--CONTENT WARNING: POSTINGS CONTAIN MILD EXPLICIT LANGUAGE--
If one day you discover him, broken down he's lost everything.
No cars, no fancy clothes to make him who he's not.
The woman at his side is all that he's got.
Why do you ask him to move heaven and earth to prove that his love has worth?
--Clay Aiken, The Measure of a Man.
The Search for FlashFire
Part 1: Mr. Mystery Man... and Woman.
FBSA Headquarters. Paragon City, RI.
Present day, 1730 Hours EST.
Agent Johnson closed his laptop after submitting the latest in reports on the newest batch of superheroes to emerge and pass through the FBSA (Federal Bureau of Superhero Activity) and the SRB (Superhero Review Board). These days it seemed like more and more people with extraordinary powers were coming in. He figured he could blame Congress for passing the Superhero Protection Act that guarenteed a Hero's right to a secret identity from being revealed to the general public. Since the act was passed in the wake of the Rikti Invasion in '03, the floodgates seemed to open up with every Tom, Dick, or Harry who wanted to be a Hero now.
Sad part of it was, not many would make it out of Paragon City's basic training courses and those who did, tended to succumb to the darker side of things (one way or another) within their first week of being out on the streets. As he shutdown his laptop for the night, he couldn't help but wonder how many of those that he just registered and submitted reports for would make it.
A knock at the door intruppted his thoughts as his secretary popped her head in. "I'm sorry to disturb you sir." she said, "But there is a young lady here to see you and she seems quite insistant about it. I know you're about to go home but..."
"Say no more." Johnson said, holding up a hand to wave off any apologies. "Send her in."
The secretary nodded and opened the door to reveal a stunning redhead. He became aware that his jaw was hanging open as she walked in and shut it quickly. "Er... please have a seat miss-?"
"Carlene." the redhead said. "Carlene Baker." she said, sliding into the seat.
"Marcus Johnson." he said by way of introduction. Johnson was able to tell right off the way that she was serverly distressed about something as she began to stammer out her story. Why is there something familiar about her name though?
"Well, its like this Mr. Johnson." Carlene said. "I'm looking for a friend of mine who's disappeared." she said hesitantly.
"You're not exactly in the right office for that sort of thing Ms. Baker." Johnson commented, leaning back in his chair and steepling his fingers before him. "There's many a heroes out there who'd be more than willing to help you."
"But that's just the thing." she said. "I've tried many of them, I've tried the Review Board, City Hall, Hero Registration, none of them are willing to help me out." she complained, practically sobbing now.
This intruiged Johnson. Normally anyone of the groups that she'd mentioned would've bent over backwards to help anyone in distress. Unless... "Who exactly are you looking for?" he asked cautiously.
"A hero." she said. "A hero by the name of FlashFire."
Ah, Johnson thought at once. Another admirer or something. "Ms. Baker, I can't stress enough on how our heroes enjoy their privacy." he said, starting to get up and get his things together to leave. "But I'm sure that if you leave a message for him at-"
Carlene cut him off this time, she'd heard the speel enough times already. "But I don't want to do that!" she protested. "He won't answer it and I need to talk to him in person! I know that he's here in Paragon City or at least has passed through here recently. Anyone who has supernatural abilities has to now!"
"I can't just give out a hero's secret identity or place of dwelling to just anyone." Johnson said in a huff. Besides, I don't even know who he is or where he is in the first place... he thought, thinking back on the individual that had come through his office just the other week. "Now if you'll excuse me."
"You don't understand though!" Carlene said, jumping out of her chair to block him from leaving. "I already know his secret identity and background and everything. We used to work together at the San Francisco Chronicle, but he just up and left one day without so much as a note saying where he was going. This is the most logical place I could think of that he'd go to."
Johnson stopped dead in his tracks. "Y-You know his background?" he said in disbelief as he racked his brain on information about FlashFire. Indeed, the man had come from San Francisco, he knew that much from the news reports...
News Reports! Carlene Baker! His mind suddenly clicked on the name and why it was familiar. She was the one who had all of the so-called Exclusives with FlashFire and there were even some of the other papers in the Bay Area that had blasted her saying that she was having a romantic affair with the hero. A slow grin spread across his face as he returned to his desk, sat back down, and reopened his laptop. He made a quick page out to his secretary to hold any calls that he might get for working over.
"Tell me everything you know and I'll see if I can find this man for you." he said.
TO BE CONTINUED...
=======================
The Search for FlashFire
Part 2: Mystical Encounter.
Atlas Park. Paragon City, RI.
1 week later, 2015 Hours EST.
If there was one thing that Carlene knew for sure, it was that Lucas Miller, AKA "FlashFire", was a hard man to find. Even more, it was becoming apparent that he did not want to be found. During her meeting with Agent Johnson, it was confirmed that Lucas was in the city, further meetings with Johnson and other people in the government buildings of Atlas Park and Galaxy City confirmed that he was operating in the city and wasn't planning on leaving any time soon.
So Carlene took to the streets in hopes of getting closer to him while following his trail. In the meantime she'd taken on a job at the Paragon City Times, who were all to eager to take on a reporter of her caliber. She was currently staying at the Majestic Hotel in Atlas Park until she could find a more permanent apartment inside of Paragon.
In her search for the ever elusive FlashFire, she'd gone around the more popular areas of Paragon where newer heroes were more likely to cut their teeth at; Atlas, Galaxy, King's Row, and even Steel Canyon (of which, she noted, was also the site of the famous Battle of Brass Monday between the forces of Nemesis and the Freedom Phalanx). Unfortunately her searching has turned up nothing thus far.
