received a seeming unending list of graces and "Thank You"s from the prisoners, Darius left them to their own devices. Pressing two fingers to his earpiece, he pinged the rest of the Pathfinders. Most of them were probably just waking up from their slumber. He had left early to go on this mission, and had let the group sleep after a long night of rucking up the mountain to get above the group of North Korean soldiers - the ones laying dead at Darius' feet - they were pursuing.

"Rise and shine, sleepyheads. I'm at bearing 152 from our camp. About a click. Come find me, I got some news." He said into the earpiece, before sitting down on a rock and watching the rest of the sun rise over the peak of the mountain.

Another day in a broken world.

by **WhatsamattaU** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 4:56 pm

Eureka, California, U.S.A.
Sally Three Spells

When Sally awoke, on the roof of the abandoned YMCA, it was late in the afternoon. She felt quite rested and refreshed, then her empty stomach made a sound. Sally had not eaten anything since before she got on the GreyDog bus back in Boise. The bus ticket had also eaten up practically all of her ready cash, too. If she wanted to eat, she'd have to beg or earn. Begging got her the wrong kind of attention, so maybe she might dance for some coins?

Sally had passed by Eureka's arts and clubs district on the way to the 'Y'. With any luck, there'd be some street musicians, or dancers with a boom box. Grabbing her pack, sparsely filled, containing little else than some clean undergarments and her Grimoire, she headed to the edge of the roof. Looking down from the roof, she saw that there was no one else about and spread her gossamer wings, which glowed with the magic of her spirit, and lightly flew down to the ground. On landing, she drew her wings back through the slits in her jacket and blouse and once more looked like an ordinary little goth girl.

In the space of twenty or so minutes, Sally was soon back in the active part of the city. It was still early, in terms of potential spectators and appreciative donors, but there were some musicians warming up their instruments. Sally saw a duo, two young black men, a cello player and a conga drummer, tuning and warming up. To Sally's ears, they were both well matched with each other and wonderful musicians. They acknowledged her arrival by stopping and saying, "Yo, little girl, whassup?"

Sally hoped that she didn't look like she was starving and said, "Not much, I just moved here and wanted to see the haps. Had to leave my old dance crew and thought I'd see what's what. Maybe find a new crew, if I'd be a good fit."

The boys seemed to accept the story at face value. Why shouldn't they, it was the truth. The cellist's name was Marcus and the drummer's name was Tony, only his Mom called him 'Anthony'. The boys didn't give their last names, so Sally just said that she was Sally. Tony said he had a lil' sister, about Sally's age, in a junior dance crew but they didn't dance in the street on school nights. Sally asked Tony if he played for the crew, which he did. Time to gamble.

Sally admitted to the boys that her parents had been illegal aliens and taken away, but that she was born a U.S. citizen. She'd just arrived in town that day and she wondered if maybe she danced while they played, it might draw more people to watch, listen and hopefully bring in more money. The boys looked at each other and agreed that it might be a good idea, but they'd be the judge of whether or not she improved their take. This was fine with Sally and the bargain was struck. It wasn't a great bargain, but if they were fair minded it would be good and even if they didn't attract more people, they might have pity on her.

Sally did some stretches and warmed up. The duo launched into a couple of pop tunes, one old and one new. Sally danced as if she were dancing with an invisible partner and the boys smiled. Then they went Hip-Hop and Sally popped, spun and animated. She thought they might have been trying to trip her up when they went latin with a Cha-Cha and a Samba, but again Sally danced flawlessly with her ghost partner.

The crowds began to gather 'round. The boys gave her a wink. Things were good. Some of the couples tried dragging their partners away, pointing out that a curtain was going up soon or that the dinner reservations would disappear if they dawdled. The boys' hats were filling with coin and bills. Tony gave Marcus a wink, they were going to try to trip her up with another music style. It wouldn't work, thought Sally. It didn't. Tony began with a rhythm, 'bah-dah-bah-dah-bah-dah-Thump!-Thump!-Thump! bah-dah-bah-dah-bah-dah-Thump!-Thump!-Thump!' The pair couldn't have guessed that Sally's parents had raised her watching 'Gaym of Throwns", but she figuratively danced her heart out to the theme song, one of her favorite pieces of music!

Everyone near by applauded at the conclusion and the donations seemed to pour into the hats.

And then, it happened. Someone in the back of the crowd shouted, "She's a meta-human! I saw her on the interweb!"

Other voices sounded in fear and confusion. Did she use her powers on the crowd? Were they being robbed? How dare she show her face in public! There were laws against her kind, were there?!?! Sally felt cornered. She grabbed her backpack and frantically looked for an escape route. Tony grabbed some bills out of his hat and pressed them into her palm, nodding that it was okay but that she'd better leave. Sally pushed through the crowd and began running. She heard the sound of someone, only one person running behind her, running after her. Gaining on her.

Sally could use her Curse of Snowblindness spell on him, but it might draw the attention of more attackers. She kept running and the sound of her pursuer got closer....

Turning a street corner, she ran straight into a beat police officer and was accidentally knocked on her butt.

Her pursuer, a teen boy, ran up and pointed at her, shouting to the cop that she was one of "those stinking Metas!"

The officer, a lady cop, looked at the situation and said to the youngster, "Go about your business, now, she's coming with me."

The boy looked a little disappointed, like he'd been stopped from dealing justice on Sally, but he went.

"What's your name, Miss?" the officer asked.

"Sally Gwyn", said Sally.

"Are you okay?" the policewoman continued.

Sally nodded.

"I'm not arresting you, but, for your own good, I think you should come with me."

Sally decided not to resist and the officer took her to the police station.

by **Futrellia** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 6:51 pm

Watchpoint
Central Operations and Briefing Level
September 16, 2022
Sentinel Isle
Somewhere in the Gulf of Alaska

It had been a long and hard four years. So much destruction, so much death, the loss of Black Lightning, Lotus, Bastion, Triton, and Flare left an indelible marks upon Richard’s character. He became reclusive, preferring to hide in the top of Watchpoint rather than try to march forward as Iron Owl or a Sentinel. Jason Allen and Asta Audundottir tried to continue on the Sentinels’ mission, contracting with the US government on small jobs around the world, but for the most part, were done with the Sentinels, staying at Watchpoint only because they cared for Richard. The loss of so many fellow Sentinels brought Magnum and Valkyrie close together, eventually falling in love through the pain and anger plaguing the remaining Sentinels.

Richard not only lost many of his fellow teammates, but his corporate headquarters for Salus in Seattle during the War. In the course of four years, Richard lost most of everything, except for his precious Anastasia, who had chosen Darius after the Academy. He wasn’t surprised by her decision, but he certainly wasn’t happy with it. He felt comfortable with Ana staying at Watchpoint, but knew she could take care of herself and had Darius to defend her. With her induction to the Pathfinders, he was at peace that she would be able to handle herself from here. She wasn’t his little girl anymore and he was responsible for ensuring the survival of the last Sentinels as well as look for recruitment of new ones. A few potential candidates crossed his desk, and he made contact, but most of them declined, except for one. A man named Felix, also known as Paragon. He was notified of his recruitment into the Sentinels, but was put on hold after the United States military “ordered” the Sentinels to Korea, where they would meet their fragmentation at the hands of the Union of Russian Heroes, a hero team the Sentinels once called friends and allies. Since the return of CADMUS, Iron Owl has established a communications black out with the potential recruits and a few of his former teammates, such as Jessie Myers, also known as Myriad.

“Richard?” Said Magnum, while tapping on the door frame of the entrance of Central Operations. Richard turned from his chair at the central monitoring station to see Magnum slowly entering through the door way, his hands withdrawing into the confines of his red leather jacket’s front pockets. Richard, adjusted himself in his chair, sniffling and rubbing his eyes, which were visibly droopy with bags under them.

