CatKeeper

(This story is a little gory in description, reader discretion is advised)




September 15th, Thursday, 13:50.

Inside what was once an average office building rec room, now the contorted ruins of what once was, full of smoke, dust, broken glass and rubble. The tremors of the devastation still echo as the fight for Galaxy City's survivors continues shaking the foundations. Light peers into the room from the shatter windows and cracked walls, illuminating the masked dead that now litter within. Among the corpses, partially beneath the still hot rubble, lay the lifeless body of one of Paragon's defenders, Yoko Hatori, Tigergirl to the world.

Her costume burnt and in tatters, hair burnt away, left arm and legs, pinned beneath the burning rubble, part of her face and scalp scorched and coated in her dry blood, she lay there, unconscious, almost dead. Another tremor from the war outside rocks the unstable building, her right eye opened, her left sealed shut by dried blood, she gasped in the smoky air, choking and spitting blood soon after. Looking around, confused and disorientated, she slowly tries to make sense of her surroundings.

What happened? Where...where am I? Can't move my...

Yoko's thoughts ended there, realising her legs and arm are trapped under the ruins. Cursing pitifully, she began pulling herself free with her one good limb, gritting her teeth at the pain. The minutes felt like week as she dragged herself free, scraping at her raw, and charred flesh, but she soon made it.

Rolling onto her back and gasping for more air, what little remained, Yoko reached to her belt, pulling an oxygen mask from one of the pouches, and a small canister from another. She fumbles them together with her one working hand, emptying it into her lungs once ready. It didn't hold much, but she wasn't about to complain, she needed all she could get.

The survivor, regaining what senses she has left, examines her surroundings. The masked corpses around her triggered a memory. Hellions she recognised We were fighting before...what happened? Yoko shook her head lightly and took to assessing her injuries. Her right leg was injured but her left took the brunt of the damage, broken and twisted, both were burnt, but her right leg could still move somewhat. Her arm however.

“Oh god...”

Her arm was barely recognisable. Blackened by the flaming rubble, broken. And her forearm? Her hand? Nothing. Taken by the ruins.

Starting to panic, Yoko looked for the mediport on her belt. Jabbing the device with her thumb did nothing of worth. She tried her Unity Vigil commslink in her ear, but the sound of fizzing and sparks were her only response. Slipping the mediport away, and on the verge of breaking, the hero known as Tigergirl began crawling for the window, dragging her remains for any sort of salvation.

The light was blinding, yet gratifying, offering the last hope she had for life. Pulling herself through and falling only a few feet, Yoko gave a weak smile to the sky. As her vision returned the smile soon left. The ruins of the entire Galaxy City dawned, the chaos and death brought in an instant and sudden attack. Reaching for her communicator once more in desperate hope of an answer, she slowly fell back into unconsciousness.

I have two very powerful characters that could be considered cosmic level heroes to a degree, Starborn and Mileena Lim.

Mileena is a 2000 year old sorceress from another world, as such I've gone through several builds of her to display her powers, almost always a Blaster until the current build, Controller, which really suits her. Now I never really go beyond what the game allows in game, maibly because she's almost never played, but her powers have been stated to be incredibly strong. That said her body is no more vulnerable than the average person, meaning a punch to the face would really hurt and bullets are a big problem.

Naturally I can claim magical shielding against such things, but only as far as the game displays. Thing is I've had her always put a limit on her powers while on Earth so no to draw attention, and even her shields would likely be shredded by enough gattling guns.

As for Starborn she was always ment to be a tribute to Superman, it's written into her backstory that she's a lifelong fan of the comics, and as such she has very similar powers. While I always keep her powers to in game limitations for combat, I add that she has x-ray vision, solar charging, and ultra accute hearing.

Outside of Earth's electro-magnetic barrier she's even more powerful, able to hear the EM spectum, travel at the speed of light, and can't be harmed, but once she's in the barrier again that power is repulsed and she reverts to normal.

One aspect to Star that's drawn from the game is that, as of so far, nothing seems to be able to cut her skin, she's never bled her own blood, although she does feel pain.

She's definitely going to go Incarnate when she can, since she's supposed to be a true Paragon.

Otherwise my toons tend to use weapons, gadgets, stealth, and martial arts, mainly because I'm a sucker for the hero who only needs a costume and a concience.

Following Fusebox from the elevator in a scarlet one shoulder dress, slit up the left thigh, was the Vigil Martial Arts instructor Tigergirl. Slipping an arm around her blue haired fiancé, she glanced around the room to see who decided to come along.