She was walking back to the Majestic though a small park in the center of Hyperion Way, going over some notes for her article, when a booming voice came to her from out of nowhere "The path on which you are walking is a dangerous one, child."
Carlene stopped dead in her tracks and looked around before spying an older indian sitting before a crackling fire just up the hill from her. "Excuse me?" she asked. What the heck is an indian doing in the middle of Paragon City anyways? she wondered. And was his eyes actually glowing?
"The path on which you are walking is a dangerous one." the wethered indian intoned again.
She arched an eyebrow and crossed her arms in front of her. She'd heard of old indian mysticism before but never once bought into it, or anything else that could be considered psysic. "So what? You're going to tell me the perils of the future and then go into a bunch of strange mumbo-jumbo then?" she asked, sarcasm dripping in her voice.
The indian chuckled at that. "Actually, I simply wanted to point out the loose stones to your right and the three gang members lurking up ahead." he said and smiled at her sudden realization of what he had pointed out. She blushed profusely and mumbled out an apology. "However, if you would like to know more about the journey that you are on, I will be more than happy to oblige you." he said, indicating that she should sit opposite him by the fire. "That is, if you can stand my mystic 'mumbo-jumbo'".
Taking a quick glance up the stone path a bit at the Hellions that were now coming out, clearly disappointed that their ambush had been ruined, Carlene decided that talking with the indian for awhile might actually keep her safe. She owed him that much at least for helping her out just now. And who knows, she might be able to get some more information for her story. "You're not one of those people off of the Psychic Friends Network, are you?" she asked cautiously while sitting down crosslegged. She carefully arranged her purse next to her and then folded her hands in her lap.
"No I am not," the indian chuckled "Although I find them extremly amusing." he said. "No, I deal with the reality of the Vision while them, and people like them, deal only in the fantasy. They offer hope, when none exists and they do not warn of the perils of life. I am not a 'psychic', I merely see the Vision and intrepret. And, by the way, you can turn off that recording device of yours inside of your bag." he said. "I seriously doubt that the Chronicle or the Times would be intrested in what I have to say about your personal quest."
Carlene gave a frown as she reched inside of her purse and clicked off her tape recorder and wondered how the hell he knew all of that if he wasn't psychic. She didn't have to ask since the indian was already beginning to explain. "Some visions come to me as clear as the perfect day that the Sun God bestows upon us. Others are cloudy and mysty. The one that I have seen of you and the one that you seek couldn't be any clearer than if it were reality."
He then reached into an old leather pouch that hung off of his belt and pulled out a handful of some kind of powder, which he promptly threw into the flames with a sudden swing of his arm. The fire exploded and Carlene had to shield her eyes from the sudden fireball. When she looked back, the flames had started to change shape until she was looking at a young redheaded woman that seemed to walk in place as she read a newspaper. It took a moment to realize that the vision was that of her. She saw the words 'Chronicle Times' emblazoned on the front page of the paper.
"You are walking in circles." the indian said, explaining things as the image in the fire constantly changed to reflect what he was saying. "You continue to put your nose and ear to the ground while the one you seek watches from on high." It shifted again to show her figure walking around a big firey ball with a man at the top while her figure constantly looked down.
Carlene was rivited, watching this little scene play out before her. "What must I do?" she found herself asking.
The indian cleared the images with a casual wave of his hand though the fire. "Walk tall and hold your head high, only then will you find what you seek." he said, his glowing eyes seeming to bore deep into her soul. "Seek me out when you have found what you are looking for and I will reveal more then. Your fate, and his, are entertwined. What you make of this information is up to you." he said.
She looked down, pondering what he had said before looking up again. "So what-" she then stopped short and blinked before looking around the park in confusion. The indian and the fire had just disappeared without a trace. She stood up and looked around again for any sign of him, but he was gone.
A slight breeze chilled her and she decided that it'd be best to continue on to the Majestic. Thankfully, the Hellions that were lying in wait for her earlier were nowhere to be found. She thanked her luck and hurried back to the hotel, all the while pondering what the indian had told her.
When she got back to her room, she sat by the window for some time, looking down at the heart of the city, Atlas Plaza. Below she could barely make out Miss Liberty in the middle of a throng of young heroes, all trying to get some kind of information out of her. She'd issue orders, hand out security badges, or simply give some encouraging words to those who were trying to prove themselves.
Carlene was just about to close her curtains and go to bed for the night when something in the Plaza caught her eye. She hurried over to the nightstand and pulled out her binoculars. She rushed back over to the window and looked out across the plaza.
"Now how the hell am I supposed to get up there?" she asked aloud to no one in particular as she focused on a lone figure in a black trench coat standing at the very top of the Statue of Atlas.
TO BE CONTINUED...
============================
The Search for FlashFire
Part 3: The Chase.
Kings Row. Paragon City, RI.
2 Days later, 2203 Hours EST.
All I ever wanted was a good story and to make a smiple apology... Lord, is that too much to ask? Carlene thought as she ran at near breakneck speed down a back alley in Kings Row.
She had long since given up at keeping track of what streets she'd been crossing or where exactly she was heading for. All that matter was trying to lose those freaks in the green robes that were chasing her down. Her cell phone might've been a good idea had she not lost it a few blocks back. All she could do now is hope, and pray.
Carlene caught wind of a fire user operating a lot in the Kings Row area, so silly her, she went right on in and took up a lookout spot at the top of one of the highest buildings she could find in hopes of spotting her quarry.