“You look tired, Rick.” Said Magnum as he pulled up a chair next to him, which received a sideways glance from Richard.

“Don’t call me Rick. I’ll be fine.” Said Richard getting up from his chair to look outside at the stormy weather outside.

“Okay. How long do I have to know you before I get to be more than just an acquaintance to you?” Said Jason sarcastically.

“What the hell do you want, Jason?” Said Richard, snapping back at Magnum.

“What do I want? I want a fuckin’ leader. I want a Sentinel One, not just a PTSD-stricken weak ass-” Richard moved towards Jason in a threatening manner, balling his fists up, causing Jason to stand up in retaliation.

“What, you gonna hit me, Richard?” He said, both of them standing face to face, Richard was visibly furious. Moments passed before Richard finally unclenched his fists and turned back away.

“Get out.” He said solemnly.

“Look, Richard. I know we haven’t always gotten along but...we are all you got. Me and Asta, that’s it. You don’t think we’re still hurting from losing all our friends? We’ve had time to grieve, now we’re just pissed off. If I could, I’d kill every Russian I get my hands on, just so I could draw out the rest of those UoRH pricks. But I can’t think like that, you know why? Because you taught us better than that. Before the Sentinels, what were we? I was just some low-life thug kicking rocks to anybody who’d give me my next fix. What was Flare, some ghetto ass from the streets who hid her powers from her gangster family so she wouldn’t get put down? You saw the potential in us and molded us all into the best we could be. Back when Iron Owl struck fear into the hearts of those who wished to do harm on others.” Jason had finished when Richard didn’t give a response back, not even an acknowledgement that he was trying to talk some sense into him. Jason walked back towards the door, resting his right hand on the frame and staring down at the ground.

“Me and Asta have been busting ass trying to keep the Sentinels alive, trying to do what’s right out there after everything’s been so fucked up. Truth is….I can’t tell the difference from what’s good and what’s bad. Not after Korea.” Richard turned his head slightly, processing what Jason was saying.

“Richard, we can’t keep doing this. We don’t have a leader, we don’t have a team anymore and we can’t keep up anymore.” Jason turned his head to face Richard’s eyes.

“After tonight, we’re done. That’s it. We’re moving to Norway or someplace cold, where we can start a life together. No more Magnum, no more Valkyrie. Just Jason and Asta. If I can be truthful with you, for just a split moment...those names died in Korea with everyone else. They don’t mean shit anymore.” Jason allowed a moment of silence, waiting, hoping that Richard would say something, do something, be the leader Jason and Asta needed to rally a resurrection of the Sentinels. But instead, nothing. Richard stayed quiet. Jason let out an audible sigh.

“Goodbye, Richard. It was great working with you.” Jason said, leaving the room. Richard opened his mouth as if he had something he wanted to say, but the door beat him to it, hissing shut behind Jason. As much as he didn't enjoy Jason's company, Richard had no choice but to agree with everything he said. For so long, Richard had been beside himself, unable to cope with the loss of his team, couldn't bring himself to don the Iron Owl again. But faced with the ultimatum given by Jason, he either had to become something more, or bear to watch his last two Sentinels fade away from his memories.

Richard exhaled, as if preparing himself to push himself through it. Even though he had lost much, he still had people that depended on him. Four years is long enough.

Watchpoint Dorms

Jason and Asta sat calmly at one of the many circular tables decorating the front lounge area leading to the Dorm rooms, discussing where they would go after this, having already accepted that Richard would not return and lead the team.

The door hissed open, bringing both of them to attention. Richard walked slowly through the doorway and towards the table, much to Jason and Asta’s surprise. Jason was visibly happy, but figured it could go either way. He could be congratulating them on their years of service to the Sentinels and sending them on their way, or ushering in a comeback. Richard sat down next to them at the table and rested his hands on the table.

“I…” Richard cleared his throat. Jason shot a glance at Asta and vice versa.

“We watched all of our friends and teammates die in Korea. I watched my friends at Salus die, we watched everything we fought for collapse. It sent me into a dark place, someplace where I was content to watch it all fall apart around me. The fact that you two never gave up for so long, continued the mission, I ignored it. Wishing it would just go away. My daughter no longer needed me, I had nothing else.” Richard looked up from the table, glancing at both Jason and Asta.

“But I was dead wrong. I still had something depending on me and that was you two.” Richard exhaled once more.

“I'm shit at saying I'm sorry, but...I’m sorry. You need a Sentinel One, and...I’'ll be your Sentinel One.” Jason let slip a warm smile while Asta nodded her head in approval.

“We aren’t ready to give up. Not if you aren’t.” Said Jason.

“I’m not. But, we need to focus on rebuilding, finding our next Sentinels, training them, getting back to full strength. CADMUS is gunning for them, and we have to beat them to it. It’s gonna get real busy, real fast. We have one candidate so far, a man named Felix, goes by Paragon. We should start there.” Richard’s sentence was cut off by the vibrations of his phone going off in his pocket. He pulled it out, turning the screen on to see a message from a very old friend.

Code: Select all: Jessie: Richard?

Richard’s eyebrows raised up as he was surprised to receive anything from Jesse. It had been a solid eight years since the two spoke, by Jessie’s request. He remembered working alongside Jessie, who went by Myriad at the time.

Code: Select all: Richard: Long time no talk, old friend. Is everything okay?”

“I think we need to start making moves against CADMUS. Why beat them to the punch when we can just beat them?” Said Jason.

“It’s only the three of us, Jason. We may be strong, but strength can only last so long.” Replied Asta.

Richard’s phone buzzed again.

Code: Select all: Jessie: No. Something’s wrong, very wrong. I need you here, now. 47 Coal Creek Road. You know the place, same as always. Can’t talk anymore. Just get here.

Richard leaned forward in his seat as the two debated engaging CADMUS while recruiting. For Jessie to break eight years of silence to ask for help, it was disturbing and highly alarming. He’s never been the one to ask for help, considering he can replicate his body to make dozens for any encounter. Richard stood up from his seat, engaged with his wrist pager for the IronJet, stationed on the landing pad next to the Watchman.

“I gotta go. Don’t engage CADMUS, do whatever you can to avoid them, but don’t let them harm our candidates. I’ll be back in a day or too. There’s something that needs my attention.” He said as he turned to walk out of the door.

“Wait, what? We just got you back and now-”

“It’s alright, Jason. I’m not going anywhere. Just let me deal with this, and we’ll bring the Sentinels back from this.” He said, turning to face Jason. Jason sighed a bit but nodded his head in approval.

“Ollie, prep the IronJet. Fernie, British Columbia.” He said as he walked out of the doorway, Jason catching just a bit of that last few words.

by **The Empire of Tau** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 8:12 pm

Sherkov

September 16th, 2022

“Hmmm….I have intel of a drug going around in Busan, Korea. The drug gives the user a high of his life, but it has an extremely high fatality rate,” Sherkov states, looking about the ruined cityscape. It reminded the man of his failed uprisings and the amount of bloodshed spill for East Ukraine. So much many lives lost, so many bad memories. Sherkov turned his body towards Smirnov, “I know you never been outside of Eastern Europe. I think it’s time to head off to Korea.” It was indeed time for both of them to move out and seek out opportunities, and make a name for themselves. The drug itself was also a interest to Sherkov. What potential could said drug be made into? What was it really? And many more questions to be answered. For now, they had to get to Busan, Korea.

The real issue now was how the hell were they going to get to Korean from Ukraine? Thankfully due to Sherkov’s connections in Eastern Europe, he had a few people that he knew that could get them to places that they needed. “I hope you’re not afraid of flying, as we’ll be taking a plane to Korea,” Sherkov jokes, chuckling a bit.

