Burning_Brawler_NA

((Oh, I see the hold up.))

Dana closed her brief case and looked at the clock. "I'm gonna be late again!"

She rushed for the door.

"Your task will be joining Void Brawler in breaking into the M.A.G.I. vault. I have two high security items that need acquiring, but should not be a highly difficult challenge if you are careful. They are not due to update their security for several weeks."

The image of the sword from earlier showed once more on the laptops, but there was something else.

It was a green gem, with a black substance seeming to swirl within it.

"Obtain both of these items," said Blade. "Or your payment will be significantly reduced."

Blade nodded and handed her the apartment number.

"Her apartment building is approximately three blocks from here, across the street from Cooke's Electronics... and Positron and Valkyrie. Unless you are up to the task or kidnapping her so close to those heroes, we must wait to intercept her on her way to work."

Nictus Brawler looked out the window. "You humans and your pathetic plans. Simply teleporting her to us would be of no problem."

"Yes, but the agency that hired us isn't paying you, now is it?" said Blade, visibly irritated.

((I don't care if I GM the next one or not *shrugs*))

The Ruby Blade was silent for a moment, before pulling back his glove, revealing a device that looked like a wrist watch.

"Nictus, we are ready."

There was a hiss of static and a click as Blade looked at the others. "An associate of mine is providing quick transport to Steel Canyon. If any of you have objections with teleportation, then it is already too late."

There was a flash of purple and black energies, and they were gone.

There was a rush of air as they reappeared in an abandoned office building.

A man in a purple costume with black flames running up his arms, leg, and cape stared at them with glowing purple eyes from underneath a hood.

"The target is going to be at work in a half hour. Her office is down the block. Do I have any volunteers to retrieve her quickly?" asked Blade.

The Opportunist seemed to appear out of nowhere as he he opened the door to the last room.

"I trust my assassins are feeling well?"

Void Brawler nodded, all he received from Ruby was a shrug.

"Ruby Blade, may I speak to you outside for a moment?"

The assassin sheathed his sword and walked out, leaving a confused Void Brawler.

When the two were outside, The Opportunist shut the door.

"Did the boy see the match?"

"No. I told him he should be training, not watching petty fights."

"Good, good. Keep up the good work and perhaps I shall enlist your own nemesis once one of the others fails."

The assassin worked hard to suppress a grin at the thought of finally ending that damnable archer. He re-entered the room. "What did he want?" asked Void.

"Nothing. We shall continue training." Ruby Blade drew his sword, and Void Brawler sighed, wrapping his hands in shadows.

Outside, The Opportunist was smiling. "These pathetic worms are so easily manipulated..."

When everyone had arrived, The Ruby Blade came into view.

"I hope you have all slept well. We have a full day's job ahead of us, our first task the kidnapping of that woman. Void Brawler and FireSpark shall wait in a warehouse in Galaxy City until it is time to begin the theft."

He opened a laptop and a picture of a burnette woman in her mid 20's appeared. "This is our target. We shall intercept her on her way to work in Steel Canyon. There are plenty of heroes, so keep yourselves concealed. I will not have this mission fail at the easiest stage."

He took out several ear mics and what looked like a patch. Ruby placed his hand inside his mask to put in the ear piece, then lifted it up to his neck to apply the patch.

"These are our communicators. They work by subvocalizing, so we can stay in touch unheard. Now, does everyone understand our first task?"

((I'm definitely better at being evil than being good ))

Burning Brawler walked into the room, and sat down.

Not a second later, The Opportunist entered the room.

"Well done, well done. An entertaining fight, especially watching your obliterating that one hero."

"Shut it you old-"

"Now, now. Rough language will only get your daughter killed. It would be such a shame if the safeguards in her next match should somehow deactivate."

Pstorm glared angrily. "I can handle myself."

"Of course you can, child. Now rest up, gladiators, the next match will be starting any minute."

The Opportunist left the room, and walked down the hall. He entered a room to see it filled with jars and cannisters of things best not described.

Blightlord turned for a moment to see who had entered, before turning back to the table covered in ingredients.

"I assume you watched the match and that you learned what you needed to?" asked The Opportunist.

"All I learned was that defeating those pathetic heroes and the Rikti will be an easier task than I had originally thought. Now if that is all, leave me," said the undead master, bottling a tube and placing it in a pouch on his belt.

"Remember, here I am your master," said The Opportunist.

Blightlord turned and loaded a potion into his launcher in one quick movement.

He crossed the room and placed it at the old man's throat. "No one controls me. You are simply a tool for my revenge on Burning Brawler and his pathetic family. Now leave me."

"Wouldn't it be a shame if the owners of this fine arena were to learn of how you plan to sabotage their systems?"

Two Grave Knights appeared a second later, swords crossed around the Opportunist's neck.

The undead master glared at the old man. "Is that a threat?"

"No. It's a promise."

And he disappeared.

Post deleted by Burning_Brawler

((When you lose, you're mediported out.))

Burning grabbed Chertak's unsinged hand and pulled him to his feet before heading to the exit.

Burning readied himself to attack Shinae in case she had phased, already running forward to beat her the same way he did Hal.