Big mistake...
Members of the Circle of Thorns happen to be up there as well and were fresh out of 'voulenteers' since a hero had just gone through the area and rescued their last one. The ravishing redhead that had just wandered into their area would do just nicely. They pounced on Carlene without mercy.
By sheer miracle, she evaded their initail attempts to kidnap her. She bolted down the fire escape and back down to the street below, desperate to get away. But the Circle was not to be deterred as they relentlessly bore down on her.
-----
Elsewhere, the lone figure in black sighed. Figured the woman would get herself into trouble yet again. Reporters... he scoffed to himself. He made it a point to thank Swinging Fist later on when he saw the old indian again. First, for telling him of Carlene's presence in Paragon and of the Vision that he had. Second, of this niftly little trick that the indian had shown him earlier in the week.
He focused his Mind's Eye and reached out...
-----
This was the end, Carlene knew it. She was backed up in a dark alley and cornered like a rat. Multiple guards from the Circle surrounded her and were closing in, making sure that every route of escape was cutoff. Tears formed in her eyes as she wanted to cry and scream out at the unfairness of it all. If only she'd listened to Lucas before, if only she'd trusted him to begin with.
Oh God Lucas... I'm sorry... she thought as the Circle closed in on her. She then decided at that moment that if she was going to go down, by God she'd go down fighting. She then screamed at the top of her lungs and charged the nearest guard before disappearing in a brilliant flash of light.
One minute the Guard was standing right before her, bewildered that anyone would dare charge him, the next minute she was looking out around the Kings Row landscape... heading right for the ledge of a building!
"Aieeeeeeeee!" she screamed as she tried to stop.
"Gotcha!" a voice called out as an arm circled her waist and pulled her back just in the nick of time.
Carlene buried her face in the chest of her rescuer and sobbed, "Oh God, Oh Lord, oh thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou..." she cried out.
"Easy now, you had a good scare there." the voice said again. "Good for you that you got a Guardian Angel of sorts looking out for you."
She dried her eyes and mumbled out another apology before looking up. She gasped when she saw who exactly it was. "Lucas!"
TO BE CONTINUED...
=====================
Would he walk on water? Would he run through fire?
Would he stand before you when its down to the wire?
Would he give his life up to be all he can?
Is that, is that, is that how you measure a man?
--Clay Aiken, The Measure of a Man.
The Search for FlashFire
Part 4: Happy Reunion?
Kings Row. Paragon City, RI.
Minutes Later, 2205 Hours EST.
Carlene threw herself into Lucas' arms and hugged him so tight that he swore that he now had a couple of cracked ribs. "Good to see you too... I think." he said. After she stepped back he rubbed his side. "So what is it that you want?" he asked wairly. "I do recall that you didn't want to ever see me again, or so you said along those lines."
She cringed a bit at the venom in his voice. She deserved that, if not more so. "I-I came to apologize..." she said, her voice now shaking a bit. Damn the man... She'd interviewed hardened criminals and crooked politicatians with more confidence than she had now. He always did have a way to get through her defenses.
Lucas arched a skeptical eyebrow. "Apologize?" he echoed, scarcely believing it. "Just like that? For what you did to me?"
"I don't expect your forgiveness Lucas..." she said, now finding intrest in her wringing hands. "But I-I had to tell you. I had no right to do what I did."
Damn straight... Lucas thought, and even told her as much. He was just lucky that his virus corrupted the Chronicle's system before her story was able to go to press. "You not only endangered me, but yourself and everyone at the paper Carlene." he said. "Granted, I never even dreamed that you'd go through the trouble of tracking me down, let alone apologizing. I thought that you had your 'Image' to worry about and couldn't associate with a computer geek?"
I deserved that one too... She cringed again. "I'm sorry... That's all I can say. I can't undo what had happened, but at least you gotta admit that at least Viper didn't capitalize on it. I mean, we did get lucky in that regard..." she read the sudden troubled look on his face. "Didn't we?"
"Lucky..." he snorted. "My God, do you really live in a world with blinders?" he asked, shaking his head. He took out a folded piece of newspaper (That apparently looked laminated) and handed it over to her. "If only it had been that simple..." he muttered.
Carlene unfolded the article and gasped when she read it. "Oh my God, you killed him... you really killed him..."
Lucas took back the article and put it back in his pocket. "Had to..." he said mournfully. "After that last time in Golden Gate Park right before I left I realized that it would never end, even if I had simply up and vanished. He would've tortured and killed you, your boyfriend," he put extra emphasis on that like it was a swear word, "your family, and anyone else associated with you til he had me." he explained. He then shrugged as he turned away to sit on an air conditioning unit on the roof, "It was either him, or all of us."
She wasn't sure what to think of him now. Thankfully, he spoke up again. "So where do we go from here Carlene?" he asked, looking over at her. "What now?"
She shook her head. "I'm not sure. I was hoping that you'd know."
He sighed. "Only thing I can think of, is to take it day by day I guess..." he said. "Thanks to a little bit of insight I got the other day, I guess that I'm willing to take a little leap of faith." and he held out his hand to her.
Carlene smiled for the first time in weeks as she reached out and took his hand. "I know what you mean..." she said.
TO BE CONTINUED...
=========================
If by chance all he had to give you were three words wrapped around your finger,
Would that be deep enough at the end of every day?
And how will you ever know if a man is what he says?
Why do you ask him to move heaven and earth to prove that his love has worth?
--Clay Aiken, The Measure of a Man.