Bielinski was the man to do the job - his team and his planes could get Sherkov and Smirnov to Korea without much issue. Bielinski was an old friend of Sherkov, a man who helped get Sherkov’s supplies and Sherkov himself from place to place before the fuckfest that is WW3. “We’re heading off to Donetsk in West Ukraine. I know a good friend that could get us there,” Sherkov started with a simile to Smirnov. It would take a few days to get to the city, but that should be no problem.

by **Higher Japan** » Wed Sep 19, 2018 2:25 am

Catherine Melkoth

"Ok, so there's a bear outside my door, literally no one is around, what to do." Catherine muttered to herself, listening to the banging at the door slowly fade. But she wasn't taking any chances again, not after she almost got mauled by a bear that one time a few weeks back. Taking the radio, she took a few steps back, wrapped as much of herself as possible with her coat and ran. She promptly hurled herself towards a window, smashing it and sending her outside as she rolled in the snow, radio still by her side. Now that the bear was gone, she tuned in once more. So CADMUS was now operating out of New York? This was something important.

Running back home, once in her house she quickly began to pack some items. After cramming a few sets of her clothes in, she ensured that all documents and entrances in her house was locked up as she left via car, driving off towards the coastline. Along the way, she made a phone call, dangerously calling and driving as the car swerved left and right slightly. "Hello? Yeah it's me. I need a quick favor. Book me a straight flight to America, as close as you can get to New York. I'll pay you back when I come back."

by **Union Princes** » Wed Sep 19, 2018 6:10 am

Katyusha

Drugs? Korea? Flying? Katyusha thought when Sherkov told her his next plan of action. She vaguely remember what she was told what drugs are and that she needed to avoid them. What would Sherkov want from drugs that kills people after they get high? Katyusha hoped that Sherkov would not use the drug on himself.

"Yes, my family didn't travel very much except my father. I don't know what to expect from Korea when we get there." Katyusha replied, facing Sherkov. She also didn't get to fly in a plane yet. All she knows about flying is that it is a much faster way of traveling. Katyusha turn away to avoid having Sherkov see the hint of concern on her face. She doesn't want Sherkov to think she was doubting him.

Straightening her backpack, Katyusha resume carrying her minigun and proceed to walk through the streets. It will take some time to get to Donetsk but with her endurance, they will make it. It just the matter of what's going to happen when they get to Korea.

by **WhatsamattaU** » Wed Sep 19, 2018 12:03 pm

On the way to the police station, Sally asked the cop, Officer Rider, if they could stop and get something to eat. The officer looked at Sally, then at her watch. Seeing that she would still be on the clock for a bit longer, Rider gave in.

"What do you want?" she asked Sally. "I know a great donut stand."

"Can we go to a market?" replied Sally.

As there was a little market on the way, Rider agreed. She'd been eating too many apple fritters, anyway.

When they got there, Sally bought a little carton of mushrooms, a baguette, a couple of cheese sticks and a quart of half and half.

Strange kid, thought Officer Rider. Maybe she is a meta-human. Seems nice enough....

The pair sat down at a bus stop and Sally went to work on filling her stomach. Officer Rider had gotten an apple at the store and leisurely took some bites of it as Sally scarfed.

Rider understood hunger, as the kid seemed to be on her own. She understood the bread and cheese, but the raw mushrooms and half and half? Nope, not computing that at all. To top it off, the kid ate it all.

Sally felt awesome! But now, the realization that her protector would be taking her to a Police Station reimpressed itself on her consciousness. Going there was probably not a good idea!

"Do we have to go to the Police Station?" asked Sally. Then she said, "I could stay with you. I'd do my best to stay out of trouble. Please?"

Officer Rider had been expecting this, at least the part about not going to the Station. Still, if the girl was a meta-human, at least she didn't seem to be able to force Rider to do things by some kind of power. Stay with her? No that wasn't an option. Still, there was a chance to learn about the girl.

"Are you a meta-human?" asked Rider.

"Honstly, I don't think so", answered Sally. "Mum and Dad said we weren't when I asked, one day. But we had to..., I have to keep what we were secret. The..." and then Sally used a word that utterly startled Rider, "slave catchers got them. I don't want them to find me."

Rider nearly choked on her apple. When she recovered she asked, incredulously, "Slave Catchers?"

"Yeah," said Sally, "it's legal where they came from. They sort of took an 'unauthorized leave of absence', but I wasn't conceived until they got to America and I was born an American, politically speaking." Then Sally smiled and said proudly, "I've got rights!"

Officer Rider had recovered, somewhat, and backtracked to her line of questioning. She asked, "So, if you're parents were like you, and they aren't meta-humans, why do other people think you are?"

Sally smiled, thinking that she was in control of the conversation, "I'll tell you, but you have to promise NOT to take me to the Police Station."

"I'm the police officer, and you're the under age youngster with no one looking out after you," said Rider with some authority.

All of a sudden, Sally looked hurt and said between angry sobs, "It's Not My Fault! They Got Caught! If They Hadn't Got Caught The Everything Would be Fine!"

What on Earth was going on with this child? thought the cop. What should I do? She could agree not to take Sally to the station and then renege on it, but she'd feel awful for it. She could just be forceful and take the girl. Maybe she could scare the girl into compliance? That was only slightly better than lying to her and breaking a promise. The kid looked like she was ready to fall apart anyway.... Slave parents? It was preposterous. A little exasperated, Rider grabbed her by the wrist and demanded, "You tell me what you are, young lady."

Sally began to get scared, but answered, "You don't believe me! You won't believe me if I tell you!"

"What are you?" demanded Officer Rider, again, as she reached behind her back to pull out her cuffs from their case.

Sally was about to cast her Curse of Snowblindness when she saw the steel restraints.... With a strength born of desperation and fear, Sally managed to slip free of the officer's grasp and fall back onto the sidewalk.

"We're Magic!" Officer Rider heard the girl shout. She saw the child make a gesture with her hand and say some strange sounding word.... The policewoman's sight became a world of infinite whiteness

Officer Rider's sight returned two minutes after they had left it. It was two of the most terrifying minutes she had ever known.... Sally was gone and Rider breathed a sigh of relief.

Magic?!?! Could it have been magic? Rider had never seen a video of a meta-human activating their power with a strange word....

As embarrassing as it was to let a kid get away from her, Rider made a report and spent a little time describing Sally to a sketch artist. Later, she found herself thinking maybe it wouldn't have been so bad to let the kid stay with her for a bit. Now, she'd be even harder to bring in, for her own good.

Before long, copies of the report and sketch were transmitted to Argus, by a mole in the department.

Now, she'd done it! Sally had cast a spell on a police officer! She'd have to get out of town, fast.

She had no money for another bus ticket, so she needed to find a ride. At least she'd had something to eat and just a little bit of cash. She began walking, in the shadows, eastward.

After some time, an hour maybe, Sally came to a gas station that serviced cars and big rig trucks. She went inside and bought two plastic bottles of water, a box of Noh-Doughz and a hot cup of coffee. She popped a couple of the pills and washed them down with the coffee. The rest of the box went into her backpack with the bottles water.

While she was there, she saw a big rig pull in and the driver entered the gas station. The cashier greeted the driver as if they knew one another and the driver told the cashier that he was headed east. The driver then borrowed the key for the station's men's room.

Sally quickly went outside. Certain that no one was there to see her, she extended her gossamer wings and flew up to the top of the truck cab, and found a place behind the wind foil to hang onto and hide.

In a short time, the driver came out, got into the cab and started the engine. The exhaust was sickening, but as the truck moved, it blew towards the back of the rig, behind her.