Kiyarii will likely be there to help out and Starborn may turn up later on.

Thanks! And I will Z, once there's more to show!

Cass_'s Cassandra Zero

Hope you all like.

Was a good read, if confusing and depressing, here's hoping every future story isn't just a death story. :P

And I noticed Starborn was missing! ;.;

As it stands right now Yoko probably won't go due to witnessing Richard's actions last night.

Yoko will go if Hannah will go.

Mileena might turn up.

Kiyarii will go and bring Jess along.

Star isn't one for parties. :P

Just read through it and greatly enjoy! ^^

And yay! Yoko helped!

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Thing is the biggest problem in concept is I've effectively made Superman in a world without Kryptonite...


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But plenty of Magic.

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Indeed, and Star does struggle against Thorns. :P

As someone who effectively has two uber toons I may as well make their cases how I use them.

Mileena Lim is a powerful sorceress, she would essentially be a level 50 were I bothered to get anyone too that point. As such she doesn't hero, she's a teacher and property own and makes a fair amount of money from it by using said properties as a hotel franchise which recently went public so she doesn't make quite so much anymore. She lives on a tropical island with her NPC girlfriend who she'd rather spend her with than making her a target. She also rather vulnerable, a gun shot, with shields down for casual purposes, would kill her, she'd probably get her [censored] handed to her by the majority of sidekick scrappers on their first day of heroing were she to take them on in a fist fight, and she doesn't get too much exercise so she would likely be bettered in all sporting activities.

So she's not game breakingly uber, but if needed she'll help.

Starborn is a more tricky one, since she's inspired by Superman, and this is an IC element to her as she's a fan. The original reasoning when I thought of Starborn was "Well, Nevermore is GG's Batman...we could probably have a Superman too." but Starborn was ignored mostly, probably because, which seems to happen with almost all my male toons (YES THERE HAS BEEN SOME DAMNIT!), so I rerolled as a female and hey, some reaction!

Thing is the biggest problem in concept is I've effectively made Superman in a world without Kryptonite...

However she doesn't go against the rules of the game, she can be knocked out, she can be harmed, but she can't be cut, bleed, bones can't break and so on, but her physical stress levels can reach a limit where she would pass out, become dizzy, and other such situations, it's just really hard to do, as it should be for an invulnerable tanker. And this has happened, the Rikti Drop Ships have been ICly stated to shoot her out of the Galaxy sky, and she didn't turn up to GG for a while after the attack because she was currently a little unconcious.

Personality wise she's also flawed, she has trouble being social, and for years feared she would harm someone thanks to her strength, this has been quelled lately but is still a risk in her mind. She also is too forgiving perhaps, but this is thanks to her way of thinking, if something hurts her she'd rather forgive the person so they don't feel bad and go away to break some space rocks.



So yeah, those are my uber toons, it should be noted that even though they are more powerful, the best hero of mine is a martial artist with regen, IC she's a far more effective hero, far more experienced at being one in Paragon, but is also a little more aggressive, as my recent story of her's shows she can be quite brutal the even the odds. :P

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see FFM we agree .. for any of my char to RP interact with Ellie they HAVE to accept she got married and was widowed .. your RP choices are FORCED on to me ...

no one is asying this is wrong .. but it is how RP works .. we god mode what happens to our toons ,, then require others to accept that as fact ...

if i chosse to ignore your Ellie plot line i can not RP with her ...everything effects everything .. just like the real world ....

to say i will ignnore what i do not like that is god moding .. by placing one self above the rest of the world ...

lets all be honest .. we all god mode the moment we create a new character ........

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I'm sorry, what?

God modding is forcing someone into a situation in which they basically lose control over what their character responds too and how.

Claiming your character has used mind control on my character without my approval and then making up actions for my character is godmoding.

Setting up a story where god comes down to smite or rule over us all without us ALL agreeing it is godmodding.

Deciding you've killed Countess Crey or Recluse in a plot is godmodding.

All of which will be ignored entirely by the majority because they are all very bad ideas.

Having an all out attack on a player made organisation and Super Group by various canonically up for hire mercinary groups hired by a player created villain is not godmodding, it's completely ignorable, you don't need to get involved, and all involvement was your own choice.

Telling someone elements of your character's history is definately not godmodding, as it only has the affect as decided by that someone, not you.

12:05:05

Starborn finished blocking the main entrance, it wouldn't save the tower but it would slow them down for them moment.

"Bodi, I'm heading up now!"

Starborn took flight, moving quickly to reach the core.