The Search for FlashFire
Part 5: Questions and Answers.
Atlas Park. Paragon City, RI.
3 Days Later, 1900 Hours EST.
My God, I must be insane... Lucas thought as he rang the chime to Carlene's apartment and adjusted his tie for the umpteenth time. He'd convinced himself many times over that a candlelit dinner and dancing later on would be a bad idea, that he couldn't allow himself to fall in love again with her. Yet here he was, a box of chocolates in one hand all ready to paint the town red. Yeah, definitely insane
he agreed with himself as he rang again.
He'd help her move into her new apartment. Wasn't exactly penthouse, but it was up there in quality. He figured that her severance pay from the Chronicle and her advance from the Times must've had a hand in it. It was a nice studio apartment located in the Promenade not far from Prometheus Park and the Yellow Line and it boasted a nice view of Atlas Plaza. He wondered how on earth she was affording it if her last salary was any indication. Lucas concluded that the Times must be paying her well.
Carlene opened the door wearing a low cut red dress that hugged her curves in all of the right spots. Lucas was taken aback for a moment as he took in how beautiful she looked. He'd never seen her like this before and damn, he liked what he saw. The only thought going through his mind was Daaaaaammmn
My God, she's hot.
She gave a small smile and took a bit of pride in her appearance. "So, you going to stay there all night gawking? Or are we going to go out?"
"Right." he said quickly, his mind snapping back into focus. He gave her a warm smile as he handed over the box of chocolates. He knew well what she liked. Hell he ought to, he only spent a good two years pining over her while being 'just friends'.
Carlene took it with a smile and closed the door behind her. "What, no flowers?" she said jokingly as she slipped an arm in his and walked with him to the elevator.
Lucas had a sly grin on his face. "I wanted a live audience for that." he said as he held up his free hand. A flaming ball appeared roughtly six inches above his palm. Carlene watched with intrest as the ball twisted and reformed itself as they walked. When they reached the elevator he freed up his other hand to clasp it over the other as he concentrated hard. When he was finished, a delicate glass rose had formed and he handed it over to her with a flourish.
"Wow
" Carlene said as she accepted the gift. "Ok, I'm officialy impressed now." she then thanked him and asked how he'd done that. The elevator ride down he explained the basic concept of heated sand becoming glass. He'd simply gathered the nearby dust particles toward him and superheated them into the shape that he wanted. It was something that he'd perfected in his spare time.
They drove to the Three Sisters Restauraunt in Kings Row, the most prestiegous penthouse restaurant in all of Paragon City that started up right in the middle of the depression and has been extremly successful ever since. Heroes were always welcome and identities were always kept secret. Rumor had it that Statesman and the Freedom Phalanx privately funded the 5 Star Restauraunt through their secret identities. Lucas had tried it out once at the urging of one of his newfound friends at the Mega Corps. The food was incredible and the house wine was to die for. It was almost like one was drinking ambrosia. Lucas and Carlene were seated at a semi-private table for two next to one of the massive bay windows that boasted an impressive view of Galaxy City nearby. Kings Row was on the decline in recent years, but heroes and high society still braved the area for the restaurant if anything.
"So tell me Lucas," Carlene said after they'd ordered and been served a glass of wine, "Why did you leave San Francisco. You never struck me as the type who'd just up and run away."
He took a sip of wine before answering. "Is this me as a hero? Or me as in everyday life?" he asked cautiously. When he saw her amused expression and arched eyebrow he sighed. "As FlashFire, I'm practically fearless
Don't get me wrong, I'll still cringe if I see a fire hose," that got a chuckle out his date "and I'll fear for the safety of others before my own. So would FlashFire run? Probably not." he said with a shrug. "But as for me, the real me
Well, lets just say that I was never really confident with women before. It seemed like every time I decided to take a chance and bare my heart for someone, I really get burned
so to speak."
She felt for him. "Lucas, you'd been a great friend, you really were. I-I just wasn't prepared for it, that's all." she said. "And I know that is no excuse for what I did," she added quickly before Lucas could get a word in edgewise. "but that is just how I felt at the time. I needed space."
"What you wanted was someone who looked like he belonged on the cover of one of your romance novels. What you needed was something that I provided. You just didn't like the fact that I was who I was." Lucas said evenly. "Besides, its not like you needed space away from Josh."
Carlene cringed. "I guess I had that coming."
"I stand by what I told you that night on the bridge." Lucas said, continuing on. "I love you, and I care for you deeply Carlene."
"So why'd you leave then? I figured you would've stuck it out and tried to fix things."
He shrugged. "I couldn't take the chance of you blowing my cover
again. You'd already wrote the story and submitted it to the editor-in-chief after our little 'chat' in front of my department. There was no way I'd be able to work anywhere in San Francisco in peace after that. So that's why I infected the system and disappeared right before I took care of Viper that last time. That, and you'd made it pretty clear that you didn't want anything to do with me for my, how'd you put it, constantly lying about who I was? Not to mention I heard that you were pretty steamed about losing your 'big story'"
"I'm not proud of what I did to you Lucas." she said with closed eyes. "And I shouldn't have confronted you in the office either." she opened her eyes again and withered under his scruntinizing gaze. "And I shouldn't have used what you'd told me in confidence to try and fruther my career. I don't think that I can apologize enough."
Thankfully, they were both spared from further conversation as their meals came. Almost by some unspoken agreement, they didn't broach the subject again that night but simply went on to enjoy themselves. But they both knew that they had a long way to go and both knew that they had more questions that needed answering.