Where was Sally going? It didn't matter much, right now.

by **WhatsamattaU** » Sat Sep 22, 2018 7:39 am

It took an entire day, heading east, before Sally decided to stop riding the big rig she'd stowed away on, from Eureka. The first major town they hit was Boise, of all places! To soon to stop back in that city. Now, she was in some place called Monarch, in Montana.

Sally needed to get some food and find a place to sleep.

She wandered into a local market and used the last of her money to buy some produce and a pint of half and half. Some of the people in the market looked at her strangely. Maybe this was one of those towns that was wary of strangers?

by **Higher Japan** » Sat Sep 22, 2018 8:19 am

Catherine

"Please stop here." She called to the driver, stepping out of the car the moment it came to a stop as she handed him some cash before it soon left. She on the outskirts of New York, some distance away but still pretty close, almost feeling the heart of CADMUS, at the doors of the lair of the beast. Prior to arriving here she had decided to just ditch her suitcase, leaving it at home as all she had was a spear. Step by step, she began to enter into the heart of evil itself.

NYC was like the dead zones she had heard about, ruined and crumbled by the fire of war. Walking around, she looked around as she kept her guard up, ready to use her powers in case CADMUS found her or any other faction did.

by **The Cyberiad Council** » Sat Sep 22, 2018 2:01 pm

A Stranger

Through the perfection of early season snowfall, a trail, disturbed by a lonely pair of bare feet slowly stretched itself through the mountains of the North having left the autumnal forests miles ago. The owner of the feet looked entirely unequipped for the frozen temperatures, but no frost clung to him. Not on his bare feet, or shirtless chest, or exposed head. The faintest stain of red bloodied his hands, but it wan't his. On his breath, he repeated a phrase softly, every syllable sending white vapor into the sky. "Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, mighty in deeds, struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion inside a pit on a snowy day." He was here to kill his own proverbial lion.

Rumors had drawn him to this beautiful place. For a second, his thoughts returned to his home, the place where he had been squandering his potential. Judas shook his head, clearing the unpleasant memory. He had heard there was a metahuman living alone in the Northern part of Norway. Another one slated to face Judas: another to atone for their sins.

After several more miles of trekking, Judas came to a cabin. He threw his shoulder into the door, knocking the door open. He looked around, but there wasn't all that many personal effects, in fact, it was looking more and more like no one was home. Judas walked back out the door and spotted something he hadn't noticed before, another faint trail in the snow, disappearing the distance in a direction different than the one he came from. A small grin forming as he started down this new path.

New York City, NY

"Sir, we have movement near the boarder of the the restricted area."

"Is it one of the metas getting out?" The CADMUS field commander asked as he walked over to see what the agent was talking about. They were inside an armored mobile operations center parked in hollowed out husk of a pile of rubble that used to be the Empire State Building. "No, it appears someone is entering the city."

"Are they a meta?"

"I'm running facial recognition now, but we don't have a complete copy of Argus' database." The commander nodded and picked up his radio. "This is Field Commander Jensen, come in Lower East Side." He released his grip on the transceiver, awaiting response.

"This is Captain Garner, Lower East Side: go ahead Field Commander."

"We have an unknown contact entering in your vicinity near the Williamsburg bridge. Dispatch Three CNDR Units, but do not engage, Over."

"Wilco, Over and Out."

"Sir, We have a match." Jensen turned around and looked at the agent's screen. "Catherine Merkoth, know alias: The Lone Queen of the North."

"Well, aren't you a long way from home." Jensen put his radio back to his mouth and called The Lower East Side captain again. "Come in Captain Garner, This is Field Commander Jensen. We have confirmation on target's identity. Catherine Merkoth. Target possesses cryogenic powers. Have CNDRs engage immediately, how copy?"

"Hard copy, Field Commander. Over and out..."

by **Union Princes** » Sun Sep 23, 2018 11:33 am

Katyusha and Sherkov

Co-write between me and Tau Empire

September 21st, 2022

In an airplane to Busan, Korea

Sherkov, looking at the outside of the plane window, sips his tea. "Hm...So, how do you like the flight so far?"

Katyusha stared intently at the glass window. She was deep in thought as she looked back at the moments she spent wandering through Eastern Ukraine with him. Sherkov's voice brought her back to reality. "Oh...uh...um, it is pleasant." She mumbles as she turned to face him.

"Tell me, what do you do on your free time?" he asked, hoping to pass some time.

"Free time?" Katyusha was taken back with mild surprise. "I suppose managing my weaponry and taken inventory of our food supplies."

"I meant more in terms of actual enjoyment." Sherkov corrects, realizing how vague his question was.

"Enjoyment?" She stared at Sherkov blankly. "Maybe it is spending time in bed?"

"Huh, do you read anything?" he inquired, with an eyebrow raised.

"Just books." Katyusha answered quickly.

"What kind?" Sherkov politely smiled.

"Children's books." She answered with a sigh.

"Well, I do read a lot of children's books as well to keep myself entertained. I especially like Dr. Seuss books." he said, hoping that she would be more open.

"The American Author?" Katyusha looks up. "Yeah, I sometimes read his books too."

"Yes, the American Author. I also have a collection of Disney film." Sherkov proclaims proudly, as if he had the most unique collection in the world.

"You watch those too?" she questions in disbelief.

"Hhm." he responded, making a perplexing expression.

"Did you enjoy them?" Katyusha ask, still surprised that a man of his level of intellect would enjoy children films.

"I do." Sherkov answered, contently smiling. "I like the simple and happy nature of them."

Not asking anymore questions for now, Katyusha turns her face to look out the window and see the clouds below them. It's been five days since they visited Kharkiv and wandering the countryside for supplies and food until they reached Sherkov's old friend. That friend looked friendly enough but she didn't trust him nor enjoy the small conversation she had with him. Katyusha was happy that she may not have to meet him again. After what seems to be an eternal loading screen on a computer, she broke the silence to ask her mentor again.

"How long until we get to Busan?" Katyusha asked, pronouncing the city name with some difficulty.

"We're almost there," Sherkov takes a look at this watch. "About two more hours before we land in a dock in midnight," Sherkov states, digging into his pocket, and handing over a key to Katusha. "Here's the keys to our apartment in the city. I have it all planned out. I'll show you around - when we get there."

"Have you been to the city before?" She beckons curiously.

Sherkov nodded. "Indeed, I had plans for this, awhile back. It was only recent that the drug did pop up."

"What...are you trying to accomplish?" Katyusha said, emitting slight concern in the squirming in her seat.

"The drug could provide some usage to me in my research." He responded, as if he was a college professor. "Of course, I have to read up on my chemistry lessons again."

"Sir," Katyusha bit her lower lip. "I don't know Korean. How can we navigate the area?"

"Just call me Sherkov, and I'll show you the streets and all." he assures.

"You know the language, Sher...kov?" She said his name slowly to avoid insulting him.

"I know enough to speak in full." Sherkov confirms, "Junbi dwaessni?" he chuckles at the face that the girl made.

Katyusha was speechless. Of course he would know the language of his destination. "Would it be bad if they see me in armor?"

"We're not here to murder, yet. When we go outside in the streets and such, I suggest keeping your huge weapons in our safe." Sherkov suggested.

"What about my brass knuckles and ppsh-41?" she wonders.

"Well, I guess. Just keep them VERY-WELL HIDDEN." He responded in a way that made Katyusha shrink in her seat.

"I can't hide an smg on me so I suppose I can only hide my brass knuckles." She figures as she thought about the clothes she had in the backpack. Katyusha remained silent as she was scared that she was asking too many questions.

Noticing his partner's frightened body language, Sherkov pondered if he said anything that scared her. He knew its not a good idea for someone with a minigun with a firepower equivalent to 20 0.50 cal Browning machineguns to be scared of him.