12:05:08

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12:04:01

BODICIA's voice flickered over the comms frequency to Starborn. "None yet, but I am currently holding them off with the defenses. One of the Shadow Suits is heading this way though. You'll know one if you see one. I'll attempt to get Cindersnap's group down here, though currently a large amount of Malta forces have pushed through the lobby and are approaching his position."


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12:04:03

Starborn flies shoulder first into a Zeus Class Titan, using it to push back the intruders.

"I'll try to form a blockade from downed Titans, it might give us more time but I can't promise anything. Bodi, do we have any back up on the way? PPD or anyone else?"

She continues to use the Titans as both weapons and shields, using her strength to throw them at the intruders, though allows Libert Girl's allies to come through.

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12:02:59

"This is BODICIA. Continue the good work everyone. I seem to have a roach infestation, and I need you all to become exterminators. Remember though, our primary goal is survival. Take no undue risks. Take... oh my. Could I have some volunteers please? Special Forces are about to try and breach my Core Room in Vigilance Tower." BODICIA announced through the commslinks. In the core room on the second Tower, the AI floated in place in the central chamber, resting on a throne that was built into the rest of her body, looking very much like the cross between False Maria and Tron. Long fibreoptic cables hung from the ceiling to reach her back and skull, and shield platforms and gun emplacements already began to circle around her chamber.


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12:03:05

Starborn tore the arm off of a Malta robot before smaching the Titan into the floor and throwing the arm at a group of KoA.

"I'll do my best to fight them off, BODICIA, but will not kill!"

Taking more attacks she charges forward, attempting the flush as many out of the tower as best posible.

"I'm not sure I can make it to help you, I'm trying to keep them from flooding in, are there any on the way to help you, Bodi?"

12:01:12

Starborn rushes towards the Lobby, flying through the doors like a cannonball, the barrage of bullets that followed deflected off her body with small sparks, she smashes her hands together to knock the attackers over from the shockwaves before rushing forward towards Liberty girl.

"Linda!"

Before she can help she's knocked down from a missle, quickly she returned to her feet, taking a second missle before charging towards another battle.

Closure

Sunday morning, the Unity Vigil hallways seems quieter than normal, the echo of the high heels worn by the tall white haired, blue skinned woman in a business jacket and skirt could be heard on the opposite side of the tower, but then most of the Unity Vigil were not allowed access to this particular hall way right now.

After receiving yesterday’s grim news of Jessica Stoneberge’s death the Unity Tower has had a melancholy ambiance for the woman, Mileena Lim, who was doing her best not to give into it, not yet at least. Jessica was a dear friend to her, one she had nothing but love and respect for, she refused to believe she had died until she witnessed the body, and now she had been given that chance.

She looked up as she approached the head of the Unity Vigil, wearing a white lab coat.

“Good morning Mileena, glad you’re on time.” The dark haired woman asked.

“Good morning Zorielle…I wasn’t about to let you down today…thank you for letting me see her.” Said the taller woman.

“No need for thanks…maybe you can see something no one else has…if not at the very least you might get some closure.”

Nodding slightly with a soft sigh “I hope I can…though I’m unsure…you might have all the information you can get without replicating her…ritual…”

“Perhaps, but I would rather we didn’t risk overlooking anything for now.” Zorielle turned towards the door leading to the room storing Jessica’s body “Anyway, we should get a move on, though I must warn you again, it…may be a disturbing sight.”

Cold air rushed into the hallway as the door began to open. The room behind was large and cold, at the centre Jessica’s body laid still on a raise metallic platform covered by a medical sheet. Zorielle moved to slide the sheet to reveal Jessica’s face and shoulders.

The expression of indescribable agony frozen onto the body’s face was haunting, Mileena was no stranger to witnessing fear or pain of unparalleled degrees, but to see such an emotion on someone so close to her heart…their dieing moment…she couldn’t help but feel devastated.

“Jess….what happened to you…” the blue skinned woman’s green eyes became watery as she witnessed the body before feeling a warm hand rest on her shoulder.

“I’m sorry, Mileena…I truly am…” Zorielle’s voice was soft, hoping to comfort Mileena even if only slightly. “If you would like some time before you…examine her further…”

The tall woman nodded, resting a hand upon Zorielle’s “Thank you…Zori…”

Tiger in the Carnival

It's 20:32, Crey's Folly, the sky a deep dark grey as the smog churned, masking the moon and stars. The glow of the War Walls gave the place a cold and eerie atmosphere.