TO BE CONTINUED...
======================
Oh
Would he walk on water? Would he run through fire?
Would he stand before you when its down to the wire?
Would he give his life up to be all he can?
Is that, is that, is that how you measure a man?
--Clay Aiken, The Measure of a Man
The Search for FlashFire
Part 6: Unsettling Developments...
Bloody Bay. Paragon City, RI.
Time Unknown.
As one person ended their quest to find FlashFire, another one elsewhere started theirs. While the first one was doing it out of love, this second one was doing it out of hate.
Pure, unadulterated, hatred.
Who the hell did FlashFire think he was anyway? The nerve of him. He thought himself a hero? A Savior? Hardly
The man was a murderer, plain and simple. There were no two ways about it. He was a manic vigilante that needed to be stopped once and for all. And that was all that really mattered.
Alan J. Dennison looked out from the Arachnos Compound across Blood Bay, a place so aptly named for soon it would flow with the blood of FlashFire and that [censored] of his. The Arachnos, Lord Recluse even, were more than happy to take him in and give him a luxurious suite in the Compound. And why not? Lord Recluse certainly recognized a man of talent when he saw one. A few odd jobs here and there, but ultimately gave him free reign to carry out his vendetta. Yes, FlashFire would pay Alan in time. He would bay for Alan's father's humiliation, he would pay for his scandal, and he would pay for his death.
His father, Joshua Dennison, was a great man with a great career in journalism. A bit quick on the temper, sure, but otherwise an all around good guy. He too had been empowered and did so under the alias name of Viper. But all too often Viper and FlashFire would clash in the streets of San Francisco while crime fighting and while in the office competing for the favor of a one Carlene Baker. Alan's parents had long divorced and Joshua found that he liked Miss Carlene. The two had even gone out quite extensively for some time and had at one time hinted about marriage. Alan had been thrilled for his father and even encouraged him.
But then FlashFire came onto the scene and charmed Carlene away from his father. While Carlene and his father remained friends, Joshua simply couldn't compete with the so-called 'hero'. Joshua, being a tinkerer by trade and a freelance journalist on the side, invented an armored suit that would allow him to complement the inherent powers that he'd discovered one night in a fit of rage. Thus, Viper was born.
Things didn't work out exactly as planned and it was Viper, not FlashFire, that was branded the bad guy. Talk about the injustice of it all. Soon it was Viper and FlashFire that were battling it out in the streets of old San Fran on a regular basis. Viper became more and more obsessed with taking down FlashFire and wining the heart of Carlene that nothing else to him mattered.
Ultimately, FlashFire emerged victorious. Shortly before his departure from San Francisco, FlashFire cornered Viper on Alcatraz Island
and murdered him in cold blood. FlashFire was named a hero at the demise of Viper and the Dennison Family was left broken at the death of a great man. A great man who only wanted love, success, and yes, even power out of life. Who could fault him?
Alan took up in his father's wake. Where his father had left off, Alan swore to pick up and carry on. Carlene was now in the arms of FlashFire when she should've been in the arms of his father. Well
her life was forfeit now for spurning him. Her death would be an added bonus to the death of his most hated enemy.
He turned from the window and gazed longingly at his father's power suit, slightly modified of course. Alan then swore: where Viper had failed, Sidewinder would succeed.
TO BE CONTINUED...
=====================
He never gives up, lets go of his dreams
His world goes around for his one true belief,
Is that how you know, is that what it means?
--Clay Aiken, The Measure of a Man
The Search for FlashFire
Part 7: Mysticism Revisited.
Atlas Park. Paragon City, RI.
2 Days Later, 1237 Hours EST.
Carlene met Lucas for lunch in Prometheus Park, just outside of Atlas Plaza. The place was a popular hangout for the locals for its crystal clear waters, picture perfect landscape, and great view of the Plaza. Unfortunately it also drew the occassional group of thugs and with it, a young hero who's anxious to prove themselves to Ms. Liberty. Fortunately for Carlene and Lucas, there were none to be found this day. It was almost like they had the park to themselves.
Almost
As they walked the paths, chatting about life in general and taking in the scenery, they came across two heroes chatting before a nice roaring fire. One looking like an indian that had seen better days and the other a woman in a black and white jumpsuit with matching cape. Lucas recognized the two as Swinging Fist of the Forever Men, and Lady Battlestar of his group: The Mega Corps.
"There are many paths before you
" Swinging Fist was saying, directing her attention to the flames as if clearing pointing something out. Lucas couldn't see anything although he'd gone on one of those 'Vision Quests' before with Fist. He figured that special powder of his only worked on those the vision was intended for. Swinging Fist continued on talking to Lady Battlestar. "In one you can simply ignore the man, but he will still make his presence known and you will be drug down a path with no return. Another is the one that you join with this man. Stars will fall out of the heavens more rapidly than you had ever seen before. That is something that you cannot allow for your sorrow will run deep. Running will only bring about the last two options more quickly and the results will be the same."
"So what can I do?" Lady Battlestar asked.
"You must face him. There can be no more hiding, no more running." He said. "Ultimately, you will be faced with a choice of whether or not to extinguish the flame with in him. Once that day comes, you will know what path to take. You will know whether to let him live, or kill him forever. Seek me out again when you need guidance, for now I have revealed all that I can."
Lucas and Carlene watched this with facination. Both had experienced his visions before from the man and both wanted to talk to him again. Lady Battlestar nodded to Swinging Fist and stood up. She walked away from the fire and passed by him and Carlene. "Mr. Miller." she said cordially with a nod.