"You know, you been a good friend of mine so far." he voiced his thoughts to her.

"A friend?" Katyusha asked, taken back by surprised. First, he sounded angry, now he is complimenting her?

"What else would I call you? You like look a lovely person to meet," Sherkov spoke in a light voice followed by a genuine smile. Katyusha has been always helpful to Sherkov in many ways besides from providing bodyguard duty.

But I did nothing to gain your friendship." She protested.

"Don't be too mean to yourself." Sherkov advise, rejecting her doubt with a wave of his hand.

"Wha? It's just..." Katyusha sputters as she tried to think of a response. "What did I do then that would make me a friend to you?"

"Well, you have provided me many of great deeds." he said as he looked back at his memories of her.

"What kind of deeds?" Katyusha beseech.

"Someone that I can trust." Sherkov declares, "Plus a person that I can rant to." he laughed at his own joke.

Katyusha chuckles at his last remark. "I don't think you ranted before."

"Not yet, I do have my fair share of odd stories," Sherkov pulls out his phone, a Samsung Galaxy. "You see, I did some crazy shit in my day," Sherkov says with a big grin. "I had created a army of killer teddy bears by black magic with the help of a 'friend.' Then I also kill off said army of killer teddy bears with my own army, but it was of claymen. I'll show you." Sherkov hands over his Galaxy and plays a video of a battle between a team of claymen wielding AK-47s, fighting against a large horde of teddy bears with sharp objects in hand rushing foward.

Katyusha was stunned to say the least, scared even, as the footage seem like it was ripped out of a movie scene. It can't possibly be real. "Wha-what happened to the claymen?"

"Well, I had them go off to do what they like." He shrugged.

"What do you mean? You just let them go?" Katyusha gripped her seat.

"Well, I build a village for them in Vietnam." Sherkov said in defense.

Katyusha became utterly fearful and bewildered at his answer. No noise came out of her mouth as her face was in shock.

"And then after that, I did some rice farming." he continues.

"Wait, are there still claymen?" Katyusha said with her face contorted in confusion.

"Yeah." He plainly remark.

"In Vietnam still?" She asked.

He nods.

"You know how many?" She inquires.

"Well, the last time I saw, I counted 60." Sherkov address, remembering his last encounter with them.

With that, Katyusha decided she should just rest and take a nap. This was too much for her as she closed her eyes and let her mind drift about.

by **WhatsamattaU** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 1:25 pm

Monarch, Montana, U.S.A.
Sally Three Spells
a Cyberiad Council and WhatsamattaU collaboration

"You have to do something, I'm telling you she's one of them!"

Mr. Hester looked up from his paper and sat his coffee down with a sigh. "Jacob, I'm not going to go just go around and chase a girl out of town because people are antsy."

"Its more than that, Walter. There's more and more coming everyday. They're planning something up there!"

Walter chuckled. "You sound like the conspiracy theorists on the internet."

"I'm serious, Walter. And the town is getting real nervous. You need to do something to set them at ease." Walter rolled his eyes, but eventually he nodded. "Alright, I'll go talk to her, and see if I can give her a hand." The old sheriff got out of his chair and grabbed his hat off a hook on a wall.

Sherriff Hester pulled up to the small grocery store, run by a man who grew all the produce on his farm a few miles down the road. It didn't take him any time at all to spot the girl, she stuck out like a horse in a chicken coop.

"Excuse me, Miss," Walter began, walking near the girl and offered a smile. "I'm Sherriff Hester, and I hope you don't think I'm being too nosey, but we have a small town, as I'm sure you've noticed by now, and word travels fast around here. People couldn't help but notice you're a little young to be by yourself. I just wanted to see if there was anything I could do to help."

Puck-it-with-a-hazel-wand!, thought Sally, trying not to panic, Puck it! He said I look young. I can use that. Over the last year, Sally had researched in the public libraries, looking for a story that might help in a situation like this. Time to try it.

Sally put out her gloved right hand to in the offer of a handshake. "Hi, Sheriff. Call me, 'Miss Gwyn'. And thank you for you concern, so let me put your mind at ease. Yes, I look young. Have you ever heard of 'Kallmann Syndrome'?" Sally allowed him only a brief chance to get a word in edgewise before she resumed, "It's a condition where boys and girls don't go through puberty, sometimes not all the way and sometimes not at all. I have lived a life and seen things you'd find hard to believe. So, thank you for caring."

Sally thought that she had Sheriff Hester a little off balance. Then she launched into something a little more honest, "Now, I will admit that I'm down on my luck and could use some work and a place to lay my head, until I can get a ride, eastwards, bus fare, whatever. I'll cook, do dishes, give kids dancing lessons, I'll even clean your office, but I don't want trouble." Sally, smiled and said, "Can you help a gal out?"

Hester raised his eyebrows in surprise at the volley of information, but kept his composure. "I'll ask around town and see if anyone could use, your... help, but people are pretty weary of strangers. Especially with all the metas flocking to that compound of theirs."

"Metas?" queried Sally. "Compound? That does sound worrisome...." After World War Three, normal people might easily be concerned about people with powers in their neighborhood. Then again, it could be a place where Sally might fit in. A place where other people wouldn't care what she was....

"Sheriff Hester," Sally began, "I will swear on a stack of Bibles, as strange as I am, I'm not a meta-human. That said, I hope those people aren't here to cause trouble, either. I've always hated that term, 'compound'. It sounds too vague, like 'concentration camp'. But no one goes willingly to a concentration camp. What's their story? What do they say they're doing?"

"They showed up a few weeks after the cease fire, claiming it was a 'haven' for metas. We thought it was strange at first, but then more and more of them started showing up. Some of the town started getting jumpy, and I've had to drive up there more times than I can count to settle a dispute, but they haven't gone around causing trouble so far."

"Maybe the some metas used to be sanctioned heroes?" said Sally. "Or enough of them, at least. People who are different don't want to be picked on and find common cause to group together. I can see how the town could be worried, too. Lots of folks saying, 'why us?' to themselves."

Then Sally had a thought. "You should invite their leaders to come into town for lunch and talk. Have a reporter present. If things go well, you can tell the townsfolk that you think the metas don't want to cause trouble and everyone could breath a bit easier."

"Believe me, I've tried, but they won't even let anyone through the gate that isn't a meta. They seem content to cut themselves off completely."

"That sounds rude," remarked Sally. Then she said, "But at least they talk with you, I mean, how else do you settle the disputes?"

Sally liked the idea if fitting in somewhere, but these meta humans sounded a little crazy and their home a little like a prison. Also, while she might fool some of them, she really wasn't a meta.

It was getting late and Sally didn't know how much longer she was going to be able to stay awake and alert. Maybe Sheriff Hester could help...? She asked him, "Is there a YWCA or a woman's shelter in the town? If there is, could you give me a lift? I'm so tired that I might fall over between steps if I don't lay down soon."

Sheriff Hester thought for a moment, scratched his head and said, "Well, Miss Gwyn, how do you feel about Catholics?"

Sally raised an eyebrow at the question and replied, "Some Catholics are lovely people, the others I don't care to talk about."

The Sheriff understood and smiled, "Sister Valentine of the Poor Clares, I mean the Order of Saint Clare, some folks call them 'Poor Clares', takes in un-wed expectant mothers. The Sister is a gentle soul. She may have some work and a room for you."

Sally thought and said, if you recommend her, Sheriff, then I'm sure that she's a wonderful person."

Sheriff Hester took Sally to the east side of town. The Poor Clares had a residence with an attached chapel and there was a building dedicated to helping the needy, also with an attached chapel. Between the two buildings were three gardens, herbs, flowers and vegetables.