Void reached out and a tentacle of darkness slid through the hole in another bagel before dropping it in with the other.

"Shinae, you know you can't take all three of us, and I don't want to fight another hero. Just surrender?" Burning wasn't lying. He'd much rather fight the Rikti than another hero.

((Alright, let's try to get this mission started.))

Void Brawler looked out his window as the sun rose. He had been lying awake for hours, another nightmare keeping him from sleep.

He put on his costume, and walked down to the kitchen. Seeing he was the first there, he looked in the fridge and took some orange juice before putting a bagel in the toaster.

Burning Brawler flew through Dark Astoria. He knew it would be the best place to perform this spell uninterrupted.

He landed on a rooftop and sat cross-legged. Closing his eyes, he began to murmur the incantation.

He saw the trucks carrying the 'Kickers to the Ziggurat. He knew that some of the others were planning escapes and investigations of their own, so he had to work fast.

The Longbow agent heard static on his communicator. He picked it up and said, "What was that?"

He heard the voice of his commander. "I said, take the prisoners back to the base, and leave them enough power to use the super computer."

"Sir, with all due respect, I don't think-"

"You're not supposed to think. That was an order, now follow it."

The agent grumbled as he relayed the orders to the other trucks.

***

Danica placed on the small, black mask and inspected herself in the mirror.

She wore her new costume. Red was the dominant color, except for the black along the edges of her arms, legs, side, and cape, with spikes curving down. She kept her old red belt, and sharpened her heels to be like that of her old costume.

She ran over to the door and opened to see Heat Seeker waiting for her. "Can I come in?"

Danica hurriedly slammed the door and heard a fireball smash against it.

She ran towards the window, when she heard the sound of a flamethrower. The door came down, and a large man in heavy armor walked in. His glowing orange eyes narrowed. He had a twisted grin on his scarred face as he said, "Pleased to meet ya. Name's The Immolator, and I'm here to kick *** and chew-"

"Don't tell me you were about to say that," said Torcher. He teleported and reappeared in front of Danica. "Going so soon? The party's just getting started!" He grabbed her arms and flames surged.

The Immolator grumbled something, but cheered up when he began to burn the apartment, swinging his flamethrower left and right to make sure he got all of it.

Pyra leapt through a nearby window. "What a dump."

Danica grabbed Torcher with her free hand and flung him into Pyra, sending them both out the window.

A man in purple robes with orange flames rose, Pyra in hand. She leapt back through the window as conjured illusory villains.

Torcher teleported back in. "That was cheap."

He and the robed man both let out searing blast of heat as Pyra rushed in.

Techno-Flame stood beside Heat Seeker. "At this rate, they'll kill her."

"Don't be so sure," said Seeker.

As Pyra swung, Danica ducked and delivered a double-palm strike to her stomach. Pyra doubled over, and groaned in pain.

Torcher angrily teleported in front of Danica and threw a fireball in her face. He realized his mistake as she cried out and grabbed his ears.

Danica pulled him down by the ears onto her leg, and Torcher yelled as his nose broke.

He fell on the ground, clutching his bleeding face, when Seeker held out his palm. "That is enough," he said as Danica moved in to finish the pair. She began to bring her leg down on his head, but felt sluggish. She fell over, suddenly feeling too weak to stand.

A bright flash from Mystillumin made everything white, then for her, black.

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

Heat Seeker paced around the conference table, waiting for his lieutenant's report.

As Mystillumin walked in, he turned to hear what he had to say. "Sir, I have... interesting... news..."

"Yes?"

"The prisoner has many protections on her, all focused on a single part of her, and one illusion."

"Well? What is it?" Seeker was becoming impatient. He knew Danica could break out if the proper measures were not taken.

"She's... she's pregnant, Sir."

Seeker's jaw dropped, and he removed his helmet. "What was that?"

"The prisoner is pregnant. Perhaps... five, six months? It took me some time to figure out the purpose of some of the charms cast on her, until I removed the illusion. I'm willing to wager she was not willing to quit hero work, and her husband cast spells to keep the baby intact during any fights," said the magus.

"So when we attacked her-"

"The baby was completely unharmed."

"Good. I wish to end the brat personally."

Mystillumin's eyes grew wide. He had committed many murders, but this went beyond what morals he had left. "Sir, I'm afraid I cannot let you do that. Such an act... it goes beyond villainy-"

"Silence, or you shall be a pile of ash on the floor!"

Mystillumin held his arms out, standing between Heat Seeker and the prison. "I shall not let you pass!" he declared.

"Then you die!" Seeker hissed. He threw a blast at the mage's face, but it passed right through him. The villain whirled around to see a dozen copies, all forming a chain around him.

Seeker placed his hands on the ground, and sent a pulse of flame that was sure to hit him.

When they were still untouched, he continued turning, try to find the real mage.

A blast of flame erupted from each copy's hand, and struck Heat. He growled in rage as sensors on his armor registered thermal overloads. He snapped his helmet back on and switched to thermal vision.

He saw Mystillumin hovering near the ceiling. Seeker stretched out his hand, and stole some of the mage's energy before leaping into the air to hit him with a blow that sent the mage tumbling to the ground.