"Lady Battlestar." he said, also nodding in greeting. He wouldn't call her Kylie, her real name, while she was in costume. That'd be risking her secret identity as well as his own. "I hope that you are well today."
"Very." she said with a small smile as she then took to the air.
Lucas and Carlene both were watching her fly away and thus were startled when Swinging Fist's booming voice came from behind them. "I have been expecting you both. Please, sit." he said. The two of them looked sheepishly as they then walked to the fire and took seats.
"It is good to see you again Swinging Fist." Lucas said.
"And you FlashFire." Swinging Fist agreed. "I see that Miss Carlene has found you." he said, nodding to Carlene.
"How did you-" Carlene said, astonished. She was surprised that the indian knew her name and Lucas' hero moniker. She looked between the two, trying to figure things out.
Lucas patted her thigh. "He knows all and sees all. Just accept it." he said with a grin.
Swinging Fist watched the byplay with amusement as he reached into his pouch and threw in a bit of powder to the fire. The explosion jolted Lucas and Carlene back to the present. "You are in grave danger." he said, getting right to the point as a flaming snake formed in the fire. "The spawn of the great serpent hunts you both and will not stop until either it is destroyed, or you are. Like I have told you before, your fates are entertwined together and only together can you hope to overcome this monster."
"I haven't even been in Paragon that long
" Lucas said, not daring to tear his eyes off of the fire snake.
"This is something that you have created long before your journey here." Swinging Fist said. "And since you are responsible for its creation, you are responsible for its destruction."
"What has he created?" Carlene asked, confused by his words. She then caught the sharp gaze from Swinging Fist and then swallowed hard. "What have we created
?" she amended, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"Look within your own past for that answer and you will find a serpent much greater than before that slides through the sands like it were water." the indian replied gravely. "And I fear that you will be unable to overcome its wrath
"
TO BE CONTINUED
=====================
Would he walk on water? Would he run through fire?
Would he stand before you? Would he be your anchor when the dark unfolds?
Would he always love you the best that he knows?
Would he give his life up to be all that he can?
Is that, is that, is that how you measure a man?
--Clay Aiken, The Measure of a Man
The Search for FlashFire
Part 8: Crime...
Downtown. San Francisco, CA.
1 year ago, 1822 Hours PST.
The nerve of that woman! What right did she have to practically blow his secret identity to everyone at work!? Lucas thought as he slammed the last bit of clothes into a box. Ever since the blowup at the paper with Carlene, the woman he'd just bared his soul to a mere 24 hours earlier, he'd come right back home and packed along with the help of some movers that he spent a good amount of money for the rush job. He didn't have long to pack and move. If, God Forbid, his program didn't erase her story from the Chronicle's mainframe, he'd have every hero worshipper and reporter in the area pounding down his door.
Then his life would be effectively over
Viper probably wouldnt be too far behind.
In all reality, he should've known better. Carlene had been wrapped up in that 'Joshua' character up on the sixth floor where she worked at. That, and it wasn't exactly like they were dating
Carlene said that they were 'Just Friends'. The evil term that should be banned from the english language.
The phone ringing snapped him out of his fuming. He'd ignored most of the calls today since he gave his resignation and screened them on the answering machine. Sarge was calling him up non stop practically begging him to come back to work (Something rare since the Sarge never begged before in his life), and the occasional call from Carlene wanting him to pick up the phone to talk. Probably wanting to twist the knife in my back further
he had thought then and it was what he was thinking now.
He walked over and was about to pull the jack from the wall when the answering machine picked up and an evil voice practically hissed at him. "Can the Fire Bug come out and play?"
"[censored]
" Lucas cursed. "The [censored] found me already." he considered ignoring it, but that would merely prolong the inevitable. He snatched up the receiver. "Whaddya want Viper?" he asked.
"Hear you're leaving town. You can't go without ssssaying goodbye to everyone." Viper hissed at him from the other end.
"Let me guess, you got Carlene yet again and you want me to come save her so you can have another attempt at killing me." Lucas snapped at him. "Try to get out of the clichés and start coming up with something more original."
"Fine by me
" Viper said. "I've gotten my hands on a Russian nuclear warhead. I have it buried ssssomewhere ssssafe here at Alcatrazzzz with me."
That got Lucas's attention. "What do you want?" he asked.
"You will be here right after nightfall or I will detonate it, dessstroying the entire ssssscity." he said simply. "Come alone." and then the line cut out.
"Don't I usually?" Lucas asked rhetorically to the now dead phone. He stalked back over to the clothes box and yanked out his trusty trench coat and mask.
TO BE CONTINUED
====================
Would he walk on water? Would he run through fire?
Would he stand before you when its down to the wire?
Would he give his life up to be all that he can?
Is that, is that, is that how you measure oh..--
Is that, is that, is that
... how you measure a man?
--Clay Aiken, The Measure of a Man
The Search for FlashFire
Part 9:
And Punishment.
Alcatraz Island. San Francisco, CA.
1 year ago, 2141 Hours PST.
FlashFire landed on the outer wall of the old prison compound. Ever since he had gotten the call from Viper, he'd been camped out at the top of Golden Gate Bridge with a pair of binoculars trying to find a sign of his archenemy. Unfortunately his search was to no avail. So now that night has fallen, he ventured down to the island to take the more direct approach. Odds were that there was no nuclear bomb, but he couldn't take that kind of chance.
He swore that one way or another, Viper's reign of terror would end. Tonight.