The Sheriff knocked on the door and a novice answered. The novice escorted them to Sister Valentine's office and the Sister graciously found a room for Sally in the other residence.

Sally thanked both Sheriff Hester and Sister Valentine. The novice led her to the assigned room and left.

Alone, Sally barricaded the door by moving her bed in front of it and shut the curtains. Feeling spent from the last few days, Sally barely managed to get her clothes off and lay down before sleep took her.

Late, the next morning, Sally awoke to the sound of someone knocking. By the voice it was probably the Novice, checking in on her. Breakfast time had come and gone, but Sister Valentine was worried when the people in her care missed more than one meal. Sally quickly cast her 'Human Kind' spell upon herself and put on the last of her clean undergarments. Through the closed door, Sally assured the Novice that she was well. When the nun-in-training went away, Sally moved the bed from the door and opened the curtains. It looked like a lovely day.

The Poor Clares were wonderful women. They allowed Sally to use their washing machine and dryer, and loaned her a robe to wear during the process. They invited her to lunch, a wonderful soup with vegetables from their garden and fresh bread.

During the meal, Sally complimented them, and Sheriff Hester. Sister Valentine told Sally that the Sheriff was a good man. Sally mentioned the Sheriff's worry about the meta-humans, to which the Sister said they needed to pray for peace and understanding. Amen to that, replied Sally. Eventually, Sally learned the the meta-human camp was at a place called Thunder Mountain, about six or so miles to the southwest.

Sally helped with the dishes, afterwards and then retrieved her cleaned clothes from the laundry. After dressing, she grabbed her backpack and told the Sister that she wanted to go into town, to see about earning some money, which was true, and she didn't expect to be returning that night. The Sister blessed Sally and wished her well.

Sally did walk into Monarch and halfheartedly asked about work, but the locals looked askance at her and nothing came of her search.

As the time approached five that afternoon, the town began to quiet down and the few diners put out their sidewalk boards, advertising the early dinner specials.

It was then that Sally took note of the position of the Sun, walked into an open field and then into the forest. Sally looked about and not seeing anyone, she dropped her magical disguise. The green girl extended her gossamer wings through the slits in the back of her clothing. Her wings dimly glowed with magic as she lifted from the ground and began flying southwesterly, toward the meta-human camp.

by **WhatsamattaU** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 11:10 am

Flagstaff, Arizona.
Windtalker

Mr. and Mrs. Merkas had been married for nearly four years. A blink of an eye in their expected natural lifespans. Mary would always look like she did when she was nineteen, except for the tattoos that had appeared when she became nearly immortal. Marko was over a hundred and thirty years old, but looked like a man in his late twenties. Maybe that was why their love-making was always exciting?

Mary had come back from her office in Flagstaff to their little earthly home and from there through the portal to The Thingrove. Marko, who had recently been on a mission, was there to greet her. Marko pulled her in for a kiss and then led her to the bedroom before she could get a word out. She didn't mind. She always wanted him, but especially when he was wanting her....

After a second round of passion, the pair lay side by side, glistening in sweat and panting.

"Anything interesting at work?" asked the love of her life.

"Actually, yes, there is," Mary answered. "There's some traffic on the internet, some of the meta-human chat rooms, about a 'Doctor Carroll', down in Sierra Vista, looking for meta-humans of the fighting variety. Carroll was the brains behind the 'Arc Corporation' before that big accident in Washington state. I was thinking about heading down there, to snoop around, just to get an idea of what's happening...." Mary smiled and continued, "If only I knew of some great, fighting meta-human who could take a look at the inside of the operation..." then her glowing eyes twinkled at him, "Marko, would you help me investigate this?" She then gave her husband a slow and deep kiss, and whispered, "I'm sure that I can think of some way to make it up to you...."

by **The Cyberiad Council** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 9:12 pm

Marko Merkas, Aka Hellhound

"Hmm, as much as I'd love to, I'm afraid the Watchers will need me again soon. Somnus will be back to pick me up tomorrow. But, if it is worth the attention of the Watchers, I'll check it out sooner or later..."

Judas

It took some effort, but Judas had finally found a meta in Oslo that was strong enough to unlock his second seal. He didn't last much longer after that. He was a competent meta, but there's only so many times a human head can withstand being slammed through a brick wall. Nine hours later and New York was coming into view. Judas was going to have to keep in mind, he only had thirteen hours left, but that was plenty of time to do what he came here to do. The 'Lone Queen of the North' was proving erratic. Why come to NY? Was it an attempt to throw him off? Unlikely. Judas doubted she was even aware she was being tracked. It wasn't easy, but everyone's memory can be jogged with enough intimidation.

With the city rapidly growing, Judas lowered his angle of attack and slammed into the broken pavement. Even though Judas had little experience in the city, a quick look around put him at the intersection of Clinton and Stanton. "This place looks worse than I thought it would. Not my handiwork, but I respect the artist."

With a smile, Judas started walking down the debris-laden streets, looking and listening for signs of his target. Despite the focus on his goal, he couldn't help but be reminded of the Tower of Babel.

Suddenly, the sound of gunfire caught his attention. Judas flew over the debris in his path, and he spotted what looked like three soldiers firing on a wall of ice. "Hmm, seems you went and found your own trouble," Judas thought to himself. In a cloud of dust, Judas lauched himself into the air, but quickly lowered his body near the ground, flying in low. He grabbed the foot of the nearest CNDR and lifted it and himself into the air. Using his strength, Judas slammed it into the next machine, sending them both tumbling into a wall. They tried to climb back to their feet, but the villain was right behind them, and drove his bare fist through the center of both their chassis. The third CNDR turned away from his initial target and began to fire at the newcomer. Judas hissed as the large rounds formed welts on his skin. He looked around for a way to stop the incoming punishment and his eyes spotted a car door barely poking out of a mount of rubble where a portion of a building had collapsed onto the street. His strength and speed made it easy to tear the door off and use it as a shield. With his impromptu barrier, Judas flew to the last CADMUS drone and batted its gun aside. It was then a simple matter of reaching up and ripping off its head.

The machine dropped to the ground completely still, and Judas took a minute to marvel at his carnage. However, the presence of what could be his target kept him from dwelling on it for long, "Its, alright," He called to the unknown meta. "I took care of them, you can show yourself."

Perhaps this was an opportunity to have a little fun before ending this stranger's life; the sweet taste of betrayal was a tempting prospect.

by **Higher Japan** » Wed Sep 26, 2018 1:15 am

Catherine

"Motherfucker!" Catherine shouted to herself, spear in hand as she hid behind the ice wall, hearing the bullets ping as she saw that it was starting to crack. At least the ice itself was opaque so they couldn't really see where she was but some bullets came close far too close. Clutching her spear, she was ready to make a run for it before she heard something outside.

The sound of metal breaking apart, fighting, and finally silence.

As she heard someone call out to her, she considered her options. A, go out and get shot. B, go out and die. C, go out and get captured. Breaking a small opening on the top of the ice, she summoned up what remained of her strength, blasting a wall up beneath her as it went upwards of roughly 10 meters up. Silently, she stared at Judas. Merely saying nothing as she awaited from her elevated position, spear still in her hand.

by **Skaldia** » Wed Sep 26, 2018 5:33 pm

Sierra Vista, Arizona
0320 Local Time
Alexander Vachel, "Cutter"

The motorcycle was a recent acquisition of Alexander's, taken from a drug dealer in the slums outside Houston who had styled himself as a man of class. He had crossed Alexander, attempting to betray him out of a sizable payout that Alexander had worked hard for. Crossing Alexander had resulted in Alexander living up to his nickname. By the time Alexander had tired of torturing the man, the drug dealer had resembled a piece of meat. With that satisfying act of vengeance completed, Vachel had relieved the man of his keys to his new toy, leaving in time before the drug dealer's thugs had discovered their boss had become so pluralized.