Seeker landed down beside him, and began draining more power, when Mystillumin filled the room with a bright flash of heated light.

The villain was blinded, and cried out in pain. "Pyra, Torcher, Techno, Immolator! Report to the conference room! Security breach!" he screamed. His call echoed over the intercoms, and soon the four flame-wielding villains were in the room.

They saw their boss fighting one of their own, and were confused at first. Mystillumin used this to his advantage by convincing creating an illusion.

Suddenly they saw their boss was losing to himself. They figured since Seeker’ activated the alarms, the one winning was the intruder, and attacked.

As he was hit by fiery blast, fist, and flamethrower, he cried out, "Not me you fools! Him!!!"

Torcher's eyes widened. "Boss? Crap... Sorry?"

"Just shut up and kill the traitor!" Seeker spat.

"What traitor?" asked Techno. They looked where Mystillumin had been a moment before.

He was gone.

The mage was running below, to the prison section. He found Danica, held down with power dampener cuffs.

"What do you want?" she said, anger clear.

"I'm here to free you. I-I've made a horrible mistake," he said.

"Like I'm gonna fall for that," said Danica.

He held out his hands, and the cuffs sprung open. The cell door opened.

Danica slowly stood. "Y-you're serious, aren't you?" she said, never taking her eyes off him as she walked out.

Mystillumin nodded. "It won't be long until we're discovered. Follow me."

He held out a hand and a secret passageway opened, one that led to the base portal exit. It was just large enough for a person to walk through if they bent their head.

And the two made their escape.

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

A woman walked into the 'Kickers base and was stopped by a group of Longbow guards. "What's going on?" she said.

"These heroes are under base arrest until an investigation can be completed."

"What? What are you talking about?" She pushed past them, shaking her head.

"Miss, stop!" ordered the guard, but she was already gone.

The woman ran down the hall, and ducked into a room to avoid the guards.

"What on earth is going on..."

***

Burning flew through the streets. He had to find someone, someone who could help his friends, prove they're innocent...

Ms. Liberty! But he couldn't go there in broad daylight... or at least... not dressed like he is.

He quickly flew towards Atlas Park, casting a disguise spell.

He exited the tram in a blue suit with red flames, and instead of a hood, goggles and his blonde hair showing.

He flew over to Ms. Liberty who was for once not surrounded by heroes looking for more than training.

He walked up to her, and looked around. "Excuse me, Ms. Liberty, we have to talk."

"Sorry, I don't just give out my phone number."

"No! It's not that, I-"

He suddenly noticed she was staring very hard at him. Her eyes went wide, and he saw her ready to strike.

"Wait!" he said.

"I can see right through that spell. You must have a good reason for risking your neck like this, so I'll give you the count of five before I knock you to the top of Atlas."

"Listen, my friends didn't do it. It's a villain plot."

"Time's up!" She swung and knocked Burning down to the steps. The disguise faded and he slowly sat up.

"If you'll just-" She planted a boot on his chest.

"For some reason my lie detectors aren't going off, and grandpa told me about your part in the Rikti War. All of it." Burning winced a little, not sure if this was in his favor or not, not to mention Ms. Liberty seemed to sharpen her heels just as much as Danica. "So I'm going to give you a chance here. I'll send orders to let Longbow put your friends on a sort of parole. But you have three days to catch whoever you say did it."

She removed her boot and Burning was about to say his thanks when he heard a click. He looked down at his wrist, and the device on it.

"What-"

"It's a very strong alloy. I wouldn't try melting it. You and you're friends are each having one of these placed on you. If you don't find these 'villains', then they bracelets will teleport you straight into the Zig. Are we clear?"

Burning nodded, and flew off, not hearing Ms. Liberty's whispered, "Good luck."

***

Mystillumin and Danica re-emerged in Mercy Isle.

"Listen, we have to move fast. There's a truck that takes a lot of villains to Atlas Park. You should be safe once in Paragon," he said, nervously looking around.

"What about you?" said Danica. "You're coming to, right?"

"I can't, Paragon City... I don't belong there."

"You stay here, and they'll kill you," Danica said. "Listen, I'll tell Longbow what you did for me, prove you're reformed. You can live in Paragon City like any other hero."

"It'll never- I couldn-" he sighed. "Why do you think that?"

"Because my husband did it."

Mystillumin looked off to the side, as if considering running. "Alright, I'll do it."

Danica nodded, and the two ran for their escape.

As soon as Scout threw the punch, Burning placed his hands on the ground.

All around Shinae erupted in fire, leaving no easy escape, the smoke gagging and choking her.

"Yes," said Burning, readying to attack.

"Why do they never surrender?" he asked no one in particular.

He waited for Shinae to return to this reality, before stealing the heat from the air around her, and encasing her in a thick block of ice.

((It'll crack enough for her to escape after one attack from us.))

Burning stole the heat from the ground around her, and encased her legs in ice.

"We can make this painless if you hold still," he said. "Or you can call a surrender."

But Burning was waiting for this.

As soon as she unphased, he sent a bolt of fire straight into her back.

((Plague, mind auto-controlling Shinji's char? I'm not sure he's coming back...))