"Kill that Tiger [censored]! Kill her now!"

The screeching voice of a Freakshow lieutenant echoed in the makeshift alleys of Crey's Folly's Carnival Town, writhing in pain from his shattered thigh bone and broken ribs. His 'friends' aching to defeat the Cape that had walked into their home looking for a fight.

"That's right! All of you! I want as many as you can throw at me!" shouted the purple haired heroine in black, Tigergirl, as the large group of thirty something Freakshow gathered to get the kill. "If you dare hold back you'll pay with your twisted tin scraps you call arms!"

She was angry, swift, and brutal. Freak after Freak. She tore through them. Legs broken, jaws dislocated, and cybernetic arms severed. She loved fighting the Freakshow, they were arrogant, their cybernetic limbs provided no need to hold back, and above all they were stubborn. They wouldn't stay down unless they had no choice, and she was happy to take it from them. But this was not like her.

She never goes into Freakshow territory without a reason, but she was blind with rage, taking out her pain on the enemies she knew could take it. She was unable to accept what had happened, the news that her best friend, her first love, is dead.

The thoughts that ran through her head, it couldn't be true, it just couldn't. She wanted it to be a sick joke...a bad dream...any thing but the truth.

Moments later she stood over the pile of unconscious Freaks, one by one disappearing to the Zig, she was lost in her emotions, this wasn't enough to take it away. She gazed up to the faint glow of the moon, questioning what had happened.

The moment quickly passed as a shack was destroyed behind her, the swinging steel hammer of a Tank Smasher crashed into her side. Injured and dazed she was unable to avoid a second attack, a Swiper's blade cut across her torso, from her right shoulder to her left hip. It wasn't deep enough to kill her, they were toying with her.

"Peh, dumb [censored] Cape! Where'd all that steam go, huh?!" The Swiper grunted, aiming his blade for her right eye he pulled back to swing in deep.

For that moment, no fear came from the heroine, not a shiver, her vision fixed on the blade, unnerving the Freak, he paused for a moment. Before he could move, the heroine's blue eyes changed to yellow, her pupils sharpened, her muscles bulged, her wound sealed, and she growled a fearsome roar.

Before he knew it, the Swiper was the recipient of a monstrous uppercut, giving Tigergirl the chance to finish him of with powerful kick to his chest.

The Tank stamped his foot and charged at Tigergirl, waving his hammers like wrecking balls, but was to no avail. The purple haired heroine dodged every attack, countering with swift kicks.

The large Freakshow Tank stood there dazed; looking to the heroine whose rage was amplified by a fang filled expression. He stood up and whacked his hammers together, attempting to but some fear into the woman. She simply growled and charged towards him.

He swung again to catch her between them, but she swiftly jumped, pressing her knee into the Smasher's face.

_ _ _


An hour later in Brickstown, Tigergirl sat atop a skyscraper. The blood on her costume had dried, and her muscles had relaxed. The cold air cooled her anger. She thought about Jessica constantly...her face...her voice...at that moment she remembered her family...Hannah.

She left her crying in the Tower. She was so afraid to face the truth she wasn't able to help others deal with it.

Taking a deep breath she activated her teleporter, after a few moments she vanished in a burst of light.

((Edit: fixed some errors))

I've only been to three of the events, and I have to say at Omega Sektor, where the NC Team were in control of the event, it was too awesome for words. I hope things work out for the everyone who worked on building this community, you'll be missed greatly.

Finally, thanks for all you've done, I may not use these forums often, but I'd miss them if they were gone.

((Count me in with Tigergirl))

Happy Birthday Zortel!

Starborn smiles "This is pretty much my first real mission with the Vigil...most I'm usually onjust to lend a hand, so I appreciate being requested for this.

"A question though, not that I intend to but if we stumble into unnecessary trouble while on our own, wouldn't it become more of a problem if all of us get involved? Calling everyone to help would draw a lot of attention, and it might be better just to high tail it to safety than make a scene."

Starborn blinks a few times to let what just happened sink in, she looks to the now angry BODICIA with a little sympathy before getting up.

"I'll just go get changed..."

She heads off to the backroom to get some less conspicuous clothing...and to give BODICIA some space.

After a few minutes she returns wearing blue jeans with black trainers a black t-shirt and a brown coat, aswell as black leather gloves, all of which hides her form rather well. She has also slicked her hair back and put some make up on to appear paler.

She takes a different seat and starts looking at the info on the screens.

Starborn takes a break from watching the clouds and looks to BODICIA.

"Are their spare outfits on the plain?"