Now, that same motorcycle curled to a stop outside a single-floor stucco house in a residential neighborhood of houses that looked the same in every direction. It had taken nearly an hour for Alexander to find this one house, where a rumored Dr. Carroll was supposed to be holed up in. The search for Dr. Carroll had begun at Sierra Vista General Hospital where inquiries and bribes had led Alexander to his present location.

Alexander gingerly removed himself from the embrace of the motorcycle, stretching as he came to stand. The stretch also made sure that all his knives and other bladed instruments weren't in an awkward position or caused inhibition of movement. For this meeting, he had even dressed up somewhat. Black khakis, black dress shirt, black vest, and a maroon silk tie. His ever-present gold goggles and flashy jewelry had been regrettably set aside and his white hair tossled into something approaching respectable. Normally, he wouldn't change attire just to meet some doctor promising riches. However, his last payout had been a pittance compared to what he was used to and he needed the resources to further his ambitions. His latest goal was a nightclub in Phoenix named the Pearl Palace; it's revenues were great and it would be a good front for any side ventures Alexander had an inkling of starting.

Confident that his knives and blades were securely hidden and not obstructing his movements, Alexander walked up to the door. His hand went up to knock and almost did, stopping right before it touched the wood. A smile touched his lips instead. The door exploded off it's hinges, and Alexander calmly walked past the wreckage he had caused and into the building.

by **WhatsamattaU** » Wed Sep 26, 2018 7:09 pm

Idyllium, near Monarch, Montana
Sally Three Spells
a Cyberiad Council and WhatsamattaU collaboration

The metas seemed to pay the slightly green girl any mind as she walked towards their camp. A few geomancers were working to raise sections of stone to form a perimeter wall. It was slow, but steady work. The monoliths were perfectly formed rectangular pillars, fitting together seamlessly. Beyond them, several proper buildings were under construction, breaking up the sea of tents. Metas were everywhere, displaying their powers openly. One was using her powers to weave blankets from grass, while others were sparring or entertaining children.

Sally had made it a good ways into the camp, but she had still only seen a small fraction of Idyllium. Then, Sally, noticed a woman walking towards her. She was looking straight at her. She wasn't hostile or threatening, but the laser intensity was a bit unnerving.

"You're a long way from home, aren't you?" She asked when they were within speaking distance. The hum around them didn't change. The people just went about their day, not giving Sally a second look. They accepted her as a normal part of everyday.

"I get that a lot," answered Sally, warily. "I realize coming in through the forest isn't the same as coming in the front gate, but the general public can be very judgemental. I sort of had people giving me dirty looks in Eureka and Boise."

The woman was quite pretty, with brown hair in gentle curls that fell below her shoulders. A small flower was either painted or tattooed near the outside of her left eye. She looked just a little younger than Sally's mother, who Sally hadn't seen for a year, now.

Sally held her ground. Now she would see how accepting the meta-humans really were. Maybe they might not know the difference between a meta-human and a faerie, and if they did, maybe it wouldn't matter.

"Call me 'Sally'", she said to the woman.

"No, I mean a very long way from home. A further distance than you could walk in a lifetime," The woman replied. "Its a pleasure to meet you, Sally. I'm Dana Kane. I was wondering how long it would take you to find this place. Welcome to Idyllium. I invite you to stay as long as you wish, our doors are always open."

What the...? thought Sally. 'A further distance than I could walk in a lifetime?' That could be explained later. What was important was that the Lady had offered Sally hospitality!

"Thank you, Lady Kane," Sally said with a deep curtsy. "It's a pleasure to be your guest. I will do my best not to abuse your hospitality."

"I hope that you'll forgive me," began Sally, feeling a little bit uncertain and disadvantaged, "but would you think it rude of me to ask where it is you think I'm from and how long you've been wondering when I would find this place?"

"I don't know, but I am eager to find out," Kane noted the look of confusion on Sally's face and explained. "I'm an empath, I can sense emotions and feelings and intuitions. Its not as clear as telepathy, but can often give more information than even the target is consciously aware of. As for the latter part, we have a few precogs and clairvoyants that picked you up a world away. I'd love to show you around if you're interested."

"I think I should like it very much Lady Kane," said Sally. Sometime during the tour, Sally could ask if there were others here that looked like her. Right now, the best thing Sally thought she ought to do was to be polite, attentive and open to learning. If Lady Kane could sense emotions, then it would be troubling for her to sense underlying fears and doubts. Sally did her best to banish fears and just live in the moment.

"At this point," said Sally in a complimentary tone, "I imagine you as beautiful within as you appear without." She gave the Lady a big, honest smile. She was beginning to feel something like happiness again.

by **The Cyberiad Council** » Wed Sep 26, 2018 8:25 pm

Judas

The villain offered a lopsided smile as he levitated into the air to match The Lone Queen's height. "Not even a 'thank you' for saving your life? Hmm. I had heard you were cold, but I didn't know they were talking about your personality," Judas joked. "I was looking for you in Norway, but wouldn't you know it, I just missed you."

Judas flew over to stand on the side of one of the nearby buildings, trying to figure out Catherine's personality.

The Pantheon
El Sadat City, Egypt

"IS THIS SERIOUSLY THE BEST YOU CAN DO?" Svarog screamed as his hammer collided with a group of Argus soldiers. "Careful, Svarog, they have power dampening tech," Vulcan called over comms from the safety of Olympus. They had parked the aircraft out of rage of Argus SAM encampments, but Proioxis was making quick work of them. "Threedownfourtgo," She called over comms. An explosion erupted in the distance. "makethatthree."

"Slow down, Proioxis," Came the calming voice of Sol Invictus as he flew low to the ground and decimated a another group of agents. A tank rolled around the corner and quickly took aim at the leader. "Shit!" No time to dodge. Instead, Invictus threw his arms open like he was expecting a hug. The shell tore through the air, and Invictus caught it like a football, using his power to rapidly drain it of its energy. He slid back across the ground several feet, but he dropped the shell to the ground. He might have broken a rib, but all things considered, he would take it. Invictus felt the energy stored in his body surge through his arms and manifest as glowing flames of raw energy in his palms. "My turn," He spat as he wound up like a pitcher and launched one of the spheres of power at the tank. Instead of imparting kinetic energy, the sphere enveloped the tank, burning it from the inside out.

Invictus took to the air and sent the other blast of energy roaring into a group of Argus agents, leaving a smoldering crater in his wake. Chernobog was rather calmly walking down the street, using the shadows cast by the noonday sun to form large barriers that protected him from on coming enemy fire as he used tendrils to sweep any agents aside and his wellspring to incapacitate priority targets.

"Why can't I be down there?" Cernunnos moaned from the Olympus. His eyes were adapted like a hawk's. It wasn't perfect, but he could see the battlefield relatively well. "You know perfectly well why," Mimir joked as his right eye glowed with varying levels of intensity, indicating he was scanning different lengths into the future. He could see the fight as if he was standing on the street, despite the length. "Svarog, be advised, you have an enhanced agent coming up behind you. Big guy, robotic armor. You take him out with a mallet to the face."

"For the last time, its not a mallet: ITS A HAMMER!" Svarog yelled over comms. Back on the ground, he heard the clanking of the armored agent just like Mimir predicted. Using his power, Svarog channeled some more molten metal from his armor into the bit of empty space in the head of the hammer, giving him more telekinetic oomph to his swing. "He's rounding the corner in 3. 2. 1. NOW!"