Viper didn't keep him waiting. The moment FlashFire stepped out into the main courtyard the whole place lit up like a christmas tree. "If there'sss one thing that you are Flash Bulb, itsss predictable!" The voice boomed out from all around.
"What the hell did you think I'd do you moron?!" FlashFire called out, thankful that his shades over his mask protected from the sudden glare of lights. "Just sit by while you nuked the city to glass?!"
"After your little loversssss quarrell at work, I actually thought that you might." Viper admitted his voice hissing from various speakers that FlashFire could now see.
It wasn't all that he could see. He could now make out the distinct outline of a power suit with a cobra's head and billowing cape up on one of the guard towers. FlashFire didn't hesitate, he leveled his arm and let loose a firey blast. Viper dodged to the side but ended up getting his cape singed in the process. Viper responded by running to the side, pulling out his gun and returning the favor by sending a hail of bullets back.
FlashFire raised both hands and put up a protective barrier of flames around him, easily deflecting (if not melting) the bullets before they could get to him. He then took to the air and shot toward Viper like a burning missile. Viper lined up for another shot but was unable to take it for FlashFire was then wrapped around his midsection, tackling him.
The inertia from the flying tackle took them both over the edge of the tower top to the top of the outer wall below. FlashFire came out on top, relentlessly punching Viper in the face with flames wrapped around his fist. Viper brought up a leg and delivered a well placed knee to the back of his nemisis' head while at the same time rolling him off.
There was no time for words, they were long past such things. Both knew that neither would surrender or in any other way give in as the two traded blows. Viper then drew his gun again and snapped off a shot right when FlashFire reached out and torched the gun. Hot lead ripped through FlashFire's left shoulder, but the sacrifice was worth it for now Viper's ammunition was now cooking off while inside of the gun. While FlashFire might not be able to melt the gun as easily as he had in the past, the bullets and gunpowder inside were still bound by the laws of chemistry and physics.
Viper hissed in anger and tossed the selfdestructing gun towards FlashFire as he made a tactical retreat into the compound. By God if he couldn't kill him with his hands or a gun, he'd see if he could survive a hundred kiloton explostion. FlashFire easily batted aside the remains of the gun and followed his arch enemy into the compound. He wasn't in a hurry to chase him down. After all, he was counting on Viper leading him to the bomb.
The chase went deep into the bowels of Alcatraz until they finally came to a broiler room. FlashFire had to sidestep and evade many traps along the way, but otherwise made good time. When he got to the broiler room, he found Viper trying to key in the final sequence needed. He let loose another blast, more powerful than he'd ever used before, and knocked Viper back away from the bomb. "Getting sloppy Viper? Or simply desperate?" he said calmly as he walked up to the bomb. One glance and he had incinerated the wiring inside, effictively making the timer useless.
It was now time to end this, in FlashFire's opinion. Viper had gotten back up and was now rushing him, screaming in rage. FlashFire backhanded him with his good arm, sending him back to the ground. Viper flipped onto his back and started scrambling away as FlashFire calmly advanced on him. "It ends here Viper." he said, almost regretfully. "I cannot allow you to hurt anyone again."
"Bah!" Viper spat out at him. He wasn't surprised at the blood that came out. He'd taken quite a beating. "No jury in the world would convict me. There is no where near enough evidence against me." he said with pride. "I've gotten out of jail before, I'll do it again!"
"Unfortunately for you, I wasn't talking about arresting you this time
" FlashFire said.
In that instant, Viper knew that he'd pushed his enemy to the limit. In a way, he was almost proud of him. He'd come a long way to now be willing to kill. "Ssssso be it." he said as he got up yet again.
In a surprising burst of speed and strength, Viper lunged at FlashFire in a desperate attempt to kill his foe. FlashFire was ready for it as he caught him by the throat with his left hand
the right and powered up a blast and fried a hole clean through Viper's chest.
Viper's eyes glazed over as the life went from him. The man almost seemed to smile as he crumpled to the ground dead. FlashFire stood there for a long time, scarcely believing that it was over. After awhile he checked to make sure that the bomb was useless before leaving to make an anonymous tip to San Francisco's finest.
He never did see the teenager crounched in the shadows nearby...
---
Carlene Baker's Apartment. San Francisco, CA
The day after
around 0812 Hours PST.
"The State Department and the Department of Defense, in cooperation with the SFPD, FBI, and Department of Homland Security, are proud to report the recovery of a stolen Russian Nuclear Warhead that was reported stolen from a weapons plant in the Ural Mountains of the Russian Federation. Chief of Police William Gurley stated in a press confrence that quote "This wouldn't have happened without the help of all agencies involved as well as a few anonymous tips we've received along the way." Gurley did not go into mention the exact location of the warhead only that it was found "in a remote area."
In related news
"
Carlene shut off the television and went back to the phone. There seemed to be nothing on the news about any disapperances and she couldn't get through to Lucas' number only to have the operator voice message come back as 'no such number
please check the number and try again.' in its irritating monotone voice. Not only did Lucas seem to vanish off the face of the planet, but so did FlashFire. None of his contacts in the police force seemed to know where he was at and for the life of them, couldn't find any record of him in their computers.
Apparenty, everyone was having problems with their computers when it came to him. Even the realitors of his apartment, the phone company, the gas and electric, even the Chronicle couldn't find him in the computers. It was as if he'd never existed in the first place.
She had to find him, if only to apologize to him once. Carlene knew he existed and she ached to be with him again. She was an idiot for openly argueing with him at work. As she sat on the couch looking at the phone on her lap, she couldn't help but cry. The old saying was true: You really don't know what you go until its gone. And Lucas was certainly long gone now
---
Somewhere in the midwest...
The day after
around 0913 Hours CST.
"In related news, the reign of terror from the SuperVillian known as Viper comes to an end today as police also report that his body was found nearby the stolen nuclear weapon, shedding much light on how the warhead was stolen in the first place. Police Crime Scene Investigators confirmed that Viper was indeed dead from an apparent electrical shock from some faulty wiring. Investigators say that Viper might have been attempting to rewire and arm the warhead for detonation when it interacted with his powered suit and caused a feedback, electorcuting him. Police refused to comment on the true identity of Viper but stated that there would be a full investigation done into his background. "
Lucas closed his laptop and looked out the bus window with a smile on his face. No refrence was made about FlashFire ever being there. They probably wanted to keep things quiet about that and would just simply be swept under the rug. It was all fine by him anyways. It wasn't like he needed the publicity anyways. He just wanted to be left alone. He'd given up the life he used to have. He'd now start over elsewhere in a place where he could blend in nicely.
He heard that Paragon City was nice this time of year...
TO BE CONCLUDED
=================
At what point does one stop being the good guy and start being the bad guy? And even then, what do you do when you become the very evil that you've been trying to prevent all along?
--Jeremy A. Reynolds
The Search for FlashFire
Part 10: Battle lines are drawn...
The Hollows. Paragon City, RI.
Present Day, 1546 Hours EST.
FlashFire grinned with satisfaction as the unruly mob of Outcasts were rounded up by Paragon City's finest. Lt. Wincott nodded in his direction in thanks and FlashFire returned the silent salute. It had been a good day of crime fighting in the battle zone known as the Hollows. It reminded him much of what most of the United States looked like in the aftermath of the Rikti Invasion.
He repressed a shudder at those memories and walked off toward the nearby picnic areas. At one time they'd been places where families got together to view the nearby hills, but now they were just one of many hangouts of the gangs in the area. FlashFire took a breather to sit down and take it all in. So much turmoil and strife in this city
but at least it was a city that recognized those who went out of their way to help others. Certainly the police force were grateful.
As he sat there mulling over things, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. It was a bit of a sixth sense that he'd developed long before his powers did. Something that he'd learn to trust way back in the days of growing up in the gang ridden neighborhoods of Sount Detroit. Without thinking, he launched himself forward into a diving roll just as the picnic area erupted in a massive fireball.
FlashFire rolled to his feet and looked around for the source of the explosion, then promptly ducked as a bullet wizzed by his ear. "Sniper!" he called out to the confused policemen nearby, who then promptly grabbed any kind of cover that happened to be nearby. FlashFire himself dove behind the corner of a building right as another round tore up the brick and mortar of the structure. He gave it a few seconds and then risked a look. He was rewarded with yet another round skipping off of the dirt near his feet. At least their shot is piss-poor. He thought to himself. If it were a sniper of any kind of talent, I'd at least be wounded by now. FlashFire then stopped to wonder why the shooter wasn't going after any of the cops.
Then it hit him that this wasn't some random shooting at random targets. He was the target. [censored]
He thought. Let's see how ya like this mate. FlashFire focused on a distant point, tapped into the elemental plane of fire, and reached out. Suddenly in a flash of flames, a man in a powered suit with a really wicked looking rifle appeared in the small clearing between the remains of the veranda, the building, and the police cruisers looking very confused as to why he was now where he was at.
FlashFire immidately noticed the prominent snake's head helmet on the power armor. How in the hell!? His mind screamed at this development. He immidately leveled his arm and let loose a torrent of fire energy that hit this new/old adversary squarely in the side, knocking him back a bit. I thought I had killed him! FlashFire thought as he walked out of his hiding place and as visions of Alcatraz flashed through his head.
The power armored villain got to his feet immidately, leveled his gun, and fired of a rapid fire burst. FlashFire was prepared and put up a wall of flame around the man which vaporized the bullets as they left the gun. It was then that the man jumped out of the ring of fire and made to club his adversary. FlashFire dodged to the right and kicked him in the midsection. It hurt, flesh kicking armor, but at least it doubled the man over. He deftly disarmed him and sent the man to the ground. "I see that the news of your death was greatly exaggerated, Viper."
"Viper IS dead you moron." the man spat as he got up quickly and deleviered a quick right punch to FlashFire's torso, knocking the hero back a few steps. "I am Sidewinder. His protégé, his legacy, his son."
Son? FlashFire thought with horror as he stumbled back. The man had a kid?! "Aw hell
" he muttered, now noticing the differences, however subtle, in the old version of battlearmor and the new version.
Sidewinder looked around at the various cops and superheroes that were now starting to gather. The odds were most definitely not in his favor anymore. The firebomb trap failed and he'd missed shooting him. His cover was blown and there was much attention on him now. He scooped up his rifle quickly and took to the air suddenly. "We will meet again FlashFire!" he vowed in rage. "And I will kill you, this I swear!" and with that he was gone in the blink of an eye.
FlashFire let him go. His mind was still reeling from the implications of this event and his bruised ribs were screaming for attention. He'd barely noticed Lt. Wincott as the man walked up. "It looks like you've got yourself one major enemy there son." the police veteren said.
"So it would seem Lieutenant
" FlashFire agreed, still looking at the sky where Sidewinder had disappeared at. "So it would seem."
THE END
OR THE BEGINNING?