With frightening speed and precision, Svarog brought the hammer screaming through the air and burning with the intensity of a forge. It slammed into the enhanced's armor and crumpled it like tinfoil. For added measure, the Slavic brute touched the armor and the metal portions rapidly heated, cooking the occupant that was still barely clinging to life. Five agents came storming up behind him, but the sound of distant footfalls grew into a thundering thudding, followed by a shower of debris as Ares tore through the wall of a home and mowed down the pathetic resistance. The gods of war and fire exchanged a nod as Svarog finished liquefying the metal from the power armor, feeding it into the storage channels on his arm, and forming extra, crude plate armor on his chest.

Amalthea, Chernobog, and Sol Invictus did quick work mopping up the foot soldiers, while Ares and Svarog took out their heavy hitters and Proioxis took out their outer defenses. But eventually, they found themselves all gathered together facing the last group of agents. They had set up a power dampening field, making the villains weary of moving in. Despite that fact, Sol Invictus stepped forward. "Adrian Pearson, stand down, you are under arrest."

"Ha!" Pearson sneered. "I am Sol Invictus: the Unconquered Sun! But you are worrying about the wrong god..." The ground began to shake as a wind picked up from the south west. "You should be fearing the god of deserts."

A massive form began to take shape in the distance as Set unleashed the fury of the sands. The Agents could do little but watch in horror as the storm rolled in to sweep them off the map. Some tried to grab hold of anything in reach, but it was futile. The sand swept in, and blew them, and the power dampeners away, entombing their fate. The storm flowed around the Pantheon without so much as a granule of sand settling in Amalthea's fur. When the roaring wind died, Set walked calmly up beside them, earning him a smile from several of the team. "Nice work, but we're not done here," Invictus reminded as he walked towards the crater Argus had been guarding.

It looked like a small sun was burning in the bottom of the pit, and kept the rock around it molten. The outer rim of the crater had turned to glass under the heat. "So here lies the mighty Hyperion. Its almost a shame. He could have been such a mighty member of the Pantheon."

Proioxis came to a skidding stop as the smoke from the last SAM battery rose into the air. "The airspace is open, you're free to move in Vulcan," Invictus said, noting the speedster's arrival. "So, what's the plan, Adrian?" The younger woman asked, shielding her eyes from the light in the pit. "You're just going to waltz down there? Think you can handle it?"

"We'll find out," Invictus replied as he stretched his hands towards Hyperion. Almost instantly, the light began to dim, and the heat subside. Slowly, Invictus walked his way down into the crater, the ground cooling and solidifying as his body vacuumed up the intense heat. It was going well, but soon, Invictus began to struggle. There was only so much his body could absorb, and he was still several feet from the golden hero. "Don't over do it, Pearson," Chernobog advised from the rim of the crater.

Invictus furrowed his brow and began channeling the energy into his right hand and out his left. Absorbing the thermal and converting it to electromagnetic and firing it off into his surroundings. Slowly, he advanced more and more, until he was standing within a few feet of Hyperion. "I have him contained as much as I'm going to get, I need the cell, Vulcan."

"We are inbound."

Minutes later, the silhouette of Olympus stood out against the sun. The massive ship slowly lowered closer and closer to the ground until it was mere feet from crushing the buildings underneath it. Invictus levitated into the air, and he nodded to Set. The silent god gathered loose sand in the area and pooled it under Hyperion's body. Anything that came into direct contact with the hero solidified to glass, but with Set's control, the solar protector of Earth rose into the belly of the Pantheon's ship. Invictus floated alongside, using his power to keep Hyperion from melting the ship. Even while he was unconscious, he was still incredibly dangerous.

Ares nudged Amalthea, "How'd you like to be the one to carry star-boy? You're indestructible, right?" It was a jest, fully aware that she would be a grilled goat if she tried.

Once Hyperion had be secured in a special power dampening cell designed by Vulcan, and the Pantheon loaded back on board, the Olympus quickly began to climb into the atmosphere. They were headed for the edge of space, making it that much more difficult for them to be detected and intercepted. They weren't impossible to find, but anyone honest with themselves knew they didn't WANT to find the pantheon.

In the hull of the ship, Vulcan was busy checking the cell and prepping his equipment to wake the hero. Sol Invictus and Chernobog stood on the sidelines, looking at the strange, greek-inspired armor of Hyperion. It looked deceptively low-tech, but Vulcan's preliminary scans showed it was incredibly advanced with alien tech designed to survive on the surface of a star without any issue. "I think this is dangerous, having him on board."

"I know, Armin, but if something managed to slap one of the most powerful metas in existence to Earth, I want to know what we're dealing with. Are you ready, Vulcan?"

"Yes, I should be able to stimulate his brain remotely, but his alien biology could have a few unpredictable reactions."

"As long as you think its safe, go ahead."

Vulcan nodded and pressed a button to activate his equipment. A slight humming noise filled the air, but culminated in a bright flash, and Hyperion jerked awake. He looked around wildly, and finally settled on Sol Invictus. A faint glow began to build under his skin, but it just a quickly faded. "What is this?" Hyperion asked, confused as to what could stop his powers. Nothing Argus had could even come close to stopping his powers, but this cell just canceled them out completely.

"Its advanced power dampening tech I invented especially for you. It specifically halts fusion or dimensional warping as I was not positive as to the source of your powers. Fusion was unlikely given the limited mass of your body, but I wanted to cover all possibilities," Vulcan exposited, walking around to stand next to Invictus.

"I assume its the Pantheon I have to thank for this hospitality?" Hyperion sighed.

Invictus nodded and stared Hyperion down."What happened?"

"You'll have to be more specific."

"Don't play coy. What sent you to Earth?"

"It was silvery, metallic. Humanoid. I'd never seen anything like it before."

"But how did you survive?"

"It didn't attack conventionally. I didn't see it fire a weapon, but it jumped me to hyperspace. I only had seconds, but I managed to use my powers to pull me out of it before I impacted, but I was injured. And I was healing before you so rudely interrupted..."

Sierra Vista, Arizona

Cutter quickly realized that this wasn't Carroll's main place of residence. It couldn't be. There wasn't a single piece of furniture or appliance in the house. "I wish you had phoned ahead. I would have been out to meet you," a voice said behind Cutter.

Dr. Carroll was standing in the doorway, holding a dark sphere. Cutter instantly felt the buzz in the roots of his teeth that signaled he was under the effect of a power dampener.

by **WhatsamattaU** » Wed Sep 26, 2018 11:07 pm

Flagstaff, Arizona
Windtalker

The next morning, Mary arrived at her earthly residence, from The Thingrove. Marko took his missions with The Watchers very seriously, so Mary accepted that he wouldn't join her on this investigation and didn't harbor any resentment over it. She would ask him all about it, later. For now, she'd be on her own.

It would be about a five hour drive from Flagstaff going south to Sierra Vista, near the U.S. and Mexico border. Mary might have hitched a ride with Somnus, but at this point the investigation wasn't a matter of immediate life and death, so she decided take the scenic route. The Geep Rangler was comfortable, enough with a driver and three passengers. Today it would just be her and Chahałheeł.

Chahałheeł was ten years old now. As she made certain he received good medical care, he might live another two to six more years. Mary thought about what she'd do after he was gone. She didn't think she'd want to raise another coyote. She'd let him have sole possession of that place in her heart for as long as she lived.

They buckled up and Mary started the engine. As it would be a trip of hours, Mary had some listening material. She'd listen to the digital computer voice brief her on the Arc Corporation Incident and the findings. That would be a rather dry hour. It would be procrastinating, but she'd listen to that later. She touched the console control and said, "Sear-ee, play Aaron Copeland, Billy the Kid suite."

The open road beckoned and their spirits were peaceful as the scenery rolled by.

Are We Heroes: Broken World [IC]

Are We Heroes: Broken World [IC]

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